Justice. Thirteen Years Later.

Earlier today, I couldn't help but think of that day a few years back when the news came out that US forces had captured Saddam Hussein in Iraq, and a spokesman simply said, "We got him!"

Fate finally caught up to O.J. Simpson today, and said "We got him!" as the disgraced former football star/rotten movie actor/arrogant asshole/unconvicted murderer was sentenced to a maximum of 33 years in prison in Nevada for his part in that infamous robbery attempt in a Las Vegas hotel room over a year ago.

Simpson's hunt for the real killers will now be derailed at least 6 years, as he will serve at least that long before he is eligible for parole.

The government couldn't get Al Capone on murder charges, but nailed him on tax evasion charges. I couldn't help but think of Capone as Simpson was being sentenced. Couldn't nail him on a double-murder charges, but got him on kidnapping and armed robbery.

Somewhere, Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman are smiling.

What a Bunch of Philosophers

Last night I was on Facebook, my latest online obsession. And on it they have what they call "A Piece of Flair." Basically what it is is that you can put together your own "corkboard," with cool little "buttons" that you can also feature on your main page.

I was looking at some of the Red Sox "pieces of flair" and they have many good ones. (I put up one for "Born Into It," the cool Red Sox fan site I write for.) But included with all the Red Sox buttons are the "anti-Red Sox" stuff also. Really clever stuff like "Boston Still Sucks."

But I also found the above button you see. I also saw some Yankee fan wearing the same shirt at Toilet back in June: "I Guess There Was Never a Curse...They Just Sucked For 86 Years."

Yep, more classy stuff from those fans you love to hate. For years they were history professors ("1918"), then they become fortune tellers ("2090"), and now this classic gem. They are now rejecting the curse they so loved. (And believe me, THEY are the ones who embraced that bullshit, NOT Red Sox fans.)

"1918" and "2090" were just taunting devices, nothing more. And that "2090" nonsense never caught on, as I would bet the average fan had no clue what it meant. (That in the opinion of these fortune tellers, the Sox wouldn't win another title for another 86 years, in 2090. Sorry geniuses, it took only three.) I saw only one fan ever wearing anything associated with "2090" and it was some woman wearing a hat at Ground Zero about two years ago. It was no place to let her know what I thought of it.

So in the latest thing to help Yankee fans feel better about their declining team, they come up with this beauty. In their twisted logic, if your team doesn't win a World Series, they simply "sucked." (The Sox have had some very good and very bad teams in-between titles those years, four of which reached Game 7 of the World Series. But since they lost all of them, they just "sucked." Yankee fan logic just escapes me.) So I guess that since the Yankees haven't won a title since 2000 (and none still in the 21st century), they have simply "sucked," right?

But whatever. The 86-year drought is over. The Red Sox have two titles in the 2000s. The past doesn't haunt Red Sox fans any more. Come back into the present guys. Or is that just too painful?

In the immortal words of comedian and classy social satirist Andrew Dice Clay, "What a bunch of philosophers."

A Strange Twist in a Strange Case

A Minnesota judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the NFL from suspending Pat and Kevin Williams yesterday, stating that he needed more time to hear arguments in their case.

The judge's name is Gary Larson, which coincidentally was the name of a Vikings defensive tackle (the position played by both players) of the early 1970s. It's not the same guy, of course. The players' status for Sunday right now remains uncertain.

What is certain is that NFL lawyers will go to court in Minneapolis to get the suspensions of the Vikings' players reinstated. Here's more about this bizarre case from ESPN.

In other football news, Notre Dame announced that Charlie Weis will be back for a fifth season with the Irish in 2009. He still has seven years on his current contract, but you have to figure that next season will be make it or break for him. ND either makes the next step in becoming an elite team again or they'll have a new coach in 2010.

Pedroia Gets Locked Up

No, he's not going to the same place that Plaxico Burress is heading. The Red Sox signed current AL MVP Dustin Pedroia to a six-year, $40.5 million deal. A great move by the Red Sox, as it is one of the biggest deals ever to player not yet eligible for free agency, and it takes Pedroia through his three arbitration years and first two free agent eligible seasons. He's signed through 2014, with a $11 million option for 2015.

Here's more from ESPN.

Bad News For Vikings: Both Williams Sit

The Vikings got some really bad news on Tuesday, as Pro Bowl defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams (no relation) were both suspended for four games for violating the NFL drug policy, as they and four other players tested positive for diuretics, a weight loss agent that can also mask the use of steroids.

They and the other four players, Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister, and Will Smith of the Saints and Bryan Pittman of the Texans, will begin the suspensions immediately. All six plan to file injunctions in court in an attempt to keep playing, but that appears to be a longshot at best.

At issue is the presence of Bumetanide, which on the NFL's banned list, and it comes from a weight loss supplement called StarCaps. It's not listed as an ingredient on its label. But the NFL let all clubs know about StarCaps two years ago. So this works against the players in question, and it appears that the Williams boys will have to sit for the rest of the regular season.

This will hit the Vikings hard, as it takes away the middle of their defensive line. The Vikings are second in the NFL in run defense, and have three tough games against possible playoff teams to wrap up their regular season. It will be a real test if they can overcome their loss.

Trivia Q&A: December 2

We had 17 teams in Professor Thom's for Trivia Night on Tuesday, which was a good turnout, as I was concerned that the holiday weekend could hurt the number of folks coming in, but my fears were unfounded. The scores for Current Events and General Knowledge were actually on the lower side, while Mob Movies Trivia and Spell the Word were better.

The rounds were pretty close throughout, but going into IQ Trivia we had six teams separated by just two points. The scores in IQ Trivia were lower than usual, as the questions this week were a bit more difficult. Only two teams got as many as four of the five correct, but one of them was Table One, who was in second place going into the round. The 16 points they rolled up was good for first place by five points.

Congratulations to Tara and her crew for their second ever Trivia Night title, and their first without having to go to a tie-breaker. Nice job, guys.

Current Events
1. According to CQ Press, this Southern city has dethroned Detroit as "The Most Dangerous City in America" based on six major crime statistics.
2. This actor, an Academy Award winner who has been acting over 50 years in films, said last week that his December upcoming movie will be his last, but he will continue to direct.
3. Airports in this Asian country were shut down last week after massive anti-government demonstrations and a state of emergency was declared there.
4. A volcano erupted in this South American country last week which resulted in 10 deaths and the evacuation of over 12,000 people.
5. Greenland passed a self-government referendum recently, but it did not entail a complete withdrawal from this country, which has ruled over it since 1775.
6. This celebrity had a variety show airing live in prime time last week, but America barely noticed, as it turned out to be the night's lowest-rated program.
7. Earlier this month, this 1989 film, whose star won an Oscar for it, was named "The Most Inspirational Film" of all-time in a Moviefone poll.

Answers: 1. New Orleans; 2. Clint Eastwood; 3. Thailand; 4. Colombia; 5. Denmark; 6. Rosie O'Donnell; 7. "My Left Foot."

Mob Movie Trivia
1. The movie "A Bronx Tale" was autobiographical about what actor? a. Robert DeNiro; b. Al Pacino; c. Joe Pesci; d. Chazz Palminteri.
2. What book is the film "Goodfellas" based on? a. "Goodfellas;" b. "Wiseguy;" c. "Murder Machine;" d. "Underboss."
3. Which mob movie was not directed by Martin Scorsese? a. "Casino;" b. "Goodfellas;" c. "Scarface;" d. "Mean Streets."
4. Which mob movie did not include Robert DeNiro? a. "Analyze This;" b. "The Godfather;" c. "A Bronx Tale;" d. "Mean Streets."
5. Who was the only person to win an Oscar for "Goodfellas?" a. Robert DeNiro; b. Ray Liotta; c. Joe Pesci; d. Martin Scorsese.
6. Which mob film was co-written by Oliver Stone? a. "Mean Streets;" b. "Once Upon a Time in America;" c. "Bonnie and Clyde;" d. "Scarface."
7. Which film was voted the number one gangster film of all-time by the AFI? a. "Goodfellas;" b. "Bonnie and Clyde;" c. "The Public Enemy;" d. "The Godfather."

Answers: 1. d; 2. b; 3. c; 4. b; 5. c; 6. d; 7. d.

Spell the Word ("The Q Train")
1. PROPITIOUS (adj): favorably inclined; gracious.
2. SOBRIQUET (noun): a nickname; an assumed name.
3. INVETERATE (adj): deep-rooted; of long standing.
4. UBIQUITOUS (adj): being everywhere.
5. GASTRONOME (noun): connisseur of good food and drink.
6. SYCOPHANT (noun): one who seeks favor by flattery.
7. PERSIFLAGE (noun): frivolous or bantering talk.
8. FLUMMOX (verb): to confuse; to perplex.
9. OBSEQUIOUS (adj): fawning; servilely attentive.
10. PALAVER (noun): idle talk; talk intended to deceive.

General Knowledge
1. What is the only US state on the Atlantic Ocean that extends into the Central Time Zone?
2. Pashmina wool comes from a breed of what animal?
3. The first flight attendants were required to be members of what profession?
4. What city did New Delhi replace as the capital of India in 1911?
5. What kind of architectural feature is a campanile?
6. When King Edward VIII of England abdicated the throne in 1936, what title was created for him?
7. Fandango.com specializes in the sale of what?

Answers: 1. Florida; 2. goat; 3. nursing; 4. Calcutta; 5. bell tower; 6. Duke of Windsor; 7. movie tickets.

IQ Trivia
1. California entrepreneur Gary Dahl became a multi-millionaire when he introduced what 1970s fad? ( 3 points)
2. What breakfast cereal once offered green tree-shaped marshmallows as a promotion on Earth Day? ( 4 points)
3. The title of the film "Chapter 27" refers to an imaginary final chapter of what novel? ( 4 points)
4. What is, by area, the largest state in Mexico? ( 4 points)
5. Doctors write what three-letter abbreviation on prescriptions to keep them from being filled generically? ( 5 points)

Answers: 1. pet rocks; 2. Lucky Charms; 3. "The Catcher in the Rye;" 4. Chihuahua; 5. DAW ("dispense as written").

Kicking the Bishop

Here is a trailer-style YouTube clip of the "Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse" episode from "Father Ted." Classic stuff, and it lasts about 1 1/2 minutes. Enjoy.

"Father Ted"

Three weeks ago, I had an accident, as many of you loyal readers may know. I spent a week on my couch in recovery, so I basically pulled out a lot of my old videos to pass the time. One of them I went back to was "Father Ted," one of the most brilliant comedies of all-time.

It isn't that widely known in the USA as it is in the UK. I first saw it on a flight on Virgin Atlantic going over to London about 10 years ago. I was in near hysterics the first time I saw it, and now I have all three seasons on video.

In America, it's had a run on PBS and BBC America (which I believe still shows it). It is the story of three priests and their housekeeper on a fictional island over the coast of Ireland called Craggy Island. They've been banished there for one reason or another. The priests are Ted Crilly, whose been exiled there over some funds that seemed to have found their way into his bank account; Dougal McGuire, a simple soul who is the dictionary definition of "the lights are on but nobody's home;" and Jack Hackett, an elderly drunkard whose vocabulary is basically limited to "feck," "drink," "arse," and "girls." They are supported by their faithful housekeeper Mrs. Doyle (we never know her first name), whose mission in life is to keep the priests in tea.

I'm sure some Catholics might have been offended by "Father Ted," but the show is basically a cartoon, and just about every episode is just a riot. (Even my dad, a diehard Catholic, thinks it's one of the funniest shows he's ever seen). I never found anything offensive about it as a Catholic, and I think there are times you just have to laugh at life. I found it a brilliant parody.

Ted is the "brains" of the outfit, and his ambition is to one day get off Craggy Island. (His dream is to get to Las Vegas.) My favorite episode is "Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse." Ted loses a soccer match against some rival priests and has to kick Bishop Brennan, the hardass who sent him to Craggy Island, in the butt. It's hilarious how Ted tries to get Brennan in position to get a photo of him giving him a swift boot in the behind (pictured), and the aftermath when he does.

Dougal is a very lovable guy, but has the attention span of a fruitfly. Jack is an elderly, and rather disgusting man who lives for drink, and sits in his chair all day. They are Ted's partners in crime, along with Mrs. Doyle, whose catchphrase when offering them tea: "go on, go on" became one of the show's staples. (BTW, Frank Kelly, who plays Father Jack, did a really funny takeoff on the "12 Days of Christmas," which I put on my blog last December and is one of the most popular posts ever here. You can check it out by going here.)

The show ran for 25 episodes and three seasons, from 1995-98. The show was concluding its run in 1998 when sadly, Dermot Morgan, who brilliantly played Ted, suffered a fatal heart attack the day after the final show was completed. He is remembered as a one of Ireland's most respected comedians, and he died at the very young age of 45.

If you've never checked out "Father Ted" I would definitely recommend it. Here's more from Wikipedia. Thanks for the laughs, guys, at a time when I really needed it!

Mob Movies Trivia on Tap

This week's special category for Tuesday Night Trivia will be "Mob Movies Trivia." It will be seven questions about movies featuring gangsters, mobsters and guys who break the law for a living. The movies will be from those of this generation, and the questions will be of the multiple choice variety.

The Q Train lightning round will feature "Spell the Word Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
What city did New Delhi replace as the capital of India in 1911?

We'll get going at the usual time of 9 PM, so I hope you can make it into Professor Thom's for Trivia on Tuesday.

Alone at the Top

The Minnesota Vikings took over sole possession of first place in the NFC North last night with a 34-14 thrashing of the Chicago Bears at the Metrodome. Both teams were tied for first, but now the Vikings lead Chicago by a game, and Green Bay by two, as they lost to Carolina yesterday.

It looked like it might be a long night for the Vikes last night, as Chicago scored first, on a pass and long run to Devin Hester late in the first quarter. With the score 7-3 in the second quarter, Benny Sapp got nailed with a stupid personal foul penalty that kept a drive alive, and the Bears wound up on the Vikings one-yard line on first down.

But the game completely turned in the other direction, as Chicago missed a pass in the end zone, and the Vikings superior run defense stopped three straight rushes that gave them the ball at the one. And Gus Frerotte took immediate advantage, as he hit Bernard Berrian alone down the sidelines for an NFL record-tying 99 yard TD pass to give the Vikings the lead.

The Vikings added another TD to give them a 17-7 halftime lead. Chicago edge back to 17-14 after an interception brought Chicago to the Vikings five yard line early in the third. But that was as close as they would come. The Vikings defense, as well as their offensive line, took control of the game. The Vikes intercepted Kyle Orton three times, and Jared Allen had two sacks and was pestering Orton all night.

Adrian Peterson ran for 131 yards, and Chester Taylor added a TD to give the Vikings a hard-fought win. The goal line stand in the second quarter may just have saved the Vikings season, as Chicago would have gone up 14-3 with a TD, and the momentum would have clearly been with them. But the long bomb gave the Vikes the mo they wouldn't surrender the rest of the night.

Next up for the Vikings are the lowly Detroit Lions, who've lost all 12 games this season. A game with them actually worries me, as the law of averages say the Lions have to win at least once this season, and I hope the Vikings don't think that just by showing up the game is theirs. After that, they will end the season with three teams who may all be heading for the playoffs: Arizona, Atlanta and the NY Giants. So a win at Detroit is simply a must, as it appears that only the champion of the NFC North will be going to the postseason.

BTW, did you notice that the Vikings and the Patriots have the same record, 7-5?

"Subway Super Bowl" Doesn't Cut It

With all the success the Giants and Jets have had this season, the speculation has now turned as to whether both teams can make it to the Super Bowl, which will be played in Tampa early next February.

And since that started, I've been seeing some sportswriter-creation calling it a "Subway Super Bowl." That is wrong for a number of reasons:

1. Neither the Jets nor the Giants play in New York City, despite using the city name;
2. Both teams play in the same stadium, so you don't need to take a subway to see both teams;
3. East Rutherford, New Jersey does not have a subway system, the last time I looked.

At least "Subway Series" when it's been used for Mets-Yankees series is correct. C'mon guys, I think "All-New Jersey Super Bowl," while not as sexy as "Subway Super Bowl," is at least not a misnomer, and will have to do for now.

I've also noticed a tendency for fans at football games waving their arms during field goal and extra point attempts to try to "distract" the opposition kicker. Do I need to point out to you folks that when a kicker is lining up for a kick, he is concentrating on his holder and timing his kick to coincide with the snap of the center? Waving your arms does no good. Save your energy.

And no doubt you've heard about the Plaxico Burress nonsense, about how he "accidentally" shot himself in a club last Friday night. I think Tony Siragusa, during the Giants-Redskins game today, said it best, words to the effect of: "If you have to carry a gun to go to a club, you might as well just stay home."

Like with Jeremy Shockey last year, the Giants are winning without Burress. And tomorrow he's turning himself in to the police to face a weapons possession charge. Time to do everyone a favor and cut this knucklehead loose. He's not worth the trouble.

The Clock's Ticking on Weis

The Charlie Weis Watch is now on in earnest.

Notre Dame gave perhaps its worst effort of the year on Saturday night, and was completely dominated by a far superior USC team and was whacked, 38-3.

I thought the effort in the Boston College loss was atrocious. This was even worse. They only fight they showed all night was 45 minutes before the game when some USC and Irish players scuffled in the tunnel going out onto the field. (It was broken up before it could escalate into anything major.)

Notre Dame gained a total of just 91 yards against USC, the number one defensive team in the nation. They did not gain a first down until the final play of the third quarter. No sense recapping the rest, as it's just way too ugly.

Charlie Weis is some offensive wizard, isn't he? He gave his critics a tractor-trailer load more ammunition to go after him with after another awful loss on Saturday.

I can't remember the last time ND was a 32-point underdog, as they were on Saturday. And still, they couldn't beat that spread. They end the regular season at 6-6, far below expectations this year. They have now lost 15 games in two consecutive seasons for the first time ever. They are bowl eligible, and will probably get to a bowl only because they are Notre Dame and bring in fans, ratings and money.

And speaking of money, the rumors that it would cost about $10 million to buy out Weis appear to be exaggerated, and now I've heard it would take $3-4 million. With the way Notre Dame's season has crashed and burned after a promising 4-1 start, you have to think Weis is on very thin ice indeed.

Seven Years

It seems unreal that it was seven years ago today that George Harrison passed away.

We miss you, George.

Curt's Moving, to WEEI

Things have been unusually quiet with the Red Sox so far in this off-season, but I did hear this morning that Curt Schilling is shutting down his 38Pitches blog, and is moving his blogging over to WEEI's web site.

I always found Schilling's blog an interesting read. I loved the fact he circumvented sportswriters, and really pissed them off, by going straight to the fans with his thoughts. Of course he has an opinion about everything, but at least he can't claim he was misquoted on his site.

Schilling's MLB future is still up in the air, after the shoulder surgery he had just a few months ago. But I will always think of him around Thanksgiving, when Theo Epstein and his lieutenants went to his Arizona home five years ago on the holiday and convinced to accept a trade to the Red Sox. It changed the team's fortunes forever.

And I'll always think of him whenever I see blood on a sock.

38Pitches was always a cool read, and I wish Curt all the best, no matter what the future holds in store for him.

The Red Sox now have a new first-base coach, as former Mets infielder Tim Bogar takes over for Luis Alicea. Bogar's been a minor league manager before, and was with the Rays as a fielding instructor last season.

They also picked up reliever Wes Littleton from Texas in a minor trade yesterday, for two players to be named later. I remember him as the guy who got a save for Texas back in 2007 in the game they destroyed the Orioles, 30-3. (He pitched the last three innings to get it.) And the Junichi Tazawa rumors are getting stronger. The Japanese righthander is rumored to be ready to announce he will sign with the Red Sox, and as early as next week.

Black Friday Murderers

I was really pissed off when I heard about this story.

You may have heard on the news that there was a stampede at a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, Long Island this morning when some customers, at 5 AM this morning to take advantage of sales, knocked down a door and trampled a poor security guard to death, and injured a few workers who tried to come to the man's aid after the stampede began.

Here's more on the tragedy.

And if that wasn't bad enough, customers in that place were actually angry at the Wal-Mart employees when they were told by them to leave because they were closing because of the man's tragic death.

I hope every one of you assholes who were involved in this man's death can live with yourselves. You have his blood on your hands. Over some stupid junk you couldn't wait a few more hours to buy. You had to have it at 5 AM in the morning? And you'd actually run over someone to have it?

The man's family will undoubtedly sue the store, who is not blameless in all of this.

But no matter how any of you might try to spin this, you all showed a callous indifference to human life. Most of you will never stand trial for his death (but fortunately I read that the police are looking at the store video tapes, so arrests are possible), but you committed murder. Plain and simple.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that all of you out there have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. I'll be celebrating it at my sister's house this year, enjoying turkey and pumpkin pie, as I do every year. I'll be listening to "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie on the radio (Q104.3 here in New York) at noon, watching the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys on TV in the afternoon, and later that night I'll be checking out "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" on ABC. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the Peanuts gang, and I do my best not to miss the major holiday specials they are in. (The above YouTube clip is from the classic special, when the gang gathers around the ping pong table to have their meal. Enjoy.)

And of course, I am very thankful for a lot of things. I am so thankful for all those Americans putting themselves in harm's way overseas to protect our freedom, and I pray for all of their safety and that they return home soon. I am also so thankful to all of my family and friends. I am also especially thankful for them considering what I went through earlier this month, and I thank God for them every day, and that I am just about fully recovered now.

Have a great time everyone. And thank you, too.

You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant
You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant.

Hell With the Winter, Bring On Spring Training

The Red Sox announced their Spring Training schedule yesterday, with the highlights being four games against the rival Rays, two games to open Citi Field against the Mets in April, and a game against the Puerto Rican WBC team.

The first exhibition games will take place on February 25, with the Sox opening in the afternoon against Boston College, and then at night playing the Minnesota Twins. The schedule will open a few days earlier in 2009 due to the World Baseball Classic, which kicks off in early March.

The Red Sox will also play two games against the Yankees: March 13th in Ft. Myers and March 24th at Tampa.

Tickets for Spring Training go on sale on December 6th.

Here's more from Ian Browne and the complete 2009 Spring Training schedule.

Trivia Q&A: November 25

We had 14 teams in for Trivia Night on Tuesday. I was a bit concerned that we might have a smaller crowd due to the holiday weekend approaching, but there was a good crowd on hand. It was enhanced by my softball league handing out the championship trophies at Professor Thom's before Trivia Night began. (Unfortunately my team, the Cereal Killers, didn't win anything.)

The numbers on Current Events were very strong (with thanks to my buddy Keith who read two of the questions in my stead), but the James Bond questions caused some problems, as the scores were rather low (and I heard a few complaints afterwards). We had a close match throughout, with the top three teams separated by just three points.

But the IQ Trivia numbers were rather low, with just two teams getting as many as three of the questions right. But one of them was the team in third place, and that team, I Thought Trivia Only Came Once a Week, jumped over the two teams ahead of them to win by just two points. Congratulations to John and his friends on their squeaker of a win.

Current Events
1. This Australian actor was chosen as People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" for 2008 last week.
2. Mitch Mitchell, a rock drummer who gained fame playing with this guitar legend in the 1960s, died of natural causes in Oregon recently.
3. Pirates from this African nation recently seized a Saudi supertanker off the East African coast, one loaded with $100 million in crude oil and days later seized a Hong Kong ship filled with grain.
4. This European country last week dropped its pursuit of a ban on the Church of Scientology after finding insufficient evidence of any illegal activity.
5. This celebrated fashion designer was forced to pay $1 million to get himself out of a case where his company used bribes to get exclusive use of a desirable venue for his fashion shows.
6. According to a National Traffic Safety Administration study since 2001, this holiday had the most traffic fatalities than any other in the US.
7. This tennis legend was arrested last Friday in California after refusing to leave an area at a basketball game he was attending following a confrontation he had.

Answers: 1. Hugh Jackman; 2. Jimi Hendrix; 3. Somalia; 4. Germany; 5. Marc Jacobs; 6. Thanksgiving; 7. Jimmy Connors.

James Bond Trivia
1. Before Sean Connery was cast to play 007, what popular actor from such films as "His Girl Friday" and "To Catch a Thief" rejected the role?
2. What was Bond character "Major Boothroyd" better known as in the film series?
3. Name 2 of the 3 Bond films that Shirley Bassey sang the theme to.
4. What was the first James Bond film that starred Roger Moore?
5. Which actress was the only Bond girl to marry James Bond?
6. What is James Bond's rank in the British Navy?
7. Which TV actor had to reject the offer to follow Roger Moore in the 1980s to play James Bond because of his TV series commitment?

Answers: 1. Cary Grant; 2. "Q;" 3. "Goldfinger;" "Diamonds Are Forever;" and "Moonraker;" 4. "Live and Let Die;" 5. Diana Rigg; 6. Commander; 7. Pierce Brosnan.

True or False Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. Anthracite is a highly pure form of coal.
2. "Eureka" is New York's state motto.
3. There are 5 different types of pieces in a standard game of chess.
4. A peanut is actually a legume.
5. California has the longest coastline of any state in the lower 48 states.
6. Brazil has the largest Christian population of any country in the world.
7. Karl Marx, the father of communism, is buried in London.
8. Flotaki and kilim are popular types of rugs.
9. Drivers in Japan drive on the right-hand side of the road.
10. Jack Paar was the first host of "The Tonight Show" in 1954.

Answers: 1. true; 2. false, it is the motto of California; 3. false, there are six; 4. true; 5. false, Michigan; 6. false, USA; 7. true; 8. true; 9. false, they drive on the left; 10. false, it was Steve Allen.

General Knowledge
1. Who wrote the original novel "American Psycho," which became a movie in 2000?
2. What does AC stand for in the abbreviation AC/DC?
3. What type of book does a lexicographer contribute to?
4. In the Coleridge poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," what bird was hung around The Mariner's neck?
5. What species of bird lays the largest eggs?
6. "The Fosbury Flop" is a common technique in what track and field event?
7. Name 4 of the 7 most popular names taken by a pope.

Answers: 1. Bret Easton Ellis; 2. alternating current; 3. dictionary; 4. albatross; 5. ostrich; 6. high jump; 7. John, Gregory, Pius, Leo, Benedict, Clement, Innocent.

IQ Trivia
1. What famous person was the basis for the main character Oliver in the best-selling novel "Love Story?" ( 4 points)
2. According to Greek legend, what creature killed Orion? ( 4 points)
3. What author was executed for refusing to recognize the religious supremacy of King Henry VIII? ( 3 points)
4. Who was the first Jewish Supreme Court justice? ( 4 points)
5. What were the only four cabinet positions in George Washington's presidential administrations? ( 5 points)

Answers: 1. Al Gore; 2. scorpion; 3. Sir Thomas More; 4. Louis Brandeis; 5. Secretary of State, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Treasury, and Attorney General.

Will He Be Busted For Belching Next?

I love these oddball stories, especially on slow days.

A 13-year-old student in Stuart, Florida was recently arrested for "passing gas" in his classroom and shutting down his classmates' computers. Here's more on the story.

I didn't know farting could turn off computers. Sounds like a kid with a talent.

He was released to the custody of his mother. Can't you just hear her years from now, if her son becomes a career criminal. "It all started with Junior farting in the eighth grade..."

Can you imagine the damage this kid could have done if he had a lighter with him?

Bond. James Bond Trivia on Tuesday

This Tuesday night, in honor of the new James Bond film that was recently just released, we will be having a round of "James Bond Trivia." It will be seven questions regarding the legendary British movie hero. (With thanks to my friend Matt, who actually had the idea for the category and wrote most of the questions.)

BTW, for those of you on the Internet looking for the questions and answers to the Bond trivia, they will be posted on this site on Wednesday morning.

The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
What does AC stand for in the abbreviation AC/DC?

We will get going at the usual time of 9 PM on Tuesday night, so I hope many of you will come out and join us.