Golden State Facts
California became the 31st state in this year, the year after the gold rush that inspired the name of a Bay Area football team.
1850
This international agreement, adopted in 2015, aims to limit global warming to “well below 2 degrees Celsius” above pre-industrial levels.
The Paris Agreement
This climate champion is in line to be the first woman of color to serve as the leader of the State Senate.
Monique Limon
“Is this real life? Is this just…”
Fantasy (Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”)
This fashionista has worked for brands like Ralph Lauren and is a lawyer by training.
Courtenay
Founded by Spanish missionaries in 1769, this coastal city is the oldest in California. It is also the birthplace of the famous California Burrito.
San Diego
Paved roads and skyscrapers absorb heat, causing this phenomenon where cities are often hotter than nearby rural areas.
Urban Heat Island Effect
Time to whip some votes! How many legislators are there in total, between the State Senate and Assembly.
120
“Now this is a story all about how…”
My life got flipped-turned upside down (Fresh Prince, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”)
This person has been to every province in Italy. Mama mia!
Lois
The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake by surface area, was accidentally created in 1905 due to a failure in this river’s irrigation system.
Colorado River
Which of the following GHGs is the most potent: methane, sulfur hexafluoride, or nitrous oxide.
Sulfur hexafluoride
This legislator headed the CA Natural Resources Agency under Governor Jerry Brown prior to being re-elected to the Senate in 2024.
John Laird
“With a taste of your lips, I'm on a ride …”
You’re toxic, I’m slippin’ under (Britney Spears, “Toxic”)
This colleague received their B.A from Mills College, and the other taught there. Name them both.
Lauren & Jasmin
This river, the longest entirely within California, is critical to the state’s water supply and agriculture.
Sacramento River
This company invented and popularized the term “carbon footprint” as part of a PR campaign encouraging individuals to make sustainable lifestyle choices.
BP
California has had 2 republican governors that started off in showbiz. Name them both.
Regan & Schwarzenegger
“Don’t it always seem to go …”
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone (Joni Mitchell, “Big Yellow Taxi”)
At least 4 of your colleagues were born outside of the U.S. Name 3 of them.
Lauren, Lal, Jasmin, Baani
California's state rock is this type of igneous rock, famously abundant in Yosemite’s granite cliffs. (hint: it’s not granite..)
Serpentine
This scientist and suffragette was the first to discover the greenhouse effect in 1856.
Eunice Foote
The Bribery and Special Interest (BRISPEC) sting operation, in which undercover FBI agents posing as lobbyists for a seafood processing company exposed five sitting California legislators for corruption between 1986-1988, is better known as this.
Shrimpgate
“If you want my future, forget my past…”
If you wanna get with me, better make it fast (Spice Girls, “Wannabe”)
This person has evaded arrest by the Coast Guard, Secret Service, and Harris County Sheriff’s Department.
Ryan