• QFTCICR25 Current Events Games 9-10

    From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Tue Nov 25 23:39:46 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on the dates
    indicated, and should be interpreted accordingly. If any answers
    have changed due to newer news, you are still expected to give
    the answers that were correct on that date.

    On each question you may give up to two answers, but if you give
    both a right answer and a wrong answer, there would be a small
    penalty if the questions were being scored. Please post all your
    answers in a single followup to the newsgroup, based only on your
    own knowledge. (In your answer posting, quote the questions and
    place your answer below each one.) I will reveal the correct
    answers in about 3 days.

    All questions were written by members of the Cellar Rats, and are
    used here by permission, but have been reformatted and may have
    been retyped and/or edited by me. The posting and tabulation of
    current-events questions is independent of the concurrent posting
    of other rounds. For further information please see my 2024-08-30
    companion posting on "Questions from the Canadian Inquisition
    (QFTCI*)".


    * Game 9 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The US government shutdown ended this week, after several
    Democratic and independent senators voted for a Republican-backed
    spending package? How many Democrats and independents voted
    for the package?

    2. It was announced on Monday that this Hungarian-British writer
    won the Booker Prize for his novel "Flesh". Name him.

    3. Stephen Vogt was named the American League Manager of the Year
    by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. What team
    does he manage? (Place name or team name.)

    4. Cleto Escobedo III, a bandleader and saxophonist, passed away
    last week at the age of 59. On which TV talk show was he the
    leader of the house band?

    5. This short-term rental and boutique hotel company that had a
    licensing deal with Marriott abruptly shut down its operations
    on Monday, stranding its guests worldwide. Name the company.

    6. Citing rising costs, the US Mint stopped making *what* last week?

    7. The Art Gallery of Ontario announced last week that it has
    received a significant donation of 20th- and 21st-century art,
    including works by pop titans Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein,
    and David Hockney. They said there were "more than" *how many
    works*, within 100?

    8. The Blue Origin space venture of billionaire Jeff Bezos launched
    its giant New Glenn rocket from Florida on Thursday on its debut
    flight for paying customers, carrying two satellites on their
    way to *what destination* in the company's first NASA-scale
    science mission?

    9. Jack Schlossberg, a 32-year-old political scion of a prominent
    political family, announced that he is possibly running for a
    Congressional house seat in New York. Who is his grandfather?

    10. America's Catholic bishops issued a statement this week rebuking
    the Trump administration's handling of what issue?


    * Game 10 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The Grey Cup was played on Sunday. Who beat the Montreal
    Alouettes by a score of 25-17? (Place name or team name.)

    2. The ATP Tennis Tour Finals was played on Sunday. Who won that?

    3. Which Caribbean island, home to 185,000 people, became the
    smallest nation (according to FIFA's terminology) to ever
    qualify for a World Cup?

    4. Laotian-Canadian poet Souvankham Thammavongsa has won the
    $100,000 Giller Prize for the best Canadian fiction of the
    year with her debut novel about a boxer-turned-manicurist.
    What is the title of the novel?

    5. US president Donald Trump said Monday he will sell certain
    military technology to Saudi Arabia despite some concerns
    within the Administration that China would gain access to
    the technology. What does Trump intend to sell?

    6. On Tuesday the US Congress voted to release the "Epstein files"
    with an astonishing vote of 427-1, and 5 members who did
    not vote. Who was the one Congressman who voted no?

    7. The TTC began to install new signage this week at the Dundas
    subway station to reflect its new name. What name is that?

    8. This former Trudeau-era cabinet minister has been appointed the
    next chief executive officer of the Rhodes Trust, the
    Oxford-based organization that administers one of the world's
    oldest and most prestigious scholarships. Who is she?

    9. Which public figure stepped back from multiple roles, including
    the board of OpenAI and his teaching duties at Harvard, after
    a tranche of documents released by Congress showed him seeking
    relationship advice from Jeffrey Epstein?

    10. While cleaning out their late mother's California loft last
    Christmas, three brothers found an original first-edition
    copy of a June 1939 comic book, which later sold for a record
    $9,120,000 US. Who is the title superhero?
    --
    Mark Brader, Toronto "As long as that blue light is on, the msb@vex.net computer is safe." -- Hot Millions

    My text in this article is in the public domain.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From tool@tool@panix.com (Dan Blum) to rec.games.trivia on Wed Nov 26 01:35:40 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader <msb@vex.net> wrote:

    * Game 9 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The US government shutdown ended this week, after several
    Democratic and independent senators voted for a Republican-backed
    spending package? How many Democrats and independents voted
    for the package?

    8

    5. This short-term rental and boutique hotel company that had a
    licensing deal with Marriott abruptly shut down its operations
    on Monday, stranding its guests worldwide. Name the company.

    Vrbo

    6. Citing rising costs, the US Mint stopped making *what* last week?

    pennies

    * Game 10 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The Grey Cup was played on Sunday. Who beat the Montreal
    Alouettes by a score of 25-17? (Place name or team name.)

    Ottawa

    3. Which Caribbean island, home to 185,000 people, became the
    smallest nation (according to FIFA's terminology) to ever
    qualify for a World Cup?

    Curacao

    5. US president Donald Trump said Monday he will sell certain
    military technology to Saudi Arabia despite some concerns
    within the Administration that China would gain access to
    the technology. What does Trump intend to sell?

    F-35s

    9. Which public figure stepped back from multiple roles, including
    the board of OpenAI and his teaching duties at Harvard, after
    a tranche of documents released by Congress showed him seeking
    relationship advice from Jeffrey Epstein?

    Lessig

    10. While cleaning out their late mother's California loft last
    Christmas, three brothers found an original first-edition
    copy of a June 1939 comic book, which later sold for a record
    $9,120,000 US. Who is the title superhero?

    Superman
    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    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 Joshua Kreitzer@gromit82@hotmail.com to rec.games.trivia on Wed Nov 26 01:39:35 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 11/25/2025 5:39 PM, Mark Brader wrote:

    * Game 9 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The US government shutdown ended this week, after several
    Democratic and independent senators voted for a Republican-backed
    spending package? How many Democrats and independents voted
    for the package?

    8

    4. Cleto Escobedo III, a bandleader and saxophonist, passed away
    last week at the age of 59. On which TV talk show was he the
    leader of the house band?

    "Jimmy Kimmel Live"

    6. Citing rising costs, the US Mint stopped making *what* last week?

    pennies

    7. The Art Gallery of Ontario announced last week that it has
    received a significant donation of 20th- and 21st-century art,
    including works by pop titans Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein,
    and David Hockney. They said there were "more than" *how many
    works*, within 100?

    500; 701

    9. Jack Schlossberg, a 32-year-old political scion of a prominent
    political family, announced that he is possibly running for a
    Congressional house seat in New York. Who is his grandfather?

    John F. Kennedy

    10. America's Catholic bishops issued a statement this week rebuking
    the Trump administration's handling of what issue?

    immigration

    * Game 10 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    3. Which Caribbean island, home to 185,000 people, became the
    smallest nation (according to FIFA's terminology) to ever
    qualify for a World Cup?

    Barbados

    9. Which public figure stepped back from multiple roles, including
    the board of OpenAI and his teaching duties at Harvard, after
    a tranche of documents released by Congress showed him seeking
    relationship advice from Jeffrey Epstein?

    Summers

    10. While cleaning out their late mother's California loft last
    Christmas, three brothers found an original first-edition
    copy of a June 1939 comic book, which later sold for a record
    $9,120,000 US. Who is the title superhero?

    Superman

    --
    Joshua Kreitzer
    gromit82@hotmail.com


    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dan Tilque@dtilque@frontier.com to rec.games.trivia on Wed Nov 26 01:04:18 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 11/25/25 15:39, Mark Brader wrote:


    * Game 9 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The US government shutdown ended this week, after several
    Democratic and independent senators voted for a Republican-backed
    spending package? How many Democrats and independents voted
    for the package?

    8


    2. It was announced on Monday that this Hungarian-British writer
    won the Booker Prize for his novel "Flesh". Name him.

    3. Stephen Vogt was named the American League Manager of the Year
    by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. What team
    does he manage? (Place name or team name.)

    4. Cleto Escobedo III, a bandleader and saxophonist, passed away
    last week at the age of 59. On which TV talk show was he the
    leader of the house band?

    5. This short-term rental and boutique hotel company that had a
    licensing deal with Marriott abruptly shut down its operations
    on Monday, stranding its guests worldwide. Name the company.

    6. Citing rising costs, the US Mint stopped making *what* last week?

    1 cent piece


    7. The Art Gallery of Ontario announced last week that it has
    received a significant donation of 20th- and 21st-century art,
    including works by pop titans Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein,
    and David Hockney. They said there were "more than" *how many
    works*, within 100?

    8. The Blue Origin space venture of billionaire Jeff Bezos launched
    its giant New Glenn rocket from Florida on Thursday on its debut
    flight for paying customers, carrying two satellites on their
    way to *what destination* in the company's first NASA-scale
    science mission?

    Mars


    9. Jack Schlossberg, a 32-year-old political scion of a prominent
    political family, announced that he is possibly running for a
    Congressional house seat in New York. Who is his grandfather?

    John F Kennedy


    10. America's Catholic bishops issued a statement this week rebuking
    the Trump administration's handling of what issue?

    immigration



    * Game 10 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The Grey Cup was played on Sunday. Who beat the Montreal
    Alouettes by a score of 25-17? (Place name or team name.)

    2. The ATP Tennis Tour Finals was played on Sunday. Who won that?

    3. Which Caribbean island, home to 185,000 people, became the
    smallest nation (according to FIFA's terminology) to ever
    qualify for a World Cup?

    4. Laotian-Canadian poet Souvankham Thammavongsa has won the
    $100,000 Giller Prize for the best Canadian fiction of the
    year with her debut novel about a boxer-turned-manicurist.
    What is the title of the novel?

    5. US president Donald Trump said Monday he will sell certain
    military technology to Saudi Arabia despite some concerns
    within the Administration that China would gain access to
    the technology. What does Trump intend to sell?

    F-35s


    6. On Tuesday the US Congress voted to release the "Epstein files"
    with an astonishing vote of 427-1, and 5 members who did
    not vote. Who was the one Congressman who voted no?

    7. The TTC began to install new signage this week at the Dundas
    subway station to reflect its new name. What name is that?

    8. This former Trudeau-era cabinet minister has been appointed the
    next chief executive officer of the Rhodes Trust, the
    Oxford-based organization that administers one of the world's
    oldest and most prestigious scholarships. Who is she?

    9. Which public figure stepped back from multiple roles, including
    the board of OpenAI and his teaching duties at Harvard, after
    a tranche of documents released by Congress showed him seeking
    relationship advice from Jeffrey Epstein?

    Larry Summers

    (Maybe I'm misremembering, but I thought he was going to continue
    teaching at Harvard.)


    10. While cleaning out their late mother's California loft last
    Christmas, three brothers found an original first-edition
    copy of a June 1939 comic book, which later sold for a record
    $9,120,000 US. Who is the title superhero?

    Batman
    --
    Dan Tilque
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Wed Nov 26 20:25:49 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader (msb@vex.net) writes:
    * Game 9 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The US government shutdown ended this week, after several
    Democratic and independent senators voted for a Republican-backed
    spending package? How many Democrats and independents voted
    for the package?

    7

    6. Citing rising costs, the US Mint stopped making *what* last week?

    One-cent coins

    * Game 10 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    3. Which Caribbean island, home to 185,000 people, became the
    smallest nation (according to FIFA's terminology) to ever
    qualify for a World Cup?

    Curatpo

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dan Tilque@dtilque@frontier.com to rec.games.trivia on Wed Nov 26 11:31:28 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 11/26/25 01:04, Dan Tilque wrote:
    On 11/25/25 15:39, Mark Brader wrote:

    10. While cleaning out their late mother's California loft last
    -a-a-a Christmas, three brothers found an original first-edition
    -a-a-a copy of a June 1939 comic book, which later sold for a record
    -a-a-a $9,120,000 US.-a Who is the title superhero?

    Batman

    Just my luck. I hadn't heard about this comic book and was just
    guessing. Today there was an article in the local paper about it...
    --
    Dan Tilque
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Sat Nov 29 06:34:39 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader:
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on the dates
    indicated, and should be interpreted accordingly. If any answers
    have changed due to newer news, you are still expected to give the
    answers that were correct on that date... For further information
    please see my 2024-08-30 companion posting on "Questions from the
    Canadian Inquisition (QFTCI*)".


    * Game 9 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The US government shutdown ended this week, after several
    Democratic and independent senators voted for a Republican-backed
    spending package? How many Democrats and independents voted
    for the package?

    8. 4 for Dan Blum, Joshua, and Dan Tilque.

    2. It was announced on Monday that this Hungarian-British writer
    won the Booker Prize for his novel "Flesh". Name him.

    David Szalay.

    3. Stephen Vogt was named the American League Manager of the Year
    by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. What team
    does he manage? (Place name or team name.)

    Cleveland Guardians.

    4. Cleto Escobedo III, a bandleader and saxophonist, passed away
    last week at the age of 59. On which TV talk show was he the
    leader of the house band?

    "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". 4 for Joshua.

    5. This short-term rental and boutique hotel company that had a
    licensing deal with Marriott abruptly shut down its operations
    on Monday, stranding its guests worldwide. Name the company.

    Sonder.

    6. Citing rising costs, the US Mint stopped making *what* last week?

    Pennies (1o coins). 4 for everyone -- Dan Blum, Joshua, Dan Tilque,
    and Erland.

    7. The Art Gallery of Ontario announced last week that it has
    received a significant donation of 20th- and 21st-century art,
    including works by pop titans Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein,
    and David Hockney. They said there were "more than" *how many
    works*, within 100?

    450 (accepting 350-550). 3 for Joshua.

    In the original game the question said "within 50" and the acceptance
    range was given as 350-500!

    8. The Blue Origin space venture of billionaire Jeff Bezos launched
    its giant New Glenn rocket from Florida on Thursday on its debut
    flight for paying customers, carrying two satellites on their
    way to *what destination* in the company's first NASA-scale
    science mission?

    Mars. 4 for Dan Tilque.

    9. Jack Schlossberg, a 32-year-old political scion of a prominent
    political family, announced that he is possibly running for a
    Congressional house seat in New York. Who is his grandfather?

    President John F. Kennedy. 4 for Joshua and Dan Tilque.

    10. America's Catholic bishops issued a statement this week rebuking
    the Trump administration's handling of what issue?

    Immigration (migrants). 4 for Joshua and Dan Tilque.


    * Game 10 (2025-11-17), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The Grey Cup was played on Sunday. Who beat the Montreal
    Alouettes by a score of 25-17? (Place name or team name.)


    Saskatchewan Roughriders.

    2. The ATP Tennis Tour Finals was played on Sunday. Who won that?

    Jannik Sinner.

    3. Which Caribbean island, home to 185,000 people, became the
    smallest nation (according to FIFA's terminology) to ever
    qualify for a World Cup?

    Curatao. 4 for Dan Blum and Erland.

    4. Laotian-Canadian poet Souvankham Thammavongsa has won the
    $100,000 Giller Prize for the best Canadian fiction of the
    year with her debut novel about a boxer-turned-manicurist.
    What is the title of the novel?

    "Pick a Colour".

    5. US president Donald Trump said Monday he will sell certain
    military technology to Saudi Arabia despite some concerns
    within the Administration that China would gain access to
    the technology. What does Trump intend to sell?

    Fighter jets, or specifically F-35's. 4 for Dan Blum and Dan Tilque.

    6. On Tuesday the US Congress voted to release the "Epstein files"
    with an astonishing vote of 427-1, and 5 members who did
    not vote. Who was the one Congressman who voted no?

    Clay Higgins (R-LA, 3rd district).

    7. The TTC began to install new signage this week at the Dundas
    subway station to reflect its new name. What name is that?

    TMU (after Toronto Metropolitan University, who paid for the change).

    8. This former Trudeau-era cabinet minister has been appointed the
    next chief executive officer of the Rhodes Trust, the
    Oxford-based organization that administers one of the world's
    oldest and most prestigious scholarships. Who is she?

    Chrystia Freeland.

    9. Which public figure stepped back from multiple roles, including
    the board of OpenAI and his teaching duties at Harvard, after
    a tranche of documents released by Congress showed him seeking
    relationship advice from Jeffrey Epstein?

    Larry Summers. 4 for Joshua and Dan Tilque.

    (As to Dan Tilque's comment, I don't know.)

    10. While cleaning out their late mother's California loft last
    Christmas, three brothers found an original first-edition
    copy of a June 1939 comic book, which later sold for a record
    $9,120,000 US. Who is the title superhero?

    Superman. 4 for Dan Blum and Joshua.


    Scores, if there are no errors:

    GAMES-> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BEST EIGHT Joshua Kreitzer 12 12 19 20 16 16 17 12 23 8 135
    Dan Tilque 4 8 4 12 12 16 16 12 20 8 104
    Dan Blum 4 8 0 15 16 16 16 8 8 12 99
    Erland Sommarskog 12 8 8 3 20 8 24 12 4 4 96
    Pete Gayde 8 4 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 12
    --
    Mark Brader, Toronto "There are no new ideas, only new
    msb@vex.net mouths to speak them." -- Linda Burman

    My text in this article is in the public domain.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2