Trivia Quiz?

[phkrause]

Which actor has a real first name of Walter?

Will Smith Bruce Willis Matt Damon Sylvester Stallone

[phkrause]

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which '70s rock star stopped touring in 1998 due to a fear of flying?

A. Grace Slick
B. Stevie Nicks
C. Christine McVie
D. Chrissie Hynde

C. Christine McVie

Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie put the brakes on touring because of her intense aviophobia. She has since recovered and plans to tour again.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

What is the most common first name in the world?

James William John Muhammad

John?

Answer: The name Muhammad is the most common name in the world. It is estimated that more than 150 million men and boys in the world bear the name Muhammad. Muhammad means "the most praised one" and is derived from the Q'ran. It is the name of the Islamic prophet. Throughout the Muslim world, it is popular to name a male child after him. The prominence of the name is a good reminder of the importance of Islam to culture in Muslim-majority societies. This name and its variant transliterations are listed as the most popular names in the world.

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was Picasso's Father's Profession?

Picasso's father was a painter and an art teacher, and the legend goes that when he saw what his son could do, he swore he would never paint again. Indeed, the kid was an out-of-this-world prodigy. As the ever-so-humble Picasso put it, he could draw "like Raphael" when he was a youngster. "But it has taken me my whole life to learn to draw like a child."

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

As of 2012, What Had Happened to 1,147 of Picasso's Works?

Picasso holds a pretty cool record in the art world: his works have been stolen more than those of any other artist. And it's not even close. His mark of 1,147 (as of 2012) according to the Art Loss Register is more than twice that of second place on the list. It was Picasso who supposedly said, "good artists borrow, great artists steal." But we're guessing this isn't what he had in mind.

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Picasso Was Accused of Stealing What Famous Painting?

As long as we're on the subject of art theft, let's talk about the theft of the most famous artwork of all time: The Mona Lisa. In 1911, when Da Vinci's masterpiece went missing from the Louvre, a panic set out in the art community, and the Paris-Journal offered a 50,000 franc reward for a no-questions-asked return of the painting.

A Belgian thief named Géry Pieret told the press about some statues he'd stolen that now resided in the hands of Guillaume Apollinaire and Picasso, part of a larger group of friends with whom Pieret had had a falling out after one of his robberies. Picasso and Apollinaire were so worried about being accused of stealing the famous painting that they tried to dispose of the stolen sculptures and considered fleeing the country. Apollinaire was arrested and Picasso brought before the magistrate. But all's well that ends well. The two men were both eventually deemed innocent, and the real thief, a former guard at the Louvre named Vincenzo Peruggia, was caught a couple years later.

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Steve Wynn Was All Set to Sell a Picasso for $133 Million, Until What Happened?

While married, Picasso took up with a mistress named Marie-Therese Walter. Most consider her Picasso's greatest love and the inspiration for some of his greatest works, including "Nude, Green Leaves & Bust" and "La Reve," both of which have been valued at over $100 million.

In fact, casino magnate Steve Wynn was all set to sell La Reve for a whopping $133 million, when looking at the work one last time, he accidentally struck it with his elbow, leaving a hole in the painting. But don't feel too bad for the poor billionaire, he ultimately had the painting restored and sold it for $155 million.

Sure it had a hole punched in it, but hey, it's still a Picasso.

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which actor has a real first name of Walter?

Will Smith Bruce Willis Matt Damon Sylvester Stallone

Answer: Bruce Willis was born Walter Bruce Willis on March 19, 1955, in West Germany, where his father was stationed in the U.S. military at the time. His career was launched when he played detective David Addison on the 1980s TV hit Moonlighting. In 1988, he became a box office movie star with the success of the blockbuster Die Hard. Subsequent hits such as Armageddon and The Sixth Sense, in addition to his marriage to actress Demi Moore, ensured that Willis remained one of the most well-known actors of his generation.

[phkrause]

Actresses Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman made a bet that which actor, infamous for his bachelorhood (until recently), would be a father before he turned 40?

A. Leonardo DiCaprio
B. George Clooney
C. Shemar Moore
D. Hugh Grant

[phkrause]

Who invented the first flushable toilet in 1596?

Thomas Crapper Alexander Cummings Sir John Harington Joseph Ballcock

[phkrause]

Pumpkin Fun Facts & Trivia

October 26th is National Pumpkin Day! Before you start carving your jack-o-lantern, test your knowledge with some pumpkin trivia to celebrate National Pumpkin Day...

Where do pumpkins come from?

What are the top pumpkin producing states?

Where does the word "pumpkin" originate?

How big is the largest pumpkin ever grown?

 

[phkrause]

Who founded the Special Olympics in 1968?

Jerry Lewis Muhammad Ali Bob Hope Eunice Kennedy Shriver

[Gail]

2 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who founded the Special Olympics in 1968?

Jerry Lewis Muhammad Ali Bob Hope Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Because of their sister Rosemary several of the Kennedy siblings supported programs for the disabled.

[phkrause]

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

Actresses Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman made a bet that which actor, infamous for his bachelorhood (until recently), would be a father before he turned 40?

A. Leonardo DiCaprio
B. George Clooney
C. Shemar Moore
D. Hugh Grant

Most definitely it has to George Clooney!!

B. George Clooney

Pfeiffer and Kidman bet George Clooney he'd be a dad before 40 - they were wrong, and they both cut him checks. He returned the money, betting them double or nothing that he wouldn't have kids before 50. They lost again!

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who invented the first flushable toilet in 1596?

Thomas Crapper Alexander Cummings Sir John Harington Joseph Ballcock

My guess is Tomas Crapper!

Answer: Thomas Crapper may be well known for selling early toilets, but he didn’t invent them. The original flush toilet was created by Sir John Harington in 1596. Harrington's toilet included a flush valve that would release water from a tank to wash away waste in the bowl. He called his toilet the Ajax, and one of his first installations was for his godmother, Queen Elizabeth I. It took several centuries and improvements in manufacturing and waste disposal for the flush toilet to catch on. Thomas Crapper and Alexander Cummings helped bring the invention to the masses. Crapper was a plumber in England who received many patents for improving toilet technology in the late 1800s.

[phkrause]

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

Where do pumpkins come from?

Pumpkins are native to Central America and have been in the Western Hemisphere for approximately 5,000 years. They have spread, and can now be found growing on six continents.

 

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

What are the top pumpkin producing states?

The Midwest is a big source of the orange orbs. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennyslvania produce the most pumpkins. As of 2013, Illinois grows the most pumpkins in the United States with an average of 427 million pounds yearly. Roughly 90 percent of these pumpkins grow within a radius of 90 miles of Peoria, Illinois.

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

Where does the word "pumpkin" originate?

Most believe that the word “pumpkin” comes from the word "pepon,” the Greek word meaning "large melon." Another word origin story is that French explorer Jacques Cartier said he found them when exploring North America in 1584. He called them “gros melons,” which was translated as “pompions,” which evolved into the word “pumpkin.”

Wait, melon? What do pumpkins have to do with melons?  

Pumpkins are members of the Cucurbitaceae family. Other members of the Cucurbitaceae family include watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, and butternut squash.

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

How big is the largest pumpkin ever grown?

The Guinness Book of World Records recently declared a new record for largest pumpkin. Swiss farmer Beni Meier grew a pumpkin that weighed in at 2,323 pounds. Meier clearly knows how to grow his pumpkins, as he also had ones weighing in at 2,096 pounds and 2,102 in previous years. That is literally a ton of pumpkin.

The largest pumpkin grown in America, is a 2,145 pound pumpkin from Illinois. It recently broke the record for North America's largest pumpkin and the world's second-largest pumpkin according to Guinness World Records.

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who founded the Special Olympics in 1968?

Jerry Lewis Muhammad Ali Bob Hope Eunice Kennedy Shriver

 

16 hours ago, Gail said:

Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Because of their sister Rosemary several of the Kennedy siblings supported programs for the disabled.

Answer: Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the founder of Special Olympics, and was a pioneer in the struggle for rights and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. Eunice was the sister of President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. Shriver founded Camp Shriver which started on her Maryland farm known as Timberlawn and evolved into the Special Olympics in 1968. Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 5.3 million athletes in nearly 170 countries.

[phkrause]

Which film and TV star is one of only three women to have a Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor named in her honor?

A. Tina Fey
B. Lena Dunham
C. Roseanne Barr
D. Carol Burnett

[phkrause]

New York City Subway System Trivia

On October 27, 1904, the New York City subway made its first run.  112 years later, it's still an iconic part of the city, and so we decided to celebrate its anniversary and test how much you know about our nation's most famous subway system. 

How Much Did That First Ride Cost?

How Did People Used to Steal Subway Tokens From the Slots in New York City?

What Discomforting Nickname Did the 4 Train Used to Have?

From 2001 to 2010, What Did New York City Do With Old Subway Cars?

How Many People Ride the Subway Each Year?

[phkrause]

How many electoral college votes must a candidate win to become U.S. president?

192 270 420 538

[phkrause]

Who hosted the reality show called "Mr. Personality"?

Monica Lewinsky Howard Stern Jerry Springer Pamela Anderson

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which film and TV star is one of only three women to have a Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor named in her honor?

A. Tina Fey
B. Lena Dunham
C. Roseanne Barr
D. Carol Burnett

A?

A. Tina Fey

Tina Fey's 30 Rock character, inspired the flavor Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yogurt with a Blueberry Lavender Swirl.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Much Did That First Ride Cost?

If you wanted to ride the subway on that first day in 1904, it cost you a whopping five cents.  The subway started taking tokens instead of coins in 1953 when the fare was raised to 15 cents, as the turnstiles couldn’t accept two different types of coins.  From the original 28 stations built in Manhattan and opened on October 27, 1904, the subway system has grown to 469 stations, most of which were built by 1940.  

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Did People Used to Steal Subway Tokens From the Slots in New York City?

Before the card-based fare system was invented, people used to jam the slots in turnstiles where riders inserted tokens and then (you might want to ask your children to leave the room for this), when the rider walked away, they would suck the tokens out of the slot. The New York Times ran an obituary of sorts for the practice when the subway finally stopped using tokens that explained the process as such: "From the shadows, the token sucker appears like a vampire, quickly sealing his lips over the token slot, inhaling powerfully and producing his prize: a $1.50 token, hard earned and obviously badly needed." In some cases, people even swallowed the tokens by mistake. We know this is hard to believe, but it's actually possible that if you used a subway token in New York City, it went through an even more disgusting process than you imagined. It's possible it passed out of someone's... you know what, let's not talk about this.

Toll booth workers started filling slots with chili powder or spraying them with mace to discourage the practice and to identify the criminals by especially bright red lips. As though the people sucking the tokens from the slot hadn't already been through enough.

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Discomforting Nickname Did the 4 Train Used to Have?

In the 70's and 80's the 4 Train Was a dangerous place to be. It was called "the Muggers Express," and it was a justified name. Tired of the subway being overridden with crime, Curtis Silwa - a manager at McDonald's - formed the Guardian Angels. What started off as a handful of people making citizens arrests turned into a force with triple-digit membership numbers. The organization now has chapters in 15 countries and 144 cities around the world. 

(I never know that??)

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

From 2001 to 2010, What Did New York City Do With Old Subway Cars?

From 2001 to 2010, New York City ran a program where they took their old subway cars and, we're not making this up, dumped them into the water. Actually, we're being unfair. First of all, they steam-cleaned the cars and removed any hazardous components. Second of all, it was part of a program to create artificial reefs in the water. But still, doesn't it sound like they just didn't feel like storing them so they dumped them into the sea?

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Many People Ride the Subway Each Year?

In 2015, the subway had a ridership total of 1.763 billion, its highest total since 1948. And it had a weekday ridership of 5.7 million a day, its highest since 1948. That 1.763 billion number is good for the highest total in America and 7th highest in the world (and since we know you're dying to find out, Tokyo is number one on that list). The city also boasts the largest fleet of subway cars in the world at over 6,407. And that's not even counting the ones at the bottom of the sea.

[phkrause]

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

How many electoral college votes must a candidate win to become U.S. president?

192 270 420 538

270

Answer: In order to become president of the United States, a candidate must win more than half of the votes in the Electoral College (currently that would be 270 of the 538 total electors). If no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes, the 12th Amendment to the Constitution provides for Presidential election by the House of Representatives with each State delegation receiving one vote. Twice in our history, the House of Representatives has chosen the President -- Thomas Jefferson's election in 1801 and John Quincy Adams' election in 1825.

[phkrause]

15 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who hosted the reality show called "Mr. Personality"?

Monica Lewinsky Howard Stern Jerry Springer Pamela Anderson

I would've guessed either Howard Stern or Jerry Springer!!

Answer: Monica Lewinsky was the host of the reality television dating program, Mr. Personality, on Fox Television Network in 2003, where she advised young women contestants who were picking men hidden by masks. Some Americans tried to organize a boycott of advertisers on the show, in protest of Lewinsky capitalizing on her notoriety. Nevertheless, the show debuted to very high ratings. The ratings, however, slid downward each successive week, and after the show completed its initial limited run, it did not reappear.

(Wow isn't that interesting!! And look at what "conservative" station hire her!!)

[phkrause]

Which personality test can help you discover if you're an introvert or extrovert who senses, feels, judges and perceives the world in other ways?

A. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
B. The Rorschach Test
C. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
D. The Psychopathic Personality Inventory

[phkrause]

What does the tablet in the Statue of Liberty’s hand read?

E Pluribus Unum In God We Trust JULY IV MDCCLXXVI Novus Ordo Seclorum

[phkrause]

Trivia Questions about the Dedication of the Statue of Liberty

On October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty, France's gift of friendship to the American people, in New York Harbor. To mark the anniversary of one of America's most recognizable landmarks, try your luck with our trivia questions to see how much you know about the origins of this epic statue and its enduring legacy.

Who First Proposed Creating the Statue?

Who Did Sculptor Bartholdi Use as His Model for the Statue?

How Did the Newly Installed Statue Differ in Appearance from Today?

How Did a Few Lines of Poetry Alter Public Perception of the Statue?