Pursuit of the Trivial – Page 49

Mysteries and Meanings: A Trivial Journey Through Mike—Quebec

Queequeg and his harpoon.
Image: Illustration from 1902 edition of *Moby Dick*/Wikipedia

M is for Mike. This nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion went on to race cars in the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship?
- Haggar
- Hailwood
- Hawthorn

N is for Natalie. She married actor Robert Wagner in 1957 and again in 1972?
- Walnut
- Willow
- Wood
O is for Operation. That was launched on 6 June 1944?
- Overarch
- Overlord
- Overtake
P is for Pygmalion. This musical and a 1960s film were based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion?
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Half a Sixpence
- My Fair Lady
Q if for Queequeg. Queequeg is a character in the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, but who had a dog named Queequeg?
- Dana Scully
- Dr Doug Ross
- Ross Geller

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Game of thrones

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

Queen Juliana.
4 September 1948 — 30 April 1980.
Image Wikipedia

On 30 April 2013, Willem-Alexander became king of the Netherlands after his mother’s abdication. Who was his mother?
- Beatrix—see #2 below.
Willem—Alexander’s mother (see question 1) had became queen on 30 April 1980, on the abdication of her mother. Who was the Dutch queen who abdicated in 1980?
- Juliana—Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 to 1980, managed the decolonisation of the Dutch East Indies and Suriname before abdicating in favour of her daughter Beatrix in 1980. Juliana passed away in 2004 at the age of 94. Beatrix, born in 1938, reigned from 1980 to 2013, during which time the Netherlands experienced significant changes in its Caribbean territories, including Aruba’s secession and the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. She abdicated in favour of her son, Willem-Alexander, in 2013.
  
  King Carl XVI Gustaf.
  Image Wikipedia
Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus, who was born on 30 April 1946, has been king of where since 1973?
- Sweden—Carl XVI Gustaf, born in 1946, is the longest-reigning King of Sweden, having ascended to the throne in 1973. He married Silvia Sommerlath in 1976 and has three children: Victoria, Carl Philip and Madeleine
  
  King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile.
  Image Wikipedia
Today in 1492, Christopher Columbus was given his commission of exploration. Which monarchs issued this commission?
- King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile—After Ferdinand and Isabella conquered Granada they initially believed Columbus’s proposal to sail westwards to the Indies implausible but Ferdinand convinced Isabella to support Columbus’s voyage, promising him titles, revenues and commercial interests in the new lands he might discover.
  
  Wives of Henry VIII.
  Image Wikipedia
Nothing to do with the date. England’s Henry VIII and how many of his wives were related by a single common ancestor?
- Henry VIII plus six of his wives—were descended from Edward I of England. Henry VIII, born on 28 June 1491, reigned as King of England from 1509 to 1547. Known for his six marriages, he sought to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon, leading to the English Reformation. Declaring himself Supreme Head of the Church of England, he dissolved convents and monasteries, resulting in excommunication. Legal attempts failed, with Cardinal Campeggio thwarting a trial in 1529, leading to Wolsey’s downfall. Thomas More, opposing the divorce, succeeded Wolsey but couldn’t resolve the issue. Thomas Cromwell emerged in 1532, orchestrating the church’s separation from Rome, allowing Henry to marry Anne Boleyn and have his first marriage annulled.

Game of thrones

Here are a few questions (most of) which are related to today’s date, 30 April.

On 30 April 2013, Willem-Alexander became king of the Netherlands after his mother’s abdication. Who was his mother? Annie—Beatrix—Catharina
Willem-Alexander’s mother (see question 1) had became queen on 30 April 1980, on the abdication of her mother. Who was the Dutch queen who abdicated in 1980? Jasmijn—Jolanda—Juliana
Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus, who was born on 30 April 1946, has been king of where since 1973? Denmark—Belgium—Sweden
Today in 1492, Christopher Columbus was given his commission of exploration. Which monarchs issued this commission? King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile—Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Empress Eleanor of Portugal—King Manuel I the fortunate and Queen Isabella of Aragon

Henry VIII.
Image Wikipedia
Nothing to do with the date. England’s Henry VIII and how many of his wives were related by a single common ancestor? Henry VIII plus two of his wives—Henry VIII plus four of his wives—Henry VIII plus six of his wives

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

From Springfield to the Führerbunker | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

Marshal Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke.
Image Wikipedia

The Simpsons aired its 636th episode on 29 April 2018, becoming the longest-running scripted prime-time show in the US. What show had held the record until then?
- Gunsmoke—The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening, became the longest-running American scripted primetime television series in 2009–2010 and surpassed Gunsmoke as the show with the most episodes in 2018. It is also the highest-ranking animated series on TV Time’s top 50 most followed shows. The show, which centres on the dysfunctional Simpson family in the fictional town of Springfield, has significantly influenced popular culture by introducing catchphrases and expanding into comic books, video games and a feature film.
  
  Jeanne d’Arc at the Siege of Orléans by Jules Eugène Lenepveu, painted 1886–
  1890.
  Image Wikipedia
On today’s date in 1429, Joan of Arc and her troops relieved what besieged city?
- Orléans—The siege of Orléans, a crucial event in the Hundred Years’ War, began with English forces under Thomas de Montacute, earl of Salisbury, attempting to capture the French city. Following Salisbury’s death, William de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, took over the siege. However, the arrival of Joan of Arc in April 1429 forced the English to abandon the siege, marking a turning point that allowed the French to regain momentum and recapture lost territories.
  
  Obersalzberg- Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun with dogs (German Shepherd Dog “Blondi”?) at the Berghof, 1942
  Image Wikipedia
Who did Adolf Hitler marry on 29 April 1945?
- Eva Braun—In April 1945, Eva Braun defied Hitler’s orders to join him in Berlin, determined to remain with him until the end. In recognition of her loyalty, Hitler married her in a civil ceremony in the Chancellery bunker on April 29. The following day, as the situation in Berlin worsened, both Hitler and Braun committed suicide. Hitler either poisoned or shot himself, and Braun took poison. Their bodies were subsequently burned.
  
  Captain James Cook
  Portrait by William Hodges.
  Image Wikipedia
On this date in 1770, which explorer arrived in and named Botany Bay in Australia?
- James Cook—Endeavour continued northwards along the coastline, keeping the land in sight. As Cook charted and named landmarks, the crew made their first landfall on the continent on 29 April at a beach now known as Silver Beach on Botany Bay (Kamay Botany Bay National Park).
  
  Jerry Seinfeld, Late Show 2019.
  Image Wikipedia
Jerry Seinfeld, the star of the TV show Seinfeld, was born on April 29, 1954. Where was he born?
- Brooklyn, New York, NY—Jerry Seinfeld, an American comedian, actor, writer and producer from Brooklyn, New York, is renowned for his observational humour. He rose to fame with the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, which he co-created with Larry David and starred in from 1989 to 1998. The show became a landmark in American popular culture and a cultural phenomenon, showcasing Seinfeld’s unique comedic style. Since then, he has created and produced several other series and films.

From Springfield to the Führerbunker

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, 29 April.

The Simpsons aired its 636th episode on 29 April 2018, becoming the longest-running scripted prime-time show in the US. What show had held the record until then?
- Family Guy
- Grey’s Anatomy
- Gunsmoke
On today’s date in 1429, Joan of Arc and her troops relieved what besieged city?
- Orléans
- Reims
- Tours
Who did Adolf Hitler marry on 29 April 1945?
- Eva Braun
- Elke Grün
- Ella Schwarz
On this date in 1770, which explorer arrived in and named Botany Bay in Australia?
- James Cook
- Willem Janszoon
- Abel Tasman
Jerry Seinfeld, the star of the TV show Seinfeld, was born on April 29, 1954. Where was he born?
- Bethesda, Maryland
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Brooklyn, New York

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

How much is that doggy in the window | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

Which author born 28 April 1948, provided the city state of Ankh Morpork with the Latatian motto – Quanti Canicula Illa In Fenestra – meaning, “How Much Is That Doggy In The Window”?
- Terry Pratchett—Sir Terry Pratchett, an English author, was renowned for his comic fantasy novels, especially the Discworld series and the apocalyptic comedy Good Omens. With over 100 million books sold globally, he was the UK’s best-selling author of the 1990s and received numerous literary awards. Pratchett began writing early, publishing his first novel, The Carpet People, in 1971. After careers in journalism and public relations, he became a full-time writer in 1987 and continued publishing until his death in 2015 from Alzheimer’s disease. PS “Latatian” is a fictional language: Discworld’s equivalent of Latin.
  
  Kon-tiki in the Kon-tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway.
  Image Wikipedia
  
  Kon-tiki in the Kon-tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway.
  Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1947, Thor Heyerdahl set out on the primitive raft Kon-tiki to demonstrate that Easter Island could have been reached by whom?
- Peruvians—Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian ethnologist and adventurer, is renowned for his Kon-Tiki expedition, where he sailed across the Pacific on a primitive raft to show Peruvians could have reached Easter Island and to illustrate the potential for ancient cultural contact between distant civilizations. Although his theories were not accepted by anthropologists, his voyages, including the Ra II expedition, inspired a book and documentary about the Kon-Tiki journey. His archives, covering the years 1937 to 2002, are preserved in Oslo.
  
  HMS Bounty II 1960 Tall Ship with full sails on Lake Michigan near the Port of Chicago for the 2010 Great Lake Tall Ship Challenge.
  Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1789, William Bligh and 18 of his crewmen were set adrift in the Pacific Ocean. From which ship were they set adrift?
- Bounty—in 1789, Fletcher Christian led a mutiny against Captain William Bligh on the HMS Bounty in the South Pacific. Bligh and 18 loyalists were set adrift but managed to survive a 3,500-nautical-mile journey to safety. The mutineers settled on Tahiti and Pitcairn Island, where their descendants still reside. Bligh, an English navigator and explorer, had discovered 13 Pacific islands but faced mutiny due to his strained relationships with the crew, characterised by verbal abuse and violations of sailor privileges. He later became governor of New South Wales, where he encountered further challenges, including the Rum Rebellion.
  
  Carioca (1948) – First Lamborghini tractor.
  Image Lambocars.com
Ferruccio Lamborghini, born on this day in 1916, built his “Carioca” in 1948. What best describes it?
- Tractor—Lamborghini Trattori, established in 1948 by Ferruccio Lamborghini, initially created tractors using repurposed war materials, featuring engines from trucks and military vehicles. Ferruccio, who developed his mechanical expertise during World War II, built a reputation for reliable tractors in a small factory, surpassing competitors like Fiat and Landini. Following his success in tractors and air conditioners, he later founded Automobili Lamborghini, renowned for luxury cars.
  
  The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.
  Image Pinterest
Which album, which reached number one on the Billboard Album Charts on 28 April 1973, has remained on the charts for over 990 weeks (March 2025)?
- The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd—is a concept album exploring themes of conflict, greed, time, death, and mental illness. The album, released in 1973, brought the band international fame and is certified 14× platinum in the UK. It has sold over 45 million copies worldwide and, at March 2025, had been in the charts for over 990 weeks.

How much is that doggy in the window

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, 28 April.

Which author born 28 April 1948, provided the city state of Ankh Morpork with the Latatian motto – Quanti Canicula Illa In Fenestra – meaning, “How Much Is That Doggy In The Window”?
- Douglas Adams
- Neil Gaiman
- Terry Pratchett
On this day in 1947, Thor Heyerdahl set out on the primitive raft Kon-tiki to demonstrate that Easter Island could have been reached by whom?
- Paraguayans
- Peruvians
- Puerto ricans
On this day in 1789, William Bligh and 18 of his crewmen were set adrift in the Pacific Ocean. From which ship were they set adrift?
- Amistad
- Bounty
- Caine
Ferruccio Lamborghini, born on this day in 1916, built his “Carioca” in 1948. What best describes it?
- Speedboat
- Sports car
- Tractor
Which album, which reached number one on the Billboard Album Charts on 28 April 1973, has remained on the charts for over 990 weeks (March 2025)?
- Greatest Hits, Queen
- Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
- The Dark Side of The Moon, Pink Floyd

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Commonwealth of trivia | Answers

The answers to today’s questions are shown in bold below.

The country represented by the flag pictured obtained its independence from Great Britain on 27 April 1961, when Milton Margai became the first Prime Minister and the country became a member of the British Commonwealth. What country?
- Sierra Leone—Sierra Leone, a presidential republic in West Africa, gained independence from the UK in 1961. After a decade-long civil war ending in 2002, the country has experienced relative stability. Sierra Leone is culturally diverse, with English as the official language and Krio as the lingua franca.
  
  Ferdinand Magellan.
  Image Wikipedia

Where was Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan when he was killed in battle on April 27, 1521?
- Mactan Island (Philippines)—Magellan secured an alliance with the King of Cebu, Rajah Humabon, who converted to Christianity. However, Magellan was killed in a battle on Mactan Island when his men attempted to Christianise the local population. Although he was killed in the Philippines, one of his ships continued westward to Spain, completing the first circumnavigation of the Earth. The Basque navigator Juan Sebastián del Cano successfully finished the voyage. The Philippines did not exist as a nation at the time of Magellan’s death.
  
  Mstislav Rostropovich at the White House, 1978.
  Image Wikipedia
Mstislav Rostropovich, Russian conductor and musician, died today in 2007. He was an acclaimed player of what instrument?
- Cello—Mstislav Rostropovich, a Russian cellist and conductor, inspired and premiered over 100 pieces, expanding the cello repertoire. He was a human rights advocate and received numerous accolades, including a Polar Music Prize.
  
  Grainy image of the Sultana shortly before the explosion.
  Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded, becoming the worst maritime disaster in US history and claiming 1,864 lives. Where did this catastrophic event occur?
- Mississippi River—The Sultana, a commercial steamboat, met a tragic end in 1865 when it exploded and sank on the Mississippi River. The disaster, the worst in US maritime history, claimed the lives of 1,864 people. Tragically, the Sultana was carrying 2,127 passengers, far exceeding its capacity of 376. Among them were 1,950 repatriated Union soldiers, who had been prisoners of war, that the captain had accepted in a deal.
  
  Betty Boothroyd.
  Official portrait of Baroness Boothroyd, 2018.
  Image Wikipedia
In British politics, Betty Boothroyd became the first woman to be elected speaker of the House of Commons on 27 April 1992. What was her occupation before entering politics?
- Dancer—Betty Boothroyd was a dancer with The Tiller Girls from 1946 to 1952. A Member of Parliament (Labour), she served as the first and only female Speaker of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2000. She later sat in the House of Lords.

The Tiller Girls (late 1950s).
Image Pinterest/Wikipedia

Commonwealth of trivia

All of the following relate to today, 27 April.

The country represented by the flag pictured obtained its independence from Great Britain on 27 April 1961, when Milton Margai became the first Prime Minister and the country became a member of the British Commonwealth. What country?
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Suriname
Where was Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan when he was killed in battle on April 27, 1521?
- Mactan Island (Philippines)
- Malendok Island (Papua New Guinea)
- Mecherchar Island (Palau)
Mstislav Rostropovich, Russian conductor and musician, died today in 2007. He was an acclaimed player of what instrument?
- Cello
- Oboe
- Piano
On this day in 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded, becoming the worst maritime disaster in US history and claiming 1,864 lives. Where did this catastrophic event occur?
- Chesapeake Bay
- Lake Superior
- Mississippi River
In British politics, Betty Boothroyd became the first woman to be elected speaker of the House of Commons on 27 April 1992. What was her occupation before entering politics?
- Dancer
- Nanny
- Teacher

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Who, What, When, Where, Why and How III | Answers

(Left to right, per Getty Image crediting): Ed Pollack, Albert Wynn, Thomas A. Dorsey, Ma Rainey, Dave Nelson and Gabriel Washington in 1923.
Image Wikipedia

Who, born 26 April 1886, in Columbus, Georgia, US; performed as Ma Rainey and was known as the “Mother of the blues”?
- Gertrude Pridgett—Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, the “Mother of the Blues”, was a pioneering blues singer who began her career in vaudeville. Her powerful voice and flamboyant performances helped popularise the blues, influencing generations of singers.
  
  Mount Ventoux.
  Image Wikipedia
What best describes Petrarch who climbed Mount Ventoux today in 1336 and, at some point, wrote about it?
- Poet—Francis Petrarch, a prominent scholar and poet of the early Italian Renaissance, climbed Mont Ventoux in 1336. Inspired by the climb and a reading of Saint Augustine’s “Confessions,” Petrarch reflected on the true nature of wonder, shifting his focus from the external world to the inner soul.
  
  The seal of the London Company, also known as the Charter of the Virginia Company of London.
  Image Wikipedia
When did the Virginia Company colonists make landfall at Cape Henry?
- 1607—The Virginia Company, chartered by [Britain’s] King James I in 1606, aimed to colonise America’s eastern coast and established the Jamestown Colony in Virginia. Despite initial challenges, John Rolfe’s introduction of sweeter tobacco strains from the Caribbean improved the company’s prospects. The company also founded America’s first legislature, the General Assembly, in 1619. However, it was dissolved in 1624 after the Great Massacre, leading to Virginia becoming a royal colony.
  
  Wreckage of Messerschmitt Bf 110D flown by Rudolf Hess, Bonnyton Moor, Scotland.
  Image Wikipedia
Where, during World War II, was senior Nazi Rudolf Hess—born today in 1894—captured?
- Scotland—Rudolf Hess, a German National Socialist and Adolf Hitler’s deputy, flew to Scotland in 1941 to negotiate a peace between Britain and Germany. His proposals were rejected by both the British government and Hitler, who accused him of “pacifist delusions”. After the war, Hess was tried at the Nuremberg trials, convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He served his sentence at Spandau prison in Berlin, where he was the sole inmate from 1966 onwards.
  
  The Hull-Ottawa fire, 26 April 1900.
  Image Wikipedia
Why were thousands of people in Canada left without a home on this date in 1900?
- Fire—In 1900, a fire caused by a defective chimney in Hull, Quebec, spread to Ottawa, Ontario, destroying two-thirds of Hull and one-fifth of Ottawa. The fire, fuelled by wind and lumber, caused significant property damage and loss of life, with seven people being killed in the conflagration which displaced 15,000 people.
How did John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln, die?
- Gunshot—Following Lincoln’s assassination, John Wilkes Booth fled to southern Maryland, seeking refuge with Confederate sympathisers. After a failed attempt to cross the Potomac, Booth was shot and killed in a tobacco barn by Sergeant Boston Corbett.