Joey's Trivia

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).

Week of November 27 – Pony Express trivia

The Pony Express riders traveled between Missouri and California to deliver mail.

The Pony Express ran for 18 months from April 1860 to October 1861.

The Pony Express trail was 1900 miles.

The Pony Express riders were paid $100 a month.

86 men are known to have ridden for the Pony Express during its operation of just over 18 months.

A new rider took over every 75 to 100 miles and horses were replaced approximately every 15 miles.

Approximately 400 horses (thoroughbreds, mustangs, pintos, and Morgan) were purchased for the Pony Express.

The fastest delivery of mail by the Pony Express took 7 days and 17 hours.  The message was Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address.  The speech was telegraphed to Fort Kearny, Nebraska, taken by Pony Express to Folsom, California, and telegraphed to Sacramento.

In the first weeks of service, each rider carried a sheath knife, a horn, a cavalry rifle and colt revolvers and a Bible.  They carried these items for only a week but every pound slowed them down so their equipment was reduced to a single revolver.

Week of November 20 – Thanksgiving Trivia

The first Thanksgiving in 1621 lasted for 3 days and there were many more Indians than Pilgrims at the feast.  (So many pilgrims died on the journey to the United States).

Deer, codfish and pumpkins were served at the first Thanksgiving.  The pilgrims thought that potatoes were poisonous so they didn’t use/serve them at the Thanksgiving feast.

Five pilgrim woman survived to celebrate the first Thanksgiving in 1621.

By the 19th century, celebrating Thanksgiving is said to have been the origin having the kiddies table for children to eat.

Felix the cate was the first balloon of the 1927 Macy’s Thanksgiving parade.

Only male turkeys gobble.  Female turkeys “click.”

Baby turkey are called poults.

The dangling skin under a turkey’s neck is called a Wattle.

Week of November 13 – Looney Tunes character trivia

Bugs Bunny was born in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York – Bugs was a known traveler, always taking the wrong turn, he has been in Alburquerque, the Himalyayas and Antarctica.

Pepe Lew Pew, the most romantic skunk in cartoon history, first appeared in January 6, 1945, titled Odor-able-Kitty”  What was Pepe’s name in the series premiere? – Stinky

Twitty and Slyvester joined forces in 1947.

Twitty was originally named Orson and was pink.

Bugs Bunny was born in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York – Bugs was a known traveler, always taking the wrong turn, he has been in Alburquerque, the Himalyayas and Antarctica.

Gossamer, an animated cartoon  character in the Looney Tunes cartoons.  The character is a hairy, red monster.  His rectangular body is perched on two giant tennis shoes, and his heart-shaped face is composed of only two oval eyes and a wide mouth, with two hulking arms ending in dirty, clawed fingers. The monster’s main trait, however, is bright uncombed red hair.

Daphne is the name of Daffy’s wife in some of his cartoons?

One of Elmer Fudd’s famous quotes – West and wewaxation at wast!”