Musings of a Dead Parrot

THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1.  What common household item was made of "All-Cotton Elastic" when Oscar Schwidetzky invented it in 1918?  Q tips
2. James Sullivan's 2008 book The Hardest Working Man tells, according to its subtitle, "How" what man "Saved Soul the America"?  James Brown!
3.  What's the only U.S. state to have a chronic vog problem?  what the heck is vog?
4.  What two actors share the same first name *and* share the screen in three Coen brothers films: Barton Fink, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother Where Are Thou?  John Goodman and John Turturro
5.  What is the last part of Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat to disappear?  his teeth/grin
6.  Thanks to the efforts of five different tennis champions, what country has won 11 of the last 19 men's singles titles at the French Open?  Spain (I think)
7.  What unusual distinction is shared by these countries, and no others?  Bolivia, Brunei, Eritrea, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Samoa, Vatican City, and--probably most famously--Israel?

LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1.  Quetzaltenango, also called "Xela," is the second largest city in what country?  The quetzal is the national symbol--and currency--of Guatemala.   correct
2.  Who are Blanche Devereaux, Rose Nylund, Dorothy Zbornak, and Sophia Petrillo?  They are "The Golden Girls."  For those not familiar, this is a fanciful television comedy about four retired women living together in Florida, not one of whom is Jewish.  correct
3.  What obvious physical trait demonstrates that Curious George, the "curious little monkey," probably isn't a monkey at all, but some type of ape?  Monkeys generally have tails, unlike apes (and unlike George).  Maybe the Man with the Yellow Hat, evil colonialist that he is, chopped off George's tail when he stole him from paradise.  correct
4.  What opera's title object protects Tamino and Pamina from the ordeals of fire and water in the Temple of Sarastro?  If you were facing terrible fiery and watery ordeals, wouldn't you want a flute to help out?  What if it was a MAGIC flute?  NOW how much would you pay?   correct
5.  What up-and-coming movie star was taunted with the nickname "Baking Soda Boy" by clever classmates as a child?  Pity poor Armie Hammer (of The Social Network and J. Edgar fame) for having a name that sounded much like a popular brand of baking soda.  It's so sad when incredibly good-looking heirs to a bajillion-dollar petroleum fortunes have to face that kind of cruel bullying. never heard of this guy until now.   Armand Hammer's great grandson?  Maybe he and Balthazar Getty should work together.
6.  After his 1947 death, Congressman Andrew Volstead donated to the Minnesota Historical Society the seven boxes of hate mail he had received over what issue?  Volstead's namesake act introduced America to the gangsteriffic wonders of Prohibition.  correct
7.  What is the unusual significance of this group of songs, listed in this order?  Albert King's "Born Under a Bad Sign," the Young Rascals' "Good Lovin'," the Black Kids' "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You," XTC's "Senses Working Overtime," Jonathan Richman's "Roadrunner," the Beatles' "You Never Give Me Your Money," the Who's "Slip Kid," Public Enemy's "Shut 'Em Down," Stevie Wonder's "Do Yourself a Favor."  All these songs contain count-offs--in increasing order of length.  In other words, "Born Under a Bad Sign" begins with a "one-two," "Good Lovin'" begins "One! Two! Three!" and so on up through the "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10" in the Stevie Wonder song.  I couldn't find a good candidate for eleven--can anyone help?  correct