4/19/06

Real or NOT Real ?

Tri-O's
oddities, observations, and opinions
by Herb Kandel



Let’s sharpen some brain cells by taking this very unscientific pop quiz on a variety of subjects. Ask yourself the question after reading each statement. I’m sure that you've seen a similar question posed to TV contestants as they test only their luck in guessing which of 25 briefcases contains a million dollars. Forget the luck factor, here you're asked to use your mental abilities as well as intuitive powers. Sorry, the only reward is making you a better trivia master and fact giver at social gatherings. Keep you own score, the answers are on the bottom half , no peeking . So now consider the following statements and the only question is -------( taa-dah !), “ Is the statement REAL or NOT REAL?”
1. Tug of war was an Olympic competition. 2.Your next flu vaccine may get into your bloodstream on gold pellets. 3. The correct spelling for the word Google is really Googol? 4. A fish bone is the object most often choked on by Americans. 5.About 3000 years ago, most Egyptians died by the time they were 40! 6. The word sugar is the only English word starting with SU where the S is pronounced SH. 7. Pinocchio is an Italian word for "pine eye"? 8. When Joan Rivers was asked if she wanted more children she said, “I have two eggs in the refrigerator” 9. The most common name in the world is Mohammed 10. In order to stop the spread of Avian flu the Pentagon was contemplating a preemptive strike on the Canary Islands. 11. There are over 2 ½ million possible hands in poker (Five-Card) 12.In ancient Egypt, killing a cat was a crime punishable by death. 13. The U. S. once had a King as president. 14. Orange Beach considered changing its name to “Condo City“. 15. Sugarless candies may poison your dog. 16. Las Vegas has the most religious Churches per capita compared to other cities in the U.S. 17. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth.18. Henry McCarty aka William H. Bonney aka Billy the Kid was born in New York City. 19. Noah's Ark came to rest on a volcano in Turkey. 20. According to The New York Times Wal-Mart’s profit in 2005 was $10,000 a minute.

ANSWERS: 1. Real, it was until 1920 (the opponents of the sport had more pull) 2. Real, the gold will be microscopic (you too may receive the Midas touch) 3. Real, but let’s not go ga ga 4. Not Real, it’s a toothpick, ask Dr. Heimlich 5. Not Real, it was 30 even without HMOs 6. Not Real, I’m sure 7. Real, wooden you know! 8. Real, they're the ones with the shell lift 9. Real, with multiple spellings. But, by Jiminy, James is the most popular in the U.S. 10. Not Real, but think about it 11. Real, I pass 12. Real, but you could do it eight more times 13. Real. President Gerald Ford was born Leslie King. 14. Not Real, rumor was “Condo By The Gulf” 15. Real, very real. Also on the canine NO FEED ASPCA list is (among others) chocolate, raisins and grapes, coffee, avocado, alcoholic beverages, onions, and macadamia nuts 16. Real. Wanna’ bet? 17. Real. Trick statement because Antarctica has a lower precipitation but is NOT inhabited and that's a stone cold fact. 18. Real. He was also known as Kid Antrim, I Kid you not. 19. Real. Mount Ararat is a volcano also. Noah was two by two there also. 20. Not Real. Wal-Mart makes almost $20,000 in profit - every minute of every day. Not sales, but profit ( what remains after every vendor, expense, and tax is paid). By comparison, Target makes about $6,000. That’s what you call a real Blue light special.
How’d you do? If you got 5-7 right you should read more newspapers and less People Magazine. 8-13 shows that your interests are varied but needs sharpening. 14-17 you are well rounded but probably need more exercise. 18-20 get a life outside of “The History Channel“, “PBS“, “Discovery Channel“, the Web, The National Geographic, and The Wall Street Journal . (And stop following me).