The Daily Teaser — 8-2-2013

Isn’t it amazing what you can find out, having the news on in the background … ?

It is … !   I mean, Radio 4’s Today programme has just had a piece on the Bolshoi Ballet.   I always got the impression footballers like Mario Balotelli were a handful.   The lead dancer at the Bolshoi makes him look positively reasonable.

Then there’s Findus.   Oh dear … Just when you thought the Horse-meat saga was over, it turns up and gives comedians a present … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

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Yesterday’s saw Debbi putting in her answers.   Along with letting us know her next post’s looking good, she ALSO managed to bag 10 out of 10*.

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) 8th February, 1865, saw Delaware vote against the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution: the amendment that rejected slavery.   In which year did Delaware finally ratify it … ?

Q2) 8th February, 1971, saw the opening of the NASDAQ stock market: was it the first, second or third electronic stock market… ?

Q3) 8th February, 1983, saw Ariel Sharon quit his Israeli government post, after enquiries into two massacres.   Which post was it … ?

Q4) 8th February, 1915, saw the debut of controversial film, The Birth Of A Nation: which far-right group did it put in an unjustified, favourable light … ?

Q5) And finally … 8th February, 1950, saw the formal founding of the Stasi: which country’s secret police were the Stasi … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 7th February, 1992, saw the signing of the Maastricht Treaty on the EU: in which country is Maastricht … ?   

A1) The Netherlands.

Q2) It — originally — was signed by members of what was then called what: the EEC, the EC or the EU … ?   

A2) The EC, or European Community: the ‘Economic had been dropped’, and the EU was what was created.

Q3) That organisation is now the EU: what does EU stand for … ?   

A3) European Union.

Q4) More to the point, how many members does the EU have … ?   

A4) 27.

Q5) What’s the name of the single currency used in many EU countries … ?   

A5) The Euro.

Q6) How many members of the EU use that single currency … ?   

A6) 17.

Q7) Name one of them …    

A7) Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.   (Now … BREATHE … !)

Q8) While we’re being monetary: in which German city is the European Central Bank … ?   

A8) Frankfurt.   (There’s a joke, there, either with a sausage or Tim Curry: take your pick … )

Q9) How many official languages are there, in the EU … ?   

A9) 23.

Q10) And finally … the European Parliament is elected for terms of how long: 5, 7 or 15 years … ?   

A10) 5 year terms.

As today marks the birth of the father of French science fiction, Jules Vernes, I’ll leave you with this …

“Science, my lad, has been built upon many errors; but they are errors which it was good to fall into, for they led to the truth.”   From Journey to the Centre Of The Earth Jules Verne, February 8, 1828 – March 24, 1905

And with this tune from Mötley Crüe … 

*        I’m looking forward to it, Debbi.   (Oh, and don’t worry, computer wise: I’m like a trainspotter who’s seen a good one go pas, sometimest.  :D  The weird bit is my text messages: I had one from my youngest sister, Ruth — Jude’s mum — this morning, asking me what a Mac Mini was.   I don’t think I’ve managed to shut up, yet … !! )