Ringing In

LL80MD6 July 30, 2023

The formal name of the club known colloquially as the All England Club, located in the Wimbledon district in London, references two lawn sports, with one being tennis. What is the other—a game for which the club was founded in 1868 (though tournaments are no longer hosted there)?

BNSF Railway, created via a 1996 merger, is the largest freight railroad network in North America. What do any of the letters in BNSF stand for?

What term in mathematics most commonly represents the set of all values that a given function’s independent variable (e.g. “x” in y=2x) can have?

What adjective, a relative neologism found almost exclusively in scientific contexts, is most commonly used to describe, as a formal term, DNA molecules produced by merging genetic material from two or more different sources via genetic engineering? The word is represented by the first letter in the typical four-letter designation for this type of DNA molecule.

Name the country that completes this quote, declared by Juan Guaido on January 23, 2019: “Juro asumir formalmente las competencias del Ejecutivo nacional como el presidente encargado de ________.”

Five lines, usually made of amphibrachs and anapests, with two feet in each of the third and fourth lines and three feet in the others, with a strict rhyming scheme of aabba, is a verse form known by a name that is shared with what city?

LL80MD5 July 24, 2023

Of the eight planets of the solar system, name all of the planets that are typically classified as “ice giants.”

Billy Wilder had it in the Afternoon, Andrzej Wajda had it in Germany, François Truffaut had it on the Run, and Franco Zeffirelli’s was Endless. What is “it”?

The title of a comic strip by Arthur R. “Pop” Momand, which debuted in the New York Globe in 1913, is the source for what idiomatic phrase, roughly defined as maintaining one’s social level in relation to proximate lifestyles? Momand’s inspiration for the strip was his own rivalry with his neighbors.

The Yalu River, also known locally as the Amnok, provides a border between what two sovereign states?

Name the man who ascended to the presidency of Egypt following the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981, and served in that position until his resignation during the Egyptian revolution of 2011.

While most of his famous and enduring characters have occupations relating to seafaring, Herman Melville’s Bartleby held what other specific, titular profession?

LL91MD25 July 17, 2023

The legendary New Orleans jazz pianist who recorded with his group the Red Hot Peppers in the 1920s and claimed (dubiously) to have invented jazz in 1902 was known by what sweet-seeming stage name? (Full name required.)

The “sweet-seeming stage name” clue immediately pointed me to “Jelly Roll Morton”. While I knew that he was a jazz pianist, I didn’t know if he fit the other clues; that being said, I didn’t have a better guess, which was fortunate.

What is famous for, among many other things, lasting from 1337 to 1453?

This was straightforward, as I knew that the Hundred Years’ War (between England and France) began in 1337 and ended in 1453.

The French départements of Corrèze, Creuse, and Haute-Vienne constituted, until 2016, a former administrative région in southwest France that gave its name to a certain type of automobile (though the etymological link is long unknown). What is that vehicle?

I hadn’t heard of these départements, and I couldn’t name any administrative regions in southwest France. So I had to guess an automobile with a French-sounding name. After some pondering, I settled on “corvette”. I didn’t know if it fit the clues, but I didn’t have a better guess, which was unfortunate.

The Scranton branch of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company was managed for many years by Michael Scott. Who is his English equivalent, the long-time manager of the Slough branch of Wernham Hogg Paper Merchants? (First and last name required.)

I knew that the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company and the Wernham Hogg Paper Merchants were featured in the US and the UK versions of The Office, respectively. Since I hadn’t watched either version, I had to guess an English-sounding name. After some pondering, I settled on “David Jones”, as 1) I’m definitely familiar with Englishmen named “David”, and 2) “Jones” is a common surname. Unfortunately that was incorrect.

What is the term most used in common law in the US for the physical written document conveying ownership of real property? It is the legal document that transfers property ownership (or “title”) from one party to another.

My house-hunting adventures paid off in this case, as they familiarized me with the concept of a “deed”.

There are three main forms of the sport of fencing, based on the weapon used. One is foil while another is sabre. What is the third?

This was straightforward, as “foil” and “sabre” were already mentioned in the question; by process of elimination, I landed on “épée”.

LL91MD24 June 25, 2023

What is the two-letter title of the 1927 film starring quintessential “flapper” Clara Bow from which she earned her famous nickname?

I had heard of Clara Bow, but I only knew that she appeared in Wings (i.e. the first Academy Award winner for Best Picture). So I had to guess a two-letter answer that could be a nickname for an actress; after some pondering, I resorted to applying Occam’s Razor and guessing “Ms”. Unfortunately that was not correct.

[REDACTED] [REDACTED] is a party game of teamwork and betrayal. Crewmates work together to complete tasks before one or more Impostors can kill everyone aboard.

So says indie gaming studio Innersloth about what game, whose two-word name is redacted in the previous quote, and which was released in 2018 but became massively popular in 2020?

I had never heard of this party game, so I had to guess a two-word answer. After some pondering, I settled on “Block Party”. Later, I discovered that “Block Party” is actually a board game.

Merriam-Webster reported a spike in searches in its online dictionary on March 17, 2019, for what specific term for a lobster-like freshwater crustacean? They attributed the increase to a televised interview with novelist Delia Owens that was broadcast on that day. (Note, correct spelling is required; singular or plural is acceptable.)

I pondered the “lobster-like freshwater crustacean” clue for a while before I thought of “crawdad”. The “specific term” and “correct spelling” notes boosted my confidence in that guess, as those notes would rule out related terms such as “crawfish”. While I hadn’t heard of Delia Owens, I didn’t have a better guess (which worked out in this case).

A commercial enterprise located on Weihenstephan Hill in the Bavarian town of Freising claims to be the oldest business in the world of what type?

Since I hadn’t heard of this “commercial enterprise”, I forced myself to apply Occam’s Razor. In particular, since this enterprise was in Germany (more specifically, Bavaria), I asked myself, “what is Germany (more specifically, Bavaria) known for?”

After some pondering I settled on beer (though I also considered “cars”, as I associated Bavaria with Oktoberfest and BMW; eventually the “Hill” clue steered me away from “cars”, as I thought it would be odd to manufacture cars on a hill). Thus, I figured that the enterprise in question was a brewery.

What Yiddish slang term is used in English for the fee or percentage taken by a bookmaker for accepting a gambler’s wager?

I occasionally listen to the Bill Simmons Podcast, where gambling is frequently discussed. So I tried to think of a Yiddish-sounding gambling term that Simmons would have mentioned on his episodes.

After some pondering I seemed to recall him mentioning a term that sounded like “wig”. While “wig” didn’t sound quite right, I didn’t know how to modify it to obtain a guess that clicked in my mind. In this case, my knowledge was slightly inadequate.

What term in art for a particular type of drawing stick, made with ground pigments, chalk, and a binder such as gum arabic, is also a general term for a soft, subdued color?

The “drawing stick”, “chalk”, and “soft, subdued color” clues all pointed me to “pastel”. I wasn’t sure about the other clues, but “pastel” felt like a good guess.

LL91MD23 June 11, 2023

In the “Markup Language” abbreviated XML, which provides greater flexibility over languages such as HTML with customized tags for the storage, organization, and presentation of data, what word is represented by the “X”?

This was straightforward, as I knew that the “X” in XML represented “Extensible”.

State College, PA, is home to the campus of Penn State University; College Park, MD, is home to the University of Maryland; and Southern Adventist University is in Collegedale, TN. What American university’s home town is named College Station?

This was straightforward, as I knew that Texas A&M is in College Station (TX).

What is the word used for the type of freestyle skiing competition where competitors ski down a steep and bumpy path, and are scored based on turning, jumping, and speed? The word is also used for the bumps themselves.

This was straightforward, as I knew that the clues (especially the “bumps” clue) referred to moguls.

She heaved a sigh and wiped her eye,
And over the hillocks she raced;
And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should,
That each tail be properly placed.

Who is the “shepherdess” in this nursery rhyme?

My knowledge of nursery rhymes is relatively weak, so I tried to guess a character who might be associated with nursery rhymes. Initially I thought of “Mary” from “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, but the lyrics in the clues didn’t fit that rhyme.

After some pondering, I eventually thought of “Little Bo Peep [sic]”. I didn’t know the lyrics for that rhyme, but I didn’t have a better guess; in this case, less knowledge was helpful.

The American military operation conducted in December 2003 that led to the capture of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein had what name, for some reason after a PG-13-rated 1984 teen heroism action film?

I couldn’t recall the name of that military operation, so I tried to guess a “PG-13-rated 1984 teen heroism action film”. After some pondering, I eventually thought of “Teen Wolf”, which was a mid-80s teen film. I didn’t know if that was the name of that military operation, but I didn’t have a better guess. In this case, less knowledge was not helpful.

What is the German translation of the Spanish word árbol and the Arabic shajara (شجرة)?

The “árbol” clue immediately pointed me to a tree, given my knowledge of Spanish. That being said, I only know a few German words, so I was stuck. After some pondering, I recalled that “wald” in German refers to a forest; I then wondered if “árbol” could correspond to multiple trees (instead of a single tree). Somehow that didn’t feel right, but I didn’t have a better guess.

In retrospect I should have thought of the German translation of “O Christmas Tree”.

LL91MD22 May 13, 2023

The original and traditional version of the Viennese indulgence known as Sachertorte is a dense chocolate layer cake coated with dark chocolate and served with whipped cream, with the cake layers sandwiching a layer of jam made from what fruit?

I had never heard of Sachertorte, so I had to guess a fruit. Since “torte” sounded like it could mean “cake” in German (especially as “torta” is used as a word for “cake” by some Spanish speakers), I tried to guess the meaning of “Sacher”. That approach led nowhere, though, and so I gave up and guessed “cherries”, as I’ve heard of cherry jams. That was incorrect.

The “Pop-o-Matic” die container was an innovation introduced in 1965 with what board game, now produced by Hasbro?

I’ve played Boggle once; I recalled that it included a set of dice. I wasn’t sure about the other clues, so I eventually guessed Boggle. That was incorrect.

What celebrity chef, who has hosted a myriad of eponymous shows on the Food Network (in addition to his appearances on Iron Chef America, Chopped, Worst Cooks in America, Food Network Star, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and many others), has been on the network since its debut in 1994, and is set to celebrate his 30th anniversary on the channel after a new three-year contract was settled in November 2021.

None of the clues resonated with me, so I had to guess a celebrity chef. After some pondering I decided to guess “Emeril Lagasse”, as I figured that Emeril had been on TV for many years. That was incorrect.

A large commercial truck that in the US might be called a “big rig”, “18-wheeler”, “tractor trailer”, or “semi” would in Britain most likely be called a what, from an English dialect verb meaning to tug or drag?

I tried to think of an equivalent term for a “big rig” that I would have encountered while reading various BBC News articles. After some pondering I focused on the “tug or drag” clue and decided to guess “long-hauler”. That was incorrect.

In retrospect I should have made this problem easier by focusing on the “truck” clue, as I’ve definitely encountered an equivalent term for “truck” while reading various BBC News articles.

What term in dance is typically used to describe a turn around one leg, most commonly with the foot of the other leg touching the knee of the turning leg (in passé)?

I wasn’t familiar with the movement that was being described, so I had to guess a term from dance. After discarding “jeté” (as I knew that referred to a leap), I eventually guessed “barre”. Unfortunately, a barre is not a movement.

What word, derived in part from a term in Old Norse for “color”, is used for a water-soluble mixture of various naturally occurring organic dyes extracted from lichens that is used to test materials for acidity?

This was straightforward, as I was familiar with litmus paper and how that is used to determine the pH of a liquid.

LL91MD21 April 22, 2023

What military slang for an unspecified and obscenely early hour in the morning entered broader consciousness via a 2012 film thriller?

I recalled that “Zero Dark Thirty” was released in 2012 and that it was a thriller about the manhunt for Osama bin Laden. “Zero Dark Thirty” also sounded like “military slang for an unspecified and obscenely early hour in the morning”, so that boosted my confidence in that guess.

While the Wright brothers’ first flight famously took place in 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, they developed the technology in what Midwestern city, where the brothers lived and operated a bicycle shop?

This was straightforward, as I knew that the Wright brothers were from Dayton (Ohio).

15 players per side vs. 13; five points for a try vs. four; three points for drop goals and penalties vs. one and two respectively; certain applications of post-tackle procedures, scrums, and lineouts—these are among the differences between rugby union and what other, quite similar sport?

I don’t know much about rugby, so I tried to guess a “similar sport”. I knew that Australian rules football is distinct from rugby, so that was my guess.

In retrospect I should have paid more attention to the word “union” (I had missed a previous LL question that highlighted a distinction between rugby union and rugby league).

One word (or two homophones, as the spellings can vary) can be used both for a certain musical instrument in the lute family and for a certain kitchen julienner. What is that word?

This was straightforward, as I’ve actually used a mandoline to julienne potatoes; I also knew that a mandolin was a musical instrument (though I didn’t know that it was in the lute family).

The German architect Walter Gropius, a pioneer of the international modern style of architecture, served from 1919 to 1928 as the director of what school of design (which closed in 1933 under pressure from Nazi authorities)?

This was straightforward, as I knew that Gropius was the director of the Bauhaus.

1985’s Radio, with its breakout single and boombox paean “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”, was the debut LP from what rapper, who has achieved significant later-career success as a television actor and host?

Since I had never heard of either “Radio” or “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”, I focused on the “significant later-career success as a television actor and host” clue. In particular, I knew that:

• LL Cool J was one of the lead actors on NCIS: Los Angeles
• LL Cool J had hosted the Grammys on several occasions.

I didn’t have a better guess, which actually worked out for me.

LL91MD20 April 10, 2023

What British pop act, while one of the most successful of the 1980s, only released a total of two studio albums during its formal five-year existence—1983’s Fantastic and 1984’s Make It Big?

This was straightforward, as I knew that Wham! released “Make It Big” in 1984.

Love Medicine (1984), The Plague of Doves (2008), The Round House (2012), and The Night Watchman (2020) are novels by what Pulitzer winner, a pre-eminent author of Native American fiction?

I seemed to recall that Louise Erdrich had written “Love Medicine”; I also knew that she wrote Native American fiction. I tried to think of other authors who could be a better fit for these clues; eventually I gave up and guessed Erdrich.

The capital city and main port of French Guiana shares its name with a pepper native to the area. What is that name?

This was straightforward, as I knew that Cayenne is the capital city of French Guiana.

Harry Alonzo Longabaugh was the actual name of an outlaw, Wild Bunch member, title character of a 1969 Western movie, and film institute namesake who was known by what nickname?

This was straightforward, as I knew that Harry Alonzo Longabaugh was the real name of the Sundance Kid.

Olympic gymnastics are divided into three categories: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and a third introduced in 2000 and known as what? Belarus’s Ivan Litvinovich and China’s Xueying Zhu won gold in this category in Tokyo in 2021.

I recalled watching gymnasts perform on the trampoline during the Rio and Tokyo Games. My understanding was that trampoline was not part of either artistic or rhythmic gymnastics; thus, I felt confident that trampoline was actually the third category in question.

What city was the birthplace of American playwright August Wilson, in its predominantly African American Hill District, which also served as the setting for many of his plays?

This was straightforward, as I knew that August Wilson was famous for the Pittsburgh Cycle.

LL91MD19 March 12, 2023

What word refers most commonly to a solution consisting of resin secreted by a certain scale insect, in a solvent of ethanol, that has been used widely as a high-gloss varnish, as a protective coating for various surfaces, as a food glaze, in electrical insulation, and elsewhere?

I floundered about for a while on this question. Eventually the clue about “a protective coating for various surfaces” led me to think of paraffin. I didn’t know if paraffin fit the other clues in the question, but it seemed like a promising answer. After submitting that guess, I learned that paraffin is also used “in electrical insulation”; that being said, it doesn’t fit all of the clues…

Idris Elba has portrayed the self-destructive and morose title character on what gritty BBC-produced crime drama series since its debut in 2010?

I recalled that Idris Elba was the title character on a BBC crime drama series, but I couldn’t remember its name. After some floundering about, I convinced myself that Bridgerton would be a good guess. Unfortunately I was wrong.

“Way 2 Sexy” (featuring Future & Young Thug), “Knife Talk” (featuring 21 Savage & Project Pat), “Girls Want Girls” (featuring Lil Baby), and “Fair Trade” (featuring Travis Scott) are recent 2021 hit songs by what artist, who has served since September 2013 as global ambassador of the Toronto Raptors?

This was straightforward, as I knew that Drake is the global ambassador of the Toronto Raptors.

The Outrage and A Fistful of Dollars, both from 1964, are among the successful Western films modeled on the work of legendary director Akira Kurosawa, but the most successful such film was what 1960 masterpiece directed by John Sturges?

I knew that Kurosawa had directed Seven Samurai; I also knew that The Magnificent Seven was a Hollywood film that was based on Seven Samurai. I didn’t know if The Magnificent Seven was a 1960 film directed by Sturges, but that was my best guess.

After an investigation revealed that the FBI and NYPD withheld vital evidence which would likely have led to their acquittal at trial, the Supreme Court of the State of New York in November 2021 vacated the convictions of Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Khalil Islam (the latter posthumously) for the February 1965 assassination of whom?

This was straightforward, as I knew that Malcolm X was assassinated in February 1965; I had also read a BBC article about the vacated convictions for his assassination.

In the 1730s, a British merchant captain told a story of torture at the hands of Spanish sailors, which was used to arouse public support in Britain for a war against their Atlantic trade rivals. This war was vividly named after what the captain allegedly lost while being tortured. What did he lose?

This was straightforward, as I was familiar with the War of Jenkins’ Ear.

LL91MD18 March 12, 2023

Greatly influenced by Italian gastronomy (which makes sense given its proximity), one French city is most associated with a cooking style noteworthy for its prominent use of olives, anchovies, tomatoes, capers, and garlic, such as its famous salade. What is the name of this city?

The “its famous salade” clue immediately pointed me to Nice, as I was aware of salade niçoise. The other clues then fell into place (e.g. I knew that Nice is in southern France).

Connections between what series and The Sopranos include creator Terence Winter (a Sopranos writer and producer), lead actor Steve Buscemi (who played a prominent Sopranos character), the New Jersey setting, and Sunday night broadcast on HBO?

I knew that Steve Buscemi played the lead role in Boardwalk Empire, which was broadcast on HBO. I also thought that Boardwalk Empire was set in New Jersey (though I wasn’t confident on that point). Overall it seemed that Boardwalk Empire would be a safe guess in this case.

The abstract art movement known as suprematism, which is characterized by basic, flat geometric shapes on plain backgrounds using a limited range of color, is most associated with what country, where it originated in 1913?

This was straightforward, as I knew that suprematism was most associated with Russia (especially with the artist Kazimir Malevich).

While the Cabinet of the US President has expanded to fifteen executive departments, the original cabinet of George Washington consisted of just four: the Attorney General and the Departments of State, Treasury, and what other (the only original cabinet department that no longer exists in its original form)?

I knew that Henry Knox was the first Secretary of War and that he had fought in the Revolutionary War, which would mesh with the fact that this department existed during Washington’s presidency. The clue that it “no longer exists in its original form” gave me more confidence to guess the War Department.

Hybrid Theory was an early name of—and also the 2000 nu and rap metal debut album from—what group, who were named ultimately after a recreational area in Santa Monica, California (with a spelling change for internet domain reasons)?

This was straightforward, as I knew that Hybrid Theory was an album by Linkin Park, which is a “nu and rap metal” group.

What is the name of the titular and central figure of the 2019 HBO documentary The Inventor (a label that, as it turns out, is dubious if not outright false)?

I hadn’t seen this HBO documentary, so I floundered about for a while. Eventually I pondered the “dubious if not outright false” clue, which led me to think of disgraced business figures. Also, the fact that HBO aired this documentary (instead of, say, the History Channel) led me to think of contemporary disgraced business figures, as that would boost ratings.

After some additional pondering, I finally thought of Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced former CEO of Theranos. I also knew that the question writer makes an effort to highlight notable women in his questions; that gave me more confidence to guess Holmes.