Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Klaus Barbie was the infamous Butcher of Lyons.



Today's Question:


Harris, Lewis, and Donegal are examples of which kind of fabric?


I don't know this. However, Donegal sounds very Scottish to me and they (I've been told) are renowned for their wool--I would guess wool with about 50% confidence.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 29, 2012; http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/barbietrial.html; http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/nazioccupation/barbie.html; http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com)


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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


In Inuit the term "nanuk" means polar bear.



Today's Question:


Who was the infamous Butcher of Lyons?


Sounds British but that's all I know.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 28, 2012; http://www.freelang.net/online/inuit.php; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2107706/Webcam-lets-watch-Siku-polar-bear-cub-grow-up.html)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


A typical pistol has a rifled barrel. (I believe black powder versions are an exception.)




Today's Question:


What animal is called "nanuk" in inuit?


I don't know this but it is a popular name for Siberian Huskies so I would guess it is either the husky or a sled dog.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 27, 2012; http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070514162620AAIxm95;


Sunday, February 26, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Hansen's Disease is more widely known as Leprosy.




Today's Question:


True or False: pistols do not have rifling in its barrel and that is why it is called a pistol.


(Spoiler alert)
I happen to know this is nonsense. My Glock .45 ACP has octagonal rifling. I believe "pistol" originally referred to the barrel and chamber being one, not as the case is with a revolver--despite the fact that all handguns are often referred to that way.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 26, 2012; http://smj.sma.org.sg/4907/4907ms1.pdf; http://www.documentingreality.com)


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Saturday, February 25, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The formerly named Belgian Congo is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.



Today's Question:


What is the traditional name for Hansen's Disease?


I've heard it but can't recall it.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 25, 2012; http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A4429064; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html; http://en.18dao.net)


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Friday, February 24, 2012

Yesterday's Answer:


The English name for the city called al-Quds in Arabic is Jerusalem.

Fascinating?! (And yes I could do better--trivia doesn't have to be extremely trivial)





Today's Question:


Give the current name for the country once known as the Belgian Congo.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 24, 2012; http://www.alquds.com/; http://translate.google.com/#ar|en|; http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/Discover%20Israel/Cities/Pages/Jerusalem.aspx; http://www.wherejesuswalked.org; http://www.yale.edu/gsp/colonial/belgian_congo/index.html)



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Thursday, February 23, 2012

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

Yesterday's Answer:


John Osborne, Kingsley Amis and John Wain belonged to a literary movement called Angry young men. (Though some sources say that the angry young men were participants and that the literary movement was realism.)




Today's Question:


What is the English name for the city called al-Quds in Arabic?


Wouldn't know.


(Sources: American Mensa, February 23, 2012; http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25251/Angry-Young-Men; http://www.wsws.org/articles/1999/sep1999/look-s14.shtml; http://thetanjara.blogspot.com)



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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The Cluniac reform of the Roman Catholic Church began in the 10th century.




Today's Question:


To which literary movement did John Osborne, Kingsley Amis and John Wain belong?


Don't know this one.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 22, 2012; http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=9184; http://www.realmagick.com; http://www.historytoday.com/hugh-lawrence/monastic-revival)



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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Of the states Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware, Delaware is the one which doesn’t border West Virginia.



Today's Question:


Give the century, in ordinal numbers, when the Cluniac reform of the Roman Catholic Church began.


I wish there were less questions about this evil empire.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 21, 2012; http://www.wv.gov/about/Pages/default.aspx; http://www.visitusa.com)


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Monday, February 20, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The two main ingredients of a drink called kir are Crème de cassis and dry white wine.




Today's Question:


Which one of these states doesn't border West Virginia: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland or Delaware?


I believe Maryland is between West Virginia and Delaware (making Delaware the answer) but am not certain.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 20, 2012; http://www.france-property-and-information.com/kir-recipe.htm; http://www.911cheferic.com/Drinks/creme-de-cassis-kir.html; http://www.cookinglight.com)


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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Norway is the English translation for the country once known as Norge.




Today's Question:


What are the two main ingredients of a drink called kir?



Because of it's taste and consistency I would guess milk and yogurt cultures.



(Sources: American Mensa, emailtransmission, February 19, 2012; http://www.norway.org/; http://www.embassyworld.com)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Born in Wales, Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) left school at age 13 and never went to college. Yet in the 19th century, he propounded a theory of evolution similar to Darwin's.




Today's Question:


Give the English name for the country once known as Norge.


The name immediately made me think of Norway but I do not consciously know this answer.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 18, 2012; http://wallacefund.info/; http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/history_14; http://quintadelmochuelo.blogspot.com/2010/05/alfred-russell-wallace.html)


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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Eight U.S. Presidents have had surnames of only one syllable. (Polk, Pierce, Grant, Hayes, Taft, Ford, Bush and Bush)










Today's Question:


Born in Wales, this scientist (1823-1913) left school at age 13 and never went to college. Yet in the 19th century, he propounded a theory of evolution similar to Darwin's. Name him.


I'm stumped. Interesting idiom.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 17, 2012; http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/; http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html; http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/338250.html)



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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Assuming both the historicity and the accepted chronology of Jesus, Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus was the ruler of the Roman Empire when Jesus was crucified in 33 AD.




Today's Question:


How many U.S. Presidents have had surnames of only one syllable?


Besides the Bush war criminals I could only recall Taft and Ford. I'll go with four but not with much confidence.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 16, 2012; http://www.bookrags.com/biography/tiberius-julius-caesar-augustus/; http://christ-image-jesus.blogspot.com; http://www.uswarcrimes.com/; http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williamhowardtaft; http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/geraldford)


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Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The Conquest of Jerusalem by the First Crusade occurred in the 11th century.




Today's Question:


Assuming both the historicity and the accepted chronology of Jesus, which Caesar was ruler of the Roman Empire when Jesus was crucified in 33 AD?


Don't know.

(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 15, 2012; http://www.brighton73.freeserve.co.uk/firstcrusade/Overview/Overview.htm; http://byzantineee.blogspot.com)


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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote, "The Insulted and the Humiliated," "Poor Folk," "The Devils" and "Notes from the House of the Dead."


Today's Question:


Give the century, in ordinal numbers, when the Conquest of Jerusalem by the First Crusade occurred.


I don't know this one.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 14, 2012; http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/dostoevskybio.html)


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Monday, February 13, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Retsina, a wine flavored with pine resin, originated in Greece.



Today's Question:


Among his books are "The Insulted and the Humiliated," "Poor Folk," "The Devils" and "Notes from the House of the Dead." Who was he?



(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 13, 2012; http://gogreece.about.com/cs/fooddrink/a/retsina.htm; http://www.worldwidespirits.de)


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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


St. Swithin's Day is in July.


St. Swithin's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St. Swithin's day (15 July) if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain nae mair.
(Couldn't find attribution)

Today's Question:


Retsina, a wine flavored with pine resin, originated in which country.


I don't know this but it sounds interesting.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 12, 2012; http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/stswithun.html)


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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


Marilyn Monroe was the first woman depicted on Playboy Magazine.




Today's Question:


In which month does St. Swithin's Day occur?


Don't know this one.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 11, 2012; http://www.celebritymorgue.com/marilyn-monroe/; http://images-partners-tbn.google.com)


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Friday, February 10, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


In a double-action pistol, the shooter can manually cock the hammer before firing for a smoother pull or may be fire using a long pull which cocks and then releases the hammer.




Today's Question:


Which female was depicted on the first cover of "Playboy?"


I think that was Marilyn Monroe.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 10, 2012; http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_home_defense.htm; http://www.gunreports.com)


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Thursday, February 9, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:



Heinrich Heine first warned, in 1821, "Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people also."


Today's Question:


True or false: In a double-action pistol, the shooter must manually cock the hammer each time a shot is fired.


This is false.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 9, 2012; http://www.heinrich-heine-works.com/; http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Heinrich_Heine; http://ssdd-carokation.blogspot.com)


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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterady's Answer:


The Tasman Sea separates Australia from New Zealand.


Today's Question:
Who first warned, "Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people also?"


Sounds like a reference to the Inquisition or the Nazis but those are just guesses.


(Sources:
American Mensa, email transmission, February 8, 2012; http://geography.howstuffworks.com/oceans-and-seas/the-tasman-sea.htm; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/as.html; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nz.html; blog.travelpod.com)



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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Yesterday's Answer, Today's Question

Yesterday's Answer:


The U.S. English translation for the British English term "braces" (men's clothing) is “suspenders.”



Today's Question:


Which sea separates Australia from New Zealand?


I didn't even realize there was a sea there though I've always wondered where all of the "seven seas" are.


(Sources: American Mensa, email transmission, February 7, 2012; http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US1/REF/engtran.html; http://phirunnhean.hubpages.com; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/as.html; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nz.html; http://www.whoi.edu/info/seven-seas.html)


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