Trivia People

On this date in 1908, the first long-distance radio signal was sent from the Eiffel Tower.

Here are some things you may not have known about the Paris landmark.

It was constructed as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair and was designed and built by the company owned by Gustave Eiffel.

The tower cost an estimated 6.5 million francs, of which the World's Fair organizers paid only 1.5 million. In exchange, they allowed Eiffel to have the commercial rights to the tower during the exposition and for the next 20 years. After those 20 years expired, Eiffel was supposed to dismantle and remove the tower.

The tower was a source of controversy at first. Some believed the 300-meter tall tower was not feasible, and others didn't like it for aesthetic reasons. Once the tower was completed, one of the latter group, writer Guy de Maupassant, is said to have eaten lunch regularly at the tower's restaurant because it was one of the few places from which he could view Paris' skyline without seeing the tower.

Construction began in January 1887 with the foundations. After six months the ironwork began. In all, the tower consists of 18,038 pieces, joined together by 2.5 million rivets.

Structural work was finished by the end of March 1889, but the elevators and other facilities remained a work in progress. In fact, the tower didn't open to the public until nine days after the start of the World's Fair in May, and even then the elevators had yet to be completed. However, 30,000 visitors climbed the stairs to the top before the elevators started operation on May 26. More than 1.8 million visitors toured the tower during the exposition.

In 1909, the original permit for the tower expired, but the city allowed it to remain as it was useful as a radio and later television transmitter. It also became a national symbol of France. During World War II, the French cut the elevator cables while the Germans occupied Paris, requiring the Germans to climb the stairs to unfurl their swastika flag. In 1944, as the Allies were on the verge of retaking Paris, Hitler ordered the tower destroyed. The Nazi military governor disobeyed the order.

The economic design of the tower means that if the iron were melted down, it would cover a square the size of the base of the tower to a depth of just two and a half inches. Also, if you were to build a box to surround the tower, the weight of the air inside would almost equal the weight of the metal.

The tower welcomed its 250 millionth visitor in 2010.

The Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world from 1889 until 1930.

Our question, what building preceded the Eiffel Tower as the tallest building in the world?

Today is National Youth Day in India, and Memorial Day in Turkmenistan.

It's unofficially Curried Chicken Day, National Marzipan Day, and National Pharmacist Day.

It's the birthday of radio host Howard Stern, who is 63; journalist Christiane Amanpour, who is 59; and Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, who is 53.

Because our topic happened before 1960, we will spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1989, the top song in the U.S. was "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown.

The No. 1 movie was "Rain Man," while "The Sands of Time" by Sidney Sheldon topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: Who was the first person to appear in a commercial for the iPhone?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll reveal the correct answer on Friday's episode.

The Grand Canyon as seen from the South Rim. (Photo by Roger Bolsius via Wikimedia Commons)

On this date in 1908, the Grand Canyon was designated a national monument.

Here are some things you may not have known about the natural wonder.

The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, its width varies from four to 18 miles across and it is more than 6,000 feet deep at some points.

The canyon was created by erosion caused by the Colorado River and uplift of the surrounding plateau over the course of 5 to 6 million years.

The Grand Canyon has been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years. The latest research suggests that the first people lived there around 1200 BC. Among the groups who have lived in and around the canyon are the Hualapai, the Havasupai, the Navajo and the Southern Paiute.

The first European to see the Grand Canyon was Garcia Lopez de Cardenas, who arrived from Spain in 1540.

The first European Americans to reach the Grand Canyon were part of a group of trappers led by James Ohio Pattie in 1826. In 1869, John Wesley Powell led an expedition down the Green River and Colorado River, starting in Wyoming. Following the expedition, Powell became the first person to use the term "Grand Canyon." Until 1871, it had been known as the slightly less impressive "Big Canyon."

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt visited the canyon in 1903, and protected the area as a federal game preserve in 1906. He re-designated it as a national monument in 1908. Claims by landowners and miners prevented the area from becoming a national park until 1919, when it became the 17th U.S. National Park.

In 2015, the park was the second most-visited national park in the U.S., with about 5 and a half million visitors.

Our question: What U.S. National Park is the most-visited?

Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the United States, Children's Day in Tunisia and Republic Day in Albania.

It's unofficially National Apples Day in Germany, and in the U.S. it's National Milk Day, and National Hot Toddy Day.

It's the birthday of U.S. founding father Alexander Hamilton, who was born in 1755; women's rights activist Alice Paul, who was born in 1885; and singer Mary J. Blige, who turns 46.

Because our topic happened before 1960, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1974, the top song in the U.S. was "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band.

The No. 1 movie was "The Exorcist," while the novel "Burr" by Gore Vidal topped the New York Times Bestsellers list. Now for our weekly question: Who was the first person to appear in a commercial for the iPhone?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll reveal the correct answer on Friday's episode.

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_National_Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_in_the_Americas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_River

https://www.checkiday.com/01/11/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-11

http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1974_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1974

iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9

Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

One year ago today, rock icon David Bowie died at the age of 69.

Bowie was born David Jones in Brixton, South London on January 8, 1947. His mother worked as a waitress and his father worked for a charity.

At the age of nine, Bowie’s father brought home a collection of American records, including some by artists like Elvis Presley, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Platters, Fats Domino and Little Richard.

It was Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti” that had a particular impact on the young Bowie’s life.

He would later say, “I had heard God.”

Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” was also influential. “It really impressed me, the power of the music. I started getting records immediately after that.”

He also began performing, including dancing to songs by Elvis and Chuck Berry.

He began playing a plastic alto saxophone in 1961. A year later he would be seriously injured in a fight with a schoolmate over a girl. Doctors feared Bowie would be left blind in his left eye. He recovered slightly, although he was left with poor depth perception and a permanently dilated pupil. He and the classmate, George Underwood, remained friends. Underwood created artwork for some of Bowie’s early albums.

Bowie started playing in a band called the Konrads in 1962 at the age of 15. He moved from band to band and manager to manager over the next several years. His habit of firing managers would prove quite expensive in later years.

In 1967, he changed his stage name to David Bowie, in order to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees. He took his new last name from American frontiersman Jim Bowie, despite the difference in pronunciation. He also released his self titled debut solo album that year.

In 1969, days ahead of the launch of Apollo 11, “Space Oddity” was released, which was his first hit, reaching the Top 5 in the UK. It reached No. 124 in the United States on its first release. It would be rereleased in 1973 and hit No. 15 in America. It was followed by another self-titled album.

Also that year he met Angela Barnett, whom he would marry, less than a year later. The marriage would produce a son, film director Duncan Jones. 1970 saw Bowie release the album, “The Man Who Sold the World.”

In 1971, he released his landmark album, “Hunky Dory,” which featured the single “Changes” and the song “Life on Mars.” Despite it’s moderate success at the time, “Hunky Dory” has consistently been rated among the greatest albums of all time.

In 1972, Bowie created the character of Ziggy Stardust, the definitive rock star, who also acts as a messenger for extra terrestrial beings. This might be his most influential phase, at the peak of the Glam Rock period. The album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,” spawned the hits, “Starman,” “Suffragette City,” “Moonage Daydream,” and the closest thing to a title track the album has, “Ziggy Stardust.” He took the role of Ziggy Stardust so seriously that it began affecting his life off stage, leading him to doubt his sanity. In 1973, Ziggy Stardust “retired” during a show at London’s Hammersmith Odeon.

The next year, Bowie moved to the United States where he worked on his next album “Diamond Dogs,” which veered more into soul and funk. Also at this time he fell into a deep cocaine addiction, leading to physical issues, paranoia and other emotional problems. Despite these issues, “Diamond Dogs,” and a live album were successful. In 1975, he released “Young Americans” the sound of which Bowie described as “plastic soul.” The album produced Bowie’s first No. 1 single in the U.S., “Fame,” which was co-written with John Lennon. He was also one of the first white acts to appear on “Soul Train,” where he performed “Fame” and “Golden Years.”

His next alter ego, the “Thin White Duke” was introduced on his next album “Station to Station.” The character featured immaculate taste in clothing,

One year ago today, rock icon David Bowie died at the age of 69.

Bowie was born David Jones in Brixton, South London on January 8, 1947. His mother worked as a waitress and his father worked for a charity.

At the age of nine, Bowie's father brought home a collection of American records, including some by artists like Elvis Presley, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Platters, Fats Domino and Little Richard.

It was Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" that had a particular impact on the young Bowie's life.

He would later say, "I had heard God."

Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" was also influential. "It really impressed me, the power of the music. I started getting records immediately after that."

He also began performing, including dancing to songs by Elvis and Chuck Berry.

He began playing a plastic alto saxophone in 1961. A year later he would be seriously injured in a fight with a schoolmate over a girl. Doctors feared Bowie would be left blind in his left eye. He recovered slightly, although he was left with poor depth perception and a permanently dilated pupil. He and the classmate, George Underwood, remained friends. Underwood created artwork for some of Bowie's early albums.

Bowie started playing in a band called the Konrads in 1962 at the age of 15. He moved from band to band and manager to manager over the next several years. His habit of firing managers would prove quite expensive in later years.

In 1967, he changed his stage name to David Bowie, in order to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees. He took his new last name from American frontiersman Jim Bowie, despite the difference in pronunciation. He also released his self titled debut solo album that year.

In 1969, days ahead of the launch of Apollo 11, "Space Oddity" was released, which was his first hit, reaching the Top 5 in the UK. It reached No. 124 in the United States on its first release. It would be rereleased in 1973 and hit No. 15 in America. It was followed by another self-titled album.

Also that year he met Angela Barnett, whom he would marry, less than a year later. The marriage would produce a son, film director Duncan Jones. 1970 saw Bowie release the album, "The Man Who Sold the World."

In 1971, he released his landmark album, "Hunky Dory," which featured the single "Changes" and the song "Life on Mars." Despite it's moderate success at the time, "Hunky Dory" has consistently been rated among the greatest albums of all time.

In 1972, Bowie created the character of Ziggy Stardust, the definitive rock star, who also acts as a messenger for extra terrestrial beings. This might be his most influential phase, at the peak of the Glam Rock period. The album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars," spawned the hits, "Starman," "Suffragette City," "Moonage Daydream," and the closest thing to a title track the album has, "Ziggy Stardust." He took the role of Ziggy Stardust so seriously that it began affecting his life off stage, leading him to doubt his sanity. In 1973, Ziggy Stardust "retired" during a show at London's Hammersmith Odeon.

The next year, Bowie moved to the United States where he worked on his next album "Diamond Dogs," which veered more into soul and funk. Also at this time he fell into a deep cocaine addiction, leading to physical issues, paranoia and other emotional problems. Despite these issues, "Diamond Dogs," and a live album were successful. In 1975, he released "Young Americans" the sound of which Bowie described as "plastic soul." The album produced Bowie's first No. 1 single in the U.S., "Fame," which was co-written with John Lennon. He was also one of the first white acts to appear on "Soul Train," where he performed "Fame" and "Golden Years."

His next alter ego, the "Thin White Duke" was introduced on his next album "Station to Station." The character featured immaculate taste in clothing, but was obviously troubled by the massive amounts of cocaine he was taking. The cocaine use eventually got so bad, Bowie decided to move back to Europe, where he recorded what is known as his Berlin Trilogy: "Low," "Heroes," and "Lodger."

In 1981, he worked with Queen to write and record "Under Pressure." The song was Bowie's third No. 1 single and Queen's second, after "Bohemian Rhapsody."

In 1983, Bowie released his best-selling album "Let's Dance," which featured the title track, which went to No. 1 in the U.S., along with "China Girl," and "Modern Love."

In 1986, he appeared as Jareth the Goblin King in Jim Henson's film, "Labyrinth." He also wrote five songs for the soundtrack.

In 1992, he married Iman, and the couple had a daughter in 2000.

Bowie continued releasing music for the rest of his life. His last album, "Blackstar" was released just before his death.

Our question, what blues guitarist played the solos on the single "Let's Dance"?

It's unofficially Houseplant Appreciation Day, National Bittersweet Chocolate Day; and Peculiar People Day.

It's the birthday of singer-songwriter Jim Croce, who was born in 1943; singer Rod Stewart, who is 72; and former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, who is 68.

This week last year, the top song in the U.S. was "Hello" by Adele.

The No. 1 movie was "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," while the novel "Rogue Lawyer" by John Grisham topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: Who was the first person to appear in a commercial for the iPhone?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday's episode.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Oddity

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thin_White_Duke

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Ziggy_Stardust_and_the_Spiders_from_Mars

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9

Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

On this date in 2007, Apple announced the iPhone.

Here are some things you may not have known about the smartphone.

The iPhone wasn't Apple's first foray into the portable communications market. The company introduced the Newton MessagePad in 1993. The Newton was a personal digital assistant, which was an electronic calendar, contact list and notebook. The Newton interface was based on handwriting recognition, which led to its limited appeal. The first Newton had 640 kilobytes of RAM and was powered by four AAA batteries. The Newton was discontinued in February 1998.

Later that year, Apple introduced the iMac, an all-in-one computer which was designed by Jonathan Ive, who would go on to design the iPod and the iPhone.

The iPod debuted in 2001, selling nearly 400 million units since then.

In 2005, Apple partnered with Motorola to release the ROKR E1, the first mobile phone to feature a version of iTunes, Apple's online music store. About a year later, Apple discontinued the project to focus on developing its own mobile phone.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs made the announcement at the Macworld convention, and the iPhone was released on June 29, 2007.

Apple made a deal with Cingular Wireless to be the iPhone's exclusive carrier. Cingular changed its name to AT&T before the phone's release.

AT&T reported that almost 150,000 iPhones were activated during the first weekend it was available.

In November 2007, the iPhone was released in the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Today, the iPhone is available in most countries.

In 2016, Apple announced that it has sold more than 1 billion iPhones.

Our question: What country saw the most recent official release of the iPhone?

We'll have the answer after this break.

Today is unofficially International Choreographers Day, National Apricot Day, and National Cassoulet Day.

It's the birthday of former U.S. President Richard Nixon, who was born in 1913; musician Dave Matthews, who is 50; and the Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton, who is 35.

This week in 2007, the top song in the U.S. was "Irreplaceable" by Beyonce.

The No. 1 movie was "Night at the Museum," while the novel "For One More Day" by Mitch Albom topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: Who was the first person to appear in a commercial for the iPhone?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll reveal the correct answer on Friday's episode.

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_iPhone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MessagePad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_mobile_phones

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT%26T_Mobility

http://www.theverge.com/2016/7/27/12302542/apple-billion-iphones-sold

https://www.checkiday.com/01/09/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-09

http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2007_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_2007

iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9

Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

On this date in 1994, American figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by a man hired by the husband of her main competitor, Tonya Harding.

Here are some things you may not have known about the skaters and the attack.

Nancy Kerrigan was born in 1969 in a suburb of Boston. She began skating at the age of six and won her first competition at age nine. She placed fourth in the junior competition at the U.S. championships in 1987, and made her senior debut the next season. She placed third at the 1991 U.S. Championships and earned a trip to the world championships. There she earned the bronze medal behind fellow Americans Kristi Yamaguchi and Tonya Harding. She finished third at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Tonya Harding was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1970. As a child, she claims she was physically abused by her mother. She began skating at age three and landed her first triple lutz at age 12. She dropped out of high school during her sophomore year to concentrate on figure skating. In 1991, she landed her first triple axel in competition on her way to winning the national championship. She was the first woman to complete a triple axel in a short program, the first woman to land two triple axels in one competition and the first woman to complete a triple axel/double toe loop combination. She finished fourth at the 1992 Olympics but failed to qualify for the 1993 World Championships.

Which brings us to 1994.

Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by Shane Stant following a practice session at the U.S. Championships at Detroit’s Cobo Arena. She was struck a few inches above the knee with a telescopic baton. Her leg was bruised, but not broken, but she was still forced to withdraw from the event which determined the two-person U.S. Olympic team. Harding won the title and a berth to the Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. It was later discovered that Stant was hired by Harding’s husband Jeff Gillooly and her bodyguard Shawn Eckhardt. Kerrigan was named to the Olympic team despite not competing in the national championships.

Kerrigan earned the silver medal at Lillehammer, while Harding finished eighth, after restarting her free program due to a broken lace on her skate.

Kerrigan retired from competitive skating following the Olympics.

Gillooly, Eckhardt and getaway driver Derrick Smith were sent to prison for their parts in the attack. Harding pleaded guilty to conspiring to hinder the prosecution of the attackers. She received three years probation, 500 hours of community service and a $160,000 fine. In June of 1994, Harding was stripped of her national championship and banned for life by the U.S. Figure Skating Association. Harding later claimed that she didn’t go to authorities before the attack because Gillooly had threatened to kill her.

Following his release from prison, Gillooly changed his name to Jeff Stone. Eckhardt changed his name to Brian Sean Griffith. He died in 2007 at the age of 40.

Our question, who did Nancy Kerrigan bump from the 1994 Olympic Team?

Today is Armed Forces Day in Iraq and Epiphany.

It’s unofficially Apple Tree Day, National Bean Day and National Shortbread Day.

It’s the birthday of musician Syd Barrett, who was born in 1946; actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson, who is 62 and actress and comedian Kate McKinnon, who is 33.

This week in 1994 the top song in the U.S. was “Hero” by Mariah Carey; the No. 1 movie was “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend” by Robert James Waller topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Thanks to somesayhescalledthestig, for the five-star review on iTunes. Reviews are the second-best way to help support the show.

Thanks for listening to the Trivia Minute, for details on other ways to support the show, visit triviapeople.com

Links

Follow us on Twitter,

On this date in 1994, American figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by a man hired by the husband of her main competitor, Tonya Harding.

Here are some things you may not have known about the skaters and the attack.

Nancy Kerrigan was born in 1969 in a suburb of Boston. She began skating at the age of six and won her first competition at age nine. She placed fourth in the junior competition at the U.S. championships in 1987, and made her senior debut the next season. She placed third at the 1991 U.S. Championships and earned a trip to the world championships. There she earned the bronze medal behind fellow Americans Kristi Yamaguchi and Tonya Harding. She finished third at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Tonya Harding was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1970. As a child, she claims she was physically abused by her mother. She began skating at age three and landed her first triple lutz at age 12. She dropped out of high school during her sophomore year to concentrate on figure skating. In 1991, she landed her first triple axel in competition on her way to winning the national championship. She was the first woman to complete a triple axel in a short program, the first woman to land two triple axels in one competition and the first woman to complete a triple axel/double toe loop combination. She finished fourth at the 1992 Olympics but failed to qualify for the 1993 World Championships.

Which brings us to 1994.

Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by Shane Stant following a practice session at the U.S. Championships at Detroit's Cobo Arena. She was struck a few inches above the knee with a telescopic baton. Her leg was bruised, but not broken, but she was still forced to withdraw from the event which determined the two-person U.S. Olympic team. Harding won the title and a berth to the Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. It was later discovered that Stant was hired by Harding's husband Jeff Gillooly and her bodyguard Shawn Eckhardt. Kerrigan was named to the Olympic team despite not competing in the national championships.

Kerrigan earned the silver medal at Lillehammer, while Harding finished eighth, after restarting her free program due to a broken lace on her skate.

Kerrigan retired from competitive skating following the Olympics.

Gillooly, Eckhardt and getaway driver Derrick Smith were sent to prison for their parts in the attack. Harding pleaded guilty to conspiring to hinder the prosecution of the attackers. She received three years probation, 500 hours of community service and a $160,000 fine. In June of 1994, Harding was stripped of her national championship and banned for life by the U.S. Figure Skating Association. Harding later claimed that she didn't go to authorities before the attack because Gillooly had threatened to kill her.

Following his release from prison, Gillooly changed his name to Jeff Stone. Eckhardt changed his name to Brian Sean Griffith. He died in 2007 at the age of 40.

Our question, who did Nancy Kerrigan bump from the 1994 Olympic Team?

Today is Armed Forces Day in Iraq and Epiphany.

It's unofficially Apple Tree Day, National Bean Day and National Shortbread Day.

It's the birthday of musician Syd Barrett, who was born in 1946; actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson, who is 62 and actress and comedian Kate McKinnon, who is 33.

This week in 1994 the top song in the U.S. was "Hero" by Mariah Carey; the No. 1 movie was "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend" by Robert James Waller topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Thanks to somesayhescalledthestig, for the five-star review on iTunes. Reviews are the second-best way to help support the show.

Thanks for listening to the Trivia Minute, for details on other ways to support the show, visit triviapeople.com

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Kerrigan#Kerrigan.27s_Olympic_skating_fashions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonya_Harding

http://www.oprah.com/world/Tonya-Hardings-Figure-Skating-Scandal

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-02-26/news/9402260180_1_figure-skating-competition-tonya-harding-lace

On this date in 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross was sworn in as governor of Wyoming.

Here are some things you may not have known about the first woman to serve as governor in the United States.

Nellie Tayloe was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1876. She graduated from high school in Kansas and became a kindergarten teacher for four years. While visiting relatives in Tennessee, Tayloe met William Bradford Ross, a lawyer whom she married in 1902. Soon after, they moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where William became a leader in the state's Democratic Party.

In 1922, William Ross was elected governor, after running as a progressive. He served less than two years before dying of complications from an appendectomy. Nellie Ross was nominated to run to replace her husband in a special election the following month. She won easily, making history as the first female governor in the United States. She, like her husband, was a strong advocate for the prohibition of alcohol.

That support for prohibition, along with her refusal to campaign for herself, resulted in a narrow defeat in her 1926 reelection attempt. Ross remained active in the Democratic Party and received 31 votes for vice president at the party's 1928 convention. She then served as vice president of the Democratic National Committee.

In 1933, Ross was appointed director of the U.S. Mint. During her time at the Mint, she oversaw the design and release of the Franklin Half Dollar and the public sale of proof coins. She also oversaw the establishment of the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

She served five terms as Mint director and retired in 1953.

In her retirement, Ross wrote for several women's magazines and traveled the world. When she died in 1977 at the age of 101, she was the oldest ex-governor in U.S. History.

Our question: Who holds the title of longest-lived former U.S. governor?

Today is unofficially National Bird Day and National Whipped Cream Day.

It's the birthday of actor Robert Duvall, who is 86; actress Diane Keaton, who is 71; and actor Bradley Cooper, who is 42.

Because our topic happened before 1960, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1962, the top song in the U.S. was "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens.

The No. 1 movie was "El Cid," while the novel "Franny and Zooey" by J.D. Salinger topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Now for our weekly question: What scientist and inventor was Thomas Edison's main rival in the War of Currents?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll reveal the correct answer on tomorrow's episode.

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_Tayloe_Ross

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bullion_Depository

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Rosellini

https://www.checkiday.com/01/05/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-05

http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1962_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1962

iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9

Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

On this date in 1903, Topsy, an Asian elephant was euthanized by electrocution at Coney Island, New York.

Here are some things you may not have known about the incident.

Topsy was brought to the United States and performed in the Forepaugh Circus, where she gained a reputation as a bad elephant after killing a spectator in 1902. The next year, she was sold to Coney Island's Sea Lion Park, which was redeveloped as Luna Park by new owners Frederick Thompson and Elmer Dundy. At Luna Park, Topsy was used to move timbers and power a carnival ride. Her trainer, William "Whitey" Alt, once stabbed Topsy with a pitchfork in an effort to get her to pull the ride. As a result, the police were called to investigate. This led Alt to remove Topsy's harness and let her run wild in the streets. Alt, who blamed the incident on alcohol, was arrested. In December 1902, a once-again drunken Alt rode Topsy down the streets of Coney Island and used the elephant as a battering ram to get through the door of the police station, leading the officers to hide in the jail cells. Alt was fired after that incident.

The owners, now without an elephant trainer, decided to euthanize Topsy by hanging her, and selling tickets so the public could watch. The president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals intervened, calling hanging a "needlessly cruel means of killing" the elephant. After negotiations, he and the owners decided Topsy should be strangled with large ropes tied to a steam-powered winch, poisoned and electrocuted. On Sunday, January 4, an estimated 1,500 spectators and 100 news photographers descended on the amusement park. Topsy was fed potassium cyanide, a poison, electrocuted with 6,600 volts and then strangled by the apparatus for 10 minutes.

On site that day was a film crew from the Edison film company. They recorded the event and weeks later released a 74-second movie of the proceedings. Contrary to claims, Thomas Edison did not organize the electrocution. 15 years earlier, Edison had been involved in the electrocution of animals to demonstrate the danger of alternating current as part of the War of Currents. Edison, a proponent of direct current, had already merged his company with General Electric and sold all of his stock.

Our question, which is generally larger, the Asian elephant or the African elephant?

We'll have the answer after this break.

Welcome back to the Trivia Minute.

Today is Independence Day in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma.

It's National Trivia Day, World Braille Day and Pop Music Chart Day.

It's the birthday of scientist Issac Newton, who was born in 1643; educator Louis Braille, who was born in 1809, and musician Michael Stipe, who is 57.

Because our topic happened before 1960, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1976, the top song in the U.S. was "Convoy" by C.W. McCall.

The No. 1 movie was "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," while the novel "Curtain" by Agatha Christie topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Now for our weekly question: What scientist and inventor was Thomas Edison's main rival in the War of Currents?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll reveal the correct answer on Friday's episode.

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Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsy_(elephant)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocuting_an_Elephant

http://www.eleaid.com/elephant-information/differences-african-asian-elephants/

http://www.himandus.net/elefunteria/library/elefacts/elefacts.html

On this date in 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed following the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Here are some things you may not have known about the formation of the Soviet Union.

On December 30, 1922, the leaders of the Russian Republic, Transcaucasian Republic, Ukrainian Republic and Byelorussian Republic met in the first Congress of Soviets, two days after signing the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR. The main function of the treaty was to centralize the federal government in Moscow. Earlier in 1922, Vladimir Lenin suffered the first of a series of stokes, allowing Joseph Stalin, the General Secretary of the Communist Party to fill the power vacuum. Stalin needed a way to consolidate the power of the independent Bolshevik states into a single entity.

Lenin died in January 1924 and days later the second Congress of Soviets ratified a new constitution. Stalin began advocating for building communism in the countries the Bolsheviks already controlled rather than spreading the revolution as Leon Trotsky envisioned. Stalin focused on transforming the USSR into an industrial power, at the same time millions of people were being imprisoned in forced labor camps. Millions more died during the famine of 1932-33. High ranking government officials, military and academics were killed in Stalin's "Great Purge" of the Communist Party.

In 1936, a new constitution was written which further centralized power in Moscow. It remained in effect until 1977.

Stalin continued to lead the Soviet Union through World War II. He died of a stroke in 1953.

Our question, at the height of the Soviet Union, how many republics made up the USSR?

Today is unofficially National Bacon Day and National Bicarbonate of Soda Day.

It's the birthday of writer Rudyard Kipling, who was born in 1865; baseball hall of famer Sandy Koufax, who is 81; and golfer Tiger Woods, who is 41.

Because our topic happened before 1960, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1975, the top song in the U.S. was "Saturday Night" by the Bay City Rollers.

The No. 1 movie was "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," while the novel "Curtain" by Agatha Christie topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Before the break we asked: At the height of the Soviet Union, how many republics made up the USSR?

The answer is 15.

Thanks for listening to the Trivia Minute, for details on the show and how to support it, visit triviapeople.com

We'll be back with a new episode on Tuesday. Have a great weekend and a happy new year.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_on_the_Creation_of_the_USSR

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Lenin#Decline_and_death

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rise_of_Joseph_Stalin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republics_of_the_Soviet_Union

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.