Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - May 28
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. Ellen Church and seven other San Francisco nurses became the pioneers of what profession when they were hired by BAT in 1930? does BAT mean Bay Area Transit? Could they have been bus drivers? School bus drivers?
2. In a remarkable streak, what actor has starred in a $500-million-grossing movie (internationally) in each of the last six years? someone in a super hero movie, right? Robert Downey Jr?
3. The only penguins native to the Northern Hemisphere live in what island group? I cannot come up with the name of an island group in Canada or Russia. Alaskan island group? Aleutians, but they are too far south for penguins, I would think. Baffin Island is a single island, not a group. Unless this is Greenland.
4. What type of portable hut used by Central Asian nomads takes its name from the Turkish for "home"? when I think of Central Asian hut, I think of "yurt"
5. TV star Clayton Moore is the only actor to have his character name listed on his Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Who did Moore play on TV for four seasons? the Lone Ranger!
6. As commonly stated, the principle known as Gresham's Law deals with the "good" and "bad" types of what? luck?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these performers? Paul McCartney, Rick Moranis, Dennis Quaid, Lily Tomlin, Raquel Welch, Mia Wasikowska a tough one. one might think that Mia Wasikowska would be a good place to start because she has had the shortest career and might yield a distinction that can be tested against the other performers. But I have nothing so far.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. In May 2010, what former US Postal Service cyclist admitted to long-term drug use, and accused his ex-teammate Lance Armstrong of doping as well? Floyd Landis actually wrote a book called Positively False before admitting that his doping denials were, well, positively false. correct
2. In what language does Medz Yeghern, or "Great Crime," refer to its speakers' unprecedented 1915-1923 genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire? Over a million Armenians are believed to have died in the first great genocide of the twentieth century. correct
3. What American author is less well-known for her three novels for adults, Wifey, Smart Women, and Summer Sisters? Not every Judy Blume book is about puberty. (Just all the others except these three.) correct
4. Two scientists who made groundbreaking medical discoveries--Thomas, who diagnosed a namesake lymphoma, and Dorothy, who discovered the structure of insulin and vitamin B-12--share what last name? Both are Hodgkins. The rest of us are non-Hodgkins. correct
5. Before a successful rock career and premature 1970 death, who was named "Ugliest Man on Campus" by a fraternity while attending the University of Texas in 1963? Janis Joplin, but she sure had the last laugh! Well, until her late 20s. correct
6. What is both the shallowest and the smallest of the world's five oceans? The Arctic is by far the smallest--about a fifth the size of the Indian Ocean, and about two-thirds the size of the Southern Ocean. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents, and no others? John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Taft, Wilson, Eisenhower. These are all the presidents who actually died in the Washington, D.C. Not sure if this one is impossibly hard or not. Lincoln's death you probably heard about, but some of the others are pretty famous too. Adams collapsed on the floor of the House of Representatives, Harrison caught pneumonia at his own inauguration, Taft was still Chief Justice when his health started to go, etc. Woodrow Wilson, by the way, is the only president actually buried in the District. it was impossibly hard for me
1. Ellen Church and seven other San Francisco nurses became the pioneers of what profession when they were hired by BAT in 1930? does BAT mean Bay Area Transit? Could they have been bus drivers? School bus drivers?
2. In a remarkable streak, what actor has starred in a $500-million-grossing movie (internationally) in each of the last six years? someone in a super hero movie, right? Robert Downey Jr?
3. The only penguins native to the Northern Hemisphere live in what island group? I cannot come up with the name of an island group in Canada or Russia. Alaskan island group? Aleutians, but they are too far south for penguins, I would think. Baffin Island is a single island, not a group. Unless this is Greenland.
4. What type of portable hut used by Central Asian nomads takes its name from the Turkish for "home"? when I think of Central Asian hut, I think of "yurt"
5. TV star Clayton Moore is the only actor to have his character name listed on his Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Who did Moore play on TV for four seasons? the Lone Ranger!
6. As commonly stated, the principle known as Gresham's Law deals with the "good" and "bad" types of what? luck?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these performers? Paul McCartney, Rick Moranis, Dennis Quaid, Lily Tomlin, Raquel Welch, Mia Wasikowska a tough one. one might think that Mia Wasikowska would be a good place to start because she has had the shortest career and might yield a distinction that can be tested against the other performers. But I have nothing so far.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. In May 2010, what former US Postal Service cyclist admitted to long-term drug use, and accused his ex-teammate Lance Armstrong of doping as well? Floyd Landis actually wrote a book called Positively False before admitting that his doping denials were, well, positively false. correct
2. In what language does Medz Yeghern, or "Great Crime," refer to its speakers' unprecedented 1915-1923 genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire? Over a million Armenians are believed to have died in the first great genocide of the twentieth century. correct
3. What American author is less well-known for her three novels for adults, Wifey, Smart Women, and Summer Sisters? Not every Judy Blume book is about puberty. (Just all the others except these three.) correct
4. Two scientists who made groundbreaking medical discoveries--Thomas, who diagnosed a namesake lymphoma, and Dorothy, who discovered the structure of insulin and vitamin B-12--share what last name? Both are Hodgkins. The rest of us are non-Hodgkins. correct
5. Before a successful rock career and premature 1970 death, who was named "Ugliest Man on Campus" by a fraternity while attending the University of Texas in 1963? Janis Joplin, but she sure had the last laugh! Well, until her late 20s. correct
6. What is both the shallowest and the smallest of the world's five oceans? The Arctic is by far the smallest--about a fifth the size of the Indian Ocean, and about two-thirds the size of the Southern Ocean. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents, and no others? John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Taft, Wilson, Eisenhower. These are all the presidents who actually died in the Washington, D.C. Not sure if this one is impossibly hard or not. Lincoln's death you probably heard about, but some of the others are pretty famous too. Adams collapsed on the floor of the House of Representatives, Harrison caught pneumonia at his own inauguration, Taft was still Chief Justice when his health started to go, etc. Woodrow Wilson, by the way, is the only president actually buried in the District. it was impossibly hard for me
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - May 21
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. In May 2010, what former US Postal Service cyclist admitted to long-term drug use, and accused his ex-teammate Lance Armstrong of doping as well? Frankie Andrieu? His wife really went after Armstrong hard. Upon further reflection, I think this was Floyd Landis who was caught doping after winning the Tour de France, then fessed up.
2. In what language does Medz Yeghern, or "Great Crime," refer to its speakers' unprecedented 1915-1923 genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire? Armenian
3. What American author is less well-known for her three novels for adults, Wifey, Smart Women, and Summer Sisters? a woman who usually writes for kids or young adults. Judy Blume?
4. Two scientists who made groundbreaking medical discoveries--Thomas, who diagnosed a namesake lymphoma, and Dorothy, who discovered the structure of insulin and vitamin B-12--share what last name? Hodgkin
5. Before a successful rock career and premature 1970 death, who was named "Ugliest Man on Campus" by a fraternity while attending the University of Texas in 1963? hahaha Janis Joplin
6. What is both the shallowest and the smallest of the world's five oceans? Arctic?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents, and no others? John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Taft, Wilson, Eisenhower. Does this relate to serving as teacher, professor, dean or president at a college?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The tonsure was once required for people who wished to become what? A monk or priest. The "tonsure" is that awesome thing where you shave a hole in the top of your head so you look like Friar Tuck. Can't believe hipsters aren't doing this yet. correct
2. The mysterious figure who threatened to expose the secrets of TV's Pretty Little Liars used what one-letter alias? He or she (SPOILERS actually "they") is/are called "A." I know nothing about this show and don't really care
3. "Rubber" and "duplicate" are the two most common variants of what game? Contract bridge. correct
4. What sixth-largest city in North Carolina is named for a French hero of the American Revolution? Fayetteville is named after the Marquis de Lafayette...which is obvious when you think about, but for some reason I guess I'd never thought about it. Fayetteville, NC is that large? I thought it was a small furniture manufacturing town
5. What soda was originally bottled with an illustration of a moonshining hillbilly and the slogan "It'll tickle your innards"? Mountain Dew is so named because it was originally marketed as a "mountain man" drink (i.e. just as good as illegally distilled hooch!) correct
6. The 630-MW London Array, in the Thames Estuary, which went on-line last month, is the world's largest offshore what? Wind farm. (MW is for "megawatt.") It currently has 175 turbines operating. half correct. I said power plant, but not what kind.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? The Cars' Panorama, Coldplay's Viva la Vida, Iron Maiden's A Matter of Life and Death, MC5's Kick Out the Jams, Bob Marley's Survival, Mumford & Sons' Babel, Outkast's Stankonia, Robert Plant's Now and Zen, U2's Zooropa, The Who's The Kids Are Alright. All have flags on the cover. I didn't want to mention Amorica by The Black Crowes, since (little-known fact) I modeled for that one myself. bleah
1. In May 2010, what former US Postal Service cyclist admitted to long-term drug use, and accused his ex-teammate Lance Armstrong of doping as well? Frankie Andrieu? His wife really went after Armstrong hard. Upon further reflection, I think this was Floyd Landis who was caught doping after winning the Tour de France, then fessed up.
2. In what language does Medz Yeghern, or "Great Crime," refer to its speakers' unprecedented 1915-1923 genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire? Armenian
3. What American author is less well-known for her three novels for adults, Wifey, Smart Women, and Summer Sisters? a woman who usually writes for kids or young adults. Judy Blume?
4. Two scientists who made groundbreaking medical discoveries--Thomas, who diagnosed a namesake lymphoma, and Dorothy, who discovered the structure of insulin and vitamin B-12--share what last name? Hodgkin
5. Before a successful rock career and premature 1970 death, who was named "Ugliest Man on Campus" by a fraternity while attending the University of Texas in 1963? hahaha Janis Joplin
6. What is both the shallowest and the smallest of the world's five oceans? Arctic?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these U.S. presidents, and no others? John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Taft, Wilson, Eisenhower. Does this relate to serving as teacher, professor, dean or president at a college?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. The tonsure was once required for people who wished to become what? A monk or priest. The "tonsure" is that awesome thing where you shave a hole in the top of your head so you look like Friar Tuck. Can't believe hipsters aren't doing this yet. correct
2. The mysterious figure who threatened to expose the secrets of TV's Pretty Little Liars used what one-letter alias? He or she (SPOILERS actually "they") is/are called "A." I know nothing about this show and don't really care
3. "Rubber" and "duplicate" are the two most common variants of what game? Contract bridge. correct
4. What sixth-largest city in North Carolina is named for a French hero of the American Revolution? Fayetteville is named after the Marquis de Lafayette...which is obvious when you think about, but for some reason I guess I'd never thought about it. Fayetteville, NC is that large? I thought it was a small furniture manufacturing town
5. What soda was originally bottled with an illustration of a moonshining hillbilly and the slogan "It'll tickle your innards"? Mountain Dew is so named because it was originally marketed as a "mountain man" drink (i.e. just as good as illegally distilled hooch!) correct
6. The 630-MW London Array, in the Thames Estuary, which went on-line last month, is the world's largest offshore what? Wind farm. (MW is for "megawatt.") It currently has 175 turbines operating. half correct. I said power plant, but not what kind.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? The Cars' Panorama, Coldplay's Viva la Vida, Iron Maiden's A Matter of Life and Death, MC5's Kick Out the Jams, Bob Marley's Survival, Mumford & Sons' Babel, Outkast's Stankonia, Robert Plant's Now and Zen, U2's Zooropa, The Who's The Kids Are Alright. All have flags on the cover. I didn't want to mention Amorica by The Black Crowes, since (little-known fact) I modeled for that one myself. bleah
Monday, May 20, 2013
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - May 14
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The tonsure was once required for people who wished to become what? friars/monks
2. The mysterious figure who threatened to expose the secrets of TV's Pretty Little Liars used what one-letter alias? never seen the show. I have a 1 in 26 chance of getting it. G
3. "Rubber" and "duplicate" are the two most common variants of what game? bridge
4. What sixth-largest city in North Carolina is named for a French hero of the American Revolution? Charlotte is a French name, but that is the largest city in NC. Not Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Durham. Greensboro?
5. What soda was originally bottled with an illustration of a moonshining hillbilly and the slogan "It'll tickle your innards"? Mountain Dew
6. The 630-MW London Array, in the Thames Estuary, which went on-line last month, is the world's largest offshore what? power plant
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? The Cars' Panorama, Coldplay's Viva la Vida, Iron Maiden's A Matter of Life and Death, MC5's Kick Out the Jams, Bob Marley's Survival, Mumford & Sons' Babel, Outkast's Stankonia, Robert Plant's Now and Zen, U2's Zooropa, The Who's The Kids Are Alright.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. In Greek mythology, which goddess was born of sea-foam off the island of Cyprus? Aphrodite is Greek for "risen for the foam," a scene most famously rendered in Botticelli's painting The Birth of Venus. Venus = Roman mythology, Aphrodite = Greek. Get it straight, Parrot.
2. The movie Fierce Creatures was originally called Death Fish II, as it was conceived as a sequel to what 1988 British comedy? Fierce Creatures is the John Cleese-Kevin Kline-Jamie Lee Curtis-Michael Palin follow-up to A Fish Called Wanda. correct
3. What was the name of the Taiwanese infielder who delighted Dodgers announcer Vin Scully when he hit his first major league single on September 23, 2007? Scully was obviously thrilled, when Chin-lung Hu marked his first base hit, to inform fans that "Hu's on first." this question is too obscure to be clever. I live in LA and listen to the Dodgers. I had no idea of the answer.
4. The 1880s economic boom in the Amazon rainforest was fueled by what was called "black gold"--not oil, but what other commodity? In South America, "black gold" was rubber. I thought chocolate or rubber and picked the wrong one.
5. The U.S. federal science agency that monitors weather and protects marine resources is named by an acronym that's a homophone of what biblical figure? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is called NOAA, pronounced "Noah." Way to make "catastrophic flooding" part of your branding, guys. correct
6. A regular octahedron has eight faces. What shape polygon is each face of an octahedron? Each is an equilateral triangle. see comments from last week
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these celebrities? Abbott and Costello, Muhammad Ali, the Beatles, John Candy, Jackie Chan, MC Hammer, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T. In addition to their considerable real-life accomplishments, each was also the subject of a children's TV cartoon. what the hey?
1. The tonsure was once required for people who wished to become what? friars/monks
2. The mysterious figure who threatened to expose the secrets of TV's Pretty Little Liars used what one-letter alias? never seen the show. I have a 1 in 26 chance of getting it. G
3. "Rubber" and "duplicate" are the two most common variants of what game? bridge
4. What sixth-largest city in North Carolina is named for a French hero of the American Revolution? Charlotte is a French name, but that is the largest city in NC. Not Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Durham. Greensboro?
5. What soda was originally bottled with an illustration of a moonshining hillbilly and the slogan "It'll tickle your innards"? Mountain Dew
6. The 630-MW London Array, in the Thames Estuary, which went on-line last month, is the world's largest offshore what? power plant
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? The Cars' Panorama, Coldplay's Viva la Vida, Iron Maiden's A Matter of Life and Death, MC5's Kick Out the Jams, Bob Marley's Survival, Mumford & Sons' Babel, Outkast's Stankonia, Robert Plant's Now and Zen, U2's Zooropa, The Who's The Kids Are Alright.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. In Greek mythology, which goddess was born of sea-foam off the island of Cyprus? Aphrodite is Greek for "risen for the foam," a scene most famously rendered in Botticelli's painting The Birth of Venus. Venus = Roman mythology, Aphrodite = Greek. Get it straight, Parrot.
2. The movie Fierce Creatures was originally called Death Fish II, as it was conceived as a sequel to what 1988 British comedy? Fierce Creatures is the John Cleese-Kevin Kline-Jamie Lee Curtis-Michael Palin follow-up to A Fish Called Wanda. correct
3. What was the name of the Taiwanese infielder who delighted Dodgers announcer Vin Scully when he hit his first major league single on September 23, 2007? Scully was obviously thrilled, when Chin-lung Hu marked his first base hit, to inform fans that "Hu's on first." this question is too obscure to be clever. I live in LA and listen to the Dodgers. I had no idea of the answer.
4. The 1880s economic boom in the Amazon rainforest was fueled by what was called "black gold"--not oil, but what other commodity? In South America, "black gold" was rubber. I thought chocolate or rubber and picked the wrong one.
5. The U.S. federal science agency that monitors weather and protects marine resources is named by an acronym that's a homophone of what biblical figure? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is called NOAA, pronounced "Noah." Way to make "catastrophic flooding" part of your branding, guys. correct
6. A regular octahedron has eight faces. What shape polygon is each face of an octahedron? Each is an equilateral triangle. see comments from last week
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these celebrities? Abbott and Costello, Muhammad Ali, the Beatles, John Candy, Jackie Chan, MC Hammer, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T. In addition to their considerable real-life accomplishments, each was also the subject of a children's TV cartoon. what the hey?
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - May 7
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. In Greek mythology, which goddess was born of sea-foam off the island of Cyprus? is this what Botticelli is depicting in his painting of The Birth of Venus?
2. The movie Fierce Creatures was originally called Death Fish II, as it was conceived as a sequel to what 1988 British comedy? A Fish Called Wanda
3. What was the name of the Taiwanese infielder who delighted Dodgers announcer Vin Scully when he hit his first major league single on September 23, 2007? no idea
4. The 1880s economic boom in the Amazon rainforest was fueled by what was called "black gold"--not oil, but what other commodity? commodity - chocolate?
5. The U.S. federal science agency that monitors weather and protects marine resources is named by an acronym that's a homophone of what biblical figure? NOAA
6. A regular octahedron has eight faces. What shape polygon is each face of an octahedron? aren't they all pentagons?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these celebrities? Abbott and Costello, Muhammad Ali, the Beatles, John Candy, Jackie Chan, MC Hammer, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T. appeared on a postage stamp? I can confirm for all except Hulk Hogan and MC Hammer.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What 2012 song that inspired a dance craze begins with a sample of reggaeton arist Hector Delgado saying, "Con los terroristas"? That's the inexplicably resurrected "The Harlem Shake." I have heard of this song, but I don't know anything about it.
2. A Messier marathon is an event in which participants try to spot 110 different objects where? French astronomer Charles Messier is best known for cataloguing 110 bright objects in the night sky. never heard of Charles Messier. The only Messiers I could think of are Lionel and Mark.
3. What popular Turkish dish is a reasonably close equivalent of Japanese "yakitori" or Indonesian "satay"? Both yakitori and satay are meat on skewers. The famous Turkish alternative is shish kebab. correct
4. What U.S. state was the site of the World War II-era army base Fort Oglethorpe? The fort was named for the state's founder: James Oglethorpe, the first governor of Georgia. correct
5. The classic role-playing game Bunnies and Burrows was inspired by what beloved 1972 novel? Watership Down is the only 1982 best-seller I can think of about rabbit society. correct
6. Who was the first Roman emperor to commit suicide, in 68 AD on the anniversary of the death of his first wife, Claudius's daughter Octavia? Nero committed suicide--well, the Roman equivalent of suicide. (He ordered a servant to kill him.) correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared (or rather, what usual distinction has never been shared) by these world nations and no others? Andorra, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Paraguay, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the Vatican? According to a 2012 book by historian Stuart Laycock, those are the only countries in the world never invaded by Great Britain. Laycock uses an expansive definition of "invaded," counting any military presence at all, even Crown-sanctioned pirates and privateers, but that's still a shockingly short list, right? I was on the right track! I said never invaded or occupied. So close to being fully correct.
1. In Greek mythology, which goddess was born of sea-foam off the island of Cyprus? is this what Botticelli is depicting in his painting of The Birth of Venus?
2. The movie Fierce Creatures was originally called Death Fish II, as it was conceived as a sequel to what 1988 British comedy? A Fish Called Wanda
3. What was the name of the Taiwanese infielder who delighted Dodgers announcer Vin Scully when he hit his first major league single on September 23, 2007? no idea
4. The 1880s economic boom in the Amazon rainforest was fueled by what was called "black gold"--not oil, but what other commodity? commodity - chocolate?
5. The U.S. federal science agency that monitors weather and protects marine resources is named by an acronym that's a homophone of what biblical figure? NOAA
6. A regular octahedron has eight faces. What shape polygon is each face of an octahedron? aren't they all pentagons?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these celebrities? Abbott and Costello, Muhammad Ali, the Beatles, John Candy, Jackie Chan, MC Hammer, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T. appeared on a postage stamp? I can confirm for all except Hulk Hogan and MC Hammer.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What 2012 song that inspired a dance craze begins with a sample of reggaeton arist Hector Delgado saying, "Con los terroristas"? That's the inexplicably resurrected "The Harlem Shake." I have heard of this song, but I don't know anything about it.
2. A Messier marathon is an event in which participants try to spot 110 different objects where? French astronomer Charles Messier is best known for cataloguing 110 bright objects in the night sky. never heard of Charles Messier. The only Messiers I could think of are Lionel and Mark.
3. What popular Turkish dish is a reasonably close equivalent of Japanese "yakitori" or Indonesian "satay"? Both yakitori and satay are meat on skewers. The famous Turkish alternative is shish kebab. correct
4. What U.S. state was the site of the World War II-era army base Fort Oglethorpe? The fort was named for the state's founder: James Oglethorpe, the first governor of Georgia. correct
5. The classic role-playing game Bunnies and Burrows was inspired by what beloved 1972 novel? Watership Down is the only 1982 best-seller I can think of about rabbit society. correct
6. Who was the first Roman emperor to commit suicide, in 68 AD on the anniversary of the death of his first wife, Claudius's daughter Octavia? Nero committed suicide--well, the Roman equivalent of suicide. (He ordered a servant to kill him.) correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared (or rather, what usual distinction has never been shared) by these world nations and no others? Andorra, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Paraguay, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the Vatican? According to a 2012 book by historian Stuart Laycock, those are the only countries in the world never invaded by Great Britain. Laycock uses an expansive definition of "invaded," counting any military presence at all, even Crown-sanctioned pirates and privateers, but that's still a shockingly short list, right? I was on the right track! I said never invaded or occupied. So close to being fully correct.
