To Boldly Go…to a Musical—Answers

Montreal.
Wikipedia
  1. Montreal, Quebec – William Shatner, a Canadian actor, is renowned for his prolific output and self-deprecating humour, which have solidified his place in North American pop culture. He is best known for his iconic role as Captain James T. Kirk in the science fiction television series Star Trek (1966–69) and several Star Trek films.
  2. Amerigo Vespucci—is best remembered for the place named after him. He believed Brazil was part of a new continent, inspiring Waldseemüller to name it “America”—the Latinised Amerigo—in 1507. This name became standard on maps of the New World.
    Ruins of the Great Dam of Marib, Yemen.
    Wikipedia
  3. Yemen—The Arab League, formed in Cairo in 1945 with seven members, is a regional organisation in the Arab world. It now has 22 members and its main goals are to strengthen relations, safeguard independence, and consider the affairs of Arab countries.
  4. 1934—The 1934 Masters Tournament, the first of its kind, was held at Augusta National Golf Club. Horton Smith won the event with a 284 (−4), one stroke ahead of Craig Wood.
  5. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat—the following quote is about Lloyd Webber and Rice’s collaboration: “The names of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice are, of course, forever bound together in musical theatre history, like those of Gilbert and Sullivan.”—Theatre critic Mark Shenton on the partnership of Lloyd Webber and Rice.
Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Wikipedia

To Boldly Go…to a Musical

All of the following are about today’s date, 22 March, but in a variety of years.

William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk.
Wikipedia
  1. William Shatner was born today in 1931 in the Canadian city of…
    • Montreal, Quebec
    • Toronto, Ontario
    • Vancouver, British Columbia
  2. On this day in 1508, Ferdinand II of Aragon commissioned a new chief navigator of the Spanish Empire. Born in the Republic of Florence, he was…
    • Amerigo Vespucci
    • Vasco da Gama
    • Christopher Columbus.
  3. The Arab League was formed this day in Cairo by Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan (now Jordan) and…
    • Tunisia
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Yemen
  4. The first Masters Tournament took place at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia on this date in…
    • 1934
    • 1938
    • 1941
  5. The 22nd March 1948 saw the birth of the English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is well known for his collaboration with Tim Rice. The first of their works to be performed publicly was…
    • Evita
    • Jesus Christ Superstar
    • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Amerigo Vespucci. Wikipedia

Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.

Mysteries and Meanings: A Trivial Journey Through Alfa-Foxtrot—Answers

Aardwolf at Buffalo Springs NP, Kenya
Wikipedia
  1. A is for Aardwolf. African wild dog—is NOT an another name for the Aardwolf. The other two maanhaar-jackal and termite-eating hyena are such alternatives.
  2. B is for Bacchus. Dionysus—is the Greek god of wine making
  3. C is for the Chrysanthemum Throne. Naruhito—is the current emperor of Japan. In a metonymic sense, the “Chrysanthemum Throne” also rhetorically refers to the head of state and the Japanese monarchy itself.
  4. D is for Drouthy. Thirsty—the line “And drouthy neibors, neibors, meet;” translates to “And thirsty neighbours, neighbours meet;”
  5. E is for Elephant. Mahout—a mahout is a trainer, keeper or rider of an elephant. A howdah is related; it is a seat for carrying people on the back of an elephant or camel. Burlak was the occupation of a person who manually hauled river boats or barges in the Russian Empire.
  6. F is for the Fortingall Yew. Pontius Pilate—An article in the New York Times on 15 January 1899 explored the possibility of Pontius Pilate having Scottish origins. It suggested that during the period between the Romans’ initial and later invasions of Britain, Caesar Augustus sent envoys to establish relations with British and Caledonian chieftains, including Metellanus of Glen Lyon. A Roman envoy fathered a child with a Caledonian woman, who later returned to Rome with him and was raised as Pilate. Although there is no definitive record of Pilate’s birth or parentage, this story is as plausible as other theories suggesting he was born in Tarragona, Spain, or Forchheim, Germany. If true, Pilate would be one of many Scots who have historically achieved high positions in foreign empires.
One trunk of the Fortingall Yew. The original size of the trunk is marked by the wooden poles.
Wikipedia

Mysteries and Meanings: A Trivial Journey Through Alfa-Foxtrot

Chrysanthemum
Wikipedia
  1. A is for Aardwolf. Which of these is NOT an alternative name for an aardwolf?
    • African wild dog
    • Maanhaar-jackal
    • Termite-eating hyena
  2. B is for Bacchus. Commonly known as Bacchus by the Greeks—a name later adopted by the Romans—for a frenzy he is said to induce called baccheia, who is the Greek god of wine-making?
    • Dionysus
    • Marsyas
    • Uranus
  3. C is for the Chrysanthemum Throne. Who currently sits on the Chrysanthemum Throne?
    • Akihito
    • Fumihito
    • Naruhito
  4. D is for Drouthy. What does the word “drouthy” mean in this line from Robert Burns’s Tam o’Shanter? “And drouthy neibors, neibors, meet;”
    • Testy
    • Thirsty
    • Trusty
  5. E is for Elephant. Which of these is a trainer, keeper or rider of an elephant?
    • Burlak
    • Howdah
    • Mahout
  6. F is for the Fortingall Yew. Estimates place the age of this tree in Perthshire, Scotland between 2,000 and 5,000 years. Which biblical figure does local legend say was born in its shadow?
    • Andrew the Apostle
    • Herod Agrippa
    • Pontius Pilate
Fortingall Yew
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.
    Image Wikipedia
  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.
    Image Wikipedia
  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.
    Image Wikipedia
  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.
    Image Wikipedia
  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.

Bombshell Birthdays, Trashy Climbers and Hockey Hooligans!

Marilyn Monroe, 1954.
Image Wikipedia

All of the following are connected to 3 March.

  1. An actress born on 3 March 1911 was, according to Encyclopædia Britannica, the original ‘blonde bombshell’; who was she?
    • Jean Harlow
    • Fay Wray
    • Mae West
    Everest Base Camp.
    Image Wikipedia
  2. On this day in 2014, Nepal implemented a system requiring climbers of Mount Everest to return ___ of trash more than they produced during their ascent and descent. Which of these is missing from the previous sentence?
    • 4 kg (8.8 lb)
    • 6 kg (13.2 lb)
    • 8 kg (17.6 lb)
  3. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor and scientist, best known for the invention of the telephone, was born on 3 March 1847. Where was he born?
    • Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Edinburgh, Scotland
    • Isle of Skye, Scotland
    Flag, which flew over Fort McHenry following the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812, is said to have inspired Francis Scott Key.
    Image Wikipedia
  4. The Star-Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, was officially adopted by an act of Congress as the official national anthem of the United States on this day in…
    • 1853
    • 1892
    • 1931
  5. The first recorded public indoor ice hockey game took place today in 1875. It was played in the Canadian city of…
    • Montreal
    • Quebec
    • Vancouver

Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.