Saturday, April 4, 2015

Trivia Bits 04 April

 

Wallaman Falls

The Girringun National Park, containing Australia’s tallest single drop waterfall is located in Queensland, the Wallaman Falls (pictured) at 268 m, with the park being one of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area series of national parks, and a gazetted World Heritage site. 

Playing on the PGA Tour, Gerry Lester Watson, Jr. also known as Bubba is an American left-handed professional golfer who won the 2014 Masters golf tournament.

In 2013, Bondi Rescue lifeguard Trent Maxwell was named Australian women’s magazine CLEO’s Bachelor of the Year.

English writer and humorist Sue Townsend is best remembered for creating the fictional character of Adrian Mole with the first novel The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ published in 1982.

Actress Isla Fisher got her first big break playing Shannon Reed on the Australian television soap opera Home and Away from 1994 to 1997 for a total of 345 episodes.

Challenger Deep is the deepest point in the Pacific Ocean with a depth of 10,898 to 10,916 m (35,755 to 35,814 ft) by direct measurement from submersibles and is located at the southern end of the Mariana Trench near the Mariana Islands group.

The hobby of collecting autographs is philography with what might be considered the oldest "autograph" is a Sumerian clay table from about 3100 BC which includes the name of the scribe Gar.Ama.

Starring as Rick Deckard in the 1982 cult movie directed by Ridley Scott Blade Runner was Harrison Ford and co-starred Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos.

Vegemite is a dark brown Australian food paste made from leftover brewers' yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives developed by Cyril P. Callister in Melbourne, Victoria in 1922.

The Paris Peace Accords on "Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam" were signed on 27 January 1973.

Quotables 04 April

 

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Friday, April 3, 2015

Movie Review ... Fast And Furious 7

 

Fast-and-furious-7-posterA ‘Fast and Furious’ film doesn’t need to be analysed as the series has never been one for deep and meaningful drama.  In place of depth has been high-octane action.  These have been amazingly rendered with sweaty machismo the order of the day.  This formula has served it well with ‘Fast and Furious 7’ continuing the same trajectory.  There isn’t anything particularly new with this instalment although fans will be delighted as it serves yet another slice of ridiculous hokum.

Dominic (Vin Diesel, Brian (Paul Walker) and their friends are glad the tough times have passed.  Looking forward to more peaceful futures, their idyll is quickly shattered.  Blaming them for his brother’s death during a previous skirmish Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) vows vengeance.  After Deckard kills one of his comrades, Dominic and his motley crew seek to eradicate this new menace threatening their endlessly fast-paced existence.

‘Fast and Furious 7’s greatest feat is maintaining energy.  Every scene briskly zips along with plotting and action delivered in equal measures.  The franchise has never been renowned for acting although the regular cast convey genuine enthusiasm.  Knowing their characters so well, they delight in placing them in ever more ludicrous situations.  They fully indulge in the gravity-defying stunts and CGI which are part of the fun of this exciting series.

Just as disposable as its predecessors, ‘Fast and Furious 7’ goes full throttle with the story’s opportunities.  Director James Wan displays an excellent flair for comic-book style escapades even if the run-time could have been shortened.  The absolute excess of the action scenes becomes occasionally exhausting although you can’t help but admire the imaginative craftsmanship.  They successfully compliment a script weaving threads from previous entries capturing what has made these films so popular.

‘Fast and Furious 7’ is pure escapist blockbuster entertainment.  None of which can be taken seriously with the ‘leave your brain at the door’ quote definitely befitting this latest entry in the never-ending franchise.

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Movie Review Rating out of 10:  7

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

Agree with Patrick's Movie Review? Then please use the comment box.

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.

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Trivia Bits 03 April

 

Marx brothers

The stage names of the three Marx brothers were , Harpo, Groucho and Chico (pictured).

It is the liver that stores excess sugar as glycogen with the liver glycogen converts to glucose for use throughout the body including the central nervous system.

What’s up, doc? Is the catchphrase of Bugs Bunny a funny animal cartoon character, created by the staff of Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons) and voiced originally by the "Man of a Thousand Voices," Mel Blanc.

Only child of singer/actor Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley’s second husband was Michael Jackson whom she married in 1994 and divorcing him two years later.

E numbers are codes for substances which can be used as food additives with the number E621 refers to Monosodium glutamate – MSG and is used for improving the overall taste of certain foods.

The port of Genoa is in Italy and of which part of the old town of Genoa was inscribed on the World Heritage List (UNESCO) in 2006 and is also noted as the birthplace of explorer Christopher Colombus.

Premiering on 22 June 2011, Episode 6188 of the Australian soap opera Neighbours was broadcast in real-time and revolves around Mark Brennan's, played by Scott McGregor, departure from the soap.

On 27 March 1860, Henry Brown's family initially stayed on their land during New Zealand's First Taranaki War, since a Church minister's family was considered tapu by the Māori where tapu is a Polynesian traditional concept denoting something holy or sacred, with "spiritual restriction" or "implied prohibition"; it involves rules and prohibitions.

Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australia and the most common cancer in 15 – 39 year olds.

In relation to music, MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface with the technology standardized in 1983 by a panel of music industry representatives, and is maintained by the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA).

Quotables 03 April

 

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Thursday, April 2, 2015

Trivia Bits 02 April

 

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The Spirit of Queensland (pictured) is a rail service that connects Brisbane with the far north coastal city of Cairns.

The expression to set the world on fire means to do exciting things that achieve fame or notable success or to cause a great sensation.

Signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin, R.E.S.P.E.C.T was released as a single on August 15, 1965 and earnt her two Grammy Awards in 1968 for "Best Rhythm & Blues Recording" and "Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female", and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987.

The Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Aegean and the Black Sea all have coastline on the area known as the Balkans.

Hongqiao International Airport is in the Chinese city of Shanghai and served as Shanghai's primary airport until the completion of Pudong International Airport in 1999, when almost all international flights were moved to Pudong.

I'll Be There for You is a song recorded by the American pop rock duo The Rembrandts and is best known as the theme song to the American sitcom Friends, which premiered during 1994 and ended in 2004.

Rarotonga is the most populated island of the South Pacific island country the Cook Islands and is home to the island’s international airport.

According to legend, the city of Rome was founded by twins Romulus and Remus.

American-born Australian radio and television host, vaudeville entertainer Bob Dyer opened his programmes with the greeting Howdy Customers and is best known for the long-running radio and then television quiz show, Pick a Box airing from 1957 to 1971.

The slogan The Power of Dreams is associated with the Japanese car manufacturer Honda.

Quotables 02 April

 

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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Trivia Bits 01 April

 

 The Little Mermaid

A bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen, The Little Mermaid (Den lille havfrue) statue (pictured) is a major tourist attraction in Copenhagen being displayed on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade.

The main herb used to make the traditional French persillade is parsley chopped together with seasonings including garlic, herbs, oil, and vinegar.

The first musical instrument to be played in space was a harmonica when Astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. and Thomas P. Stafford snuck some bells and a harmonica, now housed at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, onto Gemini 6 in 1965 and played Jingle Bells.

The country that is the western most point in Continental Europe is Portugal.

Purnululu National Park is in the Kimberley region of Western Australia being declared a World Heritage Site in 2003.

Singer Suzanne Vega is called the Mother of the MP3 as her a cappella song Tom's Diner was used as the reference track in an early trial of the MP3 compression system.

American actor, author, and producer Ted Danson plays the character D. B. Russell in the TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation an American crime drama television series that premiered on October 6, 2000.

American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel declined an invitation to perform at Woodstock Friday, August 15 1969 while they were working on the album Bridge Over Troubled Water the fifth and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel released January 26, 1970.

In 1930 Amy Johnson became the first female pilot or aviatrix to fly from England to Australia, landing in Darwin, Northern Territory, on 24 May after flying 11,000 miles (18,000 km).

American novelist, short story writer, essayist and philosopher Philip K. Dick has had eleven popular films based on his works produced, including Blade Runner, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, Minority Report, Paycheck, Next, Screamers, 15 Till Midnight, Barjo, The Adjustment Bureau and Impostor.

Quotables 01 April

 

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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Trivia Bits 31 March

 

Veronica Lodge

Veronica Lodge (pictured) is one of the main characters in the comic series Archie, a lovable, though accident-prone, redheaded 17-year-old, created in 1941 by Vic Bloom and Bob Montana.

The biennial Leafy Sea Dragon Festival is held in South Australia a festival of the environment, arts and culture of the southern Fleurieu Peninsula, with a theme of celebrating the leafy sea dragon which is the official marine emblem of South Australia.

Kiara and Kovu are the main characters of the 1998 American animated musical adventure film The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride.

Winning a Grammy in 1991 for "Best Music Video – Short Form", the song Opposites Attract was a hit for American/Syrian singer, choreographer, songwriter, dancer, actress and television personality Paula Abdul being from the debut album Forever Your Girl released on June 13, 1988.

Propaganda is the systematic manipulation of public opinion, generally by the use of symbols such as flags, monuments, oratory, and publications

For photosynthesis to occur in plants, carbon dioxide is needed to enable plants to convert light energy, normally from the sun, into chemical energy that can be later released to fuel the organisms' activities.

British Olympic sailor David Bond took eight weeks of unpaid leave from his job in order to become one of three gold medallists for the British team at the London 1948 Summer Olympics.

American actor Peter Fonda starred as Ulysses "Ulee" Jackson in the 1997 film Ulee's Gold for which he won a Golden Globe for his performance and was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In the graphics file format .png , the letters png stand for portable networks graphics.

After being awarded the first US patent for the telephone in 1876, A patent war fought by Alexander Graham Bell, credited with inventing the telephone, involved 600 lawsuits and lasted 11 years including one notable case was Bell's lawsuit against Western Union where Western Union was backed by Elisha Gray, also credited with inventing the telephone.

Quotables 31 March

 

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Monday, March 30, 2015

Trivia Bits 30 March

 

Shirley Temple Black 

In 1974, former actress Shirley Temple Black (pictured) became the United States Ambassador to Ghana.

The Korean War began in 1950 between the Republic of Korea (South Korea), supported by the United Nations, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), at one time supported by China and the Soviet Union and was concluded in 1953.

The main ingredient of the Philippine condiment bagoong is made of partially or completely fermented fish or shrimp and salt.

The word saxatile means to live or grow on or among rocks from the Latin saxātilis, from saxum, rock.

Satirical American 1965 television sitcom about U.S. soldiers and American Indians in the American West during the 1860s, F Troop starred Ken Berry as Captain Wilton Parmenter - the so-called "Scourge of the West" – the military governor of the territory and commander of Fort Courage.

Italian former athlete Gelindo Bordin is the only male ever to win both the Boston Marathon in 1990 and also gold medal in the marathon the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games.

The two main ingredients of the dish aligot are cheese and potatoes in a fondue-like dish from the French Aveyron department and are a common sight in Auvergne restaurants.

American Middleweight division boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter was wrongly convicted of murder and later freed via a petition of habeas corpus after spending almost 20 years in prison.

Classic Australian desert, the jelly slice, has a biscuit base that gives texture to complement the creamy filling and jelly top.

Starring as Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo in American television comedy series from 1979 to 1981 B. J. and the Bear was Claude Akins, an American actor with a long career on stage, screen and television.

Quotables 30 March

 

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Sunday, March 29, 2015

Trivia Bits 29 March

 

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Timbuktu (pictured) is on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert with at least four possible origins of the name of Timbuktu with modern-day Timbuktu an impoverished town, poor even by Third World standards.

In a standard of Yahtzee, a 1952 dice game made by Milton Bradley, four dice must be in a sequential order to get a small straight.

I gave a letter to the postman is the beginning of the Elvis Presley hit Return to Sender a 1962 single written by Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell and recorded on March 27, 1962, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood.

Regarded as one of the world's greatest middle distance runners, Australian athlete Herb Elliott won a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics in the 1500 metres with a time of 3:35.6.

I Spy is an American television secret-agent adventure series that ran for three seasons from 1965 to 1968 and teamed Robert Culp as international tennis player Kelly Robinson with Bill Cosby as his trainer, Alexander Scott.

One molecule of water contains two hydrogen atoms.

Croatia has a coastline with the Adriatic Sea with the bulk of the tourist industry is concentrated along the coast with Opatija the first holiday resort since the middle of the 19th century and by the 1890s, it became one of the most significant European health resorts.

Christopher Meloni plays Detective Elliot Stabler in the American police procedural, legal, crime drama television series set in New York City Law & Order: SVU which debuted on September 20, 1999.

The name of the Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer who on 29 May 1953 climbed Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary was Tenzing Norgay.

British stage and film actress Vivien Leigh is best known for her portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara in the 1939 American epic historical romance film Gone With the Wind.

Quotables 29 March

 

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