Althea Gibson, aged 76, died on this day in 2003. In the mid-1950s she achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African-American woman to win titles in what sport?
Two
Brigitte Bardot was born on 28 September 1934. She gained international recognition in which 1956 film directed by Roger Vadim?
Three
In 1928, a physician and microbiologist observed a mould growth in a laboratory that would later be identified as penicillin. Who was this individual?
Four
On 28 September, a European ‘discovered’ California. In which century did this happen?
Five
On 28 September 2008 Singapore hosted its inaugural Formula One race, making it the first night race in the sport’s history. Almost a year later allegations emerged of a driver being instructed by his team to crash his car. Who was the driver and which team was he representing?
Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.
Ocelots are active especially during dawn and dusk. Image Wikipedia
One
Which fictional character habitually wears a charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis and collegiate cordovan loafers; and which author created him?
Answer: Robert Langdon (created by) Dan Brown
Robert Langdon, a fictional character created by author Dan Brown for his Robert Langdon book series: Angels & Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013), Origin (2017), and The Secret of Secrets (2025). He is a Harvard University professor of Religious Iconology and Symbology (a fictional field).
Tom Hanks portrays Langdon in the Robert Langdon film series; starting with the 2006 film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, reprising the role in the 2009 film adaptation of Angels & Demons, and again in the 2016 film adaptation of Inferno, while Ashley Zukerman plays a younger version of the character in the 2021 TV series adaptation of The Lost Symbol.
Two
Is it true or false that in zoology, a crepuscular animal is one which lives on a seashore in the areas between the high and low tide marks?
Answer: False
In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period, being matutinal (active during dawn), vespertine/vespertinal (active during dusk), or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behaviour, where an animal is active during the hours of daytime and of night, respectively. Some crepuscular animals may also be active by moonlight or during an overcast day.
Who was the British prime minister at the time of the abdication crisis, when King Edward VIII renounced the throne?
Answer: Stanley Baldwin
Baldwin served as Prime Minister from May 1935 to June 1937. He held office under three kings: George V, his eldest son Edward VIII, who abdicated and was succeeded by his brother Albert, who took the regnal name King George VI. In 1936, King Edward VIII’s proposed marriage to Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American, caused a constitutional crisis. The British government and the Church of England, of which the monarch is head, opposed the marriage. Consequently Edward abdicated in favour of his brother.
The Doors c. 1966: Jim Morrison (L), John Densmore (C), Robby Krieger (R), and Ray Manzarek (seated). Image Wikipedia
Four
The Doors chose their band name from a 1954 work by what author (1894-1963)?
Answer: Aldous Huxley
Morrison took the band’s name from Aldous Huxley’s book on mescaline, The Doors of Perception (1954), which in turn refers to a line in a poem by Romantic artist and writer William Blake. — Encyclopædia Britannica
Five
Can you name three players chosen for the European 2025 Ryder Cup team whose surnames begin with the same letter?
Answer: Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Højgaard and Viktor Hovland
The players are Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Højgaard, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Robert MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose and Sepp Straka.
Which fictional character habitually wears a charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis and collegiate cordovan loafers; and which author created him?
Two
Is it true or false that in zoology, a crepuscular animal is one which lives on a seashore in the areas between the high and low tide marks?
Three
Who was the British prime minister at the time of the abdication crisis, when King Edward VIII renounced the throne?
Four
The Doors chose their band name from a 1954 work by what author (1894-1963)?
Five
Can you name three players chosen for the European 2025 Ryder Cup team whose surnames begin with the same letter?
Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas and daughter, Carys in 2023. Image Wikipedia
One
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, both actors, share the same birthday on 25 September. How many years apart are their birth years, and where were they born?
Answer: 25 years; New Jersey, US and Wales, UK
Douglas was born in 1944, in the city of New Brunswick, New Jersey, US. The birth of Catherine Zeta-Jones was in 1969 in Swansea, a city in Wales, UK
Two
Tostig Godwinson died in England on 25 September in a battle against his brother. His victorious brother would die less than three weeks later in another battle over 250 miles away. Who was the victorious brother, and in what battle did he die?
Answer: King Harold II of England aka Harold Godwinson and Battle of Hastings
On 25 September 1066, Tostig Godwinson, allied with the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada, faced his brother Harold II, the king of England, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Both Tostig and Harald died in the battle. The victorious Harold was then compelled to march his armies to the English Channel coast to confront the Norman invasion led by William, Duke of Normandy. At the Battle of Hastings, Harold was killed and his armies defeated, and the Duke of Normandy became William the Conqueror, the first Norman king of England, known as William I.
The first page of Publick Occurrences. Internet Archive under public domain Image Smithsonian Magazine
Three
Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, a multi-page newspaper, first published on 25 September 1690, was the first publication of its kind in the British American colonies. Is this true or false?
Answer: True
It is true. It was short lived though as the following quote explains.
His newspaper, Publick Occurrences, Both Foreign and Domestick (Sept. 25, 1690), the first newspaper printed in the colonies, was suppressed by Boston authorities after one issue. — Encyclopædia Britannica
Four
On 25 September 1962, Sonny Liston became the world heavyweight boxing champion with a first-round knockout to win the title. Who did he defeat?
Answer: Floyd Paterson
Floyd Patterson became the youngest heavyweight champion in 1956, defeating Archie Moore. He lost the title to Ingemar Johansson in 1959 but regained it in 1960, holding it until 1962 when he was defeated by Sonny Liston.
On 25 September 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. What was that body of water known as to Balboa and his contemporaries at that time?
Answer: Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean was originally called the South Sea by Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa in 1513, due to its location along the southern shore of the Isthmus of Panama. Later, in 1520, Ferdinand Magellan renamed it the Pacific, being a ‘peaceful sea’, after his journey through the stormy waters surrounding Cape Horn to reach it.
Here are five questions all related to today, September 25th.
Catherine Zeta-Jones with her husband Michael Douglas in 2012. Image Wikipedia
One
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, both actors, share the same birthday on 25 September. How many years apart are their birth years, and where were they born?
Two
Tostig Godwinson died in England on 25 September in a battle against his brother. His victorious brother would die less than three weeks later in another battle over 250 miles away. Who was the victorious brother, and in what battle did he die?
Three
Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, a multi-page newspaper, first published on 25 September 1690, was the first publication of its kind in the British American colonies. Is this true or false?
Four
On 25 September 1962, Sonny Liston became the world heavyweight boxing champion with a first-round knockout to win the title. Who did he defeat?
Five
On 25 September 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. What was that body of water known as to Balboa and his contemporaries at that time?
On 24 September 1906 Devils Tower, Wyoming was named the first national monument in the United States. What 290 miles (470 km) long river, a tributary of the Cheyenne River, passes Devil’s Tower?
Answer: Belle Fourche River
The Belle Fourche River, a 290-mile tributary of the Cheyenne River, flows through Wyoming and South Dakota. It is part of the Mississippi River watershed via the Cheyenne and Missouri Rivers.
An Early Medieval ecclesiastical site, an Irish National Monument and World Heritage Site, featured in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. What is this site?
Answer: Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael, a twin-pinnacled crag off the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland, is known for its well-preserved Gaelic monastery and diverse wildlife. The island, accessible only during summer, features steep stone steps leading to the monastery and a hermitage on the south peak. The island was used as the planet Ahch-To in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). While aerial footage was used in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
The World Heritage Site Uluru was named Ayers Rock in 1873. How many years prior to this had it been known as Uluru? (To the nearest thousand.)
Answer: 10,000 years
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, was named by explorer William Gosse in 1873. However, the Pitjantjatjara people, the local indigenous population, have called it Uluru for around 10,000 years before Gosse’s renaming. They believe its formations are physical manifestations of creation events.
The Taj Mahal at Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India was built between 1631 and 1653 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a 17-hectare complex which features a mausoleum, mosque and guest house, showcasing Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture.
Cabot Tower is a National Monument in which country?
Answer: Canada
Cabot Tower, built in 1898 on Signal Hill in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada commemorates the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s landing and Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
On 24 September 1906 Devils Tower, Wyoming was named the first national monument in the United States. What 290 miles (470 km) long river, a tributary of the Cheyenne River, passes Devil’s Tower?
An Early Medieval ecclesiastical site, an Irish National Monument and World Heritage Site, featured in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. What is this site?
Here are the answers for the questions I posted earlier.
Sylvia’s Mother, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. Image CD and LP
One
Mrs Avery is the title character in which 1972 song by Dr. Hook; and what was the full name of the band at the time of the original release?
Answer: Sylvia’s Mother and Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
Sylvia’s Mother, written by Shel Silverstein and originally performed by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, was their first hit. It reached number five on the Billboard singles chart and topped charts in several countries. The band kept this name until 1975 when they shortened it to Dr. Hook.
Thetis Dipping the Infant Achilles into the River Styx by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1625); Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. Image Wikipedia
Two
Achilles was dipped into which river by his mother to make him invulnerable?
Answer: Styx
Legend claims Achilles was invulnerable except for his heel, which his mother held while dipping him in the River Styx. Achilles heel, a term derived from this, signifies a vulnerable point despite overall strength. The Achilles tendon is also named after this legend.
Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall by Spike Milligan. Image Libris
Three
September 3rd, 1939. The last minutes of peace ticking away. Father and I were watching Mother digging our air-raid shelter.
The opening lines of a novel first published in 1971 are quoted above. Can you name the novel and its author?
Answer: Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall by Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan’s war memoir, Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall, recounts his experiences from Britain’s declaration of war to the Allied liberation of Africa. The book, the first of seven volumes, blends anecdotes, photographs and sketches.
Who plays Lily on television’s How I Met Your Mother?
Answer: Alyson Hannigan
Lily Aldrin, portrayed by Alyson Hannigan, is a fictional character in How I Met Your Mother. She is a kindergarten teacher, amateur painter, and later becomes an art consultant.
Statue of Helena in the Musei Capitolini, Rome. Image Wikipedia
Five
Evelyn Waugh’s 1950 novel Helena is about the mother of which 4th-century Roman emperor?
Answer: Constantine I or Constantine the Great
Flavia Julia Helena, also known as Saint Helena, was a Roman Augusta and mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. Revered as a saint, she is believed to have discovered the True Cross during a religious tour.
Statue of Constantine I in York, England. Near the spot where he was proclaimed Augustus in 306 CE. Image Wikipedia
Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday: I am — today!
At the start of The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo Baggins is celebrating his 111th birthday. What two-word, hyphenated term, omitted above, does he use to describe his birthday?
Answer: Eleventy-one
See comment below next answer
Two
Bilbo’s nephew Frodo’s birthday was also the 22 September and that year it marked his ‘coming of age’. How old was Frodo that day?
Answer: 33
Hobbits, a fictional race in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, are about half the height of humans. They have tough, hairy feet and live in underground homes. Known as halflings, they first appeared in The Hobbit (1937), featuring Bilbo Baggins. In The Lord of the Rings, hobbits Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck are central to saving Middle-earth. Hobbits reside in Hobbiton, part of the Shire and Bree-land. The name’s origins are debated, although Tolkien emphatically rejected any link to ‘rabbit’. Hobbits bridge the modern and ancient worlds, featuring modern items like umbrellas and clocks unlike the race’s of men in Rohan and Gondor.
Three
Harry Potter’s birthday is 31 July, but in what year?
Answer: 1980
Harry Potter, the titular character of J.K. Rowling’s series, is an orphan who discovers he is a wizard on his eleventh birthday. The series of seven novels and subsequent film adaptations follows his journey at Hogwarts and his quest to defeat the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort.
Casino Royale, first published 13 April 1953. Image James Bond Fandom
Four
When the Bond film series received a reboot with the 2006 film Casino Royale, the title character was given a birthday: 13 April 1968. What was significant about that date and that year?
Answer: Casino Royale first publication plus Daniel Craig’s birth year
13 April 1953, was the date of publication of Casino Royale, Fleming’s first novel. The year chosen was that of Daniel Craig’s own birth year 1968 (March 2nd).
Five
Which regular character from Scooby_Doo has their birthday confirmed as being on Christmas Day in In Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!?
Answer: Daphne
The Scooby-Doo gang visits the town of Rockwellville in search of a Christmas mystery, but all they find is a pterodactyl who seems to have nothing to do with Christmas. Meanwhile, Daphne, who is tired of having her December 25th birthday overshadowed year after year, tries to convince the gang to celebrate her birthday instead of Christmas. In Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! ‘Scary Christmas’ First broadcast 10 December 2015 — Wikipedia
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