Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Trivia Q&A: November 27

We had 13 teams in for Trivia on Tuesday night, and another good crowd that was really into the Trivia. The boys from DIMS were leading from the second round on, but the team of Buckeyes, More Like...Ugh, Screw 'Em had a perfect IQ Round and caught them, as both teams were tied at 46 points. So we had a tie-breaker question of "As of 2017, what is the population of Montpelier, Vermont?" (It is based on one of the IQ questions.) The Buckeyes guessed closest to the answer (which is 7,484). So they came away the champions for this week. Congrats to Peter and his crew. Third place went to SMID with 39 points.

Best Team Name: The Fall of Romaine Empire

Current Events
1. What Beatles album returned to the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart last week shortly after the 50th anniversary reissue?
2. What rap star received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last week, and thanked himself while referring to himself as a "bad MFer?"
3. What retail store is considering shutting hundreds of its stores at shopping malls across the US due to slumping sales?
4. Fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana issued an apology to the people of what country after calling people there "ignorant dirty smelling Mafia" and the country of the poop emoji"?
5. Sources revealed last week that what famous man, who died last year, had his closest aides put his sex tapes and intimate photos in a casket and dumped it into the Pacific Ocean just before he died?
6. The president of what country announced last weekend that his nation will return 26 artworks to the west African nation of Benin that were taken during the colonial era?
7. What film sequel debuted this past weekend, grossing $56 million at the box office to become the number one film in the US?

November Trivia
1. On November 8, 1971, Led Zeppelin released what album, one of the best-selling ones of all-time, which includes the classic "Stairway to Heaven"?
2.  What is the traditional gemstone for the month of November?
3. On November 7, 1989, Douglas Wilder became the first African-American elected governor in US history, in what southern state?
4. On November 13, 1927, what NYC tunnel that connects to NJ was first opened to traffic and was the first underwater tunnel built in the US?
5. "November Rain" was a 1992 hit song for what rock band?
6. If you were born on November 7th, what would your birth sign be?
7. On November 18, 1992, an episode of what comedy series called "The Contest" aired, and was later named the number one comedy episode of all-time by TV Guide?

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait led to the Iran-Iraq War.
2. In Dante's "Inferno", the deepest ring of Hell is reserved for those guilty of treachery.
3. The first feature film produced entirely with computer-generated imagery was "Toy Story."
4. The African Elephant is the largest carnivore on land.
5. The modern Caesar salad originated in Mexico.
6. Tug-of-war was once an Olympic sport.
7. The Rose Bowl football game is annually the largest single-day spectator-attended sporting event in the US.
8. Andromeda is the closest star to Earth.
9. Tom Marvolo Riddle is Harry Potter's archenemy.
10. A penny dropped from a tall building can reach sufficient velocity to kill a pedestrian below.

General Knowledge
1. What artist painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? ( 1 pt)
2. What planet has the most moons? ( 1 pt)
3. Which Constitutional amendment gave women the right to vote? ( 1 pt)
4. In which US state is the Sundance Film Festival held? ( 2 pt)
5. How many years are in a semicentennial? ( 2 pt)
6. What was the highest-grossing movie in US history before "Titanic" was released in 1997? ( 2 pt)
7. What ancient Greek is generally called "The Father of History?" ( 2 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. "Nothing Lasts Forever", a 1979 thriller novel by Roderick Thorp, was adapted into what very successful 1988 action thriller film? ( 4 points)
2. What is the only US state capital city without a McDonald's restaurant? ( 5 points)
3. Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to accomplish what feat in 1963? ( 4 points)
4. Millennium Park is the most popular tourist attraction in what US city? ( 3 points)
5. Stillwater was the name of the fictional band featured in what 2000 rock movie? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. White Album; 2. Snoop Dogg; 3. The Gap; 4. China; 5. Hugh Hefner; 6. France; 7. "Creed II."

November Trivia
1. Led Zeppelin IV; 2. Topaz; 3. Virginia; 4. Holland Tunnel; 5. Guns "N" Roses; 6. Scorpio; 7. Seinfeld.

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. false, Gulf War; 2. true; 3. true; 4. false, Kodiak bear; 5. true; 6. true; 7. false, Indy 500; 8. false, the sun; 9. true; 10. false.

General Knowledge
1. Michelangelo; 2. Jupiter; 3. 19th amendment; 4. Utah; 5. 50; 6. "Jurassic Park;" 7. Herodotus.

IQ Trivia
1. "Die Hard;" 2. Montpelier, VT; 3. Fly in space; 4. Chicago; 5. "Almost Famous."

Monday, November 26, 2018

Lots of Cool Stuff Happened in November


Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, November 27th at 8:30 PM, with "November Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to the month of November in some way, shape or form. The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What artist painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?"

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday, and I'm looking forward to seeing many of you this Tuesday night for another great night of Trivia!

Friday, November 23, 2018

"Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game"

Rob Neyer is a well-known name around the world of baseball writing, and has been for over 20 years. He's worked for ESPN, Fox Sports and the legendary Bill James. He has written six previous books on the world of baseball, but his seventh takes what was essentially a meaningless game between the Houston Astros and the Oakland A's in September of 2017 and discusses baseball along all different facets of the game, both on and off the field. It's called "Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game" (HarperCollins Publishers).

Neyer has been at the forefront of the sabermetrics revolution from the beginning, and if you are one of his disciples, you certainly won't be disappointed by his book.  However, this shouldn't turn off those who feel that sabermetrics is "ruining the baseball experience." Neyer uses what was a come-from-behind 9-8 win by the A's to explain how we got where we are in MLB in 2018, even naming the titles of each chapter starting with the "Visitors First" and ending with the "Home Ninth."

Neyer has always courted controversy with his opinions, and his employers at ESPN once suspended him for his outspokeness. And he goes through the minefield of subjects like race and sexual orientation in this book, and isn't shy about those subjects in relation to baseball. But he hits just about every subject in baseball in regard to the newer on the field issues, everything from the explosion of the shift (and how it was around along before Ted Williams came along), the subject of lousy teams "tanking", and the new phenomenon of "launch angles" (I'm still lost on that subject.

In reading the book, you feel as if you are sitting in the stands at the Oakland Coliseum enjoying a game while you and Neyer are having a beer and talking baseball. He has a breezy syle, and every "half-inning" leads to a new subject regarding the game we love. Neyer hits everything from juiced balls, pitch framing, to Jose Altuve's height (or lack of it).

"Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game" is an enjoyable read from one of America's best baseball writers and minds. It wasn't a memorable game in the long run, but Rob Neyer made it so.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Trivia Q&A: November 20

We had 9 teams in for our pre-Thanksgiving Trivia Night, but the bar was filled with folks really into the Trivia. Most teams were of the larger variety and it was a fun night. It was a roller coaster night as different teams had the lead, but the boys from DIMS wound up winning night, getting 40 points. They finished outside the top five last week, but came back this week with a vengence. Congratulations to Ken and Michael on their victory.

Second place went to Quiz Me Like One of Your French Girls with 35 points, and The Pale Aliens finished third with 30 points.

Best Team Name: We're Keeping the Pen!

Current Events
1. A petition at Change.org, signed by over 37,000 people, are pressuring what pop group to drop out as the halftime act this coming February's Super Bowl?
2. Jeff Rohrer, an NFL linebacker who played for what team in the 1980s, became the first current or former player to enter a same-sex marriage last week?
3. What American pop singer's company bought out her British partner's 50% share in her clothing label after he was accused of sexual harassment and bullying?
4. William Goldman, an Academy Award-winning screenwriter, died last week at the age of 87. Name 1 of the 2 1970s films he won Oscars for (one a western and one political).
5. Kim Porter, a singer and former girlfriend of what rapper and music mogul, was found dead in her California home last week.
6. A submarine belonging to what South American country that had been missing for one year with 44 crewmen aboard was found last week?
7. What billionaire politician is giving $1.8 billion to his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, believed to be the largest donation ever to an academic institution?

Thanksgiving Trivia
1. What US president issued the "Thanksgiving Proclamation" making the last Thursday in November the holiday?
2. The first Thanksgiving celebration in America took place in what is now what state?
3. What folk singer recorded "Alice's Restaurant", about a memorable Thanksgiving Day in his life?
4. What midwestern state is the largest producer in the US of turkeys?
5. Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving Day in what month?
6. The first Thanksgiving celebration in America laster how many days?
7. What West African country celebrates Thanksgiving every November?

The Q Train: 21st Century Events Trivia
1. The Columbia space shuttle burns up upon Earth re-entry, killing all astronauts aboard.
2. General Motors declares bankruptcy.
3. The Red Sox win their first World Series in 86 years.
4. The first iPod is introduced by Apple.
5. US Supreme Court allows same-sex marriage.
6. Seal Team Six kills Osama Bin Laden.
7. Al Gore wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
8. Twitter was founded in March of this year.
9. Hurricane Sandy devastates the northeastern US.
10. The first iPad is introduced by Apple.

General Knowledge
1. Mario Lopez starred in what 1990s TV show? ( 1 pt)
2. What does the "H" stand for in George H.W. Bush's name? ( 1 pt)
3. What was the name of Madonna's controversial 1992 book? ( 1 pt)
4. What country is the most popular foireign destination for US travelers? ( 2 pt)
5. "Consider that a divorce" is a famous line from what Arnold Schwarzenegger film? ( 2 pt)
6. Tomatoes are the most popular fruit worldwide. What fruit is second? ( 2 pt)
7. The Great Sand Dunes are located in what western US state? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. Bruce Springsteen appeared as himself in what 2000 feature film? ( 4 points)
2. Between WWI and WWII, what was by far the world's most populous country never to officially join the League of Nations? ( 4 points)
3. "Salvator Mundi", the world's most expensive painting sold for $450 million in 2017, was made by what artist? ( 3 points)
4. What is the most common food allergy among adults in the US? ( 4 points)
5. What female was the most Googled celebrity for both 2016 and 2017? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Maroon 5; 2. Dallas Cowboys; 3. Beyonce; 4. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "All the President's Men;" 5.Sean "Diddy" Combs;" 6. Argentina; 7. Michael Bloomberg.

Thanksgiving Trivia
1. Abraham Lincoln; 2. Massachusetts; 3. Arlo Guthrie; 4. Minnesota; 5. October; 6. three; 7. Liberia.

The Q Train: 21st Century Events Trivia
1. 2003; 2. 2009; 3. 2004; 4. 2001; 5. 2015; 6. 2011; 7. 2007; 8. 2006; 9. 2012; 10. 2010.

General Knowledge
1. "Saved By The Bell;" 2. Herbert; 3. "Sex"; 4. Canada; 5. "Total Recall;" 6. bananas; 7. Colorado.

IQ Trivia
1. "High Fidelity;" 2. USA; 3. Leonardo DaVinci; 4. shellfish; 5. Meghan Markle.

Monday, November 19, 2018

We Give Thanks This Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, November 20th at 8:30 PM, with "Thanksgiving Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to this very American holiday. The Q Train lightning round will be "21st Century Events Trivia." I will give you ten events that occurred from 2001-2018 in all different categories and you have to tell me what year it occurred in. Every answer will be a different year.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Mario Lopez starred in what 1990s TV show?"

I look forward to seeing many of you this Tuesday night for a great night of Trivia Q&A!

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Trivia Q&A: November 13

We had 10 teams in for Trivia on a blustery night in New York, and we had an unusual occurrence after the fourth round. Going into IQ Trivia, we had the first seven teams all separated by one point each. The top team had 30 points, second place had 29, third place had 28, all the way down to the seventh place team with 24 points. I've never seen anything like that before, and it meant it was quite the horse race heading into the final round.

The team of The Pub Quiz MC Is Hot (who was in fourth place) had the best IQ round, and finished the night with 42 points and the win. Congrats to them. Second place went to Hey, Did Anything Happen While We Were Gone? finished with 38 points, and we had a tie for third between War-Burgers and My Computer's Got Miley Virus. It Has Stopped Twerking. (who also won for Best Team Name) with 37 points. We broke the tie with the following question: How many total points did Michael Jordan score in his NBA career? The answer was 32,292 and Miley Virus was closest on their guess and got third place.

Current Events
1. Later this month, an auction of over 100 items belonging to what 20th century president will be held in Boston that will include a cardigan sweater, bomber jacket and many candid photos?
2. Jared Polis, a congressman from what western state, became the country's first openly gay male elected governor last week?
3. What British Emmy-nominated actor was named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" for 2018?
4. The travel site "The Points Guy" revealed their annual Best Airports In America and picked Sky Harbor Airport, located in what city, as the best for the third straight year?
5. A report from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation said that what western European country will pass Japan in having the world's longest life expectancy by 2040 (85.8 years)?
6. What US state's voters last week voted to ban greyhound racing there, a state that has 11 of the nation's 17 greyhound tracks there?
7. What music icon will be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom later this week, and it's just the third musician to receive the honor posthumously?

2010s In Entertainment Trivia
1. In 2014, Jimmy Fallon succeeded who as host of "The Tonight Show?"
2. In December 2013, what female pop singer released her 5th solo album with no advance notice and only available digitally through the iTunes store?
3. What American actor won an Academy Award for Best Actor for "Dallas Buyers Club" in 2014?
4. What medical TV drama ended its eight-year network run in 2012 with an episode entitled "Everybody Dies?"
5. What animated Disney film surpassed "Iron Man 3" in the final weeks of 2013 to become the top-grossing film of that year?
6. In 2012, the Academy Award for Best Picture went to what mainly silent movie?
7. At the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, who appeared to make an entrance at the festivities by parachuting from a helicopter?

The Q Train: Who's Older Trivia
1. Oprah Winfrey or Bill Gates
2. Kanye West or Jay Z
3. David Ortiz or Tom Brady
4. George W. Bush or Bill Clinton
5. Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel
6. Emma Stone or Jennifer Lawrence
7. Lady Gaga or Adele
8. Harvey Weinstein or Kevin Spacey
9. Mookie Betts or Mike Trout
10. Mel Brooks or Betty White

General Knowledge
1. The movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" took place in what city? ( 1 pt)
2. What does the "E" stand for in ESPN? ( 1 pt)
3. Julia Roberts called off her 1991 wedding to what TV and movie actor? ( 1 pt)
4. Michael Jordan is the primary owner of what NBA team? ( 2 pt)
5. What legendary 20th century American famously said "I shall return?" ( 2 pt)
6. What is the most common eye color in the world? ( 2 pt)
7. What dog breed provides at least 70% of all guide dogs for the blind in the US? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. With more than 140 million followers, what female singer and actress has the most followers on Instagram? ( 4 points)
2. What 1960s horror film was the first feature film to show a toilet flushing on-screen? ( 4 points)
3. What Olympic sport includes Chocktaw Turns and Charlotte Spirals? ( 3 points)
4. Praia do Cassino is the longest beach in the world and found in what country? ( 4 points)
5. What eastern US state has the most golf courses per square mile? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. John F. Kennedy; 2. Colorado; 3. Idris Elba; 4. Phoenix; 5. Spain; 6. Florida; 7. Elvis Presley.

2010s In Entertainment Trivia
1. Jay Leno; 2. Beyonce; 3. Matthew McConaughey; 4. "House;" 5. "Frozen;" 6. "The Artist;" 7. Queen Elizabeth II.

The Q Train: Who's Older Trivia
1. Winfrey (64-63); 2. Jay Z (49-41); 3. Ortiz (43-41); 4. Bush (both 72); 5. Kimmel (51-44); 6. Stone (30-28); 7. Gaga (32-30); 8. Weinstein (66-59); 9. Trout (27-26); 10. White (96-92).

General Knowledge
1. Chicago; 2. Entertainment; 3. Kiefer Sutherland; 4. Charlotte Hornets; 5. Douglas MacArthur; 6. brown; 7. Labrador.

IQ Trivia
1. Selena Gomez; 2. "Psycho;" 3. figure skating; 4. Brazil; 5. Rhode Island.

Monday, November 12, 2018

It's Been A Great Decade For Entertainment

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, November 13th at 8:30 PM, with "2010s In Entertainment Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions about events in movies, TV and music that occurred in this decade. The Q Train lightning round will be "Who's Older Trivia." I will give you ten sets of two current celebrities and you have to tell me who is the older of the two.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"The movie 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' took place in what city?"

We've had some terrific crowds in the last two weeks since we returned from hiatus, and I hope we can continue to build on that. I look forward to seeing many of you on Tuesday night!

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

Trivia Q&A: November 6

We had a terrific turnout of Trivia players last night at Professor Thom's on Election Night, as 15 teams turned out. The scores for the first two rounds were on the lower side, and I was thinking that it might be a night where I made the Trivia a little too hard. But the scores were stronger than I would have thought for US Senators Trivia (people know their senators!) and the last two rounds as well. It was a two-team race for the first three rounds, but we had two other teams that had great rounds at the end to make it very close. Ken and Michael from DIMS held on in IQ Trivia to grab the win with 47 points.

Second place went to The Wife Beto O'Rourkes with 44 points (they were one of the team that put up a late charge to the finish) and third place went to Tide Pod Racing with 44 points (they also came on strong at the end).

Best Team Name: Erection Night In America

Current Events
1. Whitey Bulger, the notorious Boston mobster who was serving a life sentence for murder, was found dead in his prison cell, located in what US state?
2. D.J. Durkin, the head coach of what eastern college football team, was fired a day after being reinstalled from suspension after one of his players died during practice and because of the toxic culture around the team?
3. What car company is offering buyouts to a third of its US white collar staff as the company transitions to self driving vehicles and other new technologies?
4. Salesforce Tower, the tallest building in what major US city, was lit up on Halloween to depict the Eye of Sauron, the symbol of the Dark Lord adopted in "The Lord of the Rings?"
5. Todd Latourette, an actor on what current TV series, admitted that he actually cut off his right arm and pretended to be a wounded vet in order to further his acting career?
6. What Hollywood actress is being sued by an EMT who says she attacked her last June as the EMT was responding to a disturbance at her home?
7. Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, was acquitted by what Asian country's Supreme Court, setting off protests by Islamists?

US Elections Trivia
1. Since 1948, what president won by the largest percentage of electoral votes?
2. What Democrat challenged President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 presidential nomination but failed to win?
3. Besides FDR, who is the only other man who has been on four winning presidential tickets?
4. Who did Ed Koch defeat in a runoff primary election for New York City mayor in 1977 and later in the general election when he ran on the Liberal line?
5. What is the earliest possible day that Election Day can be held in November?
6. What number constitutional amendment set the minimum voting age at 18 for federal elections in 1971?
7. How many times has New York senator Chuck Schumer been elected to the US Senate?

The Q Train: US Senators Trivia
1. Missouri
2. Iowa
3. Illinois
4. Connecticut
5. Alabama
6. Texas
7. Florida
8. Alaska
9. New Jersey
10. Pennsylvania

General Knowledge
1. In what state is the Kennedy Space Center located? ( 1 pt)
2. Who holds the record for hosting the most games show episodes in US TV history? ( 1 pt)
3. What was Whoopi Goldberg's first feature film? ( 1 pt)
4. Between Emma, Olivia and Isabella, which was the most popular girls' name in the US in 2017? ( 2 pt)
5. Easter Island is a territory of what South American country? ( 2 pt)
6. What US-based airline has the largest fleet of planes in the world? ( 2 pt)
7. What was the first pizza company to offer online ordering in 1994? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. In reference to his hit 2004 album, what country star's fanbase is often called "No Shoes Nation?" ( 4 points)
2. By what name is the painting "Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1" better known? ( 4 points)
3. Vin Diesel recorded one line more than 1,000 times for what movie? ( 3 points)
4. What Asian country has the largest population of people living abroad? ( 4 points)
5. Because of his father's job, who was the only vice-president not born in one of the 13 colonies or 50 states? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. West Virginia; 2. University of Maryland; 3. General Motors; 4. San Francisco; 5. "Better Call Saul;" 6. Heather Locklear; 7. Pakistan.

US Elections Trivia
1. Ronald Reagan (1984); 2. Teddy Kennedy; 3. Richard Nixon; 4. Mario Cuomo; 5. November 2nd; 6. 26; 4. four.

The Q Train: US Senators Trivia
1. 1D, 1R; 2. 2R; 3. 2D; 4. 2D; 5. 1D, 1R; 6. 2R; 7. 1D, 1R; 8. 2R; 9. 2D; 10. 1D, 1R.

General Knowledge
1. Florida; 2. Alex Trebek; 3. "The Color Purple;" 4. Emma; 5. Chile; 6. American Airlines; 7. Pizza Hut.

IQ Trivia
1. Kenny Chesney; 2. Whistler's Mother; 3. "Guardians of the Galaxy;" 4. India; 5. Al Gore.

Monday, November 05, 2018

It's All About Elections On Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, November 6th at 8:30 PM, and the Special Category will be "US Election Trivia," in honor of Tuesday being Election Day. It will be seven questions connected to elections in America in one way, shape or form. The Q Train lightning round will be "US Senators Trivia." I will give you the names of ten US states, and you have to tell me the current breakdown of that state in the Senate. It can be "2 Democrats", "2 Republicans" or "1 Democrat and 1 Republican." And it will be BEFORE this Election Day. (And any states with Independents won't be included.)

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"In what state is the Kennedy Space Center located?"

We had a great turnout last week for Trivia after our long hiatus, and I hope we can build on that. And remember to vote before you come out to Trivia on Tuesday night!