Totally Random Trivia: 2022

Answers to Tuesday, November 15, 2022

1. What seven-letter French-derived word can either describe a diplomatic official, or the briefcase that diplomat might be carrying?

Attaché

2. The first conversation in the Old Testament takes place in Genesis 3, between which two figures?

Eve and the Serpent

3. Of the countries in the world that drive on the left, which is the largest by area?

Australia
(by population, it’s India)

4. Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played NFL football in six years. When he did play NFL football, he did so with which team?

San Francisco 49ers

5. The psychoactive hallucinogen mescaline comes from what type of spineless cactus, native to Mexico and southwestern Texas?

Peyote

Questions for
Wednesday, November 16, 2022

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

1. The shortest state capitol building in the U.S. is just 35 feet tall. It’s also the country’s only round capitol building, as it was designed to resemble the Zia sun symbol. Name that state!

2. Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s company, is currently the sole owner of an organization founded in 1936 to sell insurance to government employees. Name that insurance company!

3. Quentin Blake provided illustrations for the 1983 novel “The Witches,” as he did for most of the children’s books written by what darkly comic British author?

4. Much of the early film industry was centered in California because studios wanted to be far away from what litigious New Jerseyite who held patents on many motion picture processes?

5. I have a daughter. My aunt’s son has a daughter. What is our daughters’ relation to one another?

5.  Second cousin.  My aunt’s son is my first cousin so our respective kids are second cousins.

1. New Mexico. 

2: Geico

2. GEICO

4)  Thomas Edison?

3. Roald Dahl

Answers to Wednesday, November 16, 2022

1. The shortest state capitol building in the U.S. is just 35 feet tall. It’s also the country’s only round capitol building, as it was designed to resemble the Zia sun symbol. Name that state!

New Mexico
(the Zia sun symbol is also on their flag + license plates)

2. Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s company, is currently the sole owner of an organization founded in 1936 to sell insurance to government employees. Name that insurance company!

GEICO
(it stands for Government Employee Insurance Company)

3. Quentin Blake provided illustrations for the 1983 novel “The Witches,” as he did for most of the children’s books written by what darkly comic British author?

Roald Dahl

4. Much of the early film industry was centered in California because studios wanted to be far away from what litigious New Jerseyite who held patents on many motion picture processes?

Thomas Edison

5. I have a daughter. My aunt’s son has a daughter. What is our daughters’ relation to one another?

Second cousins
(not “first cousin once removed”—that would be me and my cousin’s daughter)

Questions for
Theme Thursday, November 17, 2022:

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Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. What Dostoevsky novella was originally published under the title “A Confession”?

2. Only Fairuza Balk returned for the 2020 lega-sequel, appropriately subtitled “Legacy,” to what 1996 high school film?

3. 2006’s “Notes on a Scandal” garnered “Best Actress” and “Best Supporting Actress” Oscar nominations for its two stars, both of whom had already won “Best Supporting Actress” awards. Name either (or both! stretch yourself!) of them.

4. ​​Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider are better known by what one-word name, for their pioneering work in the ‘70s and ‘80s electronic music scene?

5. Light Yagami discovers a mysterious notebook which gives its user the ability to magically kill anyone whose name is written in it, in what manga and subsequent anime, novel, live-action films, and miniseries?

2. The Craft

4. Kraftwerk

3) that would be Judi Dench and Cate Blancette!  

5) Death Note. I was into manga for awhile, this one’s quite good.  

1. "Crime and Punishment"

Answers to Thursday, November 17, 2022
1. What Dostoevsky novella was originally published under the title “A Confession”?

“Notes from Underground”

2. Only Fairuza Balk returned for the 2020 lega-sequel, appropriately subtitled “Legacy,” to what 1996 high school film?

“The Craft”

3. 2006’s “Notes on a Scandal” garnered “Best Actress” and “Best Supporting Actress” Oscar nominations for its two stars, both of whom had already won “Best Supporting Actress” awards. Name either (or both! stretch yourself!) of them.

Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench

4. ​​Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider are better known by what one-word name, for their pioneering work in the ‘70s and ‘80s electronic music scene?

Kraftwerk

5. Light Yagami discovers a mysterious notebook which gives its user the ability to magically kill anyone whose name is written in it, in what manga and subsequent anime, novel, live-action films, and miniseries?

“Death Note”

Questions for
Friday, November 18, 2022

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

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are six capital cities in South America whose names begin with either “A,” “B,” or “C.” Name as many of them as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

2. The Academy Award statuette, aka “Oscar,” is holding something in his hands. What is Oscar holding?

3. What marsupial has fingerprints that are so similar to humans that some experts worry they could be confused for human prints at crime scenes?

4. “Quality, Value, and Convenience” is the slogan of what media company, founded in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1986?

5. Today is November 18. On this day in 2020, an object was discovered in San Juan County, Utah, which prompted the Bureau of Land Management to put out a statement reminding everyone it’s illegal to install structures on public lands without permission, “no matter what planet you're from.” What was that object?

3: Koalas

4. Just a guess, but could it be QVC?

1. Asuncion, Bogota, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Cayenne. 

I’ve seen 3 pop up a few times on Twitter, and really enjoy one of the replies.

 “Wait, what crime scenes have both?”

2) He is holding a sword.  Specially a crusaders sword in the downward position.  

Answers to Friday, November 18, 2022
1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are six capital cities in South America whose names begin with either “A,” “B,” or “C.” Name as many of them as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

Asunción (Paraguay), Bogotá (Colombia), Brasília (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Caracas (Venezuela), Cayenne (French Guiana – not a country, but it does have a capital)

2. The Academy Award statuette, aka “Oscar,” is holding something in his hands. What is Oscar holding?

A sword

3. What marsupial has fingerprints that are so similar to humans that some experts worry they could be confused for human prints at crime scenes?

Koalas

4. “Quality, Value, and Convenience” is the slogan of what media company, founded in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1986?

QVC
(that’s what QVC stands for)

5. Today is November 18. On this day in 2020, an object was discovered in San Juan County, Utah, which prompted the Bureau of Land Management to put out a statement reminding everyone it’s illegal to install structures on public lands without permission, “no matter what planet you're from.” What was that object?

The Utah Monolith
(or a metal triangular prism, it’s not even a monolith really)

Questions for
Monday, November 21, 2022

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

1. What fast food chain, founded in 1984, is home to an anthropomorphic mascot named Scoopie?

2. Which U.S. state has the most “centralized” population, with approximately three-quarters of all residents living at the state’s southern tip in Clark County?

3. The largest explosion in movie history, according to Guinness, destroyed a Moroccan communications center owned by the character Ernst Stavro Blofeld in what 2015 franchise movie?

4. The Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, and the first five pages of the United States Constitution were all printed on what type of animal-skin parchment, which gets its name from the French for “calfskin”?

5. What corn syrup brand claims, falsely, to have invented the pecan pie in 1930?

2. Nevada

3. Spectre

4. Parchment?

1 - Culver’s 

5. Karo

4:  Vellum

Answers to Monday, November 21, 2022
1. What fast food chain, founded in 1984, is home to an anthropomorphic mascot named Scoopie?

Culver’s
(he’s a frozen custard cone)

2. Which U.S. state has the most “centralized” population, with approximately three-quarters of all residents living at the state’s southern tip in Clark County?

Nevada

3. The largest explosion in movie history, according to Guinness, destroyed a Moroccan communications center owned by the character Ernst Stavro Blofeld in what 2015 franchise movie?

“Spectre”
(Michael Bay disputes this, and says his explosions in “Pearl Harbor” were bigger.)

4. The Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, and the first five pages of the United States Constitution were all printed on what type of animal-skin parchment, which gets its name from the French for “calfskin”?

Vellum

5. What corn syrup brand claims, falsely, to have invented the pecan pie in 1930?

Karo
(they didn’t; it was invented sometime before 1886)

Questions for
Tuesday, November 22, 2022

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

1. According to the 2019 State of the Wine Industry report, who is most likely to drink wine: Millennials, Gen Xers, Boomers, or what the report calls “Matures”?

2. Which came first: Hawaii becoming a state, or the residents of Puerto Rico becoming U.S. citizens?

3. In often-dark places like the Arctic Circle, Indigenous peoples get omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D from whale blubber, helping them avoid what disease, which results in soft bones and stunted growth?

4. The record holder for the longest continuous weather broadcast is also the author of a series of mysteries about a celebrity chef turned detective, and he’s Lenny Kravitz's second cousin. Who is he?

5. M.I.T. is located in a city that was named the “Most Exciting Suburb in America” in 2014—prompting an outcry from residents who demand that it is not, in fact, a suburb. Name that city.

3.Rickets

5.Cambridge

2 - The latter, Puerto Ricans became citizens first.

4. Al Roker?

Answers to Tuesday, November 22, 2022
1. According to the 2019 State of the Wine Industry report, who is most likely to drink wine: Millennials, Gen Xers, Boomers, or what the report calls “Matures”?

Boomers

2. Which came first: Hawaii becoming a state, or the residents of Puerto Rico becoming U.S. citizens?

Puerto Ricans becoming U.S. Citizens
(1917 vs. 1959)

3. In often-dark places like the Arctic Circle, Indigenous peoples get omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D from whale blubber, helping them avoid what disease, which results in soft bones and stunted growth?

Rickets

4. The record holder for the longest continuous weather broadcast is also the author of a series of mysteries about a celebrity chef turned detective, and he’s Lenny Kravitz's second cousin. Who is he?

Al Roker

5. M.I.T. is located in a city that was named the “Most Exciting Suburb in America” in 2014—prompting an outcry from residents who demand that it is not, in fact, a suburb. Name that city.

Cambridge

Questions for
Wednesday, November 23, 2022

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

1. The first national politician to visit the famous Iowa State Fair “Political Soapbox” was the sitting president in 1954. What is his name?

2. What does the acronym “NASCAR” stand for?

3. The best-selling single by a woman in the pre-digital era was recorded for the soundtrack of a 1992 movie—which also featured the singer in her acting debut. Name that singer!

4. The first, and one of the only, universities in the U.S. to offer a degree in bagpiping is located in Pittsburgh, and is named after its Scottish founder. What is it?

5. The comic strip “Thimble Theater” introduced the character of J. Wellington Wimpy, a lazy moocher whose sole passion was hamburgers. His best friend, on the other hand, was a physically fit adventurer who always ate his greens. Name him.

3 - Whitney Houston

4 - Carnegie Mellon ?

1.Eisenhower

1. Eisenhower

2. National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing

5. Popeye

3: Whitney Houston

Answers to Wednesday, November 23, 2022
1. The first national politician to visit the famous Iowa State Fair “Political Soapbox” was the sitting president in 1954. What is his name?

Dwight Eisenhower

2. What does the acronym “NASCAR” stand for?

“National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing”

3. The best-selling single by a woman in the pre-digital era was recorded for the soundtrack of a 1992 movie—which also featured the singer in her acting debut. Name that singer!

Whitney Houston (“I Will Always Love You” from “The Bodyguard”)

4. The first, and one of the only, universities in the U.S. to offer a degree in bagpiping is located in Pittsburgh, and is named after its Scottish founder. What is it?

Carnegie Mellon

5. The comic strip “Thimble Theater” introduced the character of J. Wellington Wimpy, a lazy moocher whose sole passion was hamburgers. His best friend, on the other hand, was a physically fit adventurer who always ate his greens. Name him.

Popeye

Questions for
Monday, November 28, 2022

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

1. Minneapolis is the second-largest city on the Mississippi River (by population). What is the largest?

2. There are three ancient Roman poets who are considered the canonical poets of Latin literature. Name one of them.

3. The first public telegraph message was sent in code between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore in 1844 by what inventor?

4. What plant produces toxic leaves and fruits, and a tuber that will turn green and produce dangerous glycoalkaloids if stored improperly?

5. With a population over 6 million and a total area of just 8,124 square miles, what country is both the smallest and most densely populated in Central America?

1 Memphis TN

4.  Potato plant

2. Ovid

3. Samuel Morse

5 - El Salvador 

I mean, technically...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fis4zDQXkAEVTR9?format=jpg&name=small

Answers to Monday, November 28, 2022
1. Minneapolis is the second-largest city on the Mississippi River (by population). What is the largest? Hint: It is just north of the state of Mississippi.

Memphis, Tennessee

2. There are three ancient Roman poets who are considered the canonical poets of Latin literature. Name one of them.

Virgil, Horace, Ovid

3. The first public telegraph message was sent in code between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore in 1844 by what inventor?

Samuel Morse

4. What plant produces toxic leaves and fruits, and a tuber that will turn green and produce dangerous glycoalkaloids if stored improperly?

Potatoes

5. With a population over 6 million and a total area of just 8,124 square miles, what country is both the smallest and most densely populated in Central America?

El Salvador

Questions for
Tuesday, November 29, 2022

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

1. What photographer was good friends with the inventor of the Polaroid camera, Edwin Land, and used a Polaroid to take many of his most famous black-and-white photos of Yosemite Valley?

2. The Massachusetts-based confectionery company NECCO was sold in 2018, which led to a pause in the sale of their chalky little Valentine’s Day heart candies. What does “NECCO” stand for?

3. Of the five Major League Baseball teams currently located in California, just two started out there. Name one of those two teams.

4. “Avengers: Endgame” was the first movie in history to gross a billion dollars in its opening week. What actor was the highest-paid Avenger in that film?

5. What toy, invented in 1917, was called the “Liberty Coaster” until 1930, when its name was changed to honor Guglielmo Marconi and Charles Lindbergh?

3. Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres

3 - California Angels & San Diego Padres

5 - Radio Flyer red wagon?