• QFTCIUA26 Game 1, Rounds 9-10: kid lit, fiery challenge

    From Mark Brader@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, August 22, 2026 08:09:44
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2026-01-12,
    and should be interpreted accordingly.

    On each question you may give up to two answers, but if you give
    both a right answer and a wrong answer, there is a small penalty.
    Please post all your answers in a single followup to the newsgroup,
    based only on your own knowledge. (In your answer posting, quote
    the questions and place your answer below each one.) I will reveal
    the correct answers in about 3 days.

    All questions were written by members of Unnatural Axxxe, and are
    used here by permission, but have been reformatted and may have
    been retyped and/or edited by me. The posting and tabulation of
    current-events questions is independent of the concurrent posting
    of other rounds. For further information please see my 2026-03-10
    companion posting on "Questions from the Canadian Inquisition
    (QFTCI*)".


    ** Game 1, Round 9 - Literature - Kid-Lit by Serious Authors

    If you write for adults, your readership invariably dies off.
    Write for kids, and your readers live longer. Whatever their
    rationale, here's a round on authors of adult books who've dabbled
    in kid lit.

    1. For her whimsical and wry 1978 children's lit debut, "Up in
    the Tree", this celebrated Canadian author not only wrote and
    illustrated the book, she hand-lettered the type.

    2. His previous material was not recommended for children, but
    this successful, testosterone-driven author wrote "Chitty Chitty
    Bang Bang: The Magical Car" in 1964 for his son Caspar.

    3. Like most of his hard-boiled grown-up novels, this author's
    young adult book "Hoot" took place in Florida. Name the author
    of this book with an ecological theme.

    4. This socially-crusading author's dour reputation was belied
    by his 1932 children's book about gnomes named Glogo and Bobo who
    travel America in a customized car. Who wrote "The Gnomobile"?

    5. Before his reputation was tarnished at the Old Bailey in 1895,
    this celebrated author's whimsical side produced "The Happy
    Prince", a collection of children's stories that included
    "The Selfish Giant". Who?

    6. This gloomy Gus, whose most famous poem predicted the spiritual
    death of humanity, also gave us "Old Possum's Book of Practical
    Cats". Who?

    7. Even in his one children's book, 1955's "The Little Steamroller",
    this English author of popular "entertainments" couldn't resist
    throwing some of his trademark espionage into the plot.

    8. In 1936, this much-studied Irish author wrote "The Cat and the
    Devil" from letters written to his grandson Stevie. It has
    been praised as an "incongruous but delicious mixture of Irish
    wit and French folklore."

    9. In 1923 her teenage nephews started a newspaper, the "Charleston
    Bulletin", and solicited a contribution. The result was "The
    Widow and the Parrot", the only known children's story by the
    author of "To the Lighthouse". Who's that?

    10. Like his grown-up novels, this author's 1990 book "Haroun
    and the Sea of Stories" is an allegory for modern South Asian
    politics and religion. But unlike his grown-up novels, it
    pissed off practically no one.


    ** Game 1, Round 10 - Challenge Round - A Burning Ring of Fire

    This round carries a theme of fire, eruptions, volcanoes, etc.


    * A. Literature: Novels with Incendiary titles.

    We name an author and year, you give us the name of the fiery book.

    A1. James Baldwin, 1963.
    A2. Malcolm Lowry, 1947.


    * B. Science: Volcanic Rocks

    It really does rock. But this round is about associated minerals.

    B1. It's a porous rock, formed when lava rapidly cools and
    depressurizes, trapping gas bubbles in a frothy matrix.
    It's used in a bazillion ways, from toothpaste to exfoliants
    to horticulture, and it's the only rock that floats on water.
    Name it.

    B2. The most common volcanic rock on Earth is dark-colored and
    fine-grained and commonly used in construction and road
    building. Name it.


    * C. History: Past Flames

    C1. It's possible Mrs. O'Leary's cow was unjustly accused
    of starting this inferno that killed more than 300 people.
    Name that famous fire.

    C2. A famous fire happened in New York in 1911, though it was
    largely confined to a single building. The 146 people who
    were killed shared *what occupation*?


    * D. Sports: The Olympic Flame

    These questions are about the Olympic torch used in the modern
    Olympics.

    D1. Where is the torch first lit in an Olympic year? Be more
    specific than just the country.

    D2. The first Olympics to use the torch were the summer games
    of 1928 -- held in which European city?


    * E. Entertainment: Characters with Fiery Names

    E1. What was the name of Groucho Marx's character, the president
    of Freedonia, in "Duck Soup"?

    E2. Johnny Blaze is the given name of a supernatural superhero
    in Marvel Comics, better known as *which character*, who
    was played by Nicolas Cage in the movies?


    * F. Canadiana: Alberta Fires

    F1. In July 2024 an out-of-control blaze destroyed about 1/3
    of the buildings in *which resort town* in the Athabasca
    Valley?

    F2. This 2016 fire was nicknamed the Beast, and was the
    costliest disaster in Canadian history, with a damage cost
    of nearly $10,000,000,000. It forced 80,000 people to flee
    which Alberta city?

    --
    Mark Brader "He'll spend at least part of his life
    Toronto in prison, or parliament, or both."
    msb@vex.net --Peter Moylan

    My text in this article is in the public domain.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dan Blum@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, August 22, 2026 13:24:53
    Mark Brader <msb@vex.net> wrote:

    ** Game 1, Round 9 - Literature - Kid-Lit by Serious Authors

    1. For her whimsical and wry 1978 children's lit debut, "Up in
    the Tree", this celebrated Canadian author not only wrote and
    illustrated the book, she hand-lettered the type.

    Munro

    2. His previous material was not recommended for children, but
    this successful, testosterone-driven author wrote "Chitty Chitty
    Bang Bang: The Magical Car" in 1964 for his son Caspar.

    Fleming

    3. Like most of his hard-boiled grown-up novels, this author's
    young adult book "Hoot" took place in Florida. Name the author
    of this book with an ecological theme.

    Leonard

    4. This socially-crusading author's dour reputation was belied
    by his 1932 children's book about gnomes named Glogo and Bobo who
    travel America in a customized car. Who wrote "The Gnomobile"?

    Sinclair

    5. Before his reputation was tarnished at the Old Bailey in 1895,
    this celebrated author's whimsical side produced "The Happy
    Prince", a collection of children's stories that included
    "The Selfish Giant". Who?

    Wilde

    6. This gloomy Gus, whose most famous poem predicted the spiritual
    death of humanity, also gave us "Old Possum's Book of Practical
    Cats". Who?

    Eliot

    7. Even in his one children's book, 1955's "The Little Steamroller",
    this English author of popular "entertainments" couldn't resist
    throwing some of his trademark espionage into the plot.

    Wheatley

    8. In 1936, this much-studied Irish author wrote "The Cat and the
    Devil" from letters written to his grandson Stevie. It has
    been praised as an "incongruous but delicious mixture of Irish
    wit and French folklore."

    Yeats

    9. In 1923 her teenage nephews started a newspaper, the "Charleston
    Bulletin", and solicited a contribution. The result was "The
    Widow and the Parrot", the only known children's story by the
    author of "To the Lighthouse". Who's that?

    Woolf

    10. Like his grown-up novels, this author's 1990 book "Haroun
    and the Sea of Stories" is an allegory for modern South Asian
    politics and religion. But unlike his grown-up novels, it
    pissed off practically no one.

    Rushdie

    ** Game 1, Round 10 - Challenge Round - A Burning Ring of Fire

    A1. James Baldwin, 1963.

    Fire on the Mountain

    B1. It's a porous rock, formed when lava rapidly cools and
    depressurizes, trapping gas bubbles in a frothy matrix.
    It's used in a bazillion ways, from toothpaste to exfoliants
    to horticulture, and it's the only rock that floats on water.
    Name it.

    pumice

    B2. The most common volcanic rock on Earth is dark-colored and
    fine-grained and commonly used in construction and road
    building. Name it.

    basalt

    C1. It's possible Mrs. O'Leary's cow was unjustly accused
    of starting this inferno that killed more than 300 people.
    Name that famous fire.

    Chicago Fire of 1871

    C2. A famous fire happened in New York in 1911, though it was
    largely confined to a single building. The 146 people who
    were killed shared *what occupation*?

    garment manufacturers

    D1. Where is the torch first lit in an Olympic year? Be more
    specific than just the country.

    Athens

    D2. The first Olympics to use the torch were the summer games
    of 1928 -- held in which European city?

    Paris

    E1. What was the name of Groucho Marx's character, the president
    of Freedonia, in "Duck Soup"?

    Rufus T. Firefly

    E2. Johnny Blaze is the given name of a supernatural superhero
    in Marvel Comics, better known as *which character*, who
    was played by Nicolas Cage in the movies?

    Ghost Rider

    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Dan Blum tool@panix.com
    "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Joshua Kreitzer@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, August 22, 2026 13:17:33
    On 8/22/2026 3:09 AM, Mark Brader wrote:

    ** Game 1, Round 9 - Literature - Kid-Lit by Serious Authors

    If you write for adults, your readership invariably dies off.
    Write for kids, and your readers live longer. Whatever their
    rationale, here's a round on authors of adult books who've dabbled
    in kid lit.

    2. His previous material was not recommended for children, but
    this successful, testosterone-driven author wrote "Chitty Chitty
    Bang Bang: The Magical Car" in 1964 for his son Caspar.

    Ian Fleming

    3. Like most of his hard-boiled grown-up novels, this author's
    young adult book "Hoot" took place in Florida. Name the author
    of this book with an ecological theme.

    Carl Hiaasen

    4. This socially-crusading author's dour reputation was belied
    by his 1932 children's book about gnomes named Glogo and Bobo who
    travel America in a customized car. Who wrote "The Gnomobile"?

    Upton Sinclair

    5. Before his reputation was tarnished at the Old Bailey in 1895,
    this celebrated author's whimsical side produced "The Happy
    Prince", a collection of children's stories that included
    "The Selfish Giant". Who?

    Oscar Wilde

    6. This gloomy Gus, whose most famous poem predicted the spiritual
    death of humanity, also gave us "Old Possum's Book of Practical
    Cats". Who?

    T.S. Eliot

    7. Even in his one children's book, 1955's "The Little Steamroller",
    this English author of popular "entertainments" couldn't resist
    throwing some of his trademark espionage into the plot.

    Graham Greene
    8. In 1936, this much-studied Irish author wrote "The Cat and the
    Devil" from letters written to his grandson Stevie. It has
    been praised as an "incongruous but delicious mixture of Irish
    wit and French folklore."

    James Joyce

    9. In 1923 her teenage nephews started a newspaper, the "Charleston
    Bulletin", and solicited a contribution. The result was "The
    Widow and the Parrot", the only known children's story by the
    author of "To the Lighthouse". Who's that?

    Virginia Woolf

    10. Like his grown-up novels, this author's 1990 book "Haroun
    and the Sea of Stories" is an allegory for modern South Asian
    politics and religion. But unlike his grown-up novels, it
    pissed off practically no one.

    Salman Rushdie

    ** Game 1, Round 10 - Challenge Round - A Burning Ring of Fire

    This round carries a theme of fire, eruptions, volcanoes, etc.


    * A. Literature: Novels with Incendiary titles.

    We name an author and year, you give us the name of the fiery book.

    A1. James Baldwin, 1963.

    "The Fire Next Time"

    A2. Malcolm Lowry, 1947.

    "Under the Volcano"

    * B. Science: Volcanic Rocks

    It really does rock. But this round is about associated minerals.

    B1. It's a porous rock, formed when lava rapidly cools and
    depressurizes, trapping gas bubbles in a frothy matrix.
    It's used in a bazillion ways, from toothpaste to exfoliants
    to horticulture, and it's the only rock that floats on water.
    Name it.

    pumice

    B2. The most common volcanic rock on Earth is dark-colored and
    fine-grained and commonly used in construction and road
    building. Name it.

    basalt

    * C. History: Past Flames

    C1. It's possible Mrs. O'Leary's cow was unjustly accused
    of starting this inferno that killed more than 300 people.
    Name that famous fire.

    Chicago fire

    C2. A famous fire happened in New York in 1911, though it was
    largely confined to a single building. The 146 people who
    were killed shared *what occupation*?

    garment workers

    * D. Sports: The Olympic Flame

    These questions are about the Olympic torch used in the modern
    Olympics.

    D1. Where is the torch first lit in an Olympic year? Be more
    specific than just the country.

    Athens; Olympia

    D2. The first Olympics to use the torch were the summer games
    of 1928 -- held in which European city?

    Amsterdam

    * E. Entertainment: Characters with Fiery Names

    E1. What was the name of Groucho Marx's character, the president
    of Freedonia, in "Duck Soup"?

    Hugo Firefly
    E2. Johnny Blaze is the given name of a supernatural superhero
    in Marvel Comics, better known as *which character*, who
    was played by Nicolas Cage in the movies?
    Ghost Rider
    --
    Joshua Kreitzer
    gromit82@hotmail.com

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Erland Sommarskog@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, August 22, 2026 23:34:23
    Mark Brader (msb@vex.net) writes:
    ** Game 1, Round 9 - Literature - Kid-Lit by Serious Authors



    ** Game 1, Round 10 - Challenge Round - A Burning Ring of Fire

    B2. The most common volcanic rock on Earth is dark-colored and
    fine-grained and commonly used in construction and road
    building. Name it.

    Basalt

    * D. Sports: The Olympic Flame

    These questions are about the Olympic torch used in the modern
    Olympics.

    D1. Where is the torch first lit in an Olympic year? Be more
    specific than just the country.

    Mount Olympus, Greece


    D2. The first Olympics to use the torch were the summer games
    of 1928 -- held in which European city?

    Amsterdam

    E2. Johnny Blaze is the given name of a supernatural superhero
    in Marvel Comics, better known as *which character*, who
    was played by Nicolas Cage in the movies?

    Flash


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dan Tilque@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, August 23, 2026 06:24:12
    On 8/22/26 01:09, Mark Brader wrote:


    ** Game 1, Round 9 - Literature - Kid-Lit by Serious Authors

    If you write for adults, your readership invariably dies off.
    Write for kids, and your readers live longer. Whatever their
    rationale, here's a round on authors of adult books who've dabbled
    in kid lit.

    1. For her whimsical and wry 1978 children's lit debut, "Up in
    the Tree", this celebrated Canadian author not only wrote and
    illustrated the book, she hand-lettered the type.

    2. His previous material was not recommended for children, but
    this successful, testosterone-driven author wrote "Chitty Chitty
    Bang Bang: The Magical Car" in 1964 for his son Caspar.

    Ian Fleming


    3. Like most of his hard-boiled grown-up novels, this author's
    young adult book "Hoot" took place in Florida. Name the author
    of this book with an ecological theme.

    4. This socially-crusading author's dour reputation was belied
    by his 1932 children's book about gnomes named Glogo and Bobo who
    travel America in a customized car. Who wrote "The Gnomobile"?

    5. Before his reputation was tarnished at the Old Bailey in 1895,
    this celebrated author's whimsical side produced "The Happy
    Prince", a collection of children's stories that included
    "The Selfish Giant". Who?

    6. This gloomy Gus, whose most famous poem predicted the spiritual
    death of humanity, also gave us "Old Possum's Book of Practical
    Cats". Who?

    7. Even in his one children's book, 1955's "The Little Steamroller",
    this English author of popular "entertainments" couldn't resist
    throwing some of his trademark espionage into the plot.

    8. In 1936, this much-studied Irish author wrote "The Cat and the
    Devil" from letters written to his grandson Stevie. It has
    been praised as an "incongruous but delicious mixture of Irish
    wit and French folklore."

    9. In 1923 her teenage nephews started a newspaper, the "Charleston
    Bulletin", and solicited a contribution. The result was "The
    Widow and the Parrot", the only known children's story by the
    author of "To the Lighthouse". Who's that?

    10. Like his grown-up novels, this author's 1990 book "Haroun
    and the Sea of Stories" is an allegory for modern South Asian
    politics and religion. But unlike his grown-up novels, it
    pissed off practically no one.

    Salman Rushdie



    ** Game 1, Round 10 - Challenge Round - A Burning Ring of Fire

    This round carries a theme of fire, eruptions, volcanoes, etc.


    * A. Literature: Novels with Incendiary titles.

    We name an author and year, you give us the name of the fiery book.

    A1. James Baldwin, 1963.
    A2. Malcolm Lowry, 1947.


    * B. Science: Volcanic Rocks

    It really does rock. But this round is about associated minerals.

    B1. It's a porous rock, formed when lava rapidly cools and
    depressurizes, trapping gas bubbles in a frothy matrix.
    It's used in a bazillion ways, from toothpaste to exfoliants
    to horticulture, and it's the only rock that floats on water.
    Name it.

    pumice


    B2. The most common volcanic rock on Earth is dark-colored and
    fine-grained and commonly used in construction and road
    building. Name it.

    basalt



    * C. History: Past Flames

    C1. It's possible Mrs. O'Leary's cow was unjustly accused
    of starting this inferno that killed more than 300 people.
    Name that famous fire.

    Great Chicago Fire


    C2. A famous fire happened in New York in 1911, though it was
    largely confined to a single building. The 146 people who
    were killed shared *what occupation*?

    garment workers



    * D. Sports: The Olympic Flame

    These questions are about the Olympic torch used in the modern
    Olympics.

    D1. Where is the torch first lit in an Olympic year? Be more
    specific than just the country.

    Olympia, Greece


    D2. The first Olympics to use the torch were the summer games
    of 1928 -- held in which European city?

    Paris



    * E. Entertainment: Characters with Fiery Names

    E1. What was the name of Groucho Marx's character, the president
    of Freedonia, in "Duck Soup"?

    Firefly


    E2. Johnny Blaze is the given name of a supernatural superhero
    in Marvel Comics, better known as *which character*, who
    was played by Nicolas Cage in the movies?


    * F. Canadiana: Alberta Fires

    F1. In July 2024 an out-of-control blaze destroyed about 1/3
    of the buildings in *which resort town* in the Athabasca
    Valley?

    Banff


    F2. This 2016 fire was nicknamed the Beast, and was the
    costliest disaster in Canadian history, with a damage cost
    of nearly $10,000,000,000. It forced 80,000 people to flee
    which Alberta city?


    --
    Dan Tilque

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From James Dow Allen@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, August 23, 2026 18:01:06

    msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) posted:



    ** Game 1, Round 10 - Challenge Round - A Burning Ring of Fire

    This round carries a theme of fire, eruptions, volcanoes, etc.


    * A. Literature: Novels with Incendiary titles.

    We name an author and year, you give us the name of the fiery book.

    A1. James Baldwin, 1963.

    Man on Fire

    A2. Malcolm Lowry, 1947.

    Man on Fire



    * B. Science: Volcanic Rocks

    It really does rock. But this round is about associated minerals.

    B1. It's a porous rock, formed when lava rapidly cools and
    depressurizes, trapping gas bubbles in a frothy matrix.
    It's used in a bazillion ways, from toothpaste to exfoliants
    to horticulture, and it's the only rock that floats on water.
    Name it.

    Pumice


    B2. The most common volcanic rock on Earth is dark-colored and
    fine-grained and commonly used in construction and road
    building. Name it.

    Asphalt



    * C. History: Past Flames

    C1. It's possible Mrs. O'Leary's cow was unjustly accused
    of starting this inferno that killed more than 300 people.
    Name that famous fire.

    The Great Chicago Fire


    C2. A famous fire happened in New York in 1911, though it was
    largely confined to a single building. The 146 people who
    were killed shared *what occupation*?

    Fire-fighter



    * D. Sports: The Olympic Flame

    These questions are about the Olympic torch used in the modern
    Olympics.

    D1. Where is the torch first lit in an Olympic year? Be more
    specific than just the country.

    Mount Olympus
    Athens


    D2. The first Olympics to use the torch were the summer games
    of 1928 -- held in which European city?

    Rome
    Prague



    * E. Entertainment: Characters with Fiery Names

    E1. What was the name of Groucho Marx's character, the president
    of Freedonia, in "Duck Soup"?

    E2. Johnny Blaze is the given name of a supernatural superhero
    in Marvel Comics, better known as *which character*, who
    was played by Nicolas Cage in the movies?


    * F. Canadiana: Alberta Fires

    F1. In July 2024 an out-of-control blaze destroyed about 1/3
    of the buildings in *which resort town* in the Athabasca
    Valley?

    F2. This 2016 fire was nicknamed the Beast, and was the
    costliest disaster in Canadian history, with a damage cost
    of nearly $10,000,000,000. It forced 80,000 people to flee
    which Alberta city?


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Brader@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 17:52:18
    Mark Brader:
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2026-01-12,
    and should be interpreted accordingly... For further information
    please see my 2026-03-10 companion posting on "Questions from the
    Canadian Inquisition (QFTCI*)".

    I will reveal the correct answers in about 3 days.

    Sorry, late again.

    Game 1 is over and JOSHUA KREITZER has a big win. Hearty, if belated, congratulations!


    ** Game 1, Round 9 - Literature - Kid-Lit by Serious Authors

    If you write for adults, your readership invariably dies off.
    Write for kids, and your readers live longer. Whatever their
    rationale, here's a round on authors of adult books who've dabbled
    in kid lit.

    1. For her whimsical and wry 1978 children's lit debut, "Up in
    the Tree", this celebrated Canadian author not only wrote and
    illustrated the book, she hand-lettered the type.

    Margaret Atwood.

    2. His previous material was not recommended for children, but
    this successful, testosterone-driven author wrote "Chitty Chitty
    Bang Bang: The Magical Car" in 1964 for his son Caspar.

    Ian Fleming. 4 for Dan Blum, Joshua, and Dan Tilque.

    3. Like most of his hard-boiled grown-up novels, this author's
    young adult book "Hoot" took place in Florida. Name the author
    of this book with an ecological theme.

    Carl Hiassen. 4 for Joshua.

    4. This socially-crusading author's dour reputation was belied
    by his 1932 children's book about gnomes named Glogo and Bobo who
    travel America in a customized car. Who wrote "The Gnomobile"?

    Upton Sinclair. 4 for Dan Blum and Joshua.

    The 1967 movie version changed the spelling to "Gnome-Mobile".

    5. Before his reputation was tarnished at the Old Bailey in 1895,
    this celebrated author's whimsical side produced "The Happy
    Prince", a collection of children's stories that included
    "The Selfish Giant". Who?

    Oscar Wilde. 4 for Dan Blum and Joshua.

    6. This gloomy Gus, whose most famous poem predicted the spiritual
    death of humanity, also gave us "Old Possum's Book of Practical
    Cats". Who?

    T.S. Eliot. 4 for Dan Blum and Joshua.

    7. Even in his one children's book, 1955's "The Little Steamroller",
    this English author of popular "entertainments" couldn't resist
    throwing some of his trademark espionage into the plot.

    Graham Greene. 4 for Joshua.

    8. In 1936, this much-studied Irish author wrote "The Cat and the
    Devil" from letters written to his grandson Stevie. It has
    been praised as an "incongruous but delicious mixture of Irish
    wit and French folklore."

    James Joyce. 4 for Joshua.

    9. In 1923 her teenage nephews started a newspaper, the "Charleston
    Bulletin", and solicited a contribution. The result was "The
    Widow and the Parrot", the only known children's story by the
    author of "To the Lighthouse". Who's that?

    Virginia Woolf. 4 for Dan Blum and Joshua.

    10. Like his grown-up novels, this author's 1990 book "Haroun
    and the Sea of Stories" is an allegory for modern South Asian
    politics and religion. But unlike his grown-up novels, it
    pissed off practically no one.

    Salman Rushdie. 4 for Dan Blum, Joshua, and Dan Tilque.


    ** Game 1, Round 10 - Challenge Round - A Burning Ring of Fire

    This round carries a theme of fire, eruptions, volcanoes, etc.


    * A. Literature: Novels with Incendiary titles.

    We name an author and year, you give us the name of the fiery book.

    A1. James Baldwin, 1963.

    "The Fire Next Time". 4 for Joshua.

    A2. Malcolm Lowry, 1947.

    "Under the Volcano". 4 for Joshua.


    * B. Science: Volcanic Rocks

    It really does rock. But this round is about associated minerals.

    B1. It's a porous rock, formed when lava rapidly cools and
    depressurizes, trapping gas bubbles in a frothy matrix.
    It's used in a bazillion ways, from toothpaste to exfoliants
    to horticulture, and it's the only rock that floats on water.
    Name it.

    Pumice. 4 for Dan Blum, Joshua, Dan Tilque, and James.

    B2. The most common volcanic rock on Earth is dark-colored and
    fine-grained and commonly used in construction and road
    building. Name it.

    Basalt. 4 for Dan Blum, Joshua, Erland, and Dan Tilque.


    * C. History: Past Flames

    C1. It's possible Mrs. O'Leary's cow was unjustly accused
    of starting this inferno that killed more than 300 people.
    Name that famous fire.

    Great Chicago Fire (1871). 4 for Dan Blum, Joshua, Dan Tilque,
    and James.

    C2. A famous fire happened in New York in 1911, though it was
    largely confined to a single building. The 146 people who
    were killed shared *what occupation*?

    Garment workers. (Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.) 4 for Dan Blum,
    Joshua, and Dan Tilque.


    * D. Sports: The Olympic Flame

    These questions are about the Olympic torch used in the modern
    Olympics.

    D1. Where is the torch first lit in an Olympic year? Be more
    specific than just the country.

    Olympia, Greece. (Not Mt. Olympus -- different place.) 3 for
    Dan Tilque. 2 for Joshua.

    D2. The first Olympics to use the torch were the summer games
    of 1928 -- held in which European city?

    Amsterdam. 4 for Joshua and Erland.


    * E. Entertainment: Characters with Fiery Names

    E1. What was the name of Groucho Marx's character, the president
    of Freedonia, in "Duck Soup"?

    Rufus T. Firefly. 4 for Dan Blum and Dan Tilque.

    E2. Johnny Blaze is the given name of a supernatural superhero
    in Marvel Comics, better known as *which character*, who
    was played by Nicolas Cage in the movies?

    Ghost Rider. 4 for Dan Blum and Joshua.


    * F. Canadiana: Alberta Fires

    F1. In July 2024 an out-of-control blaze destroyed about 1/3
    of the buildings in *which resort town* in the Athabasca
    Valley?

    Jasper.

    F2. This 2016 fire was nicknamed the Beast, and was the
    costliest disaster in Canadian history, with a damage cost
    of nearly $10,000,000,000. It forced 80,000 people to flee
    which Alberta city?

    Ft. McMurray.


    Scores, if there are no errors:

    GAME 1 ROUNDS-> 3 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 BEST
    TOPICS-> Sci Can His Ent Spo Geo Lit Cha SIX
    Joshua Kreitzer 28 23 28 27 32 38 36 34 196
    Dan Blum 36 15 24 20 27 20 24 24 155
    Dan Tilque 36 16 16 0 28 24 8 23 143
    Pete Gayde -- -- 23 4 31 20 -- -- 78
    James Dow Allen 18 5 11 4 8 19 0 8 69
    Erland Sommarskog 16 0 -- -- 8 20 0 8 52

    --
    Mark Brader, Toronto | "After much soul-searching, the DMR decided to msb@vex.net | go with UNIX." -- "/aur" magazine, April-May '89

    My text in this article is in the public domain.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dan Tilque@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 23:58:21
    On 8/26/26 10:52, Mark Brader wrote:


    D1. Where is the torch first lit in an Olympic year? Be more
    specific than just the country.

    Olympia, Greece. (Not Mt. Olympus -- different place.) 3 for
    Dan Tilque. 2 for Joshua.

    Not that it makes any difference now, but I'm curious as to why I only
    scored 3 points when my answer was exact.

    --
    Dan Tilque

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Brader@3:633/10 to All on Friday, August 28, 2026 04:13:05
    Dan Tilque:
    Mark Brader:
    D1. Where is the torch first lit in an Olympic year? Be more
    specific than just the country.

    Olympia, Greece. (Not Mt. Olympus -- different place.) 3 for
    Dan Tilque. 2 for Joshua.

    Not that it makes any difference now, but I'm curious as to why I only scored 3 points when my answer was exact.

    Because I saw

    Joshua Athens; Olympia
    Dan_Tilque Olympia, Greece

    and, without activating my brain, concluded that there were two people
    who each had posted two answers. Sorry! 4 for Dan Tilque, duh.

    Scores, if there are now no errors:

    GAME 1 ROUNDS-> 3 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 BEST
    TOPICS-> Sci Can His Ent Spo Geo Lit Cha SIX
    Joshua Kreitzer 28 23 28 27 32 38 36 34 196
    Dan Blum 36 15 24 20 27 20 24 24 155
    Dan Tilque 36 16 16 0 28 24 8 24 144
    Pete Gayde -- -- 23 4 31 20 -- -- 78
    James Dow Allen 18 5 11 4 8 19 0 8 69
    Erland Sommarskog 16 0 -- -- 8 20 0 8 52

    --
    Mark Brader | "The conversation never became heated, which would
    Toronto | have been difficult in any argument where there msb@vex.net | is a built-in cooling-down period between any
    | remark and its answer." --Hal Clement, STAR LIGHT

    My text in this article is in the public domain.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)