Tag: music

Impressionable—Answers

Here are the answers to my questions which were posted earlier.

All of these questions relate to today’s date, February 25th.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, self-portrait, 1910.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

The painter of the above self-portrait was born in Limoges, France, on 25 February 1841. He became an early Impressionist but later adopted a more traditional style. Who is he?

Answer: Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) was a French artist and leading Impressionist painter. He later developed a more disciplined technique, focusing on portraits and figure paintings, particularly of women.

Two

This author, best known by a pen name but also using another — Joseph Kell, was born John Burgess Wilson on this day in 1917 in an inner-city suburb of Manchester, England. After wartime service, he left the British army in 1946 with the rank of sergeant-major. His most famous work, a dystopian satire published in 1962, was adapted into a controversial film in 1971. What is his best-known pen name?

Answer: Anthony Burgess.

Anthony Burgess (1917-1993) was an English novelist, critic, and man of letters renowned for his fictional explorations of modern dilemmas. He wrote over 50 books, including novels, literary criticism, biographies, and musical compositions. Burgess’s works often combined linguistic ingenuity, witty erudition, and sharp social satire. He is best known for his dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange and was also a versatile linguist and literary critic, writing numerous novels, librettos and screenplays.

Three

In 1986, after claiming victory in a fraudulent election which led to a military coup and revolution, President Ferdinand Marcos fled his country. Of what country was Marcos president, and which opposition leader replaced him as president?

Answers: Philippines; Corazon Aquino.

Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines on 25 February 1986, seeking refuge in Hawaii with his family and a vast fortune, in part consisting of 22 crates of cash valued at $717 million, 300 crates of assorted jewellery, $4 million worth of unset precious gems, 65 Seiko and Cartier watches, a 12 by 4 ft box full of pearls, a 3 ft solid gold statue covered in diamonds and other precious stones, $200,000 in gold bullion, nearly $1 million in Philippine pesos, and deposit slips to banks in the United States, Switzerland, and the Cayman Islands worth $124 million. While enjoying a lavish lifestyle, Filipinos back home grappled with the economic consequences of his rule. Amongst other things, Imelda Marcos, the ousted First Lady, was found to have a collection of 2,700 pairs of shoes. The revolution that ousted Marcos was fuelled by widespread discontent, with protests erupting not only in Manila but also in the provinces and islands. Source: Wikipedia.

Four

Born in 1943, this musician was a prominent figure in the music world during the swinging sixties. He was originally part of a band where he wrote hits like Here Comes the Sun and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. His sitar teacher was singer Norah Jones’ father. He later enjoyed a successful solo career. Who was he and who taught him to play the sitar?

Answers: George Harrison; Ravi Shankar.

George Harrison, lead guitarist of the Beatles, was known for his significant contributions to the band’s musical direction and his successful solo career. He incorporated non-Western musical influences, particularly Indian classical music, into the Beatles’ sound and later established himself as a solo artist with hits like My Sweet Lord. Harrison was also a prolific music and film producer, co-founding HandMade Films and producing acts for Apple Records. He produced the Monty Python’s troupe’s comedy film The Life of Brian (1979).

Five

In 1570, Pope Pius V excommunicated the English monarch from the Roman Catholic Church. Who was this monarch?

Answer: Elizabeth I.

Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, ruled England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. Her reign, marked by religious tolerance and cautious foreign policy, saw the establishment of the Church of England and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Despite numerous courtships, Elizabeth remained unmarried, earning her the moniker ‘Virgin Queen’.

Impressionable

All of these questions relate to today’s date, February 25th.

Question One. Self-portrait, 1910.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

The painter of the above self-portrait was born in Limoges, France, on 25 February 1841. He became an early Impressionist but later adopted a more traditional style. Who is he?

Two

This author, best known by a pen name but also using another — Joseph Kell, was born John Burgess Wilson on this day in 1917 in an inner-city suburb of Manchester, England. After wartime service, he left the British army in 1946 with the rank of sergeant-major. His most famous work, a dystopian satire published in 1962, was adapted into a controversial film in 1971. What is his best-known pen name?

Three

In 1986, after claiming victory in a fraudulent election which led to a military coup and revolution, President Ferdinand Marcos fled his country. Of what country was Marcos president, and which opposition leader replaced him as president?

Four

Born in 1943, this musician was a prominent figure in the music world during the swinging sixties. He was originally part of a band where he wrote hits like Here Comes the Sun and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. His sitar teacher was singer Norah Jones’ father. He later enjoyed a successful solo career. Who was he and who taught him to play the sitar?

Five

In 1570, Pope Pius V excommunicated the English monarch from the Roman Catholic Church. Who was this monarch?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

From the land of the Pima Indian—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

Today’s first question concerns this date, February 23rd, while the others follow on and share a common theme.

Ira Hayes Memorial.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

Which famous photograph featuring US Marine Ira Hayes shows him and fellow servicemen raising the American flag during a pivotal World War II battle?

Answer: Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima

The photograph, taken by Joe Rosenthal during the Battle of Iwo Jima atop Mount Suribachi on 23 February 1945, became one of the most reproduced images in history and later inspired the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Among the six men in the iconic Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima photograph was Ira Hamilton Hayes, a US Marine and Gila River Indian Community member who fought in WWII’s Bougainville and Iwo Jima campaigns. Hayes later struggled with PTSD and alcoholism and died in 1955, being commemorated in art, film, and song, The Ballad of Ira Hayes. The lyrics are copied at the end of the post.

Two

Goodbye, Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name

AZ Lyrics

Goodbye England’s rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
You called out to our country
And you whispered to those in pain
Now you belong to heaven
And the stars spell out your name

AZ Lyrics

This song has two versions, and the first verse of each is shown above. The first was written in 1973, and it was adapted 24 years later; both were written about different people. There are several questions…

  1. What’s the song title in each case?
  2. Who were the songwriters?
  3. Who is the subject of each respective version?

Answers

  1. Candle in the Wind and Candle in the Wind 1997
  2. Elton John and Bernie Taupin
  3. Marilyn Monroe and Diana, princess of Wales

Candle in the Wind is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, originally in honour of Marilyn Monroe. A rewritten version, Candle in the Wind 1997, was performed as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales at her funeral. Adapted from Elton John’s 1973 song, Candle in the Wind 1997 became the best-selling single in UK and US chart history and won a Grammy Award.

Three

This 20th-century singer-songwriter wrote about the 1959 plane crash referred to as ‘The Day the Music Died’. He also wrote a song about a 19th-century artist whose opening line references a painting often mistaken for the song’s title. There are four questions…

  1. Who is the singer-songwriter?
  2. What are the titles of the two songs?
  3. Who were the three rock and roll musicians who died in the crash?
  4. Finally, who was the artist?

Answers

  1. Don McLean
  2. American Pie and Vincent
  3. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper
  4. Vincent van Gogh

American Pie by Don McLean, released in 1971, was a number-one hit in the US and several other countries. Known for its length and cryptic lyrics, the song reflects on the musicians deaths, the cultural changes and loss of innocence experienced by McLean’s generation. In 2017, the original recording was selected for preservation in the US National Recording Registry. McLean also wrote Vincent as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh, which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1972 and was ranked No. 94 by Billboard for that year.

Four

Lori Lieberman co-wrote this song with lyrics about Don McLean after watching him in performance. Arguably the best known version is Roberta Flack’s 1973 cover which became a number-one hit in the US, Australia and Canada, and a top ten hit in the UK. What is the song?

Answer: Killing Me Softly with His Song.

Killing Me Softly with His Song, composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel, was inspired by a Don McLean performance. Roberta Flack’s 1973 version topped charts worldwide, winning Grammy Awards. The Fugees’ 1996 cover also achieved global success, winning a Grammy and topping the Billboard Hot 100.

Five

Je t’aime… moi non plus was written in 1967 by Serge Gainsbourg. The best known version of it was Gainsbourg’s 1969 duet with Jane Birkin which topped the UK charts. Who, often referred to as ‘B.B.’, had Gainsbourg originally written the song for?

Answer: Brigitte Bardot.

Je t’aime… moi non plus (meaning ‘I love you… me neither’) is a 1967 song written by Serge Gainsbourg for Brigitte Bardot.  In 1969, Gainsbourg recorded a popular duet version with British actress Jane Birkin. While this version topped the charts in Birkin’s native United Kingdom, becoming the first foreign-language song to achieve this feat and reaching number two in Ireland, it faced censorship in several countries due to its explicit sexual content.  In 1976, Gainsbourg directed Birkin in an erotic film of the same name.

The Ballad Of Ira Hayes
By Peter La Farge

Ira Hayes, 
Ira Hayes

[CHORUS:]
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin’ Indian 
Nor the Marine that went to war

Gather round me people there’s a story I would tell
About a brave young Indian you should remember well
From the land of the Pima Indian 
A proud and noble band
Who farmed the Phoenix valley in Arizona land

Down the ditches for a thousand years 
The water grew Ira’s peoples’ crops
‘Till the white man stole the water rights 
And the sparklin’ water stopped

Now Ira’s folks were hungry 
And their land grew crops of weeds
When war came, Ira volunteered 
And forgot the white man’s greed

[CHORUS:]
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin’ Indian 
Nor the Marine that went to war

There they battled up Iwo Jima’s hill, 
Two hundred and fifty men
But only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again

And when the fight was over 
And when Old Glory raised
Among the men who held it high 
Was the Indian, Ira Hayes

[CHORUS:]
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin’ Indian 
Nor the Marine that went to war

Ira returned a hero 
Celebrated through the land
He was wined and speeched and honored; Everybody shook his hand

But he was just a Pima Indian
No water, no crops, no chance
At home nobody cared what Ira’d done 
And when did the Indians dance

[CHORUS:]
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin’ Indian 
Nor the Marine that went to war

Then Ira started drinkin’ hard;
Jail was often his home
They’d let him raise the flag and lower it
like you’d throw a dog a bone!

He died drunk one mornin’ 
Alone in the land he fought to save
Two inches of water in a lonely ditch 
Was a grave for Ira Hayes

[CHORUS:]
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin’ Indian 
Nor the Marine that went to war

Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes 
But his land is just as dry
And his ghost is lyin’ thirsty 
In the ditch where Ira died

AZ Lyrics

From the land of the Pima Indian

Today’s first question concerns this date, February 23rd, while the others follow on and share a common theme.

Ira Hayes Memorial.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

Which famous photograph featuring US Marine Ira Hayes shows him and fellow servicemen raising the American flag during a pivotal World War II battle?

Two

Goodbye, Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name

AZ Lyrics

Goodbye England’s rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
You called out to our country
And you whispered to those in pain
Now you belong to heaven
And the stars spell out your name

AZ Lyrics

This song has two versions, and the first verse of each is shown above. The first was written in 1973, and it was adapted 24 years later; both were written about different people. There are several questions…

  1. What’s the song title in each case?
  2. Who were the songwriters?
  3. Who is the subject of each respective version?

Three

This 20th-century singer-songwriter wrote about the 1959 plane crash referred to as ‘The Day the Music Died’. He also wrote a song about a 19th-century artist whose opening line references a painting often mistaken for the song’s title. There are four questions…

  1. Who is the singer-songwriter?
  2. What are the titles of the two songs?
  3. Who were the three rock and roll musicians who died in the crash?
  4. Finally, who was the artist?

Four

Lori Lieberman co-wrote this song with lyrics about Don McLean after watching him in performance. Arguably the best known version is Roberta Flack’s 1973 cover which became a number-one hit in the US, Australia and Canada, and a top ten hit in the UK. What is the song?

Five

Je t’aime… moi non plus was written in 1967 by Serge Gainsbourg. The best known version of it was Gainsbourg’s 1969 duet with Jane Birkin which topped the UK charts. Who, often referred to as ‘B.B.’, had Gainsbourg originally written the song for?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Four Births and a Funeral—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Five questions which consist of four births on this date, February 21st, and one death.

Robert Mugabe, 1995.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

Born in 1924, Robert Mugabe served as the first prime minister of which African country from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017?

Answer: Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe, a prominent Black nationalist leader, served as Zimbabwe’s prime minister (1980–87) and president (1987–2017). He resigned in 2017 after 37 years in power, facing pressure to prevent his wife from succeeding him.

Two

Born on this day, Barbara Jordan became the first African American woman to serve in the US House of Representatives from the South. In what year did she join the House?

Answer: 1972.

Barbara Jordan was a lawyer, educator and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas. She was the first African American congresswoman from the South and gained national prominence during the Watergate scandal. After retiring from Congress, she taught at the University of Texas and remained influential in political affairs.

Three

Which poem by W. H. Auden, written in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, famously opens with the line ‘I sit in one of the dives / On Fifty-second Street’?

Answer: September 1, 1939

Although it became one of his most quoted works—especially after major global crises—Auden later grew dissatisfied with the poem and even excluded it from some of his collected editions.

Four

Born in Linares, Spain in 1893, the Marquis of Salobreña was a celebrated musician and composer. What was his name and on which instrument was he renowned for his performances?

Answers: Andrés Segovia; Guitar.

Andrés Segovia, a Spanish classical guitarist, was a pivotal figure in the 20th century, known for re-establishing the guitar as a concert instrument. He significantly influenced the modern-romantic repertoire through commissions and transcriptions, and his expressive performances and distinctive style are highly remembered. Segovia’s career began in Granada in 1909, with notable performances in Madrid in 1912, Paris in 1924, and New York in 1928. His work inspired many composers to create specially composed pieces for the guitar.

and finally…

Five

In 2018, a prominent American Christian evangelist, born in North Carolina 99 years earlier, passed away in the same state.  He organised annual crusades drawing huge crowds eager to hear his preaching. His website boasts live audiences of at least 210 million people across over 185 countries and territories.  He was also known for rebuking a US president for profanity.  Who was this evangelist and which US president did he rebuke?

Answer: Billy Graham; Richard Nixon.

Graham rebuked Nixon for his behaviour regarding Watergate and for his profanity as heard on the Watergate tapes. Billy Graham, a prominent American evangelist, gained international influence through his crusades and media presence. He advocated for racial integration, supported the Civil Rights Movement, and founded the Lausanne Movement.

Four Births and a Funeral

Five questions which consist of four births on this date, February 21st, and one death.

Robert Mugabe, 1995.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

Born in 1924, Robert Mugabe served as the first prime minister of which African country from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017?

Two

Born on this day, Barbara Jordan became the first African American woman to serve in the US House of Representatives from the South. In what year did she join the House?

Three

Which poem by W. H. Auden, written in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, famously opens with the line ‘I sit in one of the dives / On Fifty-second Street’?

Four

Born in Linares, Spain in 1893, the Marquis of Salobreña was a celebrated musician and composer. What was his name and on which instrument was he renowned for his performances?

and finally…

Five

In 2018, a prominent American Christian evangelist, born in North Carolina 99 years earlier, passed away in the same state.  He organised annual crusades drawing huge crowds eager to hear his preaching. His website boasts live audiences of at least 210 million people across over 185 countries and territories.  He was also known for rebuking a US president for profanity.  Who was this evangelist and which US president did he rebuke?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

The Milky Way—Answers

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

Today’s questions all relate to the date, February 18th.

Pluto.
Photograph taken by NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered what in our solar system?

Answer: Pluto.

In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh, an American astronomer, discovered Pluto despite lacking formal training. He attended the University of Kansas on a scholarship and completed his M.A. in astronomy in 1939. Tombaugh worked at the Lowell Observatory, cataloguing over 30,000 celestial objects before leaving in 1946. His research included star clusters, extragalactic nebulae, and planetary observations. In 1950, he predicted Mars’ cratered surface due to its proximity to the asteroid belt, a prediction confirmed by Mariner 4 in the 1960s. Tombaugh also taught at Arizona State College and the University of California, contributing significantly to astronomy.

Two

Born in Tokyo in 1933, she is a Japanese artist and musician. In 1968, she released, with her future husband, Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins, a collaborative experimental album. They later lived in an apartment building at 1 West 72nd Street, New York City. Who is she, what is the building at 1 West 72nd Street, NYC named, and who was her collaborative husband-to-be?

Answer: Yoko Ono; The Dakota; John Lennon.

Yoko Ono, a Japanese artist, musician, activist, and filmmaker, rose to fame in the 1960s and married John Lennon in 1969. She achieved success in music, including a Grammy-winning album with Lennon, and continues to honour his legacy through philanthropy. The Dakota, a historic luxury apartment building in New York City, was built between 1880 and 1884 in the German Renaissance style by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh. It was one of the first major developments on the Upper West Side and remains the city’s oldest luxury apartment building. Recognised as a National Historic Landmark, The Dakota is celebrated for its unique architecture and has housed numerous artists and celebrities.

Three

In 1965, The Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom. This African nation is situated on which ocean and is bordered by which country?

Answer: Atlantic Ocean; Senegal.

The Gambia, Africa’s smallest mainland country, lies along the Atlantic coast surrounded by Senegal and follows the Gambia River through flat, navigable terrain. Its unusual shape stems from 19th‑century territorial agreements between Britain and France. A brief Senegambia confederation existed from 1982 to 1989. The nation, with a 2026 population of around 2.55 million, is a multiparty republic led by President Adama Barrow, with Banjul as its capital. English is the official language, and the main ethnic groups include Malinke, Wolof, Fulani, Diola and Soninke. The economy relies heavily on peanut production and export. Known for its sandy Atlantic beaches and the historic village of Jufureh, The Gambia combines dense rural settlement with cultural and historical links to neighbouring Senegal.

Four

Born on this day, Enzo Ferrari, automobile manufacturer, designer, and racing-car driver. In what decade, and in what city, was he born?

Answer: Modena; 1890s.

Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) was an Italian car designer, manufacturer, and racing driver who founded Scuderia Ferrari and later Ferrari SpA. He began as a test driver after World War I, joining Alfa Romeo in 1920 and creating Scuderia Ferrari in 1929 to prepare Alfa race cars. By 1939 he had split from Alfa and formed Auto Avio Costruzioni, which evolved into Ferrari. The first car under his name, the 125 S, appeared in 1947 and won Ferrari’s first Grand Prix. Famous for speed and engineering excellence, his teams dominated the 1950s and 1960s, though tragedy struck with multiple driver fatalities and the death of his son Dino. Ferrari sold a stake to Fiat in 1969, remained president until 1977, and became a motorsport legend.

Five

In 2010, WikiLeaks publishes thousands of classified documents which had been disclosed by a U.S. soldier. What is his or her name?

Answer: Bradley Manning or Chelsea Manning.

In 2010, WikiLeaks, which had been founded in 2006, released nearly half a million documents on the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a 2007 video showing a U.S. helicopter attack killing twelve, including two Reuters employees. The Obama administration condemned the leaks as a national security threat. In November 2010, WikiLeaks published 250,000 classified U.S. diplomatic cables, revealing efforts to isolate Iran. Following the leaks, U.S. lawmakers pursued prosecution of Assange and collaborators. Bradley Manning, a U.S. Army analyst, was arrested in May 2010 for releasing the helicopter video and later accused of leaking cables. Manning pleaded guilty to 10 charges, was found guilty of espionage and theft in July 2013, and received a 35-year sentence. The day after sentencing Manning’s attorney issued a press release saying that his client was a female, and asked that she be referred to by her new name of Chelsea and feminine pronouns. WikiLeaks faced setbacks, including being taken offline and losing payment services.

The Milky Way

Today’s questions all relate to the date, February 18th.

Photograph taken by NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered what in our solar system?

Two

Born in Tokyo in 1933, she is a Japanese artist and musician. In 1968, she released, with her future husband, Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins, a collaborative experimental album. They later lived in an apartment building at 1 West 72nd Street, New York City. Who is she, what is the building at 1 West 72nd Street, NYC named, and who was her collaborative husband-to-be?

Three

In 1965, The Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom. This African nation is situated on which ocean and is bordered by which country?

Four

Born on this day, Enzo Ferrari, automobile manufacturer, designer, and racing-car driver. In what decade, and in what city, was he born?

Five

In 2010, WikiLeaks publishes thousands of classified documents which had been disclosed by a U.S. soldier. What is his or her name?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

+ — Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

These questions all relate to today, February 17th.

Question Two. Flag of Kosovo.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

A singer born in 1991 released their debut album, +, in September 2011. Who is the singer?

Answer: Ed Sheeran.

Ed Sheeran’s debut studio album, + (Plus), was released on 9 September 2011 and marked his commercial breakthrough. The album, produced by Jake Gosling, Sheeran and No I.D., received positive reviews and sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

Two

In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from which country?

Answer: Serbia.

Kosovo, a self-declared independent country in the Balkans, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. While recognised by the US and most EU members, its independence is not universally accepted. In 2010 the International Court of Justice ruled Kosovo’s declaration didn’t breach international law but Serbia rejected the decision. Despite lacking full international agreement, Kosovo has established structures akin to an independent nation under international supervision. The EU oversees police judicial and customs activities.

Three

In what decade did the opera Madama Butterfly premiere at La Scala, Milan, and who composed it?

Answer: 1900s; Giacomo Puccini.

Madama Butterfly is a three-act opera by Giacomo Puccini, based on John Luther Long’s short story and Pierre Loti’s novel. The original two-act version premiered in 1904 at La Scala but was poorly received, leading Puccini to revise it into the successful three-act version.

Four

What entertainer and actor born in Kew in 1934, links a housewife, the voice of Bruce in 2003 and, a novennium later, a Great Goblin?

Answer: Barry Humphries.

Barry Humphries, an Australian actor, was best known for his character Dame Edna Everage. He also created other characters, appeared in films, and wrote books. The housewife from the question was of course Dame Edna. Bruce was the shark from Finding Nemo (2003) and the Great Goblin, the king of the caverns, was played by Humphries in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012).

Five

In 1965, the Ranger 8 probe was launched on a mission to photograph among other things Mare Tranquillitatis. Where is Mare Tranquillitatis?

Answer: Moon

Ranger was a series of nine unmanned probes launched by NASA between 1961 and 1965 to explore the Moon. While the first five probes failed, the last three, Ranger 7, 8 and 9, successfully transmitted over 17,000 high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface. These images included the Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis), which would become the 1969 landing site of Apollo 11.

+

These questions all relate to today, February 17th.

Question Two. Flag of Kosovo.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

A singer born in 1991 released their debut album, +, in September 2011. Who is the singer?

Two

In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from which country?

Three

In what decade did the opera Madama Butterfly premiere at La Scala, Milan, and who composed it?

Four

What entertainer and actor born in Kew in 1934, links a housewife, the voice of Bruce in 2003 and, a novennium later, a Great Goblin?

Five

In 1965, the Ranger 8 probe was launched on a mission to photograph among other things Mare Tranquillitatis. Where is Mare Tranquillitatis?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.