No TV … !

Amazingly what you can do with a sandbag, isn’t it … ?

It is.

For starters, you can make your own nuclear fallout shelter out of a door and bags full of them.

At least, according to the programme I’m watching — via iPod — on my TV.

Through my iPod, yes.

Because the communal aerial that serves the building is — putting not to fine a point on it — has been knackered.

As far as me and my neighbours can gather, we’ve had a visit from some form of contractor, who’s found the main aerial amplifier box for the building: and done something.

And, as part of that, forgotten to reconnect SOMETHING in a junction box on the top floor of the building.

It’s … 

Inconvenient … !

And many of us have complained to our landlord about it.

HOPEFULLY, it should be fixed soon.

From where I’m sitting, WELL before Saturday’s Dr Who anniversary … !

The Daily Teaser — 19-11-2013

You know, I love a murky documentary.

I do.

Last night’s Storyville, The Spy Who Went Into The Cold … ?

Is a suitably murky documentary: all about notorious spy and defector, Kim Philby.

It’s a fascinating story.

If for no other reason than the fact Britain’s intelligence services mad a whole series of cock-ups in letting Philby get away to Moscow.

Where, as it turned out, Philby was treated intensely suspiciously … 

Somehow, the irony seems apposite.

At ANY rate, let’s get a move on, shall we?

~≈†≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: thanking me for reposting a blog post, also bagging six and a half out of seven.

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

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

Q1) 19th November, 1992, saw a UK court rule that coma patient, Tony Bland, be allowed to die.   He’d been put into coma as a result of injuries he’d received during which sporting disaster … ?

Q2) 19th November, 1985, saw the initial meeting between President Reagan of the USA and General Secretary Gorbachev of the USSR: at summit talks held in which European country … ?

Q3) 19th November, 1990, saw which band stripped of a Grammy award … ?

Q4) 19th November, 1969, saw Pelé score his 1000th goal.   Whilst playing for which Brazilian club … ?

Q5) Finally … 19th November, 1950, saw Dwight Eisenhower become the Supreme Commander of NATO’s European forces.   What does NATO stand for … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 18th November was the date of the notorious Jonestown Massacre: who was this instigated by?

A1) The (self declared) Reverend Jim Jones.

Q2) What was the name of the group he led to do this … ?

A2) The People’s Temple.

Q3) What was the name of the congressman killed as part of the massacre … ?

A3) Leo Ryan.

Q4) In which country was Jonestown … ?

A4) Guyana.

Q5) The group had moved there, from which US city … ?

A5) San Francisco.

Q6) The deaths were mostly caused by Flavour Aid laced with Valium, Chloral Hydrate, Phenergan and what else … ?

A6) Cyanide.

Q7) Finally … in which year of the 1970s did the deaths occur … ?

A7) 1978.

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Oscar winner, Jodie Foster …

“I’d like to dedicate this award to all the women before me that never had the chances that I've had, the survivors, the pioneers and the outcasts. My blood, my tradition. And I’d like to thank all the people in this industry who've respected my choices and have not been afraid of the power and dignity that that entitled me to.”

Jodie Foster, born 19th November, 1962

And with this song … 

Enjoy today … 

*        I’m blowed if I know when she’ll be down next, Debbi, I really don’t … !   (She’s started a new job, doing the PR for a theatre in Hornchurch.)

The Daily Teaser — 18-11-2013: Jonestown

It’s official: it’s a Monday.

Yes, I know, I know: I’m stating the obvious.

But it’s now officially the start of a new week.   Which means getting the nose back to the jobhunting grindstone.

Not that I actually stop: I usually manage to do something, even if it’s just check my emails.

Still … the simple fact that it’s taken this long to find a new job … ?

Does twang a bit.

Things could, frankly, be better.

Still, they could well be worse: so I can’t grumble that much.

Let’s get a move on, shall we?

~≈Â≈~

Yesterday’s teaser saw Debbi* — after putting up this post — putting in her answers.   Along with letting me know I’d put her fingers to the test, she also scored nine out of ten.

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

Q1) 18th November was the date of the notorious Jonestown Massacre: who was this instigated by?

Q2) What was the name of the group he led to do this … ?

Q3) What was the name of the congressman killed as part of the massacre … ?

Q4) In which country was Jonestown … ?

Q5) The group had moved there, from which US city … ?

Q6) The deaths were mostly caused by Flavour Aid laced with Valium, Chloral Hydrate, Phenergan and what else … ?

Q7) Finally … in which year of the 1970s did the deaths occur … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 17th November, 1558, saw Elizabeth 1st succeed to the throne of England: on the death of her half-sister.   Who was her half-sister … ?

A1) Mary 1st: also known as Bloody Mary.

Q2) Elizabeth 1st was also known as the Virgin Queen, Gloriana and Good Queen whom … ?

A2) Bess.

Q3) Her reign is known as the what age … ?

A3) The Elizabethan age, or Era.

Q4) Elizabeth’s Principal Secretary — and Spymaster — for seventeen years was Sir Francis whom … ?

A4) Sir Francis Walsingham.

Q5) Who — having been named once as Lord High Treasurer, and twice as Secretary of State — was one of Elizabeth’s most trusted advisers?

A5) William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley.

Q6) Elizabeth granted a charter authorizing the colonizing of Virginia: to whom … ?

A6) Sir Walter Raleigh.

Q7) She also chartered the company that traded extensively in India: what was the name of that company … ?

A7) The East India Company.

Q8) Elizabeth famously imprisoned whom, in 1568 … ?

A8) Mary, Queen of Scots.

Q9) The two best remembered playwrights of Elizabeth’s reign are William Shakespeare and Christopher … who … ?

A9) Christopher Marlowe.

Q10) Finally … who succeeded Elizabeth 1st to the throne of England … ?

A10) James 1st.

I’ll leave you with this line …

“I’ve been born out of due season Just like all we are and the best testimony we can make is to leave this God-damn world”

The man responsible for the Jonestown Massacre, speaking on the so-called Death Tape, recorded in Jonestown, on 18th November.

And with Camp Jonestown by Supreme Selecta: which uses samples from the Jonestown Death Tape … 

Have a good day … 

*        Yeah, sorry about that, Debbi! Still, it was nice to read your post.   And one can never have too much Elizabeth 1st … … … 

The Daily Teaser — 17-11-2013: The Return Of The Old Queen … !

You know I’m a Dr Who don’t you … ?

You probably have, by now.

And one that’s some of the stuff marking the upcoming fiftieth anniversary.

Including, I should add, the audiobook I’m listening to, as I write: Radio 4 Extra’s audiobook version of the original novelisation of Dr Who and the Daleks.

Which was a) somewhat different from the original televised version.

And b) being read by William Russell: best remembered as Ian, in the original series.

If it’s commercially released, again … ?   Well, we’ll have to see what Santa brings … 

Let’s move on, shall we?

~≈®≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting us know yesterday’s song brought back memories, also scored ten out of ten.

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) 17th November, 1558, saw Elizabeth 1st succeed to the throne of England: on the death of her half-sister.   Who was her half-sister … ?

Q2) Elizabeth 1st was also known as the Virgin Queen, Gloriana and Good Queen whom … ?

Q3) Her reign is known as the what age … ?

Q4) Elizabeth’s Principal Secretary — and Spymaster — for seventeen years was Sir Francis whom … ?

Q5) Who — having been named once as Lord High Treasurer, and twice as Secretary of State — was one of Elizabeth’s most trusted advisers?

Q6) Elizabeth granted a charter authorizing the colonizing of Virginia: to whom … ?

Q7) She also chartered the company that traded extensively in India: what was the name of that company … ?

Q8) Elizabeth famously imprisoned whom, in 1568 … ?

Q9) The two best remembered playwrights of Elizabeth’s reign are William Shakespeare and Christopher … who … ?

Q10) Finally … who succeeded Elizabeth 1st to the throne of England … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 16th November, 1938, saw the first synthesis — manufacture, if you prefer — of LSD.   What does LSD stand for … ?

A1) Lysergic acid diethylamide.

Q2) More to the point, what was the name of the chemist who created it?

A2) Dr Albert Hofman.

Q3) Which European country was he from … ?

A3) Switzerland.

Q4) Even MORE to the point, LSD was developed from a type of fungus called what?

A4) Ergot.

Q5) What cereal does that fungus grow on: wheat, rice or rye … ?

A5) Rye.

Q6) LSD can be destroyed by oxygen, ultraviolet light, and which gas: fluorine, chlorine or bromine … ?

A6) Chlorine.   (Do not drop acid and go swimming … !)

Q7) What type of drug is LSD: depressant, hallucinogen or stimulant … ?

A7) Hallucinogen.

Q8) Which writer wrote The Doors Of Perception, after his experience with a drug similar to LSD?

A8) Aldous Huxley.

Q9) Which noted physicist tried LSD, whilst a professor at Caltech?

A9) Richard Feynman.

Q10) Finally … which psychologist said “Turn on, tune in, drop out” … ?

A10) Dr Timothy Leary.

I’ll leave you with this thought from the Queen, herself …

“Rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.”

Elizabeth 1st, in her speech to troops at Tilbury, before the battle against the Spanish Armada.

And also with this … 

Enjoy the day … !

*        Good ones, I hope, Debbi … ?   I hope so.   (Given yesterday’s subject, it was the only logical thing I could’ve used … )

The Daily Teaser — 16-11-2013: ACIIID … !

Hmmm … That’s … 

Yeah, those three little full-stops say a lot.

Certainly imply a lot.

I’d best be straight forward and tell you what’s (sort of) bothering me.

You know, of course, that we’re rapidly approaching Dr Who’s fiftieth anniversary.

As part of this, the BBC’s had a vote for the top ten Dr Who monsters and villians: and been showing associated episodes on BBC3, over this weekend.

I’ve got now (real) problem with the repeats: although something fresher would’ve been nice.   Very nice, actually, now I come to think of it.   (Or possibly some of the classic episodes.)

No, what seriously got up my nose was the presenter: a chap called Joel Dommett.   Lord knows where BBC3 got the chap, but by GODS, he irritated the pants off me!

Well … Irritated me enough to turn the TV off!

What makes it worse is that I missed the teaser clip for The Day Of The Doctor Aunty Beeb showed as part of this years Children In Need Telethon.

Grrr … !

~≈ß≈~

Moving on … 

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and bagging four out of six.

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

Here’s the questions, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 16th November, 1938, saw the first synthesis — manufacture, if you prefer — of LSD.   What does LSD stand for … ?

Q2) More to the point, what was the name of the chemist who created it?

Q3) Which European country was he from … ?

Q4) Even MORE to the point, LSD was developed from a type of fungus called what?

Q5) What cereal does that fungus grow on: wheat, rice or rye … ?

Q6) LSD can be destroyed by oxygen, ultraviolet light, and which gas: fluorine, chlorine or bromine … ?

Q7) What type of drug is LSD: depressant, hallucinogen or stimulant … ?

Q8) Which writer wrote The Doors Of Perception, after his experience with a drug similar to LSD?

Q9) Which noted physicist tried LSD, whilst a professor at Caltech?

Q10) Finally … which psychologist said “Turn on, tune in, drop out” … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 15th November saw the first modern revival of the Olympic Games: in which year of the 1850s?

A1) 1859: they predated and inspired the Modern Olympics, which started in 1896.

Q2) In which city were they held … ?

A2) Athens.

Q3) Moving on, somewhat, 15th November, 1971, saw Intel release the world’s first commercially available, single chip microprocessor, the 4004.   Name either of Intel’s successors to the 4004.

A3) The 4040 or 8008.

Q4) 15th November, 1951, saw rebels kill eleven people: on a rubber plantation in what’s now which country … ?

A4) Malaysia.

Q5) 15th November, 1943, saw Heinrich Himmler order whom to be placed into concentration camps … ?

A5) Romanies/Gypsies.

Q6) Finally … 15th November, 2006, saw the worldwide launch of which TV channel?

A6) Al Jazeera English.

Enjoy those: I’ll leave you with this thought from Terry Gilliam …

“The underground press was convinced that I was a junkie, an acid head. ... But I don’t do drugs. I don’t like being fucked up. I’ve got enough bizarre chemicals floating around in my head. I'm just naturally like this.”

Terry Gilliam.

And this song … !

Have a good day … !

*        Oh, Debbi, do US TV stations need a really irritating TV presenter … ?   I think I’d be comfortable if Joel Dommett was as far away as possible … !