18th April, 2026.
Right now?
Right now, it’s Saturday.
And the silly jokes I’ve uploaded seem to be doing well.
It’s also the day after I’ve put in an order for stuff from Amazon.
I’m looking forward to the thing turning up: I’d love to see what the extra features, if there are any, are like.
~≈🥀≈~
You’re probably as aware as I am, that the 47th US president is a bit of a twit.
To put it mildly.
And also aware of the image he deleted from his social network: depicting him as a messianic, healer figure.
The image has been criticised: for looking a little too messianic, and crossing a line.
Of good taste, if nothing else.
I agree.
But also think a couple of things.
One?
Is that this image of the president, and others like it, looks a lot like some of the WW2 era Nazi propaganda, the sort designed to make Hitler look like a hero.
And second?
I grew up one Frank Herbert’s Dune novel: and came away from them convinced the writer didn’t like messiahs.
Or, at least, didn’t like the idea of politicians using religion to gain power.
Devout Republic that Herbert was?
I suspect he’d be spitting, on seeing these images of the President.
“When religion and politics travel in the same cart, the riders believe nothing can stand in their way.”From Dune, by Frank Herbert.
“Beneath the hero’s facade you will find a human being who makes human mistakes. Enormous problems arise when human mistakes are made on the grand scale available to a superhero.”From “Dune Genesis”, by Frank Herbert.
Let’s move on.
Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with Debbi scoring five out of five, and Mum on three.
Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?
Q1) Harold MacMillan introduced Premium Bonds on 17th April. Of which year of the 1950s?Q2) MacMillan held which government post at the time: Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer or Minister for Tin Whistles?Q3) The scheme is currently run by NS&I. NS&I stands for ‘National Savings and’ what?Q4) The winning numbers on the bonds are picked by a machine called ERNIE. ERNIE stands for ‘Electronic Random Number Indicator’ … what?Q5) Finally … ? What’s the maximum you can win, if you own a premium bond: £50, 000, £100, 000 or £1000, 000?
Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …
Q1) A member of the UK’s Royal Family was buried on 17th April, 2021. Which member?A1) Prince Philip, the (then) Duke of Edinburgh.Q2) 17th April is World Hemophilia Day. Which British royal carried the gen for the condition: Queen Elizabeth 1st, Queen Victoria or Queen Elizabeth 2nd?Q3) The Capitulations of Santa Fe were signed on 17th April, 1492. Between the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, and which Italian explorer?Q4) The last French troops wrestled withdrawn: on 17th April, 1946. From where: Turkey, Syria or Jordan?A4) Syria.Q5) Finally … ? The Ford Mustang was introduced on 17th April, 1946. The car was named after a type of feral what: cat, horse or tortoise?A5) Horse.
Here’s an observation …
“The principle behind Premium Bonds is that rather than the stake being gambled, as in a usual lottery, it is the interest on the bonds that is distributed by a lottery.”From the Wikipedia entry on Premium Bonds.
And a Madness song …
The next ten question sets are on the 21st and 23rd April. They’re about Elizabeth 2nd, and León and Castile.
Your comments, and today’s answers, will be published in tomorrow’s Teaser.
AI is avoided when writing these questions.
Answers are as accurate as possible: at the time of writing.
Decisions about scores are final.
Thank you for coming: have a good day.
* The camera says it’s a “Compact Camera with USB Cable for Teenagers”. I think they missed out a full stop, somewhere: I’ll have trouble plugging it into my fifteen year-old nephew.
† Hello, Mum! (It was Columbus and Syria, Mum, rather than Magellan and Turkey.)
‡ Hang on, Debbi, Towel Day’s in May!
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