A Clue, A Clue, My Kingdom for A Clue!

Isn’t it weird, sometimes, the questions you get asked, at work?

Isn’t it?

It is … !

Bless, I had Kevin Z texting me, briefing, about software: as you know, he, like another old friend, Tim, has made the switch from Windoze to Ubuntu.

Quite happily, for the most part.

Apart from the usual quirks of wondering what various bits and bobs actually do, within GIMP!

And forgetting how to use the Save As button!

Oy!

I do know he’s in the middle of trying to write a book at the moment.

And wanting to adding musical notation to various parts of it!

I’ve got admit that I really didn’t have a clue!

I do know he’s after musical transcription software; of which there seems to be tons!

I do know I was able to point him at Audacity, though, the handy little open-source app for recording stuff. I know he’s got a laptop with an iffy sound-card, but at least he’ll be able to strum away happily, knowing he’s got at least the idea’s on tape.

Well, digital tape, anyway.

•••••

Oh, talking of audio files, I’m going to quickly thank ComBom, who managed to flag a (brief) interview that DJ, Steve Wright, did — I believe, today — saying what’s happening with a potential Series Four of Torchwood.

It’s brief, but … well, judge for yourselves …

•••••

Now, one thing I will say, right here and now, is that I recorded this evening’s episode of I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue, for when I got home from work.

Fantastic!!!!

Jack Dee, bless him, is looking to be a very good replacement for Humph!

And Graeme Garden managed to mention a long time favourite of the Gardeners Film Club: Bring Me The Hedge of Alfredo Garcia …

•••••

Oh …

Almost forgot …

I was talking to Tim, yesterday, about a laptop he’d seen on eBay, with what was described as a flat CMOS battery; neither of us had an initial clue what it was, but after a little digging around, I found out that it’s the battery that powers up the clock, on a computer’s motherboard. Replacing it does look tricky.

But doable, with a little patience.

And a tea-towel …

But it got me to thinking it may help, just in case I need to tinker with the vintage G3 iMac, I’ve got, sitting in the corridor!

Which got me at least checking out the possibilities …

The Saint Andrew’s Day Teaser … !

I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist it!

Weeeeeeeellllll …

It is Saint Andrew’s Day, today!

I’ve been itching to do a Saint Andrew’s Day themed set, for years.

Posting the Teaser gives me the perfect excuse to …

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Trevor get 5 out of 6, all on his Officially Clapped Tod: meaning I’m looking to see who can match him, today!

I’m just hoping Dr Paul’s reading this; Paul, Scottish QM’s will be looking at you funny, if you don’t!

Anyway, here’s today’s Saint Andrew’s Day questions, along with the ‘How To’ and License …

Q1) Today is Saint Andrew’s Day; Saint Andrew is the patron Saint of Scotland, and which Mediterranean country? (And if Doctor Paul gets this wrong … !!)

Q2) In which year of this century was Saint Andrew’s Day declared as a Scottish Bank Holiday?

Q3) In some parts of Scotland, girls and young women wishing to marry had to throw what at a door, on Saint Andrews Day?

Q4) Complete the title of this Pink Floyd song; Several Species of Small Furry Animals, Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With … what; – a pict, a haggis, or a golf ball?

Q5) What is the name of Irvine Welsh's 2002 sequel to Trainspotting?

Q6) Which Scottish city shares its name with a city in Australia?

Q7) Are Scottish banknotes legal tender in England?

Q8) What exactly areare the Cairngorms?

Q9) Which modern delicacy made its first appearance, in Scotland, during the mid–1990’s?

Q10) What’s Britain’s largest lake?

Q11) 30^th November, 1886, saw which nightspot stage his first revue?

Q12) 30^th November, saw John Sentamu become the first black Archbishop of the Church of England, when he was named as Archbishop of where?

Q13) 30^th November, 1983, saw Michæl Jackson release his 6^th studio album: which album was it?

Q14) 30^th November, 1999, saw British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems form to make Europe’s largest defense contractor; how is this merged company now known?

Q15) And finally … ! 30^th November, 1900, saw the death of Oscar Wilde; in which French city was he, when he died?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 29^th November, 1890, saw the Meiji Constitution come in to effect; in which country?

A1) Japan.

Q2) Nine years later, 29^th November, 1899, saw the founding of which Spanish football club?

A2) FC Barelona.

Q3) 29^th November, 1947, saw the UN partition which Middle-eastern country?

A3) Palestine.

Q4) Today in 1929 saw Richard Byrd and his team make the first ever flight over what; the North Pole, South Pole, or Equator?

A4) The South Pole.

Q5) 29^th November, 1895, saw the birth of which director and choreographer?

A5) Busby Berkeley.

Q6) And finally, today in 1947, saw the birth of German politician, Petra Kelly; which German political party did she co-found?

A6) Der Grün. (The German Greens).

Enjoy those, folks. I’ll catch you later …!

The Daily Teaser …

You know, you can tell Radio Four’s getting hip, can’t you?

Can’t you?

You can!

Morrissey’s going to be on Desert Island Discs!

Just so you know, Andrea, Radio Four is the BBC’s main talk radio station, and one that covers an amazing range of subjects: all the way from intense ones, like Auschwitz, to potted histories of Britain’s comics.

Worth listening to, if you can pick it up, on the international version of the BBC’s site.

At any rate, let’s talk about yesterday’s Teaser, shall we?

I’ve got to admit, nice going, everyone!

Six out of Six all round, with Trevor getting the official First-In-Clap!

Lets move on, shall we?

Here’s today’s questions, along with the ‘How To’ and Creative Commons License …

Q1) 29^th November, 1890, saw the Meiji Constitution come in to effect; in which country?

Q2) Nine years later, 29^th November, 1899, saw the founding of which Spanish football club?

Q3) 29^th November, 1947, saw the UN partition which Middle-eastern country?

Q4) Today in 1929 saw Richard Byrd and his team make the first ever flight over what; the North Pole, South Pole, or Equator?

Q5) 29^th November, 1895, saw the birth of which director and choreographer?

Q6) And finally, today in 1947, saw the birth of German politician, Petra Kelly; which German political party did she co-found?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answer’s …

Q1) 28^th November, 1959, saw the founding of the town of 28 de Noviembre; in which South American country is 28 de Noviembre?

A1) Argentina.

Q2) 28^th November, 1660, saw Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle, and ten others, found what’s later known as what?

A2) The Royal Society. (Or Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, as it was originally known.)

Q3) 28^th November, 1814, saw the first newspaper printed by automatic printing press; which newspaper was it?

A3) The Times.

Q4) 28^th November, 1919, saw the election of Lady Nancy Astor, the first woman to sit in the House of Commons; who was the first woman elected to the House of Commons?

A4) Countess Constance Mankiewicz. (Who was a Sinn Féin MP.)

Q5) And finally … 28^th November, 1990 saw which politician submit her resignation?

A5) Margaret Thatcher.

Enjoy those, folks, I’ll catch you later!

Wanting to Believe

Now, there was an entertaining evening!

Bless!

It’s been a little while since I’ve actually managed to host a Movie Night, and that’s on top of an episode of Merlin complete with Georgia Moffett — daughter of Peter Davison and Sandra Dickinson — cropping up as Lady Vivian.

Can I be honest, here?

Can I?

I’m going to be, anyway!

She definitely reminded me of her mother, in this episode, even down to the Dickinson voice, she really did!

Actually tonight’s episode was quite a fun one; one that sees Arthur and Vivian bewitched into falling with each other, Gwen mooning after a lost love, and Merlin, himself — played with his usual enthusiasm, and joy, by Colin Morgan — running around like a headless chicken, trying to sort things out, and make sure Arthur doesn’t get killed in a duel to the death, with an annoyed father!!

Very entertaining, actually.

•••••

As was the movie Kevin D brought over, tonight, bless ’im!

And I’m probably going to refer to it as The X-Files; mostly because its full title, The X-Files: I Want To Believe, is just a bit on the long side.

Certainly with the fonts I tend to like!

I’m going sideways, here, aren’t I?

I’ve got to admit, this is a movie I know I and Kevin Z hadn’t seen; and it’s one I know I enjoyed.

It picks up some years after the series, and sees both Dana Scully and Fox Mulder formally retired from the FBI; with Mulder hidden away from view, and Scully working as a doctor in a Catholic run Hospital.

And persuaded back to their former employers, by Special Agent Dakota Whitney, who has something of a job for them.

Investigating — purely in an advisory capacity — the defrocked pædophile priest, Father Joe, played by Billy Connolly.

Who’s been having what he claims are visions from God, of a kidnapped FBI agent.

One that’s seemingly been kidnapped by a rather more unpleasant than usual bunch of black-market organ-leggers …

•••••

Now, I’ll confess, here, that, despite Virgin One and BBC 2 having shown The X Files series many times over the years — one I’d personally loved, for its mix of alien abductions, government conspiracies, and assorted shenanigans — it was also a series I know I’d not managed to keep up with, especially in later years.

So the fact that I Want To Believe resembled one of the stand-alone, Monster of the Week stories was a good thing, from where I’m sitting.

It meant I was looking at a trio of characters — Dana Scully, Fox Mulder and their boss, Deputy Director, Walter Skinner — I’d known and thought well of, in a new story; without having to worry to much about various bits of previous story-lines I may have missed.

Something that I know worried Kevin D, somewhat; as someone who’d followed the series, more intensely than I, he’d felt there were holes and gaps that could — or should — have been resolved, and hadn’t been.

At least to his satisfaction.

Something I think I’d be a touch miffed about, in his shoes.

But …

But I know I’ve seen an enjoyable film, tonight.

And one that doesn’t ask too much prior knowledge, to be enjoyed.

So, while some may give it a 3★ ‘Could Have Been Better’, I’m personally thinking that it could have been worse.

And certainly deserves checking out.

The Daily Teaser …

Yoicks!

I think I’ve managed to start something, haven’t I?

With yesterday’s Teaser, I think everyone managed to get 6 out of 6, and throw in a quote!

I still like my one from Hamlet, though!

Anyway, let’s move on, shall we?

Yes, let’s!

Here’s today’s questions, along with the ‘How To’ and License …

Q1) 28^th November, 1959, saw the founding of the town of 28 de Noviembre; in which South American country is 28 de Noviembre?

Q2) 28^th November, 1660, saw Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle, and ten others, found what’s later known as what?

Q3) 28^th November, 1814, saw the first newspaper printed by automatic printing press; which newspaper was it?

Q4) 28^th November, 1919, saw the election of Lady Nancy Astor, the first woman to sit in the House of Commons; who was the first woman elected to the House of Commons?

Q5) And finally … 28^th November, 1990 saw which politician submit her resignation?

And here’s yesterday’s Questions and answers …

Q1) 27^th November, 1095, saw which Pope declare the First Crusade?

A1) Pope Urban 2^nd.

Q2) 27^th November, 1975, saw Ross McWhirter shot by the Provisional IRA; which book did he and his brother, Norris, co-found?

A2) The Guinness Book of Records.

Q3) 27^th November, 1897, saw the birth of which notorious Don?

A3) Don Vito Genovese.

Q4) In a similar vein, today in 1934 saw the death — as a result of a shot-out with the FBI — of who?

A4) Lester Joseph Gillis; otherwise known as Baby Face Nelson.

Q5) Today in 1990 saw the Conservative Party pick who as both Party leader and Prime Minister?

A5) John Major.

Q6) And finally; 27^th November, 1852, saw the death of which mathematician and programmer?

A6) Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace; better known, now, as Ada Lovelace.

Enjoy those, folks!