The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 2-10-2013: Television

Dull, dull … 

Dullllllll … !

It’s been one of those days.

You can tell, can’t you … ?

Still, at least I’ve been able get some laundry done, and get some posters up for the next Dropkixx show.

I’ve just had some dropped off, I should add: by Brentwood’s own Cayden Blade.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to make the show: but from all I’ve heard … ?   It’s quite a gig.

~≈W≈~

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, it’s Wednesday.

Which means it’s time for the Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser.

Here’s this week’s questions: covered by the usual Creative Commons License* … 

Q1) 2nd October, 1925, saw the first test of a working television set: by whom … ?

Q2) Those first test images were the head of a ventriloquist dummy called ‘Stooky … ’ who: Bill, Ben or Bert … ?

Q3) The first public demonstration of TV was to a group from which royal institution … ?

Q4) Also at that demonstration was a reporter from which thundering newspaper … ?

Q5) When did the BBC start its original, experimental broadcasts: 1932, 1933 or 1934 … ?

Q6) More to the point, in which year did Aunty start regular broadcasts from Alexandra Palace … ?

Q7) Britain’s first commercial station — ITV — started broadcasting in which year of the 1950s … ?

Q8) Equally to the point … in which year did Channel Four start broadcasting …?

Q9) What was the name of the satellite that first broadcast TV signals from Europe … ?

Q10) Finally … TV shows broadcast on the internet are sometimes called ‘VoD’ services: standing for ‘Video On’ … what … ?

Here’s last week’s questions and answers … 

Question.

Q1) 25th September, 1789, saw the US government pass the first 12 amendments to the Constitution; how many of these make up what’s known as the Bill of Rights?

Q2) The US Constitution opens with the line, “We, The People …”: of where … ?

Q3) ‘Article the First’ of the amendments was never formally ratified and was supposed to guarantee one representative for, at most, how many people: thirty thousand, forty thousand or fifty thousand … ?

Q4) Another of those twelve amendments was the one that forbade congressional pay raises until the start of the next term of office.  That eventually became which amendment: the twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth or twenty-seventh … ?

Q5) The First Amendment forbade the USA from adopting what: a state military, state religion or US navy … ?

Q6) The 3rd Amendment to the Constitution guarantees protection from what … ?

Q7) Which amendment guarantees the right to a trial by jury: the fifth, sixth or seventh … ?

Q8) Many US citizens tell you they have a right bear arms: which Amendment guarantees this … ?

Q9) Which Amendment guarantees freedom of speech in the US … ?

Q10) Finally … Which of the Amendments means a US citizen can’t incriminate himself: the Third, Fourth or Fifth … ?

Answers.

A1) The first 10.

A2) The United States: obviously … !

A3) Fifty thousand.

A4) The twenty-seventh: it finally got ratified in 1992.

A5) A state religion, or church.   (Despite this, the US has a reputation for being one of the more devout on the planet.)

A6) Quartering: having troops foisted on you.

A7) The Sixth.

A8) The Second.

A9) The First: the same that bans a state religion.

A10) The Fifth.

Enjoy those.

I’ll catch you later … 

*        Regulars will know already, but for newcomers … all it means is that you’re free to copy, use, alter and build on each of my quizzes: including the Teasers, Gazette Teasers and the Friday Question Sets.   All I ask in return is that you give me an original authors credit on your event’s flyers or posters, or on the night: and, if you republish them, give me an original authors credit AND republish under the same license.   A link back to the site would be appreciated.

The Daily Teaser — 2-10-2013

Oh, THAT’S what it is … 

I have to admit, that’s bothered me for weeks: the word yurt, that it.

I’ve had the thing floating around my my head for a couple of weeks, now.

With only half an idea of what the thing was.

Then I quickly looked it up on the mobile version of Wikipedia.

It’s a tent.

Well, that’s maybe simplifying it, a bit.   It’s a SORT OF tent … 

Um … 

That’s not quite an explanation, either, is it … ?

Tell you what: here’s the link.   Go look it up … 

I’ll move on, shall I … ?

~≈T≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and quite quietly scoring ten out of ten.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions.   Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License, and video …

Q1) 2nd October, 1925, saw the first tests of a television system, by John Logie Baird.   Which country of the UK was Baird from … ?

Q2) 34 years later, 2nd October, 1959, saw which anthology series make it’s US television debut … ?

Q3) More to the point, who both created and presented that show … ?

Q4) 2nd October is the International Day of Non-Violence: inspired by the fact that the day is ALSO the birthday of which Civil Rights leader …  ?

Q5) 2nd October, 1974, saw US research released: that showed smoking what, caused brain damage … ?

Q6) Finally … 2nd October, 1973, saw the birth of singer/songwriter, Lene Nystrøm.   With which band did she come come to prominence … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 1st October is the national day of China.   WHICH China … ?

A1) The People’s Republic of China: mainland, Communist China, in other words .

Q2) The day celebrates China’s formal founding: in which year of the 1940s … ?

A2) 1949.

Q3) Who made that original declaration, of the country’s founding … ?

A3) Mao Zedong.

Q4) The other country that calls itself China, is … what … ?

A4) The Republic Of China: also known as both 中華民國, Zhōnghuá Mínguó, and, of course, Taiwan.

Q5) The day is usually celebrated with what … ?

A5) A fireworks display.

Q6) What’s the capital city of the country celebrating, today … ?

A6) Beijing.

Q7) Standard Chinese is a version of dialect of Chinese … ?

A7) Mandarin.

Q8) It’s also one of the four official languages in which far Eastern country?

A8) Singapore.

Q9) As of China’s last census, what — with over 22 million people — is China’s most populated city … ?

A9) Shanghai.

Q10) Finally … China’s staple foods includes soybeans, noodles, wheat … and which cereal  … ?

A10) Rice.

I’ll leave you with this observation from Field Marshal Paul von Hindenberg …

“In spite of certain distressing but isolated occurrences in the last battle, I certainly hoped that the Army would be in a position to continue to hold out.”

Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburgh  2 October 1847 – 2 August 1934.

And, given it’s Human League frontman, Phil Oakey’s birthday … ?   We’ll boil something up from the League’s early days … 

Enjoy the day … 

*        Take it the hand’s playing up, today, Debbi … ?   Oh, I’ve been reorganising my sidebar: you’re right at the top … !

The Daily Teaser — 1-10-2013: The Chinese Way

You know I have to admit to catching up with  a lot of TV, just recently.

Including the documentary I’ve got playing as I write this: called Secret Voices Of Hollywood, all about the dubbing of actors that went on.

Oh, not when they doing the serious emotional acting highs and lows.

No.

When they were singing,   Which is certainly an eye-opener, when it comes down to things like West Side Story … !

Which actually reminds me: I’ll have to go rent both it, and My Fair Lady.

Because, sometimes … ?   Well, you just HAVE to, don’t you … ?

Hmmm … 

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

~≈Ü≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi and Sue putting in their answers: with Sue* telling us she’d been edited and Debbi† commenting about the Ripper, the day saw Sue scoring ten out of ten, and Debbi scoring nine.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s Chinese questions, shall we … ?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 1st October is the national day of China.   WHICH China … ?

Q2) The day celebrates China’s formal founding: in which year of the 1940s … ?

Q3) Who made that original declaration, of the country’s founding … ?

Q4) The other country that calls itself China, is … what … ?

Q5) The day is usually celebrated with what … ?

Q6) What’s the capital city of the country celebrating, today … ?

Q7) Standard Chinese is a version of dialect of Chinese … ?

Q8) It’s also one of the four official languages in which far Eastern country?

Q9) As of China’s last census, what — with over 22 million people — is China’s most populated city … ?

Q10) Finally … China’s staple foods includes soybeans, noodles, wheat … and which cereal  … ?

Here’s yesterday’s Ripperological‡ questions and answers …

Q1) 30th September saw Jack the Ripper kill two victims in one night.   Name either.

A1) Catherine Eddowes or Elizabeth Long Liz Stride.

Q2) Name any one of the Ripper’s other three victims.

A2) Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman or Mary Jane Kelly.

Q3) Who the only Ripper victim to be found indoors?

A3) Mary Jane Kelly.

Q4) The Ripper killings took place in which district of London: Whitechapel, Aldgate or Shadwell … ?

A4) Whitechapel.

Q5) The Ripper was ALSO referred to as ‘Leather … ’ what … ?

A5) Leather Apron.   (Apparently, Leather Apron was supposed to wear one: whilst wearing a deer-stalker.   He was ALSO supposed to hang around the Princess Alice … )

Q6) The Saucy Jacky postcard — believed by some to genuinely be from the Ripper — is felt to genuine because it’s postmarked with which date … ?

A6) 1st October, 1888.

Q7) The first (supposed) letter from the killer was the notorious ‘Dear Boss’ letter, and sent to what: a police station, news agency or vigilante group>?

A7) News agency.   (Famously, this was the first to be signed ‘Jack The Ripper’)

Q8) Name the 2001 film — about the Ripper investigation — that took its title from one the the Ripper letters.

A8) From Hell.

Q9) Which US agency did a commemorative investigation into the Ripper killers, in 1988?

A9) The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI.

Q10) Finally … who wrote the 1943 short story, Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper: Robert Bloch, Ellery Queen or Harlan Ellison … ?

A10) Robert Bloch.

I’ll leave you with this thought from the late Sir Winston Churchill …

“‘The tail of China is large and will not be wagged’. I like that one. The British democracy approves the principles of movable party heads and unwaggable national tails.”

Sir Winston Churchill.

And with a traditional Chinese Army song … 

Enjoy the day … 

*        Sue, why am I not surprised … ? :D

†        Yeah, sorry about the score, Debbi: I was actually talking about the Johnny Depp film … 

‡        What got me, yesterday, was when I mentioned the fact I’d knocked out a Jack the Ripper question set.   I had two people turn around and say, “You know it was supposed to have been a member of the Royal Family … ?”    Personally, I’m blaming Stephen Knight … 

Working For Benefits

Hmmm … 

Have you ever watched a politician and wondered if they really know what your end of the street’s like … ?

No, really … ?

You see, it’s conference time, in the UK: when Britain’s politicians get together for their annual shindigs: the public side of which includes a lot of varied policy announcements.

Including the Work for Benefit one proposed, today, by 

Basically, the policy seems to involve making sure that those of us who fail to find a job under the Work we have to attend, will have three choices.

Either do various types of community service.

Or sign on, on a daily basis.

Or do various training courses

The training courses … ?

I’m told the training will mostly literacy courses for those of us who need them: and not much else, by the sound of things.

Something that — from the little I know — already done as a matter of course.

The second, singing on, on a daily basis … ?

To be frank, for me, that’s not too much of an issue: I only live around the corner from Brentwood Job Centre, so it wouldn’t present problems.

At least, for me.

But having to travel to Basildon, for the work programme, once a fortnight means I’m VERY aware that I have to save money for bus fare.

That those in a similar position to me — but travelling to Brentwood — will have to keep aside the fare money for those daily trips.

Which means that, even given being able to claim any money back, that that’s money they will not be able to spend on food, gas, electricity, water rates, what have you.

Then there’s the third option: that of being forced to work for one’s benefit.

Right here and now … ?

Right here and now, this proposal, to me, sounds a LOT like enforced slave labour.

Or a variation of Demanding With Menaces.

We prosecute those.

The Daily Teaser — 30-9-2013: Jack The Ripper … !

Right: it’s a Monday.

And it’s pone of those Monday’s where I have to be in Basildon, at an awkwardly early time.

I’m rushed.

But I did want to briefly mention that the date for the next Dropkixx show — officially endorsed by Brentwood’s own wrestler, Cayden Blade — has been announced: 12th October, this year.

If you click on the links in the sidebar — where the poster is — you’ll get taken through to Brentwood Theatre’s Facebook page, where you’ll be able to find out where to book tickets.

With that said … ?

Let’s move on.

~≈Ï≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers.   Along with letting us know she felt there couldn’t be enough fans of Dr Who and The Prisoner, also bagged eight out of eight.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s Jack the Ripper questions.   Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 30th September saw Jack the Ripper kill two victims in one night.   Name either.

Q2) Name any one of the Ripper’s other three victims.

Q3) Who the only Ripper victim to be found indoors?

Q4) The Ripper killings took place in which district of London: Whitechapel, Aldgate or Shadwell … ?

Q5) The Ripper was ALSO referred to as ‘Leather … ’ what … ?

Q6) The Saucy Jacky postcard — believed by some to genuinely be from the Ripper — is felt to genuine because it’s postmarked with which date … ?

Q7) The first (supposed) letter from the killer was the notorious ‘Dear Boss’ letter, and sent to what: a police station, news agency or vigilante group>?

Q8) Name the 2001 film — about the Ripper investigation — that took its title from one the the Ripper letters.

Q9) Which US agency did a commemorative investigation into the Ripper killers, in 1988?

Q10) Finally … who wrote the 1943 short story, Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper: Robert Bloch, Ellery Queen or Harlan Ellison … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 29th September is — apparently — Coffee Day.   Name either of the two most common form of coffee bean.

A1) Coffea arabica or Coffea canephora.

Q2) What’s the main stimulant ingredient in coffee?

A2) Caffeine.

Q3) Which drink generally has more of that stimulant: tea or coffee … ?

A3) Coffee.

Q4) What — after being eaten by civet cats in Indonesia — is reputedly the world’s most expensive coffee … ?

A4) Kopi Luwak.

Q5) Which chain of coffee shops was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Zev Siegl … ?

A5) Starbucks.

Q6) According to website, ChartsBin, one European nation holds the world record for drinking the most coffee, per head: which nation ?

A6) Finland: at twelve kilograms per head.

Q7) Coffee — and other products — that are sold or marketed with a view to giving more profits to the coffee-bean growers, are usually marketed how: fair-trade, organic or tubular … ?

A7) Fair-trade.

Q8) Finally … which English city was the first to see a coffee-house open … ?

A8) Oxford.   (A place called The Angel, in 1650.)

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this threat from the man himself …

“ … you’ll hear about Saucy Jacky’s work tomorrow double event this time number one squealed a bit couldn’t finish straight off.”

From the Saucy Jacky postcard.

And Link Wray’s Jack The Ripper

Enjoy the day.

*        I’m not going to disagree with you there, Debbi … !