Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - January 24
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Who was the only U.S. president born during World War I? sigh. More presidential trivia? Ok. Reagan's centennial was recently, so someone younger than him but not much. Ford? GHW Bush? I'll guess Ford since I don't think that GHWB is at least 94 years old.
2. What's the only non-contagious disease that children can be vaccinated against? don't think that polio is contagious
3. Why has no one ever seen a full episode of the TV shows MILF Island, Gold Case, The Queen of Jordan, or America's Kids Got Singing? these sound like parody shows that you might have seen on a tv show like Saturday Night Live
4. In the first paragraph of a 1919 Booth Tarkington novel, what family is compared to the Medicis' Lorenzo the Magnificent? The Magnificent Ambersons
5. The Drake Passage lies between what two continents? South America and Antarctica
6. Which 2011 Oscar-hopeful film is based on a West End and Broadway theatrical hit performed using oversized puppets? War Horse
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these songs? "Daydream Believer," Weezer's "Dreamin'", "Fools Rush In," "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," "Guess I'm Doing Fine," "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," "Over the Rainbow," "Ramble On," "Winter Wonderland," "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." The lyrics all reference bluebirds.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What was traditionally located on an Old West town's "Boot Hill"? Gunfighters were buried on Boot Hill if they took, uh, early retirement. It was a cemetery. correct
2. A new study in Nature Geoscience magazine blames toxic algae in Monterey Bay for the real-life event that inspired what classic 1963 thriller? The seabird attacks that inspired Hitchcock's The Birds are now believed to have been caused by leaky septic tanks. Not so scary, then. OR IS IT?!? correct
3. The site of what venerable stadium is now the Citi Field parking lot? The winter of 2008-09 saw the demolition of the Mets' Shea Stadium, storied site of so many heroic--aw, who am I kidding, I'm not a Mets fan. correct
4. What country's southernmost city is Sanya, on Hainan Island? Hainan is the largest island in China, unless we're wink-winking about Taiwan. correct
5. What famed French anthropologist and "father of structuralism" once wrote, "Not a year goes by without my receiving an order for jeans"? Claude Levi-Strauss had a good sense of humor about his name, unlike his fellow structuralist Friedrich Wrangler. correct
6. The Welsh tourist village of Portmeirion hosts an annual "Six of One" convention for fans of what cult TV show? Portmeirion is where the puzzling Patrick McGoohan series The Prisoner filmed its exteriors. ("Six of One" is a reference to the title character's only appellation, Number 6.) ah, rats. People have said what a great show this was, but I still have never watched it.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these brands? Apple, Boost Mobile, Bounty, H&R Block, Honda Civic, Raid, Sara Lee, Winston. Each used or uses a slogan that's been critized by language snobs as suspect in grammar or usage. Respectively, if you're curious: "Think different," "Where you at?", "The quick picker upper," "You got people," "To each their own," "Kills bugs dead," "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee," and "Tastes good, like a cigarette should." Come on, Winston, don't you know it should be "AS a cigarette should?" Apparently? Oh, never mind. correct! Almost got full marks this week.
1. Who was the only U.S. president born during World War I? sigh. More presidential trivia? Ok. Reagan's centennial was recently, so someone younger than him but not much. Ford? GHW Bush? I'll guess Ford since I don't think that GHWB is at least 94 years old.
2. What's the only non-contagious disease that children can be vaccinated against? don't think that polio is contagious
3. Why has no one ever seen a full episode of the TV shows MILF Island, Gold Case, The Queen of Jordan, or America's Kids Got Singing? these sound like parody shows that you might have seen on a tv show like Saturday Night Live
4. In the first paragraph of a 1919 Booth Tarkington novel, what family is compared to the Medicis' Lorenzo the Magnificent? The Magnificent Ambersons
5. The Drake Passage lies between what two continents? South America and Antarctica
6. Which 2011 Oscar-hopeful film is based on a West End and Broadway theatrical hit performed using oversized puppets? War Horse
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these songs? "Daydream Believer," Weezer's "Dreamin'", "Fools Rush In," "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," "Guess I'm Doing Fine," "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," "Over the Rainbow," "Ramble On," "Winter Wonderland," "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." The lyrics all reference bluebirds.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What was traditionally located on an Old West town's "Boot Hill"? Gunfighters were buried on Boot Hill if they took, uh, early retirement. It was a cemetery. correct
2. A new study in Nature Geoscience magazine blames toxic algae in Monterey Bay for the real-life event that inspired what classic 1963 thriller? The seabird attacks that inspired Hitchcock's The Birds are now believed to have been caused by leaky septic tanks. Not so scary, then. OR IS IT?!? correct
3. The site of what venerable stadium is now the Citi Field parking lot? The winter of 2008-09 saw the demolition of the Mets' Shea Stadium, storied site of so many heroic--aw, who am I kidding, I'm not a Mets fan. correct
4. What country's southernmost city is Sanya, on Hainan Island? Hainan is the largest island in China, unless we're wink-winking about Taiwan. correct
5. What famed French anthropologist and "father of structuralism" once wrote, "Not a year goes by without my receiving an order for jeans"? Claude Levi-Strauss had a good sense of humor about his name, unlike his fellow structuralist Friedrich Wrangler. correct
6. The Welsh tourist village of Portmeirion hosts an annual "Six of One" convention for fans of what cult TV show? Portmeirion is where the puzzling Patrick McGoohan series The Prisoner filmed its exteriors. ("Six of One" is a reference to the title character's only appellation, Number 6.) ah, rats. People have said what a great show this was, but I still have never watched it.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these brands? Apple, Boost Mobile, Bounty, H&R Block, Honda Civic, Raid, Sara Lee, Winston. Each used or uses a slogan that's been critized by language snobs as suspect in grammar or usage. Respectively, if you're curious: "Think different," "Where you at?", "The quick picker upper," "You got people," "To each their own," "Kills bugs dead," "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee," and "Tastes good, like a cigarette should." Come on, Winston, don't you know it should be "AS a cigarette should?" Apparently? Oh, never mind. correct! Almost got full marks this week.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - January 17
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What was traditionally located on an Old West town's "Boot Hill"? the town graveyard
2. A new study in Nature Geoscience magazine blames toxic algae in Monterey Bay for the real-life event that inspired what classic 1963 thriller? 1963 thriller --> The Birds
3. The site of what venerable stadium is now the Citi Field parking lot? Citi Field --> NY Mets --> Shea Stadium
4. What country's southernmost city is Sanya, on Hainan Island? Hainan Island --> China
5. What famed French anthropologist and "father of structuralism" once wrote, "Not a year goes by without my receiving an order for jeans"? jeans ---> Claude Levi-Strauss
6. The Welsh tourist village of Portmeirion hosts an annual "Six of One" convention for fans of what cult TV show? Six of One --> Lost?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these brands? Apple, Boost Mobile, Bounty, H&R Block, Honda Civic, Raid, Sara Lee, Winston. not evident at first glance. what common characteristics do brands have? logo, slogan, sponsorship. After some thought and research, I have a guess. They all have had gramatically incorrect slogans. Winston most famously offered "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" when it should be "as a cigarette should." Boost Mobile - "Where you at?" H&R Block - "You got people." Honda Civic - "To each their own." Apple - "Think different." Yes, I like this answer.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Madonna's upcoming feature-length directorial debut, W.E., is named for what famous pair of lovers? The movie is about American divorcee Wallis Simpson (the W.) and King Edward VIII (the E.) Madonna's not just the director, she's also the British dialect coach for all her hours. really would have helped to have others to brainstorm with
2. A calyx made of sepals is the bottommost part of what? The sepals are those green not-petals at the base of a flower. correct
3. What famed rock bassist retired in 1992 to open a chain of restaurants called Sticky Fingers Cafe? Sticky Fingers is a Stones album, and this is what bassist Bill Wyman is doing with his retirement. That's right, he quit the biggest rock band in the history of the world to serve fish and chips to tourists. correct
4. In what country were boxer Manny Pacquiao and quarterback Tim Tebow both born? The Philippines (where Tebow's dad was a missionary). You know, I think we had a Manny Pacquiao question not long ago, but I couldn't resist the Tebow connection. Have a blessed day. correct
5. What position have Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli filled since 2005? They are the judges on TV's Dancing with the "Stars." Sorry, autocorrect just added the sarcastic quotes. I thought it might be a reality show, but had no idea which one
6. P. D. James's new murder mystery Death Comes to Pemberley is an unasked-for sequel to what classic novel? Pemberley is the Derbyshire estate of Mr. Darcy, the "Prejudice" of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Wait, unless he's "Pride." a correct guess!
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents and no others? Jefferson, Madison, Garfield, Wilson, and Eisenhower? They were all university presidents. (Eisenhower, you may or may not have been aware, headed up Columbia between World War II and his political career.) Also, I believe they all faced lots of trouble from the crazy pranksters in Delta House! correct
1. What was traditionally located on an Old West town's "Boot Hill"? the town graveyard
2. A new study in Nature Geoscience magazine blames toxic algae in Monterey Bay for the real-life event that inspired what classic 1963 thriller? 1963 thriller --> The Birds
3. The site of what venerable stadium is now the Citi Field parking lot? Citi Field --> NY Mets --> Shea Stadium
4. What country's southernmost city is Sanya, on Hainan Island? Hainan Island --> China
5. What famed French anthropologist and "father of structuralism" once wrote, "Not a year goes by without my receiving an order for jeans"? jeans ---> Claude Levi-Strauss
6. The Welsh tourist village of Portmeirion hosts an annual "Six of One" convention for fans of what cult TV show? Six of One --> Lost?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these brands? Apple, Boost Mobile, Bounty, H&R Block, Honda Civic, Raid, Sara Lee, Winston. not evident at first glance. what common characteristics do brands have? logo, slogan, sponsorship. After some thought and research, I have a guess. They all have had gramatically incorrect slogans. Winston most famously offered "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" when it should be "as a cigarette should." Boost Mobile - "Where you at?" H&R Block - "You got people." Honda Civic - "To each their own." Apple - "Think different." Yes, I like this answer.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Madonna's upcoming feature-length directorial debut, W.E., is named for what famous pair of lovers? The movie is about American divorcee Wallis Simpson (the W.) and King Edward VIII (the E.) Madonna's not just the director, she's also the British dialect coach for all her hours. really would have helped to have others to brainstorm with
2. A calyx made of sepals is the bottommost part of what? The sepals are those green not-petals at the base of a flower. correct
3. What famed rock bassist retired in 1992 to open a chain of restaurants called Sticky Fingers Cafe? Sticky Fingers is a Stones album, and this is what bassist Bill Wyman is doing with his retirement. That's right, he quit the biggest rock band in the history of the world to serve fish and chips to tourists. correct
4. In what country were boxer Manny Pacquiao and quarterback Tim Tebow both born? The Philippines (where Tebow's dad was a missionary). You know, I think we had a Manny Pacquiao question not long ago, but I couldn't resist the Tebow connection. Have a blessed day. correct
5. What position have Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli filled since 2005? They are the judges on TV's Dancing with the "Stars." Sorry, autocorrect just added the sarcastic quotes. I thought it might be a reality show, but had no idea which one
6. P. D. James's new murder mystery Death Comes to Pemberley is an unasked-for sequel to what classic novel? Pemberley is the Derbyshire estate of Mr. Darcy, the "Prejudice" of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Wait, unless he's "Pride." a correct guess!
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents and no others? Jefferson, Madison, Garfield, Wilson, and Eisenhower? They were all university presidents. (Eisenhower, you may or may not have been aware, headed up Columbia between World War II and his political career.) Also, I believe they all faced lots of trouble from the crazy pranksters in Delta House! correct
Friday, January 13, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - January 10
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Madonna's upcoming feature-length directorial debut, W.E., is named for what famous pair of lovers? are W and E the initials of the lovers? is this a couple from literature or antiquity? It's not coming to me.
2. A calyx made of sepals is the bottommost part of what? a flower
3. What famed rock bassist retired in 1992 to open a chain of restaurants called Sticky Fingers Cafe? Sticky Fingers --> Rolling Stones --> Bill Wyman
4. In what country were boxer Manny Pacquiao and quarterback Tim Tebow both born? Philippines
5. What position have Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli filled since 2005? I do not recognize any of these people. Why 2005? Is that significant? Is this an appointed position like Poet Laureate? Or have they been hosts or coaches of some kind on a show that I don't watch like Top Chef or any of the dancing shows?
6. P. D. James's new murder mystery Death Comes to Pemberley is an unasked-for sequel to what classic novel? Pemberley sounds like something from an Austen novel. Pride and Prejudice?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents and no others? Jefferson, Madison, Garfield, Wilson, and Eisenhower? I believe that all served as college presidents or president-equivalent. Virginia (Jefferson and Madison); Princeton (Wilson); Columbia (Eisenhower). Garfield served as principal of Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (later named Hiram College).
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What 1980s movie protagonist is accidentally dubbed "Pierre Cardin" in the French translation of his film debut? In the original version, he's called "Calvin Klein," but changing it to a French designer makes the joke work for the American-designer-hating French. This is Back to the Future's Marty McFly. correct. Thanks, Alan and Harmony!
2. Which calendar month is observed as Black History Month in the U.S. and Canada? February--the shortest, coldest month, as Chris Rock once observed. correct
3. What has s, p, d, and f subshells? Those are the orbitals in which electrons are arranged around the atom, in one popular model. correct
4. What country is named for the "Lion Mountains" that Pedro de Cintra mapped around its harbor in 1462? Pedro de Cintra was Portuguese, so I'm not sure why the country he named has the weird Spanish-Italianate name of "Sierra Leone." correct
5. What married couple won 2011 CMT Music Awards for Male *and* Female Videos of the Year? Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, or as country fans call the celebrity megacouple, Blakanda Lambelton.
6. What English clergyman and economist published An Essay on the Principle of Population anonymously in 1798? This is the tract in which Malthusian worries about population growth were first argued by, well, Thomas Malthus. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these TV series and mini-series? The Beverly Hillbiliies, Davy Crockett, Firefly, Gilligan's Island, Have Gun Will Travel, The Rebel. Each show's theme song is explicitly entitled a "Ballad": "The Ballad of Serenity," "The Ballad of Paladin," etc. ok, but I think my answer is correct too. If I was submitting my answers for scoring, I would argue the point.
1. Madonna's upcoming feature-length directorial debut, W.E., is named for what famous pair of lovers? are W and E the initials of the lovers? is this a couple from literature or antiquity? It's not coming to me.
2. A calyx made of sepals is the bottommost part of what? a flower
3. What famed rock bassist retired in 1992 to open a chain of restaurants called Sticky Fingers Cafe? Sticky Fingers --> Rolling Stones --> Bill Wyman
4. In what country were boxer Manny Pacquiao and quarterback Tim Tebow both born? Philippines
5. What position have Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli filled since 2005? I do not recognize any of these people. Why 2005? Is that significant? Is this an appointed position like Poet Laureate? Or have they been hosts or coaches of some kind on a show that I don't watch like Top Chef or any of the dancing shows?
6. P. D. James's new murder mystery Death Comes to Pemberley is an unasked-for sequel to what classic novel? Pemberley sounds like something from an Austen novel. Pride and Prejudice?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents and no others? Jefferson, Madison, Garfield, Wilson, and Eisenhower? I believe that all served as college presidents or president-equivalent. Virginia (Jefferson and Madison); Princeton (Wilson); Columbia (Eisenhower). Garfield served as principal of Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (later named Hiram College).
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What 1980s movie protagonist is accidentally dubbed "Pierre Cardin" in the French translation of his film debut? In the original version, he's called "Calvin Klein," but changing it to a French designer makes the joke work for the American-designer-hating French. This is Back to the Future's Marty McFly. correct. Thanks, Alan and Harmony!
2. Which calendar month is observed as Black History Month in the U.S. and Canada? February--the shortest, coldest month, as Chris Rock once observed. correct
3. What has s, p, d, and f subshells? Those are the orbitals in which electrons are arranged around the atom, in one popular model. correct
4. What country is named for the "Lion Mountains" that Pedro de Cintra mapped around its harbor in 1462? Pedro de Cintra was Portuguese, so I'm not sure why the country he named has the weird Spanish-Italianate name of "Sierra Leone." correct
5. What married couple won 2011 CMT Music Awards for Male *and* Female Videos of the Year? Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, or as country fans call the celebrity megacouple, Blakanda Lambelton.
6. What English clergyman and economist published An Essay on the Principle of Population anonymously in 1798? This is the tract in which Malthusian worries about population growth were first argued by, well, Thomas Malthus. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these TV series and mini-series? The Beverly Hillbiliies, Davy Crockett, Firefly, Gilligan's Island, Have Gun Will Travel, The Rebel. Each show's theme song is explicitly entitled a "Ballad": "The Ballad of Serenity," "The Ballad of Paladin," etc. ok, but I think my answer is correct too. If I was submitting my answers for scoring, I would argue the point.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - January 3
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What 1980s movie protagonist is accidentally dubbed "Pierre Cardin" in the French translation of his film debut? With help from friends Alan and Harmony, my guess is Marty McFly (or as he is known to his mother in 1955, Calvin Klein)
2. Which calendar month is observed as Black History Month in the U.S. and Canada? I *think* it is February
3. What has s, p, d, and f subshells? electrons
4. What country is named for the "Lion Mountains" that Pedro de Cintra mapped around its harbor in 1462? Sierra Leone
5. What married couple won 2011 CMT Music Awards for Male *and* Female Videos of the Year? Trisha Yearwood and her husband. Travis Tritt?
6. What English clergyman and economist published An Essay on the Principle of Population anonymously in 1798? Population ---> Malthus?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these TV series and mini-series? The Beverly Hillbillies, Davy Crockett, Firefly, Gilligan's Island, Have Gun Will Travel, The Rebel. Some iconic theme songs among these shows. I think I found a common thread. Each theme song was written or co-written by one of the shows creators.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What's the American version of the 1997 Swedish TV hit Expedition Robinson called? It's a Robinson Crusoe/Swiss Family Robinson reference. Here in the (dumber) rest of the world, we call it Survivor. correct
2. What type of dog, encompassing 28 different breeds, was so named because it was bred to burrow in the earth? "Terrier" comes from "terra," get it? correct
3. What length of time is the life of a current U.S. patent, as well as the span of a marriage celebrating the "china anniversary"? Patents, unlike most marriages, last twenty years. I was within 15% of the correct answer
4. The Marco Polo Club is the appropriately named frequent-flyer program of what Hong Kong-based airline? In Polo's day, northern China was called Cathay. Hong Kong's flag carrier is Cathay Pacific. correct
5. What 1969 musical title figure is told he's "really made the grade, and the papers want to know whose shirts you wear"? Ground control to Major Tom! History does not record whether the good Major wore Gant or Van Heusen or what. when you read "musical title figure," don't you think of a stage production or a musical on the big screen? Well, I did.
6. What modern-day nation was once ruled by Merovingians and Carolingians? France may not have had the longest-lasting dynasties, but it did have the ones with the longest names. Take that, Plantagenets. correct on a semi-guess
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these entertaining people? Roy Acuff, Melvin Belli, Clark Gable, Benny Goodman, Michael Jackson, Steve McQueen, Roy Rogers, Mack Sennett? Each is sometimes referred to as "the King of" his respective field: Country, Torts, Hollywood, Swing, Pop, Cool, Cowboys, and Comedy. I hope to see my own name on that list someday due to my (IMHO) world-class level of macrame expertise. correct
1. What 1980s movie protagonist is accidentally dubbed "Pierre Cardin" in the French translation of his film debut? With help from friends Alan and Harmony, my guess is Marty McFly (or as he is known to his mother in 1955, Calvin Klein)
2. Which calendar month is observed as Black History Month in the U.S. and Canada? I *think* it is February
3. What has s, p, d, and f subshells? electrons
4. What country is named for the "Lion Mountains" that Pedro de Cintra mapped around its harbor in 1462? Sierra Leone
5. What married couple won 2011 CMT Music Awards for Male *and* Female Videos of the Year? Trisha Yearwood and her husband. Travis Tritt?
6. What English clergyman and economist published An Essay on the Principle of Population anonymously in 1798? Population ---> Malthus?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these TV series and mini-series? The Beverly Hillbillies, Davy Crockett, Firefly, Gilligan's Island, Have Gun Will Travel, The Rebel. Some iconic theme songs among these shows. I think I found a common thread. Each theme song was written or co-written by one of the shows creators.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What's the American version of the 1997 Swedish TV hit Expedition Robinson called? It's a Robinson Crusoe/Swiss Family Robinson reference. Here in the (dumber) rest of the world, we call it Survivor. correct
2. What type of dog, encompassing 28 different breeds, was so named because it was bred to burrow in the earth? "Terrier" comes from "terra," get it? correct
3. What length of time is the life of a current U.S. patent, as well as the span of a marriage celebrating the "china anniversary"? Patents, unlike most marriages, last twenty years. I was within 15% of the correct answer
4. The Marco Polo Club is the appropriately named frequent-flyer program of what Hong Kong-based airline? In Polo's day, northern China was called Cathay. Hong Kong's flag carrier is Cathay Pacific. correct
5. What 1969 musical title figure is told he's "really made the grade, and the papers want to know whose shirts you wear"? Ground control to Major Tom! History does not record whether the good Major wore Gant or Van Heusen or what. when you read "musical title figure," don't you think of a stage production or a musical on the big screen? Well, I did.
6. What modern-day nation was once ruled by Merovingians and Carolingians? France may not have had the longest-lasting dynasties, but it did have the ones with the longest names. Take that, Plantagenets. correct on a semi-guess
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these entertaining people? Roy Acuff, Melvin Belli, Clark Gable, Benny Goodman, Michael Jackson, Steve McQueen, Roy Rogers, Mack Sennett? Each is sometimes referred to as "the King of" his respective field: Country, Torts, Hollywood, Swing, Pop, Cool, Cowboys, and Comedy. I hope to see my own name on that list someday due to my (IMHO) world-class level of macrame expertise. correct
