Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-9-2025 — Man Versus Woman.

20th September, 2025: Man Versus Woman.

I think I’m mildly worried … 

Yesterday?

Russian planes flew through Estonian airspace.

As a result?

The Estonian government has invoked Article Four of the North Atlantic Treaty.

The one that calls a NATO council meeting: to trigger Article Five of the Treaty.

The article that says — if I’ve understood it correctly — an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all members, and sees us declaring war on the invading country.

I’ve lived my live in a country that’s not been involved in major military action since the Gulf War.

I’d hate to see Britain — or our NATO allies — involved in one now.

I’d hate to see a world war, come to think of it.

They’re not exactly pleasant …

~≈💣≈~

You’re possibly aware that cyber attacks happen.

And that, recently, UK attacks have happened to Harrods, Marks and Spencers, Tescos and Transport for London.

Well … if nothing else, the teenagers who carried out the TfL attack have been arrested.

Teens who — going by the description given of their appearance in court — were desperately trying to look cool in court.

Hopefully?

The courts won’t go too heavily on them.

It’s almost a cliche, one that’s been around since WarGames, that says that teenage hackers get hired by impressed tech firms.

So turning their lives around should be encouraged: even given the damage they’ve done.

They are, for the most part, trying to impress girls: rather than be actively malicious.

~≈👨🏻‍💻≈~

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 questions, shall we?

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

Q1)        Billy Jean King beat Bobby Riggs on 20th September of which year: 1971, 1973 or 1975?

Q2)        The match was called the Battle of the what?

Q3)        The pair were playing what: tennis, snooker or chess?

Q4)        The match was held in the Houston Astrodome.   The Astrodome is in which US State?

Q5)        Finally … ?   This match was the second such match of the year.   The first was between Margaret Court: and whom?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        19th September is Independence Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis.   Its Independence from where: the UK, France or the Netherlands?

A1)        The UK.

Q2)        19th September is Independence Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis.   It became independent in which year of the 1980s?

A2)        1983.

Q3)        What’s the country’s currency: the West Caribbean Pound, the East Caribbean Dollar or the North Caribbean Schilling?

A3)        The East Caribbean Dollar.

Q4)        The country’s capital is Basseterre.   It’s on which island: Saint Kitts or Nevis?

A4)        Saint Kitts.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Who’s the country’s head of state: the US President, the UK’s monarch or the German Chancellor?

A5)        The UK’s monarch.   (Yes, I know the current king is Charles 3rd: but I wanted the office as an answer, not the office holder.)

Here’s a fact …

“The match, which had a winner-takes-all prize of $100,000 ($708,000 in 2024 dollars), was held [ … ] on Thursday, September 20, 1973.”

From the Wikipedia entry on the match.

A clue …

And the song that inspired today’s title …

The next ten question set is tomorrow: the International Day of Peace.

Your comments 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!

†        You’re looking very dignified in those pictures, Olga: you wear it well, I think.   What is the location, out of curiosity?   It looks like the interior of a church.   (I’m tempted to put the photos of you — and possibly Debbi if there are any from the conference she was at — through Image Playground.   But The really spectacular results, are a result of putting the images through ChatGPT: and I’d rather not do that without permission.)

        I’ve never written a reference in my life: although I don’t know if I should be relieved or grateful about that.

        I do know one of the regulars at a pub I worked in, Rob, had an interview with MI6.   Apparently, the way the lights are laid out in Vauxhall Cross was interesting: they were done so no shadows were cast through the windows, and nobody could see in.   (Rob told me he didn’t get the job.   But he agreed with me: when I said “Rob, you’d say that if you did get the gig.   Spies don’t advertise!”)

‡        It was a room full of fans, Debbi?   I’m impressed!

        Did I mention that one term for a Terry Pratchett fan is ‘a Kevin’?   I think I have: but … the story I heard was that a critic described Discworld fans as fourteen year-old boys called Kevin.   Not long afterwards, Sir Terry told this story at a convention: and various audience members stood up, one after the other, and “I’m Kevin”.   “No, I’m Kevin!”   “I’m Kevin: and so’s my wife!”

        Apparently, Sir Terry also got told — by various teachers — that if he could get fourteen year old boys, reading, he should be congratulated.