October 2023 Flashcards
With an average of one-hundred-and-seventy-nine, which country has the world’s highest annual death-toll from tornadoes?
the people’s republic of BANGLADESH (accept gônoprojatontrī BANGLADESH, or গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ)
Becoming head of the Cumhuriyet Halk partisi (or “Republican People’s party”) and Ana Muhalefet lideri (or “Main Opposition leader”) in 2010 — when a sex-tape of the party’s re-establishing force and then-leader Deniz Baykal was leaked to the press — which politician attempted to defeat the incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the 2023 Turkish presidential election, held three months after Baykal’s death?
Kemal KILIÇDAROĞLU (accept Kemal KARABULUT)
What is the capital and largest village on the self-governing island country of Niue?
ALOFI
Although popularly-associated with Mary Quant, which French fashion-designer is thought to have invented the miniskirt?
André COURRÈGES
Which great-grandson of Hubert Parry — who was also the son and nephew of three of the Bright Young Things who inspired Evelyn Waugh’s ‘Vile Bodies’, and the grandson of a noted Irish baritone singer — was Mary Quant’s husband and business-partner between 1957 and his death in 1990?
Alexander PLUNKET GREENE
Founded in Melbourne by architects with the forenames “Karl” and “Nonda”, which firm designed the city’s tallest building — the Eureka tower — as well as the world’s second-tallest building, Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur?
FENDER KATSALIDIS
Which Italian city hosts the largest comics festival in Europe?
il comune di LUCCA
Which French city hosts the second-largest comics festival in Europe?
ANGOULÊME (accept ENGOULAEME, or ENGOLEIME)
Born in Leicester in 1990, the singer-songwriter Tor Maries became known under what stage-name in 2023?
“BILLY NOMATES”
Named for a 1972 song by Roxy Music — and responsible for albums such as ‘604’ and ‘Light & Magic’ — which Liverpool-based electropop band were described by Brian Eno as “the best of English pop-music”?
LADYTRON
Born in Fukuoka in 1978 and nicknamed “the empress of J-pop”, who is Japan’s best-selling solo artist — with her 2000 trilogy of hits ‘Vogue’, ‘Far Away’, and ‘Seasons’ reflecting her regret for previously failing to express herself lyrically?
Ayumi HAMASAKI (accept HAMASAKI Ayumi, or 浜崎あゆみ)
Which 1923 novel by Aldous Huxley takes its title from a line in Christopher Marlowe’s play ‘Edward II’?
‘ANTIC HAY’ (“My men, like satyrs grazing on the lawns / Shall with their goat-feet dance an antic hay”)
Dying of tuberculosis in Lausanne in 1936 — at the age of only thirty-six — what was the maiden name of Jawaharlal Nehru’s wife, and Indira Gandhi’s mother?
“Kamala KAUL”
After signing a ten-year contract with the Walt Disney company, which actor starred in the Troy-McClure-sounding films ‘The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes’, ‘Now You See Him, Now You Don’t’, and ‘The Strongest Man In The World’ — in all of which he played Dexter Riley?
Kurt Vogel RUSSELL
Who played the title-rôle of Cassian Andor in the Disney+ ‘Star Wars’ spin-off series ‘Andor’?
Diego Dionisio LUNA Alexander
Who played the title-rôle of Ahsoka Tano in the Disney+ ‘Star Wars’ spin-off series ‘Ahsoka’?
Rosario Isabel DAWSON
In 1912, near Trieste, Rainer Maria Rilke began writing his ‘The Duino Elegies’ at Duino castle — the home of which princess, to whom he dedicated the work?
MARIE von THURN UND TAXIS (accept MARIE zu HOHENLOHE-WALDENBURG-SCHILLINGSFÜRST)
Which 2023 book by Michael Lewis drew on his exclusive access to the FTX founder and CEO — and alleged fraudster — Sam Bankman-Fried?
‘GOING INFINITE: The Rise And Fall Of A New Tycoon’
Also known for his memoir ‘The Tender Bar’, which prolific ghostwriter co-wrote Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir ‘Spare’?
John Joseph MOEHRINGER (accept JR MOEHRINGER)
The 2023 album ‘Gasms’ — which is reportedly every bit as provocative as its title suggests — was the first album of all-new material in fourteen years by which singer?
Smokey ROBINSON (accept William ROBINSON, Jr.)
In 2023, who defeated her fellow Chinawoman Lei Tingjie to retain the women’s world chess championship?
JŪ Wénjūn (accept 居文君)
Causing a major diplomatic crisis between Canada and India in June, 2023, which Sikh separatist leader was murdered in the car-park of a temple in British Columbia?
Hardeep Singh NIJJAR
