So This Is New Year ...
... And Nothing Is Really Different
Alright? Decided to take a massive break from the blog treadmill and finally finish off that bloody bloody hard quiz book I started many moon cycles ago. Unfortunately and fortuitously (for potential buyers), I decided that the answer pages looked far too sparse, so I decided to do a Magnus Magnusson and fill them with extraneous, interesting and obscure information and have, um, added about 30,000 words to the existing 64,000 word count at the time of writing. I aim to finish by the end of the month, but 'tis become a self-inflicted wade through molasses and I am sure to add maybe 40,000 words more. If I can be bothered.
However, it is good fun. Once I get down to it and, er, finish a massive five Q&A pages in an average 12 hours (I ain't kidding; it takes that long to recheck and embroider). Mind you, did my newly minted mini-essay on the definition of carboxlyic acids help me at the Northampton GP? Nope, I crossed "CARBOXYLIC" out and put "ALKANES". Idiot.
Giant Scores: Prolong
So so sorry about the lack of a conclusion to the Giant quiz. This is explained by the fact that I managed to lose a notebook containing a third of the question paper scores over Xmas. It still remains unfound, so I have been forced to remark the missing tallies. As this takes 25 minutes for every paper, you can imagine the sound of my heart constantly sighing in mild despair and resignation and the amount of time it consumes. Expect it all to be done by the time it is the first week of February, if you are of an optimistic bent. Once again, apologies for those who returned their papers sometime during the 1990s.
President's Cup
We only managed to win one round of our President's Cup match yesterday, but a 9-2 score in round seven was all we needed to ensure a 45-41 victory over the Masterminders. Which was a nice surprise.
I managed to whack out (bad phraseology, but it seems apt) a friendly in a record two hours. It is below these words. The MMers won on the last question 34-33. Unanswered questions marked *
President's Cup Friendly 18/1/09
Round 1
1a Which Mexican-born actor, who played Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, died on January 14?
RICARDO MONTALBAN (or Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalban y Merino)
1b Which woman married Henry VII of England in January 1486?
ELIZABETH OF YORK
2a What is the capital of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna? It is home to the Alma Mater Studiorum university which was founded in 1088.
BOLOGNA
2b Which American-born actor, who played Edward Longshanks in the film Braveheart, died on January 13?
PATRICK MCGOOHAN
3a Denis Healey held which post in the Labour Cabinet from 1964 to 1970?
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE
3b Bari is the capital of which region that is nicknamed the heel of Italy?
APULIA
4a Th German states unified into the German Empire in January 1871. Which Prussian king was proclaimed as its first Emperor?
WILHELM I
4b Keith Joseph held which post in the Tory Cabinet from 1981 to 1986?
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION & SCIENCE
Round 2
1a What unit of weight derives its name from the Greek word for 'fruit of the carob' via the Arabic for 'seed'?
CARAT
1b James B. Ferrier became the first golfer from which country to win a major when he won the PGA Championship in 1947?*
AUSTRALIA
2a Which golfer became the first Canadian to win a major championship when he won the Masters in 2003?
MIKE WEIR
2b In which US state was Bruce Springsteen born?
NEW JERSEY
3a Previous presenters of which Radio 4 programme include Richard Baker, Russell Harty, Melvyn Bragg and Jeremy Paxman?
START THE WEEK
3b Anna Hill, Charlotte Smith, Miriam O'Reilly and Mark Holdstock are presenters of which Radio 4 programme?*
FARMING TODAY
4a In which US state was Bob Dylan born?
MINNESOTA
4b What unit of weight derives its name from a Latin word meaning 'one-twelfth part'?
OUNCE
Round 3
1a What was the nationality of the athlete who won gold in the men's triple jump at the Beijing Olympics, beating Great Britain's Philips Idowu into second place?
PORTUGUESE (Nelson Evora)
1b Which Poet Laureate lost his virginity at the age of 41 on the occasion of his marriage to Emily Sellwood?
ALFRED LORD TENNYSON
2a Isolated by Michael Faraday in 1825, what was the first known aromatic hydrocarbon?
BENZENE
2b Great Britain's Germaine Mason finished second in the high jump at the Beijing Olympics. What was the nationality of the athlete who finished first?*
RUSSIAN (Andrey Silnov)
3a "Auspicum melioris aevi", meaning 'token of a better age', is the motto of which British order of chivalry that was founded in 1818?*
ORDER OF ST MICHAEL & ST GEORGE
3b Also known as aniline purple, what was the first synthetic organic dye?
MAUVEINE or PERKIN'S MAUVE
4a The marriage of which Nobel Prize for Literature winner to Charlotte Payne-Townsend remained unconsummated for its entire 45-year duration?
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
4b Which British monarch founded the Order of the Companions of Honour?
GEORGE V
Round 4
1a White Slave is the autobiography of which English celebrity chef, who received three Michelin stars at the age of 33?
MARCO PIERRE WHITE
1b Zia International Airport serves which Asian capital?
DHAKA
2a Sir Seretse Khama International Airport serves which African capital?
GABORONE
2b Known by the scientific name Crocodylus porosus, what is the largest living reptile?
ESTUARINE or SALTWATER CROCODILE
3a Completed in 1985, who designed the HSBC headquarters building in Hong Kong?
NORMAN FOSTER
3b Owner of Le Manour aux Quat' Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, which French chef stars on the BBC2 programme The Restaurant?
RAYMOND BLANC
4a Known by the scientific name Theraphosa blondi, which South American arachnid is the largest spider in the world?
GOLIATH BIRD-EATING SPIDER (accept BIRDEATER)
4b Designed by Norman Foster, what location gives its name to the building otherwise known as the Gherkin or the Swiss Re Tower?
30 ST MARY AXE
Round 5
1a Skeleton, Fill-in and Cipher are forms of what?*
CROSSWORD
1b Which 1964 Carry On film, the last to be shot in black and white, marked the first appearance of Barbara Windsor?
CARRY ON SPYING
2a Which Carry On film of 1974 was the last to feature Sid James?*
CARRY ON DICK
2b John Claggart, Red Whiskers and Squeak are characters in which 1951 Benjamin Britten opera?
BILLY BUDD
3a Florence Pike, Miss Wordsworth and Lady Billows are roles in which 1947 Britten opera?*
ALBERT HERRING
3b Which newspaper launched the first regular British crossword puzzle in 1924?
SUNDAY EXPRESS
4a In which county will you find Southwell racecourse?
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
4b Lingfield racecourse is located in which county?
SURREY
Round 6
1a The Afro-Caribbean style of music, calypso, originated in which country?
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
1b Added to the Bloomsbury Pocket English Dictionary in 2007, what new word describes the practice of groups of people performing attention-seeking activities in public places after being mobilised on the internet?
FLASH-MOBBING
2a Which European capital city was called Verona by the Romans?*
BERNE
2b Marc Gregoir invented which kitchen utensil in 1954?*
NON-STICK PAN
3a Added to the Bloomsbury Pocket English Dictionary in 2007, what new word describes an elderly patient who need not be treated in hospital, but who cannot return home to live independently?
BED-BLOCKER
3b The Romans called which sea the Mare Inferum?
TYRRHENIAN SEA
4a Earl Hass invented the modern form of which personal hygiene product in 1930?
TAMPON
4b Which Cuban musical form and dance style derives its name from a Yoruba word meaning 'conversation with the gods'?*
MAMBO
Round 7
1a Name either of the duo who wrote the 1975 musical A Chorus Line.*
MICHAEL BENNETT or MARVIN HAMLISCH
1b Handed out by the Literary Review, which award was first won in 1993 by Melvin Bragg for his novel A Time to Dance?
BAD SEX IN FICTION
2a Which American writer was the posthumous winner of the 2007 Bad Sex in Fiction Award for The Castle in the Forest?
NORMAN MAILER
2b Which 30-year-old Arsenal Ladies footballer and FIFA World Player of the Year nominee was the only English player to play in the defunct Women's United Soccer Association?*
KELLY SMITH
3a Which moon of Saturn shares its name with one of the title characters in the sitcom Friends?
PHOEBE
3b Name either of the duo who wrote the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof.*
SHELDON HARNICK or JERRY BOCK
4a Which Brazilian footballer won her third successive FIFA World Player of the Year title in 2008, equalling Birgit Prinz's record?
MARTA (full name Marta Vieira de Silva)
4b Which moon of Saturn shares its name with an African mountain range?
ATLAS
Round 8
1a Yaa, the transliteration being Y, is the last letter in which 28-letter alphabet?*
ARABIC
1b Pronounced "ja" or "ya", a backwards R is the last letter in which 33-letter alphabet?
CYRILLIC
2a Which song formed the double A-side with 'Mull of Kintyre' in a 1977 Paul McCartney & Wings single?
GIRLS' SCHOOL
2b Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani assumed power in which country in 1995?*
QATAR
3a What linguistic term is defined as joining two parts of a sentence with a common word, e.g. "he broke the record and a leg"?*
ZEUGMA
3b Which song formed the double A-side with 'Rivers of Babylon' in a 1978 Boney M single?
BROWN GIRL IN THE RING
4a Shaikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah was sworn in as ruler of which country in 2006?
KUWAIT
4b What linguistic term is defined as deliberate understatement, e.g. "no small victory" actually means "a very impressive victory"?
LITOTES
SPARES
OJ Simpson played for the San Francisco 49ers and which other NFL team?
BUFFALO BILLS
Designed by Philip Johnson and the epoymous artist, the Rothko Chapel was completed in 1971. In which US city is it located?
HOUSTON
David Graham became the first Australian to win which golf major in 1981?
US OPEN
Known by the scientific name Mola mola, what is the largest living bony fish?
OCEAN SUNFISH
Alright? Decided to take a massive break from the blog treadmill and finally finish off that bloody bloody hard quiz book I started many moon cycles ago. Unfortunately and fortuitously (for potential buyers), I decided that the answer pages looked far too sparse, so I decided to do a Magnus Magnusson and fill them with extraneous, interesting and obscure information and have, um, added about 30,000 words to the existing 64,000 word count at the time of writing. I aim to finish by the end of the month, but 'tis become a self-inflicted wade through molasses and I am sure to add maybe 40,000 words more. If I can be bothered.
However, it is good fun. Once I get down to it and, er, finish a massive five Q&A pages in an average 12 hours (I ain't kidding; it takes that long to recheck and embroider). Mind you, did my newly minted mini-essay on the definition of carboxlyic acids help me at the Northampton GP? Nope, I crossed "CARBOXYLIC" out and put "ALKANES". Idiot.
Giant Scores: Prolong
So so sorry about the lack of a conclusion to the Giant quiz. This is explained by the fact that I managed to lose a notebook containing a third of the question paper scores over Xmas. It still remains unfound, so I have been forced to remark the missing tallies. As this takes 25 minutes for every paper, you can imagine the sound of my heart constantly sighing in mild despair and resignation and the amount of time it consumes. Expect it all to be done by the time it is the first week of February, if you are of an optimistic bent. Once again, apologies for those who returned their papers sometime during the 1990s.
President's Cup
We only managed to win one round of our President's Cup match yesterday, but a 9-2 score in round seven was all we needed to ensure a 45-41 victory over the Masterminders. Which was a nice surprise.
I managed to whack out (bad phraseology, but it seems apt) a friendly in a record two hours. It is below these words. The MMers won on the last question 34-33. Unanswered questions marked *
President's Cup Friendly 18/1/09
Round 1
1a Which Mexican-born actor, who played Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, died on January 14?
RICARDO MONTALBAN (or Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalban y Merino)
1b Which woman married Henry VII of England in January 1486?
ELIZABETH OF YORK
2a What is the capital of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna? It is home to the Alma Mater Studiorum university which was founded in 1088.
BOLOGNA
2b Which American-born actor, who played Edward Longshanks in the film Braveheart, died on January 13?
PATRICK MCGOOHAN
3a Denis Healey held which post in the Labour Cabinet from 1964 to 1970?
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE
3b Bari is the capital of which region that is nicknamed the heel of Italy?
APULIA
4a Th German states unified into the German Empire in January 1871. Which Prussian king was proclaimed as its first Emperor?
WILHELM I
4b Keith Joseph held which post in the Tory Cabinet from 1981 to 1986?
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION & SCIENCE
Round 2
1a What unit of weight derives its name from the Greek word for 'fruit of the carob' via the Arabic for 'seed'?
CARAT
1b James B. Ferrier became the first golfer from which country to win a major when he won the PGA Championship in 1947?*
AUSTRALIA
2a Which golfer became the first Canadian to win a major championship when he won the Masters in 2003?
MIKE WEIR
2b In which US state was Bruce Springsteen born?
NEW JERSEY
3a Previous presenters of which Radio 4 programme include Richard Baker, Russell Harty, Melvyn Bragg and Jeremy Paxman?
START THE WEEK
3b Anna Hill, Charlotte Smith, Miriam O'Reilly and Mark Holdstock are presenters of which Radio 4 programme?*
FARMING TODAY
4a In which US state was Bob Dylan born?
MINNESOTA
4b What unit of weight derives its name from a Latin word meaning 'one-twelfth part'?
OUNCE
Round 3
1a What was the nationality of the athlete who won gold in the men's triple jump at the Beijing Olympics, beating Great Britain's Philips Idowu into second place?
PORTUGUESE (Nelson Evora)
1b Which Poet Laureate lost his virginity at the age of 41 on the occasion of his marriage to Emily Sellwood?
ALFRED LORD TENNYSON
2a Isolated by Michael Faraday in 1825, what was the first known aromatic hydrocarbon?
BENZENE
2b Great Britain's Germaine Mason finished second in the high jump at the Beijing Olympics. What was the nationality of the athlete who finished first?*
RUSSIAN (Andrey Silnov)
3a "Auspicum melioris aevi", meaning 'token of a better age', is the motto of which British order of chivalry that was founded in 1818?*
ORDER OF ST MICHAEL & ST GEORGE
3b Also known as aniline purple, what was the first synthetic organic dye?
MAUVEINE or PERKIN'S MAUVE
4a The marriage of which Nobel Prize for Literature winner to Charlotte Payne-Townsend remained unconsummated for its entire 45-year duration?
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
4b Which British monarch founded the Order of the Companions of Honour?
GEORGE V
Round 4
1a White Slave is the autobiography of which English celebrity chef, who received three Michelin stars at the age of 33?
MARCO PIERRE WHITE
1b Zia International Airport serves which Asian capital?
DHAKA
2a Sir Seretse Khama International Airport serves which African capital?
GABORONE
2b Known by the scientific name Crocodylus porosus, what is the largest living reptile?
ESTUARINE or SALTWATER CROCODILE
3a Completed in 1985, who designed the HSBC headquarters building in Hong Kong?
NORMAN FOSTER
3b Owner of Le Manour aux Quat' Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, which French chef stars on the BBC2 programme The Restaurant?
RAYMOND BLANC
4a Known by the scientific name Theraphosa blondi, which South American arachnid is the largest spider in the world?
GOLIATH BIRD-EATING SPIDER (accept BIRDEATER)
4b Designed by Norman Foster, what location gives its name to the building otherwise known as the Gherkin or the Swiss Re Tower?
30 ST MARY AXE
Round 5
1a Skeleton, Fill-in and Cipher are forms of what?*
CROSSWORD
1b Which 1964 Carry On film, the last to be shot in black and white, marked the first appearance of Barbara Windsor?
CARRY ON SPYING
2a Which Carry On film of 1974 was the last to feature Sid James?*
CARRY ON DICK
2b John Claggart, Red Whiskers and Squeak are characters in which 1951 Benjamin Britten opera?
BILLY BUDD
3a Florence Pike, Miss Wordsworth and Lady Billows are roles in which 1947 Britten opera?*
ALBERT HERRING
3b Which newspaper launched the first regular British crossword puzzle in 1924?
SUNDAY EXPRESS
4a In which county will you find Southwell racecourse?
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
4b Lingfield racecourse is located in which county?
SURREY
Round 6
1a The Afro-Caribbean style of music, calypso, originated in which country?
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
1b Added to the Bloomsbury Pocket English Dictionary in 2007, what new word describes the practice of groups of people performing attention-seeking activities in public places after being mobilised on the internet?
FLASH-MOBBING
2a Which European capital city was called Verona by the Romans?*
BERNE
2b Marc Gregoir invented which kitchen utensil in 1954?*
NON-STICK PAN
3a Added to the Bloomsbury Pocket English Dictionary in 2007, what new word describes an elderly patient who need not be treated in hospital, but who cannot return home to live independently?
BED-BLOCKER
3b The Romans called which sea the Mare Inferum?
TYRRHENIAN SEA
4a Earl Hass invented the modern form of which personal hygiene product in 1930?
TAMPON
4b Which Cuban musical form and dance style derives its name from a Yoruba word meaning 'conversation with the gods'?*
MAMBO
Round 7
1a Name either of the duo who wrote the 1975 musical A Chorus Line.*
MICHAEL BENNETT or MARVIN HAMLISCH
1b Handed out by the Literary Review, which award was first won in 1993 by Melvin Bragg for his novel A Time to Dance?
BAD SEX IN FICTION
2a Which American writer was the posthumous winner of the 2007 Bad Sex in Fiction Award for The Castle in the Forest?
NORMAN MAILER
2b Which 30-year-old Arsenal Ladies footballer and FIFA World Player of the Year nominee was the only English player to play in the defunct Women's United Soccer Association?*
KELLY SMITH
3a Which moon of Saturn shares its name with one of the title characters in the sitcom Friends?
PHOEBE
3b Name either of the duo who wrote the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof.*
SHELDON HARNICK or JERRY BOCK
4a Which Brazilian footballer won her third successive FIFA World Player of the Year title in 2008, equalling Birgit Prinz's record?
MARTA (full name Marta Vieira de Silva)
4b Which moon of Saturn shares its name with an African mountain range?
ATLAS
Round 8
1a Yaa, the transliteration being Y, is the last letter in which 28-letter alphabet?*
ARABIC
1b Pronounced "ja" or "ya", a backwards R is the last letter in which 33-letter alphabet?
CYRILLIC
2a Which song formed the double A-side with 'Mull of Kintyre' in a 1977 Paul McCartney & Wings single?
GIRLS' SCHOOL
2b Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani assumed power in which country in 1995?*
QATAR
3a What linguistic term is defined as joining two parts of a sentence with a common word, e.g. "he broke the record and a leg"?*
ZEUGMA
3b Which song formed the double A-side with 'Rivers of Babylon' in a 1978 Boney M single?
BROWN GIRL IN THE RING
4a Shaikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah was sworn in as ruler of which country in 2006?
KUWAIT
4b What linguistic term is defined as deliberate understatement, e.g. "no small victory" actually means "a very impressive victory"?
LITOTES
SPARES
OJ Simpson played for the San Francisco 49ers and which other NFL team?
BUFFALO BILLS
Designed by Philip Johnson and the epoymous artist, the Rothko Chapel was completed in 1971. In which US city is it located?
HOUSTON
David Graham became the first Australian to win which golf major in 1981?
US OPEN
Known by the scientific name Mola mola, what is the largest living bony fish?
OCEAN SUNFISH
posted by That Quiz Guy at 9:06 AM
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