Musings of a Dead Parrot

William Proxmire might retire his award if he were still alive to see what is going on in Iraq. The US government's contractors in Iraq (with the complicity of the administration) could win the Golden Fleece award in perpetuity.

I read this article - The Great Iraq Swindle -
while waiting to get my hair cut yesterday. It definitely raised my blood pressure. Like all these stories do, it led my back to the question that James Q. Wilson asked us in grad school - is capitalism moral?

THIS WEEK'S QUIZ
1. What magazine's name can be produced by combining the name of the computer and the cat from the movie Alien? A fun question but I don't remember the movie well enough to get any clues. So I am going through magazine titles in my head. Looking for those with compound names that might work. Only one close right now is Cosmopolitan. With a little help, I now know the answer. The cat was named Jones (which I never knew) and the computer was Mother (I vaguely recall this). The correct answer never would have come to me by perusing the magazines at the grocery store.
2. What Peanuts character's last name is Reichardt? Not Charlie or Sally Brown or Linus or Lucy or Rerun Van Pelt. Possibilities - Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Pig Pen. A guess, but I think it is Peppermint Patty.
3. What landmark was originally painted Galaxy Gold, Orbital Olive, and Re-entry Red for its 1962 opening? Possibilities - Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, Cape Canaveral, NASA in Houston. The Air and Space Museum would have emphasized air travel in 1962 rather than space travel. It could have been the Astrodome except that I don't think it opened until 1965. And Houston was originally known at the Colt 45s, not the Astros. I'll go with Cape Canaveral.
4. What E.U. nation is led by a president and a prime minster who are identical twins? Any answer will be a total guess. This is a trivial item that I had not heard before. My guess - Denmark.
5. What kind of object is smaller than its own Schwarzschild radius? I believe this term is in reference to a black hole.
6. How many contributors did struggling Christian-themed TV station WYAH recruit in a 1962 telethon? From the pub quiz, I recall that WYAH (Yahweh) was the station that Pat Robertson created. I don't know how many contributors he recruited. I would guess that the telethon was very successful - let's say 10,000 contributors.
7. What distinction is shared by these letters of the alphabet and no others? C, D, O, P, S, and W.

LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Who was arrested over thirty times during a famous campaign of "hatchetations"? Carry Nation, who use her hatchet on saloons.
2. What landlocked country has nevertheless won two America's Cups? Possibly inspired by those nutty Jamaican bobsledders, a Swiss team has won the last two America's Cup races.
3. In the book and movie, what is the actual nationality of the so-called "English" Patient? As Elaine Benes knows, he's Laszlo de Almasy, a Hungarian count.
4. The name of what Baptist missionary is only remembered today because he was shot by Chinese communists near Xi'an in 1945? John Birch--who, as the so-called "first casualty of the Cold War," had the honor of having a society of nutballs named for him.
5. What does the "J." in "Homer J. Simpson" stand for? Jay--so it almost doesn't need the period, like Harry Truman's S.
6. How old is ABBA's "Dancing Queen"? Young and sweet, only seventeen. We also accepted "30" or so, since that's how old the song is.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these vegetables? Eggplants, scallions, rutabagas, snow peas, summer squash, and zucchini. All these vegetables are called something different in the UK (and other parts of the former British Commonwealth, for the most part): aubergines, spring onions, swedes, mangetout, vegetable marrows, and courgettes. Of course, in Britain, they cook all these vegetables so long they all just taste like identical mush, but it's cute that they still have separate names for all of them. Even if they stoles most of them from the French.

I got #2, 5 and 6. Probably got #7. So I'll say four out of seven last week.

One of the funniest, cleverest parody videos I have seen in a while. Had me laughing out loud even on the 3rd viewing.

For added humor, see the comments posted on this site - Kissing Suzy Kolber

Warning - there are many bad words. Be careful around kids or other sensitive ears. Earmuffs!

THIS WEEK'S QUIZ
1. Who was arrested over thirty times during a famous campaign of "hatchetations"? In trying to learn what this word meant so I could at least guess, I uncovered the answer - Carrie Nation. Alone or accompanied by hymn-singing women, she would march into a saloon and proceed to sing, pray, hurl biblical-sounding vituperations, and smash the bar fixtures and stock with a hatchet.
2. What landlocked country has nevertheless won two America's Cups? Switzerland
3. In the book and movie, what is the actual nationality of the so-called "English" Patient? I think he was Canadian. No, dadgummit. Willem Dafoe is Canadian. Ralph Fiennes is Count Alamazsy or something like that. He is Hungarian. I knew that.
4. The name of what Baptist missionary is only remembered today because he was shot by Chinese communists near Xi'an in 1945? I did not know that this is the story of John Birch.
5. What does the "J." in "Homer J. Simpson" stand for? Jay or simply "J"
6. How old is ABBA's "Dancing Queen"? "young and sweet only 17"
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these vegetables? Eggplants, scallions, rutabagas, snow peas, summer squash, and zucchini. From my time in Paris, I know eggplant as aubergine. Zucchini is courgette. Scallions are often called spring onions. Could it be that each of these vegetables has two common names?


LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What world leader began his plan to take power after the 1989 Caracazo riots? Our pal Hugo Chavez of Venezuela--the Caracazo riots were, of course, in Caracas.
2. What play's Broadway opening was the occasion for a tie-in advertising promotion by Hormel Foods? Spamalot. For the promotion, one out of every 100 cans of Spam contained, for the first time ever, actual pork.
3. What are the "ten" being referred to when a surfer "hangs ten" on a wave? His or her ten toes (which "hang" off the edge of the board.)
4. Complete this film analogy: Before Sunset : Paris :: Before Sunrise : _____. The first movie is a long walk around Vienna, much as the second one is a long walk around Paris.
5. What was the last name of the seven Italian brothers whose company, in 1955, found a new household use for the agricultural pumps it was producing? Jacuzzi! very good question and a good hint. I did not get this one correct, but I like the question.
6. Who was the most famous client of British lawyer Jonathan Harker? Count Dracula. There's one client you don't want to have to "cross" examine. Thank you! Tip your waitress.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S states, and no others? Alaska, California, Delaware, Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. These states have all been home, at some point in our nation's history, to the U.S.'s highest point. A measly 450-foot hill in Delaware had the title first, when that state ratified the Constitution, and then Pennsylvania,then Georgia, and so on up to Alaska today. This turned out to be even tougher than Ken planned. He said that maybe he should have left the states in chronological order as an added hint.



My score for last week - three out of seven - #s 1,2 and 3.

Lots of arguing back and forth between the Pac 10 and SEC fans and coaches. Mostly about the primacy of SEC and inferiority of the Pac 10. Lots of evidence that the SEC is a very good conference and lots of evidence that the Pac 10 is far from inferior. With regard to the latter, I offer the following comparison of coaches in the respective conferences:

There are 8 coaches in the SEC that have won their division (Saban, Nutt, Tuberville, Miles, Fulmer, Spurrier, Meyer, Richt)
There are 6 coaches in the SEC that have won the SEC outright (Saban, Tuberville, Fulmer, Spurrier, Meyer, Richt)
There are 5 coaches in the Pac 10 that have won the Pac 10 (Carroll, Tedford, Willingham, Bellotti, Erickson). Note: the Pac 10 does not have divisions.

There are 8 coaches in the SEC that have won 10 games (Saban, Nutt, Tuberville, Miles, Fulmer, Spurrier, Richt, Meyer)
There are 8 coaches in the Pac 10 that have won 10 games (Carroll, Tedford, Willingham, Bellotti, Erickson, Doba, Riley, Dorrell)

There are 7 coaches in the SEC that have won 10 games more than once (Saban, Nutt, Tuberville, Miles, Fulmer, Spurrier, Richt)
There are 4 coaches in the Pac 10 that have won 10 games more than once (Carroll, Tedford, Bellotti, Erickson)

There are 7 coaches in the SEC that have won 11 games in a season. (Saban, Tuberville, Miles, Fulmer, Spurrier, Richt Meyer)
There are 3 coaches in the Pac 10 that have won 11 games in a season (Carroll, Bellotti, Erickson)

There are 6 coaches in the SEC that have won 11 games more than once (Saban, Tuberville, Miles, Fulmer, Spurrier, Richt)
There are 3 coaches in the Pac 10 that have won 11 games more than once (Carroll, Erickson, Riley)

There are 6 coaches in the SEC that have won BCS games (Saban, Tuberville, Fulmer, Spurrier, Meyer, Richt)
There are 3 coaches in the Pac 10 that have won BCS games (Carroll, Bellotti, Erickson)

THIS WEEK'S QUIZ
1. What world leader began his plan to take power after the 1989 Caracazo riots? Hugo Chavez
2. What play's Broadway opening was the occasion for a tie-in advertising promotion by Hormel Foods? Spamalot
3. What are the "ten" being referred to when a surfer "hangs ten" on a wave? hanging ten toes over the lip of the board
4. Complete this film analogy: Before Sunset : Paris :: Before Sunrise : _____. What was the other Julie Delpy/Ethan Hawke movie - After Sunset? Or Before Sunrise? Wasn't it also set in Paris? Before Sunset was the sequel. Before Sunrise was the first movie and it was set in Vienna. Have not seen either one.
5. What was the last name of the seven Italian brothers whose company, in 1955, found a new household use for the agricultural pumps it was producing? Italy - maybe a company that makes espresso machines or coffee makers. Delonghi?
6. Who was the most famous client of British lawyer Jonathan Harker? never heard of him so will be a total guess. ah, he is a fictional character in Bram Stoker's Dracula. The Count is his client.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S states, and no others? Alaska, California, Delaware, Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Will need to noodle on this one.

LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What kind of sporting event is divided into chukkas? A polo match.
2. What president was married to a First Lady whose first name was Eleanor? Now this was just mean. Eleanor Roosevelt's actually first name was Anna. But Rosalyn Carter's first name was Eleanor. Sorry.
3. Who wrote sonnets called "La primavera," "L'estate," "L'autunno," and "L'inverno" to be read with the movements of his most famous work? Antonio Vivaldi--those are the names of "The Four Seasons" in Italian.
4. What's the name of Audrey Hepburn's cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's? It doesn't really have one--she just calls it "Cat."
5. The U.S.'s center of population was in eastern Maryland at the time of the first census, but it's since moved six states westward. What state is it in today? This imaginary point currently sits in south central Missouri.
6. What two cast members of TV's The West Wing were real-life brothers-in-law? Timothy Busfield's wife and Joshua Malina's wife are sisters.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these musical acts? The Clash, the Early November, George Harrison, the Magnetic Fields, Prince, Frank Sinatra, Smashing Pumpkins, and Frank Zappa. All released triple albums--three-LP collections of new studio music, not live performances or compilations.

So I got three out of 7 last week - #1, #3 and #7. Probably should have worked out #5 but was not going to get the others.

THIS WEEK'S QUIZ
1. What kind of sporting event is divided into chukkas? Polo
2. What president was married to a First Lady whose first name was Eleanor? this looks like a trick question. Got to be FDR, right? It is a trick question. I just checked and Eleanor Roosevelt's first name is Anna. I learned something new today. Need to guess something. I'll go with Dolley Madison. Dolley sounds like a nickname to me. Eleanor Rosalyn Carter
3. Who wrote sonnets called "La primavera," "L'estate," "L'autunno," and "L'inverno" to be read with the movements of his most famous work? those titles look like the names of the four seasons in Italian. The composer of "The Four Seasons" is Vivaldi so that is my guess.
4. What's the name of Audrey Hepburn's cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's? No idea. Still have not seen the movie. bad question - no name is used in the movie. Audrey Hepburn calls it "cat"
5. The U.S.'s center of population was in eastern Maryland at the time of the first census, but it's since moved six states westward. What state is it in today? I seem to recall that the geographic center is in Kansas. But the population center may be a bit further north. I am wavering now between South Dakota and Nebraska. I am going to go with Nebraska. Missouri. I should have answered this correctly.
6. What two cast members of TV's The West Wing were real-life brothers-in-law? Why is the question "were" instead of "are"? Did somebody get divorced? Or is one of the correct answers the late John Spencer? I'll guess John Spencer and Richard Schiff. He is married to a nice Irish girl, Sheila Kelly. Josh Malina and Timothy Busfield.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these musical acts? The Clash, the Early November, George Harrison, the Magnetic Fields, Prince, Frank Sinatra, Smashing Pumpkins, and Frank Zappa. The only way to answer these questions is to try to connect two or three of them that you know and see if that works for the others too. I have no clue right now but I'll work on The Clash and George Harrison. Note that the clue says George Harrison and not The Beatles. So it must be something distinctive about GH. The common element must be something about the band/act itself and not the people in it. Songs, albums, chart performance? Ok, I have now done a little research on both Early November and the Magnetic Fields. I found one common element with George Harrison and the Clash - they all released triple albums. GH - All Things Must Pass ; Clash - Sandinista. So that is my guess - all released triple albums.

LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What famous club, whose first chapter formed in San Bernardino in 1948, borrowed the World War II nickname for the 303rd Bombardment Group? The Hell's Angels flew airplanes before they rode motorcycles.
2. What's the largest of the Society Islands? They're part of French Polynesia, and Tahiti is the largest.
3. What's the first fruit to appear in the Pac-Man maze? The cherry, for 100 points.
4. What movie was Tom Cruise promoting when he decided to "jump the couch" on Oprah? Tom's meltdown was brought to you by War of the Worlds.
5. What color ribbon is worn to promote breast cancer awareness? Pink, of course.
6. Members of what nation's police force must, by law, be citizens of Switzerland? "Besides Switzerland" was implied here, smart guys. The papal police of the Vatican City are called the Swiss Guard.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these people? John Barrymore, Charlie Chaplin, Charles I of England, Alistair Cooke, Joseph Haydn, Gram Parsons, Eva Peron, and Laurence Sterne. All had their bodies--or at least body parts--stolen after death.

I did well on my first Tuesday Trivia. 5 out of 7. Missed #1 and #3

Lots and lots of discussion on the Stanford bulletin board about the academic performance of Cal's football team. Most of it was initiated by Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh's comments that Michigan directs its football players to easy majors and also does a poor job of graduating African-American players. Cal fans felt the need to defend their school. If Harbaugh is critiquing one public university, he could just as easily be saying the same thing to recruits about other schools like Cal.

Much of the defense of Cal's academic honor has been based on the assessment that the graduation rate of the players has increased under their coach Jeff Tedford. Cal fans have also pointed out how highly the university is rated across the board as a premier academic institution, clearly the 2nd best in the Pac 10 behind Stanford.

So I did a little research and posted this on the Bootboard:

I think the debate should not so much be the relative academic rankings of the various Pac 10 schools. Rather, it should be the academic performance of the football players. It is pretty well-chronicled that at most if not all schools football players find it hard to participate in the mainstream academic activities. At many schools (see the Harbaugh Michigan comments thread) football players are encouraged to pursue a relatively less demanding academic path. So let's see how the football players compare to a fixed standard (graduation) and relative to their peers (academic all-conference honors is about the only verifiable yardstick available here).The relative graduation numbers have been discussed at length elsewhere. So the question now is how do Cal players measure against their peers academically? To what extent are they recognized as academic all-conference compared to other Pac 10 schools?

During the time that Tedford has been coach (2002-2006), here are the 1st and 2nd team Academic All Pac 10 totals by school (assuming I counted accurately):

1. Stanford - 63
2. Cal - 39
3. Arizona State - 26
4. Oregon State - 21
5. Washington State - 19
6. Washington - 18
7. Oregon - 15
8. UCLA - 10
9. USC - 9
10. Arizona - 9

By that measure, Cal's football program is 2nd best in the conference. However, I would highlight a negative trend - the number of Cal academic all conference players declined every year in Tedford's coaching stint until last year when it barely inched up - from 11 in 2002 to 10, 9, 4 then up to 5 in 2006. Cal was eclipsed by ASU over the last three years.

The revelation of this analysis to me is the relatively strong performance from the ASU players and the miserable representation of the USC and UCLA players.