Saturday 31 October 2009

The Daily Teaser.


Phew, it’s getting warm in here. Maybe I should turn the heating down … …

Weeeell … It’s winter!

Anyway, plaudits all round, yesterday; Trevor, Sue and Tim managed to get 7 out of 7, each, Trevor getting the round of applause for getting in first!

Let’s see what everyone can do, with today’s questions; here’s the ‘How To’ …

Q1) Which stage macigian died on the 31st of October, 1926?


Q2) More to the point, which Indian politician died on October 31st, 1984?


Q3) What’s the traditional name for Halloween in Cornwall?


Q4) 31st October, 475, saw the coronation of the last Western Roman Emperor; what was his name?


Q5) 31st October, 1517, saw who nail 95 Theses to the door of a church, in Wittenburg?


Q6) And finally … Which noted American actor died of a drug overdose, on October 31st, 1993?


Right, here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 30th October, 1485, saw the coronatrion of which English king?

A1) Henry 7th.


Q2) 30th October, 1938, Orson Welles caused mass panic in the USA, by broadcasting his version of which science fiction classic?

A2) “War of the Worlds”, by H. G. Wells.


Q3) Who was named as Prime Minister of Italy, today, in 1922?

A3) Benito Mussolini.


Q4) 30th October, saw the birth of neorologist, Georges de la Tourette; which French-speaking country was he from?

A4) France.


Q5) It’s also the birthday — in 1945 — of American actor, Henry Winkler; which TV character did he become famous for playing?

A5) Arthur Fonzerelli; otherwise known, of course, as The Fonz.


Q6) 30th October, 1958, saw the birth of “Neighbours” star, Stefan Dennis; which character does he play?

A6) Paul Robinson.


Q7) And finally, today in 1974 sasw Muhammed Ali defeat George Foreman, in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’; in which African country was the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’?

A7) Zaire. (In Kinshasa, to be precise.)


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


Friday 30 October 2009

A mildly annoyed post … But at least …

Well …

I’ve just popped a copy of the Karmic Koala disc over to an old friend, Paul, who’d been running Ubuntu Studio.

I’m just mildly annoyed He’d switched back over to using MS software!

It seems he’d had problems configuring Audacity.

I‘m annoyed, though, simply because he didn’t ask me — or Adrian, either, as far as I know — if there was anything we could do.

After all, we are both round the corner … !

Oh,well, cie la vie …

•••••

Oh, well, if nothing else, at least I managed to catch a couple of episodes of season three of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Yes, I know, it’s a kid’s show.

And, granted, it’s a Doctor Who spinoff, but it’s not something I’d usually watch.

I wouldn’t’ve watch this, either, apart from one thing.

Simply the fact that this particular two-parter — The Wedding of Sarah Jane — had David Tennant turning up, as the Tenth Doctor.

Which was fun to watch; but not quite would I’d normally make the effort to.

It is aimed at kids, after all.

There’s one scene, where Luke, Clyde and Rani get to clamber inside the TARDIS.

Phew!

Now there’s a childhood dream … !

But towards the end of this episode, there’s a scene that sees Sarah turn to the Doctor, and say “Is this the last time I’m ever going to see you?”

The Doctor says, quite simply, “I don’t know”.

Just a touch of the on-coming darkness …

Given that The Waters of Mars is all set, to be broadcast at 7 pm, on the 15th, this is moving us forward.

To an ending …


The Daily Teaser, and the Friday Question set …

Phew!

A day off … !

Although, saying that, last night’s news was a bit of a blow; looks like the company I work for has gone into receivership. Which isn’t exactly news I, or anyone I work with, wanted to hear.

You can imagine, can’t you?

Anyway, enough of my trouble’s, for the minute …

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yes …

Yesterday’s Teaser was interesting; bless, we had Sue returning!

Shame she came in 2nd … !!

Sue, who the hell IS Zbigniew Pietzykowski?

Anyway, here’s today’s questions, along with the ‘How To

Q1) 30th October, 1485, saw the coronatrion of which English king?


Q2) 30th October, 1938, Orson Welles caused mass panic in the USA, by broadcasting his version of which science fiction classic?


Q3) Who was named as Prime Minister of Italy, today, in 1922?


Q4) 30th October, saw the birth of neorologist, Georges de la Tourette; which French-speaking country was he from?


Q5) It’s also the birthday — in 1945 — of American actor, Henry Winkler; which TV character did he become famous for playing?


Q6) 30th October, 1958, saw the birth of “Neighbours” star, Stefan Dennis; which character does he play?


Q7) And finally, today in 1974 sasw Muhammed Ali defeat George Foreman, in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’; in which African country was the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’?


And here’s yesterday’s questions’ and answers …

Q1) 29th October, 1390, saw the first ever what, held in Paris?

A1) Witchcraft trials.


Q2) 29th October, 1618, saw the execution of Sir Walter Rayleigh, for — allegedly — conspiring against which English King?

A2) James 1st. (Also known as James 6th of Scotland.)


Q3) October 29th, 1929, saw the event that triggered the Great Depression; how is it better known?

A3) The Wall Street Crash. (Also known as Black Tuesday.)


Q4) Today in 1969, saw the first computer to computer link up, in what was later to become the Internet; what was it known as, at the time?

A4) The ARPANET.


Q5) Nine years earlier, 29th October, 1960, saw Cassius Clay win his first fight; who did he beat?

A5) Tunney Hunsaker.


Q6) 29th October, 1975, saw who named as successor to General Franco?

A6) Prince — later King — Juan Carlos.


Q7) And finally, today in 1787, saw the premier of which of Mozart’s opera’s?

A7) “Don Giovanni”.


He say’s, hoping like heck, he’s done his research …

Anyway, here’s today’s 60 Question Set; along the the usual Creative Commons License. Oh, just as a reminder, you can see the Halloween set I’ve written for this year, here

ROUND ONE. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.


Q1) Which shop 1st opened in Rochdale, in 1844?

A1) The Co-op.


Q2) Which children’s author is the most borrowed from the UK’s libraries?

A2) Jacqueline Wilson.


Q3) How much has the average teenager spent on downloadable ring tones, this year?

A3) £26.


Q4) How many kings are there, in 3 packs of playing cards?

A4) 12.


Q5) What type of bird gives its name to a Native American’s axe?

A5) A hawk.


Q6) What colour is the Taj Mahal?

A6) White.


Q7) Alice, Victoria, or Mary; - which of those names has not been given to a queen of England?

A7) Alice.


Q8) Which city does a Muscovite come from?

A8) Moscow.


Q9) Acupuncture involves what, needles, or nails?

A9) Needles.


Q10) A lasso is usually made out of what?

A10) Rope.




ROUND TWO: THE WRITTEN WORD


Q11) Who wrote Empire of the Sun?

A11) J.G. Ballard


Q12) From which north American nation is science fiction writer, William Gibson?

A12) Canada.


Q13) A hagiography is a book about the life of whom, a saint, or a bishop?

A13) A saint.


Q14) Who wrote the Mary Anne series of romantic novels?

A14) Catherine Cookson.


Q15) Which famous crime writer wrote Death In Holy Orders?

A15) P.D. James.


Q16) What’s the title of Richard Branson’s autobiography.

A16) Losing My Virginity.


Q17) Barbera Taylor Bradford was born in which English city?

A17) Leeds.


Q18) How many discworld novels has Terry Pratchett written for adults?

A18) 34.


Q19) Which Australian feminist wrote The Female Eunuch?

A19) Germaine Greer.


Q20) In which children’s book was Captain Hook the villain?

A20) Peter Pan.




ROUND THREE. SCIENCE.


Q21) What’s the world’s most used drug?

A21) Aspirin.


Q22) Disposable razors first went on sale in which year of the 1890’s?

A22) 1895. (And were originally designed and marketed by a chap called King Camp Gillette.)


Q23) What’s the more common name for calcium oxide?

A23) Quicklime.


Q24) What’s the largest planet in the solar system?

A24) Jupiter.


Q25) How much of the Earth’s surface is covered in ice, 5%, 10%, or 20%?

A25) 10%


Q26) A diamond is made from which element?

A26) Carbon.


Q27) Which east European country was the home of the sweet wine called ‘Tokay’?

A27) Hungary (produced in the Tokaj-Hegyalja region of Hungary)


Q28) Astronomy is the study of what, stars, or the future?

A28) Stars.


Q29) What does an aqueduct carry?

A29) Water.


Q30) In which decade did man 1st land on the moon?

A30) The 60’s. (In 1968.)




ROUND FOUR. FOOD AND DRINK.


Q31) Which red grape is usually used to make Champagne?

A31) Pinot Noir.


Q32) What sort of drink is espresso?

A32) Coffee.


Q33) What shape is the pasta in Lasagne?

A33) Rectangular. (Accept flat.)


Q34) What is mozzarella?

A34) Cheese.


Q35) What’s the lowest age you can drink in a pub, 18, or 14?

A35) 14, so long as it’s with a meal.


Q36) Is brioche a type of bread, or fruit?

A36) Bread.


Q37) Which liqueur is used to make a White Lady?

A37) Cointreau.


Q38) What’s the main ingredient of a rosti?

A38) Potatoes.


Q39) Angostura is obtained from what: leaves, twigs or bark?

A39) Bark.


Q40) Daiquiri’s usually have which spirit as a base?

A40) Rum.




ROUND FIVE. SPORTING CHANCES.


Q41) Which of these weapons is not used in modern day Fencing; – Foil, Lance or Epee?

A41) The Lance.


Q42) What is footballer Razor Ruddock’s real 1st name?

A42) Neil.


Q43) In August 1996, who made his professional golfing debut, in the Czech Open?

A43) Ivan Lendl.


Q44) Which Rugby League side was the 1st to score 1000 points, in a season?

A44) St. Helens.


Q45) What sport is the original version of the film The Mean Machine about?

A45) American football.


Q46) At which sport is Princess Anne an expert?

A46) Show jumping.


Q47) For which country of the UK has Vinnie Jones played for?

A47) Wales.


Q48) What was Paul Gascoigne’s first London club?

A48) Tottenham Hotspur.


Q49) In which decade of the 20th century was Muhammed Ali born.

A49) The 1940s.


Q50) Which snooker player was born in Plumstead, in 1957?

A50) Steve Davies.




Round Six. General Ignorance.


Q51) With which 3 words does the Bible start with?

A51) In the beginning.


Q52) Until 1971, Bangladesh was called what?

A52) East Pakistan.


Q53) During the 80’s, 2 bands had a drummer called Roger Taylor; - name one of them.

A53) Queen, or Duran Duran.


Q54) Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday to which US president?

A54) John F. Kennedy.


Q55) In cockney rhyming slang, what are plates of meat?

A55) Feet.


Q56) The character, Michelle Fowler appeared in which soap?

A56) EastEnders.


Q57) What does the C stand for, in CBE?

A57) Commander.


Q58) What’s the capital of the Falkland Isles’?

A58) Port Stanley.


Q59) What word can go after ‘monk,’ and before ‘cake’?

A59) Fish.


Q60 ) Which planet is named after the Roman god of war?

A60) Mars.


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