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Jan-4-2005 18:37

See if there is interest for this.

1. Each day I will post 10 questions, at random times of the day.
2. Each Quiz runs exactly 24 hours.
3. The first person that has all 10 questions right, wins. Or if no one has all questions right, the best one wins.
4. You can only post answers ONCE for the same quiz.
5. No cash involved. Just glory. :)

Aug-31-2006 18:56

oh wait, one last answer!

Aug-31-2006 18:58

1. It appears that the word pirate (peirato) was first used in about 140 BC by the Roman historian Polybius.

2. A Pirate is one who engages in robbery, pillaging or plundering at sea, without a commission from a sovereign nation. Corsairs are Pirates with commissions from a government, operating in the Mediterranean.

3. Anne Bonny, “Black Bart” Bartholomew Roberts, Edward "Blackbeard" Teach

4. The Jolly Roger is the traditional flag of European and American pirates, envisioned today as a skull over crossed bones on a black field. The origins of the term "Jolly Roger" are unclear. There are several theories. Although no one knows for certain, it is widely believed the term probably comes from the “joli rouge” which means “pretty red” in French. This was taken to describe the blood red flags flown by the particularly harsh pirates.

5. False. Although it was a superstition that females were bad luck on a ship, there were many female pirates in history. They disguised themselves as men to board the ships. Anne Bonny for example, allegedly disguised herself as a man, but her identity was well know and she was accepted as a crew member as she was.

6. Bucaneers were initially hunters of cattle and pigs on the Island of what is now known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

7. Barbarossa, or Red Beard

8. False. There are only a few accounts of this actually happening. They usually preferred to pick up the culprit and just throw them overboard.

9. A cutlass, and a cannon.

10. Most likely from the book Treasure Island, from the character Long John Silver, who had a pet parrot.

Bonus: The Navy, Anchors Aweigh. Specifically the line “And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray”

Aug-31-2006 19:01

hope i wasn't too late! i've never tried to answer before, but it was sure fun hunting!

Aug-31-2006 19:24

YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF HUH??

1. The Latin word 'pirata' originally derived from the Greek word 'peira', meaning 'attack, or attempt', and is a cognate of the English word peril. I'll give Rosamund and Ranier credit for Rome, though.

2. My sources indicated that the main difference between a pirate and a corsair was that a corsair was another term for a privateer. A privateer was basically a 'legal' pirate, because he had official sanction (usually called a letter of marque) from a state government to go after other countries' ships. However, I have consulted several other sources, and they have similar stories to both Rosamund and Jr, so I'll give credit to both of you, and also to Ranier. Good job, guys.

3. All of the pirates you guys mentioned did exist in real life, among thousands more. Very good all of you!!

4. While Jr's theory of 'Ole Roger' being used for a term for the devil, and later adapted to the pirate flag was mentioned in some of my sources, the one that I saw more was Ranier's. Sailors were scared of a pirate's black flag, but they were absolutely terrified of the 'Joli Rouge' or pretty red in French, because it meant that the pirates flying it would not be taking prisoners; they would only be slaughtering anyone they found. Eventually the name was corrupted to Jolly Roger, and came to signify any pirate's flag, but especially the black skull and crossbones that we're all familiar with. Credit to both of you. Well done.

5. False. There were actually quite a few female pirates, though the superstition about women on board ships was true. Therefore, most disguised themselves as men.

6. A buccaneer was a pirate from the 17th century HAILING primarily from England and the Netherlands. I'll give credit to Rosamund, Greyling, and Jr.

7. Khar ad Din was better known as Barbarossa. Well done, Ranier!!

8. This is false. Keelhauling and flogging were much more common punishments. We only think it was common because of the movies.

Aug-31-2006 19:38

the suspense is killing me! you'd think i'd have something better to do than just sit here, staring at the screen, hitting refresh. ha ha.

Aug-31-2006 19:40

9. All of the weapons you guys have named were used (Jr being the most prolific). One not mentioned was a kind of whip called a cat-o-nine-tails. Let's just say Missy's not wild about that one....

10. The stereotype of the pirate's parrot does indeed come from Treasure Island. If pirates had done this in real life, things would probably have been rather messy. (Yuck!!)

Bonus: While Anchors Aweigh does mention Davy Jones' Locker, the first line of the Marine Corps' Hymn, "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli," refers directly to America's efforts to combat piracy in the First Barbary War. Good job, Justin.

Congratulations, Jroepel and Ranier!! You've tied each other with 9 out of 11. You two get to figure out who does the next quiz.

Now both of you get to swabbing that deck!! YYYAARRRR!!!!!!!!

Aug-31-2006 19:42

Ay ay, cap'n.

(Congrats Jr, and thanks Breitkat for the great quiz!)

Aug-31-2006 19:43

;-) You're very welcome, Ranier!! I'm glad you liked it.

Aug-31-2006 23:45

Ranier, you can have a crack at the quiz if you'd like.

Sep-1-2006 19:20

Okay everyone, here it is! My first crack at a quiz. I will apologize in advance for the spelling, as I am Canadian. Lol.
In honour of "that" time of year, here's a back to school quiz!

BACK TO SCHOOL BLITZ

1. Why are pencils painted yellow?

2. What is the proper name for the metal piece that holds the eraser onto the end of the pencil?

3. How many colours did Crayola crayons come in, when they were first introduced in 1903, and what colours were they?

4. Who developed the first “alphabet”, and what is the biggest distinction between this alphabet and the one we know now?

5. What culture was the first to introduce a formal school, separate from all religious procedures?

6. Name the two most common paper-making machines.

7. True or False: In some countries, “Teacher’s Day” is a national holiday?

8. What is the plural form of “curriculum”

9, The first school bus was powered by what?

10. Name two different mythological gods/goddesses of either Learning or Wisdom.

Good luck!