The Daily Teaser — 25-3-2016: The Queen of Soul.

It’s not often I laugh at technology.

Really!

But I was going through the Technology news, late, last night.

And noted that Microsoft had designed an artificially intelligent chat-bot — something that can talk to people as if it were a real person — and then released it onto Twitter.

Twenty four hours LATER … and the thing started issuing Tweets that — apparently — supported genocide … and Adolf Hitler.

Me, being ME … ?   I laughed!

Especially when I found out Microsoft had edited some of the more … controversial Tweets.

Ahem!

I can’t help but think a couple of things.

One?   That Apple would’ve done things a lot better!

And secondly?

That maybe Microsoft shouldn’t be editing the things Tweets, or code.

After all — and correct me I’m wrong, here — but isn’t PART of what makes AI, AI, the fact it can learn.

Shouldn’t Microsoft be leaving it, to learn how to behave better?

~≈‰≈~

But let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Olga* and Debbi† putting in there answers: with both scoring six out of six.

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 March saw the birth of Aretha Franklin: in which year?

Q2) Ms Franklin was born in which Tennessee city?

Q3) Which genre of music did she start singing: soul, gospel or rhythm and blues?

Q4) Her first studio album was called Songs Of Faith.   It saw its US release in which year of the 1950s?

Q5) Her second album was released in 1961: and called Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo.   Which record label released it: Atlantic, Columbia or Motown?

Q6) Her fist US Top Ten hit was I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You): released in which year of the 1960s?

Q7) That same year of the 1960s saw her first UK Top Ten single: which reached Number 10.   Was it I Never Loved a Man, Respect or (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman?

Q8) Ms Franklin record Sisters (Are Doin’ It For Themselves): with whom?

Q9) Which 1968 song was Ms Franklin’s biggest (solo) UK hit?

Q10) Finally … In which 1980 film, did Ms Franklin perform a version of her 1968 hit, Think?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Nightfall, on the 24th March, 2016, sees the end of the Feast of Purim.   Which religion marks Purim?

A1) Judaism.

Q2) It’s initially mentioned in which book of the Old Testament?

A2) Esther.

Q3) The Exxon Valdez crashed, on 24th March, 1989.   Off the coast of which US state?

A3) Alaska.

Q4) 24th March, 2015, saw Germanwings Flight 9525 crash.   Where: the French Alps, German Alps or Austria Alps?

A4) The French Alps.

Q5) 24th March, 1887, saw the birth of Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle.   Notoriously, he was a defendant in the rape and murder trial of whom?

A5) Virginia Rappe.

Q6) Finally … J. S. Bach dedicated six pieces of music to Margrave Christian Ludwig: on 24th March, 1721.   These pieces are now, collectively called what?

A6) The Brandenburg Concertos.

I’ll leave you with this thought …

“I am doing what I love to do, and you cannot beat that, especially when the audience appreciates what you prepare for them. It’s very, very gratifying.”

Aretha Franklin.

And … 

Well, what else … ?

Have a good day … !

*        It’s about the best of the three I‘ve seen, Olga‡: and VERY worth a watch!   (Happy Easter!)

†        It’s worth it, Debbi‡: I think Danny Boyle and company managed a good one!

‡        The other two movies, Pirates of Silicon Valley sand Jobs, focus more on the technology: Steve Jobs uses his relationship with his eldest daughter, Lisa, as its focus.