General Knowledge Quiz

[Gloster]

Is it Battenburg? Or is that the thing it is often known as?

It is not Battenburg, as that is the very similar design, almost a spin-off, used on emergency vehicles.

 

[yoyothehobo]

It is not Battenburg, as that is the very similar design, almost a spin-off, used on emergency vehicles.

Well in that case, i can confidently say i havent a clue

 

[Gloster]

It has a two word name: the first is the name of the Chief Constable of Glasgow who introduced it in 1932 (and later went on to a higher post) and the second is related to Scottish wear.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

It has a two word name: the first is the name of the Chief Constable of Glasgow who introduced it in 1932 (and later went on to a higher post) and the second is related to Scottish wear.

So ‘something tartan’?

 

[yoyothehobo]

Is it Silitoe Tartan, that rings a bell now someone has said Tartan

 

[Gloster]

Is it Silitoe Tartan, that rings a bell now someone has said Tartan

Yes, Sillitoe tartan, is the unofficial name.

The official name is also a term used in cookery and part of one meaning taking risks, and is occasionally used in connection with indoor games (not that sort!)

 

[SuspectUsual]

Dice?

 

[millemille]

The official name is also a term used in cookery....

Dicing?

 

[Gloster]

Dicing?

Correct. The unofficial name was from Percy Sillitoe, who was at Glasgow 1931-1943 and later became Director General of MI5.

As this was the main question, it is for millemille to pose the next.

 

[millemille]

Why did the city of Kokura not become infamous on the 9th of August 1945?

 

[Calthrop]

It was due to receive the second American atomic bomb -- the first having been dropped on Hiroshima -- but with visibility over Kokura happening to be poor meteorology-wise at the planned time; the alternative target of Nagasaki, not far away, was chosen instead.

 

[millemille]

It was due to receive the second American atomic bomb -- the first having been dropped on Hiroshima -- but with visibility over Kokura happening to be poor meteorology-wise at the planned time; the alternative target of Nagasaki, not far away, was chosen instead.

Indeed, over to you...

 

[Calthrop]

Thanks. A list follows, of "romantically-fictional-sounding", broadly European countries / regions. Some are indeed from romantic and / or thriller-type fiction; some are genuine, from the real world. Please identify which belong in the one, and the other, category. Any additional information supplied, will be welcome; but will not affect the participant's result.


Graustark

Mordovia

Transylvania

Evallonia

Mingrelia

Razkavia

Strackenz

Dalecarlia

 

[Gloster]

Strackenz is the fictional capital of Ruritania in the novel The Prisoner of Zenda.

Dalecarlia is real and called Dalarna in Sweden.

Transylvania is fictional, in various places including The Rocky Horror Show.

I think Mordovia is fictional (I think), but I can’t think where I came across the name. Agatha Christie?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I disagree, Transylvania is an actual region of Europe, located in Romania, I believe.

 

[Gloster]

I disagree, Transylvania is an actual region of Europe, located in Romania, I believe.

On reflection, you are probably right. I was thinking it was one of these cases where a fictional place has almost the same spelling as a real one.

 

[341o2]

Evallonia is fictional, being used by John Buchan in his novel The House of the Four Winds
Mordovia is real, part of the Russian Federation

 

[Calthrop]

Strackenz is the fictional capital of Ruritania in the novel The Prisoner of Zenda.

You're kind-of a little bit on the right track here (he said enigmatically), but have veered off it. The question's list, is countries / regions, not cities; and Ruritania's capital in Zenda, is Strelsau.

Dalecarlia is real and called Dalarna in Sweden.

Correct: Dalecarlia an "Englishing" of the name.

Transylvania is fictional, in various places including The Rocky Horror Show.

As per @Mcr Warrior; Transylvania is real -- indeed, the middle / north-western part of Romania (long an unhappy bone of contention between that country, and Hungary).

I think Mordovia is fictional (I think), but I can’t think where I came across the name. Agatha Christie?

No: Mordovia (aka Mordvinia) is in fact real: a region of Russia, some 500km. east of Moscow.

I disagree, Transylvania is an actual region of Europe, located in Romania, I believe.

On reflection, you are probably right. I was thinking it was one of these cases where a fictional place has almost the same spelling as a real one.

See above -- there is actually a fictional "Sylvania" -- not in my question list.

 

[Calthrop]

Evallonia is fictional, being used by John Buchan in his novel The House of the Four Winds
Mordovia is real, part of the Russian Federation

Both correct (re Mordovia, as per my reply to @Gloster). Evallonia and House of 4 Winds showed up in this General Knowledge Quiz some while ago !

 

[Gloster]

Strackenz I really ought to know, as I read the book every couple of years, though not (for unrelated reasons) for several years back from now. It is fictional and I am sure it had a Duke, so is it the town where Rudolf R. leaves the train or rejoins another? I must read it again; it is still the best ‘rattling good yarn’.

 

[Calthrop]

Strackenz I really ought to know, as I read the book every couple of years, though not (for unrelated reasons) for several years back from now. It is fictional and I am sure it had a Duke, so is it the town where Rudolf R. leaves the train or rejoins another? I must read it again; it is still the best ‘rattling good yarn’.

To the very best of my knowledge (admit that I'm not a Zenda fan -- read the book once, many years ago, and have forgotten most of it); however -- having consulted Google -- I'm certain that Strackenz's only association with Anthony Hope's Ruritania, is an indirect one, as follows. Strackenz is fictional -- that's a score for you; and it is indeed a Duchy: but the work of fiction in which it occurs, is George MacDonald Fraser's Royal Flash. In this novel, Fraser cheekily borrows the plot of The Prisoner of Zenda; but transfers it to his fictional Duchy of Strackenz, situated in between Prussia and Denmark and fiercely claimed by both. Harry Flashman plays -- in his characteristically thoroughly caddish, if reluctant and terrified, way -- the role here, of pseudo-ruler.

Five down, three to go !

 

[yoyothehobo]

Razkavia isnt real, its a Phillip Pullman one isnt it?

Graustark doesnt sound real either, i have no idea whether it is or isnt, it just doesnt sound like a real European one.

 

[yoyothehobo]

Razkavia isnt real, its a Phillip Pullman one isnt it?

Graustark doesnt sound real either, i have no idea whether it is or isnt, it just doesnt sound like a real European one.

And mingrelia is in Georgia isnt it, has a bit to do with Abhkazia?

 

[Calthrop]

Razkavia isnt real, its a Phillip Pullman one isnt it?

Correct: fictitious, and Philip Pullman indeed.

Graustark doesnt sound real either, i have no idea whether it is or isnt, it just doesnt sound like a real European one.

As you don't commit yourself one way or the other (I'm ruthless -- "hunches" don't cut it) this one stays on the to-be-answered list.

And mingrelia is in Georgia isnt it, has a bit to do with Abhkazia?

Mingrelia is indeed real, and located as per your description.


Just one left: Graustark -- "true or false?"

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Just one left: Graustark -- "true or false?"

False!

 

[yoyothehobo]

Correct: fictitious, and Philip Pullman indeed.



As you don't commit yourself one way or the other (I'm ruthless -- "hunches" don't cut it) this one stays on the to-be-answered list.




Mingrelia is indeed real, and located as per your description.


Just one left: Graustark -- "true or false?"

I will commit myself to say it isnt real. Sounds game of throney. I have a pretty solid knowledge of European geography and it just sounds phoney and very western made up name for somewhere mid-east european.

 

[Calthrop]

False!

I will commit myself to say it isnt real. Sounds game of throney. I have a pretty solid knowledge of European geography and it just sounds phoney and very western made up name for somewhere mid-east european.

Going strictly "by the numbers / mechanics": @Mcr Warrior got in first -- 5 mins. before @yoyothehobo -- in categorically declaring Graustark "false": which it is -- a fictional "Eastern European" (with seemingly infinitely elastic boundaries) country featuring in novels -- which per Wiki, sound rather gloriously mad -- by George Barr McCutcheon.

By my reckoning, it's "level pegging" between all four posters who have participated -- two first-correct statements by each ! I propose a tie-breaker between these four: one more geographical venue of the kind (see below) -- whichever of the four happens to be the first to correctly declare it real or fictional (as before, additional info welcome, but optional and not affecting the result); will be adjudged the winner.

Ishmaelia

 

[Gloster]

Is that false and from John Buchan?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Never heard of 'Ishmaelia' so I'll go false.

 

[Calthrop]

Is that false and from John Buchan?

Never heard of 'Ishmaelia' so I'll go false.

@Gloster: you got there -- correctly -- first and before (also correctly) @Mcr Warrior -- so you win, and succeed to the floor. Ishmaelia is fictional; not by Buchan, but by an "overlapping" author roughly a generation younger: Evelyn Waugh. Comes from Waugh's 1938 novel Scoop -- inspired by the 1935 / 36 Italian conquest of Ethiopia (covered by Waugh as a journalist) -- Ishmaelia a fictionalised and unflattering parody of Ethiopia at that time. (Waugh was a very un-PC chap even by 1930s standards, and tended to feel that the Italians were doing the place a favour by taking it over and civilising it.)

@Gloster -- your turn to spin a highly-coloured tale about some imaginary realm.