LearnedLeague 97 Match Day 24 Recap
Facing a familiar opponent, could I use that knowledge to help with avoiding relegation?
I’m playing against PittaroT, my aunt, in the regular rundle today. She has been steady in Rundle A the past few years, but let’s see if familial knowledge can help me out with defense in my quest to stay afloat in Rundle A.
Match Day 24
1. Songs by Ray Charles from 1960, Vicki Lawrence from 1972, and Gladys Knight and the Pips from 1973 all mention what location?
Pre-answer thoughts: My first thought was “the road” as in Ray Charles’s “Hit the Road Jack,” but then I remembered that Gladys Knight had “Midnight Train to Georgia,” and of course Ray Charles’s signature song might be “Georgia on My Mind,” so the Peach State has to be the answer here.
Correct answer: Georgia
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 77%
Points assigned to opponent: 1
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 0
Current score: 0(1)-1(1)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 1
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 1(1)-1(1)
Post-answer thoughts: The Vicki Lawrence song was the #1 hit "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," which was released while she was still on The Carol Burnett Show.
2. What trade name for a borosilicate glass used extensively in domestic and scientific settings—it resists strong acids and alkalis, has a low coefficient for thermal expansion, and has high mechanical strength—originates (per company lore) from the use of its first sample for the preparation of a certain sweet dish?
Pre-answer thoughts: Food and science are two categories that I often struggle with. So a food science question really isn’t in my wheelhouse. Would a low coefficient mean it does expand in heat, or it doesn’t? And what’s the sweet dish involved? I’m just going to guess sheet pan but I have no idea here.
Correct answer: Pyrex
Was I correct? No.
How much of LL got it right? 73%
Points assigned to opponent: 2
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 0(1)-3(2)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 2
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 1(1)-3(2)
Post-answer thoughts: As soon as I saw the answer, “pie” from “Pyrex” hit me. Oh, of course! This was a bad miss and I probably misjudged the defense here too.
3. Takahashi and Delvecchio were the last names of two different (and largely sequential) characters on the television series Happy Days. Give the respective first names of these two characters, by which they were better known—generally due to their proprietorship of a certain business establishment. (Note, two names required.)
Pre-answer thoughts: I know this one in a very roundabout way. A few years ago I smithed a One-Day about music videos and included an image from Weezer’s classic “Buddy Holly” clip, which takes place in the Happy Days universe. I asked for the name of the restaurant the clip took place at, with Arnold’s as the answer. But Al’s was also deemed acceptable (the band even thanks Al at the end of the video), so I figured this had to be Arnold and Al.
Correct answer: Arnold, Al
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 20%
Points assigned to opponent: 1
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 1(2)-3(2)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 1
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 2(2)-3(2)
Post-answer thoughts: Another one for which I judged the defense badly, and despite the low get rate I didn’t get many points here. Bummer.
4. The psychological condition in which a hostage and their captor develop an unnatural and close relationship was first described in a group held hostage in a bank in 1973, who remained supportive of the thieves during and after their captivity. In what city did this episode take place?
Pre-answer thoughts: I’m pretty sure this will play very easy. This has to be Stockholm Syndrome, so Stockholm is the city they’re looking for.
Correct answer: Stockholm
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 97% (!)
Points assigned to opponent: 0
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 2(3)-3(3)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 0
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 0
Current score: 2(3)-3(3)
Post-answer thoughts: At 97%, I’m pretty certain this has been the easiest question in LL all season.
5. In literature, the mistaken use of an incorrect word in place of one it resembles, usually for comic effect, is known by what word? The noun comes from the name of a character in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 1775 comedy The Rivals (with the character's name itself taken from a French phrase)—as the character, in her attempts to demonstrate a vast vocabulary, makes remarks such as "he is the very pineapple of politeness."
Pre-answer thoughts: I’m pretty sure this is describing a malapropism, right? I can’t think of what else this word might be called and the French phrase clue helps here.
Correct answer: Malapropism
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 53%
Points assigned to opponent: 2
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 4(4)-5(4)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 2
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 4(4)-5(4)
Post-answer thoughts: During Covid, it felt like malapropisms were used all the time — I know “panini” was a popular one to use in place of “pandemic.”
6. While her last name may evoke a proficiency with pastries, breads, etc., what 20th-century Parisian woman was renowned as a composer, organist, conductor, and—perhaps greatest of all—a teacher, with a roster of pupils that included Aaron Copland, Daniel Barenboim, Philip Glass, Quincy Jones, Lennox Berkeley, and many many others?
Pre-answer thoughts: Hmm, I think I have to go by the last name clue here. Pastries, breads… could this person’s name be Baker? Has to be as good of a guess as any.
Correct answer: Nadia Boulanger
Was I correct? No.
How much of LL got it right? 21%
Points assigned to opponent: 3
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 3
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 3
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 3
Post-answer thoughts: Okay, so 31% of LL had the same idea as me. That makes me feel less bad about this question.
Result: Loss to PittaroT, 4(4)-5(4)
Current Standings in Rundle A Byzantium: 27th of 30 (7-13-4)
Private Rundle Result: Loss to KohrmanA, 4(4)-5(4)
Current Standings in Private Rundle: 3rd of 10 (15-7-2)
Overall thoughts: A pair of 4(4)-5(4) losses thanks to bad defending and not figuring out Pyrex. And an especially tough result for Rundle A, as now I need a win and some good luck going into the final Match Day if I don’t want to be relegated. So unless a miracle happens, it might be back to Rundle B for me next season.