Better late than never

Für diejenigen die Montags last minute hier noch reinschauen... Aufgrund ausgedehnter Geburtstagsfeierlichkeiten und darum befindlicher Urlaubstage sieht InQuizition # 16 relativ "normal" aus.
Runde 1 - Geographie, Geschichte, Wissenschaft
Runde 2 - Sport, Musik, TV & Movie
Yogi-Runde: Der Mond
Bilderrunde - der übliche Mix mit neuen genetishen Experimenten :) :)
Musikrunde - Stadt, Land, Fluß (songs mit Erdkunde im Titel - 9 Titel nett auf 5 min zusammengeschnitten :)

Bis Montag 20.00 Uhr. Oder irgendwann anders. Und wenn nicht dann wenigstens 'ne schöne Woche.

PS - da keiner die Vorhersage der Woche eingeschickt hat fängt auch keiner mit 2 Punkten an. Und wäre's so einfach gewesen. 3-0, 3-0. Yay!

Guinness, goals and gute Stimmung

Und was mehr kann man sich von Montagabenden wünschen? Und wieder mal hat sich gezeigt daß Qualität und nicht Quantität ausschlaggebend ist.
Bevor ich mich in den wohlverdienten Kurzurlaub Richtung Norden schleiche und es vergesse (dank an Cannonballs für die freundliche Erinnerung) - Zweistein darf das Yogi-Thema für nächste Woche bestimmen. Kommentar hier oder email an quiz_miz@hotmail.com.. bis Sonntag Abend. Ansonsten ist "Mond" angesagt am 30. November.

Und weil's so schön war (und Zweistein so akkurat in ihrer Vorhersage) - Prediction of the Week: the usual. Newcastle gegen Swansea am Samstag. Halbzeit- und Endergebnis. Auf dem üblichen Weg. Einsendeschluß Samstag 14.00 Uhr :)

Vorschau auf Inquizition #16 gibt's hier gegen Ende der Woche, ich hab noch keine Ahnung was dran kommen könnte. Vorschläge werden dankend angenommen und wohlwollend geprüft :)

Und die Tendenz für's Weihnachtsquiz ist derzeit eher Montag der 21. Dezember. Entscheidung fällt Ende nächster Woche.

Bis dahin, oder bis Montag, have a good one.

Sometimes they come back.....

nope, still not me to the Kilkenny but...
I went through some old files looking for a naked Santa for the Quizmas poster (and hey, I found one or two, if you're naughty enough I'll put them up here :) and came upon all the old Prediction of the Week pics. And was thinking .. why not?!?

So we'll pick up that time-honoured tradition of starting with a point or two IF your prediction is correct. And since Newcastle play on Monday night you can predict the half-time and full-time score. For two points. Predictions have to be in by Monday 8pm. BTW - we play Preston North End, away.

And for our Dshörmin Kwizzers:
PotW - Vorhersage der Woche kehrt zurück!!!
Und da am Montag mal wieder Newcastle zu sehen ist könnt ihr für 2 Punkte das Halbzeit- und Endergebnis vorhersagen. Wir spielen auswärts gegen Preston NorthEnd. Vorhersagen sind bis spätestens Montag 20.00 Uhr abzugeben.

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

Ah, the sound of them. And the smell of Glühwein, Pfefferkuchen and Bratwurst from the myriads of stalls that have been shooting up like mushrooms at every corner lately. Just a reminder that the fat one with the red coat is almost upon us. Which in turn reminds me that I have to plan this year's holidays. Which brings us to the question of the last two quiz nights of 2009.
So far I've had 3 people, if not teams, who actually prefer Monday 21st for the Christmas quiz. As mentioned before, this is a majority decision but I have to know asap in order make up my mind (and the crimbo quiz). Same goes for the ultimate 2009 quiz - acoording to earlier plans, the date would be Monday 28th. Unless you'd rather have one on 29th or 30th.
Do let me know. Otherwise I'll just pick one and we all have to live with it.
ho ho ho....

Damp squibs & Merry Quizmas

As we say up north - dat wa wo nix. A staggering 10 people in the whole Harp tonight and no one willing to prove their mental prowess. I guess only dogs and quizmizzes venture out in this weather.
Just as well then, we'll give it another shot next Monday and I have more time to get my work done before I disappear into my annual birthday holidays. Rounds will be the same tho one might get swapped for a handout round (I have the odd new idea or two) because it's Toon on Telly Night.

The other news concern this year's Merry Quizmas in the Irish Harp. We have decided to move it from Monday 21 December to Wednesday 23 December. Since most people take Christmas eve off anyway, we could all have a nice quiz and a few more drinks than usual. We need a headcount though if we want to order the right quantities of sweets, gingerbread and other festive decoration & treats. Let my know by 7 December if you want to be part of the party and how many heads you'll bring (or if you prefer Monday 21 December). The usual means of contact apply - mail to quiz_miz@hotmail.com, or leave a comment here, or check Brains in Berlin group on facebook. Or text me. Or mail the pub (just make sure you specify Irish Harp).

Und natürlich (wie immer öfter) das Ganze in Dshörmen.
Die Pläne für's diesjährige "Merry Quizmas"-Weihnachtsquiz im Irish Harp haben sich geändert. Wie haben uns gedacht daß Mittwoch der 23. Dezember ein besserer Termin ist als Montag der 21, da die meisten von uns an Heiligabend eh keinen Bock mehr auf Arbeit haben und wir so alle ein bißchen länger raten und trinken können. Um allerdings ausreichende Mengen an Lebkuchen, Schokoladenhohlkörpern und anderen weihnachtlichen Dekorationen und Leckerbissen bestellen zu können brauchen wir eine grobe Schätzung mit wie vielen Ratefüchsen wir rechnen müssen. Sagt mir also bis spätestens 7. Dezember Bescheid ob und mit wie vielen Leuten ihr kommt. Oder ob ihr doch lieber den Montag hättet. Es gelten die üblichen Kontaktmöglichkeiten - Kommentar hier, mail an quiz_miz@hotmail.com, Facebook-Gruppe "Brains in Berlin" oder SMS. Oder Kontaktformular auf der Pub-Website (Irish Harp mit angeben).

Poster puzzle me this

As usual, I was looking for someth.. ah, you know the story by now.
In case you ever find yourselves online and bored, try these really cool movie poster puzzles. I normally use the site for research on film posters and stuff but apparently it is as much about edumaction as it is entertaining. Might have given me an idea.
Talking about Given, ALLÉZ L'IRLANDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (apologies LN, I'll cheer for la belle France on Wednesday ;)

Fly me to the Moon

.. what we'll be doing in Inquizition #15 on Monday 16. In the "Yogi" round. From the moon in space to ancient deities, Moonstruck, Moon River, Moon 44, people called Moon, half moon, full moon, croissants, Blue Moon, Moonlighting and mooning, from Blutmond to The First Men in The Moon, man on the moon and golf on the moon. And probably lots more I can't quite imagine yet. Guckst du hier. Or here.
The first question round might well be geography & travel, unless I find something better (I've been thinking about an audio round, maybe mystery sounds :).
The second question round is TV & Movie. No sports in it this time :)
Picture round - the usual BS, vertical & horizontal genetix, mystery objects and macros..
Music round - songs with names in the title. Men's, women's, men's & women's...If you need or want to prepare.. follow the link. And take a good guess which 10 I might pick :)
And I have been assured that this time, at long last, absolutely guaranteed, VE VILL HAVE NUTZ!!!!!!!!
In the words of some of my students "ve vill see as Manday". Till then - be good. And alléz les verts!!

The day after

Friday the 13th... nuff said.

Hier nochmals die Zusammenfassung for alle die nicht im email-Verteiler sind. Wer gestern da war weiß es schon, die anderen jetzt. Quiky im Kilkenny ist endgültig gegessen. Ich will mich nicht noch mal über Wie/Warum auslassen, die Show geht weiter. In Charlottenburg.
Inquizition-Time ist jeden Montag um 20.00 Uhr im Irish Harp. Ab 2010 dann jeden Donnerstag um 20.00 Uhr.
Und das erste im neuen Jahr ist das große Jahresrückblicksquiz 2008 am Donnerstag den 7. Januar 2010. Alle anderen Termine (Weihnachtsquiz u.ä.) wie immer hier.
Und nein, ich habe vorerst kein anderes Quiz geplant, in keinem der anderen Stadtbezirke :) Freiheit & Freizeit sind unbezahlbar...
Nochmals vielen Dank an alle Ratefüchse die über die Jahre mit Treue, Wissen, Hartnäckigkeit und Humor dazu beigetragen haben daß die Donnerstage ein Erfolg waren. Es hat Spaß gemacht (zu 99,99% :). Doch nun ist es Zeit weiter zu ziehen. Vielleicht sehen wir uns irgendwo, irgednwie, irgendwann, wenn nicht, immer schön weiter Wissen sammeln, man weiß nie wofür's mal gut ist.

The gist for those who are not on the mailing list. If you were there last night you already know, if not you'll know it now. The Quiky in the Kilkenny is history, this time for good. I'm not going into details again as to why or how, the show will go on. In Charlottenburg.
Inquizition time is every Monday 8pm, Irish Harp, Giesebrechstr. 15. And from 2010 every Thursday at 8pm, still at the Harp. And we're gonna kick off in style with the BIG 2009 Review Special Edition on 7 January. All other dates (e.g. ChristmasQuiz) here, soon.
And no, I have no other quizzes planned for now, not in other districts or on other days. Freedom & time off - priceless :)
Once again a big thank you to all quizzers for the years of loyalty, tenacity, knowledge and creativity. It was a blast! And now it's time to move on. And you never know, we might meet again, somewhere, sometime, somehow. In the meantime, keep collecting knowledge, it might be useful one day :)

Swan Song OR Too much (to) bear

So, that was the ultimate one then. Really, this time. Bit earlier than expected, but the Quiky as we know it (or knew it) is history. Over. Vorbei. Aus. This Quiky is no more. It has ceased to be. It's off the twig, it's shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-QUIKY!!
Me, I'm not too shocked, it was only a matter of time anyway, and at least I didn't do a Keegan this time. Or actually, I did. It was more like a case of constructive dimissal tho.
To (mis)quote King Kev's last letter "I've been working desperately hard to find a way to keep this running ... but sadly that has not proved possible. It's my opinion that a quiz miz must have the right to run the quiz as she sees fit and that pubs should not impose upon any quiz miz any drunken tourists that interrupt proper proceedings, or dessicate her through neglect, or make her waste her time. I have been left with no choice other than to leave." (actually it was the suggestion of the manager but same diff :)
Anyroad, as said before, comebacks are never a good idea to start with (unless you're Led Zeppelin or a zombie) and it would have happened sooner or later anyway. Which is a blessing (in diguise?) because now I have more time to prepare the InquiZition and, more importantly, we can move it to Thursday which is a MUCH nicer day than Monday. Unfortunately we can not move it to Mitte but we might find new things to make the trip to Ch'burg worth your while. Once in a while.
As usual, the details, and updates, and previews will appear here as soon as I have them.

Preliminary points of the last Quiky as follows (nice table up here tomorrow)

1. Quiz Quiztofferson 56,5
2. L'Auberge Espagnole (formerly known as Feidclub feat. Pinky) 56
3. Fünfsteins 55
4. Smashing Peaches 55
5. Die Gloriösen Milchschnitten (formerly known as De Muttis) 51,5
6. Tyssia 36,5
7. Ding! I am a Giant Horse! 32,5
8. Leprechauns 27,5

Leftovers, links & much more here soon. Till then, Good Night, and Good Luck.

Seasons au soleil

More info, or rather correct info, on "Seasons in the sun": As I have been made aware of, the man who translated the lyrics, and first sang it, was Rod McKuen, Brel's friend and translator, and a totally fascinating character. His .. somewhat different... version can be found here... thanx dude, for that and l'original :)

I feel a very wicked cover version round coming up in Inquizition #16 ;)

And while we're on the subject of very intersting versions - nochmals heißen Dank Manthe for the Schlager-Beitrag. Der Videobeweis für den singenden Präsidenten hat mich doch total auf die Zeitreise geschickt :)

Dementis/denials & discoveries

First of all, the denial (in German "Dementi" - must have something to do with dementia). The Inquizition #15 next Monday is NOT the last one in November since November has 30 days so I'll see you for InQuizition #16 on Monday, 30 November.

And now the discoveries. As some of you might remember (or know), Bobby Darin was not the man who came up with the idea for "Beyond the Sea". Because the song with re-written lyrics in English was based on Charles Trenet's "La Mer".
And apparently it was not the first or the only time that American or Canadian writers and singers plundered la musique francophone.
I just totally stumbled upon the fact that

• "Seasons in the Sun" was not a 1974 Terry Jacks original. It was not even the English original. Earlier versions had been released by The Kingston Trio in 1963, The Fortunes in 1968 and by Pearls Before Swine in 1970/71. But... Jacques Brel (who happened to be Belgian) wrote and sang "Le Moribond" some 13 years before. Guckst du hier.

• And even more interesting, "My Way" was not a 1969 Sinatra original. Again, the English version was (lyrics by none other than Paul Anka) but.... the song was French to start with. Claude François penned and first recorded the song 2 years earlier. More on that here.That's another two 3-pointers for the next cover version round in the Harp (#17 on 7 December)

And if you want to do your own research or just be entertained and edumacated or guess what I'll be playing next - here's a great website I found... and my first choice blog for the interesting things in music is this one here. Check out the Originals series - amazing stuff.

Alreet quizzers, must get some sleep before tonight's Quiky, and need a few more questions and pictures too. Till then - have a good one.

Did U Know That....

This is the first post of probably many (or at least some) wherein I'll spread some of the interesting, intriguing or just immensely funny facts I've found while looking for something completely different. In no particular order, and most of them very likely useless in real life.
In the quiz universe though they might be worth a point or two. If you can remember them.
So, here goes. (Some of you might know some of these already but then, I bet you'll find something new too.)

Cover/Original versions
In The Army Now - I've always thought it was Status Quo. It's Bolland& Bolland (do NOT listen to the original if you like the song!!! :)
Black Magic Woman - written and first performed (less convincingly) by Fleetwood Mac.

Strange causes of death
Antoni Gaudi (he of the Sagrada Familia fame) - got run over by a tram, died 3 days later.

When playing at home, Olympique Marseille's team run out to Van Halen's "Jump". Every time they score, Puff Daddy's "Come With Me" is played.

And here's another source of useless knowledge.

And this one made me laugh. Not so Paris. She's threatening to sue the advertising agency.

The naked truth

That was the funnest (I know that's not a proper word :) and funniest (yes, there is a difference :) quiz night I had since.... the Mata Hari one. It might have had something to do with the relatively high percentage of T&A on display (and definitely with the 3 pints of Guinness - you evil people made me go back on my promise. Thanx :). And of course it had to do with the quality and sense of humour of the multi-cultural and multi-lingual teams :)
Anyroad, before I cover nude leftovers, here are the points.

Mummy Kazoo, if /when you read this - your boy done good!! Bit lacking in the arts department but I admit he was a tad distracted. Trying to spot the ball. As were the rest of his team.
So - to give yis all more to practise with, here's all you need to know about "what's-her-face-with-the-big-balls"...
yes, her..
Her name, in case you care, is Simona Halep. 17, Romanian. And the rest is here. Take a last long butchers because she's soon gonna be a tad flat.
And if you've just got into the ball-spotting thing, you might want to look here, or here, or here. I'm sure you can do the rest of your research on your own :) But whatever you do, do NOT look here. BTW - the full version of the "points" background - here.

Now, Inquizition # 15 next week is the last one in November as the Irish Harp is closed for a private Veranstaltung on Monday 23 (which gives me almost a whole week off. Yippeeeh!!!! Urlaub!!! :)
And since we don't have a Yogi theme I'm gonna pick one. Let's make it... The Moon. In history, science, technology, music, sports, advertising, film...
Round 1 could be Travel & Geography, Round 2 - Big Screen, Small Screen (aka Movie & TV).
Music is The Name Game. Songs with names in the title. Ya know, Mandy, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Lola, Johnny Walker, Jesse, Daniel, Jennifer, Alison, Phillipa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel, too... and Who TF is Alice??!
Keep swotting, here's an interesting and edumacating source for music trivia. More tips & links up here, demnächst. Watch this space. And have a good week.

Strike One

It was bound to happen and I can't say I was surprised. While the actual quiz was fun and the teams were very knowledgable and well-behaved, the rest of Quiky #293 was less pleasant.
Lack of preparation, drunken gate-crashers and a rather Spartan attendance made it a prime example for how I don't want to spend my Thursday nights. The next two weeks will show if this gig has a future.
Anyroads, the competition was fierce (and sometimes serious :) and in the end it was quite tight. The pretty version of the table might appear here sometime later this week, in the meantime the bullet-point version.

1. Smashing Peaches 56
2. Feid Club Reunited 51
3. Pinkies & The Brain 49,5
4. The Serious Competitors 47,5
5. 3 Zweisteins 36,5

Next week's music might be polyphonic ringtones, haven't had that in a while. Rest up here soon, along with sample questions and more pictures. Till then, have a good one.

BTW - was Schokoladenfabriken angeht - Peaches, ihr hattet Recht, und auch nicht... nicht daß es was am Ergebnis geändert hätte :)
Oompa loompa doompety doo, I've got more perfect puzzles for you...

As for Rose McGowan's .. dubious sense of style... guckst du hier.

Points & Patrick Swayze

Ritualistically, first things first. InQuizition #13 - Punkte.

Leninskij 79
Wilmersdorfer Witwen 53
Föderation Schranke 41
Team Max 31

Zweitens, die Antwort auf die quälende Frage wie groß Patrick Swayze war. Ganze 1,78m. Plus minus nichts :)
Nächste Woche wieder "reguläre" Runden, da Newcastle schon am Samstag gewinnt. Musik könnte polyphone Klingeltöne werden, oder mysteriöse Geräusche. Oder Duos.
Der Rest der Runden entscheidet sich gegen Ende der Woche. Schaut einfach noch mal rein.