The Daily Teaser — 16-6-2015

Hmmm … 

Did I tell you that — occasionally — Channel Four occasionally grabs my attention … ?

They did: last Sunday.

By airing a new science fiction series called Humans.

Basically, it’s set in a (vaguely) parallel now: where humanity’s developed artificial life.   That does the housework.

I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed it.   Cast and crew are good — recovering Merlin fan that I am, I couldn’t help but notice Colin Morgan — the writing is excellent.

And an (seeming) attitude that says, “Let’s have a good look at technology’s good and bad side.”

I can’t see anything wrong with that: it’s kind of an old school way of writing SF.

Plus … ?   Gemma Chan as the unnerving family synth, Anita … ?   Is quite something to watch … !

~≈Á≈~

But let’s get a move on, shall we?

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

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

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

Q1) 16th June, 1963, saw the Soviet Union launch the Vostok 6: complete with the first female cosmonaut to go into space.   What was her name?

Q2) 16th June, 1816, saw Lord Byron hold the house party — with Percy and Mary Shelley, Clair Clairmont, and Dr John Polidori — that went on to inspire Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein.   What short story did Polidori write, as a result of this evening?

Q3) 16th June, 1871, saw the University Tests Act become law in the UK.   It meant Oxford, Cambridge and Durham Universities could not test potential students religions: unless they were to study what?

Q4) 16th June, 1924, saw lessons begin at what was Whampoa Military Academy.   The Academy is the military academy for which Asian nation?

Q5) Finally … 16th June, 2010, saw Bhutan become the first country to completely ban what: tobacco, heroin or cannabis?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 15th June saw King John seal the Magna Carta: in the town of Runnymede.   Today is which anniversary of that signing: the 700th, 800th or 900th?

A1) 800: the signing was on this date in 1215.

Q2) 15th June, 1888, saw Wilhelm 2nd crowned as German Emperor.   What — as such — would his title have been?

A2) German Kaiser.

Q3) 15th June, 1996, saw an explosion hit the Arndale Centre: in Manchester.   Who planted the bomb that caused the explosion?

A3) The Provisional Irish Republican Army, or IRA.

Q4) 15th June, 1815, was the night of the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball: supposedly, the best — or best known — ball ever held.   Which European city was it held in: Amsterdam, Brussels or Copenhagen?

A4) Brussels.   (I suspect that, whoever came up with the phrase, “Everyone was there,” was talking about this ball.)

Q5) Finally … 15th June, 1932, saw the first flights of the Vickers Wellington.   Was the Wellington a bomber, fighter or spy plane?

A5) A bomber.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Stan Laurel …

“A friend once asked me what comedy was. That floored me. What is comedy? I don’t know. Does anybody? Can you define it? All I know is that I learned how to get laughs, and that’s all I know about it. You have to learn what people will laugh at, then proceed accordingly.”

Stan Laurel, 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965.

And this tune … 

*        Spin doesn’t even start, Debbi!   Oh, keep your eyes peeled for Humans: I think AMC will be showing it in the US towards the end of June.