The Daily Teaser — 13-5-2014

Hmmm … 

Have you been following the story about the kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria … ?

I can’t help but think the kidnappings are the militants equivalent to to the Warrington Bombings: which generated bad publicity — to say the least — for the Provisional IRA.

There’s ALSO the fact that yesterday, the Boko Haram leader issued a video in which he offered to exchange the schoolgirls for imprisoned militants.

Granted, the BBC journalist, John Simpson, has a point: this could well be the start of some sort of negotiated release.

All to the good.

Personally, though … ?   I couldn’t help but notice that the group claims many of the girls had converted to Islam.

Outside of any discussion we wish to have about Stockholm Syndrome … ?

I can’t help but notice the hijab-clad girls in that video: with armed men standing over them.

And remember that one of the few verses I know from the Qur’an is verse 256 of the Al-Baqara sura: which opens with one of the most famous lines from Islam’s holy book.

“There shall be no compulsion in religion.”

An armed gunman … ?

Well, I don’t think armed gunmen counts as “No Compulsion” …

~≈‡≈~

The Daily Teaser — 12-5-2014: Ian Dury …

Hmmm … 

You know, that’s … possibly … quite strange.

You remember, a couple of days ago, I said about the problems I had, using YouTube, in Safari?

Basically, I could upload, via Safari version 5, but not use any of a given page’s buttons.   On top of that, the Comments section of the page was refusing to load, properly: preventing me accessing Share section of a given page.

Well … 

The last time I checked with Safari … YouTube had got the buttons to work.

That’s good.

They’ve got HALF the problems solved … 

Now, I want to ask Google and YouTube — along with everyone on the Forum threads I’ve seen — what on EARTH is going on: and when this problem will be fixed.

One or two suggestions — that seem to come from Google/YouTube staffers — that users upgrade to Mavericks, have gone down like lead balloons.

Including with me.

Get a move on, Google.   My aging G4 can handle YouTube: seemingly, your hard-working engineers are preventing my newer Mini from doing the same!

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 11-5-2014: Coalition

Oh, now I thought that would happen … !

You may or may not know it, but this time of year usually means ONE big TV event.

The Eurovision Song Contest: the pan-European contest that has been doing its thing, since 1956.

The live Grand Final is quite a big event: and something that has to be seen to be believed.

As are some of the winners.

The Finnish winners, a few years ago — rock band, Lordi —were one such.

Dressing up as a bunch of demons, complete with fully functioning bat wings, was going to get attention.

This year’s winner … ?

Was Austrian drag artist, Conchita Wurst, with the song Rise Like A Phœnix.

Go, her … !

As a thought, though?   Obviously, this is a good thing for the LBGT community.

I think that — and the extensive booing the Russian entry got — is going to irritate the hell out of Vladimir Putin … !

That’s a good thing … !

~≈Â≈~

The Daily Teaser — 10-5-2014: I Spy For The FBI …

Hmmm … 

It has to be said, I have the radio on, at the moment: Radio 4 is — in my humble opinion — possibly the most civilised thing to have on in the morning.

They’ve just had Thought For The Day on: five minutes of a … well, a thought, from a religious personage.

Fascinating one, this morning, from a journalist from The Tablet, talking about about how the believers amongst focus on God — obviously — and forgetting or ignoring the devil.

And using both The Exorcist and The Godfather, as metaphors.

I think I got her point: without managing to catch the speaker’s name.

And also walking away thinking it’s been an age since I’ve seen The Godfather.

I might just see if I have a copy.   It means I can avoid the dread event that is … Eurovision … !

~≈í≈~

The Friday Question Set — 9-5-2014

Well, that’s THAT lot done … !

Well, written … !

OK, OK, you’re possibly sitting thinking “What’s Done … ?” in a mildly confused way, aren’t you … ?

I’ve just finished next months Gazette Teasers written.

With a certain amount of pride and polish, it has to be said.

All I have to do now … ?

Is format the things and I’m done for the proverbial month!

~≈∑≈~