Pointless - Party Political Conferences

This is something I should have included in yesterday's post - Autumn is the time for all the major British political parties to hold their annual conferences - and it's another reason for not liking Autumn! This week it's Labour, last week was the Lib-Dems and next week it'll be the Conservatives. It fills up the news media as if anyone actually cared - WE DON'T! These will be the last conferences before the next General Election which will probably be in May next year, but so far all we hear is the same old rubbish!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. Who said, today in 1938, "I believe that it is peace for our time"?
   
   
2. Actress Angie Dickinson (right) was born today in 1931 and played what character in the 70's TV series "Police Woman"?
   

   
   
3. Whose last opera, "The Magic Flute", premiered in Vienna today in 1791?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. John D Rockefeller; 2. AC Milan; 3. 1500 metres

BlogDumps Tuesday #27

This week's theme is "My Favourite Thing About Fall"! This is difficult for me as I associate Autumn (as we call it in Britain!) with endings and have never really liked it as a season! It signals the end of the cricket season (the only sport I was halfway competent at!), the nights become longer than the days, the temperature starts to drop, the rain becomes more persistent, winter isn't far away and no more canal trips until next year!

However, I suppose it isn't all bad - the colours of the leaves are usually gorgeous, it's time for Conkers (conkers are the seeds from Horse Chestnut trees - see this link for further explanation) and in a few weeks time it will be bonfire night with the attendant firework displays. So, not so dismal after all!!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Which American industrialist and philanthropist was declared the world's first billionaire today in 1916?
   
   
2. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (right) was born today in 1936 and is owner of which Serie A football team?
   

   
   
3. Lord Sebastian Coe was born today in 1956 and won Olympic Gold Medals in 1980 and 1984 running over what distance?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Confucius; 2. "Emmanuelle"; 3. Jennifer Rush


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The Easy Quiz Master

It's been a while since I plugged my own book, "The Easy Quiz Master". It is a simple book that contains enough quiz questions to run one quiz per week for a whole year! That's five rounds of ten questions per round for each quiz. For ANYONE who is looking to run a regular quiz it is an invaluable resource! It is available via Lulu.com and Amazon.

Your Monday questions are: -

1. Which Chinese philosopher is traditionally believed to have been born today in 551 BC?
   
   
2. French actress Sylvia Kristel (right) was born today in 1952 and played the title role in which 1974 erotic film?
   

   
   
3. Who was born today in 1960 in New York and had a UK No 1 single in 1985 with "The Power of Love"?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Queen Elizabeth (future Queen Mother); 2. "Shakespeare in Love"; 3. Meat Loaf

September 27th

I've just got back from playing golf (lost again) and there's nothing in the news that inspires me, so I'll just leave you with the questions today!

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. Who launched the liner Queen Elizabeth at Clydebank today in 1938?
   
   
2. Gwyneth Paltrow (right) was born today in 1972 and won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in which 1998 film?
   

   
   
3. Which rock singer was born Marvin Lee Aday in Texas today in 1947?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Queen Mary; 2. United Kingdom (Cambridge); 3. Francis Drake

It Could Only Happen In Formula 1

On the first practice session at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, Renault driver Romain Grosjean crashed his car into the wall at exactly the same place Nelson Piquet Jr. controversially did in the race last year, leading to his teammate Fernando Alonso's victory! If someone wrote this in a novel they'd be accused of being unrealistic, but this actually happened!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. Who launched the liner Queen Mary at Clydebank today in 1934?
   
   
2. In which country was singer Olivia Newton-John (right) born today in 1948?

   
   
3. Who returned to Plymouth today in 1580 after having circumnavigated the globe?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. U2; 2. "Melrose Place"; 3. East Riding of Yorkshire

HIV Vaccine 'Reduces Infection'

A remarkable result from a large scale trial in Thailand that involved over 16,000 subjects seems to indicate a 30% drop in HIV infection rate! However, before we all go shouting from the rooftops, the actual number of infections was 51 in the vaccinated group as opposed to 74 in the control group (That's a 0.66% infection rate versus 0.90% rate in the placebo group). I'm not enough of a statistician to say for sure, but it is possible that this is caused by random chance; I hope not though.

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Which rock band was originally formed today in 1976 at the home of drummer Larry Mullen?
   
   
2. Actress Heather Locklear (right) was born today in 1961 and played Amanda Woodward in which US TV soap opera?

   
   
3. In which modern day county did the Battle of Stamford Bridge take place today in 1066?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Portugal; 2. Ashton Kutcher; 3. Arthur Guinness

UK Offer to Reduce Nuclear Arsenal

Gordon Brown has put on the table the prospect of Britain reducing its number of Trident submarines from four down to three. This is good news and a positive step in the right direction, but until all nations agree to get rid of them we will continue to have the threat of nuclear devastation will hang over the human race.

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. The African Republic of Guinea-Bissau declared its independence from which European country today in 1973?
   
   
2. Which actor became the third husband of Demi Moore (right) today in 2005?

   
   
3. Which brewer was born today in 1725 in County Kildare?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Steve Redgrave; 2. Argentina; 3. Nintendo

Kasparov vs. Karpov - 25 Years On

In Valencia one of the greatest rivalries in Chess has been resumed when Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov sat down to play a twelve game match under strict time limits. The first time they met in 1984 Karpov was 5 - 3 ahead after an epic 43 games and the match was stopped for the health of both players. The match can be followed live on the Valencia Regional Government website. Kasparov won the first game; game 2 is underway as I write this.

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. Who won his fifth Olympic Gold medal today in 2000 in Sydney?
   
   
2. In which country was reigning US Open Tennis champion Juan Martín del Potro (right) born today in 1988?

   
   
3. Which Japanese corporation, best known today for video games, was founded today in 1889?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Andrea Bocelli; 2. Floyd Patterson; 3. Michael Faraday

World's Deltas Are Sinking

Now here is an environmental disaster that can be squarely placed as the fault of the human race! Of the world's major river deltas, over 70% of them are sinking putting about half a billion people at risk. Our desire to control our rivers and extract power from them means that very little sediment actually reaches the deltas. River deltas rely on this sediment to build them up in a process called 'aggradation' (a new word for me!). Some deltas are sinking faster than the sea level is rising!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Which Italian operatic pop tenor was born today in 1958 and has been blind since the age of 12?
   
   
2. Swedish boxer Ingemar Johansson (right) was born today in 1932 and defeated which American heavyweight to become World Champion in 1959?

   
   
3. Which chemist and physicist was born today in 1791 in London and has the SI Unit of Capacitance named after him?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Stonehenge; 2. "Carrie"; 3. Gustav Holst

X-Factor Wins Ratings Battle

Don't worry, this blog isn't turning into and entertainment blog...but I do hope it is entertaining!! Anyway, this is just to follow up on yesterday's entry to confirm that "The X-Factor" was ahead of "Strictly Come Dancing" in viewer numbers throughout their overlap on Saturday. This is only to be expected as "X-Factor" has always been slightly more popular than "Strictly" - normal service is resumed!

Your Monday questions are: -

1. Which monument was sold to Cecil Chubb for £6,600 today in 1915, which he presented to the nation three years later?
   
   
2. What was the title of the first published novel by Stephen King (right) who was born today in 1947?

   
   
3. Who was born today in 1874 in Cheltenham and is best remembered as the composer of "The Planets Suite"?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. F W de Klerk; 2. Vampire; 3. Ferdinand Magellan

X-Factor vs. Strictly Come Dancing

"Strictly Come Dancing" returned to our screens this weekend and this year it has been scheduled in the same time slot as "The X-Factor"! This is crazy as many people like both (personally, I'm a "Strictly" fan) including Simon Cowell's mum! I read in The Sun that he wants to come to some arrangement so that both can be shown at different times and now I find that he is going to try and get ITV to move "X-Factor"! Simon Cowell never fails to amaze me with his common sense approach to everything he does!

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. Who was sworn in as President of South Africa today in 1989?

   
   
2. What was the name of the drag car that TV presenter Richard Hammond (right) crashed in at over 280mph today in 2006?

   
   
3. Who set off from Spain today in 1519 with five ships to sail around the world?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Montgolfier Brothers; 2. Batman; 3. Twiggy

US NOT to Build Weapons Bases in Eastern Europe

As far as I can see this is a very good decision by President Obama. Not only does it reduce the tension between Russia and the US, but it will also save a fortune which the US can ill afford to spend at the moment with the current debt levels. Russia and America need to be on the same side with the rise of religious fundamentalism and, hopefully, this is a step in the right direction for all of us!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. Who sent up the first balloon with live creatures as passengers today in 1783?

   
   
2. Actor Adam West (right) was born today in 1928 and is best known for playing which superhero on TV?

   
   
3. Which model was born Lesley Hornby in London today in 1949?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. United Nations Secretary General; 2. James Boswell; 3. Horse

Pause in Arctic Melting

This summer the Arctic ice sheet has not shrunk as far as in previous years (good news), but the long term trend is still downwards (bad news). But, what does long term mean? I've quickly scanned through the report from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center and, as far as I can tell, long term means going back to 1979! Thirty years may be quite a while in human terms, but on a global geological scale it's nothing! I do wish scientists would put things in their proper perspective!

Your Friday questions are: -

1. What post was held by Swedish diplomat Dag Hammerskjöld who died in a plane crash today in 1961?

   
   
2. Who wrote the famous 1791 biography of Dr Samuel Johnson (right) who was born today in 1709?

   
   
3. Today in 1830, the first steam locomotive built in the USA raced a horse over a nine-mile stretch. Which won?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. "Star-Spangled Banner"; 2. Williams; 3. Sir Francis Chichester

Women in Power Milestones - Where's Maggie?

The Equalities Office has produced a list of 'milestones' celebrating 'women in power' that didn't name Margaret Thatcher as Britain's first woman Prime Minister. Strangely, for a government 'fact sheet', it did name several prominent Labour politicians...none of whom have been Prime Minister! In itself this isn't really a serious oversight, but if they get it so wrong on trivial matters, how can we be sure that they are right on the serious issues?

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. Which song was first published today in 1814 as a poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry", by Francis Scott Key?

   
   
2. British racing driver Damon Hill (right) was born today in 1960 and won his only Formula 1 World Championship for which team in 1996?

   
   
3. Who was born today in 1901 and circumnavigated the globe, single-handed, in a yacht called 'Gipsy Moth IV'?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. General Motors; 2. Humphrey Bogart & Jason Robards; 3. Marc Bolan

September 16th

For some reason, this blog entry had disappeared and so I've reinstated the questions for the sake of completeness - sad or what!?!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. Which motor car company was founded today in 1908 when Buick and Oldsmobile merged?

   
   
2. Oscar winning actress Lauren Bacall (right) was born today in 1924 and married which two Oscar winning actors?

   
   
3. Which glam rock singer died in a car crash aged 29 today in 1977?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Tony Jacklin; 2. "Midnight Express"; 3. Galapagos

BlogDumps Tuesday #25

Having been away for a couple of weeks (and also forgetting!!) I'm back and ready to contribute to this week's theme - Your Favourite Pet/Animal Companion. For me this is easy only having had one pet in our family and that was our budgie Bobby. He would fly around our house and would land on any one of us at any time!

To be honest I'm not a fan of pets, so this probably isn't the best topic for me...but, hey, it takes all sorts to make a world!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Who captained the European Ryder Cup team to victory, for the first time in 28 years, today in 1985?

   
   
2. Film Director Oliver Stone (right) was born today in 1946 and won his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for which 1978 film?

   
   
3. HMS Beagle reached which group of islands for the first time today in 1835?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Nintendo; 2. "Jurassic Park III"; 3. OPEC


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.

Dame Vera Lynn IS Number One!

At the age of 92, Vera Lynn has become the oldest living artist to top the British album charts for the first time! Who said that nostalgia was a thing of the past? What a fantastic achievement and she finished above eleven Beatles albums that entered the charts this week!

Your Monday questions are: -

1. Which company launched the GameCube video game in Japan today in 2001?

   
   
2. Actor Sam Neill (right) was born today in 1947 and starred as Dr Alan Grant in which 2001 film sequel?

   
   
3. Which organisation was founded today in 1960 in Baghdad with Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Venezuela as its core members?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Celluloid; 2. Chicago; 3. Stella McCartney

Sunday - Day of Rest!

Aaah, a good night's sleep in a proper bed! Today I'll be mainly resting and sorting out the many photos I've taken on our trip!

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. What item, essential for the making of movies, did Hannibal Goodwin patent today in 1898?

   
   
2. Musician Peter Cetera (right) was born today in 1944 and was an original member (until 1985) of which American pop rock/jazz fusion band?

   
   
3. Who was born today in 1971 and designed Madonna's 2000 wedding dress?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. France; 2. "Dreamgirls"; 3. Jesse Owens

Home at Last

Back home, loads of mail to go through (both real and electronic) and lots of catching up to do!!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. In which country is Lascaux where Palaeolithic cave paintings were discovered today in 1940?
   

   
   
2. Singer and actress Jennifer Hudson (right) was born today in 1981 and won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in which 2006 film?

   
   
3. Who was born today in 1913 and, in 1935, in the space of 45 minutes, broke three world records and equalled a fourth?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. DH Lawrence; 2. Syria; 3. Umbrella

Back to Lapworth

With good luck, and a following wind, we should be back at our moorings (or the boatyard!) Lapworth is home to the pub that I think I've photographed more times than any other - the Navigation Inn (actually in Rowington, but who's counting!) A few weeks ago I found a picture of the Navigation from 1915 and have been back to try and recreate the same view today - I hope you like the result (below)!

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Which author, born today in 1885, wrote "Lady Chatterley's Lover"?
   
   
2. Bashar al-Assad (right) was born today in 1965 and is President of which Middle Eastern country?

   
   
3. What everyday item was used in the murder of dissident Bulgarian writer Georgi Markov who died today in 1978?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Switzerland; 2. Mr Darcy; 3. Karl Lagerfeld

Warwick or Royal Leamington Spa

On the final leg of our journey home and it will depend on how our day has progressed as to whether we moor at Royal Leamington Spa or Warwick. Both have plenty of pubs and places to eat, so it won't be too much of a hardship for us at either place!!

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. Which European country joined the United Nations today in 2002?
   
   
2. Actor Colin Firth (right) was born today in 1960 and is best known for his portrayal of which character in the 1995 TV adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice"?

   
   
3. Which influential fashion designer was born today in 1933 in Hamburg?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Harland Sanders; 2. "Four Weddings and a Funeral"; 3. Tracy Austin

Braunston

By now we should have reached Braunston, which over the years has become something of a hub on the canal network. It stands at the junction of the Grand Union and Oxford canals and it is always busy! There are six locks which we will be descending after travelling through Braunston Tunnel and then struggling to find somewhere to moor up for the night!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. Who was born today in 1890 and founded the Kentucky Fried Chicken chain of restaurants? (Need his first name!)
   
   
2. Actor Hugh Grant (right) was born today in 1960 and won BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards for which 1994 film?

   
   
3. Who became the youngest winner of the US Open Women's singles title today in 1979?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Galveston; 2. Florence; 3. Pink

BlogDumps Tuesday

I've missed the last two Tuesdays on BlogDumps, and this week I'm still away on holiday, so I've missed it again! Anyway, if you want to go on over there to see what's happening, follow the link below!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Which Texas city was devastated by a hurricane that killed over 8,000 people today in 1900?
   
   
2. Michelangelo's Statue of David (right) was unveiled in which Italian city today in 1504?
   

   
   
3. Singer Alecia Beth Moore, who was born today in 1979, is better known by what name?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Anne Boleyn; 2. Pretenders; 3. Miss America Pageant


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.

Foxton Locks and Inclined Plane

Today we should be passing through the ten Foxton Locks. This consists of two sets of five 'staircase' locks and we've passed through them on a few occasions (pictures from our last trip in 2003). The locks take the canal up 75 feet and are quite spectacular! Also, this is the site of the Foxton Inclined Plane which is to be restored. This was a system that would haul a narrowboat (one up, one down) up the side of the hill in a trough, saving about 70% of the time it would have taken to pass through the locks!

Your Monday questions are: -

1. Who gave birth to the future Queen Elizabeth I today in 1533?
   
   
2. Chrissie Hynde (right) was born today in 1951 and is the only original member still in which band?

   
   
3. What was first held in Atlantic City today in 1921?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. South Africa; 2. Pink Floyd; 3. Carnation (then the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company)

Leicestershire Countryside

Now we're into the second week of our trip it is difficult to predict exactly where we'll be, but its a fair bet that we'll be somewhere in the Leicestershire countryside on the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal.

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. Henrik Verwoerd was Prime Minister of which country when he was stabbed to death today in 1966?
   
   
2. Musician Roger Waters (right), born today in 1943, was a founder member of which rock band?

   
   
3. Which company produced its first can of evaporated milk today in 1899?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Beards; 2. James Bond; 3. "On The Road"

Leicester

Our journey along the River Soar should have brought us to Leicester in time for a Saturday night out on the town!!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. On what did Tsar Peter I the Great impose a tax today in 1698?
   
   
2. Actor George Lazenby (right) was born today in 1939, and in 1968, became the second actor to star in which film role?
   

   
   
3. Which famous book by Jack Kerouac was first published today in 1957?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. George Eastman; 2. Destiny's Child; 3. Airship

Loughborough and the River Soar

After exiting the Erewash Canal it's a short trip along the River Trent and onto the River Soar for the next leg of our journey to Leicester. Hopefully it won't have rained much and we'll be able to make good progress going upstream for the first time (previously, we've always travelled with the current!) and reach Loughborough in time for a drink or three!!

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Who registered the trademark Kodak today in 1888?
   
   
2. Beyoncé Knowles (right), born today in 1981, was a founder member of which all-girl pop group?
   
   
3. What type of vessel was the USS Shenandoah that had its maiden flight today in 1923?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. American War of Independence; 2. "Two and a Half Men"; 3. Sir Edmund Hillary

Erewash Canal - Still!

Still enjoying the delights of the Erewash Canal!

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. The Treaty of Paris, signed today in 1783, formally ended which war?
   
   
2. Actor Charlie Sheen (right) was born today in 1966 and stars as Charlie Harper in which US TV sitcom?
   
   
3. Who married his first wife today in 1953, just three months after climbing Mount Everest?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Great Fire of London; 2. Lebanon (Beirut); 3. "Star Trek"

Erewash Canal Here We Come

By now we should have reached the Erewash Canal, which is one of the few waterways in the Midlands that we've never visited before. Several times in the past we have moored at the Trent Navigation Inn and Steamboat pubs that are near the bottom lock, but we've always gone another way. So, let's hope it was worth the wait!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. What started in London today in 1666?
   
   
2. Actor Keanu Reeves (right) was born in which country today in 1964?
   
   
3. Which TV show was cancelled today in 1969 by NBC, but has since spawned several successful films and spin-offs?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Edgar Rice Burroughs; 2. Miami Sound Machine; 3. Passenger Pigeon

AlphaInventions

As we are now in the Staffordshire countyside, it's probably as good a time as any to give a plug to a website that has provided me with more visitors to this blog than any other. That site is AlphaInventions which is great at getting people to view your blog. All I can say is, "Keep up the good work"!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Which author, who created the character Tarzan, was born today in 1875?
   
   
2. Gloria Estefan (right) was born in Cuba today in 1957 and came to prominence as the singer with which group?
   
   
3. Martha, who died in captivity in Cincinnati Zoo today in 1914, was the last of which type of bird?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Paula Yates; 2. "Runaway Bride"; 3. Jack the Ripper