More penguin madness

Hat tip to Nat for this marvellously insane animation of a squirrel and a penguin in a banjo duel. Things get a bit weird.....

I'm making up for a lack of penguin related nonsense over the last few months. In a blog entitled 9/10ths Full of Penguins, this distressing lack of penguin content has bothered me for a while. Normal wibbling service will be resumed shortly...

Movies
Die Hard 2 ****
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix ****
1408 **
Indiana Jones & the Raiders of the Lost Ark *****

*Answers to the last quiz rounds can now be found in the comments on this post

Quiztastic Vol 2

....and there was much rejoicing!!

I have finally finished the most boring essay in the world... so to (um) celebrate here is, as promised to Sarah, the rest of the Penguins/Fat Roland/Dan quiz.

General Knowledge:

1) Who was England's leading wicket taker in the disastrous Ashes series?

2) Name the politician who disturbed the nation in last year's 'Sleb BB by pretending to be a cat?

3) In which of the world's deserts can temperatures reach over 50oC in summer and -40oC in the winter? Gobi, Sahara or Egypt's White Desert.

4) The Vatican is planning to stage an opera based in which classic medieval poem?

5) What is the name of BBC Three's Dr Who spinoff?

6) Which programme had the highest ratings on terrestrial TV this Christmas?

7) Which of the following film sequels is not being released in 2007? Spiderman 3, Die Hard 4, Rocky 6 or Indiana Jones 4.

8) Which band did Radio 2 listeners crown the greatest British band of all time?

9) Its far too long to type out Q9 - so I'll just give you the answer..."I'm the Bishop of Southwark, its what I do"

10) Which UK airport was struggling with a literal lost luggage mountain?

Music

(by Dan, who's got some class, so the pleb questions in here were added by Eyan & I on the night, they are not his fault!)

1) a)Name the opera that was staged a La Scale in Milan in December

b) Name the composer of this opera?

2) a) How much did it cost to build the Bridgewater Hall? 32, 42 or 52 million quid

b) How many performances are held in it each year? Over 250, 300 or 350?

c) How many Steinway Grand pianos does it have? 2,4 or 6?

d) It also boasts a 'Bourdan 16 footer' outside the swell, which is 30% tin. What is this?

3) What was the Christmas No 1?

4) The Beatles featured 7 times in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 500 most influential songs.

Name them.

5) What improbably named singer was born in India as Arnold George Dorsey?

6) Name this year's X Factor runner up?

7) What was the biggest selling single of 2006?

8) Which instrument links the following performers?

a) Julian Bream, John Williams, Slash

b) Nigel Kennedy, Vanessa Mae, Nicola Bendetti

c) Yo Yo Ma, Jacqueline DuPre, Julian Lloyd Webber

9) Music from films. Name the film that famously feat. the following music:

a) Barber's Adagio for Strings

b) Beethoven's Symphony No 9

c) Strauss' Blue Danube

d) Maria McKee's Take my Breath Away

10) Name 2 songs from Gershwins opera Porgy & Bess?

Phew lots of text....have a psychotic penguin

The answers for the picture round in Quiztastic Vol 1 are buried in the comments!

Dancing Penguin

Check out the penguin "havin' it large"

Makes me chuckle every time!

The 9/10ths Full of Penguins Review of the Year

It seems to me that just about everything and everyone is doing their 'review of the year' or their 'annual awards' at the moment. I felt that I may as well jump on the bandwagon and bore you with my best and worst things of the year.

Worst Moment

2006 has been a difficult year for me. It didn't start very well as I separated from my wife in January. This led to me having to reassess my whole life; where I was going, what I was doing, even to a certain extent who I was. It was a hugely painful time and in some ways I still miss her. However, our decision was mutual and both of us are much happier apart than we were together, although that doesn't mean it didn't hurt.

Best Moment

One of the things that arose from the situation above was a reconsidering of my career choices. I decided to apply for teacher training, got accepted and started my PGCE course in September. Its not easy, but I love teaching and so far have done very well. My best moment was a very simple thing. I was sitting at the staffroom work-table in my placement school writing up lesson plans and unbeknowst to myself I was humming. A teacher walked past and said that I sounded very chirpy for a man doing his paperwork. Without really thinking about it, I replied that it was because I was happy. On reflection I realised that I was indeed very happy with my life at the moment, which has made me understand that sometimes good things can come out of a difficult time.

Best TV

Probably the best TV series I've seen this year has been the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. It may seem geeky, but the Guardian recently crowned it the year's best contemporary political drama, which is in no way a joke. I've watched the whole of the first 2 seasons and am currently part way through the latest series. It is one of the darkest TV programmes I have ever seen, the last remnants of the human race battle for survival amid political corruption, military coups, terrorism, torture, suicide bombers and plans for genocide. Good sci-fi always reflects the present and if any fiction programme highlights the cost of US & UK foreign policy round the world this year better than Battlestar, I have yet to see it.

Honourable mentions also go to Planet Earth, Spooks, Top Gear, Torchwood & American Dad.

Dishonourable mentions go to the re-imagined Robin Hood, all the 'reality' shows (on principle, I luckily avoided watching any of them), ITV in general.

Best Film

Good Night & Good Luck

Also: Children of Men, Severance, United 93, The Departed

Worst Film

Crank

Also: World Trade Center

Best Book

Terry Pratchett - Thud!

I know its not highbrow, but it was the book I read this year that I loved the most. For something more intelligent, I read Ann Wroe's book on Pontius Pilate.

Best Album

Vices - Dead Poetic

Also: Muse - Black Holes & Revelations

Best News Story

A late entry, this great story. " I'm the Bishop of Southwark, its what I do" Genius!

Best Penguin Related Incident

Piglet the Stolen Penguin

Ah Bless

Worst Penguin Related Incident

The continuing hijacking of the noble penguin by the Christian Right in America for political/religious propaganda with the dull as dishwater March of the Penguins. Penguins are not a Christian allegory, they are birds, they do not have morals! If you really must bring God into it, use them as just one more example of how wondrous this gift of our planet is. They are not a heartwarming model for life showcasing the moral high ground! Honestly....

Sorry, got carried away. Anyway, that was my 2006, roll on 2007....

Merry Christmas!

Fluffy Penguin of Death

Following on from Nat's fluffy penguin. Fats of electronica fiddlyness fame (who clearly has far too much time on his hands - obviously he needs more gigs), created this evil penguin of death. Fear him all ye who enter here....