The Daily Teaser — 16-12-2015: Arthur C Clarke

Right … I now have … a day off … !

Frankly … ?   It’s one I’m hoping to write a few Teasers on: as well as make the associated videos.

It MIGHT not go that way, though.

Remember me saying that my broadband usage seemed suspiciously high, over the past few months?

Well, BT are due to phone me, today.   One of my neighbours has suggested I turn off the BT Fon feature — that let’s people use the BT Wi-fi service — as doing so had helped her in similar circumstances.

Hopefully … ?

They’ll be able to talk me through the relevant procedure.

Although, to be frank … ?

I’m starting to wonder how much help it CAN be … ?

I’m not losing hope about the situation.   But I AM feeling mildly cynical about the whole thing.

~≈Â≈~

But let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga* and Debbi† putting in their answers: with both scoring five out of five.   The day ALSO saw Trevor‡ leaving us a comment about shifts.

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

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

Q1) 16th December saw the birth of science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke.   What did the C stand for?

Q2) In which year was he born?

Q3) As a science fiction writer, Clarke is considered one of the ‘Big Three’.   Name one of the other two.

Q4) One of Clarke’s best known works, 2001: A Space Odyssey, was based on an earlier short story by Clarke.   What was that short story called: The Watchman, The Sentinel or The Beacon?

Q5) Clarke also scripted the film version of the book: called 2001: A Space Odyssey.   Who directed that film?

Q6) Both film and book see humanity influenced by mysterious alien artifacts.   Shaped like black what: spheres, monoliths or pyramids?

Q7) Published in 1973, which Arthur C Clarke novel sees a large space-craft approach Earth: and originally mistaken for an asteroid?

Q8) In a 1945 article for Wireless World, Clarke popularised the idea of what sort of satellite?

Q9) Which of Clarke’s short stories sees a pair of computer programmers doing a job for a Tibetan monastery?

Q10) Finally … ?   Clarke’s first successful novel was Childhood’s … what?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 15th December, 1994, saw Palau join the United Nations.   Palau is in which ocean?

A1) The Pacific.

Q2) Industrialist, Jean Paul Getty, was born: on 15th December, 1892.   The art museum that bears his name is in which US city?

A2) Los Angeles.

Q3) DJ, Alan Freed was born on the 15th December, 1921.   The man who coined the term rock and roll, was nicknamed ‘Moon’ what: Unit, Dog or Bass?

A3) Dog.

Q4) 15th December, 1890, saw the death of holy man, and tribal chief, Sitting Bull: in a struggle with police.   Sitting Bull was a member of the Hunkpapa: a division of which Sioux people?

A4) The Lakota.

Q5) Finally … Nicaragua signed the Buenos Aires Convention: on 15th December, 1913.   The Convention covers what: chemical weapons, copyright or drug smuggling?

A5) Copyright.

I’ll leave you with this thought …

“I’m sure the universe is full of intelligent life.   It’s just been too intelligent to come here.”

Arthur C. Clarke.

And with one of the few tunes that’s definitely associated with Arthur C. Clarke … 

Enjoy your day … !

*        It gets odder, Olga^, I’m starting to worry about kd lang … and Gary Oldman … !   It’s the haircuts, isn’t it … ?

†        It gets weirder, Debbi^, I’m starting to worry about kd lang … and Keanu Reeves … !   It’s the haircuts, isn’t it … ?   (Oh, wait, hang on … )

‡        Yes, but play fair, Trevor, I’m not a steel-worker!!

^        Oh, hell, let’s have a tune!   (I’m STILL convinced Miss Chatelaine is one of the best love songsª ever written: it just catches that honeymoon feeling, perfectly … !)

ª         Possibly the only other contender for best love song?   Is this one …