Bit of This and That No 9 Trivia Quiz

Answer: There are too many notes

The lot of the professional musician in those days was not an easy one. They weren't as appreciated then as they are now. "The Abduction from the Seraglio" is a light-hearted and very amusing opera, featuring some of Mozart's most brilliant but difficult arias.

It proved to be one of his greatest successes while he was still alive. Mozart lived from 1756 to 1791. The plot revolves around the rescue by one Belmonte of his beloved and her maidservant who have been kidnapped by pirates and sold into the harem of the pasha Selim of the Ottoman Empire. Austrian Emperor Joseph II (1741-1790), who commissioned the work, is reputed to have complained heartily to Mozart that the work had too many notes, and was told by the indignant Mozart that there were "just as many notes as there should be".

Answer: Smoke tobacco

Following the advice of physicians who were desperate to grasp at any possible means to stave off the dreadful bubonic plague, Eton College staff forced their students to smoke copious amount of tobacco every morning to "disinfect themselves". Tobacco has had a stronger hold on humanity and spread more quickly than any other drug throughout the history of mankind. There were several reasons for this. The first of course was its addictive qualities. Another was that the Europeans leaders of the time encouraged its spread because it provided them with a ready source of taxable revenue. Other reasons were that tobacco was a cheap commodity to produce, and people simply didn't know at that time how destructive it was for the health of the individual. By the time they did, it was way too late.

(This can be found in the work by Professor Solomon H. Snyder, M.D., "Drugs Through the Ages Series 2", Chelsea House Publishers, New York, 1986)

Answer: Wino Forever

Winona (born October 29, 1971) and Johnny (born June 9, 1963) met at the premiere of the film "Great Balls of Fire" in 1989. They co-starred in the movie "Edward Scissorhands", the 1990 fantasy film about a man born with scissors for hands. They became engaged shortly afterwards, but the relationship fell apart after three years, and Johnny subsequently had the tattoo altered as a result. Johnny's career has been very successful since then, with box office hits such as the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series of movies. Winona's career in the meantime has been equally successful, but far more low key publicity-wise, and she has had a long struggle with psychological and drug issues. In an eerie echo of her own life, her films include her sterling performance as the troubled girl in the 1999 movie, "Girl Interrupted" in which she spends eighteen months in an institution for the psychologically troubled.

Winona and Johnny were lovers
They met at a film premiere
"Great Balls of Fire" was the movie they saw
In Nineteen eighty-nine
He was her man (he was her man)
But he turned her into wine.

Answer: The Gherkin

There are also several other even less flattering nicknames associated with this unusual and beautiful building, none of which is suitable to be repeated here. Built on the site of the former Baltic Exchange, a complex that was damaged by a bomb blast courtesy of the IRA in 1992, work commenced on this new edifice in 2001.

It was officially opened in 2004. This beautiful structure, with its unusual shape, incorporates energy saving devices and natural ventilation wherever possible. It is topped by a large restaurant and bar area which affords 360 degree views all over London.

The intricately patterned double glazing on the outer structure of the building gives the entire work an unusual and striking resemblance to delicate glassware that is thousands of years old.

The Gherkin truly is a most remarkable architectural achievement.

Answer: A second shot at him

Annie was born in 1860 and died in 1926. Part of her amazing life was her fame as a sharp-shooter touring with the great Buffalo Bill productions, an enterprise that performed in front of the heads of states of many great nations, including Germany. The Kaiser did not respond to her letter. Known for her patriotism, Annie had also volunteered earlier to train and head a company of female sharpshooters during the America's war with Spain in 1898.

She saw no reason for women to be excluded from the armed forces, but when her offer was politely refused, she spent the remainder of her life training over 15,000 women how to use a gun.

She believed it was important that they knew how to defend themselves.

Answer: An elephant

A blue whale is the largest animal on earth. Its average length is approximately 100 feet and it weighs over 200 tons. Once very plentiful in the great oceans of the world, these beautiful creatures were almost hunted to extinction by the mid-twentieth century.

They have been largely protected world wide since then, except by the Japanese who continued to hunt them for "scientific" purposes. One wonders when the results of these "scientific" purposes will ever be published, but it is quite possible that, when and if they are, it'll probably be over a fine meal of whale steak.

Answer: State Electrician

Following trials where they tested death by electrocution on an unfortunate horse, the electric chair was first used as a method of execution for humans in the United States in 1890. The first state electrician was one Edwin Davis and the execution took place in New York state.

The unlucky trail blazer, wife murderer William Kemmler, took eight minutes to polish off. As a result of the bungled job, it was reported that an axe would have been more efficient. The new-fangled death machine was kept quite busy for many years after that notable occasion.

By the beginning of the 21st century in the states that still carry the death penalty, criminals about to meet their maker had their choice between the chair or lethal injection. Hmmm, decisions, decisions.

Answer: Its gonads are eaten

Ouch indeed, gentlemen. Found from Maine to Mexico, this little starfish, like most starfish, normally has five arms, but some are born with only four. Others are born with six. It feeds on molluscs by pulling them apart. Amazingly so, it then turns itself inside out and deposits its stomach into the shell so that it can feed, before turning itself back again. Have stomach, will travel. Even more interestingly, these little creatures don't mate by physical contact.

Instead, they eject their eggs and sperm into the waters in the same general area and hope for the best.

The Orchitophrya stellarum parasite, should it manifest itself, consumes the gonads of the starfish, and puts an end to even this long distance method of fertilisation.

Answer: Pentathlon

These games were held in Stockholm, Sweden, and it was the first time the pentathlon was introduced to the modern Olympic Games. Patton, who would go on to an outstanding military career for the remainder of his life, finished overall fifth in this event.

He was so exhausted by the time he crossed the line after the four kilometres cross-country run that he passed out. That could possibly explain his later toughness as a soldier - over-compensation. Patton was due to represent his country again in the 1916 Olympics, but these games were cancelled because of World War One.

He would go on instead to cross the line brilliantly in many engagements in the military arena instead.

Answer: A handstand

The spotted skunk, which only sprays when it feels threatened, can be found all over most areas of the United States and down into Central Americal as well. Its diet includes small rodents, lizards, fruits and berries. In the wild it usually only lives one or two years, but if kept in captivity, can live much longer.

This pretty little creature also alerts its victims in several other way that it is about to spray. It will either stamp its feet, roll itself up into a ball, hiss, or raise its tail in the air, before letting it rip.