Answers to Tuesday, January 17, 2023
1. “Top Gun: Maverick” might get nominated for a “Best Picture” Oscar. “Maverick” is the name of the steepest roller coaster at what amusement park—which is home to the fourth most roller coasters in the world, and is located on the shores of Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio?
Cedar Point
2. There are only two countries in the Americas that border each other and begin with the same letter. Name those two countries.
Brazil, Bolivia
3. What infamous “White House Plumber,” who’s most famous for going to prison following the Watergate Scandal, led a drug raid on Timothy Leary’s New York Mansion in 1966, and later went on a campus tour with Leary in the 1980s?
G. Gordon Liddy
4. The Olympians drank nectar. What did they eat?
Ambrosia
5. William Sydney Porter wrote many of his most famous short stories while serving a prison sentence for embezzlement. He is better known by what pen name?
O. Henry
Questions for
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email.
1. According to Islamic tradition, the prophet Muhammad was born in 570 in what Arabian city?
2. "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." So begins what 19th-century Russian novel?
3. What is the largest national park in the lower 48 states that is located entirely within one state?
4. What beverage was invented in 1969 by two employees of the Mott’s juice company who wanted to recreate the flavor of Manhattan clam chowder broth?
5. Ancient Romans used small pebbles on a table to count things. The name for these pebbles later became the name of an entire mathematical field. What did the Romans call one of their counting stones?
1 - Mecca
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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3. Yellowstone?
5: Calculi
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
3. Everglades is my guess. It’s big.
2. Anna Karenina
Keep your stick on the ice...
My interest was piqued, too.
Was surprised I wasn't able to guess get the correct park - and I haven't seen it mentioned yet - since my wife and I visited this park a couple years ago.
EDIT - Nevermind, I didn't realize Death Valley spilled over into Nevada.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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4. Clamato?
What have I got? I got no snacks and I got no respect.
Travis-age 6
Answers to Wednesday, January 18, 2023
1. According to Islamic tradition, the prophet Muhammad was born in 570 in what Arabian city?
Mecca
2. "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." So begins what 19th-century Russian novel?
“Anna Karenina” (by Leo Tolstoy)
3. What is the largest national park in the lower 48 states that is located entirely within one state?
Everglades
4. What beverage was invented in 1969 by two employees of the Mott’s juice company who wanted to recreate the flavor of Manhattan clam chowder broth?
Clamato
5. Ancient Romans used small pebbles on a table to count things. The name for these pebbles later became the name of an entire mathematical field. What did the Romans call one of their counting stones?
A calculus
Questions for
Theme Thursday, January 19, 2023
Names Ruined By Songs: Five questions about first names that have been ruined by popular songs. I’ll tell you why someone with this first name would be annoyed by the song… you write down the first name. For example: If I said, “The lead singer of Rilo Kiley is sick of you asking her if her phone number is 867-5309. What’s her name?” you would answer “Jenny,” because Jenny Lewis fronts that band, and the song “867-5309” is about a woman named Jenny.
Answers in tomorrow’s email.
1. The founder of Fair Fight Action would like you to focus on her fight against voter suppression, and not on the attractiveness of her mother. What’s her first name?
2. Grace Kelly's daughter has no interest in reaching out, or touching me, or touching you. What’s her name?
3. Samson’s special lady friend would very much prefer it if you said “hello” instead of “hey there.” What’s her name?
4. The CIA agent outed by Scooter Libby really has enough problems without being asked to come on over, just because you’re painting a picture of her life in your head. What’s her name?
5. The civil rights leader who founded the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984 would very much like you to stop pining after his girlfriend, thanks. What's his name?
3) Delilah
Keep your stick on the ice...
2. Must be Caroline
5. Jesse
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
1) Took me a minute... Stacey
Keep your stick on the ice...
4: Valerie
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
Answers to Thursday, January 19, 2023
1. The founder of Fair Fight Action would like you to focus on her fight against voter suppression, and not on the attractiveness of her mother. What’s her first name?
Stacey
(Abrams/“Stacy's Mom” by Fountains of Wayne)
2. Grace Kelly's daughter has no interest in reaching out, or touching me, or touching you. What’s her name?
Caroline
(Princess Caroline of Monaco/“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond)
3. Samson’s special lady friend would very much prefer it if you said “hello” instead of “hey there.” What’s her name?
Delilah
(“Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s)
4. The CIA agent outed by Scooter Libby really has enough problems without being asked to come on over, just because you’re painting a picture of her life in your head. What’s her name?
Valerie
(Plame/“Valerie” by Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse)
5. The civil rights leader who founded the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984 would very much like you to stop pining after his girlfriend, thanks. What's his name?
Jesse
(Jackson/“Jessie's Girl” by Rick Springfield)
Questions for
Friday, January 20, 2023
Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in Monday’s email.
1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are four U.S. state capitals located along the Missouri River. Name as many of them as you can for one point each.
2. What nine-letter biology term is defined as “having become functionless in the course of evolution”—in other words, anatomical leftovers?
3. Most famous for his song “Misirlou,” which was used in the opening credits of “Pulp Fiction,” Dick Dale is the undisputed “King” of what guitar style?
4. Invented in Iran in the sixth century BCE, what sport is played on the largest field in modern team sports—a field roughly equivalent to nine American football fields? Note: We’re not counting a golf course as a “field.”
5. Today is January 20. Actors Rainn Wilson and Stacey Dash were both born on this day in the late 1960s, one year apart. Who is older?
3. Surf
2: Vestigial
4: Polo
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
1. Pierre, SD; Jefferson City, MO, ??
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
1. Helena, MT. Bismarck, ND. Pierre, SD. Jefferson City, MO.
4. Polo
What have I got? I got no snacks and I got no respect.
Travis-age 6
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Answers to Friday, January 20, 2023
1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are four U.S. state capitals located along the Missouri River. Name as many of them as you can for one point each.
Helena, MT; Bismarck, ND; Pierre, SD; Jefferson City, MO
2. What nine-letter biology term is defined as “having become functionless in the course of evolution”—in other words, anatomical leftovers?
Vestigial
3. Most famous for his song “Misirlou,” which was used in the opening credits of “Pulp Fiction,” Dick Dale is the undisputed “King” of what guitar style?
Surf guitar
4. Invented in Iran in the sixth century BCE, what sport is played on the largest field in modern team sports—a field roughly equivalent to nine American football fields? Note: We’re not counting a golf course as a “field.”
Polo
5. Today is January 20. Actors Rainn Wilson and Stacey Dash were both born on this day in the late 1960s, one year apart. Who is older?
Rainn Wilson (born in '66, vs Dash in '67)
Questions for
Monday, January 23, 2023
Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email.
1. What word—which either comes from the German for “clever” or the Scottish for “toilet”—has come to mean an inelegant or hasty solution to a problem, particularly in technology and coding?
2. What 2002 Adam Sandler comedy, about a man who unexpectedly inherits his uncle's company, is actually a remake of a 1936 Frank Capra film, which was in turn based on a short story called “Opera Hat”?
3. The largest city in the Mojave Desert gets its name, ironically, from a phrase meaning “the meadows.” What is that city?
4. A butterfly, like all insects, has six jointed legs and three body parts: the head, the thorax and the abdomen. How many wings does it have?
5. Peyton Manning currently holds the NFL record for most touchdowns thrown in a single season. What quarterback owned that record until 2004, which he set in 1984?
3 - Las Vegas
5 - Dan Marino
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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1: Kludge
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
2) Mr. Deeds
Keep your stick on the ice...
4. 4
Answers to Monday, January 23, 2023
1. What word—which either comes from the German for “clever” or the Scottish for “toilet”—has come to mean an inelegant or hasty solution to a problem, particularly in technology and coding?
Kluge (or kludge)
2. What 2002 Adam Sandler comedy, about a man who unexpectedly inherits his uncle's company, is actually a remake of a 1936 Frank Capra film, which was in turn based on a short story called “Opera Hat”?
"Mr. Deeds"
3. The largest city in the Mojave Desert gets its name, ironically, from a phrase meaning “the meadows.” What is that city?
Las Vegas
4. A butterfly, like all insects, has six jointed legs and three body parts: the head, the thorax and the abdomen. How many wings does it have?
Four
5. Peyton Manning currently holds the NFL record for most touchdowns thrown in a single season. What Miami Dolphins quarterback owned that record until 2004, which he set in 1984?
Dan Marino
Questions for
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email.
1. What six-letter word—defined as the edible endosperm, germ, and/or bran of a cultivated grass—derives from the name of the Roman goddess of the harvest?
2. Which is the only U.S. state with an extinct animal on its state flag? Hint: It’s also the state’s official state mammal.
3. 1992's "Breathless" is the best-selling instrumental album ever. It was recorded by the first instrumentalist to have seven back-to-back multi-platinum albums. Name that musician!
4. What British novelist—best known today for his children’s books—was born in 1916 to Norwegian parents, who named him after the most famous Norwegian explorer of the day?
5. In 1972, the Philadelphia Phillies traded away a no-name pitcher named Rick Wise for a promising young lefty who went on to become one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. Name that Phillies Hall of Famer.
5. Steve Carlton
5. Steve Carlton
3. Kenny G
4. Roald Dahl
2. California? (It's the only state I know of with an animal on its state flag)
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
1: Kernel
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
2. California? (It's the only state I know of with an animal on its state flag)
Looked this one up out of curiosity. I thought it was grizzly bear on the Cali's flag, but it's actually a California grizzly bear. Part of the brown bear family. U. of Cal Golden Bears and UCLA Bruins both use the California grizzly bear as their mascots.
Keep your stick on the ice...
1. Just a wild guess, cereal?
I went with kernel... but cereal makes a lot of sense, too. (The Roman goddess of the harvest is Ceres, for anyone following along)1. Just a wild guess, cereal?
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
2. California? (It's the only state I know of with an animal on its state flag)
Looked this one up out of curiosity. I thought it was grizzly bear on the Cali's flag, but it's actually a California grizzly bear. Part of the brown bear family. U. of Cal Golden Bears and UCLA Bruins both use the California grizzly bear as their mascots.
Was my first thought as well and I had no idea there was a separate & unique brown/grizzly bear native to California.
Per the article I read its range was almost the entire state and it basically disappeared in the 19th century. The article cites the gold rush and the expansion of ranching, both leading to overhunting, as primary factors in its demise. There were some reported sightings around Sequoia NP in the early1920s but nothing substantiated and nothing since. It was classified extinct in 1924.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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