Balderdash 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: They created that coil- like toy The Slinky in 1943. Actually he invented it and his wife Betty came up with what to name it.

I just loved my Slinky when little. I'll confess that I still dust it off occasionally all these years later. Mr. and Mrs. James developed it in 1948. He was a successful mechanical engineer and discovered the toy completely by accident. Betty got the job of naming it, doing that after a word of Swedish origin meaning 'stealthy, sleek and sinuous'.

It has become multiply-used as it went. The simple little Slinky has been used in pecan picking devices in Texas and Alabama, on lighting fixtures in Harrah's Casino in Las Vegas (because of the unusual shadows it casts), as drapery holders, bird repellers, therapeutic devices, gutter protectors, even makeshift radio antennae in the Vietnam war! The other three answers are completely fictional.

Answer: Easy one. That'd be "Kitty Litter". A fellow named Ed Lowe is responsible for it - he felt that there had to be a more sensible way for Whiskers to relieve himself other than into sand or ashes.

Yes, someone has the patent on "Kitty Litter". Mr. Lowe, after being released from military service, went home and joined his father's company (called 'Fuller's Earth' in St. Louis, Missouri). They sold industrial absorbents there. In 1947 young Mr. Lowe was approached by a neighbor, wondering if there was a better thing to fill her cat's litter box with.

He came up with this blend of ingredients that made litter box maintenence much more efficient. He took it to a pet store, in ten pound bags, and gave it away since he thought that the cost of this concoction would never sell next to bag of sand that was nearly free (and he was only hoping to charge 65 cents!). Very soon cat owners were happily willing to pay up.

The rest is kitty history.

Answer: He left his heart in San Francisco! But he learned how to use a brush and colors on paper soon after. That's Tony Bennett.

Anthony Bennedetto was born in Queens, New York in 1926. He began singing at the age of just 10. Initially he went to art school, but changed his mind and pursued a singing career. Now he is a famous crooner, pretty much unmatched for a fellow with a 50 year career. He has a lot of artwork, though, as well. A multi-talent, that Tony Bennett!

Answer: Ugh! Those things give me the creeps - but it is a type of tarantula. Nasty little critters.

It's a tarantula which can pack a mean bite. While not fatal, swelling and numbness can last for weeks if one gets you. Tarantulas typically catch insects which they tear to pieces and roll into a large "food ball". They then gush digestive fluids onto it and then slurp down this ghastly bug stew. Strangely (at least in my opinion) some people like to keep these things as pets.

Answer: It wouldn't be at all good without cranberry juice.

The regular ingredients of this potable are Peach Schnapps (not Peppermint), Vodka, Orange juice, Pineapple juice and Cranberry juice.

Answer: "The Misfits" is the answer. Both Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe died after finishing it.

Any real (obsessed? :)) movie fan probably had this one right at the reading of the question. "The Misfits" (1961) was an actually very interesting movie - there was a 'pain' to it, though. Almost as if Gable and Monroe were finishing up their time, and knew it. "The Whales Of August" would be a close 'correct' here but Bette Davis had one later movie: "The Wicked Stepmother". I, for one, miss all mentioned in this question.

Answer: That would include Betsy Ross. A seamstress of infamy. She made the first American flag.

Of those, only one was born on January 1. The only real 'for sure' thing about Betsy Ross is that she was born on 1-1-1752. She passed away in 1836. As for the flag - it has really never been proven that she sewed it. She was very able at sewing and it sounds good, but aside from an historical assignment, no one knows for sure. Ms. Ross was actually married 3 times and gave birth to 7 daughters.

Answer: No one gets the day off from work but that is 'Get A Different Name Day'. Someone came up with it for those people who think their names are boring.

It really is "Get A Different Name Day" [I really love looking up this stuff...]. Apparently it began, or was at least practiced widely, in Nebraska USA. The whole idea is to take your name, if you find it dull, and change it for 24 hours. All friends, co-workers and family members must refer to you using the new title. Come February 13 I'd like to be referred to as George Clooney, incidentally.

Answer: His name was Gary Moonert. And I have nothing humorous to say about this one.

Even asking this seems macabre to me. I think it is pretty safe to say that AIDS has landed in all of our back yard, some way or other. What a horrible thing to deal with! But awareness matters. The Quilt is a wonderful start! There are many floating around out there now. But, in the first, Moonert had the top spot on it.

It started as a result of AIDS Awareneness Day - that falls (or fell) on December 1.

Answer: Around 275, I think. If you are talking about just a 2 oz. bar of it, that is.

It's approximately 275 kilocalories (give or take). A calorie is an amount of energy that is needed to raise the temperature of the body by one gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. And you thought they would just make your waist expand, didn't you? They do do that, but they are handleable numbers, for sure.

I had a blast writing most of this! I really hope you all enjoy it!