Black is the New Black Trivia Quiz

Answer: Black hat

Black hat hackers, sometimes called "crackers," attempt to bypass the security of computer networks for various malicious reasons that range from the enjoyment of disrupting network activities to being able to steal money or to spy on secrets through the network.

In some places in the world, there are companies that use collaboration to engage in black hat hacking for profit. Those who attempt to use cyber security measures to detect and thwart black hat hackers are called "white hats," but the annual convention for those concerned with network security is called, "Blackhat."

Answer: Little Black Dress

Coco Chanel is given credit for the creation of the little black dress in the 1920s. There are many reasons why it is still a fashion staple decade after decade. Black is a neutral color that can be worn with anything. It has a slimming effect on the wearer's appearance.

It is versatile, since the wearer can dress it up or dress it down by accessorizing it with items such as a belt, a jacket, a brooch, jewelry, etc.

Answer: Black Tuesday

The stock market crash of 1929 that led to the Great Depression started with a Black Thursday on October 24th, but that was not called the "Great Crash." Various investors were able to make a temporary rally. Panic selling reached its peak on Tuesday, October 29th.

The market lost over $30 billion, $14 billion of that on Black Tuesday alone. Black Monday was a minicrash in 1987. Black Wednesday was a problem with the British pound in 1992. Black Friday is the name given to the day after Thanksgiving in the USA that is famed for frenzied shopping sprees.

Answer: Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse released her "Back to Black" album in 2006. It included her hit, "Rehab," as well as the song, "Back to Black." Amy won five Grammy Awards in 2008. She passed away in 2011. Many people think it was because she refused to go to rehab. She said, "No, no, no." Don't confuse Amy's album with the AC/DC album, "Back In Black."

Answer: Orange is the New Black

"Orange is the New Black" is a show about women in prison where they wear orange prison uniforms. Netflix shows, such as this and "House of Cards," are very popular because they encourage the practice of binge-watching. As Kevin Spacey, star of "House of Cards" puts it, networks should, "give audiences what they want, when they want it. If they want to binge then we should let them binge."

Answer: Black Death

Black Death was one of the worst pandemic diseases to affect humanity. It was a bacterial infection considered to have originated in China and to have been propagated by the Silk Road. It is thought that rat fleas brought the plague from Crimea to Europe on ships.

It is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of the population of Europe in the 14th century. The nursery rhyme, "Ring Around the Rosie," is thought to describe the symptoms of this terrible plague. Modern medical science is able to deal with this pathogen, however it is feared that the bacterium may be able to develop a drug-resistant form.

There was an outbreak of the Black Death pathogen in Madagascar as recently as 2014.

Answer: Black Betty

Leadbelly sang, "Black Betty." His full name was Huddie William Ledbetter. His song has indeed been covered many times. There has been some controversy whether the name, "Black Betty," refers to a kind of musket or to a liquor bottle. Listen to it and get into the grove, then figure out what you think it means to you.

Answer: Black Sea

The Black Sea also touches Turkey, Georgia, Russia, and the Ukraine. It is a part of a system of navigable waterways that connects the Caspian Sea and places along the Volga River to the Mediterranean Sea, and from there to the rest of the world. By the way, "Sylvania" refers to a forest. "Transylvania" literally means, "beyond the forest," or, "on the other side of the woods." Sorry if that makes it seem less spooky.

Answer: Blackout

An episode of blacking out physically, or fainting, is called a syncope. Usually it is caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain for any number of reasons, sometimes including standing up too fast. When it comes to power outages, there can also be many causes such as weather damage to electrical lines, catastrophic failure of transformers, auto accidents involving electrical poles, etc. "Blackout" could also refer to not broadcasting a sports game on television in a local region because the tickets to the game were not sold out.

Answer: Black and Tan

The Black and Tan depends on the stout or porter to have a lower relative density than the lager that is poured into the glass first, allowing it to "float" on the lager. An upside-down tablespoon is usually used to prevent the stout from splashing and mixing prematurely with the lager or light ale.

In Ireland they call this drink, "half and half," since Black and Tans is a name synonymous with a police force sent into Ireland by the British to fight the IRA in the early 20th century. If you are of drinking age and like a tasty beer, and if you have never had a Black and Tan, you should probably order one this week. Life is short!