The Daily Teaser and the Friday Question Set …

Hmmm …

I’ll admit it, I’ve got Yesterday on, again!

Complete with a mini-documentary on, about the death of Indira Gandhi: at 15 years, the worlds longest serving Prime Minister.

Which seems sad, to me: from what I can see from her Wikipedia entry, a lot of India’s modern success can be traced back to literacy — under her — increasing by some 30 percent.

Cie la vie …

Lets move on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Trevor and Mr Strict going head-to-head: with both scoring 5 out of 5, it also saw Trevor quoting Lewis Carroll, and Mr S — in one of his answers — giving us the Emperor Trajan’s full name as Emperor*.

Lets see how they — and you — do with today’s questions: here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video.

Q1) 28th January, 1813, saw the first publication of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: who played Elizabeth Bennet — opposite Colin Firth as Mr Darcy — in the 1995 television version of the novel … ?

Q2) 28th January, 1982, saw the release of Brigadier General James Dozier, after he’d been by kidnapped by which Italian terrorist group … ?

Q3) 28th January, 1820, saw an expedition from where discover the Antarctic continent … ?

Q4) 28th January, 1953, saw teenager Derek Bentley, hanged for murdering a policeman: what was the name of the film — with Christopher Eccleston and Paul Reynolds — about the incident … ?

Q5) And finally … 28th January, 1754, saw who coin the word ‘serendipity’, in a letter to Horace Mann … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 27th January, 1596, saw the death of Sir Francis Drake: from a fatal dose of … what … ?

A1) Dysentery.

Q2) 27th January, 2006, saw Western Union announce it was closing down which of its services … ?

Q2) Its telegram service.

Q3) 27th January, 1993, saw the death of professional wrestler and actor, André René Roussimoff: how was he better known?

A3) André the Giant.

Q4) 27th January, 98AD, saw who become Roman Emperor?

A4) Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus: otherwise known as Trajan.

Q5) And finally … 27th January, 1918, saw the first hostilities in which European country’s Civil War … ?

A5) Finland’s.

And finally — as it’s Friday — here’s the 60 questions set for struggling pub quiz masters …

Online 88.

ROUND ONE. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) In which year of the 1860’s did the US civil war start?

A1) 1861.

Q2) What’s Britain’s most northerly shipping area, Faroes, Fair Isle or Bailey?

Q2) Faroes.

Q3) The Tripitaka is the holy book of which religion, Sikhism, Buddhism or Jainism

A3) Buddhism.

Q4) A Vespiary is one of the name’s given to a wasp’s home. Name one one of the other two. (Two points for both.)

A4) A nest, or bike.

Q5) If something gets described as Lupine, what animal is it being compared to?

A5) A wolf.

Q6) Who won the FA Cup, in 1949?

A6) Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Q7) A plutocracy is a country ruled by whom?

A7) The wealthy.

Q8) The shortest day of the year is in December: on what date, in December?

A8) December the 21st.

Q9) What, technically, is the highest rank of the peerage a commoner may hold? (Or work their way up to.)

A9) Archbishop. (Ranking between a Royal Duke, and a Duke.)

Q10) Who’s the current Poet Laureate?

A10) Carol Ann Duffy.

ROUND TWO. FOOD AND DRINK.

Q11) Rennet is used in the making of cheese. but from what part of the cow is it usually made: the stomach, the hooves or the horns?

A11) The Stomach.

Q12) What sort of drink is Volvic?

A12) Mineral water.

Q13) Thiamin is also known as which B vitamin: B1, B2 or B12?

A13) Vitamin B1.

Q14) What sort of nut goes into Pesto: pine nuts, peanuts or almonds?

A14) Pine nuts.

Q15) Wormwood goes into which notoriously powerful drink, absinthe or tequila?

A15) Absinthe.

Q16) In which famous restaurant did the French chef Escoffier begin his career?

A16) The Moulin Rouge.

Q17) What utensil do the Chinese call Lively Fellows?

A17) Chop Sticks.

Q18) What is a Blue Vinney?

A18) A cheese. (Not a footballing hard-man.)

Q19) Morel & Oyster are edible types of what?

A19) Mushrooms.

Q20) Which fruit can be cantaloupe, water or honeydew?

A20) A melon.

ROUND THREE. COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWN.

Q21) In which Russian City is the TASS news-agency based?

A21) Moscow.

Q22) Which website did Google buy in 2006?

A22) YouTube.

Q23) What’s the older name for the Timeline service?

A23) The Speaking Clock.

Q24) dB is the symbol for what well know measure of volume?

A24) Decibels.

Q25) How many bits are there, in a byte?

A25) 8.

Q26) Which Russian word means speaking aloud?

A26) Glasnost.

Q27) How does one address a female mayor?

A27) Madam Mayor

Q28) What does the V stand for, in DVD?

A28) Either Video or Versatile!

Q29) What A–road links London with East Anglia?

A29) The A12.

Q30) What type of device was the first to be programmed by punch cards?

A30) The Loom. (The Jacquard Loom, in point of fact.)

ROUND FOUR. TV DINNER’S.

Q31) I Could Be So Good For You was the theme tune to which TV show?

A31) Minder.

Q32) Caroline Ahearne was the star of Mrs Merton, and which other comedy show?

A32) The Royale Family.

Q33) Which Jim would’ve fixed it for you?

A33) Jimmy Saville.

Q34) Complete the following line from The Two Ronnies: “It’s goodnight from me …”

A34) “… and it’s Goodnight from him.”

Q35) Lynda LaPlante created, and Helen Mirrim played, which TV detective?

A35) Jane Tennyson.

Q36) Barnacle Bill is the theme tune to which long–running children’s TV show?

A36) Blue Peter

Q37) Which former Monty Python star tried copying Phineas Fogg, for a TV travel documentary?

A37) Michael Palin. (In Around the World In 80 Days)

Q38) Which gameshow did Jim Bowen present?

A38) Bullseye.

Q39) Which James bond actor found fame in the 60s TV version of The Saint?

A39) Roger Moore.

Q40) Which TV detective worked for Radio West?

A40) Eddie Shoestring.

ROUND FIVE. MILLENIUM HEADLINES.

Q41) Which Scottish MP took part in Celebrity Big Brother?

A41) George Galloway.

Q42) In 2004, which Aussie Shane took 500 wickets?

A42) Shane Warne.

Q43) What mammal was washed up in the Thames, in 2006?

A43) A whale

Q44) Two countries joined the EU, in 2006: name either. (Two points for both)

A44) Romania and Bulgaria

Q45) Was 2006 Golden Globe winner, Brokeback Mountain, a documentary, a romantic comedy or a Western?

A45) A western.

Q46) One of the hosts of Channel Four show, Countdown, died in 2005: who was he?

A46) Richard Whitely.

Q47) Who became England’s youngest footballer, in 2003?

A47) Wayne Rooney.

Q48) Which tennis playing Greg was cleared of using the banned substance, Nandralone, in 2004?

A48) Greg Rusedski.

Q49) Which Ruth succeeded Charles Clarke, as the Governments Education Secretary?

A49) Ruth Kelly.

Q50) Who did David Cameron beat, to become Tory party leader?

A50) David Davies.

ROUND SIX. GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) How much can you inherit in Monopoly, according to the Community Chest Card?

A51) £100.

Q52) In the Morecambe Bay tragedy of February, 2004, what nationality were the immigrant workers?

A52) Chinese.

Q53) In the 1997 Formula 1 Arrows team, who was Damon Hill’s team mate?

A53) Pedro Diniz.

Q54) Which lord reported on the Brixton Riots of 1981?

A54) Lord Scarman.

Q55) How many top ten hits did Catatonia have?

A55) Three.

Q56) Androphobia is the fear of who?

A56) Men.

Q57) Ivan Owen was only ever heard on tv for many years. Which children’s character did he provide the voice of?

A57) Basil Brush.

Q58) Approximately how many islands are there, in the Scillys? (5 either way.)

A58) 150. (Give the point for between 145, & 155.)

Q59) What’s the only English anagram of the word ‘SIGNATORY’?

A59) ‘GYRATIONS’.

Q60) If it’s 12 Noon, GMT, what time is it in Panama City?

A60) 7am.

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

* Trajan Imperator Caesar Divi Nervae filius Nerva Traianus Optimus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus Parthicus. Just so you know … …