Trivia

Wed., June 26, 1996

L.M. Boyd Crown Syndicate

Q. What’s the city with elevated second-floor sidewalks in the downtown business district?

A. Morristown, Tenn.

This is not to charge the great Roman poet Vergil as sexist. Still, he wrote, “Varium et mutabile semper femina.” It means, “Woman is a fickle and changeable thing.”

Q. How far back does the word “homosexual” go in English?

A. 1892 is when it first appeared in print. Same year Joshua Pusey came out with his book matches, William Wrigley with his chewing gum, and Robert Ingersoll with his $1 pocket watch.

Traffic law in Greece decrees $150 fine for speeding but $300 for running a red light.

Q. Wasn’t Teflon invented in the Navy’s Naval Research Laboratory by scientists in search of a coating for machine gun barrels?

A. Some references say that. Others say it was discovered accidentally in 1938 by Du Pont chemist Roy J. Plunkett while working on refrigerants.

Did I tell you cows moo louder than gorillas roar?

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.