Let’s do it again. Last week was kind of fun, so let’s see if we paid a little more attention this week. This was quite a week so there was lots to pay attention to.  So here we go one more time.

1) The dominant event of the week was the bombs blasting at the Boston Marathon. How long has the Boston Marathon been run?

2) Someone slipped a little extra into a letter to Sen. Roger Wicker of Miss. this week. What was it?

3) Senator Ted Cruz of Texas voted not to give any relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy. But he is having different thoughts now and wants federal aid to help what group of victims?

4) Based on recent planetary findings an estimate has been made that there are how many earth-like planets in the universe?

5) The CO2 reading in the atmosphere was taken in March. Within 5PPM (parts per million)  what is the current CO2 PPM reading? (Hint: below 350PPM is the reading for climate safety)

6) This former beer baron resigned from the board of the NRA following the Senate vote Wednesday. Can you name him?

7) Senators representing what percentage of the US population voted for gun control measures Wednesday?

8) In a Texas case an older teacher is accused of fondling a black first grader. What is the teacher’s unique defense against this charge?

9) Iowa state senator Dennis Guth in giving a point of personal privilege speech compared the effect of gay marriage to the health effects of what?

10) This week New Zealand became the 13th nation to approve what?

11) This former Governor and now congressional candidate in South Carolina was caught breaking into his ex-wife’s house in February. Still half of his district will vote for him. Who has strayed from the old Appalachian Trail?

12) Governor Branstad claims over 70,000 jobs have been added in Iowa since his administration took over. Iowa Work Force Development claims the number is closer to 15,000. Who should we believe?

13) Iowa SoS Matt Schultz claimed in a speech last week that Democrats win by cheating. How many illegal voters have been exposed by his office so far?

14) Does Mr. Schultz have an opponent yet?

15) Steve King (the scary one, not the writer) is using the Boston Marathon bombing to beat on what current issue?

Bonus) If the final score is 54 – 46, who wins?

Man oh man, what a news week. This keeps up and I am going to need my cat to help me out on this blog. But he is a Republican. He seems to be quite selfish and doesn’t seem to care what happens to others as long as he gets what he wants.

But unlike him, I will give answers. You will not have to pay for them, as my cat has suggested.

1) It began in April, 1897. By my count that is 117 years total.

2) Some poisonous ricin. This is a highly toxic poison derived from the castor bean.

3) the explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas. See it is different when it happens to you.

4) 100 billion. Or for the science geeks that is 10^11

5) 397.4 PPM, or way beyond the safety point

6) August Busch IV. He stated the NRA is not listening to its members.

7) 70% or @ 210 million. (source: Make It Plain radio show)

8) She claims she is racist and hates black people. A truly unique defense.

9) second hand smoke. He claimed that being around gays affected a person’s health

10) Marriage equality. Take New Zealand off Dennis Guth’s travel plans.

11) Mark Sanford.

12) trust the bean counters. A paltry 15,500. Last month Branstad said 1,600; IWD -5,500 – quite a difference.

13) pretty sure the number is 0.

14) Yes, Brad Anderson

15) Immigration reform. I think he wants to send those here less than 4 generations back to their old country.

BONUS) The team scoring 46 wins, according to Senate rules. It is sort of magic. Ever wonder why our kids can’t count?