LearnedLeague 97 Match Day 20 Recap
I thought I had all six right, but...
I hope everyone had a nice long weekend. I’m glad that Juneteenth is finally getting more recognition around the country, as I don’t think it was something I learned much about in schools in the Northeast growing up.
Anyway, I knew yesterday was going to be a busy day, so I answered my questions first thing in the morning. Sometimes I spend all day trying to answer, but yesterday I confidently put down all six answers in a matter of minutes. I was confident I had the beer. Would I get it? Read on to find out.
Match Day 20
1. Whereas the Caspian Sea is the world's largest lake by surface area (by far), the world's deepest lake by average depth (by far) and the world's largest freshwater lake by volume are both what other lake, which is located in an active continental rift zone (the reason for its extreme depth) in Southern Siberia?
Pre-answer thoughts: “World’s deepest lake” is a classic geography trivia question, so I’ve heard this before. I also know of one real big Russian lake in Siberia, and that’s Lake Baikal.
Correct answer: Lake Baikal
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 55%
Points assigned to opponent: 2
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 2(1)-0(0)
Post-answer thoughts: This question felt like a YEKIOYD, but luckily I knew it right away. And considering over half of LL got it, it’s not too obscure either.
2. In April 2023, two Democratic lawmakers were expelled from their state legislature for their role in a protest calling for greater gun control in response to a tragic mass shooting that occurred ten days earlier in the same city, seven miles from the state capitol building. In what city did this sequence of events take place?
Pre-answer thoughts: I remember this happening and being very frustrated at yet another Republican state legislature effectively shutting out any dissent or minority voices. But I think the expulsion may have had the opposite effect, as these expelled lawmakers became a national story and were even invited to the White House and honored by President Biden. So I’m well-aware that this happened in Nashville, Tennessee’s capital.
Correct answer: Nashville
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 68%
Points assigned to opponent: 1 (This was a pretty big story and she’s good at current events)
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 3(2)-1(1)
Post-answer thoughts: Gerrymandering over the years has made state legislatures nearly impossible to crack, and even states with Democratic governors like Kentucky can’t do anything because the legislature will just override their vetoes and pass hateful laws. Luckily there are organizations like The States Project that are trying to help fix this, but it still seems like an issue with no resolution in sight.
3. Identify the Austrian physicist of the 19th–20th centuries whose work on supersonic projectiles and the flow of gases laid a foundation for developments in aeronautical design and projectile science (as evidenced by the illusory bands of light and dark and the speed ratio that are named for him).
Pre-answer thoughts: So I assume this has to be a scientist whose name is still relevant today, right? And “illusory bands of light and dark” could be radar? I think Doppler was from that part of the world too. Seems like a good guess.
Correct answer: Ernst Mach
Was I correct? No.
How much of LL got it right? 39%
Points assigned to opponent: 0 (She gets about 90% of science questions right)
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 3
Current score: 3(2)-1(1)
Post-answer thoughts: I don’t think I ever thought of “Mach” as being someone’s last name before but it makes sense here. A disappointing miss, as I felt pretty good about my guess of Doppler (which was Most Common Wrong Answer). And naturally I missed out on 3 points because it was a science question.
4. Among the many bridges that span the River Thames in London, the most recent new construction is a footbridge that connects the area of Bankside with the City of London. What is the common name for this bridge, which opened for good in 2002 following the repairs made after its initial ceremonious opening in the year 2000?
Pre-answer thoughts: I’m pretty sure I’ve walked over this bridge before, and the clue of “year 2000” makes me certain — this is Millennium Bridge.
Correct answer: Millennium Bridge
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 60%
Points assigned to opponent: 2
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 4(3)-3(2)
Post-answer thoughts: Apparently the local nickname of “Wobbly Bridge” was also accepted here.
5. Elizabeth Bowen's in 1935 is in Paris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti's in 1881 is "of Life", and Edith Wharton's in 1905 is of Mirth. What are they?
Pre-answer thoughts: I have tried but never really gotten into Edith Wharton’s writing, but I know she wrote The House of Mirth, so I think these have to be houses.
Correct answer: Houses
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 48%
Points assigned to opponent: 1
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 6(4)-4(3)
Post-answer thoughts: In 8th grade I watched the film adaptation of House of Mirth, starring Gillian Anderson, and was bored the entire time. In my defense I was a 13 year-old boy — I needed action or comedy or animation to capture my attention and this movie had none of those.
6. From 1980 until 1990, the NHL's Hart Memorial Trophy (for the "player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team") was awarded nine times to a player from what team (both location and team name required)?
Pre-answer thoughts: The best hockey player of the 1980s was without question Wayne Gretzky, so this question really boils down to knowing which team The Great One played for most of that decade. So it has to be Edmonton Oilers.
Correct answer: Edmonton Oilers
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 54%
Points assigned to opponent: 3
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 0
Post-answer thoughts: Gretzky won the award 8 times in a row with the Oilers, and the ninth Hart Trophy for Edmonton in this timeframe was awarded to Mark Messier in 1990. After both those players left the team, the Oilers languished in mediocrity for years other than one Western Conference title in 2006, but are doing better now thanks to Connor McDavid, another recent Hart Trophy winner.
Result: Win over SubramonyS, 6(5)-4(3)
Current Standings in Rundle A Byzantium: 25th of 30 (6-10-4)
Private Rundle Result: Win over SmirnovA, 8(5)-0(F)
Current Standings in Private Rundle: 14-4-2 (2nd of 10)
Overall thoughts: Despite thinking I had a beer but missing the science question as usual, I still did well enough to notch my 3rd straight victory. I’m now out of the relegation zone by the skin of my teeth, so I’ll need to keep it up over the final 5 Match Days if I want to stay in A.