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Rotating Quiz #35 - Unlucky for some.

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David Brown

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Oct 6, 2011, 7:09:10 AM10/6/11
to
Welcome to my first (and probably only) attempt at setting the rotating
quiz.
Each question is worth 1 point but please be as specific as possible.
As this may well be quite a high scoring round I have added a tie breaker at
the end.
Answers will be given on Tuesday and the highest score gets to set the next
round of questions.

Good luck
_________

1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
location?

2. What is an Oud?

3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?

4. Which is the highest mountain in England?

5. What is Ras El Hanout?

6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?

7. What is baccanalia?

8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?

9. From where/what does Pashana Bedhi come from?

10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl who
thinks she’s a eunuch?

11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?

12. What disease is Sydenham’s chorea more commonly known?

13. Which band had the pseudonym ‘The Dukes of Stratosphear’?


Tie Breaker
What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you know?

--
David :)

Only 1 in 10 people understand the binary system - the other half don't.

Joachim Parsch

unread,
Oct 6, 2011, 7:39:24 AM10/6/11
to


David Brown schrieb:
>
> Welcome to my first (and probably only) attempt at setting the rotating
> quiz.
> Each question is worth 1 point but please be as specific as possible.
> As this may well be quite a high scoring round I have added a tie breaker at
> the end.
> Answers will be given on Tuesday and the highest score gets to set the next
> round of questions.
>
> Good luck
> _________
>
> 1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
> location?
>
> 2. What is an Oud?

The most vicious creature imaginable: the mother-in-law of a ghoul.

> 3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?

-40 Fahrenheit = -40 Celsius

> 4. Which is the highest mountain in England?

Scafell Pike.

> 5. What is Ras El Hanout?
>
> 6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?
>
> 7. What is baccanalia?

Wild Parties with wine, women and music

> 8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?

Cyclist Tom Simpson (during the Tour de France).

> 9. From where/what does Pashana Bedhi come from?
>
> 10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl who
> thinks she's a eunuch?
>
> 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?

Nitrate, coal, sulfur.

> 12. What disease is Sydenham's chorea more commonly known?
>
> 13. Which band had the pseudonym 狼he Dukes of Stratosphear"?

Pink Floyd?

> Tie Breaker
> What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you know?

3.1415926

Joachim

Mark Brader

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Oct 6, 2011, 10:19:05 AM10/6/11
to
David Brown:
> 1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
> location?

Beaubourg.

> 3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?

It's the Fahrenheit/Celsius crossover point.

> 4. Which is the highest mountain in England?

There aren't any. :-)

> 6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?

Phalanges.

> 7. What is baccanalia?

A misspelling of "bacchanalia", originally a Roman festival and
now a term for drunken revelry.

> 8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?

Nobody. :-) I'll try Mallory.

> 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?

Charcoal, sulfur, saltpeter.

> 12. What disease is Sydenham's chorea more commonly known?

St. Vitus's dance?

> Tie Breaker

(Interesting idea.)

> What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you know?

3.14159265358979.
--
Mark Brader | "...not one accident in a hundred deserves the name.
Toronto | [This occurrence] was simply the legitimate result
m...@vex.net | of carelessness." -- Washington Roebling

My text in this article is in the public domain.

Peter Smyth

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Oct 6, 2011, 2:06:12 PM10/6/11
to
"David Brown" wrote in message news:j6k28m$f59$1...@dont-email.me...

>1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
>location?
>
>2. What is an Oud?
>
>3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?
it is the same in Celsius and Fahrenheit
>4. Which is the highest mountain in England?
Scafell Pike
>5. What is Ras El Hanout?
>
>6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?
metatarsals
>7. What is baccanalia?
>
>8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?
Tommy Simpson
>9. From where/what does Pashana Bedhi come from?
>
>10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl who
>thinks she’s a eunuch?
>
>11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?
>
>12. What disease is Sydenham’s chorea more commonly known?
>
>13. Which band had the pseudonym ‘The Dukes of Stratosphear’?
>
>
>Tie Breaker
>What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you know?
3.141592

Peter Smyth

Erland Sommarskog

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Oct 6, 2011, 5:34:20 PM10/6/11
to
David Brown (askfo...@gmail.com) writes:
> 1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
> location?

Les Miserables

> 10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl who
> thinks she?s a eunuch?

Lolita

> 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?

Kalium nitrate, carbon and sulphur

> 13. Which band had the pseudonym ?The Dukes of Stratosphear??

XTC

> Tie Breaker
> What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you know?

3.14597

--
Erland Sommarskog, Stockholm, esq...@sommarskog.se

Rob Parker

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Oct 6, 2011, 5:54:47 PM10/6/11
to
> 1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
> location?
>
> 2. What is an Oud?

A race in the Doctor Who series, with multiple mini-trunk noses

> 3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?

It's the same in the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales

> 4. Which is the highest mountain in England?

One of the ones in the Lake District

> 5. What is Ras El Hanout?

Baharat

> 6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?

phalanges

> 7. What is baccanalia?

orgiastic overindulgence

> 8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?
>
> 9. From where/what does Pashana Bedhi come from?
>
> 10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl who
> thinks she’s a eunuch?

1001 Arabian Nights

> 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?

charcoal, sulphur, saltpetre (potassium nitrate)

> 12. What disease is Sydenham’s chorea more commonly known?
>
> 13. Which band had the pseudonym ‘The Dukes of Stratosphear’?
>
>
> Tie Breaker
> What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you know?

3.1415926


Rob

Calvin

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Oct 6, 2011, 7:10:43 PM10/6/11
to
On Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:09:10 +1000, David Brown <askfo...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Welcome to my first (and probably only) attempt at setting the rotating
> quiz.
> Each question is worth 1 point but please be as specific as possible.
> As this may well be quite a high scoring round I have added a tie
> breaker at the end.
> Answers will be given on Tuesday and the highest score gets to set the
> next round of questions.
>
> Good luck
> _________
>
> 1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
> location?
>
> 2. What is an Oud?
>
> 3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?

That is where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales intersect

> 4. Which is the highest mountain in England?
>
> 5. What is Ras El Hanout?
>
> 6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?

Metacarpals and Metatarsals

> 7. What is baccanalia?
>
> 8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?
>
> 9. From where/what does Pashana Bedhi come from?
>
> 10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl
> who thinks she’s a eunuch?

Dunno.
It's almost always a good idea to give a year when asking questions about
novels, movies, etc.

> 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?

Charcoal, nitrate and saltpeter

> 12. What disease is Sydenham’s chorea more commonly known?

Scarlett Fever?

> 13. Which band had the pseudonym ‘The Dukes of Stratosphear’?
>
>
> Tie Breaker
> What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you
> know?

3.141592654

Nice tie breaker :-)


--

cheers,
calvin

swp

unread,
Oct 6, 2011, 8:22:53 PM10/6/11
to
On Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:09:10 AM UTC-4, David Brown wrote:
> 1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
> location?

beaubourg

> 2. What is an Oud?

pear-shaped guitar

> 3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?

it is the same in celcius and fahrenheit

> 4. Which is the highest mountain in England?

no idea

> 5. What is Ras El Hanout?

a mix of spices (no idea which ones)

> 6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?

phalanges

> 7. What is baccanalia?

this gives new meaning to the phrase 'get the h out of here' -- its named after a roman god and refers to general drunken revelry

> 8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?

no one. at least, no one famous.

> 9. From where/what does Pashana Bedhi come from?

a british kids show

> 10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl who
> thinks she’s a eunuch?

through her eyes

> 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?

sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate (thank you old original star trek!)

> 12. What disease is Sydenham’s chorea more commonly known?

saint vitus dance

> 13. Which band had the pseudonym ‘The Dukes of Stratosphear’?

xtc?

> Tie Breaker
> What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you know?

the square root of ten ;-)

swp

Marc Dashevsky

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Oct 6, 2011, 10:25:54 PM10/6/11
to
In article <j6k28m$f59$1...@dont-email.me>, askfo...@gmail.com says...
> 1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its location?
>
> 2. What is an Oud?
A stringed instrument from the middle east.

> 3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?
-40C == -40F

> 4. Which is the highest mountain in England?
>
> 5. What is Ras El Hanout?
>
> 6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?
phalanges

> 7. What is baccanalia?
festivals in honor of Bacchus

> 8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?
>
> 9. From where/what does Pashana Bedhi come from?
>
> 10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl who
> thinks she's a eunuch?
>
> 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?
carbon, sulfur, potassium nitrate

> 12. What disease is Sydenham's chorea more commonly known?
>
> 13. Which band had the pseudonym "The Dukes of Stratosphear"?
>
> Tie Breaker
> What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you know?
3.14159


--
Go to http://MarcDashevsky.com to send me e-mail.

Jeffrey Turner

unread,
Oct 7, 2011, 11:10:11 AM10/7/11
to
On 10/6/2011 7:09 AM, David Brown wrote:
>
> 1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
> location?
>
> 2. What is an Oud?
>
> 3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?

Celsius or Fahrenheit? Oh, right, doesn't matter.

> 4. Which is the highest mountain in England?

The workers control the means of production...

> 5. What is Ras El Hanout?
>
> 6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?

Tarsals and phlanges.

> 7. What is baccanalia?

a drunken party

> 8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?
>
> 9. From where/what does Pashana Bedhi come from?
>
> 10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl
> who thinks she’s a eunuch?
>
> 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?
>
> 12. What disease is Sydenham’s chorea more commonly known?
>
> 13. Which band had the pseudonym ‘The Dukes of Stratosphear’?
>
>
> Tie Breaker
> What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you know?

3.1415

--Jeff

Mark Brader

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Oct 7, 2011, 11:53:12 AM10/7/11
to
David Brown:
> > 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?

Erland Sommarskog:
> Kalium nitrate, carbon and sulphur

FYI, "kalium" is the name for potassium in Swedish as well in Latin.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "If we gave people a choice, there would be chaos."
m...@vex.net | -- Dick McDonald

Erland Sommarskog

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Oct 7, 2011, 4:43:46 PM10/7/11
to
Mark Brader (m...@vex.net) writes:
> Erland Sommarskog:
>> Kalium nitrate, carbon and sulphur
>
> FYI, "kalium" is the name for potassium in Swedish as well in Latin.

Thanks Mark!

It's a little deceivable with those elements where the initial letter
agrees with the symbol in Swedish, but not in English.

You had this question in a quiz some time back, and I was surprised that
there were only 12 elements where the English name did not start with
the first letter in the symbol. Then I realised that there are a couple
where the Swedish name is different, and does not agree with the symbol
and the name is completely different from English: H (väte), O (syre), N
(kväve), Si (kisel), Hg (kvicksilver), Pb (bly). There are also a couple
where the deviation is mainly a spelling issue: Cl (klor), I (jod), Ca
(Kalcium), Cr (Krom), P (Fosfor), C (kol), Cu (koppar).

But then are also the cases where the Swedish name agrees with the
symbol and English has a different name: Na (Natrium), K (Kalium),
W (Wolfram). The latter is particularly ironic, as the English name
is a Swedish word.

Mark Brader

unread,
Oct 7, 2011, 5:13:26 PM10/7/11
to
Erland Sommarskog:
> You had this question in a quiz some time back, and I was surprised that
> there were only 12 elements where the English name did not start with
> the first letter in the symbol. Then I realised that there are a couple
> where the Swedish name is different, and does not agree with the symbol
> and the name is completely different from English: H (väte), O (syre), N
> (kväve), Si (kisel), Hg (kvicksilver), Pb (bly)...

Okay, I recognize the hydrogen and oxygen words as cognates to "water"
and "sour", and also to the first part of the German name for each
element. These correspond to the meanings in Greek of the first part of
our names.

"Bly" is cognate to German "blei" (while French "plomb" is cognate to
the Latin "plumbum" that gives us the symbol). And mercury is cognate to
English "quicksilver", a traditional alternative name for the stuff --
just as, if Wikipedia is correct, in Swedish "potassium" was once an
alternative name for potassium (now "kalium").

"Kisel" looks like a rearrangement of the first part of "silicon", but is
it, or is that just a coincidence? The English word comes ultimately from
the Latin "silex", meaning flint.

And then there's the word for nitrogen, about whose meaning which I have
no clue. The French word is "azote", meaning "no life" (i.e. it'll
suffocate you), while the German one starts with "stick", and I don't
know why.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto "When you say 'non-trivial', can you
m...@vex.net quantify that for me?" --Kate Hamilton

Erland Sommarskog

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Oct 7, 2011, 5:51:37 PM10/7/11
to
Mark Brader (m...@vex.net) writes:
> Okay, I recognize the hydrogen and oxygen words as cognates to "water"
> and "sour", and also to the first part of the German name for each
> element. These correspond to the meanings in Greek of the first part of
> our names.

Yes, "väte" is akin to "väta" - to make wet.

The really funny word for oxygen is the Danish "ilt" - I have no idea
where it comes from.

> "Kisel" looks like a rearrangement of the first part of "silicon", but is
> it, or is that just a coincidence? The English word comes ultimately from
> the Latin "silex", meaning flint.

It seems that "kisel" is older than the discovery of the element. It's
simply the name of the mineral that is used. According to the entry
in dictionary of the Swedish Academy a cognate in Old English is "cisel".
(Maybe that was the spelling then, but I would expect a pronounciation
like "chisel".)

> And then there's the word for nitrogen, about whose meaning which I have
> no clue. The French word is "azote", meaning "no life" (i.e. it'll
> suffocate you), while the German one starts with "stick", and I don't
> know why.

The verb "kväva" in Swedish indeed means "to suffocate (someone)".

Mark Brader

unread,
Oct 7, 2011, 6:26:25 PM10/7/11
to
Mark Brader:
>> "Kisel" looks like a rearrangement of the first part of "silicon", but is
>> it, or is that just a coincidence? The English word comes ultimately from
>> the Latin "silex", meaning flint.

Erland Sommarskog:
> It seems that "kisel" is older than the discovery of the element. It's
> simply the name of the mineral that is used. According to the entry
> in dictionary of the Swedish Academy a cognate in Old English is "cisel".
> (Maybe that was the spelling then, but I would expect a pronounciation
> like "chisel".)

The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) Online has this as "chesil" or "chisel",
a word that is "now chiefly dialectical, or retained in place-names".
It means small pebbles and in early usage a siliceous stone or pebble.
It apparently passed out of general use in the 17th century. It's a
Germanic word, so it's not surprising it has a cognate in Swedish;
it's unrelated to our word "chisel", which, like "silicon", is
ultimately from Latin. So the quasi-resemblance to "silicon" is
indeed apparently a coincidence.


>> And then there's the word for nitrogen, about whose meaning which I have
>> no clue. The French word is "azote", meaning "no life" (i.e. it'll
>> suffocate you), while the German one starts with "stick", and I don't
>> know why.
>
> The verb "kväva" in Swedish indeed means "to suffocate (someone)".

That makes me think of English "quaff", which means drink, and "quash",
which means to annul, destroy, etc.; but the OED offers no etymology
for "quaff", and all the forms in the etymology of "quash" would have
an S or similar sound after the vowel. So, more coincidences, I guess.
--
Mark Brader | "... there is no such word as 'impossible' in
Toronto | my dictionary. In fact, everything between
m...@vex.net | 'herring' and 'marmalade' appears to be missing."
| -- Dirk Gently (Douglas Adams)

Pete

unread,
Oct 8, 2011, 1:01:45 PM10/8/11
to
"David Brown" <askfo...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:j6k28m$f59$1...@dont-email.me:

> Welcome to my first (and probably only) attempt at setting the
> rotating quiz.
> Each question is worth 1 point but please be as specific as possible.
> As this may well be quite a high scoring round I have added a tie
> breaker at the end.
> Answers will be given on Tuesday and the highest score gets to set the
> next round of questions.
>
> Good luck
> _________
>
> 1. The Pompidou Centre in Paris is known locally as what due to its
> location?
>
> 2. What is an Oud?

A stringed musical instrument

>
> 3. What is special about minus 40 degrees?
>
> 4. Which is the highest mountain in England?
>
> 5. What is Ras El Hanout?
>
> 6. What are the bones of fingers and toes called?

Phalanges

>
> 7. What is baccanalia?
>
> 8. Who famously died on Mont Ventoux?

Moriarty

>
> 9. From where/what does Pashana Bedhi come from?
>
> 10. Which famous novel is told through the eyes of a sixteen year girl
> who thinks she’s a eunuch?
>
> 11. What are the three ingredients to gunpowder?
>
> 12. What disease is Sydenham’s chorea more commonly known?
>
> 13. Which band had the pseudonym ‘The Dukes of Stratosphear’?
>
>
> Tie Breaker
> What is pi in decimal notation to as many significant figures as you
> know?

3.141592652

>
> --
> David :)
>
> Only 1 in 10 people understand the binary system - the other half
> don't.
>
>

Pete

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