30th January, 2022.
Yes: things are happening …
Other the past few weeks?
Russian troops have been massing on the border of the Ukraine.
Indeed, that was happening when I did a recent Teaser about the country.
President Biden, in the meantime … ? Has warned that Russia may wall invade: as have various members of his government.
In response? The UK has sent some troop to various NATO allies: with the PM contemplating sending more.
Personally … ?
I can’t help but think a few things.
Partly? Starting a war in Eastern Europe is a bad thing.
Partly? Whilst the UK doesn’t get that much in the way of gas from Russia, our European, NATO allies do. I can’t see them approving something that could potentially put fuel prices up any further than they’ve already gone. And potentially cut off supplies.
Partly? The expense. Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, have confirmed that they will be increasing National Insurance to help support the National Health Service. They could easily increase other taxes to pay for a war.
Partly? Because it’s the Iraq War, all over again: it’s Britain taking part in a US led war, something that’s none of our business.
Mostly? It’s none of our business.
I voted Remain in the EU referendum: I’m still convinced staying was the right thing to do.
But I’m very aware many voted Leave: as they felt the EU was interfering with the UK’s domestic affairs.
I put the Iraq War on a par with that. It was the US dictating UK foreign affairs.
Britain joining any US action in the Ukraine? Would be Britain being dictated to by the US, again.
Not something I want.
Saying that? I think there’s not going to be military action in or over the Ukraine.
This is so much sabre-rattling, to make President Biden — and Boris Johnson — look good.
But?
I can’t help but think of a line I think came from Not The Nine O’clock News: possibly from a Mel Smith or Rowan Atkinson character.
“America was late for the last two world wars: this time it wants to punctual.”
Let’s move on, shall we?
Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga*, Mum† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with Olga and Debbi scoring five out of five, and Mum 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) Protestors were killed on Bloody Sunday, on 30th January. 30th January of which year of the 1970s?Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …
Q2) In which nation of the UK: England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Q3) It took place in the Bogside area of which city?
Q4) 26 people were shot at by British Soldiers. From which regiment: the Special Air Service, the Parachute Regiment or the Royal Anglian Regiment?
Q5) Finally … ? How many people died on Bloody Sunday: eleven, twelve or thirteen?
Q1) 29th January, saw Sir Stamford Raffles land on Singapore. In which year: 1817, 1818 or 1819?Here’s a quote …
A1) 1819.
Q2) Singapore is one degree north of what: the Tropic of Cancer, the Tropic of Capricorn or the Equator?
A2) The Equator.
Q3) Singapore has four official languages. English, Malay, Mandarin: and what else: Tamil, Telugu or Thai?
A3) Tamil.
Q4) Thirty-one per cent of Singaporeans are what: Buddhist, Christian or Muslim?
A4) Buddhist.
Q5) Finally … ? Singapore’s name means what: Lion City, Tiger Town or Puma Planet?
A5) Lion City.
“Bloody Sunday came to be regarded as one of the most significant events of the Troubles because so many civilians were killed by forces of the state, in view of the public and the press.”And a song …
From the Wikipedia article about the event.
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.
* Carmen Mola … ? I think I can remember hearing it go past on the news, Olga. I got the impression it was a five minute wonder … but a very literary one, involving serious money^! It’s possibly a five minute wonder, with marketing implications. After all, we expect the description on the packaging to be accurate. Something similar happened over, here, too. I don’t know if you heard of a crime writer called Richard Galbraith? As I recall, someone worked out ‘he’ was J. K. Rowling, after doing some sort of AI analysis. Iain Banks adding an M to his name is mild in comparison! And now you’ve mentioned it? I’m going to have to dig up my copy of Frankenstein: it’s been years!
Either way? Give my regards to Carla and the gang: it sounds like it’s going to be a tough few days.
† Hello, Mum! See you tonight!
‡ You’re right, Debbi! Did you see the thing Olga mentioned, about Carmen Mola? I can vaguely remember hearing about it, way back when.
Oh, and I’ve had a few rumours float past my news time line. The rumours have it David Tennant will be cast as the 14th Doctor. Ha! (I think people have got hold of his statement, saying he’d be happy to appear in the 60th Anniversary episode: and got overexcited …)
^ According to the Wikipedia entry, the prize involved was €1, 000, 000: about £830, 000/$1, 100, 000 … ! That’s not toenail clippings!
3 comments:
Q1) 1972
Q2) Northern Ireland
Q3) Derry
Q4) The Parachute Regiment
Q5) Thirteen (and another one died four months later)
Oh, yes, indeed, the award is the biggest in the Spanish language, and they increased it for this year's edition (methinks they must have somehow "known" there were several writers rather than one, although, in theory, the submissions are anonymous. But, of course, it is nothing of the sort, and I have spoken to popular writers who were "invited" to submit one of their novels. It is an award where the prices always go to novels that have popular appeal and are bound to sell a lot of money, and one of the perks/conditions is that they publish the novel as well (Editorial Planeta), and in the case of Carmen Mola, the two novels they had published under that name already were very popular and sold well, but they had published them with another publishing company, so that was a way of getting them under their wing, so to speak.
I remember the J.K. Rowling thing. There was always the suspicion that somebody in the publishing company let the cat out of the bag, because the books, although they got good reviews, didn't sell at all well before it became known that they were hers...
Oh, I agree with you about the situation in Ukraine. And I can't help but remember that the US, indeed (the quote is fabulous) want to get there first, but eventually, they have either lost all of the conflicts they have been involved in or eventually left the place in a worse situation than it was before (see Afghanistan). They might be good (?) at fighting a war, but reconstructing a country is not their strong point. One only needs to look at the American South and the situation created after the Civil War.
I recently read a book written by a woman who had been working with a charity health organisation in Afghanistan (the blogger I knew who died last Christmas) and many of the people there were fed up with the corruption and the fact that nothing got done, and, not that they liked the Russians, but they acknowledged that at least they had schools, food, and services available.
I covered an event about migration policies and politics on Thursday, for the radio, and was talking to the professor who was facilitating the discussion (Blanca Garcés. She works in several European projects and research committees), and she was talking about the way migrants are used as political weapons, and everything seems to be the same. Using events from outside to either build up a politician's reputation or to distract the population from other problems at home. Of course, Putin does the same. One just hopes one of the side will stop this stupidity, and Ukraine doesn't get caught in the middle.
1 1972
2 Northern Island
3 Derry
4 Paracute Reg
5 13 people on the day 1 3 months later
4
I like your Rowan Atkinson quote! :) Sad, but true.
1. 1972
2. Northern Ireland
3. Derry
4. the Parachute Regiment
5. thirteen died that day (and a fourteenth person died of his injuries four months later) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_(1972)#Casualties
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