THE BIG QUESTIONS
Who – and for what – has been given the longest ever prison sentence? – I
Terry Nichols was given 161 life sentences for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing but, obviously, no one can serve longer than a life sentence.
So the longest, non-life sentence was handed down to Chamoy Thipyaso in 1989 in Thailand, for corporate fraud amounting to US $204 million.
She was sentenced to 141, 078 years – but was paroled after 8 years.
I’ve recently become a fan of the Star Wars movies, because my grandkids make me watch them. I can’t detect an accent, but they tell me the robot, R2-D2, is Scottish. True? – M
R2-D2 is actually an R2-series astromech droid manufactured by Industrial Automaton with masculine programming, according to one fan fiction website.
Don’t tell your grandkids, but the droid has an actor inside. He was first played in the movies by Kenny Baker, who also appeared in Time Bandits, until his death in 2016.
Scotsman Jimmy Vee took over the role, making his first appearance in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi the following year.
I’ve had a Omega watch for 30 years. It cost a fiver and still keeps time, which begs the question – what is the most expensive Omega ever? – L
An auction last year saw an Omega sold for $3.4 million.
The timepiece, an Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow, made in 1957, was bought by a Chinese bidder.
Auctioneers said: “It has outstanding quality, fantastic aesthetics, and historic relevance.”