The Daily Teaser - 11-3-2012

Now, that’s weird, that really is.

Or strange, at any rate, to someone who’s a bit of an armchair techno-fetishist.

I’ve just had the BBC Breakfast news on, who’ve just had a short piece about how record sales are up.

No, literally, record sales.

You know, old fashioned vinyl records? Seven to 12 inches across, at a speed of anywhere from 33⅓ to 78rpm, with a hole in the middle?

The two newscasters even managed to end the piece by admitting what their first records were: the Smurf Song, and something by Showaddywaddy.

Which got me wondering what the hell my first record was: don’t quote me, but I THINK it was this …

‹‹•››

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbiª putting in her answers: and, along with admitting she’s clueless about the UK’s range of biscuits*, it ALSO saw her bagging 5 out of 5.

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) 11th March, 2011, saw an earthquake strike, just off the coast of Japan. In addition to the inevitable tsunami, this triggered the world’s second largest nuclear disaster: at which plant … ?

Q2) 11th March, 2010, saw three earthquakes hit Chile, during the swearing in of the newly elected Chilean president: what was his name? (And don’t tell him about portents …)

Q3) 11th March, 1985, saw who named as the leader of the USSR … ?

Q4) More to the point, what was that leader’s title … ?

Q5) 11th March, 1872, saw the construction of which Welsh Colliery?

Q6) And finally … 11th March, 1927, saw Samuel Rothafel open the theatre he named after himself: what was that theatre … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 10th March, saw the defeat of which French leader, at the Battle of Laon … ?

A1) Napoleon I: Napoléon Bonaparte, in other words …

Q2) 10th March, 1876, saw Alexander Graham Bell make the first telephone call: what did he say … ?

A2) “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.”

Q3) While we’re telephoning … 10th March, 1891, saw the patenting of the Strowger Switch, which allowed for automated phone exchanges: it’s inventor, Almon Strowger, was a what … ?

A3) Undertaker.

Q4) 10th March, 214BC, saw the end of the First Punic War: who won … ?

A4) The Romans.

Q5) And finally … 10th March, 1977, saw astronomers discover rings around Uranus: name any of the three astronomers concerned …

A5) James L. Elliot, Edward W. Dunham, and Douglas J. Mink.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you with a little piece of Americana, courtesy of the late Sonny Terry …

* Actually, Debbi, I’m just as clueless about the US’s range: bar the fact that the traditional US cookie’s a bit bigger … ! :D

ª Actually, while I’m ON the subject of videos, Debbi, I meant to say cheers for the mention, yesterday. “Cheers for the mention, yesterday”.