The Daily Teaser - 26-7-2011

You know, I’ve got to confess, I’ve just seen last night’s episode of QI.

Now, I don’t know if there’s a version where you are, but I’d urge checking the original, as and when you get the chance: Stephen Fry — Mac fan boi, National Treasure, and the Nation’s Favourite School Swot — makes for one hell of a Quiz-master.

But last night’s … ?

Well …

You’d’ve had to see it.

Because one quite interesting fact that crops up from time to time on it … ?

Is the simple fact that the Giant Tortoise didn’t get a scientific Latin name for quite a long time.

Mostly off the back of the fact that it was — and presumably still is — both edible …

And described as delicious.

Quite a few didn’t make it back to London.

I’ll be honest …

I’m trying to avoid a cynical remark about coming in their own bowl, but I might just save it for later …

Lets move on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi and Alexandra putting in their answers: and, with both seemingly fascinated by the word ‘snog’*, it also saw Alexandra bagging 2 (sort of) out seven, with Debbi bagging 6º.

Lets see how they — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 26th July, 1936, saw Axis powers jointly decide to intervene in the Spanish Civil War: name either of the two informal members of the Axis, at the time …

Q2) 26th July, 1953, saw Arizona’s governor — John Howard Pyle — order a raid on the town of Short Creek: what was he cracking down on?

Q3) 26th July, 1887, saw the publication of Unua Libro: which language does this describe … ?

Q4) 26th July, 1952, saw the death of Eva Perón: who first played her in the 1978 West End musical, Evita … ?

Q5) And finally … 26th July, 1963, saw the launch of the world’s first geosynchronous satellite, the Syncom 2: who popularised the of geosynchronous satellites, in a 1945 magazine article … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 25th July, 1978, saw the birth of the world‘s first test tube baby: what was her name … ?

A1) Louise Brown.

Q2) More to the point, how much did she weigh at birth … ?

Q2) 5lbs, 12 oz.

Q3) Equally to the point, who famously raised concerns that the procedure could lead to women becoming ‘baby factories’, whilst refusing to condemn the parents … ?

A3) Patriarch of Venice, Albino Luciano: later to become Pope John Paul 1st. (Rather than the whole Church.)

Q4) Moving on … 25th July, 1898, saw the USA begin its land invasion of where … ?

A4) Puerto Rico.

Q5) 25th July, 1603, saw James 6th of Scotland be crowned as James 1st of England: what did he dub the union … ?

A5) Great Britain. (Strictly speaking, this was just a union of the crowns: in other words, the crowns England, Scotland and Ireland shared a monarch. They didn’t become politically united until 1707.)

Q6) 25th July, 1992, saw the Olympic Games open with a record number of nations, attending: but in which Spanish city … ?

A6) Barcelona.

Q7) And finally … 25th July, 1965, saw who notoriously pick up an electric guitar … ?

A7) Bob Dylan.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with Queen hit, Those Were The Days Of Our Lives, written by birthday boy, Roger Taylor. And I’ll make a confession, here … I still find it painful to watch, seeing how ill Freddie wasª …

* As I said to Alexandra, I wouldn’t’ve minded … except I’d’ve probably ended up getting arrested … !

º Q3, Debbi: strictly, it was the late Cardinal Albino Luciano, while he was still Patriarch of Venice, before being elected as Pope: rather than the church as a whole.

ª Something I find bloody annoying is the amount of people who I’ve seen, over the years, who come out with a variation of “well, ’e woz a poofta, he’s only got ’imself ta blame.” Whilst stubbing out a cigarette. (I’m a bit left wing, and don’t see how someone’s choice of bed-partner’s important. And, while I’ll happily admit gay men were notorious for risky behaviour … But ALSO point out we’ve ALL done something, whether it’s smoked, drank, indulged in risky sex, what-have-you.)