mental_floss’ first foray into the iPhone world is our new trivia application, Big Fat Lies! Those of you who own iPhones should download it now. Those who don’t, well, download it first and then get an iPhone. (The software is much less expensive than the phone!)
Anyway, each of this week’s Lunchtime Quizzes are based on the Big Fat Lies game, like yesterday’s Casting Decisions quiz. You’ll be given two statements, one true, one false. Your job is to spot the Big Fat Lie. Today’s topic: Christmas!
Take the Quiz: Roastin’ Some Chestnuts
If you’ve got an iPhone (or iPod Touch) and $2.99, head on over to the iTunes Store and get downloading. (That link should open up your iTunes and send you right to Big Fat Lies! page of the store. If not, you can search for “Big Fat Lies” and it will come right up.)
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it would be so much easier to do “which one is true” I know that’s not the application, but still.
I messed yesterday’s up too.
posted by Caitlin on 12-9-2008 at 12:09 pm
Caitlin, believe me, I empathize. When I first took the quiz myself (to double-check the answers and spelling and such) I got two wrong because I’m so used to automatically choosing the correct reponse.
Alas, that’s why it’s mental floss. Sometimes I feel like I need to go in for a full cleaning. :)
posted by Sandy on 12-9-2008 at 12:15 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the (primary) reason why Christmas is on December 25th is to align it with the Roman pagan holiday celebrating the winter solstice. This is called “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti”. In fact, according to wikipedia, the first christmas celebrated on December 25th was in the year 243 AD/CE.
St Augustine, as with many others, is the basis for the dogma Christianity uses to justify it’s celebration on the 25th. Ironically, he lived about 150 years after Christian Rome had been celebrating Christmas on Dec 25th. Imagine if he had suggested his fellow romans started celebrating Christmas on another day.
posted by Joel on 12-9-2008 at 12:39 pm
Joel, that’s one popular theory, yes. I was very careful to phrase the question to say “St. Augustine believed…” to indicate that I wasn’t taking any sides in that argument. :)
posted by Sandy on 12-9-2008 at 1:35 pm
while state workers in nc might not officially add a reflective red nose to deer crossing signs, i have seen a few around raleigh. they are quite amusing.
posted by m on 12-9-2008 at 5:05 pm