The Daily Teaser — 16-4-2013

Bloody hell … !

Yes, I know that’s a bit of a sudden opening.  But, as I was heading off to bed, last night, news started filtering in, about two bombs going off in Boston.

Right at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

I’m going to offer my condolences to the families of those killed, my hopes that those injured are healed.

And wonder what on Earth happened.   The BBC’s not saying much, as I believe they’ve not found out much: it’s early days yet, in any investigation.   But from where I’m sitting … ?

It’s sounding a lot like the bad old days of The Troubles*.

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

~~≈≈~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Adrence and Debbi putting in their answers: with Debbi asking advice on Marmite, it saw Adrenceº scoring 0 and Debbiª scoring five out of six.

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) 16th April, 73 AD, saw the end of the Siege of Masada: in which (modern-day) country was that Siege … ?

Q2) More to the point, forces of which Empire’s army were besieging it … ?

Q3) Many years later, 16th April, 2007, saw the USA’s largest school shooting: at which American University?

Q4) 16th April, 1953, saw the Queen launch the new Royal Yacht: what was it called … ?

Q5) More to the point, in which year was that Yacht decommissioned … ?

Q6) And finally … 16th April, 1945, saw Russian forces begin a final assault on which German city … ?

And here’s yesterday’s rather wordy questions and answers …

Q1) 15th April saw the first publication of Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language.   In which English city … ?

A1) London.

Q2) More to the point, in which year of the 1750s … ?

A2) 1755.

Q3) Dr Johnson was from which country of Great Britain … ?

A3) England.

Q4) Johnson’s also been diagnosed — posthumously — with what … ?

A4) Tourette’s Syndrome.

Q5) What was the name of Samuel Johnson’s biographer … ?

A5) James Boswell.

Q6) And finally … what’s the last word in the original edition of the dictionary … ?

A6) Zoótomy.   (Zoótomy. n.s. [ζωτομία, of ζῶον and τεμνω.] Dissection of the bodies of beasts.)

Enjoy those, everyone.

Given today is Jimmy Osmond’s birthday, I’ll leave you with his big UK hit … 

And with this quote …

“I’m a good scholar when it comes to reading but a blotting kind of writer when you give me a pen.”

 John Millington Synge, 16 April 1871 – 24 March 1909.

Enjoy the day … !

*        I have to admit, as I write, my thoughts have turned to the likes of the Provisional IRA.   Not that I think they’ve attacked Boston, with it’s large Irish American community: dissident Republicans would be shooting themselves in the foot.   What’s gotten me thinking that way is that — from the little that’s been said on the news — it sounds like the bombs were placed in litter bins, near the finish line.   Pretty much the same tactic used in the second Warrington Bombing of 1993.

º        I’ve said it before, and probably say it again: Adrence’s sheer cheerfulness and determination make him an online quizmasters delight.   I can’t help but think he’s the most cheerful man in Malaysia. :D

ª        Yeah … They’s been running variations of the ‘Love it or hate it’ campaign for years, Debbi.   To the point describing anything cultural — films, songs, books, what have you — as a Marmite item has entered the language.   And simply meaning that people will have that same automatic ‘Love it or hate it’ reaction from the word ‘Go’.   (If it’s any help, by the way, I tend to have it, thinly spread, on toast.   Given the choice … ?   On inch thick slices of grilled bloomer, with butter, and melting in while the slice is hot.   Excuse … I need a cold shower … !)