Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th May, 2018

7th May, 2018.

Yep: that’s technology.

That — and a desire of my younger self — means I’ve finally worked out how to turn into Max Headroom.

One of these days?

I’ll work out how to do the stutter!

Oh, no, wait … 

iMovie … !

That’ll work … !

~≈§≈~

Talking of technology?

You’ll be very aware I’ve felt that ripping films on DVD and blu-ray — transcoding films on an optical disc, to view it on a device like a tablet, phone or streaming box — is, whilst illegal, something that’s morally acceptable.

So long as I don’t sell or give away copies of the resulting video files: just watch them on whatever device I choose.

With recent updates to macOS?

It’s getting harder to use HandBrake to use to directly rip copy-protected DVDs: as it’s gotten harder to install the library that circumvents it.

I’ve found using RipIt helps: it copies a DVD, turning it into a disc image … and stripping it of any copy protection in the process.

Which allows HandBrake to do its thing.

RipIt doesn’t work on Blu-ray Discs.

So, over the years?   I used MakeMKV to turn a Blu-ray Disc into a series of .mkv files: which could then be ripped with HandBrake, as per usual.

However?

I was tinkering with MakeMKV: in order to change my copy of The Last Jedi into something watchable on my AppleTV.

When I realised I could use it to copy a disc, and turn it into a disc image in the process …

AND strip the copy protection, as well: by ticking the relevant box.

Amazing what you find out, when you read the manual.

~≈§≈~

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) 7th May, 2007, saw Israeli archeologists discover the tomb of Herod the Great.   Which of the four Gospels mentions Herod?

Q2) The Pope arrived in Romania on 7th May, 1999: on an official visit.   Which pope?

Q3) 7th May, 2000, saw who named as President of Russia?

Q4) 7th May, 1917, saw the birth of actor, Peter Tomlinson.   He played Peter Thorndike: in which film?

Q5) Anne Dudley was born on 7th May, 1956.   Which 1980s band was she a member of?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 6th May, 1536, saw Henry 8th order English language bibles placed in English Churches.   The version concerned, the Great Bible, was released in which year: 1537, 1538 or 1539?

A1) 1539.

Q2) A bomb went off on 6th May, 2001: one linked to the Real IRA.   Where did it go off: a post office, a restaurant or a phone shop?

A2) A post office.

Q3) The Moors Murderers, Ian Bradley and Myra Hindley, were given life sentences: on 6th May, 1966.   Name any one of the three victims who murder the pair were tried for.

A3) Edward Evans, Lesley Anne Downey or John Kilbride.   (Later investigations implicated Brady in the deaths of Pauline Reade and Keith Kilbride: but the pair were never charged with their deaths: at the original trial.)

Q4) Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Georgina ‘Gina’ DeJesus were found alive on 6th May, 2013: after being kidnapped by Ariel Castro.   In which city were they found?

A4) Cleveland.

Q5) Finally … 6th May, 1895, saw the birth of Rudolf Valentino.   In which silent film does he play Julio Desnoyers?

A5) The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Here’s a thought …

“A hundred wise men have said in various ways that love transcends the power of death, and millions of fools have supposed that they meant nothing by it. At this late hour in my life I have learned what they meant. They meant that love transcends death. They are correct.”

Bed and Breakfast, Dante’s Disciples (1995), by Gene Wolfe, born May 7, 1931.

And given it’s been written by birthday, Anne Dudley?

A tune …

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

Have a good day.

*        No, that’s perfectly, OK, Olga!   And I think you’ve a point: sometimes, it’s impossible to get a feel for a film, until you see it on the big screen: and in as near to the original form, as possible!      I’d love to re-watch Metropolis and The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, again, in that sort of setting.   Funnily?   I was watching more episodes of American Horror Story’s fifth season, Hotel, last night.   The first of the two episodes?   Had Valentino as a character.   He was the lover of Lady Gaga’s character, and — this being American Horror Story — isn’t as dead as you’d think.

†        Weird old thing, Debbi, the word’s supposed to have its origins in Italian: it means ‘player,’ apparently, and comes fro Baccarat.   The card game?  As for name changes … do you still get Snickers, over in the US?   The chocolate bar with peanuts in?   they used to be called Marathon bars, over here: until a re-branding in the 90s.