The Daily Teaser — 5-8-2014

Hmmm … 

That’s a good start to the day.

The interview I had yesterday didn’t go well: from the discussion we had, they’d’ve felt comfier with someone who wasn’t also have been looking for a second job.

Oh … 

And who drove … 

Drat … 

~≈∂≈~

On top of that … ?

On top of that, my copy of Safari’s bee on a go-slow, this morning.

Arrghghghghgh … !

I think I’m having a BAD start to the day … !

~≈∂≈~

But let’s move on, shall we … ?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: AND scoring ten out of ten.

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

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

Q1) 5th August, 1583, saw Sir Humphrey Gilbert found the city of Saint John’s: consider the oldest English speaking city in North America.   In which country is Saint John’s?

Q2) 5th August, 1914, saw the first electric traffic lights installed.   In which US city?

Q3) 5th August, 1100, saw Henry 1st crowned as King of England: at what’s now the traditional venue for UK coronations.   What is that venue?

Q4) Until sunset, 5th August, 2014, is the Jewish date of Tisha B’av.   The date commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples.   In which city were those temples?

Q5) Finally … 5th August, 1862, saw the birth of tragic figure, Joseph Carey Merrick: better remembered how … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 4th August is the traditional date for the invention of sparkling Champagne.   In which year of the 1690s?

A1) 1693.   (I’ve only found this mentioned on the relevant ‘Day’ page of Wikipedia, at the time of writing.   I usually prefer to see more references.   However, it seemed too good a theme to waste.)

Q2) The wine was traditionally said to have been invented by Dom Pérignon.   The Dom was a what: monk, farmer or gangster?

A2) A monk.

Q3) Champagne, itself, is a wine region: in which country?

A3) France.

Q4) Champagne — the wine — is sparkling.   Which gas provides the bubbles in sparkling wine: carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or hydrogen hydroxide?

A4) Carbon Dioxide.   (It’s supposed to make the alcohol content of the wine reach the blood, faster than it otherwise would.   The OTHER explanation for putting CO₂ in … ?   Is that it keeps oxygen — and the associated bacteria — out of the wine.   It could well be it makes the wine taste nice.   Oh … Hydrogen hydroxide is better known as water …)

Q5) Three grapes are used to make Champagne.   What — traditionally — is the white grape?

A5) Chardonnay.   (The world’s favourite white wine grape is also used in Chablis: and white burgundy.)

Q6) Name either of the red wine grapes used in Champagne.

A6) Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.   (A wine is red or white: depending not on whether the grape is red or white … but whether a red grape’s skin is left on, during fermentation.)

Q7) Champagne is what’s called a brut wine: does this mean it’s sweet or dry … ?

A7) Dry.   (Sweet Champagnes are known as sec, demi-sec or Doux: depending on how sweet they are.)

Q8) Cava is made in the same way as Champagne, and comes from which European country: Spain, Portugal or Germany?

A8) Spain.

Q9) Asti and Prosecco are sparkling wines from which country … ?

A9) Italy.

Q10) Finally … sparkling Shiraz wine comes from which country … ?

A10) Australia.   (Aussie wine makers do like scandalizing people … )

I’ll leave you with this thought …

“In consequence of my ill luck my life was again made a misery to me, so that I again ran away and went hawking on my own account, but my deformity had grown to such an extent, so that I could not move about the town without having a crowd of people gather around me.”

Joseph Carey Merrick, 5 August 1862 – 11 April 1890.

And this tune … 

Enjoy your day … !

*        Yeah, sorry you comment’s showing up the way it has, Debbi†: would you believe, I hit ‘Delete,’ again, rather than ‘Publish’: I should’ve opened yours first, and then that bloomin’ spam comment!   (Bloody comment Spam: I HATE Comment Spam!)

†        On another note … ?   I was never a big wine fan, when I was a drinker: well … apart from the occasional Chardonnay.   (Pointless trivia for you, though, Debbi - after having worked in the trade for years, I learnt there’s a general consensus.   If you wanted a good red wine from the Antipodes, you got one from Australia.   If you wanted a good white wine … you generally went for one from New Zealand.   Anywhere from Hawke’s Bay or Marlborough … … … Um … )