General Knowledge Quiz

[Peterthegreat]

Thank you.
Woe, woe and thrice woe is a phrase that sounds like it could be Shakespearian but who is associated with the phrase?

 

[DaleCooper]

Thank you.
Woe, woe and thrice woe is a phrase that sounds like it could be Shakespearian but who is associated with the phrase?

Frankie Howerd

 

[Peterthegreat]

Frankie Howerd

Titter ye not that is the correct answer.
Please take the stage for the next question.

 

[DaleCooper]

Titter ye not that is the correct answer.
Please take the stage for the next question.

Thank you.

Next question:

A carved wood Great Seal of the United States given by the Soviet Union to W. Averell Harriman, the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union, on August 4, 1945 contained a bug (listening device). Despite hanging in the ambassador's office it wasn't discovered until 1951. Why did it take so long?

 

[Gloster]

Somebody was caught changing the battery?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Is this The Thing? If so then it had no internal power supply or electronic components and was only activated when externally irradiated by a radio wave.

 

[DaleCooper]

Somebody was caught changing the battery?

"Batteries not included", see below...

Is this The Thing? If so then it had no internal power supply or electronic components and was only activated when externally irradiated by a radio wave.

It is The Thing (not John Carpenter's Thing) which did contain electronic components (capacitor, inductor and antenna) but as you say had no power supply and was entirely passive. Your turn...

 

[OhNoAPacer]

I guess I meant no active electronic parts, a duh moment for me

As I am going to be busy this afternoon I declare open floor

 

[Donny Dave]

In Australia, what is a Boobook?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In Australia, what is a Boobook?

I have heard mention of this in a nature programme many years ago and thnk it is an owl.

 

[Donny Dave]

It is indeed.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time to enter the world of philately,,,,what was unusual about the early postage stamps issued by Cape of Good Hope?

 

[Calthrop]

They were triangular in shape.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They were triangular in shape.

Well noted and a correct answer.

Please set the next question.

 

[Calthrop]

Thank you.

What is, in the Portuguese language, Jaguardarte; in German, Brabbelback; in Italian, Ciarlestrone; in Russian, Barmaglot; and in Czech, Zxvahlav ?

 

[DaleCooper]

Thank you.

What is, in the Portuguese language, Jaguardarte; in German, Brabbelback; in Italian, Ciarlestrone; in Russian, Barmaglot; and in Czech, Zxvahlav ?

Porcupine

 

[Calthrop]

No -- not porcupine.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

The Jabberwock.

 

[Calthrop]

Correct ! -- that, and nonsense poem re same's, title: Jabberwocky -- translated into many languages, of which these just a few.

It's to you, to venture bravely into the Tulgey Wood to confront the burbling monster.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Which game takes its name from a slang word for an unlicensed public house or a small inn only licensed to sell beer or cider?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Which game takes its name from a slang word for an unlicensed public house or a small inn only licensed to sell beer or cider?

Tiddlywinks?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Tiddlywinks?

Correct.

Your turn to tiddle our winks to the next question.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Thank you; that was a lucky guess based on drunks being said to be "tiddly"...

Err... next question, and we will switch to the murky depths of classic fiction for our subject:

What nationality is Captain Nemo?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Indian

 

[martinsh]

Is he a citizen of Sealand ?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Indian

That was quick - please write the next question.

Is he a citizen of Sealand ?

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was written in 1870; Sealand was established in 1967... so... nice idea and good thinking, but...

 

[OhNoAPacer]

His nationality isn't given in 20000 leagues under the sea but is revealed in mysterious island.

Captain Nemo was initially intended by Jules Verne to be another nationality what nationality was this?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

As nobody has even made a guess then I withdraw the question, the answer is Polish incidentally, and declare open floor.

 

[CarltonA]

What was the real name of musician Captain Beefheart?

 

[DaleCooper]

What was the real name of musician Captain Beefheart?

Something like "van Fliet", I've got a book about him but I won't cheat.