Friday 9 February 2024

Buzzer Questions #4

 The final set of Buzzer quiz questions. Hope you have enjoyed!

 

16

One of this mans films, a sequel, was nominated for the Best Picture award at this years Oscars. He co founded the production companies Light Storm Entertainment and Earthship Productions.  This director was the first person to carry out a solo descent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the Earths Ocean. As well as his fictional work, he has produced documentaries including Ghosts of the Abyss and Aliens of the Deep, the titles of which reflect movies he has been involved in. His movie debut as director was the un-notable  ‘Piranha II: The Spawning’, but his second movie spawned a franchise which now includes 6 movies and TV spin off.  In 1994, he directed Arnold Schwarzenegger for the third time in the movie ‘True Lies’  and has directed only 3 movies since, two of which are from the same series.  Despite this he still remains the second highest grossing movie director of all time, as those three films lie 2nd 3rd and 4th on the all time box office list. Mvoies set in Pandora, and for ten points, a movie about a famous 20th century disaster are the most commercially successful works of which Director?

James Cameron

 

Bonus – Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies

 

Bonus 1

In 1987, Arnie played the role of “Dutch” in which sci fi action movie, the first instalment of a Franchise? In the movie he plays the leader of an elite paramilitary rescue team sent to a Central American rainforest where they encounter a deadly character

Predator

Bonus 2

6 years after they starred together in Twins, Arnie stars alongside Danny Devito as well as Emma Thompson in which 1994 Comedy in which he plays a scientist who agrees to undergo a male pregnancy?

Junior

Bonus 3

Which 1990 action movie starring Arnie was remade in 2012 with Colin Farrell in the lead role? The movie is based on the Philip K Dick novel “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale”

`Total Recall

 

17

This Greek god turned Battus into a rock to protect him from Crice’s sorcery. Various myths describe how this god carried a ram on his shoulders around a city to avert a plague. Abderus, a song of this god, helped Heracles during his eighth labour. This god had a song with Aphrodite who was so besotted with Salamanca’s that the gods made them one body. One of this deity’s symbols is a pair of winged sandals and he earned his spot on Mount Olympus after capturing Apollo’s cattle. In one myth this God lulled the 100-eyed Argus to sleep. Caducues was the name of this god’s staff. For ten points, name this Greek Messenger God?

Hermes

 

Bonus – Greek Goddess

 

Bonus 1

Which Greek Goddess, the counterpart of Juno, was is the Goddess of childbirth and marriage as well as being both the sister and wife of Zeus?

Hera

Bonus 2

Which Goddess have Perseus the cap of invisibility and a mirrored shield that helped him slay Medusa? Mythology claims that she sprung fully formed from the head Zeus

Athena

Bonus 3

In Greek Mythology, who was the goddess primarily  of witchcraft, but also the goddess of magic, the night, moon and ghosts? She is often displayed holding two keys and is said to have heard the screams of Persephone as she was being abducted

Hecate

 

 

 

18

This Baroque artist began his career copying the works of earlier artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger and Caravaggio. He was inspired by a trip to Italy in 1600 by the works of Veronese and Tintoretto. Shortly after this trip he completed his first Altarpiece ‘St Helena with the True Cross’ before heading to Spain to study the extensive collection of Phillip II.  He returned to Antwerp in 1609 after a Peace Treaty brought stability to the city and amongst many other duties, acted as tutored to Anthony Van Dyck.  Major works followed including ‘The Raising of the Cross’ ‘ The Descent from the Cross’ and a cycle of significant works commissioned by Marie De ‘Medici to celebrate her life. In the 1630, after the death of his first wife, this man married her niece Helene Fourment who was the subject of many works in that decade including ‘The Feast of Venus’ ‘The Three Graces’ and ‘The Judgement of Paris’.  In 2002 this mans work ‘Massacre of the Innocents, sold for £50 million at auction, a then record for a pre-1800 European painter. For ten points, can you identify this painter who, In addition to his art work, was a humanist scholar and diplomat who was knighted by both Philip IV of Spain and Charles I of England?

Peter Paul Rubens

 

 

 

Bonus – Artists Alive At the Time of Rubens

 

 

 

Bonus 1

Peter Paul Rubens lived from 1577 – 1640. The answer to your three bonuses will be an artist who was alive at some point in that period.

 

Which Italian Baroque artist painted works such as ‘Judith and her Maidservant’ and ‘Judith Slaying Holofernes’? She was the first woman to become a member of the Academy of Arts of Drawing in Florence?

 

Artemisia Gentileschi

 

 

 

Bonus 2

‘The Ecstasy of Saint Tereas’ is a sculpture by which Italian who also produced ‘Apollo and Daphne’ and ‘The Rape of Proserpina’?

Bernini

 

 

Bonus 3

‘The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp’ and ‘Belshazzar’s Feast’ are among the works of which Dutch Golden Age Painter whose most famous work hangs in the Rijksmuseum and depicts a scene involved the civic guard?

Rembrandt

 

 

 

 

19

The author of the series of books ‘The Last Descendants’ shares her surname with a member of this group. The American singer who UK Number 1’s in 1997 and 1979 also shares a surname with a member of this group. The house reigning house of Imperial Russia between 1613 and 1917 shares its name with a member of this group. The ring name of professional wrestler Terry Boella references a character from this group. Whilst his alias contains the element found at Number 26 on the periodic able, another character of this group shares his  name with a family from the Game of Thrones series. The Director of this group share’s his name with the boxer who has defeated both KSI and Jake Paul in his last two fights. For ten points, can you name this team of Superheroes created by Marvel?

 

The Avengers

 

Bonsu - MCU

 

Bonus 1

In the name of the fictional organisation SHIELD that appears in the MCU, what does the H and I stand for?

(Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division)

Bonus 2

Which Academy Award winning actress plays the role of Captain Marvel in the MCU?

Brie Larson

Bonus 3

Considered the first movie of Phase five of the MCU, what is the one word subtitle 2023 movie “Antman and the Wasp”?

Quantumania

 

 

 

Thursday 8 February 2024

Buzzer Questions #3

 Questions 11-15 from the Buzzer set. See the first post for full details!

 

11

The activity linked to this brand is banned in Iran for being un-Islamic and arrests have been made for being who have tried to carry it out.  In 2007 this brand launched its own range of clothing under the banner Wear. Its first video game was released in 2010 with several follow ups subtitled ‘Core’ and ‘Rush’. In 2005, this brand launched an Academy to licence instructors. This brands founder moved from his native Cali, to the USA in 1999 to pursue  his dream of launching this brand. The core of this brand involves eleven types of program with names including Step, Toning, Senato, Gold and Auqa. With the original name of ‘Rumbacize’ for ten points, name this fitness program and brand involving cardio and Latin-inspired Dance that was founded by the Colombian Beto Perez in 2001?

Zumba

 

Bonus – Fitness Brands

 

Bonus 1

‘Unlock Your Potential’ is the advertising tagline used by which wearable American technology company, founded in 2012 by Will Ahmed, which has been endorsed by the likes of Michael Phelps, Lebron James and Tiger Woods? The device is notable for having no screen or buttons with all information viewed via a smartphone

Whoop

Bonus 2

What apparel retailer, founded in 1998, has a name which the founder admits means nothing, but deliberately contains so many “l’s” so it sounded western to Japanese buyers? It was originally founded as a retailer of yoga wear but has expanded its range since

LuluLemon

Bonus 3

Which womens activewear and fitness brand founded in London in 1998 was named after a song by the band Macc Lads? Its estimated that one pair of their signature Power Leggings are sold every 60 seconds

Sweaty Betty

 

 

12

A character called Antonio is both a gardener and the uncle of a maid ion this Opera. Another Tenor role in this opera is Don Curzio the judge whilst the key bass roles are the title character and Bartolo, a doctor. English translations of the arias in this Opera including “If you want to dance” and “You shall go no more” “. This opera is set largely over the course of one day and the particular event that is taking place. Count Almaviva, a central character in the opera, tries to prevent Susanna and the title character from doing something they desire. This Mozart Opera is based on a trilogy of plays which also includes the inspiration for another famous opera entitled ‘The Barber of Seville’. For ten points, name this Mozart Opera whose title reflects the pending nuptials of the title character?

The Marriage of Figaro

 

Bonus – One Opera Wonders

 

Bonus 1

Beethovens only opera, ‘Fidelio’, is largely set in what kind of establishment? The name Fidelio is the name Leonore uses when she dresses herself up to rescue her husband from such an establishment

Prison

Bonus 2

Prince Igor was the only full opera by which Russian composer who was a member of ‘The Five’ and both a Doctor and chemist by profession?

Alexander Borodin

Bonus 3

Based on a folk legend, ‘Bluebeards Castle’ is the only opera by which activity named  Hungarian composer?

Bela Bartok

 

 

13

This countries Arabic name name translates as ‘The Kingdom of the Western Palace’ and this country has the 11th highest population in Africa with the 5th Biggest economy.  Arabic, French and Berber are the official language in this country with the Draa being the longest River. This country is one of only three kingdoms left on the continent of Africa. Sharing land borders with Algeria and the disputed territory of Western Sahara, this country has been ruled by the Alwai Dynasty since 1631 and was decolonised by Spain in 1975. Mount Toubkal is the highest peak in both this country and North Africa as a whole  With a flag containing a green 5 pointed star on a red background,  for ten points, name this North African country that has its capital at Rabat and its largest city at Casablanca?

Morocco

 

Bonus – African Peaks

 

Bonus 1

The aforementioned Mount Toubkal lies in which mountain range?

Atlas Mountains

Bonus 2

Named after the country in which you would find it, what is the second highest mountain on the continent of Africa?

Mount Kenya

Bonus 3

What is the name he third tallest mountain in Africa, which  lies on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and is named after an explorer who is famous for his exploration of Centra Africa?

Mount Stanley

 

 

14

No writings from this man owns hand exist and everything we know about him is from the dialogues with his most famous student. He spent his time engaging in question and answer session around Athens.  This man runs ‘The Thinkery’ in the Aristophanes Play ‘The Clouds’ and in art his most famous depictions include a Jacques Louis David painting showing his death. Plato’s works Apology, Crito and Phadeo recount the trial, imprionsment and death of this man. For ten points, name this man who was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock?

Socrates

 

Bonus – Ancient Philosophers

 

Bonus 1

Now a word commonly used across the world, what name was given to the Philosophical school founded by Plato?

Academy

Bonus 2

Which thinker from Miletus is considered to be the “first Philosopher”? He broke tradition and uses natural philosophy to explain the world rather than mythology and believed that the Earth floated on a bed of water?

Thales

Bonus 3

Which ancient philosopher gave his name to a school of thought who believed that the only thing of value was ones own pleasure and everything else only has value if it’s a means to securing that pleasure?

Epicurius 

 

15

 

A political agreement named after the city of Paris was intended to put an end to this conflict, but fighting raged on for two more years after its signing.  More than 3 million people are estimated to have died in this conflict with over half of those estimated to be civilians from one involved nation.  Roots of the conflict can be traced back to the Geneva Conference which intended to ease the troubles but an incident involving the USS Maddox escalated tensions. This preceded the launch of Operating Rolling Thunder. The Gulf of Tonkin Bay Incident, the Tet offensive and the May Lai Massacre are all notable events that happened in, for ten points, which conflict in Asia is dates as running from November 1955 until the fall of Saigon in 1975?

Vietnam War

 

Bonus – An Asian Country

 

Bonus 1

Syngman Rhee was the first President of which modern day nation serving from 1948-1960 following the division of the former united country?

South Korea

Bonus 2

Which city, founded in 2007, is the planned future capital of South Korea? Various elements of the government have already been moved here from Seoul

Sejong City

Bonus 3

Which companies factory in Ulsan South Korea is the largest automobile manufacturing facility in the world? They own 33.8% of Kia as well as their own lucury division Genesis.

Hyundai

Wednesday 7 February 2024

Buzzer Questions #2

 The second set of Buzzer Questions as promised....

6

This man claims that the moment he decided to enter politics, was during the 9/11 attacks, when his classmates asked him “Why Do Muslims Hate America?”. This man worked in an 02 Call Centre directly before being appointed assistant to groundbreaking politician Bashir Ahmad. After later ascending to his nations parliament, this man took his oath is both English and Urdu, whilst dressed in a traditional Sherwani to reflect his Pakistani origins. In 2023, this man announced his wife’s parents were stuck in the Gaza Strip. This man would go to serve as both Justice and Health Secretary, under the leadership fo the woman he would later replace. He has been a  member of the Scottish Parliament since 2016 for Glasgow Pollok. In 2023, this man defeated Kate Forbes to ascend to his current position. For ten points, name this man who since March 2023 has been the leader of the Scottish National Party and the First Minister of Scotland.

Humza Yousaf

 

Bonus – World Leaders

 

Bonus 1

Who is the current Prime Minister of Brazil? For your answer you can give either this names surname of the four letter name by which he is usually known

Da Silva  or Lula

Bonus 2

Taking office in 2005, who is the current President of the Palestinian National Authority?

Mohammed Abbas

Bonus 3

Appointed in 2022, who is the current Prime Minister of Italy? She is the only female to have held this position

Giorgia Meloni

 

7

This magna series was first published in 1997 and has grown to become the best selling magna series in history, landing a place in the Guiness book of Records for “the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author”.  Since 1999, the TV anime series has aired over 1,000 episodes and 14 theatrical films have been released. Multple video games have been released in this series dating back to the Playstation 1 and even a live action series has been produced. In this series the Red Line is the name of a mountain range that divides the two grand oceans of the world.  Written and illustrated by Elichiro Oda, the title character in this series is made of Rubber after unintentionally eating a devil fruit. Riding aboard the ship ‘Going Merry’, Monkey D Lufly, backed by the Straw Hat Pirates, are the centre piece of, for ten points, which manga series and media franchise in which the central character embarks on a quest to find the  titular treasure that will enable him to become King of the Pirates?

One Piece

 

Bonus – Best Selling Manga into Anima

 

Bonus 1

4th on the list of best selling Manga of all time is which series, also adapted into a wider media franchise? In this series Son Goku and Bulma are the central characters who set out on a quest to find seven of the objects referred to in its title

Dragon Ball

Bonus 2

6th on the list of best selling Manga of all time is which series which tells the story of the title ninja who embarks on a quest to becoming leader of his village? In the early part of this series, the title character is assigned to Team 7, where he meets his rival Sasuke Uchiha

Naruto

Bonus 3

10th on the list of best selling Manga of all time is which series, which follows the adventures of teenager Ichigo Kurosaki, who obtains the power of a Soul Reaper? These powers allow him to defend humans from evil spirits and guide souls to the afterlife whilst travelling through ghostly realms.

Bleach

 

 

8

This comedian and actor had his breakthrough on the Dana Carvey Show in 1996 and later as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. This man voiced Hammy in the  ‘Over The Hedge’ and ‘Ned in Horton Hears a Who’ as well as a recurring voice role in a popular animated series. In 2006, he played a character recovering from an attempted suicide in a movie that culminates in a  dance scene. He starred alongside Kiera Knightley in “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” and Tina Fey in “Date Night”. In 2007, he played the title role in a spin off  an earlier movie in which Jim Carey had played the title role.  On TV he has played General Mark R Naird in Netflix’s “Space Force” and Mitch Kessler, a recently fired host, in “The Morning Show”. However, his  most famous role on TV came as head of the Dunder-Mifflin company in the US remake of a British comedy. For ten points, name this American comedian who has featured in the Anchorman series and played Michael Scott in the US Version of the Office?

Steve Carrell

 

Bonus – Steve Carrell Movies

 

Bonus 1

What sport was the subject of the 2014 Steve Carrell movie ‘Foxcatcher’  which earned him an Oscar Nomination for best Actor?

Wrestling

Bonus 2

In which 2005 movie does Carrell play the introverted electorncis store supervisor Andy Stitzer?  In a famous scene in the movie, Carrell’s character asks a medical professional “Is it true that if you don’t use it, you lose it”

The 40 Year Old Virgin

Bonus 3

What is the name of the character voiced by Steve Cartrell in the Despicable Me series?

Gru

 

 

9

In 1979, Jimmy Carter announced he was posthumously awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to this woman who had died a year earlier. In the citation for this award she was described as a “model for the young and a teacher from whom all may learn”. She has an award named after her which was first presented in 1979 and won by John Ogbu.  Her Paediatrician was Benjmain Spock which inspired her extensive work on child rearing, personality and culture.  Derek Freeman is best known for a work he produced attacking the findings of this woman’s most famous work. During her time at Barnard College she studied with Ruth Benedict, the latter of which was a close lifelong friend with implications in her memoirs that their relationship was more than friendship.  Some of her works including ‘Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies’, ‘Male and Female’ and ‘Growing up in New Guinea’. In 1925, this woman set out to the Polynesian island which lends its name to her most work.  For ten points, name this American cultural Anthropologist who in 1929 published the work ‘Coming of Age in Samoa’?

Margaret Mead

 

Bonus – Anthropologists

 

Bonus 1

Which British Dame is considered the worlds foremost expert on Chimpanzees following over 60 years of study including her extensive studies at the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania?

Jane Goodall

Bonus 2

Which French anthropologist, who died in 2009, was of the structuralist school and argued that the “Savage” mind had the same structures as the “Civilized” mind across his many works which include the 1995 work “Tristes Tropiques” (Sad Tropics)?

Calude Levi-Strauss

Bonus 3

One of the men Margaret Mead studied under at Barnard College, was which individual often labelled as the “Father of American Anthropology”? This mans most famous work was perhaps the 1911 work “The Mind of Primitive Man” which describes the gift giving ceremony of Potlatch

Frank Boas

 

 

10

This character first appeared in a self-titled game for the Nintendo Gameboy in 1992 and has gone on to appear in over 50 games since including action games, puzzle, racing and as a playable character in ‘Super Smash Bros’. He has even appeared in his own anime and Manga series.  This characters homeworld is Planet Popstar and Rivals include King Dedede and Meta Knight. This character’s signature ability is to inhale objects and spit them back out as projectiles as well as the ability to inhale air and float over objects. The Copy ability grants him power to adopt the abilities of creatures he inhales.  For ten points name this famous pink Nintendo Character known for the ‘Dream Land’ series of games?

Kirby

 

Bonus – Nintendo Franchises

 

Bonus 1

Which Nintendo franchise, containing characters such as Tom Nook the shop owner, Mr Resetti the mole and KK Slider the musician canine and Isabelle the town community manager, was first released in 2001 on the Nintendo 64 with editions made for all major consoles since include the latest edition subtitled ‘New Horizons’ on the Nintendo Switch?

Animal Crossing

Bonus 2

What is the central character controlled by players in the Metroid Series?

Samus Aran

Bonus 3

Which third person shooter franchise, that first appeared on Wii U with both the original and a sequel released on Nintendo Switch, involves Inklings and Octolings who engage in turf war battles using a variety of weapons that produce and shoot colored ink?

Splatoon