General Knowledge Quiz

[krus_aragon]

No, I'm afraid not - this can be used for paper, but is more likely to be used for material.

Surely not a sewing machine?

(Come to think of it, though "Singer" is the name associated with the introduction of sewing machines, I seem to recall that their success was in their marketing of the machines, rather than their original invention.)

 

[MotCO]

Is no 2 a safety pin?

 

[MotCO]

Sadly, none of these guesses are right.

Here's some clues:

1. What was displayed in a shop window in London for the first time in 1633? Think fruit
2. What was patented by Walter Hunt of New York in 1849? It holds things together
3. In 1924, the first book of what was published in New York? A large leisure activity, especially I guess in these times
4. Who left what "for personal and professional reasons" in 1970? Think music

Over to you!

Is 4 associated with pop music?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Surely not a sewing machine? (Come to think of it, though "Singer" is the name associated with the introduction of sewing machines, I seem to recall that their success was in their marketing of the machines, rather than their original invention.)

Surely not, because …...

Is no 2 a safety pin?

is right … well done!

Is 4 associated with pop music?

Yes, very much so!

 

[xotGD]

1. Banana?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

1. Banana?

We have a winner … well done!

So, who left what in 1970? It was for "personal and professional reasons", if it helps.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Well, I'm amazed that no-one's got the fourth one, because there's been articles about it in the press (at least, the papers that I've read) for a couple of days.

Anyway, the answer is: Paul McCartney left the Beatles on this day in 1970 citing, as I say "personal and professional reasons". Although the group wasn't officially wound up for a number of years, it's considered to be the end.

Calthrop, MotCo & xotGD have each got one correct answer, so I'll leave it to them to decide who's going to go next.

 

[MotCO]

We have a winner … well done!

So, who left what in 1970? It was for "personal and professional reasons", if it helps.

I'm thinking that it must be quite significant in the pop music world, and I assume that it relates to a significant member leaving. I can recall Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins leaving Genesis, but think it was later. I assume that it was not upon the death of a band member, like Marc Bolan of T Rex, since they would not be able to quote "personal and professional reasons". The Rolling Stones were big in 1970, but the key members, Jaggar, Woods and Watts have more or less remained throughout, and Wyman left much later. So I will have to plump for the Beatles and assume it was Paul McCartney who left to form Wings.

 

[MotCO]

Can I jump in?

What links:

• Colombia, Uganda, Indonesia and Gabon,

and

• France, Algeria, Mali, and Ghana

and what is the arithmetic difference between the two groups?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I'm thinking that it must be quite significant in the pop music world, and I assume that it relates to a significant member leaving. I can recall Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins leaving Genesis, but think it was later. I assume that it was not upon the death of a band member, like Marc Bolan of T Rex, since they would not be able to quote "personal and professional reasons". The Rolling Stones were big in 1970, but the key members, Jaggar, Woods and Watts have more or less remained throughout, and Wyman left much later. So I will have to plump for the Beatles and assume it was Paul McCartney who left to form Wings.

As you can see, you're right - so that gives you two right answers, so carry on, sir.

 

[perryman]

Can I jump in?

What links:

• Colombia, Uganda, Indonesia and Gabon,

and

• France, Algeria, Mali, and Ghana

and what is the arithmetic difference between the two groups?

I love and hate these kind of questions as I'll need to sleep at some point. Initially I thought it could have been telephone dialling codes as from experience I know that Algeria, Mali and Ghana follow a kind of pattern with +213, +223, +233 - increments of 10. However, France is merely +33. And the other group makes no real sense. Without without wishing for an obvious clue, any little help please? I've look at number of UN Secretary-Generals and Miss Worlds without any solution.

 

[MotCO]

I love and hate these kind of questions as I'll need to sleep at some point. Initially I thought it could have been telephone dialling codes as from experience I know that Algeria, Mali and Ghana follow a kind of pattern with +213, +223, +233 - increments of 10. However, France is merely +33. And the other group makes no real sense. Without without wishing for an obvious clue, any little help please? I've look at number of UN Secretary-Generals and Miss Worlds without any solution.

A clue already? A little clue-let then. It's not a 'people' question. i.e. not Miss Worlds or famous people etc.

 

[xotGD]

The first four are on the same latitude and the second four on the same longitude.

Guessing the arithmetic difference, 20?

 

[perryman]

I was looking at that but none of the four are exclusive to the latitude/longitude, are they? I thought Burkina Faso is in line with Mali and Ghana? As well as others across the equator for the other 4?

 

[MotCO]

The first four are on the same latitude and the second four on the same longitude.

Guessing the arithmetic difference, 20?

Well done - that didn't take long! I was making the arithmetic difference 90 degrees, but you were on the right lines. Please take the floor.

 

[xotGD]

Changing topic, what was the first name of the poet Lord Byron.?

 

[Calthrop]

Changing topic, what was the first name of the poet Lord Byron.?

I do believe, George -- in full, he was George Gordon Byron.

 

[xotGD]

I do believe, George -- in full, he was George Gordon Byron.

By George you've got it spot on!

 

[Calthrop]

My floor, then... this is essentially a General Knowledge question, but with railway associations. The New York Central Railroad had an express train which ran between Chicago, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati -- still running today under Amtrak, I believe, but renamed -- under the NYC, the train's name was the James Whitcomb Riley. I'd known this name of the train pretty well "since forever", but never bothered to find out who the chap it was named after, was; that information came my way by chance, only the other day.

So; who was James Whitcomb Riley, and for what is he celebrated?

 

[MotCO]

My floor, then... this is essentially a General Knowledge question, but with railway associations. The New York Central Railroad had an express train which ran between Chicago, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati -- still running today under Amtrak, I believe, but renamed -- under the NYC, the train's name was the James Whitcomb Riley. I'd known this name of the train pretty well "since forever", but never bothered to find out who the chap it was named after, was; that information came my way by chance, only the other day.

So; who was James Whitcomb Riley, and for what is he celebrated?

You say there are railway associations. Is the only association that the train was named after him, or did James Riley himself have railway connections which led to the train being named after him?

 

[Calthrop]

The only association is, indeed, that the train was named after him: sort-of a la -- for example -- in this country, the Fair Maid, destination Perth !

 

[MotCO]

The only association is, indeed, that the train was named after him: sort-of a la -- for example -- in this country, the Fair Maid, destination Perth !

Is the train route significant? For example, the fact that it goes past Indianapolis, is there a car racing connection?

 

[Calthrop]

There's some significance; but not about Indianapolis / cars.

 

[MotCO]

There's some significance; but not about Indianapolis / cars.

Can I try the Cincinatti Kid, or some connection with Al Capone, e.g. the tax official who arrested him?

 

[xotGD]

Star player with the Cincinnati Reds baseball team?

 

[Calthrop]

Neither crime nor sport, I fear: our guy's bent was, rather, for things which would seem far-removed from both. Re significance / association; think "state", not "city".

 

[MotCO]

Neither crime nor sport, I fear: our guy's bent was, rather, for things which would seem far-removed from both. Re significance / association; think "state", not "city".

For state, do you mean Federal, such as the chief of the FBI?

 

[DerekC]

Was a he a US President who was former governor of (to pick a state) Illinois?

 

[Calthrop]

For state, do you mean Federal, such as the chief of the FBI?

No: "state" as in California, Montana, Florida, or what-have-you (none of those relevant to question -- just given as random examples).

Was a he a US President who was former governor of (to pick a state) Illinois?

No -- he was nothing "political". He featured on altogether a gentler scene, than any which posters have suggested to date.

 

[Marton]

He was an author