# Trivia Dominoes III — Play Off the Last Bit of Trivia **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [April 12, 2025, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952 "2025-04-12T05:32:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 105
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2081 "2026-07-22T04:16:11Z")
Nixon was a guest star on Laugh-in, saying “Sock it to me?”, and he later credited it with his win over Hubert Humphrey- who refused to do the show. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GXf9FsjLcOM/hqdefault.jpg "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In S02E01 Richard Nixon: "Sock it to me?"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXf9FsjLcOM) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2082 "2026-07-22T04:28:04Z")
George Schlatter, creator of _Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In_ (which ran on NBC from 1967 until 1973), attempted a revival of the show in 1977. The revival only lasted for six episodes (which aired as “specials,” rather than a weekly series), but it did serve as a breakout role for a young Robin Williams, who was a member of the show’s main ensemble. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2083 "2026-07-22T07:47:50Z")
Dan Rowan’s “_News of the Future_” segment on _Laugh-In_ was uncannily accurate. It predicted both Ronald Reagan’s presidency and the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2084 "2026-07-22T15:11:53Z")
The fall of the Berlin Wall was largely due to one man’s mistake. On November 9, 1989, East German Politburo spokesman Gunter Shabowski was given, well, basically some incomplete notes about a plan to allow East Germans to apply for exit visas. Shabowski was unclear of the specifics even as all eyes, and the TV cameras, were watching. He read the new policy and, when asked when it took effect, in his ignorance he uttered the words that would change history. _“As far as I know, it takes effect immediately, without delay.”_ Soon the gates were flooded and the guards, lacking orders, stood down and opened the gates. Within hours the sledgehammers came out, and jubilant Berliners tore down the wall. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2085 "2026-07-22T16:14:57Z")
Konrad Schumann was the young East German soldier immortalized in a photograph of him jumping over the coiled barb wire at the East Berlin-West Berlin border. Schumann, having completed his initial training, was sent to East Berlin with instructions to guard the border. At that time, the border was just a line separating the two sides of the city. Crowds had gathered on both sides, and berated and taunted the soldiers, calling them “pigs” and “concentration camp guards.” Soon more soldiers appeared on the Eastern side, with material for building the wall. Schumann saw he would soon be imprisoned in East Berlin, so he flattened a spot in the barb wire and jumped over. > **[Konrad Schumann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konrad_Schumann#/media/File:Leap_into_Freedom.jpeg)** > > Hans Conrad Schumann, also known as Konrad Schumann (28 March 1942 – 20 June 1998), was an East German Bereitschaftspolizist who escaped to West Germany during the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961. Born in Zschochau (now part of Jahnatal) during World War II, Schumann enlisted in the Volkspolizei-Bereitschaft, a paramilitary unit of the East German police, following his 18th birthday. After three months of training in Dresden, he was posted to a non-commissioned officers' college in Potsda... Schumann made his way to Bavaria, where he lived the rest of his life. He feared the Stasi would try to assassinate him. After the Wall came down, he tried to visit his relatives, but was rejected by them, as they saw him as a traitor who had abandoned his family. In 1998, Schumann hung himself. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2086 "2026-07-22T18:04:27Z")
The colors of the German state flag of Bavaria are light blue and white, as are those of the national flags of Argentina, Guatemala, the Federated States of Micronesia, San Marino and Somalia. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2087 "2026-07-22T21:46:36Z")
The colors of the Italian national flag (green, white, and red) are presented in Neapolitan ice cream. Originally conceived using pistachio (green), vanilla (white), and strawberry (red) flavors, it was first recorded in print in 19th century Prussia. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2088 "2026-07-23T00:08:02Z")
Some simple color National flags are remarkably similar- Chad v Romania, Indonesian v Monaco , and Ireland v Côte d’Ivoire. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2089 "2026-07-23T03:04:22Z")
Fortunately, Chad and Romania, Indonesian and Monaco, and Ireland and Côte d’Ivoire have never fought wars against each other. The potential for confusion on the battlefield would be huge! ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2090 "2026-07-23T14:52:40Z")
The Anglo-Zanzibar War was a military conflict fought between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar on 27 August 1896. The conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes, making it the shortest recorded war in history. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2091 "2026-07-23T15:26:54Z")
Zanzibar is a region of Tanzania, the country between Kenya and Mozambique in East Africa on the Indian Ocean coast. Zanzibar is affectionately known as the “Spice Island” and is famous for producing cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. Besides being known for the shortest war in history, as @knoodler tells us, Zanzibar is also known for producing Farrokh Bulsara who was born there in Stone Town in 1946. Most of us know Farrokh Bulsara as the late, great Freddie Mercury of the rock band Queen. Rest in Peace, Freddie Mercury. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2092 "2026-07-23T15:42:14Z")
Prior to joining the band which became Queen, Freddie Mercury earned a diploma in graphic art and design from the Ealing Art College in London. Mercury used his design skills to create Queen’s “crest” logo, which incorporates the astrological signs of the four band members: - The two lions represent bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor (both Leos) - The crab represents guitarist Brian May (a Cancer) - The two fairies represent Mercury (a Virgo) [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71uLwJ34HoL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71uLwJ34HoL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2093 "2026-07-23T16:00:44Z")
The four Gospels in the Bible, of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are sometimes represented by symbols called a tetramorph: a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle, respectively. The Gospel of Matthew is typically represented by a man because the text emphasizes the human nature and genealogy of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Mark is typically represented by a lion because his Gospel begins with a powerful, “roaring” voice in the wilderness (John the Baptist) and focuses heavily on the theme of kingship, courage, and resurrection. The Gospel of Luke is typically represented by an ox because of his heavy emphasis on Christ’s sacrificial death and his role as a priest. In the ancient Jewish tradition, the ox was the ultimate animal used for offerings and sacrifice. The Gospel of John is typically represented by an eagle because his Gospel begins with the lofty, divine nature of Christ and the Incarnation (the Word made flesh). The eagle represents his spiritual insight, the Ascension of Jesus, and his Gospel’s “soaring” theological height above the other three accounts. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2094 "2026-07-23T18:08:03Z")
A Famous painting is _Salome with the Head of John the Baptist_ by Caravaggio. Although the incident is mentioned in the New Testament in Matthew 14-_On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist_. Salome is not named in any of the four Gospels, instead writers and artists turned to Josephus. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2095 "2026-07-23T19:24:20Z")
American cartoonist Bernard “B.” Kliban (1935-1990), best known for his offbeat anthropomorphic cats, had his own take on the ultimately-tragic New Testament [tale of John the Baptist.](https://silezukuk.tumblr.com/post/96823220568) ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2096 "2026-07-23T20:00:54Z")
In 2009, underground comics artist R. Crumb illustrated _The Book of Genesis_, a straightforward rendition of the first book of the King James Bible. Crumb, best known for his over the top depictions of sex and sexual deviance, presented his work as an honest interpretation of the biblical tale. It reached #1 on both the New York Times graphic novel best seller list and the Christian book list on Amazon. Crumb, who declares himself an agnostic, was raised in a Catholic household. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2097 "2026-07-23T20:25:18Z")
In _Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi_, Jabba the Hutt had a “court jester,” a cackling Kowakian monkey-lizard named Salacious B. Crumb – the name was never said in the film, but appeared in promotional and merchandising materials. The character was named by George Lucas, who chose the surname Crumb as an homage to underground comic artist R. Crumb. [![](https://i.etsystatic.com/26547406/r/il/f0b458/3282748387/il_570xN.3282748387_2hgc.jpg) ](https://i.etsystatic.com/26547406/r/il/f0b458/3282748387/il_570xN.3282748387_2hgc.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2098 "2026-07-24T05:12:12Z")
One of singer/songwriter Don McLean’s most popular songs is _American_ _Pie_, released in 1971 and telling a story of ‘the day the music died.’ This is a reference to the small plane crash in February 1959 that killed early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper (JP Richardson), and Ritchie Valens. While McLean never explained the meaning of obscure references in the song’s lyrics, ‘the Jester’ is almost certainly Bob Dylan, and ‘the coat he borrowed from James Dean’ can be seen on the cover of Dylan’s album ‘_The_ _Freewheelin_’ _Bob_ _Dylan_’, a studio album he released in 1963. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2099 "2026-07-24T14:41:12Z")
In 1999, “Weird” Al Yankovic released a oral breakdown of _Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace_ sung to the tune of “American Pie.” In the accompanying music video, Yankovic appears as a strolling troubadour dressed like Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), replete with side rat tail. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hEcjgJSqSRU/sddefault.jpg) ](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hEcjgJSqSRU/sddefault.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952/2100 "2026-07-24T17:19:07Z")
Weird Al’s _Phantom Menace_ parody (_‘The Saga Begins’_) was recorded a month before the film released in May 1999. Yankovic was denied an early screening by Lucasfilm, but managed to piece together the plot by researching rumors posted on Star Wars fan forums. _ **-“BB”-** _ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952.md?page=104) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-iii-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/1016952.md?page=106)