Interesting Questions to Ask Someone

Interesting Questions Part 1

1. Kalamata and Picholine are popular varieties of what fruit?

Answer: Olives.

Kalamata:
Kalamata Olive Oil is a greenish-black coloured olive oil that comes from Kalamata, Greece. Most people who are not familiar with this type of olives will immediately recognize the dark red colour of its common counterpart, Picholine Olive Oil. Kalamata Olives have a very thick layer of flesh that will take some effort to remove. Compared to other varieties of olives, this one has more seeds and less fibers which makes it easier to extract its oil.

Picholine:
Picholine Olive Oil is a green-coloured olive oil that comes from the Provence region in France. This olive oil is very rare because it only accounts for 1% of the olive oil in the world. It can be hard to extract because it accounts for a small percentage of olives.

2. In what year did the construction of the Panama Canal begins?

Answer: 1904.

Panama Canal
is one of the most strategic waterways in our world. With a total length of 50 miles, it provides a link between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. More importantly, the Panama Canal links two-thirds of the world’s population with its economic activity.

The history behind this canal is full of tales of bravery and human endurance. From French navy captain Ferdinand de Lesseps to the United States military forces that aided in its completion during construction in 1914, many have helped build Panama Canal to become what it is today: A major shipping lane for global trade and transportations on both oceans, as well as an important strategic location during World War II.

The idea of a canal between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was first presented by French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps during the 1850s. De Lesseps, an experienced builder of the Suez Canal, proposed that such a waterway be built in Panama. Building on his original plan, he led the construction of the Panama Canal from 1882 to 1889. However, technical problems and disease among workers eventually led to his failure during construction and later death.

After spending nearly $400 million and 30 years of effort, the French finally gave up hope for building a transcontinental canal in Panama. The project was turned over to American interests under United States Secretary of Commerce (and future U.S. President) Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. After a year of negotiations, the Hay–Herrán Treaty was signed on February 23, 1904, in Washington, D.C., by representatives from the United States and Panama. The treaty granted the United States a renewable 60-year lease on the Canal Zone (revenue became an important source of income for the country), and control over any future projects to construct a canal.

The Panama Canal Company was incorporated on February 28, 1904, and work began soon thereafter. It was anticipated that construction would take 10 years at a cost of $100 million. However, it finally took just more than five years at just under $375 million and 5,600 deaths by disease to complete it.

The first ship to travel through the canal was the steam ship “Ancon” on August 15,1914 and more than 130,000 ships have transited it since then.

Today, due to age and deterioration of the original construction, a project to widen and deepen the canal is already underway. The expansion will allow larger ships to pass through it in both directions. An additional lane for traffic heading westward is also being added. It is scheduled to be completed in 2015 at a cost of nearly $5 billion.

The Panama Canal has been operated by Panama Canal Authority since 1999.

3. What do you obtain by fermenting molasses?

Answer: Rum.

How do you make alcohol out of molasses?
Molasses is a viscous sugarcane by-product. Fermenting the molasses and distilling it, you get rum.
The unique process of producing Barbadian Rums begins with the extraction of sugarcane juice from fresh sugar cane stalks which are crushed by heavy rollers to extract their juice. Molasses is then added to the remaining “raw” or “brix” after the extraction process to provide additional carbohydrates for microbial fermentation and accelerated aging. The molasses adds extra sugar to the “raw” which is converted by yeast into alcohol.

In order to produce a superior rum, Barbadian law requires that it be distilled only once and aged a minimum of one year in barrels made in the country. Further, rum distilled on the island can be called only “Barbados Rum.” The distilleries must also obtain their molasses from the sugar mill where it is produced.

Molasses is fermented by adding distiller’s yeast and several strains of bacteria. This process produces both acetic acid (the key ingredient in vinegar) and ethanol if conditions are ideal. In fact, the rum industry is the largest consumer of acetic acid in the world.

The result is a raw distillate called “new make” or white dog. This will contain somewhere between 20% and 60% alcohol by volume (ABV). Once this mixture goes into casks for aging, it will continue to ferment if the conditions are right (moisture and temperature). The results of this fermentation are acetic acid, more ethanol, carbon dioxide (CO2), and water – in that order. So, as time passes in the barrel (or tank), you will have less acetic acid and more ethanol in the final product because of this ongoing fermentation process. The aging process in the barrel (or tank) will slow down or stop altogether if the temperature and humidity are not controlled.

The distillation process consists of fermenting the “white dog” or raw distillate then running it through a column of copper stills with steam to get rid of the undesired volatile compounds like methanol, isobutanol, and acetone. The purest alcohol – ethanol – comes out first in the distillation process, so it can be bottled immediately as “white rum.” There is some flavour and colour that comes over with all these other compounds, so this will be further distilled to remove them. The resulting distillate is “high wines,” which is distilled a second time to produce “aged rum.”

The process is very similar to the production of Scotch Whisky. Rum distillers in the United States are starting to use the Scotch method of distilling in order to provide a smoother, less fiery, style of rum. This process produces a very clean tasting spirit that can be consumed immediately or aged for several years. There are also some methods of making rum by using columns rather than copper stills and steam heating in order to save money. The resulting rums are usually darker and more “burnt” tasting than those made by the traditional method.

4. What actress was Playboy magazine’s first centerfold in 1953?

Answer: Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn Monroe needs no introduction. The world’s most iconic blonde bombshell has been named by Life Magazine as “the sexiest woman of the 20th century”. She is one of the most astonishing actresses and models in history. Her performance in movies such as Some Like It Hot, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Bus Stop nurtured both her career and her love life. Her beauty, ambition and intelligence are what we will always remember her for.

5. Which of these animals is dangerous even before it is born?
a) Sand tiger shark b) Tarantula c) Portuguese man-of-war d) Oyster e) Chuckwalla lizard

Answer: A.

The sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus is a small requiem shark found on the bottom of shallow oceans and in bays. It is also known as the ragged tooth shark.

The sand tiger shark is brownish grey with a pale underside and has long dark brown spots on its back that fade with age. Its fins are blacktip reef sharks that have pointed tips and black edges, which distinguish them from other sharks in their habitat. The teeth are white and very sharp. The sand tiger seldom moves quickly but when it does swim, it has an erratic jerky motion, made more noticeable by the large size of its head (1 m).

Sand tiger shark is dangerous even before it is born. In fact, they are born with a full set of sharp teeth and can take care of themselves even before birth. The Sand tiger shark pups have been known to eat each other in the womb.

It’s possible for an embryo bite as the infant has sharp teeth at birth that can cause cuts and wounds on humans if there was a need for surgery. The risk of an embryo bite are extremely low, and the mother in rare cases would have to be put down if she attacked a human.

6. What gives the drink “Black Cow” its dark colour?

Answer: Root beer.

The Black Cow is a cocktail made from root beer and vanilla ice cream, first popularized in the 1950s. The drink was originally served with a black cherry for decoration.

Ingredients:
Root Beer, Vanilla Ice Cream, Shaved Ice
Mix both ingredients together and give it to someone who needs cheering up! If you want your black cow to be extra dark then add fresh squeezed lemon juice instead of water!

7. The exterior of New York’s Statue of Liberty is made from which material?

Answer: Copper.

The Statue of Liberty stands at a height of 305 feet and is located on Liberty Island, an otherwise tiny island in New York Harbour. It was a gift from the people of France and it stands as a symbol of both freedom and democracy.

It was designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who completed it in 1884. Seventy-five years later, the copper exterior was recreated to replace what had become severely oxidized due to exposure to air pollution in New York City. It’s been restored since then as well.

8. How many eyes do most spiders have?

Answer: Eight.

The spider has eight eyes which are at the front of its head and two other body parts as their sensory organs. They can detect danger from a distance and show their prey that they are inescapable. Their vision is very good but it does not allow them to see colours.

Spiders have three types of sensors on their head, the anterior median eye is a light-sensitive simple eye with only one lens; the posterior median eye is also light-sensitive but contains many lenses and may be used for detailed analysis of movement or form; finally, there are two lateral eyes which act as motion detectors, detecting changes in light.

9. In medicine in 1967, Christiaan Barnard performed the world’s first transplant of what organ?

Answer: Heart.

Heart transplantation is not a new procedure, but it was first used successfully in 1967.

It is recognized by the World Health Organization as the standard of care for patients with end-stage heart failure who are not eligible for a heart transplant. The procedure is also recommended for younger people in selected cases, such as those with an inherited condition (e.g., familial dilated cardiomyopathy) that will lead to early death without intervention.

Patients on mechanical ventilators (respiratory support) must be weaned from ventilation before they can undergo cardiac transplant surgery because the act of breathing generates significant pressure differences between the donor and recipient hearts, which can cause them to fail simultaneously from overload.

The first heart transplant was performed in South Africa by cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital in December 1967 and the second in 1968. The patient lived only 18 days and died from overwhelming infection.

There were several false starts, but the first successful heart transplant in humans was performed by Dr. Norman Shumway of Stanford University Medical Centre on December 2, 1984. Another significant advance in technology came with the advent of the intra-aortic balloon pump, which can take over a failing heart’s pumping function until a donor heart becomes available, allowing time for surgical recovery should the patient become unstable at any stage before transplantation is undertaken. This device also improves long-term survival rates following transplantation.

10. In which city were the first Winter Olympic Games held?

Answer: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France.

The first Winter Olympic Games took place on February 20, 1924 in Chamonix, France. The games were organized by the French Olympic Committee and marked the first time that winter sports had been recognized as a formal Olympic event. The Olympics were originally designed for summer sports only, but they now occur annually in both winter and summer months.

The opening ceremony was attended by participants from 16 nations who competed in 43 events, from which 25 medals–including one gold medal–were won. The Swedish people topped the medal rankings with 12 golds, 6 silvers and 5 bronzes to become champions of that first Winter Games.

Interesting Questions Part 2

11. Who composed the Hallelujah Chorus?

Answer: Handel.

The first verse of this chorus is based on Psalm 150, the last verses of Psalms 119, and Revelation 19: 6-8. The text sings praise to God for His work amongst everything created in this world. It is a great example of Baroque music with a beautiful melody and harmony with instruments such as violins, violas, cellos and double basses that accompany the chorus.

Throughout history many composers have used Biblical texts in their pieces but few have achieved what Handel accomplished through his flawless composition during a time when composing was still new to him.

12. Once called the love apple, this plant is native to the New World:

Answer: Tomato.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is a delicious, edible fruit that’s botanically a vegetable. It typically grown in the region between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn and is often eaten raw. it can also be used in any number of tasty dishes, from pizza to pasta dishes.

Tomatoes were originally called ‘love apples’ because they were thought to have aphrodisiac qualities. Europeans who first tasted tomatoes thought they had a flavour similar to vinegar – this was before they had gotten their sour taste through cross-breeding with different kinds of plants.

13. What’s the ballet term for a 360-degree turn on one foot?

Answer: Pirouette.

A pirouette, petit or grand, is a complete turn about the vertical axis, with one leg extended. The dancer begins by executing a demi-plié followed by an appui sur le cou-de-pied; this is known as la pénétration. With the weight of his body resting on la pénétration, the dancer then turns to one side and extends his working leg in a courbé position while pointing his toes upwards. He then places his free foot sur le cou-de-pied and rotates until he returns to face downstage.

The dance can be performed en pointe, en taille or à terre (on point of toes). The pirouette is executed with the dancer facing in either direction.

14. Which dessert made with ladyfingers and espresso gets its name from the Italian phrase “pick me up”?

Answer: Tiramisu.

Tiramisu dessert is a type of Italian coffee-flavoured dessert. It can be served as a cake or pie dish, but most commonly it is served in layers with espresso soaked biscuits at the bottom.
Dessert made with ladyfingers and a coffee-flavoured cream.
It is said that the word “tiramisu” means “pick me up” or, “cheer me up” in the Romagnolo dialect of Emilia-Romagna.

The dessert was first created in 1984 by Venanzio and Fiorella Mattiucci from San Casciano in Val di Pesa, a small town near Florence, Italy. It was named after a play written by Savinio titled “Tirami Su”.

15. What was the first U.S. state with speed limit signs?

Answer: Oregon.

Oregon is the first state in the United States with speed limit signs. This is because in 1925, Oregon approved a law that set the maximum rural highway speed to 55 miles (89 km) per hour.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed legislation regulating interstate highways and other controlled-access roads (i.e., limited-access roads or highways) to a maximum speed of 65 mph (105 km/h). This law was amended on November 8, 1973, and states that “No person shall drive at such a fast rate of speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic”.

16. What is the world’s smallest living bird?

Answer: The bee hummingbird.

At just 2.5 inches long, the bee hummingbird is the world’s smallest living bird! This tiny creature weighs less than an ounce, but it uses this weight to its advantage as shown in the amazing video below. The bee hummingbird flutters its wings up to 200 times per second and can fly at speeds of up to 24 miles per hour – all while making a buzzing sound similar to a bees.

17. Which emergency device was first used in 1945 and has since saved the lives of more than 5,000 pilots?

Answer: Ejector seat.

An ejector seat is an aircraft seat that forces the occupant clear of the plane when activated.

Ejection seats were first developed by a Russian engineer, Pyotr Dolgov, in 1928 as a system to provide safety for people who parachute from an aircraft in distress. The design was made public by the Italian inventor Raffaele Croce later that year at the Fourth International Conference on Aerial Navigation held in Chicago. This conference also led to Vincenti Fiorelli’s further research on escape mechanisms and their development for military purposes.

18. Produced by the brain, this natural painkiller is three times stronger than morphine:

Answer: Endorphin.

The term “endorphin” derives from the combining of two different words, endogenous and morphine. Endogenous simply means originating within an organism. Morphine is a powerful painkiller that is derived from opium. So, the word endorphin literally means originating within an organism and acting like morphine (which blocks pain).

Endorphins are natural substances that are produced by the body’s nervous system in response to physical or emotional stress. They are also released during exercise which can provide a sense of euphoria or tranquility (as well as create a natural high). The release of endorphins can also be triggered by other things such as laughter, sex, and spicy food among others.

19. What city was the capital of America prior to 1790?

Answer: New York.

The current capital of the United States of America is Washington D.C. Prior to 1790, the capital was New York.

New York is a city of eight million people, and all of them are unique. Some of them are famous, and some know they’re not. Some have seen the world and others live in it. Some believe in Zeus, some don’t, and others still vaguely do.

This is a collection of stories about New Yorkers who are neither famous nor know they’re not — their quirks may seem strange but do you judge? The buildings that make up NYC’s skyline might be iconic but behind each one there’s another story waiting to be told. Don’t miss out on this chance to hear what these people have to say about their own lives in their own words as they walk you through life here during late spring.

20. What type of creature was a moa?

Answer: Moa was a large bird native to New Zealand.

A moa is a flightless bird of the family Dinornithidae, endemic to New Zealand. With long legs and a long neck, it had an erect posture and weighed between 87-169 pounds (40-77 kilograms). The three species are thought to have become extinct by 1400 CE after centuries of habitat destruction by Māori and European settlers, who hunted them for food.

Moa were large birds; the largest species stood about 110 cm (3 ft 7 in) tall. Moa generally covered their eggs with leaves or sand for protection from the elements, but when fossilised eggs are found they sometimes contain unresolved embryos that died before hatching could occur.