QUIZ WEEK

Pratik RathAekaansh

X MARKS THE SPOT

1.

In an interview, X talking about this internet phenomena Y :

" Initially it was really weird and creepy. Because my image would be the fodder for artists to distort for their leisure. But then I thought this, in total, was a celebration. So I should not object; what it meant was that my image became more than just me...Its a little weird and creepy but I'm okay with it."

Further in the interview: " So I'm listing all the things that Isaac Newton did and he did all of that by the time he turned 26. And so I said, "He's my man. He's the smartest guy who ever lived." And then I made a gesture while saying "This guy's good! You can't argue with Isaac Newton." And this becomes Y."

Give X and Y.

2.

X was created in a contest launched on the Something Awful forums on June 8, 2009, with the goal of editing photographs to contain supernatural entities. On June 10, a forum poster with the user name "Victor Surge" contributed two black and white images of groups of children with X, along with submissions of text, supposedly from witnesses:

"We didn’t want to go, we didn’t want to kill them, but its persistent silence and outstretched arms horrified and comforted us at the same time… “1983, photographer unknown, presumed dead.

"One of two recovered photographs from the Stirling City Library blaze. Notable for being taken the day which fourteen children vanished and for what is referred to as X. Deformities cited as film defects by officials. Fire at library occurred one week later. Actual photograph confiscated as evidence.” 1986, photographer: Mary Thomas, missing since June 13th, 1986

The pictures are on the next slide.

3.

The french word X can also refer to, though less commonly, the wormwood plant Artemisia X, which is a latinisation of Artemis, the greek god of hunt and X, the ancient greek word for wormwood. Though the medicinal uses of wine soaked wormwood date back to ancient Egypt, the first clear evidence of X in its' modern sense is in the 18th century. According to popular legend X began as an all-purpose patent rememdy created by Dr. Ordinaire, who pased the recipie to Henroid Sisters of Couvet to sell it as elixir.

By the 1840s, we see X being used by French troops away from France, as a malaria preventive. When the troops returned, they brought home their taste for X and the custom of drinking X gradually became popular. Soon its rampant popularity prompted alot of controversy including the involvement of the Temperance movement& winemakers' association against X and the making of this Edgar Degas painting.

The Degas painting and an advertisement of X is on the next slide.

4. This eponymous album X cover features, then member, Y reading the Beano, a children's comic, which he states in his autobiography is because he felt like being uncooperative during the photoshoot. Notably, this album is now also called Beano. Apart from being one of the most influential blues albums, it also started the now-legendary combination of a Gibson Les Paul guitar through an overdriven Marshall X amplifier.

5.

Woody Allen defines X Melancholia as:

"the realization that your works of art will not save you and will mean nothing down the line", which he references in Stardust Memories and To Rome with Love.

Another reference to X appears in Monty Python as the quote:

"My name is X, King of Ants (oohs from his audience) Look on my feelers, termites, and despairI am the biggest ant you'll ever see The ants of old weren't half as bold and big And fierce as me."

Other cultural references to X include those in the works of Alan Moore, Norys Lyatoshynsky, Terry Carr and more recently, the 2012 Summer Olympics as well as in a trailer of Breaking Bad.

6.

X derives its' name from the Russian suffix equivalent of -teen. In addition to being a writer, ________ was a linguist and sculpted a fictional mode of speech by basically borrowing some words from Russian and kept for use as slang by the teen subculture depicted in his most famous work. This use of X was essentially pragmatic; X imparted a unique voice that would remain ageless ( as real linguistic slang had a constantly changing nature ) while maintaining an indiffierence to society's norms. Some of the words are also almost childish English such as eggiweg ('egg') and appy polly loggy ('apology'), as well as regular English slang sod and snuff it.

Give X or the funda.

7.

The son of an Indian Test Cricketer, X completed his schooling in Mumbai and then went to Oxford to complete his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Bachelor of Civil Law. While at Oxford, X made six first-class appearances and one for the combined Oxford-Cambridge side against 1987 Pakistan touring team. X made 222 runs in nine innings with a highest of 63 not out on debut against Kent.The father, on the other hand, is notable as the only Goa born cricketer to play for India and often regarded as 'India's best batsman against spin bowling'. Besides his cricketing background, X was chosen a Global leader for tomorrow by the world economic forum in 2000. X has also recieved the Padma Shri and several other accolades in his line of occupation.

8.

The Anti India Crew is a prolific hacking group targetting Indian websites, notably for hacking into more than 120 Indian websites. One such case was that of epfindia.gov.in in 2002, which was defaced not to promote any Pakistani propoganda but to belittle X and his claims to have eavesdropped on the Pakistani hackers. Ironically, X's own website has been hacked several times, twice in 2012, and once as a response to his challenge issued on Tech Toyz on CNBC-TV 18.

9.

In a weird Catholic tradition throughout history, X has been despised and banned publically through the ages.

Cardinal Petrus Damiani described X as beng impious and forced an Italian bishop to wash twelve poor men’s feet in penance for indulging in X.

St Bernard banned the Templars from X

1254 Louis the Holy banned X entirely from his realm

The Council of Trier in 1310 tried to ban X in the Empire.

Savonarola burnt _____ (an item used in X) on his Bonfire of Vanities along with several Botticelli’s.

Islam, on the other hand, puts it concisely in one of the Hadiths: ‘Allah’s Messenger said, ‘He who played X is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine.’

10.

• In African folklore, the X is much admired because of its diligent quest for food and its fearless response to soldier ants. Hausa magicians make a charm from the heart, skin, forehead, and nails of the X, which they then proceed to pound together with the root of a certain tree. Also, some tribes will use their teeth to make bracelets that are regarded as good luck charms.

• Y, on the other hand is a genus of tropical American weevil often found in association with palms. It is a snouted beetle.

• X and Y mark the two ends of an important work. What are we talking about?

11. Identify X and Y in the following list

• X

• Californium

• Y

• Tritium

• Taffeit

• Painite

• Plutonium

• LSD

• Cocaine

• Heroin

• Rhino Horn

• Methamphetamine

12.X was born in Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh and was brought up in Dharavi, Mumbai. He studied till 7th grade after which he started selling pens on the streets by dancing to Bollywood songs. He was also employed in a ________________ factory along with his father. While working, he entertained his coworkers by imitating Elvis Presley. His popularity among coworkers and officers of the factory by his performance earned him the nickname X.

13.

It is a coincidence that X and Y are anagrams of each other in English. X means Eastern capital and Y means capital city in the native language. Y was temporarily called Western capital owing to the change in name of X. In fact till date there are arguments over which is the de jure capital of _________ although it is accepted that the de facto capital is X. The imperial castle shifted from Y to X in 1869. The Michelin Guide has awarded X by far the most Michelin stars of any city in the world.X hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics and is currently a candidate city for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Identify X and Y.

14.

The term X originates from the Dutch vrijbuiter meaning pirate. The term in its legislative sense was first used by Democratic congressman Albert G. Brown of Mississippi in 1853, referring to Abraham Watkins Venable's speech against intervention in Cuba. One of the first known practitioners of the X was the Roman senator Cato the Younger. An act of X by V.K.Krishna Menon, which ended with him collapsing, led the Indian press to temporarily dub him the ‘Hero of Kashmir’. What is X?

15.

John Wallis is credited with introducing X in 1655, in his De sectionibus conicis. Wallis did not explain his choice. It has been used in bookbinding to indicate that a book is printed on acid-free paper and will therefore be long-lasting. In modern mysticism, it has become identified with a variation of the ouroboros, an ancient image of a snake eating its own tail. In the works of Vladimir Nabokov, including The Gift and Pale Fire, it is used symbolically in these books' descriptions of the shapes of bicycle tire tracks and of the outlines of half-remembered people. What is X?

16.

X set a world record on 7 November 2004 for canning an entire episode named “The Inheritance” in a single shot of 111 minutes beating an 88 minute single take documentary called Russian Arch which is about a museum. Some locations where X has been shot include Uzbekistan, Paris, Switzerland and London. The creator was a news camera-man and handled the camera for about 10 years. Thereafter, he started getting an urge to break free and went on to create X which remains the longest running of its kind.

17.

X can reach speeds of 20 MPH while Y can reach speeds of up to 43 MPH. Clearly, Y would win an all out footrace unlike the common myth we associate with it. However, X have an amazing ability to use ground cover as they run and they rarely move in a straight line. There is also the really pesky fact that X can fly although they prefer not to. Also, there has never been a documented instance of a Y catching a X. Identify X and Y.

18.

The first X, built in 1902, was designed so the driver sat outside under a covered compartment. The word X is derived from the name of the French region ________, because this covered compartment physically resembled the raised hood of the cloak worn by the shepherds there. An alternate etymology has the chauffeur wearing a __________-style cloak in the open driver's compartment, for protection from the weather. Over the years X’s meaning has changed and the first of the modern kind were created in Fort Smith, Arkansas around 1928 by a coach company named Armbruster which were primarily used to transport famous “big band” leaders. What is X?

19.

Mordecai Sherwin was a professional footballer and cricketer who played in goal for Notts County and as a wicket-keeper for Nottinghamshire between 1878 and 1896. Francis Joseph Shacklock was an English cricketer who played first class cricket for Nottinghamshire in 1883 and between 1886 and 1893. His fellow fast bowler at Derbyshire was William X and the pair Shacklock and X were prominent in a match against MCC at Lords in June 1885. "c Sherwin b Shacklock" was a fairly regular scorecard entry in the late 19th century. This inspired a particular MCC member to do something. What? Also, for brownie points tell me X.

20.

While playing solitaire during his recovery from surgery, Stanislaw Ulam had thought about playing hundreds of games to estimate statistically the probability of a successful outcome. With ENIAC in mind, he realized that the availability of computers made such statistical methods very practical. John von Neumann immediately saw the significance of this insight. Because Ulam had often mentioned his uncle "who just had to go to X" to gamble, Nicholas Metropolis dubbed the statistical approach "The X method”.

21.

X diplomacy existed as far back as the Tang Dynasty, when Empress Wu Zetian (625–705) sent a pair of X to the Japanese emperor. The People's Republic of China revived X diplomacy in the 1950s and has become known in recent decades for this practice. From 1958 to 1982, China gave 23 Xs to nine different countries. One highlight was the Chinese government's gift of Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, to the United States in 1972 after President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China. It was so successful that British Prime Minister Edward Heath asked for Xs for the United Kingdom during a visit to China in 1974. Chia-Chia and Ching-Ching therefore arrived at London. In 1998, China offered Taiwan 2 Xs in exchange for wartime peace. On March 11, 2006, the ROC formally rejected the offer, with President Chen explaining in his weekly newsletter that Xs given as gifts will not be happy”

22.

X was World No.1 at a point of time and had two Wimbledon and one US Open to his name. X was a famous gambler and made a living by placing bets on himself to win matches against other, apparently better, players. However, he is remembered more for another event he was part of where a baseline game defeated him. There was widespread speculation that X lost purposely in order to gain huge sums of money on betting. Selena Roberts claims in her book documenting the match, A Necessary Spectacle, that X later undertook a public lie detector test to prove he did not throw the match. Given X's ego and the national attention, it is highly doubtful that he would have intentionally lost. Identify X. What event?

23.

X’s real name is Jack Clayton. He was a young boy in England, living with his parents and he had no idea that his father was the famous Y. Some evil men who hated Y kidnapped Jack and took him to Africa to kill him and send the body as a message to Y. However X showed his berserker ways of killing and hence earned his name which means ‘Killer’.

SOME MORE COMPLETIONS

24.

This series began as a small series of comics drawn by Kris Wilson at the age of sixteen. Wilson was at home with strep throat and had doodled some stick figure comics. On his deviantART profile page, he notes that he "created it in 2004 because I can't help but draw stupid looking characters to spew out my stupid ideas."He showcased his comics on his Comicaze website,and then on Sticksuicide.com, which was founded by Rob DenBleyker in 2004.

The cartoonists have since, regularly make comics based on controversial topics including abortion, suicide, and AIDS. Some recurring characters have names; they include: Charles & his girlfriend, the Purple-Shirted Eye Stabber, Dr. Baby, Trelaf the Wise, Obese Maurice, & The Personal Space Invader.

John Hargrave said that "Despite all this solo effort, the end product is coherent and strangely logical, as if the four creators were each viewing the peculiar world of _______ from a slightly different angle -- a world in which disembodied heads turn into seagulls, and Jesus is a designated driver."

25. Connect these artworks:

26.

“I wanted to convey an emotion I have about the beauty of the world…this feeling about the glories of the universe."

He started drawing at the age of 44 in 1962, after a series of amicable arguments about art vs. science with his artist-friend Jirayr “Jerry” Zorthian. Eventually, the two agreed that they’d exchange lessons in art and science on alternate Sundays. He went on to draw — everything from portraits of other prominent scientists and his children to sketches of strippers and very, very many female nudes — until the end of his life.

27.

In the Vedic sense of the word, _______ (meaning tribute, sacrifice or offering) was used as a system of 'voluntary' taxation levied by the King at that time. The tax usually consisted of 1/6 the agricultural produce or cattle for a given person but this would vary from territory to territory, often unjustly over conquered kingdoms to gain additional revenue. This word would eventually fizzle out of its' archaic meaning, become known only for its alternate meaning. What?

28.

The origins of the term itself cannot be established with any certainty. The earliest citation for __________ is from 1937, and it is commonly supposed to have been named after Ellis Achong, a Trinidadian left-arm bowler who played six Tests for the West Indies between 1929 and 1933. David Frith reports the story of Walter Robins, who, when stumped off Achong's bowling, is said to have 'turned to Learie Constantine and thundered "Fancy getting out to a bloody _______ !"'

29.

When Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas asked writer Lein Wein to devise a character who is Canadian, of small stature and an irascible temper, he got to work with John Romita Sr. John was responsible for this characters' notable costume features, since he believed that " the design should be practical and functional. He should be able to scratch his nose or tie his shoelaces. " When Wein was asked about whether the character was intended to have animal origins:

" I write stories about human beings, not evolved animals. "

The character's introduction was ambiguous giving little more than his being a Canadian superhuman agent appearing briefly in the finale of Incredible Hulk #182.

30.

31.

Harvey Kurtzman first spotted the image on a postcard pinned to the office bulletin board of Ballantine Books editor Bernard Shir-Cliff. "It was a face that didn't have a care in the world, except mischief," recalled Kurtzman. On one cover of this magazine: ______ is portrayed as a Roman bust with his catch phrase engraved on the base, translated into Latin-- Quid, Me Anxius Sum?

At the October 2008 Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama joked, "It's often been said that I share the politics of Alfred E. Smith and the ears of _____________."

(The first appearance of ____ in the magazine has been shown with a ? )

Who are we talking about?

32.

The phrase X probably originates from ______ etiquette. The ______ were already internationally known as scrooges, and English rivalry especially during the period of the Anglo-_______ Wars gave rise to several phrases including ______ that promote certain negative stereotypes. The particular stereotype associated with this usage is the idea of ________ people as ungregarious and selfish. In Spain, X is attributed to Catalans, due to a stereotype that they are greedy. A stereotypical non-Catalan Spaniard would compete to invite the group. In Italy, it is associated with how it is done in Rome. In South American countries, the usage refers to a treat attributed to North Americans or Canadians. What is X?

33. Some of the words meant :-

• A performer of a theatrical genre of variety entertainment popular in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s to 1930s which derived from French meaning voice of the people

• A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.

• A trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.

• Wild mammals and birds that are believed to be harmful to crops, farm animals, or game, or that carry disease

• Showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery

• The state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried

• Enlivened or animated

• Thick soup made of puréed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream, and chicken stock, traditionally served cold but can be eaten hot.

• A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material.

• French, used to call attention or suggest a magical appearance

What is this?

34.

According to Chinese mythology, the Dragon’s Gate is located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain. Many carp swim upstream against the river’s strong current, but few are capable or brave enough for the final leap over the waterfall. If a carp successfully makes the jump, it is transformed into a powerful dragon. A Chinese dragon’s large, conspicuous scales indicate its origin from a carp. The Chinese dragon has long been an auspicious symbol of great and benevolent, magical power.

This enormous change in power is popularised in a different context. What?

35.

Some used were :-• 1965 Chevrolet Greenbrier• An 80s Chevrolet Chevy• An 80s Ford Econoline• A 1999 Ford F-350 Super Duty Stretched Limousine.

There are also other unofficial adaptations based on Fiat 900 and Dodge A-100 among others. What were these used for?

36.

An ambitious group of young scientists at CERN started working on their aim to create a database infrastructure that offered open access to data in various formats, the internet. Because these bright young minds were reluctant to reveal their progress to the world, they started developing their protocol in a closed environment. In an office on the fourth floor, they placed the central database: any request for a file was routed to that office, where two or three people would manually locate the requested files and transfer them, over the network, to the person who made that request.

When the database started to grow, and the people at CERN realised that they were able to retrieve documents other than their own research-papers, not only the number of requests grew, but also the number of requests that could not be fulfilled, usually because the person who requested a file typed in the wrong name for that file. How does this figure in daily usage?

37.

Hank Aaron once signed a baseball which was also signed by ___________ when Emory University awarded them degrees on the same day. Thus, he can claim to have bettered the statistics of Carl Sagan and Steven Strogatz among others. What feat did he achieve?

38.

Tobias Geffen was an American orthodox rabbi who served as the leader of Congressional Shearith Israel in Atlanta, Georgia. By virtue of his location of residence and position, he became a rare common man to achieve some feat after a lot of queries from his community all over the US. His findings also triggered a few changes, after which he finally gave out a certification to all Jews. "With the help of God, I have been able to uncover a pragmatic solution according to which there would be no question nor any doubt concerning ________________", he wrote. What feat did he achieve?

ABSOLUT REFERENCE