Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - January 25
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What kind of geographic feature can have a "calving face"? icebergs
2. Hip-hop star Wiz Khalifa dedicated his recent hit "Black and Yellow" to the sports teams of what city, his hometown? I cringed when I read "hip hop star." However it's a sports question. Pittsburgh
3. Gabrielle Giffords' survival of the recent shooting in Arizona means that the last sitting U.S. Congressman to be assassinated is still Leo Ryan, killed on November 18, 1978 as part of what tragic news story? Jonestown massacre
4. The largest cathedral in New Orleans shares its name with what other large U.S. city? St. Paul?
5. What company announced last week that its products would now be available in a new, larger size: the "Trenta"? Starbucks
6. What late TV star's wife once joked that his headstone would read "Here Lies Mr. C. -- Who Used to Be Mr. B."? Tom Bosley, aka Howard Cunningham or Mr. C. Aayyyyy.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these films? Chaplin, Contact, The Day of the Locust, Elephant, The King's Speech, Pearl Harbor, The Rocketeer, Zelig.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Who is the only Catholic saint to have been excommunicated by the church? I had read that Joan of Arc was the only recipient of this, surely God's most dramatic flip-flop. But I'm informed that a recently canonized Australian named Mary McKillop also makes the cut. Interesting that Joan of Arc was not beatified until 500 years after her death. Took a while to build up a good PR campaign.
2. Instead of the standard "IV," how is the number 4 typically represented in Roman numerals on clock faces? It's usually "IIII," for reasons that no one is really clear on. correct. maybe the story about James V not wanting I to stand before his is apocrophal
3. The house in which Bob Dylan recorded his "Basement Tapes" famously had siding of what color? Dylan and his backup band called the house "Big Pink" due to its siding, which is why The Band's debut album is called Music from Big Pink. correct
4. What one-named celebrity recently "wrote" her first novel, titled A Shore Thing? Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi from Jersey Shore...and it's now a bestseller! Well done, America. correct
5. What is far and away the world's largest archipelagic (island) nation, at over 735,000 square miles? Indonesia is more than three times bigger than the next runner-up, Madagascar. (Australia doesn't count because of its continent-ness, but if it did, it would be much, much bigger than either.) correct
6. What word in the title of a recent hit film is a computer term referring to outdated systems that nevertheless stay in use? The subtitle of Tron: Legacy is (among other things) a computer-ese joke about "legacy" systems. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. states, listed in this order? Delaware, Ohio, Hawaii, New York, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Iowa, Washington. These are the home states of the people who currently lead the line of presidential succession in the U.S.: Vice President Biden first, then Speaker of the House John Boehner, than President Pro Tempore of the Senate Daniel Inouye, and so on down through the cabinet. I was on the right track, just did not do the research to get the correct answer.
1. What kind of geographic feature can have a "calving face"? icebergs
2. Hip-hop star Wiz Khalifa dedicated his recent hit "Black and Yellow" to the sports teams of what city, his hometown? I cringed when I read "hip hop star." However it's a sports question. Pittsburgh
3. Gabrielle Giffords' survival of the recent shooting in Arizona means that the last sitting U.S. Congressman to be assassinated is still Leo Ryan, killed on November 18, 1978 as part of what tragic news story? Jonestown massacre
4. The largest cathedral in New Orleans shares its name with what other large U.S. city? St. Paul?
5. What company announced last week that its products would now be available in a new, larger size: the "Trenta"? Starbucks
6. What late TV star's wife once joked that his headstone would read "Here Lies Mr. C. -- Who Used to Be Mr. B."? Tom Bosley, aka Howard Cunningham or Mr. C. Aayyyyy.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these films? Chaplin, Contact, The Day of the Locust, Elephant, The King's Speech, Pearl Harbor, The Rocketeer, Zelig.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Who is the only Catholic saint to have been excommunicated by the church? I had read that Joan of Arc was the only recipient of this, surely God's most dramatic flip-flop. But I'm informed that a recently canonized Australian named Mary McKillop also makes the cut. Interesting that Joan of Arc was not beatified until 500 years after her death. Took a while to build up a good PR campaign.
2. Instead of the standard "IV," how is the number 4 typically represented in Roman numerals on clock faces? It's usually "IIII," for reasons that no one is really clear on. correct. maybe the story about James V not wanting I to stand before his is apocrophal
3. The house in which Bob Dylan recorded his "Basement Tapes" famously had siding of what color? Dylan and his backup band called the house "Big Pink" due to its siding, which is why The Band's debut album is called Music from Big Pink. correct
4. What one-named celebrity recently "wrote" her first novel, titled A Shore Thing? Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi from Jersey Shore...and it's now a bestseller! Well done, America. correct
5. What is far and away the world's largest archipelagic (island) nation, at over 735,000 square miles? Indonesia is more than three times bigger than the next runner-up, Madagascar. (Australia doesn't count because of its continent-ness, but if it did, it would be much, much bigger than either.) correct
6. What word in the title of a recent hit film is a computer term referring to outdated systems that nevertheless stay in use? The subtitle of Tron: Legacy is (among other things) a computer-ese joke about "legacy" systems. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. states, listed in this order? Delaware, Ohio, Hawaii, New York, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Iowa, Washington. These are the home states of the people who currently lead the line of presidential succession in the U.S.: Vice President Biden first, then Speaker of the House John Boehner, than President Pro Tempore of the Senate Daniel Inouye, and so on down through the cabinet. I was on the right track, just did not do the research to get the correct answer.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - January 18
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Who is the only Catholic saint to have been excommunicated by the church? Did the excommunication come before or after the sainthood? Who would have done something so heinous as to be excommunicated? Someone from the Reformation like Martin Luther or Henry VIII? I like this question, but no one comes to mind immediately.
2. Instead of the standard "IV," how is the number 4 typically represented in Roman numerals on clock faces? Must be IIII. Are there any other possible answers?
3. The house in which Bob Dylan recorded his "Basement Tapes" famously had siding of what color? The Band recorded the Basement Tapes with Dylan. Is this the reference from the album by The Band about the Big Pink?
4. What one-named celebrity recently "wrote" her first novel, titled A Shore Thing? Snookie
5. What is far and away the world's largest archipelagic (island) nation, at over 735,000 square miles? archipelagic island nation? Indonesia occupies a lot of islands, including some big ones.
6. What word in the title of a recent hit film is a computer term referring to outdated systems that nevertheless stay in use? The spirit of KJ TT says that you are not supposed to do research for Q1-6. But I am really tempted here. Kludge? Legacy? I wonder if this is another of those terms that he claims are common jargon but which I have never heard . . .Strike that last part. I just went the Arclight and realized that Tron: Legacy fits. If at first you don't succeed, tron, tron again.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. states, listed in this order? Delaware, Ohio, Hawaii, New York, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Iowa, Washington. An eccentric grouping. NY listed twice. Includes Delaware and DC which make me think of something related to politics.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The Barents and Beaufort Seas are part of which ocean? Located north of Russia and Canada, respectively, these two seas are part of the Arctic Ocean. correct
2. What singer has had two of his biggest hits legislatively proposed as new state songs for Colorado and West Virginia, respectively? The late John Denver, with the songs "Rocky Mountain High" and "Take Me Home Country Roads." I wonder if my native Washington State ever thought of switching over to "Leaving on a Jet Plane" in honor of Boeing. correct
3. What term for a chemical alkane usually refers to kerosene in the United Kingdom, but to a kind of wax in the U.S.? The Brits call kerosene "paraffin," which presumably means that wax lips in that country taste REALLY gross. correct
4. What annual event was informally dubbed, in its 2005 incarnation, the "Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes"? Current Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby was the NHL's hottest prospect that year; his sweepstakes was the draft lottery. (We accepted any hockey draft-related answer.) correct
5. In 1820, a British smuggler named Johnstone offered, for 40,000 pounds, to build a submarine and rescue what man from the South Atlantic? Johnstone offered the French to get Napoleon away from his exile on St. Helena, but the scheme never came to fruition. Good one, Alex
6. What Oscar-winning film originated in a 1976 script called "The Cut-Whore Killings"? By the time it finally got made over a decade later, it had been renamed Unforgiven, since movies without "Whore" in the title tend to have greatest commercial success. Ah, yes. The "other" movie besides LA Confidential about cut-whores and killings.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these famous people? Gary Cooper, Xavier Cugat, Marcel Duchamp, Dave Eggers, Federico Fellini, Fred Gwynne, Hugh Hefner, Emmett Kelly, Martin Landau, John Updike. A toughie: all these luminaries were aspiring cartoonists before they achieved fame in other fields. it is so tough that it is not even that interesting to know
1. Who is the only Catholic saint to have been excommunicated by the church? Did the excommunication come before or after the sainthood? Who would have done something so heinous as to be excommunicated? Someone from the Reformation like Martin Luther or Henry VIII? I like this question, but no one comes to mind immediately.
2. Instead of the standard "IV," how is the number 4 typically represented in Roman numerals on clock faces? Must be IIII. Are there any other possible answers?
3. The house in which Bob Dylan recorded his "Basement Tapes" famously had siding of what color? The Band recorded the Basement Tapes with Dylan. Is this the reference from the album by The Band about the Big Pink?
4. What one-named celebrity recently "wrote" her first novel, titled A Shore Thing? Snookie
5. What is far and away the world's largest archipelagic (island) nation, at over 735,000 square miles? archipelagic island nation? Indonesia occupies a lot of islands, including some big ones.
6. What word in the title of a recent hit film is a computer term referring to outdated systems that nevertheless stay in use? The spirit of KJ TT says that you are not supposed to do research for Q1-6. But I am really tempted here. Kludge? Legacy? I wonder if this is another of those terms that he claims are common jargon but which I have never heard . . .Strike that last part. I just went the Arclight and realized that Tron: Legacy fits. If at first you don't succeed, tron, tron again.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. states, listed in this order? Delaware, Ohio, Hawaii, New York, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Iowa, Washington. An eccentric grouping. NY listed twice. Includes Delaware and DC which make me think of something related to politics.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The Barents and Beaufort Seas are part of which ocean? Located north of Russia and Canada, respectively, these two seas are part of the Arctic Ocean. correct
2. What singer has had two of his biggest hits legislatively proposed as new state songs for Colorado and West Virginia, respectively? The late John Denver, with the songs "Rocky Mountain High" and "Take Me Home Country Roads." I wonder if my native Washington State ever thought of switching over to "Leaving on a Jet Plane" in honor of Boeing. correct
3. What term for a chemical alkane usually refers to kerosene in the United Kingdom, but to a kind of wax in the U.S.? The Brits call kerosene "paraffin," which presumably means that wax lips in that country taste REALLY gross. correct
4. What annual event was informally dubbed, in its 2005 incarnation, the "Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes"? Current Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby was the NHL's hottest prospect that year; his sweepstakes was the draft lottery. (We accepted any hockey draft-related answer.) correct
5. In 1820, a British smuggler named Johnstone offered, for 40,000 pounds, to build a submarine and rescue what man from the South Atlantic? Johnstone offered the French to get Napoleon away from his exile on St. Helena, but the scheme never came to fruition. Good one, Alex
6. What Oscar-winning film originated in a 1976 script called "The Cut-Whore Killings"? By the time it finally got made over a decade later, it had been renamed Unforgiven, since movies without "Whore" in the title tend to have greatest commercial success. Ah, yes. The "other" movie besides LA Confidential about cut-whores and killings.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these famous people? Gary Cooper, Xavier Cugat, Marcel Duchamp, Dave Eggers, Federico Fellini, Fred Gwynne, Hugh Hefner, Emmett Kelly, Martin Landau, John Updike. A toughie: all these luminaries were aspiring cartoonists before they achieved fame in other fields. it is so tough that it is not even that interesting to know
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - January 11 (1/11/11)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The Barents and Beaufort Seas are part of which ocean? Arctic Ocean
2. What singer has had two of his biggest hits legislatively proposed as new state songs for Colorado and West Virginia, respectively? John Denver (probably Rocky Mountain High and Take Me Home, Country Roads)
3. What term for a chemical alkane usually refers to kerosene in the United Kingdom, but to a kind of wax in the U.S.? paraffin
4. What annual event was informally dubbed, in its 2005 incarnation, the "Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes"? is he referring to the NHL draft? or the season results that determined which team would win the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes?
5. In 1820, a British smuggler named Johnstone offered, for 40,000 pounds, to build a submarine and rescue what man from the South Atlantic? who was stranded or captured in the South Atlantic in 1820? Some Brit named Falkland?
6. What Oscar-winning film originated in a 1976 script called "The Cut-Whore Killings"? Sure sounds like LA Confidential. It was not the best picture (I am still bitter that Titanic beat it), but I believe that Brian Helgeland deservedly won for his terrific script.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these famous people? Gary Cooper, Xavier Cugat, Marcel Duchamp, Dave Eggers, Federico Fellini, Fred Gwynne, Hugh Hefner, Emmett Kelly, Martin Landau, John Updike. Seeing Hef on that list makes me think of something related to spouses.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The animal that's called an ermine in the winter when it has white fur is, during the rest of the year, known as what? It's a stoat, a kind of weasel. I guess if I sold furs, I wouldn't advertise "weasel coat" either. correct
2. What author had hit movies made of his first seven novels, until 1997's The Partner broke the streak? John Grisham. America's bizarre box office fascination with improbable Southern legal thrillers ended with the 2003 film Runaway Jury. But producers are developing The Partner as we speak, so Grisham's streak might soon be up to eight straight. correct
3. Where would you find the fictional couple that some fans call "Kurt Coblaine"? Kurt and Blaine are the still-just-friends that America has fallen in love with on TV's Glee. correct
4. What communications technology takes its name from an epithet for King Harald I of Denmark? Bluetooth devices borrow that name from Harald Bluetooth, the tenth-century Danish king who, quite frankly, should have flossed more often. good one, Alex
5. Who's the only artist ever to have three Billboard #1 singles with questions for titles--in 1986, 1987, and 1988? "How Will I Know?" wondered Whitney Houston to herself. "Didn't We Almost Have It All? Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" well done, Kmac
6. How many articles does the U.S. Constitution have? Seven. If you have to memorize one for a school project, pick VII. It's short. Don't know why I thought there were 8. Guess I should re-read the Constitution, especially the articles.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these athletes? Ernie Banks, Chauncey Billups, Steve Garvey, Glenn Hall, Gordie Howe, Reggie Jackson, Bob Lilly, and Jerry West. Fans called them all "Mister" something: Mr. Cub, Mr. Big Shot, Mr. Clean, Mr. Goalie, Mr. Hockey, Mr. October, Mr. Cowboy, and Mr. Clutch, respectively. correct
1. The Barents and Beaufort Seas are part of which ocean? Arctic Ocean
2. What singer has had two of his biggest hits legislatively proposed as new state songs for Colorado and West Virginia, respectively? John Denver (probably Rocky Mountain High and Take Me Home, Country Roads)
3. What term for a chemical alkane usually refers to kerosene in the United Kingdom, but to a kind of wax in the U.S.? paraffin
4. What annual event was informally dubbed, in its 2005 incarnation, the "Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes"? is he referring to the NHL draft? or the season results that determined which team would win the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes?
5. In 1820, a British smuggler named Johnstone offered, for 40,000 pounds, to build a submarine and rescue what man from the South Atlantic? who was stranded or captured in the South Atlantic in 1820? Some Brit named Falkland?
6. What Oscar-winning film originated in a 1976 script called "The Cut-Whore Killings"? Sure sounds like LA Confidential. It was not the best picture (I am still bitter that Titanic beat it), but I believe that Brian Helgeland deservedly won for his terrific script.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these famous people? Gary Cooper, Xavier Cugat, Marcel Duchamp, Dave Eggers, Federico Fellini, Fred Gwynne, Hugh Hefner, Emmett Kelly, Martin Landau, John Updike. Seeing Hef on that list makes me think of something related to spouses.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The animal that's called an ermine in the winter when it has white fur is, during the rest of the year, known as what? It's a stoat, a kind of weasel. I guess if I sold furs, I wouldn't advertise "weasel coat" either. correct
2. What author had hit movies made of his first seven novels, until 1997's The Partner broke the streak? John Grisham. America's bizarre box office fascination with improbable Southern legal thrillers ended with the 2003 film Runaway Jury. But producers are developing The Partner as we speak, so Grisham's streak might soon be up to eight straight. correct
3. Where would you find the fictional couple that some fans call "Kurt Coblaine"? Kurt and Blaine are the still-just-friends that America has fallen in love with on TV's Glee. correct
4. What communications technology takes its name from an epithet for King Harald I of Denmark? Bluetooth devices borrow that name from Harald Bluetooth, the tenth-century Danish king who, quite frankly, should have flossed more often. good one, Alex
5. Who's the only artist ever to have three Billboard #1 singles with questions for titles--in 1986, 1987, and 1988? "How Will I Know?" wondered Whitney Houston to herself. "Didn't We Almost Have It All? Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" well done, Kmac
6. How many articles does the U.S. Constitution have? Seven. If you have to memorize one for a school project, pick VII. It's short. Don't know why I thought there were 8. Guess I should re-read the Constitution, especially the articles.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these athletes? Ernie Banks, Chauncey Billups, Steve Garvey, Glenn Hall, Gordie Howe, Reggie Jackson, Bob Lilly, and Jerry West. Fans called them all "Mister" something: Mr. Cub, Mr. Big Shot, Mr. Clean, Mr. Goalie, Mr. Hockey, Mr. October, Mr. Cowboy, and Mr. Clutch, respectively. correct
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - January 4
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The animal that's called an ermine in the winter when it has white fur is, during the rest of the year, known as what? stoat?
2. What author had hit movies made of his first seven novels, until 1997's The Partner broke the streak? John Grisham
3. Where would you find the fictional couple that some fans call "Kurt Coblaine"? Glee (gay couple Kurt and Blaine)
4. What communications technology takes its name from an epithet for King Harald I of Denmark? I like this question even if I am not sure of the answer. Skype? Twitter?
5. Who's the only artist ever to have three Billboard #1 singles with questions for titles--in 1986, 1987, and 1988? Trying to think of songs that begin "who, what, where, when, why, how." Who would have hit #1 three straight years in the 80s - Madonna? Prince?
6. How many articles does the U.S. Constitution have? I seem to recall 8 articles (followed by 27 amendments)
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these athletes? Ernie Banks, Chauncey Billups, Steve Garvey, Glenn Hall, Gordie Howe, Reggie Jackson, Bob Lilly, and Jerry West. They all seem to have nicknames that fit a pattern - Mr Cub, Mr Big Shot, Mr Clean, Mr Goalie, Mr Hockey, Mr October, Mr Cowboy, Mr Clutch
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What busy airport is home to the Tom Bradley International Terminal? The late Bradley was mayor of Los Angeles from 1973 to 1993. His namesake terminal is at LAX. correct
2. The title of what 1970 move refers to two Mozart piano compositions, two Chopin compositions, and a Bach fugue? Apologies for the typo: that obviously should have been "1970 movie," not "1970 move. The only 1970 moves I can think of were from James Brown and Bobby Fischer. These compositions are the "Five Easy Pieces" played by Jack Nicholson when he's not ordering chicken salad sandwiches at diners, hold the chicken. BETWEEN YOUR KNEEEEES!
3. Google made headlines this month by leaving what venerable keyboard key off its new notebook computers? CAPS LOCK may be going the way of the dodo. Wait a second, how am I supposed to type BETWEEN YOUR KNEEEES! from now on? I think KJ should accept Function keys since they are omitted too. Caps Lock may not even be a 100% correct answer. Reportedly, Chrome OS will let you to revert back to a Caps Lock key in its settings tool.
4. What TV star attended Northwestern University in real life, though his TV character of the same name is a Dartmouth grad? "Stephen Colbert" has a much more impressive resume than Stephen Colbert does. correct
5. What insect performs its most notable function using a substance called "luciferin"? The name "Lucifer" means "morning star," and lent its name to the stuff that fireflies use to glow. "morning star"? Shoudn't that be "light bearer"?
6. Of what building did Shah Jahan write, "Should a sinner make his way to this mansion, / All his past sins are to be washed away"? Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his dead wife. Uh, the one in India, not Atlantic City. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these songs? "The Weight" by The Band, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown, "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay, "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" by Bing Crosby, "Desolation Row" by Bob Dylan, "Your Love" by Nicki Minaj, "Who Am I Living For?" by Kate Perry, "Man on the Moon" by R.E.M., "Bullet the Blue Sky" by U2. These are all songs that name-check Bible characters. Respectively, to save you some Googling: Luke, Noah, David, Peter, Jonah, Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve, Esther, Moses, and Jacob. Actually, now that I think about it, "The Weight" is a pretty iffy addition. But hey, it does take place in Nazareth. correct!
1. The animal that's called an ermine in the winter when it has white fur is, during the rest of the year, known as what? stoat?
2. What author had hit movies made of his first seven novels, until 1997's The Partner broke the streak? John Grisham
3. Where would you find the fictional couple that some fans call "Kurt Coblaine"? Glee (gay couple Kurt and Blaine)
4. What communications technology takes its name from an epithet for King Harald I of Denmark? I like this question even if I am not sure of the answer. Skype? Twitter?
5. Who's the only artist ever to have three Billboard #1 singles with questions for titles--in 1986, 1987, and 1988? Trying to think of songs that begin "who, what, where, when, why, how." Who would have hit #1 three straight years in the 80s - Madonna? Prince?
6. How many articles does the U.S. Constitution have? I seem to recall 8 articles (followed by 27 amendments)
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these athletes? Ernie Banks, Chauncey Billups, Steve Garvey, Glenn Hall, Gordie Howe, Reggie Jackson, Bob Lilly, and Jerry West. They all seem to have nicknames that fit a pattern - Mr Cub, Mr Big Shot, Mr Clean, Mr Goalie, Mr Hockey, Mr October, Mr Cowboy, Mr Clutch
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What busy airport is home to the Tom Bradley International Terminal? The late Bradley was mayor of Los Angeles from 1973 to 1993. His namesake terminal is at LAX. correct
2. The title of what 1970 move refers to two Mozart piano compositions, two Chopin compositions, and a Bach fugue? Apologies for the typo: that obviously should have been "1970 movie," not "1970 move. The only 1970 moves I can think of were from James Brown and Bobby Fischer. These compositions are the "Five Easy Pieces" played by Jack Nicholson when he's not ordering chicken salad sandwiches at diners, hold the chicken. BETWEEN YOUR KNEEEEES!
3. Google made headlines this month by leaving what venerable keyboard key off its new notebook computers? CAPS LOCK may be going the way of the dodo. Wait a second, how am I supposed to type BETWEEN YOUR KNEEEES! from now on? I think KJ should accept Function keys since they are omitted too. Caps Lock may not even be a 100% correct answer. Reportedly, Chrome OS will let you to revert back to a Caps Lock key in its settings tool.
4. What TV star attended Northwestern University in real life, though his TV character of the same name is a Dartmouth grad? "Stephen Colbert" has a much more impressive resume than Stephen Colbert does. correct
5. What insect performs its most notable function using a substance called "luciferin"? The name "Lucifer" means "morning star," and lent its name to the stuff that fireflies use to glow. "morning star"? Shoudn't that be "light bearer"?
6. Of what building did Shah Jahan write, "Should a sinner make his way to this mansion, / All his past sins are to be washed away"? Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his dead wife. Uh, the one in India, not Atlantic City. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these songs? "The Weight" by The Band, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown, "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay, "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" by Bing Crosby, "Desolation Row" by Bob Dylan, "Your Love" by Nicki Minaj, "Who Am I Living For?" by Kate Perry, "Man on the Moon" by R.E.M., "Bullet the Blue Sky" by U2. These are all songs that name-check Bible characters. Respectively, to save you some Googling: Luke, Noah, David, Peter, Jonah, Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve, Esther, Moses, and Jacob. Actually, now that I think about it, "The Weight" is a pretty iffy addition. But hey, it does take place in Nazareth. correct!
