Pursuit of the Trivial – Page 2

First—Answers

All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

See question 3. Abraham Lincoln, 1863.
Image Wikipedia

One

((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

(Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

(Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

(Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

(Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

(Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

(Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

(Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?

Answer: It’s a Wonderful Life

It’s a Wonderful Life, a 1946 Christmas film directed by Frank Capra, stars James Stewart as George Bailey. Initially a box office disappointment, the film later became a Christmas classic and is now considered one of the greatest films of all time.

Two

The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?

Answer: Brothers Grimm

German folklorists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, known for Grimm’s Fairy Tales, significantly contributed to folklore study and popularised classic tales. Jacob also made notable contributions to historical linguistics and Germanic philology.

Three

On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?

Answer: South Carolina

South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860, joining the Confederacy and sparking the Civil War. After the war, Reconstruction brought military occupation and disenfranchisement, leading to the rise of Wade Hampton and the ‘Bourbon era’. The conflict between the Up Country and Low Country culminated in the election of Benjamin R. Tillman, who championed agrarian reform, white supremacy, and the disenfranchisement of African Americans.

Four

In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?

Answer: 1970s

On 20 December 1974, Mengistu Haile Mariam, an Ethiopian army officer, overthrew the monarchy and established a communist regime. He ruled with an iron fist, implementing the ‘Red Terror Campaign’ and facing armed rebellions, droughts and famines. Facing mounting challenges and dwindling support, Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe in 1991.

Five

In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

Answers: Wes Craven; Neve Campbell

Scream is a 1996 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The film, which satirises slasher genre clichés, was a critical and commercial success, grossing approximately $173 million worldwide. It revitalised Craven’s and Drew Barrymore’s careers and spawned a successful franchise.

First

All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

One

((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

(Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

(Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

(Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

(Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

(Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

(Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

(Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?

Two

The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?

Three

On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?

Four

In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?

Five

In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

Good Luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

Little Sparrow—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post.

See question 5. Artist pression of ESA’s *Gaia* satellite observing the Milky Way, with a background image of the sky compiled from data from more than 1.8 billion stars.
Image ESA via Wikipedia

One

… was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.

Published for the first time on this date in 1843, what begins with the quote above and whose surname is missing from the start?

Answer: A Christmas Carol; Marley

A Christmas Carol, a novella by Charles Dickens, recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation after visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The novella, published in 1843, was inspired by Dickens’s experiences and the Victorian revival of Christmas traditions. It has never been out of print and has been widely adapted.

Two

Born on this day in 1906, what Soviet leader, along with US President Jimmy Carter, signed the unsuccessful SALT II treaty in Vienna in 1979?

Answer: Leonid Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev, a Soviet statesman, led the Soviet Union for 18 years. He prioritised foreign and military affairs, implementing the Brezhnev Doctrine to justify Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia and expanding the Soviet military-industrial complex. While achieving parity with the US in nuclear weapons and space programmes, Brezhnev’s focus on defence led to economic decline, impacting agriculture, consumer goods and healthcare.

Three

A singer born in Paris, France, on 19 December 1915, came to be known as ‘little sparrow’. Who was she?

Answer: Edith Piaf

Edith Piaf, a French singer and actress, gained international fame for her interpretation of the chanson. Her life, marked by tragedy and hardship, deeply influenced her music, which often reflected themes of loss and love. Despite her struggles with health and addiction, Piaf’s powerful voice and dramatic style captivated audiences, leaving a lasting legacy.

Four

On this day in 1606, Christopher Newport, in command of the Discovery, the Godspeed, and the Susan Constant, sailed from London, England. The following April, they entered a bay—the largest estuary in the United States—and went on to set up the first permanent English settlement in North America. What was the name of the bay and the colony?

Answer: Chesapeake Bay; Jamestown

Newport, a member of the colony’s governing body, led a total five voyages between Virginia and England, bringing supplies and settlers to the Jamestown colony between 1606 and 1611.

Five

In 2013, the European Space Agency launched a spacecraft that could be described as a space telescope or astronomical observatory. Named after the personification of Earth in Greek mythology, what was its name?

Answer: Gaia

Gaia, the Greek personification of Earth, is the mother of Uranus, Pontus, the Titans, Cyclopes and Giants.

From 27 July 2014 to 15 January 2025, Gaia has made more than three trillion observations of two billion stars and other objects throughout our Milky Way galaxy and beyond, mapping their motions, luminosity, temperature and composition. Gaia’s extraordinarily precise three-dimensional map will provide the data needed to tackle an enormous range of important questions related to the origin, structure and evolutionary history of our galaxy.

— European Space Agency

Little Sparrow

See question 5. Artist pression of ESA’s … satellite observing the Milky Way, with a background image of the sky compiled from data from more than 1.8 billion stars.
Image ESA via Wikipedia

One

… was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.

Published for the first time on this date in 1843, what begins with the quote above and whose surname is missing from the start?

Two

Born on this day in 1906, what Soviet leader, along with US President Jimmy Carter, signed the unsuccessful SALT II treaty in Vienna in 1979?

Three

A singer born in Paris, France, on 19 December 1915, came to be known as ‘little sparrow’. Who was she?

Four

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

The Glimmer Twins—Answers

The Glimmer Twins. See question five.
Image Atlas Obscura

Today’s questions are all related to events that occurred on December 18th.

One

How many US presidents have been impeached, and who are they?

Answer: Three; Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump (twice)

On 18 December 2019 Donald Trump became the third US president to be impeached. He was impeached a second time in January 2021. Impeachment is a congressional check on presidential power, requiring a simple majority vote in the House and a two-thirds majority in the Senate for conviction and removal from office. Despite being impeached, none of these presidents were convicted or removed from office. In 1974, in a bid to avoid being impeached Richard Nixon, became the first president to resign.

Two

In 1892, Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker was first presented at which theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia

Answer: Mariinsky Theatre

The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s final ballet, premiered in December 1892. Despite initial criticism of the choreography, scenery, and performance, it has become the most frequently performed ballet and a popular introduction to classical music. Though initially not as successful as the earlier Nutcracker Suite, it gained popularity and is now performed by many ballet companies, especially in North America.

Three

Born on this day in 1946, this director directed Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper in a 1975 film and as Roy Neary in a 1977 one. Who is the director and what are the films?

Answer: Steven Spielberg; Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Steven Spielberg, the highest-grossing director of all time, is renowned for pioneering the modern blockbuster with films like Jaws and Schindler’s List. He co-founded Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures, producing numerous successful films and TV series. Spielberg’s filmmaking journey began in childhood, leading to early successes. His breakthrough with Jaws (1975) established him as a leading director and created the summer blockbuster genre. He is also celebrated for diverse works, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Four

The TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! premiered in 1966 and was an adaptation of a 1957 children’s book written under a pen name. Could you tell me what that pen name was and what is the author’s real name?

Answer: Dr. Seuss; Theodor Seuss Geisel

Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was an American children’s author and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated over 60 books, including classics like The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, selling over 600 million copies worldwide. His work has been adapted into numerous television specials, films, and a Broadway musical. His birthday, March 2nd, is marked annually as National Read Across America Day

Five

Born on this day in 1943, one half of ‘The Glimmer Twins’. This British musician and guitarist met a singer, his musical and songwriting ‘twin’ at a railway station in 1961. Their chance encounter ultimately led to their becoming key figures in the formation of a legendary rock band. Who was the musician born on this day?

Answer: Keith Richards

Born in Dartford, Kent, in 1943, Keith Richards is a celebrated British musician, guitarist, songwriter and record producer. His innovative chord-heavy playing style, influenced by early blues, has been a key factor in the Rolling Stones’ immense success. He is best known as a founding member and guitarist of the Rolling Stones, with a successful songwriting partnership with Mick Jagger. *Rolling Stones *magazine’s ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’ list included fourteen songs written by Richards and Jagger.

The Glimmer Twins

The post title refers to a name used by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger who have produced Stones’ albums under the pseudonym ‘The Glimmer Twins’ starting with It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (1974).

The Glimmer Twins

Today’s questions are all related to events that occurred on December 18th.

One

How many US presidents have been impeached, and who are they?

Two

In 1892, Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker was first presented at which theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia

Three

Born on this day in 1946, this director directed Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper in a 1975 film and as Roy Neary in a 1977 one. Who is the director and what are the films?

Four

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Doh—Answers

The first question refers to an event that occurred on December 17th. The subsequent questions are related to this initial one.

*The Simpsons* title card.
Image Wikipedia

One

The Simpsons first appeared on American television as a full-length series in 1989. On whose television series had they previously appeared in short animated segments?

Answer: The Tracey Ullman Show

The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, a Christmas special, aired on American television on December 17th, 1989. The show had began as short animated segments on The Tracey Ullman Show before becoming its own half-hour series, eventually growing into the longest-running scripted TV show in US history.

⸻

Two

What is the name of Homer Simpson’s favourite beer?

Answer: Duff Beer

Duff Beer has become so iconic that real-world novelty versions and theme-park brands have been produced, despite the beer being fictional.

⸻

Three

D’oh. DOH. Doh. D’oooh (with or without either ! or ?).
Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson, adopted the expression after noticing its frequent use by an actor in films starring what duo.

Answer: Laurel and Hardy

Jimmy Finlayson, the moustachioed Scottish actor who starred in 33 Laurel and Hardy films frequently used the expression in their comedies influenced this.

Four

Which convenience store is frequently visited by Homer Simpson and is run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon?

Answer: The Kwik-E-Mart

The Kwik-E-Mart is first mentioned in the episode, ‘Bart the General’, and quickly became one of the show’s most recognisable locations.

⸻

Five

The title of the 699th episode of The Simpsons, first aired in 2021, cleverly referenced Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? What was the episode’s title?

Answer: Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars

The Simpsons episode ‘Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars’ aired on 14 March 2021. It follows Homer’s attempt to reunite his childhood band, which is thwarted by J. J. Abrams.

Doh

The first question refers to an event that occurred on December 17th. The subsequent questions are related to this initial one.

One

The Simpsons first appeared on American television as a full-length series in 1989. On whose television series had they previously appeared in short animated segments?

Two

What is the name of Homer Simpson’s favourite beer?

Three

D’oh. DOH. Doh. D’oooh (with or without either ! or ?).
Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson, adopted the expression after noticing its frequent use by an actor in films starring what duo.

Four

Which convenience store is frequently visited by Homer Simpson and is run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon?

Five

The title of the 699th episode of The Simpsons, first aired in 2021, cleverly referenced Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? What was the episode’s title?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

The Moving Finger Writes—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

All of today’s questions are about writers who were born on December 16th.

Contrary to my previous statement, this is Mark Twain, a writer, but not one born on December 16th.
Image Wikipedia

One

Everytime I read Pride and Prejudice I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone

To which writer, born this day in 1775, was Mark Twain referring when he said the above?

Answer: Jane Austen

Jane Austen was an English novelist known for her six novels that critique the English landed gentry and explore women’s dependence on marriage. Although her novels were moderately successful during her lifetime, they gained widespread acclaim and popularity after her death. Austen’s work has inspired numerous adaptations and critical essays.

Two

What television writer, born in 1943, was a creator of both Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue?

Answer: Steven Bochco

Steven Bochco, an American television writer and producer, developed numerous crime dramas including Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue.

Three

Ubik, a 1969 science fiction novel by an American writer born in 1928, was selected by Time magazine in 2009 as one of the 100 greatest novels since 1923. Who was the writer?

Answer: Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick was an American science fiction writer known for exploring philosophical and social questions in his work. He wrote 45 novels and 121 short stories, gaining acclaim with The Man in the High Castle and later works like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Ubik. His posthumous influence extended to Hollywood, inspiring numerous films and TV adaptations.

Four

Born on this day in 1899, this English playwright, actor and composer had a part as a convict in The Italian Job (1969). Who was this?

Answer: Noël Coward

Noël Coward was a prolific English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer known for his wit and flamboyance. He achieved enduring success with over 50 plays, numerous songs and a diverse body of work spanning six decades.

Five

In Arthur C. Clarke’s 1953 short story The Nine Billion Names of God, what unexpected device do Tibetan monks acquire to complete a sacred task that has taken generations?

Answer: Computer

When the story was published, computers were still room-sized, rare machines known mainly to scientists and governments. Clarke’s tale is often cited as one of the earliest and most striking examples of science fiction exploring the uneasy intersection between advanced technology and ancient religious belief—ending with a famously chilling final line as the task is completed.

The Moving Finger Writes

The post title comes from

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
 Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
   Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
 Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM by Omar Khayyam 
(Translated by Edward Fitzgerald)
— Full text at Project Gutenberg

The Moving Finger Writes

All of today’s questions are about writers who were born on December 16th.

Contrary to my previous statement, this is Mark Twain, a writer, but not one born on December 16th. See question one.
Image Wikipedia

One

Everytime I read … I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone

To which writer, born this day in 1775, was Mark Twain referring when he said the above?

Two

What television writer, born in 1943, was a creator of both Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue?

Three

Ubik, a 1969 science fiction novel by an American writer born in 1928, was selected by Time magazine in 2009 as one of the 100 greatest novels since 1923. Who was the writer?

Four

Born on this day in 1899, this English playwright, actor and composer had a part as a convict in The Italian Job (1969). Who was this?

Five

In Arthur C. Clarke’s 1953 short story The Nine Billion Names of God, what unexpected device do Tibetan monks acquire to complete a sacred task that has taken generations?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.