The Friday Question Set — 19-9-2014

You know, that’s … 

Well, the only word I can think of, here, is sad.

First Minister, Alex Salmond, is to step down from the job: and as leader of the Scottish National Party.

I’m saddened.

I’m also aware there’s talk — talk — that there’s going to be more devolved powers — ‘Devo Max’, I’ve seen it called — for the Scottish Parliament.

Correct me if I’m wrong, here, but didn’t Alex Salmond suggest that as an option for yesterday’s independence referendum?   Only to see it ruled out in the negotiations with David Cameron.

I’m hoping one will confirm of deny that.

I’m convinced there was: that David Cameron overruled it.

I feel David Cameron would have done that so that the Westminster government could, if events went the way they have, he could talk up extra powers for the Scottish Parliament … and sweep them under the carpet, when no one was looking … 

Cynical … ?

Moi … ?

Well …

Yeah … !

~≈Ç≈~

At any rate: the Referendum is done for now: and we can, hopefully, move on.

I intent to: from the subject that had the nation gripped to the completely irrelevant … !

Yes: it’s Friday.   Which means it’s time for …

The Friday Question Set.

Here’s this week’s: covered by the usual Creative Commons License* …

Online 266
ROUND ONE: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) Which of the Knights of the Round Table was Queen Guinevere’s lover?
A1) Sir Lancelot.

Q2) Halle Berry famously won her Best Actress Oscar for which 2001 film … ?
Q2) Monster’s Ball.

Q3) If someone has been described as salacious, what do they have an excessive interest in: sex, drugs or Rock & Roll?
A3) Sex.

Q4) The world’s longest (leisure) pier is in which Essex town?
A4) Southend–on–Sea.

Q5) DVDs, CDs and Blu-rays, are all called what discs?
A5) Optical disc.

Q6) Where do witches traditionally hold their Sabbats: at a crossroads, a pub or a wood?
A6) At a crossroads.

Q7) In which European country did Punch and Judy shows originate?
A7) Italy: in the traditional Comedia dell’Arte.

Q8) Clive Rice played cricket for which country?
A8) South Africa.

Q9) Who wrote the novel A Clockwork Orange?
A9) Anthony Burgess.

Q10) The giant panda is native to which continent?
A10) Asia.

ROUND TWO: TREADING THE BOARDS.

Q11) Fagin appears in which musical?
A11) Oliver.

Q12) The musical, My Fair Lady, is based on which George Bernard Shaw play?
A12) Pygmalion.

Q13) Which musical is about a circus impresario?
A13) Barnum.

Q14) Which New York street is famous for its theatres?
A14) Broadway.

Q15) According to the comedy, There’s a what in My Soup?
A15) Girl.

Q16) What was Jesus Christ according to Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber?
A16) A superstar.

Q17) Topol, Leonard Nimoy and Joe McGann have all played the main character in which musical?
A17) Fiddler On the Roof.

Q18) In Starlight Express what do the performers wear on their feet?
A18) Roller Skates.

Q19) During World War Two, which London theatre’s motto was, We never close?
A19) The Windmill.

Q20) Michael Crawford starred in the musical about The Woman in… what?
A20) White.

ROUND THREE: CLASSICAL MUSIC AND LIGHTS.

Q21) Which piece by Wagner was used as the theme of the movie, Apocalypse, Now?
A21) The Ride of The Valkyries.

Q22) Which of Verdi’s operas is set in Ancient Egypt: Aïda, Alzira or Attilla?
A22) Aïda.

Q23) During which part of Handel’s Messiah, is it traditional for the audience to stand up?
A23) The Hallelujah Chorus.

Q24) Stephane Grappelli was famous for playing which stringed instrument?
A24) The violin.

Q25) Who composed the piece of music known as the Moonlight Sonata?
A25) Beethoven.

Q26) What does an operetta have that an opera doesn’t?
A26) Spoken dialogue.

Q27) What does the musical direction ‘tacet’ mean: Stop playing, start playing or keep on playing?
A27) Stop playing (or be silent).

Q28) Which British conductor was known as ‘Old Timber’: Sir Henry Wood, Sir Harry Pine or Sir Tarquin Elm?
A28) Sir Henry Wood.

Q29) In which opera does a gypsy girl fall in love with a toreador: Carmen, Madame Butterfly or Tosca?
A29) Carmen.

Q30) Who wrote the opera Peter Grimes: Benjamin Britten, Noël Coward or Edward Elgar?
A30) Benjamin Britten.

ROUND FOUR: TV DINNERS.

Q31) In the cartoon and film, where did the Flintstones live?
A31) Bedrock.

Q32) What role did Bernard Youens play, in Coronation Street?
A32) Stan Ogden.

Q33) Which television character refused to marry in the year 35 BC, was cursed and forced to live in a small ‘padded’ room?
A33) Jeannie, in I Dream of Jeannie.

Q34) Which snooker show was originally commissioned by David Attenborough?
A34) Pot Black.

Q35) Mr T appeared in which team?
A35) The A Team.

Q36) Contryfile is usually shown on which night of the week?
A36) Sunday.

Q37) What is Britain’s longest running children’s TV show?
A37) Blue Peter.

Q38) Adam Woodyatt plays which EastEnders character?
A38) Ian Beale.

Q39) Doctor Who is filmed in which country of the UK?
A39) Wales.   (I’m preparing this on 18th September, 2014: the day of Scotland’s Independence referendum.   I fully expected it to need rewriting.)

Q40) Which reporter had the scoop of 1995 with his Panorama interview of the Princess of Wales?
A40) Martin Bashir.

ROUND FIVE: ALL THROUGH HISTORY.

Q41) What was the name of the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine?
A41) Nautilus.

Q42) Which Prime Minister observed that A week is a long time in politics?
A42) Harold Wilson.

Q43) Who was the Iron Duke?
A43) Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington.

Q44) US-born traitor William Joyce — known for his broadcasts from Nazi Germany during World War 2 — was better known how?
A44) Lord Haw-Haw.

Q45) In which year of the 1960s was Prince Edward born?
A45) 1964.

Q46) According to hoary old myth, Hans Brinker famously did what?
A46) Stuck his finger in a dyke.

Q47) Which British monarch was know as Edward the Caresser: Edward the 5th, 6th or 7th?
A47) Edward 7th.

Q48) The first pound note was introduced in which year: 1854, 1894 or 1914?
A48) 1894.

Q49) Venezuelan assassin and terrorist, Illich Ramirez Sanchez, was better known how?
A49) Carlos the Jackal.

Q50) Two  ancient countries fought the Punic Wars: name either.
A50) Rome or Carthage.

ROUND SIX: GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) In the film, Boys From Brazil, which historical figure was played by Gregory Peck?
A51) Dr Josef Mengele.

Q52) In which of Ian Fleming novel did James Bond make his first appearance?
A52) Casino Royale.

Q53) There were only two independent African nations, at the start of World War Two.   Name either.
A53) Liberia & Ethiopia.

Q54) Which Grand event was first broadcast on the BBC, in 1960?
A54) The Grand National.

Q55) Springfield, Illinois, was the birthplace of which  assassinated US President?
A55) Abraham Lincoln.

Q56) Briana Corrigan and Jacqui Abbot were the two female singers for which band?
A56) The Beautiful South.

Q57) True or False

.   The World Spam Museum is in Austin, Colorado.
A57) False.   It’s in Austin, Minnesota!

Q58) Which South American country borders Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia?
A58) Paraguay.

Q59) Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders was a writer on which well known musical magazine?
A59) The New Musical Express.

Q60) What sitcom featured Frankie Howerd as a crafty Roman slave?
A60) Up Pompeii.

Enjoy those: I hope they help.

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