Racism or Intellectualism?
Obama's "stupid" comments costing him; but why?
Barack Obama said that the police officers who arrested Harvard prof William Henry Gates acted "stupidly," a word he later wished he had calibrated differently.
Now the news is out that the way he handled his comments (and the comments about the comments about the comments) are costing him where it hurts a president most: his approval rating.
Most reactions seem to categorize this flap as a matter of racism. I see it as something different. Stupid is not just a bad word for kids to say anymore. Now the president can't even say it. If he had calibrated his thoughts as, "The police would have been wiser to approach matters differently," Obama probably would have been okay. But he called the police "stupid," and that will land anybody in time out.
Yeah, I think Obama's big mistake was offending stupid people. While that may be fun here at trivia, the White House isn't just supposed to defend Harvard professors. The Constitution begins, "We the people," not, "We the smart people."
Let's not use stupid as an insult any longer. Don't judge on mental might. Everybody has the potential to improve their intellect; even the prez.
Today's Question
History
What is the youngest school in the Ivy League?
Previous Answer
And the people who knew it
Karen M (the M stands for My Prince Better Be Tough) alone knew that the Grimm Brothers' princess didn't kiss the frog; she tossed him against the wall to transform him. Congrats! (And frogs, look elsewhere for a smooch.)
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
March 19, 2009 question
New Look
Change we can trivialize
I want to thank you for enduring the blustery winds of trivia change that have swirled relentlessly over the past couple of years. I hope you find this to be a welcome little breezy adjustment. [NOTE: If you aren't receiving the question by email, you are not signed up for the latest and greatest and most ridiculously awesome version. If you'd like to get in on that action, please subscribe on the registration form. Thanks!]
Also, this is your last chance at entering the Bracket 'Bucks challenge to win the $20 Starbucks gift card by using your superior luck and/or basketball prognostication. All entries must be received before the games begin today (11:00 CT). Enter now for your chance to win.
http://tinyurl.com/cfopex
Group ID: 123496
Password: bucks
Today's Question
Culture
According to a series of Accountemps surveys, what day of the week continually reigns as the most productive day of the work week?
Yesterday's Answer
And the people who knew it
Japan is the oldest monarchy in existence, headed up by Emperor Akihito. Congrats to Karen M (the M stands for Monarch Of Trivia) and her supreme knowledge.Oh, and overdue kudos to Heather M (the M stands for My Green Isn't Welcome?) for her St. Patty's genius. Never run out of kudos here in trivialand.
Change we can trivialize
I want to thank you for enduring the blustery winds of trivia change that have swirled relentlessly over the past couple of years. I hope you find this to be a welcome little breezy adjustment. [NOTE: If you aren't receiving the question by email, you are not signed up for the latest and greatest and most ridiculously awesome version. If you'd like to get in on that action, please subscribe on the registration form. Thanks!]
Also, this is your last chance at entering the Bracket 'Bucks challenge to win the $20 Starbucks gift card by using your superior luck and/or basketball prognostication. All entries must be received before the games begin today (11:00 CT). Enter now for your chance to win.
http://tinyurl.com/cfopex
Group ID: 123496
Password: bucks
Today's Question
Culture
According to a series of Accountemps surveys, what day of the week continually reigns as the most productive day of the work week?
Yesterday's Answer
And the people who knew it
Japan is the oldest monarchy in existence, headed up by Emperor Akihito. Congrats to Karen M (the M stands for Monarch Of Trivia) and her supreme knowledge.Oh, and overdue kudos to Heather M (the M stands for My Green Isn't Welcome?) for her St. Patty's genius. Never run out of kudos here in trivialand.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
February 25, 2009 question
Sorry about the mass trivia confusion on Monday and into Tuesday. I gave the email machine a swift kick, and it seems to be doing alright now. You be the judge.
Anyway, here's the scoop on odd couples: Oscar Madison shacked up with Felix Unger in The Odd Couple, a story that created a formula for an entire genre: the not-really-buddies buddy movie. Tommy Boy, Twins, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, and the entire Lethal Weapon series all owe their success to Felix and Oscar . . . although, I'm pretty sure none of them ever won an Oscar. Here's who knew:
Karen M (the M stands for Madison Actually Drafted The Monroe Doctrine)
Karen H (the H stands for Huh?)
Stephen K (the K stands for Knock The Monroe Doctrine At Your Peril)
Heidi
Steven F (the F stands for Frazzle Razzle)
Larry
Steve J (the J stands for Just Kidding, Okay?!)
Nancy K (the K stands for Knock It Off, You Seven!)
Anyway . . . President Obama addressed the nation last night. I missed it, but I heard the rumblings. I no longer feel the need to watch the Pres on TV because he emails me like twice a day. Ugh. Like I have time for that. I have more important things to deal with, Mr. President . . . it's called trivia. Here's today's question, in honor (sort of) of the 15th anniversary of Nancy Kerrigan's silver medal performance at the 1994 Winter Olympics:
Who clubbed Nancy Kerrigan's knee at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, just over a month before the Olympic Games?
A. Shawn Eckhardt
B. Jeff Gillooly
C. Tonya Harding
D. Shane Stant
E. Jeff Stone
Anyway, here's the scoop on odd couples: Oscar Madison shacked up with Felix Unger in The Odd Couple, a story that created a formula for an entire genre: the not-really-buddies buddy movie. Tommy Boy, Twins, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, and the entire Lethal Weapon series all owe their success to Felix and Oscar . . . although, I'm pretty sure none of them ever won an Oscar. Here's who knew:
Karen M (the M stands for Madison Actually Drafted The Monroe Doctrine)
Karen H (the H stands for Huh?)
Stephen K (the K stands for Knock The Monroe Doctrine At Your Peril)
Heidi
Steven F (the F stands for Frazzle Razzle)
Larry
Steve J (the J stands for Just Kidding, Okay?!)
Nancy K (the K stands for Knock It Off, You Seven!)
Anyway . . . President Obama addressed the nation last night. I missed it, but I heard the rumblings. I no longer feel the need to watch the Pres on TV because he emails me like twice a day. Ugh. Like I have time for that. I have more important things to deal with, Mr. President . . . it's called trivia. Here's today's question, in honor (sort of) of the 15th anniversary of Nancy Kerrigan's silver medal performance at the 1994 Winter Olympics:
Who clubbed Nancy Kerrigan's knee at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, just over a month before the Olympic Games?
A. Shawn Eckhardt
B. Jeff Gillooly
C. Tonya Harding
D. Shane Stant
E. Jeff Stone
Monday, February 23, 2009
February 23, 2009 question
Kevin, Joe, and Nick are the brothers Jonas, and they were born in that order. Charles knew this. Usually, sole trivia glory is a status symbol worthy of boundless pride, but I'm thinking Charles might be wishing he had company atop the trivia podium. Sorry, Charles, you're all alone in the spotlight today.
Perhaps the Oscars were enough to wash away any Jonas-related shame. I found it to be one of the best productions I can remember. For me, the very best part was seeing the winners of past acting awards salute the performances that earned this year's hopefuls their much-deserved nominations. Normally the acting awards are presented by a past winner reading trite character allusions from a teleprompter, followed by random 10-second clips of each performance. This year, though, the nominees were treated to personal, heartfelt praise delivered by their friends, contemporaries, and/or heroes. It was brilliant. The announcement of the winners in these 4 categories were almost anticlimactic (for the audience at least) because the real prizes were the 20 indelible moments captured on screen. What is typically a time of awkward anticipation and intense nerves was turned into something meaningful and unforgettable. I hope they do that every year, but if not, I'll always remember this one.
Okay, here's some Oscar trivia:
What is Oscar's last name in The Odd Couple?
Perhaps the Oscars were enough to wash away any Jonas-related shame. I found it to be one of the best productions I can remember. For me, the very best part was seeing the winners of past acting awards salute the performances that earned this year's hopefuls their much-deserved nominations. Normally the acting awards are presented by a past winner reading trite character allusions from a teleprompter, followed by random 10-second clips of each performance. This year, though, the nominees were treated to personal, heartfelt praise delivered by their friends, contemporaries, and/or heroes. It was brilliant. The announcement of the winners in these 4 categories were almost anticlimactic (for the audience at least) because the real prizes were the 20 indelible moments captured on screen. What is typically a time of awkward anticipation and intense nerves was turned into something meaningful and unforgettable. I hope they do that every year, but if not, I'll always remember this one.
Okay, here's some Oscar trivia:
What is Oscar's last name in The Odd Couple?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
February 12, 2009 question
If you've stolen a cat or a dog whose name you do not know and someone asks you to verify that it's yours by calling out the pet's name, your best bet is Max. And if you have a pet named Max that's gone missing recently, Maridee and Heidi may have been smart enough to get away with the petnapping.
Um, congrats.
On to bigger news. A Russian satellite and an American satellite collided at high speed about 500 miles above Siberia. It was the first ever high-speed collision of man-made objects in space, which makes it officially awesome. Said Lee Minors, chief ballistics engineer at NASA, "We've blown stuff up and smashed stuff up in a lot of places. But doing it in space has forever been the dream. Now, by accident, we've stumbled into uncharted awesomeness. I mean, look at it!"
Now here's a completely unrelated question that I didn't make up--for real, my son just asked me (I got it wrong):
Do river otters have webbed feet?
Um, congrats.
On to bigger news. A Russian satellite and an American satellite collided at high speed about 500 miles above Siberia. It was the first ever high-speed collision of man-made objects in space, which makes it officially awesome. Said Lee Minors, chief ballistics engineer at NASA, "We've blown stuff up and smashed stuff up in a lot of places. But doing it in space has forever been the dream. Now, by accident, we've stumbled into uncharted awesomeness. I mean, look at it!"
Now here's a completely unrelated question that I didn't make up--for real, my son just asked me (I got it wrong):
Do river otters have webbed feet?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
February 10, 2009 question
A lot of you guessed something that sounded like "BAL-kee," but only these people correctly spelled his name Balki (and all but one self-professed cheater left out the Bartokomous): Paul C (the C stands for Came From The Balkans), Larry, and Cindy. Get out of the city, all of you.
Now, on to today's question:
What is the most popular name both for pet cats and for pet dogs in the U.S.?
Now, on to today's question:
What is the most popular name both for pet cats and for pet dogs in the U.S.?
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