Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - June 10
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. The new book by French economist Thomas Piketty recalls the title of an 1867 text as it considers the implications of what "in the Twenty-First Century"? Capitalism?
2. The 1st and 4th top-grossing romantic comedies of the 1990s--one released in 1990 and the other in 1999--both starred what pair of leads? 1990 has to be Pretty Woman. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere?
3. What are you shopping for if you've bought russets, fingerlings, and Yukon Golds? potatoes
4. What country was Mohammed Mossadegh leading in 1953 when U.S and British intelligence organized his ouster? Iran
5. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993. What's the only Canadian team to make it to the finals twice since then, though they've never won the Cup in their franchise history? Vancouver Canucks
6. Of the digits 0 through 9, which is by far the last to make its first appearance in a decimal expansion of pi? 3.1415926. 7,8 or 0? I'll guess 0
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these biblical figures? Abel, Cain, Jehoshaphat, Joshua, Samuel, and Seth. Samuel appeared as a ghost in the Old Testament. Did these spirits all appear in the Bible?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What novelist is the subject of 1999's biography Mary Poppins, She Wrote? PL Travers. The Australian bio became an American hit last year when the Disney movie Saving Mr. Banks was SORT OF based on it. correct
2. In 2013, who did the Evening Standard place atop their list of London's 1,000 most powerful people, even though he only became eligible in July? Prince George is more powerful than the mayor of London, even if he can't control his bowel movements. correct
3. "One nation, two systems," was the constitutional principle unveiled in 1984 to allow for self-government in certain regions of what country? That was China's slogan to allow for the re-integration of ultra-capitalist Hong Kong and Macao into a Communist power. tricky
4. Rob Halford, with his famed four-octave vocal range, is best known for fronting what rock band since 1969 (aside from a hiatus during the 1990s)? Rob Halford is the screamer behind Judas Priest. don't think that I could identify any Judas Priest songs
5. In 2010, what automaker rolled out its first ever series production electric car, the Leaf? Nissan. And it is one ugly car. Not a trivia fact, just an observation. correct
6. What mythical creature appeared in the production logo at the end of the quiz show Jeopardy! from 1984 to 1994? The symbol for Merv Griffin Enterprises was--go figure-- a griffin. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these movies? The Age of Innocence, Anchorman 2, Moonrise Kingdom, Pete's Dragon, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Shutter Island, Take This Waltz, The Ring. Each features a lighthouse as an important plot point. Feel free to use this list and hold a Lighthouse Film Festival this summer. Project it on the side of a lighthouse. See if I care. I had no basis for guessing since I had only seen one of the movies.
1. The new book by French economist Thomas Piketty recalls the title of an 1867 text as it considers the implications of what "in the Twenty-First Century"? Capitalism?
2. The 1st and 4th top-grossing romantic comedies of the 1990s--one released in 1990 and the other in 1999--both starred what pair of leads? 1990 has to be Pretty Woman. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere?
3. What are you shopping for if you've bought russets, fingerlings, and Yukon Golds? potatoes
4. What country was Mohammed Mossadegh leading in 1953 when U.S and British intelligence organized his ouster? Iran
5. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993. What's the only Canadian team to make it to the finals twice since then, though they've never won the Cup in their franchise history? Vancouver Canucks
6. Of the digits 0 through 9, which is by far the last to make its first appearance in a decimal expansion of pi? 3.1415926. 7,8 or 0? I'll guess 0
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these biblical figures? Abel, Cain, Jehoshaphat, Joshua, Samuel, and Seth. Samuel appeared as a ghost in the Old Testament. Did these spirits all appear in the Bible?
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What novelist is the subject of 1999's biography Mary Poppins, She Wrote? PL Travers. The Australian bio became an American hit last year when the Disney movie Saving Mr. Banks was SORT OF based on it. correct
2. In 2013, who did the Evening Standard place atop their list of London's 1,000 most powerful people, even though he only became eligible in July? Prince George is more powerful than the mayor of London, even if he can't control his bowel movements. correct
3. "One nation, two systems," was the constitutional principle unveiled in 1984 to allow for self-government in certain regions of what country? That was China's slogan to allow for the re-integration of ultra-capitalist Hong Kong and Macao into a Communist power. tricky
4. Rob Halford, with his famed four-octave vocal range, is best known for fronting what rock band since 1969 (aside from a hiatus during the 1990s)? Rob Halford is the screamer behind Judas Priest. don't think that I could identify any Judas Priest songs
5. In 2010, what automaker rolled out its first ever series production electric car, the Leaf? Nissan. And it is one ugly car. Not a trivia fact, just an observation. correct
6. What mythical creature appeared in the production logo at the end of the quiz show Jeopardy! from 1984 to 1994? The symbol for Merv Griffin Enterprises was--go figure-- a griffin. correct
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these movies? The Age of Innocence, Anchorman 2, Moonrise Kingdom, Pete's Dragon, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Shutter Island, Take This Waltz, The Ring. Each features a lighthouse as an important plot point. Feel free to use this list and hold a Lighthouse Film Festival this summer. Project it on the side of a lighthouse. See if I care. I had no basis for guessing since I had only seen one of the movies.
