Tag: music

To the Lighthouse | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf.
First edition cover – designed by Vanessa Bell.
Image Wikipedia
  1. On 5 May 1927, the novel To the Lighthouse was published. Who was the English author?
    • Virginia Woolf—Virginia Woolf’s 1927 novel, To the Lighthouse, follows the Ramsay family’s visits to the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The novel explores life through the perspectives of Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsay and their eight children.
      n A Japanese 10-meter diameter Mulberry paper balloon re-inflated at NAS Moffett Field, CA following its downing by a Navy aircraft about 30 miles west of Alturas, CA on January 10, 1945.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. On this day in 1945, six people picnicking in Oregon were killed in an attack by the Japanese. These were the only deaths by enemy action in the continental United States during World War II. How was the attack launched?
    • Japan launched Fu-Go high-explosive balloon bomb—Fu-Go was an incendiary balloon weapon deployed by Japan against the United States during World War II. The balloons, launched in Japan and carried by the jet stream, were intended to ignite forest fires and spread panic. On 5 May 1945, six civilians, including four boys and two women, were killed near Bly, Oregon, when they discovered a balloon bomb in Fremont National Forest. This was the only fatality from Axis action in the continental US during World War II.
      Adele.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. Born today in 1988, this singer-songwriter has won 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Who is she?
    • Adele—Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, known as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. Her albums, including 21 and 25, are among the best-selling of the 21st century, with 25 breaking first-week sales records in the UK and US. Adele has won numerous awards, including 16 Grammys and an Academy Award.
      Jonathan, the tortoise at Plantation House, Saint Helena, 2021.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. Napoleon Bonaparte died on 5 May 1821, while in exile on the island of Saint Helena. Which is where?
    • South Atlantic Ocean—Napoleon I was exiled to St. Helena, a remote British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, after his second abdication in 1815. He spent his final years in isolation at Longwood House, dying in 1821 from a stomach ulcer. On a cheerier note, Saint Helena is home to the world’s oldest land animal…

      The oldest known living terrestrial animal is Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), originally from the Seychelles but now a long-time resident of the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena. He is believed to have been born c. 1832, thus making him 192 years old in 2024. Guinness World Records

  5. On 5th May, rebel barons in England renounced their allegiance to King John, a pivotal event leading to the Magna Carta. In which year did this occur?
    • 1215—During the 12th century, English kings issued charters promising liberties and good government to nobles and clergy. However, King John, facing challenges from his nephew and France, did not issue a general charter upon his accession. This, coupled with increased taxes and conflicts with the church, led to baronial unrest and demands for a formal grant of liberties.
King John of England, 1167-1216.
Illuminated manuscript, De Rege Johanne, 1300-1400.
MS Cott. Claud DII, folio 116, British Library.
Image Wikipedia

To the Lighthouse

Tower of Hercules, an ancient Roman lighthouse in A Coruña, Spain
Image Wikipedia

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, 5 May.

  1. On 5 May 1927, the novel To the Lighthouse was published. Who was the English author?
    • Hazel Adair
    • Margaret Jepson
    • Virginia Woolf
  2. On this day in 1945, six people picnicking in Oregon were killed in an attack by the Japanese. These were the only deaths by enemy action in the continental United States during World War II. How was the attack launched?
    • Carrier_launched Aichi D3A dive-bomber
    • Gunfire from a surfaced I-15 submarine‘s deck gun
    • Japan launched Fu-Go high-explosive balloon bomb
  3. Born today in 1988, this singer-songwriter has won 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Who is she?
    • Adele
    • Shura
    • Rhianna (Kenny)
  4. Napoleon Bonaparte died on 5 May 1821, while in exile on the island of Saint Helena. Which is where?
    • Mediterranean Sea
    • North Atlantic Ocean
    • South Atlantic Ocean
  5. On 5th May, rebel barons in England renounced their allegiance to King John, a pivotal event leading to the Magna Carta. In which year did this occur?
    • 1015
    • 1215
    • 1415

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Continuing the theme, some more true or false | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

Laurel and Hardy.
Image Wikipedia
  1. True or false MCMXCIX is the Roman numeral for 1999.
    • True—MCMXCIX is 1999. M=1,000; C=100; X=10; I=1.
      M + (M – C) + (C – X) + (X – I) = MCMXCIX. There are various online resources explaining this, but here is well-explained one.
  2. True or false, Morecambe and Wise reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1975 with The Trail of the Lonesome Pine.
    • False—Laurel and Hardy reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1975 with The Trail of the Lonesome Pine. The song was from Laurel and Hardy’s 1937 film Way Out West and was performed by Laurel and Hardy with The Avalon Boys.
      The first page of the edition of the Domenica del Corriere, an Italian paper, with a drawing by Achille Beltrame depicting Gavrilo Princip killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. True or false, Gavrilo Princip assassinated US President William McKinley.
    • False—It was Leon Czolgosz who assassinated President McKinley in 1901. On 28 June 1914, Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife Sophie, Duchess von Hohenberg, in Sarajevo. Their deaths led to the outbreak of World War I.
      Margay in Costa Rica.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. True or false, a margay is a small monkey native to Madagascar.
    • False—a margay is a small wild cat native to the Americas, ranging from Mexico to Uruguay and northern Argentina.
      Procol Harum, 1967.
      Image Wikipedia
  5. True or false, “Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor” is a line from Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
    • False—it is the second line of the first verse, from Procol Harum’s 1967 number 1 A Whiter Shade of Pale. See quote below.

A Whiter Shade of Pale

Procol Harum

(1967)

We skipped the light fandango
Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor
I was feeling kind of seasick
But the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
The waiter brought a tray

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale

She said, “There is no reason
And the truth is plain to see”
But I wandered through my playing cards
And would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might just as well have been closed

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale…

Lyrics from AZLyrics.

Continuing the theme, some more true or false

Morecambe and Wise.
Image BBC

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date,

  1. True or false, MCMXCIX is the Roman numeral for 1999.
  2. True or false, Morecambe and Wise reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1975 with The Trail of the Lonesome Pine.
  3. True or false, Gavrilo Princip assassinated US President William McKinley.
  4. True or false, a margay is a small monkey native to Madagascar.
  5. True or false, “Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor” is a line from Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

How much is that doggy in the window | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

Terry Pratchett.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Which author born 28 April 1948, provided the city state of Ankh Morpork with the Latatian motto – Quanti Canicula Illa In Fenestra – meaning, “How Much Is That Doggy In The Window”?
    • Terry Pratchett—Sir Terry Pratchett, an English author, was renowned for his comic fantasy novels, especially the Discworld series and the apocalyptic comedy Good Omens. With over 100 million books sold globally, he was the UK’s best-selling author of the 1990s and received numerous literary awards. Pratchett began writing early, publishing his first novel, The Carpet People, in 1971. After careers in journalism and public relations, he became a full-time writer in 1987 and continued publishing until his death in 2015 from Alzheimer’s disease. PS “Latatian” is a fictional language: Discworld’s equivalent of Latin.
      Kon-tiki in the Kon-tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway.
      Image Wikipedia
      Kon-tiki in the Kon-tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. On this day in 1947, Thor Heyerdahl set out on the primitive raft Kon-tiki to demonstrate that Easter Island could have been reached by whom?
    • Peruvians—Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian ethnologist and adventurer, is renowned for his Kon-Tiki expedition, where he sailed across the Pacific on a primitive raft to show Peruvians could have reached Easter Island and to illustrate the potential for ancient cultural contact between distant civilizations. Although his theories were not accepted by anthropologists, his voyages, including the Ra II expedition, inspired a book and documentary about the Kon-Tiki journey. His archives, covering the years 1937 to 2002, are preserved in Oslo.
      HMS Bounty II 1960 Tall Ship with full sails on Lake Michigan near the Port of Chicago for the 2010 Great Lake Tall Ship Challenge.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. On this day in 1789, William Bligh and 18 of his crewmen were set adrift in the Pacific Ocean. From which ship were they set adrift?
    • Bounty—in 1789, Fletcher Christian led a mutiny against Captain William Bligh on the HMS Bounty in the South Pacific. Bligh and 18 loyalists were set adrift but managed to survive a 3,500-nautical-mile journey to safety. The mutineers settled on Tahiti and Pitcairn Island, where their descendants still reside. Bligh, an English navigator and explorer, had discovered 13 Pacific islands but faced mutiny due to his strained relationships with the crew, characterised by verbal abuse and violations of sailor privileges. He later became governor of New South Wales, where he encountered further challenges, including the Rum Rebellion.
      Carioca (1948) – First Lamborghini tractor.
      Image Lambocars.com
  4. Ferruccio Lamborghini, born on this day in 1916, built his “Carioca” in 1948. What best describes it?
    • Tractor—Lamborghini Trattori, established in 1948 by Ferruccio Lamborghini, initially created tractors using repurposed war materials, featuring engines from trucks and military vehicles. Ferruccio, who developed his mechanical expertise during World War II, built a reputation for reliable tractors in a small factory, surpassing competitors like Fiat and Landini. Following his success in tractors and air conditioners, he later founded Automobili Lamborghini, renowned for luxury cars.
      The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.
      Image Pinterest
  5. Which album, which reached number one on the Billboard Album Charts on 28 April 1973, has remained on the charts for over 990 weeks (March 2025)?
    • The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd—is a concept album exploring themes of conflict, greed, time, death, and mental illness. The album, released in 1973, brought the band international fame and is certified 14× platinum in the UK. It has sold over 45 million copies worldwide and, at March 2025, had been in the charts for over 990 weeks.

How much is that doggy in the window

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, 28 April.

Coat of arms of Ankh-Morpork
Motto is “Quanti Canicula Ille in Fenestra” (How much is that doggy in the window)
Image Wikipedia
  1. Which author born 28 April 1948, provided the city state of Ankh Morpork with the Latatian motto – Quanti Canicula Illa In Fenestra – meaning, “How Much Is That Doggy In The Window”?
    • Douglas Adams
    • Neil Gaiman
    • Terry Pratchett
  2. On this day in 1947, Thor Heyerdahl set out on the primitive raft Kon-tiki to demonstrate that Easter Island could have been reached by whom?
    • Paraguayans
    • Peruvians
    • Puerto ricans
  3. On this day in 1789, William Bligh and 18 of his crewmen were set adrift in the Pacific Ocean. From which ship were they set adrift?
    • Amistad
    • Bounty
    • Caine
  4. Ferruccio Lamborghini, born on this day in 1916, built his “Carioca” in 1948. What best describes it?
    • Speedboat
    • Sports car
    • Tractor
  5. Which album, which reached number one on the Billboard Album Charts on 28 April 1973, has remained on the charts for over 990 weeks (March 2025)?
    • Greatest Hits, Queen
    • Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
    • The Dark Side of The Moon, Pink Floyd

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Commonwealth of trivia | Answers

The answers to today’s questions are shown in bold below.

Flag of Sierra Leone
Image Wikipedia
  1. The country represented by the flag pictured obtained its independence from Great Britain on 27 April 1961, when Milton Margai became the first Prime Minister and the country became a member of the British Commonwealth. What country?
    • Sierra Leone—Sierra Leone, a presidential republic in West Africa, gained independence from the UK in 1961. After a decade-long civil war ending in 2002, the country has experienced relative stability. Sierra Leone is culturally diverse, with English as the official language and Krio as the lingua franca.
      Ferdinand Magellan.
      Image Wikipedia
  1. Where was Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan when he was killed in battle on April 27, 1521?
    • Mactan Island (Philippines)—Magellan secured an alliance with the King of Cebu, Rajah Humabon, who converted to Christianity. However, Magellan was killed in a battle on Mactan Island when his men attempted to Christianise the local population. Although he was killed in the Philippines, one of his ships continued westward to Spain, completing the first circumnavigation of the Earth. The Basque navigator Juan Sebastián del Cano successfully finished the voyage. The Philippines did not exist as a nation at the time of Magellan’s death.
      Mstislav Rostropovich at the White House, 1978.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. Mstislav Rostropovich, Russian conductor and musician, died today in 2007. He was an acclaimed player of what instrument?
    • Cello—Mstislav Rostropovich, a Russian cellist and conductor, inspired and premiered over 100 pieces, expanding the cello repertoire. He was a human rights advocate and received numerous accolades, including a Polar Music Prize.
      Grainy image of the Sultana shortly before the explosion.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. On this day in 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded, becoming the worst maritime disaster in US history and claiming 1,864 lives. Where did this catastrophic event occur?
    • Mississippi River—The Sultana, a commercial steamboat, met a tragic end in 1865 when it exploded and sank on the Mississippi River. The disaster, the worst in US maritime history, claimed the lives of 1,864 people. Tragically, the Sultana was carrying 2,127 passengers, far exceeding its capacity of 376. Among them were 1,950 repatriated Union soldiers, who had been prisoners of war, that the captain had accepted in a deal.
      Betty Boothroyd.
      Official portrait of Baroness Boothroyd, 2018.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. In British politics, Betty Boothroyd became the first woman to be elected speaker of the House of Commons on 27 April 1992. What was her occupation before entering politics?
    • Dancer—Betty Boothroyd was a dancer with The Tiller Girls from 1946 to 1952. A Member of Parliament (Labour), she served as the first and only female Speaker of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2000. She later sat in the House of Lords.
The Tiller Girls (late 1950s).
Image Pinterest/Wikipedia

Commonwealth of trivia

All of the following relate to today, 27 April.

Image Wikipedia
  1. The country represented by the flag pictured obtained its independence from Great Britain on 27 April 1961, when Milton Margai became the first Prime Minister and the country became a member of the British Commonwealth. What country?
    • Senegal
    • Sierra Leone
    • Suriname
  2. Where was Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan when he was killed in battle on April 27, 1521?
    • Mactan Island (Philippines)
    • Malendok Island (Papua New Guinea)
    • Mecherchar Island (Palau)
  3. Mstislav Rostropovich, Russian conductor and musician, died today in 2007. He was an acclaimed player of what instrument?
    • Cello
    • Oboe
    • Piano
  4. On this day in 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded, becoming the worst maritime disaster in US history and claiming 1,864 lives. Where did this catastrophic event occur?
    • Chesapeake Bay
    • Lake Superior
    • Mississippi River
  5. In British politics, Betty Boothroyd became the first woman to be elected speaker of the House of Commons on 27 April 1992. What was her occupation before entering politics?
    • Dancer
    • Nanny
    • Teacher

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

An A to Z Cornucopia of Trivia. Part IV | Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post.

Portrait of Samuel Pepys by John Hayls. Wikipedia
See #3.

  1. Q) Question mark—The question mark, used to indicate questions in many languages, has a history dating back to the 5th century. Its modern form, a curved mark, emerged in the 13th century and was standardised in the 15th century. The term “question mark” was first used in the 1850s.
    Rebecca book cover. Wikipedia
  2. (R) Rebecca—Rebecca is a 1938 Gothic novel by Daphne du Maurier about a young woman who marries a wealthy widower haunted by his late first wife. The novel, a bestseller, has been adapted for stage, screen and as a musical.
  3. (S) Samuel Peyps—Eleanor Gwyn, also known as Nell Gwyn, was an English actress and mistress of King Charles II, celebrated for her comic performances and as a folk heroine of Restoration England. She had two sons with the King, Charles and James Beauclerk. Known for her frank recklessness, generosity and good temper, Nell rose from humble beginnings as an orange-girl to become a leading comedienne in the King’s Company, performing in plays by John Dryden and James Howard. After becoming Charles II’s mistress in 1669, she retired from the stage, lived extravagantly, entertained the king and his friends and secured titles for her sons.
    Inland Taipan aka Fierce snake. Wikipedia
  4. (T) Taipan—Taipans are large, fast-moving, highly venomous snakes endemic to Australia and New Guinea. There are three recognised species, with the coastal taipan having two subspecies. Taipan refers to foreign-born senior business executives or entrepreneurs operating in China or Hong Kong. The term also refers to influential business families in the Philippines. Tai-Pan, a 1966 novel by James Clavell, is the second book in his Asian Saga and introduces the Struan family.
  5. (U) Uranus—Gustav Holst’s The Planets is a seven-movement orchestral suite depicting the planets as astrological symbols. The suite premiered in 1918 and quickly became popular.
Uranus on 1986-01-23 formula NASA’s Voyager 2 probe. Wikipedia

An A to Z Cornucopia of Trivia. Part IV

Nell Gwyn. Wikipedia

Some trivia related to the letters Q to U

  1. (Q) An eroteme is a …
    • Quartz crystal
    • Question mark—
    • Quetiapine medication
  2. (R) “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again”, is the opening line of what novel?
    • Rebecca
    • Rowena
    • Roxanne
  3. (S) Which contemporary of Charles II’s mistress, Nell Gwyn, described her as “pretty, witty Nell”?
    • Samuel Johnson
    • Samuel Pepys
    • Samuel Richardson
  4. (T) One word links snakes of the genus Oxyuranus; a foreign-born senior business executive in China or Hong Kong and a novel by James Clavell. What word?
    • Taipan
    • Titanoboa
    • Trinket
  5. (U) In Gustav Holst’s suite what is “the Magician”?
    • Uluru
    • United States
    • Uranus

Good luck. I will post the answers later today.