miscellany – Quizology Online

Then Peace will Guide the Planets—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

These questions all relate to today’s date, January 23rd.

One

Some astrologers believed that a 1997 planetary alignment with the Sun and Moon, which had not occurred since 1475, indicated the beginning of a new age. What age?

Answer: Age of Aquarius

When the moon is in the Seventh House

And Jupiter aligns with Mars

Then peace will guide the planets

And love will steer the stars

— Lyricfind

Two

In 1229, Pope Gregory IX first mentioned the town of Aboa in his bull; Aboa is the Latin name of Turku. This date is increasingly considered the founding of Turku. In what modern country is Turku?

Answer: Finland

Turku, Finland’s oldest city, is the regional capital of Southwest Finland. With a population of approximately 207,000, it is the country’s third-most populous urban area. Turku, a bilingual municipality, is a significant business and cultural centre, known for its rich history, vibrant food scene, and as a major port city.

Three

In 1957, American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison sold the rights to his disc to the Wham-O toy company. What did they later rename it?

Answer: Frisbee

A frisbee, also known as a flying disc, is a gliding toy used for recreational and competitive throwing and catching. It is typically made of plastic and has a pronounced lip, allowing it to fly with reduced drag and increased lift.

Four

In 1998, which corporation announced the creation of Mozilla, a free software community?

Answer: Netscape Communications Corporation

Netscape announced its Communicator browser software would be free and open-source in 1998, leading to the creation of the Mozilla project. Initially a technology provider, Mozilla later focused on developing independent applications like Firefox and Thunderbird, and expanded into mobile platforms and other projects.

Five

In 1977, the television miniseries Roots debuted in the United States. The series was an adaptation of whose best-selling novel, and what was that novel’s full title?

Answer: Alex Haley

Roots is a 1977 American television miniseries based on Alex Haley’s novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The series, which aired on ABC, received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including nine Primetime Emmy Awards. It was followed by a sequel, Roots: The Next Generations, and a remake commissioned by the History Channel in 2016.

Then Peace will Guide the Planets

These questions all relate to today’s date, January 23rd.

One

Some astrologers believed that a 1997 planetary alignment with the Sun and Moon, which had not occurred since 1475, indicated the beginning of a new age. What age?

Two

Three

In 1957, American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison sold the rights to his disc to the Wham-O toy company. What did they later rename it?

Four

In 1998, which corporation announced the creation of Mozilla, a free software community?

Five

In 1977, the television miniseries Roots debuted in the United States. The series was an adaptation of whose best-selling novel, and what was that novel’s full title?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers tomorrow.

First Things First—Answers

Today’s questions focus on ‘firsts’ that occurred on January 3rd.

Flag of Liberia.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

In 1848, Joseph Jenkins Roberts was sworn in as the first president of a country which began as a project of the American Colonization Society. What country?

Answer: Liberia

Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, was established for formerly enslaved people from the United States. It gained independence in 1847 and experienced relative stability until a civil war in the 1990s.

Two

Who, in 1987, was the first woman to be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Answer: Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was a highly acclaimed American singer known for her powerful voice and hits like Respect and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.

Three

A spacecraft named for a goddess who, according to legend, flew from Earth to the Moon was the first to land on the far side of the Moon. What name do the goddess and spacecraft share, and in what decade did this first landing take place?

Answer: Chang’e; 2010s

Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month during the Mid-Autumn Festival. She is often depicted floating towards the moon, holding a moon disk, or with the Hare preparing the elixir of immortality. The spacecraft Chang’e 4, carrying the Yutu-2 rover, landed on the Moon’s far side on 3 January 2019, becoming the first spacecraft to do so. It communicated with Earth via the Queqiao relay satellite.

Four

In 1749, the first issue of Berlingske was published. It is now the oldest continually operating newspaper in what country?

Answer: Denmark

Berlingske, Denmark’s oldest continually operating newspaper, was founded in 1749 and is considered a newspaper of record. Originally titled Kjøbenhavnske Danske Post-Tidender, it has a conservative stance and is known for its traditionalism. The newspaper, now published in tabloid format, has won numerous awards, including the World Press Photo Award three times.

Five

In what decade was the first electric watch introduced to the retail market?

Answer: 1950s

The Hamilton Watch Company produced the first electric watch to be retailed in 1957, using a balance wheel or tuning fork driven by a battery. Quartz watches later surpassed them in accuracy and durability.

First Things First

Today’s questions focus on ‘firsts’ that occurred on January 3rd.

One

In 1848, Joseph Jenkins Roberts was sworn in as the first president of a country which began as a project of the American Colonization Society. What country?

Two

Who, in 1987, was the first woman to be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Three

Four

In 1749, the first issue of Berlingske was published. It is now the oldest continually operating newspaper in what country?

Five

In what decade was the first electric watch introduced to the retail market?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

Happy New Year—Answers

Happy New Year. Yet another random mix of questions for today

The Palace of Westminster seen from east.
Victoria Tower and the House of Lords are on the left. The Clock Tower of Big Ben and the House of Commons are on the right. The spire left of centre is the 300ft ventilation chimney above the central lobby. The twin white towers of Westminster Abbey are just visible in the background.
Image Wikipedia

One

How are the hours nine, ten, eleven and twelve shown on the clock faces of the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster, which is also known as Big Ben?

Answer: IF; F; FI and FII

The famous dial features [Augustus] Pugin’s favoured gothic numerals rather than traditional roman numerals – an ‘F’-shaped character replaces X for 10. These numerals are also found on clocks around Parliament.

— UK Parliament 2025

Palace of Westminster clock face, aka ‘Big Ben’.
Image Wikimedia Commons

Two

What is the complete title of this 1987 Hanna-Barbera made-for-television film: The Jetsons Meet…

Answer: The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones

The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones is a 1987 animated crossover film where the two families meet after a time travel experiment.

Three

Rabbit underground, rabbit safe and sound

This quote is from a story which features anthropomorphised animals living in their natural habitats, complete with their own language, culture and mythology. Originally a 1972 novel, there have been both film (1978) and television adaptations (1999 and 2018), with the most recent being a co-production by the BBC and Netflix. Could you tell me the title and author of this novel?

Answer: Watership Down and Richard Adams

Richard Adams, an English novelist born in 1920, is best known for Watership Down. He served in the British Army during World War II and later joined the Civil Service before becoming a full-time author in 1974. Adams was a strong advocate for animal welfare and served as president of the RSPCA.

Four

Through how many countries does the Andes mountain range extend and what are they?

Answer: Seven; Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela

The Andes extend from south to north through seven South American countries: Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.

Five

We are drinking beer at noon on Tuesday

The above quote is from a song which also mentions a boulevard. Could you please identify the song, the singer-songwriter who wrote it, and the specific boulevard mentioned in the lyrics?

Answer: All I Wanna Do; Sheryl Crow; Santa Monica Boulevard

All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow, from her debut album, was a breakthrough hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and winning two Grammy Awards. The song achieved international success, topping charts in Australia and Canada and reaching the top 10 in several European countries.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. Yet another random mix of questions for today

One

How are the hours nine, ten, eleven and twelve shown on the clock faces of the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster, which is also known as Big Ben?

Two

What is the complete title of this 1987 Hanna-Barbera made-for-television film: The Jetsons Meet…

Three

Rabbit underground, rabbit safe and sound

Four

Through how many countries does the Andes mountain range extend and what are they?

Five

We are drinking beer at noon on Tuesday

The above quote is from a song which also mentions a boulevard. Could you please identify the song, the singer-songwriter who wrote it, and the specific boulevard mentioned in the lyrics?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Mixed Up—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Unscramble the capitalised ANAGRAM to find the answer in each of the following questions phrases and clues.

See question four. Fieldfare (*Turdus pilaris*).
Image Wikipedia

Example

Washington DC is the capital of the ESTATE NUDIST

Answer: United States

One

A quote from the BBC in which the first ANAGRAM is a band name, the second and third are a singer’s name.

When the ITCHY SERUM scored their first global hit in the early 1980s all eyes were on ONLINE ANNEX, the singer whose powerful androgynous look defied the male gaze.

and

The video accompanying the single, in which ONLINE ANNEX appeared with closely cropped orange hair and wearing a man’s business suit, was both striking and surreal. …extraordinary image was at odds with her female contemporaries.

— BBC

What is the band (One word) and who is the singer? (First name and surname)

Answer: Eurythmics; Annie Lennox

In 1983, the Eurythmics achieved global chart success, topping the US charts with their hit Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox achieved international success with Dave Stewart in the Eurythmics in the 1980s. She embarked on a successful solo career in 1992, releasing six studio albums and winning numerous awards, including eight Brit Awards and four Grammy Awards. Lennox is also a prominent political and social activist, raising awareness for HIV/AIDS and women’s empowerment.

Two

This Oxford English Dictionary definition for pewter has what element mixed up: ‘a grey alloy of tin with copper and MY NATION.’ (One word)

Answer: Antimony

Antimony (Sb), a lustrous grey metal or metalloid, is primarily sourced from stibnite (Sb2S3). It is used in alloys, flame retardants, semiconductors, and historically in medicine and cosmetics. Historically, pewter was an alloy of tin with up to 40% lead.

Argentinian tennis player Guillermo Vilas at the 1974 Dutch Open tournament.
Image Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 nl
File:Guillermo Vilas.jpg Created: 14 July 1974

Three

In 1977, this Argentinian tennis player set a record of a 53-match winning streak on clay courts, which stood until it was surpassed by Rafael Nadal in 2006. He will be found in VILLAGE RUM SILO. (First name and surname)

Answer: Guillermo Vilas

Guillermo Vilas is an Argentine former professional tennis player. Argentine Guillermo Vilas, a former professional tennis player, was ranked world No. 1 in the Grand Prix seasons of 1974, 1975 and 1977. He won 62 singles titles, including four majors, and is renowned for his dominance on clay courts, holding the record for most clay court match wins. Despite studies suggesting he should have been ranked No. 1 for seven weeks, the ATP has not officially recognised this.

Four

A species of thrush (see picture at the top of this post): DEAF RIFLE

Answer: Fieldfare

The fieldfare is a migratory thrush found in northern Europe and the Palearctic. It breeds in woodland and scrub, and winters in the UK, Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

A sign on the Eyre Highway indicating that an RFDS emergency airstrip is ahead. There are three such strips on the highway.
Image Wikipedia

Five

This sign for a Flying Doctor Service emergency airstrip is on what Australian road which crosses the Nullarbor Plain: GEE HAIRY WHY (two words)

Answer: Eyre Highway

Eyre Highway, a 1,664-kilometre highway, links Western Australia and South Australia via the Nullarbor Plain. Constructed during World War II, it was initially named Forrest Highway before being officially named after explorer Edward John Eyre.

Mixed Up

Unscramble the capitalised ANAGRAM to find the answer in each of the following questions phrases and clues.

See question four.
Image Wikipedia (Attribution link in answer post)

Example

Washington DC is the capital of the ESTATE NUDIST

United States

One

A quote from the BBC in which the first ANAGRAM is a band name, the second and third are a singer’s name.

When the ITCHY SERUM scored their first global hit in the early 1980s all eyes were on ONLINE ANNEX, the singer whose powerful androgynous look defied the male gaze.

and

The video accompanying the single, in which ONLINE ANNEX appeared with closely cropped orange hair and wearing a man’s business suit, was both striking and surreal. …extraordinary image was at odds with her female contemporaries.

— BBC

What is the band (One word) and who is the singer? (First name and surname)

Two

This Oxford English Dictionary definition for pewter has what element mixed up: ‘a grey alloy of tin with copper and MY NATION.’ (One word)

Argentinian tennis player VILLAGE RUM SILO at the 1974 Dutch Open tournament.
Image Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 nl
(Attribution links in answer post)

Three

Four

A species of thrush (see picture at the top of this post): DEAF RIFLE

A sign on the GEE HAIRY WHY indicating that an RFDS emergency airstrip is ahead. There are three such strips on the highway.
Image Wikipedia (Attribution link in answer post)

Five

This sign for a Flying Doctor Service emergency airstrip is on what Australian road which crosses the Nullarbor Plain: GEE HAIRY WHY (two words)

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Now You See It, Now You Don’t—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Today’s Question 1 concerns the revocation of an award on this date, November 19th. The subsequent questions explore a similar theme, focusing on disqualification, revocation or stripping of awards, medals and other honours.

One

Which pop duo had their 1989 Grammy Award for Best New Artist revoked on 19 November 1990 after it was revealed they had not actually sung on their album?

Answer: Milli Vanilli

This remains the only time in Grammy history that an award has been formally withdrawn.

Two

Which professional cyclist had all of his Tour de France titles stripped after a major doping investigation, and how many titles were involved?

Answer: Lance Armstrong; seven (1999–2005)

Armstrong was stripped of seven titles (1999–2005). After his disqualification, race organisers chose not to award his vacated titles to anyone else.

Three

In 2024, the arrest and subsequent conviction of a multi-BAFTA award winner forced the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to amend its procedures to include the power to retrospectively strip future award winners should they be convicted of a crime. Whose arrest and conviction led to this change?

Answer: Huw Edwards

Huw Edwards, a Welsh news presenter, was the lead presenter of BBC News at Ten from 2003 to 2023. He resigned from the BBC in 2024 after pleading guilty to child pornography offences.

Four

Which Canadian sprinter was stripped of his 1988 Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres after testing positive for steroids?

Answer: Ben Johnson.

His world-record-breaking time of 9.79 seconds was erased, and the gold medal was reassigned to American runner Carl Lewis.

Five

What event in 1966 saw the competitors who finished in the first four places disqualified because of a single filament bulb?

Answer: Monte Carlo Rally

In 1966, the Monte Carlo Rally was marred by controversy when the winning Minis were disqualified for using an illegal lighting system with non-standard bulbs. Despite the disqualification, the incident generated significant publicity for the Minis and the rally, ultimately leading to a Mini victory in 1967. The event highlighted the growing professionalism of rallying and the complexities of navigating evolving regulations.

Now You See It, Now You Don’t

One

Which pop duo had their 1989 Grammy Award for Best New Artist revoked on 19 November 1990 after it was revealed they had not actually sung on their album?

Two

Which professional cyclist had all of his Tour de France titles stripped after a major doping investigation, and how many titles were involved?

Three

Four

Which Canadian sprinter was stripped of his 1988 Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres after testing positive for steroids?

Five

What event in 1966 saw the competitors who finished in the first four places disqualified because of a single filament bulb?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.