The Daily Teaser — 18-5-2014

You know, I know it’s a repeat.

But while I’m writing this … ?

While I’m writing this, I’ve got a documentary on — part of the BBC’s Horizon series — about the Drake Equation*.

Which, if you DIDN’T know, is an equation that predicts the amount of intelligent life in the universe: intelligent life that’s communicating, however incidentally.

It’s a fascinating watch.

Does it answer any questions?

Well, no.   But it has explained things nicely, I think.

Does it tell us exactly how many civilisations are out there … ?

Well no: it doesn’t do that, either.

But, when you think about it … ?    It doesn’t stop us speculating.

Which is is what science fiction’s for … 

~≈Â≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi† putting in her answers: and bagging four out of five.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

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

Q1) 18th May, 2005, saw the Hubble Space Telescope take a second photo of two new moons: around which dwarf planet?

Q2) Name either of those moons.

Q3) 18th May, 1972, saw doctors announce who was too ill to have tea with the Queen … ?

Q4) 18th May, 1998, saw the US Department of Justice file anti-trust charges against Microsoft.   The central issue of the case was whether Microsoft should’ve included which piece of software, with its Windows operating system?

Q5) 18th May, 1980, saw the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, in Washington State.   Which S is 96 miles to the north of the volcano?

Q6) Finally … 18th May, 2009, saw the end of the civil war: in which country … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 17th May, 2004, saw the first legal same-sex marriages performed in the US.   In which US state?

A1) Massachusetts.

Q2) 17th May, 1990, saw the World Health Organization remove what from its list of psychiatric diseases … ?

A2) Homosexuality.

Q3) 17th May, 1863, saw the publication of Cantares Gallegos: the first book published in which rare European language?

A3) Galician.   (As far as I can gather form Wikipedia, the tongue is closer to Portuguese, than it is to Spanish.)

Q4) 17th May, 1792, saw the forming of the New York Stock Exchange.   On which street is the New York Stock Exchange … ?

A4) Wall Street: at № 11, to be exact.

Q5) Finally … 17th May, 2007, saw trains perform a test run between North and South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone.   This was the first time this had happened this which year of the 1950s?

A5) 1953.

Today’s the birthday of Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo: co-writer of one of the oddest pop tunes ever put to plastic … 

He ALSO came up with the jingle that went with these … 

I’ll also leave you with this thought …

“I didn’t aspire to be a good sport; ‘champion’ was good enough for me.”

Fred Perry, 18 May 1909 – 2 February 1995.

Have a good day … 

*     It goes like this … 

Where N is the number of civilisations out there.   R* is the number of stars being formed per year, Fp is the fraction of stars with planets, ne the average number of planets that could support life, Fl the number that HAVE life, Fi the number with intelligent life, Fc the number that have intelligent life that can communicate by radio, and L the length of time those civilisations last.

†        I remember you mentioning him, Debbi: he’s got quite a CV.   (Bloody hell! He worked on Hill Street Blues.   AND Cagney and Lacey!   They was huge, back in the day … !)