Unutterably Silly Quiz

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

4. A book containing no 'e's?
5. First alphabetically arranged dictionary of English?

Yes, both correct.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

$60M?
That does seem extremely excessive, but if he got into a bidding war with the Sultan of Oman or Brunei...

Don't you just hate it when that happens!

No - you were nearer first time.

[Bilbo1967]

A quick quiz about books. All of the below are noteworthy for some reason. Please name the reason (it's a different reason in every case).

1. Something to Answer For by P. H. Newby
2. Not A Wake by Mike Keith
3. Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci - Most expensive book at auction (pdurrant). Bought by Bill Gates (bonus for Kumabjorn)
4. A Void by Georges Perec - A book containing no 'e's (pdurrant)
5. Table Alphabeticall by Robert Cowdrey - First alphabetically arranged dictionary of English (pdurrant)

pdurrant - 3 pts
Kumabjorn - 1 pt

The remaining two are quite tricky, so I'll give you a clue to number 2. It's opening lines are;

Now I fall, a tired suburbian in liquid under the trees,
Drifting alongside forests simmering red in the twilight over Europe

Think numbers!

[Kumabjorn]

Ok, one more guess $35M

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Ok, one more guess $35M

I'll give you it as you have pretty neatly bracketed the actual figure with two of your guesses. It was just over $30M.

pdurrant 3 pts
Kumabjorn 2 pts

[pdurrant]

2. The lengths of the words in the book give the decimal expansion of pi.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

I'll give you it as you have pretty neatly bracketed the actual figure with two of your guesses. It was just over $30M.

pdurrant 3 pts
Kumabjorn 2 pts

Thank you, but that is just an amazing number. I wonder how it compares with rare stamps or art.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

2. The lengths of the words in the book give the decimal expansion of pi.

Yes they do, the passage quoted gives 3.14159265358979323846 and the full work goes up to 10000 digits.

pdurrant 4 pts
Kumabjorn 2 pts

The remaining one is a first (i.e. it was the first book to do something).

pdurrant has an unassailable lead in any case, so over to him whenever he wants to.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Thank you, but that is just an amazing number. I wonder how it compares with rare stamps or art.

Just a quick Google shows me that the most expensive stamp (a Swedish Treskilling Yellow, if you're interested) sold for probably about $5M a few years ago.

The most expensive artworks are well over $100M.

I think I'll stick to modern prints!

[pdurrant]

OK, some general dance knowledge.

1. Scottish Country Dances are usually one of three different kinds. Name the kinds.
HomeInMyShoes: Jig, Reel
2. In American Contra Dancing, what is the usual dance formation?
3. Name as many different Ballroom (including Latin) dances as you can. (There are so many, only 1/2 point each for these.)
HomeInMyShoes: salsa, waltz, foxtrot, jive, tango, paso doble, samba, quickstep, Vienese Waltz
4. Name four steps using in English Country Dancing.

HomeInMyShoes: 6.5 points

At least 6.5 points left to get.

[HomeInMyShoes]

1. Reels, jigs, and ummm...no idea
2. line?
3. salsa, waltz, foxtrot, jive, tango, paso doble, samba, quickstep

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

1. Reels, jigs, and ummm...no idea
2. line?
3. salsa, waltz, foxtrot, jive, tango, paso doble, samba, quickstep

Yes to Reels and Jigs. One more to get.
No to line.
Yes to salsa, waltz, foxtrot, jive, tango, paso doble, samba, quickstep

Six points to HomeInMyShoes. That's going to be a hard lead to catch, but it is possible.

[HomeInMyShoes]

I watched too much Dancing with the Stars.

I should know the third Scottish one, but it's a blank this morning. Havig lived in Newfoundland was handy for that one.

3. Viennese waltz?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

3. Viennese waltz?

Yes, that's counted as distinct from the Waltz. Another half point to you.

[Bilbo1967]

Just to tidy things up and in case anybody is wondering, the answer to;

1. Something to Answer For by P. H. Newby

is that it was the first book to win the Booker Prize (in 1969).