University of Nebraska Press

Tuesday Trivia: July 21, 2007

Well bloggers it hotter than … (well, you know) outside. So to try and get our minds out of the heat this week’s Tuesday Trivia is going to take a look at UNP’s new book, Authentic Alaska II: Voices of the Far North, edited by Susan B. Andrews and John Creed.  Showcasing writers from the Arctic Ocean to the Southeast Alaska rainforests, their stories account for the diverse and unique culture this state has to offer. Their sometimes intimate pieces touch on everything from Global Warming to a mothers fight for her son to go to college. This sequel to Authentic Alaska features both native and non native writers from primarily rural communities. If nothing else then reading this book in the dead heat (like today) might cool you down just a bit!

A.    Alaska is derived from the word Aleut meaning what?
B.    5% if the state speaks one of how many indigenous languages?
C.    The Highest point in Alaska is what?
D.    True or False: Alaska is one of two states not boarded by another.
E.    Alaska is the largest state in the US and covers how much ground?
F.    In 1964 the “Good Friday Earthquake” killed how many people.
G.    80% of Alaska’s state revenues comes from what?
H.    True or False: Alaska has one of the highest individual tax burdens in the country.
I.    How many volcanoes reside in Alaska?
J.    True or False: It was purchased from Russia in 1867 for less than 2 cents per acre.

Ok, bloggers check back tomorrow for the answers!

Praise for Nebraska's Cowboy Trail

Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail: A User’s Guide by Keith Terry
“Terry’s book is ideal for anyone ambitious enough to want to walk, run or ride along the trail. . . . The book is broken down into sections, much like the Cowboy Trail is. It not only makes it easier for readers to find information about one particular part of the trail, but it also makes it more inviting for those who might be tempted to try to traverse the whole thing.”—Jerry Guenther, Norfolk Daily News

Back on the (Bike) Saddle and off the Bookshelf

For those of us in the Midwest, warm spring weather appears to finally be here for good. Whether we're ready to spend most of our free time on the trails or because we want to save at the pump with a cycling commute to and from work, people are pulling their bikes out of storage, checking their gears, and they're ready to ride.

Current and future users of Nebraska's Cowboy trail, which stretches from Norfolk to Valentine and when completed will reach Chadron, should pick up a copy of our new guidebook. Author Keith Terry describes flora and fauna along the trail and also advises the hiker, bike rider, or horseback rider on food, lodging, and camping. View the Table of Contents and read an excerpt from Nebraska's Cowboy Trail.

Cycling enthusiasts will also enjoy Daryl Farmer's memoir, Bicycling beyond the Divide: Two Journeys into the West. Farmer intertwines the stories of his first bike trip from Colorado to the West Coast in 1985 with the one he took 20 years later in 2005.

Another speedy bike read is Need for the Bike by Paul Fournel, translated and with an introduction by Allan Stoekl. French writer Fournel gives us a mix of his memories and thoughts spanning his 40 years of cycling.

Tuesday Triva: Pilgrims on Ice

TUESDAY TRIVIA: PILGRIMS ON ICE

“By far the most authoritative analysis of Scott’s Discovery expedition ever written.” New this month from University of Nebraska Press is, Pilgrims on Ice: Robert Falcon Scott’s first Antarctic Expedition by T.H. Baughman.  Baughman chronicles the exciting, albeit tragic, 1912 South Pole expedition that ended with the deaths of Scott and his crew; shedding light on both the renowned hero, and the “bumbling fool whose mistakes killed him and his entire party.” In today’s Tuesday Trivia, we are going to take a long, perhaps cold, look at our own knowledge of the continent. Fancy an expedition of your own? Well, make sure to bring the right dogs! Now for the trivia….

1. Approximately how many large scale expeditions have been done in Antarctica?

2. Which of the following dogs are the most commonly used as sled dogs?

  A. Siberian Husky

  B. Alaskan Malamute

  C. Mackenzie River Husky

3. True or False? Humans have only inhabited the continent of Antarctica for 100 years.

4. Who played Robert Falcon Scott in the 1948 film Scott of the Antarctic?

5. True or False? Scott’s rival Roald Amundsen left him a tent, supplies, and a letter to deliver at the pole just one month earlier.

6. Sled dogs have been known to travel how many miles in a 24 hour period while pulling 85 pounds each?

7. Before it was ever discovered, most explorers were convinced a large southern continent existed. They called it Terra Australis Incognita, meaning what?

8. In what year did the did the infamous South Pole race occur?

How did you do bloggers? Did you catch the little (or big) hint I left you? Be sure to come back tomorrow and check your score. While you’re at it, you’re definitely welcome to visit the University of Nebraska website.

More Praise for Bicycling beyond the Divide

Bicycling beyond the Divide by Daryl Farmer

“The book isn’t just bicycle talk. Much to Farmer’s credit—and the fact that he keeps journals—he gives us some historical background of the towns and places he visits. He also shares his personal life and his feelings, such as loneliness, anger and moments of happiness. All in all, it’s a good read for anyone contemplating a long-distance bicycle journey or some other adventure.”—Algis J. Laukaitis, Lincoln Journal Star

Praise for Nebraska's Cowboy Trail

Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail: A User's Guide by Keith Terry

“Should prove an invaluable resource for Nebraskans and visitors to the state. . . . The reader will benefit from Terry’s vivid descriptions of the trail’s various segments. . . . Kudos to the University of Nebraska Press and Keith Terry for highlighting some of Nebraska’s most remarkable scenery.”—Omaha World-Herald

Praise for Kayaking Alone

Kayaking Alone: Nine Hundred Miles from Idaho's Mountains to the Pacific Ocean by Mike Barenti

“A fresh look at a river system critical to our history and our future. . . . This is a good book about paddling, and an even better book about the salmon, science and politics up the Columbia.”—The Spokesman-Review

Nearly Landlocked Armchair Adventurer reviews Kayaking Alone

Review of Kayaking Alone by Scott R. Anderson, nearly Landlocked Armchair Adventurer, Millersville, PA.

My initial reaction to the idea of kayaking alone was “That’s not very smart.”  Sure enough, safety concerns are addressed (and pretty much dispensed with) by the end of page four. [I should think seriously about getting one of those EPIRB locator beacons for my car keys.]  I felt redeemed by the author; my initial thoughts about kayaking 900 miles of river from Idaho to the Pacific Ocean alone as a potentially lethal undertaking were confirmed.  Refreshed, and with greater armchair abandon, I pressed onward.

Yacking in Yakima: Radio Interview with Mike Barenti

Attention Yakima, Washington-area bloggers! Tune in to KIT Radio 1280-AM on Monday, March 17th at 7:40 AM to listen to an on-air interview with Kayaking Alone author Mike Barenti. You'll hear all about the author's awe-inspiring and thought-provoking solo journey along the Columbia River and its tributaries, from the Idaho mountains to the Pacific Ocean, as well as the environmental issues surrounding the salmon population in the Northwest. Don't miss it!