The Daily Teaser — 13-3-2015

I have to say, today, I’m quietly mourning the loss of a friend.

Or, at least, a sort of friend.

I’m a fan of the late Terry Pratchett: and HAVE been, for more years than I care to admit to.

After reading near enough everything the man wrote?   Came to see him both as friend, literary hero, and all round good chap.

His contracting Alzheimer’s Disease, in 2007?   Was especially nasty, especially as the condition killed my Gran.

Yesterday?

Yesterday, Sir Terry died: of natural causes.

Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.
— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015

I’m gutted: as are a few friends of mine, who equally saw him as friend and favourite author.   (I know one old friend, Victoria, was finding work difficult: as she told me, herself, news of his death left her unable to concentrate.   I know what she meant: I felt physically nauseous.)

Whatever I fell?   The fact is, my favourite author is dead.

I’m quietly mourning.

And offering my condolences to Lyn and Rhianna Pratchett, his wife and daughter, on what must be one of the worst few days of their lives.

~≈®≈~

But time’s a wasting: life is short and we need to move on.

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and scoring 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) 13th March, 1633, saw Galileo Galilei arrive in Rome.   For his trial before whom: the Inquisition, the Gestapo or the Curia?

Q2) 13th March, 1978, saw TV presenter, Anna Ford, make her debut as a newsreader: on ITV.   What’s the name of ITV’s then news service?

Q3) 13th March, 1692, was the date of the Glencoe Massacre, when 78 members of the MacDonald clan were killed: for refusing to pledge loyalty to Britain’s then king.   Who was that king?

Q4) 13th March, 1931, saw what named as the capital of British India?

Q5) Finally … 13th March, 1981, saw over to miles of streets — in Louisville, Kentucky — destroyed by explosions.   In what: the traffic lights, the sewers or the electricity network?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 12th March saw the first Coca Cola bottling plant opened: in which US state?

A1) Mississippi.

Q2) In which year of the 1890s?

A2) 1894.

Q3) In which US city was the drink first made?

A3) Atlanta.

Q4) It was originally sold as French what cola?

A4) French Wine Cola.

Q5) The original recipe called for thirty pounds of what: sugar, salt or pepper?

A5) Sugar.

Q6) Some US retailers managed to create demand for Coca Cola made with cane sugar.   This version is usually exported from which Central American country?

A6) Mexico.

Q7) In which year was Coca Cola declared Kosher?

A7) 1935.

Q8) Two halal alternatives to Coca Cola have been made in Europe: in France and England.   Name either.

A8) Qibla-Cola and Mecca-Cola.

Q9) In which year of the 1980s was New Coke introduced?

A9) 1985.

Q10) Finally … In which year of the 1960s, did Coke introduce the It’s the Real Thing slogan?

A10) 1969.

I’ll leave you with this thought …

“Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio, Subsistence, increases only in an arithmetical ratio.”

Reverend Thomas Malthus, 13 February 1766 – 29 December 1834.

This tune … 

And this thought from the late Terry Pratchett …

“Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.”

28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015.

Enjoy your day.

*        I know I’ll be raising a metaphorical glass of it to the memory of the late Terry Pratchett, tonight, Debbi.