Trivia Minute by TriviaPeople.com

Let’s start with salad, specifically salad dressing, even more specifically salad dressing names. We’ll start with the king of salad dressings in the United States: ranch. Ranch dressing was first created in 1954 by Steve Henson, who owned a dude ranch called Hidden Valley Ranch, near Santa Barbara, California. His customers liked the dressing so much that Henson started selling packets of dried mix so they could have it at home. Bottled, prepared ranch dressing was introduced in 1983. Thousand Island dressing’s origin story is not as clear, although it’s name refers to the Thousand Island region of New York and Ontario in the St. Lawrence River. One story says the dressing was invented by a fisherman’s wife. Another says it was created at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York and named after the region where the hotel’s owner spent his summers. Another story says it was simply based on the already existing French dressing. Speaking of French dressing, it’s not French. The ketchup, probably should have given that one away. Same thing, ketchup and all, goes for Russian dressing. Italian dressing, which doesn’t feature ketchup, is an American version of the classic vinaigrette. Green goddess dressing, was likely created in San Francisco in the 1920s as a tribute to a play of the same name. Our question, how many islands make up the Thousand Islands?   Today is National Science Day in the United States. Thursday is National Wedding Planning Day. Friday is Employee Appreciation Day. Saturday is National Mulled Wine Day, and Sunday is National Grammar Day. It’s the birthday of architect Frank Gehry, who turns 89; Thursday is the 91st birthday of entertainer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte. Saturday is the birthday of author Dr. Seuss, who was born in 1904; and Sunday is the 56th birthday of athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee.  Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1967, the top song in the U.S. was “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees. The No. 1 movie of 1967 was “The Graduate,” while the novel “The Secret of Santa Vittoria” by Robert Crichton topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Before the break we asked: What is the total number of islands in The Thousand Islands? The answer is 1,864. Now for the answer to last week’s question, which was: Which two Winter Olympic events debuted at the Summer Olympics? The answer is figure skating and ice hockey. The first person to submit a correct answer was Doug Button. This week’s question: What company manufactures Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on next week’s episode. Thanks for listening to the Trivia Minute, please rate the show on iTunes, or support it at triviapeople.com/support. For other details, visit triviapeople.com We'll talk to you next week. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

Today is the 14th day of competition at the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Here are a few things you might not have known about these Olympics and the Olympic Winter Games in general. Ninety-two nations are competing in 102 events in 15 sports during the 19-day competition. The host South Koreans marched with their counterparts from North Korea under a unified Korean flag during the opening ceremony. The two countries combined to field a unified women’s ice hockey team, but otherwise participated separately. This is the third time the Winter Olympics have been held in East Asia, and the first of those to be held outside of Japan. Japan hosted the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo and the 1998 games in Nagano. It’s the second time South Korea has hosted an Olympics, the first was the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. It’s the first of three consecutive Olympics that will be held in Asia, with the 2020 Summer games scheduled for Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Olympics set for Beijing, which will become the first city to host the Summer and Winter Olympics. 2,914 athletes are competing, with 1,672 men and 1,242 women qualified. Six countries are making their Winter Olympics debut: Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo, Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore. Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo and Singapore have each sent one athlete, while Malaysia has sent two and Nigeria has sent three. One country not officially represented is Russia, which was suspended following a doping controversy at the 2014 Olympics. Select Russian athletes are being allowed to compete under the Olympic Flag as Olympic Athletes from Russia. Our question: This was not the first time North and South Korea marched together during the opening ceremony. What other years, and in what cities did the Koreans march as one? Today is World Day of Social Justice, Wednesday is National Sticky Buns Day, Thursday is National Margarita Day, Friday is Diesel Engine Day, Saturday is International Sword Swallowers Day, and Sunday is National Clam Chowder Day Today is the birthday of actor Sidney Poitier, who is 91; and singer Kurt Cobain, who would have been 51. Singer Nina Simone would have turned 85 on Wednesday, which is also the 78th birthday of U.S. Representative and civil rights activist John Lewis. Thursday is the birthday of George Washington, who was born in 1732. Friday is the birthday of educator and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, who was born in 1868. Sunday would have been the 75th birthday of musician George Harrison. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1980, the top song in the U.S. was “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen. The No. 1 movie of 1980 was “The Empire Strikes Back,” while the novel “Princess Daisy” by Judith Krantz topped the New York Times Bestsellers list this week. Now for the answer to last week’s question, which was: What is the current initiation fee and annual dues for Club 33 at Disneyland? The answer is a reported $50,000 initiation fee and $15,000 yearly dues, although Disney doesn’t publicize either of those numbers. The first listener with a correct answer was Jim Cardillo. This week’s question: Which two Winter Olympic events debuted at the Summer Olympics? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on next week’s episode. Thanks for listening to the Trivia Minute, please rate the show on iTunes, or support it at triviapeople.com/support. For other details, visit triviapeople.com We'll talk to you next week. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9 Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

I hope you’re asking yourself, where has this guy been for the past eight months? Well, my wife and I moved from Yakima, Washington, to Los Angeles in a so-far successful attempt to avoid winter. Also, I’ve recently started a new job, because unlike other podcasters, we’re not rolling in Blue Apron or SquareSpace money yet.  So, inspired by my new-ish surroundings, here are five things you may not have known about Disneyland: Walt Disney originally wanted to build an amusement park next to his studios in Burbank, California, north of downtown Los Angeles. However, the proposed site was too small, and Disney eventually purchased a 160-acre site in Anaheim, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Construction of the park began one year and one day before the park opened on July 17, 1955. The construction also led the state of California to add two additional lanes to the interstate highway that was under construction nearby. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, the centerpiece of the park, was not inspired by the film of the same name. The castle, which is one of the park’s original attractions, predates the film by about four years. It’s 77 feet tall and was inspired largely by Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. The park originally featured five themed areas called Main Street, USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. In 1957, an area called Holidayland opened. It featured a circus and a baseball field. It closed in 1961. New Orleans Square was added in 1966, Bear Country, which is now known as Critter Country, opened in 1972, and Mickey’s Toontown debuted in 1993. A new area called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2019. In its early years, Disneyland was closed on Mondays and Tuesday in the off-season. This schedule was coordinated with the nearby Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park, which was closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays to make sure at least one park was open every day. Our question: What is the name of the exclusive VIP lounge located in New Orleans Square? Today is Paul Bunyan Day, Tuesday is Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras and Shrove Tuesday. Wednesday is Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. Thursday is National Hippopotamus Day. Friday is National Almond Day, Saturday is National Public Science Day, and Sunday is Drink Wine Day. Today is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. Tuesday is the 95th birthday of the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound, Chuck Yeager. The rest of the week: Wednesday: Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein turns 74; Susan B. Anthony was born 198 years ago Thursday; Actor LeVar Burton turns 59 on Friday; Michael Jordan turns 55 on Saturday, while writer Toni Morrison turns 87. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1959, the top song in the U.S. was “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price. The No. 1 movie of 1959 was “Ben Hur,” while the novel “Doctor Zhivago” by Boris Pasternak topped the New York Times Bestsellers list. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9 Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

To my listeners: I hope you've noticed there has been a lack of "Trivia Minute" podcasts lately. I have quite a few exciting and positive things going on in my life right now, so I've had to put the podcast on the back burner until things settle down (likely sometime this autumn). My promise: The show will return, so please stay subscribed using whichever podcast service you use. Keep an eye on this space for updates. Thank you for listening! -- Marcus P.S.: All 550-plus episodes will also remain available on TriviaPeople.com.

We’ll start off with a question: What nation did Mexican forces defeat in the Battle of Puebla, which is marked by Cinco de Mayo celebrations? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is Cinco de Mayo, which is celebrated more in the United States than it is in Mexico. It’s also Children’s Day in Japan and South Korea and Constitution Day in Kyrgyzstan. It’s unofficially International Midwives’ Day, Cartoonists Day, and International Tuba Day. It’s the birthday of chef James Beard, who was born in 1903; actor Michael Palin, who is 74, and singer Adele, who is 29. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1986, the top song in the U.S. was “West End Girls” by Pet Shop Boys. The No. 1 movie was “Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life if Calling,” while the novel “A Perfect Spy” by John le Carre topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Now for our weekly question: What is the official name of Amtrak? Thanks for listening to the Trivia Minute Update, please rate the show on Apple Podcasts, or support it at triviapeople.com/support. For other details, visit triviapeople.com We'll talk to you tomorrow. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

We’ll start off with a question: What was the only crime gangster Al Capone was ever convicted of? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is International Firefighters Day, Youth Day in Fiji, and Restoration of Independence Day in Latvia. It’s unofficially Star Wars Day, National Day of Prayer and National Orange Juice Day. It’s the birthday of actress Audrey Hepburn, who was born in 1929; actor Will Arnett, who is 47; and golfer Rory McIlroy, who is 28. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1961, the top song in the U.S. was “Runaway” by Del Shannon. The No. 1 movie was “101 Dalmatians,” while the novel “The Agony and the Ecstasy” by Irving Stone topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: What is the official name of Amtrak? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on tomorrow’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_4 https://www.checkiday.com/5/4/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-may-04 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=5&d=4&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1961_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1961

We’ll start off with a question: Who was the owner of the Dodgers when they moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is World Press Freedom Day, Constitution Day in Poland, and Constitution Memorial Day in Japan. It’s Public Radio Day, Wordsmith Day, and National Raspberry Popover Day. It’s the birthday of singer and actor Bing Crosby, who was born in 1903; musician James Brown, who was born in 1933; and magician Doug Henning, who was born in 1947. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1981, the top song in the U.S. was “Morning Train” by Sheena Easton. The No. 1 movie was “Caveman,” while the novel “Gorky Park” by Martin Cruz Smith topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: What is the official name of Amtrak? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_3 https://www.checkiday.com/5/3/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-may-03 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=5&d=3&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1981_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1981

We’ll start off with a question: The maiden flight of the De Havilland Comet, the first jet airliner, traveled between which two cities? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is Flag Day in Poland, National Education Day in Indonesia, and Teachers’ Day in Iran. It’s unofficially National Play Your Ukulele Day, International Scurvy Awareness Day and World Asthma Day. It’s the birthday of Catherine the Great, who was born in 1729; singer Engelbert Humperdinck, who is 81; and soccer star David Beckham, who is 42. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1988, the top song in the U.S. was “Wishing Well” by Terence Trent D’Arby. The No. 1 movie was “Colors,” while the novel “The Icarus Agenda” by Robert Ludlum topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Earlier we asked: Between which two cities was the maiden flight of the first jet airliner, the De Havilland Comet ? Weekly question: What is the official name of Amtrak? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_2 https://www.checkiday.com/5/2/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-may-02 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=5&d=2&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1988_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1988

Our T-shirt giveaway came to an end on Sunday. We only had one entry from Doug Barbeau, who wins a Trivia Minute T-Shirt. Thanks, Doug. We’ll start off with a question: Which two of the contiguous 48 states are not served by Amtrak rail service? Today is Constitution Day in Argentina, Latvia and the Marshall Islands. It’s International Workers’ Day, and it’s May Day. It’s unofficially Frequent Flyer Day, National Chocolate Parfait Day, and School Principals’ Day. It’s the birthday of author Joseph Heller, who was born in 1923; musician Judy Collins, who is 78; and film director Wes Anderson, who is 48. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1979, the top song in the U.S. was “Reunited” by Peaches and Herb. The No. 1 movie was “Manhattan,” while the novel “The Matarese Circle” by Robert Ludlum topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: What is the official name of Amtrak? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode.   Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_1 https://www.checkiday.com/5/1/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-may-01 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=5&d=1&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1979_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1979 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak

Today's trivia question: Who was the captain of the HMS Bounty? Today is International Workplace Safety Day, National Heroes Day in Barbados, and National Day of Mourning in Canada. It’s unofficially National Cubicle Day, National Superhero Day, and National Blueberry Pie Day. It’s the birthday of author Harper Lee, who was born in 1926; Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who is 57; and actress Penelope Cruz, who is 43. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1986, the top song in the U.S. was “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer. The No. 1 movie was “Legend,” while the novel “The Bourne Supremacy” by Robert Ludlum topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Listen to the show for the answer to the daily and weekly trivia questions! Thanks for listening to the Trivia Minute Update, please rate the show on Apple Podcasts, or support it at triviapeople.com/support. For other details, visit triviapeople.com Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m 

We’ll start off with a trivia question: Tanzania was formed from the merger of what two countries? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is World Intellectual Property Day. It’s unofficially Administrative Professionals Day, Audubon Day and Hug an Australian Day. It’s the birthday of architect I.M. Pei, who is 100; actress Carol Burnett, who is 84; and actor Jet Li, who is 54. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1990, the top song in the U.S. was “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor. The No. 1 movie was “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” while the novel “September” by Rosmunde Pilcher topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question What was Edward R. Murrow’s actual given name? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. T-shirt contest update We only have one entry in our T-shirt giveaway contest. Three people will win, so you have a pretty good shot if you enter by writing a review on Apple Podcasts and then email your username to podcast@triviapeople.com Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_26 https://www.checkiday.com/4/26/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-april-26 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=4&d=26&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1990_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1990

We’ll start off with a trivia question: What is the name of the canal and lock system that connects the North American Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean? We’ll have the answer in the show. Today is World Malaria Day, Flag Day in Swaziland, and Liberation Day in Italy. It’s unofficially National Plumber’s Day, National Telephone Day, and Hairstylists Appreciation Day. It’s the birthday of journalist Edward R. Murrow, who was born in 1908; singer Ella Fitzgerald, who was born in 1917; and actor Al Pacino, who is 77. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1977 U.S. was “Southern Nights” by Glen Campbell. The No. 1 movie was “Annie Hall,” while the novel “Oliver’s Story” by Erich Segal topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Now for our weekly question: What was Edward R. Murrow’s actual given name? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_25 https://www.checkiday.com/4/25/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-april-25 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=4&d=25&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1977_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1977

We’ll start off with a trivia question: What city hosted the most recent World’s Fair held in the United States? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is Civil Service Day in India, National Tree Planting Day in Kenya, and Day of Self-Government in Russia. It’s unofficially Big Words Day, Kindergarten Day, and Keep Off the Grass Day. It’s the birthday of author Charlotte Brontë, who was born in 1816; Queen Elizabeth II, who is 91; and actor Tony Danza, who is 66. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1971, the top song in the U.S. was “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night. The No. 1 movie was “Summer of ’42,” while the novel “QB VII” by Leon Uris topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.    Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_fair https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_21 https://www.checkiday.com/4/21/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-april-21 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=4&d=21&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1971_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1971

We’ll start off with a trivia question: What sporting event is closely associated with World War I fighter pilot Roland Garros? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is World Heritage Day; Independence Day in Zimbabwe, Friend’s Day in Brazil and Coma Patients’ Day in Poland. It’s unofficially National Lineman Appreciation Day, National Animal Crackers Day, and National Velociraptor Awareness Day. It’s the birthday of TV host Conan O’Brien, who is 54; actor David Tennant, who is 46; and actress America Ferrera, who is 33. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1983, the top song in the U.S. was “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners. The No. 1 movie was “Lone Wolf McQuade,” while the novel “The Little Drummer Girl” by John le Carre topped the New York Times Bestsellers list. Weekly question: Who was the first fighter pilot to achieve ace status with five or more victories. Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_18 https://www.checkiday.com/4/18/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-april-18 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1983_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1983

Hey folks. We’re having some technical difficulties here at TriviaPeople.com HQ, so there won’t be a show today.  

On this date in 1992, The Walt Disney Company opened Euro Disneyland. Here are some things you may not have known about Disney parks. Walt Disney originally wanted to build a theme park in Burbank, California, near his studios. Because of the limited size of the property, Disney chose instead to buy 160 acres of orange grove in Anaheim, about 30 miles south of Burbank. Initially, Disney planned to call the park “Disneylandia.” Construction of Disneyland began in 1954 and the park opened the following year. When it opened, Disneyland had five distinct lands: Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street USA. The original park has been expanded many times with the additions of New Orleans Square in 1966; Bear Country, which is now called Critter Country, in 1972; Mickey’s Toontown in 1993, and Star Wars Land, which is under construction and is set to open in 2019. A separate park, Disney’s California Adventure, opened in 2001. The centerpiece of Disneyland is Sleeping Beauty’s castle. More than 650 million people have visited Disneyland since it opened. In 2013 alone, more than 16 million people visited. The Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 near Orlando, Florida. In 1982, the permanent World’s Fair known as Epcot opened. It was followed by Disney-MGM Studios and Typhoon Lagoon in 1989, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1998. More than 20 million people visited the Magic Kingdom in 2015. The centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom is Cinderella’s Castle. Tokyo Disney Resort, originally called Tokyo Disneyland, opened in 1983. It was the first Disney theme park built outside of the United States. It’s the second most popular of the resorts, seeing about 17 million visitors per year. It’s centerpiece is also Cinderella’s Castle. Euro Disneyland, now known as Disneyland Park, is located on the outskirts of Paris. Initially, it was not a financial success. But it now welcomes about 13 million visitors per year. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort followed in 2005, and Shanghai Disney Resort opened in 2016. Our question: What did the acronym EPCOT originally stand for?   Today is Children’s Day in Bolivia, National Redemption Day in Liberia, and Halifax Day in North Carolina. It’s unofficially National Licorice Day, National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, and National Only Child Day. It’s the birthday of author Beverly Cleary, who is 101, TV show host David Letterman, who is 70; and actress Claire Danes, who turns 38. This week in 1992, the top song in the U.S. was “Save the Best for Last” by Vanessa Williams. The No. 1 movie was “Sleepwalkers,” while the novel “The Pelican Brief” by John Grisham topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: What is the nickname of the bell that surpassed Big Ben as the largest bell in Great Britain? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode.   Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Park_(Paris) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_Parks_and_Resorts https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Kingdom https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epcot https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Disneyland https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Disneyland_Resort https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Disney_Resort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_12 https://www.checkiday.com/4/12/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-april-12 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=4&d=12&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1992_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1992

We’ll start off with a question: Despite not landing on the Moon, what record did the crew of Apollo 13 set? Today is Juan Santamaria Day in Costa Rica and World Parkinson’s Disease Day. It’s unofficially International Louie Louie Day,  National Eight-Track Tape Day, and National Pet Day. It’s the birthday of fashion designer Oleg Cassini, who was born in 1913; actor Joel Grey, who turns 85; and television host Jeremy Clarkson, who is 57. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1988, the top song in the U.S. was “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” by Billy Ocean. The No. 1 movie was “Beetlejuice,” while the novel “The Icarus Agenda” by Robert Ludlum topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Now for our weekly question: What is the nickname of the bell that surpassed Big Ben as the largest bell in Great Britain? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode.

On this date in 1858, the bell known as Big Ben was cast in London. Here are some things you may not have known about Big Ben. The nickname Big Ben refers to the bell only. The clock is called the Great Clock, while the tower is named Elizabeth Tower. The namesake of the bell is disputed. It may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was in charge of the installation of the bell, or it might have been named after the English heavyweight boxing champion Benjamin Caunt. The bell weighs 13 1/2 tons. It’s 7 feet, 6 inches tall and 9 feet in diameter. It’s not the original bell intended for the clock tower. The first bell, which was slightly heavier than its successor, cracked during testing before it was installed. The replacement bell cracked in September 1859, as the hammer used to strike it was heavier than the bell was designed for. For three years, the bell was out of commission, and the hours were signaled using the lowest of the accompanying quarter bells. The quarter bells, as their name would indicate are sounded at the quarter-hour. There are four of them, which play G-sharp, F-sharp, E, and B. The chime melody they play is known as the Westminster Quarters, and is widely played by clocks around the world. The melody, while made famous at Westminster, originated at the church of St. Mary the Great in Cambridge. The tower leans about 9 inches to the northwest because of settling and construction of underground train lines beneath it. The clock is 23 feet in diameter and the face contains 312 pieces of opal glass. The clock uses a double three-legged gravity escapement, which helps maintain the clock’s famous accuracy. Part of this is a small stack of old pennies which sit atop the pendulum. The coins move the pendulum’s center of mass slightly higher, which increases the rate at which the clock runs. Each penny changes the speed by 0.4 seconds per day. In August 2015, it was discovered that the clock was running 7 seconds fast, so a few of the pennies were removed to correct the error. In 2012, the tower, which never had a name, was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee. Our question: How many years as monarch does a Diamond Jubilee celebrate ?  Today is International Siblings Day. It’s also Safety Pin Day, National Farm Animals Day, and Golfer’s Day. It’s the birthday of actor Omar Sharif, who was born in 1932; football coach and announcer John Madden, who is 81; and actor Steven Seagal, who is 65. It’s also my mom’s birthday. Happy birthday, Mom. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1984, the top song in the U.S. was “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins. The No. 1 movie was “Police Academy,” while the novel “The Aquitaine Progression” by Robert Ludlum topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: What is the nickname of the bell that surpassed Big Ben as the largest bell in Great Britain? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Now here’s how you can get a free Trivia Minute T-shirt. All you have to do is write a review on iTunes and then email your iTunes user name to podcast@triviapeople.com. Three reviewers picked at random will win a Trivia Minute T-shirt. The contest ends on April 30. We’ll announce the winners on May 1.  Because of shipping costs, the contest is only open to listeners in the U.S. and Canada.  Reviews are the easiest way you can support the show. It helps increase our exposure on iTunes, which leads to more robust community of listeners.  So head to iTunes and review the show today, then send us an email at podcast@triviapeople.com. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Quarters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escapement#Gravity_escapement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Westminster https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitechapel_Bell_Foundry

Hey folks, no show today, but I wanted to make sure to give you the answer to this week’s question. Also, be sure to listen to Monday’s podcast when we’ll have details on our first T-shirt giveaway contest. As a refresher, the question was: What is the second fastest land mammal? Listen to the show for the answer. The first correct answer came from Christopher Lazar. We also got correct answers from Tom (who didn’t give his last name), Alex Thompson, Brian and Elisa, and Jim Cardillo. Thanks for listening. Go to triviapeople.com for more information on the show.

On this date in 1792, George Washington used his presidential veto power for the first time. Here are a few things you may not have known about the veto. The history of the veto, which means “I forbid” in Latin, can be traced to the Roman Empire. Roman consuls had to act unanimously, so one essentially held veto power over the other, while tribunes held veto power over the Roman Senate.  In the British-based Westminster system of government, the power of the veto is held by the monarch. All legislation passed by parliament must receive Royal Assent to become law. If the monarch doesn’t approve, the bill doesn’t become law. However, the last time Royal Assent was withheld in Great Britain was when Queen Anne vetoed the Scottish Militia Bill of 1708. The governors general of Commonwealth counties hold veto power in their realms as the representative of the monarch. The power has never been used in Australia or in Canada. Other counties, obviously, have different systems. In countries like Iceland and Latvia, if the president refuses to sign a bill, it is put to a national referendum. Many other countries, such as France and Italy, allow the executive to ask the legislature to reconsider the bill, after which it becomes law regardless of whether it is signed. Other countries, like Poland, allow the president to refer a bill to the judiciary to determine its constitutionality. In the United States, all federal legislation must pass the House of Representatives and the Senate and be presented to the president for his or her signature. The president can sign the bill — making it law — or veto the bill. If the bill is vetoed, the House and Senate may override the veto with a two-thirds majority in each house. A bill can also become law if the president fails to sign it within 10 days. However, if the 10-day period expires with Congress adjourned, the bill fails to become law. This is known as a pocket veto. There has been a total of 2,571 vetoes since Washington’s first in 1792. Seven presidents — John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore and James A. Garfield — didn’t veto any legislation during their time in office. Franklin Pierce had the largest percentage of vetoes overridden with 56 percent of his nine vetoes overturned. The largest number of presidential vetoes overridden by Congress were the 15 of Andrew Johnson. Harry Truman and Gerald Ford had 12 vetoes overridden.  The president who issued the most vetoes was Franklin Roosevelt, who vetoed 635 pieces of legislation. Only nine of those vetoes were overturned. Since Roosevelt’s time in office, the number of vetoes has fallen dramatically. Richard Nixon vetoed 43 bills, Jimmy Carter vetoed 31, while George W. Bush and Barack Obama vetoed 12 each. Donald Trump has yet to veto any legislation. It’s unofficially National Deep Dish Pizza Day and National Carmel Day, after eating all of that, you’ll be happy to know it’s also National Walking Day. It’s the birthday of educator and civil rights activist Booker T. Washington, who was born in 1856; actress Bette Davis, who was born in 1908; and actor Gregory Peck, who was born in 1916. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1981, the top song in the U.S. was “Kiss on My List” by Hall and Oates. The No. 1 movie was “Nighthawks,” while the novel “The Covenant” by James Michener topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: Now for our weekly question: What is the second fastest land mammal? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

We’ll start off with a random trivia question: Which actors played the character of Jay Gatsby in the 1949, 1974, and 2013 film versions of “The Great Gatsby”? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is International Landmine Awareness Day, Children’s Day in Hong Kong and Taiwan; Independence Day in Senegal. It’s unofficially World Rat Day, National Tell a Lie Day, and International Carrot Day. It’s the birthday of musician Muddy Waters, who was born in 1915; writer Maya Angelou, who was born in 1928; and actor Robert Downey Jr., who is 52. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1974, the top song in the U.S. was “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede. The No. 1 movie was “The Great Gatsby,” while the novel “Burr” by Gore Vidal topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.    Weekly question: What is the second fastest land mammal? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode.   Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_4 https://www.checkiday.com/4/4/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-april-04 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=4&d=4&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1974_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1974 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Gatsby#Film_and_television

On this date in 1860, the Pony Express began operations. Here are some things you may not have known about the Old West mail service. After the discovery of gold in 1849 and the admission of California as a state in 1850, a faster way to deliver transcontinental mail was needed. At the time, mail could take up to a month to travel from coast to coast. The Pony Express was founded with the goal of cutting that time to 10 days between St. Joseph, Missouri and San Francisco, California. The goal was thought impossible by many. The Pony Express system involved a series of horseback riders traveling relatively short distances at high speeds. When the system started  it employed 120 riders on 400 horses going between 184 stations manned by more than 400 support personnel. The identity of the first rider is in dispute. Depending on the source it was either Billy Richardson or Johnny Fry who departed St. Joseph, Missouri. The first run took 11 days to reach San Francisco. The cost to send a letter via the Pony Express was originally five dollars per half ounce. The equivalent of about $120 per half ounce today. Gradually, as telegraph service expanded across the country, The Pony Express route was shortened. News of Abraham Lincoln’s election as president of the United States in 1860 was able to be transmitted to the West Coast in just seven days, thanks to the Pony Express and the expansion of telegraph service to Fort Kearny, Nebraska. Less than a year after service started, the route ran from Salt Lake City to Sacramento, spanning the final gap in telegraph service. The service ceased on October 26, 1861, two days after the first transcontinental telegraph line was completed at Salt Lake City. The operation never made money, losing $110,000 over the course of the 19-month run. Our question, what’s the fastest speed recorded by a horse? Today is unofficially National Chocolate Mousse Day, National Sweet Potato Day, and Armenian Appreciation Day. It’s the birthday of actress Doris Day, who is 95; astronaut Gus Grissom, who was born in 1926; and singer Wayne Newton, who is 75. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1973, the top song in the U.S. was “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” by Vicki Lawrence. The No. 1 movie was “Charlotte’s Web,” while the novel “The Odessa File” by Frederick Forsyth topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: What is the second fastest land mammal? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

March 31, 2017: Still Under the Weather

We’ll start off with a random trivia question: What are the three sites at which U.S. space shuttles have landed? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is unofficially National Doctors' Day, Pencil Day and World Bipolar Day. It’s the birthday of musician Eric Clapton, who is 72; rapper MC Hammer, who is 55; and musician Tracy Chapman, who is 53. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1985, the top song in the U.S. was “One More Night” by Phil Collins. The No. 1 movie was “Friday the 13th: A New Beginning,” while the novel “If Tomorrow Comes” by Sidney Sheldon topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: When did Pan Am go out of business? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on tomorrow’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_30 https://www.checkiday.com/3/30/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-30 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=30&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1985_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1985

On this date in in 1806, the first major improved highway in the United States was authorized. Here are some things you might not know about The National Road. The National Road began in 1751 as the Braddock Road, which ran from Fort Cumberland, Maryland, which is navigable limit of the Potomac River, to Fort Duquesne at the site of modern-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson authorized construction of a road between the Potomac and Ohio River at what is now Wheeling, West Virginia. Construction began in 1811 and the road reached Wheeling in 1818. Private toll roads were constructed connecting the eastern terminus to Baltimore, while in 1820, Congress approved extending the road to St. Louis on the Mississippi River. However the road never reached St. Louis, as Congressional-funded road building stopped in 1839. The western terminus of the road ended up at Vandalia, Illinois. Construction and maintenance was transferred to the states. Virginia built the Wheeling Suspension Bridge in 1849, which was at the time the world’s longest bridge at 1,010 feet between towers. It is the oldest vehicular suspension bridge still in use in the United States. The National Road eventually became part of the National Old Trails Road, which extended from New York City to San Francisco. In 1927, the road was designated as U.S. Highway 40. Most of its route is now paralleled by Interstate 70. Our question: Name the current state capitals The National Road ran through? Today is Youth Day in Taiwan and Boganda Day in Central African Republic. It’s unofficially Manatee Appreciation Day, National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day and National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day. It’s the birthday of comedian and writer Eric Idle, who is 74; basketball legend Walt Frazier, who is 72; and actress Amy Sedaris, who is 56. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1989, the top song in the U.S. was “Eternal Flame” by The Bangles. The No. 1 movie was “Fletch Lives,” while the novel “The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: When did Pan Am go out of business? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Road https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland,_Maryland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheeling_Suspension_Bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_29 https://www.checkiday.com/3/29/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-29 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=29&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1989_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1989

On this date in 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania suffered a partial core meltdown.  What is the name of the river in which Three Mile Island is located? We’ll have the answer later in the show. Today is Teachers’ Day in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and Serfs Emancipation Day in Tibet. It’s unofficially National Hot Tub Day, National Children’s Picture Book Day, and National Something on a Stick Day. It’s the birthday of musician Reba McEntire, who is 62; actor Vince Vaughn, who is 47; and musician Lady Gaga, who is 31. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1963, the top song in the U.S. was “He’s So Fine” by The Chiffons. The No. 1 movie was “How the West was Won,” while “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters” by J.D. Salinger topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: When did Pan Am go out of business? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accident https://www.checkiday.com/3/28/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-28 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=28&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1963_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1963

On this date in 1977, 583 people died in the deadliest accident in aviation history. Here are some things you may not have known about the Tenerife Airport Disaster. KLM Flight 4805 from Amsterdam, and Pan Am Flight 1736 from Los Angeles via New York, were both traveling to Gran Canaria Airport at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. A bomb explosion at  Gran Canaria Airport forced five large airliners, including the two 747s, to be diverted to the smaller Los Rodeos Airport on the island of Tenerife. As the airport was not equipped to handle so many large aircraft, the taxiway was blocked by parked jets, which forced the use of the runway as a taxiway. During the time the planes were parked, a dense fog had rolled in, greatly reducing visibility.  The passengers from the KLM flight were taken to the terminal while the plane was refueled. One passenger who lived on the island decided to go directly home and didn’t re-board the plane. The airport on Gran Canaria reopened and the KLM flight was sent to the end of the runway to wait for clearance to takeoff. The Pan Am plane followed onto the runway after being told to take an earlier exit back onto the taxiway. The fog was so thick that the controller in the tower couldn’t see the runway or the planes on it. The pilots couldn’t see each other either. The airport did not have ground radar at the time, so the only way to keep track of the planes was by voice on radio.  English is the international language of aviation. With a Dutch crew on the KLM flight, an American crew on the Pan-Am and Spanish controllers in the tower, chances for miscommunication were rife in the already difficult conditions. The KLM crew mistook the controller’s command to lineup for departure with clearance for takeoff and throttled up. The Pan Am crew was still taxiing down the runway, having missed their intended and poorly marked taxiway.  While the KLM 747 was coming up to takeoff speed, the tower instructed the Pan Am crew to report when they were clear of the runway. The KLM flight engineer heard this and asked his captain if the Pan Am was clear. The KLM captain said “Oh, yes,” and continued with the takeoff. The Pan Am crew suddenly saw the KLM landing lights approaching at takeoff speed, and turned hard left toward the grass to try to avert a collision. The KLM crew saw the Pan Am at about the same time and pulled up hard in an effort to climb over the Pan Am. This resulted in the KLM dragging its tail for 72 feet. The nose gear of the KLM cleared the Pan Am, but the engines, lower fuselage and the main landing gear tore through the Pan Am jet almost directly above the wing. The KLM jet remained airborne momentarily, but stalled, rolled sharply and hit the ground about 500 feet past the collision. Its full load of fuel caught fire immediately. Both planes were destroyed. All 234 passengers and 14 crew members on the KLM flight died, as did 326 passengers and nine crew members on the Pan Am jet. 54 passengers and seven crew from the Pan Am flight survived, including the the flight deck crew. Investigators determined that the main cause of the collision was the KLM taking off without clearance. Other major factors included the weather and radio interference, while the use of non-standard language, the Pan Am jet missing the intended exit, and the overcrowding of the airport were contributing, but not critical factors. As a result of the accident, several changes were made to international airline regulations. Flight crews are now required to read back instructions from the controllers, rather than just acknowledging them. The words “take off” are only used after clearance has been given, “departure” is used before clearance. Cockpit procedures were also changed to allow the flight deck crew to raise concerns in the event of a misunderstanding. The Spanish government also installed ground radar at the airport after the collision. The Pan Am 747 involved in the collision was historic in its own right. It took the first commercial flight by a 747 on January 22, 1970. It was also the first 747 to be hijacked, when a flight from New York to Puerto Rico was forced to land in Cuba. Our question: What type of animal are the Canary Islands named after? Today is International Whiskey Day, World Theatre Day, and Armed Forces Day in Myanmar. It’s unofficially Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day, National Paella Day, and National Joe Day. It’s the birthday of musician Sarah Vaughan, who was born in 1924; filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who is 54; and singer Mariah Carey, who is 47. Because we’ve recently featured 1977, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1969, the top song in the U.S. was “Dizzy” by Tommy Roe. The No. 1 movie was “Charro!,” while the novel “Portnoy’s Complaint” by Philip Roth topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: When did Pan Am go out of business? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife_airport_disaster http://www.1001crash.com/index-page-tenerife-lg-2-numpage-6.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Palmas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_27 https://www.checkiday.com/3/27/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-27 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1969_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1969

I am a bit under the weather today, so there won’t be a show today, but I wanted to make sure we answered this week’s question. The question was: How much did the United State pay per acre for Alaska in 1867? Listen to the show for the answer! The first correct answer was from Kevin Lazar. We also had correct responses from Trent Harris, Alex Thompson, Jim Cardillo, Tom (who didn’t give his last name), Jeff Toro and Doug Button.

We’ll start off with a random trivia question: What university was founded on this date in 1868? Today is World Meteorological Day, Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship, and Day of the Sea in Bolivia. It’s unofficially National Puppy Day, National Chip and Dip Day, and National Melba Toast Day. It’s the birthday of actress Joan Crawford, who was born in 1905; film director Akira Kurosawa, who was born in 1910; and actress Keri Russell, who is 41. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1973, the top song in the U.S. was “Love Train” by The O’Jays. The No. 1 movie was “Tom Sawyer,” while the novel “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: How much per acre did the United States pay for Alaska in 1867? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on tomorrow’s episode.   Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_23 https://www.checkiday.com/3/23/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-23 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=23&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1973_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1973

On this date in 1894, the first Stanley Cup playoff game was held. Here are a few things you may not have known about the oldest trophy in North American professional team sports. The cup was commissioned as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup by Lord Stanley of Preston, who was then the governor general of Canada. It was awarded for the first time in 1893 to the Montreal Hockey Club based on league standings, not on a playoff victory. As a challenge cup, the team which won the cup the previous year was allowed to defend it the next season if it won its league’s regular-season title. In 1904, the Ottawa Hockey Club was challenged by a squad of miners from Dawson City in the Yukon Territory. The Dawson team was known as the Klondikers and the Nuggets, and traveled to Ottawa by foot, bicycle, dogsled, narrow-gauge railway, steamship and train. Two days after arriving in the capital, they lost the first game 9-2. Three days later, Ottawa won the second game 23-2, with Frank McGee scoring 14 goals, including eight consecutive goals over the course of nine minutes. No team from west of Winnipeg won the Cup during the challenge era. The first true West Coast team to play for the Cup was the Victoria Aristocrats in 1914. During the challenge era, the most successful club was the Ottawa Hockey Club with 17 successful challenges or defenses of the Cup. In 1914, it was determined that the Stanley Cup would go to the winner of a series between the champions of the National Hockey Association and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. This led to the inclusion of American teams, as the PCHA had teams in Seattle and Portland. The trustees of the Cup announced that the trophy would no longer be awarded to the best team in Canada, but to the best team in the world. Which, apparently, at the time consisted of Canada and the states of Washington and Oregon. The Seattle Metropolitans were the first American team to win the Stanley Cup in 1917. They played for the Cup again in 1919 and 1920. The 1919 series was canceled when it was tied at two games apiece after an influenza outbreak decimated the Montreal team. Montreal’s coach attempted to forfeit the series to Seattle, but the Seattle coach wouldn’t accept it. The trophy was not awarded that year. Since 1927, the Stanley Cup has been exclusively the championship trophy for the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times since 1915. The Cup was not awarded in 2005 as the result of a labor dispute. As a result, in 2006 a settlement was reached which would allow non-NHL teams to challenge for the Stanley Cup if the NHL doesn’t operate for a season. The cup itself is the bowl that makes up the top 7 inches of the nearly 3-foot tall trophy. The rest of the trophy is made up of rings that are engraved with the names of the players and executives from the winning team. Once a ring is filled with names, the oldest remaining ring is removed and kept at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Our question: Which player’s name is engraved on the Stanley Cup a record 11 times?   Today is the earliest day on which Easter Sunday can fall, April 25 is the latest. It’s World Water Day and Emancipation Day in Puerto Rico. It’s unofficially As Young As You Feel Day, National Sing Out Day, and National Goof Off Day. It’s the birthday of songwriter Stephen Sondheim, who is 87; actor William Shatner, who is 86; and songwriter Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is 69. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 2001, the top song in the U.S. was “Butterfly” by Crazy Town. The No. 1 movie was “Exit Wounds,” while the novel “A Painted House” by John Grisham topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: How much per acre did the United States pay for Alaska in 1867? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode.   Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Cup https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Stanley_Cup_challenge_games https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Stanley_Cup_champions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditions_and_anecdotes_associated_with_the_Stanley_Cup https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_22 https://www.checkiday.com/3/22/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-22 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=22&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2001_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_2001

We’ll start off with a random trivia question: What is the largest city named after a U.S. President? Today is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, International Color Day, International Day of Forests, World Down Syndrome Day, World Poetry Day and World Puppetry Day. It’s Independence Day in Namibia, and Human Rights Day in South Africa. It’s unofficially National Flower Day, National Teenager Day, and National French Bread Day. It’s the birthday of former Mexican president Benito Juarez, who was born in 1806; musician and minister Solomon Burke, who was born in 1940; and actress and comedian Rosie O’Donnell, who is 55. Now, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1967, the top song in the U.S. was “Happy Together” by The Turtles. The No. 1 movie was “In Like Flint,” while the novel “The Arrangement” by Elia Kazan topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Now for our weekly question: How much per acre did the United States pay for Alaska in 1867? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode.

On this date in 1985, Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail sled dog race. Here are some things you might not have known about the annual tradition. The Iditarod is run in honor of the 1925 serum run, which was a sled dog relay to deliver a diphtheria antitoxin to the town of Nome during an outbreak. 20 mushers combined to haul 20 pounds of serum 674 miles in about five and a half days. A particularly treacherous leg of the route was run by Norwegian Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog Togo. The final leg was run by Norwegian Gunnar Kaasen and his lead dog Balto. Later that year a statue of Balto was placed in New York’s Central Park, where it remains a popular tourist attraction. It took Dick Wilmarth 20 days, 49 minutes and 41 seconds to win the first modern Iditarod race in 1973. In 2017, the race was won by Mitch Seavey in a record 8 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds. Seavey also broke his own record as the oldest person to win the race at 57 years old. His son Dallas Seavey was the youngest to win at age 25 in 2012. He’s since won the race three more times. The winningest musher is Rick Swenson, who has five victories. Susan Butcher, Martin Buser, Jeff King, Doug Swingley, and Lance Mackey  join Dallas Seavey in the four-time winners’ club. Our question: What’s the name of the peninsula on which Nome is located? Today is the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, International Day of Happiness, World Sparrow Day, and Independence Day in Tunisia It’s unofficially French Language Day, International Astrology Day, and National Ravioli Day. It’s the birthday of playwright Henrik Ibsen, who as born in 1828; comedian Carl Reiner, who is 95; and children’s TV pioneer Fred Rogers, who was born in 1928. Because we’ve recently featured 1985, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1977, the top song in the U.S. was “Rich Girl” by Hall and Oates. The No. 1 movie was “Airport ’77,” while the novel “Trinity” by Leon Uris topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: How much per acre did the United States pay for Alaska in 1867? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod_Trail_Sled_Dog_Race https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_serum_run_to_Nome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balto https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_20 https://www.checkiday.com/3/20/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-20 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1977_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1977

Today is St. Patrick's Day. Here are some things you should know. While a four-leaf clover may be lucky, it’s not a shamrock. Shamrocks have three leaves and are more common than their quad-leaved brethren. It’s said that St. Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to help explain the Christian Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish. St. Patrick is often depicted as holding a cross in one hand and a bundle of shamrocks in the other. St. Patrick didn’t drive the snakes out of Ireland, as told in legend. There have never been snakes there, but the idea of snakes were likely used as a metaphor for the druids. St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the island of Montserrat. Montserrat is known as the “Emerald Island of the Caribbean” because it was founded by Irish settlers.  Corned beef and cabbage, an American tradition on St. Patrick’s Day isn’t an Irish tradition. While cattle have been raised in Ireland for centuries, most of the cattle farms were owned by British landlords who sold their product in Britain. The more common meat in traditional Irish cooking was pork. It’s thought that corned beef became associated with Irish-Americans because it was readily available from fellow immigrants who were Jewish. Here’s a tip: Just call the holiday St. Patrick’s Day. If you must shorten it, it’s St. Paddy’s Day with D’s, not T’s. Our question: Why doesn’t the dye used to turn the Chicago River green up in Lake Michigan? Today is Children’s Day in Bangladesh. It’s unofficially National Preschool Teachers Appreciation Day, World Sleep Day, and Campfire Girls Day. It’s the birthday of musician Nat King Cole, who was born in 1919; musician Billy Corgan, who is 50; and soccer player Mia Hamm, who is 45. Because our topic doesn’t have a specific year associated with it, we’ll pick a year at random. This week in 1964, the top song in the U.S. was “She Loves You” by The Beatles. The No. 1 movie was “Kissing’ Cousins,” while the novel “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” by John Le Carre topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_River https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corned_beef https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montserrat http://www.rte.ie/tv/scope/SCOPE4_show03_snakes.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_17 https://www.checkiday.com/3/17/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-17 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1964_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1964

Today is Day of the Book Smugglers in Lithuania, and Latvian Legion Day. It’s unofficially National artichoke heart day, national orange and lemon day, freedom of information day, and black press day. It’s the birthday of former US President James Madison, I was born in 1751; actor and comedian Jerry Lewis, who is 91; and actor Erik Estrada, who is 68.  Now, let's spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1980, the top song in the U.S. was “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)” by Pink Floyd. The No. 1 movie was “Coal Miner's Daughter,” while the novel “Princess Daisy” by Judith Krantz topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Now for our weekly question: Pluto was originally the pet dog of which Disney character? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on tomorrow's episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

On this date in 1820, Maine was admitted to the Union. Here are some things you may not have known about the 23rd state. The first inhabitants of what would become Maine was a loose confederacy of Algonquin-speaking people, called the Wabanaki. The first European contact came about 800 years ago when Norwegians arrived on the coast. The Norwegians didn’t settle in the area, but returned over the next few centuries to trade and collect timber. A 10th-century Norwegian coin was discovered during 1954 archeological dig in the state. The first European settlers came in 1604. In 1652, what is now Maine was made part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It remained part of Massachusetts, separated by New Hampshire, until it was made a state in 1820. The original capital of Maine was Portland, but it was moved to the more centrally located Augusta in 1832. Maine has many geographic and demographic oddities. It’s the only state to border only one other state. It’s the easternmost state. It’s the state that is located closest to Africa. It’s the site of the only sovereignty dispute over land between the United States and Canada. It’s the least densely populated state east of the Mississippi River. 83 percent of the state is covered by forest, the highest percentage in the country. It has the highest percentage of non-Hispanic whites of any state at 94.4 percent. It also has the highest percentage of French Americans, and the highest percentage of French speakers in the U.S. Today’s question: What was the name of the fictional Maine town in which the TV show “Murder, She Wrote” was set?   Today is International Day Against Police Brutality; World Consumer Rights Day; National Day in Hungary; and Constitution Day in Belarus. It’s unofficially National Peanut Lovers Day. It’s the birthday of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson, who was born in 1767; musician Phil Lesh, who is 77; and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is 84. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1982, the top song in the U.S. was “I Love Rock ’n Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. The No. 1 movie was “Richard Prior: Live on the Sunset Strip,” while the novel “North and South” by John Jakes topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: Pluto was originally the pet dog of which Disney character? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode.   Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_15 https://www.checkiday.com/3/15/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-15 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1982_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1982

For the foreseeable future, we’ll be scaling back our episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  We’ll still bring you all the features that usually run in the second half of the show. Today is Pi Day, in celebration of the mathematical constant pi, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. In several Asian countries, it’s White Day, where men give gifts to women in a reversal of local Valentine’s Day customs. It’s unofficially Learn About Butterflies Day, National Potato Chip Day, and National Save a Spider Day. It’s the birthday of scientist Albert Einstein, who was born in 1879; actor Michael Caine, who is 84; and actor Billy Crystal, who is 69. This week in 1972, the top song in the U.S. was “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young. The No. 1 movie was “What’s Up, Doc?,” while the novel “The Winds of War” by Herman Wouk topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: Pluto was originally the pet dog of which Disney character? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Thanks for listening to the Trivia Minute, please rate the show on iTunes, or support it at triviapeople.com/support. For other details, visit triviapeople.com We'll be back with a full show tomorrow.

On this date in 1930, the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered. Here are some things you may not have known about what was once considered the ninth planet in the solar system. Although it wasn’t discovered until 1930, astronomers had predicted in the late 19th century that something besides the newly discovered Neptune was disturbing the orbit of the seventh planet, Uranus. Between 1909 and 1930, there were 16 prediscovery observations of Pluto in which the observer didn’t realize what was there. Clyde Tombaugh, a 23-year-old astronomer was hired by the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, to lead the effort to find what was called “Planet X.” He did this by comparing photographs of the night sky and looking for any undiscovered moving objects. On Feb. 18, 1930, Tombaugh discovered a moving object in pictures taken on January 23rd and 29th. Other photos confirmed the movement and the discovery was telegraphed to the Harvard Observatory on March 13. The name Pluto was chosen from more than 1,000 suggestions. Pluto, after the mythological god of the underworld, was joined on the final short list of candidates by the names Minerva, after the goddess of wisdom, and Cronus, the son of Uranus and father of Zeus. The name Pluto was suggested by 11-year-old Venitia Burney, who had taken an interest in classical mythology. After its discovery, Pluto was almost immediately seen as a disappointment. It was much smaller than it should have been. If it were the predicted Planet X, it should have been about seven times larger than Earth. In fact, at the time it was estimated to have a diameter of about 60 percent of that of the Earth. It also had an very elliptical orbit and was less reflective than anticipated. It was also determined that Pluto’s orbit takes it inside that of Neptune periodically. A stable orbital ratio means that the two bodies will never collide. Almost immediately, Pluto’s status as a planet was called into question. The dimness and eccentric orbit were seen to be more like those of a comet or asteroid. A year later, other astronomers proposed that the new planet was not the cause of the orbital irregularities of Uranus, and that the discovery of Pluto was an accident. Though the years, estimations of Pluto’s size were revised downward. In 1948, it was believed to be 1/10 the size of the Earth. In 1976, the estimate was down to 1/100th. The 1978 discovery of its moon, Charon, further lowered the estimate to about 1/500th. The most recent estimate puts Pluto at 1/459th the size of Earth. In 1992, new information from Voyager 2’s flyby of Neptune allowed for more precise calculations of Neptune’s effect on the orbit of Uranus, eliminating the need for a Planet X to explain any irregularity. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union created an official definition of the term “planet.” Pluto meets the first two conditions, which are orbiting the Sun and being massive enough to have its own gravity. It doesn’t meet the third condition of clearing its orbital neighborhood of other objects. Instead of being classified as the ninth planet, Pluto is considered the largest and second most massive dwarf planet in the solar system. Our question: Which came first, the discovery of the dwarf planet Pluto, or the naming of Disney character Pluto? Today is the anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, and it’s National Elephant Day in Thailand. It’s unofficially National Workplace Napping Day, National Jewel Day, and National Open an Umbrella Indoors Day. It’s the birthday of actor William H. Macy, who is 67; U2 bassist Adam Clayton, who is 57; and skier Mikaela Shiffrin, who is 22. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1999, the top song in the U.S. was “Believe” by Cher. The No. 1 movie was “Analyze This,” while the novel “The Testament” by John Grisham topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: Pluto was originally the pet dog of which Disney character? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planets_beyond_Neptune https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAU_definition_of_planet http://www.space.com/18566-pluto-distance.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_13 https://www.checkiday.com/3/13/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-13 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=13&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1999_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1999

On this date in 1926, the first Book of the Month Club selection was published. Here are some things you might not have known about it. The Book of the Month Club was founded by Harry Scherman in New York. Scherman had earlier success selling a collection of 30 leather-bound books for just under $3. Over the course of five years, he sold more than 40 million copies. The club was started as a way to introduce new books to readers. Scherman saw the club as a way to become a tastemaker or what he called a “standard brand.” This would lead to people buying whichever books were selected, based on the trust they had in the club. The first selection was “Lolly WIllowes; or The Loving Huntsman” by Sylvia Townsend Warner. It was sent out to the club’s 4,000 subscribers. One of the club’s selections in the first year was “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway. In its 10th year, the club selected a then-unknown novel by Margaret Mitchell called “Gone With The Wind.” Partly as a result of that selection, “Gone with the Wind” would go on to be made into the highest-grossing film of all time, when adjusted for inflation. The book finished second to the Bible as the most popular book in the United States in a 2014 poll. After 20 years, the club had more than a half a million subscribers. In 1951, the club sent out its 100 millionth book, which was a copy of “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. In its early days, the club worked as a negative response system. Similar to later record and CD clubs, members had the option to decline a month’s selection, but they would receive the selection automatically if they didn’t respond. It now operates as a box subscription service. Memberships are sold based on a set number of months. Our question: The novel “The Sun Also Rises” is set largely in what country? Today is Harriet Tubman Day and National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the United States. It’s unofficially International Bagpipe Day, Landline Telephone Day, and National Blueberry Popover Day. It’s the birthday of actor Chuck Norris, who is 77; actor Jon Hamm, who is 46; and singer Carrie Underwood, who is 34. This week in 1984, the top song in the U.S. was “Jump” by Van Halen. The No. 1 movie was “Footloose,” while the novel “Pet Sematary” by Stephen King topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Now for our weekly question: For which book, later turned into a movie, did James Michener win the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for fiction? The answer and correct respondents are in today's podcast. Thanks to RaidersFan1975 for the five-star review on iTunes. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-book-of-the-month-club-selection-is-published https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_Month_Club https://www.bookofthemonth.com/our-story https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolly_Willowes https://parade.com/286409/viannguyen/new-poll-reveals-americans-10-favorite-books-of-all-time/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun_Also_Rises https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_10 https://www.checkiday.com/3/10/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-10 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=10&y=1960&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1984_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1984

Today is Teachers’ Day in Lebanon. It’s unofficially False Teeth Day, Barbie Day, and National Meatball Day. It’s the birthday of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who was born in 1934; actor Raul Julia, who was born in 1940; and actress Juliette Binoche, who is 53. This week in 1967, the top song in the U.S. was “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone” by The Supremes. The No. 1 movie was “Hurry Sundown,” while the novel “The Secret of Santa Vittoria” by Robert Crichton topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Now for our weekly question: For which book, later turned into a movie, did James Michener win the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for fiction? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

On this date in 1985, the charity song “We Are The World” was released. Here are some things you may not have known about it. More than a million people died as a result of a widespread famine in Ethiopia between 1983 and 1985, in the midst of more than two decades of insurrection and civil war. In response to this, musician Bob Geldof organized a supergroup of mostly British and Irish musicians called Band Aid to record a charity single called “Do They Know It’s Christmas.” The song ended up raising 8 million pounds in the first year. Inspired by the success, Harry Belafonte decided to organize an American version. Calling the group USA For Africa, the USA standing for United Support of Artists, the group would raise money for African famine relief and to fight hunger in the United States. Belafonte called on entertainment manager Ken Kragen, whose clients included Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers. Stevie Wonder was the third artist to join up.  Quincy Jones was brought on to co-produce the song, and he convinced Michael Jackson to join the effort. Jackson, Richie and Wonder were initially assigned songwriting duties, but Wonder had to drop out because of time constraints. Jackson and Richie spent a week working together on the song. The duo completed writing the song the night before recording was scheduled to begin. On the night of Jan. 22, Jackson, Richie, Wonder and Jones recorded a vocal guide of the song to send to the artists who would be participating in the full recording session about a week later. At about 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 28, musicians began gathering at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood. The final version was completed at about 8 a.m. The song was released on March 7, and went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after two weeks, becoming the second song after “Let It Be” by The Beatles to his No. 1 so quickly. The song topped Billboard’s Adult Contemporary, R&B and Dance charts as well. It hit No. 27 on the Mainstream Rock chart and 76 on the Country Singles chart. A videotape of the recording session ended up being the ninth best-selling home video of the year. The song also topped the charts in 15 other countries, and was the year-end No. 1 hit in Australia and New Zealand. Since its release, the song has raised more than $63 million for USA For Africa’s humanitarian fund. Our question: Who was the only singer on “We Are The World” who also played an instrument on the track? Today is Teachers’ Day in Albania. It’s unofficially National Sportsmanship Day, National Cereal Day, and Peace Corps Day. It’s the birthday of Janet Guthrie, the first woman to race in the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500, who turns 79; actress and comedian Wanda Sykes, who is 53; and actress Jenna Fischer, who is 43. This week in 1985, the top song in the U.S. was “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon. The No. 1 movie was “Beverly Hills Cop,” while the novel “If Tomorrow Comes” by Sidney Sheldon topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: For which book, later turned into a movie, did James Michener win the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for fiction? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_They_Know_It%27s_Christmas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983%E2%80%931985_famine_in_Ethiopia https://www.checkiday.com/3/7/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-07 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=7&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1985_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

On this date in 1899, Bayer registered the name “Aspirin” as a trademark. Here are some things you might not have known about aspirin. Aspirin is also known as acetylsalicylic acid. People have been using willow and myrtle trees, both rich in salicylate for thousands of years to treat pain and fever. Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in the same class as ibuprofen and naproxen. It’s a pain reliever, fever reducer and it fights inflammation. It works by suppressing the production of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Prostaglandins are involved in the transmission of pain information, modulation of the thermostat in the brain and inflammation. Thromboxanes are responsible for the gathering of platelets that cause blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks. It proved difficult and wasteful to extract salicylic acid from plants, but in 1860 Hermann Kolbe figured out how to synthisize it. The synthesized drug had many of the positive effects of aspirin, but had negatives including weakening of the heart, gastric irritation and an intense bitter taste. In 1897, Bayer chemist Felix Hoffmann began working on how to make salicylic acid less irritating. It’s thought he began his research because his father had suffered from the side effects of sodium salicylate used to treat rheumatism. Using existing research, he discovered a better method for creating acetylsalicylic acid. Bayer would credit Hoffman as the inventor of aspirin, when in reality he refined the process of making it. Testing of what would become known as aspirin was delayed by company bureaucracy. It would have to wait even longer because Bayer’s testing department was busy testing diacetylmorphine, which would be become better known as heroin. The name heroin is a reference to the quote “heroic” feelings it gave the testers. Eventually aspirin was tested and was found to have few of the side effects of its predecessors. When it came time to name the drug, there were two final options: aspirin and euspirin. Aspirin was derived from its chemical name in German: Acetylspirsäure. Euspirin had a similar origin, but included the prefix eu- meaning good, as in euphemism. Aspirin was originally sold in powder form. However, this made it difficult to prevent competitors from making confusingly similar products. So Bayer began pressing aspirin into standardized tablets. During World War I, Bayer had its American assets seized, including its name and logo. It was purchased by Sterling Products, Inc. After World War II, aspirin lost market share to new drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. In the 1980s when both new drugs were available over the counter, aspirin had a small portion of the pain reliever market. It was hurt even further by the link of aspirin consumption by children to Reye’s Syndrome, a potentially fatal disease. Soon after, aspirin’s effectiveness at reducing heart attacks was brought to light and the drug regained its place as the top-selling pain reliever in the U.S. In 1994, Bayer purchased Sterling Products and regained use of its name, logo and products in the United States. Our question: What year was heroin made illegal in the United States? Today is Independence Day in Ghana. It’s unofficially Dentist’s Day, National Oreo Cookie Day, and National Frozen Food Day. It’s the birthday of illustrator Will Eisner, who was born in 1917; author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who was born in 1927; and basketball player Shaquille O’Neal, who turns 45. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1979, the top song in the U.S. was “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. The No. 1 movie was “The Deer Hunter,” while the novel “Chesapeake” by our man James Michener topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: For which book, later turned into a movie, did James Michener win the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for fiction? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspirin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_aspirin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_aspiration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonsteroidal_anti-inflammatory_drug https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COX-2_inhibitor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipyretic http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/heroin-timeline.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Heroin_Act_of_1924 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_6 https://www.checkiday.com/3/6/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-06 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=6&y=1979&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1979_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

On this date in 1986, the Australia Act of 1986 came into effect. Here are some things you may not have known about Australia’s independence from the United Kingdom. The Australia Act of 1986 cut the last constitutional ties between Australia and the UK.  The process began in 1901 with the creation of the Dominion of Australia. Dominions were semi-independent, self-governing parts of the British Empire. Dominion status was somewhere between that of a colony and a full-fledged state. The first country to be called a dominion was Canada in 1867. Australia was second, followed by New Zealand and Newfoundland, which was then separate from Canada. The Union of South Africa became a dominion in 1910, followed by the Irish Free State in 1922. Australia established a bicameral federal legislature, a high court and the office of Governor-General, who was the monarch’s representative. The site of the federal capital was also set with a compromise between Melbourne and Sydney leading to the establishment of the new city of Canberra. In 1931, the Statute of Westminster increased the independence of the dominions, cutting almost all ties between them and the UK. It provided that laws made by the British Parliament would only have an effect on a dominion at the request of that dominion. It also allowed the dominions to enact laws that were inconsistent with those of the UK. The statute applied automatically to Canada, the Irish Free State and the Union of South Africa. The other three dominions’ parliaments needed to pass legislation to enact it. Australia didn’t enact the Statute of Westminster until 1942, after British forces were defeated in Singapore, and Australia needed to form its own alliance with the United States. The act was backdated to the beginning of World War II in 1939. The Australia Act ended the last of the British Parliament’s power to legislate in Australia. The British monarch, however continues to be the head of state in Australia. The High Court of Australia has established that March 3, 1986, marks the establishment of Australian independence. Australia remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, along with many former British colonies. Our question: What is the largest country by population that is eligible to be, but is not, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations? Today is World Wildlife Day, Liberation Day in Bulgaria and Girl’s Day in Japan. It’s unofficially World Day of Prayer, National Cold Cuts Day, and What If Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day. It’s the birthday of inventor Alexander Graham Bell, who was born in 1847; actress Jean Harlow, who was born in 1911; and athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who turns 55. This week in 1986, the top song in the U.S. was “Kyrie” by Mr. Mister. The No. 1 movie was “Pretty in Pink,” while the novel “Lake Wobegon Days” by Garrison Keillor topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: What television series had the second-most-watched finale in the U.S.? Our first correct answer was from Celia from Bermuda. We also had correct responses from Alex Thompson, Kevin Lazar and Tom, who didn’t give his last name. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Act_1986 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Westminster_1931 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Westminster_Adoption_Act_1942 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Singapore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_3 https://www.checkiday.com/3/3/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-03 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=3&y=1986&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1986_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1986 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_watched_television_broadcasts_in_the_United_States

On this date in 1933, the film “King Kong” premiered in New York. Here are some things you may not have known about it. “King Kong” is the tale of a wildlife filmmaker and his crew, who stumble upon an enormous gorilla-like ape on an uncharted island off of Indonesia. The ape falls in love with the actress, Ann Darrow, played by Fay Wray. The ape is brought to New York City to be displayed, where he escapes and kidnaps Ann and climbs to the top of the Empire State Building. At the time of production, there weren’t many zoos with primate exhibits, so there was public demand to see the animals. Hollywood filled this need with several jungle-themed adventure movies, including “Tarzan,” and “The Lost World” among others. Among the actresses considered for the role of Ann Darrow were Dorothy Jordan, Jean Harlow and Ginger Rogers. Producers convinced Wray to take the role by promising to put her opposite the “tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood,” whom she took to mean Clark Gable, until she was shown a character design of King Kong. Four models of Kong were built, two of them 18 inches tall, another 24 inches tall, and the last one made of lead and fur for the final scene in which the ape tumbles from the Empire State Building. A version of Kong’s head was built for closeups, however it was completely out of scale with the other models and would indicate that Kong was up to 40-feet tall, rather than his intended 18-foot height. Film historians have rejected accounts that some scenes were filmed with an actor in a gorilla suit.  The film was also the first American talkie to have a feature-length score composed for it. Originally the studio, RKO, planned to reuse other music, but one of the producers paid $50,000 out of his own pocket. The studio later reimbursed him.  The film opened at Radio City Music Hall and RKO’s Roxy theater across the street. The two theaters, which sat a combined capacity of almost 10,000, were sold out for all 10 shows each of the first four days, setting a record for attendance at an indoor event. “King Kong” made a profit of $650,000 on its first run. It was rereleased in 1938, 1942, 1946, 1952 and 1956. Each rerelease was censored more than the previous version. It was selected as the 43rd best movie of the 20th Century by the American Film Institute, and the fourth best fantasy film of the same period. Rotten Tomatoes ranks “King Kong” as the best horror movie and the 20th best film. The film was remade in 1976, starring Jessica Lange as the female lead, and in 2005 with Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow. A rebooted version called “Kong: Skull Island” is set to be released on March 10. Our question: In what country was Fay Wray born? Today is Texas Independence Day and Air Force Day in Sri Lanka. It’s unofficially National Banana Cream Pie Day, and National Old Stuff Day. It’s the birthday of author Dr. Seuss, who was born in 1904; musician Lou Reed, who was born in 1942; and musician Karen Carpenter, who was born in 1950. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1990, the top song in the U.S. was “Escapade” by Janet Jackson. The No. 1 movie was “Driving Miss Daisy,” while the novel “Devices and Desires” by P.D. James topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: What television series had the second-most-watched finale in the U.S.? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on tomorrow’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong_(1933_film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fay_Wray https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardston https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong:_Skull_Island https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_2 https://www.checkiday.com/3/2/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-02 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=2&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1990_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

On this date in 1954, four Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire in the House of Representatives chamber in the United States Capitol building. Here are some things you may not have known about it. The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded in the 1920s in an attempt to secure the island’s independence from the United States. The U.S. had gained possession of Puerto Rico as part of the Treaty of Paris of 1898, which ended the Spanish-American War. The U.S. also acquired Guam, the Philippines and Cuba as part of the treaty. An amendment to the U.S. declaration of war prevented the U.S. from keeping Cuba. The Puerto Rican nationalists argued that their island wasn’t the property of Spain in the first place, so the Spanish couldn’t give the island to the United States.  In 1950, Puerto Rico was made a “Free Associated State,” meaning the people of Puerto Rico could elect their own governor and legislators in a manner similar to full-fledged American states. The U.S. government retained responsibility for defense and foreign relations. In October, the U.S. helped the Puerto Rican National Guard put down a nationalist uprising, which resulted in 28 fatalities. Two days later, two nationalists attempted to assassinate President Harry Truman in Washington, D.C. The attack was unsuccessful, but a White House police officer and one of the attackers were killed. In 1952, 82 percent of Puerto Rican voters decided to accept the new status as a commonwealth. The only other option provided on the ballot was for maintaining direct American rule. Independence was not an option. On March 1, 1954, Lolita Lebrón, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Irvin Flores and Andres Figueroa Cordero smuggled semi-automatic pistols into the visitors’ gallery above the House of Representatives chamber in the U.S. Capitol.  The group recited the Lord’s Prayer, Lebrón stood up and shouted “¡Viva Puerto Rico Libre!” or “Long live a free Puerto Rico” and unfurled a Puerto Rican flag. The group then opened fire. Five congressmen were shot: Alvin Bentley of Michigan, Clifford Davis of Tennessee, Ben F. Jensen of Iowa, George Hyde Fallon of Maryland and Kenneth A. Roberts of Alabama. Bentley was the most severely injured, having been shot in the chest. Lebrón said she fired her gun into the ceiling. It’s reported that Figueroa Cordero’s gun jammed. Cancel Miranda claimed to have fired most of the shots and injured all of the congressmen.  The nationalists were immediately arrested. After her arrest, Lebrón said, “I did not come to kill anyone, I came to die for Puerto Rico.” All of the wounded congressmen survived their injuries. The four nationalists were convicted of attempted murder and conspiracy. Each of them except Cancel Miranda were given 76-year sentences. Cancel Miranda, who was considered to be the primary shooter, was sentenced to 85 years in prison and sent to Alcatraz. Figueroa Cordero was released from prison in 1978, the others were pardoned in 1979. Cancel Miranda is the only surviving participant of  the plot. He’s 86 years old and lives in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.  Since 1967, there have been four referendums on the status of Puerto Rico. Maintaining the commonwealth and pursuing statehood have been the top vote getters. Another referendum is scheduled for June 11, 2017. The only options on the ballot will be statehood or independence/free association. Our question: What are the names of the other three major islands in the Greater Antilles? Today is Ash Wednesday, World Civil Defense Day, Independence Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Heroes’ Day in Paraguay. It’s unofficially National Pig Day, National Fruit Compote Day, and World Math Day. It’s the birthday of bandleader Glenn Miller, who was born in 1904; musician Harry Belafonte, who is 90; and actor and director Ron Howard, who is 63. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1973, the top song in the U.S. was “Killing Me Softly With His Song” by Roberta Flack. The No. 1 movie was “Walking Tall,” while the novel “Jonathan Livingston Seagul” by Richard Bach topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  With as often as they’re mentioned, Richard Bach and James Michener should be paying for advertising on this show. Weekly question: What series had the second-most-watched finale on U.S. TV? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode.   Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol_shooting_incident_(1954) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rican_constitutional_referendum,_1952 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Cancel_Miranda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rican_status_referendum,_2017 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_(1898) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teller_Amendment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1 https://www.checkiday.com/3/1/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-march-01 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=3&d=1&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1973_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1972

On this date in 1983, the series finale of the television show “MASH” aired in the United States. Here are some things you may not have known about the most-watched scripted television episode in American history. The final episode of the series was called “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.” The comedy/drama ran for 11 seasons, eight years longer than the Korean War in which it was set. The 2 1/2-hour episode begins with Hawkeye Pierce suffering from a nervous breakdown. During the episode he recovers and rejoins the 4077th as the news of a ceasefire reaches the camp. The rest of the episode deals with the characters saying goodbye to one another. It ends with Pierce on a helicopter seeing that his tentmate and fellow surgeon B.J. Hunnicutt, who had trouble saying farewell, had arranged a number of large number of stones to read “GOODBYE.” Because of the overwhelming interest in the episode, CBS was able change $450,000 for a 30-second commercial block, which was more expensive than time during the Super Bowl that year.  Almost 106 million people watched the episode, making it the most-watched television program in American television history. The episode would have had even higher ratings, if not for a power outage in the San Francisco area which prevented many viewers from seeing the finale. It ran again three weeks later on the CBS affiliate in the Bay Area. Eight Super Bowls have since eclipsed the “MASH” finale in terms of viewership, although it retains the record for scripted programming. Determining a global record isn’t easy. Some countries don’t have reliable estimates for viewership. The most-reliable numbers indicate that the global record for the most-watched television event was the first moon landing in 1969. It’s estimated that 530 million people saw Neil Armstrong walk on the lunar surface. The 2006 FIFA World Cup Final audience was estimated to be about 260 million viewers. Over the course of two weeks, it is estimated that up to 5 billion people, about 70 percent of the world’s population, watched some part of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Our question: What show had the longest run of seasons as the No. 1 show in the U.S.? Today is Mardi Gras and Shrove Tuesday, marking the last day before the start of Lent.  It’s unofficially International Pancake Day, which is related to Shrove Tuesday celebrations; National Science Day; and National Chocolate Souffle Day. It’s the birthday of gagster Bugsy Siegel, who was born in 1906; actor Zero Mostel, who was born in 1915; and race car driver Mario Andretti, who is 77. This week in 1983, the top song in the U.S. was “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. The No. 1 movie was “Tootsie,” while the novel “Space” by James Michener topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Now for our weekly question: What series had the second-most-watched finale in the U.S.? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_28 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodbye,_Farewell_and_Amen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M*A*S*H_(TV_series) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_watched_television_broadcasts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_watched_television_broadcasts_in_the_United_States https://www.checkiday.com/2/28/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-february-28 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1983_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1983

On this date in 1942, anti-aircraft guns blazed over the city of Los Angeles during what was eventually determined to be a false alarm. Here are some things you might not have known about “The Battle of Los Angeles.” The United States was three months into its involvement in World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. California was especially on edge, as the night before a Japanese submarine opened fire on an oil refinery near Santa Barbara, California. Air raid sirens began sounding in Los Angeles County on the night of February 24. Air raid wardens were summoned to their positions and at 3:16 a.m., the 37th Coast Artillery Brigade began firing its .50 caliber machine guns and 12.8-pound anti-aircraft shells at the reported invading aircraft. The anti-aircraft fire continued for almost an hour. More than 1,400 shells were fired. The all-clear was given at 7:21 a.m. Five people died as an indirect result of the chaos. Three people died in car accidents, and two others died of heart attacks. Many buildings and vehicles were damaged. The next day, the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, held a news conference blaming the entire incident on anxiety and “war nerves.” Some news outlets suspected a coverup. Other people suspected UFOs. In 1983, the U.S. Office of Air Force History said the Battle of Los Angeles was triggered by a stray weather balloon along with war anxiety. Following the war, the Japanese said they did not have any planes in the area.   Our question: Who directed the movie “1941” that was loosely based on the Battle of Los Angeles?  Today is Independence Day in Estonia, Flag Day in Mexico, and Engineer’s Day in Iran. It’s unofficially World Bartender Day, National Tortilla Chip Day, and National Trading Card Day. It’s the birthday of artist Winslow Homer, who was born in 1836; Admiral Chester Nimitz, who was born in 1885; and Apple founder Steve Jobs, who was born in 1955. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1997, the top song in the U.S. was “Wannabe” by The Spice Girls. The No. 1 movie was “The Empire Strikes Back (Special Edition),” while the novel “Hornet’s Nest” by Patricia Cornwell topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Thanks to Ned_Starks_Bastards for the five-star review on iTunes. If you haven’t rated the show yet, head over there and help us out. You can also support the show on Patreon at triviapeople.com/support.  Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_24 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Los_Angeles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardment_of_Ellwood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1941_(film) https://www.checkiday.com/2/24/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-february-24 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1997_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1997

On this date in 1886,  Charles Martin Hall used an economical method to produce aluminum for the first time. Here are some things you may not have known about it. Aluminum is the third most common element in the Earth’s crust, and the most common metal. Aluminum compounds occur naturally, and have been used in clay pottery for thousands of years. However aluminum proved difficult to isolate because of its high affinity for oxygen. Metallic aluminum never occurs in nature. In the first half of the 19th century, scientists made strides in isolating  aluminum, but the process remained difficult. At the time, aluminum was a semiprecious metal with a price comparable to silver. It was so highly regarded that a six-pound pyramid of aluminum was used as the tip of the Washington Monument, which was completed in 1884. Charles Martin Hall was born in 1863 in Ohio.  While attending Oberlin College, he attended a lecture on aluminum. The professor, Frank Fanning Jewett, touted the possibilities of the metal as a material and as a way for the person who commercialized the production to make a fortune.  Over the course of the next three years, Hall, along with his sister Julia Brainerd Hall, conducted experiments but found no success.  In 1886, using a system in which an electrical current is passed through molten aluminum oxide dissolved in cryolite, Hall discovered several small accumulations of shiny metal at the bottom of crucible. He took them to Professor Jewett, who confirmed it was aluminum. At almost the same time in France, Paul Heroult made the same discovery. The process is now known as the Hall-Heroult process. Hall was awarded the U.S. patent for the process and went on to form the Aluminum Company of America, which became Alcoa.  Just as Jewett predicted, Hall became wealthy by his discovery. He served as a trustee of Oberlin College, which erected a statue of him, fittingly made of aluminum. Because of its light weight, the statue was frequently stolen as a student prank. It’s now glued to a large granite block inside a science building on campus. Hall died in 1914 at the age of 51. Aluminum became the first metal to come into widespread use since iron in prehistory, and it’s the most widely used non-ferrous metal. Almost 59 million metric tons of aluminum were produced in 2016. If you’re not located in North America, you’re probably annoyed by my pronunciation of aluminum. In the rest of the English-speaking world, the metal is referred to as aluminium. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first word used to refer to the element was alumium. The man who discovered aluminum used the now-North American word, but it was rejected by the British in favor of a construction similar to other then-newly discovered elements like potassium, sodium and magnesium. Our question: What country produces the most aluminum today? Today is National Day in Brunei. It’s unofficially National Chili Day, Play Tennis Day and National Banana Bread Day. It’s the birthday of composer George Handel, who was born in 1685; civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, who was born in 1868; and comedian Aziz Ansari, who turns 34. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1977, the top song in the U.S. was “New Kid in Town” by The Eagles. The No. 1 movie was “Rocky,” while the novel “Trinity” by Leon Uris topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: Who is the most prolific inventor, in terms of total number of patents? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on tomorrow’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_23 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Martin_Hall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Héroult https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_oxide https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/aluminumprocess.html http://www.world-aluminium.org/statistics/#histogram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoa https://www.checkiday.com/2/23/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-february-23 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=2&d=23&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1977_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1977

On this date in 1959, Lee Petty won the first Daytona 500. Here are some things you may not have known about stock car racing’s crown jewel. The Daytona 500 is the direct descendant of earlier races held on the Daytona Beach Road Course. Stock car races were held on a stretch of Daytona Beach and an adjacent stretch of highway. The first stock car race held on the course took place in 1936. NASCAR, the stock car sanctioning body, was formed in 1948, and its top series included races on the beach course until 1958. Five years prior to the final beach race, Bill France Sr., the founder of NASCAR, began planning a paved 2 1/2-mile superspeedway called Daytona International Speedway. Construction began in 1957, on the high-banked oval. The banking proved to be a construction hurdle, as normal paving equipment couldn’t stand upright on the 31-degree turns. The track’s architect, Charles Moneypenny, designed a system that anchored the equipment from the top of the banking. He later patented the method.  The first race drew 42,000 fans to the new facility, where they saw Lee Petty beat Johnny Beauchamp in a photo finish that wasn’t decided for three days.  The Daytona 500 wasn’t the first 500-mile NASCAR race. The first Southern 500 was held in Darlington, South Carolina, in 1950. 1974 saw the only time the Daytona 500 was not a true 500-mile race. As a result of the oil embargo, the race was shortened to 450 miles. Officials did this by symbolically starting the race on the 21st lap. Lee Petty’s son, Richard Petty, would go on to win the race a record seven times between 1964 and 1981. 11 drivers have won the race more than once. Chevrolet is the winningest manufacturer with 23 victories, ahead of Ford with 14 victories. The youngest driver to win the Daytona 500 was Trevor Bayne, who was 20 years and one day old in 2011. The oldest was Bobby Allison, who won it in 1988 at 50 years and 73 days. Our question: Who is the only driver born outside the United States to win the Daytona 500? Today is Independence Day in Saint Lucia. It’s unofficially Be Humble Day, Walking the Dog Day, and Margarita Day. It’s the birthday of George Washington, who was born in 1732; founder of the Boy Scouts Robert Baden-Powell, who was born in 1857; and basketball legend Julius Erving, who is 67. This week in 1959, the top song in the U.S. was “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price. The top grossing film was was “Ben-Hur,” while the novel “Doctor Zhivago” by Boris Pasternak topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: Who is the most prolific inventor, in terms of total number of patents? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode. Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytona_500 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytona_500_history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytona_Beach_and_Road_Course https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_France_Sr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytona_International_Speedway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bojangles%27_Southern_500 https://www.checkiday.com/2/22/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-february-22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1959_in_film http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=2&d=22&y=1940&o= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1959

On this date in 1947, Edwin Land demonstrated the first instant camera. Here are some things you may not have known about the Polaroid Land Camera. Edwin Land was born in 1909 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After one year of studying chemistry at Harvard, he dropped out to move to New York and work on his own. While in New York, he invented an inexpensive way of polarizing light for sunglasses and scientific work. He did this despite not having a laboratory of his own by sneaking into Columbia University late at night and doing his reading in the New York Public Library. After inventing the polarizing film, which he called Polaroid film, he returned to Harvard. Land, however, wasn’t motivated by earning a degree, he was interested in solving problems. His wife would get him to answer homework answers, write it up, and turn it in so he wouldn’t fail the course. He left Harvard again to start a new company with his physics instructor George Wheelwright. The company, called the Polaroid Corporation, worked to commercialize Land’s previous invention and find new uses for it. This included jukebox displays, 3D glass and photographic filters. In 1947, Land demonstrated his instant camera, which he called the Land Camera. The original camera used a process called diffusion transfer to move dyes from a negative image to a positive image using a reagent. The negative would be exposed inside the camera, then aligned with a positive sheet and squeezed through rollers with a chemical between the layers that would develop the image. After a minute, the back of the camera was opened and the positive could be peeled away from the negative. The first commercial batch of the Land Camera went on sale for Christmas in 1948. 60 cameras were manufactured, 57 of them sold at the Jordan Marsh department store in Boston. All 57 of the cameras sold out on the first day. They cost $89.75 each. Land was driven in his research. He took few breaks and had to be reminded to eat. He had teams of assistants working with him that would rotate in and out through the day. It was said that he wore the same clothes for 18 straight days while focused on overcoming a problem with one of his inventions. Eventually, Land and Polaroid improved on the developing process, which had fewer steps and worked faster. The 1 millionth Polaroid camera was sold in 1956. Color film was introduced in 1963. In 1978, Polaroid introduced an instant color motion picture system, just as videotape-based systems were debuting. Polaroid’s entry was not a success. Land retired as CEO of Polaroid in 1980. He died in 1991 at the age of 82. Over his lifetime, he amassed 535 patents.  In 2001, Polaroid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company name survives today, but it stopped making instant cameras in 2007 and stopped making film in 2009. Our question: Who was hired as Polaroid’s first film consultant in 1949? Today is Armed Forces Day in South Africa and the Birthday of King Harald V in Norway. It’s unofficially Single Tasking Day, and National Sticky Bun Day. It’s the birthday of civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman John Lewis, who is 77; actor Alan Rickman, who was born in 1946; and writer David Foster Wallace, who was born in 1962. Because our topic happened before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1972, the top song in the U.S. was “Without You” by Harry Nilsson. The No. 1 movie was “Cabaret,” while the novel “The Winds of War” by Herman Wouk topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Weekly question: What’s the name of the most prolific inventor, in terms of total number of patents? Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we’ll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner’s wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday’s episode.  Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here. Subscribe on iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9  Subscribe on Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m  Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_21 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_camera https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaroid_Corporation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_H._Land https://www.bu.edu/prc/forms/polatimeline.pdf https://www.checkiday.com/2/21/2017 http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-february-21 http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1972_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1972