Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1st August, 2022.

1st August, 2022.

An icon died on Saturday: in case you didn’t know.

30th July saw the very sad death of Nichelle Nichols: best remembered as Lieutenant Uhuru in the original version of Star Trek.

She’d be suffering with dementia for some time: and died at the age of 89*.

She’s … 

I’ll be frank, I’m at something of a loss for words: knowing a women that was that influential, that I know inspired many — including Whoopi Goldberg† and scientist, Mae Jamison† — to be who are are.

Nichelle Nichols will be much missed.

~≈ß≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

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



The day also saw Trevorº 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)        1st August is Minden Day in the UK.   It’s celebrated by (some) units in the what: Army, Navy or Royal Air Force?

Q2)        1st August is the National Day of where: Ireland, Monaco or Switzerland?

Q3)        1st August is the Day of the Azerbaijani language and alphabet.   The language used in the Republic of Azerbaijan uses a version of which script: the Latin, Chinese or Cyrillic?

Q4)        Joseph Priestley discovered Oxygen: on 1st August, 1774.   He called it dephlogisticated what: air, fire or earth?   (It’s pronounced de flow JIS de cated)

Q5)        Finally?   1st August, 1965, saw the birth of director, Sam Mendes.   In which of his films does Kevin Spacey play Lester Burnham?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        31st July is the last day of what’s called the Trinity Sitting.   In other words, a session of what: the House of Commons, the High Court of Justice or the colleges of the University of Oxford?

A1)        The High Court of Justice: or Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice in England, if you want to be picky.

Q2)        31st July is the feast day of Saint Neot.   He’s the patron saint of what: fish, cows or bananas?

A2)        Fish.

Q3)        Aurangzeb was named as emperor: on 31st July, 1658.   Of which empire: the Mughal Empire, Roman Empire or Ottoman Empire?

A3)        The Mughal Empire.   (He’s said to be the last effective emperor the state had. His father, Shah Jahan, was the man who built the Taj Mahal.)

Q4)        Christchurch was chartered on 31st July, 1856.   It’s in which country: Australia, New Zealand or Vanuatu?

A4)        New Zealand.

Q5)        Finally … ?   31st July, 1998, saw the UK ban what: assault rifles, landmines or flick knives?

A5)        Landmines.

Here’s a thought … 

“If you shout in the theatre, people think you’ve gone a bit mad.   But if you raise your voice on a film set, people just work a bit harder.”

Sam Mendes, born 1st August, 1965.

And a song …

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

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        If I’ve understood things correctly?   There were legal moves afoot: it seems her son, Kyle, had filed for conservatorship, after a dispute with her manager.

†        Famously?   Goldberg went into acting — in part — because “there’s a black lady on TV, and she ain’t playing no maid!”: indeed, played Guinan because she saw Nichols on Star Trek.   Jamison started studying science, and became NASA’s first African American astronaut, because of Nichols.   She’s also the only real world astronaut on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

‡        Well … Genesius of Rome troops up in a Google search for ‘patron saint of bananas,’ Olga: but his Wikipedia page doesn’t mention them.   I’m assuming the pope’s been too busy to fill in the paperwork.

        John Connor as a Messiah?   Yeah that makes a certain amount of sense.   I think both SF and fantasy — at least, western SF and fantasy — likes the idea.   And The Lord of the Rings relies on it!   Aragorn, son of Arathorn!   (I think Moorcock tries to deliberately avoid it, with Elric: he’s very much an anti-hero.)

        I’ve been in touch with the reporter: hopefully, she can let me know!

^        Hello, Mum!

ª        Sounds like your part of town’s blissfully quiet, Debbi!   Unlike ours!   I got home from my family’s, last night: before the big game finished.   Then screaming started.   Turns out it was at least one neighbour cheering the winning goal: and not — as I was thinking — getting murdered in their beds!   You can’t blame me for worrying, can you?

        Apparently?   According to the pro-choice activist, the pro-life chap was indulging in ‘quiet prayer,’ outside the clinic.   Make of that, what you will!

º        I knew about the extra time, Trevor: that’s when the neighbours started screaming.