The Daily Teaser — 18-9-2014: The Empire

You know, the world could change, today.

Scotland’s voting in the independence referendum.

I’m … 

Concerned.

Well, maybe ‘concerned’ isn’t the word.

But I’m very aware that Independence influences the taxes we pay: and how much gets spent where.   If I’ve understood it correctly, the formula the UJK government uses to determine how much of its tax income is spent where, tends to favour Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If Scotland votes for independence, central Government will be spending nothing on Scotland.   But would also be getting a lot LESS than you’d think.   It would, quite frankly, be losing the revenue from any oil taxes.

On a personal level?

Well, on a personal level, the romantic in me thinks Scotland should vote Yes in the referendum.

I’m also hoping Scotland doesn’t.

Frankly, I was born in the United Kingdom.

I’d like to die in the United Kingdom.

But I’m very aware I don’t get a say in this.   I don’t live in Scotland.   I don’t think any ‘Yes’ voters are going to be listening to an Englishman living in suburban Essex.

Understandably.

Personally, though … ?

Personally, I can only hope the people of Scotland make the right decision for Scotland.

Regardless of what England, Northern Ireland and Wales think.

I can only ask one thing that’s been bugging me.   

What happens if it’s a draw … ?

~≈Ø≈~

The Daily Teaser — 31-7-2014: Battlin’ Romans … !

Hmmm … 

That seemed to go well … 

Did I tell you I had a phone interview, on Tuesday … ?

Well, I had a phone interview on Tuesday: which went well enough that I bagged the second stage interview.

An in-person one on Monday.

On top of that … ?

I had an initial one, at the local Job Centre, yesterday.   For a local bookies.

Which ALSO went fairly well.

At least well enough that I had to go online to apply: seemingly, the interviewer is going to rush me through to a face-to-face interview.

All well and good, if it happens.

I can, at this stage … ?   Well … all I can do is quietly hope, on that front.

And prepare, as well as I can, for Monday’s interview.

Here’s hoping that goes well.

~≈Æ≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 18-9-2013: The Empire

Blimey … !

Has anyone else bought this week’s Brentwood Gazette … ?

I’ve actually managed to get another postal mauling: from Bronwen Callow, in Hutton Village, after last week’s 9/11 Teaser.

One half of me is … not happy, per sé: but certainly pleased to know I’m getting read.

The other … ?   Is frantically — and mentally — going over a suitably tactful reply.   Especially as I believe Bronwen was one of the regulars of my old Hutton pub quiz.

Small town, Brentwood … 

~≈∞≈~

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, it’s one week later: a Wednesday, in case you hadn’t guessed.

Which means, of course, that it’s time for this week’s Brentwood Gazette Teaser: covered by the usual Creative Commons License*.

Q1) 18th September saw Tiberius confirmed as Roman Emperor.   By which Roman body … ?

Q2) In which year did that body finally collapse: 603, 604 or 605 AD … ?

Q3) Was Tiberius the second, third or fourth Roman Emperor … ?

Q4) Who was his predecessor in the post … ?

Q5) Many Roman Emperors were called ‘Princeps’.   Which meant what:  prince, first or noble  … ?

Q6) The word ‘Emperor’ comes from the Latin word ‘Imperator’, which (roughly) meant what: duke, commander or king … ?

Q7) Another title used by Tiberius was ‘Pontifex Maximus’, or ‘High Priest’.   Who is that title usually applied to, in modern times … ?

Q8) How many legions would Tiberius have inherited from his predecessor: twenty-five, twenty-eight or thirty-one … ?

Q9) More to the point, how many troops were in each legion: 3000, 4000 or 5000 … ?

Q10) Finally … Who was Tiberius’ successor as Emperor … ?

Here’s last week’s contentious questions and answers …

Questions.

Q1) September 11th saw the notorious attacks on the World Trade Centre; in which US City was the World Trade Centre … ?

Q2) In which district of that city were the Twin Towers?

Q3) What was the name of the terrorist group that organized the attack?

Q4) How many hijackers were involved in the attack?

Q5) Excluding the actual hijackers, how many people died as a result of the World Trade Centre Attacks?

Q6) Who was British Prime Minister on the day … ?

Q7) Who was US president at the time of the attacks?

Q8) A third plane, hijacked by the same group of terrorists, was aimed at which US military building?

Q9) What does al-Qaeda mean, in English?

Q10) Finally, in which country was al-Qaeda’s leader, Osama bin Laden, when finally killed by US special forces … ?

Answers.

A1) New York.

A2) Lower Manhattan.

A3) Al-Qaeda.

A4) 19.

A5) 2, 974.

A6) Tony Blair.

A7) George W. Bush.

A8) The Pentagon.

A9) ‘The Base’.

A10) Pakistan.

Enjoy those.

I’ll see you on next week’s letters page.

*        Regulars know this already already, but for newcomers … all it means is that you’re free to copy, use, alter and build on each of my quizzes: including the Teasers, Gazette Teasers and the Friday Question Sets.   All I ask in return is that you give me an original authors credit on your event’s flyers or posters, or on the night: and, if you republish them, give me an original authors credit AND republish under the same license.   A link back to the site would be appreciated.

The Daily Teaser — 21-4-2013: Finding Roma

You know, I think sleep is starting to catch up with me.

No, really … !

I’ve a funny feeling I’m jetlagged: from the clocks going forward a couple of weeks ago.

But at least I’m not Joe Berti.

Who managed to avoid being injured in the Boston Bombings, last Monday, went home to the small Texan town of West.

Just in time to be unscathed, going past the fertiliser plant as it went off.

I think we can safely say he’s lucky … !

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

}}•{{

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Andy and Debbi* putting in their answers.   With Andy reminding us yesterday was the anniversary of the deaths of Steve Marriott and Bert Weedon, and Debbi telling us why she loves the internet, it saw Andy scoring six out of six, and Debbi — trailing by one point — scoring five.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s rather imperial questions, shall we … ?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 21st April, 753 BC, is the traditional date of the founding of Rome.   By which legendary twins … ?

Q2) Which of the twins is killed by the other … ?

Q3) Either way, what type of mammal suckled them as babies … ?

Q4) According to the story, Rome’s building was started by the surviving twin … on which of the seven hills of Rome … ?

Q5) What was the name of the body that twin set up to govern Rome … ?

Q6) That surviving twin is considered to be Rome’s first King: who was its seventh and final king … ?

Q7) The founding twin is also considered to have form Rome’s armies: its first … what … ?

Q8) Those armed forces consisted of divisions made up of up to how many men: 4000, 5000 or 6000 … ?

Q9) In an alternative version of Rome’s foundation, the city is said to have been founded by which Trojan Prince … ?

Q10) And finally … Which Roman city was known as New Rome, when constructed by Constantine the Great … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 20th April, 2010, saw the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explode: in which Gulf was that rig … ?

A1) The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Mexico.

Q2) More to the point, what was the name of the British company that leased the Deepwater Horizon … ?

A2) BP.

Q3) 20th April, 1902, saw Marie and Pierre Curie manufacture Radium Chloride, for the first time.   What’s that longest half-life for a form of  Radium: 1603, 1602 or 1601 years … ?

A3) 1601.

Q4) 20th April, 1961 saw the failure of the invasion of where … ?

A4) The Bay of Pigs.

Q5) 20th April, 1937, saw the birth of actor, George Takei: what was the name of the musical he appeared in, in 2012 … ?

A5) Allegiance.

Q6) And finally … 20th April, 1861, saw Robert E Lee resign from US Army: in order to lead the armed forces of which state … ?

A6) Virginia.

I’ll leave you with this thought, generally ascribed to Julius Cæsar …

“I assure you I had rather be the first man here than the second man in Rome.”

Commonly ascribed to Julius Caesar.

And with this song about a certain pair of twins … 

Have a good day … !

*        My pleasure, Debbi … ! :D