Trivia Q&A: December 18

We had 18 teams for Trivia on Tuesday night, which surprised me as I thought the number of teams would drop due to the oncoming Christmas holiday. But we had an excellent crowd, and a very good contest. The scores were generally pretty high, and the toughest category seemed to be Current Events. Almost everyone did well on General Knowledge, and the December 25th Trivia numbers were very good too.

10 of the 18 teams had at least 30 points entering the IQ Trivia round, with the top five teams separated by just four points. But the top two teams both got four questions right (the same four) and 20 points, and it wound up with Cheap Date Squad getting the victory over I Wish This Microphone, the current champions, by just two points.

It was a fine night of Trivia, and I thank everyone for all the kind words about it after its conclusion. I just want to remind all of you that Trivia Night will return on Wednesday night, December 26th, at 9 PM, and we will have the first Trivia Night of 2008 on January 2nd at 9, which is a Wednesday night as well. The following Tuesday we will go back to our usual night.

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone.

Current Events

1. Within ten, how many former and current MLB players were named in the Mitchell Report on players using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs last week?

2. Two bombings in this North African city last week killed dozens of people, including 17 UN employees.

3. Former president Alberto Fujimori of this country was sentenced to six years in prison for crimes committed while in office.

4. This Midwestern city was selected the "Top Green City in the US" by EarthLab Foundation last week.

5. This film, a British drama, received the most Golden Globe nominations with seven, it was announced last week.

6. A Scottish town approved this billionaire American developer's plan to build a $2 billion golf resort on its coast.

7. This Eastern state became the first state yesterday to abolish the death penalty since the Supreme Court reinstated it in 1976.

8. A recent finding showed that 47% of all adult American Internet users have looked up this when going on Google or other search engines.

9. This sci-fi film grossed over $76 million last weekend to become the number one film in America last week.

10. Name two of the five superstar pop artists who were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week.

Answers: 1. Eighty-six; 2. Algiers; 3. Peru; 4. Chicago; 5. "Atonement;" 6. Donald Trump; 7. New Jersey; 8. their own name; 9. "I Am Legend;" 10. Madonna, John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, Dave Clark Five, and The Ventures.

December 25/Christmas Trivia

1. In 1223, this Italian saint, known for his love of animals, assembled the first Nativity scene.

2. In 1818, the first performance of "Silent Night" took place at a church in Oberndorf in this central European country.

3. The longest game in NFL history was played on this date in 1971, as this future Super Bowl championship team defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24, 29 minutes into overtime.

4. Nicolae Ceausescu, former dictator of this European country, was condemned to death in 1989, and later executed.

5. This American singer/songwriter, whose devoted fans are known as "Parrotheads," turns 61 on Christmas Day.

6. This former MLB player, who holds the record for career stolen bases and played for many teams, turns 49 on Christmas Day.

7. This soul legend, who had hits such as "Please Please Please" and "Mr. Dynamite," died one year ago on Christmas.

8. This Red Sox relief pitcher, who made a huge impact in the team's 2007 championship run in his first season here, turns 32 on Christmas.

9. In 1979 on Christmas, the Soviet Union airlifted forces into this nation for the first time, and began a very costly occupation there.

10. In 1776, George Washington crossed this river to attack Hessian mercenaries in Trenton, NJ.

Answers: 1. St. Francis of Assisi; 2. Austria; 3. Miami Dolphins; 4. Romania; 5. Jimmy Buffett; 6. Rickey Henderson; 7. James Brown; 8. Hideki Okajima; 9. Afghanistan; 10. Delaware River.

True or False ("The Q Train")

1. Hat size is roughly measured by dividing your head's circumference in inches by two.

2. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896.

3. Russia has the same colors on its national flag as does the United States.

4. Martin Short's SNL character, Ed Grimley, idolized game show host Alex Trebek.

5. People can develop hypothermia after prolonged exposure to cold.

6. The smallest element of an image on a TV screen is called a pixel.

7. Hawaii is the state that has the highest number of active volcanoes in the US.

8. The HJ Heinz company, in 2000, introduced green ketchup to the marketplace.

9. The Islamic faithful are required to pray at least six times a day.

10. The comic strip, "B.C.," was written by cartoonist Johnny Hart.

Answers: 1. false, divide by pi; 2. true; 3. true; 4. false, Pat Sajak; 5. true; 6. true; 7. false, Alaska does; 8. true; 9. false, five times a day; 10. true.

General Knowledge

1. In July 2001, what popular TV and phone psychic's hotline was sued by the state of Missouri for fraud?

2. Jiminy Click, celebrity interviewer, is a character created by what comic actor?

3. Burt Ward's 1995 autobiography, "My Life in Tights," recounts his career playing what TV character?

4. In the 1975 movie, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," what are the names of the stranded young couple?

5. "R.S.V.P." is the abbreviation for a phrase in what language?

6. In 1969, what US city's name was the first word spoken from the moon?

7. Simon LeBon is the lead singer of what pop music group?

8. The bubbles inside a glass of champagne are made up of what gas?

9. Singer Perry Farrell, formerly of Jane's Addiction, founded what music festival in 1991?

10. The largest area of tropical rain forest in the world is located in what country?

Answers: 1. Miss Cleo; 2. Martin Short; 3. Robin; 4. Brad and Janet; 5. French; 6. Houston; 7. Duran Duran; 8. carbon dioxide; 9. Lollapalooza; 10. Brazil.

IQ Trivia

1. Used by Pueblo Indians for ceremonies, a kiva is what type of structure? (5 points)

2. What Shakespeare play features the line, "parting is such sweet sorrow"? (4 points)

3. Whose mural, for the RCA Building in New York, was destroyed because it portrayed the Russian leader Vladimir Lenin? (5 points)

4. The Scoville scale is used to measure the intensity of what? (6 points)

5. The Vespa motor scooter takes its name from the Italian word for what animal? (5 points)

Answers: 1. underground chamber; 2. "Romeo and Juliet;" 3. Diego Rivera; 4. heat of chili peppers; 5. wasp.