Grab Bag
Where’s the beef?” is associated with this fast-food restaurant.
What is Wendy’s? Founder Dave Thomas named the chain after his daughter.
As flat as this
What is a pancake? For example, “My hair is as flat as a pancake today.”
His tune “I Walk the Line” landed him in the No. 1 position on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time.
Who is Johnny Cash? His other hits include “A Boy Named Sue,” “Ring of Fire,” and “If I Were a Carpenter.”
This is the nickname for President Ronald Reagan’s economic plan.
What is Reaganomics? Its controversial centerpiece was freeing the market through deregulations and tax cuts for individuals and businesses.
This was the first form of mass communication after the newspaper.
What is radio? Cell phones and Bluetooth would not have been possible without the discovery that radio waves travel through space.
The ruins of this “unsinkable” ship were found in September 1985.
What is the RMS Titanic? After more than 70 years at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, a French American expedition found the remains.
This is Germany’s once-divided capital
What is Berlin? Paris has more people than Berlin, but Berlin is nine times the size of Paris.
A mineral that is “of the earth,” and you can “take it with a grain”
What is salt? “Salt of the earth” refers to kind, decent people, while “take with a grain of salt” is to be skeptical.
In addition to her singing prowess, she is known for her starring role as Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5.
Who is Dolly Parton? Her costars in the film include Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dabney Coleman. Parton has won 10 Grammy Awards. She’s also known for her theme park, children’s literacy program, and impressive wig collection.
She sang the hit 1984 song “What’s Love Got to Do with It?”
Who is Tina Turner? The song was featured on Turner’s fifth solo album, Private Dancer.
This appliance can be found in most kitchens in North America. It causes the water molecules in food to vibrate, heating them up quickly.
What is the microwave? In 1947, the first microwave oven cost $5,000. In today’s money, that’s roughly $69,500.
In September 1964, this commission issued its report on the Kennedy assassination.
What is Warren? The Warren Commission’s report concluded Lee Harvey Oswald killed John F. Kennedy with a single bullet. To this day, there are many who don’t believe the findings in part or in whole.
This galaxy includes our own solar system.
What is the Milky Way? It is believed that the Milky Way has approximately 100 billion stars.
A car that requires endless repairs
What is lemon? Do you remember the Ford Pinto and all its fires? Pinto and lemon were once synonymous.
This crossover musician is best known for performing his tune “The Gambler” and Lionel Richie’s “Lady.”
Who is Kenny Rogers? Rogers also performed many duets throughout his career, including with Dolly Parton and Dottie West.
This difficult multi-colored cube puzzle had its own TV series.
What is Rubik’s Cube? Rubik, the Amazing Cube is a cartoon series that originally aired from 1983–1984.
Western Union used to be in the business of sending telegrams. Today its business is this.
What is money transfer? In 1867, Western Union helped broker the sale of Alaska to the United States via its telegram services. It has been transferring money since 1871.
In September 1974, this president pardoned President Richard Nixon.
Who is President Gerald Ford? He did it so a trial would not further polarize the country. Some blame his failure to gain a second term on the pardon.
This is the text under a photo in a newspaper or magazine.
What is a caption? Writers call photo captions “cutlines.”
What you’re in when you’re in a tight space
What is pickle? If your social security check is deposited late, you might be in a pickle.
This country legend died in a plane crash on her way to Nashville in 1963. One of her most enduring hits is “Crazy.”
Who is Patsy Cline? Willie Nelson wrote “Crazy.” A week before her fatal trip, Cline said, “I’ve had two bad [accidents]. The third one will either be a charm or it’ll kill me.”
Jane Fonda told us to feel this while using her 1982 exercise program.
What is the burn? In 2018, Vogue published the article “Jane Fonda’s 1982 Workout Routine Is Still the Best Exercise Class Out There.”
A popular recent addition to cars for winter driving, these keep you cozy and can also relieve back pain.
What are heated seats? The seats also increase circulation and are invaluable if you are stranded in winter and need to stay warm until help arrives.
In September 1973, this aircraft made its first transatlantic flight, breaking records for the fastest crossing.
What is the Concorde? The first crossing took only three hours and 33 minutes. The first passenger flight wasn’t until 1976, and it continued to transport passengers at speeds greater than Mach 2 until 2003.
When this brand’s wooden suitcases got shiny metal studs, it also got the tagline “strong enough to stand on.”
What is Samsonite? Founded in 1910, it was the first brand to introduce a suitcase on wheels, in 1974.
A thing or person that can be won, obtained, or persuaded with little effort
What is low-hanging fruit? It’s often used when talking about getting new voters. The candidates go after low-hanging fruit.
This country musician was married to Julia Roberts from 1993–1995.
Who is Lyle Lovett? They got married during the same month they began dating.
From the early 1970s through 1981, this bombastic host entertained us on his talk show. It featured current themes and aired after The Tonight Show on NBC.
Who is Tom Snyder? He was enamored with radio, and he even changed his college major at Marquette from pre-med to journalism
Before we had bleach, we used this blue product, which is still widely available, to whiten laundry.
What is Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing? The product has been around since 1883. It’s a concentrated, bright-blue liquid that must be diluted before adding to the wash.
On a September day in 1926, this 11-day feast in Little Italy made its debut.
What is Feast of San Gennaro (gen-AIR-o)? It’s a New York September tradition, and New Yorkers and visitors flock to Mulberry Street in the heart of Little Italy for shopping, parades, contests, live entertainment, and eating.
These alliterative stuffed animals were a ’90s craze produced by Ty Inc.
What are Beanie Babies? Each of the stuffed toys came with a name and poem written on a heart-shaped tag, and collectors went wild for them.
A phrase for a lofty idea that has little chance of becoming a reality
What is pie in the sky? When someone suggests something in a brainstorming session that is ridiculous, they might hear the reply, “Oh, that’s just pie in the sky.”
She is known as “The Queen of Country” and covers Bobbie Gentry’s 1969 song “Fancy” on her 1990 album Rumor Has It. She also stars in an eponymous sitcom that aired from 2001–2007.
Who is Reba McEntire? Fun fact: Reba learned how to drive at the age of five.
Young professionals who lived and worked in cities were known as this.
What are yuppies? They were college-educated, the last of the baby boomers, and mostly obsessed with making money.
These ubiquitous square codes store information and are often “decoded” with a smartphone.
What are QR codes? They can be used to sign in to accounts or hold transcript information. They even appear on tombstones in Japan.
September didn’t always have 30 days. It used to have this many.
What is 29? Julius Caesar added an extra day in 46 BC.