The Daily Teaser, and the Friday Question Set — 19-8-2011

Blimey, that’s a thing …

Bless her, I had Debbi leaving her answers, yesterday, and as part of that … ?

Mentioning the fact she’s just started reading Terry Pratchett’s Small Gods.

That put a pleased smile on my face.

And also reminded me of a (possibly) apocryphal story that’s been doing the convention circuit for quite some time.

A long time ago, Pratchett was in discussing with an (unnamed) film studio about a film version of Mort: which sees Death — the one character who makes some sort of appearance in every one of the novels, and the one who’s most fond of curry* — taking on an apprentice.

One of the books three central characters, I should point out.

Apparently, during ONE meeting, one of the studio executives asked if it would be possible to re-write the book to take Death out of the story.

The character would only offend people.

Pratchett gently raised an eyebrow.

And bought the movie rights back.

I’ve GOT to admit, I can’t help but paraphrase Monty Python’s Holy Grail in a way that seems appropriate: “Let’s not go to Hollywood, it is a silly place … ”

»»·««

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes …

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi — and Kaiju — giving @Alexandrafunfit both six out of six for her sterling efforts, the day before, and saw Debbi putting in her answers and scoring six out of six.

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

Q1) August 19th, 43BC, saw Augustus Cæsar named as Consul of Rome: what name was he born under … ?

Q2) More to the point, what was his name, when he died on August 19th, 14AD … ?

Q3) 19th August, 1991, saw who placed under house arrest, in Soviet Russia … ?

Q4) 19th August, 1942, saw the start of the Allied raids on Dieppe: what was the operation called … ?

Q5) 19th August, 1999, saw thousands of people rally to demand the resignation of whom … ?

Q6) And finally … 19th August is the feast day of which Eastern Orthodox wonderworker … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 18th August, 293BC, saw the founding of the oldest known Roman temple to whom … ?

A1) Venus.

Q2) 18th August, 1933, saw the birth of director, Roman Polanski: what was the name of his first English language film … ?

Q2) Repulsion.

Q3) 18th August, 1989, saw which football club sold to property tycoon, Michæl Knighton … ?

A3) Manchester United.

Q4) More to the point, who’s that club’s manager … ?

A4) Sir Alex Ferguson.

Q5) 18th August, saw a large meteor pass over the UK: in which year … ?

A5) 1783.

Q6) And finally … 18th August, 1868, saw French astronomer, Pierre Janssen, discover which gas … ?

A6) Helium. (One has to wonder if he was the originator of the trick of holding some in your mouth to make yourself sound like Pinky and Perky?)

And — covered by the usual license — is the Friday question set for struggling, for struggling pub quiz masters …

Online 117.

ROUND ONE. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) Ramblin’ Syd Rumpo, Lady Beatrice Counterblast and Julian and Sandy, were characters in which radio comedy series?

A1) Round the Horne

Q2) What type of wine is described by the term, frizzante?

A2) Semi-sparkilng.

Q3) Marlon Brando, Clack Gable and Mel Gibson have all played which mutinous historical character.

A3) Fletcher Christian

Q4) Which Agatha Christie novel was the first to feature Hercule Poirot?

A4) The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Q5) Who’s the four legged hero of The Wrong Trousers?

A5) Gromit.

Q6) What word links male rabbits and US dollars?

A6) Bucks

Q7) Similarly, what word links a metal container and also means ‘able to’?

A7) Can.

Q8) Which fishy sounding Captain features in the Tintin stories?

A8) Captain Haddock.

Q9) What’s on the end of a Lacrosse stick?

A9) A net.

Q10) Trevor Smith is better known as which rapper?

A10) Busta Rhymes.

ROUND TWO. CLASSICAL MUSIC & LIGHTS.

Q11) Which one’s the real opera: The Crying Dutchman, the Flying Dutchman, or The Frying Ditchman?

A11) The Flying Dutchman.

Q12) Which composer had the first names of Johann Sebastian?

A12) Bach.

Q13) Edward Elgar was from which country of the UK?

A13) England.

Q14) What is Tosca: an opera, a symphony or a concerto?

A14) An opera.

Q15) How do you get a sound out of a saxophone?

A15) Blow it.

Q16) There are, of course, Three Tenors: name any them.

A16) Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, and Placido Domingo.

Q17) Charlotte Church comes from which country of the UK?

A17) Wales.

Q18) In the title of the famous opera, what word follows Madame?

A18) Butterfly.

Q19) Which opera singing Andrea had a hit album, with Romanza

A19) Andrea Bocelli.

Q20) In which European city is La Scala?

A20) Milan.

ROUND THREE. TV DINNERS.

Q21) Which John played Kavannah, QC?

A21) John Thaw.

Q22) What was the profession of medieval detective, Cadfæl?

A22) Monk.

Q23) In which series did Hyacinth try and impress Emmet?

A23) Keeping Up Appearances.

Q24) Which Robbie found acclaim as Cracker?

A24) Robbie Coltrane.

Q25) All Creatures Great & Small was set in which English county?

A25) Yorkshire.

Q26) What shape is the medallion, on a Jim’ll Fix It badge?

A26) Square.

Q27) Which 1970’s sitcom was set on The Avenue, in Surbiton?

A27) The Goode Life.

Q28) How many Goodies were there? (Bonus point for naming one of them.)

A28) Three. (Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie and Tim Brook–Taylor)

Q29) Who fronted The Frost Report?

A29) David Frost.

Q30) Which American sitcom was all about six New York based chums?

A30) Friends.

ROUND FOUR. ROUND BRITAIN.

Q31) Which port was the birthplace of both Charles Dickens and Isambard Kingdom Brunel?

A31) Portsmouth.

Q32) The Cathedral Church of Saint Michael was consecrated in 1962. In which English city is it?

A32) Coventry.

Q33) Which Roman Road shares its name with a type of fur?

A33) Ermine Street.

Q34) Which sea separates St George’s Channel, from the North Channel?

A34) The Irish Sea.

Q35) Which body of water separates the Isle Of Wight from mainland Englan

A35) The Solent.

Q36) In which London square is the US Embassy?

A36) Grosvenor Square.

Q37) What is England’s second largest cathedral?

A37) York Minster.

Q38) Which Womble was named after a town on the Isle of Mull?

A38) Tobermoray.

Q39) Which Channel Island is famous for having no cars?

A39) Sark.

Q40) What is the nearest seaside resort, to London?

A40) Southend-On-Sea.

Round 5. Food and Drink.

Q41) What colour wine is Beaujolais Nouveau?

A41) Red.

Q42) The outside of a stick of rock is traditionally what colour?

A42) Pink.

Q43) How many snails does the average French person eat, in a year?

A43) 500.

Q44) What’s the oldest recorded type of manmade food?

A44) Cheese.

Q45) Which fruit is usually eaten at Wimbledon?

A45) Strawberries and cream.

Q46) If you were eating ‘al fresco’ would you be indoors or outdoors?

A46) Outdoors.

Q47) What is the usual shape of a Camembert cheese?

A47) Circular.

Q48) What name is given to a single slice of bacon?

A48) A rasher.

Q49) True, or false: Red wine should be drunk chilled.

A49) False, it should be drunk at room temperature.

Q50) A zombie is a cocktail containing copious amounts of which spirit?

A50) Rum.

ROUND SIX. GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) What would stum be added to, in order to give it more strength, wine, steel, or concrete?

A51) Wine.

Q52) Who was the first British female singer to have three UK number 1s: Sandie Shaw, Dusty Springfield, or Charlotte Church?

A52) Sandie Shaw.

Q53) Hattie McDaniel was the first black woman to do what, win an Oscar, fly to the moon, or sit in the US Senate?

A53) Win an Oscar; – she played the maid in “Gone With The Wind”

Q54) George the 2nd’s eldest son died after being by what, a bullet, a cricket ball or a flying marrow?

A54) A cricket ball.

Q55) Lassa Fever was was first identified in which African nation?

A55) Nigeria.

Q56) Who was the first US President to appear on colour television?

A56) Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Q57) In which year of the 1980’s did the pound note cease to be legal tender, in the UK?

A57) 1988

Q58) Shah Huang Ti was famed for the building of what?

A58) The Great Wall of China.

Q59) What was the first planet to be discovered by telescoope?

A59) Uranus.

Q60) Mr Ashwell, of Herne Hill, invented which famous sign?

A60) The Engaged/vacant sign, in toilets.

Enjoy those, everyone: now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to dig up Brutha …

I’ve not actually read Small Gods in years …

* And whose pale horse … is called Binky …