VW to Take Over Porsche?

How ironic that the company whose initial success was based on the Beetle, designed by Ferdinand Porsche, should be about to take over the company he founded and his son continued to run after World War II! Volkswagen is already one of Europe's biggest car manufacturers and the addition of Porsche will complete its range of cars from family to luxury to sports.

Friday's questions are: -

1. What nationality is cyclist Miguel Indurain who won the Tour de France for a fourth time today in 1994?
   
   
2. Amelia Earhart (right) was born today in 1897 and, in 1935, became the first woman to fly solo across which ocean?
   

   
   
3. Which author was born today in 1802 and wrote "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo"?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Egypt; 2. Saul Hudson ; 3. Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson

Michael Martin Stands Down as Speaker

The events of 19th May 2009 will become quiz questions for me in future years. It was indeed an historic day, the first time in 300 years that the Speaker of the House of Commons has been forced to leave office. Follow the links in this piece to find out the background, but it all stems from the row over MPs expenses!

Wednesday's questions are: -

1. Which singer and actress was born Cherilyn Sarkisian today in 1946?
   
   
2. R J Mitchell (right) who was born today in 1895 is best known for the design of which World War II fighter plane?
   
   
3. Today is the birthday of three international goalkeepers. Name the countries each of these footballers has represented - Leo Franco (1977); Iker Casillas (1981); Petr Čech (1982).

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Napoleon Bonaparte; 2. Sarah Jessica Parker; 3. The Who

British Army Leaves Basra

Finally, after six years, the British Army has finished combat operations in Iraq! After all this time and an invasion that has never been properly justified, was it all worth it?

Your Friday posers are: -

1. Today in 1940 the Summer Olympic Games, scheduled for which city, were cancelled because of the outbreak of World War II?
   
   
   
2. Author Joseph Heller (below) was born today in 1932 and is best remembered for which 1961 novel?
   
3. How many countries joined the European Union today in 2004?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Adolf Hitler; 2. Train Crash; 3. Kirsten Dunst