Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 30-10-2019: Sir Christopher Wren.

30th October, 2019.

I’m sorry, I’m going to get a touch political, if you don’t mind.

We now have an election date: 12th December, this year.

I may — if I’m feeling up for it — do a relevant Teaser about it.

That … ?

That’s going to be interesting, I think.

Especially given the weather … 

At any rate?   I’m planning — assuming they’re standing — on voting Green … 

Or spoiling my vote, if not.

~≈⇞≈~

Oh, just as a quick extra point …  ?

I mentioned the debate around the idea of voter ID, recently: and mentioned this petition*.

It hasn’t reached the required number of signatures to get debated in Parliament.   Including twenty-two in my home town.

It has had a response, though.

Mostly in favour of introducing ID.

The deadline for it?   Is in April, next year.

Here’s hoping it gets the signatures.

~≈⇞≈~

Oh, and just as a final point?

Apparently, content creators — TV and movie producers, in other words — are complaining.

Because Netflix has introduce a new feature.

Yes: Netflix have introduced a fast forward button.

Something QuickTime, VLC, and god knows how many other media players, along side DVD players, Blu-ray players and VHS machines, have had for years.

Ye gods!

“Night City was like a deranged experiment in social Darwinism, designed by a bored researcher who kept one thumb permanently on the fast-forward button.”

Neuromancer, William Gibson.

~≈⇞≈~

The Daily Teaser — 20-10-2013: Sir Christopher Wren

Did I tell you I’ve been watching BBC1 series, Atlantis … ?

I’ve been watching BBC1 series, Atlantis.

Yeah, you’d guessed that, hadn’t you?

It’s nicely entertaining stuff, even if it’s not entirely close to it’s source material*.

At ANY rate, with the upcoming Dr Who fiftieth episode rapidly looming … ?

Right at the start of last night’s episode — a rather fluffy piece, when the heroes discover an exposed baby called Œdipus — was the Day of the Doctor trailer.

Which means we’re just over a month a way from this.   You’d guessed, hadn’t you … ?   Fanboi that I am,  I’m looking forward to it … 

~≈Â≈~

Moving on, Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi† and Mr Strict putting in their answers.   With Debbi telling us she’s figured out things, eventually, the day saw Mr S scoring four out of five and Debbi scoring five.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with todays somewhat architectural questions, shall we?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 20th October, 1632, saw the birth of Sir Christopher Wren.   His most famous church, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, is on which London Hill … ?

Q2) He ALSO designed fifty-two churches, after the Great Fire of London: in which year was that fire … ?

Q3) The Monument to the Great Fire was designed by Sir Christopher and Robert Hooke.   It’s near the northern end of which London bridge … ?

Q4) That fire had been preceded — in the previous year — by the Great what of London … ?

Q5) Sir Christopher also designed the Royal Observatory, in Greenwich: home of the Prime … what … ?

Q6) Which naval building in Greenwich did Sir Christopher design … ?

Q7) Finally … 1680 to 1682, Sir Christopher was President of what … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 19th October, 1931, saw the birth of author, David John Moore Cornwell.   How is he better known?

A1) John Le Carré.

Q2) His first novel, in 1961, introduced his best known recurring character.   What was the name of the novel: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, A Murder of Quality or Call For The Dead … ?

A2) Call For The Dead.

Q3) More to the point, who was that recurring, bespectacled, character … ?

A3) George Smiley.

Q4) Which of Cornwell’s novels starts in Kenya, and has a central character called Justin Quayle … ?

A4) The Constant Gardener.

Q5) Finally … in which film does Cornwell appear as the ‘Commander’ … ?

A5) The film of one of his own novels: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Drummer_GirlThe Little Drummer Girl.

I’ll leave you with thought from Sir Christopher …

“Architecture aims at Eternity.”

Sir Christopher Wren 20 October 1632 – 25 February 1723

And — in lieu of a song — this piece about Sir Christopher: you’ll need to sign in … 

James Parton - 42 - Sir Christopher Wren .mp3

Found at bee mp3 search engine

Have a good Sunday … !

*        Obviously, Medusa, played by Jemima Rooper, is going to have her hair turn into snakes at a later date in the series.   I have one point, though: about snakes as hair.   Pubes.   That’s all I’m saying … 

†        Oh, enjoy that trailer, Debbi: it even gets an appearance from the late Elizabeth Sladen.