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
