10Q (January 27, 2018)

[For most of the images, larger versions can be viewed by clicking on them]

1. The person who owns this film production company (as well as a publishing imprint by the same name) could be ruing or relishing the irony – the meaning of the phrase in Latin could apply to his fortunes, his marriage and even his reputation. Who, and what does Infinitum Nihil mean?

2. This commonly-used English phrase alludes to the nocturnal burrowing mammal Meles meles, and refers to the so-called sport in which they were pitted against dogs and the protagonists tore each other apart. These creatures were chosen for this 'entertainment' as they are extremely tenacious when cornered and have the ability to bite their prey until their teeth meet. As a result, dogs could literally suffer the fate that the phrase states, which in its modern idiomatic sense refers to obstinate and persistent requests or demands placed on one. What's the phrase?

3. If you'd travelled frequently on Air Asia flights a couple of years ago (like I did), you would have heard this song played every time you landed. Just name the band who perform this song, both originally and in this ad (thinking of people like Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner might help).
If you have any problem viewing the YouTube video above, you can access the clip here.

4. In what way could these Test cricket batting performances be considered one-man shows (this is an exhaustive list): Bobby Abel (120) for England v South Africa in Cape Town in 1888-89; Len Hutton (364) for England v Australia at The Oval in 1938; Don Bradman (185) for Australia v India in Brisbane in 1947-48; Inzamam-ul-Haq (329) for Pakistan v New Zealand in Lahore in 2002; and Matthew Hayden (119) for Australia v Pakistan in Sharjah in 2002-03?

5. What is the poetic name of this magnificent structure, modelled after the Sublime Porte (Bab-i-Hümayun) in Istanbul, and therefore sometimes also known as the Turkish Gate? In which city – whose Metro service, launched last year, uses it as a logo symbol – is it located?

6. The insect family Coccinellidae derives its name from the Latin word 'coccineus', meaning 'scarlet'. Its common name refers to the Virgin Mary, who was often depicted wearing a red cloak in early paintings. The insects' prominent markings were said to symbolise her seven joys and seven sorrows. What are coccinellids commonly called?

7. Originating from an Italian word for a strong, heavy paper or pasteboard (also the root of another English word very close in spelling to the one this question refers to), this was originally a full-size drawing made on sturdy paper as a study for a painting, stained glass or tapestry, such as the one on the left by Leonardo da Vinci. It got its current meaning after John Leech used it for the other image that you see, which he titled "[X] no. 1: Substance and Shadow" (1843), satirising such preparatory images for frescoes in the Palace of Westminster. What's the word?

8. The Vayu Vajra service whose bus you see here links up to KIA, named after the man whose statue is shown. Name the fellow, and tell me in which city the buses ply.

9. Mount Kenya (Africa), Mount Tyree (Antarctica), Puncak Mandala (Australia), K2 (Asia), Dykh-Tau (Europe), Mount Logan (North America) and Ojos del Salado (South America) are collectively known by a term that abbreviates to SSS. If the first S stands for 'Seven', and the third S stands for 'Summits', and the whole three-word term sounds like you could climb these mountains in a very short time, what does the middle S stand for?

10. The song lyrics below were written purely to exploit a clause in composer Anthony Courage's contract. As a result, though the lyrics were never actually used, the fact that they existed allowed the writer to claim half of Courage's royalties. Fill in the blanks in the lines below.
Beyond
The rim of the star-light
My love
Is wand'ring in star-flight
I know
He'll find in star-clustered reaches
Love,
Strange love a star woman teaches.
I know
His journey ends never
His ____ ____
Will go on forever.
But tell him
While he wanders his starry sea
Remember, remember me

Answers
1. Johnny Depp; 'Nothing is forever'
2. 'To badger [someone] to death'
3. American Authors
4. They outscored the opposition's match total on their own in one innings.
5. Rumi Darwaza, Lucknow
6. Ladybirds, from Our Lady's birds

7. Cartoon, from 'cartone' (also the root for 'carton')
8. Kempegowda (International Airport) in Bangalore
9. Second – the Seven Second Summits are the second highest mountains on each of the seven continents
10. Star trek – the lyrics were written by the show's creator Gene Roddenberry