Tag Archives: trivia

Trivia’s Facts and More (1/6)

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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 is special about these words:  job, polish, herb?  (Hint:  Each word has at least another pronunciation.)

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

A member of the beetle family, the venerable ladybugs are colorful and harmless.  Gardeners love them because they enjoy eating aphids.

Here are a few unique details about ladybugs:

  • Color:  Most commonly in the U.S. with shiny red body with black spots.
  • Description:  Small, round, winged beetle with black legs and antennae
  • Habitat:  Meadows, fields, and gardens
  • Diet:  Both larvae and adults eat aphids and other small insects

There are approximately 5,000 species of ladybugs worldwide.  Their Latin scientific name of Coccinellidae means little red sphere.  The seven-spotted ladybug is native to Europe, and it was brought to the United States in the mid-1900s to help farmers control aphid populations.

The life cycle of ladybugs begins with a female laying a cluster of 20-300 eggs on the underside of a leaf near an aphid colony.  Within a week, the eggs will hatch into larvae.  During the next 10-15 days, the larvae feed on aphids before moving into the pupal stage and later adulthood.

In many cultures, ladybugs are considered good luck.  In the Middle Ages, these beetles rid grapevines of insect pests.  To show their appreciation, farmers called them the “Beetle of Our Lady” in a reference to the Virgin Mary.  They are sometimes called ladybirds, lady beetles, and lucky bugs.

The usual lifespan for ladybugs is 2-3 years, and they must survive against numerous predators.  Birds are the number one foe, but they also must contend with frogs, wasps, spiders, and dragonflies.  In the winter, they hibernate in rotting logs and under rocks, as colonies numbering in the thousands.  

top row:  enlarged look at a ladybug, ladybug preparing for flight.  bottom row:  colony of ladybugs on a leaf, single ladybug feasting on an aphid, small insect at the top of a plant seems unaware of the hunter below.  (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

They are pronounced differently when the first letter is capitalized:  Job, Polish, Herb.

Trivia’s Facts and More (12/23)

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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

I’m a plant seen at Christmas that people hang above.  And then they stand beneath me, and kiss someone they love.  What am I?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

With Christmas just around the corner, many Americans have followed familiar traditions of the season.

A few delightful sightings from Christmases past have included:

  • Threading popcorn on a string
  • Making gingerbread houses
  • Drinking eggnog
  • Writing Christmas cards to family and friends.

One of my cherished Christmas memories was from my childhood when our family was selected to fill in as characters for a live nativity scene at our church on Christmas Eve.  My three brothers and myself played the shepherds while our parents stood in for Mary and Joseph.  Perhaps some of you have a favorite Christmas memory.

Over the years, members of my family and yours truly have enjoyed these traditions:

  • Decorating the tree (does anyone remember using tinsel?)
  • Baking cookies (my mother turned her sons into expert kitchen assistants)
  • Writing letters to Santa
  • Touring streets filled with outdoor lights and decorations
  • Watching Christmas films (“It’s a Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas”)
  • Singing Christmas carols
  • Spending time with family
  • Exchanging gifts with family and close friends
  • Wearing Christmas sweaters and ties

Nestled in the Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania, a small town was christened to be called Bethlehem on Christmas Eve in 1741.  Since 1937, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has been recognized as Christmas City USA.

Over the years, many families have hung Christmas stockings in their homes.  This practice has followed a long-standing tradition, first written about in the poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas.”  The poem was crafted by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863), and many have recognized its updated title of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  Initially, the poem was published anonymously in 1823 in a Troy, New York newspaper.  Finally in 1837, Moore stepped forward to take credit for writing this beloved poem.

You are invited to share some of your Christmas memories and traditions.  Merry Christmas to one and all.

starting left and clockwise: stockings hung from the mantel with care, live nativity scene, Christmas city usa, traditional christmas tree DECORATED with tinsel, and sheet music with a familiar christmas carol. (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

Mistletoe

Trivia’s Facts and More (12/16)

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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 word contains 26 letters but only has three syllables?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

Many of America’s animals have cousins who are found in other parts of the world.  This is the case with the badger.

Here are some interesting facts about the American badger:

  • Height/Weight:  at the shoulder, 12 inches (30 cm), 15-30 pounds
  • Lifespan:  around 10 years
  • Habitat:  open plains, prairies, and grasslands
  • Diet:  small mammals (such as mice, gophers, rabbits), earthworms, insects, roots, grasses, and fruit

A badger’s appearance is characterized by stripped faces and thick bodies.  The length of an adult is usually between 2 and 3 feet (.6 to .9 m).  A group of them is called a clan or cete.  The youngsters are named cubs or pups, while the adult males are called boars and females as sows.

Badgers are known for their fierce bite.  Their lower jaw has the ability to clamp down securely and tightly.  Designed for digging, their front paws feature long, sharp claws, which can dig quickly when searching for prey hiding underground.

A badger’s home consists of underground burrows (called setts or dens).  The tunnels may run up to 10 feet below the ground’s surface, and some may exceed 30 feet in length.  There is room for sleeping, storing food, and giving birth.

Badgers are nocturnal hunters, and they generally live as solitary creatures.  They face a variety of predators, such as wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, foxes, and even eagles and hawks.  Most will prey upon their small cubs in open areas, away from the much safer den.  In addition, man has bred his own predator–the Dachshund.  Used particularly in Europe, their name translates from the German language as “badger dog.”

starting left and clockwise: at the den’s entrance, a badger defends it against several dachshunds.  a single badger surveying the scene from his den.  a pair of badgers.  (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

The alphabet

Trivia’s Facts and More (12/9)

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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

All five sisters are busy.  Ann is reading a book.  Rose is cooking, Katy is playing chess, and Mary is doing the laundry.  What is the fifth sister doing?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

America’s 50th state of Hawaii was admitted to the union on August 21, 1959.  The Aloha State has many distinctive features that sets it apart from the continental United States.

Here are some interesting facts about Hawaii:

  • State capital:  Honolulu
  • State bird:  Nene (Hawaiian goose)
  • State flower:  Hibiscus
  • Motto:  Va Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono (The Lie of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness)

Hawaii is made up of eight major islands:  Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii.  It is the only American state composed entirely of islands.  Each island has a nickname:

  • Niihau:  The Forbidden Isle (population of only about 200 people)
  • Kauai:  The Garden Isle (consists of lush foliage, valleys, and jungles)
  • Oahu:  The Gathering Place (most populated island, home to Honolulu)
  • Maui:  The Valley Isle (second largest island, divided by two mountain ranges)
  • Molokai:  The Enlightening Isle (largest percentage of native Hawaiians)
  • Lanai:  The Pineapple Isle (once produced nearly 75 percent of the world’s pineapples)
  • Kahoolawe:  The Target Isle (smallest island, used by U.S. military during World War II)
  • Hawaii:  The Big Island (largest island, contains five volcanoes)

Hawaii features a very diverse population.  There is no majority racial group.  The Hawaiian alphabet consists of 13 letters:  A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P, W, and ‘ (the okina).

Here’s a quick island hop around to other destinations of the Hawaiian Islands:

Oahu:  Home to the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor

Hawaii:  Features the tallest mountain on the islands, Mauna Kea.  This inactive volcano is considered the most sacred in Hawaiian culture.  It also provides a home for the world’s largest astronomical observatory.

Kauai:  One of the wettest locations in the world.  Mount Waialeale receives annual rainfall of 460 inches (nearly 11,700 millimeters).

starting left and clockwise: uss arizona memorial at pearl harbor, rainforest on kauai, royal palace on oahu, snow-capped summit of mauna kea.  (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

She’s playing chess with Katy, of course!

Trivia’s Facts and More (12/2)

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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 bird do you associate with lifting weight?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

Hailing from the state of New Hampshire, America’s 14th President, Franklin Pierce, served his nation from 1853-1857.  

Here are some interesting facts about Franklin Pierce:

  • Party:  Democratic
  • Lifespan:  November 23, 1804 to October 8, 1869
  • College:  Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine

Pierce’s nickname was “Young Hickory of Granite Hills.”  This recognized that he was a devoted supporter of President Andrew Jackson (nicknamed “Old Hickory”).

He served the federal government in a number of ways.  During his military service in the Mexican War (1846-1848), he rose to the rank of General.  He also served his state as a member of Congress in the House of Representatives and Senate.

At age 48, Pierce was elected to his nation’s highest office, and he was the youngest ever elected up to that time in American history.  The youngest person ever elected to the Presidency was John F. Kennedy who was 43.

His Presidency was dominated by issues related to the issue of slavery in the United States.  There were extreme sectional tensions over its expansion into new territories and states as America continued to expand westward.

Pierce supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.  This bill allowed popular sovereignty (not Congress) to decide the fate of slavery as new territories were recognized by Congress.  The upheaval and civil unrest turned Kansas into “Bloody Kansas.”

Due to his support for this divisive legislation, Pierce’s desire to serve another term as President was squashed when James Buchanan was nominated as the Democratic candidate in the election of 1856.

left:  america’s 14th president (1853-1857)  right:  home of franklin pierce in CONCORD, new hampshire.   (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

A crane

Trivia’s Facts and More (11/18)

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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

A man stands on one side of a river, his dog on the other side.  The man calls his dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet and without using a bridge of a boat.  How did the dog do it?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

Classified in the same class as spiders and ticks, scorpions are a member of the arachnid family.  

Here are some interesting facts about the scorpion:

  • Size:  1.5-5 inches (4-13 cm)
  • Color:  dark brown, pale orange, tan, black
  • Habitat:  dark crevices under bark and stones
  • Diet:  insects and other bugs (nocturnal hunter)

Scorpions resemble miniature lobsters with their long pincers.  Fed from venom glands, a poisonous stinger is found at the end of its long curved-up tail.  Multiple eyes are found at the center and sides of its cephalothorax (fused head and body).  Humans should avoid touching a scorpion as a bite will certainly cause pain and possible swelling.  Very few scorpions are deadly.  

The life cycle of a scorpion follows the female as she carries eggs inside of her.  Scorpions are born live, and the female will carry this brood on her back until they fully mature.

There are nearly 2,000 species of scorpions, and their lifespan runs from 4 to 25 years.  These champions of survival can live without food for up to a year, and they grow quite slowly until reaching maturity (up to five years with some).  

In various cultures, scorpions represent and symbolize different meanings.

  • Ancient Egypt:  guardianship and control
  • Native Americans:  danger and change
  • Some African civilizations:  healing and rebirth
  • Greek mythology:  transformation and rebirth

left:  mature female scorpion with brood on her back.  right:  tiny scorpion on a human finger.    (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

The river was frozen.

Trivia’s Facts and More (11/11)

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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

What can travel all around the world without leaving its corner?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

In the United States, November 11 is set aside to observe Veterans Day.  This time encourages Americans to pause and reflect in honoring all men and women who have served in the armed forces, past and present..

This day was originally designated as Armistice Day, which recognized the end of World War I in 1918.  On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, war ended between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers.  Sometimes labeled as the Great War, this conflict was the first world-wide war with battlegrounds in Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific and Asian regions.

The catalyst for the war was seeded in the balance of power in Europe as witnessed by various alliances and nationalistic feelings.  When Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, the spark for war was ignited.  The Archduke was heir to the throne of the Austria-Hungary Empire, and the assassin was Serbian.

Immediately, military alliances began mobilizing.  Serbia was aligned with Russia, and Russia was backed by the Allied Powers of France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and later the United States.  As the Central Powers, Austria-Hungary was closely tied to Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and later Bulgaria.  Other nations throughout Europe and around the world united with one side or the other.

After more than four years of total warfare and its unprecedented destruction of property and loss of life, peace finally arrived with ratification of the Treaty of Versailles.  The so-called “war to end all wars” would fail in its expectations in about twenty years.

In 1954, Armistice Day was renamed as Veterans Day.  The reason for this change was founded in that the United States had fought in other major wars since the conclusion of World War I–World War II and Korea. 

It should be noted that there is a difference between the purposes behind Veterans Day and Memorial Day.  While Veterans Day honors the sacrifice and service of all veterans, Memorial Day commemorates those who served and gave their lives for a grateful nation.

top left:  world war declared in 1914 (the u.s. would not enter until 1917.  top right: the great war ends in 1918. remaining photos:  various COMMEMORATIONs of veterans for their service.   (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

A stamp

Trivia’s Facts and More (11/4)

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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

What can we infer from this statement?

“Since every child I know likes ice cream, Mike must also like ice cream.”

A)   The speaker doesn’t know many children.

B)   Mike is a child.

C)   Mike likes anything sweet.

D)   The speaker is a good friend of Mike.

E)   The speaker saw Mike eat ice cream.

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

Found along the North American Pacific coastline, the sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family (mustelidae).  Some of their relatives include other carnivorous mammals such as badgers, wolverines, weasels, and river otters.

Here are a few quick facts about the smart and playful sea otter:

  • Length:  4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m)
  • Weight:  averages 65 pounds (30 kg)
  • Lifespan:  up to 20 years or more
  • Diet:  carnivore (fish, shellfish, clams, mussels, sea urchins)

While cute and fun-loving, sea otters are fierce fish hunters with a high level of expertise.  Armed with sharp teeth and a powerful bite, they manage to consume the daily equivalent of 25-40 percent of their body weight.  This allows them to stay warm as they live in the cold waters of the ocean’s coastal areas.

Sea otters are effective swimmers, and many can stay submerged underwater for up to five minutes.  Their extra large lung capacity allows for this.  They lack blubber under their fur, but several layers of very dense fur keeps them protected from the harsh elements.

Most sea otters spend their entire lives in the water.  They frequently build floating rafts of kelp and stay together in groups called a romp or a raft.  Wrapping themselves in seaweed helps to keep every member close.  Many will snooze while floating on their backs.

Sea otters are labeled as an endangered species with domestic and international laws protecting them.  There are numerous species of otters found around the globe.

top left:  single sea otter.  top right: pair of sea otters and another sleeping.  bottom:  group of sea otters called a romp or raft.   (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

(B)   Mike is a child.

Trivia’s Facts and More (10/28)

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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

When typed in ALL CAPS, what 5-letter word can be read the same upside down?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

Nicknamed “Old Dominion,” the state of Virginia offers a rich history and fascinating attractions.  

Here are a few quick facts about Virginia:

  • Capital:  Richmond
  • State Bird:  Cardinal
  • State Flower:  American dogwood
  • State Motto:  Sic Semper Tyrannis (Thus Always to Tyrants)

As one of the original thirteen English colonies settled by England, Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Virgin Queen.  In 1607, Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in America.  As a royal colony under English governance, the colonial governor was chosen by the crown.

Virginia is the birthplace of eight American Presidents:  George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.  The state is sometimes referred to as the “Mother of Presidents.”

One of Virginia’s most historic areas to visit includes the College of William and Mary, which was founded in 1693.  It is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.  Only Harvard University is older.

The home of America’s first President is found in northern Virginia along the Potomac River.  George Washington’s estate of Mount Vernon is found in Fairfax County. 

Many people plan a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, which is a military cemetery maintained by the U.S. Army.  It was founded in 1864, and approximately 400,000 people are interned on its 639 acres.

top left:  mount vernon.  right: college of william and mary and american dogwood flower.  bottom left:  arlington national CEMETERY.  bottom right:  antarctica explorer Richard e. byrd (born in westchester, virginia).  (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

SWIMS

Trivia’s Facts and More (10/21)

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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

Which of the following comes closest to being a factual statement?

A)  Lawyer:  “Our whole political system is corrupt.”

B)  Upholster:  “These are the most comfortable chairs we make.”

C)  Coin collector:  “Fewer than ten of these silver coins were minted in the year 1947.”

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

Nicknamed by some as “The Accidental President,”  Millard Fillmore served as the 13th President of the United States (1850-1853).

Here are a few quick facts about President Fillmore:

  • Political party:  Whig (he would be the last President from this party)
  • Home state:  New York
  • Life span:  1800-1874
  • Occupation:  teacher and lawyer

As a young mill worker, Fillmore read the dictionary during breaks.  He was primarily self-taught.  His only formal teacher was Abigail Powers, who would later become his wife.  She was instrumental in starting a Presidential Library, which was housed in the White House.

Like Abraham Lincoln, Fillmore rose from his childhood log cabin to reside in the White House.  He also served in Congress as a U.S. Representative from New York state.

Fillmore was a relative political unknown when he was tapped to become Zachary Taylor’s running mate in the election of 1848.  Few could have imagined that he would be called upon to fill Taylor’s shoes as President.  He joined William Tyler as one more Vice President taking the oath of office following the death of the incumbent President.

One of the most significant achievements of the Fillmore’s administration was supporting the Compromise of 1850.  Though opposed to slavery, he valued the preservation of the Union at any cost.  An uneasy peace would remain until the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

left:  fillmore as president.  right:  fillmore home in buffalo, new york.  (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

 

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

C

All others are opinion or conjecture.