On which of the Great Lakes did the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sink with the loss of her entire crew in 1975?
Lake Michigan
Lake Ontario
Lake Superior
Two
This Eurasian woodland plant, Allium uranium, with broad shiny leaves and round heads of flowers, producing a strong aroma of garlic is also called wild garlic. What is it?
Larsons
Ramsons
Tamsons
Three
What letter(s) is the symbol which represents the element tungsten?
T
Gs
W
Four
Who, on a sixties album, released a version of the Christmas carol Silent Night with a simulated 7 O’clock News, which featured events from the preceding summer, being read over it?
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Joni Mitchell
Simon & Garfunkel
Five
In which Scottish body of water was the German High Seas Fleet scuttled in June 1919?
Born in 1952, Douglas Adams is known for writing a ’trilogy in five parts’. One of these parts mentions creatures in its title. What creatures?
Answer: Fish
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish (1984) is the fourth part in that well-known trilogy, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. This instalment’s title refers to a message left by the dolphins when they departed planet Earth just before it was demolished in the building of a hyperspace bypass.
Two
In what city was media mogul Rupert Murdoch born in 1931?
Answer: Melbourne.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Rupert Murdoch, an Australian-American media mogul, built a global media empire through News Corp, owning newspapers, book publishers, and television channels like Fox News and Sky News. His influence and wealth have been significant, leading to accusations of right-wing bias and political influence. In 2023, Murdoch announced his retirement as chairman of Fox Corp and News Corp.
Born in 1898, Miss Gish, pictured on the right with her sister, who both became major movie stars during the silent era. What were the sisters’ names?
Answers: Dorothy and Lillian Gish
Dorothy Gish, an American stage and screen actress, was a major movie star of the silent era alongside her sister Lillian. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Dorothy made her stage debut at age four and later, with Lillian, was introduced to director D.W. Griffith by Mary Pickford.
Four
In 1995, Russian athlete Yolanda Chen, appearing at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona, Spain, set a new world indoor record of 15.03 metres and won the gold medal. In what event was Ms Chen competing?
Answer: Triple jump.
Yolanda Chen, a retired Russian athlete, specialised in long jump and later triple jump—hop, skip and jump—achieving a personal best of 14.97 metres in 1993. She won gold at the World Indoor Championships in 1995 with a world indoor record of 15.03 metres.
Five
The Daily Courant was Britain’s first national daily newspaper. In what decade was it published?
Answer: 1700s.
Elizabeth Mallet founded Britain’s first daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, on 11 March 1702, at her premises near the King’s Arms tavern at Fleet Bridge, London. Despite her pioneering efforts, Mallet received little recognition and sold the paper after just 40 days. The single-page newspaper, with advertisements on the reverse, featured only foreign news, as Mallet believed her readers could reflect for themselves. She sold The Daily Courant to Samuel Buckley, who later became the publisher of The Spectator. The Daily Courant continued until 1735, when it merged with the Daily Gazetteer.
Stage Struck
The post is named after the 1917 American silent drama film starring Dorothy Gish (see question three). A copy survives in the Library of Congress.
Born in 1898, Miss Gish, pictured on the right with her sister, who both became major movie stars during the silent era. What were the sisters’ names?
Four
In 1995, Russian athlete Yolanda Chen, appearing at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona, Spain, set a new world indoor record of 15.03 metres and won the gold medal. In what event was Ms Chen competing?
Five
The Daily Courant was Britain’s first national daily newspaper. In what decade was it published?
2005, a pilot became the first person to complete a solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the globe without refuelling. The pilot took off from and landed back at one of the several Salinas in the United States. Who was the pilot and specifically from which Salina did he depart and return?
Answers: Steve Fossett; Salina, Kansas.
In 2005, pilot Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo around the world without stopping or refuelling. He piloted the specially designed GlobalFlyer, equipped with 13 fuel tanks and a 7-foot cockpit. Taking off from Salina, Kansas, on February 28, he successfully completed the journey and returned to Salina approximately 67 hours later on March 3.
Two
Born in Navsari, Gujarat, India in 1839, an Indian industrialist who founded Jamshedpur, established the Taj Mahal Hotel and developed businesses in cotton, steel and hydroelectric power amongst others. Who was he?
Answer: Jamsetji Tata.
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, an Indian industrialist and philanthropist, founded the Tata Group and the city of Jamshedpur. He established key institutions such as the Taj Mahal Hotel, Tata Steel, and Tata Power, significantly impacting India’s industrial and social landscape. Tata was also a prominent philanthropist, establishing the J.N. Tata Endowment and supporting the Indian Institute of Science.
Three
Born in 1962, which athlete set a world record of 7,148 points in the heptathlon?
Answer: Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, born in 1962, is a retired American athlete who excelled in the heptathlon and long jump. She won three Olympic gold medals in the heptathlon and one in the long jump, setting world records in both events. In July 1986, she set a world record of 7,148 points in the heptathlon. Beyond her athletic achievements, Joyner-Kersee is known for her philanthropic work, including founding the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation and co-founding Athletes for Hope.
Four
Born in 1968, this physicist and television science presenter who is known for his work on the ATLAS experiment at CERN, played keyboards in live appearances with D:Ream. Who is This?
Answer: Brian Cox.
Brian Cox is an English physicist and musician, known for his work on the ATLAS experiment at CERN and his role as a presenter of science programmes for the BBC. He has co-authored several popular science books and continues to perform music sporadically. Cox’s career spans from being a keyboard player for bands like Dare and D:Ream to becoming a professor of particle physics at the University of Manchester.
Five
Decommissioned on this day in 1980, a U.S. nuclear submarine made history by sailing under the Arctic ice pack and the North Pole in 1958.
What was the name of the submarine?
What was the operational name for the submerged Arctic transit?
The submarine had a namesake from an 1870s novel; what was the novel’s English title?
Who was the author of the novel?
Answers
USS Nautilus
Operations Sunshine
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Jules Verne
A Greek derivative meaning sailor or ship; a tropical mollusk having a many chambered, spiral shell with a pearly interior; and the namesake of Jules Verne’s submersible in his novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. — Navy History and Heritage Command
2005, a pilot became the first person to complete a solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the globe without refuelling. The pilot took off from and landed back at one of the several Salinas in the United States. Who was the pilot and specifically from which Salina did he depart and return?
Two
Born in Navsari, Gujarat, India in 1839, an Indian industrialist who founded Jamshedpur, established the Taj Mahal Hotel and developed businesses in cotton, steel and hydroelectric power amongst others. Who was he?
Three
Born in 1962, which athlete set a world record of 7,148 points in the heptathlon?
Four
Born in 1968, this physicist and television science presenter who is known for his work on the ATLAS experiment at CERN, played keyboards in live appearances with D:Ream. Who is This?
Five
Decommissioned on this day in 1980, a U.S. nuclear submarine made history by sailing under the Arctic ice pack and the North Pole in 1958.
What was the name of the submarine?
What was the operational name for the submerged Arctic transit?
The submarine had a namesake from an 1870s novel; what was the novel’s English title?
On this date sometime during the 20th century, the country which is currently represented by the flag above gained independence. Which decade did this independence occur in, and from what empire was independence gained?
Answers: 1920s; British Empire
Egypt, a de facto independent state under Ottoman rule, became a British protectorate in 1914. Despite the 1919 revolution and subsequent negotiations, British control persisted, leading to dissatisfaction, partial independence in 1922 and the ‘reserved points’ clause in the 1923 Egyptian constitution.
Two
In 1983 the final episode of M*A*S*H aired. Who was the only actor to appear in every single episode and what character did they play?
Answer: Alan Alda; Captain Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce.
An American television comedy drama series, aired on CBS for 11 seasons (1972–83), a total of 256 episodes. The show, set during the Korean War, followed the medical staff at a mobile army surgical hospital and received critical acclaim, winning 14 Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. Despite cast changes, the series maintained its continuity through strong performances and writing, with a unique use of multiple plot lines and an antiwar message.
Three
Olaf Palme, a globally recognised politician, was assassinated in 1986. At the time of his death he was prime minister of which country?
Answer: Sweden.
Olof Palme, a Swedish Social Democratic leader, served as Prime Minister twice and was known for his pacifist stance and criticism of U.S. war policy. He was assassinated in 1986, and the case remained unsolved until 2020 when Stig Engström, who died in 2000, was identified as the likely perpetrator although this is widely disputed with many believing the true identity of his assassin is still unknown.
Four
In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI resigned. How many years to the nearest hundred had elapsed since a previous pope had resigned?
Answer: 600 years
Pope Gregory XII had resigned in 1415, 598 years before Benedict. Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, led the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013. A renowned theologian, he was appointed Pope after John Paul II’s death. During his papacy, he faced challenges such as declining church attendance and the sexual abuse scandal, for which he received criticism. He also advocated for traditional Catholic values and opposed condom use. Benedict resigned in 2013, citing health issues.
Five
Before filming Goldfinger, in which Bond would have to play golf, Sean Connery received golf lessons from which former golf professional and television golf commentator who was born on this day?
Answer: Peter Alliss
Born this day in 1931, Peter Alliss, an English golfer and broadcaster, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012. He won 20 professional tournaments, including three British PGA Championships, and played on eight Ryder Cup teams. Alliss worked for the BBC, ESPN and ABC Sports, and designed over 70 golf courses, including The Belfry, contributing significantly to golf course architecture. He received numerous honours, such as honorary degrees and the Golf Foundation’s ‘Spirit of Golf award’. Before the filming of Goldfinger, Alliss gave Sean Connery golf lessons, which sparked Connery’s lifelong love for the sport.
Post Title
‘Through early morning fog I see’ is the first line from the theme to M*A*S*H, Suicide is Painless, the lyrics are at AZ Lyrics.
On this date sometime during the 20th century, the country which is currently represented by the flag above gained independence. Which decade did this independence occur in, and from what empire was independence gained?
Two
In 1983 the final episode of M*A*S*H aired. Who was the only actor to appear in every single episode and what character did they play?
Three
Olaf Palme, a globally recognised politician, was assassinated in 1986. At the time of his death he was prime minister of which country?
Four
In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI resigned. How many years to the nearest hundred had elapsed since a previous pope had resigned?
Five
Before filming Goldfinger, in which Bond would have to play golf, Sean Connery received golf lessons from which former golf professional and television golf commentator who was born on this day?
Port Jackson, also known as Sydney Harbour, is a natural harbour in an inlet of the Tasman Sea—a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean. It is home to landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge and a hub for recreational events and is managed by Transport for NSW, with parts protected by Sydney Harbour National Park.
Two
In December 2000, Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married at Skibo Castle. In what country is Skibo Castle?
Answer: Scotland (or either Great Britain or U.K.)
Rocco, Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s four-month-old son, was christened in December 2000 at Dornoch Cathedral in Scotland. The couple then married the following day at nearby Skibo Castle.
Three
At a restaurant, an Ameglian Major Cow approached a table and introduced itself as the ‘Dish of the Day’. It then proceeded to describe its body parts, suggesting to the diners which parts they might enjoy eating. In which restaurant and in which book series did this take place?
Answers: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
A large dairy animal approached Zaphod Beeblebrox’s table, a large fat meaty quadruped of the bovine type with large watery eyes, small horns and what might almost have been an ingratiating smile on its lips.
‘Good evening,’ it lowed and sat back heavily on its haunches, ‘I am the main Dish of the Day. May I interest you in parts of my body?’ It harrumphed and gurgled a bit, wriggled its hind quarters into a more comfortable position and gazed peacefully at them. — Excerpt from ‘The Restaurant at the End of the Universe’ Chapter 17 Page 273, The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Terry Pratchett
Four
William E. Carter was the owner of a 1912 Renault motor car. In what 1997 film was a replica of his car used as the setting for a love scene?
Answer: Titanic
Carter, an American millionaire, purchased the Renault Type CB Coupé de Ville and arranged to transport it on the RMS Titanic. Carter survived the sinking but no trace of his car has been found. In the 1997 film Titanic a replica of the car was used for Jack and Rose’s love scene in the ship’s hold.
Five
What martial art has a Japanese name literally meaning, ‘way of adapting the spirit’?
Answer: Aikido
Aikido, a Japanese martial art, emphasises mental calm and control to subdue attackers using twisting and throwing techniques. Originating in the 14th century, it was modernised by Ueshiba Morihei in the early 20th century and later adapted for competition by Tomiki Kenji.
In December 2000, Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married at Skibo Castle. In what country is Skibo Castle?
Three
At a restaurant, an Ameglian Major Cow approached a table and introduced itself as the ‘Dish of the Day’. It then proceeded to describe its body parts, suggesting to the diners which parts they might enjoy eating. In which restaurant and in which book series did this take place?
Four
William E. Carter was the owner of a 1912 Renault motor car. In what 1997 film was a replica of his car used as the setting for a love scene?
Five
What martial art has a Japanese name literally meaning, ‘way of adapting the spirit’?
These questions all relate to today, February 24th.
Photograph of President Johnson, by Mathew Brady, circa 1870. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
Born in North Carolina in 1808, Andrew Johnson became the seventeenth president of the United States. Already notable as the first president to take office after an assassination and the first to be impeached, he achieved another unique milestone in 1875 — one no other president has matched. What was it?
Answer: He was elected to the US Senate.
Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, assumed office after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. His lenient Reconstruction policies led to his impeachment by the Radical Republicans in Congress, though he was acquitted. A self-taught man who rose from poverty, Johnson was a skilled orator and a staunch advocate for states’ rights and the Constitution. Following his presidency, he was elected in 1875 to the Senate, representing Tennessee, although he served only a short time before his death later that year. To date, he is the only president to have entered the Senate after his presidential term.
Two
On this day, two earthquakes struck with a maximum Mercalli intensities of VIII (Severe) and IX (Violent). The 1981 Gulf of Corinth earthquake affected the central region of a country while the 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake impacted the northern areas of another. Which two countries were affected?
Answers: Greece and Morocco.
In early 1981, the eastern part of the Gulf of Corinth in Greece experienced three earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 6 Ms over 11 days and maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), causing widespread damage in the Corinth–Athens area. Nearly 8,000 houses were destroyed, and 20–22 people lost their lives. On 24 February 2004, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco’s Al Hoceïma Province at 03:27 CET, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The epicentre was located about 13 km south-southwest of Al Hoceima. The earthquake resulted in 631 deaths, 926 injuries, and the destruction of over 2,500 homes, primarily in villages within the Rif Mountains.
Three
In men’s singles tennis, what Australian defeated Pete Sampras to win the 2001 U.S. Open, his first Grand Slam title, and ten months later overcame David Nalbandian on the All-England Club’s grass courts to win the 2002 Wimbledon tournament?
Answer: Lleyton Hewitt.
Lleyton Hewitt, born in 1981 in Adelaide, Australia, is a retired professional tennis player known for his court speed and determination. He won the U.S. Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002, becoming the youngest man to finish a year at number one in the ATP rankings. Despite injuries, he returned to compete in doubles events after retiring in 2016.
Four
Born in 1955, this future billionaire acquired a controlling interest in Pixar in 1986. He played a key role in transforming it into a major animation studio, ultimately leading to the creation of the first fully computer-animated feature film Toy Story in 1995. Later, he sold the company to Disney in 2006. Who is this future billionaire?
Answer: Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs, a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer era, co-founded Apple Inc. in 1976 and oversaw the launch of revolutionary products like the iPod and iPhone. Despite battling pancreatic cancer, he remained a visionary leader until his death in 2011.
Five
In which modern country was Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, and Archduke of Austria, born in 1500?
Answer: Belgium
Born in Prinsenhof, Ghent, Flanders (now Belgium), Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, and Archduke of Austria, inherited a vast empire spanning Europe and the Americas at a young age. Throughout his reign, he faced significant challenges, including defending against Protestantism, Ottoman and French pressure, and papal hostility. Despite his efforts, he eventually conceded the Peace of Augsburg and abdicated in favour of his son and brother.
