Cool Zooms, Part XXI Trivia Quiz

Answer: Unicorn

Every year, the English Department at Lake Superior State University (LSSU) produces a list of "Banished Words". These are words which are misused, overused or are generally useless. This and several other initiatives were the brain children of W. T. (Bill) Rabe, former Public Relations Director of LSSU.

The Unicorn Hunters started in 1971. To gain publicity for the newly established LSSU, Rabe and the English Department created events such as Snowman Burning, World Sauntering Day, a Stone Skipping Tournament, Teacher Thank You Week and Unicorn Questing Season. Licences for the latter are still available on the LSSU website.

Scotland's national animal is the unicorn, with National Unicorn Day being commemorated on April 9th. The unicorn appeared on William I's (William the Lion) coat of arms in the 12th Century. James II of Scotland supported legends about unicorns and they became the symbols of Scottish royalty and nobility in the 15th Century.

Phoenix Rising's psnz can only admire people with lateral thinking abilities.

Answer: Redheads

People who appreciate the beauty of a carrot-top, ginger, auburn \, copper-nut, Titian or Bluey are rutiluphiles.

Red hair only occurs in 1-2% of the world's population. It is more prevalent in north to north-western Europe, and is due to a recessive allele on chromosome 16.
The red colouration is due to a pigment called pheomelanin.

Around 6% of the population of Scotland has red hair, with Edinburgh having the highest concentration of people carrying the red head gene.

smpdit's husband is a red head. No hair, just a red head. He was not much help in writing this question.

Answer: Celine Dion

Celine Dion is an avid golfer and the purchase of this course, for a reported $15 million, is another in her entrepreneurial endeavours outside of music. She was also the founder of the Nickels chain of restaurants, owns the famous Schwartz's Restaurant in Montreal and became a part owner of the Pure nightclub in Caesar's Palace.

Club de Golf Le Mirage is situated thirty eight kilometres north of Montreal and its two courses were constructed by renowned golf architect Graham Cooke. The "Arizona" course is a desert style that stretches for 6,384 yards. However, its sister course, the Carolina, is the more celebrated of the two. Running longer, it boasts a waterfall on the fourteenth hole and look out for the par three on the seventeenth... the green is perched on an island.

The obvious links (pun so intended) to Scotland is golf. The first golf club was Scottish. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers was founded in 1744 at Leith Links. Then, in 1754, The Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews would set the standard of the 18 hole golf course.

This question was driven by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who claims that it takes a lot of balls to play golf the way he does.

Answer: James I

James I of England was also James VI of Scotland. His parents were Mary, Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart (Lord Darnley). The English and Scottish crowns were unified in 1603 and he ruled until his death in 1625.

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was a scheme by English Catholics to blow up parliament and assassinate the King. The Catholics were unhappy with the lack of religious freedom under James I and their scheme, led by Robert Catesby, would have seen James' young daughter Elizabeth installed as a Catholic head of state.

An anonymous letter to the authorities revealed the plot. The conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, were arrested, tried and put to death. The events are still commemorated to the present, with Guy Fawkes' Day on November 5th.

Phoenix Rising's psnz avoids "celebrating" this event, given the effect of fireworks on domestic animals.

Answer: Echo

The myth of Echo and Narcissus comes from the Roman poet Ovid's "Metamorphoses". Echo was a "talkative" mountain nymph admired for her voice and song. When Juno realized that Echo was distracting her with lengthy conversation to aid and abet the philandering Jupiter, she doomed the nymph to repeat only the last words spoken to her. Later, Echo espied the beautiful Narcissus and instantly fell in love. The curse complicated things for her, and Narcissus would ultimately reject her. He wasted away pining over his own reflection, and Echo, despite being spurned, followed suit.

The world record for longest echo in a man-made structure was broken in 2014 when a pistol blank fired in the disused Inchindown oil storage complex in Invergordon, Scotland reverberated for 112 seconds. The previous record of 15 seconds was set in 1970 when the bronze doors at the Hamilton Mausoleum in Hamilton, Scotland were slammed shut.

This question was contributed by Phoenix Rising's JCSon...son...son...son...son.

Answer: Backdraft

A backdraft can be very dangerous to firefighters or individuals trying to escape from a fire. Simply opening a door or a window can introduce oxygen into an oxygen-depleted area and cause a backdraft. Firefighters often try to ventilate rooms from their highest points to allow heat and smoke to dissipate without igniting to avoid a backdraft from occurring.

The world's first municipal fire brigade was formed in Edinburgh in 1824. In 1991 the popular film "Backdraft" was released. It followed the story of firefighters from the city of Chicago who extinguished the blazes caused by an arsonist, and their attempts to catch him. The film was critically and commercially successful and it featured the acting talents of Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

With the addition of oxygen and undergoing combustion this question was fired into the quiz by Phoenix Rising team member Triviaballer who admires the work of all firefighters and first responders.

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Talk about doing it "My Way". Sinatra's family placed this range of items in "Ol' Blue Eyes'" coffin, feeling that he would like and/or need these things with him in the after-life. The Tootsie Rolls and cherry flavoured Life-Savers were favourites of his, the dog biscuits so that he could feed the dogs in Heaven and the dimes were in the event that he needed to call family and friends from the beyond. The most famous of the items, however, was the bottle of Jack Daniels. Sinatra had a particular fondness for the drink, which he was introduced to by comedian Jackie Gleason, even referring to it as the "nectar of the gods". Jack Daniels featured the fact that Sinatra was buried with the drink in subsequent advertising and even created a range of whiskey they labelled as "Sinatra Select".

The connection to Scotland is a tenuous one and it is through Sinatra's nickname - "Ol' Blue Eyes". DNA studies have proven that, amongst members of the United Kingdom, the Scots have the greater number of people carrying the blue-eyed gene. Approximately 57% of Scots are blessed with this gene compared to an average of 48% across the rest of the nation.

This question was unearthed by Phoenix Rising's brown-eyed (er) handsome man, pollucci19.

Answer: FIFA

Based on association football (soccer), FIFA is a highly successful simulation video game series released annually since 1993 under the EA Sports label. By 2019, the series had sold more than 280 million copies worldwide. Swierczewski appeared on the cover of the first game in the series (later dubbed "FIFA 94"), and Moller was featured on the German release of "FIFA: Road to World Cup 98". Nakata made the covers of the Japanese release of "FIFA 99", "FIFA 2000", and "FIFA Football 2002". Spanish former professional player and manager Pep Guardiola made Spain's version of "FIFA 2000". The video game is named after the sport's highest governing body, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

FIFA (the governing body) officially recognizes an 1872 friendly game between England and Scotland in Glasgow as association football's first-ever international match.

Since 1994, Phoenix Rising's JCSon has spent an untold number of hours playing FIFA games, these days inserting a much cooler and better skilled version of himself into the game as a player in career mode.

Answer: Perth

Covering some 400 hectares (a little under 1,000 acres) Kings Park boasts a commanding view over Western Australia's capital city and waterways. Two thirds of the land has been preserved as native bushland while the rest plays host to, amongst others, WA's state war memorial, a tribute to victims of the Bali bombings and an eighteen hectare botanical garden. Committed to conservation and designed by John Oldham, this garden is home to over 2,000 species of WA's stunning flora.

Kings Park boasts that it is the largest "inner city" (as distinct from urban or municipal) park in the world. By comparison, New York's Central Park covers 341 hectares (843 acres).
The Scottish connection here is that there is also a Perth in Scotland but, alas, no Kings Park like this one.

This question was parked here by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19, who was raised in Perth and remembers many gruelling pre-season football training runs up and down the hills of Mount Eliza.

Answer: The French Connection

"The French Connection" is a 1971 action/thriller film that sees two New York city detectives on the trail of a French heroin smuggler named Alain Charnier. Gene Hackman won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, while his police partner, Buddy "Cloudy" Russo, was played by Roy Scheider.

Morgan Freeman is Capt. Jack Doyle in "Gone Baby Gone" (2007), James Marsden is Kevin Doyle in "27 Dresses" (2008) and Jim Doughan is an inept Detective Doyle in "The Mask" (1994). None of them had a partner named Cloudy. Historically, the French connection referenced is also known as the "Auld Alliance" when the French allied themselves with the Scots in their battles against the English.

This question was brought to you by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who has absolutely no connection with either the Scots, the French or Gene Hackman.

Answer: Motorola

The world's first mobile phone call was made on 3rd April 1973 when Motorola executive and researcher, Martin Cooper, rang Joel Engel of rival Bell Laboratories. Cooper's phone weighed 1.1 kg and took 10 hours to recharge. The world of communications changed that day...

It is commonly believed the telephone was invented by Scottish-born Alexander Graham Bell, who patented the device in the USA in 1876 although earlier prototypes date back to the 1850s.

This question rung in long distance from PR member MikeMaster99, who now finds it more difficult to wait for someone else to answer the phone when it is already in his jacket pocket!

Answer: Rabbits

Okunoshima ('Rabbit Island' in Japanese) has a human population of about 20, all employees of the tourist hotel; however, the main occupants of the small island are feral rabbits. They are the main attraction and have no fear of humans. The island was also home to a WWII poison gas factory, which is still regarded as being toxic.
There is also a Rabbit Island in the far north of Scotland. It is just off the coast from Tongue, and not far from the famous John o' Groats.
Question submitted by ozzz2002, who remembers when rabbit in Australia was known as 'underground mutton'.

Answer: Malbork Castle in Poland

Located about 60km from present day Gdansk in northern Poland, Malbork Castle is the largest castle in the world. The castle was founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Knights. The castle was their headquarters to help defeat Polish enemies (despite being on Polish soil) and rule their own northern Baltic territories particularly Lithuania. The castle was expanded several times to house the growing number of Knights until the Polish Kings started to overcome the Germanic order starting in 1410. By 1466 the knights had retreated to Konigsberg. At 143,591 square meters, it is twice as large by area as the second largest castle which is Prague Castle in Czechia.

Windsor Castle at 54,835 square metres is the largest castle in Britain and is the residence of the Queen at times.
Himeji Castle (41,468 sw. m - 8th biggest in the world) is one of Japan's most beautiful castles. It is only one of a few left in Japan that was not harmed through civil war, earthquakes and bombings.

Edinburgh Castle is the world's tenth biggest and sits on an extinct volcanic crag overlooking the city. It is one of at least 2000 castles in Scotland, the country with the most castles in the world.

This question was defended and fortified by Phoenix Rising Team Member 1nn1.

Answer: "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (Roy Neary)

Steve McQueen was Steven Spielberg's first choice for the role of Roy Neary. Spielberg wanted him so badly for the role that he even approached McQueen himself and presented him with the script. Though McQueen was impressed with the script he saw that the role would require the actor to cry on cue and that was something he felt he couldn't do. A number of other actors were then sought by Spielberg, among them Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, and Gene Hackman, all of whom turned down the part.

The part would eventually go to Richard Dreyfuss who, Spielberg reflected in Joseph McBride's 1997 biography of him, talked him into giving him the part while they were filming "Jaws" (1975). In the Columbia Pictures documentary "The Making of Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1997), Dreyfuss confirmed this "I launched myself into a campaign to get the part. I would walk by Steve's office and say stuff like 'Al Pacino has no sense of humour' or 'Jack Nicholson is too crazy'. I eventually convinced him to cast me."

All of other films above were released in 1981. The inspiration for this question comes from the Falkirk Triangle, an area that covers the sky above Falkirk, Glasgow and Edinburgh, where there are so many UFO sightings reported that it's become a hot-spot to rival Roswell.

This encounter was presented by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19.

Answer: Ewan McGregor

Scottish actor, singer and director Ewan McGregor was awarded an OBE in 2013 for services to drama and charity. He won the French award in 2010 as recognition of significant contributions to the arts.
Ewan is well known for his roles in films such as "Trainspotting", "Moulin Rouge", where he showcased his singing talents, and for his role as Obi Wan Kenobi in the "Star Wars" prequels.
His charity work as ambassador for UNICEF has included productions such as 'Long Way Down', a motorcycle journey, highlighting some of their works in Ukraine and Mongolia.

smpdit awarded this question an MBE -More Beautiful Education.

Answer: "The No1 Ladies Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith

Set in Botswana, "The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency" is a series of books by author Alexander McCall Smith. The protagonist, Mma Precious Ramotswe, sets up a detective agency in Gabarone to solve cases for women whose husbands or family members have gone missing.

Alexander McCall Smith was born in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to English parents and holds a UK Citizenship and is a British national. He moved to Scotland where his grandfather lived, to study law at the University of Edinburgh. While McCall Smith is an Emeritus Professor of Medical Law, he is also a prolific writer. He has written many fiction novels, children's books and Academic texts.

Phoenix Rising's leith90 donned her gumshoes and hunted down this question.

Answer: Kylie Minogue

The Gold Logie is awarded for the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television and is decided by public vote. Kylie Minogue won the award while starring as tomboy mechanic Charlene Robinson in the Australian soap opera "Neighbours". Kylie joined the cast of "Neighbours" in 1986 and left in late 1988 to focus on her music career. As well as the Gold Logie she won the categories Most Popular Actress and Most Popular Music Video (for "Locomotion"). The Australian television awards are called 'The Logies' after John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television.

The other three choices are also Australian actors and singers but none of them have won the Gold Logie.

This question was nominated for this quiz by Phoenix Rising team member lg549, whose neighbours probably wish she could sing like the "Singing Budgie" but unfortunately sounds more like a squawking parrot.

Answer: An animal whose existence is unsubstantiated

Scotland is home to one of the most famous cryptids, Nessie, also known as the Loch Ness Monster. Many countries have oral traditions which include uncorroborated mention of monsters. Yetis (Himalayas), the Minhocão (South America), the Dobhar-chú from Ireland and the Bunyip from Australia are just a few of several dozen examples. There are winged, water-based and terrestrial creatures, some of which may come from now-extinct mega-fauna, but some completely mythical.

A code name or code word is a cryptonym; a cryptogam is a now-defunct word for a member of a taxonomic group including all seedless plants; and a vault used as a burial place beneath the main level of a church is a crypt.

This question was revealed after careful sifting of evidence by PR member VegemiteKid.

Answer: Isinglass is produced using the swim bladder of a sturgeon fish.

Isinglass is a gelatine-like substance originally derived from the bladder of sturgeons to act as finings in the production of beer. Sometime during the 19th century when ales and lagers became more popular than the darker ports and stouts and drinking vessels changed from metal and stone to glass, there was a need to make cloudy looking beer transparent. The addition of finings such as isinglass clear the the turbidity to produce a transparent beer. Other substances have been used for the same purpose but they have been usually a gelatine-based (i.e., animal sourced) product. Some manufacturers, mainly craft beer makers refuse to use it, relying on their expertise to produce a clear beer. Beers that are advertised as vegan will not have used isinglass or any gelatine substitute to make its product.
Nicola Sturgeon is the sixth First Minister for Scotland elected in 2014.

This question was brewed up by Phoenix Rising Team member 1nn1 who has not drunk vegan beer.

Answer: Penguin

Brigadier Sir Nils Olav III is a king penguin and the third from Scotland's Edinburgh Zoo to be associated with the regiment of the Norwegian army responsible for the security of the monarch, various royal residences and the defence of the capital city Oslo. The first Nils Olav was appointed to the role of mascot in 1972, when Nils Egelien of the Norwegian King's Guard visited the penguin colony at Edinburgh Zoo while attending the city's annual Military Tattoo. The bird was named after both the man who arranged his adoption and the then King Olav V of Norway.

Despite being adopted by the Norwegians, Nils Olav was not expected to actually travel with his regiment or take on any formal duties, so lived out the rest of his days in Edinburgh. A tradition was developed whereby the bird was granted a promotion each time he was visited by the Norwegian King's Guard, so despite starting out as a lowly corporal, by his death in 1987 he had risen to the rank of sergeant. Another of Edinburgh's penguins then became Nils Olav II and it was this bird that was appointed as the regiment's colonel-in-chief in 2005 and knighted in 2008. His successor, Sir Nils Olav III, reached the rank of Brigadier in 2016.

Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81 p-p-p-picked up this penguin question and popped it into this quiz. Fun 'penguin' fact of the day: the Penguin brand of chocolate biscuits was also inspired by Edinburgh zoo's colony!