After trivia I ordered some fries with mayo. This is the reaction I received.

Trivia: It’s sexy. or something.

Finally, a sampling of 10 random questions from this week (players pick themes, I apologize for all the Catholic questions), and a shot of the score board for this week, Week 1 of our Squirrel Hunt. I’ll update the blog each week with the standings so you can see where you sit. You’re off to a good start!
Questions:

1. It’s called Clue here in the States, but what do you call that same game in England, where it started?

2. What name did the Ancient Greeks give to the worlds oceans, which they believed were a giant river that circled the world?

3. According to the Catholic doctrine, Bishops are the successors to the Apostles, and the Pope is a successor to whom?

4. Recently, President Obama got his full geek on when he appeared in an Oval Office photo flashing the Vulcan “Live Long and Prosper” sign with what “Star Trek” star? / A: Nichelle Nichols

5. The “Inside Loop,” “Pop the Clutch” and “The Butt Stopper” are all tricks performed using what?

6. What’s the name of Wil Wheaton’s new youtube series on the Geek and Sundry channel about board gaming?

7. The doctrine of the blood and body of Christ being translated into the bread and water consumed at mass is known as what?

8. Which famous pop singer was born and raised a catholic and has now converted to Kabbalah?

9. The William Shatner horror film “The Devil’s Rain” also starred what founder of the Church of Satan?

10. Bubble Man, Air Man and Quick Man are all bosses in what “Mega Man” video game?

The Squirrel Hunt tally board:

It all started (for me) with a fb post by a colleague of mine, James Dixon. He needed help organizing Red Dress Party this year. I saw his post, and having been to Red Dress for the last 4 years and had a good time, I decided to jump on board and help. I had no idea what amazing group of friends I would meet, how many new friends I would make, and how insane the next (almost) 3 months would be, particularly those last two weeks of building, painting, cleaning and phone calls, emails and texts. And more texts. And then a few more phone calls…..

Flash forward to April 15th, 21012, the lights went up, the music came on, and we had a party. A big sea of red, happy people dancing and laughing for over 6 hours. Was it worth it? Every second (there were a lot of seconds) of it was worth it. Will I be back next year? You couldn’t stop me if you tried. A BIG thanks to everyone who volunteered this year, all were amazing!

Thanks to Anna of Optic Verve for taking some of these shots-she’s got a larger collection of them on the Optic Verve FB page as well, take a moment to stop by and see the rest.

So.. now what do I do with all this “Spare time?”

So let’s do this. Not only am I now compiling video in place of the former printed graphics round at Scandals pdx, I’m also cutting video rounds for Sellwood Public House on Wednesday night (totally different rounds for each night).  I’ll admit this much about the process: I’m frustrated. I’m working way to long on each of them, I’m over taxing my laptop to the point of frequent crashing even after a recent RAM upgrade. But you know what? I”m learning something new, I’ve sparked a new part of my brain to come up with this new content, new questions and new ways to make shit funny. So far, so good. The trivia players are rolling in, the veneus are packed, and everyone seems to be enjoying it as much as I am. So, what now? On we go into another year of quizzing. I never imagined what I do with this trivia would turn into what it’s become, or that I would stick at it so long. But honestly? That thrill of the moment when I get a room full of people laughing and scratching their heads? All the hard work is worth it.

So to recap, traditional bar trivia now at CC Slaughters on Monday at 7 and Jolly Roger John’s Landing at 7:30 on Thursdays. That’s pencil and paper, question and answer. If you want to try out the video rounds, those are happening at Scandals pdx on Monday nights at 9:30 and Sellwood Public House on Wednesday nights at 7:00. It feels new. It feels more fun, and in turn it’s making me really enjoy this all again, like it’s 6 years ago and I just picked up a microphone. It doesn’t so much feel like work, as a challenge. A challenge to put together things that will get 60 people laughing (or squirming, or yelling at the screen depending on the topic) in unison on a given night. I’m having fun. Even as I write this I’m cutting some new video for next week and giggling about it. My laptop not so much…

One team, formerly known as “The Fruity Island Types” played with me at CC Slaughters on the same night, then arrived at Scandals promptly at 9:30 to play AGAIN. This time disguised as “Cheap Plastic Disguises” See below.

And guess what? THEY WON! They took first place, winning $10 off their bar tab, and $15 off this week’s bar tab. Damn fine winnings. Second and third place won some bar swag as well, and last place? They won a set of shot glasses which will be filled by boughten shots ala Quizmaster Polly this week. I like to help numb the pain of last place one might say.  We had about 10 teams on the first night, which is a great turnout. The folks playing pool came really close to winning the game, being only 5 points behind our winners.

Come out to Scandals and play, it’s a lot of fun, and we are working on getting video going for the Monday night Pop Quiz as soon as I can figure out why my damn Mac isn’t talking to the projector…until then, find us playing a great game, that’s a tad easier and more on the Pop Quiz side of the game.  Tonight in fact, we’re covering GLEE and Disney. Starts at 9:30.  Until then, you might see my face starring at you from the bathroom via a Pop Quiz poster. That’s right bitches: I’m watching you pee!

Q: Due to it’s popularity, and being shown in theaters as well as being widely accepted by a large audience, the 70′s were referred to as the what “age of porn”?  A: “Sticky” A: Pre-Aids A: Golden “Showers”

Q: According to the Guinness book of World Records, who holds the record for most appearances in adult films?    A: Skeezy McClap  A: Mr. Herp Es?

Q: What is the name of Jenna Jameson’s autobiography? A: Two in the pink one in the stink  A: Where the Rubbers Hit the Road  A: Undressed  A: Doing IT            A: How my braces came off (QM note: I see what you did there)

Q: What’s the highest rate of pay for men in adult films? A: Banging Grannies      A: Gay foot fetish  A: DVDA (a Double Rainbow chaser)

A startling number of people did actually get ALL these questions correct..as well as other questions. In fact, most folks were able to correctly identify the pictures of adult film stars for the Graphic Content round. So, obviously you were in fact paying attention to something while you watched…  And with that, I leave you with a picture of the winning team: Sassy Does Sellwood.  Note the embarrassed one in the back left of the picture vs the very proud men “representing”.  I would like to note that this team had, until this week, been in a “3rd place slump” where they just couldn’t break third place. WEEKS AND WEEKS of third place. Then, along came Ron Jeremy and Linda Lovelace to ..um.. thrust them into a win.  Congrats team, you are the “Porniest” in Sellwood. The rest of you will have to study. Harder.

Oh, and I can’t WAIT to see my site traffic after this post.

What coach from Penn State has been fired from Penn State this week?

What state from the United States was once part of Russia? 

How many lines are in a Lymerick?   

Gangster Charles Arthur Floyd was better known by what nickname?

Which group of primates is found only in Madagascar?

What is the number of squares on a chess board?  

The flag of which country has the Star of David?

George Washington Carver, who passed away in 1943 is best remembered for creating over 300 products that could be manufactured from which plant?

If you took a trip to the capital of Romania, which city would you be visiting?

Name all the U.S. states whose names begin with the word “New” for 5 points each.

How much was Judas given to betray Jesus?

Edward Jenner who is known as the “father of immunology”  was known for creating the first what?

How many laps are there in the Daytona 500?

 Daniel Craig is set to play the villainous pirate Red Rackham in the movie adaptation of which comic book series?

 The red triangle logo of which brand of beer was the first registered trademark in British history? 

 In physics, which unit of measurement is used to express an amount of energy or work? It can be officially defined as the amount of work required to produce one watt of power for one second. 

 In international volleyball competitions, how many members are allowed per team, not including substitutes?

 Do crocodiles or Alligators show more exposed teeth? 

 Which Civil War general whose name appears on a street in Portland, was known for his distinctive facial hairstyle? It featured whiskers extending down from his hairline to join his thick mustache, worn without a beard. 

 What domestic animal has a penis shaped like a corkscrew?

In the word play rounds, here’s what we covered: 

2 words, one definition: Name the word from the dictionary definition and the animal group it describes.. EX: A group of geese in the air, or a wound ball of yarn with a center pull string? SKEIN 

1. To think or worry persistently or moodily about, to ponder/ (or) a group of chickens?
 2. A group of people linked in a common purpose/ (or)  A group (herd) of cattle: 
 3. The infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, divine will, or one’s hope or approval/ (or) a group of Unicorns?  
4.  An alliance, especially a temporary one, of people, factions, parties, or nations/ (or) a group of Cheetahs
5. To move stealthily so as to avoid notice/ a group of foxes?

Next week’s word play? It’s time to spell it out…

Until I post the questions,  let me tell you about this fucker man at my Wednesday night venue. He first showed up on Halloween week dressed in a masquerade mask and a Reed College t-shirt with sparkly pants. He was obviously a little buzzed, or perhaps just a little annoying, honestly I can’t really tell sometimes, and he started yapping at me DURING the quiz while I was on the mic. Many of you might know how much I simply ADORE that quality in people at my quizzes. Let’s say I’m grading papers, head down in a pile of stuff to get through in 3 minutes, on a stage, then chances are good that I don’t have time to talk to you directly. If I DO have time for a chat, it’s likely to be a quick one if we are in the midst of a live game with a bar packed full of people. Not a 10-15 moinute ongoing conversation about how I should change my trivia to suit YOU that one single person that has shown up only once and not actually played the game EVER. But it gets worse….

So, this guy, he keeps interrupting me by shouting out things about the quiz, how great I am and how much fun he’s having, starts cackling to himself, and saying how he’s got these GREAT ideas for questions. He tells me how he wishes he had money to tip me, I’m so funny, but he didn’t bring cash.  Occasionally he even shouts out answers… THEN this guy walks away, and I think it’s over. But he comes back, and he starts throwing money at me. THROWING MONEY AT ME.  As he is giggling and saying “Oh Honey, you’re so funny” he’s tossing dollar bills on the stage. Two dollars, then three, then four…I think he hit about 7 before I yelled at him to STOP THROWING MONEY AT ME.  Not that I don’t appreciate tips, I do, but not when you’re tossing money on stage like you’re at a stip show. End of the night comes, the man comes up and tells me he will be back, with fives next time, cause he really likes me, and wants to toss more money at me. What the???

This week sure enough, he returned, and he tossed money on my table, not on the floor. A couple of ones, and a five. But after repeatedly telling me that my questions were “too hard” and trying to yell out things that only he thought were funny, he went away again. So, here’s hoping that he’s gone for good, and we won’t see him again on Wednesday nights. Or at least that he won’t throw money at me again. It’s all in the life of a Quizmaster I guess.

Questions coming tomorrow, a collection of the week’s best and worst-just for you! Thanks for reading everyone! And seriously? Don’t be a smart-ass next week and throw money at me. Just don’t.