Question > General Trivia

Where would you find the Sami?

UPDATE: Answer: Northern Scandinavia (portions of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. They are a native people of the region with a unique and distinctive culture.)

Question > History

In what year did the U.S. elect it's first president who was born after the Declaration of Independence was adopted?

UPDATE: Answer: 1836 (Martin Van Buren, born 1782)

Question > Games

What video game would you be playing if you heard an ominous voice speak "Wizard needs food badly!"?

UPDATE: Answer: Gauntlet

Question > Movies

What is the name of the Oscar-winning actor whose numerous roles included a samurai-like hitman, a security system installer turned criminal, and an African dictator?

UPDATE: Answer: Forest Whitaker (in Ghost Dog, Panic Room, and Last King of Scotland respectively)

Back again?

Another long hiatus. And sitemeter says I've been getting visitors in the meantime. Inspiration is hitting again - maybe it's the sunshine after two weeks of rain... I want to bring light to the clutter in my mind as well.

So hopefully here comes a better string of consistent posting.

Please comment or email. Any feedback would be appreciated. First correct for each question answer wins all the marbles*.

*Marbles not included.

Question > Television

What Comedy Central show featured an animation technique called "Squigglevision"?

UPDATE: Answer: Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist

The technique created by Tom Snyder and his company Soup2Nuts was also used on an ABC Saturday morning show called "Squigglevision" (earlier season was called "Science Court"), as well as the Cartoon Network show "Home Movies".

Question > Television

What 1980 TV show featured a Japanese singing duet (who was wildly popular in Japan, but only generated one Top 40 hit in the US)?

UPDATE: Answer: Pink Lady and Jeff. (Often cited as the worst TV show ever.)

Question > Movies

What is the name of the actor who has played a King of Jerusalem, a neo-Nazi skinhead, and a ex-con card shark?

UPDATE: Answer: Edward Norton (in Kingdom of Heaven, American History X, and Rounders, respectively)

Question > Games

What was the base of operations for the Dark Trooper project in the Star Wars Universe?

UPDATE: Answer: The imperial ship Arc Hammer

Another daily trivia site...

Jon Pike of the Beer Pigs trivia team (from the World's Largest Trivia Contest) has his own daily trivia question blog called "In Search of Trivia". Check it out!

Question > Movies

What is the first and last name of the movie character who said: "When I was your age they used to say you could become cops or criminals. What I'm saying to you is this... When you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?"?

EDIT: Answer: Frank Costello in The Departed

Back from hiatus

I took a break from Trivia writing and research for The World's Largest Trivia Contest... and ended up staying away longer than I had hoped. But I'm back now, and will be working this back into our schedule.

Trivia (the contest) was a blast, as usual. Freshly Squeezed (my Trivia team) is a great group of people and we all know how to have fun even while we're striving for the top ten. We placed 15th this year. Last year was our all time high of 13th, and even though we slipped for the first time in 12 years, we're pretty pleased that we stayed closed to where we were last year.

There are over 400 teams that compete in the contest, so top 20 is a good level to reach. Top 10 get a trophy. Top 5 is nearly impossible and are typically held by the same teams with slight ordering changes each year.

The weekend of 54 hours of Trivia is fun, but exhausting. The following days or weeks are filled with conversations and reminiscences and planning for next year. All of that got me distracted from what I was trying to do here. Maybe I should define that better. But really, all you, as a reader, need to know is that I want to entertain people with a similar interest in trivial information.

So now back to Trivia One. Have fun!

Trivia Bee with the Jeopardy King

This sounds like a good time:

The 11th annual Trivia Bee drew a record crowd Friday night, selling enough tickets to fill Bellingham High School’s auditorium.

...

Thirty-one teams of three people each competed at this year’s event, testing their knowledge on topics including sports, history and literature.

And Ken Jennings was there!

I've been reading more an more about other contests and events out there. These charity fundraising events seem like a great time. Feel free to share your experiences, or send me the details so I can post about it here.

Question > Movies

In the movie Fargo, where does Norm Gunderson say his painting will be printed?

UPDATE: Answer: The 3 cent stamp.

Question > Music

What rocker's come-back album in the 90s featured artists such as Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, and Michael Penn as well as the actress Kimmy Robertson?

UPDATE: Answer: Roger McGuinn's "Back from Rio"

Question > Music

What 1960s rocker created a on-stage shtick complete with turban and robe and extended it to carrying his band equipment around in a 1952 Packard Hearse?

UPDATE: Answer: Domingo “Sam” Samudio from Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs

Question > General Trivia

Here's a little bunny trivia to honor the holiday. Name the movie, song, tv show, or play from which the following bunny-related quotes come:

1) "That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on! [...] Look, that rabbit's got a vicious streak a mile wide! It's a killer!"

2) "I was walking down along the street and I heard this voice saying, 'Good evening, Mr. [...].' Well, I turned around and here was this big six-foot rabbit leaning up against a lamp-post. Well, I thought nothing of that because when you've lived in a town as long as I've lived in this one, you get used to the fact that everybody knows your name."

3) "And if you go chasing rabbits, and you know you're going to fall, tell 'em a hookah smoking caterpillar has given you the call."

4) "Kill the rabbit, kill the rabbit, kill the rabbit!"

5) "Attention! Attention! Ladies and gentlemen, attention! There is a herd of killer rabbits headed this way and we desperately need your help!"

UPDATE: Answer:

1) Tim the Enchanter, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
2) Elwood P. Dowd, Harvey
3) Jefferson Airplane, White Rabbit
4) Elmer Fudd, What's Opera Doc?
5) Officer Lopez, Night of the Lepus

Triva. THE Trivia. It's coming!

First article to appear in the lead up to Trivia in two weeks:

For 37 years, the self-proclaimed world's largest trivia contest has attracted thousands of fun-loving players to central Wisconsin. It will again _ thanks to some extra grit from the guru who writes the questions.

It goes into some personal information about Jim Oliva, the main contest writer, that he had alluded to in official communiques. Interesting to us long time players, I'm sure.

Less than two weeks now... it's getting busy here with preparations in full force.

Question > Comics

What costumed hero flew an owl-shaped vehicle named Archie after Archimedes the Owl in Disney's The Sword in the Stone?

UPDATE: Answer: Nite-Owl (version 2) from The Watchmen

Question > Sports

What is the oldest trophy for which North American-based athletes still compete?

UPDATE: Answer: The NHL's Stanley Cup has been awarded since 1892. It started as an award to the top amateur hockey club in Canada, but evolved into the professional championship trophy over time.