The Daily Teaser — 19-9-2014: International Talk Like A Pirate Day

Right at the moment … ?

I’m thinking phew: after what has to be the most divisive referendum in British political history.

Scotland has voted ‘No’.

I’m glad: it means my country doesn’t get broken up.

I’m also disappointed.   Dig back a couple of generations, and there’s traces of Scottish blood lurking in my family gene pool.   And there’s enough of a romantic in me to think that Scottish independence could’ve been something to see.

~≈®≈~

Either way … ?

Well, either way, the decision is done.

For now, at any rate.   I’m personally thinking that Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond will be disappointed by this.   But will be — possibly — planning something.   If he’s not, he’s not the battler I think he is.

On top of that … ?   On top of that, there’s also the promises that PM David Cameron, has been making, this morning: to give both Scotland — and the various other countries of the UK — greater powers.

I think a tweet from Channel Four’s Jon Snow says it all.

Damp calm pervades Edinburgh...many I have spoken to, whether YES or NO, deeply mistrust westminster's will to deliver promised reforms
— Jon Snow (@jonsnowC4) September 19, 2014

No-one in Scotland really trusts Westminster.

More power to them.   I think that’s something the rest of the country will agree with.

Now, let’s get a move on.

Did anyone else hear that thunderstorm, last night … ?

~≈®≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and scoring nine 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) 19th September is International Talk Like a Pirate Day: which has now become a holiday for members of which unorthodox church?

Q2) The modern image of pirates comes from the book, Treasure Island: who wrote Treasure Island?

Q3) The book’s best known character, Long John Silver, served as ship’s what, under Captain Flint: first mate, quartermaster ship’s cook?

Q4) Pieces of Eight — used by many pirates — were silver coins from which European country: Spain, Portugal or Germany?

Q5) Privateer, slaver and all round English hero, Sir Francis Drake was known as El Draque: to the people of which country … ?

Q6) Which Chinese pirate retired in 1810: after building up a fleet of some 80000 sailors in the South China Sea?

Q7) In the 18th and 19th Century USA, river pirates operated on two rivers.   Name either river.

Q8) Commerce raiding is piracy during wartime: committed by what?

Q9) One early piece of international law declared pirates hostis humani generis.   In other words, pirates were mankind’s what: enemies, friends or helpers?

Q10) Finally … The earliest record pirates were the Sea Peoples: operating at the end of the Bronze Age.   They raided ships in the Aegean: and which other sea?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 18th September saw Tiberius confirmed as Roman Emperor.   By which Roman body?

A1) The Roman Senate.

Q2) In which year did that body finally collapse: 603, 604 or 605 AD?

A2) 603.

Q3) Was Tiberius the second, third or fourth Roman Emperor?

A3) Second.

Q4) Who was his predecessor in the post?

A4) Augustus.

Q5) Many Roman Emperors were called Princeps.   Which meant what:  prince, first or noble?

A5) First: as in First Citizen, or First amongst equals, or even First Amongst the Senate, which would’ve been one of the specific titles Augustus used.

Q6) The word Emperor comes from the Latin word Imperator, which (roughly) meant what: duke, commander or king?

A6) Commander.

Q7) Another title used by Tiberius was Pontifex Maximus, or High Priest.   Who is that title usually applied to, in modern times?

A7) The Pope.

Q8) How many legions would Tiberius have inherited from his predecessor: twenty-five, twenty-eight or thirty-one?

A8) Twenty-five. (25).   (Augustus had reorganized the Roman army into twenty-eight legions: three of which he’d promptly lost in the Battle of Teutoberg Forest.)

Q9) More to the point, how many troops were in each legion: 3000, 4000 or 5000?

A9) 5000.

Q10) Finally … Who was Tiberius’ successor as Emperor?

A10) His grand-nephew, Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus: also called Little Boots, or, in Latin, Caligula.

I’ll leave you with this … 

And this …

“Merchant and pirate were for a long period one and the same person. Even today mercantile morality is really nothing but a refinement of piratical morality.”

Friedrich Nietzsche.

Enjoy your day.

*        Going totally off the subject, Debbi, did I tell you a friend of mine’s been visiting family, in Blackpool: in time to catch the Illuminations.   There’s one bit he thought would catch my eye …