Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - March 29
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What hobby are you enjoying if you're using a fixer bath solution of sodium thiosulfate to remove excess quantities of silver halide? fixer bath, silver halide --> photography
2. What two classic American "muscle cars" both debuted in 1964 and were both named for types of horses? Mustang and Charger
3. Income tax day in the U.S. will be delayed this year because the District of Columbia, on April 15, has a legal holiday celebrating the 139th anniversary of what event? I think he means 149th anniversary of Emancipation Day. I knew this because yesterday I checked the IRS website to see if there is an extension of the tax deadline. Because of Emancipation Day, the tax deadline is April 18th. woo hoo!
4. Who is the only member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to have died while still legally a minor? I think Richie Valens was only 17 when Buddy Holly's plane crashed. Is he in the HoF?
5. Of what early Saturday Night Live performers did writer Michael O'Donoghue famously sniff, "I won't write for felt"? the early SNL episodes featured skits with the Muppets
6. What is South America's smallest Spanish-speaking nation, both in area and population? My guess - Bolivia
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents, and no others? Jefferson, Madison, Jackson, Lincoln, Grant, McKinley, F.D.R., and Nixon?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What is the more familiar name of Bart Howard's classic cabaret song "In Other Words," which the Apollo 10 crew played for Mission Control in May 1969? "Fly Me to Moon" was actually called "In Other Words" by its composer, who clearly didn't predict the advent of the space program. correct
2. Name one recent hit TV show and one recent hit movie that both center on the reality-bending adventures that interrupt a commercial air flight between Sydney and Los Angeles. One plane crashes; the other gets to LAX just fine. The answers are Lost and Inception, of course. 1/2 correct. I had no recollection of the plane scene in Inception.
3. In early February 1940, a retired Vermont schoolteacher named Ida May Fuller was the first person to receive what in the mail? It was the very first Social Security check. Someday, maybe the person who ends up getting the LAST Social Security check will also be a trivia answer! correct
4. What is Michelangelo's David holding in his left hand? A sling, ready for any Goliath-smiting action. Does this mean the second king of Israel was left-handed? Discuss. so what if he was left-handed? Discuss. correct
5. Where are you, most probably, if you see people greeting each other with a "shaka" sign? The shaka sign is that hand-wiggling thing you do with your finer and thumb extended, so you are probably in Hawaii. If not, you are hanging out with some really annoying "haoles" who probably call everyone "brah." ah yes. Pronounced "shake-a" not "shock-a" as I thought.
6. What's the more common name for the extinct smilodon? You probably call it a "sabre-toothed cat" or "sabre-tooth tiger" if your knowledge of the species comes not from paleontology but from The Flintstones. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these world nations, and no others? Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, and the U.K. These are the world nations whose *capital* has hosted an Olympic Games. China, incidentally, is the only new addition to this list in the thirty years from 1988-2018. I think that Alex was on to this.
1. What hobby are you enjoying if you're using a fixer bath solution of sodium thiosulfate to remove excess quantities of silver halide? fixer bath, silver halide --> photography
2. What two classic American "muscle cars" both debuted in 1964 and were both named for types of horses? Mustang and Charger
3. Income tax day in the U.S. will be delayed this year because the District of Columbia, on April 15, has a legal holiday celebrating the 139th anniversary of what event? I think he means 149th anniversary of Emancipation Day. I knew this because yesterday I checked the IRS website to see if there is an extension of the tax deadline. Because of Emancipation Day, the tax deadline is April 18th. woo hoo!
4. Who is the only member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to have died while still legally a minor? I think Richie Valens was only 17 when Buddy Holly's plane crashed. Is he in the HoF?
5. Of what early Saturday Night Live performers did writer Michael O'Donoghue famously sniff, "I won't write for felt"? the early SNL episodes featured skits with the Muppets
6. What is South America's smallest Spanish-speaking nation, both in area and population? My guess - Bolivia
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents, and no others? Jefferson, Madison, Jackson, Lincoln, Grant, McKinley, F.D.R., and Nixon?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What is the more familiar name of Bart Howard's classic cabaret song "In Other Words," which the Apollo 10 crew played for Mission Control in May 1969? "Fly Me to Moon" was actually called "In Other Words" by its composer, who clearly didn't predict the advent of the space program. correct
2. Name one recent hit TV show and one recent hit movie that both center on the reality-bending adventures that interrupt a commercial air flight between Sydney and Los Angeles. One plane crashes; the other gets to LAX just fine. The answers are Lost and Inception, of course. 1/2 correct. I had no recollection of the plane scene in Inception.
3. In early February 1940, a retired Vermont schoolteacher named Ida May Fuller was the first person to receive what in the mail? It was the very first Social Security check. Someday, maybe the person who ends up getting the LAST Social Security check will also be a trivia answer! correct
4. What is Michelangelo's David holding in his left hand? A sling, ready for any Goliath-smiting action. Does this mean the second king of Israel was left-handed? Discuss. so what if he was left-handed? Discuss. correct
5. Where are you, most probably, if you see people greeting each other with a "shaka" sign? The shaka sign is that hand-wiggling thing you do with your finer and thumb extended, so you are probably in Hawaii. If not, you are hanging out with some really annoying "haoles" who probably call everyone "brah." ah yes. Pronounced "shake-a" not "shock-a" as I thought.
6. What's the more common name for the extinct smilodon? You probably call it a "sabre-toothed cat" or "sabre-tooth tiger" if your knowledge of the species comes not from paleontology but from The Flintstones. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these world nations, and no others? Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, and the U.K. These are the world nations whose *capital* has hosted an Olympic Games. China, incidentally, is the only new addition to this list in the thirty years from 1988-2018. I think that Alex was on to this.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - March 22
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What is the more familiar name of Bart Howard's classic cabaret song "In Other Words," which the Apollo 10 crew played for Mission Control in May 1969? Fly Me To The Moon
2. Name one recent hit TV show and one recent hit movie that both center on the reality-bending adventures that interrupt a commercial air flight between Sydney and Los Angeles. tv show is Lost. Movie - ??
3. In early February 1940, a retired Vermont schoolteacher named Ida May Fuller was the first person to receive what in the mail? A social security check
4. What is Michelangelo's David holding in his left hand? he has something over his shoulder. A sling?
5. Where are you, most probably, if you see people greeting each other with a "shaka" sign? shaka like shaka zulu? Kenya?
6. What's the more common name for the extinct smilodon? A guess - saber toothed tiger
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these world nations, and no others? Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, and the U.K. Interesting that there are no countries in Africa or South America. All Northern Hemisphere countries.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What U.S. state has the largest state flower, with diameters up to 32 inches? Sunflowers can get up to almost three feet wide, so this is the Sunflower State, Kansas. Louisiana and Mississippi postcards sometimes claim that their state flower, the magnolia, is the largest, but the biggest sunflowers are literally twice the size of the biggest magnolias. Quit lying, Mississippi and Louisiana! correct
2. Hal Needham and Yakima Canutt are among the most famous examples of what Hollywood profession? Both were at the top of the stunt performer field. Canutt did that famous slide under the horses in Stagecoach; Needham made Smokey and the Bandit II. Question for discussion: which accomplishment was more painful? correct
3. Before this week's NFL lockout, which was the most recent of the big four North American professional sports organizations to order a lockout? The NHL lockout of 2004 was the most recent. Unless you're Canadian, you probably remember how the public met this drastic announcement with an acute sense of...uh, complete apathy. correct
4. What end product is produced by "tatting"? No points for those who guessed "a tattoo." Tatting is a way of making lace. correct
5. What TV show's protagonist is a veteran of the King County, Georgia Sheriff Department, and a veteran of the Cynthiana, Kentucky Police Department in the original comics? Unlike his TV predecessor Barney Fife, Southern sheriff's deputy Rick Grames, on The Walking Dead, has brains. Wait, I said it wrong. Brraaaaaains. correct
6. What ancient city was also known as Ilium? Homer's Iliad was named for its setting, the city of Troy. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these bands? Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Backstreet Boys, Hall & Oates (sorta), INXS, Judas Priest, Kool & the Gang, the New Pornographers, 'N Sync, Poison, and the Ramones. As C.F. Turner, A.J. McLean, G.E. Smith, J.D. Fortune, K.K. Downing, J.T. Taylor, A.C. Newman, J.C. Chasez, C.C. DeVille, and C.J. Ramone could tell you, these are all bands with members who go by their initials. This list took me a while to put together...who did I forget? Alex's answer was cryptic but now I understand. J.K. Rowling on lead guitar.
1. What is the more familiar name of Bart Howard's classic cabaret song "In Other Words," which the Apollo 10 crew played for Mission Control in May 1969? Fly Me To The Moon
2. Name one recent hit TV show and one recent hit movie that both center on the reality-bending adventures that interrupt a commercial air flight between Sydney and Los Angeles. tv show is Lost. Movie - ??
3. In early February 1940, a retired Vermont schoolteacher named Ida May Fuller was the first person to receive what in the mail? A social security check
4. What is Michelangelo's David holding in his left hand? he has something over his shoulder. A sling?
5. Where are you, most probably, if you see people greeting each other with a "shaka" sign? shaka like shaka zulu? Kenya?
6. What's the more common name for the extinct smilodon? A guess - saber toothed tiger
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these world nations, and no others? Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, and the U.K. Interesting that there are no countries in Africa or South America. All Northern Hemisphere countries.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What U.S. state has the largest state flower, with diameters up to 32 inches? Sunflowers can get up to almost three feet wide, so this is the Sunflower State, Kansas. Louisiana and Mississippi postcards sometimes claim that their state flower, the magnolia, is the largest, but the biggest sunflowers are literally twice the size of the biggest magnolias. Quit lying, Mississippi and Louisiana! correct
2. Hal Needham and Yakima Canutt are among the most famous examples of what Hollywood profession? Both were at the top of the stunt performer field. Canutt did that famous slide under the horses in Stagecoach; Needham made Smokey and the Bandit II. Question for discussion: which accomplishment was more painful? correct
3. Before this week's NFL lockout, which was the most recent of the big four North American professional sports organizations to order a lockout? The NHL lockout of 2004 was the most recent. Unless you're Canadian, you probably remember how the public met this drastic announcement with an acute sense of...uh, complete apathy. correct
4. What end product is produced by "tatting"? No points for those who guessed "a tattoo." Tatting is a way of making lace. correct
5. What TV show's protagonist is a veteran of the King County, Georgia Sheriff Department, and a veteran of the Cynthiana, Kentucky Police Department in the original comics? Unlike his TV predecessor Barney Fife, Southern sheriff's deputy Rick Grames, on The Walking Dead, has brains. Wait, I said it wrong. Brraaaaaains. correct
6. What ancient city was also known as Ilium? Homer's Iliad was named for its setting, the city of Troy. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these bands? Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Backstreet Boys, Hall & Oates (sorta), INXS, Judas Priest, Kool & the Gang, the New Pornographers, 'N Sync, Poison, and the Ramones. As C.F. Turner, A.J. McLean, G.E. Smith, J.D. Fortune, K.K. Downing, J.T. Taylor, A.C. Newman, J.C. Chasez, C.C. DeVille, and C.J. Ramone could tell you, these are all bands with members who go by their initials. This list took me a while to put together...who did I forget? Alex's answer was cryptic but now I understand. J.K. Rowling on lead guitar.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - March 15
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What U.S. state has the largest state flower, with diameters up to 32 inches? Kansas, the Sunflower State
2. Hal Needham and Yakima Canutt are among the most famous examples of what Hollywood profession? stuntmen?
3. Before this week's NFL lockout, which was the most recent of the big four North American professional sports organizations to order a lockout? I asked this at the O'Brien's Quiz recently. NHL
4. What end product is produced by "tatting"? a cruciverbalist word - lace
5. What TV show's protagonist is a veteran of the King County, Georgia Sheriff Department, and a veteran of the Cynthiana, Kentucky Police Department in the original comics? Would not have an answer except for the comics reference - The Walking Dead
6. What ancient city was also known as Ilium? Troy
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these bands? Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Backstreet Boys, Hall & Oates (sorta), INXS, Judas Priest, Kool & the Gang, the New Pornographers, 'N Sync, Poison, and the Ramones.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What animal is pictured on the cover of the Black-Eyed Peas' 2003 album, but not the White Stripes' 2003 album? The records are Elephunk and Elephant, respectively. Elephunk features an elephant; but Elephant, sadly, features almost no elephunk. correct
2. A whopping 2,350 miles of the Tropic of Capricon runs through what nation? For pretty much half the length it crosses land, the Tropic of Capricorn is crossing Australia. at least I had the Southern Hemisphere correct. I discounted Australia because I don't think of it as a country. But he asked "what nation." That would have been a clue if I had noticed.
3. What author never got to live in his dream house, a mansion just north of San Francisco called "Wolf House" that burned down in 1913? Today the ruins of Wolf House are a highlight of Jack London State Park. correct
4. Who traveled the country on the "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television" tour? Conan O'Brien is no longer prohibited by NBC from being funny, though it appears the network may still be exercising that restriction on Jay Leno. ah yes. I think I missed the Team Coco question too.
5. What website, one of the U.S's 100 most-visited, has a lot of users currently worried about outages due to its Libyan domain name? I had no idea until last week that the ".ly" in URL-shortening website "bit.ly" stood for "Libya." correct
6. What U.S. military slogan was originally half of a couplet, paired with the line "To hell with Spain?" At the personal request of King Juan Carlos I of Espana, we now cut it off at "Remember the Maine." correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Annie Hall, Better Off Dead, Cat Ballou, Enchanted, Holiday Inn, Jurassic Park, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Run Lola Run, Vertigo. All have cartoon segments--and not in the credits, some actual part of each movie switches to animation. (Better Off Dead is the only one with *Clay*mation, however.) Good one, Kmac and Alex!
1. What U.S. state has the largest state flower, with diameters up to 32 inches? Kansas, the Sunflower State
2. Hal Needham and Yakima Canutt are among the most famous examples of what Hollywood profession? stuntmen?
3. Before this week's NFL lockout, which was the most recent of the big four North American professional sports organizations to order a lockout? I asked this at the O'Brien's Quiz recently. NHL
4. What end product is produced by "tatting"? a cruciverbalist word - lace
5. What TV show's protagonist is a veteran of the King County, Georgia Sheriff Department, and a veteran of the Cynthiana, Kentucky Police Department in the original comics? Would not have an answer except for the comics reference - The Walking Dead
6. What ancient city was also known as Ilium? Troy
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these bands? Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Backstreet Boys, Hall & Oates (sorta), INXS, Judas Priest, Kool & the Gang, the New Pornographers, 'N Sync, Poison, and the Ramones.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What animal is pictured on the cover of the Black-Eyed Peas' 2003 album, but not the White Stripes' 2003 album? The records are Elephunk and Elephant, respectively. Elephunk features an elephant; but Elephant, sadly, features almost no elephunk. correct
2. A whopping 2,350 miles of the Tropic of Capricon runs through what nation? For pretty much half the length it crosses land, the Tropic of Capricorn is crossing Australia. at least I had the Southern Hemisphere correct. I discounted Australia because I don't think of it as a country. But he asked "what nation." That would have been a clue if I had noticed.
3. What author never got to live in his dream house, a mansion just north of San Francisco called "Wolf House" that burned down in 1913? Today the ruins of Wolf House are a highlight of Jack London State Park. correct
4. Who traveled the country on the "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television" tour? Conan O'Brien is no longer prohibited by NBC from being funny, though it appears the network may still be exercising that restriction on Jay Leno. ah yes. I think I missed the Team Coco question too.
5. What website, one of the U.S's 100 most-visited, has a lot of users currently worried about outages due to its Libyan domain name? I had no idea until last week that the ".ly" in URL-shortening website "bit.ly" stood for "Libya." correct
6. What U.S. military slogan was originally half of a couplet, paired with the line "To hell with Spain?" At the personal request of King Juan Carlos I of Espana, we now cut it off at "Remember the Maine." correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Annie Hall, Better Off Dead, Cat Ballou, Enchanted, Holiday Inn, Jurassic Park, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Run Lola Run, Vertigo. All have cartoon segments--and not in the credits, some actual part of each movie switches to animation. (Better Off Dead is the only one with *Clay*mation, however.) Good one, Kmac and Alex!
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - March 8
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What animal is pictured on the cover of the Black-Eyed Peas' 2003 album, but not the White Stripes' 2003 album? no idea of the BEP album, but the White Stripes had an album called Elephant
2. A whopping 2,350 miles of the Tropic of Capricorn runs through what nation? Is Capricorn Northern or Southern Hemisphere? That is the question. I think that it is Southern. Brazil? Not too many broad countries in the Southern Hemisphere.
3. What author never got to live in his dream house, a mansion just north of San Francisco called "Wolf House" that burned down in 1913? Wolf House North of SF --> Jack London
4. Who traveled the country on the "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television" tour? George Carlin? because he could not say the 7 words?
5. What website, one of the U.S's 100 most-visited, has a lot of users currently worried about outages due to its Libyan domain name? Libyan domain name? I don't know the Libya two character code - li, lb, ly, la, ln. bit.ly??
6. What U.S. military slogan was originally half of a couplet, paired with the line "To hell with Spain?" "Remember the Maine"
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Annie Hall, Better Off Dead, Cat Ballou, Enchanted, Holiday Inn, Jurassic Park, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Run Lola Run, Vertigo. Large wooden rabbits. Or dinosaurs.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The title of what classic 1954 novel is the literal English translation of the name of the demon Beelzebub? Beelzebub is the "Lord of the Flies." Michael Flatley is "Lord of the Dance." I always get those two confused... I did not know this but really like it. A good question.
2. What comedian has said in interviews that her left earlobe has been measured as a quarter-inch longer than her right one? Carol Burnett, presumably the horrifically disfiguring result of her lifelong signature ear-tug sign-off. correct
3. A 2001 rule change designed to make the game more exciting means that regulation table tennis matches are now played to how many points? Ping-Pongers used to play to 21--now games only go to 11. The resulting flurry of excitement is why Ping-Pong is now on prime time ESPN instead of "the Ocho." missed it by that much
4. Name *two* Best Picture Oscar-winning films co-starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. The King's Speech is the easy one, but the two doughy Commonwealthers had previously co-starred in Shakespeare in Love as well. correct
5. What are also called "Roentgen rays" in German-speaking countries? Wilhelm Roentgen invented X-rays. Well, no, he probably discovered them. Maybe a German would claim he invented them. correct
6. Who is the only currently serving U.S. governor who was also serving in that office more than thirty-five years ago? Jerry Brown. See, even Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown seems to have electable gravitas when the guy he's succeeding is Arnold Schwarzeneggar! correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these world nations--and no others that I can find? Finland, Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Thailand, Venezuela. These countries all have namesake gulfs: the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Finland, and so on. I know Iran will be angry I left it off the list, but hey, if they want to change their name back to Persia, I will reconsider. You mean Bothnia is not a country? This is another really good question. Could be used at a quiz. Name three countries that also have a namesake gulf.
1. What animal is pictured on the cover of the Black-Eyed Peas' 2003 album, but not the White Stripes' 2003 album? no idea of the BEP album, but the White Stripes had an album called Elephant
2. A whopping 2,350 miles of the Tropic of Capricorn runs through what nation? Is Capricorn Northern or Southern Hemisphere? That is the question. I think that it is Southern. Brazil? Not too many broad countries in the Southern Hemisphere.
3. What author never got to live in his dream house, a mansion just north of San Francisco called "Wolf House" that burned down in 1913? Wolf House North of SF --> Jack London
4. Who traveled the country on the "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television" tour? George Carlin? because he could not say the 7 words?
5. What website, one of the U.S's 100 most-visited, has a lot of users currently worried about outages due to its Libyan domain name? Libyan domain name? I don't know the Libya two character code - li, lb, ly, la, ln. bit.ly??
6. What U.S. military slogan was originally half of a couplet, paired with the line "To hell with Spain?" "Remember the Maine"
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Annie Hall, Better Off Dead, Cat Ballou, Enchanted, Holiday Inn, Jurassic Park, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Run Lola Run, Vertigo. Large wooden rabbits. Or dinosaurs.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The title of what classic 1954 novel is the literal English translation of the name of the demon Beelzebub? Beelzebub is the "Lord of the Flies." Michael Flatley is "Lord of the Dance." I always get those two confused... I did not know this but really like it. A good question.
2. What comedian has said in interviews that her left earlobe has been measured as a quarter-inch longer than her right one? Carol Burnett, presumably the horrifically disfiguring result of her lifelong signature ear-tug sign-off. correct
3. A 2001 rule change designed to make the game more exciting means that regulation table tennis matches are now played to how many points? Ping-Pongers used to play to 21--now games only go to 11. The resulting flurry of excitement is why Ping-Pong is now on prime time ESPN instead of "the Ocho." missed it by that much
4. Name *two* Best Picture Oscar-winning films co-starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. The King's Speech is the easy one, but the two doughy Commonwealthers had previously co-starred in Shakespeare in Love as well. correct
5. What are also called "Roentgen rays" in German-speaking countries? Wilhelm Roentgen invented X-rays. Well, no, he probably discovered them. Maybe a German would claim he invented them. correct
6. Who is the only currently serving U.S. governor who was also serving in that office more than thirty-five years ago? Jerry Brown. See, even Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown seems to have electable gravitas when the guy he's succeeding is Arnold Schwarzeneggar! correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these world nations--and no others that I can find? Finland, Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Thailand, Venezuela. These countries all have namesake gulfs: the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Finland, and so on. I know Iran will be angry I left it off the list, but hey, if they want to change their name back to Persia, I will reconsider. You mean Bothnia is not a country? This is another really good question. Could be used at a quiz. Name three countries that also have a namesake gulf.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - March 1
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The title of what classic 1954 novel is the literal English translation of the name of the demon Beelzebub? I am thinking of books with a title of "The" When did Malamud write The Natural? There certainly is a devil-like tempter in that book.
2. What comedian has said in interviews that her left earlobe has been measured as a quarter-inch longer than her right one? longer earlobe --> tugging on ear --> Carol Burnett
3. A 2001 rule change designed to make the game more exciting means that regulation table tennis matches are now played to how many points? I think it is 12
4. Name *two* Best Picture Oscar-winning films co-starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. an odd way to ask the question. The King's Speech and Shakespeare in Love (?). SIL was also a Miramax/Weinstein movie.
5. What are also called "Roentgen rays" in German-speaking countries? X rays
6. Who is the only currently serving U.S. governor who was also serving in that office more than thirty-five years ago? my governor, Jerry Brown
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these world nations--and no others that I can find? Finland, Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Thailand, Venezuela.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The tail of a comet always points in which direction? Away from the sun; it's the solar wind that "blows" ions away from the comet's nucleus. It's true that some comets have two or three tails, because dust and gases are affected differently by solar wind, but the principal tail (the only one whose direction is so predictably and satisfyingly straight!) always points directly away from the sun. correct
2. Before Santana plays "Black Magic Woman" in concert, the band often reminds the crowd that it's a cover of a song by what other band? It's a Fleetwood Mac song...something that, weirdly, I only learned for the first time last week. (Yes, yes, Watson has known that for years. I've heard it all before.) ok
3. What U.S. state borders two other states whose two-letter postal abbreviations are reversals of each other, like Minnesota (MN) and New Mexico (NM) are? Mississippi borders both Alabama (AL) and Louisiana (LA). correct
4. What 1517 document has a full title that ends with the phrase "on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences"? This was Martin Luther's "Ninety-Five Theses," which--contrary to popular belief--he never actually nailed onto a church door. (He used a Post-It.) correct. I was always amused to read the quote from a high school essay that said that Luther nailed 95 Protestants to the church door.
5. Who is still officially the "Eternal President" of his nation, despite having died in 1994? Kim Il-Sung is still officially president of North Korea, which is presumably why his nation is still doing as spectacularly as it was back when he was corporeally running the show. correct
6. What company made headlines last week by claiming to own a trademark on the word "footlong"? Subway tried to keep a midwestern store chain from using the word "footlong." I want this legal battle settled in the most sensible way possible: a cage match between that "Jared" guy and actor Ron Jeremy. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these American novels? Pat Conroy's The Lords of Discipline, Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, John Updike's Rabbit Run, Tom Wolfe's I Am Charlotte Simmons. The sport of basketball is a crucial plot element in each. You know, there are surprisingly few great basketball novels. I was trying to make this list longer than six and had no luck. (Jim Carroll's The Basketball Diaries is obviously not optimal for these purposes.) Kmac scores again from downtown!
1. The title of what classic 1954 novel is the literal English translation of the name of the demon Beelzebub? I am thinking of books with a title of "The
2. What comedian has said in interviews that her left earlobe has been measured as a quarter-inch longer than her right one? longer earlobe --> tugging on ear --> Carol Burnett
3. A 2001 rule change designed to make the game more exciting means that regulation table tennis matches are now played to how many points? I think it is 12
4. Name *two* Best Picture Oscar-winning films co-starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. an odd way to ask the question. The King's Speech and Shakespeare in Love (?). SIL was also a Miramax/Weinstein movie.
5. What are also called "Roentgen rays" in German-speaking countries? X rays
6. Who is the only currently serving U.S. governor who was also serving in that office more than thirty-five years ago? my governor, Jerry Brown
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these world nations--and no others that I can find? Finland, Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Thailand, Venezuela.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The tail of a comet always points in which direction? Away from the sun; it's the solar wind that "blows" ions away from the comet's nucleus. It's true that some comets have two or three tails, because dust and gases are affected differently by solar wind, but the principal tail (the only one whose direction is so predictably and satisfyingly straight!) always points directly away from the sun. correct
2. Before Santana plays "Black Magic Woman" in concert, the band often reminds the crowd that it's a cover of a song by what other band? It's a Fleetwood Mac song...something that, weirdly, I only learned for the first time last week. (Yes, yes, Watson has known that for years. I've heard it all before.) ok
3. What U.S. state borders two other states whose two-letter postal abbreviations are reversals of each other, like Minnesota (MN) and New Mexico (NM) are? Mississippi borders both Alabama (AL) and Louisiana (LA). correct
4. What 1517 document has a full title that ends with the phrase "on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences"? This was Martin Luther's "Ninety-Five Theses," which--contrary to popular belief--he never actually nailed onto a church door. (He used a Post-It.) correct. I was always amused to read the quote from a high school essay that said that Luther nailed 95 Protestants to the church door.
5. Who is still officially the "Eternal President" of his nation, despite having died in 1994? Kim Il-Sung is still officially president of North Korea, which is presumably why his nation is still doing as spectacularly as it was back when he was corporeally running the show. correct
6. What company made headlines last week by claiming to own a trademark on the word "footlong"? Subway tried to keep a midwestern store chain from using the word "footlong." I want this legal battle settled in the most sensible way possible: a cage match between that "Jared" guy and actor Ron Jeremy. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these American novels? Pat Conroy's The Lords of Discipline, Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, John Updike's Rabbit Run, Tom Wolfe's I Am Charlotte Simmons. The sport of basketball is a crucial plot element in each. You know, there are surprisingly few great basketball novels. I was trying to make this list longer than six and had no luck. (Jim Carroll's The Basketball Diaries is obviously not optimal for these purposes.) Kmac scores again from downtown!
