Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Trivia Q&A: March 30

On a miserable, rainy night in New York we had just seven teams in for Trivia Night on Tuesday. I appreciated all of you who make my Trivia Night a weekly event, and I thank you all for coming out despite the rain.

We had some of the lowest numbers I've ever seen for Current Events, as I think I made it just slightly too difficult. The numbers rebounded nicely in the other categories.

We had two teams run the table in IQ Trivia, and one of those teams, John Quinn, I Want You, To Build, An Ark, wound up pulling out a one-point victory. My congratulations to Rob and his crew on their win. Rob was really confident of victory before we got started last night, and pulled off a big comeback in IQ Trivia to do it. I also think it was the first time a team got a win with my name in their team name!

We also have another change in the day we are doing Trivia Night next week. Next Monday is not possible to do it, as the NCAA basketball championship game is happening. So we will now have Trivia Night next week on Thursday night, April 8th at 9 PM. The Red Sox-Yankees games of next Tuesday and Wednesday nights makes those nights not possible for us. We will then return to Tuesday night on April 13th at 9 PM.

Current Events
1. Alicia Guastaferro, an 18-year-old girl who was featured on this reality show two years ago, is suing ABC for $100 million, charging they framed scenes to embarrass her that led to death threats against her.
2. This talk show host will be hosting a show on GSN beginning next month called "Baggage," giving contestants a chance to win a date but they have to reveal their faults and foibles first.
3. A judge called this talk show host a "charlatan" after she sentenced a couple to prison for running a shoplifting ring, and the couple had appeared on his show and his staff encouraged them to exaggerate their exploits.
4. The secretary of state of this US state said last week that her state's voters will decide by vote in November's election whether to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults.
5. American John Tate was recently awarded the Abel Prize by the King of Norway. In what field of endeavor is the Abel Prize awarded for?
6. This country officially banned Adolf Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" last week, citing it as extremist in an attempt to combat the growing allure of far-right politics there.
7. The remains of the son of this 1930s/40s Hollywood star may have finally been discovered, as he was a journalist who disappeared in Cambodia in 1970 during the Vietnam War.

Answers: 1. "Wife Swap;" 2. Jerry Springer; 3. Dr. Phil McGraw; 4. California; 5. mathematics; 6. Russia; 7. Errol Flynn.

March 30th Trivia
1. On this date in 1981, the Academy Awards were postponed for just the second time in its history and for 24 hours for what reason?
2. In 1822, the territory of this US state was established after it was ceded to the US by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.
3. The first subway opened in Canada on this date in 1954 in which major city?
4. The Crimean War officially ended on this date in 1856 with a treaty signed in what European capital city?
5. What bridge, linking the boroughs of Manhattan and Queens, opened today in 1909?
6. This actor, who won two Academy Awards, his first being for "Angels With Dirty Faces," died on this date in 1986 at the age of 86.
7. This rap star, who actually started off as an 11-year-old office assistant for Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley, was born on this day in 1962.

Answers: 1. The shooting of President Reagan; 2. Florida; 3. Toronto; 4. Paris; 5. Queensborough ( 59th Street) Bridge; 6. James Cagney; 7. MC Hammer.

US States Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. This was the first state to ratify the Constitution.
2. The largest mall in America by floor area can be found in this state.
3. This state has the highest percentage of urban population in the US with 90%.
4. Grand Canyon National Park is found in this state.
5. Mt. Rushmore is located in this state.
6. The first American flag was made in this state.
7. What is the only state that does not have counties?
8. "The Rubber Capital of the World" is found in this state.
9. Bing Crosby and Jimi Hendrix were both born in this state.
10. What state is nicknamed "The Centennial State?"

Answers: 1. Delaware; 2. Minnesota; 3. New Jersey; 4. Arizona; 5. South Dakota; 6. Pennsylvania; 7. Louisiana; 8. Ohio; 9. Washington; 10. Colorado.

General Knowledge
1. What is the world's smallest continent in area? ( 1 pt)
2. Sam Walton founded what chain of stores in 1962? ( 1 pt)
3. Of the four major over-the-air TV networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, which is the oldest? (1 pt)
4. The Vezina Trophy is found in what team sport? ( 2 pt)
5. Shintoism is the largest religion of what nation? ( 2 pt)
6. The HMS Bounty mutineers settled on what island in 1790? ( 2 pt)
7. Author and linguist Albert Camus was born in what African country in 1913? ( 3 pt)

Answers: 1. Australia; 2. Wal-Mart; 3. NBC; 4. hockey; 5. Japan; 6. Pitcairn; 7. Algeria.

IQ Trivia
1. What country, with 104, has the most nuclear power plants? ( 3 points)
2. Port of Spain is the capital of what Caribbean country? ( 4 points)
3. In the late 1940s, Billboard magazine writer Jerry Wexler coined what musical term, replacing one popularly known at the time as "race music?" ( 4 points)
4. Gavrilo Princip made history by assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand, starting World War I in 1914 in what Eastern European city? ( 5 points)
5. "The Crimson Permanent Assurance" was a 15-minute film that aired directly before what 1983 comedy feature film?

Answers: 1. United States; 2. Trinidad & Tobago; 3. Rhythm and Blues; 4. Sarajevo; 5. "The Meaning of Life."

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