Trivia Quiz?

[phkrause]

What was the original name of Times Square in New York City?

Longacre Square Herald Square Grand Place Old Town Square

If my memory serves me, I believe it was Herald Square??

[phkrause]

Trivia: Female Firsts in U.S. Government

On January 2, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison hired his first female White House staff member, breaking the all-male streak that had filled the White House since the beginning of the country.  Can you answer these trivia questions about female firsts in U.S. Government?

Who Was That First Female White House Staffer?

Who Was the First Female Cabinet Member?

Who Was the First Female Presidential Nominee?

What Controversies Did the First and Second Female Surgeon Generals Stir Up?

What Two Firsts Did Shirley Chisholm Accomplish?

Who Are Barbara Jordan, Patsy Mink, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Jeannette Rankin, Rebecca Latimer-Felton, Maizie K. Hirono, and Nikki Haley?

[phkrause]

Who joined José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti to tour and record as The Three Tenors?

Andrea Bocelli Maria Callas Plácido Domingo Axl Rose

Would that be Bocelli??

[phkrause]

On 1/2/2018 at 2:45 PM, phkrause said:

Which nations celebrated the New Year first?

Japan & South Korea New Zealand & Australia Philippines & Singapore Kiribati & Samoa

Samoa??

Answer: Samoa and Christmas Island in Kiribati were the first to welcome 2018, followed by New Zealand. Samoa used to be one of the last places in the world to celebrate the New Year, being the last spot on earth to see the sunset. But it became the first place to see the sunrise on Dec. 31, 2011, by wiping a full day, Dec. 30, 2011, off its calendar. When Samoa and Kiribati rang in the New Year, the local time in New York was 5am Dec 31, 2017, local time in London was 10am and local time in Sydney was 9pm Dec 31, 2017.

ps:I figured that, because at one time Samoa had changed its time, so that changed the day!!

[phkrause]

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Happened For the First Time on January 1st, 45 B.C.?

We don't want to get too meta on you here, but New Year's Day in 45 BC marked a new beginning for ... well ... New Year's Days. After centuries of using a lunar calendar, which failed to accurately keep pace with the seasons, in 46 B.C. Julius Caesar switched over to a solar calendar. The new calendar would last 365 days with a 366th coming once every four years. And on January 1st, 45 B.C., New Year's Day was celebrated on January 1st for the 1st time.

 

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Percentage of Americans Make New Year's Resolutions. What Percentage Achieve Their Goals?

According to a University of Scranton study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, a whopping 45% of Americans usually make New Year's resolutions, and another 17% do it infrequently. Of those, how many succeed? About 8%. We can't tell if that's disappointingly low or surprisingly high. Perhaps it's both.

As long as we're discussing the exciting topic that is resolution statistics, wanna guess what they found to be the three most common goals people set? Third is spend less/save more, second is get organized and one, you're not going to believe this, is lose weight.

 

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Many Tons of Trash Were Created by the New Year's Eve Celebration in Time Square?

While we like to portray January 1st as the day we attack our New Year's resolutions with vigor, we all know how the first few hours are really spent: recovering and cleaning up from the night before. Times Square is no exception. You know that celebration you see on TV, with roughly a million people and 2,000 pounds of confetti? Well, someone's gotta clean that up.  The New York City Department of Sanitation will clear more than 50 tons of trash at Times Square post-New Year’s Eve, which is about the same amount generated at last year’s bash. The department said a total of 294 sanitation workers would be on duty to clean up in the aftermath of the party, armed with 30 mechanical brooms, 58 backpack blowers, 44 collection trucks and 58 old-fashioned hand brooms.  According to Paul Visconti, chief of the sanitation department, the clean-up effort would likely take about 12 to 16 hours to complete.

 

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

January 1st is the Busiest Holiday of the Year for What Criminal?

It's probably no surprise to hear that New Year's is a busy day for gym employees, but did you know it's also a major day for car thieves? According to a National Insurance Crime Bureau report reviewing the 700,000 car thefts of 2013, the busiest holiday for grand theft auto was New Year's Day (not to be confused with the busiest ordinary day. That honor goes to August 12th, when 2,316 cars were swiped). So why the spike on New Year's? We're not sure. It might be because Christmas Day and Thanksgiving, when people are in the holiday spirit, are the slowest times, and criminals have gotta make up for lost time.  Or maybe a lot of car thieves resolve to work harder this year. And just because you can't stick to your resolution doesn't mean they can't. 

 

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

When was the first Times Square Ball Drop?

December 31, 1907 marked the first Times Square ball drop in history, when a 700-pound, 5-feet-in-diameter ball made of iron and wood and covered with 100 light bulbs made its ways down in time to ring in January 1st. The event was the brainchild of Adolph Ochs, owner of the New York Times, and included an all-day street festival culminating in fireworks to the delight of the more than 200,000 attendees. Today's ball is covered in 2,688 crystals, is lit by 32,256 LED lights, weighs 11,875 pounds and is 12 feet in diameter.

[phkrause]

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

What was the original name of Times Square in New York City?

Longacre Square Herald Square Grand Place Old Town Square

If my memory serves me, I believe it was Herald Square??

Answer: Longacre Square was the original name of Times Square in New York City before it was renamed in honor of The New York Times. The name Longacre Square dated back to the 1870s, when the uptown carriage hub was named after Long Acre Square in London, where carriages similarly congregated. It was renamed Times Square on April 8, 1904, by proclamation of Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr. at the urging of Adolph Ochs, owner and publisher of the New York Times. Today, approximately 330,000 people pass through Times Square every day.

ps:I guess my memory didn't serve me well!! LOL

[phkrause]

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who Was That First Female White House Staffer?

That first staffer was a stenographer named Alice Sanger. Her appointment may have been a nod or bridge-building tactic toward suffragists who had been gaining social and political clout. There's actually no known record of whether Sanger herself was a suffragist or if Harrison was deliberately making a statement about including more women in government, but it certainly helped open up the field.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who Was the First Female Cabinet Member?

Frances Perkins was appointed the Secretary of Labor by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. This was not the first time the two had worked together; she had been the labor commissioner for the state of New York when Roosevelt was that state's governor. She served throughout his multiple presidential administrations, leaving the position in 1945.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who Was the First Female Presidential Nominee?

Well, unless you've been under that proverbial rock, you have no doubt heard that Hillary Clinton was the first female presidential nominee of a major party for the 2016 election. But as so many pointed out on social media, she wasn't the first nominee overall. That honor goes to Victoria Woodhull, who would have been ineligible for the position anyway as she wasn't yet 35 years old. Woodhull endured severe backlash for her decision to run, including eviction and her daughter's expulsion from school. 

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Controversies Did the First and Second Female Surgeon Generals Stir Up?

The U.S. has had three female surgeon generals: Antonia Novello, who served under George H.W. Bush; Jocelyn Elders, who served under Bill Clinton until she was forced to resign in 1994; and Regina Benjamin, who served during Barack Obama's first term. Elders quickly stirred up controversy by openly discussing drug legalization, masturbation, and other topics that conservatives were not happy about, and she was forced to resign. Novello got through her term as surgeon general without controversy and moved on to become the state health commissioner of New York. But in 2009, she was accused of improperly using state funds and personnel for personal errands, and she was also accused of being abusive at work.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Two Firsts Did Shirley Chisholm Accomplish?

The magnificent Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman to be a congressional representative (she represented New York), and her constituents were definitely happy with her; they sent her to Congress for seven terms. She was also the first African-American woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972, though she did not actually get the nomination.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who Are Barbara Jordan, Patsy Mink, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Jeannette Rankin, Rebecca Latimer-Felton, Maizie K. Hirono, and Nikki Haley?

All of these women accomplished a first of some sort. Jordan was the first African-American woman from a Southern state (Texas) to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Patsy Mink was the first Asian-American woman (and the first woman of color) elected to Congress, representing Hawaii. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was the first Hispanic-American woman in Congress, and Jeannette Rankin was the first woman ever to serve as a national congressional representative. Rebecca Latimer-Felton was the first female senator, but she served only 24 hours after being appointed to the position. Maizie K. Hirono started off as a senator from Hawaii and now serves in the House after reaching her term limits in the Senate, making her the first woman of color to serve in both chambers of Congress. Nikki Haley was not only the first female governor of South Carolina but also the first female Indian-American (as in South Asian Indian) governor. She is now serving as the first Indian-American U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. 

[phkrause]

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who joined José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti to tour and record as The Three Tenors?

Andrea Bocelli Maria Callas Plácido Domingo Axl Rose

Would that be Bocelli??

Answer: The Three Tenors were a popular operatic singing group during the 1990s and early 2000s, consisting of Spaniards Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and the Italian Luciano Pavarotti. The trio began their collaboration with a performance at the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy on July 7, 1990, the eve of the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final. The recording of this debut concert became the best-selling classical album of all time and led to additional performances and live albums. They last performed together at an arena in Columbus, Ohio in 2003.

[phkrause]

What was the most Instagrammed location of 2017?

Eiffel Tower Disneyland Times Square Niagara Falls

[phkrause]

Low-Hanging Fruit? It's Time for Apple Computer Trivia

On January 3rd, 1977, a small, upstart company called Apple Computer was incorporated.  So today, we invite you to test your knowledge on one of the most powerful businesses and brands on the planet...

Who Was the Third Founder of Apple, And How Much Money Did He Sell His Apple Shares For?

Who Invested $150 Million in Apple to Keep the Company Afloat in 1997?

In 1987, Apple Released a Concept Video for What Product?

Who was pictured in the very first Apple Computer logo?

[phkrause]

On 1/3/2018 at 6:57 PM, phkrause said:

What was the most Instagrammed location of 2017?

Eiffel Tower Disneyland Times Square Niagara Falls

Answer: Instagram has unveiled a list of 2017’s most Instagrammed places around the world. The results? The most Instagrammed location in the world was Disneyland in Anaheim, California. When you're hanging out with Mickey Mouse at the Happiest Place on Earth, you want everybody to know. The popularity ranking was determined by the number of times people geo-tagged their location on Instagram photos. Other popular locations in 2017 included Times Square (No. 2) in New York; Central Park (No.3) in New York; and the Eiffel Tower (No. 4) in Paris.

[phkrause]

22 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who Was the Third Founder of Apple, And How Much Money Did He Sell His Apple Shares For?

You know Steve Jobs, of this we are sure. You probably know the other guy who co-founded Apple: Steve Wozniak. But did you know Apple had a third co-founder? And, we know this is going to blow your mind, his name wasn't even Steve. At age 42, Ron Wayne brought some experience to the three-man team that was filled out with the then-21- and 25-year-old Steves.  Serving as the venture's "adult supervision" Wayne drew the first Apple logo, wrote the three men's original partnership agreement, and wrote the Apple I manual.

But he wasn't crazy about working with Steve Jobs, so he quit. He was quoted in an interview with the Daily Mail as saying, "If you had your choice between Steve Jobs and an ice cube you would nestle up to the ice cube for warmth." He sold his shares in the company for $800 in 1976. How much are they worth today? About $77 billion. He went on to say, "I honestly don't regret walking away at all," which is probably what we would tell ourselves if we were in his shoes too.

 

22 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who Invested $150 Million in Apple to Keep the Company Afloat in 1997?

Apple wasn't always the tech giant it is today. In the 90s, it was struggling and in desperate need of help. And they got it from pretty much the most unlikely source imaginable: Microsoft. This would be like the Red Sox getting help from the Yankees, the Allies getting help from the Axis Powers, or Luke Skywalker getting help from Darth Vader. It would just never happen. Oh, wait, well, two times out of three it would just never happen. Apple users so hated Microsoft that when Jobs announced the desperately needed arrival of funds from Microsoft, people actually started booing.

 

22 hours ago, phkrause said:

In 1987, Apple Released a Concept Video for What Product?

In 1987, Apple's CEO John Sculley wrote about something called a Knowledge Navigator. Then Apple made a video where a guy uses the product at some point in the future.

 

23 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who was pictured in the very first Apple Computer logo?

The very first Apple logo featured Sir Isaac Newton sitting under a tree, with an apple about to hit his head. (Legend has it that he was literally hit on the head with an apple and that led to the concept of gravity.) The Newton logo was designed by the lesser-known Apple founder Ronald Wayne.  The Logo included a quote from William Wordsworth, a romantic English poet; “Newton… a mind forever voyaging through strange seas of thought.” The poem was written on the frame of the logo.  The Newton logo was short lived, as Steve Jobs reportedly believed that it was too old-fashioned, or arcane.  The famous CEO soon hired graphic designer Rob Janoff, who then created the now classic and world-renowned logo of the bitten apple. Jobs quickly threw out the old Newton logo, and Apple’s logo was fully established and used by the end of the company’s first year.

[phkrause]

Which U.S. President once gambled away the White House china while playing poker?

Richard Nixon Warren G. Harding Abraham Lincoln George W. Bush

Well I don't recall anything like that said about Nixon or Bush, and I don't believe Lincoln would do that, so I'll guess Harding!!

[phkrause]

Cash In On These Trivia Questions About Currencies Before the Euro

On January 4, 1999, eleven European Union (EU) nations—Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain—debuted a new common currency, the euro. Test your knowledge of European currencies that preceded the euro with these trivia questions...

Before the Euro, When Was the Last Time Europe Had a Common Currency?

What Three European Union Countries Used the Franc Prior to Adopting the Euro?

What European Union Countries Elected to Keep Their Own Currencies?

What Did Eurozone Member Citizens Do With Their Old Currency?

[phkrause]

What is the fastest roller coaster in the world?

Kingda Ka, United States Steel Dragon, Japan Tower of Terror, Australia Formula Rossa, United Arab Emirates

[phkrause]

11 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which U.S. President once gambled away the White House china while playing poker?

Richard Nixon Warren G. Harding Abraham Lincoln George W. Bush

Well I don't recall anything like that said about Nixon or Bush, and I don't believe Lincoln would do that, so I'll guess Harding!!

Answer: Warren G. Harding is widely described as the worst president in American history. Harding has been described as “good-looking, charming and out of his depth” and “oddly likeable in his ineptitude.” He evidently agreed with these assessments, saying about himself, “I am a man of limited talents from a small town; I don’t seem to grasp that I am president.” He was a keen poker player, who once gambled away on a single hand an entire set of White House china dating back to the presidency of Benjamin Harrison.

[phkrause]

10 hours ago, phkrause said:

Before the Euro, When Was the Last Time Europe Had a Common Currency?

It's been a while, to say the least. Though the European Union had been interested in a common currency since the 1960's, the most recent precedent dates all the way back to the ninth century. Charlemagne, who ruled much of mainland Europe for nearly four decades, instituted a common currency when he declared that one pound of silver should be divided into two-hundred forty pennies. Though the coins were known by different names across Europe, the value was the same everywhere. That enabled traders to buy and sell products to foreign traders without worrying about currency conversions. Charlemagne's silver pennies lasted nearly 400 years before being replaced by more complex currencies. Today, the euro serves very much the same purpose as Charlemagne's pennies: facilitating easier transactions across the EU. 

 

11 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Three European Union Countries Used the Franc Prior to Adopting the Euro?

That would be Belgium, Luxembourg, and of course, France. The franc had been the national currency of France since 1795 (though it was first introduced all the way back in 1360). Belgium adopted the franc in 1832 and Luxembourg followed shortly after in 1848. Switzerland also adopted the franc and today, the Swiss franc is the only one still in use in Europe.

 

11 hours ago, phkrause said:

What European Union Countries Elected to Keep Their Own Currencies?

Three members of the EU did not elect to adopt the euro: Sweden, Denmark, and Great Britain. All three countries cited the popular opinion of its citizens as a primary motivator for keeping their own currency, however, several other economic reasons—including maintaining control of interest rate policy and fears about transitioning to the euro exchange rate—have also been noted. Prior to the UK's departure from the European Union in 2016, there had been several occasions where it appeared the UK may join the eurozone and convert from the pound sterling. Of course, Brexit brought an end to any possibility of that happening.

 

11 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Did Eurozone Member Citizens Do With Their Old Currency?

It's believed that over 9 billion banknotes in original currencies were in circulation when euro bills and coins were first introduced in 2002 (the launch on January 4, 1999, was only for trading—no paper currency). While over half of those were turned in before the February 2002 cut-off for exchanging currencies at any eurozone bank, many people held on to the original currency believing it may be worth something as a collectible someday. To be determined whether that's ever the case, but as of 2012, some old currencies can no longer be exchanged at all—even at the European Central Bank. 

[phkrause]

13 hours ago, phkrause said:

What is the fastest roller coaster in the world?

Kingda Ka, United States Steel Dragon, Japan Tower of Terror, Australia Formula Rossa, United Arab Emirates

Answer: The fastest roller coaster in the world is the Formula Rossa located at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Formula Rossa reaches 149 mph in 5 seconds using a hydraulic launch system. Such blazing acceleration is 4.8 times faster than free fall. From that speedy takeoff, the 16-passenger, Ferrari-inspired train soars along a 6,790-foot track The track is patterned after the famous Italian race track Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The amusement park is the only Ferrari branded amusement park in the world.

[phkrause]

What company’s iconic logo was created by an Oregon college student for just $35?

Mercedes-Benz Coca-Cola Nike McDonald's

[phkrause]

Test Your Knowledge of the Golden Gate Bridge with These Trivia Questions

On January 5, 1933, construction crews broke ground on what would become an icon of San Francisco and the United States at large: the Golden Gate Bridge. Test your knowledge of this incredible architectural achievement with these trivia questions.

Why Is It Named "Golden Gate Bridge"?

So What Exactly is That Color on the Golden Gate Bridge Anyway?

How Did San Franciscans Celebrate the Beginning of Bridge Construction on January 5, 1933?

How Many Men Died During the Bridge's Construction?

[phkrause]

On 1/5/2018 at 4:38 PM, phkrause said:

What company’s iconic logo was created by an Oregon college student for just $35?

Mercedes-Benz Coca-Cola Nike McDonald's

Answer: The Nike "Swoosh" is a corporate trademark created in 1971 by Carolyn Davidson, while she was a graphic design student at Portland State University. "I don't love it," Knight told her, "but I think it will grow on me." For her services, the company paid her $35. In 1983, Knight gave Davidson a golden Swoosh ring with an embedded diamond, and an envelope filled with 500 Nike stock to express his gratitude. The Nike "Swoosh" is now one of the most recognized brand logos in the world.

[phkrause]

On 1/5/2018 at 6:13 PM, phkrause said:

Why Is It Named "Golden Gate Bridge"?

Many people mistakenly attribute the name to the bridge's color or believe the name spawns from the California gold rush of the mid-nineteenth century when in fact, the bridge is named after the passage of water it stretches over: the Golden Gate Strait. That strait is the gateway between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean and was named by an explorer, John C. Frémont, who wrote in his memoirs that the passageway reminded him of the "Golden Horn" Harbor in modern-day Istanbul. The name stuck and some 87 years later became the moniker for one of the most famous bridges in the world.

 

On 1/5/2018 at 6:13 PM, phkrause said:

So What Exactly is That Color on the Golden Gate Bridge Anyway?

The color is actually not "golden" at all. Rather, it's known as "international orange" and is the same color used by NASA for astronaut spacesuits. That wasn't necessarily the plan all along: other proposed colors included gray, black, aluminum, and even a black-and-yellow striped bridge that would increase visibility for passing ships. Ultimately, however, the architects landed on the reddish-orange color you see today after being inspired by the basic red primer coated on the steel beams when they arrived in San Francisco. International orange not only blends well with the surrounding natural environment, but it also stands out well in fog—a big win for San Francisco. 

 

On 1/5/2018 at 6:13 PM, phkrause said:

How Did San Franciscans Celebrate the Beginning of Bridge Construction on January 5, 1933?

Nearly 100,000 people came out to Crissy Field in the Presidio to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Golden Gate Bridge. In addition to a parade, 21-gun salute, and reading of a message from President Herbert Hoover, an 80-foot long model of the bridge was on display that housed carrier pigeons tasked with delivering the news of the new bridge across all of California. The Golden Gate Bridge has had two significant parties since then: the first was when the bridge opened to pedestrians on May 27, 1937. 15,000 people an hour paid 25 cents each to cross the bridge. Celebrations lasted for over a week. The second major party was on the bridge's 50th birthday. 800,000 people showed up to the event and "flattened" the bridge, which sounds scarier than it actually was. According to a bridge engineer, even with over 30 million pounds on the bridge, the cables were only working at 40 percent capacity, so there was no serious risk to the public.

 

On 1/5/2018 at 6:13 PM, phkrause said:

How Many Men Died During the Bridge's Construction?

Though safety was paramount during construction and nearly the entire four years were incident-free, eleven men lost their lives during bridge construction. The first was fatally struck in the head by a falling derrick. The second incident took the lives of ten men: a stretch of scaffolding collapsed and fell through the safety net, dropping twelve men over 200 feet into the icy water. Two men survived, though they sustained significant injuries. Contrary to urban legend, there are no dead bodies entombed in the anchorage blocks of the bridge.

[phkrause]

Which of the following was once a popular sport in the Olympics?

Laser Tag Tug-of-War Miniature Golf Rock-Paper-Scissors

[phkrause]

12 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which of the following was once a popular sport in the Olympics?

Laser Tag Tug-of-War Miniature Golf Rock-Paper-Scissors

Answer: Tug-of-War is actually one of the oldest Olympic sports. According to the International Olympic Committee, tug-of-war was an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1920, and the United States actually swept all three medals in 1904 when the games were held in St. Louis. Official rules stipulated that an eight-man team had to pull their opponents six feet to win. If either side failed to do so, judges gave the struggle a further five minutes and then declared the team who had made the most progress the victors.

[phkrause]

Which educational institution is located in Tennessee?

Pepperdine University Vanderbilt University Tulane University Wake Forest University