Answers to Ian’s Trivialus – 14 Jan 2024

Answers

1. Microsoft, whose share price has risen sharply thanks to its significant investments in AI.  Apple – which has been struggling with lower demand for its iPhone, its biggest cash cow.  The difference between the companies' valuations is very slight and the positions may revert in the next few days.
2. The Pretenders.
3. False – but it's not far off, 1.41bn vs 1.46bn.  It could change in the next couple of years.
4. France – described as Macron's Mini-Me, Attal, previously Education Minister, took over from Elisabeth Borne who was sacked after 20 months in the role.  President Macron, at the time of his appointment in 2017 was the youngest President of France (39).
5. Fridays
6. Minaret
7. An incident on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on January 5, when a door blew off the aircraft shortly after take-off.  The aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 9, returned to Portland with no major injuries.  Boeing subsequently grounded 170 of the fleet of similar aircraft pending an investigation.
8. Penicillin
9. True – Germany assisted Finland in defending itself from the Soviet Union.  It wasn't until Sept. 1944 when the Finns switched sides to expel Nazi remnants from Lapland.
10. c) arm wrestling.
11. Franz Beckenbauer, who played in the German team that won the 1974 World Cup final and later coached the national team.  JPR Williams, regarded as one of the finest fullbacks in the sport.  His 3-letter moniker (his initials) came about to distinguish him from the other John Williams in the Welsh squad, JJ Williams.  JPR = John Peter Rhys.
12. Democratic Republic of the Congo
13. Hurling and Gaelic football.
14. a) – Hypotension.
15. An IT system from Fujitsu, named Horizon, was faulty and indicated losses at many of the branches operated by sub-postmasters (effectively private franchisees).  Innocent people were charged and convicted of losses despite the Post Office management's knowledge that problems existed in the software.
16. Both. The distinction has to do with gender.  Blond refers to the masculine, blonde refers to the feminine.
17. The Scarlet Pimpernel.
18. Kyrgystan, Egypt, Chad, Cyprus – Mozambique.
19. Mandarin – Portuguese.
20. Goldfinger (1964)