0. Realm: Body Swap Movies Subrealm: Fortune Cookies Question: The Lindsay Lohan remake of this 1976 movie was critically popular, but omitted several scenes from the original, including a water skiing moment. Answer: Freaky Friday Song: Super Freak Artist: Rick James Hint: The Lohan role was played in 1976 by Jodie Foster 1. Realm: Embarrassing family nicknames Subrealm: Obsolescence edition Question: The daughters of the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander are referred to collectively by what nickname, and why? Answer: The A-Team, because their names all start with the letter A (Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane) Song: Royals Artist: Lorde Hint: Has to do with the princesses' names 2. Realm: Scientists Subrealm: That James's mom has worked with Question: The UMass Medical School is the home of Nobel laureate Craig Mello, who won his Nobel prize for what discovery? Answer: RNAi Song: Play with Fire Artist: The Rolling Stones Hint: It's a four-letter acronym 3. Realm: Chiropractry Subrealm: Small of the back Question: Baseball player Wade Boggs claimed to have injured his back by putting on what item of clothing? Answer: Cowboy boots. Song: This Cowboy's Hat Artist: Chris LeDoux Hint: Ted Cruz wears them 4. Realm: Mistakes Subrealm: I've made a few Question: Baseball player Wade Boggs claimed to have drank how much of what beverage on a cross-country flight? Answer: 64 beers Song: Drinkin' Thinkin' Artist: George Canyon Hint: The number of drinks is both a perfect square and a perfect cube Note: Boggs himself declines to give a number, saying only that it was "a few Miller Lites." ESPN asked him about it in a video at the bottom of this page. 5. Realm: A foreign country Subrealm: (The past) Question: Name the childhood best friend of the father of the boyfriend of the actress who plays Ginny Weasley. Answer: Stephen Sondheim Song: Memory Artist: Andrew Lloyd Webber 6. Realm: Kids These Days... Subrealm: And their whacky college traditions Question: This traditional Yale University game, involving rolling a large ball through New Haven streets, was banned in the early eighties but has been the focus of several recent attempts at revival. Answer: Bladderball Song: Red Rubber Ball Artist: Cyrkle Hint: There's a gross body part in the name Note: Bladderball consisted of rolling a 6-foot diameter exercise ball through the streets of New Haven, where teams would fight for possession, using any means they chose. From the Wikipedia article: "In the absence of any scoring system, victory consisted of fervent declarations of victory by each team. Listeners to the Yale radio station, WYBC, would invariably learn that the station team had won a mighty victory, while readers of the Yale print media were invariably informed that each particular publication had bested all other teams handily, by scores often ranging into the thousands of points." 7. Realm: Unhealthy foods Subrealm: Italian edition Question: This Italian Marche town is known for its stuffed, fried olives. Answer: Ascoli Piceno Song: William Tell Overture Artist: Gioachino Rossini) Hint: The town's football (soccer) team is traditionally associated with the woodpecker 8. Realm: Jesus Christ Superstar Subrealm: Episode III: Revenge of the Christ Question: In one of his lesser known miracles, a very hungry Jesus came across a tree expecting fruit and found the tree barren. He cursed it to wither and die. What kind of tree was it? Answer: A fig tree Song: Gethsemane Artist: Andrew Lloyd Webber Hint: The fruit from this tree has two seasons, both in the summer Note: See Mark 11:12-14 and 11:20-25 and Matthew 21:18-22. Seems kind of harsh. 9. Realm: Fire Subrealm: Not in Greece Question: In a siege of what city was Maslama ibn Abd al Malik defeated by a man given the epithet the Isaurian? Answer: Constantinople Song: Istanbul, Not Constantinople Artist: They Might Be Giants Hint: Listen to the song lyrics Note: Leo III the Isaurian was Byzantine Emperor from 717 to 741. The seige in question occurred from 717-718. 10. Realm: Del Toro movie titles Subrealm: In Athens? Question: After the deification of Heracles, one of this man's sons protected Heracles' children and fought a war with Eurystheus. One of his wives hanged herself after her son rejected her advances. That son who preferred horses to women was Hippolytus. Who was this man? Answer: Theseus Song: Underground Artist: David Bowie Hint: His most famous role in Greek mythology involves a maze Note: The wife in question was Phaedra. She was Hippolytus's stepmother, not his mother. There are various stories about what happened when he turned her down, but none of them end well. 11. Realm: Linguistic anthropology Subrealm: For dummies Question: This island is host to about 850 languages, making it the most linguistically diverse place in the world. Answer: New Guinea Song: Let It Go Artist: Kristen Lopez-Anderson Hint: Archipelago! 12. Realm: In theory, theory and practice are identical Subrealm: In practice, they're often completely different Question: According to the Keynesian Consumption model, attempting to increase what quantity by lowering autonomous consumption will lead to a reduction in output and no increase in this quantity after all? Answer: Saving Song: Banks of Marble Artist: Pete Seeger Hint: Not spending 13. Realm: Massachusetts towns Subrealm: that no one cares about Question: Walt Disney named a college in several of his films after this town, which he visited multiple times by flying his plane to a landing strip on the property of some of his friends. Answer: Medfield Song: Little Town Artist: Alan Menken Hint: It's also the hometown of the actress who plays Crazy Eyes on the Netflix show Orange is the New Black Note: Medfield College is the setting for The Absent-Minded Professor, Son of Flubber, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, the Monkey's Uncle, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Now You See Him, Now You Don't, and The Strongest Man in the World. The cornerstone of Medfield Middle School, formerly Medfield High School, has a quote from Walt Disney inscribed on it: "Our greatest natural resource is in the minds of our children." Disney, of course, made a living by harvesting that resource as early as possible. 14. Realm: Death Subrealm: Will it happen to you? Question: Skydiving, which has a 9-in-a-million chance of dying, is a 9 in what unit? Answer: Micromort Song: Die Young Artist: Ke$ha Hint: Sounds like a Harry Potter antagonist Note: A micromort is a one-in-a-million chance of dying. 15. Realm: Flowery wars Subrealm: Somnium Vigilantis Question: Of this man's three grandchildren who survived infancy, two were executed by King Henry VIII due to their superior claims to the throne. Answer: Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick Song: Armchair Anarchist Artist: Kingmaker Hint: His father was the earl of Salisbury Note: Richard Neville was one of the Yorkist leaders of the Wars of the Roses. 16. Realm: Misfits Subrealm: Besides Williams students Question: Members of this group include people motivated by Puerto Rican nationalism, an Italian man driven insane by crippling abdominal pain, an unemployed house painter who thought he was King of England, a man inspired by the movie Taxi Driver, and a recently paroled follower of Charles Manson. Answer: Failed assassins of U.S. presidents Song: Another National Anthem Artist: Stephen Sondheim Hint: Members of a related group include Charles Guiteau and Leon Czolgosz (SHOL-gosh) Note: The attempted assassinations were of Harry Truman (Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo, 1950), Franklin Roosevelt (Giuseppe Zangara, 1933), Andrew Jackson (Richard Lawrence, 1835), Ronald Reagan (John Hinckley, 1981), and Gerald Ford (Squeaky Fromm, 1975). Judging from Freaky and the Fridays' undeniable affinity for Stephen Sondheim, this question was likely inspired by Sondheim's musical Assassins. 17. Realm: Cherubs Subrealm: Division 3 Question: Class of 2015 Churchill winner Jesse Freeman is a dead ringer for this mathematician, who died in a duel at an age two years younger than Jesse is today, having already created an entire mathematical field. Answer: Evariste Galois Song: Finite Simple Group (of Order Two) Artist: The Klein Four Hint: Fields Note: The story of Galois' duel is one of the most famous in the history of mathematics. Knowing that he would lose, he wrote down as much of the theory he could the night before. It took about 15 years for the manuscript to find someone who could understand it, but when it did, it revolutionized abstract algebra. 18. Realm: Science, bitch! Subrealm: Silicates Question: This noted evolutionary biologist may have been given cancer by his asbestos-riddled office. Answer: Stephen Jay Gould Song: Ronan Artist: Taylor Swift Hint: He was closely associated with the American Museum of Natural History in New York Note: Stephen Jay Gould was a rare survivor of mesothelioma, which is linked with exposure to asbestos. He lived 20 years past his diagnosis and died of unrelated lung cancer in 2002. 19. Realm: Contract Law Subrealm: The fun kind Question: In a contract with Orbital Outfitters, what adjective did Elon Musk specify that their spacesuits for SpaceX needed to be? Answer: Badass Song: Paper Trail Artist: Joey BadA$$ Hint: Associated with Neil DeGrasse Tyson 20. Realm: The kitchen sink Subrealm: The Royal National Theatre Question: Which play was based on its author's affair with a British biographer and complained of the play's original West End run that Michael Gambon was a bit too drunk in the last scene? Answer: Betrayal by Harold Pinter Song: Someone Like You Artist: Adele Hint: The movie adaptation featured Jeremy Irons and Ben Kingsley Note: Betrayal was inspired by Pinter's 7-year affair with BBC Television presenter Joan Bakewell. 21. Realm: Training Methods Subrealm: That are probably bad for your health Question: This legendary Czech runner was noted for training in his army boots. Answer: Emil Zatopek Song: Chariots of Fire Artist: Vangelis Hint: He won three gold medals in the Helsinki Olympics Note: Emil Zatopek is the only runner to win gold in the 5000 meters, 10000 meters, and marathon in the same Olympics (1952). He broke the Olympic record in all three events, even though he had only decided to run the Marathon at the last minute. He grew up working in a shoe factory, so you'd think he would have a better grasp of footwear. 22. Realm: Magic underpants Subrealm: Magic jockstraps Question: Mormon baseball player Bryce Harper, after being asked whether he was taking advantage of Canada's lower drinking age, responded with this now-legendary rebuke. Answer: Clown question, bro. Song: Send in the Clowns Artist: Glynis Johns Hint: Three words. First word: circus performer. Third word: see also lax 23. Realm: Luke Subrealm: 8:33 Question: This Russian biologist attempted to use his theories on evolution to support his anarchist ideology. Answer: Peter Kropotkin Song: Anarchy in the UK Artist: the Sex Pistols Hint: One of his most famous books is called The Conquest of a certain foodstuff that peasants are supposedly fond of Note: The book referenced in the hint is The Conquest of Bread. 24. Realm: Doppelgangers Subrealm: Broads edition Question: Who did Abbi Jacobson think Ilana Glazer actually was when the two of them had first met on an improv team? Answer: Alia Shawkat (aka Maebe from Arrested Development) Song: Watching Me Watching You Artist: Jethro Tull Hint: Marry me! Babysit me! Note: Jacobson and Glazier are the creators and stars of Broad City, which started as a webseries and then moved to Comedy Central. 25. Realm: Doing Acid Subrealm: In Ethiopia Question: A fossil specimen of this species suggested that bipedalism developed before large brain size in hominin evolution. Answer: Australopithecus afarensis Song: Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds Artist: The Beatles Hint: A famous example shares a name with the song currently playing Note: The example in question is Lucy, discovered in 1974 in Ethiopia. The members of the expedition who found her named her after the Beatles song, making this an excellent song match. 26. Realm: Nominative determinism Subrealm: Sarcasm Question: A specialist in Baroque German literature with a degree from an undistinguished Oxford college, this fictional cuckold owns an engraved silver cigarette lighter which was stolen from him in Delhi and returned to him decades later in Berlin. Answer: George Smiley Song: The Shadow of Your Smile Artist: Marvin Gaye Hint: His codename in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is Beggar-Man Note: George Smiley appears in many of John LeCarre's spy novels. 27. Realm: The 0.000,000,008% Subrealm: 1930s Edition Question: A tax proposal by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935 had a maximum tax rate of 79% on incomes over $5 million. How many Americans would have to pay tax at the 79% rate? (bonus points if they name the people) Answer: One person, John Rockefeller Song: If I Had a Million Dollars Artist: The Barenaked Ladies Hint: He, like Daniel Plainfield, is an oil man 28. Realm: Textbook covers Subrealm: Of the obscene variety. Question: Bacteria have their version of sex by using this method. Answer: Conjugation Song: Song Against Sex Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel Hint: Also something you do to verbs in Spanish class 29. Realm: Jeri Johnson Subrealm: The decline of American democracy Question: Ted Kennedy used the last line of this poem in a 1980 DNC speech. Answer: Ulysses by Tennyson Song: Ulysses Artist: Franz Ferdinand Hint: Tis not too late to seek a newer world Note: The line in question is "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." Kennedy actually quotes several lines from the poem, eliding some lines in between. This was at the end of his famous speech, which resulted in over 30 minutes of applause from the audience. 30. Realm: London Subrealm: St. Paul's Question: What did Edmund Bentley invent? Bonus points if you write one about your team. Answer: Clerihew Song: Pink Panther Theme Song Artist: Henry Mancini Hint: A literary form Note: A Clarihew is a whimsical, four-line biographical poem. The first line is the name of the poem's subject, usually a famous person put in an absurd light. The rhyme scheme is AABB, and the rhymes are often forced. The line length and meter are irregular. Bentley invented the clerihew in school and then popularized it in books. 31. Realm: Content dictates form Subrealm: Juxtapositions Question: This composer has set other people's words to music on two occasions Answer: Stephen Sondheim Song: God from Sondheim on Sondheim Artist: Stephen Sondheim Hint: A member of Williams College Class of 1950 Note: The two external texts put to music by Sondheim were 1) a poem by Garfield assassin Charles Guiteau, which he sings in Assassins, and 2) Shakespeare's "Fear No More the Heat of the Sun," from Cymbeline, which appears in The Frogs. 33. Realm: An infinite amount of knowledge Subrealm: That's also full of trolls Question: This law of the Internet posits that the best way to find the correct answer to a question on the internet is to deliberately post the wrong answer and wait to get corrected. Answer: Cunningham's Law Song: If Everyone Cared Artist: Nickelback Hint: Shares a name with the actor who plays Davos Seaworth on Game of Thrones Note: The law is named after Ward Cunningham, father fo the Wiki. 34. Realm: Vicious politics Subrealm: Because the stakes are so low Question: Which historian from the University of London was embroiled in scandal after admitting to posting nasty amazon.com reviews of his competitors? Answer: Orlando Figes Song: London Calling Artist: The Clash Hint: In 2010 he wrote a well-received book about the Crimean War 35. Realm: Contemporary novels Subrealm: Too cruel for school Question: Name the novel in which a main character, an English professor, fantasizes about writing everything that could possibly be written about the novels of Jane Austen out of sheer spite for other practitioners of literary analysis. Answer: Changing Places by David Lodge Song: Yale Fight Song Artist: Cole Porter Hint: That English professor is named Morris Zapp 36. Realm: More aptronyms Subrealm: You're really not going to believe this one Question: Name the man, one of whose sons is a North Korea expert, who fathered between 25 and 50 children. Answer: Philander Rodman Song: Teach Your Children Artist: Crosby Stills Nash and Young Hint: Shares a last name with Kim Jong-Un's pal Dennis Note: In case it wasn't clear, Philander Rodman is Dennis Rodman's father. The Worm has made several trips to North Korea and met with Kim Jong-un. 37. Realm: Canine companions Subrealm: Like toddlers, but with good motor skills Question: In a 1994 book, psychologist Stanley Coren ranked the intelligence of a number of dog breeds. Which breed ranked as the lowest intelligence? Answer: Afghan Hound Song: Hound Dog Artist: Elvis Presley Hint: They were initially bred in the mountains of Central Asia Note: The ranking put border collies first. 38. Realm: Box office hits Subrealm: That probably aren't going to win Best Picture Question: When criticized for making bad movies, this director replied: "I make movies for teenage boys. Oh dear, what a crime." Answer: Michael Bay Song: Battle Cry (Transformers 4 Theme Song) Artist: Imagine Dragons Hint: Explosions! Note: Michael Bay has directed three Transformers movies and two Ninja Turtles movies to date, as well as Mystery Men, a favorite of your archivist and the source of at least two Williams Trivia team names. 39. Realm: Reckless imperialism Subrealm: Now immortalized in small town road names Question: This early colonial war was the bloodiest per capita ever fought on American soil. Answer: King Philip's War Song: Home Artist: Phillip Phillips Hint: The leader of one of the involved factions was named Metacomet. Note: King Philip's War was fought from 1675 to 1678 between the Puritan settlers of New England and a coalition of Native Americans. 40. Realm: Dance Parties Subrealm: Gone Wild (in all the wrong ways) Question: In July 1518, 400 people danced in the streets of Strasbourg for days until dying of heart attack, stroke, or exhaustion. What was the name of the woman who started this outbreak? Answer: Frau Troffea Song: Shut Up and Dance Artist: Walk the Moon Hint: The phenomenon, called dancing mania, was alternately known as the Dancing Mania, Choreomania, and St. Vitus's Dance Note: The event is known as the Dancing Plague of 1518. 41. Realm: Geopolitics Subrealm: Marx Brothers Edition Question: Which country has accidentally invaded Liechtenstein at least twice? Answer: Switzerland Song: Proud Mary Artist: Tina Turner Hint: This country is multi-lingual Note: The two accidental invasions took place in 1992 and 2007. 42. Realm: Hollywood Subrealm: Pfft, what a circus! Question: When giving an acceptance speech at the Oscars, how long do you have before the orchestra plays you off? Answer: 45 seconds Song: A Day at the Mall Artist: The Flower Kings Hint: The song that's playing is this long Note: The time limit came into being in 2010. 43. Realm: Insults Subrealm: That your oblivious British lecturer might inadvertently say to you Question: A person born underweight might be expected to have which body part be disproportionately large? Answer: The head Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Artist: Traditional Canon Hint: It's a pretty important body part 44. Realm: Poor planning Subrealm: British upper class edition Question: The first Athletics Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge was held in 1864. Which side won? Bonus point for the final score. Answer: Tie - 4-4 Song: Oxford Comma Artist: Vampire Weekend Hint: The dart's tournaments the Drone's Club of P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster series often has a similar outcome 45. Realm: When Adam delved and Eve span Subrealm: Elitism Question: When asked his father's career while a college student, this future U.S. President replied, a gentleman. Answer: Theodore Roosevelt Song: Gentleman Artist: PSY Hint: He was the first (president) of his (last) name Note: Theodore Roosevelt Sr. was a businessman, notably in the plate-glass importing business. 46. Realm: Wink wink nudge nudge Subrealm: Game of Boners Question: In the third season of the show Game of Thrones, Tyrion refers to a prostitute's unique ability to perform a peculiarly-named sex act, an in-joke recalling what George R.R. Martin attributed to his inability to move along a particular plotline in A Song of Ice and Fire. What is the name of this sex act, and which character is central to this plotline? Answer: Sex act: Meereenese knot Character: Daenerys Targaryen Song: The Rains of Castamere Artist: The National Hint: The character spends much of the time in the eponymous city dealing with the so-called fighting pits Note: Martin's problem was that his novel had grown too long and too complicated. Just as Alexander solved the Gordian Knot problem by cleaving it in two, Martin solved the problem he dubbed the "Meerenese Knot" by splitting his book into two. 47. Realm: Economists do it with models Subrealm: Puns Question: Chicago's basketball team is called the Bulls and its football team is called the Bears. Why would an economist find this funny? Answer: Chicago is where the bulk of commodity trades occur. Bulls and bears refer to market activity. Song: Mo Money Mo Problems Artist: Notorious B.I.G. Hint: The game Pit 48. Realm: The worst form of government Subrealm: Except for all the others Question: The little town of Muskogee, Oklahoma has gained some notoriety in pop culture over the years, but in May 2008, a local election brought it to national attention yet again. What was so special about this election? Answer: The town elected a 19-year-old as mayor Song: Okie from Muskogee Artist: Merle Haggard Hint: At least it wasn't a cat that they elected Note: John Tyler Hammons served as mayor of Muskogee from 2008 to 2012. He is among the youngest mayors in US history. He is now a law student at the University of Oklahoma. 49. Realm: Mixtape Subrealm: Of the Organic Variety Question: These single celled eukaryotes have the best of both worlds, and caused a crisis for taxonomists, leading to the creation of the now discredited Kingdom Protista. They can take in nourishment both by eating, like animals, and by photosynthesizing, like plants. What are these organisms called? Answer: Euglena Song: Weird Science Artist: Oingo Boingo Hint: The species name of a red-colored species of this group is sanguinea 50. Realm: Nuts Subrealm: Double-entendres Question: Which nut is included in the name of one of the most infamous orgies in history? Answer: Chestnuts (the Banquet of Chestnuts) Song: Sex on Fire Artist: Kings of Leon Hint: The plant that produces the nut is a member of the beech family Note: The Banquet of Chestnuts was a party thrown in Rome in 1501 by Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI. The master of ceremonies described it this way: "On the evening of the last day of October, 1501, Cesare Borgia arranged a banquet in his chambers in the Vatican with 'fifty honest prostitutes,' called courtesans, who danced after dinner with the attendants and others who were present, at first in their garments, then naked. After dinner the candelabra with the burning candles were taken from the tables and placed on the floor, and chestnuts were strewn around, which the naked courtesans picked up, creeping on hands and knees between the chandeliers, while the Pope, Cesare, and his sister Lucretia looked on. Finally, prizes were announced for those who could perform the act most often with the courtesans, such as tunics of silk, shoes, barrets, and other things." 54. Realm: Eat your vegetables, kids Subrealm: Avoid skin lesions Question: After the introduction of maize to Spain, large numbers of people came down with an illness resulting from niacin and tryptophan deficiency. Why did this disease arise in Spain but not in similarly maize-dependent populations in Mesoamerica? Answer: Nixtamalization, a process of preparing corn used in Mesoamerica, makes niacin in corn biologically accessible. Song: Jimmy Crack Corn Artist: Eminem Hint: It has nothing to do with the soil it's grown in Note: Nixtamalization means soaking and cooking the maize in an alkalai solution, usually limewater, and then hulling it. 55. Realm: War, what is it good for? Subrealm: Bat poop, apparently Question: These three countries fought a war over islands primarily valued for their guano resources. Answer: Peru, Chile, and Spain Song: South American Getaway Artist: Burt Bacharach Hint: One European, two South American Note: The war was the Chincha Islands War, 1864-1866. 57. Realm: The magic kingdom Subrealm: In da club Question: Courtney Love claims to have auditioned for the Mickey Mouse club how? Answer: By reading a Sylvia Plath poem. Song: Lucky Artist: Britney Spears Hint: Not a Ted Hughes poem Note: Love was 12 at the time, and the poem was about incest. Go figure. 58. Realm: On the backs of four elephants, on the back of a turtle, swimming through the cosmos Subrealm: Ankh-Morpork Question: There are several villages in England that claim to be homes to naturally occurring deposits of a certain foodstuff, after coordinated campaigns in the 1930s to paint it as a natural resource, similar to coal. What is the foodstuff? Answer: Treacle Song: The Candy Man Artist: Sammy Davis Jr Hint: According to a character in P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster books, it can be used to quietly break windows Note: Treacle mining has been a joke in British humor since the mid-19th century. 59. Realm: Johto Subrealm: The Field of Mars Question: What book series was written when the author was bet by a friend that he couldn't combine a certain children's cartoon/videogame/card series and the legendary missing legion of Ancient Rome? Answer: Codex Alera Song: Space Oddity Artist: David Bowie Hint: The children's series was Pokemon Note: The Lost Roman Legion, IX Hispana disappeared from the records 43 and 120 CE. There is no record of what happened to it. 60. Realm: Here Subrealm: But also over there. What the heck? Question: There's more than one River Avon or Avon River in England, including the Avon that Stratford is Upon and the Avon in Bath and the Cotswalds. What's the deal? Avon was just the local Celts' word for river. Answer: The Romans got confused. Song: Down to the River to Pray Artist: Alison Kraus Hint: Rio, fleuve, fluss, ???, ???, ????... Note: Your archivist suspects that the last line of the question was supposed to be the answer. 61. Realm: Spies Subrealm: And booze Question: What TV show had to rename its spy agency after the original name was used by the Islamic State? Answer: Archer Song: Danger Zone Artist: Kenny Loggins Hint: Are we not doing phrasing anymore? Note: The agency was the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS). It was merged into the CIA. 62. Realm: The Goopy Glue that holds us together Subrealm: And NYCPrep. Question: Which SNL alum attended school with Gwyneth Paltrow? Answer: Maya Rudolph Song: Lovin' You Artist: Minnie Riperton Hint: She does a mean Beyonce impression Note: When Paltrow hosted SNL, she had Rudolph join her for her monologue. They have known each other since they were 7. Their fathers were best friends in college. 63. Realm: Gen X Subrealm: The Brat Pack Question: Why is Ally Sheedy's character in detention in The Breakfast Club? Answer: She had nothing better to do. Song: Better Things Artist: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings Hint: The French might call it ennui 64. Realm: She stoops to conquer Subrealm: The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death Question: In which work of fiction does a character, on his deathbed, quote from Oliver Goldsmith's Elegy? Answer: The Painted Veil Song: Finishing the Hat Artist: The original Broadway cast album of Sunday in the Park with George (Mandy Patinkin) Note: may have to start song about minute or so in because of dialogue Hint: Made into a movie starring Edward Norton Note: The Painted Veil is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. 65. Realm: Heaven(s) Subrealm: Hell Question: What name is shared by a major astronomer and a popular webcomic artist? Answer: Tycho Brahe Song: Rocket Man Artist: Elton John Hint: He owned a tame moose/elk Note: Jerry Holkins writes the webcomic Penny Arcade under the pseudonym Tycho Brahe. 66. Realm: Cartovexillography Subrealm: That seems like a real word, right? Question: What country has a map of itself on its flag? Answer: Cyprus Song: Maps Artist: Maroon 5 Hint: It's an island country Note: Kosovo also has a map of itself on its flag. Tuvalu has a representation of its archipelago, with stars representing islands. 67. Realm: Organized group conflicts Subrealm: Involving thrown spheroids Question: There are two days of the calendar year when there are guaranteed to be no big four professional sport games in the United States. What are they? Answer: Two of the three days of baseball's all star break. Song: Centerfield Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival Hint: Summertime Note: Since 2009, the All-Star break is 4 days long. The home run derby is on the first day, the game is on the second, and on the other two sportscasters are reduced to covering golf and tennis. 69. Realm: Anatidae Subrealm: Anacondas Question: This is both a rapper and a type of bird. Answer: Drake Song: Birdhouse In Your Soul Artist: They Might be Giants Hint: Wheelchair Jimmy Note: Jay (as in Jay-Z) was also accepted. 70. Realm: Troglodytidae Subrealm: Sheldonian Question: This architect shares his name with a bird Answer: Christopher Wren Song: I'm Like a Bird Artist: Nelly Furtado Hint: Submitted a plan to rebuild London after the fire Note: Your archivist suspects that there are other architects who also share a name with a bird, though perhaps none as famous as Christopher Wren. 71. Realm: Yellow journalism Subrealm: Hearst Castle Question: What does Charles Foster Kane drop as he dies? Answer: A snowglobe Song: La Vie En Rose Artist: Edith Piaf Hint: You probably bought one at Disney World 72. Realm: The ocean Subrealm: The cosmic ocean Question: This tall, possibly fictional American World War II veteran is worshipped as a quasi-deity in parts of the South Pacific. Answer: John Frum Song: Some Enchanted Evening sung Artist: Paulo Szot (from 2008 revival of South Pacific Hint: He's primarily associated with the island of Tanna Note: The John Frum religion is an example of a cargo cult. 73. Realm: Canada's breadbasket Subrealm: But mostly before the bread Question: Every Canadian province but British Columbia has a holiday to line up with America's Presidents' Day. Manitoba's version is named after this man, who founded the province and fought for the rights of the Metis. Answer: Louis Riel Song: The Presidents Artist: Jonathan Coulton Hint: I hate everything. Note: The Metis are one of the aboriginal peoples of Canada. 74. Realm: Department of Redundancy Department Subrealm: Department of Redundancy Department Question: Sky Pilot is a nickname for a man of what profession? Answer: Clergyman Song: Paper Planes Artist: MIA Hint: A TV example is The Colbert Report's Jim Martin Note: The term refers especially to a military chaplain. 75. Realm: The set of all permissible sets in classical set theory Subrealm: The set of all permissible sets in axiomatic set theory Question: Bertrand Russell discovered a simple set that caused a paradox that nearly took down set theory. What was the set? Answer: The set of all sets that do not contain themselves Song: Pace is the Trick Artist: Interpol Hint: It's super meta Note: There are many ways to formulate Russell's paradox in natural language. One is: "The barber of Seville is a man who shaves all those men in Seville who don't shave themselves, and no others." The question, then, is whether the barber shaves himself. It's a paradox because no answer to the question makes sense. Thus Russell and his collaborator Alfred North Whitehead decided it was necessary to disallow all self-referential definitions of sets. Note: Another way to say it (a favorite of your archivist) is in terms of adjectives. Some adjectives describe themselves, like "pentasyllabic," "recherche", "short", and "quirky". Most don't. Define an adjective to be "autological" if it describes itself, and "heterological" if it doesn't. The question, then, is: "Is 'heterological' heterological?" Try it, it's fun! 76. Realm: Space Subrealm: Near-space Question: Canada is very proud of the one piece of the ISS they are responsible for, so proud that its name contains the word Canada in full. What is it? Answer: The Canadarm Song: Canada is Really Big Artist: the Arrogant Worms Hint: Limb Note: The original Canadarm was attached to the Space Shuttle. It was retired in 2011. The arm on the ISS is known as Canadarm2. 77. Realm: Granfalloons Subrealm: Regional jingoism Question: How many U.S. State Capitals have either a Football, Basketball, Baseball, or Hockey team? Answer: 16 Song: Sports Go Sports! Artist: Garfunkel and Oates Hint: Its a perfect square Note: The question is vague about what kind of teams count. The capitals with a team in either the MLB, NFL, NBA, or NHL are Phoenix, Sacramento, Denver, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Boston, Saint Paul, Raleigh, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Salt Lake City, and Columbus. That's 12. If you throw in three Canadian provincial capitals, you also get Toronto, Edmonton, and Winnipeg, making 15. If you throw in Hartford, which used to have an NHL team, I guess that makes 16. If we throw in minor league teams, the answer must be higher than 16. 78. Realm: Schow basement Subrealm: You know, the vending machines Question: What popular soda brand had to apologize for a commercial celebrating their founding, and why? Answer: Fanta, invented by Nazis Song: I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing Artist: the Hillside Singers Hint: Godwin's Law is applicable here Note: Fanta was created by the German division of the Coca Cola compnay during World War II, when it became impossible to import Coca Cola syrup into Germany. 79. Realm: In the vacuum of space Subrealm: No one can hear you scream Question: In the year 1967 The Beatles held the number-one spot on Billboard's pop-album chart for the second-greatest number of weeks. What song held it for the most weeks in that year? Answer: Sounds of Silence Song: 4'33 Artist: John Cage Hint: No, the song did not disconnect Note: The question mixes song records and album records, but it doesn't make sense either way. The single "Sound of Silence" charted in 1965/1966, and was number one for 2 weeks. The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" was number 1 for 7 weeks in 1966. The longest run at the top for a single in 1967 was 5 weeks for "To Sir with Love" by Lulu. The album "Sounds of Silence" peaked at number 21 in 1966. Sgt. Pepper's held the number one spot on the album chart for 15 weeks in 1967. The Monkees held the number one album spot for 29 of 1967's weeks, with four different albums: The Monkees (5 weeks), More of the Monkees (18 weeks), Headquarters (1 week), and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. (5 weeks). Needless to say, there wasn't much room at the top for anyone else. 80. Realm: The Hunters of Kentucky Subrealm: My Old Kentucky Home Question: Two U.S. states have each been used in the titles of more than one Billboard #1 hit songs. What are they? Answer: Georgia and California Song: Sweet Home Alabama Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd Hint: One is Southern, one is West Coast Note: Georgia and California have each appeared in 3 number one hits. The complete list of number ones which contain state names is: Kansas City (Wilburt Harrison), Georgia On My Mind (Ray Charles), The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia (Vicki Lawrence), Midnight Train To Georgia (Gladys Knight and the Pips), Hotel California (The Eagles), How Do U Want It/California Love (2Pac Featuring K-Ci And JoJo), California Gurls (Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg) 82. Realm: Ghost towns Subrealm: Idiots Question: Why do only eight people live in Centralia, Pennsylvania? Answer: Because a mine underneath the town has been on fire since 1962 emitting lots of toxic fumes Song: Girl on Fire Artist: Alicia Keys Hint: Fossil fuels can be dangerous 83. Realm: Brevity Subrealm: Wit? Question: Which Shakespeare play has the fewest lines? Answer: Comedy of Errors Song: A Boy Named Sue Artist: Johnny Cash Hint: Twin city 85. Realm: The heavens Subrealm: And the earth Question: A shooting star is the visible path of a meteoroid as it crashes through the atmosphere. What film about another famous collision originally featured the shooting star as a symbol of death? Answer: Titanic Song: When You Wish Upon a Star Artist: Gene Simmons cover Hint: It's like a really famous movie. Really. 86. Realm: Apex Predators Subrealm: Not quite apex enough Question: What extinct marsupial predator features on the Tasmanian coat of arms? Answer: Thylacine/Tasmanian Tiger Song: Eye of the Tiger Artist: Survivor Hint: It was striped 87. Realm: Oxymorons Subrealm: Military intelligence Question: During World War II, the US toyed with the idea of dropping incendiary bombs attached to what animal to start fires in inaccessible areas? Answer: Bats Song: American Idiot Artist: Green Day Hint: They were chosen because they could fly to inaccessible areas to start fires. Note: From the Wikipedia article on Bat Bombs: "Bat bombs were an experimental World War II weapon developed by the United States. The bomb consisted of a bomb-shaped casing with over a thousand compartments, each containing a hibernating Mexican Free-tailed Bat with a small timed incendiary bomb attached. Dropped from a bomber at dawn, the casings would deploy a parachute in mid-flight and open to release the bats which would then roost in eaves and attics in a 20-40 mile radius. The incendiaries would start fires in inaccessible places in the largely wood and paper construction of the Japanese cities that were the weapon's intended target." The weapon was never deployed. 88. Realm: BEES?! Subrealm: GOB's not on board Question: According to tradition, the rosary was given to St. Dominic by an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1214 in what church? Answer: Prouille Song: Losing My Religion Artist: REM Hint: It's the cradle of the Dominicans. 89. Realm: Innovative drug policy Subrealm: I mean, it's better than what we've got right now Question: Vancouver, B.C. installed last year the world's first crack pipe vending machines, as part of an effort to wean addicts off safe drugs. Whatever your opinions are on this decision, we can all agree that their design is a aesthetic catastrophe. What pattern are they decorated with? Answer: Polka dots Song: Dots on Maps Artist: Say Hi Hint: First word is a type of dance. 90. Realm: Reaaaally weird pop culture trivia Subrealm: We were so excited about this one Question: (The text of this question was apparently ad-libbed. It asked what specific type of actors had January Jones worked with.) Answer: Actors with pork-based names (Kevin Bacon in X-Men First Class, after Jon Hamm in Mad Men) Song: Meat is Murder Artist: The Smiths Hint: Think food. 91. Realm: A slow boat to China Subrealm: Too slow, one should say. Question: When we saw The Master, we assumed this mixed drink Joaquin Phoenix made in the Navy was just another product of PT Anderson's twisted imagination. In fact, during World War II, US sailors really made something like them. What's the drink? Answer: Torpedo Juice, made from grain alcohol syphoned out of torpedo fuel. Song: Chandelier Artist: Sia Hint: Named after a weapon they used. 92. Realm: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles Subrealm: Boats too, I guess? Question: The Boston University Bridge is unique in that it's the only place in America where what can happen? Answer: A plane can fly over a car driving over a train going over a runner running over a boat Song: It's the End of the World As We Know It Artist: REM Hint: Vertical planes. 93. Realm: Tudors and Yorks Subrealm: The and New, specifically Question: What self-included tax was imposed by Henry VIII of England that would be particularly profitable if imposed by the Borough of Brooklyn today? Answer: Beard tax Song: Taxman Artist: the Beatles Hint: Think fashion trends 94. Realm: YouTube Subrealm: Ze Frank copycats Question: The Green Brothers, of The Fault in Our Stars fame, first became big on youtube with what impatient song by Hank? Answer: Accio Deathly Hallows Song: Book 8 Artist: Hank Green Hint: Harry Potter. 95. Realm: Slovenian philosophers Subrealm: Who have been played on Comedy Bang Bang Question: The Marxist philosopher Slavoj Zizek was caught plagiarising last year. Who did he plagiarize, and how was he caught? Answer: American Renaissance, a white supremacist magazine. Someone noticed his prose was too lucid. Accept answers that do not include the name of the magazine. Song: Speak Clearly Artist: Purr Machine Hint: They're bad people. 96. Realm: Standing in a shadowed doorway, watching the yellow lamplight reflect off the rain as it fell in sheets Subrealm: She had legs for days and was just the sort of dame you'd never expect to see talking to a guy like me Question: Regarding the cause of death of a character in a movie being made about one of his books, Raymond Chandler apparently said, [The screenwriters] sent me a wire asking me, and dammit, I didn't know either. What's the movie, and what surprising person was one of the screenwriters? Answer: The Big Sleep, written in part by Faulkner. Song: Sleepsong Artist: Bastille Hint: Hawks 97. Realm: Aves Subrealm: Corvus Question: What do you call a group of Ravens, other than a football team? Answer: An unkindness Song: That's So Raven Artist: Raven-Symone Hint: You should be able to google this. Come on, people. 98. Realm: D movies Subrealm: A plays Question: Jaime Keeling thought Keanu Reaves was so bad in Point Break that he invented a reality play parody of it called Point Break Live! What city has an official Point Break Live day? Answer: San Francisco Song: Tweeter and the Monkey Man Artist: The Travelling Wilburies Hint: The city sits on a peninsula. 99. Realm: Springfield Subrealm: The District of Columbia Question: What US president's middle name is the first name of a character on The Simpsons? Answer: Richard Milhous (Millhouse) Nixon Song: Love Me, I'm a Liberal Artist: Phil Ochs Hint: He wasn't, but maybe by modern standards. 100. Realm: War. Subrealm: War is hell. Question: Who was the last British king to die in battle? Answer: James IV of Scotland (DO NOT accept Richard III--he was king of England and the question specifically refers to British kings, i.e. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) Song: I'm Henry VIII Artist: Herman's Hermits Hint: British king. 101. Realm: Horcruxes Subrealm: That includes all diaries, right? Question: What did Samuel Pepys eat following the burial of his next-oldest brother (i.e. the oldest brother younger than him)? Answer: Oysters, cheese, and cake Song: Hey Brother Artist: Avicii Hint: It wasn't kosher. 102. Realm: Alcohol Subrealm: That drink your dad jokes about drinking every Jewish holiday Question: What is slivovitz made of? Answer: Plums Song: No woman no cry cover Artist: Matisyahu Hint: Clue character 103. Realm: The past Subrealm: Also, foreign countries Question: Name the only three best picture winners that are longer than 3 1/2 hours. Answer: Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur, and Lawrence of Arabia Song: Yakity Sax Artist: Boots Randolph Hint: They're all kind of but not really war movies 104. Realm: The Red Herring Subrealm: That section out back where the band plays over the summer Question: What animal is able to consume large amounts of naturally fermented nectar of up to 3.8% alcohol content all year without any apparent effect on behavior? Answer: Pen-tailed treeshrew Song: Margaritaville Artist: Jimmy Buffet Hint: It's a member of the Ptilocercidae family. 105. Realm: Jolly Old England Subrealm: Lecture halls and boat races Question: Jesus was the first person to have both an Oxford and a Cambridge college named after him. Who was the second? Answer: Isaac Wolfson Song: Werewolf Bar Mitzvah Artist: from 30 Rock (Tracy Morgan) Hint: His Oxford college is located in North Oxford on the Cherwell. 106. Realm: Georgia Subrealm: No peanuts involved Question: What animal did President Jimmy Carter claim swam aggressively toward his fishing boat? Answer: Swamp rabbit Song: The Devil Went Down To Georgia Artist: Charlie Daniels Hint: It was a long-eared friend. 107. Realm: The Golden Years Subrealm: Minus the gold Question: In 2010, 75% of Americans nearing retirement age had less than what dollar figure in their retirement accounts? Answer: $30,000 Song: My Generation Artist: The Who Hint: It's less than the average college graduate makes in their first job