12/24/2013 Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #19

1 partridge in a pear tree on each of the 12 days. 1 x 12 = 12
2 turtle doves on the last 11 days.                         2 x 11 = 22
3 french hens on the last 10 days.                         3 x 10 = 30
4 calling birds on the last 9 days.                         4 x 9         = 36
5 gold rings on the last 8 days.                                 5 x 8  = 40
6 geese a-laying on the last 7 days.                         6 x 7  = 42
7 swans a-swimming on the last 6 days.                 7 x 6  = 42
8 maids a-milking on the last 5 days.                         8 x 5  = 40
9 ladies dancing on the last 4 days.                         9 x 4  = 36
10 lords a-leaping on the last 3 days.                        10 x 3 = 30
11 pipers piping on the last 2 days.                        11 x 2 = 22
12 drummers drumming on the last day.                12 x 1 = 12

A total of 364 gifts

That’s enough to take you through to next Christmas, when the gift giving would start all over again.

(This chart does count the partridge and the pear tree as one gift, but if you are one of those people who would consider them to be two presents the number goes up to 376.  Of course if you do that then you probably should count all the cows being milked, the pipes being piped, the drums being drummed, and the drumsticks being used to play the drums.  MATH OVERLOAD, CALL MR. KELLAM!!!!!)

Well, tomorrow is Christmas so this will be my last bit of trivia.  Have a Merry Christmas and I hope to see you in the New Year!

- Love, Anubis

12/23/2013 Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #18

No, Doc, Grumpy, Sleepy, Dopey, Happy, Sneezy or Bashful didn’t ride in the sleigh.  They live in a forest and are probably cousins to the North Pole dwarfs who rode in Santa’s sleigh.  (Someone should write a song or poem about them so it’s easier to remember their names!) 

The Three Little Dwarfs who went along with Santa were Hardrock, Coco, and Joe. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT5Ohgl7eTM&safe=active

If you were lucky - or unlucky - enough to receive all of the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" how many presents would that be? 

I wouldn’t mind receiving all those birds.  I’d even be generous enough to share them, and the milk, with Daisy the cat.  She’s pretty small and doesn’t really eat much.

- Anubis

12/20/2013 Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #17

“The children were nestled, all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.”  Sounds so nice and sweet, but what the heck are sugarplums?  Mom thinks they are candies like gumdrops.  When I did a search on Google it came up with a recipe for a cookie, some chocolate covered marshmallows, soaps, diapers, nail polish and even Ale (whatever that is).

I also found a link to an article written by a person who did a lot of research about them.  She said that they are “a sweet made of sugar hardened around a central seed or kernel in successive layers using a process called ‘panning.’”  Just think of jawbreakers or Jordan almonds.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2010/12/sugar-plums-theyre-not-what-you-think-they-are/68385/

Christmas will be here on Wednesday!  Bet the elves are starting to load Santa’s sleigh with all kinds of goodies.  Everyone knows that Santa has plenty of elves busy making toys in his workshop.  But in 1951 there were “Three Little Dwarfs” who accompanied Santa on his sleigh to deliver presents.  Do you know who they were?

Hope we get some more snow before Christmas.

- Anubis

12/19/2013 Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #16

Some people might consider this a trick question.  In Polar Express Tom Hanks provided the motion-capture and the voices for 1) the father, 2) the conductor, 3) the hobo, 4) Scrooge, and 5) Santa Claus.  He also, along with Josh Hutcherson, provided the motion-capture for the hero boy while the boy’s voice was provided by Daryl Sabara.  Whew, that makes 5 characters for whom he provided both voice and animation plus 1 for whom he did part of the animation!

While the children in Polar Express took a train to the North Pole and saw Santa Claus, most children spend Christmas Eve nestled, all snug in their beds while visions of what treat dance through their heads?

I know there will be visions of doggie treats dancing in my head when I fall asleep on Christmas Eve.

- Anubis

12/17/2013 Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #15

If you are a Jean Shepherd fan then you know that quote comes from the movie A Christmas Story, which takes place in Hohman, Indiana.  In fact, Jean Shepherd provides the voice of the narrator, the grown up Ralphie, and has a cameo role as the angry gentleman who tells Ralphie, “The line ends here! It begins there!”

Actor Tom Hanks played several roles in the animated movie Polar Express.  Do you know how many characters he voiced?

- Anubis

12/16/2013 Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #14

Our sentimental singer is “dreaming of a White Christmas, with every Christmas card I write.”   Now where did the original singer live that they had to dream of a white Christmas?  The introduction, which does not appear on most versions of the song we hear, explains that:

The sun is shining; the grass is green
The orange and palm trees sway.
I’ve never seen such a day
In Beverly Hills, L. A.
But it’s December the 24th
And I am longing to be up North.

The snow we had over the weekend made everything much more festive (as long as you didn’t have to shovel it).  Soon it will be "Lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas, upon which the entire kid year revolved."

Do you know what movie/book that quote comes from?

Well, I’m ready to take a nap now and dream of what Santa will be bringing me.  See ya later.

- Anubis

12/14/2013 Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #13

Johnny Galecki was 14 when he played Billy Quinn in ‘Prancer’ and Rusty Griswold in ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.’  He currently plays lead character Leonard Hofstadter on ‘The Big Bang Theory.’

Well, that white stuff is making its presence known so hopefully we will have a White Christmas.  And speaking of that song, what activity is the person doing while they are “dreaming of a White Christmas?”
Hope you enjoy the snow.  I’ll have the answer on Monday.

- Anbuis

12/13/2013 Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #12

Christmas Trivia #12

While you would think that Jack Frost would be the one, it’s actually Suzy Snowflake who comes “tap, tap, tappin’ at your windowpane.” Mom always associates this song with the late Rosemary Clooney (aunt of George Clooney) who recorded it in 1951. In 1953 it was made into a short stop animation feature which was a staple on WGN for many years.

And since the topic of TV came up, do you know which star of a very popular current comedy series appeared in both the 1989 Christmas movies “Prancer” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?"

- Anubis

Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #11

There have been many actors who have supplied the voice of God but very few who actually played him. George Burns and Morgan Freeman have taken on the role in several movies, but in 1969 it was E. G. Marshall who played God. Marshall often was cast in powerful roles as doctors, lawyers, and senators.

There is a certain little lady who tells you she’s in town by “tap, tap, tappin’ at your windowpane.” Do you know who she is and what she is bringing?

Hope you and your furbabies keep warm.

- Anubis

12/11/2013 Christmas Trivia #10

If you’ve read “The Littlest Angel”, or seen either the 1969 movie or the 2011 animated version, you know that he had a problem keeping his halo on straight. 

The 1969 movie version had an all-star cast for that time period, Johnny Whitaker played Michael (the Littlest Angel), his guardian angel was played by Fred Gwynne, and Cab Calloway played Gabriel. Can you make a guess as to who played the role of God?

- Think hard, Anubis

12/9/2013 Christmas Trivia #9

Janean and David Richards' display uses 502,165 LED lights that, laid end to end, would stretch for more than 31 miles.  How close did you come to this answer, without going over?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/26/247164212/500-000-lights-familys-christmas-display-sets-new-world-record

Well, we’re going to delve way back into the past again.  In 1946 Charles Tazewell wrote a children’s book called “The Littlest Angel.”  This little guy has a problem wearing something.  Do you know what it is?

Don’t you just love Christmas lights?

-      Anubis

Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #8

Well, they say you learn something new every day, or if you don’t you should. While looking for trivia topics I learned that in 1882, Edward H. Johnson had the first Christmas tree lit by the use of electricity. Christmas lights were mass produced around 1890 and by 1900 department stores started using the new Christmas lights for their Christmas displays. By the way, Edward H. Johnson was one of Thomas Edison's muckers, an inventor who worked under the direction of Edison. Johnson eventually became vice-president of Edison's electric company. 
http://todayinsci.com/J/Johnson_Edward/JohnsonEdward-ChristmasTreeLights-DetroitPost1882.htm

Keeping on the subject of Christmas lights, recently an Australian family recaptured the Guinness World Record for having the most Christmas lights on a residential property. Last year’s winner had nearly 350,000 lights, what’s your guess for the new record?

Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #7

Mom was a Gene Autry fan back in the day so she knows that he considered the following ways for Santa to get to town if there wasn’t any snow for Christmas:

1) “In case of rain, will there be a train.”

2) “If he breaks down on his way to town will they let him use a bus?”

3) “I'd really feel much better if I knew he could fly a plane.”

If you’ve NEVER heard “If it doesn’t snow on Christmas” check it out on YouTube.  One other tidbit, this was the “A” side of the record, the “B” side was “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.”  (You younger folks might want to ask your grandparents about records and the meaning of A and B sides. OR contact the library, they should be able to answer your questions.)

Hope you enjoy the Christmas tree lighting tonight, 6 p.m. at Norwayne Field.  Which is a smooth transition to this bit of trivia - Edward H. Johnson created the first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree at his home in New York City with eighty small electric light bulbs.  Can you guess what year this occurred?

Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #6

I’m sure you all made your elementary teachers proud when you did the math and came up with: 9 reindeer x 4 hooves each = 36 hooves.

(Mom came up with 45 on her first try!  She was thinking about Rudolph and apparently included noses when she did the multiplication.)

Tomorrow is the day that Santa will be arriving in town, so I think this next bit of trivia is very appropriate.

Back in 1949 Gene Autry asked the musical question, “If it doesn’t snow on Christmas, how is Santa going to use his sleigh?”  Three alternative forms of transportation are mentioned.  Do you know what they are?

Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #5

OK, be honest. How many of you had to mentally go through “A Visit From Saint Nicholas (The Night Before Christmas)” to get the names of the three D reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, and Donner? (Mom used the introduction to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to jog her memory.)

For tomorrow let’s try a quick bit of reindeer Christmas math. How many tiny reindeer hooves pull Santa’s sleigh, including Rudolph’s? (I’ll let you know right now - Mom got it wrong.)

- Anubis

Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #4

In “Jingle Bell Rock” everyone is “dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square, in the frosty air.” Huh, wonder if everyone will be doing that Friday evening when Santa comes to North Judson?

Mom always has problems remembering the names of the 7 Dwarfs and all of Santa’s reindeer. Can you remember the three reindeer whose names begin with "D"?

- Anubis

Notes from Nubi - Christmas Trivia #3

Whether you've read the book or seen one of the many movie versions, you know the name of Scrooge's partner was Jacob Marley.

There are several radio stations that have started playing Christmas music round the clock, so if you don't know this answer just find one and eventually you will.

In "Jingle Bell Rock" everyone is dancing and prancing. Where do they do it?

- Anubis

Notes From Nubi - Christmas Trivia #2

I’m sure that you all knew that yesterday’s line - "Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings." – is from the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

This time we’ll try some easy book related trivia.  What was the name of Scrooge’s partner?

- Have fun, Anubis

Notes from Nubi - Mom Said I Could Host Some Christmas Trivia Questions!

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I asked Mom when I would be coming back to the library to work.  She said that I probably won't be back except for the occasional visit.  :(

The main reason is because in cold, damp weather my back legs don't always want to work the way they should and can be painful.  Besides, at the age of 15 dog years (which works out to about 83 human years for a medium size dog - http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/how-to-calculate-your-dogs-age) it's time for me to go into at least semi-retirement.  So I will only be going to the library on special occasions.

But, she did say that I could post Christmas trivia questions to test your knowledge of movies, books, and songs.  Once a day between today and Christmas I'll post some trivia and then the next day I'll put the answer and another bit of trivia.  Here's the first one, and I'll make it easy.

What movie did this line come from?

"Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings."

- Enjoy yourselves, Anubis