Musings of a Dead Parrot

THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The new Johnny Depp-narrated film When You're Strange is a documentary about what band? The Doors
2. "Mr. Irrelevant" is the nickname given every April to the very last person to do what? be drafted by the NFL
3. In 1852, who published a still-popular book of "Words and Phrases Classified and Arranged so as to Facilitate the Expression of Ideas and Assist in Literary Composition"? Roget. The title sounds like a synonym for thesaurus.
4. What part of the brain was named in 1587 for its resemblance to a sea horse? hippocampus
5. The Atlantic's 2006 list of the 100 most influential people in American history included two different Supreme Court justices with what last name? Marshall - John and Thurgood
6. Malagasy is the national language of what country? this is definitely one I should know. A good final Jeopardy question. However if I ever knew it, I have forgotten now. Malagasy makes me think of the Malay Peninsula. Malaysia? Indonesia?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these performers, and no others? Beatrice Arthur, Lucille Ball, Michael J. Fox, Susan Hampshire, Michael Learned, Mary Tyler Moore, Carroll O'Connor, James Spader, Barbara Stanwyck, Sela Ward, Robert Young. This group makes me think it is something to do with their tv roles. Susan Hampshire is particularly interesting since she has done almost no US tv. One thing I notice - each has won acting Emmys for at least two different series.

LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Last week, what state became the first in the U.S. to honor an official "State Microbe," Lactococcus lactis? As you might guess from its name, Lactococcus lactis is invaluable in making cheese, which is why Wisconsin ("America's Dairyland") loves it above all other germs. correct
2. Who was the last NBA Rookie of the Year to have entered the league straight out of high school? LeBron James did it in 2004. New NBA rules make it impossible to go straight from high school to the pros without sitting out a year first, so this may never happen again. correct
3. During its first season, what TV comedy include the names "De Fazio" and "Feeney" in its main title screen? ABC initially felt the need for Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney to go by their full names. But now we're on a first-name basis. correct
4. What are you doing in between the hypnagogic state and the hypnopompic state? These are the scientific terms for "falling asleep" and "waking up." In between you're sleeping. If you're also snoring/walking/robbing banks, please see a sleep therapist. correct
5. The second highest mountain in Africa is located in, and shares its name with, which nation? Mount Kenya--which, incidentally, is where Princess Elizabeth happened to be in 1952 when she acceded to the British throne. correct
6. What history-changing event happened eight miles off Kinsale, Ireland on May 7, 1915? That's where the Lusitania was sunk by U-boat torpedo. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these pop songs? "Complete Control" by the Clash, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen, "God" by the Plastic Ono Band, "How Many More Times" by Led Zeppelin, "In My Head" by No Doubt, "In My Tree" by Pearl Jam, "Paintwork" by The Fall, "Strange" by R.E.M. All these songs mention the lead singer's first name in the lyrics--which is pretty unusual when not coming from a hip-hop group. Did I miss any better examples? I'm pretty sure I did. Shoot me an email if you can think of any. good get, Dave