| msb@vex.net (Mark Brader): May 18 07:48AM And now, current-events Questions from the Canadian Inquisition by Bloor St. Irregulars in 2023! (I'll update my introductory companion posting later, but I wanted to get this set out as fast as possible.) These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on the dates indicated, and should be interpreted accordingly. If any answers have changed due to newer news, you are still expected to give the answers that were correct on that date. On each question you may give up to two answers, but if you give both a right answer and a wrong answer, there is a small penalty. Please post all your answers in a single followup to the newsgroup, based only on your own knowledge. (In your answer posting, quote the questions and place your answer below each one.) I will reveal the correct answers in about 3 days. All questions were written by members of Bloor St. Irregulars and are used here by permission, but have been reformatted and may have been retyped and/or edited by me. The posting and tabulation of current-events questions is independent of the concurrent posting of other rounds (currently tagged RQFTCICR14). * Game 1 (2023-05-08), Round 1 - Current Events 1. Let's start things off with that which brought us to a screeching halt three years ago. On Friday, the WHO declared the COVID emergency over. However, what is the name of the current subvariant of interest, which has been associated with pink-eye? 2. It was announced this week that U of T professor and AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton quit his job, warning, "It is hard to see how you can prevent the bad actors from using it for bad things". Which employer did he leave? 3. Canadian Tire was certainly in the news last week. They announced both a partnership with Petro-Canada, and that they were acquiring the leases for 10 locations formerly occupied by what American retailer, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year? 4. The fallout from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank continued this week. Which bank was seized on Monday by regulators and sold to JPMorgan Chase? 5. The Calgary Flames fired their head coach this week. Who was he? It was his second stint with the Flames. He has also won two Stanley Cups as head coach of the L.A. Kings, in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons. 6. The 149th edition of the Kentucky Derby was not without controversy. A record number of horses, including the favorite, were scratched from the main race; and in the week leading up to the race, a number of horses died, some from mysterious causes. Within 1, how many horses died in the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby? 7. The inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2023 were announced on Wednesday. Please name any one on the list from the Performer category -- the main category. 8. Sundown came this week for what 84-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter? He was a pioneer in folk, rock, pop, and country music who wrote hundreds of songs for himself and many other artists, but arguably he will be best remembered for the tale of a Lake Superior shipwreck. 9. On Tuesday, which Saskatchewan community became the first of the Dakota First Nations to sign a treaty with Canada? This treaty formally recognizes the community as Indigenous people of Canada, and acknowledges their inherent right to self-governance? 10. The signature dish served at coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II was Coronation Chicken, a chicken salad which became ubiquitous in England. Only time will tell if King Charles III's choice of signature dish for his coronation will achieve a similar status. Name that dish. After completing the round, please decode the rot13: Ba gur svefg dhrfgvba, gur nafjre vf n fhoinevnag bs Bzvpeba. Fb vs lbh fnvq Bzvpeba, cyrnfr tb onpx naq or zber fcrpvsvp. * Game 2 (2023-05-15), Round 1 - Current Events 1. On Saturday, Sweden won the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Name the singer, who became the first woman to win the prize *twice*. 2. The video game "Tears of the Kingdom" was released on May 12, with devoted fans everywhere lining up days before to get their copy. This is the 29th entry in this beloved, 37-year-old, Nintendo-only series of games. Name this franchise. 3. The NHL draft Lottery was held on Monday night. Like previously named "Connor McDavid" and "Auston Matthews" drafts, this year's draft was named after what hot commodity? 4. The Leafs are out of the playoffs again, losing game 5 in overtime. Name the Florida Panther who scored the goal that ended the Leafs' season. 5. On Monday, the Federal government revealed the new design for the Canadian Royal Crown that sits atop the Canada Coat of Arms. It replaces religious symbols like crosses and fleur-de-lis with more traditional Canadian symbols. Name one of the two prominent new symbols. 6. This week, Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei was declared persona non grata due to alleged attempts to intimidate a Conservative MP. Name that MP. 7. Earlier this week, the Globe And Mail reported that Canada is interested in joining what currently trilateral security pact? 8. On Wednesday, every province except Alberta and Quebec participated in a test of Canada's national public-alert system. What is the name of the system? 9. On Monday, what Juno-winning Canadian band announced they are breaking up after 27 years? They will finish their current tour and release a final double album, after which we'll just have to see how their individual parts fare. 10. Ah, Internet theories! An untitled book known only as "4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023" was hovering around the top of some major US sales/presales charts. Its rapid rise was attributed to a rumor that it was written by which pop artist? -- Mark Brader | "It is, in fact, a very good rule to be especially suspicious Toronto | of work that says what you want to hear..." msb@vex.net | --Paul Krugman My text in this article is in the public domain. |
| Erland Sommarskog <esquel@sommarskog.se>: May 18 10:51AM +0200 > Geoffrey Hinton quit his job, warning, "It is hard to see how > you can prevent the bad actors from using it for bad things". > Which employer did he leave? > the race, a number of horses died, some from mysterious causes. > Within 1, how many horses died in the week leading up to the > Kentucky Derby? 4 > country music who wrote hundreds of songs for himself and many > other artists, but arguably he will be best remembered for the > tale of a Lake Superior shipwreck. Gordon Lightfoot > After completing the round, please decode the rot13: Ba gur svefg > dhrfgvba, gur nafjre vf n fhoinevnag bs Bzvpeba. Fb vs lbh fnvq > Bzvpeba, cyrnfr tb onpx naq or zber fcrpvsvp. I realised that. That's why I left it blank. Covid has fallen so much of the news here, that no one is talking about pink eyes. > * Game 2 (2023-05-15), Round 1 - Current Events > 1. On Saturday, Sweden won the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Name > the singer, who became the first woman to win the prize *twice*. Loreen > 3. The NHL draft Lottery was held on Monday night. Like previously > named "Connor McDavid" and "Auston Matthews" drafts, this year's > draft was named after what hot commodity? That must be another Connor - I read about in the newspaper about an hour ago. But I do recall his last name? No. > Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023" was hovering around the > top of some major US sales/presales charts. Its rapid rise was > attributed to a rumor that it was written by which pop artist? Brian May |
| msb@vex.net (Mark Brader): May 18 06:25AM These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2014-03-24, and should be interpreted accordingly. All questions were written by members of the Cellar Rats, but have been reformatted and may have been retyped and/or edited by me. I will reveal the correct answers in about 3 days. For further information, including an explanation of the """ notation that may appear in these rounds, see my 2022-09-09 companion posting on "Reposted Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)". * Game 9, Round 7 - Miscellaneous - Horsey Logos Please see the handout at: http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/9-7/horse.jpg The elongated X-in-a-box marks show where an answer has been removed. I have sorted the round in order of the handout, so the 8 decoys are interspersed with the questions; and them if you like for fun, but for no points. Some of them include prominent words, like "Chess" in C. In such cases the words may or may not be part of the answer, but they are never the complete answer. 1. Logo A (decoy). 2. Logo B (decoy). 3. Logo C: Name the company. 4. Logo D (decoy). 5. Logo E: Name the company. 6. Logo F: Name the company. 7. Logo G (decoy). 8. Logo H: Name the sports team. 9. Logo I: Originally a saddle and bridle maker, now a maker of high-end leather goods and fashion. Name the company. 10. Logo J: What sort of products does this Winchester company make? 11. Logo K (decoy). 12. Logo L (decoy). 13. Logo M: What sort of products does this Coach company make? 14. Logo N: Complete the name of the organization. 15. Logo O: Name the specific model of car, or just the maker. 16. Logo P: Name the clothing company. 17. Logo Q (decoy). 18. Logo R. (Decoy. And for more fun, but still for no points: explain the two stick-like things.) * Game 9, Round 8 - History - Mao's China The following round relates to the People's Republic of China in and around the time when it was led by Mao Tse-Tung (or Zedong). As usual, where a personal name is required you must give the surname, which in this round would be the first name, e.g. Mao. 1. In what year was the People's Republic of China founded? 2. Who was China's Prime Minister from 1949 till his death in 1976, having a moderating influence on Mao's rule? 3. From October 1934 to October 1935, Mao and his followers went on a lengthy journey to evade the forces of the Kuomintang. What was this journey called? 4. In 1958, what disastrous economic campaign did Mao begin? It was supposed to create rapid industrialization, but in fact resulted in famine for many millions of Chinese. 5. In 1965 Mao's wife Jiang Qing was involved in writing an article criticizing a historical drama called "Hai Rui Dismissed from Office", written by Beijing's deputy mayor Wu Han. What violent political Maoist campaign was this article the precursor to? 6. Which major story in July 1969 did the news media of the People's Republic of China not report? 7. In 1971 the People's Republic of China entered the United Nations and its Security Council, replacing the Republic of China, or Taiwan, which had represented China at the UN. Name the then member country of the UN, and also a close ally of the People's Republic of China, that sponsored their entry into the UN. 8. After more than 20 years of frozen political relations between the People's Republic of China and the United States, relations finally thawed in 1971 after a secret visit by US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to Beijing. What sport was instrumental in the thaw in relations after a US sports team visited the People's Republic of China in April 1971? 9. In 1976, shortly after Mao's death, Mao's wife Jiang Qing and three of her followers were arrested for anti-party activities. What term was used to describe this group of people? It is now widely used to describe any like-sized group of political allies. 10. By what nautical-sounding term was Mao often referred to during his years in power? -- Mark Brader | "This is a moral that runs at large; Toronto | Take it. -- You're welcome. -- No extra charge." msb@vex.net | -- Oliver Wendell Holmes My text in this article is in the public domain. |
| Erland Sommarskog <esquel@sommarskog.se>: May 18 10:44AM +0200 > * Game 9, Round 7 - Miscellaneous - Horsey Logos > 6. Logo F: Name the company. Porsche > 11. Logo K (decoy). Ferrari > * Game 9, Round 8 - History - Mao's China > 1. In what year was the People's Republic of China founded? 1949 > 2. Who was China's Prime Minister from 1949 till his death in 1976, > having a moderating influence on Mao's rule? Chou En-Lai > 3. From October 1934 to October 1935, Mao and his followers went > on a lengthy journey to evade the forces of the Kuomintang. > What was this journey called? The Long March > 4. In 1958, what disastrous economic campaign did Mao begin? > It was supposed to create rapid industrialization, but in fact > resulted in famine for many millions of Chinese. The Giant Leap Forwards > criticizing a historical drama called "Hai Rui Dismissed from > Office", written by Beijing's deputy mayor Wu Han. What violent > political Maoist campaign was this article the precursor to? Culture Revolution > 6. Which major story in July 1969 did the news media of the People's > Republic of China not report? Landing on the moon > Name the then member country of the UN, and also a close ally > of the People's Republic of China, that sponsored their entry > into the UN. USSR > State Henry Kissinger to Beijing. What sport was instrumental > in the thaw in relations after a US sports team visited the > People's Republic of China in April 1971? Table tennis > three of her followers were arrested for anti-party activities. > What term was used to describe this group of people? It is now > widely used to describe any like-sized group of political allies. Gang of Four > 10. By what nautical-sounding term was Mao often referred to during > his years in power? Pilot |
| msb@vex.net (Mark Brader): May 18 06:17AM Mark Brader: > 1. This city's name has stayed more or less the same despite being > translated to French and later English from the original > Portuguese. St. John's. St. John is a different city and is not a capital. 4 for Dan Tilque. 3 for Joshua. 2 for Dan Blum. > 2. This city was named after a prince in 1783. The spelling was > shortened soon afterwards. Fredericton (originally Fredericktown or Frederick's town). 4 for Dan Tilque. > 3. In 1765, this town was named for the Queen married to King > George III. Charlottetown. 4 for Dan Tilque, Erland, and Joshua. Regina and Victoria were both guessed in 2014, and one of them again this time. In fact both were named after Queen Victoria (whose husband was Prince Albert), which is why they were both correct answers in my Rare Entries contest MSB36 in 2003. > 4. This name is not native, but refers to the copper tools used > by the local Athapaskan natives. Yellowknife. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > 5. This city's name refers to a strait or narrow channel in a river. > The Algonquin, Cree, and Micmac languages all use the same word. Québec. 4 for Dan Tilque. > 6. This town's name was changed from Frobisher Bay in 1984, after > the residents voted 310-213 for a name meaning "place of fish" > in Inuktitut. Iqaluit. (In Nunavut.) 4 for Dan Tilque, Erland, and Joshua. > resemble part of an animal. The rapids disappeared when a dam > was constructed. The Guinness book of world records has listed > the city as the one with the least air pollution in the world. Whitehorse. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > 8. This name comes from the Cree word for murky water. Winnipeg. 4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua. > confluence of the St-Maurice and St. Lawrence Rivers. Founded > in 1634, it was the second permanent settlement in New France, > after the city of Québec. Trois-Rivières (accepting Three Rivers). 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > name, and wrote to Kipling for advice. He urged them to keep > their existing name, which they did. Today the population > is 60,000. Medicine Hat. 4 for Dan Tilque. If you really want hell for a basement, though, you have to go to Turkmenistan. Look up "Darvaza gas crater" in Wikipedia. Incidentally, according to a news report """earlier this year""", the Turkmens """are""" planning to turn the place into a tourist attraction. > as far as the round of 32 in the "March Madness" men's basketball > championship """this year""". > 1. University of Florida, Gainseville. Clue: animal. Gators. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > 2. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Clue: team color. Crimson. (Not Crimson Tide, a different team's name.) 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > 3. San Diego State, California. Clue: historic empire. Aztecs. 4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua. > 4. University of Wisconsin, Madison. Clue: animal. Badgers. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > 5. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Clue: animal. Wolverines. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > 6. Michigan State University, Lansing. Clue: ancient Europeans. Spartans. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > 7. University of Louisville, Kentucky. Clue: bird. Cardinals. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > 8. Iowa State University, Ames. Clue: type of storm. Cyclones. 4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua. > 9. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Clue: two words > including the team color. Blue Devils. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Joshua. > 10. University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio. Clue: it refers to a > local invention. Flyers. 4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua. "Vulcans" was an interesting guess in 2014, but Dayton is in southwestern Ohio while Akron, where the Goodyear rubber company is located, is in northeastern Ohio. Also, Charles Goodyear actually invented vulcanization in Massachusetts; he was never connected with the company, although it was named in his honor. Scores, if there are no errors: GAME 9 ROUNDS-> 2 3 4 6 TOTALS TOPICS-> Can Sci Can Spo Dan Tilque 0 40 40 40 120 Joshua Kreitzer 4 35 27 40 106 Dan Blum 0 32 14 28 74 Erland Sommarskog 0 20 8 0 28 Pete Gayde 0 20 -- -- 20 -- Mark Brader, Toronto | "If gravity stops working, a power cut is msb@vex.net | the least of your problems." -- David Bell My text in this article is in the public domain. |
| You received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this group. You can change your settings on the group membership page. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an email to rec.games.trivia+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. |
No comments:
Post a Comment