Which famous photograph featuring US Marine Ira Hayes shows him and fellow servicemen raising the American flag during a pivotal World War II battle?
Two
Goodbye, Norma Jeane Though I never knew you at all You had the grace to hold yourself While those around you crawled They crawled out of the woodwork And they whispered into your brain They set you on the treadmill And they made you change your name
AZ Lyrics
Goodbye England’s rose May you ever grow in our hearts You were the grace that placed itself Where lives were torn apart You called out to our country And you whispered to those in pain Now you belong to heaven And the stars spell out your name
AZ Lyrics
This song has two versions, and the first verse of each is shown above. The first was written in 1973, and it was adapted 24 years later; both were written about different people. There are several questions…
What’s the song title in each case?
Who were the songwriters?
Who is the subject of each respective version?
Three
This 20th-century singer-songwriter wrote about the 1959 plane crash referred to as ‘The Day the Music Died’. He also wrote a song about a 19th-century artist whose opening line references a painting often mistaken for the song’s title. There are four questions…
Who is the singer-songwriter?
What are the titles of the two songs?
Who were the three rock and roll musicians who died in the crash?
Finally, who was the artist?
Four
Lori Lieberman co-wrote this song with lyrics about Don McLean after watching him in performance. Arguably the best known version is Roberta Flack’s 1973 cover which became a number-one hit in the US, Australia and Canada, and a top ten hit in the UK. What is the song?
Five
Je t’aime… moi non plus was written in 1967 by Serge Gainsbourg. The best known version of it was Gainsbourg’s 1969 duet with Jane Birkin which topped the UK charts. Who, often referred to as ‘B.B.’, had Gainsbourg originally written the song for?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
Todays questions are all related to the date, February 22nd.
Dolly the Sheep. The taxidermy mount of Dolly on exhibit at the National Museum of Scotland, 2009. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
On this day in 1997, the world was introduced to Dolly the sheep. Cloned at a Scottish institute sharing a name with a nearby chapel featured in a Dan Brown novel and film, both the institute and chapel’s names originate from that of a village with multiple spellings. What is it?
Answer: Roslin (Institute) or Rosslyn (Chapel) or Roslyn.
Dolly the Sheep was cloned at the Roslin Institute, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell. The nearby Rosslyn Chapel, founded in 1446 by Sir William St. Clair, is a remarkable example of ornate Gothic architecture. The chapel, known as a ‘Bible in stone’, features intricate carvings and sculptures, including the Apprentice Pillar, which is the subject of much speculation. Despite its association with the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail, the chapel’s true significance lies in its historical and architectural value. It featured in Dan Brown’s novel and film The Da Vinci Code.
Two
George Washington, the first president of the United States, was born on 22 February 1732 in Westmoreland, Virginia. This Virginian county was named after the British County of Westmorland, but on what island was this latter county found?
Answer: Great Britain.
Westmorland, a former county in North West England, is situated on the island of Great Britain. It encompassed part of the Lake District and the southern Vale of Eden. In 1974 it was incorporated into Cumbria and now forms part of the larger Westmorland and Furness unitary authority area.
Three
Exactly 200 years after the birth of George Washington, a United States politician was born into a political dynasty on this day. Who was he?
Answer: Ted Kennedy (in full Edward Moore Kennedy).
Edward Moore Kennedy, a prominent American politician and member of the Democratic Party, served as a United States Senator from Massachusetts from 1962 until his death in 2009. Known for his oratorical skills and liberal views, Kennedy championed numerous significant pieces of legislation, including the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Despite his political achievements, his career was marred by the Chappaquiddick incident in 1969.
Four
In 1942, three members of an anti-Nazi group were executed by beheading in Munich. Over the following months, others were also executed and many more imprisoned for alleged connections to the group. The group’s two-word name was that of a colour and a flower; what was this name?
Answer: White Rose.
The White Rose was a non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany, led by students and a professor. They conducted a leaflet and graffiti campaign against the Nazi regime, denouncing its crimes and calling for resistance. Their activities ended with further arrests and executions in 1943.
Five
On this date, NASCAR held the first Daytona 500. In what year was this, and which driver won the race?
Answers: 1959; Lee Petty.
The 1959 Daytona 500, the second race of the NASCAR Grand National Series season, was the inaugural race at the newly built Daytona International Speedway. The track, built by NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr., is a 2.5-mile superspeedway and is considered the most prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar.
Todays questions are all related to the date, February 22nd.
Dolly the Sheep. The taxidermy mount of Dolly on exhibit at the National Museum of Scotland, 2009. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
On this day in 1997, the world was introduced to Dolly the sheep. Cloned at a Scottish institute sharing a name with a nearby chapel featured in a Dan Brown novel and film, both the institute and chapel’s names originate from that of a village with multiple spellings. What is it?
Two
George Washington, the first president of the United States, was born on 22 February 1732 in Westmoreland, Virginia. This Virginian county was named after the British County of Westmorland, but on what island was this latter county found?
Three
Exactly 200 years after the birth of George Washington, a United States politician was born into a political dynasty on this day. Who was he?
Four
In 1942, three members of an anti-Nazi group were executed by beheading in Munich. Over the following months, others were also executed and many more imprisoned for alleged connections to the group. The group’s two-word name was that of a colour and a flower; what was this name?
Five
On this date, NASCAR held the first Daytona 500. In what year was this, and which driver won the race?
Born in 1924, Robert Mugabe served as the first prime minister of which African country from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017?
Answer: Zimbabwe
Robert Mugabe, a prominent Black nationalist leader, served as Zimbabwe’s prime minister (1980–87) and president (1987–2017). He resigned in 2017 after 37 years in power, facing pressure to prevent his wife from succeeding him.
Two
Born on this day, Barbara Jordan became the first African American woman to serve in the US House of Representatives from the South. In what year did she join the House?
Answer: 1972.
Barbara Jordan was a lawyer, educator and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas. She was the first African American congresswoman from the South and gained national prominence during the Watergate scandal. After retiring from Congress, she taught at the University of Texas and remained influential in political affairs.
Three
Which poem by W. H. Auden, written in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, famously opens with the line ‘I sit in one of the dives / On Fifty-second Street’?
Answer: September 1, 1939
Although it became one of his most quoted works—especially after major global crises—Auden later grew dissatisfied with the poem and even excluded it from some of his collected editions.
Four
Born in Linares, Spain in 1893, the Marquis of Salobreña was a celebrated musician and composer. What was his name and on which instrument was he renowned for his performances?
Answers: Andrés Segovia; Guitar.
Andrés Segovia, a Spanish classical guitarist, was a pivotal figure in the 20th century, known for re-establishing the guitar as a concert instrument. He significantly influenced the modern-romantic repertoire through commissions and transcriptions, and his expressive performances and distinctive style are highly remembered. Segovia’s career began in Granada in 1909, with notable performances in Madrid in 1912, Paris in 1924, and New York in 1928. His work inspired many composers to create specially composed pieces for the guitar.
and finally…
Five
In 2018, a prominent American Christian evangelist, born in North Carolina 99 years earlier, passed away in the same state. He organised annual crusades drawing huge crowds eager to hear his preaching. His website boasts live audiences of at least 210 million people across over 185 countries and territories. He was also known for rebuking a US president for profanity. Who was this evangelist and which US president did he rebuke?
Answer: Billy Graham; Richard Nixon.
Graham rebuked Nixon for his behaviour regarding Watergate and for his profanity as heard on the Watergate tapes. Billy Graham, a prominent American evangelist, gained international influence through his crusades and media presence. He advocated for racial integration, supported the Civil Rights Movement, and founded the Lausanne Movement.
Born in 1924, Robert Mugabe served as the first prime minister of which African country from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017?
Two
Born on this day, Barbara Jordan became the first African American woman to serve in the US House of Representatives from the South. In what year did she join the House?
Three
Which poem by W. H. Auden, written in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, famously opens with the line ‘I sit in one of the dives / On Fifty-second Street’?
Four
Born in Linares, Spain in 1893, the Marquis of Salobreña was a celebrated musician and composer. What was his name and on which instrument was he renowned for his performances?
and finally…
Five
In 2018, a prominent American Christian evangelist, born in North Carolina 99 years earlier, passed away in the same state. He organised annual crusades drawing huge crowds eager to hear his preaching. His website boasts live audiences of at least 210 million people across over 185 countries and territories. He was also known for rebuking a US president for profanity. Who was this evangelist and which US president did he rebuke?
Tom kha, a Thai soup originating around 1890, evolved from tom kha pet (duck and galangal) to tom kha kai (chicken) and tom kha kung (shrimp). It is distinguished from tom yam by its coconut milk base.
Two
In which country is Punta Gallinas, the northernmost part of mainland South America?
Answer: Colombia
Punta Gallinas, also known as Cape Gallinas or Cape Hens, is a northern Colombian headland in the Caribbean Sea. Situated in Uribia Municipality within La Guajira Department, it marks the northernmost point on South America’s mainland and is one of the continent’s extreme points.
Three
Caspian, Indian, and monocled are species of which snake?
Answer: Cobra
The Caspian cobra, a highly venomous snake endemic to Central Asia, and the monocled cobra, found in South and Southeast Asia, are both known for their potent venom and are responsible for numerous snakebite incidents. The Indian cobra, native to the Indian subcontinent, is one of the ‘big four’ species responsible for the most snakebite cases in Sri Lanka and India.
Four
In what game was a character renamed in 2023 as Boden ‘Boddy’ Black Jr?
Answer: Cluedo/Clue.
In the 2023 update of Cluedo/Clue, Boden “Boddy” Black Jr. finally aligns the British Dr. Black with the American Mr. Boddy.
Five
Where in Ireland is the cultural region of Connemara?
Answer: County Galway.
Connemara, a region in western County Galway, Ireland, is renowned for its traditional Irish culture. It’s Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht, a district where Irish is the predominant language, and boasts mountains, peninsulas, coves, islands and small lakes. Clifden serves as its largest settlement.
Here are the answers to my Walter posted questions.
Diagram of the Solar System from Copernicus’ manuscript of De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. Image Wikimedia Commons
All of today’s questions relate to the date, February 19th.
One
In what century was Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus born?
Answer: 15th century.
Born in 1473, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Renaissance polymath, formulated a heliocentric model of the universe, placing the Sun at its centre. His work, published in De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) triggered the Copernican Revolution and significantly contributed to the Scientific Revolution.
Two
In 1945, the Battle of Iwo Jima began when US Marines invaded the Japanese volcanic island of Iwo Jima. What does the name Iwo Jima mean in English?
Answer: Sulfur Island.
Iwo Jima, a volcanic island in the Ogasawara Archipelago, is administered by Tokyo. It was the site of a major WWII battle between Japan and the US, resulting in over 20,000 casualties on each side. Today, the island has no permanent inhabitants except for a Self-Defence Force base and is owned by a combination of individuals, the village, and the Japanese government.
Three
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was born in 1960 and was known as Prince Andrew. He would later also be known as the Duke of York. For the first 22 years of his life, he was second in the line of succession to the British throne, who, born in 1982, replaced him as second in the line of succession?
Answer: Prince William (The eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) and Diana, Princess of Wales).
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faced controversy due to his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. He denied allegations of sexual abuse but settled a civil lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre in 2022. In 2025, Charles III removed Andrew’s royal styles and honours, restricted his titles, and relocated him to private accommodation.
Four
Born in 1924, this actor was a decorated World War II veteran, where he served in the U.S. Marines. He won an Oscar for Best Actor for Cat Ballou (1965) where he played both Kid Shelleen and Tim Strawn. He appeared in The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Gorky Park (1983). He died in 1987. Who is this actor?
Answer: Lee Marvin.
Marvin, an American actor known for his tough-guy roles, received an Academy Award for his performance in Cat Ballou. He was also a decorated World War II veteran and a descendant of the Lee family of Virginia.
Five
In 1913, Pedro Lascuráin assumed the role of President of Mexico. What connects the number 45 to his presidency? Was it
45 marriages (he was married 45 times during his presidency)
45 minutes (he was in office for only 45 minutes)
45 murders (he was connected to 45 murders during his presidency)
Answer: 45 minutes (he was in office for only 45 minutes)
During the Ten Tragic Days coup, Victoriano Huerta captured President Madero and convinced him to resign. Lascuráin, next in line, briefly assumed the presidency before appointing Huerta as his successor, making Lascuráin’s presidency the shortest in history of not only Mexico but the world.
Diagram of the Solar System from Copernicus’ manuscript of De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. Image Wikimedia Commons
All of today’s questions relate to the date, February 19th.
One
In what century was Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus born?
Two
In 1945, the Battle of Iwo Jima began when US Marines invaded the Japanese volcanic island of Iwo Jima. What does the name Iwo Jima mean in English?
Three
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was born in 1960 and was known as Prince Andrew. He would later also be known as the Duke of York. For the first 22 years of his life, he was second in the line of succession to the British throne, who, born in 1982, replaced him as second in the line of succession?
Four
Born in 1924, this actor was a decorated World War II veteran, where he served in the U.S. Marines. He won an Oscar for Best Actor for Cat Ballou (1965) where he played both Kid Shelleen and Tim Strawn. He appeared in The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Gorky Park (1983). He died in 1987. Who is this actor?
Five
In 1913, Pedro Lascuráin assumed the role of President of Mexico. What connects the number 45 to his presidency? Was it
45 marriages (he was married 45 times during his presidency)
45 minutes (he was in office for only 45 minutes)
45 murders (he was connected to 45 murders during his presidency)
Here are the answers to the questions in my earlier post.
Today’s questions all relate to the date, February 18th.
Pluto. Photograph taken by NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered what in our solar system?
Answer: Pluto.
In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh, an American astronomer, discovered Pluto despite lacking formal training. He attended the University of Kansas on a scholarship and completed his M.A. in astronomy in 1939. Tombaugh worked at the Lowell Observatory, cataloguing over 30,000 celestial objects before leaving in 1946. His research included star clusters, extragalactic nebulae, and planetary observations. In 1950, he predicted Mars’ cratered surface due to its proximity to the asteroid belt, a prediction confirmed by Mariner 4 in the 1960s. Tombaugh also taught at Arizona State College and the University of California, contributing significantly to astronomy.
Two
Born in Tokyo in 1933, she is a Japanese artist and musician. In 1968, she released, with her future husband, Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins, a collaborative experimental album. They later lived in an apartment building at 1 West 72nd Street, New York City. Who is she, what is the building at 1 West 72nd Street, NYC named, and who was her collaborative husband-to-be?
Answer: Yoko Ono; The Dakota; John Lennon.
Yoko Ono, a Japanese artist, musician, activist, and filmmaker, rose to fame in the 1960s and married John Lennon in 1969. She achieved success in music, including a Grammy-winning album with Lennon, and continues to honour his legacy through philanthropy. The Dakota, a historic luxury apartment building in New York City, was built between 1880 and 1884 in the German Renaissance style by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh. It was one of the first major developments on the Upper West Side and remains the city’s oldest luxury apartment building. Recognised as a National Historic Landmark, The Dakota is celebrated for its unique architecture and has housed numerous artists and celebrities.
Three
In 1965, The Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom. This African nation is situated on which ocean and is bordered by which country?
Answer: Atlantic Ocean; Senegal.
The Gambia, Africa’s smallest mainland country, lies along the Atlantic coast surrounded by Senegal and follows the Gambia River through flat, navigable terrain. Its unusual shape stems from 19th‑century territorial agreements between Britain and France. A brief Senegambia confederation existed from 1982 to 1989. The nation, with a 2026 population of around 2.55 million, is a multiparty republic led by President Adama Barrow, with Banjul as its capital. English is the official language, and the main ethnic groups include Malinke, Wolof, Fulani, Diola and Soninke. The economy relies heavily on peanut production and export. Known for its sandy Atlantic beaches and the historic village of Jufureh, The Gambia combines dense rural settlement with cultural and historical links to neighbouring Senegal.
Four
Born on this day, Enzo Ferrari, automobile manufacturer, designer, and racing-car driver. In what decade, and in what city, was he born?
Answer: Modena; 1890s.
Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) was an Italian car designer, manufacturer, and racing driver who founded Scuderia Ferrari and later Ferrari SpA. He began as a test driver after World War I, joining Alfa Romeo in 1920 and creating Scuderia Ferrari in 1929 to prepare Alfa race cars. By 1939 he had split from Alfa and formed Auto Avio Costruzioni, which evolved into Ferrari. The first car under his name, the 125 S, appeared in 1947 and won Ferrari’s first Grand Prix. Famous for speed and engineering excellence, his teams dominated the 1950s and 1960s, though tragedy struck with multiple driver fatalities and the death of his son Dino. Ferrari sold a stake to Fiat in 1969, remained president until 1977, and became a motorsport legend.
Five
In 2010, WikiLeaks publishes thousands of classified documents which had been disclosed by a U.S. soldier. What is his or her name?
Answer: Bradley Manning or Chelsea Manning.
In 2010, WikiLeaks, which had been founded in 2006, released nearly half a million documents on the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a 2007 video showing a U.S. helicopter attack killing twelve, including two Reuters employees. The Obama administration condemned the leaks as a national security threat. In November 2010, WikiLeaks published 250,000 classified U.S. diplomatic cables, revealing efforts to isolate Iran. Following the leaks, U.S. lawmakers pursued prosecution of Assange and collaborators. Bradley Manning, a U.S. Army analyst, was arrested in May 2010 for releasing the helicopter video and later accused of leaking cables. Manning pleaded guilty to 10 charges, was found guilty of espionage and theft in July 2013, and received a 35-year sentence. The day after sentencing Manning’s attorney issued a press release saying that his client was a female, and asked that she be referred to by her new name of Chelsea and feminine pronouns. WikiLeaks faced setbacks, including being taken offline and losing payment services.
