Think-a-link! Is it in?

Newsletter 32 -

It all began in 1995....

Bless me father for I have sinned. It's been 16 years since my first link and this is my book. 'Think-Of-A-Link - How To Remember Absolutely Everything' published by Scholastic Press of 'Horrible Histories' fame (A5 size 200 pages hardback). I'm massively excited about it but that's bound to be the case as I'm a very excitable chappie. It's available to order now on Amazon who have already discounted it from RRP £6.99 to £5.10 even though it only came out yesterday - give it a chance, will yer! These boys have got the market by the 'Shirley Temples' (short & curlies). It contains hundreds of links in over 30 categories ranging from how to spell the word 'Minuscule' to what the first 10 Mr Men books were.......and their order! Meaning of Words, Battles & Wars, Greek & Roman Gods/Goddesses, French Words, Chinese New Years, Grammatical Errors, Kings & Queens, World Capitals.....you name it, it's been linked. There are about 100 links in the book which have been submitted by you guys and gals with each linker getting their name mentioned at the end of the category where their link appears which, again, is very exciting. It contains some schweet cartoons along with Sir Linkalot's Tips and Tricks throughout the book - the cartoon character 'Sir Linkalot' is a remarkable resemblance to yours truly which should make you giggle. At least, that makes one of us. I hope this will be the first of many 'linking' books. Click on this link to put your order in Book . I hope you enjoy it.

Just for your info, my first ever link was in March 1995 when I was flicking through an atlas which has to be one of the best hobbies of all time, closely followed by looking at a wall 'Map of the World' with the bronze medal going to looking at a toy globe then spinning it so hard that it comes off its axis. I didn't realise that each of the 50 US states had a capital city and the first one I came across was Ohio (see competition below). Some people are not aware that there are 50 states - I often hear the number 52 banded about. Just remember the revamped TV programme 'Hawaii Five-O' (Hawaii became the 50 th state, appropriately in the 50s). It's also currently 11 hours behind the UK as there's a clue in its name...HAWA11.

Staying with this surfer dudes' paradise a little bit longer.....It is the most southerly US state as it's found in the South Pacific but what are the most Easterly, Northerly and Westerly US states? (you'll love this).......Clue: The answer is the same for all three ...................Alaska!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I make no apologies to any writers or journalists amongst you for the use of multiple exclamation marks, especially you, my Shertson mucker!!!). 'A' is the most Westerly and Easterly letter in the word 'Alask a' and the most Northerly letter in the Alphabet (i.e top to bottom). It's the most Westerly, as it's only 45 miles from Russia with the Bering Straits separating these two superpowers.....'Where East is Bering down on West '. It's also the most Northerly - Eskimo - Alaska. Now, here comes the cute one which pub quiz geeks and trivmongers will be all over like a cheap rash....'The Rat Islands' which is part of Alaska is actually just in the Eastern Hemisphere (179°37' E)! You have to be very happy with that.

This last snippet is in the book. So, I've given you a sneak preview to hopefully whet the appetite.

One recent fabby link, from a 7 year old no less, was submitted too late to get in this book but will be in future books, for sure.

It's for the Gunpowder Plot being in 1605. To date my couplet link (using a rhyme) was tussling with Elena Breeze's visual link (see below). But 7 year old Lachie's has blown ours out of the water. A fourth one has also turned up in the last month linked by a teacher but I don't have his name.

Here is the current podium which could change in a flash:

Gold: sogi fireworks are a washout. ('sogi' upside down is 1605) (Lachie's link - averaging a stellar 9.32!)

Silver: (Date 5/11) 5 + 11 = 16 plus 05th November. (the anonymous teacher's - averaging 8.67)

Bronze: There was a BANG (!!) at the door at five past four (16.05) (King James the Scot didn't like flames a lot) (averaging 8.08)

Pah!: (see image below) (Elena Breeze's link - averaging a highly respectable 7.89)

This is exactly why I started this Thinkalink malarky. I've linked about seven or eight thousand facts to get it off the ground. Now, it's over to you bunch of linkers to improve on them.

Linking's a joy.

Your chance to get involved

The site is a meeting-place for linkers & learners alike. So if you have a link for a fact regardless of how nuts it is then whack it over to Sir Linkalot and let's see what the girls and boys think. Also, you can request anything to be linked, absolutely anything. Linking's a challenge as is life and we do so love a challenge, yes we do.

Feedback

I would love to get your thoughts and observations on the site, good or bad. This has been a passion of mine since 1995 and it's finally come to fruition which is hugely exciting. However, it's all new territory for me. So any guidance or tips on what does and doesn't work will be warmly received - please let me know by sending an email to Feedback

Competition

Congratulations to Matt Middleton (no relation, I assume?) for getting the 4 answers correct thereby making his piggy bank swell by £100.

The answers were....

1. Rabat 2. Dodoma 3. Bolivia 4. Madagascar

Here is the next competition....

March Competition

Email the answers to Competition answers and you will be entered into the draw for 100 biggies.

......and finally

Do let me know if you'd prefer not to contacted in this way and I'll take you off my newsletter circulation list. If that is the case, please accept my apologies.

Let's finish off, appropriately, with some topical world capitals where it's all going off....

Libya/Tripoli......Giving the name 'Libby' a triple 'e' is silly (Libbeee)

Yemen/Sana'a....Ye men all dress up as Sana'a Claus at Christmas.

Syria/Damascus......'Damn. Ask us again as I've forgotten the link?'...'Are you Syriaus?'

Bahrain/Manama......Man, oh man, Einstein had a huge Bahrain.

This has been one long journey to date but I am sure smelling the flowers along the way.

Oh, I forgot to mention that there are a couple of huge, howling typos in the book which I'm sure you will spot.

Ho hum.

Have a fat old Easter, bunging on heaps of weight, as chocolate is a must.

Cheeripip!

Regards

The not-so slinky Linky

P.S To view previous newsletters, go to Previous Newsletters

Think-a-link - is it in?