Typos of the Week, August 16 through August 22

Lotus Ceriano and Nelly Swindlehurst co-hosting just like old times at a new location. They led us through the grand opening of new club EyeQ today, September 2.

Yeah, I'm actually going back that far to bring you your typos of some week that isn't this week or last week. But they are the typos of a week. If you can remember back that far. If not, then they might even be more enigmatic until you remind yourself what they were. I seem to change the format of these a little each week. In this edition of your typo list, number 10 is (as usual of late) the Sheer Mass Typoage entry -- the answer that generated the largest number of typos in one shot during the week (that I was present for or alerted to). And then we've got nine more of which the worst were committed by only one or two people. However, in some cases, there were multiple typos in the finished product for those, as well, so I'm including more context in the section below the break: the questions, the answers in the hosts' terms, any answers that won the question, whether typoed or not, and all of the typos of a/the correct answer, even the minimal ones (people who answered correctly and spelled it correctly but weren't awarded are not included). I'm just experimenting with what works best here. And I'm sure I put more thought into it than any readers do, but that's ok. :)

NUMBER 10:
[14:48] JoshuaStephen Schism: police accademy
[14:48] Sweejen Stourmead: opolice academy
[14:48] Browman Griffith: polic admeny
[14:48] Becki Verne: police squar
[14:48] Rosalyn Python: police aadme
[14:48] Taylor Serendipity: plociuice acadmaeny\
[14:48] Hilda Static: police acadcemy

NUMBER 9:
[2009/08/20 10:12] Trebor Shelman: w graopwes'

NUMBER 8:
[2009/08/19 18:13] Hilda Static: chocoaltaed chip cooss

NUMBER 7:
[2009/08/18 13:54] Fiz Laval: luffwagfew
[2009/08/18 13:54] Mako Kungfu: loufwastche

NUMBER 6:
[13:13] Weezil Urvile: bangon
[13:13] Weezil Urvile: kok

NUMBER 5:
[13:15] Lotus Ceriano: rusua
[13:15] Lotus Ceriano: rusua
[13:15] Lotus Ceriano: russa
[13:15] Lotus Ceriano: ia

NUMBER 4:
[2009/08/17 12:55] Rain Ninetails: tinnenemanan sqaua

NUMBER 3:
[12:54] Thornton Writer: zorastianriansm

NUMBER 2:
[19:18] WannaBeA Werefox: moiutn due

NUMBER 1:
[2009/08/16 18:54] Olmstead Fanshaw: capotailpujnishjme

Bird's eye view of EyeQ at a moment when there were no virtual reality pictures being projected onto the walls of the globe. Lotus and Nelly did a great job, but I was very happy to return to a walled house when the event was over.

NUMBER 10 (SINN GETS THE HOSTING AWARD FOR INSPIRING THE MOST SHEER MASS TYPOAGE):
[14:48] Sinnamon Sands: 18). WHAT EMBARRASSINGLY BAD SERIES OF MOVIES FEATURED THE ANTICS OF SUCH CHARACTERS AS COMMANDANT LASSARD, TACKLEBERRY, HIGHTOWER, AND MAHONEY?
[14:48] Chaddington Boomhauer: police academy
[14:48] JoshuaStephen Schism: police accademy
[14:48] Sweejen Stourmead: opolice academy
[14:48] Browman Griffith: polic admeny
[14:48] Becki Verne: police squar
[14:48] Rosalyn Python: police aadme
[14:48] Taylor Serendipity: plociuice acadmaeny\
[14:48] Hilda Static: police acadcemy
[14:49] Sinnamon Sands: Winners on that one are Chad, Josh, and Sweej

NUMBER 9:
[2009/08/20 10:12] Maggie Sewell: 16) IN COOKING WHAT DOES THE TERM 'VERONIQUE' MEAN?
[2009/08/20 10:12] Trebor Shelman: w graopwes'
[2009/08/20 10:13] Maggie Sewell: YES TREB
[2009/08/20 10:13] Maggie Sewell: WITH GRAPES
VERONIQUE MEANS THAT THE DISH INCLUDES GRAPES, EXAMPLES INCLUDE LOBSTER VERONIQUE, SALMON VERONIQUE, ORANGE CHICKEN VERONIQUE BLAH BLAH...

NUMBER 8:
[2009/08/19 18:13] gwen Lexington: 3. INGREDIENTS INCLUDE BUTTER, SUGAR, FLOUR, AND OF COURSE "MORSELS". NAME THIS ALL TIME FAVORITE COOKIE?
[2009/08/19 18:13] Rhea Neiro: toll house cho chip
[2009/08/19 18:13] Starla Gurbux: cholcolat echip cookies
[2009/08/19 18:13] Hilda Static: chocoaltaed chip cooss
[2009/08/19 18:13] Rhea Neiro: *choc
[2009/08/19 18:13] gwen Lexington: RHEA HAS QUICK FINGERS
[2009/08/19 18:13] gwen Lexington: CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES...WE CANT MAKE THESE WITHOUT EATING THE CHIPS

NUMBER 7:
[2009/08/18 13:54] Cully Andel: WHAT IS THE GERMAN WORD FOR AIR FORCE?
[2009/08/18 13:54] AnaMaria Quintessa: lufwaffe
[2009/08/18 13:54] Liriel Garnet: luftwafte
[2009/08/18 13:54] Laertes Parx: luftwaffa
[2009/08/18 13:54] Fiz Laval: luffwagfew
[2009/08/18 13:54] Mako Kungfu: loufwastche
[2009/08/18 13:54] Mako Kungfu: luffwafe
[2009/08/18 13:54] Lotus Ceriano: luftwaFEF
[2009/08/18 13:54] Rain Ninetails: luftwaffa
[2009/08/18 13:54] Cully Andel: ANA THEN LIRI
[2009/08/18 13:54] Cully Andel: IT'S LUFTWAFFE

NUMBER 6:
[13:13] Loraine Alter: 17. One Night in ......
[13:13] Weezil Urvile: bangon
[13:13] bo Cordoso: bangkopk
[13:13] Weezil Urvile: kok
[13:13] Mars Rubanis: bankock
[13:13] Lotus Ceriano: bangkiokp
[2009/08/18 13:13] Loraine Alter: weezil i'm letting you have that...i accept typos

NUMBER 5:
[13:15] Loraine Alter: 16. In terms of area, what became the largest country in the world after the break up of the USSR?
[13:15] Lotus Ceriano: rusua
[13:15] Lotus Ceriano: rusua
[13:15] Lotus Ceriano: russa
[13:15] Lotus Ceriano: ia
[13:15] Loraine Alter: wtg lotus
[13:15] Loraine Alter: russia

NUMBER 4:
[2009/08/17 12:55] AnaMaria Quintessa: Q12. WHERE WAS A PAPIER MACHE STATUE CALLED “THE GODDESS OF DEMOCRACY & FREEDOM” UNVEILED BY STUDENTS IN MAY 1989?
[2009/08/17 12:55] Rain Ninetails: tinnenemanan sqaua
[2009/08/17 12:55] Lotus Ceriano: tianemne sq
[2009/08/17 12:55] Esperanza Merlin: tainemen square
[2009/08/17 12:55] AnaMaria Quintessa: THE ANSWER IS TIANANMEN SQUARE, BEIJING
[2009/08/17 12:56] Esperanza Merlin: teniman square
[2009/08/17 12:56] AnaMaria Quintessa: WELL DONE RAIN THERE

NUMBER 3:
[12:54] Lebn Bucyk: It was founded in Persia, and may indeed be the oldest monotheistic religion in the world.
[12:54] AnaMaria Quintessa: zorastraism
[12:54] Thornton Writer: zorastianriansm
[12:54] Lebn Bucyk: Yes Ana
[12:55] Lebn Bucyk: Zoroastrianism - a minority remains in Iran, but many adherants now live in India and Pakistan

NUMBER 2 (AND WORD OF THE WEEK):
[2009/08/18 21:29] Blaize Korobase: 1. Drinking lots of this soda will decrease sperm count, and thus prevent pregnancy, thanks to the coloring agent Yellow No. 5.
[2009/08/18 21:29] Ruby Miggins: mount duew
[2009/08/18 21:29] Luce Portland: mounteain dew
[2009/08/18 21:29] Rexx Capalini: mt doew
[2009/08/18 21:29] Blaize Korobase: RUBY!!
[2009/08/18 21:29] Blaize Korobase: MT DEW!
[2009/08/18 21:29] Blaize Korobase: Yellow No 5 is a safe chemical, used for adding a yellow color to Mountain Dew, as well as many other food products. The chemical has no effect on sperm count, thus rendering it ineffective as a contraceptive. Even if it did lower your sperm count, you would still have sperm, and it only takes one to get pregnant.

[19:18] Dakota Carson: 5. In 1925, Bill Jones started selling a lithiated lemon-lime soda under a revived trademark that had been used to sell "zero proof hillbilly moonshine." What is this drink?
[19:18] Less Juliesse: mountainn dew
[19:18] Lillian Shippe: mountian dwew
[19:18] Laertes Parx: ountaind ew
[19:18] Austyn Redstar: mt dwe
[19:18] WannaBeA Werefox: moiutn due
[19:18] Zelliah Cookie: Less Lillian Laertes

NUMBER 1:
[2009/08/16 18:54] Honey Potez: What was abolished in Britain in 1965 for all crimes except treason?
[2009/08/16 18:54] Lillian Shippe: hanging
[2009/08/16 18:54] Olmstead Fanshaw: capotailpujnishjme
[2009/08/16 18:54] Honey Potez: WD LILLIAN!
[2009/08/16 18:54] Honey Potez: HANGING (CAPITAL PUNISHMENT)

********

Typos of the Week, July 26 through August 1

Some of these are nominations people sent me while I was away, so they might have happened in the previous week, but I'm pulling blogger's prerogative and including them here indiscriminately. There was a surprising dearth of typos at the games I went to this week, so it balances out.


10. [12:22] Lludmila Mirrikh: faminog
[12:23] kattatonia Wickentower: apink bidrflamingo

9. [19:41] Hilda Static: palnes trains airtomponboe;s

8. [13:33] Sweejen Stourmead: japloemnpohno

7. [19:56] Edmond Oconnell: caranvererrie'

6. [19:21] Askytyleon Proudfoot: COTOTM BOJTH

5. [18:34] Celeste Wisent: babnanbrea

4. [18:42] Lotus Ceriano: withering hjeoingts

3. [20:32] Karmel Kips: frpots

2. [17:12] JoshuaStephen Schism: bnloolywood

1. [10:59] Trebor Shelman: chjlotyl
[10:59] Chaddington Boomhauer: choorlcyu

Trin McMinnar hosting trivia at club Shiraz with Browman Griffith loyally protecting her feet.

10. [12:22] Kghia Gherardi: What did Alice use as a croquet mallet when playing with the queen?
[12:22] Lludmila Mirrikh: faminog
[12:23] kattatonia Wickentower: apink bidrflamingo
FLAMINGO

9. [19:40] Trin McMinnar: You're like one of those Chatty Cathy dolls, except I'm not pulling the string, you are. Blah! Blah! Blah!
[19:41] Hilda Static: palnes trains airtomponboe;s
PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES

8. [13:33] Sinnamon Sands: 5). WHAT HOT PEPPER IS NAMED AFTER THE CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF VERACRUZ?
[13:33] Sweejen Stourmead: japloemnpohno
JALAPENO

7. [19:56] Jynks Clawtooth shouts: Blueberries and Concord grapes are 2 of the 3 fruits native to North America; name the 3rd?
[19:56] Edmond Oconnell: caranvererrie'
CRANBERRY

6. [19:21] Honey Potez: What's a water moccasin often called, due to the white inside its mouth?
[19:21] Askytyleon Proudfoot: COTOTM BOJTH
COTTONMOUTH

5. [18:34] Trin McMinnar: Flour, butter,vanilla, very old bananas-What am I making?
[18:34] Celeste Wisent: babnanbrea
BANANA BREAD

4. WUTHERING HEIGHTS

3. [20:32] Liriel Garnet: What American poet wrote: "Good fences make good neighbors"?
[20:32] Karmel Kips: frpots
(ROBERT) FROST

2. [17:11] Cinna Xaris: 12 - WHAT IS THE INFORMAL TERM FOR THE HINDU FILM INDUSTRY BASED IN MUMBAI?
[17:12] JoshuaStephen Schism: bnloolywood
BOLLYWOOD

1. [10:59] Thornton Writer: Q19) Fungi lack what green coloring matter that plants use to make food?
[10:59] Trebor Shelman: chjlotyl
[10:59] Chaddington Boomhauer: choorlcyu
CHLOROPHYLL

Typos of the Week, July 12 through July 18

The list is going to be a little different for this week because I've been organizing the bowl, writing trivia, and planning for the trip I'm about to take pretty much as soon as I finish this post. I'll be back next Monday. There are three parts to this one: First are all of the typos nominated by other people in the past week. Second are the top ten from the first day, Sunday, July 12, but not ranked. Since I wasn't keeping track continuously throughout the week this time, I had to sift through logs, and it took so long just to get through Sunday that that's all you're gonna get. Third are the Bucc Bowl top nine (because that's how many pass my rigid standards of what makes a good typo :P).

In addition, I'd like you all to post your nominations for the coming week directly to the comments section in this post, since I won't be around to see any of them or to collect nominations by IM. Since this week's list heavily favors the weekend crowd, I hope someone's keeping close track of the weekday typos in particular. Just add them when something good comes up.

This is also a bit of a rush job, so no rankings... but the bunch of them from Sunday the 12th should give you an idea of just how much I end up paring the actual list down to get it to ten, at least during the weeks when I'm at a lot of trivia.

I. Nominated typos:

a. [10:57] Catherine Resch: fproemgert
[10:57] Karmel Kips: foreingier
[10:57] Quarters Bailey: foriegner
[10:57] Weniki Oh: oforreninger

b. [8:52] Rach Borkotron: amerghger

c. [13:31] JoshuaStephen Schism: s[poielberg
[13:31] Billy2Times Krams: steben sopeilbyerg

d. Mindy Moe shouts: Jodie Foster won an Oscar for which film?
[14:29] Cully Andel: silenc of the lamcs

e. [11:02] Hilda Static: rush sundicixion'ss

f. [18:35] Honey Potez: AD SLOGAN: "A little dab'll do ya."
[18:35] Sal Zulaman: Bryklscerq
[18:36] Olmstead Fanshaw: brylcleer'
[18:36] Edmond Oconnell: brycream

g. [07:31 PM] [ BILLY2TIMES KRAMS ] 17. DEBUTING ON MAY 1, 1999, WHAT ANIMATED CHARACTER WAS CREATED BY FORMER MARINE BIOLOGY TEACHER STEPHEN HILLENBURG?
[07:31 PM] Lou Netizen: Spongebob sauarpants


II. From Sunday, July 12:

h. [2009/07/12 11:29] Cully Andel: WHO IS BOO BOO'S BEST FRIEND?
[2009/07/12 11:29] WavingMarcel Floresby: yogiuj
[2009/07/12 11:29] Hilda Static: yogi b erar

i. [2009/07/12 11:37] Cully Andel: WHAT DOES 'SCUBA' STAND FOR?
[2009/07/12 11:37] Lette Ponnier: self conteained underwater bretehin apapatus
[2009/07/12 11:37] Rain Ninetails: self contained underwater brathing appoaratus
[2009/07/12 11:37] Rekeorb Wezzog: self contatine dufneradwatere breathing apapratus
[2009/07/12 11:37] Honey Potez: self contantined underwater breathing apparatica

j. [2009/07/12 11:54] Cully Andel: WHAT WAS THE 'EMPRESS' IN PG WODEHOUSE'S 'THE EMPRESS OF BLANDINGS'?
[2009/07/12 11:54] Chaddington Boomhauer: a====a ig

k. [2009/07/12 14:03] Sinnamon Sands: 11). ONCE KNOWN AS FAIRY FLOSS IN THE U.S., WHAT FOODSTUFF IS KNOWN AS "papa's beard" IN FRANCE AND "sugar wool" IN GERMANY?
[2009/07/12 14:04] Hilda Static: cotton vandu\

l. [2009/07/12 14:36] Sinnamon Sands: 18). WHAT COUNTRY'S DELEGATION WAS ALLOWED TO BE SEATED IN THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 1994, AFTER A 20-YEAR ABSENCE?
[2009/07/12 14:36] Lette Ponnier: south afficer
[2009/07/12 14:36] Sweejen Stourmead: couth afrcia

m. [2009/07/12 14:57] Sinnamon Sands: 22). WHAT IS THE LARGEST NATION IN AREA WHERE ALL CARS LEGALLY DRIVE ON THE LEFT?
[2009/07/12 14:57] Lette Ponnier: austrlaia
[2009/07/12 14:58] AnaMaria Quintessa: austrial
[2009/07/12 14:58] Catherine Resch: austreaial
[2009/07/12 14:58] Rain Ninetails: authstroiala

n. [2009/07/12 19:05] Honey Potez: AD SLOGAN: "It keeps going, and going, and going...."
[2009/07/12 19:05] Clancy Huckleberry: engereiesr

o. [2009/07/12 19:39] Honey Potez: TV SHOW: "Who could take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile"
[2009/07/12 19:39] Sal Zulaman: mary tylelmorre

p. [2009/07/12 20:28] Lette Ponnier: What word describes both an incentive to save aluminum cans for recycling and the return of this money paid as security?
[2009/07/12 20:28] Hilda Static: de[osti

q. [2009/07/12 20:37] Lette Ponnier: "Draw one in the dark" is diner shorthand for serving what?
[2009/07/12 20:37] Lillian Shippe: b;ack vcoffer


III. Bucc Bowl top nine:

r. [2009/07/18 10:33] Lette Ponnier: 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?
[2009/07/18 10:33] AnaMaria Quintessa: jeparfdy
[2009/07/18 10:33] JoshuaStephen Schism: jeapodfr
[2009/07/18 10:33] Chaddington Boomhauer: jeiprady
[2009/07/18 10:33] Rain Ninetails: heoipardy

s. [2009/07/18 10:38] Lette Ponnier: What is the name of a series of comic books released in 2001 based on a fictional comic referenced in two Kevin Smith movies?
[2009/07/18 10:38] Rekeorb Wezzog: bluntama nchrimomnic

t. [2009/07/18 10:43] Lette Ponnier: To be classified as a "true" mineral, a substance must be solid, arising from geological processes, and have what kind of structure?
[2009/07/18 10:44] Alanna Robbiani: crysat
[2009/07/18 10:44] Circe Falta: crystaLLINSDE
[2009/07/18 10:44] Olmstead Fanshaw: crystatla

u. [2009/07/18 11:02] Lette Ponnier: What was the nickname of the Bell X-1 plane that was the first to break the speed barrier?
[2009/07/18 11:02] Rosalyn Python: glamoursu genenis

v. [2009/07/18 11:25] Lette Ponnier: What metal was first discovered by amateur geologist William Gregor in Cornwall in 1791 and named for a race of powerful Greek deities?
[2009/07/18 11:25] Olmstead Fanshaw: titainmim

w. [2009/07/18 11:30] Lette Ponnier: What was the American horse Sir Barton the first to do in 1919?
[2009/07/18 11:30] Chaddington Boomhauer: tiprlecowrn

x. [2009/07/18 11:44] Lette Ponnier: The American Medical Association was founded in 1847 in what city?
[2009/07/18 11:44] Lou Netizen: Phildeophia
[2009/07/18 11:44] Cinna Xaris: phillidepghia
[2009/07/18 11:44] Starla Gurbux: philealopeh
[2009/07/18 11:44] Trebor Shelman: \pems\\\philly
[2009/07/18 11:44] Chaddington Boomhauer: phildaephliapa

y. [2009/07/18 11:48] Lette Ponnier: What Canadian province capital is located in the Red River Valley, in the south central portion of its province?
[2009/07/18 11:48] Olmstead Fanshaw: wimmpen g

z. [2009/07/18 11:50] Lette Ponnier: What sport did J.M. Barrie's amateur team the Allahakbarries play?
[2009/07/18 11:50] Starla Gurbux: cfricdqet

********

a. Foreigner
b. Armageddon
c. Spielberg
d. Silence of the Lambs
e. Rush, Subdivisions
f. Brylcreem
g. Spongebob Squarepants
h. Yogi Bear
i. self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
j. a pig
k. cotton candy
l. South Africa
m. Australia
n. Energizer
o. Mary Tyler Moore
p. deposit
q. black coffee
r. Jeopardy!
s. Bluntman and Chronic
t. crystal/crystalline
u. Glamorous Glennis
v. titanium
w. Triple Crown
x. Philadelphia
y. Winnipeg
z. cricket

Typos of the Week, July 19 through July 25, please post below:

Virtual Trivia Flickr Stream

We now have a central outpost for people to send their photos taken at trivia events. Go there to view, to join, to reminisce, to laugh, and/or to add to it.

Here's the URL: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1169830@N21/

And here's a sampling of stuff you can find there:

by Chaddington Boomhauer

by Lillian Shippe

by Mako Kungfu

by tapper Gopheller

by Lette Ponnier

********

Typos of the Week, July 5 through July 11

11. Included for sheer mass typoage:

[15:02] Lette Ponnier: saspirn
[15:02] Chaddington Boomhauer: asiprijn
[15:02] Kiriaster Mirajkar: alspirin
[15:02] AnaMaria Quintessa: asprtin
[15:02] Vik Button: aspirine
[15:02] Fiz Laval: aspirein

10. [10:58] Rekeorb Wezzog: frunning ofabuls

9. Olmstead Fanshaw: satatuer of livbertyu

8. [23:20] Sal Zulaman: Guilkaina\

7. [18:34] Browman Griffith: boen andclyed
[18:34] Biker Galthie: bonnyue and clcye

6. [18:14] Ireland Nirvana: ANtony and clo\]
[18:14] Alaina Nightfire: cease leopatra

5. [19:00] Weniki Oh: milkywyta

4. [19:11] Mark007 Bloobury: blootherew wil,.e b blood

3. [12:24] Rain Ninetails: sal;m,pmn

2. the name "Robin" was bad luck for a few of us this week:

[13:08] Lette Ponnier: chrsiotphoer robinh

[13:26] Trebor Shelman: trobijn hi9iod['

[10:31] Lette Ponnier: srbin hod
[10:31] Cully Andel: roveet of loxlkey

And finally, two people who illustrate for us the Freudian Typo.

1. [12:32] Maggie Sewell: cocke

and

Honorable mention: [16:41] Thornton Writer: hot vulvan chick.. enterprise?


11. [15:02] Cully Andel: WHAT DRUG WAS INTRODUCED COMMERCIALLY BY BAYER AG OF LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY IN 1899?
ASPIRIN

10. [10:58] Cinna Xaris: 20 - ONE PERSON WAS RECENTLY KILLED MARKING THE FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS A FATALITY HAS OCCURED AT WHAT EVENT?
RUNNING OF THE BULLS

9. Jynks Clawtooth shouts: What famous structure was the first electrified lighthouse in the U.S.?
STATUE OF LIBERTY

8. In September 2001 who told NYC, "The spirit of our city has never been stronger"?
GIULIANI

7. [18:34] Jynks Clawtooth shouts: The most famous gangster couple in history, her last name was Parker and he was the anti-authoritarian criminal Barrow.
BONNIE AND CLYDE

6. [18:14] Jynks Clawtooth shouts: After the death of her lover, this woman found true love. Though Egypt and Rome did not get along, these two people married in 36 B.C, planning to conquer Rome. Name them.
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

5. MILKY WAY

4. THERE WILL BE BLOOD. This answer, meanwhile, looks like it's gotten the milkshake treatment.

3. [12:24] Cully Andel: A SOCKEYE IS WHAT TYPE OF FISH
SALMON

2:
[13:08] Cully Andel: IN THE BOOKS, WHO OWNED WINNIE THE POOH?
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

[13:26] Cully Andel: ROBIN OF LOXLEY WAS BETTER KNOWN AS WHO?
ROBIN HOOD

[10:31] Cinna Xaris: 9 - ROBIN OF SHERWOOD WAS ALSO KNOWN BY WHAT NAME?
ROBIN HOOD or ROBIN OF LOCKSLEY

1. Kitten Nemeth: 13. "IT’S THE REAL THING"
COKE, of course. No one has a real cock in SL.

and

Honorable mention. [16:40] Cinna Xaris: 6 - WHAT WAS THE NAME OF JENNIFER LIEN'S CHARACTER *AND* IN WHICH STAR TREK SERIES WAS SHE A CAST MEMBER?
we think he meant HOT VULCAN CHICK, ENTERPRISE

Please note that because this answer isn't correct, it doesn't quite make the typo list proper, but really, it pairs so well with Maggie's and hey -- it's Thorn! I had to put it in here someplace.

********

Announcement: Triviators Mega-Triv

Second Triviators Mega-Triv, Saturday 1:30pm, Sharon's Diner

Just in case you didn't catch any announcements earlier this week, for the second month in a row, the Triviators (Lotus Ceriano, Starla Gurbux, Alanna Robbiani, Mako Kungfu, and hopefully Nelly Swindlehurst) will be spending their Buccaneer Bowl winnings on you. Come to Sharon's Diner at 1:30pm on Saturday, July 11 (that would be today if you're reading this in time). They have L$2,000 to spill on you, and with several hosts asking questions, at least one of them will have stuff especially for you. Hope to see you there!

********

Personal Profile: Cinna Xaris and Karmel Kips, Part 2 of 2

Karmel hosting trivia at Lilly's

Lette Ponnier: So what do you both do in SL besides trivia? Karmel, you've mentioned being an MM [Midnight Mania] enthusiast?
Karmel Kips: Yes, I explore something for a while until I get my fill, and right now, still MM.
Cinna Xaris: Mainly I chat with friends, play Greedy or games like Zyngo and Gelliz. I'm a bit interested in learning more about creating things but still a total noob in that aspect of things.
KK: I think trivia is an enduring interest, though. Before MM i was checking out dance parties.
LP: Any you still go to?
KK: Yes, but less often than a couple months ago. My favorites are The Merry Pranksters, Alohas (Australian, not Hawaiian), and Club Arouse... very nice strip club.
CX: Yeah, I'm with Karmel on the enduring interest. So many places have trivia and each has their own style.

LL: That's a good segue, Cinna. What do y'all think about various styles? I have a question I've asked every time so far, but it seemed to make most people uncomfortable answering it the way I had it... so instead of asking what your favorite games are, I was wondering if you'd say which ones you tend to go to most.
CX: I think its nice having so many different trivia styles since each trivia goer is going to have a preference. I like the light hearted, slightly "crazy" ones best. DS, Inferno are always tops on my list. Zoobar and Monochrome are also on my weekly to do list.
KK: Hmmm, this is difficult because it is constantly changing .
LP: You try to make it to a range, Karmel?
KK: Yes, see how Double Standards has evolved just over the last month or so. So whatever I say about a certain event may be somewhat obsolete before it is read, with DS as only one example... Thorn's new formats, changes in hosting, changes in hours.
CX: That is one game I need to get too more, Thorn's.
KK: And other places change a lot too. The village – totally different than a month ago. New host, new room, new rules… new furniture lol.
CX: I haven't been over there lately either.

KK: I will say something in general about your question. The only thing that turns me off to a place is if I feel like it is always a typing contest. My computer is not that fast.
CX: I second that thought as well.
KK: It is frustrating to know the answer, type like mad, and be consistently 6th. Paying the first 3 is just salt in the wound. It is a combination of the difficulty of the question and who is there. When a lot of good players go, I probably won't attend much if the questions are like that. That is why I try to track who wins my questions and figure out why.

LP: How interesting! Have you figured out anything helpful so far?
CX: Investigative trivia hosting!
KK: Yes. But I'm not telling :) Just notice... a variety of people usually get my questions.
LP: Which is a very good thing!
KK: Uh oh, now I have to live up to that bragging.
CX: Same tends to be happening with mine, decent amount of spread on who wins.
KK: Great!


LP: You take a very organized approach to hosting.
KK: Basically I keep a lot of questions at the ready and do not have a set in order ahead of time.
CX: Ditto. I usually have them ordered before hand, but I've jumped around or totally tossed out a few questions at times.
KK: I think some hosts have a set and stick to it. I can understand because it is a lot going on to pick questions, too. I pull from the category I want at the time. Fast, slow, dull, funny, etc
CX: Tonight I won't have that option since I have a pattern I plan to follow. It’s just the red white blue. First question has something to do with red, and so on.

LP: Lotus recently posted in her blog about themed events. What do you two think of them, in terms of either hosting or playing?
CX: I actually just saw Lotus's blog today. I need to read her stuff. I like themes, but I wouldn't do every night as a theme.
KK: I agree with Lotus thinking they are generally not as good. I can't say I would never do one... mainly I think they turn more people off than attract people, but I could be wrong. I like to be inclusive. That is very important to me.
CX: I think Circe pulls off themes quite well at Inferno.
LP: For my part, I like loose themes... when all of the questions have a common thread but don't pander to any particular knowledge set.
KK: Yes, "theme" can mean different things.
LP: So for instance, I love how Sharon does themes... like it'll be "rats," but there aren't actually any questions about rats. Rather than confining the questions to a particular topic, the theme turns into a hint.
KK: Lotus and I had a bantering revolution theme today, but the questions were not exactly that subject.
LP: Yeah, that's a really good example of that sort of thing.
KK: Sharon is a master of the no theme theme, I think.
CX: I really need to check out Sharon's more often

LP: Which brings me to the next general question: if you have any role models or people you just generally admire around the circuit?
KK: Many.
LP: Heh... I should have included, "that you'd like to give a shout-out to."
CX: Ok, I have 5 to list. You Lette, since your events always are different - Bucc Bowl and Chaos are pretty innovative and have become staples.
Lette Ponnier blushes... thanks!
CX: Devin and Lucinda also, they are both pretty light hearted and I know their events will always be fun. Lou for always having a variety of questions that really make me think. And last but not least Circe - for pulling off the themed events so well and having such a way with words (even if her color trivias make my head explode).

LP: Excellent... well, that's everything I had planned.. was there anything either of you wanted to bring up?
CX: Please put the head exploding part in the blog. :P
KK: I think it is exciting how trivia seems to be exploding in popularity and there are many new events and formats. I am an explorer at heart and I think that is why trivia will be an enduring interest for me, since it continues to evolve.
CX: I have to say it is a TON of hard work. I really had no clue until I started hosting, usually I'm exhausted after the events.
KK: It is a surprising amount of work! Playing is easier and pays about the same.
LP: Oh... yeah, it is.... maybe we should start a Trivia Host Appreciation Day.
CX: Free vodka for trivia hosts!

Personal Profile: Cinna Xaris and Karmel Kips, Part 1 of 2

Cinna hosting at Double Standards

I thought I’d switch up the personal profile focus this time and talk to people who are new at hosting, rather than long-timers. Cinna Xaris at Double Standards and Karmel Kips at Lilly’s Pub began hosting on the same day a few weeks ago, so I thought I’d take advantage of the timing to talk with them both at the “front end” of the hosting gig. We headed to Artropolis, where we sat on deck chairs on the top of a hill, surrounded by open-air art galleries. The sim’s owner and renowned RL/SL artist Filthy Fluno flew in long enough to exchange hellos. The conversation had the tendency to veer off into lighter territory every so often, which meant I learned about Karmel’s kooking and the fact that Cinna and I have the same freezer contents.

Lette Ponnier: So let's start as we usually do, shall we? How did you both end up getting involved in trivia in SL? And that means as a player, since I know you were both playing and hanging out before hosting.
Cinna Xaris: Well during my first day or two in SL I stumbled upon Double Standards. I ran into two awesome ladies (Hummingbird and Lucinda) who were sitting there watching a movie. I was amazed by being able to watch a movie in SL, and sat down to join them. Right afterwards Luci was hosting a trivia and I stuck around....I got hooked.
Karmel Kips: I was exploring and found a place that paid 1L per correct answer auto trivia.

LP: Oh cool, so right at the beginning. And Karmel, that made you seek out other trivia places?
CX: Yeah, addicted young.
KK: So I was there and liked the auto trivia. I searched and found Double Standards. Lucky I found it since I love the smartass!
CX: Agreed!
LP: And then it was just snowball effect from there.
KK: Yes.

LP: And what eventually made you both decide to host?
KK: Lotus asked me!
LP: You hadn't thought of hosting prior to that?
KK: I was flattered to be asked to host at Lilly's. I hardly felt good enough to PLAY at Lilly's.
CX: I'd been thinking about giving it a try when I was off for the summer, then we found out Devin would be moving. Seeing as they needed someone to fill in I thought it would be a good time to try it out.

LP: Did you have any transition period or did you just jump in having an idea of what you were doing?
KK: Well, actually I really jumped because I was just experimenting with Sharon’s BYOT to see how I liked it. I had not thought about a real gig, just playing to see how to do it.
CX: Well I'd started thinking about applying to host at DS about 2 months beforehand, so I was watching the hostesses and how they handled trivias, and talking to Devin and Luci about it. However my first night I still was thinking, "Oh crap...how am I gonna pull this off!"
LP: Sharon's is kind of like an audition stage now.
KK: It is nice that she does that.

LP: Cinna, through observing others, what kind of things did you make mental note of in preparation?
CX: Well I picked up the idea that countdowns are good, and Devin gave me her gesture to use. Also since DS is a two hour event the host usually chats a bit in between questions.


LP: True, true... how about the content of the game? Question writing? Was it a struggle at all to start writing good ones?
KK: I thought a lot about the mechanics and practiced gestures and timing... but most important to me was the content of the questions. I have definite ideas about what makes good questions. 1) a range of categories. 2) include international questions. 3) make sure your questions are written so not the same person or couple of people get them all the time. 4) research so disputed answers don't happen. and 5) alternate easy and hard, so timing is fun.
CX: I saw different styles of content – sometimes there would be themes and other times random questions. I talked to people both at DS and other places about how they write questions – some use some trivia books and others use Wikipedia surfing or random knowledge they happen to know. I try to blend all that together when I'm hosting.

LP: That's an interesting last one, Karmel, because not everyone has a good sense of easy and hard, especially when it comes to stuff that is in your area of expertise or something you don't know anything about at all
CX: Yeah that is something I try to balance well in my games too.
LP: Are there topics that you feel more comfortable writing about?
KK: 5 was alternating fast and slow. :)
LP: Oh ok, not easy and hard?
KK: Kooking! Lotus suggested I pick a specialty Kategory, and I have a VERY large library of Kookbooks.

LP: Seems like people are increasingly developing signature... um... for lack of a better word, gimmicks, which I think is cute and fun. Do you cook (or kook) a lot?
KK: Every day :) Keep getting hungry every day.
CX: Yeah I'd be so done for at your trivias :P
Cinna Xaris is NOT domesticated.
LP: Is it what you do for a living? Or you just like preparing good stuff for yourself?
KK: I have my own business selling (not making) jewelry in RL.

LP: I used to cook all the time, but now I'm trying to balance a dissertation and an SL addiction, and I mostly eat frozen burritos.
CX: Omg Lette I live on those.
KK: When I decided what business to start in RL 15 yrs ago, I read some good advice: do not turn your hobby into a business or you will not have a hobby.
LP: Amy's, Cinna?
CX: Yes! The non-dairy ones.

LP: Same with me. That does sound like good advice, Karmel.
CX: Very true.
LP: Though I violate it all the time.
CX: Your hobby is your school project. As it’s becoming for me as well.
LP: Um, yeah... my dissertation is on SL. :/
KK: I thought your hobby was eroticism.
CX: I would love to read it someday when you have it done, Lette.
LP: Maybe I have many. Though that's interesting... didn't know I was "known" for that.
KK: I don't know what anyone else thinks
CX: You are.
KK: Only my own thought, Lette.
LP: Oh definitely, Cinna... with any luck, it'll be publishable, and I'll be trying to get everyone to buy it lol.
KK: lol

Event Profile: Charitable Bliss

I'll start by confessing that I put off checking out Charitable Bliss because the L$15-per-question payout did not constitute an especially persuasive pitch. And to be sure, with only around fifteen questions during the game, this is not the event to go to if you're trying to pay your rent. But curiosity won out, and as it turns out, the event fills a particular niche that might appeal to people hoping to ramp up their trivia karma.

In many ways, this is a pretty standard game: the questions follow broad themes (I was there for flag trivia and for television trivia), and as at Destiny's, longtime players will find them familiar; the crowd is perfectly nice and the music perfectly enjoyable; the sploder is perfectly splodery.

Charitable Bliss's distinguishing element, though, is right there in its name. This club's events are all geared toward raising money for the real life charities they support, currently the Breast Cancer Foundation and Autism Speaks. The club provides several means of contributing to these causes. You can donate money directly, of course, at displays on the premises. If you'd like something for your trouble, however, you can purchase women's clothing priced at L$25 per item provided by QT Clothing, including lingerie, casual apparel, and breast cancer ribbon pasties. Finally, if you'd really like some bang for your buck, you can participate in the ongoing silent date auctions for members of the staff, both male and female. Receipts on the walls indicate that they've managed to raise approximately US$65 for St. Jude and US$90 for Big Brother/Big Sister in recent months, which calculates to over L$40,000 in contributions.


Bliss's other main feature is to hook people up. From owner Jasmina Kline's description: "Looking for a date? Or true love? Charitable Bliss is here to help. People from all over come to our club to find true love. Whether it be a blind date, a charity date auction, or just to hit on the dancers. Everyone is welcome." (As an aside, this makes me want to conduct a dual interview with Jasmina and David Tuck, the other club owner on the circuit who aspires to be matchmaker to the masses.) So if courting members of your preferred sex(es) through out-answering, out-smartassing, or out-typoing them (or letting them do the same to you) hasn't been working out for ya, then maybe they can be of assistance over that-a-way.

As far as the trivia itself goes, as I said, there are no bells or whistles, no gimmicks, no huge payouts or goofy costume themes. The events have live DJs and dancers (not the stripping kind as far as I'm aware). Jasmina begins the game at half past the hour and moves at a brisk but not rushed pace thereafter. Both times I was there, the questions wrapped up in under 45 minutes. The time slot coincides with Double Standards' usual weekday slot, but the trivia is scheduled only two days a week, Mondays and Thursdays, so that with DS's currently abbreviated schedule, only one of those days poses a conflict.

Sample questions from the TV theme event:

[2009/06/29 16:39] Jasmina Kline: Q: What company was the original sponsor of I Love Lucy?


[2009/06/29 16:45] Jasmina Kline: Q: What is NBC's longest running soap opera?

[2009/06/29 17:05] Jasmina Kline: Q: What popular TV personality claims he was once fired as a weekend TV weatherman for describing a storm as having "hailstones the size of canned hams"?

Drop in at Charitable Bliss if you get a hankering for it, but take note that if my previous visits are any indication, the trivia will likely happen between 4:30 and 5:15, so don't arrive at 5:00 expecting a full hour to go. Those who are not specifically there for the trivia will still be around, and they're certainly fun to hang out with, but in case that's not you, just saving you that potential disappointment. I began with the admission that I am a bit of a payout snob, but after learning of Charitable Bliss's non-profit focus, I felt humbled. If you need someplace better to drop your lindens than the latest hair mega-sale -- possibly the lindens you just won from Jasmina -- Bliss provides an option.


The Specs:
=> Location: Charitable Bliss, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kensington/50/18/502
=> Times/Days: Mondays and Thursdays, 4:00 to 6:00pm SLT
=> Host: Jasmina Kline
=> Prizes: L$15 per question, 17 questions were asked the last time I was there

Answers to sample questions:
=> Philip Morris
=> Days of Our Lives
=> David Letterman

********

Typos of the Week, June 21 through June 27

Small change to the format here this week. I've included the original questions for the ones I was there for. When you send me typos, if you send me the questions as well, I'll be happy to include them.

10. [17:36] Lette Ponnier: et to berute

9. [13:13] AnaMaria Quintessa: lisetine

8. [19:28] Cully Andel: firs id insturvoit

7. [20:04] Mongoose Chemistry: odillias

6. [20:06] Olmstead Fanshaw: clyudesda;e

5. [12:29] Gingo Gumbo: em porere

4. [12:35] Laertes Parx: ultrarioelt

3. [13:55] Trebor Shelman: bocyvle]

2. [20:22] Josie Hammand: bratkes

1. [18:28] Karmel Kips: lithe ampliufiacation dfeom stimulated emisstion of ratioatn

Laertes, me, and Ruth: Shakeys at Sharon's. (I'm trying to figure out why my photos get cut off on the right side, though... this framing is not meant in any way as a slight to Ruth!)

10. [17:36] Cully Andel: WHAT WERE THE ALLEGED LAST WORDS OF JULIUS CAESAR?
ET TU BRUTE (or as I apparently would have it, "and to Beirut!")

9. [13:12] Lebn Bucyk: The Great Pyramid is made of this sedimentary stone
LIMESTONE (but wouldn't it have been fun if it were made of Listerine?)

8. FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR

7. ILIAD & ODYSSEY (the producers are trying to save money by making one epic instead of two)

6. CLYDESDALE

5. [12:29] Lebn Bucyk: Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, is said to be the ancestor of what modern personage?
EMPEROR

4. ULTRAVIOLET (as spoken by Scooby Doo)

3. BICYCLE

2. BEATLES (don't try to answer while craving potato pancakes)

1. [18:27] Cinna Xaris: 16 - WHAT DOES LASER STAND FOR?
LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION (well, she spelled "stimulated" right anyway.. we know where her mind is)

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Announcements - Seeking Contributors

So y'all might have noticed (or maybe not) that my productivity has fallen in the past couple of weeks. I've also been cutting back on trivia time a little, so if you miss me at events that I used to come to religiously, it's because I have a dissertation that needs attention sometimes, too. :)

I've been meaning to ask this for a couple of weeks now, but I'm interested in getting additional contributors to this blog for two main reasons. First, because keeping up a regular posting schedule is time-consuming, and I kind of knew I wouldn't sustain the energy forever; and second, so my opinion doesn't get presented as quite so monolithic on those topics that are opinion-focused. My views are merely that, and it might be good to bring in some point-counterpoint.

If you're interested in blogging on this page, please contact me in-world, and we'll chat about what kind of stuff you want to write and how often you think you can contribute. If you even have just one article you want to post, I'm happy to talk with you about it. If I don't hear from anyone (or possibly even if I do), I'll probably begin asking different people around the trivia circuit to interview each other or something of the sort, just to get things mixed up around here a little bit more.

Thank ya much, and I'll see y'all around!

Typos of the Week, June 14 through June 20

10. [10:14] Maelstrom Janus: morrooocop

9. [10:19] Claudia Mefusula: napoliena

8. [9:51] Cully Andel: ni moisrute

7. [22:32] Biker Galthie: kaadggikoo

6. [19:35] Rekeorb Wezzog: got a machinehead begtter than ther ereatst

5. [20:01] Olmstead Fanshaw: what isd emopire statrtbj;ls
[19:42] Olmstead Fanshaw: whati staeche\

4. [10:31] Weniki Oh: beetlel baileuy
[10:31] Karmel Kips: bettel bnalit

3. [12:31] Lette Ponnier: kzahstan
[12:31] Lotus Ceriano: kaxzaksatn

2. [19:45] Rach Borkotron: shoiuld i give up or should i just keeseine pavementsp cha

1. [11:41] Starla Gurbux: clho0rlophil



10. Morocco
9. Napoleon
8. no moisture
7. kangaroo
6. Got a machinehead better than the rest
5. What is Empire Strikes Back/What is teacher
4. Beetle Bailey
3. Kazakhstan
2. Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
1. chlorophyll

Up For Discussion: Timing

I observed not too long ago that most trivia games run at a pace of ten to twenty questions per hour, usually filling two-hour event blocks. There's a huge difference between these extremes in terms of how the rest of the time gets used. A good host can make a game enjoyable regardless of the amount of time between questions, and some games seem to drag regardless of actual pacing. And of course a critical factor is whether trivia is the only thing taking place at the event or if there are other activities keeping players occupied, like sploders and dancing.

I've occasionally heard people complain about the pace of slow games, whether it's about starting too late, waiting too long between questions, or sitting through a forty-minute intermission that was supposed to be fifteen. These complaints are rare among trivia regulars (besides the one about the forty-minute intermission, which is an ongoing joke), and pretty much only trivia newbies lack the tact to do it privately. But I've never heard anyone complain about a game moving too quickly, which makes me wonder why most hosts tend to opt for games with sparser question formats.

When I started doing impromptu trivias, I made it a point to try wrapping up the twenty questions within an hour (though bonus questions extend past that) because they take place in my garden, not at a club, and there's pretty much nothing else going on there except the trivia and watching the turtle walk around when I happen to have it rezzed. Also, the concept behind them recommends it: I'm asking people to come over at the last minute for trivia; I'm not going to make them wait for it.

There are reasons for slower pacing, though, and one of my other games -- Chaos Trivia/Truth or Dare -- falls at the other end of the spectrum for that, and a lot of effort goes into managing the pacing of this game for exactly that reason. There's much more going on at Chaos than trivia: when a player gets a question right, he or she wins the opportunity to challenge another player to a truth or dare. Some of these are quick (such as the dare to shout across the sim that you want to have sex with a chosen person), while some are much longer (those who put the most effort into the dare to IM something erotic to three people in the group tend to spend a lengthy chunk of time composing their messages).

My cohost Reke Wezzog and I try to move things along by paying attention to how much time is elapsing and by allowing people to complete longer dares while we continue asking questions, but much of the pacing depends on the players, the truths and dares involved, whether people are afk when they're challenged, whether a person completing a truth is a slow or a fast typist, the time it takes to find props for certain dares, etc. As a result, it's not unusual for ten or more minutes to go by between questions, though we try to keep it closer to five. In addition, I've recently begun turning my typing animation on while hosting Chaos specifically so that I don't appear to be silent or absent when I'm typing in between the times when something is more clearly taking place or when I'm answering a truth question. I started doing this when I noticed that players who use typing animation make it easier for us to gauge timing because we can tell if they're finished completing a truth or a chatty dare.

The point, though, is that the best pacing for a game is relative and hinges on a number of factors, at least when there are factors other than the trivia to take into account. Nonetheless, the questions remain: What's your pacing preference, both as players and as hosts? Does timing affect which games you choose to go to? If you host, are you conscious of pacing and/or did you use it as a factor in designing your game? If you prefer a more relaxed pace as a player, why?

Jasmina Kline hosting trivia at Charitable Bliss

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Event Profile: Destiny's Lounge

Yesterday, my efforts to attend new games brought me to a little place called Destiny's for a DJed event with dancing, sploding, and trivia hosted by Loraine Alter. What made the strongest impression on me there was the warmth and friendliness of the group. There were few familiar faces there and none who stayed from beginning to end, but the club's staff and regulars were very inviting and amiable. I had a nice time dancing and talking and will probably return sometime for that reason alone.

The event took place on a little "pirate bar" pier (if you've been to an event on Marine Park's Big Sky Bay sim -- the northern sim -- it's the same structure). DJ Mudge Ashbourne fed the stream, guests fed the sploder, we all clicked the dance kitty to boogie, and eventually the trivia kicked in. There were twenty questions with no particular theme, and for a correct answer, you had your choice of either L$20 or the opportunity to ask a staff member to remove one item of clothing. Since I didn't know any of the staff, it was an easy choice.

As for the questions... here's where I confess that I felt a little overexperienced there. There are some trivia events that attract a lot of very good players, and since we're a social group, too, we sort of gravitate toward each other and to those games. There are other events that seem to be more "grassroots," in a sense. A host at a club or a cafe decides to incorporate some trivia into the normal event. The regulars have fun with it, maybe one or two stand out and have a knack for it, but there's still a big difference between what this type of game is like compared to one in which a number of the players rely on trivia winnings as their primary (or only) source of income in SL.

When I go to those sorts of events, I find myself sitting on my hands a lot (to borrow a friend's favorite phrase). At this one, most of the trivia were questions I'd heard before, probably a couple of times each, a few of them word-for-word. I made it a point not to answer two in a row, and still I took enough of the questions that others at the event began commenting (though not enough to attract serious plinking). But like I said, they were very friendly people, and several invited me to come back and bring friends. Earlier today, I received a notecard from the host about the next event because it was to be at a different location and I didn't join the group for announcements. That kind of effort to reach out is impressive.

Sample questions:

[2009/06/15 13:25] Loraine Alter: What organization elects the 15 judges of the World Court?

[2009/06/15 13:35] Loraine Alter: What socialist writer's last words were: "Last words are for fools who haven't said enough"?

[2009/06/15 13:43] Loraine Alter: Who did Henry VIII have beheaded for witchcraft and adultery, along with her wolfhound?


The club was filled not with trivia sharks answering these questions but with people who just wanted to have a good time and one guy who evidently located Loraine's resource on the web and was copy/pasting the answers (correct spelling, everything capitalized, just the right amount of time between the question and his answer). I would be curious as to how the place would change if more hardcore trivia players came to take advantage of the friendly atmosphere and familiar question topics. Most of the regulars would likely get shut out of the running on the questions as the competition picked up, but I'm not certain whether the increase in attendance would make up for that, where the club is concerned. Are more people always a good thing if they change the whole vibe?

Of course, my profiling the event makes that more likely, though I'm not expecting a mass exodus, since other trivia events take place at that time of day. But if you're looking for a new crowd or a new setting, even just for a day, or if you would rather have a staff member (males and females were present) remove an article of clothing over taking lindens, check in with Loraine and all of Destiny's babes. You probably won't be humming the Jeopardy! theme song in your head on any of the questions, but the social atmosphere is as friendly as could be.

The Specs:
=> Time/Day: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 12:00 to 2:00pm, though the trivia didn't start until nearly 40 minutes after the hour when I attended.
=> Location: Destiny's Lounge, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Darling/114/79/22 ... different events take place in different parts of the sim, so check your mini-map when you arrive and follow the green dots
=> Host: Loraine Alter
=> Prizes: L$20 per question for 20 questions, though you can elect to have a staff member remove an article of his or her clothing instead of the money

Answers to questions in the article:
=> United Nations
=> Karl Marx
=> Anne Boleyn

What's your question-writing process?

I've asked this question in each of the profiles I've done so far and plan to continue so that readers and I can get an idea of the huge range of ways people develop to put together their games, all in the interest of sharing helpful knowledge and learning from each other so we can put on the best trivia that we can. So that it doesn't seem like I'm culling people for their secrets without sharing my own, though, I thought I'd describe a new question-writing method I've recently started that has made the whole process of finding new topics and speaking to a range of difficulty levels much faster and easier than it previously had been for me.

It's pretty basic, really, and I'm probably not the only one who does it, but I call it Wiki-hopping: I use Wikipedia's "Random Article" option, clicking from page to page until I find something that would make good trivia. That's pretty much it. It brings me to subject matter I wouldn't have thought to write about before, and it's educational for me, too. Of course, the drawback is that if it's a topic I don't know very well myself, I might have trouble gauging the difficulty level, but for Bucc Bowl, we started triple-checking each other's questions before the May game so that each of us with our very different areas of expertise has the chance to make recommendations before the questions "go live."

I end up clicking through a lot of useless sludge, but I also learn a lot in the process. All of the questions I wrote for the June Bucc Bowl except for the bonuses I produced this way, and it took me less time than usual. Some people question Wikipedia's accuracy, so I pay attention to the website's own cautions at the top of the articles and don't use entries that need brushing up. Even on articles without cautions, I'll sometimes seek corroborating information from other sources. And of course, there is always our triple-checking system. If Thorn or Lillian spots a problem, we revise and try again.

Here are a few I put together today by Wiki-hopping for your trivial pleasure:

1. Oscar-winning film and radio star Mercedes "Mercy" McCambridge was once called "the world's greatest living radio actress" by what filmmaker?

2. What country scored the most medals in cross-country skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics?

3. What TV show was the first- and second-season character Janice Licalsi written off of because producers didn't want to have a murderous police officer as a central figure?

4. Mohammed Ali Hammadi is a Lebanese member of Hezbollah who was convicted for his role in the hijacking of an airplane from what airline in 1985?

5. Messali Hadj was a politician and activist who worked for his country's independence from France in the 1940s and 1950s. What country was he from?

Lotus, Orianne, Lette, Cerys at Lebn's trivia

1. Orson Welles. McCambridge won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in All the King's Men. She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She worked with Welles on the film Touch of Evil.

2. Russia, with two golds, two silvers, and three bronzes.

3. NYPD Blue. The character, played by Amy Brenneman, killed a mob boss and his driver because the mob boss wanted her to murder her lover, played by David Caruso.

4. TWA. Flight 847 from Athens to Rome was rerouted and its passengers held hostage for two weeks before being released.

5. Algeria. Ironically, after Algeria won their independence in 1962, Hadj went into exile in France because an opposing party had taken Algeria over as a one-party state.

Of course, any of these answers could be found via google pretty easily; most likely, people will find the Wiki page I used right at the top of their searches. But first, even if one question were googled, the googler wouldn't then find all the others along with it, and second, I try to write questions in a way that will make it possible to guess if no one knows the answer right away. Even if you've never heard of McCambridge, Hammadi, and Hadj, you've probably heard of Welles, TWA, and Algeria, which means spamming filmmakers, airlines, and former French colonies will eventually lead to the correct answer.

Anyone who likes to is welcome to borrow or adapt this method. Yes, I know there are flaws in it, but pretty much any method has flaws. Methods that are based on the trivia writer's knowledge or access to specific sources will be biased in favor of players with the same general area of knowledge as the writer. This obviously does not make bad trivia, but unbiased trivia would be preferable. Just ask anyone who isn't from the U.S. how it is to sit through yet another game speckled with questions about states, presidents, and baseball. There will always be a balancing of strengths and weaknesses.

So if you like, please comment on your own methods or recommendations or what have you.

Also, sorry I've been so quiet in the blog this past week. I'll try to pick things back up for y'all soon!

Typos of the Week, June 7 through June 13

10. [13:05] Ailin Triellis: mastrihcs
[13:05] AnaMaria Quintessa: mastricty
[13:05] Gareth8 Albatros: maastricght]

9. [20:43] Browman Griffith: big diiopepr
[20:43] Jude Constantine: big didppper

8. [21:21] Lette Ponnier: aurtlsia

7. [16:23] Chaddington Boomhauer: beatite obut

6. [20:22] Trebor Shelman: ap[dua

5. [15:48] Cully Andel: epoeropepenguin

4. [19:17] Olmstead Fanshaw: giragfefe

3. [10:59] Cully Andel: bohemioan rahspdostd
[10:59] Cully Andel: erm
[10:59] Karmel Kips: bohenmina rhapshotdy

2. [18:31] Rekeorb Wezzog: fiar and ablandance

1. [14:52] Sweejen Stourmead: belguiuk,
[14:52] Lotus Ceriano: belfijmn

Rain and Ruth at Double Standards

10. Maastricht
9. Big Dipper
8. Australia
7. Beastie Boys
6. Padua
5. Emperor Penguin
4. giraffe
3. Potemkin
2. Fair and Balanced
1. Belgium

Announcements - Bucc Stuff

The June Buccaneer Bowl is this Saturday, June 13, at 10am, at the same location as last time, at the ship's new home in the sky in Tranquility. So far we have five teams signed up, with room for five more.

As discussed after the last one, we've gone ahead and scheduled a one-hour team-finding period before the game begins at 10 so that we'll be able to dive straight into team check and rules and start at a reasonable time. This period between 9 and 10 will be for anyone who doesn't have a team by Saturday morning, as well as for people who are coming for their first Buccaneer Bowl, but anyone is welcome to be there; most of you will just be bored. However, if we end up with downtime during that hour, I'll be asking some warmup questions for anyone who's around. (Performance on the warmup questions will not have any bearing on the Bucc Bowl scoring!) Teams with an opening can also come to scout for a third or fourth player at this time.

ARC bonuses continue to apply. For new players: this refers to avatar rendering cost, the number that shows up over people's heads when you select Advanced >> Rendering >> Info Displays >> Avatar Rendering Cost in your screen's menu. This number reflects how hard SL works to make your avatar visible. If the number is high, you're probably contributing to the lag in your area (there are some HUDs and other attachments that drive up the number without increasing lag, but there's no reason you'd need them at Bucc Bowl). At Bucc Bowl, we give players L$100 for keeping their ARC under 500 and L$50 to be between 500 and 1000. This way, we reduce the lag as much as possible, and you don't need to leave empty-handed, no matter how your team does. To bring your lag down, use low-prim hair and clothing, and go easy on the accessories. The complexity of prims seems to be more important than the number of prims: prims that are complex, like fur or lace, tend to be high-ARC. We'll go over ARC again during the pre-game session on Saturday morning.

Here are the teams we have so far:

Trumpton Trivs: Cully Andel (C), AnaMaria Quintessa, Maelstrom Janus, Stiggs McMinnar

Shi-Razor's Edge: Rekeorb Wezzog (C), Honey Potez, Olmstead Fanshaw, Kay Darkwatch

Voracious Veridians: Browman Griffith (C), Cygnoir Blanc, Leyna Brandenburg, Billy2x Krams

Boomfirecirceschism: Chaddington Boomhauer (C), Shale Nightfire, Circe Falta, Josh Schism

Triviators: Lotus Ceriano (C), Alanna Robbiani, Mako Kingfu, Starla Gurbux

Sometimes we play things other than trivia...

Typos of the Week, May 31 through June 6

10. [20:49] Lou Netizen: Snow white naa d th e7 swaves

9. [19:39] Chaddington Boomhauer: cumbauwnab

8. [19:49] Mani Bellic: pampame
[19:49] Handy Handsohn: ppomplaea
[19:49] Mani Bellic: loona

7. [21:14] Devin Velinov: sleeping beauthyafw
[21:14] Devin Velinov: omg
[21:14] Devin Velinov: x

6. [14:39] Lotus Ceriano: shepehersxds
[14:39] Lucinda Dollinger: hepeards

5. [18:19] Trebor Shelman: diet urrte[]

4. [10:13] JoshuaStephen Schism: dtayce

3. [18:49] Rach Borkotron: shake speasiss
[18:49] JoshuaStephen Schism: loed
[18:49] Mako Kungfu: shakespeare's sister
[18:49] Rach Borkotron: ter

2. [14:27] AnaMaria Quintessa: lkock sotkc and tow snomninig barrels

1. [19:49] Mako Kungfu: n=bend holds vies

Now posting from Zoo La La

10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
9. Chumbawamba
8. Pamplona
7. Sleeping Beauty
6. shepherd's
5. Diet Rite
4. Stacey
3. Shakespear's Sister
2. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
1. Ben Folds Five

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Event Profile: ScatterBraiN'd

AnaMalene Yokosuka and her kittens

The trivia calendar is positively crowded these days, so new games need to find a new niche in order to attract a crowd. Of course, no trivia event is a money-making venture, so it's not a matter of competing in a financial market, but traffic is a commodity in SL, and many locations have stores attached to them. Plus, having a good number of people there just makes the game more fun.

The niche that AnaMalene Yokosuka and Giddeon Oh are trying to fill is the international one. AnaMalene is from Denmark, and she seeks to provide a wider variety of questions than we usually see in trivia hosted by North Americans. Those who attended the debut of this event on Sunday got a glimpse of this variety in questions such as:

[2009/05/31 16:11] AnaMalene Yokosuka: HOORAY FOR NORWAY

QST 16: The narcissistic character, Marve Fleksnes was aired on Norwegian TV from 1972 to 2002 and it gained cultic status in especially Finland and Denmark. The show in which Fleksnes appeared was known as "The Fatalities of Fleksnes" [Fleksnes Fataliteter], but who was the actor behind this role?

This question was met with a bit of surprise from the players, none of whom, I believe, were from a country where this program actually aired. But never fear, googling is not only permitted but encouraged at ScatterBraiN'd. On some questions, it was not only encouraged but practically pushed. In addition, the questions about Scandinavia came with higher prizes and are mixed in with some less intimidating ones:


[2009/05/31 15:54] AnaMalene Yokosuka: A BIT MORE HISTORY

QST 13: She is one of three patron saints of France and was beatified in 1909 and later canonized in 1920...

[2009/05/31 15:57] AnaMalene Yokosuka: THE MOVIES

QST 14: In 1997, half way through a screening for this movie, Kenpachiro Satsuma who from 1985 to 1995 had played the "character" of which the previous movies aswell as the new one got their names from, uttered his opinion and said "This is not - - - - - - - -, it doesn't have the spirit..." and left. Fill in the blanks.


After all, the idea behind ScatterBraiN'd is that it's meant to be a little scattered. There was no theme to the trivia, and the payouts varied from L$15 to L$50 each. Not even the time and day of the event is likely to remain consistent. The first one was held on May 31, starting at 2:00, but most of the people there arrived after the game at [MonoChrome] finished at 3:00, and it ended up running almost until 5:00. This is not a set time, however, as AnaMalene plans to move it around according to where the gaps seem to fall in the calendar. These days, nearly every time period conflicts with something, but she's realistic about the scheduling. "We are going to try to put it at times where people can make one half of ours and then scoot onto the next trivia, the more well-known ones," she says. "People can stay for a bit and then move on. We will, however, always check schedules to see if anyone of the regular trivias are up and let them have their time and try to find our own."

There is a group you can join if you want to make sure not to miss these irregular events. AnaMalene and Giddeon are also planning larger events, such as those with DJs and contests. The trivia takes place in the courtyard outside of their store. Living room-type couches were rezzed for a cozy hangout feel. In the store, they sell motorcycles created by Giddeon and clothing from a variety of vendors. Some of these products might turn up as prizes in future events. In honor of AnaMalene's cat's new kittens, there was a contest for best in neko/feline look during the trivia.

Giddeon Oh makes the motorcycles, owns the land, and occasionally interjects a bonus question.

Coming out of the game, I had a few thoughts. Of course, I'm not the authority on how things must be run; gotta disclaim that these are just some ideas, not demands. If there are countering points of view, feel free to include them in comments.

Although they have a lot of plans for where the event is going, and there's no doubt they'll be able to accomplish their goals, there are a few wrinkles to iron out, most notably the pacing of the questions. There were twenty-seven questions, which ought to be a workable number for a two-hour event, but the gaps in between them varied from two minutes up to eleven, with a "five-minute" break in the middle that actually lasted about twenty. It's possible that this sort of timing is all part of the scatterbrained approach, but the pacing of an event is more integral to the overall feel than question topics and payouts. The latter two can be switched up to make the game unpredictable, but ten-minute gaps shouldn't happen unless you tell your players, "Sit tight, I have to take a phone call," or what have you. I assume it was because most of the players showed up an hour into it that the event lasted as long as it did (she was on #4 when I arrived shortly before 3:00), but it would have been more enjoyable if she had kept it moving at a brisk pace for the remainder of the game once there were people.

I expect she'll be fine-tuning her question-writing over time, as well. As I mentioned in a previous event profile, lengthy questions are hard to read quickly and give the advantage not to those who know the answer but to those who can get through several lines of text the fastest and can rattle off a few guesses. I really like the idea of having a few questions about a part of the world that few people in English-speaking countries know particularly well and making them hard enough that they must be researched (i.e., googled), since this is the sort of instance in which the process of finding the answer might lead to additional knowledge, so big props to AnaMalene for bringing those types of questions into the mix. In fact, if she were to focus these questions on broad themes in culture, politics, and geography of Scandinavia, rather than on specific and highly detailed points of information, it could turn out to be a very educational format. That is, I doubt if any of the players who were at the game on Sunday retained the information about "The Fatalities of Fleksnes" after the question was (mercifully) resolved, but having people look up the Norwegian equivalent of the U.S.'s Emmy Awards has more potential for long term knowledge. Even if we don't remember the name of the awards, we'd certainly remember that they exist. If the game evolves in this direction, I'll surely be back frequently.

On that note: What is the name of Norway's annual television award?

Still, I'd like to emphasize that Sunday's game was a very good first event, and the hosts are not lacking in the energy and ambition that could make future games even better. I look forward to seeing how ScatterBraiN'd develops.

Chadd, sitting with Lou, goes neko for the contest.

Specs:
=> Time/Day: Check the events listings or join the ScatterBraiN'd group, as this will change
=> Location: ScatterBrain'd, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bleston/131/119/30
=> Host: AnaMalene Yokosuka
=> Prizes: Cash prizes in varying amounts, from L$15 to L$50 per question; number of questions will probably vary, but there were 27 at the first game; merchandise from AnaMalene and Giddeon's store will be offered as prizes in the future.

Answers to questions in this post:
=> [2009/05/31 16:12] AnaMalene Yokosuka: A: Rolv Helge Wesenlund.
Born September 17th, 1936. Before turning to TV he worked through the 60s as a jazz musician (playing the clarinet he won the Norwegian Jazz Championship two years in a row) and later as the daily jazz reviewer in the Norwegian news paper Dagbladet. A decade later, despite having had his hands in many a theatrical production within Norway and having appeared in numerous Danish movies, his fame was undeniably only known by his character of Marve Fleksnes.

=> [2009/05/31 15:56] AnaMalene Yokosuka: A: Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc).
Joan asserted that she had visions from God that told her to recover her homeland from English domination late in the Hundred Years' War. The uncrowned King Charles VII sent her to the siege at Orléans as part of a relief mission. She gained prominence when she overcame the dismissive attitude of veteran commanders and lifted the siege in only nine days. Several more swift victories led to Charles VII's coronation at Reims and settled the disputed succession to the throne. She was however still captured by the Burgundians, sold to the English, tried by an ecclesiastical court, and burned at the stake when she was just nineteen years old.

=> [2009/05/31 15:58] AnaMalene Yokosuka: A: Godzilla.
Satsuma acted out the role of Japan's favorite monster, Gojira, for the first time in 1985 in "Godzilla - The Legend Is Reborn". In 1997 he refused to continue his work on the American production of Gojira, because Tristar didn't fulfill the agreement made with Toho by ignoring several guidelines set by before mentioned aswell as Tomoyuki Tanaka. Tanaka, the producer of all Gojira movies before this one, died a month before the 1997 production started and Satsuma felt they disrespected all his previous work by blatantly ignoring the terms on which they were allowed to make an American Godzilla.

=> The Gullruten awards are Norway's annual awards for television. They have been around since 1998.

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Up For Discussion: The Plink

plink \plink\ vb : plinked ; plinking : to taunt a trivia player who is playing well and standing out in a game

plinker \`plink-ər\ n : one who plinks

This is a word that a friend and I made up because we wanted an easy way to describe this phenomenon, to be able to say, "Hey, I just got plinked." The taunting involved in plinking can take many forms, but here are some examples from one time that I was plinked:

[2009/02/24 18:52] Plinky Plinklesworth: damn .. someone pls break Lette's keyboard

[2009/02/24 18:56] Plinky Plinklesworth: ok, time to slip Lette a computer virus

[2009/02/24 18:59] Plinky Plinklesworth: wow ... did Lette get that? there's a surprise

This person is a serial plinker. Two days later, he'd moved on from plinking me and was hitting that night's standout:

[2009/02/26 18:15] Plinky Plinklesworth: someone break Olm's keyboard

When I was brand new to SL trivia, I actually saw it as a compliment to get this sort of attention. Over time, though, it became more and more trite. There aren't too many people for whom every single game is a stunner, which means that for most of us, when we do have a good one, it can be an exciting moment. There's a minor high involved. And for someone to call attention to your performance in such a way that isn't about "Hey, great job tonight," but rather implies something less supportive, it can be a let-down at best and seriously aggravating at worst.

Sure, it's just teasing and is therefore theoretically harmless, but this is one of those instances where it's important to remember there are people with feelings behind the avs, and although many people are able to brush off the plink, I also know others who get so self-conscious that they essentially stop playing for the remainder of the game. In that first example, the plinker in question was pretty benign. I responded to him with friendly banter, and eventually we became friends. Others, however, don't really know when to stop:

[2009/01/08 19:54] Plinkelle Plinklewood: lette needs to share their lindens...hmm

[2009/01/08 19:54] Plinkelle Plinklewood: ahh we can just put a hit on ya

[2009/01/12 18:12] Plinkelle Plinklewood: someone put handcuffs on her so she cant type

[2009/01/29 18:22] Plinkelle Plinklewood: someone blow her off the sim pls

Over time, this person got more and more aggressive with the plinking. The night of that last comment, she and I had a falling out about where the line is between tolerable and intolerable plinking. For me, when it veered toward threats to bodily harm, that's when it stopped being ordinary teasing and became misplaced aggression.

Mythology night at Blaizing Inferno

Plinkers are often, but not always, people new to the game or people who aren't very strong players and would be plinking anyone at all who stood out. When I get teased by someone who consistently answers in second place to me, it has an entirely different feel. The vibe to that tends to be more of competition mixed with mutual admiration. However, this type of teasing might constitute plinking to someone else. There is no black-or-white when it comes to what is plinking and what is not, because different people may interpret different scenarios differently. But there do tend to be some things that get me more than others.

Plinking becomes irritating when the people who do it seem to think that their comments are somehow funny or original, not realizing that the veterans among us have been hearing the same lines ad nauseum since we started playing. When it happens to me, I usually respond by saying, "If _____ were here, I probably wouldn't be your target." And it's true. Although I seldom fail miserably in a game, I'm also not usually the standout player, so when I am, I don't generally appreciate a response that implies that I shouldn't be, even if it's delivered in fun. When I give the "If _____ were here" response, I'm trying to point out to the plinker that I'm not that amazing, I'm just convenient. That strategy hasn't been effective yet, though, so I'm looking for other ways to respond that don't sound like an over-reaction.

It's annoying also because when new people do it, they're missing the broader context that these games take place in, and when more regular people do it, it just gets old. For instance, in the last Plinkelle example, I had only answered two questions correctly that night before she asked for someone to blow me out of the sim. Who wants to play under those conditions? Do they think it's still funny the eleventh time they say it? Apparently at least some do. I asked Pinkelle to cool it once her comments headed into violent territory, and she thought that was a joke, too. She seemed to have no perception that even the mild comments could be annoying. In my guide to people new to SL trivia, I suggested that if you plink (though I didn't use the word in that post), be cognizant of how your target responds, and if they don't seem to be playing along, then don't push.

I have my own theories about where the tendency to plink comes from, but I'll stop here and let others comment. Why do people plink? How do you feel when they plink? Do you respond when they do it to you? when you see them do it to others? Are there some types that are annoying to you and others that aren't? Or do you even find it complimentary, like I did when I was new? If you've ever been a plinker, why have you done it? What are some good strategies to responding to plinking that don't make you look like you have no sense of humor?

Fairy tale night at Blaizing Inferno, with some people arriving from Shiraz's sports night

Credit goes to Lou Netizen for coining the term "plink."
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