Quiz, Trivia And Fun Blog

It has been an interesting and eventful year in 2008 which has mostly been dominated by negative events like terrorism &  economic downturn. Here are some important events that marked the year 2008 -

• Financial crisis triggered by the US sub-prime mortgage meltdown engulfs economies. Stock markets plummet, banks fail and business takes a hit globally. Many governments intervene with bailout and stimulus packages to contain the slowdown.
• Barack Obama elected first African-American president as racial barrier falls.
• Drug violence in Mexico peaked during the year leaving 5400 dead.
• In Cuba, an ailing Fidel Castro hands over power to his brother Raul after nearly 50 years in power.
• In Colombia, former Presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, held captive for over 6 years by rebels, freed along with 14 other hostages.
• In Kenya, postal election violence leave more than 1000 people dead.
• In Democratic Republic of Congo, refugee crisis worsens as fighting escalates between rebels and government forces.
• In Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe sworn in as President for a sixth term after an election marred by controversy.
• In South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe chosen as President after Thabo Mbeki steps down.
• In Russia, Putin’s chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, elected President and Putin becomes Prime Minister.
• In Georgia, Russian military offensive to evict Georgian forces from break-away region of South Ossetia.
• Kosovo declare independence.
• Large Hadron Collider experiments begin to unravel mysteries of the universe at Swiss-French border.
• Crisis flares up as over 300 are killed as Israel strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza strip.
• US President George Bush ducks shows thrown at him by a journalist during a visit to Iraq.
• Somalian pirates held shipping to ransom. Attack reached a record high.
• In Afghanistan, violence continues as tool rises.
• President Pervez Musharraf steps down to avoid impeachment as Asif Ali Zardari takes over.
• In Nepal, Monarchy is abolished and Prachanda, the communist revolutionary leader becomes the first Prime Minister of the republic of Nepal.
• In Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck crowned as new king.
• Earthquake in Sichuan province, China leaves over 80,000 dead.
• OlympicGames held in Beijing with the host nation winning maximum number of gold medals. Michael Phelps wins a record eight gold medals.
• Taro Aso replaces Yasuo Fukuda as Prime Minister of Japan.
• Cyclone Nargis causes widespread devastation claiming over 100,000 lives in Myanmar.
• Landslide victory for Sheikh Hasina led alliance in parliamentary pools in Bangladesh.
• Mumbai terror attacks leave oabout 164 people dead and over 300 injured in India.
• Mohamed Nasheed takes over as President of Maldives ending 30-year reign of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

It has been quite long since we updated this blog. But here are some very interesting yet not so famous quotes!

• “If you want to succeed in the world, you must make your own opportunities as you go.” – John B. Gough

• “When people are bored, it is primarily with their own selves that they are bored.” – Jules Renard

• “All times are beautiful for those who maintain joy within them; but there is no happy or favorable time for those with disconsolate or orphaned souls.” – Rosalia Castro

• “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “If a man wants his dreams to come true, he must wake up!” - Anonymous

• “Blame yourself if you have no branches or leaves; don’t accuse the sun for partiality.” – Chinese Proverb

• “The man who can not believe in himself, can not believe in anything else.” – Roy L. Smith

• “For they conquer who believe they can.” – John Dryden

• “Fear is the most damnable, damaging thing to human personality in the whole world.” – William Faulkner

• “He that fears not the future may enjoy the present.” – Thomas Fuller

• “The great virtue in life is real courage that knows how to face facts and live beyond them.” – D. H. Lawrence

• “Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and of true progress.” – Nicholas Murray Butler

It happened in 14th Century

• 1302 – Romeo and Juliet marry in Shakespeare’s play. They are 14.

• 1314 – Soccer is banned in England because its too violent.

• 1350 – The Aztecs brew up the world’s first drinking chocolate.

• 1360 – The Leaning Tower of Pisa is finished.

• 1380 – The Bible is translated into English by John Wycliffe! He works into the net year to finish his hand written manuscript.

• 1387 – Chaucer publishes his “Canterbury Tales”.

Are you going on a date on Valentines Day? Are you looking to impress your date but don’t know how to convey your feelings to her? Here are some quotes that will help you -

• Had we but world enough, and

time,

      This coyness, lady, were no

      crime……

      An hundred years should go to

      praise

      Thine eyes, and on thy forehead

      gaze;

      Two hundred to to adore each

      breast,

      But thirty thousand to the rest;

An age at least at to every part,

And the last age should show

your heart.

-         From Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”

• Do you think after we’ve dried off, after we’ve spent lots more time together you might agree not to marry me? And do you think not being married to me might maybe something you could consider doing for the rest of your life?

-         Charles (Hugh Grant) finally (not) proposing to Carrie (Andie MacDowell) in “Four Weddings and a Funeral”

• Baby I would climb the Andes solely

To count the freckles on your body

Never could imagine there were only

Ten million ways to love somebody…….

-         “Whenever Wherever” by Shakira

• You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful…

-         “You’re beautiful” by James Blunt

• ….I want to do to you what spring does with cherry trees

-         Pablo Neruda’s “20 Love Poems and a Song of Despair”

• Your laugh is a sudden silvery wave…Your smile spreads like a butterfly.

- Mario Rouppolo who borrows Neruda’s words to woo his beloved Beatrice and is overwhelmed by the power of the metaphor, in “II Postino”.

As promised- here are the answers to questions that we put couple of days back.

Answers –

1. Pride and Prejudice
2. Harry Houdini
3. Bhutan
4. Fear of spelling mistakes
5. Antarctica
6. Enid Blyton
7. Bahrain
8. King cobra
9. Charles Chaplin
10. Ganymede

Dear visitors – here we go again with another set of 10 questionnaires. Please stop for few seconds, think for few seconds and give us the answers (that you know) through comments.

1. Which work did Jane Austen describe as her “own darling child”?

2. Which Budapest born magician was also known as “king of cards” and “the handcuff king”?

3. Ngultrum is the official currency of which country?

4. Ortographobia is a fear of what?

5. Vinson Massif is the highest point of which continent?

6. Which British author wrote a book of poems titled “Child Whispers”?

7. Which Middle-eastern country’s Arabic name means “two seas”?

8. Which is the only snake in the world that builds a nest for its eggs?

9. In 1925, which Hollywood actor was the first to appear on the cover of Time magazine?

10. Which is the largest natural satellite in the solar system?

As usual with our endeavor to provide quality information to our visitors, we will publish all the correct answer in the next 72 hours. In the meantime – we will request you to try out some answers.