Pursuit of the Trivial – Page 12

Swimming with Sharks—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier questions..

Tiger shark (*Galeocerdo cuvier*).
Image Wikipedia

One

Which shark is pictured?

Answer: Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

The tiger shark, the largest member of the Galeocerdo genus, is a solitary, nocturnal predator found in tropical and temperate waters. It has a diverse diet and is considered near-threatened due to human activities.

Two

What 1964 film starring Stanley Baker and Michael Cain depicts the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift?

Answer: Zulu

Zulu is a 1964 British historical drama film about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War. Directed by Cy Endfield, it stars Stanley Baker and Michael Caine, and received critical acclaim for its sets, soundtrack, cinematography, and performances.

Three

Complete the title of this short story by Alan Sillitoe which was published in 1959: The Loneliness of the…?

Answer: Long-Distance Runner (The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner)

Alan Sillitoe’s 1959 short story The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner follows Smith, a Nottingham teenager who finds solace in running.

Four

Which state or territorial capital of mainland Australia is the only one north of the Tropic of Capricorn?

Answer: Darwin (Northern Territory)

Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly capital city. It has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season, and its proximity to Southeast Asia makes it a key link between Australia and countries like Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The city has been rebuilt four times due to cyclones and WWII air raids.

Chumbawamba’s The Boy Bands Have Won
Image *The Independent*

Five

Chumbawamba’s 2008 album The Boy Bands Have Won holds the Guinness World Record for the longest album title. Can you tell me how many words are in the full title? A decade (a group of ten) is acceptable. For example, if the answer is 104 then 101-110 is fine.

Answer: 156 (151-160 acceptable)

Its full title contains 156 words, or 865 characters, and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest album title. In full, it is…

The boy bands have won, and all the copyists and the tribute bands and the TV talent show producers have won, if we allow our culture to be shaped by mimicry, whether from lack of ideas or from exaggerated respect. You should never try to freeze culture. What you can do is recycle that culture. Take your older brother’s hand-me-down jacket and re-style it, re-fashion it to the point where it becomes your own. But don’t just regurgitate creative history, or hold art and music and literature as fixed, untouchable and kept under glass. The people who try to ‘guard’ any particular form of music are, like the copyists and manufactured bands, doing it the worst disservice, because the only thing that you can do to music that will damage it is not change it, not make it your own. Because then it dies, then it’s over, then it’s done, and the boy bands have won.

Swimming with Sharks

Today’s five questions are random with no connection.

One

Which shark is pictured?

Two

What 1964 film starring Stanley Baker and Michael Cain depicts the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift?

Three

Complete the title of this short story by Alan Sillitoe which was published in 1959: The Loneliness of the…?

Four

Which state or territorial capital of mainland Australia is the only one north of the Tropic of Capricorn?

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

There’s a Theme Running Through It—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

One

What is the largest butterfly in the UK? It has a ten-letter name and lives in the Norfolk Broads.

Answer: Swallowtail

The swallowtail is the largest and most localised butterfly in the UK. Adults emerge from winter chrysalises, drying their wings in reedbeds before displaying their bright colours. Their swallow-like tails and false eye spots confuse predators. Even as caterpillars, they are striking, with bulging horns for defence and orange scent glands that release a pineapple-like odor when threatened.

Two

In what 1975 novel does IRA member Liam Devlin take part in a wartime plot to kidnap Winston Churchill?

Answer: The Eagle Has Landed

Irish Republican Liam Devlin and Joanna Grey, an Afrikaner woman and seasoned Abwehr agent residing in England, team up with German paratroopers to plan and execute the kidnapping of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Three

In the 1955 film, To Catch a Thief (1955), who is seen sitting beside Cary Grant and a pair of caged birds on a bus?

Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

Producer and director Alfred Hitchcock makes his signature cameo, approximately ten minutes into the film, as a bus passenger sitting next to Cary Grant and a caged pair of birds.

Four

What single answer satisfies all of the following: the title of Fleetwood Mac’s only number one hit on the UK Singles Chart; a significant being in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner; and in golf, refers to a score of three strokes under par for a hole?

Answer: Albatross

Albatross is a guitar-based instrumental by Fleetwood Mac, composed by Peter Green. It was released as a single in 1968 and became their only number one single on the UK charts. The albatross that saves the ship by leading the way from the ice in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and is then shot; and the word used as an alternative to double eagle meaning a score of three strokes under par for a hole.

A nesting pair of Macaroni penguins, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands.
Image Wikipedia

Five

Eudyptes chrysolophus: part of this bird’s name is also a type of pasta. What pasta?

Answer: Macaroni

The macaroni penguin—Eudyptes chrysolophus—is a crested penguin with a distinctive yellow crest, it is the most numerous penguin species, with an estimated 18 million individuals. Despite its abundance, the species is vulnerable due to widespread population declines since the mid-1970s.

Theme

The theme was of course Birds. Question 1. swallow (from swallowtail); 2. Eagle; 3. Caged birds mentioned in the question plus Hitchcock was the director of The Birds; 4. Albatross and 5. penguin.

There’s a Theme Running Through It

Today, a common thread weaves through five seemingly unrelated questions.

One

What is the largest butterfly in the UK? It has a ten-letter name and lives in the Norfolk Broads.

Two

In what 1975 novel does IRA member Liam Devlin take part in a wartime plot to kidnap Winston Churchill?

Three

In the 1955 film, To Catch a Thief (1955), who is seen sitting beside Cary Grant and a pair of caged birds on a bus?

Four

Five

Eudyptes chrysolophus: part of this bird’s name is also a type of pasta. What pasta?

Good luck! The answers will be posted later.

The Rumble in the Jungle—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I asked earlier.

*The Rumble in the Jungle*.
Muhammad Ali (standing) and George Foreman (on canvas).
Image USA Today

One

On October 30, 1974, the legendary boxing event The Rumble in the Jungle took place. In which city and country did this event take place? Who were the two boxers involved? And which fighter emerged victorious, reclaiming the world heavyweight title that day?

Answer: Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo); Muhammad Ali and George Foreman; and Muhammad Ali (recovered title)

This fight took place in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). It drew a massive crowd of 60,000 and was one of the most-watched televised events at the time. Ali emerged victorious by knockout in the eighth round.

Orson Welles at the press conference after *The War of the Worlds* broadcast, 1938.
Image Wikipedia

Two

The 1938 broadcast of a radio drama adaptation caused panic among listeners who thought it was real. What was the title of this drama and who wrote the original novel?

Answer: The War of the Worlds; (written by) H.G. Wells

The broadcast presented H.G. Wells’s story in a live news style format and reportedly caused panic by convincing some listeners that Martians were invading.

Three

In 1817, who became president of the newly formed Third Republic of Venezuela?

Answer: Simón Bolívar

Bolívar played a crucial role in Latin American independence, significantly shaping Venezuela’s early republican era.

Comparison of Nuclear Explosions.
Image World of Engineering via Reddit

Four

In 1961, the Tsar Bomba test — the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated — was detonated in what archipelago and by which country?

Answer: Novaya Zemlya (archipelago); Soviet Union (USSR)

The Tsar Bomba, or AN602, was the most powerful nuclear weapon ever created and tested, designed by Soviet physicists under Andrei Sakharov’s oversight. The bomb’s yield was around 50 megatonnes, and the test took place over the Novaya Zemlya archipelago.

Five

In 1905, to quell revolutionary pressure in Russia, a significant concession was made: the establishment of an elected parliament, the Duma, and the guarantee of civil liberties. Who made this concession?

Answer: Tsar Nicholas II

This was part of the aftermath of the 1905 Russian Revolution and marked the beginning of attempts at constitutional government in Russia, with Tsar Nicholas II issuing the October Manifesto in 1905, promising civil rights and an elected parliament, the Duma, after being pressured by Sergei Witte and Grand Duke Nicholas.

The Rumble in the Jungle

Here are five questions related to today, October 30th.

Orson Welles, 1937. See question 2.
Image Wikipedia

One

Two

The 1938 broadcast of a radio drama adaptation by Orson Welles caused panic among listeners who thought it was real. What was the title of this drama and who wrote the original novel?

Three

In 1817, who became president of the newly formed Third Republic of Venezuela?

Four

In 1961, the Tsar Bomba test — the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated — was detonated in what archipelago and by which country?

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

2025-10-29 Bridge to Somewhere—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posed earlier.

The Öresund Bridge, which features in the Nordic noir television drama series *The Bridge,* carries European Route E20, see question 1.
Image Wikipedia

One

The European Route E20 stretches approximately 1,168 miles (1,880 km) from a river estuary airport in the west to the northernmost city of over a million people in the east. Which airport and city are these?

Answer: Shannon Airport, Republic of Ireland and Saint Petersburg, Russia.

The European route E20 is part of the United Nations International E-road network and runs roughly west-east through Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and finally Russia. The road is not continuous and, at three points, a ferry must be used to continue along its length; although at one of those there is no ferry! The Øresund Bridge, which is known for featuring in the Nordic noir television series The Bridge, carries European Route E20.

Two

A television medical drama that ran from October 1982 to May 1988 was set in St Elegius Hospital, Boston. What was its title?

Answer: St Elsewhere

St. Elsewhere, a medical drama series, aired on NBC from 1982 to 1988. Although it never ranked higher than 47th in Nielsen ratings, it gained a loyal following and critical acclaim, winning 13 Emmy Awards. Set at the fictional St. Eligius Hospital in Boston, the show was known for its realistic portrayal of the medical profession and featured a large ensemble cast. It tackled contemporary issues like breast cancer, AIDS, and addiction, while also incorporating humour and inside jokes.

Three

In what novel by Charles Dickens does Esther Summerson tell her own story in the past tense?

Answer: Bleak House

Bleak House, a Dickens novel, satirises the legal system through the long-running case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The novel, partly narrated by Esther Summerson, is set in London and is credited with introducing urban fog to Gothic literature.

Four

The Chalcolithic period, an archaeological era, was primarily defined by a rise in the use of what specific material?

Answer: Copper (smelted copper)

The Chalcolithic, or Copper Age, was a period characterised by the increasing use of smelted copper, following the Neolithic (latter part of the Stone Age) and preceding the Bronze Age. It occurred at different times in different regions, with the earliest evidence of copper smelting dating back to around 5,000 BC in Serbia. In Britain, the Chalcolithic was a short period between 2,500 and 2,200 BC, marked by the arrival of Beaker culture people and the introduction of copper and gold objects.

Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III in the Sistine Chapel, October 2025.
Image thedialog.org

Five

In October 2025, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England prayed with Robert Francis Prevost on the Apennine Peninsula. Who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and who is Robert Francis Prevost known as?

Answer: King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV

The reigning British monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, currently King Charles III. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, is the first American pope. King Charles and Pope Leo met at the Vatican to pray together in the Sistine Chapel. It was the first occasion that the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Pope had prayed together since the reformation 500 years ago.

Bridge to Somewhere

Today we have five unrelated and unconnected questions.

One

Two

A television medical drama that ran from October 1982 to May 1988 was set in St Elegius Hospital, Boston. What was its title?

Three

In what novel by Charles Dickens does Esther Summerson tell her own story in the past tense?

Four

The Chalcolithic period, an archaeological era, was primarily defined by a rise in the use of what specific material?

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Sic semper tyrannisc—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post

One

On October 28, 1922, a march on Rome resulted in the rise to power of whom?

Answer: Benito Mussolini

Mussolini’s ‘March on Rome’ marked the beginning of the fascist era in Italy, with Mussolini taking over the Italian government, being appointed Prime Minister shortly afterwards, gradually eliminating democratic institutions, and establishing a fascist dictatorship. He pursued an aggressive foreign policy, including the conquest of Ethiopia and Albania. His alliance with Nazi Germany led Italy into World War II, resulting in his downfall and execution by communist partisans in 1945.

Two

On October 28, the Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated in New York Harbour. In what decade did this occur, and which US President dedicated the statue?

Answer: 1886; President Grover Cleveland

The statue was a gift from France to the United States, formally dedicated by President Grover Cleveland.

Three

A vote in the British House of Commons on this day in 1971 approved plans for the UK’s membership of what regional organisation had been created by the Treaty of Rome in 1957?

Answer: European Economic Community (EEC)

On October 28, 1971, the UK’s Parliament voted to join the European Economic Community, marking the start of a long and sometimes uneasy partnership. Britain formally entered in 1973 and reaffirmed membership in a 1975 referendum, but it often stood apart—refusing both the euro and the Schengen zone. Over time, disputes over sovereignty and immigration deepened. In 2016, voters chose to leave the European Union, and by January 2020, the UK’s 47-year membership had ended—closing one of Europe’s most complex political relationships.

Four

At the 2023 Rugby World Cup final held at the Stade de France, South Africa defeated … (team), and became the first nation to win the Webb Ellis Cup … times. What team fills the first blank space, and what number is missing from the second blank?

Answer: New Zealand; four (times)

South Africa’s 2023 victory made them the most successful team in Rugby World Cup history, surpassing New Zealand’s three titles. South African wins were in 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2023.

Five

On October 28, 1919, legislation was passed in the United States that enforced the 18th Amendment and ushered in the era of Prohibition. What was the name of that act?

Answer: The Volstead Act

On October 28, 1919, the Volstead Act was passed in the United States, enforcing the 18th Amendment and ushering in the Prohibition era. From 1920 to 1933, the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol were banned nationwide. Despite its aim to curb crime and improve morality, Prohibition had the opposite effect—fueling bootlegging, speakeasies, and the rise of organised crime figures like Al Capone. The experiment ended with the 21st Amendment, making it the only constitutional amendment ever repealed. Prohibition left a lasting mark on American culture, law, and attitudes towards personal freedom.

Sic semper tyrannisc

Five questions which are all related to today, October 28th.

*Unveiling of the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World* by Edward Moran. Oil on canvas.
The J. Clarence Davies Collection, Museum of the City of New York via Wikipedia

One

On October 28, 1922, a march on Rome resulted in the rise to power of whom?

Two

On October 28, the Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated in New York Harbor. In what decade did this occur, and which US President dedicated the statue?

Three

A vote in the British House of Commons on this day in 1971 approved plans for the UK’s membership of what regional organisation had been created by the Treaty of Rome in 1957?

Four

Five

On October 28, 1919, legislation was passed in the United States that enforced the 18th Amendment and ushered in the era of Prohibition. What was the name of that act?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later