Totally Random Trivia: 2022

Questions for
Theme Thursday, December 22, 2022

Three People From a Place: I'll name three people who were all born in the same U.S. state. You name the state.

Answers in tomorrow’s email

1. Ellen DeGeneres, Lil Wayne, Huey Long

2. Georgia O’Keeffe, Tony Shalhoub, Les Paul

3. Harriet Tubman, Michael Phelps, John Waters

4. Bruno Mars, Bette Midler, Michelle Wie

5. Bruce Lee, Richard Nixon, E-40

5. California

3.  Maryland 

2) wisconSIN

2 - WisconSIN I believe

4. Hawaii

1. Louisiana

Answers to Thursday, December 22, 2022

1. Ellen DeGeneres, Lil Wayne, Huey Long

Louisiana

2. Georgia O’Keeffe, Tony Shalhoub, Les Paul

Wisconsin

3. Harriet Tubman, Michael Phelps, John Waters

Maryland

4. Bruno Mars, Bette Midler, Michelle Wie

Hawai'i

5. Bruce Lee, Richard Nixon, E-40

California

Questions for
Friday, December 23, 2022

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

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: Aside from his half-brother, Chiron, Zeus had five siblings. Name as many as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

2. One in four people who died in England in the early 1800s died of “consumption.” What do we call that disease today?

3. What actor shouts, “Off with their heads!” six times in a 2010 blockbuster movie?

4. What automaker began producing a model called the Crown in 1955, the Tiara in 1960, and has since named two more models “crown”—one in Japanese, and one in Latin?

5. Today is December 23. What entrepreneur, generally regarded as the first woman in the U.S. to become a self-made millionaire, was born on this day in 1867 under the name Sarah Breedlove?

2 Tuberculosis 

2. Tuberculosis

4) Toyota

1. Hera, Hestia, Demeter, Hades, Poseidon

3. Helena Bonham Carter

5) CJ Walker.  An African-American woman who owned a hair product company.  

Posted by: @kelly-red

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5) CJ Walker.  An African-American woman who owned a hair product company.  

Sadly, I was today years old when I first heard of her.

Posted by: @zwak

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Posted by: @kelly-red

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5) CJ Walker.  An African-American woman who owned a hair product company.  

Sadly, I was today years old when I first heard of her.

 

I'm embarrassed to admit I’d never heard of her until Mattel did a Barbie of her a few years ago.  Their Famous Women in History series.  

Answers to Friday, December 23, 2022
1. Quit While You’re Ahead: Aside from his half-brother, Chiron, Zeus had five siblings. Name as many as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

Demeter, Hades, Hera, Hestia, Poseidon

2. One in four people who died in England in the early 1800s died of “consumption.” What do we call that disease today?

Tuberculosis

3. What actor shouts, “Off with their heads!” six times in a 2010 blockbuster movie?

Helena Bonham Carter
(as the Red Queen in “Alice In Wonderland”)

4. What automaker began producing a model called the Crown in 1955, the Tiara in 1960, and has since named two more models “crown”—one in Japanese, and one in Latin?

Toyota
(Camry and Corolla both mean “crown”)

5. Today is December 23. What entrepreneur, generally regarded as the first woman in the U.S. to become a self-made millionaire, was born on this day in 1867 under the name Sarah Breedlove?

Madam C.J. Walker

Questions for
Monday, December 26, 2022

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

1. Most of the world’s Muslims belong to two sects: Sunni and Shia. Which sect is larger by far, made up of 85 percent of all Muslims?

2. Florence Henderson had her own talk show, her own cooking show, and she was a popular contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” But she’s most famous for her role on what TV show, which aired from 1969 to 1974?

(Zwak editorial note:  this could be one of the easiest questions they’ve ever asked)

3. What Philistine warrior was posthumously beheaded with his own sword in the Old Testament, after which his head was delivered to King Saul?

4. Which is the second-smallest state in the U.S., by area?

5. What fictional law firm has been a running gag dating back to The Three Stooges, and has also shown up on the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” several Daffy Duck cartoons, “Gilmore Girls,” “Friends,” “Prison Break,” and at the end of every episode of “Car Talk”?

1: Sunni

2: Brady Bunch

4) Deleware

3. Goliath

4. Delaware

3) Goliath

Posted by: @steve-mn

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1: Sunni

My Muslim coworker agrees. And he added that they are dominate in Iran. 

5. Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe 

Answers to Monday, December 26, 2022
1. Most of the world’s Muslims belong to two sects: Sunni and Shia. Which sect is larger by far, made up of 85 percent of all Muslims?

Sunni

2. Florence Henderson had her own talk show, her own cooking show, and she was a popular contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” But she’s most famous for her role on what TV show, which aired from 1969 to 1974?

“The Brady Bunch”

3. What Philistine warrior was posthumously beheaded with his own sword in the Old Testament, after which his head was delivered to King Saul?

Goliath

4. Which is the second-smallest state in the U.S., by area?

Delaware

5. What fictional law firm has been a running gag dating back to The Three Stooges, and has also shown up on the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” several Daffy Duck cartoons, “Gilmore Girls,” “Friends,” “Prison Break,” and at the end of every episode of “Car Talk”?

Dewey, Cheatem & Howe

Questions for
Tuesday, December 27, 2022

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

1. In NASCAR, rookie status is denoted by a stripe on the rear bumper in what color?

2. Significant portions of what legendary wall, which was constructed in the second century CE, can still be visited in Northern England?

3. George Carlin appears out of nowhere in a telephone booth at a San Dimas convenience store, leading Keanu Reeves to declare, “Strange things are afoot at the Circle K.” Name that movie!

4. What discredited cranial pseudoscience gets its name from the Greek for “study of the mind,” and is also the title of a 2002 album by the Roots?

5. Scorpions, crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, among others, don’t have bones—they have an exoskeleton made of what fibrous substance? Hint: It starts with a “CH,” which is pronounced like a “K.”

1. Yellow

3. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

2. Hadrian's Wall

4. Phrenology

5: Chitin

Posted by: @steve-mn

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5: Chitin

Not to be confused with chitlins.

Answers to Tuesday, December 27, 2022
1. In NASCAR, rookie status is denoted by a stripe on the rear bumper in what color?

Yellow

2. Significant portions of what legendary wall, which was constructed in the second century CE, can still be visited in Northern England?

Hadrian’s Wall

3. George Carlin appears out of nowhere in a telephone booth at a San Dimas convenience store, leading Keanu Reeves to declare, “Strange things are afoot at the Circle K.” Name that movie!

“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”

4. What discredited cranial pseudoscience gets its name from the Greek for “study of the mind,” and is also the title of a 2002 album by the Roots?

Phrenology

5. Scorpions, crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, among others, don’t have bones—they have an exoskeleton made of what fibrous substance? Hint: It starts with a “CH,” which is pronounced like a “K.”

Chitin

Questions for
Wednesday, December 28, 2022

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

1. The largest class of arthropods on the planet gets its name from the Latin for “cut into.” Name that class of animal.

2. The world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome was built nearly 2,000 years ago in Rome, where it still stands today. What is it called?

3. The 1933 novel “Lost Horizon” was the first to name what fictional Tibetan utopia, which lends its name to a song by the Kinks, a girl group from the 1960s, and was the original name of Camp David?

4. One of the most-visited modern art galleries in the world sits on the banks of the Thames in a former London power station. What is the name of that museum?

5. Pony Boy and Soda Pop are two Greasers in “The Outsiders.” What rival group do the Greasers face off against in that book?

4. Tate

3: Shangri-La

1. Insects 

2. Pantheon

5) Socs

Answers to Wednesday, December 28, 2022

1. The largest class of arthropods on the planet gets its name from the Latin for “cut into.” Name that class of animal.

Insects

2. The world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome was built nearly 2,000 years ago in Rome, where it still stands today. What is it called?

The Pantheon

3. The 1933 novel “Lost Horizon” was the first to name what fictional Tibetan utopia, which lends its name to a song by the Kinks, a girl group from the 1960s, and was the original name of Camp David?

Shangri-La

4. One of the most-visited modern art galleries in the world sits on the banks of the Thames in a former London power station. What is the name of that museum?

The Tate (Modern)

5. Pony Boy and Soda Pop are two Greasers in “The Outsiders.” What rival group do the Greasers face off against in that book?

The Socs or The Socials

Questions for
Theme Thursday, December 29, 2022

All By Myself: Five questions about movies starring only one person, more or less.

Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. The majority of the movie “Cast Away” focuses on Tom Hanks and a volleyball on a deserted island. What company does Tom Hanks’ character work for in the film?

2. Canine actors Abbey and Kona split the role of Sam in what 2007 disaster film, where their screen time is second to the film’s primary human star, Will Smith?

3. What 2013 “Best Picture” nominee contains just 156 shots—a tiny number compared to most movies made today—most of which showed Sandra Bullock’s face?

4. In 2009, Sam Rockwell played several versions of himself stuck on a space station on what celestial body?

5. “Sleep” is the title of a 1964 documentary showing nothing but a man sleeping for five and a half hours. What artist directed this movie?

2. I Am Legend

1. FedEx

4. The moon

3) Gravity

5) Andy Warhol

Answers to Thursday, December 29, 2022

1. The majority of the movie “Cast Away” focuses on Tom Hanks and a volleyball on a deserted island. What company does Tom Hanks’ character work for in the film?

FedEx

2. Canine actors Abbey and Kona split the role of Sam in what 2007 disaster film, where their screen time is second to the film’s primary human star, Will Smith?

“I Am Legend”

3. What 2013 “Best Picture” nominee contains just 156 shots—a tiny number compared to most movies made today—most of which showed Sandra Bullock’s face?

“Gravity”

4. In 2009, Sam Rockwell played several versions of himself stuck on a space station on what celestial body?

The moon (the movie is called “Moon”)

5. “Sleep” is the title of a 1964 documentary showing nothing but a man sleeping for five and a half hours. What artist directed this movie?

Andy Warhol

Questions for
Friday, December 30, 2022

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

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are six countries in the G7 in addition to the United States. Name as many of them as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

2. The character Dill from “To Kill a Mockingbird” was based on Harper Lee’s childhood best friend. Name that author.

3. What beer brand claims to take its name from winning the award for “America’s Best Beer” at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, even though there is little evidence that such an award ever existed?

4. Which is a better poker hand: A flush, a full house, or a straight?

5. Today is December 30. Born on this day in 1935, what Dodgers pitcher was the first major leaguer to throw four no-hitters, and the youngest player ever inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame?

2. Truman Capote

4. Full House

5. Sandy Koufax

1 Canada, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Italy

3. Pabst Blue Ribbon

Answers to Friday, December 30, 2022

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are six countries in the G7 in addition to the United States. Name as many of them as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom

2. The character Dill from “To Kill a Mockingbird” was based on Harper Lee’s childhood best friend. Name that author.

Truman Capote

3. What beer brand claims to take its name from winning the award for “America’s Best Beer” at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, even though there is little evidence that such an award ever existed?

Pabst Blue Ribbon

4. Which is a better poker hand: A flush, a full house, or a straight?

Full house

5. Today is December 30. Born on this day in 1935, what Dodgers pitcher was the first major leaguer to throw four no-hitters, and the youngest player ever inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame?

Sandy Koufax

Questions for
Monday, January 2, 2023

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

1. The Dead Sea is the lowest-elevation saltwater lake on Earth. The lowest-elevation freshwater lake is about four hours to the north, and is a significant setting in the Bible. Name that freshwater lake, which is also commonly known as a “sea.”

2. Trader Vic’s was one of the first American restaurants to serve what appetizer assortment—which is usually associated with Chinese restaurants, but gets its name from the Hawaiian word for “shell,” which came to be used to mean “hors d'oeuvres”?

3. What Mars-set 1990 movie, which was remade in 2012, is loosely based on a Philip K. Dick story titled “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale”?

4. What former MTV VJ now hosts her own show on the Fox Business channel?

5. What 38-year-old is the author of a memoir titled “Born a Crime,” and worked as a “Senior International Correspondent” before he started the job he was most famous for, which he just quit?

1 - Sea of Galilee

2 - Pupu Platter ??