June 26, 2008 question

We apologize for the delay. We are experiencing technical difficulties. Okay, technically, I'm experiencing mental difficulties, but since I used the word technical, doesn't that automatically qualify as a technical difficulty? Technically?

Anyway, here's who knew that I have to wake up much earlier in the morning to sneak a Fibonacci number by them:

Paul K (the K stands for Killing Me Softly With His Sequence)
Trevor
Andrew
Charles
Nancy K (the K stands for Knows That No One Was Actually Named Fibonacci)
Heidi
Matt
and maybe Kyle, but I'm not sure.

Now here's today's also-easy-if-you-were-paying-attention-in-junior-high trivia question:

What common household substance is created when sodium bicarbonate is mixed with tartaric acid and calcium aluminum phosphate?

June 24, 2008 question

Bono got away with a 3-bomb, and here's who knew:

Islem
Kyle
Heather M (the M stands for Maybe They Let It Slide Because, Hey, It's Bono)
Karen M (the M stands for . . . Well, You'll Have To Ask Larry. He Knew All Seven.)

Alright, here we are. Tuesday. Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday. You know what the funny thing about Tuesday is? Nothing. Tuesday isn't funny. It's Tuesday. It doesn't even have a funny nickname. No "hump day," no "manic Monday," and no "Thank God it's Tuesday." Nobody thanks anybody that it's Tuesday. Sure, there's a Super Tuesday every four years. Woo flipping hoo. We just have to face it. It's Tuesday, and there's nothing we can do about it. Here's today's question:

What is the lowest positive integer that is NOT a Fibonacci number?

June 23, 2008 question

Elmo first appeared on Sesame Street in 1984. Heidi had the closest guess at 1987. Way to go, Heidi. Elmo loves you! (He gave a menacing scowl to the rest of you, or at least as close as his perpetually smiling muppet face can come to scowling.)

George Carlin died. I'll always remember him as Rufus, the time-traveling Sherpa who guided Bill & Ted on their excellent adventure. My son associates him exclusively as the voice of Fillmore. Other people know him only as the first host of Saturday Night Live or the originator of the list of "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television," which is probably the most popular list no one knows. I mean, you can guess at what the words are, but most people never hear the list. Since the masses only know what they learn on television, they don't hear the comedy routine, they only hear countless references to its existence and the Supreme Court hearing that followed its broadcast.

That being said . . . or not said, here's today's question:

In a 2003 Golden Globes acceptance speech, what celebrity uttered number three on Carlin's list of "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" without any FCC fines being levied whatsoever? (And don't let the number three fool you . . . it's the big one.)

June 19, 2008 question

Trick after trick after trick. As Steve T (the T stands for Tricky, Tricky, Tricky) and Heidi both knew, there are no states without interstates, even though Alaska and Hawaii (and even Puerto Rico) can't really fulfill the inter- part of interstate literally. But the A-1, A-2, etc. highways and the H-1, H-2, etc. byways are still considered part of the national interstate system. Go figure.

Alright, done figuring? Good. It's time to think about some important issues affecting our fellow humans. Today's trivia is a two-parter. The first part is essay:

From a moral standpoint, what is the difference between gang violence and war?

Don't ask why that popped into my head on the morning bike ride. I'm not allowed to tell. Feel free to blow off that question and continue directly to this more straightforward question:

In what year did Elmo first appear on Sesame Street?

June 18, 2008 question

Indiana has the most interstate highways per square mile. If you've ever driven very far at all, you've gone through Indiana. New York to California? Yeah, you're going through Indiana. Ohio to Illinois? Good luck avoiding Indiana. Paris to Moscow? Straight through the heart of Gary is by far the best way. Trivia newcomer Kyle was the only one who knew that one. Way to go!

Now, inspired by some of your guesses, here is today's trivia question:

What U.S. states do not have interstate highways?

June 17, 2008 question

No no, no no no no, no no no no, no no no no limits! Yes, I do think that's the weirdest way I've ever introduced an answer, but it's still the answer. There is no maximum to the number of strikeouts a pitcher can throw in a game because not every strike out necessarily yields an out. If the catcher fails to catch the third strike before it touches the ground (be it a swinging third strike or a called third strike) and either first base is unoccupied or there are two outs in the inning, the batter may advance to first unless he is tagged out or thrown out before reaching first base. That's just one of the great things about baseball. Theoretically, it could go on forever . . . just like this answer. Here is the list of people whose knowledge has no limits either:

Charles
Steve J (the J stands for Just Five Outs Remaining)
Nancy K (the K stands for Strikeout, Even If No Out Is Recorded)
Robbie
Heidi

Fantastic. Here's today's question:

What state has the most miles of interstate highway per square mile?

June 16, 2008 question

Friday the 13th is apparently a statistically lucky day, according to the Dutch study reporting that fewer accidents occur on Friday the 13th than on other Fridays. Here's who either knew or just got lucky:

Steve J (the J stands for Jinxed)
Konrad
Robbie

Now for today's tomato-free, organic, unspoiled, homegrown, salmonellaless trivia question:

What is the maximum number of strikeouts a pitcher can throw in a regulation nine-inning baseball game?

June 13, 2008 question

Millimeter waves are infrared rays. I'm surprised you didn't know that! Oh, wait. You did, if you are one of these people:

Charles
Elena
Micaela
Steve J (the J stands for Just Another Ray)
Steve T (the T stands for The Incredible Hulk)

Gamma rays are infrared, too, even though they make Bruce (or David) Banner go all green. They also can make topaz change from white to blue. Go figure.

Anyway, today is Friday the 13th, which means things are supposed to turn less lucky. Or unlucky. Or bad lucky. I don't know, I'm not that superstitious (knock on wood). Here's today's (cross your fingers) completely unjinxable trivia question:

According to a recent Dutch study, do more or less accidents occur on Friday the 13th's compared to Fridays that fall on any other date?

June 12, 2008 question

In Greek mythology, Hermes created the lyre . . . he was also considered the god of liars, believe it or not. Paul C (the C stands for Cheating, Lying Thief) and Islem knew that one. I should also give a shout out to my sisters Heidi and Kristin from whom I've withheld credit because of some unresolved conflict in my subconscious . . . here's your shout. Aaaaargh.

That's exactly the sound some passengers (and perhaps some security personnel) will be emitting as their bodies are scanned by the new see-through security machines being installed in airports across the country. What I love about this one is the fact that, although every inch of their bodies will be visible through the millimeter-wave scanners, people are supposed to be consoled by the fact that their faces will be blurred out. I'm sure more than one passenger will be overheard saying, "Well, I'm sure they could see the Benjamin-Franklin-shaped birthmark on my upper thigh and that unfortunate unspeakable rash . . . but at least he couldn't see my face." Or . . . "Hey, Honey, you've got some broccoli stuck in your teeth." "Really?! Oh, good thing they blur out your face on the scanner. That would have been embarrassing." Other reasons to feel better about the scans: pictures of your naked body will not be saved, printed, or posted to the Internet, AND, if you'd rather not be part of the all-nude airline revue, you can always choose the pat-down instead.

So in honor or dishonor of the Patriot Act peep show, here's today's question:

Are millimeter waves considered ultra-violet waves or infrared waves? (Hint: yes, one of those options is indeed correct . . . the answer isn't "No.")

June 11, 2008 question

It was Michael Dukakis (as played by Sam Waterston) who said that George (H W) Bush was in danger of becoming the Joe Isuzu of American politics. Yes, yes. He's the one politician who exaggerated, misled, and lied. Becoming known as the pathological liar of Washington is about as hard as becoming the floozy of Las Vegas . . . or the nerd at MIT . . . or the no-talent female starlet with issues. Maybe we could start a petition requesting that no politician can publicly accuse another of lying. It could be the "Yeah, we know, he lied, move on and tell us a better one" petition.

Here's yet another trivia question of compromised integrity:

According to Greek mythology, what god created the lyre?

June 10, 2008 question

A new study shows that drinking more than two cups of coffee a day can kill up to 10 billion brain cells . . . yes, that's billion. And, yes, those were brain cells. For the sake of comparison, inhaling the exhaust from an H2 for an hour kills 2 billion brain cells. Being electrocuted and clinically dead for 10 minutes and then being revived by paddles kills 3 billion brain cells. And watching the full season of The Great American Dog kills 6 billion brain cells.

In response to this study, I've decided to stop cold turkey. Yes, that's right, I will stop paying attention to studies. Oh, I'll keep drinking coffee, that's for certain . . . especially since I'm lying about the study. Okay, I'll also stop making up fake studies and delivering manufactured diatribes about how indignant I am about their ludicrousness. I'm sorry. I need help. Here's today's pathologically lying question:

Who quipped in a presidential debate that George Bush was the Joe Isuzu of American politics?

June 9, 2008 question

Well, this is one of those days when I couldn't award any trivia prizes
if I wanted to. I'm sure it will make the glory all the sweeter if and
when your vice president nomination predictions come true. I know mine
won't. When Rudy G. was a strong front runner for the Republican
presidential ticket, I predicted Obama would win the Dem side and choose
John McCain as his running mate. Probably won't happen, now. It would be
a crafty move on the part of the candidates, but I don't know if it's
100% allowed . . . it's at least frowned upon.

Anyway, today's question is a lot like Friday's, except it's the
opposite . . . just not the total opposite. More like a tail to Obama's
head . . . or a head to Obama's tail, you know, it's best if I just ask
the question:

Who will John McCain choose as a running mate in the 2008 presidential
election?

June 6, 2008 question

Richard Scarry is pronounced "scary," so the people who answered A) Berry (where the Canadian Andy Griffith lives) were right on. Here they are:

Jessie
Kristin
Larry
Andy
Robbie
Nancy K (the K stands for Kids Books Rock)

Big props to all y'all. I had no idea until I looked it up. Now today's question is a little different, because none of us can really know the answer just yet. Still, I think it ought to be pretty fun in the light of Obama and Clinton meeting privately to discuss . . . well, maybe to discuss the answer to this question:

Who will be Barack Obama's running mate in the 2008 presidential election?

June 5, 2008 question

So . . . I'm totally a bad person, and everyone was half right. Both Rocky and Bullwinkle have the names Bullwinkle J. Moose and Rocket J. Squirrel printed on their birth certificates . . . irrespectively. I waited an extra day to see if anyone would catch on to the zero hints I gave, but no one did. We gotta get somebody back on the board! Here's today's question:

Today is author and illustrator Richard Scarry's birthday . . . what does his last name rhyme with?
A. Berry
B. Hurry
C. Starry
D. Zoo

June 3, 2008 question

The first cereal to use NutraSweet was called Halfsies, and it featured the wise old King of the Land of Half, drawn by Jay Ward, the Rocky & Bullwinkle creator. Nobody knew, yet again. I guess we're gonna have to go multiple choice or 50/50 to see if we can get back on track.

Alright, people, psych yourselves up, get your thinking caps on, and answer this bad boy of a question:

Of Rocky & Bullwinkle, who was given the middle initial "J" in reference to the show's creator, Jay Ward?

June 2, 2008 question

There are too many things to make fun of. Me, for not knowing what day it was last week. Pope Gregory XV for founding Congregatio de propaganda fide. Y'all, for not knowing your seventeenth century popes. Obama, for leaving his church. Everyone who preaches at his church, for acting like they're on Saturday Night Live. Everybody, for not being able to handle a white catholic priest speaking in a predominantly black protestant church making fun of a white female presidential candidate for being afraid of a male presidential candidate of mixed racial heritage (if that ain't America, I don't know what is). The NBA, for scheduling a week between the end of the conference finals and the beginning of the finals (and spreading the seven-game series over the course of two full weeks). Mixed martial arts fans, for being mixed martial arts fans. The New Kids on the Block and 90210, for coming back. The list really does go on and on. To celebrate, here's some trivia from the '80s, the decade most worthy of a good mocking:

What kids cereal was the first to use the ingredient, NutraSweet?