100 Not Out—Answers

Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) *Chitty Chitty Bang Bang* (1968).

One

Born on this day in 1925, an actor portrayed Caractacus Potts in a 1968 film adaptation of an Ian Fleming story. Who is he and what was the film?

Answer: Dick Van Dyke; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Happy Birthday! The post title refers to Dick Van Dyke being 100 today.

Dick Van Dyke, born in 1925, is an American actor and comedian renowned for his charm and physical comedy. He began his show business career after a failed advertising venture, performing in nightclubs and on television before making his Broadway debut in 1959. Van Dyke starred in the hit musical Bye Bye Birdie, winning a Tony Award, which led to his iconic role in The Dick Van Dyke Show, earning him three Emmys. He also starred in films like Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and returned to television with various shows and TV movies. His career highlights include roles in Dick Tracy, Diagnosis Murder, and Night at the Museum. Van Dyke received a Television Academy Hall of Fame induction in 1995 and a Kennedy Centre Honour in 2021.

Two

The first European to sight the South Island of New Zealand did so on this day. Who was he, and in what century did this sighting occur?

Answer: Abel Tasman; 17th century (1642)

Abel Janszoon Tasman, a Dutch explorer, was the first European to reach New Zealand and Tasmania. His 1642 expedition, commissioned by the Dutch East India Company, aimed to discover new trade routes and establish trade relations with native inhabitants. Despite a violent encounter with the Māori people, Tasman’s voyage paved the way for future colonisation.

Three

In 1956, the film Anastasia was released in America. This drama marked the Hollywood comeback of an actress following a scandal involving an extramarital affair. Her performance earned her the Best Actress Oscar. Who was she?

Answer: Ingrid Bergman

After years working exclusively in Europe following her highly publicised affair with Roberto Rossellini, this film marked a Hollywood comeback for Ingrid Bergman. Her performance earned her, among others, the Academy Award for Best Actress, the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture.

Four

The final moonwalk or EVA of the Apollo programme occurred on this day in 1972. Which Apollo mission was this and who were the two astronauts on the Moon?

Answer: Apollo 17; Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt

Apollo 17, the final Apollo mission, launched on 7 December 1972 and concluded on 19 December 1972. Commander Eugene Cernan and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt were the last humans to walk on the Moon, landing in the Taurus-Littrow Valley. They conducted experiments, collected samples, and travelled 19 miles in their lunar rover before returning to Earth. Cernan, the last person to date to stand on the Moon, said before returning to the lunar module, ‘We shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17’.

Taylor Swift at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
Image iHeartRadioCA via Wikipedia

Five

What singer-songwriter was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania on this day in 1989?

Answer: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift, a renowned American singer-songwriter known for her autobiographical songwriting and artistic reinventions, made history in 2024 by becoming the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year four times and breaking the record for the highest-grossing concert tour. She is the highest-grossing live music artist and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having won numerous awards, including 14 Grammys, and is the first individual from the arts to be named Time Person of the Year.

100 Not Out

One

Born on this day in 1925, an actor portrayed Caractacus Potts in a 1968 film adaptation of an Ian Fleming story. Who is he and what was the film?

Two

The first European to sight the South Island of New Zealand did so on this day. Who was he, and in what century did this sighting occur?

Three

Four

The final moonwalk or EVA of the Apollo programme occurred on this day in 1972. Which Apollo mission was this and who were the two astronauts on the Moon?

Five

What singer-songwriter was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania on this day in 1989?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Words II—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post.

The theme for today’s questions repeats yesterday’s: five words, each beginning with a different letter — W, O, R, D, and S. Each word appears in the Oxford English Dictionary and is presented below with three possible meanings. Simply choose the correct one for each.

Widdershins

A. Small shears; secateurs  
B. A direction contrary to the sun’s course; anticlockwise 
C. Woollen leggings; gaiters

Answer: B. A direction contrary to the sun’s course; anticlockwise

adverb mainly Scottish English in a direction contrary to the sun’s course, considered as unlucky; anticlockwise: she danced widdershins around him. 

– ORIGIN early 16th century: from Middle Low German weddersins, from Middle High German widersinnes, from wider ‘against’ + sin ‘direction’; the second element was associated with Scots sin ‘sun’.  

— Oxford English Dictionary

Omasum

A. An estate held in absolute ownership, without acknowledgement to a superior.
B. A hard, dark, glasslike volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava without crystallization.
C. The muscular third stomach of a ruminant animal

Answer: C. The muscular third stomach of a ruminant animal

noun (plural omasa /əʊˈmeɪsə/) Zoology the muscular third stomach of a ruminant animal, between the reticulum and the abomasum. Also called psalterium 

– ORIGIN mid 16th century: from Latin, literally ‘tripe’, probably from Gaulish. 

— Oxford English Dictionary

Rhinal

A. In Palaeontology relating to unicorns
B. The scientific study of water loss from riverine systems
C. Anatomy relating to the nose or the olfactory part of the brain

Answer: C. Anatomy relating to the nose or the olfactory part of the brain

adjective Anatomy relating to the nose or the olfactory part of the brain. 

– ORIGIN mid 19th century: from Greek rhis, rhin- ‘nose’ + -al. 

— Oxford English Dictionary

Dubbo

A. One who is an identical twin
B. An adolescent male kangaroo or wallaby
C. An unsophisticated or unintelligent person; a country bumpkin

Answer: C. An unsophisticated or unintelligent person; a country bumpkin

noun (plural dubbos) Australian English informal, derogatory an unsophisticated or unintelligent person, especially someone from the countryside; a bumpkin: why was she working with such a bunch of dubbos? 

– ORIGIN 1980s: from the name of a famous farming town in New South Wales. 

— Oxford English Dictionary

Shadoof

A. A pole and bucket system to collect well water
B. A shadow-like spectre 
C. A Jewish professional matchmaker or marriage broker

Answer: A. A pole and bucket system to collect well water

noun a pole with a bucket and counterpoise used especially in Egypt for raising water. 

– ORIGIN mid 19th century: from Egyptian Arabic šādūf.

— Oxford English Dictionary

Words II

Widdershins

A. Small shears; secateurs  
B. A direction contrary to the sun’s course; anticlockwise 
C. Woollen leggings; gaiters

Omasum

Rhinal

A. In Palaeontology relating to unicorns
B. The scientific study of water loss from riverine systems
C. Anatomy relating to the nose or the olfactory part of the brain

Dubbo

A. One who is an identical twin
B. An adolescent male kangaroo or wallaby
C. An unsophisticated or unintelligent person; a country bumpkin

Shadoof

A. A pole and bucket system to collect well water
B. A shadow-like spectre 
C. A Jewish professional matchmaker or marriage broker

Good luck! The answers will be posted later.

Words—Answers

Today’s questions focus on five words, each starting with a different letter: W, O, R, D, S. These words are all found in the Oxford English Dictionary. Each word is listed below with three definitions, so simply select the correct one for each.

One

Welkin

A. A barrel with a capacity of 12 pecks (24 gallons)
B. A grandchild
C. The sky or heavens

Answer: The sky or heavens

noun literary the sky or heaven.

– ORIGIN Old English wolcen ‘cloud, sky’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch wolk and German Wolke.

— Oxford English Dictionary

Two

Ouabain

A. A poisonous white crystalline glycoside
B. A two-wheeled cart
C. A witches potion

Answer: A. A poisonous white crystalline glycoside

noun [mass noun] Chemistry a toxic compound obtained from certain trees, used as a very rapid cardiac stimulant. It is a polycyclic glycoside.

– ORIGIN late 19th century: via French from Somali wabayo, denoting a tree that yields poison (used on arrow points) containing ouabain.

— Oxford English Dictionary

Three

Regolith

A. Unified register of official documents.
B. An order of reptiles characterised by a bony plate shell covered in horny scales.
C. The layer of unconsolidated solid material covering a planet’s bedrock.

Answer: The layer of unconsolidated solid material covering the bedrock of a planet

noun [mass noun] Geology the layer of unconsolidated solid material covering the bedrock of a planet.

– ORIGIN late 19th century: from Greek rhēgos ‘rug, blanket’ + -lith.

— Oxford English Dictionary

Four

Deemster

A. An apprentice printer
B. A judge
C. A person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge

Answer: A Judge

noun a judge (of whom there are two) in the Isle of Man judiciary.

– ORIGIN Middle English (originally a general word for a judge): from deem + -ster. The current sense dates from the early 17th century.

— Oxford English Dictionary

Five

Starets

A. A magnesium flare

B. A spiritual leader

C. A Vietnamese roasted snake dish

Answer: A spiritual leader

noun A spiritual adviser, often a monk or religious hermit, in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

A religious adviser (not necessarily a priest) in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

— American Heritage Dictionary

Words

One

Welkin

A. A barrel with a capacity of 12 pecks (24 gallons)

B. A grandchild

C. The sky or heavens

Two

Ouabain

A. A poisonous white crystalline glycoside

B. A two-wheeled cart

C. A witches potion

Three

Regolith

A. Unified register of official documents

B. An order of reptiles characterised by a bony plate shell covered in horny scales

C. The layer of unconsolidated solid material covering a planet’s bedrock.

Four

Deemster

A. A printer’s apprentice

B. A judge

C. A person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge

Five

Starets

A. A magnesium flare

B. A spiritual leader

C. A Vietnamese roasted snake dish

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Utility ought to be the principal intention of every publication—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

All of these questions are related to today’s date, December 10th.

*Lawrence of Arabia* (1962).
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

In 1962, David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia, which went on to became one of the most celebrated epics in the history of cinema, had its world premiere. Who starred as _ _ Lawrence, and what two initials are missing before his surname?

Answer: Peter O’Toole (as) T.E. (Lawrence)

Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British historical epic biographical adventure drama film directed by David Lean. It portrays Thomas Edward Lawrence’s experiences in the Ottoman provinces during World War I and his involvement in the Arab National Council. The film, which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. It follows Lawrence’s journey from a military cartographer to a leader of the Arab Revolt against the Turks, and is renowned for its stunning desert landscapes, shot on location in Jordan, Spain and Morocco.

Two

Which government officially surrendered on this day in 1932 after a month-long battle against thousands of large flightless birds, and what were the birds?

Answer: Australian; Emus

The Emu War was a brief and unsuccessful 1932 military operation in Australia aimed at controlling the emu population, which was damaging crops in Western Australia. Three members of the Royal Australian Artillery were tasked with culling approximately 20,000 emus using machine guns, but the weapons and tactics were ineffective. Despite petitions from local farmers, the campaign, which lasted from November to December, resulted in fewer than 1,000 emus being killed and became a subject of national and international ridicule.

Portrait of Ada, Countess of Lovelace (Ada Lovelace), c1840.
Image Wikipedia

Three

Ada Lovelace, often regarded as the first computer programmer, was born in Marylebone, London. In which decade was she born, and who was her famous father?

Answer: 1810s; Lord Byron

Born in 1815, Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the poet Lord Byron, was an English mathematician and writer renowned for her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. She recognised its potential beyond mere calculation and developed a vision of computers’ capabilities, leading to her being considered the first computer programmer. Her contributions are celebrated on Ada Lovelace Day.

Four

In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Which former First Lady of the United States chaired the United Nations Commission on Human Rights that was responsible for the drafting of the document?

Answer: Eleanor Roosevelt

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, is a foundational document of international human rights law. Drafted by a team including John Humphrey, Eleanor Roosevelt and René Cassin, it comprises 30 articles outlining civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. Although not legally binding, the UDHR has achieved significant moral authority and has influenced numerous international treaties and national constitutions.

Five

The first part of the first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, the English-language general encyclopaedia, was published and advertised for sale on this day. In what century and in what city did this occur?

Answer: 18th century; Edinburgh,Scotland, United Kingdom

The Encyclopædia Britannica, a general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia, was first published in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1768 by a group of Scottish gentlemen. Initially released in three volumes, it introduced a “new plan” by combining treatises on arts and sciences with short articles on technical terms, catering to both serious students and those seeking quick reference material. William Smellie, an Edinburgh printer, is credited with devising this plan and writing or compiling many of the articles. The encyclopaedia transitioned from print to digital in 2012 due to strong competition from digital encyclopaedias like Microsoft Encarta and Wikipedia, yet it maintained its reputation for authoritative and scholarly content and is now available exclusively online.

Utility ought to be the principal intention of every publication.

The title of today’s post is the first sentence of the preface to the first edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.

Utility ought to be the principal intention of every publication

All of these questions are related to today’s date, December 10th.

One

Two

Which government officially surrendered on this day in 1932 after a month-long battle against thousands of large flightless birds, and what were the birds?

Three

Ada Lovelace, often regarded as the first computer programmer, was born in Marylebone, London. In which decade was she born, and who was her famous father?

Four

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

On the Road—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions in my earlier post.

The first question directly relates to today’s date, December 9th. The others follow the road traffic theme introduced in the first question.

The Westminster street semaphore, from the Illustrated Times, 16 January 1869. Copyright the British Library Board via the British Newspaper Archive.
Image Londonist.com

One

In 1868, the world’s first traffic light began operation in which city?

Answer: London, United Kingdom

Designed by railway engineer JP Knight and installed at Parliament Square, Westminster, this gas-powered semaphore signal was manually operated by a police officer. However, a gas leak and subsequent explosion led to its removal just a month later. This delay significantly hindered the adoption of traffic lights in Britain.

Two

According to Guinness World Records, which road—stretching over 24,140 km (15,000 miles)—is recognised as the world’s longest motorable road?

Answer: Pan-American Highway

See three below

Three

Continuing from question two, despite being the world’s longest motorable road, driving its entire length isn’t possible. This is because there’s a section at approximately 7.9° north latitude where there’s no road. What’s the common name for this interrupted stretch?

Answer: Darién Gap

Guinness World Records describe the Pan-American Highway as going from Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, to Panama and then—after shipping their vehicles to Colombia or Venezuela—to Santiago, Chile, and then east to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Rio de Janeiro and Brazilia in Brazil.  Wikipedia starts/ends the route at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States, to Puerto Montt, Quellón, Chile, or Ushuaia, Argentina.  Encyclopædia Britannica says …from Alaska and Canada to Chile, Brazil, and the southern tip of Argentina.
The Darién Gap is a remote and dangerous rainforest area on the Colombia-Panama border, acting as a natural barrier between North and South America. Its inhospitable terrain, lack of roads or other infrastructure, and presence of criminal enterprises make it a perilous route for travel and migration. Despite these challenges, it has become a major migration route for individuals from Haiti and Venezuela seeking to reach the Mexico-United States border.

Four

Introduced in the UK in 1951 and named after its distinctive striped pattern, which type of pedestrian crossing quickly became a road-safety icon?

Answer: Zebra Crossing

The first official zebra crossing was unveiled in Slough. Its black-and-white design and Belisha beacons dramatically improved pedestrian visibility and contributed to a significant drop in road accidents.

Five

In 1888, the wife of a German inventor made the first long-distance car journey. This German inventor had received a patent in 1886 for what is widely considered the first practical automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. Who was the lady who made the long-distance car journey?

Answer: Bertha Benz (wife of Karl Benz)

In 1888, Bertha Benz embarked on the first long-distance car journey without informing Benz himself. This demonstrated the vehicle’s practicality and effectively staged the world’s first car publicity stunt. Encyclopædia Britannica describes it as…

Benz’s journey with her sons marked the first long-distance journey in an automobile. The trio travelled from Mannheim to Pforzheim in about 13 hours, driving on about 60 miles (96.6 km) of unpaved roads. Karl was notified of the Motorwagen’s success by telegram. During the journey, Bertha made several repairs with simple on-hand items. She used her garter to fix the ignition and her hat pin to unclog a blocked fuel pipe. They even stopped at a pharmacy in Wiesloch to purchase a few litres of Ligroin from a chemist. Ligroin was a cleaning agent that served as petroleum fuel for the single-cylinder engine motor. (To this day, many consider this pharmacy the world’s first fueling station.)

On the journey back, the Motorwagen’s brake blocks wore out. Benz had a cobbler fit the brakes with leather strips, thus inventing brake pads. Through her trip, she proved to naysayers that the Motorwagen had potential and helped make improvements on its design. Along the way, she and her sons had to push the Motorwagen uphill, so she suggested that Karl add a third, lower gear and brake pads to his next model. These suggestions were implemented in all of the following models. — Encyclopædia Britannica

On the Road

The first question directly relates to today’s date, December 9th. The others follow the road traffic theme introduced in the first question.

Image attribution will be shown in the answer post.

One

In 1868, the world’s first traffic light began operation in which city?

Two

According to Guinness World Records, which road—stretching over 24,140 km (15,000 miles)—is recognised as the world’s longest motorable road?

Three

Four

Introduced in the UK in 1951 and named after its distinctive striped pattern, which type of pedestrian crossing quickly became a road-safety icon?

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.