Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-12-2024 — Romania

8th December, 2024: Romania.

It’s now Sunday.

Really!

And I have to admit to getting a very good night’s sleep.

Walking home from my sister’s, yesterday, through a very stiff wind?

Definitely put an edge on things.

~≈💨≈~

That wind … ?

Was what was left of Storm Darragh: which I suspect was a lot worse on Britain’s west coast.

It meant the Everton-Liverpool game being cancelled: something my Liverpool-loving nephew wasn’t happy about!

But also means there’s still weather warnings in place for Essex.

It’s going to be blowy, out!

~≈🌪️≈~

Oh … 

It seems rebels in Syria have taken Damascus, the country’s capital city.

While I’ve no emotional stake in the country’s long civil war?

I can only hope that the disruption these things inevitably cause is kept to a minimum: and that a stable civilian government — one that works and responds to the will of the people, rather than the men with guns — gets set up quickly.

I hope that’s the case.

But I’m big enough, and ugly enough, to think the fighting and chaos will carry on for a while.

I also note that Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s dictator, has fled the country.

I don’t know where he’s headed.

But I’m willing to bet the plane he and his family are on … has room for a lot of looted money.

In dollars.

I don’t think the Syrian pound will be worth much, right now …

~≈💲≈~

Just as a thought … ?

I’ve opened a Bluesky account: in the wake of many Twitter migrations.

Granted, there’s few accounts accounts from reputable news sources, and seems to be no way of proving an account’s who it says it is, and only so many people I know on Twitter have migrated to the thing.

There’s also — seemingly — no Share buttons for the service on YouTube or Blogger.

But … ?

It does seem to feature the ability to block followers, and doesn’t have intrusive posts from Elon Musk.

I’m here, if you want to follow me on the site.

https://bsky.app/profile/mrcuddy2977.bsky.social

~≈🦋≈~

As a final thought … ?

I’ve got Radio 4’s Sunday Worship on in the background.

The celebrant, Dr Cas Mary Thomas, has introduced a final song: from what she describes as a “small male choir.”

Does she mean a male choir with not many singers … or a choir made up of small men?

She wasn’t clear … 

~≈🎤≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum*, Olga† 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 ten questions, shall we?

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

Q1)        8th December is Constitution Day in Romania.   It marks the day the country held a constitutional referendum: in which year of the 1990s?

Q2)        It was revised in which year: 2002, 2003 or 2004?

Q3)        What’s Romania’s capital: Bucharest, Budapest or Vukovina?

Q4)        Romanian is spoken in Romania.   And where else: Ukraine, Moldova or Hungary?

Q5)        How many letters are there in the Romanian alphabet: twenty-seven, twenty-nine or thirty-one?

Q6)        When did Romania join NATO: 2002, 2003 or 2004?

Q7)        When did Romania join the European Union: 2006, 2007 or 2008?

Q8)        Klaus Iohannis is Romania’s head of state.   In other words, he’s Romania’s what: President, Prime Minister or King?

Q9)        Vlad the Impaler was a leader of what’s now part of Romania.   A leader, in other words, of where: Transylvania, Wallachia or Moldavia?

Q10)        Romania shares its patron saint with which country of the UK: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        Nicole Appleton was born on 7th December, 1974.   She’s a member of which girl band: the Spice Girls, the Saturdays or All Saints?

A1)        All Saints.

Q2)        Delaware became the first state to ratify the US Constitution on 7th December.   Of which year of the 1780s?

A2)        1787.

Q3)        The Galileo spacecraft arrived at its destination: on 7th December, 1995.   Which planet was the probe’s destination: Mars, Jupiter or Saturn?

A3)        Jupiter.

Q4)        Eli Wallach was born on 7th December, 1915.   In which film did he play Silva Vacarro: Baby Doll, The Lineup or Seven Thieves?

A4)        Baby Doll.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Fuel trials took place on 7th December, 1904: between HMS Spiteful and HMS Peterel.   HMS Spiteful was the first British warship to use what: nuclear power, fuel oil or steam?

A5)        Fuel oil.

Here’s a thought …

“Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeast Europe.”

From the Wikipedia entry on Romania.

A song …

And an earworm … in Latin …

The next ten question set is tomorrow: it’s about a national treasure.


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



Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!   (It was fuel oil!!)

†        I think the word ‘foolproof’ is always a problem, Olga: there’s some clever idiots, out there!

        And, yes, the modifications are pretty helpful.   In an ideal world, though, I’d love to have my cupboards lowered: I think I’m going to have to see what I can see.

‡        I’ve got through the lot, Debbi: it’s just a shame there’s no more!

        Though it’s funny you should mention the train episode.   Sinéad Keenan, who plays the ex-prisoner in it?   Cropped up in Being Human and in the last 10th Doctor story: she’s the Cactus Woman in both parts of The End of Time.