• QFTCIMI526 Current Events 1-2

    From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Thu May 14 04:30:58 2026
    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 MI5, 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 recent companion posting on
    "Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (QFTCI*)".


    * Game 1 (2026-05-04), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. This Toronto city councillor, who was first elected in 2006,
    announced last week that he will not run in the next civic
    election. An avid environmentalist, he was also a writer for
    the former "Eye Weekly" magazine. Name him.

    2. An application has been submitted to the City of Toronto for
    a zoning bylaw amendment in relation to the former Hudson's
    Bay location at 2 Bloor St. E. to convert the existing retail
    space into what?

    3. This former Formula One driver and Paralympic gold medalist
    died at the age of 59 last week. Name him.

    4. This Slovenian-born L.A. Kings player just retired after 20
    years with the NHL team, as their captain for 10 of them.
    Name him

    5. Premier Doug Ford received an honorary doctorate from a Michigan
    university. What degree?

    6. President Trump signed an executive order authorizing something
    that could actually have a positive effect on the Canadian
    economy. What did he authorize?
    $BOTES

    7. Tragedy strikes. This annual Toronto festival filed for
    bankruptcy and will not be running this year, leaving many
    local vendors with unpaid debts. Name the festival.

    8. This iconic Toronto hamburger chain, which formerly operated
    30 locations across Ontario, closed its last location in Parry
    Sound last week. Name the chain.

    9. The American software company Pocket OS lost its entire
    production database and all backups. What caused this to happen?

    10. In the UK, Visa announced it is partnering with what digital
    media platform to issue a co-branded credit card?


    * Game 2 (2026-05-11), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The Ford government is introducing legislation to allow TTC
    constables to do what?

    2. Name the former Supreme Court justice and International War
    Crimes Tribunal prosecutor who was named as Canada's new
    governor general?.

    3. MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship, was in the news for what reason?
    Be sufficiently specific.

    4. Which European country's government was toppled by a
    no-confidence vote last week?

    5. The Montreal Canadiens defeated Tampa Bay to advance to round
    2 of the playoffs. They set a record for the fewest shots on
    goal in a playoff win. How many shots on goal did they have?

    6. Which Hall of Fame hockey player was hired as an adviser by
    the Toronto Maple Leafs last week?

    7. The annual Met Gala, a fundraIser for the Metropolitan Museum
    of Art's Costume Institute, was held last week. What is the
    name of the Institute's newest *exhibition*?

    8. The late Ted Turner was famous as the creator of the 24 hour
    news cycle, but also as the newsworthy owner of which sports
    team?

    9. Which airline finalized an agreement to purchase 150 Airbus
    Canada planes last week?

    10. Which notable American politician was in Toronto to do a
    keynote address last week?
    --
    Mark Brader | "Imagine if math could be translated into poetry,
    Toronto | and somehow it made sense to take the square root
    msb@vex.net | of a stanza." -- Rivka Galchen

    My text in this article is in the public domain.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Thu May 14 11:48:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader (msb@vex.net) writes:
    * Game 1 (2026-05-04), Round 1 - Current Events

    4. This Slovenian-born L.A. Kings player just retired after 20
    years with the NHL team, as their captain for 10 of them.
    Name him

    Kopitar

    9. The American software company Pocket OS lost its entire
    production database and all backups. What caused this to happen?

    Enryption by the bitcoin mafia.

    * Game 2 (2026-05-11), Round 1 - Current Events

    3. MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship, was in the news for what reason?
    Be sufficiently specific.

    Several passengerns infected by the hanta virus, of which some died.
    For that reason the ship was not permitted to land in Kap Verde, which
    was its intended final destinateion.

    4. Which European country's government was toppled by a
    no-confidence vote last week?

    I was about to say Latvia, but that was in the news this morning,
    so that cannot be the answer they are looking for. This must be
    some I have missed. Well, Hungary got a new government last week,
    but that was the result of general elections a month earlier.

    5. The Montreal Canadiens defeated Tampa Bay to advance to round
    2 of the playoffs. They set a record for the fewest shots on
    goal in a playoff win. How many shots on goal did they have?

    10


    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dan Tilque@dtilque@frontier.com to rec.games.trivia on Thu May 14 03:19:07 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 5/13/26 21:30, Mark Brader wrote:


    * Game 1 (2026-05-04), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. This Toronto city councillor, who was first elected in 2006,
    announced last week that he will not run in the next civic
    election. An avid environmentalist, he was also a writer for
    the former "Eye Weekly" magazine. Name him.

    2. An application has been submitted to the City of Toronto for
    a zoning bylaw amendment in relation to the former Hudson's
    Bay location at 2 Bloor St. E. to convert the existing retail
    space into what?

    3. This former Formula One driver and Paralympic gold medalist
    died at the age of 59 last week. Name him.

    4. This Slovenian-born L.A. Kings player just retired after 20
    years with the NHL team, as their captain for 10 of them.
    Name him

    5. Premier Doug Ford received an honorary doctorate from a Michigan
    university. What degree?

    6. President Trump signed an executive order authorizing something
    that could actually have a positive effect on the Canadian
    economy. What did he authorize?
    $BOTES

    7. Tragedy strikes. This annual Toronto festival filed for
    bankruptcy and will not be running this year, leaving many
    local vendors with unpaid debts. Name the festival.

    Toronto International Film Festival

    (Total WAG, but it's the only Toronto festival I know of.)


    8. This iconic Toronto hamburger chain, which formerly operated
    30 locations across Ontario, closed its last location in Parry
    Sound last week. Name the chain.

    9. The American software company Pocket OS lost its entire
    production database and all backups. What caused this to happen?

    Their AI deleted the files.

    (I understand they had an off-site backup, although it was a couple
    months old.)


    10. In the UK, Visa announced it is partnering with what digital
    media platform to issue a co-branded credit card?


    * Game 2 (2026-05-11), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The Ford government is introducing legislation to allow TTC
    constables to do what?

    2. Name the former Supreme Court justice and International War
    Crimes Tribunal prosecutor who was named as Canada's new
    governor general?.

    3. MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship, was in the news for what reason?
    Be sufficiently specific.

    outbreak of hantavirus onboard


    4. Which European country's government was toppled by a
    no-confidence vote last week?

    5. The Montreal Canadiens defeated Tampa Bay to advance to round
    2 of the playoffs. They set a record for the fewest shots on
    goal in a playoff win. How many shots on goal did they have?

    6. Which Hall of Fame hockey player was hired as an adviser by
    the Toronto Maple Leafs last week?

    7. The annual Met Gala, a fundraIser for the Metropolitan Museum
    of Art's Costume Institute, was held last week. What is the
    name of the Institute's newest *exhibition*?

    8. The late Ted Turner was famous as the creator of the 24 hour
    news cycle, but also as the newsworthy owner of which sports
    team?

    Atlanta Braves


    9. Which airline finalized an agreement to purchase 150 Airbus
    Canada planes last week?

    10. Which notable American politician was in Toronto to do a
    keynote address last week?

    Barack Obama ??
    --
    Dan Tilque
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From tool@tool@panix.com (Dan Blum) to rec.games.trivia on Fri May 15 01:06:16 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader <msb@vex.net> wrote:

    * Game 1 (2026-05-04), Round 1 - Current Events

    9. The American software company Pocket OS lost its entire
    production database and all backups. What caused this to happen?

    the Claude AI deleted it


    * Game 2 (2026-05-11), Round 1 - Current Events

    3. MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship, was in the news for what reason?
    Be sufficiently specific.

    quarantined because some passengers had hantavirus

    8. The late Ted Turner was famous as the creator of the 24 hour
    news cycle, but also as the newsworthy owner of which sports
    team?

    Atlanta Braves
    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Dan Blum tool@panix.com
    "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Pete Gayde@pete.gayde@gmail.com to rec.games.trivia on Fri May 15 11:30:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader wrote:
    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 MI5, 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 recent companion posting on
    "Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (QFTCI*)".


    * Game 1 (2026-05-04), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. This Toronto city councillor, who was first elected in 2006,
    announced last week that he will not run in the next civic
    election. An avid environmentalist, he was also a writer for
    the former "Eye Weekly" magazine. Name him.

    2. An application has been submitted to the City of Toronto for
    a zoning bylaw amendment in relation to the former Hudson's
    Bay location at 2 Bloor St. E. to convert the existing retail
    space into what?

    3. This former Formula One driver and Paralympic gold medalist
    died at the age of 59 last week. Name him.

    4. This Slovenian-born L.A. Kings player just retired after 20
    years with the NHL team, as their captain for 10 of them.
    Name him

    5. Premier Doug Ford received an honorary doctorate from a Michigan
    university. What degree?

    6. President Trump signed an executive order authorizing something
    that could actually have a positive effect on the Canadian
    economy. What did he authorize?
    $BOTES

    7. Tragedy strikes. This annual Toronto festival filed for
    bankruptcy and will not be running this year, leaving many
    local vendors with unpaid debts. Name the festival.

    8. This iconic Toronto hamburger chain, which formerly operated
    30 locations across Ontario, closed its last location in Parry
    Sound last week. Name the chain.

    9. The American software company Pocket OS lost its entire
    production database and all backups. What caused this to happen?

    Ransomware hack


    10. In the UK, Visa announced it is partnering with what digital
    media platform to issue a co-branded credit card?


    * Game 2 (2026-05-11), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The Ford government is introducing legislation to allow TTC
    constables to do what?

    2. Name the former Supreme Court justice and International War
    Crimes Tribunal prosecutor who was named as Canada's new
    governor general?.

    3. MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship, was in the news for what reason?
    Be sufficiently specific.

    Hantavirus outbreak


    4. Which European country's government was toppled by a
    no-confidence vote last week?

    England


    5. The Montreal Canadiens defeated Tampa Bay to advance to round
    2 of the playoffs. They set a record for the fewest shots on
    goal in a playoff win. How many shots on goal did they have?

    8; 9


    6. Which Hall of Fame hockey player was hired as an adviser by
    the Toronto Maple Leafs last week?

    7. The annual Met Gala, a fundraIser for the Metropolitan Museum
    of Art's Costume Institute, was held last week. What is the
    name of the Institute's newest *exhibition*?

    8. The late Ted Turner was famous as the creator of the 24 hour
    news cycle, but also as the newsworthy owner of which sports
    team?

    Atlanta Braves


    9. Which airline finalized an agreement to purchase 150 Airbus
    Canada planes last week?

    10. Which notable American politician was in Toronto to do a
    keynote address last week?

    JD Vance



    Pete Gayde
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joshua Kreitzer@gromit82@hotmail.com to rec.games.trivia on Fri May 15 19:45:33 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 5/13/2026 11:30 PM, Mark Brader wrote:

    * Game 1 (2026-05-04), Round 1 - Current Events

    5. Premier Doug Ford received an honorary doctorate from a Michigan
    university. What degree?

    Doctor of Laws

    * Game 2 (2026-05-11), Round 1 - Current Events

    3. MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship, was in the news for what reason?
    Be sufficiently specific.

    hantavirus outbreak

    8. The late Ted Turner was famous as the creator of the 24 hour
    news cycle, but also as the newsworthy owner of which sports
    team?

    Atlanta Braves

    --
    Joshua Kreitzer
    gromit82@hotmail.com

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Sun May 17 06:25:03 2026
    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 recent companion posting on "Questions from the
    Canadian Inquisition (QFTCI*)".


    * Game 1 (2026-05-04), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. This Toronto city councillor, who was first elected in 2006,
    announced last week that he will not run in the next civic
    election. An avid environmentalist, he was also a writer for
    the former "Eye Weekly" magazine. Name him.

    Gord Perks.

    2. An application has been submitted to the City of Toronto for
    a zoning bylaw amendment in relation to the former Hudson's
    Bay location at 2 Bloor St. E. to convert the existing retail
    space into what?

    A self-storage warehouse.

    3. This former Formula One driver and Paralympic gold medalist
    died at the age of 59 last week. Name him.

    Alex Zanardi.

    4. This Slovenian-born L.A. Kings player just retired after 20
    years with the NHL team, as their captain for 10 of them.
    Name him

    Anze Kopitar. 4 for Erland.

    5. Premier Doug Ford received an honorary doctorate from a Michigan
    university. What degree?

    Doctor of Humane (!) Letters.

    6. President Trump signed an executive order authorizing something
    that could actually have a positive effect on the Canadian
    economy. What did he authorize?

    The Bridger Pipeline. (Any reference to a pipeline was acceptable.
    It will transport Canadian crude oil from the border to Wyoming.).

    7. Tragedy strikes. This annual Toronto festival filed for
    bankruptcy and will not be running this year, leaving many
    local vendors with unpaid debts. Name the festival.

    The Toronto Festival of Beer.

    I don't think anyone on my team or our opponents had heard of it.

    8. This iconic Toronto hamburger chain, which formerly operated
    30 locations across Ontario, closed its last location in Parry
    Sound last week. Name the chain.

    Lick's.

    9. The American software company Pocket OS lost its entire
    production database and all backups. What caused this to happen?

    AI malfunction. 4 for Dan Tilque and Dan Blum.

    10. In the UK, Visa announced it is partnering with what digital
    media platform to issue a co-branded credit card?

    TikTok.


    * Game 2 (2026-05-11), Round 1 - Current Events

    1. The Ford government is introducing legislation to allow TTC
    constables to do what?

    Arrest people using drugs on the transit system.

    2. Name the former Supreme Court justice and International War
    Crimes Tribunal prosecutor who was named as Canada's new
    governor general?.

    Louise Arbour.

    3. MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship, was in the news for what reason?
    Be sufficiently specific.

    An outbreak of hantavirus. 4 for everyone -- Erland, Dan Tilque,
    Dan Blum, Pete, and Joshua.

    4. Which European country's government was toppled by a
    no-confidence vote last week?

    Romania.

    5. The Montreal Canadiens defeated Tampa Bay to advance to round
    2 of the playoffs. They set a record for the fewest shots on
    goal in a playoff win. How many shots on goal did they have?

    9 (!). 2 for Pete.

    6. Which Hall of Fame hockey player was hired as an adviser by
    the Toronto Maple Leafs last week?

    Mats Sundin.

    7. The annual Met Gala, a fundraIser for the Metropolitan Museum
    of Art's Costume Institute, was held last week. What is the
    name of the Institute's newest *exhibition*?

    Costume Art.

    8. The late Ted Turner was famous as the creator of the 24 hour
    news cycle, but also as the newsworthy owner of which sports
    team?

    Atlanta Braves. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, Pete, and Joshua.

    9. Which airline finalized an agreement to purchase 150 Airbus
    Canada planes last week?

    AirAsia.

    10. Which notable American politician was in Toronto to do a
    keynote address last week?

    Barack Obama. 4 for Dan Tilque.


    Scores, if there are no errors:

    GAMES-> 1 2 TOTALS
    Dan Tilque 4 12 16
    Dan Blum 4 8 12
    Pete Gayde 0 10 10
    Erland Sommarskog 4 4 8
    Joshua Kreitzer 0 8 8
    --
    Mark Brader | "After that, he spent a long time just reading netnews. msb@vex.net | Sorry, I mean of course that he was debugging his
    Toronto | terminal emulation code..." --Lars Wirzenius

    My text in this article is in the public domain.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2