As usual the answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below and additionally I have underlined the monetary connection in the relevant answers.
Ha’penny Bridge, River Liffey, Dublin. Image Wikipedia
One
Which pedestrian bridge crossing Dublin’s River Liffey, as shown in the image above, bears a name derived from an old Irish coin?
Answer: Ha’penny Bridge
Ha’penny Bridge. The common name of the bridge derives from the ha’penny toll the bridge’s buider was allowed to charge anyone crossing it for a period of 100 years. Originally named the Wellington Bridge and after the Irish War of Independence renamed as the Liffey Bridge, Droichead na Life, its official name to this day.
Can you name a 1965 Western film by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef as bounty hunters?
Answer: For a Few Dollars More
For a Few Dollars More is a 1965 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef as bounty hunters. It was the second instalment of the Dollars trilogy.
There is continent with a name which might derive from words meaning ‘wide-gazing’ or ‘sunset’. Another theory suggests the name is from a Goddess, who was a Phoenician princess. What is this continent?
Answer: Europe
The euro, the currency of the European Union, was introduced in 1999 and became the sole currency of 12 EU member states in 2002. The European Central Bank manages the euro, which is used by 20 EU countries and several non-EU countries. Euro banknotes feature Europa and European symbols, while coins have common and country-specific designs. The euro is the official currency of 20 European Union member states, collectively known as the eurozone. It is also used by several non-EU states and territories, making it the second-largest reserve currency and the second-most traded currency globally. The euro replaced the former European Currency Unit and became the day-to-day currency in 2002.
A 1996 novel by the British writer Ben Elton shares its name with a variety of corn kernel?
Answer: Popcorn
This is the red herring with no monetary connection. Ben Elton’s novel is titled Popcorn.
Popcorn, a variety of corn kernel that expands when heated, is one of the oldest snacks. It is commonly eaten salted, buttered, sweetened, or with artificial flavourings.
The remarkable achievement of a swimmer, the most successful athlete at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, established a record that stood for 36 years. Can you identify the athlete in question?
Answer: Mark Spitz
The mark was most notabally a currency used in Germany until 1999 although Bosnia and Herzegovina currently use the convertible mark as their currency.
Mark Spitz, a retired American competitive swimmer, achieved remarkable success by winning nine Olympic gold medals between 1968 and 1972. Notably, he secured seven Olympic gold medals in Munich, all of which were achieved in world-record times. This remarkable feat stood as a record for an impressive 36 years.
In the 2024 film Oppenheimer, Gary Oldman portrayed which US President?
Harry S Truman—President Harry S. Truman played a significant role in the decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the successful Trinity test. Despite Oppenheimer’s guilt and remorse over the destruction caused, Truman ordered the bombings, leading to Japan’s surrender. Later, when Oppenheimer expressed his regret to Truman and pleaded to halt further atomic development, the president criticised him and dismissed his request.
Princess Beatrice. Image Wikipedia
Charity Wakefield played the role of who in Scoop (2024)?
Princess Beatrice—Princess Beatrice, daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, is a member of the British royal family and niece of King Charles III. She graduated from Goldsmiths College and works with Afiniti and various charities. Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020 and they have two daughters.
In which 1976 film did Hal Holbrook play Deep Throat?
All the President’s Men—“All the President’s Men” is a 1976 American biographical political thriller film about the Watergate scandal. The film stars Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as journalists Woodward and Bernstein, respectively. Hal Holbrook portrays ‘Deep Throat’ a senior government official who has turned informant. In 2005, at age 91, Mark Felt revealed to Vanity Fair magazine that during his tenure as Deputy Director of the FBI he had been the anonymous source known as “Deep Throat”.
Rory Kinnear. Image Wikipedia
Who played Winston Churchill in the 2024 film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare?
Rory Kinnear—During World War II, the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) launches Operation Postmaster, a sabotage mission to disrupt Nazi U-boat resupply on the island of Fernando Po. The mission involves hijacking an Italian supply ship and two tugboats, successfully damaging Nazi naval strength and allowing the US to join the European theatre.
Alan Turing, 1930. Image Wikipedia
In what 2014 film did Benedict Cumberbatch portray Alan Turing?
The Imitation Game—Alan Turing, a brilliant mathematician, played a pivotal role in breaking the Enigma code during World War II. His work at Bletchley Park, alongside a team of cryptographers, significantly shortened the war and saved millions of lives. However, his life took a tragic turn after the war due to his homosexuality, leading to his conviction and chemical castration.
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.
First distribution of the Legion of Honor crosses at the church of Les Invalides on July 14, 1804. Jean-Baptiste Debret, Ca. 1812 Image Wikipedia
The Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), France’s highest order of merit, was established on May 19. Who was responsible for its establishment?
Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802—The National Order of the Legion of Honour, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is France’s highest national order of merit, applicable to both military and civil achievements. It is open to all citizens and foreigners, regardless of birth, religion, or rank, and has been maintained by all French governments with minor changes. The order consists of five classes and is led by the President of France as Grand Master. Its insignia includes the head of the Republic and the motto Honour and Country.
Sam Smith, 2015. Image Wikipedia
Born on 19 May 1992, the singer-songwriter of the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre is…
Sam Smith—Samuel Smith, an English singer and songwriter, rose to prominence in 2012 with a feature on Disclosure’s Latch. Smith’s song Writing’s on the Wall became the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, earning Smith a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Map of North America. Guillaume Sanson, Rome, 1687. Image Wikipedia
On 19 May 1845, British explorer John Franklin set out in command of two ships, the Erebus and Terror, on an ill-fated expedition to find what?
Northwest Passage—The Northwest Passage (NWP) is a sea lane connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Ocean. It passes near the northern coast of North America, traversing waterways within the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. Franklin’s search for the Northwest Passage began on May 19, 1845, with two ships, the Erebus and the Terror, carrying 128 men. Last seen in July 1845, their fate remained unknown until 1859 when a search found skeletons and a written account on King William Island. The ships wintered at Beechey Island in 1845-46 and became trapped in ice in Victoria Strait in September 1846. By April 1848, Franklin and 23 others had died, and the remaining 105 survivors deserted the ships, resorting to cannibalism. Postmortems suggested botulism, scurvy and lead poisoning contributed to their decline. In 2014, the Erebus was discovered off King William Island, and in 2016, the Terror was found in Terror Bay, well-preserved and suggesting the crew had prepared for winter before leaving.
St George’s Chapel, Windsor. St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The Nave is dominated by this Great West Window, often claimed to be the third largest in the UK. The chapel dates from 1475 and is built in the richest Perpendicular Gothic style. The whole building is Cathedral size, at over 315ft (96m) in length. Image Jack Pease/Wikipedia
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding took place on May 19, 2018, in the UK. Where did they get married?
St George’s Chapel—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married on 19 May 2018 in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The ceremony, officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, included elements of African-American culture.
Peter Mayhew, 2015. Image Wikipedia
Born on 19 May 1944, this actor was chosen by George Lucas to play a being from the planet Kashyyyk. Who is he?
Peter Mayhew—Peter Mayhew, a British-American actor, is best known for portraying Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series from 1977 to 2015. Born on 19 May 1944 in Barnes, Surrey, Mayhew was diagnosed with gigantism at the age of eight and later developed Marfan syndrome. This genetic tissue disorder caused his peak height to reach 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m). He was cast as Chewbacca by director George Lucas, who sought a tall actor for the role. He modelled his performance on observing animals at London Zoo and continued working as a hospital orderly during filming.
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the text of each question simply for your information.
Portrait of Maximilien de Robespierre, c. 1790. Anonymous, Musée Carnavalet, Paris. Image Wikipedia
1. On 7 May 1794, the Cult of the Supreme Being was introduced by …
Maximilien Robespierre—a French lawyer and statesman, was a prominent figure in the French Revolution. He advocated for universal male suffrage, abolition of the slave trade, and other progressive policies. Robespierre, a Deist, disapproved of the anti-Christian movement and advocated for a civic religion centred around the Supreme Being.
Mary, Queen of Scots. Image Wikipedia
The burning of Edinburgh by an English army on this day in 1544, was the first action in the…
Rough wooing—Henry VIII’s final years saw wars in France and Scotland, including the Rough Wooing, a brutal conflict aimed at breaking the Auld Alliance and forcing a marriage alliance between Mary, Queen of Scots, and Edward, Prince of Wales.
Honda Ishirō at the National Museum of Nature and Science, in Tokyo, during the filming of Frankenstein Conquers the World. Image Wikipedia
The Japanese film director best known for his Godzilla movies was born 7 May 1911, in Asahi, Yamagata, Japan. He was…
Honda Ishirō—a Japanese filmmaker, directed Godzilla and its sequels, sparking Japan’s kaijū eiga craze. After directing over 40 films, he returned to assisting Akira Kurosawa.
Official portrait of President Juan Domingo Perón accompanied with the First Lady, María Eva Duarte de Perón, ”Evita”, 1948. Image Wikipedia
María Eva Duarte was born today in 1919, who did she become better known as…
Evita—Eva Perón, or Evita, was an Argentine politician, activist, actress and philanthropist who served as First Lady from 1946 until her death in 1952. She championed women’s suffrage, founded the Female Peronist Party, and ran the Ministries of Labour and Health.
“Our submarine boats in the harbour” (German caption), 1914. U-20, which sank RMS Lusitania, is second from left in front row. Image Wikipedia
On 7 May 1915, a German submarine sank a British ocean liner. The sinking resulted in the loss of 1,198 lives and played a part in the entry of the United States into World War I. The ocean liner was the…
Lusitania—The sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915, killing 1,198 people including 128 Americans, increased American support for entering World War I.
On 7 May 1794, the Cult of the Supreme Being was introduced by …
Cardinal Richelieu
Maximilien Robespierre
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The burning of Edinburgh by an English army on this day in 1544, was the first action in the…
Harsh courting
Rough wooing
Tough pursuing
The Japanese film director best known for his Godzilla movies was born 7 May 1911, in Asahi, Yamagata, Japan. He was…
Honda Ishirō
Nissán Kenji
Toyota Masaki
María Eva Duarte was born today in 1919, who did she become better known as…
Annie
Evita
May
On 7 May 1915, a German submarine sank a British ocean liner. The sinking resulted in the loss of 1,198 lives and played a part in the entry of the United States into World War I. The ocean liner was the …
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.
View SE from the top level of the Eiffel Tower: the Champ de Mars, with Montparnasse Tower in the distance. The École Militaire is one third down from the top of the picture. Image Wikipedia (Mattgirling)
On 6 May 1889, the Eiffel Tower is officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition, on the…
Champs de Mars, Paris—The Champ de Mars, a large public park in Paris, was originally a military parade ground. It hosted significant events during the French Revolution and later became a site for national expositions and world’s fairs.
Coat of arms of Moravia. Image Wikipedia
Sigmund Freud, a neurologist and psychoanalyst, was born in Freiberg in Mähren (now Příbor) on this day in 1856. His birthplace was in …
Moravia—Moravia, a historical region in the Czech Republic, was the centre of the medieval Great Moravian kingdom before becoming part of Bohemia in the 11th century. It later was part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and then became part of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic.
Puente Nuevo de Ronda. Image Wikipedia
Actor Orson Welles was born today in 1915. He passed away in Los Angeles, California, in 1985, and two years later his ashes were interred at the home of his long-time friend, bullfighter Antonio Ordóñez, in Ronda…
Spain—Ronda, a municipality in Málaga, Andalusia, is known for its cliffside location and deep canyon. It has a population of about 35,000 and is part of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park.
The Grand Palace, Bangkok. Image Wikipedia
Today in 1782, at the command of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, construction began on the Grand Palace, the royal residence of the King of Siam. The palace was built in…
Bangkok—The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, is a complex of buildings built in 1782 as the official residence of the Thai kings. It covers 2.4 million square feet and includes over 100 buildings, the most notable being the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Image Wikipedia
Tony Blair, British prime minister from 1997 to 2007, was born 6 May 1953, in the city of …
Edinburgh, Scotland—Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a city known for its historic Old Town and Neoclassical New Town, both designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city’s complex character, blending reserved exterior with warmth and gaiety, is reflected in its rich history, including religious conflicts, riots and the influence of its intellectual elite during the Neoclassical period of the 18th and 19th centuries. Edinburgh remains a major centre for finance, law, tourism, education and cultural affairs.
Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, 6 May.
On 6 May 1889, the Eiffel Tower is officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition, on the…
Champs de Mars, Paris
Champs de Neptune, Paris
Champs de Venus, Paris
Sigmund Freud, a neurologist and psychoanalyst, was born in Freiberg in Mähren (now Příbor) on this day in 1856. His birthplace was in …
Carinthia
Galicia
Moravia
Actor Orson Welles was born today in 1915. He passed away in Los Angeles, California, in 1985, and two years later his ashes were interred at the home of his long-time friend, bullfighter Antonio Ordóñez, in Ronda…
Ecuador
Mexico
Spain
Today in 1782, at the command of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, construction began on the Grand Palace, the royal residence of the King of Siam. The palace was built in…
Amman
Bangkok
Colombo
Tony Blair, British prime minister from 1997 to 2007, was born 6 May 1953, in the city of …