c) Terry Gilliam

The animator and cartoonist was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 22, 1940.

Who was the only American-born member of Monty Python's Flying Circus?

a) Eric Idle
b) John Cleese
c) Terry Gilliam
d) Terry Jones

• A1) David Dinkins. The Howard University and Brooklyn Law School graduate was sworn in on January 1, 1990.
• A2) Pennsylvania. Punxsutawney has been known for its shadow-seeking rodent since February 2, 1887.
• A3) Rodney King. An amateur videographer filmed the infamous confrontation on March 3. A year later, an innocent verdict on April 29 sparked the Rodney King riots.
• A4) Jim Clark. The Internet browser company, born on April 4, became better known later as Netscape Communications Corporation.
• A5) France. Mexico celebrates the occasion as the national holiday Cinco de Mayo (May 5). Note that this isn't the country's Independence Day, which is September 16.
• A6) Sirhan B. Sirhan. Kennedy had just given a speech at the Ambassador Hotel and died the following day, on June 6.
• A7) Samantha Smith. On July 7, she became "America's Youngest Ambassador" but died tragically in a plane crash only two years later.
• A8) Bhutan. The landlocked country celebrates its Independence Day each August 8.
• A9) Attica. The problems began on September 9, when some prisoners freed an inmate they believed was being tortured. Four days later State Troopers opened fire, leaving 29 inmates and 10 hostages dead.
• A10) Tokyo, Japan. The Olympic flame was lit on October 10 by Yoshinori Sakai, who was born in Hiroshima on the day the atomic bomb was exploded there (August 6, 1945).
• A11) South Korea. Pepero sticks (crunchy, chocolate-covered, cylindrical cookies) are exchanged on the country's Valentine's Day equivalent on November 11 (11/11 can be easily spelled out with Pepero sticks). [I learned this from the Korean Adoptee Bride whose wedding and banquet I just attended, and I am enjoying a stick as I type this.]
• A12) Calcutta (now spelled Kolkata). The British moved the capital on December 12 partly because of local unrest and partly because of the city's location.

All of these events occurred on the month and day matching the question number (1/1, 2/2, etc.), just like the day I posted the questions (11/11/06).

This week's random trivia questions involve an extra challenge. How are the answers all related (warning: this is pretty hard)?

Mystery Motif Questions

• Q1) Who was the first black mayor of New York City?
• Q2) In what U.S. state was Groundhog Day first observed?
• Q3) What speeder were Los Angeles Police Department officers videotaped beating in 1991?
• Q4) Who founded the Mosaic Communications Corporation with Marc Andreessen in 1994?
• Q5) In 1862, what country's invasion did Ignacio Zaragoza repulse in the Battle of Puebla?
• Q6) Who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy in 1968?
• Q7) What 11-year-old girl visited the Soviet Union in 1983 at the request of Secretary General Yuri Andropov in response to her letter?
• Q8) What country gained its independence from India in 1949, only two years after India itself parted from the United Kingdom?
• Q9) What prison's inmates rioted in 1971, ultimately resulting in 39 deaths?
• Q10) What city hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics?
• Q11) What country celebrates Pepero Day today?
• Q12) What was the capital of India until 1911?

Category Questions:

Literature & Arts	What author noted, "When the rich wage war it is the poor who die"?
Entertainment & Food	Which astrological sign is associated with the lion?
Geography & Nature	What animal has the largest brain in proportion to its body size?
Math & Science	What milk sugar do many adult humans develop an intolerance for?
History & Government	Who was the first president of the AFL-CIO?
Sports & Games	What famous designer originally created the New York Yankees' distinctive "NY" logo for a police medal?