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

Hi Fraulein G (named after the spot, or just a coincidence? )

(4) Correct!
(7) No. The obvious answer is stockings, and indeeed that is what nylon was developed for, but the first commercial product pre-dated stockings by a couple of years.
(34) Correct!
(35) No. Verdi was 58 when he wrote Aida.
(49) No. That would be too easy.

I'm impressed. Like I said, most often the answers are *not* what you expect them to be.

I'm in a Trivia team too. And we're really good. But I didn't know more than a couple of these when I started.

Hi Duncan,

I only found out about h2g2 yesterday, and so I hadn't got set up. I've now filled in my Preferences, so I think it's possible to drop by (I must find out how that works!)

Dave

Congratulations Mr. Anchovy! You're the first researcher to guess that my online name is actually a mildly naughty joke and not my real name. No coincendence there!

Now I'm stumped on #49. I know it's not the question you want the answer to, but I thought I was correct. It's going to bother me...

Ah, well, if you read my intro on My Space, you'll see I have an interest in such things. )

My own thoughts on 49 were that Florence Nightingale was too obvious (for this quiz) so I didn't just accept it. Most people had made the assumption without checking it.

Any way, nice to meet you Ms Spot.

Dave

Yep, I looked at that after you guessed correctly. I think only those familiar with certain toys would know what it meant. One of my older journal entries deals with my last toy shopping trip.

Woo hoo! I actually know an answer!

(4) toothbrush bristles! Specifically (and I had to look this detail up) those sold through the name Dr West's toothbrushes back in mid-1938. The nylon used for those bristles was sold under the trademarked name, "Exton." DuPont actually kept the polymer nature of the bristles somewhat secret, since polymers were very new. They could make these toothbrush bristles from their failed attempts to make a yarn or clothing fabric for stockings, the process for which they finally got right sometime around 1940.

I think it's a good point that no one could get all 50! That's quite a quiz! Heck, I only knew two for sure (the other being the State Motto for West Virginia translating to "A mountaineer is always free"). I'm impressed that you know some 45 of them! I'm a bit handicapped by being an American (I mean more so than usual ) since most of those seem to have something to do with the UK in one way or another. Still, I'm ashamed to admit I don't know for sure the two cities between which the first Government-regulated air mail route existed. I want to say that it was between New York City and Washington D.C., but I could be wrong. I know the first flights occurred in the Alaskan wilderness, but I don't think the Government regulated those crazy affairs for a while, or even if there was a fixed route.

Well done, JD! Yes, another right answer. It was a toothbrush.

Dave

So no more progress today?

Anybody need hints?

No hints, please. That takes all the fun out it. A few more answers from me:

1) Pitt the Younger
3) Santa's sleigh?
10) William the Conqueror
24) Samarkand
30) St. Louis & Chicago

Stupid me, I saw the name Aida, and thought of Verdi straight away, even though you were looking for the youngest conductor of that opera. In which case I'm guessing (and this could be a gross misspelling) Leopold Stolkowski.

Oh, and Lady Astor for #29.

1) No. Actually, this isn't one that you could easily guess.

3) Nice try. No.

10) LOL - particularly when you know the answer!

24) Nope. Not nearly so far away.

30) Nope.

This brings a point - do people want me to privately mail them when they're right, or let the answers slowly reveal over time?

29) No, and I'll be quite surprised if you get this one. Not a reflection of what I think of you, obviously, just that this is a very anglo-centric question. That said, a web search actually verified it once I knew who it was.

Crap. What about Leopold? Is *that* correct? Or should I put on my dunce cap and go find a corner to sit in?

Dave 'The Anchovy' - This is driving us all mad at home - the problem is everybody thinks their answers are correct until you can prove it otherwise - how can you e-mail me the answers privately so that I can adjudicate?

No no no - no fair, we've all got to suffer together.

(Psst - aside to Dave: How's your HTML? - If you put the questions in a document with the answers which you know in white, then we could "select" the blanked out text to see the answer ...but it could not be done by accident which might spoil it.)

Alright, Here I go with what I *think* I know!
5. The Shriners.
7. a toothbrush.
17. a point (of toast)
19. Beatrix Potter
31. Either Stanley or Livingston...I would flip for Stanley.
39. Keats
41. Addis Ababa, Ethopia

And I only know one, possibly two, for sure. Wait, 39 is earlier... MILTON? Chaucer?! ARGH

Sorry, Leopold was wrong too.

5) No. The answer is (as you'd expect) slightly surprising.

7) Yep.

17) A toast point, yes.

19) No. Potter lived in Yorkshire, Emneth is in Norfolk.

31) No, but you're on the right track.

39) Ah, well, you have guessed in your last sentence. Want to settle on one?

41) No, but you're close.

Hi Duncan,

Well, my HTML is just fine (it better be!), but I think that making the answers so public doesn't make it so much fun.

Remember: I found all these answers on the web too. They are all solvable. And the great thing is, when you have the right answer, you *know* it's the right answer!

Dave

I could but:

* I don't have your e-mail address (your personal space isn't filled in)

and

* Are you sure? As I said, all the answers (that I have) are available on the web. In most cases people are unlikely to know the answers right off without some research.

If you *really* want the answers, let me have your e-mail address and I'll send them to you, but think carefully. It's much more sattisfying finding the answers for yourself and *knowing* you are right.

Dave