General Knowledge Quiz

[krus_aragon]

Lidl

They're a supermarket, but not a product that you'd buy from one. I'm looking for something on the shelved that you can buy.

 

[Strat-tastic]

Cheese strings.

 

[DaleCooper]

Cheese strings.

I think I've seen that in Roger's Profanisaurus.

What supermarket product represents a crossover between dairy spreads and musical instruments?

Blue Band Margarine?

 

[krus_aragon]

Cheese strings.

Nope, sorry.

Blue Band Margarine?

More upmarket than that.

A clue: the link is a very old one.

 

[DaleCooper]

Kraft Cheese Triangles?

 

[krus_aragon]

Kraft Cheese Triangles?

They're pointing you the wrong way. You were a lot closer to the mark with your previous guess.

 

[DerekC]

My complete guess is the olive oil based spread called Bertolli (up market - strictly speaking non-dairy) and that Bertolli was an Italian musician - but if so I don't know anything about him/her.

 

[Calthrop]

Mr. Dooper -- Foonerland is spun, but thadly, I don't sink it existually acts.

Sure it does, it's in Wisconsin!

Try as I might to be absurd reality always goes one better.

"Things get madder all the time" -- have just Googled Spooner, Wisconsin -- it even has a (diesel) heritage rail operation which includes fine-dining trains and "rail-borne bed-and-breakfast" -- opinions on Trip Advisor vary, pretty much, between "splendid" and "abysmal".

(About the supermarket product, I haven't the slightest idea.)

 

[krus_aragon]

My complete guess is the olive oil based spread called Bertolli (up market - strictly speaking non-dairy) and that Bertolli was an Italian musician - but if so I don't know anything about him/her.

If Bertolli was musical, it's news to me. Not the answer I'm looking for, sorry.

The connection is visible on the product's packaging.

 

[DerekC]

Out of interest turns out I was right. Wikipedia says:

Francesca Bertolli (? Rome – 9 January 1767, in Bologna) was an Italian contralto of the 18th century. She is best remembered for her association with the composer George Frideric Handel, in whose operas she sang ….

 

[krus_aragon]

Out of interest turns out I was right. Wikipedia says:

Interesting to read, but I'm looking for a link with a musical instrument other than the voice.

Incidentally, rather than an Italian connection, there is instead a Danish connection (like the previous question).

 

[DaleCooper]

After some in-depth research into Danish musical history I now know the answer. I'll keep shtum for a while and see if someone else can find it.

 

[DerekC]

Well, after some in-store research at our local Waitrose I think the answer must be Lurpak. It's Danish and it does have two trumpety things on the pack as a logo - but I am afraid that without resorting to Mr Google I am not going to get any further.

 

[krus_aragon]

Well, after some in-store research at our local Waitrose I think the answer must be Lurpak. It's Danish and it does have two trumpety things on the pack as a logo - but I am afraid that without resorting to Mr Google I am not going to get any further.

Your research has served you well! The two trumpety things are Scandinavian musical instruments called lurs, which date back to the bronze age. The butter is named after the instruments!

(Some readers may recall a series of Lurpak adverts that included a character trying to play a trombone at every opportunity.)

DerekC, as DaleCooper held their tongue, the floor is yours...

 

[DerekC]

Since we are in Denmark and referendums are in the news, what did Denmark hold one about in 1953, the effects of which are still apparent today?

 

[krus_aragon]

Since we are in Denmark and referendums are in the news, what did Denmark hold one about in 1953, the effects of which are still apparent today?

Was it some element of their border? The northern one with Sweden, perchance?

 

[DaleCooper]

Abolition of the monarchy?

 

[Calthrop]

Something to do with Denmark's ownership of Greenland (which place Trump was recently expressing a fancy for)?

 

[DerekC]

No Greenland and not borders

Abolition of the monarchy?

@DaleCooper is in the right subject area. The monarchy didn't get abolished, but something else happened to it.

 

[Marton]

Became open to women.

 

[DerekC]

Became open to women.

That's right. King Frederik IX had three daughters and in 1953 the constitution was changed (after a referendum) to allow a woman to succeed. Queen Margrethe II came to the throne in 1972 and is still there. I wondered how she could be the second Margrethe, and it turns out that the men-only rule wasn't put in place until the 1850s!

Your floor.

 

[Marton]

Thank you. Guessing can work

I hope a picture question is OK.

What is name of the attached plant?

if possible also give some information about it’s significance.

 

[krus_aragon]

Ah, botany: my achilles' heel!

I've little chance of getting anywhere with the name, so I'll try the significance angle first. Is this plant considered to be an invasive species?

 

[Marton]

It is considered as such.

My own view is that When not in the wrong place it’s not a problem.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Is it Japanese Knotweed?

It's very invasive and takes a lot of time and money to remove, if that's what you're looking for.

 

[Marton]

No. Much less of an issue

Hint. The invasive problem is principally in
riperian sites.

 

[DerekC]

Himalayan Balsam, I think - there is lots of it in West Dorset, amongst other places. It is quite pretty, but it shades out the native species very rapidly.

 

[Marton]

Correct. Himalayan Balsam.

Hated by many, loved by beekeepers as it is a great source of nectar.

Your floor

 

[DerekC]

What links the dates 28th January 1871 and 14th June 1940?

 

[Marton]

Fall of Paris to Prussia/Germany