Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - August 25
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Who became a star in 2009 despite eventually finishing in second place to a London dance troupe called "Diversity"? must be Susan Boyle. I don't think she won British Idol or Britain's Got Talent or whatever show she was on.
2. This summer, who wanted--and got--Mario Chalmers' number 6? Mario Chalmers is an NBA player. Who changed teams and would want a new number? Lebron
3. Julia Gillard is what nation's first female Prime Minister? Australia
4. What inventor became rich in the 1800s making muskets with interchangeable parts, after almost going broke defending patents to his more famous invention? Remington?
5. Who celebrated her 100th birthday last month at a party hosted by James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis? Gloria Stuart. As we learned at the Oscar quiz, she is not even the oldest living Oscar winner. Luise Rainer is a few months older.
6. Belarus and Lesotho are, respectively, the world's northernmost and southernmost countries that are what? landlocked
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these letters of the alphabet, and no others? D, G, L, P, R, S, X, and sort of U? "sort of U" Is that a clue?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What peninsula lent its name to a English verb meaning "to break up a region into smaller units"? There are five or six more countries in the Balkans today than there were twenty years ago, which is appropriate, given the meaning of "balkanization." correct
2. Who served as king for thirteen years between Philip II and Philip III of Macedon? Alexander the Great was the father and son of these Philips. We also accepted "Colin Farrell." correct
3. In its 35th and latest season, what TV show earned its 126th Emmy nomination, surpassing E.R. for the all-time record? Saturday Night Live is the new all-time champ. Don Pardo, tell them what they've won! SNL. Man, how did I miss this.
4. What interest is signaled by someone displaying the popular bumper sticker reading simply "26.2" on their car? That's the length of a marathon. Presumably these drivers only use their cars for distances 27 miles and up. correct
5. Tiny Monroeville, Alabama will receive over 30,000 tourists this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of what novel? Monroeville, Alabama was the basis for Harper Lee's fictional "Maycomb" in To Kill a Mockingbird. correct
6. What kind of male animal is called a "blackback" until it's roughly eleven years old? You're a "blackback" until you turn into a "silverback." These are gorillas. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these American cities and, as far as I can tell, no others? Hollywood, Kansas City, L.A., Miami Beach, Tucson. There are, according to my research, the only U.S. cities mentioned in Beatles songs. (Respectively: "Honey Pie," "Kansas City," "Blue Jay Way," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," and "Get Back.") Did I miss any? Rain, South Carolina and Blackbird, Oregon don't count. I thought this might be book or song titles. But I never connected it to Beatles songs.
1. Who became a star in 2009 despite eventually finishing in second place to a London dance troupe called "Diversity"? must be Susan Boyle. I don't think she won British Idol or Britain's Got Talent or whatever show she was on.
2. This summer, who wanted--and got--Mario Chalmers' number 6? Mario Chalmers is an NBA player. Who changed teams and would want a new number? Lebron
3. Julia Gillard is what nation's first female Prime Minister? Australia
4. What inventor became rich in the 1800s making muskets with interchangeable parts, after almost going broke defending patents to his more famous invention? Remington?
5. Who celebrated her 100th birthday last month at a party hosted by James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis? Gloria Stuart. As we learned at the Oscar quiz, she is not even the oldest living Oscar winner. Luise Rainer is a few months older.
6. Belarus and Lesotho are, respectively, the world's northernmost and southernmost countries that are what? landlocked
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these letters of the alphabet, and no others? D, G, L, P, R, S, X, and sort of U? "sort of U" Is that a clue?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What peninsula lent its name to a English verb meaning "to break up a region into smaller units"? There are five or six more countries in the Balkans today than there were twenty years ago, which is appropriate, given the meaning of "balkanization." correct
2. Who served as king for thirteen years between Philip II and Philip III of Macedon? Alexander the Great was the father and son of these Philips. We also accepted "Colin Farrell." correct
3. In its 35th and latest season, what TV show earned its 126th Emmy nomination, surpassing E.R. for the all-time record? Saturday Night Live is the new all-time champ. Don Pardo, tell them what they've won! SNL. Man, how did I miss this.
4. What interest is signaled by someone displaying the popular bumper sticker reading simply "26.2" on their car? That's the length of a marathon. Presumably these drivers only use their cars for distances 27 miles and up. correct
5. Tiny Monroeville, Alabama will receive over 30,000 tourists this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of what novel? Monroeville, Alabama was the basis for Harper Lee's fictional "Maycomb" in To Kill a Mockingbird. correct
6. What kind of male animal is called a "blackback" until it's roughly eleven years old? You're a "blackback" until you turn into a "silverback." These are gorillas. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these American cities and, as far as I can tell, no others? Hollywood, Kansas City, L.A., Miami Beach, Tucson. There are, according to my research, the only U.S. cities mentioned in Beatles songs. (Respectively: "Honey Pie," "Kansas City," "Blue Jay Way," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," and "Get Back.") Did I miss any? Rain, South Carolina and Blackbird, Oregon don't count. I thought this might be book or song titles. But I never connected it to Beatles songs.
