The Daily Teaser and the Friday Question Set

You know, I’m going to start this one in a slightly strange way.

Well …

Strangish, way.

Well …

Actually, no stranger than normal, actually.

Well …

OK, It’s AlexandraFunFit’s birthday, today.

Well …

Actually, it’s her, and her twin sister, KymberleyFunFit’s birthday, today!

So I’m actually going to start today’s teaser by wishing the pair of them a very Happy Birthday.

And, just quickly, add this.

“Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday, Dear Alexandra and KymberlyFunFit”,

Then take a quick, deep breath, and …

“Happy Birthday to YOOOOUUU!”

And obviously, all that’s without the benefit of Autotuning software!

Phew!!

Lets move on, shall we … ?

Before I, Trevor, and Kaiju all start to stand around, trying to look like we’re not expecting any cake* … !

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Trevor and Kaiju putting in their answers: with both scoring five out of five, it also saw Trevor putting in some great quotes, and Kaiju directing out attention to this link. Which had my attention, I know that … !

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

Q1) 27th August, 1987, saw David Owen — leader of the Social Democratic Party — replaced by whom … ?


Q2) More to the point, how is that former MP now known … ?

Q3) August 27th, 1975, aw the death of which religious icon … ?

Q4) 27th August, 1970, saw the birth of one-time Snooker world champion, Peter Ebdon: in which year did he win the World Championship … ?

Q5) Who did he beat in the final … ?

Q6) 27th August, 1971, saw an attempted coup fail in which African nation … ?

Q7) And finally … 27th August, 1991, saw the European Community recognise the independence of all three of the formerly Soviet Baltic states: name any one of those states.

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 26th August, 1939, saw the world’s first televised Major League baseball game: name either of the teams who were playing …


A1) The Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers. (And can I find anywhere that tells me who won … ? Can I HECK!)

Q2) One year later, 26th August, 1940, saw the birth of which noted voiceover artist … ?

A2) Don LaFontaine.

Q3) While we’re in a cinematic mode … 26th August, 1980, saw the death of which noted animator … ?

A3) Frederick Bean “Tex” Avery.

Q4) Many years later, 26th August, 2004, saw the death of singer, Laura Brannigan: what was her biggest UK hit … ?

A4) Self Control, coming in at No. 5. (Her earlier hit, Gloria, peaked at No. 6 … )

Q5) And finally, on a slightly gruesome note … 26th August, 1845, saw the birth of Mary Anne Nichols: who did she become a victim of, in 1888 … ?

A5) Jack the Ripper.

And here — covered by the usual Creative Commons License as everything else — is the Friday Question set for struggling pub quiz masters …

Online 68.

ROUND ONE. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) Bulgarian defector, Georgi Markov was killed after being stabbed with a poisonous what?

A1) Umbrella.

Q2) Dan Brown, of DaVinci Code fame, has recently been sued by the authors of which book?

A2) The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail.

Q3) Which household item can be digital, carriage or quartz?

A3) A clock.

Q4) What character did Joanna Lumley play, in The New Avengers?

A4) Purdey.

Q5) Anna Edson Taylor was the first person to travel over the Niagara Falls in what?

A5) A barrel.

Q6) What’s the name of Tony and Cherie Blair’s youngest child?

A6) Leo.

Q7) What title does Dracula have, in the the novel of the same name?

A7) Count.

Q8) What colour is the headgear known as a fez?

A8) Red.

Q9) Which fabric is made by worms?

A9) Silk.

Q10) Which American bandleader disappeared, over the English Channel, during WW2?

A10) Glenn Miller.

ROUND TWO. 20th CENTURY NEWS.

Q11) Who was conservative party leader, on the 31st December, 1999?

A11) William Hague.

Q12) Fidel Castro took power on which Island?

A12) Cuba.

Q13) Who succeeded John Major as PM?

A13) Tony Blair.

Q14) Which war saw the battle of El Alamain?

A14) WW2.

Q15) In which decade of the 20th Century did Nelson Mandela become President of South Africa?

A15) The 1990s.

Q16) In 1979, the Shah was deposed from the throne of which middle-eastern country?

A16) Iran.

Q17) Which minority Rwandan tribe did the majority tribe try to wipe out, during the 90s: the Tutsis, or the Hutus?

A17) The Tutsis.

Q18) Which male/female duo have spent the most weeks at No 1, in the UK?

A18) John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John.

Q19) As well as being a former US president, Harry S Truman was a character in which David Lynch produced TV series?

A19) Twin Peaks.

Q20) In which 20th century computer game did Mario the Plumber first appear?

A20) Donkey Kong.

ROUND THREE. FOOD AND DRINK.

Q21) On which brand of sweet did the first bar code appear?

A21) Wrigley’s Chewing Gum.

Q22) What type of milk was first introduced in 1899, evaporated, or UHT?

A22) Evaporated.

Q23) In which year of the 1950’s did Birdseye Fishfingers first go on sale in the UK?

A23) 1955.

Q24) The chardonney grape is a native of which French wine region?

A24) Burgundy.

Q25) Which curried soup has a name which, in Tamil, means Fire water?

A25) Mulligatawny.

Q26) When was the pressure cooker invented, 1891, 1905, or 1933?

A26) 1905.

Q27) What nuts are usually in a pesto sauce?

A27) Pine nuts.

Q28) If something is sautéed, how is it cooked?

A28) Fried.

Q29) What is a bisque?

A29) A soup.

Q30) What colour does saffron tun food?

A30) Yellow.

ROUND FOUR. INITIALLY SPEAKING. (A round about initals)

Q31) The Latin phrase exempli gratia is often shortened to eg; - what does it mean?

A31) Example given.

Q32) In the christian calendar, what initials indicate a year after the birth of Christ?

A32) AD. (Extra point for pointing out it stands for Anno domine.)

Q33) What exam do most Year 11 school children take?

A33) GCSE.

Q34) If you were taking part in a Bicycle Motocross race, what type of bike would you be riding?

A34) A BMX.

Q35) When addressing a Royal Princess, what do the letters HRH stand for?

A35) Her Royal Highness.

Q36) In economics, what was the ERM?

A36) The Exchange Rate Mechanism.

Q37) If you're a student at the LSE, you’re studying what subject?

A37) Economics.

Q38) Many lawyers have the initials QC, after their names; - it stands for Queens…what?

A38) Counsel.

Q39) The RNIB is the Royal National Institute for who?

A39) The Blind.

Q40) Many students belong to the NUS: what does NUS stand for?

A40) National Union of Students.

ROUND FIVE. AT THE MOVIES.

Q41) Actor Ben Affleck, comedian Chris Rock, & singer Alanis Morrisette starred in which cult comedy?

A41) Dogma.

Q42) Ben Affleck appeared with Kate Beckinsale in which World War Two film?

A42) Pearl Harbour.

Q43) Kate Beckinsale, also starred in Underworld - which Porridge star is she the daughter of?

A43) Richard Beckinsale.

Q44) Which sport connects the re-make of The Mean Machine with Escape to Victory?

A44) Football.

Q45) Fottballer Vinny Jones appeared in Snatch; - name the other Guy Ritchie directed film he’s appeared in.

A45) Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Q46) Which singer was director Guy Ritchie married to?

A46) Madonna.

Q47) On the subject of singers, James Woods appeared in Videodrome with which member of Blondie?

A47) Deborah Harry. (Accept Debbie Harry)

Q48) Which 80s science-fiction film was Harrison Ford’s first big success, after the Star Wars trilogy?

A48) Bladerunner.

Q49) Which actor connects Minority Report to the Mission: Impossible films?

A49) Tom Cruise.

Q50) What was the last film to be completed by directed by Stanley Kubrick?

A50) Eyes Wide Shut.

ROUND SIX. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q51) Who recently interviewed Princes’ Charles, Harry, and William?

A51) Ant and Dec.

Q52) According to recent reports, is Britain’s favourite fruit?

A52) The Banana.

Q53) Again according to recent news reports, what’s London’s busiest tube line?

A53) The Northern line.

Q54) Newton Heath Football Club is now better known how?

A54) Manchester United.

Q55) What country is directly west of southern Spain?

A55) Portugal.

Q56) What’s fastest, a storm, a gale or a hurricane?

A56) A hurricane.

Q57) Which toys speak Furbish?

A57) Furbeys.

Q58) Ornithophobia is an unreasoning fear of what?

A58) Birds.

Q59) Which musical instrument can be upright, or baby grand?

A59) A piano.

Q60) Scotsman Mr Macintosh invented what kind of fabric: easy clean, see-through or waterproof?

A60) Waterproof.

Enjoy those, everyone: And Alexandra … ?

Have a good day!

* There’s an old line from Lord Vetinari, one of Terry Pratchett’s major recurring character’s: one that’s about tax, but can also, I feel, be applied to birthday cake. “Taxation is merely a complicated form of Demanding With Menaces” …