# Trivia Dominoes: Play Off the Last Bit of Trivia **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [February 4, 2010, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657 "2010-02-04T08:12:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1492
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29827 "2016-06-02T17:46:17Z")
Milton Caniff’s comic strip “Terry and the Pirates” was created in the 1930s, and took place in China. As the pre-war events heated up, Caniff was forbidden by his syndicate to make reference to the Japanese, simply callling them “the invaders” and leaving their identity in question. During the war, Terry joined the US army, and the story line degraded to a simple soldier drama, so in 1946, Caniff abandoned Terry, and created “Steve Canyon”, which survived for more than 40 years. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29828 "2016-06-02T17:57:47Z")
The symbol of the Japanese Imperial Family is the chrysanthemum. > **[Chrysanthemum Throne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum_Throne)** > > The Chrysanthemum Throne (皇位, kōi, "imperial seat") is the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term also can refer to very specific seating, such as the Takamikura (高御座) throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace. > Various other thrones or seats that are used by the Emperor during official functions, such as those used in the Tokyo Imperial Palace or the throne used in the Speech from the Throne ceremony in the National Diet, are, however, not known as the "Chrysanthemum Throne". > In a me... > **[List of Japanese flags | Imperial flags](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_flags#Imperial_flags)** > > 1. > > > Ankokuji Ekei > > > | > 2. > > > Ankokuji Ekei > > > | > 3. > > > Arima Naozumi > > > | > 4. > > > Arima Noriyari > > > | > 5. > > > Arima Toyōji > > > | > 6. > > > Arima Toyōji > > > | > 7. > > > Chōsokabe Morichika > > > | > 8. > > > Chōsokabe Morichika > > > | > 9. > > > Date Hidemune > > > | > 10. > > > Date Masamune > > > | > 11. > > > Date Masamune > > > | > 12. > > > Date Masamune > > > | > 13. > > > Doi Toshikatsu > > > | > 14. > > > Doi T... ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29829 "2016-06-02T18:08:15Z")
\ The famed Peacock Throne originated in India and lasted less then 150 before being taken and lost. After being taken by Nadir Shah the phrase came to represent the reign of the Shahs of Iran meaning the last person to sit on the Peacock Throne was Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29830 "2016-06-02T19:24:26Z")
A group of peacocks is called a bevy, or sometimes a muster, or party, or ostentation. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29831 "2016-06-02T19:58:49Z")
No they’re not. They’re called a flock, as are all birds. All those whimsical names for collectives of birds were largely made up by people who had nothing better to do, and a few caught on, but the rest exist nowhere else but in some compendia that got passed around. Basically the equivalent of old wives tales. A few are obviously jokes, and the list keeps expanding, with no historical reference cited at all… In he case of muster, there is historical reference among peacock musterers, but N-Gram viewer cannot find a single use of “ostentiation of peacocks” before 1962. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29832 "2016-06-02T22:23:27Z")
A group of historical reenactors in Philadelphia hold a “Military Muster” across from Independence Hall several times a week. Kids can participate as the Continental Army show passersby the art of marching and musket etiquette. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29833 "2016-06-03T01:56:10Z")
You can load and fire a flintlock musket as was used by the Continental Army during the revolution while at Colonial Williamsburg, using actual rounds and shooting at a target. It does cost extra and youth between 14-17 must have a signed parental waiver. - I am so adding this to my bucket list \* ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29834 "2016-06-03T02:14:02Z")
The Williamsburg Bridge is one of four toll-free crossings between Manhattan and Long Island. The others are the Queensboro, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29835 "2016-06-03T02:29:05Z")
Dawn Wells, best known for portaying Mary Ann on _Gilligan’s Island_, was Miss Idaho in 1959. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29836 "2016-06-03T03:40:41Z")
Gilligan’s Island, in real life, is Tulagi, a two square mile island in Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Ngella Sule. The US Naval destroyer “Gilligan” (DE-508) was named in honor of John Joseph Gilligan, Jr., from Newark NJ, who was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery on Tulagi. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29837 "2016-06-03T04:02:01Z")
John Gilligan, a Governor of Ohio, and his daughter Kathy Sebelius, who was later elected Governor of Kansas, are the only pair of father-daughter governors elected in U.S. political history. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29838 "2016-06-03T04:23:09Z")
Kathleen Brown ran for Governor of California in 1994, getting 3.5 million votes, but was defeated by Pete Wilson. Her father and brother had each previously served as California’s Governor. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29839 "2016-06-03T04:35:29Z")
State Governors in Australia are appointed directly by the Queen, on the advice of the Premier of the state. The Government of Australia is not involved. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29840 "2016-06-03T05:05:59Z")
The English words ‘queen’ and ‘king’ have similar prosodic qualities and nearly rhyme. OTOH, some non-English countries which incorporate their word for ‘king’ into a national anthem have been unable to open their thrones to women while retaining their traditional song. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2016, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29841 "2016-06-03T11:20:19Z")
The Russian word “_baba_”, meaning old woman, is one word used for the queen in the game of chess. Other Russian words used for the queen include _korolevna_ (king’s daughter), _tsaritsa_ (tsar’s wife), and most commonly _ferz_ (the Persian name for the piece). ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29842 "2016-06-03T12:47:03Z")
The powerful chess piece did not become a queen until quite recently. In Persian, the word \*ferz \*means adviser or counselor to the king, which was a male figure. The word _rook_, in Persian, means chariot, the original connotation of the piece, and the bishop derives from an elephant. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29843 "2016-06-03T13:29:04Z")
The game of chess dates back to at least 600AD with a reference to it in a Persian manuscript. The game originated in northern India before going to Persia. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29844 "2016-06-03T13:39:55Z")
Jim Corbett National Park was the first national park established in India in 1936. It is named after the famous tiger hunter and animal conservationist, Jim Corbett. This national park is presently situated in the state of Uttaranchal. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29845 "2016-06-03T14:59:46Z")
The W National Park in Africa lays claim to two distinctions. It is the shortest-named national park in the world, and is the only one that lie partly in three countries, Niger, Benin adn Burkina Faso. It is named W because of the shape of the curves on the Niger River, which passes through the park. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657/29846 "2016-06-03T15:39:30Z")
The Bight of Benin has a long association with slavery, its shore being known as the Slave Coast. An old rhyme says: Beware, beware the Bight of the Benin, for few come out though many go in. A variation goes: Beware beware, the Bight of Benin: one comes out, where fifty went in! This is said to be a slavery jingle or sea shanty about the risk of malaria in the Bight. According to one of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey - Maturin books, sailors believed it was bad luck to say this rhyme before entering the bight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657.md?page=1491) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-dominoes-play-off-the-last-bit-of-trivia/527657.md?page=1493)