A Car Named Zoe

Renault's plan to introduce a new all-electric 'Zero Emissions' car called the Zoe has hit a bit of a snag - Parisian Zoe Renault has hired lawyers to insist that Renault change their mind! Many other Zoes from around France are also reported to be taking action!

Your Saturday questions are:-

1. The island of Ceylon changed its name to what today in 1972?
   
   
2. Which lyricist, best known for his collaborations with Elton John (right) was born today in 1950?
   
   
3. Belgian writer and artist Hergé was born today in 1907 and is best remembered for creating which character?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Manchester Ship Canal; 2. Ireland; 3. FIFA

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'Artificial Life' Created

This is momentous news, that artificial life has been created in the USA! It is too early to tell whether this life-form is truly viable, but it is the first step on a journey that will be difficult to predict. No doubt lazy journalists will trot out Frankenstein clichés in the press, but this could be much more dangerous (and potentially much more beneficial)! Will it be a 'two-edged sword' like nuclear power? Only time will tell!

Your Friday questions are:-

1. Which 36-mile long waterway was officially opened by Queen Victoria today in 1894?
   
   
2. Mary Robinson (right) was born today in 1944 and was the first female President of which country?
   
   
3. Which international sport governing body was founded today in 1904 in Paris?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Levi Strauss; 2. Sheffield; 3. Christopher Columbus

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

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London 2012 Olympic Mascots Unveiled

The mascots for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been revealed; and they are quite something! To my eye they look modern, vibrant and international...not what I would have come up with, but then I'm not the target market! They have been designed initially as animated characters primarily to involve children and to help them learn more about the Games. They are named Wenlock (after the site of the 'Olympic Games' held at Much Wenlock that inspired Pierre de Coubertin) and Mandeville (after Stoke Mandeville where the Paralympics began). Let's hope they are successful and are not forgotten like most other games mascots!

Your Thursday questions are:-

1. Who, together with Jacob Davis, was granted a patent to reinforce clothing with copper rivets today in 1873?
   
   
2. In which English city was singer Joe Cocker (right) born today in 1944?
   
   
3. Which famous Genoese explorer died in Spain today in 1506?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Ho Chi Minh; 2. Marilyn Monroe; 3. Ace of Base

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Smallpox Vaccine and HIV

If true, and it looks like it is, it would appear that the smallpox vaccine actually helped to slow down HIV infection! This is remarkable! It just goes to show how complex nature is and how there are consequences after the extinction of a 'species'. Obviously more research is required, but this information does explain the rise in HIV infection in Africa, mirroring the reduction in smallpox vaccinations, over the same period!

Your Wednesday questions are:-

1. Which Vietnamese leader was born today in 1890?
   
   
2. Who sang "Happy Birthday" to President Kennedy (right) today in 1962?
   
   
3. Singer songwriter Jenny Berggren was born today in 1972 in Sweden and is a member of which pop group?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Nicholas II; 2. Yes; 3. Detonate an Atom Bomb

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From Crisps to Vodka

It's Top Sites Tuesday #60 at BlogDumps and this week's theme is Two Thoughts on a Tuesday. This week I'm going to use someone else's two thoughts, stand back and merely gaze in admiration! I was taken by this story about how a British produced Vodka had won the Gold Medal as the Best Vodka at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition beating 249 rivals, from all the major vodka producing nations, to the prize! Chase Vodka is made from potatoes on a farm in Herefordshire where they can only make 1,000 bottles per month. This farm was also the origin for Tyrrell's Crisps (Potato Chips if you're outside Britain) which were also the brainchild of William Chase. Now that's one really clever man - to have one very successful business idea is great, but to sell off your first idea, start again and be successful again is pure genius! So, let's all raise a glass of vodka in one hand and a packet of upmarket crisps in the other - we salute you William Chase, England's first potato genius!

Your Tuesday questions are:-

1. Who was the last Tsar of Russia that was born today in 1868?
   
   
2. Rick Wakeman (right) was born today in 1949 and was the keyboardist with which prog rock band in the 1970's?
   
   
3. With the project name Smiling Buddha, India became the sixth nation to do what today in 1974?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Dennis Hopper; 2. Kentucky Derby; 3.California

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England World Champions!

I'm hoping to write the same title in about two months time, but for the first time ever, England has won a world title in men's cricket! At the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies, England beat the 'old enemy' Australia by 7 wickets with three overs to spare in the final. Before this result, England were the only Top 8 team in world cricket not to have won a major title! In 1979, 1987 and 1992 England lost in the final of the Cricket World Cup (50 Overs per side) and also in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004 (also 50 Overs), so this result is long overdue! Well done to 'our boys' and let's hope the football team can do the same in South Africa!

Your Monday questions are:-

1. Who was born today in 1936 and Co-wrote, directed and co-starred in the 1969 film "Easy Rider"?
   
   
2. Which horse race was first run today in 1875 with Aristides (right) being the winner?
   
   
3. In which US State is Monterey that held its first Folk Festival today in 1963?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Japanese; 2. FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth; 3.Football (Soccer)

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Miliband for PM?

The election is over, we have a new government, so now it's time for the election of new leaders in the losing parties! This time there was only one major loser - the Labour Party. For the first time in British history (I think!) two brothers are competing for the position - Ed and David Miliband! Unless someone else stands it looks likely that our next Prime Minister will be a Miliband, but which brand of Miliband is best? Frankly, I'm not that bothered!

Your Sunday questions are:-

1. What nationality is Junko Tabei who became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest today in 1975?
   
   
2. Actor David Boreanaz (right) was born today in 1969 and plays which character in the TV series "Bones"?
   
   
3. In which sport do teams play for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the first final of which was held today in 1914?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. United Kingdom; 2. Pussycat Dolls; 3. James Mason

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

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Shakespeare's "Henry VIII"

"Henry VIII" is not performed very often, but a new version is being staged at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. The play is believed to be jinxed after the original Globe Theatre burned down in 1613 when the thatched roof caught alight after the firing of a cannon in the play! Another reason it isn't performed more often is that no-one is quite sure whether it is a History, a Romance or a Tragedy. And if that wasn't enough, there's speculation that some of it was written by John Fletcher and those scenes are not as good as the other parts of the play. Before I read this piece I had no idea why "Henry VIII" was so seldom seen - another day, another piece of knowledge gained!

Your Saturday questions are:-

1. Which country tested its first Hydrogen Bomb over Malden Island today in 1957?
   
   
2. Jessica Sutta (right) was born today in 1982 and from 2002 to 2010 was a member of which pop group?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1909 in Huddersfield and won a Golden Globe for his performance in the 1954 film "A Star is Born"?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Edward Jenner; 2. "The Aviator"; 3. Warsaw

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

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Queen Bees in the Post!

Honey Bees are dying the world over and no-one is quite sure why. As they are responsible for pollinating many of the crops we rely on for our food this is a potential disaster for the human race! Here in the Midlands, beekeepers are to use healthy queen bees posted from the Isle of Man to replace diseased queens in their hives in an attempt to eradicate the problem! We all have to hope that this is successful and also leads to a permanent solution...or we could all be going hungry in the not-too-distant future!

Your Friday questions are:-

1. Who administered the first Smallpox vaccination today in 1796?
   
   
2. Cate Blanchett (right) was born today in 1969 and won an Oscar for her role as Katherine Hepburn in which 2004 film?
   
   
3. In which city did eight Communist Bloc countries sign a self-defence treaty today in 1955?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Virgin Mary; 2. "La Bamba"; 3. Robert Pattinson

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

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The Future's Bright; The Future's Orange...and Blue!

Well, I got what I wished for...the first coalition government in Britain since the Second World War. Britain has a new double act that probably won't have Ant & Dec worried, but Dave & Nick (or maybe the more formal Cameron & Clegg) do show some promise as performers if the politics doesn't work out! We will now have to wait and see whether this alliance can actually work as well as I think it can (and should) or whether it all falls apart disastrously as many others expect!

Your Thursday questions are:-

1. Who appeared in a vision to three children at Fatima in Portugal today in 1917?
   
   
2. Which 1987 film tells the life story of singer Ritchie Valens (right) who was born today in 1941?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1986 and is best known for playing Edward Cullen in the "Twilight" series of films?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Martin Sheen; 2. 'The Lady with the Lamp'; 3. George VI

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Good for Birmingham; Bad for Cheltenham

Following the Kraft Foods takeover of Cadbury's, the first casualties are revealed...and it is good news for Bournville! Kraft have announced that they are to close their headquarters in Cheltenham and move them to Birmingham. So, that's about 500 jobs that will be lost in Cheltenham, but it will secure (and maybe add) jobs here in Birmingham. Unfortunately, that's the way of business, but some measure of relief for my neighbourhood!

Your Wednesday questions are:-

1. Who is the father of Emilio Estevez who was born today in 1962?
   
   
2. What was the nickname of Florence Nightingale (right) who was born today in 1820?
   
   
3. Who was crowned King at Westminster Abbey today in 1937?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. "Neighbours"; 2. The Animals; 3. John Parrott

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

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BlogDumps Top Sites Tuesday #59

This week's theme at BlogDumps is "What did you do to relax this weekend?" Well, for me, this weekend was much like many others (it wasn't Mother's Day here in the UK!). Saturday evening was spent eating pizza and drinking too much red wine with friends Julie, Martin and Tim...discussing the current political situation here in Britain (still not resolved!) amongst (many) other things (too much vino to remember what!!). So, it was a fairly late rise on Sunday with just enough time to cook my breakfast (delicious, despite the fact that I'd bought Smoked Bacon by mistake) before heading off for my weekly round of golf with Dave (this week at Ingon Manor in the lovely Warwickshire countryside). This week I managed to win, after almost snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! All-in-all a very pleasant time!

Your Tuesday questions are:-

1. Actress and singer Holly Valance was born today in 1983 and played 'Flick' Scully in which Aussie soap opera?
   
   
2. Eric Burdon (right) was born today in 1941 and was the front man of which 60's band?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1964 and was the 1991 World Professional Snooker Champion?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Rudolf Hess; 2. Canada; 3. Barbara Taylor Bradford

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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Hummus Wars!

Lebanon has taken a decisive lead in it's 'war' with Israel over who can create the largest serving of hummus! In 2008, Israeli chefs came up with a huge vat of hummus to coincide with Israeli independence day. In 2009, Lebanese chefs managed to make a cool two tonnes of the stuff - and in so doing, not just set a new world record, but claimed the invention of hummus for all Lebanese. In January Israel upped the record to four tonnes, but now the Lebanese have made a massive TEN TONNES of hummus!

Your Monday questions are:-

1. Who parachuted into Scotland on a peace mission today in 1941?
   
   
2. In which country was supermodel Linda Evangelista (right) born today in 1965?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1933 and wrote the best-selling novel "A Woman of Substance"?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Crown Jewels; 2. J M Barrie; 3. "Uptown Girl"

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

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Robots Potentially Lethal to Humans

I read this story and thought, wasn't all of this considered by Isaac Asimov in the "I, Robot" collection of stories that were first published in the 1940's? The story "Runaround" is the first to list Asimov's famous 'Three Laws of Robotics' and I would suggest that the German scientists study these stories and try to implement a similar set of robot 'laws' to ensure safety in the future. Just goes to show what a foresighted man Asimov was!

Your Sunday questions are:-

1. What did Thomas Blood attempt to steal today in 1671?
   
   
2. Who was born today in 1860 and was portrayed by Johnny Depp (right) in the 2004 film "Finding Neverland"?
   
   
3. What was the only UK Number One single for Billy Joel who was born today in 1949?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Turin; 2. Pittsburgh Steelers; 3. Michelle McManus

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

My Wish Comes True!

The UK General Election delivered what I'd hoped for - a hung parliament! Now we have to wait to see if either of the major parties can do a deal with the Liberal Democrats and form a stable government. Hopefully it will turn out best for the country and not be a classic case of...'beware what you wish for'!

Your Saturday questions are:-

1. The first Italian Football League games were played in which city today in 1898?
   
   
2. Bill Cowher (right) was born today in 1957 and coached which NFL team to win the 2006 Super Bowl?
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1980 in Glasgow and won the second (and final) UK series of "Pop Idol" in 2003?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Mercedes Benz; 2. "Sergeant York"; 3. Ninth Symphony

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

"Enron" Loses Money

The play about the collapse of Enron is to close on Broadway after only 15 performances! Despite being a success in London's West End, the play was not a critical success on Broadway and is closing with losses of about $4 million! Meanwhile, back here in the UK we wait to see whether the election result will instigate the collapse of the British economy and our whole way of life!

Your Friday questions are:-

1. Which German car manufacturer bought Chrysler today in 1998?
   
   
2. Gary Cooper (right) was born today in 1901 and won his first Oscar for which 1941 film?
   
   
3. Which Beethoven symphony that includes "Ode to Joy" premièred in Vienna today in 1824?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Rudolph Valentino; 2. Czech Republic (was Austrian Empire); 3. Princess Margaret

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Election Day 2010

Yes, today's the day when we mere mortals are allowed to cast our vote for who we'd like to run the country for the next five years. It has been Labour for the past 13 years and before that it was 18 years of Conservative rule. As there is a maximum of 5 years between elections, in the time that the major parties were in power, they should have been able to create a 'paradise' based on their respective philosophies - neither managed it! Even now we are still being told that Labour's way is best or that the Conservative way is best, yet the evidence would seem to show that, when given a decent go at it, neither way is actually best! So, maybe it is time for our British democracy to embrace the third way and have a coalition government (like many other, successful, countries do) where decisions are taken based on what is actually best for the country rather than what one set of dogmatists say is right based on their beliefs! But to be honest, I don't think our politicians have the maturity to pull it off!

Your Election Day questions are:-

1. Which silent film heartthrob was born today in 1895 in Italy?
   
   
2. In which modern day country was psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (right) born today in 1856?
   
   
3. Who married Anthony Armstrong-Jones in Westminster Abbey today in 1960?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Mongol Empire; 2. Chanel No 5; 3. Michael Palin

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Snooker Loopy!

This time last year I was writing about John Higgins triumph in the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield! Twelve months later Aussie Neil Robertson has won the title in a snooze promoting final against Graeme Dott and John Higgins has been suspended following a News of the World sting operation! Is it the beginning of the end for snooker? Probably not, but it does raise questions about how easy/hard it is for sportsmen to affect results in more subtle ways than just throwing a game!

Your Wednesday questions are:-

1. Kublai Khan became ruler of which empire today in 1260?
   
   
2. Which was the first fragrance to be introduced by Coco Chanel (right) today in 1921?
   
   
3. Which of the "Monty Python" team was born today in 1943 in Sheffield?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. HMS Sheffield; 2. Egypt; 3. The Derby

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

BlogDumps Top Sites Tuesday #58

Its Tuesday, so its time for Two Thoughts on Tuesday for the BlogDumps theme! On this day in 1979, Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister; in 1996 José Aznar was elected Spanish Prime Minister and in 2000 Ken Livingstone became the first elected Mayor of London. And now in 2010 we are now almost at the end of the UK General Election campaigns and we can cast our votes on Thursday, but I'm still not sure who to vote for! It won't be Labour (I've had no leaflets through the door); it won't be BNP (far too right wing and racist!); it won't be the Christian Party (some policies similar to the BNP); it won't be the Green Party (too anti science); it won't be UKIP (they want to pull out of Europe and have Britain go it alone in the World)! So I'm left with Nigel Dawkins (Conservative) who is my local councillor (never claimed expenses) and is a regular in my local cafe and David Radcliffe (Liberal Democrat) who lives in the next street to me (and they have the best policy on the National Health Service). Oh well, maybe I'll toss a coin...or maybe I'll go for the leader with the best hair!!

Your Tuesday questions are:-

1. Which Royal Navy ship was destroyed by an Exocet missile fired from an Argentinean plane today in 1982?
   
   
2. Hosni Mubarak (right) was born today in 1928 and is President of which Middle Eastern country?
   
   
3. Which horse race was first run at Epsom today in 1780?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Dollywood; 2. Jamaica; 3. Rob Brydon

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.
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Ninety Year Old Woman Scores Hole in One!

Here's another story that makes me both very happy (for someone to get a hole in one) and rather peeved (a 90-year-old woman does something after playing for only two years that I've failed to achieve in over twenty years of golfing!) To add insult to injury, the 2nd Hole is 181 yards long which is about my extreme limit for a Par 3. Maybe Mary Tattersall was playing from the Ladies tees (I can only hope!)

Your Monday questions are:-

1. Which theme park opened today in 1986 at Pigeon Forge, Tennessee?
   
   
2. Which Caribbean island was discovered by Christopher Columbus (right) today in 1494?
   
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1965 and played Keith Barret in the TV comedies "Marion and Geoff" and "The Keith Barret Show"?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. ARA General Belgrano; 2. Johannesburg; 3. Jacques Rogge

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Too Fat to Fight?

Is this the way civilisations end? American generals are worried that they won't be able to get as many young recruits as about 25% of the available young men are obese! This trend is obviously a concern for all of the 'developed' nations. As we become more used to a life without war we become more comfortable and less able to really fight to defend ourselves. Is this the decadence that the puritans warned us about? Does this signal the beginning of the end of our civilisation?

Your Sunday questions are:-

1. Which ship was sunk today in 1982 by torpedoes from submarine HMS Conqueror?
   
   
   
2. What was the destination of the world's first jet airliner, the De Havilland Comet (below) on its maiden commercial flight today in 1952?
   
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1942 in Belgium and is the current President of the International Olympic Committee?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Ten; 2. Purdey; 3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.

Expo 2010 Opens in Shanghai

I thought that the time of the Expo or World Fair had passed, but seemingly not! The last one I remember happening was Expo 67 in Canada! Now I discover that they've been going on regularly ever since with Expo 2010 opening in Shanghai! What is interesting is the shift in locations - in the 1800's they were mainly in Europe, then in the 1900's more and more were held in the USA and now we're in the 2000's the trend is over to Asia. As an indicator of the shifting economic power distribution in the world, this list works very well!

Your Saturday questions are:-

1. How many countries joined the European Union today in 2004?
   
   
2. Actress Joanna Lumley (right) was born today in 1946 and played which character in the TV series "The New Avengers"?
   
   
3. Who composed the music for the opera "The Marriage of Figaro" that was first performed in Vienna today in 1786?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Bill Clinton; 2. Leslie Grantham; 3. France

My book "The Easy Quiz Master"

is available NOW from Amazon and Lulu.