by Rick Polito
MONDAY, DEC. 20 The Sing-Off The winning group is announced tonight. Now they can go back to their regular lives and only cheerily annoy people on a local basis. NBC. 8pm.
by Howard Rachelson
1. Pictured, right: In the 1960s, developer Thomas Frouge from Pennsylvania purchased land in Marin 1 County to build Marincello, a city of towers, homes and townhouses, with a mall and a grand hotel, in a location he called “probably the most beautiful in the United States for a new community.” Where was it? 2. American kids call him Santa Claus; what do British kids call him? 3. When some letters were added to the name “association football” in the 1880s, the name of what sport was born? 4. For two years during World War I, the bells of London’s Big Ben were silenced and the clock face darkened at night to prevent what kind of attacks by whom? 5. The first cafe to open in Paris, Cafe Procope, was established in 1686 primarily to serve what product? 6. Just days before the opening of the Winter Olympics in February 2010, everything was in place, except snow. What city hosted? (P.S.: snow arrived) 7a. Pictured, left: Robert Redford produced and directed 7a the 1994 film Quiz Show about a 1950s TV game-show scandal. What immensely popular trivia quiz show was caught manipulating winners? 7b. Actor Ralph Fiennes played what intellectual college professor, who received answers in advance (but became a national hero)? 7c. Pictured, left:The losing contestant (might have been the winner) was high-IQ Herb Stempel, played by what edgy actor? 8. The Republic of South Africa has three capital cities, one for each branch of government. What are the cities? 9a. Opium, morphine and codeine all come from what plant? 7b 9b. What country produces 80 percent of the world’s opium? 10. Each of these word groups is related to a fourth word. Give that word. 10a. Collection, television, prepared (three letters) 10b. Fat animal, locking mechanism, British soul singer (four letters) 10c. Shuffle, bargain, business agreement (four letters) BONUS QUESTION: For what two U.S. holidays each year are the most greeting cards sent? Howard Rachelson sends happiest holiday greetings to all and welcomes the most trivial among you back for live team trivia contests, continuing on Wednesday, Jan. 5, at the Broken Drum in San Rafael. Contact him at howard1@triviacafe.com.
± With our techno addictions, losing an iPad can be a serious matter. Diana Glocker left hers at one of the busiest places on earth—Costco on a Saturday afternoon, two weeks before Christmas. Arriving home in Mill Valley after shopping, she called the store repeatedly. No iPad. The following day, Diana and her daughter headed back to the San Bruno Costco. Unfortunately, the manager had no new information. Enter Diana’s 7-year-old daughter, who suggested they ask the employee gathering the shopping carts. Chris Holmes found the iPad the previous evening and had indeed turned it over to management. The trio traipsed to the office and recovered the prized possession. Chris, demonstrating a high degree of integrity, refused a reward. “He’s my hero,” Diana said.
Answers on page 37
ZERO
FRIDAY, DEC. 17 WALL-E In the future, earth has become uninhabitable and humanity lives aboard luxurious spaceliners where every person’s every whim is attended to by intelligent robots. It makes us want to go buy a Hummer and leave it idling with the AC on. When do we get our robot? (2008) ABC Family. 8:30pm. Top 40 Videos of Hawaii Five-0 A vio2010 They still make lent convict escapes videos? VH1.9pm. from prison. How Christmas in Washcome it’s never a ington After the nice convict? They midterms, it will be probably want out different this year. too. CBS. 10pm. They ’re deck ing TUESDAY, DEC. 21 the halls with your The Christmas money and only Choir A workaholic inviting the richaccountant organest 1 percent. TNT. izes a choir at a 11:15pm. homeless shelter, Find out what happens when you mix brandy with evilLate Show with coming up with casted spells, Tuesday at 8. David Letterman a great version of Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro are “God Rest Ye Hairy Gentlemen.” (2008) on the same night, triggering one of those Hallmark Channel. 8pm. tiresome “My Oscar’s shinier than your Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Oscar” debates. CBS. 11:35pm. Christmas By the third eggnog, the Beast is just impossible. (1997) Disney Channel. 8pm. Detroit 1-8-7 When a carwash owner is murdered, investigators are looking for a suspect with a motive, a record and a newcar smell. ABC. 10pm WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22 Santa Buddies Talking puppies and Christmas are just about the cutest thing since that time we threw the TV out the window, screaming. (2009) ABC Family. 6pm. Mythbusters Tonight, it’s “Holiday Myths,” including that one where your mother told you she loves you and your siblings just the same, even if she did buy your sister a bicycle and you got a T-shirt and the box the The remake’s gonna look silly next to the 1982 original. bicycle came in. Discovery Channel. 8pm. Saturday at 11:35. THURSDAY, DEC. 23 Rambo This is the newest Rambo, the coming-out-of-retireSATURDAY, DEC. 18 Ten Commandment Rambo. It’s ments of the Mafia The first five are just like the earlier the dress code. Discovery Channel. 8pm. films only he WWE Tribute to the Troops Professional wears a truss. wrestlers entertain the troops at a Texas (2008) Spike TV. base. It makes us nostalgic for Bob Hope 7pm. and the Playboy Playmates; mainly the Playmates, really. NBC. 9pm. Saturday Night Live Jeff Bridges hosts tonight’s show. They’ll surely be lampooning his new “Tron: Legacy” movie, probably by showing clips from the original “Tron.” NBC. 11:35pm. SUNDAY DEC. 19 Stuart Little A loving husband and wife adopt a young mouse John Rambo, 64, shuffles into action. Thursday at 7. who talks and wears clothes, thereby saving tens of thousand of dollars in clothes and col- Christmas Unwrapped Exploring the lege costs.This option may not be available in “Science of Christmas.” It turns out reinyour area. (1999) Cartoon Network. 7pm. deer really can fly. All you need is a Taser Survivor: Nicaragua Another season of and a catapult. Discovery Channel. 8pm.✹ cutthroat backstabbing comes to a close. It’s just like your upcoming holiday weekTune in That TV Guy at letters@pacificsun.com. end with your family, only with this somebody actually wins. CBS. 8pm. Turn on more TV Guy at ›› pacificsun.com
›› TRiViA CAFÉ
HERO
›› THAT TV GUY
²ÊWho’s the thoughtful person decorating the lone pine tree in a field off 101 at Sir Francis Drake? We have no idea and neither does reader Teresa Meredith. According to Teresa, she enjoyed seeing the tree beautifully adorned over the past few years. Then, a month ago, someone chopped it down. Perhaps it had the deadly, contagious pine pitch canker. Teresa isn’t sure, because the tree was never removed from the property, leading her to suspect a Zero as the culprit. The good news is our unidentified designer propped up the tree and decorated it once more, probably for the last time. We’d like to root out the story behind the tree artist and the tree annihilator, so please contact us with any information.— Nikki Silverstein
Got a Hero or a Zero? Please send submissions to e-mail nikki_silverstein@yahoo.com. DECEMBER 17 - DECEMBER 23, 2010 PACIFIC SUN 9