Quizology.Online

Category: Pursuit of the Trivial

  • What Goes Around Comes Around—Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Today’s questions are all related to March 3rd.

    Virgin Atlantic Airways GlobalFlyer.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    2005, a pilot became the first person to complete a solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the globe without refuelling. The pilot took off from and landed back at one of the several Salinas in the United States. Who was the pilot and specifically from which Salina did he depart and return?

    Answers: Steve Fossett; Salina, Kansas.

    In 2005, pilot Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo around the world without stopping or refuelling. He piloted the specially designed GlobalFlyer, equipped with 13 fuel tanks and a 7-foot cockpit. Taking off from Salina, Kansas, on February 28, he successfully completed the journey and returned to Salina approximately 67 hours later on March 3.

    Two

    Born in Navsari, Gujarat, India in 1839, an Indian industrialist who founded Jamshedpur, established the Taj Mahal Hotel and developed businesses in cotton, steel and hydroelectric power amongst others. Who was he?

    Answer: Jamsetji Tata.

    Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, an Indian industrialist and philanthropist, founded the Tata Group and the city of Jamshedpur. He established key institutions such as the Taj Mahal Hotel, Tata Steel, and Tata Power, significantly impacting India’s industrial and social landscape. Tata was also a prominent philanthropist, establishing the J.N. Tata Endowment and supporting the Indian Institute of Science.

    Three

    Born in 1962, which athlete set a world record of 7,148 points in the heptathlon?

    Answer: Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

    Jackie Joyner-Kersee, born in 1962, is a retired American athlete who excelled in the heptathlon and long jump. She won three Olympic gold medals in the heptathlon and one in the long jump, setting world records in both events. In July 1986, she set a world record of 7,148 points in the heptathlon. Beyond her athletic achievements, Joyner-Kersee is known for her philanthropic work, including founding the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation and co-founding Athletes for Hope.

    Four

    Born in 1968, this physicist and television science presenter who is known for his work on the ATLAS experiment at CERN, played keyboards in live appearances with D:Ream. Who is This?

    Answer: Brian Cox.

    Brian Cox is an English physicist and musician, known for his work on the ATLAS experiment at CERN and his role as a presenter of science programmes for the BBC. He has co-authored several popular science books and continues to perform music sporadically. Cox’s career spans from being a keyboard player for bands like Dare and D:Ream to becoming a professor of particle physics at the University of Manchester.

    Five

    Decommissioned on this day in 1980, a U.S. nuclear submarine made history by sailing under the Arctic ice pack and the North Pole in 1958. 

    1. What was the name of the submarine?
    2. What was the operational name for the submerged Arctic transit?
    3. The submarine had a namesake from an 1870s novel; what was the novel’s English title? 
    4. Who was the author of the novel?

    Answers

    1. USS Nautilus
    2. Operations Sunshine
    3. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
    4. Jules Verne

    A Greek derivative meaning sailor or ship; a tropical mollusk having a many chambered, spiral shell with a pearly interior; and the namesake of Jules Verne’s submersible in his novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
    — Navy History and Heritage Command

  • What Goes Around Comes Around

    Today’s questions are all related to March 3rd.

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    2005, a pilot became the first person to complete a solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the globe without refuelling. The pilot took off from and landed back at one of the several Salinas in the United States. Who was the pilot and specifically from which Salina did he depart and return?

    Two

    Born in Navsari, Gujarat, India in 1839, an Indian industrialist who founded Jamshedpur, established the Taj Mahal Hotel and developed businesses in cotton, steel and hydroelectric power amongst others. Who was he?

    Three

    Born in 1962, which athlete set a world record of 7,148 points in the heptathlon?

    Four

    Born in 1968, this physicist and television science presenter who is known for his work on the ATLAS experiment at CERN, played keyboards in live appearances with D:Ream. Who is This?

    Five

    Decommissioned on this day in 1980, a U.S. nuclear submarine made history by sailing under the Arctic ice pack and the North Pole in 1958. 

    1. What was the name of the submarine?
    2. What was the operational name for the submerged Arctic transit?
    3. The submarine had a namesake from an 1870s novel; what was the novel’s English title? 
    4. Who was the author of the novel?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Mongibel—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier posted questions.

    Another random selection of trivia today.

    Mount Etna. Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    An otherworld castle from Arthurian Romance is located at the same spot as the Oxford English Dictionary identifies as Europe’s highest active volcano?

    Answer: Mount Etna

    Mount Etna, is an active stratovolcano in eastern Sicily, Italy, standing at 3,323 meters (10,902 feet). It is the highest and most active volcano in Europe. Its fertile volcanic soils support agriculture, and its historical activity has earned it the designation of a Decade Volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In various stories, Mongibel is associated with the legendary figure Morgan le Fay, depicted as her magical stronghold linked to Avalon.

    Two

    Svetlana Savitskaya on 25 July 1984; Kathryn D. Sullivan, 11 October 1984; and Wang Yaping, 8 November 2021 all achieved a first. What common milestone do these dates mark??

    Answer: They were the first females of their nationalities and for their space programs to perform extravehicular activity (EVA) or spacewalk

    Specifically, they were the first females of their nationalities and space programs to perform EVAs. EVAs.
    The first woman to perform an extravehicular activity (EVA) was Soviet Svetlana Savitskaya on 25 July 1984, while aboard the Salyut 7 space station. Her EVA lasted 3 hours and 35 minutes. The first American woman to perform an EVA was Kathryn D. Sullivan on 11 October 1984, during the STS-41-G mission. The first female Asian and Chinese woman to perform an EVA was Wang Yaping on 8 November 2021, outside the Chinese Tiangong space station.

    Three

    The University of St Andrews, Scotland, was founded in what century?

    Answer: 15th century.

    The University of St Andrews, founded in 1413, is the oldest university in Scotland and the third-oldest in the English-speaking world — after Oxford and Cambridge. Located in St Andrews, Scotland, it is part of the ancient universities of Scotland and played a role in the Scottish Enlightenment. The university consists of three colleges and 18 academic schools across four faculties, with a diverse student body representing over 145 nationalities. It is known for its selective undergraduate admissions and traditional student customs. Notable alumni include Alex Salmond, Chris Hoy, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, with five Nobel laureates among its graduates and staff.

    Four

    The cave system with the world’s longest known length, Mammoth Cave is in which US state and, according to the U.S. National Park Service, what length is it at present (March 2026) to the nearest 25 miles/40 km?

    Answer: Kentucky; 425 miles or 680 km.

    Mammoth Cave is currently mapped and explored at 426 miles (686 km), but that is just what has been discovered to date. — U.S. National Park Service.

    Mammoth Cave, currently mapped at 426 miles (686 km), is the longest known cave system in the world. Early explorers, including Stephen Bishop and the Hanson and Hunt families, significantly contributed to its discovery. The 1972 connection between the Flint Ridge and Mammoth Cave systems, achieved by a team of six explorers, solidified its status as the longest cave system.

    Five

    NOUN
    the scientific study of old age, the process of ageing, and the particular problems of old people.
    — Oxford English Dictionary.

    What word, an –ology, is defined above?

    Answer: Gerontology.

    Gerontology, a multidisciplinary field, aims to understand the ageing process to minimise age-related disabilities. While geriatrics focuses on treating diseases in older adults, gerontology encompasses a broader study of ageing.

    Post title — Mongibel

    The name Mongibel, associated with Morgan le Fay and King Arthur, originates from Arthurian Romance and is linked to Etna (Mongibello). Welsh conceptions of a Celtic underworld were adapted and transplanted to Sicily by Bretons.

  • Mongibel

    Another random selection of trivia today.

    Mount Etna. Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    An otherworld castle from Arthurian Romance is located at the same spot as the Oxford English Dictionary identifies as Europe’s highest active volcano?

    Two

    Svetlana Savitskaya on 25 July 1984; Kathryn D. Sullivan, 11 October 1984; and Wang Yaping, 8 November 2021 all achieved a first. What common milestone do these dates mark?

    Three

    The University of St Andrews, Scotland, was founded in what century?

    Four

    The cave system with the world’s longest known length, Mammoth Cave is in which US state and, according to the U.S. National Park Service, what length is it at present (March 2026) to the nearest 25 miles/40 km?

    Five

    NOUN
    the scientific study of old age, the process of ageing, and the particular problems of old people.
    — Oxford English Dictionary.

    What word, an –ology, is defined above?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Old Faithful—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    These questions are all related to today’s date, March 1st.

    Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On 1 March, the President of the United States signed the Act of Dedication, which established Yellowstone National Park. Which president signed it and in which decade did this occur?

    Answers: President Ulysses S. Grant; 1870s.

    Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, is the first national park in the US and the world. It spans three states and is renowned for its geothermal features, diverse wildlife, and the Yellowstone Caldera.

    Two

    The Massacre of Vassy (French: massacre de Wassy) was the murder of … worshippers and citizens in an armed action by troops of the Duke of Guise, in Wassy, France on 1 March 1562.— Wikipedia 

    A word has been omitted from the text ‘murder of the … worshippers’ in the above edited version of the opening sequence of the Wikipedia article The Massacre of Vassy. This omission is a noun describing the worshippers as being of the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestantism. What is this missing word?

    Answer: Huguenot.

    The Massacre of Vassy in 1562, where about 60 Huguenot worshippers were murdered, marked the start of the French Wars of Religion. The conflict ended with the Peace of Amboise in 1563.

    Three

    On 1 March 1936, after five years of construction, the Hoover Dam was officially handed over to the US government. The reservoir it created was named Lake Mead. Here are three statements about Lake Mead: two are true and one is false. Which one is false?

    1. Lake Mead is named after Fort Mead
    2. Lake Mead provides water to Mexico
    3. Lake Mead stretches for 115 miles (185 km) upstream from the Hoover Dam

    Answer: No. 1 is false.

    The dam created Lake Mead which was named after Elwood Mead, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation from 1924 to 1936. It supplies water to the states of Arizona, California and Nevada as well as some parts of Mexico. It stretches for 115 miles (185 km) upstream from the dam.

    Four

    In 1956, the International Air Transport Association finalised the Radiotelephony spelling alphabet for the International Civil Aviation Organization which implemented it on this date. It was later adopted by the International Telecommunications Union and is still in place today. Spelling of the words in this alphabet is important to assist with correct pronunciation over the air. What words represent these six letters: A — F — J — Q — W — Z?

    Answer: ALFA — FOXTROT — JULIETT — QUEBEC — WHISKEY — ZULU.

    Alfa is spelled with an f as it is in most European languages. This is because the spelling Alpha may not be pronounced properly by some who do not realise that ph should be pronounced as f. Similarly, Juliett is used rather than Juliet for French speakers, because they might otherwise treat a single final t as silent.

    Five

    On this day, a U.S. president established the Peace Corps by executive order. Which decade saw this event and who was the president involved?

    Answers: 1960s; John F. Kennedy.

    The Peace Corps, established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, is a U.S. government agency that trains and deploys volunteers to assist developing countries in fields like education, agriculture, and health. Typically American citizens with a college degree, volunteers serve for at least two years, living and working alongside local communities. Since its inception, the Peace Corps has grown significantly, expanding its reach to 141 countries by 2018.

  • Old Faithful

    These questions are all related to today’s date, March 1st.

    Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On 1 March, the President of the United States signed the Act of Dedication, which established Yellowstone National Park. Which president signed it and in which decade did this occur?

    Two

    The Massacre of Vassy (French: massacre de Wassy) was the murder of … worshippers and citizens in an armed action by troops of the Duke of Guise, in Wassy, France on 1 March 1562.— Wikipedia 

    A word has been omitted from the text ‘murder of the … worshippers’ in the above edited version of the opening sequence of the Wikipedia article The Massacre of Vassy. This omission is a noun describing the worshippers as being of the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestantism. What is this missing word?

    Three

    On 1 March 1936, after five years of construction, the Hoover Dam was officially handed over to the US government. The reservoir it created was named Lake Mead. Here are three statements about Lake Mead: two are true and one is false. Which one is false?

    1. Lake Mead is named after Fort Mead
    2. Lake Mead provides water to Mexico
    3. Lake Mead stretches for 115 miles (185 km) upstream from the Hoover Dam

    Four

    In 1956, the International Air Transport Association finalised the Radiotelephony spelling alphabet for the International Civil Aviation Organization which implemented it on this date. It was later adopted by the International Telecommunications Union and is still in place today. Spelling of the words in this alphabet is important to assist with correct pronunciation over the air. What words represent these six letters: A — F — J — Q — W — Z?

    Five

    On this day, a U.S. president established the Peace Corps by executive order. Which decade saw this event and who was the president involved?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Through Early Morning Fog I See—Answers

    These questions all relate to today’s date, February 28th.

    Flag of Egypt.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On this date sometime during the 20th century, the country which is currently represented by the flag above gained independence. Which decade did this independence occur in, and from what empire was independence gained?

    Answers: 1920s; British Empire

    Egypt, a de facto independent state under Ottoman rule, became a British protectorate in 1914. Despite the 1919 revolution and subsequent negotiations, British control persisted, leading to dissatisfaction, partial independence in 1922 and the ‘reserved points’ clause in the 1923 Egyptian constitution.

    Two

    In 1983 the final episode of M*A*S*H aired. Who was the only actor to appear in every single episode and what character did they play?

    Answer: Alan Alda; Captain Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce.

    An American television comedy drama series, aired on CBS for 11 seasons (1972–83), a total of 256 episodes. The show, set during the Korean War, followed the medical staff at a mobile army surgical hospital and received critical acclaim, winning 14 Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. Despite cast changes, the series maintained its continuity through strong performances and writing, with a unique use of multiple plot lines and an antiwar message.

    Three

    Olaf Palme, a globally recognised politician, was assassinated in 1986. At the time of his death he was prime minister of which country?

    Answer: Sweden.

    Olof Palme, a Swedish Social Democratic leader, served as Prime Minister twice and was known for his pacifist stance and criticism of U.S. war policy. He was assassinated in 1986, and the case remained unsolved until 2020 when Stig Engström, who died in 2000, was identified as the likely perpetrator although this is widely disputed with many believing the true identity of his assassin is still unknown.

    Four

    In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI resigned. How many years to the nearest hundred had elapsed since a previous pope had resigned?

    Answer: 600 years

    Pope Gregory XII had resigned in 1415, 598 years before Benedict. Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, led the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013. A renowned theologian, he was appointed Pope after John Paul II’s death. During his papacy, he faced challenges such as declining church attendance and the sexual abuse scandal, for which he received criticism. He also advocated for traditional Catholic values and opposed condom use. Benedict resigned in 2013, citing health issues.

    Five

    Before filming Goldfinger, in which Bond would have to play golf, Sean Connery received golf lessons from which former golf professional and television golf commentator who was born on this day?

    Answer: Peter Alliss

    Born this day in 1931, Peter Alliss, an English golfer and broadcaster, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012. He won 20 professional tournaments, including three British PGA Championships, and played on eight Ryder Cup teams. Alliss worked for the BBC, ESPN and ABC Sports, and designed over 70 golf courses, including The Belfry, contributing significantly to golf course architecture. He received numerous honours, such as honorary degrees and the Golf Foundation’s ‘Spirit of Golf award’. Before the filming of Goldfinger, Alliss gave Sean Connery golf lessons, which sparked Connery’s lifelong love for the sport.

    Post Title

    ‘Through early morning fog I see’ is the first line from the theme to M*A*S*H, Suicide is Painless, the lyrics are at AZ Lyrics.

  • Through Early Morning Fog I See

    These questions all relate to today’s date, February 28th.

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On this date sometime during the 20th century, the country which is currently represented by the flag above gained independence. Which decade did this independence occur in, and from what empire was independence gained?

    Two

    In 1983 the final episode of M*A*S*H aired. Who was the only actor to appear in every single episode and what character did they play?

    Three

    Olaf Palme, a globally recognised politician, was assassinated in 1986. At the time of his death he was prime minister of which country?

    Four

    In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI resigned. How many years to the nearest hundred had elapsed since a previous pope had resigned?

    Five

    Before filming Goldfinger, in which Bond would have to play golf, Sean Connery received golf lessons from which former golf professional and television golf commentator who was born on this day?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Flotsam and Jetsam—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    These questions are a mixed bag that must have been floating about somewhere in my head.

    Sydney Harbour.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    This harbour is an inlet of which sea?

    Answer: Tasman Sea

    Port Jackson, also known as Sydney Harbour, is a natural harbour in an inlet of the Tasman Sea—a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean. It is home to landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge and a hub for recreational events and is managed by Transport for NSW, with parts protected by Sydney Harbour National Park.

    Two

    In December 2000, Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married at Skibo Castle. In what country is Skibo Castle?

    Answer: Scotland (or either Great Britain or U.K.)

    Rocco, Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s four-month-old son, was christened in December 2000 at Dornoch Cathedral in Scotland. The couple then married the following day at nearby Skibo Castle.

    Three

    At a restaurant, an Ameglian Major Cow approached a table and introduced itself as the ‘Dish of the Day’. It then proceeded to describe its body parts, suggesting to the diners which parts they might enjoy eating. In which restaurant and in which book series did this take place?

    Answers: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

    A large dairy animal approached Zaphod Beeblebrox’s table, a large fat meaty quadruped of the bovine type with large watery eyes, small horns and what might almost have been an ingratiating smile on its lips.

    ‘Good evening,’ it lowed and sat back heavily on its haunches, ‘I am the main Dish of the Day. May I interest you in parts of my body?’ It harrumphed and gurgled a bit, wriggled its hind quarters into a more comfortable position and gazed peacefully at them.
    — Excerpt from ‘The Restaurant at the End of the Universe’ Chapter 17 Page 273, The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Terry Pratchett

    Four

    William E. Carter was the owner of a 1912 Renault motor car. In what 1997 film was a replica of his car used as the setting for a love scene?

    Answer: Titanic

    Carter, an American millionaire, purchased the Renault Type CB Coupé de Ville and arranged to transport it on the RMS Titanic. Carter survived the sinking but no trace of his car has been found. In the 1997 film Titanic a replica of the car was used for Jack and Rose’s love scene in the ship’s hold.

    Five

    What martial art has a Japanese name literally meaning,  ‘way of adapting the spirit’?

    Answer: Aikido

    Aikido, a Japanese martial art, emphasises mental calm and control to subdue attackers using twisting and throwing techniques. Originating in the 14th century, it was modernised by Ueshiba Morihei in the early 20th century and later adapted for competition by Tomiki Kenji.

  • Flotsam and Jetsam

    These questions are a mixed bag that must have been floating about somewhere in my head.

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    This harbour is an inlet of which sea?

    Two

    In December 2000, Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married at Skibo Castle. In what country is Skibo Castle?

    Three

    At a restaurant, an Ameglian Major Cow approached a table and introduced itself as the ‘Dish of the Day’. It then proceeded to describe its body parts, suggesting to the diners which parts they might enjoy eating. In which restaurant and in which book series did this take place?

    Four

    William E. Carter was the owner of a 1912 Renault motor car. In what 1997 film was a replica of his car used as the setting for a love scene?

    Five

    What martial art has a Japanese name literally meaning,  ‘way of adapting the spirit’?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.