On this date

On this date 100 years ago, May 31, 1911, the RMS Titanic was launched.

Coincidentally, also on May 31, the last survivor of the Titanic disaster died. (Millvina Dean, 2009.)

Believe it or don't item:

Millvina's brother Bertram, also a Titanic survivor, died at age 81 in 1992, on 15 April -- 80 years to the day that the Titanic struck the iceberg.

oooooooooEEEEEEEEEoooooooo...

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You can read her story here if you want.

Getting the expat quiz behind us...

I wanted to leave the quiz from yesterday up another day, but the incredible response keeps crashing my ISP's server, so I'd better put a stop to this. Sigh.

I did get two responses from actual expats, although neither was an expat living in the USA. And only one tried to even answer the questions. Well, he didn't actually TRY. Double sigh.

1. 1776. July 4, 1776

2. Los Angeles

3. Russia, Mexico, Canada

4. This is getting old and will be retired. The capital of Florida is pronounced Talla-HASS-ee.

5. New Mexico (#47) and Arizona (#48)

6. New Orleans

7. Abraham Lincoln

8. Denali (also known as Mt. McKinley)

9. San Antonio

10. Never

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1781 was an important year. It was the year Great Britain agreed we could be independent (much more important than 1776, I think.) 1787 was important too: The year we got out present constitution. And of course, 1993. The year RM was born.

Bog off. And I mean that only in the best way possible.

Update: Bugger this for a game of soldiers.

Quiz for British expats living in the USA

Some of these questions are fairly easy, some too easy.

You are on your honor to answer these from your head without Googling.

1. What year did the U.S. declare itself independent from Great Britain?

2. What is the second largest city in the U.S.?

3. Name the three countries that share a geographical border with the U.S.

4. Is the capital city of Florida pronounced MY ami or MEE ami?

5. Alaska and Hawaii are the two most recent additions to the USA (in 1959.) Before that, the two most recent additions entered together in 1912. Can you name those two?

6. What is the largest port in the U.S.?

7. Who was the President of the U.S. during the War Between the States?

8. What is the name of the highest mountain in the U.S.?

9. In what city is the Alamo located?

Answers in next post