Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11-11-2025 — The Armistice

11th November, 2025: the Armistice.

Right … I’m officially indoors all morning.

Yes: you’re right.

It’s the laughing, happy time of year, when my landlords sent around a man: to do my gas safety check!

Ho … hum … !

~≈♨️≈~

Did I mention I caught Wizards, the other night?

I caught the Ralph Bakshi directed film, Wizards, the other night.

And … ?

Well, I think my written, and video, reviews could something things up better than I could, right now.

I know this, though: it was nice getting comments, so quickly.

~≈🧙🏽≈~

Oh, I’ve just had a quick look at the Essex news section of the BBC’s news site.

Apparently?

A team lead by a University of Essex researcher has discovered what the team refers to as a ‘carnivorous death ball’ in the Antarctic Ocean.

Which is nice: possibly.

But … ?

I can’t help but think ‘carnivorous death ball’ sounds like a cheesy heavy metal band … 

~≈🎸≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11-11-2018: Armistice

11th November, 2018.

I think I have problems at work: after having something of a row with one of the supervisors, yesterday.

It’s been a bit of an ongoing situation, to be brutally frank.

Whether I’ve a job to go back to, tomorrow?

Is a whole other issue, to be frank.

Ho … Hum … 

~≈§≈~

The unexpected day off?

Has got me worried: at least worried enough to start thinking about anger management classes!

And … the immediate future.

Lord knows what I’ll be doing, then: I won’t know until I can do something about it.

For now?

Writing, catching up with the house work, lord knows what else … 

Oh, and tonight’s episode of Dr Who.

The Time Team look like they’re having less problems!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-11-2017: Remembrance Sunday

Well, there we go … 

It’s a Sunday … when I’m due to tea into work for ten.

And, thankfully?

It’s the day before a day off.

Which means I’ll be able to catch up with my sleep, at some point.

Something I’m looking forward to: I don’t know about you.

One thing I did manage to do, last night, before I went to bed?

Was catch another episode of  Freak Show.

Granted, this is only series four of American Horror Story: some of the latter ones may be better.

But, being brutally honest with you?

Freak Show’s got an emotion depth to it the earlier three series don’t.

And got me thinking I should catch Magic, the old Anthony Hopkins film.

Maybe one day …

~≈Ÿ≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 11-11-2015: Remember

Right … 

You can’t tell I’m rushed, can you?

Well, possibly you can.

I’m back at work, today: after a brief break.

So I’m feeling a bit … rushed … right now!

~≈¥≈~

The Daily Teaser — 11-11-2015: Armistice Day

Right, it’s officially official.

I’m off back to work, today.

I’m … 

In two minds about that, actually.

On the one hand … ?

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time off: even though I’ve done nothing more interesting than sat around the house, watching movies.   Oh … and  write the Gazette’s December Teasers.

I’d not mind a bit more, to be frank!

On the OTHER hand … ?

Well, on the OTHER hand, and I don’t know about you: but I’m very slowly developing an expensive Amazon habit.

Which means getting paid.

Plus, on top of all THAT … ?

Well … I’m starting to get a little bored, stuck indoors.

Time to get back into the swing of things … 

~≈Ÿ≈~

The Daily Teaser — 11-11-2014: Armistice Day

Right, it’s official: I’m in a rush.

I’m official: I’m back at work, today.

OK: it’s only a part-time job at my local KFC.

And OK: today’s only the formal induction, and only going to be for two hours.

But, boy … !

It’s nice to say I’ve got a job!

~≈®≈~

The Armistice Day Teaser — 11-11-2013

You know, that’s got me thinking.

I’ve just got a documentary on, that I recorded last night: Richard Hammond’s giving us a rough guide on how to build a universe.

He’s just described some galaxies as ‘lens-shaped’.

Which got me thinking one thing.

How on EARTH do you describe that shape to a child … ?

Which got me wondering.    Apart from saying it’s the same shape as a Minstrel, I’m blowed if I could think of anything.

Let me know if you get any ideas … !

Let’s move on … 

~≈Ó≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and, with letting us know everyone’s busy, also scored six out of seven.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with the Armistice Day Questions, shall we?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 11th November is Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War 1: on which date … ?

Q2) In Commonwealth countries, it’s traditional to stay silent for how many minutes on 11th November … ?

Q3) In which year was the first of those Silences … ?

Q4) In which year did the last, surviving, UK-resident, WW1 veterans last attend an Armistice Day memorial … ?

Q5) Which veterans organisation were the first to wear poppies, to commemorate the dead of WW1?

Q6) Finally … Which British monarch ordered the first Armistice Day commemorations?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 10th November saw the broadcast of the debut episode of Sesame Street.   In which year of the 1960s?

A1) 1969.

Q2) The show was originally broadcast on the NET network: which stood for National Educational … what … ?

A2) Television.

Q3) That network later became known as the PBS: or Public Broadcasting what: service, system or subject … ?

A3) Service.

Q4) What’s the name of the production company behind Sesame Street … ?

A4) Currently … it’s the Sesame Workshop.

Q5) The Muppets were originally used on the show: who created The Muppets … ?

A5) Jim Henson.

Q6) Who’s the LARGEST Muppet on Sesame Street … ?

A6) Mr Aloysius Snuffleupagus.

Q7) Finally … Name either of the two human actors who’ve been with the show since its première.

A7) Bob McGrath, who plays Bob, and Loretta Long, who plays Susan.

I’ll leave you with this …

“… To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.”

In Flanders Field Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae.

And this.

Have a good day.

*       You’re right there, Debbi: work programme for me, today.

The Remembrance Day Teaser — 11-11-2012

Hmmm … 

Wouldn’t you just know it … ?

Today is Remembrance Sunday: and of course, given the on-going situation with the Saville Scandal, and the Newsnight dropping the proverbial ball on child abuse allegations aimed at Lord McAlpine … 

The day’s been somewhat over-shadowed by the fact BBC’s Director General, George Entwistle, has resigned.

Which is a shame: and definitely overshadows both today’s events.   And the damage so many people have suffered over the years.

Hmm … I think ‘Least Said, soonest mended’ should be the thing, here.   Let’s get moving on.

~~~~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbiª putting in her answers: along with given us a potted guide to the series, Sons Of Anarchy, also bagging 5 out of 6.*

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

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

Q1) This year, 11th November is — obviously — both Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday: set up to remember the armistice that ended World War 1, in 1918.   In which year did WW1 start … ?

Q2) Name either of the politicians who served as British PM, during WW1.

Q3) Equally: who was the ruler of Germany, during WW1 … ?

Q4) How many casualties were there, during the war: 27 million, 37 million or 47 million … ?

Q5) In which church is the UK’s Tomb of the Unknown Warrior … ?

Q6) More to the point, where’s the French equivalent … ?

Q7) In which Belgian town is the Menin Gate to the Missing … ?

Q8) Britain has a National Memorial Arboretum, commemorating British  service men and women who’ve died since World War 2.   In which English county is it … ?

Q9) The Arboretum also includes a statue to those shot at dawn for cowardice during WW1.   According to most modern studies, that cowardice was due to which combat related psychological disorder … ?

Q10) And finally … The red poppy worn in many Commonwealth countries on Remembrance Day is used as it was mentioned in which poem … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 10th November, 1928, saw Emperor Hirohito formally named as Emperor of Japan.   Name any of the three items of Imperial Regalia he would’ve received, during the ceremony.   A1) The sword, Kusanagi, the mirror, Yata no Kagami and the Imperial jewel, Yasakana no Magatama.   (Which sort of looks like a jade prawn … )

Q2) 10th November, 1969, saw the initial broadcast of Sesame Street: what’s the name of the company that produces it … ?   A2) The Children’s Television Workshop.

Q3) More to the point, what’s the name of the Nigerian version of Sesame Street … ?   A3) Sesame Square.   (Seemingly, it focuses on HIV/AIDS education, gender equality … and yams …)

Q4) 10th November, 1951, saw coast to coast telephone services start in which country … ?   A4) The USA.

Q5) 10th November, 1995, saw the execution of activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa: in which African country … ?   A5) Nigeria.

Q6) And finally … 10th November, 1960, saw Penguin’s first run of Lady Chatterly’s Lover, sell out.   The book cost 3 shillings and sixpence at the time: how much — in Sterling — would 3s 6d be, today … ?   A6) 17·5p.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with these words from The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior …

“THEY BURIED HIM AMONG THE KINGS BECAUSE HE 
HAD DONE GOOD TOWARD GOD AND TOWARD
 HIS HOUSE”

And with this …

*        Sorry, Debbi!   But pre-decimal UK coinage is a NIGHTMARE … !   (Basically … an old shilling is worth 12 old pence, and five NEW penceº: with an old sixpence being roughly equivalent to 2·5p.   Thankfully, the Bank Of England dropped the Groat, Ryal and Double Leopard several centuries ago … )

º        Actually, as I recall, the last 1 and 2 shilling coins went out of circulation in the early 1980s: they were the same size (and value) as the then current 5p and 10p piece.

ª        Oooh, Shakespeare … !    You’ve got to admit, Debbi, the Bard’s ALWAY’S good for source material … !   (Last night’s Merlin nicked Queen Mab, to give you an example.   And as for Forbidden Planet and West Side Story … )

The Armistice Day Teaser

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve think I’ve said this before, and I’ll probably say it again, but World War 1 — which Armistice Day marks — seems bonkers …

And quite a tragic one, at that.

After all, we can all point at World War 2 — or, at least, those of us who are children of the Allied victorsºª — and say we were fighting an evil regime. We can all probably come to a conclusion about the various Gulf Wars: even if they do boil down to “Well, it’s all abaht tha oil, innit?”

But WW1?

Possibly the most senseless war that happened? Four years of what was high-tech death on all fronts?

I’ll let other’s speak the words, I think, although today’s Teaser video is a touch different, itself.

»»•««

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: and, along with quietly admitting she’ll try and throw in a link to one of my more arcane posts*, she also bagged six out of six.

Lets see how she — and you — do with today’s Armistice questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 11th November, 1918, saw the end of World War 1, when Germany signed the Armistice: at what time in the morning … ?

Q2) More to the point, the Armistice was signed in a railway carriage, where … ?

Q3) The French equivalent of the Remembrance poppy — the Bleuet, or cornflower — is what colour?

Q4) More to the point, in which country did the wearing of commemorative poppies originate … ?

Q5) What’s the scientific name for this particular species of poppy … ?

Q6) Private George Lawrence Price is generally recognised as the last British Imperial soldier to die in World War 1: what country was he from … ?

Q7) 11th November, 1934, saw the Shrine of Remembrance opened in which Australian city … ?

Q8) 11th November also saw the Tomb Of the Unknown’s dedicated in the US: in which year … ?

Q9) 11th November 1918, saw which Emperor renounce his throne, as a result of World War 1?

Q10) And finally … Great Britain’s Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is in Westminster Abbey: where is it French equivalent … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 10th November, 1775, saw the founding of which part of the US armed forces: the Marine Corp, the Army or the USAF … ?

A1) The US Marine Corp.

Q2) 10th November, 2007, saw the ¿Por qué no te callas? incident take place: when King Juan Carlos I of Spain tell who to shut up … ?

A2) President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.

Q3) 10th November, 1960, saw the first Penguin edition of what, completely sell out … ?

A3) Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

Q4) More to the point, how much did that edition cost?

A4) 3s 6d. (Three shillings and 6 pence, if you’re unfamiliar with the UK’s pre-decimal coinage: that’s 17½p in modern money, although I don’t know what it would be, in modern prices, although Amazon are charging this for the Wordsworth Classic Edition. In the UK, that is … )

Q5) 10 November, 1970, saw the Soviet Union launch the Lunokhod 1: where was this Rover going … ?

A5) The Moon.

Q6) And finally … 10th November, 1674, saw the Netherlands cede the New Netherlands to England: how is that colony’s most famous city know better known … ?

A6) New York. (Although most of New Amsterdam was on what’s NOW Manhattan Island …)

And, as it’s Friday, here’s the Friday question set for struggling pub quiz-masters: covered, as ever, by the Creative-Commons-License …

Online 128

ROUND ONE. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) In which decade were satellite pictures first broadcast across the Atlantic?

A1) The 1960’s

Q2) The police series, Bergerac was set on which Channel Island?

Q2) Jersey.

Q3) Helvetia is mentioned on stamps from which country: Switzerland, Greece or South Africa?

A3) Switzerland.

Q4) What colour is Paprika?

A4) Red.

Q5) Viagra was originally prescribed to do what: improve the circulation, improve the memory or prevent arthritis?

A5) Improve the circulation

Q6) Miss Anna Jarvis inaugurated which Day, in Philadelphia, in 1907: Mothers Day, Fathers Day or Be Nice to Your Boss Day?

A6) Mothers Day.

Q7) Which town was the site of the first public school for girls, Cheltenham or Rœdean?

A7) Cheltenham.

Q8) How was Prison Camp Oflag IVC better known, during World War Two?

A8) Colditz.

Q9) Which part of the body does a reflexologist deal with?

A9) The Feet.

Q10) Atom Heart Mother was the first chart topping album by which iconic British group: Pink Floyd, Queen, or Hawkwind?

A10) Pink Floyd.

ROUND TWO. AT THE MOVIES.

Q11) Fraser Heston played the baby Moses, in his father’s film about the biblical figure: who exactly is his father?

A11) Charlton Heston.

Q12) Which Sean played Harrison Ford’s father, in Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade?

A12) Sean Connery.

Q13) Which cowboy had a horse called Trigger?

A13) Roy Rogers.

Q14) In which country was Brigitte Bardot born?

A14) France.

Q15) What was named as Best British Film, at this years BAFTA’s?

A15) The Last King of Scotland.

Q16) Name either of the actors to have played Obi-Wan Kenobi, in the Star Wars franchise. (Two points for both.)

A16) Alec Guinness or Ewan McGregor

Q17) Which disease technically killed Rock Hudson: Pneumonia, the ’Flu or the Common Cold?

A17) Pneumonia. (It killed him, because of he had a collapsing immune system, due to AIDS)

Q18) What is Samuel Jackson’s middle initial?

A18) L.

Q19) In the film, The Wizard of Oz, which character — CHARACTER — sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow?

A19) Dorothy.

Q20) Which Juliette won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, for her part in The English Patient?

A20) Juliette Binoche.

ROUND THREE. WORLD TOUR.

Q21) Gran Canaria is in which group of islands?

A21) The Canaries.

Q22) What word describes the beach were the Queen Mary was docked for many years?

A22) Long: they were at Long Beach, California, for many years.

Q23) Los Angeles suffers a severe smog problem due to its high percentage of what?

A23) Cars.

Q24) What type of waterway is at Suez?

A24) A canal.

Q25) Aborigines are from which Commonwealth country?

A25) Australia.

Q26) Quebec is the French speaking part of which American country?

A26) Canada.

Q27) On which continent is Swahili spoken?

A27) Africa.

Q28) How are the Inuit better known?

A28) Eskimos.

Q29) In Spanish, it’s the Rio de las Amazonas: what is it in English?

A29) The Amazon.

Q30) During the 60’s, what name did Zimbabwe have?

A30) Rhodesia.

ROUND FOUR. RICH AND FAMOUS.

Q31) Chad Varah founded which charity: the Samaritans, Oxfam or the British Heart Foundation?

A31) The Samaritans.

Q32) The Queen’s residence at Balmoral is on which Scottish river, the Dee or the Tweed?

A32) The Dee.

Q33) Which Princess is nearest to the UK throne?

A33) Princess Beatrice.

Q34) Who, during the 90’s, was the only Irish winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature: Seamus Heaney, James Joyce or Patrick O’Malley?

A34) Seamus Heaney

Q35) Milvina Dean was the youngest survivor of which shipping disaster?

A35) The Titanic.

Q36) What type of radio did Trevor Bayliss invent: clockwork, digital or transistor?

A36) Clockwork.

Q37) Athina Roussel inherited millions, on her grandfather’s death: in which industry did he make those millions?

A37) Shipping: he was Aristotle Onassis.

Q38) Sam Walton founded which US chain of supermarkets?

A38) Wal-Mart.

Q39) Which rock star’s child inherited jut under £80 million, on their father’s death: Frances Cobain, Lisa Marie Presley or Sean Lennon?

A39) Lisa Marie Presley.

Q40) Which Australian super model was dubbed The Body?

A40) Elle MacPherson.

ROUND FIVE. TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRY.

Q41) Which company did Steve Jobs leave, before setting up NeXT, Inc?

A41) Apple

Q42) Akio Morita, & Masaru Ikuba set up which company?

A42) Sony

Q43) Which motor manufacturer made the first non-stop double crossing of the English Channel, by plane?

A43) Charles Rolls.

Q44) Which supermarket chain introduced the ‘George’ fashion label?

A44) Asda.

Q45) Chris Evans company famously bought Virgin Radio; – what was its name?

A45) Ginger Productions.

Q46) Sir Clive Sinclair famously introduced the Sinclair C5 electric bicycle: what type of motor did he use to build the prototype?

A46) Washing machine.

Q47) Sir Henry Tate, the man who set up the Tate Gallery, made his money from what?

A47) Sugar.

Q48) Which chain of cinema’s did Sir Richard Branson buy, in 1995?

A48) MGM.

Q49) What vehicle did Cammell Laird manufacture: ships, planes or trains?

A49) Ships.

Q50) Which British chain store announced it was closing all it’s European stores, in April, 2001?

A50) Marks and Spensers.

ROUND SIX. GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) Victor Emmanuel was the first king of which European country?

A51) Italy.

Q52) Leander is the world’s oldest club: but which sport is it dedicated to?

A52) Rowing.

Q53) In which year of the 1970’s did John Lennon perform his last live concert?

A53) 1972.

Q54) Michæl Fagan hit the headlines when he broke into where?

A54) Buckingham Palace. (He famously asked the Queen for a light.)

Q55) Thriller writer Salvatore Lombino is better known how?

A55) Thriller writer Ed McBain.

Q56) Phillip Blaiberg was the second person to do what: pilot a space shuttle, go over the Niagara Falls in a barrel or fly a hot air balloon?

A56) Pilot a space shuttle.

Q57) Richard 2nd is said to have popularised the use of which everyday item: the handkerchief, the cruet set or the chip pan?

A57) The Hanky.

Q58) The Lev is the currency of where: Bulgaria, Romania, or Poland?

A58) Bulgaria.

Q59) Raoul Capablanca found fame playing which game?

A59) Chess.

Q60) In sayings, how many lives has a cat supposed to have?

A60) Nine.

Enjoy those, everyone.

One more thing … ?

Remember …

* Thanks for that, Debbi, that’s very much appreciated!

º I know Nina will make the very valid point that her home country of Finland, had a rough time of it.

ª James Naughtie, one of the presenters of Radio 4’s Today show, has just underlined it: by reminding listeners that — here in the UK — there are no more surviving veterans from the Great War, to take part in Sunday’s Remembrance service at the Cenotaph.

Remembrance and Other Animals

Which sounds a bit of a strange title, doesn’t it?

But I’m making a bit of a nod to Gerald Durrell, there, so …

At any rate …

Did you like the Teaser, this morning?

I’m hoping it’ll provoke a few thoughts; bless her, Andrea, as lyrical as ever, has put a poem about it on her MySpace page. And, whatever you think of the Afghan or the Iraq wars, I think she does raise a point. I think many who serve in the various Armed forces do so because they feel they’re serving Queen and country; and trying to do some objective good.

Whether that’s the case is a whole other argument.

But it’s something we shouldn’t forget that, I think.

•••••

Actually, talking about not forgetting …

Did I tell you my Mum came over to say ‘Hello,’ this morning?

Oh, and to whinge about the state of my flat, but that’s parents for you … !

But one thing she did drop off was the photo’s I’ve put in at the top of the post; her grandfather — and my great-granddad — was one of the troops whose body was never recovered, after the Battle of Passchendæle.

Which, from what I’ve read, was …

Well …

Bonkers …

Really bonkers …

With World War Two, we could at least say we were fighting the Nazis; we were taking a stand against an evil régime.

That’s almost applicable to the first Gulf war, as well; we were helping repel a notoriously aggressive régime from a smaller country.

The political mess surrounding the invasion of Iraq, though … ?

I could talk for hours, but maybe here’s not the place.

But World War One?

World War One, from what I and many others learnt in school?

Was truly senseless, I think; a senselessness that I always thought that was far better summed by Wilfred Owen.

But part of that senselessness is quite simple to explain.

I don’t know where my great-grandfather is buried.

Or where his body is, at any rate. I don’t think any of my Mum’s side of the family does; I do know that my cousin Dean, actually has the medal’s themselves, as the oldest member of my generation of the family.

But not knowing where one private is?

Or even where his name gets a mention, as one of the Missing?

I’ve looked online.

And I’m blowed if I can find him …

Here’s hoping Private Arthur Richard Richardson’s at rest.

But his death does kind of seem to be in vain, when you remember that, until 1939, the First World War was known as ‘The War To End All Wars’.

Ninety-Two years later, that only adds to the senselessness.

•••••

Phew …

I can still feel the anger behind those last few lines …

Oy!

But I think me pontificating about it, anymore, for now, will only make me feel angrier.

So I’ll leave that there, for now; but I’ll probably sound off about it, later.

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yes, let’s … !

•••••

I do know I’ve got to say a BIG thank you to both Tim and Sarah, as, bless, they’ve both managed to find some two-button mice for me! Both of which work perfectly!

Bless you both, and a big ‘Thank You!’ to the pair of you!

As it mean’s I’ve a mouse that work’s better with Xubuntu, than the Hockey Puck mouse, supplied with the iMac; and a phone that, as I told Dave, earlier this evening, just plug’s in and is — as with OS X — immediately recognised.

I’ve the vintage Graphite iMac, running the Dapper Drake version of Xubuntu.

Dave — after a lot of persuading from Tim, and me repeatedly pointing out he’d be saving himself £70, if he used Ubuntu, rather than Windoze 7 — finally decided, tonight, he’d go for Ubuntu.

On the (roughly) five year old Packard-Bell desktop he has.

Tim, we’re going to have to get Dave a new connection cord for that monitor of his, we really are; it’s a VGA, so it should be easy to find … !!

But that’s a side issue; Dave, you’ll find that your Nokia — much like my Sony-Ericsson — will show up on a Ubuntu derivative — or a Unix based OS, like Mac OS X — as what’s called an exterior drive.

You know, like the little flash-memory stick I used to back your files up to?

So … safe to say, I’ve managed to install Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala, with Tim taking Dave home and finishing up the job, by talking him through installing Flash, and — knowing Tim — the various other bit’s that will turn it into a functioning alternative to the version of XP he was using.

About the only problem we do have is the one we were semi-expecting; the Mikomi M6607M doesn’t quite sit well with aMSN. Which is a shame, as that’s one of the better open source Chat clients around.

Actually, if you know of any walk-through’s for that, feel free to let me know … !!

•••••