The Daily Teaser — 12-2-2013

Blimey, THAT was a bit of a news day … !

I mean, North Korea setting off a small nuclear bomb.

And — AND — the resignation of the Pope … !

Which was a bit of a shocker.   For the past six centuries, they’ve had a tendency to die in office.

I have to admit, though, non-Catholic that I am, I can’t help that think it’s a good thing.   It turns a quasi-monarchial role, into something a touch more presidential.

And, nicely drags the Papacy into the 19th Century: let alone the 20th or 21st.

At ANY rate … ?   At ANY rate, it did manage to overshadow what I’d pencilled in, for this morning’s  post: the simple fact that, at Saturday’s DropKixx show, Kevin managed to lose his championship belt.

Knowing Kevin, I’m thinking he’s correct that, at some point … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

~~~~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with complimenting me on yesterday’s videos, she also managed 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) 12th February, 2013 is Shrove Tuesday: in the UK, it’s also known as what Day … ?

Q2) It’s also known as Mardi Gras: or ‘what Tuesday’ … ?

Q3) Moving on … 12th February, 1912, saw the abdication of the Xuantong Emperor: where was he the last emperor of … ?

Q4) What was the name of the 1987 film about the Xuantong Emperor … ?

Q5) 12th February, 1961, saw the USSR launch the Venera 1 mission.   To which planet was the Venera 1 heading … ?

Q6) And finally … 12 February, 2013, saw the murder of which Northern Irish solicitor?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 11th February, 660BC is the traditional date of accession of the first Japanese Emperor: what was his name … ?

A1) Jimmu.

Q2) More to the point, what’s the Japanese version of he and his descendants’ title … ?

A2) Tennō.

Q3) Who’s the current Japanese Emperor … ?

A3) Emperor Akihito.

Q4) Historically, the Japanese Emperor’s home was Edo Castle: what’s it now called … ?

A4) Tokyo Imperial Palace.

Q5) And finally … the imperial seal of Japan is a stylized version of which flower … ?

A5) A Chrysanthemum.

I’ll leave you with this quote from Victorian music hall star, Marie Lloyd …

“I’m one of the ruins that Cromwell knocked about a bit.”

Marie Lloyd 12 February 1870 – 7 October 1922

And one of the few surviving recordings from her.

*        How are you with Victorian music hall stars, Debbi … ?   Marie Lloyd’s up, today: and that’s what she was.   (Oh, and the Victorian era’s equivalent of … … You know, that’s actually a good thought: I don’t think there’s anyone quite like it, these days … … )

The Daily Teaser — 9-2-2013

You know, I hate sleeping through my alarm, I really do.   It’s worse, today, though: I didn’t actually put my alarm on … !

What makes it even worse … ?   Is that I’m absolutely skint, and can’t make it to tonight’s DropKixx wrestling matches.

If you’re near Brentwood Theatre*, tonight, though … ?   Get yourself along to the gig: you won’t see me, but you will see a certain Cayden Blade.   Who assures me he’s on rather good form for his match … !

At ANY rate … ?   Let’s get moving on to todays questions, shall we?

Yes, let’s … 

~~~~~~~~

Yesterday’s saw Debbiº putting in her answers: along with writing up this post, also bagging 5 out of 5.   (I should also point out, she was joined, via Twitter, by @soolebop: bagging 2 out of 5.)

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

Q1) Which Pope was elected to office, on 9th February, 1621: Gregory 14th, Gregory 15th or Gregory 16th … ?

Q2) 9th February, 1964, saw the Beatles make their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show: name any of the three songs they performed … ?

Q3) 9th February, 1962, saw which Caribbean nation become independent … ?

Q4) More to the point, who’s that country’s Head of State … ?

Q5) And finally … 9th February, 1913, saw a huge cloud of what over North and South America … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 8th February, 1865, saw Delaware vote against the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution: the amendment that rejected slavery.   In which year did Delaware finally ratify it … ?   A1) 1901.

Q2) 8th February, 1971, saw the opening of the NASDAQ stock market: was it the first, second or third electronic stock market… ?   A2) The first.

Q3) 8th February, 1983, saw Ariel Sharon quit his Israeli government post, after enquiries into two massacres.   Which post was it … ?   A3) Defence Minister.

Q4) 8th February, 1915, saw the debut of controversial film, The Birth Of A Nation: which far-right group did it put in an unjustified, favourable light … ?   A4) The Ku Klux Klan.

Q5) And finally … 8th February, 1950, saw the formal founding of the Stasi: which country’s secret police were the Stasi … ?   A5) East Germany’s.

As today marks the birthday of Carmen Miranda, I’ll leave you with Tico, Tico …

And with this quote from Mia Farrow …

“I want a big career, a big man, and a big life. You have to think big - that's the only way to get it... I just couldn't stand being anonymous.”Mia Farrow, February 9, 1945.

Enjoy today: and try and get to Brentwood Theatre, for that wrestling … 

*        The booking line number is 01277 200305: although I don’t know if it’s open on Saturdays.

º        Well … I couldn’t help but hit the ‘Like’ button, Debbi … ! :D   Oh, Macwise: I know the default mouse only has one button: but the Trackpad they sell for them are usable one handed: you can set them up so a two-fingered tap triggers a ctrl/right click.   And Final Draft is on the App Store.   (Ruth was asking as she’s bagged a bursary from her uni: she’s still umming and ahhing about what to do with it.)

Wrestling … And Delia …

You know, I’m thinking it’s THAT time of year, again: the time when, basically, there really is nothing on TV.

Mostly where the various UK tv channels have blown the budget on Christmas movies and specials.

At ANY rate … ?

At ANY rate, there’s USUALLY a good show on, somewhere, if you look around.

Today’s been Delia Derbyshire Day, for example.

Which means you can probably find something out there to watch in YouTube land, about the one woman in the UK who knew anything about Music Concret, for example: and knew how to arrange music so it became unrecognisable.

There’s ALSO the chance to go for something a bit theatrical.

Or on stage, at any rate.

~~~~~

Actually …

Now I mention it, there it possibly something you could go and see, if you’re in Brentwood on the 9th of February, this year.

You’ve possibly already worked out that a friend of mine, Kevin D, does a bit of wrestling, now and again: is even a member of an Essex based wrestling school — called Dropkixx — that does the odd show, around the south east.

I think I’ve mentioned it before now.

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, I thought I’d best mention the simple fact that there’s another Dropkixx show, on February 9th.

At Brentwood Theatre: doors open at 7pm, for a 7.30 start.

Tickets are £10: or £6 with concessions.

Kevin’s got a bout lined up.

Go buy a ticket, folks: wish Kevin luck in person.

The Daily Teaser — 17-08-2012

Dropkixx Poster

Bleugh … !

I really have to start getting some early nights … !

My eyeballs feel like they’s just done ten rounds with Giant Haystacks.

Actually, talking of wrestling, I’ve mentioned fellow movie maven, Kevin D, before now, haven’t I … ?   Yes, I have.

Bless, Kevin’s a bit of a grapple fan: AND semi-pro wrestler.

AND helping to organise the Dropkixx show, in Brentwood Theatre, the first Friday in September.   You can find out more details, here: and book tickets from Brentwood Theatre’s box office, on 01277 200305.

Now … 

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

‹‹·››

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and, along with telling us she felt Brian Wilson was ahead of his time, also bagging either 4 out of 6 or 6 out of 6, depending on how you define the answers.

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

Q1) 17th August, 1944, saw the birth of software magnate, Larry Ellison: which software company was he the co-founder and CEO of … ?

Q2) More to the point, which well known piece of open source software had that company been associated with … ?

Q3) 17th August, 1960, saw which country gain independence from France … ?

Q4) 17th August, 1959, saw the release of Kind Of Blue, considered to be the best selling Jazz album of all time.   Who recorded it?

Q5) 17th August, 1987, saw Rudolf Hess found dead in his prison cell: in which prison was he being held … ?

Q6) And finally … 17th August, 1907, saw the opening of Pike Place Market: in which US city is Pike Place Market … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 16th August, 1977, saw the death of Elvis Presley: what was his middle name?   A1) Aaron.

Q2) More to the point, what was his last UK solo No 1 … ?   A2) A Little Less Conversation, as remixed by DJ JXL.

Q3) Equally to the point, what was his first US hit single … ?   A3) Heartbreak Hotel.

Q4) Moving on … 16th August, 1896, saw three men discover gold: in a tributary of which river … ?   A4) The Klondike.

Q5) 16th August, 1989, saw solar flares knock out which North American city’s stock market … ?   A5) Toronto’s.

Q6) And finally … 16th August, 2003,saw the death of Idi Amin: who won an Oscar for playing Amin, in The Last King Of Scotland … ?   A6) Forest Whitaker.

Enjoy those, everyone.

As it’s De La Soul frontman, Posdnous’ birthday, today, I’ll leave you with this tune … 

And a quote from VS Naipaul …

“One always writes comedy at the moment of deepest hysteria.”V S Naipaul, born 1932

*        Sorry, Debbi, it’s too early in the morning to be this early in the morning … !   But if it’s any help, I’ve ALSO included links to the Wikipedia Elvis discography: and defined ‘hit’ as anything in the Top Forty.   Although the fact the US has several different charts — and Top Fortys! — REALLY doesn’t helpº … !

º        Debbi, did Trevor and I introduce you to the “running around like a blue-arsed fly”, when you and Rick were here … ?   Because that’s a good phrase to use, if you want me to tell you about researching any given single in the US charts … ! :D

A Dropkixx Poster …

You know, this is quite possibly going to sound odd, but did I tell you Kevin D has a big one?

Gig, I should add, at this point.

Oh, and poster, as well!

Keen wrestling fan that he is, he helps publicise assorted shows for DropKixx, the wrestling school in Tilbury, by handing out posters for local shops.

This poster being for the next one, this coming Saturday.

Now, I’ll happily admit to not really being a fan.

But from from Kevin tells me … ?

These things are usually a) rather well attended and b) rather entertaining to watch.

If you do go … ?

Feel free to leave me a comment, and let me know what you thought.