Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

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Yesterday's Answer:



Two major military conflicts that ended in 1453 were the Siege of Constantinople and The 100 Years War.

Today's Question:
The pseudo-official motto of the U.S. Postal Service, "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night..." was first written by whom?



Many of my "memories" are pre-conscious but I think this was coined by Ben Franklin.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 31. 2012; www.deremilitari.org/resources/sources/constantinople3.htm; http://www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/background/100yearswar.htm; http://www.luminarium.org; http://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/psychoanalysis/definitions/preconscious.html)



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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Though he was forced to decline it, Pasternak was the first Soviet writer to win the Nobel Prize in literature.

Today's Question:


Name one of two major military conflicts that ended in 1453.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 30, 2012; http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1958/pasternak-bio.html; http://www.nobelprize.org/; www.austinpubliclibraryblog.blogspot.com)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Camille Saint-Saëns composed "Danse Macabre" and "Carnival of the Animals."

Today's Question:


True or false: Pasternak was the first Soviet writer to win the Nobel Prize in literature.

I don't know this one either.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 28, 2012; http://www.8notes.com/biographies/saint-saens.asp; http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04617a.htm; http://www.thumper.net/tlkmag/archive/mm/cofa.htm; http://oberon481.typepad.com/oberons_grove/2011/03/french-choral-music-carnegie-hall.html; http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Luanda is the capital city of Angola.

Today's Question:


Who composed "Danse Macabre" and "Carnival of the Animals?"


I don't know this one.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 28, 2012; http://goafrica.about.com/od/africatraveltips/ig/Africa-s-Capital-Cities/Luanda--Angola-s-Capital-City-.htm; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ao.html)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The pen name George Eliot corresponds with the writer Mary Ann Evans.

Today's Question:


Which city is the capital of Angola?


Who cares?! Just kidding, my egoic self felt a twinge of sour grapes.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 27, 2012; http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/eliot/index.html; http://www.poemhunter.com/george-eliot-mary-ann-evans/biography/; http://www.guardian.co.uk; http://otto-ladensack.blogspot.com/2011/07/tolles-wisdom.html; http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/sour-grapes.html)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Henry Stanley and David Livingstone met at Ujiji in 1871.

Today's Question:


Give the pen name corresponding to this writer's birth name: Mary Ann Evans.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 26, 2012; http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/96sep/congo/hmsbio.htm; http://www.livingstoneonline.ucl.ac.uk/biog/dl/bio.html; http://www.utalii.com/Kigoma/Ujiji%20Kigoma.htm; http://medias.photodeck.com)



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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


On Sept. 2, 1945, General MacArthur accepted Japan's surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri.

Today's Question:


Which two people met at Ujiji in 1871?


I don't know this one.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 25, 2012; http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/douglas_macarthur.htm; http://www.ussmissouri.com/; http://www.historycentral.com)



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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Sicily belongs to Italy, but the Isles of Scilly belong to the United Kingdom.

Today's Question:


On Sept. 2, 1945, General MacArthur accepted Japan's surrender aboard which U.S. ship?


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 24, 2011; http://www.initaly.com/regions/sicily/sicily.htm; http://www.scilly.gov.uk/; http://www.cornwall-online.co.uk; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; http://www.pladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-durhams-indy-news.html)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:



"The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel" is a poem in 17-syllable unrhymed iambic measure of 8 beats and is written in 24 books, one for each letter of the Greek alphabet. It was written by Nikos Kazantzakis.

Today's Question:


If Sicily belongs to Italy, to whom do the Isles of Scilly belong?



I'm going to guess this is off of Great Britain. I only know of the British referring to islands as isles (although I do not actually know if they're alone), such as the Isle of Man or Isle of Wight.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 22, 2012; http://www.amazon.com/ODYSSEY-MODERN-SEQUEL-Touchstone-Books/dp/0671202472; http://www.greek-language.com/Alphabet.html; http://www.interkriti.org/crete/iraklion/nikos_kazantzakis.html; www.umassd.edu; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; http://www.pladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-durhams-indy-news.html)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

Sweden and Norway were a united country (1858) until they re-split in 1905.

Today's Question:

"The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel" is a poem in 17-syllable unrhymed iambic measure of 8 beats and is written in 24 books, one for each letter of the Greek alphabet. Who wrote it?  

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 22, 2012; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sw.html; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/no.html; http://readingthepast.blogspot.com/2012/01/guest-post-from-julie-rose-author-of.html; http://images.vector-images.com; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; http://www.pladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-durhams-indy-news.html)

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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

The first wedding anniversary is known as the paper anniversary.

Today's Question:

What two countries were united into one until 1905?

Stumped again.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 21, 2011; http://marriage.about.com/cs/anniversaries/a/wedannivideas.htm; http://marriage.about.com/od/1stweddinganniversary/tp/1annivtrad.htm; www.online.findgift.com; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; http://www.pladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-durhams-indy-news.html)

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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Malta is the European country who's language is a form of Arabic and is written in the Roman alphabet. 

Today's Question:


What name is traditionally given to the first wedding anniversary.


I don't know this one.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 20, 2011; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mt.html; http://www.omniglot.com/writing/maltese.htm; http://www.maltahotelsearch.com; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; http://www.pladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-durhams-indy-news.html)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:

The surname of Shakespeare's Romeo is Montague.

Today's Question:

Which European country's native language is a form of Arabic written in the Roman alphabet?

I'm stumped!

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 19, 2011; http://shakespeare.mit.edu/; andreacastano.edublogs.org; http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/stumped; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; http://www.pladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-durhams-indy-news.html )

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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th Century.

Today's Question:


Give the correct surname of Shakespeare's title character: Romeo.


I know the feuding families were the Capulets and the Montegues. I would go with Monteque because it sounds more fitting to me.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 18, 2011; http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96apr/charlemagne.html; http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa35; http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com; http://shakespeare.mit.edu/)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The English county of Kent is home to Canterbury Cathedral.

Today's Question:


In ordinal numbers, identify the century in which Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.


I don't know much about Charlemagne.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 17, 2011; http://www.kent.gov.uk/; http://canterbury-cathedral.org/visit.html; http://www.sacred-destinations.com; http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/holy_roman_empire_30YW.htm; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; http://www.pladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-durhams-indy-news.html)



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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


A traditional verse of haiku has 17 syllables.

Today's Question:


Name the southeastern English county that is home to Canterbury Cathedral.

I believe it is either East Sussex or Kent but am leaning toward Kent.


(Sources: American Mensa, emailtransmission, January 16, 2011; http://www.haiku.com/; http://legacy-cdn.smosh.com/smosh-pit/2/haiku-1.jpg; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; www.patricia--ladensack.blogspot.com)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The country of China was once known as Cathay.

Unfortunately, Blogger hasn't been letting me upload pictures, just links, for a few days. I hope the illustrations stay but they may not. Eventually I will check back and try again.

Today's Question:


How many syllables are in a traditional verse of haiku?


I think it goes 7-5-7 which would equal 19. I know the pattern is right but I believe it may be 5-3-5.


(Sources: Americam Mensa, email transmission, January 15, 2011; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html; http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/99515/Cathay; http://www.destination360.com; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; http://www.pladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-durhams-indy-news.html)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


John Milton wrote, "They also serve who only stand and wait."

Today's Question:


What is the current name of the country once known as Cathay?



I think it was parts of China and or Mongolia before they were clearly defined and named. I'm not sure though as Marco Polo actually referred to the area as, "Catai."

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 14, 2011; http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/milton/miltonbio.htm; http://static.guim.co.uk; http://www.englishclub.com/ref/esl/Sayings/Quizzes/Patience/They_also_serve_who_only_stand_and_wait_911.htm; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; http://www.pladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-durhams-indy-news.html)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


When you start a game of 8-ball there are 16 balls on the pool table (Counting the cue ball).

Today's Question:


Who wrote, "They also serve who only stand and wait?"


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 13, 2011; http://www.pool-table-rules.com/bca8ball.php?srt=1326495628699&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.aol.com%2Faol%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3Dgame%2Bof%2B8-ball%2B%26s_it%3Dclient96_searchbox; http://www.hurricaneroom.co.uk/images/8ball.jpg; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMcY972l2V4&feature=related; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; www.patricia--ladensack.blogspot.com)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Musée d'Orsay is the art museum in Paris that is housed in a converted railroad station.


Today's Question:
When you start a game of 8-ball, how many balls in all are on the pool table?


My examples often didn't know what they were talking about growing up. I'm guessing what they called 9-ball may have been 8-ball so I will guess the answer is 9.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 11, 2011; http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLaVkkd0e_E&feature=related; http://www.eguideparis.com; www.ottoladensack.blogspot.com; www.pladensack.blogspot.com)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The name of the Latin American country of Venezuela comes from the Tuscan form of Venice.

Today's Question:
Name the art museum in Paris that is housed in a converted railroad station.


La Louvre comes immediately to mind but that’s too obvious; I think it must refer to another museum.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 11, 2012; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html; http://translation.babylon.com/english/Tuscan/; http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/40953; traveldk.com/venice; http://ottoladensack.blogspot.com/2012/01/indy-weekly.html; patricia--ladensack.blogspot.com)

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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The mitral valve is in the heart. I guess I was being specific enough.



Today's Question:Name the only Latin American country whose name comes from a European city.

I think this is Guadeloupe.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, January 10, 2011; http://youtu.be/Gs5msCgQHD0; www.ottoladensack.blogspot.com; www.patricia--ladensack.blogspot.com)

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