I'm gonna try something kind of fun today. I hope. It's meta-trivia, folks, the kind that you won't know if you're strolling onto this blog from some random corner of the internet. And it's audience participation time.

As most Buccaneer Bowl regulars know, writing trivia for the game is a collaborative effort. Lillian, Thorn, and I all write a portion of the questions and give each other copies a few days before the event so that we can look them over and suggest any changes necessary. The three of us have very different areas of expertise, so we can see each other's questions from different angles to make sure they're tight and solid. Other games can make up for faulty questions by simply paying more than one player, but with Bucc Bowl's system of points and accumulated scores, there's more than cash riding on each one, and as we found out the hard way in the first couple of months, a problem question can create much more havoc than usual.

The matter of who writes each question comes up occasionally. Lillian has said that Josh guesses whose they are after they've been asked and has a fairly good record. Yesterday, I quizzed Lotus when she said she believed she was usually able to tell, and I believe she met with a few surprises. So now I'm curious. First, I'm curious if this is something the players generally think about, and second, I'm curious if they know us as well as they think.

Below is the full list of non-bonus questions from the July game. Even further below is the list of answers. As an added benefit, publishing this list can help some people who haven't yet decided to join us get a feel for what goes on there, and it gives people who don't know me, Thorn, and Lillian a reason for reading this post. If you haven't figured it out yet, your job is to guess which Bucc Bowl host wrote which of the questions. Although other members of the crew might have helped revise or rewrite a question, you're looking for the particular person who originally contributed it to the game.

I'm also going to borrow a practice from Lotus and offer prizes for the most correct guesses. Since I don't do this regularly, I am happy to give out healthy prizes for it. For first, second, and third place: L$100, L$50, and L$25. The contest will be over 24 hours after I publish the post. Please submit your answers in the blog comments.

Now, don't forget... you're not guessing the answers to the questions, you're guessing who wrote which: Lette Ponnier, Lillian Shippe, or Thornton Writer. I mean, you can answer the questions; I just won't be paying you for it.

Anyone who already knows the answers (that means you, Josh; Lotus can play because I only went through the June game with her) obviously can't participate. But if people enjoy this, we can do it following future Bucc Bowls, and anyone who does not learn the answers ahead of time will be welcome to compete for this little extra somethin' then. Here we go....

Maggie, Rain, and NonSmokerGirl alongside Maggie's trivia Wheel of Death.

In the comments section of the blog, list which Buccaneer Bowl host you believe contributed each question to the game. This contest will run from 11:00am SLT Thursday, August 20, to 11:00am SLT Friday, August 21.

Edited to add:

Oh... let me add one thing... and Circe can revise her answer if she wants to... but the total number of questions written by each of us in this list was:

Thorn - 6
Lillian - 9
Lette - 10

because Thorn had not been feeling well and Lil and I picked up the slack.

July 2009 Buccaneer Bowl Questions:

1. Field Marshal Paulus surrendered the German Sixth Army to the Russians in what battle of World War II?

2. Which of the main categories of cloud, with a name meaning "curl of hair," forms at the highest altitudes?

3. What is the only Great Lake to be completely within the borders of the USA?

4. In The Odyssey, a minor character and weapons thief named Melanthius ends up with his nose, ears, hands, and feet chopped off, but what additional body part was not only removed but fed to the dogs?

5. A cracked Tinamou egg at Cambridge University is the last of what naturalist's collection of specimens acquired during his research in this bird's native continent?

6. Omar Fierro is the former host of the Mexican version of what game show that is called "Svoya Igra" in Russia, "Riesgo!" in Spain, and "Waagstuk!" in the Netherlands?

7. What opera written by Guiseppe Verdi ended with Violetta dead in Alfredo's arms from tuberculosis?

8. What is the name of a series of comic books released in 2001 based on a fictional comic referenced in two Kevin Smith movies?

9. Tribology is the study of what?

10. To be classified as a "true" mineral, a substance must be solid, arising from geological processes, and have what kind of structure?

11. In the 1971 song "Hocus Pocus" by Dutch band focus, lead singer Thijs van Leer whistled, sang operatic falsetto, and practiced what other vocal technique?

12. What musical instrument does Jack steal from the beanstalk giant?

13. What was the nickname of the Bell X-1 plane that was the first to break the speed barrier?

14. Who is the Greek Muse of History?

15. In 2006, the Egyptian government voted not to recognize members of what religion on identification cards?

16. Thimphu is the capital of what Asian country?

17. Oddly, nineteenth century English actor Nutcombe Gould pursued his theatrical career after leaving the clergy due to what condition?

18. What metal was first discovered by amateur geologist William Gregor in Cornwall in 1791 and named for a race of powerful Greek deities?

19. What fuel powered the internal combustion engine patented by Samuel Morey in 1826?

20. What was the American horse Sir Barton the first to do in 1919?

21. The American Medical Association was founded in 1847 in what city?

22. What color is the ring furthest to the left on the Olympic Flag?

23. What Canadian province capital is located in the Red River Valley, in the south central portion of its province?

24. What sport did J.M. Barrie's amateur team the Allahakbarries play?

25. What instrument did vanished bandleader Glenn Miller play?

Sharon, proprietress of Sharon's, with Carrie, right, and the less-elusive-than-previously Nelly in the background.

July 2009 Buccaneer Bowl Answers:

1. Stalingrad

2. cirrus

3. Michigan

4. his genitals

5. Charles Darwin

6. Jeopardy!

7. La Traviata

8. Bluntman and Chronic

9. lubricants, lubrication, and/or friction

10. crystal

11. yodeling

12. harp

13. Glamorous Glennis

14. Clio/Kleio

15. Baha'i

16. Bhutan

17. stammer/stutter

18. titanium

19. turpentine

20. win the Triple Crown

21. Philadelphia

22. blue

23. Winnipeg

24. cricket

25. trombone

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