Sunday 24 December 2017

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-12-17: Christmas Eve

Hmmm … 

It’s Christmas Eve.

And frankly?

I’m mildly excited.

As my two sisters, Anna and Ruth, have decided on an appropriated geeky, early Christmas gift.

Yep: we’re all off to see Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

No spoilers, now!

~≈☯≈~

Can I — in amongst all the Christmassy joy? — admit to something of a worry?

I noticed that — in the US — a former marine, and convert to an extreme form of Islam, has been arrested: accused of planning an ISIS-inspired plot on Christmas Day.

What worries me?

Is if someone else has had the same idea.

I’ve a nasty turn of mind, sometimes …

~≈☯≈~

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 questions, shall we?

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

Q1) Christmas Eve sees children in one Spanish region, beating a Christmas log: called the Tió de Nadal.   Which Spanish region: Catalonia, Andalusia or Extremadura.
Q2) Nine Lessons and Carols are traditionally broadcast by the BBC, on Christmas Eve.   From which Cambridge college: King’s, Saint John’s or Trinity?
Q3) The candle that represents Christ is traditionally lit on Christmas Eve.   That candle is on a what: yule log, Advent wreath or Easter bunny?
Q4) Many Catholics and Anglicans will celebrate what kind of Mass on Christmas Eve?
Q5) Finally … The first astronauts to orbit the moon, did so on Christmas Eve, 1968.   They broadcast a quote from which book of the Bible, whilst doing so?
Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) The Transistor was first demonstrated: on 23rd December of which year of the 1940s?
A1) 1947.
Q2) In which famous labs?
A2) Bell Laboratories.
Q3) The transistor can manipulate electrical signals.   Because it’s made from what: conductors, semiconductors or insulators?
Q4) Transistors can be used to increase an electrical signal.   In other words, they do what: amplify, sublimate or acclimatize a signal?
A4) Amplify.   (Sublimation is when a solid turns into a gas: without turning into a liquid, first.   I’m still getting used to acclimatization.)
Q5) Finally … transistors can turn an electrical on or off.   In other words, they can act as what ‘s’?
A5) A switch.
 Here’s a thought …
“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.”
Bess Streeter Aldrich.
And a song first performed Christmas Eve, 1818 … 


Today’s Christmas Eve questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Christmas Day Teaser.

Have a good Eve.




*        Oh, I see what you mean, Olga!   Yes, we’ve got a few places like it, near us.   But frankly?   The neighbours are nearer, and I don’t mind loaning them my visitors parking permit as a result: so it works both ways.   Oh and cheers for the spelling correction.   An old school friend of my sister’s is married to a Portuguese chap: and always says Spanish ends with a ‘s’ and Portuguese with a ‘z’ … I can never remember which!   (You probably hadn’t noticed … ! :D )

†        Oh, that means you’re an LAB ASSISTANT, Debbi!   Technically, that means you have to start building van der Graff generators for the nearest mad scientist!   Oh, and looking for and exit route, when the mob turns up.   Ahem!

2 comments:

Olga said...

Q1) Catalonia (oh, we have a never ending collection of bizarre traditions here. I’m sure you know about the “caganer” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caganer As you can see, I won’t be bored here).
Q2) King’s College
Q3) Advent wreath
Q4) Midnight Mass (we have la Misa del Gallo).
Q5) From de Book of Genesis
Your brother-in-law is correct although it is usually the other way round (Spanis surnames usually end up in Z, like mine, or González, Pérez... while the Portuguese version ends in an s but Hernán Cortés ends in an s. Perhaps we should wonder where the name came from, as there have been periods of time in history where the two countries have been joined (not willingly, I might add. Oh well, what's new!). Enjoy the movie. I've heard very good things about it, although I've also heard that fans of the series are not quite so thrilled, but... Looking forward to your feedback although I intend to go to watch it (just waiting for the excitement to calm down).

Debbi said...

I was definitely into science for a while. I even considered being a physicist! I was fascinated with the origins of the universe, the Big Bang, philosophy, the meaning of life (42!), and so much more. But I couldn't quite hack calculus. So I decided to write, instead of being a musician, which was my other interest!

1. Catalonia
2. King's
3. Advent wreath
4. Midnight Mass (I went to one of those and thought it was so great to be up at midnight! -- I was young)
5. Genesis

Merry Christmas and Happy Hogswatch! :)