RI Quiz

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: GUEST,fox4zero
Date: 07 Aug 03 - 01:18 AM

Greg
Block Island is well populated by bars. The island measures 3 1/2 miles wide and 7 miles long. It is lovingly described as "pork-chop" shaped. Summer population numbers about 3000-5000 souls, and about 500 in winter (mostly without souls). Winter census is carried out on Ground Hog Day in one of the pubs, where everyone is supposed to be counted, in addition to the usual pub activities.

There are at least 3 or 4 "clubs" that have musical entertainment during the summer season. After November the main entertainments are alcoholism, wife-swapping and suicide.

We are also famous for moving an enormous brick lighthouse 150 feet away from the crumbling cliffs, about 4 years ago. Lighthouse buffs
(nuts) came from as far away as Australia to witness the excitment (which gives you a clue as to the limited entertainment in Oz). The move was planned by special engineers and was supposed to be moved a few feet at a time on RR tracks and rollers. But one night free beer was being handed out at Capt. Nick's, and one thing led to another and everyone pitched in and moved her in one push.

If you send me a P.M. with your snail mail address, I'll send you the usual chamber of commerce info and maybe I can find out who books for the Island. The Empire movie theater has live piano before each showing (for whom the hat is passed..the pianisthappens to be Leroy Anderson's grandson).

Jests aside this is a beautiful place, especially in Sept-Oct. The Manasee Indians called it the Island of the Gods. Well we sure taught them a thing or two about that sort of blasphemy...wiped them out in short order!

Night, Larry

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Aug 03 - 02:49 PM

Have you got a bar on Block Island?Is it big enough for that?
   The reason I ask is has been my ambition for some time to play a gig with the Boat Band on every island in the British Isles(including Ireland, opinions differ on the name British Isles). As it is opinions differ when counting islands (some rocks are pretty small, and one sheep isnt enough), the working definition we use is "a bit of land surrounded by sea containing licensed premises, or somebody with a house with a barn for a gig). Now, this ambition will shortly be realised, so we must cast our net wider. Perhaps we should tackle America. So, how will Block island suit, as a starter?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: fox4zero
Date: 06 Aug 03 - 02:20 PM

Greg and Jeri
Was quoting a pre-1959 song called "Poor Little RI"...smallest of the 48. Fewer potential rhymes with FIFTY than with EIGHT.

Islanders occasionally get to the mainland by stowing away on a rum-runner or a dragger. The smell of the former is considerably better than that of the latter, but the risk of a fishing boat being searched by the sensitive nose of the Coast Guard is far less.

There is one radio transmission tower here (about 150 yards from my house) which precludes receiving any outside stations. Frankly, news from the outside is of little interest here. However, word of this place has spread and it is changing like many other secret places in the world.

[sigh!] Larry

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 08:30 PM

Well, I read the quiz late, got one right away and felt rather proud of myself. Figured I could work on the ones no one had gotten. HA! Snuffy is simply far too dangerous!

I think Larry's quoting someone who spoke when there were only 48 states. At least I hope so. Either that or Canada snuck in here while we were getting a drink out of the fridge and grabbed a couple states.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 06:13 PM

yes I wondered about that,Nigel. Maybe there's some sort of news embargo and the papers dont get to this Block Island place.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 05:05 PM

Larry:
If you do eventually get to the Mainland you'll find you're no longer "Poor little RI, the smallest of the 48", they've picked up a couple more in the last century

Nigel

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 02:35 PM

Are you still not allowed to go to the mainland? or perhaps nobody wants to?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: fox4zero
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 02:29 PM

Greg

No disrespect perceived.

While my original note above was in jest, there is some basis for the
Block Island (RI) and UK connection.

During the War of 1812, the USN was unable to protect the entire eastern coastline against those "big bullies" of the RN. Both British and US warships "called" at Block Island for fresh water, meat and strong spirits, consequently the Island was declared neutral territory by the US Congress, and Islanders were not permitted to go to the the mainland. In the aftermath of our stunning victory, Block Island was NEVER SUBSEQUENTLY RE-ANNEXED!!, which is the basis for all loyal Block Islanders refusing to pay federal taxes, nor take any responsibility for the current federal administration.

Larry

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 02:05 PM

Well the thing is Larry, I set a quiz a while ago called RB Quiz, The linking theme being all the answers were placenames on the coast of Britain, going round clockwise.And there is a programme on the radio called Round Britain Quiz. But I didnt want to give the game away too easily what the theme was. And then I did the same for America(the continent) and called it RA Quiz. Which is why I called this current one RI Quiz.
    Of course I intended no direspect to the tiny little afterthought of a state you live in,which is in any case too small to find on any map I own,so I've no idea where it is, or even if it exists. Though come to think of it I believe you have a famous chicken.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: fox4zero
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 01:57 PM

I don't see any connections between any of these places and "Poor little RI, the smallest of the 48"

Baffled on Block Island (BI,RI}

Larry

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 02:18 PM

I ask the questions on this thread. Start your own, Noreen!!!!

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 02:15 PM

But who was Millicent?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 01:56 PM

PS additional info: The Belfast Hornpipe, aka Sweep's, and Millicent's Favourite, is also Millicent's Fancy, and also one of the seven(I think) different tunes called Manchester Hornpipe.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 01:52 PM

OK well done everyone, thanks for taking part. Snuffy, PM me your address. Again. And I do believe I've sent you a prize for a previous quiz, so you'ld better tell me what you already own in the way of Boat Band CDs!

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 01:21 PM

Just re-designing some database reports - nothing serious

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 12:19 PM

Not too busy today, Snuffy?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 12:07 PM

Can we go back to work now?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 12:03 PM

Oh! I've learned something.

18: Belfast.
Millicent's Favourite is another name for the Belfast Hornpipe (aka Sweep's Hornpipe).

Thanks to JC's ABC tunefinder, as ever!

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:58 AM

There are 5 versions of Millicent's Favourite, (a hornpipe) at JC's tunefinder, but that gets me no nearer a place

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:41 AM

Hi Dave, beat you by 4 minutes :0)

Thanks for joining in the last verse!

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:40 AM

Noreen;correct on the Galway allusion,as I would expect from a seasoned quizzer.
   Well, I rather thought Millicent's favourite place might cause a bit of head scratching. Everyone will have assumed correctly that the answer is to be found somewhere between Carrickfergus and County Down, on the Irish coast. No mention of Millicent will be found on the map however. We have had a reel in Q14, but you might care to explore another kind of tune, possibly named after a place between Carrickfergus and Co Down?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:38 AM

I think the Galway reference is the song "Galway Bay":

You will sit and watch the moon rise over Cladagh
And see the sun go down on Galway Bay.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:37 AM

(Yes i'd seen the lines implied, but not the Count).

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:36 AM

altogether now:

On Gal - way Bayyyyyyyyy.....

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:34 AM

OK Snuffy, I'll let you have this one :0)


greg:
You will sit and watch the moon rise over Claddagh,
And watch the sun go down on Galway Bay

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:30 AM

Well, Snuffy did refer to the song's allusions to clues 13 and 20 actually(also clues6 and 16). The two lines, of course, being one from Bantry Bay to Derry Quay, and the other from Galway to Dublin Town.
Though the actual q13 was "Good place for viwing lunar and solar events". Galway has been identified as the answer from other considerations, but no-one has said what the clue alludes to.
    Which just leaves Q18, Millicent's favourite place. Any takers?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:30 AM

Millicent doesn't ring any bells- even with the map nothing springs to mind. Millicent Martin? Millie? Milly Molly Mandy?

It's Mary not Millie in The Mountains of Mourne, isn't it.

Give us a clue... ?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:27 AM

Makes a change for me to get there before you, Noreen. You've usually snaffled up all the goodies long before I arrive.

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:21 AM

You may be pleased to know that I sang through both verses of the Rose of Tralee, looking for a 'sweet-smelling' reference and not finding it, before I realised it was in the title.

Do I get extra points for knowing all the words? S'pose not, and anyway Snuffy would get the points too.

No reference made to the Count's line in 13 & 20: would it be Count John McCormack (made a papal count in 1928) who was known for singing the Star of the County Down (amongst other things)?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:19 AM

Hi Noreen. Well, sa youve noticed, Snuffy's got in before you and pretty much cleaned them all up. I think number 18 has still eluded everybody, though, unless I've missed an answer.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:05 AM

Oh, Sligo Maid also played by some young whippersnapper upstart called Michael Coleman who stratched about on the fiddle a bit, of course.

Now has a country named after him, I believe...

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:57 AM

Aaaagh! Snuffy got here before me!

14 is Sligo Maid, very popular session tune in A minor.

Brill quiz, as ever, greg. Didn't see you in Beverley yesterday...

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:33 AM

Limerick

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:33 AM

What is your precise answer,Snuffy?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:32 AM

10 Would the old fellow be Edward Lear, perchance?

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:28 AM

Correctimundo,Snuffy. Which, of course, puts Cobh in the correct sequence.
10,14 and 18 still to do.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:26 AM

Keep forgetting the "real" Baltimore is in Ireland:

"The Flying Cloud, the pride of Baltimore,"

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:04 AM

Snuffy:Tramore is wrong.As you point out, the Ocean Queen came from Tramore. But so what?? And do check the preamble to the questions.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:01 AM

4. I shipped on board of The Ocean Queen belonging to Tramore

Isn't the Holy ground reputedly at Cobh? But that's out of sequence.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:00 AM

Well   each part is played twice, making the 48 bars of the clue, just to explain the clue in full.

Revised update, actually the unanswered questions are 3,4,10,14 and 18.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:56 AM

Dingle Regatta (in three parts A+B+C=24 bars)

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:48 AM

Roger the Skiffler: your answer is absolutely 100% correct, but alas doesnt earn you any points.No, it is not Toronto.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:46 AM

Helpful update.
Not answered so far: 3,4,10,18.
The allusion in 10 is not as obviously musical as the rest.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:44 AM

So 4 isn't Toronto then....

RtS

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:43 AM

Snuffy:P excellent, and your position might well be unassaible,unless I award a lot of bonus points for obscure allusions. For example, you give no allusion for q7, Dingle. You've got to tell me why it is Dingle before I tell you if youre right or not. And the musical allusion in Q13 is not actually the Star of the County Down.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:29 AM

Missed the allusions

1. Dublin in the rare old times
2. Boys of Wexford
3.
4. Tramore
5. Skibbereen
6. Bantry bay (SotCD)
7. Dingle
8. Rose of Tralee
9. Cliffs of Doneen
10.
11. Kilrush -Cliffs of Doneen
12. Kilkee - Cliffs of Doneen
13. Galway (SotCD)
14.
15. Mary of Dungloe
16. Derry Quay (SotCD)
17. I wish I was in Carrickfergus
18.
19. Bannbridge town in the county down
20. Dublin (SotCD)

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:23 AM

Lots of guesses here, Greg

1. Dublin
2. Wexford
3.
4. Tramore
5. Skibbereen
6. Bantry
7. Dingle
8. Tralee
9. Doneen
10.
11. Kilrush
12. Kilkee
13. Galway
14.
15. Dungloe
16. Derry
17. Carrickfergus
18.
19. Bannbridge
20. Dublin

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:19 AM

17 is definitely not the "Rocks of Bawn".

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:16 AM

Rapaire: Correct on Skibbereen and Star of the County Down. Wrong on Dingle for reasons I will not explain at this stage.
Re Holy Ground: I used the word "reputed" advisedly. But I think there is only one well known contender which fits the theme of this quiz.

Subject: RE: RI Quiz
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:14 AM

Forgot:

17. Rocks of Bawn.