There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge. (Bertrand Russell)
Author: Scott F
As a retired trivia writer, editor and quiz compiler, I wholeheartedly agree with Bertrand Russell’s quote:
“There’s much pleasure to be gained in useless knowledge.”
Trivia of all sorts has always fascinated me, and for many years, I’ve written and compiled trivia for various media, including traditional TV and radio quiz shows, newspapers and magazines, apps, and other digital platforms.
The 85th Academy Awards took place on 24 February 2013 and below are some questions based on the awards made that evening.
After each question, a series of CNSN NTS (consonants) is displayed in the correct order as a hint to the answer. Fill in the missing vowels to reveal the solution. For example, if an answer was Benedict Cumberbatch the clue could be shown as BND CTC MBRB TCH or if Daniel Day-Lewis the clue could be DNLD YLWS
On 24 February 2013 at the 85th Academy Awards…
Daniel Day-Lewis won the Best Actor award for his role in a Steven Spielberg film and his portrayal of a famous historical character. Use the nine consonant clue below to help identify that famous character as…
[clue] BR HMLN C LN
The Best Actress Oscar was for the role of Tiffany Maxwell played by…
[clue] JN NF RLWR NC
Tiffany Maxwell, mentioned at Q2 above, was a character in this film…
[clue] SL V RLNN GSP LYBK
The Best Picture winner, which starred Ben Affleck as a CIA officer, was…
[clue] RG
The Best Director winner’s film was based on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same name. The book and film are both named…
[clue] LFFP
The film at Q5 above won the Best Director Oscar for…
[clue] NGL
The answers will be posted later today.
The post title 85th CDMYW RDS is of course 85th aCaDeMY aWaRDS.
Statue of Stan and Ollie in Ulverston. [Image from Wikipedia]
[*Ulverston was in Lancashire at the time of his birth but is now in Cumbria]
Stan Laurel, born Arthur Stanley Jefferson, was a pivotal figure in comedy, renowned for his performance and partnership with Oliver Hardy in over 100 films, including shorts, features and cameos. Laurel’s journey into entertainment began in the music hall, where he honed his comedic skills by developing iconic devices such as the bowler hat and nonsensical understatement, all while understudying for Charlie Chaplin in Fred Karno’s London Comedians. His film career kicked off in 1917, with his final appearance in 1951. Laurel and Hardy first collaborated on The Lucky Dog in 1921 and officially became a team by 1927, maintaining their partnership until Hardy’s death in 1957. Their humorous style was famously described by Laurel as
two minds without a single thought.
Their 1932 short, The Music Box under Hal Roach’s production, earned them an Academy Award, further solidifying their status as the greatest comedy duo in film history. Laurel, originally a music hall comedian, found success in comedy shorts before transitioning into a director and gag writer role, often headlining most of their productions at Roach Studios. Meanwhile, Norvell Hardy, who later adopted the name Oliver, entered show business after managing a cinema, eventually appearing in over 200 short films before his collaboration with Laurel.
The duo’s partnership flourished with Roach’s All-Stars, where their chemistry was recognized, leading to their official team-up in 1927. Their comedic formula revolved around two brainless friends, with Laurel as the guileless troublemaker and Hardy as the meticulous man thwarted by misplaced faith in his partner. Their sound films showcased their genius: Laurel’s British accent and Hardy’s Southern tones added depth to their characters, and Laurel’s inventive use of audio gags became a hallmark of their work.
While Laurel was known for his head-scratching, whimpering cries, and blank stares, Hardy was characterized by his flowery speech, explosive double takes, and sympathetic looks to the camera. As the duo ventured into feature films driven by economic necessity, they gifted us with a string of classics, beginning with Pardon Us in 1931 and continuing through 1940 with thirteen more remarkable films, including the highly acclaimed Sons of the Desert (1933), often regarded as their finest feature-length work. This period solidified their legacy in the annals of film history.
Theatrical poster for Sons of the Desert. [Image from Wikipedia]
Fittingly, their best-known catchphrase provided the final line of their final film Atoll K (1951)—also known as Robinson Crusoeland (UK) and Utopia (US)—with Ollie telling Stan,,,
Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into!
Dolly, a female Finn Dorset sheep, lived from 1996 to 2003 and made history as the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell. Her birth on 5 July 1996, was announced by British developmental biologist Ian Wilmut and his colleagues at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, Scotland, on 22 February 1997. This significant milestone in science dispelled the long-standing belief that adult mammals could not be cloned and sparked a debate about the potential applications and ethical implications of mammalian cloning technology. The process of creating Dolly involved nuclear transfer, where a cell was extracted from her mammary gland, proving that cloning from a mature cell originating from a specific body part was possible.
When asked about Dolly’s name Professor Wilmut said,
Dolly is derived from a mammary gland cell and we couldn’t think of a more impressive pair of glands than Dolly Parton’s
It was announced on 22 February 1997 that the previous July, Dolly, a female sheep, had been born. She was the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell.
The motto Pula, which means rain and also blessing, is the name of Botswana’s currency.
On the 21 February 1966 the Earl of Longford, the British Colonial Secretary, announced that Bechuanaland, a British protectorate, would gain independence on 30th September 1966, subsequently being renamed Botswana.
This landlocked country in Southern Africa is bordered by Namibia (including the Caprivi Strip) to the west and north, Zambia and Zimbabwe to the northeast, and South Africa to the southeast and south. Botswana’s borders feature a minor section along the Zambezi River with Zambia, while its boundary along the Chobe River with Namibia was settled in a 1999 International Court of Justice ruling favoring Botswana. Despite remaining one of the least densely populated nations globally, with over 2.4 million people inhabiting an area similar in size to France, Botswana, named after its dominant Tswana ethnic group, has transitioned from being one of the world’s poorest and least-developed states to a peaceful and increasingly prosperous democratic state. Approximately 70 percent of its flat, topographically consistent territory forms part of the Kalahari Desert.
The British Colonial Secretary, announced on 21 February 1966 that a British protectorate would gain independence later in the year and be renamed Botswana.
What was the name of the British protectorate?
Barotseland
Bechuanaland
Nyasaland
Botswana has a one word motto Pula, what does it mean in English?
John Glenn boarding Friendship 7. [Image from Wikipedia]
On February 20, 1962, John Glenn, aboard Friendship 7, made history as the first American to orbit the Earth. This achievement was a significant milestone for NASA, following the successes of the Soviet space program.
John H. Glenn, Jr., the eldest of the Mercury Seven—the seven astronauts chosen by NASA for Project Mercury spaceflight training—completed three orbits of the Earth, landing safely in the Atlantic Ocean. His flight lasted 4 hours and 56 minutes.
The Mercury Seven astronauts with a U.S. Air Force Convair F-106B Delta Dart aircraft at Langley Air Force Base. From left to right: Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton. [Image from Wikipedia]
In 1959, NASA had selected Glenn and six other military test pilots as the nation’s first astronauts, and the Friendship 7 flight made Glenn the third American and the fifth person to venture into space.
Senator-astronaut John Glenn on the shuttle Discovery.(1998) [Image fromWikipedia]
Even at the remarkable age of 77 in 1998, Glenn continued to inspire generations by becoming the oldest human to travel in space. His unwavering dedication and remarkable achievements were a testament to his enduring legacy.
The following comment is attributed to John Glenn…
I guess the question I’m asked the most often is: “When you were sitting in that capsule listening to the count-down, how did you feel?” Well, the answer to that one is easy. I felt exactly how you would feel if you were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on top of two million parts — all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract.
President Francisco Madero. 37th President of Mexico. [Image from Wikipedia]
Pedro Lascuráin’s 45-minute presidency, unlike other brief period in office, was entirely intentional. Lascuráin played a crucial role in the Mexican Revolution, which involved the transfer of power from President Francisco Madero to dictator Victoriano Huerta. Here’s how it unfolded.
Pedro Lascuráin. 38th President of Mexico. [Image from Wikipedia]
As the minister of foreign affairs, Lascuráin held the third position—after the president and vice president—in the line of succession to the presidency. However, Huerta exploited this position to his advantage. He orchestrated a fake battle to create unrest and persuade Madero and his vice president to resign. Tragically, they were later murdered while attempting to flee Mexico. Lascuráin ascended to the presidency, but his tenure was marked by only one significant act: appointing Huerta as a member of his cabinet. Subsequently, he promptly resigned, paving the way for the next in line, his new cabinet minister, Victoriano Huerta.
Victoriano Huerta. 39th President of Mexico. [Image from Wikipedia]
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