General Knowledge Quiz

[OhNoAPacer]

Swords

Not swords

 

[SuspectUsual]

It was a shipping firm. When I was contracting years ago I did some work for Princes Soft Drinks, who were an offshoot of Mitsubishi and headquartered in the Royal Liver Building. They had three Japanese directors and any meeting with them was incredibly formal, to the point of being required to keep your suit jacket on unless and until one of the directors removed his. On hot summer days, with the building not having any aircon, that was horrible

 

[OhNoAPacer]

It was a shipping firm. When I was contracting years ago I did some work for Princes Soft Drinks, who were an offshoot of Mitsubishi and headquartered in the Royal Liver Building. They had three Japanese directors and any meeting with them was incredibly formal, to the point of being required to keep your suit jacket on unless and until one of the directors removed his. On hot summer days, with the building not having any aircon, that was horrible

Your suffering has gained you a correct answer.

I bow formally to you and invite you to ship us a new question.

 

[SuspectUsual]

What is fartlek?

 

[Gloster]

A race on ice, with skates (I think)?

 

[SuspectUsual]

A race on ice, with skates (I think)?

No

 

[Calthrop]

What is fartlek?

A flatulent mating-gathering of black grouse ?

 

[DaleCooper]

What is fartlek?

An athletic training regime.

 

[SuspectUsual]

An athletic training regime.

That'll do.

It's a training plan that involves alternating between faster and slower periods of running. It was developed by a Swede, and the name literally translates as "speed-play" in Swedish.

Your turn with the clipboard and whistle

 

[DaleCooper]

That'll do.

It's a training plan that involves alternating between faster and slower periods of running. It was developed by a Swede, and the name literally translates as "speed-play" in Swedish.

Your turn with the clipboard and whistle

Thank you.

Next question:

What was the first posthumous No.1 single in the US.

 

[Gloster]

Summertime Blues?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

John Brown's Body?

 

[DaleCooper]

Summertime Blues?

I hope you're not gonna raise a fuss if I say no.

John Brown's Body?

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir only got to No.13 with that and I think they were still alive.

 

[Gloster]

I hope you're not gonna raise a fuss if I say no.

That’ll be the day?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Peggy Sue ?

 

[DaleCooper]

Peggy Sue ?

If you knew Peggy Sue
Then you'd know why I feel... that's not the answer.

Hint:

It's a classic that (almost) everyone knows and loves.

 

[chrisjo]

It's a classic that (almost) everyone knows and loves.

And the artist sounds like a GWR location

 

[DaleCooper]

And the artist sounds like a GWR location

Do they?

 

[Gloster]

Dock of the Bay?

 

[DaleCooper]

Dock of the Bay?

...by Otis Redding is correct, your turn...

 

[Gloster]

Where might you encounter Sven Hjerson?

 

[AndyPJG]

Deputising for Samantha on I'm sorry I haven't a clue?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Where might you encounter Sven Hjerson?

At IKEA? (Other ready-to-assemble furniture outlets are available).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If the man is from Finland, he could well be a detective in a crime story.

 

[Gloster]

Deputising for Samantha on I'm sorry I haven't a clue?

At IKEA? (Other ready-to-assemble furniture outlets are available).

No.

If the man is from Finland, he could well be a detective in a crime story.

You are half, or doubly, right: please add a bit more information.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You are half, or doubly, right: please add a bit more information.

Has Agatha Christie any input into this conundrum?

 

[Gloster]

Has Agatha Christie any input into this conundrum?

Indeed, but can you add a bit more. There is an unusual element to this.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Indeed, but can you add a bit more. There is an unusual element to this.

I will have to let someone else try to solve this. Both my previous attempts were pure guesses.

 

[chrisjo]

You are half, or doubly, right: please add a bit more information.

Doubly right in that Hjerson is a detective created by an Agatha Christie character.

 

[Gloster]

Doubly right in that Hjerson is a detective created by an Agatha Christie character.

Correct. Ariadne Oliver is a supporting character in a number of Christie’s books and she often mentions her serial detective, a vegetarian Finn called Sven Hjerson. This allowed Christie to work of some of her frustrations at having chosen a fastidious Belgian as her serial detective. I have read a Sven Hjerson short story someone wrote and there has recently been a Swedish series of Sven Hjerson mysteries.

I think that @chrisjo just pipped @Xenophon PCDGS as he got the vital point, sort of.