The Daily Teaser — 27-8-2013

You know, THAT’S a start.

My kid sister Ruth — my nephew, Jude’s mother — bought herself a new computer a Few days ago: unfortunately, not a Mac, despite my urging.

But decided to grab my help, transferring stuff across.

Ye GODS, but Windows 8’s a nightmare … !   That tiled GUI … ?   It’s good: and does work well, from the little I’ve seen.

But using it on a non-touchscreen desktop?   Like the cheaper models available, or an (upgraded) older model machine … ?    I think Microsoft could’ve done a touch better, there,

Let’s move on, there, shall we?

Before I get started … !

~≈©≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with telling us she’d found yesterday’s questions very educational, she also bagged 6½† out of seven.

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) 27th August, 1859, saw the first commercially successful oil well discovered: in which US state … ?

Q2) 27th August, 1955, saw the first publication of the world’s best selling copyrighted book.   What IS that book?

Q3) 27th August, 1993, saw the completion of the Rainbow Bridge: in which Japanese city is that bridge … ?

Q4) 27th August, 2003, saw Mars make its closest approach to Earth, in roughly 60, 000 years.   Name either of the Martian moons …

Q5) Finally … 27th August, 1990, saw the original launch of the original version of which BBC radio station … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 26th August saw Captain James Cook set off on his first voyage of exploration.   In which year of the 1760s … ?

A1) 1768.

Q2) More to the point, what was the name of his ship … ?

A2) The HMS Endeavour.   (Which originally had been named the Earl Of Pembroke, when it had been built as a collier.)

Q3) That first voyage was — in part — to observe the transit of which planet … ?

A3) Venus.

Q4) It was also trying to find the Terra Australis Incognita, or Unknown Southern … what … ?

A4) Land.

Q5) As part of this voyage, Cook managed to map which modern island nation … ?

A5) New Zealand.   (With only a few minor errors, it has to be said.   He incorrectly placed Minas Tirith on North Island, for example … )

Q6) Which English king commissioned Cook’s first voyage … ?

A6) George 3rd.

Q7) Finally … When James Cook landed back in Britain, in 1771, at which Kentish town did he land … ?

A7) Deal.

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this thought from the late Haile Salassie, who died on the 27th August …

“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”

In memory of Haile Sallassie 1, 23 July 1892 – 27 August 1975.

And this tune … 

Have a good day … !

*        I know I always learn stuff from writing them, Debbi.   Captain Cook — the man who did the groundwork, mapping so much of the coast of Australia and New Zealand — is one of those handy guys to find out about.   I also think he — or, at least, his image, in all those portraits — looks vaguely like an older version of Chris Barrie: Rimmer from Red Dwarf, in other words.

†        Yeah, sorry about the half point, Debbi: the ship was actually called the HMS Endeavour: having been renamed from Earl Of Pembroke, when purchased by the Royal Navy, especially for the mission.