Fulham Make History

Just when you think you've seen it all, sport throws up another magnificently perverse result! Fulham beat Hamburg 2 - 1 to reach their first European Final. They will meet Atletico Madrid in the Europa League Final, to be played in Hamburg, on Wednesday 12th May. This comes after Inter Milan knocked out holders Barcelona from the Champions League on Wednesday night and will play Bayern Munich in the Final. This is a real turn up as Atletico last won a European trophy in 1962, Inter's last was in 1965, Fulham haven't won in Europe - only Bayern have won one in recent years (2001)!

Your Friday questions are:-

1. Who was the first US President to visit Northern Ireland today in 1995?
   
   
2. Who was born today in 1947 and played 'Dirty' Den Watts (right) in "EastEnders"?
   
   
3. From which country did the USA make the Louisiana Purchase today in 1803?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Eva Braun; 2. "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!"; 3. Michelle Pfeiffer

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

I'm Depressed!

I'm not sure whether to end it all now! This report seems to show that one of my favourite foods indicates that I'm more depressive than other people! What a load of horse manure! The authorities will do anything to stop us enjoying the little luxuries in life! Chocolate is divine and has never led to me feeling less happy than before I had my 'fix'! However, as the test was carried out in the USA, it's possible that Hershey's chocolate is the problem! I eat lots of Cadbury's chocolate and I think I'm fairly level headed and optimistic (apart from that little voice saying, "We're doomed!" in a strangely Scottish accent)! So, as long as Kraft don't make it more like Hershey's (or other American chocolate) I should be OK!!

Your Thursday questions are:-

1. Who did Adolf Hitler marry today in 1945?
   
   
2. Former England and Middlesex cricketer Phil Tufnell (right) was born today in 1966 and won which reality TV show in 2003?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1958 and played Frankie in the 1991 film "Frankie and Johnny"?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. William Bligh; 2. Benito Mussolini; 3. Canada

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Politician Talks Sense - Shock!!

So far I've deliberately steered clear of the 2010 General Election and I'm as surprised as you are that I'm going to endorse comments by the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg! In his speech to the Royal College of Nursing he said something that I've long believed - the best way to get the NHS running efficiently is to give the nurses more say in how it is run! As far as I can see, at the moment a vast fortune is poured into the NHS, but no-one knows how much of it actually reaches the vital area of patient care. To ensure that more resources get to where they are most needed requires a 'bottom up' approach involving the people who are best placed to see and understand the day-to-day problems...the nurses and other front line staff! Let's hope that this actually gets implemented!

Your Wednesday questions are:-

1. Who was captain of HMS Bounty today in 1789 when the infamous mutiny occurred?
   
   
2. Who was executed, with his mistress Clara Petacci (right), today in 1945?
   
   
3. In which country was Expo 67 that officially opened to the public today in 1967?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. 'The Crafty Cockney'; 2. Philippines; 3. Tess Daly

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Smoking and Your Genes

Scientists appear to have identified three genetic mutations that increase the number of cigarettes people smoke a day. These mutations also give rise to a 10% increase in the chances of getting lung cancer. This presents medical professionals with a dilemma - do you target the people with this genetic mutation and spend more money on them to get them to quit smoking? OR do you give them up as a 'lost cause' and target the people without the mutation as they should find it easier to give up? That's not a decision I'd like to take, either way!

Your Tuesday questions are:-

1. What is the nickname of former World Champion Darts player Eric Bristow who was born today in 1957?
   
   
2. Where did Ferdinand Magellan (right) die in battle today in 1521?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1971 and co-presents "Strictly Come Dancing" with Bruce Forsyth?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Tanzania; 2. Yugoslavia (now Slovenia); 3. Duke of York (later King George VI)

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Don't Contact Aliens!

Professor Stephen Hawking advises us, in a new TV series from the Discovery Channel, not to look for intelligent alien life elsewhere in the universe as they might just raid us for our resources! He quotes how the invasion of Europeans devastated the indigenous population of North America as an example of what an alien encounter might do to us! I'm not sure if he is right about that. My view is that for any species to develop practical travel between stars, they would have to have complete co-operation from their whole species because it is so difficult to do. This would mean that they would be entirely peaceful as they would have had to abolish war as part of their 'super' co-operation! Mankind is a long, long way from achieving such a level of co-operation...but when we do...we'll then be in a position to explore the Universe!

Your Monday questions are:-

1. Which country was formed today in 1964 with the merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar?
   
   
2. In which country was Melania Trump (right) born today in 1970?
   
   
3. Who married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon today in 1923?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Gallipoli; 2. "Cold Mountain"; 3. Portugal

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

It's A Funny old Game!

It's boredom season on the BBC at the moment...the World Snooker Championship is back on! I've watched very little of it, but 52-year-old Steve Davis (former World Champion SIX times - last win 1989!) who spends much of his time as a commentator, has beaten the defending World Champion John Higgins in the second round! A remarkable feat, but he's got some way to go to beat Fred Davis who reached the semi-finals in 1978 at the age of 64!!

Your Sunday questions are:-

1. Which World War I battle began today in 1915 in Turkey?
   
   
2. Renée Zellweger (right) was born today in 1969 and won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for which 2003 film?
   
   
3. In which European country was the Carnation Revolution that began today in 1974?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. William Joyce; 2. David Bowie; 3. China

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Birmingham Skyscraper Approved

Plans to build the 56 storey (200m; 656 ft) Regal Tower have been approved. The project will take about five years to complete and cost £125 million! Whilst I'm always pleased to see such fantastic new developments here in Birmingham, I do wonder whether it will ever be completed in this economic climate, especially when The Cube was almost stopped because of lack of funds! Here's hoping that it will go ahead and be a fine addition to this great city!

Your Saturday questions are:-

1. What was the real name of Nazi propagandist Lord Haw Haw who was born today in 1906?
   
   
2. Who married model Iman (right) today in 1992?
   
   
3. Which country successfully launched their first satellite today in 1970?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Charles II; 2. Superman; 3. Florida

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Burned Toast Closes Tube Station!

This story is, on the one hand, amusing...but also quite serious. Staff at King's Cross Underground station were responsible for getting the station closed down, TWICE, by the fire brigade when they burned their toast! Amusing...until you remember that 31 people died in a fire at King's Cross in 1987. Once I can accept, but twice demonstrates a certain amount of stupidity! It reminds me of the time, I was working in a paint factory, when the steam from a kettle set off the fire alarms! After that we all had to have automatic kettles to make our tea and coffee!

Your St George's Day questions are: -

1. Who was crowned King of England, Scotland and Ireland today in 1661 at Westminster Abbey?
   
   
2. Buster Crabbe (right) died today in 1983. Which one of these heroes did he not play on film or TV - Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, Superman or Tarzan?
   
   
3. In which US State is the Conch Republic that declared (tongue-in-cheek) independence today in 1982?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin; 2. "Bionic Woman"; 3. Glen Campbell

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

It's No Yolk!

The election campaign is officially under way - we've had the first reporting of an egg being thrown at a politician (David Cameron in this instance)! Now I know one egg doesn't make a campaign, but I'm hoping for more over the next couple of weeks to liven up a dull process. Who can forget John Prescott's response in 2001? For my mind he was right to punch the protester! Let's hope for more, similar entertainment to come!

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. Who was born today in the Russian city Simbirsk (now Ulyanovsk) today in 1870?
   
   
2. Actress Michelle Ryan (right) was born today in 1984 and played San Francisco bartender Jaime Sommers in which US TV series?

   
   
3. "Wichita Lineman" was the first UK Top Ten hit for which singer who was born today in 1936?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Queen Elizabeth II; 2. Mexico; 3. Brasilia

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

The Golfing President

Now here's a statistic that surprised me - Barack Obama has played golf 32 times since he became President! That's more times that I've played in the same period...and I don't have a job that is quite as important or stressful as his!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. Who was born today in 1926 at 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair?
   
   
2. In which country was Oscar winning actor Anthony Quinn (right) born today in 1915?

   
   
3. Which city was inaugurated as the capital of Brazil today in 1960?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Enoch Powell; 2. The Sorting Hat; 3. Raymond van Barneveld

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

BlogDumps Top Sites Tuesday #56

This week we're back to "Two Thoughts on a Tuesday" at BlogDumps. I've been trying to thin out the 'stuff' in my house for when I move (as soon as someone buys the house!) I have quite a few vinyl albums, which I've not played for years, but I'm finding it difficult to get rid of them. I've looked on eBay and none of them are worth much, so they'll have to go...but to a charity shop; I just couldn't bin them, that wouldn't be right! I don't know what I'll do when I get around to my books...there are lots more of them! How is it that something that has been created with such care and effort can become so valueless? It just doesn't seem right to me!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Who gave his "Rivers of Blood" speech at the Midland Hotel, Birmingham today in 1968?
   
   
2. Actor Leslie Phillips (right) was born today in 1924 and provides the voice for what in the "Harry Potter" films?

   
   
3. Which former World Champion darts player was born today in 1967 in the Netherlands?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. "Advance Australia Fair"; 2. French Open; 3. Salyut 1

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!

George Washington: Book Thief!

George Washington borrowed two books from the New York Society Library in October 1789 and has so far failed to return them! Adjusting for inflation, the fine now stands at about $300,000! Librarians uncovered this whilst digitising the records from that era! Although he never told a lie; George Washington failed to return his library books!

Your Monday questions are: -

1. What song was adopted as the Australian National Anthem today in 1984?
   
   
2. Television presenter Sue Barker (right) was born today in 1956 and won which Grand Slam Singles tennis title in 1976?

   
   
3. What was the name of the first Soviet space station launched today in 1971?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Jane Leeves; 2. Yankee Stadium; 3. RMS Carpathia

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Cheating at Quizzes!

Having read the latest post on the Quiz List blog, I find myself agreeing with the conclusions, but as a quiz master, I still don't really know how to successfully deal with it! The quizzes I present have small prizes (a couple of bottles of wine, £10 meal voucher), but people still use their mobile phones to cheat! But how do you stop people from using their phones in a pub? Any suggestions are very welcome, but as long as most people are enjoying their evening and the pub is full, does it really matter?

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. Who was born in Ilford today in 1961 and played Daphne Moon in the US TV sitcom "Frasier"?
   
   
2. John Philip Sousa (right) led the band playing the American National Anthem at the opening of which stadium today in 1923?

   
   
3. Which ship brought 705 survivors from the Titanic to New York today in 1912?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Federal Express; 2. Czechoslovakia; 3. Snooker

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Iceland Volcano Affects Kenya's Flowers

It is amazing how much we have become dependent on air travel! The erupting volcano in Iceland has now severely affected the export of flowers from Kenya! This begs the question; why/how is it cheaper to grow flowers thousands of miles away and then fly them to Europe? My suggestion would be that the labour costs in Africa are so much lower than in Europe...and we exploit that! Some things never change! Can you buy 'Fair Trade' flowers?

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. Which courier service delivered its first package today in 1973?
   
   
2. Alexander Dubček (right) was deposed as leader of which eastern bloc country today in 1969?

   
   
3. Sir Neville Chamberlain is credited with inventing which indoor game today in 1875 while serving in the army in India?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Pope Benedict XVI; 2. Queen Elizabeth II; 3. Culloden

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Volcano Grounds British Planes (and others)!

I never really expected to see volcanoes affect us here in Britain...but it is happening now! The eruption of an Icelandic volcano has resulted in a cloud of volcanic ash spreading south-east over Britain and some of Northern Europe. All flights to and from Britain have been grounded because volcanic ash can seriously damage planes. This was first discovered in 1982 when a British Airways jumbo jet lost ALL FOUR ENGINES when flying through the ash plume over Indonesia. Fortunately after gliding for about 20 - 30 minutes the crew were able to restart the engines and get the plane back to the airport safely! Having seen the programme "Air Crash Investigation" (on the National Geographic Channel), the current flight restrictions are perfectly reasonable - the engines of the BA Jumbo were scrapped and the fuselage and windscreens severely 'sand blasted'!

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Who was born Joseph Ratzinger in Bavaria today in 1927?
   
   
2. Who launched the Royal Yacht Britannia (below) today in 1953?

   
3. What was the last pitched battle to be fought on mainland Britain today in 1746 in Scotland?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Washington DC; 2. "Bewitched"; 3. McDonalds

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Rural Fast Broadband

Although I've lived in the 'big city' for over 30 years, I still keep an eye out for our countryside and rural affairs (usually canal related). Today, this story caught my eye as people in the village of Lyddington have set up their own telecom company to provide fast broadband to the village! This is probably the future of high speed Internet connections in rural Britain as the larger companies don't seem to think it is worthwhile! Dinosaurs beware, the revolution could sweep you away as this isn't the only scheme - others are well advanced in their planning! Just one final (mild) amusement is the name of the company - Rutland Telecom - brings back fond memories of the spoof "Rutland Weekend Television" that spawned the band The Rutles!!

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. In which city did Abraham Lincoln die today in 1865?
   
   
2. Elizabeth Montgomery (right) was born today in 1933 and played Samantha Stephens in which US TV sitcom?

   
   
3. The first franchised restaurant in which fast food chain was opened by Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois today in 1955?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. "Chariots of the Gods"; 2. "The Full Monty"; 3. RMS Titanic

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Who'd Be a Driving Instructor?

Frequently I see adverts for people to become driving instructors and must admit that I've been tempted, but I always stop short when I remember that it is one of the most stressful jobs going...and this story illustrates why! A learner driver on only her second lesson managed to flip the car onto its roof. Fortunately both instructor and pupil were OK, but I don't think it will have helped the instructor's blood pressure!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. What was the title of the first book by Erich von Däniken, who was born today in 1935, detailing how aliens had visited the Earth in ancient times?
   
   
2. Actor Robert Carlyle (right) was born today in 1961 and played Gaz in which 1997 comedy film?

   
   
3. Which ocean liner struck an iceberg today in 1912?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Butch Cassidy; 2. "Lilies of the Field"; 3. Céline Dion

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

"Houston we've had a problem" - 40 Years On

Like many people my age I was gripped by the Apollo 13 mission and successful rescue that took place 40 years ago. It was today in 1970 that first Jack Swigert and then Jim Lovell uttered the words above (often misquoted)! At the time I was 11 and I had no doubts that they would return, because the Americans knew how to run space missions and had never lost an astronaut in space! (Aah! The joys of youth and innocence!) It wasn't until I saw the film "Apollo 13" that I had a fuller realisation of what a truly remarkable achievement it was to get those men back home safely!

Your Tuesday questions are: -

1. Born today in 1866 in Utah, how was outlaw Robert Leroy Parker better known?
   
   
2. For which film did Sidney Poitier (right) become the first black actor to win the Best Actor Oscar today in 1964?

   
   
3. Peabo Bryson was born today in 1957 and duetted with which female singer on the Oscar and Grammy winning song "Beauty and the Beast"?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. EuroDisney (now Disney Land Paris); 2. "Barcelona"; 3. American Civil War

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

What a Weekend of Sport!

The weekend's sport really did live up to expectations - Tony McCoy won his first Grand National on board Don't Push It; Chelsea (owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich) will play Portsmouth (currently in Administration) in the FA Cup Final and the US Masters came to a thrilling conclusion with Phil Mickelson winning by three shots!

Your Monday questions are: -

1. What opened today in 1992 at Marne-la-Vallée in France?
   
   
2. Opera singer Montserrat Caballé (right) was born today in 1933 and duetted with Freddie Mercury on which Top 3 single?

   
   
3. What began with an attack on Fort Sumter today in 1861?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Jeremy Clarkson; 2. Warwickshire; 3. Iraq

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Cat vs Postman - Guess Who Wins!

Of course, it's a no contest...the 19 year old cat wins easily (that's about 92 in human terms!) Named Tiger, the vicious moggy has assaulted several postmen in the town of Farsley (near Leeds) and now his owner has to collect her mail from the post office! I just love a silly story!

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. Which broadcaster, journalist and presenter of "Top Gear" was born today in 1960 in Doncaster?
   
   
2. England batsman Ian Bell (right) was born today in 1982 and plays for which English county?

   
   
3. Today in 1990, Customs officers in Middlesbrough found the barrel of a giant gun bound for which Middle Eastern country?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Omar Sharif; 2. Salvation Army; 3. Sophie Ellis-Bextor

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Fantastic Weekend of Sport!

What a day of sport lies ahead today! The third round of the US Masters, the Grand National from Aintree, the FA Cup Semi Final between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Wembley and 'El Classico' between Real Madrid and Barcelona!

Your Saturday questions are: -

1. Which actor and bridge player was born Michel Demitri Shalhoub in Alexandria today in 1932?
   
   
2. William Booth (right) was born today in 1829 and founded which Christian movement?

   
   
3. Which pop singer was born today in 1979 and is the daughter of a former "Blue Peter" presenter?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Prince Charles; 2. S Club 7; 3. Severiano Ballesteros

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Internet Problems - Solved!

After being told that my 'ancient' modem was broken, I did the usual 'turn it off and turn it back on again' and it started working fine! But...as the technician was booked I thought it best to let him come and see whether I needed a new modem! He arrived about 30 minutes AFTER I was expecting him, but Virgin Media had him booked in the later slot of 12 - 4pm. Anyway, he replaced my modem and all is well...so far! Apart from the mix up over the times, I must say that Virgin Media have done a good job!

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Who married Camilla Parker-Bowles today in 2005?
   
   
2. Singer Rachel Stevens (right) was born today in 1978 and was a member of which pop group?

   
   
3. Which golfer was born today in 1957 in Santander, Spain?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Albania; 2. Ghana; 3. Betty Ford

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Internet Problems 2

Today the technician should be here to fix my problems...hopefully I'll be able to give you a glowing report on the great customer service from Virgin Media tomorrow!

Your Thursday questions are: -

1. King Zog abdicated from the throne of which country today in 1939 following an Italian invasion?
   
   
2. In which country was former UN General Secretary Kofi Annan (right) born today in 1938?

   
   
3. Who was born today in 1918 in Chicago and is now most famous for her drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Liam Gallagher; 2. Jim Rockford; 3. Vesuvius

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.