Page 16 - Boca Club News - December '20

Page 16, Boca Club News
Trivia

So very far from Trivial... consecutive weekly meetings over 26 years (!), it was Stan I am indebted to another of this newspaper’s

who took over as host of that club and kept it going. columnists, Dr. Richard Nagler, who informed me of
Just days after this December issue’s Trivia column For me, and for the many others on Stan’s extensive Stan’s passing, and that attendance at the funeral would
was submitted to the paper by Stan Morgenbesser, I personal email list, the loss of this dear friend will be be possible through the Zoom technology that, ironically,
received the devastating news that Stan had passed away. noticed for a long time to come. It is no exaggeration I write about in my Editorial on page 3 of this issue. As
I am heartbroken. when I state that virtually every day over the past dozen a result, I was able to attend the funeral virtually, which
Not only was Stan a highly respected and admired or more years---and I mean every day---I received at was held in West Babylon, New York, officiated in both
colleague, having reliably provided his very popular least one, and often several, emails from Stan offering Hebrew and English. It appeared to be a cold but sunny
Trivia column for every one of the 168 months since everything from jokes...to sentimental vintage photos of day. Everyone wore the appropriate, protective mask
Boca Club News was launched 14 years ago; he and his “the good old days” of our childhood decades...to music and, at the end, with hands or shovel each ritually tossed
wife, Birdi---who, after 60 years of marriage, preceded videos of popular, classical, big band or even opera...to soil into the open grave.
him in passing more than a year ago---were among the clips from classic old films—always interesting, like an It was a loving goodbye to a most deserving good
first couples that my wife, Linda, and I met when we emailed version of his monthly Trivia column. My InBox man.
retired from Los Angeles to Broken Sound Club in mid- will remind me each day of his loss. As for me, I have a decision to make. Always the
2005...and we had enjoyed their friendship ever since. Stan and Birdi had three children, 10 grandchildren and loyal, responsible friend, Stan Morgenbesser had already
But we were not alone. With an almost limitless one great-grandchild. In the announcement of his death on made the special effort to provide a Trivia column for
abundance of energy and interest in everyone and Saturday, November 21st, at the age of 92, Stan’s family our January 2021 issue. When I heard of his passing, I
everything around him, Stan became one of the most stated, “He had a very fulfilling life as a husband, father, decided to have December be his last. I wonder now what
active and beloved members at Broken Sound. He grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend, mentor, Stan would have wanted me to do about the last column
started and maintained the Banyans Newsletter, an online successful businessman, contributor to his community, etc. he sent—whether or not it would be appropriate to run it
source of information for his neighbors in one of the In his final days, he knew the end was near and told us he in January. I will ask his family...and would appreciate
Club’s large distinctive neighborhoods. And when the was ok with it and wasn’t sad about it. He had a great life. the opinions of our readers, as well.
founder of Broken Sound’s “What’s Up Club” passed Our father will be buried tomorrow alongside our mother, Nils A. Shapiro
away in 2007 at the age of 100 after conducting 1,300 his parents, grandchildren and other relatives.” Editor, Boca Club News

“I Didn’t Know That...Bet You Didn’t Know It Either.”

Fascinating trivia facts compiled by What is the meaning of the term, “Politically Correct?” responsibility of dealing, he would “pass the buck” to the
Stanley Morgenbesser, who resides The use of “Politically Correct,” or “PC,” has spread next player.
at the Banyans of Broken Sound. like wildfire during the last 20 years, to describe language, Which actress paid millions to marry a Prince?
Stan conducts the Broken Sound policies or measures that are intended to avoid offense or Grace Kelly had to agree to some unusual traditions
members’ “What’s Up Club,” which, disadvantage members of particular groups of society. The among royalty in Monaco to marry. One of them was to
remarkably, has met every week term, however, was coined much earlier than you might take a fertility test to prove she could produce an heir to the
without fail for the past more than think. It was first used in a 1783 U.S. Supreme Court throne. She also had to give up her American citizenship.
26 years---a total of more than 1,300 decision Chisholm v. Georgia. Justice James Wilson wrote Moreover, Kelly’s family was required to pay a dowry of
meetings---to discuss a wide range of that the people, not the states, held the real power in the $2 million. Kelly’s father was outraged by this demand
topics and to meet and hear interesting speakers. Stan took country: “To ‘The United States’ instead of to the ‘People of and initially refused to pay up, allegedly saying, “My
over as leader of the club when its founder, Sidney Hyman, the United States’ is the toast given. This is not politically daughter doesn’t have to pay any man to marry her.” Her
passed away in 2007 at the age of 100. correct.” father eventually agreed to pay part of it, and Kelly herself
Why aren’t employees at Disneyworld allowed to point Who is the only president to have received a Rhodes reportedly ended up forking over half of the dowry.
with one finger? Scholarship? Who created the famous Times Square New Year’s Eve
It isn’t unusual for visitors to ask employees at Disney The only president to have been a Rhodes Scholar was ball drop?
for directions, but workers there never use only one finger Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States. When The annual New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square
to point. This is because Disneyland is a vacation location Bill Clinton finished college at Georgetown University, he is a big event attended by huge crowds and watched on
for visitors from all around the world, and pointing with won a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford. Clinton never television by around 1.2 billion people. The event was
one finger is considered offensive or rude in some cultures. completed his degree at Oxford and went on to Yale Law originally created by The New York Times in 1905 to
Employees gesture either by using two fingers or an open School. In 1994, after Clinton had been elected President, promote its new headquarters, which was right in the square.
palm to avoid offending anyone. he received an honorary degree and fellowship from the Interestingly, the original event did not involve a ball, but
Which is the longest road in the United States? University of Oxford. lots of fireworks instead. People returned to watch the event
The longest road in the United States is U.S. Route Why do Xs at the end of a letter signify kisses? the following year, and the tradition has continued ever
20. Stretching 3,365 miles in an east-west direction from In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable since. The New York Times used fireworks until 1907, when
Massachusetts to Oregon, U.S. Route 20 is the seventh to read or write, documents were often signed using an it dropped the first electrified ball.
longest highway in the world. The highway’s eastern X. Kissing the X represented an oath to fulfill obligations Things I Didn’t Know I Didn’t Know. An ambigram is
terminus is in Boston, at Kenmore Square, where it meets specified in the document. The X and the kiss eventually a word that looks the same upside down as right-side up;
State Route 2. Its western terminus is in Newport, Oregon, became synonymous. the word “Swims” is an ambigram. The most common
at an intersection with U.S. 101, within a mile of the Pacific Who is honored with the most stars on the Hollywood letter used in the English language is the letter “E.”
Ocean. Walk of Fame? Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is the
Why do men’s clothes have buttons on the right side, Gene Autry is the only person to be awarded stars in longest word in the English Dictionary. Americans eat
while women’s clothes have buttons on the left? the five fields recognized on the Walk of Fame: film, TV, approximately 100 acres of pizza each day, or 350 slices per
When buttons were invented, they were very expensive radio, live performance and music. As his 1998 obituary second. The United Arab Emirates has the biggest gender
and worn primarily by the rich. Since most people are right- said, “He was enormously successful at almost anything he imbalance in the world, with 219 men for every 100 women.
handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through holes tried --- radio, records, songwriting, television, real estate According to Amazon, the most highlighted Kindle books
on the left. Because wealthy women were dressed by maids, and business, as well as movies and museums.” The late are The Bible, the Steve Jobs biography, and The Hunger
dressmakers put the buttons on the maid’s right! And that’s Bob Hope and the late romantic crooner Tony Martin are Games. George Foreman has made more money by selling
where women’s buttons have remained since. next with four stars each. his grills than for his successful boxing career. Every piece
Why are zero scores in tennis called “love”? Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called of plastic ever produced still exists. Ninety percent of your
In France, where tennis became popular, the round zero “passing the buck?” dreams are completely forgotten by the time you wake up.
on the scoreboard looked like an egg and was called “l’oeuf,” In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, You cannot dream and snore at the same time. The man
which is French for “the egg.” When tennis was introduced called a buck, from player to player to indicate whose who had the longest beard in the world died after he tripped
in the U.S., Americans (naturally) mispronounced it “love.” turn it was to deal. If a player did not wish to assume the over his beard.

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