Friday, December 03, 2010
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - November 30
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. In the last year, Lady Gaga and Beyonce have collaborated on two hits both named for what kind of device? I concede on any questions about Beyonce or Lady Gaga. Device? How about an iPod.
2. Scientists recently discovered that the human lungs are home to one of the five types of what structure, found in great numbers (as many as ten thousand) elsewhere in the body? Structure? What is he talking about? A Frame?
3. "Dirty Harry" Callahan is a cop in what city's police department? San Francisco
4. What's the maximum number of sharp (or flat) symbols that can make up a key signature in music? I also concede on any questions about musical notation.
5. Jammu is the southwesternnmost part of what disputed region? A guess - Kashmir.
6. What former British prime minister headed his family's namesake publishing house in the 1970s, after he left office? Harold Macmillan
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these TV series? Desperate Housewives, I Dream of Jeannie, Monty Python's Flying Circus, My Three Sons, The Nanny, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, The Partridge Family, The Rosie O'Donnell Show. I am of course intrigued by the inclusion of Monty Python. But I would not need that clue to guess an answer. The opening credits for all are some form of animation.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What modern country was called the "jewel in the crown" of the British Empire? British India was the figurative jewel in Victoria's crown. correct
2. A month ago in Saitama, the last Japanese factory closed that was still producing what electronics product that debuted in 1979? Sony Walkmen had a good run, but they're no longer being made...in Japan, anyway. Believer it or not, some Chinese factories still make them for other markets. Hey, Sony kept making Betamax products until 2002. correct
3. The Freedonia Gazette was the longtime fan magazine devoted to what comedy team? Freedonia is the tiny nation where the movie Duck Soup takes place ("the land of the spree and the home of the knave") so the answer is the Marx Brothers. correct
4. Before 1913, the U.S. Department of Labor was a part of what other Cabinet-level department? It was briefly the Department of Commerce and Labor. But you know how commerce and labor NEVER end up getting along... correct
5. The "Up Your Nose with a Rubber Hose" Game was a board game released in 1976 as a tie-in with what TV series? Masterpiece Theater. No, wait. Welcome Back, Kotter. I always get those confused. correct
6. What's the only currently married couple in which both partners have won all four events in tennis's Grand Slam? The Andre Agassi-Steffi Graf marriage is also a pretty solid mixed doubles team. MUCH better than Pete Sampras-Bridgette Wilson. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these birds, and no others? Bird of paradise, crane, crow, dove, eagle, peafowl, swan, and toucan. They'are all found in the night sky: these are the only birds that are also constellations. (Well, real-life birds. There's a phoenix up there as well.) A toucan constellation?
1. In the last year, Lady Gaga and Beyonce have collaborated on two hits both named for what kind of device? I concede on any questions about Beyonce or Lady Gaga. Device? How about an iPod.
2. Scientists recently discovered that the human lungs are home to one of the five types of what structure, found in great numbers (as many as ten thousand) elsewhere in the body? Structure? What is he talking about? A Frame?
3. "Dirty Harry" Callahan is a cop in what city's police department? San Francisco
4. What's the maximum number of sharp (or flat) symbols that can make up a key signature in music? I also concede on any questions about musical notation.
5. Jammu is the southwesternnmost part of what disputed region? A guess - Kashmir.
6. What former British prime minister headed his family's namesake publishing house in the 1970s, after he left office? Harold Macmillan
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these TV series? Desperate Housewives, I Dream of Jeannie, Monty Python's Flying Circus, My Three Sons, The Nanny, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, The Partridge Family, The Rosie O'Donnell Show. I am of course intrigued by the inclusion of Monty Python. But I would not need that clue to guess an answer. The opening credits for all are some form of animation.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What modern country was called the "jewel in the crown" of the British Empire? British India was the figurative jewel in Victoria's crown. correct
2. A month ago in Saitama, the last Japanese factory closed that was still producing what electronics product that debuted in 1979? Sony Walkmen had a good run, but they're no longer being made...in Japan, anyway. Believer it or not, some Chinese factories still make them for other markets. Hey, Sony kept making Betamax products until 2002. correct
3. The Freedonia Gazette was the longtime fan magazine devoted to what comedy team? Freedonia is the tiny nation where the movie Duck Soup takes place ("the land of the spree and the home of the knave") so the answer is the Marx Brothers. correct
4. Before 1913, the U.S. Department of Labor was a part of what other Cabinet-level department? It was briefly the Department of Commerce and Labor. But you know how commerce and labor NEVER end up getting along... correct
5. The "Up Your Nose with a Rubber Hose" Game was a board game released in 1976 as a tie-in with what TV series? Masterpiece Theater. No, wait. Welcome Back, Kotter. I always get those confused. correct
6. What's the only currently married couple in which both partners have won all four events in tennis's Grand Slam? The Andre Agassi-Steffi Graf marriage is also a pretty solid mixed doubles team. MUCH better than Pete Sampras-Bridgette Wilson. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these birds, and no others? Bird of paradise, crane, crow, dove, eagle, peafowl, swan, and toucan. They'are all found in the night sky: these are the only birds that are also constellations. (Well, real-life birds. There's a phoenix up there as well.) A toucan constellation?
