Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-5-2026 — In Xanadu Did Kublai Khan …

5th May, 2026: Kublai Khan.

I have a confession to make.

I caught some of Snooker’s world championship, last night.

After catching the last couple of episodes of Maul — Shadow Lord, I watched a couple of frames of the final session between Wu Yize, and Shaun Murphy.

But got an early night: after two frames.

It turns out I missed all the drama of Wu’s eventual 17-18 win!

Heigh … … HO!

~≈🎱≈~

Oh, there’s local elections, this coming Thursday.

I know this … because the date’s been advertised for sometime.

And I’ve had election pamphlets from both the Tories*, and Reform*.

Both of which have been torn up and binned, to be honest: neither party is one I intend to vote for.

At any rate: the elections are on Thursday.

And, if it wasn’t for the fact the Greens are standing in my ward?

I’d be doing what I usually do, when not shown someone I want to elect.

Spoiling my vote.

I can hear the howls of outrage from here.

Look, I know the arguments.

That we have a responsibility to vote for someone, that doing so holds government to account.

I can agree to that.

But I’m also aware that you, me, and every other voter on the planet, have no right to abstain: should none of the candidates be ones we want to vote for, we can’t tick the relevant box on the ballot.

Only spoil our vote, or not vote at all.

There’s been arguments for years: about using proportional representation instead of first-past-the-post, about lowering the voting age, fining people who refuse to vote.

The really radical alteration to Britain’s elections?

Would be having an “Abstain” box on the ballot.

“I Abstain” must be a reality: not a discussion.

~≈🗳️≈~

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 four.


 Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

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

Q1)        5th May saw Kublai Khan crowned Khagan of where: the Chinese Empire, the Mongol Empire, or Imperial Rome?

Q2)        5th May saw Kublai Khan crowned as Khagan.   5th May of which year?

Q3)        Kublai was also an emperor of the Yuan Dynasty.   In other words, a ruler of Imperial where: Rome, China or Byzantium?

Q4)        Kublai was a grandson of whom: Tamerlane, Genghis Khan or Augustus Caesar?

Q5)        Finally … ?   The poem, “Kubla Khan”, is all about Kublai Khan’s capital city, Xanadu.   Who wrote “Kubla Khan”: Percy Bysshe Shelly, Samuel Taylor Coleridge or Lord Byron?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        The Cornwall Railway opened on 4th May, 1859.   The Railway connects Cornwall to where: Devon, Somerset or Gloucester?

A1)        Devon.

Q2)        The railway had rails that were 7’ ¼” — 2, 140mm — apart.   In others words, the rails were what: narrow gauge, standard gauge or broad gauge?

A2)        Broad gauge.

Q3)        The Railway goes over the Royal Albert Bridge.   The Bridge was named after which royal: the Prince of Wales, the Queen or the Prince Consort?

A3)        Prince Albert, the Prince Consort.

Q4)        The Bridge went over which river?

A4)        The River Tamar.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Who built the railway: Isambard Kingdom Brunel or Joseph Bazalgette?

A5)        Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Here’s a thought …

“He proclaimed the dynastic name ‘Great Yuan’ in 1271, and ruled Yuan China until his death in 1294.”

From the Wikipedia entry on Kublai.

And a Frankie Goes to Hollywood song …

The next ten question sets are on the 17th and 26th May: they’re about Dennis Potter, and Miles Davis.

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.

*        I’ve  never voted Conservative: and don’t intend to start, now.   I’m ALSO not going to vote Reform: they’re a little too right-of-centre for my taste.   However?   I know how right leaning my town is: and suspect Reform will — as they did in 2024 — do well.

†        Hello, Mum!   (It was broad gauge, Mum, rather than standard guage.)

‡        Hopefully, interesting, Debbi§!

        Stockhard Channing … ?   I remember her as Rizzo: she always struck my gran as looking like Elizabeth Taylor.   And did you know she was the only other serious contender for the role of Louis Lane, in the ’78 version of Superman … ?

§        There’s a line in that song I’ve only just noticed, Debbi: “Even Rock Hudson lost, his heart to Doris Day.”

        There’s possibly an irony, there … !