• Erland's occasional quiz

    From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Sun Aug 17 23:28:36 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    I have again assembled 12 assorted questions - and this time without
    any connection to South Korea and Japan!

    As always, post your answer to the newsgroup and only use your own
    knowledge, do not ask the cat, the wife or chat GPT. And have fun!

    I plan to score this quiz om Friday 22nd.

    1. ESPN recently ranked a number of sports in degree of difficulty.
    Name either the sport that was ranked as the most difficult, or
    the sport that was ranked as the least difficult.

    2. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Alaska the other
    day. On arrival he wore a T-shirt of which the print aroused some
    attention. What did the print say?

    3. In which century did Beijing first became the capital of China?

    4. Amis, Paiwan and Atayal are the three most numerous indigenous peoples
    of which high-tech island?

    5. What circumstance unites the two music groups Nirvana and Joy Division?

    6. Lot was the nephew of Abraham. He had two daughters and two sons. The
    mother of the daughters was his wife, but who gave birth to his sons?

    7. Ivan Mazepa was an independence fighter who is associated with which
    modern country?

    8. What is noticeable about the number 1729?

    9. The Wedding Banquet is an early film from which renowned director
    whose later works include both dragons and cowboys?

    10. For what reason might you feel an urge to inject Semaglutide?

    11. The famous Wimbledon Championships in tennis is organised by All England
    Lawn Tennis and ??? Club. What word does the question mark represent?

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/IMG_3984.jpg. The statue
    illustrates an event that takes place at the yearly San Fermin
    festival in which city?

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From tool@tool@panix.com (Dan Blum) to rec.games.trivia on Mon Aug 18 02:02:31 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Erland Sommarskog <esquel@sommarskog.se> wrote:

    3. In which century did Beijing first became the capital of China?

    13th (although it wasn't called that then)

    4. Amis, Paiwan and Atayal are the three most numerous indigenous peoples
    of which high-tech island?

    Taiwan

    5. What circumstance unites the two music groups Nirvana and Joy Division?

    the lead singer committed suicide

    6. Lot was the nephew of Abraham. He had two daughters and two sons. The
    mother of the daughters was his wife, but who gave birth to his sons?

    the daughters

    7. Ivan Mazepa was an independence fighter who is associated with which
    modern country?

    Hungary

    8. What is noticeable about the number 1729?

    it can be written as the sum of two cubes in two different ways

    9. The Wedding Banquet is an early film from which renowned director
    whose later works include both dragons and cowboys?

    Ang Lee

    11. The famous Wimbledon Championships in tennis is organised by All England
    Lawn Tennis and ??? Club. What word does the question mark represent?

    Badminton

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/IMG_3984.jpg. The statue
    illustrates an event that takes place at the yearly San Fermin
    festival in which city?

    Pamplona
    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Dan Blum tool@panix.com
    "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Tue Aug 19 23:05:02 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Erland Sommarskog:
    1. ESPN recently ranked a number of sports in degree of difficulty.
    Name either the sport that was ranked as the most difficult, or
    the sport that was ranked as the least difficult.

    Swimming?

    3. In which century did Beijing first became the capital of China?

    20th?

    4. Amis, Paiwan and Atayal are the three most numerous indigenous peoples
    of which high-tech island?

    Taiwan?

    6. Lot was the nephew of Abraham. He had two daughters and two sons. The
    mother of the daughters was his wife, but who gave birth to his sons?

    His second wife?

    8. What is noticeable about the number 1729?

    It was the number of the taxicab that George Hardy took to Putney to visit Srinivasa Ramanujan, who was ill. Ramanujan noted that it was the sum of
    two cubes in two different ways, and he could not think of another such.

    9. The Wedding Banquet is an early film from which renowned director
    whose later works include both dragons and cowboys?

    Peter Jackson?

    10. For what reason might you feel an urge to inject Semaglutide?

    In hope of weight loss.

    11. The famous Wimbledon Championships in tennis is organised by All England
    Lawn Tennis and ??? Club. What word does the question mark represent?

    The first one is Cr, the second is oq, and the third one is uet. :-)

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/IMG_3984.jpg. The statue
    illustrates an event that takes place at the yearly San Fermin
    festival in which city?

    Pamplona. And I didn't need to look at the image.
    --
    Mark Brader, Toronto | "Every new technology carries with it an opportunity msb@vex.net | to invent a new crime" -- Laurence A. Urgenson

    My text in this article is in the public domain.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dan Tilque@dtilque@frontier.com to rec.games.trivia on Wed Aug 20 07:02:50 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 8/17/25 14:28, Erland Sommarskog wrote:

    1. ESPN recently ranked a number of sports in degree of difficulty.
    Name either the sport that was ranked as the most difficult, or
    the sport that was ranked as the least difficult.

    2. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Alaska the other
    day. On arrival he wore a T-shirt of which the print aroused some
    attention. What did the print say?

    3. In which century did Beijing first became the capital of China?

    1700s


    4. Amis, Paiwan and Atayal are the three most numerous indigenous peoples
    of which high-tech island?

    Java


    5. What circumstance unites the two music groups Nirvana and Joy Division?

    6. Lot was the nephew of Abraham. He had two daughters and two sons. The
    mother of the daughters was his wife, but who gave birth to his sons?

    his daughters


    7. Ivan Mazepa was an independence fighter who is associated with which
    modern country?

    8. What is noticeable about the number 1729?

    9. The Wedding Banquet is an early film from which renowned director
    whose later works include both dragons and cowboys?

    Van Sant ?


    10. For what reason might you feel an urge to inject Semaglutide?

    lose weight

    (There seems to be lots of good things semaglutide does for the body and
    they seem to discover more all the time. For example, originally it was
    a diabetes drug. So there's lots of answers for this question.)


    11. The famous Wimbledon Championships in tennis is organised by All England
    Lawn Tennis and ??? Club. What word does the question mark represent?

    croquet


    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/IMG_3984.jpg. The statue
    illustrates an event that takes place at the yearly San Fermin
    festival in which city?


    Pamplona
    --
    Dan Tilque
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Fri Aug 22 19:48:02 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    This is quiz is over. Sadly, there were only three entries, but of
    those Dan Blum is the winner, congratulations!

    Here is the scoreboard:

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total
    ---------------------------------------------
    Dan B 1 - - 1 1 1 - - 1 - - 1 6
    Mark B - - - 1 - - - 1 - 1 1 1 5
    Dan T - - - - - 1 - - - 1 1 1 4


    1. ESPN recently ranked a number of sports in degree of difficulty.
    Name either the sport that was ranked as the most difficult, or
    the sport that was ranked as the least difficult.

    Boxing (most difficult) and fishing (least difficult)

    Full list on https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/sportSkills.

    2. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Alaska the other
    day. On arrival he wore a T-shirt of which the print aroused some
    attention. What did the print say?

    CCCP

    3. In which century did Beijing first became the capital of China?

    13th. As Dan Blum points out the name was different. I think Beijing
    (= "north capital") came in use in the beginning of the 15th when the
    Ming dynasty moved back some of the capital functions from Nanjing
    (= "south capital"), which Ming made their capital when they ousted
    Yuan, the Mongol dynasty.

    4. Amis, Paiwan and Atayal are the three most numerous indigenous peoples
    of which high-tech island?

    Taiwan.

    The Chinese are of course a lot more numerous, but the Chinese colonisation
    of Taiwan did not take off until the 17th century.

    5. What circumstance unites the two music groups Nirvana and Joy Division?

    Their lead singers (Kurt Cobain and Ian Curtis respectively) committed
    suicide.

    6. Lot was the nephew of Abraham. He had two daughters and two sons. The
    mother of the daughters was his wife, but who gave birth to his sons?

    The daughters.

    To be fair with the old man, he was not a peddo or anything. The story was that after the flight from Sodom, the daughters could not see any other possibility to become mothers. So they gave him wine to drink for two nights and on the first night the oldest daughter laid beside him and on the second night the youngest did. A truly weird story from the Bible.

    7. Ivan Mazepa was an independence fighter who is associated with which
    modern country?

    Ukraine.

    His forces fought together with the Swedish forces lead(*) by Charles XII
    at the battle of Poltava in 1709 against Russia and Peter the Great, but
    sadly Russia won the battle.

    (*) Actualy, he had an ailment and did not actually lead the forces
    at the battle himself.

    8. What is noticeable about the number 1729?

    The smallest number that can be written as the sum of two cubes in
    two different ways.

    9. The Wedding Banquet is an early film from which renowned director
    whose later works include both dragons and cowboys?

    Ang Lee.

    The other films I alluded to are "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Brokeback Mountain".

    10. For what reason might you feel an urge to inject Semaglutide?

    You are a diabetic, or you want to lose weight. The substance was
    originally developed as an anti-diabetic medication, but proved to
    be good to hold down your appetite as well

    11. The famous Wimbledon Championships in tennis is organised by All
    England Lawn Tennis and ??? Club. What word does the question mark represent?

    Croquet

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/IMG_3984.jpg. The statue
    illustrates an event that takes place at the yearly San Fermin
    festival in which city?

    Iru+a or Pamplona, as the city is known in Spanish and internationally.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dan Tilque@dtilque@frontier.com to rec.games.trivia on Fri Aug 22 13:22:59 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 8/22/25 10:48, Erland Sommarskog wrote:

    6. Lot was the nephew of Abraham. He had two daughters and two sons. The
    mother of the daughters was his wife, but who gave birth to his sons?

    The daughters.

    To be fair with the old man, he was not a peddo or anything. The story was that after the flight from Sodom, the daughters could not see any other possibility to become mothers. So they gave him wine to drink for two nights and on the first night the oldest daughter laid beside him and on the second night the youngest did. A truly weird story from the Bible.


    The two sons were Ammon and Moab, the supposed progenitors of the
    Ammonites and Moabites, two peoples the Hebrews were often at odds with.
    Their lands were to the east of the Jordan and Dead Sea. Claiming those
    people were the offspring of incestuous matings is Biblical trash
    talking at its best.
    --
    Dan Tilque
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Sat Aug 23 10:23:27 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Dan Tilque (dtilque@frontier.com) writes:
    The two sons were Ammon and Moab, the supposed progenitors of the
    Ammonites and Moabites, two peoples the Hebrews were often at odds with. Their lands were to the east of the Jordan and Dead Sea. Claiming those people were the offspring of incestuous matings is Biblical trash
    talking at its best.

    Ah, that's something I was not aware of.

    I always thought that since Lot was one of the good guys, and the Bible
    is supposed to be the Law, this must mean that according to the Bible,
    incest is OK. (Although, I have also been thinking that there maybe
    something in the later books of Moses where the law spells out that
    it is wrong after all. I have never cared to wade through all that
    text to find out.)

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Thu Dec 11 20:19:59 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    It's time again for one of my occasional quizzes. I believe this to be
    one of my easier quizzes, but I've been wrong before.

    In any case, the usual rules apply. Post your answers to the newsgroup
    and don't consult any sources, don't ask the spouse, and absolutely
    not any stinking AI!

    I plan to score this quiz on Tuesday.

    Have fun!

    1. What is kompromat?

    2. This country takes its name after a river that roughly cuts the
    country in two halves by area. However, 95% of the population lives
    east of the river. Which country is this?

    3. David Cornwell became famous for writing a number of popular espionage
    novels using which pseudonym?

    4. ASEAN is a little bit like the EU for south-east Asia. They recently
    welcomed their 11th member, one of the lesser countries in the region.
    Which country?

    5. "Fanfare for the Common Man" is a work of which American composer?

    6. Lando Norris is this year's champion in which prestigious - and
    expensive - sport?

    7. M23 is a rebel group active in an African country and sponsored by
    another country. Name any of the two countries.

    8. If you are in a Japanese Izakaya, what might your aim be?

    9. The Canadian indie artist Tamara Lindeman makes records using
    which band name?

    10. If you take the French way of saying the number 99 and translate
    it to English piece by piece, what do you get? (There are some
    regional variations, but I'm looking for the normal form used
    all over France.)

    11. This architect passed away just a few days ago. His most renowned
    work is said to be the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. What was his name?

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. The picture is from
    which European capital city?
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From tool@tool@panix.com (Dan Blum) to rec.games.trivia on Fri Dec 12 05:02:33 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Erland Sommarskog <esquel@sommarskog.se> wrote:

    1. What is kompromat?

    compromising information about someone

    3. David Cornwell became famous for writing a number of popular espionage
    novels using which pseudonym?

    John Le Carre

    4. ASEAN is a little bit like the EU for south-east Asia. They recently
    welcomed their 11th member, one of the lesser countries in the region.
    Which country?

    Timor L'Este

    5. "Fanfare for the Common Man" is a work of which American composer?

    Aaron Copeland

    6. Lando Norris is this year's champion in which prestigious - and
    expensive - sport?

    Formula 1 racing

    8. If you are in a Japanese Izakaya, what might your aim be?

    eating a meal

    10. If you take the French way of saying the number 99 and translate
    it to English piece by piece, what do you get? (There are some
    regional variations, but I'm looking for the normal form used
    all over France.)

    four twenties and ten

    11. This architect passed away just a few days ago. His most renowned
    work is said to be the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. What was his name?

    Frank Gehry


    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. The picture is from
    which European capital city?

    Copenhagen
    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Dan Blum tool@panix.com
    "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Fri Dec 12 07:37:48 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Erland Sommarskog:
    1. What is kompromat?

    A Russian oil company?

    2. This country takes its name after a river that roughly cuts the
    country in two halves by area. However, 95% of the population lives
    east of the river. Which country is this?

    Democratic Republic of Congo.

    3. David Cornwell became famous for writing a number of popular espionage
    novels using which pseudonym?

    John Le Carro.

    4. ASEAN is a little bit like the EU for south-east Asia. They recently
    welcomed their 11th member, one of the lesser countries in the region.
    Which country?

    Brunei?

    5. "Fanfare for the Common Man" is a work of which American composer?

    Bernstein?

    6. Lando Norris is this year's champion in which prestigious - and
    expensive - sport?

    Long-distance bicycle racing?

    7. M23 is a rebel group active in an African country and sponsored by
    another country. Name any of the two countries.

    South Sudan?

    9. The Canadian indie artist Tamara Lindeman makes records using
    which band name?

    Lights?

    10. If you take the French way of saying the number 99 and translate
    it to English piece by piece, what do you get? (There are some
    regional variations, but I'm looking for the normal form used
    all over France.)

    Four-twenty-ten-nine.

    11. This architect passed away just a few days ago. His most renowned
    work is said to be the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao.

    (If only he had stopped with that one.)

    What was his name?

    Frank Gehry.

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. The picture is from
    which European capital city?

    Tallinn?
    --
    Mark Brader, Toronto "But I do't have a '' key o my termial." msb@vex.net -- Lynn Gold

    My text in this article is in the public domain.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joshua Kreitzer@gromit82@hotmail.com to rec.games.trivia on Fri Dec 12 20:21:49 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 12/11/2025 1:19 PM, Erland Sommarskog wrote:

    1. What is kompromat?

    (Russian term for) material with which to blackmail someone

    2. This country takes its name after a river that roughly cuts the
    country in two halves by area. However, 95% of the population lives
    east of the river. Which country is this?

    Niger

    3. David Cornwell became famous for writing a number of popular espionage
    novels using which pseudonym?

    John Le Carre

    4. ASEAN is a little bit like the EU for south-east Asia. They recently
    welcomed their 11th member, one of the lesser countries in the region.
    Which country?

    Timor-Leste

    5. "Fanfare for the Common Man" is a work of which American composer?

    Aaron Copland

    6. Lando Norris is this year's champion in which prestigious - and
    expensive - sport?

    Formula 1 auto racing

    8. If you are in a Japanese Izakaya, what might your aim be?

    drinking tea

    10. If you take the French way of saying the number 99 and translate
    it to English piece by piece, what do you get? (There are some
    regional variations, but I'm looking for the normal form used
    all over France.)

    four-twenty-ten-nine

    11. This architect passed away just a few days ago. His most renowned
    work is said to be the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. What was his name?

    Frank Gehry

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. The picture is from
    which European capital city?

    Copenhagen

    --
    Joshua Kreitzer
    gromit82@hotmail.com
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dan Tilque@dtilque@frontier.com to rec.games.trivia on Fri Dec 12 23:12:33 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 12/11/25 11:19, Erland Sommarskog wrote:
    and absolutely
    not any stinking AI!

    Of course not. We want **correct** answers.


    1. What is kompromat?

    Information or evidence that can be used to blackmail someone.


    2. This country takes its name after a river that roughly cuts the
    country in two halves by area. However, 95% of the population lives
    east of the river. Which country is this?

    Niger ??


    3. David Cornwell became famous for writing a number of popular espionage
    novels using which pseudonym?

    John le Carr|-


    4. ASEAN is a little bit like the EU for south-east Asia. They recently
    welcomed their 11th member, one of the lesser countries in the region.
    Which country?

    5. "Fanfare for the Common Man" is a work of which American composer?

    Aaron Copeland


    6. Lando Norris is this year's champion in which prestigious - and
    expensive - sport?

    7. M23 is a rebel group active in an African country and sponsored by
    another country. Name any of the two countries.

    Russia


    8. If you are in a Japanese Izakaya, what might your aim be?

    9. The Canadian indie artist Tamara Lindeman makes records using
    which band name?

    10. If you take the French way of saying the number 99 and translate
    it to English piece by piece, what do you get? (There are some
    regional variations, but I'm looking for the normal form used
    all over France.)

    four twenty ten nine


    11. This architect passed away just a few days ago. His most renowned
    work is said to be the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. What was his name?

    Gehry


    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. The picture is from
    which European capital city?

    Tallinn ??
    --
    Dan Tilque
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Pete Gayde@pete.gayde@gmail.com to rec.games.trivia on Sat Dec 13 14:40:31 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Erland Sommarskog wrote:
    It's time again for one of my occasional quizzes. I believe this to be
    one of my easier quizzes, but I've been wrong before.

    In any case, the usual rules apply. Post your answers to the newsgroup
    and don't consult any sources, don't ask the spouse, and absolutely
    not any stinking AI!

    I plan to score this quiz on Tuesday.

    Have fun!

    1. What is kompromat?

    Unflattering items that may be used to compromise a person's integrity


    2. This country takes its name after a river that roughly cuts the
    country in two halves by area. However, 95% of the population lives
    east of the river. Which country is this?

    Niger


    3. David Cornwell became famous for writing a number of popular espionage
    novels using which pseudonym?

    4. ASEAN is a little bit like the EU for south-east Asia. They recently
    welcomed their 11th member, one of the lesser countries in the region.
    Which country?

    Laos


    5. "Fanfare for the Common Man" is a work of which American composer?

    Copland


    6. Lando Norris is this year's champion in which prestigious - and
    expensive - sport?

    F1 racing


    7. M23 is a rebel group active in an African country and sponsored by
    another country. Name any of the two countries.

    8. If you are in a Japanese Izakaya, what might your aim be?

    9. The Canadian indie artist Tamara Lindeman makes records using
    which band name?

    10. If you take the French way of saying the number 99 and translate
    it to English piece by piece, what do you get? (There are some
    regional variations, but I'm looking for the normal form used
    all over France.)

    Ninety and nine


    11. This architect passed away just a few days ago. His most renowned
    work is said to be the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. What was his name?

    Gehry


    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. The picture is from
    which European capital city?

    Tallinn



    Pete Gayde
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Sat Jan 3 14:29:05 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    As you may have noted, my occasional quizzes come with some irregularity,
    so just a few weeks after the previous one here is another one. When the
    next
    will be - I have no idea.

    Anyway, same format and rules as always. Post answers to the newsgroup.
    Use only your own knowledge and guessing skills. Don't ask anyone or
    anything for help. Don't use sources.

    I'll plan to score this on Wed 7th. In case of a tie, I will name
    the winner based on a subjective judgement of the incorrect answers.

    HAVE FUN!

    1. You walk past some graffiti, and you notice that it says ACAB. What
    does that stand for?

    2. Within ten, in which year was serfdom abolished in Russia?

    3. This country has been practically independent for more than
    30 years, but it was only a little more than a week ago that
    Israel took the lead as the first UN member to officially
    recognise it, although Donald Trump may not know where it is.
    What is the name of the country?

    4. In younger years she was an actress and a sex symbol with a
    popularity well matching Marilyn Monroe. After retiring from
    acting, she became a right-wing animal activist. She died last
    week at the age of 91. Who was she?

    5. Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the archbishop of Canterbury, the
    first woman to ever hold this office. The first man to hold the office
    was Augustine of Canterbury. Within 25, in which year did he become
    archbishop?

    6. At regular room temperature only two elements are liquid: bromine and
    mercury. But it is a hot day, your air-condition is not working, and
    your room is now at 30#C. When you review your collection of elements,
    you find a few more are now liquid. Name any one of them. (For the
    purpose of this question, ignore the effect of oxidation or radiation.)

    7. Name any country that is a member of ECOWAS.

    8. Heavy metal is a popular form of rock. Which classic rock song was
    the first one to mention heavy metal, although the "heavy metal
    thunder" in the lyrics does not actually refer to music?

    9. Last year Kirsty Coventry was elected president of International
    Olympic Committee. She is from Africa, but exactly which country?

    10. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently
    released a report on "megacities". By a change in methodology, one
    city rose from a position around #45 to now be ranked as the biggest
    city in the world with a population of 41 million. Which city?

    11. Within 20%, how many people are estimated to die in traffic accidents
    per year around the globe according to an WHO report from December 2023?

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. Which city is this?
    The building you see in the front is the seat of the national
    parliament, but curiously this not the capital of the country. The
    land by the sea is flat, but beyond that houses of various shapes and
    forms climb the mountain slope in a labyrinth that is not overly
    organised. This has earned parts of the city to be named a World
    Heritage by UNESCO.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From tool@tool@panix.com (Dan Blum) to rec.games.trivia on Sat Jan 3 14:29:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Erland Sommarskog <esquel@sommarskog.se> wrote:

    1. You walk past some graffiti, and you notice that it says ACAB. What
    does that stand for?

    all cops are bastards

    2. Within ten, in which year was serfdom abolished in Russia?

    1820

    3. This country has been practically independent for more than
    30 years, but it was only a little more than a week ago that
    Israel took the lead as the first UN member to officially
    recognise it, although Donald Trump may not know where it is.
    What is the name of the country?

    Somaliland

    4. In younger years she was an actress and a sex symbol with a
    popularity well matching Marilyn Monroe. After retiring from
    acting, she became a right-wing animal activist. She died last
    week at the age of 91. Who was she?

    Brigitte Bardot

    5. Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the archbishop of Canterbury, the
    first woman to ever hold this office. The first man to hold the office
    was Augustine of Canterbury. Within 25, in which year did he become
    archbishop?

    750

    6. At regular room temperature only two elements are liquid: bromine and
    mercury. But it is a hot day, your air-condition is not working, and
    your room is now at 30?C. When you review your collection of elements,
    you find a few more are now liquid. Name any one of them. (For the
    purpose of this question, ignore the effect of oxidation or radiation.)

    gallium

    8. Heavy metal is a popular form of rock. Which classic rock song was
    the first one to mention heavy metal, although the "heavy metal
    thunder" in the lyrics does not actually refer to music?

    Born to be Wild

    9. Last year Kirsty Coventry was elected president of International
    Olympic Committee. She is from Africa, but exactly which country?

    South Africa

    11. Within 20%, how many people are estimated to die in traffic accidents
    per year around the globe according to an WHO report from December 2023?

    1.5 million

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. Which city is this?
    The building you see in the front is the seat of the national
    parliament, but curiously this not the capital of the country. The
    land by the sea is flat, but beyond that houses of various shapes and
    forms climb the mountain slope in a labyrinth that is not overly
    organised. This has earned parts of the city to be named a World
    Heritage by UNESCO.

    Valparaiso
    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Dan Blum tool@panix.com
    "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Sat Jan 3 20:44:40 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Erland Sommarskog:
    2. Within ten, in which year was serfdom abolished in Russia?

    1917?

    3. This country has been practically independent for more than
    30 years, but it was only a little more than a week ago that
    Israel took the lead as the first UN member to officially
    recognise it, although Donald Trump may not know where it is.
    What is the name of the country?

    Northern Cyprus?

    4. In younger years she was an actress and a sex symbol with a
    popularity well matching Marilyn Monroe. After retiring from
    acting, she became a right-wing animal activist. She died last
    week at the age of 91. Who was she?

    Brigitte Bardot.

    5. Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the archbishop of Canterbury, the
    first woman to ever hold this office. The first man to hold the office
    was Augustine of Canterbury. Within 25, in which year did he become
    archbishop?

    1450?

    6. At regular room temperature only two elements are liquid: bromine and
    mercury. But it is a hot day, your air-condition is not working, and
    your room is now at 30#C. When you review your collection of elements,
    you find a few more are now liquid. Name any one of them. (For the
    purpose of this question, ignore the effect of oxidation or radiation.)

    Gallium.

    7. Name any country that is a member of ECOWAS.

    Sweden?

    9. Last year Kirsty Coventry was elected president of International
    Olympic Committee. She is from Africa, but exactly which country?

    South Africa?

    10. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently
    released a report on "megacities". By a change in methodology, one
    city rose from a position around #45 to now be ranked as the biggest
    city in the world with a population of 41 million. Which city?

    Sao Paulo?

    11. Within 20%, how many people are estimated to die in traffic accidents
    per year around the globe according to an WHO report from December 2023?

    180,000.

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. Which city is this?
    The building you see in the front is the seat of the national
    parliament, but curiously this not the capital of the country. The
    land by the sea is flat, but beyond that houses of various shapes and
    forms climb the mountain slope in a labyrinth that is not overly
    organised. This has earned parts of the city to be named a World
    Heritage by UNESCO.

    Utrecht?
    --
    Mark Brader, Toronto | "Normal caution suffices. In almost 70 years here, msb@vex.net | I have not been killed even once." --Peter Moylan

    My text in this article is in the public domain.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joshua Kreitzer@gromit82@hotmail.com to rec.games.trivia on Sun Jan 4 21:26:15 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 1/3/2026 7:29 AM, Erland Sommarskog wrote:

    1. You walk past some graffiti, and you notice that it says ACAB. What
    does that stand for?

    "all coppers are bastards"

    2. Within ten, in which year was serfdom abolished in Russia?

    1860

    3. This country has been practically independent for more than
    30 years, but it was only a little more than a week ago that
    Israel took the lead as the first UN member to officially
    recognise it, although Donald Trump may not know where it is.
    What is the name of the country?

    Somaliland

    4. In younger years she was an actress and a sex symbol with a
    popularity well matching Marilyn Monroe. After retiring from
    acting, she became a right-wing animal activist. She died last
    week at the age of 91. Who was she?

    Brigitte Bardot

    5. Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the archbishop of Canterbury, the
    first woman to ever hold this office. The first man to hold the office
    was Augustine of Canterbury. Within 25, in which year did he become
    archbishop?

    325

    6. At regular room temperature only two elements are liquid: bromine and
    mercury. But it is a hot day, your air-condition is not working, and
    your room is now at 30-#C. When you review your collection of elements,
    you find a few more are now liquid. Name any one of them. (For the
    purpose of this question, ignore the effect of oxidation or radiation.)

    gallium

    7. Name any country that is a member of ECOWAS.

    Nigeria

    8. Heavy metal is a popular form of rock. Which classic rock song was
    the first one to mention heavy metal, although the "heavy metal
    thunder" in the lyrics does not actually refer to music?

    "Born to Be Wild"

    9. Last year Kirsty Coventry was elected president of International
    Olympic Committee. She is from Africa, but exactly which country?

    Zimbabwe

    10. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently
    released a report on "megacities". By a change in methodology, one
    city rose from a position around #45 to now be ranked as the biggest
    city in the world with a population of 41 million. Which city?

    Shanghai

    11. Within 20%, how many people are estimated to die in traffic accidents
    per year around the globe according to an WHO report from December 2023?

    100,000

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. Which city is this?
    The building you see in the front is the seat of the national
    parliament, but curiously this not the capital of the country. The
    land by the sea is flat, but beyond that houses of various shapes and
    forms climb the mountain slope in a labyrinth that is not overly
    organised. This has earned parts of the city to be named a World
    Heritage by UNESCO.

    Valparaiso

    --
    Joshua Kreitzer
    gromit82@hotmail.com
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dan Tilque@dtilque@frontier.com to rec.games.trivia on Sun Jan 4 20:57:15 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 1/3/26 05:29, Erland Sommarskog wrote:
    As you may have noted, my occasional quizzes come with some irregularity,
    so just a few weeks after the previous one here is another one. When the
    next
    will be - I have no idea.

    Anyway, same format and rules as always. Post answers to the newsgroup.
    Use only your own knowledge and guessing skills. Don't ask anyone or
    anything for help. Don't use sources.

    I'll plan to score this on Wed 7th. In case of a tie, I will name
    the winner based on a subjective judgement of the incorrect answers.

    HAVE FUN!

    1. You walk past some graffiti, and you notice that it says ACAB. What
    does that stand for?

    2. Within ten, in which year was serfdom abolished in Russia?

    3. This country has been practically independent for more than
    30 years, but it was only a little more than a week ago that
    Israel took the lead as the first UN member to officially
    recognise it, although Donald Trump may not know where it is.
    What is the name of the country?

    Somaliland


    4. In younger years she was an actress and a sex symbol with a
    popularity well matching Marilyn Monroe. After retiring from
    acting, she became a right-wing animal activist. She died last
    week at the age of 91. Who was she?

    Brigitte Bardeau


    5. Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the archbishop of Canterbury, the
    first woman to ever hold this office. The first man to hold the office
    was Augustine of Canterbury. Within 25, in which year did he become
    archbishop?

    6. At regular room temperature only two elements are liquid: bromine and
    mercury. But it is a hot day, your air-condition is not working, and
    your room is now at 30-#C. When you review your collection of elements,
    you find a few more are now liquid. Name any one of them. (For the
    purpose of this question, ignore the effect of oxidation or radiation.)

    gallium


    7. Name any country that is a member of ECOWAS.

    8. Heavy metal is a popular form of rock. Which classic rock song was
    the first one to mention heavy metal, although the "heavy metal
    thunder" in the lyrics does not actually refer to music?

    9. Last year Kirsty Coventry was elected president of International
    Olympic Committee. She is from Africa, but exactly which country?

    10. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently
    released a report on "megacities". By a change in methodology, one
    city rose from a position around #45 to now be ranked as the biggest
    city in the world with a population of 41 million. Which city?

    11. Within 20%, how many people are estimated to die in traffic accidents
    per year around the globe according to an WHO report from December 2023?

    12. Refer to https://www.sommarskog.se/temp/Q12.jpg. Which city is this?
    The building you see in the front is the seat of the national
    parliament, but curiously this not the capital of the country. The
    land by the sea is flat, but beyond that houses of various shapes and
    forms climb the mountain slope in a labyrinth that is not overly
    organised. This has earned parts of the city to be named a World
    Heritage by UNESCO.
    --
    Dan Tilque
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2