Boating on Ice

For the first time ever I've been boating in January and in the ice as well! The repairs to our narrowboat Emma Jane were finished a couple of weeks ago and we've been waiting for a suitable opportunity to move her back to the regular moorings. So, we decided to do it on Saturday, but it was a bit cold. Fortunately it was sunny so it didn't feel too bad, but several sections of the canal were frozen over. The ice was no more than ¼" thick so Emma Jane sliced through it quite easily (making an interesting noise in the process!) I'm not sure how thick the ice would need to be to stop Emma Jane, but any more than ½" might be tricky!

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. In which country was opera singer and film star Mario Lanza born today in 1921?
   
   
2. How was Guy Fawkes (right) executed today in 1606?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1956 and is the lead singer and lyricist with the band Public Image Ltd?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Franklin D Roosevelt; 2. "Unforgiven"; 3. Phil Collins

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
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Tony Blair on Iraq

Tony Blair's appearance before the Chilcot Enquiry had been anticipated by many people hoping it would turn out that he'd lied to get backing for Britain's invasion of Iraq alongside the Americans! Unfortunately for them this was a forlorn hope. Personally, I was against the invasion at the time and I still believe that it was a mistake...but that's easy for me to say as I didn't have the final decision to make! Tony Blair has again defended his actions and decisions, and it doesn't look like he did anything illegal. Sure, there was probably a bit of bias in the presentation of the case for war, but as the saying goes, "truth is the first casualty of war". So however much we may disagree with his decision, it was his to make and he made it...that's what leaders do (I don't think its a decision I could make!) and that's why we elect them (or kick them out if it goes wrong!)!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. Who was born today in 1882 and is the only US President to serve more than two terms in office?
   
   
2. Gene Hackman (right) was born today in 1930 and won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in which 1992 film?
   
   
3. Which drummer, singer and occasional actor was born today in 1951 in Chiswick?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. George W Bush; 2. "Magnum P.I."; 3. Petrol Powered Car

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

No Pyjamas at Tesco!

A Tesco store in Wales has banned shoppers from entering their shop in slippers and pyjamas! What is the world coming to (WARNING! - Old Fart Rant Approaching!!) I'm amazed that anyone goes out in their pyjamas...it's just not done in 'decent' society! I'm with Tesco on this one, don't these people have any standards?!

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Who first used the term "Axis of Evil" in a speech today in 2002?
   
   
2. Actor Tom Selleck (right) was born today in 1945 and starred in the title role of which 1980's US TV series?
   
   
3. What was patented by Karl Benz today in 1886?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Heptathlon; 2. Harry Corbett; 3. Lord Hutton

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

New World Cup Song?

Comedian and West Bromwich Albion fan Frank Skinner, who was 53 yesterday, announced that he's had the urge to write a follow-up to his extremely successful "Three Lions" that was massive in 1996 and again in 1998 and in 2002 and yet again in 2006! In my opinion it was the best England football song ever and if he can recapture that again (with co-writers David Baddiel and The Lightning Seeds) it could be an even bigger success! Especially as there won't be an official England song this year after coach Fabio Capello said that he wants the players to concentrate on actually playing this time!

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. Athlete Jessica Ennis was born today in 1986 in Sheffield and is the current World Champion at which event?
   
   
2. Who was born today in 1918 and created the glove puppet Sooty (right)?
   
   
3. Whose report into the death of UN weapons inspector Dr David Kelly was published today in 2004?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Leningrad; 2. Pink Floyd; 3. Lewis Carroll

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Recession Over...Or Is It?

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have announced the latest GDP estimate for the UK and it shows growth of 0.1% over the last three months of 2009 which means that the recession is officially over! In theory that's great news, but there are two things that could dampen the optimism. Firstly, the ONS will continue looking at the figures and may revise this estimate at a future date (not uncommon) and remember, GDP estimates can go down as well as up! Secondly, there's unemployment; the government has stated that it needs to shed 1 million Civil Servants and, come July, there will be another ¼ million new graduates all looking for jobs! The economy is going to have to grow by a lot more than 0.1% to accommodate all of these people (and me!)!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. After 872 days, the siege of which city was lifted today in 1944?
   
   
2. Drummer Nick Mason (right) was born today in 1944 in Birmingham and has been the only constant member of which band since its formation in 1964?
   
   
3. What was the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson who was born today in 1832?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Ronald Reagan; 2. Netherlands; 3. Gujarat

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

BlogDumps Top Sites Tuesday #44

We're back to "Two Thoughts on a Tuesday" again...but this time I do have some thoughts buzzing around my head! It's now 14 months since I was made redundant with no real prospect of a job on the horizon. At my 'advanced' age of 51, how likely is it that I'll get a job with a substantial salary? Not very I think! The house is up for sale and I can raise funds from a deferred pension that I could 'cash in'. I have no idea what it is worth, but it might be enough to buy a narrow boat and I could live on that! This would substantially reduce my overheads, but could I downsize enough to fit on a boat that is 7 ft wide and maybe 50 - 60 ft long? I've expanded to fill all the space in my house and I'm no good at throwing things away!! So, do I rent somewhere and run out of money in maybe another 12 - 18 months (if no job comes along soon) or do I seriously downsize and live within my means? Watch this space!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Who married his first wife, Jane Wyman, today in 1940?
   
   
2. In which country was rock musician Eddie Van Halen (right) born today in 1955?
   
   
3. Which region of India was devastated by an earthquake today in 2001?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Virginia Woolf; 2. The Philippines; 3. Emmy Awards

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Come Join Top Sites Tuesday and be #1 on BlogDumps!
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Make sure to visit all the other participants and leave comments.
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Great Footballers Born Today

Today is the birthday of Portuguese great Eusébio (1942), Brazilian World Cup Winner Tostão (1947) and current Brazilian forward Robinho (1984). Not a bad forward line!!

Your Monday questions are: -

1. Who was born today in 1882 and wrote the novels "Mrs Dalloway" and "To the Lighthouse"?
   
   
2. Corazon Aquino (right) was born today in 1933 and was President of which Asian country from 1986 to 1992?
   
   
3. Which awards were first presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club today in 1949?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Sir Winston Churchill; 2. "The O.C."; 3. "The Naked Ape"

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

UK Terrorist Threat Level Raised

Here in the UK there are five terrorist threat levels ranging from Low to Critical and it has just been raised from Substantial to Severe. Lovely, but does it really mean anything? On this page is an explanation of what each level means, but I don't know why they don't just give each one a number; 1 - Low to 5 - Critical! Since the new system came in (2005) it has been no lower than Substantial (3 on my scale) and I wonder why there are 5 levels when we all know that the threat is always going to be at least Substantial!

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. Which former British Prime Minister died today in 1965?
   
   
2. Actress Mischa Barton (right) was born today in 1986 in London and played Marissa Cooper in which US TV series?
   
   
3. What was the first best-selling book written by Desmond Morris who was born today in 1928?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Salvador Dali; 2. Ukraine; 3. Bob Paisley

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
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Simon Cowell Organises Haiti Charity Single

Simon Cowell is to produce a charity single in aid of relief for the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti last week. The song will be a cover of REM's "Everyday Hurts", sung by a multitude of artists (many yet to be confirmed) and the government has waived the VAT. Hopefully this will raise loads of money for the appeal! Also, George Clooney has organised a global telethon "Hope for Haiti" which will be broadcast worldwide on Friday evening/Saturday morning (1 am UK time) with a multitude of stars performing - Madonna and Beyonce will appear together with Bono and The Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna, who will all be performing together in London. Wyclef Jean, who is a Haitian-American, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J Blige, Shakira and Sting will perform in New York!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. Which surrealist artist died in Spain today in 1989?
   
   
2. Viktor Yushchenko (right) was inaugurated as President of which former Soviet state today in 2005?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1919 and managed Liverpool to six League Championships and three European Cup wins in nine years?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Edward VII; 2. Quentin Crisp; 3. MMR

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Record University Intake

The 2009 University intake was almost half a million new students. Let's assume that in 3 - 4 years time there will be 400,000 new graduates looking for jobs. Do we really need that many more graduates? When I was a lad, graduates could expect a higher wage than non-graduates because we were a rarity (not necessarily any better than those people who'd left school and been working for a few years by the time we graduated). Now, jobs that would have been filled by school-leavers in the 'old days' are now being taken by graduates, This has a twofold knock on effect; firstly, being a graduate doesn't necessarily mean getting anything other than a low paid job; secondly, all the school leavers are now even further back in the jobs queue. It doesn't quite make sense to me!!

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Who became king today in 1901?
   
   
2. Actor John Hurt (right) was born today in 1940 and played which real life character in the 2009 TV biopic "An Englishman in New York"?
   
   
3. Which vaccine was declared safe by the British Government today in 2001?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Emma Bunton; 2. Golden Bear; 3. USS Nautilus

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Kraft Creme Eggs?

After much debate and hope, Cadbury's has recommended the take over bid from Kraft Foods. Unfortunately for the employees and the many other people who opposed the bid, money talks and the wishes of anyone else are ignored. Personally, I don't mind whether it is British owned or American as long as chocolate is still made there and there are jobs for a great many local people. The West Midlands is one of the worst areas for unemployment and this is mainly because of the vast amounts of manufacturing that has been lost. You only have to drive by the enormous open spaces that are where the Longbridge car plant was to appreciate the scale of the loss!

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. Which pop singer was born today in 1976 and was the youngest of the Spice Girls?
   
   
2. What is the nickname of golfer Jack Nicklaus (right) who was born today in 1940?
   
   
3. What was the name of the first nuclear powered submarine that was launched today in 1954?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Mersey; 2. Dr Leonard McCoy; 3. Ozzy Osbourne

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

IPCC Admits Error

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has admitted to an error in their most recent report (2007) stating that the Himalayan glaciers would have disappeared by 2035! (Should have been 2350!) Now one mistake in a 3000 page report is not a lot, but on such a significant point, it should have been noticed and corrected much sooner! The question still arises, though, how much of the modelling used to predict climate change is error free? Small errors and wrong assumptions can have a great effect on the final results...and who checks the information? Can the data be checked and verified independently when so many people have made their mind up (pro or anti)? This is my major doubt about the whole 'Climate Change Industry' - it is more like a religion where you HAVE TO BELIEVE or be persecuted for just being a good scientist saying, "Are You Sure?"!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. A tunnel under which English river was formally opened by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) today in 1886?
   
   
2. Which role in "Star Trek" was played by DeForest Kelley (right) who was born today in 1920?
   
   
3. Who bit the head off a bat in a concert in America today in 1982?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Indira Gandhi; 2. "Futurama"; 3. VW Beetle

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

BlogDumps Top Sites Tuesday #43

This week's theme is - Helping Others - Do We Do Enough? Should We Do More? The answers are "No" and "Yes"! Next question please! That's why I like trivia questions; there's always an answer and you can move quickly on to the next one! I would like to help people more, but how? I'm trained as a scientist and always think that there's a simple solution to any problem. I get frustrated when that solution is not so easily achieved (especially if politics and/or prejudices get in the way)! So, if you want help on a simple problem, I'm 'yer man'! But if it's too complicated (usually involving other people), I'm not the 'man with a plan'!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Who was elected Prime Minister of India today in 1966?
   
   
2. Actress Katey Sagal (right) was born today in 1954 and provides the voice for Turanga Leela in which animated TV series?
   
   
3. The last German made example of which car left the factory today in 1978?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Cary Grant; 2. Hawaii; 3. Winnie-the-Pooh

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

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.
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Rise of the Dinosaurs

Scientists have discovered a significant clue that may explain why the dinosaurs took over the world after the mass extinctions 251 million years ago. It would appear that alligators and modern day birds (which are both descended from the dinosaurs) have a different breathing mechanism (Cuirassal Breathing) to that found in mammals. This is most useful in low oxygen environments and, after the mass extinction, there was considerably less oxygen in the atmosphere.

Questions that occur to me are - is this to be our fate? (i.e. extinction after warming to be replaced by reptiles) And, how come there was a mass extinction and massive climate change millions of years ago without Man's involvement? (Is it possible that these natural cycles are bigger than Mankind?).

Your Monday questions are: -

1. Which Hollywood legend was born Archibald Leach today in 1904 in Bristol?
   
   
2. Today in 1778, Captain James Cook (right) discovered the Sandwich Islands. By what name are they known today?
   
   
3. Which fictional bear was created by A A Milne who was born today in 1882?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Al Capone; 2. Robinson; 3. Hairdresser

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Met Office to Review Long Term Forecasts

The UK Meteorological Office has come in for quite a lot of criticism for its long-term forecasts which, quite frankly, have been rubbish! This is not surprising, because it is almost impossible to forecast weather any more than four days in advance! Just to make you ponder, this organisation is also responsible for much of the UK's research into climate change...and that's an even longer term forecast! If you want an alternative source of information visit Weather Action.

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. Which infamous gangster was born today in 1899 in Brooklyn?
   
   
2. What was the maiden name of Michelle Obama (right) who was born today in 1964?
   
   
3. What is the profession of Vidal Sassoon who was born today in 1928 in London?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Adolf Hitler; 2. "Don Quixote"; 3. Russia

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

I'm A Star!!

I received an email from my fellow blogger John Garghan that contained a link to a video. At first I wondered what was going on and then I laughed! I present another version of that video here for your amusement! John is an artist, photographer and regular partaker of my Tuesday night quiz. He takes a photo every day and posts it on Flickr and his blog and I am amazed that he finds interesting shots everyday without fail!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. Who moved into his underground bunker today in 1945?
   
   
2. What is considered to be the first modern novel, written by Miguel de Cervantes (right), that was published today in 1605?
   
   
3. Ivan IV (aka Ivan the Terrible) was crowned king of which country today in 1547?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Elizabeth I; 2. Green Bay Packers; 3. British Museum

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Deaf or Polish?

Staff at an animal home thought that a dog they had in care was deaf because it wouldn't obey any basic commands. However, a closer inspection of the records for Cent the Collie showed that he had been raised by a Polish family and couldn't understand English! Four months on and Cent is now bilingual!!

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Who was crowned Queen of England today in 1559?
   
   
2. Who were the first winners of the Super Bowl Trophy (right, now the Vince Lombardi Trophy) today in 1967?
   
   
3. Which museum, that opened to the public today in 1759, is in Great Russell Street, London?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Harold Shipman; 2. Ladies Love Cool James; 3. Marilyn Monroe

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

More Snow in Birmingham

Just when I'm hoping that the snow will start to disappear...I open the curtains to find another couple of inches of cover and even more gently falling from the skies! Fortunately I managed to get the car out and get to my Wednesday night quiz at the Woodman's Rest. I'm standing in for Neil for a few weeks and I'm grateful that plenty of people still come out in the cold and snow for an evening of brain stretching!

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. Which serial killer was born in Nottingham today in 1946 and committed suicide yesterday in 2004?
   
   
2. Rapper LL Cool J (right) was born James Todd Smith today in 1968. What does LL Cool J stand for?
   
   
3. Who married baseball star Joe DiMaggio today in 1954?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. James Joyce; 2. "Baywatch"; 3. Potomac

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Self-Assembling Solar Cells

The realm of self-replicating nanotechnology comes another step closer! I don't fully understand it, but it looks like a sound method of making solar cells - what will be next?

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. Which Irish author, who died today in 1941, wrote the novel "Finnegan's Wake"?
   
   
2. Actress Traci Bingham (right) was born today in 1968 and played Jordan Tate in which US TV series?
   
   
3. Today in 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into which river in Washington DC?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Cryonics (Frozen); 2. 1995; 3. Howard Stern

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

BlogDumps Top Sites Tuesday #42

"Two Thoughts on a Tuesday" is the theme again this week. My thoughts concern the so-called "Nanny State". As I wrote a couple of days ago, many UK sporting fixtures were called off this weekend because of the state of the surrounding areas, not the condition of the pitches - "Nanny State"? On a different subject - I like a drink and have been pleasantly surprised/pleased by the relaxation of the UK Licensing Laws over the past few years, but look at this article and you'll see that it hasn't necessarily been a good thing! Maybe "Nanny does know best" after all!! I used to think that over the years, as the population becomes better educated, there should be less need for the state to intervene on things like drugs, alcohol, safety, diet, smoking, gambling...but it would appear that I might have been wrong!!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Dr James Bedford became the first person to be preserved by what method today in 1967?
   
   
2. French mathematician Pierre de Fermat (right) died today in 1665. In what year was Fermat's Last Theorem finally solved?
   
   
3. Which shock jock radio presenter was born today in 1954 in New York?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Open University; 2. Thailand; 3. Arthur Scargill

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

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.
View More Top Sites Tuesday Participants on Technorati here.
See who Tweeted this Post!

Sherlock Holmes

Going to the pictures twice in as many weeks is rare for me these days, but "Sherlock Holmes" didn't disappoint! It moves at a good pace, there's plenty of interesting action, a plot that keeps you guessing, fantastic London scenes from the late 19th century and fun performances from Robert Downey Jr (especially) and Jude Law! It seems to have received 3 stars from many reviewers, but I'd rate it as being more fun than "Avatar"! Bring on the sequel!

Your Monday questions are: -

1. Which university awarded its first degrees today in 1973?
   
   
2. Former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson (right) was born today in 1957 and now manages which Asian international football team?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1938 and was President of the National Union of Mineworkers from 1982 to 2002?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. George Foreman; 2. M; 3. Rubicon

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Sport and Safety

This weekend, much of the British sporting schedule has been wiped out in the midst of our coldest spell for almost 30 years. The Premier League has been hit hard even though all bar two teams have under-soil heating (and Wigan's has failed)! Most of the cancellations are because of conditions outside the grounds, but this leads me to ask the question, "How do they manage in Green Bay, Chicago, Buffalo and several other places in the north USA where the conditions are much more severe than here?" It's a mystery to me!

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. Who was born today in 1949 and has given his name to the "Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine"?
   
   
2. Actor Bernard Lee (right) was born today in 1908 and played which character in the first 11 "Bond" films?
   
   
3. Which river was crossed by Julius Caesar today in 49BC?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Pope John Paul II; 2. "Nip/Tuck"; 3. Queen Elizabeth

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

3D TV Next?

First there was black and white television from a cathode ray tube (CRT), then the picture went to colour and that seemed to be about the limit for many years with just minor tweaks. Then came plasma TV which enabled much larger picture size without the bulk of the CRT. This turned the prospect of High Definition TV into reality. There quickly followed LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and then LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology that gave better picture quality and lower prices. Now, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas industry experts predict that 3.4 million 3D TV sets will be sold in the US this year! Remarkable! Watch this space to see how quickly this new technology progresses. (By the way, I still have a CRT telly...but it is colour!)

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. Mehmet Ali Agca was born today in 1958 and attempted to assassinate which world leader in May 1981?
   
   
2. Actress Joely Richardson (right) was born today in 1965 and plays Julia McNamara in which US TV series?
   
   
3. Which ocean liner was destroyed by fire in Hong Kong harbour today in 1972?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Michael Caine; 2. Tupelo, Mississippi; 3. African National Congress (ANC)

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Record Speeding Fine!

Swiss authorities have fined a speeding motorist £180,000 for driving at 85 mph through a village where the limit was 50 mph! The fine is so large because the Swiss courts take into account the wealth of the offender...he's a millionaire! Hopefully this can be transferred across the world and maybe than some of the rich drivers would slow down a bit...or maybe not!

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Which Oscar winning English actor married his wife Shakira today in 1973?
   
   
2. In which city was Elvis Presley (right) born today in 1935?
   
   
3. Which South African political party was founded today in 1912?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Italy; 2. George Burns; 3. Lewis Hamilton

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"
is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.