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 … ?