Monthly Trivia Archives: December 2011

Week of December 18 – Weather trivia

The hottest temperature on Earth was recorded on September 13, 1922 in Aziziya, Libya at a mild (HA HA) 136 degrees (F).

The coldest temperature on Earth was on July 21, 1983 at the Vostok Station in Antartica at -128.6 degrees.  (BRRRR.)

The most consecutive days above 100 degrees F was 160 days in Marble Bar, Western Australia from October 31, 1923 to April 7, 1924.

The most snow in a ONE year period was 102 feet at Mount Rainier, Washington (USA) from February 19, 1971 to February 18, 1972.

The most rain fall recorded in the continental US was in 1864 following the civil war. It rained for a total of 26 straight days without stopping for more then 5 minutes.

The heaviest hail ever recorded was 2.25 pounds in Gopalganj District, Bangladesh on April 14, 1986.

The fastest temperature drop was 49 degrees in 15 minutes in Rapid City, South Dakota on January 10, 1911.

The fastest recorded wind speed was 484±32 km/h (301±20 mph) 3-second gust; Observed by a DOW (Doppler on Wheels) radar unit in a tornado near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 3, 1999.

Week of December 11 – Weird Trivia

Scissors were invented by Leonardo da Vinci.

If you refrigerate rubber bands they will last longer.

In one night a mole can dig a 300 foot tunnel.

Animal crackers come in the shape of 18 different animals.

In the 1830’s ketchup was sold as medicine.

To keep food from freezing Eskimos use refrigerators.

During World War Two, Oscars were made of wood because metal was scarce.

The only bird that can swim and not fly is the penguin.

To help them dive deeper a crocodile will swallow stones.

Week of December 4 – Clue – the game trivia

Cluedo is a popular murder/mystery-themed board game originally published by Waddingtons in Leeds England in 1949.  Clue is the North American name of the game.

The object of the game is for players to strategically move around the game board (a mansion), in the guise of one of the game’s six characters, collecting clues from which to deduce which suspect murdered the game’s perpetual victim: Dr. Black (Mr. Boddy in North American versions), and with which weapon and in what room.
The suspects:  Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Reverend Green (named Mr. Green in pre-2002 North American versions), Mrs. Peacock and Professor Plum.

The weapons:  Candlestick, Dagger (Knife in North American versions), Lead Pipe (called Lead Piping in earlier UK editions – the early tokens were made out of actual lead and therefore pose a risk of lead poisoning), Revolver (first depicted in the UK as a Dreyse M1907 semi-automatic pistol and in North America a Colt M1911  pistol.) Rope, Spanner (called Wrench in North American editions).

The rooms: Kitchen, Ballroom, Conservatory, Dining Room, Cellar, Billiard, Library, Lounge Hall and Study.

The aim is to deduce the details of the murder; that is, the cards in the envelope. There are six different characters, six possible murder weapons and nine different rooms, leaving the players with 324 distinct possibilities.

The first opportunity is in choosing the initial playing piece. Mrs. Peacock has an immediate advantage of being one space closer to the first room than any of the other players. However, Miss Scarlet moves first.

Eight unique Clue editions were published in North America (1949, ’56/60, ’60/63, ’72, ’86, ’92, ’96, & 2002).