Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Gallimaufry | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

    The Marx Brothers. L to R. Groucho, Chico and Harpo.
    A Night in Casablanca, 1946.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Out of the three Marx Brothers most commonly seen in films, who was the oldest?

    • Chico
    • Groucho
    • Harpo

    Answer: Chico

    Chico born March 1887; Harpo, November 1888 and Groucho, October 1890.

    Stage names

    During a poker game with Art Fisher, the Marx brothers received their stage names. Groucho, Chico and Harpo were all derived from their personalities and interests. Groucho’s notably moody temperament is most commonly attributed to him, while Chico, originally Chicko, gained his reputation for chasing women (or ‘chicks’). Harpo’s name was simply a reference to his harp playing.


    Christina Aguilera performing Genie in a Bottle on her Stripped World Tour.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    Genie in a Bottle, released June 1999, reached No. 1 in record charts in 21 countries for what singer?

    Answer Christina Aguilera

    Genie in a Bottle is a song by Christina Aguilera, released in 1999 as the lead single from her debut album. The song, which topped charts in 21 countries, explores themes of self-respect and abstinence.

    Vitalstatistix.
    Image Pinterest

    Three

    Vitalstatistix is a literary character in what fictional universe?

    Answer: Asterix

    Chief Vitalstatistix, the Gaulish village chief, is a middle-aged man with a love for food and drink. He is known for his bravery, even-tempered nature, and pride, and is carried on a shield by two unnamed bearers.

    James Bond.
    Image Movieweb

    Four

    James Bond, a fictional character, is an agent of the British Secret Service, also known as MI6. What do the initials MI stand for?

    Answer: Military Intelligence

    The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6), is the foreign intelligence service of the United Kingdom. Its primary mission is to collect and analyse human intelligence covertly overseas, primarily targeting foreign nationals, to support its Five Eyes partners. SIS is one of the British intelligence agencies, and the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (‘C’) is directly accountable to the Foreign Secretary.

    Map of the Mackenzie River system in Canada, made using public domain Natural Earth and Atlas of Canada data.
    Image Wikipedia/Shannon1

    Five

    Which of these major North American rivers does not flow into the Pacific Ocean or one of its marginal seas?

    • Columbia River
    • Mackenzie River
    • Yukon River

    Answer: Mackenzie River

    • The Mackenzie River, the longest river system in Canada, flows through the Northwest Territories, draining about 20% of the country. Its main stem is 1,738 kilometres long, flowing north-northwest from Great Slave Lake to the Beaufort Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean
    • The Columbia River flows from the Canadian Rockies into the United States, where it discharges into the Pacific Ocean between the states of Washington and Oregon
    • The Yukon River rises in British Columbia and flows through Yukon Territory, both in Canada, before crossing into the United States and flowing across the width of Alaska before reaching the Bering Sea, a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean

  • Gallimaufry

    gallimaufry
    noun
    a hodgepodge; confused medley; jumble.

    Today’s questions have no theme and some are multiple choice but others are not.

    The Marx Brothers. L to R. Groucho, Chico and Harpo.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Out of the three Marx Brothers most commonly seen in films, who was the oldest?

    • Chico
    • Groucho
    • Harpo

    Two

    Genie in a Bottle, released June 1999, reached No. 1 in record charts in 21 countries for what singer?

    Three

    Vitalstatistix is a literary character in what fictional universe?

    Four

    James Bond, a fictional character, is an agent of the British Secret Service, also known as MI6. What do the initials MI stand for?

    Five

    Which of these major North American rivers does not flow into the Pacific Ocean or one of its marginal seas?

    • Columbia River
    • Mackenzie River
    • Yukon River

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Flight of Fancy | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

    Boeing 737-900. ‘Boeing 100 years strong’, Alaska Airlines.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 15 July 1916, in Seattle, Washington, William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporated…

    • BoWes Aviation Company
    • Northwest Airplane Corporation
    • Pacific Aero Products Company

    Answer: Pacific Aero Products Company

    William E. Boeing, fascinated by airplanes after seeing one in 1909, bought a shipyard in 1910 and built his first airplane factory. After a crash damaged his Martin seaplane, he built his own, the ‘B&W’, with the help of George Conrad Westervelt and later Wong Tsu. Boeing incorporated his business as Pacific Aero Products Company in 1916 and changed the name to Boeing Airplane Company in 1917.

    Rosetta Stone.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    The Rosetta Stone was discovered on 15 July 1799. Where was it found?

    • Egypt
    • Greece
    • Rome

    Answer: Egypt

    In 1799, French soldiers in Napoleon’s army in Egypt discovered a stone with three inscriptions, including hieroglyphs and Greek, at Fort Julien near Rosetta. The Rosetta Stone, a granodiorite stele, contains a 196 BC decree in hieroglyphic, Demotic and Ancient Greek, aiding in deciphering Egyptian scripts.

    Drawing of the Mount Bandai eruption by Yamamoto Hōsui, 1888.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    On 15 July 1888, Mount Bandai, a stratovolcano, erupted, resulting in an estimated 500 fatalities. Mount Bandai is located in which country?

    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Philippines

    Answer: Japan

    On 15 July 1888, Mount Bandai in the Iwashiro Province (now part of Fukushima Prefecture) in the Empire of Japan erupted. The eruption, preceded by earthquakes, caused pyroclastic flows that buried villages and devastated the eastern part of the Bandai region. The tragedy resulted in at least 477 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.

    Mariner 4: Image No. 11, Mariner Crater.
    Image NASA

    Four

    On this day in 1964, a NASA space probe took the first close-up pictures of another planet and began transmitting them back to Earth the following day. What planet was photographed?

    • Mercury
    • Venus
    • Mars

    Answer: Mars

    Picture No. 11 of the Mariner sequence must surely rank as one of the most remarkable scientific photographs of this age.
    – ROBERT B. LEIGHTON. Mariner 4 Principal Investigator, Caltech, speaking at the White House. July 29, 1965

    Mariner 4: Image No. 11, Mariner Crater (shown above)
    This photo clearly showed craters upon craters — and nothing else — a “scientifically startling fact,” according to the Mariner imaging team. They saw a desolate landscape that had scarcely changed in 2 to 5 billion years, an environment more like the lifeless Moon than any place on Earth.
    They called the revelation “profound,” not just for what it suggested about Mars’ past and present, but because it “further enhances the uniqueness of Earth within the solar system.” NASA

    Monty Python members Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones performing The Spanish Inquisition sketch during the 2014 Python reunion. Image Wikipedia

    Five

    The Spanish Inquisition was officially disbanded on 15 July 1834. How many years had it been in operation?

    • 241
    • 298
    • 356

    Answer:

    The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478 by the Catholic Monarchs, aimed to maintain Catholic orthodoxy and replace the Medieval Inquisition. It targeted heretics, particularly those who converted from Judaism and Islam, leading to forced conversions, torture, executions, and mass expulsions. The Inquisition, which lasted until 1834, expanded to other Spanish territories and targeted various offences, resulting in around 150,000 prosecutions and 3,000 to 5,000 executions.

  • Flight of Fancy

    Today’s questions cover a range of topics, all related to July 15th.

    William E Boeing, 1929.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 15 July 1916, in Seattle, Washington, William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporated…

    • BoWes Aviation Company
    • Northwest Airplane Corporation
    • Pacific Aero Products Company

    Two

    The Rosetta Stone was discovered on 15 July 1799. Where was it found?

    • Egypt
    • Greece
    • Rome

    Three

    On 15 July 1888, Mount Bandai, a stratovolcano, erupted, resulting in an estimated 500 fatalities. Mount Bandai is located in which country?

    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Philippines

    Four

    On this day in 1964, a NASA space probe took the first close-up pictures of another planet and began transmitting them back to Earth the following day. What planet was photographed?

    • Mercury
    • Venus
    • Mars

    Five

    The Spanish Inquisition was officially disbanded on 15 July 1834. How many years had it been in operation?

    • 241
    • 298
    • 356

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Reelin’ in the Years | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

    Post title

    Reelin’ In the Years is a song by Steely Dan, released as the second single from their 1972 debut album, Can’t Buy a Thrill.

    The first ascent of the Matterhorn by Gustave Doré, 1865.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The first successful ascent of the Matterhorn was made during the Golden Age of Alpinism. In what year was the mountain conquered?

    Answer: 1865

    The first ascent of the Matterhorn was achieved on 14 July 1865 by Edward Whymper, Lord Francis Douglas, Charles Hudson, Douglas Hadow, Michel Croz and Zermatt guides Peter Taugwalder and his son. During the descent, a tragic accident occurred when Hadow slipped, causing Douglas, Hudson and Croz to fall to their deaths. Whymper and the Taugwalder guides survived, leading to accusations that they cut the rope to save themselves. However, an inquiry found no evidence of such actions, and they were acquitted. Edward Whymper‘s successful ascent of the Matterhorn marked the end of the golden age of alpinism. Jean-Antoine Carrel’s team reached the summit three days later from the Italian side.

    Fireworks of 14 July 2017 in Paris.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    The French National Day, le 14 juillet and commonly known in English as Bastille Day, is celebrated on 14 July. It commemmorates the storming of the Bastille on that date but in which year did this take place?

    Answer: 1789

    Bastille Day, celebrated annually on 14 July, commemorates the Storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the Fête de la Fédération. The day is marked by nationwide celebrations, including a military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

    The City of Chicago, showing the portion of the city burnt in the 1874 “little-big-fire”
    Currier & Ives, from Harper’s Weekly, August 8, 1874, pages 636 and 637; Image provided by Library of Congress
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    A fire in Chicago ravished 47 acres of the city, destroyed over 800 buildings and killed 20 people. In what year was this fire?

    Answer: 1874

    The Chicago Fire of 1874, which occurred on 14 July, destroyed 812 structures, killed 20 people, and displaced Jewish and African-American communities. The fire insurance industry responded by demanding changes to fire prevention and firefighting efforts, leading to a temporary halt in insurance coverage for the city.

    Inscription ‘Agustín Lizárraga, 1902’.
    Machu Picchu.
    Image (cropped)

    Four

    When was the ‘Lost City of the Incas’, Machu Picchu, discovered?

    Answer: 1902

    “Agustín Lizárraga is the discoverer of Machu Picchu, and lived at San Miguel Bridge just before passing”
    —  Hiram Bingham in his diary on July 25, 1911

    In 1902, Agustín Lizárraga discovered the ruins of Machu Picchu while exploring for new farmland. He later recruited families to settle there and shared the discovery with friends and intellectuals in Cuzco. Tragically, Lizárraga drowned in the Vilcanota River in 1912 while crossing a bridge on his way to his fields. He had inscribed his name and ‘1902’ in charcoal in Machu Picchu which was seen and noted by Hiram Bingham (see quote above) but later erased by him.

    Billy the Kid.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Five

    In what year was Billy the Kid shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in the Maxwell House at Fort Sumner, New Mexico?

    Answer: 1881

    On 14 July 1881, Pat Garrett shot and killed Billy the Kid in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The killing occurred when William Bonney (Billy the Kid) unexpectedly entered a room where Garrett was questioning Pete Maxwell, a friend of Bonney’s. Despite the bounty on Bonney’s head, Garrett was initially denied the reward by the acting governor but later received it from the territorial legislature.

  • Reelin’ in the Years

    Five events, five years but which event happened in which year. The years are

    1789 — 1865 — 1874 — 1881 — 1902

    The first ascent of the Matterhorn by Gustave Doré, 1865.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The first successful ascent of the Matterhorn was made during the ‘Golden Age of Alpinism’. In what year was the mountain conquered?

    Two

    The French National Day, le 14 juillet and commonly known in English as Bastille Day, is celebrated on 14 July. It commemmorates the storming of the Bastille in which year?

    Three

    A fire in Chicago ravished 47 acres of the city, destroyed over 800 buildings and killed 20 people. In what year was this fire?

    Four

    The ‘Lost City of the Incas’, Manchu Picchu was discovered in what year?

    Five

    In what year was Billy the Kid shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in the Maxwell House at Fort Sumner, New Mexico?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Crossing the pond | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

    Live Aid, John F Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The Live Aid concerts were held on Saturday, 13 July 1985 in the UK and the USA. In which two stadiums were these concerts held?

    Answer: Wembley Stadium, London and John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia

    Live Aid, a benefit concert for the Ethiopian famine, was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium and John F. Kennedy Stadium on 13 July 1985. The event, organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, was broadcast to an estimated 1.9 billion people in 150 nations.

    British dirigible R.34 at Mineola, Long Island, N.Y. 6 July 1919.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    R.34 became the first aircraft to make a return transatlantic flight. What seven letter word best describes R.34?

    Answer:

    R.34, the first aircraft of any type to carry passengers across the Atlantic. Flying from RAF East Fortune in Scotland R.34 completed the first east-west aerial crossing in 108 hours, arriving in Mineola, Long Island on 6 July 1919. On arrival, and to assist the ground crew, Major E. M. Pritchard jumped by parachute and so became the first person to reach American soil by air from Europe. The return journey to RNAS Pulham took 75 hours.

    Football used in the 1930 World Cup Final on display at the National Football Museum, Preston. Due to a dispute between the teams, two balls were used in the final, one in each half. This ball, chosen by the Uruguayan team, was used in the second half.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    Today, in 1930, the inaugural FIFA World Cup began in Uruguay. Thirteen teams participated in the competition. Can you name as many of the four European teams that took part?

    Answer: Belgium, France, Romania and Yugoslavia

    The 1930 FIFA World Cup, the inaugural tournament, was held in Uruguay to celebrate the country’s centenary and its Olympic football victory. Thirteen teams participated, with Uruguay defeating Argentina in the final to become the first World Cup champions.

    Ronald reagan and George HW Bush. Image Wikipedia

    Four

    On this day, Vice President George HW Bush became the Acting President for the day while the President was undergoing surgery. Who was the President?

    Answer:

    President Reagan temporarily transferred power to Vice President Bush for about eight hours while undergoing surgery. Reagan sent a letter to the President pro tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, transferring Presidential power to Bush. Reagan reclaimed his authority after the surgery, signing another letter in the presence of his chief of staff, counsel and surgeon.

    Five

    The Dartmouth workshop, widely considered as the first conference on artificial intelligence, was held during the summer of…

    • 1956
    • 1961
    • 1965

    Answer:

    The Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence in 1956, organised by John McCarthy, is considered the founding of AI as a field. The workshop, which brought together experts in computing and cognitive science, hypothesised that machines could simulate human intelligence and learning. The term “AI” was coined during this conference.

  • Crossing the pond

    Today a mixture of questions, some of which entail crossing the Atlantic.

    Pink Floyd at Live Aid, London.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The Live Aid concerts were held on Saturday, 13 July 1985 in the UK and the USA. In which two stadiums were these concerts held?

    Two

    R.34 became the first aircraft to make a return transatlantic flight. What seven letter word best describes R.34?

    Three

    Today, in 1930, the inaugural FIFA World Cup began in Uruguay. Thirteen teams participated in the competition. Can you name as many of the four European teams that took part?

    Four

    On this day, Vice President George HW Bush became the Acting President for the day while the President was undergoing surgery. Who was the President?

    Five

    The Dartmouth workshop, widely considered as the first conference on artificial intelligence, was held during the summer of…

    • 1956
    • 1961
    • 1965

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Music with Colours | Answers

    Bruce Springsteen.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    In 1988, a version of Brice Springsteen’s Pink Cadillac reached number five on both the Billboard Hot 100. The song was the third single from the album Everlasting. What singer released this album and song?

    Answer: Natalie Cole

    Natalie Cole recorded Pink Cadillac in 1987, which became a top ten hit in the US and UK in 1988. The song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox Top 100, and number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

    Chris de Burgh
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    In 2001, what song with a colour in the title was voted the fourth most-hated UK number-one single?

    Answer: Lady in Red

    In a 2001 poll of over 50,000 Channel 4 viewers and readers of The Observer, the song was voted the fourth most-hated UK number-one single.
    See AZ Lyrics

    Procol Harum.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    The single A Whiter Shade of Pale was released in May 1967 by which group?

    Answer: Procol Harum

    A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum was a 1967 hit, reaching number one in the UK and number five in the US. It has sold over 10 million copies and has been covered by over 1,000 artists.
    See AZ Lyrics

    Yellow Submarine, trade advertisement.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Sky of blue (sky of blue) and sea of green (sea of green)

    The above line was written for a Lennon-McCartney song by singer-songwriter Donovan. What song?

    Answer: Yellow Submarine

    The full lyrics are shown below. Yellow Submarine is a Beatles song from their 1966 album Revolver, featuring Ringo Starr on vocals. The song, a children’s tune, topped charts in several countries and won an Ivor Novello Award. It was also featured in the 1968 animated film of the same name.
    See AZ Lyrics

    Van Morrison, 2007.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Hey, where did we go
    Days when the rains came?
    Down in the hollow
    Playing a new game

    The above quote are the first four lines of a song. What song and who wrote it?

    Answer: Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison.

    Brown Eyed Girl is a song by Van Morrison, released in 1967 and considered his signature song. Originally titled Brown-Skinned Girl, the title was changed during recording.
    See AZ Lyrics

  • Music with Colours

    Today’s questions are all about colourful music!

    Bruce Springsteen.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    In 1988, a version of Brice Springsteen’s Pink Cadillac reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was the third single from the album Everlasting. What singer released this album and song?

    Two

    In 2001, what song with a colour in the title was voted the fourth most-hated UK number-one single?

    Three

    The single A Whiter Shade of Pale was released in May 1967 by which group?

    Four

    Sky of blue (sky of blue) and sea of green (sea of green)

    The above line was written for a Lennon-McCartney song by singer-songwriter Donovan. What song?

    Five

    Hey, where did we go
    Days when the rains came?
    Down in the hollow
    Playing a new game

    The above quote are the first four lines of a song. What song and who wrote it?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.