Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - November 24
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What U.S. comic strip had to change its name slightly in 1960 after objections by a popular women's magazine? Let's see if I can work this out. Popular women's magazine --> McCalls, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Better Homes and Gardens, Redbook. That did not help. But thanks to a conversation with my friend Cristina, I have an answer - Family Circus. Perhaps it was originally called Family Circle or some similar name.
2. "NiCd," "NiMH," and "Li-ion" are different types of what common technology? batteries
3. Show creator Bruce Geller played the hand that lights the match during the iconic credits to what TV series? Mission Impossible
4. The Arctic Circle runs through more of what nation than any other? Probably Russia or Canada. I am going to guess Canada.
5. Who was the intended target of Operation Spark, the 20 July Plot, and Operation Foxley? Since I have no familiarity with these plots/operations, the obvious guess is Hitler. The two operations could be Allied attempts while the 20 July Plot would have been an internal effort.
6. Why has the tiny logging town of Forks, Washington seen a 600% tourism increase in the last four years? Something to do with pop culture. Movies or books or both. Is this the setting for the Twilight series of books?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these teams in the four major North American sports leagues, and no others? Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Miami Dolphins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays. This came to me pretty quickly. They each play in a park or stadium named for a beverage company. Pepsi, Coors, Land Shark (beer), Minute Maid, Miller, Busch, Tropicana.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What article of clothing would you put on using a "double Windsor"? That's the most common knot for tying a necktie. In the interests of gender equality, I guess future questions should focus on clothing fasteners that both women and men need experience in. Like bra straps. correct
2. What did Thich Quang Duc do on June 11, 1963 that made worldwide headlines? He's the Buddhist monk who famously lit himself on fire in the streets of Saigon to protest the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem. correct
3. How many U.S. states border both the Hawkeye State and the Buckeye State? The Hawkeye State is Iowa, and the Buckeye State is Ohio. But these two states, though both in the Midwest, don't share any common neighbors, so the answer is zero. correct
4. What 1956 Leonard Bernstein operetta includes the songs "Westphalia," "The Best of All Possible Worlds," and "Make Our Garden Grow"? Even if you're not an operetta fan, you might recognize those song titles as plot points from Voltaire's Candide. correct
5. In 1979, what publication first began using its uniquely stippled dot-drawings, called "hedcuts"? The Wall Street Journal still uses these dot portraits in lieu of photographs. It's one of my great regrets that my brief flash of TV notoriety from Jeopardy! didn't merit my own WSJ "hedcut." I would have treasured it for life. correct
6. What musician was responsible for the recent controversy that some news outlets dubbed "Imma-Let-You-Finish-Gate"? Kanye West committed one of the greatest awards show screw-ups of all time! We relucantly accepted answers of "Taylor Swift," but yeesh. Talk about blaming the victim. correct
7. What's the significance of this list of countries, arranged in this order? Jamaica, Turkey, the U.S., the Bahamas, Japan, Switzerland, the U.S. These are the principal settings, in chronological order, of the first seven James Bond movies: Dr. No in Jamaica, From Russia with Love in Turkey, and so on. The list had to end after Diamonds are Forever because the eighth Bond film, Live and Let Die, is set on the fictional Caribbean island of San Monique, which would have given away the game. Nice get, Kmac.
1. What U.S. comic strip had to change its name slightly in 1960 after objections by a popular women's magazine? Let's see if I can work this out. Popular women's magazine --> McCalls, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Better Homes and Gardens, Redbook. That did not help. But thanks to a conversation with my friend Cristina, I have an answer - Family Circus. Perhaps it was originally called Family Circle or some similar name.
2. "NiCd," "NiMH," and "Li-ion" are different types of what common technology? batteries
3. Show creator Bruce Geller played the hand that lights the match during the iconic credits to what TV series? Mission Impossible
4. The Arctic Circle runs through more of what nation than any other? Probably Russia or Canada. I am going to guess Canada.
5. Who was the intended target of Operation Spark, the 20 July Plot, and Operation Foxley? Since I have no familiarity with these plots/operations, the obvious guess is Hitler. The two operations could be Allied attempts while the 20 July Plot would have been an internal effort.
6. Why has the tiny logging town of Forks, Washington seen a 600% tourism increase in the last four years? Something to do with pop culture. Movies or books or both. Is this the setting for the Twilight series of books?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these teams in the four major North American sports leagues, and no others? Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Miami Dolphins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays. This came to me pretty quickly. They each play in a park or stadium named for a beverage company. Pepsi, Coors, Land Shark (beer), Minute Maid, Miller, Busch, Tropicana.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What article of clothing would you put on using a "double Windsor"? That's the most common knot for tying a necktie. In the interests of gender equality, I guess future questions should focus on clothing fasteners that both women and men need experience in. Like bra straps. correct
2. What did Thich Quang Duc do on June 11, 1963 that made worldwide headlines? He's the Buddhist monk who famously lit himself on fire in the streets of Saigon to protest the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem. correct
3. How many U.S. states border both the Hawkeye State and the Buckeye State? The Hawkeye State is Iowa, and the Buckeye State is Ohio. But these two states, though both in the Midwest, don't share any common neighbors, so the answer is zero. correct
4. What 1956 Leonard Bernstein operetta includes the songs "Westphalia," "The Best of All Possible Worlds," and "Make Our Garden Grow"? Even if you're not an operetta fan, you might recognize those song titles as plot points from Voltaire's Candide. correct
5. In 1979, what publication first began using its uniquely stippled dot-drawings, called "hedcuts"? The Wall Street Journal still uses these dot portraits in lieu of photographs. It's one of my great regrets that my brief flash of TV notoriety from Jeopardy! didn't merit my own WSJ "hedcut." I would have treasured it for life. correct
6. What musician was responsible for the recent controversy that some news outlets dubbed "Imma-Let-You-Finish-Gate"? Kanye West committed one of the greatest awards show screw-ups of all time! We relucantly accepted answers of "Taylor Swift," but yeesh. Talk about blaming the victim. correct
7. What's the significance of this list of countries, arranged in this order? Jamaica, Turkey, the U.S., the Bahamas, Japan, Switzerland, the U.S. These are the principal settings, in chronological order, of the first seven James Bond movies: Dr. No in Jamaica, From Russia with Love in Turkey, and so on. The list had to end after Diamonds are Forever because the eighth Bond film, Live and Let Die, is set on the fictional Caribbean island of San Monique, which would have given away the game. Nice get, Kmac.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - November 17
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What article of clothing would you put on using a "double Windsor"? a necktie. I can actually tie a pretty sharp four-in-hand knot.
2. What did Thich Quang Duc do on June 11, 1963 that made worldwide headlines? I believe he is the monk who set himself on fire
3. How many U.S. states border both the Hawkeye State and the Buckeye State? Iowa borders Illinois on the east and Missouri on the south. Ohio borders Indiana on the west and Kentucky on the south. I don't think that the Hawkeye State and the Buckeye State border any states in common.
4. What 1956 Leonard Bernstein operetta includes the songs "Westphalia," "The Best of All Possible Worlds," and "Make Our Garden Grow"? The Best of All Possible Worlds --> Candide
5. In 1979, what publication first began using its uniquely stippled dot-drawings, called "hedcuts"? Wall Street Journal
6. What musician was responsible for the recent controversy that some news outlets dubbed "Imma-Let-You-Finish-Gate"? is this a reference to Kanye West
7. What's the significance of this list of countries, arranged in this order? Jamaica, Turkey, the U.S., the Bahamas, Japan, Switzerland, the U.S. this appears to be a ranking of some kind since order is involved. Turkey is an odd country along with the others.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The marketplace of Altdorf, Switzerland, features a bronze statue of what local man, accompanied by his son Walter and a stone inscribed "1307"? November 18, 1307 was supposedly the date when William Tell shot an apple off Walter's head on that very spot. Of course, there's no real evidence that Tell actually existed, but it's a nice statue anyway. correct
2. The name of Motorola's much-hyped new phone has been licensed, with permission, from what famous Hollywood director-producer? The new would-be iPhone-killer is the "Droid," so George Lucas had to sign off on the campaign. Finally, that guy will be making a little money. Good to hear. I continue to miss the hype. Not sure that I have seen an ad for this yet. Interesting that Lucas has a copyright on "droid" which would seem to be a common word.
3. Sihanoukville is the fourth largest city in what nation? Prince Sihanouk was, until recently, king of Cambodia. doh!
4. In the opening of his 1960s TV show, Dick Van Dyke would fall (or nearly fall) over what piece of furniture? It was an ottoman. Or "hassock," a word my wife always makes fun of me for using. "What's a hassock? It's called an OTTOMAN!" Yes, dear. correct
5. From 1980 to 1987, the world's #1-ranked woman in tennis was always an American, with what two players repeatedly trading off? Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova dominated the pre-Graf '80s, and Martina had been stripped of her Czechoslovakian citizenship way back in 1975. correct
6. What modern company is descended from the "Automatic Binding Bricks" first sold by Ole Kirk Christiansen in 1949? Binding bricks + Scandinavian name = Lego! Or "Legos," with the plural, as we ignorant Americans like to say, much to the chagrin of Lego's high-priced intellectual property lawyers. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these songs? "All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem, "Cornerstone" by Arctic Monkeys, "Everything" by Alanis Morrisette, "No Surprises" by Radiohead, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Dylan, "Undone (The Sweater Song)" by Weezer, "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, "Yellow" by Coldplay. The music video for each of these songs was shot as one continuous take for the entire video. (Or in a few cases, I gather, was at least edited to appear as such. I doubt Alanis really cut her hair in real time for the "Everything" video. Sort of hard to get a second take.) Good call, kmac!
1. What article of clothing would you put on using a "double Windsor"? a necktie. I can actually tie a pretty sharp four-in-hand knot.
2. What did Thich Quang Duc do on June 11, 1963 that made worldwide headlines? I believe he is the monk who set himself on fire
3. How many U.S. states border both the Hawkeye State and the Buckeye State? Iowa borders Illinois on the east and Missouri on the south. Ohio borders Indiana on the west and Kentucky on the south. I don't think that the Hawkeye State and the Buckeye State border any states in common.
4. What 1956 Leonard Bernstein operetta includes the songs "Westphalia," "The Best of All Possible Worlds," and "Make Our Garden Grow"? The Best of All Possible Worlds --> Candide
5. In 1979, what publication first began using its uniquely stippled dot-drawings, called "hedcuts"? Wall Street Journal
6. What musician was responsible for the recent controversy that some news outlets dubbed "Imma-Let-You-Finish-Gate"? is this a reference to Kanye West
7. What's the significance of this list of countries, arranged in this order? Jamaica, Turkey, the U.S., the Bahamas, Japan, Switzerland, the U.S. this appears to be a ranking of some kind since order is involved. Turkey is an odd country along with the others.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The marketplace of Altdorf, Switzerland, features a bronze statue of what local man, accompanied by his son Walter and a stone inscribed "1307"? November 18, 1307 was supposedly the date when William Tell shot an apple off Walter's head on that very spot. Of course, there's no real evidence that Tell actually existed, but it's a nice statue anyway. correct
2. The name of Motorola's much-hyped new phone has been licensed, with permission, from what famous Hollywood director-producer? The new would-be iPhone-killer is the "Droid," so George Lucas had to sign off on the campaign. Finally, that guy will be making a little money. Good to hear. I continue to miss the hype. Not sure that I have seen an ad for this yet. Interesting that Lucas has a copyright on "droid" which would seem to be a common word.
3. Sihanoukville is the fourth largest city in what nation? Prince Sihanouk was, until recently, king of Cambodia. doh!
4. In the opening of his 1960s TV show, Dick Van Dyke would fall (or nearly fall) over what piece of furniture? It was an ottoman. Or "hassock," a word my wife always makes fun of me for using. "What's a hassock? It's called an OTTOMAN!" Yes, dear. correct
5. From 1980 to 1987, the world's #1-ranked woman in tennis was always an American, with what two players repeatedly trading off? Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova dominated the pre-Graf '80s, and Martina had been stripped of her Czechoslovakian citizenship way back in 1975. correct
6. What modern company is descended from the "Automatic Binding Bricks" first sold by Ole Kirk Christiansen in 1949? Binding bricks + Scandinavian name = Lego! Or "Legos," with the plural, as we ignorant Americans like to say, much to the chagrin of Lego's high-priced intellectual property lawyers. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these songs? "All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem, "Cornerstone" by Arctic Monkeys, "Everything" by Alanis Morrisette, "No Surprises" by Radiohead, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Dylan, "Undone (The Sweater Song)" by Weezer, "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, "Yellow" by Coldplay. The music video for each of these songs was shot as one continuous take for the entire video. (Or in a few cases, I gather, was at least edited to appear as such. I doubt Alanis really cut her hair in real time for the "Everything" video. Sort of hard to get a second take.) Good call, kmac!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Simpsons skewers advertising and consumer culture
The 14 most awesome fake products from The Simpsons
The list does include some good ones. Like Malk (Now with vitamin R!). It's made from rat’s milk (which puts the R in Vitamin R). I also love Cheezus H. Rice. And all of the Krusty products like Krusty Brand Imitation Gruel.
The list does include some good ones. Like Malk (Now with vitamin R!). It's made from rat’s milk (which puts the R in Vitamin R). I also love Cheezus H. Rice. And all of the Krusty products like Krusty Brand Imitation Gruel.
I would have expected the list to include some of the products noted in the comments:Swap your traditional gruel out for this imitation with confidence. As the tagline suggests: "9 out of 10 orphans can’t tell the difference." Other products that have received the Krusty brand seal of approval include Krusty’s Sulfuric Acid, Krusty Non-Toxic Kologne, Lady Krusty Moustache Removal and Krusty’s partially gelatinated, non-dairy gum-based beverages.
- Tomacco (actually now a real product)
- Krusty O’s (with Jagged Metal Krusty O)
- Mr Sparkle!
- Random commercial Bart sees on TV. "The great taste of Worcestershire sauce…in a soft drink!" with the tag line: "Mmmm…steaky!"
- Big Red Snack Foam
- Corn Nog and Hurricane Chow (cat chow where Apu crossed out the word Cat and wrote Hurricane)
- We take eighteen ounces of sizzling ground beef, and then soak it in rich creamery butter. Then we top it off with bacon, ham and a fried egg." We call it …"The Good Morning Burger"
- Flintstones Chewable Morphine
- Red Tick Beer (Needs more dawg)
- Power Sauce bars. Made from apple cores and old Chinese newspapers!
- Little Lisa Slurry ….a high-protein feed for farm animals, insulation for low-income housing, a powerful explosive, and a top-notch engine coolant. Best of all, it’s made from 100 percent recycled animals.
- Bubble Crumb – "the gum with the cracker center"
- Malibu Stacy Lunar Rover
- Canned Plankton ("you fatcats threw out your plankton")
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - November 10
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The marketplace of Altdorf, Switzerland, features a bronze statue of what local man, accompanied by his son Walter and a stone inscribed "1307"? William Tell
2. The name of Motorola's much-hyped new phone has been licensed, with permission, from what famous Hollywood director-producer? I don't pay attention to ads. I may have seen this one, but I don't recall. However this has to be Lucas or Spielberg, right? I'll go with Spielberg. ET, phone home.
3. Sihanoukville is the fourth largest city in what nation? King Sihanouk ---> Thailand
4. In the opening of his 1960s TV show, Dick Van Dyke would fall (or nearly fall) over what piece of furniture? an ottoman
5. From 1980 to 1987, the world's #1-ranked woman in tennis was always an American, with what two players repeatedly trading off? Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova. I don't think that Tracy Austin or Jennifer Caprioti ever made it to #1.
6. What modern company is descended from the "Automatic Binding Bricks" first sold by Ole Kirk Christiansen in 1949? Ole Kirk Christiansen sounds Danish. Lego.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these songs? "All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem, "Cornerstone" by Arctic Monkeys, "Everything" by Alanis Morrisette, "No Surprises" by Radiohead, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Dylan, "Undone (The Sweater Song)" by Weezer, "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, "Yellow" by Coldplay. this will require some research
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. A "fungo" is a type of what piece of sports equipment? It's a baseball bat used for fielding practice. correct
2. The French national anthem was popularized in Paris in 1792 by volunteer soldiers from what city? They were soldiers from Marseilles, which is why the French national anthem is still called "Les Marseillaise." Which seems a little weird to me, like if the U.S. national anthem were named after Chicago or L.A. or something. correct
3. Much the Miller's Son, Alan-a-Dale, and Will Scarlet were members of what legendary group? They were among the less memorable members of Robin Hood's Merry Men. Alan-a-Dale is the Roger Miller rooster in the Disney Robin Hood cartoon. I guess he was pretty merry. Christian Slater as Will Scarlet in the Kevin Costner version = not so merry. correct
4. What leaves behind drumlins and moraines when it leaves? Your uncle who always forgets to flush. Thank you! All right, all right, the bathroom humor-free answer is "a glacier." Are you happy now? correct
5. What title character of a 1986 film defeats the Supreme Leader by singing "We Are Here to Save the World" with his crew, Fuzzball, Hooter, and the Geex? RIP Captain EO. I guess he's battling wicked 3-D space queens in heaven now. I guess that it was a film, but I was thinking of one that got a theatrical release, not one produced for an amusement park ride.
6. In terms of area, what's the world's largest principally Spanish-speaking country? Argentina is bigger than Spain, bigger than Mexico, bigger even than Mrs. Stebbins' seventh-grade Spanish class where I learned how to say "Mi lapiz es amarillo." correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these celebrities? Desi Arnaz, Ted Kennedy, Jack Lemmon, Jerry Lewis, Walter Matthau, Al Pacino, Edward G. Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Tyson. The voice of a recurring character on TV's The Simpsons was based on each of these characters. Did you know the original Homer voice was a Walter Matthau? Or that Moe is just Hank Azaria doing a bad Pacino? Well, now you know. I try to avoid running a Question Seven that all revolves around knowing a single work or artist, but I figured that the Simpsons is universal if anything is. Yay! thank you, Alex.
1. The marketplace of Altdorf, Switzerland, features a bronze statue of what local man, accompanied by his son Walter and a stone inscribed "1307"? William Tell
2. The name of Motorola's much-hyped new phone has been licensed, with permission, from what famous Hollywood director-producer? I don't pay attention to ads. I may have seen this one, but I don't recall. However this has to be Lucas or Spielberg, right? I'll go with Spielberg. ET, phone home.
3. Sihanoukville is the fourth largest city in what nation? King Sihanouk ---> Thailand
4. In the opening of his 1960s TV show, Dick Van Dyke would fall (or nearly fall) over what piece of furniture? an ottoman
5. From 1980 to 1987, the world's #1-ranked woman in tennis was always an American, with what two players repeatedly trading off? Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova. I don't think that Tracy Austin or Jennifer Caprioti ever made it to #1.
6. What modern company is descended from the "Automatic Binding Bricks" first sold by Ole Kirk Christiansen in 1949? Ole Kirk Christiansen sounds Danish. Lego.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these songs? "All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem, "Cornerstone" by Arctic Monkeys, "Everything" by Alanis Morrisette, "No Surprises" by Radiohead, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Dylan, "Undone (The Sweater Song)" by Weezer, "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, "Yellow" by Coldplay. this will require some research
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. A "fungo" is a type of what piece of sports equipment? It's a baseball bat used for fielding practice. correct
2. The French national anthem was popularized in Paris in 1792 by volunteer soldiers from what city? They were soldiers from Marseilles, which is why the French national anthem is still called "Les Marseillaise." Which seems a little weird to me, like if the U.S. national anthem were named after Chicago or L.A. or something. correct
3. Much the Miller's Son, Alan-a-Dale, and Will Scarlet were members of what legendary group? They were among the less memorable members of Robin Hood's Merry Men. Alan-a-Dale is the Roger Miller rooster in the Disney Robin Hood cartoon. I guess he was pretty merry. Christian Slater as Will Scarlet in the Kevin Costner version = not so merry. correct
4. What leaves behind drumlins and moraines when it leaves? Your uncle who always forgets to flush. Thank you! All right, all right, the bathroom humor-free answer is "a glacier." Are you happy now? correct
5. What title character of a 1986 film defeats the Supreme Leader by singing "We Are Here to Save the World" with his crew, Fuzzball, Hooter, and the Geex? RIP Captain EO. I guess he's battling wicked 3-D space queens in heaven now. I guess that it was a film, but I was thinking of one that got a theatrical release, not one produced for an amusement park ride.
6. In terms of area, what's the world's largest principally Spanish-speaking country? Argentina is bigger than Spain, bigger than Mexico, bigger even than Mrs. Stebbins' seventh-grade Spanish class where I learned how to say "Mi lapiz es amarillo." correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these celebrities? Desi Arnaz, Ted Kennedy, Jack Lemmon, Jerry Lewis, Walter Matthau, Al Pacino, Edward G. Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Tyson. The voice of a recurring character on TV's The Simpsons was based on each of these characters. Did you know the original Homer voice was a Walter Matthau? Or that Moe is just Hank Azaria doing a bad Pacino? Well, now you know. I try to avoid running a Question Seven that all revolves around knowing a single work or artist, but I figured that the Simpsons is universal if anything is. Yay! thank you, Alex.
Friday, November 06, 2009
World Porridge Making Championship
If I told you that you were at the World Porridge Making Championship, where would you expect to be? Of course, Scotland (in Carrbridge). Home of oatmeal scotchies, oatmeal stout, Scottish oats, haggis (which includes oatmeal), etc.
In a major surprise, the 2009 winner was from the US. How did Wide World of Sports miss this? Even if the contest was not great tv, I would have loved to have seen the awarding of the Golden Spurtle trophy (spurtle = wooden stick for stirring porridge).
World Porridge Making Championship
In a major surprise, the 2009 winner was from the US. How did Wide World of Sports miss this? Even if the contest was not great tv, I would have loved to have seen the awarding of the Golden Spurtle trophy (spurtle = wooden stick for stirring porridge).
World Porridge Making Championship
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - November 3
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. A "fungo" is a type of what piece of sports equipment? a bat
2. The French national anthem was popularized in Paris in 1792 by volunteer soldiers from what city? Marseilles
3. Much the Miller's Son, Alan-a-Dale, and Will Scarlet were members of what legendary group? either Ken Kesey's merry pranksters or Robin Hood's merry band. I'll go with Robin Hood.
4. What leaves behind drumlins and moraines when it leaves? glaciers
5. What title character of a 1986 film defeats the Supreme Leader by singing "We Are Here to Save the World" with his crew, Fuzzball, Hooter, and the Geex? this isn't Howard the Duck, is it? Never saw the movie, but it did come out around 1986.
6. In terms of area, what's the world's largest principally Spanish-speaking country? Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Spain, Peru. probably not Phillippines. Leaning toward Argentina.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these celebrities? Desi Arnaz, Ted Kennedy, Jack Lemmon, Jerry Lewis, Walter Matthau, Al Pacino, Edward G. Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Tyson. Kennedy and Tyson are especially noteworthy members of this list. They don't seem to fit with the actors. But thanks to a hint from Alex and help from imdb, I think I have it. Each celebrity inspired the voice of a character on The Simpsons. Arnaz - Dr. Nick Rivera; Kennedy - Mayor Quimby; Pacino - Moe; Robinson - Chief Wiggum; Stallone - Lou the Cop; Matthau - Homer; etc.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What two letters besides the 'H' are sometimes eccentrically capitalized in spelling the name of Jada Pinkett Smith's TV series Hawthorne? Not "HO," but you're all very funny. Christine Hawthorne is a nurse, so TNT sometimes capitalizes the "RN." correct
2. Next month, HarperCollins will print 1.5 million copies of Going Rogue: An American Life, a memoir by whom? Ghostwriter Lynn Vincent. Well, that would have been the "mavericky" answer, anyway. This is the upcoming Sarah Palin bio. correct
3. The core of what rock band was born when Paul Hewson met Dave Evans in 1976? These two are better known today as "Bono" and "The Edge." This was a little band called...Coldplay. No, wait. What's that band that's always ripping off Coldplay? Oh yeah, U2. correct
4. Which moon of the solar system--its planet's largest--is named for the Greek god of fear? Our word "phobia" comes from the same god that Mars's largest moon is named for: Phobos. correct
5. The Columbus Crew are vying for their second consecutive title in what sports league? You don't follow Major League Soccer? Well, Columbus, Ohio isn't going to be too happy about that. There's not a lot of other sports in which Columbus is going to be winning a championship anytime soon. correct
6. Who was transported using a "Black Maria"? That's the old-timey name for a "paddywagon," or police van. We accepted all manner of criminals, prisoners, drunks, and hooligans. very trivial. Why was it called a "Maria"?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these states and no others? Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington. These are the U.S. states whose official (or at least most familiar) nickname is the name of a tree. (A buckeye is a kind of chestnut, by the way.) I had to make a couple tough judgment calls, but ended up including Georgia (even though the Peach State is presumably saluting the fruit more than the tree) and left off Nevada, the Sagebrush State (because it has a couple better-known nicknames and, let's face it, sagebrush isn't much of a tree anyway). It was a squishy answer, but Alex got it.
1. A "fungo" is a type of what piece of sports equipment? a bat
2. The French national anthem was popularized in Paris in 1792 by volunteer soldiers from what city? Marseilles
3. Much the Miller's Son, Alan-a-Dale, and Will Scarlet were members of what legendary group? either Ken Kesey's merry pranksters or Robin Hood's merry band. I'll go with Robin Hood.
4. What leaves behind drumlins and moraines when it leaves? glaciers
5. What title character of a 1986 film defeats the Supreme Leader by singing "We Are Here to Save the World" with his crew, Fuzzball, Hooter, and the Geex? this isn't Howard the Duck, is it? Never saw the movie, but it did come out around 1986.
6. In terms of area, what's the world's largest principally Spanish-speaking country? Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Spain, Peru. probably not Phillippines. Leaning toward Argentina.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these celebrities? Desi Arnaz, Ted Kennedy, Jack Lemmon, Jerry Lewis, Walter Matthau, Al Pacino, Edward G. Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Tyson. Kennedy and Tyson are especially noteworthy members of this list. They don't seem to fit with the actors. But thanks to a hint from Alex and help from imdb, I think I have it. Each celebrity inspired the voice of a character on The Simpsons. Arnaz - Dr. Nick Rivera; Kennedy - Mayor Quimby; Pacino - Moe; Robinson - Chief Wiggum; Stallone - Lou the Cop; Matthau - Homer; etc.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What two letters besides the 'H' are sometimes eccentrically capitalized in spelling the name of Jada Pinkett Smith's TV series Hawthorne? Not "HO," but you're all very funny. Christine Hawthorne is a nurse, so TNT sometimes capitalizes the "RN." correct
2. Next month, HarperCollins will print 1.5 million copies of Going Rogue: An American Life, a memoir by whom? Ghostwriter Lynn Vincent. Well, that would have been the "mavericky" answer, anyway. This is the upcoming Sarah Palin bio. correct
3. The core of what rock band was born when Paul Hewson met Dave Evans in 1976? These two are better known today as "Bono" and "The Edge." This was a little band called...Coldplay. No, wait. What's that band that's always ripping off Coldplay? Oh yeah, U2. correct
4. Which moon of the solar system--its planet's largest--is named for the Greek god of fear? Our word "phobia" comes from the same god that Mars's largest moon is named for: Phobos. correct
5. The Columbus Crew are vying for their second consecutive title in what sports league? You don't follow Major League Soccer? Well, Columbus, Ohio isn't going to be too happy about that. There's not a lot of other sports in which Columbus is going to be winning a championship anytime soon. correct
6. Who was transported using a "Black Maria"? That's the old-timey name for a "paddywagon," or police van. We accepted all manner of criminals, prisoners, drunks, and hooligans. very trivial. Why was it called a "Maria"?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these states and no others? Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington. These are the U.S. states whose official (or at least most familiar) nickname is the name of a tree. (A buckeye is a kind of chestnut, by the way.) I had to make a couple tough judgment calls, but ended up including Georgia (even though the Peach State is presumably saluting the fruit more than the tree) and left off Nevada, the Sagebrush State (because it has a couple better-known nicknames and, let's face it, sagebrush isn't much of a tree anyway). It was a squishy answer, but Alex got it.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - October 27
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What two letters besides the 'H' are sometimes eccentrically capitalized in spelling the name of Jada Pinkett Smith's TV series Hawthorne? The answer is probably NOT the "h" and the "o." I believe that her character is a nurse, so I will say "r" and "n."
2. Next month, HarperCollins will print 1.5 million copies of Going Rogue: An American Life, a memoir by whom? Sarah Palin
3. The core of what rock band was born when Paul Hewson met Dave Evans in 1976? Paul "Bono" Hewson ---> U2
4. Which moon of the solar system--its planet's largest--is named for the Greek god of fear? Titan was not the Greek god of fear. I do not recognize Phobos as a Greek god, but it is a moon. And "phobia" fits the "fear" part of the clue.
5. The Columbus Crew are vying for their second consecutive title in what sports league? Major League Soccer
6. Who was transported using a "Black Maria"? "Who" implies that the answer is a person. Is this a Halloween question, like for Vlad the Impaler?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these states and no others? Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington. State questions are brutal because there are so many areas to explore. Is there a common thread in the state capitals - Atlanta, Augusta, Jackson, Columbus, Columbia, Olympia?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Who or what might you find inside a Habitrail? Habitrails are, like the Internet, a vast network of tubes. They're those clear tubes that gerbils and the like can run around in. We accepted anything having to do with tiny, unhygienic pets. correct
2. Give the full name of the international nonprofit that forced a pro wrestling outfit to change its name in 2002. That cute little panda in the World Wildlife Fund (or World Wide Fund for Nature) logo is tougher than it looks: it took out Hulk Hogan! That's why the WWF is now the WWE. correct
3. Musicians Sally and Ben Taylor are the children of what two chart-topping singer-songwriters? James Taylor and Carly Simon, who were married from 1972 to 1983. Now we know the result of lots and lots of marijuana in utero: it produces folksingers! correct
4. What hit TV show did David Shore and Paul Attanasio create after enjoying Lisa Sanders' "Diagnosis" columns in The New York Times? Those columns were all about exciting and exotic medical diagnosis stories, and House was their bastard stepchild. correct
5. What's the world's largest nation that's all a single time zone? Despite spanning five theoretical time zones, China is all on Beijing time by government edict. Okay, Communism, maybe you've beaten jetlag. But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow. correct
6. Name either of the two active NBA players who have led their team in all five major stats--points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals--in a season. As B-ball fans know, this is pretty damn hard to do, but Kevin Garnett and LeBron James have both managed. Dave Cowens and Scottie Pippen are the only two other names on this list, though steals weren't officially counted by the NBA until the mid-1970s. Whew! Alex and I both got one.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Belle de Jour, Blowup, Dog Day Afternoon, Executive Suite, Interiors, Network, One of Our Aircraft Is Missing, Paranormal Activity, Rachel Getting Married, Rear Window. Weirdly, these movies all have no score! The only music on the soundtrack, if any, is "diegetic"...that is, it's audible within the world of the movie, via stereos and live singers and so forth. I guess this was only unusual after the silent era...for the first few decades of film, EVERY movie fit this category! I guess that I am intrigued by the answer, but there was no way in heck that I was going to come up with that.
1. What two letters besides the 'H' are sometimes eccentrically capitalized in spelling the name of Jada Pinkett Smith's TV series Hawthorne? The answer is probably NOT the "h" and the "o." I believe that her character is a nurse, so I will say "r" and "n."
2. Next month, HarperCollins will print 1.5 million copies of Going Rogue: An American Life, a memoir by whom? Sarah Palin
3. The core of what rock band was born when Paul Hewson met Dave Evans in 1976? Paul "Bono" Hewson ---> U2
4. Which moon of the solar system--its planet's largest--is named for the Greek god of fear? Titan was not the Greek god of fear. I do not recognize Phobos as a Greek god, but it is a moon. And "phobia" fits the "fear" part of the clue.
5. The Columbus Crew are vying for their second consecutive title in what sports league? Major League Soccer
6. Who was transported using a "Black Maria"? "Who" implies that the answer is a person. Is this a Halloween question, like for Vlad the Impaler?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these states and no others? Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington. State questions are brutal because there are so many areas to explore. Is there a common thread in the state capitals - Atlanta, Augusta, Jackson, Columbus, Columbia, Olympia?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Who or what might you find inside a Habitrail? Habitrails are, like the Internet, a vast network of tubes. They're those clear tubes that gerbils and the like can run around in. We accepted anything having to do with tiny, unhygienic pets. correct
2. Give the full name of the international nonprofit that forced a pro wrestling outfit to change its name in 2002. That cute little panda in the World Wildlife Fund (or World Wide Fund for Nature) logo is tougher than it looks: it took out Hulk Hogan! That's why the WWF is now the WWE. correct
3. Musicians Sally and Ben Taylor are the children of what two chart-topping singer-songwriters? James Taylor and Carly Simon, who were married from 1972 to 1983. Now we know the result of lots and lots of marijuana in utero: it produces folksingers! correct
4. What hit TV show did David Shore and Paul Attanasio create after enjoying Lisa Sanders' "Diagnosis" columns in The New York Times? Those columns were all about exciting and exotic medical diagnosis stories, and House was their bastard stepchild. correct
5. What's the world's largest nation that's all a single time zone? Despite spanning five theoretical time zones, China is all on Beijing time by government edict. Okay, Communism, maybe you've beaten jetlag. But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow. correct
6. Name either of the two active NBA players who have led their team in all five major stats--points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals--in a season. As B-ball fans know, this is pretty damn hard to do, but Kevin Garnett and LeBron James have both managed. Dave Cowens and Scottie Pippen are the only two other names on this list, though steals weren't officially counted by the NBA until the mid-1970s. Whew! Alex and I both got one.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Belle de Jour, Blowup, Dog Day Afternoon, Executive Suite, Interiors, Network, One of Our Aircraft Is Missing, Paranormal Activity, Rachel Getting Married, Rear Window. Weirdly, these movies all have no score! The only music on the soundtrack, if any, is "diegetic"...that is, it's audible within the world of the movie, via stereos and live singers and so forth. I guess this was only unusual after the silent era...for the first few decades of film, EVERY movie fit this category! I guess that I am intrigued by the answer, but there was no way in heck that I was going to come up with that.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - October 20
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Who or what might you find inside a Habitrail? a gerbil
2. Give the full name of the international nonprofit that forced a pro wrestling outfit to change its name in 2002. World Wildlife Foundation (not to be confused with the World Wrestling Federation)
3. Musicians Sally and Ben Taylor are the children of what two chart-topping singer-songwriters? James Taylor and Carly Simon
4. What hit TV show did David Shore and Paul Attanasio create after enjoying Lisa Sanders' "Diagnosis" columns in The New York Times? I don't know Lisa Sanders or her columns. But is this the set up for House?
5. What's the world's largest nation that's all a single time zone? China
6. Name either of the two active NBA players who have led their team in all five major stats--points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals--in a season. Wow. We are talking about multi-talented players. It is really saying something to lead in both rebounds and assists. This is very uncommon. The first names that come to mind - Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Grant Hill, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter. Do I get two guesses? I will go with Kevin Garnett and Vince Carter.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Belle de Jour, Blowup, Dog Day Afternoon, Executive Suite, Interiors, Network, One of Our Aircraft Is Missing, Paranormal Activity, Rachel Getting Married, Rear Window. Something about photography? Of these, I have only seen Rear Window.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The American one has been around for 220 years, but the British one met for the very first time one week ago, because of a suspected Syrian terrorist. What name is shared by these bodies? This was the first case heard by the U.K.'s brand-spanking-new Supreme Court. Good job, Britain! Why, maybe you'll even have a constitution one of these days. correct
2. What part of the body does a "reflexologist" most commonly focus on? Reflexology is the idea that pressure on the soles of the feet (and much less commonly the hands and ears) can affect every other part of the body. Sure, it's totally kooky, but aaah, foot massage. Who can complain about that? correct
3. What nickname has the media given to Nadya Suleyman? She's Octomom! But she already had six kids before her latest pregnancy, so maybe she should more accurately be called Tetradecamom. correct
4. What two U.S. animated TV hits have produced spin-off soundtrack CDs called "The Yellow Album"? SpongeBob SquarePants recorded the most recent Yellow Album, but the lame Beatles "joke" in its title is a retread...the Simpsons had got there a decade earlier. correct
5. A church in Daresbury, England has an odd stained-glass window featuring a rabbit, dodo, and a lizard, because what man was born there in 1832 while his father was parson there? The white rabbit, the dodo, and Bill the lizard are all characters in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. correct. But I did not previously know Bill the Lizard.
6. What nation's recent naming led to Greek complaints that Greece's heritage was being compromised by the name? Greece is a little pissed about the "Republic of Macedonia," since Macedonia was and is a large region of Greece. Get over it, Greece. It's not like Americans are all burned up about "Baja California." And what about "Omaha Beach"? That's in FRANCE! good job, Alex
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these famous people? Osama bin Laden, John Ehrlichman, Davis Love III, Tracy Nelson, Philip Pullman, Priscilla Presley, Gabrielle Reece, and Cokie Roberts. They all starred in The Father Dowling Mysteries on ABC in the late 1980s. Oh, wait. That wasn't Osama bin Laden. That was Tom Bosley. I always get those guys confused. The real answer is a sad one: they each lost their father in a plane crash. Weirdly, I had no idea that Cokie Roberts was Hale Boggs' daughter until I wrote this question. correct!
1. Who or what might you find inside a Habitrail? a gerbil
2. Give the full name of the international nonprofit that forced a pro wrestling outfit to change its name in 2002. World Wildlife Foundation (not to be confused with the World Wrestling Federation)
3. Musicians Sally and Ben Taylor are the children of what two chart-topping singer-songwriters? James Taylor and Carly Simon
4. What hit TV show did David Shore and Paul Attanasio create after enjoying Lisa Sanders' "Diagnosis" columns in The New York Times? I don't know Lisa Sanders or her columns. But is this the set up for House?
5. What's the world's largest nation that's all a single time zone? China
6. Name either of the two active NBA players who have led their team in all five major stats--points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals--in a season. Wow. We are talking about multi-talented players. It is really saying something to lead in both rebounds and assists. This is very uncommon. The first names that come to mind - Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Grant Hill, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter. Do I get two guesses? I will go with Kevin Garnett and Vince Carter.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Belle de Jour, Blowup, Dog Day Afternoon, Executive Suite, Interiors, Network, One of Our Aircraft Is Missing, Paranormal Activity, Rachel Getting Married, Rear Window. Something about photography? Of these, I have only seen Rear Window.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The American one has been around for 220 years, but the British one met for the very first time one week ago, because of a suspected Syrian terrorist. What name is shared by these bodies? This was the first case heard by the U.K.'s brand-spanking-new Supreme Court. Good job, Britain! Why, maybe you'll even have a constitution one of these days. correct
2. What part of the body does a "reflexologist" most commonly focus on? Reflexology is the idea that pressure on the soles of the feet (and much less commonly the hands and ears) can affect every other part of the body. Sure, it's totally kooky, but aaah, foot massage. Who can complain about that? correct
3. What nickname has the media given to Nadya Suleyman? She's Octomom! But she already had six kids before her latest pregnancy, so maybe she should more accurately be called Tetradecamom. correct
4. What two U.S. animated TV hits have produced spin-off soundtrack CDs called "The Yellow Album"? SpongeBob SquarePants recorded the most recent Yellow Album, but the lame Beatles "joke" in its title is a retread...the Simpsons had got there a decade earlier. correct
5. A church in Daresbury, England has an odd stained-glass window featuring a rabbit, dodo, and a lizard, because what man was born there in 1832 while his father was parson there? The white rabbit, the dodo, and Bill the lizard are all characters in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. correct. But I did not previously know Bill the Lizard.
6. What nation's recent naming led to Greek complaints that Greece's heritage was being compromised by the name? Greece is a little pissed about the "Republic of Macedonia," since Macedonia was and is a large region of Greece. Get over it, Greece. It's not like Americans are all burned up about "Baja California." And what about "Omaha Beach"? That's in FRANCE! good job, Alex
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these famous people? Osama bin Laden, John Ehrlichman, Davis Love III, Tracy Nelson, Philip Pullman, Priscilla Presley, Gabrielle Reece, and Cokie Roberts. They all starred in The Father Dowling Mysteries on ABC in the late 1980s. Oh, wait. That wasn't Osama bin Laden. That was Tom Bosley. I always get those guys confused. The real answer is a sad one: they each lost their father in a plane crash. Weirdly, I had no idea that Cokie Roberts was Hale Boggs' daughter until I wrote this question. correct!
