Totally Random Trivia: 2022

3. Questlove!

Cool dude. 

Answers to Thursday, September 7, 2023

“Seek and Ye Shall Find”: If you seek the answers to these questions, look no further than synonyms for “seek.” 

1. What character has been played by Tom Cruise across seven films in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise?
Ethan Hunt

2. What 2006 film—which starred a real-life father and son—was based on the memoir of a Wall Street stockbroker and motivational speaker named Chris Gardner?
“The Pursuit of Happyness”

3. Ahmir K. Thompson is the given name of what drummer, DJ, documentarian, and music producer? 
Questlove

4. What television producer was a writer for “The Rockford Files” and “Northern Exposure” before he created “The Sopranos” in 1999?
David Chase

5. What 6-year-old character—whose real name was Jean Louise, but she preferred her nickname—narrated the novel that won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction?
Scout 
(“To Kill a Mockingbird”)

Questions for
Friday, September 8, 2023

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in Monday’s email.

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are four “Grand Slam” tournaments in tennis. They take place in four cities. Name as many of those cities as you can for one point each. Zero total if you get any wrong.

2. Muslims living in polar regions may experience issues fasting during Ramadan if the holy month is observed in summer, when the sun doesn’t fully set. They are encouraged instead to fast until the sun sets in what Saudi Arabian city?

3. A 1937 film won a special achievement Oscar in cinematography for color film, since most movies were still in black and white. That movie has been remade three times, most recently in 2018, and nominated for cinematography twice. Name it!

4. The term “subliminal messaging” was coined in 1957 by a researcher named James Vicary, who famously tried to prove the technique’s effectiveness by inserting single frames into movies that urged audiences to drink what carbonated beverage?

5. Today is September 8. Happy 82nd birthday to what longest-serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress?

1.  Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon, New York (Queens)

3.  A Star Is Born ??

4. Coca-Cola

5. Bernie Sanders

2: Mecca

(can't imagine what other city in Saudi Arabia it would be)

Posted by: @greyeagle

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3.  A Star Is Born ??

Yes!  A powerhouse vehicle for female singers: Janet Gaynor, Judy Garland, Barbara Streisand and Lady Gaga.

Answers to Friday, September 8, 2023

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are four “Grand Slam” tournaments in tennis. They take place in four cities. Name as many of those cities as you can for one point each. Zero total if you get any wrong.
New York (U.S. Open), Paris (French Open), London (or Wimbledon; Wimbledon), Melbourne (Australian Open)

2. Muslims living in polar regions may experience issues fasting during Ramadan if the holy month is observed in summer, when the sun doesn’t fully set. They are encouraged instead to fast until the sun sets in what Saudi Arabian city?
Mecca

3. A 1937 film won a special achievement Oscar in cinematography for color film, since most movies were still in black and white. That movie has been remade three times, most recently in 2018, and nominated for cinematography twice. Name it!
“A Star Is Born” 

4. The term “subliminal messaging” was coined in 1957 by a researcher named James Vicary, who famously tried to prove the technique’s effectiveness by inserting single frames into movies that urged audiences to drink what carbonated beverage?
Coca-Cola

5. Today is September 8. Happy 82nd birthday to what longest-serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress?
Bernie Sanders

Questions for
Monday, September 11, 2023

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. Grant Wood was a painter born in Iowa in 1891. His most famous work depicts a father and daughter. What is that painting called?

2. What electronic device, first sold by Barnes & Noble in 2009, gets its name from a small room or area of a house where it might be used?

3. What self-help author’s bestselling books include “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth”? 

4. If something is “Cartesian,” that means it relates to the work of what 17th-century philosopher?

5. What is the geometric term for a 12-sided solid figure?

2. The Nook

4. Rene Descartes

5. Dodecahedron

1.  American Gothic

3) Eckhart Tolle

Answers to Monday, September 11, 2023

1. Grant Wood was a painter born in Iowa in 1891. His most famous work depicts a father and daughter. What is that painting called?
“American Gothic”

2. What electronic device, first sold by Barnes & Noble in 2009, gets its name from a small room or area of a house where it might be used?
Nook

3. What self-help author’s bestselling books include “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth”? 
Eckhart Tolle

4. If something is “Cartesian,” that means it relates to the work of what 17th-century philosopher?
René Descartes

5. What is the geometric term for a 12-sided solid figure?
Dodecahedron

Questions for
Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. The Sazerac was invented in the 1830s in what city, which claims it as its official city cocktail?

2. What future U.S. ambassador to Australia allegedly inspired the name in the title of the Neil Diamond classic "Sweet Caroline," even though she was just 12 when the song was released?

3. Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe all designate what language as an official language?

4. Abraham Lincoln and his Confederate counterpart Jefferson Davis were both born in the same state. Name that state.

5. Former evening news anchor Connie Chung is married to what former daytime TV talk show host?

1: New Orleans

4. Kentucky

5. Maury Povich

Since Chris aced me out of 4 & 5... ? 

2. Caroline Kennedy

Posted by: @zwak

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5. Former evening news anchor Connie Chung is married to what former daytime TV talk show host?

Name the weekly newspaper he owns and where?

3. Portuguese 

Posted by: @greyeagle

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Since Chris aced me out of 4 & 5... ? 

2. Caroline Kennedy

Answers to Tuesday, September 12, 2023

1. The Sazerac was invented in the 1830s in what city, which claims it as its official city cocktail?
New Orleans

2. What future U.S. ambassador to Australia allegedly inspired the name in the title of the Neil Diamond classic "Sweet Caroline," even though she was just 12 when the song was released?
Caroline Kennedy

3. Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe all designate what language as an official language?
Portuguese

4. Abraham Lincoln and his Confederate counterpart Jefferson Davis were both born in the same state. Name that state.
Kentucky

5. Former evening news anchor Connie Chung is married to what former daytime TV talk show host?
Maury Povich

Questions for
Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. The largest hot air balloon festival in the world takes place in the U.S. What New Mexico city is its host?

2. In Ancient Greece, to throw an apple at someone was to symbolically declare one's love. Therefore the apple is most associated with what goddess?

3. What is the title of the leader of the Puerto Rican government—a post currently held by Pedro Pierluisi?

4. What 20th-century president was the first incumbent vice president to be elected president since 1836?

5. Rio de Janeiro is the second-closest city to the Equator that has hosted a Summer Olympics. The only city closer to the Equator hosted the games in 1968. Name that city.

2. Aphrodite

3. Governor

I'll only answer 2, but I have all 5.

1. Albuquerque

5.  Mexico City

4. George Herbert Walker Bush

Answers to Wednesday, September 13, 2023

1. The largest hot air balloon festival in the world takes place in the U.S. What New Mexico city is its host?
Albuquerque

2. In Ancient Greece, to throw an apple at someone was to symbolically declare one's love. Therefore the apple is most associated with what goddess?
Aphrodite 

3. What is the title of the leader of the Puerto Rican government—a post currently held by Pedro Pierluisi?
Governor

4. What 20th-century president was the first incumbent vice president to be elected president since 1836?
George H.W. Bush

5. Rio de Janeiro is the second-closest city to the Equator that has hosted a Summer Olympics. The only city closer to the Equator hosted the games in 1968. Name that city.
Mexico City

Questions for
Theme Thursday, September 14, 2023

Legends of the “Fall”: Autumn is coming. All answers this round will contain the word “fall” in them somewhere. 

Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. What song from the 2007 movie “Once” won the Academy Award for “Best Original Song”?

2. “Ultimate Knockout” is the subtitle of a 2020 video game that The Verge dubbed, somewhat ironically, "the feel-good game of the summer." Its name is nearly identical to a 1980s TV series starring Lee Majors in the title role. Name either the game or the TV show.

3. What ancient city, which has existed for more than 3,000 years on the Euphrates River, is known as the “City of Mosques”?

4. What eight-letter term originally described the edible but unsellable apples that fell from a tree, which orchards historically gave away to the needy?

5. Noah Wyle played a history teacher-turned-militia commander fleeing an alien invasion in what post-apocalyptic television series, which ran from 2011 to 2015 on TNT?

2. The Fall Guy?

1.  Falling Slowly

5. The Librarians

3. Fallujah

5. Falling Skies

Posted by: @viking

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5. The Librarians

Has to have the word ‘fall’ in it

4. Windfall

Answers to Thursday, September 14, 2023

Legends of the “Fall”: Autumn is coming. All answers this round will contain the word “fall” in them somewhere. 

1. What song from the 2007 movie “Once” won the Academy Award for “Best Original Song”?
“Falling Slowly”

2. “Ultimate Knockout” is the subtitle of a 2020 video game that The Verge dubbed, somewhat ironically, "the feel-good game of the summer." Its name is nearly identical to a 1980s TV series starring Lee Majors in the title role. Name either the game or the TV show.
“Fall Guys” / “The Fall Guy”

3. What ancient city, which has existed for more than 3,000 years on the Euphrates River, is known as the “City of Mosques”?
Fallujah

4. What eight-letter term originally described the edible but unsellable apples that fell from a tree, which orchards historically gave away to the needy?
Windfall

5. Noah Wyle played a history teacher-turned-militia commander fleeing an alien invasion in what post-apocalyptic television series, which ran from 2011 to 2015 on TNT?
“Falling Skies”

Questions for
Friday, September 15, 2023

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in Monday’s email. 

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are five U.S. states with no general statewide sales tax. Name as many of those states as you can for one point each. Zero points if you get any wrong.

2. The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, which created what we now know as the interstate highway system, was overseen by which U.S. president?

3. The Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda was born in 1904. He hailed from what South American country?

4. What Austrian artist is best known for his 1908 painting, “The Kiss”?

5. Today is September 15. What author, whose first novel “The Mysterious Affair at Styles,” introduced eccentric and egotistical Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, was born on this day in 1890?

1. Oregon, Alaska, don't know the other 3

2. Eisenhower

5.  Agatha Christie

Posted by: @mikeeruzione11

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1. Oregon, Alaska, don't know the other 3

1. Montana is one of those 3.

3) Chile.  I love his writing.

4) Gustav Klimt

Answers to Friday, September 15, 2023

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are five U.S. states with no general statewide sales tax. Name as many of those states as you can for one point each. Zero points if you get any wrong.
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon

2. The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, which created what we now know as the interstate highway system, was overseen by which U.S. president?
Dwight D. Eisenhower

3. The Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda was born in 1904. He hailed from what South American country?
Chile

4. What Austrian artist is best known for his 1908 painting, “The Kiss”?
Gustav Klimt

5. Today is September 15. What author, whose first novel “The Mysterious Affair at Styles,” introduced eccentric and egotistical Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, was born on this day in 1890?
Agatha Christie

Questions for
Monday, September 18, 2023

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. A quadrilateral, an aircraft, a bird of prey, the cause of all the trouble in Mary Poppins, and a 1998 anime movie can all be described with what four-letter word?

2. What Baseball Hall of Famer — the last MLB player to hit over .400 in a single season — had his remains cryogenically preserved following his death in 2002?

3. Sidney Poitier was the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for “Best Actor,” for the 1963 film “Lilies of the Field.” Denzel Washington was the second, for what 2001 movie?

4. The world's deepest lake is also the world's oldest lake. In what country will you find it?

5. William Henry Harrison had the shortest first term of any president in U.S. history, at just 32 days. Who had the shortest second term?

2. Ted Williams

4. Russia - Lake Baikal 

5.  William McKinley ??

1: Kite

3. Training Day

5. Abe Lincoln?

5. James Garfield