Wednesday, November 26, 2008
ANSWER: Thanksgiving
1924
In the 1920s many of Macy's department store employees were first-generation immigrants. Proud of their new American heritage, they wanted to celebrate the United States holiday of Thanksgiving with the type of festival their parents had loved in Europe.
In 1924, the annual Thanksgiving parade started by Louis Bamberger in Newark, New Jersey at the Bamberger's store was transferred to New York by Macy's. In New York, the employees marched to Macy's flagship store on 34th Street dressed in vibrant costumes. There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, as has been the case with every parade since, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square. At this first parade, however, the Jolly Old Elf was enthroned on the Macy's balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, where he was then "crowned" "King of the Kiddies." With an audience of over a quarter of a million people, the parade was such a success that Macy's declared it would become an annual event.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 59-37
In the 1920s many of Macy's department store employees were first-generation immigrants. Proud of their new American heritage, they wanted to celebrate the United States holiday of Thanksgiving with the type of festival their parents had loved in Europe.
In 1924, the annual Thanksgiving parade started by Louis Bamberger in Newark, New Jersey at the Bamberger's store was transferred to New York by Macy's. In New York, the employees marched to Macy's flagship store on 34th Street dressed in vibrant costumes. There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, as has been the case with every parade since, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square. At this first parade, however, the Jolly Old Elf was enthroned on the Macy's balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, where he was then "crowned" "King of the Kiddies." With an audience of over a quarter of a million people, the parade was such a success that Macy's declared it would become an annual event.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 59-37
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
ANSWER: Celebrities
36
Marilyn Monroe was only thirty-six years old at the time of her death. On August 5, 1962, she was discovered dead in her bedroom by her live-in housekeeper, Mrs. Eunice Murray. Although the official cause of death is listed as an overdose of barbiturates, Dr. Thomas Noguchi (who performed the autopsy) could not find any trace of the drugs in her stomach or intestines, leading some to theorize that they may have been administered to the actress by intravenous injection, perhaps by someone wishing to make her death appear to be a suicide. Many theories have sprung up surrounding the circumstances of her death. Conspiracy theorists have suggested, alternately, that she was murdered by the Kennedys, the Mob, the Communists, or even by her own psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson. However, a formal investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney in 1982 (twenty years after her death) produced no credible evidence of foul play.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 59-36
Marilyn Monroe was only thirty-six years old at the time of her death. On August 5, 1962, she was discovered dead in her bedroom by her live-in housekeeper, Mrs. Eunice Murray. Although the official cause of death is listed as an overdose of barbiturates, Dr. Thomas Noguchi (who performed the autopsy) could not find any trace of the drugs in her stomach or intestines, leading some to theorize that they may have been administered to the actress by intravenous injection, perhaps by someone wishing to make her death appear to be a suicide. Many theories have sprung up surrounding the circumstances of her death. Conspiracy theorists have suggested, alternately, that she was murdered by the Kennedys, the Mob, the Communists, or even by her own psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson. However, a formal investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney in 1982 (twenty years after her death) produced no credible evidence of foul play.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 59-36
Monday, November 24, 2008
ANSWER: Medical
To keep sweat and rain out of eyes
Eyebrows help keep moisture out of our eyes when we sweat or walk around in the rain. The arch shape diverts the rain or sweat around to the sides of our face, keeping our eyes relatively dry. The most obvious advantage of this is that it lets us see clearly when we're sweating a lot or out in the rain. Without eyebrows, getting around in these conditions is a little more difficult. The shape of your brow itself diverts a certain amount of moisture, but eyebrows make a significant difference in your ability to see. Diverting the sweat away is also good because the salt in sweat irritates the eyes, making them sting a little.
Most scientists are inclined to believe that if we didn't have eyebrows, something else would have evolved to help the situation. For example, humans could have developed incredibly thick eyelashes to shield out excess sweat or rain. Or, our skulls could have continued to protrude so that they formed a ledge above our eyes. Rain or sweat would then drop from that ledge straight away from our faces, without going in our eyes.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 58-36
Eyebrows help keep moisture out of our eyes when we sweat or walk around in the rain. The arch shape diverts the rain or sweat around to the sides of our face, keeping our eyes relatively dry. The most obvious advantage of this is that it lets us see clearly when we're sweating a lot or out in the rain. Without eyebrows, getting around in these conditions is a little more difficult. The shape of your brow itself diverts a certain amount of moisture, but eyebrows make a significant difference in your ability to see. Diverting the sweat away is also good because the salt in sweat irritates the eyes, making them sting a little.
Most scientists are inclined to believe that if we didn't have eyebrows, something else would have evolved to help the situation. For example, humans could have developed incredibly thick eyelashes to shield out excess sweat or rain. Or, our skulls could have continued to protrude so that they formed a ledge above our eyes. Rain or sweat would then drop from that ledge straight away from our faces, without going in our eyes.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 58-36
Friday, November 21, 2008
ANSWER: Weather
It doesn't absorb light
Bright marshmallow-colored snow blinds us with its gleaming white color because it reflects beams of white light. Instead of absorbing light, snow's complex structure prevents the light from shining through its lattice formation.
A beam of white sunlight entering a snow bank is so quickly scattered by a zillion ice crystals and air pockets that most of the light comes bouncing right back out of the snow bank. What little sunlight is absorbed by snow is absorbed equally over the wavelengths of visible light thus giving snow its white appearance.
So while many natural objects get their blue, red, and yellow colors from absorbing light, snow is stuck with its white color because it reflects light.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 57-36
Bright marshmallow-colored snow blinds us with its gleaming white color because it reflects beams of white light. Instead of absorbing light, snow's complex structure prevents the light from shining through its lattice formation.
A beam of white sunlight entering a snow bank is so quickly scattered by a zillion ice crystals and air pockets that most of the light comes bouncing right back out of the snow bank. What little sunlight is absorbed by snow is absorbed equally over the wavelengths of visible light thus giving snow its white appearance.
So while many natural objects get their blue, red, and yellow colors from absorbing light, snow is stuck with its white color because it reflects light.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 57-36
Thursday, November 20, 2008
ANSWER: Literature
Death of a Salesman
In 1948 Arthur Miller built a small studio in Roxbury, Connecticut, a town that was to be his long time home. There, in less than a day, he wrote Act I of Death of a Salesman. Within six weeks, he completed the rest of the play, one of the works for which he is best known. Death of a Salesman premiered on Broadway on February 10, 1949 at the Morosco Theatre, directed by Kazan, and starring Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman, Mildred Dunnock as Linda, Arthur Kennedy as Biff, and Cameron Mitchell as Happy. The play was commercially successful and critically acclaimed, winning a Tony Award for best play, the New York City Drama Circle Critics Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first play to win all three of these major awards. The searing drama ran for 742 performances.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 57-35
In 1948 Arthur Miller built a small studio in Roxbury, Connecticut, a town that was to be his long time home. There, in less than a day, he wrote Act I of Death of a Salesman. Within six weeks, he completed the rest of the play, one of the works for which he is best known. Death of a Salesman premiered on Broadway on February 10, 1949 at the Morosco Theatre, directed by Kazan, and starring Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman, Mildred Dunnock as Linda, Arthur Kennedy as Biff, and Cameron Mitchell as Happy. The play was commercially successful and critically acclaimed, winning a Tony Award for best play, the New York City Drama Circle Critics Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first play to win all three of these major awards. The searing drama ran for 742 performances.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 57-35
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
ANSWER: Car Racing
7
* The JACKMAN raises each side of the car so that the tires can be replaced. The jackman will, also, usually pull the old right rear tire from the car after the rear tire changer loosens the lug nuts. This is to help get the new right rear tire on faster. The jackman is the one who signals for the driver to leave the pits by lowering the car. Many jackmen take on the responsibility of watching the tire changers and making sure they hit all five lug nuts on the tire changes.
* The FRONT TIRE CHANGER changes only the front tires. He removes lug nuts, removes the old tire, and tightens the new tire's lug nuts.
* The REAR TIRE CHANGER changes only the rear tires. He removes lug nuts, removes the old tire, and tightens the new tire's lug nuts.
* The GAS MAN fills the car with gasoline with a special gas can. The gas man may, also, help pull old tires from race car after lug nuts are loosened if the car does not need fuel or if the car needs little fuel and the gas man finishes his job before any one else.
* The CATCH CAN MAN catches any fuel overflow in a small gas can and usually holds one gas can while the gas man fills car with the second gas can in the latter portions of a pit stop. The catch can man may also add or take out wedge and/or adjust the rear track bar during a pit stop. The refueling gear is designed not to permit fuelling of the car without the catch can being attached to the car's overflow vent.
* The FRONT TIRE CARRIER brings the new front tires over the pit wall and guides them onto the studs. He also rolls the old front tires to the pit wall after the front tire changer pulls them from the car. The front tire carrier is usually responsible for clearing debris from the grill of a racecar and/or pulling the front fenders away from the tire if necessary. He may also be responsible for adding or removing tape to/from the grille during a pit stop adjust front-end downforce and engine temperatures.
* The REAR TIRE CARRIER is responsible for bringing new rear tires over the pit wall. Typically, on the side of the car furthest from the pit wall, he will be responsible for guiding the new tire onto the studs, making any necessary adjustments to the rear track bar and/or wedge (unless done by the catch can man), and rolling the old tire back to the pit wall. On the side of the car closest to the pit wall, he is usually responsible for only sliding the new tire onto the studs.
During the second half of the race, an eighth man is permitted over the wall. This person may only clean the windshield, and in some situations, is permitted to attach extra dark shields to reduce glare as the sun begins to set (in the event that this happens during a race), and supply the driver with fresh drinking water. The eighth man may not make any changes to the car beyond these issues.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 56-35
* The JACKMAN raises each side of the car so that the tires can be replaced. The jackman will, also, usually pull the old right rear tire from the car after the rear tire changer loosens the lug nuts. This is to help get the new right rear tire on faster. The jackman is the one who signals for the driver to leave the pits by lowering the car. Many jackmen take on the responsibility of watching the tire changers and making sure they hit all five lug nuts on the tire changes.
* The FRONT TIRE CHANGER changes only the front tires. He removes lug nuts, removes the old tire, and tightens the new tire's lug nuts.
* The REAR TIRE CHANGER changes only the rear tires. He removes lug nuts, removes the old tire, and tightens the new tire's lug nuts.
* The GAS MAN fills the car with gasoline with a special gas can. The gas man may, also, help pull old tires from race car after lug nuts are loosened if the car does not need fuel or if the car needs little fuel and the gas man finishes his job before any one else.
* The CATCH CAN MAN catches any fuel overflow in a small gas can and usually holds one gas can while the gas man fills car with the second gas can in the latter portions of a pit stop. The catch can man may also add or take out wedge and/or adjust the rear track bar during a pit stop. The refueling gear is designed not to permit fuelling of the car without the catch can being attached to the car's overflow vent.
* The FRONT TIRE CARRIER brings the new front tires over the pit wall and guides them onto the studs. He also rolls the old front tires to the pit wall after the front tire changer pulls them from the car. The front tire carrier is usually responsible for clearing debris from the grill of a racecar and/or pulling the front fenders away from the tire if necessary. He may also be responsible for adding or removing tape to/from the grille during a pit stop adjust front-end downforce and engine temperatures.
* The REAR TIRE CARRIER is responsible for bringing new rear tires over the pit wall. Typically, on the side of the car furthest from the pit wall, he will be responsible for guiding the new tire onto the studs, making any necessary adjustments to the rear track bar and/or wedge (unless done by the catch can man), and rolling the old tire back to the pit wall. On the side of the car closest to the pit wall, he is usually responsible for only sliding the new tire onto the studs.
During the second half of the race, an eighth man is permitted over the wall. This person may only clean the windshield, and in some situations, is permitted to attach extra dark shields to reduce glare as the sun begins to set (in the event that this happens during a race), and supply the driver with fresh drinking water. The eighth man may not make any changes to the car beyond these issues.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 56-35
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
ANSWER: Music
Heartbreak Hotel
Recorded in January 1956 in Nashville, Heartbreak Hotel introduced Presley to the American national music consciousness. It was released as a single with the b-side song "I Was The One" on January 27, 1956. "Heartbreak Hotel" became the first No.1 pop record by Elvis and was the best selling single of 1956.
It was no. 1 for 8 weeks on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart when released, no. 1 for 17 weeks on the Billboard Country Chart and reached no. 3 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues Chart. In 2006, more than 50 years after its initial release, "Heartbreak Hotel" returned to no. 1 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales Chart when re-released.
The song was later ranked #45 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is a Grammy Hall of Fame.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 56-34
Recorded in January 1956 in Nashville, Heartbreak Hotel introduced Presley to the American national music consciousness. It was released as a single with the b-side song "I Was The One" on January 27, 1956. "Heartbreak Hotel" became the first No.1 pop record by Elvis and was the best selling single of 1956.
It was no. 1 for 8 weeks on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart when released, no. 1 for 17 weeks on the Billboard Country Chart and reached no. 3 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues Chart. In 2006, more than 50 years after its initial release, "Heartbreak Hotel" returned to no. 1 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales Chart when re-released.
The song was later ranked #45 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is a Grammy Hall of Fame.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 56-34
Monday, November 17, 2008
ANSWER: Soap Operas
The Bold and the Beautiful
The Bold and the Beautiful has the largest foreign audience of all American soaps. It is well known in Italy, where it airs under the title Beautiful, and in France, where it airs under the title Top models and Amour, gloire & beaut. It also has a huge fan base in Australia.
It is the only American soap opera to simulcast in Spanish for Hispanic viewers in the U.S. (under the title Belleza y poder).
This is also the only soap of the nine currently airing on American TV that runs for 30 minutes (the other shows run for an hour). It reaches around 450 million viewers daily, making it the #1 show the world.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 55-34
The Bold and the Beautiful has the largest foreign audience of all American soaps. It is well known in Italy, where it airs under the title Beautiful, and in France, where it airs under the title Top models and Amour, gloire & beaut. It also has a huge fan base in Australia.
It is the only American soap opera to simulcast in Spanish for Hispanic viewers in the U.S. (under the title Belleza y poder).
This is also the only soap of the nine currently airing on American TV that runs for 30 minutes (the other shows run for an hour). It reaches around 450 million viewers daily, making it the #1 show the world.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 55-34
QUESTION: Soap Operas
As of 2004, what was the only soap opera to simulcast in a Spanish language track for Hispanic viewers in the United States?
Friday, November 14, 2008
ANSWER: Monsters
Frankenstein
In the summer of 1816, while visiting the poet Lord Byron at his villa near Lake Geneva in Switzerland, Mary Shelley created the character of the Frankenstein monster. During this visit, stormy weather forced the party to spend most of their time indoors. To pass the time, some of Byron's other guests read from a volume of ghost stories. One evening, Byron issued a challenge -- that each of his guests should write a ghost story of their own. Mary's story, which was inspired by a dream, eventually became her most famous literary work-the novel Frankenstein.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 55-33
In the summer of 1816, while visiting the poet Lord Byron at his villa near Lake Geneva in Switzerland, Mary Shelley created the character of the Frankenstein monster. During this visit, stormy weather forced the party to spend most of their time indoors. To pass the time, some of Byron's other guests read from a volume of ghost stories. One evening, Byron issued a challenge -- that each of his guests should write a ghost story of their own. Mary's story, which was inspired by a dream, eventually became her most famous literary work-the novel Frankenstein.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 55-33
QUESTION: Monsters
What famous monster did Mary Shelley create in the summer of 1816, while visiting the poet Lord Byron at his villa in Switzerland?
Thursday, November 13, 2008
ANSWER: Fast Food
Hungry Jack's
Hungry Jack's (sometimes colloquially abbreviated to HJ's) is the exclusive Australian master fast food franchisee of Burger King Corporation.
When Burger King moved to expand its operations into Australia, it found that its business name was already trademarked by a takeaway food shop in Adelaide. As a result, Burger King provided the Australian franchisee, Jack Cowin, with a list of possible alternative names derived from pre-existing trademarks already registered by Burger King and its then corporate parent Pillsbury that could be used to name the Australian restaurants. Cowin selected the "Hungry Jack" brand name, one of Pillsbury's US pancake mixture products, and slightly changed the name to a possessive form by adding an apostrophe 's' forming the new name Hungry Jack's.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 54-33
Hungry Jack's (sometimes colloquially abbreviated to HJ's) is the exclusive Australian master fast food franchisee of Burger King Corporation.
When Burger King moved to expand its operations into Australia, it found that its business name was already trademarked by a takeaway food shop in Adelaide. As a result, Burger King provided the Australian franchisee, Jack Cowin, with a list of possible alternative names derived from pre-existing trademarks already registered by Burger King and its then corporate parent Pillsbury that could be used to name the Australian restaurants. Cowin selected the "Hungry Jack" brand name, one of Pillsbury's US pancake mixture products, and slightly changed the name to a possessive form by adding an apostrophe 's' forming the new name Hungry Jack's.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 54-33
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
ANSWER: Cars
Ford Mustang
The pony car is a class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964. It describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 54-32
The pony car is a class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964. It describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 54-32
QUESTION: Cars
What is considered to be the first "pony car"?
(I can't show a photo of the car, so here's a dog on a pony)
(I can't show a photo of the car, so here's a dog on a pony)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
ANSWER: Cards
Aces and Eights
The dead man's hand is a two-pair poker hand, namely "aces and eights". The hand gets its name from the legend of it having been the five-card-draw hand held by Wild Bill Hickock at the time of his murder (August 2, 1876). It is accepted that the hand included the aces and eights of both of the black suits; although his biographer, Joseph Rosa, says no contemporary citation for his hand has ever been found, the "accepted version is that the cards were the ace of spades, the ace of clubs, two black eights (clubs and spades), and either the jack of diamonds or the queen of diamonds as the "kicker". The term, before the murder of Hickok, referred to a variety of hands. The earliest found reference to a "dead man's hand" is 1886, where it was described as "three jacks and a pair of tens."
There are various claims as to the identity of Hickok's fifth card, and there is also some reason to believe that he had discarded one card, the draw was interrupted by the shooting, and he never got the fifth card he was due.
The Stardust in Las Vegas had a 5 of diamonds on display as the fifth card; in the HBO television series Deadwood, a 9 of diamonds is used; the modern town of Deadwood, South Dakota also uses the 9 of diamonds in displays; and Ripley's Believe it or Not shows a queen of clubs. Saloon no. 10 in Deadwood, South Dakota, the saloon in which Wild Bill Hickock was shot while holding the infamous "dead man's hand," shows the fifth card as the 9 of diamonds.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 53-32
The dead man's hand is a two-pair poker hand, namely "aces and eights". The hand gets its name from the legend of it having been the five-card-draw hand held by Wild Bill Hickock at the time of his murder (August 2, 1876). It is accepted that the hand included the aces and eights of both of the black suits; although his biographer, Joseph Rosa, says no contemporary citation for his hand has ever been found, the "accepted version is that the cards were the ace of spades, the ace of clubs, two black eights (clubs and spades), and either the jack of diamonds or the queen of diamonds as the "kicker". The term, before the murder of Hickok, referred to a variety of hands. The earliest found reference to a "dead man's hand" is 1886, where it was described as "three jacks and a pair of tens."
There are various claims as to the identity of Hickok's fifth card, and there is also some reason to believe that he had discarded one card, the draw was interrupted by the shooting, and he never got the fifth card he was due.
The Stardust in Las Vegas had a 5 of diamonds on display as the fifth card; in the HBO television series Deadwood, a 9 of diamonds is used; the modern town of Deadwood, South Dakota also uses the 9 of diamonds in displays; and Ripley's Believe it or Not shows a queen of clubs. Saloon no. 10 in Deadwood, South Dakota, the saloon in which Wild Bill Hickock was shot while holding the infamous "dead man's hand," shows the fifth card as the 9 of diamonds.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 53-32
Monday, November 10, 2008
ANSWER: Money
Ruble or Rouble
The ruble or rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation and the two partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Formerly, the ruble was also the currency of the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire prior to their breakups. The ruble is subdivided into 100 kopeks. The ISO 4217 code is RUB; the former code, RUR, refers to the Russian ruble prior to the 1998 denomination (1 RUB = 1000 RUR).
Matt: WRONG
Record: 52-32
The ruble or rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation and the two partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Formerly, the ruble was also the currency of the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire prior to their breakups. The ruble is subdivided into 100 kopeks. The ISO 4217 code is RUB; the former code, RUR, refers to the Russian ruble prior to the 1998 denomination (1 RUB = 1000 RUR).
Matt: WRONG
Record: 52-32
Friday, November 7, 2008
ANSWER: Wrestling/TV
24
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in late March or early April by World Wrestling Entertainment(formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation). It is considered the flagship pay-per-view event of WWE, as it is the most successful and longest-running professional wrestling event in the world. WrestleMania is nicknamed "The Grandaddy of Them All", "The Grandest Stage of Them All" and "The Showcase of the Immortals." The event was first produced in 1985, and 24 editions have been produced as of 2008, with WrestleMania XXV to be held in 2009.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 52-31
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in late March or early April by World Wrestling Entertainment(formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation). It is considered the flagship pay-per-view event of WWE, as it is the most successful and longest-running professional wrestling event in the world. WrestleMania is nicknamed "The Grandaddy of Them All", "The Grandest Stage of Them All" and "The Showcase of the Immortals." The event was first produced in 1985, and 24 editions have been produced as of 2008, with WrestleMania XXV to be held in 2009.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 52-31
Thursday, November 6, 2008
ANSWER: World
New Zealand
The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars represent the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross, as seen from New Zealand. New Zealand's first flag was adopted before it became a British colony. Chosen by an assembly of Maori chiefs in 1834, the flag was of a St. George's Cross with another cross in the canton containing 4 stars on a blue field. After the formation of the colony in 1841, British ensigns began to be used. The current flag was designed and adopted for restricted use in 1869 and became the national flag in 1902. It is the British Ensign, with a highly stylized representation of the Southern Cross constellation. It depicts only 4 of the 5 stars in the constellation. Each star varies slightly in size. The Union Jack in the canton recalls New Zealand's colonial ties to Britain.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 52-30
The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars represent the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross, as seen from New Zealand. New Zealand's first flag was adopted before it became a British colony. Chosen by an assembly of Maori chiefs in 1834, the flag was of a St. George's Cross with another cross in the canton containing 4 stars on a blue field. After the formation of the colony in 1841, British ensigns began to be used. The current flag was designed and adopted for restricted use in 1869 and became the national flag in 1902. It is the British Ensign, with a highly stylized representation of the Southern Cross constellation. It depicts only 4 of the 5 stars in the constellation. Each star varies slightly in size. The Union Jack in the canton recalls New Zealand's colonial ties to Britain.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 52-30
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
ANSWER: Tennis
2 ounces
The specifications for tennis balls are defined by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). This means the ball must be a certain size and weight and made with certain materials. Tennis balls are made of 2-piece rubber cores that are cemented together. This is then covered with fabric, usually wool or synthetic felt. The seams between the two pieces of the core are exposed, but covered with elastic sealant.
The ITF defines the official diameter as "more than" 2 and 1/2 inches but "less than" 2 and 5/8 inches. The weight is "more than" 2 ounces but "less than" 2 and 1/16th ounces.
The rules also say that, when dropped onto a concrete base from 100 inches, the ball should bounce "more than" 53 inches but "less than" 58 inches. In order to achieve this, most balls are pressurized and filled with air.
Finally, the rules state that the "stiffness" of the balls, defined by how much they deform (curve in or out) at 18 lbs of pressure, must be "more than" .220 inches and "less than" .290 inches for forward deformation. For return deformation it must be "more than" .315 inches and "less than" .425 inches.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 51-30
The specifications for tennis balls are defined by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). This means the ball must be a certain size and weight and made with certain materials. Tennis balls are made of 2-piece rubber cores that are cemented together. This is then covered with fabric, usually wool or synthetic felt. The seams between the two pieces of the core are exposed, but covered with elastic sealant.
The ITF defines the official diameter as "more than" 2 and 1/2 inches but "less than" 2 and 5/8 inches. The weight is "more than" 2 ounces but "less than" 2 and 1/16th ounces.
The rules also say that, when dropped onto a concrete base from 100 inches, the ball should bounce "more than" 53 inches but "less than" 58 inches. In order to achieve this, most balls are pressurized and filled with air.
Finally, the rules state that the "stiffness" of the balls, defined by how much they deform (curve in or out) at 18 lbs of pressure, must be "more than" .220 inches and "less than" .290 inches for forward deformation. For return deformation it must be "more than" .315 inches and "less than" .425 inches.
Matt: WRONG
Record: 51-30
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
ANSWER: Politics
Senator: 30, House member: 25
In the United States a person must be at least 35 to be President or Vice President, 30 to be a Senator, or 25 to be a Representative, as specified in the U.S. Constitution. Most states in the U.S. also have age requirements for the offices of Governor, State Senator, and State Representative. Some states have a minimum age requirement to hold any elected office (usually 21 or 18). Most states will not allow ballot access to people who do not meet the age requirement of the office they are running for.
Matt: WRONG (sorry, all or nothing)
Record: 50-30
In the United States a person must be at least 35 to be President or Vice President, 30 to be a Senator, or 25 to be a Representative, as specified in the U.S. Constitution. Most states in the U.S. also have age requirements for the offices of Governor, State Senator, and State Representative. Some states have a minimum age requirement to hold any elected office (usually 21 or 18). Most states will not allow ballot access to people who do not meet the age requirement of the office they are running for.
Matt: WRONG (sorry, all or nothing)
Record: 50-30
QUESTION: Politics
You must be 35 years old to be President. How old must you be to be 1) a US Senator and 2) a US House member?
Don't forget to vote today!!!
Don't forget to vote today!!!
Monday, November 3, 2008
ANSWER: Inventions
Vacuum cleaner
In 1907, James Spangler, a janitor working in a Canton, Ohio department store, deduced that the carpet sweeper he used on the job was the source of his cough. (James Spangler was an asthmatic.) He tinkered with an old fan motor, attached it to a soap box stapled to a broom handle, and using a pillow case as a dust collector on the contraption James Spangler invented a portable and electric vacuum cleaner. Spangler's vacuum cleaner was the first to use both a cloth filter bag and cleaning attachments, he improved this basic model and received a patent for it in 1908.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 50-29
In 1907, James Spangler, a janitor working in a Canton, Ohio department store, deduced that the carpet sweeper he used on the job was the source of his cough. (James Spangler was an asthmatic.) He tinkered with an old fan motor, attached it to a soap box stapled to a broom handle, and using a pillow case as a dust collector on the contraption James Spangler invented a portable and electric vacuum cleaner. Spangler's vacuum cleaner was the first to use both a cloth filter bag and cleaning attachments, he improved this basic model and received a patent for it in 1908.
Matt: CORRECT
Record: 50-29
QUESTION: Inventions
What portable device did James Spangler invent in 1907, using a soap box, pillow case, a fan and tape?
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