Tag: religion

  • Cardinal Richelieu — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    See question five. Dhaulagiri, at 8167 m, the world’s seventh-highest mountain above sea level.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s date-related questions are all connected to May 13th.


    One

    In 1637, according to tradition France’s Cardinal Richelieu invented the table knife by having the tips of knives rounded. He did this to prevent what?

    Answer: To stop his companions picking their teeth with the knife-points.

    The distinguishing feature of a table knife is a blunt or rounded end. The origin of this, and thus of the table knife itself, is attributed by tradition to Cardinal Richelieu around 1637, reputedly to cure dinner guests of the habit of picking their teeth with their knife-points.
    — Wikipedia


    Two

    On this day in 1940, some eight months into World War II, Winston Churchill faced the United Kingdom’s House of Commons for the first time as prime minister and informed them that “I have nothing to offer but …, …, … and ….” What four words have been removed from this quotation?

    Answer: Blood, toil, tears [and] sweat.

    I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”
    — International Churchill Society


    Three

    97-year-old Doris von Kappelhoff died on this day in 2019. Who was she better known as?

    Answer: Doris Day.

    Doris Day, born Doris Von Kappelhoff, was an American singer and actress who rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s. She starred in numerous musicals and sex comedies, becoming a leading Hollywood star and embodying the ideal American woman of the era. Later in life, she dedicated herself to animal welfare, founding several organisations to advocate for animal rights.


    Four

    In 1981, the pope survived an assassination attempt. What pope and where did this happen?

    Answers: Pope John Paul II; St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City.

    On 13 May 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot and critically wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope credited the Blessed Virgin Mary with saving his life and later visited Ağca in prison, forgiving him. Numerous theories emerged about the assassination attempt, including a controversial claim that the Soviet Union was responsible, though the Pope publicly denied this.


    Five

    The world’s seventh-highest mountain above sea level has several peaks exceeding 25,000 feet (7,620 m) and one at 26,795 feet (8,167 m). It has a name meaning ‘white mountain’; what is that name?

    Answer: Dhaulagiri.

    Dhaulagiri, a Himalayan massif in Nepal, features peaks over 25,000 feet, including Dhaulagiri I at 26,795 feet. Known as ‘white mountain’ in Sanskrit, its steep south wall and cold climate delayed its ascent until May 13, 1960, when a Swiss team led by Max Eiselin reached the summit.


  • Cardinal Richelieu

    See question five. The world’s seventh-highest mountain 8167 m above sea level.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s date-related questions are all connected to May 13th.


    One

    In 1637, according to tradition France’s Cardinal Richelieu invented the table knife by having the tips of knives rounded. He did this to prevent what?


    Two

    On this day in 1940, some eight months into World War II, Winston Churchill faced the United Kingdom’s House of Commons for the first time as prime minister and informed them that “I have nothing to offer but …, …, … and ….” What four words have been removed from this quotation?


    Three

    97-year-old Doris von Kappelhoff died on this day in 2019. Who was she better known as?


    Four

    In 1981, the pope survived an assassination attempt. What pope and where did this happen?


    Five

    The world’s seventh-highest mountain above sea level has several peaks exceeding 25,000 feet (7,620 m) and one at 26,795 feet (8,167 m). It has a name meaning ‘white mountain’; what is that name?


    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.


  • Time Stays Long Enough for Anyone Who Will Use It — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1515–1518), attributed to Francesco Melzi. Royal Collection, United Kingdom.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Here are five questions all connected to today, May 2nd.


    One

    Leonardo da Vinci, artist, architect and engineer, died on this day. In what century, and in what country, did he die?

    Answer: 16th century; France.

    He died on 2 May 1519 aged 67, Clos-Lucé, France. Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian Renaissance artist and inventor, epitomised the humanist ideal with his diverse talents in painting, sculpture, architecture, and engineering. His insatiable curiosity and mastery of observation fuelled his artistic and scientific pursuits, making him a true Renaissance man. Invited by King Francis I, Leonardo spent the last three years of his life in France, where he continued to work on unfinished paintings and scientific studies, and created his last series of artworks, Visions of the End of the World, showcasing his mastery of expression and imagination. Leonardo died at Cloux and was buried in the palace church of Saint-Florentin, though his grave is now lost.


    Two

    The King James Version of the Bible was published. In what decade was this, or as second prize, what century?

    Answer: 1610s; 17th century.

    The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, published in 1611 under King James I, was a revision of the Protestant Bible in English, addressing perceived corruption in existing translations. Approved in 1604, 47 scholars, divided into six companies, worked on the translation at Westminster, Oxford, and Cambridge. The KJV sought to be scholarly, nonpartisan, and faithful to the original languages, aiming to popularise the Scriptures. It became the standard English Bible from the mid-17th to early 20th century, influencing English literary style. Authorised for the Church of England, it remains favoured by many Christian fundamentalists.


    Three

    Anne Boleyn was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Who was her predecessor as Queen and who succeeded her?

    Answer: Catherine of Aragon; Jane Seymour.

    Anne Boleyn (c. 1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was Henry VIII’s second wife and mother of Elizabeth I. Her marriage and execution were pivotal in the English Reformation. Educated in Europe, Anne resisted Henry’s advances until he sought an annulment from Catherine of Aragon to marry her. This led to the Church of England’s break from Rome. Anne married Henry secretly in 1532, officially in 1533, and was crowned queen. Despite giving birth to Elizabeth, she failed to produce a male heir. Accused of adultery and treason, she was executed in 1536. Posthumously, she became a Reformation martyr, inspiring cultural works. Henry married Jane Seymour eleven days after Anne’s execution.


    Four

    On this day, a De Havilland Comet became the first jetliner to carry fare-paying passengers. The flight took place in what year and departed from where, with its destination being where?

    Answer: 1952; London to Johannesburg.

    The de Havilland DH.106 Comet, the first commercial jet airliner, debuted in 1952. After fatal accidents due to metal fatigue, it was redesigned. The Comet 4 series, launched in 1958, served until 1981. Adapted for military roles, the Nimrod variant operated until 2011, highlighting its lasting impact.


    Five

    Born in 2015, who on their eleventh birthday is third in line of succession to the British throne? Secondly, who is the highest ranked non-titled person to currently appear on the line of succession?

    Answer: Princess Charlotte of Wales; Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

    The line of Succession

    SOVEREIGN

    1. The Prince of Wales
    2. Prince George of Wales
    3. Princess Charlotte of Wales
    4. Prince Louis of Wales
    5. The Duke of Sussex
    6. Prince Archie of Sussex
    7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex
    8. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
    9. Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
    10. Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi
    11. Miss Athena Mapelli Mozzi
    12. Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank
    13. Master August Brooksbank
    14. Master Ernest Brooksbank
    15. The Duke of Edinburgh
    16. Earl of Wessex
    17. The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
    18. The Princess Royal
    19. Mr. Peter Phillips
    20. Miss Savannah Phillips
    21. Miss Isla Phillips
    22. Mrs. Michael Tindall
    23. Miss Mia Tindall
    24. Miss Lena Tindall
    25. Master Lucas Tindall
      Succession | The Royal Family

    Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it

    The post title is a quote from Leonardo da Vinci.


  • Time Stays Long Enough for Anyone Who Will Use It

    Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1515–1518), attributed to Francesco Melzi. Royal Collection, United Kingdom.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Here are five questions all connected to today, May 2nd.


    One

    Leonardo da Vinci, artist, architect and engineer, died on this day. In what century, and in what country, did he die?


    Two

    The King James Version of the Bible was published. In what decade was this, or as second prize, what century?


    Three

    Anne Boleyn was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Who was her predecessor as Queen and who succeeded her?


    Four

    On this day, a De Havilland Comet became the first jetliner to carry fare-paying passengers. The flight took place in what year and departed from where, with its destination being where?


    Five

    Born in 2015, who on their eleventh birthday is third in line of succession to the British throne? Secondly, who is the highest ranked non-titled person to currently appear on the line of succession?


    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.


  • Randomness — Answers

    Here’s the answers to my earlier questions.

    Elvis at Prestwick Airport, 3 March 1960. See question four.
    Image Daily Record.


    No date-related theme today, just five very random questions for you to ponder.

    One

    Johann Ludwig Burckhardt is best known for rediscovering two of the world’s best-known examples of rock-cut architecture in Jordan in 1812 and Egypt the following year. What are these examples of rock-cut architecture?

    Answers: Petra and Abu Simbel.

    Johann Ludwig Burckhardt (1784 – 1817) was a Swiss traveller, geographer and Orientalist. During his travels in Arabia, he adopted the alias Sheikh Ibrahim Ibn Abdallah and wrote his letters in French, signing them Louis. He is best known for rediscovering two of the world’s most famous examples of rock-cut architecture: the ruins of Petra, an ancient Nabataean city in Jordan, and the temples of Abu Simbel in Egypt. Petra remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when Burckhardt rediscovered it. The Great Temple at Abu Simbel remained unknown to Europeans until March 1813, when Burckhardt found the small temple and top frieze of the main temple.


    Two

    ‘I can resist everything except temptation’ is a line from what play and who wrote it?

    Answer: Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Play About a Good Woman by Oscar Wilde.

    Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Play About a Good Woman is a four-act comedy by Oscar Wilde, debuting on 20 February 1892 at London’s St James’s Theatre. Lady Windermere suspects her husband of infidelity and plans to leave him for Lord Darlington. Mrs. Erlynne, the other woman, intervenes, revealing herself as Lady Windermere’s mother. She sacrifices her reputation to save the marriage, allowing Lady Windermere to return to her husband unnoticed.


    Three

    What religious organisation was founded by Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Alba?

    Answer: Opus Dei.

    Opus Dei, founded in 1928 by Josemaría Escrivá, is a Catholic Church personal prelature promoting holiness through daily life. Approved by the Holy See in 1950 and affirmed in 1982, it faces controversy over abuse allegations. Members, mostly laypeople, engage in secular careers and spiritual training globally.


    Four

    Elvis Presley and the beginnings of Open Golf are both linked to what town?

    Answer: Prestwick.

    Prestwick, a town in South Ayrshire on Scotland’s west coast, is approximately 30 miles (50 kilometres) southwest of Glasgow. The Prestwick Old Course hosted the inaugural Open Golf Championship in 1860 and was the venue for the first twelve Open Championships from 1860 to 1872, although the event did not take place in 1871. During World War II, the US Army Air Corps set up and maintained a base at the airport. Elvis Presley made his only visit to the UK on 3 March 1960 when his US Army transport aircraft stopped at the airport for refuelling en route from Germany.


    Five

    Who in 1762 succeeded Peter III, Emperor of Russia, and what relationship was the successor to Peter?

    Answers: Catherine II (the Great); his wife.

    Peter III, Emperor of Russia for six months in 1762, was overthrown by his wife, Catherine the Great. Despite implementing notable reforms, he is criticised for his alliance with Prussia.
    On 28 June 1762, Catherine was proclaimed heir to the Russian throne. Peter attempted to flee to Kronstadt but was repelled by the fleet’s cannons. The people of St. Petersburg armed themselves against him. After losing support from the Senate, army, and fleet, Peter was arrested and abdicated on 9 July. He was transported to Ropsha, where he died under mysterious circumstances. Officially, he died from haemorrhoidal colic and a stroke, but assassination is suspected. Some accounts suggest suffocation attempts followed by strangulation. He was buried on 3 August 1762 in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Saint Petersburg.


  • Randomness

    Elvis, see question four.
    Image Daily Record.


    No date-related theme today, just five very random questions for you to ponder.

    One

    Johann Ludwig Burckhardt is best known for rediscovering two of the world’s best-known examples of rock-cut architecture in Jordan in 1812 and Egypt the following year. What are these examples of rock-cut architecture?


    Two

    ‘I can resist everything except temptation’ is a line from what play and who wrote it?


    Three

    What religious organisation was founded by Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Alba?


    Four

    Elvis Presley and the beginnings of Open Golf are both linked to what town?


    Five

    Who in 1762 succeeded Peter III, Emperor of Russia, and what relationship was the successor to Peter?


    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.


  • The Royal Guardsmen — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.
    All of today’s questions relate to the date, April 21st.

    Queen Elizabeth II, 1959.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was born on 21 April 1926. To the nearest year how long did she reign?

    Answer: 71 years.

    Elizabeth II, born on 21 April 1926, was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death in 2022 — 70 years and 214 days — the longest reign of any British monarch. She was queen regnant of 32 states and monarch of 15 at her death. Educated privately, she served in World War II and married Philip Mountbatten in 1947. Her reign saw significant political changes and historic visits. Despite challenges, her popularity remained high. She died at 96, succeeded by Charles III.


    Two

    On this day In 1918, the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s top World War I flying ace, was shot down and killed near Amiens, France. What act had a novelty song Snoopy vs. The Red Baron in the 1966 charts?

    Answer: The Royal Guardsmen.

    Snoopy vs. the Red Baron is a 1966 novelty song by The Royal Guardsmen, peaking at No.2 on the Hot 100 and No.1 in Australia and Canada. It sold nearly three million copies. The band released other Snoopy-themed songs, including The Return of the Red Baron and Snoopy’s Christmas.


    Three

    What was the musical Annie based on, and what type of work was it?

    Answer: Little Orphan Annie; Newspaper comic strip.

    Annie is a musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and a book by Thomas Meehan, based on the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie. It premiered in 1977, ran for nearly six years, won seven Tony Awards, and features popular songs like ‘Tomorrow‘ and ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life‘.


    Four

    Whose visit to a Caribbean Island nation in 1966 led to the annual celebration of April 21st as Grounation Day?

    Answer: Haile Selassie.

    In 1966, the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I, believed by many Rastas to be the Second Coming of Christ, arrived in Jamaica for a visit. This event is now celebrated annually in the Rastafari movement as Grounation Day, specifically on April 21.


    Five

    According to legend Rome was founded in what century?

    Answer: 8th Century BCE

    Ancient Rome, spanning from 753 BCE to 476 CE, evolved from a small Italic settlement into a dominant Mediterranean power. It encompassed the Roman Kingdom, Republic, and Empire, controlling vast territories including North Africa, Egypt, and much of Europe. At its peak in CE 117, it covered 5 million square kilometres with 50-90 million people. Rome’s influence on language, law, architecture, and governance persists, inspiring modern republics and achieving remarkable technological feats like aqueducts and roads. In Ancient Rome, its founding by Romulus was celebrated annually on April 21st.


    The Royal Guardsmen

    The post title had nothing to do with question one, but everything to do with question two.


  • The Royal Guardsmen

    All of today’s questions relate to the date, April 21st.

    Queen Elizabeth II, 1959.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was born on 21 April 1926. To the nearest year how long did she reign?


    Two

    On this day In 1918, the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s top World War I flying ace, was shot down and killed near Amiens, France. What act had a novelty song Snoopy vs. The Red Baron in the 1966 charts?


    Three

    What was the musical Annie based on, and what type of work was it?


    Four

    Whose visit to a Caribbean Island nation in 1966 led to the annual celebration of April 21st as Grounation Day?


    Five

    According to legend Rome was founded in what century?


    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.


  • Bits and Bobs — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    All of these questions are related to today’s date, April 19th. They also all start with the letter ‘B’.

    Brandenburg Gate, Berlin.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On 19 April 1999, in politics, what returned to Berlin for the first time in almost fifty years, and where had it returned from?

    Answers: Bundestag; Bonn.

    The first German Bundestag, the West German parliament, convened in Bonn on 7 September 1949. The Bundestag remained in Bonn until after reunification of Germany, when it returned to Berlin on 19 April 1999.


    Two

    In 1775, during the opening stages of a revolutionary war, a city was besieged for eleven months from April 19th. What city?

    Answer: Boston.

    The Siege of Boston (1775-1776) marked the start of the American Revolutionary War. American forces, led by George Washington, besieged the British Army in Boston, ultimately forcing their retreat to Nova Scotia after eleven months.


    Three

    Observed on April 19th, a celebratory day remembering an experiment where a chemist intentionally ingested LSD, documented it and then went home. What is the day called?

    Answer: Bicycle Day.

    On 19 April 1943, a few days after accidentally discovering LSD’s effects, which he believed had potential in psychiatry and neurology, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann intentionally ingested it and documented the first acid trip. After this experiment, he cycled home, leading to the observance of Bicycle Day, as Encyclopædia Britannica comments, ‘And now April 19 is observed as Bicycle Day—mostly by LSD enthusiasts, not cyclists’.


    Four

    A poet and playwright who died this day in 1824, first became a celebrity with the publication of the first two cantos of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage in 1812. Who is this poet?

    Answer: Byron.

    George Gordon Byron, a prominent British Romantic poet, is renowned for works like Don Juan and Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. He lived in Italy for seven years, befriending Percy Bysshe Shelley, and later joined the Greek War of Independence, becoming a folk hero before his death at 36. Byron, along with Shelley and Keats, was a major figure in the second generation of English Romantic writers and was a literary celebrity known for both his poetry and personality.


    Five

    IIn 2011, Fidel Castro resigned from Cuba’s Communist Party central committee. The following March, in his role as an elder statesman, Castro briefly met a visiting dignitary, the sixteenth of the name. Who was this dignitary?

    Answer: (Pope) Benedict XVI.

    On 19 April 2011, Castro resigned from the Communist Party central committee, thus stepping down as First Secretary. Raúl was selected as his successor. Now without any official role in the country’s government, he took on the role of an elder statesman. In late March 2012, Pope Benedict XVI visited Cuba for three days, during which time he briefly met with Castro despite the Pope’s vocal opposition to Cuba’s government.


    Bits and Bobs

    The title is simply another way of saying bits and pieces, an assortment. It was chosen as the title as all the answers begin with the letter B.


  • Bits and Bobs

    All of these questions are related to today’s date, April 19th. They also all start with the letter ‘B’.

    Brandenburg Gate, Berlin.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On 19 April 1999, in politics, what returned to Berlin for the first time in almost fifty years, and where had it returned from?


    Two

    In 1775, during the opening stages of a revolutionary war, a city was besieged for eleven months from April 19th. What city?


    Three

    Observed on April 19th, a celebratory day remembering an experiment where a chemist intentionally ingested LSD, documented it and then went home. What is the day called?


    Four

    A poet and playwright who died this day in 1824, first became a celebrity with the publication of the first two cantos of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage in 1812. Who is this poet?


    Five

    IIn 2011, Fidel Castro resigned from Cuba’s Communist Party central committee. The following March, in his role as an elder statesman, Castro briefly met a visiting dignitary, the sixteenth of the name. Who was this dignitary?


    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.