Saturday, May 24, 2014

A Constance Bennett Moment

 

Constance Bennett in Madame X (1966, Universal)

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Trivia Bits 24 May

 

The French village of Giverny, best known as the home and landscape subject of Claude Monet, is a pre-Roman town known in ancient deeds as Warnacum.

Australian writer Randolph Stow worked as a patrol officer in New Guinea and write in 1979 The Visitants which is set on an island in New Guinea in the 1950s, 2 white Australian officials, accompanied by the Government interpreter visit the Island of Kailuana to investigate the events which lead up to a violent uprising.

Inside All Saints Church, Claverley, Shropshire, is a carving of two dragons nibbling a human head.

In the TV series The Following, the character of Joe Carroll is played by James Purefoy.

Dominican nun Marion Irvine became the then-oldest participant at a U.S. track and field Olympic Trials in 1984, running in the women's marathon trials at the age of 54.

Spinning Around was a hit song from Australian pop-princess Kylie Minogue’s seventh studio album Light Years released on 25 September 2000.

The main ingredient in the Mexican condiment of pico de gallo is the tomato.

The full name of American children’s author and producer R L Stine is Robert Lawrence Stine.

Myrmecia is an insect better known as the Bull Ant with almost all of the approximately 90 species endemic to Australia.

The planet Neptune’s two largest moons are Triton and Nereid.

Quotables 24 May

 

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Friday, May 23, 2014

A Conrad Veidt Moment

 

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Conrad Veidt from the movie “Das Indische Grabmal”, directed by Joe May Berlin, Germany, 1921.

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Trivia Bits 23 May

 

The Rolling Stone magazine, published every two weeks that focuses on politics and popular culture, was founded in San Francisco, California in 1967, by Jann Wenner Ralph J. Gleason.

The 2005 computer game Voyage was based on the writings of science-fiction author Jules Verne.

Apart from India, the Ganges River flows through Bangladesh in its 2,525 km (1,569 mi) journey from the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, into Bangladesh where it empties into the Bay of Bengal.

Set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cold Case is a 2003 - 2010 American police procedural television series that follows Detective Lilly Rush, played by American actress Kathryn Morris, a homicide detective with the Philadelphia Police Department, specializing in "cold cases", or investigations which are no longer being actively pursued by the department.

The two measuring instruments used on the emblem of the Freemasons are the Carpenter’s Square and the Compass.

Australian multi-award winning actress Sigrid Thornton had the leading role as Laura Joy Gibson in the more modern Australian television series SeaChange from 1998 to 2000 which brought her greater Australian audience appeal, as well as the Most Outstanding Actress award in 1999 and 2000.

The medical condition encephalitis affects the brain.

Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado was replaced as President of Cuba by Fidel Castro upon implementation of the Cuban Constitution of 1976.

In 1989 a treaty between the governments of Australia and Indonesia was signed by the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Gareth Evans known as the Timor Gap Treaty which provided for the joint exploitation of petroleum resources in a part of the Timor Sea seabed which were claimed by both Australia and Indonesia.

The last year in which the Australian television music show Countdown was shown was in 1987 and was the most popular music program in Australian TV history with international artists including Madonna, Blondie, ABBA, John Mellencamp, Meat Loaf, Boz Scaggs and Cyndi Lauper achieved their first hits in Australia, thanks to their video clips being aired on Countdown.

Quotables 23 May

 

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Thursday, May 22, 2014

A Connie Stevens Moment

 

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Trivia Bits May 22

 

Euchre is a trick-taking card game most commonly played with four people in two partnerships and thought to have been invented around 1860.

The sport of curling is played on ice and is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard.

Discovered in 1930, Pluto was originally classified as the ninth planet from the Sun and now has minor-planet designation 134340 Pluto and has five known moons: Charon, Nix, Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx.

Musician Paul David Hewson is better known as U2’s Bono.

A Geiger counter measures ionizing radiation and was developed in 1908 by Hans Geiger, under the supervision of Ernest Rutherford at the Victoria University of Manchester (now the University of Manchester).

The Men in Black Trilogy was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.

A maillot is a swimsuit for women generally consists of a tank-style torso top with high-cut legs. However, a maillot may also include a plunging neckline, turtleneck-style top, or revealing cutouts.

In 1986, English New Wave musical group Wang Chung had a hit with the song Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung means "yellow bell" in Mandarin and is the first note in the Chinese classical music scale.

Vern Schuppan was the first South Australian motor racing driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1983.

The disputed Cherokee Strip in Kansas was the result of a boundary conflict between the Osage, Cherokee and United States federal government which lasted from 1854 until 1866.

Quotables 22 May

 

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

A Connie Francis Moment

 

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Trivia Bits 21 May

 

The Bahamas, a country consisting of more than 700 islands, cays, and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, gained independence from the UK on 10 July 1973.

A female moose is called a Cow.

Launched in 2007, Mister Maker is a BBC preschool television series comprising a mixture of animation and real time content and features the colour kids and frame it.

In Greek mythology, Hercules, a son of Zeus, had to undergo the penance of the 12 labours as Hercules slew his six sons and wife and the 12 labours whilst serving King Eurystheus were atonement.

Armoire, credenza and fauteuil are types of furniture – an armoire is a standing wardrobe, a credenza is a central cupboard flanked by symmetrical quadrant glass display cabinets and a fauteuil is an open arm chair.

Homer Simpson said Weaselling out of things is important to learn. It’s what separates us from the animals … except the weasel.

At the beginning of a chess match, a player has eight pawns.

The Cork Opera House in Ireland was built in 1855, burned down in 1955, and rebuilt in 1963.

The Malayan Tapir is the only species of tapir native to Asia where in Malaysia the tapir is commonly referred to as cipan, tenuk or badak tampung.

Eugene Turenne Gregorie was a designer of the 1936 Lincoln-Zephyr, referred to as "the first successfully streamlined car in America". Eugene was also a noted yacht designer.

Quotables 21 May

 

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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A Conchita Montenegro Moment

 

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Trivia Bits 20 May

 

American fashion model and actress Brooklyn Decker married former tennis champion Andy Roddick in 2009.

Liam Payne is best known as a member of the boy band most popular in the 1980s Mr Mister and consisted of Richard Page on vocals and bass guitar, Steve George on keyboards, Pat Mastelotto on acoustic and electronic drums and Steve Farris on guitars.

Remains of a herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur Muttaburrasaurus were found in the Australian state of Queensland in 1963 at Rosebery Downs Station beside Thomson River near Muttaburra, Queensland, Australia.

An arbalest was a late variation of the medieval European crossbow coming into use during the 12th century.

British television police procedural crime drama Waking the Dead, produced by the BBC, features a fictional Cold Case unit composed of CID police officers, a psychological profiler and a forensic scientist first aired in September 2000 with a total of nine series and the final episode aired on 11 April 2011.

Fear of sin is known as peccatiphobia.

Princess Amelia's Battery, Princess Anne's Battery and Princess Caroline's Battery in Gibraltar were named after Amelia, Anne and Caroline, the daughters of King George II of Great Britain.

The Gray Ranks was a codename for the underground paramilitary Scouting Association in Poland during World War II.

BBC television sitcom Dad's Army is a about the Home Guard which consisted of local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service during the Second World War was broadcast from 1968 to 1977.

The 2012 documentary film Stories We Tell was directed by Canadian actress and film director Sarah Polley.

Quotables 20 May

 

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Monday, May 19, 2014

A Colleen Moore Moment

 

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Trivia Bits 19 May

 

In 1928, The Society of Muslim Brothers originated in Egypt founded by Hasan al-Banna and is also often referred to as the Muslim Brotherhood.

King Louis XIV of France was also known as the Sun King.

Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery especially in a setting inspired by industrialized Western civilization during the 19th century.

The Peoples Temple cult was founded by Jim Jones in 1955 and is best known for the events of November 18, 1978, in Guyana, in which 920 people died at the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, informally and now commonly called "Jonestown", and nearby airstrip at Port Kaituma, and Georgetown in an organized mass suicide/killing.

In 2011, United States of America won the inaugural women’s Roller Derby World Cup hosted by Toronto Roller Derby, held December 1 to 4, 2011, at The Bunker at Downsview Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

A Dirndl is a traditional dress worn by women in both Germany and Austria and consists of a bodice, blouse, full skirt and apron.

The two lead actors in the 1991 movie The Fisher King were Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges.

Denim is a rugged cotton twill textile and comes from the name of a sturdy fabric called serge, originally made in Nîmes, France, by the André family.

The official end of World War II in the Pacific area was when the Japanese surrendered on board the US Battleship US Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 02 September 1945.

The Channel Country is mostly found in the outback of the Australian state of Queensland with the name coming from the numerous intertwined rivulets that cross the region, which cover 150,000 km².

Quotables 19 May

 

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Sunday, May 18, 2014

Movie Review ... Godzilla

 

godzilla-poster04Celebrating the 60th anniversary of its first cinematic outing, the ‘Godzilla’ franchise has endured.  Beginning the series with the proverbial ‘man in rubber monster suit’, it has lasted those shaky days to enter the CGI universe.  This latest update is the 2nd American attempt after the disastrous 1998 version.  This 32nd film in the canon which began in Japan is a vast improvement with the ghastly beastie causing massive destruction only Hollywood could provide.

Navy Lieutenant Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is having a very bad day.  Perplexed at the dire warnings of his scientist father Joseph (Bryan Cranston) and Dr. Serizawa (Ken Watanabe), he wonders how bad things can be.  Told that a ferocious monster has risen from the nuclear depths, Ford galvanises the troops.  Battling the monster dubbed ‘Godzilla’ and other quickly materialising creatures Ford tries to save humanity from apocalyptic annihilation.

Part of the series’ charm has been its B-grade sensibilities.  Having a dose of schlock complimenting its action the ‘Godzilla’ films have had huge success.  ‘Godzilla’ 2014-style is very serious and restores the character’s menace.  This makes the battles against fearsome beasties all the more compelling.  It’s a shame this attention to detail wasn’t matched with the human characters.  Whilst Taylor-Johnson makes for a stoic hero, his co-stars have little to do but react to the CGI-fuelled carnage.

Although the CGI swamps anything resembling characterisation it is well utilised.  It doesn’t become a mess like other similar movies and looks suitably dazzling.  Gareth Edwards ensures his direction keeps momentum by crafting a consistently tense atmosphere.  ‘Godzilla’ doesn’t offer any deep meaning but as a monster-mash it works. It sets itself up as an action spectacle and delivers.

Restoring its faded lustre ‘Godzilla’ breathes new life to the series.  Whilst not perfect and overly long, it still entertains with the monsters’ exploits sure to see it endure on silver screens for years to come.

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Movie Review Rating out of 10:  6

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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A Colin Clive Moment

 

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Trivia Bits 18 May

 

The pine-cone lizard is also known as the shingleback which is common throughout eastern Australia. It is known as blue-tongue because its tongue can range from bright to dark blue, and it has a habit of displaying it prominently and hissing loudly when disturbed.

The relative distance of Maskanah, a town in northern Syria, to the Euphrates has varied over the years due to changes in the river's bed.

The legendary dragon features on the Welsh flag.

The literary genre known as Bangsian fantasy sets its action wholly or partially in Hell and is named after early 1900’s American author, editor and satirist John Kendrick Bangs who often wrote in this genre.

Opals were first discovered in the South Australian outback town of Coober Pedy in 1915.

US actor Jake Gyllenhaal played the title role in the 2001 movie Donnie Darko in which he played a psychologically troubled teenager alongside his older sister, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Pago Pago is the capitol of the US territory of American Samoa.

A bronze head once owned by the Roman emperor Augustus was stolen from the Australian National University Classics Museum in December 2004.

The Power of One, published in 1989, was written by Bryce Courtney - a South African novelist who also held Australian citizenship.

The German car manufacturer BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works) and automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916.

The female leads of the 1933, 1976 and 2005 film versions of King Kong are Fay Wray, Jessica Lange and Naomi Watts.

The tissue that lies under the enamel in a tooth is called dentin.

Part of the reason Arthur Dobbs, colonial governor of North Carolina, ordered the construction of Fort Dobbs in 1755 was to protect 200,000 acres of land he owned.

Ryan Air is a budget airline that is based in Ireland.

The word ecology was coined by industrial and environmental chemist Ellen Swallow Richards, the first woman admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1870.

The first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic was Amelia Earhart departing May 20, 1932 from Harbour Grace, after a flight lasting 14 hours, 56 minutes, Earhart landed in a pasture at Culmore, north of Derry, Northern Ireland.

Based on a series of novels by Colin Dexter Inspector Morse is a British detective drama television series, comprising 33 two-hour episodes produced between 1987 and 2000, and starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis.

The acronym CALD stands for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse.

The original King Kong movie starring Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot was released in the US on 7 April 1933 and was directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack.

A fasole dish is based on beans either with other ingredients or as a bean paste.

Quotables 18 May

 

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