Tag: 2008 summer olympics

Quiz: Pop Culture 2008

20-January-09 / James Callan

Round 3 at the Old Pequliar on Jan. 6, 2009
Average score:6.60/10 (21 teams)

1) In January, David Letterman and Conan O’Brien both got rid of what that they’d cultivated during the writer’s strike?

2) Photographer Annie Liebovitz said, “She loved taking that picture, and she was ready to take that picture. It’s just that her audience wasn’t ready.” Who was she talking about, and what magazine published that photograph? (half point each)

3) In February, HD DVD conceded the high-definition DVD market to Blu-ray Discs. What color is the laser used most often in HD DVD?

4) Martha Sharp Crawford, depected in the movie Reversal of Fortune, was better known by what name when she died in December?

5) Stephen Fry, Britney Spears, the Mars Phoenix Lander, and Shaquille O’Neal are among the celebrities who tweeted using what Internet service?

6) When a TV series goes bad, it’s “jumping the shark.” What similar, 3-word phrase inspired by Kingdom of the Crystal Skull describes the moment when bad things happen to good movie sequels?

7) In episode 6 of the new 90210, Kelly reveals that the father of her child was what character from the original series?

8) To protest China’s policy towards the war in Darfur, what Hollywood director withdrew as an artistic adviser to the 2008 Olympics?

9) After confessing to cheating on her husband, Lauren Cleri lost on The Moment of Truth when she answered yes to the question, “Do you think you’re a” what?

10) NBC announced Tim Russert’s death at 3:39pm. What online resource scooped them, adding a date of death and shifting from present to past tense at 3:01pm?

Quiz: International News 2008

18-January-09 / James Callan

Round 1 at the Old Pequliar on Jan. 6, 2009
Average score: 7.24/10 (21 teams)

The first quiz of 2009 was entirely devoted to stuff that happened in 2008.

1) Come this January 20th, who’s going to be living at 10141 Daria Place, Dallas, TX?
2) As of February, whose only remaining title is First Secretary of the Communist Party of his country?
3) A factory girl working on a Chinese assembly line had her smile splashed ’round the Internet when a British man discovered 3 photos of her the first time he turned on what device?
4) Scientists at UC Berkeley announced that they’d invented what Harry Potter-esque article of clothing?
5) In February, Kosovo declared its independence from what country?
6) What country currently has troops scheduled in Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
7) When Pope Benedict XVI visited the US in April, representatives of what religion were invited for the first time to an ecumenical prayer service with the pope?
8) In March, Chloe Marshall became the first of what kind of model to make the finals to the Miss England contest?
9) China won more Gold medals than any other Asian nation at the 2008 Olympics. Which Asian nation came in second, including Golds in men’s and women’s archery, men’s taekwando, and men’s baseball?
10) In September, the view from Little Diomede island became famous because of what unusual characteristic?

9-December-08 / James Callan

TODAY’S QUESTION:

The easier question: What was the first film nominated for a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar based on a comic book or graphic novel?

The harder question: What was the first film nominated for a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar based on a comic strip?

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER:

8-December-08 / James Callan

TODAY’S QUESTION:

The easy version: Name the two Asian martial arts included as sports featuring medal events at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

The harder version: Name the six martial arts included as sports featuring medal events at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER: