These questions are all related to today’s date, March 23rd.
Suez Canal 2021. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
The Suez Canal was blocked for six days in 2021, when a container ship ran aground, see picture above. What was the name of the container ship?
Two
What animals were retired from the U.S. Army in 1957 when it was decided that they were obsolete?
Three
In 1998, James Cameron’s Titanic won eleven Academy Awards. Which of these did it not win:
Best Actress
Best Director
Best Picture
Four
In 1956, the world’s first Islamic republic came into being. Currently the term is used in the names of three states: name those three countries?
Five
In 1806, Lewis and Clark began their return journey to St. Louis, Missouri. Their return journey began from a position near to the mouth of what river?
People, places, and events from today’s date, March 19th, feature in these questions.
One
On this date, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened. In what decade did this occur?
Answer: 1930s
Opened in 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a steel through arch bridge, connects Sydney’s CBD to the North Shore. An iconic image of Sydney, nicknamed the ‘Coathanger’, it carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Two
A writer who had been born in 1917 died in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 19 March 2008. His best-known works include the script he wrote with director Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey and his novel of that film. Who is this writer?
Answer: Arthur C. Clarke.
Arthur C. Clarke was an English writer known for his science fiction and non-fiction works. He co-wrote the script for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey and its novelisation. Clarke’s notable works include Childhood’s End, Rendezvous with Rama, and The Fountains of Paradise. He was knighted in 2000.
Three
This American actor, who was born in West Germany in 1955, earned a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination in 1990 for his role as Emmett Smith in the film In Country. Who is he?
Answer: Bruce Willis
In Country (1989) follows Samantha Hughes, a recent high school graduate, as she becomes fixated on learning about her deceased father a Vietnam veteran. Staying with her Uncle Emmett (Bruce Willis) another veteran she embarks on a journey to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. seeking closure. Bruce Willis, a retired American actor, is renowned for his action roles, particularly his portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise. He starred in over 100 films including Pulp Fiction and The Sixth Sense, earning numerous accolades throughout his career. Willis retired in 2022 due to aphasia and was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023.
Four
This 20th-century national leader issued his ‘Nero Decree’, ordering that all of the nation’s ‘industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities, and communications facilities be destroyed’? Who was he, and what was the country?
Answers: Adolf Hitler; Germany.
The Nero Decree, issued by Hitler in March 1945, ordered the destruction of German infrastructure to prevent its use by the Allies. It was disobeyed by Albert Speer, Minister of Armaments and War Production, before the Nazi regime’s fall.
Five
American actress Glenn Close, born on 19 March 1947 in Greenwich, Connecticut, received her first Academy Award nomination for her debut film. This was for her role as Jenny Fields in a 1982 film with a five-word title: The World ——. What film?
Answer: The World According to Garp.
Glenn Close is an American actress with a career spanning five decades. She has won numerous awards, including three Emmys, three Tonys, and three Golden Globes, as well as having been nominated for eight Academy Awards. Her debut film role earned her a Best Actress in a Supporting Role nomination for The World According to Garp. Close, who is known for her work in film, television, and theatre, is a vocal advocate for women’s rights, same-sex marriage, and mental health.
People, places, and events from today’s date, March 19th, feature in these questions.
One
On this date, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened. In what decade did this occur?
Two
A writer who had been born in 1917 died in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 19 March 2008. His best-known works include the script he wrote with director Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey and his novel of that film. Who is this writer?
Three
This American actor, who was born in West Germany in 1955, earned a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination in 1990 for his role as Emmett Smith in the film In Country. Who is he?
Four
This 20th-century national leader issued his ‘Nero Decree’, ordering that all of the nation’s ‘industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities, and communications facilities be destroyed’? Who was he, and what was the country?
Five
American actress Glenn Close, born on 19 March 1947 in Greenwich, Connecticut, received her first Academy Award nomination for her debut film. This was for her role as Jenny Fields in a 1982 film with a five-word title: The World ——. What film?
Born 1980. Actress who links the following roles: Penelope (in 2004), Isolde (2006), Erika (2003 and 2006), Darcy (2014) and Freya (2008). Who is she?
Rose Keegan
Sophia Myles
Lucy Russell
Answer: 2. Sophia Myles.
Sophia Myles, an English actress, who portrayed the following characters in the associated film. Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward in Thunderbirds(2004), Isolde in Tristan & Isolde(2006), Darcy in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Erika in Underworld(2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2006), and Freya in Outlander (2008)”
Two
Born 1837, Grover Cleveland, served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Where was he born?
Amherst, New Hampshire
Brighton, New York
Caldwell, New Jersey
Answer: 3. Caldwell, New Jersey.
Stephen Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, was the first Democrat elected after the Civil War and the first president to serve non-consecutive terms. A Bourbon Democrat, he championed political reform, fiscal conservatism and classical liberalism. His presidency was marked by significant legislation like the Interstate Commerce Act and the Dawes Act, as well as challenges like the Panic of 1893 and the Pullman Strike.
Three
Anthem for Doomed Youth was written by a war poet born this day in 1893. Who was he?
Rupert Brook
Wilfred Owen
Siegfried Sassoon
Answer: 2. Wilfred Owen.
Wilfred Owen, an English poet and soldier, expressed anger at war’s cruelty and waste through his poetry. Based on his World War I experiences, his war poetry was about the horrors of trenches and gas warfare. At only 25 years of age, he was killed in action at the Battle of the Sambre on 4 November 1918, exactly a week before the war’s end. His best-known works— most of which were published posthumously— are Anthem for Doomed Youth, Dulce et Decorum est, Futility, and Spring Offensive.
Four
Who is Dana Elaine Owens, born 18 March 1970, a musician and actress, better known as?
Lauryn Hill
Missy Elliott
Queen Latifah
Answer: 3. Queen Latifah.
An American musician and actress, Queen Latifah rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album, All Hail the Queen, which blended diverse styles and feminist themes. The name Latifah is Arabic for ‘delicate’ or ‘sensitive’.
Five
Born today in 1869, this British prime minister returned from Germany with a ‘piece of paper’ promising to ‘have brought you back peace — but a peace I hope with honour’. Who was he?
Stanley Baldwin
Neville Chamberlain
Winston Churchill
Answer: 2. Neville Chamberlain.
Prime Minister of the UK from 1937 to 1940 Neville Chamberlain is known for his policy of appeasement towards Hitler’s Germany. He served in various government positions, including Chancellor of the Exchequer, before becoming Prime Minister. Despite signing the Munich Agreement with Hitler in 1938, Chamberlain declared war on Germany less than a year later following the Nazi invasion of Poland.
Born 1980. Actress who links the following roles: Penelope (in 2004), Isolde (2006), Erika (2003 and 2006), Darcy (2014) and Freya (2008). Who is she?
Rose Keegan
Sophia Myles
Lucy Russell
Two
Born 1837, Grover Cleveland, served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Where was he born?
Amherst, New Hampshire
Brighton, New York
Caldwell, New Jersey
Three
Anthem for Doomed Youth was written by a war poet born this day in 1893. Who was he?
Rupert Brook
Wilfred Owen
Siegfried Sassoon
Four
Who is Dana Elaine Owens, born 18 March 1970, a musician and actress, better known as?
Lauryn Hill
Missy Elliott
Queen Latifah
Five
Born today in 1869, this British prime minister returned from Germany with a ‘piece of paper’ promising to ‘have brought you back peace — but a peace I hope with honour’. Who was he?
Born in 1952, Douglas Adams is known for writing a ’trilogy in five parts’. One of these parts mentions creatures in its title. What creatures?
Answer: Fish
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish (1984) is the fourth part in that well-known trilogy, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. This instalment’s title refers to a message left by the dolphins when they departed planet Earth just before it was demolished in the building of a hyperspace bypass.
Two
In what city was media mogul Rupert Murdoch born in 1931?
Answer: Melbourne.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Rupert Murdoch, an Australian-American media mogul, built a global media empire through News Corp, owning newspapers, book publishers, and television channels like Fox News and Sky News. His influence and wealth have been significant, leading to accusations of right-wing bias and political influence. In 2023, Murdoch announced his retirement as chairman of Fox Corp and News Corp.
Born in 1898, Miss Gish, pictured on the right with her sister, who both became major movie stars during the silent era. What were the sisters’ names?
Answers: Dorothy and Lillian Gish
Dorothy Gish, an American stage and screen actress, was a major movie star of the silent era alongside her sister Lillian. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Dorothy made her stage debut at age four and later, with Lillian, was introduced to director D.W. Griffith by Mary Pickford.
Four
In 1995, Russian athlete Yolanda Chen, appearing at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona, Spain, set a new world indoor record of 15.03 metres and won the gold medal. In what event was Ms Chen competing?
Answer: Triple jump.
Yolanda Chen, a retired Russian athlete, specialised in long jump and later triple jump—hop, skip and jump—achieving a personal best of 14.97 metres in 1993. She won gold at the World Indoor Championships in 1995 with a world indoor record of 15.03 metres.
Five
The Daily Courant was Britain’s first national daily newspaper. In what decade was it published?
Answer: 1700s.
Elizabeth Mallet founded Britain’s first daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, on 11 March 1702, at her premises near the King’s Arms tavern at Fleet Bridge, London. Despite her pioneering efforts, Mallet received little recognition and sold the paper after just 40 days. The single-page newspaper, with advertisements on the reverse, featured only foreign news, as Mallet believed her readers could reflect for themselves. She sold The Daily Courant to Samuel Buckley, who later became the publisher of The Spectator. The Daily Courant continued until 1735, when it merged with the Daily Gazetteer.
Stage Struck
The post is named after the 1917 American silent drama film starring Dorothy Gish (see question three). A copy survives in the Library of Congress.
Born in 1898, Miss Gish, pictured on the right with her sister, who both became major movie stars during the silent era. What were the sisters’ names?
Four
In 1995, Russian athlete Yolanda Chen, appearing at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona, Spain, set a new world indoor record of 15.03 metres and won the gold medal. In what event was Ms Chen competing?
Five
The Daily Courant was Britain’s first national daily newspaper. In what decade was it published?
On this date sometime during the 20th century, the country which is currently represented by the flag above gained independence. Which decade did this independence occur in, and from what empire was independence gained?
Answers: 1920s; British Empire
Egypt, a de facto independent state under Ottoman rule, became a British protectorate in 1914. Despite the 1919 revolution and subsequent negotiations, British control persisted, leading to dissatisfaction, partial independence in 1922 and the ‘reserved points’ clause in the 1923 Egyptian constitution.
Two
In 1983 the final episode of M*A*S*H aired. Who was the only actor to appear in every single episode and what character did they play?
Answer: Alan Alda; Captain Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce.
An American television comedy drama series, aired on CBS for 11 seasons (1972–83), a total of 256 episodes. The show, set during the Korean War, followed the medical staff at a mobile army surgical hospital and received critical acclaim, winning 14 Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. Despite cast changes, the series maintained its continuity through strong performances and writing, with a unique use of multiple plot lines and an antiwar message.
Three
Olaf Palme, a globally recognised politician, was assassinated in 1986. At the time of his death he was prime minister of which country?
Answer: Sweden.
Olof Palme, a Swedish Social Democratic leader, served as Prime Minister twice and was known for his pacifist stance and criticism of U.S. war policy. He was assassinated in 1986, and the case remained unsolved until 2020 when Stig Engström, who died in 2000, was identified as the likely perpetrator although this is widely disputed with many believing the true identity of his assassin is still unknown.
Four
In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI resigned. How many years to the nearest hundred had elapsed since a previous pope had resigned?
Answer: 600 years
Pope Gregory XII had resigned in 1415, 598 years before Benedict. Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, led the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013. A renowned theologian, he was appointed Pope after John Paul II’s death. During his papacy, he faced challenges such as declining church attendance and the sexual abuse scandal, for which he received criticism. He also advocated for traditional Catholic values and opposed condom use. Benedict resigned in 2013, citing health issues.
Five
Before filming Goldfinger, in which Bond would have to play golf, Sean Connery received golf lessons from which former golf professional and television golf commentator who was born on this day?
Answer: Peter Alliss
Born this day in 1931, Peter Alliss, an English golfer and broadcaster, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012. He won 20 professional tournaments, including three British PGA Championships, and played on eight Ryder Cup teams. Alliss worked for the BBC, ESPN and ABC Sports, and designed over 70 golf courses, including The Belfry, contributing significantly to golf course architecture. He received numerous honours, such as honorary degrees and the Golf Foundation’s ‘Spirit of Golf award’. Before the filming of Goldfinger, Alliss gave Sean Connery golf lessons, which sparked Connery’s lifelong love for the sport.
Post Title
‘Through early morning fog I see’ is the first line from the theme to M*A*S*H, Suicide is Painless, the lyrics are at AZ Lyrics.
On this date sometime during the 20th century, the country which is currently represented by the flag above gained independence. Which decade did this independence occur in, and from what empire was independence gained?
Two
In 1983 the final episode of M*A*S*H aired. Who was the only actor to appear in every single episode and what character did they play?
Three
Olaf Palme, a globally recognised politician, was assassinated in 1986. At the time of his death he was prime minister of which country?
Four
In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI resigned. How many years to the nearest hundred had elapsed since a previous pope had resigned?
Five
Before filming Goldfinger, in which Bond would have to play golf, Sean Connery received golf lessons from which former golf professional and television golf commentator who was born on this day?
