Obsolescence
Famous Speeches
Firsts
There Really is a Holiday for Everything
Poe-etry and Short Stories
Potpourri
100
This is a horological device; in the narrowest sense of the word, it consists of a flat plate and a gnomon, which casts a shadow onto the dial based on the position of our closest star.
What is a sundial?
100
After two terms and deciding that his new nation should not have a king, this commander-in-chief said "Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theater of Action; and bidding an Affectionate farewell to this August body under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my Commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life."
Who is George Washington?
100
The first food ever microwaved, on purpose, in 1945, was this puffed snack food that is still most popular in its microwaved and movie varieties.
What is popcorn?
100
Yesterday, and always the last Monday in January, we celebrate this transparent plastic material most commonly used for protecting fragile items.
What is bubble wrap?
100
From Poe's most popular poem, published in 1845:
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”
What is The Raven?
100
These two western states do not observe daylight savings time.
What are Arizona and Hawaii?
200
This ancient hand-operated calculation tool is till used as an exercise, learning tool, and to assist in improving mental arithmetic.
What is an abacus?
200
On May 25, 1961, fearing that the US was losing the "space race" to the Soviets, he gave a speech stating "We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
Who is John F Kennedy?
200
On her 63rd birthday, Annie Edson Taylor made history on October 24, 1901, when she climbed into a barrel and survived the drop over this body of water. She survived but spent the rest of her life discouraging the feat to others.
What is Niagara Falls?
200
On May 9, we honor these fallen heroes and sad casualties of the laundry cycle. We don’t know where they go, but we know they’re always disappearing.
What are lost socks?
200
Published in 1843, this gothic tale is told by an unnamed narrator who endeavors to convince the reader of the narrator's sanity while simultaneously describing a murder the narrator committed.
What is Tell Tale Heart?
200
The painting La Gioconda is better known by this two word name.
What is Mona Lisa?
300
Thanks to the eradication of polio, this particular negative pressure ventilator is largely obsolete, but did make a minor comeback during the COVID pandemic when positive pressure ventilators were unavailable. 
What is the iron lung?
300
This Yankee's first baseman and prodigious slugger was nicknamed the Iron Horse for his durability and commitment to the game. Sadly, at the age of 36, he was stricken with a disease that now bears his name and had to retire.
300
On March 1, 1872, thanks to Ulysses S Grant, this was declared the first national park in the U.S.
What is Yellowstone?
300
On February 24, corianderphobes band together to express their dislike of both parts of this sometimes soapy flavored herb, both the coriander seeds and the leafy part that Americans call this.
What is Cilantro?
300
Published in 1841, this Poe short story is considered the first modern detective story . In it, C. Auguste Dupin is a man in Paris who solves the mystery of the brutal murder of two women.
What is Murders in the Rue Morgue?
300
Chimpanzees, Gorillas and koalas have this very human-like trait, often found smudged at a good crime scene.
What are fingerprints?
400
This formerly innovative technology is an electromechanical device that records analog audio and analog video from broadcast television or other AV sources and can play back the recording after rewinding.
What is the VCR?
400
Upon becoming the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, stating her hopes that every child was allowed an education, she said "“Let this be the last time that a girl or a boy spends their childhood in a factory. Let this be the last time that a girl is forced into early child marriage.”
Who is Malala Yousafzi?
400
On November 19, 1969, this legendary Brazilian athlete scored his 1,000th goal in competition, making him the first (and only) player to reach that milestone.
Who is Pele?
400
This daily task is apparently so arduous that once a year, on December 21, there's a holiday telling you not to do it. Or, you can be like me, never do it and just sleep in a twisted clump of sheets and blankets every night.
What is Making your bed?
400
This is the last complete poem composed by Edgar Allan Poe. Like many of his poems, it explores the theme of the death of a beautiful woman. The narrator, who fell in love with the title character when they were young, has a love for her that is so strong that even angels are envious.
What is Annabel Lee?
400
Robin Williams was nominated twice for an acting Oscar (Good Morning, Vietnam and Dead Poets Society) before finally winning for the role of Sean McGuire in this 1997 film.
What is Good Will Hunting?
500
Aside from being a great place for Clark Kent to change into Superman, this obsolete item provided privacy and easy communication, as long as you had some spare change.
What is a phone booth?
500
In 1775, Massachusetts patriots began making preparations for war. This Virginian believed that his home state should follow suit, leading him to giving his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" oration at a meeting held in St. John's Church in Richmond.
Who is Patrick Henry?
500
These humorous awards, named for a scientist known for his work in evolutionary biology, were founded in 1993 to acknowledge those who “protected the gene pool” by dying in “an extraordinarily idiotic manner.”
What are the Darwin Awards?
The first winner tried to steal a soda from a vending machine. The machine tipped over, crushing him.
500
Tom Forsythe, a photographer, once published images of this doll near and inside a blender. His mission was to criticize consumer culture and the objectification of women through the photos. He was, of course, sued by Mattel and won the case. So we celebrate free artistic expression every year on July 27, Her in a Blender day.
Who is Barbie?
500
This is the last name of Roderick and Madeline, two wealthy siblings whose house begins crumbling around them as their health fails.
What is Usher?
500
The APGAR test (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration) is a quick and easy way to assess the health status of these people.
Who are newborns?