Saturday 12 March 2016

The Daily Teaser — 12-3-2016: Sir Terry Pratchett.

You know, it’s not often I write about the day’s Teaser in the intro to a Teaser.

But … ?

Today’s the first anniversary of my favourite writer, Sir Terry Pratchett.

And I have to admit, I’m finding it a little sad: it’s a bit like remembering ones favourite rock star, on the anniversary of his death.

And there’s been a few of them gone, recently!

But, at any rate … ?

I’m working, tonight.

And thinking of a couple of things.

I’m thinking I’ve a spare copy of Raising Steam‡ I should give away … 

And, mentally, sending thoughts to Sir Terry’s surviving family.

~≈≈~


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.

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

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

Q1) 12th March, 2015, saw the death of writer, Terry Pratchett.   His death was a result of complications from which disease?
Q2) He suffered with a version of the condition called Posterior Cortical … what?
Q3) Part of his early career was spent as a Press Officer for the Central Electricity Generating Board: and covered three nuclear power stations.   With what he called ‘impeccable timing,’ he got the job after what melted down?
Q4) Sir Terry had found fame as the novelist behind the Discworld series.   The Disc is a flat world on the back of four elephants on the back of a giant … what?
Q5) What was the first book in the series called?
Q6) Sir Terry’s first Discworld novel for children was The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents.   Maurice was a talking … what?
Q7) Sir Terry was one of the first writers to communicate with his fans, over the Internet: initially, and famously, through alt.fan.pratchett.   alt.fan.pratchett is a newsgroup on what?
Q8) In 2003, Sir Terry’s worked featured in the BBC’s Big Read list.   How many of his works featured in the top 100?
Q9) One of those books was co-written with Neil Gaiman.   What was it called?
Q10) Another of the books — Night Watch — has a cover based on which artist’s work?
Q11) Sir Terry’s last Discworld novel was published posthumously: and called The Shepherd’s … what?
Q12) Finally … February, 2016, saw which English city approve plans for a statue of Sir Terry?
Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …
Q1) 11th March, 1851, saw the debut performance of Rigoletto: in Venice, Italy.   With music by Verdi, the opera is based on a novel by which French writer?
Q2) 11th March, 1933, saw the release of 42nd Street.   The film was directed by Lloyd Bacon: and choreographed by whom?
A2) Who else: Busby Berkeley.
Q3) 11th March, 1932, saw the last sighting of Booming Ben, the world’s last known what: Elephant Bird, Heath Hen or Red Rail?
A3) Heath Hen.
Q4) 11th March, 1702, saw the original publication of the world’s first daily newspaper.   It was called what: the Daily Mail, Daily Courant or Daily Express?
A4) The Daily Courant.
Q5) Finally … 11th March saw the Great Blizzard hit the USA’s east coast.   In which year of the 1880s?
A5) 1888.
I’ll leave with these thoughts …
“Sometimes it is better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.”
“I save about twenty drafts – that's ten meg of disc space – and the last one contains all the final alterations. Once it has been printed out and received by the publishers, there’s a cry here of ‘Tough shit, literary researchers of the future, try getting a proper job!’ and the rest are wiped.”
“I staggered into a Manchester bar late one night on a tour and the waitress said ‘You look as if you need a Screaming Orgasm’. At the time this was the last thing on my mind…”
“As I have said, I would like to die peacefully with Thomas Tallis on my iPod before the disease takes me over and I hope that will not be for quite some time to come, because if I knew that I could die at any time I wanted, then suddenly every day would be as precious as a million pounds. If I knew that I could die, I would live. My life, my death, my choice.”
And this video … 


And point people at this video on Daily Motion.

And play you this …


Have a good day.

Mind how you go …
















*        Oh, Olga^ … ?   You DO know you managed to put your answers on this weeks Friday Question Set … ?   (OK, I’m not as prolific as Terry Pratchett, but it’s an EASY mistake to make!)   At any rate, I keep thinking some form of quiz book might handy, but it’s a VERY crowded market!

†        Oh, I don’t know about a story, Debbi^!   Ahem!

^        Oh, no memes, today but I’ll leave you with the photo I’ve been using as my FB profile … 



‡        As an EXTRA footnote — something I know Sir Terry used, extensively — I managed to give away my spare copy of Raising Steam, today: to a friendly (female) member of staff at my local Maplins.   Unfortunately, something occurred to me, on my way home, though.   I hope she doesn’t know about the old Catalan tradition of giving a book to someone you love on Saint George’s Day.   I could get in trouble … !

2 comments:

Olga said...

Sorry about the sad day and the answers thing. I have no idea. As I've told you before I can never put the replies using the link you send and I have to go directly to the link in your blog. The sharing one doesn't like my computer.
There are a lot of quiz books, you're right, but there are many people keen on them too so it might be worth thinking about it (especially as you've done the research already)...
I'm running late today (Windows decided to update today and it's been interesting as I spent half the morning trying to find my documents. I eventually did) but I'll see you soon.
I hope things look up...

Debbi said...

Reading about Sir Terry brought a bit of tear to my eye. He was extraordinary! I love his quotes! Live like today is your last, I say.

And I'll just bet you have a story or two to tell! :) Ahem!

1. Alzheimer's
2. atrophy
3. Three Mile Island
4. turtle
5. The Colour of Magic
6. cat
7. Usenet
8. 5
9. Good Omens
10. Rembrandt
11. Crown
12. Salisbury