Generally Speaking Trivia Quiz

Answer: speaking in tongues

Glossolalia is speaking in tongues. The Catholic Charismatic Movement originated at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), at a retreat consisting of professors and students. The retreat was held from February 17 to 19, 1967. Speaking in tongues is an ancient phenomena and was not a permanent part of Roman Catholic Church rituals until after 1967.

Incorporating praying in tongues within the Charismatic movement of the Roman Catholic church in the United States was a major change in the liturgy of the Mass. Léo Joseph Cardinal Suenens, who was a leading cardinal in the Catholic Church at that time, endorsed this movement when he was one of four moderators of the Second Vatican Council.

However, the Charismatic Mass is not a regular feature of most parish Masses, but rather celebrated once or twice a year.

Answer: 29

Interestingly enough, it was the Bishop of the US state of Vermont who first suggested a conference of Anglican Bishops, but it was an appeal from the Canadian bishops that helped bring about a conference linking North American clergy with that of the British Isles' clergy.

The bishops of Canada were fearful that the strong bond between England and Canada might lessen and were instrumental in having the conference take place. Today the Canadian dioceses extend all the way to the Arctic (Old Crow, Yukon).

The parish of St. Luke's Anglican Church in Old Crow is accessible only by air in the winter, and by canoe or kayak in the summer.

Answer: Salt was a valuable trading commodity

Many trade routes and first roads came into being to transport this valuable commodity, salt. In the Mediterranean regions, salt cakes were used as money. Ancient cities such as Genoa, Pisa, and Venice became salt market centers. By the 1600s, salt springs provided salt. During the eighteenth century, the boiling brine process was enhanced through the utilization of coal. England eventually became the leading producer of salt at the time, because of its huge amount of coal.

Answer: Andorra la Vella

Andorra la Vella, the capital of Andorra, hosted the Small States of Europe Olympics in June 2005. At this Olympic event in Andorra there were ten sports featured and 697 athletes participated. The first Small States of Europe Olympic event was first held in San Marino in 1985 as it was the country of San Marino that petitioned the Olympic Committee to have this type of Olympics.

Answer: Lipizzaner

Part of the mystery in the novel "Airs Above the Ground" involves the disappearance of a famed Lipizzaner stallion and his groom. The title comes from a series of "in the air movements" that these stallions have been trained to do such as Mezair, Coubette and Levade. Within the solving of this mystery, the author introduces us to much information about the Lipizzaner horse.

The author takes us on a tour of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna as well as giving some history of this breed of horse which dates back to the 16th century. Emperor Maximillian of Austria wanted a strong and agile horse for military use and for riding schools. Emperor Maximillian's brother brought in a stud horse from the town of Lipizza from which the Lipizzaner takes its name.

Answer: a flowering plant

Goatsbeard Aruncus dioicus is a flowering plant native to North America. There are many different varieties of Goatsbeard that are particular to different geographic locales around the world. As an amateur gardener I did not know that this plant (which loves its place in my garden and at this moment is flourishing) has had many medical uses suggested for it but not confirmed. One of the medical uses suggested is that a poultice can be made from its root and applied to bee stings. Since I enjoy much time in my garden (as do many bees), knowing this use may come in handy!

Answer: the coffee plant

The prized virtue of purity is expressed in many ways and in many cultures. The white lily is a symbol of purity used at Easter time and decorates many altars in the Roman Catholic Church. The unicorn, that mysterious wild woodland creature, in its mythology can be captured only by a virgin.

The Aztec Indians prized the poinsettia as a purity symbol. Many countries flags have white as a symbol of purity. In the story of Snow White, the pregnant Queen, pricks her finger while sewing. She is looking out the window at the time.

The Queen than wishes that she bear a daughter with eyes as blue as the sky, lips as red as the droplet of blood on her finger, and skin as fair and white as the snow on her grounds.

Answer: South Philly

South Street in the South Philly section of Philadelphia has been home to three of the major sandwich shops that are touted to be the best of Philly's cheese steaks. Pat's was the original sandwich shop and has sold an average of 1,500 steak sandwiches daily for years. A Philadelphia cheese steak contains sliced thin steak on a soft but slightly crisp roll and has either Cheez Whiz, Provolone or American cheese melted on it. Other toppings besides the cheese are available, the most popular being fried onions.

In Philadelphia and in its suburbs there are many cheesesteak shops vying to be voted the" Best of Philly" Cheesesteaks. On South Street, Gino's and Jim's
have been Pat's rivals. As a native of Philadelphia, I vote for Tony Luke's who not only has a sandwich shop in South Philadelphia but is a featured restaurant in the Philadelphia Phillies Citizens Bank Park. YUM!

Answer: a penalty double bid

In Duplicate Bridge, the opposing team can bid double. Double is a penalty bid. It says to the Declarer (who will play the cards), although you have contracted to take ten tricks (example, a bid of four spades requires the bidder to take ten tricks out of the 13 available), I believe you will not be able to do so. If the Declarer makes less than ten tricks the Declarer will be penalized by giving the opponents points (double). If the Declarer is vulnerable and goes down one trick doubled, the penalty points depend on the vulnerability of the Declarer.

When the Declaring team is not vulnerable, the penalty for one trick doubled is 100 points, vulnerable 200 points. The penalties increase with each trick not made by 200 points not vulnerable and by 300 points vulnerable.

Answer: Bikram Yoga

Having participated in Bikram Yoga (or Hot Yoga as it is popularly known) for many years, I can attest to its claims that it is physically and spiritually exhilarating. Founded by Bikram Choudhury, a native of India, it has become a very popular form of yoga. Having no knowledge of it, I attended my first session in a room that was heated to 105 degrees F. I did not think I could stay the 90 minutes it took to do the 26 postures which are repeated two times each. My yogini, my female yoga teacher, was noted for her spiritual character and insight as most yoginis are. She assured me that if I persevered I could complete the session and I did! She also said that in yoga whichever type you take, the philosophy is that it is not a competition to excel, that
competitiveness is not a part of the philosophy of yoga.

I did complete the class. I survived the heat. I did the postures imperfectly but did them. I did hear her say so many times to me, "Lock your knees"! (keeping your knees locked is the key to sustaining many of the postures).
I thanked her for one of the best experiences of my life. I left feeling as though I had no feet, that I was walking on air! This type of Yoga may not be for everyone but if you are interested, I heartily recommend it.