St. Louis SPJ Internet Treasure Hunt

This treasure hunt is designed to help you get a feel for the wide variety of information sources available on the Internet. It will also help you learn how to find information on the WWW. The answers to the following questions are all available (or used to be available) somewhere on the Internet. Many of these answers are available from multiple sources. Because these sources are maintained at independent computer sites around the world, it is possible that some may no longer be available. As you answer these questions, feel free to explore the other information available at the sites you visit.

St. Louis

  1. What is the current temperature and humidity in St. Louis?

  2. Who is the Congressional representative for Missouri District 1, and what is that person's phone number on Capital Hill?

  3. What is the English translation of the Latin inscription above the clock on the West facade of Washington University's Brookings Hall?

  4. When and where does the University City Great Books Group meet?

  5. What special exhibits are currently on display at the St. Louis Art Museum?

Sports and Entertainment

  1. How many points per game did basketball player Shaquille O'Neal average in the 1992-93 season?

  2. What was the score of the Blues/Toronto game on February 18, 1995?

  3. Who did the New York Giants pick in the first round of the 1994 NFL draft?

  4. Whose face is in the video for "Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head" by They Might Be Giants?

  5. Which movie character (find the character's name and movie) said, "It's a UNIX system! I know this!"?

Science and Technology

  1. What is the chemical name for the biochemical compound caffeine?

  2. What advantages do liquid solar cells have over conventional silicon solar cells?

  3. When is the next solar eclipse? From what part of the world will it be visible?

  4. The National Library of Medicine has made images of cross-sections of a human male cadaver available on the Internet as part of the Visible Human Project. How many cross-sections are in the image set?

  5. What is the average life span of a gorilla in the wild?

Government

  1. What did President Clinton do on May 31, 1994?

  2. According to the Declaration of Independence, how should governments derive their powers?

  3. What is the presorted first-class postage rate for postcards?

  4. Below what income level is a family of four considered in poverty in the continental United States?

  5. What Senator introduced the Communications Decency Act of 1995? What act did he propose to amend?

Miscellaneous

  1. Which pope decided to create a public library in the Vatican?

  2. When were LEGO toys first introduced in the United States?

  3. What is the primary ingredient in the Mexican Horchata beverage?

  4. What charge was brought against MIT student David LaMacchia in April 1994?

  5. What is the current delivery area for Pizza Hut's Electronic Storefront?

  6. John Perry Barlow, former lyricist for a famous rock band, co-founded a non-profit organization and frequently writes columns for computer-related magazines and journals. What band did Barlow write lyrics for?

  7. What is the current time in India?

  8. What is the 800 number for the Annapolis Marriott Hotel?

  9. What restaurant is most highly recommended by Washingtonian magazine for inexpensive Lebanese food in the Washington, DC area?

St. Louis SPJ Surf the Net with SPJ
Last update 26 February 1996
http://www.ccrc.wustl.edu/spj/surf/treasure.html
Prepared by Lorrie Faith Cranor (lorracks@cs.wustl.edu) and Staci D. Kramer (sdk@cris.com)