The Daily Teaser — 3-2-2014

Blimey, that’s a thing … 

It turns out that actor, Phillip Seymour Hoffman — who I’d last seen in The Boat That Rocked — has died of an apparent overdose, late on yesterday.

Seemingly, he’d gone into rehab, in 2012, after suffering with issues with both heroin and prescription medication.

I was was saddened to hear about it.   The man was quite a talent, and always made an impression whenever I saw him.

Saddened … and curious.   It seemed he’s started having issues, after some twenty years or so of successful abstinence.

I’m curious, because I’m assuming he’d kept clean with the help of some form of 12-step recovery programme: from the little I know, they’re usually the first to encourage a member to phone for help.

Something has sadly gone wrong, somewhere.

Sadly … and tragically … 

~≈∑≈~

But let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s New York themed teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting me know she’ll be keeping her eyes peeled on Shutterstock*, also scoring nine out of ten.

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) 3rd February, 1451, saw Mehmed 2nd inherit the throne of the Ottoman Empire.   He was also known as Mehmed the what: Cornered, Conqueror or Collected … ?

Q2) 3rd February, 1870, saw the US pass the 15th Amendment to the Constitution: which guaranteed equal what: marriage, votes or rights … ?

Q3) By contrast, 3rd February, 1913, saw the US government pass the 16th Amendment: allowing them to collect a what … ?

Q4) 3rd February, 1949, saw the birth of noted Mormon, librarian, genealogist and bassist, Arthur Kane: with which band did he come to prominence … ?

Q5) Finally … 3rd February, 1943, saw the sinking of the USAT Dorchester.   USAT stands — in this case — for United States Army … what … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 2nd February, 1653, saw the original municipal founding of what’s now New York: what name was then used for it … ?

A1) New Amsterdam.

Q2) On which New York island was the city founded … ?

A2) Manhattan.

Q3) That island is now one of five boroughs of New York: name one of the other four … 

A3) The Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens.

Q4) New York — the USA’s, and the world’s — two largest stock markets are on New York’s Wall Street.   Name either.

A4) The New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ.

Q5) New York’s two Major League baseball teams are the New York Mets and the New York Yankees: which now Los Angeles based team, was once the based in the city … ?

A5) The L. A. Dodgers.   (Or Brooklyn Dodgers, as they then were.)

Q6) Who’s New York’s current mayor?

A6) Bill de Blasio.

Q7) New York born Allen Stewart Konigsberg set many of his films in New York: including Manhattan, and Hannah and Her Sisters.   How is Allen Stewart Konigsberg better known … ?

A7) Woody Allen.

Q8) Well known comic-book and film, Watchmen starts with the murder of  The Comedian, in New York.   Who was the writer of Watchmen comic-book?

A8) Alan Moore.

Q9) Which rabbit-like part of New York contained quite a few hotels and amusement parks … ?

A9) Coney Island.

Q10) Finally … which blood-drenched cocktail is said to have been invented in a New York bar in the 1930s?

A10) The Bloody Mary.   (I used to do a version with Angostura bitters …)

I’ll leave you with Lee Ranaldo’s Time Stand’s Still … 

And this thought …

“That which is and that which cannot be are both outside the realm of becoming.”

Simone Weil, 3 February 1909 – 24 August 1943.

Enjoy your day … 

*        That link will take you straight through to their site, Debbi.   You might also like CC Search†: which lets you search for images covered by the Creative Commons License.

†        I have to admit, Debbi, that’s usually the first place I look for images.