O Canada: The True North Strong and Free


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On this date in 1880, ” O Canada ” was performed for the first time.

Here are some things you may not have known about the Canadian national anthem.

First: The lyrics were originally written in French to celebrate Saint Jean-Baptiste Day. A version in English was written in 1906, with more-popular lyrics written in 1908. The current lyrics were adopted in 1980, when the song was officially named Canada’s national anthem.

Several songs vied with “O Canada” for the right to be the national anthem. “Chant National” was frequently used by Francophones, while “God Save the Queen” and “The Maple Leaf Forever” were used by English speakers.

As with the American “Star Spangled Banner, “O Canada” has several additional and rarely-sung verses.

Our question: What year did Canada become completely free of entanglements with the British Parliament?

Today is Youth Day in Ukraine and Army Day in Venezuela.

It’s unofficially International Fairy Day, National Pralines Day, and Take Your Dog to Work Day.

It’s the birthday of writer Ambrose Bierce, who was born in 1842; actress and writer Mindy Kaling, who is 37 today; and soccer star Lionel Messi, who turns 29.

Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1977, the top song in the U.S. was “Got to Give It Up” by Marvin Gaye.

The No. 1 movie was “The Deep,” while the novel “The Thorn Birds” by Colleen McCullough topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Now for our weekly take-home test: Peter Sellers was supposed to play four roles in “Dr. Strangelove.” Who replaced him in one of those roles?

The answer is Slim Pickens, who played the role of Major T.J. “King” Kong, the pilot of the B-52.

Our first correct answer was submitted by Jim Cardillo.


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