Who was the last person executed by guillotine?
On September 10, 1977, at Baumetes Prison in Marseille, France, Hamida Djandoubi, a Tunisian immigrant convicted of murder, becomes the last person executed by guillotine.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/September-10/the-guillotine-falls-silent (pehinhota)
1 answer
Today
by Thesuperyoshi
What city in Wisconsin is known for Sun Drop soda?
Shawano is the city in Wisconsin known for Sun Drop soda. It has been bottled by Twig's Beverage since 1951. However, Sun Drop was created in Missouri, but Twig's Beverage secured manufacturing and distribution rights for Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Shawano hosts the "Sundrop Dayz" festival, an annual festival dedicated to the soft drink. Visitors can tour the Twig's Sun Drop University Museum and bottling plant.
https://wisconsinlife.org/story/bottling-nostalgia-in-shawano/
https://www.packworld.com/trends/contract-packaging/article/22920261/twigs-beverage-blends-tradition-with-modern-efficiency
https://www.twigsbeverage.net/our-story (1nn1)
1 answer
Dec 29 25 by GBfan
Prior to 2025, what year was the last new element added to the Periodic Table?
The heaviest two - Tennessine and Oganesson - were both officially added to the table November 28, 2016.
If you wish to go by the date of the experiment that led to the discovery, Tennessine wins (2009).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_chemical_element_discoveries
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oganesson (WesleyCrusher)
1 answer
Today
by GBfan
4 answers
Dec 23 25 by gmackematix
Which Ohio city, place of a 1876 railroad disaster, is mentioned in the Bob Dylan song "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go"?
The city is Ashtabula. It sits at the mouth of the Ashtabula river on the banks of Lake Erie in Ashtabula County, Ohio. The train wreck occurred on December 29, 1876 when a railroad bridge which crossed the Ashtabula River collapsed with a passenger train on it. All but the locomotive fell into the river. Some people survived the fall but some died when the wooden cars caught fire from oil lanterns and coal-fired stoves in each car. About 92 people died.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtabula_River_railroad_disaster
In the song "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go," on Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" album he probably mentions Ashtabula because it is about the only city with a close-enough four-syllable rhyme to Honolulu:
"I'll look for you in old Honolulu
San Francisco or Ashtabula."
(CmdrK)
1 answer
Dec 29 25 by pehinhota
A group had a minor Christmas hit in 2010. It is about something that one street in their city historically had first, another street traditionally has first annually and another street traditionally has the most luxurious, based on themes such as the crown jewels or perfume bottles. What is the theme and why are all three linked to a festive colour?
Indeed, Christmas Lights by Coldplay reached no 13 in the UK and 25 on the Billboard charts, but did do better elsewhere in Europe (4 in Iceland, 3 in Finland, 2 in Italy and the Netherlands and hit no 1 in Hungary).
https://youtu.be/z1rYmzQ8C9Q?si=caIHpDYopwGu93vj
Regent Street were historically the first to have Christmas lights back in 1882, although they didn't become a regular full scale feature until 1954 after an article in the Daily Telegraph saying Central London was too dull in the winter.
https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?key=SXsiUCI6eyJ2YWx1ZSI6InRlZW5hZ2UgY2VsZWJyaXR5IHZrdmlkZW8iLCJvcGVyYXRvciI6MSwiZnV6enlQcmVmaXhMZW5ndGgiOjMsImZ1enp5TWluU2ltaWxhcml0eSI6MC43NSwibWF4U3VnZ2VzdGlvbnMiOjMsImFsd2F5c1N1Z2dlc3QiOmZhbHNlfSwiRiI6ImV5SjBJanBiTVYxOSJ9&pg=12&WINID=1767043828575#B68WKghYabIAAAGbbAT4bw/139169
Oxford Street, which is mentioned in the song, usually turns theirs on first. This year it was on November 3rd.
https://www.youneedtovisit.co.uk/christmas-lights-in-london/
Bond Street is known for the most luxurious Christmas displays, as seen here (coincidentally featuring a choir singing Coldplay):
https://youtu.be/v1PJogaIbjw?si=jXnn3kzl8S5kBZx-
These three streets (spelling ROB) make up the green properties on a standard UK Monopoly board.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_London_Monopoly_locations
(gmackematix)
2 answers
Dec 24 25 by gmackematix
3 answers
Dec 23 25 by gmackematix
How many British monarchs have abdicated?
Edward VIII was indeed a famous one, abdicating in 1936 after 325 days on the throne, choosing to marry someone that would not have been allowed by the Church of England he was meant to be the head of.
Beside Edward VIII, I found three examples from the UK:
Edward II in 1327, Richard II in 1399, and James II/VII in 1688
All were forced to abdicate under duress due to coups or an invading army.
Looking further afield, Dermot McMurrough abdicated from Leinster (a region of south-east Ireland) in 1169. And even further, there are dozens of examples of abdications in global history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_monarchs_who_abdicated (patrickk)
3 answers
Apr 16 03 by tom
2 answers
Dec 24 25 by gmackematix
4 answers
Dec 23 25 by gmackematix
What was the origin of tinsel?
Tinsel dates back to 1610 to a place in Nuremberg, Germany, where thin strands of real silver were used to decorate trees and reflect candlelight, as they would often put real candles in their trees (fire hazard!). Silver was not cheap so the use of tinsel was a sign of wealth.
However, silver tarnishes quickly, meaning it would lose its shiny appearance. other metals were tried such as copper and tin. These metals were also cheaper, so it meant that more people could use them, but in 1914, because of WWI, all copper was used in the war effort. A substitute was needed. Aluminium was used, but this caused fire scares. Lead was used, but that was toxic.
Contemporarily, tinsel is made from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, which is given extensive treatment to make it shiny.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/42313813 (1nn1)
1 answer
Dec 24 25 by odo5435
During the First World War, where did the first aerial bomb land on British soil?
On the morning of Christmas Eve, Dover, England, experienced the first-ever aerial bombing of Britain when a German biplane seaplane dropped a single bomb in a garden near St. James's Rectory, creating a crater and shattering windows. A gardener was also thrown out of a tree, more shocked than hurt. The target was believed to have been the Dover Castle military base.
The Germans had offered, about a week earlier, a prize for the first person to drop a bomb on the British. Up to that point, all bombs dropped had landed in the sea, however, Lieutenant Alfred von Prondzynski flying in a Friedrichshafen FF29 (carrying no armaments except for the lone bomb, amazingly, between his feet) managed to get his payload to Dover and claim the prize. The bomb was dropped by opening the window, tilting the plane, pulling the safety pin, and dropping it, hopefully hitting something important.
Interesting, this happened as the famous 'Christmas truce' was taking place on the Western Front of the war. Also, years later, the grandson of the bomber became the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland.
http://www.dover-kent.com/Dover-Society1/082/082%2028-30.pdf (LeoDaVinci)
1 answer
Dec 24 25 by pehinhota
3 answers
Dec 23 25 by gmackematix
3 answers
Dec 23 25 by gmackematix
Something unexpectedly falls on from the sky over Britain on a festive date, a festive first is broadcast from space and a film-spin off is first to win an award. Can you tell me the year that links these things, what they are and who did an out of tune recording of their most recorded song, just for the fans, in the same year?
You have the year and the first part did indeed refer to the Barwell meteor in Leicestershire. As the article points out, it was the size of a Christmas turkey and the man whose car was hit, was told by his insurance company that it was an "Act of God". He therefore angrily tried and failed to get the church to pay for his car.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barwell#Barwell_meteorite
The Gemini 6 broadcast can be heard here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_6A#A_Christmas_surprise
I'm guessing "A Charlie Brown Christmas" wouldn't have won any awards until the following year. No this is an object, modelled on something in a 1964 film, that was the first to win a particular award in January 1965. That answer is still up for grabs.
The Beatles, who also had their third UK Christmas number one with the double A side "Daytripper/We Can Work It Out", did indeed do an off-key version of "Yesterday" on the flexi-disc they gave to their fans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles%27_Christmas_records#1965:_The_Beatles_Third_Christmas_Record
(gmackematix)
4 answers
Dec 23 25 by gmackematix
Something unexpectedly falls on from the sky over Britain on a festive date, a festive first is broadcast from space and a film-spin off is first to win an award. Can you tell me the year that links these things, what they are and who did an out of tune recording of their most recorded song, just for the fans, in the same year?
Everything you're referring to happened in 1965 (I think).
On December 24, 1965, the largest meteorite fall thus far in British history occurred. Fragments of the space rock shattered as they entered the atmosphere, raining down on the village. One fragment famously crashed through a car hood, while another landed in a local resident's flowerbed. It was memorable because it was Christmas Eve, as people were expecting presents to rain down from the sky instead. They may have been on the naughty list.
On December 16, 1965, during the Gemini 6A mission, astronauts Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford played a prank on Mission Control. They claimed to see a UFO, implying that it may be Santa Claus, before playing a rendition of "Jingle Bells" on a smuggled Hohner Little Lady harmonica and a set of small bells. Thomas Stafford later flew in Apollo 10, and the command module was named "Charlie Brown"... see the next connection.
Originally aired on December 9, 1965, the "Peanuts" special "A Charlie Brown Christmas" became the first animated TV special to win both an Emmy Award (for Outstanding Children's Program) and a Peabody Award. This unprecedented success spawned many more Christmas specials that many television programs reaped money over since then.
Finally, The Beatles recorded their third annual Christmas record, which was mailed on flexi-disc to members of their fan club. On this recording, they performed an out-of-tune and comical version of "Yesterday" deliberately. This is particularly significant because "Yesterday" is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most covered song in the history of popular music, and this added one more to their count. Does a self-cover count as a cover? (Answer - of course)
References: A whole lot of Wikipedia. Google helped too. (LeoDaVinci)
4 answers
Dec 23 25 by gmackematix
What is a Tour Card in darts, and why can you lose it simply by losing any match?
According to this site, you can't lose a Tour Card for just one loss. It looks like you lose it when your ranking is outside the top 64 at the end of the season (in January each year after the World Championship ends) and your two years have expired. [quote]The Professional Darts Corporation has 128 Tour Card Holders each year. The top 64 each year following the World Championship hold a one-year Tour Card, alongside players entering their second year of a two-year Tour Card. In addition, players from Qualifying School plus the top two players from the previous year's Challenge Tour and Development Tour Orders of Merit have a two-year Tour Card.[/quote] https://www.pdc.tv/TourCardHolders
(gtho4)
2 answers
Dec 18 25 by Thesuperyoshi
What is a Tour Card in darts, and why can you lose it simply by losing any match?
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) grants a Tour Card every year to 128 darts players, which allows them to compete in all PDC ProTour tournaments, those being all Players Championships and European Tours (or qualifiers to the later events in case the player has not automatically qualified). Additionally, holding a PDC Tour Card offers further benefits such as automatic qualifications for the UK Open or participation in the qualifying rounds for the World Darts Championship, Grand Slam and World Masters, among others.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_players_with_a_2025_PDC_Tour_Card (pehinhota)
2 answers
Dec 18 25 by Thesuperyoshi
What determines the physical properties of elements, such as density and melting points? And is there any variances between isotopes of the same element?
The physical properties are all setup by the atomic structure. For instance, the number of protons and neutrons but also specifically their electrons and their placements (the number of outer shell electrons really makes a difference).
And yes, there are, usually slight, variances between isotopes of the same element. This is due to the change in neutrons from the base element, so that their overall structure is mostly the same, but their mass is different which plays a role in the physical properties.
https://www.ck12.org/flexi/physical-science/Chemical-Properties-and-Chemical-Reactions/what-determines-an-atom%27s-chemical-and-physical-properties/
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/chemistry/why-isotopes-have-different-physical-properties/ (maripp2002)
1 answer
Dec 17 25 by SixShutouts66
1 answer
Dec 17 25 by BullsGold
2 answers
Dec 11 25 by chabenao1
An object is used to get at a branded project launched in 2016 that shares its colloquial name with something first won in 1893. What links all three objects with a famous fictional military know-it-all?
If you mean a branded "product," you're probably cluing to the Stanley cup. The company Stanley (which has been making drinkware almost as long as hockey's trophy has been around) first sold the Quencher in 2016, a big steel vessel with a plastic lid and a straw. In 2020 it went viral on TikTok (and was dubbed the "Stanley cup"); some limited edition Quenchers have sold for over $500.
"Stanley Cup" happens to be the name of the National Hockey League's top prize, first awarded in 1893 to the Montreal Hockey Club. That trophy is named for the British politician Lord Stanley of Preston. By tradition, the team that wins the Stanley Cup is expected to drink champagne from its bowl.
If "An object is used to get at..." clues to a third object, you might be speaking of a Stanley knife, a.k.a. a box cutter. Stanley knives are made by Stanley Black & Decker, no relation to the Quencher-mongers.
As for the know-it-all, you're probably thinking of Major-General Stanley, the very model of a modern major-general.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlTisI_HSgw (etymonlego)
2 answers
Dec 09 25 by gmackematix
2 answers
Dec 09 25 by gmackematix
What is unusual about the Haskell Free Library and Opera House?
It might unusual for a library and opera house to share the same building. The library is on the first floor and the opera house is on the second and third floors. But the Haskell Free Library and Opera House is built on the US/Canadian border in Vermont and Quebec!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskell_Free_Library_and_Opera_House (serpa)
1 answer
Dec 11 25 by Thesuperyoshi
Athletics: The javelin men's WR is 10 meters longer than the hammer WR. The hammer women's WR is 10 meters longer than the javelin. Any explanation?
In both cases, the men's throw uses a heavier object than the women's, but the ratio is very different:
Men's hammer is 7.62 kilograms, while the women's is 4 kg, a ratio of 1.9 to 1.
Men's javelin is 800 grams while the women's is 600, a ratio of 1.33 to 1.
(Edit:) Or, if we compare the objects by gender, the men's hammer is 9.5 times the weight of their javelin, while the women's is only 6.67 times as heavy.
Thus, the women's weight lineup favors the hammer while the men's favors the javelin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javelin_throw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer_throw
(WesleyCrusher)
2 answers
Dec 11 25 by chabenao1
1 answer
Dec 10 25 by apathy100
1 answer
Dec 09 25 by pehinhota
In Jewish culture, who is considered a Zera Yisrael?
The term refers to someone who is genetically descended from Jewish people but isn't Jewish according to religious criteria. Often, this is when the person's mother isn't Jewish.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zera_Yisrael (TriviaFan22)
1 answer
Dec 08 25 by Thesuperyoshi
1 answer
Dec 07 25 by serpa
1 answer
Dec 05 25 by gmackematix
Can insects sneeze?
Fleas and bees don't sneeze, nor do any insects. Even if they had nasal passages, they don't breathe through lungs. Insects allow air to circulate through their body by a system of internal tubes, called tracheal trunks, and spiracles, openings that connect the tracheae to the air. On top of that, arachnids, which do have lungs, don't control them via the kinds of muscles that convulse to cause a sneeze.
To answer the broader question, "What is an insect-like thing that does a sneezing-like thing?", a satisfying answer is the Sally Lightfoot crab (Graspus graspus). These crabs let excess fluid shoot out from openings near their eyes so that they can breathe while buried in sand. It looks like either spitting or sneezing depending on who you ask. (etymonlego)
1 answer
Dec 03 25 by Creedy
1 answer
Dec 03 25 by Thesuperyoshi
1 answer
Dec 02 25 by pehinhota
1 answer
Dec 02 25 by gmackematix
Will a ten-pin bowling ball sink or float in water?
The balls vary in weight from 8 to 16 pounds but all must be of the same dimension, which means their specific density varies. As demonstrated at https://stevespangler.com/experiments/floating-and-sinking-bowling-balls/, those that weigh less than 12 pounds will float, while those heavier than 12 pounds will sink. (sportsherald)
2 answers
Dec 02 25 by ozzz2002
Will a ten-pin bowling ball sink or float in water?
I think it might depend on what material it's made/how it's made but It'll float!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iWCEMV8Cf9s
There was a fun taskmaster Australia episode where they had to sink one, and it's difficult specifically because it floats. (maripp2002)
2 answers
Dec 02 25 by ozzz2002
Which player still holds the record for most goals in a single game for FC Barcelona (nine goals in each of three games)?
Joan Gamper scored nine goals for the Azulgrana on three occasions:
- Franco-Espanyol 0-13 FC Barcelona in the Copa Macaya on 10 February 1901.
- Tarragona 0-18 FC Barcelona, Copa Macaya (17 March 1901).
- FC Barcelona 13-0 Club X, in the Copa Barcelona (1 February 1903).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Gamper
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FC_Barcelona_records_and_statistics#Top_goalscorers
https://web.archive.org/web/20181002011935/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/card/fc-barcelona-individual-records (wellenbrecher)
1 answer
Nov 29 25 by pehinhota
In the hot rod world, what is the difference between a fueler and a gasser?
A fueler or fuel dragster runs on nitromethane or mixture of nitromethane and methanol. This fuel is used on extremely high-powered, long-wheelbase machines built specifically for drag racing.
A gasser runs on gasoline (petrol). This drag-racing class was popular in the 1950s through the early '70s but are no longer a major competition class of the National Hot Rod Association. Unlike purpose-built fuelers, gassers are mostly modified production cars, often older coupes and sedans, such as Willys, Tri-Five Chevys, Ford Anglias, etc. They have high front ends and straight axles which are far less safe at high speeds than low-ended fuelers which use nothing like a conventional car's suspension. (gracious1)
2 answers
Nov 27 25 by xchasbox
2 answers
Nov 27 25 by xchasbox
In the television industry, what does "watershed" mean?
It's the boundary time at which broadcasting standards change from general public ratings to programs more suitable for adult content. That time of day varies by location, but is usually from around 8 pm to 11pm after which children are presumably no longer watching.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watershed_(broadcasting) (Walneto)
1 answer
Nov 27 25 by Thesuperyoshi
Post a New Question
