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The All New All New Groundspeak UK Pub Quiz


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Well my guesses are:

1 - just after WWII, but I think '46 would have been too soon to have thought of it and got the arrangements in place, so I'll say 1947.

2. - As the lights are turned on by a mix of dignitaries including people from Norway, I doubt it would be a Saturday, so I'll say either the first Thursday or Friday in Dec, so that would be the 4th or 5th this year.

3 - Must be that famous church that is in Trafalgar Sq, St Martins in the Fields.

4 - Sticking with tradition, 12th Night?

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...well firstly, the tree, this year looks a bit sad, was there recently while doing this cache.

 

We saw the board at the base of the tree, and agree it was donated from 1946 onwards by the people of Oslo.

 

We think it was lit on the 4th of December and will be taken down on the eve of 12th night which makes it 5th January 2009!

 

The crib comes from the local church St Martin in the Fields and the crib ceremony this year was on the first Sunday following the lights, which was the 7th.

 

DING

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...well not such a wasted wander round the square in the rain after all then <_<

 

Next question:

 

What do the following people have in common and why?

 

Sir Isaac Newton

Anwar el-Sadat

Sissy Spacek

 

Well, I know Issac Newton shared his Birthday with my Mother, being born on Christmas Day in 16 something (Issac Newton, not my Mother :) ) , so I'll go with them all being born on Christmas Day, though several years apart.

As to Why?, how about because they were conceived in March ... ;)

 

Incidentally, if the board at the Trafalgar Square Tree says it was first put up in 1946, I bet that board wasn't provided by the Norwegians. I just checked the Norwegian Embassy website which says the first one was in 1947...

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http://www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare/events/xmas.jsp says (my bolds): Christmas in Trafalgar Square

Christmas tree lighting ceremony

Each year since 1947, a Christmas tree has been given to the people of London from the people of Norway in gratitude for Britain's support for Norway during World War II. For many Londoners the Christmas tree and carol singing in Trafalgar Square signal the countdown to Christmas.

 

This year the Christmas tree lighting ceremony was on Thursday 4 December 2008, with the Mayor of London, the Lord Mayor of Westminster and the Mayor of Oslo taking part, and carol-singing led by the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

 

Dedication of the crib

As in previous years, a crib is provided by the Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields. It features figures inspired by people and cultures from around the world, by Japanese artist Tomoaki Suzuki. There was a special dedication service on Sunday 7 December which started with a torch-lit procession, led by the Salvation Army Band with the Choir and Clergy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, from the church into the square.

 

Carol-singing

The Christmas tree in the square provides a central focus for the traditional carol-singing programme.

 

From Monday 8 December to Friday 19 December 2008 Trafalgar Square plays host to groups performing Christmas carols in the square, by the traditional Norwegian Christmas Tree. A large variety of groups from across the country take part, raising funds for voluntary or charitable organisations. All are welcome to come to the square to listen - and perhaps join in.

 

Carol-singing groups wishing to take part, to raise funds for voluntary or charitable organisations, must book their one-hour slot(s) in advance - please see Carol-singing in the square for further information.

 

About the tree

In 2007, marking the 61st year of the tradition, the Norwegian Christmas tree was lit on 6 December by the Mayor of Oslo and the Lord Mayor of Westminster. The ceremony began at 6pm with carols sung by the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields, accompanied by the Westminster Salvation Army band.

 

The tree is usually a Norwegian spruce (Picea abies) over 20 metres high and 50-60 years old. It is selected from the forests surrounding Oslo with great care several months, even years, in advance. The Norwegian foresters who look after it describe it fondly as 'the queen of the forest'.

 

The tree is felled in November during a ceremony in which the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the British ambassador to Norway and the Mayor of Oslo participate. It is brought to the UK by sea, then complete its journey by lorry. A specialist rigging team erects it in the square using a hydraulic crane. It is decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion, with vertical strings of lights - energy-efficient light bulbs are used.

 

Recycling the tree

The Christmas tree remains in Trafalgar Square until just before the Twelfth Night of Christmas, when it is taken down for recycling. The tree is chipped and composted, to make mulch. [The night of January the 6th is Twelfth Night, so I suspect 'just before' means during the day of the 6th]

 

I make that two dings to Dorsetgal and two to careygang, with him getting the final dings... Anyway, Happy Christmas <_<

Edited by Simply Paul
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Next question:

 

What do the following people have in common and why?

 

Sir Isaac Newton

Anwar el-Sadat

Sissy Spacek

 

Well, I know Issac Newton shared his Birthday with my Mother, being born on Christmas Day in 16 something (Issac Newton, not my Mother :shocked: ) , so I'll go with them all being born on Christmas Day, though several years apart.

As to Why?, how about because they were conceived in March ... :shocked:

 

 

DING!

 

Yes, indeed they all share the same birthday which is December 25th.

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What is the connection between the following global locations?

 

Adelaide

Caracas

Kabul

New Deli

St John's

Tehran

 

They all have international airports (I doubt this is what the quizmaster intended :unsure: )

 

Something slightly more unique, that separates them from the likes of New York Paris, Moscow and the vast majority of other cities/locations around the world... :rolleyes:

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They all have buildings in them.

 

(I'm not a fan of these "pick the thing I'm thinking of" questions. I feel the questions should all have UNIQUE answers. You may as well ask "Name a vegetable". "Carrot".... "No". "Cabbage"...."DING! Yes that's the one I wanted")

 

These geographic locations are unique. I could add another few, like Mumbai, or Kulkata (Calcutta) but they share the same unique element of this unique feature as New Deli.

 

Perhaps if I re-phrased the question as follows:

 

Newfoundland, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Burma, as well as parts of Australia, share this unique feature. What is it?

Edited by careygang
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They all have buildings in them.

 

(I'm not a fan of these "pick the thing I'm thinking of" questions. I feel the questions should all have UNIQUE answers. You may as well ask "Name a vegetable". "Carrot".... "No". "Cabbage"...."DING! Yes that's the one I wanted")

 

These geographic locations are unique. I could add another few, like Mumbai, or Kulkata (Calcutta) but they share the same unique element of this unique feature as New Deli.

 

Perhaps if I re-phrased the question as follows:

 

Newfoundland, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Burma, as well as parts of Australia, share this unique feature. What is it?

 

Do they have a time difference other than a full hour compared to UTC (GMT)? (I was in NFLD last year and it was the case there, I know India has has a .5 difference)

Edited by on4bam
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They all have buildings in them.

 

(I'm not a fan of these "pick the thing I'm thinking of" questions. I feel the questions should all have UNIQUE answers. You may as well ask "Name a vegetable". "Carrot".... "No". "Cabbage"...."DING! Yes that's the one I wanted")

 

These geographic locations are unique. I could add another few, like Mumbai, or Kulkata (Calcutta) but they share the same unique element of this unique feature as New Deli.

 

Perhaps if I re-phrased the question as follows:

 

Newfoundland, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Burma, as well as parts of Australia, share this unique feature. What is it?

 

Do they have a time difference other than a full hour compared to UTC (GMT)? (I was in NFLD last year and it was the case there, I know India has has a .5 difference)

 

DING

They are time zones on a half hour time difference from GMT.

Adelaide +9.30 hrs

Caracas -4.30 hrs

Kabul +4.30 hrs

New Deli +5.30 hrs

St John's -3.30 hrs

Tehran +3.30 hrs

 

Over to you :blink:

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Some people think that Belgium is only known for it's chocolate. This is as wrong as you can be so here's a double question:

 

1: The first synthetic material was invented by a Belgian: name the inventor or name of the material

 

2: A musical instrument was invented by a Belgian: Which instrument (bonus: name the inventor).

 

 

 

Fact: French fries are really Belgian fries as they were also first "invented" in Belgium. (no dings to be earned here :blink: )

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Some people think that Belgium is only known for it's chocolate. This is as wrong as you can be so here's a double question:

 

1: The first synthetic material was invented by a Belgian: name the inventor or name of the material

 

2: A musical instrument was invented by a Belgian: Which instrument (bonus: name the inventor).

 

 

 

Fact: French fries are really Belgian fries as they were also first "invented" in Belgium. (no dings to be earned here :blink: )

 

Bakelite (I think), but can't remember who invented it, and Saxophone (I know), invented by Monsieur Sax?

 

Looks like the time I spent helping my daughter research her school EU project work wasn't wasted after all!

Edited by MartyBartfast
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Some people think that Belgium is only known for it's chocolate. This is as wrong as you can be so here's a double question:

 

1: The first synthetic material was invented by a Belgian: name the inventor or name of the material

 

2: A musical instrument was invented by a Belgian: Which instrument (bonus: name the inventor).

 

 

 

Fact: French fries are really Belgian fries as they were also first "invented" in Belgium. (no dings to be earned here :blink: )

 

Bakelite (I think), but can't remember who invented it, and Saxophone (I know), invented by Monsieur Sax?

 

Looks like the time I spent helping my daughter research her school EU project work wasn't wasted after all!

 

Spot on both times. The name of the inventor is Bakelandt.

 

Ding to you. Congratulations on the FAST answers.

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OK. For Chrismas I got the Viz "Last Turkey in the shop" annual, the Private Eye 2008 annual, and the QI annual. This question appears in one of them and I'll leave you to guess which, but if you were a recipient of any of them get them out now, you never know.

 

What is the flavour of the Greek drink "Zit"?

 

I'm thinking that there could be a really unpleasant answer hiding here somewhere, but I don't know what it is, so...

 

How about lemon?

 

MrsB

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Happy New Year - Well Harryhotspur has done it again; goes and gets the answer but doesn't come back with a new question...

 

It's now been over 2 days, so I'll throw in a quick and easy one.

 

This was actually a real question a couple of weeks ago on the "Trivial Pursuit" gameshow on prime time US TV. None of the 3 contestants got it right...

 

Which European city is home to the fragrance "4711"...?

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Happy New Year - Well Harryhotspur has done it again; goes and gets the answer but doesn't come back with a new question...

 

It's now been over 2 days, so I'll throw in a quick and easy one.

 

This was actually a real question a couple of weeks ago on the "Trivial Pursuit" gameshow on prime time US TV. None of the 3 contestants got it right...

 

Which European city is home to the fragrance "4711"...?

Cologne. It's the street address of the shop/workshop/factory. Been there, done that. although I was there for the Kolsch.

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