Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th February 2025.

16th February, 2025.

The US government is in trouble.

They, and their President, are attempting to cut costs.

And laid off a large number of staff, recently: with that cost cutting process in mind.

That’s no bad thing, done well.

But … ?

According to at least one news report I’ve seen, they are desperately trying to rehire some staff: in particular, some of the staff in the agency that oversees nuclear safety.

But having trouble finding them.

“You couldn’t make it up” is an over-used phrase.

So, instead, I’ll say this: 

“You twerps!”

~≈☢️≈~

Elon Musk is heavily involved with the current US government.

And — famously — takes his kids to work.

Why?

I don’t know.

But it’s speculated he does so to try and improve his image.

However?

And I wish I’d bookmarked the relevant answer: but an answer I saw on Quora, yesterday, introduced an interesting piece of speculation.

In the wake of the shooting of a health company CEO in the US, he’s doing it not to improve his image … but so he has a human shield, in case someone tries shooting him.

I don’t think he’s that callous.

But … ?

That was an answer that made a lot of sense … 

~≈🧑‍🧒≈~

It seems that US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is off to Russia: to try and negotiate an end to the Ukraine War with Vladimir Putin.

With very little input from President Zelensky, or Ukraine: and with a lot of unwanted territorial concessions.

I’m a very amateur historian: very amateur.

So … ?

I automatically thought about World War Two.

And the German annexation of the Sudetenland, in what was then Czechoslovakia.

A move that was supposed to appease Hitler, and persuade him to stop invading places.

It didn’t work.

I really don’t know if it will work now: we don’t need World War Three.

But?

If Rubio comes back home, and talks of “peace in our time”, we could have problems … 

~≈⚔️≈~

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 and a half …

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

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

 

Q1)        The last US MASH unit closed on 16th February.   Of which year: 2006, 2008 or 2010?

Q2)        More to the point?   What does the ‘H’ stand for, in MASH?

Q3)        16th February is the Day of Restoration of the State of where: Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia?

Q4)        16th February is the Roman Catholic feast day of Saint Juliana of Nicomedia.   Nicomedia was in what’s now where: Turkey, Greece or Italy?

Q5)        Finally … ?   North America’s first 911 call took place: on 16th February, 1968.   In which US state?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        15th February, 2001, saw Nature publish the first complete what: proof of de Fermat’s last theorem, first draft of the Human Genome or details of a black hole?

A1)        First draft of the Human Genome.

Q2)        15th February is Susan B. Anthony Day.   Where: Florida, Texas or Oregon?

A2)        Florida.

Q3)        15th February is International Duties Memorial Day.   Where: Russia, China or Thailand?

A3)        Russia.

Q4)        Matt Groening was born on 15th February, 1954.   He’s the creator of which animated series: Family Guy, The Simpsons or King of The Hill?

A4)        The Simpsons.

Q5)        Finally … ?   15th February is the feast day of Claude La Colombière.   He’s a patron saint of whom: butchers, bakers or toymakers?

A5)        Toymakers.

Here’s a thought …

“I don’t think actors should get themselves on any political platform, I really don’t.   Some of us are intelligent enough, but I don’t mean because of that.   Because we have such an influence, wrong sort of influence.   And that’s why I don’t really agree with it.”

June Brown, 16 February 1927 – 3 April 2022.

And a song by James Ingram …

The next ten question set is on 19th February: it’s about EastEnders.

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!   (Question 2’s answer was Florida, Mum, rather than Florida Oregon!)

†        Well, they seem to have fixed it, Olga: quite what happened there, I don’t know.   BT did tell me what they told everyone else: that I should open my emails on my mobile device.   That wasn’t a lot of use, when I use my desktop’s browser to open link.

OK, @bt_uk … what’s happening with your emails service?

My mail client is refusing to connect, and Safari says it “Can’t find the server”.

What’s happening …

— Paul Downie (@Cuddy2977) February 15, 2025

‡        Apparently, Debbi, he auditioned back in 2005/06.   Or 1995: depending on who you ask!