Friday, September 28, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - September 25
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The only book series ever to have *two* installments win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction was nicknamed for what animal? rabbit! My guess is John Updike's Rabbit series.
2. Manuela Saenz was nicknamed "la Libertadora del Libertador" after saving the life of what man from an 1828 assassination attempt? Simon Bolivar
3. What instrument was primarily played by the lone woman in bands like Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, the Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, and 'Til Tuesday? didn't Tina Weymouth play the bass in the Talking Heads?
4. In two of this year's top-grossing movies, both released in late June, the protagonists magically find a sentient bear added to their families. Name both films. Ted and some animated movie?
5. What politician married his high school sweetheart Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson in 1970, and separated from her almost exactly forty years later? Must be a politician who was in a sex scandal. After consideration, I think this is John Edwards.
6. What does a limnologist study? words? poetry?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these famous people? Robert the Bruce, Lord Byron, Frederic Chopin, Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Hardy, Dr. David Livingstone, Jan Paderewski, Richard the Lionhearted. People who are submitting answers for the competition are not permitted to do research. But I am not restricted. Thanks to wikipedia, I found a macabre connection. The hearts of each of these famous folk were buried separately from the rest of them.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Colitis and diverticulitis are diseases of what specific organ of the body? The large intestine, especially the colon part of the large intestine. If you want more information about these gross diseases please check out Wikipedia because I'll probably get blocked by your spam filter if I start describing them here. correct
2. What word rhymes, somewhat dubiously, with "museum" and "see 'em" in the theme to TV's The Addams Family? They really are a scream--pronounced with two syllables, of course, as people so often do. bleah
3. What third largest city of New Zealand was named for the Oxford college attended by its founder? Christ Church is one of the largest colleges at Oxford--and coincidentally, Christchurch, N.Z. is a big college town, or so I learned watching that Peter Jackson movie Heavenly Creatures. correct
4. What multimillion-selling musician sometimes uses the nickname "Yeezy"? Kanye West is trying to sell you $250 sneakers called "Air Yeezys." Please grab a couple pair, he needs to money. correct
5. The new documentary Bill W. depicts the life of William Griffith Wilson, most famous for co-founding what organization? "Bill W." is best known by that name because of the "Anonymous" part of "Alcoholics Anonymous." correct
6. Which of the seven Nobel Prize categories has had by far fewer U.S. winners than the other six? Literature, with just 11 winners in over a century. Did you think it was Peace? INCORRECT, Americans are twice as awesome at peace as at literature, with 21 winners. correct!
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these comics? Doonesbury, Li'l Abner, Little Orphan Annie, Peanuts, Spider-Man, Superman. All were adapted as Broadway musicals at one time or another. Did I miss any? Doonesbury musical? I missed that
1. The only book series ever to have *two* installments win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction was nicknamed for what animal? rabbit! My guess is John Updike's Rabbit series.
2. Manuela Saenz was nicknamed "la Libertadora del Libertador" after saving the life of what man from an 1828 assassination attempt? Simon Bolivar
3. What instrument was primarily played by the lone woman in bands like Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, the Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, and 'Til Tuesday? didn't Tina Weymouth play the bass in the Talking Heads?
4. In two of this year's top-grossing movies, both released in late June, the protagonists magically find a sentient bear added to their families. Name both films. Ted and some animated movie?
5. What politician married his high school sweetheart Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson in 1970, and separated from her almost exactly forty years later? Must be a politician who was in a sex scandal. After consideration, I think this is John Edwards.
6. What does a limnologist study? words? poetry?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these famous people? Robert the Bruce, Lord Byron, Frederic Chopin, Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Hardy, Dr. David Livingstone, Jan Paderewski, Richard the Lionhearted. People who are submitting answers for the competition are not permitted to do research. But I am not restricted. Thanks to wikipedia, I found a macabre connection. The hearts of each of these famous folk were buried separately from the rest of them.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. Colitis and diverticulitis are diseases of what specific organ of the body? The large intestine, especially the colon part of the large intestine. If you want more information about these gross diseases please check out Wikipedia because I'll probably get blocked by your spam filter if I start describing them here. correct
2. What word rhymes, somewhat dubiously, with "museum" and "see 'em" in the theme to TV's The Addams Family? They really are a scream--pronounced with two syllables, of course, as people so often do. bleah
3. What third largest city of New Zealand was named for the Oxford college attended by its founder? Christ Church is one of the largest colleges at Oxford--and coincidentally, Christchurch, N.Z. is a big college town, or so I learned watching that Peter Jackson movie Heavenly Creatures. correct
4. What multimillion-selling musician sometimes uses the nickname "Yeezy"? Kanye West is trying to sell you $250 sneakers called "Air Yeezys." Please grab a couple pair, he needs to money. correct
5. The new documentary Bill W. depicts the life of William Griffith Wilson, most famous for co-founding what organization? "Bill W." is best known by that name because of the "Anonymous" part of "Alcoholics Anonymous." correct
6. Which of the seven Nobel Prize categories has had by far fewer U.S. winners than the other six? Literature, with just 11 winners in over a century. Did you think it was Peace? INCORRECT, Americans are twice as awesome at peace as at literature, with 21 winners. correct!
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these comics? Doonesbury, Li'l Abner, Little Orphan Annie, Peanuts, Spider-Man, Superman. All were adapted as Broadway musicals at one time or another. Did I miss any? Doonesbury musical? I missed that
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - September 18
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Colitis and diverticulitis are diseases of what specific organ of the body? seems like it should be the colon. Why would a disease of the small intestine or large intestine be called colitis?
2. What word rhymes, somewhat dubiously, with "museum" and "see 'em" in the theme to TV's The Addams Family? "bee um"? but that's two words
3. What third largest city of New Zealand was named for the Oxford college attended by its founder? Christchurch
4. What multimillion-selling musician sometimes uses the nickname "Yeezy"? Kanye West?
5. The new documentary Bill W. depicts the life of William Griffith Wilson, most famous for co-founding what organization? Hi, I'm Bill and I'm an alcoholic. Alcoholic's Anonymous.
6. Which of the seven Nobel Prize categories has had by far fewer U.S. winners than the other six? First instinct is Peace. But I can recall several Peace prize winners from the US. I can recall very few Literature winners. I'll go with Literature.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these comics? Doonesbury, Li'l Abner, Little Orphan Annie, Peanuts, Spider-Man, Superman. Don't know if this is what KJ wants, but I think they all feature characters who were orphaned. Still, why include the obvious Little Orphan Annie?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The Reynolds Rocket, released in 1945, and the Parker Jotter, which has since sold 750 million, were two of the first American versions of what newly invented item? They were early ballpoint pens. correct
2. What is both the most abundant element in the earth's crust and the third most common element by mass in the universe? It's oxygen--hydrogen and helium are the two more common elements in the universe, by the way. correct
3. Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, and Carson Palmer have started more games for what NFL team than any other quarterbacks? The Cincinnati Bengals--sometimes with the mediocre results Bengals fans have come to expect, but not always. Anderson and Boomer even led to the team to the Super Bowl once each. correct
4. What children's snack is called "barbe a papa" in France--"father's beard"? Cotton candy looks a bit like a father's beard, if your dad's beard was gross and sticky and sweet-tasting. correct
5. What city was the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, ending in 1869? The capital moved in 1869 from its longtime home in Kyoto to Edo, which was then renamed "Tokyo." correct
6. The possibility of a "Grexit" is much in the business news in 2012. Who or what would exit in a "Grexit"? That would be Greece, exiting from the Eurozone due to their sluggish economy. ah, yes. Although not much in the business news in the US because we are consumed by bloated election rhetoric about the fiscal cliff and job creators and the 47% and the like
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Fast & Furious, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ghost World, The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Pariah, Pumping Iron, Sucker Punch. They all end on a bus--that is, the final scene of each movie involves a bus. Did I mess any other cinematic greats in the ends-on-a-bus genre? I really loathe Q7s like this one that find a single detail within a movie or book. Almost impossible unless you have seen and can remember specific details about 3 or 4 of the movies in order to find a pattern.
1. Colitis and diverticulitis are diseases of what specific organ of the body? seems like it should be the colon. Why would a disease of the small intestine or large intestine be called colitis?
2. What word rhymes, somewhat dubiously, with "museum" and "see 'em" in the theme to TV's The Addams Family? "bee um"? but that's two words
3. What third largest city of New Zealand was named for the Oxford college attended by its founder? Christchurch
4. What multimillion-selling musician sometimes uses the nickname "Yeezy"? Kanye West?
5. The new documentary Bill W. depicts the life of William Griffith Wilson, most famous for co-founding what organization? Hi, I'm Bill and I'm an alcoholic. Alcoholic's Anonymous.
6. Which of the seven Nobel Prize categories has had by far fewer U.S. winners than the other six? First instinct is Peace. But I can recall several Peace prize winners from the US. I can recall very few Literature winners. I'll go with Literature.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these comics? Doonesbury, Li'l Abner, Little Orphan Annie, Peanuts, Spider-Man, Superman. Don't know if this is what KJ wants, but I think they all feature characters who were orphaned. Still, why include the obvious Little Orphan Annie?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The Reynolds Rocket, released in 1945, and the Parker Jotter, which has since sold 750 million, were two of the first American versions of what newly invented item? They were early ballpoint pens. correct
2. What is both the most abundant element in the earth's crust and the third most common element by mass in the universe? It's oxygen--hydrogen and helium are the two more common elements in the universe, by the way. correct
3. Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, and Carson Palmer have started more games for what NFL team than any other quarterbacks? The Cincinnati Bengals--sometimes with the mediocre results Bengals fans have come to expect, but not always. Anderson and Boomer even led to the team to the Super Bowl once each. correct
4. What children's snack is called "barbe a papa" in France--"father's beard"? Cotton candy looks a bit like a father's beard, if your dad's beard was gross and sticky and sweet-tasting. correct
5. What city was the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, ending in 1869? The capital moved in 1869 from its longtime home in Kyoto to Edo, which was then renamed "Tokyo." correct
6. The possibility of a "Grexit" is much in the business news in 2012. Who or what would exit in a "Grexit"? That would be Greece, exiting from the Eurozone due to their sluggish economy. ah, yes. Although not much in the business news in the US because we are consumed by bloated election rhetoric about the fiscal cliff and job creators and the 47% and the like
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Fast & Furious, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ghost World, The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Pariah, Pumping Iron, Sucker Punch. They all end on a bus--that is, the final scene of each movie involves a bus. Did I mess any other cinematic greats in the ends-on-a-bus genre? I really loathe Q7s like this one that find a single detail within a movie or book. Almost impossible unless you have seen and can remember specific details about 3 or 4 of the movies in order to find a pattern.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - September 11
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What specific object appears in the best-known paintings of both Jasper Johns and Emmanuel Leutze? Leutze's most famous painting was Washington Crossing the Delaware; Johns's is a classic of pop art called Flag. So American flags then. correct
2. The 1961 jazz recording First Time! is a collaboration between what two legendary jazz pianists and bandleaders with aristocratic nicknames? Duke Ellington (not actually a duke) and Count Basie (not actually a count). correct
3. What city, once called Leopoldville, is on pace to surpass Paris as the world's largest French-speaking city by 2020? Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. correct
4. The premise of the TV show Smash is a Broadway musical based on the life of what woman? The aspiring actresses in the show's first season were vying for the role of Marilyn Monroe. BUT WITH SONGS. not correct. Still not that interested in seeing the show.
5. What unit of measurement is defined as 2,240 pounds in its "long" variety? That's a "long" ton, the "Imperial" version often in the U.K. Our 2000-pound American ton is the "short" one. correct
6. Who was famously arrested, at least initially, for the murder of a police officer named J. D. Tippit? Tippit was the Dallas police officer killed in 1963 when he approached the then-fugitive Lee Harvey Oswald. When Oswald was arrested 45 minutes later in a nearby movie theater, he was initially booked for Tippit's murder, not JFK's. correct
7. What distinction is shared by these NFL and Major League Baseball teams, and no others? The Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, and Tampa Bay Rays? These are all the pro outdoor-sport teams that still play in a domed stadium--no retractable-roof, straight-up indoors all the time. correct
1. The Reynolds Rocket, released in 1945, and the
Parker Jotter, which has since sold 750 million, were two of the first
American versions of what newly invented item? ballpoint pen
2. What is both the most abundant element in the earth's crust and the third most common element by mass in the universe? oxygen?
3. Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, and Carson Palmer have started more games for what NFL team than any other quarterbacks? Cincinnati Bengals
2. What is both the most abundant element in the earth's crust and the third most common element by mass in the universe? oxygen?
3. Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, and Carson Palmer have started more games for what NFL team than any other quarterbacks? Cincinnati Bengals
4. What children's snack is called "barbe a papa" in France--"father's beard"? cotton candy?
5. What city was the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, ending in 1869? Kyoto?
5. What city was the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, ending in 1869? Kyoto?
6. The possibility of a "Grexit" is much in the business news in 2012. Who or what would exit in a "Grexit"? is this a graceful exit as in the US exiting its position as majority owner of GM?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Fast & Furious, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ghost World, The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Pariah, Pumping Iron, Sucker Punch. something about cars? Otherwise, no idea. I think I have only seen two of these movies
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? Fast & Furious, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ghost World, The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Pariah, Pumping Iron, Sucker Punch. something about cars? Otherwise, no idea. I think I have only seen two of these movies
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What specific object appears in the best-known paintings of both Jasper Johns and Emmanuel Leutze? Leutze's most famous painting was Washington Crossing the Delaware; Johns's is a classic of pop art called Flag. So American flags then. correct
2. The 1961 jazz recording First Time! is a collaboration between what two legendary jazz pianists and bandleaders with aristocratic nicknames? Duke Ellington (not actually a duke) and Count Basie (not actually a count). correct
3. What city, once called Leopoldville, is on pace to surpass Paris as the world's largest French-speaking city by 2020? Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. correct
4. The premise of the TV show Smash is a Broadway musical based on the life of what woman? The aspiring actresses in the show's first season were vying for the role of Marilyn Monroe. BUT WITH SONGS. not correct. Still not that interested in seeing the show.
5. What unit of measurement is defined as 2,240 pounds in its "long" variety? That's a "long" ton, the "Imperial" version often in the U.K. Our 2000-pound American ton is the "short" one. correct
6. Who was famously arrested, at least initially, for the murder of a police officer named J. D. Tippit? Tippit was the Dallas police officer killed in 1963 when he approached the then-fugitive Lee Harvey Oswald. When Oswald was arrested 45 minutes later in a nearby movie theater, he was initially booked for Tippit's murder, not JFK's. correct
7. What distinction is shared by these NFL and Major League Baseball teams, and no others? The Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, and Tampa Bay Rays? These are all the pro outdoor-sport teams that still play in a domed stadium--no retractable-roof, straight-up indoors all the time. correct
Sunday, September 09, 2012
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - September 4
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. What specific object appears in the best-known paintings of both Jasper Johns and Emmanuel Leutze? The US flag
2. The 1961 jazz recording First Time! is a collaboration between what two legendary jazz pianists and bandleaders with aristocratic nicknames? Count Basie and Duke Ellington?
3. What city, once called Leopoldville, is on pace to surpass Paris as the world's largest French-speaking city by 2020? Leopoldville sounds like a city that was in the Belgian Congo. Kinshasa?
4. The premise of the TV show Smash is a Broadway musical based on the life of what woman? Susan Stroman?
5. What unit of measurement is defined as 2,240 pounds in its "long" variety? ton
6. Who was famously arrested, at least initially, for the murder of a police officer named J. D. Tippit? Lee Harvey Oswald
7. What distinction is shared by these NFL and Major League Baseball teams, and no others? The Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, and Tampa Bay Rays? not very hard - they are the only teams that still play in indoor stadiums
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What famous American explorer died under mysterious circumstances at a Tennessee inn in October 1809? The death of Meriwether Lewis, just a few years after his famous expedition (he's the Lewis of "and Clark" fame) was officially ruled a suicide, but to this day many of his descendants insist he was murdered. NBC Dateline should investigate!
2. What fictional baby spoke his first words on June 21, 1938, remarking, "Well, blow me down"? This was "Swee'Pea," borrowing the catchphrase of his adoptive father, Popeye the Sailor Man. and what did Popeye say in his first words?
3. In Greek mythology, what nymph dies pining away for her beloved Narcissus, leaving nothing but her voice behind to haunt the earth? Our word "echo" comes from the name of Narcissus' overly attached girlfriend. correct
4. Pitchfork Magazine's recent "The People's Top 200 List" of its readers' favorite albums of the last fifteen years was topped by two albums--one from 1997 and the other from 2000--both recorded by what band? The two records are OK Computer and Kid A, and the band is Radiohead. A shocking result from Pitchfork readers! correct
5. What was the more familiar baronial name of Victorian scientist William Thomson, famed for his calculations regarding absolute zero? Thomson was also Lord Kelvin, and proposed the absolute temperature scale today named for him. Basically he was one stone-cold motherf-er. correct
6. What TV hit used a Tootsie Pop for the letter 'O' in its title in the marketing materials for a brief 2005 revival? Kojak is the lollipop fan in question--played by Ving Rhames in the ill-fated revival in question, by the way. Yeah, I don't really remember it either. correct
7. Based on the unusual distinction shared by these cities and no others, what city is missing from the beginning of this list? Mexico City, Paris, Versailles, Berlin, Paris, San Francisco, Vienna, and Moscow. These are, in chronological order, the cities where the U.S. signed treaties ending all the declared wars in its history. (There are some oddities here--the final treaty with Germany after World War II wasn't signed until after reunification in 1990, which is what Moscow is doing on this list.) So the first city on the list would be the treaty ending the War of 1812, which was signed in Ghent, Belgium. Not an easy question this week. I am considering my answer to have been correct
1. What specific object appears in the best-known paintings of both Jasper Johns and Emmanuel Leutze? The US flag
2. The 1961 jazz recording First Time! is a collaboration between what two legendary jazz pianists and bandleaders with aristocratic nicknames? Count Basie and Duke Ellington?
3. What city, once called Leopoldville, is on pace to surpass Paris as the world's largest French-speaking city by 2020? Leopoldville sounds like a city that was in the Belgian Congo. Kinshasa?
4. The premise of the TV show Smash is a Broadway musical based on the life of what woman? Susan Stroman?
5. What unit of measurement is defined as 2,240 pounds in its "long" variety? ton
6. Who was famously arrested, at least initially, for the murder of a police officer named J. D. Tippit? Lee Harvey Oswald
7. What distinction is shared by these NFL and Major League Baseball teams, and no others? The Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, and Tampa Bay Rays? not very hard - they are the only teams that still play in indoor stadiums
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What famous American explorer died under mysterious circumstances at a Tennessee inn in October 1809? The death of Meriwether Lewis, just a few years after his famous expedition (he's the Lewis of "and Clark" fame) was officially ruled a suicide, but to this day many of his descendants insist he was murdered. NBC Dateline should investigate!
2. What fictional baby spoke his first words on June 21, 1938, remarking, "Well, blow me down"? This was "Swee'Pea," borrowing the catchphrase of his adoptive father, Popeye the Sailor Man. and what did Popeye say in his first words?
3. In Greek mythology, what nymph dies pining away for her beloved Narcissus, leaving nothing but her voice behind to haunt the earth? Our word "echo" comes from the name of Narcissus' overly attached girlfriend. correct
4. Pitchfork Magazine's recent "The People's Top 200 List" of its readers' favorite albums of the last fifteen years was topped by two albums--one from 1997 and the other from 2000--both recorded by what band? The two records are OK Computer and Kid A, and the band is Radiohead. A shocking result from Pitchfork readers! correct
5. What was the more familiar baronial name of Victorian scientist William Thomson, famed for his calculations regarding absolute zero? Thomson was also Lord Kelvin, and proposed the absolute temperature scale today named for him. Basically he was one stone-cold motherf-er. correct
6. What TV hit used a Tootsie Pop for the letter 'O' in its title in the marketing materials for a brief 2005 revival? Kojak is the lollipop fan in question--played by Ving Rhames in the ill-fated revival in question, by the way. Yeah, I don't really remember it either. correct
7. Based on the unusual distinction shared by these cities and no others, what city is missing from the beginning of this list? Mexico City, Paris, Versailles, Berlin, Paris, San Francisco, Vienna, and Moscow. These are, in chronological order, the cities where the U.S. signed treaties ending all the declared wars in its history. (There are some oddities here--the final treaty with Germany after World War II wasn't signed until after reunification in 1990, which is what Moscow is doing on this list.) So the first city on the list would be the treaty ending the War of 1812, which was signed in Ghent, Belgium. Not an easy question this week. I am considering my answer to have been correct
