LearnedLeague 77 - Official Thread

[ElendilPickle]

Well, I backed into a correct answer on PIANOS - I couldn't come up with any category of product that made sense, figured it's not food because we already have that NEUFCHATEL question. Thought, hmmm, maybe it's a musical instrument - what's the missing manufacturer in this list? Of course, I started down the path that this has to begin with a "B" - before landing on piano as a WAG

I spent so much time scratching my head on that one, that I ended up backing out of SINBAD and going with Ali Baba, who was apparently not at all wealthy. Not familiar with Sinbad's exploits but sea-->sailor-->Sinbad should have been enough. Gave up the tie and lost 7(4)-9(6) to Elendilpickle

You played well, my young apprentice.

[Lefty]

I think I vaguely knew Weber as a maker of musical instruments from my time playing baritone horn in junior high, but since we didn't have piano, maybe not and it was a lucky guess. I was annoyed at only tying despite outanswering, because why on earth should my opponent have threed me on Neufchatel? It's right there in the dairy section, for chrissakes, and I've probably even bought it.

[seaborgium]

At first, Baldwin was the only name I recognized, and I was scared that there could have been another Baldwin company that made something other than pianos, and the names I didn't recognize were hiding something from me. But then I noticed I'd overlooked Bösendorfer and I didn't have to worry anymore. (Tori Amos exclusively records and tours with Bösendorfers, and they make 92- and 97-key models as well as the standard 88-key.)

[seaborgium]

For the Wednesday match, I recognized that the symbol on the bottom right of the image in the album covers question was two F's, and I thought of Franz Ferdinand and didn't think anymore. Whoops!

[classicroadster]

Tied 0(1)- 0(1) yesterday, getting only the sports question. I'm mad that I talked myself out of silica, thinking that wasn't a common enough term, even though I was sure that quartz is the crystal form of silica. Also, I'm not one to study album covers but one I do know is the Sublime album which shows a guy's back with Sublime tattooed across it, so I went with that even though I noticed the lower right one with 2 F's and did think, is it Foo Fighters? Guess I'll take the tie since I had no chance on the other 3 except I thought maybe Siam was the Cambodia one.

[This Is Kirk!]

Tough tie for me yesterday 6(4)-6(3). My opponent missed Kampuchea despite a lifetime .913 get rate in world history and .895 in geography! I can only assume he misread the question. My defense has been awful so far this season.

[Wpwells]

MD10 Recap
Opponent: RaffaelliJ
Result: L 4(4) - 5(4)
Record: 6-1-3
Rundle Rank: 2

Question 1: A lunatic hypnotist, his carnival somnambulist, and various asylum inmates (who may not be what they appear) are central to the plot of what 1920 horror film and classic of German Expressionism?
Thought Process: Nope, no, nothing, ugh. Don't know this one. I'll just put the most ridiculous guess ever.
Answer: Scream
Confidence Level: 0%
Defense: He's pretty solid at film. I'll go with a 1 here.
Result: (+0)
Opponent Result: (+1)

Question 2: From 1975 until 1979, while under the control of the Khmer Rouge, the present-day nation of Cambodia was known by what name?
Thought Process: Former country names are something I'm really good at. This one is definitely within the Rolodex.
Answer: Kampuchea
Confidence Level: 100%
Defense: World History seems to be a struggle for him. I'll put the 3 here.
Result: (+1)
Opponent Result: (+0)

Question 3: Devin Booker, TJ Warren, and Josh Jackson were leading scorers for what NBA team during the 2017-2018 season?
Thought Process: I'm not great at NBA, but I do know what team Booker plays for...
Answer: Suns
Confidence Level: 100%
Defense: Games/Sport is low for him. I'll put a 2 here.
Result: (+1)
Opponent Result: (+2)

Question 4: Quartz, tridymite, cristobalite, coesite, and stishovite are the five crystalline forms, and opal an amorphous form, of a chemical compound best known by what single word?
Thought Process: Okay, quartz is a silica. That one is pretty straightforward.
Answer: Silica
Confidence Level: 100%
Defense: He's GREAT at science, so here's our 0!
Result: (+0)
Opponent Result: (+0)

Question 5: U.S. Army airmen seeking to be excused from WWII bombing missions due to mental derangement, but judged ineligible as the sanity of such a request proves their fitness, are central to the plot of what novel?
Thought Process: Hmmm I definitely know this book. I've read it!
Answer: Catch-22
Confidence Level: 100%
Defense: Surely he knows this one. I'll go with a 1 here.
Result: (+2)
Opponent Result: (+0)

Question 6: The images in this montage, all with slight edits, are taken from album covers by what musical group?
Thought Process: Okay, it's going to be some sort of grungy type band, though not Nirvana. I don't know them, but I'll go with a guess...
Answer: Green Day
Confidence Level: 25%
Defense: We're left with a 2, and I like that since people tend to struggle with picture questions, and he doesn't blow pop music out of the water.
Result: (+0)
Opponent Result: (+2)

[clprez]

World history is one of my weakest categories, so I was really pleased to get 3 points for my educated guess of Kampuchea. I remembered that there was an album released of the Concert for Kampuchea, and back in the day I looked it up on a map because I had never heard of it before.

[morbeedo]

World history is one of my weakest categories, so I was really pleased to get 3 points for my educated guess of Kampuchea. I remembered that there was an album released of the Concert for Kampuchea, and back in the day I looked it up on a map because I had never heard of it before.

All I could come up with was Campeche. Knew it wasn’t right, so I tried for BWA with Unpleasantville - no dice!

[badgerfellow]

Speaking of BWA...has Thorsten even announced any candidates this season? Is this something he is discontinuing or just putting on backburner due to other league issues that have come up?

[alietr]

Thorsten on how he scores:

https://www.learnedleague.com/viewtopic ... 1&p=107040

[dnbguy]

Was able to secure a tie yesterday thanks to Kampuchea. Thanks, Yakko's World!

[StevenH]

Finally, a day that felt on the easy side for me, with a 6(4)-3(2) win. I have to say though that I feel dumb about Petrograd; that is usually a good category for me, but I had no idea on it and it had a get rate that is over 50%!

[Volante]

Finally, a day that felt on the easy side for me, with a 6(4)-3(2) win. I have to say though that I feel dumb about Petrograd; that is usually a good category for me, but I had no idea on it and it had a get rate that is over 50%!

Apparently Pyotrgrad counted for that one. I'd win without it so I'm on the fence there...

[Wpwells]

MD11 Recap
Opponent: WeimannP
Result: L 6(4) - 9(6)
Record: 6-2-3
Rundle Rank: 3

Question 1: From April 1983 to July 1985, a tennis duo—who won 20 career doubles Grand Slam titles together—went on a record-setting streak of 109 matches without a defeat. Name either of these women, both members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Thought Process: Cool. I know Navritalova was dominant in doubles, so I'll just put her. Now who was her partner....SHRIVER that's it. That was fun
Answer: Navratilova
Confidence Level: 90%
Defense: He's really strong in Games/Sport. I'll go with a 1 here
Result: (+1)
Opponent Result: (+1)

Question 2: What is the last name of the fictional persona invented by Washington Irving in 1809 to narrate his satirical A History of New York? This name became a term for Dutch-Americans residing in New York (and later, for any New Yorker).
Thought Process: This was a question on Trivial Warfare this past weekend. I got it there after some thought, but that made it an instaget this time.
Answer: Knickerbocker
Confidence Level: 100%
Defense: This is pretty straightforward and even has a Games/Sport bent, so I'll go with another 1.
Result: (+1)
Opponent Result: (+1)

Question 3: What "Russian-ized" version of the current name of Russia's second-largest city was that city's official name from September 1914 to January 1924?
Thought Process: So that's St. Petersburg which I know was Leningrad. Easy peasy. Begins humming "A Rumor in St. Petersburg"
Answer: Leningrad (UGH)
Confidence Level: 99%
Defense: This is a pretty easy one. I'll give him the 0.
Result: (+0)
Opponent Result: (+0)

Question 4: Name the singer, actress, and "Goddess of Pop" who starred in the 1969 film Chastity and co-hosted a variety show on CBS beginning in 1971 before hosting a show of her own (after separating from her co-host) in 1975, all during a recording career that now spans six decades.
Thought Process: There's only one artist about whom I've heard questions about being active for 6 decades. I'll go with her.
Answer: Cher
Confidence Level: 80%
Defense: Well, after assigning all the others, I was left with a 2 for this one and #5.
Result: (+2)
Opponent Result: (+2)

Question 5: The Hegira is the name for Muhammad's secret departure from Mecca in 622, with Abu Bakr, to live among the people of Yathrib, founding the first Muslim community. The city of Yathrib was later renamed what?
Thought Process: This boiled down to "what's the other holy city in Islam?" to me
Answer: Medina
Confidence Level: 100%
Defense: Well, after assigning all the others, I was left with a 2 for this one and #4.
Result: (+2)
Opponent Result: (+2)

Question 6: What English word, derogatory (and arguably offensive) in modern usage, comes from the name for a secretive gang of murderers and robbers devoted to the Hindu god Kali? The term has been embraced by hip-hop artists such as Tupac Shakur, who formed a group whose name included the word and also had it tattooed on the right side of his abdomen. (Note, the word in question does not begin with the letter "N".)
Thought Process: I thought for a minute but couldn't come up with anything. That was rough and obvious in hindsight.
Answer: [blank]
Confidence Level: 0%
Defense: I'll put a 3 here. This was tough (or so I thought)
Result: (+0)
Opponent Result: (+3)

[classicroadster]

Thought Process: So that's St. Petersburg which I know was Leningrad. Easy peasy. Begins humming "A Rumor in St. Petersburg"

My thoughts exactly....then I saw the answers and thought, is St. Petersburg not the second largest city in Russia? I'd never heard of Petrograd or the history behind the name change and then subsequent change to Leningrad. Didn't matter as I won 7(4)- 1(2) getting Navratilova (thought she played with Billie Jean King, never would've guessed Shriver although I know she was a great player), knickerbocker on a complete WAG based on the Knicks, Cher, and thug after a lot of thought until the term thug life popped in my head and I remembered the tattoo.

[This Is Kirk!]

Question 1: From April 1983 to July 1985, a tennis duo—who won 20 career doubles Grand Slam titles together—went on a record-setting streak of 109 matches without a defeat. Name either of these women, both members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Thought Process: Cool. I know Navritalova was dominant in doubles, so I'll just put her. Now who was her partner....SHRIVER that's it. That was fun

When I saw the dates the first two names that popped into my head were Navratilova and Evert. Rereading the question it became clear the "duo" meant a doubles team. I couldn't remember who Martina's doubles partner was, but felt pretty confident that she was a more dominant doubles player than Chris Evert. Glad I didn't need to come up with Pam Shriver, too. I remember her, but I don't think I'd have been able to pull her name.

[morbeedo]

Question 1: From April 1983 to July 1985, a tennis duo—who won 20 career doubles Grand Slam titles together—went on a record-setting streak of 109 matches without a defeat. Name either of these women, both members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Thought Process: Cool. I know Navritalova was dominant in doubles, so I'll just put her. Now who was her partner....SHRIVER that's it. That was fun

When I saw the dates the first two names that popped into my head were Navratilova and Evert. Rereading the question it became clear the "duo" meant a doubles team. I couldn't remember who Martina's doubles partner was, but felt pretty confident that she was a more dominant doubles player than Chris Evert. Glad I didn't need to come up with Pam Shriver, too. I remember her, but I don't think I'd have been able to pull her name.

I went with Everet but figured it was Navratilova. This type of un-reasoning happens with alarming frequency

Anyway, I got my ass kicked in both matches and the downward spiral continues with 5 consecutive losses

My only comfort is getting a good % of the questions that score below 30% League wide, and really in the end the results don't matter, right?

[teapot37]

"Thug" was easier if you remember Temple of Doom - the Thuggee cult and their worship of Kali was prominent in that film.

[This Is Kirk!]

"Thug" was easier if you remember Temple of Doom - the Thuggee cult and their worship of Kali was prominent in that film.

There's a poll on the LL forum asking how everyone got this one. It was all Tupac's "Thug Life" for me.