The Daily Teaser — 24-11-2011

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I had a bit of a late night, last night.

Bit of a mixture of reasons, really.

I’ve got to admit to watching Outpost, which is a bit of a favourite film of mine.

And keeping my eyes on my phone.

Frankly … ?

There’s a friend of mine in hospital, at the moment, after having a rather serious operation.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for her.

It sound’s she stable … but that’s after having a reaction to one of the anæsthetics.

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Lets …

‹‹•››

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi, Nina and Sue all putting in their answers, yesterday: with all three of the ladies bagging 8 out of 8ª.

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) 24th November, 1859, saw the original publication of On the Origin Of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, by Charles Darwin: on which ship did Darwin famously travel, during the 1830s … ?

Q2) More to the point, who was the book published by … ?

Q3) As a final Darwin question … which potter was Darwin famously related to, on his mother’s side … ?

Q4) 24th November, 2005, saw the UK introduce 24-hour licensing: who was British Prime minister, at the time … ?

Q5) 24th November, 1941, saw the USA extend Lend-Lease aid to whom: the Free French, the UK or the Irish Free State?

Q6) 24th November is celebrated as Lachit Divas: in which Indian state … ?

Q7) And finally … 24th November, 1974, saw the discovery of Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensis skeleton: in which African country … ?

And here’s yesterday’s themed questions and answers …

Q1) 23rd November, 1963, saw the start of Dr Who, the world’s longest running science-fiction TV show: what was the name of that first episode … ?

A1) An Unearthly Child. (According to some sources, it’s also known as 100, 00 BC.)

Q2) The Doctor’s grand-daughter appears in the episode: what was her name … ?

A2) Susan Foreman.

Q3) As we know, TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space: which actress played the TARDIS in the recent episode, The Doctor’s Wife … ?

A3) Suranne Jones.

Q4) More to the point, the Doctor’s TARDIS is permanently stuck in the shape of a what … ?

A4) Police call box.

Q5) What’s the name of the current actor who’s playing the Dr … ?

A5) Matt Smith.

Q6) Moving on … 23rd November, 2001, saw the signing of the Convention on Cybercrime: in which European city … ?

A6) Budapest.

Q7) 23rd November, 1499, saw Perkin Warbeck hung for escaping the Tower of London. What did he claim to be: heir to the English throne, a Messiah or the Bishop of Bath and Welles.

A7) Heir to the English throne, and lost son of Edward 4th.

Q8) And finally … 23rd November, 1644 saw John Milton publish a leaflet denouncing what: censorship, the Catholic church or witchcraft … ?

A8) Censorship.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later, after wishing my US reader’s a happy thanksgiving*!

And, as it’s the 20th anniversary of Freddie Mercury’s death: and I’ve ALREADY used Bicycle Race in today’s Teaser video, here’s the tradition companion to the song …

* Don’t overdo the turkey, everyone!

ª Debbi … ! As if I’d ever encourage you and Nina to start fighting … !

The New Bus Stop

Hmmm …

You know, it HAS been a while since I’ve mentioned planning issues, it REALLY has.

But something I thought I’d quickly highlight … ?

Is the simple fact that Saint James Road — around the corner from my place — got re-surfaced, this Sunday gone.

And, along with that … ?

Had the various traffic lines repainted.

Including that oh-so-new bus stop.

Now, I KNOW where the buses stop, around here.

There’s one right next to Brentwood Station, where most of the buses head towards Warley.

There’s another over the road from that. That second one, along with one just a little further up Warley Hill, service the routes heading in the opposite direction, Brentwood High Street.

THIS one, on the other hand … ?

Seems to be part of NONE of the routes, in either direction … !

Bizarre … !

R.I.P. Anne McCaffrey, Creator of Pern and The Ship Who Sang

R.I.P. Anne McCaffrey, Creator of Pern and The Ship Who Sang

Oh … Now THAT’s another sad one …

Lifelong science fiction fan that I am, I’ve got to admit, I’ve read a certain amount of Anne McCaffrey, in my time.

Mostly her Dragonriders of Pern series, which had both one of the strongest female characters I know I’ve ever seen, Lessa of Bendan Weyr.

So you can imagine my saddest in hearing that Ms McCaffrey had died on Monday, just gone, at the age of 85.

That’s sad.

I know I once met fantasy writer, Storm Constantine who called Ms McCaffrey ‘inspirational’.

I’m also fairly convinced there’s who’d say the same.

All I can do … ?

Is offer my condolences to her family.

AND did up my old copy of Dragonflight …

The Daily Teaser — 23-11-2011

Hmmm …

Yeah …

23rd of November … !

I’ve got to admit, I’m a BIT of a Dr Who fan.

You probably noticed, hadn’t you … ?

At any rate, I have to admit, I couldn’t resist the theme for today’s Teaser.

Given that 23rd November, 1963, was the broadcast date for the original episode.

Let’s get moving on, shall we?

Yes, lets … !

»»^««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi and Nina putting in their answers: with both bagging 5 out of 5, it ALSO saw them both giving Tom Hanks* a mention.

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

Q1) 23rd November, 1963, saw the start of Dr Who, the world’s longest running science-fiction TV show: what was the name of that first episode … ?

Q2) The Doctor’s grand-daughter appears in the episode: what was her name … ?

Q3) As we know, TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space: which actress played the TARDIS in the recent episode, The Doctor’s Wife … ?

Q4) More to the point, the Doctor’s TARDIS is permanently stuck in the shape of a what … ?

Q5) What’s the name of the current actor who’s playing the Dr … ?

Q6) Moving on … 23rd November, 2001, saw the signing of the Convention on Cybercrime: in which European city … ?

Q7) 23rd November, 1499, saw Perkin Warbeck hung for escaping the Tower of London. What did he claim to be: heir to the English throne, a Messiah or the Bishop of Bath and Welles.

Q8) And finally … 23rd November, 1644 saw John Milton publish a leaflet denouncing what: censorship, the Catholic church or witchcraft … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 22rd November, 1963, saw Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in as US President, after the death of John F. Kennedy. What did the B stand for … ?

A1) Baines.

Q2) 22nd November, 1977, saw British Airways inaugurate their London to New York flights: with which supersonic aircraft … ?

A2) Concorde.

Q3) 22nd November, 1975, saw who, named as King of Spain, after the death of General Franco … ?

A3) Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias: best known, today, of course, as King Juan Carlos 1st of Spain.

Q4) 22nd November, 1997 saw the death of Australian rocker, Michæl Hutchence: name any of the lead singers — excluding guest leads, Jimmy Barnes and Terence Trent D’Arby — who’ve fronted InXS, since 1997.

A4) Ciaran Gribbin, Jon Stevens, J. D. Fortune.

Q5) And finally … 22nd November, 1995, saw the release of the first feature-length, fully CGI film: what was it called … ?

A5) Toy Story.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later.

After I’ve left you with the first Doctor’s last words to his granddaughter†.

* Now, now, Ladies … ! Can we keep the fighting, outside, please … ?!

† Which I still believe to be one of the most powerful — and heartrending — pieces of TV, I’ve ever seen …

The Daily Teaser — 22-11-2011

Hmmm …

Now, I’ve got to confess, the older I get, the more appealing the BBC’s talk Radio service, Radio 4, gets.

I’m thinking TV is officially getting silly.

Or, at least, sillier.

One thing I think I definitely like … ?

Is their news bulletins.

Short and sweet.

And, today, mentioning the fact that Amnesty International have spoken out against the current Egyptian military regime.

Something I know I can’t remember the venerable human rights organisation having done for some time.

Lets hope that get’s listened to, shall we … ?

‹‹†››

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting her answers: and, along with highlighting the discrepancies between Wikipedia and the BBC*, ALSO managed to bag 6 out of 6. Yesterday ALSO saw Portugal putting in their answers to one of the Teaser’s, way back in Mayº! Welcome aboard, Portugal, please feel free to try todays Teaser … !

Talking of today’s Teaser … ? Let’s see how everyone does with todays questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 22rd November, 1963, saw Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in as US President, after the death of John F. Kennedy. What did the B stand for … ?

Q2) 22nd November, 1977, saw British Airways inaugurate their London to New York flights: with which supersonic aircraft … ?

Q3) 22nd November, 1975, saw who, named as King of Spain, after the death of General Franco … ?

Q4) 22nd November, 1997 saw the death of Australian rocker, Michæl Hutchence: name any of the lead singers — excluding guest leads, Jimmy Barnes and Terence Trent D’Arby — who’ve fronted InXS, since 1997.

Q5) And finally … 22nd November, 1995, saw the release of the first feature-length, fully CGI film: what was it called … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 21st November, 1272, saw who become King of England … ?

A1) Edward 1st.

Q2) That king was ALSO as ‘The Hammer of the’ … whom … ?

A2) Scots.

Q3) Moving on … 21st, 1918, saw Estonia adopt its flag: name the three colours on that flag.

A3) Blue, black and white: with blue at the top, black in the middle and white on the bottom.

Q4) 21st November, 1985, saw the end of the Geneva Summit, between the USA and the USSR: in which country is Geneva?

A4) Switzerland.

Q5) 21st November, 1905, saw the first publication of Einstein’s paper, ‘Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?’: which famed equation did this give rise to … ?

A5) E=MC2.

Q6) And finally … 21st November, 1916, saw the sinking of the HMHS Britannic: what does HMHS stand for … ?

A6) His/Her Majesties Hospital Ship.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

* I’ve got to confess, Debbi, I went with Wikipedia, myself: partly because it — in the Nuremberg trials articles listed the defendants — but also partly because — unlike Aunty Beeb — can list checkable sources in the better written articles.