The Daily Teaser — 10-7-2014: Wyndham’s Babies …

You know, you can TELL it’s a Thursday, can’t you … ?

Well, I can.

Mostly by looking at my computer’s screen.

There’s a time and date display on the left hand side of the menu-bar.

Ahem … !

At any rate, it’s Thursday: which means I’m one day away from finishing the Fresh Start course I’m on.

Here’s hoping something positive comes of that!

~≈Ô≈~

Actually, as it’s Thursday — and for no other reason than it is Thursday — would you mind doing me a favour, please … ?

Would you mind going to this page — that’s my newly introduced Money page — and hitting the Share buttons?

I’d be really grateful … !

~≈Ô≈~

At any rate, let’s get a move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw birthday girl, Debbi* putting in her answers: and scoring four out of five.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s themed questions, shall we?

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

Q1) 10 July, 1903, saw the birth of writer, John Wyndham.   Which of his novels features giant walking plants … ?

Q2) In which year was it originally published: 1951, 1953 or 1955 … ?

Q3) The novel was made into a BBC TV series: starring Dougray Scott, Eddie Izzard and which member of the Redgrave family … ?

Q4) One of Wyndham’s novels is about an anti-aging treatment that works.   Its title is The Trouble With what: algae, lichen or fungi … ?

Q5) Chocky — televised on ITV, back in the 1980s — was all about a little boy whose imaginary friend turns out to be real.   What’s the imaginary friend’s name?

Q6) The Midwich Cuckoos has been turned into two films: both film versions are called The Village of the … what?

Q7) More to the point, the book — and films — are about a small village whose female residents all simultaneously become … what?

Q8) Which of Wyndham’s novels is set on the Northeastern coast of Canada: Chocky, The Kraken Wakes or The Chrysalids?

Q9) Which of Wyndham’s novels tells of an invasion of Earth by unseen water dwelling aliens?

Q10) John Wyndham wrote some of his early works under what name: John Benyon, John Bunyon or Jean Beeny … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 9th July, 1911, saw the birth of writer, Mervyn Peake.   His most famous works centre on Titus, 77th Earl of Groan.   Titus and his family live in which fictional castle?

A1) Gormenghast.

Q2) A century later, 9th July, 2011, saw South Sudan secede from Sudan.   Both countries are on which continent … ?

A2) Africa.

Q3) 9th July, 1981, saw the original release of Donkey Kong.   What’s the name of the hero in the game?

A3) Mario.   Although he was originally called Jumpman.

Q4) 9th July, 1955, saw the Russell-Einstein Manifesto: by philosopher and mathematician, Bertrand Russell.   Co-signed by Albert Einstein,  the Manifesto called for the outlawing of what: whale-hunting, nuclear weaponry or asbestos insulation … ?

A4) Nuclear weaponry.

Q5) Finally … 9th July, 1776, saw the US Declaration Of Independence read out to the (then) US Army.   What was the army then called?

A5) The Continental Army.

I’ll leave you with this song … 

And this quote: which struck me as very apt …

“‘Some quotations,’ said Zellaby, ‘are greatly improved by lack of context.’”

From John Wyndham’s The Midwich Cuckoos.

Have a good day: and don’t forget to wish Debbi a belated Happy Birthday.

*        Actually, I’ll probably have to catch up with that one, Debbi: it seems to have been something of an underground hit.   (Actually, the BBC have recently announced they’ll be removing BBC3 — Orphan Black’s UK home — from the airwaves.   Personally, I call that disgusting, as that’s been the UK home of quite a bit of staggeringly good, genre TV: Torchwood was originally on BBC3, as was Being Human and the seriously underrated The Fades†.)

†        The fact that The Fades was cancelled after one season, and replaced by the seriously dreary In The Flesh is still something that rankles … !