The Daily Teaser — 21-2-2013

It has to be said, I’ve got the tv on, in the background.

With a recorded documentary — made by Eddie Izzard — about his family history.

It’s just opened, to be frank: and is sounding fascinating, already.

Mitochondrial DNA and all that: turns out we’re all related, and all related to the San people of the Kalahari.

Makes you think, doesn’t it … ?

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

~~~~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with admitting she’s hoping her hand improves enough, by the start of conference season, she ALSO bagged six out of six.

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

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

Q1) 21st February is International Mother Language Day, as promoted by UNESCO: what does UNESCO stand for … ?

Q2) How many official languages does the UN have … ?

Q3) Name one of them.

Q4) How many languages are spoken in Africa … ?

Q5) What’s the only Semitic language native to Europe: Yiddish, Maltese or Neo-Aramaic … ?

Q6) According to Wikipedia, how many languages are indigenous to the British Isles … ?

Q7) And finally … how many living languages are spoken in China … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 20th February, 1816, saw which of Rossini’s opera’s debut in the Teatro Argentina … ?

A1) The Barber of Seville.

Q2) More to the point, in which Italian city is the Teatro Argentina … ?

A2) Rome.

Q3) 20th February, 1962, saw who become the first American to orbit the Earth … ?

A3) Senator John Glenn.

Q4) 20th February saw the USSR launch the Mir space station: in which year of the 1980s … ?

A4) 1986.

Q5) 20th February, 1935, saw Caroline Mikkelsen become the first woman to set foot, where … ?

A5) Antartica.

Q6) And finally … 20th February, 1872, saw the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art: in which US city … ?

A6) New York.

I’ll leave you with this rather relevant song from Laurie Andersen … 

And with two quotes, today: the first from John Ralston Saul …

“ … a clever Toronto lawyer was deep into a technical argument before the Supreme Court. His position was dependent upon a close reading of the legal text and turned on the letter of the law. Suddenly the chief justice, Beverley McLachlin, leaned forward and asked the counsel if his argument also worked in French. After all, the law is the law in both languages and a loophole in one tends to evaporate in the other. Only an argument of substance stands up. The lawyer had no idea what to reply.”

John Ralston Saul.

And this line from Shakespeare’s King Lear …

“Thou whoreson Zed! thou unnecessary letter!”

William Shakespeare, King Lear (Act ii, Scene 2.)

Enjoy the day.

*        I’ll definitely be keeping my fingers crossed for you Debbi: if you and Rick do manage to get over, again, I’ll hopefully have enough dosh to say “It’s My Round!”.   Oh, by the way, I don’t know if it helps: but I’ve managed to find the Wikipedia entry on Dystonia.