April 30- Sports

Since it is late and I am tired, I am sad to inform you that there will be no customary paragraph long introduction. This is just a question that popped into my head, and being that today is sports day, I though I'd ask. So today's question is: What was the first sport televised in the U.S.?




The first sport was baseball. It was between Princeton and Columbia. Princeton won.

April 29- Geography

When American states and territories were first being made, the proud citizens were clamoring for things to make their state famous or well known. New Hampshire is the Granite State. Pennsylvania is known as the Keystone State (Because, like a keystone, it held early America together.) and New York, named for the Duke of York (brother of Charles ll) is known as the Empire State. But, unbeknownst to many people, there is a state that "copies" New York's nickname, which brings me to my question of the day: Which state has the nickname of "Little Empire State"





The state that goes by the name of "Little Empire State" is Georgia.

April 28- Science

You see it all the time in ads. This cleaning product will be so and so effective. And often, non-descriptive words are used, like "cleaner" or "fresher". Notice how they don't often use the words sanitize or sterilize. Well, at least I noticed that. Anyway, they don't use those words because those words have definitions. Which brings me to my question of the day: What is the difference between sanitize and sterilize?




To sanitize something, you need to get rid of 99.999% of micro organisms in 30 seconds. To sterilize something, you need to get rid of every micro organism, in 30 seconds.

April 27- History

As it turns out, females have been vying for the seat of President of the United States. Before Hilary, other women have run for the seat in the past, but much longer before most people think. Which brings me to the question: Who was the first woman to run for president, and when? (Hint: It was before women had the right to vote.)





Victoria Woodhull ran in 1876, but lost. Suffrage was passed in 1920.

April 26- Presidents

To be elected to the highest position of office in the most powerful country in the world, one must have an impressive resume, to say the least. Sometimes people achieve this through being a governor, senator, or congressman. But also, people rise to power through the military. Which brings me to my question: How many presidents have been 2 star Generals or higher? (Surgeon General or Attorney General doesn't count.)




8 presidents have had 2 stars or higher: Washington (6), Eisenhower(5), Grant(4), Jackson(2), William Henry Harrison(2), Taylor(2), Hayes(2), Benjamin Harrison(2).

For more info visit: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_US_presidents_were_Army_generals

April 25- Random

The game of Monopoly. Invented during the Great Depression, this intense real-estate game involves bribing, tricking, and buying ones way to victory, or, monopoly. The "spokesperson" and mascot for the game of Monopoly is, or was, Rich Uncle Pennybags. But recently, Pennybags changed his name to Mr. Monopoly. Also, with the changing times, (and I suspect a decent dose of political correctness) Mr. Monopoly quit smoking. Which brings me to my question of the day: When was Mr. Monopoly renamed and quit smoking?




He changed his name and quit smoking in 2000. And, just for a bonus, a quick fact: The longest game of monopoly ever was 1,680 hours long, or 70 days.

*I got these facts from Mental_Floss, probably the best magazine ever. Check them out at www.mentalfloss.com

April 24- Music

The glass armonica. A series of glass bowls placed in order from biggest to smallest, it is played by someone wetting their fingers, and rubbing the top of the bowl that has the desired sound. A foot pedal at the bottom keeps the bowls spinning. Famous composers such as Mozart have written pieces for it. Unfortunately, the glass armonica has sort of died out over the years, but enthusiastic fans predict its imminent return to fame. So, without further ado, I bring my question of the day: Which famous American invented the glass armonica?





In 1761, Benjamin Franklin invented it after watching a performance of a man playing tunes on the top of wine glasses.

For more info visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XPfoFZYso8 (The title is "Glass Harmonica", which is another widely used name, but not the official one.)