This Is Jeopardy!

My blogfriend Susan sent me a long list of trivia that I really liked a lot. She knows that I love trivia and has even suggested that I try out to be a contestant on Jeopardy.

I have watched Jeopardy since its inception in 1964 with Art Fleming as host. This show has evolved from a cutesy daytime piece of fluff entertainment to a whiz-kid, big money brain teaser. Don't you wish you were Ken Jennings and had his brainpower?

I love it. In fact, I'm so passionate about this show that my family knows not to talk to me or call me when my show is on. When they are visiting at the house, all activities come to a standstill at 4:00 p.m. when those familiar words and goofy music come over the television speakers, "This Is Jeopardy." Time to play.

I have taken Susan's long list and pared it down to 15 very "interesting" facts, some or most of which you have probably never heard of. I thought it would be fun to have you test your knowledge and play along with me to my own version of Jeopardy.

How can cats move their ears in so many directions and independently? A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

Why doesn't a crocodile taste his food before he gulps it? A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.

Why did the freshwater fish forget to send a Valentine's Day card? A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

What slimy creature gets more sleep than I do? A snail can sleep for three years.

Why does the ostrich look in a hole in the ground when it gets frightened? An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

What is the reason babies learn to crawl before they can walk? Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

Why do cats caterwaul and dogs look at you hangdoggedly? Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.

Why can't husbands be tamed? In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

What's the cause of half of the expressway wrecks caused by drivers with bad colds? It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

What is the leading cause of the "Busybody Syndrome"? Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

Why is dynamite so explosive and deadly? Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

Why was the most important and time-saving appliance in kitchens invented? The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

Why should we be very, very afraid of Bird Flu? There are more chickens than people in the world.

Which Flintstone character got the royal snub of all time? There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.

Why is acid reflux disease the biggest complaint heard by physicians? Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself.

So, how did you do? If you were able to answer all the questions, you get the Ken Jennings award. If you only were able to answer some of the questions, you get the Motherkitty award. But, if you were stumped by most of the questions, well, I guess you shouldn't consider being a contestant on Jeopardy. Maybe you could try out for The Price Is Right?

Thanks, Susan, for brightening my day and tickling my brain synapses a little.