Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Trivia Q&A: February 26

We had another huge crowd on a night with some adverse weather, as 19 teams participated again this week. The scores were generally good throughout the night, and the 1990s Trivia category had some very good numbers. Four teams battled for most of the night, and we had 10 teams withing four points of the lead heading into IQ Trivia.

Two questions in IQ Trivia were particularly tough, the General Custer and Phrygians ones. (Nobody got the latter answer right.) A team called Guess Who's Coming to Trivia got 19 points out of 25 in that round and finished first by two points, but they were disqualified from winning the contest and taking the first place prize because their team had too many players. (I had spoken to one of the players, my friend Mariangela, and we had agreed since they would have about nine players and did not want to split into two, they could not win first place.)

This was the first time this had ever happened, so the second place team, No Country For Fidel Castro, was awarded the championship for the night. (They have won many times under various names.) Congratulations to them on their victory.

Current Events
1. This actress won two "Razzie" awards on Saturday for playing twins in the film, "I Know Who Killed Me."
2. A birthday bash in NYC earlier this month for this actor sparked a scare because the bartender there came down with hepatitis, and anyone who was at it was encouraged to get a vaccination.
3. A B-12 stealth bomber, which cost $1.2 billion to build, crashed on this Pacific island on Saturday, with none of the pilots suffering injuries.
4. This Internet giant is offering $30 million in prizes to anyone who can get a robot to the moon and send back pictures and other data.
5. This country launched a ground incursion against the Kurdistan Workers Party in Northern Iraq on Saturday.
6. This perennial independent presidential candidate announced on Sunday he will make a bid for the White House this year.
7. Officials of this Asian country have blocked access to YouTube in their nation, due to concerns about cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.
8. The New York Philharmonic is playing a concert in this isolated country on Tuesday, and it will be broadcast on state-run TV and radio.
9. Two grandparents from Georgia won a Mega Millions lotto jackpot on Saturday. Within $10 million, how much was it?
10. This western US city was the surprising winner of the nation's tastiest tap water in a competition held last weekend.

Answers: 1. Lindsay Lohan; 2. Ashton Kutcher; 3. Guam; 4. Google; 5. Turkey; 6. Ralph Nader; 7. Pakistan; 8. North Korea; 9. $270 million; 10. Los Angeles.

1990s Trivia
1. On October 3 of this year, OJ Simpson is found not guilty on charges of the double murder of his ex-wife and her friend.
2. President Clinton famously wags his finger and denies he had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky on January 26 of this year.
3. The Summer Olympics are held in Barcelona, Spain from July 25-August 9.
4. Two teenagers open fire on teachers and classmates at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO on April 20, killing 13 people.
5. Nelson Mandela is freed from prison in South Africa after being jailed for nearly 27 years, on February 11.
6. MLB players walk out on "strike" on August 12, and the World Series that year is eventually canceled.
7. Bob Dole is defeated by Bill Clinton on November 5, as Clinton easily gets a second term.
8. Operation Desert Storm begins on January 16 with air strikes against Iraq.
9. David Letterman jumps from NBC to CBS, and his "Late Show" debuts from the Ed Sullivan Theater on August 30.
10. Tony Blair becomes British Prime Minister on May 1, beginning what would be 10 years as the country's leader.

Answers: 1. 1995; 2. 1998; 3. 1992; 4. 1999; 5. 1990; 6. 1994; 7. 1996; 8. 1991; 9. 1993; 10. 1997.

True or False ("The Q Train")
1. In the 1992 movie, "White Men Can't Jump," Rosie Perez' character appears on the game show "Jeopardy."
2. A beekeeper would typically wear a surplice.
3. Grammy Award winner Jimmy Sturr is known by the nickname "The Polka King."
4. In the 2000 film, "Traffic," Michael Douglas plays a high-powered federal official in charge of fighting drugs.
5. A creature that eats both plants and animals is called a carnivore.
6. A neon tetra is most likely found in an aquarium.
7. Ron Popeil was the founder of the Hair Club For Men.
8. During LASIK corrective eye surgery, the lens is the part of the eye operated on.
9. German is the official language of Austria.
10. The Korean War came to an end in July, 1953.

Answers: 1. true; 2. false, a priest would wear it; 3. true; 4. true; 5. false, it is an omnivore; 6. true; 7. false, Sy Sperling founded it; 8. false, cornea is operated on; 9. true; 10. true.

General Knowledge
1. The federal statute that extends health insurance to former employees of a company is called what?
2. What South American country has the longest coastline?
3. When iron rusts, it has a chemical reaction with what gas?
4. What artist created the 1962 painting "Twenty Marilyns?"
5. The historic Oregon Trail begins in what midwestern state?
6. Before retiring in 2001, businessman Jack Welch served as CEO of what company?
7. The territory that a Catholic bishop oversees is called what?
8. On the TV series "Three's Company," what was the name of the main characters' favorite bar?
9. What movie studio's logo features a woman on a pedestal holding a torch?
10. In which Alabama city was Rose Parks arrested in when she wouldn't give up her bus seat in 1955?

Answers: 1. COBRA; 2. Brazil; 3. oxygen; 4. Andy Warhol; 5. Missouri; 6. General Electric; 7. diocese; 8. The Regal Beagle; 9. Columbia Pictures; 10. Montgomery.

IQ Trivia

1. Which famous 19th century American general ranked last in his graduating class at West Point? ( 5 points)
2. What is the most popular first name for U.S. presidents? ( 4 points)
3. The legendary King Midas was based on a real king who ruled over what ancient peoples? ( 6 points)
4. Martin Luther King Jr. and his father were co-pastors of what Baptist church in Atlanta? ( 5 points)
5. The impressionist art movement was named after the painting "Impression: Sunrise" by what artist? ( 5 points)

Answers: 1. George Armstrong Custer; 2. James; 3. The Phrygians; 4. Ebenezer Baptist; 5. Claude Monet.

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