Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - April 24
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Who would traditionally wear a chador? a Muslim woman
2. Charles J. Shields' recent biography And So It Goes is about the life of what American author? Kurt Vonnegut
3. TV's Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olsen recently purchased a pub in what U.S. city? Philadelphia (where it's always sunny)
4. The current U.S. president and vice president both have the same number of letters in their last name: "Obama" and "Biden." Who was vice president the last time this happened? Nixon and Agnew
5. The NBA's Lloyd Free and Ron Artest both added what word to their names when they legally changed them? World
6. Because of their disklike shape, what are thrombocytes more commonly called? Aren't these T-cells?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these famous people? Henry Adams, Jackson Browne, Henry Fonda, Katherine Graham, Fritz Haber, Courtney Love, Joan Rivers, Dr. Seuss, Percy Shelley, Joseph Stalin. All had spouses who committed suicide
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Battles at Goose Green and Port Stanley were part of what short-lived military conflict? Stanley is the capital of the Falkland Islands, where Britain and Argentina were at war in 1982. correct
2. Who recently became the first performer to win the "Razzie" Award for Worst Actor and Worst Actress in the same year? Adam Sandler played both Jack and Jill with equal skill. correct
3. Webster's defines a blacksmith as a worker in iron and a whitesmith as a worker in what other metal? According to Merriam-Webster, a whitesmith is a tinsmith. correct
4. Which of the five "Great Lakes" extends furthest north? Even the southernmost point of Lake Superior is north of the other four lakes. correct
5. If reflections are counted as different pieces, how many different falling shapes are there in the original Tetris? There are seven "tetrominoes." wrong, but I claim ignorance of most video game trivia
6. Saxophonist Jake Clemons is the newest member of which band? He replaced his late uncle Clarence as Bruce Springsteen's sax player in the E Street Band. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these TV shows? The Addams Family, Bewitched, The Dukes of Hazzard, Full House, Make Room for Daddy, My Three Sons, Petticoat Junction, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Two and a Half Men. Not too tough this week, especially for fans of old TV: all featured "uncle" characters. I like to imagine Uncle Junior from Sopranos replacing Uncle Jessie from Dukes of Hazzard and vice versa. curses! I followed a red herring thread on this Q7
1. Who would traditionally wear a chador? a Muslim woman
2. Charles J. Shields' recent biography And So It Goes is about the life of what American author? Kurt Vonnegut
3. TV's Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olsen recently purchased a pub in what U.S. city? Philadelphia (where it's always sunny)
4. The current U.S. president and vice president both have the same number of letters in their last name: "Obama" and "Biden." Who was vice president the last time this happened? Nixon and Agnew
5. The NBA's Lloyd Free and Ron Artest both added what word to their names when they legally changed them? World
6. Because of their disklike shape, what are thrombocytes more commonly called? Aren't these T-cells?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these famous people? Henry Adams, Jackson Browne, Henry Fonda, Katherine Graham, Fritz Haber, Courtney Love, Joan Rivers, Dr. Seuss, Percy Shelley, Joseph Stalin. All had spouses who committed suicide
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Battles at Goose Green and Port Stanley were part of what short-lived military conflict? Stanley is the capital of the Falkland Islands, where Britain and Argentina were at war in 1982. correct
2. Who recently became the first performer to win the "Razzie" Award for Worst Actor and Worst Actress in the same year? Adam Sandler played both Jack and Jill with equal skill. correct
3. Webster's defines a blacksmith as a worker in iron and a whitesmith as a worker in what other metal? According to Merriam-Webster, a whitesmith is a tinsmith. correct
4. Which of the five "Great Lakes" extends furthest north? Even the southernmost point of Lake Superior is north of the other four lakes. correct
5. If reflections are counted as different pieces, how many different falling shapes are there in the original Tetris? There are seven "tetrominoes." wrong, but I claim ignorance of most video game trivia
6. Saxophonist Jake Clemons is the newest member of which band? He replaced his late uncle Clarence as Bruce Springsteen's sax player in the E Street Band. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these TV shows? The Addams Family, Bewitched, The Dukes of Hazzard, Full House, Make Room for Daddy, My Three Sons, Petticoat Junction, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Two and a Half Men. Not too tough this week, especially for fans of old TV: all featured "uncle" characters. I like to imagine Uncle Junior from Sopranos replacing Uncle Jessie from Dukes of Hazzard and vice versa. curses! I followed a red herring thread on this Q7
Friday, April 20, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - April 17
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Battles at Goose Green and Port Stanley were part of what short-lived military conflict? short-lived is the part of the question that jumps out at me. Falkland Islands War? It has been in the news on the occasion of the 30th anniversary.
2. Who recently became the first performer to win the "Razzie" Award for Worst Actor and Worst Actress in the same year? Adam Sandler
3. Webster's defines a blacksmith as a worker in iron and a whitesmith as a worker in what other metal? tin is a white metal --> tin
4. Which of the five "Great Lakes" extends furthest north? Superior which goes way north above Michigan would seem to be the furthest north
5. If reflections are counted as different pieces, how many different falling shapes are there in the original Tetris? 10?
6. Saxophonist Jake Clemons is the newest member of which band? the heart-stopping, pants dropping, house-rocking, earth-
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these TV shows? The Addams Family, Bewitched, The Dukes of Hazzard, Full House, Make Room for Daddy, My Three Sons, Petticoat Junction, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Two and a Half Men. I don't know about all of them, but many have replaced cast members in the middle of the run. Two (or more) actors shared a single role.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The record-selling album subtitled "Songs from District 12 and Beyond" is the soundtrack to what? "District 12" is the home region of Katniss Everdene, protagonist of The Hunger Games. The soundtrack album topped the charts in its debut and has already sold more digital copies than any other movie soundtrack in history. how does it compare to the best selling movie soundtrack of all time, The Bodyguard?
2. Name one of the two current U.S. state capitals that was once the nation's capital as well (that is, Congress met there). Trenton and Annapolis. Oh, there was an "Albany Congress" as well, but that was in 1754 and therefore predated the U.S. by quite a bit. correct
3. Which composer wrote many of his best-known works while biting a metal road attached to the soundboard of his piano? This is the vibration method that let Beethoven "hear" his later compositions even after going deaf. I think Skrillex might do the same thing? correct
4. Kentucky's Final Four win moves it within three titles of what school's record for having won the NCAA basketball championship a record 11 times? UCLA, of course, mostly thanks to the John Wooden era, which included a remarkable ten wins in twelve seasons. correct
5. Lodz is the largest city in what country not to lie on the Vistula River? The Vistula just SOUNDS like a disgusting skin ailment. It's actually the longest river in Poland. correct
6. What electrical quantity is measured by an ohmmeter? Ohms measure resistance. Resistance is futile. Therefore, ohmmeters will be assimilated. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these big movies, and no others that I'm aware of? The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Friday the 13th, Ice Age, Jackass, Jaws, Madagascar, Men in Black, Spy Kids, Toy Story, Transformers. These are all movies whose second sequel (i.e. "part three") was the first released in 3-D. I now see that I missed Harold and Kumar...any other series go to three dimensions in their third outing? correct!
1. Battles at Goose Green and Port Stanley were part of what short-lived military conflict? short-lived is the part of the question that jumps out at me. Falkland Islands War? It has been in the news on the occasion of the 30th anniversary.
2. Who recently became the first performer to win the "Razzie" Award for Worst Actor and Worst Actress in the same year? Adam Sandler
3. Webster's defines a blacksmith as a worker in iron and a whitesmith as a worker in what other metal? tin is a white metal --> tin
4. Which of the five "Great Lakes" extends furthest north? Superior which goes way north above Michigan would seem to be the furthest north
5. If reflections are counted as different pieces, how many different falling shapes are there in the original Tetris? 10?
6. Saxophonist Jake Clemons is the newest member of which band? the heart-stopping, pants dropping, house-rocking, earth-
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these TV shows? The Addams Family, Bewitched, The Dukes of Hazzard, Full House, Make Room for Daddy, My Three Sons, Petticoat Junction, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Two and a Half Men. I don't know about all of them, but many have replaced cast members in the middle of the run. Two (or more) actors shared a single role.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The record-selling album subtitled "Songs from District 12 and Beyond" is the soundtrack to what? "District 12" is the home region of Katniss Everdene, protagonist of The Hunger Games. The soundtrack album topped the charts in its debut and has already sold more digital copies than any other movie soundtrack in history. how does it compare to the best selling movie soundtrack of all time, The Bodyguard?
2. Name one of the two current U.S. state capitals that was once the nation's capital as well (that is, Congress met there). Trenton and Annapolis. Oh, there was an "Albany Congress" as well, but that was in 1754 and therefore predated the U.S. by quite a bit. correct
3. Which composer wrote many of his best-known works while biting a metal road attached to the soundboard of his piano? This is the vibration method that let Beethoven "hear" his later compositions even after going deaf. I think Skrillex might do the same thing? correct
4. Kentucky's Final Four win moves it within three titles of what school's record for having won the NCAA basketball championship a record 11 times? UCLA, of course, mostly thanks to the John Wooden era, which included a remarkable ten wins in twelve seasons. correct
5. Lodz is the largest city in what country not to lie on the Vistula River? The Vistula just SOUNDS like a disgusting skin ailment. It's actually the longest river in Poland. correct
6. What electrical quantity is measured by an ohmmeter? Ohms measure resistance. Resistance is futile. Therefore, ohmmeters will be assimilated. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these big movies, and no others that I'm aware of? The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Friday the 13th, Ice Age, Jackass, Jaws, Madagascar, Men in Black, Spy Kids, Toy Story, Transformers. These are all movies whose second sequel (i.e. "part three") was the first released in 3-D. I now see that I missed Harold and Kumar...any other series go to three dimensions in their third outing? correct!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - April 10
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The record-selling album subtitled "Songs from District 12 and Beyond" is the soundtrack to what? Is this a reference to a movie or stage play? The Bodyguard is the top selling soundtrack of all time. Would not be a Glee soundtrack, would it?
2. Name one of the two current U.S. state capitals that was once the nation's capital as well (that is, Congress met there). Philadelphia and NYC are not current state capitals. Gosh, I don't really know. A guess - Annapolis.
3. Which composer wrote many of his best-known works while biting a metal road attached to the soundboard of his piano? Beethoven (perhaps he needed to bite the rod to feel the sound because he was deaf)
4. Kentucky's Final Four win moves it within three titles of what school's record for having won the NCAA basketball championship a record 11 times? U clap-clap-clap C clap-clap-clap L clap-clap-clap A clap-clap-clap U-C-L-A fight fight fight!
5. Lodz is the largest city in what country not to lie on the Vistula River? Poland
6. What electrical quantity is meaured by an ohmmeter? ohm is a measure of resistance
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these big movies, and no others that I'm aware of? The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Friday the 13th, Ice Age, Jackass, Jaws, Madagascar, Men in Black, Spy Kids, Toy Story, Transformers. Something about 3-D sequels? Sequels with 3-D in the title?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What artist calls her fans Little Monsters, a nod to her 2009 album The Fame Monster? Little Monsters love the big monster, Lady Gaga. correct
2. Oyster, hedgehog, lobster, and abalone are, besides being animals, all types of what food? They're types of mushrooms. Try the hedgehog ones on pizza, you can really taste the hedgehog. correct
3. What historical event led to the summer months being renamed Messidor, Thermidor, and Fructidor? These were among the 12 renamed months of the French Republican calendar, unveiled after the French Revolution. Turns out nobody wanted a ten-day week, not even Enlightenment revolutionaries. Barbara Tuchman could have written The Guns of Fructidor. Daisy Duck's nieces would have been April, May and Messidor. The Decemberists would have recorded Thermidor, Thermidor!
4. The 2010 book Sterling's Gold, collecting the title character's "Wit and Wisdom," is a spinoff of what TV show? Sterling's Gold is the name of the rambling memoir by adman Roger Sterling on AMC's Mad Men. "I always liked chocolate ice cream, but my mother made us eat vanilla..." correct
5. What classic 1916 stage comedy ends with the author's note that "Galatea never does quite like" the title character, since "his relation to her is too godlike to be altogether agreeable"? In Greek myth, Galatea is the statue sculpted by Pygmalion, for whom Shaw named his famous play. correct
6. From 1960 to 1973, who won 24 women's singles tennis Grand Slam titles, still a lifetime record? Nobdody has won more Grand Slams than the aptly named Margaret Court--not Graf, not Navratilova, not nobody. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these countries? Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Malaysia, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United States. These are all the countries that have been home to the world's tallest building (according to one definition of "building" anyway--I didn't count mostly uninhabitable towers) at one point or another in the Earth's history. Saudi Arabia should be added to the list in just a few years. this is actually kind of interesting. I did not know about the church in Estonia
1. The record-selling album subtitled "Songs from District 12 and Beyond" is the soundtrack to what? Is this a reference to a movie or stage play? The Bodyguard is the top selling soundtrack of all time. Would not be a Glee soundtrack, would it?
2. Name one of the two current U.S. state capitals that was once the nation's capital as well (that is, Congress met there). Philadelphia and NYC are not current state capitals. Gosh, I don't really know. A guess - Annapolis.
3. Which composer wrote many of his best-known works while biting a metal road attached to the soundboard of his piano? Beethoven (perhaps he needed to bite the rod to feel the sound because he was deaf)
4. Kentucky's Final Four win moves it within three titles of what school's record for having won the NCAA basketball championship a record 11 times? U clap-clap-clap C clap-clap-clap L clap-clap-clap A clap-clap-clap U-C-L-A fight fight fight!
5. Lodz is the largest city in what country not to lie on the Vistula River? Poland
6. What electrical quantity is meaured by an ohmmeter? ohm is a measure of resistance
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these big movies, and no others that I'm aware of? The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Friday the 13th, Ice Age, Jackass, Jaws, Madagascar, Men in Black, Spy Kids, Toy Story, Transformers. Something about 3-D sequels? Sequels with 3-D in the title?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What artist calls her fans Little Monsters, a nod to her 2009 album The Fame Monster? Little Monsters love the big monster, Lady Gaga. correct
2. Oyster, hedgehog, lobster, and abalone are, besides being animals, all types of what food? They're types of mushrooms. Try the hedgehog ones on pizza, you can really taste the hedgehog. correct
3. What historical event led to the summer months being renamed Messidor, Thermidor, and Fructidor? These were among the 12 renamed months of the French Republican calendar, unveiled after the French Revolution. Turns out nobody wanted a ten-day week, not even Enlightenment revolutionaries. Barbara Tuchman could have written The Guns of Fructidor. Daisy Duck's nieces would have been April, May and Messidor. The Decemberists would have recorded Thermidor, Thermidor!
4. The 2010 book Sterling's Gold, collecting the title character's "Wit and Wisdom," is a spinoff of what TV show? Sterling's Gold is the name of the rambling memoir by adman Roger Sterling on AMC's Mad Men. "I always liked chocolate ice cream, but my mother made us eat vanilla..." correct
5. What classic 1916 stage comedy ends with the author's note that "Galatea never does quite like" the title character, since "his relation to her is too godlike to be altogether agreeable"? In Greek myth, Galatea is the statue sculpted by Pygmalion, for whom Shaw named his famous play. correct
6. From 1960 to 1973, who won 24 women's singles tennis Grand Slam titles, still a lifetime record? Nobdody has won more Grand Slams than the aptly named Margaret Court--not Graf, not Navratilova, not nobody. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these countries? Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Malaysia, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United States. These are all the countries that have been home to the world's tallest building (according to one definition of "building" anyway--I didn't count mostly uninhabitable towers) at one point or another in the Earth's history. Saudi Arabia should be added to the list in just a few years. this is actually kind of interesting. I did not know about the church in Estonia
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - April 3
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What artist calls her fans Little Monsters, a nod to her 2009 album The Fame Monster? I don't know the term or the album so I will have to guess. Lady Gaga?
2. Oyster, hedgehog, lobster, and abalone are, besides being animals, all types of what food? mushrooms
3. What historical event led to the summer months being renamed Messidor, Thermidor, and Fructidor? When was Gryffendor? Shouldn't the 8th month be called Humidor? hahaha. But seriously. The summer months as we know them already have Roman names - July (Julius Caesar); August (Caesar Augustus). Were Messidor, Thermidor, Fructidor perhaps the names of the months during Greek times? But they appear to have Latin roots. I am very confused.
4. The 2010 book Sterling's Gold, collecting the title character's "Wit and Wisdom," is a spinoff of what TV show? Roger Sterling --> Mad Men
5. What classic 1916 stage comedy ends with the author's note that "Galatea never does quite like" the title character, since "his relation to her is too godlike to be altogether agreeable"? What playwrights were active in 1916? Too late for Wilde. Shaw or O'Neill. O'Neill wrote a comedy? I don't think so. Galatea is probably an important clue. A figure from Greek mythology perhaps? Shaw comedy - not Saint Joan or Picture of Dorian Gray. Oh of course! Pygmalion.
6. From 1960 to 1973, who won 24 women's singles tennis Grand Slam titles, still a lifetime record? Margaret Court
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these countries? Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Malaysia, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United States. Full disclosure that I accidentally saw the answer. The countries that have been the home of the world's tallest buildings throughout history.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The star of what current TV show is also one half of the musical duo She & Him? New Girl's Zooey Deschanel is the "She" of She & Him. M. Ward, the "Him," doesn't have a show yet, but I would love to see him as the rookie cop partner in some Law & Order spinoff. correct
2. What airplane first did essentially the same thing that the plane called Bockscar also did three days later? Bockscar dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The name of the plane that dropped the Hiroshima bomb was Enola Gay, named for the pilot's mother. Wow, talk about a mixed compliment for your mom. I don't believe that I ever knew the name of the other plane.
3. In medieval fables, what kind of animal is Chanticleer? He's a rooster, the sworn enemy of Reynard the Fox. correct
4. Of the forty performers who have won acting Oscars since 2002, who was the only one who didn't give an acceptance speech? Heath Ledger, for reasons you can probably figure out in hindsight. duh, of course
5. What unit of computer memory contains one thousand gigabytes? That's a terabyte. I look forward to many earnest emails informing me that a terabyte actually has 1,024 terabytes. Yeah yeah yeah. Both definitions are true. correct
6. What nickname did William Calhoun use as one of the biggest pro wrestling stars of the 1950s and 1960s? He had a country-boy gimmick and was named "Haystack(s)" Calhoun. Not sure if he was as tall as a haystack, or had a needle hidden in him, or hobos slept on him, or what. my $0.02 - this is a terrible question. Obscure sport and obscure figure in that sport. Might as well ask about bullfighting or roller derby.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these songs? "The Bad Touch" by the Bloodhound Gang, "Beautiful Day" by U2, "Born to Die" by Lana Del Rey, "Come Back to Me" by Janet Jackson, "Justify My Love" by Madonna, "Let's Make Love" by Faith Hill, "Nice & Slow" by Usher, "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor, "Say (All I Need)" by OneRepublic, "Someone Like You" by Adele. Their videos were all shot in Paris. correct!
1. What artist calls her fans Little Monsters, a nod to her 2009 album The Fame Monster? I don't know the term or the album so I will have to guess. Lady Gaga?
2. Oyster, hedgehog, lobster, and abalone are, besides being animals, all types of what food? mushrooms
3. What historical event led to the summer months being renamed Messidor, Thermidor, and Fructidor? When was Gryffendor? Shouldn't the 8th month be called Humidor? hahaha. But seriously. The summer months as we know them already have Roman names - July (Julius Caesar); August (Caesar Augustus). Were Messidor, Thermidor, Fructidor perhaps the names of the months during Greek times? But they appear to have Latin roots. I am very confused.
4. The 2010 book Sterling's Gold, collecting the title character's "Wit and Wisdom," is a spinoff of what TV show? Roger Sterling --> Mad Men
5. What classic 1916 stage comedy ends with the author's note that "Galatea never does quite like" the title character, since "his relation to her is too godlike to be altogether agreeable"? What playwrights were active in 1916? Too late for Wilde. Shaw or O'Neill. O'Neill wrote a comedy? I don't think so. Galatea is probably an important clue. A figure from Greek mythology perhaps? Shaw comedy - not Saint Joan or Picture of Dorian Gray. Oh of course! Pygmalion.
6. From 1960 to 1973, who won 24 women's singles tennis Grand Slam titles, still a lifetime record? Margaret Court
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these countries? Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Malaysia, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United States. Full disclosure that I accidentally saw the answer. The countries that have been the home of the world's tallest buildings throughout history.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The star of what current TV show is also one half of the musical duo She & Him? New Girl's Zooey Deschanel is the "She" of She & Him. M. Ward, the "Him," doesn't have a show yet, but I would love to see him as the rookie cop partner in some Law & Order spinoff. correct
2. What airplane first did essentially the same thing that the plane called Bockscar also did three days later? Bockscar dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The name of the plane that dropped the Hiroshima bomb was Enola Gay, named for the pilot's mother. Wow, talk about a mixed compliment for your mom. I don't believe that I ever knew the name of the other plane.
3. In medieval fables, what kind of animal is Chanticleer? He's a rooster, the sworn enemy of Reynard the Fox. correct
4. Of the forty performers who have won acting Oscars since 2002, who was the only one who didn't give an acceptance speech? Heath Ledger, for reasons you can probably figure out in hindsight. duh, of course
5. What unit of computer memory contains one thousand gigabytes? That's a terabyte. I look forward to many earnest emails informing me that a terabyte actually has 1,024 terabytes. Yeah yeah yeah. Both definitions are true. correct
6. What nickname did William Calhoun use as one of the biggest pro wrestling stars of the 1950s and 1960s? He had a country-boy gimmick and was named "Haystack(s)" Calhoun. Not sure if he was as tall as a haystack, or had a needle hidden in him, or hobos slept on him, or what. my $0.02 - this is a terrible question. Obscure sport and obscure figure in that sport. Might as well ask about bullfighting or roller derby.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these songs? "The Bad Touch" by the Bloodhound Gang, "Beautiful Day" by U2, "Born to Die" by Lana Del Rey, "Come Back to Me" by Janet Jackson, "Justify My Love" by Madonna, "Let's Make Love" by Faith Hill, "Nice & Slow" by Usher, "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor, "Say (All I Need)" by OneRepublic, "Someone Like You" by Adele. Their videos were all shot in Paris. correct!
