November 25, 2008 question

This year, someone, somewhere is hurting. They're about to lose their home, and you can help . . . yourself! Take advantage of the bad economy, and act now!!!!

Home prices have fallen back four years in the last three months. That's faster than . . . it's faster than Dorothy's house came down in Oz--and just ask the Wicked Witch of the East, that was plenty fast. So . . . this is a rotten time to sell a house. But if you don't own a house, and you're about to move, rent an apartment, renew your lease, or make any other living decision that does not include buying a house . . . BUY A HOUSE! Do it now!

The winter is an excellent time to buy a house, because it's naturally a slow-selling market to begin with. But an economic winter is an even better time to buy. It is not entirely unlikely that you can buy a house for less per month than what you're about to pay in rent. So do it! Now! If you're wondering what to get your co-worker for Christmas . . . buy her a house! Seriously, it's worth a shot. At least take a look. There's no reason for us all to suffer! Okay, here's who knew that Garfield creator Jim Davis is the man behind the fur balls at Paws, Inc.:

Karen M (the M stands for Mondays Stink)
Karen H (the H stands for Hair Ball)
Neil
Kyle
Nancy K (the K stands for K-9 Hater)
Heidi

And here's today's spinoff question:

How many television series spun off of All in the Family (or spun off of its spin-offs)?

Bonus points if you can name them.

November 24, 2008 question

Fear not, trivia nation, no matter how bad the economic crisis may get, we will never run out of Mondays. How's that for looking on the bright side, huh?

Here's today's question:

The artist of what comic strip founded the company Paws, Inc.?

And here's who knew that tunnel connects Italy and Switzerland:

Charles
Karen M (the M stands for Munich Is Not In Switzerland)
Karen H (the H stands for Hopes The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Isn't A Supernova)

Great job, all of you. Or at least, the three of you.

November 21, 2008 question

It's hard to believe it's been more than 100 years since Einstein proposed his theory of relativity, the equation everybody knows and no one understands . . . until now. A team of scientists professes to have proven the groundbreaking theorem using a massive block of supercomputers and a fun little game they call chromodynamics. I don't pretend to understand it any more than I understand the economy, but as the Internets have explained it to me, only 5% of the mass of an atom comes from the actual particles that comprise its structure. The other 95% of the perceived mass comes from the energy that binds the subatomic particles together. Einstein's theory proposed that energy and mass were equivalent and somehow interchangeable (correct me if I'm wrong, please). People have bought the idea for a long time, but now it's undisputed, signed, sealed, delivered . . . it's yours.

I always wondered about this. I was taught that if an atom was enlarged to the size of a football field, the nucleus would be the size of a flea resting at the 50-yard line. I never understood how there could be that much empty space between the center of an atom and the electrons circling it. By that rationale, most of what we call solid matter would, in fact, be . . . nothing. But according to Einstein's theory and the ramifications of what I'm reading, as pathetically as I understand it, we are more energy than matter . . . more soul than substance, if you will. If the metaphysical implications don't get your brain working and wondering about the nature of our existence and the faultiness of humanistic and naturalistic thought, then I don't know what will. And doesn't the nerd in you wonder how long it can be, now that Einstein has been proved right, before George Lucas's theory of midichloreans is proved right as well?

FOR THOSE OF YOU SCROLLING DOWN PAST THE NONSENSE, STOP HERE. :)

Here's today's question:

What two countries are connected by the Simplon Tunnel that runs through the Alps?

And here's who knew that a barrel of oil is 42 gallons:

Karen M (the M stands for Me And Only Me)

Congrats!!

November 20, 2008 question

It's not too early to start Christmas shopping--no one waits until after Thanksgiving anymore. And here's the perfect idea for a stocking stuffer: a barrel of oil. Yup, you can get one for under $50 if you know where to shop. Nothing says, "I love you," quite like a hearty barrel filled to the brim with thick & rich light sweet crude. It's the lowest price in over three years!

So . . . yeah. Here's today's question:

According to standard U.S. measurement, a barrel of oil is equal to how many gallons?

And here's who knew that Bernie's employees walked his carcass around all weekend:

Jessie
Julia
Charles
Frislem
Paul C (the C stands for Carcass Walks On The Beach)
Karen M (the M stands for Mortician Fun)
Kyle
Mike K (the K stands for Knows It Because He Loves It)

Yeah. It's a proud day for you.

November 19, 2008 question

There have been reports circulating that the hunt for Osama bin Laden is going to require a seance. Some people believe that his beard appears dyed in his latest video. Now, I don't know if the originators of such rumors got the word dyed confused with died or if they just thought that a living, breathing Osama would never dye his beard. But something tells me, the hunt will continue without the use of a medium . . . a shovel, maybe, but not a medium. Okay, here's today's question:

In the movie, Weekend at Bernie's, the lead characters Richard and Larry are Bernie's:

A) Employees
B) Friends
C) Nephews
D) Sons
E) Students

Yes, that's right, another question you all hope you don't know. Here's who did know that the word of the day in our last question was a poisonous tree:

Amy, Diannalee, Stephanie, Charles, Frislem, Karen H (the H stands for Hot Apple Pies From McDonald's Can Also Kill You).

You rule.

November 17, 2008 question

A few rhetorical questions before we get to the real one:

If a tree falls in the forest, and no one's around to hear it, does it really make a sound?
If a UPS truck runs over the dry-erase-board guy from the commercials, and no one's around to see it, would that really be so bad?
If the aforementioned unpleasantness happened in a busy street, and nobody did anything to help him, would the surrounding passersby be any less guilty than the neighboring trees that stood idly by while their forestial friend turned to timber?

Oh, and a long overdue shout out to Charles, Frislem, Melinda, and Karen H (the H stands for How Can You Not Love The UPS Guy?) all knew that Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. Although it was his wife who discovered it was really good on Salami. Okay, here's today's question:

What is a Manchineel?

A) An electrically charged water snake
B) A line of plush monkey-like toys made in the Philippines
C) A poisonous tree with fruit resembling apples
D) A member of the failed Cuban revolutionary group, headed by Fidel Castro, that staged a failed attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953
E) A made-up word meant to mess with you on a Monday

November 13, 2008 question

No one has a germier workspace than teachers. The guy who discovered penicillin worked with fewer germs. Seriously. Schools are germ factories, which is the single biggest proponent for public schooling over home schooling. People who home school are depriving their children of the education of immunization. It's like boot camp for germ fighting. Makes 'em tough. Puts hair on their chest. Prepares them to face any disease known to man. Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 patients afflicted with rare or undiagnosed diseases were home schooled as children. It's true.

I mean, it's not. But it could be. Here's who knew: Melinda, Heidi, and Nancy K (the K stands for Knows Firsthand).

You've probably already guessed what today's question is, even if you don't know the answer. Here it is:

Who discovered penicillin? 

November 12, 2008 question

It's Veterans Day. I mean, it's not today, but that's how you spell it, and here's who knew:

Elena
Charles
Melinda
Maridee
Kyle
Jocelyn
Steve J (the J stands for Just Thinks Apostrophes Should Stay Out Of The Military)
Frislem

I'm so proud to be a Trivialite alongside all of you. Now, on to more icky things. Here's today's question:

People from what profession sit at the germiest workspaces of all, according to a University of Arizona study revealing that these people work among six times more germs than do people in any other category?

November 11, 2008 question

Just saw Greta VanWhatserface interview Sarah Palin and was a little disgusted to see over 5 minutes spent on clothes. Then the next 5 minutes were spent on her knowledge of 5th grade Social Studies. It seemed incredibly ironic to me that a journalist for Fox News--or anyone in cable news for that matter-- would be questioning Sarah Palin about why ridiculous stories become overblown in the media as a gigantic BREAKING NEWS: GOV PALIN SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT graphic gets plastered on the screen. Gee, I don't know, why has the media become so sensationalist? Tune in for our exclusive, life-or-death, no-holds-barred investigative report uncovering the most shocking details in this devastatingly destructive trend in popular culture--DON'T GO AWAY!!!

So I propose a boycott of all electronic news outlets. Read your newspaper in the morning, throw it away, and get on with your day. Who's with me?!? No one? Okay. Here's today's question:

What spelling of today's holiday is correct and officially recognized by the U.S. government:

A) Veteran's Day
B) Veterans' Day
C) Veterans Day
D) None of the Above
E) All of the Above

Oh, and I mustn't forget Thursday's champ, Karen M (the M stands for Massachusetts) for knowing the commonwealth's first governor was John Hancock (I would have also accepted Herbie Hancock). Woo hoo to you!

November 6, 2008 question

MSNBC has yet to declare a winner in North Carolina in the presidential race. Obama leads by a mere 14,053 votes, with all precincts reporting. That's only a 0.3% edge, and since the ballots are being counted by Doug the dyslexic Democrat and Rita the rolling-eyed Republican, a final verdict isn't expected anytime soon. Over at CNN, by the way, the juries are still out in Missouri as well . . . Show Me my eye.

Anyway, the only person who knew was Heather M (the M stands for Maybe It Helped That I Live In North Carolina, Maybe It Didn't). Congrats!

Now I'll just get to the question. Here you go:

Who was the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?

November 5, 2008 question

Last night, we witnessed the beginning of a new era, something I never thought would be possible in my lifetime. Last night was a landmark, a watershed, a milestone . . . I can't find the words.

Last night our country rose up as one and decided that we were no longer going to accept the mistakes of our past as the inevitability of our future. Last night we spoke in one voice, "Never again will we bow to at the altar of pretense and mindless tradition." Last night, America spoke, and the verdict rang loud and clear as the Liberty Bell . . . before it cracked. Last night we declared, perhaps for the first time, as the United States of America:

We will not use the words "an historic" ever again. Yes, that's right. Tears were rolling down my eyes as I heard commentator after commentator, pundit after pundit, leader after leader loudly and proudly saying phrases like, "a historic moment," "a historic achievement," and "a historic event" again and again. The most pretentious, inexplicable little n in all of English usage has fallen off the map for good. I believe that America has decided it is time for change. Our united voice has said with unprecedented clarity that "an historic" is a stupid, stupid phrase.

It is a historic moment in the world of grammar, and I, for one, am overcome with joy. But let us remain vigilant. If you hear someone saying the "an" word in what should be a historic context, don't let their articlely incorrect speech go unchecked. Pounce. Lash out. Glare. Glower. Tsk. Tell them, "It's a new day, buster. We say, 'a historic,' now!" Then turn on your heel and march off in a grammatically superior huff.

Oh, and yesterday, the answer was Obama. Don't worry, I checked Google before I asked the question. Today, there are about 50 million additional Obama results, but it was Obama in a landslide yesterday morning anyway. Here's who knew (or defied the urge to suspect me of tricking them):

Jessie
Charles
Steve T (the T stands for Tsk)
Paul C (the C stands for Change We Can Spell)
Jocelyn
Heidi
Maridee

As for today's question, here it is:

According to MSNBC dot com (as of 9:30 am, ET), what is the only state yet to be declared for either candidate in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election?

November 4, 2008 question

I voted. Our polling place uses scan-tron forms. There was a line of about 100 or so people. They had three polling booths set up in the Liberty Township Firehouse where I voted. Three polling booths. Two fire trucks. And a partridge in a pear tree.

I do believe America needs a change, and I have no doubts that change is coming this evening. That change, of course, is the fact that the negative campaign ads will stop airing. For now, at least. It's been hard to get through a commercial break without the feeling that America, my state, and my locality are all doomed. Thank heaven for DVR. And now, today's question:

Which name yields more Google results: Obama or McCain?

Yes, that's right, it's a Google search election. Oh, and may I not forget last week's answer! The Dunkin' Donut with the least fat is Gingerbread, and only Karen H (the H stands for How Could Something So Delicious Have Only 4 Grams Of Fat?) knew the answer. Congratulations, you're the First Lady of low-fat donuts!