Trivia Quiz?

[phkrause]

On 7/25/2017 at 5:32 PM, phkrause said:

Which classic rock song is erroneously attributed to an urban legend about a bystander looking on while someone drowned?

A. "Solsbury Hill"
B. "In the Air Tonight"
C. "Games Without Frontiers"
D. "Follow You, Follow Me"

B. "In the Air Tonight"

"In the Air Tonight" has been attributed to a story about its singer Phil Collins helplessly watching a swimmer drown while another bystander, who could've helped, looked on. The story's not true --- it's actually about Collins' 1979 divorce.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

On 7/25/2017 at 5:51 PM, phkrause said:

What is the only state capital that shares no letters with the state it is capital of?

Montgomery Pierre Providence Nashville

Pierre is my guess

Answer: South Dakota is the only state whose capital city, Pierre, does not share any of the same letters with the name of the state. The population of Pierre, South Dakota was 13,646 at the 2010 census, making it the second least-populous state capital after Montpelier, Vermont. Founded in 1880, Pierre has been the state capital since South Dakota gained statehood on November 2, 1889. It was chosen for its location in the geographic center of the state. Pierre was named after Pierre Chouteau, Jr., a major fur trader and entrepreneur.

[phkrause]

23 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was Inaccurate about the Moniker "Test-tube baby?"

Louise Brown was called the world's first test-tube baby, a label soon applied to all children born through in vitro fertilization (henceforth IVF because we really don't like writing long phrases). There's only one issue: the process didn't involve a test tube. In the original IVF process, a woman's egg and a man's sperm were combined on a Petri dish, then implanted into the woman's body. 

 

23 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Was IVF Initially Received?

This initial success has paved the way for millions of IVF births over the last few decades, giving children to many parents who otherwise struggled to have them. But back in the 70s, it was incredibly controversial. Religious groups opposed the procedure, saying doctors were playing god. Others referred to the children as frankenbabies. And even the scientific community had their objections. Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, the two IVF pioneers, had been denied a grant by the Medical Research Council and quickly learned that they'd have to operate without the help of the NHS. In an article for the Guardian, Peter Braude, head of the Department of Women's Health at King's College London, said "If you talk to people today about human reproductive cloning, the feeling you get that it is playing God is just how it was in 1978 with IVF." 

But the procedure did have its supporters. Particularly the parents who had thought they would never have kids before IVF came along. Said Grace McDonald, the mother of the first boy baby born through IVF, "There had been so much controversy. I never looked on going there as being anything to do with courage though, it was just determination."

 

23 hours ago, phkrause said:

In 1999, Louise's Sister Natalie Became the First IVF Baby to Do What?

After Louise, her parents had a second child through IVF named Natalie. But there were other questions beyond whether or not IVF would lead to successful births. Like what would the reproductive process be for children born through this method? Could they even have kids? Well in 1999, Natalie became the first woman born through IVF to conceive naturally when she gave birth to her daughter, Casey.

 

23 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was Significant about the Birth of Connor Levy in 2013?

In 2013, Marybeth Scheidts and David Levy gave birth to Connor Levy, the first IVF baby to have every letter of his human genome screened before birth. You don't have to be a scientist to realize the implications. The IVF process involves creating multiple embryos and then choosing which ones to implant. Through the screening process, doctors can better predict which embryos will lead to successful pregnancies. "It is hard to overstate how revolutionary this is," said the couple's doctor. "This increases pregnancy rates by 50% across the board and reduces miscarriages by a similar margin. It will be much less expensive. In five years, this will be state of the art and everyone who comes for IVF will have it." Of course, the genome can be used to predict much more than chances for a successful birth. Everything ranging from eye color to chances of developing terminal diseases later in life. For now, it is illegal for doctor's to choose embryos based on such factors, but as with all things scientific and medical, who knows what the future holds?

[phkrause]

23 hours ago, phkrause said:

Businessman Henry F. Phillips patented a variety of which type of tool?

Hammer Screwdriver Saw Wrench

Screwdriver!!

Answer: The name Henry F. Phillips may not be immediately familiar but you probably often use the invention that bears his last name. Henry Frank Phillips was a U.S. businessman from Portland, Oregon. The Phillips-head screw and screwdriver are named after him. Phillips succeeded in bringing the design to industrial manufacturing and promoting its rapid adoption as a machine screw standard. One of the first customers was General Motors who used the innovative design in 1936 for its Cadillac assembly-lines.

[phkrause]

Which state is the home of the National Hollerin' Contest, the Christmas in July Festival and the tallest sand dune on the East Coast?

A. North Carolina
B. Maryland
C. Virginia
D. New Jersey

[phkrause]

Who was the only non-human to testify before the U.S. Congress?

Elmo Howdy Doody Kermit the Frog Mickey Mouse

[phkrause]

Stamp Through These Trivia Questions About the U.S. Post Office

On July 26, 1775, Congress established the U.S. Post Office to replace the British Crown mail service. See if you can answer these trivia questions about the first postmaster general and the American postage stamp...

Why Was Benjamin Franklin Appointed as America’s Postmaster General?

What Was Franklin’s Job as Postmaster for the New U.S. Post Office?

When Were Postage Stamps First Issued?

What Was the Longest Distance a U.S. Postage Stamp Ever Traveled?

[phkrause]

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" is the first line of which famous poem?

She Walks in Beauty The Road Not Taken A Dream Within a Dream Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

[phkrause]

22 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which state is the home of the National Hollerin' Contest, the Christmas in July Festival and the tallest sand dune on the East Coast?

A. North Carolina
B. Maryland
C. Virginia
D. New Jersey

A. North Carolina

Spivey's Corner, North Carolina, hosts the annual Hollerin' Contest; West Jefferson holds Christmas in July; and Kill Devil Hills is home to Jockey's Ridge, the tallest sand dune on the East Coast

Source: various web sites.

It figures!!

[phkrause]

22 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who was the only non-human to testify before the U.S. Congress?

Elmo Howdy Doody Kermit the Frog Mickey Mouse

Answer: Elmo is a Muppet character on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is also the only non-human to testify before Congress. In 2002 he was invited by Duke Cunningham of California to testify before the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee to urge more funding for music research and music education in public schools. Obviously the testimony of a puppet isn’t exactly that of an expert witness, but the move to include Elmo was designed to draw attention to underfunded music programs and, to that end, it achieved just that.

[phkrause]

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

Why Was Benjamin Franklin Appointed as America’s Postmaster General?

It may have been his previous experience. Franklin began serving as Postmaster of Philadelphia under the British Crown from 1737. In those days, it was normal for a newspaper publisher to serve as postmaster. Between 1743 and 1753, Franklin also worked as comptroller and had oversight financially over additional post offices. It was in 1753 that he became joint postmaster, along with Virginia’s William Hunter, for the British Crown. This lasted until 1774 when Franklin was dismissed because he opened mail belonging to Governor Thomas Hutchinson of Massachusetts and published it.

 

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was Franklin’s Job as Postmaster for the New U.S. Post Office?

For a salary of $1,000 per year and a comptroller and secretary who were paid $340, Franklin was in charge of all the post offices from Georgia to Massachusetts. In addition, he had the ability to hire new postmasters. He didn’t hold the job very long though. Late in 1776, he was sent as a diplomat to France to enlist their support in the American war for independence.

By the time Franklin left, he had made large improvements in mail service from Maine to Florida. He had also established regular mail service between Great Britain and the colonies. Following the adoption of America’s new 1789 constitution, Samuel Osgood, a former congressman from Massachusetts, was named as the first postmaster general. He served as postmaster general for about two years under George Washington’s administration.

 

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

When Were Postage Stamps First Issued?

Stamps were first issued in 1847. Before that time, the person mailing a letter would take it to their local post office where it would be stamped with the fee. The rate was based on how far the letter was traveling and the number of sheets of paper it contained. Payment could be made either by the sender or receiver, or they could split the cost.

When stamps were first issued, Benjamin Franklin appeared on the five-cent stamp and George Washington appeared on the 10-cent stamp. The stamp sheets were unperforated but pre-gummed. The post office clerk would cut them apart with scissors. In 1856, a stamp featuring Thomas Jefferson was issued in a five-cent denomination. The first commemorative stamps were issued in 1893 and featured Christopher Columbus.

 

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was the Longest Distance a U.S. Postage Stamp Ever Traveled?

The distance was 3,262,723,132 miles, which landed the U.S. Post Office a spot in Guinness World Records in 2016. The stamp was aboard the January 19, 2006, Cape Canaveral, Florida, launch of the New Horizons Spacecraft. On July 14, 2015, the spacecraft made its landing on Pluto, after a trip that took a little over nine years. Benjamin Franklin would have been amazed.

[phkrause]

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" is the first line of which famous poem?

She Walks in Beauty The Road Not Taken A Dream Within a Dream Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Answer: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" is the opening line of the poem “The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. Besides being among the best known poems, some claim that it is one of the most misunderstood. Frost commented that “The Road Not Taken” is “a tricky poem, very tricky” implying that people generally misinterpret this poem as evidence of the benefit of free thinking and not following the crowd, while Frost’s intention was to comment about indecision and people finding meaning in inconsequential decisions.

[phkrause]

Which single was the top-selling song of 2016?

A. "Love Yourself'
B. "Stressed Out"
C. "7 Years"
D. "Can't Stop the Feeling"

[phkrause]

Which monument was created by Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln Borglum?

Washington Monument Gateway Arch Statue of Liberty Mount Rushmore

[phkrause]

Thanks for the Memories (and Trivia Questions) with Bob Hope

On July 27, 2003, comedian Bob Hope passed away in his California home after a bout with pneumonia. Just two months earlier, Hope had celebrated his 100th birthday. How much do you know about the “Old Ski Nose,” Bob Hope? Test your knowledge with these trivia questions.

How Many Stars does Hope Have on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

During Which War Did Bob Hope Entertain the Troops Overseas?

On Which Show Did Hope Have Carte-Blanche to Come on Whenever He Liked?

What Happened with His Death Scare in 1998?

[phkrause]

In which country would you find the currency called the shekel?

Iran Israel Egypt Libya

Israel would be my guess??

[phkrause]

On 7/27/2017 at 8:32 PM, phkrause said:

Which single was the top-selling song of 2016?

A. "Love Yourself'
B. "Stressed Out"
C. "7 Years"
D. "Can't Stop the Feeling"

D. "Can't Stop the Feeling"

They're all in the top 10, but Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling" nabbed the top spot in 2016.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

On 7/27/2017 at 8:35 PM, phkrause said:

Which monument was created by Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln Borglum?

Washington Monument Gateway Arch Statue of Liberty Mount Rushmore

Answer: Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills of Keystone, South Dakota. Sculpted by Danish-American Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum, Mount Rushmore features 60-foot sculptures of the heads of four United States presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. After 16 years of working on Mount Rushmore, 73-year-old Gutzon Borglum died just seven months before Mount Rushmore was finished. His son, Lincoln Borglum, finished the project for his father.

[phkrause]

On 7/27/2017 at 9:00 PM, phkrause said:

How Many Stars does Hope Have on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

Though he starred in 58 feature films during his career, Bob Hope never won an Oscar. But, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on four separate occasions. He also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1959 and went on to host the Oscars nineteen times - the most-used host in history. 

 

On 7/27/2017 at 9:00 PM, phkrause said:

During Which War Did Bob Hope Entertain the Troops Overseas?

Every single U.S. war between World War II and the Gulf War. The USO calls Bob Hope the “One-Man Morale Machine” for his ability to swoop in on battle-worn soldiers and immediately turn the energy up to 100. In total, Hope headlined 58 shows in the 49 years he worked with USO, including trips to Beirut, remote outposts in Alaska, and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as part of the Gulf War.

 

On 7/27/2017 at 9:00 PM, phkrause said:

On Which Show Did Hope Have Carte-Blanche to Come on Whenever He Liked?

Well that would be The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Hope was known to often drop in on the late night program (he has been on the show more times than anyone) and join Johnny on the couch. But behind the scenes, Carson disliked Hope and his antics on the program. 

Johnny felt Hope’s bits were too rehearsed and didn’t fit with what was supposed to be the casual conversation of The Tonight Show. He also hated how Hope would run long segments of his comedy specials on the air, and there was really nothing Johnny could do about it. Hope was the bigger talent at NBC, and Carson had to defer to him and his requests (whether he liked it or not).

 

On 7/27/2017 at 9:00 PM, phkrause said:

What Happened with His Death Scare in 1998?

Bob Hope's death was erroneously reported twice before his actual death in 2003.  In early June 1998, Bob Hope got an alarming call from the press asking him to comment on his recent death. Of course, Hope had not died (and would not for another five years). But what happened could only be described as a true comedy of errors. The Associated Press had a pre-written obituary for Hope that was accidentally released. Bob Stump, a Republican representative from Arizona and former Navy officer during Pearl Harbor, saw the obituary and proceeded to give a eulogy for Hope during House proceedings that was broadcast live on C-SPAN. That lead to widespread news coverage of Hope’s death, until, of course, everyone found out he was still alive and quite well.  

[phkrause]

On 7/27/2017 at 9:09 PM, phkrause said:

In which country would you find the currency called the shekel?

Iran Israel Egypt Libya

Israel would be my guess??

Answer: A shekel is the basic monetary unit of modern Israel. The earliest shekels were a unit of weight, used for trading before the advent of coins. The origin of the name "shekel" is from the ancient biblical currency by the same name. Shekel is any of several ancient units of weight or of currency in ancient Israel. Initially, it may have referred to a weight of barley. According to Jewish law, whenever a king conducted a census of the Jewish people, every person that was counted was required to pay the half-Shekel for his atonement.

[phkrause]

What is the most popular drink in the United States?

A. Beer
B. Soda
C. Water
D. Milk

I know the one it should be!!

[phkrause]

In the opening scene of the credits for The Brady Bunch, which female appears in the upper left?

Cindy Jan Marcia Carol

[phkrause]

Trivia Questions About the Beginning of World War I

On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, triggering the start of World War I. On the anniversary of this historic event, we've put together some trivia questions; try your luck with them to test your knowledge of the events that led to the "the war to end all wars."

Why Did Austria-Hungary Declare War?

What Was Austria-Hungary's Ultimatum to Serbia?

How Did the Assassination Lead to So Many Countries Fighting Each Other?

What Were the Human Casualties of the Great War?

[phkrause]

Who was the U.S. president during World War I?

Franklin D. Roosevelt Woodrow Wilson Theodore Roosevelt Harry S. Truman

FDR

[phkrause]

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

What is the most popular drink in the United States?

A. Beer
B. Soda
C. Water
D. Milk

I know the one it should be!!

B. Water

Surprise! After two decades at the top, soda has fizzled, and water has taken its place as the cold one America now reaches for.

Source: various web sites.

And it is!! Imagine that!!