LearnedLeague 95 Match Day 24 Recap
What would the survey say about this matchup?
Match Day 24
1. "A multicolor tri-pipped bone" would oddly but accurately describe the logo for what American company founded in Michigan in 1960?
Pre-answer thoughts: My first thought with it being Michigan and all was a car company. But by 1960, most of those Detroit automakers were long established. Hmm, what else is a famous Michigan company? Kellogg’s was started way too early. What about Little Caesars? Well that’s not their logo. Wait, isn’t Domino’s from Michigan? and I think a pip is a number on a domino or a die, if I’m not mistaken. Let’s go with that.
Correct answer: Domino’s Pizza
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 19%
Points assigned to opponent: 2 — I think this is a tough one.
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 1(1)-0(0)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 1 — she’s good at business/econ questions.
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 2(1)-0(0)
Post-answer thoughts: At only 19%, this question played tough. I don’t often think of bones being the shape of the logo, but a bone is a term for a domino itself. Also, I appreciate that Domino’s devised a whole marketing campaign around how their pizza used to be bad, but it’s better now — and ever since the pizza has indeed tasted much better than it used to.
2. The Latin word for "sieve" is the appropriate root for the name of what common kitchen item?
Pre-answer thoughts: My first thought here was “strainer,” but that doesn’t feel like a Latin-y word. Isn’t “colander” another word for strainer? Or something similar? That could also be a type of sieve I think. I’ll guess colander here.
Correct answer: Colander
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 79%
Points assigned to opponent: 1 — this seems a little easier than some of the other questions today.
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 0
Current score: 1(2)-1(1)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 0 — food/drink is one of her best subjects.
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 3(2)-0(1)
Post-answer thoughts: Colander comes from the Latin verb “colare,” which literally means “to strain.”
3. On the game show Family Feud, what is the name of the show's bonus round, played after the main family-vs.-family game, where two family members attempt to combine for 200 points to win the ultimate cash prize?
Pre-answer thoughts: I have been watching Family Feud ever since I was a little kid when I’d watch with my grandfather, who also loved game shows. And even today the show still has a following with Steve Harvey, whose responses to obvious innuendo questions have become viral moments over the years. But I know the end of the game has always been called “Fast Money.”
Correct answer: Fast Money/Big Money
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 40%
Points assigned to opponent: 2 — she has good TV stats but her bio says she lives in Jerusalem — do they have Family Feud in Israel?
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 3(3)-1(1)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 2 — she also has good TV stats but I’m never sure how hard game show questions will play.
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 4(3)-2(2)
Post-answer thoughts: Amazingly, teams still only get $5 per point in the Fast Money round, the same as when Richard Dawson was hosting the show back in the 70s. That’s like how vowels still only cost $250 on Wheel of Fortune after all these years.
4. It is widely regarded that the musical form known as the English oratorio was developed around 1720 not by a natural-born Englishman, but rather a German-born composer (who did become a naturalized British subject in 1727). Who is this composer, whose most famous English oratorio (by far) was first performed in 1742?
Pre-answer thoughts: Another classical music question this season that I know! I assume this is Handel, whose Messiah is still performed all the time. That’s an oratorio, right?
Correct answer: Georg Frederic Handel
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 47%
Points assigned to opponent: 1 — she’s not terrible at classical music and this seems gettable.
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 5(4)-2(2)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 1 — again, I think this is an easier than usual classical music question.
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 3
Current score: 7(4)-2(2)
Post-answer thoughts: 6 for 6 on classical music this year! I’m up to .343 in the subject all-time, which is getting closer to the league average of .408.
5. 1977's How to Save Your Own Life continues the first-person narrative of Isadora Wing—and her various exploits and tribulations, libidinous and otherwise—that was introduced in what groundbreaking 1973 novel by the same author? (Note, name the 1973 novel.)
Pre-answer thoughts: I haven’t heard of the 1977 book or the character. So I don’t think I can get to the novel in question here. I’ll take a stab at it based on the clues — is this Memoirs of a Geisha? I think that was written much later but it’s still worth a try.
Correct answer: Fear of Flying
Was I correct? No.
How much of LL got it right? 25%
Points assigned to opponent: 0 — literature is her best subject.
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 3
Current score: 5(4)-2(3)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 2 — lit is one of her worst subjects and this seems like a tough question.
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 7(4)-4(3)
Post-answer thoughts: I’d never heard of this novel before, but Fear of Flying by Erica Jong was a controversial novel in 1973 for its frank portrayal of sexuality from a feminist perspective.
6. Wagner, Mathewson, Johnson, Ruth, [BLANK]. What last name is missing from this inaugural fivesome?
Pre-answer thoughts: Okay, so I know this is the inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame class, but I’m torn between two options here for the 5th member — Lou Gehrig, or Ty Cobb. Both were early baseball legends. Or was it Cy Young? After all the pitching award is named after him. Ultimately, I’m going with Ty Cobb, as he seemed to have a huge influence on the game with the Detroit Tigers in the early 20th century (though his legacy and personality have been subjects of debate over the years).
Correct answer: Cobb
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 40%
Points assigned to opponent: 3 — if this was a tough sports question for me, and it’s my best subject, then I suspect this will play hard overall.
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 3 — same logic as above.
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 0
Post-answer thoughts: My guess was right here, and I’m not surprised that Lou Gehrig was the most common wrong answer.
Result: Win over GlattC, 6(5)-2(3)
Current Standings in Rundle B Byzantium: 11th of 30 (11-10-3)
Private Rundle Result: Win over SmirnovA, 7(5)-4(3)
Current Standings in Private Rundle: 1st of 8 (16-2-6)
Overall thoughts: Another Rundle B match where both my opponent and I played perfect defense. I’m assured of at least a .500 season, and I’ll stay in Rundle B next season, but there’s still one day left in LL95. Hopefully I can finish strong and maybe I can even drink the beer for the first time this season!
Kicking myself because this is the 2nd time thorsten has asked the family feud question. I got it wrong then and I didn't even look to see what the correct answer was so I got it wrong this time, too. Important lesson: learn from your mistakes.