Quiz Me

[jonmulzer]

There is also another story about my grandfather eating a banana whole, peel and all, the first time he had ever seen one on the boat coming over. I don't really think that one is true though.

It was either a common anecdote or a common occurence because I remember the same story being told about my great great grandfather. Or however many greats it was. The one that came over on the boat. :P

[Tom Slick]

There is a story about my great-grandfather being asked if he knew what a "rubber band" was. he replied "a group of thieves". In his poor understanding of english he thought they said "robber band".
There is also another story about my grandfather eating a banana whole, peel and all, the first time he had ever seen one on the boat coming over. I don't really think that one is true though.

[scmhogg]

When LOML's Russian grandmother took her test, she was asked, "are you a bigamist." She answered no. Later, she admitted that she didn't have any idea what it meant. She said, " Look, I'm not a communist so I figured I wasn't a bigamist either."

Steve

[Bigbit]

Ooh, ooh, ooh! I know that one! (I am currently listening to the recent John Adams biography audio book)

Jefferson and Adams - July 4th - the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence - Which would make it... 1826?

YOU ARE KERECT!!!

[dkerfoot]

Update : Went there, done with it!

I think the wife is in a good enough mood for me to try and finagle a tool or something; our celebration was brief as I had to get to work, but the kids were not at home ... !

Congratulations! If only all of our hard earned endeavors were rewarded with a new tool and some "kids were not at home" time. I think we would be an even more industrious nation!

[Black wallnut]

First congrats on becoming a naturalized citizen!

Back to the longest river question..... Missouri, headwaters are in Montana

[radhak]

CONGRATULATIONS!



Alaska is actually most eastern (179°46'E), western (179°6'W) and northern (71°23'N). The "easternness" of Alaska is the tricky part of the question, and it assumes measurement by longitude -- which I admit is not an entirely fair assumption .

Here's an interesting article I found when looking up the details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme..._United_States

Boy! That mystified me a lot, then I re-read the numbers : that's the exact half-point around the globe, and that's why that funny situation!

This has been more educative that I'd have expected! And we now also know Cabinetman has a real live poet inside him !

[jonmulzer]

Or the way I heard it, *upbeat tempo* "Hey Everybody, I'm gunna whistle, while I tell ya'll the story of Israel Bissell". Just doesn't have the same ominous tone.

[cabinetman]

I guess that "Listen my children and you shall hear, of the midnight ride of Paul Revere" is better than any rhyming you can come up with for Israel Bissell.

How 'bout this: "Listen my children and you'll hear tell, of the midnight ride of Isreal Bissell.
.

[jonmulzer]

Also one of the other "British Are Coming" rider's names was Dawes. Revere gets the fame because his name made for a better poem. "Listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere...."

The man who actually made the longest ride, the one that is credited to Paul Revere, was Israel Bissell. Paul Revere was given the credit after Longfellow wrote "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere". I guess that "Listen my children and you shall hear, of the midnight ride of Paul Revere" is better than any rhyming you can come up with for Israel Bissell.

That question actually came up in 11th grade American History on a test. The teacher had never even mentioned Paul Revere or whatnot and then it showed up on the test. I answered Israel Bissell, just to be a smarta$$ and even brought reference material to class for when it was marked wrong. I was the only person to get it correct for extra credit. Everyone else received no points.

[LinuxRandal]

Cool! Funny commy question, though! Maybe it was a test of judgement. "Will he take the bait?"

JR

Probably has more to do with China, and the industrial/military espionage that we have had in the last 20 years.

In countries like China/North Korea, aren't you either communist, or a security risk (jailed, executed, etc)?

[JR]

Update : Went there, done with it!

Cool! Funny commy question, though! Maybe it was a test of judgement. "Will he take the bait?"

JR

[Tom Slick]

I'm glad to hear that all went well. I am also surprised that there is still a bit of McCarthyism in the INS process.
If you don't mind me asking, where are you from originally? My family immigrated from Russia.

There were 13 stars on the original "Betsy Ross" flag

The House of Representatives is modeled after the House of Commons in England. It is supposed to be younger/fresher/more idealistic. that is why there are more of them and they serve shorter terms.

The Senate is modeled after the House of Lords in England. It is supposed to be older and wiser. That is why there is less of them and they serve longer terms.

[Alex Franke]

Update : Went there, done with it!

CONGRATULATIONS!

In the first batch of questions, Radak was right about Maine. The question says EASTERN not Northern.

Alaska is actually most eastern (179°46'E), western (179°6'W) and northern (71°23'N). The "easternness" of Alaska is the tricky part of the question, and it assumes measurement by longitude -- which I admit is not an entirely fair assumption .

Here's an interesting article I found when looking up the details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme..._United_States

[Russianwolf]

And there are 102 senators (2 are shadow senators for DC) & Elaenor Norton is the Congresswoman for the District of Columbia, but she can't vote (there is also a shadow congressman for DC).

In the first batch of questions, Radak was right about Maine. The question says EASTERN not Northern.