Tuesday, September 30, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,725-2,730

Question 2,725: Entertainment & Food -- Parent Play

Which George Bernard Shaw play was the 1956 musical My Fair Lady based on?

a) Caesar and Cleopatra
b) Major Barbara
c) Pygmalion
d) Saint Joan

Question 2,726: History & Government -- Nurse Nightingale

In what war did Florence Nightingale become the first female nurse?

a) Crimean War
b) Seven Years War
c) War of 1812
d) World War I

Question 2,727: Math & Science -- Four of a Kind

Who were Gregory Jarvis, Ronald McNair, Francis Scobee, and Michael Smith?

a) Challenger astronauts
b) Heart transplant recipients
c) Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry
d) Scientists who built the H-bomb

Question 2,728: Geography & Nature -- Kalahari Country

What African country, whose capital is Gaborone, is mostly covered by the Kalahari desert?

a) Angola
b) Botswana
c) Namibia
d) Zambia

Question 2,729: Literature & Arts -- Urning His Keep

What English author gave up a career as a surgeon to write "Endymion", "Ode on a Grecian Urn", and other poems?

a) John Keats
b) John Milton
c) Lord Byron
d) Percy Bysshe Shelley

Question 2,730: Sports & Games -- Face Value

How many points are face cards worth in Baccarat?

a) 0
b) 1
c) 9
d) 10

General Trivia Answers #2,719-2,724

Answer 2,719: Entertainment & Food -- Holey Ritz

c) 7

They form a hexagon with a hole in the center.

Answer 2,720: History & Government -- Border Sorter

b) Canada

U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster and U.K. Privy Council member Alexander Baring, Lord of Ashburton, signed the treaty on August 9, 1842.

Answer 2,721: Math & Science -- 'Z' of the Zodiac

c) Pisces

People born between February 19 and March 20 fall under the sign, whose ruling planet is Neptune.

Answer 2,722: Geography & Nature -- Continent's King

d) Ukraine

It is 233,090 square miles, about ten percent larger than France.

Answer 2,723: Literature & Arts -- Monstrous Medusa

b) Gorgons

The Greek poet Hesiod gave the mighty, the far-springer, and the queen their names in the 7th century B.C.

Answer 2,724: Sports & Games -- I Spy a Bullseye

b) 50

An outer ring bullseye is worth 25 points.

Monday, September 29, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,719-2,724

Question 2,719: Entertainment & Food -- Holey Ritz

How many holes are on a Ritz cracker?

a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8

Question 2,720: History & Government -- Border Sorter

Which U.S. border did the Webster-Ashburton Treaty settle?

a) Antarctica
b) Canada
c) Mexico
d) Russia

Question 2,721: Math & Science -- 'Z' of the Zodiac

What constellation is directly south of Andromeda and is the last sign of the zodiac?

a) Aquarius
b) Capricorn
c) Pisces
d) Sagittarius

Question 2,722: Geography & Nature -- Continent's King

What is the largest country in Europe if Russia is excluded?

a) France
b) Norway
c) Sweden
d) Ukraine

Question 2,723: Literature & Arts -- Monstrous Medusa

What were Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa better known as?

a) Furies
b) Gorgons
c) Harpies
d) Pleiades

Question 2,724: Sports & Games -- I Spy a Bullseye

How many points are scored for an inner ring bullseye in Darts?

a) 25
b) 50
c) 75
d) 100

General Trivia Answers #2,713-2,718

Answer 2,713: Entertainment & Food -- A Man, A Plan, A Scan

c) Juicyfruit gum

The Wrigley's gum cost 67 cents at Marsh's supermarket in Troy, Ohio on June 26, 1974.

Answer 2,714: History & Government -- Journeyed From Japan

b) Sao Paulo, Brazil

The first Japanese immigrants arrived in 1908 and now total over one million strong.

Answer 2,715: Math & Science -- Stumbling Upon Silicon

b) Jons Jakob Berzelius

The Swedish chemist found the elements in 1818, 1824, and 1829 respectively. He also co-discovered cerium with Wilhelm Hisinger in 1803.

Answer 2,716: Geography & Nature -- Old Opportunity

c) Arkansas

The only natural diamonds mined in the U.S. are from Arkansas.

Answer 2,717: Literature & Arts -- Minor Mystery Men

c) Erle Stanley Gardner

The real-life lawyer released the stories under the pseudonym A.A. Fair.

Answer 2,718: Sports & Games -- MLB Mascots

a) Atlanta Braves

The controversial Chief Noc-a-homa ("knock a homer") also roots the team on.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,713-2,718

Question 2,713: Entertainment & Food -- A Man, A Plan, A Scan

What was the first item ever checked out with a supermarket scanner?

a) Certs
b) Hershey bar
c) Juicyfruit gum
d) Tic Tacs

Question 2,714: History & Government -- Journeyed From Japan

Outside of Japan, what city has the most residents of Japanese descent?

a) Honolulu, Hawaii
b) Sao Paulo, Brazil
c) Seattle, Washington
d) Vancouver, British Columbia

Question 2,715: Math & Science -- Stumbling Upon Silicon

What scientist discovered selenium, silicon, and thorium?

a) Andre Debierne
b) Jons Jakob Berzelius
c) Peter Armbruster
d) Smithson Tennant

Question 2,716: Geography & Nature -- Old Opportunity

In 1995, which U.S. state changed its nickname from the Land of Opportunity to the Natural State?

a) Alabama
b) Alaska
c) Arkansas
d) Illinois

Question 2,717: Literature & Arts -- Minor Mystery Men

What American mystery author's less well-known heroes were Douglas Selby, Donald Lam, and Bertha Cool?

a) Earl Derr Biggers
b) Edward l. Stratemeyer
c) Erle Stanley Gardner
d) Mickey Spillane

Question 2,718: Sports & Games -- MLB Mascots

Which Major League Baseball team's mascots include Homer and Rally?

a) Atlanta Braves
b) Chicago White Sox
c) Colorado Rockies
d) Detroit Tigers

Things That Fall - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) 7. The four-square-unit shapes are known by the capital letters they resemble -- I, J, L, O, S, T, and Z -- with the J and L blocks and the S and Z blocks being mirror images of each other.
  • A2) Apple. Although stories that claim that the fruit actually landed on Newton's head are apocryphal, his assistant John Conduitt verified that the scientist was inspired by an apple falling in his own garden.
  • A3) Venezuela. Angel Falls (Salto Angel) in Canaima National Park contains one drop of 2,647 feet and a total drop of 3,230 feet.
  • A4) Rain. Quick atmospheric pressure rises are likely to bring good weather.
  • A5) Bear market. A shorter-lasting decline is simply a correction, while a long bear market can be a recession or depression.
  • A6) Hourglasses. Each house employs two four-minute sand timers and one two-minute timer.
  • A7) Shel Silverstein. The children's book, containing 144 poems, won the 1996 Booklist Editors' Award.
  • A8) Disneyland. The Matterhorn Bobsleds, built on a 1/100th scale replica of the Swiss mountain, was one of the three original rides in Tomorrowland in Anaheim, California.
  • A9) Meteorite. The 60-ton mass of iron and nickel is the largest known meteorite. Although the nearly nine-foot-diameter disc fell about 80,000 years ago, it wasn't discovered until 1920, when a Namibian farmer struck it with his plow.
  • A10) Netherlands. Domino-toppling records were set every year from 1998 to 2006. The 2007 attempt fell a few hundred thousand tiles short of the 4,079,381 knocked down the previous year.
  • A11) 120. Each of the first nine frames require a single strike, while the tenth frame needs three strikes.
  • A12) Terminal Velocity. Sheen's character is a skydiver who loses a first-time jumper when she falls out of the airplane. Brodie later saves a former K.G.B. agent played by Natassja Kinski.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Things That Fall - Random Trivia Questions

In honor of change of season to autumn and the leaves that will be falling here soon (with a tip of the hat to the $100,000 Pyramid), this week's quiz features twelve Things That Fall. Try your best; you won't fall on your face, and you'll never fall out of favor with the Trivia Why's Guy (although a few comments every now and then would be appreciated).

Things That Fall Questions

  • Q1) How many different shapes fall in the video game Tetris?
  • Q2) What type of tree inspired Sir Isaac Newton to propose the theory of universal gravitation?
  • Q3) What country is home to the waterfall with the longest uninterrupted drop?
  • Q4) What is likely to happen if the barometric pressure drops rapidly?
  • Q5) What type of market does the Vanguard Group define as a "price decline of 20% or more over at least a two-month period"?
  • Q6) What do both houses of the Australian Parliament employ to time divisions (physically separating the members as a method of voting) and other procedures?
  • Q7) Who wrote the 1996 poetry collection Falling Up?
  • Q8) Where did the first steel roller coaster debut on June 14, 1959?
  • Q9) What is Hoba West?
  • Q10) In what country is Domino Day celebrated annually in mid-November?
  • Q11) How many total pins fall in a perfect game of 10-pin bowling?
  • Q12) In what 1994 movie did Charlie Sheen's character Richard 'Ditch' Brodie suspect foul play in the death of one of his customers?

Three-Hour Cruise Ship -- Quiz Quilt 89 Solution

Category Answers:
Literature
&
Arts
MATTHEWChapter 7, verse 15 warns of false prophets.
Entertainment
&
Food
COSMOFrom 1990 to 1998, Michael Richards played the title character's neighbor, who was called Kessler instead of Kramer in the pilot.
Sports
&
Games
AARONPerennial All-Star Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs despite never launching more than 47 in a season. Barry Bonds passed the Hammer on August 7, 2007
Geography
&
Nature
CEYLONThe country adopted its Singhalese name when it became a republic in 1972.
Math
&
Science
FERMIItalian-American scientist Enrico Fermi developed the first nuclear reactor in 1942, paving the way for the atomic bomb.
History
&
Government
ABSCAMThe FBI pretended to be a company called Abdul Enterprises, Ltd.

Quiz Quilt Answer: MINNOW (Last letters going up)

The S.S. Minnow, named for FCC head Newton "Vast Wasteland" Minow, shipwrecked and stranded its passengers on Gilligan's Island.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Three-Hour Cruise Ship -- Quiz Quilt 89 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Literature
&
Arts
What book in the Bible originated the saying "wolf in sheep's clothing"?
Entertainment
&
Food
What was Kramer's first name on the TV show Seinfeld?
Sports
&
Games
Who was Major League Baseball's all-time leading home run hitter until 2007?
Geography
&
Nature
What was the former name of Sri Lanka?
Math
&
Science
What physicist won the 1938 Nobel Prize for his research on radioactivity and later worked on the atomic and hydrogen bombs?
History
&
Government
What scandal resulted from an FBI investigation begun in 1978 where an agent posed as an Arab sheik and offered public officials bribes?

General Trivia Answers #2,707-2,712

Answer 2,707: Entertainment & Food -- Dolce Director

a) Federico Fellini

The Italian also wrote the scripts of all three movies.

Answer 2,708: History & Government -- France's First

d) Pepin the Short

The warrior was under three and a half feet tall but wielded a six-foot sword.

Answer 2,709: Math & Science -- Century Shuttle

b) Discovery

The flight was destined for the International Space Station.

Answer 2,710: Geography & Nature -- Population Peak

c) Manila, Philippines

The Asian city had 12.4 million people, about a quarter million more than Buenos Aires.

Answer 2,711: Literature & Arts -- Mystery Madam

a) Mary Higgins Clark

Where Are the Children? was her first novel in 1975.

Answer 2,712: Sports & Games -- CFL Squad

d) 12

The extra player helps cover the longer and wider field. The other major difference from the NFL is that the CFL allows only three chances to obtain a first down instead of four.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,707-2,712

Question 2,707: Entertainment & Food -- Dolce Director

Who was the director of And the Ship Sails On, Las Dolce Vita, and ?

a) Federico Fellini
b) Roberto Rossellini
c) Umberto Lenzi
d) Vittorio De Sica

Question 2,708: History & Government -- France's First

What Carolingian was the first ruler of France in A.D. 751?

a) Charlemagne
b) Charles I the Bald
c) Louis I the Debonair
d) Pepin the Short

Question 2,709: Math & Science -- Century Shuttle

What shuttle was sent into space on October 11, 2000 for NASA's 100th shuttle launch?

a) Columbia
b) Discovery
c) Endeavor
d) Enterprise

Question 2,710: Geography & Nature -- Population Peak

What was the most populous city in the world in 2003?

a) Buenos Aires, Argentina
b) Karachi, Pakistan
c) Manila, Philippines
d) Mumbai, India

Question 2,711: Literature & Arts -- Mystery Madam

What female American crime writer penned All Around the Town, Before I Say Goodbye, and Loves Music, Loves to Dance?

a) Mary Higgins Clark
b) Patricia Cornwell
c) Patricia Highsmith
d) Sue Grafton

Question 2,712: Sports & Games -- CFL Squad

How many players does each team have on the field in the Canadian Football League?

a) 9
b) 10
c) 11
d) 12

General Trivia Answers #2,701-2,706

Answer 2,701: Entertainment & Food -- Fame Before Fame

b) Irene Cara

The New York City-born Irene Escalera sang "Fame" and "Out Here On My Own" for the Fame: L.A. television series that ran from 1997 to 1998.

Answer 2,702: History & Government -- Renaming the Republic

d) Weimar

The republic lasted from 1919 to 1933.

Answer 2,703: Math & Science -- Light Flight

d) 186,000 miles per second

A light year is 5.88 trillion miles.

Answer 2,704: Geography & Nature -- Not in the Netherlands

c) New York, New York

The Dutch founded the settlement in 1624.

Answer 2,705: Literature & Arts -- Bird or Fly

a) A.A. Milne

The line is from "Cottleston Pie", a poem in "Winnie-the-Pooh".

Answer 2,706: Sports & Games -- Game Fame

a) Carl Yastrzemski

The outfielder set the old record of 3,308 games with the Boston Red Sox from 1961 to 1983.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,701-2,706

Question 2,701: Entertainment & Food -- Fame Before Fame

What Fame actress appeared in Roots: The Next Generation?

a) Anne Meara
b) Irene Cara
c) Joanna Merlin
d) Maureen Teefy

Question 2,702: History & Government -- Renaming the Republic

What nickname was given to the republic of Germany created after World War I because its constitution was drafted there?

a) Dortmund
b) Hanover
c) Mannheim
d) Weimar

Question 2,703: Math & Science -- Light Flight

How fast does light travel?

a) 186,000 miles per year
b) 186,000 miles per hour
c) 186,000 miles per minute
d) 186,000 miles per second

Question 2,704: Geography & Nature -- Not in the Netherlands

What city was formerly known as New Amsterdam?

a) Boston, Massachusetts
b) Newark, New Jersey
c) New York, New York
d) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Question 2,705: Literature & Arts -- Bird or Fly

What author observed in his most famous story, "A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly"?

a) A.A. Milne
b) Dr. Seuss
c) Lewis Carroll
d) Maurice Sendak

Question 2,706: Sports & Games -- Game Fame

What Major Leaguer played the most career games before Pete Rose?

a) Carl Yastrzemski
b) Hank Aaron
c) Stan Musial
d) Ty Cobb

General Trivia Answers #2,695-2,700

Answer 2,695: Entertainment & Food -- Nice Spice

d) Victoria Adams

Bunton was Baby Spice, Brown was Scary Spice, Chisolm was Sporty Spice, and Geri Halliwell was Ginger Spice.

Answer 2,696: History & Government -- Presidential Polyps

a) Colon

The 40th President also had skin cancer on his nose.

Answer 2,697: Math & Science -- Satellite Source

b) Johannes Kepler

The German used the word in his pamphlet Narratio de Observatis a se quatuor Iovis sattelitibus erronibus ("Narration About Four Satellites of Jupiter Observed") in 1610.

Answer 2,698: Geography & Nature -- Direct Quote

a) Maine

The motto has been official since Maine became the 23rd state.

Answer 2,699: Literature & Arts -- Bouncing Off Broadway

a) Ball

The ads aired, but the musical was cancelled.

Answer 2,700: Sports & Games -- Losing Then Cruising

b) Houston Rockets

Despite going 40-42 record in 1980-81, they upset the Lakers, Spurs, and Kings before bowing to the Boston Celtics in six games.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,695-2,700

Question 2,695: Entertainment & Food -- Nice Spice

Who was Posh Spice of the Spice Girls?

a) Emma Bunton
b) Melanie Brown
c) Melanie Chisolm
d) Victoria Adams

Question 2,696: History & Government -- Presidential Polyps

From what part of President Reagan's body were two benign polyps removed on June 20, 1986?

a) Colon
b) Lung
c) Rectum
d) Throat

Question 2,697: Math & Science -- Satellite Source

What astronomer coined the term "satellite"?

a) Galileo Galilei
b) Johannes Kepler
c) Tycho Brahe
d) William Herschel

Question 2,698: Geography & Nature -- Direct Quote

Which U.S. state's motto is Dirigo, Latin for "I direct"?

a) Maine
b) Massachusetts
c) Missouri
d) Montana

Question 2,699: Literature & Arts -- Bouncing Off Broadway

From what 2002 Broadway musical's development were Nike's Freestyle ads taken?

a) Ball
b) Hoops
c) Street Rock
d) Swoosh

Question 2,700: Sports & Games -- Losing Then Cruising

What was the last team with a losing regular season record to reach the NBA Finals?

a) Baltimore Bullets
b) Houston Rockets
c) Milwaukee Bucks
d) Seattle Supersonics

General Trivia Answers #2,689-2,694

Answer 2,689: Entertainment & Food -- Not the Beach Boys' Best

a) "California Girls"

The single peaked at #3 in 1965. David Lee Roth's remake topped out at #6 twenty years later.

Answer 2,690: History & Government -- Post-Margaret Prime Minister

c) John Major

The former Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer took office on November 28, 1990.

Answer 2,691: Math & Science -- No-Gambling God

a) Albert Einstein

The director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin was referring to quantum mechanics in a 1926 letter to Max Born.

Answer 2,692: Geography & Nature -- Adjoining Arabia

d) Qatar

The 4,000-square-mile nation, which became independent on September 3, 1971, has thrived since oil was discovered in the 1940s.

Answer 2,693: Literature & Arts -- Babbitt Burg

d) Zenith

The satirical novel follows real estate salesman George Babbitt's attempt to break from conformity.

Answer 2,694: Sports & Games -- Hot Shot

c) Hank Gathers

The Loyola Marymount star collapsed and died during a game. His friend and teammate Bo Kimble honored him by shooting a free throw left-handed in every game.

Monday, September 22, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,689-2,694

Question 2,689: Entertainment & Food -- Not the Beach Boys' Best

What is the only Beach Boys song below that did not reach #1 on the charts?

a) "California Girls"
b) "Good Vibrations"
c) "Help Me Rhonda"
d) "I Get Around"

Question 2,690: History & Government -- Post-Margaret Prime Minister

Which British prime minister succeeded Margaret Thatcher?

a) Harold Wilson
b) James Callaghan
c) John Major
d) Tony Blair

Question 2,691: Math & Science -- No-Gambling God

What scientist asserted, "God does not play dice with the universe"?

a) Albert Einstein
b) Edward Teller
c) Richard Feynman
d) Stephen Hawking

Question 2,692: Geography & Nature -- Adjoining Arabia

What small country has Doha as its capital and borders only Saudi Arabia?

a) Bahrain
b) Kuwait
c) Oman
d) Qatar

Question 2,693: Literature & Arts -- Babbitt Burg

In which mythical Midwestern town does Sinclair Lewis's Babbitt take place?

a) Centerville
b) Plainsville
c) Pleasantville
d) Zenith

Question 2,694: Sports & Games -- Hot Shot

What ghetto hoops star is the 1992 movie Final Shot about?

a) Bo Kimble
b) Charles Jones
c) Hank Gathers
d) Reggie Lewis

General Trivia Answers #2,683-2,688

Answer 2,683: Entertainment & Food -- Martin's Music

c) Banjo

The Wild and Crazy Guy also had a Top 40 hit and million-selling single "King Tut" in 1978.

Answer 2,684: History & Government -- Peruvian Power

b) Inca

The empire began around Lake Titicaca and eventually spread up and down most of the west coast of South America.

Answer 2,685: Math & Science -- Atom Add 'Em

c) Protons

The number of neutrons varies in different isotopes, while the number of electrons can change in ions and compounds.

Answer 2,686: Geography & Nature -- Not a Neighbor

d) Suriname

The republic is in South America.

Answer 2,687: Literature & Arts -- No Egress and Nothingness

c) Jean-Paul Sartre

His mother Anne-Marie Schweitzer was Nobel Peace Prize-winner Albert Schweitzer's cousin.

Answer 2,688: Sports & Games -- Foul Shooter

a) Ben Wallace

The Virginia Union graduate has sunk only 42.6% of his free throws through the 2006-07 season.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,683-2,688

Question 2,683: Entertainment & Food -- Martin's Music

What musical instrument did comedian Steve Martin expertly play in his stand-up act?

a) Accordion
b) Bagpipes
c) Banjo
d) Harmonica

Question 2,684: History & Government -- Peruvian Power

From the 13th to the 16th centuries, what South American empire was centered in the region that is now Peru?

a) Aztec
b) Inca
c) Maya
d) Peruvian

Question 2,685: Math & Science -- Atom Add 'Em

What does a chemical element's atomic number count?

a) Electrons plus protons
b) Neutrons
c) Protons
d) Protons plus neutrons

Question 2,686: Geography & Nature -- Not a Neighbor

Which country below is not located in Central America?

a) Costa Rica
b) El Salvador
c) Nicaragua
d) Suriname

Question 2,687: Literature & Arts -- No Egress and Nothingness

What French philosopher and dramatist wrote No Exit and Being and Nothingness?

a) Albert Camus
b) Francois Voltaire
c) Jean-Paul Sartre
d) Rene Descartes

Question 2,688: Sports & Games -- Foul Shooter

Who was the worst free throw shooter ever in the NBA with a minimum of 1,000 career attempts?

a) Ben Wallace
b) Chris Dudley
c) Shaquille O'Neal
d) Wilt Chamberlain

Back to School - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) University of Missouri. Actress Kate Capshaw got both a Bachelor of Science (1975) and a Masters (1977) in Education before appearing as Wilhelmina 'Willie' Scott in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984 and marrying Steven Spielberg in 1991. Singer Sheryl Crow also graduated with an Education degree (B.S. 1984). Norm Stewart returned to lead his alma mater's men's basketball team to 16 NCAA tournament appearances and two Elite Eights in 32 seasons.
  • A2) Stanford University. U.S. President Herbert Hoover was in the very first class at Stanford, graduating with a degree in Geology in 1895. Nightline anchor Ted Koppel obtained a M.S. in Mass Communications Research and Political Science after his undergraduate days at Syracuse University. Microsoft co-founder Steve Ballmer, unlike Bill Gates, survived four years of Harvard, but he did not earn a degree at Stanford's Graduate School of Business.
  • A3) University of Washington. Author Frank Herbert met his future wife Beverly Ann Stuart at a creative writing course there in 1946. Martial arts master Bruce Lee met his future wife Linda Emery while he was an undergraduate and she was a high school student in Seattle. Kenny G was born and raised in Seattle, but only applied to the University of Washington after being rejected by Central Washington University.
  • A4) Carnegie Mellon University. Jack Klugman, the messy half of television's The Odd Couple, graduated from the Pittsburgh school in 1948. John Nash earned both his B.S. and M.S., not surprisingly in Mathematics, the same year. Cheers bartender Ted Danson began at Stanford University but transferred and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama in 1968 at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, two years before it became the college of engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.
  • A5) San Jose State University. Gordon Moore, the founder of Intel, started his undergraduate education at San Jose State College before transferring to UC Berkeley. Peter Ueberroth earned his business degree at San Jose State in 1959. Singer Stevie Nicks studied Speech Communication at San Jose State University but dropped out to focus on music.
  • A6) University of Miami. Actor Sylvester Stallone dropped out just short of graduating but was granted a Bachelor of Fine Arts by the university's president in 1999. Singer Gloria Estefan earned her degree in Communications and Psychology in 1978. Dwayne Johnson left school with his degree in Criminology in 1995, four years after leading the football team to a national championship.
  • A7) University of North Carolina. Actor Andy Griffith graduated with a bachelor's degree in Music in 1949. Charles Kuralt edited The Daily Tar Heel and earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1955. Rick Dees used his degree in Radio, TV, and Motion Pictures to launch his career as a Top 40 countdown host.
  • A8) University of Florida. Actress Faye Dunaway earned a degree in Theater, while finishing second in the 1959 Miss University of Florida Pageant. Guitarist Stephen Stills attended the university but left to be a musician. Tennis player Lisa Raymond won an unprecedented three collegiate grand slam events in 1992 and went on to rank as high as #15 in singles in 1997 and #1 in doubles in 2000.
  • A9) University of Minnesota. Ernest O. Lawrence earned his graduate degree in Physics in 1923, sixteen years before capturing a Nobel Prize. Henry Fonda began studies in journalism but did not graduate. Christiaan Barnard earned his Ph.D. in 1958, nine years before performing the first successful human heart transplant.
  • A10) Cornell University. Author Pearl Buck graduated with a Master's degree in English in 1926. Future Surgeon General C. Everett Koop earned his M.D. in 1941. Janet Reno majored in Chemistry as an undergraduate before going to Harvard Law School in 1960.
  • A11) University of Texas. Lloyd Bentsen earned his law degree in 1942. Singer Janis Joplin joined the campus as an undergraduate but did not earn a degree. Michael Dell was still an undergraduate when he founded PC's Limited, a company that would grow into Dell Computer Corporation, one of the world's largest PC manufacturers.
  • A12) UCLA. Ralph Bunche was valedictorian of his undergraduate class in 1927 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950. Singer Jim Morrison graduated from UCLA's undergraduate film school in 1965. Actor Lloyd Bridges graduated in 1931 with a degree in Political Science, while his son Beau attended but did not graduate.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Back to School - Random Trivia Questions

This week it's time to head back to school, specifically to college and graduate school. Can you identify the universities that claim the following famous alumni?

Back to School Questions

  • Q1) Kate Capshaw, Sheryl Crow, and Norm Stewart.
  • Q2) Herbert Hoover, Ted Koppel, and Steve Ballmer.
  • Q3) Bruce Lee, Frank Herbert, and Kenny G.
  • Q4) Jack Klugman, John Forbes Nash, and Ted Danson.
  • Q5) Gordon Moore, Peter Ueberroth, and Stevie Nicks.
  • Q6) Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Estefan, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
  • Q7) Andy Griffith, Charles Kuralt, and Jack Palance.
  • Q8) Faye Dunaway, Stephen Stills, and Lisa Raymond.
  • Q9) Ernest O. Lawrence, Henry Fonda, and Christiaan Barnard.
  • Q10) Pearl Buck, C. Everett Koop, and Janet Reno.
  • Q11) Lloyd Bentsen, Janis Joplin, and Michael Dell.
  • Q12) Ralph Bunche, Jim Morrison, and Lloyd and Beau Bridges.

Eye-Wrinkle Ointment -- Quiz Quilt 88 Solution

Category Answers:
Entertainment
&
Food
ADAMSThe Irish-Hungarian-American Don Adams debuted on The Bill Dana Show in 1963, the same year he first gave his voice to Tennessee Tuxedo the penguin.
Geography
&
Nature
INDIAThe nation officially reached one billion people in August 1999 and an estimated 1.1 billion in 2007.
History
&
Government
AMINMilitary dictator Idi Amin had his rival's supporters killed, exiled minorities, and invaded Tanzania.
Sports
&
Games
MANTLENew York Yankees center fielder Mickey Mantle finished 1961 with 54 homers, left behind in the chase for Babe Ruth's season record after being tied with Roger Maris at 45 in August.
Math
&
Science
WHITETexas astronaut Edward White II took his walk from Gemini 4 on June 3, 1965.
Literature
&
Arts
MILLERThe former won Arthur Miller a Pulitzer Prize and three Tony Awards, while the latter was originally panned before being critically acclaimed.

Quiz Quilt Answer: RETINA (Diagonally from the bottom to the top left)

Retin-A is a brand name for tretinoin, used to remove wrinkles on the skin. (There is also a minor pun on "retina", the eye part.)

Friday, September 19, 2008

Eye-Wrinkle Ointment -- Quiz Quilt 88 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Entertainment
&
Food
What actor portrayed Tennessee Tuxedo, Inspector Gadget, and Maxwell Smart?
Geography
&
Nature
What country has the second highest population?
History
&
Government
What Ugandan leader seized power in 1971, led a reign of terror, and was deposed in 1979?
Sports
&
Games
What Major League Baseball hitter holds the record for most home runs in a season by a switch hitter?
Math
&
Science
Who was the first American to walk in space?
Literature
&
Arts
What American dramatist wrote the plays Death of a Salesman and The Crucible?

General Trivia Answers #2,677-2,682

Answer 2,677: Entertainment & Food -- Fifty-One's Finest

b) An American in Paris

The film was based on George Gershwin's song of the same name and contained many others thanks to his brother Ira's negotiating skills.

Answer 2,678: History & Government -- Lots of Languages

a) Japanese

The documents were also available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

Answer 2,679: Math & Science -- Ginormous Galaxy

a) Abell

Abell 2029 is 5.6 million light years wide compared to only 100,000 light years for the Milky Way.

Answer 2,680: Geography & Nature -- Topped by the Tien Shan

b) Kyrgyz Republic

The city was formerly known as Frunze and the country as Kyrgyzstan.

Answer 2,681: Literature & Arts -- Gull Able

b) Chiang

The other three birds were Jonathan's students in Richard Bach's inspirational 1970 book.

Answer 2,682: Sports & Games -- Rams Relocation

b) Cleveland, Ohio

They began as the Cleveland Rams in 1937 and won a league championship in 1945, just before moving to Los Angeles.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,677-2,682

Question 2,677: Entertainment & Food -- Fifty-One's Finest

In 1951, what movie won six Oscar awards, including Best Picture?

a) The African Queen
b) An American in Paris
c) A Place in the Sun
d) A Streetcar Named Desire

Question 2,678: History & Government -- Lots of Languages

In which of the following languages were questionnaires for the 2000 U.S. Census not printed?

a) Japanese
b) Korean
c) Tagalog
d) Vietnamese

Question 2,679: Math & Science -- Ginormous Galaxy

What is the largest known galaxy?

a) Abell
b) Andromeda
c) Centaurus
d) Triangulum

Question 2,680: Geography & Nature -- Topped by the Tien Shan

What country, whose capital is Bishkek, is almost completely covered by the Tien Shan mountain range?

a) Kazakhstan
b) Kyrgyz Republic
c) Turkmenistan
d) Uzbekistan

Question 2,681: Literature & Arts -- Gull Able

Who is the title character's mentor in Jonathan Livingston Seagull?

a) Charles-Roland
b) Chiang
c) Fletcher
d) Maynard

Question 2,682: Sports & Games -- Rams Relocation

What city did the NFL franchise now known as the St. Louis Rams debut in?

a) Anaheim, California
b) Cleveland, Ohio
c) Los Angeles, California
d) St. Louis, Missouri

General Trivia Answers #2,671-2,676

Answer 2,671: Entertainment & Food -- Bad Dream and Scream

d) Wes Craven

The horror film director was working as a taxi driver before co-directing Together in 1971.

Answer 2,672: History & Government -- Waging War

c) Mexico

The Mexican-American War not only settled the dispute over Texas's southern border, but gave the U.S. California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of several other future states.

Answer 2,673: Math & Science -- Present Period

d) Quaternary Period

Other scientists consider the timeframe starting about 1.7 million years ago to be the latter half of the Neogene Period.

Answer 2,674: Geography & Nature -- Original Odor

a) Deer

Musk oxen, musk beetles, musk ducks, musk shrews, and muskrats all emit a similar odor.

Answer 2,675: Literature & Arts -- Femmes Fates

d) Nyx

Chaos's daughter was the goddess of night.

Answer 2,676: Sports & Games -- Nicknamin' Damon

a) Mighty Mouse

The University of Arizona point guard stands 5'10" tall.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,671-2,676

Question 2,671: Entertainment & Food -- Bad Dream and Scream

Who directed Nightmare on Elm Street and the Scream trilogy?

a) John Carpenter
b) Robert Zemeckis
c) Steve Miner
d) Wes Craven

Question 2,672: History & Government -- Waging War

On what country did the U.S. declare war in May 1846?

a) Canada
b) France
c) Mexico
d) Spain

Question 2,673: Math & Science -- Present Period

What is the current geological period in the Cenozoic Era?

a) Cretaceous Period
b) Devonian Period
c) Ordovician Period
d) Quaternary Period

Question 2,674: Geography & Nature -- Original Odor

From what animal does the musk odor originate?

a) Deer
b) Mule
c) Ox
d) Skunk

Question 2,675: Literature & Arts -- Femmes Fates

In Greek mythology, who was the mother of the Fates?

a) Athena
b) Gaea
c) Hera
d) Nyx

Question 2,676: Sports & Games -- Nicknamin' Damon

What is NBA guard Damon Stoudamire's nickname?

a) Mighty Mouse
b) Road Runner
c) Speedy Gonzalez
d) Underdog

General Trivia Answers #2,665-2,670

Answer 2,665: Entertainment & Food -- TV Trouble?

a) The Outer Limits

"Do not attempt to adjust the picture."

Answer 2,666: History & Government -- Shortest Secession

c) Tennessee

The Volunteer State left on June 8, 1861 and returned on July 24, 1866.

Answer 2,667: Math & Science -- Kitchen Convenience

c) Microwave oven

The appliance finally shrank to fit on countertops in 1967.

Answer 2,668: Geography & Nature -- Sin City

c) Las Vegas

Frank Miller created a comic book series called Sin City in 1991 and turned it into a movie in 2005.

Answer 2,669: Literature & Arts -- Desert Dog

c) Spike

Their siblings include Andy, Belle, Marbles, Molly, Olaf, and Rover.

Answer 2,670: Sports & Games -- Twin Wins

b) Duke

The Blue Devils won in 1991 and 1992.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,665-2,670

Question 2,665: Entertainment & Food -- TV Trouble?

What show began, "There is nothing wrong with your television set"?

a) The Outer Limits
b) Space: 1999
c) The Twilight Zone
d) The X-Files

Question 2,666: History & Government -- Shortest Secession

What was the last U.S. state to secede from the Union during the Civil War and the first to rejoin after?

a) Arkansas
b) North Carolina
c) Tennessee
d) Virginia

Question 2,667: Math & Science -- Kitchen Convenience

What commercial product debuted in 1947 as a 5-foot-tall, 750-pound, $5,000 device?

a) Bread machine
b) Dishwasher
c) Microwave oven
d) Refrigerator with freezer

Question 2,668: Geography & Nature -- Sin City

What U.S. city is known as Sin City?

a) Atlantic City
b) Hollywood
c) Las Vegas
d) Miami

Question 2,669: Literature & Arts -- Desert Dog

In Charles Schulz's Peanuts comic strip, which of Snoopy's brothers lives in the California desert?

a) Simon
b) Slick
c) Spike
d) Stoopy

Question 2,670: Sports & Games -- Twin Wins

What was the last NCAA basketball team to win back-to-back Final Four tournaments before 2007?

a) Arkansas
b) Duke
c) Kentucky
d) UNLV

General Trivia Answers #2,659-2,664

Answer 2,659: Entertainment & Food -- Yogi Bear's Beau

c) Cindy

The brown bear, inspired by Ed Norton of the Honeymooners and named for Yogi Berra, debuted on The Huckleberry Hound Show in 1958 and earned his own program three years later.

Answer 2,660: History & Government -- Weapons of War

b) Crossbows

Appropriately, the weapons shoot bolts called quarrels.

Answer 2,661: Math & Science -- Sunblock Clock

a) 7 minutes, 31 seconds

An extended remix of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" runs just 32 seconds shorter.

Answer 2,662: Geography & Nature -- Back From the Brink

b) Condor

The Californian Condor is a type of vulture.

Answer 2,663: Literature & Arts -- Master Mahavira

c) Jainism

The religion believes that all living things have souls and preaches nonviolence.

Answer 2,664: Sports & Games -- Comeback King

a) Arnold Palmer

At one point in the 1960 tournament Arnie was seven strokes behind, starting the final round in 15th place before carding a 65 for the victory.

Monday, September 15, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,659-2,664

Question 2,659: Entertainment & Food -- Yogi Bear's Beau

Who is Yogi Bear's girlfriend?

a) Amanda
b) Barbara
c) Cindy
d) Daisy

Question 2,660: History & Government -- Weapons of War

What weapon did Europeans outlaw on August 30, 1146, in the vain hope of ending war forever?

a) Catapults
b) Crossbows
c) Spears
d) Swords

Question 2,661: Math & Science -- Sunblock Clock

What is the longest that a total eclipse of the Sun can last?

a) 7 minutes, 31 seconds
b) 9 minutes, 47 seconds
c) 12 minutes, 3 seconds
d) 14 minutes, 19 seconds

Question 2,662: Geography & Nature -- Back From the Brink

What is the largest North American bird, rescued from the brink of extinction in 1987?

a) Albatross
b) Condor
c) Marabou stork
d) Trumpeter swan

Question 2,663: Literature & Arts -- Master Mahavira

What religion did Mahavira found in India in the 6th century B.C.?

a) Hinduism
b) Islam
c) Jainism
d) Sikhism

Question 2,664: Sports & Games -- Comeback King

What male golfer recovered from the largest deficit to win the U.S. Open?

a) Arnold Palmer
b) Johnny Farrell
c) Johnny Miller
d) Lee Janzen

General Trivia Answers #2,653-2,658

Answer 2,653: Entertainment & Food -- $100 Million Movie

d) Jaws

The Peter Benchley thriller reached the milestone in 1975. Star Wars was the second, two years later.

Answer 2,654: History & Government -- Secretary's Schedule

c) Henry Kissinger

The New York Times Magazine ran the quote on June 1, 1969.

Answer 2,655: Math & Science -- Genes Seen

d) Worm

A team at the Institut Pasteur accomplished the task in 2003.

Answer 2,656: Geography & Nature -- Lyin' About Lions

d) Singapore

In Sanskrit singha means "lion" and pore means "city".

Answer 2,657: Literature & Arts -- Poe's But Not Poems

a) C. Auguste Dupin

The Parisian first appeared in "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", one of the first mysteries, in Graham's Magazine in 1841.

Answer 2,658: Sports & Games -- Most Mature Majors

c) Hale Irwin

Nicklaus won eight majors between 1990 and 1996, while Irwin took eight between 1996 and 2004.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,653-2,658

Question 2,653: Entertainment & Food -- $100 Million Movie

What was the first movie to gross $100 million in U.S. domestic rentals?

a) E.T.
b) The Exorcist
c) Gone With the Wind
d) Jaws

Question 2,654: History & Government -- Secretary's Schedule

What U.S. Secretary of State exclaimed, "There can't be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full"?

a) Alexander Haig, Jr.
b) George Shultz
c) Henry Kissinger
d) James Baker

Question 2,655: Math & Science -- Genes Seen

What was the first animal whose complete set of genes were decoded?

a) Ant
b) Fruit fly
c) Gnat
d) Worm

Question 2,656: Geography & Nature -- Lyin' About Lions

What Asian location's name means City of Lions although none exist there?

a) Hong Kong
b) Kuala Lumpur
c) Seoul
d) Singapore

Question 2,657: Literature & Arts -- Poe's But Not Poems

What fictional sleuth did Edgar Allan Poe create?

a) C. Auguste Dupin
b) Monsieur Lecoq
c) Richard Jury
d) Roderick Alleyn

Question 2,658: Sports & Games -- Most Mature Majors

What golfer is tied with Jack Nicklaus with the most Senior PGA major titles?

a) Arnold Palmer
b) Gary Player
c) Hale Irwin
d) Miller Barber

New Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) A) Air conditioner. Contestant Ellene Weber of Minneapolis, Minnesota had to Ask the Audience here, probably because the pressure of the 15-second timer got to her. Ninety-five percent of the audience set her straight.
  • A2) D) The Love Guru. Chopra claimed the critics were bashing the movie based on only its 150-second trailer, but he is rather biased by having a cameo appearance in the film.
  • A3) B) Javier Bardem. The Spaniard was named Best Supporting Actor for his role as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men.
  • A4) B) The Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger television series used Gioachino Rossini's music as its theme song.
  • A5) D) Sudan. Weber crashed out on this question after her Phone a Friend dad Lloyd waveringly claimed he was 100% sure it was Somalia.
  • A6) C) 1926. "Sesquicentennial" means every 150 years.
  • A7) B) Justice Alito. The four justices are John Paul Stevens, Samuel Alito, David Souter, and Stephen Breyer.
  • A8) A) Professional fighter. Mixed martial artist Kimbo Slice, born as Kevin Ferguson, is won his first three professional MMA fights, but was dropped in a mere 14 seconds by last-minute substitute Seth Petruzelli on October 4, 2008.
  • A9) C) New York Jets. The New York audience only barely favored the correct answer with 37% of the votes, but stand-up comic Lawrence Thomas trusted their local knowledge.
  • A10) B) Clam. Californian Lawrence Thomas relied on his Ask the Expert lifeline, but Bill Nye (the Science Guy) was only able to incorrectly guess Sausage.
  • A11) B) Minneapolis, MN. Contestant Eric Cunningham from Brooklyn, New York, used his Ask the Expert lifeline to poll Nye, who gave a 50% to 90% confidence rating to what turned out to be the correct answer.
  • A12) C) John Milton. Cunningham decided to bail here instead of guessing.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

New Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - Random Trivia Questions

The following questions were all taken from episodes of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire that aired this week.

New Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Questions

  • Q1) Appliances ($300): Room size, sun exposure and ceiling height are all factors to consider when selecting a what?
    A) Air conditionerB) Vacuum cleaner
    C) Microwave ovenD) Washing machine

  • Q2) Recent Movies ($2,000): In 2008, writer Deepak Chopra publicly defended what comedy film against claims that it was insulting to Hindus?
    A) Hellboy IIB) Hancock
    C) Baby MamaD) The Love Guru

  • Q3) The Oscars ($4,000): In a 2008 Oscar speech, what actor joked that their award-winning role had required "one of the most horrible haircuts in history"?
    A) Tilda SwintonB) Javier Bardem
    C) Daniel Day-LewisD) Marion Cotillard

  • Q4) Famous Quotes ($8,000): Dan Rather once famously defined an intellectual as "someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture and not think of" whom?
    A) SupermanB) The Lone Ranger
    C) Captain KirkD) Perry Mason

  • Q5) African Geography ($8,000): Darfur is located in what African country?
    A) AngolaB) Nigeria
    C) SomaliaD) Sudan

  • Q6) Anniversaries ($16,000): In what year did America celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
    A) 1826B) 1851
    C) 1926D) 1951

  • Q7) The Supreme Court ($16,000): What Supreme Court justice could accurately introduce himself using the famous Dr. Seuss line "I am Sam, Sam I am"?
    A) Justice StevensB) Justice Alito
    C) Justice SouterD) Justice Breyer

  • Q8) Who Am I? ($25,000): Who is Kimbo Slice?
    A) Professional fighterB) Heavy metal drummer
    C) U.S. Army generalD) Celebrity chef

  • Q9) Sports ($25,000): Airing thirty-five years apart, the first and last ABC Monday Night Football games both ended with what team losing 31-21?
    A) Miami DolphinsB) Green Bay Packers
    C) New York JetsD) Dallas Cowboys

  • Q10) Jazz ($50,000): Which of these terms do jazz musicians use to refer to a musical mistake, such as a missed or wrong note?
    A) SquashB) Clam
    C) SausageD) Cabbage

  • Q11) Politics ($100,000): In 2008, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama squared off in Democratic presidential debates in all but which of these cities?
    A) Austin, TXB) Minneapolis, MN
    C) Cleveland, OHD) Philadelphia, PA

  • Q12) Word Origins ($250,000): Who coined the word "pandemonium" as a name for the capital of Hell?
    A) St. AugustineB) Dante Alighieri
    C) John MiltonD) William Blake

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Review

In 2008, the syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire made some changes to help contestants win the grand prize, which has remained elusive since Nancy Christy became a millionaire over five years ago (May 8, 2003).

NameWho Wants to Be a Millionaire
Original RunSeptember 2002 to present
HostMeredith Vieira
LengthHalf hour
Currently OnSyndicated (weekdays at 12:30 p.m. on WCVB in Boston, Massachusetts; check your local listings)
IMDBMain entry

Description: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire debuted in the U.K. in 1998 and moved to the U.S. in 1999 with Regis Philbin hosting. Meredith Vieira took over in 2002 for the syndicated version, which dropped the Fastest Finger contest for selecting contestants. In 2008, the show briefly used a 10-question format, starting players with a guaranteed $1,000, then went to the format presented here.

  • # of Questions: 15 ($100-$200-$300-$500-$1,000-$2,000-$4,000-$8,000-$16,000-$25,000-$50,000-$100,000-$250,000-$500,000-$1,000,000). The category names of all of the questions are now provided to the contestant at the beginning of the game. This can greatly impact the use your lifelines and the decision to go on or quit.
  • # of Lifelines: 4
    • Ask the Audience: The original lifeline remains especially useful for lower-valued, entertainment, and current events questions.
    • Phone a Friend: The contestant's three potential choices are now displayed with their pictures on the screen before the thirty-second telephone call is made.
    • Double Dip: This new lifeline, which gives the contestant two shots at the answer to a question, had been introduced during Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire in 2004 and replaced the less useful 50/50 lifeline (which, by the way, was intentionally unhelpful during Regis's run but supposedly completely random during Meredith's).
    • Ask the Expert: This new lifeline, earned by correctly answering the $1,000 question, replaced the Switch the Question lifeline. Bill Nye was this week's celebrity expert.
  • Timer: A clock has been added to speed up the show. The timer, which is stopped while the question is being read (but not the choices) and when lifelines are being used, has the following limits:
    • $100 to $1,000 questions: 15 seconds
    • $2,000 to $25,000 questions: 30 seconds
    • $50,000 to $500,000 questions: 45 seconds
    • $1,000,000 question: 45 seconds PLUS all time saved on previous questions.

Conclusion: The recent modifications to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire will certainly increase the chance of someone winning big both by speeding up gameplay, therefore allowing more contestants per show, and by providing more useful lifelines. Unfortunately, the quality of the contestant pool will remain lower than during Regis's version as long as auditions are mostly restricted to New York City and the prizes aren't raised (the second guaranteed payout used to be $32,000, so figuring in inflation, it should have been raised to $40,000 instead of dropped to $25,000). The next logical step will be to reduce the difficulty of the questions, so I hope there's a million dollar winner soon before that happens.

Trademarked Teeth -- Quiz Quilt 87 Solution

Category Answers:
Math
&
Science
HYDROGENThe British scientist referred to the gas as "inflammable air" in his paper "On Factitious Airs". Antoine Lavoisier named the element hydrogen about a decade later.
History
&
Government
TOPEKAThe court declared that racially segregated public schools in Topeka, Kansas were inherently unequal.
Literature
&
Arts
PUMPKINEach Halloween Linus faithfully awaits the gift-bringing Great Pumpkin in his local pumpkin patch.
Geography
&
Nature
MEMPHISThe company began in Little Rock, Arkansas but soon moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1973.
Entertainment
&
Food
FAMILYMcNichol played Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence from 1976 to 1980.
Sports
&
Games
BRAZILThe green and yellow have scored 201 goals, the most by far, 59 ahead of Germany.

Quiz Quilt Answer: ZIPPER (Fourth letters going up)

The "lightning fastener" was originally called a zip in 1925 on a boot called the zipper, but the longer name became a genericized trademark for the closure.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Trademarked Teeth -- Quiz Quilt 87 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Math
&
Science
What chemical element did Henry Cavendish discover in 1766?
History
&
Government
What city was the subject of the 1954 Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education?
Literature
&
Arts
What is the common name for the genus Cucurbita of the gourd family, which the Peanuts character Linus idolizes?
Geography
&
Nature
What is FedEx's hub city?
Entertainment
&
Food
For what TV show did Kristi McNichol win two Emmy Awards as Buddy Lawrence?
Sports
&
Games
What country has scored the most all-time goals in World Cup soccer matches?

General Trivia Answers #2,647-2,652

Answer 2,647: Entertainment & Food -- Uno for the Money, Dos for the Dough

a) Chicago, Illinois

The restaurant invented the Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza. The chain would expand to Boston in 1979, beginning a growth spurt that would see the 200th Uno open in 2003.

Answer 2,648: History & Government -- Calendar Counting

b) Hebrew

Their year 5765 mostly overlapped with A.D. 2005.

Answer 2,649: Math & Science -- Computer E's

b) 14

After the digits 0 to 9, the first six letters of the alphabet stand for the numbers 10 to 15.

Answer 2,650: Geography & Nature -- Suspension Span

c) New York

The Verrazano-Narrows is 4,260 feet long.

Answer 2,651: Literature & Arts -- Cosmos Creator

b) Carl Sagan

The book was published in 1970, and the show debuted a decade later.

Answer 2,652: Sports & Games -- Major Improvement

d) Vijay Singh

The two-time PGA Championship winner defeated Ernie Els by three strokes only two years after missing the cut at Augusta.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,647-2,652

Question 2,647: Entertainment & Food -- Uno for the Money, Dos for the Dough

In what city was Pizzeria Uno established in 1943?

a) Chicago, Illinois
b) Cincinnati, Ohio
c) Detroit, Michigan
d) St. Louis, Missouri

Question 2,648: History & Government -- Calendar Counting

In what calendar system is the current year the highest?

a) Chinese
b) Hebrew
c) Muslim
d) Persian

Question 2,649: Math & Science -- Computer E's

In computer programming, what is the decimal equivalent of the hexadecimal letter 'E'?

a) 5
b) 14
c) 15
d) 16

Question 2,650: Geography & Nature -- Suspension Span

Which U.S. state has the suspension bridge with the longest main span?

a) California
b) Michigan
c) New York
d) Washington

Question 2,651: Literature & Arts -- Cosmos Creator

Who was the Pulitzer-winning author of The Dragons of Eden who created and hosted the TV show Cosmos?

a) Arthur C. Clarke
b) Carl Sagan
c) Dan Simmons
d) Isaac Asimov

Question 2,652: Sports & Games -- Major Improvement

What golfer won the 2000 Masters tournament after only one prior top ten finish in the event?

a) David Duval
b) Fred Couples
c) Mark O'Meara
d) Vijay Singh

General Trivia Answers #2,641-2,646

Answer 2,641: Entertainment & Food -- Record of the Year Record

d) Paul Simon

Carrie Fisher's husband was honored for Bookends and Bridge Over Troubled Water with Art Garfunkel in 1969 and 1971 and for Graceland on his own in 1988.

Answer 2,642: History & Government -- Big Bomber

c) B-29

The Enola Gay released the 400-pound Little Boy and obliterated Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

Answer 2,643: Math & Science -- Area Algorithm

c) Octagon

The month of October shares the same prefix because it was originally the eighth month of the year.

Answer 2,644: Geography & Nature -- Kosovo Critter

a) Blackbird

The former Yugoslavian province is now in southern Serbia.

Answer 2,645: Literature & Arts -- Bi-Writers

a) Ellery Queen

Manfred Lee and Frederic Dannay were the real mystery writers.

Answer 2,646: Sports & Games -- Baseketball Bond

a) Don Drysdale

Big D passed away in 1993, the same year that his wife was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,641-2,646

Question 2,641: Entertainment & Food -- Record of the Year Record

What artist has won or shared the Grammy for Record of the Year the most times?

a) Bono
b) Eric Clapton
c) Henry Mancini
d) Paul Simon

Question 2,642: History & Government -- Big Bomber

What type of bomber dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan?

a) B-1
b) B-15
c) B-29
d) B-52

Question 2,643: Math & Science -- Area Algorithm

What regular geometric figure's area is equal to about 4.828 times the length of one side squared?

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

Question 2,644: Geography & Nature -- Kosovo Critter

Translated into English, what bird does Kosovo refer to?

a) Blackbird
b) Crow
c) Eagle
d) Raven

Question 2,645: Literature & Arts -- Bi-Writers

Which pseudonym below actually belonged to a pair of writing cousins?

a) Ellery Queen
b) Isak Dinesen
c) James Herriot
d) Sholem Aleichem

Question 2,646: Sports & Games -- Baseketball Bond

What former Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher married basketball player Ann Meyers in 1986?

a) Don Drysdale
b) Don Newcombe
c) Robin Roberts
d) Warren Spahn

General Trivia Answers #2,635-2,640

Answer 2,635: Entertainment & Food -- Friendly Freeman

a) The Electric Company

The future Deep Impact President played Mark, Easy Reader, Mel Mounds the DJ, Count Dracula, Mad Scientist, and the Cop on the PBS show from 1971 to 1977.

Answer 2,636: History & Government -- Wealthy But Not Healthy

c) Henry Ford

His son Edsel took over the company after the first stroke, and his grandson Henry after the second because Edsel had died.

Answer 2,637: Math & Science -- Scorching Stars

d) O

The blue stars range from 54,000° to 108,000° Fahrenheit.

Answer 2,638: Geography & Nature -- Cashmere Candidate

a) Goats

The Cashmere goat's wool is very soft and lightweight.

Answer 2,639: Literature & Arts -- Living and Looking at Life

c) Socrates

Plato attributed the quote to him in "Apology".

Answer 2,640: Sports & Games -- Far for NASCAR

b) 600 miles

The Coca-Cola 600 is run on the evening of Memorial Day, making it the only major race contested under the lights.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,635-2,640

Question 2,635: Entertainment & Food -- Friendly Freeman

On what children's TV show was Morgan Freeman a regular in the 1970s?

a) The Electric Company
b) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
c) Sesame Street
d) Zoom

Question 2,636: History & Government -- Wealthy But Not Healthy

What businessman suffered strokes in both 1938 and 1945 before passing away on April 7, 1947 and leaving a $625 million fortune?

a) Andrew Carnegie
b) Cornelius Vanderbilt
c) Henry Ford
d) Nelson Rockefeller

Question 2,637: Math & Science -- Scorching Stars

What letter designation does the Morgan-Keenan spectral classification assign to the hottest stars?

a) A
b) B
c) F
d) O

Question 2,638: Geography & Nature -- Cashmere Candidate

From what animal does cashmere come from?

a) Goats
b) Minks
c) Rabbits
d) Sheep

Question 2,639: Literature & Arts -- Living and Looking at Life

What Greek philosopher contended, "The unexamined life is not worth living"?

a) Plato
b) Protagoras
c) Socrates
d) Theophrastus

Question 2,640: Sports & Games -- Far for NASCAR

How long is the longest NASCAR race?

a) 500 miles
b) 600 miles
c) 700 miles
d) 750 miles

General Trivia Answers #2,629-2,634

Answer 2,629: Entertainment & Food -- Legendary Roddenberry

b) Star Trek

The former U.S. Army pilot had written for shows like Have Gun - Will Travel, The Fireside Theatre, and Dr. Kildare for fifteen years before the show that made him a cult hero.

Answer 2,630: History & Government -- Terminated Term

c) Richard Nixon

The morning after his speech was televised on August 8, 1974, the Californian submitted his written resignation to Henry Kissinger.

Answer 2,631: Math & Science -- The Dirt on Digitalis

c) A plant

The name comes from how its flowers fit neatly on a human fingertip.

Answer 2,632: Geography & Nature -- Common Currency

a) Dinar

The unit is divided into 1,000 fils in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, and Kuwait.

Answer 2,633: Literature & Arts -- Sleigh Away

b) 8

Robert L. May created Rudolph for Montgomery Ward over a century later in 1939, and J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh released "Olive the Other Reindeer" in 1997.

Answer 2,634: Sports & Games -- Division Dominance

a) Atlanta Braves

They won fourteen straight crowns from 1991 to 2005, not including the strike-shortened 1994 season.

Monday, September 8, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,629-2,634

Question 2,629: Entertainment & Food -- Legendary Roddenberry

What TV show below did Gene Roddenberry create?

a) Lost in Space
b) Star Trek
c) The Twilight Zone
d) The X-Files

Question 2,630: History & Government -- Terminated Term

Who was the first U.S. President to resign from the office?

a) Andrew Jackson
b) Andrew Johnson
c) Richard Nixon
d) Warren Harding

Question 2,631: Math & Science -- The Dirt on Digitalis

What is digitalis?

a) A body part
b) A disease
c) A plant
d) A poison

Question 2,632: Geography & Nature -- Common Currency

What currency is used in Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Sudan, Tunisia?

a) Dinar
b) Krone
c) Rupee
d) Shilling

Question 2,633: Literature & Arts -- Sleigh Away

How many reindeers pulled Santa's sled according to Clement Moore's "A Visit From St. Nicholas"?

a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10

Question 2,634: Sports & Games -- Division Dominance

Which Major League Baseball team won the most consecutive division titles?

a) Atlanta Braves
b) Los Angeles Dodgers
c) New York Yankees
d) Oakland A's

General Trivia Answers #2,623-2,628

Answer 2,623: Entertainment & Food -- Who Were You

b) Keith Moon

The band also recorded one single as the High Numbers before changing its name to the Who shortly before the drummer joined.

Answer 2,624: History & Government -- Pike's Strike

d) Toronto

The soldier and explorer, for whom Pike's Peak was named, died during the attack when an ammunition storage exploded.

Answer 2,625: Math & Science -- Whither Wind

c) Notus

The Greek god was the equivalent of the Roman Vulturnus.

Answer 2,626: Geography & Nature -- Multipli-City

a) Fairview

Midway ranked second, followed by Oak Grove and Franklin in 2002.

Answer 2,627: Literature & Arts -- Steinbeck Stipend

b) The Grapes of Wrath

The Great Depression saga garnered the honor in 1940.

Answer 2,628: Sports & Games -- Football Phenom

a) Anthony Thompson

The Miami of Ohio running back scored 468 points on 78 touchdowns from 1996 to 1999.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,623-2,628

Question 2,623: Entertainment & Food -- Who Were You

What member of the Who was not formerly with the Detours?

a) John Entwistle
b) Keith Moon
c) Pete Townshend
d) Roger Daltrey

Question 2,624: History & Government -- Pike's Strike

What city did a U.S. army led by General Zebulon Pike capture on April 27, 1813?

a) Houston
b) Kansas City
c) New Orleans
d) Toronto

Question 2,625: Math & Science -- Whither Wind

Which of the following is another name for the South Wind?

a) Boreus
b) Eurus
c) Notus
d) Zephyrus

Question 2,626: Geography & Nature -- Multipli-City

What is the most common U.S. city name?

a) Fairview
b) Franklin
c) Midway
d) Oak Grove

Question 2,627: Literature & Arts -- Steinbeck Stipend

Which novel did John Steinbeck win a Pulitzer Prize for?

a) East of Eden
b) The Grapes of Wrath
c) Of Mice and Men
d) The Winter of Our Discontent

Question 2,628: Sports & Games -- Football Phenom

What non-kicker scored the most points in his NCAA football career?

a) Anthony Thompson
b) Marshall Faulk
c) Ricky Williams
d) Travis Prentice

September Gurls - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) "Gonna Fly Now". Sorry, no points for "Theme from Rocky" because it doesn't fit the quiz theme.
  • A2) "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)". In the U.K., the single from her number one album Whitney took over the top spot from Starship's "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now", another song that could have been included in this list.
  • A3) "Never Gonna Give You Up". Nearly two decades later, Astley's first #1 song zoomed back into popularity in a prank called Rickrolling, in which web links are intentionally redirected to a video of this song instead of the content that the user expects.
  • A4) "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You". The lip-syncing duo took over the #1 spot from Gloria Estefan's "Don't Wanna Lose You", another eligible tune.
  • A5) "Nothing Compares 2 U". Prince originally wrote this song for his R&B band called the Family.
  • A6) "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)". The song from the album of the same name (minus the parenthetical modifier) led to a lawsuit by Martha Wash, whom Columbia Records had considered unmarketable and had not originally credited with the vocals.
  • A7) "I Don't Wanna Cry". This song marked the beginning of Carey's song-writing partnership with Narada Michael Walden after a string of hits with Ben Marguiles.
  • A8) "Wannabe". The signature song became the all-time best-selling song by a female group, topping the charts in 31 countries and surpassing six million sales.
  • A9) "U Remind Me". If the song reminds you of Mary J. Blige, that's because Usher borrowed snippets from her similarly titled song "You Remind Me" from a decade earlier.
  • A10) "Shake Ya Tailfeather". The single from the movie Bad Boys II begins with Florida State University's famous (or infamous, depending on your perspective) war chant.
  • A11) "In Da Club". The hip hop song from Get Rich or Die Tryin' helped the first half of the album's title come true as 50 Cent's first Hot 100 #1 song.
  • A12) "Hey Ya!". The upbeat single held the top spot for an impressive nine weeks, from December 13, 2003 to February 7, 2004.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

September Gurls - Random Trivia Questions

The alternate spelling of the word "girls" in the Bangles song and album name inspired this week's quiz about Billboard Hot 100 number one songs, each of which features a slang spelling. I'm gonna tell ya da year an' artist, an' u gotta gimme da song name. U wit me?

September Gurls Questions

  • Q1) Bill Conti (1977)
  • Q2) Whitney Houston (1987)
  • Q3) Rick Astley (1988)
  • Q4) Milli Vanilli (1989)
  • Q5) Sinead O'Connor (1990)
  • Q6) C+C Music Factory (1990)
  • Q7) Mariah Carey (1991)
  • Q8) Spice Girls (1996)
  • Q9) Usher (2001)
  • Q10) Nelly, P. Diddy, and Murphy Lee (2003)
  • Q11) 50 Cent (2003)
  • Q12) OutKast (2003-2004)

Wooty-Fruity -- Quiz Quilt 86 Solution

Category Answers:
Math
&
Science
UPCThe Universal Product Code debuted in 1974.
Literature
&
Arts
NEWSPEAKThe language is based on English, now called Oldspeak, but is simplified to make subversive thoughts and speech more difficult.
Entertainment
&
Food
MADONNAThe pop star was born as Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone near Detroit on August 16, 1958.
Geography
&
Nature
ACCRAThe town began as a settlement of British and Dutch forts in the 17th century.
History
&
Government
CHALLENGERThe flight lasted only 73 seconds.
Sports
&
Games
NYADDiana Nyad's 102½-mile swim took two days nonstop and is still the longest ever by any man or woman without the aid of a cage.

Quiz Quilt Answer: PEACHY (2nd letters)

"Peachy" can mean "like the fruit" or "excellent".

Friday, September 5, 2008

Wooty-Fruity -- Quiz Quilt 86 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Math
&
Science
What kind of bar code uses thin and thick light and dark bars to identify items?
Literature
&
Arts
What contradictory language did George Orwell concoct for his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four?
Entertainment
&
Food
What singer has a given last name of Ciccone but is known by just her first name?
Geography
&
Nature
Located on the Gulf of Guinea, what is the capital and most populous city of Ghana?
History
&
Government
What space shuttle exploded on January 28, 1986?
Sports
&
Games
What woman successfully swam from the Bahamas to Florida on her third attempt in August 1979?

General Trivia Answers #2,617-2,622

Answer 2,617: Entertainment & Food -- The Height of Saturday Night

c) Jim Belushi

But his brother John was.

Answer 2,618: History & Government -- Fourth State

b) Georgia

In 1732, the Peach State had been the last British colony established in North America.

Answer 2,619: Math & Science -- Why Die

c) Pneumonia and flu

Tuberculosis was the number two killer.

Answer 2,620: Geography & Nature -- 7 by 24 Hundreds

a) Bahamas

The nation, which gained its independence from the U.K. on July 10, 1973, sustains itself mostly on tourism and offshore banking.

Answer 2,621: Literature & Arts -- Cubist Co-Creator

a) Georges Braque

French art critic Louis Vauxcelles called the art "bizarre cubiques" two years later.

Answer 2,622: Sports & Games -- Win Power

c) Kentucky

The Wildcats had won 1,966 games against 621 losses through the 2007-08 season.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,617-2,622

Question 2,617: Entertainment & Food -- The Height of Saturday Night

Which actor below was not one of the original members of the Saturday Night Live cast?

a) Chevy Chase
b) Garrett Morris
c) Jim Belushi
d) Laraine Newman

Question 2,618: History & Government -- Fourth State

Which southern state was the fourth state to join the U.S. on January 2, 1788?

a) Alabama
b) Georgia
c) North Carolina
d) South Carolina

Question 2,619: Math & Science -- Why Die

In 1900, what was the leading cause of death in the U.S.?

a) Diarrhea and ulcerative colitis
b) Heart disease
c) Pneumonia and flu
d) Tuberculosis

Question 2,620: Geography & Nature -- 7 by 24 Hundreds

What country consists of about 700 islands and 2,400 uninhabited islets, including New Providence and Abaco?

a) Bahamas
b) Malaysia
c) Micronesia
d) Philippines

Question 2,621: Literature & Arts -- Cubist Co-Creator

What artist originated Cubism with Pablo Picasso in 1906?

a) Georges Braque
b) Jacques Lipchitz
c) Marcel Duchamp
d) Paul Cezanne

Question 2,622: Sports & Games -- Win Power

What college has won the most total NCAA men's basketball games?

a) Duke
b) Kansas
c) Kentucky
d) North Carolina

General Trivia Answers #2,611-2,616

Answer 2,611: Entertainment & Food -- Prize Pair

c) Out of Africa

Sydney Pollack directed the scenic romance starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.

Answer 2,612: History & Government -- Truthteller at the Top

c) Harry Truman

His quote appeared in the April 3, 1956 edition of Look magazine.

Answer 2,613: Math & Science -- Element's Electrons

b) 2

Two protons and usually two neutrons occupy the nucleus.

Answer 2,614: Geography & Nature -- Counterfeit Corner

d) Wyoming

Arizona is the fourth, meeting the other three states at its northeast corner.

Answer 2,615: Literature & Arts -- Mobbed Museum

d) Smithsonian Institution

Over thirty million people visit each year.

Answer 2,616: Sports & Games -- Pachyderm Polo?

b) Elephants

The World Elephant Polo Association has run the tournament since 1982.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,611-2,616

Question 2,611: Entertainment & Food -- Prize Pair

Which movie won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director of 1985?

a) Cocoon
b) Kiss of the Spider Woman
c) Out of Africa
d) Prizzi's Honor

Question 2,612: History & Government -- Truthteller at the Top

Which U.S. President declared, "I never give them hell. I just tell the truth, and they think it is hell"?

a) Calvin Coolidge
b) Franklin Roosevelt
c) Harry Truman
d) Herbert Hoover

Question 2,613: Math & Science -- Element's Electrons

How many electrons are in an atom of helium?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

Question 2,614: Geography & Nature -- Counterfeit Corner

Which U.S. state below is not one of the Four Corners states?

a) Colorado
b) New Mexico
c) Utah
d) Wyoming

Question 2,615: Literature & Arts -- Mobbed Museum

What national Washington, D.C. museum is by far the most visited museum in the U.S.?

a) Air and Space Museum
b) Museum of American History
c) Museum of Natural History
d) Smithsonian Institution

Question 2,616: Sports & Games -- Pachyderm Polo?

What type of animals are used in the annual polo tournament held each December on the Meghauli airstrip in Nepal?

a) Cows
b) Elephants
c) Giraffes
d) Zebras

General Trivia Answers #2,605-2,610

Answer 2,605: Entertainment & Food -- '32 Debut

c) Katharine Hepburn

Katherine of Arrogance demanded and received $1,500 per week to play Sidney Fairfield, who is about to get married just as her father escapes from an insane asylum.

Answer 2,606: History & Government -- New England

a) Egbert

The king of Wessex defeated Beornwulf of Mercia in A.D. 825, and Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Essex soon joined the country.

Answer 2,607: Math & Science -- Nebula Neighborhood

d) Taurus

The Crab Nebula and the constellation Cancer are unrelated except for their shapes.

Answer 2,608: Geography & Nature -- Determine Who's the Ermine

d) Weasel

The mammal is white in the winter and brown in the summer.

Answer 2,609: Literature & Arts -- Minerva vs. Mars

c) Peter Paul Rubens

The Baroque artist had parents from Belgium, was born in Germany, painted for the courts of Italy and France, and performed diplomatic missions for Spain.

Answer 2,610: Sports & Games -- Worth Fighting Four

a) Evander Holyfield

The Real Deal earned his fourth title with a unanimous decision over John Ruiz on August 12, 2000. Muhammad Ali seized the crown three times.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,605-2,610

Question 2,605: Entertainment & Food -- '32 Debut

What actress debuted in A Bill of Divorcement in 1932?

a) Greta Garbo
b) Helen Hayes
c) Katharine Hepburn
d) Marlene Dietrich

Question 2,606: History & Government -- New England

What Saxon was the first ruler of all England in A.D. 829?

a) Egbert
b) Ethelbald
c) Ethelbert
d) Ethelwulf

Question 2,607: Math & Science -- Nebula Neighborhood

In which zodiac constellation can the Crab Nebula be found?

a) Cancer
b) Gemini
c) Sagittarius
d) Taurus

Question 2,608: Geography & Nature -- Determine Who's the Ermine

What animal's winter name is ermine?

a) Ferret
b) Lemming
c) Mink
d) Weasel

Question 2,609: Literature & Arts -- Minerva vs. Mars

Who painted Minerva Protecting Peace from Mars and The Effects of War?

a) Cosimo Rosselli
b) Girolamo Romanino
c) Peter Paul Rubens
d) Raphael

Question 2,610: Sports & Games -- Worth Fighting Four

Who was the first fighter to win at least a share of the heavyweight boxing title four times?

a) Evander Holyfield
b) Floyd Patterson
c) Jack Dempsey
d) Muhammad Ali

General Trivia Answers #2,599-2,604

Answer 2,599: Entertainment & Food -- GRand Groom

d) William Shatner

The first of his four marriages ended in divorce in 1969.

Answer 2,600: History & Government -- Senior School

b) Pennsylvania

Founded in 1765 partly through Benjamin Franklin's efforts, the Philadelphia institution is the fifth oldest college in the U.S.

Answer 2,601: Math & Science -- Ready, Get Set

a) Georg Cantor

Born in Russia, he proved in 1873 that infinite sets could be countable, such as the set of rational numbers, or uncountable, such as the set of real numbers.

Answer 2,602: Geography & Nature -- Province Port

a) Halifax, Nova Scotia

When it was a British military post, the province's most populous city was named for George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax.

Answer 2,603: Literature & Arts -- Pips Puzzle

d) Seeds

The plot involves a Sussex man whose American uncle is murdered after receiving an envelope containing five orange seeds.

Answer 2,604: Sports & Games -- Prolific Passer

c) Norm Van Brocklin

The Rams backup quarterback amassed 554 passing yards and 5 touchdowns on September 28, 1951.

Monday, September 1, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,599-2,604

Question 2,599: Entertainment & Food -- GRand Groom

What Star Trek actor married Gloria Rand on August 12, 1956?

a) DeForest Kelley
b) George Takei
c) Leonard Nimoy
d) William Shatner

Question 2,600: History & Government -- Senior School

What was the first university in the United States?

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

Question 2,601: Math & Science -- Ready, Get Set

What German mathematician conceptualized set theory near the end of the 19th century?

a) Georg Cantor
b) Gottfried Leibniz
c) Hermann Grassmann
d) Johann Lambert

Question 2,602: Geography & Nature -- Province Port

Which provincial capital city is Canada's largest ice-free port?

a) Halifax, Nova Scotia
b) Montreal, Quebec
c) St. John's, Newfoundland
d) Vancouver, British Columbia

Question 2,603: Literature & Arts -- Pips Puzzle

What does the title of Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Five Orange Pips" refer to?

a) Birds
b) Dice
c) Playing cards
d) Seeds

Question 2,604: Sports & Games -- Prolific Passer

Which NFL quarterback threw for the most yards in a game?

a) Boomer Esiason
b) Dan Marino
c) Norm Van Brocklin
d) Warren Moon

General Trivia Answers #2,593-2,598

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

c) On Her Majesty's Secret Service

The 1969 movie pits 007 against Blofeld and S.P.E.C.T.R.E.

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

a) George Bush

The former CIA director also took a tandem jump on his 80th birthday in 2004.

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

a) Basalt

The moon rocks that the Apollo astronauts brought back are also composed of basalt.

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

c) Haiti

The island also goes by the names Santo Domingo, Ayiti, and Bohio.

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

b) Bill Gates

The business and technology books were published in 1996 and 1999 respectively.

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

a) Dallas Cowboys

America's Team has reached the championship game eight times, winning twice in the 1970s and thrice in the 1990s.