Trivia Potpourri: 10 Questions from 10 Categories Quiz

Answer: President William Clinton

The actual name of the bill is "The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993". President Clinton signed the bill into law on November 30, 1993, and it officially took effect February 28, 1994. The bill allows for a five day hiatus while the FBI checks into the background of anyone who has applied to buy a handgun. Hinkley's bizzare attempt was made to impress actress Jodie Foster, whom he had become fixated on after seeing her in "Taxi Driver" (1976). Along with injuring Reagan and Brady, Hinkley also wounded D.C. police officer Thomas Delahanty and Tim McCarthy, a member of Reagan's secret service team.

Answer: Minnesota

Prior to becoming a state, Minnesota (MN) had been a U.S. territory since 1849.
Saint Paul is the state capital and Minneapolis is its largest city. Together they are commonly referred to as "The Twin Cities". During the Civil War, MN fought as part of the Union Army. Minnesota is the 12th largest state, encompassing some 87,000 square miles.

Author Garrison Keiler, actor James ("Gunsmoke") Arness, Olympic gold medal winning hockey coach Herb Brooks, Chief Justice Warren Burger, and singer-musician Bob Dylan were all born in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes".

Interesting fact: Democrat Henry Sibley, the first governor of the state, was not a native of Minnesota but rather of Detroit, Michigan.

Answer: Fats Domino

Antoine "Fats" Domino was not delivered by a stork, but rather by his grandmother. She birthed him in the family home on February 26, 1928, in the town where he grew up in and lived for over 80 years, N'Awlins, LA. The Fat Man (a term of endearment) has been entertaining millions for over six decades.
He found his thrill on "Blueberry Hill" in 1956, sang about a "Blue Monday" (1956), suffered a "Blue Christmas" in 1993*, came up with "I'm Walkin'" during 1957 as well as finding himself "Walking to New Orleans" in 1960.
*"Blue Christmas" was a featured track on his "Christmas Gumbo" album.
His signature song, "Blueberry Hill", sat atop the R&B charts for almost three months in 1956-1957. In just those two years, over five million copies were sold around the world.

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

The man on the U.S $100 dollar bill said: "Remember that time is money" in an 1748 essay entitled "Advice to a Young Tradesman".
Here are a few of Oscar Wilde's quotes, which I think you'll enjoy:
"Work is the curse of the drinking class".
"I can resist anything but temptation".
"Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative".
And I love this one from the old-time comedian, Joe E. Lewis: "I know a lot more old drunks than old doctors".

Interesting fact: Another famous quote from Ben Franklin is: "Nothing is certain except death and taxes."

Answer: Johnny Podres

The young left-hander blanked the mighty Yankees on his 23rd birthday. It was his second win of that year's Fall Classic. Podres had previously gone the distance to win game three by a score of 7-3. That was more than enough to earn him Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year Award.
He finished with a career record of 148 wins against 116 loses.
Johnny Podres died at the age of 75 on January 13, 2008, but his legend will live in Brooklyn forever.

Answer: The Old Man and the Sea

"The Old Man and the Sea" is a novella that tells the tale of Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman who has gone 12 weeks without catching a fish. He regales his young admirer, Manolin, with stories of American baseball and specifically about his hero, "the great DiMaggio". (Joe DiMaggio of the N.Y. Yankees).
The other books mentioned are all works of fiction with the exception of "Death in the Afternoon" (1932), which is a piece of non-fiction, dealing with the grandeur and controversy surrounding the sport of bullfighting.

Interesting fact: "The Old Man and the Sea" also won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.

Answer: Bernie Taupin

After collaborating with Elton John on "Candle in the Wind" (1993), Taupin re-wrote it as an homage to Princess Diana of Wales, upon her death in 1997. (The original version was a tribute to American actress Marilyn Monroe). The 1997 version has sold over 30 million copies, was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 list for 14 weeks. Elton John entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Interesting fact: Bernie Taupin tried a turn as a singer himself, and recorded an album in 1980 entitled, "He Who Rides the Tiger". The reviews basically said "don't quit your day job", which worked out brilliantly for the dynamic duo.

Answer: Billy Bob Thornton

I am a native of Hot Springs, AR where I was born August 4, 1955. After playing drums with the band for a while in the mid-80's, I headed for Hollywood. I won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for my work on "Sling Blade" (1996). From 2000-2003 I was married to actress Angelina Jolie. If you're so inclined, you can view my star on the HWOF at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. Mickey Rooney, although nominated four times, never won an Oscar, and Richard Burton went Oscar-less despite seven nominations.
As far as the glamorous wives go, Burton was married to Elizabeth Taylor (twice) and both Sinatra and Rooney were wed to Ava Gardner.

Interesting fact: At one time Billy Bob Thornton thought about a career as a major league baseball player and even had a try-out with the Kansas City Royals of the American League.

Answer: Tom Hulce

Tom Hulce beat out Waterston as well as Tim Curry and Mel Gibson who also auditioned for the role. Among the Oscars the movie won were those of Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (F. Murray Abraham), and Best Director (Milos Foreman). Tom Hulce received a nomination for Best Actor as well.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart accomplished much in a life that lasted just 35 years (1756-1791). "Some of his best-known works include "The Marriage of Figaro", "The Magic Flute", "Cosi fan tutti", and "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" ("A Little Night Music").

Interesting fact: Just six years earlier Tom Hulce played a somewhat different role in a popular comedy flick. He was Larry Kruger ("Pinto") in "National Lampoon's Animal House" (1978).

Answer: Argentina

Argentina's Mount Aconcagua is the tallest peak in the Andes Mountains.
The range runs through Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Oddly, Brazil, the largest country in S.A., is not touched by the Andes, nor are Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname (the smallest country), or Uruguay. The Andes contain over 50 volcanos that tower at least 6,000 feet in height.

Interesting facts: South America is home to Angel Falls in Venezuela, the world's highest waterfall, as well as to La Paz, Bolivia, the highest capital city in the world.