Totally Random Trivia - 2026

5.  Dalmation 

Quote: Zwak

Questions for
Tuesday, October 13, 2026

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

1. The first Indian American governor of South Carolina, the bass player of Mötley Crüe, and a darling character Prince supposedly met in a hotel lobby all share what name?

2. What eight-letter word, meaning “one that returns after death,” appears in the title of a 2002 novel about frontiersman Hugh Glass, as well as the book’s 2015 film adaptation? 

3. What 19th-century literary classic was published in its original language under the title “Voyna i mir”?

4. What is the name of the small opening through which muscles, tendons, and nerves pass from your forearm to your hand? 

5. What dog breed, which surged in popularity in America beginning in 1956, gets its name from the southern coastal region of Croatia?

2. Revenant

3. War and Peace

Answers to Tuesday,
October 13, 2026

1. The first Indian American governor of South Carolina, the bass player of Mötley Crüe, and a darling character Prince supposedly met in a hotel lobby all share what name?

Nikki
(Haley, Sixx, and “Darling Nikki”)
 
2. What eight-letter word, meaning “one that returns after death,” appears in the title of a 2002 novel about frontiersman Hugh Glass, as well as the book’s 2015 film adaptation? 

“Revenant”

3. What 19th-century literary classic was published in its original language under the title “Voyna i mir”?

“War and Peace”

4. What is the name of the small opening through which muscles, tendons, and nerves pass from your forearm to your hand? 

The carpal tunnel (or Guyon’s canal)

5. What dog breed, which surged in popularity in America beginning in 1956, gets its name from the southern coastal region of Croatia? 

Dalmatian
(that’s the year “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” was published)

Questions for
Wednesday, October 14, 2026

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

1. Of the eight main blood types, the rarest is considered a universal plasma donor. Just 1 percent of the U.S. population has it. Name that blood type.

2. Two U.K. bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have drummers named Roger Taylor. One is Queen. The other is what '80s band?

3. What ice cream company — founded in Ohio in 1920 — got its name from its founder’s belief that a person’s temperament was linked to the foods they ate?

4. “They’re already here.” That’s the tagline to what 2005 film, which was Tom Cruise’s highest grossing film in the U.S. until the release of “Top Gun: Maverick”?

5. The leading rusher in Detroit Lions history, the losing candidate in the 1964 U.S. presidential election, and the lead singer of the Bee Gees all share what first name?

5. Barry

1. AB

5. Barry

4. War Of The Worlds

2. Duran Duran

Answers to Wednesday,
October 14, 2026

1. Of the eight main blood types, the rarest is considered a universal plasma donor. Just 1 percent of the U.S. population has it. Name that blood type.

AB negative

2. Two U.K. bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have drummers named Roger Taylor. One is Queen. The other is what '80s band, known for songs such as “Girls on Film” and “Rio”?

Duran Duran

3. What ice cream company — founded in Ohio in 1920 — got its name from its founder’s belief that a person’s temperament was linked to the foods they ate?

Good Humor

4. “They’re already here.” That’s the tagline to what 2005 film, which was Tom Cruise’s highest grossing film in the U.S. until the release of “Top Gun: Maverick”?

“War of the Worlds”
  
5. The leading rusher in Detroit Lions history, the losing candidate in the 1964 U.S. presidential election, and the lead singer of the Bee Gees all share what first name?

Barry
(Sanders, Goldwater, Gibb)

Questions for
Theme Thursday, October 15, 2026

Marchtoberfest: Oktoberfest is mostly celebrated in September, and Oktoberfest beer is mostly made in March. Let's talk about March.

Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. March was the first month of early Roman calendars. It is named for Mars, the Roman god of war who fathered what pair of mythical twins, appropriately enough?

2. “Beware the ides of March.” This line appears in Act I, Scene II of what tragic play?

3. The majority of the month of March falls under which zodiac sign?

4. Nicknamed “the Wolverines,” what university won the most recent NCAA men’s basketball tournament — aka “March Madness”?

5. Maya Hawke, Katharine Hepburn, and Winona Ryder are among the actors who have portrayed Jo March in adaptations of what novel?

1. Romulus and Remus

2. Julius Caesar

3. Pisces 

4. Michigan 

5. Little Women

Answers to Thursday,
October 15, 2026

Marchtoberfest: Oktoberfest is mostly celebrated in September, and Oktoberfest beer is mostly made in March. Let's talk about March. 

1. March was the first month of early Roman calendars. It is named for Mars, the Roman god of war who fathered what pair of mythical twins, appropriately enough?

Romulus, Remus
(founders of Rome)

2. “Beware the ides of March.” This line appears in Act I, Scene II of what tragic play?

“Julius Caesar”

3. The majority of the month of March falls under which zodiac sign?

Pisces

4. Nicknamed “the Wolverines,” what university won the most recent NCAA men’s basketball tournament — aka “March Madness”?

University of Michigan

5. Maya Hawke, Katharine Hepburn, and Winona Ryder are among the actors who have portrayed Jo March in adaptations of what novel?

“Little Women”

Friday, October 16, 2026

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

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are four months of the year that contain exactly 30 days. Name as many of those months as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

2. Julius Caesar had one son by birth, named Caesarion. What was Caesarion’s non-Roman mother’s name?

3. “Kayak,” “Top Spot,” “My Gym,” and “Faded AF” are each examples of… what?

4. pH refers to the acidity of a solution. What the "p" stands for is disputed, but everyone agrees on what the "H" stands for. What does it stand for?

5. Today is October 16. On this day in 1859, John Brown launched his raid on the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry. At the time, Harpers Ferry was in Virginia. Which state is it in now?

1. April, June, September, November

3. Palindromes

5.  West Virginia

2. Cleopatria

4. Hydrogen 

Quote: MNNavy

1. April, June, September, November

I think the 1844 December for the Philippines should also be an acceptable answer. 😂 

Answers to Friday, October 16, 2026

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are four months of the year that contain exactly 30 days. Name as many of those months as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

April, June, September, November

2. Julius Caesar had one son by birth, named Caesarion. What was Caesarion’s non-Roman mother’s name?

Cleopatra

3. “Kayak,” “Top Spot,” “My Gym,” and “Faded AF” are each examples of… what?

Palindromes

4. pH refers to the acidity of a solution. What the "p" stands for is disputed, but everyone agrees on what the "H" stands for. What does it stand for?

Hydrogen

5. Today is October 16. On this day in 1859, John Brown launched his raid on the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry. At the time, Harpers Ferry was in Virginia. Which state is it in now?

West Virginia

Questions for
Monday, October 19, 2026

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

1. Huckleberry Pie and Blueberry Muffin are two friends of what character, who debuted in a line of greeting cards in the 1970s?

2. In 1989, what two-sport star became the only person to score an NFL touchdown and hit an MLB home run in the same week?

3. The Minotaur, Jareth the Goblin King, and I'itoi are all beings who dwell in what kind of structure?

4. Although its official name is currently “875 North Michigan Avenue,” most Chicagoans still refer to the skyscraper at that address by its original name, which it shared with which U.S. Founding Father?

5. The 1897 song “Entrance of the Gladiators” was originally intended to be a military marching song for the Czech army. But you’re more likely to associate it with what type of event?

1. Strawberry Shortcake?

2. Deion Sanders

5. Circus

4. John Hancock Tower

3 Labyrinth 

Answers to Monday,
October 19, 2026

1. Huckleberry Pie and Blueberry Muffin are two friends of what character, who debuted in a line of greeting cards in the 1970s?

Strawberry Shortcake

2. In 1989, what two-sport star became the only person to score an NFL touchdown and hit an MLB home run in the same week?

Deion Sanders

3. The Minotaur, Jareth the Goblin King, and I'itoi are all beings who dwell in what kind of structure?

Labyrinth (or maze)

4. Although its official name is currently “875 North Michigan Avenue,” most Chicagoans still refer to the skyscraper at that address by its original name, which it shared with which U.S. Founding Father?

John Hancock

5. The 1897 song “Entrance of the Gladiators” was originally intended to be a military marching song for the Czech army. But you’re more likely to associate it with what type of event?

The circus
(it’s the clown song)

Questions for
Tuesday, October 20, 2026

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

1. An “SMS” is what most of us call a “text message.” What does “SMS” stand for?

2. What sort of fruit is known in most of Mexico as an “aguacate,” in Spanish-speaking South America as a “palta,” and in Cuba as a “pagua”?

3. Once, it's a 2016 animated movie. Twice, it's a place up the river. Thrice, it's a Louis Prima song recorded by Benny Goodman. What is it?

4. The Darvaza gas crater can be found in the Karakum Desert in which four-syllable Central Asian country, whose capital is Ashgabat?

5. What 2021 Lil Nas X release did Rolling Stone call “a surprisingly traditional album from Gen Z’s most famous disruptor”?

1. Short Message Service

3. Sing

4. Turkmenistan (I just happened to come across an item on the crater this week; it's bizarre). 

2. Avocado

Answers to Tuesday,
October 20, 2026

1. An “SMS” is what most of us call a “text message.” What does “SMS” stand for?

“Short Message Service”

2. What sort of fruit is known in most of Mexico as an “aguacate,” in Spanish-speaking South America as a “palta,” and in Cuba as a “pagua”?

Avocado

3. Once, it's a 2016 animated movie. Twice, it's a place up the river. Thrice, it's a Louis Prima song recorded by Benny Goodman. What is it?

“Sing”

4. The Darvaza gas crater can be found in the Karakum Desert in which four-syllable Central Asian country, whose capital is Ashgabat?

Turkmenistan

5. What 2021 Lil Nas X release did Rolling Stone call “a surprisingly traditional album from Gen Z’s most famous disruptor”?

“Montero”

Questions for
Wednesday, October 21, 2026

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

1. What Roman goddess of peace was also the former name of the channel Ion Television from its inception until 2005?

2. What 2000 film, directed by Darren Aronofsky, credited Django Martel in the technical role of “refrigerator puppeteer”?

3. In the 1800s, China and Great Britain went to war twice over what drug?

4. Music magazine NME’s title of the greatest alternative love song ever made belongs to “Maps,” a 2003 track by what band?

5. If someone on your CB radio is asking for your “20,” what do they want to know?

3. Opium

5. Your location

4.  Yeah Yeah Yeahs?

1 Pac

2. Requiem For A Dream

Answers to Wednesday,
October 21, 2026

1. What Roman goddess of peace was also the former name of the channel Ion Television from its inception until 2005?

Pax

2. What 2000 film, directed by Darren Aronofsky, credited Django Martel in the technical role of “refrigerator puppeteer”?

“Requiem for a Dream”

3. In the 1800s, China and Great Britain went to war twice over what drug?

Opium

4. Music magazine NME’s title of the greatest alternative love song ever made belongs to “Maps,” a 2003 track by what band?

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

5. If someone on your CB radio is asking for your “20,” what do they want to know?

Your location

Questions for
Theme Thursday, October 22, 2026

Juicy: Five delicious questions about fruit juice.

Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. In the 1920s, a real estate broker named Bill Hamlin went to his friend’s juice stand and asked him to put a dairy-based mixture in his orange juice, to make it easier on his stomach. What was that friend’s name?

2. By what name are “juice vesicles” better known?

3. V8 Juice is mostly tomato juice, with seven additional fruits and vegetables. If you list the eight fruits and vegetables in V8 alphabetically, what edible taproot comes first?

4. What brand of juice boxes advertised extensively on the PBS show “Arthur,” using the slogan “100% Juice for 100% Kids”?

5. If you’re thinking about buying a juicer, you should know they tend to come in two varieties: centrifugal, which spins the fruit, and what “m”-word, which chews it up?

1.  Julius

4.  Juicy Juice

2. Pulp

3. Beet

5. Masticating 

Answers to Thursday,
October 22, 2026
Juicy: Five delicious questions about fruit juice.  

1. In the 1920s, a real estate broker named Bill Hamlin went to his friend’s juice stand and asked him to put a dairy-based mixture in his orange juice, to make it easier on his stomach. What was that friend’s name?

Julius

2. By what name are “juice vesicles” better known?

Pulp

3. V8 Juice is mostly tomato juice, with seven additional fruits and vegetables. If you list the eight fruits and vegetables in V8 alphabetically, what edible taproot comes first?

Beet

4. What brand of juice boxes advertised extensively on the PBS show “Arthur,” using the slogan “100% Juice for 100% Kids”?

Juicy Juice 

5. If you’re thinking about buying a juicer, you should know they tend to come in two varieties: centrifugal, which spins the fruit, and what “m”-word, which chews it up?

Masticating

Questions for Friday,
October 23, 2026

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

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: The original core lineup of the Avengers in what is now known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe was first assembled in the 2012 film “The Avengers,” where they were played by six actors (not including Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury). Name as many of those actors as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

2. Kettledrums are also known by what Italian name, which is plural but doesn’t end in an “s”?

3. What is the three-word subtitle of the Shakespeare play “Twelfth Night”? 

4. Whether you pronounce it with a hard “G” or a soft “G,” GIFs are a crucial part of the modern internet. What does “GIF” stand for?

5. Today is October 23, which marks the beginning of the season dedicated to which astrological sign?

2. Timpani