Tag: UK

“Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.” | Answers

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

George III of Great Britain.
Image Google Art Project/Wikipedia
  1. The American colonies gained independence during the reign of which British king?
    • George III—George III’s reign (1760–1820) saw the British Empire expand during the Seven Years’ War but shrink with the loss of the American colonies. The Napoleonic Wars solidified Britain’s position as a European power.
      Charles De Gaulle, 1942.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. Who was the Chairman of the French National Committee from June 1940 until June 1944 during World War II?
    • Charles De Gaulle—Charles de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II. He later founded the Fifth Republic, served as its first President, and pursued a policy of “national independence” that included withdrawing from NATO and developing an independent nuclear force. De Gaulle also advocated for a Europe of sovereign nations and opposed US intervention in Vietnam.
      Ptolemaic Kingdom in the 3rd–2nd centuries BCE.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. The Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Ancient Egypt from 305 BC until 30 BC. Where served as the Ptolemy’s capital city?
    • Alexandria—Alexandria had been founded by Alexander the Great. After Alexander’s death, Ptolemy Lagides took control of Egypt, executed Cleomenes, and declared himself Pharaoh in 305 BC, moving the capital to Alexandria.
      Leif Erikson, modern statue, Duluth.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. A Norse chieftain is thought to have been the first European to set foot on continental America, who is he?
    • Leif Erikson—Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer, is believed to have been the first European to reach continental America, establishing a settlement in Vinland (possibly Newfoundland, Canada). He later became chief of the Greenland settlement after his father’s death.
      John Bellingham.
      Image Wikipedia
      Charles J. Guiteau.
      Image Wikipedia
      Nathuram Godse.
      Image India Today
  5. Arrange these three assassins in chronological order based on the date of their infamous assassinations (earliest first).
    • John Bellingham (1812), Charles Julius Guiteau (1881) and Nathuram Vinayak Godse (1948)—
      • Bellingham assassinated Spencer Perceval, a British statesman and barrister who served as Prime Minister from 1809 until his assassination in 1812. He is the only British prime minister to have been assassinated.
      • Guiteau assassinated James Garfield, the 20th US president, who served from March to his death in September 1881. Garfield had a diverse background, having served as a preacher, lawyer, Civil War general, and nine terms in the House of Representatives.
      • Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian lawyer and anti-colonial nationalist, in 1948. Gandhi led India’s independence movement through nonviolent resistance and championed civil rights, religious pluralism, and self-sufficiency, inspiring global movements. Godse, a Hindu nationalist, opposed Gandhi’s support for Muslims and shot him.
Spencer Percival.
Image Wikipedia
James A. Garfield.
Image Wikipedia
Mahatma Gandhi.
Image Wikipedia

“Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.”

Groucho Marx.
Publicity portrait, 1947.
Image Wikipedia

Today’s post title, a quote by Groucho Marx, is only slightly relevant to these questions about leaders and rulers.

  1. The American colonies gained independence during the reign of which British king?
    • George I
    • George II
    • George III
  2. Who was the Chairman of the French National Committee from June 1940 until June 1944 during World War II?
    • Charles De Gaulle
    • Félix Gouin
    • Philippe Pétain
  3. The Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Ancient Egypt from 305 BC until 30 BC. Where served as the Ptolemy’s capital city?
    • Alexandria
    • Memphis
    • Thebes
  4. A Norse chieftain is thought to have been the first European to set foot on continental America, who is he?
    • Leif Erikson
    • Erik Thorvaldsson
    • Thorstein Eiriksson
  5. Arrange these three assassins in chronological order based on the date of their infamous assassinations (earliest first).
    • Charles Julius Guiteau
    • John Bellingham
    • Nathuram Godse

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

From Paris to Kashyyyk | Answers

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

First distribution of the Legion of Honor crosses at the church of Les Invalides on July 14, 1804.
Jean-Baptiste Debret, Ca. 1812
Image Wikipedia
  1. The Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), France’s highest order of merit, was established on May 19. Who was responsible for its establishment?
    • Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802—The National Order of the Legion of Honour, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is France’s highest national order of merit, applicable to both military and civil achievements. It is open to all citizens and foreigners, regardless of birth, religion, or rank, and has been maintained by all French governments with minor changes. The order consists of five classes and is led by the President of France as Grand Master. Its insignia includes the head of the Republic and the motto Honour and Country.
      Sam Smith, 2015.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. Born on 19 May 1992, the singer-songwriter of the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre is…
    • Sam Smith—Samuel Smith, an English singer and songwriter, rose to prominence in 2012 with a feature on Disclosure’s Latch. Smith’s song Writing’s on the Wall became the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, earning Smith a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
      Map of North America.
      Guillaume Sanson, Rome, 1687.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. On 19 May 1845, British explorer John Franklin set out in command of two ships, the Erebus and Terror, on an ill-fated expedition to find what?
    • Northwest Passage—The Northwest Passage (NWP) is a sea lane connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Ocean. It passes near the northern coast of North America, traversing waterways within the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. Franklin’s search for the Northwest Passage began on May 19, 1845, with two ships, the Erebus and the Terror, carrying 128 men. Last seen in July 1845, their fate remained unknown until 1859 when a search found skeletons and a written account on King William Island. The ships wintered at Beechey Island in 1845-46 and became trapped in ice in Victoria Strait in September 1846. By April 1848, Franklin and 23 others had died, and the remaining 105 survivors deserted the ships, resorting to cannibalism. Postmortems suggested botulism, scurvy and lead poisoning contributed to their decline. In 2014, the Erebus was discovered off King William Island, and in 2016, the Terror was found in Terror Bay, well-preserved and suggesting the crew had prepared for winter before leaving.
      St George’s Chapel, Windsor. St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
      The Nave is dominated by this Great West Window, often claimed to be the third largest in the UK. The chapel dates from 1475 and is built in the richest Perpendicular Gothic style. The whole building is Cathedral size, at over 315ft (96m) in length.
      Image Jack Pease/Wikipedia
  4. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding took place on May 19, 2018, in the UK. Where did they get married?
    • St George’s Chapel—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married on 19 May 2018 in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The ceremony, officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, included elements of African-American culture.
      Peter Mayhew, 2015.
      Image Wikipedia
  5. Born on 19 May 1944, this actor was chosen by George Lucas to play a being from the planet Kashyyyk. Who is he?
    • Peter Mayhew—Peter Mayhew, a British-American actor, is best known for portraying Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series from 1977 to 2015. Born on 19 May 1944 in Barnes, Surrey, Mayhew was diagnosed with gigantism at the age of eight and later developed Marfan syndrome. This genetic tissue disorder caused his peak height to reach 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m). He was cast as Chewbacca by director George Lucas, who sought a tall actor for the role. He modelled his performance on observing animals at London Zoo and continued working as a hospital orderly during filming.
Chewbacca.
Image Star Wars Universe

From Paris to Kashyyyk

Here are a few questions related to today’s date, May 19th.

Legion of Honour (Légion d’honneur).
Image Wikipedia
  1. The Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), France’s highest order of merit, was established on May 19. Who was responsible for its establishment?
    • Louis XV in 1745
    • Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802
    • Charles de Gaulle in 1945
  2. Born on 19 May 1992, the singer-songwriter of the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre is…
    • Adele
    • Billie Eilish
    • Sam Smith
  3. On 19 May 1845, British explorer John Franklin set out in command of two ships, the Erebus and Terror, on an ill-fated expedition to find what?
    • Northeast Passage
    • Northwest Passage
    • Southeast Passage
  4. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding took place on May 19, 2018, in the UK. Where did they get married?
    • St George’s Chapel
    • St Paul’s Cathedral
    • Westminster Abbey
  5. Born on 19 May 1944, this actor was chosen by George Lucas to play a character from the planet Kashyyyk. Who is he?
    • Anthony Daniels
    • David Prowse
    • Peter Mayhew

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Main St. to Westminster Abbey via the North Pole | Answers

Exile on Main St. Rolling Stones.
Image Pinterest.
  1. Exile on Main St., a double album was released on 12 May 1972 by…
    • Rolling Stones—Exile on Main St. is the Rolling Stones’ tenth studio album, released in 1972. The album, recorded in France and Los Angeles, features a mix of blues, rock and roll, swing, country and gospel influences. It is considered a pivotal hard rock album and is often regarded as the Rolling Stones’ best work.
      Norge airship.
      Image Wikipedia
  1. The first verified flight over the North Pole took place on this date in 1926. The flight was made in a…
    • Semirigid airship—The Norge, an Italian-built airship, completed the first verified flight to the North Pole on 12 May 1926. The expedition, led by Roald Amundsen and funded by Lincoln Ellsworth, was the first to fly over the polar ice cap between Europe and America.
      Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
      Portrait by Richard Stone
      Image Wikipedia
  2. On 12 May 1937, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were crowned. George had been king since December 1936, following his brother Edward VIII’s abdication. Prior to Edward’s abdication, the new king and queen were known by what titles?
    • Duke and Duchess of York—George VI, born Albert, and titled Duke of York, became king after his brother Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson.. He led the UK through World War II, symbolising British determination. He died in 1952, his daughter becoming Queen Elizabeth II. His widowed consort, now styled Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, lived for a further 50 years.
      During the Berlin Airlift in 1948, U.S., British, and French planes delivered food and other goods to Berlin, which was blockaded by Soviet forces. In this photo, German children stand on a hillside and watch a U.S. plane fly overhead.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. On this day in 1949, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade of…
    • Berlin—The Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin in 1948–49, cutting off all land and water access. The Western Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, supplying West Berlin by air for nearly a year until the Soviets lifted the blockade.
      Florence Nightingale, an angel of mercy. Crimean War: Florence Nightingale with her candle making the night round of the wards at Scutari hospital.
      Coloured mezzotint, c. 1855, by Tomkins after Butterworth.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. Three English people are listed, but one was born while her parents were on an extended honeymoon in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Can you identify which one?
    • Florence Nightingale, nurse and social reformer—Florence Nightingale, an English social reformer and statistician, revolutionised modern nursing. During the Crimean War, she led a team of nurses in Scutari, Turkey, improving hospital conditions and reducing mortality rates. Her dedication, known as the “Lady with the Lamp,” earned her international acclaim and led to the establishment of the first scientifically based nursing schools.
Mission of Mercy: Florence Nightingale receiving the Wounded at Scutari.
(Jerry Barrett, 1857)
Image National Portrait Gallery, London/Wikipedia https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Nightingale_receiving_the_Wounded_at_Scutari_by_Jerry_BarrettFXD.jpg

Main St. to Westminster Abbey via the North Pole

George VI and Elizabeth, coronation portrait.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Exile on Main Street, a double album, was released on 12 May 1972 by…
    • Bob Dylan
    • Chicago
    • Rolling Stones
  1. The first verified flight over the North Pole took place on this date in 1926. The flight was made in a…
    • Fokker bi-plane
    • Hot air Balloon
    • Semirigid airship
  2. On 12 May 1937, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were crowned. George had been king since December 1936, following his brother Edward VIII’s abdication. Prior to Edward’s abdication, the new king and queen were known by what titles?
    • Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
    • Duke and Duchess of Sussex
    • Duke and Duchess of York
  3. On this day in 1949, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade of…
    • Baghdad
    • Baku
    • Berlin
  4. Of the three English people listed one was born while their parents were on an extended honeymoon in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Can you identify which one?
    • Edward Lear, poet and illustrator
    • Florence Nightingale, nurse and social reformer
    • Dante Gabriel Rossetti, poet and painter

Legs 11 | Answers

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

Statue of Constantine the Great in the Capitoline museums.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Where, on 11 May 330, was dedicated as the “New Rome”? Byzantium—Constantine the Great renamed Byzantium as “New Rome” in 330 CE, later changing it to Constantinople. The city, founded in 657 BCE, was officially renamed Istanbul in the 20th century.
    Rhinoceros. Salvador Dali.
    Image Wikipedia
  2. Which Spanish artist born today in 1904, at Figueras, Spain, also died there in 1989? Salvador Dali—Salvador Dalí was a Spanish surrealist artist known for his technical skill and striking, bizarre images. He joined the Surrealist group in 1929 and achieved commercial success in the United States in the 1940s. Dalí’s work influenced Surrealism, pop art and contemporary artists.
    Entrance to the German death camp Auschwitz I in Poland. The sign “Arbeit macht frei” translates as “Work makes you free”.
    Image Wikipedia
  3. Former senior Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was captured by Israeli intelligence agents on 11 May 1960. Near what capital city was he captured? Buenos Aires, Argentina—Otto Adolf Eichmann, a German-Austrian Nazi official, was a key organiser of the Holocaust. He participated in the Wannsee Conference, where the Final Solution was planned, and oversaw the mass deportation of Jews to extermination camps. After the war, he escaped to Argentina but was captured by Mossad in 1960 and tried in Israel, where he was convicted and executed.
    Gary Kasparov vs Deep Blue, IBM Computer
    Encyclopædia Britannica
  4. On this day in 1997, Garry Kasparov was defeated in the final game of a six-game chess match. Which computer defeated him? Deep Blue—Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer, was the first to defeat a reigning world champion under regular time controls. It first played Garry Kasparov in 1996, losing the match, but won a rematch in 1997.
    Gordon Brown.
    Image Wikipedia
  5. 11 May 2010, saw the resignation of which British prime minister? Gordon Brown—James Gordon Brown, a British politician, served as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. Prior to this, he was Chancellor of the Exchequer under Tony Blair, overseeing significant economic reforms and the longest period of economic growth in British history. After leaving office, Brown continued to serve as an MP and later became a UN Special Envoy and WHO Ambassador.

Legs 11

Here are some questions related to today, 11 May.

Adolf Eichmann.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Where, on 11 May 330, was dedicated as the “New Rome”?
    • Avignon
    • Byzantium
    • Cordoba
  1. Which Spanish artist born today in 1904, at Figueras, Spain, also died there in 1989?
    • Salvador Dali
    • Francisco Goya
    • Pablo Picasso
  2. Former senior Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was captured by Israeli intelligence agents on 11 May 1960. Near what capital city was he captured?
    • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Brasilia, Brazil
    • Santiago, Chile
  3. On this day in 1997, Garry Kasparov was defeated in the final game of a six-game chess match. Which computer defeated him?
    • Deep Blue
    • Deep Mind
    • Deep Thought
  4. 11 May 2010, saw the resignation of which British prime minister?
    • Gordon Brown
    • David Cameron
    • Tony Blair

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Miscellany | Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier today. The answers are shown in bold below.

Bikini Atoll.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Bikini Atoll is in which island group?
    • Marshall Islands—Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands was used by the United States for atomic bomb testing from 1946 to 1958, contaminating the atoll and forcing the relocation of its 166 native inhabitants. Despite cleanup efforts, radiation levels remain too high for resettlement, though tourism is permitted.
      Bluetooth logo
      Image Wikipedia
  2. Which king is credited with the unification of Denmark?
    • Harald Bluetooth—ruled Denmark from c. 958 to c. 986, during which time he unified the various tribes, introduced Christianity and consolidated his power. His rule in Norway was brief, likely lasting only a few years in the 970s. The Bluetooth wireless specification would unite devices and so was named after Harald, who united the tribes of Denmark. The Bluetooth logo incorporates his initials, H and B, in Younger Futhark bind runes.
  3. The word “Pundit” comes from which language where it means “learned man”?
    • Sanskrit—A pundit is an expert who offers authoritative opinions on a particular subject area, typically through the mass media. The term originates from the Sanskrit word “pandit,” meaning “learned man,” and has historical roots in India, referring to scholars and advisors to the king.
      One of Princess Anne’s Reliant Scimitar GTE’s— she had eight apparently!
      Classicyorkshire.co.uk
  4. A Scimitar GTE sports car was given to Princess Anne by her parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as a 20th birthday present in 1970. Which British car manufacturer launched this model in 1968?
    • Reliant—a British company commonly known for their three-wheeled Robin produced this sports car from 1964 to 1986, during which time it evolved from a coupe to a sports estate and convertible. It featured a fibreglass body on a steel chassis and Ford engines. The Reliant Scimitar SE5, a sports estate hatchback, was designed in under a year and featured a new chassis, suspension, and fuel system. It was powered by a 3.0-litre Ford Essex engine and could reach over 120 mph. The SE5 was a success, with 4,311 units produced, and Princess Anne received one as a birthday present and reportedly owned eight or nine in total.
      Pipe-weed.
      Image lots.fandom.com
  5. Two of these are real plants and one fictional, what is the fictional one?
    • Pipe-weed—is a fictional strain of tobacco from JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth, with varieties such as Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby, Southern Star and Southlinch. In contrast, Polecat weed, also known as Symplocarpus foetidus or skunk cabbage, is a real low-growing plant found in eastern North American wetlands, characterised by its bruised leaves that emit a skunk-like odour. Additionally, Colic weed encompasses species like Aletris, Corydalis flavula and Dicentra.
Merry and Pippin smoking pipe-weed.
Image Pinterest

Miscellany

Here are some questions with no link to anything other than general miscellany.

Scimitar GTE.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Bikini Atoll is in which island group?
    • Marshall Islands
    • Solomon Islands
    • Wallis and Futuna Islands
  2. Which king is credited with the unification of Denmark?
    • Harald Greycloak
    • Harald Bluetooth
    • Sweyn Forkbeard
  3. The word “Pundit” comes from which language where it means “learned man”?
    • Mesopotamian
    • Egyptian
    • Sanskrit
  4. A Scimitar GTE sports car was given to Princess Anne by her parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as a 20th birthday present in 1970. Which British car manufacturer had launched this model in 1968 ?
    • Jaguar
    • Lotus
    • Reliant
  5. Two of these are real plants and one fictional, what is the fictional one?
    • Pipe-weed
    • Colic weed
    • Polecat weed

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.