Word of the Week - 10-6-2008

Word of the Week
CHINESE PUZZLE
Function: noun
Date: circa 1815
1 : an intricate or ingenious puzzle
2 : something intricate and obscure


Interesting Fact
Originally called Fritatas, Elmer Doolin was so taken with the bag of corn chips served with his lunch in San Antonio, Texas that he paid $100 for the recipe and a potato ricer. In 1932, he started the Frito Corporation in his mother's kitchen. Doolin, his mother and brother produced the corn chips, named Fritos, and had a production capacity of approximately 10 pounds per hour. Doolin distributed the Fritos in 5¢ bags. Daily sales totaled $8 to $10 and profits averaged about $2 per day.
In 1933, the hourly production of Fritos increased from 10 pounds to nearly 100 pounds due to the development of a "hammer" press. By the end of the year, production lines were operating in Houston and Dallas. The Frito Company headquarters also moved to Dallas to capitalize on the city's central location and better availability of raw materials. In 1937, The Frito Company opened its Research and Development lab and introduced new products including Fritos Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Fritos Peanuts to supplement Fritos.
At the time of Doolin's death in 1959, The Frito Company produced over forty products, had plants in eighteen cities, employed over 3,000 people and had sales in 1958 in excess of $50 million. By 1962, Fritos would be sold in 48 countries.

Trivial Pursuit
Here are this week’s questions:
Global View (Geography):
What astronaut is depicted showing Sammy Davis Jr. a moon rock, at Mammoth Cave Wax Museum?

Entertainment:
How old was Bjork when she signed her first record deal – 7, 11, or 15?

News:
What 2000 Republican presidental hopeful dove into a mosh pit to gain an ”endorsement” from Michael Moore’s cable TV show?

Written Word:
What dyspeptic dogs “always bark at night” according to Lewis Grizzard’s book title?

Life and Science:
What name did the World Meteorological Organization take off a list of hurricane names in 2001, after complaints from Jewish groups?

Games and Sports:
Who was the first pitcher since Mickey Lolich in 1968 to win three games in a World Series?


Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What morning malady do Outer Mongolians cure by chugging a pickled sheep’s eye in tomato juice? A hangover

Entertainment:
Who did Holly Hunter portray in the TV movie When Billy Beat Bobby? Billie Jean King

News:
What vice-presidential candidate noted in a 1985 book: “Even after three years in Congress, I could not get a VISA card”? Geraldine Ferraro

Written Word:
What beachside balladeer penned the 1998 number-one memoir A Pirate Looks at Fifty? Jimmy Buffett

Life and Science:
What European city got to play an eight-story-tall game of Pong, thanks to the Chaos Computer Club’s Blinkenlights display, in 2001? Berlin

Games and Sports:
What did Steve Williams lug for seven miles most days in 2000, to earn a reported $880,000? Tiger Woods’ golf bag