African pygmy mouse, one of the world’s smallestt rodents. See question three. Image A-Z Animals
Very straightforward today.
One
What ‘A’ best describes -273.15º C and −459.67º F?
Answer: Absolute zero.
Absolute zero is 0 K (−273.15 °C), the lowest theoretically possible temperature; it can’t be reached in practice.
Two
What ‘B’ is defined as ‘vision using two eyes with overlapping fields of view, allowing good perception of depth’?
Answer: Binocular vision.
Binocular vision is the brain’s ability to combine what both eyes see into one image, helping with depth perception and judging distance.
Three
What ‘C’ is the world’s largest living rodent, and on what continent are they endemic?
Answer: Capybara; South America.
Capybaras (Hydrochoerus) are large semiaquatic rodents ranging from Panama to Argentina; Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris is the largest living rodent, whereas the lesser capybara (H. isthmius) is smaller. Both are classified as least concern for endangerment, maintain a vegetarian diet, swim to evade predators, and serve as sources of food and leather.
Four
What ‘D’ is the first part of the small intestine?
Answer: Duodenum.
The duodenum is the shortest small intestine section in most vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles and birds, and may be the main iron absorption site in mammals. In humans, this hollow tube links the stomach to the jejunum and comprises four parts.
Five
What ‘E’ is Mozilla Thunderbird?
Answer: E-mail client.
Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open-source personal information manager operated by MZLA Technologies Corporation and managed by the elected Thunderbird Council. It provides email, calendar, contacts, RSS, chat and news across multiple platforms and was modelled on Firefox.
Cast and model of dodo. Oxford University Natural History Museum. Image Wikimedia Commons
Today’s questions have no date connection, but there is a theme.
One
This Sebastian Faulks novel published in 1993 is partly set during a major conflict. What is the novel and in what conflict is it partly set?
Answer: Birdsong; First World War.
Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong follows Stephen Wraysford in the First World War and Elizabeth Benson in the 1970s. It explores trauma and historical recovery, earning acclaim and ranking 13th in the Big Read. Adaptations include radio, television and stage versions.
Two
Columbine, pertaining to the family Columbidae, refers to what?
Answer: Doves (and/or) Pigeons.
Columbine, pertaining to birds of the family Columbidae (doves and pigeons) from French Colombine, from Italian Colombina, feminine of colombino ‘dove-like’, from colombo ‘dove’.
Three
The dodo is an extinct flightless bird. To where was it native, and in what century was one last seen alive?
Answer: Mauritius; 17th century.
The dodo, native to Mauritius, was a flightless bird linked to the Rodrigues solitaire and the Nicobar pigeon. After 1598, hunting and habitat loss occurred, and the bird was last seen in 1662; the species has become a symbol of extinction. Although people often blame human hunting, the main cause was the introduction of cats, dogs, macaques, pigs, and rats, which raided nests and competed for scarce food.
Four
The UK’s Hawker Siddeley Harrier evolved from the Hawker P.1127 prototype and which evaluation aircraft? Which branch of the US military also took delivery of more than 100 of these V/STOL aircraft?
Answer: Kestrel; US Marine Corps.
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1/GR.3 and AV-8A were the first V/STOL close-support and reconnaissance aircraft, derived from the P.1127 and Kestrel. The GR.1 entered RAF service on 18 April 1969 at RAF Wittering; the USMC acquired 102 AV-8A and 8 TAV-8A between 1971 and 1976.
Five
Three birds feature on the Australian coat of arms; how many can you name?
Answer: Emu, shrike & black swan.
The Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms features six animal figures representing five different types of animals: a kangaroo, an emu, two lions (representing New South Wales and Tasmania), an Australian piping shrike (South Australia), and a black swan (Western Australia).
Cast and model of dodo. Oxford University Natural History Museum. Image Wikimedia Commons
Today’s questions have no date connection, but there is a theme.
One
This Sebastian Faulks novel published in 1993 is partly set during a major conflict. What is the novel and in what conflict is it partly set?
Two
Columbine, pertaining to the family Columbidae, refers to what?
Three
The dodo is an extinct flightless bird. To where was it native, and in what century was one last seen alive?
Four
The UK’s Hawker Siddeley Harrier evolved from the Hawker P.1127 prototype and which evaluation aircraft? Which branch of the US military also took delivery of more than 100 of these V/STOL aircraft?
Five
Three birds feature on the Australian coat of arms; how many can you name?
There is no date connection today, but there is a theme.
One
This links Max Yasgur’s dairy farm to C. Brown’s dog?
Answer: Woodstock.
Woodstock in 1969 took place on Max Yasgur’s farm, while in the Peanuts cartoons Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s dog, has a bird companion called Woodstock.
Two
What is the name of the pet owl in Disney’s The Sword in the Stone (1963) and what character’s pet was he?
Answer: Archimedes; Merlin.
Archimedes is Merlin’s educated but grouchy pet owl who can speak. He is loyal to Merlin but frequently points out the wizard’s flaws. The character is based on the talking owl from the book The Sword in the Stone, where he also teaches Wart how to fly.
Three
In the Harry Potter stories, what is the name and species of Ron Weasley’s pet owl?
Answers: Pigwidgeon; Scops owl.
Pigwidgeon, nicknamed ‘Pig’, is a tiny, hyperactive Scops owl given to Ron Weasley by Sirius Black to replace his lost pet rat, Scabbers. Named by Ginny Weasley, Pigwidgeon is known for being loud, bothersome, and a bit of a show-off, often annoying other owls. Despite his small size, he was used to deliver letters, including heavy loads, and was borrowed by Harry Potter to communicate with Sirius during the Triwizard Tournament. He stayed at The Burrow when Ron left to hunt Horcruxes with Harry and Hermione.
Four
What 2016 film featured a kingfisher named Kiki?
Answer: Robinson Crusoe (aka The Wild Life).
Robinson Crusoe, released in North America as The Wild Life, is a 2016 3D animated film directed by Vincent Kesteloot and Ben Stassen. Based on Daniel Defoe’s novel from the animals’ perspective, it grossed $42.4 million against a $13 million budget despite negative reviews.
Five
What song gave Fleetwood Mac their only UK number one hit?
Answer: Albatross.
The Fleetwood Mac instrumental Albatross, composed by Peter Green and released in 1968, was the band’s only number-one single in the UK. It was later re-released in 1973, reaching number two.
Sean Connery as James Bond. See question four. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
On 5 October 1969, I was in my mid-teens and interested in aviation, so I settled in to watch a new BBC TV series at its debut. Although it turned out to be unrelated to flight, it was excellent and became a turning point for television comedy: what was the programme, and who were the half-dozen people who created, wrote, and performed in it?
Answers: Monty Python’s Flying Circus; Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a British surreal sketch comedy series created by the “Pythons”—Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam. Premiering in 1969, the show aired 45 episodes over four series until 1974 and is known for its absurd situations, observational sketches without punchlines, and unique animations by Gilliam. The troupe also produced five films including Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979).
Two
Born on this day in 1975, this actress portrayed Ophelia, Rose, Hester, and Iris across five years starting in the mid-nineties. Who is she, and in which four films did she assume these roles?
Answer: Kate Winslet; Hamlet; Titanic; Enigma and Iris.
Kate Winslet is an English actress known for her roles as headstrong women in independent films and period dramas. Born in 1975, she has won numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Emmys, five BAFTAs, and five Golden Globes, and was appointed a CBE in 2012. She studied at Redroofs Theatre School and made her screen debut at age fifteen.
Three
In October 1970 PBS began broadcasting on American television taking over many of the functions of what predecessor organisation; and what children’s show featuring live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry were one of its great successes?
Answer: National Educational Television (NET).
PBS, a nonprofit in Arlington, Virginia, distributes educational programmes via over 350 member stations. Funding includes dues, pledges, sponsorships and donations; Corporation for Public Broadcasting support runs from 1969 to 2025. Standards prevent funding influence.
Four
In 1962, the first ‘official’ Bond movie by Eon Productions premiered on this day. What was the film and what actress, although she is not to appear on the screen in this film, is widely regarded as the first ‘Bond girl’ and what was her role?
Answers: Dr. No; Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder.
Dr. No, directed by Terence Young and starring Sean Connery, launched the James Bond series in 1962. Bond investigates a disappearance in Jamaica, uncovering Dr. No’s plot against Cape Canaveral. It established iconic elements and achieved financial success. Although Honey Rider is widely regarded as the first Bond girl, Eunice Gayson as Sylvia Trench and Zena Marshall as Miss Taro.
Five
In 1961, the comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s premiered. Your answers are four names: who starred as Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak; who directed the film; and who wrote the novella the film was based on?
Answers: Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard; Blake Edwards; Truman Capote.
Directed by Blake Edwards from George Axelrod’s screenplay, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) stars Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. It earned two Academy Awards and was preserved in the National Film Registry, though Mickey Rooney’s role caused controversy as being perceived as racist.
And Now For Something Completely Different
The post title was frequently used in Monty Python often as a transition between sketches and was also the title of the troupe’s first film released in 1971.
Sean Connery as James Bond. See question four. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
On 5 October 1969, I was in my mid-teens and interested in aviation, so I settled in to watch a new BBC TV series at its debut. Although it turned out to be unrelated to flight, it was excellent and became a turning point for television comedy: what was the programme, and who were the half-dozen people who created, wrote, and performed in it?
Two
Born on this day in 1975, this actress portrayed Ophelia, Rose, Hester, and Iris across five years starting in the mid-nineties. Who is she, and in which four films did she assume these roles?
Three
In October 1970 PBS began broadcasting on American television taking over many of the functions of what predecessor organisation; and what children’s show featuring live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry were one of its great successes?
Four
In 1962, the first ‘official’ Bond movie by Eon Productions premiered on this day. What was the film and what actress, although she is not to appear on the screen in this film, is widely regarded as the first ‘Bond girl’ and what was her role?
Five
In 1961, the comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s premiered. Your answers are four names: who starred as Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak; who directed the film; and who wrote the novella the film was based on?
Pope Gregory XIII, portrait attributed to Bartolomeo Passarotti. Image Wikimedia Commons
Today’s first question is date-related being connected to today, 4 October. Subsequently, the questions are not date-related but maybe they really are!
One
This day in 1582 saw the introduction of the Gregorian calendar to replace the … calendar meaning that Thursday 4 October 1582 was followed by Friday … — what calendar’s name, and date complete the previous sentence?
Answer: Julian (calendar); and (Friday) 15 October 1582.
The Gregorian calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct the Julian calendar’s 11-minute yearly drift. By dropping 10 days and adjusting the leap year rule for century years, it realigned the calendar with the vernal equinox. Although adoption was gradual, most of continental Catholic Europe adopted the new calendar in 1582, while Great Britain and Ireland waited until 1752. More recent shifts occurred with Greece in 1923 and Saudi Arabia in 2016 and it is now the primary international dating system.
Two
Which song featuring lyrics by Howard Greenfield contains these lines, and which singer wrote the music?
Released in December 1960, Calendar Girl by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield reached No. 1 for Sedaka in Canada and Japan, and made the top ten in both the UK and US. Inspired by Lloyd Price, Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and Ricky Nelson, it uses monthly imagery including Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe. Stan Applebaum and Gary Chester provided instrumentation.
Three
What secular device and tradition is associated with the beginning of the Christian liturgical year?
Answer: Advent Calendar.
An Advent calendar is a decorative tool used to count down the days leading up to Christmas, typically spanning from December 1 or the First Sunday of Advent through December 24 or 25. While often secular today, the practice originated with German Lutherans as a period of spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Early 19th-century traditions included lighting candles or marking doors to track the days. The modern format—featuring compartments, flaps, or pockets that reveal images, stories, Bible verses, or small gifts like chocolate—emerged in early 20th-century Germany. Following a decline during World War II, the tradition gained global popularity.
Four
Clues to this fitting novel are immersed in the following: it marked its author’s debut in 1984; sales rose after US President Ronald Reagan noted his enjoyment; a film with a former James Bond followed in 1990. What were the titles of the book and film; who wrote the book; and what was the former Bond actor’s character name?
Answers: The Hunt for Red October; Tom Clancy; Marko Ramius.
Tom Clancy’s debut novel, The Hunt for Red October, published by Naval Institute Press in 1984, features Soviet captain Marko Ramius allegedly defecting with the revolutionary new ballistic submarine Red October; CIA analyst Jack Ryan must try to assist Ramius’s defection and capture the submarine.
Five
This list from 1793 arranged names in sequence: vintage, mist, frost, snow, rain, wind, seedtime, blossom, meadow, harvest, heat and fruits. What did these terms denote; what system were they part of; and in what year was it replaced by a more international choice?
Answers: Months; the French Republican calendar (also called the French Revolutionary calendar); 1806.
Adopted on 5 October 1793, the French republican calendar replaced the Gregorian system with a secular structure of 12 months and supplementary days. It was abandoned by Emperor Napoleon on 1 January 1806.
Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Monkey, Rooster And Pig
The post title is a list of a few of the animals from the Chinese calendar. Although questions two to five are not date-related as in connected to 4 October they are date-related in being connected to calendars in general and calendars are collections of dates.
Pope Gregory XIII, portrait attributed to Bartolomeo Passarotti. Image Wikimedia Commons
Today’s first question is date-related being connected to today, 4 October. Subsequently, the questions are not date-related but maybe they really are!
One
This day in 1582 saw the introduction of the Gregorian calendar to replace the … calendar meaning that Thursday 4 October 1582 was followed by Friday … — what calendar’s name, and date complete the previous sentence?
Two
Which song featuring lyrics by Howard Greenfield contains these lines, and which singer wrote the music?
What secular device and tradition is associated with the beginning of the Christian liturgical year?
Four
Clues to this fitting novel are immersed in the following: it marked its author’s debut in 1984; sales rose after US President Ronald Reagan noted his enjoyment; a film with a former James Bond followed in 1990. What were the titles of the book and film; who wrote the book; and what was the former Bond actor’s character name?
Five
This list from 1793 arranged names in sequence: vintage, mist, frost, snow, rain, wind, seedtime, blossom, meadow, harvest, heat and fruits. What did these terms denote; what system were they part of; and in what year was it replaced by a more international choice?
