Totally Random Trivia: 2022

2 Has to be steeplechase 

5.  Bette Midler

She was a wicked good slow pitch softball catcher, too!

1. "Coda" and "Spotlight"

1. Parasite. Argo? Or is that more than 10 years old now?

1) Nomadland

3) Misty Copeland

4) Jamiroqueli?  I think that’s how it’s spelled.

Answers to Friday, December 1, 2023

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: Five films that have won the Academy Award for “Best Picture” in the past 10 years have a full title that consists of one word. Name as many of those films as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

“CODA,” “Nomadland,” “Parasite,” “Moonlight,” “Spotlight”

2. What equestrian event originated from an Irish tradition of racing from one town’s church to the church in a neighboring town?

Steeplechase

3. The 2004 movie “Napoleon Dynamite” ends with Napoleon performing a fairly epic dance routine to a song called “Canned Heat” by what British funk band?

Jamiroquai

4. Who, in 2015, became the first Black woman to be named a principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theater?

Misty Copeland

5. Today is December 1. It’s also the 78th birthday of what divine singer, actor, and comedian, who got her start performing in “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Salvation” on Broadway in the late 1960s?

Bette Midler

Questions for
Monday, December 4, 2023

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

1. What band was named the “Breakthrough Band of 2013” by Billboard after their first album, “Night Visions,” was released?

2. In what 2001 film, often included on lists of the worst films of all time, does Mariah Carey date a disc jockey who helps make her famous?

3. Beavers, caribou, loons, and polar bears all appear on coins currently in production in what country?

4. “The Golden Compass” is the first book in the “His Dark Materials” trilogy by what British author?

5. The Cayman Trough has a maximum depth of over 25,000 feet, making it the deepest point in what sea?

3. Canada

5. Caribbean

1. Imagine Dragons

2. Glitter 

4. Philip Pullman

Answers to Monday, December 4, 2023
1. What band was named the “Breakthrough Band of 2013” by Billboard after their first album, “Night Visions,” was released?

Imagine Dragons

2. In what 2001 film, often included on lists of the worst films of all time, does Mariah Carey date a disc jockey who helps make her famous?

“Glitter”

3. Beavers, caribou, loons, and polar bears all appear on coins currently in production in what country?

Canada

4. “The Golden Compass” is the first book in the “His Dark Materials” trilogy, by what British author?

Philip Pullman

5. The Cayman Trough has a maximum depth of over 25,000 feet, making it the deepest point in what sea?

Caribbean Sea

Questions for
Tuesday, December 5, 2023

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

1. Listerine, Band-Aid, and Tylenol are all brands that recently split off from what corporation, which was founded by three brothers in 1886?

2. The author of such stories as “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is sometimes referred to as the “first American man of letters.” What is his name?

3. The first official regular-season NBA game played in Europe took place in 2011 at the O2 Arena, on the Greenwich Peninsula in what city?

4. What Cartoon Network series occasionally followed the exploits of Fionna and Cake, gender-swapped versions of the show’s lead characters, Finn and Jake?

5. It’s been said that jazz was born in New Orleans but grew up in what Midwestern city — thanks in no small part to the pianist Count Basie, who lived there in the 1930s?

2. Washington Irving

5. Kansas City? 

3. London

1. Johnson & Johnson

4) Adventure Time

Answers to Tuesday, December 5, 2023

1. Listerine, Band-Aid, and Tylenol are all brands that recently split off from what corporation, which was founded by three brothers in 1886?

Johnson & Johnson

2. The author of such stories as “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is sometimes referred to as the “first American man of letters.” What is his name?

Washington Irving

3. The first official regular-season NBA game played in Europe took place in 2011 at the O2 Arena, on the Greenwich Peninsula in what city?

London

4. What Cartoon Network series occasionally followed the exploits of Fionna and Cake, gender-swapped versions of the show’s lead characters, Finn and Jake?

“Adventure Time”

5. It’s been said that jazz was born in New Orleans but grew up in what Midwestern city — thanks in no small part to the pianist Count Basie, who lived there in the early 1930s?

Kansas City, Missouri

Questions for
Wednesday, December 6, 2023

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

1. What Carthaginian general, who led his troops to victory at the battles of Cannae and the Trebbia, is often regarded as one of the greatest military tacticians and strategists in antiquity?

2. What British dessert is not, in fact, a medical affliction, but rather a steamed pudding made with mutton fat and sprinkled with raisins?

3. By area, Hokkaido is the largest of Japan’s 47 governmental subdivisions. These subdivisions are called “todōfuken” in Japanese. What are they called in English?

4. What Warner Bros. character’s Latin name was, according to several cartoons, Carnivorous vulgaris?

5. What two-word term — whose medical name is “sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia” — was trademarked by 7-Eleven in 1994?

4.  Wile E Coyote

5.  Brain freeze (I have a minor in technical medical terms.?)

1. Hannibal

2. This has to be spotted dick

Posted by: @chill-kessel

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2. This has to be spotted dick

3) Prefectures. Bigger then individual cities, usually smaller then counties. 

Posted by: @kelly-red

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3) Prefectures. Bigger then individual cities, usually smaller then counties. 

Sad as it is, I learned that through a video game (Romance Of The Three Kingdoms), a game which was actually based on fact/lore, and made for a great movie called Red Cliff (directed by John Woo). 

Answers to Wednesday, December 6, 2023

1. What Carthaginian general, who led his troops to victory at the battles of Cannae and the Trebbia, is often regarded as one of the greatest military tacticians and strategists in antiquity?

Hannibal

2. What British dessert is not, in fact, a medical affliction, but rather a steamed pudding made with mutton fat and sprinkled with raisins?

Spotted dick

3. By area, Hokkaido is the largest of Japan’s 47 governmental subdivisions. These subdivisions are called “todōfuken” in Japanese. What are they called in English?

“Prefectures”

4. What Warner Bros. character’s Latin name was, according to several cartoons, Carnivorous vulgaris?

Wile E. Coyote

5. What two-word term — whose medical name is “sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia” — was trademarked by 7-Eleven in 1994?

“Brain Freeze”

Questions for
Theme Thursday, December 7, 2023

I Bet You Think This Song is About You: Five questions about songs about real people.

Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. Pattie Boyd was the subject of songs by two men she was married to in the ’70s. The songs include "For You Blue," "Layla," "Something," and "Wonderful Tonight." Name both of those songwriters.

2. Alan Jackson's 1992 song "Midnight in Montgomery" is a tribute to what country singer? Hint: It includes the line "I'm so lonesome I could cry."

3. John Legend has made no secret of the fact that his song "All of Me" is dedicated to his wife, who got her start on TV as a briefcase model on the game show “Deal or No Deal.” What is his wife’s name?

4. In the first verse of "thank u, next," Ariana Grande mentions four of her ex boyfriends — two rappers, an athlete, and a comedian. Name two of those exes.

5. The title of this round comes from a 1972 song that may have been written about Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson, or Jack Nicholson, but was unquestionably written by what musician?

1.  George Harrison & Eric Clapton

2.  Hank Williams Sr.

5. Carly Simon

3.  Chrissy Tiegen

4. Mac Miller, Pete Davidson, Big Sean, and no clue who Ricky is.

Answers to Thursday, December 7, 2023

I Bet You Think This Song Is About You: Five questions about songs about real people.

1. Pattie Boyd was the subject of songs by two men she was married to in the ’70s. The songs include "For You Blue," "Layla," "Something," and "Wonderful Tonight." Name both of those songwriters.

George Harrison, Eric Clapton

2. Alan Jackson's 1992 song "Midnight in Montgomery" is a tribute to what country singer? Hint: It includes the line "I'm so lonesome I could cry."

Hank Williams

3. John Legend has made no secret of the fact that his song "All of Me" is dedicated to his wife, who got her start on TV as a briefcase model on the game show “Deal or No Deal.” What is his wife’s name?

Chrissy Teigen

4. In the first verse of "thank u, next," Ariana Grande mentions four of her ex boyfriends — two rappers, an athlete, and a comedian. Name two of those exes.

Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, Pete Davidson, Mac Miller

5. The title of this round comes from a 1972 song that may have been written about Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson, or Jack Nicholson, but was unquestionably written by what musician?

Carly Simon
(the song is "You're So Vain")

Questions for
Friday, December 8, 2023

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

1. Besides Mario and Luigi, there are six other playable characters in “Super Mario Kart,” the original installment of the “Mario Kart” video game series. Name as many of these original playable characters as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

2. In an infamous 1968 NFL broadcast, NBC preempted a thrilling comeback by the Oakland Raiders to air an adaptation of what children’s book, about an orphaned girl and her grandfather living in the Swiss Alps?

3. A library honoring Theodore Roosevelt is set to open in 2026. It is being built not in the state where he was born, but rather in the state where he “retired” at age 26, before returning to politics two years later. Name that state.

4. Eagles — the band — are a bunch of liars. They once said they’d never reunite, but then they did, which explains why they gave their 1994 reunion album what three-word title?

5. Today is December 8. On this day in 2019, we said goodbye to American actor and puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who created the characteristics and mannerisms of what amiable larger-than-life TV star?

2.  Heidi 

3.  North Dakota

4.  Hell Freezes Over (I think)

1. Bowser, DK, Yoshi, Toad, Wario, & Peach? 

edit - I was wrong. 

5 Big Bird

1. Toad, Koopa Troopa, Peach, Yoshi, DK jr, Bowser

Answers to Friday, December 8, 2023

1. Besides Mario and Luigi, there are six other playable characters in “Super Mario Kart,” the original installment of the “Mario Kart” video game series. Name as many of these original playable characters as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any wrong.

Princess Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong (Jr.), Koopa Troopa, Toad

2. In an infamous 1968 NFL broadcast, NBC preempted a thrilling comeback by the Oakland Raiders to air an adaptation of what children’s book, about an orphaned girl and her grandfather living in the Swiss Alps?

“Heidi”

3. A library honoring Theodore Roosevelt is set to open in 2026. It is being built not in the state where he was born, but rather in the state where he “retired” at age 26, before returning to politics two years later. Name that state.

North Dakota

4. Eagles — the band — are a bunch of liars. They once said they’d never reunite, but then they did, which explains why they gave their 1994 reunion album what three-word title?

“Hell Freezes Over”

5. Today is December 8. On this day in 2019, we said goodbye to American actor and puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who created the characteristics and mannerisms of what amiable larger-than-life TV star?

Big Bird
(he was also Oscar the Grouch!)

Questions for
Monday, December 11, 2023

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

1. The first electric dry shaver was patented in 1930. What was the surname of its inventor?

2. In 1996, a stay-at-home mom named Julie Aigner-Clark launched a video production company called “I Think I Can.” Five years later, she sold it to Disney under what company name?

3. Juno is the goddess of marriage and family in Roman mythology. Who is her counterpart in Greek mythology?

4. What American shoe company was founded in California in 1966 by two brothers of Dutch ancestry — hence the name of the shoes?

5. A film with the tagline, “Welcome to the secret world inside your phone” won the Golden Razzie for “Worst Picture” in 2018. Name that movie!

4.  Guessing Vans, dude!

3. Hera

1.Schick

5 The Emoji Movie

Posted by: @norm

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1.Schick

I’m thinking it’s Remington.

Answers to Monday, December 11, 2023

1. The first electric dry shaver was patented in 1930. What was the surname of its inventor?

Schick

2. In 1996, a stay-at-home mom named Julie Aigner-Clark launched a video production company called “I Think I Can.” Five years later, she sold it to Disney under what company name?

Baby Einstein

3. Juno is the goddess of marriage and family in Roman mythology. Who is her counterpart in Greek mythology?

Hera

4. What American shoe company was founded in California in 1966 by two brothers of Dutch ancestry — hence the name of the shoes?

Vans
(Paul and James Van Doren)

5. A film with the tagline, “Welcome to the secret world inside your phone” won the Golden Razzie for “Worst Picture” in 2018. Name that movie!

“The Emoji Movie”

Questions for
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

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

1. Green papaya salad is a national dish of Thailand, as well as what neighboring landlocked country whose capital is Vientiane?

2. What 1987 PG romantic comedy features such settings as the “Cliffs of Insanity” and the “Fire Swamp”?

3. The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica boasts an unusually high number of centenarians, partially because they drink some of the hardest water in the world. What beneficial element is prevalent in hard water?

4. The “beer that made Milwaukee famous” was originally called “Krug.” What is that beer known as today?

5. Mr. Bennet is the sarcastic and wise father of five daughters — including Lizzie, his favorite — in what Jane Austen novel?

2.  The Princess Bride

4.  Schlitz 

1. Laos