Mobile Blogging

Hmm ...

You know, I'll happily admit to being Mr Unhealthy.

But do like to get out of the flat.

Even if it's just to get as far as the library: something the - hopefully - attached photos show.

OK: granted it's only so much.

But at least I've managed to get some fresh air.

AND used me new iPod to it the post up about it

The New Year’s Eve Teaser — 31-12-2012

Hmmm … 

Nice to know.

Seemingly, the fortnight between Boxing Day and the end of the first week of January is the Fortnight when online dating sites rather well.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve are obviously rougher that we think.

Hmmm … 

Amazing what you can find out on the BBC’s news channel … 

Let’s move on, shall we?   Yes, let’s … 

~~~~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with the realisation that she can make stuff up for a future book, she ALSO bagged 6 out of 6.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions.   Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 31st December is, obviously, New Year’s Eve: who directed the 2011 film, New Year’s Eve … ?

Q2) Who — in 2010 — released a song called New Year’s Eve … ?

Q3) On the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve what carboniferous object is a Scotsman supposed to give you … ?

Q4) What’s the name of the road race that takes place in Wales, on New Year’s Eve … ?

Q5) And finally … who released the song, It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 3rd January, 2011, saw the death of cartoonist, Ronald Searle: which famously anarchic schoolgirls did he create … ?   A1) The girls of Saint Trinians.

Q2) 30th December, 1922, saw the founding of the USSR: what does USSR stand for … ?   A2) The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Q3) 30th December, 1948, saw the opening of which Cole Porter musical … ?   A3) Kiss Me Kate.

Q4) More to the point, which Best Musical award was it the first to win … ?   A4) The Tony.

Q5) 30th December, 39 AD, saw the birth of which Roman Emperor … ?   A5) Titus: or Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus, in full.

Q6) And finally … 30th December, 2002, saw who arrested for drink-driving … ?   A6) Diana Ross.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with this quote from Bill Vaughan …

“Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve.  Middle age is when you're forced to.”Bill Vaughan.

And the USUAL tune for this time of year … 

Oh, and this song about public schoolgirls … 

Happy New Year … 

*        Yeah, video games arcades!   You don’t see those much, these days: that’s power of the internet revolution for you,   Actually, Debbi, how’s this for synchronicity?   You know Apple do a 12 Days of Christmas app, this time of year … ?   It’s basically a way of handing out free applications that give the developers concerned some advertising.   Well, I switched my copy on, this morning … to find it was handing out Sonic Jump.   Complete with a certain blue chap … 

Flash Gordon: CLASS Cheese …

Drat … !

Me and Kevin had the pizza … 

But forgot the big tin of biscuits … !

I have to wonder what on EARTH overtook me, there.

Still … 

It DOES mean more for me.

Yeah … 

You’re right, that DOES sound a touch off, now I come to think of it.

Think I might just have to save some … 

Now … You’re probably wondering why all the talk of food … ?

Bless ’im, Kevin D likes company and a movie, occasionally.   And fancied sharing something in his movie collection he knew I’d not seen in a while: the 1980, Mike Hodges directed, Anglo American film that is … Flash Gordon

~~~~~

Set in contemporary — AHEM — times, the film sees Sam Jones as the eponymous Flash: a football quarterback flying home after a game, along with travel agent. Dale Arden (Melody Anderson).

Only to come unstuck, as their private plane crashes: as a result of Hot Hail launched at the Earth by Ming the Merciless, Emperor of Mongo, who’s intent on |invading Earth … 

And wearing a hideously deformed Fu Manchu beard … !

~~~~~

Now, I’m perfectly aware that Flash Gordon is not high art.

About as far from high art as it’s possible to get.

On the other hand, though … ?

As cheesy as it is, romps along at a good rate of knots, has a fantastic soundtrack AND has a storyline that sets out to entertain, and achieves that splendidly.

Flash Gordon is cheese.

Not any old rubbish.

But an incredibly good quality brie … !

Flash Gordon   

Paul: ★★★☆    Kevin: ★★★☆ 
Average: ★★★☆   

The Daily Teaser — 30-12-2012

Ooooh … Now THAT’S a useful little app.

I’ve managed to download a copy of Bump from the iTunes app store.

Handy little thing, that: it let’s you exchange files between mobile devices — and mobile devices and a computer — without having to turn on Bluetooth, hook up cables or switch on photo management software.

Like I say … handy … !

Not as much fun as the Space Invaders … but definitely handy … 

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, let’s … 

‹‹•››

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: along with bagging 6·5 out of 7, she ALSO let us know — here — that Monday’s going to be surreal, AND asked after Sonic The Hedgehog*.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

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

Q1) 3rd January, 2011, saw the death of cartoonist, Ronald Searle: which famously anarchic schoolgirls did he create … ?

Q2) 30th December, 1922, saw the founding of the USSR: what does USSR stand for … ?

Q3) 30th December, 1948, saw the opening of which Cole Porter musical … ?

Q4) More to the point, which Best Musical award was it the first to win … ?

Q5) 30th December, 39 AD, saw the birth of which Roman Emperor … ?

Q6) And finally … 30th December, 2002, saw who arrested for drink-driving … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) The night of the 29th December, 1940, saw the Second Great Fire Of London: caused by a bombing raid by whom … ?

A1) The Luftwaffe.

Q2) More to the point, which London Cathedral famously survived that raid … ?

A2) Saint Paul’s.   There’s even a famous photo … 

Q3) 29th December, 1959, saw the Lisbon Metro start operating.  How many stations are there on the Lisbon Metro … ?

A3) 55.

Q4) More to the point, in which European country is Lisbon … ?

A4) Portugal.

Q5) 29th December, 1860, saw the launch of the first Royal Navy ironclad: what was its name … ?

A5) HMS Warrior.

Q6) That ship’s completion and launch was in response to which country launching an ironclad … ?

A6) France.

Q7) And finally … 29th December, 1914, saw the first chapters of A Portrait of the the Artist As A Young Man serialized: who wrote A Portrait of the the Artist As A Young Man … ?

A7) James Joyce.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with this quote from the late, great, Rudyard Kipling …

“Fiction is Truth's elder sister. Obviously. No one in the world knew what truth was till some one had told a story.”

Rudyard Kipling, 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936

And his classic poem, If—

And with a brief tune from birthday boy, Jay Kay … 

*        Never had an original copy, myself, Debbi.   That was on the Sony MegaDriveª, many years, ago, which I never had.   I did play it, though, though, just not extensively: if there’s anything I can help with, though, feel free to ask.   Hmmm … Have you a smartphone … ?   There’s a chance that it’s going to have been re-released on it, as it has — in various forms — on the various hand-held consoles.   (I played various roleplaying games, though: Tunnels and Trolls was a favourite, way back in the day, as was 1st/2nd edition Runequestº.)

º        Which, in Glorantha, had a very well worked out background universe.   As I recall, it seemed to kickstart the trend for RPG’s with very good backdrops.

ª        I have managed to get hold of Space Invaders, though, Debbi … :D

The Daily Teaser — 29-12-2013

You, I have to admit, I’m a bit of an aging role-playing-game fan, I really am.

And one that played Tunnels & Trolls, many years ago.

The game was the second hit for a then comparatively then gaming genre: and always left those in the industry thankful.   

Because it proved Dungeons and Dragons success wasn’t a fluke: and that you could make an RPG that was a heck of a lot less clunky … !

Well … I got chatting to Liz Danforth on Twitter, last night: the gaming industry veteran artist, without whom many games — including T&T — would’ve looked very different.

And according to her — someone who definitely knows — the game’s soon to be republished: by original publishers, Flying Buffalo, and its original creative team.   (Including Ms Danforth, herself.)

Think I’ll be keeping my eyes open for THAT … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

~~~~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mr Strict, Debbi* and Andy putting in their answers: with Mr S bagging 9, and Debbi and Andy scoring 10, it also saw Debbi telling us she’s working on her memoirs, and Andy pointing out — in his answers — the Eon Productions almost postponed making Skyfall.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with todays questions, shall we?

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

Q1) The night of the 29th December, 1940, saw the Second Great Fire Of London: caused by a bombing raid by whom … ?

Q2) More to the point, which London Cathedral famously survived that raid … ?

Q3) 29th December, 1959, saw the Lisbon Metro start operating.  How many stations are there on the Lisbon Metro … ?

Q4) More to the point, in which European country is Lisbon … ?

Q5) 29th December, 1860, saw the launch of the first Royal Navy ironclad: what was its name … ?

Q6) That ship’s completion and launch was in response to which country launching an ironclad … ?

Q7) And finally … 29th December, 1914, saw the first chapters of A Portrait of the the Artist As A Young Man serialized: who wrote A Portrait of the the Artist As A Young Man … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 28th December, 1895, saw the first fee paying film screening: by which brothers … ?

A1) Auguste and Louis Lumière.

Q2) That screening was in the basement of which Café … ?

A2) The Grand Café.

Q3) What did the brothers call their projector … ?

A3) The Cinématographe.

Q4) The word cinema comes from a Greek word that means what: marching, movement or dancing … ?

A4) Movement.

Q5) Nat Taylor is the man credited with inventing the Multiplex cinema: in which Canadian city was his first cinema … ?

A5) Ottawa.

Q6) What cinematic device did Charles Cretors invent: the movie camera, the popcorn machine or the clapboard … ?

A6) The popcorn machine.

Q7) As of 2012, what’s Britain’s highest grossing movie … ?

A7) Skyfall.

Q8) While we on the subject: there are three linked films on Wikipedia’s Highest Grossing UK Films list, at Eight, Nine and Ten.   Name one of them.

A8) The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King.

Q9) Which Stanley Kubrick film did Stanley Kubrick describe as “the proverbial good science fiction movie” … ?

A9) 2001: A Space Odyssey.   (It, for my money, is still one of the best films ever made.)

Q10) And finally … which Orson Welles film was regarded — until 2012 — as the greatest film ever made … ?

A10) Citizen Kane.

Enjoy those, everyone: as today’s the birthday of Dr Who star, Bernard Cribbins, I’ll leave you with this quote from him.

“I remember my mother used to always make us a very special dish - string beans covered in marshmallows and cornflakes... fantastic!”

Bernard Cribbins, 29th December. 1928

And, of course with his two big UK hits … 

*        You DO realise, Debbi, I’m going to be wanting to add that to my collection … ?

The Friday Question Set — 28-12-2012

Yoicks … !!

Busy, busy, BUSY, at the moment.

Dinner on the go, washing doing, drying doing and all this with one text conversation going … 

And a lot of playing about with a Lightsaber app on the new iPod … !

AHEM!

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

After all, today is Friday which obviously means one thing.

The Friday Question Set: covered by the usual License and How To … 

Online 183:   

ROUND ONE.   GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.  

Q1) In fiction, what were Milly Molly Mandy’s proper names?   

A1) Millicent Margaret Amanda.

Q2) Who replaced Christopher Eccleston as Dr Who?   

Q2) David Tennant.

Q3) Who was the first woman to fly the Atlantic single-handed?   

A3) Amelia Earhart.

Q4) Which type of medical practitioner is Saint Apollonia the patron saint of?   

A4) Dentists.

Q5) What colour is the ribbon of the Victoria Cross?   

A5) Purple.

Q6) Who succeeded Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa and leader of the ANC?   

A6) Thabo Mbeki.

Q7) Which prime minister was known as ‘Sunny Jim’?   

A7) James Callaghan.

Q8) In heraldry, what is meant by ‘couchant’: lying down, sitting down or crouching down?   

A8) Lying down.

Q9) In which sphere was Binkie Beaumont a prominent figure: aircraft manufacture, ice-skating or the theatre?   

A9) The theatre.

Q10) In business jargon, what does the acronym ‘GLAM’ stands for Greying, Leisured, Affluent and … what?   

A10) Greying, Leisured, Affluent and Married.

ROUND TWO.   KING’S AND QUEENS.  

Q11) Which English king was shot by an arrow while hunting in the New Forest: William 2nd, or William Rufus?   

A11) Both of them: it’s the two different names for the same king!

Q12) Who played the king in Alexander Korda’s 1933 film The Private Life of Henry 8th?   

A12) Charles Laughton.

Q13) Which monarch has been played by Flora Robson, Glenda Jackson, Miranda Richardson and Cate Blanchett?   

A13) Elizabeth 1st.

Q14) Who was the father of George 5th?   

A14) Edward 7th.

Q15) What kind of sporting accident is popularly supposed to have led to the death of Frederick Louis, eldest son of George II, in 1751?   

A15) He was struck on the head by a cricket ball.

Q16) Which English queen was born with six fingers on one hand?   

A16) Anne Boleyn.

Q17) Which English king as an adult was just four feet nine inches (1.4 metres) tall?   

A17) Charles I.

Q18) Which English king died after being shot by an arrow while besieging a castle in France: Richard the 1st, Richard the 2nd or Richard the 3rd?   

A18) Richard I (the Lion-heart).

Q19) Which King had a dream in 1963?   

A19) Martin Luther King.

Q20) Which group had a hit with Kings of the Wild Frontier?   

A20) Adam and the Ants.

ROUND THREE.   BLINDED WITH SCIENCE.  

Q21) In food science, what do the initials GM stand for?   

A21) Genetically modified.

Q22) How heavy, in kilograms, is a litre of water?   

A22) One kilogram.

Q23) What is the term for a positive electrode: anode, or cathode?   

A23) Anode.   (The positive one’s a cathode)

Q24) Betz cells are found in which organ of the body?   

A24) The brain.

Q25) Which part of the eye gives it its colour?   

A25) The iris.

Q26) Which form of carbon is used for pencil lead?   

A26) Graphite.

Q27) What invention of Sir John Harington’s, back in 1589 proved to be a great convenience?   

A27) The water closet (an early lavatory).

Q28) The lux is a unit of what: electrical speed, processor speed, or illumination?   

A28) Illumination.

Q29) Which Greek philosopher first claimed that the world was not flat but a sphere?   

A29) Pythagorus.

Q30) At what speed in mph does a wind become a hurricane?   

A30) 73mph.

ROUND FOUR.   HOBBIES AND LEISURE.  

Q31) Butlins was the first successful what, in the UK?   

A31) Holiday camp.

Q32) Atari means what, when translated into English?   

A32) Attack.

Q33) Hoyles Compendium is generally agreed to be the world’s most complete guide to what subject?   

A33) Games.

Q34) Which magazine’s title is the French word for ‘she’?   

A34) Elle.

Q35) What would you hire from Moss Bros?   

A35) A suit.

Q36) In 1962 the Metropole in Brighton became Britain’s first licensed what?   

A36) Casino.

Q37) What is a hostelaphilist interested in?   

A37) Pub signs.

Q38) What is a campanologist interested in?   

A38) Bell-ringing.

Q39) On a standard pack of playing cards, which is the only king without a moustache?   

A39) The King  of Hearts.

Q40) One of the first Barbie Dolls has been valued at eight thousand pounds, but in which year were the dolls first manufactured: 1959, 1961 or 1963?   

A40) 1959.

ROUND FIVE.   BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS  

Q41) By what name did Farukh Bulsara become well known?   

A41) Freddie Mercury.

Q42) Which English football league club originally played as Small Heath Alliance?   

A42) Birmingham City. 

Q43) Which US president did his World War 2 service on PT 109?   

A43) John F. Kennedy (who served on torpedo boat PT 109).

Q44) Which member of the Rolling Stones was born ‘William Perks’?   

A44) Bill Wyman. 

Q45) Which famous French artist worked as a labourer on the Panama Canal?   

A45) Paul Gauguin.

Q46) Which US president was famously born in a log cabin?   

A46) Andrew Jackson.

Q47) Which English novelist worked as a child in a boot-blacking factory?   

A47) Charles Dickens

Q48) Which Lancashire-born comedian served as Charlie Chaplin’s understudy as a young man?   

A48) Stan Laurel.

Q49) The Spitfire fighter plane might have been called the Shrew - true or false?

A49) True.

Q50) Who predicted that in the future everyone would be famous for 15 minutes?   

A50) Andy Warhol.

ROUND SIX.   GENERAL IGNORANCE.  

Q51) Which tennis player gave their name to a computer virus, in 2001?   

A51) Anna Khournikova.

Q52) A rhombus is a shape with how many sides?   

A52) Four.

Q53) Until its closure, in 1981, what was the least used station, on the London Underground: Blake Hall, British Museum, or Bull & Bush?   

A53) Blake Hall, near Ongar with 6 passengers per day.   (Bull & Bush was never opened)

Q54) In money slang, how much is a ‘Pavarotti’ worth?   

A54) £10.00

Q55) Where would you find together a verso and a recto?    

A55) In a book (They’re the left and right pages, respectively.)

Q56) Who shaved his head for the film Twelve Monkeys?   

A56) Bruce Willis

Q57) What’s the technical term for a DVD, or CD?   

A57) An optical disc.

Q58) Who cut off the tails of the Three Blind Mice?   

A58) The Farmers Wife.

Q59) With which physical handicap was Dudley Moore born?   

A59) Club Foot .

Q60) Hadephobia is the phobia of what?   

A60) Hell.

Enjoy that everyone: I hope it helps … !

The Daily Teaser — 28-12-2012

Bleaugh … !

I think I can TELL I’m getting old.

One late night last night — watching Mock the Week — and I feel VERY sleepy. 

To the point where I’m, frankly, tempted to go back to bed … !

I think I’ll try and avoid it, though.

It WOULD be nice to get out and about, wouldn’t it?

Let’s get moving on, shall we?

~~~~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi and Andy putting in their answers: with both bagging 6 out of 6, it saw Andy reminding us it’s Mark Ronson’sº dad’s birthday, today, and Debbi* telling us how shy she was as a youngster.

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

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

Q1) 28th December, 1895, saw the first fee paying film screening: by which brothers … ?

Q2) That screening was in the basement of which Café … ?

Q3) What did the brothers call their projector … ?

Q4) The word cinema comes from a Greek word that means what: marching, movement or dancing … ?

Q5) Nat Taylor is the man credited with inventing the Multiplex cinema: in which Canadian city was his first cinema … ?

Q6) What cinematic device did Charles Cretors invent: the movie camera, the popcorn machine or the clapboard … ?

Q7) As of 2012, what’s Britain’s highest grossing movie … ?

Q8) While we on the subject: there are three linked films on Wikipedia’s Highest Grossing UK Films list, at Eight, Nine and Ten.   Name one of them.

Q9) Which Stanley Kubrick film did Stanley Kubrick describe as “the proverbial good science fiction movie” … ?

Q10) And finally … which Orson Welles film was regarded — until 2012 — as the greatest film ever made … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 27th December, 1911, marked the first formal performance of Jana Gana Mana: Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem of which country … ?

A1) India.

Q2) More to the point, in which year of the 1940s did that country become independent … ?

A2) 1947.

Q3) 27th December, 1845, saw which anæsthetic used in childbirth, for the first time … ?

A3) Ether.

Q4) 27th December, 2004, saw Viktor Yushchenko the Ukraine’s General Election: during what became known as the what Revolution … ?

A4) The Orange Revolution.

Q5) 27th December, 1977, saw the UK release of Star Wars: which US film company recently bought the franchise from George Lucas … ?

A5) Disney.

Q6) And finally … 27th December, 537AD, saw the Hagia Sophia church, in Istanbul, completed.   What is it now used as … ?

A6) A museum.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with this interestingly DIY approach to movie making from Werner Herzog …

“If you want to do a film, steal a camera, steal raw stock, sneak into a lab and do it!”

Werner Herzog.  (Who sounds like he’s seen Monsters )

And a tune or two from — or about — the movies … 

*        Naah … You were never shy, were you, Debbi … ?   Mind you, I have to admit, I was … ! :D

º        You know, it ALWAYS amazes me what you can learn, writing these, Andy

The Daily Teaser — 27-12-2012

You know, it’s got to be said … Jude was definitely fascinated, bless him!

I’d managed to pick him up a Lightin’ McQueen toy car, yesterday.   And despite the fact he was feeling decidedly iffy, yesterday.

And — I think —  a bit overwhelmed by everyone turning up to say ‘Happy Birthday’ … !

Bless ’im … !

At any rate … let’s get moving on, shall we?   Yes, let’s … !

~~~~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi and Andy putting in their answers: with both scoring 5 out of 5, is saw Andy* highlighting this — seemingly, the late Gerry Anderson, who died yesterdays, was planning a new take on his classic series, Thunderbirds — and Debbi telling us she’d never found a Mr Peanut she’d seen as a child especially scaryº.

But let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

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

Q1) 27th December, 1911, marked the first formal performance of Jana Gana Mana: Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem of which country … ?

Q2) More to the point, in which year of the 1940s did that country become independent … ?

Q3) 27th December, 1845, saw which anæsthetic used in childbirth, for the first time … ?

Q4) 27th December, 2004, saw Viktor Yushchenko the Ukraine’s General Election: during what became known as the what Revolution … ?

Q5) 27th December, 1977, saw the UK release of Star Wars: which US film company recently bought the franchise from George Lucas … ?

Q6) And finally … 27th December, 537AD, saw the Hagia Sophia church, in Istanbul, completed.   What is it now used as … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 26th December is — obviously — Boxing Day.   It’s also the feast of which Saint … ?

A1) Saint Stephen.

Q2) It’s also —  in the Irish Republic — the Day of the Wren: which pre-decimal English coin had a wren on the back … ?

A2) The farthing.

Q3) Who became the first Afro-American to win the World Heavyweight Boxing champion, on Boxing Day, 1908 … ?

A3) Jack Johnson.

Q4) Which two Commonwealth countries usually start Test Cricket matches on Boxing Day … ?

A4) South Africa and Australia.

Q5) And FINALLY … UK football teams usually play what on Boxing Day:  charity matches, cup finals, or matches against local rivals.

A5) matches against local rivals.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with this quote from birthday girl, Janet Street Porter …

“Sometimes I've looked at a plate of food and wondered if it wouldn't look better as a hat.”

Janet Street Porter, born 27 December 1946

And a song from David Knopfler … 

And considering Gerry Anderson died, yesterday … ?

I’ll leave you with the intro to his classic series … 

And with this song ALL about them … 

*        Oh, now THAT’S a shame to see, Andy: would’ve been interesting to see, I think … !

º        I think I might have done, myself, Debbi.   I DO know The Herbs, Parsley the Lion in particular, used to scare me silly,   I hid behind the sofa!