The all new, revised and easier quiz! (mod note posts 1 and 2042)

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Well done FrKurtFahrt, 1929 is correct! Your turn to give us a question.

Thank you

What was the first man-made object to break the sound barrier?

BrensBenz wrote: »

So, Rubes got "whip", then I got Jags so it's my turn?

OK, a two-part question about ladybirds:
Why "lady"?
Why "bird"?

Yes, I know that Yanks call them ladybugs, but "we" don't!

Janey Mac, the silence is deafening. Would it help if you knew that the German for ladybird is "Marienkäfer" and that "käfer" is "beetle"?

Samaris wrote: »

Ah, Marian! It's the Lady's Bird, the scarlet referring to the cloak that Mary used to be shown wearing in ..I dunno what period, Renaissance or pre-renaissance. Oh, and the spots! The spots refer to the seven sorrows/seven joys.

I'm not sure about why "bird" precisely though.

OK, you're on your way. But why is it named after Mary? And why is it a "bird" rather than a beetle or bug?

Interesting! I was not aware of any connection between Mary and red cloaks though? Not that I am a Marian scholar by any means!

You know, I've been thinking about this all night (medication takes a while to kick in) and I think I probably should withdraw this question.

The actual answer in my head is from an ancient English legend from a time when all events had religious connotations, particularly among farmers and fishermen. They would pray to certain saints for a good crop or catch. According to the legend, fado fado, just before their crops were ready for harvest, swarms of aphids arrived. There was a danger that the entire crop would be lost - it had happened before - and, on those occasions, the saints did not deliver the desired result. Panic spread through the villages and they decided to pray to Mary this time. Well, next morning, swarms of ladybirds had arrived and were munching on the aphids. The crops were saved!

In return for this, the locals renamed "that red beetle" the "lady" beetle. But, somehow, the "beetle" part didn't seem appropriate so they called it a "bird" instead. So the ladybird was born and that name spread throughout the country and even into mainland Europe - hence Marienkäfer and similar names around Europe.

Of course, this is pure legend, as is the dark spots representing sorrows. The ladybird in its current livery was living, probably for millions of years before Mary. Aphids and ladybirds arrive at more or less the same time every year, whether prayed for or not, and aphids are the ladybirds' favourite food.

And I think the change of colour of Mary's cloak from "Mother Mary blue" to red had more to do with the cost of paints than anything else. The artist would use the most expensive paints on the most important subjects. Interestingly, the statues of Mary in most of the churches I've visited (admittedly not very many) had blue rather than red cloaks or shawls.

This legend is only one of many similar but subtly different legends, all unprovable, so there is no definitive answer and therefore I shouldn't have set the question before checking other possibilities.

I'll come quietly - no need for cuffs - top of the world, ma!

Will I set another question or should I cower on the naughty step for a while?

I have just learned so much !!!!!

Oh, that's interesting about the aphids etc! I knew the Mary connection, but I was still fairly far out - ask us another and we'll have another shot, Brens

BrensBenz wrote: »

OK, a question with just one answer....but beware - it's a little sneaky!

What was the world's first airline called?

The bewk that told me this fact included the words "...first airline in revenue service" which, I assume means fares were charged, profits were made, etc. However, the sneaky bit is not there.

Your going to tell me its not KLM right ?

MsGiggles wrote: »

I have just learned so much !!!!!

Well, not really. We make this stuff up as we go along so that passers-by will think "oh, how clever these oulwans and oulfellas are."

The really important questions, like "Why are we here; What is art; Where (and why) are the teabags hidden", etc. will never be answered here.

MsGiggles wrote: »

Your going to tell me its not KLM right ?

Right. It's not KLM. They are the oldest still in operation but not the first.

OldGoat wrote: »

Montgolfier Air - French balloonatics.

No, but not too far out! The problem with Mongolfier Air was that they knew the departure point but could only guess the destination. The market was not terribly impressed with these mystery tours.

BrensBenz wrote: »

No, but not too far out!

AHA! Zeppelin Air - German explosive helium balloonatics.