Tuesday 25 August 2020

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-8-2020: The Number, 25 … 

25th August, 2020.


Right … 

We have rain … and a nice chilly breeze!

Which, frankly?   Given how warm it’s been … ?

Is a welcome change.

~≈∏≈~

Does that mean my phone signal’s back up … ?

Nope!

O2’s website tells me they’ll have have more updates on the 31st August … 


Whilst they email update system … ?   Has no idea … 


Apparently?

O2 have got the hang of Matthew 6:3.

Their left hand really doesn’t know what their right hand is doing … 

~≈∏≈~

Which, now I think about it … ?

Equally applies to the Shaw Trust: who are running the Work and Health Programme I’m on, for the Job Centre.

I’ve applied for a European Computer Drivers License course: it’s a computer literacy course.   OK, I’m fairly computer literate.

But having the paperwork that says I know how to copy and paste from one Word document to another is helpful.

With that in mind, I’ve applied for the ECDL course, AND for a home working job that needs me to have a Windows based PC — not something I want, but there you go — running a recent version of Windows Ten, and a recent version of MS Office.

So I’ve sent off the relevant bits of paper-work, and the eyewatering tech specifications to my case worker: who’s referred it upwards.

I checked in with him, yesterday.   Only to find that he’s on holiday: and I need to mail the colleague who’s covering him, to follow up on that.

That colleague?   Has just emailed me, literally, just emailed me.

To tell me they wouldn’t be able to fund a laptop for the home working job I’ve applied for: without a firm offer of a job.

Which is disappointing, but understandable.

But also told me I’d need to speak to my usual support worker about anything else: when he gets back on the 1st September, about anything else.

Why I mention this?   In connection with Matthew 6:3?

Is simply that one didn’t have a clue about the other’s caseload.

Which is also fair enough … but … 

Well … 

Either way … ?

I think I’m going to have issues, when it comes to doing the course: I may just have to cancel … 

~≈∏≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga*, David†, Trevor‡ and Debbi^ putting in their answers: with all four 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) Is 25 an odd or even number?
Q2) Is 25 a prime number?
Q3) 25 is 5², or 5 squared.   In other words, it’s three squared (3²) plus what squared?
Q4) What’s 25: in Roman numerals?
Q5) What’s 25: in binary notation?
Q6) How is 25% written: as a fraction?
Q7) 25 is the atomic number of which metal?
Q8) £25 is also known as which ‘P’?
Q9) Pachisi is a board game whose name means 25.   It’s from where: China, India or Thailand?
Q10) Finally … ?   Candidates have to be 25 to stand for the US House of Representatives.   How old does a candidate have to be, to stand for the Senate?
Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) Windows 95 was released on 24th August, 1995.   Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 95 in December of which year?
A1) 2001.   (Although mainstream support ended in 2000.)
Q2) What did the USA ban on 24th August, 1954: the American Communist Party, TikTok or intercontinental ballistic missiles?
Q3) 24th August, 2006, saw the International Astronomical Union redefine the word, planet.   This now means what isn’t a planet?
A3) Pluto.
Q4) 24th August, 1936, saw the birth of writer, A. S. Byatt.   Her first novel was published in which year of the 1960s?
A4) 1964.
Q5) Finally … ?   President Getulio Vargas was found dead: on 24th August, 1954.   Where had he been president of?
A5) Brazil.
Here’s a thought …
“And I continued to grow until I was 25 years old.”
Julius Erving.
And a song …


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

Have a good day.



*        The news about the Communist Party doesn’t surprise me, Olga.   Given Republicans say Joe Biden’s a socialist!   Ahem!   
At any rate, the versions I saw of El Ministerio del Tiempo saw were subtitled.   The new studio might have dubbed them: but I’m not sure how that would work, given the various social distancing rules doing the rounds.   I do know the subtitled versions frequently translate one phrase of Alonso’s as Gadzooks.   I’d love to know what the original Spanish word was!   Either way, I’m keeping my eyes on Amazon … 
And cheers for the Gene Kelly references: I can keep my eyes peeled.   I’m tempted by Singing’ In the Rain.   I’ve never actually seen a Debbie Reynolds film, either: I grew up with her daughter in Star Wars, and seen her granddaughter in American Horror Story.
(I always think of this Kenny Everett sketch when Debbie Reynolds is mentioned … )


†        Morning, David: nice to see you back in.   Are we still on for Words With Friends?   (Ye gods, Facebook’s changed its layout again!)

‡        I don’t think the government computer’s have a problem, Trevor.   The Work and Health Programme, on the other hand … … 

^       Tell me about it, Debbi!   Saying that … ?   I’m starting to miss the idiots on Instagram!   They seem to have given up … unlike the Amazon Robocalls!   I keep talking to them about gibbons until they put the phone down.   It’s giving me hours of fun … !

3 comments:

Olga said...

Q1) Odd
Q2) No
Q3) 4
Q4) XXV
Q5) 11001
Q6) 1/4
Q7) Manganese
Q8) A pony
Q9) India
Q10) 30 or over
Yes, Debbie Reynolds is great in that movie as well (they all are and it's funny as well, especially if you love movies). I've read three of Carrie Fisher's books (years back) and she could write, that's for sure. If one has to go by the books and stories they must have had a complicated relationship, but they are (were) a talented bunch of women, no doubt. I'm pretty sure I have a copy of Diary of a Princess waiting to be read somewhere. Thanks for the reminder!
I hope things get clarified and sorted as well as possible. To be honest, I've been landed with covering for colleagues sometimes without having any idea of their workload. It's not the same if you work closely with them and share cases. I've had to cover for units I hadn't set foot on, and you're usually expected to deal with any emergencies and leave the rest because you're expected to keep doing your own work as well, of course, and there is nobody extra to cover (I've heard that in the past... faraway past, I guess, they would get staff extra to cover holidays, sometimes working through the holidays of several people, but I've had never had personally experienced it, and even when somebody is on long-term sick leave it doesn't tend to happen these days). In any case, not helpful, I know.
It's a catch 22 kind of situation, because you're unlikely to get a job if you don't have the computer, but they won't get you a computer unless you have a firm offer for a job. Like my conundrum with language teaching. There are jobs that don't insist you have at least two years' experience, but they only want native English speakers, and the ones that accept non-natives want at least two years of teaching experience. (And still no word on the certificate either). I am going to try a couple of things but I'll wait until September, as trying to do anything in August in this country is a lost cause.
Take care and good luck.

Nik Nak said...

As an extra thought?

The Shaw Trust have just been in touch: to tell me they will not be able to fund the laptop for the course!

Right … 

Debbi said...

Well, if that amuses you, go to it, I guess. :)

1. odd
2. no
3. 4
4. XXV
5. 11001
6. 1/4
7. Manganese
8. Pony
9. India
10. 30