EDF World Half Marathon - Birmingham

On Sunday the EDF World Half Marathon Championship is taking place in Birmingham, which is great news for the city. However, there's a slight problem for me - I live inside the circuit, so for several hours on Sunday I'll be a 'prisoner' in my own neighbourhood! Actually it's not such a problem as I've no plans for going anywhere on Sunday. I called the hotline to find out what arrangements had been made if I needed to use my car, but we've only just had the details through out letterboxes today! As long as I remember to get all my food before the day I should be alright (I can still go to the local Co-op as well!)

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Which memorial garden to John Lennon opened in New York today in 1985 on what would have been his 45th birthday?
   
   
2. Scottish actor Alastair Sim (right) was born today in 1900 and played the headmistress in the first two films about which school?
   
   
3. Which Swedish golfer and winner of ten LPGA Major titles was born today in 1970?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Corporal Alvin C York (later Sergeant); 2. "Gorillas in the Mist"; 3. Pakistan (Kashmir)

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

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

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

Met Office Revises Summer Forecast

Why do they do it? It's common knowledge amongst experts that it isn't possible to forecast the weather more than 4 days in advance. So, earlier in the year the Met Office issued a summer forecast that indicated we were in for quite a good summer! On a day when it has rained solidly for about 12 hours here in Birmingham, they have now said that August will be more unsettled than predicted and that whilst they stand by their original statement, it did only have a probability of 65%! I am a fan of the Met Office and, by and large, their forecasts are good. If only they'd stick to what they're good at!

Thursday's questions are: -

1. Who was born today in 1818 and wrote the novel "Wuthering Heights"?
   
   
2. Who was born today in 1958 and had a UK No 1 single in 1978 with "Wuthering Heights"?
   
   
3. The last 'old style' VW Beetle (below) rolled off the assembly line in which country today in 2003?