This week I'm going to plunk down part of a game that we played on a recent live gig on my YouTube channel. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this but I do have a YouTube channel. I don't like to go on about it or anything so this may have slipped by you. (I hope by now that you “get” sarcasm but some do not so I have to put this in these brackets and ruin the flow of my delightful piece. Darn you.)
Moving along, a few weeks ago, we celebrated the birthday of a woman who goes by “Baked Alaskan” on the “tube.” She has a very interesting life and enjoys fascinating hobbies. This is all I shall say at this time as I don't want to give away any clues. I will tell you that her birthday is September 18, 1975.
For those of you reading a game in print for the first time, I shall provide about 20 questions “ish” and the answers will be at the end. These relate to things associated with the birthday woman in question. In “real life” when we play this, I oft' use visual aids for some questions. Clearly this will not be the case here. I know, I know you are bummed out but there is nothing I can do about it. Please get a hold of your emotions.
Please cover up the answers as you go as I will not tolerate cheating. Also, I will be writing out the numbers as when I email this to the boss with actual numbers, it gets mixed up and he has to spend time messing with it. As always, please excuse odd grammar and sentence structure. Hey it's only a column in a world-famous-award-winning paper, after all.
One: This person was caught lying about his use of enhancement drugs which helped him zoom along more quickly on two wheels on numerous occasions. He had a relationship with Sheryl Crow and also became more famous when he beat cancer. He was born on September 18, 1971 by the by.
Two: If you were to cross Lake Erie from Erie PA and head due north, in which Canadian province would you land out of these choices. Baked lives in this province. 1) Ontario 2) Quebec 3) Manitoba
Three: On Baked Alaskan's YouTube channel, she has a segment that “airs” on Mondays. It is named for a chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, whose symptoms may include numbness, impairment of speech and of muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue. She gave up her chef duties due to being diagnosed with this.
Four: If a guest in a Mexican restaurant happened to be interested in a Carne Asada what kind of meat would he be served?
Five: Baked Alaskan's favorite Canadian band's name is something that comes to mind when we think of a walkway in the Los Angeles region or a telescope, to name two.
Six: On September 18, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850, a law was passed by the Congress of the US which required THIS to be returned to an owner in another area of the country. Seven: On September 18, 1895, an African American educator made his Atlanta Compromise speech in which he encouraged blacks to accept their inferior social position while working for economic self-reliance. Who was he?
Eight: The history of this particular region is scandalous in terms of how it became linked to it's other 49 “family members.” It's basically a military outpost in the Pacific Ocean. Baked has been there seven times. What is it? Nine: If we were to head back to the future whilst daydreaming of St. Elmo's Fire as we simultaneously cursed Reagan for his trickle down method while getting a bit physical with Olivia, in what decade or era would we land? Baked lives for all things associated with this time period.
Ten: From September 6 to September 13 of 1975, this was a number one song according to Billboard. He was riding out on a horse in a star spangled rodeo, according to Glenn Campbell.
Eleven: Baked is this type of activist as it eases her symptoms of MS. Many people here in the lounge are also activists. This is its official name not a nickname.
Twelve: A ________ is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. This is something Baked enjoys drawing.
Thirteen: This question contains 2 of our birthday gal's favorite things, as she enjoys the 80s and video games. What company made the first color arcade game? For extra credit what was the game?
Fourteen: This person supposedly died of a drug overdose on September 18, 1970. He is one of MANY to be in the “27 Club,” which consists of musicians/singers who have died at age 27. Pardon me while I give the sky a smooch.
Fifteen: This movie, which came out in the summer of 1975, was the beginning of what is called the “Summer Blockbuster.” At the time of Baked Alaskan's birthday in September of that year, people were still afraid to take a dip. It's my FAVORITE movie and any chance I get I will use it for an answer. Thank you for being born in 1975 Baked!
Sixteen: During the Klondike gold rush in 1897, THESE were so highly valued for their vitamin C content that miners traded gold for them.
Seventeen: Much to Baked Alaskan's chagrin, this star of a popular show from the eighties has a favorite cuisine and it just happens to be CATS! Of whom do I speak?
I can usually fit about twenty of these but I think I shall end on a bizarre number this time as I don't want to take up too much space here in the paper. Thank you for playing and have a delightful week.
Answers: One: Lance Armstrong. Two: 1) Ontario.
Three: MS or Multiple Sclerosis The segment is called MS Mondays. Four: Beef.
Five: Stars. Six: Slave or Slaves Fugitive Slave Law
Seven: Booker T. Washington - More info: The Atlanta Compromise Speech was about race relations and racial cooperation. It was delivered by Booker T. Washington at the Cotton States and International Exposition at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia on September 18, 1895. The 10-minute speech Atlanta Compromise Speech by Booker T. Washington has been recognized as one of the most important, influential, and controversial speeches in the history of the United States. The speech was both applauded and criticized, depending on differing points of view.
One of the strongest critics of the Atlanta Compromise Speech was W. E. B. Du Bois, the militant Civil Rights activist, who, impatient for change and the end of racial discrimination, founded the Niagara Movement, the forerunner of the NAACP.
Eight: Hawaii. Nine: Eighties.
Ten: Rhinestone Cowboy. Eleven: Cannabis.
Twelve: Portrait. Thirteen: Atari EXTRA CREDIT is Tempest.
Fourteen: Jimmy Hendrix. Fifteen: Jaws.
Sixteen: Potatoes. Seventeen: ALF
THE END (Interstate Crosscheck, AIPAC Lobby, “War is a Racket,” by General Smedley Butler, “Frankenskies” documentary on YouTube for FREE)