October 30, 2008 question

Nostradamus correctly predicted his death . . . pretty much the day it happened. He told his nurse she wouldn't find him alive the next day, and he was right. Kinda made it tough to gloat, though. Trevor and Kyle knew that he was dead right. Way to go, guys! You actually can gloat.

Now today I'll just say that I had an interesting time with my son last night as we flipped back and forth between Deal or No Deal and the World Series. You haven't watched DOND unless you've watched it with my son, because he cheers at everything anybody cheers about . . . and they cheer for everything on that show. Last night was crazy, though, because this lady won it all at precisely the same time the Phillies recorded the final out. So we were watching this lady play a game and go absolutely berserk when she finally won a million dollars while we also watched a bunch of millionaires turn into exploding dervishes of jubilation when they finally won a game. And I'm sure they all felt like their lives had been changed forever.

Crazy world. It's amazing what happens to people the moment when they get what they desperately want. And speaking of things I desperately want, here's today's question:

What Dunkin' Donuts donut has the least amount of fat?

A) Apple Crumb
B) Blueberry Cake
C) Chocolate Glazed
D) Gingerbread
E) Jelly Filled
F) Powdered Cake

October 29, 2008 question

We knew Game 6 of the World Series was going to be delayed a few minutes by Obama. We didn't know Game 6 would be delayed probably 2 days by Game 5, which is being delayed 2 days by rain . . . and a few minutes by Obama. Yes, tonight is Obama TV night, and you might as well watch to get familiar with your next president. Now, don't be dismayed by my predicting the result this early. No, be shocked and impressed that I guaranteed it well over a year ago, even before he won Iowa.

And speaking of predictions, I had a strong feeling that these people would know yesterday's answer, which was Wyoming:

Heather M (the M stands for Manchurian Candidate)
H. E. (the H E stands for Holy Electorates)
Jacqueline
Trevor
Charles
Steve J (the J stands for Jazz Hands)
Karen M (the M stands for My States Are Blue . . . Is There Something I Can Take For That?)

Oh, and also speaking of predicting, here's today's question:

What did Nostradamus correctly predict on July 1, 1566?

October 28, 2008 question

Chris Farley was the original voice of Shrek . . . which seems to make a lot more physiological sense than the brogue of Mike Myers. Kyle and Karen H (the H stands for Haggis) both knew that and will receive one hot cup of jack squat courtesy of Matt Foley.

On to today's question from the annals of history. Did you know that the Constitution prohibits electors in the Electoral College from voting for a president and vice president from their own state (i.e. electors from New Hampshire can vote for a presidential candidate from New Hampshire or a vice presidential candidate from New Hampshire, but not both)? It's true. And the issue arose in the 2000 election because up until right before the election, Dick Cheney resided in Dallas (the same state as W). If Cheney's residency had remained in Texas, electors from the Lone Star State could not have voted for him as vice president. Weird, huh? Here's the official question:

To what state did Dick Cheney switch his legal residency and voter registration prior to the 2000 election?

October 27, 2008 question

Sorry for leaving you in trivia limbo for nearly a week. I'm sure that must have been hard on your back. I'm not sure I'm completely recovered from the torrent of profanity hurled in my direction the last time I asked a question. Elena, Neil, Steven F (the F stands for Flimn Flamn), Jessie, Karen H (the H stands for Helmn), Karen M (the M stands for Mnemonic), and Nancy K (the K stands for Keeps On Saying Damn) all knew at least five words ending in mn, but I give special credit to Andrew for his poetic list (solemn, column, hymn, limn, damn!) and Kristin for correctly answering without cussing at me (column, hymn, autumn, condemn, solemn). Way to go, all of you, and . . . same to you!

Now, I just thought I would note that Saturday Night Live continues to hook me in, even though it's never all that funny. I mean, it has its moments, but I can't remember the last time it was Chris Farley funny. Here's today's question:

What animated character did Chris Farley record the voice for, only to be replaced posthumously?

October 21, 2008 question

Mr. Blackwell spent most of his life telling people what outfits he wouldn't be caught dead in. Now he's been caught. Here's who knew:

Jacqueline
Heather M (the M stands for MAH-velous)
Steve J (the J stands for Jazz Hands)

Okay, it's that time of year. The colors are changing. The ballots are dropping. The chads are hanging. Here's some autumn trivia for you:

According to a bunch of dictionaries, there are at least fifteen words in the English language ending in mn; name five of them.

October 20, 2008 question

A team of Japanese researchers have found footprints they believe confirm the existence of the Yeti. The footprints are about eight inches long and look just like human footprints. Wait . . . eight inches? Yeah, uh huh, that's right. They say the Yeti, Bigfoot's Himalayan Dopplegaenger, wears a boy's size 1 shoe. He doesn't wear shoes, but if he did he'd buy them from Kids 'r' Us.

I don't know. To me, that doesn't sound like evidence of the Yeti. That sounds like evidence of shoeless kids in the Tibetan wilderness.

Here's today's question:

By what name was the now deceased Richard Sylvan Selzer more popularly known?


And speaking of names, here's who knew that John McCain gets called John Sidney McCain III when he gets in trouble with his mommy:

Kristin
Karen M (the M stands for McCain IV)
Karen H (the H stands for How Could She Have Called Him Momma's Boy In His Bio Video At The GOP Convention?)

Congrats, the lot of you.

October 17, 2008 question

Ironically enough, the words printed repeatedly in the border of the $5 bill are . . .
FIVE DOLLARS.

Karen M (the M stands for Money, Money, Money, Money . . . MOney) was the sole winner and will receive a crisp new five dollar bill (upon receipt of $5 shipping and handling charge).

And now, on to the worst line from Wednesday night's presidential debate finale, courtesy of John McCain:

"If you wanted to run against Bush, you should have done it four years ago."

That may have been a good zinger if McCain himself hadn't lost to Bush eight years ago. And not speaking of zingers, here's today's McCain trivia:

What is John McCain's middle name?

October 15, 2008 question

The chemists of old are today's FDA. Here's who knew:

Andrew
H. E. (the H E stands for Healthful Enough)
Karen M (the M stands for Magnesium)
Nancy K (the K stands for Potassium)
Heidi

And now, a question sure to rattle Obama (at least as sure as anything McCain could dish out tonight, short of calling him Osama):

What words are microprinted repeatedly in the borders of the latest $5 bill series?

October 14, 2008 question

Apparently the manic depressive stock market fluctuates based on the number of people who get trivia right. Here's who knew that Columbus Day is Canadian Thanksgiving, or as they call it in Canada, Thanksgiving:

Paul C (the C stands for Canadian Plymouth Rock)
Maridee
Jessie
Karen M (the M stands for Mayflower, Eh?)
Steve T (the T stands for Toques Are Way Better Than Buckle Hats)
Jocelyn
Charles
Heidi
Jean
Stephanie
Steve J (the J stands for Just As Thankful, If Not More, Than Portugal)

So congratulations to you all on your bountiful trivia harvest. May you fare just as well today, even though it might be a trick question (or maybe it's not):

What government agency began in the mid 1800s as The Division of Chemistry?

October 13, 2008 question

Maridee and Konrad knew that "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish," is not the opening line to One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Most of it, in fact, is not about fish, but instead focuses on the funny things you'll find everywhere.

And after a long Columbus Day weekend, that rushing noise we all hear is the sound of no one caring. So I'll move directly into today's question:

In most of the US, the second Monday in October is observed as Columbus Day; Berkely, California, calls it Indigenous People's Day; Hawaii celebrates Discoverer's Day; the Virgin Islands call it Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands Friendship Day; and a good chunk of Latin America dub it Dia de la Raza; what does Canada celebrate on the second Monday in October?

October 10, 2008 question

Opus, a large-snouted penguin, has a poster of Chilly Willy, the small-beaked pengo, on his bedroom wall. No one knew that one, so I give full trivia credit to . . . the Cubs. And whether you're happy that the Cubs finally won something or you're upset that you just lost to them, bear in mind that it's trivia, where not mattering is the name of the game.

The game in Wall Street is a bit more weighty. Again, I know nothing about economics, but it seems to me like a forest fire. For the health of the environment, excess simply has to burn off in order for the woodland plant and wildlife to sustain itself. And so must the economy. High-priced stocks must burn away like so much arid brush until the system is rejuvenated. Of course, sometimes those wildfires get a bit out of control and burn up the entire West Coast until the government sprays a trillion dollars on it to smother the flames. I guess we'll have to see how long the blazes rage on.

But I still wonder . . . if this Grinch of an economy gobbles itself up by Christmas, and we can't afford the gobs of presents and decorations and whozzits and whatsits or even the roast beast, and all we're left with is a big circle of Who's in Whoville . . . will we still join hands and sing in loving harmony, or is that just a bunch of Seussian crap we buy into because it rhymes? Here's today's question:

What Dr. Seuss book begins with the line, "From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere"?

October 9, 2008 question

I'm back on my feet again. Gonna walk down this street again. And you'll all look at me again, and you'll see that I'm strong.

And, yeah, when you're using Michael Bolton quotes as motivation, you know you've broken through rock bottom to enter the smoldering inferno that is the earth's mantel.

Yes, the Cubs devastating collapse took its toll on me, and it just happened to coincide with a bout of unpleasant migraine action. No trivia for a week? It's unheard of. It's wrong. It's worse than 100 years without a World Series Championship (please forgive the hyperbole . . . Michael Bolton is boosting my spirits, and I still love the Cubs; what do you want from me, reality?).

Let's just move on to trivia, shall we? Here's the question:

In Berkely Breathed's now retiring comic strip, Opus, the featured penguin has a poster of what cartoon character on his bedroom wall?

October 2, 2008 question

Sorry, I've been out of the trivia office for a couple of days. I have nothing to say about anything. Here's today's question:

Where are Broca's area and Wernicke's area located?

Oh, and here's who knew that zero World Series champions have called Wrigley home (it was opened in 1914, six years after the last Cubs title):

Heidi
Charles
Steve J (the J stands for Just J)

Congratulations. Whoopee.