Masfon's Sixth Common Bond Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1874

The English novelist, short-story writer, and playwright endowed with a clear unadorned style and a great connoisseur of human nature was born in 1874. In the same year, the Italian physicist and inventor Guglielmo Marconi was born, whose work on the development of shortwave wireless was the foundation for modern radio broadcasting.

In that same year of 1874, the Universal Postal Union - UPU was established by the Treaty of Bern which was signed initially by 21 countries, in order to coordinate postal policy between the signatories. Currently, the UPU is a specialized agency of the United Nations.

Answer: 1965

The American Brooke Christa Shields (born in 1965), who began her career as a model at age 12, became known for her leading role in the film "Pretty Baby". By age 16, Shields was known as both an actress and a fashion model. Since then, she has had an extensive film and television career. The Canadian fashion model Linda Evangelista was also born in 1965 and began her modeling career at the age of 19. She is considered one of the most famous and influential models of her time. She has appeared on over 700 magazine covers and has chosen not to diversify her career into other ventures outside of modeling.

In the same year, 1965, when the world gained these two beauties, the world lost the American singer, jazz pianist, and actor Nathaniel Adams Coles known as Nat King Cole. His career started in the late 1930s and spanned almost 30 years, during which time he was very successful and recorded over 100 songs that became hits. He appeared in numerous films (the last one was "Cat Ballou") and participated in numerous television programs.

Answer: Romper suit

"Romper suit", "jumpsuit" or "onesie" are the name given to a type of one-piece cloth that is easy to put on and take off and that keeps the baby warm. In 1982, Gerber trademarked the name "onesies" referring to baby bodysuits but the name became a generic term, despite Gerber's attempts to protect the name. They are also a type of loose-fitting casual for adults, usually made of knit, fleece, or chenille. They were often worn with sleepwear but have gained popularity as streetwear. As nightwear, they are gaining ground because they are comfortable, warm and save heating costs.

These outfits were popular during World War II. Pilots who wanted to stay warm, in their open-air cockpits, started to use jumper suits and flight suits, many made of leather. Also, this one-piece outfit became popular and known as the "siren suit". When the air ride sirens sounded, people dressed up in their siren suits quickly over their clothes and went to the shelters.

Answer: Leonard

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), when young, only had contact with music through the radio. When he was 10, a piano was placed in his house and he started teaching himself piano and music theory. Although reluctant, his father ended up enduring his studies. He became a conductor, composer, pianist, author, music educator, and humanitarian. He is noted for his performance in both classical and popular music and is considered one of the most successful American musicians.

Leonard Simon Nimoy (1931-2015) became known worldwide playing, for almost 50 years, Spock in the "Star Trek" franchise. He also directed films including "Star Trek III" and "Star Trek IV" and appeared in television shows, films, and voice acted in video games. He was also a photographer, author, singer, songwriter, and film director.

Answer: TIME

"TIME" is an American news magazine, first published on March 3, 1923, and for nearly 100 years was published weekly. From March 2020, it started to be published every other week. "TIME" magazine's mission is to tell the most important current news, to bring up issues that have global importance, and information that allows the understanding of contemporary problems.

The cover of "TIME" magazine has been provocative, sometimes controversial, but always seeking to draw attention to a person, a group, an event, or an object of importance at the time. A special edition is the annual "Person of the Year" (formerly "Man of the Year") cover story, an occasion in which someone or something is recognized for having had the biggest impact, "for good or ill", on news over the previous 12 months.

Answer: Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch whiskey that has become an icon over its 200 years of existence. John Walker (1805-1857), his son Alexander (1837-1889), and his grandson managed to produce an even, quality blend. Alexander introduced the brand's signature square-sectioned bottle, which means fewer broken bottles and more bottles fitting in the same space.

The label is applied at an angle of 24 degrees upward from left to right allowing the text to be made larger. In 1909, as part of the rebranding, the "Striding Man" was introduced, a mascot used to the present day. For many years Johnnie Walker Red Label has been the best-selling whiskey in the world.

Answer: Received the Nobel Prize in Literature

The Sweden Selma Lagerlöf and Nadine Gordimer received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1858 - 1940) was a teacher and published her first novel, "Gösta Berling's Saga" (The Story of Gösta Berlinger) at the age of 33. In 1909, she was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature and the first woman to be granted membership to the Swedish Academy.

Nadine Gordimer (1923- 2014) was a South African novelist and short-story writer. Although born into a privileged white middle-class family her stories concern the devastating effects of apartheid on the lives of South Africans. Gordimer wrote numerous novels and short-story collections, which ended up winning her numerous honors and awards, including the Booker Prize in 1974 and Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991.

Answer: Black

"Black Dog" is the opening track on the Led Zeppelin rock band's Untitled Album (1971), de facto Led Zeppelin IV. In addition, the term "black dog" has long been linked to depression. In 65 B.C. the Roman poet Horace wrote about it. The black dog is also a supernatural, spectral, or demonic entity originating from English folklore.

It is a metaphor, as if depressed people have to fight to get a grumpy black dog off their backs. Some think the term would be inappropriate because it associates the color black with something bad. Some well-known figures used or still use this expression to refer to depression.

Answer: Cigars

Montecristo, Partagas, and Davidoff are famous cigar brands. A cigar is a roll of fermented tobacco leaves made to be smoked. They have various shapes and sizes. Almost all modern premium cigar makers are members of long-established cigar families.

As cigars were imported and very prohibitively expensive throughout the years, they were harder to get. This made it appealing for rich and powerful people to smoke them. They have been always associated with power, wealth, and as a symbol of status.

Answer: Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill, in full Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (question 4) was born in 1874 (question 1) and died in 1965 (question 2). He was a soldier, orator, writer, and statesman who, as British prime minister (1940-1945 and 1951-1955), helped unite his country and forged alliances that led the Allies to victory in World War II. As a leader, Churchill appeared on the cover of TIME magazine in the issue of Sep 30, 1940, and in 1940 and 1949 he was named "Man Of the Year" (question 5).

Best known as a statesman, Churchill was also a writer. He wrote around 20 books on different subjects and was awarded the 1953 Nobel Prize in Literature (question 7). Although known for his eloquence and vitality, Churchill had dark moods and depression during some periods of his life. His name for these moments was "Black Dog" (question 8).

Churchill had some habits which framed his iconic personality. He smoked an impressive amount of cigars, preferably Cuban cigars (question 9), his favorite brands being "Romeo y Julieta" and the now-defunct "La Aroma de Cuba". He drank a lot; mainly Hine brandy, preferably Pol Roger champagne, and his favorite brand of whiskey was "Johnnie Walker Red Label" Scotch (question 6). In his leisure hours and in many meetings Churchill regularly wore a "romper suit", "one-piece suit", or "onesie" (question 3).