Series G, Episode 10: Greats

Ian Dunn · 663177. Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:23 pm

Here is a preview clip of the episode.

djgordy · 663703. Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:47 pm

Being a bit picky, Catherine the Great wouldn't have really died on a commode in 1796 because that word didn't come to mean "a chair housing a chamber pot" until 1851. A commode, at that time, was either a type of ladies headdress or, as it is still used by antiques experts and dealers, a chest of drawers like this 18th century example.

The correct name for the place she died, assuming that story to be true would probably have been, in English, a water closet.

I did read some time ago that the story about her dying whilst having sex with a horse actually came from stories about her having affairs with stallions. In this case, "stallions" were young members of the guard, possibly the Leib Guard who rode horses. It could also have just been used as a word for her lovers in general even if they weren't in the guard, just as we would use "stud" or "Italian stallion" today. It was only later that people read that story about her dying whilst having sex with a stallion and took that to mean a male horse.

It ought to be said, though, that Catherine was a usurper. She had no claim to the Russian throne and came to power through a revolt orchestrated by the above mentioned Leib Guard. When her son, Paul, reached the age of majority he ought to have taken over the throne but she reigned on until her death. So Paul, who only reigned for about 5 years after his mother's death* may well have decided to get his revenge by besmirching his mother's name.

*Take note Charlie Windsor.

Ian Dunn · 663795. Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:40 am

Sounds like the QI Qibble blog will need to be contacted - mind you, they are not being busy updating it recently.

Ian Dunn · 663823. Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:29 am

Speaking of the Qibble Blog, I've found smething to Qibble about.

On the subject of the giant tortoise, they say the scientific name for the giant tortoise is Geochelone. However, these are only the giant tortoises from Galápagos. There is also the Dipsochelys from the Seychelles, but the only tortoises in this genus still alive are in captivity.

Leith · 663931. Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:44 am

Enjoyed that episode. The opening fact of Napoleon's mythical stature was an eye-opener for me.

The fate of the giant tortoises was a poignant combination of sad and very funny, with some interesting details on their utility as ship's supplies.

Sean Lock came out with some good one-liners and it was nice to see an oft-visited forum topic appear in the form of ordinally challenged US presidents.

Might try to catch the XL version later.

Menocchio · 663991. Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:06 pm

The tortoise situation is much less straightforward than you have described. The main Seychelles species, the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, is variously referred to as Dipsochelys dussumieri, D. elephantina, Geochelone gigantea, Aldabrachelys gigantea or A. elephantine. There has been a lot of debate about whether it belongs to a separate genus from the Galápagos giant tortoises (which are all subspecies of Geochelone nigra) The latest cladistic-driven classifcation is Dipsochelys dussumieri. (q.v. http://www.eol.org/pages/795005 ) I’d go with that, although Geochelone gigantea remains the more common.

Whatever you call it, it is the one species of giant tortoise with a healthy wild population. Approximately 150,000 range freely over Aldabra atoll (and there is a small wild colony on Zanzibar), largely as a result of a pioneering conservation initiative established by Albert Gunther of the British Museum and the government of Mauritius in the late C19th.

You might be thinking of the Seychelles Giant Tortoise Dipsochelys hololissa, which is now only found in captivity and subject of an intensive breeding programme.

As for the Quibble Blog, it's main duty officer, eggshaped, is currently writing the next series of both QI and the Museum of Curiosity simultaneously. Normal service will resume shortly.

eggshaped · 663998. Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:28 pm

Gibbergibbersqueak

eggshaped · 663999. Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:29 pm

That said. I should really get onto it. Will post something tomorrow - I promise!!

Ian Dunn · 664001. Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:33 pm

britishsm · 664063. Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:00 pm

eggshaped should become ambidextrous and write a series with each hand and be done in half the time ... although if he's like me, (I assume he is a he, she may of course not be !) , then the writing with the left hand will be legible, but backwards .. strange soul that I am ...

B.

eggshaped · 664075. Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:36 pm

No, actually I can write with both hands, and given a bit of practice can write one word with my left and another with my right at the same time.

It's quite a neat party trick, and also really gets your brain working as it tries to do two things at once - I reckon anyone can do it after a while (my ex girlf got much better than me after a little practice) - try it, it's much better than a sudoku.

violetriga · 664092. Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:58 pm

Be careful though - writing with both hands is worse than sugar

Curious Danny · 664253. Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:09 am

Reboot · 664272. Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:02 am

On the number of the Presidents of the United States... wasn't it a forfeit in a previous series (series C?) that the first President of the United States was the George Washington (officially, the 1st President of the United States, as the first post-independence Prez)?

By that reckoning, then saying 43 should have brought up a forfeit too...

suze · 664278. Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:07 am

Good point Reboot; I thought precisely that while watching the show!

Barack still gets the klaxons though.