Trivia People

Today is the 133rd anniversary of the publication of the first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary.

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

It's a descriptive dictionary, meaning it describes word usage and variations. Descriptivism is the opposite of prescriptivism, which aims to establish a standard of usage. The dictionary also shows the historical development of English though the ages.

In 1844, three members of the Philological Society were unsatisfied with current dictionaries and wanted to create one of their own that addressed what they perceived as shortcomings of the existing works. The idea of creating a new dictionary remained just that until June 1857 when an "Unregistered Words Committee" was formed to find words that had been left out of other dictionaries. The group also wanted to focus on obsolete words, related words and determining earliest use, among other things. Shortly after forming the committee, they decided a comprehensive dictionary was needed and would include words in common use. The title of the work would be "A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles."

Originally, the group planed for a four-volume, 6,400-page dictionary. It ended up being 10 volumes and 15,490 pages.

In 1878, Oxford University Press agreed to publish the dictionary. The first section of the dictionary was published on February 1, 1884, covering words from A to Ant in 352 pages. After it was determined that the project was taking too long, a second senior editor was hired to oversee other parts of the alphabet. Among those hired as researchers was J.R.R. Tolkien, who handled etymologies from waggle to warlock. After 10 years, 11 volumes had been published through the letter E. The final fascicle, the 125th, was published on April 19, 1928. In 1933, the first supplement was published. Four more supplements followed in 1972, 1976, 1982 and 1986 before a second edition was published in 1989. The second edition is 20 volumes and 21,730 pages. Two volumes of additions have followed since.

Work on a third edition is underway and is expected to be completed in 2037. According to the CEO of Oxford University Press, it's unlikely that the third edition will be published in book form and will exist only in electronic form.

Our question: Who is the most quoted writer in the Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition?

Today is National Freedom Day in the United States, commemorating the 13th amendment to the Constitution, which outlawed slavery. It's the first day of Black History Month in the United States and it's the start of LGBT History Month in the United Kingdom.

It's unofficially Car Insurance Day, National Baked Alaska Day, and Change Your Password Day.

It's the birthday of actor Clark Gable, who was born in 1901; writer Langston Hughes, who was born in 1902; and singer Rick James, who was born in 1948.

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

This week in 1961, the top song in the U.S. was "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles.

The No. 1 movie was "101 Dalmatians," while the novel "Hawaii" by James Michener topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: What were Billy Preston's two No. 1 hits in the United States?

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.

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On this date in 1949, the first daytime television soap opera was broadcast.

Here are some things you may not have known about American soap operas.

They’re called soap operas because soap companies were common early sponsors of the shows. The first soap operas appeared on radio. “Painted Dreams” is considered the first, and it premiered on Oct. 20, 1930,  on Chicago radio station WGN. It started as a 15-minute show that ran every day except Sunday. The show was created by Irna Phillips, who also acted on the show. Phillips created many of the techniques that are stereotypically associated with the genre, like cliffhanger endings and using organ music to serve as a bridge between scenes.

Critics, who were mostly men at the time, said the shows were “childlike, unrealistic, vulgar and distasteful.” However, it appears likely that the shows were popular and struck a chord with their intended audiences.

Phillips created several other radio soaps including “The Guiding Light” in 1937. Soon, Phillips was making a quarter-million dollars a year writing several soap operas, and in 1949 created the television program “These Are My Children,” which ran on NBC in Chicago for a month. Critics were once again not impressed. Television World reviewed the show thusly: “There is no place on television of this type of program, a blank screen is preferable.” Phillips didn’t stop and in 1952 “The Guiding Light” was moved from radio to TV. It’s name shortened to “Guiding Light,” it aired on CBS television until 2010, spanning 72 season on TV and radio.

Phillips would go on to create “As the World Turns” and “Another World.” She served as mentor to Agnes Nixon, who would create “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” among other shows.

Since the early 2000s, ratings for American daytime soap operas have fallen significantly. In 2000, there were 11 daytime soap operas on the air. Today, there are only four. The increased number of women working outside the home is cited as the primary reason for the decline. Other reasons include the cost of producing scripted dramas versus talk shows, games shows and court shows.

Our question: Name the four soap operas on the air today.

 

Today is Independence Day in Nauru, and Street Children’s Day in Austria.

It’s unofficially National Hot Chocolate Day, Eat Brussel Sprouts Day, and Backwards Day.

It’s the birthday of actress Carol Channing, who is 96; actress Kerry Washington, who is 40; and singer Justin Timberlake, who is 36.

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

This week in 1984, the top song in the U.S. was “Karma Chameleon” by Culture Club.

The No. 1 movie was “Silkwood,” while the novel “Who Killed the Robins Family?” by Thomas Chastain topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: What were Billy Preston’s two No. 1 singles in the United States?

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.

 

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.

On this date in 1949, the first daytime television soap opera was broadcast.

Here are some things you may not have known about American soap operas.

They're called soap operas because soap companies were common early sponsors of the shows. The first soap operas appeared on radio. "Painted Dreams" is considered the first, and it premiered on Oct. 20, 1930, on Chicago radio station WGN. It started as a 15-minute show that ran every day except Sunday. The show was created by Irna Phillips, who also acted on the show. Phillips created many of the techniques that are stereotypically associated with the genre, like cliffhanger endings and using organ music to serve as a bridge between scenes.

Critics, who were mostly men at the time, said the shows were "childlike, unrealistic, vulgar and distasteful." However, it appears likely that the shows were popular and struck a chord with their intended audiences.

Phillips created several other radio soaps including "The Guiding Light" in 1937. Soon, Phillips was making a quarter-million dollars a year writing several soap operas, and in 1949 created the television program "These Are My Children," which ran on NBC in Chicago for a month. Critics were once again not impressed. Television World reviewed the show thusly: "There is no place on television of this type of program, a blank screen is preferable." Phillips didn't stop and in 1952 "The Guiding Light" was moved from radio to TV. It's name shortened to "Guiding Light," it aired on CBS television until 2010, spanning 72 season on TV and radio.

Phillips would go on to create "As the World Turns" and "Another World." She served as mentor to Agnes Nixon, who would create "All My Children" and "One Life to Live," among other shows.

Since the early 2000s, ratings for American daytime soap operas have fallen significantly. In 2000, there were 11 daytime soap operas on the air. Today, there are only four. The increased number of women working outside the home is cited as the primary reason for the decline. Other reasons include the cost of producing scripted dramas versus talk shows, games shows and court shows.

Our question: Name the four soap operas on the air today.

We'll have the answer after this break.

Welcome back to the Trivia Minute.

Today is Independence Day in Nauru, and Street Children's Day in Austria.

It's unofficially National Hot Chocolate Day, Eat Brussel Sprouts Day, and Backwards Day.

It's the birthday of actress Carol Channing, who is 96; actress Kerry Washington, who is 40; and singer Justin Timberlake, who is 36.

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

This week in 1984, the top song in the U.S. was "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club.

The No. 1 movie was "Silkwood," while the novel "Who Killed the Robins Family?" by Thomas Chastain topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Now for our weekly question: What were Billy Preston's two No. 1 singles in the United States?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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On this date in 1969, The Beatles had their last public performance, playing on their record company’s roof in London.

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

The performance was unannounced and caught the lunchtime crowd of office workers on the streets below by surprise. The previous year, The Beatles had started a multimedia corporation called Apple Corps Limited. The concert was conducted on the roof of the company’s headquarters at 3 Saville Row, during recording sessions for the album that eventually became “Let it Be.”

The album was originally intended to be called “Get Back” after one of the songs, and as a reference to the group’s effort to get back to basics after several heavily produced albums. The recording process, however, was from all reports, a disaster, leading George Harrison to leave the band for a week. During his absence, John Lennon reportedly wanted to hire Eric Clapton to replace Harrison, but Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr wouldn’t agree. Harrison returned a week later, bringing along keyboardist Billy Preston to help ease tensions. The sessions were then moved to Apple Studio.

The sessions were filmed as part of a planned movie. As a finale for the film, a rooftop concert was devised. Harrison initially resisted, calling the idea “silly,” but relented for the sake of the film.

Wires from the control room in the basement were run to the roof to record the sessions. The four Beatles and Preston played nine takes of five songs during the 42-minute show. Takes of the songs “I’ve Got a Feeling,” “One After 909” and Dig a Pony,” were eventually used on the album, while chatter was used on and between other tracks.

Eventually, the crowd of onlookers began to snarl traffic, and noise complaints arose, leading the Metropolitan Police to try to shut down the performance. Initially Apple employees wouldn’t let police in the building, but changed their minds after being threatened with arrest. The band played for several minutes longer, before concluding with Lennon’s now famous ending.

While “Let It Be” was the final Beatles album released, it wasn’t the last to be recorded. The sessions for “Abbey Road” began less than three weeks after the “Get Back” sessions ended.

Our question: What was the Beatles’ final No. 1 hit song in the United States?

 

Today is unofficially Yodel for Your Neighbors Day, National Croissant Day, and Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day.

It’s the birthday of former U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, who was born in 1882; actor Gene Hackman, who is 87; and musician Phil Collins, who is 66.

This week in 1969, the top song in the U.S. was “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells.

The No. 1 movie was “Oliver!,” while the novel “The Salzburg Connection” by Helen MacInnes topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: What were Billy Preston’s two No. 1 singles in the United States?

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.

 

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_30

https://www.checkiday.com/01/30/2017

On this date in 1969, The Beatles had their last public performance, playing on their record company's roof in London.

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

The performance was unannounced and caught the lunchtime crowd of office workers on the streets below by surprise. The previous year, The Beatles had started a multimedia corporation called Apple Corps Limited. The concert was conducted on the roof of the company's headquarters at 3 Saville Row, during recording sessions for the album that eventually became "Let it Be."

The album was originally intended to be called "Get Back" after one of the songs, and as a reference to the group's effort to get back to basics after several heavily produced albums. The recording process, however, was from all reports, a disaster, leading George Harrison to leave the band for a week. During his absence, John Lennon reportedly wanted to hire Eric Clapton to replace Harrison, but Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr wouldn't agree. Harrison returned a week later, bringing along keyboardist Billy Preston to help ease tensions. The sessions were then moved to Apple Studio.

The sessions were filmed as part of a planned movie. As a finale for the film, a rooftop concert was devised. Harrison initially resisted, calling the idea "silly," but relented for the sake of the film.

Wires from the control room in the basement were run to the roof to record the sessions. The four Beatles and Preston played nine takes of five songs during the 42-minute show. Takes of the songs "I've Got a Feeling," "One After 909" and Dig a Pony," were eventually used on the album, while chatter was used on and between other tracks.

Eventually, the crowd of onlookers began to snarl traffic, and noise complaints arose, leading the Metropolitan Police to try to shut down the performance. Initially Apple employees wouldn't let police in the building, but changed their minds after being threatened with arrest. The band played for several minutes longer, before concluding with Lennon's now famous ending.

While "Let It Be" was the final Beatles album released, it wasn't the last to be recorded. The sessions for "Abbey Road" began less than three weeks after the "Get Back" sessions ended.

Our question: What was the Beatles' final No. 1 hit song in the United States?

Today is unofficially Yodel for Your Neighbors Day, National Croissant Day, and Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day.

It's the birthday of former U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, who was born in 1882; actor Gene Hackman, who is 87; and musician Phil Collins, who is 66.

This week in 1969, the top song in the U.S. was "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells.

The No. 1 movie was "Oliver!," while the novel "The Salzburg Connection" by Helen MacInnes topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: What were Billy Preston's two No. 1 singles in the United States?

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.

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_30

https://www.checkiday.com/01/30/2017

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles%27_rooftop_concert

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Records https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Road

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

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

http://www.billboard.com/artist/383540/beatles/chart

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-30

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1969

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1969_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

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

On this date in 1967, three American astronauts died in a training accident on the launch pad in Florida.

Here are some things you may not have known about Apollo 1.

Following the successes of the Mercury and Gemini programs, the next step in landing a man on the moon was the three-man Apollo program. The astronauts chosen as the first crew for the Apollo program were Gus Grissom, one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, Ed White, who had been the first American to walk in space, and rookie Roger B. Chaffee. Chaffee's spot had originally been given to Donn F. Eisele, who was grounded after dislocating his shoulder during weightlessness training on board a training craft nicknamed a "vomit comet."

Gus Grissom was born in Indiana in 1926. After serving in the Army Air Forces during the end of World War II, Grissom returned home an earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1950. He reenlisted in the Air Force after graduating and served during the Korean War, flying 100 combat missions. In 1958 he was selected by NASA to be part of a preliminary group of pilots for the Mercury program. He was nearly disqualified when he was found to suffer from hay fever, but was allowed to continue once it was determined that there wasn't any ragweed pollen in space.

Grissom was the second American in space in Liberty Bell 7. Grissom's first space flight lasted 15 and a half minutes. After splashdown, the hatch cover exploded open filling the capsule with seawater. Grissom's spacesuit also filled with water, but he was rescued. The capsule sank and wasn't recovered until 1999.

Grissom became the first American to fly into space twice when he piloted Gemini 3 with John W. Young. It was the first manned Gemini mission. The mission lasted a little under five hours.

Ed White was born in Texas in 1930. He graduated from West Point in 1952 and served in the Air Force, stationed in West Germany. He narrowly missed qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team in the 400-meter hurdles. He was part of the second group of astronauts and was chosen to fly on Gemini 4. On that flight he was the first American to leave a space capsule. He enjoyed the experience so much that he had to be ordered to return to the capsule. A mechanical issue made it difficult to open and close the hatch door, which had to be latched to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. The capsule and crew returned safely following a four-day mission.

Roger Chaffee was born in Michigan in 1935. He graduated with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue. He served as a naval aviator, logging more than 2,000 hours in jet aircraft. He was part of the third group of astronauts and served on the ground as a capsule communicator for Ed White's Gemini 4 mission.

On January 27, 1967, the crew was loaded into the spacecraft as part of a "plugs-out" test to see if the module would operate on internal power. The test was considered non-hazardous because the the vehicle was not fueled and all pyrotechnic systems were disabled. At 2:45 p.m., the hatch was closed and the cabin was filled with oxygen at 2 psi more than atmospheric pressure. At 6:31 p.m., one of the astronauts yelled "Hey!" or "Fire!." Two seconds later, Chaffee reported a fire in the cockpit. Seven seconds later, a garbled transmission seemed to say "We've got a bad fire — Let's get out .. We're burning up." The last communication ended a little less than 16 seconds after the first report of a fire. The fire caused the pressure inside the capsule to rise to 29 PSI which led the inner wall of the module to rupture and the fire to spread. After the oxygen was consumed, the air from outside caused smoke and carbon monoxide to fill the cabin, but also put out the fire.

It took more than five minutes for workers to open the hatch. Inside, with the cabin lights still on, were the bodies of the three astronauts. Grissom was found on the floor of the spacecraft. White was found just inside the hatch, while Chaffee was found in his seat. It took 90 minutes to remove the bodies because of the melted nylon spacesuits fusing to the cabin. White had likely been trying to open the hatch, which was impossible, given the high pressure inside the cabin holding the door shut.

It was determined that the fire was likely caused by exposed electrical wiring and a leaky cooling system. This, combined with the pure oxygen atmosphere, flammable materials, an inward-opening hatch and inadequate emergency preparedness contributed to the magnitude of the disaster.

Following an investigation, the cabin atmosphere for future launches was changed to 60 percent oxygen and 40 percent nitrogen. The astronaut pressure suits continued to use pure oxygen as a way of preventing decompression sickness or the bends. The suits were redesigned with a non-flammable fabric. The hatch was replaced by an outward opening door and all flammable materials were removed. More than 1,400 wiring problems were also corrected.

Grissom and Chaffee were buried at Arlington National Cemetery. White was buried at West Point.

Our question: On Apollo 11, the first manned mission to land on the moon, what was the name of the astronaut who remained onboard the command module orbiting the moon?

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/Apollo_1

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_4

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

On this date in 1993, the American-born sumo wrestler Akebono became the first foreigner promoted to the highest rank of yokozuna.

Here are some things you may not have known about sumo, and Akebono.

Sumo is a wrestling sport where opponents try to force each other to be the first to step out of the ring, or touch the floor with anything but the soles of their feet.

One strategy is to simply be the larger participant. Sumo wrestlers are known for their sometimes enormous weight. There are no weight divisions in professional sumo, so wrestlers sometimes face off against someone twice their weight. However, weight isn't everything. With the proper technique the smaller wrestler can defeat a much larger opponent.

Sumo wrestlers wear a loincloth called a mawashi. It is made of silk and, when unwound, is about 30 feet long and two feet wide, and can weigh up to 11 pounds. It is an automatic disqualification if the cloth comes off.

Only former professional sumo wrestlers are allowed to train new wrestlers. Sumo wrestlers' lives are highly regimented. Most wrestlers live communally. Lower ranked wrestlers must wear a thin cotton robe and wooden sandals, year-round. As wrestlers move up the ranks, they're allowed to wear better clothes and sandals. Junior wrestlers are also responsible for upkeep in the training facility. Because some wrestlers were too big to drive cars, all wrestlers are banned from driving.

Wrestlers below the second division make a small allowance. Top-level wrestlers, such as the Yokozuna, make as much as $30,000 a month.

Yokozuna means "Horizontal Rope" and refers to the ceremonial rope they wear around their waist. The rope can weigh up to 44 pounds.

72 wrestlers have earned the rank of Yokozuna, the first recorded in 1749. Yokozuna are selected based on their power, skill and dignity and grace. Some allege that the dignity and grace criteria was used to prevent foreign wrestlers from achieving Yokozuna status.

That changed in 1993, when Akebono was promoted to yokozuna.

Akebono was born Chad Rowan near Honolulu. He was an all-star center in basketball in high school and went to Hawaii Pacific University on a basketball scholarship. At 6-foot-8, it was thought that he was too tall to be a sumo wrestler, but he was allowed to join a training stable. He adopted the name Akebono, which means "New Dawn." He rose through the ranks quickly, compiling several championships in 1992 an 1993 to earn promotion.

Akebono lasted nearly eight years as a yokozuna, which is an unusually long time. However he battled injury because of his height and weight. He was one of the heaviest wrestlers ever, fighting at more than 500 pounds. He retired in 2000. Since then, he has fought in mixed martial arts and in American-style professional wrestling.

Our question: Of the four current yokozuna, how many are Japanese?

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

It's unofficially National Chocolate Cake Day, National Fun at Work Day, and National Geographic Day.

It's the birthday of writer Lewis Carroll, who was born in 1832; actor Alan Cumming, who is 52; and comedian Patton Oswalt, who is 48.

Because we've featured 1993 recently, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1988, the top song in the U.S. was "Need You Tonight" by INXS.

The No. 1 movie was "Good Morning, Vietnam," while the novel "The Bonfire of the Vanities" by Tom Wolfe topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: In the song "American Pie," who is referred to as "The Jester"?

The answer is Bob Dylan.

The first correct answer came from Kevin Lazar. He was followed closely by Trent H, Tom, and Brian and Elisa.

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_27

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

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

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makuuchi#Yokozuna

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

https://www.checkiday.com/01/27/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-27

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1988_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1988

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Today is Australia Day.

Here are some things you may not have known about Australia's national holiday.

Australia Day marks the 1788 arrival of the British First Fleet near Sydney, about 18 years after the first European set foot there.

The fleet was sent to Australia to establish a penal colony on the coast of New South Wales following the loss of the British colonies that became the United States. The fleet arrived at Botany Bay on about a week before, but realized that the land there was unsuitable for a prison colony. After weathering a storm, the fleet moved about 15 miles north to Sydney Cove, where on the morning of January 26, Captain Arthur Phillip raised the British flag in the name of George III.

The formal establishment of the Colony of New South Wales didn't happen until February 7.

The first formal celebration of the day was held in 1818, the 30th anniversary. A 30-gun salute marked the occasion, and all government workers in New South Wales were given an extra allowance of a pound of meat. At first the holiday was called Foundation Day.

Each of the colonies of Australia held their own holidays on their different founding days. Tasmania held Regatta Day in December, South Australia had Proclamation Day on December 28, and Western Australia celebrated Foundation Day on June 1.

In 1888, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of New South Wales, all colonial capitals, except Adelaide, celebrated Anniversary day. By 1935, all the states of Australia celebrated January 26 as Australia Day, although it was still called Anniversary Day in New South Wales.

It wasn't until 1994 that all states and territories celebrated a unified public holiday on the same day.

The holiday is regarded by some as a symbol of the British domination of indigenous people. Some mark the day as Invasion Day or Survival Day. Many celebrations of Australia Day acknowledge this history and include indigenous people.

Our question: Who originally claimed New South Wales for the British in 1770?

Today is Republic Day in India, Liberation Day in Uganda, and Engineer's Day in Panama.

It's unofficially National Peanut Brittle Day, Clashing Clothes Day, and International Customs Day.

It's the birthday of General Douglas MacArthur, who as born in 1880; actor Paul Newman, who was born in 1925; comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who is 59; and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who is 56.

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

This week in 2015, the top song in the U.S. was "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.

The No. 1 movie was "American Sniper," while the novel "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: In the song "American Pie," who is referred to as "The Jester"?

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 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/Australia_Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_26

https://www.checkiday.com/01/26/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-26

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2015_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_2015

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

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

On this date in 1890, journalist Nellie Bly arrived back in New York after a record-breaking 72-day trip around the world.

Here are some things you may not have known about Bly and her journey.

Elizabeth Jane Cochran was born in 1864 near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the age of 16, she replied to a misogynistic column in the Pittsburgh Dispatch newspaper. The editor of the paper was so impressed with her ability that he gave her a full-time job. The editor assigned her the pen name "Nellie Bly" after the title character in a popular song by Stephen Foster.

She tried to write stories about working women, but was prevented from doing so by her superiors. She eventually was moved to the women's pages, where she covered fashion, society and gardening, among other genteel topics. At the age of 21, she left Pittsburgh to work as a foreign correspondent in Mexico. After six months there, her work upset the government, so she returned to the U.S., eventually moving to New York.

In 1887, she managed to talk her way into an assignment from the New York World, in which she would pose as someone with a mental illness to report on conditions at the Women's Lunatic Asylum in New York City. Her 10-day stay exposed the horrible conditions in the hospital and led to changes in mental-heath procedures and an increase in hospital funding.

In 1888, Bly decided she wanted to attempt to make Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in 80 Days" into a reality. It took almost two years to convince her editors to allow her to try, but on November 14, 1889, with two days notice, she departed Hoboken, New Jersey, on the steamer Augusta Victoria bound for England.

She carried only the dress she was wearing, an overcoat, a few changes of undergarments, and personal essentials. She carried 200 British pounds and some American currency in a bag tied around her neck.

She traveled from England to France, where she met Jules Verne, before transiting the Suez Canal bound for Ceylon, which is now called Sri Lanka, then on to Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. From Japan, she traveled on board the RMS Oceanic, arriving in San Francisco two days behind schedule because of bad weather. The publisher of her newspaper, Joseph Pulitzer, chartered a private train to help Bly make up time.

She arrived back in Hoboken at 3:51 p.m. on January 25, 1890, 72 days after leaving.

A few months later, Bly's record was beaten by George Francis Train, who completed the journey in 67 days. By 1913, the record was down to 36 days.

Nellie Bly died of pneumonia in 1922 at the age of 57.

The current record for suborbital circumnavigation of the globe was set by an Air France flight in 1992, with a time of 32 hours, 39 minutes and 3 seconds.

Our question: What type of aircraft was used in the 1992 Air France record?

Today is Russian Students Day, National Police Day in Egypt and National Voters' Day in India.

It's unofficially Fluoride Day, National Irish Coffee Day, and Macintosh Computer Day.

It's the birthday of writer Virginia Woolf, who was born in 1882; athlete Steve Prefontaine, who was born in 1951; and musician Alicia Keys, who is 36.

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

This week in 1984, the top song in the U.S. was "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes.

The No. 1 movie was "Terms of Endearment," while the novel "Pet Sematary" by Stephen King topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: In the song "American Pie," who is referred to as "The Jester"?

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.

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

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Sources

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

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

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

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_25

https://www.checkiday.com/01/25/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-25

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1984_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1984

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On this date in 1972, Shoichi Yokoi, one of the last Japanese holdouts from World War II was discovered hiding in Guam.

Here are some things you may not have known about Japanese holdouts, including Yokoi.

Corporal Shoichi Yokoi served in the 38th Regiment and arrived on Guam in February 1943. After the Americans captured Guam in 1944, Yokoi and nine other soldiers went into hiding. Seven of the 10 eventually left on their own, but three remained behind. The three lived on their own near each other until two of them died in a flood in 1964 after 20 years of hiding. Yokoi lived eight years by himself, hunting for food at night, and making clothing and other essentials from native plants.

In 1972, Yokoi was discovered by two local men checking their shrimp traps. Yokoi attacked them, apparently thinking his life was in danger, but was subdued and hauled out of the jungle.

When he returned to Japan he said, "It is with much embarrassment, but I have returned." The phrase became a popular saying in Japan.

Yokoi had known since 1952 that the war was over, but preferred to remain in hiding rather than be embarrassed by surrendering.

He became a minor celebrity in Japan, and received $300 in back pay and a small pension.

He died in 1997 of a heart attack at the age of 82. He was buried under a headstone that his mother had originally bought in 1955 when he was first declared dead.

Three more confirmed Japanese holdouts were discovered in the following two years. One was killed in a shootout with Philippine police in October 1972.

Hiro Onoda, who was also hiding in the Philippines would only surrender if ordered to by a superior officer. In March 1974, his commanding officer during the war, now working as a bookseller, was flown to the Philippines to personally deliver the orders. Onoda died in 2014 at the age of 91.

The final documented Japanese holdout to be discovered was Teruo Nakamura, who was arrested in December 1974 in Indonesia. He died of lung cancer five years later at the age of 59.

Our question: On what American battleship was the Japanese surrender ceremony held?

Today is Unification Day in Romania.

It's unofficially National Peanut Butter Day, Beer Can Appreciation Day, and Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day.

It's the birthday of writer Edith Wharton, who was born in 1862; musician Neil Diamond, who is 76; and actor John Belushi, who was born in 1949.

Because we recently featured 1972, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1963, the top song in the U.S. was "Walk Right In" by The Rooftop Singers .

The No. 1 movie was "Lawrence of Arabia," and the novel "Seven Days in May" by Fletcher Knebel was likely the top selling book, but there was no bestsellers list because of a newspaper strike. The book topped the list before and after the strike.

Weekly question: In the song "American Pie," who is referred to as "The Jester"?

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.

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_24

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

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

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

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

http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/6-soldiers-who-refused-to-surrender

https://www.checkiday.com/01/24/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-24

http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=1&d=24&y=1963&o=

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1963_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1963

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

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