Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-10-2021: Oscar Wilde.

16th October 2021.

Did I mention I’ve been watching Quatermass and the Pit, over the past few days?

I’ve been watching Quatermass and the Pit, over the past few days.

And, as I managed to mention to Old Peculiar regular, Debbi Mack, the other day?

I’d spotted Edward Burnham — Professor Kettlewell in Robot — and John Scott Martin — practically every Dalek, ever — in episode five.

I think I’ve managed to out do myself.

When — in episode six — I spotted an obscure actor called Bernard Spear.

The chap in the hat, with the beer: the chap that looks vaguely like Bernie Winters.

The only other time I’ve seen him … ?

As as ‘Man With Carrier Bag,’ in Dalek Invasion Earth: 2150AD.

He’s holding a carrier bag: and falls over when The TARDIS dematerialises.

He cropped up in that, some eight years after making Quatermass and the Pit.

But?

He’s still wearing the same outfit!

I hope he washed it … !

~≈‡≈~

Just as an extra couple of thoughts?

It seems Jodie Whittaker’s filmed her regeneration scene.

But no: she and Mandip Gil don’t know who the 14th Doctor is, either.

Secondly?

The BBC’s released another trailer for the upcoming thirteenth series of Dr Who.

It looks interesting: I just don’t know if the re-designed Sontarans grab me.

~≈‡≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

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

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

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

Q1)        Oscar Wilde was born, on 16th October.   Of which year of the 1850s?

Q2)        In which city: London, Dublin or Edinburgh?

Q3)        He read — or studied — Classics.   Where: Trinity College Dublin, Saint Andrews, or Peterhouse College Cambridge?

Q4)        Oscar read Greats at which of Oxford’s colleges: Lincoln, Magdalen or Mansfield?

Q5)        He joined what, whilst at Oxford: the Freemasons, the Theosophists or the Golden Dawn?

Q6)        He didn’t marry his childhood sweetheart, Florence Balcombe.   In part, because she married who: Bram Stoker, George Bernard Shaw or Gerry Rafferty?

Q7)        His first and only novel was The Picture of Dorian whom: Black, White or Gray?

Q8)        Oscar’s play, Lady Windermere’s Fan, was a what: comedy, tragedy or kitchen sink drama?

Q9)        Oscar’s Salome was originally written in which language: French, German or Spanish?

Q10)        Finally … ?   Jack Worthing, Gwendolen Fairfax and Lady Bracknell appear in Oscar’s 1895 play, The Importance of Being whom?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        15th October is Global Handwashing Day.   The UK’s NHS recommend’s washing our hands for twenty seconds.   In other words, for the time it takes to sing what, twice: Mary Had a Little Lamb, Happy Birthday or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?

A1)        Happy Birthday.

Q2)        The NHS also recommends we wash out hands with water, and what: soap, petrol or hydrochloric acid?

A2)        Soap.   (Apparently, it “… kills microorganisms by disorganising their membrane lipid bilayer and denaturing their proteins.”   Which is a handy thing to know.)

Q3)        We can also use which ‘S’: sanitiser, saline solution or sulphuric acid?

A3)        Sanitiser.

Q4)        The ‘S,’ in question three is usually sixty per cent what: alcohol, salt or sulphur?

A4)        Alcohol.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Over the past few months, handwashing has become an important way of fighting what: COVID-19, Mad Cow Disease or heroin addiction?

A5)        COVID-19.

Here’s a thought … 

“How else but through a broken heart


May Lord Christ enter in?”

The Ballad of Reading Gaol, by Oscar Wilde.

And a poem …

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

The quizmaster’s decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Oh, he produced the Spanish version, as well … ?   I get the impression that’s where the serious money can be, Olga.   I think that’s why (partly) why Jodie Foster and Denzel Washington have their own production companies: it gives them a bit more creative control, and can be a good earner.   I’m pretty sure Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sunk money into End of Days: I still think that’s his best film.

        Oh, my lord!   Disappointing … ?   I should say so!   The man was quite a talent.

        Retraining, hey … ?   Hmmm … 

†        Hello, Mum!

‡        Exactly, Edith: that’s quite a talent!   (Oh, did you ever see the old Peter Cushing Dr Who movies?   I think they might appeal to you.)

^        Oh, lord, yes: tell me about it, Debbi!   Technologically, financially … I don’t think it was the same as it was, ten years ago, let along a century agoª!   I think the language would’ve changed as well … !

        Oh … I left a comment for you … five minutes work at quarter past six!   (I think you can use HTML on WordPress: it comes in handy if you need to pre-prepare answers …)

ª        I can remember seeing posters for Toy Story 4, a couple of years ago, Debbi.   You could tell it’s more recent that the first three: the visual texture of the clothes was finer.   I think that’s the rendering power of the computers they’re using.