Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th June, 2018.

20th June, 2018.

Yes, I’m back at work, today.

And frankly?

I’m thinking I’ve got an extended run: from today until next week.

With no actual day off until next week.

Frankly.

It’s money: so I can’t complain much.

But, BOY, I’ll be looking forward to time off.

~≈§≈~

Something I noticed on the Tech news, yesterday … ?

Was that UK education is having a specific issue.

Recently, the UK’s various education authorities has toughened computer science classes: making them harder to do.

And less appealing to kids.

One reason for the UK’s tech sector doing so well?   Is simply that kids get interested as youngsters.

They certainly did, when I was young.

Most of the coders and IT people my age?   All grew up, as I did, working out how to make a ZX Spectrum — or BBC Micro, or Oric, what have you — go beeeeeeep*^ when you pushed a button.

At ANY rate … I think making the classes harder will be a bad thing, long term.

There’s something else.

I know — as an adult — I did what’s called the European Computer Driving License: a computer literacy course.

I knew most of it.

But wanted the paperwork that said I’d done it … to reassure potential employers that I could sit in an office, use a computer, and not melt down, working out how to switch the thing on.

And have the impression that, until recently, that’s what ‘computer science’ classes focused on.   Making sure people had a basic level of computer literacy: enough to be able to function in today’s modern society.

I think these days?

Using a computer — a tablet, laptop, phone, till, what have you — is on a par with reading and writing, or driving.

A basic skill that makes life a lot easier.

Frankly, these days?

I think compulsory computer literacy glasses would be good.

Leaving the tougher science classes for later.

~≈§≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: 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) 20th June, 1840, saw Samuel Morse receive the patent for the telegraph.   The code name after him, is call what?

Q2) 20th June, 1990, saw the British PM suggest a what: European currency, war on Iraq, or common market?

Q3) An Argentine base on Southern Thule, surrendered on 20th June, 1982: to Royal Marine Commandos.   During which Anglo-Argentinian conflict?

Q4) 20th June, 1909, saw the birth of actor, Errol Flynn.   He Was born on which Australian island?

Q5) Finally … 20th June, 1960, saw the birth of bassist, John Taylor.   Which 80s band did he find fame in … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 19th June saw the debut of Garfield, the world’s most syndicated comic strip.   What type of animal is Garfield?

A1) A cat.

Q2) What year was that first debut?

A2) 1978.

Q3) Who’s the author of the strip?

A3) Jim Davis.

Q4) Garfield is set in Muncie: Muncie is in which US state?

A4) Indiana.

Q5) Famously?   Garfield is extremely fond of which pasta dish?

A5) Lasagna.

Q6) He’s also distinctly unimpressed by one day of the week.   Which day of the week?

A6) Monday.

Q7) Garfield’s owner is often on the wrong end of Garfield’s jokes.   Who IS Garfield’s owner?

A7) Jon Arbuckle.

Q8) Garfield’s owner also owns an over-enthusiastic dog: called … ?

A8) Odie.

Q9) Dr Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Wilson is Garfield’s … what?

A9) Vet.

Q10) Finally … who voiced Garfield in the 2004 Garfield: The Movie?

A10) Bill Murray.

Here’s a thought …

“I love acting, but it’s much more fun taking the kids to the zoo.”

Nicole Kidman, born 20th June, 1967.

And a song …

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

Have a good day.

*        If I recall correctly?   The number that defined the length of the beep the Spectrum played was stored in a specific address in the machine’s memory.   By default, the value was — off the top of my head — something like 30.   Making it longer or shorter meant you changed the number, up or down. And was something along the line of Poke address, value

.   He says …

^        I know my nephew, Jude, likes building Lego models.   It might be a good thing to get him interested in the Raspberry Pi — so he can build Lego robots, and control them with the Pi — might be an idea: and (possibly) be put to good use later in life.

†        OK, Olga: have a good trip, and wish your friend good luck for me!   Sounds like he could need it!

‡        It IS a bit cheerful, isn’t Debbi?   The chap performing it is Fat Les: better known as actor, Keith Allen.   He crops up as the London based drug dealer in Trainspotting.   Oh … and the corpse of the week in Shallow Grave.   Oh … And he’s Lily Allen’s dad …