The Daily Teaser - 29-2-2012

Hmmm …

You realise it’s the 29th February, don’t you … ?

I do … !

And I know it’s only once every four years, but, Lordy, writing that was fiddly.

Well …

No fiddlier — fiddlyer … ? No, my spellchecker’s objecting — than usual: but with only a quarter of the news, births, deaths, marriages and quotes.

But certainly with an interesting superstition or two, along the way.

Oh …

And the introduction of the Raspberry Pi, today. Which is either a really radical piece of educational kit, or a piece of technology that’s thirty years two late.

Oh, well. At least the BBC World Service is 80, today. Although one has to ask.

How did they work THAT out … ?

Let’s get moving on, shall we …

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi giving us a quick update*, and bagging 6 out of 6: and commenting on the state of Washington DCª’s walls.

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) 29th February is a Leap Day: leap days are needed because the Earth’s orbit is roughly how much longer than the calendar year: half a day, a third of a day or a quarter of a day?

Q2) The Gregorian calendar that sees this happened is designed to keep the vernal equinox near which date: 21st March, 21st June or 21st September?

Q3) 2012 is a leap year: when was the last leap year … ?

Q4) When was the first leap year of the 21st century … ?

Q5) In which year is the LAST leap year of the 21st century … ?

Q6) According to an old British tradition, 29th February is the one date of the year a woman is allowed to do what … ?

Q7) When was the last leap second added to the clocks … ?

Q8) In The Twelve Days of Christmas, how many lords a’leaping are there … ?

Q9) The Summer Olympics are usually held in a leap year: in which European city are they being held, this year … ?

Q10) And FINALLY … What’s the name of the French magazine that’s only published on the 29th February … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 28th February, 1784, saw a Methodist Church chartered by whom … ?

A1) John Wesley.

Q2) 28th February, 1935, saw Wallace Carothers invent which famously artificial substance … ?

A2) Nylon.

Q3) More to the point, name either of the cities that substance named after … ?

A3) New York and London.

Q4) 28th February, 1959, saw the launch of Discoverer 1: the first satellite to go into what: equatorial orbit, geostationary orbit or polar orbit … ?

A4) Polar orbit.

Q5) 28th February, 1991, saw a ceasefire declared, as war ends in which Middle Eastern country … ?

A5) Iraq: this is the formal end of the 1st Gulf War.

Q6) And finally … 28th February, 1954, saw the first colour TV sets — using the NTSC system — go on sale in the US: what does NTSC stand for … ?

A6) National Television Systems Committee.

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

* I don’t know how you managed it, Debbi, but you managed to put a smile on my face, there. Just with the shear style … ! :D

ª Of course you wouldn’t, Debbi. Absolutely! (Now … where did we put the spray paint and V masks … ?)