Zippy Zooms VII Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Culture

The Culture is an ancient galactic society where both machines and humanoids have advanced to a level where they can have just about anything they want including never getting old. As such there is no need for laws within the Culture which is able to maintain a perpetual state of peace. The Culture is ruled by a super machine called "The Mind" which is able to guide the culture to continued prosperity for everyone who wants it. Of course, things are not always perfect in paradise, and some interesting issues can come up, especially on the fringes where the Culture meets the rest of the galaxy. Iain Banks's Culture series spans 9 stand-alone books and is a fantastic well-written read. Banks gets a 10 for both plot twists and cleverness.

This question was provided by the Phoenix Rising's very own artificial intelligence known as BigTriviaDawg who usually finds humanoid interactions bothersome, but occasionally interesting if they happen to have intriguing trivia knowledge to talk about.

Answer: Paris Las Vegas

The World Series of Poker was started by Benny Binion in 1971 as an attempt to attract attention and poker players. It is a series of tournaments featuring the various forms of poker with the $10,000 Main Event being the culmination of the series. In 2004, Harrah's bought the rights to the series and moved it to the Rio just off the strip. In 2006, the largest field to date played in the Main Event with 8,773 players buying in.

In 2022 and again in 2023, Caesar's (previously Harrah's) moved the series to the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas Casinos. The final table was played at the Paris Casino. The 2023 Main Event set a new record with 10,043 players buying in. Daniel Weinman won the tournament and a top prize of $12.1 million.

This question was dealt into the quiz by Phoenix Rising member and poker enthusiast tazman6619.

Answer: Blade

The phrase, "IN OTHER WORDS" is meant to suggest that we're dealing with synonyms. The "Beehive State" is an official nickname for the State of Utah. "Gateway to the West" is a moniker attributed to such far-flung places as Fremantle in Australia, Winnipeg in Canada, and St. Louis (or, more specifically, its Gateway Arch) in the United States. In the context of this question, it's also another name for Omaha, Nebraska. "Aurum" is the Latin name for Gold (hence its chemical symbol, Au). Finally, "Regina" (Latin for "Queen", is an epithet applied to Juno, the Roman Queen of Heaven and wife of Jupiter. Utah, Omaha, Gold, and Juno were codenames for four of the five landing beaches in the Battle of Normandy (Operation Overlord), the Allied invasion of German-occupied France launched in 1944. "Shore", "sovereign", and "anchorage" are synonyms of "beach", "overlord", and "landing", respectively. However, the fifth landing beach was codenamed Sword, and the best answer to complete the set is therefore "Blade" (a synonym for "sword").

This question was successfully landed by Phoenix Rising's JCSon.

Answer: A social event that is the equivalent of a barbecue

An asado is a social event similar to a barbecue and common in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay but particularly in Argentina where there are more beef cattle than people. An asado is a traditional social event where besides beef, pork, chicken, chorizo, and morcilla (blood sausage) may also be served. The meat is always cooked using an open fire or grill called a parrilla. There is a designated cook called an asador or parrillero. Side dishes such as salads are also served. Red wine is the drink of choice.

This question was cooked up by Phoenix Rising Team member 1nn1.

Answer: Elizabeth Woodville

Elizabeth Woodville was the queen consort of Edward IV of England, and one of the major players in the War of the Roses. A young widow from minor nobility, known as one of England's most beautiful women, she caught the king's eye shortly after Edward's accession to the throne. The pair were married in secret in 1464, which caused a scandal because the bride was neither royal nor the scion of one of the major English noble houses. Elizabeth and Edward had ten children: their two sons, Edward (known as Edward V) and Richard, died mysteriously in the Tower of London, probably in the summer of 1483, a few months after their father's sudden death.

Stripped of her titles and lands by Richard III, she was restored as queen dowager by Henry VII, who married Elizabeth's eldest daughter, Elizabeth of York. In 1487, Elizabeth Woodville retired to Bermondsey Abbey (in present-day southeast London), where she spent the last five years of her life. She died in 1492 of natural causes, at the age of 54 or 55. She is the protagonist of Philippa Gregory's novel "The White Queen" (2009), adapted in 2013 into a TV series.

Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard (who were first cousins) were the second and fifth wife of Henry VIII, Elizabeth Woodville's grandson. They were both accused of adultery and other crimes, and beheaded in the Tower of London - Anne in 1536, and Catherine in 1542. Lady Jane Grey, who was descended from Elizabeth Woodville through Thomas Grey, one of her two sons from her first marriage, was Queen of England from 10 to 19 July 1553. Deposed and imprisoned by Mary I, she was beheaded in the Tower of London in 1554.

Phoenix Rising's LadyNym tried to keep her head high while writing this crowning achievement of a question.

Answer: Hammer/Mallet

Unfortunately, there is no definitive record of how trugo commenced but it did start in railway worksheds. The sport involves hitting a hard rubber ring - originally a rubber carriage buffer - with a mallet, through two upright posts marking the goal. One theory was that rail workers would try to propel the ring from one end of a carriage out the door at the far end without hitting any obstacles. The sport is now played on a grass lawn of similar dimensions to a bowling green. The sport most resembles croquet, except that the ring must pass cleanly through the uprights (without touching either) to be registered.

Like lawn bowls, trugo can be played in singles, doubles, and fours and competitions are for men, women, and mixed teams.

This quaint Aussie question was hammered into the quiz by Phoenix Rising's Melbournian MikeMaster99 who likes the idea of whacking a rubber ring with a mallet at the end of a long and frustrating work day!

Answer: Harry Potter

Published by Portkey Games, "Hogwarts Legacy" allows players to take on the role of a student at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The game is set in the late 1800s and includes recognizable characters from the "Harry Potter" series, such as Professor Binns, Phineas Nigellus Black, the Fat Lady, and Nearly Headless Nick. Surprisingly, the creator of the "Harry Potter" series, J. K. Rowling, was not involved at all in the development of the game.

Phoenix Rising's Matthew_07 magically penned this question.

Answer: Human excrement

In eighteenth century Japan, human waste was a valuable commodity that was transformed into fertiliser to feed a growing population. This traditional practice fell out of favour with the introduction of modern waste treatment technologies and chemical fertilisers. Interest in this traditional fertiliser was rekindled when the price of chemical fertilisers was driven up by turmoil in Eastern Europe. The revival of interest in shimogoe or "fertiliser from a person's bottom", has also been encouraged by the government of Japan to boost food security and alleviate environmental concerns surrounding sewage treatment.

This question was fertilised by Phoenix Rising team member purelyqing with recycled material according to prevailing hygiene standards.

Answer: Kenneth Branagh

Sir Kenneth Branagh has acted in three of director Christopher Nolan's films; in addition to "Oppenheimer" he appeared in "Dunkirk" and "Tenet." Branagh's career began in the 1980s and he has been very prolific since then. He has won several awards and was knighted; his sole Academy Award win (he has been nominated multiple times) was as a screenwriter for the movie "Belfast," which he also directed. Branagh was born in Belfast, and his family relocated to Berkshire in flight from "the troubles." Of the other choices, all are British actors of renown but only Oldman also appeared in "Oppenheimer," in the role of Harry S Truman.

Player pusdoc directed this question toward the quiz for Phoenix Rising.

Answer: Dancers

Frenchman Edgar Degas, is recorded as an Impressionist artist though he argued against that label. While he did draw scenes of everyday life he is better known for his paintings of entertainers, in particular ballet dancers. He was drawn to them (pun not intended) by their grace and their power and worked fervently to try and capture these qualities on canvas. In his later years, his eyesight began to fail him and painting became too difficult. However, he maintained his passion for dancers by presenting them in a sculptured form, producing works such as his 1880 wax figure titled "Little Dancer Aged Fourteen".

This question was sketched by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who, despite his ability to draw a crowd, we refuse to call him an artist.