What's with the Dying?
Trivia was never meant to be an obit
Ed McMahon. Farrah Fawcett. Michael Jackson. Billy Mays. I guess the lesson here is, when I don't send Trivia, celebrities die. I'm on it.
Today's Question
History
Sir Frederick Treves, the physician famed for treating "Elephant Man" Joseph Merrick, was also the first to perform what surgical procedure?
Previous Answer
And the people who knew it
Dorothy Gale was the central character in The Wizard of Oz, although the Ozzians knew her by one name only, a la Madonna and Cher. Congrats to Jocelyn, John H (the H stands for Happy Birthday), Karen H (the H stands for Howling Winds Of Genius), Stephen K (the K stands for Knocked Out During House Relocation), and Karen M (the M stands for Emily), all of whom knew Dorothy long before she hit it big on the Yellow Brick Road. Your intellect blows me away.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
June 23, 2009 question - Ed Signs Off
Hiyoooooo In Peace
Ed & Johnny Together in the Late, Late, Late Show
Ed McMahon worked in a business in which appearing on screen is life. So to all of us who say he will be missed, let's be realistic. In our minds, he's been dead for years. We don't miss him more today than we did yesterday. We merely realized he was gone.
However, Ed was the master of being invisible unless called upon, a humble page in Johnny's royal court. He'd chime in for a laugh at the perfect moment at the service of the show, not to polish his own ego.
So from the guy who knew when to be quiet and when to boom hilariously into America's consciousness, Ed McMahon has simultaneously ended his silence and entered his peace with perfect irony and, as always, impeccable comedic timing.
Today's Question
Literature/Film
I'm pretty sure we've asked this question before, but my son asked it of me out of the blue during a series of questions that went like this:
What's that movie with the green witch? The Wizard of Oz
What's the girl's name who lives in Kansas? Dorothy
(And today's question)
What's her last name?
Previous Answer
And the people who knew it
Beverly Hills is the only (one) city in the 90210 ZIP code. Kyle, Karen M (the M stands for Melrose Place), Nancy K (the K stands for Knows Rodeo Drive Like The Back Of Her Hand), and Charles all guessed one, although a few of you confused the Hills with LA and/or Hollywood. Beverly Hills and West Hollywoood are actually 2 distinct cities surrounded by Los Angeles.
Kinda confusing. Not sure I even want to figure it out. Congrats to you all, regardless of trivial discrepancies.
Ed & Johnny Together in the Late, Late, Late Show
Ed McMahon worked in a business in which appearing on screen is life. So to all of us who say he will be missed, let's be realistic. In our minds, he's been dead for years. We don't miss him more today than we did yesterday. We merely realized he was gone.
However, Ed was the master of being invisible unless called upon, a humble page in Johnny's royal court. He'd chime in for a laugh at the perfect moment at the service of the show, not to polish his own ego.
So from the guy who knew when to be quiet and when to boom hilariously into America's consciousness, Ed McMahon has simultaneously ended his silence and entered his peace with perfect irony and, as always, impeccable comedic timing.
Today's Question
Literature/Film
I'm pretty sure we've asked this question before, but my son asked it of me out of the blue during a series of questions that went like this:
What's that movie with the green witch? The Wizard of Oz
What's the girl's name who lives in Kansas? Dorothy
(And today's question)
What's her last name?
Previous Answer
And the people who knew it
Beverly Hills is the only (one) city in the 90210 ZIP code. Kyle, Karen M (the M stands for Melrose Place), Nancy K (the K stands for Knows Rodeo Drive Like The Back Of Her Hand), and Charles all guessed one, although a few of you confused the Hills with LA and/or Hollywood. Beverly Hills and West Hollywoood are actually 2 distinct cities surrounded by Los Angeles.
Kinda confusing. Not sure I even want to figure it out. Congrats to you all, regardless of trivial discrepancies.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
June 17, 2009 question - Leakage
Sammy's in a Jammy
The Voices in my head are debating
First of all, sorry for the trivia rain-out yesterday. So frustrating for all of us, I'm sure. Secondly, if you're wondering how the so-called news of Sammy's so-called positive drug test are affecting me, let me fill you in: I'm angry. I'm so tired of news stories that rest solely on the word of unnamed sources without the slightest shred of corroboration or investigation whatsoever. Citing an anonymous source doesn't make you a journalist, it makes you a gossip, an email rumor generator, a snitch.
And while we're on the topic of anonymous leaks, isn't that what Sammy thought he was doing in the first place?
Today's Question
Going Postal
How many cities share the 90210 ZIP code?
Monday's Answer
And the people who knew it
Bumblebee's can sting, but not all of them. Females (the queen and the worker bumbles) have stingers, but the males are just good for birds & bees related activities. I was prepared to give credit to all who answered yes, but Karen M (the M stands for Make Way For The Trivia Queen) knew the answer in vivid detail and will share her trivia throne with no one. Way to know your buzz biz!
The Voices in my head are debating
First of all, sorry for the trivia rain-out yesterday. So frustrating for all of us, I'm sure. Secondly, if you're wondering how the so-called news of Sammy's so-called positive drug test are affecting me, let me fill you in: I'm angry. I'm so tired of news stories that rest solely on the word of unnamed sources without the slightest shred of corroboration or investigation whatsoever. Citing an anonymous source doesn't make you a journalist, it makes you a gossip, an email rumor generator, a snitch.
And while we're on the topic of anonymous leaks, isn't that what Sammy thought he was doing in the first place?
Today's Question
Going Postal
How many cities share the 90210 ZIP code?
Monday's Answer
And the people who knew it
Bumblebee's can sting, but not all of them. Females (the queen and the worker bumbles) have stingers, but the males are just good for birds & bees related activities. I was prepared to give credit to all who answered yes, but Karen M (the M stands for Make Way For The Trivia Queen) knew the answer in vivid detail and will share her trivia throne with no one. Way to know your buzz biz!
Monday, June 15, 2009
June 15, 2009 question
Sorry for the 2-week layoff
I take Flag Day very seriously
The results of the Iranian election are being disputed from the streets of Tehran to the halls of D.C. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes it was a fair and free election. His reformist adversary, Mir Hossein Moussavi, thinks the entire process has been a mullah-generated fraud. And Al Gore still thinks he has enough votes in Florida to win the thing.
I take Flag Day very seriously
The results of the Iranian election are being disputed from the streets of Tehran to the halls of D.C. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes it was a fair and free election. His reformist adversary, Mir Hossein Moussavi, thinks the entire process has been a mullah-generated fraud. And Al Gore still thinks he has enough votes in Florida to win the thing.
Everything old is new again.
Today's Question
Nature
Can Bumblebees sting?
Yesterday's (give or take 2 weeks) Answer
And the people who knew it
Today's Question
Nature
Can Bumblebees sting?
Yesterday's (give or take 2 weeks) Answer
And the people who knew it
Johnny Carson was the longest tenured host of The Tonight Show by far. I thought it might be so easy you'd second guess yourselves. I thought wrong.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 2, 2009 question - Hemorrhiffic
Conan the Red-Hairy Man
Say that like "barbarian" and it should all make sense
The Conan era has begun on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, which makes sense now that they're calling it that. Conan's first show was received well by everyone but himself (he compared it to "a Backstreet Boys reunion, only not as good"). My favorite part was his cross-country jaunt that included a mad dash past an Amish buggy and a streaker-esque shortcut through Wrigley Field. (Thanks for the clip, hulu.)
I'm glad to see Conan take the reins of the big show, although I truly will miss Jay Leno. I know no one really thinks he's all that funny or talented, but Leno is a great guy who always works hard and never takes himself too seriously. And I'll be darned if I ever watched a "Headlines" segment without belly laughing.
Welcome, Conan. I'll miss you, Jay.
Today's Question
Television
Which Tonight Show host had the longest tenure in the show's history?
Yesterday's Answer
And the people who knew it
We actually have two days' worth of awards to give out. And all apologies to Karen H, Nancy K, and Mike K, but Kristin and her not-even-all-that-correct Mouseketeering answer won the popular vote and earned her short-lived trivia glory.
And . . . the moment has passed. Yesterday's champs were Maridee, Paul C (the C stands for C-E-A-U-C-E-S-C-U), and Heather M (the M stands for M-I-C-H-A-E-L-O-F-F-E-D-M-O-R-T-I-M-E-R). Congrats on being able to spell hemorrhoids and I hope that hasn't come from experience.
Say that like "barbarian" and it should all make sense
The Conan era has begun on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, which makes sense now that they're calling it that. Conan's first show was received well by everyone but himself (he compared it to "a Backstreet Boys reunion, only not as good"). My favorite part was his cross-country jaunt that included a mad dash past an Amish buggy and a streaker-esque shortcut through Wrigley Field. (Thanks for the clip, hulu.)
I'm glad to see Conan take the reins of the big show, although I truly will miss Jay Leno. I know no one really thinks he's all that funny or talented, but Leno is a great guy who always works hard and never takes himself too seriously. And I'll be darned if I ever watched a "Headlines" segment without belly laughing.
Welcome, Conan. I'll miss you, Jay.
Today's Question
Television
Which Tonight Show host had the longest tenure in the show's history?
Yesterday's Answer
And the people who knew it
We actually have two days' worth of awards to give out. And all apologies to Karen H, Nancy K, and Mike K, but Kristin and her not-even-all-that-correct Mouseketeering answer won the popular vote and earned her short-lived trivia glory.
And . . . the moment has passed. Yesterday's champs were Maridee, Paul C (the C stands for C-E-A-U-C-E-S-C-U), and Heather M (the M stands for M-I-C-H-A-E-L-O-F-F-E-D-M-O-R-T-I-M-E-R). Congrats on being able to spell hemorrhoids and I hope that hasn't come from experience.
Monday, June 1, 2009
June 1, 2009 question - Your Vote Counts
Swoon Away, Swoon Away
Swoon away, all
Why is it that I'm taken so strongly by surprise at the beginning of every month? I was only slightly cognizant of May's arrival, and now it's gone.
And so is most of today, so I really should stop whining about the evaporation of time and get on to less important things.
Today's Question
Spelling (in honor of Scripps National Spelling Bee)
What is the correct spelling of the condition treated by Preparation H? Hint: it starts with H. Rule: please put dashes and all caps in your A-N-S-W-E-R to prevent accidental spellcheck cheating.
Friday's Answer
And the people who knew it
We've got a competition brewing, so I'm letting y'all vote for the most entertaining right-ish answer. Here they are:
A) Organized crime; anything requiring doing what is very, very bad; doing what you are not supposed to do; highlighting the negative in other people's emotions; helping people "buy the farm" for keeps
B) La Costra Nostra -- mobs, gangsters, Al Capone, illegal actions by the former
C) It's when a talking mouse and his talking animal friends get you to join his club and become their lifelong best friends. Meanwhile, he and his friends get you to build him a city where you can spend all of your money on DVDs, T-shirts, pens, toys, roller coaster rides . . . wait a minute, that's mouseketeering
D) Making a living by means of rackets; no, not noisy tennis implements, but schemes using nefarious means to induce others to fork over money.
Please vote. Poll booths will remain open until I close them.
Swoon away, all
Why is it that I'm taken so strongly by surprise at the beginning of every month? I was only slightly cognizant of May's arrival, and now it's gone.
And so is most of today, so I really should stop whining about the evaporation of time and get on to less important things.
Today's Question
Spelling (in honor of Scripps National Spelling Bee)
What is the correct spelling of the condition treated by Preparation H? Hint: it starts with H. Rule: please put dashes and all caps in your A-N-S-W-E-R to prevent accidental spellcheck cheating.
Friday's Answer
And the people who knew it
We've got a competition brewing, so I'm letting y'all vote for the most entertaining right-ish answer. Here they are:
A) Organized crime; anything requiring doing what is very, very bad; doing what you are not supposed to do; highlighting the negative in other people's emotions; helping people "buy the farm" for keeps
B) La Costra Nostra -- mobs, gangsters, Al Capone, illegal actions by the former
C) It's when a talking mouse and his talking animal friends get you to join his club and become their lifelong best friends. Meanwhile, he and his friends get you to build him a city where you can spend all of your money on DVDs, T-shirts, pens, toys, roller coaster rides . . . wait a minute, that's mouseketeering
D) Making a living by means of rackets; no, not noisy tennis implements, but schemes using nefarious means to induce others to fork over money.
Please vote. Poll booths will remain open until I close them.
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