(NOTE: The first names appearing after most questions are those who owned the team's copies of the accompanying songs.) The "Oh, No, Bette Midler!!!" Trivia Contest Spring 1994
#1
Realm: Television/ Famous Last words
Question: Throughout the ages, men and women have fought furiously for their causes, but one foe has always emerged victorious--Death. People have often sought to cheat death by asking that their last words be preserved for future ears. Even society's outlaws have this urge, even cartoon outlaws. You are a character on "The Simpsons," a petty criminal named Snake. You see the instrument of your undoing bearing down upon you inexorably. With what terror-stricken words do you prepare for the inevitable?
Answer: "Oh no, Bette Midler!"
Song: Oh No--Frank Zappa (dan)
#2
Realm: TV
Question: What do Eddie Van Halen, Patti LuPone, Rosemary Clooney, Jay Leno, and Mel Brooks have in common?
Answer: They have made guest voiceover appearances on "Frasier," as callers to his radio show.
Song: Life is a Rock, But the Radio Rolled Me-- Reunion (joe)
#3
Realm: Current events
Question: Several years ago (I pulled this from the current "The Economist," and they didn't give it more exactly than that), a Japanese department store decided to westernize their Christmas display. What was wrong with it?
Answer: It contained a Santa Claus, crucified on a cross.
Song: Boogie Woogie Santa Claus-- Mojo Nixon (dan)
#4
Realm: Astronomy/ Cosmic Carl
Question: Astronomer Carl Sagan became very annoyed recently when he learned that Apple Computer, Inc. had chosen "Dr. Sagan" as a temporary name for one of their new computers under development. When Sagan's lawyers complained, Apple changed the name to BHA. Well, when Sagan found out what the letters 'BHA' actually stood for, he went orbital. What did BHA supposedly stand for?
Answer: "Butt-Head Astronomer."
Song: Under the Milky Way Tonight-- The Church (joe)
#5
Realm: Literature / Literature of the Damned
Question: What is the title of David Cassidy's autobiography?
Answer: "C'mon, Get Happy: Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus"
Song: Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted-- Partridge Family (joe)
#6
Realm: Circus freaks/ Strange, yet oddly intriguing
Question: Everyone knows of the largest elephant in captivity was P. T. Barnum's Jumbo. But not everyone knows how poor Jumbo died.
Answer: He was creamed by an express train in Canada.
Song: Mystery Train-- The Band (dan)
#7
Realm: Movies/ Movie personalities
Question: In the movie "A Fish Called Wanda," John Cleese plays a character named Archie Leach. Archie Leach is the real name of what famous movie actor?
Answer: Cary Grant.
Song: Carry On Wayward Son-- Kansas (dan)
#8
Realm: Current events
Question: Northwest Airlines offered a unique promotion this year for the weekend of January 7- 9. What was it?
Answer: In commemoration of Elvis Presley's 59th birthday, the airline offered a rate of $39.95 for a round-trip ticket to Memphis. An additional 20-dollar discount was offered to anyone wearing an Elvis costume. The airline offered to provide a complimentary flight for Elvis Presley himself, should he decide to come out of hiding.
Song: Veronica-- Elvis Costello (joe)
#9
Realm: Sports/ Dating
Question: According to reports printed in newspapers this year, what is skater Tonya Harding's pickup line of choice?
Answer: "Hi, I'm Tonya, I'm a skater, and I'm a 36-C."
Song: Whisper To a Scream (Birds Fly)-- Icicle Works (joe)
#10
Realm: Entertainment
Question: Actor Charles Grodin had to travel from Arizona to New Zealand in order to film the rapids sequence in the film "Midnight Run." According to Grodin, what is the only way the trip from Arizona could have been longer?
Answer: If they'd had to travel to Tonga instead. S. Happy Anniversary-- Little River Band (Joe)
#11
Realm: The Wonderful World of Disney
Question: The Disney Corporation was recently embarrassed to find some subliminal messages in the laser disc release of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" The nude pictures of Jessica Rabbit were certainly embarrassing, but what piece of information was contained in one frame that must have been really annoying?
Answer: Michael Eisner's (CEO of Disney) home phone number.
Song: Telephone Man-- Meri Wilson (joe)
#12
Realm: Movies
Question: The original ending of the movie "Blade Runner" had to be changed to appease the movie studio. The revised ending used footage cut from what 1980 movie?
Answer: "The Shining."
Song: Shiny Happy People-- R.E.M. (douglas)
#13
Realm: Animation/ huh huh huh huh huh. . .
Question: What school do Beavis and Butt-head attend?
Answer: Highland High School.
Song: Gypsy Woman-- Bryan Hyland (joe)
#14
Realm: Sports
Question: (3 pt) What are the 7 flags used in the Indianapolis 500, and what do they mean? For one point, name four. For two points, name all seven.
Answer: Green-- Starting signal, clear course; Red-- Stop. Race halted; Yellow--Drive with caution, maintain position; White--Starting last lap; Black--Stop for consultation; Blue with diagonal orange stripe--Car attempting to pass; Black and white checkered--You are finished.
Song: Speed-- Alpha Team (dan)
#15
Realm: Current events
Question: A Brazilian legislator deposited $51 million into his bank account between 1989 and 1993. Considering that his salary as a legislator is a mere $84,000, that's pretty good. How did he explain how he obtained the money?
Answer: He claimed to have won 24,000 lotteries.
Song: Lucky Man-- Emerson, Lake, and Palmer or (NEEDED)
Song: The Winner Takes It All-- ABBA (Maggie)
(NOTE: The ABBA song was used.)
#16
Realm: Music/ Bands that make fashion statements
Question: It's Saturday night, September 20th, 1975. It's the premiere of ABC's "Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell". "Is it hype? Is it hope?", Cosell asks, "Or is it a Bicentennial gift from the old country?" What band was Cosell introducing to America?
Answer: The Bay City Rollers.
Song: Rollers Show-- Nick Lowe (dan)
#17
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: We all know that large snaps are called Whopper Poppers. But what are large hook-and-eyes called?
Answer: King Henrys.
Song: Caledonia-- B.B. King
#18
Realm: Advertising
Question: How do you order Hooked on Phonics?
Answer: Call 1-800-ABCDEFG.
Song: The Look of Love (Part 1)-- ABC (joe)
#19
Realm: Movies
Question: How did George Lucas come up with the name "R2-D2" for the "Star Wars" robot?
Answer: It's movie lingo for "Reel 2, Dialog 2," and that is supposedly where Lucas and Co. got it.
Song: Reel Ten-- The Plugz (dan)
#20
Realm: Education/ Lower learning
Question: What fictional place is the elementary school in Greenwood, S.C. named after?
Answer: The school, Springfield Elementary, was intentionally named after the school Bart Simpson attends.
Song: Do the Bart-- 2 Live Crew (dan)or
Song: Do The Bartman-- "The Simpsons Single the Blues" dan
(NOTE: "Do The Bartman" was used.)
#21
Realm: Money/ "Do you have change for a ten?"
Question: Whose picture appears on the U.S. ten-thousand dollar bill?
Answer: Salmon P. Chase, Supreme Court Chief Justice from 1864-1873.
Song: Here Comes the Judge-- The Ventures (dan)
#22
Realm: The military
Question: What makes the Andorran army unlike any other army in the world?
Answer: It is the only army in the world that consists entirely of officers.
Song: Up Where We Belong-- Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes (NEEDED)
#23
Realm: Entertainment
Question: Magician Otto Christiansen is known for one illusion in particular. What is it?
Answer: Christiansen apparently saws his own head off with a circular saw. He did this once in a laboratory before 11 scientists.
Song: Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner-- Warren Zevon (maggie)
#24
Realm: Music/ Really Drum Questions
Question: In "Back In The USSR" on the White Album, who plays drums?
Answer: John, Paul, & George. Ringo quit the band during the recording sessions for that album, and then came back a few days later. "Back In The USSR" was the only track recorded without him.
Song: The Ballad of John and Yoko-- The Beatles (maggie)
#25
Realm: Literature/ Space Science
Question: Though we all know that Dr. Doolittle could talk to the animals, how did he get to the moon?
Answer: On the back of a giant moon butterfly.
Song: Most Anything That You Want-- Iron Butterfly (dan)
#26
Realm: Entertainment/ Dead Entertainment
Question: Who of note died on the same day as Sammy Davis Jr.?
Answer: Jim Henson.
Song: Puppet Man-- 5th Dimension (joe)
#27
Realm: Music/ Cheezy 70's technology
Question: Most of us have heard Peter Frampton's cheezy but loveable use of the "Talk Box," in his guitar work on "Do You Feel Like We Do." That was the second rock hit to use the talk box. What was the first?
Answer: "Rocky Mountain Way," by Joe Walsh. [Yes, folks, that was "The Joe Francis Obligatory Joe Walsh Question."]
Song: Rocky-- Austin Roberts (joe)
#28
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: The Royal Bank of Scotland is considering offering two sets of photo ID bank cards to a certain group of patrons. Who?
Answer: Transvestites. One card showing them dressed as men, and one showing them dressed as women.
Song: Kings and Queens-- Aerosmith (joe)
#29
Realm: Electronics
Question: In 1957, Sony Corp. decided to market the first "shirt pocket" radio. Unfortunately, Sony engineers couldn't quite make the radio small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. How did Sony co-founder Akiko Morita react?
Answer: He ordered shirts with oversized pockets for all his salesmen.
Song: Brass in Pocket-- Pretenders (maggie)
#30
Realm: Trend-setting records/ Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Question: The record for this sport belongs to Theresa Marquis, and stands at 6 1/2 inches. What is the sport?
Answer: Limbo.
Song: Low Rider-- War (joe)
#31
Realm: Current events
Question: What did the Barbie Liberation Organization do to get in the news last Christmas?
Answer: They secretly switched the voice boxes in Talking G.I. Joe and Barbie dolls in several toy stores around the U.S.
Song: The Wreck of the Barbie Ferrari-- John Hiatt (karen)
#32
Realm: Film/ You know how to whistle, don't you?
Question: Who dubbed Lauren Bacall's singing voice in the film "To Have and Have Not"?
Answer: Andy Williams.
Song: What Do You Want From Life-- The Tubes (joe)
#33
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: What is the English translation of the winning shout in Japan's annual national shouting contest for 1993?
Answer: "The pants I just bought are ripped!!"
Song: Jeans On-- David Dundas (maggie)
#34
Realm: Movies
Question: What was the the original title of the 1986 movie "About Last Night"?
Answer: "Sexual Perversity in Chicago."
Song: Gimme Some Lovin'-- Blues Brothers (dan)
#35
Realm: Sports
Question: What's the origin of "K," as a symbol for a strikeout in baseball?
Answer: Henry Chadwick devised the scoring system in question in 1861. "K" is used because it is the last letter in the word "struck," as in "struck out."
Song: Last Dance-- Donna Sumner (joe)
(NOTE: It should be pointed out that like many other century-plus-old baseball terminology questions, the above is but the most likely explanation. They don't even know where "shortstop" came from.)
#36
Realm: Jobs/ Maybe he got the idea from OCC
Question: What career did Brian May pursue before making it as guitarist for the group Queen?
Answer: He was a budding astrophysicist.
Song: 53 Miles West of Venus-- B-52s (dan)
#37
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: Back when east was east, west was west, and West Germany wasn't busy rebuilding East Germany, a few West Germans who had a bit of extra time on their hands decided to do some research. They discovered that, on average, a West German man performs a certain act once every seven days. What is this act?
Answer: On average, a West German man changes his underwear once every seven days.
Song: Down Under-- Men At Work (Joe)
#38
Realm: They don't make them like they used to/ Good thing
Question: In the movie "Weird Science," what type of computer was used to conjure up the woman played by Kelly LeBrock? (We need brand and model.)
Answer: An Apple Lisa.
Song: Melissa-- Allman Brothers Band (joe)
#39
Realm: History
Question: In the early 1900's, firemen were required to have long beards. Why?
Answer: Each fireman was required to have a beard so he could soak it in water and put it in his mouth, to help him breathe in smoke-filled buildings.
Song: Living Next Door to Alice-- Smokie (joe)
#40
Realm: TV
Question: What is Miles O'Brien's preferred beverage, according to "Deep Space Nine"?
Answer: Coffee, Jamaican Blend, black, double strong, double sweet.
Song: Stay Up Late-- Talking Heads (maggie)
#41
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: What company makes the "Pride of America" ice cream bars which are served in the dining halls?
Answer: Pride O' Utica.
Song: Pride (In the Name of Love)-- U2 (NEEDED)
#42
Realm: Williamsiana
Question: What was the most popular practical joke among the first decade of Williams students (1793-1803)?
Answer: The most popular practical joke was "log-rolling," or sneaking into the quarters of an Eph who lived on the fourth floor of West College and removing his firewood, then placing the firewood at the top of the stairs and giving it a push, which would necessitate your fellow Eph's carrying all his firewood up four flights of stairs once again.
Song: Woodstock-- Matthew's Southern Comfort (joe)
#43
Realm: Sports
Question: What is the official state sport of Maryland?
Answer: Jousting.
Song: Queen and the Soldier-- Suzanne Vega (dan)
#44
Realm: Food/ Hot Cuisine
Question: What was the first food intentionally cooked with microwaves?
Answer: Popcorn. In 1946, electronic engineer Percy Spencer held a bag of unpopped kernels in front of the magnetron of a radar set, to see if they would pop. They did.
Song: Pop Muzik-- M (joe)
#45
Realm: Computers/ A laptop for really, really BIG laps
Question: What is the name of the first electronic computer?
Answer: Collosus, invented and built in 1943. (NOTE: It predates ENIAC, which was for a long time considered the first, but only because the existence of Collosus was kept a military secret until the late 1970's.]
Song: Anna Ng-- They Might Be Giants
#46
Realm: Politics
Question: In what recent election was seen the bumper sticker "Vote for the crook; it's the right thing to do"?
Answer: The most recent Governor's race in Louisiana, in which Edwin Edwards (a shady ex-Governor) ran against David Duke (ardent racist).
Song: Theme from 'The Dukes of Hazzard' (Good Ol' Boys)-- Waylon Jennings (joe)
#47
Realm: Current events
Question: Earlier this year, the 5th grade class at Los Berros school had their recess interrupted by an unscheduled lesson about the food chain in nature. What food chain event took place in their school yard that day?
Answer: A hawk swooped down on their pet chick, Peep, Jr., and ate him. (Student teacher Lori Stitch said she regretted that Peep, Jr. "never knew another chicken.")
Song: Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)-- Daddy Dewdrop (joe)
#48
Realm: College hijinks/ It wasn't a hamster
Question: In the 19th century, Cambridge University banned dogs from the student dorms. What did Lord Byron keep instead?
Answer: A bear.
Song: No One Like You-- Scorpions (joe)
#49
Realm: Movies
Question: In the movie "Toys," what phrase does the General utter, to try to stop the rampaging sea creatures?
Answer: "Klaatu Barata Nikto."
Song: Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft-- Klaatu (maggie)
(NOTE: The phrase originated in the 1951 film, "The Day The Earth Stood Still," and stopped the rampaging alien robots in that one. (Or more precisely, lowered their visors and blocked their death rays.) Strangely, this is the sole question about the movie "Toys" in Williams Trivia history.)
#50
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: What's the Australian national anthem?
Answer: "Advance Australia Fair." (NOT "Waltzing Matilda.")
Song: Waltzing Matilda-- Jimmie Rodgers or Jimmy Soul (NEEDED)
(NOTE: Both songs remained needed; the song played was "Shadow Dancing," by the now doubly down under Andy Gibb.)
#51
Realm: Film / Bondage, James Bondage
Question: In the film "Casino Royale", what type of torture does villain LeChiffre claim is the most exquisite?
Answer: Torture of the mind.
Song: Head Games-- Foreigner (joe)
#52
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: What's the largest non-religious organization in the United States?
Answer: The American Automobile Association, which boasts 32.5 million members.
Song: Convoy-- C.W. McCall (joe)
#53
Realm: Moving violations/ Doh!
Question: The house of the parents of Victor Bruce of Petoskey, Michigan sustained some water damage this winter while it was being moved by professional house movers. How did the water damage occur?
Answer: The house movers decided to take a short cut across frozen Walloon Lake. The house fell through the ice while they were crossing the lake.
Song: Life in a Northern Town-- Dream Academy (joe)
#54
Realm: Current events
Question: Actor Jeff Stryker has brought suit against a manufacturing company. Why?
Answer: Stryker is a porno star. The company, a manufacturer of marital aids, allegedly produced a dildo modeled after his genitals without offering him any royalties.
Song: Bend Me, Shape Me-- American Breed (NEEDED)
(NOTE: Again, the song was needed right up until trivia night; the Bellamy Brothers' "Let Your Love Flow" was substituted.)
#55
Realm: Williamsiana
Question: As the walls of Thompson Memorial Chapel illustrate, Williams men have established over the years a tradition of loyal military service to the nation's armed forces. However, there is at least one exception to this rule: on one occasion, an Eph-turned-Civil War soldier went on strike in protest. Identify the renegade Eph, and the occasion.
Answer: The striking Eph was the Eph of the Civil War monument (in front of Griffin Hall), who bore a sign which read STRIKE! during the National Student Strikes in the spring of 1968.
Song: The Stroke-- Billy Squier (NEEDED)
(NOTE: The general strike took place in the spring of 1970, not 1968. And though it contributed to the living history of our nation, it had the catastrophic effect of preempting what would have been the ninth Williams Trivia Contest. Trivia would not resume until the following December.)
#56
Realm: History
Question: A number of kings of England have had first names which shorten most conveniently to the nickname "Ed." Omitting all titles added to their first names ("II," "The Great," etc.), identify all the Eds who have ruled England.
Answer: If you were an English king nicknamed Ed, your first name was one of the following: Edward, Edmund, Edred, Edwy, or Edgar.
Song: Free Ride-- Edgar Winter Group (joe)
#57
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: Who recently promised to leave on a "photon-generating electrically-agitated-filament device," and in what context was the promise made?
Answer: Tom Bodett, in a Motel 6 advertisement.
Song: Suddenly Last Summer-- Motels (joe)
#58
Realm: Naval history/ "It was the strawberries ... yeah."
Question: What is unique about the U.S.S. Somers, a Navy vessel from the 19th century?
Answer: The U.S.S. Somers was the site of the only mutiny to occur in the U.S. Navy (on December 1, 1842).
Song: Rebel, Rebel-- Shaun Cassidy (NEEDED)
#59
Realm: Diseases
Question: Besides human beings, what is the only other animal that can contract leprosy?
Answer: Armadillos.
Song: Lay Your Hands on Me-- Thompson Twins (joe)
#60
Realm: Aviation/ Those wacky Canadians, eh?
Question: The city of St. Paul in Alberta, Canada is the sight of the world's only one of these. What?
Answer: It is the location of the world's only flying saucer launch pad.
Song: Take Off-- Bob and Doug McKenzie (joe)
#61
Realm: Convenient Fasteners/ Jay Pasachoff says: "We should put Velcro down the side of the Physics building."
Question: The name 'Velcro" is derived from what two words?
Answer: VELvet and CROchet.
Song: Walk On the Wild Side-- Lou Reed (NEEDED)
#62
Realm: Literature/ "Read more about it"
Question: On April 6th, 1994, without warning, hundreds of people suddenly swarmed into the Fort Worth, Texas public library, and flung thousands of books off of the shelves. What prompted them to do this?
Answer: Local radio station KYNG announced that it had hid hundreds of dollars in the library books.
Song: Money Honey-- Bay City Rollers (joe)
#63
Realm: Current events
Question: The company that makes Little Debbie snack cakes recently took legal action to prevent the Spencer Gifts chain from distributing what product?
Answer: "Little Doobie" shirts, which feature Little Debbie smoking a joint.
Song: Little Darling (I Need You)-- Doobie Brothers (joe)
#64
Realm: Architecture
Question: Williamstown has Thompson Chapel, New York has the Empire State Building. Every place needs a large phallic symbol. But what was the Empire State Building's spire (now used as a radio transmitter) originally designed to be used for?
Answer: A mooring mast for dirigibles.
Song: Hot Dog-- Led Zeppelin (joe)
#65
Realm: Texas/ It's like a whole other country
Question: The courthouse officials in Potter County, Texas were pretty red-faced recently, when they discovered they had made Potter County appear as if it had been conquered by a foreign country. What had they done?
Answer: The county flew the Chilean flag instead of the Texas banner over the courthouse for a whole day before anyone noticed.
Song: China-- Red Rocker (joe)
#66
Realm: Lesser-known public works projects/ Oh what tangled webs we weave...
Question: It is the summer of 1824. Amidst fears that extensive building on the southern end of Manhattan will cause parts of the island to sink into the sea, retirees Lozier and DeVoe pull off an enormous hoax. After months of preparations, awarding contracts for equipment, food, and even a huge anchor, and assembling hundreds of workers and contractors, the two men feign illness the very morning they were to begin on the monumental project. What did they claim they were going to accomplish?
Answer: They wanted to turn Manhattan around.
Song: Sweet Talkin' Guy-- Manhattan Transfer (joe) 67. International Cuisine/ Kitchens of the Stars Q: What is odd about the Cistercian Monastery in Alcobaca, Portugal?
Answer: A river runs through it.
Song: The Entertainer-- Marvin Hamlisch
#68
Realm: Occupations/ Sign me up!
Question: What did Al Capone's business card claim he did in 1927 to gross $105 million?
Answer: Deal in secondhand furniture.
Song: Second Hand News-- Fleetwood Mac (joe)
#69
Realm: Local Holidays/ The Fiesta
Question: Which festival is held every December 23 in Oaxaca, Mexico?
Answer: Fiesta of the Radishes.
Song: Holiday-- The Other Ones (joe)
#70
Realm: Travel tips/ CHiPs
Question: A division of the Amsterdam police called the grachtenvissers have what special duty?
Answer: They deal with motorists who have driven into the canals.
Song: Self Control-- Laura Brannigan (joe)
#71
Realm: Movies
Question: Aside from the fact that most recent movies are in color, what was unusual about Prince's movie "Under the Cherry Moon" being released in black-and-white?
Answer: It was filmed in color.
Song: I Adore Mi Amore-- Color Me Badd (douglas)
#72
Realm: Current events/ Close, but no cigar
Question: Ronald G . Barbour was charged with attempting to kill President Clinton in January. Obviously, he did not succeed, but it wasn't the Secret Service, or even Clint Eastwood that prevented him from carrying out his assassination. What did prevent him from assassinating President Clinton in January, 1994?
Answer: He tried to kill the President in D.C. from January 11 to January 17, then gave up and left. Clinton was away in Europe the entire time.
Song: Baby Come Back-- Player (joe)
#73
Realm: Sports
Question: What's the title of the fanfare played before a horse race?
Answer: "A Call to the Post."
Song: Calling Dr. Love-- Kiss (Joe)
#74
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: The annual energy consumption for the United States is about 80 quads. What's a quad?
Answer: A quad is one quadrillion British thermal units (BTUs).
Song: Rock Ain't Noise Pollution-- AC/DC (joe)
(NOTE: Question 74 was cancelled (after being asked) because both WCFM CD players refused to accept Joe's AC/DC disc. The station CD players choked harder than AC/DC's original lead singer, Bon Scott.)
#75
Realm: Movies
Question: During the filming of "The Three Musketeers," the director sometimes shouted "Banana!" instead of "Action!" Why?
Answer: He only said "Banana!" during the filming of scenes with horses, because when he said "Action!" the horses would bolt.
Song: Action-- The Sweet (joe)
#76
Realm: Current events
Question: According to the NY Post, Ted Kennedy came to his Christmas party dressed as Barney the dinosaur. What did he say people called him?
Answer: "Tyrannosaurus Sex."
Song: When I Was a Dinosaur-- Trout Fishing in America (douglas)
#77
Realm: Trek: Next Generation/ Comic Relief
Question: "Star Trek" in its many forms has made many predictions about future history, mainly wars and other social disruptions. On a more positive note, fashion trend setter Dr. Bev Crusher has said that what great evil was banned in the 21st century?
Answer: Polyester.
Song: Material Girl-- Madonna (NEEDED)
#78
Realm: Sports
Question: During this year's winter Olympics, the Hanes company donated and shipped over 1,000 pairs of underwear to the Olympic village. What prompted them to do this?
Answer: Due to the high cost of doing laundry in the Olympic Village, many athletes had been turning their dirty underwear inside-out and rewearing them.
Song: The Tide is High-- Blondie (maggie)
#79
Realm: Advertising
Question: For a time in the late 80's, Fruit of the Loom advertisements targeted a certain state for an unusual reason. What state, and why?
Answer: Iowa, because the chairman of Fruit of the Loom was considering running for President.
Song: Vote for Me-- Joe Walsh (joe)
#80
Realm: Entertainment
Question: Why was writer Lawrence Amaros recently fired from "The Arsenio Hall Show"?
Answer: Amaros held private auditions for a sketch he claimed to be writing for the show called "The Buttmaster." During the auditions, Amaros had actors remove their pants, and he measured and felt their behinds, taking notes the whole while.
Song: Strip-- Adam Ant (joe)
(NOTE: Sounds like it'd make a fine Action Trivia.....)
#81
Realm: U.S. history/ No, the answer is NOT Dustin Hoffman.
Question: Only one member of Custer's brigade survived the battle at Little Bighorn. What was his name?
Answer: His name was Curley. He was an Indian scout for Custer.
Song: I Wanna Be a Cowboy-- Boys Don't Cry (joe)
(NOTE: There was also one surviving horse.)
#82
Realm: The Oscars/ Best Picture, really
Question: In 1968, the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, but lost. What movie beat out "2001" for the Best Picture Oscar that year?
Answer: "Oliver!"
Song: Twist of Fate-- Olivia Newton-John (joe)
(NOTE: The situation was even less palatable than Oh No, Bette Midler! realized; "2001" was not nominated for Best Picture. The Academy preferred "Romeo and Juliet," "The Lion in Winter," "Rachel, Rachel," and "Funny Girl." The only two major categories "2001" was nominated in were Best Direction and Best Screenplay-- each of which it lost.)
#83
Realm: Morality
Question: Who said in a mid-1980's election, in commenting about his commanding lead in the polls, "The only way I can lose this election is if they catch me in bed with a dead girl or a live boy"?
Answer: Edwin Edwards of Louisiana.
Song: Sunshine-- Jonathan Edwards (joe)
(NOTE: Whereas very, very few contests have even ONE "Louisiana's Edwin Edwards" question, this contest boasted TWO; see Q #46.)
#84
Realm: Politics/ What to do on those long winter nights in Finland
Question: When the Center Party's nominee, Paavo Vayrynen, failed to win the Finnish Presidency, some observers blamed the loss on Vayrynen's pro-Soviet leanings during his stint as Foreign Minister. Others, however, pointed to a blatant lie he made during the campaign. Vayrynen claimed to have done something in one weekend that we know could only be accomplished by a Williams student during the weekend of reading period. What outrageous claim did Vayrynen make?
Answer: He said he read the collected works of Fyodor Dostoevski in a single weekend.
Song: Longer-- Dan Fogelberg (joe)
#85
Realm: Television
Question: In an episode of "Northern Exposure," Chris Stevens propels a piano through the air. He had originally planned to hurl something entirely different, though. What was it, and why did he change his mind?
Answer: A cow. Ed Chigliac informed him that Monty Python had already done it.
Song: The Lumberjack Song-- Monty Python (joe)
#86
Realm: Famous speed records/ Good thing it wasn't on the Merritt Parkway...
Question: In 1883, this 120-foot-tall object travelled almost 5,500 miles in less than twelve hours. That's over 350 mph. What was it?
Answer: The tidal wave caused by Krakatoa.
Song: Wipeout-- Surfaris (dan)
#87
Realm: The Royals/ He's no surgeon general
Question: Of tobacco, this man said, "(It is) a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black stinking fume thereof nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless"?
Answer: King James I.
Song: Carolina in My Mind-- James Taylor (NEEDED)
#88
Realm: The Scots/ A funny thing happened on the way to the morgue
Question: According to an old Scottish custom, a casket should be carried out through a temporary hole in the wall which is promptly repaired. Why?
Answer: Because the ghost is supposed to reenter the house the same way it left.
Song: (Ghost) Riders in the Sky-- Outlaws (maggie)
#89
Realm: Presidential Firsts/ Duck!
Question: On April 14, 1910, President William Howard Taft was the first President to do something that politicians have been doing nearly every year since. What did he do?
Answer: Throw out the first ball.
Song: Your Love-- The Outfield (joe)
#90
Realm: Law 'n' Order/ Wacky, wacky, wacky
Question: In order for a duel to be legal in Uruguay, what must be true of the combatants?
Answer: They must both be registered blood donors.
Song: Bloody Well Right-- Supertramp (joe)
(NOTE: Question #90 was the final question read over WCFM by Oh No, Bette Midler!)
#91
Realm: U.S. Geography/ Tennessee has HOW many?
Question: The United States has a multitude of city names, ranging from the bizarre to the silly to the boring. One name, however, stands out above the rest as the most-chosen name in the U.S. As a matter of fact, there are 66 of them in these 50 states (29 in Tennessee). What is it?
Answer: Fairview.
Song: Too Long at the Fair-- Bonnie Raitt (joe)
#92
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: List the top three leisure activities in the U.S., in order of time spent doing each.
Answer: 1) Watching TV; 2) Eating; 3) Shopping.
Song: Afternoon Delight-- Starland Vocal Band (joe)
#93
Realm: Advertising
Question: (3 pt) For one point, name four characters in the Burger King "Kids Club." For two points, name all seven.
Answer: Boomer (tomboy jockette), I.Q. (boy genius), Jaws (black), Kid Vid (high tech video gamer), Lingo (Hispanic), Snaps (girl photographer), Wheels (wheelchair-ridden).
Song: Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)-- Pat Travers (joe)
#94
Realm: Geography
Question: Where are area codes 801 and 802 for?
Answer: The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Song: Caribbean Queen-- Billy Ocean (joe)
#95
Realm: High technology/ What would we do without it?
Question: What great time waster did Alexei Pajitnov invent?
Answer: The computer game Tetris.
Song: Tumblin' Dice-- Linda Ronstadt (joe)
#96
Realm: Documentation/ Remember Fawn Hall?
Question: The first paper shredder was invented in 1935 at whose request?
Answer: Adolf Hitler.
Song: Der Kommissar-- After the Fire (maggie)
#97
Realm: Movies/ The Oscars
Question: What was the first animated film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture?
Answer: "Beauty and the Beast."
Song: Our Lips Are Sealed-- Go-Go's (joe)
#98
Realm: Current events
Question: According to a recent statement by a spokesman for the government of the Philippines, they refuse to be "bullied by one American Jew." Who is the Jew, and how is he able to bully an entire nation?
Answer: Steven Spielberg. Showings of "Schindler's List" have been restricted, because the Philippine government feels the film's sex scenes are pornographic.
Song: The Exodus Song-- Booker T. and the MG's (dan)
#99
Realm: The Disabled
Question: Before the battle of Trafalgar, what parts of the body was Lord Nelson missing?
Answer: An arm and an eye.
Song: See Me, Feel Me (also accept "Go To the Mirror"]-- The Who (maggie)
#100
Realm: Natural history
Question: Give the (popular) name of the hominid fossil discovered in 1974 by Donald Johanson in Ethiopia, and what it was named for. Some fossils of its species are as old as 3.9 million years.
Question: Lucy, named that because the Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was playing on Johanson's tape player when he was looking at the first pieces of this famous fossil.
Song: Jane's Getting Serious-- Jon Astley (joe)
#101
Realm: Lesser-Known Public Works Projects/ Beware of ...
Question: The smallest underpass in the world is a 1-foot wide tunnel under an English highway from London to Exeter. What was this underpass built to accomodate?
Answer: Badgers.
Song: Muskrat Love-- America (joe)
#102
Realm: Aristocrats/ Strange obsessions
Question: What was most unusual about the Austrian Prince Wenzel von Kaunitz-Rietburg?
Answer: He changed clothes 30 times a day.
Song: Changes-- Yes (joe)
#103
Realm: TV/ The Easiest Job in the World
Question: A couple of weeks ago, David Letterman received 70 cases of Gatorade. Why?
Answer: Because a few shows before, he had been doused with Gatorade by two NY Giants.
Song: Breakfast in America-- Supertramp (joe)
#104
Realm: Cutlery/ Sharper than a speeding Baxter spoon
Question: What is interesting about the Year Knife, which has been made by Joseph Rodgers & Sons Ltd. since 1822?
Answer: It has the same number of blades as the year in which it's made.
Song:
#105
Realm: Public works/ When cost-cutting measures get extreme
Question: What is unusual about the statue of the poet Jose Olmedo, in the plaza of Guayaquil, Ecuador?
Answer: It's really a statue of Lord Byron.
Song: Cliffs of Dover-- Eric Johnson (joe)
#106
Realm: Famous Places/ Did you say "Isuzu"?
Question: What is unique about Mount Izaru in Costa Rica?
Answer: From its summit, you can see both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.
Song: A View to a Kill-- Duran Duran (NEEDED)
#107
Realm: Chemistry/ Try THIS on a condom!
Question: What is the slipperiest known solid?
Answer: Teflon.
Song: Smuggler's Blues-- Glenn Frey (NEEDED)
#108
Realm: Current events
Question: What unusual method did a particular Bridgeport, CT woman use to murder her husband?
Answer: She sat on him. (She weighed 475 lbs.)
Song: Murder By Numbers-- The Police (maggie)
#109
Realm: Theater
Question: In the course of its 11 year, 4 month New York City run, the musical "Cats" used 37,717 of these.
Answer: Condoms. They were used to protect body microphones.
Song: Rubberband Man-- Spinners (maggie)
#110
Realm: Mythology
Question: What are the original meanings of the words "yin" and "yang"?
Answer: The words "yin" and "yang," which occur as early as 8th cent. BC (but only became a cosmological system in the 3rd cent. BC), originally meant "shady" and "sunny."
Song: When the Lights Go Out-- Naked Eyes (joe)
#111
Realm: Simpsons/ Too lame a question to actually go in the contest Sub-SR: "Lets go crazy, Broadway-style!"
Question: Where is New York in relation to Springfield?
Answer: "New York is thataway, Mister!"
Song: That's the Way (I Like It)-- KC and the Sunshine Band (maggie)
#112
Realm: TV
Question: On the children's show "Sesame Street," the character Mr. Snuffleupagus was at first only visible to the children and Big Bird. Now, adults see him as well. Why did this change take place?
Answer: Child psychologists working for the show determined that if children thought that adults would not believe them about Mr. Snuffleupagus, they would be reluctant to tell adults about having been molested or attacked (especially by adult friends or relatives), for fear of not being believed.
Song: Invisible Touch-- Genesis (douglas)
#113
Realm: What am I?/ It ain't Ivory soap
Question: In the U.S., I must be over 95% pure and without distinctive character, aroma, or taste." What am I?
Answer: Vodka.
Song: Too Shy-- Kajagoogoo (joe)
#114
Realm: The Animal Kingdom/ Hybridization gone awry
Question: What is a Welsh Rabbit?
Answer: A dish of cheese and beer.
Song: When You Say Love-- Sonny and Cher (NEEDED)
#115
Realm: Mythology
Question: Who are the three Norns?
Answer: The Three Norns, similar to the three Fates, are Scandinavian demi-goddesses who have power over the fates of both gods and humans. Their names are Urdur (Past), Verthandi (Present), and Skuld (Future).
Song: Time (Clock of the Heart)-- Culture Club (maggie)
#116
Realm: Sports
Question: Why were blue, yellow, black, green, and red chosen to be the colors on the Olympic flag?
Answer: At least one of these colors is in the flag of every country that participates in the Olympics.
Song: Fly By Night-- Rush (NEEDED)
#117
Realm: Science
Question: When Sir Humphrey Davy was asked to identify his greatest discovery, what was his response?
Answer: Michael Faraday.
Song: Livin' Thing-- Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) (maggie)
#118
Realm: Baseball/ Give that guy a contract
Question: Who threw out the first pitch for the Oakland A's this year at the start of spring training?
Answer: Benny the elephant -- the A's mascot.
Song: Benny and the Jets-- Elton John (NEEDED)
#119
Realm: Williamsiana
Question: Over the years, the requirements for graduation from Williams have varied in terms of major requirements, core curricula, etc. However, if you were an Eph prior to 1863, there were three unique requirements which any Eph who wished to receive a diploma needed to fulfill. Name these requirements.
Answer: Prior to 1863, any student who wished to receive a diploma from Williams had to first: a. REQUEST to receive a diploma (they weren't automatically given to graduates back in the good old days) and pay $0.50 to the President of the College; b. Have a parchment drawn up according to the conventions of the day by someone in town; and c. Bring the drawn-up parchment to the President of the College, so he could add his signature and the college seal.
Song: Signed, Sealed, Delivered-- Stevie Wonder (dan)
#120
Realm: Literature
Question: There are three famous women named Fatima in literature. One is the daughter of the prophet Muhammed. Another is a female hermit in the Arabian Nights. The third appears in an opera by Bela Bartok. Identify the opera and the third Fatima's claim to fame.
Answer: The opera was "Duke Blackbeard's Castle"; Fatima was the last wife of the pirate Blackbeard.
Song: 19-- Paul Hardcastle (joe)
#121
Realm: Technology/ The dark days before there was e-mail
Question: Nearly everyone knows the first telephone message was "Mr. Watson, come here-- I want to see you." What was the first TELEGRAPH message?
Answer: The first telegraph message was "What hath wrought?" by Samuel Morse himself.
Song: Da Do Do Do, Da Da Da Da-- The Police (douglas)
(NOTE: "Nearly everyone" is a little mistaken-- Alexander Graham Bell's quote (spoken when he spilled some acid on himself) was "Mr. Watson, come here-- I want you.")
#122
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: What substance are the threads in GORE-TEX fabric made out of?
Answer: Teflon.
Song: Another Saturday Night-- Sam Cooke (NEEDED)
#123
Realm: Art and Science/ Infamous screw-ups
Question: Etienne Leopold Trouvelot (troo-veh-loh) was a 19th-century astronomical artist and amateur entomologist. Although you may not recognize his name, many of you have cursed him or his living legacy. What did Trouvelot do to become this hated?
Answer: He introduced the gypsy moth to North America.
Song: Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves-- Cher (joe)
#124
Realm: Miscellaneous
Question: What's the best reason NOT to attend the Goshen United Methodist Church (in)Piedmont, Alabama?
Answer: The church was blown down during services recently, killing 21 (parishioners)including the pastor's 4-year-old daughter.
Song: Windy-- The Association (maggie)
#125
Realm: Politics/ "Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Paul Tsongas"
Question: There was a time when Bill and Hillary Clinton's troubles all came from a couple of Arkansas state troopers. We all know what they said about Bill, but what did they have to say about Hillary?
Answer: That she often used profane language.
Song: It's My Life-- Talk Talk (joe)
#126
Realm: Art History/ At least they didn't burn it
Question: From October 18 to December 3, 1961, what did MOMA do to poor Henri Matisse's "Le Bateau"?
Answer: They hung it upside-down.
Song: Situation-- Yaz (maggie)
#127
Realm: International cuisine/ Great merciful Allah!
Question: For truly great occasions, certain nomadic Arab tribes often prepare an enormous dish-- perhaps the largest of the culinary world. What is it?
Answer: Eggs stuffed in fish, stuffed in chickens, stuffed in sheep, stuffed in a whole roasted camel. S:
#128
Realm: Folk medicine/ I'd do this for a dollar
Question: What is the traditional cure for a toothache?
Answer: Eating a mouse.
Song: Crazy Train-- Ozzy Osbourne (maggie)
#129
Realm: Sports heroes/ This is what ESPN2 is for...
Question: On July 26, 1955, Ted Allen did what 72 times in a row?
Answer: Horseshoe ringers.
Song: I Can't Wait-- Nu Shooz (joe)
#130
Realm: Williamsiana
Question: As all college students will readily admit, professors are likely to develop peculiar idiosyncrasies, both as individuals and as a group. At times, professors will begin to act in a most peculiar manner for no apparent reason; however, there sometimes is an underlying explanation. If you were a student at Williams in the latter half of the last century, for example, you might on occasion go to class and witness the following scenario: Your professor walks into the room, picks up a piece of chalk, and then suddenly cancels classes for the rest of the day, perhaps accompanied by an outburst of anger or disgust. Explain your professor's actions.
Answer: Your professor cancels class as he is about to write on the blackboard because he realizes that either you or one of your classmates has greased the blackboards (a favorite practical joke to play on profs in those days), making it impossible to write on them.
Song: Grease-- Frankie Valli