Word of the week: "syzygy," pronounced "SIZZ-a-gee." A spelling-bee favorite, it is an astronomy term for the alignment of three celestial objects. Oddly, the word can also refer to any pair of related things, either similar or opposite. Derived from the Greek for "union," it is a distant cousin of the word "yoke," and the shortest word we know that has three Y's.

More on congressional siblings: The www.senate.gov page we mentioned in a recent Bit lists over 25 sets of simultaneously serving senator/congressman siblings. These include three trios: the Fessendens (1860s), the Findlays and the Johnsons (both 1820s). There are two current Senate/House siblings: the Levins of Michigan and the Salazars of Colorado.

If were close enough (and brave enough) to shave the fur off a tiger, what color would you find its skin to be?
A) White
B) Orange
C) Black
D) Striped

Previous answer: In reference to modern technology, detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) says in the film "Die Hard 2," "As far as I'm concerned, progress peaked with frozen pizza."

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.