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Erland's Occasional Quiz - This and that
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Erland Sommarskog
Sep 6, 2020, 7:37:52 AM9/6/20
to
Here are some random questions about this and that with absolutely no
theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use your
own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect answers.
I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
Have fun!
1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
specific.
3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
4. Why is Obelix so strong?
5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting Services?
6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami floor?
7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
"mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
8. What is this symbol? Give its name or function.
http://www.sommarskog.se/temp/symbol.jpg
9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
the first tie breaker.
10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
down due to health reasons?
12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within 5?
theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use your
own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect answers.
I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
Have fun!
1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
specific.
3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
4. Why is Obelix so strong?
5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting Services?
6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami floor?
7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
"mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
8. What is this symbol? Give its name or function.
http://www.sommarskog.se/temp/symbol.jpg
9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
the first tie breaker.
10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
down due to health reasons?
12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within 5?
Dan Blum
Sep 6, 2020, 10:55:27 AM9/6/20
to
Erland Sommarskog <esq...@sommarskog.se> wrote:
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
Poughkeepsie
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
> 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
from Europe
> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
> 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting Services?
> 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami floor?
> 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
is more general
> 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
> located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> the first tie breaker.
> 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
> 11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
> down due to health reasons?
> 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within 5?
--
_______________________________________________________________________
Dan Blum to...@panix.com
"I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."
Joshua Kreitzer
Sep 6, 2020, 3:39:29 PM9/6/20
to
Erland Sommarskog <esq...@sommarskog.se> wrote in
news:XnsAC308AAA0...@127.0.0.1:
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
Pittsburgh
(but I don't think that counts as a small town ...)
> 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting
> Services?
North Dakota
> 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami
> floor?
one is supposed to walk barefoot there
> 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
"yumi" includes both the speaker and the listener, while "mipela"
includes the speaker and at least one other person
it's a musical clef, but not the usual treble or bass clef
> 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are
> they
> located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> the first tie breaker.
France, Poland
> 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
40
> 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within
> 5?
1980
--
Joshua Kreitzer
grom...@hotmail.com
news:XnsAC308AAA0...@127.0.0.1:
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
(but I don't think that counts as a small town ...)
> 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting
> Services?
> 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami
> floor?
> 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
includes the speaker and at least one other person
it's a musical clef, but not the usual treble or bass clef
> 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are
> they
> located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> the first tie breaker.
> 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
> 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within
> 5?
--
Joshua Kreitzer
grom...@hotmail.com
Mark Brader
Sep 6, 2020, 5:05:49 PM9/6/20
to
Erland Sommarskog:
> 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
Imperial guards?
> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
Is there a miscount of negatives inside the parentheses?
I'll go with North Korea.
> 4. Why is Obelix so strong?
Well, if you carried an obelisk around with you everywhere, I guess
you'd be strong too.
> 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting Services?
Arrrgh, he got me on a train question. I'll try Kansas.
> 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami floor?
Shoes are not worn inside.
> 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
They are inclusive and exclusive of the listener.
It marks one end of a section of music to be repeated.
> 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
> located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> the first tie breaker.
France, Belarus.
> 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
40 days.
> 11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
> down due to health reasons?
Abe.
> 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within 5?
2020?
--
Mark Brader | "There is a pervasive illusion in certain quarters
Toronto | that Mother Nature is our friend. Wrong; dead wrong.
m...@vex.net | She doesn't care whether we live or die,
| and she loves surprises." -- Henry Spencer
My text in this article is in the public domain.
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
New York City?
> 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
I'll go with North Korea.
> 4. Why is Obelix so strong?
you'd be strong too.
> 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting Services?
> 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami floor?
> 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
It marks one end of a section of music to be repeated.
> 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
> located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> the first tie breaker.
> 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
> 11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
> down due to health reasons?
> 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within 5?
--
Mark Brader | "There is a pervasive illusion in certain quarters
Toronto | that Mother Nature is our friend. Wrong; dead wrong.
m...@vex.net | She doesn't care whether we live or die,
| and she loves surprises." -- Henry Spencer
My text in this article is in the public domain.
swp
Sep 6, 2020, 5:44:00 PM9/6/20
to
On Sunday, September 6, 2020 at 7:37:52 AM UTC-4, Erland Sommarskog wrote:
> Here are some random questions about this and that with absolutely no
> theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use your
> own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
>
> One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
> second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect answers.
>
> I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
>
> Have fun!
>
>
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
pittsburgh
> Here are some random questions about this and that with absolutely no
> theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use your
> own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
>
> One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
> second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect answers.
>
> I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
>
> Have fun!
>
>
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
> 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
swp
Sep 6, 2020, 6:01:20 PM9/6/20
to
On Sunday, September 6, 2020 at 5:44:00 PM UTC-4, swp wrote:
> On Sunday, September 6, 2020 at 7:37:52 AM UTC-4, Erland Sommarskog wrote:
> > Here are some random questions about this and that with absolutely no
> > theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use your
> > own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
> >
> > One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
> > second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect answers.
> >
> > I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
> >
> > Have fun!
> >
> >
> > 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
pittsburgh
> > 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> > specific.
elite "new soldiers" who were household guards and formed the first standing army
> On Sunday, September 6, 2020 at 7:37:52 AM UTC-4, Erland Sommarskog wrote:
> > Here are some random questions about this and that with absolutely no
> > theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use your
> > own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
> >
> > One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
> > second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect answers.
> >
> > I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
> >
> > Have fun!
> >
> >
> > 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
pittsburgh
> > 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> > specific.
> > 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> > one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> > any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> > mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
> > 4. Why is Obelix so strong?
> > 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> > at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting Services?
> > 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami floor?
> > 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> > Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> > "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
c-clef
> > 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
> > located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> > the first tie breaker.
> > 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
> > 11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
> > down due to health reasons?
> > 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within 5?
swp
Pete Gayde
Sep 6, 2020, 11:26:31 PM9/6/20
to
> Here are some random questions about this and that with absolutely no
> theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use
> your own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
>
> One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
> second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect
> answers.
>
> I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
>
> Have fun!
>
>
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
>
> 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
>
> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
Singapore
> theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use
> your own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
>
> One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
> second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect
> answers.
>
> I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
>
> Have fun!
>
>
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
>
> 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
>
> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
>
> 4. Why is Obelix so strong?
>
> 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting
> Services?
>
> 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami
> floor?
>
> 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
>
> 8. What is this symbol? Give its name or function.
> http://www.sommarskog.se/temp/symbol.jpg
>
> 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are
> they
> located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> the first tie breaker.
>
> 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
>
> 11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
> down due to health reasons?
>
> 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within
> 5?
>
>
Pete Gayde
Dan Tilque
Sep 7, 2020, 8:30:05 AM9/7/20
to
On 9/6/20 4:37 AM, Erland Sommarskog wrote:
> Here are some random questions about this and that with absolutely no
> theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use your
> own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
>
> One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
> second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect answers.
>
> I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
>
> Have fun!
>
>
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
>
> 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
>
> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
Turkmenistan and North Korea
> Here are some random questions about this and that with absolutely no
> theme linking them. Answer by posting to the newsgroup. Do only use your
> own knowledge, do not look up sources or ask someone else.
>
> One point for each question. #9 offers the first tie-breaker. The
> second tie-breaker is a subjective evaluation of the incorrect answers.
>
> I plan to score the quiz on Friday 11th.
>
> Have fun!
>
>
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
>
> 2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
>
> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
>
> 4. Why is Obelix so strong?
>
> 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting Services?
>
> 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami floor?
>
> 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
mipela = any other meaning of "we"
>
> 8. What is this symbol? Give its name or function.
> http://www.sommarskog.se/temp/symbol.jpg
>
> 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
> located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> the first tie breaker.
>
> 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
>
> 11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
> down due to health reasons?
>
> 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within 5?
--
Dan Tilque
Erland Sommarskog
Sep 11, 2020, 4:29:16 PM9/11/20
to
This quiz is over and Stephen W. Perry is the winner! Congratulations!
Yours is the glory and other readers of rec.games.trivia are obliged to
hold you in awe for the next 24 hours.
Here is the scoreboard:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total
--------------------------------------------
Stephen P 1 - - 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 9
Dan B - 1 - - - 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 7
Joshua K 1 - - - - 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 7
Mark B - - 1 - - 1 1 - 1 1 1 - 6
Dan T - - 1 - - 1 1 - 1 1 1 - 6
Pete G - - - - - 1 - - 1 - 1 - 3
Here are the correct answers:
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
Pittsburgh.
Not exactly a smalltown, one would think. I got this moniker from
Lou Reed's and John Cale's album "Songs for Drella" which they recorded
after Warhol's death to honour him. The first song is called "Smalltown",
and deals with how Warhol left Pittsburgh for NYC. "There is only
one good use for a smalltown. You hate it, and you know you have to
leave".
>2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
It was a corps of elite soldiers who had been recruited through the
blood tax, devshirme. Christian families had to give one boy to the
Sultan's collectors. The kids were then taken to Constantinople where
they had to convert to Islam and were raised as soldiers.
My intention was to require a reference to Christians, but I accepted
"Europe", since this part of Europe was to a very large extent
Christian at the time. Although there must have been a Jewish population
as well, and they were spared from this cruel tax.
> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
North Korea and Turkmenistan.
Reportedly, Turkmenistan, has banned the very work "corona virus".
There were some news that North Korea had discovered a case which was said
to be someone from South Korea who had slipped in. However, the official
statistics from WHO or Johns Hopkins do not list North Korea. But since
some people could have been lured by this report and dismiss North Korea,
I did not want award any extra points here. (And since I asked for a
single name, your first entry had to be correct.)
Of the incorrect answers, I liked Eritrea, because its regime is very
well in par with the other two, so it is not a bad bet to assume that
they would be sweeping things under the carpet.
There appears to be a few countries and territories in the Pacific Ocean
which have managed to keep the virus out entirely. I have not made a
complete search, but checking the latest update from WHO, I don't find
neither Kiribati nor Palau. Anyway, I don't think of them have a
population over one million.
> 4. Why is Obelix so strong?
He fell into the cauldron with the magic potion when he was a child.
For those who don't know Obelix, he is a cartoon character in the Asterix
series about a village in the north of Gaul that thanks to their potion
that gives them superpowers have managed evade the Roman conquest.
> 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting Services?
South Dakota.
See
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/
Maps/Amtrak-System-Map-1018.pdf
> 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami
> floor?
Take off your shoes before you enter!
> 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
Yumi (from you-me) is inclusive of the person being addressed.
Mipela (me-fellow) is exclusive, that is "I and someone else.
It's a C-clef. In sheet music, it marks the position for the note C4. This
clef is used by some alto instruments, for instance the viola.
> 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
> located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> the first tie breaker.
France and Belarus.
Two entrants had Poland instead of Belarus, and indeed it is just across the
border from Poland. It's main claim to fame is that it was in Brest-Litovsk
(as it was called them) where Germany and Russia negotiated for peace at
the end pf WWI.
The French city is on the west coast of Brittany.
> 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
40 days.
> 11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
> down due to health reasons?
Shinzo Abe, Japan.
> 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within 5?
1981. Accepting 1976-1986.
I can't recall that the year is displayed in the film, but I had to look it
up when I came home. There are several scenes where the main character
Arthur Fleck is sitting in an office and smoking, something which one thinks
he would not be permitted to today.
Yours is the glory and other readers of rec.games.trivia are obliged to
hold you in awe for the next 24 hours.
Here is the scoreboard:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total
--------------------------------------------
Stephen P 1 - - 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 9
Dan B - 1 - - - 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 7
Joshua K 1 - - - - 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 7
Mark B - - 1 - - 1 1 - 1 1 1 - 6
Dan T - - 1 - - 1 1 - 1 1 1 - 6
Pete G - - - - - 1 - - 1 - 1 - 3
Here are the correct answers:
> 1. In which "smalltown" was the artist Andy Warhol born and raised?
Not exactly a smalltown, one would think. I got this moniker from
Lou Reed's and John Cale's album "Songs for Drella" which they recorded
after Warhol's death to honour him. The first song is called "Smalltown",
and deals with how Warhol left Pittsburgh for NYC. "There is only
one good use for a smalltown. You hate it, and you know you have to
leave".
>2. In the Ottoman Empire, what where the Janissaries? Be sufficiently
> specific.
blood tax, devshirme. Christian families had to give one boy to the
Sultan's collectors. The kids were then taken to Constantinople where
they had to convert to Islam and were raised as soldiers.
My intention was to require a reference to Christians, but I accepted
"Europe", since this part of Europe was to a very large extent
Christian at the time. Although there must have been a Jewish population
as well, and they were spared from this cruel tax.
> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
Reportedly, Turkmenistan, has banned the very work "corona virus".
There were some news that North Korea had discovered a case which was said
to be someone from South Korea who had slipped in. However, the official
statistics from WHO or Johns Hopkins do not list North Korea. But since
some people could have been lured by this report and dismiss North Korea,
I did not want award any extra points here. (And since I asked for a
single name, your first entry had to be correct.)
Of the incorrect answers, I liked Eritrea, because its regime is very
well in par with the other two, so it is not a bad bet to assume that
they would be sweeping things under the carpet.
There appears to be a few countries and territories in the Pacific Ocean
which have managed to keep the virus out entirely. I have not made a
complete search, but checking the latest update from WHO, I don't find
neither Kiribati nor Palau. Anyway, I don't think of them have a
population over one million.
> 4. Why is Obelix so strong?
For those who don't know Obelix, he is a cartoon character in the Asterix
series about a village in the north of Gaul that thanks to their potion
that gives them superpowers have managed evade the Roman conquest.
> 5. Which is the only US state of the 48 contiguous that is not served
> at all by Amtrak, neither by train nor by Thruway Connecting Services?
See
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/
Maps/Amtrak-System-Map-1018.pdf
> 6. What's common between a mosque and a Japanese house with a tatami
> floor?
> 7. In Tok Pisin, a pidgin-based language which is commonly used in
> Papua Guinea, there are two words for the English "we": "yumi" and
> "mipela". Explain the difference between the two.
Mipela (me-fellow) is exclusive, that is "I and someone else.
It's a C-clef. In sheet music, it marks the position for the note C4. This
clef is used by some alto instruments, for instance the viola.
> 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
> located in? Name any of the two for a regular point. Name both for
> the first tie breaker.
Two entrants had Poland instead of Belarus, and indeed it is just across the
border from Poland. It's main claim to fame is that it was in Brest-Litovsk
(as it was called them) where Germany and Russia negotiated for peace at
the end pf WWI.
The French city is on the west coast of Brittany.
> 10. The word "quarantine" originates from a period of which length?
> 11. Which world leader recently announced recently that he is stepping
> down due to health reasons?
> 12. The recent film "Joker" is set in Gotham City in which year within 5?
I can't recall that the year is displayed in the film, but I had to look it
up when I came home. There are several scenes where the main character
Arthur Fleck is sitting in an office and smoking, something which one thinks
he would not be permitted to today.
Mark Brader
Sep 11, 2020, 5:45:20 PM9/11/20
to
Erland Sommarskog:
> > 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
> > located in? ...
> Two entrants had Poland instead of Belarus, and indeed it is just across the
> border from Poland. It's main claim to fame is that it was in Brest-Litovsk
> (as it was called them) where Germany and Russia negotiated for peace at
> the end pf WWI.
More precisely, not at the end of the war, but when Russia dropped out of
it. After the war actually ended, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was revoked.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "How can you develop a reputation as a straight shooter
m...@vex.net | if lying is not an option?" --Alex Kozinski
> This quiz is over and Stephen W. Perry is the winner! Congratulations!
> Yours is the glory and other readers of rec.games.trivia are obliged to
> hold you in awe for the next 24 hours.
All hail Stephen W. Perry!
> Yours is the glory and other readers of rec.games.trivia are obliged to
> hold you in awe for the next 24 hours.
> > 9. There are two cities in Europe named Brest. Which countries are they
> Two entrants had Poland instead of Belarus, and indeed it is just across the
> border from Poland. It's main claim to fame is that it was in Brest-Litovsk
> (as it was called them) where Germany and Russia negotiated for peace at
> the end pf WWI.
it. After the war actually ended, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was revoked.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "How can you develop a reputation as a straight shooter
m...@vex.net | if lying is not an option?" --Alex Kozinski
Dan Tilque
Sep 11, 2020, 9:40:07 PM9/11/20
to
On 9/11/20 1:29 PM, Erland Sommarskog wrote:
>
>> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
>> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
>> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
>> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
>
> North Korea and Turkmenistan.
>
> Reportedly, Turkmenistan, has banned the very work "corona virus".
Yes, a real head in the sand there. If they don't test for it and don't
>
>> 3. To my knowing, there are only two countries with a population over
>> one million that has not reported a single case of covid-19. Name
>> any of them. (And, no, you need to know which countries I have in
>> mind. If there is one I have missed, that's alright.)
>
> North Korea and Turkmenistan.
>
> Reportedly, Turkmenistan, has banned the very work "corona virus".
even talk about it, it doesn't happen. Right. Meanwhile the number of
pneumonia cases and various other conditions it causes are skyrocketing.
>
> There were some news that North Korea had discovered a case which was said
> to be someone from South Korea who had slipped in.
home. They locked down the city he was found in. I haven't heard any
reports since, so I don't know if he actually was positive or they just
had a super-abundance of caution.
>
> There appears to be a few countries and territories in the Pacific Ocean
> which have managed to keep the virus out entirely. I have not made a
> complete search, but checking the latest update from WHO, I don't find
> neither Kiribati nor Palau. Anyway, I don't think of them have a
> population over one million.
Tuvalu, Tonga, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa,
American Samoa, Tokelau, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, maybe a
few more. And none seem to have over 1M people.
--
Dan Tilque
Erland Sommarskog
Sep 12, 2020, 5:32:10 AM9/12/20
to
Dan Tilque (dti...@frontier.com) writes:
> Yes, a real head in the sand there. If they don't test for it and don't
> even talk about it, it doesn't happen. Right. Meanwhile the number of
> pneumonia cases and various other conditions it causes are skyrocketing.
>
Just curious: do you have some actual information about the situation there?
> Yes, a real head in the sand there. If they don't test for it and don't
> even talk about it, it doesn't happen. Right. Meanwhile the number of
> pneumonia cases and various other conditions it causes are skyrocketing.
>
While very unlikely, it is maybe more conceivable that they would be able
to stay clear than North Korea. Turkmenistan is not really a tourist drag,
and I suspect that it is not really a country that let their citizens
leave the country without a lot of red tape. And it took a while before
covid took off in Russia, which I guess is the country they have most
contact with. So if they closed the borders in time, they might have been
able to keep it out.
Just because they ban the word in public, does not necessarily mean that
entirely ignore it. After all, they too stopped the football for a while.
And these kind of regimes are good at saying one thing and doing another.
swp
Sep 12, 2020, 1:13:06 PM9/12/20
to
On Friday, September 11, 2020 at 5:45:20 PM UTC-4, Mark Brader wrote:
> Erland Sommarskog:
> > This quiz is over and Stephen W. Perry is the winner! Congratulations!
> > Yours is the glory and other readers of rec.games.trivia are obliged to
> > hold you in awe for the next 24 hours.
>
> All hail Stephen W. Perry!
thank you, each
> Erland Sommarskog:
> > This quiz is over and Stephen W. Perry is the winner! Congratulations!
> > Yours is the glory and other readers of rec.games.trivia are obliged to
> > hold you in awe for the next 24 hours.
>
> All hail Stephen W. Perry!
swp
Dan Tilque
Sep 13, 2020, 1:52:09 AM9/13/20
to
On 9/12/20 2:32 AM, Erland Sommarskog wrote:
> Dan Tilque (dti...@frontier.com) writes:
>> Yes, a real head in the sand there. If they don't test for it and don't
>> even talk about it, it doesn't happen. Right. Meanwhile the number of
>> pneumonia cases and various other conditions it causes are skyrocketing.
>>
>
> Just curious: do you have some actual information about the situation there?
There's a site (not based in the country) that tries to monitor events
> Dan Tilque (dti...@frontier.com) writes:
>> Yes, a real head in the sand there. If they don't test for it and don't
>> even talk about it, it doesn't happen. Right. Meanwhile the number of
>> pneumonia cases and various other conditions it causes are skyrocketing.
>>
>
> Just curious: do you have some actual information about the situation there?
there. I'm afraid I don't remember the name of it. They seemed to be
fairly sure COVID was happening there. Part of that was the increase in
pneumonia, IIRC.
I'm afraid I don't remember more details. I looked into this in June,
and memory is not perfect.
--
Dan Tilque
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