As 2017 Makes Its Exit...

This is my 108th and final post on my blog for 2017. I want to thank all of you who supported me here. It was great getting back into being a Trivia host at Professor Thom's again, and I did some great gigs in my background acting career, some of which were nothing short of unforgettable. I didn't write a lot about the Red Sox on my blog in 2017, but hope to do more of that in 2018.

I don't write nearly as much as I did back in the early years of my blog, as my life changed over the years. But I thank all of you who still do check out my ramblings from time to time. And I wish you and yours all the best for the upcoming New Year.

Stay safe, stay warm, and be well!

Post-Christmas & the Cold: Trivia Doesn't Happen

Well, last night was one of those nights: the combination of the extreme cold and the day after Christmas left Professor Thom's a ghost town last night, and Trivia Night didn't happen, as just a handful of friends turned out for the night. We gave them free shots and did a round of Current Events for fun and gave a free beer to the winner. 2017 ends with a bit of a thud, but hopefully we get 2018 off to a good start with our first Trivia Night of the year next Tuesday. We will most likely have the same Trivia Night next Tuesday that we would have had last night (except with a brand new Current Events round). I'll post all the details here on Monday. Happy New Year to all of you, and thanks for making 2017 such a great year for me on my return to hosting at Professor Thom's. Be safe on Sunday night everyone, and I hope to see many of you next Tuesday!

As We Conclude This Year...

Trivia will be happening tonight, December 26th at 8:30 PM, with "The Year 2017 In Review" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions about the current year coming to a close, mostly in pop culture. The Q Train lightning round will be "Albums of 2017". I will give you the names of ten popular albums that were released this year, in all types of music, and you tell the artist who recorded it.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What color is PacMan in the classic video game?"

I look forward to seeing many of you tonight for our final Trivia Night of 2017. And let me wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and thanks for making 2017 such a great year!

Have a Merry Christmas Everyone

I want to wish all of you out there a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a wonderful holiday season.

As I always do every Christmas, here is the WPIX Yule Log (the original one will be broadcast tonight at 6 PM on WPIX Channel 11 here in New York).

Be well, be safe, and Merry Christmas!

Trivia Q&A: December 19

We had our "Christmas Extravaganza" Trivia Night on Tuesday night, and we had nine teams take part. It was close throughout the night, and three teams neck-and-neck going into IQ Trivia. But the team of Turkey Club got 4 of 5 correct in that final round, and eked out a one-point victory, getting 43 points of the win. Congratulations to Bob and Cato on another great win.

Second place went to Lettuce Goes In The Teeth with 42 points, and Omarosa, You're Fired Again (also won for Best Team Name) finished in third place with 34 points.

Merry Christmas and Happy Festivus to you all, and we'll see you on December 26th for our next Trivia Night!

Current Events
1. What cable news host claimed that his Twitter account was hacked last week and a tweet was posted calling President Trump "a pathetic loser?"
2. What event from last September was the number one globally searched trend for 2017 on Google?
3. What TV legend will be given the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2018 Golden Globes for her lifetime achievement to television?
4. What media mogul is one of the latest men accused of sexual misconduct, this time by at least 12 women going back to 1991, some of whom accuse him of rape?
5. Sarah Idan, who was a Miss Universe contestant this year, was forced to flee what country, her homeland, after receiving death threats over a photo she took with Miss Israel she posted online?
6. The Walt Disney Company announced last week its intention to buy the entertainment division of what mass media company, valued at about $52 billion?
7. Dan Johnson, a Republican member of what southern state's House of Representatives, committed suicide last Wednesday after being accused of sexually molesting a 17-year-old girl five years ago?

Christmas Trivia
1. What Oscar-winning actor starred as Scrooge in the 1992 Muppet movie "The Muppet Christmas Carol?"
2. What 20th century US president once banned the Christmas tree from the White House?
3. What country created eggnog, the favorite beverage of Christmas?
4. The Vince Guaraldi Trio did the score to what classic Christmas TV special?
5. What Tchaikovsky ballet is a favorite during the Christmas season?
6. In what country is the Christmas tree believed to have originated?
7. What was the name of the group of pop music stars who came together to record the 1984 hit single "Do They Know It's Christmas" for African famine relief?
8. Name 2 of the 3 rituals associated with Festivus.

The Q Train: Christmas Movies By Decade Trivia
1. It's a Wonderful Life
2. Home Alone
3. The Santa Clause
4. Scrooged
5. Love Actually
6. A Christmas Story
7. Miracle on 34th Street
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
9. The Nightmare Before Christmas
10. White Christmas

General Knowledge
1. What planet is nicknamed "The Red Planet?" ( 1 pt)
2. Hudson Bay is located in what nation? ( 1 pt)
3. How many squares are there on a standard chess board? ( 1 pt)
4. The Maurice J. Tobin Bridge is located in what major US city? ( 2 pt)
5. An otoscope is used for examination in which part of the human body? ( 2 pt)
6. France and what other European nation claim to have first invented French fries? ( 2 pt)
7. When ordering a dish "a la crecy", what is it garnished with? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What is the only organization to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize three different times? ( 5 points)
2. What cartoon character was the first to appear on a US postage stamp? ( 3 points)
3. Stretching over 4400 miles, what is the world's longest mountain range above sea level? ( 4 points)
4. "Luckiest Man" and "Iron Horse" are titles of two biographies of what famous athlete? ( 4 points)
5. In 2006, a National Geographic map had soccer as the most popular sport in nearly every nation of the world. What team sport tops the list in just three: Latvia, Lithuania and the Philippines? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Anderson Cooper; 2. Hurricane Irma; 3. Oprah Winfrey; 4. Russell Simmons; 5. Iraq; 6. 21st Century Fox; 7. Kentucky.

Christmas Trivia
1. Michael Caine; 2. Theodore Roosevelt; 3. England; 4. "A Charlie Brown Christmas;" 5. "The Nutcracker;" 6. Germany; 7. Band Aid; 8. The Festivus Pole, Airing of Grievances and Feats of Strength.

The Q Train: Christmas Films By Decade Trivia
1. 1940s (1946); 2. 1990s (1990); 3. 1990s (1994); 4. 1980s (1988); 5. 2000s (2003); 6. 1980s (1983); 7. 1940s (1947); 8. 2000s (2000); 9. 1990s (1993); 10. 1950s (1954).

General Knowledge
1. Mars; 2. Canada; 3. 64; 4. Boston; 5. ears; 6. Belgium; 7. carrots.

IQ Trivia
1. International Red Cross; 2. Bugs Bunny; 3. Andes; 4. Lou Gehrig; 5. basketball.

A Christmas Extravaganza On Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, December 19th at 8:30 PM, with "Christmas Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to the holiday, with a special bonus question to conclude the round. The Q Train lightning round will be "Christmas Movies By Decade Trivia." I will give you the names of ten famous Christmas-themed films throughout the years, and you'll tell me what decade it was originally released in, and it will be the original films only (no remakes).

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Hudson Bay is located in what nation?"

I look forward to seeing many of you Tuesday night for another great night of Trivia!

Trivia Q&A: December 12

We had a good crowd last night for Trivia on a cold night in New York and it also being the first night of Hanukkah. 13 teams took part in the festivities, and it was good to be back in the saddle hosting after being away last week (and thanks again to Matt for doing the hosting duties last week). It was also nice to see my old friend and long time Trivia Night supporter Dave Lipman back in the bar for Trivia last night, as he moved away from New York earlier this year. We had a close three-team race into the final rounds, but the team of DIMS pulled out the win, after getting off to a slow start. They were the only team to get 4 of 5 correct in IQ Trivia, and won the night with 45 points. Congrats to Ken and Derek on another great win.

Second place went to Turkey Club with 41 points, and third place went to Roy No More with 35 points.

Best Team Name: Her Name is Molly, If I Make It The Team Name, I Won't Forget It

Current Events
1. The city council of what major US city voted last week to become the nation's largest city to license marijuana sales beginning in 2018?
2. What Central American country had a presidential election last month but still has no official winner over claims the vote was fraudulent and it led thousands to protest and the police to go on strike?
3. What country's parliament legalized same-sex marriage last Thursday after years of fierce public debate?
4. Doctors recently discovered brain abnormalities in 24 diplomats who recently worked in the US embassy in what country and many are convinced these were targeted attacks?
5. Rep. Trent Franks, from what western state, is resigning from Congress amid reports he offered an aide $5 million to be a surrogate for his child?
6. What game show host is being sued by a former employee who claims the host never paid him for the thousands of dollars he raised for the host's charity?
7. Sports Illustrated picked two athletes from two different  sports teams from what US city as their co-winners of the "Sportsperson of the Year" for 2017?

Pennsylvania Trivia
1. Carnegie-Mellon University is found in what Pennsylvania city?
2. What yearly sporting event is held in Williamsport, PA?
3. What 19th US president is the only one born in the state of Pennsylvania?
4. Pennsylvania was the second US state to ratify the Constitution. What state was first?
5. Within three, how many electoral votes does Pennsylvania have in the Electoral College?
6. The Ben Franklin Bridge is found at what Pennsylvania city?
7. Of all the current pro sports teams in PA in the 4 major sports, which won has won the most titles in their history?

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. Singer/songwriter Paul Anka wrote Frank Sinatra's hit song "My Way."
2. Dueling is legal in Paraguay, as long as both parties are registered blood donors.
3. Yale University is America's oldest university.
4. John F. Kennedy was the first US president to be born in a hospital.
5. The dog was the first domesticated animal.
6. Twinkies have a shelf life of nearly 20 years.
7. Dallas is the largest city by population in the state of Texas.
8. Coca-Cola at one time actually contained cocaine.
9. The host of the children's TV show "Blue's Clues", Steve Burns, died of a heroin overdose.
10. George Orwell got the tile for his novel "1984" by reversing the last two numbers, as it was written in 1948.

General Knowledge
1. What is the last letter in the Greek alphabet? ( 1 pt)
2. Keyzer Soze was a mysterious character in what 1995 film? ( 1 pt)
3. What sign of the Zodiac is the Archer? ( 1 pt)
4. "Bad Medicine" was a 1988 number one hit by what rock band? ( 2 pt)
5. What immortal figure was credited with saying "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration? ( 2 pt)
6. The game of jai alai originated in what country?( 2 pt)
7. At over 42,000 square miles, what is the largest island in the Caribbean in area? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What eastern US state is the country's major producer of cranberries? ( 4 points)
2. Bedloe's Island is currently known by what name, which was changed in 1956? ( 4 points)
3. Which highly anticipated day is the busiest of the year for plumbers? ( 5 points)
4. "Mookie Blaylock", a former NBA player, was the original name of what 1990/2000s superstar rock band? ( 4 points)
5. What Hollywood film director directed Michael Jackson's 1988 video "Bad?" ( 3 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Los Angeles; 2. Honduras; 3. Australia; 4. Cuba; 5. Arizona; 6. Steve Harvey; 7. Houston (Jose Altuve & J.J. Watt)

Pennsylvania Trivia
1. Pittsburgh; 2. Little League World Series; 3. James Buchanan; 4. Delaware; 5. 20; 6. Philadelphia; 7. Pittsburgh Steelers (6).

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. True; 2. true; 3. false, Harvard; 4. false, Jimmy Carter; 5. true; 6. false, 25 days; 7. false, Houston; 8. true; 9. false; 10. true.

General Knowledge
1. Omega; 2. "The Usual Suspects;" 3. Sagittarius; 4. Bon Jovi; 5. Thomas Edison; 6. Spain; 7. Cuba.

IQ Trivia
1. Massachusetts; 2. Liberty Island; 3. Black Friday; 4. Pearl Jam; 5. Martin Scorsese.

As 2018 Dawns, A New Sheriff's in Town

I haven't written much about the Red Sox this year, as the return of my Trivia Night has taken up much of my time on the blog. But with the Winter Meetings now in full swing, it's time to catch up on a few things.

Alex Cora replaces John Farrell as Red Sox manager for 2018. It seems to be a widely popular move, especially with the Red Sox going out in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year. Farrell can be proud of what he accomplished in Boston, winning a World Series in 2013 and three division titles. As time goes on, he will be more appreciated for what he did in Boston, being just the second manager in recent times to lead the Red Sox to the Promised Land. But it was clear the Sox needed a change, and a new voice in the manager's office.

Cora played for the Red Sox from 2005-2008, mostly as a utility infielder. I remember Peter Gammons calling Cora the smartest player in baseball, and that he would be an MLB manager one day. He comes to the job with very little managerial experience, having just managed in the Puerto Rican Winter League, and was the bench coach for last year's World Series champions in Houston. Of course, turning the keys of the kingdom over to someone who hasn't managed in the majors before is a risk, but there are recent examples of men who have succeeded with no managerial experience anywhere (Dave Roberts and Mike Matheny come to mind). Cora knows what fishbowl he's walking into, and left a great impression on everyone at his press conference.

More changes are coming to Boston, that's for sure. NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton was just traded to New York this past weekend, and by checking with some on social media, the Red Sox shouldn't even bother playing next season, and the Yankees should be awarded the 2018 World Series trophy right now. Calm down folks.

I remember back in 2004 when Alex Rodriguez was traded to New York, and I saw a similar reaction. I wrote one simple line on email to my friends who were worried about this: "Alex Rodriguez can't pitch." And now I substitute Stanton's name in that sentence. I'd be more worried if New York had acquired a 20-game winner like Corey Kluber, because as we all know, pitching (and defense) win teams championships. And I am glad the Sox didn't bring in Stanton, as the Sox have had way to many odious contracts over recent years, and Stanton's maybe the worst. He's still owed $295 million for ten years. And given Stanton's injury history (he's only played 150 games once in his career and that was last year). I really thought he'd stay in the NL, but once he turned down the offer from the Giants and Cardinals, and Dodgers passed on him, the Yankees were really the only team who could take his contract.

And to those "worried" about the new combo of Stanton and Aaron Judge playing for New York, Peter Abraham posted this stat on Twitter this past weekend: Stanton and Judge combined lifetime against Red Sox pitchers currently on their roster are 17-for-93 with one home run and 37 strikeouts.

Now, the ball is in Dave Dombrowski's court.

So what does he do? J.D. Martinez is the most attractive free agent out there, and his numbers are even better than Stanton's over the past three years. But he has Scott Boras as an agent, and you know the price for the Red Sox will be very high. The Sox also have a crowded outfield, so does Martinez DH, and if he does, what happens with Hanley Ramirez? If he gets 497 plate appearances, his option for 2019 automatically kicks in.

I'm not sure what DD will do, but he has a history of making big trades that no one saw coming, and the pressure is squarely on him with New York making such a big splash this past weekend. And you can just bet if the Winter Meetings pass with no big deals happening, social media will scream bloody murder for DD to do SOMETHING.

Dombrowski has plenty of time, as Spring Training doesn't begin for over two months from now. He should make the right moves, not those to please the fans. I offer no suggestions, as I'll just sit back and see what the Red Sox do. A new man's in charge, and the rivalry with the behemoths to the south is sure to be ramped up in 2018.

Stay tuned folks, it should be quite a ride.

Keystone State Trivia On Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, December 12th at 8:30 PM, with "Pennsylvania Trivia" as the Special Category. I will ask you seven questions connected to our neighbors in the Keystone State. The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What is the last letter of the Greek alphabet?"

My thanks to Matt Solowey for his hosting last week in my absence. Glad that everything went very well, and I am happy to be back. Looking forward to seeing many of you on Tuesday for a great night of Trivia Q&A!

Pinch-Hitting for Me on Tuesday

Trivia will be happening on Tuesday night, December 5th, at 8:30 PM at Professor Thom’s, and as many of you know, I’ll be away on assignment this week and will not be hosting. But Trivia regular Matt Solowey will be taking over hosting duties, and I will return next week. So, this week’s Special Category will be “Cocktail Trivia”, in honor of the 84th anniversary of the end of Prohibition on Tuesday. Matt will give you the ingredients to seven classic cocktails, and you name the drink it makes. The Q Train lightning round will be “Which Is Taller Trivia.” Matt will give you ten pairs of people, places and things, and you have to say which of the two is the taller one.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
“What is the fewest number of Oscar nominations a movie received while still winning Best Picture?”

Matt will be doing the same format that I do on Trivia Night, and the prizes will be the same as well. I hope that many of you will come out for Trivia on Tuesday, as I’m sure Matt will do a great job in my place!

Trivia Q&A: November 28

We had a good crowd in for Trivia on Tuesday night, with 13 teams taking in the festivities. The scores were good for "Who's Older Trivia" (the regulars know their celebrity ages), but no team cracked double-digits for General Knowledge (that rarely happens). The boys from DIMS led through the night, and posted the win with 43 points, getting a five point win. Congrats to Ken, Michael and Derek. Second place went to The Giants are So Sad Even Eli Manning Doesn't Want to Play For Them (also won for Best Team Name), and third place went to What, No F**kin' Ziti? with 38 points (nice to see longtime regular and my friend Larry back last night).

Just a quick note to let you all know I will be away next week on assignment, and will not be hosting Trivia Night next Tuesday. However, Trivia will go on as scheduled, as Trivia regular Matt Solowey will be hosting in my place next week. Everything will be the same in terms in format and prizes. I will be posting the Special Category, Q Train Lightning Round and a Sneak Peek question here early next week. I will be back hosting again on Tuesday, December 12th at 8:30 PM. Good luck, Matt, and thank you!

Current Events
1. The US last week called what Asian country's military operation guilty of "ethnic cleansing" against members of its population and was considering sanctions against them?
2. Robert Mugabe, the world's oldest ruler at the age of 93, and president of what African nation since 1980, resigned last week before lawmakers could start impeachment proceedings against him?
3. Over 300 people were killed and more than 130 injured after Islamic militants attacked a mosque in what Middle Eastern country last Friday?
4. What actress, who worked on 7 films with disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein, ripped him on Facebook on Thanksgiving Day, saying she was glad things were going slowly against him and he "didn't deserve a bullet."?
5. What Oscar-winning actress gave an interview earlier this week saying that if Hillary Clinton had been elected president, the US would be at war right now?
6. What female pop singer canceled three more shows in anticipation of her current Christmas tour due to a respiratory infection she's currently battling?
7. A volcano at Mount Agung, in what Asian country, erupted last Saturday night, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate and leaving tourists stranded there?

New Jersey Trivia
1. After Newark, what is the second largest city in New Jersey in population?
2. True or False: The first officially recorded baseball game in history was played in New Jersey.
3. Within three, how many counties does New Jersey have?
4. What city was Frank Sinatra born in New Jersey?
5. "Queen's College" was the original name of what New Jersey institution of higher learning?
6. What New Jersey town is in the title of Bruce Springsteen's debut album in 1972?
7. Name 1 of the 2 current senators from the state of New Jersey.

The Q Train: Who's Older Trivia
1. Keira Knightly or Bruno Mars
2. Jay Z or P. Diddy
3. Adele or Lady Gaga
4. Michael J. Fox or Barack Obama
5. Madonna or Sharon Stone
6. Al Pacino or Robert DeNiro
7. Matt Damon or Ben Affleck
8. Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears
9. Oprah Winfrey or Whoopi Goldberg
10. Harvey Weinstein or Al Franken

General Knowledge
1. What is the Jewish holiday "Day of Atonement" called? ( 1 pt)
2. What nickname is given to London's Underground? ( 1 pt)
3. Deborah Harry was the lead singer of what 1970s rock band? ( 1 pt)
4. A portobello is a popular type of what food? ( 2 pt)
5. What was the name of the casino that infamous gangster Bugsy Siegel opened in 1947? ( 2 pt)
6. Newton's Second Law of Motion states that force equals mass times what? ( 2 pt)
7. Billy Batson was the alter ego of what comic book character? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. In 1997, what entertainer became the first person named an honorary veteran of the Armed Forces by Congress? ( 4 points)
2. Josephine Cochrane invented what household appliance in 1886? ( 5 points)
3. What cherished Christmas song was originally inspired by an annual horse race in Medford, MA in 1850? ( 4 points)
4. "Rush to Judgment" was a national best-selling book about what famous event? ( 4 points)
5. What is the southernmost state capital in the continguous United States? ( 3 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Myanmar; 2. Zimbabwe; 3. Egypt; 4. Uma Thurman; 5. Susan Sarandon; 6. Mariah Carey; 7. Indonesia.

New Jersey Trivia
1. Jersey City; 2. true; 3. 21; 4. Hoboken; 5. Rutgers; 6. Asbury Park; 7. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez.

The Q Train: Who's Older Trivia
1. Keira Knightly; 2. P. Diddy; 3. Lady Gaga; 4. Michael J. Fox; 5. Sharon Stone; 6. Al Pacino; 7. Matt Damon; 8. Christina Aguilera; 9. Oprah Winfrey; 10. Al Franken.

General Knowledge
1. Yom Kippur; 2. The Tube; 3. Blondie; 4. mushroom; 5. The Flamingo; 6. acceleration; 7. Captain Marvel (Shazam).

IQ Trivia
1. Bob Hope; 2. dishwasher; 3. "Jingle Bells;" 4. JFK Assassination; 5. Austin, TX.

Honoring the Garden State Tomorrow

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, November 28th at 8:30 PM, with "New Jersey Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions about the Garden State in all things. The Q Train lightning round will be "Who's Older Trivia." I will match two current celebrities of similar age and you will tell me which star is the older one.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What nickname is given to London's Underground?"

Looking forward to seeing many of you at Professor Thom's on Tuesday night for a great night of Trivia!

Trivia Q&A: November 21

The crowd was down a bit from last week for Trivia last night, as the Thanksgiving holiday probably kept some folks away. But we still had a great night of Trivia, with 10 teams taking part. We had two teams in a mad dash to the finish, with the team of Turkey Club getting the win, as the ran in the table in the IQ Trivia round, winning the night with 49 points, edging out our friends from DIMS, who missed one question in that round to end the night with 47 points. Congrats to Bob and Cato on another great win.

Third place ended in a tie between the teams of Nacho Average Team and Do Your Job both getting 41 points. We broke the tie with the question: "How many individual times has Sherlock Holmes been seen on TV and in the movies around the world?" (Based on an IQ Trivia question last night.) The answer was 254, and Do Your Job was closest with their guess, so they finished in third place for the night.

Best Team Name: Et Tu, Charlie?

Current Events
1. Three basketball players from what college in the US returned last week after being detained in China on a shoplifting charge?
2. What country music singer was selected as People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" for 2017?
3. Last June, the Tappan Zee Bridge was renamed for what New York politician, and now a new petition with over 50,000 signatures wants to restore the original Tappan Zee name?
4. The painting "Savior of the World" by what legendary artist, sold at auction last week in New York for a record $450 million?
5. What late entertainer topped the list in Forbes magazine's annual roll call of the "Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities" for this year?
6. The Keystone pipeline leaked over 200,000 gallons of oil for the third time since 2010 in what Midwestern US state?
7. Malcolm Young, a founding member and guitarist for what popular hard rock band, died last Saturday at the age of 64?

Thanksgiving Trivia
1. Which giant balloon character has flown in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade more times than any other?
2. What Midwestern state is the largest producer in the US of turkeys?
3. What 19th century president issued the "Thanksgiving Proclamation" making the last Thursday in November the holiday?
4. The first Thanksgiving celebration in America took place in what current US state?
5. Of the three utensils we use to eat (fork, spoon and knife), which was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast?
6. Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving in what month?
7. True or false: The turkey was domesticated in the nation of Turkey.

The Q Train: Country Nicknames Trivia
1. The Red Dragon
2. The Lucky Country
3. The Gift of the Nile
4. The Boot
5. The Rainbow Nation
6. The Hermit Kingdom
7. Land of the Incas
8. Graveyard of Empires
9. Land of Hope and Glory
10. Land of Milk and Honey

General Knowledge
1. What Peanuts character famously played the piano? ( 1 pt)
2. Temple University is located in what US city? ( 1 pt)
3. The Twitter logo sports the name "Larry" after what famous person? ( 1 pt)
4. "Live Free or Die" is what US state's motto? ( 2 pt)
5. Who succeeded King George VI as England's monarch? ( 2 pt)
6. What is the most consumed fruit in the US? ( 2 pt)
7. What color are sunsets on Mars? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. In 1982, Charles Brooks became the first person in the US to be executed by what method? ( 3 points)
2. What fictional literary character holds the world record for the most depictions in film and TV? ( 5 points)
3. "Backrub" was the original name of what online technology company? ( 4 points)
4. What is the largest country in area in Central America? ( 4 points)
5. The 1966 film "The Fortune Cookie" was the first of ten cinematic pairings of what two Oscar-winning actors? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. UCLA; 2. Blake Shelton; 3. Mario Cuomo; 4. Leonardo daVinci; 5. Michael Jackson; 6. South Dakota; 7. AC/DC.

Thanksgiving Trivia
1. Snoopy (38 times); 2. Minnesota; 3. Abraham Lincoln; 4. Massachusetts; 5. fork; 6. October; 7. false, Mexico.

The Q Train: Country Nicknames Trivia
1. China; 2. Australia; 3. Egypt; 4. Italy; 5. South Africa; 6. North Korea; 7. Peru; 8. Afghanistan; 9. England; 10. Switzerland & Israel.

General Knowledge
1. Schroeder; 2. Philadelphia; 3. Larry Bird; 4. New Hampshire; 5. Queen Elizabeth II; 6. bananas; 7. blue.

IQ Trivia
1. Lethal injection; 2. Sherlock Holmes; 3. Google; 4. Nicaragua; 5. Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.

We Give Thanks For Trivia On Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, November 21st at 8:30 PM at Professor Thom's, with "Thanksgiving Trivia," seven questions connected to that great American holiday coming up this week. The Q Train lightning round will be "Country Nicknames Trivia." I will give you the nicknames of ten countries around the world and you have to tell me which one I'm talking about.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What Peanuts character famously played the piano?"

We had a huge turnout last week, so make sure you get in early to grab good seats or a table. I look forward to seeing many of you this Tuesday night for another great night of Trivia Q&A as we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving!

"The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse"

On November 2, 2016, history was made that night that no living person could ever say they had previously witnessed. The Chicago Cubs, billed for years as "The Lovable Losers", had finally reached the mountaintop and gave their long-suffering fans the thrill of winning their first World Series since 1908.For me, it brought back memories of watching the Red Sox win the World Series back in 2004, ending their own 86-year dry spell. I was pulling for the Cubs, and was thrilled for them and their supporters.

In the aftermath of the Red Sox win 13 years ago, there were a whole slew of books released about it from every conceivable angle you can think of. And with the Cubs' victory, it brought lots of reading material to hit the store shelves. And one of them was just released last month, by author Rich Cohen called "The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse" (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).

Cohen, who grew up in suburban Chicago and authored such books as "Monsters" (about the 1985 Chicago Bears) and "Tough Jews" (about the Brooklyn Jewish mob of the 1930s), takes us on a tour of his Cubs fandom, as well as a history of the star-crossed franchise he fell in love with. At the age of 8, he was warned by his father NOT to become a Cubs fan after taking young Rich to his first game at Wrigley Field. But a lifelong love of the team was born for him.

Cohen starts with those Cubs teams that dominated the National League in the latter part of the first decade of the 20th century, that featured such stars as Frank Chance, Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown. (And he goes into detail about how Brown got the nickname). The Cubs would would rule the NL from 1906-1913, winning two World Series and winning more games than any other club in the league.

The good times of dominance didn't last, as the Cubs won sporadic pennants over the next 30 years, but no World Series. And Cohen hits the "Curse" section of the book by retelling the story of tavern owner William Sianis and the story of his goat, which he brought to Game 4 of the 1945 World Series, but was ejected as the goat got many complaints from neighboring fans. Sianis then supposedly put the whammy on the franchise, whether you put any stock in curses or not (I don't), it makes for an entertaining retelling.

1969 is the next stop on the Cubs storied history of futility, blowing a long lead to the Mets that summer, then over to 1984 when the Cubs made it to the postseason for the first time since 1945, only to blow a 2-0 NLCS lead to the San Diego Padres, topped off by Leon Durham's memorable Game 5 error, and then to 2003 and the Steve Bartman Affair.  Cohen goes into plenty of detail about all of them to make every Cubs fan who remembers living through them shake their head in utter disgust. (He also goes into plenty of background on Bill Buckner, as remembers him from his Cubs days, as he has a photo taken with him in 1979.)

Cohen is clearly a devoted fan who has stuck with his team through thick and thin, and brings readers to his days at Wrigley Field as a youngster, cutting out of school to catch games in the bleachers with other diehards, especially during the days the Cubs were fighting to stay out of the NL East basement.

The book concludes with the 2016 championship season, and breaks down each postseason game. I did find the ending a bit surprising, as he was present in Cleveland for the Game 7 win, but didn't celebrate with other Cubs fans. He recalls being sad, like his childhood had disappeared once Anthony Rizzo caught the last out.

I definitely enjoyed "The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse." part of it might be the connection that Red Sox fans have with Cubs fans, with all the futility stretched out over the generations. But it is a great baseball story from a man who finally saw it  all come together for his beloved team.

Trivia Q&A: November 14

It was our third time back on Tuesday nights last night at Professor Thom's for Trivia, and we had a terrific crowd in, 18 teams. It was also nice to see some old Trivia regulars back from my days of doing Trivia at the Caledonia bar on the Upper East Side from three years ago. It's always a nice surprise seeing folks from years ago (and they were sentimental choice for Best Team Name).

We had unusually low scores for both Current Events and for General Knowledge this week, as I guess this was one of those weeks I made the categories a little too difficult. But that happens, and we had three teams were fighting out to finish, separated by two points going into IQ Trivia. But our friends from DIMS pulled out the victory, getting 44 points. Congrats to the boys on a hard-fought win last night.

Second place went to last week's champions, The B Team, who just missed repeating, ending up with 42 points. Third place went to My Wife, That Tramp with 41 points.

Best Team Name: RIP Caledonia

Current Events
1. Last week, actor Corey Haim claimed that what controversial actor sexually assaulted him over 30 years ago on the set of a movie they were making, a charge the actor denied?
2. Pope Francis announced that Vatican employees can no longer purchase what common product, with the Vatican store giving up an estimated $11 million a year in profit?
3. What American athlete was barred from entering Chile last week and returned to the US because of his rap sheet that includes a rape conviction?
4. What perennial soccer powerhouse nation was eliminated from qualifying for the 2018 World Cup on Monday, and will be missing the tourney for the first time since 1958?
5. What cable channel was hit with a racial discrimination class action lawsuit last Thursday, after having had one dismissed earlier this year?
6. President Trump reportedly wants what church to lose its tax-exempt status, one it acquired after a long battle with the IRS in 1993?
7. What country singer was hammered on social media last week for lip-synching his new single at the CMA Awards but explained he did it to save his voice for his upcoming tour?

American Music Trivia
1. In 1997, what famous rapper was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles?
2. What was Elvis Presley's first number one single in the US in 1956?
3. What legendary R&B singer was nicknamed "Soul Brother Number 1" and "Mr. Dynamite?"
4. Dave Grohl rose to fame in the early 1990s as a member of what rock band?
5. In 1999, what American pop singer is the oldest woman, at 52, to have the number one single on the US charts?
6. Who replaced David Lee Roth as Van Halen's lead singer in 1986?
7. In 2017, what artist scored his 14th number one album on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart, the most by any American artist?

The Q Train: 10-100 Trivia
1. The second point gained in a game of tennis is this number.
2. The golden wedding anniversary is this many years.
3. This is the total number of minutes in a regulation soccer match.
4. The Hebrew people lived in the desert for this many years, according to the Bible.
5. Venti size coffees at Starbuck's are these many ounces.
6. Nicolas Cage starred in a 2000 film called "Gone in __ Seconds."
7. Benjamin Franklin is on this US numerical bill.
8. A traditional Snellen chart uses this many different letters.
9. This is the maximum age for a cardinal to vote in a papal election.
10. This number USA interstate highway runs from Utah to Maryland.

General Knowledge
1. Pinot noir is what color wine? ( 1 pt)
2. "Semper Fidelis" is the motto of what branch of the US armed forces? ( 1 pt)
3. What part of the body is inflamed by hepatitis? ( 1 pt)
4. The city of Winnipeg is located in what Canadian province? ( 2 pt)
5. In Morse Code, what letter is denoted by a single dash? ( 2 pt)
6. Kato was the sidekick to what masked superhero? ( 2 pt)
7. What is the largest US city in population named after a US president? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What western US state is the only state with a bilingual constitution? ( 4 points)
2. "Submitted For Your Approval" was a 1995 documentary about what TV legend? ( 4 points)
3. What iconic Disney cartoon character received 291 votes in Sweden's general election in 1985? ( 3 points)
4. In what city would you find Antoine's, founded in 1840, the oldest family-run restaurant in America? ( 4 points)
5. What naturally occurring phenomenon generates heat equal to five times the surface of the sun? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Charlie Sheen; 2. cigarettes; 3. Mike Tyson; 4. Italy; 5. CNN; 6. Church of Scientology; 7. Garth Brooks.

American Music Trivia
1. Notorious BIG; 2. "Heartbreak Hotel;" 3. James Brown; 4. Nirvana; 5. Cher; 6. Sammy Hagar; 7. Jay-Z.

The Q Train: 10-100 Trivia
1. 30; 2. 50; 3. 90; 4. 40; 5. 20; 6. 60; 7. 100; 8. 10; 9. 80; 10. 70.

General Knowledge
1. Red; 2. Marine Corps; 3. liver; 4. Manitoba; 5. T; 6. The Green Hornet; 7. Jacksonville, FL.

IQ Trivia
1. New Mexico; 2. Rod Serling; 3. Donald Duck; 4. New Orleans; 5. lightning.

Honoring Our Own On Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, November 14th at 8:30 PM at Professor Thom's, with "American Music Trivia" as the Special Category, in honor of the American Music Awards being held next Sunday. I will ask you seven questions where the answer will be an music artist who is American. The Q Train lightning round will be "10-100 Trivia." I will ask you ten general knowledge questions where the answer will be a number from 10 to 100, with each answer ending in a "0". And every answer will be a different number.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Pinot noir is what color wine?"

I hope to see many of you on Tuesday night for another great night of Trivia Q&A!

Trivia Q&A: November 7

It was a cold and rainy night in New York City last night, and it looked like that was going to keep many of the Trivia regulars away. We started off small, but fortunately people started coming into Professor Thom's as the Trivia Night progressed. We had 10 teams in all, and I thank you all who braved the miserable weather to come out and have a good time.

The team of DIMS dominated most of the night, and were actually working on a prefect night going into General Knowledge. They got one question incorrect in that round, but still had a seven-point lead going into IQ Trivia. But the team in second place, The B Team, had a perfect final round to win by just one point. They had 47 points to claim the victory, and my congratulations to Cato and Bob on a terrific win.

DIMS finished second with 46 points and Tom Petty and the Heart Attacks finished third with 32 points.

Current Events
1. What pizza company said last week that its sales are down because of the NFL's decreased TV ratings and the protests surrounding the league, as they are an official sponsor?
2. What Oscar-winning actor was accused of sexual harassment by a female production assistant when he worked on a TV movie from 1985, and she said he groped her and talked sex with her?
3. What rap star released a new album with an image on the cover of him standing over a dead body with a toe-tag with President Trump's name on it?
4. Prime Minister Saad Hariri, of what Middle Eastern country, resigned last Saturday while making a televised address in Saudi Arabia, saying his life was in danger?
5. What Republican senator was assaulted at his home last Friday by a neighbor as he was mowing his lawn?
6. What American actor allegedly showed up drunk at a London premiere of his new movie last weekend and then showed some odd behavior on a British TV show the next night?
7. What outspoken actor said last weekend he was stepping away from his Twitter account following a backlash from his remarks about women settling sexual harassment suits?

Election Trivia
1. When he ran for president in 1992, Ross Perot received how many electoral votes in total?
2. What number constitutional amendment set the minimum voting age at 18 for federal elections?
3. Who was the last Republican presidential candidate to win the vote in New York state?
4. In 1984, Geraldine Ferrero was the first female vice-presidential candidate. What state did she represent in Congress?
5. Who the only man to be elected president and vice-president two times each?
6. Who was the last sitting vice-president to be elected president?
7. Who won more states in the last two presidential elections, Barack Obama in 2012 or Donald Trump in 2016?

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. "Three's Company", the 1970s sitcom, was based on a successful British series.
2. John Adams was defeated for re-election by his own vice-president.
3. Apples are the world's most popular fruit.
4. There is a man named John Rambo on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
5. Leonardo daVinci famously cut off his ear and gave it to his girlfriend.
6. Florida is larger in land area than the entire nation of Japan.
7. In the book "The Wizard of Oz", Dorothy wears silver and not ruby slippers.
8. One of every two Americans lives within 50 miles of where they were born.
9. Walt Disney was cryogenically frozen after his death.
10. Count Dracula was based on a real person.

General Knowledge
1. The rover called Sojourner explored what planet in 1997? ( 1 pt)
2. On the TV series "Friends", how many times did the character Ross get married? (1 pt)
3. What does an ornithologist study? ( 1 pt)
4. Boko Harem is the militant Islamic group currently based in what country? ( 2 pt)
5. Arbor Day is the last Friday in what month? ( 2 pt)
6. How many black keys are there on a standard piano? ( 2 pt)
7. A fletcher is a person who makes what type of product? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What country issued the first postage stamp in 1840? ( 3 points)
2. In the 1995 comedy film "Mars Attacks", the music of what country musician eventually killed off the Martians when they heard it and repelled the invasion? ( 4 points)
3. In May 2014, Eric Garcetti became the first ever Jewish mayor of what US city? ( 5 points)
4. Who is the only Roman Catholic to be Vice-President of the United States? ( 4 points)
5. In 2002, what TV series was named the best television show of all-time by TV Guide? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Papa John's; 2. Dustin Hoffman; 3. Snoop Dogg; 4. Lebanon; 5. Rand Paul; 6. Johnny Depp; 7. Alec Baldwin.

Election Trivia
1. None; 2. 26; 3. Ronald Reagan; 4. New York; 5. Richard Nixon; 6. George H.W. Bush; 7. Donald Trump (30-26)

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. true; 2. true; 3. false, tomatoes; 4. true; 5. false, Vincent Van Gogh; 6. false, Japan is 3 times larger; 7. true; 8. true; 9. false, he was cremated; 10. true.

General Knowledge
1. Mars; 2. three; 3. birds; 4. Nigeria; 5. April; 6. 36; 7. arrows.

IQ Trivia
1. England; 2. Slim Whitman; 3. Los Angeles; 4. Joe Biden; 5. "Seinfeld."

Vote For Trivia Tomorrow

Trivia will be happening this coming Tuesday night, November 7th at 8:30 PM at Professor Thom's, with "Election Trivia" as the Special Category, in honor of Tuesday being Election Day. (Hope you didn't forget, and remember to vote!) It will be seven questions about elections of the presidential variety, even though that office isn't up for grabs this week. The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia," as I'll give you ten statements and you have to tell me if I'm telling the truth or lying through my teeth.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"The rover called Sojourner explored what planet in 1997?"

We get going at 8:30 on Tuesday night, and I hope many of you can come out to what should be a great night of Trivia then!

Trivia Q&A: October 31

It was our first night back on Tuesday nights last night, and that along with the combination of it being Halloween Night brought out just 9 teams, but we did have many folks wearing Halloween costumes who decided not to take part in Trivia. Oh well, their loss.

The team of DIMS returned to the winner's circle last night, as they had a dominant night, getting 54 points, which included a sweep of the IQ Trivia questions. But they had some good competition, with the team of Never Enough Generals snagging second place with 50 points (they also swept through the final round). Third place went to Better Ingredients, Better Pizza, Papadopoulous with 40 points (and they also won Best Team Name).

Current Events
1. A commission in what US state is considering a possible move by that state from the Eastern Time Zone to Atlantic Time Zone, putting it one ahead permanently?
2. What retail chain announced that they will be testing robots in 50 of their stores by the end of next January?
3. Last week, the NAACP issued a warning to travelers to be careful about flying what airline, saying it has a culture of "racial insensitivity?"
4. What country's High Court ruled that the Deputy Prime Minister is ineligible to remain in Parliament, costing the government its one-seat majority in Parliament?
5. What magazine caused a firestorm last week by publishing an opinion piece entitled "Why are all the conservative loudmouths Irish-American?"
6. A Rolex Daytona watch belonging to what late Oscar-winning actor was sold for $17.8 million at auction last week, a new record for a wristwatch?
7. What female celebrity was slammed on Twitter last week after posting a picture of her gawking at Katy Perry and her breasts, and she wrote "It's time to bring out the big balloons!"?

Halloween Trivia
1. In what European country did jack o'lanterns originate?
2. What Halloween tradition originated from a Roman harvest that honors the goddess Pamona?
3. Halloween is October 31st, which is the last day of the year on what calendar?
4. In "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", who does Linus mistake for the Great Pumpkin?
5. What Michael Jackson song was adapted by director John Landis into a highly successful Halloween themed music video?
6. In the movie, "E.T.", what Halloween costume does E.T. wear?
7. Wiccaphobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of what?

The Q Train: Horror Films Trivia
1. A Nightmare on Elm Street
2. The Omen
3. The Exorcist
4. The Others
5. The Shining
6. Carrie
7. The Blair Witch Project
8. An American Werewolf in London
9. Rosemary's Baby
10. Halloween

General Knowledge
1. Who piloted the Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic Ocean? ( 1 pt)
2. The film classics "North By Northwest" and "Vertigo" were
directed by whom? ( 1 pt)
3. Titan is the largest moon of what planet? ( 1 pt)
4. What is the largest bone in the human body? ( 2 pt)
5. What color are black box flight data recorders? ( 2 pt)
6. What US State's name comes from the Spanish word meaning "mountainous?" (2 pt)
7. In mythology, Morpheus was the Greek god of what? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What Agatha Christie play has run continuously in London's West End since 1952, with over 26, 500 performances to date? ( 5 points)
2. The city where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914 is now the capital of what independent nation? ( 4 points)
3. What is the smallest state in the US west of the Mississippi River in land area? ( 3 points)
4. The Fisherman's Ring is worn by what famous person? ( 4 points)
5. What actor won Academy Awards each for playing the characters of Popeye Doyle and Little Bill Daggett in films over 20 years apart? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Massachusetts; 2. Walmart; 3. American Airlines; 4. Australia; 5. Newsweek; 6. Paul Newman; 7. Ellen DeGeneres.

Halloween Trivia
1. Ireland; 2. Bobbing for apples; 3. Celtic; 4. Snoopy; 5. "Thriller;" 6. ghost; 7. witches.

The Q Train: Horror Films Trivia
1. 1980s (1984); 2. 1970s (1976); 3. 1970s (1973); 4. 2000s ( 2001); 5. 1980s (1980); 6. 1970s (1976); 7. 1990s (1999); 8. 1980s (1981); 9. 1960s (1968); 10. 1970s (1978).

General Knowledge
1. Charles Lindbergh; 2. Alfred Hitchcock; 3. Saturn; 4. femur; 5. orange; 6. Montana; 7. dreams.

IQ Trivia
1. "The Mousetrap"; 2. Bosnia; 3. Hawaii; 4. The Pope; 5. Gene Hackman.

A New Night & We Celebrate All Hallows Eve

Trivia Night at Professor Thom’s officially moves over to Tuesday nights beginning this Tuesday, October 31st at 8:30 PM. And since it is Halloween Night, the Special Category will indeed be “Halloween Trivia”, seven questions connected to the holiday. The Q Train lightning round will be “Horror Films Trivia.” I will give you the names of ten famous horror films throughout history, and you will tell me which decade it had its original release. (It will be originals only, no remakes.)

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
“In ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,’ who did Linus mistake for the Great Pumpkin?”

I hope many of you can come out on Tuesday nights from now on. Looking forward to seeing you on Halloween Night for a great night of Trivia!

Trivia Q&A: October 25

We had 13 teams in for Trivia last night, and it was an extremely close night, as the scores weren't very high for the first two rounds. But by the time we finished General Knowledge, we had six teams with five points of each other. But something happened last night that rarely happens in all the years I've hosted Trivia: a team came from sixth place to win! The Iron Bank, who had gotten off to a slow start in the first three rounds, had a good fourth round, and did the best of any team in IQ Trivia, getting 4 of the 5 questions correct (and every team in front of them got 2 or less right, so the stars aligned for them), wound up with 34 points and won the night by one point. My congratulations to the boys on their win. Hey, you  know what can happen on some nights!

Second place went to Div's Got Dibs on "Dims" with 33 points, and third place went to DIMS with 31 points.

Best Team Name: Looks Like I Picked the Wrong Week to Quit Trivia

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Trivia Night at Professor Thom's is moving over to Tuesday nights, starting next Tuesday, October 31st, at 8:30 PM. This is a permanent move, with the Celtics and Bruins playing so many Wednesday night games this season, Tuesday nights will be a better night for us going forward. The Trivia Night will stay exactly the same, but on a different night. I will be posting the Special Categories and Sneak Peek question here every Monday instead of Tuesdays from now on. I hope you will continue to join us at Thom's for a great night of Trivia each week!

Current Events
1. What pop singer got stuck suspended in the air during a show in Nashville last week, and after a few minutes was lowered to the stage by her crew?
2. What actor claimed in court documents filed last week that his girlfriend who committed suicide in 2015 tried to extort millions of dollars by faking medical records that she had STDs?
3. What comedian was awarded the 20th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor last Sunday?
4. What pop singer will headline the Super Bowl halftime show this coming February, 15 years after previously memorably headlining it?
5. Last week, Brooklyn councilman Stephen Levin introduced a bill in the NYC Council to rename what NYC bridge after legendary jazz sax player Sonny Rollins?
6. What university posted scientist Stephen Hawking's doctoral thesis from 1966 on their website, and it crashed the site as it had over 60,000 downloads in less than 24 hours?
7. What department store chain announced this week that it was ending its century-old ties with Whirlpool, and will no longer sell the company's products?

World Series Trivia
1. What MLB Hall of Famer holds the record for the most World Series home runs in a career, with 18? a. Babe Ruth; b. Mickey Mantle; c. Joe DiMaggio; d. Reggie Jackson.
2. How many World Series have the current AL champion Houston Astros won in their history? a. 1; b. 2; c. 3; d. 0.
3. What NL team did the Red Sox defeat to win their last World Series title in 2013? a. Rockies; b. Dodgers; c. Cardinals; d. Mets.
4. Which AL team did the Yankees defeat to win their last World Series title in 2009? a. Phillies; b. Mets; c. Dodgers; d. Cardinals.
5. How many times have the San Francisco Giants won the World Series in this century? a. 0; b. 1; c. 2; d. 3.
6. What Yankees Hall of Famer holds the record for playing on 10 World Series champions? a. Babe Ruth; b. Yogi Berra; c. Mickey Mantle; d. Joe DiMaggio.
7. Which one of these teams has never won a World Series? a. Marlins; b. Braves; c. Astros; d. Blue Jays.

The Q Train: New York City Places Trivia
1. Pelham Bay Park
2. Red Hook
3. Fort Totten
4. Sunset Park
5. Turtle Bay
6. Snug Harbor
7. Willets Point
8. Fort Wadsworth
9. Co-Op City
10. Gerritsen Beach

General Knowledge
1. Olympic Airlines is the national airline of what country? ( 1 pt)
2. According to Shakespeare, what is "the better part of valor?" ( 1 pt)
3. The Ginza is a shopping street in what capital city? ( 1 pt)
4. What was the one-word name of the magazine founded by John F. Kennedy Jr.? ( 2 pt)
5. What continent is divided into the most countries? ( 2 pt)
6. To the closest pound, how many pounds does a gallon of water weigh? ( 2 pt)
7. The Straits of Mackinac connect what two Great Lakes? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What now standard piece of automobile equipment was introduced at the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911? ( 4 points)
2. The Tarsus bones are found in what part of the human body? ( 3 points)
3. What did Russian Valentina Tereshkova do in 1963 that made her world famous? ( 4 points)
4. What actor, who won his Academy Award in 2004, is at 6'5", considered to be the tallest Oscar-winning actor in history? ( 4 points)
5. Which playing card is also known as "The Suicide Card?" ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Katy Perry; 2. Jim Carrey; 3. David Letterman; 4. Justin Timberlake; 5. Williamsburg Bridge; 6. Cambridge; 7. Sears.

World Series Trivia
1. b; 2. d; 3. c; 4. a; 5. d; 6. b; 7. c.

The Q Train: New York City Places Trivia
1. The Bronx; 2. Brooklyn; 3. Queens; 4. Brooklyn; 5. Manhattan; 6. Staten Island; 7. Queens; 8. Staten Island; 9. The Bronx; 10. Brooklyn.

General Knowledge
1. Greece; 2. discretion; 3. Tokyo; 4. George; 5. Africa; 6. eight; 7. Michigan and Huron.

IQ Trivia
1. Rearview mirror; 2. feet; 3. First woman in space; 4. Tim Robbins; 5. King of Hearts.

All Hallows Eve Trivia This Week

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, October 25th at 8:30 PM at Professor Thom's, with "Halloween Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected in some way to the holiday that concludes this month. The Q Train lightning round will be "New York City Places Trivia." I will give you the names of ten neighborhoods in our great city and you have to tell me which of the five boroughs you would find that place.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Olympic Airlines is the national airline of what country?"

I look forward to seeing many of you this Wednesday night, which should be a great night of Trivia Q&A!

UPDATE (10/24, 8:30 PM): We've had a change in the Special Category for this week, as "Halloween Trivia" has been bumped in favor of "World Series Trivia", in honor of the start of the Fall Classic this week. It will be seven questions that will all be multiple choice. Sorry for the late change, but I still hope to see many of you on Wednesday night!!

Trivia Q&A: October 18

We had 10 teams in for Trivia at Professor Thom's on Wednesday night. The crowd was a bit off, as there were baseball fans in to watch the ALCS, but most left when it concluded. We still had a great night, and it featured many wacky team names. We had a tie going into IQ Trivia, but the boys from DIMS emerged victorious, garnering 45 points, and winning by four points. They've got another streak going, and my congratulations to them on their win.

Cocktoberfest had a great IQ Trivia round and wound up in second place with 41 points. Third place went to Carry On Hayward Son with 40 points (and they also won for Best Team Name).

Current Events
1. The NY Daily News reported last week Hillary Clinton is in talks with what Ivy League school for a professor role?
2. What filmmaker said last Friday that he was "stunned" and "heartbroken" over the revelations about his friend Harvey Weinstein and was criticized for making no mention of his victims?
3. A Mississippi school district removed what classic novel from its lesson plan because of the book's language they said makes people feel uncomfortable?
4. What company announced recently they were building a second headquarters in an undetermined location, setting off a $5 billion bidding war with proposals due later this week?
5. 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz was elected to be the leader of what European nation last Sunday, the youngest leader of any country in the world?
6. What rapper led the crowd at his sold out concert in Arizona last Saturday with a chant of "F**k Donald Trump"?
7. At last 276 people were killed and over 300 people were injured last Saturday after a massive truck bomb exploded in what African country?

Green Trivia
1. What city's river is dyed green every St. Patrick's Day?
2. Martin Balsam portrayed Mr. Green in what 1974 NYC-based film that was remade in 2009?
3.What Ivy League school's athletic teams are known as "The Big Green?"
4. What is the name of the pigment in green plants that gives them their color?
5. "Green River" was a hit single what 1960s rock band?
6. What is the name of the main character in the book "Green Eggs and Ham?"
7. What Nickelodeon TV show was known for dropping green slime on its characters?

The Q Train: 1, 2, 3, or 4 Trivia
1. On a telephone, this number key is associated with the letters G, H and I.
2. Pitcher is this number on a baseball team.
3. This is the total number of Oscars Daniel Day-Lewis has won.
4. This is the atomic number of helium.
5. This is the maximum number of times Friday the 13th can happen in any given year.
6. The total number of World Series won by the New York Mets in their history.
7. In Astrology, Aries is this number sign of the Zodiac.
8. This is the number of Noble Truths in Buddhism.
9. In bowling, this many strikes thrown in a row is called a turkey.
10. This is the number of future US presidents who signed the Declaration of Independence.

General Knowledge
1. "XC" is what number in Roman numerals? ( 1 pt)
2. The novel "Brave New World" was written by what 20th century author? ( 1 pt)
3. What pop singer renamed herself "Sasha Fierce" for a 2008 double album? ( 1 pt)
4. The highest zip code in use, 99950, is found in what US state? ( 2 pt)
5. What song was playing when Tom Cruise famously danced in his underwear in the 1983 film "Risky Business?" ( 2 pt)
6. How many digits are in most US passports? ( 2 pt)
7. The soccer kick sometimes called "overhead" and "scissors" is more commonly known by the name of what everyday object? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What 20th century US president is the only president who earned a Ph.D degree? ( 4 points)
2. What 2017 TV hit's characters include Ofglen, Ofwarren and Ofsamuel? ( 4 points)
3. In 2016, President Obama signed a proclamation recognizing October 9 in honor of what historic European figure? ( 5 points)
4. The first US postage stamp honoring a black woman featured what historic 19th century figure? ( 3 points)
5. In what two films has Tom Hanks played a former military pilot? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Columbia; 2. Quentin Tarantino; 3. "To Kill a Mockingbird;" 4. Amazon; 5. Austria; 6. Macklemore; 7. Somalia.

Green Trivia
1. Chicago; 2, "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3;" 3. Dartmouth College; 4. Chlorophyll; 5. Creedence Clearwater Revival; 6. Sam; 7. "You Can't Do That On Television."

The Q Train: 1, 2, 3, or 4 Trivia
1. 4; 2. 1; 3. 3; 4. 2; 5. 3; 6. 2; 7. 1; 8. 4; 9. 3; 10. 2.

General Knowledge
1. 90; 2. Aldous Huxley; 3. Beyoncé; 4. Alaska; 5. "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll;" 6. 9; 7. bicycle.

IQ Trivia
1. Woodrow Wilson; 2. "The Handmaid's Tale:" 3. Leif Erickson; 4. Harriet Tubman; 5. "Apollo 13" and "Sully,"

Lots of Green Stuff This Wednesday

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, October 18th at 8:30 PM, with "Green Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to the color green in all different ways. The Q Train lightning round will be "1, 2, 3, or 4 Trivia." I will ask you ten general knowledge questions where the answer will be one of those numbers.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"XC" is what number in Roman numerals?

We had a terrific turnout last week, as the crowds have been increasing as the fall has gone on. So make sure you get in early enough to grab a good seat or table. Looking forward to seeing many of you at Professor Thom's on Wednesday night!

On To 2018

The Red Sox' 2017 came to a disappointing end last Monday, as they went out to a clearly better Houston Astros team in four games in the ALDS.

And as everybody and their brother-in-law knew what would happen in the wake of that was John Farrell would be let go as Red Sox manager after five years at the helm.

Farrell leaves with a World Series title in 2013 and three AL East division titles, the latter something no other Red Sox manager can claim. But the second straight ALDS loss gave management the impetus to give him the boot.

It was time to change. I never thought of Farrell as a good in-game manager, as too many times he left me scratching my head. This season brought another postseason berth, but it seemed like a slog too much of the time, as the Sox would struggle to score runs at times, and the background drama didn't help much at all, like the dustup in Baltimore, the David Price-Dennis Eckersley confortation, and the nonsense with the Apple Watch. To me, it looked like Farrell wasn't much of a leader in these situations.

OK, he's out. Who replaces him? You've heard all the names: Alex Cora, Brad Ausmus, Jason Varitek, Sandy Alomar Jr, Gabe Kapler, etc, etc. I personally would love to see the Sox bring in Alex Cora, a member of the 2007 champions and a guy with a great rep for baseball smarts. I remember back in those days, Cora was talked about being a future manager. I'm betting it won't be a long wait to name a new boss (although the Sox have to wait for the Astros season to end to talk with Cora, as he's a coach there).

And what will the Red Sox do this offseason? There are obvious holes to fill. Who plays first base? Do the Red Sox bring Mitch Moreland back, or go after free agent Eric Hosmer? I'd love to see Hosmer in a Sox uniform, but with Scott Boras as his agent, he'll be looking for a huge payday. There's now a big question over second base, as Dustin Pedroia's knee looks like it will be a continuing problem, even if he does have surgery this offseason. Eduardo Nunez impressed in his brief stint here, but he's a free agent, and I'd love to see him back as insurance, especially if Pedroia isn't ready to start 2018 on time.

You can't go on any Red Sox fansite and not see someone who thinks trading for Giancarlo Stanton will solve the Red Sox' big need for a big bat in the middle of the order. Don't count me as one who agrees with this. Stanton has a contract with 10 years still on it, and $295 million still owed him. And the Marlins will want a nice haul of players should they talk trade this winter. His value right now is as high as it will ever be, so moving him now makes some sense for them. But from the Sox they would be looking for players like Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaerts, and Eduardo Rodriguez. The Marlins don't want prospects for him, they want young MLB talent in the Show right now. I'll pass.

Going after free agent J.D. Martinez also makes sense for the Sox right now. The only problem now is that they have a crowded outfield right now, unless Martinez is interested in being a DH. The Sox also have to figure out what to do with Hanley Ramirez. He had a solid ALDS, but this season was a slog for him, as he didn't replace David Ortiz as a solid DH. He's got one more year on his deal.

The Red Sox rotation for 2018 right now looks like: Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez, Drew Pomeranz and Steven Wright (remember him?). That's six starters, so they'll have to make a decision about how to get that down to five. Sale, Price and Porcello aren't going anywhere, as is Pomeranz. Wright is coming off a season that ended early with an injury and you figure he'll be back. So that leaves Rodriguez. He's been someone who makes you incredibly frustrated, as he looks like an ace one start, and someone who belongs back in the minors the next. Could he be packaged in a deal for a big bat?

The bullpen looks like Craig Kimbrel will be back as closer, with Joe Kelly, Carson Smith and the return of Tyler Thornburg setting him up. Addison Reed was terrific as a late-season addition, but he's looking to close and will sign elsewhere as a free agent. Austin Maddox was a pleasant surprise as a late-season callup, and Brandon Workman showed flashes of his 2013 brillance, returning from Tommy John surgery. Matt Barnes and Heath Hembree? I'd rather see them on other teams but they figure to return.

The Sox also have to address the catching situation. Christian Vazquez had a solid year, both at the plate and behing the plate. He should be getting more playing time in 2018. The Sox have to decide who backs him up: Sandy Leon or Blake Swihart. Leon came back to earth at the plate in 2017, but Swihart is out of options after dealing with injuries at AAA in 2017. He has value and figures to be moved if the Sox go with Leon  next season.

2017 will probably not be remembered fondly by most Red Sox fans years from now. They were beaten in the ALDS by a heavily favored and loaded Houston Astros team, so I don't look at like it was an incredibly disappointing year. But they have holes that have to be addressed in order to rise to the top of the AL, especially with those behemoths to the south (no names but you know who I'm talking about) getting stronger.

Keep the faith, folks. Pitchers and catchers report to Ft. Myers in 124 days from now (give or take a few).

Trivia Q&A: October 11

We had a great turnout at Professor Thom's last night, with 19 teams taking part, and lots of new faces and young ones as well. That was good to see, and I'll bet the crowds will pick up more as the fall goes on. It was a loud crowd that was really into the Trivia last night. It was close throughout the evening,  with the top five teams just seperated by four points heading into IQ Trivia. But it was the boys from DIMS who locked up the victory, getting 4 of 5 correct in IQ Trivia and getting 55 points. They just missed a "perfect game" by one question they got wrong in the Italy Trivia round. Congrats to them on another great win.

Second place went to Helen Keller's Answering Machine with 52 points, and Our IQ Is Higher Than Rex Tillerson's with 49 points.

Best Team Name: I Went To Massage Harvey Weinstein & All I Got Was An Audition

Current Events
1. What NFL player apologized last week when after talking with a female reporter, he said "It's funny to hear a female talk about routes."?
2. Congressman Tim Murphy, from what eastern state, resigned last week after admitting he had an extra marital affair with a woman he also encouraged to get an abortion?
3. What rap star was arrested last weekend in Washington state on a charge of rape, which he strongly denied?
4. Actress Rose McGowan called out what actor/director, calling him a liar and to "f**k off" after he tweeted the allegations against Harvey Weinstein made him "sick"?
5. Galen Rupp became the first American man to win what city's marathon race since 2002 last Sunday?
6. What much-anticipated movie sequel earned $31 million at the box office last weekend to become the number one film in the US?
7. Chris Foerster, the offensive line coach of what NFL team, resigned earlier this week after a video of him surfaced where he was snorting cocaine through a rolled up $20 bill?

Italy Trivia
1. What is the name of Italy's largest island?
2. How many times has Italy hosted the Olympic Games?
3. Who is the patron saint of Italy?
4. Venice's international airport is named for what Italian traveler and explorer?
5. What is Italy's second largest city in population after Rome?
6. Christopher Columbus was born in what Italian city?
7. Who was the last Pope born in Italy?

The Q Train: Celebrity Real Names
1. Jamie Foxx
2. Sandra Bullock
3. Katy Perry
4. Kate Winslet
5. Joaquin Phoenix
6. Sylvester Stallone
7. Jon Stewart
8. Bruno Mars
9. Christina Aguilera
10. Justin Bieber

General Knowledge
1. What does "AC" stand for in the abbreviation "AC/DC?" ( 1 pt)
2. What is the state of Maine's most populous city? ( 1 pt)
3. What current nation was called Hibernia in ancient times? ( 1 pt)
4. In what state would you find "Old Faithful?' ( 2 pt)
5. The songwriting trio of Holland, Dozier and Holland wrote 25 Top 10 hits for what record label? ( 2 pt)
6. According to the Girl Scouts, what is their best-selling cookie? ( 2 pt)
7. In championship darts, how many points are awarded when the red inner circle of the bullseye is hit? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. The Lake of Death and The Sea of Tranquility are both located where? ( 4 points)
2. What movie bad guy was voted the American Film Institute's "Worst Villain of All-Time"? ( 5 points)
3. "Earth in the Balance" was a 1992 book written by what American politician? ( 3 points)
4. On what 1980s sitcom did First Lady Nancy Reagan make a famous guest appearance to talk about drug abuse? ( 4 points)
5. Queen Victoria's 1840 wedding is credited with popularizing what tradition? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Cam Newton; 2. Pennsylvania; 3. Nelly; 4. Ben Affleck; 5. Chicago; 6. "Blade Runner 2049"; 7. Miami Dolphins.

Italy Trivia
1. Sicily; 2. three (1956, 1960 & 2006); 3. St. Francis of Assisi; 4. Marco Polo; 5. Milan; 6. Genoa; 7. John Paul I.

The Q Train: Celebrity Real Names
1. no (Eric Bishop); 2. yes; 3. no (Katheryn Hudson); 4. yes; 5. no (Joaquin Bottom); 6. yes; 7. no (Jonathan Leibowitz); 8. no (Peter Hernandez); 9. yes; 10. yes.

General Knowledge
1. Alternating current; 2. Portland; 3. Ireland; 4. Wyoming; 5. Motown; 6. Thin Mints; 7. 50.

IQ Trivia
1. The Moon; 2. Hannibal Lecter; 3. Al Gore; 4. "Diff'rent Strokes;" 5. White bridal gown.

Italy Trivia Up This Week

Trivia will be happening on Wednesday night, October 11th at 8:30 PM at Professor Thom's, with "Italy Trivia" as the Special Category, in honor of Columbus Day being this week. The Q Train lightning round will be "Celebrity Real Names Trivia." I will give you the names of ten current celebrities and you have to tell me if they are known by their real names or not.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What is the state of Maine's most populous city?

Hope to see many of you for a great night of Trivia on Wednesday!

Trivia Q&A: October 4

We had 13 teams in for Trivia on Wednesday night, and it was another spirited crowd that joined in. It was a close race for the first three rounds, but we had separation after the General Knowledge round, and the team of Quick Pick won convincingly, getting the best score in IQ Trivia, getting four right and winding up with 49 points. They had a few straight second place finishes in previous weeks, but now enter the winner's circle. My congratulations to them.

DIMS finished in second place, with 37 points, and NFI (No F**king Idea) finished third with 36 points.

Best Team Name: Multiple Scoregasms

Current Events
1. What American classic rock star suffered a seizure after his group's Monday night show in Brazil last week and forced the cancellation of the band's South American tour?
2. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner died last week and it was revealed that he purchased a crypt in an LA cemetery and will buried next to what iconic celebrity?
3. MLB announced last Friday they were renaming the World Series MVP trophy after what legendary living player, who once played on a World Series winner but wasn't the MVP?
4. 22 people were killed and over 20 injured in a stampede on a bridge near a railway station in what Asian country last Friday?
5. Tom Price, who was what member of President Trump's cabinet, resigned last Friday over his misuse of private planes?
6. Seven people were arrested at a pop music concert in what Middle Eastern country after waving a rainbow flag in a wave of ant-gay arrests last week?
7. Americans Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael Young were jointly awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in what field last Monday?

Red Trivia
1. What two card suits in a standard deck of cards are colored red?
2. Airing in 2013, the massacre known as "The Red Wedding" occurred in what TV drama series?
3. What current MLB team was established in the NL in 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings?
4. What actor reprised his Oscar-winning role in the 2002 film "Red Dragon?"
5. What author wrote the best-selling novel "The Hunt For Red October?"
6. Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith are two members of what popular rock band?
7. Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding Was a main character in what 1994 Oscar-nominated film?

The Q Train: Odd Numbered Trivia
1. This is the number of years of marriage marked in a sliver wedding anniversary.
2. In tennis, this number represents the first point in a game.
3. In Islam, Muslims are required to pray this many times a day.
4. This is the number of letters in both the Turkish and Norwegian alphabets.
5. Hall of Fame athletes Wilt Chamberlain and Dan Marino both wore this number.
6. Alfred Hitchcock directed a film called This Number Steps.
7. Alaska is this numbered US state to enter the Union.
8. The left fielder in baseball is represented by this number.
9. This is the total number of amendments to the US Constitution.
10. The debut album from Adele is entitled this number.

General Knowledge
1. What is the technical name for one's voice box? ( 1 pt)
2. Nairobi is the capital of what African country? ( 1 pt)
3. What popular annual sporting event has been called "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports?" ( 1 pt)
4. What is the minimum age for a person to serve in the US House of Representatives? ( 2 pt)
5. What Olympic sport uses the smallest ball? ( 2 pt)
6. In England, what is a rubbish tip? ( 2 pt)
7. In 1981, what beverage was named the official state beverage of New York State? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. Hippophobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of what animal? ( 4 points)
2. What eastern US city has more bridges than any other city in the world? ( 4 points)
3. What superstar British rock band was banned from the city of Boston in 1975 and never played there again after thousands of fans caused $50,000 worth of damage before tickets at the Boston Garden went on sale? ( 5 points)
4. What was the first color film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture? ( 3 points)
5. In 2011, what singer became the oldest ever to have the number one album on Billboard Album Chart, and it was also his first ever number one album as well? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Steven Tyler; 2. Marilyn Monroe; 3. Willie Mays; 4. India; 5. Health & Human Services; 6. Egypt; 7. medicine.

Red Trivia
1. Diamonds & Hearts; 2. "Game of Thrones;" 3. Atlanta Braves; 4. Anthony Hopkins; 5. Tom Clancy; 6. Red Hot Chili Peppers; 7. "The Shawshank Redemption:."

The Q Train: Odd Numbered Trivia
1. 25; 2. 15; 3. 5; 4. 29; 5. 13; 6. 39; 7. 49; 8. 7; 9. 27; 10. 19.

General Knowledge
1. Larynx; 2. Kenya; 3. The Kentucky Derby; 4. 25; 5. table tennis; 6. garbage dump; 7. milk.

IQ Trivia
1. Horse; 2. Pittsburgh; 3. Led Zeppelin; 4. "Gone With The Wind;" 5. Tony Bennett.

Blue One Week, Red The Next

Trivia will be happening on Wednesday night, October 4th at 8:30 PM, with "Red Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions on all different subjects connected to the color red. The Q Train lightning round will be "Odd Numbered Trivia." I will ask you ten questions where the answer will be an odd number from 1-49. And all answers will be a different number.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What is the technical name for one's voice box?"

I look forward to seeing many of you on Wednesday night at Professor Thom's for a great night of Trivia!

"Spirit of '67"

50 years ago yesterday, the Boston Red Sox did something that none of their fans in their wildest dreams thought they could pull off before the season started in 1967: they won the American League pennant in one of the most dramatic and thrilling races in baseball history. And now that incredible 1967 season has been captured in a new book by Thomas J. Whalen called "Spirit of '67: The Cardiac Kids, El Birdos and the World Series that Captivated America." (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers)

The book captures not just the Red Sox historic run, but that of the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals, and all they went through to reach the Series. Whalen grew up in Beverly, MA as a devoted Red Sox fan, and describes what it was like growing up a Sox fan before the 1967 season. The Red Sox were annual also-rans for the previous decade, and they ceased being an important of the sports landscape, in a time when the Celtics were racking up championships.

It was also a time America was going through some tumultuous changes, with the Vietnam War raging, and race riots in many of the country's big cities. The Beatles were at the height of their influence, and sexual mores were changing rapidly.

Whalen sets the background of the nation first, and then gives some historical background to both the Red Sox and Cardinals going into 1967. You know the Red Sox story: five World Series won until 1918, Babe Ruth leaves, the Sox don't win another pennant until 1946, don't have a black player until Pumpsie Green in 1959, and Tom Yawkey runs the Sox like a country club until Dick Williams becomes the manager.

The Cardinals weren't a successful team until Branch Rickey took over the club in 1919, and revolutionized the farm system and brought in Hall of Fame players like Dizzy Dean and Stan Musial, and went through a dry spell after beating the Red Sox in 1946, and more Hall of Famers are brought into the Cardinals in the 1960s, like Bob Gibson and Lou Brock.

Whalen profiles players on both clubs in alternating chapters, as well as the two managers, Dick Williams and Red Schoendienst.And he updates many of the players after the 1967 Series was played and how they spent their post-baseball careers.

I definitely enjoyed the book, and if you either remember that World Series, the incredible AL pennant race, or just like to read a fascinating baseball story, I suggest you read "Spirit of '67." It's more than worth your time to relive when Red Sox Nation was born.