Friday, February 29, 2008

Heaven Seven -- Quiz Quilt 59 Puzzle

Category Questions:
History
&
Government
Who was the first U.S. President born in June, the last month a President had not been born in?
Literature
&
Arts
What national Spanish museum of painting and sculpture is located in Madrid and was formerly known as the Royal Museum?
Sports
&
Games
In which state are the Preakness Stakes run?
Math
&
Science
What did Watson and Crick discover was shaped like a double helix in 1953?
Geography
&
Nature
What is the only type of tree from which adult koalas eat?
Entertainment
&
Food
What "Never Gonna Give You Up" singer did critics initially think was lip synching for a black man?

General Trivia Answers #1,807-1,812

Answer 1,807: Entertainment & Food -- *Ford Connect

a) Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

The star of Dead Man's Curve in 1928 did not achieve the fame of his father but still earned spots on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as both a movie actor and a television actor.

Answer 1,808: History & Government -- Flight Site

c) Colorado Springs

After four years in Denver, the academy moved to its present site in 1958.

Answer 1,809: Math & Science -- Semicircle Symbols

d) Warm front

Triangles denote a cold front, while alternating semicircles and triangles show an occluded front.

Answer 1,810: Geography & Nature -- Animal Alarm

d) U.S.

As of February 2005, 276 of the 318 threatened species were in the United States. Endangered species were also more prevalent in the U.S. (988) than elsewhere (517).

Answer 1,811: Literature & Arts -- Mary's Moniker

a) George Eliot

The 19th-century English novelist admitted that she chose a male pen name because she wanted her books to be taken seriously.

Answer 1,812: Sports & Games -- Run Record

c) Rickey Henderson

The Man of Steal passed Cobb's record of 2,245 on October 4, 2001.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,807-1,812

Question 1,807: Entertainment & Food -- *Ford Connect

What actor was the stepson of Mary Pickford and the husband of Joan Crawford?

a) Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
b) Paul Newman
c) Peter O'Toole
d) Ryan O'Neal

Question 1,808: History & Government -- Flight Site

In which Colorado city is the U.S. Air Force Academy located?

a) Aspen
b) Aurora
c) Colorado Springs
d) Denver

Question 1,809: Math & Science -- Semicircle Symbols

What type of weather front does a line of adjacent semicircles indicate on weather maps?

a) Cold front
b) Occluded front
c) Stationary front
d) Warm front

Question 1,810: Geography & Nature -- Animal Alarm

According to the Threatened and Endangered Species System, what country has the most threatened species of animals?

a) Australia
b) Brazil
c) China
d) U.S.

Question 1,811: Literature & Arts -- Mary's Moniker

What pseudonym did Mary Ann Evans write under?

a) George Eliot
b) George Sand
c) John Sedges
d) O. Henry

Question 1,812: Sports & Games -- Run Record

What Major League Baseball player scored the most runs in his career?

a) Hank Aaron
b) Pete Rose
c) Rickey Henderson
d) Ty Cobb

General Trivia Answers #1,801-1,806

Answer 1,801: Entertainment & Food -- Adam's Area

b) Los Angeles

Jack Webb created and produced the Dragnet spin-off, which ran from 1968 to 1975.

Answer 1,802: History & Government -- Gold Grab

a) Alaska

Gold was first discovered just across the border in the Klondike region of Canada's Yukon territory the year before.

Answer 1,803: Math & Science -- Turn Back the Phage

d) Virus that attacks bacteria

Microbiologist Mark Mueller joked, "Bacteria don't die, they just phage away."

Answer 1,804: Geography & Nature -- Portuguese Place

b) Brazil

Portugal first explored the region in 1500 and held it as a colony until 1822.

Answer 1,805: Literature & Arts -- A Separate Piece

b) The Hobbit

The preface appeared in 1937, seventeen years before the trilogy.

Answer 1,806: Sports & Games -- Monopoly Municipality

a) Atlantic City, New Jersey

Charles Darrow copyrighted the game in 1933, three decades after Lizzie J. Magie's similarly laid out Landlord's Game.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,801-1,806

Question 1,801: Entertainment & Food -- Adam's Area

What city's police department was the television show Adam 12 about?

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

Question 1,802: History & Government -- Gold Grab

What future U.S. state experienced a gold rush in 1898?

a) Alaska
b) California
c) Nevada
d) Oregon

Question 1,803: Math & Science -- Turn Back the Phage

What is a bacteriophage?

a) Colony of bacteria
b) Instrument for collecting bacteria
c) Type of bacteria
d) Virus that attacks bacteria

Question 1,804: Geography & Nature -- Portuguese Place

What is the only South American country where Portuguese is the main language?

a) Bolivia
b) Brazil
c) Paraguay
d) Uruguay

Question 1,805: Literature & Arts -- A Separate Piece

Which of the following is not one of the novels in the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

a) The Fellowship of the Ring
b) The Hobbit
c) The Return of the King
d) The Two Towers

Question 1,806: Sports & Games -- Monopoly Municipality

What city's streets is the board game Monopoly based on?

a) Atlantic City, New Jersey
b) Ocean City, Maryland
c) Rockport, Maine
d) Santa Cruz, California

General Trivia Answers #1,795-1,800

Answer 1,795: Entertainment & Food -- Flash Regards

a) Frank Sinatra

The group became the Hoboken Four when Ol' Blue Eyes joined.

Answer 1,796: History & Government -- Canadian Coalescer

d) Wilfrid Laurier

Serving until 1911, the McGill University graduate had the longest term of any Canadian prime minister.

Answer 1,797: Math & Science -- Double Duty

c) Gus Grissom

His second flight was on Gemini 3 on March 23, 1965, almost four years after his first on Mercury-Redstone 4.

Answer 1,798: Geography & Nature -- Ample Animal

a) Bison

The hoofed animal, also called a buffalo, weighs over a ton on average.

Answer 1,799: Literature & Arts -- Songless Shakespeare

a) The Comedy of Errors

Ironically, it was made into the musical The Boys from Syracuse in 1938.

Answer 1,800: Sports & Games -- Soccer Hall

d) Paris, France

The museum is at Euro Disney.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,795-1,800

Question 1,795: Entertainment & Food -- Flash Regards

Which of the following singers was not one of the Three Flashes?

a) Frank Sinatra
b) Fred Tamburro
c) James Petrozelli
d) Patty Principi

Question 1,796: History & Government -- Canadian Coalescer

Who was the first French Canadian prime minister, whose election in 1896 helped unify Canada?

a) Arthur Meighen
b) Charles Tupper
c) Louis St. Laurent
d) Wilfrid Laurier

Question 1,797: Math & Science -- Double Duty

Who was the first person to make two space flights?

a) Alan Shepard
b) Gordon Cooper
c) Gus Grissom
d) John Glenn

Question 1,798: Geography & Nature -- Ample Animal

What is the heaviest land animal in North America?

a) Bison
b) Black bear
c) Grizzly bear
d) Moose

Question 1,799: Literature & Arts -- Songless Shakespeare

Which is the only Shakespeare play without any songs in it?

a) The Comedy of Errors
b) The Merchant of Venice
c) Much Ado About Nothing
d) Twelfth Night

Question 1,800: Sports & Games -- Soccer Hall

In what city did the International Soccer Hall of Champions open in 1998?

a) Bologna, Italy
b) Manchester, England
c) Mannheim, Germany
d) Paris, France

General Trivia Answers #1,789-1,794

Answer 1,789: Entertainment & Food -- Miner's Minor

b) Loretta Lynn

Her father, Ted Webb, mined the Kentucky hills to support his wife and eight children during the Depression.

Answer 1,790: History & Government -- Breaking Away

d) Rhodesia

Leader Ian Smith declared independence on November 11, 1965.

Answer 1,791: Math & Science -- Einstein's Enigma

a) Income taxes

The scientific genius also noted, "Gravity cannot be held responsible for people falling in love."

Answer 1,792: Geography & Nature -- Can't Be Candy

d) A plant

The flowering plant grows in the Mediterranean region.

Answer 1,793: Literature & Arts -- Bell Bard

d) Sylvia Plath

The 1963 novel was based on the real women's-only Barbizon Hotel in New York City.

Answer 1,794: Sports & Games -- Series Shut Out

c) Texas Rangers

The team, founded as the Washington Senators in 1961, is also the oldest to never appear in the World Series.

Monday, February 25, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,789-1,794

Question 1,789: Entertainment & Food -- Miner's Minor

What country singer's autobiography was turned into the 1978 movie Coal Miner's Daughter?

a) Dolly Parton
b) Loretta Lynn
c) Patsy Cline
d) Tammy Wynette

Question 1,790: History & Government -- Breaking Away

What was the only country besides the United States to declare independence from Great Britain?

a) Australia
b) India
c) Micronesia
d) Rhodesia

Question 1,791: Math & Science -- Einstein's Enigma

What did Albert Einstein call "the hardest thing in the world to understand"?

a) Income taxes
b) Love
c) Relativity
d) War

Question 1,792: Geography & Nature -- Can't Be Candy

What is a candytuft?

a) A bird
b) A dessert
c) An insect
d) A plant

Question 1,793: Literature & Arts -- Bell Bard

Which suicidal poet wrote about the Amazon Hotel in The Bell Jar?

a) Anne Sexton
b) Edna St. Vincent Millay
c) Elizabeth Browning
d) Sylvia Plath

Question 1,794: Sports & Games -- Series Shut Out

What is the oldest current Major League Baseball franchise that has never won the World Series?

a) Houston Astros
b) Seattle Mariners
c) Texas Rangers
d) Washington Nationals

General Trivia Answers #1,783-1,788

Answer 1,783: Entertainment & Food -- Merchant's Maniacs

d) 10,000

The 10,000 Maniacs were named for the 1964 movie Two Thousand Maniacs!

Answer 1,784: History & Government -- Century-Long Skirmish

a) France

The series of historically-related battles lasted through the reigns of five British kings and five French kings and ended with the unification of France in 1453.

Answer 1,785: Math & Science -- Earth's Eccentric Escort

a) Mars

Our neighboring planet has an eccentricity of 0.206. Most of the orbits are more accurately described as ellipses than circles.

Answer 1,786: Geography & Nature -- Tropical Territory

b) Guam

Its geographically-inspired motto is "Where America's Day Begins".

Answer 1,787: Literature & Arts -- Merciless Month

a) April

The poem continues, "breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing / Memory and desire, stirring / Dull roots with spring rain."

Answer 1,788: Sports & Games -- First or Second Place Ball

a) Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers

They have played for the championship eighteen times.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,783-1,788

Question 1,783: Entertainment & Food -- Merchant's Maniacs

How many Maniacs were formerly associated with Natalie Merchant?

a) 1,000
b) 2,000
c) 5,000
d) 10,000

Question 1,784: History & Government -- Century-Long Skirmish

Who fought England in the Hundred Years War?

a) France
b) Germany
c) Ireland
d) Spain

Question 1,785: Math & Science -- Earth's Eccentric Escort

Which planet's orbit is the least circular?

a) Mars
b) Mercury
c) Neptune
d) Saturn

Question 1,786: Geography & Nature -- Tropical Territory

What unincorporated U.S. territory is the southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago?

a) American Samoa
b) Guam
c) Puerto Rico
d) U.S. Virgin Islands

Question 1,787: Literature & Arts -- Merciless Month

What is the cruelest month according to T.S. Eliot's 1922 poem "The Waste Land"?

a) April
b) December
c) February
d) January

Question 1,788: Sports & Games -- First or Second Place Ball

Which National League team has appeared in the most World Series?

a) Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers
b) Chicago Cubs
c) New York/San Francisco Giants
d) St. Louis Cardinals

Second Banana - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) Canada. Even after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia dwarfs the nearest contender by over 40%.
  • A2) Saturn. Jupiter is the largest of the gas giants with more than three times the mass and 1.7 times the volume of its nearest outer neighbor.
  • A3) Thomas Jefferson. From 1801 to 1809 he served under John Adams, who had been the first Vice President.
  • A4) Robert Scott. Not only did he come in second to Roald Amundsen, the British naval officer and his entire expedition perished on the return trip.
  • A5) Man o' War. A year before winning the Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1920, the Hall of Famer was left behind at the start of the Sanford Stakes, allowing the 7-2 underdog Upset to pin Man o' War with the only loss of his 21-race career.
  • A6) Warner Baxter. He won for playing the Cisco Kid in the the 1929 movie In Old Arizona. Emil Jannings had captured the first award for The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh, while Janet Gaynor and Mary Pickford picked up the first two Best Actress awards.
  • A7) Amelia Earhart. In 1932, five years after Charles Lindbergh had flown from Long Island to Paris aboard the Spirit of St. Louis, Earhart duplicated the feat in the Lockheed Vega 5b. Three years later, she would become the first to make the solo trip from Hawaii to California.
  • A8) Thomas Dewey. The Chicago Daily Tribune trumpeted the New York Governor's victory, only to see Harry Truman catch up and pull away in the late polls, ultimately capturing 49.6% of the popular vote (to Dewey's 45.1%, 0.8% less than he'd received in 1944) and 303 electoral votes (to 189).
  • A9) Buzz Aldrin. Neil Armstrong got the speech and the glory, while poor Michael Collins got oh-so-close but was required to stay behind in the Command Module.
  • A10) Virginia. The then-mighty Cavaliers, led by 7'4"-tall back-to-back-to-back Player of the Year Ralph Sampson but suffering from overconfidence and the effects of a trip to Japan, lost 77-72 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • A11) Judith Resnick. She was a mission specialist on the Discovery space shuttle's first launch in 1984, a year after Sally Ride's mission on the Challenger, but tragically died during the disastrous launch of the latter on January 28, 1996.
  • A12) Garry Kasparov. The Russian was outcalculated by IBM's Deep Blue in 1997. Just over a decade later, the best chess computers can now give a handicap to the top grandmasters and still win.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Second Banana - Random Trivia Questions

The biggest and the best shine the brightest, but this week's quiz is about notable exceptions like the 2007-08 New England Patriots, whose 18-straight wins will undoubtedly remain more memorable than the New York Giants Super Bowl championship. You already know about Elisha Gray, who appeared in a quiz earlier this month, but how about these other second bananas?

Second Banana Questions

  • Q1) What is the second largest country in the world?
  • Q2) What is the second largest planet in our solar system?
  • Q3) Who was the second Vice President of the United States of America?
  • Q4) What explorer excitedly reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912 only to discover that his party had been beaten there by 34 days?
  • Q5) What horse did Upset upset to cement his name into the English lexicon?
  • Q6) Who was the second Best Actor Oscar winner?
  • Q7) Who was the second person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean?
  • Q8) What U.S. presidential candidate was prematurely proclaimed the winner in newspaper headlines on November 3, 1948?
  • Q9) Who was the second astronaut to set foot on the moon?
  • Q10) What Division I college basketball team did tiny NAIA college Chaminade upend on December 23, 1982?
  • Q11) Who was the second female American to go into space?
  • Q12) Who was the first reigning world chess champion to lose to a computer in a normal time-limit match?

2 or 3 to 6 -- Quiz Quilt 58 Solution

Category Answers:
Literature
&
Arts
SARTREJean Paul Sartre's The Devil and the Good Lord was published in 1951.
Entertainment
&
Food
LEOThe sign traditionally includes anyone born between July 23 to August 22, although that is no longer astronomically accurate.
Geography
&
Nature
ANTAlthough their brains weigh only a hundredth of a gram on average, they are the heaviest of any insects and contain about 250,000 brain cells.
Math
&
Science
LACTOSEIn most mammals, this change occurs so the young will wean themselves.
History
&
Government
MEANYPlumber George Meany became the head of the merged union on December 5, 1955.
Sports
&
Games
TIFFANYAmerican artist Louis Tiffany was best known for his art nouveau stained glass work.

Quiz Quilt Answer: FACTOR (Third letters going up)

Two and three are the prime factors of the number six.

Friday, February 22, 2008

2 or 3 to 6 -- Quiz Quilt 58 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Literature
&
Arts
What author noted, "When the rich wage war it is the poor who die"?
Entertainment
&
Food
Which astrological sign is associated with the lion?
Geography
&
Nature
What animal has the largest brain in proportion to its body size?
Math
&
Science
What milk sugar do many adult humans develop an intolerance for?
History
&
Government
Who was the first president of the AFL-CIO?
Sports
&
Games
What famous designer originally created the New York Yankees' distinctive "NY" logo for a police medal?

General Trivia Answers #1,777-1,782

Answer 1,777: Entertainment & Food -- Honored Host

a) Arsenio Hall

The Arsenio Hall Show aired late at night from 1989 to 1994.

Answer 1,778: History & Government -- Elected Eagle

d) John F. Kennedy

The only Roman Catholic President achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Answer 1,779: Math & Science -- Land Landing

a) Columbia

John Young landed the shuttle on Edwards Air Force Base's Runway 23 on April 14, 1981.

Answer 1,780: Geography & Nature -- Cultural Capital

a) Kyoto

As of 2003, the city had almost 1.5 million people, an average of over 6,000 per square mile.

Answer 1,781: Literature & Arts -- Bank Shot Plot

a) A bank robbery

A bank is being temporarily housed in a mobile home, so robbers plot to steal the whole bank.

Answer 1,782: Sports & Games -- Postwar Store

b) Mattel

The couple started the company in their garage with Harold Matson. The company name combines the first syllables of Matson and Elliot.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,777-1,782

Question 1,777: Entertainment & Food -- Honored Host

What talk show host was TV Guide's television personality of the year in 1990?

a) Arsenio Hall
b) David Letterman
c) Jay Leno
d) Oprah Winfrey

Question 1,778: History & Government -- Elected Eagle

Who was the first U.S. President who had been a Boy Scout?

a) Dwight Eisenhower
b) Gerald Ford
c) Harry Truman
d) John F. Kennedy

Question 1,779: Math & Science -- Land Landing

What was the first manned U.S. spacecraft to touch down on land?

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

Question 1,780: Geography & Nature -- Cultural Capital

What city served as Japan's capital from 794 to 1868 and is still the country's cultural heart?

a) Kyoto
b) Osaka
c) Sapporo
d) Yokohama

Question 1,781: Literature & Arts -- Bank Shot Plot

What are the 1972 Donald Westlake novel and 1974 movie Bank Shot about?

a) A bank robbery
b) Basketball
c) Foosball
d) Pool

Question 1,782: Sports & Games -- Postwar Store

What toy company did Ruth and Elliot Handler found in 1945?

a) Hasbro
b) Mattel
c) Milton Bradley
d) Parker Brothers

General Trivia Answers #1,771-1,776

Answer 1,771: Entertainment & Food -- Star-Swinging

b) Goat

Bing Crosby topped the charts with the Academy Award-winning Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen tune from the 1944 movie Going My Way.

Answer 1,772: History & Government -- How Now Dow Wow

a) 1900s

The stock barometer eclipsed the century mark on January 12, 1906.

Answer 1,773: Math & Science -- Transcendental Aberration

b) i

The imaginary number is equal to the square root of negative one.

Answer 1,774: Geography & Nature -- Nanook Nomenclature

d) Polar bear

The University of Alaska Fairbanks uses the master of bears as their mascot.

Answer 1,775: Literature & Arts -- The Fife Painter

c) Edouard Manet

The French government awarded him the Legion of Honor in 1881.

Answer 1,776: Sports & Games -- Cassius Conqueror

d) Larry Holmes

The Easton Assassin floored Ali in the 11th round on October 2, 1980.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,771-1,776

Question 1,771: Entertainment & Food -- Star-Swinging

In the song "Swinging on a Star", what animal does the singer not ask if you would rather be?

a) Fish
b) Goat
c) Mule
d) Pig

Question 1,772: History & Government -- How Now Dow Wow

In what decade did the Dow Jones Industrial Average first break 100?

a) 1900s
b) 1910s
c) 1920s
d) 1930s

Question 1,773: Math & Science -- Transcendental Aberration

Which number below is not a transcendental number?

a) e
b) i
c) pi
d) Square root of 2

Question 1,774: Geography & Nature -- Nanook Nomenclature

What is Nanook the Inuit word for?

a) Eskimo
b) Man
c) North
d) Polar bear

Question 1,775: Literature & Arts -- The Fife Painter

What French artist was influenced by Velazquez and Goya and painted The Balcony and The Fife Player?

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

Question 1,776: Sports & Games -- Cassius Conqueror

Who was the only boxer to knock out Muhammad Ali?

a) George Foreman
b) Joe Frazier
c) Ken Norton
d) Larry Holmes

Trivia Trap Review

Welcome to the first Trivia Why's review. I don't know how frequently this feature will appear, but I already have the second item lined up, Ken Jennings's Trivia Almanac, my current reading selection. I will try to feature trivia-based game shows (current or in syndication), books (from my library or anything you send me ;-), and other active trivia blogs (probably as a summary).

NameTrivia Trap
Original RunOctober 1984 to April 1985 (65 episodes)
HostBob Eubanks
LengthHalf hour
Currently OnGame Show Network (1 a.m. weekdays; check your local listings)
IMDBLink (see the external reviews section for pictures)

Description: Trivia Trap pits a team of three Seniors (30 years old and over) against a team of three Juniors (18 to 29 years old) in several varying rounds of trivia.

Fact or Fiction: The first round asks true/false questions, worth 25 dollars each, one to each member of each team in turn. This round was not part of the show's original format but is part of the episodes currently airing.

Trivia Trap: The second round contains multiple-choice questions with the following twist. The first contestant responds, then each teammate can agree or disagree, without specifying their actual choice. If the first person is wrong, any teammates that disagreed then give their answer. Correct answers are worth 50 dollars, with a $50 bonus if all three teammates are right.

$1,000 Race: The third round displays a rack of three topics, and the team in the lead goes first. In turn, each player selects a category, which is replaced with another, and gets first crack at the short-answer question. An incorrect answer does not end their turn however, as the other teammates also get a chance to answer. If all three answer the question incorrectly, control passes to the other team. The round continues, with dollar values increasing from $100 to $200 after ten questions, until a team goes over $1,000 for the game.

Trivia Ladder: The winning team goes on to the bonus round, where each individual has a chance at $10,000 Pot of Gold. The highest-scoring team member has the choice to play or pass after seeing the four answer options to the first question (ditto for the second player in turn). Eventually, all three players attempt a qualifying $1,000 multiple-choice question, with correct answers advancing them to the $10,000 multiple-choice finale. Players write their answers to the final question down, and correct answers split the grand prize. The winning team returns for the next contest until they win five games in a row or lose.

Conclusion: Overall, Trivia Trap is a fast-paced, low-budget game show that features interesting, reasonably high-quality trivia (Fred L. Worth was on the editorial staff), although current events questions are necessarily focused on the Reagan era. The team format is excellent, and the lack of bells and whistles only serves to better highlight the trivia focus of the show. In later episodes, celebrity teams, such as soap opera actors, compete for charities.

General Trivia Answers #1,765-1,770

Answer 1,765: Entertainment & Food -- Sight & Sound Surveys

a) Citizen Kane

The most recent survey called Orson Welles's 1941 film "dazzlingly inventive" and "technically breathtaking".

Answer 1,766: History & Government -- Confounding Country

d) Soviet Union

The First Lord of the Admiralty's radio speech continued, "... but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest."

Answer 1,767: Math & Science -- Ordinary Organ Operation

b) Kidney

About 60% of transplants are kidneys, well ahead of livers at under 25%.

Answer 1,768: Geography & Nature -- England's Eastern Estuary

c) Thames River

The 215-mile-long waterway empties out into the North Sea.

Answer 1,769: Literature & Arts -- Until It Rains Again

c) Macbeth

Three witches converse while being battered by a storm. Later in the play they chant, "Double, double toil and trouble / Fire burn and cauldron bubble."

Answer 1,770: Sports & Games -- Decathlon Decider

c) 1,500 meters

The 100 meters is the first event of the two-day competition.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,765-1,770

Question 1,765: Entertainment & Food -- Sight & Sound Surveys

What was the number one movie of all-time according to Sight & Sound critics surveys in 1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, and 2002?

a) Citizen Kane
b)
c) The Rules of the Game
d) Seven Samurai

Question 1,766: History & Government -- Confounding Country

On October 1, 1939, which country did Churchill call "a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma"?

a) China
b) Germany
c) Japan
d) Soviet Union

Question 1,767: Math & Science -- Ordinary Organ Operation

What is the most commonly transplanted organ in the U.S.?

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

Question 1,768: Geography & Nature -- England's Eastern Estuary

What is the principle river of England which flows generally east through Oxford, Reading, and London?

a) Severn River
b) Tay River
c) Thames River
d) Trent River

Question 1,769: Literature & Arts -- Until It Rains Again

Which Shakespeare play begins, "When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"

a) Julius Caesar
b) King Lear
c) Macbeth
d) Twelfth Night

Question 1,770: Sports & Games -- Decathlon Decider

How far do athletes run in the final event in the decathlon?

a) 400 meters
b) 800 meters
c) 1,500 meters
d) 3,000 meters

General Trivia Answers #1,759-1,764

Answer 1,759: Entertainment & Food -- Meat Marker

b) Grapes

Grape skins are used so the marking is edible.

Answer 1,760: History & Government -- Wales Watcher

b) David

A feast in his honor has been held on the first of March since the 12th century.

Answer 1,761: Math & Science -- The Need for Speed

a) 7 miles per second

Anything moving faster than this can escape the Earth's gravity and launch into outer space.

Answer 1,762: Geography & Nature -- Miami Match

c) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

They are both about 80° West.

Answer 1,763: Literature & Arts -- Art Part

d) Feet

Feet were considered erotic and would be the first thing women covered up.

Answer 1,764: Sports & Games -- Standing Start

b) 800 meters

American coaches George Breshnahan and William Tuttle invented the starting block in 1928, and the IAAF officially sanctioned it in 1937. Previously, runners just dug holes in the dirt.

Monday, February 18, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,759-1,764

Question 1,759: Entertainment & Food -- Meat Marker

Which substance makes the dye for stamping the grade on meat?

a) Blood
b) Grapes
c) Man-made chemicals
d) Soy beans

Question 1,760: History & Government -- Wales Watcher

Who is the patron saint of Wales?

a) Andrew
b) David
c) George
d) James

Question 1,761: Math & Science -- The Need for Speed

What is the escape velocity from the Earth's surface?

a) 7 miles per second
b) 16 miles per second
c) 25 miles per second
d) 34 miles per second

Question 1,762: Geography & Nature -- Miami Match

Which city below is Miami, Florida's longitude closest to?

a) Boston, Massachusetts
b) New York, New York
c) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
d) Washington, D.C.

Question 1,763: Literature & Arts -- Art Part

What major part of the female body would ancient Chinese artists never show in paintings?

a) Breasts
b) Buttocks
c) Ears
d) Feet

Question 1,764: Sports & Games -- Standing Start

In track, what is the shortest distance at which runners do not use starting blocks?

a) 400 meters
b) 800 meters
c) 1,500 meters
d) 3,000 meters

General Trivia Answers #1,753-1,758

Answer 1,753: Entertainment & Food -- Long Ago Libation

b) Coffee

Coffee beans and their associated drink date back to 13th-century Arabia.

Answer 1,754: History & Government -- Superstar Suffragette

a) Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Lucretia Mott was her friend and cofounder.

Answer 1,755: Math & Science -- Heavenly Handbook

c) Hipparchus

The mathematician compiled his guide to the heavens from 146 to 127 B.C.

Answer 1,756: Geography & Nature -- Second Leading Language

b) French

By total number of speakers, Mandarin is number one by far, Hindi second, and English third.

Answer 1,757: Literature & Arts -- Lucky Drawing

a) Claude Monet

His Bassin aux nympheas et sentier au bord de l'eau sold for $33 million at a 1998 auction.

Answer 1,758: Sports & Games -- Peg People

b) 6

The tiny, single-colored, plastic cars have three rows of two seats each.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,753-1,758

Question 1,753: Entertainment & Food -- Long Ago Libation

What beverage was first consumed in Europe in 1517?

a) Champagne
b) Coffee
c) Orange juice
d) Tea

Question 1,754: History & Government -- Superstar Suffragette

Who cofounded the first U.S. Women's Rights conference and was president of the National Woman Suffrage Association?

a) Elizabeth Cady Stanton
b) Rebecca Felton
c) Susan B. Anthony
d) Victoria Woodhull

Question 1,755: Math & Science -- Heavenly Handbook

What Greek compiled the first catalog of about 850 stars and is considered the father of systematic astronomy?

a) Archimedes
b) Euclid
c) Hipparchus
d) Ptolemy

Question 1,756: Geography & Nature -- Second Leading Language

After English, what language is the official spoken language of the most countries?

a) Arabic
b) French
c) German
d) Spanish

Question 1,757: Literature & Arts -- Lucky Drawing

What artist became wealthy by winning the French state lottery in 1891?

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

Question 1,758: Sports & Games -- Peg People

How many peg people can sit in each car in Milton Bradley's game of Life?

a) 4
b) 6
c) 8
d) 9

U.S. Presidents - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) Theodore Roosevelt. In 1906, he was honored for his role in the Russo-Japanese War peace treaty.
  • A2) Warren Harding. His dedication of the Francis Scott Key Memorial was broadcast on June 14, 1922.
  • A3) Lyndon Johnson. He garnered an impressive 61.1% of the vote in 1964.
  • A4) William Taft. He took charge of the Supreme Court in 1921, eight years after his presidency ended.
  • A5) Franklin Roosevelt. His Douglas DC-4 was dubbed the "Sacred Cow".
  • A6) 4. The presidential capitals are Jackson (Mississippi), Jefferson City(Missouri), Lincoln (Nebraska), and Madison (Wisconsin).
  • A7) Bill Clinton. Clinton captured 43.0% of the vote in 1992 to George Bush's 37.4% (Ross Perot's 18.9% kept both far away from a majority), and 49.2% in 1996 to Bob Dole's 40.7% (Perot 8.4%).
  • A8) Jimmy Carter. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1946.
  • A9) Chester Garfield. He was born on November 19, 1831 in a 30-by-20-foot log cabin in Orange Township, Ohio. The first log cabin president was Andrew Jackson, born in Waxhaw, North Carolina on March 15, 1767.
  • A10) John Quincy Adams. John C. Calhoun was his Vice President during his two terms from 1817 to 1825.
  • A11) Millard Fillmore. The thirteenth U.S President was born on January 7, 1800. The last born in the 1700s was James Buchanan, two presidents later.
  • A12) John F. Kennedy. The thirty-fifth U.S. President was born on May 29, 1917. Four of the next five presidents were born after him.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

U.S. Presidents - Random Trivia Questions

The third Monday in February is now celebrated as Presidents Day, although it is officially still called Washington's Birthday by the federal government. In honor of Washington, Lincoln, and the other forty-one U.S. presidents, please enjoy the inaugural Trivia Why's U.S. Presidents quiz.

U.S. Presidents Questions

  • Q1) Who was the first U.S. President to win a Nobel Peace Prize?
  • Q2) Who was the first U.S. President to give a radio speech?
  • Q3) What U.S. President was elected with the highest percent of the popular vote (note: only tabulated since 1824)?
  • Q4) Who was the only U.S. President who was also Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
  • Q5) Who was the first U.S. President to have a Presidential aircraft?
  • Q6) How many U.S. state capitals are named after U.S. Presidents?
  • Q7) Who was the only U.S. President elected twice with less than half of the popular vote each time?
  • Q8) Who was the first U.S. President to graduate from a military academy other than West Point?
  • Q9) Who was the last U.S. President born in a log cabin?
  • Q10) Who was the only U.S. President to share a first name with any of his Vice Presidents?
  • Q11) Who was the first U.S. President born in the 1800s?
  • Q12) Who was the first U.S. President born in the 1900s?

Airplane Announcer -- Quiz Quilt 57 Solution

Category Answers:
Entertainment
&
Food
MCCARTNEYThe Broad Street railway station which appears in Paul McCartney's film was once the third busiest in the city but was closed and demolished in 1986.
Literature
&
Arts
SEURATFrenchman Georges Seurat also founded Neoimpressionism, a relative of Pointillism.
Math
&
Science
HECTAREA square that is 100 meters on each side equals about 2.47 acres.
Sports
&
Games
LETThe ball is not considered to be a fault, and the server is given another chance.
History
&
Government
JOHANSSONThe country's nineteen most popular surnames all end in "-son", with Andersson at #2 and Karlsson at #3.
Geography
&
Nature
ORLANDOThe abbreviation comes from the McCoy Air Force Base, which was located where the airport now stands in Orlando, Florida.

Quiz Quilt Answer: TATTOO (Reverse diagonal)

Herve Villechaize's character Tattoo used to kick off episodes of Fantasy Island by shouting, "Da plane! Da plane!".

Friday, February 15, 2008

Airplane Announcer -- Quiz Quilt 57 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Entertainment
&
Food
Which Beatle wrote the script for and starred in the 1984 movie Give My Regards to Broad Street?
Literature
&
Arts
What artist developed Pointillism and painted Sunday Afternoon on La Grand Jatte in 1884?
Math
&
Science
What unit of measure is equal to ten thousand square meters?
Sports
&
Games
What tennis term refers to a served ball that hits the top of the net before landing inside the correct service area?
History
&
Government
What is the most common last name in Sweden?
Geography
&
Nature
What city's three-letter airport code is MCO?

General Trivia Answers #1,747-1,752

Answer 1,747: Entertainment & Food -- Culture Club Chart Topper

c) "Karma Chameleon"

Boy George also reached the Top 10 with the other three singles.

Answer 1,748: History & Government -- Dow Down Year

d) 1931

The Dow retreated 52.67% for the year. The year 1907 was the second worst at -37.73%.

Answer 1,749: Math & Science -- Gravity Greatness

c) 6

A 150-pound person would weigh only 25 pounds on the moon.

Answer 1,750: Geography & Nature -- Soviet Disunion

a) Kazakhstan

The nation is less than a sixth the size of Russia.

Answer 1,751: Literature & Arts -- Riddle Responder

d) Oedipus

Question: "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?" Answer: Man (infants crawl, adults walk, and old people use a staff).

Answer 1,752: Sports & Games -- Temple Twin

b) Owls

The schools were founded in 1884 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in 1891 in Houston, Texas.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,747-1,752

Question 1,747: Entertainment & Food -- Culture Club Chart Topper

What song did Culture Club take to #1 on the pop charts in 1983?

a) "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?"
b) "I'll Tumble 4 Ya"
c) "Karma Chameleon"
d) "Time (Clock of the Heart)"

Question 1,748: History & Government -- Dow Down Year

In what year did the Dow Jones Industrial Average lose the most relatively?

a) 1920
b) 1929
c) 1930
d) 1931

Question 1,749: Math & Science -- Gravity Greatness

About how many times stronger is the Earth's gravity than the moon's?

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

Question 1,750: Geography & Nature -- Soviet Disunion

What was the second largest country formed by the breakup of the Soviet Union?

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

Question 1,751: Literature & Arts -- Riddle Responder

According to Greek mythology, who solved the sphinx's riddle?

a) Achilles
b) Hercules
c) Odysseus
d) Oedipus

Question 1,752: Sports & Games -- Temple Twin

What nickname do the sports teams at Temple and Rice Universities share?

a) Bruins
b) Owls
c) Tigers
d) Wildcats

General Trivia Answers #1,741-1,746

Answer 1,741: Entertainment & Food -- Lost and Bound

a) Alpha Centauri

The spaceship was named the Jupiter II.

Answer 1,742: History & Government -- Glenn Gag

c) Gum

The astronaut actually was not going that far, just a few times around the Earth.

Answer 1,743: Math & Science -- Gray's Tragedy

b) Telephone

The U.S. Patent Office awarded the patent to Alexander Graham Bell, who had his device working within three weeks.

Answer 1,744: Geography & Nature -- Central American Sprawl

a) Belize

The nation had only 33 people per square mile in 2006.

Answer 1,745: Literature & Arts -- Shakespeare's Spawn

a) Elizabeth

All three were born to his wife Anne Hathaway within a two-year span from 1583 to 1585.

Answer 1,746: Sports & Games -- Fourbagger Fraction

c) Mark McGwire

Big Mac averaged one homer every 10.6 at-bats to Ruth's 11.8.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,741-1,746

Question 1,741: Entertainment & Food -- Lost and Bound

What was the original destination of the Lost in Space crew?

a) Alpha Centauri
b) Andromeda
c) Jupiter
d) Polaris

Question 1,742: History & Government -- Glenn Gag

In 1962, what did John Glenn say he was "just going down to the corner store to get" when he called his wife from the launch pad?

a) Batteries
b) Bread
c) Gum
d) Milk

Question 1,743: Math & Science -- Gray's Tragedy

For what device did Elisha Gray apply for a patent a few hours too late?

a) Telegraph
b) Telephone
c) Teleprompter
d) Television

Question 1,744: Geography & Nature -- Central American Sprawl

What is the least densely populated Central American country?

a) Belize
b) Honduras
c) Nicaragua
d) Panama

Question 1,745: Literature & Arts -- Shakespeare's Spawn

Who of the following was not one of William Shakespeare's children?

a) Elizabeth
b) Hamnet
c) Judith
d) Susanna

Question 1,746: Sports & Games -- Fourbagger Fraction

What Major League Baseball player had the lowest ratio of at-bats to home runs in his career?

a) Babe Ruth
b) Barry Bonds
c) Mark McGwire
d) Ralph Kiner

General Trivia Answers #1,735-1,740

Answer 1,735: Entertainment & Food -- Copperfield Companion

d) Claudia Schiffer

By 2002, the German model had married film producer Matthew de Vere Drummond and become the first person to have a special edition PalmPilot created in her name.

Answer 1,736: History & Government -- Seven Year Skirmish

b) French and Indian War

The conflict, won by England, lasted from 1756 to 1763, ending with concessions by France and Spain in the Treaty of Paris.

Answer 1,737: Math & Science -- Carbon Load

b) 12

The most common isotope has six protons and six neutrons.

Answer 1,738: Geography & Nature -- PULLR Lush Land

a) Belarus

The nation, formerly known as Belorussia and Byelorussia, declared its independence from the U.S.S.R. in 1990.

Answer 1,739: Literature & Arts -- Flatland Fellow

d) Square

Author A. Square tells Edwin A. Abbott's 1880 story of a two-dimensional world.

Answer 1,740: Sports & Games -- Microwave Man

d) Vinnie Johnson

The Seattle Supersonics selected the Baylor University shooting guard with the seventh pick of the 1979 NBA draft.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,735-1,740

Question 1,735: Entertainment & Food -- Copperfield Companion

To what supermodel was magician David Copperfield once engaged for six years until 1999?

a) Cheryl Tiegs
b) Christie Brinkley
c) Cindy Crawford
d) Claudia Schiffer

Question 1,736: History & Government -- Seven Year Skirmish

What does the U.S. call the war known as the Seven Years' War in Europe?

a) Crimean War
b) French and Indian War
c) Spanish American War
d) War of 1812

Question 1,737: Math & Science -- Carbon Load

What is the approximate atomic weight of carbon?

a) 6
b) 12
c) 18
d) 24

Question 1,738: Geography & Nature -- PULLR Lush Land

What country is surrounded by Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine?

a) Belarus
b) Estonia
c) Moldova
d) Uzbekistan

Question 1,739: Literature & Arts -- Flatland Fellow

What geometric shape is the narrator of the book Flatland?

a) Circle
b) Equilateral triangle
c) Line segment
d) Square

Question 1,740: Sports & Games -- Microwave Man

What former Detroit Pistons star was known as the Microwave?

a) Bill Laimbeer
b) Isiah Thomas
c) Joe Dumars
d) Vinnie Johnson

General Trivia Answers #1,729-1,734

Answer 1,729: Entertainment & Food -- Pepper Pacifier

c) Milk

The casein that it contains eases the burning sensation of the capsaicin.

Answer 1,730: History & Government -- Reagan's Realm

a) California

For nine years, the Gipper led the Golden State, which became the official state nickname early in his tenure.

Answer 1,731: Math & Science -- Commuter Operators

a) Addition and multiplication

"a + b = b + a" and "a x b = b x a".

Answer 1,732: Geography & Nature -- Bulgaria Border

b) Greece

Turkey is its remaining neighbor to the east.

Answer 1,733: Literature & Arts -- Chest Contents

a) Hope

In some versions of the myth, her husband Epimetheus took the blame for releasing all mankind's sorrows.

Answer 1,734: Sports & Games -- Backgammon Blots

b) 15

They are initially arranged on four points holding two, three, five, and five pieces.

Monday, February 11, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,729-1,734

Question 1,729: Entertainment & Food -- Pepper Pacifier

Which food or drink is best for cooling down when eating hot peppers?

a) Alcohol
b) Bread
c) Milk
d) Water

Question 1,730: History & Government -- Reagan's Realm

Of which state was Ronald Reagan elected governor on November 8, 1966?

a) California
b) Minnesota
c) New York
d) Oregon

Question 1,731: Math & Science -- Commuter Operators

Which basic mathematical operations obey the commutative law?

a) Addition and multiplication
b) Addition and subtraction
c) Division and subtraction
d) Multiplication and division

Question 1,732: Geography & Nature -- Bulgaria Border

What country is on the southern border of Albania, Macedonia, and Bulgaria?

a) Bosnia and Herzegovina
b) Greece
c) Romania
d) Turkey

Question 1,733: Literature & Arts -- Chest Contents

According to myth, what was the only thing that remained in Pandora's box after she opened it?

a) Hope
b) Love
c) Peace
d) Trouble

Question 1,734: Sports & Games -- Backgammon Blots

How many pieces does each player start with in a game of backgammon?

a) 12
b) 15
c) 18
d) 21

General Trivia Answers #1,723-1,728

Answer 1,723: Entertainment & Food -- Titanic Take

d) 11

The movie tied with Ben-Hur for the most ever and tied All About Eve for the most nominations with fourteen.

Answer 1,724: History & Government -- Beloved Baby Names

b) Emily

Jessica had held the top spot from 1985 to 1990 and 1993 to 1995.

Answer 1,725: Math & Science -- Fire Water

d) Japan

The substance is now called petroleum.

Answer 1,726: Geography & Nature -- The Late Lutetia

c) Paris, France

The name was changed in A.D. 212 when the Celtic Parisii tribe settled the area.

Answer 1,727: Literature & Arts -- Sawyer State

d) Missouri

The author was born on November 30, 1835 in the tiny river town called Florida and raised in nearby Hannibal.

Answer 1,728: Sports & Games -- Money Misjudgment

a) Baseball

The International Olympic Committee posthumously restored his medals in 1982.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,723-1,728

Question 1,723: Entertainment & Food -- Titanic Take

How many Oscars did Titanic win?

a) 8
b) 9
c) 10
d) 11

Question 1,724: History & Government -- Beloved Baby Names

What was the most popular baby girl's name from 1996 to 2006 according to U.S. Social Security registrations?

a) Elizabeth
b) Emily
c) Hannah
d) Madison

Question 1,725: Math & Science -- Fire Water

In what country was "burning water" first used around A.D. 615?

a) China
b) Egypt
c) Italy
d) Japan

Question 1,726: Geography & Nature -- The Late Lutetia

Which city was formerly known as Lutetia?

a) Amsterdam, Netherlands
b) Munich, Germany
c) Paris, France
d) Venice, Italy

Question 1,727: Literature & Arts -- Sawyer State

What was Mark Twain's home state in which Tom Sawyer takes place?

a) Alabama
b) Louisiana
c) Mississippi
d) Missouri

Question 1,728: Sports & Games -- Money Misjudgment

What sport did Jim Thorpe earn money for playing, costing him his 1912 Olympic decathlon and pentathlon gold medals?

a) Baseball
b) Basketball
c) Boxing
d) Football

Double Duty - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) ARod (Alex Rodriguez and Andy Roddick). The company where I worked for many years time used a similar naming convention for our email addresses long before it became trendy, which is partly why one of my web sites is rjen.com.
  • A2) Apple (Apple Corps, the owner of Apple Records, and Apple Computer, now known as Apple Inc.). Despite promising never to enter the music business, the computer company created the iTunes Music Store (now the iTunes Store) and the Garage Band music creation application.
  • A3) Bazooka. Bob Burns's unusual 1930s musical instrument sporting two gas pipes and a funnel lent its name to both the gun and the gum.
  • A4) Brandy. Brandy Norwood's first album was as surprisingly successful as Manilow's "Mandy", a remake of "Brandy" from only three years earlier.
  • A5) Crossfire. The CNN current events debate pitted the liberal left against the conservative right. The action game was revamped and still being sold in the mid 1990s.
  • A6) Egghead. Price's "world's smartest criminal" deduced Batman's secret identity but had his memory purged by Robin. The Egghead.com domain still exists but simply redirects to Amazon.com's software department silently.
  • A7) Jaguar. The entire Mac OS X line has been named for big cats: Cheetah (10.0), Puma (10.1), Panther (10.3), Tiger (10.4), and Leopard (10.5). The Ford Motor Company acquired Jaguar Cars Ltd. in January 1990 but is currently considering spinning it back out.
  • A8) Laser. Jim Starr competed as a gladiator from 1990 to 1996. The Chrysler and Plymouth Lasers were both sold in the U.S., while the Ford Laser was primarily in Australasia.
  • A9) Madeleine. 7- or 8-year-old Madeleine Fogg appeared in many sequels during the 1940s and 1950s. The French, shell-shaped, lemon and butter cake is similar to a pound cake.
  • A10) Mirage. The pop album was embroiled in a payola controversy, causing it to bounce up and down the charts as a group of independent promoters controlled its radio airplay. The casino, which cost a then-record $630 million to build, was the first to be financed through the sale of junk bonds.
  • A11) Mosaic. Marc Andreessen and Eric Bina developed the early browser at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, initially running under X-Windows but later on the Amiga, Macintosh, and PC. "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" was kept out of the #1 spot on the Hot 100 by the Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian".
  • A12) Odyssey. Other abandoned Microsoft OS versions include Nashville ("Windows 96") and Cairo (partially cannibalized for Windows 95 and other products). The original working Magnavox Odyssey prototype from 1968, dubbed the "Brown Box", now lives at the Smithsonian's National Institute of American History.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Double Duty - Random Trivia Questions

Since this is the second random quiz of the second month of the year, I thought I'd double your trivia pleasure by giving you two chances at each answer this week. Each of the dozen questions gives you two clues to the same answer. Enjoy, enjoy!

Double Duty Questions

  • Q1) What four-letter nickname is shared by the Major League Baseball player who set a record with a 252-million dollar contract on December 11, 2000 and a tennis player who set a record with a 155-mile-per-hour serve on September 24, 2004?
  • Q2) In 1978, 1989, and 2003 what company sued another company with a similar name for trademark infringement, the last case finally being settled on February 5, 2007?
  • Q3) What World War II rocket launcher shares its name with a chewing gum named for a musical instrument?
  • Q4) What quadruple-platinum self-titled debut album by a 15-year-old in 1994 shares its name with a fast Scott English song that Barry Manilow slowed down in 1974 and took to the top of the Hot 100?
  • Q5) What 1982 to 2005 CNN current events show shares its name with a hockey-like 1971 Milton Bradley game using guns to fire ball bearings at and redirect the puck?
  • Q6) What Batman television series villain, played by Vincent Price, shares his name with a computer software store that opened in 1984, converted to online-only in 1998, and sold its remains to Amazon in 2001?
  • Q7) What codename for the Mac OS X 10.2 operating system is also a British auto maker that began as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922?
  • Q8) Who is the only American Gladiator to appear in all seven seasons of the original show and shares a name with cars from Chrysler (based on the Dodge Daytona), Ford (based on the Mazda 323), and Plymouth (based on the Misubishi Eclipse)?
  • Q9) What title character of Ludwig Bemelmans's famous 1939 children's book shares a name with the French cake that triggers memories in Remembrance of Things Past?
  • Q10) What 1982 Fleetwood Mac album, featuring "Hold Me", "Gypsy", "Love in Store", and "Oh Diane", shares its name with the 3,000-room Las Vegas hotel and casino opened by developer Steve Wynn on November 22, 1989?
  • Q11) What NCSA web browser was the first to be popularly used in 1993 and shares its name with Wang Chung's 1986 album featuring "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go"?
  • Q12) What codename of the business version of Windows Neptune, a never-released successor to Windows 2000, shares its name with the first video game console released in 1972?

Airplane Announcer -- Quiz Quilt 57 Solution

Category Answers:
Entertainment
&
Food
MCCARTNEYThe Broad Street railway station which appears in Paul McCartney's film was once the third busiest in the city but was closed and demolished in 1986.
Literature
&
Arts
SEURATFrenchman Georges Seurat also founded Neoimpressionism, a relative of Pointillism.
Math
&
Science
HECTAREA square that is 100 meters on each side equals about 2.47 acres.
Sports
&
Games
LETThe ball is not considered to be a fault, and the server is given another chance.
History
&
Government
JOHANSSONThe country's nineteen most popular surnames all end in "-son", with Andersson at #2 and Karlsson at #3.
Geography
&
Nature
ORLANDOThe abbreviation comes from the McCoy Air Force Base, which was located where the airport now stands in Orlando, Florida.

Quiz Quilt Answer: TATTOO (Reverse diagonal)

Herve Villechaize's character Tattoo used to kick off episodes of Fantasy Island by shouting, "Da plane! Da plane!".

Friday, February 8, 2008

Airplane Announcer -- Quiz Quilt 57 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Entertainment
&
Food
Which Beatle wrote the script for and starred in the 1984 movie Give My Regards to Broad Street?
Literature
&
Arts
What artist developed Pointillism and painted Sunday Afternoon on La Grand Jatte in 1884?
Math
&
Science
What unit of measure is equal to ten thousand square meters?
Sports
&
Games
What tennis term refers to a served ball that hits the top of the net before landing inside the correct service area?
History
&
Government
What is the most common last name in Sweden?
Geography
&
Nature
What city's three-letter airport code is MCO?

General Trivia Answers #1,717-1,722

Answer 1,717: Entertainment & Food -- Fabio Fluke

b) Goose

The bird flew into him while he was riding a rollercoaster during a publicity appearance. The fifteen-pound fowl did not survive.

Answer 1,718: History & Government -- Patrician's Pact

c) Japan

The agreement restricted Japanese emigration to the United States.

Answer 1,719: Math & Science -- No Element

d) Trillium

It is a wildflower.

Answer 1,720: Geography & Nature -- Compact Country

c) Monaco

The nation had 41,440 people per square mile in 2002.

Answer 1,721: Literature & Arts -- Pali Tome

a) Buddhism

The stories were passed on orally from the 6th century B.C. until finally written down in Sri Lanka around 30 B.C.

Answer 1,722: Sports & Games -- Second Scorer

c) Jerry West

Mr. Clutch averaged 29.1 points per game compared to Jordan's 33.4.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,717-1,722

Question 1,717: Entertainment & Food -- Fabio Fluke

What animal sent the model Fabio to the hospital on April 2, 1999?

a) Alligator
b) Goose
c) Llama
d) Rabbit

Question 1,718: History & Government -- Patrician's Pact

With what country did the U.S. sign the Gentleman's Agreement in 1907?

a) China
b) Germany
c) Japan
d) Russia

Question 1,719: Math & Science -- No Element

Which of the following is not a chemical element?

a) Tellurium
b) Thallium
c) Thulium
d) Trillium

Question 1,720: Geography & Nature -- Compact Country

What is the most densely populated country in the world?

a) Bangladesh
b) Malta
c) Monaco
d) Singapore

Question 1,721: Literature & Arts -- Pali Tome

What religion's three religious books are known as the Pali Canon?

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

Question 1,722: Sports & Games -- Second Scorer

After Michael Jordan, what player has the second highest career NBA playoff scoring average?

a) Elgin Baylor
b) George Gervin
c) Jerry West
d) Shaquille O'Neal

General Trivia Answers #1,711-1,716

Answer 1,711: Entertainment & Food -- Pilaf Pedigree

c) India

The dish combines rice with butter, onions, and other vegetables and seasoning.

Answer 1,712: History & Government -- Patriarchal President

c) Ronald Reagan

The Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity brother was 69 years old when he was first sworn in.

Answer 1,713: Math & Science -- Astronomical Distance

a) 93 million miles

It corresponds to the mean distance from the Earth to the Sun.

Answer 1,714: Geography & Nature -- Where You See U.C.

a) Berkeley

Oakland had the first campus in 1868, while Merced became the tenth in 2005.

Answer 1,715: Literature & Arts -- Colonial Conflict

c) James Fenimore Cooper

The Leatherstocking tales concluded with The Pioneers and The Prairie.

Answer 1,716: Sports & Games -- Baseball Break

b) 7th inning

Traditionally, in the middle of the inning fans get up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", although recently "God Bless America" has also been in favor.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,711-1,716

Question 1,711: Entertainment & Food -- Pilaf Pedigree

In what country did rice pilaf originate?

a) France
b) Greece
c) India
d) Italy

Question 1,712: History & Government -- Patriarchal President

Which U.S. President was the oldest at the time of his inauguration?

a) George Bush
b) James Buchanan
c) Ronald Reagan
d) William Harrison

Question 1,713: Math & Science -- Astronomical Distance

How far is an Astronomical Unit?

a) 93 million miles
b) 146 million miles
c) 199 million miles
d) 252 million miles

Question 1,714: Geography & Nature -- Where You See U.C.

Which city houses the main campus of the University of California?

a) Berkeley
b) Davis
c) Los Angeles
d) San Diego

Question 1,715: Literature & Arts -- Colonial Conflict

What author's The Deerslayer, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Pathfinder followed the conflict between colonists and Indians in early America?

a) Daniel Defoe
b) Henry James
c) James Fenimore Cooper
d) Johann David Wyss

Question 1,716: Sports & Games -- Baseball Break

What is the stretch inning in baseball?

a) 6th inning
b) 7th inning
c) 8th inning
d) 9th inning

General Trivia Answers #1,705-1,710

Answer 1,705: Entertainment & Food -- Max Facts

b) A greeting card company

Don Adams won three Emmy Awards for playing Agent 86 between 1965 and 1970.

Answer 1,706: History & Government -- Sovereign Sukarno

b) Indonesia

With help from Japan, on August 17, 1945, Indonesia declared its independence from the Netherlands.

Answer 1,707: Math & Science -- Bony Part

b) Hip

The bone is the highest and widest of the three parts of the pelvis.

Answer 1,708: Geography & Nature -- Apple Abundance

b) China

China now produces about a third of the world's apples. The U.S. ranks second.

Answer 1,709: Literature & Arts -- Biblical Breed

c) Greyhound

A verse in Proverbs mentions the breed along with the lion and the goat.

Answer 1,710: Sports & Games -- Track Tragedy

b) Peanuts

Peanut shells were found in the seat of the damaged car.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,705-1,710

Question 1,705: Entertainment & Food -- Max Facts

On the Get Smart television show, where did Max tell his parents he worked?

a) The Acme Supply Company
b) A greeting card company
c) A restaurant
d) A shoe store

Question 1,706: History & Government -- Sovereign Sukarno

What country was Sukarno the first president of from 1949 to 1965?

a) Cambodia
b) Indonesia
c) Malaysia
d) Thailand

Question 1,707: Math & Science -- Bony Part

Which human bone contains the ilium?

a) Breast
b) Hip
c) Skull
d) Thigh

Question 1,708: Geography & Nature -- Apple Abundance

Which country leads the world in apple production?

a) Canada
b) China
c) Russia
d) U.S.

Question 1,709: Literature & Arts -- Biblical Breed

What is the only specific breed of dog mentioned in the Bible?

a) Beagle
b) Collie
c) Greyhound
d) St. Bernard

Question 1,710: Sports & Games -- Track Tragedy

What food has been considered unlucky at the Indy 500 since a crash in the 1940s?

a) Bananas
b) Peanuts
c) Popcorn
d) Raisins

General Trivia Answers #1,699-1,704

Answer 1,699: Entertainment & Food -- Second [to the] Violin

d) Viola

The exact quantity of each instrument depends on the pieces being played and the conductor's preferences.

Answer 1,700: History & Government -- Stamp Champ

b) Christopher Columbus

"Discovery of the New World" was issued in 1893, just after the 400th anniversary of his first Atlantic crossing.

Answer 1,701: Math & Science -- Coriolis Cause

a) Earth's rotation

French scientist Gaspard-Gustave de Coriolis first described the inertial force in 1835.

Answer 1,702: Geography & Nature -- Mammal Maturity

c) Humans

Human life expectancy was just under 67 years in 2003.

Answer 1,703: Literature & Arts -- Go Figure

b) Jean-Paul Sartre

The 20th-century existentialist was also a playwright and novelist.

Answer 1,704: Sports & Games -- Dolphins Wins

a) 17

Following a 14-0 regular season, they defeated the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Redskins in the postseason.

Monday, February 4, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,699-1,704

Question 1,699: Entertainment & Food -- Second [to the] Violin

After the violin, what is usually the second most numerous musical instrument in a symphony orchestra?

a) Bass
b) Clarinet
c) Flute
d) Viola

Question 1,700: History & Government -- Stamp Champ

Who was honored on the first U.S. commemorative stamp?

a) Babe Ruth
b) Christopher Columbus
c) Elvis Presley
d) George Washington

Question 1,701: Math & Science -- Coriolis Cause

What is the cause of the Coriolis effect?

a) Earth's rotation
b) Moon's gravity
c) Sun's solar flares
d) Trade winds

Question 1,702: Geography & Nature -- Mammal Maturity

On average, what is the longest-living mammal?

a) Elephants
b) Gorillas
c) Humans
d) Whales

Question 1,703: Literature & Arts -- Go Figure

What philosopher contended, "Everything has been figured out except how to live"?

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

Question 1,704: Sports & Games -- Dolphins Wins

How many total games did the Miami Dolphins win during their perfect 1971-72 NFL season?

a) 17
b) 18
c) 19
d) 20

General Trivia Answers #1,693-1,698

Answer 1,693: Entertainment & Food -- Brady's Business

a) Architect

Robert Reed played Mike on the TV show.

Answer 1,694: History & Government -- Leading Lady

c) Mary I

Henry VIII's daughter, nicknamed Bloody Mary, assumed the crown in 1553. Jane was nominally the queen before her, but for only nine days.

Answer 1,695: Math & Science -- Heart Hollows

d) 4

The left and right upper atria sit above the left and right lower ventricles.

Answer 1,696: Geography & Nature -- Neo-Eohippus

d) Horse

The "dawn horse" lived 45 to 60 million years ago.

Answer 1,697: Literature & Arts -- 99 Bottles of Biere

a) 4 times 20 plus 10 plus 9

"Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf" translates to "4 [times] 20 [plus] 10 [plus] 9".

Answer 1,698: Sports & Games -- Squaw Skiing

a) California

The region hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,693-1,698

Question 1,693: Entertainment & Food -- Brady's Business

What was the occupation of the father of The Brady Bunch?

a) Architect
b) Banker
c) Newspaper editor
d) Telephone company manager

Question 1,694: History & Government -- Leading Lady

Who was the first reigning queen of England?

a) Anne
b) Elizabeth I
c) Mary I
d) Victoria

Question 1,695: Math & Science -- Heart Hollows

How many chambers does the human heart have?

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

Question 1,696: Geography & Nature -- Neo-Eohippus

What modern day animal is directly descended from eohippus?

a) Cow
b) Elephant
c) Hippopotamus
d) Horse

Question 1,697: Literature & Arts -- 99 Bottles of Biere

In the French language, how is the number 99 most closely represented?

a) 4 times 20 plus 10 plus 9
b) 9 times 10 plus 9
c) 9 times 11
d) 100 minus 1

Question 1,698: Sports & Games -- Squaw Skiing

In which state is Squaw Valley ski resort located?

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

Super Bowl - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) Dan Marino. The Miami Dolphins QB was 23 years and 127 days old when he started Super Bowl XIX. Ben Roethlisberger (23 years and 340 days in 2006) was the youngest to win a Super Bowl, and Tom Brady (27) was the youngest to win two Super Bowls.
  • A2) Steve Christie. The Buffalo Bills placekicker hit a 54-yard attempt in Super Bowl XXVIII against Dallas. Jason Elam (51 yards in SB XXXII), Jeff Wilkins (50 yards in SB XXXVI), and John Kasay (50 yards in SB XXXVIII) are the only other kickers to break 50.
  • A3) Thurman Thomas. The Buffalo Bills running back never got on track, finishing with only 13 yards on 10 carries and an additional 27 yards on 4 receptions as his team fell to the Redskins 37-24.
  • A4) Lamar Hunt. The Kansas City Chiefs owner came up with the name after seeing his daughter's bouncy Super Ball.
  • A5) Tony Dungy. When the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007, history was made twice, as Lovie Smith simultaneously became the first African-American head coach to lose the Super Bowl.
  • A6) Bob Hayes. During the 1964 Summer Olympics, the speedster took home gold in both the 100-meter and the 400-meter relay. Eight years later he earned a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys.
  • A7) 12. The starting signal-callers were Roger Staubach (Cowboys, twice), Bob Griese (Dolphins, twice), Terry Bradshaw (Steelers, four times), and Ken Stabler (Raiders once). The streak ended with another Raiders victory, but Jim Plunkett (#16) was under center by then.
  • A8) Charles Haley. The defensive end and linebacker helped the San Francisco 49ers (1989, 1990) and Dallas Cowboys (1993, 1994, 1996) to five collective titles over eight seasons.
  • A9) Marcus Allen. The running back took home the Heisman with USC (1982) and captured Super Bowl XVIII MVP honors (1983-84 season) and the NFL MVP award (1985) with the Oakland Raiders.
  • A10) Steve McNair. The Tennessee Titans signal-caller amassed 64 yards on the ground to go along with 214 passing yards in a losing effort against the St. Louis Rams in 2000 (Super Bowl XXXIV).
  • A11) Dick Vermeil. The St. Louis Rams coach was 63 years and 3 months old when his team defeated the Tennessee Titans on January 30, 2000. Jon Gruden was the youngest at 39 years old in 2003.
  • A12) Terry Bradshaw. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback was named MVP of both Super Bowl XIII and XIV. Bart Starr (Super Bowl I and II) is the only other player to win consecutively. Joe Montana spaced out his three award over nine seasons (1982, 1985, and 1990), and Tom Brady won two awards over three seasons (2002 and 2004).

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Super Bowl - Random Trivia Questions

With the Super Bowl upon us, here are 12 (four field goals or a touchdown with extra point, field goal, and safety) questions about the big game.

Super Bowl Questions

  • Q1) Who was the youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl?
  • Q2) What kicker nailed the longest Super Bowl field goal?
  • Q3) What player missed the first two offensive plays of Super Bowl XXVI because he couldn't find his helmet?
  • Q4) What team owner coined the name "Super Bowl"?
  • Q5) Who was the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl?
  • Q6) Who was the only person to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl?
  • Q7) What uniform number was shared by every Super Bowl-winning quarterback from 1972 to 1980?
  • Q8) Who was the only NFL player to win five Super Bowls?
  • Q9) Who was the only person to win a Heisman award, a regular season NFL MVP award, and a Super Bowl MVP award?
  • Q10) What quarterback rushed for the most yards in a Super Bowl?
  • Q11) Who was the oldest head coach to win the Super Bowl?
  • Q12) Who was the last player to win MVP honors in consecutive Super Bowls?

School Shirt -- Quiz Quilt 56 Solution

Category Answers:
History
&
Government
OSWALDLouisianan Lee Harvey Oswald shot the President from a sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas as his motorcade passed by on November 22, 1963.
Literature
&
Arts
EXODUSMark is the second in the New Testament.
Sports
&
Games
LEFTYAmong the most famous were Hall of Fame pitchers Lefty Gomez and Lefty Grove.
Math
&
Science
ALLOYSteel, brass, bronze, and solder are among the most well-known alloys.
Geography
&
Nature
QATAROman is the only 'O', while no countries start with 'W' or 'X'.
Entertainment
&
Food
KENNEDYThe singer and guitarist wrote the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young tune on the night of U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy's murder.

Quiz Quilt Answer: OXFORD (Diagonally going down)

Oxford University students might wear Oxford shirts made from cotton Oxford cloth.

Friday, February 1, 2008

School Shirt -- Quiz Quilt 56 Puzzle

Category Questions:
History
&
Government
Ignoring any conspiracy theories, who killed John F. Kennedy?
Literature
&
Arts
What is the second book in the Old Testament?
Sports
&
Games
What is the most common nickname in the history of Major League Baseball?
Math
&
Science
What is the name for a substance with metallic properties consisting of a metal fused with one or more metals or nonmetals?
Geography
&
Nature
What is the only country whose common name begins with a 'Q'?
Entertainment
&
Food
Whose assassination is David Crosby's song "Long Time Gone" about?

General Trivia Answers #1,687-1,692

Answer 1,687: Entertainment & Food -- Second Hands

a) Barbra Streisand

On May 25, 1986, the Ken Kragen-led effort raised $34 million for local homeless charities.

Answer 1,688: History & Government -- Western Unionversity

b) Cornell

Ezra Cornell started the school in 1868 with scholar Andrew Dickson White.

Answer 1,689: Math & Science -- Mother Earth's Mass

b) Henry Cavendish

His calculated mass differs from the currently accepted value by only one percent.

Answer 1,690: Geography & Nature -- New York, New York

a) Bronx

Brooklyn is in Kings County, Manhattan in New York County, and Staten Island in Richmond County. And to be complete, Queens is in Queens County.

Answer 1,691: Literature & Arts -- Deco Turf

c) Paris

The Arts Decoratifs Industriels et Modernes was held in 1925.

Answer 1,692: Sports & Games -- Balling in Bambiland

d) Yugoslavia

President Slobodan Milosevic's son Marko founded the park, which was named for a biscuit company and not the Disney character.