General Knowledge Quiz

[martinsh]

Monkey & Canary

Open floor if correct

 

[Calthrop]

Monkey (species unstated at least AFAIK) and canary (green -- avian opera singer), indeed correct. It would seem that I'm the only RailUKForums General Knowledge Quiz-doer, who as a kid enjoyed the Dr. Dolittle books...? My bringing in Chee-Chee the monkey was maybe a bit unfair: he appeared only in the later books, and I remember hardly anything about him -- I was just looking for characters a bit more obscure, than the Doctor's main from-the-outset animal family.

Open floor, as per...

 

[DaleCooper]

I have a question:

Apart from both being rock bands what links ZZ Top and The Zombies?

 

[GusB]

the letter "Z"?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Long beards as worn by the members of both bands?

 

[DaleCooper]

the letter "Z"?

Wow! I never noticed that.

Long beards as worn by the members of both bands?

The Zombies were pretty clean-cut lads.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

The Zombies were pretty clean-cut lads.

Ah, sorry; did they have the same manager and / or the same record company?

 

[DaleCooper]

Ah, sorry; did they have the same manager and / or the same record company?

No, it's more surprising and interesting than that - at least I thought so but I have low standards.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

They've both recorded different songs by the same writer(s)?

 

[DaleCooper]

They've both recorded different songs by the same writer(s)?

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[theageofthetra]

This was the 'fake' Zombies in the US which had members of what became ZZ Top in it. Colin Blunstone was on Jonny Walkers 70's show the other month talking about it.

 

[DaleCooper]

This was the 'fake' Zombies in the US which had members of what became ZZ Top in it. Colin Blunstone was on Jonny Walkers 70's show the other month talking about it.

That's correct, at the height of The Zombies success two fake "The Zombies" toured the USA. Dusty Hill and Frank Beard of ZZ Top were members of one of those groups.

 

[DaleCooper]

Its been 3 days without a new question so here goes:

What links Futurama, Doctor Who and Olivier Messiaen?

 

[Calthrop]

Its been 3 days without a new question so here goes:

What links Futurama, Doctor Who and Oliver Messiaen?

They're all associated in various ways with "jiggering with time", including the future -- Messiaen composed a "Quartet for the End of Time" ? (Obnoxious nitpicking know-all department: Messiaen's first name, actually Olivier.)

 

[DaleCooper]

They're all associated in various ways with "jiggering with time", including the future -- Messiaen composed a "Quartet for the End of Time" ? (Obnoxious nitpicking know-all department: Messiaen's first name, actually Olivier.)

Good try but that's not the link I'm looking for.

Sorry about the spelling, it has been corrected.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Did Olivier Messiaen write, or inspire the writing of music, for the two series?

 

[DaleCooper]

Did Olivier Messiaen write, or inspire the writing of music, for the two series?

No but characters from the two series are related to one of his compositions.

 

[DaleCooper]

A couple of hints:

Apartment 1i
Tom Baker

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Well, having Googled both, I now know that Apartment 1i was occupied by Leela, which was the name of one of Tom Baker's companions, played by Louise Jameson. However, it leaves me none the wiser about the connection between them and Olivier Messiaen, so I don't have a clue what the answer is!

 

[DaleCooper]

Well, having Googled both, I now know that Apartment 1i was occupied by Leela, which was the name of one of Tom Baker's companions, played by Louise Jameson. However, it leaves me none the wiser about the connection between them and Olivier Messiaen, so I don't have a clue what the answer is!

It might help to know that Leela's full name in Futurama is Turanga Leela.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

It might help to know that Leela's full name in Futurama is Turanga Leela.

Sadly, it doesn't!!

 

[DaleCooper]

Try this:

Slowly type Leela's full name in the Google search box and see what happens.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

That's very clever .... I guess that this quote from Mr W Pedia is what you're referring to?
"The Turangalîla-Symphonie is a large-scale piece of orchestral music by Olivier Messiaen (1908–92)."

I'd never have got that without your help, so thanks. Here's my question:

A writer of children's books, famous for at least two characters, died on this day (28th November) in 1968. Who was the writer, and who were their two most famous characters?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

1968? That has to be Enid Blyton, one of the characters would obviously be Noddy but the other could be any one of a huge number. However, as it is usually said "Noddy and Big Ears" I would hazard a guess that Big Ears is the other you have in mind.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

You are correct in all respects, well done.

I award you the iconic children's character award!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Thank you... now... do I put an easy one up, or one of my more devilish ones...?

Let's think....

OK... Easy wins this time, you will be pleased to hear!



Name the four forts built to guard the western Solent, and which one of them is now a very popular country park?

 

[A Challenge]

Is one Hurst Castle (mainland)?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It is; now what about the other three?

 

[Calthrop]

It is; now what about the other three?

Those three -- all on the Isle of Wight -- are, I think: Fort Victoria (this one is the country park); Fort Albert; and The Needles Old Battery.

 

[Harbouring]

Calshot is the other on the mainland I believe and then east and west cowes on the IoW?