OK.
Here’s how this got started. We’ve talked about the Dumbing of America. We’ve talked about Who Wants to be a Millionaire in several threads. And in some of them, there’s been some discussion about just what constitutes a stupid question… should everyone know what an integer is, for instance?
So at first I was going to post a GD topic on that: is there a list of things that a reasonably well-informed North American should know? But to be effective, I would have needed to include a proposed list, and I found myself getting bogged down trying to create one. I could put together lots of fun trivial facts… but not a meaningful list.
So then I thought… maybe I can just throw some of the facts up here, and see who knows 'em. Run the gamut from movie lore to literature to science to soap. See how many people get.
And then I thought… well, it’s almost a contest. And so… why not make it actually a contest?
Therefore… I now announce Bricker Challenge, Edition #1.
Following is a list of… stuff. Identify it. An example:
“Is the quality of mercy strained?” Your answer might be, “No. It falleth as gentle rains from the heavens.” (The classic speech from Portia in Merchant of Venice)
Another example:
“What’s Mr. Purple People Eater’s line?” Your answer might be, “Eating purple people, and it sure is fine.” (From Sheb Woolley’s novelty song).
Final example, a more simple question:
“What is NaCl?” Your answer might be, “The chemical symbols for sodium chloride, common table salt.”
Any answer that shows you get the reference is fine. I’m phrasing questions like that in an effort to cut down on the help that search engines can provide, although there’s no help for it… many will be answerable by search engine. There is no rule against using search engines (or any other reference) although I would appreciate if, just for curiousity’s sake, you note that you got the answer by search engine as opposed to simply knowing it.
If there’s a contest, there must be a prize.
I will award a case of beer, winner’s choice as to brand (as long as it’s reasonable) to the winner. The winner is the person that answers the most questions correctly by post here dated on or before Thursday, January 27th, 2000, at 11:00 PM EST. I reserve the right to substitute another prize of comparable value for any reason. My decisions are final as to the accuracy of all answers. I am also the sole judge of what’s reasonable in the beer department. If you’re under 21 or don’t drink, we’ll think of another good prize.
The next post will have the actual questions. Good luck!
- Rick
