The Daily Teaser and Friday Question Set — 9-9-2011

Hmmm …

Well, that’s something.

I’m thinking that last night’s episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day is — or was, rather, I should say — rather good.

OK, granted, the new series has been a touch slower than usual: that’s understandable, I think, given it’s new home.

But The Gathering?

Yes …

Definitely an ‘on par’ one, I think … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !

‹‹·››

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi and Nina putting in their answer: with both being suitably apologetic about missing the day before, it saw Debbi bagging 6 out of 6, with Nina trailing a point behind on 5 out of 6.

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) 9th September, 1971, saw British diplomat, Geoffrey Jackson, released 8 months after being held hostage … in which South American country … ?

Q2) According to SOME stories, 9th September, 1947, saw the finding of the world’s first computer bug: was it a software problem, a loose cable or a fried moth?

Q3) 9th September, 1956, saw Elvis Presley make his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show: who was hosting the show, that night … ?

Q4) 9th September, 1839, saw the first plate glass photograph made: by whom … ?

Q5) And finally … 9th September, 1999, saw the Police Review Commission urge sweeping reform of which force … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 8th September, 1943, saw which country’s surrender, in World War 2 … ?

A1) Italy’s.

Q2) 8th September, 1966, saw the debut broadcast of the original Star Trek, on NBC: what was the first broadcast episode?

A2) The Man Trap.

Q3) 8th September, 1504, saw the unveiling of a statue by which sculptor and artist … ?

A3) Michælangelo.

Q4) More to the point, which statue … ?

A4) David.

Q5) 8th September, 1962, saw the last run of the last steam loco built by British Railways: what was the name of that loco … ? (The loco, rather than the Pines Express, that it was pulling … )

A5) 9F locomotive 92220 Evening Star.

Q6) Finally … September 8th is — according to UNESCO — International what day … ?

A6) International Literacy Day.

And — Friday being Friday, obviously — here’s the 60-question-set for struggling pub quiz-masters: published under the same license as always …

Online 120

ROUND ONE. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) Which branch of physics deals with the motion of objects?

A1) Mechanics.

Q2) Which animated movie about a Russian princess, featured the voices of Meg Ryan, and John Cusack,

Q2) Anastasia.

Q3) Lonsdale belts are awarded to champions in which sport?

A3) Boxing

Q4) Eton Public School is in which English county?

A4) Berkshire

Q5) Mary O’Brien died in 1997: how was she better known?

A5) Dusty Springfield.

Q6) Malpensa International airport is in which European country?

A6) Italy

Q7) Cryptography is the study of what?

A7) Codes and cyphers.

Q8) Who’s the patron saint of France, St. Denis, St. Jean D’Arc or St. Germaine?

A8) Saint Denis.

Q9) In British India, what was a Punka Wallah: a fan operator, a tea boy or a head footman?

A9) A fan operator.

Q10) Which rock is formed from calcium carbonate?

A10) Limestone.

ROUND TWO. MUSIC AND LIGHTS.

Q11) Who was the first black artist to have a video played on MTV?

A11) Herbie Hancock.

Q12) Which Goth band had a hit with Stay?

A12) Shakespeare’s Sister.

Q13) What Queen album was — in its day — the most expensive album ever made?

A13) A Night At The Opera.

Q14) Name that tune. When the paper boy’s half an hour late.

A14) Gertcha, by Chas and Dave.

Q15) Which band holds the record for the most sessions recorded for John Peel?

A15) The Fall. (24.)

Q16) Rod Stewart started his career as a backing singer for which 60’s British blues star: Long John Baldry, The Rolling Stones or the Animals?

A16) Long John Baldry.

Q17) What was the only Prince song to have won an Oscar?

A17) Purple Rain.

Q18) In which year did Cliff Richard first have a UK number one?

A18) 1960.

Q19) Funky Moped was a big, if rude hit, for which vegetative comedian?

A19) Jasper Carrott.

Q20) Neil Morrisey’s only hit was with the theme tune to children’s show?

A20) Bob the Builder.

ROUND THREE. GARDENING.

Q21) What is a plant’s foliage?

A21) Leaves

Q22) What are tulip’s grown from?

A22) Bulbs.

Q23) What do secateurs do?

A23) Cut.

Q24) Culinary herbs are usually grown for what?

A24) Cooking/eating.

Q25) What piece of garden equipment can be rotary or hover?

A25) The lawn mower.

Q26) Which heap provides fertiliser for the garden?

A26) The compost heap.

Q27) French, runner, or broad. What kind of vegetable are we talking about?

A27) Beans.

Q28) If you grew a box, in your garden, what have you just grown?

A28) A hedge.

Q29) Hybrid tea, and Floribunda, are what type of flower?

A29) Rose.

Q30) Cox’s Orange Pippin, Bramley and MacIntosh, are types of what?

A30) Apples.

ROUND FOUR. BLINDED WITH SCIENCE.

Q31) Who discovered radio waves?

A31) Hertz.

Q32) Who gave his name to a unit of radioactivity?

A32) Becquerel.

Q33) Which 16th century scientist proposed that the Earth orbited the Sun?

A33) Nicolai Copernicus.

Q34) Which British scientist is best known to the general public for his book, A Brief History of Time?

A34) Dr Stephen Hawking.

Q35) Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassman famously worked on what: nuclear fission, nuclear fusion or nuclear reactors?

A35) Nuclear Fission.

Q36) Hipparchus was a pioneer in which branch of mathematics: trigonometry, geometry or number theory?

A36) Trigonometry.

Q37) Which Baron of Largs gave his name to a scale for measuring temperature?

A37) Baron Kelvin of Largs.

Q38) Linus Torvalds gave his name to which computer operating system, Linux, Unix or Windows?

A38) Linux.

Q39) Sir Robert Watson-Watt developed which tracking device?

A39) Radar.

Q40) Crick Watson & Wilkins determined the structure of which molecule?

A40) DNA.

ROUND FIVE. LAUGHABLE TV DINNERS.

Q41) Which Ashley was named Best Comedy Actress, at the 2005 British Comedy Awards?

A41) Ashley Jensen, of Extras fame.

Q42) Who co-created Extras, along with Ricky Gervais?

A42) Steven Merchant.

Q43) Five Go Mad On Mescalin, Five Go Mad In Dorset and A Fistful of Travellers Cheques were episodes of which comedy series?

A43) The Comic Strip Presents.

Q44) Name either of the first two regular team captains, on Have I Got News For You.

A44) Paul Merton, & Ian Hislop. (Who’ve both outlasted Angus Deayton.)

Q45) Trevor McDonut, Algernon and Reverend Nathaniel West were comic creations of whom?

A45) Lenny Henry

Q46) Lauren, the schoolgirl from hell, is played by which comedienne?

A46) Catherine Tate.

Q47) What was the name of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s 60’s revue show called?

A47) Not Only … But Also.

Q48) What’s the surname of the family, in the series My Family?

A48) Harper

Q49) Who was the resident singer, on That Was the Week That Was?

A49) Millcent Martin

Q50) Which TV comedian closed his shows with the line, “May your god go with you”

A50) Dave Allen.

ROUND SIX. GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) In the word MODEM, ‘MO’ is short Modulator: what is the DEM short for?

A51) Demodulator.

Q52) La Coruña Airport is in which European country?

A52) Spain.

Q53) What shape is a swallow’s tail: forked, triangular or square?

A53) Forked.

Q54) Fidelio was the only opera by which German composer?

A54) Ludwig van Beethoven.

Q55) If your birthday takes place every four years, on what date is it?

A55) February 29th.

Q56) Bill and Hilary Clinton’s daughter shares her name with which part of London?

A56) Chelsea.

Q57) What type of vehicle is a smack?

A57) A boat.

Q58) According to the proverb, what do the mice do, while the cat’s away?

A58) Play

Q59) Whose the head of The Addams Family?

A59) Gomez Addams

Q60) I which century was Coca Cola invented, the 18th, 19 or 20th?

A60) The 19th.

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