Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th May, 2018.

18th May, 2018.

Yep: you’re right … 

I’m really wanting to go back to bed.

Frankly?   I’m looking forward to Sunday: that’s my next day off!

~≈§≈~

Just as a point … ?

The Today programme tells me that the government’s considering sending more troops to Afghanistan — at the request of NATO and the US government — in order to help train Afghan troops.

Personally … ?

OK, it’s a bit early in the morning to get heavily political.

But I don’t like it.

Partly because the request’s come from the US government.   We’re leaving the EU, and someone’s STILL happy about outside interference in UK decisions?

But also … ?

Because of cost.

I know we’re making cuts in military spending at a time of theoretical austerity: spending money on assigning troops somewhere≤ seems daft … 

~≈§≈~

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) 18th May, 1291, saw the fall of the city of Acre: after it was besieged by Mamluk forces.   It marked the end of what: the Second Opium War, the Crusades or the Hundred Year Wars?

Q2) The first Briton in space launched on 18th May, 1991.   Who was that Briton?

Q3) The Emperor of the French was proclaimed by the French Senate: on 18th May, 1804.   Who was the emperor?

Q4) Who did the Queen have tea — or NOT have tea — with: on 18th May, 1972?

Q5) Which Persian poet and mathematician was born on 18th May, 1048?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 16th May, 1859, saw the laws for Australian rules football, first formalised.   By a club in which Australian city?

A1) Melbourne.

Q2) What shape is an Australian rules football pitch?

A2) Oval.

Q3) How many goal posts are there, at each end of the pitch: two, three or four?

A3) Two.   (Although, strictly, there’s two goal posts, and two behinds.   Getting the ball between the goal posts, the taller pair, scores your team six points.   Getting the ball between a goal post and a behind, line of the shorter posts, scores you one point.   If you’re the defending team, forcing the ball between any of the posts gives the opposition a point: and is called a rushed behind.   It’s kind of a way of getting out of a sticky position, without losing too many points.)

Q4) An Australian rules football ball cannot be what: thrown, kicked or hand passed?

A4) Thrown.   (Kicking should be obvious.   A hand pass‡ is when a player punches the ball from the palm of his other hand.)

Q5) Finally … If the ball is carried or directed out of bound, the opposition get a free … what?

A5) Free Kick.

Here’s a thought …

“What a beautiful step! I shall never be able to do it.”

Margot Fonteyn, 18 May 1919 – 21 February 1991.

And a song …

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

Have a good day.

*        Yeah: think that piece matches what the BBC piece were saying the clip, Olga‡: that it ties into the pitch we perceive it to be.   As for the bank … ?   Oy … !   (I’m in sort of the same shoes: I’ve now got two gas cards.   They’ve told me to keep it as a spare …)

†        Me too, Debbi, I know where you’re coming from, Debbi‡!

‡        Oh, by the way?   In the video for Men at Work’s Down Under, at about the 1:16 mark?   The barman passes the singer a Vegemite sandwich.   With — as far as I can see — a hand pass.   That’s a very educational tune, Down Under.