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

St George's Day

Today's the day every proud Englishman should celebrate - like the Irish on St Patrick's Day...or should we? St George was Turkish; St Patrick was actually Irish (and St David was Welsh). St George is also the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia, as well as the cities of Amersfoort, Beirut, Bteghrine, Cáceres, Ferrara, Freiburg, Genoa, Ljubljana, Gozo, Pomorie, Qormi, Lod and Moscow, Scouting, as well as a wide range of professions, organizations and disease sufferers. St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland only.

So, our patron saint is really not ours alone, just one we've adopted as we couldn't find someone who is actually English!!

Your Thursday teasers are: -

1. Which Pink Floyd album finally left the Billboard 200 after 741 consecutive weeks today in 1988?

   
   
2. Actor Hervé Villechaize (right), who was born today in 1943, played which character in the film "The Man with the Golden Gun"?
   
   
3. Which order of chivalry, founded by Edward III, was announced today in 1348?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Poland; 2. 3; 3. Robin Knox-Johnston

Why Don't Polar Bears Eat Penguins?

"Because they can't get the wrappers off!" - It's an age old joke hiding the fact that they are, quite literally, Poles apart. Now, I thought that species present in the Arctic regions were not to be found in Antarctic regions (except for migratory species of birds and sea life), but apparently this is not the case.

I discovered this article on the BBC website which says that, "At least 235 marine species are living in both polar regions, despite being 12,000km apart". Fascinating...as Mr Spock would have said!

Today's questions are: -

1. Which three-time Wimbledon and four-time US Open Men’s singles champion was born today in 1959 in Wiesbaden, Germany?
   
   
2. Actor LeVar Burton (right), who was born today in 1957, played which role in “Star Trek: The Next Generation”?
   
   
3. Kim Jong-Il, who was born today in 1941 in Russia, is now leader of which Asian country?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Matt Groening; 2. Fu Manchu; 3. New Zealand; 4. UB40

Michelle Obama - Vogue Cover Girl

That's right, Michelle Obama is the cover girl on the March issue of Vogue magazine. However, she is not the first First Lady to grace the cover of Vogue...guess who was first? The answer can be found here.

Your posers for this Thursday are: -

1. Space probe NEAR Shoemaker (below) became the spacecraft to soft land on what planetary body today in 2001?

   
   

2. Who was born today in 1934 in Scotland and played Victor Meldrew's long-suffering wife in the TV sitcom "One Foot in the Grave"? (pictured below)

   


3. What was the occupation of Anna Pavlova who was born today in 1881 in St Petersburg, Russia?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. 'The Wizard of Menlo Park'; 2. "Tuesday Night Music Club"; 3. Burt Reynolds