Trivia Q&A: May 13

We had a very large turnout at Professor Thom's on Tuesday night, with a record-tying number of teams, 24, taking part. There wasn't anything special going on at the bar apart from the Red Sox game in Baltimore, just folks who have to have their trivia. And I thank you all for turning out in such record numbers.

The numbers were rather good for Current Events and True or False, but many teams struggled with both General Knowledge and the special category, Name the Number. We had a good contest, and going into the final round, seven teams were within four points of the lead.

IQ Trivia was a mixed bag. Two teams got perfect scores, and six teams got no points. The other teams got two or three of the questions right. But So Long Tavarez and Thanks For All the Fish wound up the winner, as they were one of the teams who got all five right, and wound up winning by four points. The top three teams also qualified for a special drawing to be part of "High Trek Adventure," in which Professor Thom's is putting up a team on June 14. It's a scavenger hunt/Trivia Pursuit around Manhattan that day. We also be having the top three winning teams of the next two weeks entered for chance to be part of it as well.

Current Events
1. The son of this media and reality star was sentenced to eight months in prison in Florida for causing a car crash that seriously injured his passenger.
2. Brian Cowen became the new prime minister of this country last week.
3. News Corporation withdrew its bid last week to purchase this New York-area newspaper, and it was purchased instead by Cablevision.
4. Mike D'Antoni, the former head coach of this NBA team, last week agreed to a four-year deal with the Knicks to become their head coach.
5. The Social Security Administration said that this was the most popular baby girl's name for the 12th straight year, and this boy's name was number one for the 9th year in a row.
6. A new species of spider was recently named for this Canadian rock legend by a biologist at East Carolina University.
7. A stamp of this legendary singer went on sale this week, exactly 10 years after his death.

Answers: 1. Hulk Hogan; 2. Ireland; 3. Newsday; 4. Phoenix Suns; 5. Emily and Jacob; 6. Neil Young (Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi); 7. Frank Sinatra.

Name the Number
1. This number amendment to the US Constitution instituted a federal income tax, in 1913.
2. This was the number worn by MLB Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and NFL Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas.
3. This is the number of years of marriage marking a silver anniversary.
4. Pearl Jam, LL Cool J and Chicago all had albums titled with this number.
5. This is the number of Brandenburg Concertos of Johann Sebastian Bach.
6. This numbered Apollo spacecraft malfunctioned after being launched in April 1970 and had to return to Earth without landing on the moon.
7. This was the number worn by star athletes Michael Jordan, Ryne Sandberg and LeBron James.

Answers: 1. 16; 2. 19; 3. 25; 4. 10; 5. 6; 6. 13; 7. 23.

True or False ("The Q Train")
1. The main ingredient of Alfredo sauce is cream.
2. The game "Pokemon" is called "Pocket Monster" in Japan.
3. Walter Mondale lost two consecutive elections as a presidential candidate.
4. Dean Martin authored the book "Happiness is a Dry Martini."
5. Bob Hope once had a brief career as a boxer.
6. Mick Jagger sang harmony with Carly Simon on her hit song "You're So Vain."
7. Tess Trueheart was the girlfriend of Dick Tracy.
8. P.T. Barnum's real first name was Paul.
9. A Granny Smith is a tart apple.
10. Poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote many of his poems while he worked as a priest.

Answers: 1. true; 2. true; 3. false, he lost one; 4. false, it was written by Johnny Carson; 5. true; 6. true; 7. true; 8. false, it was Phinneas; 9. true; 10. true.

General Knowledge
1. Islamabad is the capital of what country?
2. In the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy, what was Hardy's first name?
3. What American folklore hero died after digging a tunnel faster than a steam drill?
4. The Presidio is a former Spanish fort and military base located in what US city?
5. "Brimstone" is an old-fashioned word for what substance?
6. Mammoth Cave National Park is located in what US state?
7. The 1990 film "Goodfellas" tells the story of what real-life mobster and FBI informant?

Answers: 1. Pakistan; 2. Oliver; 3. John Henry; 4. San Francisco; 5. sulfur; 6. Kentucky; 7. Henry Hill.

IQ Trivia
1. What 19th century historical figure was nicknamed "The Liberator?" ( 4 points)
2. What conservative Israeli parliamentary group is named for the Hebrew word for "unity?" (4 points)
3. "I Me Mine" is the title of what rock musician's 1979 autobiography? ( 3 points)
4. What do the zygomatic muscles help a person do? ( 5 points)
5. The island of Zanzibar is part of what African country? ( 4 points)

Answers: 1. Simon Bolivar; 2. Likud; 3. George Harrison; 4. smile; 5. Tanzania.