The New Year’s Friday Question Set

You know, I’ve GOT to admit, I’ve THINK I got a touch forgetful, this morning … !

You‘ve realised it’s Friday, yes … ?

Yes, me too.

The trouble with that, of course, is that I usually — usually — mange to post up the Friday question set, along with the day’s Teaser, on a Friday.

Only today … I completely forgot … !

Where DO I put my face … ?

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate it’s something I can remedy, by putting up the 60-question set for Struggling pub quiz masters, now … !

Here they are, along with the usual Creative Commons License …

Online 132: The Quiz of the Year. (The first and last ten questions are about 2011: the rest are copied from Hutton 195.)

ROUND ONE. GENERAL 2011 KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) 2011 saw which country become the 17th to join the Euro?

A1) Estonia.

Q2) What’s 2011 in Roman numerals?

Q2) MMXI

Q3) Which UN body admitted Palestine as a member, in October of this year … ?

A3) UNESCO.

Q4) This year saw the death of Steve Jobs: which tech firm was he the CEO and Chairman of … ?

A4) Apple.

Q5) What was the film with the biggest earnings in 2011 … ?

A5) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, with a worldwide box-office of $1,328,111,219.

Q6) 2011 also saw the most of which sort of films released … ?

A6) Sequels: a total of 28.

Q7) Which team won the Indian Premier League cricket, this year… ?

A7) The Chenai Super Kings.

Q8) Name the DJ who died 29th October, 2011.

A8) Sir Jimmy Saville.

Q9) The various revolutions in the Middle East, this year, are collectively called what … ?

A9) The Arab Spring.

Q10) In which country did that start … ?

A10) Tunisia.

ROUND TWO. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.

Q11) Name either of the Moors Murders. (Two points for both.)

A11) Ian Brady, and Myra Hindley.

Q12) The killers of which 13-year-old were released in 1997, 18 years after their conviction?

A12) Carl Bridgewater.

Q13) Who was arrested on the 5th of January, 1981, on suspicion of murdering 13 women?

A13) Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper.

Q14) Which serial killer was arrested after the death of 81 year-old Mrs Angela Grundy?

A14) Harold Shipman.

Q15) HMP Manchester is the modern name of which notoriously riotous prison?

A15) HMP Strangeways.

Q16) Before leaving office, in 2003, George Ryan, the Governor of Illinois, made what extraordinary gesture?

A16) Reprieved all the inmates on Illinois’ Death Row.

Q17) Who was found hung in his cell, on New Year’s Day, 1995?

A17) Fred West.

Q18) Which hospital for the Criminally Insane opened in Berkshire, in 1863?

A18) Broadmoor.

Q19) Which American serial killer admitted to necrophillia, cannibalism & 15 counts of murder in 1992?

A19) Jeffrey Dahmer.

Q20) True or false: TV actor & comedian, Stephen Fry, was imprisoned for credit card fraud, whilst at school.

A20) True, he got three months.

ROUND THREE. HANDBAGS & GLADRAGS

Q21) What name is given to the protective trousers worn by cowboys in the American west?

A21) Chaps.

Q22) What type of garment is a glengarry?

A22) A hat.

Q23) What name was given to the sleeveless woollen tops, fashionable in the 1970’s?

A23) Tank tops.

Q24) Where would a man wear dundrearies?

A24) On his face. (They’re long side whiskers.)

Q25) How is the Scottish filibeg better known?

A25) The kilt.

Q26) What is a mantilla?

A26) A light shawl/veil: often worn on a comb.

Q27) What colour cap do the goalkeepers in water-polo wear?

A27) Red.

Q28) In greyhound racing, what colour jerkin does the dog in trap two wear?

A28) Blue.

Q29) What is a wide-awake?

A29) A hat.

Q30) What language does the word ‘anorak’ originate in?

A30) Greenlandic Eskimo.

ROUND FOUR. TOURIST DESTINATIONS.

Q31) Where would you find the Horseshoe and Rainbow Falls?

A31) Niagara Falls.

Q32) Which material was used to make the Statue of Liberty?

A32) Cast Iron.

Q33) In which country was the first Asian Disneyland resort opened?

A33) Japan.

Q34) Where would you be if you visited the ‘Athens of Ireland’?

A34) Belfast.

Q35) Which is further north: Majorca, Ibiza or Madeira?

A35) Majorca.

Q36) Which art gallery would you be if you were looking at the Venus de Milo? (Bonus point for naming the city it’s in.)

A36) The Louvre, in Paris.

Q37) In 1851, where did tourist go, in London, to visit the Great Exhibition?

A37) The Crystal Palace.

Q38) Where are the Crown Jewels?

A38) The Tower of London.

Q39) Which waterfalls are on the borders of Zambia, and Zimbabwe?

A39) The Victoria Falls.

Q40) Would in England would a tourist be, if he’d just been called a ‘grockle’?

A40) Cornwall. (It’s the Cornish word for ‘Outsider’.)

ROUND FIVE. FOOD AND DRINK.

Q41) Agar Agar is the vegetarian alternative to what?

A41) Gelatine.

Q42) What drink was Lorraine Chase advertising, when she said, “Nah, mate, Luton Airport” … ?

A42) Campari.

Q43) During the 50’s, which cook wrote about Mediterranean Food, and French Country Cooking?

A43) Elizabeth David.

Q44) There are 2 ingredients of the cocktail called a Redeye: name either. (Two points for both)

A44) Whisky and tomato juice.

Q45) What would you be eating, if you were eating a Spanish chorizo?

A45) A spicy sausage. (Accept sausage.)

Q46) What drink was once nicknamed Madame Geneva?

A46) Gin.

Q47) What nut is one of the two main ingredients of Marzipan?

A47) Almond.

Q48) Which Mexican snack food has a name that translates as ‘little donkey’?

A48) Burrito.

Q49) Which garden herb is usually made into a sauce that’s a traditional accompaniment to roast lamb?

A49) Mint.

Q50) What cheese is made backwards?

A50) Edam.

ROUND SIX. GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) Belgium made a record, this year, for being the country to go the longest time without a working what … ?

A51) Government. (Feel free to polish up the Ben Elton routines, RIGHT now … )

Q52) Who won this year’s series of Strictly Come Dance, on BBC1?

A52) Harry Judd, drummer for McFly.

Q53) On a similar theme, who won this year’s X-Factor … ?

A53) Little Mix.

Q54) which notorious terrorist leader was killed by US Navy Seals, this year … ?

A54) Osama Bin Laden.

Q55) The UK had a public holiday on the 29th April, this year: for whose wedding … ?

A55) That of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

Q56) What paper went out of circulation after the 2011 phone-hacking scandal?

A56) The News of the World.

Q57) Who broke Nigel Mansell’s record for most pole positions in F1, in 2011?

A57) Sebastian Vettell

Q58) Movie-wise, which film won the 2011 Best Picture Oscar, this year … ?

A58) The Kings Speech.

Q59) Japan was hit by a Magnitude 9.1 earthquake in 2011: what was the name of the Japanese power station seriously affected by this earthquake … ?

A59) Fukushima.

Q60) Hackers took the Playstation Live network offline, this year: who owns the Playstation network … ?

A60) Sony

There …

That makes it all better, doesn’t it … ?

I hope so … !

I’m just sorry about two things: firstly, not getting it up earlier.

And secondly … ?

Not having more questions about 2011 in it: I’ll have to see if I can’t revise that in time for next year, by making good use of Sticky Notes …

I’ll leave you with the tune I’m listening to, shall I … ?

BBC News - Pub can use foreign decoder for Premier League games

Hmmm …

You know, former barman that I am … ?

The link just immediately below this was always going to grab my attention.

BBC News - Pub can use foreign decoder for Premier League games

Like you couldn’t have guessed.

At ANY rate, let me try and quickly summarise for you.

Pub landlady, Karen Murphy has been running a pub for some time, and, like a lot of pub managers, had to fork out a fortune to pay for a Sky TV connection, to let her customers watch Premier League football.

So switched to using a Greek satellite box.

Sky and ESPN, who have the rights to assorted sporting events in the UK, sued.

Leaving Karen to fork out £8000 in various fines and costs.

She took it all the way up to the European Central Court.

Who, today, have ruled that national bans on foreign decoders can’t “be justified either in light of the objective of protecting intellectual property rights or by the objective of encouraging the public to attend football stadiums”.

»·«

Personally … ?

I can’t but help think that’s a good thing, frankly.

You see, I spent quite a few years on the ramp at a few years.

And the one I worked at for the longest … ?

Had its Sky TV connection taken out at one point, due to the sheer cost of the thing*.

And lost custom, from virtually the word go.

Being able to shop around would’ve been handy, there.

»»·««

Which I’m thinking is sort of my point, here.

You see, I’ve always felt ambiguous about Sky TV, I really have.

On the one hand … ?

I’ve always thought it would be ice to catch some of the science fiction it shows: things like the remake of Battlestar Galactica, to give you an example. Stuff like that’s usually not screen on terrestrial over here, on a regular basis.

On the other hand … ?

I can do without TONS of sports channels.

Actually, I can do without the tons of channels available on my Freeview digital TV set-top-box.

But I’m ALSO very aware that the pub industry’s relied on Sky to provide a HUGE amount of income: Premiership matches being as popular as they are.

So from where I’m sitting … ?

Where I’m sitting this EU ruling may have wider implications than just sports broadcasting.

But if it means a cheaper supply of something that a whole industry is reliant on … ?

THAT’S a good thing.

* So you know: here in the UK, television’s broadcast through three different mediums: what’s called terrestrial TV is received through an old-fashiod ærial. Satellite tv — Sky is the dominant UK satellite broadcaster — is received through a satellite dish, instead of an ærial. There’s also cable — which isn’t available everywhere — and the various IPTV/Internet TV connections, as well.

In Memorium: Nan

You know, that is strange, that …

Strange …

And sad, as well …

You see, I’ve just had some rather sad news.

Do you ever remember me telling you about a little pub called The Sir Charles Napier?

I don’t know if you will or you won’t, frankly.

But just to fill you in … ?

The Napier was a tiny little community pub at the unfashionable end of Brentwood High Street.

And run, up until the day it was shut down and demolished, by the woman officially remembered in her obituary in this weeks Brentwood Gazette as Elvina Leber.

But I think that I and many others only ever knew as Nan: that’s her in the top photo.

Well …

I’ve got to admit, I found out today — on the day of her funeral — that she’d died.

Which will probably tell you several things.

For a start … ?

Well, for starters, how well I read that part of the Gazette.

And, secondly, quite how private her and her family are.

I can’t say I blame them: I think this day and age, when everyone and their parrot are on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, it’s sort of refreshing.

»»·««

But … ?

But I’ll be honest, finding out Nan had died, did leave me feeling shocked … !

Although I do know Nan had been seriously ill for some time, she like one or two others I’ve known, had seemed so alive.

Alive …

And bloody stubborn, actually …

You see, Nan had been the person who — outside of Denise, at the Hutton — been the first person to hire me to do a pub quiz.

The first to hire me to do a quiz at a pub I wasn’t working at.

And … ?

Well, I know this, Nan was a damn hard woman to pitch to.

But also a very good landlady.

And very protective: of her pub, customers, workers and those she’d hired as entertainment.

I’m pleased to have been one of the latter.

Oh, she could be difficult: and give you a hard time …

But on the upside … ?

It’s very rare to have found an employer that could be wise AND offer good advice …

AND be fun.

Which Nan definitely was.

RIP Nan.

Licensing, and … Stuff … !

Hmmm …

Now, I’ve got to be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve been involved in the pub trade.

To be frank … ?

Well …

People who know me well, will know that I don’t drink: and probably be able to have a guess why.

But on top of that … ?

I’m really not sure I’d want to go go back to the trade, even if the opportunity arose.

But at any rate … ?

Keeping a vague eye on industry news … ?

Is something I’ve always TRIED to do, even though I’ve not actually needed to.

Or even managed to DO, successfully!

AHEM … !

But at any rate, I do know that I managed to notice this little article float past on the BBC’s teletext service, late yesterday afternoon.

Seemingly … ?

Seemingly Britain’s coalition government are planning to introduce reforms to all sorts of things.

Including in an area of interest to one local pub — the Essex Arms, where I once worked, MANY moons ago — that played host to live music.

Actually, I’ll be blunt, I loved that job! I was getting paid to listen to some seriously rather good bands*.

At any rate, the Coalition government is planning to reform certain areas, so that it’s easier for local bars to hire a band.

Without needing the specialist — and expensive, in terms of time and money need to get one — entertainment licenceº.

So this … ?

Well, I’m thinking it’s something of a mixed bag of nuts.

On the one hand … ?

It’ll give both small pubs more choice of entertainment.

And struggling musicians more chances at venues: at least in theory.

But on the downside … ?

If you live next door to a small, quiet pub, that suddenly gets REALLY noisy … ?

Well …

I can’t see anything in the story that tells me people can object …

* Have I mentioned Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts … ? No, I haven’t for a while … ! If you EVER get the chance to go see Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, DO. NOW! And tell Dumpy that Nik Nak sent you. And DON’T LET HIM NEAR THE NEWCASTLE BROWN UNTIL AFTER THE GIG!

º Back when I was working at the Essex, for example, the management had to make sure they built a sort of indoor porchª around the fire-exit, and wire a noise limiter^ into the power supply, the year after that, in order to keep the license: all measures designed to prevent noise disturbing the neighbours.

ª I know that’s not the correct term: but it’s the only one I can think of to describe what they had to build.

^ There’s a story there … The noise limiter at the Essex Arms is still, as far as I know: the whole point of it was that, if the sound level from the stage went over a certain pre-set and unacceptable level, power to the stage would cut. The band would have to turn the turn the volume down and reset the limiter. And only then start playing again. However, I can remember the manager at the time telling me that one particular plug socket — or set of them — wasn’t wired into the limiter. Or, at least, there was SOME sort of workaround.

The Daily Teaser …

GAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!

I’m just hoping no-one managed to notice the cock-up!

At any rate, here’s today’s questions …

Q1) August 26^th, 55BC, saw England invaded by the Romans; who lead the Roman forces?

Q2) On a related note, what was that leader’s first name?

Q3) August 26^th, 1768, saw the HMS Endeavor set sail on a voyage of exploration to the southern hemisphere; who was its commanding officer?

Q4) Today in 1946, saw the birth of composer Mark Snow; which TV series — about members of the FBI — did he write the theme tune for?

Q5) And finally, today in 1994, saw an unnamed 62-year-old patient receive the worlds first bionic heart; at which British hospital?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) August 25^th, 1835, saw the New York Times commit a famous hoax, about the discovery of life on where; the Moon, Mars, or Venus?

A1) The Moon.

Q2) August 25^th, 1912, saw the foundation of which Chinese political party?

A2) The Kuomingtang. (The Chinese Nationalist Party, in other words.)

Q3) August 25^th, 1944, saw the liberation of which European city?

A3) Paris.

Q4) Today is the birthday of country singer, Billy Ray Cyrus; his daughter Miley, stars in which Disney series?

A4) “Hannah Montana”.

Q5) It’s also the birthday of keyboard player, Geoff Downes. He’s currently the keyboard player for Asia; but with which English band did he first come to prominence?

A5) The Buggles.

Q6) One more musician; Declan McManus was born today, in 1954; how is he better known?

A6) Elvis Costello.

Q7) The Honourable Artillery Company, Britain’s oldest surviving army regiment, was founded today; in 1535, 1537, or 1539?

A7) 1537.

Q8) August 25^th, 1609, saw Gallileo Gallilei demonstrate his first what?

A8) Telescope.

Q9) Today, in 1981, Voyager 2 made its closest approach to which planet; Neptune, Jupiter or Saturn?

A9) Saturn.

Q10) And finally, just to confuse you, today in 1989, Voyager 2 made its closest approach to which planet; Neptune, Jupiter or Saturn?

A10) Neptune.

Um …

I HATE making cock-ups … !

The Daily Teaser …

Mmmm …

I’ve got to admit, I’m writing this morning’s teaser with the telly on in the background; Yesterday are showing a re-run of “Victoria’s Empire”.

Fascinating stuff.

Victoria Wood has just, in the final moments of this episode, has told us about a certain cave in Borneo that sparked a minor war between local tribes and the colonial governor.

It seems the dried up, and abandoned nests of the birds that inhabited it were the major component of Birds Nest Soup … !

Quite!

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

Shall we?

Yes, let’s …

Here’s today’s questions …

Q1) August 25^th, 1835, saw the New York Times commit a famous hoax, about the discovery of life on where; the Moon, Mars, or Venus?

Q2) August 25^th, 1912, saw the foundation of which Chinese political party?

Q3) August 25^th, 1944, saw the liberation of which European city?

Q4) Today is the birthday of country singer, Billy Ray Cyrus; his daughter Miley, stars in which Disney series?

Q5) It’s also the birthday of keyboard player, Geoff Downes. He’s currently the keyboard player for Asia; but with which English band did he first come to prominence?

Q6) One more musician; Declan McManus was born today, in 1954; how is he better known?

Q7) The Honourable Artillery Company, Britain’s oldest surviving army regiment, was founded today; in 1535, 1537, or 1539?

Q8) August 25^th, 1609, saw Gallileo Gallilei demonstrate his first what?

Q9) Today, in 1981, Voyager 2 made its closest approach to which planet; Neptune, Jupiter or Saturn?

Q10) And finally, just to confuse you, today in 1989, Voyager 2 made its closest approach to which planet; Neptune, Jupiter or Saturn?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 24^th August, 410 AD, saw Alaric sack Rome; did he lead the Visigoths, Goths or Vandals?

A1) Visigoths. (Most Goths don’t dance unless you pay ’em. And as for Vandals … )

Q2) Following on from Question 1, yesterday, Vesuvius finally erupted today, in 79AD; name any of the three Roman towns it destroyed.

A2) Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiæ.

Q3) In England, August 24^th, 1662, the Act of Uniformity forced of England to read what; The Book of Common Prayer, the King James Bible, or James 1st’s ‘Demonologie’?

A3) The Book of Common Prayer.

Q4) August 24^th, 1831, saw Charles Darwin asked to travel on what?

A4) The HMS Beagle.

Q5) Today in 1891, saw US inventor, Thomas Edison patent what; the motion picture camera, the light-bulb or the electric chair?

A5) The motion picture camera.

Q6) August 24^th, 1957, was the birthday of comedian and actor, Stephen Fry; in the early days of his career, who was his regular comedy partner?

A6) Hugh Laurie.

Q7) And finally, today is the feast day of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle; which Eurasian country is he the patron saint of?

A7) Armenia.

Enjoy those! I’ll catch you later.

The Daily Teaser …

Well, blow me, we won the Ashes!!

I’m pleasantly surprised …

Growing up during the 1980s, I can remember a time when the England cricket were a byword for “disaster”, if not “joke” …

So it’s nice to know that we can knock out a winning team, at something. Shame about the England football squad …

But enough ranting, already, lets move on, shall we?

Shall we?

Yes, let’s!

Here’s today’s questions …

Q1) 24^th August, 410 AD, saw Alaric sack Rome; did he lead the Visigoths, Goths or Vandals?

Q2) Following on from Question 1, yesterday, Vesuvius finally erupted today, in 79AD; name any of the three Roman towns it destroyed.

Q3) In England, August 24^th, 1662, the Act of Uniformity forced of England to read what; The Book of Common Prayer, the King James Bible, or James 1st’s ‘Demonologie’?

Q4) August 24^th, 1831, saw Charles Darwin asked to travel on what?

Q5) Today in 1891, saw US inventor, Thomas Edison patent what; the motion picture camera, the light-bulb or the electric chair?

Q6) August 24^th, 1957, was the birthday of comedian and actor, Stephen Fry; in the early days of his career, who was his regular comedy partner?

Q7) And finally, today is the feast day of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle; which Eurasian country is he the patron saint of?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Today, in 79AD, saw the celebrations of the Roman God, Vulcan; by a huge coincidence, which volcano started stirring?

A1) Mount Vesuvius.

Q2) August 23^rd, 1839, saw the start of the First Opium War, when Britain captured where?

A2) Hong Kong.

Q3) 23^rd of August also saw the birth of Gene Kelly; but in which year?

A3) 1912.

Q4) August 23^rd saw Hans-Joachim Tiedge defect from West Germany to East Germany; he’d been the head of West German what?

A4) Counter Intelligence.

Q5) And finally, today in 1948, saw the formation in Switzerland, of the World Council of … what?

A5) The World Council of Churches.

Enjoy those! I’ll catch you later … !