Monday, April 30, 2018

Right Back Where We Started From

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, May 1st at 8:30 PM, with "May Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions about events that occurred during the month of May in pop culture and history. The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are connected by what artificial waterway?"

Good news this week! We will be back on the first floor, as there will be NO Celtics or Bruins playoff games scheduled this Tuesday night. So, I hope to see many of you back in our original spot in Professor Thom's for what should be a great night of Trivia Q&A!

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Trivia Q&A: April 24

As the Celtics won their playoff game last night, we were once again upstairs in the Loft for Trivia last night at Professor Thom's. We had a smaller crowd than last week, as 7 teams came out, but it was a very enthusiastic gathering. The top three teams were separated by four points, but this was another one of those nights when a team came from behind in the final round to grab the victory. And it was done by And In First Place..., who came from four points down to run the table in IQ Trivia and win the night by four points. They ended with 46 points and their first ever Tuesday Night Trivia win. My congratulations to the boys on a hard-fought win.

DIMSUM finished second with 42 points, and Sean Hannity Pulls Out? (which also won for Best Team Name) finished third with 39 points.

As of right now, we don't know if we will be in the Loft next week. It will depend on the Celtics, if they advance to the second round (they are up 3-2 in their series), and if they do, if they have a scheduled game next Tuesday. As soon as it is confirmed, I will pass along the info about next Tuesday.

Current Events
1. Harry Anderson, who starred on what popular NBC sitcom in the 1980s, died last week at the age of 65?
2. Who became the first rap artist to win a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album last week?
3. People magazine, in their "Beautiful Issue," named what American singer as "The Most Beautiful Woman" for 2018?
4. Miguel Diaz-Canel was selected by his country's government as the new president of what nation last week?
5. Who did Queen Elizabeth II name to take over her duties as the next head of the Commonwealth last week?
6. The NBA team the Miwaukee Bucks announced last Friday during their playoff game that what superstar NFL player will become a part owner of the club?
7. 83-year-old Walter Moody became the oldest man to be executed last week since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, by lethal injection in what southern state?

US Geography Trivia
1. Lake Tahoe straddles the border between which two US states?
2. How many US states share a border with Mexico?
3. What state is bordered by Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming?
4. Lake Okeechobee, the second largest freshwater lake in the continental United States, is located in what state?
5. In which state is the northernmost point in the continental United States?
6. What is the only state to touch the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean?
7. Of all the Great Lakes, which is the only one that doesn't touch the state of Michigan?

The Q Train: Who's Taller Trivia
1. Shaquille O'Neal or Kobe Bryant?
2. Katie Holmes of Tom Cruise?
3. Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates?
4. Reese Witherspoon or Nicole Kidman?
5. Ivana Trump or Melania Trump?
6. Khloe Kardashian or Kris Jenner?
7. Ben Affleck or Matt Damon?
8. Kevin Hart or Ice Cube?
9. Michelle Obama or Prince Harry?
10. Tom Brady or Giselle Bundchen?

General Knowledge
1. Shaun White is an Olympic gold medalist in what extreme sport? ( 1 pt)
2. The ancient city of Pompeii was destroyed by what volcano? ( 1 pt)
3. A symphony usually has how many total movements? ( 1 pt)
4. According to Greek mythology, who was the god of wine? ( 2 pt)
5. Johnny Depp has appeared in eight films directed by whom? ( 2 pt)
6. How many states is Germany divided into? ( 2 pt)
7. What department store currently stands on the site that was Cornelius Vanderbilt's Manhattan mansion? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What is the only country in South America whose official language is English? ( 4 points)
2. What 1984 megahit album was the first commercial music CD pressed in the United States? ( 4 points)
3. Who is the only athlete to ever play in a Super Bowl and a World Series? ( 3 points)
4. "Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable" is a quote from what classic film? ( 4 points)
5. "Til Death Do Us Part" was a UK sitcom that was the basis for what hit 1970s American sitcom? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. "Night Court;" 2. Kendrick Lamar; 3. Pink; 4. Cuba; 5. Prince Charles; 6. Aaron Rodgers; 7. Alabama.

US Geography Trivia
1. California and Nevada; 2. four; 3. Colorado; 4. Florida; 5. Minnesota; 6. New York; 7. Lake Ontario.

The Q Train: Who's Taller Trivia
1. O'Neal; 2. Holmes; 3. Gates; 4. Kidman; 5. Ivana; 6. Kardashian; 7. Affleck; 8. Ice Cube; 9. Harry; 10. Brady.

General Knowldge
1. Snowboarding; 2. Mt. Vesuvius; 3. four; 4. Dionysus; 5. Tim Burton; 6. sixteen; 7. Bergdorf Goodman.

IQ Trivia
1. Guyana; 2. "Born in the USA;" 3. Deion Sanders; 4. "The Wizard of Oz;" 5. "All in the Family."

Monday, April 23, 2018

Back to the Loft as We Explore Our Great Nation

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, April 24th at 8:30 PM, with "US Geography Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions about the layout of our great nation. The Q Train lightning round will be "Who's Taller Trivia." I will give the names of two current celebrities and you have to tell which one is the taller of the two.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"The ancient city of Pompeii was destroyed by what volcano?"

Since the Celtics playoff series will have a fifth game on Tuesday night, we will once again be moved upstairs in the Loft to have Trivia. We had a great crowd last week, and all the spaces and chairs were spoken for. I would encourage you all to arrive as early as you possibly can to assure yourselves a table. (I would say by 8 PM if you can get there that early.) Once again, I do apologize to those who elected not to play due to the limited space. I look forward to seeing many of you this Tuesday night!

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Trivia Q&A: April 17

It was good to be back hosting Trivia on Tuesday night after missing last week, and we were upstairs in the Loft due to the Celtics playoff game happening downstairs. But we had 12 teams jam the top floor for a great night of Trivia. We had a two-team race heading into IQ Trivia, with just a single point between them. But the team trailing, Overboard, got 4 of 5 correct in the final round to win the night, with 44 points. Congrats to Bob and Cato on another great victory.

Second place went to DIMS with 42 points, and third place went to Blood, Bath and Beyond with 36 points.

Best Team Name: April Showers Bring MTA Delays For Hours

I also want to apologize to those folks who didn't stay for Trivia due to the lack of seats available for the Loft. It is very limited and we had a full crowd. The Loft is far smaller than the first floor, and because of the influx of fans coming in for the basketball playoffs, we have to do Trivia upstairs for the length of the Celtics run when they have games on Tuesday nights. It's either that, or we don't do Trivia at all. If the Celtics sweep the current series with Milwaukee, we will back downstairs next Tuesday, as there will be no playoff game that night. We will be back in the Loft next Tuesday if there is a Game 5. So, sweep 'em, Celtics!

Current Events
1. A collection of items from what legendary singer, such as sunglasses, clothing, hair and a Vicodin bottle are being put up for auction by a family who once worked for him?
2. Filmmaker Steven Spielberg recently said that what 1980s iconic film character might be played by a woman in a future reboot of the film series?
3. What recent film is set to be released soon in Saudi Arabia, the first movie shown there since theaters were banned in the 1980s?
4.What comic actor and "Saturday Night Live" alumnus was injured in a car accident in California last week?
5. Park Geun-hye, the former president of what Asian country, was sentenced to 24 years in prison over a major corruption scandal regarding political favors?
6. What 1980s rock star announced last week that he was canceling his entire schedule of 2018 shows due to a hearing loss he suffered during a show earlier this year?
7. What two-time World Series champion baseball player was among the celebrities chosen for the all-athletes "Dancing With the Stars" season set to start later this month?

April Trivia
1. In April 1979, African dictator Idi Amin fled what country he ruled for eight years?
2. Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space in April of what year?
3. In April 1860, the Pony Express began its delivery service between California and what midwestern state?
4. Every April 23rd, England's patron saint in remembered. What is his name?
5. What is April's birthstone?
6. What international day is recognized every April 22nd?
7. Name 2 of the 4 US states that recognize Partiots Day as a holiday every third Monday in April.

The Q Train: Which Happened First Trivia
1. US Civil War ends, or Germany became a single nation.
2. The flush toilet is invented, or the doorknob was invented.
3. Marco Polo is born, or Christopher Columbus was born.
4. The first moon landing, or the last person to be executed in France by guillotine.
5. World War I begins, or the Titanic sinks.
6. Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, or Sir Edmund Hillary climbs Mt. Everest.
7. Rain Man wins Best Picture Oscar, or Chariots of Fire wins Best Picture Oscar.
8. Uranus is discovered, or Neptune is discovered.
9. Miley Cyrus is born, or the Berlin Wall falls.
10. Playboy magazine is founded, or Vladimir Putin is born.

General Knowledge
1. What ocean is home to 75% of the world's volcanoes? ( 1 pt)
2. Launched in 1995, what website was originally called "Auction Web?" ( 1 pt)
3. Almost 25% of bank robberies in the US take place on what day of the week? ( 1 pt)
4. What is the smallest Canadian province? ( 2 pt)
5. What is the longest river in the United States? ( 2 pt)
6. What did Robert Jarvik invent an artificial form of in 1982? ( 2 pt)
7. What classic novel inspired the hit 2010s TV series "Revenge?" ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. Casa Rosada, or "The Pink House", is the official office of the president of what country? ( 4 points)
2. What man's death in August 2014 was ruled a homicide, though the fatal bullet had been fired 33 years earlier? ( 4 points)
3. "Kisses on the Bottom" was a hit 2012 Grammy-winning album by what rock star? ( 3 points)
4. What board game gets its name from the Hindi word for "twenty-five"? ( 5 points)
5. What Paris landmark sits on the Place Charles deGaulle? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Frank Sinatra; 2. Indiana Jones; 3. "Black Panther;" 4. Will Ferrell; 5. South Korea; 6. Huey Lewis; 7. Johnny Damon.

April Trivia
1. Uganda; 2. 1961; 3. Missouri; 4. St. George; 5. diamond; 6. Earth Day; 7. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine and Wisconsin.

The Q Train: Which Happened First Trivia
1. US Civil War ends; 2. Flush toilet invented; 3. Marco Polo born; 4. First moon landing; 5. Titanic sinks; 6. Hillary climbs Mt. Everest; 7. Chariots of Fire wins; 8. Uranus; 9. Berlin Wall falls; 10. Putin is born.

General Knowledge
1. Pacific Ocean; 2. eBay; 3. Friday; 4. Prince Edward Island; 5. Missouri River; 6. Human heart; 7. "The Count of Monte Cristo."

IQ Trivia
1. Argentina; 2. James Brady; 3. Paul McCartney; 4. parcheesi; 5. Arc de Triomphe.

Monday, April 16, 2018

Let's Give It Another Go

OK, everyone, we'll give this another try! Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, April 17th at 8:30 PM at Professor Thom's, and the Special Category will again be "April Trivia", seven questions connected in some way to the current month. The Q Train lightning round will be "Which Happened First Trivia." I will give you two famous events from history and pop culture, and you have to tell me which came first.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What ocean is home to 75% of the world's volcanoes?"

Important note: There is a Celtics playoff game on Tuesday night at 8 PM, so we will be doing Trivia upstairs in the Loft at Professor Thom's. We will be up there most weeks as the Celtics and Bruins begin their playoff runs, and any Tuesday night games will have Trivia taking place in the Loft.

My apologies for my absence last Tuesday. I am feeling a bit better and I plan to be in for Trivia this Tuesday. I look forward to seeing many of you then!

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Trivia Postponed This Week

Hi everyone: Trivia Night will NOT be happening tonight, April 10th. I am a bit under the weather, so I'll stay at home and rest. I look forward to seeing you hopefully next Tuesday, April 17th at 8:30 PM!

Monday, April 09, 2018

Trivia From the Cruelest Month This Week

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, April 10th at 8:30 PM, with "April Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions all about the current month, in history and popular culture. The Q Train lightning round will be "Which Happened First Trivia." I will give you two events throughout history, and you will tell me which occurred before the other.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What ocean is home to 75% of the world's volcanoes?"

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

Wednesday, April 04, 2018

Trivia Q&A: April 3

We had another great crowd in for Trivia, 15 teams, along with a bunch of Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics fans checking out those games, so it was quite a busy, noisy night. We had six teams in a close contest, separated by just four points going into the fourth round. But this would be the night for our friends from DIMS, as they led through the evening, and capped off the night with a clean sweep of IQ Trivia. They finished with 57 points, and a six-point victory. Congrats to Ken and Darek on another great win.

Second place went to Archduke Chocula with 51 points, and third place went to Toys "R' Bust (who also won Best Team Name) with 47 points.

Current Events
1. What US city's municipal government was struck last week by a computer malware attack that shut the city's government computers down for five days?
2. Australians Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were all banned up to a year over a ball tampering scandal in what professional sport last week?
3. President Trump announced last week he was replacing David Shulkin with Dr. Ronny Jackson in what cabinet position?
4. What Hollywood actor had open-heart surgery last Friday to replace an aging pulmonic valve he had put in over 20 years earlier?
5. Walmart announced it was pulling what magazine from the checkout lines in all of its US stores, citing sexually explicit material as the reason for the removal?
6. What world capital city has overtaken New York City in murders for the first time ever as the city has dealt with a surge in knife attacks?
7. Television producer and writer Stephen Bochco died last Sunday at the age of 74. What early 1980s TV drama series that he created won him six Emmy Awards for producing and writing?

Q-Tip Trivia
1. Which of the following celebrities died while in their 30s? a. Elvis Presley; b. Marilyn Monroe; c. Kurt Cobain; d. River Phoenix.
2. Which US states have less than 1 million in total population as of 2016? a. Hawaii; b. Maine; c. Idaho; d. Rhode Island.
3. Which of the following cereal brands belongs to Kellogg's? a. Alpha Bits; b. Frosted Flakes; c. Corn Flakes; d. Rice Krispies.
4. Which of the following statesmen won the Nobel Peace Prize? a. Winston Churchill; b. Franklin D. Roosevelt; c. Martin Luther King; d. Yasser Arafat.
5. Which of these films did Paul Newman appear in? a. The Hustler; b. Slap Shot; c. Earthquake; d. Cool Hand Luke.
6. Which European countries are currently not in the EU? a. Switzerland; b. Norway; c. Sweden; d. Greece.
7. Which of the following cities has a team in all four major team sports? a. Seattle; b. Los Angeles; c. St. Louis; d. Atlanta.

The Q Train: Movies By Decade Trivia
1. Argo
2. From Here to Eternity
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
4. The Godfather Part III
5. Moneyball
6. Schindler's List
7. No Country For Old Men
8. Lawrence of Arabia
9. Amadeus
10. A Beautiful Mind

General Knowledge
1. March is the home to which two Zodiac signs? ( 1 pt)
2. What is currently the tallest building in the United States? ( 1 pt)
3. What actor received his first Oscar nomination for the 1988 film "Good Morning Vietnam"? ( 1 pt)
4. The town known as Santa Claus is found in what midwestern state? (2 pt)
5. What is the hottest planet in the solar system? ( 2 pt)
6. In a Scrabble game, what is the only letter worth eight points? ( 2 pt)
7. Easter Island belongs to what South American country? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. The Big Bang Theory was the top-rated TV show in America last season, the first time a comedy led the Nielsens since what show did it in 2002? ( 4 points)
2. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington, DC? ( 4 points)
3. In what sport does a match consist of the best of three games of 21 points, and to win a game, a player must have a two-point lead? ( 3 points)
4. According to Forbes, who was the first person to become a billionaire from writing books? ( 4 points)
5. What British actor has played Sherlock Holmes, Julian Assange and Star Trek's Khan in TV and the movies? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Atlanta; 2. cricket; 3. Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 4. Arnold Schwarzenegger; 5. Cosmopolitan; 6. London; 7. "Hill Street Blues."

Q-Tip Trivia
1. b; 2. none; 3. b,c,d; 4. c,d; 5. a,b,d; 6. a,b; 7. b.

The Q Train: Movies By Decade Trivia
1. 2010s (2012); 2. 1950s (1954); 3. 1970s (1975); 4. 1990s (1990); 5. 2010s (2011); 6. 1990s (1993); 7. 2000s (2007); 8. 1960s (1962); 9. 1980s (1984); 10. 2000s (2001).

General Knowledge
1. Pisces and Aries; 2. 1 World Trade Center; 3. Robin Williams; 4. Indiana; 5. Venus; 6. X; 7. Chile.

IQ Trivia
1. "Friends"; 2. twenty-one; 3. badminton; 4. J.K. Rowling; 5. Benedict Cumberbatch.

Monday, April 02, 2018

Q-Tip Returns, With Big Time Films

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, April 3rd at 8:30 PM, with "Q-Tip Trivia" as the Special Category. I will ask you seven multiple choice general knowledge questions, and one, two, three, all four or none of them can be correct. You get a point for each correct answer, but if you give any incorrect answers, you get zero points automatically for that question (if the answer is "none", you get one point). So you have to be really careful. The Q Train lightning round will be "Movies By Decade Trivia." I will give you the names of ten very popular movies (all Oscar nominated films) from down through the years, and you have to tell me the decade it was originally released in.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What is currently the tallest building in the United States?"

Looking forward to seeing many of you for what will be a great night of Trivia on Tuesday night!