Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-10-2021: Anne Rice

4th October, 2021.

Yep: I need a haircut.

I’m starting to get just a little bit shaggy.

Quite how I’m going to afford a haircut, I don’t know!

Which sort of raises the issue, doesn’t it … ?

The uplift to Universal Credit — introduced last year — is due to end on Wednesday.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is going to be making a speech at the Tory party conference today: where he’s expected to announce more help for job support schemes.

I suspect the schemes the Chancellor is going to be announcing are much like the ones I’ve already been on.

Useless.

~≈£≈~

The Chancellor’s also just confirmed the end of the Uplift: just now, on the Today Programme.

This is despite leaders of the devolved parliaments calling for it to stay: in a letter to the Prime Minister.

And despite former PM — and former Chancellor — Gordon Brown also calling for it to be retained.

Frankly?

The Tories are going to lose a lot of votes.

~≈Җ≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

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

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

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

Q1)        4th October saw the birth of author, Anne Rice.   In which year of the 1940s?

Q2)        In which US state: Louisiana, New York or California?

Q3)        Her best known work is the 1976 book, Interview with the what?

Q4)        Her best know character has been played by both Tom Cruise, and Stuart Townsend.   Who is that character: Lestat, Louis or Claudia?

Q5)        Finally?   That best known work is set — initially — in the US city Anne was born in.   Which US city: New Orleans, New York or San Francisco?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        Muhammad 7th became Emir of Granada: on 3rd October, 1392.   The Emirate was in what’s now which country … ?

A1)        Spain.

Q2)        Iraq became in independent kingdom: on the 3rd October, 1932.   Independent from where: the UK, the Ottoman Empire or Saudi Arabia … ?

A2)        The UK.

Q3)        Saint Francis of Assisi died on 3rd October, 1226.   The Franciscan monks are named for him: but are correctly known as the Order of Friars what: major, minor or mandible?

A3)        Minor.

Q4)        3rd October, 1935, saw an Italian army invade where: Ethiopia, Zambia or South Africa?

A4)        Ethiopia.

Q5)        Finally … ?   3rd October is the feast day of Abd-al-Masih.   He’s a saint to whom: the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church or the Egyptian Coptic Church?

A5)        The Syriac Orthodox Church.

Here’s a thought … 

“To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.”

Anne Rice.

And a song …

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, bless her!   That’s something, there, Olga, worried for the rock!   At any rate, it sounds like everyone had one hell of a day!   And he sound like quite a chap!

        You know, now we’ve mentioned Geology … did you ever see The Shawshank Redemption?   Geology hammers are a big plot point …

†        I’ll cue that one up, then, Edith!   :D   Hmmm … There’s a World Music day, as well: in June or July.   We’ll have to see what happens!

‡        I’ll keep my eyes peeled for it, Debbi!   Oh, Radio Four’s got Mary Beard on Start the Week: the Classicist?   She’s done her own version of Suetonius’ Twelve Caesars.   I’m going to have to dig up my copy of I, Claudius.   (It turns out the way Claudius got named Emperor … isn’t that far from the truth.)