Betwixt

History

American Technoloy
a. Bessemer patents his process using a converter to make steel
b. Drake drills the first oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania
b. Goodyear discovers the process of vulcanizaton

Betwixt

Except once for Ted and once for Myk, there have been no guesses in comments. I'm assuming that people are guessing but not recording, which, not only is fine, but reasonable in that this is just supposed to be a diversion, which may spark further interest once in a while. So I think a better format is to give the answers in the first comment when the question is posted. So there will be no one-week delay. By then you have forgotten your answers anyway. By the way, as Myk pointed out, these are not really meant to be a test of knowledge--more like a parlor game. You may have a good idea about one or more of the items, but luck, or lucky reasoning is most likely needed. Here's an easy one to get started with the new format:

Potpourri

Language
a. First
b. Penultimate
c. Ultimate

Betwixt - 2/2/2010

Measurement

Distance between New York and ...

a. Naples, Italy

b. Oslo, Norway

c. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Myk's comment got me thinking and I think he's on to something. I'd like to modify the game--an old tradition. You get 1 point for high, 1 point for low, and 1 point for 'Mr. In Between'. Note that this allows you (3 chances) to score 1 point for partial success or 3 points for total success. There is no in between.

Betwixt - 2/1/2010

History

Birth of Religious Leaders

a. Buddha (Siddhartha Guatama)

b. Zoroaster (Zarathustra)

c. Confucius (K'ung Ch'iu)

Betwixt

I really like what Peter is doing with the blog. If there ever would be a theme to the blog, it could not be better than games. In this vein I was inspired to look up some of my old games. This one I developed as a project to learn Java, but we don't need the computer version to play. I call it "Betwixt." The rules are simple, just pick the item that is betwixt (in between) the others. There are three main headings: History, Measurement, and the ever fun Potpourri. I'll start off with one from each. You're on your honor not to look up answers until you have made your guess.

History
Category: American rebellions
a. Whiskey Rebellion
b. Shay's Rebellion
c. Bacon's Rebellion

Measurement
Category: People killed in natural disasters
a. Johnstown flood of 1889
b. Great Chicago fire of 1871
c. San Francisco earthquake of 1906

Potpourri
Category: Portraits on U.S. currency denominations
a. Grover Cleveland
b. William McKinley
c. Benjamin Franklin

When, Who, and What's My Line?

Welcome to "When, Who, and What's My Line" - the game where you guess the time, person and circumstances of the following line:

"From them appear how small are the real wants of human nature, which we Europeans have increased to an excess which would certainly appear incredible to these people could they be told it. Nor shall we cease to increase them as long as luxuries can be invented and riches found for the purchase of them; and how these luxuries degenerate into necessaries …."

All answers should contain one or more of the following:

1. Year when written

2. Person who wrote it (in this case the person is not well known so a short description of the person is acceptable)

3. Circumstances (what the line refers to, why it was written and/or any other historical context)

All winners will be judged on historical accuracy and/or imaginative thinking.