Friday 1 May 2009

The May Day Teaser …

Good lord, I’m amazed.

No, really, I am!

It’s May Day — so you can guess the theme of today’s teaser, can’t you? — and it’s actually sunny, outside.

I might just grab the bikini, and the suntan lotion, and get a tan.

Or, at least, to jig around a May Pole.

Well, maybe not, but it does look the perfect day for a stroll …

At any rate, here’s today’s May Day Questions; eleven of them, today …





Q1) May Day, in 1328 saw England recognise which country’s independence?


Q2) The irony is that May Day also saw the Act of Union between the two countries; in which year of the 1700’s?


Q3) May Day in 1751 saw the very first cricket match played in what’s now … where?


Q4) May Day also saw the introduction, in 1840, of the first adhesive postage stamp; how’s it known to us non-philatelists?


Q5) The Great Exhibition was opened at the Crystal Palace, on May Day, 1851. In which year of the 1930’s did the Crystal Palace burn down?


Q6) Talking of burnt down palaces, which palace reopened on May Day, 1873, after almost burning down?


Q7) May Day, in 1869, saw the opening of which Paris institution … ?


Q8) Today is also the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker; he was the husband of Mary, and the patron saint of whom; carpenters, electricians, or brickies?


Q9) May Day is also celebrated, in many parts of the world, as International … what … Day?


Q10) What form of dancing is traditionally performed in England, on May Day?


Q11) And finally, what’s the name of the ancient Celtic May Day celebrations?


And here’s yesterday’s Walgurgis Nacht questions and answers …

Q1) April 30th is Walpurgis Nacht; in many of the countries it’s celebrated, it’s the equivalent to what; Bonfire Night, or Halloween?

A1) Actually, either, as far as I can tell. Some countries light bonfires, and many see it as a night when witches run riot.


Q2) Walpurgis Nacht is named after Saint Walpurga; which English county was she from?

A2) Devon.


Q3) April the 30th is also the day — in 1812 — when the 18th US state joined the Union. Which US state are we talking about?

A3) Louisiana. (Home of its own form of voodoo. Funnily …)


Q4) April the 30th 2008 saw the remains of Alexei and Anastasia Romanov being found; which country’s Royal family were they members of?

A4) Russia’s.


Q5) Today is also the birthday of which back from the dead “EastEnders” actor?

A5) Leslie Grantham; Dirty Den, in other words …


Q6) April 30th, 1993, saw the birth of the World Wide Web, at CERN; in which European country is CERN?

A6) Switzerland. (Web, spiders, spider-web? No? Never mind …)


Q7) The American blues musician known as the ‘Father of the Chicago Blues’, died today in 1983; was that Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, or Blind Lemon Jefferson?

A7) Muddy Waters. (He had hit’s with “Got My Mojo Working”, and “Hootchie Cootchie Man”; both both were mildly spooky …)


Q8) Today in 1973 saw President Richard Nixon famously make a speech about what … ?

A8) Watergate. (The Walpurgis excuse for including this? Well it does get mentioned in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”…)


Q9) Moving on, George Washington was sworn in as the first elected president of the USA; in which year of the 1780’s?

A9) 1789.


Q10) And finally, today in 1975 saw the ending of which controversial war?

A10) The Vietnam War.


I’m hoping they were enjoyable?

I’m just hoping no-body indulged in the ancient Walpurgis tradition of chucking a Virgin on a bonfire.

Finding a virgin, ’round here …







•••••

I almost forgot, I’ve a free online quiz I wanted to give you.

Here …


ROUND ONE: – GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.


Q1) What word can go before 'shot' and after 'cauliflower'?

A1) Ear


Q2) What is the square root of 729?

Q2) Twenty-seven.


Q3) What is the collective word for a group of foxes?

A3) Skulk


Q4) What would you do with a Labret : - eat it, play it, or wear it?

A4) Wear it; – it’s a lip piercing.


Q5) What colour is traditionally associated with Roman Emperors?

A5) Purple


Q6) What is the family name of the Dukes of Wellington?

A6) Wellesley


Q7) Lina Medina, from Peru, is the world’s youngest recorded what?

A7) Mother. She fell pregnant at the age of 5.


Q8) Which animals are traditionally sold at Bampton fair?

A8) Exmoor ponies


Q9) Which entertainer was famous for his emu attack on Michael Parkinson?

A9) Rod Hull


Q10) What an artist dies in me” were — according to tradition — the last words of which Roman Emporer?

A10) Nero





ROUND TWO: – SOAP AND FLANNEL.


Q11) Which legendary rock band appeared in “Coronation Street”, in 2005?

A11) Status Quo


Q12) In “Hollyoaks”, what instrument does Rhys Ashworth play?

A12) Drums


Q13) In “Neighbours”, what was the name of Lou and Harold’s shop?

A13) The General Store


Q14) Danii Minogue, Kylie’s kid sister, appeared in “Home & Away”. What was the name of her character?

A14) Emma Jackson.


Q15) Who reached number 4, in 1986, with a version of the “EastEnders” theme-tune, called ‘Anyone Can Fall In Love’?

A15) Anita Dobson. (Better known as Angie Watts)


Q16) In “Coronation Street”, who did Gail describe as “Norman Bates with a briefcase”?

A16) Her husband, Richard Hillman.


Q17) Roger Tonge played which character, in the original “Crossroads”?

A17) Sandy


Q18) In “EastEnders”, what term of endearment did Alfie Moon give Peggy Mitchell?

A18) Duchess.


Q19) In “Dallas”, what was the name of Pam and Bobby’s adopted son?

A19) Christopher


Q20) There were two rival families in “Dallas”; – name either.

A20) The Ewings and the Barnes





ROUND THREE: – FOOD AND DRINK.


Q21) What drink would make you “drunk for a penny, dead drunk for tuppence”?

A21) Gin


Q22) On average how many seeds are there on a McDonalds big Mac bun; 178, 278, or 378?

A22) 178.


Q23) What is the literal English translation of the French word “Chef”?

A23) Chief.


Q24) Ciabatta, and pitta, are types of what?

A24) Bread.


Q25) What type of pea is used in hummus?

A25) The chick pea.


Q26) What colour is the sauce on a prawn cocktail?

A26) Pink.


Q27) Which batter mix is a traditional accompaniment to roast beef?

A27) Yorkshire Pudding.


Q28) True or false; - Rosé is made from red grapes that have had their skins removed.

A28) True.


Q29) What shellfish are used in Moules Marinière?

A29) Mussels.


Q30) What name is given to a small segment of garlic?

A30) A clove.





ROUND FOUR: – NAME THAT (OPENING) LINE.


Q31) When you alone and life is making you lonely

A31) Downtown”, Petula Clark


Q32) They say we’re young, and we don’t know”.

A32) I Got You, Babe”, by Sonny and Cher


Q33) Oh, my love, my darling”.

A33) Unchained Melody”, the Righteous Brothers


Q34) There’s a gentleman that’s going round, turning the joint up side down”.

A34) Stoolpidgeon”, Kid Creole and the Coconuts


Q35) Say your prayers little one – don’t forget, my son, to include everyone”.

A35) Enter the Sandman”, Metallica


Q36) I can’t get no …”.

A36) (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, by the Rolling Stones


Q37) Push me, and then just touch me, until I get my …”.

A37) Satisfaction”, by Bennie Benassi


Q38) I had this perfect dream - Un sueño me envolvió”.

A38) Barcelona” by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé.


Q39) Baby if you`ve got to go away, I don`t think I don’t think I can take the pain”.

A39) Stay Another Day”. E17


Q40) You gotta speed it up, and then you gotta slow it down”.

A40) Making Your Mind Up”, by Bucks Fizz.





ROUND FIVE: – AROUND EUROPE.


Q41) The Solidarity trade Union began in which country?

A41) Poland.


Q42) Which city was built on seven hills?

A42) Rome


Q43) What is Delft in Holland famous for?

A43) Pottery


Q44) Which city is known locally as München?

A44) Munich


Q45) Where, prior to the introduction of the Euro, would you have spent pesetas?

A45) Spain.


Q46) What’s the capital of the Ukraine?

A46) Kiev.


Q47) The Palace of Versailles is near which European capital?

A47) Paris.


Q48) The Leaning Tower of Pisa was originally designed as what, an observatory, a bell tower, or a mosque?

A48) A bell tower.


Q49) Tirana is the capital city of which eastern European country?

A49) Albania.


Q50) In which Irish city is the Abbey Theatre?

A50) Dublin.





ROUND SIX: – GENERAL IGNORANCE.


Q51) What was the 1st country in the world to have a TV service?

A51) Great Britain.


Q52) In which country was the 1st CD made?

A52) Japan.


Q53) How many days are there, in April and May, put together?

A53) 61. (30 in April, 31 in May.)


Q54) What type of songs did John Mason Neale write?

A54) Hymns.


Q55) Achluophobia is a fear of what, darkness, or light?

A55) Darkness.


Q56) What’s the only English anagram of FOUNDLING?

A56) Unfolding.


Q57) Which — according to its adverts — is “soft, strong and very long”?

A57) Andrex toilet tissue


Q58) In 1935, C. C. McGee invented what the parking meter, the traffic lights, or the Belisha beacon?

A58) The Parking meter.


Q59) Where’s the sweat gland of a cow, in it’s nose, it’s tongue, or it’s bottom?

A59) In it’s nose.


Q60) What word can go before ‘board’, and after ‘paper’?

A60) Dart’.

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