The Daily Teaser — 11-09-2012

*Yawns Gently, sips tea*

Yep … 

It’s one of those morning, where a touch more sleep could’ve come in handy.

But there we go.

At ANY rate … ?

At any, having managed to get out of bed, this morning, the least I can do is offer my congratulations to Andy Murray.   He’s managed to actually win a Grand Slam title: this year’s US Open, at Flushing Meadows, in New York.

Given that Great Britain’s done rather well in this year’s Olympic Games, I think we can say that’s a rather nice finish to the summer, wouldn’t you … ?

Let’s get moving on, shall we … 

~~~~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: and, along with agreeing with me that Steven Moffat feeling he had to get off Twitter* was sad, also managing to bag 5 out of 5.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 11th September, 2001, saw the notorious al-Qaeda attacks on New York: what does al-Qaeda translate into English as?

Q2) More to the point, al-Qaeda’s leader, Osama bin Laden, was in which country, when finally killed by US special forces … ?

Q3) Moving on … 11th September, 1565, saw Ottoman forces retreat from which island, at the end of a siege: Malta, Gibraltar or Sicily … ?

Q4) 11th September, 2005, saw Israeli troops finally pull out of which contested area … ?

Q5) 11th September, 1919, saw US troops invade which Central American republic?

Q6) And finally … 11th September, 1847, saw the first performance of which American song … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) According to the WHO, 10th September, 2012, is World what Prevention Day … ?

A1) Suicide.

Q2) 10th September, 1932, saw the IND line go into operation: this was the  third line in which city’s Tube system … ?

A2) New York’s.

Q3) 10th September, 1823, saw who named as President of Peru … ?

A3) Simón Bolivar.

Q4) 10th September, 1988, saw TV presenters Mike Smith and Sarah Greene involved in a serious helicopter crash: they survived, and went on to marry in which year …?

A4) 1989.

Q5) And finally … 10th September, 1963, saw which credit card service go into service in the UK … ?

A5) American Express.   (Although strictly speaking, it’s a Charge card.)

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with this quote from D. H. Lawrence, after Sons and Lovers was initially rejected …

“Curse the blasted, jelly-boned swines, the slimy, the belly-wriggling invertebrates, the miserable sodding rotters, the flaming sods, the sniveling, dribbling, dithering palsied pulse-less lot that make up England today.”

D. H. Lawrenceª (11 September 1885 – 2 March 1930)

And, in memory of the late Peter Tosh, here’s Steppin’ Razor, who died on this day in 1987…

*        Definitely a bit sad, when that happens, Debbiº … 

ª        Not a man without anger management issues … 

º        If it’s any help, though, Debbi … ?   Episode 3’s a western … 

The Left Hander’s Day Teaser — 13-08-2012

Bleugh … !

Lordy, but I’m glad the Olympics doesn’t happen that often.

No, really.

I am as proud as hell of what my country’s achieved: I think we’ve pulled off something of a coup, in organising this year’s summer Olympics.

Including the spectacular Opening and Closing ceremonies.

I think I can possibly it does make one feel proud to be British.

I can only add two things.

One, that the UK’s four national football teams — England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales — could possibly learn a thing or two.

And two … 

Didn’t Eric Idle do well … ?

Now … 

Let’s get moving on, shall we?   It’s Left Handers Day, and as an out and proud southpaw, I like marking the day … 

‹‹·››

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: and, along with mentioning David Pogue* — the planet’s favourite technology writer — also bagging 6 out of 6ª.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s Left-hander’s Day questions, shall we?

Hear they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 13th August is Lefthander’s Day: what’s the Latin word for left … ?

Q2) More to the point, where would you find the Val Sinestra, or Left Valley: the Italian Alps, French Alps or Swiss Alps … ?

Q3) More to the point, on a left handed pair of scissors, which digit operates the cutting — or bottom — blade … ?

Q4) According to popular myth, southpaw has it’s origins in one of two sports: name either.

Q5) Which English reggae band famously had quite a few left-handers, in its classic line-up … ?

Q6) Which famously camp left hander once made a notoriously outrageous remark about Norman Lamont … ?

Q7) And finally … which left handed US tennis player once famously said “You CANNOT be serious” … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 12th August is the traditional start for the Grouse hunting season, in the UK:  exactly what species of Grouse is usually hunted … ?

A1) The Red Grouse.

Q2) More to the point, what’s the name of the old, Narrow Gauge, railway line that transported hunting parties to the relevant parts of Scotland.

A2) The Duchal Moor line.

Q3) 12th August, 1981, saw the release of the IBM PC: what does IBM stand for … ?

A3) International Business Machines.   (As originally released, the PC didn’t have a mouse: that came along with the release of the original Mac. )

Q4) 12th August, 1851, saw Isaac Singer patent his sewing machine.   His first patent, in 1839, was for what: a gramophone, a rock drilling machine or a stamp perforator … ?

A4) A rock drilling machine.

Q5) 12th August, 1964, saw the escape of which of the Great Train Robbers … ?

A5) Charlie Wilson.

Q6) And finally … 12th August, 1964, saw which country banned from the Olympic Games … ?

A6) South Africa.

Enjoy those, everyone.

Have a good Left-Hander’s Day.

Here’s a relevant quote from Ursula K. LeGuin …

“Light is the left hand of darkness and darkness the right hand of light”

From The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K LeGuin.

And here’s a song or two.   See if you can spot the lefties … 

*        Whose OS X Missing Manual’s have been on my bookshelves for years … !

ª        Well, it wasn’t so much months, Debbi, as … um … days … Technically, their version of the solar year was either 365 or 360 days long: along with the 260 day ritual calendar.   Why do it easy, when you can do it arse backwards … ?

London 2012

You know, I’ve said this before, and I’ll possibly say this again.

But I’m no sports fan.

But as I write this, it’s been officially confirmed: that the Great Britain team at this year’s 30th Olympiad — oh, all right, the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games — has come third in the medal table.

And, while I’m not usually one for being patriotic — having grown up during the 1970s when right wing hate groups like the National Front were around, I’ve always found too much flag waving to be vaguely suspicious — I have to admit, I’m quietly feeling rather proud of the fact my country’s achievement.

Not just in coming third: although that’s something, when you consider that only the USA and China are ahead of us.

But also — in these austere times  — in being able to stage them in the first place.

Well … 

I think I’m happy about it.

Let’s hope Britain’s home football teams pick up a few hints … !

The Daily Teaser — 28-07-2012

Whooooooah … 

But I feel exhausted … !

As you can possibly imagine, I had a bit of a late night, last.

Along with most of the country.

Watching the 2012 Olympic Games — the Games of the 30th Olympiad — being officially opened.

And … 

Well, I’m none too sure if Danny Boyle’s an artistic genius who’s created a show that’s going to be remembered,

But it was certainly something to see.

ESPECIALLY a certain James Bond escorting the new Bond Girl to the show.

THAT was eye-opening, I know that … !

And the climax, when the cauldron was light … was rather good, too … 

Now … Let’s move on, shall we … ?

Before I start burbling … 

««·»»

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Trevor* and Debbi putting in their answers.   With both scoring 10 out of 10, it saw Trevor telling us he had the UK’s flag hanging out of his window, and Debbiª telling us her and her partner’s decision to live in Maryland was dictated by price as much as anything else.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’ License and video …

Q1) 28th July, 2005, saw the Provisional IRA announce it was ending its armed campaign: what does IRA stand for … ?

Q2) 28th July, 1993, saw which principality join the UN: Andorra, Liechtenstein or Monaco … ?

Q3) 28th July, 1965, saw President Johnson commit 50, 000 US troops to the conflict in which nation … ?

Q4) 28th July, 2001, saw Ian Thorpe become the first swimmer to win how many Gold medals at a World Championships?

Q5) And finally … 28th July, 1914, saw the Austro-Hungarian Empire declare was on which small country … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 27th July, 2012, sees the opening of this years Olympic Games: which country’s team leads the parade of athletes at that ceremony … ?   

A1) Greece’s.

Q2) Where will Team GB be, in that parade … ?   

A2) Last: that’s the usual placing for the host nation.

Q3) The artistic director of this year’s opening ceremony has been told to shorten it, over concerns about what … ?   

A3) Public transport.

Q4) More to the point, who is that director … ?   

A4) Danny Boyle.

Q5) On which date was the last Summer Olympic opening ceremony … ?   

A5) 8th August, 2008.   Mostly where 8 is considered a lucky number many East Asian countries.

Q6) More to the point, in which Chinese city was that … ?   

A6) Beijing.

Q7) More to the point, whereabouts did Team GB come in the 2008 Summer Olympic medal table … ?   

A7) 4th: with a total of 47 medals.

Q8) Name either year London previously hosted the Summer Olympics.   

A8) 1908 and 1948.

Q9) More to the point … the 2012 Olympics are the Games of which Olympiad: the 28th, 29th or 30th … ?   

A9) The 30th.

Q10) And finally … what’s the only city to have hosted the Summer Olympics, three times … ?   

A10) As of today … Just London …

Enjoy those, everyone.

Given it’s the late Carmen Dragon’s birthday, I’ll leave you with some of the soundtrack from Invasion of the Bodysnatchersº … 

And a quote from Beatrix Potter, JUST as a complete contrast …

“I remember I used to half believe and wholly play with fairies when I was a child. What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood, tempered and balanced by knowledge and common-sense … ”

Beatrix Potter    28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943

Oh … 

And that got played at last night’s ceremony.

You have to wonder, when you hear a certain Mr Lydon’s phrasing, exactly how far Danny Boyle had his tongue stuck in his cheek … 

*        Depends on the circumstances, Trevor, surely … ?   It’s usually only a Jack if it’s on a ship … 

ª        I can imagine, Debbi: when I was younger, I’d’ve loved to live in London, but really couldn’t afford it …

º        Oh, that’s the tune I mentioned, Friday, Debbi …