Trivia

[Riki]

Cool!  I was right, kind of.. *G*

I will say, when I saw "Island of Lesbos" I giggled

I'll be back in a bit after I get a good one...

[Riki]

ok.. this is probably and easy one for you lot. *G*  but I liked it..

Mark Twain once said, "If you don't read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are ... " what?

[YLGuy]

I don't know this but will guess misinformed.

[Riki]

you got it, YLGuy.. I knew it would be easy

[YLGuy]

What was originally known as the DAC Trophy when it was first presented to Jay Berwagner, the legendary “one man gang” of the University of Chicago on December 9, 1935?

[galvo]

I reckon the 'Heisman Memorial Trophy'.

[YLGuy]

Yes.  Here is a picture of me with the Heisman.  Interesting fact that Reggie Bush of USC is the only one who gave his back.

[galvo]

Woops! I've been a bit slack here. My apologies.

Now an easy one to get back into the swing of things.  - A popular sport among the men of the Central Asian region is polo played using the headless carcass of a goat or calf. What is this sport called?

 

[YLGuy]

gross 

[cariad]

You may have to give this one to YLGuy, Galvo. That's certainly what most people would call it. 

[okarol]

I had to google that one!
I found Buzkashi: Afghan Polo at the link below
Warning: Gross photos! 
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/buzkashi-afghan-polo-headless-carcasses/12897

[galvo]

Sorry YL and Cariad, okarol takes the cake (or head!).

Any chance of Buzkashi being included in the next Olympics?

[okarol]

What were hollowed-out to create the first Jack O'Lanterns in Ireland?

[cariad]

Galvo, if Synchronized Ice Dancing can become a hot Olympic sport, anything is possible.

I am going to guess turnips. I think I heard that once, though it may have been a joke. Pumpkins are a New World food, as are potatoes (sorry, Irish people, but we must thank the Inca for 5,000 years of potato cultivation) so those are both out.

[okarol]

  Turnips are correct - you are up dear cariad!

[cariad]

Thanks, Karol!

Charles Dickens was once in a train wreck that killed 10 people. According to reports, the famous Mr. Dickens attended to the wounded and helped evacuate the survivors from the carriages. When there was nothing more to be done, he returned to his carriage to retrieve an unfinished manuscript. Which of his books did this writing become?

[galvo]

That was the Stapleton train wreck in Kent. The unfinished manuscript was "Our Mutual Friend".

[Stoday]

Charles Dickens stayed in my town, Ipswich, in 1835, where local characters inspired him to write "Pickwick Papers". The tavern where he stayed is still functioning.

[cariad]

Wow, Galvo, you're as smart as you are adorable! Here I thought that was going to be a tough one.

Ipswich must be a colorful place if the residents inspired Pickwick Papers. That book launched Dickens' career. And contrary to persistent rumor, he was not an anti-semite. One of his characters in Our Mutual Friend was created specifically as a sort of apology to members of the Jewish faith. 

Your go, Galvo!

[galvo]

as smart as you are adorable

.

I blush! BTW I still love the old Charley (Dickens).

Now, In the original version of Monty Python's famous Dead Parrot sketch Michael Palin's character claims that a certain British city is the palindrome of Bolton. Which city?

[Stoday]

Ha! Ha!

My town again. Well, that's the answer even though Notlob is the palindrome of Bolton.

[galvo]

Well done, old fruit. Over to you.

[Stoday]

Which ruler was inspired by the boulevards of Paris to build a palace and boulevards in his own country's capital city?  In doing so he destroyed 30 churches and six synagogues.

[galvo]

I think you are referring to the late unlamented Nick Ceausescu of Roumania and his 'beautification' of Bucharest.

[Stoday]

Galvo gets it!

I worked in Romania 10 years or so ago, before I got ill. So I visited the palace. "What an outrageous expense" I said to the guide. "What, like the Millennium Dome?" she said.