Ken Jennings trivia challenge

[Floater]

1. What 1984 movie, after becoming a surprise hit (the #5 box office success of the year) spawned a sequel set almost entirely in Okinawa?

Karate Kid

3. Most of the greatest works of architect Antoni Gaudi are found in what city, where he died in 1926?

Barcelona

4. What word that originally referred to Helicoverpa zea, a moth larva that attacks corn crops, has more recently come to refer to a hard-to-forget song or melody?

Ear-worm

5. What Asian country is home to over 2% of the world's population despite a smaller area than the state of West Virginia?

Singapore?

[Don Enrico]

1. What 1984 movie, after becoming a surprise hit (the #5 box office success of the year) spawned a sequel set almost entirely in Okinawa?

I probably should know that.

2. Between 1958 and 1978, the United States released 13 unmanned probes out into the solar system and beyond that shared what name?

Voyager.

3. Most of the greatest works of architect Antoni Gaudi are found in what city, where he died in 1926?

Barcelona?

4. What word that originally referred to Helicoverpa zea, a moth larva that attacks corn crops, has more recently come to refer to a hard-to-forget song or melody?

Must be earworm.

5. What Asian country is home to over 2% of the world's population despite a smaller area than the state of West Virginia?

WAG: Bangladesh.

6. The latest installment in the Elder Scrolls video game franchise is set in what titular province of Tamriel?

No idea.

7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 19 by Adele, Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash, Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds, Up-Tight by Stevie Wonder, Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses, The White Stripes by The White Stripes

.
No idea.

[damian]

7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 19 by Adele, Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash, Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds, Up-Tight by Stevie Wonder, Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses, The White Stripes by The White Stripes

I think I've got this: All albums have a Bob Dylan song.

Electric Ladyland - All Along The Watchtower
19 - Make You Feel My Love
Use Your Illusion II - Knocking On Heaven's Door

[Nick Theodorakis]

1. What 1984 movie, after becoming a surprise hit (the #5 box office success of the year) spawned a sequel set almost entirely in Okinawa?

The Karate Kid

2. Between 1958 and 1978, the United States released 13 unmanned probes out into the solar system and beyond that shared what name?

Mariner?

4. What word that originally referred to Helicoverpa zea, a moth larva that attacks corn crops, has more recently come to refer to a hard-to-forget song or melody?

Must be an ear worm

5. What Asian country is home to over 2% of the world's population despite a smaller area than the state of West Virginia?

I thinking Bangladesh

Nick

[Spam & Cookies-mmm]

THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS

1. The Karate Kid
2. Voyager
3. Guessing: Washington DC
4. Ear Worm
5. Guessing: Taiwan
6. not even a clue
7. I need to listen to more music

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Originally Posted by MacLloyd

THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS

1. What 1984 movie, after becoming a surprise hit (the #5 box office success of the year) spawned a sequel set almost entirely in Okinawa?

Big Trouble in Little China

2. Between 1958 and 1978, the United States released 13 unmanned probes out into the solar system and beyond that shared what name?

Pioneer

3. Most of the greatest works of architect Antoni Gaudi are found in what city, where he died in 1926?

Florence

4. What word that originally referred to Helicoverpa zea, a moth larva that attacks corn crops, has more recently come to refer to a hard-to-forget song or melody?

earworm

5. What Asian country is home to over 2% of the world's population despite a smaller area than the state of West Virginia?

Bangladesh

6. The latest installment in the Elder Scrolls video game franchise is set in what titular province of Tamriel?

States of India

7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 19 by Adele, Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash, Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds, Up-Tight by Stevie Wonder, Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses, The White Stripes by The White Stripes.

All contain songs with Biblical lyrics.

If I'm lucky, one of these might be right.

Seaboe

[chillas]

1. What 1984 movie, after becoming a surprise hit (the #5 box office success of the year) spawned a sequel set almost entirely in Okinawa?

The Karate Kid.

2. Between 1958 and 1978, the United States released 13 unmanned probes out into the solar system and beyond that shared what name?

Voyager.

3. Most of the greatest works of architect Antoni Gaudi are found in what city, where he died in 1926?

Barcelona.

4. What word that originally referred to Helicoverpa zea, a moth larva that attacks corn crops, has more recently come to refer to a hard-to-forget song or melody?

Earworm?

5. What Asian country is home to over 2% of the world's population despite a smaller area than the state of West Virginia?

WAG - Bangladesh?

6. The latest installment in the Elder Scrolls video game franchise is set in what titular province of Tamriel?

Skyrim.

7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 19 by Adele, Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash, Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds, Up-Tight by Stevie Wonder, Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses, The White Stripes by The White Stripes.

I think that all of them have covers of Bob Dylan songs. I know that Electric Ladyland has, of course "All Along the Watchtower," and Use Your Illusion II has "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." All Things Must Pass has "If Not For You." I think 19 is the Album with "Make You Feel My Love." Not sure about the others right off, but I think it's enough for me to make that my official guess.

[DadOf3]

Most have already been guessed, but a few comments:

1. What 1984 movie, after becoming a surprise hit (the #5 box office success of the year) spawned a sequel set almost entirely in Okinawa?
I can't believe I didn't get this right away. I like to think that I would have gotten it once I looked at tonight's TV listings and saw that very movie playing on one of the movie channels I get.

2. Between 1958 and 1978, the United States released 13 unmanned probes out into the solar system and beyond that shared what name?
A few people have said Voyager but there were actually only 2 probes with that name, despite Star Trek: The Motion Picture's reference to V'Ger being Voyager VI. I think Pioneer is most likely the answer, but I'm not positive.


4. What word that originally referred to Helicoverpa zea, a moth larva that attacks corn crops, has more recently come to refer to a hard-to-forget song or melody?
Just for the record, I got this one right away.

7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 19 by Adele, Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash, Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds, Up-Tight by Stevie Wonder, Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses, The White Stripes by The White Stripes.
Those who mention Bob Dylan covers are probably right. The Johnny Cash album likely includes Don't Think Twice, It's Alright, but is that really so unusual? Plenty of artists have recorded covers of Dylan songs; he can't sing to save his life, but his writing is great.

[erwins]

Doing these without looking at any posts, 'cause I think I know all but #7.

1. What 1984 movie, after becoming a surprise hit (the #5 box office success of the year) spawned a sequel set almost entirely in Okinawa?

The Karate Kid

2. Between 1958 and 1978, the United States released 13 unmanned probes out into the solar system and beyond that shared what name?

Voyager

3. Most of the greatest works of architect Antoni Gaudi are found in what city, where he died in 1926?

Barcelona

4. What word that originally referred to Helicoverpa zea, a moth larva that attacks corn crops, has more recently come to refer to a hard-to-forget song or melody?

Earworm

5. What Asian country is home to over 2% of the world's population despite a smaller area than the state of West Virginia?

Taiwan?

6. The latest installment in the Elder Scrolls video game franchise is set in what titular province of Tamriel?

Skyrim

7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 19 by Adele, Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash, Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds, Up-Tight by Stevie Wonder, Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses, The White Stripes by The White Stripes.[/COLOR]

I don't know. I think they all might have spawned multiple big hits, but there are probably lots more albums that have done that.

ETA: Now that I've looked at others answers, I agree with the Bob Dylan theory for #7. I guess he didn't pick the Byrds album Mr. Tambourine Man because it would be too obvious, but I bet they did another cover on Turn! Turn! Turn! And I don't know the album, but I know Stevie Wonder did a version of "Blowin' in the Wind."

[musicgeek]

1. What 1984 movie, after becoming a surprise hit (the #5 box office success of the year) spawned a sequel set almost entirely in Okinawa? Karate Kid

2. Between 1958 and 1978, the United States released 13 unmanned probes out into the solar system and beyond that shared what name? Voyager?

3. Most of the greatest works of architect Antoni Gaudi are found in what city, where he died in 1926? WAG - Chicago?

4. What word that originally referred to Helicoverpa zea, a moth larva that attacks corn crops, has more recently come to refer to a hard-to-forget song or melody? The dreaded Earworm!

5. What Asian country is home to over 2% of the world's population despite a smaller area than the state of West Virginia? WAG - The Phillipines?

6. The latest installment in the Elder Scrolls video game franchise is set in what titular province of Tamriel? No Idea

7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 19 by Adele, Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash, Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds, Up-Tight by Stevie Wonder, Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses, The White Stripes by The White Stripes.

I think that the Bob Dylan answer is on the right track - maybe each album released the Dylan cover as a single?

[Gavida]

1. Karate Kid
2. Explorer(?)
3. Brasilia(?)
4. the earworm
5. No clue
6. Skyrim
7. no clue again

[quijote57]

I'll just do the ones I am pretty sure on. I'm not knowledgeable enough on 1980s movies, and don't know a thing about video games.

2. Between 1958 and 1978, the United States released 13 unmanned probes out into the solar system and beyond that shared what name?
A-Pioneer?

3. Most of the greatest works of architect Antoni Gaudi are found in what city, where he died in 1926?
A- Barcelona. (It pays to teach Spanish)
BTW- Did you know the word "gaudy" comes from his name because of all the embellishments in his designs?

5. What Asian country is home to over 2% of the world's population despite a smaller area than the state of West Virginia?
A- I guess Indonesia since it has a large population in a rather small area, and no one else seems to have guessed it yet.

[Richard W]

Originally Posted by quijote57

BTW- Did you know the word "gaudy" comes from his name because of all the embellishments in his designs?

No it doesn't! It's an adjectival form of the word "gaud" for a decoration, and it comes from Latin via Old French!

[firefighter_raven]

Waiting to see what the answer is but I think #5 is an error where they mixed square miles for one and square kms for the other.

[erwins]

Now that Googling is permitted (or in this case, Wikipedia-ing), I'm inclined to agree, firefighter_raven. The only country that is in the range on population would be correct on area if you switched sq. miles with sq. kilometers (Bangladesh). There is no other candidate that is even close to meeting both criteria. (Japan, e.g., would be reasonably close on population with some major rounding, but not even in the ballpark on area).

[MacLloyd]

LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS

1. What 1984 movie, after becoming a surprise hit (the #5 box office success of the year) spawned a sequel set almost entirely in Okinawa? That was The Karate Kid, and the Okinawa-set sequel was an even BIGGER hit. Sweep the leg, Hiroki!

2. Between 1958 and 1978, the United States released 13 unmanned probes out into the solar system and beyond that shared what name? There were ten Pioneer probes.

3. Most of the greatest works of architect Antoni Gaudi are found in what city, where he died in 1926? His ornate brand of surrealism can be seen in landmarks like Parc Guell and the Sagrada Familia in his beloved Barcelona.

4. What word that originally referred to Helicoverpa zea, a moth larva that attacks corn crops, has more recently come to refer to a hard-to-forget song or melody? Helicoverpa zea, like "Call Me Maybe," is an earworm.

5. What Asian country is home to over 2% of the world's population despite a smaller area than the state of West Virginia? This question, as Ed Toutant and others have pointed out to me, is in error. Bangladesh *is* the only Asian country that populous with such a small area; it's dramatically denser than the other contenders here (Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam). But I mixed up my square miles and square kilometers when it came to comparing areas. Bangladesh is much bigger than West Virginia--closer in size to Iowa, actually. Tuesday Trivia regrets the error.

6. The latest installment in the Elder Scrolls video game franchise is set in what titular province of Tamriel? That game is better known by its subtitle: Skyrim.

7. What unusual distinction is shared by these albums? All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 19 by Adele, Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash, Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds, Up-Tight by Stevie Wonder, Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses, The White Stripes by The White Stripes. These records all have one prominent (or more, in a couple cases) song that's a Bob Dylan cover. (I guess this is in honor of Bob's 35th album, out next month, said to be based around a 14-minute ballad about the sinking of the Titanic!) This isn't a SUPER-rare distinction, obviously, but I tried to pick some of the most prominent examples so that rock snobs could zero in on the trend. You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

[MacLloyd]

Per Ken Jennings' request, the trivia challenge discussed on this message board has the number seven question delayed by one week. This is to avoid easy googling of the question which is designed to foil those who would "cheat". If you know the current number seven question, please do not discuss it here.

The Rules of the Thread
1. If you use the thread to help you get answers, do not submit those answers to the official game.
2. No googling until Sunday. No looking anything up anywhere (and posting it) before Sunday. No checking an article in a magazine you read last week. No checking some old notebook from college. No wikipedia. Not even snopes.com. No checking anything, anywhere - until Sunday. Only information that is stored in your brain, or in the brains of your non-snopester friends and family. But you can't use your family members as a work-around to looking up the information yourself.
3. If you google, don't post that information to the thread until Sunday. Not even as confirmation of the guesses of other posters. Someone else might still know the information on their own.
4. No guess is stupid, throw it out there.
5. No Hinting. If you have a guess or a reasonable belief that you have the right answer, post it. If you are attempting to use hinting as a work-around to the no posting googled answers rule, don't.

And remember, this is an exhibition, not a competition, so please... no wagering.

Step right up, step right up, ladies and gentlemen. It's the 320th installment of Tuesday Trivia, the Internet's only weekly trivia quiz written by carnies, FOR carnies.

This week's results will determine the winner of our 32nd ten-week challenge--you can ogle the scores at http://ken-jennings.com/messageboard...pic.php?t=7148 if you want to see how you'd stack up. As I write this, Barry Ford is the only player 8-for-8 at Question Sevens. We'll see if that lead holds after last week's toughie.

But first:

THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS

1. What famous American explorer died under mysterious circumstances at a Tennessee inn in October 1809?

2. What fictional baby spoke his first words on June 21, 1938, remarking, "Well, blow me down"?

3. In Greek mythology, what nymph dies pining away for her beloved Narcissus, leaving nothing but her voice behind to haunt the earth?

4. Pitchfork Magazine's recent "The People's Top 200 List" of its readers' favorite albums of the last fifteen years was topped by two albums--one from 1997 and the other from 2000--both recorded by what band?

5. What was the more familiar baronial name of Victorian scientist William Thomson, famed for his calculations regarding absolute zero?

6. What TV hit used a Tootsie Pop for the letter 'O' in its title in the marketing materials for a brief 2005 revival?

7. Based on the unusual distinction shared by these cities and no others, what city is missing from the beginning of this list? Mexico City, Paris, Versailles, Berlin, Paris, San Francisco, Vienna, and Moscow.

[MacLloyd]

1. What famous American explorer died under mysterious circumstances at a Tennessee inn in October 1809?

Meriwether Lewis

2. What fictional baby spoke his first words on June 21, 1938, remarking, "Well, blow me down"?

WAG - Swee'Pea of Popeye fame.

3. In Greek mythology, what nymph dies pining away for her beloved Narcissus, leaving nothing but her voice behind to haunt the earth?

Echo

4. Pitchfork Magazine's recent "The People's Top 200 List" of its readers' favorite albums of the last fifteen years was topped by two albums--one from 1997 and the other from 2000--both recorded by what band?

No idea

5. What was the more familiar baronial name of Victorian scientist William Thomson, famed for his calculations regarding absolute zero?

That would be Lord Kelvin

6. What TV hit used a Tootsie Pop for the letter 'O' in its title in the marketing materials for a brief 2005 revival?

Do not know

7. Based on the unusual distinction shared by these cities and no others, what city is missing from the beginning of this list? Mexico City, Paris, Versailles, Berlin, Paris, San Francisco, Vienna, and Moscow.

Have to recuse myself this week. Saw the answer.

MacLloyd

[Floater]

3. In Greek mythology, what nymph dies pining away for her beloved Narcissus, leaving nothing but her voice behind to haunt the earth?

Echo

5. What was the more familiar baronial name of Victorian scientist William Thomson, famed for his calculations regarding absolute zero?

Lord Kelvin

[Don Enrico]

3. In Greek mythology, what nymph dies pining away for her beloved Narcissus, leaving nothing but her voice behind to haunt the earth?

That is the nymph Echo. Echo. Echo. Echo.

5. What was the more familiar baronial name of Victorian scientist William Thomson, famed for his calculations regarding absolute zero?

Probably Kelvin.