As I sit here trying to conjure a column for this week, I'm gazing out at the stunning snowfall unfolding this very minute. I'm not making this up as I find snow to be quite appealing, which has led many to declare that I have lost my mind entirely. I'm not one who gets upset with the change of the seasons at all—in fact, I live for it. I get this from my “odd” parents as they weren't big on complaining about the change of seasons since they did settle here in NW PA, for crying out loud.
Now that I got that off my chest, I shall try to prattle on incessantly about various subjects that float to the forefront of my mind. Actually, I think I have made a decision, which would be to utilize part of one of my live gig games in order to fill this space.
For those who are new, I shall explain at the speed of, well, something really fast. I have a YouTube video series and we oft' celebrate birthdays of various people who subscribe to my channel. I do this in a few different ways but one is to make a trivia game out of information about the birthday person.
For instance, the year and day of birth are worked in and then I find trivia associated with it. Some provide me with hobbies, etc., and I sew that in as well. The last person we celebrated with a trivia-type game goes by “BeautoxRocks” but I call him “Rocks” for short.
Rocks was born in the summer of his 27th year—oops getting in touch with my John Denver side—sorry, I'm back. (He is a Colorado native though, now that I ponder.) He was born on September 3, 1985 and has a variety of “interesting” hobbies.
Remember, this will not necessarily be laid out in a perfectly grammatically acceptable manner so don't judge. No cheating is permitted. Enjoy!! This one is pretty easy really and especially number 12. Keep in mind most of the people who watch do not live in this area. I actually have a pretty good following across the pond, believe it or not.
One: This actor, who shares a birthday with Rocks but was born in 1965, does not use his real surname but some in his family do. The family is filled with actors. Not sure if he is still WINNING or not but he became rather infamous when declaring this several years back. 2.5 males comes to mind.
Two: Her actual given name is Barbara Millicent Roberts but she is known across the land as THIS. If you can't find her, just check for the PINK section of most any big box store. She happens to be one of Rocks' faves.
Three: Barbie dated Ken for decades but she ditched him briefly for a man who shares something in common with my brother and father. What is it?
Four: Although Rocks is a Colorado boy through and through, he is going to let loose and move to this area soon. It is associated with a U2 album. First name of the place is someone who had the walls tumblin' down, in a Biblical manner; second part is something in a forest.
Five: In 1985, American Jonathon Pollard was captured for spying on the US for this entity, which today is an official apartheid state, by the by. This “state” also attacked the USS Liberty in June of 1967.
Six: In 1985, Peter Jennings actually interrupted the soap opera General Hospital in order to announce that THIS was back to its original formula.
Seven: Back when I explored this place, Jaws leaped out of the water whilst ET zoomed across the sky in a bicycle basket. I was also taken Back to the Future. All in this ONE area or facility, so to speak. This is a dream destination of our birthday boy.
Eight: In 1985, THIS was found about 350 from Newfoundland.
Nine: In 1985, THIS person's voice was legally declared to be one of Michigan's natural resources. She just died recently and evidently, much to the chagrin of many, her funeral became rather politicized.
Ten: This, among other things, was celebrated before Christianity; the Celts were into it “bigly.” The modern day version is Rocks' fave. Would you like a goody or would you like me to terrify you? Of what do I speak?
Eleven: Per a 1985 Supreme Court ruling, Long Island is legally considered to be one of THESE which puts it in a league with Florida, Michigan and others.
Twelve: We have a roller coaster right here in Conneaut Lake Park. It's one of the oldest wooden coasters still in existence. The name puts one in the mind of a depressed feeling associated with a color and running naked through a crowd, in the manner of the 1974 Ray Stevens tune.
Thirteen: How many Tarot cards in a “standard deck?”
Fourteen: After this person died in 1985 of lung cancer, a commercial would air that had him saying: "Now that I'm gone, I tell you: Don't smoke, whatever you do, just don't smoke." His first name puts one in the mind of a burning log during the winter solstice/Saturnalia celebration minus the E.
OK the game is over. Sorry but we had quite a few visual aids during this particular gig, which I can't really do here. At any rate, I hope you enjoyed this charming trivia column and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.
Answers: One: Charlie Sheen. Two: Barbie.
Three: Same name, Blaine. Four: Joshua Tree, California.
Five: Israel. Six: Coke, Coca Cola, more info: "Project Kansas" secretly tested a new formula for Coca-Cola that became "New Coke." Old coke was gone, and New Coke sold poorly for three months. ABC's Peter Jennings interrupted General Hospital to announce the return of "Coke Classic." New Coke was actually available until 1992. Also, there are some who think that they got rid of the actual sugar in the regular coke and switched over to the hideous high fructose corn syrup and this whole thing was done to keep the public unaware of the REAL motive!
Seven: Universal Studios. Eight: Titanic. Nine: Aretha Franklin.
Ten: Halloween, more info: Historians have used the name 'Samhain' to refer to Gaelic 'Halloween' customs up until the 19th century. Since the later 20th century, Celtic neopagans and Wiccans have observed Samhain, or something based on it, as a religious holiday.
Eleven: Peninsula. Twelve: Blue Streak. Thirteen: 78. Fourteen: Yul Brynner (Yuletide)
THE END (Interstate Crosscheck, If Americans Knew YouTube Channel check for video about the lobby that was just leaked. This shows how much control the Israeli government has over ALL of our politicians even at lower levels like the state. “War is a Racket,” by General Smedley Butler)