Wednesday 24 February 2016

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 24-2-2016: Gregory’s Calendar …

You know, while I’m posting this … ?

I’m feeling vaguely rushed: as I’m off to work, today.

But I’ve got the TV on, in the background: and the Victoria Derbyshire show has just aired a piece.

About someone in the Croydon area, who’s killing and mutilating cats.

Obviously, that’s upsetting: having owned a few pets, over the years, I know how emotionally involved we get with them.

I can’t help but also pass on a thought.   I’ve picked up an impression, over the years: that many serial killers, when young, kill animals.

And can’t help but wonder …

~≈Ç≈~

Let’s move on, though.

It’s a Wednesday: which means it’s time for the Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser.

Here’s this week’s: covered by the usual Creative Commons License* …
Q1) 24th February, 1582, saw Pope 13th introduce the Gregorian Calendar.   With what: a Papal bull, letter or Encyclical?
Q2) The Gregorian Calendar replaced the Julian Calendar.   Who invented the Julian Calendar: Julia Domina, Julius Caesar or Jules Rimet?
Q3) In either calendar, how many whole days are there, in a non-leap year: 364, 365 or 366?
Q4) Again: in either calendar, how many days are there in a leap year: 364, 365 or 366?
Q5) The reforms Gregory introduced did what: increase the number of leap years, reduce the number of leap years or neither?
Q6) Gregory had reformed the calendar to correct the date of the vernal equinox.   In the northern hemisphere, that’s when: spring, summer or autumn?
Q7) The particular equinox was important to both church and pope: as it helped fix the date of which Christian festival: Holy Week, Easter Week or Whitsunday?
Q8) When Gregory introduced his reformed calendar, it removed how many days: 10, 12 or 14?
Q9) England and Wales started using the new calendar in which year: 1752, 1753 or 1754?
Q10) What was the last European country to adopt the calendar: the UK, Finland or Greece?
Here’s last weeks questions and answers …
Questions.
Q1) 17th February marks the birth of writer, Ruth Rendell.   In which year: 1929, 1930 or 1931?
Q2) In which part of London: South Woodford, Woodford Green or Woodford Wells?
Q3) Her best known detective character is Chief Inspector Reginald who:    Swinford, Tarbert or Wexford?
Q4) The first book he appeared in was called From Doon with what: Love, hate or death?
Q5) He also appeared in a 1983 Rendell novel, called The Speaker of Mandarin.   Mandarin is a version of which Eastern language: Japanese, Chinese or Thai?
Q6) The most recent novel featuring the Chief Inspector was No Man’s Nightingale.   The book was published in which year: 2012, 2013 or 2014?
Q7) Her most recent standalone novel was published last year.   It’s called Dark … what: Holes, Corners or Pits?
Q8) She also wrote The St Zita Society.   Saint Zita is a patron saint of whom: chefs, carpenters or maids?
Q9) Ruth Rendell wrote 14 novels under which pen name: Barbara James, Barbara Vine or Barbra Streisand?
Q10) Finally … Ruth Rendell was Baroness of Babergh.   Babergh is in which country: Sussex, Suffolk or Surrey?
Answers.
A1) 1930.
A2) South Woodford.
A3) Wexford.   (Five minutes with a list of Irish place names comes in handy, sometimes … )
A4) Death.
A5) Chinese.   (In English, the word has also come to mean a a senior bureaucrat: as it was a term for a senior official, in Imperial China.)
A6) 2013.
A7) Dark Holes.
A8) Maids.
A9) Barbara Vine.
A10) Suffolk.
Enjoy those: I hope they’re fun …






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