Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th November, 2020.

19th November, 2020.

Right, it’s official the case: I’m expecting deliveries, today.

A couple of bits courtesy of Amazon: or, at least, the Office of National Statistics.

I volunteer for their Covid 19 testing program: and get an Amazon voucher, as a thank you.

So, those are due, today … 

I’m also expecting a laptop.

I’m due to start a computer literacy course, next week, have the assessment, tomorrow … 

So my landlords are loaning me a Windows based laptop: it’s due, today.

I also know I’ve got to put up some medication, today.

I just hope I can get to town and, in time!

~≈©≈~

You’ll remember an old friend, Phil, died a few days ago … ?

I sent his widow a condolence card.

You have to, don’t you?   My sadness was nowhere near his immediate family’s … but needed expressing.

As did my sympathies: and the usual offers of help one makes at these times.

It has to be said, she sent a reply, bless her.

Not something I was expecting, to be honest: but nice to get.

Nice … and heartbreaking.

It was possibly the saddest thing I think I’ve read in years.

But also the happiest.

Phil, it seems, had a good, full and happy life: even if it was drastically shortened.

What can I say, bar that?

~≈©≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga*, Trevor†, Mum‡, Edith^ and Debbiª putting in their answers: with Olga, Trevor and Debbi scoring five out of five, and Mum and Edith on three.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video …

Q1)        19th November, 1493, saw Christopher Columbus land on an island then called Borinquen.   He renamed it San Juan Bautista.   What’s it now called?

Q2)        The Nintendo Wii was released on 19th November, 2006.   It was the first video game console with what: a 4k display, motion controllers or a blu-ray player?

Q3)        19th November, 1905, saw the birth of musician and bandleader, Tommy Dorsey.   Which slide-based brass instrument did he play?

Q4)        19th November is World Toilet Day.   In which year was it first held … ? 

Q5)        Finally … ?   The General Secretary of the USSR, and the President of the USA, met on 19th November, 1985.   The then President was Ronald Reagan.   Who was the General Secretary?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1)        Oman declared itself independent form the UK: on 18th November, 1971.   Oman is a what: sultanate, emirate or caliphate?

A1)        A Sultanate.

Q2)        Oman’s at the mouth of which Gulf?

A2)        The Persian Gulf.

Q3)        Oman’s on which Peninsula?

A3)        The Arabian Peninsula.   (It’s nowhere near the Bruce Peninsular: that’s in Canada. Or a studio … )

Q4)        What’s Oman’s capital city: Abu Dhabi, Muscat or Angelo?

A4)        Muscat.

Q5)        Finally … ?   What’s Oman’s official language: English, Arabic or Spanish?

A5)        Arabic.

Here’s a thought …

“Bebop has set music back twenty years.”

Tommy Dorsey, November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956.

And a song …

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

Feel free to share today’s video Teaser.

Have a good day.

*        The sooner they do, Olgaº, the happier I’ll be!   I don’t want to be far from the loo, right now!

Actually … ?   Bar the swearing, I think the nine year would like The Young Ones: I keep thinking it would appeal to Jude, and he’s not that much older.   It’s the slapstick elements.

The other one’s 16, you say, and not a one for pop culture?   That IS odd for sixteen: are you sure she doesn’t want to be a nun?   That could be … um … interesting!

Actually … I had a thing for Dr Who, at that age: would waving some classic science fiction at her help … ?   That’s assuming you can get hold of BritBox in Barcelona.

†        Yes: I managed to hit a wrong button, Trevorº!   Still, thanking you: I’ve managed to do something about it!

‡        Hello, Mumº!   (I think we need to mention words for rain to Edith!)

^        I don’t know if evolved the right word, Edithº.   Possibly the word is diverged!   British English and American English went in different directions in the 17th Century … and some British definitions got slightly … um … smuttier!      (The American version of Spunk is here.   The British English version is here, here, and here.   Actually, the various words for rain spring to mind: remind me to tell you about when Debbi and her husband Rick, visited the UK: we got talking about the many different British words for rain.   There’s drizzling.   Bucketing.   Chucking it down.   Throwing it down.   Raining cats and dogs … Trevor was there, too, I’m sure he’ll know some.   Oh, and Olga lived in Yorkshire, in Northern England, for years: she’ll’ve picked up a few!   Mum’s originally from Kent, so that would thrown in a few more!)

ª        You’re not wrong, there, Debbiº!   Oh, I think we’re going to need to talk about rain with Edith.   Did I mention I was on Quora?   The question and answer site?   I read one fascinating answer, yesterday: it turns out that — under Big Sur — you can use QuickTime to merge videos together.   It should work on Catalina, too.   Handy, hey?

º         Radio Four’s got a fascinating thing on, at the moment: about Toussaint L’Ouverture, the Haitian leader.   It’s called Black Spartacus.   I can’t help but think it’s a bad title: Spartacus failed!