After last week's Trivia Night postponement, I was concerned about what kind of crowd we would have in last night. I need not have worried, as the bar was filled with a large crowd that was really into the Trivia. Thanks to all of you who came out, and my apologies to those of you who turned up last week to discover Trivia was off. We are back on Tuesdays to stay!
We had a great two-team race to the finish, and both of those teams got 4 of 5 correct in IQ Trivia to make it a win for the team of Pope Francis Was In Korea, with 50 points. Second pace went to Oxford Comma Sutra with 48 points. (It was their first time at Trivia Night. Very nice debut, guys!) Third Place went to Call Me Daddy with 32 points. (Looking forward to the banana bread next week, ladies!)
Best Team Name: Snoop Quizzle
Current Events
1. Which female pop singer is cancelling her Asian tour due to concerns over her husband's ill health?
2. Richard Attenborough, legendary British director, died Sunday at the age of 90. For what 1982 film did he win 2 Oscars, including Best Director?
3. What action film regained the top spot at the box office this past weekend and is now the summer's top-grossing domestic release?
4. What state's governor was indicted on a charge of abuse of power recently over pressuring a district attorney in his state to resign?
5. What rock superstar played the final show ever at Candlestick Park in San Francisco recently, a venue he last played nearly 48 years ago?
6. Pope Francis visited what Asian country for five days recently, the first Papal visit to an Asian nation since 1999?
7. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange announced this week that he will leave what country's London embassy "soon," where he has been living for 2 years to avoid extradition to Sweden?
Pop Music Trivia
1. The Beatles won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for what album?
2. What soul singer was shot to death by his father in 1984?
3. What future rap star was, as a 13-year-old youth, an advisor to the Oakland A's baseball team?
4. What R&B legend had hits with such songs as "Sex Machine" and "I Got Ants In My Pants?"
5. What popular country male singer's father played for the 1969 Miracle Mets?
6. What US state was Michael Jackson born in?
7. Of the four major awards, Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy, which is the only one Elton John has never won?
Name the Century Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. The US Census announces that the American Frontier had officially "closed."
2. Facebook is founded in Cambridge, MA.
3. Fletcher Christian leads the famous mutiny on The Bounty.
4. The Euro, the currency of the majority of EU countries, is established.
5. The Boston Red Sox win the first World Series.
6. Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone.
7. Vermont becomes the first state admitted to the Union after the Original Thirteen.
8. Theodore Roosevelt wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
9. Thomas Jefferson sends Lewis and Clark to explore the West.
10. Dennis Tito, a multi-millionaire, become the first "space tourist," funding his own trip into space.
General Knowledge
1. In the film "Anchorman," Ron Burgundy told what city to "stay classy?" ( 1 pt)
2. What was the name of King Arthur's legendary sword? ( 1 pt)
3. What does the "S" in NASCAR stand for? ( 1 pt)
4. According to the US Census Bureau, Smith is the most common surname in the US. What name is second? ( 2 pt)
5. What TV talk show host has a house band called The Roots? ( 2 pt)
6. In the 2013 film "Captain Phillips," a ship was hijacked by pirates from what country? ( 2 pt)
7. What city do the Golden State Warriors play their home basketball games in? ( 3 pt)
IQ Trivia
1. What sitcom spinoff was the first TV show to debut at number one in the Nielsen ratings in the mid-1970s? ( 4 points)
2. What former US president was granted the first-ever Medicare ID card? ( 5 points)
3. What onetime world leader was the first person to be named an honorary US citizen in 1963? ( 4 points)
4. The sauna originated in what European country? ( 3 points)
5. Which midwestern state is the only US state to have its official motto, "L'Etoile du Nord," written in French? ( 4 points)
Answers
Current Events
1. Celine Dion; 2. "Gandhi;" 3. "Guardians of the Galaxy;" 4. Texas; 5. Paul McCartney; 6. South Korea; 7. Ecuador.
Pop Music Trivia
1. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band;" 2. Marvin Gaye; 3. MC Hammer; 4. James Brown; 5. Tim McGraw; 6. Indiana; 7. Emmy.
Name the Century Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. 19th (1890); 2. 21st (2004); 3. 18th (1789); 4. 20th (1999); 5. 20th (1903); 6. 19th (1876); 7. 18th (1791); 8. 20th (1906); 9. 19th (1803); 10. 21st (2001).
General Knowledge
1. San Diego; 2. Excalibur; 3. Stock; 4. Johnson; 5. Jimmy Fallon; 6. Somalia; 7. Oakland.
IQ Trivia
1. "Rhoda;" 2. Harry S. Truman; 3. Winston Churchill; 4. Finland; 5. Minnesota.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
Back In The Trivia Saddle On Tuesday Night
The Special Category will be "Pop Music Trivia," seven questions about the wonderful world of pop music down through the years. The Q Train lightning round will be "Name the Century Trivia," where I will give you ten events that happened in history and you have to tell me which century it occurred. But in this category, if you can also give me the exact year it happened, you will also get a bonus point.
The Sneak Peek question is:
"What was the name of King Arthur's legendary sword?"
We get going at 8 PM on Tuesday night. The Caledonia Scottish Pub is located at 1609 Second Avenue, between E.83rd and 84th Streets. It will be good to see many of you after the little hiatus we took last week!
2014? Nah, It Never Happened
A season to forget has become a lot more forgettable.
I haven't written much about the Red Sox in the last few weeks, as the 2014 season has gone completely down the crapper. I won't quote any numbers here, as they are too depressing to contemplate.
OK, maybe I will.
But for the second time in 2014, the Sox have lost at least 8 games in a row. It looked like the current the streak would end at 5 on Friday night, but Koji Uehara had his worst outing ever as a reliever, and is looking more and more human as time goes on.
This will be one of the worst World Series title defenses in history. (It already won't be the worst, as the Florida Marlins went 54-108 in 1998 after winning the 1997 World Series. The Sox have 56 wins right now.)
A brutal 2-9 homestand concludes, with the Red Sox dropping 7 straight to two of the better teams in the AL. Xander Bogaerts was hit in the head by Felix Hernandez and is on the concussion DL list. Might be best to leave him there the rest of the year. Since June, it has been a terrible year for the rookie shortstop. Give him time to clear his mind, make sure he is healthy and let him come back fresh in 2015.
That may sum up this Red Sox campaign. One long headache, and it won't end until September 28th.
That day can't come soon enough.
I haven't written much about the Red Sox in the last few weeks, as the 2014 season has gone completely down the crapper. I won't quote any numbers here, as they are too depressing to contemplate.
OK, maybe I will.
But for the second time in 2014, the Sox have lost at least 8 games in a row. It looked like the current the streak would end at 5 on Friday night, but Koji Uehara had his worst outing ever as a reliever, and is looking more and more human as time goes on.
This will be one of the worst World Series title defenses in history. (It already won't be the worst, as the Florida Marlins went 54-108 in 1998 after winning the 1997 World Series. The Sox have 56 wins right now.)
A brutal 2-9 homestand concludes, with the Red Sox dropping 7 straight to two of the better teams in the AL. Xander Bogaerts was hit in the head by Felix Hernandez and is on the concussion DL list. Might be best to leave him there the rest of the year. Since June, it has been a terrible year for the rookie shortstop. Give him time to clear his mind, make sure he is healthy and let him come back fresh in 2015.
That may sum up this Red Sox campaign. One long headache, and it won't end until September 28th.
That day can't come soon enough.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Trivia Night Postponed
Trivia Night at the Caledonia Scottish Pub has been postponed tonight, due to some unforeseen circumstances. Everything is OK, and we will return with Trivia in our regular day and time next week, Tuesday, August 26th at 8 PM.
Hope to see many of you then, and have a great week!
Hope to see many of you then, and have a great week!
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
A Special Wednesday Trivia Night Tomorrow
Trivia Night at The Caledonia Scottish Pub will be taking place on Wednesday this week, August 20th at 8 PM. It is just for this week, as I am not available tonight. We will return to our usual day and time next Tuesday night, August 26th, at 8 PM.
This week our Special Category will be "Pop Music Trivia," as I will ask seven questions concerning the world of popular music, mostly within the last generation or so. The Q Train lightning round will be "Name the Century Trivia" (which we postponed from last week). I will give you ten famous events from the last few centuries and you have to tell me which century it occurred in. I will give you a bonus point if you can tell me the exact year it happened in.
The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What was the name of King Arthur's legendary sword?"
We get started at 8 PM on Wednesday night. The Caledonia is located at 1609 Second Avenue, between E. 83rd and 84th Streets. I appreciate all of you who are able to adjust your schedules and come out on Wednesday night. This is just a one time only shift and we go back to Tuesdays next week. I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow night!
Friday, August 15, 2014
Youth Will Be Served
I haven't written much about the Red Sox lately, as 2014 evolved into a lost season for the defending World Series Champions.
They backed up the truck on July 31, and a number of key players from the 2013 Champions departed.
It was a smart move by Red Sox brass.
The Sox have a deep farm system, and it was time to see what they truly had in their young players.
Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa and Anthony Ranaudo were brought up and put into the rotation. So far, I like what I see. Webster got his third win last night, De La Rosa was spectaular against the Angels this past week, and Ranaudo, despite struggling on Wednesday, got his second win. It's a good move to put the youngsters out there, throw them off the deep end of the pool and see if they can swim.
2014 continues to be a struggle for both Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley. Bradley has been nothing short of spectacular in the field, turning in highlight-reel plays. He is a Gold Glove center fielder right now. But his bat has been another story. He just broke an 0-for-35 slump this past Wednesday, and didn't draw a single walk in that stretch. He's currently hitting .213.
Bogaerts actually got off to a good start this season, but from June on, has tailed off badly, and is currently hitting .233. He also struggled at shortstop, and moved over to third after the ill-advised Stephen Drew signing (who is currently in a 4-for-32 slump with NY). Bogaerts has looked better in the field since Drew departed and he returned to shortstop. Another wise move getting rid of Drew and putting Bogaerts at short and leaving him there. The Sox are correct to leave him there and let him improve. The kid is still just 21, and will get better with time.
I have been impressed with Christian Vazquez behind the plate. He calls the game like a veteran already, and has a cannon for an arm. He's hitting .236 with 12 RBI, but his offensive numbers aren't overly important right now. He clearly is ready to be a full time MLB signal caller.
As September is just two weeks away, we should be seeing more rookies at Fenway when the rosters expand. Get these guys a taste of the majors going forward to 2015. I really believe the Sox are in far better shape for the future than their rival Yankees are. The Sox have a deep farm system, and can make over their team the way did in 2012. They can trade young talent, as well as some of the MLB talent they have, and sign free agents. They have no bad contracts, and only one player on a long term contract (Dustin Pedroia). I'm not guaranteeing a title in 2015, but the team should look very different from the one that took the field on Opening Day of 2014.
New York, on the other hand, has little in their farm system, many bad contracts, almost no one on their MLB roster they can trade for a significant return (with the exception of Brett Gardner and Dellin Betances), and the specter of Alex Rodriguez returning in 2015. Yes, the circus is coming back to town, and from Hal Steinbrenner's comments the other day, A-Rod will be welcomed back. They owe him $61 million over the next three years, and sure that's a lot of money to eat, but do you really want to bring back a guy who is going on 40, with a bad hip and who hasn't seen game action in nearly 1 1/2 years? Not to mention is more and more hated by the rank-and-file of MLB after that inane lawsuit he filed against the Players Association (and eventually withdrew)? The Yankees can only sign free agents, and that will not help them get younger, especially at the most athletic of positions.
They are stuck with him.
Anyway, back to the Sox. They have currently won 5 of 6, and I'd love to see them get back to .500, and pass the Yankees. I know, I know, I can still dream...
They backed up the truck on July 31, and a number of key players from the 2013 Champions departed.
It was a smart move by Red Sox brass.
The Sox have a deep farm system, and it was time to see what they truly had in their young players.
Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa and Anthony Ranaudo were brought up and put into the rotation. So far, I like what I see. Webster got his third win last night, De La Rosa was spectaular against the Angels this past week, and Ranaudo, despite struggling on Wednesday, got his second win. It's a good move to put the youngsters out there, throw them off the deep end of the pool and see if they can swim.
2014 continues to be a struggle for both Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley. Bradley has been nothing short of spectacular in the field, turning in highlight-reel plays. He is a Gold Glove center fielder right now. But his bat has been another story. He just broke an 0-for-35 slump this past Wednesday, and didn't draw a single walk in that stretch. He's currently hitting .213.
Bogaerts actually got off to a good start this season, but from June on, has tailed off badly, and is currently hitting .233. He also struggled at shortstop, and moved over to third after the ill-advised Stephen Drew signing (who is currently in a 4-for-32 slump with NY). Bogaerts has looked better in the field since Drew departed and he returned to shortstop. Another wise move getting rid of Drew and putting Bogaerts at short and leaving him there. The Sox are correct to leave him there and let him improve. The kid is still just 21, and will get better with time.
I have been impressed with Christian Vazquez behind the plate. He calls the game like a veteran already, and has a cannon for an arm. He's hitting .236 with 12 RBI, but his offensive numbers aren't overly important right now. He clearly is ready to be a full time MLB signal caller.
As September is just two weeks away, we should be seeing more rookies at Fenway when the rosters expand. Get these guys a taste of the majors going forward to 2015. I really believe the Sox are in far better shape for the future than their rival Yankees are. The Sox have a deep farm system, and can make over their team the way did in 2012. They can trade young talent, as well as some of the MLB talent they have, and sign free agents. They have no bad contracts, and only one player on a long term contract (Dustin Pedroia). I'm not guaranteeing a title in 2015, but the team should look very different from the one that took the field on Opening Day of 2014.
New York, on the other hand, has little in their farm system, many bad contracts, almost no one on their MLB roster they can trade for a significant return (with the exception of Brett Gardner and Dellin Betances), and the specter of Alex Rodriguez returning in 2015. Yes, the circus is coming back to town, and from Hal Steinbrenner's comments the other day, A-Rod will be welcomed back. They owe him $61 million over the next three years, and sure that's a lot of money to eat, but do you really want to bring back a guy who is going on 40, with a bad hip and who hasn't seen game action in nearly 1 1/2 years? Not to mention is more and more hated by the rank-and-file of MLB after that inane lawsuit he filed against the Players Association (and eventually withdrew)? The Yankees can only sign free agents, and that will not help them get younger, especially at the most athletic of positions.
They are stuck with him.
Anyway, back to the Sox. They have currently won 5 of 6, and I'd love to see them get back to .500, and pass the Yankees. I know, I know, I can still dream...
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Trivia Q&A: August 12
It looked like it was going to be a difficult night on Tuesday, as bar manager Keith was away on vacation and we couldn't get the sound system working. So, Yours Truly had to improvise, and I had to read off the Trivia Q&A by walking up and down the bar and nearly shouting! (I did that before earlier on in my tenure at the Caledonia.) But it worked out fine, and the sound system should be in working order next week. We had a good crowd with 8 teams taking part. The rain thankfully did not keep the folks away.
The team of Show Me On The Doll Where The Trivia Host Touched You won the night easily, as they took the title by 15 points, finishing with 49 points. They also won for Best Team Name. (I have strangely seen that name somewhere before.) Congrats to Alex and his friends on their triumph.
Second place went to I Didn't Know Pudge Was Going To Hit a Home Run with 34 points, and we had a three-way tie for third, as Phil's Phan, Down With the Quizness and Mork and Mindy all finished with 27 points, so we gave them all the third place prize: a round of shots.
A Reminder: We are doing Trivia next Wednesday next week, August 20th at 8 PM. I will not be around next Tuesday, but we will return to our usual day and time on Tuesday, August 26th at 8 PM.
Current Events
1. Classic rock singer Marianne Faithful claimed last week that what late rock star was actually murdered by her drug dealer boyfriend back in the 1970s?
2. Over 4,000 fans have signed an online petition to have the NFL select which pop singer, who released his 14th album last month to great fanfare, to play the Super Bowl halftime show this February?
3. The FCC is investigating NBC after they received complaints over a recent primetime special by what pop singer?
4. What US state was nearly hit by the first hurricane in over two decades last week, before it was downgraded to a tropical storm when it hit the state?
5. Five former maids who once worked for what late celebrity recently revealed some horro stories about working for him, with one calling him "the dirtiest, most unsanitary person in Hollywood?"
6. 38 people were killed in a plane crash last week when a Sepahan Airlines flight went down in what Middle Eastern country?
7. What drugstore chain, the largest in the US, is considering moving its headquarters to Europe to take advantage of a loophole in US tax laws and save billions of dollars?
US and World Geography Trivia
1. The country of Djibouti is located on what continent?
2. Over half the world's freshwater lakes are in what country?
3. The county of Flanders is located in which two European countries?
4. What is the world' third largest ocean?
5. Cape Hatteras is located in what US state?
6. What eastern US state is the second least populated state, after Wyoming?
7. What is the largest state in area east of the Mississippi River?
Robin Williams Film Trivia ("The Q Train") (Was he nominated for an Oscar or a Golden Globe?)
1. Dead Poets Society
2. Moscow On The Hudson
3. The World According to Garp
4. The Birdcage
5. Mrs. Doubtfire
6. Jumanji
7. Good Morning Vietnam
8. Awakenings
9. The Fisher King
10. What Dreams May Come
General Knowledge
1. What city in the US is the home to the most millionaires? ( 1 pt)
2. What is the nickname for the undersea rail tunnel that connects England and France? ( 1 pt)
3. Which former Beatle was the first person to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone? ( 1 pt)
4. What was the first color film to win an Oscar for Best Picture? ( 2 pt)
5. The 2018 World Cup soccer championship will be held in what country? ( 2 pt)
6. What is the human body's largest organ? ( 2 pt)
7. Between Mercury, Mars and Jupiter, which has the shortest day? ( 3 pt)
IQ Trivia
1. Which is the only one of the original 13 states that doesn't border the Atlantic Ocean? ( 3 points)
2. In the ten-event Olympic decathlon, what is traditionally the first event held? ( 4 points)
3. UNESCO, or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is headquartered in what European city? ( 4 points)
4. The breakup of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s created what new country, which surpassed Mongolia as the world's largest landlocked country? ( 5 points)
5. What 19th century US president is the only one who held a patent on his own invention? ( 4 points)
Answers
Current Events
1. Jim Morrison; 2. Weird Al Yankovic; 3. Miley Cyrus; 4. Hawaii; 5. Michael Jackson; 6. Iran; 7. Walgreens.
US and World Geography Trivia
1. Africa; 2. Canada; 3. France and Belgium; 4. Indian; 5. North Carolina; 6. Vermont; 7. Georgia.
Robin Williams Film Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. yes (both); 2. yes (GG); 3. no; 4. no; 5. yes (GG); 6. no; 7. yes (both); 8. no; 9. yes (both); 10. no.
General Knowledge
1. New York City; 2. The Chunnel; 3. John Lennon; 4. "Gone With the Wind;" 5. Russia; 6. skin; 7. Jupiter.
IQ Trivia
1. Pennsylvania; 2. 100 meters; 3. Paris; 4. Kazakhstan; 5. Abraham Lincoln.
The team of Show Me On The Doll Where The Trivia Host Touched You won the night easily, as they took the title by 15 points, finishing with 49 points. They also won for Best Team Name. (I have strangely seen that name somewhere before.) Congrats to Alex and his friends on their triumph.
Second place went to I Didn't Know Pudge Was Going To Hit a Home Run with 34 points, and we had a three-way tie for third, as Phil's Phan, Down With the Quizness and Mork and Mindy all finished with 27 points, so we gave them all the third place prize: a round of shots.
A Reminder: We are doing Trivia next Wednesday next week, August 20th at 8 PM. I will not be around next Tuesday, but we will return to our usual day and time on Tuesday, August 26th at 8 PM.
Current Events
1. Classic rock singer Marianne Faithful claimed last week that what late rock star was actually murdered by her drug dealer boyfriend back in the 1970s?
2. Over 4,000 fans have signed an online petition to have the NFL select which pop singer, who released his 14th album last month to great fanfare, to play the Super Bowl halftime show this February?
3. The FCC is investigating NBC after they received complaints over a recent primetime special by what pop singer?
4. What US state was nearly hit by the first hurricane in over two decades last week, before it was downgraded to a tropical storm when it hit the state?
5. Five former maids who once worked for what late celebrity recently revealed some horro stories about working for him, with one calling him "the dirtiest, most unsanitary person in Hollywood?"
6. 38 people were killed in a plane crash last week when a Sepahan Airlines flight went down in what Middle Eastern country?
7. What drugstore chain, the largest in the US, is considering moving its headquarters to Europe to take advantage of a loophole in US tax laws and save billions of dollars?
US and World Geography Trivia
1. The country of Djibouti is located on what continent?
2. Over half the world's freshwater lakes are in what country?
3. The county of Flanders is located in which two European countries?
4. What is the world' third largest ocean?
5. Cape Hatteras is located in what US state?
6. What eastern US state is the second least populated state, after Wyoming?
7. What is the largest state in area east of the Mississippi River?
Robin Williams Film Trivia ("The Q Train") (Was he nominated for an Oscar or a Golden Globe?)
1. Dead Poets Society
2. Moscow On The Hudson
3. The World According to Garp
4. The Birdcage
5. Mrs. Doubtfire
6. Jumanji
7. Good Morning Vietnam
8. Awakenings
9. The Fisher King
10. What Dreams May Come
General Knowledge
1. What city in the US is the home to the most millionaires? ( 1 pt)
2. What is the nickname for the undersea rail tunnel that connects England and France? ( 1 pt)
3. Which former Beatle was the first person to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone? ( 1 pt)
4. What was the first color film to win an Oscar for Best Picture? ( 2 pt)
5. The 2018 World Cup soccer championship will be held in what country? ( 2 pt)
6. What is the human body's largest organ? ( 2 pt)
7. Between Mercury, Mars and Jupiter, which has the shortest day? ( 3 pt)
IQ Trivia
1. Which is the only one of the original 13 states that doesn't border the Atlantic Ocean? ( 3 points)
2. In the ten-event Olympic decathlon, what is traditionally the first event held? ( 4 points)
3. UNESCO, or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is headquartered in what European city? ( 4 points)
4. The breakup of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s created what new country, which surpassed Mongolia as the world's largest landlocked country? ( 5 points)
5. What 19th century US president is the only one who held a patent on his own invention? ( 4 points)
Answers
Current Events
1. Jim Morrison; 2. Weird Al Yankovic; 3. Miley Cyrus; 4. Hawaii; 5. Michael Jackson; 6. Iran; 7. Walgreens.
US and World Geography Trivia
1. Africa; 2. Canada; 3. France and Belgium; 4. Indian; 5. North Carolina; 6. Vermont; 7. Georgia.
Robin Williams Film Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. yes (both); 2. yes (GG); 3. no; 4. no; 5. yes (GG); 6. no; 7. yes (both); 8. no; 9. yes (both); 10. no.
General Knowledge
1. New York City; 2. The Chunnel; 3. John Lennon; 4. "Gone With the Wind;" 5. Russia; 6. skin; 7. Jupiter.
IQ Trivia
1. Pennsylvania; 2. 100 meters; 3. Paris; 4. Kazakhstan; 5. Abraham Lincoln.
Monday, August 11, 2014
An Eerie & Sad Coincidence
This maybe the most incredible coincidence I have ever seen in my life.
I was home channel surfing before dinner, and came across the 1998 Robin Williams film "What Dreams May Come," about a man who dies and tries to find his wife, who has also recently passed away, in the afterlife. I had seen the movie many years ago, so I put it on and watched it for about 15 minutes.
And then my iPhone goes off, with the news bulletin: "Actor Robin Williams dies at the age of 63."
Stunned disbelief doesn't cover this adequately. I've seen some amazing coincidences in my life, but this takes the cake. The sad news was that the great comedian and actor was suffering from severe depression, and may have committed suicide.
He was a marvelous talent, and "Good Will Hunting" and "Good Morning Vietnam" are among my favorite films.
I hope he can find peace on The Other Side.
Here is a clip from "What Dreams May Come":
But my favorite clip from any Robin Williams film is from "Good Will Hunting," when Sean describes the events of the night of October 21, 1975:
Thank you for sharing you gifts with the world, Mr. Williams. Rest well.
I was home channel surfing before dinner, and came across the 1998 Robin Williams film "What Dreams May Come," about a man who dies and tries to find his wife, who has also recently passed away, in the afterlife. I had seen the movie many years ago, so I put it on and watched it for about 15 minutes.
And then my iPhone goes off, with the news bulletin: "Actor Robin Williams dies at the age of 63."
Stunned disbelief doesn't cover this adequately. I've seen some amazing coincidences in my life, but this takes the cake. The sad news was that the great comedian and actor was suffering from severe depression, and may have committed suicide.
He was a marvelous talent, and "Good Will Hunting" and "Good Morning Vietnam" are among my favorite films.
I hope he can find peace on The Other Side.
Here is a clip from "What Dreams May Come":
But my favorite clip from any Robin Williams film is from "Good Will Hunting," when Sean describes the events of the night of October 21, 1975:
Thank you for sharing you gifts with the world, Mr. Williams. Rest well.
Going Around the Globe Tomorrow Night
Tomorrow night at the Caledonia Scottish Pub, Trivia Night will feature "US and World Geography Trivia," seven questions testing your knowledge of places from here and around the world.
The Q Train lightning round will be "Name The Century Trivia." I will ask you to name the century that a certain historic event took place, and it will be worth double the points if you can the exact year it took place. (The events will be limited to the last three or four centuries.)
The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What city in the US is the home to the most millionaires?"
We get started at 8 PM on Tuesday night. The Caledonia is located at 1609 2nd Avenue, between E. 83rd and 84th Streets. A reminder about nest week: we will be doing Trivia on Wednesday next week, August 20th at 8 PM, as I will not be around on Tuesday. We will return to our usual Tuesday night slot the following week on August 26th at 8 PM. Hope to see many of you tomorrow night!
Friday, August 08, 2014
"Blood Sport"
I recently read the new book about the sordid Alex Rodriguez/Biogenesis affair called "Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis, and the Quest to End Baseball's Steroid Era."
The book, written by Miami New Times reporter Tim Elfrink and Newsday reporter Gus Garcia-Roberts, is centered on the Biogenesis scandal that featured Tony Bosch, a wannabe doctor from New York who ran an anti-aging clinic in South Florida and eventually hooked up with his most famous client, Alex Rodriguez. But it is also a history of drugs and their unseemly appearance in MLB, going back to the use of amphetamines in the 1950s and '60s, the Pittsburgh drug trials of the 1980s, the inflated home run totals of the late 1990s and the infamous Mitchell Report.
"Blood Sport" details the life of Bosch, who wanted to make a name for himself and become famous. He sets up shop in Florida, which is the "Wild West" for dopers, and comes across as a pretty sleazy character. He kept detailed notebooks on all his "clients", including not just Rodriguez, but other MLB players as well as college and high school athletes as well.
Everyone involved in this book comes off badly. Not just Bosch and Rodriguez, but especially MLB, who spent way over $1 million to get the goods on A-Rod. Their tactics in doing so sound like the stuff of spy novels. The book is loaded with sleazy characters, from grifters to weight lifters to ex-cons. And that's what makes the book even more fascinating to read. A lot of what is in "Blood Sport" has already been widely known, but the authors also have some tidbits that were not known, like the fact that Rodriguez was given an exemption by MLB to use testosterone before the 2007 season (and then went out and won the AL MVP before infamously opting out of his contract during the World Series).
The book concludes with the MLB players who were given 50-game suspensions for their ties to Bosch and Biogenesis. All except Rodriguez, of course, and the tome details the infamous arbitration case he had with MLB after the 2013 season.
Like "Game of Shadows" did for Barry Bonds back in the mid-2000s, "Blood Sport" goes into great detail about the fall of a great athlete through the use of doping. MLB may have won this round with Bosch and Biogenesis, but what comes across is that illegal doping his here to stay in MLB and pro sports. "Blood Sport" is a cautionary tale. There will be other Boschs down the road.
The book, written by Miami New Times reporter Tim Elfrink and Newsday reporter Gus Garcia-Roberts, is centered on the Biogenesis scandal that featured Tony Bosch, a wannabe doctor from New York who ran an anti-aging clinic in South Florida and eventually hooked up with his most famous client, Alex Rodriguez. But it is also a history of drugs and their unseemly appearance in MLB, going back to the use of amphetamines in the 1950s and '60s, the Pittsburgh drug trials of the 1980s, the inflated home run totals of the late 1990s and the infamous Mitchell Report."Blood Sport" details the life of Bosch, who wanted to make a name for himself and become famous. He sets up shop in Florida, which is the "Wild West" for dopers, and comes across as a pretty sleazy character. He kept detailed notebooks on all his "clients", including not just Rodriguez, but other MLB players as well as college and high school athletes as well.
Everyone involved in this book comes off badly. Not just Bosch and Rodriguez, but especially MLB, who spent way over $1 million to get the goods on A-Rod. Their tactics in doing so sound like the stuff of spy novels. The book is loaded with sleazy characters, from grifters to weight lifters to ex-cons. And that's what makes the book even more fascinating to read. A lot of what is in "Blood Sport" has already been widely known, but the authors also have some tidbits that were not known, like the fact that Rodriguez was given an exemption by MLB to use testosterone before the 2007 season (and then went out and won the AL MVP before infamously opting out of his contract during the World Series).
The book concludes with the MLB players who were given 50-game suspensions for their ties to Bosch and Biogenesis. All except Rodriguez, of course, and the tome details the infamous arbitration case he had with MLB after the 2013 season.
Like "Game of Shadows" did for Barry Bonds back in the mid-2000s, "Blood Sport" goes into great detail about the fall of a great athlete through the use of doping. MLB may have won this round with Bosch and Biogenesis, but what comes across is that illegal doping his here to stay in MLB and pro sports. "Blood Sport" is a cautionary tale. There will be other Boschs down the road.
Wednesday, August 06, 2014
Trivia Q&A: August 5
We had another nice turnout for Trivia at the Caledonia on Tuesday night, and a great three-team race going down to the finish.
All the three teams finished IQ Trivia with 12 points, so we had a Caledonia first: a tie for first place.
The teams of We're Missing 50% of Our Team, and 95% of Our Brain, and Feet of Clay Buchholz both ended with 38 points, so we had a tie-breaking question: "What was the total box office take of Steven Spielberg's classic film 'ET'?" Feet of Clay Buchholz just narrowly missed it (they guessed $432 million, it was $435 million; I gave both teams a hint it was over $300 million) and were closest, so they won the night. Congrats to Alex and his team on their win.
Third place (and Best Team Name) went to Curious George & The Ebola Virus with 37 points.
Current Events
1. What South American country defaulted on its international debt for the second time in 13 years, and blamed the US for "not acting properly?"
2. A federal judge ordered what bank to pay a $1.27 billion penalty for fraud over shoddy mortgages sold by Countrywide Financial Corp.?
3. Over 300 people were killed last Sunday when a strong 6.1 registered earthquake struck what Asian country?
4. What Emmy-winning actor testified last week at the parole hearing for his sister's killer, and it will keep him in jail where he's been for nearly 40 years?
5. James Brady, who was White House Press Secretary under what US president, died on Monday at the age of 73?
6. The Princeton Review selected what northeastern US college as the nation's number one "top party school?"
7. Controversial former NFL QB Brett Favre will have his number retired and will enter what teams' Hall of Fame later this year?
Movie Trivia
1. Which three presidents does Forrest Gump meet in that film?
2. What actor or actress has been nominated for the most Academy Awards?
3. Which film did Woody Allen win a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for?
4. "Mean Streets" and "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" are two of the earliest films by what Oscar-winning director?
5. What is Steven Spielberg's highest-grossing film ever in the US?
6. What John Travolta film was selected by Moviefone as "The Worst Movie of the 2000s?"
7. In a 2004 British poll by Amazon.com and IMDB, what comedy film was selected as the all-time favorite English film?
True or False Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. Presidential retreat Camp David is named after Dwight Eisenhower's grandson.
2. The 1976 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck, Austria were originally going to be held in Denver.
3. Mosquitoes are toothless.
4. Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine are brother and sister.
5. Johnny Weismuller, who played Tarzan in the movies, won gold medals in the Olympics.
6. Lord Kelvin invented the mercury thermometer.
7. If a month starts on a Sunday, it will have a Friday the 13th.
8. Rhode Island is the US state that has the fewest counties.
9. The first Super Bowl was played in 1964.
10. French was the official language of England for nearly 600 years.
General Knowledge
1. What team won the NBA championship in 2014? ( 1 pt)
2. Who is the fictitious mascot and cover boy of Mad Magazine? ( 1 pt)
3. "The face that launched a thousand ships" refers to what famous woman? ( 1 pt)
4. How many squares can one land on playing checkers using standard US rules? ( 2 pt)
5. The 2014 Tour de France actually started in what country? ( 2 pt)
6. Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme of Manson Family infamy once tried to assassinate what US president? ( 2 pt)
7. Mount Erebus is an active volcano found on what continent? ( 3 pt)
IQ Trivia
1. What South American country owns the Galapagos Islands? ( 4 points)
2. Dix Mountain, Mount Colvin and Dial Mountain are all found in what eastern US state? ( 5 points)
3. What metal does Mexico supply 16% of the world's needs of? ( 4 points)
4. What is the month that the Earth is at its closest point to the Sun? ( 3 points)
5. Of the four major US credit cards networks, what is the only one whose cards have 15-digit numbers, not 16?
Answers
Current Events
1. Argentina; 2. Bank of America; 3. China; 4. Kelsey Grammer; 5. Ronald Reagan; 6. Syracuse University; 7. Green Bay Packers.
Movie Trivia
1. JFK, LBJ, Richard Nixon; 2. Meryl Streep (18); 3. "Annie Hall;" 4. Martin Scorsese; 5. "ET'; 6. "Battlefield Earth;" 7. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
True or False Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. true; 2. true; 3. false, they have teeth; 4. true; 5. true; 6. false, Daniel Fahrenheit; 7. true; 8. false, Alaska; 9. false, 1967; 10. true.
General Knowledge
1. San Antonio Spurs; 2. Alfred E. Neuman; 3. Helen of Troy; 4. thirty-two; 5. England; 6. Gerald Ford; 7. Antarctica.
IQ Trivia
1. Ecuador; 2. New York; 3. silver; 4. January; 5. American Express.
All the three teams finished IQ Trivia with 12 points, so we had a Caledonia first: a tie for first place.
The teams of We're Missing 50% of Our Team, and 95% of Our Brain, and Feet of Clay Buchholz both ended with 38 points, so we had a tie-breaking question: "What was the total box office take of Steven Spielberg's classic film 'ET'?" Feet of Clay Buchholz just narrowly missed it (they guessed $432 million, it was $435 million; I gave both teams a hint it was over $300 million) and were closest, so they won the night. Congrats to Alex and his team on their win.
Third place (and Best Team Name) went to Curious George & The Ebola Virus with 37 points.
Current Events
1. What South American country defaulted on its international debt for the second time in 13 years, and blamed the US for "not acting properly?"
2. A federal judge ordered what bank to pay a $1.27 billion penalty for fraud over shoddy mortgages sold by Countrywide Financial Corp.?
3. Over 300 people were killed last Sunday when a strong 6.1 registered earthquake struck what Asian country?
4. What Emmy-winning actor testified last week at the parole hearing for his sister's killer, and it will keep him in jail where he's been for nearly 40 years?
5. James Brady, who was White House Press Secretary under what US president, died on Monday at the age of 73?
6. The Princeton Review selected what northeastern US college as the nation's number one "top party school?"
7. Controversial former NFL QB Brett Favre will have his number retired and will enter what teams' Hall of Fame later this year?
Movie Trivia
1. Which three presidents does Forrest Gump meet in that film?
2. What actor or actress has been nominated for the most Academy Awards?
3. Which film did Woody Allen win a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for?
4. "Mean Streets" and "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" are two of the earliest films by what Oscar-winning director?
5. What is Steven Spielberg's highest-grossing film ever in the US?
6. What John Travolta film was selected by Moviefone as "The Worst Movie of the 2000s?"
7. In a 2004 British poll by Amazon.com and IMDB, what comedy film was selected as the all-time favorite English film?
True or False Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. Presidential retreat Camp David is named after Dwight Eisenhower's grandson.
2. The 1976 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck, Austria were originally going to be held in Denver.
3. Mosquitoes are toothless.
4. Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine are brother and sister.
5. Johnny Weismuller, who played Tarzan in the movies, won gold medals in the Olympics.
6. Lord Kelvin invented the mercury thermometer.
7. If a month starts on a Sunday, it will have a Friday the 13th.
8. Rhode Island is the US state that has the fewest counties.
9. The first Super Bowl was played in 1964.
10. French was the official language of England for nearly 600 years.
General Knowledge
1. What team won the NBA championship in 2014? ( 1 pt)
2. Who is the fictitious mascot and cover boy of Mad Magazine? ( 1 pt)
3. "The face that launched a thousand ships" refers to what famous woman? ( 1 pt)
4. How many squares can one land on playing checkers using standard US rules? ( 2 pt)
5. The 2014 Tour de France actually started in what country? ( 2 pt)
6. Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme of Manson Family infamy once tried to assassinate what US president? ( 2 pt)
7. Mount Erebus is an active volcano found on what continent? ( 3 pt)
IQ Trivia
1. What South American country owns the Galapagos Islands? ( 4 points)
2. Dix Mountain, Mount Colvin and Dial Mountain are all found in what eastern US state? ( 5 points)
3. What metal does Mexico supply 16% of the world's needs of? ( 4 points)
4. What is the month that the Earth is at its closest point to the Sun? ( 3 points)
5. Of the four major US credit cards networks, what is the only one whose cards have 15-digit numbers, not 16?
Answers
Current Events
1. Argentina; 2. Bank of America; 3. China; 4. Kelsey Grammer; 5. Ronald Reagan; 6. Syracuse University; 7. Green Bay Packers.
Movie Trivia
1. JFK, LBJ, Richard Nixon; 2. Meryl Streep (18); 3. "Annie Hall;" 4. Martin Scorsese; 5. "ET'; 6. "Battlefield Earth;" 7. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
True or False Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. true; 2. true; 3. false, they have teeth; 4. true; 5. true; 6. false, Daniel Fahrenheit; 7. true; 8. false, Alaska; 9. false, 1967; 10. true.
General Knowledge
1. San Antonio Spurs; 2. Alfred E. Neuman; 3. Helen of Troy; 4. thirty-two; 5. England; 6. Gerald Ford; 7. Antarctica.
IQ Trivia
1. Ecuador; 2. New York; 3. silver; 4. January; 5. American Express.
Monday, August 04, 2014
Testing Your Film Smarts On Tuesday
This Tuesday night, the Special Category for Trivia Night at The Caledonia Scottish Pub will be "Movie Trivia," seven questions about all different things associated with The Silver Screen.
The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia." I will give you ten statements about all types of stuff, and you have to tell me if that is a true one or I am lying through my teeth.
The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Who is the fictitious mascot and cover boy of Mad Magazine?"
We get going at 8 PM. The Caledonia is located at 1609 Second Avenue, between E. 83rd and 84th Streets. We've had some really good crowds over the last month, so let's keep it going!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: In two weeks, we will have a special Wednesday night edition of Trivia on August 20th at 8 PM. I will not be around the previous night, so we will have it on Wednesday for that night only. We will go back to our usual Tuesday night on August 26th at 8 PM.
Sunday, August 03, 2014
"Brooklyn Spirits"
The book was co-authored by Chris and Peter Thomas Fornatale, who is the son of the late New York author/radio personality Pete Fornatale. It is all about the distilleries of Brooklyn, and will contain the histories of those distilleries, along with the places serving Brooklyn-produced spirits and plenty of drink recipes.
The book will be released on October 14th and you can pre-order it and read more about it by going to Amazon here.
Chris also has a great new blog connected to the book called "Brooklyn Spirits."
Good luck to Chris and Pete on what will be a terrific book!