Thursday, 30 June 2016
On Holiday!
I'm currently travelling through the wilds of Canada, so the blog will be on a hiatus for a bit. In the meantime, happy Canada Day! Why not celebrate by reading past entries in the blog? You can't have read all of them, right?
Thursday, 23 June 2016
Special Edition: MatchWords Week 2!
It's week 2 of the MatchWords special! If you missed last week's check it out here! This week's edition features 10 more matches where the home and away team abbreviations spell out a word. View the quiz as an image file here and as a PDF here. Your challenge is to identify each country, work out its three-letter abbreviation, and the resulting word. (Alternatively, you could work out the word and try and reverse-engineer the countries.) However you do it, you get 1 point per country (full name, not just its abbreviation) and 1 per word, giving a maximum possible score of 30. Answers are below the image, and as always there's a poll below to let everyone know how you did!
The answers
How did you do? Let the world know with the poll!
 |
| Click here for the full quiz! |
The answers
How did you do? Let the world know with the poll!
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Special Edition: Introducing MatchWords!
Inspired by Euro 2016, I was looking for fun quizzing gems hiding in international football (but don't worry, actual football knowledge isn't especially required). Many fans are familiar with the 'fun fact' that when Sweden host Denmark the scoreboard reads SWE vs. DEN, spelling out SWEDEN. This got me thinking about other international fixtures which, when you merge the teams' FIFA three-letter abbreviations, spell out words.
Depending on which dictionary you use, this leads to 70-80 fixtures where the home team's abbreviation followed by the away team's abbreviation spells out a word. Most of these are really weird things that no-one ever uses (Sweden vs. Venezuela leads to 'SWEVEN', which is apparently an archaic term for a vision or dream), but some are words I've actually heard of. I've decided to call these things 'MatchWords', and - obviously - have come up with a quiz based on them.
The quiz consists of 10 such matches with clues to the home team, away team, and the MatchWord itself. There's an example of one of the questions below, and for the full thing either click here for an image, or here for a downloadable PDF! Your challenge is to identify each country, work out its three-letter abbreviation, and the resulting word. (Alternatively, you could work out the word and try and reverse-engineer the countries.) However you do it, you get 1 point per country (full name, not just its abbreviation) and 1 per word, giving a maximum possible score of 30. Answers are below the image, and as always there's a poll below to let everyone know how you did!
The answers
How did you do? Let the world know with the poll! (And, if you enjoyed it, come back next week for 10 more new MatchWords!)
Depending on which dictionary you use, this leads to 70-80 fixtures where the home team's abbreviation followed by the away team's abbreviation spells out a word. Most of these are really weird things that no-one ever uses (Sweden vs. Venezuela leads to 'SWEVEN', which is apparently an archaic term for a vision or dream), but some are words I've actually heard of. I've decided to call these things 'MatchWords', and - obviously - have come up with a quiz based on them.
The quiz consists of 10 such matches with clues to the home team, away team, and the MatchWord itself. There's an example of one of the questions below, and for the full thing either click here for an image, or here for a downloadable PDF! Your challenge is to identify each country, work out its three-letter abbreviation, and the resulting word. (Alternatively, you could work out the word and try and reverse-engineer the countries.) However you do it, you get 1 point per country (full name, not just its abbreviation) and 1 per word, giving a maximum possible score of 30. Answers are below the image, and as always there's a poll below to let everyone know how you did!
 |
| Click here for the full quiz! |
The answers
How did you do? Let the world know with the poll! (And, if you enjoyed it, come back next week for 10 more new MatchWords!)
Thursday, 9 June 2016
There was an evil car in Knight Rider called Knight Automated Roving Robot (KARR - geddit?!)
Your targets this week:
We won this week, but could you do even better?
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The secret German
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
6) The other doctor
The ones that got away
1) In Knight Rider, what model of car is (the original) KITT?
2) Which Canadian singer-songwriter began an advice column in the Guardian earlier this year?
3) Which of these is not a real game developed as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise? a) Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games; b) Sister Sonic; c) Sonic's Casino Poker; d) Sonic's Delivery Service; e) Sonic's Schoolhouse
4) What emotion was singer songwriter Akon's first number 1 single as lead artist?
5) What emotion is a part of the mouth spelled backwards?
6) 2 point question: approximately how many US patents have been issued? Your answer will be the number 9 followed by a certain number of zeros.
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) The 'Pontiac Bandit' is a character played by Craig Robinson in which police sitcom? The title consists of a New York borough followed by two numbers.
2) In her first column, Morissette answered a reader who was feeling attracted to a man other than their husband. In doing so, she advised "Far better to let your spark be grist for your marriage’s mill, rather than a reason to end it." - broadly speaking, what is 'grist'?
3) What company, who created and owns the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, takes its name originally from an abbreviation of 'Service Games'?
4) Akon's 'Lonely' features an edited version of 50s crooner Bobby Vinton's 'Mr. Lonely'. A cover of what Tony Bennett song provided Vinton with his biggest hit? The title consists of a colour followed by a fabric.
5) Speaking of body parts that are anagrams of emotions, what body part is an anagram of 'elation'?
6) Pictured are images from US patents 6276176 and 4591071 A, belonging to Sara Blakely and Lonnie Johnson, respectively. For 1 point each, what brand names are each of these inventions associated with?
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
We won this week, but could you do even better?
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The secret German
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
6) The other doctor
The ones that got away
1) In Knight Rider, what model of car is (the original) KITT?
2) Which Canadian singer-songwriter began an advice column in the Guardian earlier this year?
3) Which of these is not a real game developed as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise? a) Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games; b) Sister Sonic; c) Sonic's Casino Poker; d) Sonic's Delivery Service; e) Sonic's Schoolhouse
4) What emotion was singer songwriter Akon's first number 1 single as lead artist?
5) What emotion is a part of the mouth spelled backwards?
6) 2 point question: approximately how many US patents have been issued? Your answer will be the number 9 followed by a certain number of zeros.
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) The 'Pontiac Bandit' is a character played by Craig Robinson in which police sitcom? The title consists of a New York borough followed by two numbers.
2) In her first column, Morissette answered a reader who was feeling attracted to a man other than their husband. In doing so, she advised "Far better to let your spark be grist for your marriage’s mill, rather than a reason to end it." - broadly speaking, what is 'grist'?
3) What company, who created and owns the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, takes its name originally from an abbreviation of 'Service Games'?
4) Akon's 'Lonely' features an edited version of 50s crooner Bobby Vinton's 'Mr. Lonely'. A cover of what Tony Bennett song provided Vinton with his biggest hit? The title consists of a colour followed by a fabric.
5) Speaking of body parts that are anagrams of emotions, what body part is an anagram of 'elation'?
6) Pictured are images from US patents 6276176 and 4591071 A, belonging to Sara Blakely and Lonnie Johnson, respectively. For 1 point each, what brand names are each of these inventions associated with?
 |
| Question 6 (click for a bigger version!) |
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 2 June 2016
Kraft Dinner (macaroni and cheese in a box) is very popular in Canada, where it's widely known as simply 'KD'
Exciting times! Occasional team-mate (and our regular quizmaster, no less) the left-fielder went to a quiz (without us, the cad), and offered to write a special guest Ones That got Away! You'll find their missed questions, excuses, and alternative questions below. I've even got to play along myself, so you have an extra target to beat. (You may also learn, given the difficulty of some of these for non-Canadians, why we only went to this quiz once...)
Your targets this week:
1+ out of 12: Well done, you beat us!
4+ out of 12: Well done, you beat the statistician!
6+ out of 12: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The left-fielder
2) The mac-and-cheese eater
The ones that got away
1) How many boroughs are there in Montreal?
2) For 1 point each, name the four divisions of the National Hockey League before they were renamed in 1993.
3) What sport divides play into "chukkas"?
4) Botts' dots are sometimes used to divide what?
5) For 1 point each, name the three people pictured: they discovered penicillin, were a supermodel, and the 20th century writer who wrote The Doors of Perception about mescaline trips respectively. Each name contains an X.
6) What is the capital of Ghana? Starts and ends with the letter A.
7) Where are the Montgomery glands located? Starts and ends with letter A.
The answers
The left-fielder's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more points)? Would you have beaten the statistician (3 or more points)? Would you have helped us win (6 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) Toronto famously (now) has six boroughs, which is why Canadian poet laureate Drake (lol) calls the city The 6ix. Three are Etobicoke, Scarborough, and Old Toronto. The other three are East/North/(unprefixed) What? Four letters.
2) When the NHL merged in the late 70s with the WHA, four teams entered the league. Of those four, one is still in its original location, while the other three have since relocated to Colorado, Carolina, and Arizona respectively. What are those four merger teams? 1 point each.
3) A question that sums up all of my knowledge of Polo pretty succinctly: who makes Polo Sport brand men's cologne?
4) Two of my favourite Dots growing up were Dot Warner and Dot Matrix. From what TV shows were these two characters? 1 point each.
5) The pictures on the right show two other people with an X in their name: The first, "the first computer-generated TV host", and the second, an animator and director. Who are they? 1 point each.
6) What is the only country that starts and ends with the letter A, whose capital ALSO starts and ends with the letter A?
7) What region (province, state, etc)'s capital is Montgomery? It also starts and ends with the letter A.
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Your targets this week:
1+ out of 12: Well done, you beat us!
4+ out of 12: Well done, you beat the statistician!
6+ out of 12: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The left-fielder
2) The mac-and-cheese eater
The ones that got away
1) How many boroughs are there in Montreal?
2) For 1 point each, name the four divisions of the National Hockey League before they were renamed in 1993.
3) What sport divides play into "chukkas"?
4) Botts' dots are sometimes used to divide what?
5) For 1 point each, name the three people pictured: they discovered penicillin, were a supermodel, and the 20th century writer who wrote The Doors of Perception about mescaline trips respectively. Each name contains an X.
6) What is the capital of Ghana? Starts and ends with the letter A.
7) Where are the Montgomery glands located? Starts and ends with letter A.
 |
| Question 5 |
The answers
The left-fielder's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more points)? Would you have beaten the statistician (3 or more points)? Would you have helped us win (6 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) Toronto famously (now) has six boroughs, which is why Canadian poet laureate Drake (lol) calls the city The 6ix. Three are Etobicoke, Scarborough, and Old Toronto. The other three are East/North/(unprefixed) What? Four letters.
2) When the NHL merged in the late 70s with the WHA, four teams entered the league. Of those four, one is still in its original location, while the other three have since relocated to Colorado, Carolina, and Arizona respectively. What are those four merger teams? 1 point each.
3) A question that sums up all of my knowledge of Polo pretty succinctly: who makes Polo Sport brand men's cologne?
4) Two of my favourite Dots growing up were Dot Warner and Dot Matrix. From what TV shows were these two characters? 1 point each.
5) The pictures on the right show two other people with an X in their name: The first, "the first computer-generated TV host", and the second, an animator and director. Who are they? 1 point each.
6) What is the only country that starts and ends with the letter A, whose capital ALSO starts and ends with the letter A?
7) What region (province, state, etc)'s capital is Montgomery? It also starts and ends with the letter A.
 |
| Question 5 |
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 26 May 2016
The NHL's Stanley Cup is not flat, but in fact, very tall
Your target this week:
1+ out of 7: Well done, you beat us and we'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The secret German
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
6) The sports guy
The ones that got away
1) What is the most spoken language in South America?
2) In 1993, which New York borough held a referendum on whether to secede from the city of New York?
3) Pictured is part of an Internet meme. In this context, what 3 words most typically follow 'here come dat boi!'?
4) In grams, how much does a bee hummingbird weigh? Your answer will be the number 2, followed by a number of zeros.
5) In May 1877, an 8.8 magnitude Earthquake occurred off the coast of which country? If you get the country you get 2 points. If you get one of its neighbours you get 1 point.
6) This question will require some explanation. On the night this was a '5 or 0' question: you either get 5 points or 0 points. Since you only need 1 point to help us win it'll be a 1 point question here. Name as many NHL players who have won the Hart Memorial Trophy in the 21st Century as you have members on your team. (So for most of you playing at home, this will probably be just 1.)
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us and helped us win (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) Only 4 countries with populations of over 10 million have Portugese as their official language. 2 of them are Brazil and (spoilers) Portugal. For 1 point each, name the other 2. As a hint, the two countries both border Zambia, which is the only neighbour they have in common.
2) Staten Island derives its name from what language?
3) Speaking of inexplicably viral frogs, Crazy Frog evolved from a 1997 recording of a 17-year-old Swede trying to impersonate what?
4) Speaking of Swedes (and hummingbirds), Måns Zelmerlöw sang the lyrics 'Go sing it like a hummingbird / The greatest anthem ever heard' in the process of winning what competition in May 2015?
5) In Greek mythology, which god was thought to cause earthquakes?
6) To most fans North America's major hockey league is known as the National Hockey League, or simply NHL. In French-speaking regions (most notably Quebec), the league is abbreviated to the same three letters, but in a different order - what order?
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
1+ out of 7: Well done, you beat us and we'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The secret German
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
6) The sports guy
The ones that got away
 |
| Question 3 |
2) In 1993, which New York borough held a referendum on whether to secede from the city of New York?
3) Pictured is part of an Internet meme. In this context, what 3 words most typically follow 'here come dat boi!'?
4) In grams, how much does a bee hummingbird weigh? Your answer will be the number 2, followed by a number of zeros.
5) In May 1877, an 8.8 magnitude Earthquake occurred off the coast of which country? If you get the country you get 2 points. If you get one of its neighbours you get 1 point.
6) This question will require some explanation. On the night this was a '5 or 0' question: you either get 5 points or 0 points. Since you only need 1 point to help us win it'll be a 1 point question here. Name as many NHL players who have won the Hart Memorial Trophy in the 21st Century as you have members on your team. (So for most of you playing at home, this will probably be just 1.)
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us and helped us win (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) Only 4 countries with populations of over 10 million have Portugese as their official language. 2 of them are Brazil and (spoilers) Portugal. For 1 point each, name the other 2. As a hint, the two countries both border Zambia, which is the only neighbour they have in common.
2) Staten Island derives its name from what language?
3) Speaking of inexplicably viral frogs, Crazy Frog evolved from a 1997 recording of a 17-year-old Swede trying to impersonate what?
4) Speaking of Swedes (and hummingbirds), Måns Zelmerlöw sang the lyrics 'Go sing it like a hummingbird / The greatest anthem ever heard' in the process of winning what competition in May 2015?
5) In Greek mythology, which god was thought to cause earthquakes?
6) To most fans North America's major hockey league is known as the National Hockey League, or simply NHL. In French-speaking regions (most notably Quebec), the league is abbreviated to the same three letters, but in a different order - what order?
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 19 May 2016
No post this week - ill :(
Sorry! On the plus side, we won the grand final of the six-month season at our regular quiz. (Admittedly this isn't particularly good news if all you care about is my quiz questions, but it won us a beer party so we're pretty pleased.)
Thursday, 12 May 2016
You can make 'diamond leggings' in Minecraft
Your targets this week:
1+ out of 6: Well done, you beat us!
3+ out of 6: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
The ones that got away
1) In beer, what does IBU stand for, or measure?
2) Arrange these from weakest to strongest: Bock, Doppelbock, Hellesbock, Eisbock.
3) Identify the company from one of its slogans: "A diamond is forever".
4) Identify the product from its slogan: "Do you eat the red ones last?"
5) Whose logo is pictured?
6) Whose logo is pictured?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Would you have helped us win (3 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) A solid red triangle was the first ever trademark registered in the UK. To which brand/brewery does it belong?
2) Let's keep this beer logo train going. What brand of beer - notable for its spawning of the "Most Interesting Man in the World" Internet meme - derives its Spanish name from a commemoration of the arrival of the 20th Century?
3) De Beers was founded by Cecil Rhodes, whose British South Africa company founded a territory that is now modern-day Zambia and which other country?
4) Purple Skittles are grape flavoured in most locations, but what flavour (from the shrub with taxonomical classification Ribes nigrum) are they in the UK?
5) The US TV network (and acronym) OWN is named after which TV star?
6) Letters from 4 logos have been expertly edited and used to make up the abbreviation OTGA. For 1 point, name all 4. Hint: the products are all of a similar type.
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
1+ out of 6: Well done, you beat us!
3+ out of 6: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
The ones that got away
1) In beer, what does IBU stand for, or measure?
2) Arrange these from weakest to strongest: Bock, Doppelbock, Hellesbock, Eisbock.
3) Identify the company from one of its slogans: "A diamond is forever".
4) Identify the product from its slogan: "Do you eat the red ones last?"
5) Whose logo is pictured?
6) Whose logo is pictured?
 |
| Questions 5 (left) and 6 (right) |
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Would you have helped us win (3 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) A solid red triangle was the first ever trademark registered in the UK. To which brand/brewery does it belong?
2) Let's keep this beer logo train going. What brand of beer - notable for its spawning of the "Most Interesting Man in the World" Internet meme - derives its Spanish name from a commemoration of the arrival of the 20th Century?
3) De Beers was founded by Cecil Rhodes, whose British South Africa company founded a territory that is now modern-day Zambia and which other country?
4) Purple Skittles are grape flavoured in most locations, but what flavour (from the shrub with taxonomical classification Ribes nigrum) are they in the UK?
5) The US TV network (and acronym) OWN is named after which TV star?
6) Letters from 4 logos have been expertly edited and used to make up the abbreviation OTGA. For 1 point, name all 4. Hint: the products are all of a similar type.
 |
| Question 7 |
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 5 May 2016
The Toronto Raptors' mascot is called The Raptor
Your targets this week:
1+ out of 7: Well done, you beat us!
3+ out of 7: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
The ones that got away
1) What is the only food which in a natural/unprocessed state does not spoil?
2) What does this symbol mean? Hint: it's on virtually every car, except maybe hire/rental cars.
3) Who said/wrote: "Art has no influence upon action. It annihilates the desire to act. It is superbly sterile. The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame."?
4) Who said/wrote: "I meant what I said and I said what I meant."?
5) Who said/wrote: "You had me at hello."?
6) Who said/wrote: "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."?
7) Who said/wrote: "It's difficult in times like these: ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. It's a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Would you have helped us win (3 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) What name is shared by the bee mascot of Honey Nut Cheerios and a character from a major animated movie franchise which began in 1995?
2) What phrase, which in an everyday sense can mean (via Webster's) "something very powerful, strong, or effective", derives from a measure of the performance of an engine or aviation fuel?
3) Wilde's downfall began with an accusation of sodomy by the father of Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas, one of his lovers. Lord Douglas' father, however, is arguably better known for lending his name to the (basis of the) rules of what sport?
4) Theodor Seuss Geisel began using various pen names (including 'Seuss') after he was banned from extracurricular activities while an undergraduate at Dartmouth. What activity resulted in this punishment? Now a (very) common activity for students, it was illegal at the time.
5) Tom Cruise's Jerry Maguire co-star, Cuba Gooding, Jr., has seen his career dwindle to mainly direct-to-DVD affairs. One exception was a 2009 television film (pictured) where he plays what (real-life) neurosurgeon and Presidential candidate?
6) Angelou's remarkably varied career included the role of Clara in a production of Porgy and Bess. This character performs the opening song of the musical, a lullaby to her baby, which has since become a jazz standard. What song?
7) Prior to becoming stateless in 1941, what was Anne Frank's nationality?
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
1+ out of 7: Well done, you beat us!
3+ out of 7: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
The ones that got away
 |
| Question 2 |
2) What does this symbol mean? Hint: it's on virtually every car, except maybe hire/rental cars.
3) Who said/wrote: "Art has no influence upon action. It annihilates the desire to act. It is superbly sterile. The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame."?
4) Who said/wrote: "I meant what I said and I said what I meant."?
5) Who said/wrote: "You had me at hello."?
6) Who said/wrote: "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."?
7) Who said/wrote: "It's difficult in times like these: ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. It's a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Would you have helped us win (3 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
 |
| Question 5 |
2) What phrase, which in an everyday sense can mean (via Webster's) "something very powerful, strong, or effective", derives from a measure of the performance of an engine or aviation fuel?
3) Wilde's downfall began with an accusation of sodomy by the father of Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas, one of his lovers. Lord Douglas' father, however, is arguably better known for lending his name to the (basis of the) rules of what sport?
4) Theodor Seuss Geisel began using various pen names (including 'Seuss') after he was banned from extracurricular activities while an undergraduate at Dartmouth. What activity resulted in this punishment? Now a (very) common activity for students, it was illegal at the time.
5) Tom Cruise's Jerry Maguire co-star, Cuba Gooding, Jr., has seen his career dwindle to mainly direct-to-DVD affairs. One exception was a 2009 television film (pictured) where he plays what (real-life) neurosurgeon and Presidential candidate?
6) Angelou's remarkably varied career included the role of Clara in a production of Porgy and Bess. This character performs the opening song of the musical, a lullaby to her baby, which has since become a jazz standard. What song?
7) Prior to becoming stateless in 1941, what was Anne Frank's nationality?
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 28 April 2016
No quiz this week
Sorry - it's the doctor's 30th birthday today, so regular quizzing plans are somewhat out the window!
Thursday, 21 April 2016
Seth Rogen worked on Da Ali G Show
Your targets this week:
We won this week, but could you have done even better?
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The meteorologist
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
The ones that got away
1) What is the collective name for hip hop artists Slim Jimmi and Swae Lee?
2) Which of these was not a real 19th Century US political party: a) Anti-Masonic Party; b) Anti-Nebraska Party; c) Free Soil Party; d) Greenback Party; e) No More Railroads Party
3) Which Hanna-Barbera character's distinctive voice was inspired by Art Carney's character on The Honeymooners?
4) What was the first PG-13 rated animated feature, released in 1982? Hint: the title contains the name of a popular pet animal. (N.B. PG-13 indicates some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.) (Hint: it's not Fritz the Cat, which was an answer to a related question we got correct.)
5) What upcoming animated film will feature Seth Rogen, James Franko and Jonah Hill playing talking food?
6) Lady Amalthea is a main character in what fantasy novel (later adapted to film and TV)?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) As I'm sure we all know, Rae Sremmurd comes from the duo's home label - EarDrummers - spelled backwards (a process known as backslang). What 3-letter word, British slang for a loutish, uncultured person, was derived in a similar manner?
2) The last time the US Presidency changed from one President to another without changing party was when Republican George H W Bush took over from Republican Ronald Reagan. Who took over the last time this happened for the Democrats?
3) Baseball star Yogi Berra was renowned for his 'Yogi-isms': often (seemingly unintentional) witticisms. Examples include "When you come to a fork in the road, take it" and "I really didn't say everything I said", but what French phrase completes this other classic: "It's _____ all over again"?
4) The Motion Picture Association of America's highest film rating is 'NC-17' - what did the letters 'NC' originally stand for in this rating?
5) Talking food reminded me of the BBC children's show The Herbs which, I have now learned, was written by Michael Bond (of Paddington Bear fame). While Parsley the Lion is arguably the most famous character, the wise owl character was given what rather appropriate herb name?
6) The My Little Pony franchise features three main 'types' of pony. Unicorn Ponies (who wield magic) and Earth Ponies (who are just a bit boring) are two, but what mythical creature's name is used for the third (pictured)?
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
We won this week, but could you have done even better?
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The meteorologist
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
The ones that got away
1) What is the collective name for hip hop artists Slim Jimmi and Swae Lee?
2) Which of these was not a real 19th Century US political party: a) Anti-Masonic Party; b) Anti-Nebraska Party; c) Free Soil Party; d) Greenback Party; e) No More Railroads Party
3) Which Hanna-Barbera character's distinctive voice was inspired by Art Carney's character on The Honeymooners?
4) What was the first PG-13 rated animated feature, released in 1982? Hint: the title contains the name of a popular pet animal. (N.B. PG-13 indicates some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.) (Hint: it's not Fritz the Cat, which was an answer to a related question we got correct.)
5) What upcoming animated film will feature Seth Rogen, James Franko and Jonah Hill playing talking food?
6) Lady Amalthea is a main character in what fantasy novel (later adapted to film and TV)?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
 |
| Question 6 |
2) The last time the US Presidency changed from one President to another without changing party was when Republican George H W Bush took over from Republican Ronald Reagan. Who took over the last time this happened for the Democrats?
3) Baseball star Yogi Berra was renowned for his 'Yogi-isms': often (seemingly unintentional) witticisms. Examples include "When you come to a fork in the road, take it" and "I really didn't say everything I said", but what French phrase completes this other classic: "It's _____ all over again"?
4) The Motion Picture Association of America's highest film rating is 'NC-17' - what did the letters 'NC' originally stand for in this rating?
5) Talking food reminded me of the BBC children's show The Herbs which, I have now learned, was written by Michael Bond (of Paddington Bear fame). While Parsley the Lion is arguably the most famous character, the wise owl character was given what rather appropriate herb name?
6) The My Little Pony franchise features three main 'types' of pony. Unicorn Ponies (who wield magic) and Earth Ponies (who are just a bit boring) are two, but what mythical creature's name is used for the third (pictured)?
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 14 April 2016
Mickey Mouse was the first fictional character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Your targets this week:
We won this week, but could you have done even better?
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The secret German
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
The ones that got away
1) His final film attempt, Bruce Lee died during the making of what 1972 martial arts film? (To clarify: this question concerns a film directed, written, and produced by Lee, in contrast to Enter the Dragon in which he makes his last appearance.)
2) Which of these is not a real Donald Trump business venture? a) Donald Trump's Real Estate Tycoon (a video game); b) Trump Ice Cream Parlour; c) GoTrump search engine; d) Trump Up Gas Station; e) Trump Vodka
3) In the movie 8 Mile, Eminem's character has the nickname B-Rabbit. What is the nickname of his rapping chum played by Mekhi Phifer?
4) The movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit is based on a book from a series about the character. Which of the following is not a real book from that series? a) Who Censored Roger Rabbit?; b) Who P-P-P-Plugged Roger Rabbit?; c) Who Wacked Roger Rabbit?; d) Who Remembers Roger Rabbit?
5) 2 Point Question: Name the 2 Stanley Kubrick movies with one-word (or one-name) titles. You need both for the 2 points (no partial credit).
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) Master Shifu (pictured), from the Kung Fu Panda franchise, is supposedly what type of animal?
2) A number of fictional characters have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Donald Trump also has one but, alas, is ostensibly non-fictional). Of these, which 2 - one a fairy, the other a bear - were created by British authors? 1 point for each!
3) The name 'D12' - an American hip hop group of which Emimen is a member - is an abbreviation/initialism of what phrase?
4) A bit of a quizzing chestnut: what item of clothing does Bugs Bunny (almost) always wear?
5) Required trivia knowledge is that the characters in A Clockwork Orange use a fictional 'language' called nadsat. In this setting, to what does 'polyclef' refer? Hint: a burglar might find such an item very useful!
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
We won this week, but could you have done even better?
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The secret German
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
The ones that got away
1) His final film attempt, Bruce Lee died during the making of what 1972 martial arts film? (To clarify: this question concerns a film directed, written, and produced by Lee, in contrast to Enter the Dragon in which he makes his last appearance.)
2) Which of these is not a real Donald Trump business venture? a) Donald Trump's Real Estate Tycoon (a video game); b) Trump Ice Cream Parlour; c) GoTrump search engine; d) Trump Up Gas Station; e) Trump Vodka
3) In the movie 8 Mile, Eminem's character has the nickname B-Rabbit. What is the nickname of his rapping chum played by Mekhi Phifer?
4) The movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit is based on a book from a series about the character. Which of the following is not a real book from that series? a) Who Censored Roger Rabbit?; b) Who P-P-P-Plugged Roger Rabbit?; c) Who Wacked Roger Rabbit?; d) Who Remembers Roger Rabbit?
5) 2 Point Question: Name the 2 Stanley Kubrick movies with one-word (or one-name) titles. You need both for the 2 points (no partial credit).
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
 |
| Question 1 |
2) A number of fictional characters have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Donald Trump also has one but, alas, is ostensibly non-fictional). Of these, which 2 - one a fairy, the other a bear - were created by British authors? 1 point for each!
3) The name 'D12' - an American hip hop group of which Emimen is a member - is an abbreviation/initialism of what phrase?
4) A bit of a quizzing chestnut: what item of clothing does Bugs Bunny (almost) always wear?
5) Required trivia knowledge is that the characters in A Clockwork Orange use a fictional 'language' called nadsat. In this setting, to what does 'polyclef' refer? Hint: a burglar might find such an item very useful!
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 7 April 2016
The first retired Atlantic hurricane name was Carol
Your targets this week:
1+ out of 6: Well done, you beat us!
2+ out of 6: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
The ones that got away
1) What scale is used for rating tornado intensity?
2) At (approximately) what wind speed does a storm change from being classified as a storm to a hurricane? 43mph, 62mph, 74mph or 89mph?
3) Which country is home to the city which holds the record for most snowfall in a 24-hour period? Canada, USA, Italy or Japan?
4) If it's called a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, a typhoon in the Pacific Ocean, what is it called in the Indian Ocean?
5) Which was the first country to withdraw from the Kyoto protocol?
6) On the diagram, if the red is a warm front, and the blue is a cold front, what is the purple?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Would you have helped us win (2 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) The Fujita scale categorizes six types of 'damage'. Put these six damage classifications into increasing order of damage: Devastating, Incredible, Light, Moderate, Severe, Significant. [Note that sometimes 'considerable' is used instead of 'significant'.]
2) The USA's National Hurricane Center gives hurricances 'human' names based on an alphabetical list. 21 letters are used: Q, X, Y and Z are excluded, along with which other? (Hint: it scores 1 point in Scrabble.)
3) X is the new Y' is an example of a type of phrasal template where X and Y can be replaced by different words. This is described by what neologism? Hint: you can get the word by changing the 'g' and 'b' in 'snowglobe' to new letters.
4) Where can you find an anticyclonic storm that has lasted for (at least) 186 years?
5) Along with Canada, three other UN member states are not party to the Protocol: the USA, Andorra, and which African country? Hint: the Protocol entered infto force in 2005.
6) Occlusion therapy - where an eye patch is placed over a stronger eye to force use of the weaker one - is a common treatment for what eye condition? Hint: it is often caused by a strabismus (or squint), and has a more colloquial name which some consider inappropriate, but either that or the medical term will be accepted.
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
1+ out of 6: Well done, you beat us!
2+ out of 6: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
The ones that got away
 |
| Question 6 |
2) At (approximately) what wind speed does a storm change from being classified as a storm to a hurricane? 43mph, 62mph, 74mph or 89mph?
3) Which country is home to the city which holds the record for most snowfall in a 24-hour period? Canada, USA, Italy or Japan?
4) If it's called a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, a typhoon in the Pacific Ocean, what is it called in the Indian Ocean?
5) Which was the first country to withdraw from the Kyoto protocol?
6) On the diagram, if the red is a warm front, and the blue is a cold front, what is the purple?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Would you have helped us win (2 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) The Fujita scale categorizes six types of 'damage'. Put these six damage classifications into increasing order of damage: Devastating, Incredible, Light, Moderate, Severe, Significant. [Note that sometimes 'considerable' is used instead of 'significant'.]
2) The USA's National Hurricane Center gives hurricances 'human' names based on an alphabetical list. 21 letters are used: Q, X, Y and Z are excluded, along with which other? (Hint: it scores 1 point in Scrabble.)
3) X is the new Y' is an example of a type of phrasal template where X and Y can be replaced by different words. This is described by what neologism? Hint: you can get the word by changing the 'g' and 'b' in 'snowglobe' to new letters.
4) Where can you find an anticyclonic storm that has lasted for (at least) 186 years?
5) Along with Canada, three other UN member states are not party to the Protocol: the USA, Andorra, and which African country? Hint: the Protocol entered infto force in 2005.
6) Occlusion therapy - where an eye patch is placed over a stronger eye to force use of the weaker one - is a common treatment for what eye condition? Hint: it is often caused by a strabismus (or squint), and has a more colloquial name which some consider inappropriate, but either that or the medical term will be accepted.
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 24 March 2016
The German 'Wiener' sausage (named after Vienna) is called a Frankfurter in Vienna
Your targets this week:
1+ out of 10: Well done, you beat us!
6+ out of 10: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The left-fielder
4) The mac-and-cheese-eater
The ones that got away
1) 5 point question: the word 'laconic' derives from the name of what ancient Greek city state?
2) 2 point question: in English what is the only number spelled alphabetically?
3) 'Devilfish' is an alternative (and rather obsolete) name for what mollusc?
4) How many are in a 'devil's dozen'?
5) In a standard deck of playing cards, the four of what suit is sometimes referred to as the 'devil's bedposts'?
The answers
My excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Would you have helped us win (6 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) The Hungarian village of Kocs gives rise to what English word for a particular type of multi-person vehicle?
2) Along with forty being in alphabetical order, there are two other somewhat essential bits of trivia relating to numbers and alphabets. For 1 point each, what number comes first alphabetically, and what number comes last alphabetically? (In English, before you get smart.)
3) Octorok is a recurring enemy in what series of video games? The series has sold over 70 million copies worldwide, and even inspired the name of Robin Williams' daughter.
4) What is a baker's dozen baker's dozens minus a gross minus a score?
5) Tempted by a hotel's advertised 'four-poster' beds, you book a night. It turns out that the 'four-poster' refers to four posters above the bed depicting previous famous guests. For 1 point each, name the famous people being clued to. For a fifth point, whose poster was removed from the wall around a year ago? Don't forget: you can click for a bigger version!
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
1+ out of 10: Well done, you beat us!
6+ out of 10: We'd have won with you on our team!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The left-fielder
4) The mac-and-cheese-eater
The ones that got away
1) 5 point question: the word 'laconic' derives from the name of what ancient Greek city state?
2) 2 point question: in English what is the only number spelled alphabetically?
3) 'Devilfish' is an alternative (and rather obsolete) name for what mollusc?
4) How many are in a 'devil's dozen'?
5) In a standard deck of playing cards, the four of what suit is sometimes referred to as the 'devil's bedposts'?
The answers
My excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Would you have helped us win (6 or more points)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) The Hungarian village of Kocs gives rise to what English word for a particular type of multi-person vehicle?
2) Along with forty being in alphabetical order, there are two other somewhat essential bits of trivia relating to numbers and alphabets. For 1 point each, what number comes first alphabetically, and what number comes last alphabetically? (In English, before you get smart.)
3) Octorok is a recurring enemy in what series of video games? The series has sold over 70 million copies worldwide, and even inspired the name of Robin Williams' daughter.
4) What is a baker's dozen baker's dozens minus a gross minus a score?
5) Tempted by a hotel's advertised 'four-poster' beds, you book a night. It turns out that the 'four-poster' refers to four posters above the bed depicting previous famous guests. For 1 point each, name the famous people being clued to. For a fifth point, whose poster was removed from the wall around a year ago? Don't forget: you can click for a bigger version!
 |
| Question 5! |
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Friday, 18 March 2016
'Pig in a poke' comes from a con involving selling a cat in a bag
We won this week! But you could have done even better?
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The rich-person otherkin
4) The metallurgist
The ones that got away
1) Which US state is known as the 'Mountain State'? Hint: it's not in the Rockies.
2) In the Rihanna song 'Work', how many times is the word 'work' said? If you're within 10% of the answer you get the point.
3) If you invested $1,000 in Apple stock when it first went public, how much would it be worth today? The answer starts with 25 followed by some number of zeros.
4) Identify the fake Friends episode title: a) The one with the chat room; b) The one with the East German laundry detergent; c) The one with the mix tape; d) The one with free porn; e) The one with the race car bed
5) The character Harry Mudd is a con artist in which TV series?
6) The character Templteon Peck is a con artist in which TV series?
7) 2 point question: the arena that plays host to the NHL'S Ottawa Senators formerly shared a name with what chemical element?
The answers
My excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
My alternative questions
1) If you take the two-word state nickname of Missouri and repeat it, you get the four-word name of what CBeebies show? On air since 2009, it's hosted by Chris Jarvis and Pui Fan Lee (the latter being best known for playing Po in Teletubbies).
2) The only thing I know about Rihanna is that she's from Barbados, so on that note: the flag of Barbados features the head of a trident, symbolically 'broken' from one held by whom on its previous colonial flag?
3) According to its designer, the Apple logo has a 'bite' taken out of it to show scale, so it would not be confused with what other fruit?
4) No-one really uses chat rooms any more, but what popular instant messaging service takes its name ultimately from the Greek for 'to write at a distance'?
5) Harry Mudd's middle name is, as I'm sure you know, Fenton - a name shared with what type of animal in a 2011 viral Internet video?
6) After explaining how to carry out the Three-card Monte scam on a BBC show, John Lenahan became the first person in 85 years to be expelled from what organization?
7) The only 3-letter element, tin, can be spelled using the symbols for titanium (Ti) and nitrogen (N). Only 2 four-letter chemical elements can be spelled using the symbols of chemical elements. For one point each: which two?
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The rich-person otherkin
4) The metallurgist
The ones that got away
1) Which US state is known as the 'Mountain State'? Hint: it's not in the Rockies.
2) In the Rihanna song 'Work', how many times is the word 'work' said? If you're within 10% of the answer you get the point.
3) If you invested $1,000 in Apple stock when it first went public, how much would it be worth today? The answer starts with 25 followed by some number of zeros.
4) Identify the fake Friends episode title: a) The one with the chat room; b) The one with the East German laundry detergent; c) The one with the mix tape; d) The one with free porn; e) The one with the race car bed
5) The character Harry Mudd is a con artist in which TV series?
6) The character Templteon Peck is a con artist in which TV series?
7) 2 point question: the arena that plays host to the NHL'S Ottawa Senators formerly shared a name with what chemical element?
The answers
My excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
My alternative questions
 |
| Question 3 |
2) The only thing I know about Rihanna is that she's from Barbados, so on that note: the flag of Barbados features the head of a trident, symbolically 'broken' from one held by whom on its previous colonial flag?
3) According to its designer, the Apple logo has a 'bite' taken out of it to show scale, so it would not be confused with what other fruit?
4) No-one really uses chat rooms any more, but what popular instant messaging service takes its name ultimately from the Greek for 'to write at a distance'?
5) Harry Mudd's middle name is, as I'm sure you know, Fenton - a name shared with what type of animal in a 2011 viral Internet video?
6) After explaining how to carry out the Three-card Monte scam on a BBC show, John Lenahan became the first person in 85 years to be expelled from what organization?
7) The only 3-letter element, tin, can be spelled using the symbols for titanium (Ti) and nitrogen (N). Only 2 four-letter chemical elements can be spelled using the symbols of chemical elements. For one point each: which two?
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 10 March 2016
The earliest version of the Jabberwocky appeared in a periodical called Mischmasch written by Lewis Carroll for his family's amusement
We're back! :D
Your targets this week:
1+ out of 9: Well done, you beat us and we'd have won with you!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
The ones that got away
1) What Japanese car brand existed from 1932 to 1983?
2) What was the currency of Greece before the Euro?
3) What is the name of Don Quixote's imaginary love?
4) According to ancient Greek myth, what is the name of the giant with 100 eyes?
5) What Sylvia Plath poem begins "You do not do, you do not do, any more, black shoe"?
6) Part of a traditional English breakfast, kippers are made from what type of fish?
7) Within 10%, what is the distance between Montreal (Canada) and Boston (USA) in kilometres?
8) Who plays the main character in the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley?
9) Who plays the main character in the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us and helped us win (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
1) Datsun grew out of an automobile named DAT - an acronym of the surnames of three company partners. TASER is another acronym, albeit one that has nothing to do with lasers. It stands for Thomas A. Swift's Electric...what?
2) Pictured is one side of the 1-euro coin of which country?
3) What type of photography is depicted here? It is characterized by simulating a miniature, or toy-like, scene. (Hint: don't forget this somehow relates to Don Quixote.)
4) The giant Argus held the epithet "panoptes" or "all seeing". Which utilitarian philosopher (born 1748) designed the (ahead of its time) "panopticon" prison where all inmates could be monitored at all times.
5) On University Challenge, the doctor once mistook Sylvia Plath for British Poet Laureate Carol-Ann Duffy. Sylvia Plath was married to which (other) British Poet Laureate?
6) Which British comedy featured a character played by Chris Barrie who was an alter-ego of another character played by Chris Barrie, and whose catchphrase was 'smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast'?
7) Typically sweetened with molasses or maple syrup, and flavoured with salt pork or bacon, 'Boston' lends its name to a variety of what common (and more typically British) foodstuff?
8) Which movie series stars a character named Ellen Ripley?
9) The most of any of his directed films, two of Martin Scorsese's other movies received 11 Oscar nominations. One is from 2004, one is from 2011. Name either.
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Your targets this week:
1+ out of 9: Well done, you beat us and we'd have won with you!
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
The ones that got away
1) What Japanese car brand existed from 1932 to 1983?
2) What was the currency of Greece before the Euro?
3) What is the name of Don Quixote's imaginary love?
4) According to ancient Greek myth, what is the name of the giant with 100 eyes?
5) What Sylvia Plath poem begins "You do not do, you do not do, any more, black shoe"?
6) Part of a traditional English breakfast, kippers are made from what type of fish?
7) Within 10%, what is the distance between Montreal (Canada) and Boston (USA) in kilometres?
8) Who plays the main character in the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley?
9) Who plays the main character in the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us and helped us win (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
Our alternative questions
 |
| Question 2 |
2) Pictured is one side of the 1-euro coin of which country?
3) What type of photography is depicted here? It is characterized by simulating a miniature, or toy-like, scene. (Hint: don't forget this somehow relates to Don Quixote.)
4) The giant Argus held the epithet "panoptes" or "all seeing". Which utilitarian philosopher (born 1748) designed the (ahead of its time) "panopticon" prison where all inmates could be monitored at all times.
 |
| Question 3 |
6) Which British comedy featured a character played by Chris Barrie who was an alter-ego of another character played by Chris Barrie, and whose catchphrase was 'smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast'?
7) Typically sweetened with molasses or maple syrup, and flavoured with salt pork or bacon, 'Boston' lends its name to a variety of what common (and more typically British) foodstuff?
8) Which movie series stars a character named Ellen Ripley?
9) The most of any of his directed films, two of Martin Scorsese's other movies received 11 Oscar nominations. One is from 2004, one is from 2011. Name either.
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Thursday, 11 February 2016
Pulitzer Prizes are awarded in 21 categories
Your targets this week:
We won this week, but can you do even better?
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The secret German
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
The ones that got away
1) What is the only movie to be based on a novel by Stephen King and to star Christopher Walken?
2) The term sesquibicentennial represents how many years?
3) What are the first names of the two main characters in the Neil Simon play The Odd Couple? You need both for the point.
4) Pro-wrestler Daniel Bryan, whose catchphrase is 'No! No! No!', once teamed up with another wrestler called Kane, who is the Undertaker's demon brother. What was the name of this tag team?
5) In what movie can you see a counter-terrorism agent played by Jean-Claude Van Damme team up with a weapons dealer played by Dennis Rodman?
6) 2 point question: Starting with a 1, add 0s until you have the (approximate) number of times the International Space Station has orbited the Earth.
7) Who wrote the (Pulitzer Prize-winning) novel All the King's Men?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
My alternative questions
1) Essential' trivia time: what two words follow "Rita Hayworth and" to complete a Stephen King novella. It was later adapted for a film that, despite regular citations as 'one of the greatest movies of all time', failed to win a single Academy Award.
2) Originally intended to be a 2 euro coin before the French blocked the plans, the Belgian commemorative 2.5 euro coin commemorates what event of 1815?
3) For 1 point each, give the first name of any former member of pop group Girls Aloud, and the surname of any member of Russian composer group The Mighty Handful. (Then imagine what beautiful music they'd make together.)
4) The story of Cain and Abel is a major theme in what 1952 John Steinbeck novel?
5) Pictured is the poster from one of the greatest Jean-Claude Van Damme movies of all time. What video game series is it based on?
6) Pictured is a space version of something almost all of us use every day. What?
7) Humpty Dumpty is sometimes used to illustrate the second law of thermodynamics, which describes what 7-letter process? (Extra hint: it starts with 'e'.)
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
We won this week, but can you do even better?
The attendees
1) The statistician
2) The doctor
3) The secret German
4) The metallurgist
5) The rich-person otherkin
The ones that got away
1) What is the only movie to be based on a novel by Stephen King and to star Christopher Walken?
2) The term sesquibicentennial represents how many years?
3) What are the first names of the two main characters in the Neil Simon play The Odd Couple? You need both for the point.
4) Pro-wrestler Daniel Bryan, whose catchphrase is 'No! No! No!', once teamed up with another wrestler called Kane, who is the Undertaker's demon brother. What was the name of this tag team?
5) In what movie can you see a counter-terrorism agent played by Jean-Claude Van Damme team up with a weapons dealer played by Dennis Rodman?
6) 2 point question: Starting with a 1, add 0s until you have the (approximate) number of times the International Space Station has orbited the Earth.
7) Who wrote the (Pulitzer Prize-winning) novel All the King's Men?
The answers
The doctor's excuses
How did you do? Would you have beaten us (1 or more point)? Let the world know with the poll below, then read on for my alternative questions (loosely) inspired by this week's Ones That Got Away!
My alternative questions
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| Question 5 |
2) Originally intended to be a 2 euro coin before the French blocked the plans, the Belgian commemorative 2.5 euro coin commemorates what event of 1815?
3) For 1 point each, give the first name of any former member of pop group Girls Aloud, and the surname of any member of Russian composer group The Mighty Handful. (Then imagine what beautiful music they'd make together.)
4) The story of Cain and Abel is a major theme in what 1952 John Steinbeck novel?
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| Question 6 |
6) Pictured is a space version of something almost all of us use every day. What?
7) Humpty Dumpty is sometimes used to illustrate the second law of thermodynamics, which describes what 7-letter process? (Extra hint: it starts with 'e'.)
The answers
How did you do on my alternative questions? Have another poll!
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