The Daily Teaser — 8-3-2014

It’s got to be said, I recorded the second episode of 37 Days To War, the three part BBC drama about the start of World War One on, at the mo.

It’s amazing stuff: showing us the lead up to the four years of lunacy that engulfed the world on August 4th.

I think I also have to give some plaudits to Ian McDiamuid: who’s playing Sir Edward Grey, the then Foreign Secretary.

And doing so, wonderfully.

Although I HAVE to add … I’m half-expecting him to go seriously Palpatine, and start cackling evilly.

Ho-HUM … !

~≈#≈~

But let’s move on, shall we … ?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in hers answers: and bagging nine out of ten.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions.

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 8th March is International Women’s Day: marking the day women in Russia went on strike.   Which Russian Revolution did that strike kickstart … ?

Q2) In which Russian city was this … ?

Q3) 8th March, 1010, saw the completion of the Shahnameh: the epic poem describing the mythical history of which country: Iran, Afghanistan or Tajikistan … ?

Q4) 8th March saw tech company, Phillips, introduce the compact disc.   CD’s optical discs: as are DVDs … and what else … ?

Q5) In which year did Phillips release the CD … ?

Q6) 8th March, 1974, saw which airport open in Paris … ?

Q7) Finally … 8th March, 2000, saw the recovery of Donald Campbell’s boat, the Bluebell, from Coniston Water, in the Lake District.   In which English county is Coniston Water … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 7th March, 1994, saw the US Supreme Court rule that parodies were Fair Use, under US law.   Who released a parody version of Beat It, by Michael Jackson: called Eat It … ?

A1) Weird Al Yankovic.

Q2) More to the point, which song — released internationally on 7th March, 1985 — was parodied by the Spitting Image team as We’re Scared Of Bob … ?

A2) We Are The World.

Q3) BBC sitcom, ’Allo ’Allo! took the mickey out of which rather more serious BBC series?

A3) Secret Army.

Q4) Classic Spanish work, Don Quixote, parodies medieval romances.   Who wrote Don Quixote … ?

A4) Miguel de Cervantes: or Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, if you want the full version.

Q5) Which Monty Python film parodies the tales of King Arthur … ?

A5) Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Q6) Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathan Swift, was a parody of travelers tales popular in the 18th Century.   What’s the book’s full name … ?

A6) Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships.   (Now … BREATHE … !)

Q7) Who, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was the first person to use the word, parody, in English … ?

A7) Ben Johnson.

Q8) Which parody religious belief is organized by the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster … ?

A8) Pastafarianism.

Q9) Who co-wrote and directed the Star Wars parody, Space Balls … ?

A9) Mel Brooks.

Q10) Finally … Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator, parodied who … ?

A10) Adolf Hitler.

As today is Mickey Dolenz’s birthday, I’ll leave you with this tune … 

And with this observation …

“I can tell you that the one thing I really, really couldn't bear when I was an MP were my constituents.”

Gyles Brandreth, born 8th March, 1948.

Have a good day … !

*        He was cool, Debbi.   But I have to admit, when it comes down to robots, I was always fond of the Cylons … !   WAY cool!