Friday, 3 July 2009

The Daily Teaser …

It’s STILL muggy! Amazing!! But at least it’s raining, which’ll help clear the air.

At least I hope it will!!

But can I make a confession, at this point?

While I’m writing this, I’ve got the DVD version of an old Patrick Troughton “Dr Who” adventure called “The Invasion”, which is wonderful stuff. It’s also a Cyberman episode, and one that — as a result of the BBC’s policy of recycling tapes, back in the 1960s — only had half the episode’s remaining. So for it’s DVD release, the Beeb got Cosgrove Hall to do full length animated versions of the missing episodes. They’re actually fun to watch!!

Anyway, moving on, here’s today’s questions …

Q1) Which Canadian province was founded on July 3rd, 1608?


Q2) July 3rd, 2004, saw Marai Sharapova become the first Russian to win Wimbledon; which of the Williams sisters did she beat?


Q3) July the 3rd is also the birthday of which Czech author?


Q4) July the 3rd, 1863, was the last day of which US Civil War Battle?


Q5) And finally, today saw the death of the last pair of which birds?


And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) July 2nd, 2002, saw Steve Fossett complete the very first round the world trip in what kind of craft?

A1) A balloon.


Q2) July 2nd, 1777, saw the first of the US states abolish slavery; which state was it?

A2) Vermont.


Q3) Today, in 1937, saw the disappearance of which aviator?

A3) Amelia Earhart.


Q4) More recently, July 2nd, 2001, saw Barry George sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering which TV presenter?

A4) Jill Dando.


Q5) And finally, July 2nd, 2005, was the date of which charity concert?

A5) Live8.


Enjoy those.

Now, as it’s Friday, here’s the 60-question set for struggling pub quiz master’s; I hope these are useful!


ROUND 1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) A claque is a group of people hired to do what; - applaud, cry, or sing?

A1) Applaud.


Q2) In which year did Channel 4 begin broadcasting?

A2) 1982.


Q3) What, in the 16th century, was the Scavenger’s Daughter?

A3) A torture device.


Q4) Pru, Phœbe, Piper and Paige are characters in which TV series?

A4) “Charmed.”


Q5) Paul Tibbitts piloted the plane that dropped the A-Bomb on Hiroshima. What was the name of the plane?

A5) The Enola Gay.


Q6) What can be sornick, nainsook, or samite?

A6) Fabric. (Accept cloth.)


Q7) Who wrote “Life Before Men,” and “The Edible Woman?”

A7) Margaret Atwood.


Q8) Who said that power comes from the barrel of a gun?

A8) Mao Zedong. (Accept Mao Tse Tung, or Chairman Mao.)


Q9) Which fictional hero has been played on TV, by Peter Cushing, Alan Badel, and Colin Firth?

A9) Mr Darcy.


Q10) Who was credited with inventing the Tarzan yodel?

A10) Johnny Weissmuller.




ROUND 2. RICH & FAMOUS.


Q11) Marina Mowatt is the daughter of which British princess?

A11) Alexandra.


Q12) In which North African country was Mohammed Al Fayed born?

A12) Egypt.


Q13) Longleat is the stately home of which Marquess?

A13) The Marquess of Bath.


Q14) In addition to becoming the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward is also Viscount of where?

A14) Severn.


Q15) Henri Donat Mathieu is better known as which fashion designer?

A15) Yve St Laurent.


Q16) Which former England cricket captain was Viv Richards’s best man?

A16) Ian Botham.


Q17) With which sport would you associate Bernie Ecclestone?

A17) Motor Racing.


Q18) What was the profession of Maggie Thatcher’s father?

A18) Grocer.


Q19) How many Beatles were not known by their real names?

A19) One. (Richard Starkey, aka Ringo Starr.)


Q20) William Henry Gates the 3rd amassed his fortune from selling what?

A20) Software. (He’s Bill Gates, of Microsoft. And known to many as The Great Satan.)




ROUND 3. FOOTBALL CRAZY.


Q21) Alex Ferguson joined Manchester United from which club?

A21) Aberdeen.


Q22) Who had the last kick, in England’s 1998 World Cup campaign?

A22) David Batty.


Q23) Which football team moved to the Reebok Stadium, during the 90’s?

A23) Bolton.


Q24) Ron Atkinson announced his retirement, in 1999, whilst he was with which club?

A24) Nottingham Forest.


Q25) Goalkeeper Dave Besant earned which unflattering nickname?

A25) Lurch.


Q26) John Barnes began his football career with which club?

A26) Watford.


Q27) At which British club did an Italian take over from a Dutchman?

A27) Chelsea.


Q28) Who was Blackburn’s manager when they won the Premiership?

A28) Kenny Dagleish.


Q29) Manager Jim Smith is known as the Bald what?

A29) Eagle.


Q30) Alan Shearer, and Matt Le Tissier have both played for which club?

A30) Southampton.




ROUND 4. HITS OF THE 60’S.


Q31) Which Archies hit was in the charts for 26 weeks?

A31) “Sugar, Sugar.”


Q32) Which park was a hit for the Small Faces, in 1967?

A32) “Itchycoo Park.”


Q33) Which 60’s Kitty Lester hit was an 80’s hit for Alison Moyet?

A33) “Love Letters.”


Q34) What was Petula Clarke’s 1st No. 1, in 1961?

A34) “Sailor.”


Q35) Which 1965 Shirley Ellis hit was a 1982 hit for the Belle Stars?

A35) “The Clapping Song.”


Q36) In “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” what dance was being skipped?

A36) The Light Fandango.


Q37) Peter Sellers, and Sophia Loren had a 1960’s hit with which song?

A37) “Goodness, Gracious Me.”


Q38) Who had consecutive hit’s, with “Daydream,” and “Summer in the City?”

A38) The Loving Spoonful.


Q39) Whose 1st top ten hit was called “5, 4, 3, 2, 1?”

A39) Manfred Mann. (And his Earth Band!)


Q40) The Shadows had a hit about which crime-busting organisation?

A40) The FBI.




ROUND 5. QUIZ SHOWS.


Q41) On which Channel is “Countdown,” broadcast?

A41) Channel 4.


Q42) Which game show did Dale Winton present from a supermarket?

A42) “Supermarket Sweep.”


Q43) Cornelia Frances was the Australian presenter of which game show?

A43) “The Weakest Link”.


Q44) On “University Challenge,” how many members does each team have?

A44) 4.


Q45) On which game show would you get a Bendy Bully, as a consolation prize?

A45) “Bullseye.”


Q46) Which magician 1st presented “Wipeout?”

A46) Paul Daniels.


Q47) Dermot Murnaghan is the presenter of which quizshow?

A47) “Eggheads”


Q48) If you said, “I’ll take the P, please, Bob,” on what show would you be?

A48) “Blockbuster”.


Q49) Who is the 2nd, and current, presenter of “Mastermind?”

A49) John Humphries. (Magnús Magnússon did the original version.)


Q50) Sandy Togsvig, Alan Coren, & Frank Muir have been captains on which panel game?

A50) “Call My Bluff.”




ROUND 6. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.


Q51) Fleet Street was built over the top of which London river?

A51) The River Fleet.


Q52) Which professionals wear the world’s most expensive suits?

A52) Astronauts. (Accept cosmonauts, and/or taikonauts.)


Q53) Archie the inventor, and PC Plum feature in which children’s TV show?

A53) “Balamory.”


Q54) Ticks and mites are related to which 2 other creatures?

A54) Spiders, and Scorpions. (They’re all arachnids. ½ a point for either.)


Q55) What is the 1st letter of the Greek alphabet?

A55) Alpha. (Α)


Q56) How many points is the brown ball worth, in snooker?

A56) 4.


Q57) Operation Overlord is better remembered under what name?

A57) D-Day.


Q58) Which former MP wrote “A Parliamentary Affair?”

A58) Edwina Currie.


Q59) Threadneedle Street is home to which institution?

A59) The Bank of England.


Q60) Nepal is the home to which British army regiment?

A60) The Gurkhas.



Enjoy!










Thursday, 2 July 2009

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve just seen a piece of news on the BBC’s teletext service, and on their news website.

And I must admit it’s … well … got me disturbed …

As you probably know, I’ve been a fan of Terry Pratchett and the Discworld, since the mid 1980’s, when I first read his novels.

I’ve loved them from the start and watched them grow, expand and improve, along with Sir Terry’s skills as a writer, as the series has progressed.

I’ve never met the man, but think well of him. Outside of immediate family, he’s been a big influence on my life; made me laugh and cry, got me thinking, and certainly shaped my opinion on things.

So hearing the news, a couple of years ago, that he’d been diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer’s was devastating.

Especially in view of the fact the disease killed a much-loved grandmother.

Emotional territory …

You can possibly imagine, can’t you?

So seeing the article that that told me he was supporting a bill going through the House of Lords, to legalise assisted suicide was interesting to read.

And has provoked a certain amount of mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I’m very supportive of Terry’s — and the bill’s — basic position that anyone with a life threatening condition should, while they’re in a fit enough state to make the decision, be allowed to seek help in taking their lives, and be assured that those who help them die should not be subject to any kind of criminal prosecution.

But …

But …

Jeez …

But something about this revolts me.

Maybe that’s too strong a phrase.

I think my objections, here, are quite simple.

I don’t want to see my favourite writer die. Although I realise that — with the condition he has — an assisted suicide bill is going to have a lot of appeal.

I’m just not sure whether it’s something my Gran would’ve have gone for, although this is something I can’t speak of — some years after her death, — with any certainty. I know an old friend’s father died of Cancer; and Carol, many a time, told me her father wouldn’t have gone anywhere near the option, had it been available.

I also know that I have no idea of what I’d do, in Terry’s shoes; possibly I’d be thinking that this would be an option, but …

Well …

I like life. I don’t know want to die.

Never having been brought up in any particular religious tradition, I’ve no faith to reassure me about an afterlife.

So death scares me.

Leave a comment, folks.

I think I’d appreciate it.

The Darker Part …

Phew, it’s still muggy!

EXTREMELY muggy! I’m just hoping we get a thunderstorm, at some point, that’ll help clear the atmosphere!

At any rate, I DO know I’m looking forward to Wimbledon being over; I’m not a big sports fan, and always find these big ‘event’ tournaments a bit of a chore.

And it means that “Torchwood: Children of Earth”, the new series that’s starts next Monday, can happily go ahead without any danger of being postponed because a certain Mr Murray’s overrunning!!

Just so you know, the first episode is on Monday 6th, on BBC1, at 9PM. And I must confess, I’m intrigued by the look of it.

I do know I’d read some of the Virgin New Doctor Who adventures — as edited by Russell T Davies — and was always fond of their very emotionally mature take on my favourite show, something I know RTD was keen to have floating around the new version of the show.

And it’s spin-offs, as far as I see. “The Sarah-Jane Adventures” gets the treatment, from what I’ve seen of it; but it is, after all, a show primarily for children, with the new “Doctor Who” filling the family friendly slot.

It’s really comes to fruition with “Torchwood”.

I know someone (female) I knew, once, was really looking forward to the bit, last series, where John Barrowman and James Marsters started snogging.

I’m actually hoping to have fun with this.

Or at least, they’ll have something for the boys, this go around!

And given what’ll happen, at Christmas …

Well … !

•••••

I also know one of Reggæ’s minor myseries has never been resolved for me; What exactly IS a Yogga Yogga, why did Fred become one and why on EARTH was Errol Dunkley singing about it for, back in 1979?

We’ll probably never know …

The Daily Teaser …

Phew! Is it me, or is it muggy, round here?

It is, isn’t it?

Oh, well, it’s not something I can’t deal with … At least, by opening a window, if nothing else!!

Anyway, here’s today’s questions …

Q1) July 2nd, 2002, saw Steve Fossett complete the very first round the world trip in what kind of craft?


Q2) July 2nd, 1777, saw the first of the US states abolish slavery; which state was it?


Q3) Today, in 1937, saw the disappearance of which aviator?


Q4) More recently, July 2nd, 2001, saw Barry George sentanced to life imprisonment for murdering which TV presenter?


Q5) And finally, July 2nd, 2005, was the date of which charity concert?


And here’s yesterday’s questions and answer …

Q1) Today in 1879 saw Charles Taze Russell first publish “The Watchtower”; this is the central publication for which Christian sect?

A1) The Jehovah’s Witnesses.


Q2) July 1st, 1908, saw what adopted as the international distress call?

A2) SOS.


Q3) Today in 1963 saw the introduction of ZIP codes in the USA; what’s the UK equivalent?

A3) Post codes.


Q4) The Scottish Parliament was officially opened, today; but in which year of the 1990s?

A4) 1999.


Q5) July 1st, 1916, saw the first day of which World War One battle?

A5) The Battle of the Somme.


Q6) And finally, today in 1979, saw electronics giant, Sony, introduce what gadget?

A6) The Sony Walkman.


Enjoy those. I’ll see you tomorrow! And enjoy the video. The Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Prince always could knock out a good one!


Wednesday, 1 July 2009

The Daily Teaser …

Whoah!!

It’s Wednesday!

Wowsa …

You can it’s Wednesday, can’t you? It’s another one of those early starts … He say’s, as breakfast is doing …

At any rate, here’s today’s questions … I’m just hoping Donnette, over on Twitter, doesn’t get too confused!

Q1) Today in 1879 saw Charles Taze Russell first publish “The Watchtower”; this is the central publication for which Christian sect?


Q2) July 1st, 1908, saw what adopted as the international distress call?


Q3) Today in 1963 saw the introduction of ZIP codes in the USA; what’s the UK equivalent?


Q4) The Scottish Parliament was officially opened, today; but in which year of the 1990s?


Q5) July 1st, 1916, saw the first day of which World War One battle?


Q6) And finally, today in 1979, saw electronics giant, Sony, introduce what gadget?



And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) June the 30th saw the UK hand over control of Hong Kong to China; in which year of the 1990s?

A1) 1997.


Q2) June 30th, 1859, saw acrobat Charles Blondin make a tightrope crossing of where?

A2) Niagara Falls.


Q3) June 30th, 1905, saw Albert Einstein publish which version of his theory of Relativity?

A3) The Theory of Special Relativity.


Q4) Keeping scientific, June 30th, 1860, saw the Oxford Union debate what theory?

A4) Evolution.


Q5) And finally, Margaret Thatcher took her place in the House of Lords; as the Baroness of where?

A5) Kesteven.


Enjoy those! I’ll see you tomorrow.