The Daily Teaser - 13-01-2012

Oh, no, wait a minute … !

When I said I’d try and get meself an early night, last night, I completely overlooked the fact that today …

Is a Friday 13th!

Yeah …

Theoretically, one of the unluckiest days of the year.

Lord knows where that idea comes from.

Although, personally … ? I’ve a funny idea that it all goes back to the old Roman idea that the Ides — the 13th or 15th day of the relevant month — were generally unlucky.

I’m also very aware that the Knight’s Templar were formally dissolved on Friday 13th October, 1307: which was bad luck for them.

Hmmm …

I’d better not get that tabard out, eh … ?

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

‹‹·››

Yes, let’s …

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi and Trevor putting in their answers: with both scoring 5 out of 6, it also saw Trevor quoting — amongst others — Josh Billings, and Debbi quietly admitting she’s felt inspired to borrow the video I posted, yesterday*ª.

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) 13th January saw the Friday 13th virus hit many PCs: in which year of the 1980s?

Q2) 13th January, 1990, saw L. Douglas Wilder become the first Afro-American governor of a US state: which US state?

Q3) 13th January, 1785, saw the publication of the Daily Universal Register: how is that newspaper now known … ?

Q4) 13th January, 1893, saw the founding — in the UK — of the Independent Labour Party: in which year of the 1970s did it dissolve … ?

Q5) And finally … 13th January, 1968, saw Johnny Cash perform at Folsom Prison: on his live album of the same name, what’s the name of the first track on side 1 … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 12th January, 1981, saw the US debut of which TV soap … ?

A1) Dynasty.

Q2) Many years earlier, 12th January, 1966, saw which comic-book hero make his US TV debut … ?

A2) Batman.

Q3) By a huge co-incidence, both shows aired on which national US network … ?

A3) ABC.

Q4) Moving on … 12 January, 1971, saw the Harrisberg Seven accursed of attempting to kidnap whom … ?

A4) Henry Kissinger.

Q5) 12th January, 2004, saw the (then) world’s largest ocean liner make it’s maiden voyage: what was its name … ?

A5) The RMS Queen Mary 2.

Q6) And finally … 12th January, 2012 is — until sunset — which date in the Islamic calendar … ?

A6) 17 Safar, 1433.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

* I’ve got to admit, Debbi, that’s actually one of Apple’s old adverts: the original was voiced by Richard Dreyfuss. (Weirdly … ? Radio 4’s news bulletin has just told us that pancreatic cancer — the disease that eventually killed Steve Jobs, — can be triggered if you eat two much meat protein: Jobs was a vegetarian. Go figure … !)

ª Actually, Debbi, Trevor: I’m happily admit, I’ve just started using Wolfram Alpha as a research tool for these: which means I’ll be SERIOUSLY checking things!