Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25th February, 2022.

25th February, 2022.

Right … I’ve officially got to visit the dentist’s, today.

Or, to be accurate, the hygienists.

I had to re-arrange it: as, when I last went … ?

The dentists had to cancel: because of a power cut.

But had just enough electricity to rebook the appointment.

Heigh ho!

~≈®≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

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

The day also saw Trevor^ leaving us a message.


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

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

Q1)        25th February is the feast day of Æthelberht of where: Kent, Essex or Surrey?

Q2)        25th February, 1986, saw Corazon Aquino sworn in as President.   Of where: the USA, the Philippines or the Ukraine?

Q3)        25th February, 1841, saw the birth of Pierre-August Renoir.   What was he: a sculptor, painter or musician?

Q4)        25th February, 1918, saw German forces occupy Tallinn.   Tallinn is the capital city of which Baltic state: Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia?

Q5)        Finally … ?   Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, gave a speech: on 25th February, 1956.   Denouncing who: Stalin, Lenin or the KGB?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        24th February saw Estonia declare itself independent.   In which year: 1918, 1919 or 1920?

A1)        1918.

Q2)        Estonia is one of three Baltic nations.   Name one of the other two.

A2)        Lithuania or Latvia.

Q3)        What’s Estonia’s capital city: Tallinn, Tartu or Narva?

A3)        Tallinn.

Q4)        The Hirondo rustica is Estonia’s national bird.   It’s also known as the what swallow: barn swallow, shed swallow or stable swallow?

A4)        The Barn swallow.   It’s also the national bird of Austria.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Estonia is a what: theocracy, republic or monarchy?

A5)        A republic.

Here’s a thought … 

“Nature abhors a vacuum, say the physicists. They could complete their axiom by adding that it has no less a horror of regularity.”

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 25 February 1841 – 3 December 1919.

And a song … from the immortal Gert Fröbe …

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.

*        I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t, Olgaª: I know how hard NHS staff work.   My sister, Anna, Jude’s aunty, has just started her new job: at my GP’s.   She’s officially not allowed to access relatives medical records.

        So, hang on, Hannibal got re-written?   Somehow I’m not surprised.   Did you ever hear of a Star Trek episode called City on the Edge of Forever?   The one with Joan Collins?   The original script was written by Harlan Ellison … then heavily re-written by Roddenbury, Fontana, et al, as the producers felt it got the regular characters wrong: and badly misunderstood the background.   Ellison ended up getting an award for his original script: but fans still name the episode as filmed, as the best Star Trek episode ever made.

        If I’ve understood things correctly, Olga?   Russia’s always like the idea of being surrounded by … um … friendly neighbours.   Especially after World War Two, when Nazi Germany tried invading.   During the Soviet era?   It had the Warsaw Pact nations as a nice buffer zone.   More recently?   Many of its European nations have joined NATO: bar Belarus and Ukraine.   If I recall correctly?   A lot of the recent trouble started when the current pro-West Ukrainian president replaced his pro-Russian predecessor.   And Trump’s cheering Putin on … ?   I’m not surprised.

        Do you get the impression it’s going to get messy, Olga … ?

†        Hello, Mum!

‡        Glad I’ve introduced it too you, Debbi!   There’s plenty more Quora posts to use it on, too!   (I still say some of the questions I’ve seen are bloody odd … or bloody silly!   But some of the answers are superb!   Check this one out!).  Oh, and check out the extra footnoteª I’ve done for Olga and Trevor.   Your thoughts would be appreciated.

^        The trouble, there, Trevorª?   Is that a lot of other European countries on Russia’s borders — bar Belarus, Ukraine and Finland — are NATO members.   If I’ve understood how it’s supposed to work, you invade one NATO member, the others are obliged to help.

        And I’m not sure that Putin’s mad: he’s always struck me as fairly rational.   I don’t think he’ll go further than Ukraine, because of that.

        (Actually, Trevor, do you remember, Nina?   Who’s occasionally commented here?   She’s Finnish.   I don’t think she’s anything to be worried about … but I can’t blame her for being concerned …)

Just kinda worrying right now... But having 1300+k border with Russia is no joke...

— A Qualitative Lady 💋 (@5by5nina) February 24, 2022

ª        To be frank?   I’m vaguely thinking of Orwell’s 1984.   Where the various superstates would be constantly changing alliances … but only small bits of territory would actually see warfare.   Oceania (the West) is having a Cold War with Eurasia (Russia) … but only the Ukraine is seeing combat.   Meanwhile … ?   Eastasia (China) seems very quiet …