Our House—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post.

Four of today’s questions concern November 7th and Canada or Canadians. Question two is included because the house mentioned was owned by a Canadian at the time (she is the answer to question one).

*Déjà Vu*, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
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One

Roberta Joan Anderson, who was born at Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada on 7 November 1943, wrote Ladies of the Canyon (released 1970), her third studio album while living at 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon. Who is Roberta Joan Anderson better known as?

Answer: Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell’s third studio album, Ladies of the Canyon, was released in 1970 and includes Big Yellow Taxi, Woodstock and The Circle Game.

Two

A follow-on from the previous question regarding 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon where singer-songwriter Graham Nash lived with lady referred to in question one. The house is the subject of Our House written by Nash and released in 1970. What group, described by Wikipedia as a ‘folk rock supergroup’, released the song on and album and as a single in 1970.

Answer: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Joni Mitchell bought the house in the Laurel Canyon district of Los Angeles in 1968 and met Graham Nash shortly after. Their house became a popular hangout for musicians. Our House featured on Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s Déjà Vu album in 1970 and was released as a single the same year.

Three

The ‘Last Spike’ ceremony at Craigellachie on 7 November, marked the completion of Canada’s transcontinental railway. In what decade did the ‘Last Spike’ ceremony take place, and in what Canadian province or territory is Craigellachie?

Answer: 1880s (1885) and British Columbia

At 9:22 a.m. on November 7, 1885, the ceremonial final spike was driven into the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) at Craigellachie, British Columbia. The honor fell to CPR financier Donald Smith, Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal. This historic moment marked the completion of Canada’s first transcontinental railway, bringing to a close years of struggle marked by natural disasters, financial crises, and even rebellion.

Four

Born in Quebec, this songwriter, singer, poet and novelist passed away at 82 on 7 November 2016. A fifteenth studio album Thanks for the Dance was released three years later. Who is this singer?

Answer: Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen, a celebrated Canadian songwriter, singer, poet and novelist, explored faith, mortality and love in his work. He received numerous accolades, including induction into several halls of fame and the Prince of Asturias Award for literature.

Sergeant Edward Holland’s Victoria Cross, for valour at the Battle of Leliefontein, 7 November 1900.
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Five

On this date in 1900, at The Battle of Leliefontein, the Royal Canadian Dragoons won three Victoria Cross. During what war did this battle take place?

Answer: Second Boer War

Lieutenant-Colonel François-Louis Lessard led a rearguard action to cover the withdrawal of a larger force. The Royal Canadian Dragoons, supported by artillery and a machine gun, repelled multiple Boer assaults, including a mounted charge. Despite heavy casualties, the Dragoons successfully protected the field guns, earning three of their members—Sergeant Edward Holland, Lieutenant Richard Turner, and Lieutenant Hampden Cockburn—the Victoria Cross for their bravery.

Our House

Four of today’s questions concern November 7th and Canada or Canadians. Question two is included because the house mentioned was owned by a Canadian at the time (she is the answer to question one).

One

Two

A follow-on from the previous question regarding 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon where singer-songwriter Graham Nash lived with the lady referred to in question one. The house is the subject of Our House written by Nash and released in 1970. What group, described by Wikipedia as a ‘folk rock supergroup’, released the song on an album and as a single in 1970.

Three

Four

Born in Quebec, this songwriter, singer, poet and novelist passed away at 82 on 7 November 2016. A fifteenth studio album Thanks for the Dance was released three years later. Who is this singer?

Five

On this date in 1900, at The Battle of Leliefontein, the Royal Canadian Dragoons won three Victoria Cross. During what war did this battle take place?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today

Remember, remember, the fifth of November—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

King James VI of Scotland and James I of England.
Image Wikipedia

One

What event is commemorated in the United Kingdom on November 5th, when effigies of Guy Fawkes are traditionally burned on bonfires? Also, in what year did it occur?

Answer: The Gunpowder Plot of 1605

The failed plot was an attempt by Catholic conspirators to blow up the English Parliament and assassinate King James VI (of Scotland) & I (of England). ‘Remember, remember, the fifth of November’ became a famous rhyme, see below, recording the event.

Two

Which spacecraft, launched on 5 November 2013, was India’s first interplanetary mission?

Answer: The Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)

Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Mangalyaan made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first country in the world to do so successfully on its maiden attempt — all on a remarkably low budget.

Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.
Image Wikipedia

Three

On 5 November 1981, a small Caribbean nation achieved independence from the United Kingdom. Its capital is St. John’s. Can you name the country?

Answer: Antigua and Barbuda

The twin-island nation remains a member of the Commonwealth, recognizing the British monarch as its head of state, but governs itself independently.

Four

November 5th is a central date in the storyline of what 2005 film which opens with the line, ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November’?

Answer: V for Vendetta

The film, based on a graphic novel, turned the Guy Fawkes mask into a global symbol of resistance — later adopted by protest movements such as Anonymous and Occupy Wall Street.

Five

On November 5th, Google introduced its first Android-based mobile operating system, signalling the start of a new era in smartphones. In what year did this occur?

Answer: 2007

The Android OS announcement reshaped the mobile landscape — today, Android powers over 70% of the world’s smartphones.

Remember, remember, the 5th of November

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring
Holler boys, holler boys
God save the King!

The undercroft beneath the House of Lords.
Image Wikipedia

Remember, remember, the fifth of November

Today’s five questions all relate to the date, November 5th.

One

What event is commemorated in the United Kingdom on November 5th, when effigies of Guy Fawkes are traditionally burned on bonfires? Also, in what year did it occur?

Two

Which spacecraft, launched on 5 November 2013, was India’s first interplanetary mission?

Three

On 5 November 1981, a small Caribbean nation achieved independence from the United Kingdom. Its capital is St. John’s. Can you name the country?

Four

November 5th is a central date in the storyline of what 2005 film which opens with the line, ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November’?

Five

On November 5th, Google introduced its first Android-based mobile operating system, signalling the start of a new era in smartphones. In what year did this occur?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Feeling Sleepy—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions in my earlier post.

Antique bottles of Chloroform.
Image Wikipedia

One

Which Scottish physician successfully demonstrated the anaesthetic properties of chloroform in 1847?

Answer: Sir James Young Simpson

Sir James Young Simpson first successfully demonstrated chloroform as a general anaesthetic on November 4, 1847. This revolutionised surgery and childbirth.

Two

In which century did the Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II against Spanish rule in the Viceroyalty of Peru begin?

Answer: 18th century (1780)

The rebellion was one of the largest indigenous uprisings in Spanish American history and inspired later movements for independence.

Jane Goodall with Prof and Pax. Photograph by Michael Nichols / National Geographic via Wikipedia

Three

Which primatologist first observed chimpanzees making and using tools in Tanzania in 1960?

Answer: Jane Goodall

This pioneering observation at the Kasakela Chimpanzee Community challenged the belief that tool use was unique to humans.

Four

In 1956, which country did Soviet troops invade to suppress a revolution that began on 23 October?

Answer: Hungary

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a significant Cold War event, resulting in thousands of casualties and a mass exodus of refugees.

Five

UNESCO’s constitution entered into force on 4 November 1946, officially establishing the organisation. What does the acronym UNESCO stand for?

Answer: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

UNESCO promotes international collaboration in education, science and culture. Its activities focus on supporting national efforts to eliminate illiteracy and extend free education.

Capital Gain—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post.

National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument,
Washington D.C.
Image Wikipedia

One

What decade saw the first time that residents of Washington, D.C. could vote in a U.S. presidential election

Answer: 1960s (1964)

Twenty-Third Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1961, granted D.C. three electoral votes—the same number as the least-populous state. Before this, its residents had no say in electing the president or vice-president.

Two

Today Henry VIII of England became the first Supreme Head of the Church of England. In which century was this?

Answer: 16th century (1534)

The Act of Supremacy officially severed England’s ties with the Roman Catholic Church and papal authority, paving the way for the English Reformation. Henry’s motivations were both political and personal; he desired an annulment from Catherine of Aragon.

Laika in a mock cockpit.
Image Wikipedia

Three

A dog named Laika went into space on this day in 1957. Which of these craft carried her: Soyuz 1, Sputnik 2 or Salyut 3?

Answer: Sputnik 2

Laika, a stray from Moscow’s streets, became a global icon of the Space Race. Sadly, she died within hours due to overheating, although the Soviets initially claimed she survived for several days.

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Four

On this date, the Caribbean island nation of Dominica was first sighted by Europeans. Four hundred and eighty-five years later, it gained independence from a European country. What does the island’s name mean and from which country did it achieve independence?

Answer: United Kingdom; and Sunday

On 3 November 1493, Christopher Columbus sighted Dominica and named it Dies Dominica, meaning ‘the Lord’s Day’. Four hundred and eighty-five years later, on 3 November 1978, Dominica achieved independence after being a British colony and briefly a French one.

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Five

On this day in 1911, a racing driver and engineer, born in 1878, co-founded the American motor car manufacturer Chevrolet, who was he and in what country was he born?

Answer: Louis Chevrolet; Switzerland

Louis Chevrolet’s name lives on in one of America’s most famous car brands, but he sold his stake early and never profited from its later success. Ironically, he died while working for a rival carmaker.

Capital Gain

Here are five questions which are all related to today’s date, November 3rd.

One

What decade saw the first time that residents of Washington, D.C. could vote in a U.S. presidential election

Two

Today Henry VIII of England became the first Supreme Head of the Church of England. In which century was this?

Three

A dog named Laika went into space on this day in 1957. Which of these craft carried her: Soyuz 1, Sputnik 2 or Salyut 3?

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Four

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Five

On this day in 1911, a racing driver and engineer, born in 1878, co-founded the American motor car manufacturer Chevrolet, who was he and in what country was he born?

On This Day, October 26th—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

One

Which country, independent since late 1951, was raised from colonial status to part of Italy proper in 1938 by decree of Italy’s Fascist Grand Council?

Answer: Libya

Italian colonisation of Libya began in the 1920s, with significant investment in infrastructure and immigration. After World War II, Libya gained independence in 1951, becoming a kingdom under King Idris I.

Daily Reenactment at the O.K. Corral.
Image Wikipedia

Two

Where did the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral take place in 1881?

Answer: Tombstone, Arizona

The gunfight at the O.K. Corral, a brief but deadly shootout between lawmen (Wyatt Earp, his brothers and Doc Holiday) and outlaws (Billy Claiborne, brothers Ike and Billy Clanton, and brothers Tom and Frank McLaury) in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, on 26 October 1881, has become an iconic event of the American Old West. The conflict, fuelled by a long-standing feud and a city ordinance prohibiting weapons, resulted in the deaths of three men and injuries to three others. The incident, largely unknown until Wyatt Earp’s death, gained widespread attention through books and films, solidifying its place in popular culture.

Three

On this day in 1955, which European country declared a law of perpetual neutrality?

Answer: Austria

Since 1955, Austria has been a permanently neutral country—a status declared after the end of post-war Allied occupation. The Austrian State Treaty restored the nation’s sovereignty on the condition that it would not join any military alliances or permit foreign bases on its soil. This neutrality, enshrined in the constitution, has shaped Austria’s identity as a bridge between East and West during the Cold War and beyond.

Erie Canal, aqueduct over the Mohawk River at Rexford.
Image Wikipedia

Four

When was the Erie Canal, a major US transport route, inaugurated?

Answer: 1825

The canal connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, fuelling trade and the growth of New York City.

Five

How many terms did François Mitterrand, who was born today in 1916, serve as President of France?

Answer: Two

François Mitterrand, a French politician, served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, marking the longest tenure in the country’s history under the Fifth Republic. Initially aligned with the Catholic nationalist right, he shifted to the left, becoming the first left-wing president. His presidency was marked by significant reforms, such as the abolition of the death penalty and the promotion of French culture, but also faced controversies like the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. Mitterrand’s tenure spanned pivotal events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and the foundation of the European Union.

On This Day, October 26th

These questions all relate to today’s date, October 26th.

François Mitterand, 1983. See question 5.
Image Wikipedia

One

Which country, independent since late 1951, was raised from colonial status to part of Italy proper in 1938 by decree of Italy’s Fascist Grand Council?

Two

Where did the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral take place in 1881?

Three

On this day in 1955, which European country declared a law of perpetual neutrality?

Four

When was the Erie Canal, a major US transport route, inaugurated?

Five

How many terms did François Mitterrand, who was born today in 1916, serve as President of France?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Here, There and Everywhere—Answers

The Battle of Agincourt, 15th-century miniature, Enguerrand de Monstrelet. Image Wikipedia

One

The Battle of Agincourt took place on 25 October 1415. In what department of France is the battlefield?

Answer: Pas-de-Calais

The unexpected victory of the vastly outnumbered English troops against the numerically superior French army boosted English morale and prestige crippling France and heralding a new era of English dominance in the war.

Two

On what island in New York Harbor does the Statue of Liberty stand, and by what name was the island known prior to it being renamed by an act of the United States Congress in 1956?

Answer: Liberty Island, formerly Bedloe’s Island

The Statue of Liberty, a neoclassical sculpture gifted by France, stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbour. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustave Eiffel, it was dedicated on 28 October 1886.

Three

The deepest known point on Earth’s seabed is almost 7 miles (approximately 11 kilometres) deep. What is its name and in which ocean is it located?

Answer: Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean

On 23 March 1875, the British Royal Navy’s HMS Challenger with depth soundings taken by Baillie-weighted marked rope, and geographical locations were determined by celestial navigation (to an estimated accuracy of two nautical miles). Seventy-five years later HMS Challenger II took depth soundings but the depth was beyond their echo sound equipment so they used a weighted line…

The Senior Scientist aboard Challenger II, Thomas Gaskell, recalled:

It took from ten past five in the evening until twenty to seven, that is an hour and a half, for the iron weight to fall to the sea-bottom. It was almost dark by the time the weight struck, but great excitement greeted the reading…

— Wikipedia

Challenger Deep has a depth of approximately 10,935 meters (35,876 feet) below sea level.

Four

On 20 July 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon at the Sea of Tranquillity (Mare Tranquillitatis). A few months later, on 19 November 1969, Apollo 12 landed at a seemingly less tranquil location. Where did Apollo 12 land?

Answer: Ocean of Storms (Oceanus Procellarum)

Six Apollo missions landed on the Moon: Apollo 11 to 17, except Apollo 13, which suffered severe damage after an explosion and missed landing. Twelve astronauts walked on the lunar surface during these missions. The final Apollo astronauts departed the Moon in December 1972.

Photograph of Mount Erebus (and Adélie penguins) taken by the Terra Nova expedition in 1913. Image Wikipedia

Five

McMurdo Station (US) and Scott Base (NZ) are Antarctic research stations located on the Hut Point Peninsula. Two questions: firstly, on what island is this peninsula located; and secondly, the island is home to the planet’s southernmost active volcano, what is that volcano?

Answer: Ross Island and Mount Erebus

Ross Island was named after James Clark Ross a British naval officer and explorer. Hut Point, at the southern tip of Hut Point Peninsula on Ross Island, is a small, ice-free promontory near McMurdo Station. Designated as ASPA No. 158, entry requires a permit. It holds historical significance with a hut and artefacts from the 1901-04 British National Antarctic Expedition led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, also designated as HSM No. 18. McMurdo Station, operated by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is the largest research station in Antarctica, serving as a logistics hub. Ross Island’s Mount Erebus is 3,794 metres (12,448 ft) in height.