Issue 78
August 2, 2020
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At TQC, every so often we switch gears, take a reprieve from the hot button topics that are the subjects of our weekly posts, and replace them with something lighthearted and fun. With that in mind, for this week we have decided to offer our readers a chance to take a break and play a moderated iteration of the popular game show, Wheel Of Fortune. First, try and solve each of the five puzzles. Then, at the bottom of the post, find the correct answers along with corresponding fun facts about each word or phrase. Enjoy!

SUBJECTS:

1) Vol-a-ic E-u--ion-

2) B-ck T- T-e F-t--e

3) A-p--as

4) --n-ing M-c-ine-

5) W---l -f F-----e

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ANSWERS:

Volcanic Eruptions

Volcanic Eruptions are measured on a scale from 1 to 8 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI). The largest eruption ever recorded took place at Mount Tambora, Indonesia in 1815. The explosion registered a 7 on the VEI. The boom was so deafening that it was heard in Sumatra, Indonesia, an island ~1200 miles away. Over 70,000 people perished in the eruption and its aftermath, from lava flow and ash. The volcano is still active.

Back To The Future

Back to the Future was a 1985 American Sci-Fi film starring teenage heartthrob Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly) and Christopher Lloyd (“Doc” Brown). The plot revolved around McFly entering a “time machine” and traveling back 30 years, to the year 1955. While navigating life in a different era, McFly ends up meeting his own parents. In a sub-plot with an oedipal overlay, Marty becomes the object of his mother’s eye. “Doc” Brown helps fix the time machine and return McFly, back to the future.

The namesake film was the highest grossing movie of 1985 ($380 million) and notched an Academy Award for sound effects. In 2007, the film was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry. The following year it was anointed the 10th best Sci-Fi film of all time by the American Film Institute. It has a 96% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. In addition to two sequels (1989, 1990), there is a Back to the Future theme park ride, video games and comic books. The films’ theme song was the international hit “The Power of Love,” by Huey Lewis and the News.

Alpacas

Alpacas are herd animals that are native to the South American nations surrounding the Andes Mountains. About ~50% of the world’s population of alpacas reside in Peru. The animals are also common in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile. Alpacas’ lifespan is ~20 years; their gestation period is just < 1 year. They eat grass and consume ~1.5% of their body weight per day. Alpacas are intelligent animals that can be domesticated, even house trained. Alpacas are similar to, and often confused with, llamas. However, while llamas are working animals, alpacas are usually bred for their wool and much smaller in stature. Alpacas and llamas can cross breed; their offspring are called huarizos.

Alpacas were brought to America in 1984 and were marketed as “the investment you can hug.” Soon thereafter a speculative investment bubble ensued. “Investors” planned to buy the animals and sell their wool, or “flip” the beasts to a seemingly endless supply of buyers. In short order, alpaca prices rose from a few hundred dollars per animal, to half a million dollars. Alas, the bubble broke in 2007. Punters failed to factor in the cost of raising the animals. Prices collapsed and alpaca farmers (yes, there is such a thing), unable to sell their animals at any price, ending up giving their alpacas away.

Side Note: Alpaca’s often spit when they are agitated or attempting to show dominance. They can projectile their saliva up to 10 feet!

Vending Machines

In the first century AD, an engineer named Hero of Alexandria invented a contraption that accepted coins and dispensed “holy water.” In the United Kingdom, vending like machines dispensed tobacco products in the early 17th century, dispensed banned books in the early 19th century, and stamps a few decades later. The (modern) vending machine was also invented in England, by a man named Percival Everitt, in 1883. He built a fully automatic, coin operated machine that dispensed postcards. The first vending machine in America was built by The Thomas Adams Gum Company. Not surprisingly, it dispensed gum, primarily at train stations throughout New York City.

Today, gumball machines are one of the most common vending machines. They are cheap to build and tremendously profitable. Gumballs can be purchased in bulk for the equivalent of 2-3c per gumball and sold via coin operated quarter vending machines for 25c per gumball. Additionally, gumballs have a long shelf life which make the treats perfect to sell via this medium. In the 20th century, cigarette machines were once ubiquitous throughout America and the word. Today, they are relatively rare. Some countries have banned them outright. In America, they are still legal in certain venues.

Side Note: More vending machines can be found (per capita) in Japan than in any other nation. There is ~1 machine for every 23 citizens.

Wheel Of Fortune

Wheel of Fortune (Wheel) was created by Merv Griffin in 1975 and originally aired on NBC. Wheel is the longest running syndicated game show in the United States; over 7,000 episodes have been broadcasted. An international success as well, Wheel has been locally tailored and produced in over 60 nations. Host Pat Sajak took the reins in 1981. In 2019 he became the longest running host of any game show supplanting Bob Barker (The Price Is Right). Vanna White became Wheel’s regular hostess in December 1982. She is under contract through 2021. In 2013, the Guinness Book of World Records anointed Vanna White “the most frequent clapper.” At the time of her designation, “it was estimated she clapped at least 3,480,864 times across the show's 30 seasons” or ~600 claps per show. In 2013, TV Guide ranked Wheel Of Fortune the 2nd best game show of all time (Jeopardy).