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Stump
Me Questions Answered in August 2002
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Q.: Why is
Stanford's mascot name The Cardinal, but they have a tree logo and costume?
- Matt
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A.:
This is from Stanford's Web site:
"There is no official mascot at Stanford University.
The "Tree," which is a member of the Stanford Band, is representative of El Palo Alto, the Redwood tree which is the logo of the city of Palo Alto.
Since Stanford University and Palo Alto are almost inextricably intertwined in interests and location, it is a natural outgrowth of this relationship.
The tree still exists and stands by the railroad bridge beside San Francisquito Creek - it is the site where early explorers first camped when settling the area.
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Q.: In Baseball, name all the ways a batter can get to first base without getting a
“hit.”
- No Name Given
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A.: According
to Eric Enders, a researcher with the Baseball Hall of Fame,
there are 23 legal ways to get to first base (including a base
hit). They are:
1) Walk
2) Intentional walk
3) Hit by pitch
4) Dropped third strike
5) Failure to deliver pitch within 20 seconds
6) Catcher interference
7) Fielder interference
8) Spectator interference
9) Fan obstruction
10) Fair ball hits an umpire
11) Fair ball hits a runner
12) Fielder obstructs runner
13) Pinch-runner
14) Fielder's choice
15) Force out at another base
16) Preceding runner put-out allows batter to reach first
17) Sac bunt fails to advance runner
18) Sac fly dropped
19) Runner called out on appeal
20) Error
21) Four illegal pitches
22) If a game is suspended with a runner on first and that player is traded prior to the makeup, another player can take his
place
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Q.: Is
cheerleading a sport?
- Neil W.
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A.: Boy,
did you ask the wrong guy. I was the school mascot at
Florida Atlantic University, which means I was a part of the
cheerleading squad. The answer is a big hell yeah.
You have no idea how much strength and coordination it takes to
balance a 90-100 pound person over your head with one hand while
standing perfectly still. And they do that repeatedly over
a short period of time. If you ever doubt it, try
it.
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Q.:
Where did the word "Crap" originate?
- Glynda P. and Cara C.
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A.: This is according to
Cassell's Dictionary of Slang. Keep in mind there are seven definitions of the word, but I think you mean "shit."
From the late 19th century (1800s). It's a mix of the Dutch word "krappen" (to pluck off, cut off or separate) and the Old French word "crappe" (waste or rejected matter).
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Q.: 1)
Can I borrow $50,000?
2) Know any good jokes?
3) Where exactly on your site are the unanswered questions?
- Justin
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A.: 1)
Sorry, dude. I'm going to need that money for the baby.
2) Sure. Check out the Jokes
section of Mindless Crap.
3) Any question that doesn't have a link is an
unanswered question.
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Q.: Are those
Powerade commercials real?
- Joe D., Harri
S., and Justin
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A.: Uh,
no. According to the people at Powerade, the commercials
were CGI-enhanced. Come on...stop and think about
it. If somebody served a tennis ball into the ground,
don't you think it would have been on SportsCenter for a week?
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Q.: Do you think an e-mail-a-kebab service would be profitable?
- Martin B.
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A.: Not
only has it probably already been done, but the company that did
it probably went public; made a ton of money; was bought for
even more money; and then went out of business went the Internet
bubble burst. But then again, maybe you have a better
business plan, so go ahead and try it.
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Q.: What does GLAAD stand for?
- Erin K.
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A.: GLAAD
stands for Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
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Q.: A man is walking through the forest when he comes upon a block of ice. In the block of ice is a frozen naked man. The man thinks to himself "that is Adam" (as in the biblical Adam) and is correct. How did he know?
- Chris & Robin S.
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A.: Because
Adam wouldn't have a belly button.
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Q.: What animal walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs during the day and 3 legs during the afternoon?
- Renee
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A.: Did
you really think I wouldn't know the Riddle of the Sphinx?
It's a man. And by the way, 3-legged man is in the
evening, not the afternoon.
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Q.: What was the dog's name in "The Little Rascals" series?
- Carl M.
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A.: Petey.
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