Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - September 30
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. When police practice the science of dactyloscopy, what are they doing? studying fingerprints
2. Other than (duh) Australia, what's the only continent with no land-locked countries? North America
3. What common beverage did Julius Freed begin selling above a New York pool hall in 1926? Orange Julius
4. Name one of the three Division I college football teams that are exempted from NCAA rules limiting the number of full scholarships athletes can receive. Army (I would guess the other two are Navy and Air Force)
5. Who originally held the jobs now filled by Ben Lyons and Ben Manciewicz? Siskel and Ebert (maybe he is looking for Ebert and Roeper but Jennings should spell Ben M's name correctly - Mankiewicz)
6. What shape is each cell in a honeybees' comb? octagon
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these famous folks? Mathew Brady, Al Capp, Antoni Gaudi, Samuel Gompers, Frida Kahlo, Theodore Roosevelt, Edward Teller, Kurt Waldheim
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What author gave his second middle name, Balfour, to one of his most famous protagonists, David Balfour? David Balfour is the protagonist of Kidnapped (and the title character of its sequel), written by Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson. who knew RLS had another middle name? I did not
2. On Earth, what is always 2.9 miles away from the average observer? The true horizon...assuming you're average height and have an unobstructed view. correct
3. What country's society was reformed in the Meiji Restoration? 19th-century Japan. that was my first instinct
4. What Disney animated feature was released on DVD alongside an ESPN documentary on famous underdog sports teams? Those are "Cinderella teams," and this ESPN doc is found on the Cinderella DVD, as I discovered last week when my daughter was watching it. Either one of the most ingenious or the most evil acts of corporate synergy in history. I think of Cinderella teams only with respect to NCAA basketball. Or golf, thanks to Carl Spackler.
5. The name of what company--until 2006 the U.S.'s second largest newspaper publisher--can be produced by taking the name of a 1980s TV hit and doubling one letter? Could it be Knotts-Landing? Familly-Ties? Caggney-Lacey? So close. It's Knight-Ridder. correct
6. What pair of cousins were governors of New York in 1900 and 1930, respectively? It gets a little easier if you realize they were both president as well: Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, fifth cousins. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these record albums? Miles Davis's Star People, Bob Dylan's Self Portrait, Eminem's The Re-Up, The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark, Nirvana's Incesticide, The Stone Roses, The Who by Numbers. All these albums feature cover art (drawings or paintings) by the artists themselves. I added Dylan's Self-Portrait because I thought this was a toughie, but it turns out lots of players guessed the answer, so maybe no hint was needed after all. correct. Even I thought it was not that hard.
1. When police practice the science of dactyloscopy, what are they doing? studying fingerprints
2. Other than (duh) Australia, what's the only continent with no land-locked countries? North America
3. What common beverage did Julius Freed begin selling above a New York pool hall in 1926? Orange Julius
4. Name one of the three Division I college football teams that are exempted from NCAA rules limiting the number of full scholarships athletes can receive. Army (I would guess the other two are Navy and Air Force)
5. Who originally held the jobs now filled by Ben Lyons and Ben Manciewicz? Siskel and Ebert (maybe he is looking for Ebert and Roeper but Jennings should spell Ben M's name correctly - Mankiewicz)
6. What shape is each cell in a honeybees' comb? octagon
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these famous folks? Mathew Brady, Al Capp, Antoni Gaudi, Samuel Gompers, Frida Kahlo, Theodore Roosevelt, Edward Teller, Kurt Waldheim
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What author gave his second middle name, Balfour, to one of his most famous protagonists, David Balfour? David Balfour is the protagonist of Kidnapped (and the title character of its sequel), written by Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson. who knew RLS had another middle name? I did not
2. On Earth, what is always 2.9 miles away from the average observer? The true horizon...assuming you're average height and have an unobstructed view. correct
3. What country's society was reformed in the Meiji Restoration? 19th-century Japan. that was my first instinct
4. What Disney animated feature was released on DVD alongside an ESPN documentary on famous underdog sports teams? Those are "Cinderella teams," and this ESPN doc is found on the Cinderella DVD, as I discovered last week when my daughter was watching it. Either one of the most ingenious or the most evil acts of corporate synergy in history. I think of Cinderella teams only with respect to NCAA basketball. Or golf, thanks to Carl Spackler.
5. The name of what company--until 2006 the U.S.'s second largest newspaper publisher--can be produced by taking the name of a 1980s TV hit and doubling one letter? Could it be Knotts-Landing? Familly-Ties? Caggney-Lacey? So close. It's Knight-Ridder. correct
6. What pair of cousins were governors of New York in 1900 and 1930, respectively? It gets a little easier if you realize they were both president as well: Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, fifth cousins. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these record albums? Miles Davis's Star People, Bob Dylan's Self Portrait, Eminem's The Re-Up, The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark, Nirvana's Incesticide, The Stone Roses, The Who by Numbers. All these albums feature cover art (drawings or paintings) by the artists themselves. I added Dylan's Self-Portrait because I thought this was a toughie, but it turns out lots of players guessed the answer, so maybe no hint was needed after all. correct. Even I thought it was not that hard.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - September 23
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What author gave his second middle name, Balfour, to one of his most famous protagonists, David Balfour? WEB DuBois? I am wracking my brain to think of authors with 2 middle names other than JRR Tolkein.
2. On Earth, what is always 2.9 miles away from the average observer? 2.9 miles in around 15,000 feet. So it can't be anything in the sky. I will guess that that is the distance to the horizon assuming a flat piece of land with no obstacles blocking the view. That is, one can see 2.9 miles before the curvature of the earth takes over.
3. What country's society was reformed in the Meiji Restoration? First guess would be Japan. But was it in fact Korea or China?
4. What Disney animated feature was released on DVD alongside an ESPN documentary on famous underdog sports teams? Disney has done a lot of live action movies on sports underdogs - Mighty Ducks, The Rookie, Cool Runnings, Miracle. None of them were animated. However that horrid Underdog movie was released last year. It was partly animated. Could it be that simple?
5. The name of what company--until 2006 the U.S.'s second largest newspaper publisher--can be produced by taking the name of a 1980s TV hit and doubling one letter? Knight Ridder
6. What pair of cousins were governors of New York in 1900 and 1930, respectively? Teddy Roosevelt and FDR
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these record albums? Miles Davis's Star People, Bob Dylan's Self Portrait, Eminem's The Re-Up, The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark, Nirvana's Incesticide, The Stone Roses, The Who by Numbers. I think The Who By Numbers LP cover was done by Pete Townsend. Self Portrait sounds like it may have cover art by Dylan. Joni Mitchell is an artist. I think Kurt Cobain drew as well. I think all albums had cover art by someone in the band.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. In the chemical name THC, the 'C' stands for a derivative of what word? THC is the active ingredient in pot, and the C stands for "cannabinol," derived from cannabis. wrong. Guess I am not 420 knowledgeable.
2. What '90s pop star became, last week, the first African American since Charley Pride to crack the top spots of the country charts? Darius Rucker, of Hootie and the Blowfish. Yes, we accepted "Hootie"! If that guy didn't want to be called "Hootie" he should have chosen a less sucky name for his sucky band. I heard this at the Pub Quiz last Weds, but I did not know before that. Cannot claim to have answered correctly here.
3. What kind of organization is classified by groups like the Union Triad, the Miami Triad, and the Lexington Triad? Those are the origins of some of the oldest college fraternities and sororities in the U.S. This one came from a conversation with my Grandpa the other day, so I bet it skews old. Something for the oldsters, then! How exactly we supposed to know this or even to guess? What kind of classification is needed for fraternities and sororities?
4. What U.S. state name is sometimes spelled with an okina? The okina is the little apostrophe/hiccup thing in the middle of Hawai'i. correct. Hey I got one this week.
5. Infinite Jest, the masterpiece of late novelist David Foster Wallace, is titled for Shakespeare's description of what character? Not a real speaking part, per se: Hamlet calls the deceased Yorick "a fellow of infinite jest" whilst holding his skull. I would have guessed a character from a comedy.
6. Backwards in High Heels is a new musical about what 1930s actress? Ginger Rogers, who famously had to do everything Fred Astaire did...only backwards, and in high heels. Most people remember Texas governor Ann Richards making this joke, but did you know it actually dates back to a 1980s "Frank and Ernest" comic strip? I know, me neither. correct. I got two this week.
7. Based on the unusual distinction they all share, what U.S. president could be added to this list of famous names? Julie Andrews, Charles Dawes, Mohamed ElBaradei, Peter Gabriel, John Jay, Bob Pettit, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Dick York. All were succeeded, in some honor or office, by someone of the same first name, so the answer is James Madison. Here's the rundown, to save you some Googling: Julie Andrews and Christie won back-to-back Oscars. Charles Dawes and Curtis were consecutive U.S. vice presidents. Mohamed ElBaradei and Muhamad Yunus won Nobel Peace Prizes. Peter Gabriel and Peter Cetera had their only two solo Billboard #1 singles back to back--the only two artists of the same first name ever to do so. John Jay and Rutledge were the first two U.S. Chief Justices, and Bob Pettit and Cousy were the first two NBA MVPs. Alfred Austin succeeded Tennyson as British poet laureate, much as (as was often commented at the time) Dick Sargent succeeded Dick York on Bewitched. Whew. I identified the pattern so if I had read the question completely I would have known the correct answer.
1. What author gave his second middle name, Balfour, to one of his most famous protagonists, David Balfour? WEB DuBois? I am wracking my brain to think of authors with 2 middle names other than JRR Tolkein.
2. On Earth, what is always 2.9 miles away from the average observer? 2.9 miles in around 15,000 feet. So it can't be anything in the sky. I will guess that that is the distance to the horizon assuming a flat piece of land with no obstacles blocking the view. That is, one can see 2.9 miles before the curvature of the earth takes over.
3. What country's society was reformed in the Meiji Restoration? First guess would be Japan. But was it in fact Korea or China?
4. What Disney animated feature was released on DVD alongside an ESPN documentary on famous underdog sports teams? Disney has done a lot of live action movies on sports underdogs - Mighty Ducks, The Rookie, Cool Runnings, Miracle. None of them were animated. However that horrid Underdog movie was released last year. It was partly animated. Could it be that simple?
5. The name of what company--until 2006 the U.S.'s second largest newspaper publisher--can be produced by taking the name of a 1980s TV hit and doubling one letter? Knight Ridder
6. What pair of cousins were governors of New York in 1900 and 1930, respectively? Teddy Roosevelt and FDR
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these record albums? Miles Davis's Star People, Bob Dylan's Self Portrait, Eminem's The Re-Up, The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark, Nirvana's Incesticide, The Stone Roses, The Who by Numbers. I think The Who By Numbers LP cover was done by Pete Townsend. Self Portrait sounds like it may have cover art by Dylan. Joni Mitchell is an artist. I think Kurt Cobain drew as well. I think all albums had cover art by someone in the band.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. In the chemical name THC, the 'C' stands for a derivative of what word? THC is the active ingredient in pot, and the C stands for "cannabinol," derived from cannabis. wrong. Guess I am not 420 knowledgeable.
2. What '90s pop star became, last week, the first African American since Charley Pride to crack the top spots of the country charts? Darius Rucker, of Hootie and the Blowfish. Yes, we accepted "Hootie"! If that guy didn't want to be called "Hootie" he should have chosen a less sucky name for his sucky band. I heard this at the Pub Quiz last Weds, but I did not know before that. Cannot claim to have answered correctly here.
3. What kind of organization is classified by groups like the Union Triad, the Miami Triad, and the Lexington Triad? Those are the origins of some of the oldest college fraternities and sororities in the U.S. This one came from a conversation with my Grandpa the other day, so I bet it skews old. Something for the oldsters, then! How exactly we supposed to know this or even to guess? What kind of classification is needed for fraternities and sororities?
4. What U.S. state name is sometimes spelled with an okina? The okina is the little apostrophe/hiccup thing in the middle of Hawai'i. correct. Hey I got one this week.
5. Infinite Jest, the masterpiece of late novelist David Foster Wallace, is titled for Shakespeare's description of what character? Not a real speaking part, per se: Hamlet calls the deceased Yorick "a fellow of infinite jest" whilst holding his skull. I would have guessed a character from a comedy.
6. Backwards in High Heels is a new musical about what 1930s actress? Ginger Rogers, who famously had to do everything Fred Astaire did...only backwards, and in high heels. Most people remember Texas governor Ann Richards making this joke, but did you know it actually dates back to a 1980s "Frank and Ernest" comic strip? I know, me neither. correct. I got two this week.
7. Based on the unusual distinction they all share, what U.S. president could be added to this list of famous names? Julie Andrews, Charles Dawes, Mohamed ElBaradei, Peter Gabriel, John Jay, Bob Pettit, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Dick York. All were succeeded, in some honor or office, by someone of the same first name, so the answer is James Madison. Here's the rundown, to save you some Googling: Julie Andrews and Christie won back-to-back Oscars. Charles Dawes and Curtis were consecutive U.S. vice presidents. Mohamed ElBaradei and Muhamad Yunus won Nobel Peace Prizes. Peter Gabriel and Peter Cetera had their only two solo Billboard #1 singles back to back--the only two artists of the same first name ever to do so. John Jay and Rutledge were the first two U.S. Chief Justices, and Bob Pettit and Cousy were the first two NBA MVPs. Alfred Austin succeeded Tennyson as British poet laureate, much as (as was often commented at the time) Dick Sargent succeeded Dick York on Bewitched. Whew. I identified the pattern so if I had read the question completely I would have known the correct answer.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - September 16
Note from Ken Jennings - Given a choice between a question on an old familiar topic and a fact I've never heard before, I can't help but choose the Cool New Thing. And sometimes that makes the questions harder, because it might also be new to you. I'm gambling that it's still more fun to hear something new--and maybe get it right, maybe not--than to hear the same old same old that you hear every other week in bar trivia, or in some mass e-mail of trivia "facts" from your grandma. So I guess what I'm saying is: sorry if these are hard.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. In the chemical name THC, the 'C' stands for a derivative of what word? tetra hexa something or tri hexa something. Doesn't it have to be a derivative of carbon?
2. What '90s pop star became, last week, the first African American since Charley Pride to crack the top spots of the country charts? candidates - Brandy, any of Destiny's Child (Kelly Rowland, Beyonce Knowles, whoever the third member is)
3. What kind of organization is classified by groups like the Union Triad, the Miami Triad, and the Lexington Triad?
4. What U.S. state name is sometimes spelled with an okina? is that the symbol that appears over the last "i" in Hawaii? I guess Hawaii.
5. Infinite Jest, the masterpiece of late novelist David Foster Wallace, is titled for Shakespeare's description of what character?
6. Backwards in High Heels is a new musical about what 1930s actress? Ginger Rogers (with an assist from Ann Richards)
7. Based on the unusual distinction they all share, what U.S. president could be added to this list of famous names? Julie Andrews, Charles Dawes, Mohamed ElBaradei, Peter Gabriel, John Jay, Bob Pettit, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Dick York. Dick York is the giveaway - they were all succeeded in a role or honor by someone with the same first name.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What Sunshine Biscuits product, discontinued in 2003, has returned to grocery shelves this year for its 100th anniversary? Hydrox is back, y'all! And remember: Oreo (b. 1912) is the rip-off, not Hydrox (b. 1903). this would be a good question 15 at O'Briens
2. Two science fiction films, from 1983 and 1984, share their titles with two different names for the dividing line between day and night on the surface of a planet. What are they? The Twilight Zone and The Terminator. who knew that dusk was also called the terminator - http://sos.noaa.gov/datasets/Land/day_night.html
3. What country has produced pop bands like Roxette, the Hives, and the Cardigans? As someone pointed out, many countries have produced bands LIKE them. But only Sweden has produced bands exactly like them.
4. On August 15, 1914, the cement steamer SS Ancon became the first ship ever to do what? Make an official transit of the Panama Canal. I tried to find out how much toll the Ancon would have paid for the privilege, in hopes of making the question easier, but I couldn't find a number. correct
5. Who dated Iola Morton and Callie Shaw? The Hardy Boys. Did you know Iola was killed by terrorists in 1987? No kidding. Car bomb. I think that officially ended my childhood.
6. What bay, for whom a recent newsmaker was named, is the easternmost arm of the Bering Sea? Young, fecund Bristol Palin is named for the salmon fisheries of Bristol Bay. I needed a clue about the newsmaker. Not that it would have helped. I probably would have guessed Willow Bay.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these people? Beethoven, Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Connelly, Catherine Deneuve, Clint Eastwood, Thomas Jefferson, James Joyce, and Jackie Kennedy. They all speak Italian...or, to forestall the smart-alecks complaining that this isn't an unusual distinction in a world with 60 million Italians, "they all speak Italian as a second language." I tried to pick celebrities for whom you could guess their Italian-speaking even if you didn't go to high school with them. Kobe famous took questions in Italian during the Olympics, Beethoven wrote opera, Joyce lived in Rome, Catherine Deneuve has a daughter by Marcello Mastroianni, Clint recently translated for Ennio Morricone when he received his lifetime Oscar, etc. obscure and un-interesting
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. In the chemical name THC, the 'C' stands for a derivative of what word? tetra hexa something or tri hexa something. Doesn't it have to be a derivative of carbon?
2. What '90s pop star became, last week, the first African American since Charley Pride to crack the top spots of the country charts? candidates - Brandy, any of Destiny's Child (Kelly Rowland, Beyonce Knowles, whoever the third member is)
3. What kind of organization is classified by groups like the Union Triad, the Miami Triad, and the Lexington Triad?
4. What U.S. state name is sometimes spelled with an okina? is that the symbol that appears over the last "i" in Hawaii? I guess Hawaii.
5. Infinite Jest, the masterpiece of late novelist David Foster Wallace, is titled for Shakespeare's description of what character?
6. Backwards in High Heels is a new musical about what 1930s actress? Ginger Rogers (with an assist from Ann Richards)
7. Based on the unusual distinction they all share, what U.S. president could be added to this list of famous names? Julie Andrews, Charles Dawes, Mohamed ElBaradei, Peter Gabriel, John Jay, Bob Pettit, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Dick York. Dick York is the giveaway - they were all succeeded in a role or honor by someone with the same first name.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What Sunshine Biscuits product, discontinued in 2003, has returned to grocery shelves this year for its 100th anniversary? Hydrox is back, y'all! And remember: Oreo (b. 1912) is the rip-off, not Hydrox (b. 1903). this would be a good question 15 at O'Briens
2. Two science fiction films, from 1983 and 1984, share their titles with two different names for the dividing line between day and night on the surface of a planet. What are they? The Twilight Zone and The Terminator. who knew that dusk was also called the terminator - http://sos.noaa.gov/datasets/Land/day_night.html
3. What country has produced pop bands like Roxette, the Hives, and the Cardigans? As someone pointed out, many countries have produced bands LIKE them. But only Sweden has produced bands exactly like them.
4. On August 15, 1914, the cement steamer SS Ancon became the first ship ever to do what? Make an official transit of the Panama Canal. I tried to find out how much toll the Ancon would have paid for the privilege, in hopes of making the question easier, but I couldn't find a number. correct
5. Who dated Iola Morton and Callie Shaw? The Hardy Boys. Did you know Iola was killed by terrorists in 1987? No kidding. Car bomb. I think that officially ended my childhood.
6. What bay, for whom a recent newsmaker was named, is the easternmost arm of the Bering Sea? Young, fecund Bristol Palin is named for the salmon fisheries of Bristol Bay. I needed a clue about the newsmaker. Not that it would have helped. I probably would have guessed Willow Bay.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these people? Beethoven, Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Connelly, Catherine Deneuve, Clint Eastwood, Thomas Jefferson, James Joyce, and Jackie Kennedy. They all speak Italian...or, to forestall the smart-alecks complaining that this isn't an unusual distinction in a world with 60 million Italians, "they all speak Italian as a second language." I tried to pick celebrities for whom you could guess their Italian-speaking even if you didn't go to high school with them. Kobe famous took questions in Italian during the Olympics, Beethoven wrote opera, Joyce lived in Rome, Catherine Deneuve has a daughter by Marcello Mastroianni, Clint recently translated for Ennio Morricone when he received his lifetime Oscar, etc. obscure and un-interesting
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - September 9
THIS WEEK'S QUIZ
1. What Sunshine Biscuits product, discontinued in 2003, has returned to grocery shelves this year for its 100th anniversary? I only know one Sunshine product (at least I think they are made by Sunshine) - Hi Hos.
2. Two science fiction films, from 1983 and 1984, share their titles with two different names for the dividing line between day and night on the surface of a planet. What are they?
3. What country has produced pop bands like Roxette, the Hives, and the Cardigans? a guess - Ireland
4. On August 15, 1914, the cement steamer SS Ancon became the first ship ever to do what? sail through the Panama Canal
5. Who dated Iola Morton and Callie Shaw? good god, man. I have no idea who these women are. Are they celebrities? Or is this a literary reference?
6. What bay, for whom a recent newsmaker was named, is the easternmost arm of the Bering Sea? the Bering Sea reminds me of Alaska which leads me to Wasilla. Wasilla Bay.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these people? Beethoven, Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Connelly, Catherine Deneuve, Clint Eastwood, Thomas Jefferson, James Joyce, and Jackie Kennedy.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What TV show was originally titled Rampart, in reference to the 1990s LAPD scandal of the same name? The Shield, whose final season began last week. The show's lawless "Strike Team" was based on the "CRASH unit" of the real-life Rampart Division. I guess I should have thought of cable shows.
2. In September 1916, who became the first billionaire in American history? A New York Times story that month did the math, and amazed Americans by naming John D. Rockefeller the nation's first billionaire. correct
3. Despite its diminutive name, what is, by area, the largest state in Mexico? Chihuahua: little dog, big state. If anyone on this list actually goes to that Beverly Hills Chihuahua movie, I'm warning you: I will find out somehow and unsubscribe you! tricky
4. What two colorful major league catchers were childhood friends on St. Louis's Elizabeth Avenue, a block now called "Hall of Fame Place"? Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola were the childhood neighbors. Oddly, Garagiola was considered the better prospect at the time. correct
5. What is made up of slow twitch and fast twitch fibers? Your muscles. The more fast-twitch fibers you have, the more likely you are to be a Usain Bolt type. correct
6. In Greek myth, into what kind of animal did Zeus turn Lycaon, the first king of Arcadia? Into a wolf--his name might have reminded you of the word "lycanthrope," meaning "werewolf."
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Boys Don't Cry, The Last Emperor, The Last Temptation of Christ, Nighthawks, The Princess Bride, The Royal Tenenbaums, There Will Be Blood, Wall Street. All had soundtracks composed by members of rock bands. Respectively: Nathan Larson of Shudder to Think, David Byrne of Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel of Genesis, Keith Emerson of ELP, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, and Stewart Copeland of the Police. I tried to stick to well-known musicians who don't do many soundtrack, not professional film composers who actually had bands in a past life--like Danny Elfman, or Howard Shore, or Hans Zimmer. Did you know you can see Zimmer in the "Video Killed the Radio Star" video? Yeah, me neither. you could have given me all 8 movies and told me that they were scored by a rock musician. I would have known one - Mark Knopfler. This was really obscure.
1. What Sunshine Biscuits product, discontinued in 2003, has returned to grocery shelves this year for its 100th anniversary? I only know one Sunshine product (at least I think they are made by Sunshine) - Hi Hos.
2. Two science fiction films, from 1983 and 1984, share their titles with two different names for the dividing line between day and night on the surface of a planet. What are they?
3. What country has produced pop bands like Roxette, the Hives, and the Cardigans? a guess - Ireland
4. On August 15, 1914, the cement steamer SS Ancon became the first ship ever to do what? sail through the Panama Canal
5. Who dated Iola Morton and Callie Shaw? good god, man. I have no idea who these women are. Are they celebrities? Or is this a literary reference?
6. What bay, for whom a recent newsmaker was named, is the easternmost arm of the Bering Sea? the Bering Sea reminds me of Alaska which leads me to Wasilla. Wasilla Bay.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these people? Beethoven, Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Connelly, Catherine Deneuve, Clint Eastwood, Thomas Jefferson, James Joyce, and Jackie Kennedy.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What TV show was originally titled Rampart, in reference to the 1990s LAPD scandal of the same name? The Shield, whose final season began last week. The show's lawless "Strike Team" was based on the "CRASH unit" of the real-life Rampart Division. I guess I should have thought of cable shows.
2. In September 1916, who became the first billionaire in American history? A New York Times story that month did the math, and amazed Americans by naming John D. Rockefeller the nation's first billionaire. correct
3. Despite its diminutive name, what is, by area, the largest state in Mexico? Chihuahua: little dog, big state. If anyone on this list actually goes to that Beverly Hills Chihuahua movie, I'm warning you: I will find out somehow and unsubscribe you! tricky
4. What two colorful major league catchers were childhood friends on St. Louis's Elizabeth Avenue, a block now called "Hall of Fame Place"? Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola were the childhood neighbors. Oddly, Garagiola was considered the better prospect at the time. correct
5. What is made up of slow twitch and fast twitch fibers? Your muscles. The more fast-twitch fibers you have, the more likely you are to be a Usain Bolt type. correct
6. In Greek myth, into what kind of animal did Zeus turn Lycaon, the first king of Arcadia? Into a wolf--his name might have reminded you of the word "lycanthrope," meaning "werewolf."
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Boys Don't Cry, The Last Emperor, The Last Temptation of Christ, Nighthawks, The Princess Bride, The Royal Tenenbaums, There Will Be Blood, Wall Street. All had soundtracks composed by members of rock bands. Respectively: Nathan Larson of Shudder to Think, David Byrne of Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel of Genesis, Keith Emerson of ELP, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, and Stewart Copeland of the Police. I tried to stick to well-known musicians who don't do many soundtrack, not professional film composers who actually had bands in a past life--like Danny Elfman, or Howard Shore, or Hans Zimmer. Did you know you can see Zimmer in the "Video Killed the Radio Star" video? Yeah, me neither. you could have given me all 8 movies and told me that they were scored by a rock musician. I would have known one - Mark Knopfler. This was really obscure.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - September 2
THIS WEEK'S QUIZ
1. What TV show was originally titled Rampart, in reference to the 1990s LAPD scandal of the same name? In the Rampart scandal, cops tampered with evidence, planted evidence, stole drugs seized as evidence. What cop show does that sound like? Or lawyer show? Law and Order?
2. In September 1916, who became the first billionaire in American history? John D. Rockefeller
3. Despite its diminutive name, what is, by area, the largest state in Mexico? Baja is really two states - Baja Norte and Baja Sud. Is that what he is looking for?
4. What two colorful major league catchers were childhood friends on St. Louis's Elizabeth Avenue, a block now called "Hall of Fame Place"? I think that Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola are both from St. Louis.
5. What is made up of slow twitch and fast twitch fibers? muscles
6. In Greek myth, into what kind of animal did Zeus turn Lycaon, the first king of Arcadia?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Boys Don't Cry, The Last Emperor, The Last Temptation of Christ, Nighthawks, The Princess Bride, The Royal Tenenbaums, There Will Be Blood, Wall Street.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The Eclipse Awards are given for achievement in what sport? Horse racing. Eclipse was the 18th-century champ from whom almost 80% of today's thoroughbreads are descended. correct
2. What's the only mainland European capital located on the Atlantic--not a sea of the Atlantic, but the ocean proper? Lisbon, Portugal, at the mouth of the Tagus river. correct
3. What famous October 1960 incident was precipitated by a speech from a Filipino diplomat named Lorenzo Sumulong? Sumulong pissed off visiting Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev so much that Khrushchev removed his shoe and banged it on the U.N. delegate desk. correct
4. The piano theme that accompanies the current "WB" logo at the start of Warner Brothers films is based on what classic movie song? "As Time Goes By," from maybe the most iconic Warner Brothers movie of all time. doh! missed by that much
5. What product was manufactured by entrepreneurs like John Underwood, L. C. Smith, Thomas Oliver, and Camillo Olivetti? You may have seen all their names on typewriters (Smith founded Smith-Corona). If you remember what a typewriter is. correct
6. What multimillion-selling U.S. musical group is named for a central Chinese mountain range? Tien Shan-Na Na. No, just kidding. The Wu-Tang Clan is named for the Wudang range, long associated with martial arts. Wu-Tang Forever! correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these English words: "beam," "branch," "camp," "frank," "kindred," "noel," "rice," "rider," "staples," and "town"? These are all the middle names of well-known science fiction/fantasy authors (though you didn't have to mention the genre for full credit). Here's the full list: H. Beam Piper, James Branch Cabell, Madeline Camp L'Engle, L. Frank Baum, Philip Kindred Dick, Douglas Noel Adams, Edgar Rice Burroughs, H. Rider Haggard, Clive Staples Lewis, and Neal Town Stephenson. (One note on L'Engle: I got that name from Encarta, but I now see that other sources list Camp as her maiden name, not a given middle name. So that one's actually wrong, unless she used her maiden name as a middle name after she married.) good God, this is obscure
1. What TV show was originally titled Rampart, in reference to the 1990s LAPD scandal of the same name? In the Rampart scandal, cops tampered with evidence, planted evidence, stole drugs seized as evidence. What cop show does that sound like? Or lawyer show? Law and Order?
2. In September 1916, who became the first billionaire in American history? John D. Rockefeller
3. Despite its diminutive name, what is, by area, the largest state in Mexico? Baja is really two states - Baja Norte and Baja Sud. Is that what he is looking for?
4. What two colorful major league catchers were childhood friends on St. Louis's Elizabeth Avenue, a block now called "Hall of Fame Place"? I think that Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola are both from St. Louis.
5. What is made up of slow twitch and fast twitch fibers? muscles
6. In Greek myth, into what kind of animal did Zeus turn Lycaon, the first king of Arcadia?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Boys Don't Cry, The Last Emperor, The Last Temptation of Christ, Nighthawks, The Princess Bride, The Royal Tenenbaums, There Will Be Blood, Wall Street.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The Eclipse Awards are given for achievement in what sport? Horse racing. Eclipse was the 18th-century champ from whom almost 80% of today's thoroughbreads are descended. correct
2. What's the only mainland European capital located on the Atlantic--not a sea of the Atlantic, but the ocean proper? Lisbon, Portugal, at the mouth of the Tagus river. correct
3. What famous October 1960 incident was precipitated by a speech from a Filipino diplomat named Lorenzo Sumulong? Sumulong pissed off visiting Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev so much that Khrushchev removed his shoe and banged it on the U.N. delegate desk. correct
4. The piano theme that accompanies the current "WB" logo at the start of Warner Brothers films is based on what classic movie song? "As Time Goes By," from maybe the most iconic Warner Brothers movie of all time. doh! missed by that much
5. What product was manufactured by entrepreneurs like John Underwood, L. C. Smith, Thomas Oliver, and Camillo Olivetti? You may have seen all their names on typewriters (Smith founded Smith-Corona). If you remember what a typewriter is. correct
6. What multimillion-selling U.S. musical group is named for a central Chinese mountain range? Tien Shan-Na Na. No, just kidding. The Wu-Tang Clan is named for the Wudang range, long associated with martial arts. Wu-Tang Forever! correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these English words: "beam," "branch," "camp," "frank," "kindred," "noel," "rice," "rider," "staples," and "town"? These are all the middle names of well-known science fiction/fantasy authors (though you didn't have to mention the genre for full credit). Here's the full list: H. Beam Piper, James Branch Cabell, Madeline Camp L'Engle, L. Frank Baum, Philip Kindred Dick, Douglas Noel Adams, Edgar Rice Burroughs, H. Rider Haggard, Clive Staples Lewis, and Neal Town Stephenson. (One note on L'Engle: I got that name from Encarta, but I now see that other sources list Camp as her maiden name, not a given middle name. So that one's actually wrong, unless she used her maiden name as a middle name after she married.) good God, this is obscure
