Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-4-2021: Life on Mars.

7th April, 2021.

Yes: I’m going to be doing stuff!

No, really!   I managed to see the first episode of For All Mankind’s second series, last night: a rather exciting episode involving a solar flare.

That, and the video, will be live, later.

I’ve also got to give Basildon Hospital a ring, as I’m having a phone appointment, next week.   I want to make sure they have the right number.

All that … ?

And I’ll confess to feeling rather pleased.

Last night’s home made beef stew went down rather well.

I think I’m getting the hang of parsnips … 

~≈🥘≈~

I THINK blogging’s having an effect on me!

I’ve seen this piece on the BBC’s news site: a piece that tells us dozens have been fined over what the article calls — with pointed quote marks  — ‘illegal mushroom picking.’

The way my mind works?

I’m wondering if the people fined were fined for picking mushrooms illegally, or picking illegal mushrooms!

Who knows!

~≈🍄≈~

Dr Who — Series 10: Episode 9 — Empress of Mars

11th June, 2017.

Oh, now don’t you just HATE getting old?

You don’t?

I do.

If there’s money involved.

I managed to get to Brentwood High Street today: to a cash machine.

• Shoved my card in the thing.
• Check my balance.
• Requested a tenner.
• Took my card out.
• Walked away from the machine …

Having forgotten to take the money, when I took my card.

By the time I got back to the cash machine?   (A short fat guy running down the High Street was possibly quite a site.)

The tenner had — understandably — gone for a burton.

I’d kick myself.

Except I’d very probably miss.

~≈®≈~

The Daily Teaser — 19-3-2015: Mars Needs Women … !

Do you read the Brentwood Gazette, at all … ?

Then you’ll know I write a weekly brain teaser for them.

And … ?   Well I mentioned in yesterday’s weekly Teaser — all about the Tolpuddle Maryrs — that I was looking out for a new phone.

Well … I managed to have a look in my carrier’s local shop: in Brentwood High Street.

As you can imagine?   FRANKLY, I’d prefer an iPhone: you’d possibly guessed, hadn’t you?

But right at the moment … ?

Right at the moment, I’ll be happy to get whatever cheap Android phone’s going.   So long as I can Tweet from the thing … !

~≈Ê≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 19-3-2014: Martian Chronicles!

Looks like today is LITERALLY going to be one of those rushed days!

I need to get this post finished: as well as having completed the Gazette’s version!

AND write the Gazette’s April Teasers.

And more for here … !

And, bless him, my nephew, Jude — who’s three and VERY bossy! — has decided Mummy’s taken him to lunch with his Uncle Paul … !

Oy Veh!

~≈Ê≈~

With THAT said, let’s get a move on, shall we?

Here’s this week’s questions, covered, as ever, by the Creative Commons License* …

Q1) 19th March saw the Mars Odyssey probe start photographing Mars.   How exactly: by thermal imaging, with a visible light camera or by gamma ray spectrography?

Q2) The imaging started in which year of this century: 2002, 2007 or 2012?

Q3) In which year was the probe launched … ?

Q4) Roughly how long is a Martian year: 676 days, 686 days or 696 days … ?

Q5) What name have scientists given to one Martian day: a day, sol or mon?

Q6) One system used by planetary scientists starts the Martian calendar on 11th April of which year of the 1950s?

Q7) Mars has what’s either the largest or second largest mountain in the solar  system, depending on how it’s measured.   What’s that mountain called … ?

Q8) Mars’ atmosphere is 96% what: nitrogen, oxygen or carbon dioxide … ?

Q9) Mars is also known as what: red planet, white planet or blue planet?

Q10) Finally … name either Martian moon …

Here’s last week’s questions and answers …

Questions.

Q1) 12th March saw the first Coca Cola bottling plant opened: in which US state?

Q2) In which year of the 1890s?

Q3) In which US city was the drink first made?

Q4) It was originally sold as French what cola?

Q5) The original recipe called for thirty pounds of what: sugar, salt or pepper?

Q6) Some US retailers managed to create demand for Coca Cola made with cane sugar.   This version is usually exported from which Central American country … ?

Q7) In which year was Coca Cola declared Kosher … ?

Q8) Two halal alternatives to Coca Cola have been made in Europe: in France and England.   Name either.

Q9) In which year of the 1980s was New Coke introduced … ?

Q10) Finally … In which year of the 1960s, did Coke introduce the “It’s the Real Thing” slogan … ?

Answers.

A1) Mississippi.

A2) 1894.

A3) Atlanta.

A4) French Wine Cola.

A5) Sugar.

A6) Mexico.

A7) 1935.

A8) Qibla-Cola and Mecca-Cola.

A9) 1985.

A10) 1969.

Enjoy those.

*        Regulars will know already, but for newcomers … all it means is that you’re free to copy, use, alter and build on each of my quizzes: including the Teasers, Gazette Teasers and the Friday Question Sets.   All I ask in return is that you give me an original authors credit on your event’s flyers or posters, or on the night: and, if you republish them, give me an original authors credit AND republish under the same license.   A link back to the site — and to the Gazette’s, if that’s where you’ve found these — would be appreciated.