Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion

Every once in a while at FunTrivia.com, I come across something that strikes me as extra interesting. So I'm starting this topic as a place to keep track of these interesting facts.

Below is a link to the home page of Fun Trivia:
http://www.funtrivia.com/

Today I came across the following in the "Quick Quiz" at the top of the home page*:

QUESTION: "Which nut must be cracked and cleaned before being sold for human consumption because the shell is toxic?"

ANSWER: cashews
"Cashews are in the same family as poison-ivy. Many plants in this family produce Urushiol, an oil that can cause a nasty, painful rash."

After reading the above, I realized that cashews are the one nut we can't buy in the shell. Now I know why.

* http://www.funtrivia.com/

Joy: I have joined fun trivia at your recommendation. I am player ChattyLady and my team is The Sleuths of Truth.

I am enjoying the site immensely!!!

Glad to hear that, Mary JL. If you come across any extra-interesting trivia, you might post it here. So many times I find information there which makes me say to myself: "How come I didn't know that?" Then I pass the info on to my husband who is usually just as surprised or impressed as I was.

I like the user-name you've chosen and the name of your team too. That's a good-sized team. With your reading background, you should do very well. I'm afraid my quiz-accuracy rating is only around 62% at FunTrivia.

Joy: Regarding quizzes, I vary a lot. I do well in history, geography, literature and world wizard.

I am terrbile in sports. I do not do well in movie actors. I do terrible on modern musicians because I do not listen to modern bands.

But, it is a lot of fun. I will look for fun facts, and try to post a few.

Mary JL, like you, I'm not interested in modern bands and I don't keep up with sports. So I have to guess at questions about those subjects.

Have you set up your personal daily quiz yet? It's on the home page under "Daily Games" and is called "My Daily Quiz". I've set my questions to include several subjects under the Literature topic. I'm hoping to learn something. :)

Yes, I have set up my personal daily quiz. Joy. I really thank you for telling me about the site-I enjoy it.

Today's Fact from FunTrivia:

Which musical is based on a book by Gaston Leroux?

The correct answer was: The Phantom of the Opera.

BTW, I'm a team leader at FunTrivia. The name of my team is "NY State Folks".
Below is a link to my team's page:
http://www.funtrivia.com/bb2.cfm?gid=...
http://www.funtrivia.com/team_info.cfm
As of today, we have 46 members. I started the team around September, 2010.

Today I learned the following at FunTrivia:

"The ampersand symbol (&) was created by joining the letters "et," which means 'and' in Latin. Joining two letters into one character is called a ligature."

I never new that!

See more at Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampersand

Today I learned the following at FunTrivia:

Those little bumps on the outside of a golf ball are referred to as dimples. Ideally there are between 380-432. They provide lift for the ball by creating two different airflows around the ball.

More at:
http://wings.avkids.com/Book/Sports/i...

Another FunTrivia bit of info:

When a racehorse is buried usually only the head, heart, and hooves are buried, while the rest of the horse is cremated.

When triple crown winner Secretariat was euthanized in 1989, he was given the unusual honor of being buried whole.

That only applies to top breeding stock & probably not all of them, Joy. I've buried quite a few, but have seen as many go to the knacker man. I've always buried them whole, except one time when I hit a big rock & had to cut off the legs. That was gross. Took me forever to clean up the chainsaw, but the lady said I had to bury the horse in certain place & there was a huge rock about 6' down. Too big to get out, so I made him fit. Blech.

Jim, did you tell the lady you cut off the legs?
Yes, gross is the word. The seamy side of life.

No way! I wouldn't consider this the seamy side of life, either. It's unpleasant but the word 'seamy' has connotations of dishonesty to me. There was nothing dishonest about this. It was a nasty, hard job, but someone has to do it.

The mechanics of getting the job done aren't something I'd ever tell owners about, especially this lady. She was very soft hearted & had no clue. She just wanted Brownie buried with 2 others of hers. No reason to shatter her illusions. She was in tears about the horse dying. She didn't even hog tie the its legs, which was one reason why I had to cut them off. She'd have freaked out if a hoof popped up out of the ground & got hit by the mower or something.

When a horse dies, it's always best to tie the legs close to the body, otherwise they stick straight out. On a Thoroughbred race horse, this makes them 12' long by 6' wide & over 3' tall lying there. Tying them reduces the width to about 4'. That's still a big hole to dig, especially since the legs tend to splay as the body bloats & rigor sets in so they're stiff. That makes it tough to drag them out of the barn & over to the grave site through gates & such. Again, not a pretty sight, dragging a dead horse, sometimes by its neck, other times by chained legs, depending. Splayed legs don't make them any easier to position, either. I always moved them around with the front end loader or backhoe, so they just got in the way.

Usually, I'd dig the hole wide enough to lay them in on their sides since the little backhoe only dug down about 8' & even with running the tractor over the hole to pack the dirt, there's quite a bit of fall as the body decomposes. Big body, 1000 - 1200 pounds.

We didn't charge a regular customer for the service, but it was expected if they weren't since it usually took half a day by the time I'd drive there, do the job & get back to regular work. That's why so many used the knackerman. Used to be they paid a bit for the bodies, but now it costs a bit for them to pick up dead animals. I'm not sure what they do with the bodies, but they grind them up for something & make a little money, so they're cheaper than hiring a backhoe.

Jim wrote: "No way! I wouldn't consider this the seamy side of life, either. It's unpleasant but the word 'seamy' has connotations of dishonesty to me. There was nothing dishonest about this. It was a nast..."

Jim, I had tried to find a better word than seamy. I considered "unpleasant" but it didn't scan as well as "seamy". But you are right, seamy has a bad connotation. Glad you caught that.

About the word "knackerman", I had to look it up. I found:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knacker
http://web.archive.org/web/2011012912...
"A Knackerman is a person who collects Dead, Dying and Injured farm animals and Horses."
Live and learn! :)

How did you get into the horse-burying business?
I've never thought about the problems that entail with that sort of thing until now.

PS-More interesting pages re knackermen:
http://web.archive.org/web/2011071316...
"My family were slaughtererers and cow keepers since the early 1800s in the East End of London. ..."

http://web.archive.org/web/2011071316...
http://web.archive.org/web/2011071316...

Who knew? Not I! Live and learn.

PPS-I found the following:
knacker (British):
Word Origin: probably from nacker saddler, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse hnakkur saddle
FROM: http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dict...

We just did it because we had the equipment, a backhoe to dig the hole. Most anyone with a backhoe would do it if asked, but I never knew anyone who looked for the job. Like I said, it takes a big hole, too much to do by hand.

Speaking of Nackerman I wonder if any of you ever watched or read the "All Creatures Great and Small" series? It almost always had a knackeman character in the episode.

I read the books & even listened to some on audio, but don't think I ever caught a full episode of the series on PBS. I saw bits & pieces occasionally. Looked like it was OK, but it never captured us.

Nina wrote: "Speaking of Nackerman I wonder if any of you ever watched or read the "All Creatures Great and Small" series? It almost always had a knackeman character in the episode."

Seems to me that I've seen some James Herriot episodes but my Netflix records don't indicate that. Perhaps I borrowed DVDs from our public library. As Jim said, the series "never captured" me. Interesting that it had a knackerman episode.

Reminds me of the TV series "Doc Martin" (2004-2011), about a country doctor. I've streamed a few episodes from Netflix:
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Doc...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408381/
"Trials and tribulations of a socially challenged doctor in Cornwall, England."

Jim wrote: "We just did it because we had the equipment, a backhoe to dig the hole. Most anyone with a backhoe would do it if asked, but I never knew anyone who looked for the job. Like I said, it takes a bi..."

Not a pleasant task but someone has to do it. I doubt if that person would be in the Yellow Pages. I guess calling a vet would lead you to a knackerman of sorts. I have to ask our vet what he knows about such things.

When I worked for a vet, we used to just take any small animals that weren't claimed to the dump. That was part of my job & it fell way below cleaning kennels. I'll never forget a big Irish Wolf Hound that died after a couple of weeks of fighting for his life. He'd been hit by a car & had a lot of pins, stitches, & bandages. He fought hard, but didn't make it.

Jim wrote: "When I worked for a vet, we used to just take any small animals that weren't claimed to the dump. That was part of my job & it fell way below cleaning kennels. I'll never forget a big Irish Wolf ..."

Terrible job. Sad. Did they incinerate them at the dump?

We had jorji cremated when he was put to sleep. We keep his ashes in a kind of urn.

Both of our boys have elderly dogs. We hate to think about losing those lovable pets.

I don't recall, Joy, but probably. There was a separate place to dump them from regular garbage.

I see. Thanks, Jim.

Today I learned the following at FunTrivia:

The expression, "bar sinister", refers to the status of being born to parents who were not married.

Wordsmyth says:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
bar sinister - part of speech: noun

definition 1: in heraldry, a bar on a shield that runs diagonally from lower left to upper right, signifying an illegitimate ancestor; bend sinister.

definition 2: the condition or stigma of, or the evidence indicating or proving, illegitimate birth.

definition 3: any stigma or reproach that becomes attached to someone or something.

FROM: http://www.wordsmyth.net/?ent=bar+sin...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wiki says:
=============================================
(Redirected from Bar Sinister)
"Baton sinister is a charge used in heraldry. It is a diminutive of the bend sinister and constitutes a narrow strip that runs from the upper right to the lower left of a coat of arms. Sinister (meaning left in Latin) is merely a directional indicator.
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_Sini...
==============================================

NOTE: The word "sinister" can be misleading here. See more about it below:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
sinister - adjective
Definition: 1. threatening or suggesting evil, menace, or harm; 2. showing evil intention
Tips: Sinister is derived from the Latin sinister, which means "on the left side." Sinister has come to mean "evil" because of the old superstition that the left side of the body was unlucky.
FROM: http://vocabulary-vocabulary.com/dict...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And... in case your curious, "in heraldry, a bend is a coloured band running from the upper right corner of the shield to the lower left".
See picture here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bend_%28...

This was all new to me!

Today I learned 2 new words at FunTrivia.com:

1. scolion - a song (sometimes improvised) sung by guests at a banquet

"Skolion (pl. skolia), also scolion (pl. scolia), were songs sung by invited guests at banquets in ancient Greece. Often extolling the virtues of the gods or heroic men, skolia were improvised to suit the occasion and accompanied by a lyre, which was handed about from singer to singer as the time for each scolion came around."
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolion
==================
2. calceus - a shoe covering the ankle; worn by ancient Romans
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/calceus

My comment: Not very useful... unless you're an ancient Greek or Roman. :)

Joy, are you reading "Homer," or other Greek myths?

Nina wrote: "Joy, are you reading "Homer," or other Greek myths?"

Are you kidding? LOL

Not I!

I like more current stuff. :)

What fish can survive out of water up to four days?

The correct answer was Snakehead

A snakehead can measure up to six feet in length and weigh as much as 66 pounds. A snakehead is a freshwater fish which can also walk on land using its soft pectorals.

Which play by Henrik Ibsen is said to be a turning point in women's rights?

The correct answer was A Doll's House.
============================================

NOTE:I found the following info online:
-----------------------------------------------
"Ibsen didn't see his controversial play, A Doll's House, as feminist. He saw it as humanist. He thought every person, man and woman, had a right to self-actualization, to be who they wanted to be." FROM: http://www.shmoop.com/dolls-house/A Doll's House
-----------------------------------------------
"In A Doll’s House, Ibsen paints a bleak picture of the sacrificial role held by women of all economic classes in his society." FROM: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhou...
------------------------------------------------
"Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis":
- "Wife borrows money in order to save her husband's life. He is embarassed about it".

- "Wife gets tired of husband's attitude, leaves him and the children."

FROM: http://www.shelfari.com/books/31635/A...
--------------------------------------------
"A Doll's House is a play written in 1879 by Norweigian playwright Henrik Ibsen. ... Although the play was considered controversial when it was originally published, it's critical view of victorian marriage is now seen as being educational. ..."
FROM: http://www.shelfari.com/books/31635/A...
==============================================

An anonymous critique given on a film test by of which US film star read, "Can't act, can't sing, slightly bald, can dance a little"?

Correct answer: Fred Astaire

Wiki says:
====================================================
"Gene Kelly, another major innovator in filmed dance, said that "the history of dance on film begins with Astaire". Beyond film and television, many classical dancers and choreographers, Rudolf Nureyev, Sammy Davis, Jr., Michael Jackson, Gregory Hines, Mikhail Baryshnikov, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins among them, also acknowledged his importance and influence."
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Ast...
=================================================

Joy H. wrote: "An anonymous critique given on a film test by of which US film star read, "Can't act, can't sing, slightly bald, can dance a little"?

Correct answer: Fred Astaire No one has ever taken his place; although, now there aren't many musicals so he was there at the right time.

Wiki says:
=====================..."

Nina wrote: "No one has ever taken his place; although, now there aren't many musicals so he was there at the right time."

True, Nina. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly were favorites of mine. Watching them dance made me feel as if I too were dancing. It's a great feeling.

I'm not as light on my feet as I used to be. But I still can dance around a little when I hear a good rhythmic tune. Funny how that "dance reflex" (or whatever it is) can take over one's body.

PS-I guess it means: "I Got Rhythm". :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvglHa...

The term, "Cordon Bleu", denotes food prepared to a very high standard.

The term is French for ______ ?

Answer: Blue ribbon

I found an interesting literature quiz at FunTrivia.
The name of the quiz is: "Literary Analogies".
It's a real challenge. To try it, go here:
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz.cfm...

The first question is easy:

1. J.R.R. Tolkien is to Rings as William Golding is to:
Flies
Weed
Lions
Dance

It gets harder. :)

"She: A History of Adventure" is a novel by Henry Rider Haggard, first published in serial form in 1886 and 1887. It tells the tale of a British couple who discover a lost kingdom in Africa

"She" sold over 83 million copies. The term "She who must be obeyed" was the epithet of the lead female character in Haggard's novel, later made famous (again) in the "Rumpole of the Bailey" television series as the name Rumpole used to refer to his wife!

"Rumpole of the Bailey" (1978–1992) TV Series
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078680/
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Rumpole-...
"Part lawyer, part detective, Horace Rumpole -- with his brilliant mind and sly sense of humor -- is one of the most colorful characters ever to approach the bench, as seen in John Mortimer's Emmy-nominated series. Rumpole's adventures both behind the scenes and center stage in the British legal system are a delightful mix of comedy, mystery and courtroom drama. Justice has never been served with such style and wit."

Wiki:
=============================================
"Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer ... It has been spun off into a series of short stories, novels, and radio programmes."

"The origins of "Rumpole of the Bailey" lie in "Infidelity Took Place", a Wednesday Play written by John Mortimer and broadcast by the BBC on 18 May 1968. ... In the mid 1970s, Mortimer approached Play for Today producer Irene Shubik ... with a new idea for a play, titled "My Darling Prince, Peter Kropotkin", that centred around a barrister called Horace Rumbold. ... The character's name was later changed to Horace Rumpole when it was discovered that there was a real barrister called Horace Rumbold. The title of the play was briefly changed to "Jolly Old Jean Jacques Rousseau" before settling on the less esoteric "Rumpole of the Bailey".
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpole_...
============================================

Rumpole of the Bailey (first published 1978) by John Mortimer

Something happened to my Funtrivia login, so I couldn't take the quiz, but I did read it over. Wow. That's a tough one!

Jim wrote: "Something happened to my Funtrivia login, so I couldn't take the quiz, but I did read it over. Wow. That's a tough one!"

Jim, does that mean that you were able to see the quiz questions without logging in to FunTrivia? I was wondering about that.

Yes, I can see the questions, just can't take the quiz & get the answers.

Jim wrote: "Yes, I can see the questions, just can't take the quiz & get the answers."

I see. Thanks, Jim.

Here's a quiz for you:
http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/...
"This quiz is about the characters, places, and events in the 10 books of "The Chronicles of Amber" by Roger Zelazny. Think you know the whole series? Find out!"

I love the Rumple series on TV.

Nina wrote: "I love the Rumple series on TV."

Yes, I've enjoyed it too. Here's a FunTrivia quiz about Rumpole of the Bailey:
http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/...

The Zelazny quiz was far too easy, Joy.
;-)

The only hard question was in which book was Zelazny's cameo appearance & I even got that right, although it was a bit of a guess between 2 of them. With 10 books & 6 short stories to choose from, remembering what happens in which book isn't really fair, especially when the 10 books are packaged into one book, too.

Jim wrote: "The Zelazny quiz was far too easy, Joy.
;-) The only hard question was in which book was Zelazny's cameo appearance & I even got that right, although it was a bit of a guess between 2 of them. With 10 books & 6 short stories to choose from, remembering what happens in which book isn't really fair, especially when the 10 books are packaged into one book, too. "

Jim, I agree with you that it isn't fair to ask readers to remember so much. I usually forget the details of ONE book within a day. LOL

I am half way through The Paris Wife and am not liking Hemmingway very much.

Nina wrote: "I am half way through The Paris Wife and am not liking Hemmingway very much."

Nina, you'll probably get a kick out of the review of The Paris Wife at the link below:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
:)

What two important figures on opposite sides during the Civil War were born barely 100 miles apart and within 8 months of each other?

The correct answer was Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.

Jefferson Davis was born June 3, 1808 in a portion of Christian County, Kentucky, now Todd County.

Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1808 in Hardin County, Kentucky.

Did you know George Washington's step graddaughter was married to Robert E. Lee? They lived on the property that is now Arlington Cemetery. Their home waa burned as he was considered a traitor.