Ours was okay.  I thought the questions were easier than last year's and the
interview went much better.

  Emma.

  In message <Pine.OSF.4.21.0105211554260.21027-100000@...>
QuizGB@yahoogroups.com writes:
> I think UC auditions are now finished (please correct me quickly if I'm
> wrong!), so:
>
> How was it for everyone?
>
> Has anyone yet heard how they've done?
>
>
> I think St John's did ok, but their audition was blighted by the
> researchers remembering last year's team - never a good thing! :)
>
> Rob.
>
>
> ===================================================================
> Quiz GB - The virtual home of British quizzing!
> Visit the group centre at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QuizGB
> To post to the group, e-mail: QuizGB@yahoogroups.com
> Problems? E-mail: QuizGB-Owner@yahoogroups.com
> ===================================================================
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>

> To:            QuizGB@yahoogroups.com
> From:          Rob Linham <robert.linham@...>
> Date:          Mon, 21 May 2001 15:56:26 +0100 (BST)
> Reply-to:      QuizGB@yahoogroups.com
> Subject:       [QuizGB] UC Auditions

> I think UC auditions are now finished (please correct me quickly if I'm
> wrong!)
>

Not completely finished - Manchester started their audition
twenty-eight minutes ago, and it's presumably still going.  But it
*is* the last day of auditions.

I think UC auditions are now finished (please correct me quickly if I'm
wrong!), so:

How was it for everyone?

Has anyone yet heard how they've done?


I think St John's did ok, but their audition was blighted by the
researchers remembering last year's team - never a good thing! :)

Rob.

> For those who were listening on Saturday (11 pm, by the way): that woman
> who was the Lincolnshire captain - where has she cropped up before
> (Isabelle / Isobel someone?)?
>

I've taped Saturday's programme and haven't listened to it yet, but I
suspect that the Lincolnshire captain might well have been Isabelle
Heward, serial quiz contestant (see

http://www.quizplayers.com/quizplayers/people/isabelle_heward.html

for further details), including an appearance on 'Mastermind' in 1996
when her score of 36 in her first-round heat was the equal highest of
the series and she scored 33 in the semi-final to lose by one point to
Gwen Kingsley, who went on to be runner-up to the Reverend Richard
Sturch in the final.

Stephen

On Mon, 21 May 2001 MALabbett@... wrote:
> Are any of this illustrious group appearing on the radio 4 series Masterteams?

There was of course the Oxford team who appeared on the most recent
programme - Ian Bayley, David Stainer, David Brewis. I know Mr Stainer is
lurking somewhere, so I'll leave him to answer the rest...

As for elsewhere, some of the Quiz League of London crowd I think made up
a London team.

For those who were listening on Saturday (11 pm, by the way): that woman
who was the Lincolnshire captain - where has she cropped up before
(Isabelle / Isobel someone?)?

And while we're at it (and Mr Stainer will dive in I'm sure) - what were
they like with those buzzer questions swerving all over the place?

Rob.

PS For those who have no idea what we're on about: Radio 4, 11pm
Saturdays = Masterteam, presented by Peter Snow.

Dear All

Are any of this illustrious group appearing on the radio 4 series Masterteams?

Cheers

Mark


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For most of today, the group has been out-of-action - I believe Yahoo! may
have temporarily deleted it. I'm looking into what happened.

I'll keep an eye on the situation, but if in future it happens again, and
you are wondering what is happening, feel free to e-mail me at my personal
address (the owner address will be broken as well) for details, such as I
know them.

Cheers,

Rob.

In message <9e3k9v+er2p@eGroups.com>, stephen.pearson@... writes
>--- In QuizGB@y..., Rob Linham <robert.linham@s...> wrote:
>> What's the worst question that anyone's ever come across?
>>
>> Rob.
>
I think top of my list has to be:

'When does ptarmigan shooting season begin?'

Like we get a lot of ptarmigan in Lincolnshire...

Sue
--
  __         __
{{{{\     /}}}}    Sue Mitchell
  {{::\ V /::}}     sue@...
   >--->8<---<
  {:.;/ 0 \;.:}    "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies"
   ~~       ~~                                              - B.H.M.

In message <Pine.OSF.4.21.0105181138030.614-100000@...>, Rob
Linham <robert.linham@...> writes
>On Fri, 18 May 2001, Sean Blanchflower wrote:
>> Well, yes and no. Surely it literally means Frigg's Day. The question is
>> whether the two Norse goddesses Frigg and Freya are one and the same.
>> They're usually identified, but some distinguish. For example a quick
>> search found a site selling a set of six coasters, all different,
>> portraying "Odin, Thor, Frigg, Freya, Loki, and Idun".
>
>I'm sorry, but who precisely would want coasters portraying Norse gods and
>goddesses? It's vaguely reminicent of woodchip walls and draylon
>furniture...
Huh?!!!!  Coasters surplus to requirements.  Tumblers had rounded
bottoms so's you 'ad to knock the liquor back in one  %-)))))
>
>> Perhaps one for QuizGB-NorseTrivia@yahoogroups.com before we get too
>> involved here.
Urghn?  Some people have no joie de vivre.  Oh.  Ah. Um.  So how's the
revision going, mate?
>
>(As the moderator himself goes horribly OT...)
So no change there then <g>
>
>I think we'll stick to one group for the time being... :) It took long
>enough to build this little monster!
>
Oooh. 8-|  Viktor?

S.
--
  __         __
{{{{\     /}}}}    Sue Mitchell
  {{::\ V /::}}     sue@...
   >--->8<---<
  {:.;/ 0 \;.:}    "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies"
   ~~       ~~                                              - B.H.M.

In message <Pine.OSF.4.21.0105181151170.614-100000@...>, Rob
Linham <robert.linham@...> writes
>On Fri, 18 May 2001, Robert Chilvers wrote:
>> You may criticise my grammar but look at your atrocious spelling of
>> reminiscent!
>
><looks back at the moderating policy that's just been sent out>
><pontificates>
>
>I think, sir, that spelling flaming the moderator might possibly have to
>be added to the FAQ as "the fastest way to get yourself put on
>moderated". :-)))
>
>Come to think of it, spelling flaming *anyone* is really rather unkind.
>
>But yes, my finger slipped.
>
>Tchah, the youth of today!
>
<Snort!>

  __         __
{{{{\     /}}}}    Sue Mitchell
  {{::\ V /::}}     sue@...
   >--->8<---<
  {:.;/ 0 \;.:}    "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies"
   ~~       ~~                                              - B.H.M.

In message <Pine.OSF.3.96.1010518113109.24384A-
100000@...>, Sean Blanchflower <S.M.Blanchflower@...
am.ac.uk> writes
>
>
>On Fri, 18 May 2001, Robert Chilvers wrote:
>
>> Friday comes from the old English Frigedæg, literally: Freya's day.
>> But I agree it is bad having ambiguous or wrong answers.
>>
>Well, yes and no. Surely it literally means Frigg's Day. The question is
>whether the two Norse goddesses Frigg and Freya are one and the same.
Nope, they ain't, Sean.

Frigga - grumpy wife of philandering Wotan whom he sought to appease by
having the giants Fasolt and Fafnir build Valhalla, and offering them
Freya as collateral.

Freya - goddess of youth and beauty whose little green apples kept her
fellow deities in the prime of life.  Hence there was a bit of a panic
when Valhalla was finished and Wotan couldn't come up with the readies.

All good fun :)

Sue
--
  __         __
{{{{\     /}}}}    Sue Mitchell
  {{::\ V /::}}     sue@...
   >--->8<---<
  {:.;/ 0 \;.:}    "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies"
   ~~       ~~                                              - B.H.M.

In message <003901c0df83$e884c8e0$8aa601a3@...>,
Robert Chilvers <some1140@...> writes
>Friday comes from the old English Frigedg, literally: Freya's day.
>But I agree it is bad having ambiguous or wrong answers.

Friggin' 'eck, an' I thought it were Frigidaire... %-)
>
>>But barring those, it's the ones with ambiguous answers. Again one the
>>other day was "Which Goddess is Friday named after?". Put Frigg and you
>>can guarantee they have Freya (and vice versa).
>
Sue
--
  __         __
{{{{\     /}}}}    Sue Mitchell
  {{::\ V /::}}     sue@...
   >--->8<---<
  {:.;/ 0 \;.:}    "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies"
   ~~       ~~                                              - B.H.M.

In message <Pine.OSF.4.21.0105181017050.614-100000@...>, Rob
Linham <robert.linham@...> writes
>On Fri, 18 May 2001, Sean Blanchflower wrote:
>> Not so much pub bore as general pedant!
>
>You called? :)
<snigger>
>
>> But barring those, it's the ones with ambiguous answers. Again one the
>> other day was "Which Goddess is Friday named after?". Put Frigg and you
>> can guarantee they have Freya (and vice versa).
>
>There's an expert on this one lurking somewhere... :) Wake up Freya!
Actually, I wasn't asleep, Sweetie.  6 hours?  Sheer luxury!!!
>
>Another one that's just sprung back to mind:
>
>Q. Name the two landlocked countries in Asia.
>
>Eh? You can't even say that this was right pre-collapse-of-USSR - they had
>left out such dead easy ones as Bhutan and Nepal, as well as at least a
>couple of others
Sikkim, Rob! ;)

>> A couple of months of this type of discussion and we're going to become
>> very sad men aren't we?
Well, I amn't! <G>
>
>Or just very vicious to pub quizmasters :}
>And I'm sure the women around here can be just as sad too... :)

<Sulk>  >:-{  There's no need to get personal...

Sue
--
  __         __
{{{{\     /}}}}    Sue Mitchell
  {{::\ V /::}}     sue@...
   >--->8<---<
  {:.;/ 0 \;.:}    "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies"
   ~~       ~~                                              - B.H.M.

In message <Pine.OSF.3.96.1010518100003.25533B-
100000@...>, Sean Blanchflower <S.M.Blanchflower@...
am.ac.uk> writes
>
>> Q. Which country in the world has the shortest coastline?
>> A. Monaco
>>
>> So I suppose Switzerland has miles of lovely golden sands, and we'll be
>> hearing soon of the round-Azerbaijan yacht race :)
>
<snip list of bloody annoying errors>
>
>A couple of months of this type of discussion and we're going to become
>very sad men aren't we?
>
Obviously speaking for yourself ;)

And the country with the shortest border is .........?



Sue
--
  __         __
{{{{\     /}}}}    Sue Mitchell
  {{::\ V /::}}     sue@...
   >--->8<---<
  {:.;/ 0 \;.:}    "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies"
   ~~       ~~                                              - B.H.M.

On Fri, 18 May 2001 stephen.pearson@... wrote:
> Marcus Berkmann has a section about 'bad questions' in his excellent
> book 'Brain Men'.  He quotes one of the worst pub quiz questions which
> he's ever heard as something along the following lines: 'In which year
> was Lord Attenborough awarded his peerage: was it 1993, 1994 or 1995'?
>  (It was 1993, in the unlikely event that you're interested in the
> answer.)

Quiz machines tend to be the worst offenders on these questions - if they
want to get rid of you they'll throw out something like:

In what year did the first tram run in London?
1887, 1888 or 1889

(I'm sure I'm way out on the years, but the gist of the question is one
that's stung me before).

No I'm not bitter  :)

Rob.

--- In QuizGB@y..., Rob Linham <robert.linham@s...> wrote:
> What's the worst question that anyone's ever come across?
>
> Rob.

Marcus Berkmann has a section about 'bad questions' in his excellent
book 'Brain Men'.  He quotes one of the worst pub quiz questions which
he's ever heard as something along the following lines: 'In which year
was Lord Attenborough awarded his peerage: was it 1993, 1994 or 1995'?
  (It was 1993, in the unlikely event that you're interested in the
answer.)

I'd agree with him that 'year questions' can quite easily be bad
questions, although some are okay and it's often difficult to work out
what the criteria would be.  For example, 'In which year did the "Lady
Chatterley" trial end the ban on its unexpurgated publication in
Britain?' or 'In which year did the Beatles release their first LP?'
would (I think) be generally accepted by most quiz players, whereas
the 'Lord Attenborough peerage' seems generally less acceptable.

It might be argued that questions about 'significant' events are okay
but questions about 'insignificant' events are not, although this then
raises the question of why Lord Attenborough's peerage is less
significant than the end of the 'Chatterley' ban and the Beatles'
first LP.

Stephen

As the resident Norse mythology expert (or something!) I feel obliged
to contribute something pointless.

I believe some authorities consider Freya/Frigg as having come from
the same root, their roles having become confused over the years.
Although you would have fairly good grounds for questioning it if you
were marked wrong for either one.  But its Freya (or indeed Freyja)
really

freya xx

On Fri, 18 May 2001, Robert Chilvers wrote:
> You may criticise my grammar but look at your atrocious spelling of
> reminiscent!

<looks back at the moderating policy that's just been sent out>
<pontificates>

I think, sir, that spelling flaming the moderator might possibly have to
be added to the FAQ as "the fastest way to get yourself put on
moderated". :-)))

Come to think of it, spelling flaming *anyone* is really rather unkind.

But yes, my finger slipped.

Tchah, the youth of today!

r.

I've been asked about moderating messages and the like, so I thought I
might as well tell everyone... I suppose putting this in that lovely FAQ
might be a good idea!

Basically, I have powers to, amongst other things, moderate posts and
members. At the moment, nothing is being checked before it is sent out -
i.e. it's all done automatically. I'm not expecting to have to change this
policy, as a little bit of off-topic never hurt anyone so long as the
traffic level doesn't go mad. Moderation would also make my life rather
busier...

If we get spam / abuse, I have the power to ban people - again, I wouldn't
be expecting to do this to anyone except people who've come here solely to
spam. I can also delete posts from the archives, etc., and put individual
members on moderated.

So, basically, the policy at the moment is entirely hands-off, but rest
assured that I can rein things in if we get any problems - I shouldn't
expect that we will, though.

Cheers,

Rob (your friendly neighbourhood moderator!).

You may criticise my grammar but look at your atrocious spelling of
reminiscent!

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Linham <robert.linham@...>
To: QuizGB@yahoogroups.com <QuizGB@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 18 May 2001 11:41
Subject: Re: [QuizGB] Bad questions


>On Fri, 18 May 2001, Sean Blanchflower wrote:
>> Well, yes and no. Surely it literally means Frigg's Day. The question is
>> whether the two Norse goddesses Frigg and Freya are one and the same.
>> They're usually identified, but some distinguish. For example a quick
>> search found a site selling a set of six coasters, all different,
>> portraying "Odin, Thor, Frigg, Freya, Loki, and Idun".
>
>I'm sorry, but who precisely would want coasters portraying Norse gods and
>goddesses? It's vaguely reminicent of woodchip walls and draylon
>furniture...
>
>> Perhaps one for QuizGB-NorseTrivia@yahoogroups.com before we get too
>> involved here.
>
>(As the moderator himself goes horribly OT...)
>
>I think we'll stick to one group for the time being... :) It took long
>enough to build this little monster!
>
>r.
>
>
>
>===================================================================
>Quiz GB - The virtual home of British quizzing!
>Visit the group centre at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QuizGB
>To post to the group, e-mail: QuizGB@yahoogroups.com
>Problems? E-mail: QuizGB-Owner@yahoogroups.com
>===================================================================
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

On Fri, 18 May 2001, Sean Blanchflower wrote:
> Well, yes and no. Surely it literally means Frigg's Day. The question is
> whether the two Norse goddesses Frigg and Freya are one and the same.
> They're usually identified, but some distinguish. For example a quick
> search found a site selling a set of six coasters, all different,
> portraying "Odin, Thor, Frigg, Freya, Loki, and Idun".

I'm sorry, but who precisely would want coasters portraying Norse gods and
goddesses? It's vaguely reminicent of woodchip walls and draylon
furniture...

> Perhaps one for QuizGB-NorseTrivia@yahoogroups.com before we get too
> involved here.

(As the moderator himself goes horribly OT...)

I think we'll stick to one group for the time being... :) It took long
enough to build this little monster!

r.

On Fri, 18 May 2001, Robert Chilvers wrote:

> Friday comes from the old English Frigedæg, literally: Freya's day.
> But I agree it is bad having ambiguous or wrong answers.
>
Well, yes and no. Surely it literally means Frigg's Day. The question is
whether the two Norse goddesses Frigg and Freya are one and the same.
They're usually identified, but some distinguish. For example a quick
search found a site selling a set of six coasters, all different,
portraying "Odin, Thor, Frigg, Freya, Loki, and Idun".

Perhaps one for QuizGB-NorseTrivia@yahoogroups.com before we get too
involved here.

Sean

Friday comes from the old English Frigedæg, literally: Freya's day.
But I agree it is bad having ambiguous or wrong answers.

>But barring those, it's the ones with ambiguous answers. Again one the
>other day was "Which Goddess is Friday named after?". Put Frigg and you
>can guarantee they have Freya (and vice versa).

On Fri, 18 May 2001, Sean Blanchflower wrote:
> Not so much pub bore as general pedant!

You called? :)

> Worst questions are always ones with wrong answers. We lost a big jackpot
> the other day when the tiebreak was "In 1992 what was the population of
> Australia?". We guessed 17.6 million. The answer they had was 7.65. Hmm.

Er. Right. No. Not even wrong.

Aside: I must admit I'd have thought it was more than that, but I guess
not. You do tend to forget sometimes how overcrowded this little island
is.

> But barring those, it's the ones with ambiguous answers. Again one the
> other day was "Which Goddess is Friday named after?". Put Frigg and you
> can guarantee they have Freya (and vice versa).

There's an expert on this one lurking somewhere... :) Wake up Freya!

> Or "Who was the youngest US President to take office?" Answer=Teddy
> Roosevelt, but you can almost guarantee that the questionmaster has
> JFK on the answer sheet, and so you have to put it even though you
> know it's wrong!

I got away with saying Columbus was "Italian" last night, knowing full
well it was wrong.

Another one that's just sprung back to mind:

Q. Name the two landlocked countries in Asia.

Eh? You can't even say that this was right pre-collapse-of-USSR - they had
left out such dead easy ones as Bhutan and Nepal, as well as at least a
couple of others (I'm not getting up to get the atlas again - I've only
just sat down from checking Australia's population...)

> A couple of months of this type of discussion and we're going to become
> very sad men aren't we?

Or just very vicious to pub quizmasters :}
And I'm sure the women around here can be just as sad too... :)

Rob.

> Q. Which country in the world has the shortest coastline?
> A. Monaco
>
> So I suppose Switzerland has miles of lovely golden sands, and we'll be
> hearing soon of the round-Azerbaijan yacht race :)

Not so much pub bore as general pedant! I was asked this in Trivial
Pursuit on Saturday and had no problems getting it; of course it means
shortest non-zero coastline! The biggest clue to answering most questions
is the fact that someone's asked it in the first place.

Worst questions are always ones with wrong answers. We lost a big jackpot
the other day when the tiebreak was "In 1992 what was the population of
Australia?". We guessed 17.6 million. The answer they had was 7.65. Hmm.

But barring those, it's the ones with ambiguous answers. Again one the
other day was "Which Goddess is Friday named after?". Put Frigg and you
can guarantee they have Freya (and vice versa). Or "Who was the youngest
US President to take office?" Answer=Teddy Roosevelt, but you can almost
guarantee that the questionmaster has JFK on the answer sheet, and so
you have to put it even though you know it's wrong!

A couple of months of this type of discussion and we're going to become
very sad men aren't we?

Sean

What's the worst question that anyone's ever come across?

<mode=pub_bore>

And I'll tell you why I ask...

From a quiz book earlier:

Q. Which country in the world has the shortest coastline?
A. Monaco

So I suppose Switzerland has miles of lovely golden sands, and we'll be
hearing soon of the round-Azerbaijan yacht race :)

Rob.

I've written the instructions file - it's in the FAQs section of the
Files, or I can e-mail to anyone who wants.

There'll be a swathe of Oxonians joining tomorrow, I guess, so spread the
word far and wide (and close and near as well, I guess :) )

Rob.

Hi everyone!

I think I've got everyone over the silly little bugs about joining - I
have a facility to add people by e-mail address, and then the system links
that back to your username.

I hope you like the sections I've set up at the group centre - ideas,
additions, etc. can either be added directly to some of them (bookmarks,
files) or e-mail me and I'll see to the rest (databases and polls).

However, I'm particularly after a couple of things:

In databases there is a team contacts directory - I'd love to get as many
teams on as possible. It asks for just a name and e-mail address for your
team, which if you send to me I can add.

Also, in files, there's a section called "FAQs". You'll have seen the main
FAQ, which gets sent by e-mail to all new subscribers (I turned off the
regular posting though). In that, I refer to the planned series of "How
To" guides that I'd like to have there as well to help people who are new
to things get their feet on the ground. There's a text file in there
explaining it all better - please have a wee look and see if you can help
at all!

Anyway, don't forget polls, bookmarks, calendars and all the other stuff -
oh, and messages too :) And don't forget to tell people about the group -
the more the merrier. I'll write some instructions on joining into a text
file in "FAQs" that you can then forward to anyone who is interested.

Cheers!

Rob.

Welcome to the Quiz GB discussion group!

Rob.

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
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To vote, please visit the following web page:

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Thanks!