h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

+3 magwitch, barmen is acceptable would also take bad men or zulus (a version i heard)

+3 feisor yep he lives in a caravan, any thing interesting about caravans???

right.......he does a few more remarkable things, drops a few missed names, but what i want now is some Quite Interesting facts about the things and people in the song

tell me about

the Lusitania, jack Dempsey, Mae West, Caravans, big strong man, killing 50 men in the west, 40 medals, big chest....etc.etc.etc.

It takes half the army and the navy
to put the wid up Sylveste

or something. I could have got this if I hadn't taken a couple of days off

oops +3

any army navy or wind related stories for QI points???

any thing interesting about caravans
Yep
Originates as covered wagon type vehicles C 1550 for military use
the Gypsy caravan or vardo was the first true caravan in the modren term.

Car towing caravans derived from prototypes develpoed in the 1920s (the first ideas came about in 1880 ish)

Monty took a caravan to war as a mobile HQ.

the caravan industury today is world wide and they are constructed on every continent.


Want any more Taff

Oh I forgot the gypsy caravan that looks like a nissan hut on wheels is called a bow top

Oh Ronnie Wood Roling Stones has a Bow Top his Mrs got it fot him for his birthday.
NB Woods family are canal people originaly

very nice bob

+6

well done

Mc
umm, the only possible medal fact that i know is most victoria crosses are awarded posthumously, but i am not even sure if its true

mini

It's not true.

just about ready to wrap this up

here is the answer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hRh60_Tcvs

or

http://www.thebards.net/music/lyrics/Big_Strong_Man.shtml

still QI points available

i'll give it a little while

> any army navy or wind related stories for QI points??? <

Before coats 'n' 'ats, we in the UK had to make do with Military surplus

I'll just go and check that...

Buildings on the Falkland islands are often built on stilts so that the fierce winds take the path of least resistance and go under them for a shortcut.

'Course, anyone could have read that in <./>Peer Review</.>.

Sound the retreat.

I must be wrong about the Army & Navy stores

Apologies.

I first remember hearing the song on Crackerjack when I was about 11 it was sung by a guy called Johnny Silvo who had previously been in one of the UKs first skiffle bands, The Vipers, alongside another future children's entertainer, Wally Whyton.

The Lusitania was first World War, Jack Dempsey was World Heavyweight champion sometime in the late 1920s I think and Mae West's film career ran from the thrities to the sixties so that suggests it may be one of those songs where each subsequent performer adds a few new lines to keep it contemporary.

scores

big strong man my brother sylveste

Mini mouse +5
Br robyn hoode +3
Rod the brit +1
Deakie +9
Mag witch +3
Feisor +3
oops +3,+6 qi bonus total +9
bob +6 qi bonus

other QI facts

the seventh Dr.s stage name was originally Sylveste McCoy but as it has 13 leters he added the r to become sylvester

the lusitania was sunk by a german u-boat as a valid target as she was carrying contraband but this was played down and the fact that americans had died in the attack was played up and used to pressure america into joining in the war

Don't forget Post 37 Taff - one of your better ones!

scores

big strong man my brother sylveste

Mini mouse +5
Br robyn hoode +3
Rod the brit +1
Deakie +3
King bomba +9
Mag witch +3
Feisor +3
oops +3,+6 qi bonus total +9
bob +6 qi bonus

other QI facts

the seventh Dr.s stage name was originally Sylveste McCoy but as it has 13 leters he added the r to become sylvester

the lusitania was sunk by a german u-boat as a valid target as she was carrying contraband but this was played down and the fact that americans had died in the attack was played up and used to pressure america into joining in the war


preview is your friend

Much decorated sibling performing amazing feats.

Joseph (coat of many colours - much decorated!) - who had quite a lot of brothers, who earned the respect and admiration of Pharoah by interpreting the royal dreams, et c, among other biblical feats of the sort garnered by staying on the right side of the Almighty.

Mike Harding does a good version of "My Brother Sylveste" on one of his early LP's, btw, dating from the days before he gave up comedy to present the fingers-in-the-ear folkie music show for BBC radio.

And damn, I'm in too late again...