The Daily Teaser and Friday Question Set — 21-10-2011

Oh, now …

That’s a bit more civilised.

Remember, yesterday, I said I had my television switched very firmly off?

Today, I don’t.

Today, I figured I’d put my set-top box’s radio channel’s to good use.

By listening to Radio 4.

And the funny thing is that the Today show is interview with Graham Stringer, a Labour MP who’s decided to vote for a certain parliamentary motion, planned for Monday.

Hmmm …

I’m just hoping that goes through and that we — the public — get a chance to voice our opinions about that.

Personally … ? I still think that having that chance to do so would be a good thing.

»»Å««

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — I know Nina’s have to put in some SERIOUS catch up, Debbi, she’s been on crutches, recently — putting in her answers, and bagging five out of 5*º. Lets see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, Creative Commons License and video …

Q1) 21st October, 1879, saw who test the world’s first practical incandescent light bulb … ?

Q2) How long did that bulb last: 13.5 hours, 14.5 hours or 15.5 hours?

Q3) More to the point, which English inventor ALSO has a claim to inventing this type of bulb?

Q4) Moving on … 21st October, 1944, saw the first of what type of attack, at the Battle of Leyte Gulf … ?

Q5) 21st October, 1944, saw women in which country granted the vote … ?

Q6) 21st October, 1921, saw the premiere of the film, The Sheik: who was its (male) star … ?

Q7) 21st October, 1805, saw Lord Nelson defeat a Franco-Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. What was his rank, at the time … ?

Q8) More to the point, who lead the Franco-Spanish fleet, at Trafalgar?

Q9) And finally … 21st October, 1983, saw the definition of the length of what … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 20th October, 1548, saw the founding of Nuestra Señora de La Paz, the de facto capital of Bolivia: what’s the actual capital of Bolivia?

A1) Sucre.

Q2) 20th October, 1973, saw whom pay an official visit to the UK … ?

A2) The Dalai Lama.

Q3) 20th October, 1973, saw the opening of the Sydney Opera House: in which year had construction started … ?

A3) 1959. (Debbi, remind me to tell you about the English usage of the word ‘cowboy’ … )

Q4) 20th October, 1956, saw the birth of director, Danny Boyle: which of his films saw Christopher Eccleston play Major Henry West … ?

A4) 28 Days Later.

Q5) And finally … 20th October, 1967, saw Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin allegedly film a … WHAT … ?

A5) Bigfoot: or Sasquatch, if you want to use the other word …

And here’s the Friday question set for struggling pub quiz-masters: covered, as ever, by the same Creative Commons License as ever …

Online 126.

ROUND ONE. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) If you had an escutcheon, what would it be shown on?

A1) Your coat of arms.

Q2) Tripoli is the capital city of which African country?

Q2) Libya.

Q3) In Spain, it’s an autopista: what is it, here in the UK?

A3) A motorway.

Q4) How many cents in a US nickel?

A4) Five.

Q5) Which South American countries name means ‘The Saviour’?

A5) El Salvador.

Q6) Sofia Sciccole is the real name of which Hollywood superstar?

A6) Sofia Loren.

Q7) If an elderly couple are happily married, whom are they likened to?

A7) Derby & Joan.

Q8) In Indian cuisine, which vegetable is referred to as Aloo?

A8) Potatoes.

Q9) A chukka is the name given to each of the halves, in which sport: polo, water polo or sumo wrestling?

A9) Polo.

Q10) Who left an unfinished novel called Sanditon?

A10) Jane Austen.

ROUND TWO. MUSIC AND LIGHTS.

Q11) What have country star kd lang, Steve Tyler of Aerosmith, Seal and Canadian rocker, Bryan Adams all got in common?

A11) They’re all vegetarians. (Or vegans, if you feel really picky)

Q12) William ‘Spree’ Simon, from Trinidad, is the man credited with inventing what: the steel drum, the timpani or the bongo drum?

A12) The steel drum.

Q13) The average rock concert usually has an average level of how many decibels?

A13) 120.

Q14) Ludwig Van Beethoven, Lemmy, from Motorhead and Cher, all have, or had difficulty with what?

A14) Their hearing.

Q15) Sinead O’Connor, the Bangles and Chaka Khan have all released songs written by whom?

A15) Prince.

Q16) Barbra Streisand, Donny Osmond, and Carly Simon all suffer from what, arachnophobia, claustrophobia or stage fright?

A16) Stage fright.

Q17) Duran Duran’s View to a Kill, Boom Bang a Bang, by Lulu, and Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears, were all banned during which war?

A17) The Gulf War

Q18) The MacCrimmons were reputed the greatest ever players of which musical instrument?

A18) The Scottish bagpipes. You can read more about them, here …

Q19) ‘Cat’ is 1940s jazz slang for what, a musician, a hooker, or a nightclub manager?

A19) A musician.

Q20) How many active radio stations are there, in the world; - 35000, 45000, or 55000?

A20) 45, 000.

ROUND THREE. THE WRITTEN WORD.

Q21) Something Wicked This Way Comes was written by whom: Ray Bradbury, Steven King or James Herbert?

A21) Ray Bradbury.

Q22) Ringworld was written by which science fiction writer: Larry Niven, Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke?

A22) Larry Niven.

Q23) In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, what colour was the flying Ford Anglia?

A23) Blue.

Q24) What was the most recent Terry Pratchett book for adults?

A24) Snuff.

Q25) Which detective writer said “An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have”?

A25) Agatha Christie.

Q26) Harper Lee wrote which famous book about the 1930s deep south of the USA?

A26) To Kill A Mockingbird.

Q27) Since 1902, publishers Frederick Warne have published Beatrice Potter’s Tale of … whom?

A27) Peter Rabbit.

Q28) How old was Adrian Mole, when he started his secret diary?

A28) 13 and 3/4

Q29) What’s the most successful of contemporary books?

A29) The Guinness Book of Records.

Q30) Which Joseph Heller book is about a famous ‘no-win’ situation?

A30) Catch 22.

ROUND FOUR. BOOM AND BUST.

Q31) GATT stands for General Agreement on Tariffs and … what?

A31) Trade.

Q32) Where would you find the Dow Jones Index?

A32) On Wall Street.

Q33) A group of producers acting together to fix prices are known as what; – a cartel, a syndicate or a monopoly?

A33) A cartel.

Q34) What’s the currency of the Yemen republic?

A34) The rial.

Q35) Which government body sees if a takeover is in the public interest?

A35) The Competition Commission.

Q36) The Channel Islands, Gibraltar, and the Island of Mann all use pounds Sterling but what do their have in common with Scotland and Northern Ireland?

A36) Their own bank notes.

Q37) What is the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s official London address?

A37) 11, Downing Street.

Q38) Other than in Denmark, the Danish Krone is, or at least was, used in two other places: name one of them.

A38) Greenland and the Faroe Isles.

Q39) What name is given to unrecorded, or illegal, economic activity: white market, grey market or black market … ?

A39) The black market.

Q40) On which continent is the CFA Franc a currency?

A40) Africa. (Actually, two currencies: both used in roughly half a dozen countries, each … )

ROUND FIVE. PRAISE BE.

Q41) Shintoism is the native religion of which Far Eastern country?

A41) Japan

Q42) Which East European country has the largest Eastern Orthodox Church?

A42) Russia

Q43) Members of the Society of Friends are known as what: Quakers, Shakers or Jehovah’s Witnesses?

A43) Quakers

Q44) Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma are major gods in which religion?

A44) Hinduism.

Q45) Muslims are obliged to make a pilgrimage at least once in their lives. Where to?

A45) Mecca.

Q46) The International Society for Krïshna Consciouness is more popularly known as what?

A46) The Hare Krïshnas.

Q47) Members of which Indian religion have uncut beards and hair?

A47) Sikhism.

Q48) Which celebrity religion was founded by science fiction writer, L. Ron Hubband?

A48) Scientology.

Q49) What nationality was Confucius?

A49) Chinese.

Q50) Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are better known how?

A50) Mormons.

ROUND SIX. GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) Who wrote the music for The Threepenny Opera?

A51) Kurt Weill.

Q52) Leonard Fuchs gave his name to which flower?

Q52) Fuchsias.

Q53) Star ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev, was born in which country?

A53) Russia.

Q54) Which comedian is known as The Big Yin?

A54) Billie Connolly.

Q55) Two ancient countries fought the Punic Wars: name either. (Two points for both.)

A55) Rome and Carthage.

Q56) Who famously said “To err is human … but it feels divine”?

A56) Mae West.

Q57) In which country did the late John Peel die?

A57) Peru.

Q58) Sara Paretsky writes what kind of fiction: crime fiction, romantic fiction, or science fiction?

A58) Crime fiction.

Q59) In Viking legend, who carried the souls of dead warriors to Valhalla?

A59) The Valkyries.

Q60) In which tv show did John Humphries take over from Magnus Magnusson?

A60) Mastermind.

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

* Hang on, Debbi, it was a female Sasquatch … ? How on Earth did they figure that out … ? I mean, it’s not like they were going to stop filming for a tick, and wander over and ask … !

º Did you know that … ? The number 5 is a Fermat Prime, the third Germain prime, AND the first Wilson prime. Cue Sesame Street …