The Daily Teaser — 21-12-2013: The Solstice

Good lord, they’re going where … ?

I have to admit, I’ve had last night’s episode of QI on,. as I’ve been prepping up this post.

At The end of the episode, aunty Beeb showed a trailer for a travel documentary: one I wished I’d caught the name of.

And time, now I come to think of it.

At any rate, the two presenters had filmed their travels across the Rub al-Khali or Empty Quarter: arguably, the most barren part of the Sahara Desert, and the bit we usually think of when we say ‘Sahara Desert’.

I think I’ll have to see if I can’t find out when that show’s on.   Having read about the Rub al-Khali in Clive Barker’s Weaveworld, and often felt it’s part of the inspiration behind Dune, it’s sort of fascinated me for years.

We’ll have to see what happens, there, shan’t we … ?

~≈$≈~

Moving on, Yesterday’s teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting us know she fancied staying in bed, yesterday, she also scored seven out of seven.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s Solstice themed questions, shall we?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 21st December, 2013, sees the shortest day of the year: in the Northern Hemisphere.   Is it the Winter or Summer Solstice … ?

Q2) Again: in the Northern hemisphere, 21st December will see the longest what of 2013 … ?

Q3) 21st December will — on Earth’s Southern hemisphere — be what … ?

Q4) In Britain, many celebrate the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge, in Wiltshire.   On the Winter solstice, the Sun rises over which of the stones … ?

Q5) Finally … the old Latin term for the Northern solstice at this time of year is what: estival solstice or hibernal solstice … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 20th December, 1917, saw the founding of the first Soviet secret police force.   What was it called … ?

A1) The Cheka.

Q2) Its first director was Felix … who … ?

A2) Felix Dzerzhinsky.

Q3) Which Russian leader issued the decree that founded the force … ?

A3) Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.

Q4) The group was eventually replaced by the NKVD: short for its Russian name, Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del.   This translates as People's Commissariat for Internal … what … ?

A4) Affairs.

Q5) The last Soviet Russian secret police force was the Committee for State Security.   Better — or infamously — known by which initials … ?

A5) The KGB.

Q6) Russia’s current President is a former member of that latter agency: who is he … ?

A6) Vladimir Putin.

Q7) Finally … the Russian Federation’s current security body is — in English — usually known by what initials … ?

A7) The FSB.   (The full name, in the Latin alphabet, is Federal'naya sluzhba bezopasnosti Rossiyskoy Federatsii.)

I’ll leave you with this thought from e. e. cummings …

“i who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun's birthday... ”

e. e. cummings.

And this song … 

Have a good day … !

*        Yeah, I know how you felt, Debbi: I get the occasional day like that, myself … !