Questions you've always wanted answered

[Marc Meakin]

Why is Vanilla extract £7 in one supermarket and 60p in another (for the same quantity)?

Same quality?
Madagascar vanilla is more expensive (yes I work for Waitrose)

[Adam Gillard]

Why is Vanilla extract £7 in one supermarket and 60p in another (for the same quantity)?

Same quality?
Madagascar vanilla is more expensive (yes I work for Waitrose)

The 60p one was Madagascan. I just can't comprehend that the quality would be so different to warrant such a vast difference in price. Invariably you don't use more than a teaspoon of it at a time anyway.

[Mark James]

So, gears on a bicycle. I have an 18 speed bike. Who are gears 1 to 15 for?

I was trying out a new bike yesterday and it was in 1st gear and I thought the chain had fallen off it was so loose.

[Ian Volante]

So, gears on a bicycle. I have an 18 speed bike. Who are gears 1 to 15 for?

I was trying out a new bike yesterday and it was in 1st gear and I thought the chain had fallen off it was so loose.

I've got 21, and I usually just stay on the top five or so on the top big cog (3-3 to 3-7). But for longer/steeper drags I will drop right down sometimes to 1-2 or 1-3. Middle cog usually gets used for windy days when it's a long-term slog.

[Gavin Chipper]

I'm not sure how you even number gears like that? Presumably it's 3 sets of 6. My bike that hasn't been used for years has 21 (like Ian) - 3 lots of 7 - and I always just used the highest gear ratio on the front cog, so the 7 gears that lead to the highest gear of all. But I'd use all 7 of these. You start in a lower gear to accelerate or go up a hill.

But it depends on your bike. You might have shit gear ratios.

[Mark James]

What is up with burial/cremation costs? Shouldn't it be free, or at least state funded? Isn't it in society's interest that we dispose of dead bodies in an appropriate manner? What happens to bodies when there is no next of kin to cover funeral costs? What if you are next of kin but didn't like the now dead person? Are you expected to pay if the dead person didn't leave money behind?

Also, why do people care so much about how they are buried or what their funeral would be like. I don't think I'd want one. Ok, I suppose I would prefer burial to cremation but just bung me in any old hole in the ground to decompose. I don't even need a coffin.

[Marc Meakin]

What is up with burial/cremation costs? Shouldn't it be free, or at least state funded? Isn't it in society's interest that we dispose of dead bodies in an appropriate manner? What happens to bodies when there is no next of kin to cover funeral costs? What if you are next of kin but didn't like the now dead person? Are you expected to pay if the dead person didn't leave money behind?

Also, why do people care so much about how they are buried or what their funeral would be like. I don't think I'd want one. Ok, I suppose I would prefer burial to cremation but just bung me in any old hole in the ground to decompose. I don't even need a coffin.

Bury me at sea, chuck me off the Woolwich ferry.
But seriously, its the same as weddings, unnecessary expense that are usually because of religion or convention.
There should be a fund provided from your taxes so you get the basic cremation package as a right and everything else you pay for

[Gavin Chipper]

I think we're all in agreement on this.

[Fiona T]

What is the volume of human ashes (say a 10.5 stone person?)

What is the volume of a countdown teapot?

[Marc Meakin]

What is the volume of human ashes (say a 10.5 stone person?)

What is the volume of a countdown teapot?

For the first one I don't think you get ALL of the Ashes when someone's cremated

For the second one, I can only speculate

[Sam Cappleman-Lynes]

What is the volume of human ashes (say a 10.5 stone person?)

What is the volume of a countdown teapot?

Google suggests that cremated human remains typically have a volume of between 3 and 3.5 litres.

A Countdown teapot has a volume of 1.3 litres.

[Gavin Chipper]

What is the volume of human ashes (say a 10.5 stone person?)

What is the volume of a countdown teapot?

Google suggests that cremated human remains typically have a volume of between 3 and 3.5 litres.

A Countdown teapot has a volume of 1.3 litres.

Sounds like this thread has become relevant.

[Fiona T]

What is the volume of human ashes (say a 10.5 stone person?)

What is the volume of a countdown teapot?

Google suggests that cremated human remains typically have a volume of between 3 and 3.5 litres.

A Countdown teapot has a volume of 1.3 litres.

Sounds like this thread has become relevant.

Haha - yep - looks like a second teapot is required!

[Philip A]

We’re gonna need a bigger teapot.

[Johnny Canuck]

What do they do, teapotwise, for returnees whose first appearance was already teapotful? Might be a solution

[Mark Deeks]

How do cows get that big when they only eat grass?

[Marc Meakin]

How do cows get that big when they only eat grass?

Elephants are herbivores too

[Paul Worsley]

How do cows get that big when they only eat grass?

Elephants are herbivores too

Gorillas are vegans too.

(Chimpanzees will supplement their diet with meat, often other chimpanzees from rival groups, but gorillas only plants)

[Paul Worsley]

I'm not suggesting cows supplement their diet by eating cows from rival herds, btw.

[Gavin Chipper]

There is a difference between being a herbivore and just eating grass though.

[Marc Meakin]

There is a difference between being a herbivore and just eating grass though.

Cud you explain more

[Marc Meakin]

British Quizzing Championship 2022.
98th Mark Deeks. Is, that our Mark Deeks?
Btw Pat from Eggheads won

[Mark Deeks]

It was indeed.

[Mark Deeks]

Considering they seem to practice every single day, why are all church bell ringers so crap?

[Gavin Chipper]

I'm not sure what good bell ringing would sound like.

[Marc Meakin]

That Hunchback of Notre Damme was good.
Cant remember his name, but his face rings a bell?

[Marc Meakin]

It was indeed.

I'm curious as to how many people qualified for it.
It was only after watching Eggheads this week that it was mentioned that Pat Won last year and I wondered where Kevin came but apart from Anne Hegarty I didn't recognise antmyone else until your name came up

[Mark Deeks]

No qualification required. Just pay and turn up.

[Marc Meakin]

No qualification required. Just pay and turn up.

Decided to dip my toe in.
There is a monthly version at a venue in Canterbury for £12 50 on the 1st April
Hope its not too full on

[Johnny Canuck]

That Hunchback of Notre Damme was good.
Cant remember his name, but his face rings a bell?

Quasimodo I believe. Bells can only be rung well by a full Modo.

[Mark Deeks]

No qualification required. Just pay and turn up.

Decided to dip my toe in.
There is a monthly version at a venue in Canterbury for £12 50 on the 1st April
Hope its not too full on

Those are the monthly quiz grand prixs. 90 min written quizze You've basically just signed up to give up your Saturday morning to sit an exam. I personally enjoy it, but it's not for everybody!

[Marc Meakin]

No qualification required. Just pay and turn up.

Decided to dip my toe in.
There is a monthly version at a venue in Canterbury for £12 50 on the 1st April
Hope its not too full on

Those are the monthly quiz grand prixs. 90 min written quizze You've basically just signed up to give up your Saturday morning to sit an exam. I personally enjoy it, but it's not for everybody!

90 minutes isn't so bad.
I kinda went for it because its 3 miles from where I live.
Plus I'm 60 soon and it's part of a bucket list that includes Co Brighton

[Fiona T]

Plus I'm 60 soon and it's part of a bucket list that includes Co Brighton

Don't forget to bring a spade too

[Marc Meakin]

Plus I'm 60 soon and it's part of a bucket list that includes Co Brighton

Don't forget to bring a spade too

The way my memory is going lately I'll be lucky if I remember my pen

[Marc Meakin]

Why is it when you Google the cast list of any film starring Charlton Heston, he appears near the bottom.
He's been dead for 15 years it's a bit harsh

[Marc Meakin]

No qualification required. Just pay and turn up.

Decided to dip my toe in.
There is a monthly version at a venue in Canterbury for £12 50 on the 1st April
Hope its not too full on

Those are the monthly quiz grand prixs. 90 min written quizze You've basically just signed up to give up your Saturday morning to sit an exam. I personally enjoy it, but it's not for everybody!

Got 62.3 in today's quiz but it was a toughie

[Mark Deeks]

That's exactly the same score I got first time. Well done! Yeah some of the stuff is ridiculous, but don't grade yourself against those bits.

[Marc Meakin]

That's exactly the same score I got first time. Well done! Yeah some of the stuff is ridiculous, but don't grade yourself against those bits.

Thanks, although you are right about it being like an exam but as it took place in the corner of a pub it felt better and relaxed
The physical world questions were insanely hard (I got 3 and didn't bother with the tiebreak questions) but luckily I dropped it from my best 5.
Also discovered when checking the ratings that at least one other from this parish also quizzes, but I won't out him

[Gavin Chipper]

I think loads do don't they?

[Mark James]

So there's an ad for Heinz going around basically saying there's a debate about where you should keep ketchup, in the press or in the fridge? We keep it in the press until we open it and then keep it in the fridge. Is this not what should be done?

[Mark James]

Sorry, it's not an ad for Heinz, it's for a brand called Chef. The Irish football legend Paul McGrath is in it.

[Gavin Chipper]

The press? Is that an Irish thing?

[Mark James]

The press? Is that an Irish thing?

I guess so. What would you call it? The cupboard?

[Mark James]

Funnily enough, we call print media "The Press" as well so when I first read your query I was like, no the ad was on TV not in the press, when I did mention the press?

[Gavin Chipper]

Yeah, the cupboard though.

[Marc Meakin]

Well in a supermarket it sits on a shelf, so I guess why not.

Also eggs should not be refrigerated

[Gavin Chipper]

These aren't things I feel strongly about. Some things say they have to be refrigerated after you open them. Ketchup seems like it would be one of those things, but I'm not sure if it tells you to or not.

Another this or that thing is the way round toilet roll should go. I only bring this up because I think the "controversy" (if that's the right word) is fake. No-one likes the toilet paper to be right up against the wall and everyone I speak to agrees. I think I might have the odd person say something about cats unravelling it, but that's a fairly edge case, and not what would influence the vast majority of people. There's a clear right way round.

[Ian Volante]

That's exactly the same score I got first time. Well done! Yeah some of the stuff is ridiculous, but don't grade yourself against those bits.

Thanks, although you are right about it being like an exam but as it took place in the corner of a pub it felt better and relaxed
The physical world questions were insanely hard (I got 3 and didn't bother with the tiebreak questions) but luckily I dropped it from my best 5.
Also discovered when checking the ratings that at least one other from this parish also quizzes, but I won't out him

There are indeed a few of us.

[Marc Meakin]

That's exactly the same score I got first time. Well done! Yeah some of the stuff is ridiculous, but don't grade yourself against those bits.

Thanks, although you are right about it being like an exam but as it took place in the corner of a pub it felt better and relaxed
The physical world questions were insanely hard (I got 3 and didn't bother with the tiebreak questions) but luckily I dropped it from my best 5.
Also discovered when checking the ratings that at least one other from this parish also quizzes, but I won't out him

There are indeed a few of us.

I doff my cap to you sir

[Fiona T]

A lot of things blamed on Brexit - but

Why when I travelled to France recently did I need to get my passport stamped?

I've just been to both Australia and South Korea - neither have ever been members of the EU, and neither required my passport to be stamped.

[Fiona T]

A lot of things blamed on Brexit - but

Why when I travelled to France recently did I need to get my passport stamped?

I've just been to both Australia and South Korea - neither have ever been members of the EU, and neither required my passport to be stamped.

Actually I think I've answered my own question - both Oz and SK have electronic permission things linked to your passport number - probably equivalent to an e-stamp...?

[Marc Meakin]

A lot of things blamed on Brexit - but

Why when I travelled to France recently did I need to get my passport stamped?

I've just been to both Australia and South Korea - neither have ever been members of the EU, and neither required my passport to be stamped.

Actually I think I've answered my own question - both Oz and SK have electronic permission things linked to your passport number - probably equivalent to an e-stamp...?

I'm off to Bruges next month, first trip abroad since Jan 2019 so I will fill you all in on stamp gate

[Thomas Cappleman]

A lot of things blamed on Brexit - but

Why when I travelled to France recently did I need to get my passport stamped?

I've just been to both Australia and South Korea - neither have ever been members of the EU, and neither required my passport to be stamped.

Actually I think I've answered my own question - both Oz and SK have electronic permission things linked to your passport number - probably equivalent to an e-stamp...?

I'm off to Bruges next month, first trip abroad since Jan 2019 so I will fill you all in on stamp gate

We did that last year, and got stamped (with the nice touch that the stamps have pictures of trains if you go by Eurostar, compared to the normal planes if you fly)

[Gavin Chipper]

What if you arrive in a country by small boat?

[Ian Fitzpatrick]

What if you arrive in a country by small boat?

Always the fun way to go to Europe!

[Mark Deeks]

What's apparently so interesting about Lizzo?

[Marc Meakin]

What's apparently so interesting about Lizzo?

She can play the flute, you know.
Not sure if she went to band amp though.

She's a morbidly obese Icon for the morbidly obese and is not like the Arianna, Dua Lipa, Ann-Marie and others who all sound the same.
To me she is an Icon.

Apropos of nothing, I'm 5 foot 6 and weigh just south of 17 stone

[Mark Deeks]

I dunno man. The flute's a sneaky-cool instrument and all, but I can't remember us beatifying a flautist before. She seems to have transcended society with it.

[Marc Meakin]

I dunno man. The flute's a sneaky-cool instrument and all, but I can't remember us beatifying a flautist before. She seems to have transcended society with it.

My take on her is like Keanu Reeves, who is so personable and an all round Nice guy and you can forgive his crap serious acting.
Lizzo is also very personable and an all around nice gal.

[Mark Deeks]

Fair.