The Daily Teaser …

Hmmm …

You know, regular readers will have probably worked out I usually have the TV on, in the background.

Right at the moment, in fact.

And in between pieces about Libya, the Middle-East, Libya, the Government’s response — to the Libya situation — and … um Libya …

They’ve got a quick piece about the weather.

More specifically … ?

About how the rather nasty winter we’ve had is affecting the Lincolnshire cauliflower: brassica crops are suffering.

Not that I’m directly affected.

Unless I have too many Brussel sprouts.

But it does make you — or complete townies like me, anyway — aware of how these things can go wrong.

And thinking that the word brassica is rather … um …

Nice …

Ahhhh …

Yeah …

Lets get getting on, shall we … ?

»»•««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Mr Strict and Debbi putting in their answers. With Mr S scoring 5 out of 5 and Debbi bagging 4 out of 5, it also saw Mr S giving us a quick aria* and photo of Clement Attlee, and Debbi, bless ’er, pulling off a blinder with this.

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

Q1) 25th February, 1971, saw the first part of the Pickering Nuclear Generating station go into operation: this was which country’s first nuclear generator … ?

Q2) 25th February, 1964, saw Muhammed Ali — Cassius Clay, as he was, then — beat Sonny Liston to become Heavyweight Champion of the World: what did Ali say he’d famously float like … ?

Q3) More to the point, how old was Ali, when he did this … ?

Q4) 25th February, 1921, saw the city of Tbilisi occupied by Bolshevik Russia: which country is Tbilisi the capital of … ?

Q5) 25th February, 1928, saw the Charles Jenkins Laboratories become the first group or person to hold a US Federal … what … ?

Q6) And finally … 25th February, 1901, saw the birth of the youngest member of the Marx Brothers: who was he … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 24th February, 1711, saw the début of the first Italian opera written for a London stage: what was the name of the opera … ?

A1) Rinaldo.

Q2) 24th February, 1981, saw Buckingham Palace announce the engagement of whom … ?

Q2) Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spenser.

Q3) 24th February, 1836, saw Colonel William B. Travis issue an appeal for help, for besieged troops at the Alamo Mission: during a war between Texas … and where … ?

A3) Mexico.

Q4) 24th February, 1950, saw the British Labour party win that years General Election: with how big a majority … ?

A4) 13 seats.

Q5) More to the point, who was named as Prime Minister … ?

A5) Clement Attlee.

Q6) And finally … 24th February, 1918, saw which country formally proclaim itself independent … ?

A6) Estonia.

Now did I mention it’s Friday … ? Which means that we also see the 60-question-set for struggling pub quiz-masters: covered, once again, by the Creative Commons license.

Online 92.

Round 1. General Knowledge.

Q1) What was tested at Bikini Atoll?

A1) The Hydrogen Bomb.

Q2) Which comedienne wrote the TV series Dinnerladies?

A2) Victoria Wood.

Q3) Snooker player Willie Thorn calls which town home?

A3) Leicester.

Q4) Who was the BBC’s royal correspondent, at the time of Princess Diana’s death?

A4) Jennie Bond.

Q5) Eurostar takes you to which Paris station?

A5) Gare Du Nord.

Q6) In which decade of the 20th century did a woman first sit in the House of Commons?

A6) The 1920s.

Q7) According to the ad, Ian Botham couldn’t eat three what?

A7) Shredded Wheat.

Q8) Who’s older, Ruby Wax or Jennifer Saunders?

A8) Jennifer Saunders.

Q9) What is the number for BT’s directory enquiries service?

A9) 118500.

Q10) True or False: David Soul played Starsky.

A10) False. He was Hutch.

Round 2. Science & Technology.

Q11) A rotor powers what kind of aircraft?

A11) A helicopter.

Q12) Did early TV have 405, or 635 lines?

A12) 405.

Q13) Which dangerous substance is also known as woolly rock?

A13) Asbestos

Q14) Apples, and Apricots are what technical device?

A14) Computers.

Q15) Which metal is used in thermometers?

A15) Mercury.

Q16) What weapon did Whitehead develop in1866?

A16) The torpedo.

Q17) What does a pluviometer measure?

A17) Rainfall.

Q18) In which city is the HQ of the European Space Agency?

A18) Paris.

Q19) What word describes a body at free-fall in space?

A19) Weightless

Q20) Which planet has moons called Fear and Terror?

Q20) Mars. (That’s the translated names: Phobos and Deimos, if you’re posh.)

Round 3. Sporting Chances.

Q21) Which French footballer advertised L’Oreal shampoo?

A21) David Ginola.

Q22) Golfer Ernie Els is from which country?

A22) South Africa.

Q23) Which British tennis player was born on Greg Rusedski’s first birthday?

A23) Tim Henman.

Q24) Jonah Lomu plays for which international Rugby team?

A24) New Zealand.

Q25) Snooker champion and coach, Ray Reardon was nicknamed what?

A25) Dracula.

Q26) Ronnie O’Sullivan won the 2004 Snooker World Championship by 18 frames, to 8. Who was he playing in that final?

A26) Graeme Dott.

Q27) Which 3 times Grand National winner died in 1995?

A27) Red Rum.

Q28) Who founded the book known as the cricketer’s bible?

A28) John Wisden.

Q29) Which temperamental tennis star was nicknamed the Superbrat?

A29) John McEnroe.

Q30) Who became the first black manager of a premiership side?

A30) Ruud Gullit. (He managed Chelsea.)

Round 4. Music and Lights.

Q31) Prior to fronting the Blockheads, which band was Ian Dury in?

A31) Kilburn and the High Roads.

Q32) What was Billie Piper’s first number 1?

A32) Because We Want To!

Q33) Which port provided a hit for the Beautiful South?

A33) Rotterdam.

Q34) Which Elvis Costello hit was first released on Two Tone Records?

A34) I Can’t Stand up For Falling Down.

Q35) What’s the only battle to provide a one-word title of a number 1?

A35) Waterloo.

Q36) Which magazine shares its name with a Madonna hit?

A36) Vogue.

Q37) Who wrote and recorded Riders On The Storm?

A37) The Doors.

Q38) Which Velvet Underground member played violin?

A38) Nico.

Q39) Suzanne Vega sang about whose Diner?

A39) Tom’s

Q40) Whose first hit was Wuthering Heights … ?

A40) Kate Bush.

Round 5. Hobbies & Leisure.

Q41) The Sealed Knot re-enacts what?

A41) Battles of the English Civil War.

Q42) Which racecourse has a Royal Enclosure?

A42) Ascot.

Q43) In Monopoly, what colour are the hotels?

A43) Red.

Q44) At the start of a game of chess, how many pieces are on the board?

A44) 32.

Q45) What organisation is the largest private landowner in the UK?

A45) The National Trust.

Q46) Numismatists collect coins, and what else?

A46) Medals.

Q47) What game is played at Hurlingham?

A47) Polo.

Q48) In which US state did skateboarding originate?

A48) California.

Q49) Who replaced Melvyn Bragg, on Radio 4’s Start The Week … ?

A49) Jeremy Paxman.

Q50) What is the world’s largest selling copyrighted board–game?

A50) Monopoly.

Round 6. General Knowledge.

Q51) Which British scientist invented the World Wide Web?

A51) Sir Tim Berners Lee.

Q52) What was the name of David Jason’s character, in Porridge?

A52) Blanco.

Q53) True or false: Malta has the largest Man Utd fan club, outside the UK.

A53) True.

Q54) Who is the patron saint of television?

A54) Saint Clare.

Q55) Who had a hit with Stool Pigeon

A55) Kid Creole and the Coconuts.

Q56) During the 40’s Hirohito was the Emperor of which country?

A56) Japan.

Q57) Which football club has Jasper Carrott as a fan?

A57) Birmingham.

Q58) During the 20th Century, the Duma was the parliament of where?

A58) Russia.

Q59) What was the chambermaid’s name, in Fawlty Towers … ?

A59) Polly.

Q60) During Prohibition in the US, the sale of what was prohibited?

A60) Alcohol.

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

* Taken from Rinaldo, the first Italian opera written for the London stage.