It was a strange night of Trivia last night at Professor Thom's We were back downstairs for the first time after four weeks upstairs in the Loft, as there was no Celtics playoff game. The crowd was definitely down, as we had just 12 teams in to play. We spread the word that we were back on the first floor, but I guess many folks had other things to do last night. The night started off with mic and speaker problems, so we had to get the speaker from the Loft and use that. My apologies for all that, as we got going about 20 minutes late.
The night proceeded along fine, and we had a really tight race going into IQ Trivia. But unfortunately, Yours Truly has made goofs in that final round, and I made one last night. In the question, "What country has not fought in a war since 1815?", I thought it was Switzerland, and accepted that as the answer. (Another team had asked me if "civil wars count" in that answer, and I said yes.) But one of the teams pointed out that Switzerland had a civil war among two factions in 1847, so I felt the only proper thing to do in this case (and I have done it in the past when it has happened) is to toss the question and give everyone four points. That made a difference in the final score, as DIMS pulled out the win with 43 points, and the team of Manny Being Manny Being Machado finished second with 41 points. My sincere apologies to them, as it cost them the win (they had answered Switzerland), but I appreciate them being as understanding as they were. I will be more careful with the IQ Trivia questions from now on!
Third place went to Ginyu Pours with 38 points. Best Team Name of the night went to: Screw Technology, We're Going Back to the Corded Mic.
Next week, we are not sure at this time if we will be upstairs in the Loft or downstairs. We are at the mercy of the Celtics. If there is a Game 5 in their series, it will be next Wednesday, and we will be in the Loft. If they sweep the series (they are up 2-0 in the series as I write this), we will be downstairs. I will update our status on the Facebook page when we know for sure.
Current Events
1. What cable TV network laid off over 100 on-air employees last week in response to financial losses and dwindling subscribers?
2. Ground was broken last week on a site in Manhattan where a museum will be built and opened by 2019 for what iconic baseball legend?
3. A British teenager confessed last week to a bomb plot surrounding a concert by what rock superstar in London on last year's anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks?
4. A strong earthquake measuring 6.8 struck off the coast of the island of Mindanao last Saturday in what south east Asian country?
5. The highest court of what Protestant denomination ruled that the consecration of its first openly gay bishop violated church laws?
6. What TV host was named the new permanent co-host on ABC's morning live show with Kelly Ripa this past Monday?
7. The government of Turkey blocked what web site last weekend after they refused to delete articles and comments suggesting the country is cooperating with terrorist groups?
Mexico Trivia
1. Which US state does Tijuana share a border with?
2. Within three, how many states does Mexico have?
3. What country did Mexico defeat on May 5, 1862 at the Battle of Puebla, which the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates?
4. True or False: Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world by population.
5. What is Mexico's second largest city in population after Mexico City?
6. In 1821, what country did Mexico declare its independence from?
7. Mexico's flag is what three colors?
The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. Director Tim Burton's first choice for the title role in "Beetlejuice" was Sammy Davis Jr.
2. The Empire State Building is struck by lightning on average 25 times a year.
3. The Oscar statute is estimated to be worth about $1,000.
4. Author Tennessee Williams was actually born in Mississippi.
5. Twinkies have a shelf life of nearly 20 years.
6. Reno, NV is further west than Los Angeles, CA.
7. John Adams was the first man to sign the Declaration of Independence.
8. The US purchased Florida from England in 1819.
9. The distance from the foul line to the headpin in bowling is 60 feet.
10. The US has the longest coastline of any country in the world.
General Knowledge
1. What famous theme park first opened to the public in July, 1955? ( 1 pt)
2. Manuel Noriega was deposed as dictator of what country by a US invasion in 1989? ( 1 pt)
3. How many vowels are there on the bottom row of a typewriter? ( 1 pt)
4. Acrophobia is the fear of what? ( 2 pt)
5. How many articles does the US Constitution have? ( 2 pt)
6. What color navigation light shines from the starboard side of a ship? ( 2 pt)
7. What animal is the source of the most widely consumed red meat in the world? ( 3 pt)
IQ Trivia
1. What is the only planet of the Solar System that can't be seen by the naked eye? ( 3 points)
2. What country has not fought in a war since 1815? ( 4 points)
3. Pierre Omidyar and Michael Dean Johnson founded what current online company in 1995? ( 4 points)
4. What man did Time magazine select as their "Person of the 20th Century" ( 5 points)
5. Who was the only artist to have a Billboard number one single every year in the decade of the 1990s? ( 4 points)
Answers
Current Events
1. ESPN; 2. Jackie Robinson; 3. Elton John; 4. Philippines; 5. Methodist; 6. Ryan Seacrest; 7. Wikipedia.
Mexico Trivia
1. California; 2. 31; 3. France; 4. true; 5. Guadalajara; 6. Spain; 7. red, white and green.
The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. true; 2. true; 3. false, $150; 4. true; 5. false, 25 days; 6. true; 7. false, John Hancock; 8. false, Spain; 9. true; 10. false, Canada.
General Knowledge
1. Disneyland; 2. Panama; 3. none; 4. heights; 5. seven; 6. green; 7. goat.
IQ Trivia
1. Neptune; 2. Switzerland; 3. eBay; 4. Albert Einstein; 5. Mariah Carey.
