Cool Zooms, Part XXIX Trivia Quiz

Answer: Game of Thrones

The Lannister family from "Game of Thrones" is often at odds, with siblings Cersei, Jamie and Tyrion trading insults and allegiances. In 2019, a crossover short featuring Elmo from "Sesame Street" and Cersei and Tyrion from "Game of Thrones" was released by HBO, an American pay TV network that screens both shows. In this video, titled "Respect is Coming", Cersei (Lena Headey) and Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) are arguing when Elmo gate crashes their family spat and tells them they "need to respect each other". With Elmo as a peacemaker, in this crossover at least, they agree to try.

The producers of "Sesame Street" were not content to leave it there though. In another short video also teaching about respect, The Cookie Monster acts as a mediator in a "Westworld" crossover.

This question was brought to you by leith90, who got it into the quiz after tickling Elmo and bribing Cookie Monster with a biscuit.

Answer: Mathematics

Modern adaptations of Sherlock Holmes' tales have painted Moriarty as the key figure in the life of the great detective. The truth is that he (directly) appears in only two of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. The first is the 1893 short story "The Adventure of the Final Problem", in which he is created as a device by the author as a means to kill off Holmes. Doyle wanted a villain so mighty that he could take his detective out in a blaze of glory that any other adventure after it would pale into insignificance. The other is "The Valley of Fear" (1914), which was written after "... Final Problem" but serves as a prequel to it.

Moriarty's genius was recognised early. At twenty one years of age he published "A Treatise Upon the Binomial Theorem", which was so well received that he was soon awarded the Mathematics chair at a small university. Holmes even describes Moriarty as "a man of good birth and excellent education, endowed by nature with a phenomenal mathematical faculty" in "... Final Problem".

"Ahh... now it all adds up" says Phoenix Rising's polluci19, the creator of this question.

Answer: White

Fining is a process that removes impurities such as proteins, tannins and phenols from wine to improve its clarity or flavour. Examples of fining agents include egg white, blood, isinglass, activated carbon and clay. The fining agent binds the impurities into larger particles that are precipitated out of solution. The use of animal-derived products as fining agents can render the wine unsuitable for vegans.

Phoenix Rising team member purelyqing used words as the fining agent for this question, making it perfectly safe for quizzers.

Answer: The Stooges

Iggy Pop was born James Newell Osterberg Jr. in Michigan, on April 21, 1947. He played in a high school band as a drummer in the Iguanas which is the source of his nickname. He formed the Stooges in 1967 and was their frontman. (Initially they were called the Psychedelic Stooges). Iggy Pop was influenced heavily by the stage presence shown by Jim Morrison of The Doors and Mick Jagger. As a frontman of The Stooges his stage antics were often outrageous. Their albums were critically acclaimed as they played a variety of styles but collectively and retrospectively was called proto-punk (He was affectionately known as the Godfather of Punk). He broke with the Stooges around 1974 and spent two years with David Bowie as a collaborator before releasing solo albums. Commercial success eluded him but his music was nearly always acclaimed critically (but equally his stage behaviour was condemned by the Establishment). His first Billboard top 40 hit, "Candy" was ironically a duet with the B-52's Kate Pierson, which came as late as 1990. His longevity persevered and perhaps it was fitting that a 50 year career was capped in 2019 when a photo taken by Antoine Veling of the man in question on stage with a few adoring fans at the Sydney Opera House in 2019 won the Culture Category of the Sony World Photography Award.

This question was written in G Major by 1nn1 who has a very personal connection to the song called "Candy".

Answer: Poodle and Golden retriever

This hybrid is a family friendly dog that is highly intelligent and easily trained. The fur can be either curly or straight and, as a result of the poodle mix, there's a good chance that it won't shed easily or smell. Because of their intelligence they will require mental stimulation and they will also require physical exercise. However, if you do miss the occasional stroll to the park with them, they can be forgiving. Their average weight range is between 23 and 45 kilograms and they will require constant grooming.

Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 managed to drag himself out of the doghouse by completing this question.

Answer: A lump on the eyelid

The chalazion is small, painless lump that develops on the eyelid and is, generally, gone after a few weeks. It can appear on either the upper or lower lid but it is more common to see them on the upper eyelid. A chalazion is created when the meibomian gland becomes blocked. This gland sits at the edges of the eyelid and produces an oil that lubricates the eye. Because they look similar, the chalazion is often referred to as a stye. However, that is not quite correct. A chalazion will develop from a blockage in this oil gland whereas a stye would indicate that there is an infection in the gland. Having said that, it is possible for a chalazion to develop into a stye.

Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 insisted that he write this question.

Answer: Discus

When the Covid-19 pandemic spread around the world, international travel was curtailed, and with it, the cancellation of major athletics meets including the Olympic Games in Japan. At the time, the most recent Discus World Championships were held in Doha, Qatar in 2019 and the standing World Records were set in the 1980s.

The Women's World Record was set in 1988 by Gabriele Reinsch of Germany with a throw of 76.8 metres. The Men's World Record was set in 1986 by fellow German Jurgen Schult with a throw of 74.08 metres. This record was almost overtaken in 2000 by Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania who unfortunately fell just 20 centimetres short. The second longest throw for women was 74.56m by Czech Zdenka Silhavá in 1984 and German Ilke Wyludda in 1989.

It's not an entirely fair comparison though, since the women's discus is one kilogram lighter than that used by the men.

Leith90 threw this question into the mix, but fell short of the qualifying distance.

Answer: Lance Bass

Lance Bass moved to Russia after *NSYNC's 2001 PopOdyssey Tour to pursue space travel. He was encouraged to make this move for a space competition documentary. During his intense training for the Soyuz seat, it was discovered he had a heart condition which led to surgery. Even after surgery, he met the requirements for cosmonaut certification. A few months prior to his scheduled space flight, the documentary was cancelled. He was unable to obtain new sponsorship to secure his seat on the Soyuz capsule and was removed from the space crew.

This question was launched by Phoenix Rising's jaknginger, who just so happens to live on the Space Coast of Florida.

Answer: Towers at the Tower of London

The Tower of London has a rich history. It was built by William the Conqueror in 1066. It has been a fortress, a prison, a mint and a royal residence. It houses the British Crown jewels and once housed a menagerie including lions, an elephant and a Polar bear that roamed the moat. It is also the home of the famous Beefeaters.

There is a grand total of 21 towers at the Tower of London.
The White tower is the central keep, named so because it has been whitewashed since the 13 century. It currently displays an exhibition of arms, including the armour of Henry VIII. An observatory was housed in one of the turrets.

The tower originally called the Garden Tower, but renamed The Bloody Tower when the bodies of two small boys, believed to be the sons of Edward IV, also known as 'The Princes in the Tower' were discovered. Sir Walter Raleigh was also imprisoned here.

Wakefield Tower also had a bloody past as it was here that Henry VI was murdered.

The Salt Tower dates back to 1235. Salt was a luxury commodity and was probably stored here originally. This tower also served in later times as a prison for Jesuits, and many religious symbolic carvings can be found within.

The Broad Arrow tower forms part of the defences. it is a D shape with the curved area facing outwards to allow archers the best wide angle range.

The pervading aura of history led smpdit to this question.

Answer: Finland

Mobile phone throwing is a national sport in Finland where the multinational telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics company Nokia was founded in 1865. Initially beginning with a paper mill and taking its name from the nearby town of Nokia, the company branched out to include forestry and electronics. The headquarters are now located in Espoo in Finland.

The Mobile Phone Throwing Championships have been held annually since 2000 in the town of Savonlinna. Competitors use phones that have been donated to see who can throw their handset the farthest. They are not allowed to bring their own devices.

The world records as of 2020 are:
Men's - 110.42 meters (362.3 feet) set by Dries Feremans in 2014
Women's - 67.58 meters (221.7 feet) set by Ivonne Wiener in 2017.

Phoenix Rising team member lg549 threw this question into the quiz but it didn't set a new world record.

Answer: Blanche DuBois in "A Streetcar Named Desire"

Who would have thought that a young lady born in Darjeeling, British India would grow up to win enduring fame portraying two of American literature's most prominent Southern belles? "Gone with the Wind" producer David O. Selznick initially rejected Vivien Leigh for the role of Scarlett O'Hara because she was "too British". But after meeting with her in person and arranging a screen test with the film's director, George Cukor, she managed to impress enough to secure the part. Similarly, director Elia Kazan preferred Jessica Tandy and Olivia da Havilland for the role of Blanche DuBois in "A Streetcar Named Desire", not having a high regard for Leigh's talent as an actress. Kazan would grow to admire the way Leigh threw herself into the role, and playwright Tennessee Williams praised her for expressing "everything that I intended, and much that I had never dreamed of".

Frankly my dear, I hope you give a damn that this question was composed by Phoenix Rising's JCSon, who has always depended on the kindness of strangers.

Answer: The Fat Controller

The Rev. W.H Awdry first brought the Fat Controller to life in 1945, in his books 'The Railway Series', though originally he was known as the Fat Director.

In the books, there have actually been three Fat Controllers, a dynasty of Hatts through the ages. Sir Topham Hatt, 1st Baronet (1880-1956), Sir Charles Topham Hatt, 2nd Baronet (1914-1997), and Sir Stephen Topham Hatt, 3rd Baronet (1941-). They are all referred to as Sir Topham Hatt and are of a portly stature. He is also customarily dressed in a morning suit with a top hat, which would have been common attire for railway officials at the time.

In the numerous television series of 'Thomas the Tank Engine', there has only been one Sir Topham Hatt. He does however have a mischievous twin brother called Sir Lowham Hatt.

The Skarloey Railway also featured in 'The Railway Series'. It was a narrow gauge railway, and The Thin Controller was in charge.

Due to different societal niceties, Sir Topham Hatt is never referred to as the Fat Controller in the US.

smpdit has been to many 'Thomas the Tank Engine' events and has met the Fat Controller in real life.

Answer: An American Tail

"An American Tail" (1986) is a heart-warming animated story about the American immigrant experience. A young mouse named Fievel Mousekewitz is separated from his family after he falls overboard on a trip from Russia to New York. Fievel arrives in New York alone and sets off on an adventure that will ultimately reunite him with his family as they discover together the meaning of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

At the Grammy Awards in 1988, "Somewhere Out There" won both Song of the Year and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television. It also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song - Motion Picture and an Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Original Song, but lost to "Take My Breath Away" from the movie "Top Gun" in both instances.

This question was authored by another immigrant to the United States, JCSon of team Phoenix Rising.

Answer: Captain Cook

Concerns about the counterfeiting of banknotes were prevalent in the 1930s (and ever since!). The Australian banknote release of 1938 featured an image of King George VI (who took the throne in 1936), interestingly superimposed upon the torso of Edward VIII. A watermark image of Captain James Cook was also a new feature of these notes, although watermarks on such notes dated back to 1932. On behalf of England, Cook explored the east coast of Australia in 1770, leading to the subsequent landing of the 'first fleet' in 1788.

This question was carefully scrutinized by PR member MikeMaster99 who idly wonders whether it is the watermark that leads to money running so easily through his fingers!!

Answer: Sword Beach

From west to east the five beaches that were part of Operation Neptune (the initial attack phase of Operation Overlord) were named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. A sixth beach landing to the east of Sword, dubbed "Band", was considered but not undertaken.

Sword was assaulted primarily by British forces. The beachhead was approximately five miles long and was near the mouth of the Orne River. It was the closest landing to the prime target of the town of Caen.

mike32768 sliced his way through the other members of Phoenix Rising to attack this question.

Answer: Tom

The success of Eric Hill's book "Where's Spot" (1980) and subsequent stories soon saw the character and his friends appearing on television. "The Adventures of Spot" first aired in 1987 and we were introduced to Tom the Crocodile, the son of the town's lord mayor and Spot's third best friend. The initial creation had Tom as a dark green crocodile with sharp incisors, however, that was seen as too frightening and those teeth soon disappeared and his colouring was reduced to a much lighter shade.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who has a hankering for a crocodile sandwich... "and make it snappy" he yells.

Answer: Robert Bunsen

All the answers are German chemists. Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen (1811-1899) probably better known for his eponymous burner, worked with physicist Gustav Kirchhoff to produce line spectra by heating substances. The pair discovered caesium in 1860 and rubidium in 1861 using this technique.

Bunsen made several other contributions to the discipline, including photochemistry, gas analysis and organoarsenic chemistry. Arising from the latter, he studied cacodyl or kakodyl which he named from the Greek words for "evil-smelling" and "matter". Cacodyl can be either tetramethyldiarsine or the (CH3)2As- functional group.

Robert Bunsen discovered cacodyl cyanide in the 1840s. It is highly toxic and able to deliver the symptoms of cyanide and arsenic poisoning in the same package. It is also explosive and he suffered severe injuries in the incident which cost him his right eye.

Cacodyl cyanide has been investigated as a potential chemical weapon, but was found to be unsuitable for military use.

With burning zeal, Phoenix Rising's psnz reacted to this chemistry question and inserted it into the quiz with a bang.

Answer: Celtic Sea

The sea borders the southern coast of Ireland and meets the Irish Sea at St George's Channel. It laps the north shore of Cornwall, and the north-western tip of France, and then out into the Atlantic.

The Irish Sea is between Wales, Ireland and the north western regions of England, and the Sea (or Straits) of Moyle is a small body of water between Northern Ireland and Scotland - it joins the Irish Sea with the North Atlantic. The North Sea borders the majority of the east coast of Scotland and England.

Phoenix Rising member, ozzz2002, enjoyed his marine trip around Great Britain while preparing this question.

Answer: The Vietnam War

The official name of the Paris Peace Accords was the 'Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Viet Nam'. It was signed on January 27th, 1973 by representatives from the United States and three Vietnamese parties: the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), and the Republic of South Vietnam (South Vietnamese revolutionaries). It was largely negotiated by the US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and North Vietnam's Le Duc Tho and essentially agreed the withdrawal of all US forces (and those of their allies) from Vietnam and neighbouring countries in return for a ceasefire arrangement in South Vietnam. While it ended the US involvement in the war, it didn't actually bring peace to the region as the ceasefire was almost immediately broken and hostilities continued between North and South Vietnam until 1975.

The War of 1812 was resolved by the Treaty of Ghent; the Korean War was unofficially ended in 1953 by an armistice; and the Gulf War came to end in 1991 with the restoration of the Kuwaiti government and a ceasefire ratified by UN Security Council Resolution 687.

This question was 'peaced' together by Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81.

Answer: Elbow

Elbow were formed in 1990 when guitarist Mark Potter asked vocalist Guy Garvey to sing in a band called The Soft. They were joined by Mark's brother, Craig and became just Soft before changing to Elbow in 1997. Their music is hard to categorise but loosely fits with indie rock and /or alternative. They certainly have progressive elements and lead singer Guy Garvey had been influenced as a teenager by Genesis and Radiohead . All eight initial albums made the top twenty in their native UK but the highest reaching single was "One Day Like This" in 2008 which reached number four. They are well known in Australia and New Zealand but still had not 'cracked' the American market when their eighth studio album "Giants of All Sizes" was released in 2019. In 2008 Elbow won the Mercury Music Prize for their album "The Seldom Seen Kid", and in 2009 they won the Brit Award for Best British Group after being nominated once before.

This question was bent into shape by 1nn1, a long-time Elbow fan.