Q.1096

Guest Question by 'Namra' | contribute questions

He showcased an exhibition of his works in the UK for the first time in September 2013. His works are inspired by the many crowds and terraces he has experienced throughout his life as a fan of the beautiful game and as the father of a superstar footballer. One of his most recent works pays testament to that - with a sea of paper dolls wearing red.

Who is this?

[+ Show Answer]

Bob van Persie, father of Manchester United player Robin van Persie. More here.

This day last year: Q.731

Q.1095

"Zinda Bhaag" is a 2013 Punjabi language film starring Naseeruddin Shah. After an announcement in September 2013, it joined two other films on a rather select list. The other two films are "Jago Hua Savera" (1959) and "Ghunghat" in 1963.

What list of films is this, which has seen such an addition after fifty years?

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Pakistan's nominees to the Best Foreigh Film category in the Academy Awards. More here.

This day last year: Q.730

Q.1094

Guest Question by Thinking Pipe | contribute questions

We know this woman as "Talisa Maegyr" from HBO's "Game of Thrones" series (this character has a significant presence in the 3rd season aired in 2012-13). However, she is not the only actor from her family.

Who was her more famous (maternal) grandfather?

(IZ hint: she was named "Oona" after her maternal grandmother.)

[+ Show Answer]

Charlie Chaplin. This lady is Oona Chaplin.

This day last year: Q.729

Q.1093

Guest Question by Arvind M. | contribute questions

X and Y, who have appeared in many films over the years, are slated to appear together in a non-animated movie for the first time (based on an announcement made in 2013). The director and producer of this 2015 movie are the director & producer respectively of the latest movie featuring X. The producer has also directed movies featuring Y. They never appear together in comics and in this movie, Y is portrayed as the nemesis of X. Name X and Y, and the director and producer.

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X- Superman, Y – Batman. The 2015 release is unnamed as of now, and will be directed by "Man of Steel" director Zack Snyder and is to be produced by the one and only Christopher Nolan. Christian Bale though, will not be reprising his role as the Dark Knight and Ben Affleck has been cast instead. More here.

This day last year: Q.728

Q.1092

Image: Flipkart

Who is the author of this book, which releases in October 2013? And what lexical jugglery has happened in the title here?

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Ramchandra Guha, the noted sociologist and historian. Previously, he's published a (terrific) book called India After Gandhi".

This day last year: Q.727

Q.1091

Guest Question by KnowQOut | contribute questions

"A History of Future Cities" is authored by Daniel Brook, exploring four cities of the world. The final chapter on Bombay concludes with the wealth inequality in the city.

The chapter's title "_____ and _____" breaks down the name of a 2008 Hollywood blockbuster to establish the distinction between the two classes. Name the movie or the chapter.

[+ Show Answer]

"Slumdogs and Millionaires". A review of the book here.

This day last year: Q.726

Q.1090

Guest Question by Mukund Marodia | contribute questions

It is the second largest of its kind in Russia after Domodedovo. Located in Moscow and opened on 11 August 1959, it is featured in films such as "Air Force One" and "The Bourne Supremacy", and the video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2". Zahra Kamalfar, an Iranian refugee had been a resident of it for ten months as also a former American employee of consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton who lived there for almost a month.

What is being talked about?

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Sheremetyevo Airport. Edward J. Snowden was its recent 'resident' (more on this here).

This day last year: Q.725

Q.1089

In September 2013, NASA announced the results of certain experiments and studies that have been analysing data for the last couple of years. The announcement confirmed that something had become the first man-made object to make it to inter-stellar space, even putting a date to it (Aug 25, 2012).

What object?

[+ Show Answer]

The Voyager 1 space probe that was launched in 1977.

This day last year: Q.724

Q.1088

Guest Question by Ashutosh Bapat | contribute questions

The Times of India, on 31st July 2013, published a newspaper article with the title:

"At 66, Mother India gets ready for her 29th baby"

What is the (yet-to-be-born) baby named?

[+ Show Answer]

The 29th Indian state of Telangana, though since then there hasn't been much said or done since.

This day last year: Q.723

Q.1087

The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) Program was instituted in the US in 1943. Members of the program came be to known as the "Monuments Men" and went on to have distinguished careers in the field of arts conservation. Robert Edsel wrote a book about them, which is now being turned into a film (releasing in 2013) by no less than George Clooney. Clooney will appear in the film along with the likes of Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, and Bill Murray.

What was the main aim of this program?

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To reclaim or help protect cultural artifacts (paintings, sculptures etc.) in war-torn areas (mainly in Europe) during World War II. Here's the Wikipedia article on the film, and a Harvard magazine article on the men.

This day last year: Q.722

Q.1086

Guest Question by Ramki | contribute questions

He is an Indian-American professor of Gujarati origin, whose two brothers have also made names for themselves in Indian legal and medicinal circles. In July 2013, Bibek Debroy listed seven reasons why he never won the Nobel Prize for economics adding that the man "has won a fictional Nobel in a 2010 episode of The Simpsons. I fear it will remain that way."

Who is this personality who, in mid-2013, waged a war of words with his contemporary from right across his native state?

[+ Show Answer]

Jagdish Bhagwati, who sparred with Amartya Sen (more on this). Here's the Debroy article.

This day last year: Q.721

Q.1085

Question Idea by B.V.Harish Kumar | contribute questions

The 2013 book "The Academy: Game On" is the first in a series of books about a girl who joins a sports academy on a scholarship. Since this is a book aimed at 'Young Adults', there is a healthy dose of romance and intrigue. The next book "The Academy: Love Match" is expected to be published in 2014.

Which former tennis star is the author of these books?

Image:Goodreads

[+ Show Answer]

Monica Seles. Here's an interview about the book.

This day last year: Q.720

Q.1084

Mark Carney trained as an economist and has spent time both in government and in financial companies. He became famous for having kept Canada out of the financial crisis of the last decade. He has now taken up a position across the pond, becoming the first non-Briton to hold a post that goes back over three hundred years. In some sense, expectations from his appointment mirror those of a similar appointment in India, also in 2013.

What post?

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The Governor of the Bank of England. You could say, for more reason than one, that he is their Raghuram Rajan. More about Carney.

This day last year: Q.719

Q.1083

Guest Question by Navin Rajaram | contribute questions

Amidst all the exuberance that has marked this destroyer of foes 'going critical', it is easy to forget that Monday, Aug 12, 2013 also marked the launch of a "bold/courageous one" that is twice the size of a football field, has enough power units to light up the entire city of Kochi and has enough cabling cover the distance between the city and Delhi.

Who are these two appropriately named entities?

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INS Arihant (destroyer of enemies) - India's first indigenously built nuclear submarine and INS Vikrant (bold one) - India's indigenously built aircraft carrier.

More here: INS Arihant, INS Vikrant.

This day last year: Q.718

Q.1082

20, Fenchurch Street is an under-construction skyscraper in London, intended for commercial purposes and to be completed by 2014, if all goes well. Its unusual shape has led to its popular nickname of "The Walkie Talkie".

In September 2013, it also acquired another name in the media: the 'fryscraper'. Why?

Image: Wikipedia

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Apparently, the concave shape of one of the sides is reflecting sunlight such that on a hot day, the reflection warped parts of vehicles parked in certain spots near it. Including that of a Jaguar. More here.

This day last year: Q.717

Q.1081

"That Was The Week That Was" was a popular and often controversial TV show on the BBC in the 60s. It was one of the pioneers of the 'satirical TV news' concept, making fun of politicians and other influential figures of its time.

The show brought long lasting fame to its presenter, who would often be lampooned himself. Seen in this poster, who is this?

Image: Wikipedia
[+ Show Answer]

Sir David Frost, the famed interviewer, who passed away in September 2013. The Guardian obit is here.

This day last year: Q.716

Q.1080

The inaugural edition of the Indian Badminton League was held in 2013, and was won by the Hyderabad Hotshots led by Saina Nehwal. The tournament followed a mixed format, similar to the Sudirman Cup, the premier team badminton tournament in the world.

Contests in the IBL, like the Sudirman Cup, consist of 5 matches between two teams. There was, however, one major difference from the Sudirman Cup format. What?

[+ Show Answer]

There was no women's doubles match (the format had two men's singles, a men's doubles, a women's singles, and a mixed doubles match). This also meant that marquee doubles players such as Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa saw their reserve price plummet.

This day last year: Q.715

Q.1079

Guest Question by V.K.Handa | contribute questions

A retired Justice of a State High Court is famous for important judgments such as the one regarding the abolition of carrying of night soil on head by "low caste persons". He was in the news in 2013 since he refused to take up an important Public Office in the state.

Identify the person and the Public Office.

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This is Justice R.A.Mehta, who did not accept the post of Gujarat Lokayukta because of the perceived damage to his credibility by the Gujarat government and possible non-cooperation from the government while performing his duties. More here.

This day last year: Q.714

Q.1078

Krystian Zimerman is a Polish pianist, regarded as one of the best in the world. As is often the case with such artists, he can be a little temperamental.

During a concert in June 2013, he stormed off the stage during a performance, later coming back and telling the audience why. He resumed the performance. His reasons were similar to that of the actor James McAvoy, who stopped while playing Macbeth on stage in April 2013.

So what was the problem?

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Zimerman (as did McAvoy) saw someone filming the performance and took objection to it. He then berated the uploading of such live performances on YouTube, citing lost income due to such actions. More details here.

This day last year: Q.713

Q.1077

To set in motion the events of this 2013 Hindi film and thus affect the lives of Sudeep and Ila, an organisation famed for its accuracy and efficiency must have committed one of its permitted 3.4-errors-in-a-million.

Which film is being alluded to here, which has received several rave reviews? And which organisation?

[+ Show Answer]

"The Lunchbox", in which the titular lunchbox is incorrectly delivered by its 'dabbawala'. The dabbawalas of Mumbai are famed for their accuracy despite the large number of boxes delivered, and have been said to meet Six Sigma standards (though I've never been able to find an authoritative source - don't let facts get in the way of a good story).

Here's a review of the film from Variety (if you don't mind a peek into the story).

This day last year: Q.712

Q.1076

Guest Question by Arvind M. | contribute questions

This award is an annual award and has been given out since 2008. Lionel Messi received the award for the 2012-13 season. This is the third time he has won it. Previous winners also include Wesley Sneijder and Cristiano Ronaldo. What award?

[+ Show Answer]

Goal.com's Goal 50 award, where they select the top 50 players of the previous season and award the person at the number one spot. More here.

This day last year: Q.711

Q.1075

"_____: Or The Two Lives" is a critically acclaimed biography of a Victorian era British Prime Minister published in 2013, and written by Douglas Hurd (a former British Foreign Secretary) and Edward Young.

Who is the subject of this book?

Image: The Guardian

[+ Show Answer]

Benjamin Disraeli. Here's a review of the book.

This day last year: Q.710

Q.1074

According to a version at the food recipes section of the BBC website, the recipe for this dessert is as follows:

Fans of this dish would have been bitterly disappointed after a secret decision (now revealed) taken in early 2013 dropped it like a hot potato, preferring a more commercial confectionery.

What is this all about?

[+ Show Answer]

This is the recipe to make a Key Lime Pie. In keeping with its code-naming policy, Google officially named its 4.4 version of Android after the Nestle Kit Kat bar after having earlier stated that "Key Lime Pie" would be the choice. More here.

This day last year: Q.709

Q.1073

A vIZual

Image: Manipur Update

[+ Show Answer]

This day last year: Q.708

Q.1072

Guest Question by Sudarshan Purohit | contribute questions

Japanese popular culture is demarcated along rather different lines from Western pop culture. For example, the genre of 'Giant Monster' movies, starting with Godzilla, has a very specific name. Apart from the twenty or so Godzilla sequels, it was also applied to serials like Giant Robot, and several Anime series. The label has been used for the J.J. Abrams production 'Cloverfield' as well.

What is this name, which found new popularity after a reference in a 2013 movie?

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'Kaiju', which strictly means 'Strange Creature', but is usually used for 'Monster'. In the 2013 movie "Pacific Rim", the monsters were called Kaijus. More here.

This day last year: Q.707

Q.1071

"13" is their latest album and appropriately released in 2013, in June. The album features tracks such as "God is Dead?" and "End of the Beginning".

The cover art for the album was a photograph of a sculpture by Spencer Jenkins, which was set on fire.

Which heavy metal band's album is this?

Image: Wikipedia

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Black Sabbath. Here's more on how the cover was shot.

This day last year: Q.706

Q.1070

In August 2013, Oxford Dictionaries blogged about the latest updates to its online dictionary. Many of the words were related to fashion and lifestyle, such as "geek chic", "double denims", and "chandelier earring". One such word, a portmanteau, is "jorts".

So if you were wearing a "jort", what two things would be on you?

[+ Show Answer]

"Jorts" = "Jeans" + "Shorts". Here is the full list.

This day last year: Q.705

Q.1069

Guest Question by W.P.Fey | contribute your questions

What is common to all of these announcements made in 2013:

• Twitter's new compressed tweet service, "Twttr"
• New Netflix categories such as "Movies That Are In English But Still Require Subtitles"
• The corporate history of "Uber", a San Francisco-based transportation company
• Virgin Airlines' Glass-Bottomed Plane
• The Shibasphere console from Toshiba
• Samsung Eco Trees described as "a smart, eco-friendly air purifier that runs on solar energy"
• The BMW Postnatal Royal Auto Mobile
• Underwater Basketweaving course from Coursera

[+ Show Answer]

These were all made on Fool's Day, 2013. More here from Techcrunch. And why is this post today? Because it's not a joke, ok?

This day last year: Q.704

Q.1068

In a special ceremony held in May 2013 at his house in Bandra, Mumbai, who is seen here receiving a prestigious award from Manish Tiwari, Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the Indian Government?

Image:Indiatimes

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Pran, the thespian who passed away in July 2013, won the Dadasaheb Phalke award. More here.

This day last year: Q.703

Q.1067

The World Games are a quadrennial, multi-sport event modeled on the likes of the Olympics. First held in 1981, the 2013 edition was held in Cali, Colombia in August. The events are divided into categories such as Ball Sports, Precision Sports, and Strength Sports etc. Italy topped the medals tally with 18 golds, while India picked up a gold medal via Aditya Mehta in snooker.

What is the primary criterion used to decide if a discipline qualifies to be included in the World Games?

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These Games are meant for disciplines that are not included in the Olympics. More at Wikipedia.

This day last year: Q.702