Totally Random Trivia: 2022

Answers to Tuesday, October 11, 2022

1. Only two countries in South America don't border Brazil. Name one of them.

Chile, Ecuador

2. What French term is defined by the International Equestrian Federation as “the highest expression of horse training”?

Dressage

3. In what 1995 movie does Chris Farley greet Rob Lowe with the line, “Brothers don’t shake hands, brothers gotta hug”?

“Tommy Boy”

4. In 2007, Todd Davis ran TV ads showing his own Social Security number in order to prove how effective his fraud protection company was. He quickly became the victim of 13 cases of identity theft. He was the CEO of what company?

LifeLock

5. How many bumps are on the bottom of every Red Delicious apple?

Five

Questions for
Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. Walnuts are not nuts—they’re drupes, or the seeds of a fruit. What color is a fully ripened walnut fruit?

2. Arturo Alfonso Schomburg was an Afro-Puerto Rican writer who appeared alongside Nella Larsen, Anne Spencer, and Alain Locke on a set of stamps in 2020, honoring historic voices of a movement based in what neighborhood?

3. The largest subspecies of brown bear can only be found in one place: an archipelago in southwest Alaska. Name that bear.

4. In 1964, what Yankees slugger took the mantle from Babe Ruth as the player with the most World Series home runs?

5. There are currently two countries in the world with capital cities named after U.S. presidents. One is the United States. What’s the other one?

5.  Liberia

2 - Harlem ??

3 - Kodiak

4. Mickey Mantle 

Answers to Wednesday, October 12, 202
1. Walnuts are not nuts—they’re drupes, or the seeds of a fruit. What color is a fully ripened walnut fruit?

Green

2. Arturo Alfonso Schomburg was an Afro-Puerto Rican writer who appeared alongside Nella Larsen, Anne Spencer, and Alain Locke on a set of stamps in 2020, honoring historic voices of a movement based in what neighborhood?

Harlem
(All were key figures of the Harlem Renaissance)

3. The largest subspecies of brown bear can only be found in one place: an archipelago in southwest Alaska. Name that bear.

Kodiak

4. In 1964, what Yankees slugger took the mantle from Babe Ruth as the player with the most World Series home runs?

Mickey Mantle

5. There are currently two countries in the world with capital cities named after U.S. presidents. One is the United States. What’s the other one?

Liberia
(Monrovia—named after James Monroe)

Questions for Theme Thursday, October 13, 2022

Please Help Me I’m Falling: The leaves are beginning to fall. As we watch them drop gently to the autumn ground, let’s ponder these five questions about… gravity!

Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. What astronomer, scientist, and philosopher set the stage for Newton’s thought experiments about getting hit with fruit by posing a scenario in which balls are dropped from the Tower of Pisa to show that gravity accelerates objects at the same rate?

2. Ignoring such effects as buoyancy or drag, the acceleration of gravity on Earth is how many meters per second squared, to the first decimal point?

3. Gravitational waves were directly observed for the first time in 2015—100 years after they were predicted by whom?

4. “Gravity” was the closing song on what singer-songwriter’s 2007 album “Little Voice,” who just finished an appearance as The Baker’s Wife in the Broadway revival of “Into the Woods”?

5. What director won his first “Best Director” Oscar for the 2013 film “Gravity”? Hint: he became the first director of a non-English-language film to win the “Best Director” Oscar five years later.

1. Galileo

1. Gallileo

5.  Alfonso Cauron (sp?)

3 - Einstein ?? 

Posted by: @mikeeruzione11

1. Galileo

Figaro - magnificoo

2. 9.8

4. Sara Bareilles

Answers to Thursday, October 13, 2022

1. What astronomer, scientist, and philosopher set the stage for Newton’s thought experiments about getting hit with fruit by posing a scenario in which balls are dropped from the Tower of Pisa to show that gravity accelerates objects at the same rate?

Galileo

2. Ignoring such effects as buoyancy or drag, the acceleration of gravity on Earth is how many meters per second squared, to the first decimal point?

9.8

3. Gravitational waves were directly observed for the first time in 2015—100 years after they were predicted by whom?

Albert Einstein

4. “Gravity” was the closing song on what singer-songwriter’s 2007 album “Little Voice,” who just finished an appearance as The Baker’s Wife in the Broadway revival of “Into the Woods”?

Sara Bareilles

5. What director won his first “Best Director” Oscar for the 2013 film “Gravity”? Hint: he became the first director of a non-English-language film to win the “Best Director” Oscar five years later.

Alfonso Cuarón

Questions for
Friday, October 14, 2022

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in Monday’s email.

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: When you look at the birthplaces of MLB’s Most Valuable Players throughout the league’s history, there are five Central and South American countries or territories represented. Name as many of them as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

2. Kings 3:16 tells the story of a unique form of justice doled out by what king?

3. In the ’90s, several throw-and-catch games hit the market, with names like “Paddle Toss,” “Scatch,” “Magic Mitts,” and “Super Grip Ball.” They were all played with a tennis ball and Velcro paddles, and they were all primarily what two colors?

4. What 1974 Mel Brooks movie was originally titled “Tex X”?

5. Today is October 14. On this day in 1908, the Chicago Cubs won their last World Series before their famed 108-year drought. What team, which currently plays at Comerica Park, did they defeat?

2. Solomon

4. Blazing Saddles

5. Detroit Tigers

3. Ours are green and pink

1)

- Venezuela

- Dominican Republic

- Cuba (?)

- xxx

- xxx

Posted by: @gator

1)

- Venezuela

- Dominican Republic

- Cuba (?)

- xxx

- xxx

 

Are the Dominican Republic and Cuba considered part of Central America?

Panama (Rod Carew)

If the Caribbean counts the addition of the word  territories leads me to believe Puerto Rico is on the list. 

Answers to Friday, October 14, 2022

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: When you look at the birthplaces of MLB’s Most Valuable Players throughout the league’s history, there are five Central and South American countries or territories represented. Name as many of them as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela

2. Kings 3:16 tells the story of a unique form of justice doled out by what king?

Solomon

3. In the ’90s, several throw-and-catch games hit the market, with names like “Paddle Toss,” “Scatch,” “Magic Mitts,” and “Super Grip Ball.” They were all played with a tennis ball and Velcro paddles, and they were all primarily what two colors?

Green and pink

4. What 1974 Mel Brooks movie was originally titled “Tex X”?

“Blazing Saddles”

5. Today is October 14. On this day in 1908, the Chicago Cubs won their last World Series before their famed 108-year drought. What team, which currently plays at Comerica Park, did they defeat?

Detroit Tigers

Questions for
Monday, October 17, 2022

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. What TV show debuted in 1974 using the Bill Haley song “Rock Around the Clock” as its theme song, only to change it a year later to an original song that became a Top 10 hit in its own right?

2. What seven-letter honorific, first applied to Gandhi for his activism in South Africa, frequently precedes his name?

3. Which organ regulates the balance of electrolytes in the blood?

4. The copyright group ASCAP is the “American Society” of three professions. Name two of them.

5. “The majority are either crazy or have a hereditary problem. I opened a Pandora’s box and released a Frankenstein monster.” That’s Australian dog breeder Wally Conron describing what dog, the creation of which in 1988 he calls his “life’s regret”?

1. Happy Days

2 Mahatma 

3. Kidney

4. Composers, Authors, Publishers. 

5:  Labradoodle?

Answers to Monday, October 17, 2022

1. What TV show debuted in 1974 using the Bill Haley song “Rock Around the Clock” as its theme song, only to change it a year later to an original song that became a top-10 hit in its own right?

“Happy Days”

2. What seven-letter honorific, first applied to Gandhi for his activism in South Africa, frequently precedes his name?

Mahatma

3. Which organ regulates the balance of electrolytes in the blood?

Kidney

4. The copyright group ASCAP is the “American Society” of three professions. Name two of them.

Composers, Authors, Publishers

5. “The majority are either crazy or have a hereditary problem. I opened a Pandora’s box and released a Frankenstein monster.” That’s Australian dog breeder Wally Conron describing what dog, the creation of which in 1988 he calls his “life’s regret”?

Labradoodles

Questions for
Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. The largest object in the Solar System that is not a planet or a star is the moon Ganymede, which orbits what planet?

2. Contrary to what a 2019 Lana Del Rey album would have you believe, what “Saturday Evening Post” artist's middle name was actually Percevel?

3. There’s a ski lodge in Stowe, Vermont, owned and operated by what famous family, who purchased it in 1942—17 years before they became the subjects of a Broadway musical?

4. John O’Neill was a Northern Irish tenor singer famous for his whistling skills. Alessandro Alessandroni was a childhood friend of Ennio Morricone. Depending on whom you ask, one of them did the whistling on the score to what 1966 film?

5. Founded in 1325, the most populous city in North America is also one of the oldest. Name that city!

5. Mexico City

5. Mexico City

2.  Norman Rockwell

3. Von Trapps

1. Jupiter 

4. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"

Posted by: @zwak

2.  Norman Rockwell

One of my Top 5 favorite artist. Have a couple of his pieces in the house.

Answers to Tuesday, October 18, 2022

1. The largest object in the Solar System that is not a planet or a star is the moon Ganymede, which orbits what planet?

Jupiter

2. Contrary to what a 2019 Lana Del Rey album would have you believe, what “Saturday Evening Post” artist's middle name was actually Percevel?

Norman Rockwell

3. There’s a ski lodge in Stowe, Vermont, owned and operated by what famous family, who purchased it in 1942—17 years before they became the subjects of a Broadway musical?

Von Trapp
(“The Sound of Music”)

4. John O’Neill was a Northern Irish tenor singer famous for his whistling skills. Alessandro Alessandroni was a childhood friend of Ennio Morricone. Depending on whom you ask, one of them did the whistling on the score to what 1966 film?

“The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly”

5. Founded in 1325, the most populous city in North America is also one of the oldest. Name that city!

Mexico City

Questions for
Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. Chemists John Lea and William Perrins created a liquid in the 1830s that they found inedible. Eighteen months later, they tried it again, and found it delicious! To this day, its recipe requires that it is allowed to mature for 18 months. What is it?

2. Are there more stitches on a baseball or dimples on a golf ball?

3. The French physicist Jean Foucault is famous for proving that the Earth rotates. He did it twice, using two different instruments. Name either one.

4. The Hollywood star born Margarita Cansino started going by her mother's maiden name in 1937 to play down her father’s Iberian Romani heritage. Fred Astaire once called her his favorite dance partner. What was her screen name?

5. There is only one non-New England state that shares a land border with any New England states. What is it?

5 - New York?  

1. Worcestershire

1 Worcestershire Sauce

Posted by: @slap-shot

1. Worcestershire

I thought the names looked familiar!

Posted by: @greyeagle

Posted by: @slap-shot

1. Worcestershire

I thought the names looked familiar!

Yeah I wouldn't have made the connection if I didn't pay attention to their last names.

2. Dimples on golf ball (educated guess)

4. Rita Hayworth

3. Pendulum is one

4. Ginger Rogers

Posted by: @don-adams-wheel-of-justice

4. Ginger Rogers

Nope.  Rita Hayworth, as mentioned above, is correct.

Answers to Wednesday, October 19, 2022

1. Chemists John Lea and William Perrins created a liquid in the 1830s that they found inedible. Eighteen months later, they tried it again, and found it delicious! To this day, its recipe requires that it is allowed to mature for 18 months. What is it?

Worcestershire sauce

2. Are there more stitches on a baseball or dimples on a golf ball?

Dimples on a golf ball
(336 dimples vs 108 double stitches)

3. The French physicist Jean Foucault is famous for proving that the Earth rotates. He did it twice, using two different instruments. Name either one.

Pendulum, Gyroscope

4. The Hollywood star born Margarita Cansino started going by her mother's maiden name in 1937 to play down her father’s Iberian Romani heritage. Fred Astaire once called her his favorite dance partner. What was her screen name?

Rita Hayworth

5. There is only one non-New England state that shares a land border with any New England states. What is it?

New York

Questions for Theme Thursday, October 20, 2022

This Round is Rigged: Five questions for gettin’ riggy with it.

Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. In theater, rigging is used to make curtains, objects, and sometimes even actors, fly through the air. What Tony-winning 1954 Broadway musical features a number in the first act called “I’m Flying”?

2. What was the name of the oil rig that exploded in 2010, causing the largest marine oil spill in history?

3. If you ever found yourself rooting for Lyla Garrity to hook up with Tim Riggins, you were probably a fan of what TV show?

4. In sailing, the “rigging” is the apparatus that holds up the sail. In fore-and-aft rigged sailboats, the vertical pole, or “spar,” is called the “mast.” What is the horizontal spar called?

5. The “Carolina Rig” and the “Texas Rig” are techniques used by people who practice what pastime?