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Thread: Speaking of States... state trivia!

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    sub specie aeternitatis Pete Hanlin's Avatar
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    Speaking of States... state trivia!

    The rationale for this post is as follows:
    1.) It seems like its been a while since we had a good trivia thread
    2.) The "place the states" activity has me thinking of our country's diversity
    3.) I notice a LOT of fellow Pennsylvanians on the Board lately
    4.) I just returned from a visit to my home state and I'm homesick

    So, I'll start off the thread by asking three trivia questions about the Keystone State. Feel free to answer and then offer three trivia questions about your own state (or province- if you're a Canadian, or whatever geographical division you have if you are from another country).

    Here we go...
    Benjamin Franklin had to lobby the Pennsylvanian legislature to keep from making what language the official language of the state?

    Pennslvania is not technically a "state," but a ________________. What other states share this designation?

    What is the longest river in Pennsylvania (it is the 11th longest in the US and bisects the state)?
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    Master OptiBoarder chm2023's Avatar
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    German; Commonwealth; Virginia and I think Mass and maybe Kentucky; don't know, maybe Susquehanna (SP?)

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    Master OptiBoarder chm2023's Avatar
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    Massachusetts:

    Four US Presidents were born in Norfolk County. They are??

    The 2 largest cities in New England are in Mass. What's the 2nd one?

    Agawam MA has the "first" zip code. What is it?

    What famous cookie is named for a city in Mass?

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    Quote Originally Posted by chm2023
    Massachusetts:

    Four US Presidents were born in Norfolk County. They are??

    The 2 largest cities in New England are in Mass. What's the 2nd one?

    Agawam MA has the "first" zip code. What is it?

    What famous cookie is named for a city in Mass?
    Adams, Adams, Kennedy, ?G. H. W. Bush?

    Worcester (Cambridge?)

    01001

    Fig Newton

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    California

    California has the tallest, largest and the oldest living things on the planet, what are they? (to be honest there is some controversy about the oldest) Extra points for how tall, how massive and how old.

    California has both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous US, what are they? Extra points for their elevations.

    Watsonville proclaims it self the "Garlic Capitol" and has big garlic festival every year. At this festival garlic is added to all manner of food items, name the most disgusting one (ok, there's probably room for interpretation here but this is just for fun).

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    Master OptiBoarder chm2023's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by coda
    Adams, Adams, Kennedy, ?G. H. W. Bush?

    Worcester (Cambridge?)

    01001

    Fig Newton
    Give that man a cigar--yes on Worcester.

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    Master OptiBoarder chm2023's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by coda
    California has the tallest, largest and the oldest living things on the planet, what are they? (to be honest there is some controversy about the oldest) Extra points for how tall, how massive and how old.

    California has both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous US, what are they? Extra points for their elevations.

    Watsonville proclaims it self the "Garlic Capitol" and has big garlic festival every year. At this festival garlic is added to all manner of food items, name the most disgusting one (ok, there's probably room for interpretation here but this is just for fun).
    I think tallest, largest and oldest are all the giant sequoia.

    Lowest point Death Valley; highest I can't think.

    Garlic chocolate? Garlic cotton candy? Garlic ice cream?

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    Pomposity! Spexvet's Avatar
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    I've actually eaten chocolate covered garlic.:( yuk!
    ...Just ask me...

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    sub specie aeternitatis Pete Hanlin's Avatar
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    Interesting about Mass... I didn't know GHW Bush was born there!

    Keeping with the spirit of California, Mt. Whitney (which is the highest point in CA) is regulated to allow only a certain number of people on it at any one time- forget how many, a hundred or so.

    Since I have no idea what could be placed on garlic that is more gross than chocolate (and all the other questions have been answered), I'll give three from my "new" state of Florida.

    What distinction does Tallahassee have among Southern capitals (think Civil War)?

    The highest point in Florida is ____ (just the closest 100' is necessary)?

    Who was arguably the most famous person ever to live in Key West (author)?

    PS- Very good chm... Benny had a time of it convincing the legislature that making German the official language of the Commonwealth would negatively impact trade with the other states. The Susquehanna runs from New York to Chesepeake (sp?) Bay- running through the capital (Harrisburg) along the way. As a point of interest, the longest arched stone bridge in the world crosses the river near Harrisburg and is still used by the railroad (I used to fish next to it years ago).
    Last edited by Pete Hanlin; 12-10-2004 at 01:54 PM.
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    Master OptiBoarder chm2023's Avatar
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    Uh-oh. My nephew just informed me (in that haughty way adolescents have) that the Great Barrier Reef is the largest living thing on earth.

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    Cape Codger OptiBoard Gold Supporter hcjilson's Avatar
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    Nay Nay on Watsonville......

    The garlic capital of the world is Gilroy CA......been there.....ate there.....and I have the Tshirt! hj

    http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/...ractionNo==154
    http://www.festivals.com/01-04-april...tal/gilroy.cfm
    http://innergardenart.com/Apg5gilroy.html
    "Always laugh when you can. It is a cheap medicine"
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    Quote Originally Posted by hcjilson
    The garlic capital of the world is Gilroy CA......been there.....ate there.....and I have the Tshirt! hj

    http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/...ractionNo==154
    http://www.festivals.com/01-04-april...tal/gilroy.cfm
    http://innergardenart.com/Apg5gilroy.html
    DOH! You're right, it is Gilroy, I got my central coast towns mixed up, probably from holding my breath for 30 minutes as I drove through at 100 mph. All that garlic stinks!

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    Quote Originally Posted by chm2023
    I think tallest, largest and oldest are all the giant sequoia.

    Lowest point Death Valley; highest I can't think.

    Garlic chocolate? Garlic cotton candy? Garlic ice cream?
    The tallest is a coastal redwood, the largest a giant sequoia and the oldest a bristlecone tree. They are ~370 feet; 52,500 cubic feet (sorry wrong units before); 5000 years old, respectivly.

    The highest is Mt. Whitney at 14,419', the lowest is Bad Water Basin in Death Valley at 282' below sea level.

    Garlic ice cream. YUCK!

    Since Pete brought it up and since I'm both an avid backpacker and moderatly proud transplant to California I'll address the quotas on and around Whitney. The quotas are not a function of the mountain being in California but a function of it's postion in a national park (King's Canyon NP). All the national parks with popular wilderness areas use a quota system to keep the backcountry from becoming over run by hikers/backpackers. The Whitney Portal trail head is the wilderness entry point in most demand so they've moved to a lottery system to hand out permits. There are other entry points from which Whitney is accessible but it would require a 7 day backpacking trip (generally) so most people aren't interested.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pete Hanlin

    What distinction does Tallahassee have among Southern capitals (think Civil War)?

    The highest point in Florida is ____ (just the closest 100' is necessary)?

    Who was arguably the most famous person ever to live in Key West (author)?
    Don't know on Tallahassee, maybe the only capital not occupied by the Union during the course of the war?

    It's the lowest state 'highest point' at something like 350 feet.

    Hemmingway.

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    sub specie aeternitatis Pete Hanlin's Avatar
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    You got it- Tallahassee was the only Confederate capital not captured by Union forces during the Civil War (I'd say from lack of interest, but I think there was actually a battle near a place called "Natural Bridge" where the Union forces were held off, so out of respect for those who fought at that place...).

    The highest point in Florida (if you want to call a 345' hill a height) is Britton Hill in Lakeland.

    Ernest Hemmingway resided in Key West- they still have Hemmingway Days.

    The sarcastic jab at California was made (and received, I'm sure) in good humor. Its just odd when I land in San Diego or San Jose to notice all the little clues that indicate that you are indeed in one of the more regulated states of the Union. Even the pedestrian signs have little lights on top of them to make SURE you see them (hard to miss a flourescent yellow sign, I would think). That and the "Natural Gas Stations" are a real tip off- oh, and the little orange flags for pedestrians to hold in Berkeley (to ward off those evil motorists). Then there's the notice on every pouch of pipe tobacco I consume that says the state of California knows that the fragrant leaves I'm burning in my briar will eventually kill me!
    ;) :) :p
    Somehow, the fact that they regulate how many people can be on a mountain at one time just seems oddly appropriate... Of course, your explanation makes perfect and logical sense- wish the beaches in Florida would institute the same policy (oh, and restricting the use of bikinis and spandex to individuals weighing less than 250 lbs would be a good idea while we're at it).

    Okay, so who can give us some trivia about a place other than Florida, Pennsylvania, or California?
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    Rising Star igirl's Avatar
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    Can you figure out where I live?

    1.) The highest double track railroad bridge in the world.
    2.) The famous actor John Wayne was born here. (this should be easy)
    3.) The largest cereal company in the world has it's home offices here.

    Oh yeah- there are also some pretty good optical labs based here!

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    Pomposity! Spexvet's Avatar
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    Pete,
    Ever feed a manatee?
    ...Just ask me...

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    sub specie aeternitatis Pete Hanlin's Avatar
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    Can you figure out where I live?
    1.) The highest double track railroad bridge in the world.
    2.) The famous actor John Wayne was born here. (this should be easy)
    3.) The largest cereal company in the world has it's home offices here.

    Let's see, if Marion Morrison was born where I think he was, you live in the place that gave us the Bridges of Madison County, Herbert Hoover (not one of your better products), and Quaker Oats (one of your best products).

    Am I close?

    Ever feed a manatee?
    No, but I've tipped a cow!
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    Pomposity! Spexvet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pete Hanlin
    Ever feed a manatee?
    No, but I've tipped a cow!
    Feeding a manatee is against the law - just an example of Florida's regulations.:hammer:
    ...Just ask me...

  20. #20
    sub specie aeternitatis Pete Hanlin's Avatar
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    Ah, well that's obviously why such a law abiding citizen such as myself hasn't participated in that activity!

    Just kidding... To be honest, I've seen a manatee and don't really have any desire to get very near to one. I know a lot of people really love them and all, and I know there's some conflict between boaters and the lumbering mammals (prop strikes). Other than that, I don't know much about them.

    I did think of another California regulation that has left a mixed impression on me, however. In CA, they apparently do a vigorous job of inspecting food establishments. The restaurants get an "A, B, or C" rating and it seems they must display this rating in thier window. I'm guessing it has to do with cleanliness, and I'd like to know what merits a "B" and a "C."

    Not surprisingly, I'm not really in favor of a lot of government regulation. I suppose it is a good thing to regulate who can be a doctor, etc., but I'm not sure the government really does either a good or efficient job. As with Opticianry, they can design a Licensure Board, but can they really control the competence of a person in the field? I suppose something's better than nothing...
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    Rising Star igirl's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pete Hanlin
    Can you figure out where I live?
    1.) The highest double track railroad bridge in the world.
    2.) The famous actor John Wayne was born here. (this should be easy)
    3.) The largest cereal company in the world has it's home offices here.

    Let's see, if Marion Morrison was born where I think he was, you live in the place that gave us the Bridges of Madison County, Herbert Hoover (not one of your better products), and Quaker Oats (one of your best products).

    Am I close?

    Ever feed a manatee?
    No, but I've tipped a cow!
    I believe you have it sir. While I have never tipped a cow, I have fed them bubble gum, raised them by hand, and living where I live, eat a lot of them!

    Good job!

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