The Daily Teaser — 25-1-2016: Robert Burns

Hmmm … 

You wouldn’t believe the research I’ve done … !

Well, ok, maybe you would … 

At any rate … ?   A couple of friends at work, have been discreetly asking me if they Can … ahh … borrow some of the films I’ve got in my electronic collection.

Something I don’t mind doing, even though it’s dubious, legality wise.

But, BOY … !   You need to do some digging: finding out what machine plays what file.   Honestly, one chap’s Xbox plays one standard but not others: another co-worker only has a DVD player, which plays DVDs … and a third file format.   JUST the third file format … 

Boy, but you have to juggle balls!

~≈É≈~

There’s something else, as well.

One of my co-workers — let’s call him James, shall we? — is right handed.   But was born, as I, a left-hander.

Turns out that, whilst at a private primary school, he was forced into becoming a right-hander.

James is nineteen.

And says this happened when he was about six.   Around about 2002/2003, if my basic sums are right.

Personally?   I was glad to hear he got taken out of that school by his dad: who’d been treated the same way by the same establishment.   And ALSO glad to hear the place had been closed down.

Personally, I’ve met a few older left-handers who’ve had the same thing happen to them.   I’d always though that sort of Victorian behaviour was long since dead: as it should be.

Finding out something like that went on as recently as 13 years ago?   Left me bloody angry.

I call that child abuse.

~≈É≈~

But let’s move on, shall we?   Before I lose my temper.

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Olga* and Debbi† putting in their answers: with both 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) 25th January is Burns Night: celebrating the work of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns.   His birth place was Alloway: in which ceremonial Scottish county?

Q2) Which of Burns’ works is traditionally sung on New Year’s Eve?

Q3) Which of his poems opens with the line, ‘Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie’?

Q4) The first published book of Burns’ poetry was originally called Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect.   It’s also called the what volume: Kilmarnock, Kilwinning or Wishaw?

Q5) Finally … as well as being a poet and farmer, Burns worked as what: an exciseman, MP or cheese-maker?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Which Roman Emperor was assassinated: on 24th January, 41 AD?

A1) Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus: better remember asCaligula.

Q2) Japan launched the Hiten probe: on 24th January, 1990.   The probe was heading where: Mars, Venus or the Moon?

A2) The Moon.

Q3) Apple’s Macintosh computer first went on sale: on 24th January, 1984.      The computer came with a free copy of MacWrite.   What was MacWrite: a graphics app, word processor or music making app?

A3) A word processor.

Q4) 24th January, 1986, saw the Voyager 2 probe make its closest pass to which planet: Saturn, Jupiter or Uranus?

A4) Uranus.

Q5) Finally … 24th January, 1965, saw the death of Sir Winston Churchill.   Where was his state funeral held?

A5) Saint Paul’s Cathedral.

I’ll leave you with this thought …

“God knows, I’m no the thing I should be,


Nor am I even the thing I could be.”

To The Reverend John M’Math, Robert Burns.

And this poetry … 

Have a good night.

Oh … and don’t forget the tatties … 

~≈É≈~

*        It went rather well, actually, Olga: although THAT conversation with James was … eye-opening … !

†        We’ll have to see what happens, when Chris Chibnall takes over, Debbi.   He did some of the more interesting Torchwood episodes in series one and two.