Tag Archives: trivia

Trivia’s Facts and More (8/31)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

What has 13 hearts but no other organs?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

The 21st President of the United States was Chester Alan Arthur.  He assumed the office upon the death of President James Garfield, who was assassinated.

Here are a few quick facts about President Arthur:

  • Native state:  Vermont
  • Term of office:  1881-1885
  • Political party:  Republican
  • Lifespan:  1829-1886

Nicknamed “The Gentleman Boss” because of his duties and service to both the Union army and later the port authority of New York, Arthur’s previous occupations included teacher and lawyer.  During the Civil War, he served as Union quartermaster where it was his duty to organize food and supplies for the New York troops.

The son of a Baptist preacher, Arthur quite frankly never expected to be President.  However, circumstances placed him in the highest office in the land, and he performed his tasks with devotion and diligence.

One of his administration’s most significant tasks was in reforming the federal government’s civil service.  In 1883, Arthur signed the Pendleton Act, which eliminated the “spoils” system in filing jobs with the federal government.  A Civil Service Commission was established, and future federal jobs would be distributed on merit instead of patronage.  

Before Arthur moved into the White House, designer Louis Comfort Tiffany was hired to redecorate its state rooms.  More than 20 wagon loads of furnishings were hauled away to be auctioned off.

As the Election of 1884 loomed ahead, Arthur declined to run for re-election.  He had been hiding a serious illness throughout much of his term of office.  Bright’s disease, a fatal kidney illness, took his life in 1886.

left to right:  portrait of president arthur, photo from younger years, summer home at sag harbor, new york.  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

A deck of cards

Trivia’s Facts and More (8/17)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

You walk into a room that contains a match, a kerosene lamp, a candle, and a fireplace.  What would you light first?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

The Hawkeye state of Iowa becomes the 29th state admitted to the American union on December 28, 1846.

Here are a few quick facts about Iowa:

  • Capital City:  Des Moines (also most populated city)
  • State Bird:  Eastern goldfinch
  • State Flower:  Wild prairie rose
  • State Motto:  Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain 

One of Iowa’s most recognized citizens is Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947).  She is honored for her efforts as a women’s suffrage leader.  In 1920, passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants women the right to vote.  Catt also founded the League of Women Voters in 1920.

When one drives along any highway through the state, it is easy to understand that Iowa is America’s leading corn producer.  Iowa is the only American state bordered by two navigable rivers:  Missouri on the west and Mississippi on the east.

Sioux City is located along the northwestern border of the state.  While most of the city is located in Iowa, parts of the city are also found in Nebraska and South Dakota. 

The television show of M*A*S*H features one character with an Iowa address.  Walter “Radar” O’Reilly hails from Ottumwa.  Gary Burghoff, who portrays this unforgettable character, is a native of Bristol, Connecticut.

clockwise from top left: Carrie chapman catt, Albert the bull in audubon, world’s largest coffee pot in stanton, President herbert hoover’s birthplace in west branch, orange city tulip festival (since 1933).   (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

The match

Trivia’s Facts and More (7/13)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

What runs around the whole yard without moving?

BONUS TEASER:  What flowers are kissable?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

Peccaries or javelinas are one of America’s least-known animals.  With a range found in the southwestern desserts and foothills, these creatures are also found in Central and South America.

Here are a few quick facts about peccaries:

  • Length:  3-4 feet
  • Weight:  35-60 pounds, but some species may approach 90 pounds
  • Sprinting Speed:  25 mph
  • Diet:  (considered omnivores) roots, seeds, grasses, fruits, small animals
  • Lifespan:  8-10 years in the wild (up to 24 years in captivity)

Peccaries resemble domesticated pigs in certain ways with their snorting, woofing, and grunting noises.  They possess a pig-like snout, small eyes, small ears along with a robust body with short legs.  However, their coarse body hair is in contrast to a pig’s exterior, and they are extremely aggressive in the wild.  

Peccaries spend much of their time resting and eating.  They typically forage for food during evenings and early morning hours.  Their poor eyesight (extremely nearsighted) is offset by good hearing.

Their sharp, straight tusks are razor-sharp, and these allow peccaries to rip into roots and aid in their defense against predators.  Common predators include coyotes, mountain lions, and humans.

Peccaries are very social in their structure within each herd.  Some herds may contain up to 100 members, but the usual size is closer to 6 to 12.  In southern Arizona, small herds of peccaries will sometimes cross through front yards.

clockwise from top left:  collared species, white-lipped species, female with piglets, immature duo, herd roaming in arizona.  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

Fence

BONUS:  Tulips

Trivia’s Facts and More (6/22)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

A plane crashed between the border of France and Belgium.  Where were the survivors buried?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

The wild turkey of North America is a wary and magnificent bird.  While domestic turkeys fulfill America’s demand for Thanksgiving dinners, the wild turkey freely intermingles with deer as they frequently share the same habitat.

Here are a few quick facts about the wild turkey:

  • Habitat:  woodlands, grasslands, swamps (prefer mixture of woodlands and open clearings)
  • Wingspan:  4-5 feet
  • Weight:  male, up to 24 pounds; female, up to 12 pounds
  • Diet:  nuts, seeds, fruit, insects, small lizards (omnivorous)
  • Lifespan:  3-5 years

One of the American Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, is said to have preferred the turkey over the bald eagle as the nation’s choice of national bird.  Of course, the eagle’s fortunes have soared while the turkey’s have stayed closer to home.

Turkeys are found in nearly every region of the the lower 48 states of the United States.  Conservation efforts have allowed the turkey population to recover from reduced numbers because of hunting and loss of habitat.  In the early 1900s, roughly 200,000 turkeys roamed America’s woodlands and grasslands.  Today, their number has ballooned to 6-7 million.

Sometimes nicknamed the “bird of courage,” the turkey is a related species to the ring-necked pheasant.  There are five subspecies of turkeys in North America:  Eastern, Osceola, Rio Grande, Merriam’s, and Gould’s.

Turkeys are not migratory, but they may wander during the autumn season.  They are most active in foraging during the early morning and evening.  Their nests consist of shallow dirt depressions, surrounded by vegetation.  Natural predators of the turkey include coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, Golden Eagles, and Great Horned Owls.  Turkeys must defend their nests from other predators, including raccoons, opossums, skunks, snakes, foxes, and woodchucks.

A male turkey features more colorful and distinctive features than a female.  Their distinctive red wattle hangs from the beak, and a dark tuft of feathers covers the breast.  A female’s colors are more muted, subtle, and duller. 

Turkeys will roost overnight in trees, which provide greater protection from predators.  Mature turkeys are capable to running up to 20-25 miles per hour, and they can fly short distances at speeds of 50-55 miles per hour. 

clockwise from top left:  mature male in his colorful attire, female hen (note smaller size and more subtle colors), flock gathering, in flight to escape predator or seek SAFETY in tree, comfortable among deer’s presence, female with her brood.  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

They weren’t buried because survivors don’t need to be buried.

Trivia’s Facts and More (6/15)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

A mother and father have four daughters, and each daughter has one brother.  How many people are in the family?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts became the sixth state to join the American Union on February 6, 1788.  Its roots have been traced back to the earliest of the English colonies in North America.

Here are a few quick facts about Massachusetts:

  • Capital City:  Boston (which is also the largest city)
  • Nickname:  Bay State (also known as the Old Colony State, the Codfish State, the Baked Bean State)
  • State Flower:  Mayflower
  • State Bird:  Chickadee, Wild Turkey
  • Motto:  Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem (By the Sword We Seek Peace, but Peace Only Under Liberty)

Being one of the original 13 English colonies, Massachusetts played a prominent role in the founding of the United States.  On December 21, 1620, the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock after crossing the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Mayflower.  On March 4, 1628, English King Charles I granted a royal charter for the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

On September 7, 1630, the city of Boston was founded.  The Boston harbor would later be the site of the infamous Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773.  A couple of years later just up the road in April, 1775, the first battles of the Revolutionary War were fought at Lexington and Concord as Massachusetts minutemen militia fired the “Shot Heard Round the World.”

Athletics made an impression in the late 1800s in Massachusetts.  In 1891, James Naismith invented the game of basketball, and the first game was played at the YMCA in Springfield.  In 1895, William G. Morgan invented the game of volleyball.  The game was designed to be less strenuous than basketball, and the first matches were played in Holyoke.

Numerous firsts have been recorded during the course of history in the Commonwealth.  Here is a brief sample:

  • The Boston Common became America’s first public park in 1634.
  • Harvard University founded as the first college in North American in 1636 at Cambridge.
  • The Little Brewster Island Lighthouse became America’s first lighthouse when it began operations on September 14, 1716 in the Boston harbor.
  • The first American subway was opened in Boston on September 1, 1897.  It was known as the Tremont Street Line.
  • America’s first chocolate chip cookies were invented by Ruth Wakefield in 1939.  She began to experiment with adding semi-sweet chocolate pieces to her cookie recipe.  They became a huge hit at her Toll House restaurant in Whitman.

clockwise from top left:  James Naismith holding a basketball with a peach basket (used as a basketball hoop in the early years of the game), modern look of the Little brewster island lighthouse at boston harbor, ruth wakefield (inventor of the chocolate chip cookie), aerial view of the boston common, harvard university campus.  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

Seven (The daughters share their “one” brother)

Trivia’s Facts and More (6/8)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

What three numbers will always give the same result whether multiplied or added together?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

Ohio Republican Rutherford B. Hayes served as the 19th President of the United States for a single term from 1877-1881.

Here are a few quick facts about President Hayes:

  • LIfespan:  October 4, 1822 to January 17, 1893 (born in Delaware, Ohio)
  • Colleges Attended:  Kenyon College (Gambier, Ohio) and Harvard Law School
  • Spouse:  Lucy Ware Webb Hayes (first First Lady with a college degree)

Hayes gave many years of service to his nation as well as the state of Ohio.  He served in the Civil War for its entire length of time (1861-1865).  He rose to the rank of general of an Ohio-bred regiment.  In 1862, he was seriously wounded at the Battle of South Mountain (Maryland), which occurred three days before the more famous battle at Antietam Creek.

Following the Civil War, he worked hard to establish a successful law practice in Cincinnati.  Later, he served as Governor of the Buckeye state for two terms (1868-1872).  He would again be elected to serve as Governor for a third term (1876-1877) until he was elected President of the United States.

In the Presidential Election of 1876, Hayes faced Democratic candidate, Samuel J. Tilden.  Hayes was considered the underdog as he was a dark horse candidate who was attempting to follow in the steps of Republican President Ulysses S. Grant.  The country’s patience with Reconstruction of the former Confederacy was wearing thin, and many voters were seeking a change in political leadership.

In a highly contested election, Hayes snatched victory away from Tilden in the weeks following the completion of voting.  Votes were disputed in at least four states, and eventually Hayes won the Electoral College final tally 185-184.  Tilden received a majority of the popular vote.

As President, Hayes followed through on his promise to only serve one term as President.  He was the first President assigned Secret Service protection.  He supported the ending of Reconstruction in the South.  He signed a bill which allowed female attorneys to argue cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

clockwise from top left:  Portrait of president hayes, President hayes and first lady lucy ware webb  hayes, Hayes from the civil war years, hayes’ home at spiegel grove in Fremont, childhood home in DELAWARE.  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

1, 2, and 3   (1 + 2 + 3 = 6 and 1 x 2 x 3 = 6)

Trivia’s Facts and More (6/1)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

What ancient invention allows people to see through walls?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

The early morning scent of a skunk reminds anyone nearby to be on the lookout for this black and white scavenger.  The skunk lives throughout the continental United States.

Here are a few quick facts about the skunk:

  • Body length:  for some species, nearly 3 feet (including its bushy tail)
  • Body weight:  as much as 15 pounds
  • Diet:  (omnivores) berries, nuts, eggs, insects, small animals
  • Lifespan:  up to 5 years

There are several species in the skunk family.  Some of the more common ones include hog-nosed (long, bald snout), hooded (impressive neck ruff), and spotted (much smaller than most).  The most abundant species is the striped skunk, with a black body accented by two white stripes running along the back.

Being nocturnal hunters and food gathers, skunk’s strong sense of smell helps them in their pursuit of food.  However, they possess extremely poor eyesight.

A skunk’s body is designed to assist in the pursuit of another meal.  They possess a stout build with short legs and long bodies.  Their muscular front legs feature long and sharp claws, which allow them to be excellent diggers.

Skunks live in small groups (called surfeits) in underground burrows. and their young are called kits.  Gestation in females usually lasts about two months, though they can delay until more suitable weather for giving birth.  Typically, each liter of kits runs between four and six in number.  Many skunks are carriers of rabies, which is fatal to them.

When threatened, skunks own one of nature’s most effective defense systems.  With scent glands hidden under the tail, a quick elevation of it will spray a victim up to 12 feet away.  A sticky, oily substance with an extreme smell is transmitted as a fine mist.  It immediately causes tearing of eyes and choking.

top left: baby skunk called a kit.  going clockwise, The remaining photos show different species:  hooded, spotted, striped, and hog-nosed.  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

Windows.

Trivia’s Facts and More (5/18)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

Johnny throws a ball as hard as he can.  It comes back to him, even though nothing touches it.  How does this happen?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

The insect world is filled with an endless variety of fascinating creatures.  The soldier beetle is quite unique with its colorful appearance and shape.

Here are a few quick facts about the soldier beetle:

  • Length:  .5 to 1 inch (12-25 mm)
  • Body shape:  elongated and cylinder-like
  • Diet:  aphids, mites, caterpillars
  • Location:  found throughout the world

The soldier beetle’s appearance resembles leather or a soldier’s uniform.  The red soldier beetle appears to be dressed like a British redcoat from the 1700s.  Other beetles may appear more yellow (goldenrod) or yellowish-orange.  Their body’s bright markings are offset by dark markings on the wings and legs.

Soldier beetles are frequently found in and around flower gardens where they mate, hunt, and eat.  Their graceful flight patterns are distinguished with short bursts of flying, followed by gliding.  Without a need to bite or sting, they are harmless to humans.

They contribute in a positive way to the balance of life in any ecosystem.  They do not damage gardens or crops as they provide pest control and serve as agricultural pollinators.  In turn, they are a source of food for birds.

The life cycle of the soldier beetle begins with a female laying her eggs on leaves of a plant stem.  Later, they will hatch into larvae with a worm-like appearance.  Once the larvae are fully grown, the pupae will form a protective cocoon.  After metamorphosis, they will emerge as a transformed adult.  Adults live for a few weeks to several months.

This post is inspired by the nature photography of Linda’s blog at Lagniappe.  Her camera enjoys sharing nature’s treasures along with her insightful narratives.

clockwise from top left:  The goldenrod (yellow) color is quite common for many of the soldier beetles in the United states, a hungry larvae waits for its next life cycle to begin, and a red soldier beetle (REMINISCENT of the british redcoat’s uniforms).  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

Johnny throws the ball straight up in the air.

Trivia’s Facts and More (5/11)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

If you are running a race and pass the person in second place, then what place are you in?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

The American state of Kentucky is filled with numerous attractions.  Its rich history as the 15th state of the United States began when it was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792.

Here are a few quick facts about the Bluegrass State:

  • Capital City:  Frankfort
  • State Bird:  Cardinal
  • State Flower:  Goldenrod
  • State Motto:  United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Kentucky’s name has been traced to the Native American nation of Iroquois.  Their language uses the word “Ken-tah-ten” means “land of tomorrow.”

President Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace is located near the town of Hodgenville, Kentucky.  The site is marked, and can be found about three miles south of the community.

One of the most dramatic landscapes to visit is the Cumberland Gap, which is a pass through the Appalachian Mountains.  Located in the tri-state area of Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, the pass has served as a crossroads for the nation’s early migration westward from the original thirteen American states.

Kentucky’s largest city is Louisville.  The city is home to significant points of interest.  Being the birthplace of boxer Muhammad Ali, one is encouraged to visit the Muhammad Ali Center.  Major League Baseball’s famed Louisville Slugger bats are manufactured here as well.  A museum invites baseball fans to see the history behind any slugger’s baseball bat.

There are countless attractions throughout Kentucky.  Following Interstate 65 south from Louisville, one will travel in close proximity to most of these places.

Before leaving Louisville, a visit to Churchill Downs would offer a look at the home of the Kentucky Derby, the oldest continually-running horse race in America.  Founded in 1874, the track hosts thoroughbred horse racing’s opening Triple Crown race each season.

The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green showcases the venerable Chevrolet Corvette, which has been manufactured since 1953.  For many years, Corvettes have been manufactured at a nearby assembly plant.

Mammoth Cave is recognized as the world’s largest cavern.  The area was established as a national park in 1941.

Fort Knox houses a U.S. military installation, which is located next to the United States Bullion Depository.  Nearly 150 million ounces of gold are kept there.  Visitors are not permitted inside the depository.

clockwise from top left:  national corvette museum, mammoth cave, louisville slugger museum, landscape near cumberland gap, muhammad ali center, churchill downs, fort knox, president lincoln’s birthplace, (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

Second place

Trivia’s Facts and More (5/4)

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This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

Name three words that end in “dous.”

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

The 18th President of the United States was Ulysses S. Grant, who served two terms of office (1869-1877).

Here are a few quick facts about President Grant:

  • Home state:  Ohio (birthplace was Pleasant Point)
  • Lifespan:  April 27, 1822 to July 23, 1885
  • Political party:  Republican
  • College education:  Graduate of U.S. Military Academy (West Point)

Grant was the youngest elected President until John F. Kennedy was elected in 1960.  The election of Grant also continued the Republican Party’s control of the Presidency.  Onward from Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, a Republican occupied the White House until the election of Democrat Grover Cleveland in 1884.

Grant resumed his military career when the American Civil War severed the Union into two separate, yet temporary parts.  Following the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), Grant had resigned from the army and returned to several unsuccessful ventures and occupations.  

His leadership as a Union general catapulted him to the top post in the Union army, where he commanded all its forces.  President Lincoln sought a man like Grant to serve because of his aggressive and determined leadership.

Grant’s given name was Hiram Ulysses Grant.  He felt quite uncomfortable with the initials H.U.G., and instead used his middle name as his first name.  When his appointment to West Point came through, his middle name was accidentally changed to Simpson, which was his mother’s maiden name.  Grant decided to leave the middle initial from Simpson, and his name permanently became Ulysses S. Grant.

During the Civil War, Grant’s first major victory as a commanding general occurred at the Battle of Fort Donelson (in Tennessee).  He earned his nickname of “Unconditional Surrender” after this battle as he gave the Confederate general no terms except unconditional and immediate surrender.  It was a coincidence that his name’s initials “U.S.” now had another meaning.

Grant became America’s first four-star general.  His portrait has been printed on the U.S. $50 bill since 1914.  During the final days of his life as he was battling throat cancer, Grant finished his memoirs, which have been widely recognized for their historical accuracy.

left to right:  portrait of President grant, $50 bill with grant’s image, general grant during the civil war, grant’s tomb in upper manhattan in New York City, grant with his wife and son on mediterranean cruise after his presidency.  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

Here are four possible answers: hazardous, horrendous, stupendous, tremendous