Results

Albert - for many the form team in the run up to Christmas - came close but in the end just failed against the Fifth Finger juggernaut.

Kieran informs me, by the way, that FF wish to change their name to "Three Mad Dogs and a Cherry".  For the sake of clarity I have decided to postpone the redubbing (at least on the website) until the end of the season.  Or, if FF insist, they can have their new name but take a penalty of, say, 10 points?  What do you think?

History Men kept up their challenge with a comfortable win over St Caths.

Ethel Rodin went down at home to the resurgent swine from Electric Pigs. 

X-Pats edged to a home win over Snoopy's Friends at the Sun in September.

Albert Park were up with the pace until half time, but then fell away badly against top team, FCEK.

The Paper

This week the paper came from my own team, the Opsimaths.  Since I did the lion's share of setting, and all the editing, I am hardly in a position to pass judgement - so I include more than the usual amount of comments from your emails below.

As the paper's introductory notes indicated, I tried to please a number of tastes.  By being explicit about the questions I knew would take some teams a while to ponder - and by pigeon-holing them to Round 4 - I attempted to take the wind out of the sails of those who demand 100% snappiness.  Nevertheless, I hope that the whole paper didn't take too long for those that want some "drink and chat" time after their Wednesday evening interrogation.  On the vexed subject of themed rounds, I kept them down to 2 - and I ensured the links were clear from the start.  Hopefully this pleased both camps.

Gary writes from the sty....

"General consensus about the quiz was that it was pretty good.

More polarised views on the final round, however.  Some people (me) thought the link to names that had occurred in previous rounds, was too contrived.  Perhaps the round should have been titled 'Have You Been Paying Attention?'.  If you passed that test of memory, and, without having the slightest idea what Irving Berlin looked like, who else was the Irving Berlin picture ever going to be?  And, to immediately prove myself wrong, I have to tell you that ER actually came up with another name (can't remember it), so presumably there was more than just the one likely option.  But only 2, I suspect.

Andrew liked the link of that round back into the previous rounds.  In fact he was gushing (put it down to the Robbies).  And when he saw the effort that had gone into the graphics presentation on the QM's pages themselves (e.g. miniature versions of the pictures in the final round), well, I think he would have had your babies.

These are the views of the EP jury.  No doubt Roz will be sending you chapters and verses on ER's views.  Good luck."

Victorious FCEKer, Daman, writes....

"I thought it was an excellent and well balanced quiz of the classic 'bit of something for everybody' variety.  I quite liked the American presidents' theme round although I kicked myself for failing to connect Bush with Bushmills, and thus incurred the wrath of the good Father who ,as you know, is a dedicated devotee of the water of life!

I especially liked the question about what the crowds in St. Peter's Square shouted when the late Pope died.  Unfortunately my knowledge of the Catholic scene is a little better than my knowledge of Italian and the best I could come up with was, 'Santo Pronto'.  I guess Papa Ratzinger may have misheard the cry as 'Santa Subito' - hence his appearance recently wearing a lovely red, fur trimmed cap!  I'm sure the kids loved it but I am beginning to be concerned that evidence of sensory malfunction among prominent Catholic clerics is reaching all the way to the top!"

and Kieran writes...

"...the picture round, revisiting people who had already appeared in the quiz, was a great idea. We would never have got Gilbert Harding or Alan Johnson if they'd just been asked straight.

 

On an unfortunate note, the Albert scuffed a chance to beat us.  Evelyn, film buff, had the last question in the Around the World round and answered The Philadelphia Story.  The points were awarded to her initially but I'm afraid we objected because of the closeness of the game and the fact that it was a completely different film.  We got the pass over and to their credit Albert didn't moan.  I felt sorry for Evelyn but we've all done it.  A couple of weeks ago I confidently answered that Campbell Bannerman was the first Liberal Prime Minister.  Gladstone anyone?  Never mind whoever it was that was the correct answer.".

Question of the Week

The vote this week (courtesy of John and the X-Pats) goes to Round 4 Q4:

The titles of 6 Dickens novels contain the full name of a person (i.e. forename and surname next to each other).  What are these names?

Click here to see the answers to this and the rest of the week's questions and answers