The Daily Teaser — 22-12-2013

Well, thank heavens for that: it’s now, officially, not the Winter Solstice.

The shortest day of the year can be good or bad, depressing or energising, romantic or lonely.

Either way, the day is the shortest of the year, here in the north: granted, that can be nice, but as it’s now the day after … ?   That can only mean lowering electricity bills, as we barrel towards the long days of summer.

Saying that … ?   I’m very aware that one of my regular readers — Mr Strict, himself — is down in South Africa: and quite probably given me a mildly ironic look … !

Oh well … !   Need must and all of that … !

Let’s get a move on, shall we?

~≈Ï≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting us know she’s thinking about video, also bagging four out of five.

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) 22nd December, 2002, saw the death of Joe Strummer: with which british punk band did he first come to prominence?

Q2) What, in 1979, was that band’s biggest UK hit … ?

Q3) 22nd December, 1808, saw Ludwig van Beethoven premiere his Fourth Piano Concerto, Fifth Symphony and Choral Fantasy.   Which other symphony did he premiere … ?

Q4) 22nd December, 1990, saw which country’s Parliament vote to accept a new constitution … ?

Q5) Finally … 22nd December, 1885, saw Ito Hirobumi named as the first Prime Minister of where … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

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

A1) The Winter Solstice.

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

A2) Night.

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

A3) The Summer Solstice: or longest day of the year.

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

A4) The Heelstone.

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

A5) Hibernal solstice.

I’ll leave you with this memory …

“Going to the movies was a big event in my youth. My father would be the initiator - he’d have me put on a jacket to see a film.”

Ralph Fiennes, born 22nd December, 1962.

And with this, from the late Joe Strummer … 

Enjoy your day … 

*        Oh, blimey, I don’t know if I’ve got the facilities, Debbi!   Oh, but cheers for the mention, yesterday … !   (I don’t know if Rare Exports would be up your street: but it’s worth a watch … !)