Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Trivia Q&A: February 3

We had a fine crowd on hand on a snowy night for Trivia on Tuesday, as 18 teams took part. It turned out to be a night of high scores, and I can't tell if it was because of a smart crowd or easier questions. (Maybe a combination of both.) It was a close contest all night, and the scores were very good in every round, especially in "Over/Under 40 Trivia" and "General Knowledge."

And I thought IQ Trivia was going to be difficult last night, but a record five teams ran the table in that round and scored a perfect 20 points. And it included the team of Ladies, My Stimulus Package is Huge, and they wound up winning by just a point. Two of the teams they were leading by a point going into the final round also got 20 points, so it was fortunate that they were perfect as well. Congratulations to Keith and his friends on their victory, their second this year.

Current Events
1. The number of unique Internet users in a single month reached this landmark number in December 2008.
2. The coalition government under Prime Minister Geir Haarde of this country collapsed amid protests against its handling of the nation's financial crisis.
3. John Updike, whose article about the final game of this baseball Hall of Famer, "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu," gained him national fame, died last week at age 76.
4. This Midwestern city was named the nation's most challenging place for asthma sufferers to live by The Asthma and Allergy Foundation.
5. A 4.5 magnitude earthquake rattled this West Coast city last Friday morning, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.
6. Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of this Eastern state, was elected chairman of the RNC last week.
7. Ingemar Johansson, who won the heavyweight title from Floyd Patterson in 1959 and came from this country, died last Friday at age 76.

Answers: 1. One billion; 2. Iceland; 3. Ted Williams; 4. St. Louis; 5. Seattle; 6. Maryland; 7. Sweden.

Grammy Awards Trivia
1. In 2002, the soundtrack to this George Clooney film won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, just the third ever to do so.
2. In 2007, the classical crossover Grammy went to "Love Supreme: The Legacy of" what 1960s jazz sax player?
3. Who won the Grammy for Best Rock Male Vocal Performance four straight years, 1998-2001?
4. Which controversial female rock star is the only person to refuse a Grammy Award, in 1990?
5. Who was the only Grammy Award winner to be stripped of the honor?
6. Name 1 of the 2 artists to win 8 Grammys, the record, in one year.
7. True or False: Country/bluegrass singer Alison Krauss has won the most Grammys of any female artist.

Answers: 1. "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?;" 2. John Coltrane; 3. Lenny Kravitz; 4. Sinead O'Connor; 5. Milli Vanilli; 6. Michael Jackson (1983) and Santana (1999); 7. true (she's won 20).

Over/Under 40 Trivia
1. Mariah Carey
2. Lance Armstrong
3. Nicole Kidman
4. Mary J. Blige
5. Brad Pitt
6. Janet Jackson
7. Tyra Banks
8. Matt Damon
9. Kate Winslet
10. Charlie Sheen

Answers: 1. under (38); 2. under (38); 3. over (41); 4. under (38); 5. over (44); 6. over (42); 7. under (35); 8. under (38); 9. under (33); 10. over (43).

General Knowledge
1. What artificial fat substance did Frito-Lay use to make "Wow" brand potato chips?
2. Payola is a type of illegal payment associated with what industry?
3. What chess piece can only move diagonally?
4. If it is 12 noon in New York City, what time is it in Denver, Colorado?
5. In 2001, the Boeing Company relocated its world headquarters to what U.S. city?
6. "Come On Get Happy" was the theme song to what 1970s TV show?
7. Walter Lord's 1955 book, "A Night to Remember" recalls what famous event?

Answers: 1. Olestra; 2. radio; 3. bishop; 4. 10 AM; 5. Chicago; 6. "The Partridge Family;" 7. The Titanic sinking.

IQ Trivia
1. Founded in 1852, what is California's oldest prison? ( 4 points)
2. Members of the infamous "Heaven's Gate" cult believed that a spaceship was hiding behind what comet? ( 5 points)
3. What US First Lady was also the niece of a former president? ( 3 points)
4. In the classic Superman comics, what was the name of Superman's dog? ( 4 points)
5. What long-running British TV show follows the lives of folks living in the fictional London borough of Walford? ( 4 points)

Answers: 1. San Quentin; 2. Hale-Bopp; 3. Eleanor Roosevelt; 4. Krypto; 5. "EastEnders."

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