Onwards to Burton-upon-Trent

Our next stop is the brewery town of Burton-upon-Trent. This is always a good place for us to stop as there are plenty of pubs for us to visit!

Your Bank Holiday Monday questions are: -

1. Who married Bob Geldof today in 1986?
   
   
2. Actor Richard Gere (right) was born today in 1949 and co-starred for a second time with Julia Roberts in which 1999 film?
   
   
3. Mary Ann Nicholls became the first known victim of which murderer today in 1888?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Melbourne; 2. Skiing; 3. Cameron Diaz

Wychnor Boat Rally

Today we'll be heading towards Fradley and Alrewas on the Trent & Mersey Canal. Last time we came this way, at this time of year, it took an absolute age to navigate through the locks because of the Wychnor Boat Rally which is held every August Bank holiday weekend. Hopefully we've found somewhere to moor for the evening!

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. Which Australian city, capital of Victoria, was established today in 1835?
   
   
2. Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy (right) was born today in 1943 and was a triple Olympic gold medal winner in which sport?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1972 and provides the voice of Princess Fiona in the "Shrek" film?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Cricket; 2. Sweden; 3. 'Bird' (originally 'Yardbird')

Holiday Time Again!

It's holiday time again. We'll be taking out the good ship Emma Jane onto the waterways of England. Today we should be passing through Birmingham and then heading north!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. According to a mock obituary in The Sporting Times, today in 1882 marked the death of which English sport?
   
   
2. Actress Ingrid Bergman (right) was born today in 1915 in which country? (She also died today in 1982 in London)
   
   
3. What was the nickname of jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker who was born today in 1920?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Scientific American; 2. "Sanctuary"; 3. Pepsi Cola

Geo-Engineering to Reduce Carbon Dioxide

Artificial trees, algae based photobioreactors and reflective roofs are three of the ideas in this report that discusses how we could possibly remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. To my untrained eye, they look plausible, but expensive to implement!

Your Friday posers are: -

1. Which popular science magazine was first published today in 1845?
   
   
2. Actress Amanda Tapping (right) was born today in 1965 and stars as Dr Helen Magnus in which TV series? (Picture courtesy Jill B./MajorSamFan © 2007)
   
   
3. Caleb Bradham invented what drink, then known as 'Brad's Drink', today in 1898?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Zulus; 2. "Scrubs"; 3. Zanzibar

British High Speed Rail Line - Finally!

Only 66 years after Japan (Shinkansen), 50 years after France (TGV) and 40 years after Germany (ICE), Britain will finally have a high speed rail service that is projected to be opened in 2030! It's typical that the country which invented rail travel has fallen so far behind the rest of the world! Does anyone remember the titling trains fiasco of the 1970's/1980's? The APT system was pioneered here in the UK and, when it didn't work on it's first public running (for 3 days) the project was abandoned. Some aspects of the technology were sold to Pendolino and in 2002 Virgin Rail put its first Pendolino train into operation!

Your Thursday posers are: -

1. Chief Buthelezi was born today in 1928 and is a leader in which South African ethnic group?
   
   
2. Actress Sarah Chalke (right) was born today in 1976 and plays Dr Elliot Reid in which US TV sitcom?
   
   
3. The shortest war in history lasted just 38 minutes today in 1896. It was between the United Kingdom and which African island nation?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Michael Johnson; 2. Macedonia (Skopje); 3. Chris Pine

Strictly Come Dancing 2009

The new batch of dancers has been announced for the 2009 series of "Strictly Come Dancing" which starts in September. Of the celebs, two have caught my eye - Martina Hingis and Joe Calzaghe - who'd have thought that they'd be in a competition like this? Most of the rest are soap stars and TV presenters, but as usual I expect it to be fun to watch. Last weekend saw the start of "The X Factor", but I prefer "Strictly"!

Your Wednesday posers are: -

1. Which athlete, now a TV pundit, set the current 400 metres world record today in 1999 in Seville?
   
   
2. In which modern day country was Mother Theresa (right) born today in 1910?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1980 and played James T Kirk in the 2009 film "Star Trek"?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Horses; 2. Seven; 3. Paris

BlogSurfer

Since I started this blog I've discovered several websites that can help get more exposure. Condron.us was one that has given me lots of hits, but it has now changed its name to BlogSurfer.us. It looks the same and does the same job (extremely well!)...only the name has been changed...to protect the innocent??

Your Tuesday teasers are: -

1. English artist George Stubbs was born today in 1724 and is famous for painting which animals?
   
   
2. Actor Sean Connery (right) was born today in 1930 and has played James Bond in how many films?
   
   
3. Which European capital city was liberated today in 1944?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. William Wilberforce; 2. Baltimore Orioles; 3. Pluto

England Regain The Ashes

Six weeks ago, this didn't look a likely result! England had just escaped from Cardiff with an unlikely draw having been thoroughly outplayed. Then at Lord's, Australia were surprisingly poor and England took a 1 - 0 lead. Then on to my local test match at Edgbaston...and it rained, so another draw. Then the 4th Test Match at Headingley where England were very poor and were well beaten; 1 - 1! Having played so badly, England rebounded at The Oval and despite some early wobbles, managed to outplay the Aussies on the 1st Innings to record a famous victory and regain The Ashes!

Your Monday questions are: -

1. Which English politician was born today in 1759 and was a leading figure in the movement to abolish slavery?
   
   
2. Cal Ripken Jr (right) was born today in 1960 and played a record 2,632 consecutive games for which baseball team?
   
   
3. Which object in the solar system was relegated to the status of dwarf planet today in 2006?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Australia; 2. "My Own Private Idaho"; 3. John Lennon

Summer Sports in Finland

Saturday saw the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championship in Finland. The winner of the Men's event was Pauli Kosunen with a throw of 79.6 metres and the Women's winner was Suvi Torikka, 37.05 metres. The full results can be found here. This is just one of the many 'crazy' events that take place in Finland each summer. The list includes boot throwing, wife carrying, mosquito slapping, mobile-phone throwing, swamp football, sauna endurance contests... and many more. And it's probably no coincidence that of all the many countries where people exult in playing air guitar, it's Finland that hosts the world championships.!

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. In which country did all 1,645 domestic pilots resign today in 1989?
   
   
2. Actor River Phoenix (right), who was born today in 1970, starred in which 1991 film alongside Keanu Reeves?
   
   
3. Who married Cynthia Powell today in 1962 having first met at Liverpool College of Art?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Queensland; 2. Edvard Munch; 3. Leni Riefenstahl

Black Country on the Map!!

For those of you from around the world.....just where is the Black Country? That's not such an easy question, but the previous link has many of the details. Traditionally, it's a region between Birmingham and Wolverhampton that got it's name from the coal seam that runs under it and which spawned a phenomenal amount of industrial activity. A more modern definition includes parts of Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley and Smethwick. After lobbying by the local Chamber of Commerce, the Black Country has now been recognised by the Ordnance Survey and included on their maps (although they have steered clear of defining it as a region!) The Black Country also has its own dialect which is very different from the Brummie accent!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. Today in 1770, Captain James Cook landed on Possession Island, just off the coast of which Australian state?
   
   
2. Who painted "The Scream" (right) that was stolen from an Oslo museum dedicated to the artist, today in 2004?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1902 and filmed the 1934 Nuremberg Rally and the 1936 Berlin Olympics?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Mexico; 2. "The Matrix"; 3. Joe Strummer

Happy Birthday Usain

He did it again! Again I was speechless as Usain Bolt knocked more than ONE TENTH of a second off the 200 metres world record and was almost SEVEN TENTHS of a second ahead of his nearest rival in the World Athletics Championship 200 metres final in Berlin! Today is his 23rd birthday - goodness knows how fast he'll be when he reaches his prime!!

Your Friday testers are: -

1. In which country did Russian Revolutionary Leon Trotsky die today in 1940 following an attack with an ice pick?
   
   
2. Actress Carrie-Anne Moss (right) was born today in 1967 and played Trinity in which sci-fi trilogy?
   
   
3. Who was the singer and co-founder of The Clash that was born today in 1952?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Mars; 2. Spike; 3. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

PowerPoint - 25 Years Old

My apologies, I'm a bit late with this 'news'! I discovered this article on the BBC website detailing the history (and 'boredom quotient') of the ubiquitous PowerPoint. Apparently it began life as Presentation and was conceived on 14th August 1984 by Robert Gaskins. The name was changed to PowerPoint in 1987 because of a trademark problem and introduced a couple of months later. So, now you know who to blame for those many, many, many wasted hours looking at superfluous slides and trying to keep awake!

Your Thursday teasers are: -

1. Space Probe Viking 1 was launched towards which planet today in 1975?
   
   
2. Actor James Marsters (right) was born today in 1962 and played which character in the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"?
   
   
3. Who composed the "1812 Overture" that debuted in Moscow today in 1882?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Bill Clinton; 2. Gabrielle; 3. Bill Shoemaker

Star Trek Coincidence

I like a good coincidence - so here's another! Today in 1952, Jonathan Frakes was born. He's probably most famous for playing Commander William Riker in "Star Trek: TNG". Today in 1938, Diana Muldaur was born. She played Doctor Pulaski in the second series of "TNG" and she also appeared in two episodes of the original "Star Trek". The final piece in the jigsaw is that today in 1921, Gene Roddenberry was born!

Your Wednesday teasers are: -

1. Which former US President was born William Jefferson Blythe III today in 1946?
   
   
2. What was the real first name of fashion designer Coco Chanel (right) who was born today in 1883?
   
   
3. Which American jockey was born today in 1931 and rode 8,833 winners during his career?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Mars; 2. Sundance; 3. Tottenham Hotspur

BlogDumps - Top Sites Tuesday #21

This week's theme is favourite quotes. Again there are so many to choose from so I've restricted myself to just a couple from arguably the best footballer to have come from the British Isles - yes, Belfast born George Best! He lived his life to the full, retired from football too early, partied too much and died too young, but he gave pleasure to millions and, for those of us who started watching football in the sixties, the line-up of Best, Charlton and Law still brings back great memories!

Anyway, the two quotes that I like and sum him up best are:-

"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."

And as befits a man who would regularly fail to turn up for matches and other events - "I used to go missing a lot....Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom, Miss World...."!

Your Tuesday teasers are: -

1. Astronomer Asaph Hall discovered the moon Phobos, today in 1877, orbiting which planet?
   
   
2. Which film festival was co-founded by Robert Redford (right) who was born today in 1936?
   
   
3. Ricky Villa was born today in 1952 in Argentina and scored Wembley's 'Goal of the Century' for which team in the 1981 FA Cup Final replay?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Turkey; 2. 2 ("The Godfather Part II" & "Raging Bull"); 3. Davy Crockett



Come Join Top Sites Tuesday and be #1 on BlogDumps!
The purpose of this Meme is to encourage
Networking between bloggers to have fun while doing it!
Make sure to visit all the other participants and leave comments.

Usain Bolt Smashes World Record

I watched open mouthed as Usain Bolt knocked ONE TENTH of a second off the 100 metres world record at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin! This is the biggest drop in the 100 m world record since electronic timing was introduced in 1977. And to think that he could go even faster in the future - phenomenal!

Your Monday questions are: -

1. In which country is Izmit that was devastated by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake today in 1999?
   

   
   
2. How many Oscars have been won by Robert De Niro (right) who was born today in 1943?
   
   
3. Which American frontiersman and folk hero was born in Tennessee today in 1786?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Manchester; 2. Sean Penn; 3. New York Yankees

Fame At Last!!

When I started this blog in December last year I didn't really know what I was doing, other than, hopefully, amusing people and stretching their brains a bit! To be honest I'm still not 100% sure what I'm doing, but along the way I've tried various ploys and strategies to get my trivia to a wider audience. One such idea was to get listed on BlogDumps (great name) run by WolfBernz. I'm sure that I've acquired more hits from other sites, but none with the quality of readership that come through BlogDumps. This week I was the Top Site on Tuesday and I'd just like to thank everyone who voted and visited, the nice people at BlogDumps, my Mum & Dad and.....sorry started on an Oscar style blub!! Cheers!

Your Sunday posers are: -

1. In which British city was the Peterloo Massacre that took place today in 1819?
   
   
2. Who married Madonna (right) on her 27th birthday today in 1985?
   
   
3. Which baseball team has featured most times on the cover of Sports Illustrated that was first published today in 1954?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. USS Missouri; 2. Ajaccio; 3. Copenhagen

National Health Service

It's been quite surprising to see the National Health Service become a political football in the United States! Over here we're used to the debate about the failings in the system, but we are always reassured by the fact that when we are ill we get treated FOR FREE! Sure there are flaws in the system (show me a health service that is perfect!) but we always feel comfortable that we will get treated, whether we are wealthy or poor. That's the fact the Republicans seem to miss...but then they probably all have the money to pay for it!!

Your Saturday posers are: -

1. On board which ship did Japan surrender unconditionally today in 1945?
   
   
2. What is the capital of Corsica where Napoleon Bonaparte (right) was born today in 1769?
   
   
3. In which city are the Tivoli Gardens amusement park that opened today in 1843?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. 'Carlos the Jackal'; 2. "Catwoman"; 3. Danielle Steel

Why Do Flamingoes Stand on One Leg?

Regular visitors will know that I like to find the quirky and strange news items. This one caught my eye - comparative psychologists, Matthew Anderson and Sarah Williams, based at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, have found the answer to this conundrum. In a word - thermoregulation - read this article for the explanation (I don't have enough room here!!)

Your Friday teasers are: -

1. Captured today in 1994, how was international terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez better known?
   
   
2. Halle Berry (right) was born today in 1966 and won the Worst Actress Golden Raspberry in 2004 for her role in which film?
   
   
3. Which author was born today in 1947 and has had her books in the New York Times best sellers list for over 390 consecutive weeks?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Alan Shearer; 2. Cyprus; 3. US Marine Corps

UK Jobless Total - 2.4 Million

Unfortunately, I'm one of those 2.4 million and I live in the area with the highest percentage of people out of work - Birmingham! Am I down hearted? Quite frankly, yes! However, I'll just keep sending off my CV, trying to get my quiz book published, get my film idea to a producable state and explore other avenues to generate an income! One thing to remember, though, if there are 7.8% of people unemployed that means that 92.2% are in work! That's still a lot of people with jobs!

Your Thursday teasers are: -

1. Who was born today in 1970 and was the first footballer to score 200 Premier League goals?
   
   
2. Archbishop Makarios III (right) was born today in 1913 and became the first President of which country in 1960?
   
   
3. Opha Mae Johnson was the first woman to enlist in which branch of the US Military today in 1918?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC; 2.14; 3. Cleopatra

Perseid Meteor Shower

Every year on 12th August we are able to witness the greatest show on earth - namely the Perseid Meteor Shower which, at it's peak reaches over 60 shooting stars per hour! Living in a big city means that the view is not great, but I do remember occasions back in my home village or on our narrowboat when I've had a great view of this spectacular show. Hopefully, there will be few clouds tonight!

Your Wednesday teasers are: -

1. Who was born today in 1918 and led the Dam Busters mission in 1943?
   
   
2. How many Grand Slam singles titles were won by Pete Sampras (right) who was born today in 1971?
   
   
3. Which Queen of Egypt committed suicide today in 30 BC?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Alcatraz; 2. Apple Inc; 3. Los Angeles
Connection: CALIFORNIA (Alcatraz, LA, Apple are in California and Steve Wozniak was also born there)

BlogDumps - Three Things on Tuesday

It's BlogDumps Tuesday again and, I am honour bound to make an extra effort this week as Wolfbernz has set the task for us to align with the fact that I always have three questions! Well, the three questions are below and, as an extra bonus, there is a connection between the three answers. It's a quite straightforward link, but hopefully it will exercise your "little grey cells" for a little while!

Tuesday's questions are: -

1. Which prison opened to Federal prisoners today in 1934?
   
   
   
2. Computer engineer Steve Wozniak (right) was born today in 1950 and is a co-founder of which corporation?
   
   
3. In which city were the Watts Riots that started today in 1965?
   
   Yesterday's Answers: 1. German Shepherd; 2. Ireland; 3. Ferdinand Magellan



Come Join Top Sites Tuesday and be #1 on BlogDumps!
The purpose of this Meme is to encourage
Networking between bloggers to have fun while doing it!
Make sure to visit all the other participants and leave comments.