Freddie Mercury, born on 5 September 1946 in Stone Town, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, is best known as the frontman of Queen. Which two Queen albums from the mid-seventies are named after Marx Brothers films?
Two
On 5 September 1975, Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, attempted to assassinate the US president. This was one of two assassination attempts in that month, Who was the president who was targeted?
Three
The first episode of The Muppet Show aired on 5 September 1976. In which country was it broadcast?
Four
Sam Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas on 5 September. In which decade of the 19th century did this event occur?
Five
On 5 September 2000, the Pacific island nation whose flag is shown above became the 189th member of the United Nations. Please name that country?
Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.
One of the Ford Anglia 105E’s seen in the Harry Potter films. Image Wikipedia
One
Which turquoise blue Ford motor car model is depicted as the flying car in the Harry Potter books and films?
Answer: Ford Anglia 105E
“My secondary school, Wyedean, where I went when I was eleven, was the place I met Sean Harris, to whom Chamber of Secrets is dedicated and who owned the original Ford Anglia. He was the first of my friends to learn to drive and that turquoise and white car meant FREEDOM and no more having to ask my father to give me lifts, which is the worst thing about living in the countryside when you are a teenager. Some of the happiest memories of my teenage years involve zooming off into the darkness in Sean’s car.“ — J.K.Rowling. harrypotterfandom.com
The filming of the scene where the Ford Anglia crashes into the Whomping Willow resulted in the destruction of 14 cars.
Tristan da Cunha as seen from International Space Station. Image NASA/Wikipedia
Two
Tristan da Cunha, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, has only one settlement. What is its name?
Answer: Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is the only settlement of the island of Tristan da Cunha, a part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean. Locally, it is referred to as The Settlement or The Village.
What tourist attraction in Verona, Italy is a fake as the person allegedly connected to it never existed?
Answer: (either or both) Juliet’s house or Juliet’s balcony
In 1905, the mayor of Verona, as part of a tourism marketing campaign, bought the house from the Cappello family, thinking the name resembled Capulet, Juliet’s surname, and declared it the one and only Juliette’s House. Even the balcony is fake, constructed in the 20th century using parts from a 17th-century sarcophagus and attached to the wall to create a bogus balcony.
Statue of Juliet at Juliets House, Verona. Image WikipediaPalace of Holyroodhouse. Image Wikipedia
Four
What building is the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland?
Answer: Palace of Holyroodhouse (aka Holyrood Palace)
Holyrood Palace, or in full the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, is located at the bottom of the Royal Mile. The name derives either from a legendary vision of the cross witnessed by David I, or from a relic of the True Cross known as the Holy Rood or Black Rood, which had belonged to Saint Margaret of Scotland, David’s mother. The palace, which adjoins Holyrood Abbey, is open to the public year-round, except when the royal family is in residence.
The title page of the first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, published in 1768-71. Image Wikipedia
Five
On 10 December 1768, the first edition of which reference work was first published in Edinburgh, Scotland?
Answer: Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica, a general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia, was first published in 1768 and is currently owned by Chicago based Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. After 244 years of print, the last printed edition was published in 2010, and it has been available exclusively online since 2016. The Britannica is known for its scholarly articles and has undergone several changes in format and ownership throughout its history.
The Edinburgh connection is in all the questions except No. 3.
JK Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter while living in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. The settlement was orininally founded and named by a Scotsman: Sergeant William Glass from Kelso, Scottish Borders.
Not part of the theme.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is at the bottom of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Edinburgh Castle is at the opposite end.
Encyclopædia Britannica was originally founded and published in the city.
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? — The post title is from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, meets HM King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. LONDON- UK- 5th May 2023. Photo by Ian Jones via Wikipedia
One
Who, born 25 August 1875, connects these: the 15th Governor General of Canada; Richard Hannay; and the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir?
Answer: John Buchan
John Buchan, a Scottish novelist and politician, served as Governor General of Canada from 1935 until his death in 1940. He promoted Canadian unity and strengthened the country’s sovereignty. Buchan, who was the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, created the character Richard Hannay.
Two
The title of this post, Mr Standfast, is the name of a novel featuring Richard Hannay, as mentioned in question 1. Can you name another novel by the same author that features Hannay as a major character?
Answer: (Any of) – The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, The Three Hostages, The Island of Sheep
Hannay appears in several novels as a major character, including:
Note, Richard Hannay also appears in some works by other authors.
Three
The 15th Governor General of Canada is mentioned above, but who is the current and 30th Governor General of Canada? Notably, this is the first Indigenous person to hold the office.
Answer: Mary Simon
Mary Simon, the first Indigenous Governor General of Canada, was born in Quebec and previously worked as a broadcaster and diplomat. Her appointment was criticised due to her limited French fluency.
Four
The international boundary between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest. Two answers to this question: (1) how many Canadian provinces and territories are on the border, and (2) how many US states are on the border.
Answer: (1) 8 Canadian provinces or territories and (2) 13 US states
Firstly, a question about someone born on August 26th. The rest of the questions are follow-ups to this one.
One
Who, born 25 August 1875, connects these: the 15th Governor General of Canada; Richard Hannay; and the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir?
Two
The title of this post is the name of a novel featuring Richard Hannay, as mentioned in question 1. Can you name another novel by the same author that features Hannay as a major character?
Three
The 15th Governor General of Canada is mentioned above, but who is the current and 30th Governor General of Canada? Notably, this is the first Indigenous person to hold the office.
Four
The international boundary between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest. Two answers to this question: (1) how many Canadian provinces and territories are on the border, and (2) how many US states are on the border.
Five
The northern end of the Yukon, Canada/Alaska, US border at 69°39′N 141°00′W is on the shore of what sea?
In 1883, a significant volcanic eruption took place in the Sunda Strait. However, a 1968 Hollywood film title incorrectly located the volcano. Which volcano was it, and what was the film’s title?
Answer: Krakatoa and Krakatoa, East of Java
Krakatoa is west of Java not east! Apparently the film’s producers thought ‘West’ was more atmospheric than ‘East’. The eruption in 1883 destroyed over 70% of the island and its surrounding archipelago, collapsing into a caldera. The eruption, heard 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometres) away, caused at least 36,417 deaths and had significant global effects.
Eruption of Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, 1983. Image Encyclopædia Britannica
Two
Which archipelago contains two active volcanoes, one of which, Kīlauea, is considered one of the most active in the world?
Answer: Hawaiian Islands
Kilauea, an active shield volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island, is known for its frequent eruptions, notably the Pu’u ‘Ō’ō eruption, which created new land. Located on the island’s southeastern shore, it is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and emerged above sea level about 100,000 years ago. Kilauea is the most active of the five volcanoes forming the island and among the most active globally. The most recent eruption began in December 2024, continuing into 2025. Historically, it was thought to be a satellite of Mauna Loa. From 2008 to 2018, Halemaʻumaʻu hosted an active lava lake. Eruptions from 1983 to 2018 caused significant property damage, including the destruction of Kalapana and Kaimū in 1990. Since 2020, eruptions have occurred within the enlarged Halemaʻumaʻu crater and along the southwest and east rift zones. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1961, houses two active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea.
Mount Fuji from the International Space Station. Image NASA/Wikipedia
Three
In what century was the last eruption of Japan’s Mount Fuji?
Answer: 18th century (December 16, 1707)
Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain and a cultural icon, is an active stratovolcano with a symmetrical cone. Situated in central Honshu, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a prominent feature of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
Geologists agree that a geological feature featured in a 1977 Steven Spielberg film began as magma, or molten rock, buried beneath the Earth’s surface. Please name the Spielberg film and identify the geological feature?
Answer: Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Devils Tower (National Monument, Wyoming)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film by Steven Spielberg about a man whose life changes after a UFO encounter and a single mother whose son is abducted. The film’s climax is at Devil’s Tower. The film was a critical and financial success, grossing over $300 million worldwide and receiving numerous awards and nominations. It was preserved in the National Film Registry and has been released in multiple editions, including a Director’s Cut.
Known to medieval Europeans as the ‘Gateway to Hell’, Hekla has erupted more than 20 times. In what country is Hekla?
Answer: Iceland
Hekla, Iceland’s most active volcano, is characterised by a 3.4-mile-long fissure and has erupted over 20 times since 1104. Its eruptions, including a major one in 1766, have caused significant damage and loss of life.
August 24th is traditionally believed to be the date of the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pliny the Younger witnessed and wrote about the eruption, while his uncle, Pliny the Elder, tragically died while on a seaborne rescue effort. Today’s questions are all connected to volcanic activity,
One
In 1883, a significant volcanic eruption took place in the Sunda Strait. However, a 1968 Hollywood film title incorrectly located the volcano. Which volcano was it, and what was the film’s title?
Two
Which archipelago contains two active volcanoes, one of which, Kīlauea, is considered one of the most active in the world?
Three
In what century was the last eruption of Japan’s Mount Fuji?
Four
Geologists agree that a geological feature featured in a 1977 Steven Spielberg film began as magma, or molten rock, buried beneath the Earth’s surface. Please name the Spielberg film and identify the geological feature?
Five
Known to medieval Europeans as the ‘Gateway to Hell’, Hekla has erupted more than 20 times. In what country is Hekla?
Official portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1959. Image Wikipedia
One
On August 21st, Hawaii was officially proclaimed the 50th US state. Can you name the president who made this proclamation?
Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Hawaii was officially proclaimed the 50th US state by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 21 August 1959. Hawaii is an island state in the Pacific Ocean, consisting of 137 volcanic islands. It is the only US state not on the North American mainland and is known for its diverse culture, influenced by North American, East Asia and indigenous Hawaiian heritage. Hawaii’s economy, historically based on agriculture, has diversified to include tourism and military defence.
Where was the Mona Lisa stolen from on this day in 1911?
Answer: The Louvre
The Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, who believed it should be returned to Italy. After keeping it for two years, Peruggia attempted to sell it and was caught, leading to the painting’s return to the Louvre in 1914.
Born 21 August 1904, an American musician who will, 70 years later, feature in a desert scene from Blazing Saddles. Who is he?
Answer: Count Basie
Count Basie plays himself in Mel Brooks 1974 film Blazing Saddles. He and his orchestra play April in Paris in the middle of the desert as Bart (Cleavon Little) rides towards Rock Ridge to assume the post of sheriff.
Born on this day in 1930 at Glamis Castle, Scotland, this princess’s 1960 marriage would be the first royal wedding to be televised. Who is she?
Answer: Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, born in 1930, was the second daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, who, following the abdication of Edward VIII, became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Known for her independent spirit, she famously renounced her engagement to Peter Townsend due to his divorce. A celebrated socialite, she was the Countess of Snowdon and had a glamorous lifestyle with notable romances. Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1978, marking the first royal divorce in 400 years.
The Dumbarton Oaks Conference, opening on 21 August 1944, was instrumental in the founding of what?
Answer: United Nations
The ‘Allied Big Four’ (UK, US, USSR, Republic of China) formulated the new international organisation at the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in 1944. The Yalta Conference in 1945 and further negotiations with the Soviet Union resolved all issues.
Virginia Dare by Maria Louisa Lander, 1859. Imaginatively portrayed as an adult Indian princess. Elizabethan Gardens, Manteo, NC, US. Image Wikipedia
One
The person who sent ships and colonists to set up a fort at Roanoke in what is now North Carolina, US is described by Wikipedia as an ‘English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer’. Who is he?
— Answer: Sir Walter Raleigh
The Roanoke Colony, established by Sir Walter Raleigh, refers to two attempts to found a permanent English settlement in North America. The first colony, established in 1585, was abandoned due to supply shortages and strained relations with local tribes. The second colony, known as the ‘Lost Colony’, was established in 1587 but found abandoned in 1590, with the word ‘CROATOAN’ carved into a palisade. Virginia Dare was never seen again, and her fate remains unknown.
Two
Which Elton John song, released in 1997, remained in the Canadian Singles Charts for three years. What was that song?
— Answer: Candle in the Wind 1997
Elton John and Bernie Taupin, who had originally written Candle in the Wind as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, rewrote it for the 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Zupaysaurus, ‘devil lizard’ from the Queshua word supay meaning ‘devil’ and sauros, ‘lizard’, is an early theropod dinosaur. In what country was this discovered?
— Answer: Argentina
Zupaysaurus (/ˌzuːpeɪˈsɔːrəs/; “ZOO-pay-SAWR-us”) is an extinct genus of early theropod dinosaurliving during the Norian stage of the Late Triassic in what is now Argentina. Fossils of the dinosaur were found in the Los Colorados Formation of the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin in northwestern Argentina. Although a full skeleton has not yet been discovered, Zupaysaurus can be considered a bipedalpredator, up to 4 metres (13 ft) long. It may have had two parallel crests running the length of its snout.
Tasmania, an island state of Australia, is named after Dutch seafarer and explorer Abel Tasman. In 1642, Tasman became the first reported European to sight the island. What name did Tasman give the island?
— Answer: Anthony van Diemen’s Land
Tasmania, named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, was originally called Anthony van Diemen’s Land after his sponsor. The British shortened it to Van Diemen’s Land, and it was officially renamed Tasmania in 1856.
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