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
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
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?
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?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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?
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?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
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?
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?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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?
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?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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!
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!
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