Trivia Quiz?

[phkrause]

It's Boston's Birthday! Celebrate with These Wicked Fun Facts

On September 16, 1630, the Native American village of Shawmut officially became known as Boston. To celebrate Beantown’s birthday, check out these ten fun facts about the “City on a Hill.”

Boston Commons is the oldest park in America.

The park dates back to 1634 and has a storied history. British Red Coats set up base on the Commons for eight years starting in 1768 and the park has played a role in everything from the Civil War to Charles Lindbergh and commercial aviation. 

While we’re talking about greenery, “Fenway Green” is a patented color by the Boston Red Sox.

The Green Monster isn’t just painted with some ordinary, off-the-shelf paint: it’s a patented color known as “Fenway Green.” The infamous left field wall was first built in 1912 by the original park owner, but really didn’t take the shape we know and love until 1933 when a fire took out much of the park. It was painted green for the first time in 1947.

There’s no such thing as “happy hour” in Boston.

That’s right - your Sam Adams costs the same at all hours of the day. The practice of discounting drinks was banned in 1984 for fear of excessive drinking. While Boston was far from the only city to institute such a ban, they are one of the few that have yet to repeal the law.

That’s not the only fun that’s been banned: celebrating Christmas was once illegal.

Here’s a ban that the city realized was a bit excessive. From 1659 to 1681, you were not allowed to celebrate Christmas in Boston. The law existed because the Pilgrims believed it was a corrupt holiday. 

Some of the biggest Hollywood celebrities grew up in Boston.

Sure, we all know Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg grew up in Beantown, but what about Barbara Walters? James Spader, Leonard Nimoy, and Uma Thurman all hail from Boston, too. 

People often associate Boston with beans, but it’s also the home of the first U.S. chocolate factory.

The Baker Chocolate Company opened their factory in Dorchester in 1765 and it remained in operation for 200 years before the building was converted to housing and chocolate production moved to Delaware.

Speaking of sticky and sweet: the North End was once flooded by 2 million gallons of molasses.

In 1919, a tank holding the molasses burst, sending a 15-foot wave of the stuff charging through the streets of Boston at 35 miles per hour. 21 people died and several hundred were injured in what is arguably the most bizarre disaster in American history.

And molasses was what made Boston baked beans so special.

Baked beans in molasses with salt pork was the traditional Sunday meal in Boston until the early 1900s. That’s because early Pilgrims in Massachusetts did not cook hot food on the Sabbath, so to circumvent the rules, they would bake beans on Saturday and leave them in the ovens until the Sunday meal.

But beans aren’t the only Boston product: candlepin bowling was created in Boston, too.

A man named Justin White of Worcester, Massachusetts invented the game in 1880. On first glance, the game might appear pretty much the same as ten-pin bowling, but it’s actually quite different. For one, players use small balls that fit in the palm of your hand. And instead of two tries, players get three, with pins from the first two tries remaining in the lane. 

Wondering where it got its name? Boston is a city in England, too.

While there’s no place quite like Boston, there is one with the same name. Boston, England is a town in Lincolnshire famous for the largest parish church in England, St Botolph’s Church. And that’s where historians believe “Boston” originally came from--Botoloph contracted with stone or ton (meaning “town”) as a suffix. 

[phkrause]

Colby cheese was named after a town in what state?

Wisconsin Iowa Idaho Pennsylvania

[phkrause]

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

The Renaissance Center is the tallest landmark in which city?

San Francisco Philadelphia Houston Detroit

How about SF?

Answer: The Renaissance Center (also known as the GM Renaissance Center and nicknamed the RenCen) is a group of seven interconnected skyscrapers in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. The central tower, the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, is the second tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. It has been the tallest building in Michigan since it was erected in 1977. Located on the International Riverfront, the Renaissance Center complex is owned by General Motors as its world headquarters.

[phkrause]

14 hours ago, phkrause said:

What is a group of frogs called?

Smack Troop Army Gaggle

How about a Gaggle!!

Answer: You probably know that a group of birds is called a flock, or that a group of puppies is called a litter, but there are many collective nouns for animals that are much less well-known. A group of frogs is called an army. There are over 5000 frog species in the world. Each one has a unique call, and some frog calls can be heard a mile away. Some frogs can jump over 20 times their own body length. The biggest frog in the world is the Goliath frog. The Goliath frog can measure more than a foot in length and weigh more than 7 pounds.

[phkrause]

13 hours ago, phkrause said:

Colby cheese was named after a town in what state?

Wisconsin Iowa Idaho Pennsylvania

Answer: Joseph F. Steinwand in 1874 developed a new type of cheese at his father's cheese factory near Colby, Wisconsin. The cheese was named after the village, which had been founded three years earlier. While Colby cheese is still widely available, it is no longer produced in Colby. Colby is similar to Cheddar, but does not undergo the cheddaring process. Considered a semi-hard cheese, Colby is softer, moister, and milder than cheddar because it is produced through a washed-curd process It is typically used as a table cheese, and in snacks and salads.

[phkrause]

Which group is associated with the slogan "Be All You Can Be"?

Boy Scouts Marine Corps YMCA Army

Army!!

[phkrause]

Which paper has the motto, "All the news that's fit to print"?

USA Today The Washington Post The New York Times The Wall Street Journal

New York Times I think!

[phkrause]

Which natural wonder is featured on the commemorative Oregon State Quarter?

Old Faithful Niagara Falls Grand Canyon Crater Lake

[phkrause]

Which "Star Wars" character is located on the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.?

Yoda Darth Vader Chewbacca R2-D2

[phkrause]

The actor who played Capt. James T. Kirk on TV’s “Star Trek” also played which of these TV cops?

Barney Fife Frank Columbo Barney Miller T. J. Hooker

I believe that would be T J Hooker

[phkrause]

On 9/19/2017 at 11:14 AM, phkrause said:

Which group is associated with the slogan "Be All You Can Be"?

Boy Scouts Marine Corps YMCA Army

Army!!

Answer: "Be All You Can Be" was the recruiting slogan of the United States Army for over twenty years. Earl Carter (pen-name, E.N.J. Carter) working for the N.W. Ayer Advertising Agency as a Senior Copywriter created the “Be All You Can Be” theme line in 1980. In January 2003, the U.S. Army awarded Carter its Outstanding Civilian Service Award. Carter’s original concept sheet, with words “Be All You Can Be”, is now part of a permanent collection at the US Army Heritage Center Foundation.

[phkrause]

On 9/19/2017 at 5:30 PM, phkrause said:

Which paper has the motto, "All the news that's fit to print"?

USA Today The Washington Post The New York Times The Wall Street Journal

New York Times I think!

Answer: "All the News That's Fit to Print" is the motto of the New York Times and is printed in the upper left-hand corner of the front page. The New York Times was founded in New York City on this day in 1851. The slogan has appeared in the paper since September 1896, and has been printed in a box in the upper left hand corner of the front page since early 1897. It has won 122 Pulitzer Prizes, more than any other news organization. Nicknamed The Gray Lady, The Times is long regarded within the industry as a national "newspaper of record".

[phkrause]

23 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which natural wonder is featured on the commemorative Oregon State Quarter?

Old Faithful Niagara Falls Grand Canyon Crater Lake

Answer: Crater Lake is located in south-central Oregon in the western United States. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and is famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly 2,148-foot deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. With a depth of 1,949 feet, Crater Lake is the deepest in the United States. In the world, it ranks ninth for maximum depth, and third for average depth. The commemorative Oregon State Quarter, features an image of Crater Lake on its reverse.

[phkrause]

22 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which "Star Wars" character is located on the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.?

Yoda Darth Vader Chewbacca R2-D2

Answer: The Darth Vader Grotesque is a limestone grotesque, located at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. It is one of many grotesques that are part of the National Cathedral's rain control system. The grotesques deflect rainwater by bouncing it off the tops of their heads and away from the stone walls. During the construction of the northwest tower, Christopher Rader won third-place contest for children, with his drawing of Darth Vader. The fierce head was sculpted by Jay Hall Carpenter and carved by Patrick J. Plunkett.

[phkrause]

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

The actor who played Capt. James T. Kirk on TV’s “Star Trek” also played which of these TV cops?

Barney Fife Frank Columbo Barney Miller T. J. Hooker

I believe that would be T J Hooker

Answer: William Shatner became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T. Kirk, Captain of the USS Enterprise, in the Star Trek franchise. Shatner then landed a starring role as police officer T. J. Hooker, which ran from 1982 to 1986. On T. J. Hooker, Shatner played a veteran police officer who turned in his detective's badge to return to a street beat. The hit series provided a small-screen comeback for Shatner, who had before primarily been known as Captain Kirk. Unlike the original Star Trek series, T. J. Hooker was immediately popular with television audiences.

[phkrause]

What is the only fictional character to have its own zip code?

Bugs Bunny Smokey Bear Uncle Sam Woodsy Owl

Could that be Uncle Sam??

[phkrause]

Tennis Trivia on the Battle of the Sexes

On September 20, 1973, Billie Jean King soundly defeated Bobby Riggs in the much-touted Battle of the Sexes tennis match at the Houston Astrodome. Try your luck with our trivia questions to see how much you know about this event and its participants.

Why Is the Match Sometimes Called "Battle of the Sexes II"?

Why Was Riggs So Keen on Playing King?

What Was King's Main Strategy for Defeating Riggs?

How Many Watched the Battle of the Sexes?

What Was the Aftermath of the Match?

[phkrause]

What is the most common state bird?

Cardinal Bluebird Meadowlark Mockingbird

My guess? the Cardinal!!

[phkrause]

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

What is the only fictional character to have its own zip code?

Bugs Bunny Smokey Bear Uncle Sam Woodsy Owl

Could that be Uncle Sam??

Answer: There are two individuals in the U.S. who have their own zip code: The President and Smokey Bear! In 1964, at the height of his popularity, Smokey Bear, mascot of the U.S. Forest Service, received so much fan mail that he was assigned his own ZIP code, 20252. Smokey got his slogan "Remember only you can prevent forest fires" in 1947. In April 2001, the message was updated to "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires." According to the Ad Council, he and his message are recognized in the United States by 95% of adults and 77% of children.

[phkrause]

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Why Is the Match Sometimes Called "Battle of the Sexes II"?

The "II" is occasionally added to the name because this wasn't the first time Riggs had challenged a woman to play solely to prove which sex was better at tennis. Riggs originally challenged King, but she ignored him and continually turned down his attempts to get her to play. However, Margaret Court, another champion player, decided to take him up on his offer, only to lose by a humiliating margin. This first Battle of the Sexes is also called the Mother's Day Massacre. Unfortunately, the win didn't sate Riggs' hunger to play King, and he started pestering her again for a game.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Why Was Riggs So Keen on Playing King?

It was mainly his ego and his determination to humiliate women. Riggs, who openly called himself a male chauvinist; said women should be barefoot, pregnant, and in the bedroom and kitchen; claimed women should be paid only 25 percent of what men earned; and claimed women were too emotionally unstable to win against men, basically just wanted attention. And here was King, winning all these tennis titles, and Riggs apparently couldn't let her think she might actually be good.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was King's Main Strategy for Defeating Riggs?

When King finally accepted the offer to play, she knew she couldn't lose, later stating that she knew if she lost, it would be demoralizing for women athletes. And King definitely played to win, slowly but steadily wearing out Riggs. King also reviewed the match with Court to see how both Riggs and Court had played. It also helped that Riggs was overconfident after his win against Court. Before the first game, Riggs trained extensively. But he didn't really do anything before the match with King except partying. There have been rumors that Riggs threw the game due to a mafia deal, but that was not proven. And really, given Riggs' claims before the match, this didn't seem like the type of game he'd agree to throw even if he had been involved with the mafia.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Many Watched the Battle of the Sexes?

Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs played before an in-person audience of more than 30,000 in the Houston Astrodome, but the match was also seen by an estimated 90 million television viewers around the world. All spectators were treated not only to a great tennis match but to some spectacular pageantry as well. King was borne into the arena on a gold litter carried by four barechested men costumed as slaves, while Riggs entered the Astrodome seated in a rickshaw that was pulled by female models.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was the Aftermath of the Match?

King went on to become a huge figure in sports, earning millions of dollars and winning yet more and more titles. She also became instrumental in promoting women's sports. Amazingly, and despite the sexism, she and Riggs clowned around for publicity purposes before the match (and, famously, both entered the Astrodome with campy entourages) -- and after the match, they became friends. King claimed that Riggs kept asking for a rematch, which she never agreed to, but by the time Riggs died in 1995, it looked like the animosity between the two was long gone.

[phkrause]

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

What is the most common state bird?

Cardinal Bluebird Meadowlark Mockingbird

My guess? the Cardinal!!

Answer: The Cardinal is the state bird of seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. It is also the mascot of prominent sports teams and schools, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Cardinals, University of Louisville and many more. The bird is named for the red plumage of the male, which was said to look similar to a Catholic cardinal’s red vestments. Unlike many other songbirds in North America, both the male and female cardinals can sing. Usually, only a male songbird is capable of singing.

[phkrause]

Which of these men was executed by the British for being an American spy during the American Revolution?

Benedict Arnold Nathan Hale Paul Revere Alexander Hamilton

[phkrause]

A Trivia Quiz about Lincoln's Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation

On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all slaves in territory still in rebellion against the central government as of January 1, 1863, would be free. To mark the anniversary of this historic event, we've put together these questions about Lincoln's declaration and its impact..

Were Slaves Freed as a Result of Lincoln's Action?

Was Lincoln's Proclamation Supported by His Advisers?

After What Key Battle Was the Preliminary Proclamation Issued?

Where Did Lincoln Rank Emancipation among His Achievements?

[phkrause]

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which of these men was executed by the British for being an American spy during the American Revolution?

Benedict Arnold Nathan Hale Paul Revere Alexander Hamilton

Answer: In New York City on this day in 1776, Nathan Hale, a Connecticut schoolteacher and captain in the Continental Army, was executed by the British for spying. Hale was interrogated by British General William Howe and, when it was discovered that he was carrying incriminating documents, General Howe ordered his execution for spying, which was set for the following morning. After being led to the gallows, legend holds that the 21-year-old Hale said, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”

[phkrause]

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

Were Slaves Freed as a Result of Lincoln's Action?

As much as Lincoln abhorred the institution of slavery, his Emancipation Declaration -- in both its preliminary and official forms -- freed not a single slave. It applied only to slaves in territories not under the control of the Union Army and thus had no real effect immediately. It did, however, signal clearly that the Union intended to abolish slavery in the South if and when the Union prevailed militarily in the Civil War. It also put the rebellious Confederate States of America in the diplomatically awkward position of defending slavery, which made it almost impossible for the South to obtain foreign aid from otherwise sympathetic countries. Although both Britain and France had at one time considered supporting the Confederacy, Lincoln's shifting the spotlight to the slavery issue all but ruled out the likelihood of any outside intervention in the Civil War.

 

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

Was Lincoln's Proclamation Supported by His Advisers?

When Lincoln first proposed issuing his proclamation in the early summer of 1862, many of his cabinet officials were either less than enthusiastic about the prospect or totally opposed. William Seward, Lincoln's secretary of state, strongly advised that he wait until after a Union victory, suggesting that to do so would lend greater weight to his words and make it clear that the Union had the power to eventually enforce emancipation.

 

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

After What Key Battle Was the Preliminary Proclamation Issued?

In the first major battle of the Civil War to be fought on northern soil, Confederate forces under the command of General Robert E. Lee squared off against Union troops led by General George McClellan at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland. Although some expressed the view that the Battle of Antietam ended in a draw, it was considered by many a Union victory because McClellan successfully repelled a Confederate advance into northern territory. However, after the fact, many in the North expressed disappointment that McClellan had not pressed his advantage at Antietam to truly crush Confederate forces. Nevertheless, the Union victory gave Lincoln a position of authority from which to issue his pledge to free the slaves in the rebellious states should the Union eventually defeat the Confederacy.

 

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

Where Did Lincoln Rank Emancipation among His Achievements?

While many Americans view Lincoln's preservation of the Union as his greatest achievement, he personally considered the Emancipation Proclamation the most outstanding aspect of his legacy. Not long after issuing the proclamation, the 16th president said, "I never in my life felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper. If my name ever goes into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it."