Hi folks. Hope you are all keeping well. I’ve missed you. Hope you can say the same.
I’m back, sort of. I had a sudden enforced blogging break thrust upon me when I received an SOS from a good friend of mine. His company was in need of help.
I thought at the time that it would be a two week job at most, but when he said he was in trouble he wasn’t kidding. We’re still not done, but at least now things are looking a little bit better.
I’m in “Yurp” right now, watching the refugees take over. More of that in a future post perhaps. In the meantime take Trump’s advice a close your borders or you’ll end up like this place.
I could have done some blogging when I was travelling around, I certainly had plenty of time at airports, in between flights and wading through the dumbest security checks you could imagine, but I wanted to take a bit of time to prepare my next post. Hopefuly I’ll get to it next week.
Meantime, if you can believe WP stats, this blog has whizzed through the 200,000 views landmark without me and there are actually MORE daily hits now than when I was blogging almost every day.
Do you think the world is trying to tell me something?
Maybe I should stay away?
Actually I don’t know whether to be pleased that I have created something with a life of it’s own or dismayed that I’m not really needed.
Now in an effort to get some of my dignity back I think I will indulge in a quick gloat.
This is not going to be pretty so feel free to skip over this bit if you haven’t got a strong stomach.
I’m having a laugh at the stupidty of the Fed again and the dumb financial journalists and fund managers who hang on their every word despite a mountain of evidence that should lead them to do otherwise.
The Fed has wimped out AGAIN. Lost their nerve. Promised and hinted and leaked stories to the financial press for months that an interest rate rise was imminent – and then they bottled out.
No surprise to me. At the beginning of May I wrote a post explaining why they wouldn’t put up interests despite all the pifle they were saying. (if you want to read it click here.)
Then in mid-June I did another one ( click here for that one), saying there was no way the Fed could make good on their threats to raise the rate in September.
Of course nobody listened and the meeting on Thursday was one of the most anticipated Fed meetings of all time. And it all came to nothing. No interest rate hike.
And I don’t think they’ll do it next time either. There’s talk about December, but as far as I see the Fed’s hands are tied and rates are going to remain at zero or close to it for years.
Good news for borrowers. Not so good for savers with all the traditional yield opportunities such as bonds, Treasuries and bank CDs offering little or no returns. If you have cash to invest you should be looking at solid low risk undervalued stocks with a decent dividend. Otherwise your savings will be eroded by inflation for at least another year, proably longer.
Having said that, no rate hike is on balance good for the economy as a whole.
That will do for the gloating for now. Not sure when the next post will be exactly. Hopefully next week so if you’re interested keep a look out for that.
Meantime warmest regards to everyone who visits – even when I’m not around.
Another month has appeared on the calendar. Unbelievably we’re almost half way through 2014 already!
But what better way to start the first week of another month than with another twenty brain-buster questions.
Business, politics, geography, history, nature, movies and music are all in here this week.
Let’s see how you do.
Enjoy and good luck.
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Q. 1: What do octopus’ and goat’s eyes have in common?
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Q. 2: What common English word comes from the French expression meaning “death pledge”?
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Q. 3: Adjusting for inflation, which of these two men is the richest man in history, John D Rockerfeller or Bill Gates?
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Q. 4: What is the term for yawning and stretching at the same time?
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Q. 5: What US President is famous for having filed a report for a UFO sighting in 1973, calling it “the darndest thing I’ve ever seen.”
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Q. 6: In the last 4000 years, how many new animals have been domesticated?
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Q. 7: What is the Greek version of the Old Testament called?
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Q. 8: Soweto is a very famous location on the outskirts of Johannesburg in South Africa, but how did it get its name?
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Q. 9: Between 1926 and 1976, John Wayne appeared in over 170 motion pictures, and became one of America’s biggest box office stars, but what was the title of his last movie?
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Q. 10: What is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon? (Two bonus points if you can name the year too.)
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Q. 11: what was the only part of the United States that was invaded by the Japanese during WWII?
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Q. 12: Why do spiral staircases in medieval castles run clockwise?
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Q. 13: What are the only birds able to fly backwards.
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Q. 14: If you were standing in the northernmost point in the contiguous (48) US states, what state would you be standing in?
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Q. 15: Name the six main characters in the long running TV comedy series ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’? (A point for each and bonus points if you can name the actors who played them.)
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Q. 16: What is the only Canadian Province that borders the Great Lakes?
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Q. 17: Only four letters in the latin alphabet look the same if you turn them upside down or see them from behind, a point for each one you can name correctly?
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Q. 18: Previously set in Los Angeles, Washington DC and New York, what City is the location for the latest series of the hit TV show ‘24’?
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Q. 19: What is the only US State that begins with an “A” but does not end with an “A”?
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Q. 20: Who shared ‘Endless Love’ with Luther Van-Dross in 1994?
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ANSWERS
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Q. 1: What do octopus’ and goat’s eyes have in common?
A. 1: Both have rectangular pupils.
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Q. 2: What common English word comes from the French expression meaning “death pledge”?
A. 2: The common English word ‘mortgage’ comes from the French expression meaning “death pledge”.
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Q. 3: Adjusting for inflation, which of these two men is the richest man in history, John D Rockerfeller or Bill Gates?
A. 3: When adjusted for inflation, John D Rockerfeller is the richest man in the history of the world, with a net worth 10 times more than Bill Gates.
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Q. 4: What is the term for yawning and stretching at the same time?
A. 4: When you yawn and stretch at the time, you are “pandiculating.”
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Q. 5: What US President is famous for having filed a report for a UFO sighting in 1973, calling it “the darndest thing I’ve ever seen.”
A. 5: Jimmy Carter filed a report for a UFO sighting in 1973.
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Q. 6: In the last 4000 years, how many new animals have been domesticated?
A. 6: Bit of a trick question, in the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated. Take a point if you answered ‘none’ or ‘zero’.
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Q. 7: What is the Greek version of the Old Testament called?
A. 7: The Greek version of the Old Testament is called the ‘Septuagint’.
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Q. 8: Soweto is a very famous location on the outskirts of Johannesburg in South Africa, but how did it get its name?
A. 8: Soweto in South Africa was derived from SOuth WEst TOwnship.
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Q. 9: Between 1926 and 1976, John Wayne appeared in over 170 motion pictures, and became one of America’s biggest box office stars, but what was the title of his last movie?
A. 9: John Wayne’s final movie was ‘The Shootist’, made in 1976 and in which he played the part of aging former gunslinger John Bernard Books.
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Q. 10: What is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon? (Two bonus points if you can name the year too.)
A. 10: February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
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Q. 11: what was the only part of the United States that was invaded by the Japanese during WWII?
A. 11: Alaska was the only part of the United States that was invaded by the Japanese during WWII. The territory was the island of Adak in the Aleutian Chain. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked, but not invaded.
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Q. 12: Why do spiral staircases in medieval castles run clockwise?
A. 12: Spiral staircases in medieval castles run clockwise because all knights used to be right-handed and would therefore carry their swords in their right hand.
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Q. 13: What are the only birds able to fly backwards.
A. 13: Hummingbirds are the only birds able to fly backwards.
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Q. 14: If you were standing in the northernmost point in the contiguous (48) US states, what state would you be standing in?
A. 14: If you were standing in the northernmost point in the contiguous (48) US states, you’d be standing in Minnesota.
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Q. 15: Name the six main characters in the long running TV comedy series ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’? (A point for each and bonus points if you can name the actors who played them.)
A. 15: The characters in the Beverly Hillbillies were Jed Clampett, Granny, Ellie May, Jethro, unscrupulous banker Mr Drysdale and his long-suffering assistant Miss Hathaway, played respectively by Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, Max Baer, Jr., Raymond Bailey and Nancy Kulp.
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Q. 16: What is the only Canadian Province that borders the Great Lakes?
A. 16: Ontario is the only Canadian Province that borders the Great Lakes.
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Q. 17: Only four letters in the latin alphabet look the same if you turn them upside down or see them from behind, a point for each one you can name correctly?
A. 17: The only letters in the latin alphabet that look the same if you turn them upside down or see them from behind are ‘H’ ‘I’ ‘O’ and ‘X’.
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Q. 18: Previously set in Los Angeles, Washington DC and New York, what City is the location for the latest series of the hit TV show ‘24’?
A. 18: The latest series of ‘24’ is set in London, England.
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Q. 19: What is the only US State that begins with an “A” but does not end with an “A”?
A. 19: Arkansas is the only US State that begins with “A” but does not end with “A”, all the other States that begin with “A”, Arizona, Alabama and Alaska, also end with “A”.
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Q. 20: Who shared ‘Endless Love’ with Luther Van-Dross in 1994?
Hello and welcome to another start of the week quiz.
Another very random selection of questions, but don’t let that discourage you, have a go!
As usual the answers are given waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down below – but please, NO cheating.
Enjoy, and good luck.
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Q. 1: How many Dalmatians starred in the 1961 Disney movie?
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Q. 2: Where do they make California license plates?
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Q. 3: What is the collective term for a group of eggs, such as those found in a bird’s nest?
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Q. 4: Which famous lady edited Michael Jackson’s 1988 autobiography “Moonwalk”?
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Q. 5: What do they call G.I. Joe in the U.K.?
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Q. 6: What was US President Woodrow Wilson’s first name?
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Q. 7: In which American town or city was the TV series “Ironside” set?
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Q. 8: What is your “niddick”? (Yes, ladies you have one too.)
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Q. 9: In which movie, also starring Dustin Hoffman, did Sir Laurence Olivier play a Nazi war criminal named Dr. Christian Szell?
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Q. 10: What is the name for the metal band that joins the eraser to a pencil, or the metal band at the end of a cane?
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Q. 11: Name the only U.S. state that borders three different Canadian provinces.
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Q. 12: Who succeeded Nasser as President of Egypt and was later assassinated?
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Q. 13: Where did camels originate?
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Q. 14: What famous musical was set in Austria?
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Q. 15: What is the Scoville Heat Index and what is it used for?
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Q. 16: Who conquered Greece in 336 at the head of a vast Macedonian Army?
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Q. 17: Name the three lead stars in the movie “Some Like It Hot”.
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Q. 18: What was the first country to seek diplomatic relations with the United States.
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Q. 19: In which movies did Charlton Heston play the following roles?
a. George Taylor,
b. Moses,
c. Michelangelo,
d. General ‘Chinese’ Gordon,
e. Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar,
f. John the Baptist
(One point for each correct answer so your chance to earn six points here!)
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Q. 20: What was the only father-daughter collaboration to hit number one on the Billboard pop chart? (One point each for the names of the two artists and for the name of the song.
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ANSWERS
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Q. 1: How many Dalmatians starred in the 1961 Disney movie?
A. 1: 101
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Q. 2: Where do they make California license plates?
A. 2: All California license plates are made in prisons.
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Q. 3: What is the collective term for a group of eggs, such as those found in a bird’s nest?
A. 3: A group of eggs, such as those found in a bird’s nest, is known as a “clutch.”
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Q. 4: Which famous lady edited Michael Jackson’s 1988 autobiography “Moonwalk”?
A. 4: Michael Jackson’s 1988 autobiography Moonwalk was edited by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
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Q. 5: What do they call G.I. Joe in the U.K.?
A. 5: G.I. Joe is called “Action Man” in the U.K.
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Q. 6: What was US President Woodrow Wilson’s first name?
A. 6: Woodrow Wilson’s first name was Thomas. Woodrow was actually his middle name.
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Q. 7: In which American town or city was the TV series “Ironside” set?
A. 7: San Francisco
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Q. 8: What is your “niddick”? (Yes, ladies you have one too.)
A. 8: “Niddick” is another name for the nape of your neck.
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Q. 9: In which movie, also starring Dustin Hoffman, did Sir Laurence Olivier play a Nazi war criminal named Dr. Christian Szell?
A. 9: Marathon Man.
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Q. 10: What is the name for the metal band that joins the eraser to a pencil, or the metal band at the end of a cane?
A. 10: The metal band that joins the eraser to a pencil and the metal band at the end of a cane is a called a “ferrule.”
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Q. 11: Name the only U.S. state that borders three different Canadian provinces.
A. 11: Montana is the only U.S. state that borders three different Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan).
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Q. 12: Who succeeded Nasser as President of Egypt and was later assassinated?
A. 12: Anwar Sadat.
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Q. 13: Where did camels originate?
A. 13: Camels actually originated in North America.
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Q. 14: What famous musical was set in Austria?
A. 14: The Sound Of Music.
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Q. 15: What is the Scoville Heat Index and what is it used for?
A. 15: The Scoville Heat Index is a scale for measuring the spiciness of food. The spiciest pepper has over 1,000,000 Scoville units.
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Q. 16: Who conquered Greece in 336 at the head of a vast Macedonian Army?
A. 16: Alexander The Great.
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Q. 17: Name the three lead stars in the movie “Some Like It Hot”.
A. 17: Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe.
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Q. 18: What was the first country to seek diplomatic relations with the United States.
A. 18: In 1777, Morocco became the first country to seek diplomatic relations with the United States.
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Q. 19: In which movies did Charlton Heston play the following roles?
a. George Taylor,
b. Moses,
c. Michelangelo,
d. General ‘Chinese’ Gordon,
e. Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar,
f. John the Baptist
(One point for each correct answer so your chance to earn six points here!)
A. 19: Charlton Heston played
a. George Taylor in “Planet of the Apes (Beneath the Planet of the Apes)”
b. Moses in “The Ten Commandments”
c. Michelangelo in “The Agony and the Ecstasy”
d. General ‘Chinese’ Gordon in “Khartoum”
e. Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar in “El Cid”
f. John the Baptist in “The Greatest Story Ever Told”
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Q. 20: What was the only father-daughter collaboration to hit number one on the Billboard pop chart? (One point each for the names of the two artists and for the name of the song.)
A. 20: The only father-daughter collaboration to hit number one on the Billboard pop chart was “Something Stupid” by Frank & Nancy Sinatra in 1967.
fasab 