The word "fiasco," as in "spectacular failure," means "flask" in Italian. Specifically, the flask commonly used for Chianti that is enclosed in a straw basket. The word took on its unpleasant connotation as an Italian theatrical term, as part of the Italian phrase literally meaning "make a bottle," in the mid-19th century, but word-history experts aren't exactly sure of the connection.

Happy 150th birthday to Big Ben, the bell built for the Clock Tower in London's Parliament complex. Formally known as The Great Bell, it was cast in April 1858 by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which is recognized by Guinness as Britain's oldest manufacturing company (founded in 1570).

It first rang in the new tower on May 31, 1859.

How many times in Oscar history has the entire credited cast of a film been nominated for Academy Awards?
A) Never
B) Once
C) Twice
D) Five times

Previous answer: The annual Augie Awards are presented annually by the Culinary Institute of America and are named for famed French chef Auguste Escoffier.

TRIVIA FANS: Send the trivia questions you've always wanted answered, or original TriviaBits ideas of your own, with your full name and hometown, to Stan Newman at StanTrivia@aol.com or on a postcard to P.O. Box 69, Massapequa Park, NY 11762.