Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch was the weapon used to neutralize the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog. Ah… a Monty Python reference.



Today's Question:

Give the specific names for the male and female of the rabbit.

I don't know this.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 30, 2011; http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/950/what-was-the-deal-with-jimmy-carter-and-the-killer-rabbit; http://www.montypython.net/cast/cleese.php; http://youtu.be/99X8WDQWAKg)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Senet is played. It is the oldest board game in the world.

Tomorrow's Question:


What weapon was used to neutralize the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog?


Sounds like they may mean stunning--not killing so I will guess the boomerang or perhaps the Native American rabbit stick.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 29, 2011: http://wesheb.tdonnelly.org/egame3.html; http://filmpopper.com; dangerouslyfun.com; http://3.bp.blogspot.com; http://youtu.be/a4ihRxoeaPk)


Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Tomalley is eaten. It is the green paste-like innards which serve as the lobster’s liver and pancreas. While it is often regarded as a delicacy, the U.S. FDA advised against eating it as high levels of toxins can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. I’ve seen a similar substance (the mustard) in crabs that me and a childhood friend, Bert, caught and it looked disgusting. Both the Tomalley and "Mustard" filter toxins from the blood and are very hazardous and may cause longterm damage.

Today's Question:


Senet: do you eat/drink it, wear it, spend it, or play it?



Sounds like a drink to me but I don't know this one.
(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 28, 2011; http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2008/07/take_away_the_tomalley.html; http://www.fda.gov/; http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/pubs/pspfactsheet.htm; http://www.chacha.com/question/is-the-mustard-inside-of-a-crab-actually-their-poop; gdl1899.blogspot.com/)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

The ringgit is spent. It is Malaysian currency.

Today's Question:


What do you do with tomalley? (eat/drink it, wear it, spend it or play it)
***not to be confused with tamale.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, Sptember 27, 2011; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/my.html; http://www.pillowrock.com/ronnie/images/mmalay77.jpg)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


A baryton is played. It is a bowed string instrument.

Today's Question:


What do you do with a ringgit? (eat/drink it, wear it, spend it or play it)


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 26, 2011; http://www.orpheon.org/oldsite/seiten/Instruments/other/baryton.htm; http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/3159375960_1857964ee3.jpg; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP613tBAa6Q&feature=related)


Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question...

Yesterday's Answer:


A cloche is something that is worn. It is a bell-shaped hat.

Today's Question:


What do you do with a baryton? (eat/drink it, wear it, spend it or play it)


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 25, 2011; http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cloche; http://www.fashionpicks.co/other-accessories/louise-green-emily-cloche-hat-on-leighton-meester; http://youtu.be/ci2oyas6e-4)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The three-word term synonymous with "apoptosis" is programmed cell death.

Click on image for a high definition video.

Today's Question:


What do you do with a cloche: eat or drink it, wear it, spend it, or play it?


I could make a guess on this but not a good one, so I'll wait for tomorrow.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 24, 2011; http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/A/Apoptosis.html; muta-tion.blogspot.com; http://youtu.be/DR80Huxp4y8)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The presence of shocked quartz, tektites and iridium indicate are indicative of a meteor or asteroid impact.

Today's Question:


What is the three-word term synonymous with "apoptosis?”


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 23, 2011; http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/events/cowen1b.html; http://www.amsmeteors.org/; http://www.armageddononline.org/asteroid.php; bookbuilder.cast.org; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zvCUmeoHpw)


Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack 

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

The area of the California coast noted for shark attacks is referred to as the Red Triangle.

Click on picture for video.

Today's Question:


What does the presence of shocked quartz, tektites and iridium indicate?


I don't know this one. "Shocked" and "tek" (sounds like tectonic) make me think of earthquakes but I don't have much confidence in that guess.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 22, 2011; http://www.visitcalifornia.com/; http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,950217,00.html; www.pbs.org; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ4xmD1grOM)


Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The regular polygon which has internal angles of 120 degrees is the hexagon.

Today's Question:


Identify the area of the California coast noted for shark attacks: _____________ Triangle.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 21, 2011; http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polygons.html; http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/hexagon.html; www.atpm.com)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The common name of Apis mellifera is the honeybee (European or Western).

                                                    Click Image for Video

Today's Question:


Which regular polygon has internal angles of 120 degrees?


I know a pentagon has equal internal angles of 108 degrees so I am reasonabley certain this question is referring to the hexagon.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, Setember 20, 2011; http://bugguide.net/node/view/3080; www.cirrusimage.com; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4mWUmFXSI; http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polygons.html)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The name of the dwarf planet Eris's moon is Dysnomia. (These are a part of our solar system, by the way.)

Today's Question:


What is the common name of Apis mellifera?


Don't know this one and can't even categorize it offhand.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 19, 2011; http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/planetlila/; http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/planetlila/moon/)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

The ampullae of Lorenzini enable sharks to detect electromagnetic fields.

Today's Question:


What is the name of the dwarf planet Eris'smoon?

(American Mensa, email transmission, September 18, 2011; http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/animalphysiology/websites/2005/DiLuzio/index.htm; http://192.211.16.13/t/thuesene/squalus/external/ampullae/ampullae.htm; http://www.astronomytoday.com/astronomy/eris.html; http://www.windows2universe.org)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The "CSI" acronym GCMS stands for Gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Click on picture for video.

Today's Question:


The ampullae of Lorenzini enable sharks to do what?


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 17, 2011; http://www.prenhall.com/settle/chapters/ch31.pdf; http://movies-fullergeorgeferris.blogspot.com; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08YWhLTjlfo)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

Eddie Arcaro was the only jockey to win thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown twice.

Today's Question :


What does the "CSI" acronym GCMS stand for?

I watch a lot of the true crime shows and do not recall hearing this one but I would guess the beginning might refer to gas chromatography.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 16, 2011; http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014070.html; http://www.kentuckyderby.info/jockeys.php; http://www.horse-races.net/library/links-tchistory.htm; http://science.howstuffworks.com/csi.htm)

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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

The four strokes necessary to run an internal combustion engine are: intake, compression, power (combustion) & exhaust.





Today's Question:
Who was the only jockey to win thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown twice?


I don't follow horse racing.
(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 15, 2011; http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-z-R8Mv_HM; http://www.horse-races.net/library/links-tchistory.htm)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

More insects belong to the order Coleoptera (beetles) than any other.

Today's Question:


What are the four strokes necessary to run an internal combustion engine?

I believe it goes something like this: downstroke as fuel/air mix comes in the intake valve, upstroke pushes fuel mix upward and compresses it, sparkplug fires and mix explodes pushing the piston downward again, and then the momentum pushes it upward again pushing the exploded fuel out the exhaust valve.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 14, 2011; http://www.insects.org/; http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/compendium/coleop~1.html; http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com, http://www.bimmerfest.com)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

Paleontologists Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge proposed the evolutionary theory: punctuated equilibrium.

Today's Question:


Which order do more insects belong to than any other?


I don't know and any of them by name so I'll pass on this one.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 13, 2011; http://www.stephenjaygould.org/original.html; http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/darwin/curator/; http://cnho.wordpress.com; http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/5/l_035_01.html; http://www.insects.org/)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack for Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Ralph J. Bunche was the first African-American to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950.

Today's Question:


Paleontologists Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge proposed what theory of evolution? (Two-word answer)

***I'm not sure on this one but think the answer may be Mass Extinction. I know that Gould wrote that our planet is currently undergoing it's sixth one of these.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 12, 2011; http://www.biography.com/articles/Ralph-Bunche-9231128; http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/; http://www.havelshouseofhistory.com)

Compiled by Otto Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

T cells are the lymphocytes measured to determine the strength of the immune system in AIDS patients.

I don't easily buy into conspiracy theories because there is too much profit to be made in fear-mongering but the case this illustration links to is compelling.

Today's Question:


Who was the first African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize?


I don't know this one but two guesses come to mind Martin Luther King Jr., obviously for his civil rights advancements or maybe Muhammed Ali for his stance as a conscientious objector. I wonder what our government would do if the majority of young men were wise enough to be conscientious objectors when (typical) wars for profit were waged.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 11, 2011; http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4220; http://www.avert.org/aids.htm; http://www.conspiracyplanet.com; http://www.conspiracyplanet.com/channel.cfm?channelid=34&contentid=5035&page=2)

Compiled by Otto and Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The two main types of immune system lymphocytes are B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.

Today's Question:

Levels of which lymphocyte are measured to indicate the strength of the immune system in AIDS patients?

***I'm almost certain this answer is "T cells."

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 10, 2011; http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/human-biology/immune-system.htm; www.thebody.com; http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/112/5/1570.full; http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/T/T-lymphocyte.html)

Compiled by Otto and Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:
When a tectonic plate sinks under another it's called subduction.

Today's Question:


What are the two main types of immune system lymphocytes?


I know killer T cells and macrophages fit in there somewhere but I think that's just part of the whole system.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 9, 2011; http://www.platetectonics.com/; http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/subduction.html; http://www.moorlandschool.co.uk/earth/tectonic.htm; http://geology.com/plate-tectonics.shtml; http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4220)

Compiled by Otto and Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:
There are four planets in our solar system with rings: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. This is interesting; it suggests that gas giants (even one with the mighty gravitational pull of Jupiter) are less apt to pull the rubble, which planetary rings consist of, inward.

Today's Question:


What is it called when one tectonic plate sinks under another?

I don't know this answer but would guess it's a rift?

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 8, 2011; http://nineplanets.org/jupiter.html; http://nineplanets.org/saturn.html; http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Uranus; http://www.solarviews.com/eng/neptune.htm; http://www.solstation.com/stars/jovians.htm; http://www.kidsgeo.com; http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/tectonic.html)

Compiled by Otto and Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

Joycelyn Elders was the first African-American to hold the position of U.S. Surgeon General.

Today's Question:


Name the animal that is the source of the fiber mohair.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 6, 2011; http://www.notablebiographies.com/Du-Fi/Elders-Joycelyn.html; http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y49/pspauld/BlogPix/Joycelyn_Elders_official_photo_port.jpg; http://www.aristofashion.com)

Compiled by Otto and Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery is reserved for military personnel killed in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.

(I wonder if they adjust the size of the plot as needed or just how densely they're packed together.)


Today's Question:

Who was the first African-American to hold the post of U.S. Surgeon General?
I don't know this one--and to think I went to an HBCU!

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 5, 2011; http://afroamhistory.about.com/; http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/; http://www.hbcu.com/; blackcollege.blogspot.com; http://4.bp.blogspot.com)

Compiled by Otto and Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

Formication is the sensation that insects or snakes are crawling over the skin. That’d be enough to drive a Schizophrenic or someone with severe Delirium Tremens crazy.

This photo links to a great DTs scene from The Lost Weekend. Looks like they video taped their TV. If you find the original it's an excellent movie (comparable--not better) to Van Dyke's, The Morning After--the details have stuck with me since Health Class circa 1984.


Today's Question:


Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery is reserved for whose burial?

Don't know this one--maybe our new dead soldiers?
(Section: American Mensa, email transmission, September 4, 2011; http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/odd-curious-and-rare/200911/formication; http://www.schizophrenia.com/; http://www.treatment4addiction.com; http://youtu.be/3A6yi_2pLLM; http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/product.asp?sku=D21284&gclid=CK2RwsP7g6sCFciC5Qods3hA4g; http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/)

Compiled by Otto and Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

Counting coup was the Plains Indians' practice of touching the enemy without doing physical harm and then retreating. This tactic demonstrated to the enemy that they could easily have been struck down and was a form of psychological warfare.

Today's Question:
Define "formication." (it's an "m" not an "n")


I do not know this one without looking it up though it sounds like it could mean sculpting or perhaps mitosis.





(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 3, 2011; http://www.nativeartstrading.com/Native-American-Indian-Coup-Sticks.htm; http://lonestar-retreat.com; http://www.figurines-sculpture.com/clay-sculpting.html; http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/cell_cycle/cells3.html; http://youtu.be/VlN7K1-9QB0)

Compiled by Otto and Patricia Ladensack

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

The specific names for the male and female of the swan are the cob and pen, respectively.

Photo links to nice video of swans in love.

Today's Question:


What two-word phrase refers to the Plains Indians' battle practice of touching an enemy and then retreating unharmed?

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, September 2, 2011; http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/576262/swan; http://www.swanparadise.com; http://youtu.be/zrcXIJKAu1M)

Compiled by Otto and Patricia Ladensack