Incoherent Ramblings Trivia Quiz

Answer: Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins wrote "The God Delusion" and "The Selfish Gene". Some might say he is a crusading or evangelical atheist. Good job I'm not that someone.

Douglas Adams is famous for his five part "Hitchhiker" trilogy (and for dying young - yet another reason to suppose there is no God).

Although both Warren Buffet and Bill Gates profess to be atheists, one suspects they just haven't found a god who is good enough.

Answer: God does not play dice with the universe

Einstein was deeply sceptical about the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. In a letter to Max Born he said, "The theory says a lot, but does not really bring us any closer to the secret of the 'old one'. I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not throw dice."

Christians often refer to this paraphrasing as proof that Einstein was a believer. The actual quote from the letter tends to indicate otherwise viz. the inverted commas around "The Old One". In a later interview Einstein explained that he used the term to refer to the Cosmos rather than a defined supreme being.

Answer: Break off the action and withdraw

While Parker did make the signal to withdraw he did not pull down the existing signal to engage the enemy. This left enough ambiguity to allow Nelson to ignore the new signal. Parker was actually doing Nelson a favour and is quoted as saying: "I will make the signal of recall for Nelson's sake. If he is in condition to continue the action, he will disregard it; if he is not, it will be an excuse for his retreat and no blame can be imputed to him."

Breaking out the rum was an accepted practice after the battle. When a ship ran aground the first thing the crew usually did was break into the spirits locker. "If we are going to die then we may as well die drunk."

Answer: In 1962 after losing his bid to unseat Pat Brown as Governor of California

What more can be said about this sorry excuse for a human being? Not only was he a proven crook, he never had the decency to admit it. Conspiracy to commit burglary, lying to the American people, the secret bombing of Cambodia, the Pentagon Papers, using the IRS to attack his political enemies. Yes, he did it all folks.

Answer: The whip scars on a slave's back

Dickens went to the US expecting a utopia. He came back severely disillusioned. "Martin Chuzzlewit" contains some episodes that depict his thinking.

Answer: a bum

Prior to 1983, the Americas Cup had been bolted down in the San Diego yacht club. Since then, the whole thing has descended into farce. In 2009 the cup was held by a Swiss boat crewed by New Zealanders. Given that Switzerland is landlocked and a long long way from New Zealand one has to wonder. They have also changed the rules to allow multi-hulled yachts to compete. When will they allow engines?

Bob Hawke was seen as a bit of a larrikin. As a student he held the Oxford University record for drinking a yard of ale (11 seconds for more than a litre of beer). He supposedly gave up drink when entering public life.

Answer: Queen Elizabeth II

Menzies said this in Liz's presence. I bet even she was embarrassed.

Australians who know something of Menzies either love him or hate him. His loyalty to Australia was certainly questionable. He earned the nickname "Pig Iron Bob". Just prior to WW2 he ordered troops to load scrap iron onto ships bound for Japan after the wharfies (stevedores) refused to do so, citing Japan's military ambitions and actions in Asia. Menzies spent most of the war years in the UK and had designs on becoming Prime Minister of Britain. He also sided with Churchill in keeping Australian troops in Europe and North Africa when Australia was under direct threat from Japanese forces.

Christine Keeler was of much better character, She was a good time girl at the centre of the Profumo Affair in Britain in the early 1960s.

Answer: Elton John

Keef has never been one to hold back. This particular quote was a result of Elton's rehashing of "Candle in the Wind" on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The song was originally written for Marilyn Monroe (one of JFK's girlfriends).

Elton responded, "I'm glad I've given up drugs and alcohol. It would be awful to be like Keith Richards. He's pathetic. It's like a monkey with arthritis, trying to go on stage and look young. I have great respect for the Stones but they would have been better if they had thrown Keith out 15 years ago." All this from a man who has undergone cosmetic surgery and hair transplants.

Keef also said this about Chuck Berry: "I love his work but I couldn't warm to him even if I was cremated next to him."

Answer: Mariah Carey

"The Mirage" was reported to have said this but it was all a hoax. Commentators attribute its success to the fact that it sounds so much like something she would have said. She earned that nickname in college because she was never seen in class.

Answer: Oscar Wilde

Google "Oscar Wilde" and quotation. His sayings are some of the cleverest things you will read. He was jailed for his sexuality.

GBS was a famous Irishman too and he is extensively quoted. I don't think he was guilty of a famous crime unless he was involved in the making of "My Fair Lady".

James Joyce was also a famous Irishman. "Ulysses" is considered by some to be the greatest novels of the 20th century. I've read it (twice) but fully admit to not getting it.

Bono is the lead singer of Irish rock group U2.