Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Digest for rec.games.trivia@googlegroups.com - 17 updates in 3 topics

Bruce <bbowler@bigelow.org>: May 23 01:48PM

On Mon, 22 May 2017 13:13:09 -0500, Mark Brader wrote:
 
> 8. What is the speed of light in vacuum?
 
186,000 miles/second
swp <stephen.w.perry@gmail.com>: May 23 01:19PM -0700

299,800,000 meters per second
 
swp, over the lan and through the firewalls to msb we go...
msb@vex.net (Mark Brader): May 23 04:06PM -0500

Mark Brader:
> 8. What is the speed of light in vacuum?
 
Bruce Bowler 186,000 mi/s /1.0015182637
ArenEss 186,000 mi/s /1.0015182637
Joshua Kreitzer 186,200 mi/s /1.0004425217
 
** CORRECT ** 299,792,458 m/s
 
Stephen Perry 299,800,000 m/s *1.0000251574
 
This was a metrology question because the meter is now defined in
terms of the second and the speed of light, thus making the correct
answer exact by definition.
 
Bruce Bowler, who posted later than the entrant posting as "ArenEss",
is eliminated. This contest is now open only to Joshua Kreitzer,
Stephen Perry, and ArenEss. You have up to 4 days to enter Round 9,
from the time this is posted.
 
 
9. One way to describe the shape of an ellipse, or an ellipsoid of
rotation, is the "flattening factor", which is how much you have
to multiply the *difference between the axes* by in order to
get the length of the major axis. For example, in an ellipse
whose axes are 72 and 90 potrzebies long, the flattening
factor is 5, since 5 в (90 - 72) = 90. A narrower ellipse
has a smaller flattening factor. So, in the WGS84 reference
ellipsoid representing the shape of the Earth, what is the
flattening factor?
 
--
Mark Brader | "It is refreshing to have Republican presidential
Toronto | candidates we can believe about *something*.
msb@vex.net | I believe what Bush says about Dole...
| And... what Dole says about Bush." --Craig B. Leman
 
My text in this article is in the public domain.
swp <stephen.w.perry@gmail.com>: May 23 02:43PM -0700

I hope I didn't do this backwards, or misguess on the oceans impact.
 
298 1/4
 
swp
ArenEss <areness1@yahoo.com>: May 23 06:08PM -0500

> has a smaller flattening factor. So, in the WGS84 reference
> ellipsoid representing the shape of the Earth, what is the
> flattening factor?
 
1 / 300
 
ArenEss
Joshua Kreitzer <gromit82@hotmail.com>: May 24 01:57AM

msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) wrote in news:-YSdnYu14pftObnEnZ2dnUU7-
> has a smaller flattening factor. So, in the WGS84 reference
> ellipsoid representing the shape of the Earth, what is the
> flattening factor?
 
 
My guess:
1000
 
--
Joshua Kreitzer
gromit82@hotmail.com
msb@vex.net (Mark Brader): May 23 11:38PM -0500

Mark Brader:
> has a smaller flattening factor. So, in the WGS84 reference
> ellipsoid representing the shape of the Earth, what is the
> flattening factor?
 
ArenEss 1/300 /89,477.16707
Stephen Perry 298 1/4 /1.0000242198
 
** CORRECT ** 298.257223563
 
Joshua Kreitzer 1,000 *3.352810665
 
See e.g. http://confluence.qps.nl/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=29855173
for the correct answer.
 
The entrant posting as "ArenEss" has apparently eliminated themselves
by misreading the question, with the result that we're down to Joshua
Kreitzer and Stephen Perry for the final round. You have 4 days to
enter, if you need it.
 
 
10. What is the (universal) gravitational constant? (Obviously, I am
not asking for a definition of it!)
 
--
Mark Brader "So the American government went to IBM
Toronto to come up with a data encryption standard
msb@vex.net and they came up with...?" "EBCDIC!"
 
My text in this article is in the public domain.
msb@vex.net (Mark Brader): May 23 11:40PM -0500

Mark Brader:
> has a smaller flattening factor. So, in the WGS84 reference
> ellipsoid representing the shape of the Earth, what is the
> flattening factor?
 
ArenEss 1/300 /89,477.16707
Stephen Perry 298 1/4 /1.0000242198
 
** CORRECT ** 298.257223563
 
Joshua Kreitzer 1,000 *3.352810665
 
See e.g. http://confluence.qps.nl/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=29855173
for the correct answer.
 
The entrant posting as "ArenEss" has apparently eliminated themselves
by misreading the question, with the result that we're down to Joshua
Kreitzer and Stephen Perry for the final round. You have 4 days to
enter, if you need it.
 
 
10. What is the (universal) gravitational constant? (Obviously, a
definition of what it means is not what I'm asking for!)
 
--
Mark Brader "So the American government went to IBM
Toronto to come up with a data encryption standard
msb@vex.net and they came up with...?" "EBCDIC!"
 
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Joshua Kreitzer <gromit82@hotmail.com>: May 24 05:35AM

msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) wrote in news:EpidnUWz1N0mk7jEnZ2dnUU7-
> enter, if you need it.
 
> 10. What is the (universal) gravitational constant? (Obviously, a
> definition of what it means is not what I'm asking for!)
 
Not knowing the unit for this, I'm going to give an answer:
 
9.8 meters per second per second
 
because it's something that I know that does have to do with gravity.
 
--
Joshua Kreitzer
gromit82@hotmail.com
swp <stephen.w.perry@gmail.com>: May 23 10:54PM -0700

On Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 12:40:32 AM UTC-4, Mark Brader wrote:
> Toronto to come up with a data encryption standard
> msb@vex.net and they came up with...?" "EBCDIC!"
 
> My text in this article is in the public domain.
 
6.066 x 10^-11 meters^3 * kg^-1 * seconds^-2 (the # of the beast, or close to it)
 
swp, who hates coding errors at 1:45am
msb@vex.net (Mark Brader): May 24 01:25AM -0500

Mark Brader:
> 10. What is the value of the (universal) gravitational constant?
 
Stephen Perry 0.00000000006066 m³/kg s² /1.100
 
** CORRECT ** 0.0000000000667428 m³/kg s²
 
Joshua Kreitzer 9.8 m/s²
 
For the correct answer see the same source as in the astronomy round.
 
 
In a disappointing finish, this contest has effectively ended with two
consecutive self-disqualifications -- this one by Joshua Kreitzer for
giving an answer with the wrong dimensionality. It likely wouldn't've
mattered anyway, as this was a pretty tough question and STEPHEN PERRY
came nearly within 10% of the correct answer.
 
So hearty congratulations to Stephen, who has stayed the course and wins
this contest!
--
Mark Brader | "If you have any problems, any at all, you come see me...
Toronto | although that would be a huge admission of failure on your part."
msb@vex.net | --Veronica, "Better Off Ted" (Becky Mann & Audra Sielaff)
 
My text in this article is in the public domain.
tool@panix.com (Dan Blum): May 24 04:04AM

This is Rotating Quiz #257. Entries must be posted by Tuesday,
May 30th, 2017 at 11 PM (Eastern Daylight Time).
 
Usual rules: no looking anything up, no discussion, etc. The winner
gets to create the next RQ.
 
Please post your answers to all questions in a single followup in the
newsgroup, quoting the questions and placing your answer below each
one. Only one answer is allowed per question.
 
This quiz has a theme but since it should be obvious it does not
affect the scoring, which is 1 point per question; for this quiz I am
not going to deduct for misspellings as long as I can be sure what was
meant. If the answer is a person's name only the surname is required
unless the person is commonly known by a single name, in which case
that is sufficient. If any other part of the name is given (the first
name for most people, the surname for others) it must be correct for
the answer to score.
 
In case of a tie, the first tiebreaker will be whoever scored the most
points on the hardest questions (defined post-facto as the ones which
the fewest people got any points on). Second tiebreaker will be
posting order.
 
1. Not much of note happened in 257 (that we have a record of, at
least), but one thing that might have is the birth of Saint Gregory
the Illuminator. He is credited with converting his native country to
Christianity and is its patron saint. This country was the first to
officially adopt Christianity: name it.
 
Please decode the rot13 for questions 2-10 only after answering
question 1.
 
2. Guvf Fbivrg pbzcbfre vf orfg xabja sbe uvf onyyrgf Tnlnar naq
Fcnegnphf, va cnegvphyne n zbirzrag yngr va gur sbezre jurer gur
qnapref cresbez jvgu fjbeqf.
 
3. Guvf Fbivrg nvepensg qrfvtare cnegarerq jvgu Zvxunvy Therivpu gb
sbez n qrfvta ohernh; gur ohernh jnf anzrq sbe gurz ohg jnf trarenyyl
xabja nf "ZvT."
 
4. Guvf fvatre-fbatjevgre jnf obea va Rtlcg ohg zbirq gb Pnanqn nf n
puvyq. Ur unf unq n irel fhpprffshy pnerre nf n puvyqera'f
ragregnvare, jvgu fbatf fhpu nf "Onanancubar" naq "Onol Oryhtn." Ur vf
nyfb na raivebazrag npgvivfg naq ehaf gur Pragre sbe Puvyq Ubabhevat.
 
5. Guvf Nzrevpna npgerff jnf bar bs gur bevtvany pnfg bs FPGI. Fur unf
nyfb qbar pbafvqrenoyr svyz jbex (zbfg erpragyl va Zl Ovt Sng Terrx
Jrqqvat 2) naq fgntr jbex; fur unf zber Gbal abzvangvbaf sbe Srngherq
Npgerff va n Zhfvpny guna nalbar ryfr naq unf jba gjvpr, sbe Zl
Snibevgr Lrne naq Cvccva. (Abj jr frr jub jnf cnlvat nggragvba gur
bgure jrrx.)
 
6. Guvf Nzrevpna cnvagre jnf sebz jurer lbh fubhyq rkcrpg, ohg nsgre
neevivat va gur HF punatrq uvf anzr naq pynvzrq gb or eryngrq gb n
snzbhf Ehffvna jevgre. Uvf rneyl jbex jnf urnivyl vasyhraprq ol
Prmnaar ohg ur yngre qnooyrq jvgu phovfz naq orpnzr n fheernyvfg; ur
jnf tbbq sevraqf jvgu Naqer Oergba naq bar bs uvf zbfg snzbhf (naq
ynetrfg) cnvagvatf, Gur Yvire vf gur Pbpx'f Pbzo, jnf qvfcynlrq ng gur
Fheernyvfg'f ynfg fubj. Ur pbzzvggrq fhvpvqr va 1948.
 
7. Guvf Pnanqvna vf orfg xabja nf n svyz qverpgbe. Nzbat uvf svyzf ner
Gur Fjrrg Urernsgre, Puybr (uvf uvturfg-tebffvat svyz), Gur Pncgvir,
Neneng, naq Sryvpvn'f Wbhearl.
 
8. Guvf Nzrevpna nhgube jebgr znal obbxf, fgbevrf, naq cynlf. Uvf
orfg-xabja cynl vf cebonoyl Gur Gvzr bs Lbhe Yvsr, juvpu jba gur 1939
Chyvgmre sbe qenzn naq jnf yngre znqr vagb n zbir fgneevat Wnzrf
Pntarl. Uvf abiry Gur Uhzna Pbzrql jnf bevtvanyyl n fperracynl naq jnf
va snpg znqr nf n zbivr fgneevat Zvpxrl Ebbarl; <nafjre 8> jba gur
Bfpne sbe orfg fgbel sbe guvf.
 
9. Guvf Nzrevpna fvatre naq npgerff bevtvanyyl orpnzr cbchyne nf cneg
bs n qhb jvgu ure gura-uhfonaq ohg unf orra sylvat fbyb fvapr
1975. Fur fgnegrq ure npgvat pnerre va 1982 naq qvq zbfg bs ure orfg
npgvat jbex va gur 80f, vapyhqvat jvaavat na Bfpne. Fur nyfb unf na
Rzzl naq n Tenzzl.
 
10. Guvf Pnanqvna jnf bar bs gur orfg-xabja cbegenvg cubgbtencuref bs
gur 20gu praghel. Cbffvoyl uvf zbfg snzbhf jbex jnf uvf 1941 cvpgher
bs Jvafgba Puhepuvyy ba gur pbire bs Yvsr, ohg ur nyfb cubgbtencurq 50
bguref bs gur zbfg 100 vasyhragvny crbcyr bs gur 20gu praghel,
nppbeqvat gb Vagreangvbany Jub'f Jub. (Naq ur jnf ba gur yvfg
uvzfrys.)
 
 
--
_______________________________________________________________________
Dan Blum tool@panix.com
"I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."
msb@vex.net (Mark Brader): May 23 11:36PM -0500

Dan Blum:
> the Illuminator. He is credited with converting his native country to
> Christianity and is its patron saint. This country was the first to
> officially adopt Christianity: name it.
 
Oh, my. This has to be somewhere near the Mediterranean, but what
areas near the Mediterranean would even have been "countries" then
as opposed to parts of the Roman Empire? And it certain wasn't the
Empire itself.
 
Well, I don't have a good guess, so I'll say Cyprus.
 
< 4. This singer-songwriter was born in Egypt but moved to Canada as a
< child. He has had a very successful career as a children's
< entertainer, with songs such as "Bananaphone" and "Baby Beluga." He is
< also an environment activist and runs the Center for Child Honouring.
 
Raffi.
 
< 7. This Canadian is best known as a film director. Among his films are
< The Sweet Hereafter, Chloe (his highest-grossing film), The Captive,
< Ararat, and Felicia's Journey.
 
Egoyan.
 
< 8. This American author wrote many books, stories, and plays. His
< best-known play is probably The Time of Your Life, which won the 1939
< Pulitzer for drama and was later made into a move starring James
< Cagney. His novel The Human Comedy was originally a screenplay and was
< in fact made as a movie starring Mickey Rooney; <answer 8> won the
< Oscar for best story for this.
 
Agee.
 
< 9. This American singer and actress originally became popular as part
< of a duo with her then-husband but has been flying solo since
< 1975. She started her acting career in 1982 and did most of her best
< acting work in the 80s, including winning an Oscar. She also has an
< Emmy and a Grammy.
 
Cher.
 
< 10. This Canadian was one of the best-known portrait photographers of
< the 20th century. Possibly his most famous work was his 1941 picture
< of Winston Churchill on the cover of Life, but he also photographed 50
< others of the most 100 influential people of the 20th century,
< according to International Who's Who. (And he was on the list
< himself.)
 
Karsh.
 
Well, I'm pretty sure of those last 5 answers and I don't see the theme.
Cher's surname was Sarkisian at some point in her life; so are they all
of Armenian birth or ancestry, maybe? If so, too late for #1. But then...
 
< 2. This Soviet composer is best known for his ballets Gayane and
< Spartacus, in particular a movement late in the former where the
< dancers perform with swords.
 
Khatchaturian?
 
< 5. This American actress was one of the original cast of SCTV. She has
< also done considerable film work (most recently in My Big Fat Greek
< Wedding 2) and stage work; she has more Tony nominations for Featured
< Actress in a Musical than anyone else and has won twice, for My
< Favorite Year and Pippin. (Now we see who was paying attention the
< other week.)
 
I might as well guess Vardalos.
 
No guesses on the other two.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | Actor sent to jail for not finishing sentence
msb@vex.net | --Knoxville, TN, News-Sentinel, 1989-01-21
 
My text in this article is in the public domain.
"Peter Smyth" <smythp@gmail.com>: May 23 03:37PM

Mark Brader wrote:
 
 
> * Game 3, Round 4 - Geography - Eponymous Airports
 
> In each case, name the major city that the airport serves.
 
> 1. George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Houston
> 2. Robert L. Stanfield International Airport.
> 3. Norman Manley International Airport.
> 4. Frédéric Chopin International Airport.
Warsaw
> 5. Nikola Tesla International Airport.
> 6. Franz Josef Strauss International Airport.
Vienna
> 7. Benito Juárez International Airport.
Mexico City
> 8. Louis Armstrong International Airport.
New Orleans
> 9. Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
Budapest
> 10. Václav Havel International Airport.
Prague
> skull "For the Love of God", which sold for $77,900,00 in 2007.
> Other works include various sharks in formaldehyde and medicine
> cabinets.
Damien Hirst
> are similar to Francis Bacon's. When he visited California,
> where he eventually settled, he produced a series of realistic
> paintings of swimming pools. His estimated worth is $40,000,000.
David Hockney
> and located in Chicago's Millennium Park, and "Sky Mirror",
> another stainless-steel piece that looks like a satellite dish.
> His estimated worth is $71,000,000.
Anish Kapoor
> 1998 that uses the filthy bed where she drank, slept, smoked,
> ate, and copulated while going through an emotional crisis.
> That piece eventually sold for over £2,500,000.
Tracy Emin
> he was commissioned by Mark Zuckerberg in 2007 to paint murals
> in Facebook's new headquarters and was paid in Facebook stock.
> He is worth an estimated $200,000,000.
 
 
Peter Smyth
Erland Sommarskog <esquel@sommarskog.se>: May 23 07:37PM +0200

> * Game 3, Round 4 - Geography - Eponymous Airports
 
> In each case, name the major city that the airport serves.
 
> 1. George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
 
Austin, TX
 
> 4. Frédéric Chopin International Airport.
 
Warsaw. (I was there just the other day.)
 
> 5. Nikola Tesla International Airport.
 
Belgrade
 
> 6. Franz Josef Strauss International Airport.
 
Munich
 
> 7. Benito Juárez International Airport.
 
Mexico City
 
> 8. Louis Armstrong International Airport.
 
New Orleans
 
> 9. Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
 
Budapest
 
> 10. Václav Havel International Airport.
 
Prague
 
 
--
Erland Sommarskog, Stockholm, esquel@sommarskog.se
Jason Kreitzer <jk71875@gmail.com>: May 23 07:21PM -0700

On Monday, May 22, 2017 at 9:11:39 PM UTC-4, Mark Brader wrote:
 
> * Game 3, Round 4 - Geography - Eponymous Airports
 
> In each case, name the major city that the airport serves.
 
> 1. George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Houston, TX
> 2. Robert L. Stanfield International Airport.
> 3. Norman Manley International Airport.
> 4. Frédéric Chopin International Airport.
Warsaw?
> 5. Nikola Tesla International Airport.
> 6. Franz Josef Strauss International Airport.
Vienna?
> 7. Benito Juárez International Airport.
> 8. Louis Armstrong International Airport.
New Orleans
> 9. Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
> 10. Václav Havel International Airport.
Prague
Dan Tilque <dtilque@frontier.com>: May 23 09:17PM -0700

Mark Brader wrote:
 
> * Game 3, Round 4 - Geography - Eponymous Airports
 
> In each case, name the major city that the airport serves.
 
> 1. George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
 
Houston
 
> 2. Robert L. Stanfield International Airport.
> 3. Norman Manley International Airport.
> 4. Frédéric Chopin International Airport.
 
Wroclaw
 
> 5. Nikola Tesla International Airport.
 
Belgrade
 
> 6. Franz Josef Strauss International Airport.
> 7. Benito Juárez International Airport.
> 8. Louis Armstrong International Airport.
 
New Orleans
 
> 9. Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
 
Budapest
 
> 10. Václav Havel International Airport.
 
Prague
 
 
--
Dan Tilque
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