Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10-6-2025 — Frances Ethel Gumm

10th June, 2025: Frances Ethel Gumm.

Death … comes to us all … 

There’s possibly a lot of directions I could go with that statement.

But I’ll go with the sad route.

Yesterday?

Saw the death of writer, Frederick Forsyth.

I was never a fan of his politics: he was a little too high Tory for my tastes.

But the few books of his I read?

Were well constructed: The Fourth Protocol has been on my bookshelves for many years.

~≈📖≈~

The other death … ?

Was that of influential musician, Sly Stone.

Again, I was never a huge fan.

But?

I suspect the was a Family Stone tune for everyone: something he would’ve written.

The man will be missed.

~≈🎹≈~

The fact, in all this, that the US President has sent the Marines into Los Angeles?

Is less relevant: although it reinforces my personal belief that the current US president is a twerp.

It’s less relevant to my day than the fact I’m expecting a phone, early: a call from a lung-checking NHS service.

Hopefully?

I won’t need a hospital appointment, as a result.

~≈🫁≈~

As a last point?

It’s the time of year when Apple holds its World Wide Developers Conference: and makes a slew of announcements.

This year?

They’ve made several announcements, already.

Including an announcement that the next versions of their main operating systems will be macOS/iOS/iPhoneOS/tvOS/watchOS 26: a unified numbering system, in other words.

These will feature a new interface design language.

With lots of glass-like, transparent, elements.

That … ?

Will feature in the upcoming version on macOS — macOS 26 Tahoe — when it’s released later this year.

That version … ?

As well as the new interface, Tahoe will be the last to support Intel Macs.

I can only hope two things.

One?

That Tahoe’s replacement, a replacement that will only support Apple Silicon and presumably remove a lot of Intel code, will use less hard drive space as a result.

Two?

That the whizzy new interface design is readable.

Or, at least, can be turned off in Settings!

~≈🍎≈~

Let’s move on.


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


Let’s see how everyone does with today’s [insert number here] question set, shall we?

Here it is, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        10th June, 1922, saw the birth of Frances Ethel Gumm.   She was better known as which Hollywood star?

Q2)        She played Dorothy Gale.   In which 1939 film: The Wizard of Oz, Young Mr Lincoln or Zenopia?

Q3)        Her daughters were Lorna Luft and Liza Minelli.   What’s the name of her only son: Joey, Jedekiah or James?

Q4)        Frances had a hit with the song, “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis”.   “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis” came from film?

Q5)        Finally … ?   She died in London: in which year of the 1960s?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        The Wise Little Hen was officially released on 9th June.   9th June of which year of the 1930s?

A1)        1934.

Q2)        The cartoon was produced by whom?

A2)        Walt Disney.

Q3)        The cartoon was the first to feature which character: Yosemite Sam, Mickey Mouse, Batman or Donald Duck?

A3)        Donald Duck.

Q4)        In the cartoon, that character dances to what: “The Sailor’s Hornpipe”, “The Lincolnshire Poacher” or “Hole in the Wall”?

A4)        “The Sailor’s Hornpipe”.   I think I prefer the theme to Captain Pugwash!

Q5)        Finally … ?   The cartoon was a what: Silly Symphony, Merry Melody or Loony Tunes?

A5)        Silly Symphony.

Here’s a thought …

“The most nightmarish feeling in the world is suddenly to feel like throwing up in front of four thousand people.”

Frances Gumm, in an interview in 1961.

And a song …

The next ten question set is on tomorrow: it’s about E. T.: The Extraterrestrial.

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!

†        Wouldn’t you know it, Olga?   I was up three hundred grams!   I’m blaming Bill Gates … !

‡        Break a (metaphorical) leg, Debbi!

        Weird possibly doesn’t even start … !   I mean … he’s sent in the Marines, for crying out loud!