Bit of This and That No 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Running sidewards

Lon Myers (1858-1899) was born in Richmond, Virginia. His career record is remarkable, and for a sportsperson, is worthwhile reading and gaping at. This included holding every record for races over various distances (50 yards and upwards), fifteen US, ten Canadian and three British national titles. The list of his wins is far too long to include here. On two separate occasions, he even won four different events on the same day! He was so good, in fact, that he wasn't allowed to compete in some events because the other runners refused to run against him. This unique runner was one incredible athlete.

After he retired from the sport, the English media began to infer that Americans used faulty watches at their races, with the suggestion being that Myers wasn't nearly as good as his records stated. Myers, a year out of the game, promptly came back out of retirement and beat the English champion at three separate races at Madison Square Garden. The English champion, George, stated he only lost because of the "slow track, sharp turns, and smoke and confusion" at the Garden. So the following year, this time in Australia, the two champions squared off again. After Myers won the first two races, George didn't run the third, and caught the boat back to England.

Answer: Edward VII

The Prince of Wales is the historical title given to the heir apparent to the English throne. He retains that title until, upon the death of the ruling monarch, he assumes the role of king of the nation. Edward VII (1841-1910) was Queen Victoria's eldest son and heir apparent. Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was the longest serving monarch of that great empire until the end of the 20th century. She reigned from 1837 until 1901.

Edward was a bit of a playboy, it's true. This could partly be why Victoria, as a result of his behaviour, excluded him from taking part in any political or regal roles. He came instead to represent the fashionable society set, and personified the Edwardian era. He wasn't, however, quite the empty-headed ladies' man and fop he was made out to be, and indeed had quite an astute political brain. During his short reign of only nine and a half years, he fostered many friendly relationships between European countries and Great Britain. This earned him the nickname "The Peacemaker". He was also far-sighted enough to instinctively distrust his nephew Wilhem II of Germany. Of him he stated that the German Kaiser would drag all of Europe into a war at some time. Four years following Edward's death in 1910, this indeed came to pass. World War One began in 1914.

Answer: Yes

So very odd, but true. Toilet gods have been, and sometimes still are, worshiped from as far away as Japan to ancient Rome. They are believed to bring good health and fertility. The association with fertility is because the toilet contents were used as manure for fields growing foods for human consumption. To make sure the toilet god didn't get upset, it could be appeased by various offerings - other than the usual - such as food or flowers or wine. The toilet god was portrayed as unsighted, but carrying a spear. It was advisable to clear the throat before entering his or her domain. This was to enable the spear to be put aside to avoid the possibility of any unfortunate consequences upon seating oneself.

In the old Maori culture of New Zealand, for example, if a Maori warrior was feeling unwell, he could be cured by going into the toilet and biting it. It does not say whether a haka is first performed. Then, as another example, Japanese people believed the toilet room had to be kept very clean so that beautiful children were born. Japanese women expecting babies also made offerings so that their unborn children would have high noses if male and dimples if females. High noses, I feel, would be extremely helpful when entering this shrine. What a fascinating world we live in.

Answer: His attachment

The Maori culture believed that biting any objects or things could transfer the inherent power in those objects or things to the biter if needed. This included, for example, chomping on a weaving loom to gain the skills of a fine weaver, or on a cooking utensil to become a fine cook. Under the circumstances one imagines that if the deceased warrior could observe from a safe distance which part of his anatomy was being gnawed upon, he would be heartily thankful that he was indeed dead.

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was the 26th President of the US, and was in that office from 1901-1909. As hard as it is today for people to resist a current fashion trend, so it was back then. The young future President was no exception. He was the youngest member of the New York State Assembly at that time. The comical - but very fashionable - walk of the time is described as followed:

"Fashionable young men of the upper classes would affect a walk with their right hand held fast to the base of their spines, and with a slight lean forward at the waist, and very slight twist towards the right with the left shoulder, allowing the left hand to swing free with the gait". It sounds downright uncomfortable. Hopefully that walk had disappeared by the time Mr Roosevelt ran for President.

Answer: American Civil War

Astonishingly so, this is the case. Her husband, William Jasper Martin (1845-1931) was a soldier in the Confederate army during the American Civil War (1861-65). Alberta (1906-2004), who was on her own with a small son to look after, met and married the widower Martin in 1927, when he was 81 and she was 21. Ten months later their son was born. William died four years later.

But wait, there's more. This tale grows even more interesting. Two months after William died, Alberta married his grandson, the descendant of his first marriage of years ago.

The newly married couple were married for over fifty years until he died in 1983. When Alberta herself died in 2004 at the ripe old age of 97, she was given an "1860s style ceremony with full honors as the widow of a Confederate veteran". Several other widows of this war lasted a little longer than Alberta, but she and her Civil War husband were the only couple to produce a child.

Answer: Bats

The White Nose Syndrome is a fungus that appears on the muzzle and wings of bats. It was first discovered in 2006 and has spread widely since then. It results in the poor little things having their sleeping patterns completely disrupted. They then eventually starve to death because of over-activity. With a mortality rate in some places of ninety percent, scientists by 2011 still had found no way to combat this epidemic.

The syndrome is described as "the gravest threat to bats ever seen", so much so that some species are in danger of extinction.

The alarming thing for humans about this syndrome is that, with the loss of bats to eat insects, these insects will reproduce out of control. This poses a real threat to agricultural production - and ultimately to us. We desperately need to love and care for the environment to a far greater degree than we already do, to protect and nurture our incredibly beautiful world.

Answer: A gigantic white horse carved into the hillside

This carving was constructed out of limestone slabs pegged into the ground on the side of a hill. Its aim was to celebrate the millennium - and to help give new life to the Folkestone region. One is not sure how. It was met with stern resistance by the government and environmentalists because of the chosen site's conservation importance.

However, in spite of this, the project was eventually given the green light by the Secretary for Local Government and Regions. This person stated that the emotional and symbolic value of a carved equine on a hill outweighed the environmental damage which could be caused by the project. No doubt, in 2,000 years time, a team of archaeologists will come across a giant overgrown carving on a rise in the old region of Kent.

The scientific world will then rock with the findings that the ancient people of this area once worshiped horses as gods.

Answer: Eating soil and soil products

This condition includes the consumption of soil, clay or chalk and it has been recorded among humans since the earliest times. Clay, for example, has a long history of being eaten by some pregnant women to ease feelings of nausea. It apparently coats the stomach with a soothing layer and may also provide extra calcium for the baby. This is not so unusual perhaps. Various animals and birds have always eaten soil products from time to time, because they know instinctively which ones are best for their well-being.

Today in parts of Africa, India, Haiti and the rural United States, geophagy has been recorded quite regularly. In Haiti in particular, geophagy is quite common. Soil biscuits are made up and sold there as a matter of course. These biscuits are known as bob-bob de terres. Humans eating soil products run the risk of eating contaminated earth. Geophagy is related to a condition known as Pica, which is the need to consume objects that are not nutritionally based - such as pencils, paper, batteries or soap etc.

Oh it's time to eat. I've such a treat for you today. Would you prefer river soil or clay on your sandwiches? And one or two batteries in your cuppa? Then, for dessert, I've baked a nice mud cake.

Answer: Lauren Bacall

Now there's a family connection for you. Shimon Peres has served twice as Israel's Prime Minister, once as that country's stand-in Prime Minister, and was their ninth President. Born in 1924, Lauren Bacall was the leading lady in many movies since she first hit the silver screen.

These range from the 1944 "To Have and Have Not" (her first movie) to the 1999 "The Mirror Has Two Faces" (not her last performance by any means). This first-rate actress is quite brilliant at character portrayal. How interesting to think that these two distinctly different international figures are first cousins!