Five-quiz schedule continues; new tournament beginning at Drinker's!

Sunday, July 27, 9pm
Lyon's Den
2nd & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: THINGS THAT STINK

Monday, July 28, 9pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: HAUTE CUISINE

Tuesday, July 29, 9pm
Drinker's Tavern
Market St. between Front & 2nd Sts.
Subject Round: BALLS
First week of six-week tournament cycle - excellent chance to get in on the ground floor of winning a great bonus prize!

Wednesday, July 30, 7:30pm
12 Steps Down
9th & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: AFRICA

Wednesday, July 30, 9:15pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: LIGHT AND DARK

Can you figure out this week's Secret Theme rounds?

Each group of 10 otherwise unrelated tough questions has a theme running through its answers. Can you answer the questions and figure out the themes? Answers will be posted early next week.

12 Steps Down:

1) What word in Judaism refers to obeying any one of the 613 Torah commandments, 7 rabbinical commandments, or more broadly to any act of kindess?

2) What regular character in the early years of Saturday Night Live habitually read letters from (fictional) viewer Richard Feder of Fort Lee, NJ?

3) What group of villains was organized by Doctor Octopus to destroy Spider-Man?

4) What big-budget 2001 movie starred Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsale?

5) What American rock band, formed in 1986, took their unusual name from a skit on the 1980 Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album?

6) What 1999 gay romantic comedy was nominated for Best Picture at Sundance and featured Tori Spelling?

7) What country singer, daughter of another famous country singer, had 11 #1 singles on the country charts in the 1980s?

8) Finish the Jonathan Swift quote: "He was a brave man that first ate..."

9) What Japanese word, now a word in English as well, translates literally as "it's sour"?

10) What German Baroque composer gave us Messiah, Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks?

... and what theme links the ten answers?

Ray's Happy Birthday Bar, Wednesday:

1) For what film did Charlize Theron win the Best Actress Oscar in 2003?

2) How much is a "dime" in high stakes gambling?

3) Which is the only US state with one unified school district?

4) What famous estate in Santa Barbara County, California, estimated worth $100 million, was bought from golf course mogul William Bone in 1987?

5) What record did Mark David Chapman have John Lennon autograph the same day he shot him?

6) From what 1948 film do we get the popular misquote "Badges?! We don't need no stinkin' badges!"?

7) What American politician was shot fatally on September 8, 1935?

8) What 1979 thriller starred Clint Eastwood and Patrick McGoohan?

9) What is the Alaskan brown bear also known as?

10) What international airline now has a "Green" division dedicated to finding a cleaner source of fuel?

... and what theme links the ten answers?

Solutions to last week's Secret Theme rounds

Lyon's Den:

The theme was Scientologists. All of the following people are or were involved in the cult.

1) What band had a #1 song in the US in 1973 with "Frankenstein"?
The Edgar Winter Group

2) Who played Bobby Wheeler on the sit-com Taxi? Jeff Conaway, who, thanks to the group, like, totally kicked his substance abuse problem

3) Who hosts the Fox News show On the Record? Greta Van Susteren

4) Who has been involved in lengthy court battles regarding the release of his 1998 album Mutations? Beck

5) What US Congressman died in a skiing accident in 1998? Sonny Bono

6) What rapper, also known as "The Human Beatbox", had a hit with "The Show" in 1985? Doug E. Fresh

7) What Simpsons voice talent regular is the voice of Ralph Wiggum? Nancy Cartwright

8) What singer, the "Queen of Funk Soul", was born Yvette Marie Stevens? Chaka Khan

9) What actress was engaged to Brad Pitt while costarring with him in Kalifornia and Too Young to Die?? Juliette Lewis

10) Who killed Joan Vollmer in Mexico City, 1951? William S. Burroughs

Ray's Happy Birthday Bar, Monday:

Seeing as this was Bastille Day, the theme was months of the French Republican calendar.

1) A strike related to what fruit led Cesar Chavez into the labor movement in 1965? Grapes / grape harvest

2) What 2003 Academy Award-winning documentary focused on the career of Robert McNamara? Fog of War / fog

3) What American poet took part in the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy? Robert Frost / frost

4) What former White House press secretary died of colon cancer last weekend? Tony Snow / snow

5) What 1966 Beatles song, according to some their first true psychedelic recording, is the B-side of "Paperback Writer"? "Rain" / rain

6) Who's trippin' down the streets of the city, smilin' at everybody she sees? Everyone knows it's... Windy! / wind

7) What decades-old CBS News expose of the plight of migrant farm workers was considered a highpoint of American TV journalism? Harvest of Shame / harvest

8) With what team did Dwayne Wade win the 2006 NBA Finals MVP? Miami Heat / heat

9) What 2-minute Cat Stevens song featured use of the word never 16 times? "The Wind" / wind

10) What is the British term for what we call a slot machine? Fruit (machine) / fruit

Clarence Darrow: Mr. Sunshine

I was paging through the autobiography of the great humanist lawyer Clarence Darrow - in a section merrily titled Delusion of Design and Purpose, no doubt banned from many public schools in the Idiot Belt - when I came across this gem of wisdom:

"The earth and its seas were never made; they are in constant flux, moved by cold and heat and rain, and with no design or purpose that can be fathomed by the wit of man. ...

Men have built faith from hopes. They have struggled and fought in despair. They have frantically clung to life because of the will to live. The best that we can do is to be kindly and helpful toward our friends and fellow passengers who are clinging to the same speck of dirt while we are drifting side by side to our common doom."
Sleep well tonight, kids!

Rob Armstrong explains Fairmount Park's Whispering Bench at the Smith Memorial Arch

Monday night Ray's quiz participant Rob is also a Fairmount Park employee. Visit local broadcasting legend Ed Cunningham's blog on the WHYY site to see video with Rob talking about the memorial and its cool acoustic property.

As I told Rob this evening, he really does have a great face for radio.

This week's sample Secret Theme rounds

Tough rounds this week, good luck!  Each group of 10 otherwise unrelated tough questions has a theme running through its answers. Can you answer the questions and figure out the themes? Answers will be posted early next week.

Lyon's Den:

1) What band had a #1 song in the US in 1973 with "Frankenstein"?

2) Who played Bobby Wheeler on the sit-com Taxi?

3) Who hosts the Fox News show On the Record?

4) Who has been involved in lengthy court battles regarding the release of his 1998 album Mutations?

5) What US Congressman died in a skiing accident in 1998?

6) What rapper, also known as "The Human Beatbox", had a hit with "The Show" in 1985?

7) What Simpsons voice talent regular is the voice of Ralph Wiggum?

8) What singer, the "Queen of Funk Soul", was born Yvette Marie Stevens?

9) What actress was engaged to Brad Pitt while costarring with him in Kalifornia and Too Young to Die??

10) Who killed Joan Vollmer in Mexico City, 1951?

... and what theme links the ten answers?

Ray's Happy Birthday Bar, Monday:

1) A strike related to what fruit led Cesar Chavez into the labor movement in 1965?

2) What 2003 Academy Award-winning documentary focused on the career of Robert McNamara?

3) What American poet took part in the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy?

4) What former White House press secretary died of colon cancer last weekend?

5) What 1966 Beatles song, according to some their first true psychedelic recording, is the B-side of "Paperback Writer"?

6) Who's trippin' down the streets of the city, smilin' at everybody she sees?

7) What decades-old  CBS News expose of the plight of migrant farm workers was considered a highpoint of American TV journalism?

8) With what team did Dwayne Wade win the 2006 NBA Finals MVP?

9) What 2-minute Cat Stevens song featured use of the word never 16 times?

10) What is the British term for what we call a slot machine?

... and what theme links the ten answers?

First 12 Steps Down quiz highlight of next week's quiz schedule

Sunday, July 20, 9pm
Lyon's Den
2nd & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: CARTOONS

Monday, July 21, 9pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: ASIA

Tuesday, July 22, 9pm
Drinker's Tavern
Market St. between Front & 2nd Sts.
Subject Round: WAR MOVIES 

Final week of six-week tournament cycle

Wednesday, July 23, 7:30pm

12 Steps Down

9th & Christian Sts.

Subject Round: FAMOUS FIRSTS

First quiz at 12 Steps!

Wednesday, July 23, 9:15pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: FAMOUS FLOPS

Solutions to last week's Secret Theme rounds

Lyon's Den:

The theme was simply countries.

1) What multiple-album set won the 1972 Grammy for Best Album?  George Harrison "and friends" won for The Concert for Bangla-Desh
2) What cocktail is made with gin, cherry brandy, pineapple and lime juices, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, grenadine and bitters?  Singapore sling
3) What order of Catholic priests was founded in France in the 13th century and is also known as the Order of Preachers?  The Dominicans
4) On Alltel commercials, what's the name of the Alltel salesman we're not supposed to think is a loser like those of the competing companies?  Chad
5) What 1985 film was co-written by Terry Gilliam and Tom Stoppard?  Brazil
6) What pastel-colored, sugar-coated treats are traditionally eaten at weddings as a "bittersweet" symbol of romantic love?  Jordan almonds
7) Who directed Pretty Woman, The Flamingo Kid and The Princess Diaries?  Garry Marshall / Marshall Islands
8) What 2007 movie starred Jane Fonda and Lindsay Lohan?  Georgia Rule
9) What ABC drama, which aired 1988-1991, was set at the 510th Evacuation Hospital?  China Beach
10) What Chilean president was murdered in the 1973 coup?  Salvador Allende

Ray's Happy Birthday Bar, Monday:

The theme was fraternal organizations.

1) What PBS Kids show is produced by Mississippi Public Television, debuted in 2001 and has won 7 consecutive daytime Emmys?  Between the Lions / Lions Club

2) What brand of beer has been brewed by the Oland family in St. John, New Brunswick since 1867? Moosehead / Loyal Order of Moose
3) What British actor was Brutus in Julius Caesar (1953), Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) and Humbert Humbert in Lolita (1962)? James Mason / Freemasons
4) Founded in 2000, this is the only NHL franchise which has yet to make the playoffs.  Columbus Blue Jackets / Knights of Columbus
5) What type of single-person, single-mast dinghy has been used as a training sailboat for young people and a racing sailboat for under-15s since 1947? optimist / Optimists
6) What's the colloquial name for the group of muscles and tendons which stabilize the shoulder? Baseball pitchers often have trouble with it.  rotator cuff / Rotary
7) Located in Los Angeles, this is the largest indoor theater in the US with over 6,300 seats.  Shrine Auditorium / Shriners
8) Name the highest decoration awarded by the French government. There are five grades and the award was created by Napoleon in 1802.  Legion of Honor / American Legion
9) What's the largest variety of deer found in North America and Asia? It's also known as a wapiti.  elk / Elks
10) What word did the Romans use for "Ireland"?  Hibernia / Ancient Order of Hibernians

Dons Quizzote narrowly wins and all but locks up Drinker's tournament

Nice turnout tonight!  Next week we give away the golf bag and other prizes, then a new tournament cycle begins.  The gift cards for tab are available as prizes every week.

Beautiful Gold: Dons Quizzote  112
So-So Silver: The Help 109
Shameful, Shameful Bronze: Doltastic Cat Masters  98

Also-rans:

Kathleen Turner Overdrive  88
Quizzo... Tell Me How My Ass Taste?!  72

Cumulative Drinker's Tournament Points After Five Weeks (competitive only):

Dons Quizzote 479
The Help 278

It's not mathematically possible for anyone else to win the golf bag, etc. next week.  In fact even The Help needs something of a miracle to win.

Sir Queeremy Juddlebaum wins tight contest at Ray's

Once again I find myself updating the site away from home; this week's and last's photos will go up in a couple of days.

Beautiful Gold: Sir Queeremy Juddlebaum  112
So-So Silver: Late Room 100
Shameful, Shameful Bronze: Old Standby  97

Also-ran: 

Edward James Almost  88

Bend Over I'll Drive wins easily at Lyon's Den

Bend Over I'll Drive, who were last week's Ignoring the Clitoris and effectively have a nice little dynasty going, won by 28 Sunday night.

Beautiful Gold: Bend Over I'll Drive  127

So-So Silver: Tampin' the Poon  99

Shameful, Shameful Bronze: Dr. Kenneth Noisewater  72

Also-ran:

Whatever*  48

Those Guys*  41

* team quit

Obama campaign apparently run by irony-challenged idiots

The flap over the recent New Yorker cover featuring the Obamas strongly suggests that the campaign is being run by small-minded people who don't understand satire.  A reasonably intelligent middle school student with a passing knowledge of Western humor - the kind that comes, from, say, living in the United States - would immediately recognize the cartoon as supportive of the Obama campaign through an obvious mocking of wacky right-wing conspiracy fairy tales.

Obama people have called the cartoon "tasteless and offensive."  I don't think it is.  I think calls for reverent self-censorship are tasteless and offensive.  I think Obama's repeated votes to fund the Bush wars in the Middle East , his vote to renew the PATRIOT Act and his vote to shield the telecoms and Bush administration from the consequences of violating our constitutional rights are tasteless and offensive.

The readership of the magazine is widely known as being pretty darn liberal, and it's safe to say that most of the staff and readership were planning to vote for Obama, at least up until this point.  (That is, if they could stomach the series of right-wing positions Obama has embraced since clinching the Democratic nomination.)

Obama supporters are bizarrely claiming that "addressing" the cartoon might sidetrack Obama from dealing with real issues.  Here's some video of him taking on the hard issues:

If the campaign truly wants to address some serious issues, then they will allow Ralph Nader and Bob Barr to debate Obama and McCain.  Don't hold your breath; the last thing the two major campaigns want is to lose control of a narrow definition of acceptable debate issues.

Ironically Senator Obama appears to have the same aversion to irreverent cartoons and/or free speech displayed by actual radical Muslims.  Could there be any worse misstep by the campaign than taking the condescending position that Americans can't understand satire, which therefore makes use of it inappropriate?  Frequently Obama is accused of being an out-of-touch elite, and frequently the campaign responds to this by acting like out-of-touch elites.  "Brilliant!"

Early Wednesday night quiz to begin July 23rd at 12 Steps Down!

The good folks at 12 Steps Down (map/address at link) contacted me about doing an early Wednesday quiz, beginning at 7:30.  The first game will take place July 23rd.  It will be the same format as my other games, and we'll have gift certificates for first and second place plus T-shirts etc. as post-game shout-outs.

I will then run down to Ray's and do a completely different quiz starting at 9:30.  You can play both, or you can stay at 12 Steps, which might have some sort of "Loser's Happy Hour" to entice you to hang out longer.

Maybe I'll even ask questions in the three blocks in between, like some sort of trivia Pied Piper.

Group W comes back to win in small Wednesday night turnout at Ray's

Beautiful Gold: Group W 149
So-So Silver: Kisses for Kittens 120
Shameful, Shameful Bronze: Late Room 114

Also-ran:

Edward James Almost 79

W was in last place after the first two rounds, crept up through the game to tie with Kisses for Kittens after the fifth round, and pulled ahead in the last round with an impressive six correct.

The Help won by four at Drinker's last week

The Help won Tuesday but only gained 4 points on tournament leaders Dons Quizzote.  Two weeks remain in the tourney for the golf bag and other prizes.  More is given away at this game than any other I do; consider stopping by some time.

Beautiful Gold: The Help  117
So-So Silver: Dons Quizzote  113
Shameful, Shameful Bronze:  Love Weed 2.3  72

Also-rans:

The Lashes  68

Dru Tang, Up from the 39th Level*  55

* team quit

Cumulative Drinker's Tournament Points After Four Weeks (competitive only):

Dons Quizzote 367

The Help 169
My Couch Pulls Out But I Don't 120
Quizzo...Tell Me How My Ass Taste?! 98
Doltastics 97

Crank Monsters 77

The Lashes  68

This week's sample Secret Theme rounds

Each group of 10 otherwise unrelated tough questions has a theme running through its answers. Can you answer the questions and figure out the themes? Answers will be posted early next week.

Lyon's Den:

1) What multiple-album set won the 1972 Grammy for Best Album?

2) What cocktail is made with gin, cherry brandy, pineapple and lime juices, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, grenadine and bitters?

3) What order of Catholic priests was founded in France in the 13th century and is also known as the Order of Preachers?

4) On Alltel commercials, what's the name of the Alltel salesman we're not supposed to think is a loser like those of the competing companies?

5) What 1985 film was co-written by Terry Gilliam and Tom Stoppard?

6) What pastel-colored, sugar-coated treats are traditionally eaten at weddings as a "bittersweet" symbol of romantic love?

7) Who directed Pretty Woman, The Flamingo Kid and The Princess Diaries?

8) What 2007 movie starred Jane Fonda and Lindsay Lohan?

9) What ABC drama, which aired 1988-1991, was set at the 510th Evacuation Hospital?

10) What Chilean president was murdered in the 1973 coup?

... and what theme links the ten answers?

Ray's Happy Birthday Bar, Monday:

1) What PBS Kids show is produced by Mississippi Public Television, debuted in 2001 and has won 7 consecutive daytime Emmys?

2) What brand of beer has been brewed by the Oland family in St. John, New Brunswick since 1867?

3) What British actor was Brutus in Julius Caesar (1953), Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) and Humbert Humbert in Lolita (1962)?

4) Founded in 2000, this is the only NHL franchise which has yet to make the playoffs.

5) What type of single-person, single-mast dinghy has been used as a training sailboat for young people and a racing sailboat for under-15s since 1947?

6) What's the colloquial name for the group of muscles and tendons which stabilize the shoulder?  Baseball pitchers often have trouble with it.

7) Located in Los Angeles, this is the largest indoor theater in the US with over 6,300 seats.

8) Name the highest decoration awarded by the French government.  There are five grades and the award was created by Napoleon in 1802.

9) What's the largest variety of deer found in North America and Asia?  It's also known as a wapiti.

10) What word did the Romans use for "Ireland"?

... and what theme links the ten answers?

Your quizmaster named "Trivia God"; holy days declared to be Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday by divine decree

Seattle-based pub quiz blog Quiz Quiz Bang Bang is apparently listing this blog on its short link list of Trivia Gods.  I hope to be equal to the honor.  The blog seems to list a whole lot of great questions on a regular basis for you trivia junkies.  Check it out.