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!
