General Trivia Questions #2,593-2,598

Question 2,593: Entertainment & Food -- Short-Term Bond

What was the only James Bond movie starring George Lazenby?

a) Diamonds Are Forever
b) From Russia with Love
c) On Her Majesty's Secret Service
d) You Only Live Twice

Question 2,594: History & Government -- Presidential Parachute

Which former U.S. President went skydiving at age 75?

a) George Bush
b) Gerald Ford
c) Richard Nixon
d) Ronald Reagan

Question 2,595: Math & Science -- Lava Land

What type of rock, created from hardened lava, formed the Hawaiian Islands?

a) Basalt
b) Granite
c) Limestone
d) Quartz

Question 2,596: Geography & Nature -- Hispaniola's Halves

What country in the West Indies shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic?

a) Bahamas
b) Cuba
c) Haiti
d) Jamaica

Question 2,597: Literature & Arts -- Musing Ahead & Using Your Head

Who pondered The Road Ahead and advocated Business at the Speed of Thought?

a) Andy Grove
b) Bill Gates
c) Larry Ellison
d) Steve Jobs

Question 2,598: Sports & Games -- Bunch of Bowls

Which NFL team has appeared in the most Super Bowls?

a) Dallas Cowboys
b) Denver Broncos
c) Pittsburgh Steelers
d) San Francisco 49ers

Sport Courts - Random Trivia Answers

Length by Width	Sport	Notes
1. 44.0 feet by 17.0 feet	A. Badminton (singles)	A doubles court is three feet wider.
2. 50.0 feet by 20.0 feet	J. Paddle tennis	The century-old game is essentially a miniature version of tennis.
3. 52.5 feet by 26.3 feet	B. Beach volleyball	Until 2002, the 2-on-2 sand version of the sport used the same size court as the 6-on-6 game.
4. 60.0 feet by 30.0 feet	E. Indoor volleyball	The infomercial sport beach tennis shares the old beach volleyball's court dimensions.
5. 78.0 feet by 27.0 feet	L. Tennis (singles)	A doubles court is nine feet wider.
6. 84.0 feet by 50.0 feet	H. NCAA basketball	The lane is also smaller and the 3-point line closer than the professional game's, although the 3-point line is being moved back from 19'9" to 20'9" for the 2008-09 season.
7. 85.3 feet by 45.9 feet	D. FIBA basketball	The international game features a trapezoidal lane to help prevent the big men from clogging it up.
8. 94.0 feet by 50.0 feet	G. NBA basketball	In North America, the pro court has a 3-point line that varies from 22'6" on the baseline to 23'9" straight out from the basket.
9. 330.0 feet by 180.0 feet	F. Lacrosse	The field extends 45 feet behind each goal.
10. 360.0 feet by 160.0 feet	I. NFL	Each endzone is 30 feet deep.
11. 450.0 feet by 195.0 feet	C. Canadian football	Each endzone is 60 feet deep.
12. 295.3 feet by 147.6 feet to 393.7 feet by 295.3 feet	K. Soccer	The larger end of the dimensions provide for the largest rectangular playing field used in any major sport.

Another interesting informercial sport that I could have included is speedminton (advertised by Maria Sharapova), but the standard court dimensions are a bit different: two 18 foot by 18 foot squares separated by 42 feet. By normal measurements, that would total 78 feet by 18 feet, intentionally exactly half the width of a doubles tennis court.

Sport Courts - Random Trivia Questions

Playing a sort of mini-tennis on a badminton net today, I thought the court looked pretty small until I actually tried to get to a ball in the back corner. Quick tennis players and hulking NBA players seem to make their respective courts look small, but they cover some serious ground. Can you match the following twelve sports to the dimensions of their rectangular courts and fields?

[Note: some of this information appeared about a year ago in this blog in a different format, so if you've been reading that long, you would have an edge except that I made an error, which I will be kind enough to correct *after* this quiz.]

Sport Courts Questions

Length and Width	Sport
1. 44.0 feet by 17.0 feet	A. Badminton (singles)
2. 50.0 feet by 20.0 feet	B. Beach volleyball
3. 52.5 feet by 26.3 feet	C. Canadian football
4. 60.0 feet by 30.0 feet	D. FIBA basketball
5. 78.0 feet by 27.0 feet	E. Indoor volleyball
6. 84.0 feet by 50.0 feet	F. Lacrosse
7. 85.3 feet by 45.9 feet	G. NBA basketball
8. 94.0 feet by 50.0 feet	H. NCAA basketball
9. 330.0 feet by 180.0 feet	I. NFL
10. 360.0 feet by 160.0 feet	J. Paddle tennis
11. 450.0 feet by 195.0 feet	K. Soccer
12. 295.3 feet by 147.6 feet to 393.7 feet by 295.3 feet	L. Tennis (singles)

Able to Acquire an Auto -- Quiz Quilt 85 Solution

Category Answers:

Entertainment & Food	RIVERDALE	The title character's full name is Archibald Andrews.
Literature & Arts	COLERIDGE	Samuel Taylor Coleridge's addiction was so bad that he lived the last two decades of his life in the home of physician James Gillman.
History & Government	BONO	Cher's former husband and singing partner Sonny Bono crashed into a tree at Heavenly Ski Resort on the California-Nevada border.
Geography & Nature	DAFFODIL	The flower is in the genus Narcissus, which is named for the mythological Greek character who fell in love with his own reflection in the water.
Sports & Games	AFL	The American Football League grew to ten teams before merging with the NFL a decade later.
Math & Science	ARPA	The Advanced Research Projects Agency had joined four universities into the ARPANET by December. UCLA was the first, followed by Stanford, UCSB, and Utah.

Quiz Quilt Answer: AFFORD (Diagonally going up)

The dealers hope that with a car loan you can afford a Ford.

Able to Acquire an Auto -- Quiz Quilt 85 Puzzle

Category Questions:

Entertainment & Food	What is the home town in the Archie comics?
Literature & Arts	What English poet wrote "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan" while under the influence of opium?
History & Government	What former entertainer and mayor of Palm Springs, California died in a skiing accident in 1998?
Geography & Nature	What flower is the symbol of respect, admiration, and unrequited love?
Sports & Games	What is the acronym of the major U.S. sports league that was announced on November 5, 1959 and began play the following year with eight teams?
Math & Science	In 1969, what government agency created the packet switching network that led to the Internet?

General Trivia Answers #2,587-2,592

Answer 2,587: Entertainment & Food -- Plane Refrain

c) John Denver

The man born as Henry John Deutschendorf left this world on a plane that crashed in 1997.

Answer 2,588: History & Government -- Uncanny Annie

c) Phoebe

Little Miss Sure Shot was born as Phoebe Ann Moses.

Answer 2,589: Math & Science -- Milky Way Middle

c) Sagittarius

Because of its location, the region of the sky around Sagittarius is especially star-filled.

Answer 2,590: Geography & Nature -- Crowded Country

c) Mauritius

The island nation had 1,523 people per square mile in 2002.

Answer 2,591: Literature & Arts -- Dealing With the Devil

d) Tom Walker

"The Devil and Tom Walker" was included in the 1824 short story collection Tales of a Traveller.

Answer 2,592: Sports & Games -- Christiansen Creation

b) LEGOs

The colored plastic bricks reached U.S. stores in 1961.

General Trivia Questions #2,587-2,592

Question 2,587: Entertainment & Food -- Plane Refrain

Who composed the song "Leaving on a Jet Plane", which Peter, Paul, and Mary made famous?

a) Elton John
b) James Taylor
c) John Denver
d) Paul McCartney

Question 2,588: History & Government -- Uncanny Annie

What was Annie Oakley's given first name?

a) Frances
b) Isabel
c) Phoebe
d) Sarah

Question 2,589: Math & Science -- Milky Way Middle

What constellation would you see if you looked toward the center of the Milky Way galaxy?

a) Gemini
b) Pisces
c) Sagittarius
d) Virgo

Question 2,590: Geography & Nature -- Crowded Country

What is the most densely populated country in Africa?

a) Ethiopia
b) Lesotho
c) Mauritius
d) Swaziland

Question 2,591: Literature & Arts -- Dealing With the Devil

What Washington Irving character made a deal with the Devil to get rid of his wife?

a) Daniel Webster
b) Dick Dudgeon
c) Jabez Stone
d) Tom Walker

Question 2,592: Sports & Games -- Christiansen Creation

What construction toy did Olekirk Christiansen design in 1949?

a) Erector Sets
b) LEGOs
c) Lincoln Logs
d) Tinkertoys

General Trivia Answers #2,581-2,586

Answer 2,581: Entertainment & Food -- John's Dear

b) Connie Sellecca

The former cohost of Entertainment Tonight had been married to actor Gil Gerard from 1979 to 1987.

Answer 2,582: History & Government -- Flashmatic First

b) Cordless TV remote control

Gene Polley devised the zapper, which simply aimed a beam of light at one of the four corners of the television to turn power and sound on or off and to change channels.

Answer 2,583: Math & Science -- Polygon Product

b) Hexagon

Its size is six times that of an equilateral triangle with the same side length.

Answer 2,584: Geography & Nature -- Harper's Hometown

d) West Virginia

The abolitionist John Brown raided the U.S. armory there on October 16, 1859 when it was part of Virginia.

Answer 2,585: Literature & Arts -- Tintoretto Man

d) Jacopo Robusti

The Italian was nicknamed "Little Dyer" for his father's occupation.

Answer 2,586: Sports & Games -- PGA Pinnacle

c) Nick Faldo

The English golfer won both the British Open and the Masters in 1990, one of the three times he would win each.

General Trivia Questions #2,581-2,586

Question 2,581: Entertainment & Food -- John's Dear

What actress married John Tesh on April 4, 1992?

a) Ally Sheedy
b) Connie Sellecca
c) Susan St. James
d) Tracy Scoggins

Question 2,582: History & Government -- Flashmatic First

In 1955, what was the Flashmatic the first commercial version of?

a) Cigarette lighter-sized flashlight
b) Cordless TV remote control
c) Pocket camera
d) Strobe light

Question 2,583: Math & Science -- Polygon Product

Which regular geometric figure's area is equal to about 2.6 times the length of one side squared?

a) Decagon
b) Hexagon
c) Octagon
d) Pentagon

Question 2,584: Geography & Nature -- Harper's Hometown

In which state can you visit the historical town called Harper's Ferry?

a) Maryland
b) North Carolina
c) Virginia
d) West Virginia

Question 2,585: Literature & Arts -- Tintoretto Man

Who was artist Tintoretto born as?

a) Cristoforo Roncalli
b) Ercole Roberti
c) Girolamo Romanino
d) Jacopo Robusti

Question 2,586: Sports & Games -- PGA Pinnacle

Who was the 1990 PGA Player of the Year and European Golfer of the Year in 1989, 1990, and 1992?

a) Ernie Els
b) Jesper Parnevik
c) Nick Faldo
d) Seve Ballesteros

General Trivia Answers #2,575-2,580

Answer 2,575: Entertainment & Food -- Valued Vegetable

b) Eggplant

Aubergine, whose Indian variety looks like a chicken's egg, is pureed with garlic, sesame paste, and lemon juice.

Answer 2,576: History & Government -- Chelsea's College

c) Stanford

The National Merit Scholarship semifinalist earned a Bachelor's degree in History in 2001 and later obtained a Master's in International Relations from Oxford University.

Answer 2,577: Math & Science -- Odd God

d) Uranus

The seven other extraterrestrial planets are named for Roman gods, while Earth's name comes from the Old English for "soil".

Answer 2,578: Geography & Nature -- Mideast Mecca

c) Saudi Arabia

Moslems pray toward the Kaaba ("House of God") there five times a day.

Answer 2,579: Literature & Arts -- Glory Story

a) Arthur Ashe

In that same year, the U.S. Open and Australian Open tennis champion contracted HIV from blood transfusions and would succumb five years later.

Answer 2,580: Sports & Games -- Single Shining Second

a) NCAA Final Four

The David Barrett tune was originally supposed to air after the 1987 Super Bowl, but the game ran too long.

General Trivia Questions #2,575-2,580

Question 2,575: Entertainment & Food -- Valued Vegetable

What is the main vegetable used to make baba ghanouj?

a) Artichoke
b) Eggplant
c) Tomato
d) Zucchini

Question 2,576: History & Government -- Chelsea's College

What university did First Daughter Chelsea Clinton attend as an undergraduate?

a) Duke
b) Princeton
c) Stanford
d) Vassar

Question 2,577: Math & Science -- Odd God

Which is the only planet in the solar system named after a Greek god?

a) Jupiter
b) Neptune
c) Saturn
d) Uranus

Question 2,578: Geography & Nature -- Mideast Mecca

In what Middle East country is Mecca located?

a) Iran
b) Iraq
c) Saudi Arabia
d) Syria

Question 2,579: Literature & Arts -- Glory Story

What author chronicled the history of blacks in sports in A Hard Road to Glory, released in 1988?

a) Arthur Ashe
b) Arthur C. Clarke
c) Arthur Hailey
d) Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.

Question 2,580: Sports & Games -- Single Shining Second

What postseason sports event's CBS theme song is "One Shining Moment"?

a) NCAA Final Four
b) Stanley Cup Finals
c) Super Bowl
d) World Series

General Trivia Answers #2,569-2,574

Answer 2,569: Entertainment & Food -- Charm Pitt

c) Sheryl Crow

Separated by less than three months in age, she was born in Kennett, Missouri, while he was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma but raised in Springfield, Missouri.

Answer 2,570: History & Government -- Feud Fuel

d) Pig

The late 19th-century feud simmered for twenty years along the West Virginia-Kentucky border after a pig was supposedly stolen.

Answer 2,571: Math & Science -- Salmonella Story

d) A veterinarian named Salmon

Daniel E. Salmon discovered the first illness-inducing strain in 1885.

Answer 2,572: Geography & Nature -- Missouri Miss

c) Lincoln, Nebraska

It is also one of the state's only major cities that is not on the Platte River.

Answer 2,573: Literature & Arts -- Weeping Wiseman

b) Heraclitus

The philosopher, who lived from 535 to 475 B.C., cried about the feebleness and foolishness of man. Democritus was called the Laughing Philosopher.

Answer 2,574: Sports & Games -- Fred Wed

d) Robyn Smith

The first woman to win a major stakes race was 44 years younger than the dancing actor.

General Trivia Questions #2,569-2,574

Question 2,569: Entertainment & Food -- Charm Pitt

What famous singer used to date Brad Pitt at the University of Missouri?

a) Deborah Gibson
b) Natalie Merchant
c) Sheryl Crow
d) Tiffany

Question 2,570: History & Government -- Feud Fuel

What did the Hatfield-McCoy feud begin over?

a) Chicken
b) Cow
c) Goat
d) Pig

Question 2,571: Math & Science -- Salmonella Story

What is salmonella bacteria named after?

a) The color salmon
b) The fish salmon
c) Salmi (roasted game)
d) A veterinarian named Salmon

Question 2,572: Geography & Nature -- Missouri Miss

Which U.S. state capital below is not on the Missouri River?

a) Bismarck, North Dakota
b) Jefferson City, Missouri
c) Lincoln, Nebraska
d) Pierre, South Dakota

Question 2,573: Literature & Arts -- Weeping Wiseman

What Greek was known as the Weeping Philosopher?

a) Democritus
b) Heraclitus
c) Seneca
d) Theophrastus

Question 2,574: Sports & Games -- Fred Wed

What female jockey married Fred Astaire in 1980?

a) Barbara Jo Rubin
b) Diane Crump
c) Julie Krone
d) Robyn Smith

General Trivia Answers #2,563-2,568

Answer 2,563: Entertainment & Food -- G Quiz

c) E

The mnemonic "Every Good Boy Does Fine" names the pitches from the bottom to the top of the staff.

Answer 2,564: History & Government -- Big Whig

c) William Henry Harrison

The Virginian easily defeated incumbent Martin Van Buren in the 1840 election and became the last U.S. President born before the country was.

Answer 2,565: Math & Science -- Swift Shower

d) Perseids

The light show occurs each August.

Answer 2,566: Geography & Nature -- Previously Populous

c) Italy

With 17.2 million people, the nation was about two-thirds more populous than either Spain or England.

Answer 2,567: Literature & Arts -- Bit of Wit

d) Polonius

The "tedious old fool" uttered the ironic line as he rambled through a second-act soliloquy.

Answer 2,568: Sports & Games -- Mad Dad

c) Mary Pierce

Jim was banned from attending matches in 1993.

General Trivia Questions #2,563-2,568

Question 2,563: Entertainment & Food -- G Quiz

What musical note does the bottom line of a G-clef represent?

a) A
b) C
c) E
d) G

Question 2,564: History & Government -- Big Whig

Who was the first Whig President of the United States?

a) Martin Van Buren
b) Millard Fillmore
c) William Henry Harrison
d) Zachary Taylor

Question 2,565: Math & Science -- Swift Shower

What meteor shower does Comet Swift-Tuttle cause?

a) Leonids
b) Lyrids
c) Orionids
d) Perseids

Question 2,566: Geography & Nature -- Previously Populous

What European country had the largest population in 1800?

a) England
b) France
c) Italy
d) Spain

Question 2,567: Literature & Arts -- Bit of Wit

What Shakespearean character pronounced, "Brevity is the soul of wit" in Hamlet?

a) Claudius
b) Hamlet
c) Laertes
d) Polonius

Question 2,568: Sports & Games -- Mad Dad

What female tennis player's father punched out two fans at the 1992 French Open?

a) Jennifer Capriati
b) Martina Hingis
c) Mary Pierce
d) Venus Williams

Cookie Quiz - Random Trivia Answers

• A1) Hydrox. The original cream-filled, chocolate cookie debuted in 1908, four years before the omnipresent Oreo.
• A2) Ronald Reagan. The company provided 180 of their chocolate chunk variety every week. The Gipper also had a sweet tooth for jelly beans, passing them out during Cabinet meetings. Jelly Belly created their blueberry flavor specially for his 1981 inauguration.
• A3) Massachusetts. Ruth Graves Wakefield first added chocolate bits to her butter drop cookie dough at the Toll House Inn in Whitman in the 1930s (some sources say 1937 and others say 1933).
• A4) Nutter Butter. Introduced by Nabisco in 1969, the cookies have been made with Planters peanuts since the companies merged in 1981.
• A5) Famous Amos. Wally Amos changed professions in 1975, opening up his first cookies store in Los Angeles, California.
• A6) Mrs. Fields. Debbi Fields opened up her business to franchisees in 1990, but struggled when the economy turned bad the following decade.
• A7) Cinna-spins. The miniature cinnamon rolls joined the popular Thin Mints and Samoas and the less popular Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, All Abouts, and Lemon Chalet Cremes.
• A8) Snackwells. The lineup includes Devil's Food Fat Free, Lemon Creme Sugar Free, and Shortbread Sugar Free. By comparison, Nabisco's Cameo cookies weigh in at 130 calories (45 from fat) per serving while the comparable Snackwells Creme variety has 110 calories (27 from fat). Of course, as with most cookies, neither has any nutritional value to speak of. For the last few years, even the notorious Cookie Monster has realized that cookies are a "sometimes food".
• A9) Keebler. Chips Deluxe, E.L. Fudge, Fudge Shoppe, Sandies, Vanilla Wafers, Vienna Fingers cookies are all made by the U.S. company, which also bought out Famous Amos in 1999.
• A10) Pepperidge Farm. The company, named for Margaret Rudkin's home in Fairfield, Connecticut, also bakes the geographically named Bordeaux, Brussels, Geneva, Milano, Montieri, Tahiti, and Verona varieties.
• A11) CVS. The "Gold Emblem" also adorns boxes of chocolate chip macadamia, peanut butter (currently on my desk), raspberry creme shortbread, and fudge creme (my favorite) cookies.
• A12) False. The fig cookies were invented in 1891 by Charles M. Roser of the Kennedy Biscuit Company in Massachusetts and named for the local town, as was the company's convention.

Cookie Quiz - Random Trivia Questions

America's favorite cookie is also tops among crossword puzzle writers. With three delicious vowels out of four letters, the Oreo almost undoubtedly appears in more crossword puzzles than every other type of cookie combined. Which is a bit of a shame, since there are so many other tasty choices. Please partake of the following sampling but don't drool on your keyboard.

Cookie Quiz Questions

• Q1) What similar cookie actually predates the Oreo?
• Q2) What U.S. President had Tom's Mom's Cookies regularly delivered to the White House?
• Q3) In what U.S. state were Toll House Cookie invented?
• Q4) What cookies are shaped like flattened peanuts?
• Q5) What cookie-seller originally used his wares to entice celebrities to join the talent agency he worked for, the William Morris Agency?
• Q6) What cookie company opened its first store in Palo Alto, California in 1977 but began to lay off employees thirty years later and filed for bankruptcy this month?
• Q7) Besides Sugar Free Chocolate Chips, what type of cookies did Girl Scouts begin selling in 2008?
• Q8) What Nabisco cookie brand is marketed as being more healthy than their usual fare?
• Q9) What brand's cookies are advertised using animated elves?
• Q10) What brand of cookies are Chessmen?
• Q11) What chain store sells Absolutely Divine cookies?
• Q12) True or False: the Fig Newton was named for Sir Isaac Newton.

Bush Exits -- Quiz Quilt 84 Solution

Category Answers:

Sports & Games	ABL	The American Basketball League could not draw enough fans to compete with the NBA-sponsored WNBA.
Entertainment & Food	REEVES	Montana native Steve Reeves played the mythological Greek hero in Hercules in 1958 and Hercules Unchained in 1959.
Geography & Nature	THAILAND	The country's name means "land of the free" (Prathet Thai).
History & Government	DAVIS	The actress was born as Anne Frances Robbins on July 6, 1921 in New York City but was adopted by her mother's second husband, Dr. Loyal Davis in 1937.
Literature & Arts	SWEDEN	The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences decides the winners of the chemistry, physics, and economics awards.
Math & Science	PISCES	People born between February 19 and March 20 fall under the sign, whose ruling planet is Neptune.

Quiz Quilt Answer: LEAVES (Third letters)

This wasn't a political statement but a pun on "leaves" as plant parts and "leaves" as a verb.

Bush Exits -- Quiz Quilt 84 Puzzle

Category Questions:

Sports & Games	What U.S. women's professional basketball organization went bankrupt in 1998?
Entertainment & Food	What movie Hercules was Mr. America in 1947, Mr. World in 1948, and Mr. Universe in 1948 and 1950?
Geography & Nature	What is the only current Southeast Asian country that has never been colonized by a European country?
History & Government	What was former First Lady Nancy Reagan's last name just before she married Ronald?
Literature & Arts	What country's Academy of Literature selects the winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature?
Math & Science	What constellation is directly south of Andromeda and is the last sign of the zodiac?

General Trivia Answers #2,557-2,562

Answer 2,557: Entertainment & Food -- Chris Cross

b) General Hospital

In November 1981, Laura, played by Genie Francis, had married Luke, played by Anthony Geary, in the all-time highest rated daytime drama episode.

Answer 2,558: History & Government -- No-Trade Clause

b) Cuba

The U.S. imposed sanctions after Fidel Castro took over and allied his country with the Soviet Union.

Answer 2,559: Math & Science -- Titanic Tears

c) Methane

No other satellite in the solar system possesses a significant atmosphere.

Answer 2,560: Geography & Nature -- Multiple Marriages

d) Utah

The state of Deseret was almost created in 1847, nearly half a century before the area finally joined as the 45th state on January 4, 1896.

Answer 2,561: Literature & Arts -- Fiery Diary

b) Helen Fielding

The book began as a series of columns in the U.K.'s Independent and Daily Telegraph the same year.

Answer 2,562: Sports & Games -- Lefty Lair

b) First base

Over two-thirds of first basemen are lefties, while no other position even approaches one-third.

General Trivia Questions #2,557-2,562

Question 2,557: Entertainment & Food -- Chris Cross

What soap opera helped popularize Christopher Cross's song "Think of Laura" in 1983?

a) As the World Turns
b) General Hospital
c) The Guiding Light
d) The Young and the Restless

Question 2,558: History & Government -- No-Trade Clause

What country has the U.S. had a trade embargo on since 1961?

a) China
b) Cuba
c) Palestine
d) South Africa

Question 2,559: Math & Science -- Titanic Tears

What chemical compound do scientists believe may rain on the moon Titan?

a) Ammonia
b) Bromine
c) Methane
d) Water

Question 2,560: Geography & Nature -- Multiple Marriages

Which U.S. state was settled by the Mormons and originally denied statehood because of their polygamy?

a) Arizona
b) Nevada
c) New Mexico
d) Utah

Question 2,561: Literature & Arts -- Fiery Diary

What female author wrote the 1997 bestseller Bridget Jones's Diary?

a) Diane Johnson
b) Helen Fielding
c) Susan Vreeland
d) Tracy Chevalier

Question 2,562: Sports & Games -- Lefty Lair

Which Major League Baseball position has the highest percentage of left-handed players?

a) Catcher
b) First base
c) Pitcher
d) Third base

General Trivia Answers #2,551-2,556

Answer 2,551: Entertainment & Food -- This Grace

c) Debra Messing

The former Rhode Island Junior Miss plays interior decorator Grace Adler Markus.

Answer 2,552: History & Government -- Stock the Vote

c) Nevada

The territory did not have enough people to qualify for statehood otherwise. The amendment outlawing slavery was ratified on December 18, 1865, a year after the new state was born.

Answer 2,553: Math & Science -- Smoke Choke

a) Americium

The alpha radiation from radioactive Americium-241 passes through an ionization chamber where the presence of smoke would interrupt its flow.

Answer 2,554: Geography & Nature -- Beefeater Building

b) The Tower of London

They are officially called the Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress.

Answer 2,555: Literature & Arts -- Moneymaking Medium

d) Don Quixote

The Miguel de Cervantes story was published in 1605 and was followed by a sequel a decade later only after a fake was circulated first.

Answer 2,556: Sports & Games -- Play Clay

a) Baseball

Umpires rub the shine off the baseballs with the clay before games.

General Trivia Questions #2,551-2,556

Question 2,551: Entertainment & Food -- This Grace

What actress plays the female lead on the TV show Will & Grace?

a) Debbi Morgan
b) Deborah Norville
c) Debra Messing
d) Debrah Farentino

Question 2,552: History & Government -- Stock the Vote

Which state did President Lincoln help join the U.S. to get another vote to pass the 13th Amendment?

a) Arizona
b) Montana
c) Nevada
d) Wyoming

Question 2,553: Math & Science -- Smoke Choke

What chemical element is usually used in ionization smoke detectors?

a) Americium
b) Berkelium
c) Californium
d) Curium

Question 2,554: Geography & Nature -- Beefeater Building

What building do the Beefeaters guard?

a) Buckingham Palace
b) The Tower of London
c) Westminster Abbey
d) Windsor Castle

Question 2,555: Literature & Arts -- Moneymaking Medium

Which of the following novels did its author ink as a hasty parody and quick moneymaker?

a) Animal Farm
b) Catch-22
c) A Clockwork Orange
d) Don Quixote

Question 2,556: Sports & Games -- Play Clay

What sport is best associated with Baltimore Clay?

a) Baseball
b) Horse racing
c) Skeet shooting
d) Tennis

General Trivia Answers #2,545-2,550

Answer 2,545: Entertainment & Food -- Past Cast

c) The Partridge Family

They played Chris Partridge, Tracy Partridge, and Reuben Kincaid in ABC's 1970s megahit.

Answer 2,546: History & Government -- Paltry Profile Plane

b) B-2

The distinctive, triangle-shaped Northrop B-2 Spirit is frequently reported as a UFO.

Answer 2,547: Math & Science -- Octopus Organs

b) 3

Two smaller hearts pump blood to the gills to dump waste and inject oxygen, and the main heart sends the refreshed blood to the rest of the body.

Answer 2,548: Geography & Nature -- Rio Trio

d) Spain

The Ebro River's name comes from the same root as the Iberian Peninsula.

Answer 2,549: Literature & Arts -- Napping Nation

c) John F. Kennedy

The 1940 book was based on his Harvard honors thesis on 1930s British foreign policies.

Answer 2,550: Sports & Games -- Ice Cream

b) Hart

Dr. David A. Hart, the father of the manager of the Montreal Canadiens, donated the award in 1923. The original trophy is in the Hall of Fame, replaced by the Hart Memorial Trophy.

General Trivia Questions #2,545-2,550

Question 2,545: Entertainment & Food -- Past Cast

What television show were Brian Forster, Suzanne Crough, and Dave Madden the lesser-known actors on?

a) The Brady Bunch
b) Eight Is Enough
c) The Partridge Family
d) The Waltons

Question 2,546: History & Government -- Paltry Profile Plane

What U.S. Air Force plane is known as the Stealth Bomber?

a) B-1
b) B-2
c) B-52
d) B-57

Question 2,547: Math & Science -- Octopus Organs

How many hearts does an octopus have?

a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5

Question 2,548: Geography & Nature -- Rio Trio

What country's main rivers are the Ebro, Tajo, and Guadalquivir?

a) Honduras
b) Mexico
c) Portugal
d) Spain

Question 2,549: Literature & Arts -- Napping Nation

Which future U.S. President wrote Why England Slept?

a) Franklin Roosevelt
b) James Monroe
c) John F. Kennedy
d) Thomas Jefferson

Question 2,550: Sports & Games -- Ice Cream

What trophy is given to the National Hockey League MVP?

a) Calder
b) Hart
c) Ross
d) Vezina

General Trivia Answers #2,539-2,544

Answer 2,539: Entertainment & Food -- Dad/Daughter Duet

d) Nat "King" and Natalie Cole

The song, which combined new material with old recordings, reached #5 on the pop charts in 1991.

Answer 2,540: History & Government -- Colonial College

a) Harvard

New College was founded in 1636 and soon renamed for John Harvard, its first benefactor.

Answer 2,541: Math & Science -- Special Spinner

c) Photon

Best known as a particle of light, it is the main component of all forms of electromagnetic radiation.

Answer 2,542: Geography & Nature -- Persia Pertinence

a) Iran

The Persian Empire had ruled southern Asia from the 6th to 4th century B.C.

Answer 2,543: Literature & Arts -- Mystery Macavity

c) T.S. Eliot

"Macavity: The Mystery Cat" was a poem in the 1939 collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.

Answer 2,544: Sports & Games -- Rink Leader

d) Wayne Gretzky

The Great One holds the records for goals (894), assists (1,963), and points (2,857). His assist total alone surpasses any other player's points.

General Trivia Questions #2,539-2,544

Question 2,539: Entertainment & Food -- Dad/Daughter Duet

Which father and daughter sang a time-warped duet of "Unforgettable"?

a) Elvis and Lisa Marie Presley
b) Frank and Nancy Sinatra
c) John and Chynna Phillips
d) Nat "King" and Natalie Cole

Question 2,540: History & Government -- Colonial College

What is the oldest college in the United States?

a) Harvard
b) Pennsylvania
c) William and Mary
d) Yale

Question 2,541: Math & Science -- Special Spinner

What subatomic particle has no mass, no electric charge, and a spin of 1?

a) Electron
b) Muon
c) Photon
d) Positron

Question 2,542: Geography & Nature -- Persia Pertinence

What Middle Eastern republic was known as Persia until 1935?

a) Iran
b) Iraq
c) Kuwait
d) Saudi Arabia

Question 2,543: Literature & Arts -- Mystery Macavity

For what author's fictional cat is the Macavity Award for Best Mystery named?

a) Edgar Allan Poe
b) Emile Gaboriau
c) T.S. Eliot
d) Wilkie Collins

Question 2,544: Sports & Games -- Rink Leader

Who is the all-time leading scorer in the National Hockey League?

a) Gordie Howe
b) Mario Lemieux
c) Maurice Richard
d) Wayne Gretzky

General Trivia Answers #2,533-2,538

Answer 2,533: Entertainment & Food -- Zoboomafoo Crew

c) Lemur

Zoboo is both a real Sifaka lemur and an amazingly similar-looking puppet version.

Answer 2,534: History & Government -- First to Say "U.S.A."

d) Thomas Paine

Born in England in 1737, he did not leave for the New World until he was 37 years old and Benjamin Franklin advised him to.

Answer 2,535: Math & Science -- Higgs Handle

b) God particle

Leon Lederman coined the name when the Higgs boson was considered the most important particle in physics.

Answer 2,536: Geography & Nature -- Great and Small

d) Lake Ontario

At 7,320 square miles, it is still the fifteenth largest lake in the world.

Answer 2,537: Literature & Arts -- Dr. Z

d) Yuri

The book was released in 1958 everywhere except in Russia, where it was finally printed in Novyi mir thirty years after the journal first rejected it.

Answer 2,538: Sports & Games -- Ice Romancing

b) Kristi Yamaguchi

The ice couple met during the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Winter Olympics where she captured a gold medal.

General Trivia Questions #2,533-2,538

Question 2,533: Entertainment & Food -- Zoboomafoo Crew

What type of animal stars in the PBS nature show Zoboomafoo?

a) Chimpanzee
b) Ferret
c) Lemur
d) Weasel

Question 2,534: History & Government -- First to Say "U.S.A."

What statesman came up with the name "The United States of America"?

a) Benjamin Franklin
b) Caesar Rodney
c) John Adams
d) Thomas Paine

Question 2,535: Math & Science -- Higgs Handle

What is the common nickname for the particle officially known as the Higgs boson?

a) Devil particle
b) God particle
c) Heaven particle
d) Hell particle

Question 2,536: Geography & Nature -- Great and Small

Which is the smallest of the Great Lakes in area?

a) Lake Erie
b) Lake Huron
c) Lake Michigan
d) Lake Ontario

Question 2,537: Literature & Arts -- Dr. Z

What is the first name of the title character in the novel Dr. Zhivago?

a) Alexei
b) Boris
c) Nikolai
d) Yuri

Question 2,538: Sports & Games -- Ice Romancing

What figure skater married Florida Panther Bret Hedican on July 8, 2000?

a) Katarina Witt
b) Kristi Yamaguchi
c) Nancy Kerrigan
d) Surya Bonaly

¿Que Es Esto? - Random Trivia Answers

• A1) Mystique. Raven Darkholme's alter ego has the ability to change her shape at will.
• A2) Baroque. The movement began in Rome, Italy, encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church, and spread throughout Europe and to the New World.
• A3) Ray Bourque. The long-time Boston Bruin and five-time Norris Trophy winner finally got to sip from the cup after asking for a trade to a contender, the Colorado Avalanche.
• A4) Dominique. The Belgian recorded as Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile) and was nicknamed the Singing Nun because she really was a nun.
• A5) Manque. The French word means "miss". The higher numbers from 19 to 36 are passe ("pass").
• A6) Erich Remarque. The German World War I veteran's 1929 anti-war novel was almost immediately turned into a film, winning the 1930 Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director (Lewis Milestone).
• A7) Albuquerque. The city lies right in the center of New Mexico on the Rio Grande.
• A8) Sonate Pathetique. Beethoven dedicated his Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, op. 13, to Prince Karl von Lichnowsky, who was also a patron of Mozart.
• A9) Georges Braque. The French painter and sculptor began as an Impressionist and switched to Fauvism before joining forces with Picasso.
• A10) Mozambique. Portuguese has remained the official language because residents speak a wide variety of different native languages, none with a large enough percentage.
• A11) Arabesque. Variations include bringing the leg back 45 degrees, "a demi hauteur", or 90 degrees, "a la hauteur".
• A12) Chamique Holdsclaw. The six-time WNBA All-Star led the University of Tennessee to unprecedented back-to-back-to-back NCAA titles from 1996 to 1998.

¿Que Es Esto? - Random Trivia Questions

The title of this quiz is just about all I remember from high school Spanish. On second thought, I learned "what is this?" from a Berlitz book I picked up even a few years before then, so pretty much all I got from four years of classes was an appreciation for Don Quixote (just kidding, Senora Joven!).

Fortunately for me, and maybe for you, the following dozen questions (doce preguntas) don't require any knowledge of the Spanish language. Instead, you need to identify the following twelve people, places, and things whose names end in "-que". See, I've spotted you three letters, so you're well on your way.

¿"-que" Es Esto? Questions

• Q1) What X-Men character did Rebecca Romijn-Stamos portray in the 2003 movie X2?
• Q2) What 17th and 18th century art movement's artists included Rembrandt, Carvaggio, Bernini, and Reubens?
• Q3) What NHL player finally won his first Stanley Cup in 2001, over 21 years after turning pro?
• Q4) What French song did Jeanine Deckers take to the top of the U.S. pop charts in 1963?
• Q5) What roulette term refers to the group of numbers from 1 to 18?
• Q6) What author's All Quiet on the Western Front drew upon his own war experiences?
• Q7) At what city did Bugs Bunny always belatedly realize, "I knew I shoulda taken that left turn..."?
• Q8) What Beethoven piece did Rowan Atkinson perform mime to in The Secret Policeman's Ball and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra rock to in their "Beethoven" medley?
• Q9) What artist cofounded Cubism with Pablo Picasso?
• Q10) What country was formerly known as Portuguese East Africa?
• Q11) What ballet term means standing on one leg while extending the other leg straight back behind the body?
• Q12) What female basketball player captured the Sullivan Award in 1998, the Naismith Award in both 1998 and 1999, and the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1999?

Hope for a Root Beer -- Quiz Quilt 83 Solution

Category Answers:

Entertainment & Food	FONDA	Peter Fonda's sister and Bridget Fonda's aunt Jane won the award for Worst Actress in 1979 for The Electric Horseman. The award had previously been named for Natalie Wood.
Sports & Games	LOBO	Former University of Connecticut star center Rebecca Lobo never played full-time again and retired in 2003.
Geography & Nature	OMAN	The Middle Eastern country touches the Gulf of Oman on the northeast and the Arabian Sea on the southeast.
History & Government	ADAMS	John Adams's single term lasted from 1797 to 1801.
Literature & Arts	TINTORETTO	The Italian was born as Jacopo Comin in 1518, known as Jacopo Robusti for a while, and famously nicknamed "Little Dyer" for his father's occupation.
Math & Science	SATURN	The spectacularly ringed planet would float on water.

Quiz Quilt Answer: FLOATS (First letters)

Sandra Bullock starred in the 1998 movie "Hope Floats", and you can make a root beer float by adding ice cream.

Hope for a Root Beer -- Quiz Quilt 83 Puzzle

Category Questions:

Entertainment & Food	From 1979 to 1981, for whom did the Harvard Lampoon temporarily name its annual worst actress award?
Sports & Games	What former collegiate Player of the Year and New York Liberty star tore a knee ligament just 42 seconds into the 1999 WNBA season?
Geography & Nature	What is the easternmost country on the Arabian Peninsula?
History & Government	Who was the second President of the United States?
Literature & Arts	What artist painted Paradiso, Entombment, and The Golden Calf?
Math & Science	Which planet in the solar system has the lowest density?

General Trivia Answers #2,527-2,532

Answer 2,527: Entertainment & Food -- Black Pack

c) 36

Seven full octaves include five black keys each, and the remaining partial octave has one black key.

Answer 2,528: History & Government -- Quick Conquest

c) Zanzibar

They surrendered after the British fleet successfully shelled the Sultan's palace.

Answer 2,529: Math & Science -- Loft-Boiled

a) 167° Fahrenheit

A room temperature "3-minute egg" requires over four minutes to cook there.

Answer 2,530: Geography & Nature -- More on Oregon

c) Salem

A trustee of the Cherry City named it for the historic town in Massachusetts.

Answer 2,531: Literature & Arts -- Hardy Hacker

c) Franklin W. Dixon

The pseudonym belonged to Edward Stratemeyer, who also used the name Carolyn Keene and several ghostwriters to create the Nancy Drew mysteries.

Answer 2,532: Sports & Games -- Hoop Hole

b) 18 inches

The rim has double the diameter of the basketball.

General Trivia Questions #2,527-2,532

Question 2,527: Entertainment & Food -- Black Pack

How many black keys are on a standard piano?

a) 20
b) 28
c) 36
d) 44

Question 2,528: History & Government -- Quick Conquest

What country lost a war to England in a mere 38 minutes in 1896?

a) Zaire
b) Zambia
c) Zanzibar
d) Zimbabwe

Question 2,529: Math & Science -- Loft-Boiled

At approximately what temperature does water boil at the top of Mount Everest?

a) 167° Fahrenheit
b) 196° Fahrenheit
c) 225° Fahrenheit
d) 254° Fahrenheit

Question 2,530: Geography & Nature -- More on Oregon

What is the capital of Oregon?

a) Eugene
b) Portland
c) Salem
d) Springfield

Question 2,531: Literature & Arts -- Hardy Hacker

Who was the author of The Hardy Boys?

a) Clarence Day
b) Don DeLillo
c) Franklin W. Dixon
d) Michael Dorris

Question 2,532: Sports & Games -- Hoop Hole

What is the diameter of a basketball hoop?

a) 12 inches
b) 18 inches
c) 24 inches
d) 30 inches

General Trivia Answers #2,521-2,526

Answer 2,521: Entertainment & Food -- Pundittoheads

d) Rush Limbaugh

A caller on his radio show once muttered "ditto" as an abbreviation for the usual "I-love-your-show" greeting.

Answer 2,522: History & Government -- Evangelical Education

b) Princeton

Although the school moved only ten years later, it did not take the name of its new town until 1896.

Answer 2,523: Math & Science -- Which Weather

c) Sleet

Sleet is snow that melts and refreezes on its way down, while hail is formed as ice in the clouds.

Answer 2,524: Geography & Nature -- East Coastless

d) Vermont

New Hampshire has a mere eighteen miles, the shortest of any state with a coast.

Answer 2,525: Literature & Arts -- Women and Water Works

a) Claude Monet

The impressionist received his first lessons as a young boy from Eugene Boudin and later enrolled in a university art course after his aunt managed to get him out of the army.

Answer 2,526: Sports & Games -- Dome Duel

b) Minnesota Twins

The 1987 World Series against the Cardinals opened at the Metrodome on October 17. The Twins capitalized on their dome advantage when the home team won all seven games.

General Trivia Questions #2,521-2,526

Question 2,521: Entertainment & Food -- Pundittoheads

Who are Dittoheads fans of?

a) Geraldo Rivera
b) Jerry Springer
c) Morton Downey, Jr.
d) Rush Limbaugh

Question 2,522: History & Government -- Evangelical Education

What university did evangelical Presbyterians found in 1746 as the College of New Jersey?

a) Fairleigh Dickinson
b) Princeton
c) Rutgers
d) Seton Hall

Question 2,523: Math & Science -- Which Weather

What is the meteorological term for precipitation consisting of small, partially melted grains of ice?

a) Freezing rain
b) Hail
c) Sleet
d) Snow

Question 2,524: Geography & Nature -- East Coastless

What is the only New England state that does not have a coastline?

a) Connecticut
b) Maine
c) New Hampshire
d) Vermont

Question 2,525: Literature & Arts -- Women and Water Works

What French painter's works include Women in the Garden and Water Lilies?

a) Claude Monet
b) Edgar Degas
c) Edouard Manet
d) Paul Gauguin

Question 2,526: Sports & Games -- Dome Duel

What was the first Major League Baseball team to host a World Series game indoors?

a) Houston Astros
b) Minnesota Twins
c) Seattle Mariners
d) Toronto Blue Jays

General Trivia Answers #2,515-2,520

Answer 2,515: Entertainment & Food -- Fab First

a) George Harrison

"My Sweet Lord" reached the top of the charts on December 5, 1970.

Answer 2,516: History & Government -- Coin Tsar

d) Persia

Coins exist that depict Darius the Great, who ruled from 521 to 486 B.C., running with a bow and either a spear or a dagger.

Answer 2,517: Math & Science -- Flutie Flakes

b) Autism

The breakfast cereal is named for Heisman-winning quarterback Doug Flutie, whose son is autistic.

Answer 2,518: Geography & Nature -- Kigali Kingdom

b) Rwanda

The country gained its independence from Belgium on July 1, 1962.

Answer 2,519: Literature & Arts -- Just the Facts

c) Time

Briton Hadden and Henry Luce created the magazine, which debuted on March 23, 1923 with Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon on the cover.

Answer 2,520: Sports & Games -- Loss Line

c) Knute Rockne

The Norwegian immigrant also maintained, "Show me a good and gracious loser, and I'll show you a failure."

General Trivia Questions #2,515-2,520

Question 2,515: Entertainment & Food -- Fab First

Who was the first ex-Beatle to have a number one single on his own?

a) George Harrison
b) John Lennon
c) Paul McCartney
d) Ringo Starr

Question 2,516: History & Government -- Coin Tsar

What country's coins first bore a picture of its ruler in the 6th century B.C.?

a) Babylonia
b) China
c) Egypt
d) Persia

Question 2,517: Math & Science -- Flutie Flakes

What disorder's research are Flutie Flakes sold to support?

a) Aphasia
b) Autism
c) Dyslexia
d) Tourette's Syndrome

Question 2,518: Geography & Nature -- Kigali Kingdom

What is the 10,169-square-mile country in central Africa whose capital is Kigali?

a) Burundi
b) Rwanda
c) Tanzania
d) Uganda

Question 2,519: Literature & Arts -- Just the Facts

What magazine was originally going to be called Facts?

a) Consumer Reports
b) Newsweek
c) Time
d) U.S. News and World Report

Question 2,520: Sports & Games -- Loss Line

What NFL coach quipped, "One loss is good for the soul. Too many losses are not good for the coach"?

a) Bill Parcells
b) John Madden
c) Knute Rockne
d) Vince Lombardi

General Trivia Answers #2,509-2,514

Answer 2,509: Entertainment & Food -- Semiquaver Segments

b) 16

A quaver is an eighth note.

Answer 2,510: History & Government -- February Felony

d) August

Augustus Caesar wanted his month to have as many days as Julius Caesar's July.

Answer 2,511: Math & Science -- Clepsydra Clockwork

d) Water

The Egyptians began using the relatively inaccurate measuring devices as far back as the 16th century B.C.

Answer 2,512: Geography & Nature -- Park Place

d) Wyoming

The park was founded in 1950. French fur trappers originally dubbed the mountain range Le Trois Teton ("the three breasts").

Answer 2,513: Literature & Arts -- Marlowe's Metropolis

a) Los Angeles

Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum, Elliot Gould, Danny Glover, and James Caan have all played the private eye in movies.

Answer 2,514: Sports & Games -- Feign Event

d) Swimming

The other two events are running and shooting.

General Trivia Questions #2,509-2,514

Question 2,509: Entertainment & Food -- Semiquaver Segments

How many semiquavers are needed to equal the duration of a whole note?

a) 8
b) 16
c) 32
d) 64

Question 2,510: History & Government -- February Felony

Which month gained a day in 8 B.C. at the expense of February?

a) March
b) May
c) July
d) August

Question 2,511: Math & Science -- Clepsydra Clockwork

What did the ancient clocks known as clepsydras use to keep time?

a) Pendulums
b) Sand
c) Shadows
d) Water

Question 2,512: Geography & Nature -- Park Place

In which U.S. state is Grand Teton National Park located?

a) California
b) Colorado
c) Nevada
d) Wyoming

Question 2,513: Literature & Arts -- Marlowe's Metropolis

In what city is fictional detective Philip Marlowe based?

a) Los Angeles
b) New York
c) Philadelphia
d) San Francisco

Question 2,514: Sports & Games -- Feign Event

Which of the following is not an event in women's modern pentathlon?

a) Archery
b) Equestrian
c) Fencing
d) Swimming

General Trivia Answers #2,503-2,508

Answer 2,503: Entertainment & Food -- Psychic Symbols

b) Heart

The other two symbols are a cross and a set of three wavy lines.

Answer 2,504: History & Government -- West Quest

c) Kentucky

The Bluegrass State joined the country in 1792.

Answer 2,505: Math & Science -- Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other

b) Benzene

Also known as benzol, the colorless, flammable liquid is often used as a solvent.

Answer 2,506: Geography & Nature -- Capital List

d) New York

Annapolis, Maryland is second after Albany.

Answer 2,507: Literature & Arts -- Lotus-Lunching Land

b) Homer

The fictional land appeared in the Odyssey.

Answer 2,508: Sports & Games -- Chinese Checkers

c) 6

The game board is a six-pointed star.

General Trivia Questions #2,503-2,508

Question 2,503: Entertainment & Food -- Psychic Symbols

Which shape below is not one of the five Zener symbols used for psychic testing?

a) Circle
b) Heart
c) Square
d) Star

Question 2,504: History & Government -- West Quest

What was the first state entirely west of the Appalachians to join the U.S.?

a) Illinois
b) Indiana
c) Kentucky
d) Ohio

Question 2,505: Math & Science -- Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other

What chemical molecule contains exactly six atoms of carbon and six atoms of hydrogen?

a) Acetylene
b) Benzene
c) Hexane
d) Methane

Question 2,506: Geography & Nature -- Capital List

Which U.S. state's capital city is first in alphabetical order?

a) Georgia
b) Maine
c) Maryland
d) New York

Question 2,507: Literature & Arts -- Lotus-Lunching Land

What author created the Land of the Lotus-Eaters?

a) Amy Tan
b) Homer
c) James Hilton
d) Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Question 2,508: Sports & Games -- Chinese Checkers

What is the maximum number of players that can play a game of Chinese Checkers?

a) 2
b) 4
c) 6
d) 8

Shakespeare Said - Random Trivia Answers

• A1) Shylock, The Merchant of Venice. In act III, scene i, the moneylender explains that he is as human as a Jew as any Christian is.
• A2) Juliet, Romeo and Juliet. In act II, scene ii, the heroine professes her love for Romeo despite the feud between his family, the Montagues, and hers, the Capulets.
• A3) Malvolio, Twelfth Night. In act II, scene v, the Puritan is reading a forged letter, which he believes is from Olivia, the object of his desire.
• A4) King Lear, King Lear. In act I, scene iv, the title character summarizes one of the play's themes, complaining about his daughters.
• A5) Iago, Othello. In act III, scene iii, the villain ironically pretends to protect Cassio's reputation when the opposite is intended.
• A6) Jacques, As You Like It. In act II, scene vii, the college student, who doesn't even appear until late in the play, goes on to talk about the seven ages of man, from infancy to old age, which he refers to as "second childishness".
• A7) Lady Macbeth, Macbeth. In act V, scene i, the title character's wife has nightmares about the blood of the king whom her husband has murdered.
• A8) Duke Orsino, Twelfth Night. In act I, scene i, the Count of Illyria wishes that Olivia would return his love as the story opens.
• A9) King Henry V, Henry V. In act III, scene i, the title character urges his soldiers to attack the hole in the walls of Harfleur.
• A10) Antony, Julius Caesar. In act III, scene ii, the hero eloquently turns the crowd against the conspirators.
• A11) The Prince of Morocco, The Merchant of Venice. In act II, scene vii, Portia's failed suitor reads the note that explains that he has chosen the incorrect gold casket rather than the correct lead one and will not win Portia.
• A12) Polonius, Hamlet. In act I, scene iii, the king's adviser gives this generic life advice to his son Laertes, who is about to depart for France.

In act IV, scene iv, Helena, who has married Bertram against his wishes claims, "All's well that ends well still: the fine's the crown; Whate'er the course, the end is the renown." In a letter after he has gone to war rather than be with her, he promises to be her faithful husband if she can get him to wear his wedding ring and get pregnant by him. She therefore schemes to trick him into meeting his requirements.

Shakespeare Said - Random Trivia Questions

William Shakespeare is so quotable that he provided more material for the original edition of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations than any source besides the Bible. All of the following lines from the Bard of Avon should ring a bell, but can you identify the characters who uttered them and in which plays (one point each)?

Shakespeare Said Questions

• Q1) "If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?"
• Q2) "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet."
• Q3) "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."
• Q4) "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!"
• Q5) "Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing. 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands. But he that filches from me my good name, robs me of that which not enriches him, and makes me poor indeed."
• Q6) "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."
• Q7) "Out, damned spot! out, I say!"
• Q8) "If music be the food of love, play on."
• Q9) "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; or close the wall up with our English dead!"
• Q10) "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears."
• Q11) "All that glisters is not gold."
• Q12) "Neither a borrower nor a lender be: for loan oft loses both itself and friend."

Bonus question: for which character's quote was All's Well That Ends Well named?

The End of Scandinavia -- Quiz Quilt 82 Solution

Category Answers:

Entertainment & Food	STAFFORD	Susan Stafford, a clinical psychology Ph.D., was the hostess from 1975 until 1982 when Vanna White took over.
Literature & Arts	BASILISK	The monster's looks could kill.
Sports & Games	DOWN	The handedness of the pitcher is irrelevant.
History & Government	RABIN	Israel's U.S. Ambassador and Minister of Labor Yitzhak Rabin later shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize with Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres for the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords.
Math & Science	WATSON	New Yorker Thomas Watson became chairman of the company six years later.
Geography & Nature	BISHKEK	The city shares its name with the mechanical churn that transforms horse's milk into the fermented national drink called kurnis.

Quiz Quilt Answer: FINISH (Fourth letters)

"Finish" is a synonym of "end" and a pun on "Finnish".

The End of Scandinavia -- Quiz Quilt 82 Puzzle

Category Questions:

Entertainment & Food	Who was the original letter-turner on the Wheel of Fortune game show?
Literature & Arts	What legendary beast, also known as a cockatrice, had the wings and head of a fowl and the tail of a dragon?
Sports & Games	In which general direction does a curveball break when thrown by a right-handed pitcher?
History & Government	What Israeli chief of staff was credited with Israel's victory in the Six-Day War and later became prime minister?
Math & Science	In 1943, what IBM leader allegedly claimed, "I think there is a world market for five computers"?
Geography & Nature	What is the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic?

General Trivia Answers #2,497-2,502

Answer 2,497: Entertainment & Food -- Greenland

d) Hooterville

Oliver Douglas buys a farm there, sight unseen, and moves there with his wife Lisa.

Answer 2,498: History & Government -- Patriotic Partner

a) Maine

The holiday honors the Battle of Lexington and Concord fought on April 19, 1775.

Answer 2,499: Math & Science -- High Heat

b) 1 gallon of oil

The fuel produces about 141,000 BTUs, more than four times as much as the coal.

Answer 2,500: Geography & Nature -- Capital City Count

d) 9

They are Baton Rouge, Carson City, Des Moines, Jefferson City, Little Rock, Saint Paul, Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, and Santa Fe.

Answer 2,501: Literature & Arts -- Sign of the Cross

b) R

All letters are signed using the right hand with the palm facing the listener.

Answer 2,502: Sports & Games -- Sobers Sport

b) Cricket

The English sport's origins date back to the middle of the 16th century.

General Trivia Questions #2,497-2,502

Question 2,497: Entertainment & Food -- Greenland

In what town does the television show Green Acres take place?

a) Hawtown
b) Hayfield
c) Hicksburg
d) Hooterville

Question 2,498: History & Government -- Patriotic Partner

Which state other than Massachusetts celebrates Patriots' Day?

a) Maine
b) New Hampshire
c) Rhode Island
d) Vermont

Question 2,499: Math & Science -- High Heat

Which of the following can generate the most heat when used conventionally?

a) 1 cubic foot of natural gas
b) 1 gallon of oil
c) 1 kilowatt hour of electricity
d) 1 pound of coal

Question 2,500: Geography & Nature -- Capital City Count

How many U.S. state capitals' names have more than one word in them?

a) 3
b) 5
c) 7
d) 9

Question 2,501: Literature & Arts -- Sign of the Cross

Which letter of the alphabet is indicated in sign language by crossing the index and middle fingers?

a) H
b) R
c) T
d) X

Question 2,502: Sports & Games -- Sobers Sport

In what sport would you see Australia's Don Bradman, Barbados's Garfield Sobers, Fiji's Waisale Serevi, and Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya?

a) Badminton
b) Cricket
c) Rugby
d) Soccer

General Trivia Answers #2,491-2,496

Answer 2,491: Entertainment & Food -- Spears Sport

a) Basketball

The video was shot at Los Angeles's Venice High School, which had served as Rydell High in the movie Grease.

Answer 2,492: History & Government -- Euthanamerica

b) Oregon

The Beaver State passed the "Death with Dignity" Act in 1997.

Answer 2,493: Math & Science -- Venus Victim?

b) It crashed into Venus's surface

The U.S.S.R. craft's radio communication system failed before its scientific instruments could send back any data.

Answer 2,494: Geography & Nature -- Danube Denouement

d) Romania

The 1,770-mile river begins in Germany.

Answer 2,495: Literature & Arts -- Moriarty Mystery

d) Sherlock Holmes

Moriarty seemingly killed Holmes in "The Final Problem", but the sleuth returned three years later in "The Empty House", having miraculously survived his plunge at Reichenbach Falls.

Answer 2,496: Sports & Games -- From Lakers to Ladies

d) Michael Cooper

The guard and small forward was the 1986-87 NBA Defensive Player of the Year with the Los Angeles Lakers.

General Trivia Questions #2,491-2,496

Question 2,491: Entertainment & Food -- Spears Sport

What sport is featured in Britney Spears's video for "Baby One More Time"?

a) Basketball
b) Football
c) Hockey
d) Soccer

Question 2,492: History & Government -- Euthanamerica

What was the first U.S. state to allow physician-assisted suicide?

a) California
b) Oregon
c) Texas
d) Washington

Question 2,493: Math & Science -- Venus Victim?

On November 16, 1965, what happened to the spaceship Venera 3?

a) It burned up in Venus's atmosphere
b) It crashed into Venus's surface
c) It landed safely on Venus's surface
d) It sailed past Venus

Question 2,494: Geography & Nature -- Danube Denouement

What country does the Danube River end in?

a) Bulgaria
b) Greece
c) Italy
d) Romania

Question 2,495: Literature & Arts -- Moriarty Mystery

What fictional detective's nemesis was Moriarty?

a) Charlie Chan
b) Hercule Poirot
c) Philip Marlowe
d) Sherlock Holmes

Question 2,496: Sports & Games -- From Lakers to Ladies

What former NBA player became the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks in November 1999 and led them to two titles?

a) James Worthy
b) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
c) Magic Johnson
d) Michael Cooper

General Trivia Answers #2,485-2,490

Answer 2,485: Entertainment & Food -- Frisky Fritz

d) X

The 1972 movie is about a swinging, 1960s college student cat.

Answer 2,486: History & Government -- Secret Service's Service

d) To stop counterfeiters

The Secret Service reported to the Department of the Treasury until the United States Department of Homeland Security was created in 2002.

Answer 2,487: Math & Science -- Pump Part

a) Heart

Dr. Robert Jarvik pioneered the mechanical pump, which was first used in 1982.

Answer 2,488: Geography & Nature -- South America's Asuncion

c) Paraguay

The city of half a million people is in the southwest, next to Argentina.

Answer 2,489: Literature & Arts -- Brazil Thrill

c) Theodore Roosevelt

The tales from his partially-scientific expedition were published in 1914.

Answer 2,490: Sports & Games -- Splendid Splinter

b) Ted Williams

The left fielder hit .406 in 1941. The sacrifice fly rule had not been instituted yet, otherwise, his average would have been five points higher.

General Trivia Questions #2,485-2,490

Question 2,485: Entertainment & Food -- Frisky Fritz

What was the original rating for Ralph Baksi's animated Fritz the Cat?

a) G
b) PG
c) R
d) X

Question 2,486: History & Government -- Secret Service's Service

Why did Abraham Lincoln create the U.S. Secret Service?

a) To protect the First Lady
b) To protect the President
c) To stop bootleggers
d) To stop counterfeiters

Question 2,487: Math & Science -- Pump Part

What body part is the Jarvik-7 an artificial version of?

a) Heart
b) Kidney
c) Liver
d) Lung

Question 2,488: Geography & Nature -- South America's Asuncion

What South American country's capital is Asuncion?

a) Ecuador
b) Guyana
c) Paraguay
d) Uruguay

Question 2,489: Literature & Arts -- Brazil Thrill

Which U.S. President wrote the book Through the Brazilian Wilderness?

a) Dwight Eisenhower
b) James Monroe
c) Theodore Roosevelt
d) Warren Harding

Question 2,490: Sports & Games -- Splendid Splinter

What baseball player was known as the Splendid Splinter and was the last Major Leaguer to bat .400 for a season?

a) Rod Carew
b) Ted Williams
c) Tony Gwynn
d) Wade Boggs

General Trivia Answers #2,479-2,484

Answer 2,479: Entertainment & Food -- Geriatric Jackson

a) Jackie

Sigmund Esco Jackson was born on May 4, 1951, a year and a half before Tito. He is not the oldest Jackson sibling, however; their sister Rebbie is a year older.

Answer 2,480: History & Government -- English Channel Annals

a) A balloon

They flew from Dover to Calais in 2½ hours, but an unexpected loss of hydrogen forced them to dump not only all their ballast but most of their clothes as well.

Answer 2,481: Math & Science -- Specific Spinners

a) Bosons

The particles honor Indian mathematician and physicist Satyendra Nath Bose, who translated Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity from German into English.

Answer 2,482: Geography & Nature -- Danger, Dachshunds!

a) Badgers

Dachs is the German word for "badger".

Answer 2,483: Literature & Arts -- Detestable in Denmark

d) Marcellus

In the fourth scene of the opening act, Marcellus is conversing with Horatio immediately after Hamlet sees a ghost.

Answer 2,484: Sports & Games -- College Cats

b) Lafayette

They are called the Leopards.

General Trivia Questions #2,479-2,484

Question 2,479: Entertainment & Food -- Geriatric Jackson

Who was the oldest brother in the Jackson Five?

a) Jackie
b) Jermaine
c) Marlon
d) Tito

Question 2,480: History & Government -- English Channel Annals

On January 7, 1785, what did Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries cross the English Channel in?

a) A balloon
b) A barrel
c) A bathtub
d) A pedal boat

Question 2,481: Math & Science -- Specific Spinners

What is the scientific term for the elementary particles that have integral spin?

a) Bosons
b) Electrons
c) Leptons
d) Quarks

Question 2,482: Geography & Nature -- Danger, Dachshunds!

What were dachshunds originally bred to hunt?

a) Badgers
b) Ducks
c) Field mice
d) Quail

Question 2,483: Literature & Arts -- Detestable in Denmark

In Hamlet, who declared, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"?

a) Gertrude
b) Hamlet
c) Laertes
d) Marcellus

Question 2,484: Sports & Games -- College Cats

Which of the following college's sports teams are not nicknamed the Lions?

a) Columbia
b) Lafayette
c) Loyola Marymount
d) Southeast Louisiana

General Trivia Answers #2,473-2,478

Answer 2,473: Entertainment & Food -- Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, or Thyme

d) Thyme

Thyme vulgaris, or common thyme, is one of about 350 species in the thyme genus.

Answer 2,474: History & Government -- Aerial Attack

b) Mexican-American War

The explosive was dropped out of a hot air balloon.

Answer 2,475: Math & Science -- X-rays Praise

d) Wilhelm Roentgen

The University of Wurzburg professor won the Nobel Prize in 1901 for his work.

Answer 2,476: Geography & Nature -- Voluminous Volcanoes

d) Sumatra, Indonesia

The 165,000-square-mile island is about the size of California.

Answer 2,477: Literature & Arts -- Love List

b) Elizabeth Browning

The famous line is from the 43rd poem in her 1847 collection Sonnets from the Portuguese.

Answer 2,478: Sports & Games -- Winless in the Winston

b) Dodge

No Dodge driver cracked the top ten in the year's final standings.

General Trivia Questions #2,473-2,478

Question 2,473: Entertainment & Food -- Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, or Thyme

What is the aromatic, shrubby plant of the mint family whose spice is mentioned in the song "Scarborough Fair"?

a) Parsley
b) Rosemary
c) Sage
d) Thyme

Question 2,474: History & Government -- Aerial Attack

During what war was the first aerial bomb dropped?

a) Crimean War
b) Mexican-American War
c) U.S. Civil War
d) World War I

Question 2,475: Math & Science -- X-rays Praise

What German physicist discovered X-rays in 1895?

a) Ferdinand Braun
b) Max Planck
c) Philipp Lenard
d) Wilhelm Roentgen

Question 2,476: Geography & Nature -- Voluminous Volcanoes

What is the largest volcanic island in the world?

a) Honshu, Japan
b) Iceland
c) North Island, New Zealand
d) Sumatra, Indonesia

Question 2,477: Literature & Arts -- Love List

What poet inquired, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways"?

a) Alfred Tennyson
b) Elizabeth Browning
c) Lord Byron
d) William Shakespeare

Question 2,478: Sports & Games -- Winless in the Winston

After a sixteen-year absence, which car maker returned to Winston Cup action in February 2001?

a) Chevrolet
b) Dodge
c) Ford
d) Toyota

Summer Olympics - Random Trivia Answers

• A1) Cassius Clay. Four years later, the Kentuckian would upset Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title and convert to Islam as Muhammad Ali.
• A2) Bob Hayes. Bullet Bob tied the world record with a 10.0-second clocking in the finals, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as a wide receiver later in the year, and helped the team win Super Bowl VI in 1972.
• A3) Mark Spitz. The mustachioed Californian was four years off on his prediction, as he set a record with seven gold medals in 1972.
• A4) Olga Korbut. The Soviet star also won a silver medal on the uneven bars and added another team gold and an individual silver to her collection in 1976.
• A5) John Naber. The backstroke specialist set records in both the 100 meters and 200 meters that would last for seven years. His result in the longer event was the first sub-two-minute time ever.
• A6) Daley Thompson. The British track and field star remains the last man to win consecutive Olympic decathlons. Robert Mathias (1948 and 1952) is the only other two-timer.
• A7) Carl Lewis. The runner and long jumper would add two golds and a silver in 1988, two golds in 1992, and a final gold in 1996. For these accomplishments, the International Olympic Committee honored him as "Sportsman of the Century".
• A8) Roy Jones, Jr.. Foul play led to the suspension of all three judges for awarding the title victory to the local fighter, but Jones was never upgraded from silver.
• A9) Gail Devers. The Seattle-born Californian also helped the U.S win the 4x100 meter relay gold in 1996 but never medalled in the 100-meter hurdles, her other specialty.
• A10) Kerri Strug. Bela Karolyi's student, who had also helped the team win the bronze four years earlier, vaulted herself onto the cover of Sports Illustrated, an appearance on Saturday Night Live, and ESPN's own commercials.
• A11) Marion Jones. The sprinter was caught by the BALCO scandal and was sentenced to six months in jail for lying to investigators.
• A12) Michael Phelps. The American captured six gold medals (two team) and two bronze medals (one team) while setting one world record, three Olympic records, and two American records (one team).

Summer Olympics - Random Trivia Questions

The Summer Olympics will be kicking off on August 8 -- yes, that's 08/08/08! The opening ceremonies will of course begin at 8:08:08 p.m. locally. Eight is a lucky number in the Chinese culture because it sounds like a word that mean "wealth" or "fortune". Hundreds of athletes will indeed strike it rich, first by winning a gold medal and then by converting their success into post-Olympic endorsements.

How many of the following famous Summer Olympians can you identify?

Summer Olympics Questions

• Q1) 1960: Light-heavyweight boxing champion who would later make waves as a heavyweight.
• Q2) 1964: Gold medal-winning 100-meter sprinter who would later win a Super Bowl ring.
• Q3) 1968: Swimmer who predicted he would capture six gold medals but came home with only two, both in team events.
• Q4) 1972: Gymnast who earned gold medals for the balance beam, floor exercise, and team competition.
• Q5) 1976: Six and a half foot tall swimmer who won four golds and a silver.
• Q6) 1980: Decathlete who took home the gold and would repeat the feat four years later.
• Q7) 1984: Track and field star who snagged three individual gold medals and a relay gold medal.
• Q8) 1988: Light-middleweight who was named Outstanding Boxer of the games despite not winning a gold medal.
• Q9) 1992: Survivor of Graves' disease who won the first of consecutive 100-meter golds.
• Q10) 1996: Gymnast who clinched a team gold medal by landing a vault despite a painfully sprained ankle.
• Q11) 2000: Runner who won three gold medals and two bronze medals but was later stripped of all of them because of performance-enhancing drugs.
• Q12) 2004: Swimmer who tied a record by hauling in eight medals.

Mideast Feast -- Quiz Quilt 81 Solution

Category Answers:

History & Government	WYOMING	At least part of the reason for allowing suffrage was to obtain enough voters to qualify for statehood.
Entertainment & Food	REINER	Director, producer, writer, and comedian Carl Reiner became boss Allan Brady in the TV series.
Math & Science	SKYLAB	The satellite orbited the Earth until 1979, when its remnants fell mostly into the Indian Ocean and partly on Australia.
Geography & Nature	IRAQ	Mesopotamia's name means the "land between the two rivers", the Tigris and Euphrates.
Literature & Arts	MURDOCH	Oxford University graduate Rupert Murdoch was born in Melbourne, Australia on March 11, 1931.
Sports & Games	STENMARK	Ingemar Stenmark, the all-time winningest alpine racer, won Olympic gold medals in the slalom and giant slalom in 1980 to go with his bronze in the giant slalom in 1976.

Quiz Quilt Answer: TURKEY (Second letters going up)

A turkey feast is common during Thanksgiving and other occasions, and Turkey is sometimes considered to be a country in the Middle East.

Mideast Feast -- Quiz Quilt 81 Puzzle

Category Questions:

History & Government	Which state became the first to allow women to vote when it joined the U.S. on July 10, 1890?
Entertainment & Food	What actor played Rob Petrie in the pilot for The Dick Van Dyke Show before changing to a different role?
Math & Science	What was the first U.S. space station in 1973?
Geography & Nature	What modern-day country covers most of the area where Mesopotamia used to be?
Literature & Arts	What publisher's empire includes The Times, The New York Post, TV Guide, and HarperCollins?
Sports & Games	What Swede won a record eight slalom titles and a record eight giant slalom titles in the Alpine Skiing World Cup?

General Trivia Answers #2,467-2,472

Answer 2,467: Entertainment & Food -- Mansion Museum

a) The Addams Family

The spooky and kooky show first aired in 1964.

Answer 2,468: History & Government -- Selective Service Segmentation

c) 21 years old

The original maximum age was 30 years. The range was later expanded to include all men from 18 to 45 years old.

Answer 2,469: Math & Science -- Yay, Paul, SETI?

c) Paul Allen

The entrepreneur began supporting the astronomy quest after the U.S. government ended its funding in the mid-1990s.

Answer 2,470: Geography & Nature -- East Coast Carriageway

d) I-95

At 1,894 miles, it is the longest U.S. Interstate highway that runs north-south.

Answer 2,471: Literature & Arts -- Ludwig's Language

b) Esperanto

The physician designed it as a neutral, international language with a very regular structure and highly phonetic spelling.

Answer 2,472: Sports & Games -- Spitz Shining

c) 7

The Californian won 4 individual golds and 3 relay golds, setting an Olympic record in each event. He had also won 2 golds, a silver, and a bronze in 1968.