Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-12-2016

Drat … !

I’ve got an issue with my machine machine … 

I managed to use it, yesterday: to wash my pants.

During this procedure?

The machine went and flooded the kitchen.

Think I’ll be needing a plumber … 

~≈Á≈~

In other fronts?   There’s some good news for Chrome and Firefox users, doing the rounds.

As you may or may not know, Facebook’s been criticised: for allowing too many iffily sourced news stories onto users timelines.

As a result … ?

An open source developer, Daniel Sieradski, as come up with BS Detector: an extension for Google Chrome and Firefox, that flags up dubiously sourced news pieces on Facebook and Twitter.

Personally … ?

I can’t help but approve.

I think anything that squelches dubious news is a good thing.

Especially if it put a stop to the kind of idiot ‘news’ stories that neo-Nazi groups like Britain First put out.

Here’s hoping … 

~≈Á≈~

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 they — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

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

Q1) Sunday, 4th December, 1791, saw the original publication of the world’s first — and oldest — Sunday newspaper.   Which London based paper is it?

Q2) The man considered to be the best British composer of the era died: on 4th December, 1976.   Who was he?

Q3) Explorer, Father Jacque Marquette, spent the winter on the shores of Lake Michigan: from 4th December, 1674.   The place he landed is now which US city?

Q4) 4th December, 1829, saw the Governor General of India ban Sati.   The practice was ritual what: suicide, murder or sex?

Q5) Finally … Fred Hampton and and Mark Clark were shot and killed by Chicago policeman: on 4th December, 1969.   The pair were activists for which Civil Rights movement?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) King Berengar 1st was crowned as Holy Roman Emperor: on 3rd December, 915.   Where was he king of, at the time: France, Italy or Spain?

A1) Italy.

Q2) An toxic gas leak at a chemical plant in Bhopal killed thousands: on 3rd December, 1984.   Plant, leak, and city, were in which country?

A2) India.

Q3) More to the point, the plant had been owned by which company?

A3) Union Carbide.

Q4) Which games console was first released, on 3rd December, 1994: the X Box, Playstation or Wii?

A4) The Playstation.

Q5) Finally … The Ottawa Treaty was signed: on 3rd December, 1997.   What did this ban: nuclear warheads, mustard gas or landmines?

A5) Landmines.

I’ll leave you with this …

“Live mindful of death; the hour flies.”

Persius, 4 December 34 – 24 November 62.

And this … 

Have a good day … !

*        Angels and demons, Olga … ?   Hmmm … Did Debbi or I ever mention Good Omens, by Gaiman and Pratchett?   Two of the central characters are an angel called Aziraphale, and a demon called Crowley: respectively the representatives of Heaven and Hell, on Earth.   And, like isolated Cold War agents ever written about, they get on better with each other, than they do with their bosses … 

†        Yes, I saw that go past on Facebook, Debbi!   Sounds like a fascinating place.   I’ve visited Bletchley, actually: amazing place to visit.   Apparently, the rebuilt Colossus machine is faster than many modern machines, at decoding the Lorenz cipher.   (Specifically at decrypting Lorenz encoded material.   It doesn’t do iTunes …)