Trivia Quiz?

[phkrause]

Julian Assange created which website that officially launched in 2007?

Wikipedia Zillow WikiLeaks LinkedIn

WikiLeaks??

[phkrause]

23 hours ago, phkrause said:

Before George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan's vice-president, was elected, when was the last serving vice-president elected president?

A. 1974
B. 1960
C. 1880
D. 1836

D. 1836

The last serving vice-president to become president in a subsequent election was Martin Van Buren, who succeeded Andrew Jackson in 1836.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

On 3/21/2017 at 6:05 PM, phkrause said:

A bowling alley was first installed in the White House for which U.S. President?

George W. Bush Bill Clinton Harry S. Truman John F. Kennedy

I should know this, because I've read about it!! I have to guess Truman??

Answer: One of the most exclusive two-lane bowling alleys in America, the Harry S. Truman Bowling Alley entertains thousands of White House staffers and their guests each year. The first White House bowling alley was originally built on the ground floor of the West Wing as a birthday gift to President Truman in 1947. In 1955, the lanes were moved from the West Wing's basement to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. President Richard Nixon was the most avid of the presidential bowlers, spending as many as four hours at a time rolling games.

[phkrause]

On 3/21/2017 at 6:59 PM, phkrause said:

Why Was This Such a Big Deal?

While the concept of the cliffhanger was not new, this was the show that made it de rigueur for shows to keep viewers enthralled over the season break (or taunt them just before the season break, if you want to look at it that way). Part of the hype was just that; the network turned a cliffhanger into a marketing campaign ("Who shot J.R.?") that was everywhere in the summer of 1980. It was also a major story -- over and over and over -- for a new-fangled 24-hour cable news network called CNN. You couldn't avoid the topic even if you tried.

The shooting was also so unexpected. While J.R.'s character was no one's friend and had made enemies left and right, the shooting was a plot twist that no one predicted. Even worse was the fact that there were so many potential suspects that viewers knew that the next season was going to be a juicy one.

But most of all, other networks and showrunners saw how hooked people were on finding out the answer. The cliffhanger turned out to be the perfect way to ensure your audience came back after the summer season break, and shows started using it frequently after that.

 

On 3/21/2017 at 6:59 PM, phkrause said:

What Made the Wait Worse?

Viewers of the show were so worked up over the potential solution by the time that the next season was supposed to begin that any delay just made things worse. Unfortunately, viewers got the mother of all delays when the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the union representing actors, went on strike. The strike was finally resolved after 94 days, which at that point was the longest strike in SAG's history. Since then SAG has had longer strikes, but in 1980, that work stoppage was not what viewers needed.

The strike did have one benefit, though. When J.R. was shot, the writers didn't know how the story would go from there. In other words, J.R. was pretty much shot for plot-twist kicks. The extra time surely was a relief to writers who now had to figure out who shot J.R. themselves.

 

On 3/21/2017 at 6:59 PM, phkrause said:

How Was the Answer Received?

All the hype paid off for CBS. When the next season of Dallas began with four episodes (two repeated from the previous season) in November 1980, the episodes broke viewing records. In fact, one of the episodes became the highest-rated show of all time, until the last episode of M*A*S*H knocked it out of position three years later. It's estimated that 76 percent of the televisions in the United States were tuned in to the Dallas season premiere, with 350 million people watching worldwide.

 

On 3/21/2017 at 6:59 PM, phkrause said:

What Else Did the Episode Change in Later TV Shows?

Because J.R. was such an integral part of the show, and the producers weren't about to let his character die, actor Larry Hagman knew he was in a position of real power on and off set. The story goes that he demanded a raise that was considered outrageous, but because his return the next season was necessary, he won that fight. However, now showrunners are more careful about who ends up in a cliffhanger. If the actor doesn't already have a signed contract for the next season, producers and directors are more cautious about showing them in that episode lest those actors decide to use their role in the cliffhanger as a bargaining chip.

 

On 3/21/2017 at 6:59 PM, phkrause said:

And finally, just who did shoot J.R.?

A whopping eight months after J.R. was shot, the answer was revealed. Kristin Shepard (Mary Crosby) did it. She was J.R.'s sister-in-law and mistress. She pulled the trigger in an angry rage, but J.R. survived.

[phkrause]

On 3/21/2017 at 7:32 PM, phkrause said:

Julian Assange created which website that officially launched in 2007?

Wikipedia Zillow WikiLeaks LinkedIn

WikiLeaks??

Answer: Julian Assange came to international attention as the founder of the whistle-blowing Web site, Wikileaks. In 2006, Assange began work on Wikileaks, a Web site intended to collect and share confidential information on an international scale. The site officially launched in 2007 and it was run out of Sweden at the time because of the country's strong laws protecting a person's anonymity. For his efforts, the internet activist earned the Time magazine "Person of the Year" title in 2010.

[phkrause]

Which of the following colors is not one that Crayola company Binney and Smith discontinued over the years?

A. Prussian Blue
B. Oriental Red
C. Flesh
D. Indian Red

[phkrause]

What is the estimated population of California?

7.6 million 22.6 million 39.5 million 48.1 million

[phkrause]

Taxing Trivia Questions about the Stamp Act

On March 22. 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, imposing a new tax on Britain's 13 American colonies. In observance of this landmark event in American history, we've put together some trivia questions; try your luck and see how much you know about the Stamp Act of 1765...

What Was the Reason for the Stamp Act?

What Was the Stamp Act Congress?

What Group Was Created by the Stamp Act to Fight Against It?

What Major Event Did the Stamp Act Lead To?

[phkrause]

Which general was known as "Old Blood and Guts"?

Robert E. Lee George S. Patton Douglas MacArthur Stonewall Jackson

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which of the following colors is not one that Crayola company Binney and Smith discontinued over the years?

A. Prussian Blue
B. Oriental Red
C. Flesh
D. Indian Red

B. Oriental Red

In 1958, Prussian Blue was changed to Midnight Blue at the request of history teachers. Flesh became Peach in 1962 upon the realization that not everyone's flesh was the same color. And Indian Red became Chestnut in 1999 to dispel the rumor that it depicted the color of Native American flesh. But there has never been an Oriental Red color.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What is the estimated population of California?

7.6 million 22.6 million 39.5 million 48.1 million

Answer: The current estimate for California's population for 2017 is nearly 39.5 million. At the last official United States census carried out in 2010, the population of California was declared at 37,253,956 which made the state the most populous in the country. However, the vast area that California encompasses means that in terms of population density, with 251.3 people for every square mile, it ranks only 11th in the nation. Based on current estimates, California is larger than all but 34 countries in the world.

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was the Reason for the Stamp Act?

Britain was strapped for cash following the Seven Years War. Also called the French and Indian War, it had lasted from 1754 to 1763. To help pay the debt incurred by this long-running war, Britain levied direct taxes on colonists in America to pay British troops who were stationed there for protection. The Stamp Act went into effect Nov. 1, 1765, following passage of the new law. Legal documents, newspapers and other materials that were printed on a special paper from Britain now included a revenue stamp embossed on the paper.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Was the Stamp Act Congress?

Colonists were upset by the Stamp Act because they considered it unfair taxation. As a result, the Stamp Act Congress was organized in fall of 1765. It was attended by 27 delegates from nine colonies, including Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, Philip Livingston of New York and Caesar Rodney and Thomas McKean, both from Delaware. These four men went on to become signers of the Declaration of Independence. Members of the Stamp Act Congress sent a document to the British government entitled "The Declaration of Rights and Grievances," which included several complaints, including objections to the newly enacted Stamp Act.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Group Was Created by the Stamp Act to Fight Against It?

It is believed that passage of the Stamp Act was one of the reasons the Sons of Liberty was formed. One delegate to the Stamp Act Congress, Samuel Adams, is frequently credited as the founder of this secretive paramilitary organization. "No Taxation Without Representation," was the group's motto. Originally, chapters were established in 1765 in Boston, home of Samuel Adams, and New York City. Sons of Liberty chapters soon spread to all 13 colonies, particularly in Virginia, the Carolinas and New England.

The flag designed to represent the group had vertical stripes in red and white. Their tactics consisted of mob rule, intimidation, force, and in some cases, tarring and feathering. They also stockpiled arms and gunpowder, which undermined British rule in the colonies. Probably the most famous act instigated by the Sons of Liberty was the dumping of tea in Boston Harbor in 1773, which became known as "The Boston Tea Party."

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Major Event Did the Stamp Act Lead To?

Protests against the Stamp Act included boycotts and the resignation of the stamp agents because of threats and intimidation against them. The British government repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. The same day, the Declaratory Act was passed by the parliament in Britain. This act declared Britain's power over the colonies and stated that colonists would be required to pay taxes and obey the laws.

The Stamp Act is believed to have been influential in the growing dissent against Great Britain and the American colonists' urge for freedom. The defiant act of The Boston Tea Party, conceived by the Sons of Liberty and created to protest the Stamp Act, led to the "shot heard round the world" and the onset of the American Revolution.

[phkrause]

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which general was known as "Old Blood and Guts"?

Robert E. Lee George S. Patton Douglas MacArthur Stonewall Jackson

Answer: Considered one of the most successful combat generals in U.S history, General George Patton commanded the U.S. Seventh Army in the Mediterranean and European theaters of World War II, but is best known for his leadership of the U.S. Third Army in France and Germany following the Allied invasion of Normandy. Patton once said to his troops, “you’re going to be up to your neck in blood and guts.” This made quite an impression, and from that point on, he was known as “Old Blood and Guts.” The nickname would follow him for the rest of his life.

[phkrause]

Which fruit is a member of the family that includes cashews and poison ivy?

A. Avocadoes
B. Dragonfruit
C. Mangoes
D. Lychees

[phkrause]

Which American Patriot said, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" on this day in 1775?

John Hancock Benedict Arnold Nathan Hale Patrick Henry

I'm gonna go with Patrick Henry!

[phkrause]

We Won't Give You Death If You Get These Questions Wrong

On March 23rd, 1775, Patrick Henry called for America's independence from Britain, telling the Virginia Provincial Convention, "Give me liberty, or give me death!"  See how much you know about those famous words and the man who spoke them. 

What Was the Context of Henry's Speech?

Did Henry Actually Say "Give me Liberty or Give me Death?"

Where Was Edward Carrington Buried?

What Were Patrick Henry's Feelings About the Constitution?

[phkrause]

Who is responsible for breaking tie votes in the Senate?

Mike Pence Paul Ryan Donald Trump Chuck Schumer

That would be the VP of the USofA! And at this time in history that would be Mike Pence!!

[phkrause]

On 3/23/2017 at 4:17 PM, phkrause said:

Which fruit is a member of the family that includes cashews and poison ivy?

A. Avocadoes
B. Dragonfruit
C. Mangoes
D. Lychees

C. Mangoes

Nutty, right? Mangoes share the same family as cashews and poison ivy.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

On 3/23/2017 at 4:38 PM, phkrause said:

Which American Patriot said, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" on this day in 1775?

John Hancock Benedict Arnold Nathan Hale Patrick Henry

I'm gonna go with Patrick Henry!

Answer: On March 23, 1775, during a speech before the second Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry responded to the oppressive British rule over the American colonies by declaring, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” With his persuasive and passionate speeches, famed patriot Patrick Henry helped kickstart the American Revolution. A Founding Father, Patrick Henry was appointed governor of Virginia by the Continental Congress.

[phkrause]

On 3/23/2017 at 5:39 PM, phkrause said:

What Was the Context of Henry's Speech?

Patrick Henry was passionate in his opposition towards British rule and vocal in his objections of the Stamp and Townshend Acts. In 1775, the state of Virginia was holding a convention to decide whether or not to create a militia and pledge troops to fighting the British. At this rowdy assembly, Patrick Henry finally took the stage. According to accounts, he started off calmly, but as he went on became more and more passionate, finally finishing with the powerful words, "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" Virginia committed troops to the cause, many believe as a result in large part of Henry's words, and the rest is history.

 

On 3/23/2017 at 5:39 PM, phkrause said:

Did Henry Actually Say "Give me Liberty or Give me Death?"

We realize we've already committed quite a few words to the notion that Patrick Henry said this famous line, and indeed he very well may have. He certainly gave a speech that day echoing a similar sentiment that stirred the souls of those assembled, but the problem is that Henry himself did not write out his speeches or speak from notes, and no one there wrote anything down. 

The first written documentation of Henry's words occurred several decades later in an 1817 biography by William Wirt who pieced together the speech through accounts from people present that day. For his part, Wirt was three years old when the speech took place and his book has been accused of embellishing a bit to make Henry look good in other areas. So while it's one heck of a line, we're not totally sure Henry actually said it.

 

On 3/23/2017 at 5:39 PM, phkrause said:

Where Was Edward Carrington Buried?

Edward Carrington was a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army who was present the day Henry gave his speech. And while there may be some debate over the exact language, like we said, it was still one heck of a speech. Carrington is reported to have witnessed it, then said, "Let me be buried at this spot." And so he was.

 

On 3/23/2017 at 5:39 PM, phkrause said:

What Were Patrick Henry's Feelings About the Constitution?

Of course, the U.S. went on to win the war and throw off the chains of British tyranny, but Henry wasn't done defending liberty. He went on to criticize the US Constitution during the days it was being created, viewing it as yet another threat to liberty. 

Many attribute the subsequent creation of the Bill of Rights to Henry's vocal opposition, and whether or not he said, "Give me liberty or give me death," that means he's still got one heck of an eternal legacy.

[phkrause]

On 3/23/2017 at 5:56 PM, phkrause said:

Who is responsible for breaking tie votes in the Senate?

Mike Pence Paul Ryan Donald Trump Chuck Schumer

That would be the VP of the USofA! And at this time in history that would be Mike Pence!!

Answer: The Vice President of the United States is a constitutional officer in the legislative branch of the Federal government as President of the Senate under Article One, Section Three, Paragraph Four of the United States Constitution. As the President of the United States Senate, the Vice President votes only when it is necessary to break a tie. The tie-breaking vote (or casting vote) has been made 245 times by 36 different Vice presidents. Mike Pence of Indiana is the 48th and current Vice President of the United States.

[phkrause]

Which competitive eating champion holds the world records for most cheesecake, fruitcake and mince pies eaten?

A. Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas
B. Erik "The Red" Denmark
C. Joey "Jaws" Chestnut
D. Matt "The Megatoad" Stonie

[phkrause]

Which celebrity owns one of the largest Porsche collections in the world?

Tom Cruise Jerry Seinfeld Howard Stern Simon Cowell

[phkrause]

Can You Escape From These Harry Houdini Trivia Questions?

On March 24, 1874, entertainment and magic were changed forever with the birth of Harry Houdini. How much do you know about the Master of Escape?

What Was Houdini's Real Name?

What Was Houdini's First Escape?

How Did Hondini Die?

[phkrause]

In which decade was the slinky invented?

1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s