Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio—Answers

Joe DiMaggio.
Wikipedia
  1. Paul Simon and the song was Mrs Robinson—DiMaggio’s elegant style and sophisticated demeanour inspired nostalgic lines in literature and music, including Paul Simon’s tribute to forgotten heroes in Mrs. Robinson from the film The Graduate:”—
    “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? 
    A nation turns its lonely eyes to you, whoa, whoa, whoa 
    What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson? 
    Joltin Joe has left and gone away, hey, hey, hey 
    Hey, hey, hey”
    Queen Anne
    by Michael Dahl
    Wikipedia
  2. Anne—Anne, born on 6 February 1665, in London, became the last Stuart monarch of Great Britain on 8 March 1702, succeeding under the Act of Settlement of 1701. She reigned until her death on 1714, marking the end of the Stuart monarchy. Despite her desire for independent rule, Anne’s health issues and intellectual limitations led her to rely on ministers, who guided the country through the War of the Spanish Succession. Her reign was marked by Whig-Tory rivalries and succession uncertainty. Anne, raised Protestant, married Prince George of Denmark in 1683 and had a significant political relationship with Sarah Jennings Churchill.
    The cover for The Wind in the Willows
    Wikipedia
  3. Kenneth Grahame—Kenneth Grahame, born on 8 March 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a British author renowned for The Wind in the Willows (1908), a beloved children’s classic featuring animal characters with human traits. Orphaned young, he lived with his grandmother in England and attended St. Edward’s School, Oxford. Financial constraints prevented university attendance, leading him to a career at the Bank of England until his retirement in 1908 due to ill health. Grahame also contributed to journals like the St. James Gazette and published works such as Pagan Papers (1893), The Golden Age (1895), and Dream Days (1898), showcasing his insight into childhood.
    Althing logo.
    Wikipedia
  4. Althing—The Althing, Iceland’s unicameral legislature, is one of the world’s oldest national parliaments, founded around 930 at Thingvellir. It was the first representative assembly in medieval Scandinavia to hold national legislative power. The Althing met at Thingvellir until 1798 and was abolished by the Danish crown in 1800. It was reconvened in Reykjavík in 1845, with a special session at Thingvellir on June 17, 1944, to proclaim Iceland’s republic. Despite its historical interruptions, the Althing continues to serve as Iceland’s legislative body, reflecting its enduring significance in the nation’s political history.
  5. Clove and coconut plantations—1964 Revolutionary government of Zanzibar nationalized all farms and clove and coconut plantations. 
Flag of independent People Republic of Zanzibar in use between 12 January and 26 April 1964.
Wikipedia

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio
Wikipedia
  1. In 1999 Joe DiMaggio died. A few decades before he died  he was mentioned in a lament to lost heroes in the line “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio”—Who wrote the song that contained that line?
    • David Crosby
    • Bob Dylan
    • Paul Simon, and
    • as a bonus what was the song?
  2. On this day in 1702, who became the last Stuart monarch of Great Britain?
    • Anne
    • James VII
    • Charles II
  3. In 1859 the author of The Wind in the Willows was born, who was he?
    • Kenneth Grahame
    • Jerome K. Jerome
    • AA Milne 
  4. In 1844, the parliament of Iceland was reopened after a closure of 45 years, by what name is it known?
    • Althing
    • Storting
    • Folketing
  5. 1964 Revolutionary government of Zanzibar nationalized all…
    • Antimony and arsenic production
    • Banking and betting professions
    • Clove and coconut plantations

Good luck! The answers will be posted later

Hatches and Despatches—Answers

The answers to the questions posted earlier are shown in bold.

Bryan Cranston, Comic-Con, San Diego, 2012
Wikipedia
  1. Bryan Cranston—Bryan Lee Cranston is an acclaimed American actor renowned for his roles as Walter White in Breaking Bad and Hal in Malcolm in the Middle. He has won six Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards and two Golden Globes, with nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA. Cranston’s Breaking Bad performance earned him four Emmys and a Golden Globe, and he also won for Outstanding Drama Series as a producer. On stage, he won a Tony for All the Way and another for Network. Notable films include Trumbo, Saving Private Ryan, and Godzilla.
    Sir Edwin Landseer
    By Francis Grant.
    National Portrait Gallery
    Wikipedia
  2. Edwin Landseer—Landseer, born in London to engraver John Landseer and Jane Potts, was a prodigious artist recognised early on. He studied under his father and Benjamin Robert Haydon, who encouraged dissections to understand animal anatomy. Landseer’s association with the Royal Academy began at 13, exhibiting as an “Honorary Exhibitor,” becoming an Associate at 24, and an Academician in 1831. He was acquainted with Charles Robert Leslie and visited Scotland in 1824, which influenced him. In 1823, he painted Georgiana Russell, Duchess of Bedford, with whom he had an affair. Knighted in 1850, he declined the Royal Academy Presidency in 1866. Suffering from mental health issues, he was declared insane in 1872.
    Crossing of the Strait of Dover by Blanchard and Jefferies, 1785.
    Wikipedia
  3. Jean-Pierre Blanchard—Jean-Pierre Blanchard (1753–1809) was a French inventor and pioneer of gas balloon flight. He achieved fame with a hydrogen balloon flight in Paris in 1784 and later crossed the English Channel in 1785, earning praise from Louis XVI. Blanchard toured Europe, demonstrating balloons and parachutes, using the latter for a successful escape in 1793. In 1792, he conducted the first balloon flight in the Americas, observed by President George Washington. Blanchard married Sophie Blanchard in 1804 and died of a heart attack in 1808. His widow continued balloon demonstrations until her accidental death.
    Rachel Weisz
    Wikipedia
  4. Rachel Weisz—Rachel Weisz is an acclaimed English actress known for her roles in both independent films and blockbusters. She began her career in the early 1990s, gaining recognition with her film debut in Death Machine (1994) and winning a Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Design for Living. Her breakthrough came with The Mummy series (1999-2001). Weisz won an Academy Award for The Constant Gardener (2005) and a Laurence Olivier Award for A Streetcar Named Desire (2009). She continued to excel in films like The Bourne Legacy (2012) and The Favourite (2018),winning a BAFTA for the latter.
    Viv Richards
    Wikipedia
  5. Viv Richards—Sir Vivian Richards is a retired Antiguan cricketer celebrated as one of the greatest batsmen ever. Representing the West Indies from 1974 to 1991, he was pivotal in their 1975 and 1979 World Cup victories and a runner-up in 1983. Richards made his Test debut in 1974 and scored 8,540 runs in 121 matches, becoming the West Indies’ leading run-scorer. Despite eye surgery in 1984, he continued to excel. Knighted in 1999, he was named a Cricketer of the Century by Wisden in 2000 and inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009.
    Ranulph Fiennes at the Celebrating Captain Scott’s Legacy: 100 Years of Discovery and Diplomacy in Antarctica event in London.
    Wikipedia
  6. Ranulph Fiennes—Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is a renowned British explorer, writer and poet, holding several endurance records. He served in the British Army for eight years, including counter-insurgency work in Oman. Fiennes is celebrated for being the first to visit both the North and South Poles by surface means and the first to cross Antarctica on foot. In 2009, at 65, he summited Mount Everest. Recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1984 as the world’s greatest living explorer, he has authored numerous books on his adventures and explorers like Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton.
    Maurice Ravel
    Wikipedia
  7. Maurice Ravel—Maurice Ravel was a distinguished French composer, pianist, and conductor, often associated with Impressionism alongside Claude Debussy, though both distanced themselves from the label. His work gained international acclaim in the 1920s and 1930s, earning him the title of France’s greatest living composer. Ravel’s compositions are celebrated for their intricate harmonies and innovative orchestration, exemplified in Boléro (1928) and his arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (1922). Despite facing bias at the Paris Conservatoire, he developed a unique style blending modernism, baroque, neoclassicism and jazz, known for its clarity and experimentation.
    Amanda Gorman steps to the podium to recite her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” during the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021.
    (DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)
    Wikipedia
  8. Amanda Gorman—Amanda Gorman is an American poet, activist and model known for addressing issues like oppression, feminism, race, and marginalisation. She was the first National Youth Poet Laureate and published The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015. Gorman gained global fame in 2021 for her poem The Hill We Climb at Joe Biden’s inauguration, leading to best-selling books and a management contract. She was featured in Time magazine’s 100 Next list and became the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl, delivering Chorus of the Captains at Super Bowl LV.
    Ivan Lendl, 1984.
    Wikipedia
  9. Ivan Lendl—Ivan Lendl is a Czech-American former professional tennis player and coach, celebrated as one of the greatest in the sport. He held the world No. 1 ranking for 270 weeks and won 94 singles titles, including eight majors. Lendl is the only player with a match-winning percentage over 90% in five different years and leads head-to-head against rivals Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. Known as the ‘Father Of Modern Tennis’, he pioneered aggressive baseline power tennis. Post-retirement, he coached Andy Murray to three major titles and a world No. 1 ranking.
  10. Stanley Kubrick—Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999) was an acclaimed American filmmaker known for his meticulous attention to detail, innovative cinematography and dark humour. Born in New York City, he developed an early interest in literature, photography, and film, teaching himself filmmaking after high school. Kubrick’s notable works include The Killing, Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining and Full Metal Jacket. He moved to England in 1961, where he maintained artistic control over his films, often using groundbreaking techniques. Kubrick’s legacy includes numerous award nominations and critical acclaim.
Production photo of director Stanley Kubrick (left, seated) and actor Tony Curtis (right) on the set of the 1960 film Spartacus.
Wikipedia

Hatches and Despatches

I am…

See question 10. Poster for the film Spartacus (1960)
Wikipedia

Ten questions about people who were either born or sadly died on the 7 March—each answer will follow these two words: “I am…”

Question 1. The second man to walk on the Moon.
Wikipedia
  1. Born today in 1956 in Los Angeles, California, I played the second man to walk on the moon in From the Earth to the Moon (1998). I did voice work on the animated series Family Guy, Robot Chicken and SuperMansion. I am…
    • Bryan Cranston
    • Patrick Warburton
    • Hulk Hogan
      Question 2. Monarch of the Glen.
      Wikipedia
  2. Born 7 March 1802, I am British painter and sculptor best known for my paintings of animals such as the Monarch of the Glen (above). I am…
    • Frank Knight
    • Edwin Landseer
    • Langford Monroe
  3. Died today in 1809. I am a French balloonist who, with the American physician John Jeffries, made the first aerial crossing of the English Channel. I am…
    • Jean Pierre Alfred Nadal
    • Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier
    • Jean-Pierre Blanchard
  4. Born today in 1970, I am an actor and appeared as as Evelyn Carnahan in the Hollywood action films The Mummy (1999) and its sequel. I was Tessa Abbott-Quayle in the 2005 film adaptation of John le Carré’s The Constant Gardener. I am…
    • Abigail Cruttenden
    • Olivia d’Abo
    • Rachel Weisz
  5. Born this day in 1952, I am a West Indian cricketer described by Encyclopædia Britannica as “arguably the finest batsman of his generation”. I am…
  6. Born today in 1944, I am a British adventurer and explorer who, as part of the Transglobe Expedition circumnavigated the world via the North and South Pole. I also ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven consecutive days. I am…
    • Benedict Allen
    • Ranulph Fiennes
    • Gino Watkins
      Question 7. Jayne Torville and Christopher Dean, Dancing on Ice, 2011
      Wikipedia
  7. Born 7 March 1875, I am a composer probably best known for
    Boléro (1928) which gained new popular following after featuring in the film 10 (1979) and the 1984 Olympics when used by ice-dancers Torvill and Dean. I am…
    • Antonín Dvořák
    • Maurice Ravel
    • John Philip Sousa
  8. Born this in 1998, I am a poet and activist who gained international fame when I read my poem The Hill We Climb at Joe Biden’s 2021 presidential inauguration. I am…
    • Amanda Gorman
    • Amanda Grayson
    • Amanda Hunsaker
  9. Born today in 1960, I’m a former American tennis player of Czech descent who was very successful in the 1980s and early 1990s. As a right-hander, I was known for my powerful forehand. I won eight Grand Slam titles, including three consecutive US Open championships from 1985 to 1987. I am…
    • Goran Ivanišević
    • Ivan Lendl
    • Ilie Năstase
  10. Died this day in 1999 in England. In 1960, I took over direction of Spartacus, the slave revolt epic set in Ancient Rome; I am also known for my Odyssey. I am…
    • David Lean
    • Stanley Kubrick
    • Otto Preminger

The births and deaths used in my Hatches and Despatches post were all listed in Encyclopædia Britannica’s Biographies on This Day in History: March 7.

Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.

Fabulous Fantastic Fiascoes—Answers

Answers to the questions in the earlier post are shown in bold below.

US Military Academy, West Point, Coat of Arms
Image Wikipedia
  1. West Point military academy—Edgar Allan Poe attended the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1830. His time there was marked by academic success in subjects like mathematics, but he struggled with the strict military discipline. Poe deliberately sought dismissal by neglecting his duties and violating academy regulations. His tenure at West Point was brief, lasting less than a year, but it significantly influenced his literary career, as he turned his focus entirely to writing after leaving the academy.
    Pietà (1498–1499), by Michaelangelo. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
    Image Wikipedia
  2. 1475—Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475–1564), known simply as Michelangelo, was an influential Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in Florence, his work drew inspiration from classical antiquity, leaving a profound impact on Western art. Renowned for masterpieces like the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David, Michelangelo epitomised the Renaissance man alongside Leonardo da Vinci. His exceptional talents spanned multiple disciplines, and extensive surviving records highlight his artistic journey. Celebrated by contemporaries, Michelangelo remains one of the most documented and revered artists of the 16th century.
    Penny Black with Queen Victoria profile.
    Image Wikipedia
  3. Victoria, queen of Great Britain —The Penny Black, introduced in the United Kingdom on 1 May 1840 and valid from 6 May, was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp for public postal use. Featuring Queen Victoria’s profile, it revolutionised postal services based on Sir Rowland Hill’s proposal to simplify complex, costly rates. Prior to this, recipients paid postage based on distance and sheet count. The Penny Black marked a shift to sender-paid postage, enabling letters up to ½ ounce (14 grams) to be delivered nationwide for a uniform rate of one penny, streamlining and democratising communication across distances.
    Valentina Tereshkova.
    Image Wikipedia
  4. Valentina Tereshkova—Valentina Tereshkova, a Russian engineer and former Soviet cosmonaut, was the first woman in space, completing a solo mission on Vostok 6 in 1963. It was her only space flight.
    This is a drawing of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio. It was first printed in 1854 in Gleason’s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion and was reprinted in Frank Thompson’s 2005 “The Alamo”, p 106.
    Image Wikipedia
  5. 13 days—The Siege of the Alamo took place from 23 February to 6 March 1836 during the Texas Revolution. Mexican forces led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna besieged the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, defended by Texian rebels including James Bowie, William B. Travis and Davy Crockett. Despite fierce resistance, the Texians were vastly outnumbered. After 13 days of relentless bombardment and attacks, the Mexican army overran the mission, killing nearly all defenders. The defeat became a rallying cry, “Remember the Alamo!”, inspiring Texian forces to eventual victory in the revolution.
    Old Package of Aspirin, 20 tabs 0.5 g
    Image Wikipedia
  6. Aspirin—Aspirin, a genericized trademark for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to alleviate pain, fever, and inflammation and as an antithrombotic. It treats specific inflammatory conditions like Kawasaki disease, pericarditis, and rheumatic fever. Long-term use helps prevent heart attacks, ischaemic strokes and blood clots in high-risk individuals. Effects for pain or fever usually start within 30 minutes. Aspirin functions like other NSAIDs but uniquely suppresses platelet function.
    Muhammad Ali.
    Image Wikipedia
  7. Cassius Clay—In 1964, Cassius Clay stunned the world by defeating Sonny Liston to win the heavyweight championship, defying the odds as an underdog. Just two days after his historic victory, Clay made headlines again by announcing his conversion to the Nation of Islam. This pivotal decision marked a profound personal transformation, as he embraced the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. On 6 March 1964, he adopted the name Muhammad Ali, symbolising his new identity and faith. Ali’s name change reflected not just a religious shift but a declaration of self-determination, which resonated throughout his illustrious boxing career and beyond.
    World Premiere Poster, 1853
    Image Wikipedia
  8. Fiasco—La traviata premiered at La Fenice, Venice, in March 1853, amidst Verdi’s lingering apprehensions. The production faced hurdles from the start: Verdi disagreed with the casting of 38-year-old Fanny Salvini-Donatelli as Violetta, feeling she was ill-suited for the role of a youthful, consumptive heroine. Despite Verdi’s protests, no changes were made. The opening act received applause, but enthusiasm waned in the second act, where performances by baritone Felice Varesi and tenor Lodovico Graziani met with disapproval. Verdi later lamented in a letter, “La traviata last night a failure. Was the fault mine or the singers’? Time will tell.” He further said, “It was a fiasco!”
    Eleanor Roosevelt with female reporters at her first White House press conference on March 6, 1933.
    Credit: FDR Presidential Library & Museum
    Image via National Woman’s History Museum
  9. Eleanor Roosevelt—Eleanor Roosevelt recounted to journalist Lorena Hickok that the first White House press conference for women reporters, held on 6 March 1933—two days after FDR’s inauguration—was held in the Red Room. Thirty-five women attended, but there weren’t enough chairs, so some sat on the floor. These weekly conferences, open only to women, helped preserve their jobs and ensured news access. As Mrs Roosevelt noted without fresh stories, women reporters risked losing their jobs. The conferences focused on topics of interest to women, avoiding politics. Over twelve years, 348 conferences provided the First Lady with a national audience and significant publicity.
    Dmitri Mendeleev.
    Image Wikipedia
  10. 1869—On 6 March 1869, a scientist presented to the Russian Chemical Society about how elements’ properties relate to their atomic weights. He found that elements arranged by atomic weight show a pattern in their properties. Similar elements often have similar atomic weights or a regular increase in weight. Elements in groups based on atomic weight also match their valencies and chemical properties. He noted that widely spread elements have small atomic weights and that atomic weight influences an element’s nature. He predicted the discovery of new elements and suggested that atomic weights could help predict element properties.
Coloured periodic table showing the most common sets of elements (2023)
Image Wikipedia
Pietà (1498–1499), by Michaelangelo. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
Image Wikipedia

Fabulous Fantastic Fiascoes

Michelangelo.
Image Wikipedia
  1. On this day in 1831, American writer Edgar Allan Poe was court-martialled for disobedience and expelled from…
    • Annapolis naval academy
    • Marine Corps Base Quantico
    • West Point military academy
  2. Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo was born on 6 March in…
    • 1375
    • 1475
    • 1575
  3. On 6 March 1840, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, went into use featuring an image of…
    • Jonas Furrer, president of Switzerland
    • Victoria, queen of Great Britain
    • Martin Van Buren, president of the US
  4. The first female to travel in space was born on this day in 1937, she was…
    • Valentina Ponomaryova
    • Svetlana Savitskaya
    • Valentina Tereshkova 
  5. The Alamo, San Antonio fell and was captured today in 1836 following a siege which had lasted…
    • 3 days
    • 13 days
    • 31 days
  6. On 6 March 1899, acetylsalicylic acid is patented by Felix Hoffmann at the German company Bayer under the genericized trademark…
    • Aspirin
    • Ibuprofen
    • Paracetamol 
  7. This day in 1964 a boxer changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He had had changed his name from…
    • Augustus Amber
    • Balbinus Beryl
    • Cassius Clay
  8. Today in 1853, La traviata, by Giuseppe Verdi, was premiered at La Fenice opera house in Venice. The composer later described it as…
    • Fabulous
    • Fantastic
    • Fiasco
  9. The first First Lady to hold an official press conference in the White House did so on 6 March. She was…
    • Eleanor Roosevelt
    • Jackie Kennedy
    • Pat Nixon
  10. At a meeting of the Russian Chemical Society, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev presented the first periodic table on this day in …
    • 1869
    • 1895
    • 1921

Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.

History’s Greatest Hits: From Napoleon’s Invasion to Elvis’s Chart-Topping Curtain Call—Answers

Map of the Old Swiss Confederacy, 1789
Image Wikipedia

The answers to the four questions posted earlier are in bold below.

  1. Switzerland—The period of the thirteen cantons in Swiss history, from 1513 to 1798, involved the Old Swiss Confederacy, a loose union of thirteen sovereign cantons united for mutual defence and foreign policy. These cantons were diverse in religion and culture, with some Catholic and others Protestant post-Reformation. The confederacy expanded in the 16th century due to its mercenary strength, gaining autonomy from the Holy Roman Empire while maintaining cantonal independence through treaties. Internal conflicts like the Wars of Kappel highlighted religious divisions, yet peace and neutrality prevailed. The era ended with the French invasion in 1798, leading to the Helvetic Republic and centralised governance.
    Georgy Malenkov
    Image Wikipedia
  2. Georgy Maximilianovich Malenkov—Georgy Malenkov served as the Premier of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1955, succeeding Joseph Stalin. He aimed to improve the economy by focusing on consumer goods and agriculture, but faced opposition within the Communist Party. Malenkov also sought to decentralise the administration and reduce secret police power, but his reforms were resisted. In 1955, he resigned after a power struggle with Nikita Khrushchev, being replaced by Nikolai Bulganin. His tenure marked a brief shift towards economic reforms and a more open political atmosphere, which was reversed after his departure.
    Winston Churchill, 1941
    Image Wikipedia
  3. Winston Churchill—Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech, delivered  on March 5, 1946, at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, highlighted the need for the US and Britain to counter Soviet communism, which had created a political and ideological barrier across Europe. The term “iron curtain” described the USSR’s post-World War II isolation of eastern and central Europe from the West. Post-war, Western leaders were divided on how to engage with the Soviet Union, with some fearing Stalin’s expansionism and others believing in potential peace. Churchill and American diplomat George Kennan advocated for a containment policy, opposing Soviet expansion and advocating for Western military counterpressure. The relevant paragraph from his speech reads…
    “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in some cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow.”
    (The National Archives, full text.)
    Heartbreak Hotel.
    Image Wikipedia
  4. Heartbreak Hotel—Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley, released on January 27, 1956, was his first single with RCA Victor. Written by Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden, and Presley, it was inspired by a newspaper article about a man’s suicide. Recorded on January 10, 1956, with the Blue Moon Boys, Chet Atkins, and Floyd Cramer, it features an eight-bar blues progression and heavy reverberation. The song topped multiple charts, became Presley’s first million-seller, and was certified double platinum. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1995 and named one of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.

Fiddler’s Bridge Rings—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posed earlier today plus some additional information.

A portrait in oils in the Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica di Bologna is generally believed to be of Vivaldi.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Venice, Republic of Venice (now Italy)—Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678–1741) was a pivotal Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque era, known for his innovative contributions to orchestration, violin technique and the concerto form. Born in Venice, he was ordained a priest in 1703, earning the nickname Il Prete Rosso—the red priest. Vivaldi worked at the Ospedale della Pietà, composing numerous concertos, sacred works, and over fifty operas, including the famous The Four Seasons. Despite initial success, his popularity declined in the 1730s. He moved to Vienna in 1740, seeking royal support, but died in poverty. His works were rediscovered in the 1920s, reviving interest in his music.
    Forth Bridge pier off Inchgarvie Island. The Forth Road Bridge can be seen in the background.
    Image Wikipedia
  2. Edinburgh—The Forth Bridge, a cantilever railway bridge over the Firth of Forth (Estuary of the River Forth) in Scotland, was designed by Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker in the late 1880s and opened on 4 March 1890. Initially criticised for its aesthetics, it is now a symbol of Scotland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located 9 miles west of Edinburgh, it carries the Edinburgh–Aberdeen line, is 8,094 feet (2467 m) long and features three 1,348 ft (411 m) cantilevers and two 351 ft (107 m) suspended spans, with a total clear span of 1,699 ft (518 m). Constructed with 58,000 tons of steel at a cost of £3,000,000 (£493,000,000 in 2025). Recent research by the Queensferry Historian Group has discovered that 78 men died during the construction of the bridge.
    A plaque honoring Perkins at Boston’s Logan Airport.
    Image Wikipedia
  3. Franklin D. Roosevelt—Frances Perkins was appointed Secretary of Labor on 4 March 1933. Born on 10 April 1880, in Boston she was a pioneering American workers-rights advocate and the first woman in the U.S. cabinet, serving as Secretary of Labour from 1933 to 1945 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A key figure in the New Deal coalition, she focused on labour issues and social security policy, developing the Social Security Act in 1935. Perkins championed reforms like the minimum wage, maximum workweek, and child labour restrictions. Educated at Mount Holyoke College, Wharton School, and Columbia University, she passed away on 14 May 1965, in New York.
    Paul McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon during a Beatles performance for Dutch television, 1964.
    Image Wikipedia
  4. John Lennon, Beatles—In 1966, during a controversial interview, John Lennon of the Beatles made a bold statement that would spark widespread debate and backlash around the world. Lennon asserted that the band had become “more popular than Jesus”. This comment was part of a larger discussion about the changing role of religion and the cultural influence of rock music, particularly among the youth of the 1960s. The remark was initially unnoticed in the UK but gained significant attention in the United States, leading to protests and record burnings by those who viewed the statement as blasphemous. Despite the uproar, the Beatles continued to dominate the music scene and influence the cultural landscape, solidifying their legacy as one of the most iconic bands in history.
  5. Voyager 1—Voyager 1, launched by NASA on September 5, 1977, is a pioneering interplanetary probe that visited Jupiter and Saturn, becoming the first spacecraft to reach interstellar space. Part of a twin mission with Voyager 2, it utilised a rare planetary alignment for a multiplanet tour. Voyager 1 discovered Jupiter’s ring and volcanic activity on Io, and revealed Saturn’s ring structures. It carries a gold-plated phonograph record with Earth’s images and sounds. By 2012, it entered interstellar space and is now the most distant human-made object. It is expected to operate until 2030.
Distance from Earth screenshot, 12:42 4 March 2025*
Image JPL NASA Voyager

*Voyager Live information can be viewed at JPL NASA Voyager.

Fiddler’s Bridge Rings

Image Wikipedia

Here are some questions based on this day in history.

  1. Antonio Vivaldi, composer and virtuoso violinist was born on 4 March 1678. Where was he born?
    • Vigo, Kingdom of Galicia (now Spain)
    • Vienna, Austria
    • Venice, Republic of Venice (now Italy) 
  2. What Scottish city is located about nine miles east of the bridge, which opened this day in 1890, pictured above? 
    • Aberdeen
    • Dundee
    • Edinburgh
    Frances Perkins
    Image Wikipedia
  3. Frances Perkins was the first woman ever to serve in a presidential cabinet in the United States. Which president appointed her as the fourth US Secretary of Labor?
    • Calvin Coolidge
    • Herbert Hoover
    • Franklin D. Roosevelt 
  4. On 4 March 1966, it was claimed during an interview that we are ‘more popular than Jesus’. Who made this claim?
    • John Lennon of the Beatles
    • Cass Elliot of the Mamas & the Papas
    • Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones
  5. On this day in 1979 the first photograph of the rings of Jupiter (below) was sent back to Earth by what spacecraft?
    • Voyager 1
    • Galileo
    • Pioneer 11
Jupiter.
Image Wikipedia

Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.

Bombshell Birthdays, Trashy Climbers and Hockey Hooligans!—Answers

Jean Harlow.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Jean Harlow—Jean Harlow, born Harlean Carpenter in 1911, was the quintessential blonde bombshell of Hollywood’s golden age. Rising to fame during the 1930s, she captivated audiences with her vivacious personality, striking platinum hair, and undeniable talent. Harlow’s career was marked by standout performances in films like Hell’s Angels and Red Dust, where she showcased her comedic timing and magnetic screen presence. Despite her glamorous image, she was known for her down-to-earth nature and warmth. Tragically, Harlow’s life was cut short at the age of 26 due to kidney failure, but her legacy as a pioneering Hollywood icon endures.
    Looking north to Mount Everest.
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  2. 8 kg (17.6 lb)—Nepal’s tourism authority announced a new rule requiring climbers of Mount Everest to return with 8kg (17.6lb) of trash more than they produced during their ascent. This measure aims to address the estimated 50 tons of discarded items left on the mountain.
    Alexander Graham Bell, c1914-1919.
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  3. Edinburgh, Scotland—Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh, Scotland, was an American inventor and scientist celebrated for his revolutionary contributions to communication. He invented the telephone in 1876 and the phonograph in 1886. Bell’s inventive genius is showcased by 18 patents in his name and 12 shared with collaborators. His patents include 14 for the telephone and telegraph, four for the photophone, one for the phonograph, five for aerial vehicles, four for hydroairplanes, and two for selenium cells. Bell’s work transformed the world by enhancing communication methods.
    Flag, which flew over Fort McHenry following the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812, is said to have inspired Francis Scott Key.
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  4. 1931—The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States, penned by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812. Key, an American lawyer, wrote the lyrics after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, during the Battle of Baltimore. Captivated by the sight of the American flag, the Star-Spangled Banner, still flying over the fort at dawn, he poetically immortalised the resilience and spirit of the American people. The anthem’s stirring words and vivid imagery have since become a symbol of national pride. In 1931, the United States Congress officially designated it as the national anthem.
    Composite photo of 1893 hockey game at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal; photo in collection of McCord Museum.
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  5. Montreal—The first recorded public indoor ice hockey game, played in Montreal’s Victoria Skating Rink in 1875, involved two teams of McGill University students. The game’s reputation for violence was already evident as shown by The Daily British Whig of Kingston, Ontario, which reported, the match was marked by “shins and heads being battered, benches smashed, and lady spectators fleeing in confusion.” The McGill University Hockey Club, the first organised team, was formed in 1877; it codified the rules of the game and limited the number of players on each side to nine.