Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th June 2025

19th June, 2025.

I have to admit, I tried watching a film, last night.

The 2024 folk horror, Lord of Misrule: with Tuppence Middleton and Ralph Ineson.

I have to admit, I gave up on the thing after about half an hour.

Despite — or possibly because of — its similarity to The Wicker Man, despite the beautiful setting, it’s something that couldn’t hold my attention.

Granted, having two teenagers bang on my door, at the twenty minute mark — they got the wrong address — didn’t help.

Even given that?

Lord of Misrule didn’t grab me!

That’s a shame: it’s beautifully shot!

~≈🃏≈~

I was rather interested in the technology news, at one point.

Mildly obsessed and evangelical, to be honest.

But still … interested … 

So … ?

Recent obscure news — that Denmark’s Ministry for Digital Affairs is planning to use forms of Linux and LibreOffice instead of Windows and Microsoft Office — caught my attention.

I’m assuming that a lot of that planned shift?

Is going to be based on cost.

The price of the computer you’ve just bought will include a certain amount for a copy of Windows*.

That amount will be far less for most forms of Linux.

MS Office will cost: even if you’re only paying a cheap subscription for the online version, it’ll cost.

Cost too much: especially compared to things like LibreOffice or OpenOffice, which are free.

But the ministry has also made another point: that they’re making the shift as a way to improve digital sovereignty.

Promoting Danish technology solutions to meet Danish technology needs, and reduce the control handed to foreign companies.

I can only hope that whatever UK government bodies — local and national — make the same sort of decisions, at some point.

It’s about time British governments, of whatever stripe, promoted British technology makers!

~≈💾≈~

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 question set, shall we?

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

Q1)        19th June is the Anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s commencement of work in the Workers’ Party Central Committee.   In which country: North Korea or South Korea?

Q2)        The first cricket player to score a century, and take eight wickets in the same innings, did so on 19th June, 1978.   Who was that cricketer: Sachin Tendulkar, Ian Botham or Viv Richards?

Q3)        19th June is the feast day of Saint Juliana Falconieri.   Her main shrine is where: Florence, Venice or Rome?

Q4)        19th June, 2018, saw the death of a lowland gorilla called Koko. Koko communicated using what: American Sign Language, interpretive dance or sound buttons?

Q5)        Finally … ?   19th June, 1623, saw the birth of French scientist, Blaise Pascal.   He was a what: chemist, mathematician or geologist?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        18th June is the Queen Mother’s Birthday.   Where: Cambodia, Thailand or Vietnam?

A1)        Cambodia.

Q2)        18th June is the UN sponsored Sustainable what Day: Sustainable Gastronomy Day, Sustainable Fuel Day or Sustainable Democracy Day?

A2)        Sustainable Gastronomy Day.

Q3)        Marina the Monk’s feast day is 18th June.   They were born in what’s now where: Lebanon, Syria or Saudi Arabia?

A3)        Lebanon.

Q4)        The Re-insurance Treaty was signed on 18th June, 1887.   The treaty’s signatories were the German Empire, and which other empire: Russia’s, Japan’s or the UK’s?

A4)        Russia’s.

Q5)        Finally … ?   The Appeal of 18 June was broadcast on 18th June, 1940.   By which French leader?

A5)        Charles de Gaulle.

Here’s a thought …

“People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.”

Blaise Pascal, 19 June 1623 – 19 August 1662.

And a ZZTop song choreographed by Paul Abdul …

The next ten question set is on 26th June: it’s about Harry Potter.

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.

*        From what I’ve understood?   Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10, the current version of Windows, in October of this year: and are encouraging PC users to upgrade to Windows 11.   However, there’s an issue.   Windows 11 can only be installed on a newer PC: one with a specific type of security chip.   If your Windows 10 machine doesn’t have this chip, Windows 11 can’t be used with it: without a lot of jumping about that’s beyond most of us.

        It’s far easier, in other words, to buy a new computer: and migrate everything over.   Spending money on new machines when you don’t have to, is something most people don’t like.   I suspect that specific expense is another reason the Danish ministry is looking at open source software.

†        Hello, Mum!

‡        It went well, Olga: I’ve got another one, next Wednesday, as well.   (Oh, was your laptop a Windows 10 or Windows 11 one?   There’s issues: if it needs to upgrade to Windows 11, and doesn’t have the chip it needs.)

§        Brain, Debbi … ?   Or sanity … ?