Trivia Q&A: August 27

We had 10 teams in for Trivia last night, and our friends from DIMS weren't in, due to other commitments. But my old friend and onetime Trivia regular Charles Evans was in, and it was such a pleasure to catch up with him and his friends. So we had another wide open Trivia Night last night, and the top four teams were separated by six points going into IQ Trivia. But the team of John Triviolta pulled out the win, getting 4 of 5 correct in the round to end with 45 points and the victory, their first ever. Congratulations, guys!

Second place went to Turkey Club with 39 points, and third place went to Cabin Fever with 38 points.

Best Team Name: Scottie Didn't Know This Was a Boston Bar

Current Events
1. Actor Peter Fonda recently died at the age of 79. Name 1 of the 2 films he received Oscar nominations for.
2. What politician’s game-worn high school basketball jersey was sold at auction for $120,000 last week?
3. What musical icon, who died last year, was found to have had as much as $1 million in uncashed checks in her possession during a recent inventory of her possessions?
4. What talk show host announced last week that he and his wife of 22 years are divorcing, and this will be the seventh divorce?
5. Name 1 of the 2 Democratic presidential contenders that ended their White House bids over last two weeks.
6. What singer revealed on Twitter last Thursday that she was fired from the animated film “Hotel Transylvania” after photos surfaced online of her posing with a penis-shaped birthday cake with her ex-boyfriend?
7. What rapper’s publisher hit Spotify with a copyright infringement lawsuit last week, alleging the streaming service has no license to stream hundreds of his songs?

Purple Trivia
1. The Purple Heart medal features the image of what US president?
2. What Pulitzer Prize-winning author wrote the novel “The Color Purple?”
3. The Purple Dragons were a street gang in what animated cartoon series?
4. Who wrote and directed the 1985 film “The Purple Rose of Cairo?”
5. In the board game “Clue”, what character is represented by the purple token?
6. Prince released his critically acclaimed album “Purple Rain” in what year?
7. Name 1 of the 2 NFL teams that uses purple as its primary uniform color.

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. JFK was 46 years old when he was elected president.
2. Lord Horatio Nelson, the hero of Trafalgar, suffered from seasickness.
3. Usher, Beyoncé and LeAnn Rimes were all winners on “Star Search.”
4. The USA network was originally the Madison Square Garden Sports network.
5. Bananas weren’t commonly eaten in the US until after the Civil War.
6. The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” was set in Georgia.
7. Nadia Comaneci was the first female gymnast to score a perfect 10 in The Olympics.
8. Africa is the largest continent by area in the world.
9. The Harry Potter series is the highest-grossing film series in history.
10. The Union Jack is found on one US state flag: Alaska.

General Knowledge
1. How many symphonies did Beethoven compose? ( 1 pt)
2. "Forrest Gump" was originally released in what year? ( 1 pt)
3. How many spikes are on the Statue of Liberty's crown? ( 1 pt)
4. On which finger do human nails grow the fastest? ( 2 pt)
5. Who was Richard Nixon's first vice-president? ( 2 pt)
6. Between bat, octopus and snake, which animal is totally deaf? ( 2 pt)
7. What planet was nicknamed "the planet of dreams" due to its color? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. The Bank of America is headquartered in what southern US city? ( 4 points)
2. What product would you buy or consume in an enoteca? ( 4 points)
3. Helen Keller was co-founding member of what organization in 1920? ( 5 points)
4. What book in the Bible does Samuel L. Jackson quote in the film "Pulp Fiction?" ( 3 points)
5. What American author has penned 58 novels in his career, with 7 written under the pen name "Richard Bachman?" ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Peter Fonda; 2. Barack Obama; 3. Aretha Franklin; 4. Larry King; 5. John Hickenlooper and Seth Moulton; 6. Miley Cyrus; 7. Eminem.

Purple Trivia
1. George Washington; 2. Alice Walker; 3. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles;” 4. Woody Allen; 5. Professor Plum; 6. 1984; 7. Vikings and Ravens.

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. False, 43; 2. true; 3. false, all lost; 4. true; 5. true; 6. false, Mississippi; 7. true; 8. false, Asia; 9. false, Marvel; 10. false, Hawaii.

General Knowledge
1. nine; 2. 1994; 3. seven; 4. middle; 5. Spiro Agnew; 6. octopus; 7. Neptune.

IQ Trivia
1. Charlotte, NC; 2. wine; 3. ACLU; 4. Ezekiel; 5. Stephen King.

Get Your Purple On

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, August 27th at 8:30 PM, with "Purple Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to the color of purple in history and pop culture. The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia." I will give you ten statements and you have to tell me whether it is a true one or false one.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"How many symphonies did Beethoven compose?"

BTW, our friends Ken, Michael and Darek from “DIMS” will be NOT be playing tomorrow night due to other commitments. So we will crown a new champion this week. I look forward to seeing many of you on Tuesday night for another great night of Trivia!

Trivia Q&A: August 20

We had 11 teams in for Trivia on Tuesday night, and it was another win for our friends from DIMS. They pretty much led throughout the night, rolling up 44 points for the victory. We had a close race for second place, and the team of Would The Name Natalie Wood Be Too Far Overboard? had a nice comeback to reach second, as they jumped over three teams while getting 4 of 5 correct to gain 38 points and second place. Congrats to Bob and Cato. Third place went to Just The Tip with 36 points.

Ken, Michael and Darek of DIMS will not be in for Trivia next week, so we'll crown a new champion then.

Best Team Name: I Tried to Make Penis My Password But It Was Too Short

Current Events
1. A 1976 Harley-Davidson motorcycle belonging to what rock and roll legend is going up for auction later this month and is expected to break the record for a motorcycle auction price, about $2 million?
2. Alejandro Giammattei was elected president of what Central American country last week, the fourth time he's run for the office?
3. What legendary opera singer was accused of sexual harassment last week after multiple women came forward after saying he forced them into sexual relationships by offering jobs and threatened punishment if they refused?
4. Viacom announced a merger with what TV network last week worth up to $28 billion, and 13 years after they originally split up?
5. Forbes magazine selected Harvard University as the top American college for 2019. What West Coast university was selected second?
6. The NFL confirmed they have entered into a partnership with what entertainment and music mogul, with him becoming the league's official live music strategist?
7. Four women filed suit against actor Danny Masterson, who starred on what 2000s TV sitcom and the Church of Scientology, claiming they were stalked and intimidated after reporting assault allegations against him?

August Trivia
1. On August 1, 1914, what nation declared war on Russia, beginning World War I?
2. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at what famous Washington DC landmark?
3. In August 1992, actress Tracy Gold was written out of what 1990s sitcom as she was hospitalized for anorexia?
4. MLB players went on strike in August of what year, which led to the cancellation of the World Series?
5. Name 1 of the 2 birthstones associated with the month of August.
6. Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in what US state?
7. Name 2 of the 4 US presidents born after the Civil War and in the month of August.

The Q Train: US Airports Trivia
1. PHL
2. IAH
3. TPA
4. HNL
5. MSP
6. ORD
7. NEW
8. BWI
9. LAS
10. SAN

General Knowledge
1. What nation's athletes enter first at an Olympic Games opening ceremony? ( 1 pt)
2. The TV series "Survivor" debuted in what year? ( 1 pt)
3. The headquarters for Target are located in what US state? ( 1 pt)
4. What is the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo? ( 2 pt)
5. What three states are powered by Hoover Dam? (2 pt)
6. What grain is Irish whiskey made from? ( 2 pt)
7. What author wrote the novel "50 Shades of Grey?" ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What 20th century US president endured two assassination attempts in less than a month? ( 4 points)
2. What comedy film was Barbra Streisand's highest grossing movie in the US? ( 4 points)
3. What US state produces the most honey in the nation, over 33 million pounds in 2017? ( 5 points)
4. What actress watches George Clooney's character die in a hit 2013 movie, and then visits his character's grave in a hit 2018 movie? ( 3 points)
5. In 1964, Congress declared what liquor to be the official spirit of the United States? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Elvis Presley; 2. Guatemala; 3. Placido Domingo; 4. CBS; 5. Stanford; 6. Jay-Z; 7. "That '70s Show."

August Trivia
1. Germany; 2. Lincoln Memorial; 3. "Growing Pains;" 4. 1994; 5. Peridot and Spinel; 6. Indiana; 7. Herbert Hoover, Lyndon Johnson, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama.

The Q Train: US Airports Trivia
1. Philadelphia; 2. Houston (Bush Intercontinental); 3. Tampa; 4. Honolulu; 5. Minneapolis-St. Paul; 6. Chicago (O'Hare); 7. New Orleans (Lakefront); 8. Baltimore-Washington; 9. Las Vegas (McCarran); 10. San Diego.

General Knowledge
1. Greece; 2. 2000; 3. Minnesota; 4. Yokohama; 5. California, Nevada, Arizona; 6. barley; 7. E.L. James.

IQ Trivia
1. Gerald Ford; 2. "Meet The Fockers;" 3. North Dakota; 4. Sandra Bullock; 5. bourbon.

Know Your Airports On Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, August 20th at 8:30 PM, with "August Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to the month of August in history and pop culture. The Q Train lightning round will be "US Airports Trivia." I will give you ten "airport codes", the three letter code that every airport has, and you have to tell me the city or airport that corresponds to that code. It will be all from major cities from across the United States.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What nation's athletes enter first at an Olympic Games opening ceremony?"

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

Trivia Q&A: August 13

We had 10 teams in for Trivia on Tuesday night, and a group of folks from my Tower Records days came in to join in on the festivities (hence the reason I was wearing my Tower shirt last night). My thanks to Billy, Wendy, Scott and Dave for coming in and making the night even more special. Our friends from DIMS, who took last week off, returned last night and won the night easily, rolling up 51 points. Congrats to Ken, Michael and Darek on another impressive win.

Second place went to Coat Hanger Dodgers with 33 points, and Fawlty Towers finished third with 31 points.

Best Team Name: And In Last Place With Zero Points, DIMS!

Current Events
1. What luxury retail giant filed for bankruptcy last week, and announced plans to close 15 stores across the nation?
2. President Trump signed an executive order freezing all government assets and imposing a total economic embargo against what country's government?
3. What pizza chain announced they are closing about 500 of their 7500 US restaurants, as they said they will focus more on delivery?
4. Wanda Vazquez was sworn in last Thursday to what position?
5. MLB announced that the White Sox and Yankees will play a special game next August near the site where the film "Field of Dreams" was made and it will be the first MLB game played in what state?
6. What Hollywood actor led a group that brought supplies to a humanitarian ship that was stuck in the Mediterranean Sea after rescuing 121 migrants?
7. What 86-year-old singer canceled the remainder of 2019 tour, including an appearance at Farm Aid in September, due to recurring breathing problems?

Woodstock Artists Trivia
1. What rock artist won eight Grammy awards, including Album of the Year, tying Michael Jackson's record in 2000?
2. What West Coast-based band, which never won a Grammy, didn't reach the top 10 on the album charts until 1987, with the album "In The Dark?"
3. John Belushi did a hilarious parody in 1975 on "Saturday Night Live" of what English singer who appeared at Woodstock?
4. "Quadrophenia" and "Endless Wire" were hit albums for what English rock band?
5. What legendary guitarist played "The Star Spangled Banner" at his Woodstock appearance?
6. John Sebastian, lead singer of the Lovin Spooonful, had a top ten single in 1975 with the theme to what ABC sitcom?
7. What legendary female singer, who would die the year after Woodstock, played at the festival with her band the Kozmic Blues Band?

The Q Train: Science Fiction Film Characters Trivia
1. Peter Venkman (1984)
2. Lando Calrissian (1980)
3. Ellen Ripley (1979)
4. Rick Deckard (1982)
5. Snake Plissken (1981)
6. Sarah Connor (1984)
7. Dr. Robert Neville (2007)
8. Dr. Emmet Brown (1985)
9. David Bowman (1968)
10. Robert Scott Carey (1957)

General Knowledge
1. Emma Stone won an Oscar for Best Actress for what film? ( 1 pt)
2. To what country does the island state of Tasmania belong? ( 1 pt)
3. Ecuador and what other country are the only South American members of OPEC? ( 1 pt)
4. The first radio transmission was sent in 1894 from what European country? ( 2 pt)
5. Who was the first man elected president of Russia? ( 2 pt)
6. Pope Francis ended the longstanding papal tradition of popes wearing shoes of what color? ( 2 pt)
7. From 1996-98, Craig Kilborn was the first host of what current TV show? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. Which vodka brand topped the list of "Best Alcohol Brands in the World" for 2019? ( 3 points)
2. What 1938 animated film was the first movie to release a soundtrack? ( 4 points)
3. What Oscar-winning actor is the oldest man to win People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" award? ( 5 points)
4. In terms of social and political stability, militarization and homicide rates, which European country was ranked the world's safest country for the 11th straight year in 2018? ( 4 points)
5. In 2016, President Obama signed an act recognizing what mammal as the national mammal of the United States? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Barney's; 2. Venezuela; 3. Pizza Hut; 4. Governor of Puerto Rico; 5. Iowa; 6. Richard Gere; 7. Willie Nelson.

Woodstock Artists Trivia
1. Santana; 2. Grateful Dead; 3. Joe Cocker; 4. The Who; 5. Jimi Hendrix; 6. "Welcome Back, Kotter; " 7. Janis Joplin.

The Q Train: Science Fiction Film Characters Trivia
1. Ghostbusters; 2. The Empire Strikes Back; 3. Alien; 4. Blade Runner; 5. Escape From New York; 6. The Terminator; 7. I Am Legend; 8. Back to the Future; 9. 2001: A Space Odyssey; 10. The Incredible Shrinking Man.

General Knowledge
1. "La La Land; 2. Australia; 3. Venezuela; 4. Italy; 5. Boris Yeltsin; 6. red; 7. "The Daily Show."

IQ Trivia
1. Smirnoff; 2. "Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs;" 3. Sean Connery; 4. Iceland; 5. bison.

50 Years After The Festival

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, August 13th at 8:30 PM, with "Woodstock Artists Trivia," in honor of the 50th anniversary of the legendary Woodstock concerts from 1969. It will be seven questions about the artists that played in those series of shows (not necessarily about the actual shows themselves). The Q Train lightning round will be "Science Fiction Film Characters Trivia." I will give you the names of ten famous characters who appeared in science fiction films (with the year the film was originally released) and you have to tell me the film the character was in.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"To what country does the island state of Tasmania belong?"

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

Trivia Q&A: August 6

We had another great night of Trivia on Tuesday night, as eight teams took part. Two of our regular teams, DIMS and Bob and Cato, took the night off so the trivia night was a bit more wide open. The top four teams were separated by six points going into IQ Trivia, but the team of No Loaf emerged victorious, getting 3 of the 5 IQ questions correct, and getting the win with 35 points. Congratulations to Ayden, Nick and Spencer on their first ever win on their first night coming in for Trivia!

We had a tie for second place between Da Jabooties and Oh-Yum with 30 points, and we broke the tie with "What is the current population of the city of Hartford?" (Hartford was the answer to an IQ Trivia question, which no one got correct.) Oh-Yum was closest to the answer (123,400) and won second place.

Best Team Name: O'Dore's Irish Panty Party

Current Events
1. Egan Bernal, at 22, became the youngest champion of the Tour de France last week, and also the first man from what South American country to win?
2. A software engineer in Seattle hacked into a server holding customer information from what bank and obtained personal data from over 100 million people and was later arrested?
3. The body of what notorious 1930s gangster is set to be exhumed after his nephew sought a permit to do so for an upcoming History Channel project?
4. What US state's governor signed a bill last week requiring all presidential candidates to release their tax returns, or they won't be on the primary ballot in March?
5. The tourism ministry of China announced a ban on people traveling to what island nation starting August 1, leading to a rebuke from the country’s president?
6. What European nation passed a new law banning burqas, ski masks and other face coverings in public buildings and transportation?
7. Former US ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft was confirmed by the Senate last week to what position?

Red Trivia
1. What author wrote the best-selling novel “The Hunt For Red October?”
2. What actor/director won an Academy Award for Best Director for the 1981 film ”Reds”?
3. Which MLB team has won more World Series in their history: the Red Sox or Reds?
4. Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding was a main character in what Oscar nominated film?
5. What two red card suits in a standard deck of cards are colored red?
6. What pop singer’s 2012 album “Red” featured the hit song “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together?”
7. What Asian country’s flag has a red circle centered on a green background?

The Q Train: Beer Brands Trivia
1. St. Pauli Girl
2. Labatt's
3. Heineken
4. Yuengling
5. Carlsberg
6. Asahi
7. Guinness
8. Kronenbourg
9. Hoegaarden
10. Foster’s

General Knowledge
1. In the movies, John Rambo is a veteran of what war? ( 1 pt)
2. Which two planets have no moons? ( 1 pt)
3. What 19th century author wrote the novel "Les Miserables?" ( 1 pt)
4. The oldest existing McDonald's restaurant is located in what US state? ( 2 pt)
5. What European country produces approximately 75% of the world's olive oil each year? ( 2 pt)
6. Between animal attacks, drowning and falling from heights, which is the number 1 cause of deaths in national parks? ( 2 pt)
7. What kind of stone is the Leaning Tower of Pisa made of? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What Southeast Asian country is the world's leader in coconut production? ( 5 points)
2. In 2002, Ukranian Sergey Karjakin became the world's youngest chess grandmaster at what age? ( 4 points)
3. America's oldest newspaper still being printed, from 1764, is located in what state capital city? ( 4 points)
4. What is the largest of Canada's ten provinces in area? ( 3 points)
5. What South American country had five different presidents over a span of ten days in 2001? (4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Colombia; 2. Capital One; 3. John Dillinger; 4. California; 5. Taiwan; 6. Netherlands; 7. US Ambassador to the U.N.

Red Trivia
1. Tom Clancy; 2. Warren Beatty; 3. Red Sox (9-5); 4. “The Shawshank Redemption;” 5. Diamonds & Hearts; 6. Taylor Swift; 7. Bangladesh.

The Q Train: Beer Brands Trivia
1. Germany; 2. Canada; 3. Netherlands; 4. USA; 5. Denmark; 6. Japan; 7. Ireland; 8. France; 9. Belgium; 10. Australia.

General Knowledge
1. Vietnam; 2. Mercury & Venus; 3. Victor Hugo; 4. California; 5. Spain; 6. drowning; 7. marble.

IQ Trivia
1. Indonesia; 2. 12; 3. Hartford, CT; 4. Quebec; 5. Argentina.

"For The Good of the Game"

I've been a baseball fan all of my life, and especially during the reign of Bud Selig as the commissioner of MLB. So when I heard he was publishing his biography "For the Good of the Game: The Inside Story of the Surprising and Dramatic Transformation of Major League Baseball", I felt I should give Selig a chance and give it a read.

I've never been a fan of Selig, going back to the strike of 1994, which tested my love for the game and kept me out of MLB parks for over 5 years. And I thought he handled the infamous 2002 All-Star Game tie very badly.

But I must admit that "For the Good of the Game" is actually a very interesting and at times charming look back at his life by Selig, and if you walk in with an open mind, you actually enjoy this book.

There's no doubt that Bud Selig is a baseball lifer whose life revolves around the game. He started out his professional life as a car salesman in his Milwaukee home town, and graduated to ownership of the Milwaukee Brewers when they suddenly moved from Seattle in 1970.

The book is centered around two troubling times in Selig’s time as commissioner: the owners’ relationship with the players union and the influx of steroids into the game. He blames the players union for the disastrous 1994 strike, and blames President Clinton for reneging to back up the decision of a federally appointed arbitrator. (Selig even claims to have cursed out Vice-President Al Gore in one charged confrontation in the White House.)

He does accept some blame for the PED infestation into MLB, saying his office was slow to act, but also blames players union officials for dragging their heels as well.

Selig is proud of his accomplishments as commissioner: expanding the playoffs, baseball’s incredible growth as a business in the 21st century, and the institution of the luxury tax to help small market teams. But one thing under his watch that clearly bothers him is that Barry Bonds broke the home run record of his dear friend Hank Aaron. Selig goes into great detail early on in the book how going from city to city as Bonds approached the record was like the Bataan Death March to him.

I did find one glaring error in the book. As Brewers owner he says that he was approached by Red Sox GM Dick O’Connell at the 1976 Winter Meetings that O’Connell wanted George Scott back with the Red Sox because Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey personally liked Scott and wanted him to return and asked him to make a trade with Milwaukee. There’s just one problem with that. Yawkey died the previous July, so I don’t think he was around to ask O’Connell to make the deal. (The trade was made and the Sox gave up Cecil Cooper, not one of their better trades.)

Anyway, overall I recommend “For the Good of the Game.” It is Bud Selig’s story in his own words. Whether you liked him or not, it’s worth your time to read. Selig leaves a complicated legacy in baseball history, and he tried to straighten out the record. It’s up to you to decide whether he has or not.

We Turn Red On Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, August 6th at 8:30 PM, with "Red Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to the color red in history and pop culture. The Q Train lightning round is “Beer Brands Trivia.” I will give you the names of ten very well known brands of beer from around the world and you tell me from what country each one originated from. And every answer will be from a different country.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
“In the movies, John Rambo is a veteran of what war?”

Looking forward to seeing many of you on Tuesday night for another great night of Trivia!