It's braining all over the world

[gameshowcongress]

A bit of background on categories for those interested in the quiz mentioned by Ken today

30 questions per category, 4 categories per half, 1 hour to complete each half.

Culture

The Culture genre of the World Quizzing Championships examines qualities of individuals and societies that are manifest in belief systems, along with arts and letters that communicate the essence of those thoughts. Questions cover the tenets of mythology, philosophy, and religion as well as the people and places associated with the formation or perpetuation of ideas. Artistic expression in physical form of various mediums are explored along with the places where these items are presented, along with other outstanding instances of the built environment.

Major subcategories of WQC Culture are:

• Architecture
• Fine Arts
• Museums
• Mythology
• Philosophy
• Religion

Entertainment

In the context of the World Quizzing Championships, the Entertainment category focuses on the presentation of audible and kinetic artistic expression in the forms of music and dance, and performances of other types combining these elements. This genre also covers broadcast distribution of information via radio, television, and internet. The potential of improvisation and immediacy distinguish this category from that in the WQC of Media.

Major subcategories of WQC Entertainment are:

• Music
o Classical
o Blues
o Film Score
o Jazz
o Rock
o World

• Ballet
• Musicals and Operas
• Radio
• Television
• Internet

History

History can be characterized as the record of events, as well as the events themselves. In some cases the current analysis of data may differ from how the winners or survivors have interpreted and written about the results. Legend and myth may surround many people, places, and times of the past, and history is constantly honed toward greater truth based upon investigation, technical advances, and discoveries of lost materials. The World Quiz covers this rich area of information while being cognizant that the answers thought correct today may some day evolve.

Major subcategories of WQC History are:

• <450AD
• 450-1492
• 1492-1900
• 1900-date
• Current Affairs
• Explorations
• Famous People
• Civilizations

Lifestyle

The lifestyle category of the World Quizzing Championships connects to deeper knowledge that participants have about common life experiences. Individuals, families, and societies coping with their physical, psychological, social, and economic environments on a day-to-day basis are the core of this genre.

Lifestyle is expressed in both work and leisure behavior, and in activities, attitudes, interests, opinions, and values -- supported by allocation of income. The questions cover things related to people's self image or self concept; the way they see themselves and believe they are seen by the others. Lifestyle is a blend of motivations, needs, and wants and is influenced by factors such as family, reference groups, culture, and social class.

Major subcategories of WQC Lifestyle are:

• Costume
• Design
• Fashion
• Food and Drink
• Handicrafts
• Health & Fitness
• Human Body
• New Age Beliefs
• Products & Brands
• Tourism

Media

The Media category of the World Quizzing Championships includes both fictional and factual descriptions of the human experience. This genre covers the elements of language, which in turn has led to stories communicated via print and film. Plot, meter, and other general elements of formal structure, along with consumption by individuals or smaller groups differentiate this classification from that of Entertainment in the WQC.

Major subcategories of WQC Media are:

• Movies
o 1900-1980
o 1980-2000
o Recent

• Literature
o <1900
o 1900-1980
o Recent

• Poetry
• Drama
• Comics
• Language


Science

Questions in the World Quizzing Championships related to science may cover the people who have made various discoveries, or the characteristics of how phenomena or instances of the natural world have been defined in terms of formulae or classification. Focus during the test is not on calculations or analysis, but upon the participants understanding of a variety of methods, hypotheses, and breakthroughs in basic research, as well as identification of various substances and life forms.

Major subcategories of WQC Science are:

• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Social Sciences
• Fauna
• Flora


Sport

The sport genre of the World Quizzing Championships has a primary focus on those events, competitions, recreations, and amusements that are global in scope. The trend of inquiry is toward Olympic and World Cup meetings, with some coverage of athletic activities of a regional or specialist nature. On the intellectual side, leisure pursuits of many types, along with questions about games of skill or chance are part of the exam.

Major subcategories of WQC Sport are:

• Track and Field
• Team Sports
• Motor Sports
• Winter Sports
• Games
• Hobbies & Passtimes
• Records


World

The world category of the World Quizzing Championships covers geography and related themes. Participants are tested on their knowledge of location in relative and absolute terms. Questions include the human and physical characteristics of places. The interactions of how humans adapt, modify, and depend on the environment as well as the movement of people, goods and ideas are covered. Identification of regions and technologies are made in formal, functional, and perceptual/vernacular context. The world in this case covers the entire universe, and the exploration thereof.

Major subcategories of WQC World are:

• Cities
• Geography
• Inventions
• Technology
• Transport
• Space

[Ponch]

I was kind of sad I wouldn't be able to make it to the Championships until I got a glimpse at these questions... I really need to study more

It is considered an unlucky number in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cultures because, in their languages, it is nearly homophonous to (i.e. sounds like) the word for “death”. This is why many numbered product lines skip it. You won’t find a cell phone number series beginning with this digit and some buildings do not have a floor with this number. In Hong Kong, some high-rise residences don’t use the digit ANYWHERE within its floor numbers – as a result, a building with a 50th floor might only be 35 storeys high! What number is this?
Guess: Four?

In a rage, the Egyptian god Seth killed Osiris, his brother – quite understandable really since he had sired a son to Seth’s wife, their sister Nephthys. Especially associated with funerals, which deity was this illegitimate son of Osiris and Nephthys?
Guess: Mr. Jacquel from American Gods

The score for the recent movie Tron: Legacy was written by the French electronic music duo, consisting of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, that in 2009 won Grammys for best dance album Alive 2007 and best dance recording for “Harder Better Faster Stronger”? What is the performing name of this duo?
Yay, one I know! Daft Punk

Entitled ‘u’ and premiering in the Hague, September 2010, it was the first ever opera performed in which language?
Guess: Klingon

In 2010, Dilma Rousseff became the first woman President of which country?
Guess: Argentina

Now part of Latvia, this duchy has been a vassal state of the Polish Kingdom, a de facto independent state, and a part of the Russian empire. It was also the smallest European power to attempt a colony in the New World, thanks to an outpost in Tobago. What is the name of this former Duchy?
Pass the Duchy on the left hand side?

The eponymous cheese is made from raw cow’s milk. The leftover whey feeds the pigs used for the eponymous ham. What Italian city are we in?
Guess Parma?

Among the less well known attractions in what tourist destination are Tim Arnold’s Pinball Hall of Fame and Museum, indoor skydiving (formerly known as Flyaway), a replica of King Tutankhamen’s tomb, and what is billed as the world’s largest gift shop?
Guess Branson, MO

What name is given to a poem of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables each that has been extremely popular in Japan since the 17th century?
Know another! Haiku

Most installments of what horror movie series begin by explaining why Jason isn’t really dead, and ends with him dying, like, totally for real this time?
And another! Friday the 13th

What measure was originally derived from the distance “Earth’s equator to the Pole divided by 10 million”?
Educated Guess Meter

In 2009 Professor Elinor Ostrom, from Indiana University, became the first female winner of what Nobel prize category, jointly with another American, Professor Oliver Williamson?
Guess Chemistry

In area, what is the smallest country to have ever won an ice hockey Olympic gold medal (1998, Nagano)?
Know another! Czech Republic

He is the only player to have scored 400 runs in an innings of test match cricket (versus England in 2004). Nicknamed ‘the prince of Trinidad’ and widely recognized as one of the best batsmen of all time, what is the name of this former West Indies cricket player?
No effing idea...

Camels are often seen eating snow to rehydrate in which desert – the 5th largest of the world – where it is the only readily available form of water?
Guess Gobi?

What name is given to the spherical region surrounding and extending up to 3 light years from our solar system that is thought to be the source of most long period comets?
End on a high note! Oort Cloud

[Holger Waldenberger]

I think Americans have to know Rousseff.

I found the Latvia question awfully difficult.

[gameshowcongress]

North America Added Atlanta, DC, and Fresno.

World composite map: http://bit.ly/KkaKlN

Africa LIST -> http://www.worldquizzing.com/join-in/african-venues/ MAP--> http://bit.ly/KkbPKr
Asia - LIST -> http://www.worldquizzing.com/join-in/asian-venues/ MAP--> http://bit.ly/KkaROg
Europe - LIST -> http://www.worldquizzing.com/join-in/european-venues/ MAP--> http://bit.ly/Juo1ZO
North America - LIST -> http://www.worldquizzing.com/join-in/no ... an-venues/ MAP--> http://bit.ly/Juo6g7
Pacific - LIST -> http://www.worldquizzing.com/join-in/pacific-venues/ MAP--> http://bit.ly/Juo7Rt

[Ponch]

I think Americans have to know Rousseff.

Not all of us

[gameshowcongress]

Added today:

Calgary, Mumbai, Coimbatore