The Daily Teaser - 26-1-2012

Well, that’s a thing: it LOOKS like the course thingy that the Job centre want me to go on will come in handy, Job wise.

It doesn’t actually start for at least another week.

Hopefully, it’ll offer up something: HOPEFULLY.

At any rate … ?

One bit of uplifting news, from where I’m sitting … ?

Is that Dr Who has done rather well at last night’s National Television Awards: with both Matt Smith and Karen Gillan bagging Best Actor/Actress gongs.

Good for them … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !

‹‹·››

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — all on her ownsome* — putting her answers: and, along with telling us some more about the mill/mall she mentioned, yesterday, also saw her bagging 7 out of 7.

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) 26th January, 2004, saw what explode in a small town, in Taiwan … ?

Q2) 26th January, 1950, saw India become a Republic, and swear in it’s first President: what was his name … ?

Q3) 26th January, 1808, was the date of the Rum Rebellion, the only successful — though short-lived — armed takeover of which government … ?

Q4) 26th January, 1982, saw UK unemployment reach 3 million, for the first time since when: the 1920s, 1930s or 1940s … ?

Q5) And finally … 26th January 1861, saw which US state secede, during the US Civil War … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 25th January saw the birth of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns: in which year … ?

A1) 1759.

Q2) More to the point, in what’s now which Scottish county: South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire or Dumfries and Galloway … ?

A2) South Ayrshire.

Q3) According to one of Burn’s poems, the deil’s awa — the devil’s away — with whom?

A3) The Exciseman: ironic, as Burns worked for HM Customs and Excise for two years.

Q4) Moving on … 25th January, 2011, saw civil protests start in which North African country … ?

A4) Egypt.

Q5) 25th January, 1996, saw the death of the last person in the US to be executed how … ?

A5) Hanging.

Q6) 25th January, 1981, saw the Gang of Four form the Social Democrat Party: which British party were they dissident members of … ?

A6) The Labour Party.

Q7) And finally … 25th January, 1971 saw Idi Amin seize control of Uganda: what was the name of the 2006 film about Idi Amin … ?

A7) Appropriately enough, The Last King Of Scotland.

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

After I’ve left you with a word or two from Scotland’s finest …

* You HAVE to wonder, Debbi, if Trevor was feeling a touch chicken, seeing all those questions … !

The Number 23: Blood, Guts And Numbers …

You know, I’m thinking I really need to get out a touch more … !

I really do … !

If only for NO other reason than a healthy walk would do me good!

Seriously. I’ve actually found out that my BMI has gone up a point over the Christmas period.

My new GP has recommended LOTS more exercise …

Which I’m sure I’ve mentioned already.

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I’ve got to say I had the evening to meself, last night: meself …

And a copy of Jim Carrey/Virginia Madsen movie, The Number 23.

Which is definitely an experience, I think …

««·»»

The Number 23 sees Jim Carrey as dog catcher, Walter Sparrow: who is given a copy of an obscure novel — also called The Number 23 — detailing the life of a Detective Fingerling.

Who Walter comes to increasingly identify with, especially after realising that he and the detective have had remarkably similar childhoods.

And that he and the book’s central character have a fascination with gruesome murders and detective stories …

And an ongoing fascination with the number 23* enigma …

««·»»

Now, the USUAL question, at this stage … ?

Was I impressed … ?

Frankly, no, to be honest … !

The Number 23 isn’t a film that immediately reached out a grabbed me.

I found it watchable … but forgettable, to be perfectly frank.

Saying that … ?

Even though The Number 23 is a film that completely grabbed me, I will give Jim Carrey credit for cropping up in a film that’s outside of the usual comedies I’d expect to see him in.

It’s worth catching for that, I’m thinking.

The Number 23

★☆☆☆

* Which is a Sophie Germain prime, the TCP/IP port for telnet messages AND the number of years that it took for the Holy Qu’ran to be revealed to the Prophet. But you knew that already …

BBC - Being Human

BBC - Being Human Blog

Now, I’ll happilly admit, it’s only with series 3 that I’ve caught on to the charms of supernatural BBC 3 series, Being Human.

But the simple fact that the BBC has announced, today, that’s the FOURTH season is due to be shown in England — on February 5th, on BBC 3, at 9pm — is definitely a good thing.

There}s a DISTINCT lack of genre TV, as far as I’m concerned.

The Daily Teaser - 25-1-2012

ARRRRRRRRRGGGGHGHGHGHGHHHH … !

He say’s … !

I’ve got to admit, I generally don’t like sleeping through my alarm.

It’s not TOO much of a worry, these day’s, considering the job situation.

But it IS when my local benefits office tells me I have to be there for 9 o’clock.

And I only woke up twenty minutes ago.

Quick shower? Check. Tea and toast … ? Check.

Teaser … ?

Let’s dive in, shall we … ?

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi and Trevor giving us their answers. With both scoring 6 out of 6, it ALSO saw Debbi commenting that a millº near her home town has been converted into a mall, and Trevor confessing he’d programmed with punch cards*.

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

Q1) 25th January saw the birth of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns: in which year … ?

Q2) More to the point, in what’s now which Scottish county: South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire or Dumfries and Galloway … ?

Q3) According to one of Burn’s poems, the deil’s awa — the devil’s away — with whom?

Q4) Moving on … 25th January, 2011, saw civil protests start in which North African country … ?

Q5) 25th January, 1996, saw the death of the last person in the US to be executed how … ?

Q6) 25th January, 1981, saw the Gang of Four form the Social Democrat Party: which British party were they dissident members of … ?

Q7) And finally … 25th January, 1971 saw Idi Amin seize control of Uganda: what was the name of the 2006 film about Idi Amin … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 24th January, 41AD, saw the assassination of which Roman emperor?

A1) Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus: otherwise known as Caligula.

Q2) More to the point, by members or which Roman body: the Prætorian Guard, the Senate or the Pontificate … ?

A2) Prætorian Guard.

Q3) 24th January saw which city named as capital of Romania … ?

A3) Bucharest.

Q4) 24th January, 1986, saw Minister, Leon Brittan quit, over the Westland scandal: which ministerial post did he hold at the time … ?

A4) Trade and Industry Secretary.

Q5) 24th January, 1965, saw the death of former Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill: how many guns were fired as a salute at his funeral … ?

A5) 19.

Q6) And finally … 24th January, 2003, saw which US department begin operation … ?

A6) The United States Department of Homeland Security.

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

* You notice I not making sarcastic comments, there, Trevor … ?

º Mill/mall … ? Sounds about right, Debbi: although, over here, it’d probably end up as an apartment or office block …

Torchwood: Miracle Day. Offending Daily Mail Readers, where-ever they may be.

(Originally posted on Nik Nak and Grub’s Who Peculiar, 10 August 2011 19:14:00)

Good …

Lord … !

Grub, correct me if I’m wrong, here, but it is the 21st century, isn’t it … ?

It IS, isn’t it … ?

You see, what’s got me is the fact that the BBC’s getting complaints about Torchwood: Miracle Day.

Seemingly … ?

Well, you remember, in last week’s third episode, Jack manages to blow off a bit of steam, by having a one-night-stand with a barman called Bradley.

The US version of the episode is a touch more explicit, I’m told.

But none the less, the scene’s generated complaints to the BBC.

Now I’m thinking that that’s just plain silly.

For starters … ?

For starters, if people hadn’t worked out that John Barrowman — bless his fluffy pink socks — is a happily out gay man, playing a famously bisexual character, lord knows where their eyeballs are.

Next up … ?

The SAME people obviously missed the fact that one of the show’s main writers — and indeed its creator — Russell T. Davies is not only gay, but famously wrote Queer as Folk: so shouldn’t be surprised at him throwing in something like it in what is primarily an adult oriented show, despite it having it’s origins in a show that’s aimed at a mixed age audience.

And THIRDLY … ?

I’ve got the funny felling the complaints may well have originated with people who’ve not been watching the show long term, or been paying attention to this one.

After all …

One of the characters in Torchwood: Miracle Day is a convicted pædophile.

And that in Children of Earth … ?

Captain Jack very heroically kills his own grandson.

Now, I’ll be frank, if I may … ?

I’m going to keep watching: I’m enjoying the show.

And I — whether I think a given scene shouldn’t or shouldn’t be in an episode — believe that Russell T Davies usually knows how to create both entertaining and challenging TV.

If you don’t like it, because of one scene … ?

Watch something else.