+burtsbodgers Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Blimey that was quick Ding to Norsch Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 (edited) OK name one of the two native north American tribes with a written language Edited December 22, 2009 by norsch Quote Link to comment
+Unobtainium Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 The republicans? Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 I'll hazard a guess at Cherokee and Mayan: Many of the native American peoples had written languages (certainly more than two!) However, most were symbolic (i.e. used symbols to represent whole words). So I suspect that you mean written using an alphabet (e.g. Roman or Cyrillic). Dragging the depths of QI again, I suspect that Cherokee is one you're looking for. That said, their written language developed post-contact after one of them saw white men writing, thought it a good idea, and developed their own system. That QI episode prompted me to do some research into the subject and ISTR that pre-contact only the Mayans had an alphabetic written language, but post-contact many peoples adapted the Roman alphabet and now have alphabetic written languages, e.g. Shoshone and Navajo. Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 I'll hazard a guess at Cherokee and Mayan: Many of the native American peoples had written languages (certainly more than two!) However, most were symbolic (i.e. used symbols to represent whole words). So I suspect that you mean written using an alphabet (e.g. Roman or Cyrillic). Dragging the depths of QI again, I suspect that Cherokee is one you're looking for. That said, their written language developed post-contact after one of them saw white men writing, thought it a good idea, and developed their own system. That QI episode prompted me to do some research into the subject and ISTR that pre-contact only the Mayans had an alphabetic written language, but post-contact many peoples adapted the Roman alphabet and now have alphabetic written languages, e.g. Shoshone and Navajo. DING to Pajaholic for Cherokee, true their writing was developed after contact with europeans, and it does borrow from western notation, however they do have many letters of there own. I wouldn't have accepted Mayan, as they were a bit too far south to be considered North American. Anyway what is this QI? Quote Link to comment
+Team Noodles Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Anyway what is this QI? Something Stephen Fry did iirc, pretty good show. Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 DING to Pajaholic for Cherokee, true their writing was developed after contact with europeans, and it does borrow from western notation, however they do have many letters of there own. I wouldn't have accepted Mayan, as they were a bit too far south to be considered North American. Anyway what is this QI? Er ... The North American Continent is all of the Americas North of the Isthmus of Panama. Politically, North America includes Mexico, mainland USA, and Canada and (depending on the politician) might include some or all of the Central American countries (Venezuela, Nicaragua, Guatemala, etc.) Since the Mayans lived in Southern Mexico and the adjoining countries of Central America, they were a North American people! Clicky Wiki for reference. For info, QI is a TV quiz-panel show hosted by Stephen Fry with Alan Davies (who played Jonathan Creek in the series of that name) the regular panellist who almost always loses, and three guest panellists. It was produced by the BBC but "Dave" now airs repeats several nights each week. The initials "QI" stand for "Quite Interesting", and the show is an oft-humorous gold-mine of what would normally otherwise be useless information. Anyway, hopefully an easy one (that was probably mentioned in QI at some time - it just seems the sort of thing the show would include): Why might the inventor Sir Robert Watson-Watt have ironically had cause to regret his most famous invention? Geoff Quote Link to comment
+Lost in Space Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 You expecting a speedy response? Quote Link to comment
+MartyBartfast Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) I know someone involved in the early days of steam power was killed by a boiler explosion so I'll guess: It blew up and killed him. Edit to add, I just googled and I'm WAY off Edited December 23, 2009 by MartyBartfast Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 I know he worked near here (East Suffolk) during the second WW, so I think he may have invented radar, as an early testing station is just a few miles away at Orford Ness. Did he get cancer from radio waves? Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 You expecting a speedy response? LOL! I do so hope that pun was intended, because I'm giving you the DING for it! As norsch suggested, Sir Robert Watson-Watt invented RADAR, and so helped the Allies win WWII. However, his own invention was used against him when he received a speeding ticket from radar-equipped Canadian police in 1956. Allegedly, the experience caused him to pen the following poem Pity Sir Watson-Watt,strange target of this radar plot and thus, with others I can mention, the victim of his own invention. His magical all-seeing eye enabled cloud-bound planes to fly but now by some ironic twist it spots the speeding motorist and bites, no doubt with legal wit, the hand that once created it. Oh Frankenstein who lost control of monster man created whole, with fondest sympathy regard one more hoist with his petard. As for you courageous boffins who may be nailing up your coffins, particularly those whose mission deals in the realm of nuclear fission, pause and contemplate fate's counter plot and learn with us what's Watson-Watt. Geoff Quote Link to comment
+Lost in Space Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Alledgedly, after being pulled over he said ""Had I known what you were going to do with it I would never have invented it!" OK, going back to previous questions/answers, what do SG1, SG2 and the number 7.36 relate to? Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 what do SG1, SG2 and the number 7.36 relate to? SG1, SG2 are post code areas in Stevenage and Hitchin is 7.36 miles away by road Quote Link to comment
+Lost in Space Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 what do SG1, SG2 and the number 7.36 relate to? SG1, SG2 are post code areas in Stevenage and Hitchin is 7.36 miles away by road Ha! I happen to live in SG2, but that is not the answer I was looking for, you have to be more "specific". Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Just looked on the map again, you're between Luton and Stanstead airports. Are you getting 7.36% too much noise from aircraft? Quote Link to comment
+Birdman-of-liskatraz Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 If that was a hint... Is is something to do with Specific Gravity - and calculating the alcohol content of wine/beer/something? Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 If that was a hint... Is is something to do with Specific Gravity - and calculating the alcohol content of wine/beer/something? Ah, the licencee in me coming out - %v/v alcohol = (SG2 - SG1) / 0.0074 but I still don't know where 7.36 comes into it. Quote Link to comment
+Lost in Space Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Ah, the licencee in me coming out - %v/v alcohol = (SG2 - SG1) / 0.0074 but I still don't know where 7.36 comes into it. 736, 0.0074,....%? DING! Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 William Brunton built a steam locomotive in 1813, what was unusual about it? Quote Link to comment
+Border Caz Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 That would be the one that could walk! Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 (edited) A big Ding to Border Caz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunton%27s_M...nical_Traveller Edited December 24, 2009 by norsch Quote Link to comment
+Border Caz Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 What do the following have in common: The Northern Lights A character from the Arabian Nights An instrument that measures pressure without using fluid A nuclear weapon The second wife of Henry 8th Quote Link to comment
+Birdman-of-liskatraz Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 What do the following have in common: The Northern Lights A character from the Arabian Nights An instrument that measures pressure without using fluid A nuclear weapon The second wife of Henry 8th AB? Quote Link to comment
+The Forester Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 For the sake of saving an unmaintained cache, let's give The Birdman of Alcotraz a Ding. He got them all right: Aurora Borealis Ali Baba Anaeroid Barometer Atom Bomb Anne Boleyn Let's agree to move the game on and give Birdman the chair for the next question. It's a good cache, so let's nurture it while the GC.com bureaucrats ain't botherin'. Quote Link to comment
+Birdman-of-liskatraz Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Ohh Ta.... So, here's a question to make you think.... Which Countries first ever Football team comprised of the following named players? Charles Dawe, John Dawe, James Bennetts, John Bennetts, William Blamey, Richard Sobey, William Bragg, William Thomas, Percy Bunt, Lionel Bunt, Albert Pangelly and William Pengelly Shouldn't be too hard.... Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Good Cornish names there. Now we know that wherever in the World there's a hole in the ground you'll find a Cornishman at the bottom winning the minerals. So my guess is that it's a country we taught the art of hard-rock mining. Knowing a little of Birdie, I suspect this country is now famous in it's own right for football - possibly South America, ... So I'll guess Brazil? Geoff Quote Link to comment
+Birdman-of-liskatraz Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Ohh closeish... but not Brazil.... Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Ohh closeish... but not Brazil.... Mexico? Quote Link to comment
+Birdman-of-liskatraz Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Indeed - Mexico... DING Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Indeed - Mexico... DING Thanks, I knew that Brazil has a lot of tin - hence the first guess - but I'll admit to a mental coin-toss between Mexico and Uruguay. Next question: What unusual trait do the duck-billed platypus and echidna share? Geoff Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 egg laying DING - AFAICT, they are the only mammals that lay eggs. Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Along similar lines, duck-billed platypus and echidna don't have them but all other mammals do. What? Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Along similar lines, duck-billed platypus and echidna don't have them but all other mammals do. What? Nipples. Both sweat milk instead. Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Thanks! Next question: Who was the first President of America? Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 So must be pre-constitution then? Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Yep! While George Washington became the first President of the independent United States in 1789, he wasn't the first President of America since colonial America had Presidents before gaining independence. Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 I seem to recall that they elected a president to stop George Washington becoming king, but I may be well wrong. Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 I seem to recall that they elected a president to stop George Washington becoming king, but I may be well wrong. You might be correct. However, AFAICT the role of the first Presidents was similar to the role of the Speaker of the House of Commons in that they presided over - hence the title "president" - the assembled Congress to keep order in the assembly, but had little or no executive power. Quote Link to comment
+The Forester Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 I remember Hanson in the mid-1980s boasting that they were "doing rather well over there" while I was living in New York. A local explained to me why there were so many harrumpphs about a Brit company using that name with that slogan. The first President's name was John Hanson. Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Good try, but no ding. AIUI Hanson is often cited as the first elected president, but he wasn't the first to be appointed. One of the presidents before Hanson is possibly as famous as Washington because of a quirk of colloquialism. John Hancock was President when the Declaration of Independence was signed, which is allegedly the reason why his signature is so prominent on that document, which in turn is why "John Hancock" is US slang for "signature". That said, you have to look earlier even than John Hancock for the first President! Quote Link to comment
+Team Noodles Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 are you three the nerdy guys i sometimes see sitting drinking in the corner of my local? Not talking to anyone else but eachother? Quote Link to comment
+Simply Paul Posted January 3, 2010 Author Share Posted January 3, 2010 I remembered this was on QI and dug the book out. The man you're looking for was Peyton Randolph. Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 DING to Simply Paul. ISTR that I'm not the only fan of QI watching this thread, so I thought it would go a lot quicker than it did. (Slinks back to nerd corner ....) Quote Link to comment
norsch Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Just looked on wikipedia at this one, their entries say that Peyton Randolph was the first president of The Continental Congress, wikipedia gives the first President of America as John Hanson. Strange Quote Link to comment
Pajaholic Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Just looked on wikipedia at this one, their entries say that Peyton Randolph was the first president of The Continental Congress, wikipedia gives the first President of America as John Hanson. Strange No matter whether you accept Peyton Randolph, it most definitely wasn't John Hanson. From this, you can see three "series" of "President". The first series was from when the American Colonies got together to rebel against Britain to the ratification of the Articles of Confederation. The full title of the President then was "President of the Continental Congress of America". Randolph was the first and third of that series, with John Hancock the fourth. The second series was after the Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781. From that point, each state was independent and the full title of the President was "President of the United States in Congress Assembled". Since Hanson was the third of that series, it follows he could not have been the first. The third series was post-Constitution, from George Washington to Barack Obama. HTH, Geoff Quote Link to comment
+Simply Paul Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 Ok. If you're a similar age as me, where might you have used a strigil? Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.