Trivia Q&A: October 2

There were 11 teams for Trivia on Tuesday night, and it got off to a rather inauspicious start. We had problems with Professor Thom's sound system, and the sound continued to go on and off. We got going a few minutes late, and we managed to get throught the first round OK. But when I started to read off the Current Events answers, the sound was nearly gone, and I thought we'd have to bag Trivia Night last night.

But when I started to explain the problems, most of the bar patrons wanted me to continue with contest, even without the mic and sound system. So we decided to try something I'd never done before: I would read the questions to the players from in front of my usual place with the microphone. And the players all agreed to be quiet so I could be heard by everyone in the bar.

It turned out to be a success. Everyone respected my need to be heard by all, and my voice carried enough so everyone could hear me. (I had to raise my voice slightly, but fortunately, I wasn't yelling.) I also decided that because of all the starting and stopping, we would do only four categories. (True or False Trivia was bumped for the second consecutive week.)

As for the game, New England Trivia saw about the lowest scores I have ever seen in all the time I've been doing Trivia. (The highest score anyone got was 5.) But almost everyone bounced back with General Knowledge. The final round saw six teams separated by just two points.

But a team called Sofa King Smart managed to get four of the five IQ Trivia questions correct for 20 points, and won the contest by 5 points.

I apologized for the problems we had with the sound system, but everyone seemed to enjoy the contest with me just reading off the Q&A with no mic. I thank everyone for the nice hand they gave me once Trivia Night concluded. I hope that everything gets back to normal next Tuesday. The night actually turned out to fun, but I don't know if I could do that again, especially with the Red Sox postseason about to start. My voice takes enough of a beating rooting them on in the playoffs.

Current Events
1. An historic summit meeting has begun between these two countries, sworn enemies since their land was divided in the mid-20th century.
2. Garry Kasparov, a world champion in this event, has announced he will run for the position of president of Russia in 2008 last week.
3. This NYC hotel celebrated its 100th birthday in style yesterday before over 1,000 invited guests.
4. Haile Gebrselassie, from this African country, set a new marathon record in Berlin last week with a time of 2:04:26.
5. This country defeated Brazil on Sunday to win their second straight women's World Cup soccer title.
6. A powerful earthquake struck the western coast of Sumatra in this Asian country, prompting a tsunami warning.
7. This private company that has been providing security in Iraq is currently being investigated by the FBI for their role in a shootout that left 11 Iraqis dead two weeks ago.
8. This retail giant announced today that they are cutting prices on toys for Christmas by as much as 50%.
9. Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas was found guilty of sexual harrassment today, and a jury awarded this amount (within $2 million) to the victim.
10. NASDAQ announced on Tuesday it would buy this eastern US city's Stock Exchange, and it's the first time in 173 years it would be run by outside ownership.

Answers: 1. North and South Korea; 2. chess; 3. The Plaza; 4. Ethiopia; 5. Germany; 6. Indonesia; 7. Blackwater; 8. Wal-Mart; 9. $11.6 million; 10. Boston.

New England Trivia
1. How many US presidents were born in New England? a. 6; b. 8; c. 9; d. 5.
2. What is the second largest city in NE by population? a. Hartford, CT; b. Worcester, MA; c. Providence, RI; d. Portland, ME.
3. What sport was invented by William Morgan in Holyoke, MA in 1895? a. volleyball; b. softball; c. basketball; d. badminton.
4. Who was the on-deck hitter when Carlton Fisk hit his famous home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series? a. Jim Rice; b. Rico Petrocelli; c. Fred Lynn; d. Dwight Evans.
5. Alexander Twilight was the first black graduate of any American college from which NE state? a. MA; b. CT; c. RI; d. VT.
6. In the 2000 presidential election, what was the only NE state that Al Gore did not win? a. NH; b. RI; c. ME; d. CT.
7. How many Stanley Cups have the Boston Bruins won in their history? a. 2; b. 4; c. 5; d. 6.
8. Which famous poet was born in California, but moved to Massachusetts and published his first poem in Lawrence?
9. Which MA college is nicknamed "The Singing College?" a. Smith; b. Williams; c. BC; d. Amherst.
10. How many numbers have been retired in the history of the Boston Celtics? a. 15; b. 21; c. 10; d. 17.

Answers: 1. b; 2. c; 3. a; 4. c; 5. d; 6. a; 7. c; 8. a; 9. d; 10. b.

General Knowledge
1. What TV sitcom's theme song was "I'll Be There For You?"
2. What is the main food source for the giant panda?
3. What is the largest Hawaiian island by area?
4. On her Fox TV series, what did Tracey Ullman say at the end of every episode?
5. Who was the second man to walk on the moon?
6. In September 2001, which pop star wed her choreographer in a secret wedding?
7. In the 1983 movie "Vacation," Chevy Chase's character skinny-dips with what supermodel?
8. The late billionaire Leona Helmsley's fortune primarily came from which industry?
9. Which city is the capital of Sicily?
10. Which future First Lady graduated from Wellesley College in the 1960s?

Answers: 1. "Friends;" 2. bamboo; 3. Hawaii; 4. "Go Home!;" 5. Buzz Aldrin; 6. Jennifer Lopez; 7. Christie Brinkley; 8. real estate; 9. Palermo; 10. Hillary Clinton.

IQ Trivia
1. What fashion guru popularized the minishirt in the 1960s? (6 points)
2. Archbishop Desmond Tutu served as head of the Anglican church in what country? (4 points)
3. In 1985, artist Andy Warhol appeared on an episode of what TV series? (5 points)
4. Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are better known as what music group? (5 points)
5. In what country did the dance known as the rumba originate? (5 points)

Answers: 1. Mary Quant; 2. South Africa; 3. "The Love Boat;" 4. Indigo Girls; 5. Cuba.