Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2-8-2017

Right … 

I’m going to be looking like a pillock for a few more days … 

Remember, yesterday, that I told you my glasses had broken?

Well … 

The optician I got them from is happy tho fix the arm: but won’t be able to do so until Friday at the earliest.

Which is when they expect the delivery … 

Like I say … 

~≈É≈~

Have you been watching the news?

Then you’ve possibly seen the news that some of Facebook’s AI researchers turned off a pair of experimental chatbots.

When the things started talking … in their own dialect of English.

Apparently, people are getting worried about it: especially in the media.

Personally?

I’m one of many that still remembers reading I, Robot: and reading Asimoz’s Three Laws of Robotics.

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

He basically wrote those … ?

Because he was very aware we’re human: we like building stuff with safety features.

Including the off-button the researchers used … !

~≈É≈~

Now … 

Have some faux Kraftwerk … 

~≈É≈~

Right … rant* over … !

Let’s move on!

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga† and Debbi‡: with both scoring ten out of ten.

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

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

Q1) 2nd August, 1984, saw James Malone win a battle in the European Court of Human Rights.   Against a police force who’d illegally done what: tapped his phone, read his mail or implanted things in his living, overheated brain?

Q2) Which country did Iraq invade: on 2nd August, 1990?

Q3) Elisha Gray was born: on 2nd August, 1836.   His musical telegraph is considered an early version of what: the TV, the synthesizer or the electric guitar?

Q4) Director, Wes Craven, was born: on 2nd August, 1939.   Which 1972 film was his directorial debut?

Q5) Finally … 2nd August, 1610, saw explorer Henry Hudson sail into what’s now called what: Hudson’s Bay, Hudson’s Hawke or Hudson’s Hole?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) The thirty-eighth state to be admitted to the USA, joined on 1st August, 1876.   What WAS that state?

A1) Colorado.

Q2) More to the point, what’s that state’s capital?

A2) Denver.

Q3) Dahomey declared itself independent: on 1st August, 1960.   From where?

A3) France.

Q4) Dahomey is now called what?

A4) Benin.

Q5) MTV started broadcasting: on 1st of August of which year?

A5) 1981.

Q6) The first black artists to appear on MTVs, appeared on MTV’s first day: and were members of which British band?

A6) The Specials.

Q7) 1st August, 10 BC, saw the birth of which Roman Emperor?

A7) Claudius.   (He’s full name was Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus.)

Q8) Who preceded that Emperor, as Emperor?

A8) Caligula.

Q9) Herman Melville was born on 1st August, 1819.   His first novel was published in London, in 1846.   What was it called?

A9) Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life.   (Just Typee will do.)

Q10) Finally … which Formula 1 driver suffered an almost fatal crash at the Nuburgring Gran Prix: on 1st August, 1976.

A10) Niki Lauda.

Here, as a nod to Las member, Lee Mavers, is a song … 

And a thought …

“Everybody’s making horror films and, to me, not especially well.”

Wes Craven, August 2, 1939 – August 30, 2015.

Today’s Teaser will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Have a good day.

*        Sorry about the rant, there, folks: but, to paraphrase Asimov himself?   That damn Frankenstein complex gets my goat!

†        Oh, I’ve been there, Olga!    Good ol’ fashion brain-squeezing spectacles: it does take a while for them to settle in, sometimes, doesn’t it?   (I, Claudius was and is a classic, as well.   I seem to recall reading that it provided the inspiration for Dynasty: although Joan Collins was no Siân Phillips!)

‡        Oh, well, now I’m curious, Debbi!   It’s would have to be on a par with Martyrs, though, that IS a difficult watch!