Once, Doce, Trece, CatorceSears Tower now a little place called VertigoThe Sears Tower is set to change its name to Willis Tower later this summer, but for now it will test out a series of temporary names: Vertigo Tower, Wetmypants Place, Faintville, and Holycrap, just to name a few. That's because the Sears Tower skydeck now features a number of glass-box observatories collectively called "The Ledge," allowing people to stand suspended 103-stories above the Chicago pavement with an unobstructed view of the descent to their doom, one engineers claim will probably not occur.Reading the story…
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Kellogg Daily Trivia
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July 2, 2009 question - I'm a Tricky Sicky
2 Jul 2009 | 9:43 am -
July 1, 2009 question - No X-Ray Necessary
1 Jul 2009 | 7:31 amBirds Fly With No Clothes OnWhy, oh, why can't I?A man aboard a US Airways flight from North Carolina to LA found a brand new way to get comfortable on his cross-country flight. He donned a suit his parents had given him on his birthday . . . you know, his birthday suit. Figuratively.So there he was, sitting in his assigned seat (complete story with photos) when two off-duty police officers who just happened to be onboard (the plane, not with the plan to fly in the buff) wrestled him to the ground, covered him up, and restrained him with what appears to be an extension cord and some luggage… -
June 29, 2009 question - Trivia Saves Lives
29 Jun 2009 | 8:14 amWhat's with the Dying?Trivia was never meant to be an obitEd McMahon. Farrah Fawcett. Michael Jackson. Billy Mays. I guess the lesson here is, when I don't send Trivia, celebrities die. I'm on it.Today's QuestionHistorySir Frederick Treves, the physician famed for treating "Elephant Man" Joseph Merrick, was also the first to perform what surgical procedure?Previous AnswerAnd the people who knew itDorothy Gale was the central character in The Wizard of Oz, although the Ozzians knew her by one name only, a la Madonna and Cher. Congrats to Jocelyn, John H (the H stands for Happy Birthday), Karen… -
June 23, 2009 question - Ed Signs Off
23 Jun 2009 | 9:38 amHiyoooooo In PeaceEd & Johnny Together in the Late, Late, Late ShowEd McMahon worked in a business in which appearing on screen is life. So to all of us who say he will be missed, let's be realistic. In our minds, he's been dead for years. We don't miss him more today than we did yesterday. We merely realized he was gone.However, Ed was the master of being invisible unless called upon, a humble page in Johnny's royal court. He'd chime in for a laugh at the perfect moment at the service of the show, not to polish his own ego.So from the guy who knew when to be quiet and when to boom… -
June 17, 2009 question - Leakage
17 Jun 2009 | 10:04 amSammy's in a JammyThe Voices in my head are debatingFirst of all, sorry for the trivia rain-out yesterday. So frustrating for all of us, I'm sure. Secondly, if you're wondering how the so-called news of Sammy's so-called positive drug test are affecting me, let me fill you in: I'm angry. I'm so tired of news stories that rest solely on the word of unnamed sources without the slightest shred of corroboration or investigation whatsoever. Citing an anonymous source doesn't make you a journalist, it makes you a gossip, an email rumor generator, a snitch.And while we're on the topic of anonymous…
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Imponderables
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Happy Father's Day
21 Jun 2009 | 11:48 amWell, maybe not for everyone. I wish everyone had a cool father, like Mark Evanier's.... -
Why Do Doctors Wear White Coats?
20 Jun 2009 | 10:52 pmAnd Are they unsafe?... -
Dixie Does Yoga
19 Jun 2009 | 1:34 amWatch at your own risk. [Thanks to List of the Day]... -
Why Are More Females Elected in Male-Dominated Districts?
7 Jun 2009 | 9:07 pmNate Silver doesn't know, but he lays out the stats, which are fascinating.... -
Away We Don't Go
5 Jun 2009 | 12:25 pmIt's not often I bother posting a warning about a pop culture experience. But unless you are an aficionado of annoying movies, I urge you not to see Away We Go, directed by Sam "Revolutionary Road" and "American Beauty" Mendes,...
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Trivia - ArcaMax Publishing
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The Answer Man by Andy Seamans
A War Song Questions: 1. A popular song written during World War I inspired Congress to present a special medal to the songwriter. What was that immortal song? 2. Name the man who wrote the famous song in the preceding question. 3. The songster in the preceding questions said he was born on the Fourth of July. Another song he wrote earned him a patriotic nickname. What was that long-term nickname? 4. What was the early name of what later became the state of Rhode Island? 5. What Massachusetts Bay colonist founded the settlement that became Rhode Island? 6. Who created the phrase "Iron… -
Past Stories
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NuttyAboutSports.com Trivia
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Balk Rule Introduced
2 Jul 2009 | 5:06 amTrivia Question: When was baseball's much misunderstood balk rule first introduced? Click the title above or here - Balk Rule Introduced - for the answer... Category: Baseball Trivia Subscribe to baseball trivia -
Famous Balk Quote
1 Jul 2009 | 5:01 amTrivia Question: Who said "I never called a balk in my life. I didn't understand the rule."? Click the title above or here - Famous Balk Quote - for the answer... Category: Baseball Trivia Subscribe to baseball trivia -
Most Balks in a Season
30 Jun 2009 | 5:24 amTrivia Question: Who holds the major league record for the most balks in a season? Click the title above or here - Most Balks in a Season - for the answer... Category: Baseball Trivia Subscribe to baseball trivia -
First to Make a Million
29 Jun 2009 | 5:01 amTrivia Question: Who was the first major league baseball player to make $1 million in one season? Click the title above or here - First to Make a Million - for the answer... Category: Baseball Trivia Subscribe to baseball trivia -
Oldest Minor League Ballpark
27 Jun 2009 | 4:12 pmTrivia Question: What is the oldest minor league baseball park? Click the title above or here - Oldest Minor League Ballpark - for the answer... Category: Baseball Trivia Subscribe to baseball trivia
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Words of the Day
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What does 'debunk' mean?
show something to be false -
What does 'harangue' mean?
address somebody loudly and forcefully -
What does 'antitragus' mean?
bump of cartilage above ear lobe
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Quote of the Day
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The most wonderful thing in life is to be delirious and the most wonderful kind of delirium is being in love.
The most wonderful thing in life is to be delirious and the most wonderful kind of delirium is being in love. -Yevgeny Zamyatin
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Today in History
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On this day in 1776, the American Continental Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence, in which the American colonies proclaimed their separation from Britain. What else happened?
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Daily Fun Fact
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The Bolshoi Ballet originated in classes given at a Russian orphanage in 1773. Keep learning on MSN Encarta.
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AllTheTests.com RSS Feed
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MCR lyrics test
3 Jul 2009 | 9:15 pmGuess which songs these phrases are from. Very few clues, be prepared. -
Twilight Cast
3 Jul 2009 | 9:15 pmWho plays who in the Twilight movie? -
The Drew Barrymore test
3 Jul 2009 | 9:15 pmSo, you think you know Drew? Take this test and see how much you know about this amazing actress? -
Weather Quiz B
3 Jul 2009 | 9:15 pmThis Quiz is 10 questions about weather- an important thing in our lives. Taking Weather Quiz A before this one is suggested since this one is more difficult. -
The Man's Quiz!
3 Jul 2009 | 9:15 pmSee How Much Of A Man You Are!
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QuiZium.com Quizzes of the Day!
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are you freaky freaky?
for whoevaaaa -
Zlatan Ibrahimovich
If you like the game, this magician of soccer (football) must have been well known to you. One of the best players (if not the best) in the world...Zlatan Ibrahimovich. The guy simply deserves your attention. Test it. -
Genetics
...You have brown hair and your partner is blonde. What hair colour of your children is to expect?... This and similar questions from the field of genetics. 'True or False' quizz. -
pick a door 2
better than pick a door -
are you a twilight fan
see if your a true twilight fan or not?
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Quibblo.com - Recently Popular Quizzes
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Moving to La Push (a jacob balck love story-girls only)40
3 Jul 2009 | 11:54 pmOH SNAPPLE'S IM ON PART 40 ALREADY...I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I'D STILL BE WRITTING THIS STORY...BUT AS LONG AS YOU ALL KEEP READING IT I'M GOING TO KEEP WRITTING... THANK'S FOR ALL THE GREAT COMMENT'S AND SUPPORT...YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME... Created by miss_cris on 2009-07-04 02:54:32 (40 Responses, 5 Stars) -
15 Minutes In Heaven (gurls only!)
3 Jul 2009 | 11:33 pmthis is my 1st minutes in heaven so b nice & rate & leave a commeny plz. Created by Amber_Fireangel on 2009-07-04 02:33:26 (41 Responses, 0 Stars) -
40 minutes in my bedroom part two {guys and girls}
3 Jul 2009 | 7:04 pm40 minutes in my bedroom part two {guys and girls} Created by Klii on 2009-07-03 22:04:39 (103 Responses, 5 Stars) -
40 minutes in my bedroom part one {guys and girls} read intro
3 Jul 2009 | 4:27 pmYes!My parents just left for a week long cruise with my annoying brother.I`m home alone for a week.I`m throwing a partying on friday night.When friday comes the party starts one of my best friends says lets play 40 minutes in a bedroom.I`m soo ready to play this game.My friend goes into one of the bedrooms and empties all the draws and put loads of c0ndums in.just in case. if your a girl pick 1-2 if your a guy pick 3-4 . Created by Klii on 2009-07-03 19:27:50 (232 Responses, 5 Stars) -
What is your favorite thing about Independence Day?
2 Jul 2009 | 11:54 amWhat is your favorite thing about Independence Day? Created by spectacles on 2009-07-02 14:54:56 (272 Responses, 5 Stars)
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Braingle's Teasers
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Today's Daily Brain Teaser (Jul 04, 2009)
3 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmSea Shells Gretchen just returned from the beach, and told her brother Henry that she found three interesting types of shells. He asked what they were, and she answered with these rebuses: LL LL AA CC SS 1. Nice Naughty Nice Naughty 2. Naughty Nice Naughty Nice *3. Nice Nice Nice Nice After thinking for a while, Henry says, "I get the first two types of shells, but didn't you say you found three?" "Oops! I almost forgot!" replies Gretchen, as she hits her brother on the head. "Now I know them all!" he laughs. Check Braingle.com for the answer. -
Daily Brain Teaser for Jul 03, 2009
2 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmJangle in the Jungle Add a different set of three letters to each of the following words to create a list of new words. The three-letter additions all have something in common. What are the new words, and how are the three-letter additions related? EASE GIN HEM ICE ON OPUS RILE TIC Check Braingle.com for the answer.
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DIY Week.net - Latest Quizzes
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Spray Paint Quiz
26 Jun 2009 | 1:58 amAre you ready for the quick and easy benefits of spray painting?Find out how much you know about spray painting and t -
Christmas Quiz 2008!
26 Jun 2009 | 1:58 amDo you know your twinkle from your tinsel, your holy from your holly? -
NEW QUIZ! How much do you know about Adhesives?
26 Jun 2009 | 1:58 amAre you a glue expert, or will you get yourself into a sticky situation? Get stuck in to our new adhesives quiz! -
HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT... SAWS?
26 Jun 2009 | 1:58 amDo you know your key-hole from your two-man? Your Jig from your Sabre?
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Braingle's Trivia Quizzes
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Today's Daily Trivia Quiz (Jul 04, 2009)
3 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmUnited States Presidential Assassinations See how much you know about Presidential Assassinations. Take the Quiz at Braingle.com -
Daily Trivia Quiz for Jul 03, 2009
3 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmNovelty Songs 5 How much do you know about these nonsensical or comical songs called novelty songs? Have you ever heard of "The Streak" by Ray Stevens, "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, or "Knight in Rusty Armour" by Peter & Gordon? I'll give you a little bit of the lyrics from these songs. See if you can figure out which of these songs those lyrics are from. Have fun! Take the Quiz at Braingle.com
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Braingle's Mentalrobics
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Vocabulary : Word of the Day : Opine
3 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmo-pine verb :: To express opinions. "No doubt she will opine that it is all your fault, dearest, and that I have behaved admirably." -- George Bernard Shaw -
Creativity : Capturing Creativity
2 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmIf you have a digital camera, carry it with you for an entire day and keep a lookout for things that you think are creative or interesting. Take a picture of these things. Go for at least 100 photos. If you are having a hard time, try to focus on the little details. A book could have a creative title or a pile of paper clips could be in an interesting arrangement. At the end of the day, review the photos and pick your favorite 5 things. What makes these things interesting to you? By doing this exercise you will be increasing your awareness of the creative aspects of things that are all around… -
Memory : Visual Imagery
2 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmVisual associations are a key part of many mnemonic systems. At first, making visual associations may feel unnatural, and it may slow you down, but keep practicing. The more you practice forming visual images, the quicker you will get. Creating visual images will always take a little extra time regardless of how fast you get, so it might not be the best strategy to use when the material you are trying to learn is being presented very rapidly. For material that you can learn at your own pace, using imagery will help. Even though it may take longer to go through the material once, you will need…
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Braingle's Newest Brain Teasers and Riddles
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604,800 = S in a W
3 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pm604,800 = S in a W Check Braingle.com for the answer. -
Acrid Moron
3 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pmWhich word in Group B can be added to Group A? Why? Group A: acrid, coral, first, moron Group B: borax, horse, jerky, screw, unrig, vireo Check Braingle.com for the answer. -
C = the G S
3 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pmC = the G S Check Braingle.com for the answer. -
Missing Vowels IV
2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pmThree quotes by Friedrich Nietzsche have all their vowels removed. You must put the appropriate vowels in each blank. Ready? 1. _n _rt_st h_s n_ h_m_ _n _ _r_p_ _xc_pt _n P_r_s. 2. _rt _s th_ pr_p_r t_sk _f l_f_. 3. _g_ _sm _s th_ v_ry _ss_nc_ _f _ n_bl_ s_ _l. Check Braingle.com for the answer. -
A L was the F A P to be A
30 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pmA L was the F A P to be A Check Braingle.com for the answer.
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Braingle's Newest Trivia Quizzes
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21 Guns
2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pmHow well do you know this song from the Green Day album "21st Century Breakdown"? Take the Quiz at Braingle.com -
Song of the Century
2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pmHow well do you know the first track on Green Day's album "21st Century Breakdown"? Take the Quiz at Braingle.com -
Year in Review: 1949
2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pmTest your knowledge of the events of 1949. The questions cover a wide range of topics (politics, entertainment, sports, science, etc). Take the Quiz at Braingle.com -
Simon and Garfunkel
2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pmSimon and Garfunkel (Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel) reached their peak popularity from the middle 1960s to the early 1970s. What do you know about Simon and Garfunkel? Take this quiz about their song lyrics, and you will be rewarded with some trivia about the duo. Take the Quiz at Braingle.com -
"New Divide" - Linkin Park
2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pmHow well do you now the song "New Divide" by Linkin Park? Take the Quiz at Braingle.com
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bizgyan
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Interview with quiz master Pickbrain 'Giri Balasubramanyam'
24 Jun 2009 | 7:47 pmFew months back, I mailed Giri to report a issue, which I observed at one of his quizzes. To my surprise Giri called on my mobile immediately and promised to escalate the issue(as it was organizers responsibility to fix it). I was surprised by the gesture,come on why will a ace quiz master call back and explain his point of view. I requested Giri to reply to a small email interview to understand quizzing, and how it all began and his experience as quiz master. Giri was kind enough to spare some time and replied back, So presenting you all ace quiz master Pickbrain 'Giri balasubramanyam'Q:… -
IPL is the 6th most valued brand according to SportsPro magazine
19 Jun 2009 | 7:03 amWow I am really surprised that IPL became sixth most valued sports brand according to a study conducted by Sports Pro magazine. IPL is valued at 1.6 billion $The list includes:1. NFL $4.5bn2. MLB $3.936bn3. NBA $2.344bn4. Nascar $1.9bn5. Fifa World Cup $1.7bn6. Indian Premier League $1.6bn7. Ferrari $1.55bn8. Manutd $1.495bn :)BCCI/lali Modi must really thank ZEE groups Subhash Chandra for giving them a innovative idea. I guess these rankings are more or less driven by TV rights + marketing hypes, more on it later My Blog Name -
Facebook vanity URL policies
12 Jun 2009 | 9:38 pmFacebook vanity URL craziness has struck netizens across the world. A record(if it exists)200,000 usernames have been registered in 3 minutes.FB vanity URL's bring Facebook one more step closer to beat twitter and this is one of the smartest moves in social network space of late. So keeping in mind of the mad rush Facebook has set up few rules and regulations in claiming vanity URL's. The basic idea is to prevent people from creating new accounts just to take advantage of reserving a username. For usernames eligibility is limited to anyone who joined Facebook before username availability was… -
ROGER FEDERER TRIVIA AND FACTS
9 Jun 2009 | 5:08 am1. Why was Roger Federer nicknamed "Fedex"2. "In an era of specialists - you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist or a hard court specialist... or you're Roger Federer". Famous statement on Federer made by whom?3. “I AM TOMORROW’S FUTURE” a statement made by Nolonwabo Batini, a girl aged fifteen from, South Africa was adopted as vision and slogan of which organization4On what occasion Roger Federer dressed as King Arthur5. Federer is the only player in history to win which two grand slams consecutively for three straight years.6. One of federer's nickname is TMF. -
Brand Equity Quiz India finals questions
5 Jun 2009 | 9:32 pmFew questions from Brand Equity Quiz India finals:Round 1: Teams need to frame questions from the clues given by QM:1. The municipality of Belgium, which lies in Walloon Region and Province of Liège What is Spa2. According to legend, all earnings from here is payed to kubera to repay his loan What do u do with Tirumala Tirupathi Devesthanam donations3. Russian has a patent for a METHOD OF PLAYING A LOTTERY GAME AND SUITABLE SYSTEM Patent owned by Garry Kasparov4. This edible variety from india, got its name from a goan... How did Alphanso Mangoes got its name5. From 1919-2004, what was…
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The Ignoramus' Quiz
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The Ignoramus' Quiz No.63
22 Jun 2009 | 12:15 am1. What is CS Lewis' middle name?2. The name of which element literally means 'acid giver or begetter' in Greek?3. Which company did Billy Durant found in 1908?4. In research, what is the "Hawthorne Effect"?5. Which hat gets its name from the title of an 1882 play by Victorien Sardou?For the answers, please visit: ten things i didn't know until last week. -
The Ignoramus' Quiz No.62
10 May 2009 | 10:39 am1. Name the only superhero comic to win the Hugo Award.2. In what way is the Republic of Kalmykia - a federal subject of the Russian Federation - unique among European states?3. Fill in the blanks: ______, ______, ______, ______ & umami.4. In energy circles, what does the term 'Negawatt' refer to?5. Who is the first Afro-American to appear solo on a circulating US coin?For the answers, please visit: ten things i didn't know until last week. -
The Ignoramus' Quiz No.61
22 Mar 2009 | 11:55 am1. What key feature was missing from the keyboard of the original Apple Macintosh?2. In competitive cycling, what is the peloton?3. Which is the only solar planet whose rotational axis is not tipped with reference to its orbital plane?4. In China, which fictional charater is referred to as Ling Ling Qi?5. If you travelled back in time to 1950s Britain and ordered the 'Italian Welsh Rarebit' what would you be served?For the answers, please visit: ten things i didn't know until last week -
The Ignoramus' Quiz No.60
8 Mar 2009 | 12:05 pm1. Who is the only US president to have been the head of a trade union?2. Which English ruler coined the phrase 'warts and all' while insisting that his portrait artist paint him as he truly was?3. Which is the world's largest printed publication to be distributed for free?4. In a car, where would you find the chimsil?5. Which ubiquitous brand was initially named BackRub by its creators - ostensibly because of the way it worked?For the answers, please visit: ten things i didn't know until last week -
The Ignoramus' Quiz No.59
21 Feb 2009 | 11:24 am1. How does Google's Chrome browser gets its name?2. Which monument was the first to supersede the Great Pyramid of Giza as the tallest man-made structure in the world?3. Which English word meaning homeland (and used mostly by British and French soldiers in WWI) is derived from the Urdu word for foreign?4. Apart from the profile itself, what other major change can one find between coins of different British monarchs?5. Which US President was born on the same day as Charles Darwin?For the answers, please visit: ten things i didn't know until last week
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Ray's Question of the Day
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Friday Trivia
3 Jul 2009 | 6:28 amQuestion for July 3, 2009:Frances Sternhagen and Barry Corbin play the parents of what TV cop?Previous question and answer:Which current cast member of "Saturday Night Live" is the offspring of a former "SNL" cast member?A: ABBY ELLIOTT is the daughter of Chris Elliott -
Thursday Trivia
2 Jul 2009 | 9:16 amQuestion for July 2, 2009:Which current cast member of "Saturday Night Live" is the offspring of a former "SNL" cast member?Previous question and answer:Lesley Gore introduced her final top 40 hit, "California Nights," on what TV show?A: BATMAN -
Wednesday Trivia
1 Jul 2009 | 6:51 amQuestion for July 1, 2009:Lesley Gore introduced her final top 40 hit, "California Nights," on what TV show?Previous question and answer:What was the name of the nanny who tried to kidnap Nathan and Haley's son on "One Tree Hill"?A: CARRIE -
Tuesday Trivia
30 Jun 2009 | 6:44 amQuestion for June 30, 2009:What was the name of the nanny who tried to kidnap Nathan and Haley's son on "One Tree Hill"?Previous question and answer:What musical group released the albums “Lookin' Through The Windows,” “Skywriter” and “Get It Together” in the 1970s while with Motown Records?A: THE JACKSON 5 -
Monday Trivia
29 Jun 2009 | 7:07 amQuestion for June 29, 2009:What musical group released the albums “Lookin' Through The Windows,” “Skywriter” and “Get It Together” in the 1970s while with Motown Records?Previous question and answer:Joe Namath had his face smeared with Noxzema shaving cream by what sexy actress in a 1973 TV commercial?A: FARRAH FAWCETT
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Picanswers.com - post a picture and ask a question
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what is this?
3 Jul 2009 | 6:33 amfound picture in the internet, cannot undestand if is a part of some living creature or not! -
What's the name of this flower?
2 Jul 2009 | 1:50 amI shot this picture in kodai, a hill station in India. -
Weird underwater thing
1 Jul 2009 | 6:19 pmAbout 12 to 15 inches in length 15 feet underwater at Molokini Maui Hawaii. -
Does anyone know anything about this coin?
1 Jul 2009 | 3:43 pmThis is an old French coin but i dont know anything else about it. -
what kind of mushroom?
28 Jun 2009 | 9:20 pmIs this not a chaga mushroom? What kind of mushroom is this? It grows on old birch trees.
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Quiz Quiz Bang Bang
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[QotD] July 2, 2009: It’s the hair
2 Jul 2009 | 11:27 amTODAY’S QUESTION As the Punisher discovered in 1994, druglord “Red” Fever bears an uncanny, hijinks-inspiring resemblance to what iconic American teenager? PREVIOUSLY That question, again: In Pulp Fiction, what kind of burger gets an enthusiastic endorsement (”That’s a tasty burger!”) from Jules? (Hint: Annette Funicello could tell you.) Answer: Jules takes a few bites of Brett’s cheeseburger from Big Kahuna Burger. That’s that Hawaiian burger joint. Another culinary thumbs up from Jules: Sprite. The Annette Funicello connection? “Big Kahuna”… -
[QotD] July 1, 2009: Special orders
1 Jul 2009 | 9:15 amTODAY’S QUESTION In Pulp Fiction, what kind of burger gets an enthusiastic endorsement (”That’s a tasty burger!”) from Jules? (No, not “cheeseburger.” I mean where’d it come from.) Hint: Annette Funicello could tell you. PREVIOUSLY That question, again: What iconic product originally sold by Mennen is available in fragrances including Sweet Strawberry, Berry Blossom, and Pink Crush? Extra hint: There’s one other fragrance available: Pop Star. Answer: If you really want to be clear, it’s not enough to say someone smells like Teen Spirit… -
[QotD] June 30, 2009: Whiffed it
30 Jun 2009 | 9:30 amTODAY’S QUESTION What iconic product originally sold by Mennen is available in fragrances including Sweet Strawberry, Berry Blossom, and Pink Crush? PREVIOUSLY That question, again: What item that may very well be in your kitchen right now was patented in 1954 and first sold as a way to store pencils? Answer: Robert Vergobbi patented the zipper storage bag, a.k.a. Ziploc bag, back in 1954. Minigrip, the manufacturer, originally sold them as pencil bags. How hard was this? Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. -
[QotD] June 29, 2009: Unleaded
29 Jun 2009 | 11:00 amTODAY’S QUESTION Let’s carry the kitchen theme through to a new day: What item that may very well be in your kitchen right now was patented in 1954 and first sold as a way to store pencils? PREVIOUSLY That question, again: What food that could be lurking in your fridge right now takes its name (possibly) from the Minorcan city Mahón? The answer: Rich and Alex both guessed wisely: Mahón is the (probable) inspiration for the sauce known as mayonnaise. (Not Miracle Whip. God only knows where that came from.) How hard was this? Note: There is a rating embedded within this post,… -
[Clouded Lyrics] June 27, 2009
27 Jun 2009 | 9:58 pmCAN YOU NAME THIS SONG? Late, but sneaking this in on Saturday under the wire. (Note: I’m having a hard time coming up with an idea for post titles that don’t give the game away. Year the song came out? A couple of words from the lyric? Witty responses? Suggestions?) I removed any mentions of its title, then ran the rest of the lyrics through Wordle. Can you name it? How hard was this? Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. LAST WEEK’S LYRICS … What song is it? As Jen well knew, it’s Helen Reddy’s anthem…
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ken-jennings.com
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Unhelpful conversations with a six-year-old
3 Jul 2009 | 11:00 amI never really know what to do when people recognize me but aren’t sure how, which happens increasingly often. A woman at the barbecue place where we were eating dinner on Tuesday was sure I had a twin when I told her that no, I’d never been to Colorado Springs. “You even talk like him!” she said. I told her I didn’t have a twin, but, actually, there is this mysterious half-a-locket I’ve worn ever since I was a child… “His twin is a smart-aleck too,” Mindy told the woman from Colorado Springs, leading me away. But it’s a real… -
Defending Oscar
2 Jul 2009 | 11:14 amAh, the opening bass part of “The Last Letter” by the Field Mice just came on. Like a time machine. I haven’t listened to this record forever. Anyway. The last time I blogged about Superman being a big jerk, I was pretty sympathetic to Supergirl, who bore the brunt of her cousin’s super-sadism. But it looks like continued exposure to Superman’s bad mood has affected Supergirl a bit, sort of like when Richard Pryor made Superman bad and he straightened the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Check out Exhibit A here, from the backup story in Action Comics #302, July 1963. If… -
The great wipe hope
29 Jun 2009 | 3:37 pmWe drove down to lovely Cedar City, Utah, for a couple days. Since this blog is already well known for its obsession with the minutiae of public restrooms, I have to mention the place we stopped for lunch: the toilet paper dispenser in its restroom was the “NeverOut 3000,” which I thought was the greatest name ever. First of all, it sounds like a fake product from a movie, which somebody should probably have caught. (Have there really been 2,999 previous iterations of “NeverOut” technology?) Also, I’m pretty sure the NeverOut part of the name constitutes false… -
Feeling Minnesota
26 Jun 2009 | 8:52 amI’m not sure why I never added this to the Appearances page, but I’m flying to the Twin Cities tonight. Tomorrow (Saturday) morning, I’ll be at the Mall of America, signing books at Barnes & Noble from 11 to 12, and then hosting the Extra Cravings Club Trivia Challenge from 12 to 2, at the Best Buy rotunda on the east side of the mall’s main level. Then a quick ride on the Snoopy rollercoaster and back to the airport in hopes of getting my picture taken with the Larry Craig stall. Wait, Wikipedia tells me that “Camp Snoopy” has now been rebranded with… -
Shiny and new
25 Jun 2009 | 8:43 amI have another “6° of Ken Jennings” piece in the new issue of mental_floss magazine, on sale soon. Hey, a friendly postman might be sliding the magazine into your soft yielding mailbox as you read these lines. For all I know. To tempt you, presumably, into buying your own damn subscription to this fantastic trivia periodical, the fine folks at mental_floss let me post my column to this here blog. I don’t have the full text of the publication draft, so here’s what I originally turned in. Do not read if connecting the Blessed Virgin to a cell phone provider strikes…
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mental_floss Blog
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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Cary Grant
3 Jul 2009 | 9:05 amThis week’s installment of our “5 Things You Didn’t Know About…” series focuses on one of the finest comic actors of all time. Whether in comedies like The Philadelphia Story and Bringing Up Baby or Hitchcock thrillers like North by Northwest, Cary Grant could make even throwaway bits of dialogue screamingly funny with his superb sense of timing and brilliant facial expressions. Here are a few things you might not have known about him. 1. He Was Almost Cary Lockwood The man we know as Cary Grant was actually born Alec Archibald Leach in 1904 in Bristol, England. -
Lunchtime Quiz: Founding Fathers
3 Jul 2009 | 8:30 amYou know Ben Franklin was a Pennsylvania man, and Thomas Jefferson was on Team Virginia. But what about the less famous Founding Fathers? Today’s quiz asks you to choose which state 12 signers of the Declaration of Independence were representing. Take the Quiz: Founding Fathers -
How Did You Know? – {day 4}
3 Jul 2009 | 7:21 amPlay for your chance to WIN a $100 shopping spree in our store! We’re back with another 5-day trivia hunt! First let’s meet our current champion, and big $100 winner, Daniel Wilson. You can read all about him and see the answers to last month’s final puzzle here. As comments have been turned off for the length of the 5-day hunt, be sure to hit us up via e-mail with questions if you find something in the instructions unclear. As always, it pays to play whether you’re the first in with all the correct answers or not. In addition to the $100 shopping spree first-prize,… -
Why Do We Sing the National Anthem at Sporting Events?
3 Jul 2009 | 5:00 amOn the night of September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and amateur poet, accompanied American Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner to negotiate a prisoner release with several officers of the British Navy. During the negotiations, Key and Skinner learned of the British intention to attack the city of Baltimore, as well as strength and positions of British forces. They were held captive for the duration of the battle and witnessed the bombardment of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry. Inspired by the American victory and the sight of the American flag flying high in… -
4 More Forgotten Founding Fathers
2 Jul 2009 | 8:26 pmThis Saturday is July 4, a day when Americans of all shapes and sizes will come together to commemorate the founding of their country, and the noble pursuit of life, liberty, and overcooked hamburgers. Here’s a quick quiz question – how many people signed the Declaration of Independence? We’re betting that few of you, not including the people who compulsively Googled that question, knew the answer is 56. Fifty-six?! Yes, there were far more Founding Fathers than most people learn about in civics class. Last year, we told you about five of these men – Carter Braxton, Button Gwinnett,…
