Trivia Quiz?

[phkrause]

On 11/11/2016 at 11:35 AM, phkrause said:

What do numismatists study (or collect)?

A. Stamps
B. Coins
C. Rocks
D. Jewels

I was thinking Rocks!!

B. Coins

Numismatists are interested in currency, particularly coins.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

On 11/11/2016 at 0:25 PM, phkrause said:

In which war did the largest number of Americans serve in the Armed Forces?

World War I Vietnam War World War II Korean War

I'm almost inclined to say Vietnam, but I guess WW ll

Answer: World War II saw more than 16 million Americans in the United States Armed Forces. According to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, only 620,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are estimated to still be alive as of 2016. Approximately 8.7 million served in the Vietnam War, more than 5.7 million served in the Korean War and roughly 4.7 served in World War I. To all of those who have served, thank you for your service!

[phkrause]

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was Veterans Day Originally Called?

When the holiday started, it was called Armistice Day, and it was celebrated on November 11th, the date when, back in 1918, World War I essentially ended (the Treaty of Versailles would not be finalized until the following year, but most of the fighting stopped, by decree, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month). The holiday was celebrated with parades and gatherings and a moment of silence at 11 a.m.

But as time went on, there seemed something incorrect about the phrase "armistice" with wars still being fought. World War I, once called the war to end all wars, had turned out not to be. In 1954, President Eisenhower renamed the holiday, thanks in part to the advocacy of a shoe salesman named Alvin King.

 

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

When did Veterans Day become a national holiday in the U.S.?

Although first observed in 1919, Congress did not make it official until 1938. In 1954, the name changed to Veterans Day. In the 1970s the date moved around in November, causing confusion, and President Gerald Ford in 1975 signed a law placing the observance on Nov. 11, where it has remained.

 

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

What time does the National Veterans Day Ceremony begins each year and why is that time significant?

The National Veterans Day Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery the ceremony begins exactly at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and then continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans' organizations and remarks from dignitaries intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.It begins at 11:00 a.m. because at that hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month, the armistice ending the carnage of World War I was signed by Germany and the Entente. Technically, though, WWI did not officially end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.

 

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

These two holidays are frequently confused but they are not the same. Memorial Day, celebrated in May, honors those who lost their lives in service to our country, and Veterans Day, celebrated in November, honors all who have served and focusing on thanking living service members, past and present. For the official answer, the Office of of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs explains, "Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty."

[phkrause]

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which flower is a symbol of Veterans Day?

Rose Carnation Poppy Orchid

Answer: The poppy flower is a symbol for Veterans Day. The story begins with the famous World War I poem, "In Flanders Fields," written by John McCrae. In 1918 Moina Michael, on reading McCrae's poem, pledged to always wear a red poppy as a sign of remembrance. Her idea spread, and the tradition of wearing poppies as a sign of respect and thanks for those who have served in uniform continues to this day. Poppy wreaths are also often laid at war memorials.

[phkrause]

What is Donald Duck's middle name?

A. Fauntleroy
B. Chauncey
C. Michael
D. Walter

Ha! I never knew he had a middle name!! I'll guess A

[phkrause]

Where was Annie Moore, the first immigrant processed at Ellis Island in 1892, from?

Ireland Germany Russia Poland

[phkrause]

Welcome to America... and These 4 Trivia Questions about Ellis Island

On November 12th, 1954, Ellis Island closed its doors. See how much you know about this historic site with these trivia questions...

Where Did Immigrants First Go When They Reached New York?

How Do We Know That Immigration Officials Didn't Change People's Names at Ellis Island?

Why Was Ellis Island Once Called "Gibbet Island?"

At What Two Points In Our Country's History Was Ellis Island Used to Detain Foreign Citizens?

[phkrause]

On 11/12/2016 at 1:59 PM, phkrause said:

What is Donald Duck's middle name?

A. Fauntleroy
B. Chauncey
C. Michael
D. Walter

Ha! I never knew he had a middle name!! I'll guess A

A. Fauntleroy

Bet you didn't even know he had one! In the 1942 cartoon Donald Gets Drafted, his draft card shows his full name: Donald Fauntleroy Duck.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

On 11/12/2016 at 2:17 PM, phkrause said:

Where was Annie Moore, the first immigrant processed at Ellis Island in 1892, from?

Ireland Germany Russia Poland

I would guess Ireland!

Answer: When Ellis Island officially opened on January 1, 1892, the first passenger processed through the now world-famous immigration station was an Irish girl named Annie Moore. The 17-year-old girl was traveling with her two younger brothers, Anthony and Phillip, on the S.S. Nevada. The ship had departed from Queenstown (County Cork, Ireland) on December 20, 1891, carrying 148 steerage passengers. The trio would spend 12 days at sea, including Christmas Day, arriving in New York on December 31. With Annie leading the way, they were processed through Ellis Island the following morning, New Year's Day. All three Moore children were soon reunited with their parents who were already living in New York City.

[phkrause]

On 11/12/2016 at 2:47 PM, phkrause said:

Where Did Immigrants First Go When They Reached New York?

Most of us know Ellis Island as the place immigrants went when they first reached U.S. soil. They were screened for admittance, given an Americanized version of their last name and, hopefully, allowed to enter the country. Most of us are wrong.

As always.

When immigrants first touched U.S. soil, it was in Manhattan. Lower class passengers would then be sent by ferry to Ellis Island, but most of the higher earners were allowed to enter the country after a quick screening. Which means that a black market industry emerged with some officials looking the other way as lower class passengers hopped off the ferry in Manhattan to skip the screening process.

How much did it cost to beat the system? Only $1 or $2 at the time. But those that stayed on the ship and got screened at Ellis Island had a pretty good chance of staying. Roughly 98% of passengers passed the test. As for that name changing part...

 

On 11/12/2016 at 2:47 PM, phkrause said:

How Do We Know That Immigration Officials Didn't Change People's Names at Ellis Island?

Yeah, that story about your great great grandfather having his name changed at Ellis Island because the immigration official working there couldn't be bothered to figure out how his name was translated? It never happened.

We know this because immigration officials at Ellis Island weren't even in charge of registering people's names. All they did was check the person's name against the ship manifest they came in on. There would have been no way to change the name. In addition, there is no record of any policy encouraging officials to change people's names.

And as for the stereotypical scenario mentioned above, the average inspector working Ellis Island spoke three different languages, and there were interpreters on hand, including ones who specialized in obscure languages. Though the hypothetical great great grandfather mentioned above may have changed it before the ride over to assimilate more easily, or maybe the ship he traveled on got his name wrong, or maybe he changed it after he got here. Those things happened all the time. But someone messing it up at Ellis Island? Not so much.

 

On 11/12/2016 at 2:47 PM, phkrause said:

Why Was Ellis Island Once Called "Gibbet Island?"

Ellis Island wasn't always a docking point for new Americans. Once upon a time, it's where they hung pirates and criminals in the early 19th century. In fact, so many were hung there that people started to call the place "Gibbet Island" as gibbets were the posts they used to display dead bodies.

 

On 11/12/2016 at 2:47 PM, phkrause said:

At What Two Points In Our Country's History Was Ellis Island Used to Detain Foreign Citizens?

During World War I and World War II, Ellis Island was also used to detain a number of non-naturalized, German-born citizens, especially ones believed to be supporting the German cause.

Ellis Island has been used for positive practices and negative ones over the years, but it will likely be remembered for the 20 million people who touched its shores on their way to dreams of a better tomorrow.

[phkrause]

Which women's anthem was actually written by a man?

A. It's Raining Men
B. Respect
C. Single Ladies
D. All of them were written by men.

[phkrause]

How many earths could fit inside the sun?

29 10,400 120,000 1,300,000

[phkrause]

Gone, But Not Forgotten: 4 Trivia Questions about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

On November 13, 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in honor of the men and women who served in the controversial war. To mark the anniversary of the memorial's dedication, try your luck with these trivia questions...

Who Paid for the Construction of the Memorial?

How Was the Memorial's Designer Selected?

What Was the Initial Public Reaction to the Memorial?

What's the Average Age of the Vietnam War's Fallen Soldiers?

[phkrause]

Who is the current Director of the FBI?

David Petraeus John O. Brennan Michael Hayden James Comey

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which women's anthem was actually written by a man?

A. It's Raining Men
B. Respect
C. Single Ladies
D. All of them were written by men.

D. All of them were written by men.

A man had a hand in writing all of these anthems. Otis Redding wrote Aretha Franklin's big hit, "Respect;" Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer (of Late Show fame) wrote "It's Raining Men;" and Beyonce teamed with several men to write "Single Ladies."

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

How many earths could fit inside the sun?

29 10,400 120,000 1,300,000

Answer: The Sun is the largest body in Earth's solar system, containing more than 99 percent of the mass of the entire solar system. It would take 1.3 million Earths to fill up the Sun. If you’d like to do the calculation yourself, here are the numbers. The volume of the Sun is 1.412 x 1018 km3. The volume of the Earth is 1.083 x 1012 km3. So if you divide the volume of the Sun by the volume of the Earth, you get 1,300,000. The size of the Earth is insignificant compared to the Sun. It is only about the size of an average sunspot.

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who Paid for the Construction of the Memorial?

Funds to build the memorial were raised through donations to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which was formed in 1979 by Jan C. Scruggs, a decorated veteran of the war. Scruggs, wounded while serving in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, knew that many of his fellow veterans were struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and thought that a memorial such as this would provide a place of healing for those wounds. He kicked off the memorial fund with $2,800 of his own money and spearheaded the fundraising campaign that eventually raised more than $8 million for the project.

With the support of other veterans of the war, Scruggs also successfully lobbied Congress to donate a tract of federal government property where the memorial could be built. Legislators were finally persuaded to designate a two-acre site near the Lincoln Memorial.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Was the Memorial's Designer Selected?

Once it had accumulated sufficient funds for the project, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund announced a contest to find a winning design for the planned memorial. The contest's rules stipulated that the memorial should make no political statement about the war, list the name of every American who was killed in combat or was listed as missing in action, and should fit in harmoniously with its neighbors on the National Mall. A panel of eight artists and designers was appointed to review design entries, which totaled more than 1,400. The winning design came from 21-year-old Maya Lin, an undergraduate student at Yale University.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was the Initial Public Reaction to the Memorial?

The central feature of Lin's design for the memorial was a V-shaped wall of polished black granite inscribed with the names of roughly 58,000 Americans who died or went missing in action during the war. Her original plan called for the memorial to be free of the political symbols, heroic statues, and stirring quotations that were part and parcel of most previous war memorials, omissions widely criticized by critics of the memorial, which drew considerable negative comment in the first few months after it was opened to the public.

Vietnam War veteran Jim Webb, who years later was elected to serve as a U.S. senator from Virginia, called the memorial "a nihilistic slab of stone." However, as more and more Americans visited the memorial and viewed the names of the fallen, the memorial was more warmly embraced by the public. Despite the designer's objections, the memorial was expanded in 1984 to include a statue of three servicemen and an American flag.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What's the Average Age of the Vietnam War's Fallen Soldiers?

The average age of the men and women listed on the memorial's wall is 22.6 years. The largest single age group is 19-year-olds, accounting for more than 8,200 of the names on the wall. The names of eight women, all of whom served as nurses in Vietnam, are inscribed on the wall.

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who is the current Director of the FBI?

David Petraeus John O. Brennan Michael Hayden James Comey

James Comey

Answer: James Comey is the current Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Comey became the seventh FBI director when he was confirmed by the Senate on July 29, 2013, by a 93-1 count, with Sen. Rand Paul the lone holdout. He was sworn in as FBI director on September 4, 2013. The 6-foot-8-inch Comey, is the tallest FBI director in the bureau’s history. In a White House ceremony to announce his nomination, Obama winked at Comey’s height, calling him “a man who stands very tall for justice and the rule of law.”

[phkrause]

Who voices Hercules' sidekick Philoctetes (Phil for short) in the animated Disney movie Hercules?

A. James Woods
B. Tate Donovan
C. Danny DeVito
D. Bobcat Goldthwait

Haven't seen this movie in a long time! So I don't recall!!

[phkrause]

What was the first animated series produced for prime-time network television?

"Tom and Jerry" "The Jetsons" "The Simpsons" "The Flintstones"

I'm thinking Tom & Jerry

[phkrause]

Can You Harpoon These 4 Moby-Dick Trivia Questions?

On November 14th, 1851, Herman Melville's magnum opus Moby-Dick was published. This classic work of fiction is taught to students all over the world and loved by readers everywhere, but can you answer these four trivia questions about it?

What Was the Very Similar Name of the Whale That Inspired the Story?

What Famous Coffee Chain is Named After a Moby-Dick Character?

What Science-Fiction Giant Wrote the Screenplay for the 1956 Film of Moby-Dick?

Why Was the Great Novel so Criticized Upon Publication?

[phkrause]

Which baseball team's cap did Magnum P.I. wear?

Baltimore Orioles Chicago Cubs Detroit Tigers New York Yankees

I believe that would be the Detroit Tigers

[phkrause]

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who voices Hercules' sidekick Philoctetes (Phil for short) in the animated Disney movie Hercules?

A. James Woods
B. Tate Donovan
C. Danny DeVito
D. Bobcat Goldthwait

Haven't seen this movie in a long time! So I don't recall!!

C. Danny DeVito

For short should've been your clue - diminutive Danny DeVito voices Phil.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

12 hours ago, phkrause said:

What was the first animated series produced for prime-time network television?

"Tom and Jerry" "The Jetsons" "The Simpsons" "The Flintstones"

I'm thinking Tom & Jerry

Answer: The Flintstones was the first animated primetime American television series. It was broadcast from September 1960, to April 1966 on ABC. The show, produced by Hanna-Barbera, depicts the lives of a working-class Stone Age man, his next-door neighbor/best friend, and their families. The show's continuing popularity rested heavily on its juxtaposition of modern everyday concerns in the Stone Age setting. The Flintstones was the most financially successful network animated franchise for three decades, until The Simpsons debuted decades later.

[phkrause]

11 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was the Very Similar Name of the Whale That Inspired the Story?

Melville's white whale is actually based upon a very real albino sperm whale that was first encountered near the island of Mocha, Chile. This inspired the name Mocha-Dick. The whale legend said that it was willing to swim alongside whaling boats and not make any aggressive moves unless the boat itself attacked the whale. When this creature was finally captured in 1839, it was measured at over 70 feet long and had no less than 16 harpoons in it.

 

11 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Famous Coffee Chain is Named After a Moby-Dick Character?

Your favorite Seattle-based coffee chain is named after a character in Moby-Dick. Starbucks' founders decided to call it that after a character in Melville's masterpiece. Mr. Starbuck was Captain Ahab's first mate and inspired the coffeehouse that grew to become a household name. Originally, the founders were going to name the coffee house after Ahab's ship, but decided that people weren't apt to buy coffee from a place called Pequod's.

 

11 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Science-Fiction Giant Wrote the Screenplay for the 1956 Film of Moby-Dick?

Captain Ahab and Moby-Dick came to the big screen several times, but critics agree that the most famous and quite possibly the best portrayal was the 1956 film starring Gregory Peck. The screenplay for this movie was written by science-fiction writer Ray Bradbury, famous for the novel Fahrenheit 451. Bradbury claimed that he channeled Herman Melville and finished the majority of the screenplay in just eight hours.

 

11 hours ago, phkrause said:

Why Was the Great Novel so Criticized Upon Publication?

The novel was published in England before it was published in its native country. Because the British publishers had removed large sections of the book without Melville's permission - including the epilogue at the end that told how Ishmael was the only survivor of the sinking Pequod. The American critics didn't actually read the book to see if the claims had merit. If they had, they would have read a very different book with that epilogue intact. Instead, they just published what the British critics had said about it. Melville ended up broke and taking a job as a customs inspector after publishing Moby-Dick.