Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17th April 2026.

16th April, 2026.

It’s official!

I’ve been paid!

That’s a good thing: it means I can pay off a few bills, and indulge my cravings for chocolate.

Suitably low sugar chocolate, obviously: diabetes is unforgiving, like that!

~≈🍫≈~

I’m left handed: you’d possibly worked that out, if you’ve been following me for a while.

I’m very aware there are some who put handedness on a pair with sexuality, and will make a negative moral judgement about you, based on one or the other*.

I’m also not a fan of terrorism: the idea of using violence in support of your cause.

I don’t think violence works, in persuading others your cause is just, and invites violent retaliation from your victims.

So … ?

So I welcome police probes into one group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, who are claiming responsibly for several arson attacks.

It turns out, though, that their name translates as ‘The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand’.

OK: I’m maybe being a little paranoid, here, a little sensitive over nothing.

But their name tells me that — in amongst the antisemitism, and attacks on Jewish, and Israeli, targets — they’re prejudiced towards left-handers, like me.

I don’t think the group will be fire-bombing my flat: I think they’re more concerned with fire-bombing synagogues.

But that name feels like a personal attack.

~≈👎≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11th December 2025.

11th December, 2025.

Hmmm … 

Something the Today programme’s been talking is relatively simple.

Is the idea of using what it describes as ‘digital screens’ — laptops, tablets, what have you — for school exams.

I’m in two minds about that.

On the one hand … ?

It could leave students open to accusations of cheating, exam markers open to accusations of interference, give dyslexics even more problems, cost schools and families a fortune in new kit …

And lord knows how many other issues!

On the other hand … ?

I’m left handed.

I’ve always found writing by hand to be uncomfortable at best, painful at worst, and extremely messy.

It left me — ha! — with ink-stained fingers, and messy cuffs.

It was slow, as well.   I’m half convinced I’d’ve done better at school exams, had I been taught to write faster.

By contrast?   I’ve always found typing — whether on a computer, phone, tablet or an old fashioned typewriter — a lot less painful.

And rapid.

So, yes: while I think problems with this need to be addressed, and addressed from the get-go, I can also see one problem for which this is a very good solution.

~≈↖️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-9-2019: On The Blower

5th September, 2019.

Yes … Deep thought … 

I’ve got an interview pencilled in, for tomorrow.

One I’ve got to think about … 

As it’s for a bookmakers I had an interview for, a couple of months ago.

Indeed, it’s with the same shop manager.

I was unsuccessful, last time.

In point of fact, the manager told me that — one way or the other — I’d be contacted on the following Monday.

I didn’t hear a thing, so assumed I was unsuccessful.

Given the branch is quite some distance away?

I’m sorely tempted to email them, and cancel: I’m convinced I’ll get the same response …

~≈§≈~

Except, of course?

My email’s are down.

Is anyone else having trouble with their #BT #email account?

I’m not getting through to it, either by email client, OT webmail …

— Paul Downie (@Cuddy2977) September 5, 2019

As are quite a lot of BT customers.

I — and quite a few other people — are rather annoyed about that … 

~≈§≈~

In the midst of all that … ?

I’ve got Radio Four’s Today programme on in the background.

In a news item, today, it seems a team at Oxford have found DNA links to left-handedness.

Something to do with cell structure: that apparently means we left-handers have brain-structures the mean we’re better with verbal skills.

Or, and — according to the version in the last Radio Four bulletin — slightly more likely to develop schizophrenia.

Not something I have a problem with, but I’ve seen that mentioned before.

Frankly?

It’s an interesting piece to see.

~≈§≈~

Oh, and JUST a quick final thought?

I had the news channel on, yesterday: watching the riot in the House of Commons.

This caught my attention … 

That was one hell of a thing to see … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14th August, 2018

14th August, 2018.

Right … 

I’ve had a bed week at work, it has to said.

Bed week?

BAD week!

I’m right: when, in the intro video, I say I want to go back to bed!

It’s possibly a good way of spending my time!

~≈§≈~

Oh, as a thought … ?

You’ve possibly realised that long time Old Peculiar contributor, Debbi Mack, has — appropriately — a Mac.

AND a lot of recording gear.

Oh, and a copy of Final Cut Pro: a touch more feature rich than iMovie.

Given that … ?   Let me present …

It Happened in Howard County … 

~≈§≈~

Oh, I’ve just had a quick look at a post — about left-handedness — I shared on Facebook, yesterday.

I think it’s going to generate arguments: about eating left handed.

Just so you know, the definition I heard, was not about which way around you use a knife and fork.

It’s the hand you use a spoon: or a fork on it’s own.

I’m a southpaw.   I use my left hand, so you know.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-7-2018: Independence Day.

4th July, 2018.

Interesting … 

If you’re me, that is.

I’m not gay: so you know.

But this piece from the BBC’s news site, telling us the government is planning to ban what’s called gay conversion therapy.

The idea that various forms of treatment can stop you being gay.   (Including what’s called conversion rape.   The idea is that raping a lesbian magically stops her being a lesbian.   The logic of that escapes me.)

At ANY rate?   I’m sort of sympathetic to the ban: although I don’t know if it — like the ban on mobile phone use whilst drivingª — would work.

There’ll be someone.

At any rate … ?   I’m sympathetic,

As I can still remember horror stories about kids being forced into using their right hands.

Here’s hoping.

~≈§≈~

The Daily Teaser — 25-1-2016: Robert Burns

Hmmm … 

You wouldn’t believe the research I’ve done … !

Well, ok, maybe you would … 

At any rate … ?   A couple of friends at work, have been discreetly asking me if they Can … ahh … borrow some of the films I’ve got in my electronic collection.

Something I don’t mind doing, even though it’s dubious, legality wise.

But, BOY … !   You need to do some digging: finding out what machine plays what file.   Honestly, one chap’s Xbox plays one standard but not others: another co-worker only has a DVD player, which plays DVDs … and a third file format.   JUST the third file format … 

Boy, but you have to juggle balls!

~≈É≈~

There’s something else, as well.

One of my co-workers — let’s call him James, shall we? — is right handed.   But was born, as I, a left-hander.

Turns out that, whilst at a private primary school, he was forced into becoming a right-hander.

James is nineteen.

And says this happened when he was about six.   Around about 2002/2003, if my basic sums are right.

Personally?   I was glad to hear he got taken out of that school by his dad: who’d been treated the same way by the same establishment.   And ALSO glad to hear the place had been closed down.

Personally, I’ve met a few older left-handers who’ve had the same thing happen to them.   I’d always though that sort of Victorian behaviour was long since dead: as it should be.

Finding out something like that went on as recently as 13 years ago?   Left me bloody angry.

I call that child abuse.

~≈É≈~

The Daily Teaser — 13-8-2015: International Left-Handers Day

Well, that’s a bugger … !

If you’ll excuse the language.

You’ve possibly worked out that I’ve been ordering a lot of bits and bobs, recently: through Amazon UK.

Most recently?   A copy of Wells’ The Time Machine, a DVD copy of the BBC’s 1984 version of The Invisible Man … 

And season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Not an order I’d have issues with.

You’d think.

BOY, you’d be wrong.

The Invisible Man and The Time Machine turned up with no problems.

Buffy season 2, was due, yesterday.

What actually turned up … ?

Was Buffy The Vampire Slayer.   The original movie … !

I think what’s happened is that someone at the warehouse grabbed the wrong DVD.

Not that I mind.

Seems Amazon do a free returns.

You can bet I’m using that … 

~≈Ê≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 13-8-2014: International Left-Handers Day

Bloody HELL, but that’s a longer day than I thought it would be.

MOSTLY where I’ve been on the phone to the Department of Work and Pensions, chasing up my Mandatory Reconsideration, after the the disaster that was my mandatory Work Placement.

Seemingly … ?   I’ll find out what happens in — I’m told — after about two and a half weeks.

Basically … ?   It’s a case of “Hurry Up And Wait” … 

~≈∑≈~

The Left Handed Use Of Mice: Again ....

It's a strange - but potentially true - fact to note that many people who've met me realise I'm left-handed.

Mostly where I make point of mentioning it, if it ever seems relevant.

It's ALSO true to say I've something of a bee in my bonnet about it.

I think it's hard NOT to, to be honest.

The fact is that, here in the UK, it's hard to get things like left-handed scissors, pens, garden strimmers†

That’s a pain.

~~~~

At ANY rate … ?

At ANY rate, I'm at Brentwood Library, as I write this.

On International Left-handers Day.

With the vague thought that my fellow southpaws would possibly appreciate me highlighting something: and at least do something about one aspect of life.

Simply, that the mice used with modern Windozes based PCs aren't set up for left-hand use‡.

So, over the past few days, I've been doing a little digging, as the Brentwood Library computers now allow you to change the mouse buttons around for left-hand use: at least under the version of Windows 7, they use.

It's a mildly fiddly job.

But from the Start button, at the bottom left hand corner of the screen …

Then to the Ease Of Access section …

THEN to the "Make The Mouse Keys Easier To Use" …

Once In the new window that appears, click on the bit that says "Switch Primary and Secondary Buttons."

And you're done.

I hope that helps!

†        II help my mother out, every-so-often, by mowing her lawn: and have managed to knacker her garden strimmer, every time.   It's not just a case that the handles are the wrong way around, for me.   It's ALSO that the rotating head of the strimmer - the bit of the device that actually strims the grass - goes in the correct direction for a right handed person.   But not for me as a left handed one: a theoretical left-handed strimmer should have a head that rotates in the opposite direction … !

‡        Part of the reason I'm a bit of a fan of the Mac platform, was the simple realisation that the bog standard one-button Apple mouse could be used by me, and other left handers, straight out of the box: WITHOUT any fiddling about to reset the buttons.

The Daily Teaser — 13-8-2013: International Left-Handers Day

Hmmm … 

You know, I’m thinking it’s starting to go downhill.

Before you start assuming the worst … ?

I’m actually talking about the weather … !

July … ?   July was nice: which is possibly understating things.

It was nice to the point of boiling eggs on the pavement.   And now, in August … ?   In August, it’s nice … but freezing in comparison … !

Oy vey … !

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, let’s get a shift on … before I turn into John Kettley … !

~≈Å≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Oliver* — the Opinion Dalek, himself — putting in his answers: and begging six out of six.

Let’s see if we can persuade him — and you — to have a try at today’s Left-hander’s Day† quiz, shall we?

Here’as the questions, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) True or false: Billy the Kid was left-handed.

Q2) Which member of the Beatles plays a left-handed guitar … ?

Q3) Prince William is left-handed: what’s his title … ?

Q4) What — in Heraldry — is the meaning of the Baton Sinister, or Left Handed Bend … ?

Q5) Britain’s current Prime Minister is left-handed: what’s his name … ?

Q6) Brian Cowan and Bertie Ahearn are both left handed politicians: which country have they both been Prime Minister of … ?

Q7) Which member of Black Sabbath is — noticeably — left handed … ?

Q8) Which Ghostbusters cast member — and leftie — also, notably, plays harmonica … ?

Q9) Which left-handed, Manchester United player is the former captain of Arsenal … ?

Q10) Finally … which left-handed actor appeared in The Matrix, Apocalypse, Now and What’s Love Got To Do With It … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 12th August saw the death of Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond.   What was the name of the first James Bond novel … ?

A1) Casino Royale.

Q2) Bond is — famously — a member of Britain’s Secret Service: which is also known as what … ?

A2) MI6.   Also known as as SIS, or the Secret Intelligence Service.

Q3) Fleming, himself, on the other hand, served with which intelligence operation, during World War 2 … ?

A3) The Naval Intelligence Division.

Q4) What was the name of Fleming’s one children’s novel … ?

A4) Chitty Chitty Bang Ban.

Q5) Fleming’s Jamaican home has a James Bond movie named after it.   Which James Bond movie … ?

A5) Goldeneye.

Q6) And finally … What was the last James Bond novel to be published during Fleming’s lifetime … ?

A6) You Only Live Twice.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Tom Holt …

“Nobody took any notice. Even Jan Christian Duysberg had guessed that one back in the 1740's, and he had been thirty-four years old before he realised he was left-handed.”

from ‘Flying Dutch’, by Tom Holt

And with Crosscut Saw by notably left-handed bluesman, Albert King.

I’ll tell my fellow left-handers to enjoy the day.

And my right handed readers … ?   To hit their right hands with a ruler.

Just to get an idea … :D

*        Cheers for joining in, Oliver: and thank you … ! :D

†        I’m left handed, myself: and, while I’ve had the experiences other have, do feel it’s important to highlight it.   After all, I grew up with my primary school teachers — to a man and woman — saying “Wouldn’t you find it easily doing it with your other hand … ?”, and leaving me very confused‡.

‡        I’ve also got distinct memories of Mrs Hall, my main primary school teacher, telling us kids that “Hold up your right hand: your right hand’s the hand you write with.”   And throwing some worried expressions in the direction of me and one or two other kids … 

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 … ?

The Left-Handers Day Teaser — 13-8-2011

Well, here we go …

It’s now, officially International Left-Handers Day.

The day for all us southpaw’s to come out fighting.

Well.

Not exactly fighting.

But certainly highlighting those things that make life tricky for us.

I mean, couldn’t I just go on about scissors?

Mice.

Actually, computer mice in particular.

Part of the reason I’m as enthusiastic as I am about Apple’s Mac platform, was because — back in the day — I inherited an old Mac Performa 6400/200.

I still use it as an informal stereo, in me front room.

But the bit that really got me, as a left-hander?

Was Apple’s one-button mouse.

To use it, all I had to do was put it on the left hand side of the keyboard. Rather than fanny about in the Windoze equivalent of the System Preferences, to re-jig the mouse-buttons, BEFORE putting it on the left hand side of the keyboard, to use.

So here’s what I’ll suggest: I’m going to to suggest that, if you’re right handed, and would just like a taster of the day-to-day frustrations a lefty feels … ?

Re-jig those mouse buttons.

And use those mice, left-handedly, for today.

Just a thought.

Lets move on.

Because, of course, my other suggestion is to try today’s Teaser …

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser was a quiet one, with no-one putting their answers in.

I just hope someone does, today, I think I’ve out-done meself, with today’s video*!

So, without much further ado, here’s today’s International Left-Handers Teaser: complete with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) Which lefthanded member of the British Royal family got married to his long-term fiancée, this year … ?

Q2) More to the point, what’s he and his new wife’s new title … ?

Q3) Paul McCartney is one of two left-handed members of The Beatles: who’s the other … ?

Q4) More to the point, which famously symmetrical model of bass guitar is Paul McCartney famously associated with …?

Q5) 2008 was the year that saw both candidates for the presidency of the USA — President Barack Obama and Senator John McCain — notably noted as left handers. When was the last year this happened?

Q6) Name any of the contenders, that year.

Q7) According to the Gerschwin theory of handedness, left-handedness occurs due to high levels of what, in the womb: Testosterone, Œstrogen, or Androgen?

Q8) Bill Gates is famously left -handed: but how many of the 5 members of the Macintosh design team were southpaws?

Q9) Left handers are occasionally described as cack-hander: from which language does the word cack come from … ?

Q10) And finally … Which left-handed member of Brazil’s national football team was born Edison “Edson” Arantes do Nascimento … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 12th August, 1990, saw the discovery of what — up until then — was the largest ever fossilised T-Rex: what was it nicknamed … ?

A1) Sue.

Q2) 12th August is the traditional date for the start of the Grouse hunting season in the UK: what’s the Latin name for the particular species of grouse that’s hunted … ?

Q2) Lagopus lagopus scoticus.

Q3) 12th August, 1943, is the alleged date of the Philadelphia Experiment: what was the name of the ship involved?

A3) The USS Eldridge. (Which I originally spelt — appropriately — as eldritch.)

Q4) 12th August, 1964, saw the death of writer, Ian Fleming: what was the last James Bond film released during his lifetime … ?

A4) From Russia With Love.

Q5) And finally … 12th August, 1969, saw the first use of Tear Gas by a British police force: which British police Force … ?

A5) The Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you with a vaguely relevant tune or two …

* I’m hoping attractive female people are going to tell me how clever I’ve been, and act suitably impressed. Yeah, don’t I just WISH … !

Left-handers Day: Coming Soon

Can I make a confession, here … ?

Can I … ?

You see, I’ll happily admit to anyone that meets me — as and when the conversation goes that way — that I’m left-handed.

A southpaw.

Cack-handed.

Which is possibly one of the more offensive terms for the simple fact that, in many of my day-to-day tasks I tend to prefer to use my left hand.

Writing and using a computer mouse are just two of them.

Oh …

And playing guitar … But that’shardly what I’d everyday, if you see what I mean …

But, at any rate, I’m a south paw.

One that’s written happily — if not as extensively as he’d’ve liked — about the fact.

»»·««

But while I’m a southpaw who’s love to add more about the subject, I’m ALSO going to happily admit that — I think — there’s not much I, as an individual, can add to the subject, except here and there.

Apart from one thing that I try to highlight, each year.

Did you know that, since 1976, August 13th — this coming Saturday, this year — is International Left-Handers Day?

Now, I’m not too sure about the group that first created or why they chose August 13th.

But … ?

But I do know I try and mention it, a few days before.

And do a couple of posters.

Oh …

AND do a teaser on the day.

And I’ll be honest … ?

I’m thinking southpaw, Leonardo da Vinci, would have NO problem with the upcoming video.

I think I’ve excelled myself with that one …

The Southpaw’s Teaser …

Tea?

Check.

Mug of Diet cola?

Check!

Toast, with Marmite … ?

Check!

Right … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Now I’ve got to confess, I couldn’t — literally couldn’t — resist today’s subject, I really couldn’t … !

Now, you may or may not know it, but I’m left-handed: southpaw, cack-handed, whatever!

So it’s always something I’m happy to burble on about.

Lord, isn’t it just … ?

To date, I’ve managed at least a couple of posts — and one teaser — about it, and frankly … ?

I’d like to do more.

Here’s what I’d like to ask you …

If you’re a fellow lefty, I’d like to hear about it: your experiences at school, work, where ever. I’d like to post about. 600 to 700 words … ?

Cheers, folks!

I’d be interested to hear from you all …

‹‹‹☞›››

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !!

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Trevor and Kaiju going head to head: with both scoring 5 out of 5, Kaiju getting his answers in first, and Trevor putting in some interesting quotes from Cleopatra 7th: yeah, her, the one with the asp and the tendency to — AHEM — befriend the odd Roman or two … ?

Let’s see how they and you do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’ and License*

Q1) Who was the first, recorded, left-handed president of the USA?


Q2) More to the point, who is the most recent left-handed President … ?

Q3) Which left-handed singer-songwriter was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta … ?

Q4) Name either of the two left-handed Italian artists — and rivals — who are contenders for the title of ‘Renaissance Man’

Q5) Which left-handed tennis player once famously — and very assertively — said “You can NOT be SERIOUS” … ?

Q6) Which left-handed painter and draftsman was nicknamed “The Soul of Montmartre” … ?

Q7) Which left-handed painter and mathematician carved a famous 1515 wood-cut of a rhinoceros … ?


Q8) Which famously black-clad figure was at the 2010 World Cup final … ?

Q9) ‘Sinister’ is derived from the word ‘sinestra’, an ancient word for ‘left’: from which language does the word ‘sinestra’ come … ?

Q10) And finally … We all know that Babe Ruth, the world’s most famous Baseball player, was left handed: who played him in the 1948 film, The Babe Ruth Story?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 12th August is the traditional date for the start of the Grouse hunting season in the UK: which species of grouse in particular … ?


A1) The Red Grouse, or Lagopus lagopus scoticus.

Q2) 12th August is — according to the UN — International what Day … ?

A2) International Youth Day.

Q3) On the subject of days, 12 August is Sea Org Day, a feast day in which modern religion … ?

A3) The Church of Scientology.

Q4) 12th August, 1851, saw who granted a patent for his model of sewing machine … ?

A4) Isaac Singer.

Q5) And finally … 12th August, 1883, saw the death of the last known example of which species at a zoo in Amsterdam … ?


A5) The Quagga.

And, finally, here’s today’s 60 question set for struggling pub quiz masters …

Online 66.

ROUND ONE. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) Which mythical North American beast is also known as the Sasquatch

A1) Bigfoot. (Do NOT accept Yeti, or Abominable Snowman; that’s from Tibet.)

Q2) Raymond Baxter, Adam Hart-Davies, and Maggie Philbin all former presenters of which TV show?

A2) Tomorrow’s World.

Q3) What sort of creature was Dougal, in the Magic Roundabout?

A3) A dog.

Q4) What professional would be a member of RIBA?

A4) An architect.

Q5) In the Christian calendar, what day of the week is described as Ash?

A5) Wednesday.

Q6) In a standard deck of playing cards, how many black cards are there, excluding jokers?

A6) 26.

Q7) Early Giant, Nantes and Figaro are what kind of vegetable?

A7) Carrots.

Q8) What word links a stone with a seaside confection?

A8) Rock.

Q9) In the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, what’s the name of the computer?

A9) HAL 9000. (Accept HAL.)

Q10) Which actor appeared in Titanic, The Man In The Iron Mask and The Beach?

A10) Leonardo DiCaprio.

ROUND TWO. GARDENING.

Q11) What’s the most common colour for a domesticated daffodil?

A11) Yellow.

Q12) What material is decking usually made from?

A12) Wood.

Q13) Which vegetable can be Globe or Jerusalem?

A13) An artichoke.

Q14) Where does a cloche go?

A14) Over plants.

Q15) Elderflowers turn into what fruit?

A15) Elderberries.

Q16) What do lilies grow from, bulbs or seeds?

A16) Bulbs.

Q17) Hybrid Tea, Polyantha and Floribunda are examples of which plant?

A17) The Rose.

Q18) What word describes cutting a lawn?

A18) Mowing.

Q19) Which peas are a decorative plant?

A19) Sweet peas.

Q20) Which aromatic plant takes its name from the Latin word, Lavo, meaning “I Wash”?

A20) Lavender.

ROUND THREE. TV DINNERS.

Q21) Which MASH star was born Alphonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto d’Abruzzo?

A21) Alan Alda.

Q22) In Bread, Father Oswald was married to which character?

A22) Aveline.

Q23) Conundrum was the last episode of which US series: Friends, Dallas or Star Trek?

A23) Dallas.

Q24) John McCririck is a TV pundit on which sport?

A24) Horse-racing.

Q25) Who replaced Paul Daniels, on Wipeout?

A25) Bob Monkhouse.

Q26) TOTP 2 was a rerun of which show?

A26) Top of the Pops.

Q27) London’s Burning was all about which emergency service?

A27) The Fire Brigade.

Q28) In Frasier, what’s Frasier's surname?

A28) Crane.

Q29) In which show would you be eating Tubby Toast?

A29) Teletubbies.

Q30) Trisha Goddard shifted from ITV1, to which other terrestrial channel?

A30) Channel 5.

ROUND FOUR. ’ROUND THE World.

Q31) Georgia, Latvia and Uzbekistan are former what?

A31) Soviet states.

Q32) In which sea is Jamaica?

A32) The Caribbean.

Q33) Port Stanley is the capital of which Islands?

A33) The Falkland Islands.

Q34) The Dumbarton, San Rafael and Golden Gate Bridge are in which US city?

A34) San Francisco.

Q35) Madras is to the west and Calcutta to the north of which massive Indian bay?

A35) The Bay of Bengal.

Q36) Mogadishu is the capital of which African country?

A36) The Somali Republic.

Q37) Buenos Aires, Cape Town, or Brisbane; - which is furthest north?

A37) Brisbane.

Q38) Beijing, Seoul, or Bangkok; - which is furthest east?

A38) Seoul.

Q39) Saudi Arabia has its western coast on which Sea?

A39) The Red Sea.

Q40) Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park are in which Californian mountain range?

A40) Sierra Nevada.

ROUND FIVE. MUSIC AND LIGHTS.

Q41) Name either of the bands who had an 1980s hit with Only You. (Two points for both.)

A41) Yazoo or the Flying Pickets.

Q42) Who had a hit with I’m a Believer.

A42) The Monkees.

Q43) Dance hall hit Oh Carolina was the debut hit for which Jamaica artist?

A43) Shaggy.

Q44) All Kinds Of Everything was a hit for which Irish politician?

A44) Dana. (She was Ireland’s president, for about 5 years)

Q45) Name either of the artist’s who’ve had a UK hit with American Pie. (Two points for both.)

A45) Don McClean, & Madonna.

Q46) Mike Flowers Pops had a hit with which Oasis song?

A46) Wonderwall.

Q47) Name Golden Earring’s only UK hit.

A47) Radar Love.

Q48) (It’s Such) A Perfect Day was — originally — the B-side of which Lou Reed hit?

A48) Walk On The Wild Side.

Q49) Never Ever was the biggest UK hit for which girl band?

A49) All Saints.

Q50) Suicide Blonde was a hit for which band?

A50) INXS.

ROUND SIX. GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) In printing, what name is given to three full stops in a row?

A51) An ellipsis.

Q52) Who is — still — Britain’s most shoplifted author?

A52) Terry Pratchett.

Q53) In which British resort was Billy Butlin’s first holiday camp?

A53) Skegness.

Q54) Which ska band is the only one to have registered on the Richter Scale?

A54) Madness, at the first of their Madstock gigs. (They managed 3.2: in the middle of what Wikipedia classes as minor, light enough to not cause damage, but heavy enough to be felt.)

Q55) Gary McKinnon is awaiting extradition to the US, after hacking into whose computer’s,

A55) Both the Pentagon’s and NASA’s.

Q56) Which American comedian directed the film Matchpoint?

A56) Woody Allen.

Q57) Elections to the US Congress, & Senate are usually on which day of the week?

A57) Tuesday.

Q58) On a standard UK Monopoly board, which is the first station reached, after you pass Go?

A58) King’s Cross.

Q59) According to the title of the play, Sir Thomas More was A Man For All … what?

A59) Seasons.

Q60) Who was the lead singer of the Miami Sound Machine?

A60) Gloria Estefan.

Enjoy those, everyone.

And, just as it is International Left-handers Day, I’m also going to give you one final challenge, for the right-handers reading this.

Set your mouse up left handed for today.

See how how us lefties feel, for today. And let me know how you feel about that …

‹‹‹☞›››

* A handy thing to remember is the the various shades of Creative Commons and GPL license are known as Copyleft licenses …