Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - August 25
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Who might wear an alb, a surplice, and/or a chasuble? I don't know what a surplice or chasuble are, but cruciverbalists know that an alb is "priestly wear."
2. What was the first word in the titles of both the show that gave CBS its highest rated sitcom broadcast of 2005 AND the show that gave UPN its highest-rated sitcom broadcast of 2005? UPN had/has sitcoms? Who knew! I can't think of a UPN show that begins with Two (for the show with Charlie Sheen) so I'll say "Everyone." Everyone Loves Raymond and Everyone Hates Chris.
3. What historical practice took place along the so-called "Middle Passage"? isn't this the term for the slave ships that went from Africa to the US
4. The famous "gum trees" of Australia are actually what genus of tree? famous? what makes them famous? Have they ever starred in their own tv show? Had a #1 hit? KJ uses this type of adjective often to make the answers seem more mainstream, but often they are not. Is chicle a genus? But the question says gum trees of Australia. In Australia, I think of eucalyptus trees, banyon trees.
5. What hit musical is named after a product whose brand name, in the show, is "Ultra Clutch"? Brand name. Hmm. Could this be the show that is playing in LA now - Spamalot.
6. What country's largest islands are found in its Galapagos and Guayaquil provinces? Ecuador
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these musical acts, listed in this order? King Crimson, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Gang of Four, R.E.M., Joni Mitchell, Matt Bianco, Stone Temple Pilots. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Purple. Each recorded the album with a title corresponding to its place in the order given. This came easily after seeing that STP had an album called Purple. I already knew Blue and Green.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. "Jibbitz" fit into the holes in what once-faddish fashion item? Jibbitz are the holes in the toes of "Crocs," those once-ubiquitous foam clogs that no one over nine years old really wears anymore. correct
2. Who is the only woman on The Sporting News' recent list of the fifty greatest coaches in sports history? Pat Summitt of the Tennessee Lady Vols, who has more wins than any other coach in collegiate basketball history, man, woman, or other. correct
3. What actor played the husband of a woman named "Lisa" on his last three TV series: Sports Night, Six Feet Under, and Dirty Sexy Money? Peter Krause (that's KROW-zuh, not one syllable like the character on Benson), who in real life has never been married, to a Lisa or non-Lisa. correct
4. What's the most conductive metal, though copper is more commonly used in wiring for economic reasons? Silver conducts 8% better than copper, but also costs five times as much, which tends to discourage electricians. Not gold, not platinum. Nice job, Pamela
5. What iconic structure was renamed the "Willis Tower" on July 16, 2009? America's tallest skyscraper, the once-mighty Sears Tower, is now named for the Willis Group, the UK insurance broker now based there. Whatchu talkin' about, Willis Group? Isn't this why we fought the Revolutionary War? correct
6. "Reflections: The Definitive Performances 1964-1969" is a greatest hits DVD of what musical group? The DVD was named for "Reflections", a #2 single for Diana Ross and the Supremes. wrong Motown group
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these films? A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Full Metal Jacket, Jesus of Nazareth, Meet Dave, Nosferatu, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, The Silence of the Lambs, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? All feature a performance by an actor who never blinks--or at least tries his damnedest not to. Whether it's a vampire, a robot, a serial killer, or the Son of God, nothing makes for a riveting performance like an actor who refuses to blink! See also: Steve Forbes' 1996 presidential campaign. I don't understand this answer. Robot, ok. But vampires? Why don't they blink? Why doesn't Jesus blink? Don't Clarice and Hannibal blink?
1. Who might wear an alb, a surplice, and/or a chasuble? I don't know what a surplice or chasuble are, but cruciverbalists know that an alb is "priestly wear."
2. What was the first word in the titles of both the show that gave CBS its highest rated sitcom broadcast of 2005 AND the show that gave UPN its highest-rated sitcom broadcast of 2005? UPN had/has sitcoms? Who knew! I can't think of a UPN show that begins with Two (for the show with Charlie Sheen) so I'll say "Everyone." Everyone Loves Raymond and Everyone Hates Chris.
3. What historical practice took place along the so-called "Middle Passage"? isn't this the term for the slave ships that went from Africa to the US
4. The famous "gum trees" of Australia are actually what genus of tree? famous? what makes them famous? Have they ever starred in their own tv show? Had a #1 hit? KJ uses this type of adjective often to make the answers seem more mainstream, but often they are not. Is chicle a genus? But the question says gum trees of Australia. In Australia, I think of eucalyptus trees, banyon trees.
5. What hit musical is named after a product whose brand name, in the show, is "Ultra Clutch"? Brand name. Hmm. Could this be the show that is playing in LA now - Spamalot.
6. What country's largest islands are found in its Galapagos and Guayaquil provinces? Ecuador
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these musical acts, listed in this order? King Crimson, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Gang of Four, R.E.M., Joni Mitchell, Matt Bianco, Stone Temple Pilots. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Purple. Each recorded the album with a title corresponding to its place in the order given. This came easily after seeing that STP had an album called Purple. I already knew Blue and Green.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. "Jibbitz" fit into the holes in what once-faddish fashion item? Jibbitz are the holes in the toes of "Crocs," those once-ubiquitous foam clogs that no one over nine years old really wears anymore. correct
2. Who is the only woman on The Sporting News' recent list of the fifty greatest coaches in sports history? Pat Summitt of the Tennessee Lady Vols, who has more wins than any other coach in collegiate basketball history, man, woman, or other. correct
3. What actor played the husband of a woman named "Lisa" on his last three TV series: Sports Night, Six Feet Under, and Dirty Sexy Money? Peter Krause (that's KROW-zuh, not one syllable like the character on Benson), who in real life has never been married, to a Lisa or non-Lisa. correct
4. What's the most conductive metal, though copper is more commonly used in wiring for economic reasons? Silver conducts 8% better than copper, but also costs five times as much, which tends to discourage electricians. Not gold, not platinum. Nice job, Pamela
5. What iconic structure was renamed the "Willis Tower" on July 16, 2009? America's tallest skyscraper, the once-mighty Sears Tower, is now named for the Willis Group, the UK insurance broker now based there. Whatchu talkin' about, Willis Group? Isn't this why we fought the Revolutionary War? correct
6. "Reflections: The Definitive Performances 1964-1969" is a greatest hits DVD of what musical group? The DVD was named for "Reflections", a #2 single for Diana Ross and the Supremes. wrong Motown group
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these films? A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Full Metal Jacket, Jesus of Nazareth, Meet Dave, Nosferatu, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, The Silence of the Lambs, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? All feature a performance by an actor who never blinks--or at least tries his damnedest not to. Whether it's a vampire, a robot, a serial killer, or the Son of God, nothing makes for a riveting performance like an actor who refuses to blink! See also: Steve Forbes' 1996 presidential campaign. I don't understand this answer. Robot, ok. But vampires? Why don't they blink? Why doesn't Jesus blink? Don't Clarice and Hannibal blink?
