Sunday, April 21, 2013
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia, April 16
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The United Nations is headquartered in New York, but the League of Nations was headquartered in what European city? Geneva
2. What TV host will take his first extended hiatus ever this summer, when John Oliver fills in for him for two months? Jon Stewart
3. What British automobile is the second oldest four-wheel-drive vehicle brand in the world, after Jeep? Range Rover
4. Photosynthesis takes place inside what organelles in a plant cell? organelles? I can only think of the nucleus, but photosynthesis does not occur there. I probably know the answer but have not thought of this word in ages. The Science Bowl contestants would know in a heartbeat.
5. In 1972, rock critic Robert Christgau wrote, "If a horse could sing in a monotone, the horse would sound like" what singer, "only a horse wouldn't rhyme 'yacht,' 'apricot,' and 'gavotte'"? Bruce Springsteen? 1972 is about when his debut album came out. But I don't recognize those lyrics. Bob Dylan?
6. The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is Ruth Benedict's classic 1946 anthropological study of what country? Japan
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? The Exorcist III, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Hellraiser, Johnny Got His Gun, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Personal Velocity, Sin City, Sleepwalk with Me. No idea. I am not familiar with any of these movies.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What's the only nation that borders both the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea? Russia is big. Really big. The obvious answer
2. What former Playboy Playmate recently defended her actress-comedian first cousin by telling critic Rex Reed to "go to hell"? Rex Reed harped obsessively on Melissa McCarthy's weight in his review of Identity Thief. Did you know that autism conspiracist Jenny McCarthy, who leapt to Melissa's defense, was her cousin? Neither did I. Neither did I, but perhaps I can use this factoid on a future Pub Quiz
3. A "cat's game" is slang for a draw in what game? Tic-tac-toe--but the etymology is uncertain. 0 for 3
4. What substance did chemist Alexander Fleming call "mould juice" for months before renaming it in March 1929? Fleming won a Nobel Prize for this discovery of penicillin. I got one correct!
5. In the Bible, who is twice told, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it?" Jonah. The first time he's told, he sails the other way and gets swallowed by a fish. The second time, he goes to Nineveh. Big fish are persuasive that way. 1 for 5
6. What general was mocked in U.S. newspapers as "the Napoleon of Luzon"? Luzon is the largest island of the Philippines, where Douglas Macarthur led two campaigns during World War II. correct!
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these TV shows? The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, Bonanza, Hawaii Five-O, Leave It to Beaver, M*A*S*H, Star Trek, Twin Peaks. Even though they were almost never heard on the show, each of their theme songs had lyrics. In most cases, the lyrics are best forgotten. "We got a right to pick a little fight, Bonanza..." At one point over the closing credits, someone sings the theme song on an episode of M*A*S*H. I still remember some of the lyrics - but suicide is painless. It brings on many changes. And I can take or leave it if I please.
1. The United Nations is headquartered in New York, but the League of Nations was headquartered in what European city? Geneva
2. What TV host will take his first extended hiatus ever this summer, when John Oliver fills in for him for two months? Jon Stewart
3. What British automobile is the second oldest four-wheel-drive vehicle brand in the world, after Jeep? Range Rover
4. Photosynthesis takes place inside what organelles in a plant cell? organelles? I can only think of the nucleus, but photosynthesis does not occur there. I probably know the answer but have not thought of this word in ages. The Science Bowl contestants would know in a heartbeat.
5. In 1972, rock critic Robert Christgau wrote, "If a horse could sing in a monotone, the horse would sound like" what singer, "only a horse wouldn't rhyme 'yacht,' 'apricot,' and 'gavotte'"? Bruce Springsteen? 1972 is about when his debut album came out. But I don't recognize those lyrics. Bob Dylan?
6. The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is Ruth Benedict's classic 1946 anthropological study of what country? Japan
7. What unusual distinction is shared by all these movies? The Exorcist III, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Hellraiser, Johnny Got His Gun, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Personal Velocity, Sin City, Sleepwalk with Me. No idea. I am not familiar with any of these movies.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What's the only nation that borders both the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea? Russia is big. Really big. The obvious answer
2. What former Playboy Playmate recently defended her actress-comedian first cousin by telling critic Rex Reed to "go to hell"? Rex Reed harped obsessively on Melissa McCarthy's weight in his review of Identity Thief. Did you know that autism conspiracist Jenny McCarthy, who leapt to Melissa's defense, was her cousin? Neither did I. Neither did I, but perhaps I can use this factoid on a future Pub Quiz
3. A "cat's game" is slang for a draw in what game? Tic-tac-toe--but the etymology is uncertain. 0 for 3
4. What substance did chemist Alexander Fleming call "mould juice" for months before renaming it in March 1929? Fleming won a Nobel Prize for this discovery of penicillin. I got one correct!
5. In the Bible, who is twice told, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it?" Jonah. The first time he's told, he sails the other way and gets swallowed by a fish. The second time, he goes to Nineveh. Big fish are persuasive that way. 1 for 5
6. What general was mocked in U.S. newspapers as "the Napoleon of Luzon"? Luzon is the largest island of the Philippines, where Douglas Macarthur led two campaigns during World War II. correct!
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these TV shows? The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, Bonanza, Hawaii Five-O, Leave It to Beaver, M*A*S*H, Star Trek, Twin Peaks. Even though they were almost never heard on the show, each of their theme songs had lyrics. In most cases, the lyrics are best forgotten. "We got a right to pick a little fight, Bonanza..." At one point over the closing credits, someone sings the theme song on an episode of M*A*S*H. I still remember some of the lyrics - but suicide is painless. It brings on many changes. And I can take or leave it if I please.
