You should've realized that this year's quiz would have something to do with last year's; hell, I even put the word "revenge" in its title. The only question was how far I'd go.
Thirty-two teams. One packed room. Here we go:
Round One:
Great Moments in Protest History
12 questions, 1 pt each (more or less)
Q1
John or Sam: which Adams helped organize the Boston Tea Party?
Q2
BC or AD: When did the siege on Masada occur?
Q3
What was the official name of the October 30, 2010 DC rally sponsored by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert?
Q4
What year was the Million Man March?
Q5
Of what protest document is this the first line? "We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed now in universities, looking uncomfortably to the world we inherit."
(Note: not the compromised second draft.)
Q6
Later elected to Congress, he was the youngest speaker at the August 28, 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Q7
What literary, and later theatrical work, is set against the backdrop of the Lamarque riots of July 1832?
Q8
During the Eastern Bloc revolutions of 1989, what was the first former Warsaw Pact nation to see a non-Communist government?
Q9
When Cesar Chavez was jailed in 1970 during the Salad Bowl Strike, he was visited in jail by Ethel Kennedy and what Olympic gold medal winning decathlete?
Q10
On December 2, 1965, authorities conducted a mass arrest of about 800 participants in Berkeley’s Free Speech Movement. Name the Alameda County deputy district attorney – who some day would serve as Attorney General of the United States – who authorized the mass arrests.
Q11
Who wrote the Temple of the Dog song "Hunger Strike"?
Q12
The only time in American history that a sitting President led troops in the field was which President, suppressing which political protest?
(1pt for each)
There were protests regarding my proposed answer to question 8 (Poland).
There were protests. (Credit: Marta Evry)
Evan Coren complains about the answer to R1 Q8 (credit: Marta Evry)
I decided not to figure out if they were right, unless it proved outcome-determinative. (It didn't.)
Onto round two, increasingly close to Southeast Asian politics:
Round 2:
Juntas, Coups, and Ruling Troikas
Because you think you’re so damn smart.
12 questions, worth 2 points each.
Q1
In 49 BC, Julius Caesar’s army crossed what river separating Gaul from Rome, marking the beginning of his coup attempt?
Q2
With American assistance, this strongman took power in Cuba through a bloodless coup in 1952.
Q3
Name the 2008 film which no one saw in which, SPOILER!, Tom Cruise failed in his efforts to lead a coup against Hitler.
Q4
In 1983, Hudson Austin led a military coup. Within a week, the United States ousted him. Where?
Q5
Alexander Haig claimed, on March 30, 1981 that, "pending the return of Vice President Bush" he was in control of the White House. Other than Bush, two other people were also ahead of Haig in the line of succession: the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Who were they? (1pt each)
Q6
What New York congressman declined to run for reelection in 1998 after helping to lead a failed coup effort against Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich?
Q7
A January 2, 1994 New York Times article referred to these three female NPR commentators – each of them around 50 years of age at the time – as "a troika which has revolutionized political journalism."
One point for each.
Q8
In Game of Thrones, Jaime Lannister is known as The Kingslayer for slaying which King?
Q9
Born Lij Tafari Makonnen, this 20th-Century African leader’s reign was almost derailed by a coup attempt in 1928.
Q10
Who was the last monarch of Hawaii before being deposed by an American-led coup?
Q11
It packages proteins inside the cell before they are sent to their destination; it’s also one of the songs on the Phish debut album Junta. Name it.
Q12
The junta which ruled the country they called Myanmar was referred to by the acronym SLORC from 1988-1997.
For what is SLORC an acronym?
David Dayen gets excited. (credit: Marta Evry)
Success for Arielle Krebs! (credit: Marta Evry)
Neck-and-neck between Sea Org, CT for Lieberman (in their final appearance), the California contingent and Wisconsin Sadness Brigade.
At which point, as those who were there recall, I head-faked and threatened an all Burma round. Didn't happen. Instead, in honor of our host state:
Round 3:
Welcome to Wherever You Are
Questions about "little" or "small" things. 3pts each.
Q1
Before serving as our nation’s shortest President (in height), he also served as Secretary of State.
Q2
Based on first name and last name, which current United States Senator has the shortest name?
Q3
Who had the shortest tenure as Vice President of the United States?
Q4
Which current member(s) of the US House and Senate have been there for the shortest amount of time?
Two point if you name either, three points for both.
Q5
What is the least populous United States state capital?
Q6
The smallest nation in the Western Hemisphere, both in terms of size and population, is this island nation, which consists of two islands. Here’s its flag:
Q7
Based on mean distances from the Sun, what two planets have the smallest distance between them?
Q8
"A small sled used for coasting especially in Switzerland," it is the shortest word ever to be the final word in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Q9
The shortest performance to win an Oscar in the acting categories was Beatrice Straight’s supporting work in this 1976 film, which also won for Best Actor and Best Actress.
Q10
Name the only album with the word "Little" in the title to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Q11
In Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Ariel has gadgets and gizmos a’plenty, and whosits and whatsits galore.
But how many thingamabobs?
Q12
The book Little Women has been adapted into a film three times in the sound era. For one point each, name the actress playing Jo in the 1933, 1949, and 1994 adaptations.
Did we have a winner? Yep. These guys. Again:
Sea Org wins again
Full scoresheet here. Thanks to Kath25, shayera, and sardonyx for judging, to the
DLCC for sponsoring, and to all of you for all the fun. Except the vuvuzelas.