Trivia Quiz?

[phkrause]

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

Maria Ann Smith lends her name to the green variety of what kind of fruit that she discovered in the 1860s?

Avocado Apple Tomato Pear

I don't know! I'll guess Avocado!!

Answer: Granny Smith apples are named after a real Granny Smith. Granny Smith apples were discovered in Australia in the 1860’s, as a chance seedling in the compost pile on the orchard of Maria Ann Smith. Smith had numerous children and was a prominent figure in the district, earning the nickname "Granny" Smith in her advanced years. Granny Smith apples were first introduced commercially to the the United States in the 1970’s. The fruit has hard, light green skin and a crisp, juicy flesh.

[phkrause]

Which state is the only one in the Union that doesn't have counties?

A. California
B. Alabama
C. Virginia
D. Louisiana

I'm thinking Louisiana

[phkrause]

What movie did Barack Obama take Michelle on their first date?

My Cousin Vinny Forrest Gump Do the Right Thing When Harry Met Sally

How about "Do the Right Thing"

[phkrause]

4 Trivia Questions about Benjamin Franklin

On January 17th, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was born. We've already asked you questions about his experiences with lightning and his fondness for pseudonyms, but there's plenty more trivia to cover. So let's see how well you do with these questions that are all about the Benjamin...

Fill in the Blank: In 1737, Benjamin Franklin published a list of 200 Synonyms for _________ in the Pennsylvania Gazette.

While Recruiting French Aid, How Did Franklin Accidentally Help the British?

When Franklin Was Just Eleven, He Invented What to Help Him Swim?

Fill in the Blank: Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond Worked Together to Build America's First ________.

[phkrause]

Which musical instrument was invented by Benjamin Franklin?

Banjo Harp Glass harmonica Tambourine

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which state is the only one in the Union that doesn't have counties?

A. California
B. Alabama
C. Virginia
D. Louisiana

I'm thinking Louisiana

D. Louisiana

The political subdivisions in Louisiana are called parishes.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What movie did Barack Obama take Michelle on their first date?

My Cousin Vinny Forrest Gump Do the Right Thing When Harry Met Sally

How about "Do the Right Thing"

Answer: The president and the first lady had their first date at the movies. The 27- and 25-year-old spent several hours together, visiting the Art Institute of Chicago and catching a screening of Do the Right Thing, the new Spike Lee movie about racial unrest in sweltering Brooklyn. Michelle said, "He was trying to show me his sophisticated side by selecting an independent filmmaker." "So Spike, thank you for helping me impress Michelle," Obama joked. "And thank you for telling a powerful story. Today, I've got a few more grey hairs than I did back in 1989. You don't look like Mookie anymore. But 'Do the Right Thing' still holds up a mirror to our society, and it makes us laugh, and think and challenges all of us to see ourselves in one another.”

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

Fill in the Blank: In 1737, Benjamin Franklin published a list of 200 Synonyms for _________ in the Pennsylvania Gazette.

Benjamin Franklin was an eloquent man. And he also was a man who appreciated the merits of a good drink. It's probably this combination of traits that led to the quote "Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy" being attributed to him in posters hung up in bars and college dorm rooms across the country (even though Franklin likely never said this). But did you know he was so into both things that he once published an article that was basically him just listing synonyms he came up with for "getting drunk?" So next time your buddy has had a few too many, feel free to describe him as any of the following: "Bowz'd," "been at Barbadoes," "been too free with the Creature," "knows not the way home," and, of course, "drunk as a wheel-barrow." We're really not sure how drunk a wheel-barrow gets, but we'll take his word for it that they can get pretty hammered.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

While Recruiting French Aid, How Did Franklin Accidentally Help the British?

When the Revolutionary War was at its worst, Benjamin Franklin and a team of diplomats went to France to recruit some help. The team accomplished their mission, France joined the colonists, the British were defeated and Franklin put another notch in his belt of awesomeness. But he didn't exactly pull things off flawlessly. Another man on that mission was Dr. Edward Bancroft, who happened to be a British spy. Franklin spent much of the trip discussing highly classified matters and leaving classified documents laying about. Bancroft was able to take detailed notes on all the intel he gathered and return the information to the British. We're guessing it wasn't anything too crucial because we all know how this fight ended up. But it's worth noting that one of America's most famous patriots was responsible for the British getting their hands on a lot of classified information.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

When Franklin Was Just Eleven, He Invented What to Help Him Swim?

History has taught us that Benjamin Franklin invented virtually everything. While different people debate the idea that he was the first to invent everything that he's been credited with, he's at least been nominated for consideration as the guy who invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the glass armonica, the odometer, and the catheter. Among others. But one of his first inventions came when he was all of eleven years old and looking for a leg up with his swimming. So he made some wooden paddles he stuck to his hands and then, when that wasn't working, he tried sticking them to his feet. In other words, at age eleven, he essentially invented flippers. Unfortunately, the device proved more tiring to use than it was worth so he eventually stopped using it. That's right, even Franklin's reject ideas were pretty darn impressive.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

Fill in the Blank: Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond Worked Together to Build America's First ________.

One success Franklin rarely gets credit for is helping get the country's first hospital off the ground. To be sure, Bond deserves plenty of recognition, but Franklin was the one who got the Pennsylvania Assembly to approve and help fund the hospital. When the Assembly initially expressed reservations, Franklin proposed that if he could raise 2,000 pounds from private citizens for the hospital, then the Assembly would have to both match the two grand and approve the new hospital. The Assembly agreed, Franklin raised even more than 2,000, and the rest is history. Franklin would later remark, in referring to his work creating the hospital, "I do not remember any of my political maneuvers, the success of which gave me at the time more pleasure." And knowing Benjamin Franklin, that's saying something.

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which musical instrument was invented by Benjamin Franklin?

Banjo Harp Glass harmonica Tambourine

Answer: Of Benjamin Franklin's many achievements, probably the least well-known are his accomplishments in music. In 1761, Franklin designed the glass harmonica – or armonica as its creator liked to call it – the first musical instrument “born” in America. (Not to be confused with a mouth harmonica.) This was a modification of the old glass bowl organ, with the bowls now set sideways and overlapping, spun using a foot pedal. This new instrument became very popular, and music written expressly for the glass harmonica was composed by such legends as Mozart and Beethoven. The popularity of the instrument faded early in the nineteenth century, but it is still played occasionally today.

[phkrause]

Which of the following was not one of Frank Sinatra's nicknames?

A. Ol' Blue Eyes
B. Swillatra
C. The Chairman of the Board
D. Swoonatra

B. Swillatra would be my guess

[phkrause]

Which President took the oath while wearing a ring containing a lock of Abraham Lincoln's hair?

Barack Obama George W. Bush Theodore Roosevelt Ronald Reagan

My guess: Theodore Roosevelt?

[phkrause]

Trivia Questions About South Pole Legend, Explorer Robert F. Scott

January 18, 1912--British explorer Robert Falcon Scott misses the boat by not reaching the South Pole first. See if you can answer these trivia questions about the big miss.

When Did Robert Scott Realize Someone Else Had Reached the South Pole First?

What Problems Doomed Scott's Expedition?

How Many Men Were in Scott's Expedition?

What Happened to Scott's Expedition?

[phkrause]

Despite serving the shortest presidency who delivered the longest inaugural address nearly 2 hours long?

John F. Kennedy Richard Nixon Abraham Lincoln William Henry Harrison

[phkrause]

20 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which of the following was not one of Frank Sinatra's nicknames?

A. Ol' Blue Eyes
B. Swillatra
C. The Chairman of the Board
D. Swoonatra

B. Swillatra would be my guess

B. Swillatra

He went by many nicknames, but Swillatra was not one of them.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which President took the oath while wearing a ring containing a lock of Abraham Lincoln's hair?

Barack Obama George W. Bush Theodore Roosevelt Ronald Reagan

My guess: Theodore Roosevelt?

Answer: At his inauguration in 1905, Theodore Roosevelt wore a ring which included hair cut from President Lincoln's head after he had been assassinated 40 years earlier. When Teddy Roosevelt was inaugurated in 1905, John Hay - who would become Teddy’s Secretary of State - sent Roosevelt the ring along with a note that said, “Please wear it tomorrow; you are one of the men who most thoroughly understand and appreciate Lincoln.” Roosevelt replied: "Dear John, Surely no other President, on the eve of his inauguration, has ever received such a gift from such a friend. I am wearing the ring now; I shall think of it and you as I take the oath tomorrow."

[Gail]

2 hours ago, phkrause said:

Answer: At his inauguration in 1905, Theodore Roosevelt wore a ring which included hair cut from President Lincoln's head after he had been assassinated 40 years earlier. When Teddy Roosevelt was inaugurated in 1905, John Hay - who would become Teddy’s Secretary of State - sent Roosevelt the ring along with a note that said, “Please wear it tomorrow; you are one of the men who most thoroughly understand and appreciate Lincoln.” Roosevelt replied: "Dear John, Surely no other President, on the eve of his inauguration, has ever received such a gift from such a friend. I am wearing the ring now; I shall think of it and you as I take the oath tomorrow."

I love reading about Teddy Roosevelt! After Lincoln he is my favourite president. Apparently he was a bundle of energy and that translated to the many pieces of hand-written notes and letters he produced.

[phkrause]

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

When Did Robert Scott Realize Someone Else Had Reached the South Pole First?

Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer, reached the South Pole about a month before Scott. Amundsen had initially planned to be the first to reach the North Pole but was beaten there by American Robert Peary. Turning his sights on the South Pole, he and his expedition departed early in 1911 and began the trek by setting up their camp about 60 miles closer to the pole than Scott's expedition. Scott realized that Amundsen beat him to the pole on January 16, when they spotted a sledge bearer with a flag tied to it. Alongside the sledge bearer were tracks and the remnants of a camp. At that point, the explorers realized that the Norwegians had beaten them to the pole.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Problems Doomed Scott's Expedition?

Scott's expedition showed that he was inadequately prepared for his trip to the South Pole, which was 1,766 miles round trip to the pole and back. For this difficult trek through blizzards, deep snow, and cold, the men required enough food to supply their bodies with 6,500 calories per day. However, the food they took along only supplied 4,600 calories per day. In other words, the men were manhauling on starvation rations, which depleted their energy and made them lose needed weight and strength. While both Scott and Amundsen used sleigh dogs, Scott also used motor sleds and Siberian ponies. The ponies were unable to withstand the trip and were shot, the dogs were sent back and the sleds broke down. On January 3, 1912, Scott and four of his companions continued the trip, using skis when possible or traveling on foot through deep snow, continual snow storms and poor visibility. They were still 169 miles away from their destination.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Many Men Were in Scott's Expedition?

Twelve men originally started the trek toward the South Pole with the Scott expedition. Each left Cape Evans equipped with a sledge and pony. All the men were not destined to reach the pole, except for the four who accompanied Scott on the final leg of the journey. The others went along to establish depots where needed stores of goods would be placed strategically to supply the men who reached the pole on their return trip. The seven men who did not accompany Scott to the pole were used to transport the goods that would be needed. Scott ordered four of those men to return to Hut Point on December 20. It took them 35 days to reach their destination. The other three left for Hut Point on January 3.

 

On 1/18/2017 at 5:21 PM, phkrause said:

What Happened to Scott's Expedition?

The expedition ended in tragedy. By struggling on to the South Pole, three of the five men developed frostbite from the cold temperatures and strong winds. Upon reaching their goal on January 18, 1912, they discovered that the Amundsen expedition had reached the pole first. Upon the return trip, one explorer died on February 16 from the effects of hypothermia. A second, with frozen feet, did not want to slow the others down and walked out into the snow to die. A blizzard stopped the progress of the remaining three expedition members. By this point, they had run out of fuel and food. The frozen bodies of three of the explorers, plus Scott, were discovered on November 12 and a cross erected made of crossed skis to mark the location. The body of the fourth man was never found.

[phkrause]

22 hours ago, phkrause said:

Despite serving the shortest presidency who delivered the longest inaugural address nearly 2 hours long?

John F. Kennedy Richard Nixon Abraham Lincoln William Henry Harrison

Answer: President Harrison has the dual distinction among all the Presidents of giving the longest inaugural speech and of serving the shortest term of office. Known to the public as "Old Tippecanoe," Harrison delivered an hour-and-forty-five-minute speech in a snowstorm without wearing a hat or overcoat. He came down with a bad cold that developed into a major respiratory infection. Harrison died on his 32nd day in office of complications from pneumonia, serving the shortest tenure in United States presidential history.

[phkrause]

Who played the role of the Scarecrow in 1978's The Wiz?

A. Michael Jackson
B. Richard Pryor
C. Nipsey Russell
D. Jimmie Walker

Having never seen The Wiz, so if I had to guess, I'd guess: D. Jimmie Walker!

[phkrause]

Who was the only President to be sworn into office by a woman?

Lyndon B. Johnson George H. W. Bush Franklin D. Roosevelt Jimmy Carter

[phkrause]

4 Trivia Questions in Honor of Popcorn Day

January 19th is Popcorn Day! So celebrate this joyous occasion trivia today style and see if you can answer a few questions about America's favorite snack...

Once Upon a Time, Movie Theaters Were the Last Place You Would Find Popcorn. When Did That Change?

What Made Popcorn Consumption Decline During the 1950s?

Who Brought Popcorn to Europe?

What Contribution Did Charles Cretors Make to the Popcorn Field?

[phkrause]

Who is the only person ever to take the oath of office and also administer it to another President-elect?

William Howard Taft George Washington Harry S. Truman Gerald Ford

How about GW??

[phkrause]

22 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who played the role of the Scarecrow in 1978's The Wiz?

A. Michael Jackson
B. Richard Pryor
C. Nipsey Russell
D. Jimmie Walker

Having never seen The Wiz, so if I had to guess, I'd guess: D. Jimmie Walker!

A. Michael Jackson

The Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz reboot was played by none other than the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

21 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who was the only President to be sworn into office by a woman?

Lyndon B. Johnson George H. W. Bush Franklin D. Roosevelt Jimmy Carter

Answer: Lyndon Johnson was the first and only president to be sworn in by a woman, U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes. The first inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson was held aboard Air Force One following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The swearing-in ceremony administered by Judge Hughes in an Air Force One conference room represented the first time that a woman administered the presidential oath of office as well as the only time it was conducted on an airplane.

[phkrause]

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Once Upon a Time, Movie Theaters Were the Last Place You Would Find Popcorn. When Did That Change?

In the olden days, movie theaters liked to be thought of the same way people thought of regular theaters. As a refined place where the upper class went for entertainment. And something like the popcorn sold by street vendors outside was definitely not the snack of the refined upper class. Worried about people grounding food into their nice rugs and making too much noise from the crunch of the kernel, movie theaters banned the snack. That changed in 1927 when talkies arrived along with the Great Depression. Unlike the reading-heavy experience of silent films, movies with audio appealed to the working class. And during the Great Depression, those working class people wanted to eat some food with their movies that was dirt cheap. Enter one of the cheapest snacks to produce on the planet: popcorn.

With moviegoers buying plenty of the affordable snack outside, then ferrying it inside to eat with their movies, the theaters realized their snooty ways were costing them a pretty penny. So they started selling popcorn themselves. Popcorn got another boost a few years later when the United States started sending sugar to soldiers overseas in the war effort. Moviegoers suddenly couldn't buy candy, but there was still plenty of the salty snack to chomp on.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Made Popcorn Consumption Decline During the 1950s?

If the success of movies helped spur popcorn sales, then it stands to reason that the thing that threatened movie theaters would also threaten the popcorn industry. So when people started getting television sets in their homes in the 1950s, it was bad news for ticket gates and it was consequently bad news for popcorn. What helped the snack's sales rebound? The spread of the microwave and the creation of microwavable popcorn.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who Brought Popcorn to Europe?

Native Americans were big fans of popcorn. They used to bring it to peace negotiations and some even believed their ancestors' spirits lived in the kernels. So this popular treat was soon adapted by the explorers who came here from Europe, settlers started growing the corn themselves on their farms, and, eventually, Christopher Columbus brought the snack back to Europe.

 

19 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Contribution Did Charles Cretors Make to the Popcorn Field?

Charles Cretors is the guy who invented the popping machine and the wet popper, two devices that allowed you to, well, pop corn. His machine had the advantage of being mobile which, in turn, meant vendors could use it to sell popcorn at places like the local sports game or the circus. It also meant you could make popcorn without having to be in the kitchen, which made it easier to produce. Popcorn might not be as successful as it is today if it weren't for Charles Cretors. Or the Great Depression. Or World War II. Or Native Americans. Or the microwave.

Of course, it also helps that it tastes pretty darn good too.