Category: Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Show the Flag

    Today’s first question concerns an event on December 7th, illustrated by a flag. The rest of the questions follow the flag theme.

    One

    Image Wikipedia

    This image depicts the flag of the first state to ratify the US Constitution on 7 December 1787. Can you identify the state and its capital?


    Two

    Image Wikipedia

    What is the official three-word English name of this country and what countries does it border?


    Three

    Which two islands are represented by these three-legged flags and in which seas are they found respectively?


    Four

    Image Wikipedia

    What sub-national state or territory does this flag represent, and what is that state or territory’s capital city?


    Five

    Image Wikipedia

    What is the official four-word English name of the country represented by this flag, and what is its capital city?

    Good luck! As usual I will post it answers later.

  • December 6th—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions which were posted earlier.

    All of these questions are related to today, December 6th.

    One

    In 1998, Hugo Chávez was victorious in presidential elections in what country?

    Answer: Venezuela

    Hugo Chávez was a Venezuelan politician and revolutionary who served as president from 1999 until his death in 2013. He founded the Fifth Republic Movement and later the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, implementing social reforms and nationalising industries as part of the Bolivarian Revolution. While his policies initially improved poverty and social welfare, they also led to economic instability and shortages.


    1897 Bersey Electrical Cab, British Motor Museum, Gaydon.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    In 1897, which capital city became the first in the world to host licensed self-propelled motorised taxicabs?

    Answer: London, United Kingdom

    The first of these motorised cabs were electric-powered vehicles, nicknamed ‘Hummingbirds’ due to the quiet sound of their electric motors. A fleet of these cabs, designed by Walter C. Bersey, was introduced on 19 August 1897, and officially licensed by 6 December of the same year. However, London had a system for licensed horse-drawn carriages (known as “hackney carriages”) much earlier, with the first official licences issued in 1662. The 1897 date specifically marks the introduction and licensing of motorised, rather than horse-drawn, cabs. 


    Three

    In 1969, the ill-fated Altamont festival, a free one-day rock festival, at the Altamont Speedway, Livermore, California, United States, was put on by an act as a thank-you gesture to their fans? The haphazardly organised festival was put on by what act?

    Answer: The Rolling Stones

    The Altamont Speedway Free Festival in California was a counterculture rock concert intended as a thank-you to fans by The Rolling Stones. However, the event turned deadly when a security guard, a member of the Hell’s Angels, fatally stabbed Meredith Hunter. Marred by violence and three accidental deaths, the festival is often remembered as a dark ending to the 1960s counterculture.  


    Nefertiti.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    In 1912, a bust of a queen of Egypt was discovered during excavations at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Who was this queen from the 14th century BCE?

    Answer: Nefertiti

    Nefertiti, queen of Egypt and wife of King Akhenaton, played a prominent role in the cult of the sun god Aton. She bore six daughters, two of whom became queens, and is depicted in early images accompanying her husband and later usurping kingly privileges in religious rituals. The sculpture later went on display in a Berlin museum, and it became a source of controversy as an alleged plundered artefact.


    Five

    On this day in 1933, a US Federal judge declared a book featuring Stephen Dedalus, Leopold and Molly Bloom not obscene.  Can you name the book and its author?

    Answer: Ulysses by James Joyce

    Ulysses, a modernist novel by James Joyce, parallels Homer’s Odyssey and chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners—Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom and Molly Bloom—on 16 June 1904, representing Telemachus, Odysseus and Penelope. Published in Paris in 1922, the novel is considered a classic of modernist literature, known for its experimental style, rich characterisation, and exploration of themes like antisemitism, human sexuality and Irish nationalism.

  • December 6th

    All of these questions are related to today, December 6th.

    One

    In 1998, Hugo Chávez was victorious in presidential elections in what country?


    1897 Bersey Electrical Cab.

    Two

    In 1897, which capital city became the first in the world to host licensed self-propelled motorised taxicabs?


    Three

    In 1969, the ill-fated Altamont festival, a free one-day rock festival, at the Altamont Speedway, Livermore, California, United States, was put on by an act as a thank-you gesture to their fans? The haphazardly organised festival was put on by what act?


    Four

    In 1912, a bust of a queen of Egypt was discovered during excavations at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Who was this queen from the 14th century BCE?


    Five

    On this day in 1933, a US Federal judge declared a book featuring Stephen Dedalus, Leopold and Molly Bloom not obscene.  Can you name the book and its author?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Steamboat Willie—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    These questions all relate to today’s date, December 5th.

    Walt Disney’s business envelope featured a self-portrait, c. 1921.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, this visionary American producer created a global entertainment empire that truly began with a mouse. What was that mouse originally going to be called?
    A. Maxwell Mouse
    B. Meredith Mouse
    C. Mortimer Mouse

    Answer: C. Mortimer Mouse

    The mouse was originally called Mortimer Mouse but Lillian Disney, Walt’s wife, suggested Mickey. Disney received a record 59 Oscar nominations and won 22 competitive Academy Awards – still the most for any individual in history.

    The post title Steamboat Willie is a nod to Mickey. It is the title of what was Mickey’s third film, which was the first to be distributed and so considered to be his public debut.


    Two

    Which pope issued the 1484 papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, condemning witchcraft and empowering inquisitors in Germany?
    A. Pope Alexander VI
    B. Pope Julius II
    C. Pope Innocent VIII

    Answer: C. Pope Innocent VIII

    The bull later helped legitimise Malleus Maleficarum (1487), one of the most notorious witch-hunting manuals of the era.


    Three

    Which modern television series featured the Great Smog of London as the central focus of a Season 1 episode, portraying the political and social impact of the 1952 crisis?
    A. Downton Abbey
    B. The Crown
    C. Call the Midwife

    Answer: B. The Crown

    The Great Smog has also inspired satirical and fictional treatments—including a Goon Show episode in 1954 and the Doctor Who audio drama The Creeping Death, both of which use the choking fog as a dramatic backdrop.


    Four

    Born in Vienna, which director known for visually striking films such as Metropolis and M became one of the major figures in early cinema?
    A. F.W. Murnau
    B. Sergei Eisenstein
    C. Fritz Lang

    Answer: C. Fritz Lang

    Lang fled Nazi Germany the same day he was offered a high-ranking propaganda role, later becoming influential in shaping American film noir.


    Five

    On December 5, 2006, which military commander declared himself acting president of Fiji after leading a coup?
    A. Sitiveni Rabuka
    B. Frank Bainimarama
    C. Epeli Nailatikau

    Answer: B. Frank Bainimarama

    Bainimarama later served as Fiji’s elected prime minister from 2014 to 2022, overseeing the country’s return to democratic elections.

  • Steamboat Willie

    These questions all relate to today’s date, December 5th.

    Walt Disney’s business envelope featured a self-portrait, c. 1921.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, this visionary American producer created a global entertainment empire that truly began with a mouse. What was that mouse originally going to be called?
    A. Maxwell Mouse
    B. Meredith Mouse
    C. Mortimer Mouse


    Two

    Which pope issued the 1484 papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, condemning witchcraft and empowering inquisitors in Germany?
    A. Pope Alexander VI
    B. Pope Julius II
    C. Pope Innocent VIII


    Three

    Which modern television series featured the Great Smog of London as the central focus of a Season 1 episode, portraying the political and social impact of the 1952 crisis?
    A. Downton Abbey
    B. The Crown
    C. Call the Midwife


    Four

    Born in Vienna, which director known for visually striking films such as Metropolis and M became one of the major figures in early cinema?
    A. F.W. Murnau
    B. Sergei Eisenstein
    C. Fritz Lang


    Five

    On December 5, 2006, which military commander declared himself acting president of Fiji after leading a coup?
    A. Sitiveni Rabuka
    B. Frank Bainimarama
    C. Epeli Nailatikau

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • All at Sea—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    Today’s questions focus on abandoned boats and ships. The first question centres on the Mary Celeste, discovered abandoned on December 4th, 1872.

    Mary Celeste.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    When the Mary Celeste was found drifting and abandoned on 4 December 1872, which everyday object—left untouched—helped show the ship had not been ransacked by pirates?
    A. The ship’s telegraph terminal
    B. A basketball
    C. A sewing machine

    Answer: A. The ship’s sewing machine

    Its presence in perfect condition suggested the crew left suddenly rather than under attack, since pirates would never have ignored valuable portable items.


    Two

    After HMS Resolute was abandoned in Arctic ice in 1854, how did the United States symbolically return the vessel to Britain after it was recovered?
    A. By selling it back to Britain at auction
    B. By sailing it back and gifting it to Queen Victoria
    C. By towing it to Canada and scuttling it ceremonially

    Answer: B. By sailing it back and gifting it to Queen Victoria

    Timbers from the ship were later made into the Resolute desk, used by many U.S. Presidents—an enduring symbol of Anglo-American friendship.


    Three

    What key items were missing when the abandoned Carroll A. Deering was found aground on Diamond Shoals in 1921?
    A. The ship’s logbook and navigation equipment
    B. All cargo and provisions
    C. The entire foremast

    Answer: A. The ship’s logbook and navigation equipment

    The loss of these items intensified the mystery, especially because the vessel was otherwise intact in the dangerous waters of the ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’.


    Four

    Which country was the ghost yacht Kaz II navigating around when it departed from Airlie Beach before its three-man crew mysteriously disappeared in 2007?
    A. Australia
    B. Belize
    C. Canada

    Answer: A. Australia

    The yacht which was travelling from Queensland to Perth, Western Australia via the north of Australia was found with food set out and the engine running, sparking comparisons to the Mary Celeste because no sign of struggle or storm damage was present.


    Five

    SS Baychimo became a ‘wandering ghost’ of the Arctic, remaining adrift and being seen numerous times after being abandoned in 1931. For how many years did sightings continue?
    A. 18 years
    B. 28 years
    C. 38 years

    Answer: C. 38 years

    Sighted intermittently for almost four decades, the Baychimo was finally lost to history—its last confirmed appearance occurring in 1969 when frozen in ice.

  • All at Sea

    Today’s questions focus on abandoned boats and ships. The first question centres on the Mary Celeste, discovered abandoned on December 4th, 1872.

    Mary Celeste.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    When the Mary Celeste was found drifting and abandoned on 4 December 1872, which everyday object—left untouched—helped show the ship had not been ransacked by pirates?
    A. The ship’s telegraph terminal
    B. A basketball
    C. A sewing machine


    Two

    After HMS Resolute was abandoned in Arctic ice in 1854, how did the United States symbolically return the vessel to Britain after it was recovered?
    A. By selling it back to Britain at auction
    B. By sailing it back and gifting it to Queen Victoria
    C. By towing it to Canada and scuttling it ceremonially


    Three

    What key items were missing when the abandoned Carroll A. Deering was found aground on Diamond Shoals in 1921?
    A. The ship’s logbook and navigation equipment
    B. All cargo and provisions
    C. The entire foremast


    Four

    Which country was the ghost yacht Kaz II navigating around when it departed from Airlie Beach before its three-man crew mysteriously disappeared in 2007?
    A. Australia
    B. Belize
    C. Canada


    Five

    SS Baychimo became a ‘wandering ghost’ of the Arctic, remaining adrift and being seen numerous times after being abandoned in 1931. For how many years did sightings continue?
    A. 18 years
    B. 28 years
    C. 38 years

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

  • Hatches, Matches and Despatches Part Deux—Answers

    Apocalypse Now. See question 3.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Today’s questions focus on individuals born, married or deceased on December 3rd.

    One

    Which heavy metal band, formed in Birmingham in 1968 and known for pioneering the genre, featured Ozzy Osbourne as its original lead vocalist?

    Answer: Black Sabbath

    Ozzy Osbourne was born this day in 1948. Black Sabbath’s 1970 self-titled debut album is often cited as one of the first true heavy-metal records, in part because its tritone-based title track was considered unusually dark and ominous for its time.


    Two

    Which pioneering psychoanalyst, daughter of Sigmund Freud, became one of the founders of child psychoanalysis?

    Answer: Anna Freud

    During World War II, Anna Freud co-founded the Hampstead War Nurseries in London, providing care for bomb-displaced children and shaping her influential theories on child development. She was born in Vienna, Austria, on this day in 1895.


    Three

    Which Polish-born British novelist wrote Heart of Darkness, the novella that later inspired the 1979 film Apocalypse Now?

    Answer: Joseph Conrad

    Conrad did not speak fluent English until his twenties, yet became one of the language’s most celebrated stylists. He was born on this day in 1857.


    Johann Sebastian Bach.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Which Baroque composer, known for works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, married Anna Magdalena Wilcken on 3 December 1721?

    Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach

    Anna Magdalena herself was an accomplished singer, and Bach compiled two Notebooks for Anna Magdalena Bach, collections of keyboard pieces for her to study and perform.


    Five

    Which co-founder of the Jesuit order, famed for missionary work in India, Japan and Southeast Asia, died off the coast of China in 1552?

    Answer: St. Francis Xavier

    Xavier’s extensive travels—over 60,000 miles by ship—made him one of the most widely travelled religious figures of the 16th century.

  • Hatches, Matches and Despatches Part Deux

    Apocalypse Now. See question 3.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Today’s questions focus on individuals born, married or deceased on December 3rd.

    One

    Which heavy metal band, formed in Birmingham in 1968 and known for pioneering the genre, featured Ozzy Osbourne as its original lead vocalist?


    Two

    Which pioneering psychoanalyst, daughter of Sigmund Freud, became one of the founders of child psychoanalysis?


    Three

    Which Polish-born British novelist wrote Heart of Darkness, the novella that later inspired the 1979 film Apocalypse Now?


    Four

    Which Baroque composer, known for works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, married Anna Magdalena Wilcken on 3 December 1721?


    Five

    Which co-founder of the Jesuit order, famed for missionary work in India, Japan and Southeast Asia, died off the coast of China in 1552?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Who, What, When, Where or Why—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.

    Today’s questions are simply either Who, What, When, Where or Why.

    Apollo 13 launches from Kennedy Space Center, April 11, 1970.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Who was the only astronaut on the Apollo program to be the only person to fly to the Moon twice without landing?

    Answer: Jim Lovell

    James Lovell was an American astronaut, naval aviator, and engineer. He flew on four space missions, including Apollo 8 and Apollo 13, and was the first person to fly into space four times. Lovell received numerous awards and honours for his contributions to space exploration.


    Two

    What uninvited stony visitor injured Elizabeth Hodges while she napped on her couch in Alabama in 1954?

    Answer: Meteorite

    Ann Elizabeth Fowler Hodges, the first documented person struck by a meteorite and survive, was injured when a meteorite fragment crashed through her roof and hit her while she napped on 30 November 1954.


    Three

    When was the Mongol Empire founded by Genghis Khan, was it (i) 11th Century; (ii) 12th Century; (iii) 13th Century

    Answer: (iii) 13th Century

    The Mongol Empire, founded by Genghis Khan in 1206, eventually covering some 9 million square miles (23 million square km) from the Pacific Ocean to the Danube River and the Persian Gulf by the late 13th century.


    Four

    Where on the planet is the farthest point from the Earth’s centre. Is it the summit of (i) Chimborazo, Ecuador; (ii) Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland or (iii) Mount Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica?

    Answer: (i) Chimborazo, Ecuador

    Chimborazo, a stratovolcano in Ecuador, is the highest mountain in the country and the 39th-highest peak in the Andes. Despite not being the tallest mountain on Earth, its summit is the farthest point from the Earth’s centre due to its equatorial location on the planet’s equatorial bulge.


    Five

    Why was 1936 a year of three kings in the United Kingdom, and who were they?

    Answer: Abdication crisis; George V, Edward VIII and George VI

    On the death of George V his eldest son became Edward VIII but he abdicated only 326 days later and his younger brother Albert became king as George VI.
    Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor, proposed marriage to Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée, led to a constitutional crisis and his abdication in favour of his brother, George VI. After his abdication, Edward, who was made Duke of Windsor by the new king, married Simpson and they lived in France until his death in 1972.