The Daily Teaser …

Oh, Good Lord, you’d think Isaac Asimov had never been born!!

I’ve just heard a piece on Radio 4’s “Today” show; two researchers in AI and robotics, both arguing for guidelines on research into AI/robotic, and arguing that nobodies given any thought to robots going bonkers and killing people.

To quote the man, himself, “…that DAMN Frankenstein complex!”. After all, part of the reason Asimov came up with The Three Laws of Robotics was to emphasise the simple point that we’re all human.

And have this weird tendency to build stuff with safety features!

Shame we as a species, don’t come with them …

Any way, rant over!

Let’s move on, shall we?

Shall we?

Yes, lets!

Here’s today’s questions …

Q1) 3^rd August, 1852, saw the first US intercollegiate Boat Race, between Yale and Harvard; who won that?

Q2) August 3^rd, 1777, saw the opening of which Italian opera house?

Q3) More to the point, in which city is that opera house?

Q4) 3^rd August, 1978, saw the Queen open the 11^th Commonwealth Games; in which Canadian city was that?

Q5) The 3^rd of August is also the birthday of which Irish Eurovision presenter?

Q6) Today also marks the birth — in 1811 — of Elisha Gray Otis, the inventor of a revolutionary safety device for what … ?

Q7) 3^rd August, 1957, marks the day that Tunku Abdul Rahman was elected as head of state of where?

Q8) The 3^rd of August, 1936, saw Jesse Owens win Gold, at the Berlin Olympics; in which distance sprint?

Q9) Today is, obviously, the 3^rd of August, but what’s the year — in Roman Numerals?

Q10) And finally, today in 2008, saw the death of which Russian author?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) August 2^nd, 1990, saw the start of the 1^st Gulf War, when Iraq invaded which country?

A1) Kuwait.

Q2) August 2^nd, 1980, saw which Italian railway bombed by terrorists?

A2) Bologna.

Q3) A few years earlier, August 2^nd, 1932, saw the discovery of which sub-atomic particle?

A3) The positron. (It’s the anti-matter equivalent of the electron.)

Q4) Auagust 2^nd, 1939, was the birthday of director, Wes Craven; what was the name of his first film, back in 1972?

A4) “The Last House on the Left.”; famed for the tagline, “It’s ONLY a movie …”.

Q5) And finally; today in 1835 saw the birth of American inventer, Elisha Gray. Despite having 70 patents to his name, he came 2^nd in the race to create the … what?

A5) Telephone. (There’s still argument about who got to the patent office first!!)

I hope you enjoy them.

Catch you later!

The Daily Teaser …

You know, I’ve just looked out of the window.

It’s gorgeous!

Isn’t it always the way?

Probably means that it’ll be a busy day at work, though …

And means I’ll probably get not a lot of hits, today, but here’s today’s questions …

Q1) August 2^nd, 1990, saw the start of the 1^st Gulf War, when Iraq invaded which country?

Q2) August 2^nd, 1980, saw which Italian railway bombed by terrorists?

Q3) A few years earlier, August 2^nd, 1932, saw the discovery of which sub-atomic particle?

Q4) Auagust 2^nd, 1939, was the birthday of director, Wes Craven; what was the name of his first film, back in 1972?

Q5) And finally; today in 1835 saw the birth of American inventer, Elisha Gray. Despite having 70 patents to his name, he came 2^nd in the race to create the … what?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Today was the first day of the Battle Of The Nile; who lead the British naval forces, against the French?

A1) Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Q2) Today in 1876, saw the admission of the 38^th state to the USA; which state was it?

A2) Colorado.

Q3) 76 years earlier, 1^st August, 1800, saw the Act of Union; name either of the Kingdoms that were united.

A3) The (then) Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland; this formed the United Kingdom ...

Q4) MTV started broadcasting in 1981; the first video it broadcast was which hit for the Buggles?

A4) “Video Killed the Radio Star”.

Q5) 1st August sees the People's Republic of China celebrate PLA Day; what does PLA stand for?

A5) People’s Liberation Army.

Q6) And finally, today saw the start of the Hutton Enquiry*; into the death of which scientist?

A6) Weapons expert, Dr David Kelly.

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

* Now that takes me back; when I started doing quizzes, it was at a pub called The Hutton, and not long after the Hutton Enquiry. Which was a nice piece of timing …

iCandy!

OK, OK, I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for iCandy!

I am!

And happily proud of it!

I mean, I’ve got a Mac, for heaven’s sake, what did you expect?

And I’ve got to admit, one thing that has grabbed me with Jaunty Jackalope GUI is of the special effects; including the ones that make the windows go bendy when ya wiggle ’em.

Guess that shows you my emotional maturity levels, doesn’t it?

He says, laughing ruefully at himself …

Either that, or I’m incredibly shallow and easy to please!

Make of that what you will!

Either way, I think Apple’s got a few things to pick up on, design wise, come September …

•••••

I also know I’m — possibly — adopting a G4 iMac, although don’t hold me to that.

But — given that fact I’ve been patiently applying boards to the backs of peoples heads for six years — you wouldn’t believe the amount of people who’ve been making “Ooooohh” noises.

Or possibly you would …

The Daily Teaser …

Phew; I’ve got to admit, I’m writing this, with Yesterday — formerly known as UKTV History — on in the background, and it’s got a programme on about the Hindenburgh disaster.

Fascinating stuff …

At any rate, lets move on, shall we?

Yes, lets …

Here’s today’s questions …

Q1) Today was the first day of the Battle Of The Nile; who lead the British naval forces, against the French?

Q2) Today in 1876, saw the admission of the 38^th state to the USA; which state was it?

Q3) 76 years earlier, 1^st August, 1800, saw the Act of Union; name either of the Kingdoms that were united.

Q4) MTV started broadcasting in 1981; the first video it broadcast was which hit for the Buggles?

Q5) 1st August sees the People's Republic of China celebrate PLA Day; what does PLA stand for?

Q6) And finally, today saw the start of the Hutton Enquiry; into the death of which scientist?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Today in 30 BC saw Mark Anthony defeat who, at the Battle of Alexandria?

A1) Octavian Cæsar. (Otherwise known as Augustus Cæsar; It’s that Imperator, again …)

Q2) Which “Superman” actor was born today, in 1966?

A2) Dean Cain.

Q3) On the subject of super-heroes, today in 1930, saw the radio début of which shadowy super hero?

A3) The Shadow.

Q4) 31^st July, 1945, saw John K. Giles attempt an escape from which notorious prison?

A4) Alcatraz.

Q5) And finally, today in 1970, saw the last ever what, issued by the British Royal Navy?

A5) Rum Ration.

Enjoy those, folks. I’ll catch you later!

The Brain … The BRAIN …!

You know, sometimes, it’s good to catch a movie.

It is.

But just occasionally, you do get the urge for a change of pace.

You do.

Allison tottered over, tonight, and we were joined by Paul.

And collectively got bored enough to dig up some vintage “Doctor Who”.

Seriously vintage!

As any fans out there would realise, looking at the photo, we were watching the 1976 Tom Baker story, “The Brain of Morbius”; definitely something I enjoyed watching again, and something I know that both Allison and Paul were glued to!

Other people can — and have — summed the plot up, far better than I can.

But I do know that Terrence Dicks and Robert Holmes — writing as Robin Bland — put together something rather special.

And something worth watching, I think.