On July 25, 1984, Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya (pictured) made history as the first woman to walk in space. Is this statement true or false?
Two
Is it true or false that today, in 1866, in the United States, Brigadier General Bel Riose was promoted to General of the Army?
Three
Today in 1837, Walter Samson and Stewart Cuthbertson successfully demonstrated the first commercial use of an electrical telegraph; this demonstration took place in New York, US. Is this statement true or false?
Four
Is it true that Louise Joy Brown, the first human born after conception by in vitro fertilisation (IVF), was born in Greater Manchester, UK, on this day in 1978?
Five
On this date in 1909, Louis Blériot embarked on a historic flight from Le Touquet, France. This marked the inaugural crossing of the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft, with the landing occurring near Hastings, England. Is this true or false?
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Boeing 737-900. ‘Boeing 100 years strong’, Alaska Airlines. Image Wikipedia
One
On 15 July 1916, in Seattle, Washington, William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporated…
BoWes Aviation Company
Northwest Airplane Corporation
Pacific Aero Products Company
Answer: Pacific Aero Products Company
William E. Boeing, fascinated by airplanes after seeing one in 1909, bought a shipyard in 1910 and built his first airplane factory. After a crash damaged his Martin seaplane, he built his own, the ‘B&W’, with the help of George Conrad Westervelt and later Wong Tsu. Boeing incorporated his business as Pacific Aero Products Company in 1916 and changed the name to Boeing Airplane Company in 1917.
The Rosetta Stone was discovered on 15 July 1799. Where was it found?
Egypt
Greece
Rome
Answer: Egypt
In 1799, French soldiers in Napoleon’s army in Egypt discovered a stone with three inscriptions, including hieroglyphs and Greek, at Fort Julien near Rosetta. The Rosetta Stone, a granodiorite stele, contains a 196 BC decree in hieroglyphic, Demotic and Ancient Greek, aiding in deciphering Egyptian scripts.
Drawing of the Mount Bandai eruption by Yamamoto Hōsui, 1888. Image Wikipedia
Three
On 15 July 1888, Mount Bandai, a stratovolcano, erupted, resulting in an estimated 500 fatalities. Mount Bandai is located in which country?
Indonesia
Japan
Philippines
Answer: Japan
On 15 July 1888, Mount Bandai in the Iwashiro Province (now part of Fukushima Prefecture) in the Empire of Japan erupted. The eruption, preceded by earthquakes, caused pyroclastic flows that buried villages and devastated the eastern part of the Bandai region. The tragedy resulted in at least 477 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.
Mariner 4: Image No. 11, Mariner Crater. Image NASA
Four
On this day in 1964, a NASA space probe took the first close-up pictures of another planet and began transmitting them back to Earth the following day. What planet was photographed?
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Answer: Mars
Picture No. 11 of the Mariner sequence must surely rank as one of the most remarkable scientific photographs of this age. – ROBERT B. LEIGHTON. Mariner 4 Principal Investigator, Caltech, speaking at the White House. July 29, 1965
Mariner 4: Image No. 11, Mariner Crater (shown above) This photo clearly showed craters upon craters — and nothing else — a “scientifically startling fact,” according to the Mariner imaging team. They saw a desolate landscape that had scarcely changed in 2 to 5 billion years, an environment more like the lifeless Moon than any place on Earth. They called the revelation “profound,” not just for what it suggested about Mars’ past and present, but because it “further enhances the uniqueness of Earth within the solar system.” NASA
Monty Python members Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones performing The Spanish Inquisition sketch during the 2014 Python reunion. Image Wikipedia
Five
The Spanish Inquisition was officially disbanded on 15 July 1834. How many years had it been in operation?
241
298
356
Answer:
The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478 by the Catholic Monarchs, aimed to maintain Catholic orthodoxy and replace the Medieval Inquisition. It targeted heretics, particularly those who converted from Judaism and Islam, leading to forced conversions, torture, executions, and mass expulsions. The Inquisition, which lasted until 1834, expanded to other Spanish territories and targeted various offences, resulting in around 150,000 prosecutions and 3,000 to 5,000 executions.
On 15 July 1916, in Seattle, Washington, William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporated…
BoWes Aviation Company
Northwest Airplane Corporation
Pacific Aero Products Company
Two
The Rosetta Stone was discovered on 15 July 1799. Where was it found?
Egypt
Greece
Rome
Three
On 15 July 1888, Mount Bandai, a stratovolcano, erupted, resulting in an estimated 500 fatalities. Mount Bandai is located in which country?
Indonesia
Japan
Philippines
Four
On this day in 1964, a NASA space probe took the first close-up pictures of another planet and began transmitting them back to Earth the following day. What planet was photographed?
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Five
The Spanish Inquisition was officially disbanded on 15 July 1834. How many years had it been in operation?
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Live Aid, John F Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia. Image Wikipedia
One
The Live Aid concerts were held on Saturday, 13 July 1985 in the UK and the USA. In which two stadiums were these concerts held?
Answer: Wembley Stadium, London and John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia
Live Aid, a benefit concert for the Ethiopian famine, was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium and John F. Kennedy Stadium on 13 July 1985. The event, organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, was broadcast to an estimated 1.9 billion people in 150 nations.
British dirigible R.34 at Mineola, Long Island, N.Y. 6 July 1919. Image Wikipedia
Two
R.34 became the first aircraft to make a return transatlantic flight. What seven letter word best describes R.34?
Answer:
R.34, the first aircraft of any type to carry passengers across the Atlantic. Flying from RAF East Fortune in Scotland R.34 completed the first east-west aerial crossing in 108 hours, arriving in Mineola, Long Island on 6 July 1919. On arrival, and to assist the ground crew, Major E. M. Pritchard jumped by parachute and so became the first person to reach American soil by air from Europe. The return journey to RNAS Pulham took 75 hours.
Football used in the 1930 World Cup Final on display at the National Football Museum, Preston. Due to a dispute between the teams, two balls were used in the final, one in each half. This ball, chosen by the Uruguayan team, was used in the second half. Image Wikipedia
Three
Today, in 1930, the inaugural FIFA World Cup began in Uruguay. Thirteen teams participated in the competition. Can you name as many of the four European teams that took part?
Answer: Belgium, France, Romania and Yugoslavia
The 1930 FIFA World Cup, the inaugural tournament, was held in Uruguay to celebrate the country’s centenary and its Olympic football victory. Thirteen teams participated, with Uruguay defeating Argentina in the final to become the first World Cup champions.
On this day, Vice President George HW Bush became the Acting President for the day while the President was undergoing surgery. Who was the President?
Answer:
President Reagan temporarily transferred power to Vice President Bush for about eight hours while undergoing surgery. Reagan sent a letter to the President pro tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, transferring Presidential power to Bush. Reagan reclaimed his authority after the surgery, signing another letter in the presence of his chief of staff, counsel and surgeon.
Five
The Dartmouth workshop, widely considered as the first conference on artificial intelligence, was held during the summer of…
1956
1961
1965
Answer:
The Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence in 1956, organised by John McCarthy, is considered the founding of AI as a field. The workshop, which brought together experts in computing and cognitive science, hypothesised that machines could simulate human intelligence and learning. The term “AI” was coined during this conference.
The Live Aid concerts were held on Saturday, 13 July 1985 in the UK and the USA. In which two stadiums were these concerts held?
Two
R.34 became the first aircraft to make a return transatlantic flight. What seven letter word best describes R.34?
Three
Today, in 1930, the inaugural FIFA World Cup began in Uruguay. Thirteen teams participated in the competition. Can you name as many of the four European teams that took part?
Four
On this day, Vice President George HW Bush became the Acting President for the day while the President was undergoing surgery. Who was the President?
Five
The Dartmouth workshop, widely considered as the first conference on artificial intelligence, was held during the summer of…
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.
First public demonstration in Annonay, 4 June 1783. Image Wikipedia
On 4 June 1783, an uncrewed hot-air balloon was launched at Annonay in southeastern France. This marked the first public demonstration of the discovery that hot air in a large, lightweight bag rises. Who made this discovery and constructed and launched the balloon? Who made this discovery and constructed and launched the balloon?
Montgolfier Brothers—Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne, invented the hot air balloon and conducted the first untethered flights in 1783.
Transcontinental Express. Image Pinterest
On this day in 1876, the first Transcontinental Express arrived in San Francisco after travelling from New York. How long did the journey take?
83 hours and 39 minutes—On 4 June 1876, the Transcontinental Express, an express train, arrived in San Francisco, California, via the first transcontinental railroad. This remarkable feat was achieved in just 83 hours and 39 minutes, leaving New York City behind. The news of the Transcontinental Express’s arrival spread rapidly across the United States, captivating newspapers and sparking widespread excitement.
Ariane 5 flight VA-256 on the launch pad with the James Webb Space Telescope Image Wikipedia
Today in 1996, the maiden flight of the European Space Agencies Ariane 5 rocket ended in an explosion after 37 seconds. What was the cause of this incident?
Software bug—Ariane flight V88, the maiden flight of Ariane 5, failed due to software errors causing the rocket to veer off course and self-destruct. The failure, costing over US$370 million, is known as one of the most infamous software bugs in history.
Henry Ford sits in his first automobile, the Ford Quadricycle, in 1896. Image Wikipedia
In 1896, Henry Ford completed a successful test on his first gasoline-powered automobile. What did he call it?
Ford Quadricycle—in 1896, Henry Ford completed his first experimental automobile, the Quadricycle, in Detroit. This success led to his founding of the Ford Motor Company in 1903 and become one of the world’s richest men. The original Quadricycle is in The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Illustration of Humpty Dumpty by John Tenniel, from Through the Looking Glass, 1871. Image Wikipedia
On 4 June 1937, an American supermarket chain introduced one of the world’s first shopping carts. What was the supermarket chain?
Humpty Dumpty—Sylvan Goldman, owner of the Humpty Dumpty supermarket chain in Oklahoma. Inspired by a night of contemplation in his office in 1936, Goldman wondered how customers could move more groceries.
Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, June 4th.
Illustration from Through the Looking Glass. Image Wikipedia
On 4 June 1783, an uncrewed hot-air balloon was launched at Annonay in southeastern France. This marked the first public demonstration of the discovery that hot air in a large, lightweight bag rises. Who made this discovery and constructed and launched the balloon? Who made this discovery and constructed and launched the balloon?
Leclerc Bothers
Meirovitz Brothers
Montgolfier Brothers
On this day in 1876, the first Transcontinental Express arrived in San Francisco after travelling from New York. How long did the journey take?
67 hours and 54 minutes
75 hours and 22 minutes
83 hours and 39 minutes
Today in 1996, the maiden flight of the European Space Agencies Ariane 5 rocket ended in an explosion after 37 seconds. What was the cause of this incident?
Fuel leak
Lightning strike
Software bug
In 1896, Henry Ford completed a successful test on his first gasoline-powered automobile. What did he call it?
Ford Gasoline-Carriage
Ford Model A
Ford Quadricycle
On 4 June 1937, an American supermarket chain introduced one of the world’s first shopping carts. What was the supermarket chain?
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.
Founded in the 1990s, WestJet is the second-largest airline in which Commonwealth country?
Canada—WestJet, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, is Canada’s second-largest airline. It operates scheduled, charter and cargo air service to over 100 destinations across North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Central America. WestJet is not a member of any major airline alliances but utilises codeshare and interline agreements.
The first geological period of the Paleozoic Era has a Latin name connected to Wales. What is it?
Cambrian—The term Cambrian is derived from the Latin version of Cymru, the Welsh name for Wales, where rocks of this age were first studied. Adam Sedgwick named it in 1835. The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting 51.95 million years. It witnessed the Cambrian explosion, producing the first representatives of most modern animal phyla. The Cambrian is characterised by the assembly of Gondwana and the development of new plate boundaries.
Frontispiece, 1889 edition A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court Image Wikipedia
In Mark Twain’s novel, Hank Morgan is the titular Yankee. What word is missing from the title: A … Yankee in King Arthur’s Court?
Connecticut—A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is a satirical novel by Mark Twain. The story follows Hank Morgan, a Yankee engineer transported back in time to King Arthur’s court, where he uses his knowledge to modernise the past and challenge feudalism and monarchy.
Achilles. Image Wikipedia
Which of these was a mythical hero whom Thetis dressed as a girl and hid with King Lycomedes of Skyros?
Achilles—To protect Achilles from the war, Thetis hid him disguised as a princess at the court of Lycomedes. Odysseus, disguised as a pedlar, discovered Achilles’ true identity and convinced him to join the Greek campaign against Troy.
What animal is pictured at the top of this post?
Chinchilla—native to the Andes mountains in South America, are known for their dense fur and are related to viscachas and chinchilla rats. Historically hunted for their fur, most chinchillas today are farm-raised for the fur industry, while domestic chinchillas are sometimes kept as pets.
24 May 1840, saw the maiden journey of Peter Cooper’s Tom Thumb locomotive. On which of these did this take place?
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad—Tom Thumb, the first American-built steam locomotive, was designed by Peter Cooper in 1829 to demonstrate steam power to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Though it lost a race to a horse-drawn carriage, the demonstration convinced the railroad to adopt steam locomotives.
Lys Assia. Winner of the Inaugural Eurovision Song Contest, 1956. (Photo 1957) Image Wikipedia
Today in 1956, the first Eurovision Song Contest took place. Which of these cities hosted it?
Lugano, Switzerland—The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union. Participating countries submit original songs to be performed live and voted on by other countries, with the song receiving the most points declared the winner. The contest, inspired by the Sanremo Music Festival, has been held annually since 1956, making it the longest-running international music competition on television.
Queen Victoria. Image Wikipedia
Queen Victoria was born on 24 May 1819, when did she become Queen?
20 June 1837—Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901, oversaw significant industrial, political, and scientific changes in the United Kingdom and the expansion of the British Empire. After the death of her husband, Prince Albert, she withdrew from public life but later regained popularity, before dying at the age of 81.
Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., 28 August 1963. Image Wikipedia
Born this day in 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota, which singer-songwriter penned the lines “You don’t need a weatherman / To know which way the wind blows”?
Bob Dylan—These lines are found at the end of the second verse of Bob Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues (see lyrics quoted below), released in 1965 as a single and later on the album Bringing It All Back Home. It was Dylan’s first Top 40 hit in the US and is ranked 187th on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
John Wesley. Portrait by George Romney. Image National Portrait Gallery, London/Wikipedia
Aldersgate Day, 24 May, is observed by which of these faith groups?
Methodists—Methodism, founded by John Wesley and his brother Charles, originated as a movement within the Church of England in the 18th century, emphasising sanctification and the transformative power of faith. Known for its focus on evangelism, charity, social justice, and a rich musical tradition, Methodism has spread globally through missionary work, with about 80 million adherents. The Wesley brothers began the “Holy Club” at the University of Oxford, where they lived a disciplined religious life, earning the nickname “Methodist” for their systematic approach. In 1735, they traveled to America as ministers but returned to England feeling spiritually unfulfilled. Seeking guidance, John Wesley experienced a pivotal evangelical conversion at a Moravian service in Aldersgate on 24 May 1738, feeling his “heart strangely warmed” and gaining assurance of salvation through Christ. This experience, along with Charles’s similar conversion, marked a monumental moment in the history of Methodism, ensuring its lasting impact on church history.
Subterranean Homesick Blues
WRITTEN BY: BOB DYLAN
Johnny’s in the basement Mixing up the medicine I’m on the pavement Thinking about the government The man in the trench coat Badge out, laid off Says he’s got a bad cough Wants to get it paid off Look out kid It’s somethin’ you did God knows when But you’re doin’ it again You better duck down the alley way Lookin’ for a new friend The man in the coon-skin cap By the big pen Wants eleven dollar bills You only got ten
Maggie comes fleet foot Face full of black soot Talkin’ that the heat put Plants in the bed but The phone’s tapped anyway Maggie says that many say They must bust in early May Orders from the D.A. Look out kid Don’t matter what you did Walk on your tiptoes Don’t try “No-Doz” Better stay away from those That carry around a fire hose Keep a clean nose Watch the plain clothes You don’t need a weatherman To know which way the wind blows
Get sick, get well Hang around a ink well Ring bell, hard to tell If anything is goin’ to sell Try hard, get barred Get back, write braille Get jailed, jump bail Join the army, if you fail Look out kid You’re gonna get hit But users, cheaters Six-time losers Hang around the theaters Girl by the whirlpool Lookin’ for a new fool Don’t follow leaders Watch the parkin’ meters
Ah get born, keep warm Short pants, romance, learn to dance Get dressed, get blessed Try to be a success Please her, please him, buy gifts Don’t steal, don’t lift Twenty years of schoolin’ And they put you on the day shift Look out kid They keep it all hid Better jump down a manhole Light yourself a candle Don’t wear sandals Try to avoid the scandals Don’t wanna be a bum You better chew gum The pump don’t work ’Cause the vandals took the handles
