Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2017: Review of the Year, 2017

Oh, good grief: bloody Amazon … !

I’ve had a few things on order from them, over the past few weeks.

And, for at least three of the past few weeks?

For at least three of the past few weeks, I’ve been out when Amazon have delivered.

I’ve had standing orders left with Amazon: if I’m not in, they’re supposed to deliver to one of my neighbours.

That’s been in place ever since about 2013: not long after I’ve started using the service.

And, for the last few weeks … ?   They’ve left deliveries, some quite high value … on the doorstep.

Including the one that was delivered yesterday.   It was left there, AGAIN.

Despite my having made sure I filled in the forms at the check out, telling them where to leave them.

And … ? AND … !

AND … despite the fact I’d phoned them, on the day I’d placed my order, to make sure they had the address … !

I am seriously thinking I should start shopping at Ebay.

I’d probably still get similar delivery problems.

But at least I’d get a few Nectar points!

~≈§≈~

There’s something else I wanted to mention.

Something I saw on the BBC’s website was this piece.

Apparently?   Some online gamers were recently feuding in the US.

As part of that feud, some gamers have turned to a prank called ‘swatting.’   In other word, phoning the nearest (famously armed) local US police, telling them there’s a major gun crime going on at their rival’s address, then sitting back and grinning when the SWAT team turns up on the rival’s doorstep.

Except in this case?

The police were given — and turned up at — the wrong address.

And shot dead the innocent owner of the house, when he answered the door.

Personally?

I don’t like the idea of armed police, where-ever they are.

But can’t fault the SWAT team in this case, for doing what they’re trained to do, even though it’s ended in a tragedy: indeed, I think the UK police have armed response units that would’ve reacted the same way, in the same circumstances.

I CAN, however, heavily criticise the idiots who put in that original ‘prank’ — Ha! — call.

It saw an innocent man killed.

That’s not funny.

~≈§≈~

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) Who was inaugurated as US president, in 2017?

Q2) Ballistic missiles were first launched across the Sea of Japan, in February of 2017.   By which Asian nation?

Q3) The government of the UK triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on 29th March, 2017.   This means the UK will leave what?

Q4) US forces dropped the world’s largest (non-nuclear) bomb: in April of 2017.   On an Islamic State base, where?

Q5) May of 2017 saw PCs across the planet hit by the WannaCry cyberattack.   Which British public body was seriously affected by WannaCry?

Q6) North Kensington was hit by tragedy: in June of 2017.   When a block of flats — Grenfell Tower — was hit by a fatal what?

Q7) Noted horror director, George A Romero, died in July 2017.   Many of his better known horror films are about which creature?

Q8) August saw the sad death of entertainer, Bruce Forsyth.   Bruce had co-presented which dance show, until his retirement in 2013?

Q9) The Cassini Huygens probe ended its long mission, this year: plunging into the atmosphere of which planet?

Q10) ʻOumuamua (Pronounce OO mwah mwah) entered our solar system, this year: the first object to come from outside our system.   What IS it?

Q11) Which US actress did Prince Harry announce he was getting married to, this year?

Q12) December of this year saw the US President recognize where as the capital of Israel?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 30th December is the 6th Day of Christmas.   My true love gave me what?

A1) 6 geese a laying, 5 gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.   So far, and assuming my maths is correct?   My love has given me 6 geese, ten rings, twelve calling birds, twelve French hens, ten turtle doves, six partridges and six pear trees.   Out SIDE of where to put them?   My thoughts are turning to manure.

Q2) 30th December is the feast of Saint Egwin of Evesham.   He was the third bishop of where: Evesham, Pershore or Worcester?

A2) Worcester.

Q3) The first subway train in Asia, the Ginza Line, opened on 30th December, 1927.   Which city is the Ginza in?

A3) Tokyo.

Q4) The largest, named, Tropical Cyclone to form in the open Atlantic, did so on 30th December, 2005.   Which ‘z’ was that storm’s name?

A4) Tropical Storm Zeta.

Q5) Finally?   Lincoln’s Inn admitted its first female students on 30th December, 1919.   The Inn is one of four London Inns of Court.   Name one of the other three.

A5) The Honourable Societies of the Inner Temple, Middle Temple and Gray’s Inn.

Here’s a thought …

“It’s so unbelievable that in 2017, almost every single woman has a story about sexual harassment.”

Gretchen Carlson.

And one of the biggest selling songs of the year^ …

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

Happy New Year!

*        Likewise, Olga!   Here’s hoping it’s a good New Year!

†        You’re going to need the loud trousers, as well, Debbi!   AND the braces!   (I think I saw the US Inns mentioned in the Wikipedia article: I believe they take their name from the London ones.   Actually, I’ve been to the Temple Church‡ in London: when the two Temple Inns worship.   It’s got a circular section at the back: complete with alcoves full of gargoyles.   Bloody horrible, they are!)

‡        It’s the original London church of the old Knights Templar.

^        Possibly the only song by a Game of Thrones extra …