Word of the Week - 4-21-2008

Word of the Week
VAPID
Pronunciation: \va-pəd, vā-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin vapidus flat-tasting; akin to Latin vappa flat wine and perhaps to Latin vapor steam
Date: circa 1656
: lacking liveliness, tang, briskness, or force : flat, dull “a gossipy, vapid woman, obsessed by her own elegance” — R. F. Delderfield “London was not all vapid dissipation” — V. S. Pritchett


Interesting Fact
Indians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) constitute a large part of population of the country. Over a million Indian migrants are estimated to be living in the UAE (2000), who form over 40% of the total population of the UAE.


Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What eastern U.S. state’s Rural Route 22 was the site of the world’s first drive-thru strip joint?

Entertainment:
What CBS sitcom’s finale had 121,624,000 viewers on February 28, 1983?

News:
Whose 1998 election as Oakland mayor had San Francisco’s Willie Brown joking: “You may see the two of us docking with Mir”?

Written Word:
What disease does bioweapons expert Jonathan Tucker chillingly describe in Scourge?

Life & Science: What industry giant built the tiniest computer logic circuit in 2001, a two-transistor component made from a single carbon molecule?

Games & Sports:
How many rebounds did Detroit grab in a 2001 game, to set an NBA all-time low – 3, 9, or 18?


Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What country’s dictator said of its national dish: “You have to slow down to eat buckwheat noodles”? North Korea

Entertainment:
What Paul Simon album featured Los Lobos, Youssou N’Dour and Rockin’ Dopsie? Graceland

News:
What world leader slammed back half-liters of Pilsner Urquell with Bill Clinton in Prague’s famed U Zlateho Tygra beer hall? Vaclav Havel

Written Word:
What lady detective did author Sara Paretsky unleash in the 1982 novel Indemnity Only? V. I. Warshawski

Life & Science: What was the first trading card outfit to sell virtual “portfolios” of sports stars, while stroing the actual physical cards in the company vault? Topps

Games & Sports:
What 14-year-old was the youngset person to win a Wimbledon singles match in the 20th century? Jennifer Capriati