Thursday, June 20, 2019

When is water "heavy?"


Image result for What exactly is heavy water?
It has been a month since I have posted on my blog so let's start with a very recent winning moment

By recent, I mean last night in a North Charleston neighborhood bar, playing TRIVIA with a team of young people.

My being older means I have experienced more stuff and - fortunately -  was able to recall arcane facts.

The greatest moment was when a query was "what is it called when an isotope of hydrogen is replaced by one with more neutrons?"

For some reason, I recalled it was called 'heavy water" and was used as a moderator in nuclear reactors.

A collective "Huh?" went around the room as nine other teams scratched their collective heads while my team jotted down my answer and took it to Nick Buchholz, host of Team Trivia of Charleston.

Another good use of my aged memory was related to my coverage of the Charles Manson trial for CBS Television News as a Researcher for four months.

Image result for charles manson
At first, the name Lynette Fromme did not ring a bell when it was asked "who did she attempt to assassinate in 1975?"

Ah yes, now I remember.

Her nickname was "Squeaky" Fromme and she was one of the girls in the Manson Family.

She had tried to shoot President Gerald Ford.

Cha-ching! Another scoop for us in the room.

(I used to put on my resume that I had spent four months with Manson. It usually got me at least a query to explain that connection.)

At the halfway point in the Trivia contest, we placed a dismal 10th in a field of 10. Hmmm.

My answers above happened in the second half and made a difference as we surged to be in First Place and win $50. Yay!

As usual, the bar divvied up the award for all five of us with a statement it could NOT be used that night.

In fact, the signed  "receipt " from partner Glen Jeansonne, of Neighborhood Tap House, states I need to pop back in for a free craft beer before the 4th of July.


So, here is a long-overdue posting to get me back on my blog again.

Thanks for playing along with my Trivia experience.

Click on the photos and links for more details.

Stay tuned for a recap of some comedy and music shows I've seen.

As well as a mystery theater, Black Fedora, on Church Street, where I was a volunteer participant with a small role and a  printed script.

It's good to come back as a winner!

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posted by chuckography @ 11:39 AM 0 Comments

Monday, November 09, 2009

This is NOT your pilot speaking....

Flying on Aer Lingus recently, I was reminded of the time I held the microphone and talked to a planeload of startled passengers.

When a Convention Bureau goes after a group to come to their city, it tries to show ingenuity whenever possible. Off the wall works too.

So the Committee to select where the 1980 Republican National Convention would be held came aboard the plane in Dallas, Texas after several days of being wined and dined by Texans who wanted the convention.

I was with the Kansas City Convention Bureau and we wanted the GOP back again after they had met successfully in KC in 1976.(Remember the Ford/Dole ticket? Jimmy Carter creamed them.)

As long as the group was in Texas, we held back from tooting our horn. It would have been bad form to intrude or interfere there. But, as soon as the plane buttoned up, they were subject to our message and it began immediately.

There were straw "skimmer" hats placed on each seat with a red, white and blue hat band and the GOP elephant featured very prominently...right next to the KC,MO 1980 logo. Colorful bunting was draped around the cabin as well and KC/GOP campaign-type buttons were being passed around.

I clicked on the microphone and introduced myself as being with the Bureau and asked everyone to welcome the members of the GOP Selection Committee who were on board in their midst. Some applauded.

To our knowledge, this kind of airborne pitch had never been done before.


I quickly added that since we all were headed up to Missouri, we had arranged to have the inflight meal changed to a Kansas City Strip steak with all the trimmings.

Then "Going to Kansas City...." music started playing.

Later, of course, Detroit, Michigan won the convention and a fellow named Ronald Reagan became President.


(I borrowed the steak picture from the internet and, truth be told, the airline served its regular steak. WE just called it a KC strip.)

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posted by chucker @ 5:00 PM 1 Comments