Totally Random Trivia: 2022

Answers to Tuesday, January 24, 2023
1. What six-letter word—defined as the edible endosperm, germ, and/or bran of a cultivated grass—derives from the name of the Roman goddess of the harvest?

Cereal
(from Ceres)

2. Which is the only U.S. state with an extinct animal on its state flag? Hint: It’s also the state’s official state mammal.

California
(California Grizzly Bear)

3. 1992's "Breathless" is the best-selling instrumental album ever. It was recorded by the first instrumentalist to have seven back-to-back multi-platinum albums. Name that musician!

Kenny G

4. What British novelist—best known today for his children’s books—was born in 1916 to Norwegian parents, who named him after the most famous Norwegian explorer of the day?

Roald Dahl
(named after Roald Amundsen)

5. In 1972, the Philadelphia Phillies traded away a no-name pitcher named Rick Wise for a promising young lefty who went on to become one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. Name that Phillies Hall of Famer.

Steve Carlton

Questions for
Wednesday, January 25, 2023

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

1. William Shatner, Leonard Cohen, Samantha Bee, and Grimes all attended McGill University, which was founded in 1821 in what city?

2. The elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine are collectively known by what light-sounding name?

3. Members of what elite U.S. military force are so-named because they operate in sea, in the air, and on land?

4. Hundreds of years ago, criminals were frequently sentenced to spend time in the “stocks,” short for “stockade”—a wooden device that bound them by their feet in a public square. What is the name of the similar device that bound them by the neck instead? It is frequently cited today whenever someone is unfairly held up for public ridicule.

5. When Macau was transferred to the People’s Republic of China in 1999, it marked the end of what European country’s 600-year history of colonization?

2. Halogen

3. SEALs

1.  Montreal

5 - Portugal  

4: Pillory

Posted by: @steve-mn

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4: Pillory

Question 4 was a bit confusing. Cause the stockades were also used to bond someone's neck and hands. Same as a pillory. 

Answers to Wednesday, January 25, 2023
1. William Shatner, Leonard Cohen, Samantha Bee, and Grimes all attended McGill University, which was founded in 1821 in what city?

Montreal

2. The elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine are collectively known by what light-sounding name?

Halogen

3. Members of what elite U.S. military force are so-named because they operate in sea, in the air, and on land?

SEALs
(it’s an acronym for “sea, air, land”)

4. Hundreds of years ago, criminals were frequently sentenced to spend time in the “stocks,” short for “stockade”—a wooden device that bound them by their feet in a public square. What is the name of the similar device that bound them by the neck instead? It is frequently cited today whenever someone is unfairly held up for public ridicule.

Pillory

5. When Macau was transferred to the People’s Republic of China in 1999, it marked the end of what European country’s 600-year history of colonization?

Portugal

Questions for
Theme Thursday, January 26, 2023

Incumbents: I’ll name three people (or, in one case, animals) who held a position immediately prior to the person who currently holds that. You name that incumbent. Example: If I said, “Earl Warren, Warren Burger, William Rehnquist,” you’d answer, “John Roberts,” because he’s the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and they were the three people who held that position prior to him.

Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway

2. Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss

3. Seattle Slew, Affirmed, American Pharoah

4. John Kerry, Rex Tillerson, Mike Pompeo

5. Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, John O’Hurley

4. Tony Blinken

5.  Steve Harvey

2: Rishi Sunak

3:  Justify

1) Zoe Kravitz…Cat Woman!

I will answer all five questions now: Who are people or animals that have never been in my kitchen? 

Answers to Thursday, January 26, 2023

1. Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway

Zoe Kravitz
(actors portraying Catwoman)

2. Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss

Rishi Sunak
(Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom)

3. Seattle Slew, Affirmed, American Pharoah

Justify
(Triple Crown winners)

4. John Kerry, Rex Tillerson, Mike Pompeo

Antony Blinken
(U.S. Secretaries of State)

5. Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, John O’Hurley

Steve Harvey
(hosts of “Family Feud”)

Questions for
Friday, January 27, 2023

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

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: Of the five top coffee-producing countries in the world, two are in South America, two are in Asia, and one is in Africa. Name as many of them as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

2. There are over 100 types of arthritis, but two are by far the most common. Name one of them.

3. The German company Haribo is in the process of opening its first factory in America, located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 1920, Haribo invented what confection, which they called Tanzbär?

4. What is the proper term for water that is more salinated than freshwater, but not as salty as seawater and might make you think of the cartoon “Space Ghost”?

5. Today is January 27. Happy 58th birthday to what Scottish actor, a Tony Award winner for his role as the Emcee in “Cabaret,” who you may also recognize from “X2,” “Spy Kids,” and “Emma”?

4 - Brackish.  No idea on the cartoon reference....

2. Osteo and Rheumatoid

3:  Gummie Bear

5. Alan Cumming

Posted by: @greyeagle

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4 - Brackish.  No idea on the cartoon reference....

Brak is a villain on the original Space Ghost and a dopey sidekick on the Space Ghost Coast to Coast show.  Look up the Randy Macho Man Savage appearance on Space Ghost on YouTube.  It's one of the funniest episodes you'll find.

Ill guess Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, and for Asia.. not sure but I know the 'Nam is huge for this.  

Posted by: @youngeagle

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Ill guess Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, and for Asia.. not sure but I know the 'Nam is huge for this.  

I was thinking Indonesia in Asia.....only because "Java' is US slang for coffee and an Indonesian island.    

Posted by: @greyeagle

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Posted by: @youngeagle

↑

Ill guess Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, and for Asia.. not sure but I know the 'Nam is huge for this.  

I was thinking Indonesia in Asia.....only because "Java' is US slang for coffee and an Indonesian island.    

 

Good thinking! Looks like we nailed it. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_coffee_production

Answers to Friday, January 27, 2023
1. Quit While You’re Ahead: Of the five top coffee-producing countries in the world, two are in South America, two are in Asia, and one is in Africa. Name as many of them as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, Ethiopia

2. There are over 100 types of arthritis, but two are by far the most common. Name one of them.

Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis

3. The German company Haribo is in the process of opening its first factory in America, located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 1920, Haribo invented what confection, which they called Tanzbär?

Gummy Bear

4. What is the proper term for water that is more salinated than freshwater, but not as salty as seawater and might make you think of the cartoon “Space Ghost”?

Brackish
(“Brak” was a character on the show)

5. Today is January 27. Happy 58th birthday to what Scottish actor, a Tony Award winner for his role as the Emcee in “Cabaret,” who you may also recognize from “X2,” “Spy Kids,” and “Emma”?

Alan Cumming

Questions for
Monday, January 30, 2023

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

.
1. If you’re ichthyophobic, you probably avoid what kind of animal?

2. Before a change in the law in 2009, the vast majority of the world’s licorice was used as a flavor and sweetness additive for products containing what other heavily regulated crop?

3. Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history, in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, while playing for which American League team?

4. What bacterial disease—which gets its name from the Greek for “bile”—still kills almost 100,000 people a year globally?

5. Consider the country of Niger. If you add two letters to its name, you get the name of another country: Nigeria. Write down another pair of countries for which this is also true. Note: There are two possible sets of answers. You can add the letters anywhere in the first country’s name.

3 - New York Yankees

1: Fish

5: Austria/Australia

2. Tobacco

The easier Austria-Australia was already taken so I had to delete and go back to thinking. 

Mali-Malawi. 

4) Cholera?

Answers to Monday, January 30, 2023

1. If you’re ichthyophobic, you probably avoid what kind of animal?

Fish

2. Before a change in the law in 2009, the vast majority of the world’s licorice was used as a flavor and sweetness additive for products containing what other heavily regulated crop?

Tobacco

3. Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history, in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, while playing for which American League team?

New York Yankees

4. What bacterial disease—which gets its name from the Greek for “bile”—still kills almost 100,000 people a year globally?

Cholera

5. Consider the country of Niger. If you add two letters to its name, you get the name of another country: Nigeria. Write down another pair of countries for which this is also true. Note: There are two possible sets of answers. You can add the letters anywhere in the first country’s name.

Austria/Australia, Mali/Malawi

Questions for
Tuesday, January 31, 2023

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

1. Virginia and West Virginia are named after which British queen?

2. On what Nick Jr. show will you hear, “No job is too big, no pup is too small,” before Marshall, Rubble, Skye, and/or Everest will be there on the double to help their community?

3. What two-handed medieval sword gets its name from the Scots Gaelic for “great sword,” and lends that name to a type of landmine?

4. Entrepreneur Brownie Wise is credited with the success of what line of home products, after she started inviting friends and acquaintances to parties that doubled as sales pitches?

5. Emperor Augustus established an elite group of soldiers to protect the Roman emperor. Director Rian Johnson used the name of that group for Snoke’s guards in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” What were they called?

4 - Tupperware

2. Paw Patrol

1: Elizabeth I

3: Claymore

Posted by: @norm

↑

2. Paw Patrol

You must have young kids/grandkids? ?

I didn't realize how big Paw Patrol was until one of my grand-nieces birthday parties. Wow!

My niece graduated from Northwestern (IL) last May and is now working for Nic on a show called Blaze, which seems to be gaining in popularty....at least per feedback from my young great nieces/nephews.  

5. Praetorian guard

Answers to Tuesday, January 31, 2023

1. Virginia and West Virginia are named after which British queen?

Elizabeth I (the “Virgin Queen”)

2. On what Nick Jr. show will you hear, “No job is too big, no pup is too small,” before Marshall, Rubble, Skye, and/or Everest will be there on the double to help their community?

“Paw Patrol”

3. What two-handed medieval sword gets its name from the Scots Gaelic for “great sword,” and lends that name to a type of landmine?

Claymore

4. Entrepreneur Brownie Wise is credited with the success of what line of home products, after she started inviting friends and acquaintances to parties that doubled as sales pitches?

Tupperware

5. Emperor Augustus established an elite group of soldiers to protect the Roman emperor. Director Rian Johnson used the name of that group for Snoke’s guards in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” What were they called?

The Praetorian Guard

Questions for
Wednesday, February 1, 2023

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

1. In 1971, Cheryl Browne became the first Black contestant in the Miss America Pageant, representing Iowa. Who was the first Black person to become Miss America, 13 years later?

2. What number does the prefix "giga" stand for?

3. What food item—popular in pizzerias around the world—gets its name from the Italian for “stocking” or “trouser”?

4. The United States officially adopted a national mammal in 2016. Name that mammal, whose U.S. population is just over half a million.

5. The 2006 essay collection “I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman” was written by what celebrated screenwriter and director, who passed away in 2012?

1. Vanessa Williams

3. Calzone

5.  Nora Ephron?

4) Bison

2 Billion

Answers to Wednesday, February 1, 2023
1. In 1971, Cheryl Browne became the first Black contestant in the Miss America Pageant, representing Iowa. Who was the first Black person to become Miss America, 13 years later?

Vanessa Williams
(thank you to reader Craig Hotvedt for sending in a fun fact about Cheryl Browne)

2. What number does the prefix "giga" stand for?

One billion

3. What food item—popular in pizzerias around the world—gets its name from the Italian for “stocking” or “trouser”?

Calzone

4. The United States officially adopted a national mammal in 2016. Name that mammal, whose U.S. population is just over half a million.

Bison

5. The 2006 essay collection “I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman” was written by what celebrated screenwriter and director, who passed away in 2012?

Nora Ephron

Questions for
Theme Thursday, February 2, 2023

Half Time: A lot of people will be watching the Super Bowl halftime show next weekend. Here are five questions about half-related things!

Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. Marin Hinkle earned an Emmy nomination for “Best Supporting Actress” in 2019 for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Before that, she played Alan Harper’s ex-wife on what CBS sitcom?

2. Released six years after the movie of the same name—but probably enjoyed by the same crowd— what ice cream flavor was created by combining the existing flavors of Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough?

3. What company’s original motto was, “We buy and sell anything printed or recorded, except yesterday's newspaper”?

4. What legendary catcher once said, “Baseball is 90 percent mental, and the other half is physical”?

5. First released in 1998, what first-person shooter game involves a physicist trying to escape a research facility full of aliens—not the measuring of radioactive isotope decay?

1. Two and a half men

2. Half baked

I also know the answers to 4 and 5 but I think I read the rule is only answer 2.

4 - Yogi Berra

4) Yogi Berra