Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-5-2025 — The Number 144.

24th May, 2025: 144.

Hello, that’s changed … 

I’ve JUST pasted the labels into this blog post: and a pop-up has told me I can have no more than twenty such tags.

It’s changed: no more than two hundred characters, yesterday.

That’s a minor point: that’s possibly too minor at this time of the morning.

Heigh-ho!

~≈☟≈~

At ANY rate … ?

It turns out the US President is threatening fifty percent tariffs on goods made in the European Union.

And twenty-five percent ones on Apple-branded smart phones: but later expanded that threat to cover all smart phones.

My first thought, when I heard the news?

Was that I know the current administration is right wing.

Right wing enough to suspend the various diversity hiring measures in US law.

And — potentially — have a right wing leader who may be prejudiced towards various minorities.

Including gay people.

I mentioned that as Apple is the only tech company I know of to have an openly-out CEO: in the shape of Tim Cook.

So I felt this could be a personal thing for the President.

But I’m also aware that Apple is moving a lot of its manufactoring capabilities from China, to India, as a results of the Presidential imposed tariffs on Chinese made goods.

Which includes goods made by Apple: the Mac mini two feet away from me was made in a factory in Shenzhen, for example.

So I’m also aware that the President wanted to encourage tech manufactoring in the US.

But … ?

I get that impression Apple — as other companies — makes things in China, India and other places: because it’s cheaper for them to do so, to make stuff abroad, rather than make them at home.

The President should maybe impose tariffs … as well encourage lower costs in the US.

Personally?

I think he won’t do that: just as I think his prejudices may be a factor.

~≈🍏≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

Something’s gone wrong, somewhere.

I went for my diabetic review, yesterday.

And … ?

My results hadn’t come through.

I could’ve sworn I had those tests, recently!

In fact, I know I did: I left my glasses at the hospital, and had to go back for them!

Quite what’s happened, there, I don’t know: but I’ve rebooked the test, and the review!

~≈🅱️≈~

Let’s move on.


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

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s five question set, shall we?

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

Q1)        In a non-leap year, 24th May is the one hundredth and forty-fourth (144th) day of the year.   What is it in a leap year?

Q2)        One hundred and forty-four is a what number: square number, circular number or triangular number?

Q3)        One hundred and forty-four is a Fibonacci number.   Fibonacci, himself, was from where: Spain, Italy or Portugal?

Q4)        One hundred and forty-four is a what: gross, grotesque or Grimaldi?

Q5)        Finally … ?   As a modelling scale, 1:144 is roughly half an inch to how many feet?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        23rd May is Constitution Day.   Where: Finland, Germany or Ghana?

A1)        Germany.

Q2)        Northern Ireland voted ‘Yes’ to the Good Friday Agreement: on 23rd May, 1998.   The Referendum was a feature in the final episode of what: Blake’s Seven, The Big Bang Theory or Derry Girls?

A2)        Derry Girls.   (Dario G’s “Sunchyme” featured in it: it’s one hell of a tune, but a shame about the video.)

Q3)        Anthony Albanese was sworn in as Prime Minister: on 23rd May, 2022.   Prime Minister of where: Italy, Australia or Singapore?

A3)        Australia.

Q4)        23rd May is the feast day of William of Perth.   The Perth in question is where: Scotland, New Zealand or Australia?

A4)        Scotland.

Q5)        Finally … ?   The original version of the Java programming language was released: on 23rd May, 1995.   It’s named after what: a type of coffee, a breed of chicken or an island?

A5)        A type of coffee.

Here’s an observation …

“144 is a highly totient number.   144 is the smallest number whose fifth power is a sum of four (smaller) fifth powers.”

 From the Wikipedia entry on 144.

A song …

And an earworm¶ …

The next ten question set will be on 28th May: it’s about the first Old Firm derby!

Comments and answers will be published tomorrow morning.

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 named after the coffee, Mum.   The coffee was named after the island … !)

†        It went … strangely, Olga: I left my glasses at the hospital.   But?   They had no results, and I couldn’t find it in my diary!   About the only good thing was that my ECG results were clear.   Rebooked tests, here I come.

‡        Morning, Irene: how IS the day … ?

§        I’ll try not to, Debbi … ! :D   Oh, did you hear about this … ?

¶        With the possible exception of Queen?   No-one else did bombast quite like Meat Loaf!