U.S. State Quarters - Random Trivia Questions

Between 1999 and 2008, the United State Mint released a special quarter for each of the fifty states. Now that you've done your Pokemon best to collect them all, can you answer these questions about what's pictured on the 25-cent pieces?

U.S. State Quarters Questions

• Q1) Which state quarter features a natural formation that no longer exists?
• Q2) Which state quarter includes words in Braille?
• Q3) Which state quarter has words in Latin (not counting e pluribus unum)?
• Q4) Which state quarter uses another language besides the above?
• Q5) Which state quarter depicts not a living animal but a skull?
• Q6) Which state quarter's design is surrounded by arcs closest to those found on the pennies minted from 1909 to 1958?
• Q7) Which state quarter contains the highest vehicular bridge in the western hemisphere?
• Q8) Which state quarter is based on a painting called Arbor Day?
• Q9) Which state quarter shows one animal eating another?
• Q10) Which state quarter shows two vehicles that differ by over four centuries in age?
• Q11) Which state quarter shows a map of the contiguous 48 states?
• Q12) How many different U.S. presidents appear on at least one quarter?

Turkey's Fate -- Quiz Quilt 111 Solution

Category Answers:

History & Government	DENMARK	The U.S. paid $25 million for the Caribbean islands, the only U.S. territory where the law mandates driving on the left side of the road.
Math & Science	EINSTEIN	Physicist Albert Einstein had not won any "Man of the Year" awards, mostly because Time started them in 1927. Winston Churchill was the named "Man of the Half-Century" in 1950.
Geography & Nature	BELARUS	The nation, formerly known as Belorussia and Byelorussia, declared its independence from the U.S.S.R. in 1990.
Sports & Games	WILLIAMS	Both the school and the teams are named for founder Ephraim Williams.
Literature & Arts	WALLACE	Indiana native Lew Wallace also served as the governor of New Mexico and the U.S. minister to Turkey.
Entertainment & Food	NEWHART	Deadpan comedian Bob Newhart repeated the role thirteen years later in the sequel, The Rescuers Down Under, as did Eva Gabor as Miss Bianca.

Quiz Quilt Answer: KISMET (Seventh letters)

"Kismet" means "fate" in Turkish, Urdu, Hindi, and Arabic. A 1953 Broadway musical, a 1965 Elvis Presley song, and over a dozen movies share the name.

Turkey's Fate -- Quiz Quilt 111 Puzzle

Category Questions:

History & Government	What country owned the U.S. Virgin Islands until March 31, 1917?
Math & Science	Who was Time magazine's "Person of the Century" from 1900 to 1999?
Geography & Nature	What country is surrounded by Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine?
Sports & Games	What Division III college's sports teams are called the Ephs?
Literature & Arts	What Union general became an author with Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ in 1880?
Entertainment & Food	What actor provided the voice for Bernard the mouse in the 1977 movie The Rescuers?

General Trivia Answers #3,367-3,372

Answer 3,367: Entertainment & Food -- Declining to Direct

b) Chuck Norris

The martial artist has served as executive producer for a handful of movies and television shows.

Answer 3,368: History & Government -- Twin Treaties

d) Treaty of Versailles

Peace accords were signed in the French city in 1871 and 1919.

Answer 3,369: Math & Science -- Suede Source

d) Sheep

The name comes from the chamois antelope, the original source of the suede.

Answer 3,370: Geography & Nature -- Sole-Mate State

b) 1

Maine borders only New Hampshire. Florida, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Washington are the only four states with exactly two neighbors.

Answer 3,371: Literature & Arts -- Forgotten Fiction?

b) Edgar Rice Burroughs

The story takes place on and near the lost South Pacific island of Caspak, where dinosaurs still roam.

Answer 3,372: Sports & Games -- All-Around American

c) Mary Lou Retton

The bouncy West Virginian captured the gold in 1984.

General Trivia Questions #3,367-3,372

Question 3,367: Entertainment & Food -- Declining to Direct

Who is the only actor below who has not directed any movies?

a) Arnold Schwarzenegger
b) Chuck Norris
c) Jean Claude Van Damme
d) Steven Seagal

Question 3,368: History & Government -- Twin Treaties

What name was shared by the treaties that ended the Franco-Prussian War and World War I?

a) Treaty of Brussels
b) Treaty of Ghent
c) Treaty of Paris
d) Treaty of Versailles

Question 3,369: Math & Science -- Suede Source

What animal does chamois cloth usually come from?

a) Fox
b) Goat
c) Mink
d) Sheep

Question 3,370: Geography & Nature -- Sole-Mate State

How many U.S. states touch exactly one other state?

a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3

Question 3,371: Literature & Arts -- Forgotten Fiction?

What author's 1918 novel The Land That Time Forgot was turned into a movie in 1975?

a) Daniel Defoe
b) Edgar Rice Burroughs
c) Johann David Wyss
d) Jules Verne

Question 3,372: Sports & Games -- All-Around American

Who was the first American woman to win an Olympic all-around gymnastics title?

a) Dominique Moceanu
b) Kerri Strug
c) Mary Lou Retton
d) Shannon Miller

General Trivia Answers #3,361-3,366

Answer 3,361: Entertainment & Food -- Brando's Best

c) On the Waterfront

Brando won for his portrayal of Terry Malloy in 1954.

Answer 3,362: History & Government -- From Armament to President

d) Harry Truman

The Missouri native enlisted in the National Guard at the beginning of the war and commanded a regimental battery in France.

Answer 3,363: Math & Science -- Global Noble

a) Argon

The inert element, which Sir William Ramsay and Lord Rayleigh discovered in 1894, accounts for roughly one percent of the air by both volume and mass.

Answer 3,364: Geography & Nature -- One View on Kalamazoo

b) Otter tail

The name might also come from a Potawatomi word for "boiling pot" or "reflecting waters".

Answer 3,365: Literature & Arts -- Fetching Female

d) Mary Cassatt

Christie's sold the American's In the Box for $3.67 million on May 23, 1996. She also holds the #2 and #3 spots, and seven of the top ten.

Answer 3,366: Sports & Games -- Kid Coach

c) Dave DeBusschere

The 24-year-old player-coach for the Detroit Pistons in 1964 later helped lead the New York Knicks to two NBA titles.

General Trivia Questions #3,361-3,366

Question 3,361: Entertainment & Food -- Brando's Best

What movie besides The Godfather did Marlon Brando win a Best Actor Academy Award for?

a) Apocalypse Now
b) Mutiny on the Bounty
c) On the Waterfront
d) A Streetcar Named Desire

Question 3,362: History & Government -- From Armament to President

Which U.S. President had been a field artillery captain in World War I?

a) Calvin Coolidge
b) Dwight Eisenhower
c) Franklin Roosevelt
d) Harry Truman

Question 3,363: Math & Science -- Global Noble

What is the most common noble gas in the Earth's atmosphere?

a) Argon
b) Helium
c) Neon
d) Radon

Question 3,364: Geography & Nature -- One View on Kalamazoo

What does Kalamazoo supposedly mean in the Ojibwa Indian language?

a) Horse hoof
b) Otter tail
c) Salamander skin
d) Tortoise shell

Question 3,365: Literature & Arts -- Fetching Female

What female artist's paintings have fetched the most at auction?

a) Bertha Morisot
b) Frida Kahlo
c) Georgia O'Keeffe
d) Mary Cassatt

Question 3,366: Sports & Games -- Kid Coach

Who was the youngest person to coach an NBA basketball team?

a) Danny Ainge
b) Dave Cowens
c) Dave DeBusschere
d) Red Auerbach

General Trivia Answers #3,355-3,360

Answer 3,355: Entertainment & Food -- Beguiled by the Wild

d) The Troggs

The band took its name from the cavemen called troglodytes.

Answer 3,356: History & Government -- Break from Britain

d) Pierre Trudeau

The first leader born in the 20th century ruled the nation from 1968 to 1984 except for nine months when Joe Clark was in power before falling to a vote of no confidence.

Answer 3,357: Math & Science -- Prescription Prohibitor

d) Ulcers

GlaxoSmithKline manufactures the stomach acid inhibitor, whose generic name is ranitidine.

Answer 3,358: Geography & Nature -- Baby Bird

c) Pigeon

The term applies until the bird has grown feathers.

Answer 3,359: Literature & Arts -- Mammoth Museum

a) The Louvre

It contains 645,000 square feet of display space.

Answer 3,360: Sports & Games -- Alone With No Microphone

d) Roger Staubach

Tarkenton was in the booth from 1979 to 1982, Simpson from 1983 to 1985, and Namath in 1985.

General Trivia Questions #3,355-3,360

Question 3,355: Entertainment & Food -- Beguiled by the Wild

What music group took "Wild Thing" to #1 on the U.S. charts on July 30, 1966?

a) Blind Faith
b) Cream
c) The Rascals
d) The Troggs

Question 3,356: History & Government -- Break from Britain

Which Canadian prime minister signed the Constitution Act of 1982, finalizing independence from the United Kingdom?

a) Charles Clark
b) John Turner
c) Lester Pearson
d) Pierre Trudeau

Question 3,357: Math & Science -- Prescription Prohibitor

For what ailment is the drug Zantac prescribed?

a) Arthritis
b) Depression
c) High blood pressure
d) Ulcers

Question 3,358: Geography & Nature -- Baby Bird

What animal baby is called a squab?

a) Duck
b) Goose
c) Pigeon
d) Turkey

Question 3,359: Literature & Arts -- Mammoth Museum

What is the largest museum in the world?

a) The Louvre
b) Museum of Fine Arts
c) Museum of Modern Art
d) The Prado

Question 3,360: Sports & Games -- Alone With No Microphone

What retired athlete below did not become a regular Monday Night Football announcer?

a) Fran Tarkenton
b) Joe Namath
c) O.J. Simpson
d) Roger Staubach

General Trivia Answers #3,349-3,354

Answer 3,349: Entertainment & Food -- Cash Color

d) Pool

Paul Newman's Fast Eddie coaches Tom Cruise's Vincent in the art of shooting 9-ball.

Answer 3,350: History & Government -- Auto Accident

a) A bicycle

Henry Wells broke bicyclist Evylyn Thomas's leg in a New York City collision.

Answer 3,351: Math & Science -- Ancient Animal

a) Birds

The magpie-sized, flying dinosaurs also possessed long fingers with claws and long tails.

Answer 3,352: Geography & Nature -- Southern Supremacy

b) Australia

The continental commonwealth is just under three million square miles, about the size of Argentina, Congo, and Sudan put together.

Answer 3,353: Literature & Arts -- Leviathan Leap

d) Thomas Hobbes

The stuffed tiger in the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes was named for the Englishman.

Answer 3,354: Sports & Games -- Comeback Kid

d) John Elway

The Stanford alumnus, whose final college game ended memorably with "The Play", rescued the Denver Broncos 47 times.

General Trivia Questions #3,349-3,354

Question 3,349: Entertainment & Food -- Cash Color

What sport is featured in the 1986 movie The Color of Money?

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

Question 3,350: History & Government -- Auto Accident

On May 30, 1896 what was struck in the world's first car accident?

a) A bicycle
b) A horse
c) A pedestrian
d) A tree

Question 3,351: Math & Science -- Ancient Animal

What modern animals resemble Archaeopteryx, but without teeth?

a) Birds
b) Fish
c) Frogs
d) Snakes

Question 3,352: Geography & Nature -- Southern Supremacy

What is the largest country that is completely south of the equator?

a) Argentina
b) Australia
c) Congo
d) Sudan

Question 3,353: Literature & Arts -- Leviathan Leap

What Leviathan philosopher's last words were about his "leap in the dark"?

a) George Berkeley
b) John Locke
c) Rene Descartes
d) Thomas Hobbes

Question 3,354: Sports & Games -- Comeback Kid

What NFL quarterback engineered the most career come-from-behind wins?

a) Dan Marino
b) Jim Kelly
c) Joe Montana
d) John Elway

General Trivia Answers #3,343-3,348

Answer 3,343: Entertainment & Food -- Music for the Masses

d) Stowaway

The personal, headphone-equipped, audio cassette player later came to the U.S. as the Soundabout.

Answer 3,344: History & Government -- Binary Break

a) Alabama

The area codes 334 in Alabama and 360 in Washington went into service on January 15, 1995.

Answer 3,345: Math & Science -- From the Brain of Bain

b) Fax machine

The Scotsman garnered the earliest patent on the device by using technology from clock pendulums to scan images one line at a time.

Answer 3,346: Geography & Nature -- Noisy Nature

a) Blue whales

Their whistle can reach 188 decibels, louder than a rocket engine.

Answer 3,347: Literature & Arts -- Mock Math

d) Procrastination

The fourth is Uglification. His school also taught Reeling and Writhing.

Answer 3,348: Sports & Games -- Soaring Scoring

c) Kobe Bryant

The Los Angeles Lakers guard put up 81 points on the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006 only a month after scoring 62 in only three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks.

General Trivia Questions #3,343-3,348

Question 3,343: Entertainment & Food -- Music for the Masses

What was the name of the first Sony Walkman, introduced in Europe on July 1, 1979?

a) Sidekick
b) Songwalker
c) Sonysong
d) Stowaway

Question 3,344: History & Government -- Binary Break

Along with Washington, which U.S. state was the first to use an area code without a 0 or 1 as its middle digit?

a) Alabama
b) Illinois
c) Massachusetts
d) Nevada

Question 3,345: Math & Science -- From the Brain of Bain

What reproduction device did Alexander Bain invent in 1842?

a) Drum scanner
b) Fax machine
c) Mimeograph machine
d) Photocopier

Question 3,346: Geography & Nature -- Noisy Nature

What animal can make the loudest sound?

a) Blue whales
b) Dolphins
c) Lions
d) Wolfs

Question 3,347: Literature & Arts -- Mock Math

According to Lewis Carroll's Mock Turtle, which of the following is not one of the branches of mathematics?

a) Ambition
b) Derision
c) Distraction
d) Procrastination

Question 3,348: Sports & Games -- Soaring Scoring

After Wilt Chamberlain, who scored the most points in an NBA game?

a) David Thompson
b) Elgin Baylor
c) Kobe Bryant
d) Michael Jordan

Indiana Jones and the Printed Pop-Tarts - Random Trivia Answers

• A1) It was the name of his dog. The character's full name is Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr. [This toaster pastry sported a picture of the state of Indiana.]
• A2) By using stand-up elevators under the set. A snake is used as a "rope" to save Indy. [Picture of a pair of elevator buttons]
• A3) Goats. They didn't want to stay put. [Picture of a goat, a monkey, and a snake]
• A4) It looked like it had been made by a carpenter. Elsa had died from drinking from the wrong cup. [Picture of a large cup]
• A5) The student dining area at Yale University. The prestigious Connecticut institution was temporarily converted to the fictitious Marshall College. [Picture of a stack of books]
• A6) The Medallion of Ra. Ra was the ancient Egyptian sun god. [Picture of the medallion]
• A7) On the side of Jock's plane. Near the beginning of the movie, Fred Sorenson's character uses his seaplane to rescue Indy. [Picture of the plane]
• A8) It was the name of his dog. Another one of Spielberg's dogs, Mikhaila, appeared in Jaws, Close Encounters, and 1941. [Picture of a dog]
• A9) A monkey. The movie also includes actor Vic Tablian as the Monkey man. [Picture of a monkey]
• A10) A rattlesnake. It was the first movie in the series, Raiders of the Lost Ark, however, that included a famous snake scene. [Picture of a rattlesnake]
• A11) A mine car. Willie was nearly sacrificed to appease Kali. [Picture of a mine car]
• A12) Pankot Palace. The palace is near a small village in India. [Picture of a palace]

Indiana Jones and the Printed Pop-Tarts - Random Trivia Questions

Some Quaker Instant Oatmeal packs have simple trivia questions on the wrapper that you throw away, but Kellogg's has upped the ante by printing them right on the frosting of their Pop-Tarts, along with a picture and then the upside down answer. The following questions all nourished me recently. How well do you digest your trivia?

Indiana Jones and the Printed Pop-Tarts Questions

• Q1) Indiana Jones was born Henry Jones, Jr. How did he come up with the nickname Indiana?
• Q2) How was the quicksand effect created in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?
• Q3) In Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which animals were some of the most difficult to work with?
• Q4) In The Last Crusade, how did Indiana Jones know which of the Holy Grails was the right one?
• Q5) In Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, what space was converted to look like the university library?
• Q6) What artifact was Indiana Jones looking for when he went to Nepal and ended up reuniting with Marion Ravenwood?
• Q7) Where does the serial number OB-CPO appear in Raiders of the Lost Ark?
• Q8) In Temple of Doom, Steven Spielberg came up with the character "Willie". Where did this name come from?
• Q9) What animal did Indiana Jones befriend who was later poisoned in Raiders of the Lost Ark?
• Q10) What dangerous animal was found near the set of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?
• Q11) In Temple of Doom, what do Indiana Jones, Willie and Short Round have to ride in to escape the temple guards?
• Q12) In Temple of Doom, what pace do Indiana Jones, Willie and Short Round have to travel to to get the sacred stone for the Shaman?

Fish Out of Water -- Quiz Quilt 110 Solution

Category Answers:

Math & Science	CERES	In 1801, Giuseppe Piazzi originally named the asteroid Ceres Ferdinandea after the goddess and King Ferdinand III, but non-Italians objected.
Geography & Nature	WHITE	Forester Benton MacKaye envisioned the 2,174-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail in 1921.
History & Government	FRANCE	The land cost $15 million in 1803.
Literature & Arts	MIDAS	The king from Greek mythology soon realized that his blessing was a curse and prayed to Dionysus for a cure.
Entertainment & Food	MARTIN	Rat Pack member Dean Martin played Steve Laird, and Lewis played Seymour. The Martin and Lewis comedy team went on to make sixteen films together.
Sports & Games	THORPE	The Thorpedo Ian Thorpe went on to win five Olympic medals in 2000 and four more in 2004.

Quiz Quilt Answer: PISCES (Fifth letters going up)

The constellation Pisces resembles fish in the sky.

Fish Out of Water -- Quiz Quilt 110 Puzzle

Category Questions:

Math & Science	Who was the Roman goddess of grain after whom the first known and largest asteroid was named?
Geography & Nature	What color are the stripes that mark trees along the Appalachian Trail?
History & Government	From what country did the U.S. make the Louisiana Purchase?
Literature & Arts	What auto repair shop is named after a mythical king with a golden touch?
Entertainment & Food	What actor debuted in the movie My Friend Irma with Jerry Lewis in 1949?
Sports & Games	What 16-year-old Australian swimmer broke both the 200-meter and 400-meter men's freestyle records on August 22, 1999?

General Trivia Answers #3,337-3,342

Answer 3,337: Entertainment & Food -- The Thomas Gown Affair

d) Phil Donahue

The daughter of actor Danny Thomas became famous as Ann Marie on the television series That Girl in 1966.

Answer 3,338: History & Government -- 'B' Bank

d) New York

The locations appeared on older bills in a double circle around the letter.

Answer 3,339: Math & Science -- Powerful Particles

a) Cosmic rays

They can have up to 10 to the 20th electron volts of energy.

Answer 3,340: Geography & Nature -- Arches Area

d) Utah

Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Zion National Parks are also located in the Beehive State.

Answer 3,341: Literature & Arts -- American Library Association Decoration

d) Newbery

18th-century author and publisher John Newbery was one of the first to create children's books combining instruction and fun.

Answer 3,342: Sports & Games -- Color-Blind Quarterback

d) Vinny Testaverde

The two-time Pro Bowler led the University of Miami to the championship game but lost to Penn State.

General Trivia Questions #3,337-3,342

Question 3,337: Entertainment & Food -- The Thomas Gown Affair

What talk show host married actress Marlo Thomas on May 22, 1980?

a) David Letterman
b) John Davidson
c) Mike Douglas
d) Phil Donahue

Question 3,338: History & Government -- 'B' Bank

What city's Federal Reserve Bank does the letter 'B' indicate on U.S. bills??

a) Boston
b) Cleveland
c) Los Angeles
d) New York

Question 3,339: Math & Science -- Powerful Particles

Which of the following waves have the highest frequency?

a) Cosmic rays
b) Gamma rays
c) Ultraviolet light
d) X-rays

Question 3,340: Geography & Nature -- Arches Area

In which U.S. state is Arches National Park located?

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

Question 3,341: Literature & Arts -- American Library Association Decoration

What medal does the American Library Association award for the most distinguished contribution to literature for children?

a) Caldecott
b) Laura Ingalls Wilder
c) Margaret A. Edwards
d) Newbery

Question 3,342: Sports & Games -- Color-Blind Quarterback

What color-blind quarterback won the 1986 Heisman award?

a) Andre Ware
b) Doug Flutie
c) Ty Detmer
d) Vinny Testaverde

General Trivia Answers #3,331-3,336

Answer 3,331: Entertainment & Food -- Hooked on Classics

a) Franz Joseph Haydn

The Austrian court musician composed about 340 hours worth, just over two solid weeks.

Answer 3,332: History & Government -- Spruce Goose

a) Howard Hughes

The 150-ton Hughes H-4 Hercules flying boat, which traveled 3,000 feet in its only flight on November 2, 1947, was actually mostly constructed from birch.

Answer 3,333: Math & Science -- Acid Alteration

c) Red

The paper, originally made from the dye extracted from lichens, turns blue in bases.

Answer 3,334: Geography & Nature -- DTW Departure

c) Detroit, Michigan

The 'W' is for Wayne County.

Answer 3,335: Literature & Arts -- Physics and Politics Philosopher

a) Aristotle

Besides his many writings, the teacher is known for the Lyceum, the gymnasium where he lectured about philosophy.

Answer 3,336: Sports & Games -- Three-Way Threat

c) Oscar Robertson

The point guard had at least 10 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds in a game 178 times, including averaging better than a triple-double in 1961-62.

General Trivia Questions #3,331-3,336

Question 3,331: Entertainment & Food -- Hooked on Classics

What classical composer wrote the most total hours of music?

a) Franz Joseph Haydn
b) George Frideric Handel
c) Johann Sebastian Bach
d) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Question 3,332: History & Government -- Spruce Goose

What American built the Spruce Goose for $40 million?

a) Howard Hughes
b) Hugh Hefner
c) J. Paul Getty
d) Nelson Rockefeller

Question 3,333: Math & Science -- Acid Alteration

What color does litmus paper turn in an acid?

a) Blue
b) Green
c) Red
d) Yellow

Question 3,334: Geography & Nature -- DTW Departure

What city's three-letter airport code is DTW?

a) Dallas, Texas
b) Denver, Colorado
c) Detroit, Michigan
d) Dover, Delaware

Question 3,335: Literature & Arts -- Physics and Politics Philosopher

What Greek philosopher was called "the master of those who know" by Dante and wrote Physics and Politics?

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

Question 3,336: Sports & Games -- Three-Way Threat

What player leads the NBA in career triple doubles?

a) Jason Kidd
b) Magic Johnson
c) Oscar Robertson
d) Wilt Chamberlain

General Trivia Answers #3,325-3,330

Answer 3,325: Entertainment & Food -- Space Spoof

c) Spaceballs

The film's tagline was "May the schwartz be with you."

Answer 3,326: History & Government -- Jiang Qing (Lan Ping)

c) Mao Zedong

His third wife survived him by fifteen years.

Answer 3,327: Math & Science -- Shock Block

d) Trendelenburg's position

The head should be below the knees to improve blood flow. Fowler's position is for draining pus from peritonitis, the lithotomy position is for pelvic exams, and Sims position is for rectal exams.

Answer 3,328: Geography & Nature -- Toe Touching

c) Mouse

The scientific term for the characteristic is digitigrade, which also applies to the cats that chase the rodents.

Answer 3,329: Literature & Arts -- Drudge Voyage

b) Redburn

A 30-year-old Melville served as a cabin boy on the trip.

Answer 3,330: Sports & Games -- Black Baseball

d) Missouri

The museum shares a building with the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City.

General Trivia Questions #3,325-3,330

Question 3,325: Entertainment & Food -- Space Spoof

What was the 1987 Star Wars spoof starring Mel Brooks and John Candy?

a) Meatballs
b) Pigs in Space
c) Spaceballs
d) Space Quest

Question 3,326: History & Government -- Jiang Qing (Lan Ping)

Who was Jiang Qing's famous husband?

a) Chiang Kai-Shek
b) Jiang Zemin
c) Mao Zedong
d) Sun Yat-sen

Question 3,327: Math & Science -- Shock Block

To prevent shock, what position should a person be placed in?

a) Fowler's position
b) The lithotomy position
c) Sims position
d) Trendelenburg's position

Question 3,328: Geography & Nature -- Toe Touching

Which animal below walks on just its toes?

a) Ape
b) Bear
c) Mouse
d) Raccoon

Question 3,329: Literature & Arts -- Drudge Voyage

What 1849 Herman Melville novel was based on his first voyage to Liverpool?

a) Bluebeard
b) Redburn
c) Whitesnake
d) Yellowhammer

Question 3,330: Sports & Games -- Black Baseball

In which state did the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum open in 1997?

a) Arkansas
b) Illinois
c) Kansas
d) Missouri

General Trivia Answers #3,319-3,324

Answer 3,319: Entertainment & Food -- Rodgers and Hammerstein on the Small Screen

a) Cinderella

Julie Andrews played the title role in the 1957 movie.

Answer 3,320: History & Government -- Iran Plan

a) Canada

The Americans hid at the Canadian Embassy for 79 days before escaping the country with Canadian passports.

Answer 3,321: Math & Science -- Blood Math

b) 6 quarts

The average adult female possesses five quarts.

Answer 3,322: Geography & Nature -- Select Insect

a) Honeybee

Thirteen states honor the domesticated bees.

Answer 3,323: Literature & Arts -- Indiana Inkslinger

a) Booth Tarkington

The Indianapolis native later won Pulitzer Prizes for The Magnificent Ambersons in 1919 and for Alice Adams in 1922, both of which were turned into movies.

Answer 3,324: Sports & Games -- PGA Pinnacle

d) Sam Snead

Slammin' Sammy collected 82 victories, nine more than Nicklaus.

General Trivia Questions #3,319-3,324

Question 3,319: Entertainment & Food -- Rodgers and Hammerstein on the Small Screen

What Rodgers and Hammerstein musical was produced directly for television?

a) Cinderella
b) The King and I
c) The Sound of Music
d) State Fair

Question 3,320: History & Government -- Iran Plan

What country helped six U.S. Embassy hostages escape from Iran in 1980?

a) Canada
b) England
c) Iraq
d) Israel

Question 3,321: Math & Science -- Blood Math

Approximately how much blood does an average adult human male have?

a) 3 quarts
b) 6 quarts
c) 9 quarts
d) 12 quarts

Question 3,322: Geography & Nature -- Select Insect

What is the state insect of the most U.S. states?

a) Honeybee
b) Ladybird beetle/ladybug
c) Monarch butterfly
d) Swallowtail butterfly

Question 3,323: Literature & Arts -- Indiana Inkslinger

What author's first novel was The Gentleman from Indiana in 1899?

a) Booth Tarkington
b) E.M. Forster
c) Henry James
d) Zane Grey

Question 3,324: Sports & Games -- PGA Pinnacle

What American golfer holds the record for most PGA tournaments won in a career?

a) Arnold Palmer
b) Bobby Jones
c) Jack Nicklaus
d) Sam Snead

General Trivia Answers #3,313-3,318

Answer 3,313: Entertainment & Food -- Farrokh's Flock

b) Freddie Mercury

The lead singer of Queen passed away from AIDS in 1991.

Answer 3,314: History & Government -- Cinco Celebration

b) France

Mexico defeated France in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Unfortunately for the locals, France returned with a larger army and took over the country until the U.S. could help out.

Answer 3,315: Math & Science -- Fraudulent Element

c) Cambium

It is reproductive plant tissue.

Answer 3,316: Geography & Nature -- Amiable Animal

c) Dogs

Man's best friend was tamed roughly 100,000 years ago.

Answer 3,317: Literature & Arts -- More Ideal

c) Utopia

The English author coined the Latin word as a combination of outopia (meaning "no place") and eutopia (meaning "good place").

Answer 3,318: Sports & Games -- Super Shortfall

b) Detroit Lions

They won the NFL Championship in 1935, 1952, 1953, and 1957 but have never played in the Super Bowl, reaching the NFC Championship game only once.

General Trivia Questions #3,313-3,318

Question 3,313: Entertainment & Food -- Farrokh's Flock

What celebrity was born as Farrokh Bulsara and moved with his family from Zanzibar to London when he was thirteen?

a) Alfred Hitchcock
b) Freddie Mercury
c) Manfred Mann
d) Redd Foxx

Question 3,314: History & Government -- Cinco Celebration

Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico's victory over what country?

a) England
b) France
c) Spain
d) U.S.

Question 3,315: Math & Science -- Fraudulent Element

Which of the following is not a chemical element?

a) Cadmium
b) Californium
c) Cambium
d) Curium

Question 3,316: Geography & Nature -- Amiable Animal

What was the first animal that humans domesticated?

a) Cats
b) Chickens
c) Dogs
d) Horses

Question 3,317: Literature & Arts -- More Ideal

What influential book did Sir Thomas More write in 1516 about an ideal state?

a) Erewhon
b) Shangri-La
c) Utopia
d) Xanadu

Question 3,318: Sports & Games -- Super Shortfall

What is the only NFL team below that has not won a Super Bowl?

a) Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts
b) Detroit Lions
c) Kansas City Chiefs
d) New York Jets

Know-It-All - Random Trivia Answers

• A1) S. 2,089 pages, nearly one-sixteenth of the total, are used up by the 19th letter of the alphabet.
• A2) Dalmatian. Wikipedia disagrees, stating that other higher primates also pass uric acid, and from a genetic point of view, that makes more sense. In all other mammals, the uric acid is converted to allantoin before elimination.
• A3) Yale. The future U.S. Vice President would eventually get both a B.A. and M.A. in political science from the University of Wyoming.
• A4) A search for intelligent life in the universe. Astronomer Frank Drake named his SETI project for Princess Ozma, the leader of Oz during most of the Oz stories.
• A5) Reggie Jackson. In game 6 of the 1977 World Series the New York Yankees slugger went deep off of three different Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers, driving in five runs, enough to clinch the championship. Jacobs attended the game with his father, who had them leave the stadium and head home before the third homer. In his father's defense, the Yankees led 7-3 before Jackson's crowning moment in the eighth inning.
• A6) Fibonacci. The 13th-century mathematician's name is synonymous with the number sequence that begins 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34... and is the basis for some flowers' petals and the Boggle word game scoring system.
• A7) The toilet. Queen Elizabeth I's godson installed one in the palace.
• A8) Jujubes. After softening and moistening in the mouth, the multicolored and multiflavored hardened gumdrops are similar in taste and texture to Gummi Bears.
• A9) LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide). Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann first synthesized the hallucinogen in 1938 and needed assistance to get home after testing the drug on himself the first time.
• A10) Portugal. During the 19th century, a large wave of immigrants arrived in Hawaii from Portugal, Spain, Japan, and China.
• A11) Red blood cells. Despite calling using his phone-a-friend lifeline to call his brother-in-law Eric, Jacobs's run on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? ended on this multiple choice question (he guessed "serum" after using the 50-50 lifeline). The mistake on the $32,000 question dropped him all the way down to $1,000.
• A12) False. Moses Cleaveland worked for the Connecticut Land Company. The first 'a' was cleaved out to fit better on an 1832 newspaper masthead.

Know-It-All - Random Trivia Questions

Esquire magazine editor A.J. Jacobs's 2004 book The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World provides the material for this week's random quiz. Thousands of factoids pervade the book, as his journey references just over 400 of the 65,000 entries in the 30,000+ pages of the Encylopaedia Britannica as springboards into discussions on anything and everything. Are you a Know-It-All?

Know-It-All Questions

• Q1) To which letter of the alphabet does the Encyclopaedia Britannica devote the most pages?
• Q2) What dog is the only mammal besides humans whose urine contains uric acid?
• Q3) From what university did Dick Cheney flunk out?
• Q4) What was Project Ozma, begun in 1960?
• Q5) Who was the only baseball player hit three home runs in a World Series game?
• Q6) Who is Leonardo Pisano better known as?
• Q7) What household device did Sir John Harington invent in the 16th century?
• Q8) What American candy was named for a plum-sized Chinese fruit?
• Q9) What drug originally comes from the ergot fungus on grain, especially rye?
• Q10) From what country's machada did the Hawaiian ukulele develop?
• Q11) What component of blood is also known as erythrocyte?
• Q12) True or false: Cleveland, Ohio was named for President Grover Cleveland.

Know-It-All Book Review

Name	The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World
Author	A.J. Jacobs
Published	2004 (first hardcover release)
Length	386 Pages

Description: Know-It-All covers an Esquire magazine editor's journey through the entire 2002 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. The entries range from interesting details to witty comments to stories of Jacobs's life to metamusings about his quest. While Jacobs may honestly have once thought himself to be the smartest kid in the world, the subtitle of the book is intended as a wry joke. Indeed, the author proves himself to more of a comedian than an intellect, showing off a fairly impressive memory for facts while failing to express a deeper understanding of much of anything.

Jacobs joins Mensa based on nearly two-decade-old SAT scores, embarasses himself at a trivia contest (although not because of his results), gets trounced in a chess game, and bottoms out in a crossword puzzle tournament. "Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none" would greatly overstate the author's knowledge, which widens and flattens considerably as he traverses the alphabet. He also attempts to become a contestant on the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, which his encyclopedia study both helps with its tons of facts and hinders with its lack of pop culture and current events.

Fortunately, Jacobs's one strong area of expertise is storytelling. Married and attempting to become a father for the first time as the book begins, his character evolves and grows, just like in a good novel, spurred both by the esoteric knowledge he is gaining and the life events that are transpiring. He's a likeable guy whom you'll find yourself rooting for except when he's showing off with minutia (his wife eventually decides to fine him a dollar for each irrelevant comment).

Conclusion: Know-It-All is an entertaining read, especially for trivia lovers who will find a slew of factoids sprinkled throughout the simultaneously alphabetical and chronological story. Experiencing his feat vicariously is enough to make you feel like you've done it and glad that you haven't.

Lordly Lemons or Mirthless Melons -- Quiz Quilt 109 Solution

Category Answers:

Sports & Games	SWOOPES	Forward Sheryl Swoopes notched 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Houston Comets, six years after leading Texas Tech to the NCAA championship.
Math & Science	PAVO	German astronomer Johann Bayer used his active imagination to name the star cluster around 1600.
Entertainment & Food	HALL	Rich Hall wrote the book Sniglets (Any Word That Doesn't Appear in the Dictionary, But Should) in 1984 and added six sequels before the decade was out.
Geography & Nature	BELIZE	The nation gained its independence on September 21, 1981 and named itself for Belize City and the Belize River.
Literature & Arts	GROOM	Winston Groom's follow-up Gump & Co. might have become a Paramount sequel if he had not felt that the company had slighted his royalties on the first movie.
History & Government	JEFFERSON	Virginian Thomas Jefferson was the only person to serve as Secretary of State, Vice President, and President.

Quiz Quilt Answer: SOLEMN (Last letters)

"Solemn" means "dignified" or "somber" and is an anagram of "lemons" and "melons".

Lordly Lemons or Mirthless Melons -- Quiz Quilt 109 Puzzle

Category Questions:

Sports & Games	What player had the first triple-double in WNBA history on July 27, 1999?
Math & Science	What constellation's name means "peacock"?
Entertainment & Food	What Saturday Night Live comedian introduced Sniglets in his act in the 1980s?
Geography & Nature	What country was formerly known as British Honduras?
Literature & Arts	What author's novel was the basis for the 1994 movie Forrest Gump?
History & Government	Which U.S. President had been the first U.S. Secretary of State?

General Trivia Answers #3,307-3,312

Answer 3,307: Entertainment & Food -- Rachael, Rosario, and Reid

d) Josie and the Pussycats

They played Josie McCoy, Melody Valentine, and Valerie Brown respectively. Two animated cartoon series aired on television for four years in the early 1970's.

Answer 3,308: History & Government -- Duel Demands

b) Be registered blood donors

The history of fencing dates to the Middle Ages, but it debuted as an Olympic sport in 1896, and its rules were standardized by the new Federation Internationale d'Escrime in 1913.

Answer 3,309: Math & Science -- Quickest Comet

a) Comet Encke

The second known periodic comet orbits the Sun once every 40 months.

Answer 3,310: Geography & Nature -- Caspian Coverage

a) 152,000 square miles

The Eurasian sea, also known as the Mazandaran Sea, is officially the world's largest lake.

Answer 3,311: Literature & Arts -- Malory's Mischief

c) Rape

The 15th-century knight may also have been a priest and had been accused of murder, robbery, stealing, and poaching at various times.

Answer 3,312: Sports & Games -- Evel Knievel

d) Robert

Born as Robert Craig Knievel on October 17, 1938, the motorcycle jumper broke enough bones (35) to get listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

General Trivia Questions #3,307-3,312

Question 3,307: Entertainment & Food -- Rachael, Rosario, and Reid

What all-girl band did Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, and Rosario Dawson portray in a 2001 movie?

a) The Bangles
b) The Go-Go's
c) Heart
d) Josie and the Pussycats

Question 3,308: History & Government -- Duel Demands

Which of the following must the participants do for a duel to be legal in Paraguay?

a) Be members of a fencing group
b) Be registered blood donors
c) Have an official request form
d) Sign a waiver

Question 3,309: Math & Science -- Quickest Comet

What comet has the shortest revolution?

a) Comet Encke
b) Comet Hale-Bopp
c) Comet Tempel-Tuttle
d) Halley's Comet

Question 3,310: Geography & Nature -- Caspian Coverage

What is the approximate area of the Caspian Sea?

a) 152,000 square miles
b) 345,000 square miles
c) 538,000 square miles
d) 731,000 square miles

Question 3,311: Literature & Arts -- Malory's Mischief

What was Sir Thomas Malory in prison for when he wrote Morte d'Arthur around 1470?

a) Bankruptcy
b) Murder
c) Rape
d) Theft

Question 3,312: Sports & Games -- Evel Knievel

What was daredevil Evel Knievel's given first name?

a) Randolph
b) Reginald
c) Richard
d) Robert

General Trivia Answers #3,301-3,306

Answer 3,301: Entertainment & Food -- Katharine the Great

d) The Philadelphia Story

Hepburn earned another Academy Award for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner in 1967.

Answer 3,302: History & Government -- U.S. Success

d) U.S.S. Missouri

The battleship was the last that the United States built.

Answer 3,303: Math & Science -- Insect Infantry

a) Fleas

The wingless parasites spread by infesting rats.

Answer 3,304: Geography & Nature -- Mountain Meat

a) Frog

Leptodactylus fallax is called the Crapaud for both its size and its taste when cooked.

Answer 3,305: Literature & Arts -- Fyodor Fake

d) The Miscreant

Jean Cocteau debuted with the book in 1921.

Answer 3,306: Sports & Games -- 1st Down Delimiter

b) ESPN

The graphic overlays debuted on Sunday Night Football in 1998.

General Trivia Questions #3,301-3,306

Question 3,301: Entertainment & Food -- Katharine the Great

For which of the following movies did Katharine Hepburn not win an Oscar?

a) The Lion in Winter
b) Morning Glory
c) On Golden Pond
d) The Philadelphia Story

Question 3,302: History & Government -- U.S. Success

On what boat did Japan surrender to the Allies on September 2, 1945?

a) U.S.S. Arizona
b) U.S.S. Juneau
c) U.S.S. Maine
d) U.S.S. Missouri

Question 3,303: Math & Science -- Insect Infantry

What insect is credited with spreading the Black Death in 1347?

a) Fleas
b) Flies
c) Gnats
d) Mosquitoes

Question 3,304: Geography & Nature -- Mountain Meat

What animal is known as the mountain chicken in Dominica?

a) Frog
b) Goat
c) Llama
d) Turkey

Question 3,305: Literature & Arts -- Fyodor Fake

Which novel below was not written by Fyodor Dostoevsky?

a) The Devils
b) The Gambler
c) The Idiot
d) The Miscreant

Question 3,306: Sports & Games -- 1st Down Delimiter

Which TV network introduced "1st and 10" technology to visually indicate the first down line on a football field?

a) ABC
b) ESPN
c) Fox Sports
d) NBC

General Trivia Answers #3,295-3,300

Answer 3,295: Entertainment & Food -- Laughter Lane

d) Married With Children

Their Chicago phone number was 555-2878.

Answer 3,296: History & Government -- Cultural Change

a) China

Mao Zedong started the upheaval during his last decade in power because he did not want China to follow the path of its fellow Communist neighbor, the Soviet Union.

Answer 3,297: Math & Science -- Subatomic

c) U.S.S. Nautilus

The SSN-571, the sixth Navy sub to be called the Nautilus, was powered by a uranium-fueled, pressurized water reactor.

Answer 3,298: Geography & Nature -- Mediterranean Avenue

d) Red Sea

It is a gulf of the Indian Ocean.

Answer 3,299: Literature & Arts -- Carton's Charity

d) A Tale of Two Cities

The barrister pronounced, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done".

Answer 3,300: Sports & Games -- Triple Doubles

c) Martina Hingis

Natalia Zvereva, Mirjana Lucic, and Anna Kournikova shared her titles.

General Trivia Questions #3,295-3,300

Question 3,295: Entertainment & Food -- Laughter Lane

What television show's main family lived at 9674 Jeopardy Lane?

a) Bewitched
b) The Brady Bunch
c) I Dream of Jeannie
d) Married With Children

Question 3,296: History & Government -- Cultural Change

What country experienced the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976?

a) China
b) Japan
c) Thailand
d) Vietnam

Question 3,297: Math & Science -- Subatomic

On January 21, 1954, what was the first atomic submarine?

a) U.S.S. Enterprise
b) U.S.S. Hunley
c) U.S.S. Nautilus
d) U.S.S. Nemo

Question 3,298: Geography & Nature -- Mediterranean Avenue

What sea does the Suez Canal link to the Mediterranean Sea?

a) Adriatic Sea
b) Black Sea
c) Caspian Sea
d) Red Sea

Question 3,299: Literature & Arts -- Carton's Charity

In what novel does Sydney Carton give up his life to save Charles Darnay?

a) The Ambassadors
b) An American Tragedy
c) A Passage to India
d) A Tale of Two Cities

Question 3,300: Sports & Games -- Triple Doubles

Who won the Australian Open women's doubles championship in 1997, 1998, and 1999 teaming with a different partner each time?

a) Lindsay Davenport
b) Lisa Raymond
c) Martina Hingis
d) Natalia Zvereva

General Trivia Answers #3,289-3,294

Answer 3,289: Entertainment & Food -- Be Frank About Hank

c) Hiram

The high school dropout was born in Georgiana, Alabama on September 17, 1923 as Hiram King Williams.

Answer 3,290: History & Government -- Credit Edit

d) VISA

The Bank of America changed the credit card's name in 1976.

Answer 3,291: Math & Science -- Meteorite Site

b) Antarctica

The rock was discovered in 1981 and determined to be almost identical to samples brought back from the moon.

Answer 3,292: Geography & Nature -- Forint Currency

c) Hungary

The forint was once divided into 100 filler, but the smaller unit was discontinued when it became almost worthless.

Answer 3,293: Literature & Arts -- Lone Ranger Relative

b) Green Hornet

Britt Reid is the grand-nephew of cowboy John Reid.

Answer 3,294: Sports & Games -- Cup Captain

a) Carla Overbeck

The defender played twelve years for the national team before retiring in 2000.

General Trivia Questions #3,289-3,294

Question 3,289: Entertainment & Food -- Be Frank About Hank

What was singer Hank Williams's given first name?

a) Hakim
b) Hercule
c) Hiram
d) Horeb

Question 3,290: History & Government -- Credit Edit

What did BankAmericard become?

a) American Express
b) Diner's Club
c) Discover
d) VISA

Question 3,291: Math & Science -- Meteorite Site

On which continent was ALHA 81005, the first meteorite from the moon, found?

a) Africa
b) Antarctica
c) Australia
d) South America

Question 3,292: Geography & Nature -- Forint Currency

What is the 36,000-square-mile country of nearly ten million people whose currency is the forint?

a) Azerbaijan
b) Eritrea
c) Hungary
d) Jordan

Question 3,293: Literature & Arts -- Lone Ranger Relative

What superhero is related to the Lone Ranger?

a) Green Arrow
b) Green Hornet
c) Green Lantern
d) Silver Surfer

Question 3,294: Sports & Games -- Cup Captain

What female soccer player was the captain of the U.S. National team for both the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 Women's World Cup?

a) Carla Overbeck
b) Julie Foudy
c) Mia Hamm
d) Michelle Akers

General Trivia Answers #3,283-3,288

Answer 3,283: Entertainment & Food -- Rush Hour Power

c) Jane Wiedlin

The song from her album Fur was her only solo foray into the Top 40.

Answer 3,284: History & Government -- Cut-off King

a) Edward VIII

The future Duke of Windsor abdicated for love in 1936 because his role as the head of the Church of England was incompatible with marrying divorcee Wallis Simpson.

Answer 3,285: Math & Science -- So Close Yet So Star

b) 9

Besides the Sun, our nearest neighbors are Proxima Centauri, Alpha Centauri, Bernard's Star, Wolf 359, Lalande 21185, Luyten 726-8, Sirius, and Ross 154.

Answer 3,286: Geography & Nature -- Game Show, New Mexico

d) Truth or Consequences

In 1950, the show offered to appear live in any city that would change its name.

Answer 3,287: Literature & Arts -- Conflict Chronicals

a) Abraham Lincoln

The Swedish-American also won two Pulitzers for poetry.

Answer 3,288: Sports & Games -- Le Mans Leader

d) Porsche

Laurent Aiello, Allan McNish, and Stephane Ortelli drove a Porsche 911 GT-1 to victory in 1998, the most recent of the car's sixteen wins.

General Trivia Questions #3,283-3,288

Question 3,283: Entertainment & Food -- Rush Hour Power

Which former Go-Go's member hit the charts with the single "Rush Hour" in 1988?

a) Charlotte Caffey
b) Gina Schock
c) Jane Wiedlin
d) Kathy Valentine

Question 3,284: History & Government -- Cut-off King

Who was the shortest-reigning king of the United Kingdom in the last 400 years?

a) Edward VIII
b) James II
c) Oliver Cromwell
d) Richard Cromwell

Question 3,285: Math & Science -- So Close Yet So Star

How many stars are within ten light years of the Earth?

a) 1
b) 9
c) 81
d) 729

Question 3,286: Geography & Nature -- Game Show, New Mexico

For what game show did Hot Springs, New Mexico rename itself after an episode was filmed there?

a) Jeopardy!
b) Let's Make a Deal
c) The Price Is Right
d) Truth or Consequences

Question 3,287: Literature & Arts -- Conflict Chronicals

For which U.S. President's biography, subtitled "The War Years", did Carl Sandburg win the 1940 Pulitzer Prize for History?

a) Abraham Lincoln
b) George Washington
c) Ulysses Grant
d) Woodrow Wilson

Question 3,288: Sports & Games -- Le Mans Leader

What type of car has won the most Le Mans 24-Hour races?

a) Bentley
b) Ferrari
c) Jaguar
d) Porsche

Friday the 13th - Random Trivia Answers

• A1) Butch Cassidy (born Friday the 13th in April 1866). The bank and train robber also went by the aliases George Parker, George Cassidy, Lowe Maxwell, James "Santiago" Maxwell, James Ryan, Butch Casady, and Santiago Lowe.
• A2) Bess Truman (born Friday the 13th in February 1885). She passed away on October 18, 1982 at 97½ years of age.
• A3) Samuel Beckett (born Friday the 13th in April 1906). His most recent works had been the novel How It Is and the play Come and Go.
• A4) Don Adams (born Friday the 13th in April 1923). In a role reversal, the comedian borrowed his last name from his wife Adelaide Efantis's stage name, Adelaide Adams.
• A5) Fidel Castro (born Friday the 13th in August 1926). The Cuban leader, whose full birth name is Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, is now officially First Secretary of the Communist Party, after resigning his presidency in February 2008.
• A6) Bob Crane (born Friday the 13th in July 1928). The Colonel's name, Robert E. Hogan, was taken from the actor's (Robert Edward Crane).
• A7) Peter Tork (born Friday the 13th in February 1942). Tork played some guitar on "Papa Gene's Blues" but could also find his way around the keyboard, bass, and banjo. When the Monkees debuted, his birth year was intentionally listed as 1944 to make him appear younger (22 instead of 24; I can't find any mention of the change having anything to do with superstition).
• A8) Darius Rucker (born Friday the 13th in May 1966). The former Hootie and the Blowfish lead singer followed in the footsteps of Charley Pride, who topped the charts in 1983 with "Night Games".
• A9) Trevor Hoffman (born Friday the 13th in October 1967). The righty closer passed Lee Smith on September 24, 2006 and ended 2008 with 554 career saves.
• A10) Brad Johnson (born Friday the 13th in September 1968). In a 1997 game against the Carolina Panthers, the then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback hauled in a deflected pass and ran it three yards into the endzone. Major League Baseball player Bernie Williams shares his birthday.
• A11) Jermaine O'Neal (born Friday the 13th in October 1978). The 6'11" center and power forward didn't blossom until he was traded from the Trailblazers to the Indiana Pacers in 2000, making the All-Star team six times with his new team before being traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2008.
• A12) Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson (born Friday the 13th in June 1986). At the other end, they have the "Mary-Kate and Ashley: Real fashion for real girls" line at Wal-Mart.

Other famous people born on Friday the 13th include Pope Sixtus V (December 1521), author Horatio Alger (January 1832), radio and television host and producer Ralph Edwards (June 1913), actor Christopher Plummer (December 1929), producer, director, and actor Tony Dow (April 1945), singer Peabo Bryson (April 1951), boxer Michael Spinks (July 1956), actor Steve Buscemi (December 1957), actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus (January 1961), NBA player and coach Doc Rivers (October 1961), baseball player Will Clark (March 1964), actor and singer Jamie Walters (June 1969), swimmer Summer Sanders (October 1972), NBA player Baron Davis (April 1979), tennis player Meghann Shaughnessy (April 1979), and race car driver Marco Andretti (March 1987).

Friday the 13th - Random Trivia Questions

In less than a week, we will have the first of two consecutive Friday the 13ths (which of course, can only happen with February and March in non-leap years) and the first of the maximum three this year (November always has a Friday the 13th in these cases). Almost one in every two hundred people are born on Friday the 13th, but do you know these lucky thirteen?

Friday the 13th Questions

• Q1) What leader of the Hole in the Wall Gang was born as Robert LeRoy Parker?
• Q2) Which U.S. First Lady lived the longest?
• Q3) What Irish author earned the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his writing, which - in new forms for the novel and drama - in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation"?
• Q4) What actor, the son of William and Consuelo Yarmy, won back to back to back Comedy Emmy Awards from 1967 to 1969?
• Q5) What dictator's writing credits include Capitalism in Crisis: Globalization and World Politics Today in 2000 and Che: A Memoir in 2005?
• Q6) What actor played the title character, Colonel Hogan, in Hogan's Heroes from 1965 to 1971?
• Q7) Which of the Monkees actually played a musical instrument on their self-titled debut album?
• Q8) What former pop star's "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" hit #1 on the country charts in 2008, making him the first African American solo act to do so in a quarter century?
• Q9) What Major League Baseball pitcher saved the most games in his career?
• Q10) Who was the only NFL quarterback to throw a touchdown pass to himself?
• Q11) What basketball player was selected 17th in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers straight out of high school and was named the Most Improved Player in 2002?
• Q12) What twin sisters founded The Row, a high-end fashion line?

Trick or Traitor -- Quiz Quilt 108 Solution

Category Answers:

History & Government	CHIANG	Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek had taken over leadership of the Kuomintang in 1925.
Geography & Nature	KHARTOUM	Khartoum, Sudan, a city of over a million people, sits at the fork between the White Nile and the Blue Nile.
Sports & Games	KWAN	Michelle Kwan's grandparents opened the Chinese restaurant in 1972, providing most of Michelle's meals for many years before selling it a quarter of a century later.
Entertainment & Food	LENO	New Yorker Jay Leno played Detroit Detective Tony Costas opposite Pat Morita as Japanese Investigator Fujitsuka Natsuo.
Math & Science	TAYLOR	The Royal Society fellow used Brook Taylor's formula to calculate the motion of a vibrating string in 1715.
Literature & Arts	FORD	Stratemeyer produced 40 titles in the first series about the Henry Ford-like inventive lad from 1910 through 1941.

Quiz Quilt Answer: ARNOLD (Fourth letters)

General Benedict Arnold was a traitor who surrendered West Point to the British during the American Revolutionary War.

Trick or Traitor -- Quiz Quilt 108 Puzzle

Category Questions:

History & Government	What Chinese statesman and general became president in 1948 and was forced to escape to Taiwan in 1949?
Geography & Nature	What is the only African capital other than Cairo that the Nile River flows through?
Sports & Games	What female figure skater's family owned a restaurant called the Golden Pheasant?
Entertainment & Food	What comedian's movie Collision Course was filmed in 1989 but released three years later just as he was getting his big break?
Math & Science	What English mathematician created the calculus of finite differences?
Literature & Arts	On whose life is Edward Stratemeyer's Tom Swift based?

General Trivia Answers #3,277-3,282

Answer 3,277: Entertainment & Food -- Chardonnay Shade

d) White

The green-skinned grapes are also used to make champagne.

Answer 3,278: History & Government -- Cameron Undone

d) Ronald Reagan

Cameron Reagan was convicted for participating in two car burglaries in November 1998.

Answer 3,279: Math & Science -- Amino Acid Atoms

d) Potassium

"Amine" means "from ammonia", a compound with one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms. Each amino acid also contains a carboxyl group with carbon, hydrogen, and two oxygen atoms.

Answer 3,280: Geography & Nature -- Prime Minister Memorialized

d) Wellington

Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, was the prime minister from 1828 to 1830. Auckland was the former capital.

Answer 3,281: Literature & Arts -- Supreme Sun Spirit

d) Ra

Geb was the Earth god, Nut was the sky goddess, and Osiris was the protector of nature and judge of the dead.

Answer 3,282: Sports & Games -- Hockey Hall

c) Toronto, Ontario

Although the Hall of Fame was created in 1943, it did not have a building until 1961.

General Trivia Questions #3,277-3,282

Question 3,277: Entertainment & Food -- Chardonnay Shade

What color wine is made from Chardonnay grapes?

a) Green
b) Red
c) Rose
d) White

Question 3,278: History & Government -- Cameron Undone

Which U.S. President's grandson Cameron was sentenced to six months in jail in 1999 for receiving stolen property?

a) Gerald Ford
b) Jimmy Carter
c) Richard Nixon
d) Ronald Reagan

Question 3,279: Math & Science -- Amino Acid Atoms

What chemical element below is not an essential constituent of all amino acids?

a) Hydrogen
b) Nitrogen
c) Oxygen
d) Potassium

Question 3,280: Geography & Nature -- Prime Minister Memorialized

What city, named after a British prime minister, has been the capital of New Zealand since 1865?

a) Auckland
b) Christchurch
c) Dunedin
d) Wellington

Question 3,281: Literature & Arts -- Supreme Sun Spirit

Who was the Egyptian sun god and chief deity?

a) Geb
b) Nut
c) Osiris
d) Ra

Question 3,282: Sports & Games -- Hockey Hall

In what Canadian city is the Hockey Hall of Fame located?

a) Calgary, Alberta
b) Montreal, Quebec
c) Toronto, Ontario
d) Vancouver, British Columbia

General Trivia Answers #3,271-3,276

Answer 3,271: Entertainment & Food -- Fruit Roots

d) Strawberry

Settlers brought the fruit over from Europe.

Answer 3,272: History & Government -- Balaclava Battle

a) Crimean War

During the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854, British soldiers kept warm by wearing the knitted masks covering everything but their eyes and mouth.

Answer 3,273: Math & Science -- Vital Vitamin

d) Thiamine

Japanese researcher Umetaro Suzuki discovered the vitamin when he tried to determine why rice bran cured beriberi.

Answer 3,274: Geography & Nature -- Indian Inception

c) 25

Most of the names refer to geographical features or Indian tribe names.

Answer 3,275: Literature & Arts -- Fence Sense

d) Robert Frost

The line is from his 1915 poem "Mending Wall".

Answer 3,276: Sports & Games -- Madden's Men

c) Oakland Raiders

His tenure included winning Super Bowl XI in 1976. The aviophobe has avoided airplanes since 1960, when he missed a team flight that crashed fatally in Ohio.

General Trivia Questions #3,271-3,276

Question 3,271: Entertainment & Food -- Fruit Roots

Which fruit below is not native to North America?

a) Blueberry
b) Cranberry
c) Grape
d) Strawberry

Question 3,272: History & Government -- Balaclava Battle

For what war's battle was the Balaclava helmet named?

a) Crimean War
b) Franco-Prussian War
c) World War I
d) World War II

Question 3,273: Math & Science -- Vital Vitamin

Which vitamin, found in pork, cereals, grains, soybeans, and nuts, prevents beriberi?

a) Cobalamin
b) Pyridoxine
c) Riboflavin
d) Thiamine

Question 3,274: Geography & Nature -- Indian Inception

How many U.S. states' names are of Indian origin?

a) 7
b) 16
c) 25
d) 34

Question 3,275: Literature & Arts -- Fence Sense

What American poet opined, "Good fences make good neighbors"?

a) Henry David Thoreau
b) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
c) Ralph Waldo Emerson
d) Robert Frost

Question 3,276: Sports & Games -- Madden's Men

Which NFL team did sportscaster John Madden coach from 1969 to 1978?

a) Cincinnati Bengals
b) Los Angeles Rams
c) Oakland Raiders
d) Seattle Seahawks

General Trivia Answers #3,265-3,270

Answer 3,265: Entertainment & Food -- Music Box Fox

c) Mariah Carey

With her five-octave vocal range, the New Yorker was the only artist to top the pop charts each year in the 1990s.

Answer 3,266: History & Government -- Mecca Trek

a) Medina

The journey is known as the Hegira.

Answer 3,267: Math & Science -- Intelligence Information

d) Reliable power

The state deregulated the energy industry in 1995 but then faced a drought, unanticipated demand, rolling blackouts, and Pacific Gas and Electric's bankruptcy.

Answer 3,268: Geography & Nature -- Mexican Marker

b) Tropic of Cancer only

The Tropic splits the country almost in half horizontally.

Answer 3,269: Literature & Arts -- Horse Source

a) Anna Sewell

Because of a leg injury, she had used horses for transportation most of her life. She honored the equines with her only book, completed after outliving her doctor's fatal prognosis.

Answer 3,270: Sports & Games -- CFL Cup

b) Grey Cup

Albert Henry George, the Earl of Grey, donated the prize in 1909.

General Trivia Questions #3,265-3,270

Question 3,265: Entertainment & Food -- Music Box Fox

What singer recorded the albums Music Box, Daydream, and Emotions?

a) Amii Stewart
b) Donna Summer
c) Mariah Carey
d) Whitney Houston

Question 3,266: History & Government -- Mecca Trek

In A.D. 622, where did Muhammad flee from Mecca to?

a) Medina
b) Mubarraz
c) Rabigh
d) Taif

Question 3,267: Math & Science -- Intelligence Information

On January 8, 2001, Intel declined to expand in California because of what shortage?

a) Affordable real estate
b) Favorable tax laws
c) Potential skilled employees
d) Reliable power

Question 3,268: Geography & Nature -- Mexican Marker

What imaginary lines of latitude pass through Mexico?

a) Equator only
b) Tropic of Cancer only
c) both
d) neither

Question 3,269: Literature & Arts -- Horse Source

Who was the English author of Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse in 1877?

a) Anna Sewell
b) Astrid Lindgren
c) Johanna Spyri
d) Louisa May Alcott

Question 3,270: Sports & Games -- CFL Cup

What cup does the champion of the Canadian Football League win?

a) Black Cup
b) Grey Cup
c) Platinum Cup
d) White Cup

General Trivia Answers #3,259-3,264

Answer 3,259: Entertainment & Food -- Harry's Honey

c) Meg Ryan

The New York University grad's more famous partnership was with Tom Hanks in Joe Versus the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle, and You've Got Mail.

Answer 3,260: History & Government -- Red Rows

c) 7

Stripes were added to Old Glory for the fourteenth and fifteenth states, but the number reverted to thirteen in 1818, and only stars were subsequently added for new states.

Answer 3,261: Math & Science -- A Part Apart

a) Backbone

19th-century French naturalist Chevalier de Lamarck coined the term to describe insects, squids, worms, and their relatives.

Answer 3,262: Geography & Nature -- Out of America (Into Africa)

c) Liberia

It became the first independent African country in 1847.

Answer 3,263: Literature & Arts -- Courtship Comparison

a) Cyrano de Bergerac

Although Miles Standish was a real military captain, the 1858 poem about his romance with Priscilla Mullins is mostly fictitious.

Answer 3,264: Sports & Games -- World Cup Runner Up

b) China

Following a scoreless game, the U.S. won 5-4 in a shootout. Brandi Chastain kicked the winning shot and famously celebrated by taking off the top of her jersey.

General Trivia Questions #3,259-3,264

Question 3,259: Entertainment & Food -- Harry's Honey

What actress played Billy Crystal's female love interest in the 1989 movie When Harry Met Sally?

a) Carrie Fisher
b) Lisa Jane Persky
c) Meg Ryan
d) Michelle Nicastro

Question 3,260: History & Government -- Red Rows

How many red stripes are on the U.S. flag?

a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 13

Question 3,261: Math & Science -- A Part Apart

What body part do invertebrates lack?

a) Backbone
b) Hair
c) Hooves
d) Opposable thumbs

Question 3,262: Geography & Nature -- Out of America (Into Africa)

What African country did the American Colonization Society found in 1821 as a haven for freed American slaves?

a) Algeria
b) Gambia
c) Liberia
d) Mauritania

Question 3,263: Literature & Arts -- Courtship Comparison

Which story is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Courtship of Miles Standish" a twist on?

a) Cyrano de Bergerac
b) The Faerie Queene
c) Romeo and Juliet
d) The Taming of the Shrew

Question 3,264: Sports & Games -- World Cup Runner Up

What country lost the finals of the 1999 Women's World Cup?

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

General Trivia Answers #3,253-3,258

Answer 3,253: Entertainment & Food -- Lustrous Landlady

a) Blanche

The four Miami roommates are all either divorced or widowed.

Answer 3,254: History & Government -- Seating Section

d) Tourist

The new, economical McDonnell Douglas DC-6B allowed the airline to add more seats and create a new segment of travelers.

Answer 3,255: Math & Science -- G Is for "Good"

c) Riboflavin

The name comes from the sugar arabinose and "flavus", meaning yellow.

Answer 3,256: Geography & Nature -- Unique Peak

a) K2

The Karakoram peak, also known as Mount Godwin Austen, Dapsang, and Chogo Ri, is the second highest in the world at 28,250 feet.

Answer 3,257: Literature & Arts -- South Pacific Painter

d) Paul Gauguin

The Post-Impressionist had been a successful stockbroker but turned to painting full time after failing as a businessman.

Answer 3,258: Sports & Games -- Nervous Service

d) Volleyball

In all of the other sports listed, the serving side has the edge, but in volleyball the receiving team has the advantage.

General Trivia Questions #3,253-3,258

Question 3,253: Entertainment & Food -- Lustrous Landlady

What character in The Golden Girls owns the house in which the main characters live?

a) Blanche
b) Dorothy
c) Rose
d) Sophia

Question 3,254: History & Government -- Seating Section

What new airplane seating section did TWA introduce on May 1, 1952?

a) Business
b) Coach
c) Economy
d) Tourist

Question 3,255: Math & Science -- G Is for "Good"

What is the common name for what was once called Vitamin G?

a) Calcium
b) Niacin
c) Riboflavin
d) Thiamine

Question 3,256: Geography & Nature -- Unique Peak

What is the only one of the ten highest mountain peaks in the world that is not in the Himalayas?

a) K2
b) Mt. Everest
c) Mt. Kanchenjunga
d) Mt. Lhotse

Question 3,257: Literature & Arts -- South Pacific Painter

What French painter worked as a brokerage clerk and lived the last dozen years of his life in the South Pacific?

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

Question 3,258: Sports & Games -- Nervous Service

At the professional level, in which sport below does the receiving team win the highest percent of the rallies?

a) Squash
b) Table tennis
c) Tennis
d) Volleyball

The End - Random Trivia Answers

• A1) R.E.M.. The song did even worse, peaking at #87, during its first U.K. release, but rose to #39 after a second release in 1991.
• A2) My Chemical Romance. The album's most popular song, "Welcome to the Black Parade", topped the U.K. Singles chart and the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, while reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• A3) The Doors. The song made Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, ranking #328.
• A4) The Beatles. The three songs are tracks eight through ten on the 1969 album Abbey Road ("Her Majesty" was belatedly placed last after nearly being cut). Chris Bliss performs an impressive synchronized juggling act to this medley as his finale.
• A5) Moby. Richard Melville Hall, supposedly the great-great-great-grandnephew of Moby Dick author Herman Melville, also uses the name Schaumgummi and has been part of several bands.
• A6) Burt Reynolds. Dom DeLuise's insane character, Marlon Borunki, tries to help him die on his own terms, but something always goes wrong.
• A7) The End of Violence. Wim Wenders was nominated for a Golden Palm for directing the film, which also features Traci Lind as Cat and Rosalind Chao as Claire.
• A8) The End of the Affair. The remake, set in post-World War II London, earned Moore a Best Actress Oscar nomination and won a BAFTA award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
• A9) Isaac Asimov. The Russian-American former biochemist thought the picture of the geyser's eruption in a 1932 issue of Time magazine resembled a nuclear explosion, the first of which wouldn't occur until two decades later, a year before Asimov saw the image.
• A10) Naomi Wolf. The indictment compares the recent Bush administration to the rise of Fascism and some of the worst dictatorships of the last century.
• A11) Sam Harris. The 2004 book reach #4 on the New York Times Best Seller list and won the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Nonfiction.
• A12) A Series of Unfortunate Events. The final novel in the Lemony Snicket series was released, seven years after The Bad Beginning, in October 2006 on Friday the 13th (the subject of next week's random quiz).