The Questions

#1
Realm: Self-referential questions
Subrealm: The Great Gloved One
Question: What is the theme of tonight's contest, lifted from a rap by Vincent Price in the memorable Michael Jackson hit "Thriller"?
Answer: The Funk Of Forty Thousand Years, of course.
Song: "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker(Give up the Funk)" by Parliament (also accept P-Funk, Funkadelic, or George Clinton as correct artists)

#2
Realm: Units of measurement
Subrealm: Heh...unit...
Question: The "Bruno" is a unit of measurement that was standardized at MIT on October 24, 1972 and has been put into practice there many times since then. What does the Bruno measure?
Answer: The size of the dent in asphalt caused by the six-story free-fall of an upright piano (Be forgiving with answers)
Song: "Catch Me I'm Falling" by Real Life

#3
Realm: Protecting the Free World
Subrealm: From Things that Suck
Question: In the Zucker brothers movie Hot Shots!, the primary objective of the last mission of the military campaign is to destroy Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons factory. What are the secondary targets of this mission?
Answer: An accordion factory and a mime school.
Song: "Atom Bomb" by Fluke

#4
Realm: The Words of God
Subrealm: Brought to you by Congress (tm)
Question: As some us know, and Dr. Laura would be happy to teach you if you don't, Leviticus 18:22 prohibits "lying with a man as with a woman." What abomination is prohibited by Leviticus 11:12?
Realm: Shellfish ["Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you." -- King James version].
Song: "Godzilla" by Blue Oyster Cult

#5
Realm: Famous heroines
Subrealm: fin-de-siecle riot grrl
Question: Along with her side careers as a fortuneteller and muckraker, and her brief stint in jail for her writings about prositution, what is the claim to fame of Victoria Claflin Woodhull?
Answer: She was the first woman candidate for president in the US (ran on the people's party ticket in 1872 with Frederick Douglass)[Incidentally, she was arrested on election day for sending obscene literature through the mail.]
Song: "Shameless" by Ani Difranco

#6
Realm: Marriages made in heaven
Subrealm: to love, and obey, and worship twice daily
Question: Catherine of Siena, who later became St. Catherine, drew a huge following to her after she supposedly had a vision of Jesus symbolically marrying her. This sort of vision wasn't uncommon among nuns; however, Catherine's version had a twist that brought her followers by the dozens. What was different about her vision?
Answer: She claimed Jesus had given her his foreskin as a wedding ring. Ewwww.
Song: "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode heaven

#7
Realm: Spleen is an inherently funny word
Subrealm: and a decent projectile in gross anatomy class too
Question: Hawthorne once referred to a charnel house in North Adams where bodies were kept to putrify. Why were they kept there instead of being decently buried?
Answer: The "resurrectionists" stole bodies and sold them to physicians - lab conditions were a bit rough in 1790.
Song: "Living Dead Girl" by Rob Zombie

#8
Realm: Money
Subrealm: The Silver Dime, not the Golden Dollar
Question: Why was FDR chosen to be portrayed on the dime in 1945?
Answer: Because of his work on behalf of the March of Dimes in combating polio.
Song: "The Flea Market" by Parappa the Rapper

#9
Realm: History
Subrealm: Groundbreaking events
Question: 3-point play: The Newseum in Arlington, Virginia had journalists and historians select the top 100 news stories of the 20th century. Which stories ranked as #1 and #100?
Answer: #1 - U.S. drops A-bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrenders to end WWII (1945)#100 - U.S. Surgeon General warned about smoking-related health hazards (1964)
Song: "Smokin in the Boys Room" by Brownsville Station

#10
Realm: All Creatures Great and Small
Subrealm: And scaly, and tentacled, and fanged...
Question: Peter Davison, known for playing Tristan on the BBC's All Creatures Great and Small and for playing the fifth Doctor Who, had a bit part in the BBC's televised Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. What was it?
Answer: The Dish of the Day(the cow)
Song: "Science Fiction Double Feature" by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Universe)

#11
Realm: Just a Man
Subrealm: In a Big White Pointy Hat
Question: People get all bent out of shape if they are compared with animals. However, the Pope, couldn't do so if you called him by one animal name, given it is one of his eight spiritual titles. What title likens the Pope to an animal?
Answer: Primate of Italy
Song: "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver" by Primus

#12
Realm: Sir not appearing in this film
Subrealm: will not be appearing in this film
Question: 3 point play: Alfred Hitchcock was an innovator in film. Rope was an experimental film in one special regard. What was it? For another point: What Bruce Campbell film used a similar technique?
Answer: It was one continuous take, i.e., no cuts or editing had been done. [Note: Accept anything similar in sentiment. Hitchcock did this by using full ~10 minute reels of film and beginning and ending each shot with the entire frame being filled with black, obscured by a person's body or some other object, so the switch in reels isn't visible.]. bruce campbell film was "Running Time"
Song: "My Wife and My Dead Wife" by Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians

#13
Realm: Art
Subrealm: For the common man
Question: An article in the October 1947 issue of "Household Beautiful" magazine describes it as "Fine Art for 39 cents." Everyone has seen it, and most have laid hands on it at some point in time. What is the product?
Answer: Tupperware
Song: "She's Fresh" by Kool & The Gang

#14
Realm: Language Barriers
Subrealm: What do you expect from people who call their state an island?
Question: Ask for a "cabinet" in Rhode Island and you'll get what?
Answer: A milkshake.
Song: "Shake Your Booty" by KC & the Sunshine Band

#15
Realm: Political gestures
Subrealm: Futile political gestures
Question: The College Council of Hampshire College did something the Williams student government has never dared to do, though they may have been tempted. What was it?
Answer: Declare war on Amherst College.
Song: "Spill the Wine" by War & Eric Burdon

#16
Realm: 5 Movies
Subrealm: That have never been in my kitchen
Question: A sad coincidence links all these films, released in 1998: At First Sight, Another Day In Paradise, The Hi-Lo Country, Playing By Heart, and The Theory Of Flight. What is that coincidence?
Answer: These were the last five films reviewed by Gene Siskel on Siskel & Ebert.
Song: "(If you Were) In my Movie" by Susanne Vega

#17
Realm: The Noble Tradition
Subrealm: Of Campaign Promises
Question: Which organization in 1867 stated its goal was to "protect the weak, innocent and defenseless, [and] to relieve the injured and oppressed"?
Answer: Ku Klux Klan
Song: "Guerillas in the Midst" by NWH

#18
Realm: The City of Townsville
Subrealm: ...is under attack!
Question: The ever-loveable Powerpuff Girls can all fly, they can all kick your ass, they all have heat vision, and they all look freaky with their big heads and tiny little bodies. However, each girl has a superpower unique to herself. For instance, Blossom can use her Ice Breath to freeze stuff. What is Bubbles' special power?
Answer: She can speak Spanish. (Si!)
Song: "Buttercup (I'm a Supergirl)" by Shonen Knife

#19
Realm: Lost and found
Subrealm: Instilling confidence in the police.
Question: In late May, 2000, significant resources of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Northern Ireland were devoted to looking for a lost item in Stabane, County Tyrone. What lost item?
Answer: their machine gun. (the police-issued gun had fallen out of a police car).
Song: "Traditional Irish Folk Song" by Denis Leary

#20
Realm: Political Backgrounds
Subrealm: Hail to the Queen, Baby.
Question: Around 2500 BC, the citizens of Kish elevated a commoner - and a woman at that - to the rank of queen. Kabuba never forgot her roots, and eventually had herself listed in the roster of rulers with her former profession as her title. What was Kabuba's profession?
Answer: Tavern owner (literally 'Kabuba the beer woman.' Beverage wenches rule!)
Song: "Beer" by Reel Big Fish

#21
Realm: Culture Jamming
Subrealm: Only one man would dare give me the Raspberry!
Question: In Autumn 1999, a billboard in western Berkeley, CA, depicted a pair of dice with skulls instead of numbers, and the caption "Just because you survived drugs, doesn't mean your children will." In September, a group of unknown assailants [perhaps Adbusters?] defaced the billboard by replacing exactly oneword. What new caption amused traffic along University Ave for a few days?
Answer: "Just because you survived Bush, doesn't mean your children will."
Song: "Peaches" by The Presidents of the United States

#22
Realm: Size does matter
Subrealm: but be careful which side of the debate you come down on
Question: What unlooked-for consequence of breeding turkeys for size has complicated the turkey breeding process?
Answer: A hefty male turkey raised in captivity has too large a breastbone to actually mount the females, thus necessitating artificial insemination.
Song: "Fat Man" by Jethro Tull ** BEGIN QUARTET **

#23
Realm: A hard habit to break
Subrealm: more wacky nuns
Question: By and large, Buddhist monks get a lot more press than Buddhist nuns. Two nuns stand out, though, for their contribution to the world. What did nuns Ng Mui and her student Yim Wing Chun invent that is used today?
Answer: Wing-chun, a particular style of kung fu, popularized by Bruce Lee.
Song: "Dance Hall Days" by Wang Chung

#24
Realm: Sports Greats
Subrealm: As opposed to mere sporting goods
Question: You know Tiger Woods. You know Michael Jordan. But we bet you don't know the great sportsman Scott Burrell. What career-extending accomplishment is Scott Burrell the only person to have attained?
Answer: He was picked for 1st-round draft picks in two major league sports (the MLB and the NBA).
Song: "Everybody Wants You" by Billy Squire

#25
Realm: Foreign Countries
Subrealm: And other things Dubya knows nothing about
Question: A landlocked country is one that does not border water. A doubly-landlocked country is one that does not even border a country that borders water. There are only two. Name them.
Answer: Uzbekistan and Lichtenstein
Song: "In a Big Country" by Big Country

#26
Realm: Names on Lawn Signs
Subrealm: Like anybody reads them
Question: Who are the STATE senator and STATE representatives that represent Williamstown?
Answer: Senator: Andrea (pronounced awn - DRAY - uh) F Nuciforo, Rep: Daniel E Bosley
Song: "Life in a Northern Town" by Dream Academy NOTE: Ethan might be able to get Dan Bosley to ask this question ** END CHEEZY 80's QUARTET **

#27
Realm: Important Americans
Subrealm: Historic Firsts
Question: Her name was Annie Moore, and she lays claim to a very distinguished "first" in American History. What did she do before anyone else?
Answer: She was the first immigrant ever processed at Ellis Island.
Song: "Feels Like the First Time" by Foreigner

#28
Realm: Expensive coffee
Subrealm: Good to the last drop
Question: The Indonesian coffee Kopi Luwak is the most expensive in the world, selling for $75 per 1/4 pound. What makes it remarkable and therefore so pricey?
Answer: Its beans are ingested by a small animal called a Paradoxurus. The beans are then extracted from the excreta and made into Kopi Luwak.
Song: "Black Coffee" by Everlast

#29
Realm: Baseball
Subrealm: Everything's weirder in California
Question: The San Francisco Giants baseball team, which this year unveiled a sparkling new Pacific Bell Park stadium directly on San Francisco Bay, is getting ready to induct a new squad of assistants to retrieve any home-runs slammed out of the park. Who, or rather what, are these assistants?
Answer: Portugese water dogs (they have webbed feet).
Song: "Who Let the Dogs Out?" by The Bahamen kid you not. ** BEGIN QUARTET **

#30
Realm: Plagues
Subrealm: How well do you remember your Hebrew school?
Question: Four-point play: Yes, you heard me right - it's the as-yet unheard of four-point play. The history of Passover is something that is recounted every year in Jewish households. Among the various portions of the seder is a recitation of the ten plagues of Egypt that afflicted Pharaoh's people before he was finally convinced to free the Jews. For 1 point, name any of the 5 plagues in English, for 2 points, name any 8 of the 10 plagues in English. For that extra, bonus point, give the Hebrew words for the plagues that you have mentioned in your answer. Don't expect hints on the Hebrew.
Answer: Blood (dawm), frogs (tz'far-day-a), vermin (kee-neem), flies (aw-rov), murrain (de-ver), boils (sh'cheen), hail (baw-rawd), locusts (ar-beh), darkness (cho-shech), and the slaying of the first-born [son] (ma-kas b'cho-ros) [NOTE: Accept reasonable equivalents for the English names, and hope that their Hebrew is close to the phonetics in parentheses above.]
Song: "The Hanukkah Song" by Adam Sandler

#31
Realm: TV Food network
Subrealm: Iron Chef is STILL the best thing on TV
Question: Anyone who is a fan of Iron Chef knows, there was a huge "New York Battle" edition, where Iron Chef Japanese Masaharu Morimoto went up against Bobby Flay. In the post-cooking interview, Morimoto-san derided Bobby Flay and insisted that Bobby is NOT a real chef. Why does Morimoto-san not consider Bobby Flay a chef?
Answer: Bobby stood on the cutting board after the battle finished, and both the cutting boards and knives are considered sacred to Japanese chefs.
Song: "Chocolate Salty Balls" by Chef (of South Park) (also accept Isaac Hayes- he is the voice of chef)

#32
Realm: Anatomically Incorrect Women
Subrealm: That Rich doesn't have a chance with
Question: What do models Rhona Mitra, Nell McAndrew, Lara Weller, Lucy Clarkson, and soon Angelina Jolie all have in common?
Answer: They all have acted the role of Tomb Raider's Lara Croft. More specifically, they performed as Lara Croft for the Eidos booth at computer game shows. (Angelina Jolie will play Lara Croft in the upcoming movie.)
Song: "Supermodel" by RuPaul

#33
Realm: Honky
Subrealm: Honky Honky
Question: Many white actors have appeared in blackface over the years. In a dramatic reversal of this tradition, Eddie Murphy's head appeared on a white man's body on national television, on December 11, 1982. Why?
Answer: Eddie Murphy was hosting Saturday Night Live, and his face was placed over Nick Nolte's in the still photos before commercials [since Nick Nolte was the scheduled host, and dropped out.]
Song: "Boogie in your Butt" by Eddie Murphy ** END CELEBRITY QUARTET **

#34
Realm: In the famous words of ex-President Hank Payne
Subrealm: No booze for you!
Question: During Prohibition, some wineries switched over to making grape juice. The grape juice by itself wasn't in much demand, but the wineries added something extra to pique people's interest. What was this "something extra"?
Answer: A long warning label, detailing how NOT to let your grape juice ferment and become wine -- step by step.
Song: "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me" by Juice Newton

#35
Realm: Marketing
Subrealm: Does this industry really need help with marketing?
Question: Romanian prostitutes, their business hit by economic recession, are trying new ways to lure customers, according to the Daily National newspaper. In addition to the sexual services that the clients pay for, what are these women adding to their repertoire, for free?
Answer: Housework (cleaning and cooking).
Song: "Brick House" by the Commodores

#36
Realm: The Awesome Pageantry of the Olympics
Subrealm: Prepubescent girls in one-piece suits
Question: The 1976 Olympics saw many records broken. The most astounding of which is one that most people have forgotten: there was one competitor whose only posted scores for each event were 1.00. Who was this athlete?
Answer: Nadia Comaneci [The scores were posted as 1.00 because the scoreboards they used were incapable of displaying a perfect 10.00]
Song: "Judith" by A Perfect Circle

#37
Realm: It's good to be the pope
Subrealm: hey baby, I'm infallable!
Question: Pope Alexander VI, one of the less-than-holy popes, had a whole slew of mistresses. Notable among them was Rosa Venozza, who in between bearing him four children had her picture hung above his bedroom door. The picture's subject matter caused a good deal of consternation, though. Why?
Answer: She was depicted as the Virgin Mary.
Song: "That Woman's Got Me Drinking" by Shane MacGowan and the Popes

#38
Realm: Reality shows
Subrealm: and you thought "The Real World" was bad
Question: In this day and age of reality-tv and internet voyeurism, a few Iowa farmers have decided to create their own streaming video site at "Iowafarmer.com." What are two things can you watch there?
Answer: a soybean field and a cornfield.
Song: "Lost" by Korn

#39
Realm: Children's Television
Subrealm: People who hate Barney worse than you do.
Question: Barney, the big purple dinosaur, is reviled by many people. With good reason. However, few of us would stand behind this "concerned parents" group that boycotted the show in 1994. Who are these boycotters and why did they spurn the lovable load of stuffing?
Answer: The KKK. The actor who wears Barney is black, and they didn't like a black person influencing their children.
Song: "Walk the Dinosaur" by Was(not was)

#40
Realm: Epitaphs
Subrealm: Such as "Departing in 20 Minutes"
Question: Most of us would prefer that our last resting place be treated with some sort of respect. However, we all know that's not how it always turns out. What Happened to General Boadicea's burial site?
Answer: covered by platform 8 at London's King's Cross railway station?
Song: "Metro" Berlin Romans.

#41
Realm: From the same marketing geniuses that brought you edible undies
Subrealm: Now introducing- the candy computer!
Question: In 1998, Apple computers came out with the iMac computer. These great looking computers came in various color cases, and for some reason had only a CD-ROM drive but no regular floppy drive built in. What were the original five colors, as stated by Apple, that the iMac came in?
Answer: Blueberry, Grape, Lime, Strawberry, and Tangerine [DO NOT accept the colors blue, purple, green, red, and orange]
Song: "Raspberry Swirl" by Tori Amos

#42
Realm: Grand Central Station
Subrealm: Uh, we meant to do that...
Question: When the ceiling was originally painted in Grand Central Station over a century ago, a commuter pointed out that the constellations painted there were backwards. Rather than redo the painting at enormous expense, good public relations were hired. What story was used as the official explanation for such a grievous error of the heavens?
Answer: The painter was using an ancient manuscript, which was said to be from God's point of view of the heavens.
Song: "Upside Down" by Diana Ross

#43
Realm: Unconventional Question Style!
Subrealm: Gasp! Shock! Horror!
Question: This is not your usual trivia question! When your team calls up, we'll give you six movies. For each one you have to say whether or not it is on the 100 Best Movies List put out by the American Film Institute. If you are right on at least three of them, you get one point; for that second point, you need to get all six. There will be no hints. Good luck.
Answer: Platoon - yes. The Godfather II - yes. A Star is Born - no. Modern Times - yes. Dances with Wolves - yes. Gandhi - no.
Song: "Goin' Out West" by Tom Waits

#44
Realm: Great American leaders
Subrealm: boy, is that depressing
Question: If you watch anything by Oprah Winfrey, you know her production company is Harpo, merely her name spelled backwards. This happy coincidence was made possible because someone messed up when originally putting her name on her birth certificate. Oprah's name was supposed to be Orpah. Historically speaking, who was Orpah?
Answer: Ruth's sister-in-law (in the Bible - Ruth 1:4)
Song: "My Sister" by Juliana Hatfield

#45
Realm: Great moments in sports history
Subrealm: that we missed
Question: At the time this historic event occurred, NBC was running a commercial. So, instead of continuing with the game, a "do-over" was had once the network came back from commercial, and things continued in their entirety. What historic event was redone because of this poor timing?
Answer: The kickoff at the start of the 2nd half of Superbowl I S "(Hit Me)Baby One More Time" by DMX & Kobe Bryant (featuring Britney Spears)

#46
Realm: More great sporting events with spotty news coverage
Subrealm: Mush! Mush!
Question: The Iditarod, a 1000+ mile dogsled race through rural Alaska, is an event so grueling that simply finishing is considered a great accomplishment. In fact, the person who comes in last gets a prize. What is it?
Answer: The Red Lantern.
Song: "The Distance" by Cake

#47
Realm: More ways to get around the law
Subrealm: Technicalities Count
Question: In the early 1900s, 11 states banned the sale of Cigarettes. What did clever ol' Phil Morris do in these states to continue to get cigarettes to their customers, remain legal, and make a profit?
Answer: they gave the cigarettes away for free with the purchase of a 20 cent match book.
Song: "You Burn Me Up Like a Cigarette" by Robert Fripp

#48
Realm: Friends, Romans, Countrymen
Subrealm: Through thin and thinner
Question: The 1997 MTV Fashion Award for Best Female Model had two runners-up with one-word names. One was Kiara. What was the other?
Answer: Tanga (pronounced Tonga)
Song: "Supermodel" by Jill Sobule

#49
Realm: Next - on Sick Sad World...
Subrealm: Honoring Our Forefathers!
Question: The only man convicted of cannibalism in the United States was one Alferd Packer, who ate his four comrades when they were lost in the mountains. Despite his crime, the University of Colorado has honored this man. What has U of C done to honor Mr. Packer?
Answer: They've named the student union grill after him.
Song: "I Eat Cannibals" by Total Coelo ** BEGIN QUARTET **

#50
Realm: Legislating virtue
Subrealm: Legislating the impossible
Question: A bill was introduced in the Mississippi legislature in January that would seek to dampen the sexuality in strip clubs. Even given that this is a pretty ludicrous proposition to begin with, the act that it outlaws makes it even sillier. What would this bill outlaw?
Answer: It would make it illegal for a male customer to have an erection, even though he remains entirely clothed.
Song: "Stripped" by Rammstein

#51
Realm: Sommes-nous pas hommes?
Subrealm: Nous sommes Devo!
Question: Mark Mothersbaugh rose to fame and notoriety as the lead singer for Devo. However, these days he has gained some acclaim for a more family-oriented project. What?
Answer: Composing the original music for the children's television show "Rugrats" (also for the movies)
Song: "Whip it" by Moby

#52
Realm: Great Products
Subrealm: Minor Drawbacks
Question: For $14.95 it's a steal! However you should discontinue use if any of the following occur: Itching, vertigo, dizziness, tingling in extremities, loss of balance or coordination, slurred speech, temporary blindness, profuse sweating, and heart palpitations. What product is this?
Answer: Happy Fun Ball
Song: "So Happy Together" by A New Found Glory

#53
Realm: Snack Foods
Subrealm: Of Diplomatic Importance
Question: Turkish regional authorities are cracking down on the processing centers that make a popular Turkish regional snack, called Kokorec, in an attempt to ban its sale, because they believe the snack could obstruct the country's bid for European Union membership. What is the snack made of?
Answer: sheep's guts
Song: "Head Like a Hole" by the Elizabethans ** END GLORIOUS COVERS QUARTET **

#54
Realm: Geography
Subrealm: Or is it more like topography?
Question: When measuring from base to summit, what is the tallest mountain in the world?
Answer: Mauna Kea (13,796 feet above sea level + 19,683 feet below sea level, resulting in a total height of 33,481 feet, as compared to Mount Everest's approx. 29,022 feet)
Song: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye

#55
Realm: The customer is always right
Subrealm: even when they're wrong
Question: In 1970, pursuant to a refund request sent to them, England's White Chapel Foundry offered a full refund, provided the defective product was returned in its original packaging. For what was this claim made, yet never collected?
Answer: The Liberty Bell (which cracked in 1835)
Song: "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward

#56
Realm: Prostitutes
Subrealm: Back to back, and belly to belly
Question: Three-Point Play: Name Jack the Ripper's victims. One point for any 3, two points for all 5 of them.
Answer: Mary Ann ("Polly") Nichols, Annie Chapman (Eliza Anne Smith), Elizabeth Stride, Catharine Eddowes, Mary Jane (Marie Jeanette) Kelly
Song: "Nemesis" by Shriekback

#57
Realm: Familiar Faces
Subrealm: That you hope you never see again
Question: You've seen Carey Donovan on several commercials in recent years for a particular brand name. At first, these commercials are infuriating, but then some come to love them. (The rest of us just smash our TVs.) For what product is she a spokesperson?
Answer: Old Navy [she was the old lady with the enormous rim glasses]
Song: "Kill your Television" by Ned's Atomic Dustbin Fairchild; Fashions she's been "mad about" were performance fleece, track pants, drawstring shorts, board shorts, and technochinos.

#58
Realm: Fashion
Subrealm: Fashion and WAR.
Question: How did Welsh warriors accessorize in order to allow them to tell friend from foe during battle?
Answer: Leeks attached to helmets
Song: "Helmet" by the Bobs

#59
Realm: Politics
Subrealm: Now no one can say one vote won't make a difference.
Question: The electoral college has been in the news a lot lately. And though it may seem like nothing more than an archaic institution, it has been updated to keep up with the times. What major change to the electoral college was instituted bythe 12th amendment in 1804?
Answer: Electors prior to 1804 did not cast separate votes for president and vice president, as they do at present. Instead, they each cast two presidential votes, with the runner-up winning the vice presidency.
Song: "James K. Polk" by They Might Be Giants

#60
Realm: Famous detectives
Subrealm: Night of Trivia like rare mushroom...
Question: The fictional detective Charlie Chan was created in 1919 by Earl Derr Biggers. Since his first appearance in "The House Without A Key", Chan has been in many novels, TV shows, and movies. When Biggers finished off the series, Chan had been promoted several times. What was his rank, and where was he from?
Answer: Inspector Chan of the Honolulu Police.
Song: "Building a Mystery" by Sarah MacLachlan

#61
Realm: Ethnic Diversity
Subrealm: White guys cast in Asian roles
Question: The star of the previous question, Charlie Chan, has almost always been played by a Caucasian. This is not unusual. For example, the sweeping drama "Temujin", which depicted the life and loves of Genghis Khan, had Genghis played by a white actor. Who was it?
Answer: John Wayne.
Song: "Mongoloid" by Devo

#62
Realm: There's one born every minute
Subrealm: not only do they vote, they also buy things!
Question: Earlier this year, several gullible customers in Miami purchased devices called "go-boxes," advertised as personal traffic solutions. They didn't work. What were they supposed to do?
Answer: Change traffic lights to green.
Song: "Electric Avenue" by Eddie Grant

#63
Realm: The Legend Will Never Die!
Subrealm: Perky Blonds in Battle Gear
Question: In the game "Soul Calibur" Sophitia (pronounced so-FEE-tee-yah) has a move called "heaven's arch". Describe it.
Answer: It's a throw in which she leans her opponent over backwards, straddles their face, wiggles, and then jumps on their head.
Song: "Kiss my Sticky" by Betty

#64
Realm: Grand Locations
Subrealm: And you thought we had exhausted our Grand Central Station trivia for the evening
Question: During the recent Grand Central Station renovations, the renovators took down the gigantic chandeliers from the ceiling and shipped them, at great expense, to a brass-polishing company in the Midwest, apparently the only brass polishers qualified to polish such large pieces. But the company in the Midwest called and said they couldn't do the job. Why?
Answer: The chandeliers were made of solid gold, not brass.
Song: "Jamaican in New York" by Shinehead

#65
Realm: Learn the rules
Subrealm: All the rules
Question: As anyone who saw The Karate Kid, Part II knows, the Miyagi family has only two rules when it comes to the martial art of karate. What are these two rules?
Answer: "Rule #1: Karate for defense only. Rule #2: First learn Rule #1."
Song: "Mortal Kombat" by Utah Saints

#66
Realm: Services Rendered
Subrealm: In bed. With a chicken.
Question: Sarah Ellis went to bed with over 100 men between 1946 and 1948. She received no money from them, and did not have sex with them. Why did she do it?
Answer: To enable couples to get a divorce without actually committing adultery -- a private detective would photograph the two in bed, and the wife could divorce the husband.
Song: "Divorce Song" by Liz Phair

#67
Realm: Military intelligence strikes again
Subrealm: Oops.
Question: American paratroopers dropped into France during the 1944 Normandy landings were issued with "clicker" noisemakers, bought from toy shops, so that they could identify each other in the darkness. But the clickers led to many cases of misidentification. Why?
Answer: The noise of the bolt on one model of German rifle sounded just like a clicker.
Song: "World Clique" by Deelite

#68
Realm: Children's literature
Subrealm: That Hermione (prounouced as her my oh nee) chick is hot
Question: All right, all you quidditch-playing, butterbeer-swilling wizard wannabes, show us just how much you know. What is the title of J.K. Rowling's next Harry Potter book?
Answer: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Song: "Magic Carpet Ride" by Fatboy Slim

#69
Realm: Those wicked, wicked perversions
Subrealm: Like reading
Question: 3 point play: People are always attempting to ban certain books from schools & libraries. The American Library Association has compiled a list of the 100 most challenged books for 1990-1999. One author, apparently driven to corrupt the fragile moral framework of the television-raised American youth, managed to get 5 books on this list. For one point, name the auther, for another point, name all 5 books.
Answer: Judy Blume. the books are: Forever; Blubber; Tiger Eyes; Deenie; and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Song: "Are You Out There?" by Dar Williams

#70
Realm: faster than a speeding messiah
Subrealm: more accurate than a magic 8 ball...
Question: How is the date for Easter determined?
Answer: It is the first sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. (this full moon is also called the Paschal full moon. if folks really want to pick nits- they use March 20 as the equinox date because that's what it was in 325 AD when they developed this method.)
Song: "Here's Where the Story Ends" by the Sundays

#71
Realm: Experience the Evil
Subrealm: recommended for children everywhere
Question: Disney's Bambi- the 1942 version- is well known for the famous forest fire scene. Connoisseurs of the devil mouse might experience deja-vu when viewing this scene. Why?
Answer: it was stolen footage from Pinocchio (1940).
Song: "Fight Fire with Fire" by Kansas

#72
Realm: Grammatical errors
Subrealm: Of untold terror
Question: What billboard promotion for a Hitchcock film sent editors and grammarians throughout the Anglophone world into paroxysms of horror?
Answer: "THE BIRDS IS COMING!"
Song: "Country Grammar" by Nelly

#73
Realm: Art
Subrealm: If you insist
Question: They are red, orange, light blue, sage blue, and turqoise. They are based on a small portion of the 1952 movie "Niagara." What are they?
Answer: The paintings in the 1964 Andy Warhol series of silk screen portraits of Marilyn Monroe. [Any answer that clearly conveys the caller knows this immensely well-known work of art will suffice.]
Song: "What's Your Favorite Color" by Living Colour

#74
Realm: The obligatory D&D question
Subrealm: Yes, it's geeky. Get over it. Q:The third edition of the venerable role playing game was released this year. It added several new character classes to the rule set. However, several of them had been included in prior versions of the rules. What is the only completely new character class in third edition?
Answer: Sorcerer
Song: "Pinball Wizard" by The Who

#75
Realm: There's more than one way to do it.
Subrealm: For example, there's your way, and the right way.
Question: Larry Wall, the creator of Perl, gives two different answers when asked what the acronym PERL means. One is Practical Extraction & Reporting Language. What's the other?
Answer: Pathologically Ecclectic Rubbish Lister
Song: "Pearl Necklace" by ZZ Top

#76
Realm: Untimely Deaths
Subrealm: Some People Just Never Read Warning Labels.
Question: Whose last words were reported to be "Dr. Fishopolis- you need a shave!"
Answer: Space Ghost
Song: "Did I Shave My Legs for This" by Deana Carter (ACK! I didn't do it!)

#77
Realm: British nobility
Subrealm: Of the stuffiest sort
Question: In King's Chapel at Windsor Castle, there are special seats for the Knights of the Garter. The seats are decorated with the flag of each particular knight as well as a carved crest, some of which date back to the 15th century. Among the wyverns, lions, and stags, Sir Edmund Hillary's crest seems somewhat out of place. What unusual crest adorns his seat?
Answer: A kiwi with a pickax
Song: "Blue Sky Mine" by Midnight Oil

#78
Realm: Night of the Living Dead
Subrealm: Tuesdays on the WB! (TV announcer voice)
Question: Buffy the Vampire Slayer's, of course, frequently hunts down Those Who Walk the Night in one of Sunnydale's many lovely cemeteries --usually at least once an episode. So why are these scenes never shot on location?
Answer: Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) has a crippling fear of real graveyards. (A studio set is used instead.)
Song: "Bonin' in the Boneyard" by Fishbone

#79
Realm: As socrates said
Subrealm: "I drank what!?"
Question: In the process of improving its canning process, the Budweiser company removed what it's drinkers apparently considered a key part of that special Budweiser flavor. What did they remove? A. Formaldehyde. It was used as an anti-bacterial when making the aluminum cans, and enough is left after the can is formed to taste. Tasteless anti-bacterials now exist, but drinkers got used to the chemical taste, so all anti-bacterials must still have the same taste.
Song: "Chemical" by Joseph Arthur

#80
Realm: Those wacky French
Subrealm: Bon appetit
Question: During the mad cow disease hysteria, French butchers tried to bolster sales by labeling meat V.F., for viande francaise (French meat). Why did this backfire?
Answer: Because V.F. can also stand for "vache folle" (mad cow).
Song: "Madhouse" by Drew Bunting

#81
Realm: State Names
Subrealm: Massachusetts actually means "Land of No Parking"
Question: It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Georgia was named for King George, that Florida was named for its many flowers, and that Wyoming was named for "big damn expanse of nothing." (Okay, we're lying about Wyoming.) However, California is a bit of a puzzle. Where does the name California come from?
Answer: The name California was the name of an imaginary island, a paradise on earth.
Song: "California Dreamin'" by Mamas & Papas

#82
Realm: The Incoherent Voice of the People
Subrealm: Nostalgia for the 'smoke-filled-rooms'
Question: According to New Mexico law, how are all state elections except for Governor and Lieutenant Governor resolved in the event of a vote tie?
Answer: Games of Chance. Apparently recently this has resulted in elections being decided by flippings of coins and dealings of poker hands.
Song: "The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers, Wyclef Jean and Pharoe Monche

#83
Realm: Book 'em, Dano
Subrealm: Perhaps you'd prefer to be caned?
Question: Younger and younger offenders are being arrested, charged, and punished for crimes. What did 12 year old Ansche Hedgepath do in Washington DC that earned her an arrest, handcuffing, and a penalty of community service?
Answer: She got caught eating french fries on the Metro (it has a no food policy)
Song: "Jailbreak" by AC/DC

#84
Realm: snack foods
Subrealm: ...that you can't get at the stop & shop
Question: What special ingredient sets "casu marzu," an Italian black-market cheese delicacy, apart from other sheep's-milk cheeses?
Answer: Maggots
Song: "Cheese Roll Call" by the Animaniacs

#85
Realm: The winner is...
Subrealm: The winner is... SSR: The winner is...
Question: Who is the only composer to win three Academy Awards in one year, and for what movies were they won?
Answer: Marvin Hamlisch; 2 for "The Way We Were" and 1 for "The Sting"
Song: "Decomposing Composers" by Monty Python

#86
Realm: Meteorologists
Subrealm: Meteorologists and HAM.
Question: Before holding his current job, this man was a weatherman, who once predicted hail "the size of canned hams." Who is he?
Answer: David Letterman
Song: "It's Raining Men" - the Weathergirls (CUT SHORT)

#87
Realm: Muslim rules
Subrealm: Of the sexist variety
Question: In Pakistan, in order to get one of these, a woman must provide the following information: religion, profession, income, drinking history, and the name of her husband.
Answer: alcohol consumption permit
Song: "Spent my Last 10 Dollars (on Birth Control and Beer)" by Two Nice Girls

#88
Realm: Great names in sports
Subrealm: Great names in board games
Question: Which current Major League Baseball player's name is worth the most points in Scrabble?
Answer: Javier Vazquez (he's a pitcher for the Expos)
Song: "The Way" by Fastball

#89
Realm: Golden Age of Television
Subrealm: To the Moon!
Question: Ralph Kramden, from they Honeymooners, was infamous for having a moneymaking scheme in the works. One was supposed to cut down on electricity bills. What was it?
Answer: Glow-in-the-dark wallpaper
Song: "Electricity, Electricity" by Goodness (school house rock)

#90
Realm: Americana
Subrealm: with croutons and bacon bits for all.
Question: It's one of the better known American mottoes. It's also a quote from a recipe for salad in a poem by Virgil titled "Moretum." What is this popular, and apparently versatile, saying?
Answer: E pluribus unum
Song: "Money (That's What I Want)" by the Flying Lizards

#91
Realm: Keeping the streets safe
Subrealm: You deserve a break today
Question: During September, a rash of possibly gang-related attacks by groups of young men in an affluent section of downtown Seattle caused much consternation among hotel and restaurant owners. The local McDonald's, however, hit upon an excellent method of keeping its corner free of loiterers. What did the people at McDonald's do?
Answer: Blasted country music from loudspeakers.
Song: "Pump up the Volume" by MARRS

#92
Realm: Conspiracies of cartographers
Subrealm: On this side of the ocean
Question: How did Levan, a town in the middle of Utah, get it's name?
Answer: it's "navel" spelled backwards. Middle of utah = navel.
Song: "Stuck in the Middle With You" by the Steve Miller Band

#93
Realm: Etiquette
Subrealm: The woman who would be a man except that her name is Elizabeth
Question: Queen Elizabeth II recently forbade her attendants from using what in her presence?
Answer: Cellular phones
Song: "Queen Bitch" by David Bowie

#94
Realm: Arcane Knowledge
Subrealm: Pick a card, any card.
Question: While theories about their origin abound, the earliest existing deck of Tarot cards dates from the 14th century. The Visconti-Sforza deck is incomplete by today's standards, however, as two of the cards of the Major Arcana are missing. Which ones?
Answer: The Devil and the Tower.
Song: "Wheel of Fortune" by Ace of Base

#95
Realm: Poopy!
Subrealm: Ewww. poopy.
Question: In New York City, people really care about dog poop. So much so, in fact, that they created a grassroots organization, called SCOOP (spelled "S-C-O-O-P") to combat it. Tell us what SCOOP stands for.
Answer: "Stop Crapping On Our Property"
Song: "What's My Name" by Snoop Doggy Dogg

#96
Realm: Food
Subrealm: Icky food
Question: Eggplant, the stuff of life. One would assume that such a well-loved food-thing would be produced everywhere. But, no. Two thirds of the world's eggplant is produced where?
Answer: New Jersey
Song: "Eggplant that Ate Chicago", Dr. West's Medicine Show & Junk Band

#97
Realm: Beautiful works of art...
Subrealm: That nauseate you
Question: Before she became famous, even before the monumental success of Y Kant Tori Read, Tori Amos auditioned for a few parts as an actress. One particular part in a George Lucas movie went to Lea Thompson instead, for which Tori probably is very grateful. What movie did she narrowly escape being in?
Answer: Howard the Duck
Song: "Girls on Film" by Wesley Willis

#98
Realm: Food for Thought
Subrealm: Yeah I want some Cheesy Poofs(tm)!!
Question: For whom was the Baby Ruth candy bar named?
Answer: President Grover Cleveland's oldest daughter.
Song: "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow

#99
Realm: Saturday morning
Subrealm: Those meddling kids and their stupid dog
Question: We here at the Funk are willing to bet you have no idea what Scooby-Doo sidekick Shaggy's real name is.
Answer: According to Hanna-Barbera, Shaggy's given name is Nashville Rogers.
Song: "Tennessee" by Arrested Devlopment

#100
Realm: Serious-ass puppet problems
Subrealm: Don't I know it
Question: MTV's canceled show "Sifl and Ollie" featured sock puppets as the main characters. However, one of the recurring characters, Chester, was not a sock puppet at all. What was our friend Chester made out of?
Answer: A latex Buddha mold turned inside out.
Song: "Rock Your Socks Off" by Tenacious D

#101
Realm: when you're REALLY out of cell phone range
Subrealm: even worse than williamstown
Question: OK. You've found the DHD and you're dialing Auriga, Cetus, Centaurus, Cancer, Scutum ["scoot-'m"], Eridanus, and, of course, the seventh sign, indicating your origin. Where are you going and how are you getting there?
Answer: Earth (accept "CSC" or "Stargate Command" but NOT "Antarctica," if some geek tries to be a wiseass), via the Stargate.
Song: "Mama, I'm Coming Home" by Ozzy Osbourne

#102
Realm: Uranus
Subrealm: Heavenly bodies
Question: Astronomers were somewhat nonplussed by the response to their call to the public to suggest names for craters on the asteroid "Eros". What two American household names, in particular, were rejected as "inappropriate"?
Answer: Bill and Monica
Song: "Sex Crime(1984)" by the Eurythmics

#103
Realm: Shuffling along that mortal coil
Subrealm: the world according to shakespeare
Question: According to the Riddle of the Sphinx, there are 3 ages of man; the crawling baby, the walking man, and the old guy with a cane. However, according to Shakespeare, there are 7 ages of man. Name them.
Answer: Infant, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice, pantaloon (retirement), and second childhood
Song: "It was a Very Good Year" by William Shatner

#104
Realm: In the name of science
Subrealm: it's all about the field research
Question: What was Ernest Grdfenberg's great scientific discovery?
Answer: the G-spot
Song: "Touch me" by Samantha Fox

#105
Realm: Sticky Questions
Subrealm: and Bad puns
Question: They brought you scotch tape and those ubiquitous yellow sticky notes. They are the 3M corporation. What do the 3 M's stand for?
Answer: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing
Song: "Stuck on You" by Lionel Richie

#106
Realm: Valuable exports
Subrealm: other than pudding
Question: they are the second most expensive export in their league. They are ranched in Madagascar, branded to discourage rustlers, and hand fertilized. They were paid in tribute to Montezuma by the Indians who discovered them. What are they?
Answer: vanilla beans.
Song: "Spice up Your Life" by the Spice Girls

#107
Realm: Geography
Subrealm: No, really, just geography.
Question: What U.S. state has the lowest highest point? That is to say, the highest point of this state is lower than the highest point of all other states?
Answer: Delaware
Song: "The Lowest Highest Point" by Moxy Fruvous

#108
Realm: Supermarket crime spree
Subrealm: some people are just weird
Question: Samuel Feldman, of Yardley, PA was recently arrested after what police suspect is a three-year crime spree causing more than $8000 worth of damage to supermarkets. After Feldman was caught on camera three times, he was arrested and charged with (so far) one count of criminal mischief. What was his crime?
Answer: Squeezing, poking, and smashing packaged bread and cookies, causing $8000 worth of damage.
Song: "#1 Crush" by Garbage

#109
Realm: Greek mythology
Subrealm: Well, not QUITE
Question: Who said "Heather Has Two Mommies" was ahead of its time? Hippolyta and Aphrodite are the mythological parents of what great person?
Answer: Wonder Woman, a.k.a. Princess Diana.
Song: "Theme from the Greatest American Hero (Belive it or Not)" by Joey Scarbury

#110
Realm: English majors unite!
Subrealm: Really anal english majors unite!
Question: Three point play! Two words in the english language contain one of each vowel, in order. For one point, name one. For two, name both.
Answer: Abstemious and Facetious
Song: "Vanna Pick Me a Letter" by Dr. Dave

#111
Realm: Meat is murder!
Subrealm: mmm... cow...
Question: Sure, cow goes great with A1, and looks good with your Levi's, but cows have entertainment purposes, too. Tell us what entertainment giant is responsible for the death of 3,000 cows a year.
Answer: NFL Football (leather for the footballs)
Song: "Werecow" by Flippy T Fishhead

#112
Realm: Going Postal
Subrealm: Zany Danes
Question: Brian Kain, a 33-year old accountant and sailing enthusiast living near Copenhagen, opened a letter on November 11. He had ordered information about navigation charts that he hoped to buy from a company in Washington state. What did the letter contain that promped him to contact the American embassy immediately afterward?
Answer: Two absentee ballots from the Washington election of November 7.
Song: "The Check's in the Mail" by Weird Al

LAST QUESTION:
Realm: Cross-Genre Studies
Subrealm: The Master of Horror
Question: 3-POINT PLAY! Recently, Stephen King has begun a new project about a "confederacy of ghosts" in an old cabin. This project, however, is in a completely new area to the master of horror, and his co-author is someone most wouldn't associate with horror. For one point, tell us what genre this project will be, and for another, tell us the name of his collaborator.
Answer: It's going to be a Broadway musical, written with John Cougar Mellencamp.
Song: "Thriller" by Michael Jackson