The Daily Teaser — 4-10-2013

You know, I’ve just had a quick glance out of the window.

Seriously.

And I’ll be frank: I’m thinking you can tell it’s the start of October.

It’s looking rough out there … !

Oh, not, roughly rough.   I mean, it’s a force 12 hurricane, out there.

But I think a coat’s going to come in handy.

~≈$≈~

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting us know she’s got an idea for a video, also bagging nine out of ten.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s glamourously transported questions, shall we?

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

Q1) 4th October, 1883, saw the first run of the Orient Express.   Over the life of the classic route, the train departed from Paris: and terminated in one of two cities.   Name either of those terminal cities.

Q2) The Simplon Orient Express — which ran through Lausanne, Milan and Belgrade — was the setting for which Agatha Christie novel … ?

Q3) The Arlberg Orient Express terminated at Bucharest or Athens.   But started where … ?

Q4) Which 1963 James Bond film saw Bond fighting one of the villains on the Orient Express … ?

Q5) Finally … Which EastEnders characters spent their honeymoon on the Orient Express, back in 1986 … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 3rd October saw the UK Minister for Food, announce the end of tea rationing.   In which year … ?

A1) 1952.

Q2) Who WAS that Minister … ?

A2) Major Gwilym Lloyd-George, 1st Viscount Tenby, and younger son of David Lloyd-George.

Q3) As of 2009, which Arabian country was THE biggest tea drinkers on the planet … ?

A3) The United Arab Emirates.

Q4) Britain comes 7th on that list of tea drinking nations, drinking how many ounces, per capita: 67, 69 or 71 … ?

A4) 67 ounces.   the US comes 69th on the list, at 12 ounces, with South Africa and Australia at joint 55th, at 18 ounces.   Finland comes in at 85th, on 7.8 ounces.   Nina, if you’re reading this, your countrymen are not making the effort … !

Q5) In the UK, there’s been ongoing debate — for many years — about putting what in first or last: milk or sugar … ?

A5) Milk.

Q6) What’s the scientific name for the Tea bush … ?

A6) Camellia sinensis.

Q7) More to the point, in which far Eastern country does that bush come from … ?

A7) China.

Q8) Assam tea, Darjeeling tea and Nilgiri tea, all come from which country … ?

A8) India.

Q9) In the UK, the ‘TV Pickup’ is a surge in the use of what, during the ad-breaks in popular TV shows.

A9) Electricity: basically, it’s the surge in electricity when — during a commercial break in popular programmes, or, on the BBC, at the start or end of popular shows — everyone puts the electric kettle on, to make a cuppa.

Q10) Finally … Tetsubins, Brown Bettys and Yixings are what … ?

A10) Teapots.   (The Tetsubin is a cast iron Japanese teapot, the Brown Betty is the classic brown British teapot, whilst a Yixing is from China.)

Enjoy those: I’ll leave you with what the chap in Seat 61 said …

“Let’s get one thing clear.  There isn’t, and cannot be, any such thing as the ‘original’ Orient Express”  

Mark Smith, The Man In Seat 61

And with this tune from Jean-Michel Jarre … 

Have a good day.

*        You might want to download MPEG Streamclip, in that case, Debbi: the Windows version isn’t as far along as the Mac version, but it’s a user friendly video editor, on either platform.   (AND it can export to quite a few different formats.)

The Daily Teaser — 3-10-2013: Teabagging

Embroidery.

Hmmm … 

You wouldn’t think, it, would you: but England was famed for its embroidery, at one point.

At least, going by the documentary I recorded last night: episode 3 of The Fabric Of Britain.

I’m just slightly sad I missed all of last week’s.   The piece it featured, about the manufacturing of Victorian flock wallpaper, was fascinating to watch.

With THAT in mind … ?

Let’s move on … 

~≈Ì≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting us know her hand was acting up, she ALSO scored six out of six.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s teabagged questions, shall we?

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

Q1) 3rd October saw the UK Minister for Food, announce the end of tea rationing.   In which year … ?

Q2) Who WAS that Minister … ?

Q3) As of 2009, which Arabian country was THE biggest tea drinkers on the planet … ?

Q4) Britain comes 7th on that list of tea drinking nations, drinking how many ounces, per capita: 67, 69 or 71 … ?

Q5) In the UK, there’s been ongoing debate — for many years — about putting what in first or last: milk or sugar … ?

Q6) What’s the scientific name for the Tea bush … ?

Q7) More to the point, in which far Eastern country does that bush come from … ?

Q8) Assam tea, Darjeeling tea and Nilgiri tea, all come from which country … ?

Q9) In the UK, the ‘TV Pickup’ is a surge in the use of what, during the ad-breaks in popular TV shows.

Q10) Finally … Tetsubins, Brown Bettys and Yixings are what … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

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

A1) Scotland.

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

A2) The Twilight Zone.

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

A3) Rod Serling.

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 …  ?

A4) Mohandas K Gandhi.

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

A5) Cannabis.

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

A6) Aqua.

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this thought from George Orwell.

“Tea is one of the mainstays of civilization in this country.”

George Orwell.

And a quickie from Doris Day … 

We also have — towards the end of this video — Orwell’s recipe for a nice cup of tea.

I have to say, literary genius that he was, Orwell was a complete heathen, on tea.   Milk in LAST, and NO SUGAR … ?   Dear lord … !

*        Oh, crikey, and here’s me coming up with a ten-question monster, Debbi … !   (Still, if it’s any help, it’s another one that rolled off the typewriter … )

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 …