Testing your summer knowledge...
Summer officially arrived at 8:26 (EDT) this morning and here's a 5-question quiz to test your knowledge of summer. To see how summer solstice savy you really are, answer these 5 questions:
- 1) It's hotter in the summertime because the Earth is closer to the sun ? (true or false ?)...
- 2) If you go swimming less than an hour after eating, you will get stomach cramps and possibly drown ? (true or false ?)...
- 3) Having a good "base tan" will help prevent sunburn if you'll be spending a lot of time in the sun ? (true or false ?)...
- 4) Eating bananas will attract mosquitoes, while eating garlic will repel them ? (true or false ?)...
- 5) If you are stung by a jellyfish while swimming in the ocean, you should have someone urinate on the sting ? (true or false ?)...
Correct answers below...
What is common knowledge about the summer solstice is that it's the day of the year with the longest daylight period and the shortest night. Summer starts on June 21st or 22nd in the northern hemisphere and on December 21st or 22nd in the southern hemisphere which can be verified by Lynn Phillips' report that it's freezing in New Zealand now but won't be in December...
In the USA, Canada and some other northern hemisphere countries, the summer solstice is regarded as the start of summer. In Ireland, China and Japan (don't ever put those 3 countries together in one room) it's midsummer. Ireland celebrates summer from May 1 to July 31. Go figure. Of course, New England celebrates summer from July 1st to July 4th...
June 21 Memories...
1788] The U.S. Constitution goes into effect as New Hampshire becomes the 9th state to ratify it (yeah New Hampshire)...
1834] Cyrus McCormick patents the 1st practical mechanical reaper for farming (his invention allows farmers to more than double their crop size)...
1893] The 1st Ferris Wheel premieres at the Chicago Columbian Exposition...
1932] A sports quote for the ages is born when Joe Jacobs, Max Schmeling's manager says "We was robbed", his response to a heavyweight title fight decision that his fighter lost to Jack Sharkey...
1939] Lou Gehrig's doctors reveal that the slugger has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as he announces his retirement from baseball...
1940] Richard M. Nixon and Thelma Catherine Ryan (but you can call her Pat) walk down the aisle...
1948] Dr. Peter Goldmark of Columbia Records introduces the new 33 1/3 rpm LP record as the label announces mass production and plans to phase out 78's...
1963] 20-year old freshman, Bob Hayes of Florida A&M earns the title of "world's fastest human" by shattering the 100-yard dash record in 9.10 seconds flat at the AAU championships in St. Louis ("Bullet Bob" Hayes stars as a receiver for the Dallas Cowboys)...
1964] Future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and U.S. Senator from Kentucky, Jim Bunning pitches a perfect game against the Mets at Shea Stadium on Father's Day. It was the 1st regular season perfect game since 1922 and the 1st in the National League since 1880 (Phillies catcher Gus Triandos becomes the 1st catcher to handle no-hitters in both leagues in that game)...
1969] Zager and Evans release "In the Year 2525"...
1970] 29-year old Brazilian soccer superstar, Pele, stars as Brazil destroys Italia 4-1 to win their 9th World Cup championship in Mexico City...
1975] James Taylor remakes Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is" into a hit all over again when he releases his version of the single...
1975] The Captain & Tennille are #1 with the Neil Sedaka written "Love Will Keep Us Together"...
1975] Elton John, The Eagles and Beach Boys play before 72,000 jammed into Wembley Stadium...
1977] Menachem Begin becomes Israel's 6th prime minister (Mazel Tov)...
1981] Donald Fagen and Walter Becker announce the break-up of Steely Dan (who would eventually reunite)...
1981] Summer blockbuster "Raiders of the Lost Ark" opens starring Harrison Ford...
1982] John Hinckley Jr. is found innocent by reason of insanity in the shootings of President Ronald Reagan and 3 others...
1985] "Cocoon" premieres starring husband and wife team, Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy (who appeared on stage and screen together until Tandy's death in 1994 at 87)...
1989] The Supreme Court rules that burning the American flag as a form of political protest is protected by the First Amendment (and I ask you fellow Americans, do we have too much freedom in this country ?)...
1989] White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk passes Yogi Berra as the American League catcher with the most homeruns when he hits #307 against...the Yankees...
1991] Islanders Denis Potvin and Mike Bossy are inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame...
1997] The WNBA debuts as the New York Liberty beat the Los Angeles Sparks 67-57...
2001] Actor Carroll O'Connor (who played Archie Bunker) dies at 76...
2001] Bluesman John Lee Hooker, believed to be 83, dies of natural causes at his home in Los Altos (CA)...
2003] The 5th Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling, ships more than one million copies on Amazon.com and 5 million world-wide in one day...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
Answers to our summer quiz: False (to all of them). Thanks to Discovery for the questions. If you got all 5 correct, you're ready for the beach or pool right now. 4) You need a sun screen of 20. 3) Take along a sun screen of 30. (0-2) No beach for you. Go directly to the kiddie pool...by the way if you answered "true" to question 5, you, my friend are a pervert...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
1921] Jane Russell (a spry and still sexy 85 today)...
1933] Bernie (Dr. Adam Bricker on "Love Boat") Kopell...
1940] Mariette Hartley...
1944] The Kinks' Ray Davies...
1946] Motown's Brenda Holloway...
1947] Meredith (Elyse Keaton of "Family Ties") Baxter (now, see below)...
1947] Michael (Elyse's husband Steven Keaton of "Family Ties") Gross...
1982] Lady Di and Chuck's son, Prince William...
[Today is the 172nd day of 2006 with 193 days remaining in the year and 13 days until July 4th]
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