Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - June 29
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What musical instrument is also called the "lepatata" in the Tswana and Sesotho languages? The vuvuzela. Is that a vuvuzela in your pants or are you just loud and annoying?
2. Bret Easton Ellis's first novel and its recent sequel are both named for works by what singer-songwriter? I don't know the recent sequel. But Bret Easton Ellis wrote Less Than Zero --> Elvis Costello
3. In what part of his body would you find a man's cervix? Is this a trick question? A woman's cervix is part of the body through which a baby is delivered.
4. What nation joined the "Group of Seven" in 1997 to form the G8? I think that is when they added Russia
5. Who was the only Olympian god in Greek mythology to have the same name as his Roman counterpart? No idea. But at least I know it was a male god. That narrows it down. The Jeopardy guys at the pub quiz would probably know this but I don't. I was surfing cable tv recently and saw a rerun of the original Star Trek. A total guess based on that episode - Adonis.
6. What legendary American entertainer merged his business with that of rival James Bailey in 1881? Phineas Taylor Barnum
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these legendary writers? Maxwell Anderson, Raymond Chandler, Ed McBain, Dorothy Parker, Robert Sherwood, John Steinbeck, Thornton Wilder. KJ does like his superlatives. Raymond Chandler legendary? A fine writer, but he was no Bryce Dallas Howard. Thanks to wikipedia, I see one thread - penning screenplays for Hitchcock. Anderson - The Wrong Man. Chandler - Strangers On A Train. McBain - The Birds. Parker - Saboteur. Sherwood - Rebecca. Steinbeck - Lifeboat. Wilder - Shadow Of A Doubt.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The early edition of a newspaper is nicknamed for what breed of dog? It's the "bulldog edition," though no one's really sure why. One theory is that the nickname suggests the fierce competition between publishers of morning newspapers. professional argot. really needed a clue to help guess.
2. Of the 32 teams in this year's World Cup, what's the only one that's not also a member of the United Nations? I admit that this was a bit of a trick question. No, it's not North Korea; both Koreas have been U.N. members since 1991. The only non-U.N. side in the World Cup is the only non-independent nation represented: England. as discussed in the comments, this question should have been more precisely worded.
3. Henry Winkler is the godfather of what Hollywood leading lady? Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of his Happy Days co-star Ron Howard. Aaaayyyy! leading lady? Sandra Bullock is a leading lady. Angelina Jolie is a leading lady. Bryce Dallas Howard is maybe Double A, not major league.
4. What river is navigated by the seven boats known as "Maid of the Mist"? Those are the tourist boats that approach the namesake falls of the Niagara River. correct
5. What kind of animal--the only cephalapod with an external shell--lent its name to the principal setting of a classic French novel of 1869? The nautilus, whose chambered airtight innards suggested to Jules Verne the name of Captain Nemo's submarine. correct
6. Kaiser Wilhelm, the German emperor during the First World War, was the first grandchild of what famous woman? He was Queen Victoria's oldest grandchild, making the demonization of "Kaiser Bill" in Britain during the war a little ironic. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. states, listed in this order? Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois. These are the home states of the nine winners of American Idol. Too hard? Maybe so. Not too hard for Kmac.
1. What musical instrument is also called the "lepatata" in the Tswana and Sesotho languages? The vuvuzela. Is that a vuvuzela in your pants or are you just loud and annoying?
2. Bret Easton Ellis's first novel and its recent sequel are both named for works by what singer-songwriter? I don't know the recent sequel. But Bret Easton Ellis wrote Less Than Zero --> Elvis Costello
3. In what part of his body would you find a man's cervix? Is this a trick question? A woman's cervix is part of the body through which a baby is delivered.
4. What nation joined the "Group of Seven" in 1997 to form the G8? I think that is when they added Russia
5. Who was the only Olympian god in Greek mythology to have the same name as his Roman counterpart? No idea. But at least I know it was a male god. That narrows it down. The Jeopardy guys at the pub quiz would probably know this but I don't. I was surfing cable tv recently and saw a rerun of the original Star Trek. A total guess based on that episode - Adonis.
6. What legendary American entertainer merged his business with that of rival James Bailey in 1881? Phineas Taylor Barnum
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these legendary writers? Maxwell Anderson, Raymond Chandler, Ed McBain, Dorothy Parker, Robert Sherwood, John Steinbeck, Thornton Wilder. KJ does like his superlatives. Raymond Chandler legendary? A fine writer, but he was no Bryce Dallas Howard. Thanks to wikipedia, I see one thread - penning screenplays for Hitchcock. Anderson - The Wrong Man. Chandler - Strangers On A Train. McBain - The Birds. Parker - Saboteur. Sherwood - Rebecca. Steinbeck - Lifeboat. Wilder - Shadow Of A Doubt.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The early edition of a newspaper is nicknamed for what breed of dog? It's the "bulldog edition," though no one's really sure why. One theory is that the nickname suggests the fierce competition between publishers of morning newspapers. professional argot. really needed a clue to help guess.
2. Of the 32 teams in this year's World Cup, what's the only one that's not also a member of the United Nations? I admit that this was a bit of a trick question. No, it's not North Korea; both Koreas have been U.N. members since 1991. The only non-U.N. side in the World Cup is the only non-independent nation represented: England. as discussed in the comments, this question should have been more precisely worded.
3. Henry Winkler is the godfather of what Hollywood leading lady? Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of his Happy Days co-star Ron Howard. Aaaayyyy! leading lady? Sandra Bullock is a leading lady. Angelina Jolie is a leading lady. Bryce Dallas Howard is maybe Double A, not major league.
4. What river is navigated by the seven boats known as "Maid of the Mist"? Those are the tourist boats that approach the namesake falls of the Niagara River. correct
5. What kind of animal--the only cephalapod with an external shell--lent its name to the principal setting of a classic French novel of 1869? The nautilus, whose chambered airtight innards suggested to Jules Verne the name of Captain Nemo's submarine. correct
6. Kaiser Wilhelm, the German emperor during the First World War, was the first grandchild of what famous woman? He was Queen Victoria's oldest grandchild, making the demonization of "Kaiser Bill" in Britain during the war a little ironic. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. states, listed in this order? Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois. These are the home states of the nine winners of American Idol. Too hard? Maybe so. Not too hard for Kmac.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - June 22
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The early edition of a newspaper is nicknamed for what breed of dog? this sounds like real trivia. Probably a one word dog breed, not German shepherd or cocker spaniel. How about a beagle.
2. Of the 32 teams in this year's World Cup, what's the only one that's not also a member of the United Nations? North Korea, dear leader
3. Henry Winkler is the godfather of what Hollywood leading lady? Erin Moran? But I would not characterize her as one of Hollywood's leading ladies. Maybe he was friends with John Voight and became Angelina Jolie's godfather.
4. What river is navigated by the seven boats known as "Maid of the Mist?? Niagara River
5. What kind of animal--the only cephalapod with an external shell--lent its name to the principal setting of a classic French novel of 1869? cephalapods are mollusks like octopi and squids. French novelists --> Zola, Hugo, Jules Verne! Nautilus (a cephalapod?) --> 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
6. Kaiser Wilhelm, the German emperor during the First World War, was the first grandchild of what famous woman? Seems to me that I have heard this before. Queen Victoria
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. states, listed in this order? Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois. Did KJ mess this up? Alabama is listed twice. Is one supposed to be Arkansas? Is this a sports question? Or a river/miles of shoreline question?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. According to the Social Security Administration, what first name set a record in 2008 by jumping from the #12,535th most popular baby name all the way up to #2,409? "Barack" made the biggest jump in Social Security history. (It's taking all I can do not to make some "white names can't jump" joke here...) correct
2. Who did Carl Denham bring back from Skull Island? King Kong. Spoilers: he was happier on Skull Island. correct
3. What Austrian physicist proposed his namesake "effect" in his 1842 treatise "On the Colored Lights of the Binary Stars and Some Other Stars of the Heavens"? That was Christian Doppler--the Doppler effect or shift occurs when motion changes the frequency of a light or sound wave, as with the colors of starlight or (more likely) as the sound of ambulance siren approaches your apartment. correct
4. The chemical symbols for bromine and barium appear prominently in the logo of what TV series? So it's got to have "Br" and "Ba" in it, and it has to be aabout chemistry...got it! The Brady Banch! No wait. It's Breaking Bad. correct
5. Outside of the U.K., what's the world's largest island where English is the official language? Okay, this question got horribly misphrased somewhere along the line, so we disallowed it. No matter what you wrote ("Staten Island," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "38") you got credit. I think the correct answer is technically Canada's Baffin Island as phrased here, but--just to show you how badly I garbled the phrasing, the intended answer was actually Jamaica! correct enough
6. What's the more common name for the historical event that the Lakota called "the Battle of Greasy Grass Creek"? The Battle of Little Big Horn, aka "Custer's Last Stand." How did he stand at all, what with all that greasy grass around? correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these pop acts? All-4-One, Cascada, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Pet Shop Boys, Helen Reddy, Social Distortion. All scored big hits with covers of country songs. I actually like the Pet Shop Boys version of "Always on My Mind" as much as I like the Willie Nelson one which, yes, makes me a total philistine. Wait a minute. Me And Bobby McGee is not a country song. Ray Price? Country. Kris Kristofferson? Not country.
1. The early edition of a newspaper is nicknamed for what breed of dog? this sounds like real trivia. Probably a one word dog breed, not German shepherd or cocker spaniel. How about a beagle.
2. Of the 32 teams in this year's World Cup, what's the only one that's not also a member of the United Nations? North Korea, dear leader
3. Henry Winkler is the godfather of what Hollywood leading lady? Erin Moran? But I would not characterize her as one of Hollywood's leading ladies. Maybe he was friends with John Voight and became Angelina Jolie's godfather.
4. What river is navigated by the seven boats known as "Maid of the Mist?? Niagara River
5. What kind of animal--the only cephalapod with an external shell--lent its name to the principal setting of a classic French novel of 1869? cephalapods are mollusks like octopi and squids. French novelists --> Zola, Hugo, Jules Verne! Nautilus (a cephalapod?) --> 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
6. Kaiser Wilhelm, the German emperor during the First World War, was the first grandchild of what famous woman? Seems to me that I have heard this before. Queen Victoria
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. states, listed in this order? Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois. Did KJ mess this up? Alabama is listed twice. Is one supposed to be Arkansas? Is this a sports question? Or a river/miles of shoreline question?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. According to the Social Security Administration, what first name set a record in 2008 by jumping from the #12,535th most popular baby name all the way up to #2,409? "Barack" made the biggest jump in Social Security history. (It's taking all I can do not to make some "white names can't jump" joke here...) correct
2. Who did Carl Denham bring back from Skull Island? King Kong. Spoilers: he was happier on Skull Island. correct
3. What Austrian physicist proposed his namesake "effect" in his 1842 treatise "On the Colored Lights of the Binary Stars and Some Other Stars of the Heavens"? That was Christian Doppler--the Doppler effect or shift occurs when motion changes the frequency of a light or sound wave, as with the colors of starlight or (more likely) as the sound of ambulance siren approaches your apartment. correct
4. The chemical symbols for bromine and barium appear prominently in the logo of what TV series? So it's got to have "Br" and "Ba" in it, and it has to be aabout chemistry...got it! The Brady Banch! No wait. It's Breaking Bad. correct
5. Outside of the U.K., what's the world's largest island where English is the official language? Okay, this question got horribly misphrased somewhere along the line, so we disallowed it. No matter what you wrote ("Staten Island," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "38") you got credit. I think the correct answer is technically Canada's Baffin Island as phrased here, but--just to show you how badly I garbled the phrasing, the intended answer was actually Jamaica! correct enough
6. What's the more common name for the historical event that the Lakota called "the Battle of Greasy Grass Creek"? The Battle of Little Big Horn, aka "Custer's Last Stand." How did he stand at all, what with all that greasy grass around? correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these pop acts? All-4-One, Cascada, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Pet Shop Boys, Helen Reddy, Social Distortion. All scored big hits with covers of country songs. I actually like the Pet Shop Boys version of "Always on My Mind" as much as I like the Willie Nelson one which, yes, makes me a total philistine. Wait a minute. Me And Bobby McGee is not a country song. Ray Price? Country. Kris Kristofferson? Not country.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - June 15
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. According to the Social Security Administration, what first name set a record in 2008 by jumping from the #12,535th most popular baby name all the way up to #2,409? I wish we had a clue as to whether it was male or female name. It could be Sasha or Malia. But I will guess Barack.
2. Who did Carl Denham bring back from Skull Island? King Kong
3. What Austrian physicist proposed his namesake "effect" in his 1842 treatise "On the Colored Lights of the Binary Stars and Some Other Stars of the Heavens"? A guess - Doppler
4. The chemical symbols for bromine and barium appear prominently in the logo of what TV series? Breaking Bad. My current favorite show.
5. Outside of the U.K., what's the world's largest island where English is the official language? is Australia disqualified because continents are not islands? I'll guess the South Island of New Zealand.
6. What's the more common name for the historical event that the Lakota called "the Battle of Greasy Grass Creek"? Little Big Horn
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these pop acts? All-4-One, Cascada, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Pet Shop Boys, Helen Reddy, Social Distortion.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What are the only two land-locked provinces or territories of Canada? Alberta and Saskatchewan don't touch the ocean--or, indeed, even the Great Lakes. They do border Montana, and that's about as exciting as it gets for them. 1/2 correct. For some reason, I thought that Manitoba was just east of Alberta.
2. Complete this analogy about TV "mythology." Polar bear : Lost :: kangaroo : _________. A cryptic kangaroo hopped around on ABC's FlashForward. Okay, you got me, I wrote this question months ago and definitely should have run it before the show in question got cancelled. Trivia's like milk: use it now or it goes bad! This question does have an odor.
3. What's the more common name for M31, the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way? That's the Andromeda Galaxy, because all the best galaxies are named after Clash of the Titans characters. correct
4. According to the 1958 rock and roll classic, how many chapters are there in "The Book of Love"? Only four are mentioned: in Chapter Four, you break up but you give her just one more chance. That's not much of an ending, Book of Love. that's not much of a question, KJ.
5. If Elena Kagan is confirmed to the Supreme Court, it will mean that all nine justices went to law school at one of what two universities? If you didn't go to Harvard or Yale, the odds of you getting on the Supreme Court seem to be about the same as your odds of singing with the Supremees. 1/2 correct. I thought that Harvard and Yale was too obvious.
6. What 2010 movie sequel used the tagline "Carrie On" on its movie posters? Sex and the City 2, because "Samantha On" sounded stupid. So did "The Appallingly Rancid and Out-of-Touch Film of the Summer!" correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these nations and no others? Argentina twice, Bangladesh, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, and Sri Lanka. These are the nations that have been led by both halves of a married couple: a president/prime minister and later his wife, or vice versa. It's happened twice in Argentina's history: Juan and Isabel Peron, and then Nestor and (current president) Cristina Kirchner.
1. According to the Social Security Administration, what first name set a record in 2008 by jumping from the #12,535th most popular baby name all the way up to #2,409? I wish we had a clue as to whether it was male or female name. It could be Sasha or Malia. But I will guess Barack.
2. Who did Carl Denham bring back from Skull Island? King Kong
3. What Austrian physicist proposed his namesake "effect" in his 1842 treatise "On the Colored Lights of the Binary Stars and Some Other Stars of the Heavens"? A guess - Doppler
4. The chemical symbols for bromine and barium appear prominently in the logo of what TV series? Breaking Bad. My current favorite show.
5. Outside of the U.K., what's the world's largest island where English is the official language? is Australia disqualified because continents are not islands? I'll guess the South Island of New Zealand.
6. What's the more common name for the historical event that the Lakota called "the Battle of Greasy Grass Creek"? Little Big Horn
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these pop acts? All-4-One, Cascada, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Pet Shop Boys, Helen Reddy, Social Distortion.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What are the only two land-locked provinces or territories of Canada? Alberta and Saskatchewan don't touch the ocean--or, indeed, even the Great Lakes. They do border Montana, and that's about as exciting as it gets for them. 1/2 correct. For some reason, I thought that Manitoba was just east of Alberta.
2. Complete this analogy about TV "mythology." Polar bear : Lost :: kangaroo : _________. A cryptic kangaroo hopped around on ABC's FlashForward. Okay, you got me, I wrote this question months ago and definitely should have run it before the show in question got cancelled. Trivia's like milk: use it now or it goes bad! This question does have an odor.
3. What's the more common name for M31, the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way? That's the Andromeda Galaxy, because all the best galaxies are named after Clash of the Titans characters. correct
4. According to the 1958 rock and roll classic, how many chapters are there in "The Book of Love"? Only four are mentioned: in Chapter Four, you break up but you give her just one more chance. That's not much of an ending, Book of Love. that's not much of a question, KJ.
5. If Elena Kagan is confirmed to the Supreme Court, it will mean that all nine justices went to law school at one of what two universities? If you didn't go to Harvard or Yale, the odds of you getting on the Supreme Court seem to be about the same as your odds of singing with the Supremees. 1/2 correct. I thought that Harvard and Yale was too obvious.
6. What 2010 movie sequel used the tagline "Carrie On" on its movie posters? Sex and the City 2, because "Samantha On" sounded stupid. So did "The Appallingly Rancid and Out-of-Touch Film of the Summer!" correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these nations and no others? Argentina twice, Bangladesh, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, and Sri Lanka. These are the nations that have been led by both halves of a married couple: a president/prime minister and later his wife, or vice versa. It's happened twice in Argentina's history: Juan and Isabel Peron, and then Nestor and (current president) Cristina Kirchner.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - June 8
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What are the only two land-locked provinces or territories of Canada? by landlocked, I guess that means no access to Hudson Bay, Arctic Sea, Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. Or the St. Lawrence River. Without looking at a map, I think it is two of the western provinces, Alberta and Manitoba.
2. Complete this analogy about TV "mythology." Polar bear : Lost :: kangaroo : _________. Is this a show for which mythology is an important component - Alias, Heroes, Fringe, X-Files? Have I heard some references to kangaroos and How I Met Your Mother? I have never watched any of these shows to know for sure.
3. What's the more common name for M31, the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way? Andromeda and the Crab Nebula are about the only named galaxies I can think of. I'll guess Andromeda.
4. According to the 1958 rock and roll classic, how many chapters are there in "The Book of Love"? Another question asking for specific lyrics from long ago songs that I have not heard in many years. I would rather ponder the question, "Who wrote the Book of Love?" I'll guess that there are 9 chapters in the books of love.
5. If Elena Kagan is confirmed to the Supreme Court, it will mean that all nine justices went to law school at one of what two universities? Harvard and Columbia
6. What 2010 movie sequel used the tagline "Carrie On" on its movie posters? Sex and the City 2
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these nations and no others? Argentina twice, Bangladesh, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, and Sri Lanka. I wonder if this is something that the countries have done on a national basis. Changed the flag. Changed from right hand driving to left hand driving. Something like that.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What long-running show is currently being broadcast from the Ryman Auditorium, after recent flooding damaged its longtime home? Lots of country music fans are probably "underwater" in their houses lately, but the stars of the Grand Ole Opry are *literally* underwater in theirs, due to the recent flooding in Nashville. correct. It is very sad to hear the stories of musicians (some of whom I am big fans of) who have lost instruments in the flooding.
2. What town in southwest France is, appropriately enough, home to a museum dedicated to birth control devices? I bet the town of Condom, France is getting pretty tired of all the sign thefts. srsly!
3. What iconic newspaperman is pictured on the Pulitzer Prize medal? Benjamin Franklin's profile is on one side; a strapping young semi-nude printer is on the other. Rrrawrr. Tricky. I might have asked "what early US newspaperman is pictured . . . " Ben Franklin is iconic for much more than being a newspaperman.
4. In what two Best Picture Oscar-winning films does a young boy wind up in the filth under an outhouse? Schindler's List and Slumdog Millionaire. In one case, the kid is hiding out from Nazis; in the other, he wants to meet a Bollywood star. I can't remember which is which though. 1/2 credit
5. Which Winter Olympics sport is the only Olympic discipline in which only men can compete? Ah, the notorious glass ceiling of ski jumping. correct
6. What nation almost lost its only access to the Atlantic Ocean during the Beagle Channel dispute of the 1970s? Argentina threatened Chile's Atlantic access in the Beagle conflict--the strait is named for Charles Darwin's ship, which passed twice through the channel during its surveys of Tierra del Fuego. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these animals? Beetles, chameleons, jackals, kangaroos, lizards, octopi, pumas, rhinoceroses, scorpions, vultures. These must indeed must be the most fearsome of animals, because Spider-man has enemies named after each! Well, I guess "the Beetle" doesn't sound so fearsome. I'm pretty sure you don't need radioactive powers to kill a beetle. I await the Spiderman enemy called La Cucaracha. As we know, not even radioactive powers may be enough to eradicate a cockroach. Great get, Kmac.
1. What are the only two land-locked provinces or territories of Canada? by landlocked, I guess that means no access to Hudson Bay, Arctic Sea, Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. Or the St. Lawrence River. Without looking at a map, I think it is two of the western provinces, Alberta and Manitoba.
2. Complete this analogy about TV "mythology." Polar bear : Lost :: kangaroo : _________. Is this a show for which mythology is an important component - Alias, Heroes, Fringe, X-Files? Have I heard some references to kangaroos and How I Met Your Mother? I have never watched any of these shows to know for sure.
3. What's the more common name for M31, the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way? Andromeda and the Crab Nebula are about the only named galaxies I can think of. I'll guess Andromeda.
4. According to the 1958 rock and roll classic, how many chapters are there in "The Book of Love"? Another question asking for specific lyrics from long ago songs that I have not heard in many years. I would rather ponder the question, "Who wrote the Book of Love?" I'll guess that there are 9 chapters in the books of love.
5. If Elena Kagan is confirmed to the Supreme Court, it will mean that all nine justices went to law school at one of what two universities? Harvard and Columbia
6. What 2010 movie sequel used the tagline "Carrie On" on its movie posters? Sex and the City 2
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these nations and no others? Argentina twice, Bangladesh, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, and Sri Lanka. I wonder if this is something that the countries have done on a national basis. Changed the flag. Changed from right hand driving to left hand driving. Something like that.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What long-running show is currently being broadcast from the Ryman Auditorium, after recent flooding damaged its longtime home? Lots of country music fans are probably "underwater" in their houses lately, but the stars of the Grand Ole Opry are *literally* underwater in theirs, due to the recent flooding in Nashville. correct. It is very sad to hear the stories of musicians (some of whom I am big fans of) who have lost instruments in the flooding.
2. What town in southwest France is, appropriately enough, home to a museum dedicated to birth control devices? I bet the town of Condom, France is getting pretty tired of all the sign thefts. srsly!
3. What iconic newspaperman is pictured on the Pulitzer Prize medal? Benjamin Franklin's profile is on one side; a strapping young semi-nude printer is on the other. Rrrawrr. Tricky. I might have asked "what early US newspaperman is pictured . . . " Ben Franklin is iconic for much more than being a newspaperman.
4. In what two Best Picture Oscar-winning films does a young boy wind up in the filth under an outhouse? Schindler's List and Slumdog Millionaire. In one case, the kid is hiding out from Nazis; in the other, he wants to meet a Bollywood star. I can't remember which is which though. 1/2 credit
5. Which Winter Olympics sport is the only Olympic discipline in which only men can compete? Ah, the notorious glass ceiling of ski jumping. correct
6. What nation almost lost its only access to the Atlantic Ocean during the Beagle Channel dispute of the 1970s? Argentina threatened Chile's Atlantic access in the Beagle conflict--the strait is named for Charles Darwin's ship, which passed twice through the channel during its surveys of Tierra del Fuego. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these animals? Beetles, chameleons, jackals, kangaroos, lizards, octopi, pumas, rhinoceroses, scorpions, vultures. These must indeed must be the most fearsome of animals, because Spider-man has enemies named after each! Well, I guess "the Beetle" doesn't sound so fearsome. I'm pretty sure you don't need radioactive powers to kill a beetle. I await the Spiderman enemy called La Cucaracha. As we know, not even radioactive powers may be enough to eradicate a cockroach. Great get, Kmac.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - June 1
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What long-running show is currently being broadcast from the Ryman Auditorium, after recent flooding damaged its famous home? The Grand Ole Opry
2. What town in southwest France is, appropriately enough, home to a museum dedicated to birth control devices? Is there a French town whose initials are IUD? Might be Lourdes because of its association with the Virgin Mary. If so, I am not sure that I like the clue very well. To my understanding the immaculate conception did not involve birth control devices.
3. What iconic newspaperman is pictured on the Pulitzer Prize medal? Um. Wouldn't it be Joseph Pulitzer? I don't think it is William Randolph Hearst or Otis Chandler or Rupert Murdoch.
4. In what two Best Picture Oscar-winning films does a young boy wind up in the filth under an outhouse? Slumdog Millionaire - for sure. I have not seen several of the other recent winners - Hurt Locker or The Departed or Million Dollar Baby. Maybe Oliver? Gandhi?
5. Which Winter Olympics sport is the only Olympic discipline in which only men can compete? ski jumping. This is very controversial. On some hills, women in their competitions have jumped further than the men in theirs.
6. What nation almost lost its only access to the Atlantic Ocean during the Beagle Channel dispute of the 1970s? HMS Beagle --> Darwin. Makes me think of a South American country. Chile
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these animals? Beetles, chameleons, jackals, kangaroos, lizards, octopi, pumas, rhinoceroses, scorpions, vultures.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Which two 2008 U.S. presidential hopefuls each had a great-grandfather with five wives? Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. If there's one thing Utah has in common with East Africa--besides the lack of decent sushi--it's a history of polygamy. correct
2. "Demerara" is the name for one brown type of what common substance? Demerara, named for the Guyana colony that first produced it, is a kind of sugar. correct
3. What country's name and flag appear prominently on the Space Shuttle's mechanical arm? A big maple leaf appears on the "Canadarm," Canada's most prominent contribution to the U.S. space program (apart from the lifetime supply of maply syrup they awarded Neil Armstrong). A good guess
4. What Baseball Hall of Famer wrote the autobiography "Say Hey"? Willie Mays was, of course, the "Say Hey Kid." correct
5. In 1958 and 1978, respectively, what father-son duo won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series? Carl Reiner won the 1958 one for letting Sid Caesar yell at him, and Rob Reiner won the 1978 one for letting Archie Bunker yell at him. correct
6. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands contain the southernmost point of what country? The Andaman Sea is southeast of India, whose southernmost point is Indira Point in the Nicobar Islands, named for former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. Indira Point - that would have helped a lot.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? City Lights, Eraserhead, Flags of Our Fathers, Halloween, House of 1000 Corpses, Leaving Las Vegas, The Others, Spy Kids. They all had soundtracks by Rob Zombie. Wait, that's not right. They all had soundtracks composed by the director--in one case, Rob Zombie, but Clint Eastwood, Charlie Chaplin, John Carpenter, Mike Figgis, David Lynch, et. al. also dabble in music.
1. What long-running show is currently being broadcast from the Ryman Auditorium, after recent flooding damaged its famous home? The Grand Ole Opry
2. What town in southwest France is, appropriately enough, home to a museum dedicated to birth control devices? Is there a French town whose initials are IUD? Might be Lourdes because of its association with the Virgin Mary. If so, I am not sure that I like the clue very well. To my understanding the immaculate conception did not involve birth control devices.
3. What iconic newspaperman is pictured on the Pulitzer Prize medal? Um. Wouldn't it be Joseph Pulitzer? I don't think it is William Randolph Hearst or Otis Chandler or Rupert Murdoch.
4. In what two Best Picture Oscar-winning films does a young boy wind up in the filth under an outhouse? Slumdog Millionaire - for sure. I have not seen several of the other recent winners - Hurt Locker or The Departed or Million Dollar Baby. Maybe Oliver? Gandhi?
5. Which Winter Olympics sport is the only Olympic discipline in which only men can compete? ski jumping. This is very controversial. On some hills, women in their competitions have jumped further than the men in theirs.
6. What nation almost lost its only access to the Atlantic Ocean during the Beagle Channel dispute of the 1970s? HMS Beagle --> Darwin. Makes me think of a South American country. Chile
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these animals? Beetles, chameleons, jackals, kangaroos, lizards, octopi, pumas, rhinoceroses, scorpions, vultures.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Which two 2008 U.S. presidential hopefuls each had a great-grandfather with five wives? Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. If there's one thing Utah has in common with East Africa--besides the lack of decent sushi--it's a history of polygamy. correct
2. "Demerara" is the name for one brown type of what common substance? Demerara, named for the Guyana colony that first produced it, is a kind of sugar. correct
3. What country's name and flag appear prominently on the Space Shuttle's mechanical arm? A big maple leaf appears on the "Canadarm," Canada's most prominent contribution to the U.S. space program (apart from the lifetime supply of maply syrup they awarded Neil Armstrong). A good guess
4. What Baseball Hall of Famer wrote the autobiography "Say Hey"? Willie Mays was, of course, the "Say Hey Kid." correct
5. In 1958 and 1978, respectively, what father-son duo won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series? Carl Reiner won the 1958 one for letting Sid Caesar yell at him, and Rob Reiner won the 1978 one for letting Archie Bunker yell at him. correct
6. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands contain the southernmost point of what country? The Andaman Sea is southeast of India, whose southernmost point is Indira Point in the Nicobar Islands, named for former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. Indira Point - that would have helped a lot.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? City Lights, Eraserhead, Flags of Our Fathers, Halloween, House of 1000 Corpses, Leaving Las Vegas, The Others, Spy Kids. They all had soundtracks by Rob Zombie. Wait, that's not right. They all had soundtracks composed by the director--in one case, Rob Zombie, but Clint Eastwood, Charlie Chaplin, John Carpenter, Mike Figgis, David Lynch, et. al. also dabble in music.
