Join us on Oct. 26 for a rip-roarin' good time.
10.19.2013
October NERDS!
Once again, we're back with our Hallow's Eve(ish) Trivia Night!
Join us on Oct. 26 for a rip-roarin' good time.
Join us on Oct. 26 for a rip-roarin' good time.
10.09.2013
New Featured Artist: David Hubbard
Surreal Universes: From the Psychedelic to the Sublime
will be showing at MTC from Oct. 13-Nov. 30, 2013.
"This body of work is an outgrowth of my interest in making colorful, affordable banners after the economic crash of 2008. I started the series by working on recycled curtains hung from bamboo rods. As my mastery of stencil making and spray techniques improved, I began working on canvas and heavy print paper. I am interested in contrasting intense color with layers of repeating patterns and am influenced by fabric design and the psychedelic movement. I work mostly with patterns from nature, but some geometric elements have also crept in."
Be sure to join the Artist on Saturday, October 26 from 7-9pm for the opening reception!
will be showing at MTC from Oct. 13-Nov. 30, 2013.
"This body of work is an outgrowth of my interest in making colorful, affordable banners after the economic crash of 2008. I started the series by working on recycled curtains hung from bamboo rods. As my mastery of stencil making and spray techniques improved, I began working on canvas and heavy print paper. I am interested in contrasting intense color with layers of repeating patterns and am influenced by fabric design and the psychedelic movement. I work mostly with patterns from nature, but some geometric elements have also crept in."
Be sure to join the Artist on Saturday, October 26 from 7-9pm for the opening reception!
9.22.2013
September NERDS
Fall has arrived, and with it, NERDS!
Join us Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 8pm for our monthly trivia night
Join us Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 8pm for our monthly trivia night
Sign up begins in the Cafe at 7pm. Grilled Cheese Special 7-8pm. Teams are limited to 5 people.
9.07.2013
Our second shop is open!
Over two years in the making, our sister café over in the Takoma neighborhood, La Mano Coffee Bar, finally opened this week. Come by and visit us. Many of you already have. What an honor it will be to have customers that proudly patron both businesses. Although we know you love everything about Modern Times, we're doing things a little differently in our second home. Come check out the minimalist design including a custom wall mural installation by local artist Mei Mei Chang, a traditional espresso bar menu, new drink offerings such as the cortado, and our new menu of house-baked goodies, including our signature item, which is a nod to our namesake, hand pies! Here's the link to The Washington Post article about it all. You can also check out our facebook page until our permanent website is finished and up. Thank you all, again, for helping make this whole thing possible by being such loyal, supportive customers and our friends.
 |
| Phtot credit: Jeffrey MacMillan/For The Washington Post |
9.06.2013
New Art: The Camel is Watching You
in case you didn't know...
Come help us celebrate the newest featured artist, Russell Ginns, and his show The Camel is Watching You: A Celebration of Faces and Shoes.
Don't forget to join us on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, 7-9pm for the opening reception.
Come help us celebrate the newest featured artist, Russell Ginns, and his show The Camel is Watching You: A Celebration of Faces and Shoes.
9.02.2013
NERDS! August Scorecard
Somewhat belated this month (apologies), but here is the run down from the August NERDS! Trivia Night.
A big congratulations to Couch Noodles for taking home the win.
And don't forget to mark your calendars for September 28 - in pen. PEN! See you nerds then. (Aww, look at my little rhyme)
AUGUST NERDS
ROUND 1: Potpourri
1) In 2010, what major internationl leader was officially given ranked status as a Hell's Angel by a unanimous vote of his nations 'high council' of bikers with the name 'Abaddon'?
2) In poker, what is the 'Dead Man's Hand'?
3) Composed by Wagner from around 1848 to 1874, these four epic operas are based loosely on the Norse sagas and are meant to be viewed consecutively over the course of several days. Together, Das Rheingold, Die Walkuerie, Siegfried, and Goetterdaemmerung are known as what?
4) Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria all border what landlocked country?
5) In song, who is Billy Ray? (HINT: Dusty)
6) January 8, 1835 was the only day in American history when the U.S. was completely free of what?
7) For a point each, what two publishing houses merged in 2013 to achieve 25% global book market share?
8) The original and eponymous service of a barber was concerned with what?
9) Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley), was sentenced on Wednesday to 35 years for her part in the Wikileaks release of highly sensitive and classified documents. She shed light on war crimes committed in Iraq and probably had a hand in sparking the Arab Spring. She also severely strained diplomatic ties across the board. Under what act was she charged and found guilty?
10) What is the national animal of scotland (i.e. bald eagle, US)?
ROUND 2: The Dog Days of Summer
1) While Many presidents have had a first dog, there is only one whose loyal companion sits beside him at his presidential memorial in DC. You can visit the loyal pair at the Tidal Basin. For one point each: Name the president and his faithful dog.
2) What vessel did Charles Darwin take for his first 5-year voyage? Hint: He later published his journal from his time on the ship, making him a popular author.
3) This Broadway musical, which was recently revived, always uses a shelter dog to play the title character's loyal sidekick. Name the musical.
4) Canis Major, or the Great dog, is the constellation that follows its master Orion. The brightest star in this constellation appears in the dawn sky every August, arking the "dog" days of summer. Name the star.
5) Traditionally, Animal Planet features this sporting event while the NFL has its biggest day of the year. In addition to dogs, the event has also featured bunnies, chickens, cats, and pigs as cheerleaders.
6) What president is widely quoted as saying 'if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog' - but in reality, the quote is most likely from a fictional play about his life. Name the president.
7) This Shakespeare comedy is the only one to include a dog on stage. The play is commonly regarded as Shakespeare's weakest work, but the dog is noted as "the most scene-stealing non-speaking role int eh canon." Name the play.
8) The second day of what culture's New Year is considered to be the birthday of all dogs?
9) What English poet has a famous work titled Epitaph to a Dog? He always was a bit of a romantic.
10) True of False: All dogs are allowed inside Politics & Prose.
ROUND 3: VISUAL (Gunslingers of Past and Fiction)
ROUND 4: MUSIC (Blockbuster Hits)
1) As Time Goes By - Casablanca
2) Somewhere - West Side Story
3) Mrs. Robinson - The Graduate
4) Born to Be Wild - Easy Rider
5) Stayin' Alive - Saturday Night Fever
6) Rainbow Connection - The Muppet Movie
7) Up Where We Belong - An Officer and a Gentleman
8) Magic Dance - Labyrinth
9) My Heart Will Go On - Titanic
10) Lose Yourself - 8 Mile
ANSWERS
ROUND 1
1) Vladimir Putin (on July 24, 2010, Putin appeared at a bikers festival in Sevastopol riding a Harley-Davidson tricycle. The nickname, Abbadon, is influenced by Abadonna, the angel of death and destruction in Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita.)
2) A pair of aces and a Pair of 8s, all black (On August 2, 1876, famed law man, Wild Bill Hickok was assassinated while playing poker in Nuttal and Manns Saloon, in Deadwood, in the Black Hills, Dakota Territory. According to legend, Wild Bill was holding 'Aces over Eights' when he was shot. In 1979, he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.)
3) The Ring Cycle (A Full performance of The Rhein Gold, The Valkyrie, Seigfried, and the Twilight of the Gods takes 4 nights at the opera and a total playing time of around 15 hours, depending on pacing and excluding intermission. J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings shares elements with the Cycle - i.e. rings of power - but Tolkien himself denied being influenced by Wagner saying "both rings were round, and there the resemblance ceases.")
4) Hungary (Situated in the Carpathian Basin, Hungary is home to the largest thermal water cave system and second largest thermal lake in the world, the largest lake in Central Eruope, and the largest natural grasslands in Europe.)
5) A Preacher's Son (And when his daddy would visit he'd come along/When they gathered 'round and started talkin'/That's when Billy would take me walkin'...)
6) National Debt (Due in part to the efforts of President Jackson, the government paid off a debt that had been accruing since the Revolutionary War. It was a Thursday. The current debt is now more than $16 Trillion.)
7) Random House and Penguin (The combined companies, now called Penguin Random House, will control more than 25 percent of the book business, with more than 10,000 employees, 250 independent publishing imprints and about $3.9 Billion in annual revenues.)
8) Beards (From the Latin for beard.)
9) The Espionage Act (Enacted June 15, 1917, the Espionage Act originally prohibited any attempt to interfere with military operations, to support U.S. enemies during wartime, to promote insubordination in the military, or to interfere with military recruitment. Along with Manning, other offenders charged under the Espionage Act were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Pentagon Papers whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg, and Edward Snowden.)
10) The Unicorn (The Unicorn has been used as a Scottish heraldic symbol since the 12th Century, when it was first used on an early form of the Scottish coat of arms by William I. In Celtic mythology, the unicorn of Scotland symbolized innocence, purity, and healing powers; it was a sign of masculinity and power. The heraldic unicorn is pictured as chained because, according to legend, a free unicorn was a dangerous beast.)
ROUND 2:
1) FDR & Fala
2) The Beagle
3) Annie
4) Sirius
5) Puppy Bowl
6) Harry Truman (Give 'em Hell, Harry)
7) Two Gentlemen of Verona
8) Chinese
9) Lord Byron
10) True
ROUND 3:
1) The Man with No Name
2) Devil Anse Hatfield
3) Yosemite Sam
4) Annie Oakley
5) The Lone Ranger
6) Wild Bill Hickok
7) Pancho Villa
8) Zoe Washburne
9) Calamity Jane
10) Wyatt Earp
A big congratulations to Couch Noodles for taking home the win.
And don't forget to mark your calendars for September 28 - in pen. PEN! See you nerds then. (Aww, look at my little rhyme)
AUGUST NERDS
ROUND 1: Potpourri
1) In 2010, what major internationl leader was officially given ranked status as a Hell's Angel by a unanimous vote of his nations 'high council' of bikers with the name 'Abaddon'?
2) In poker, what is the 'Dead Man's Hand'?
3) Composed by Wagner from around 1848 to 1874, these four epic operas are based loosely on the Norse sagas and are meant to be viewed consecutively over the course of several days. Together, Das Rheingold, Die Walkuerie, Siegfried, and Goetterdaemmerung are known as what?
4) Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria all border what landlocked country?
5) In song, who is Billy Ray? (HINT: Dusty)
6) January 8, 1835 was the only day in American history when the U.S. was completely free of what?
7) For a point each, what two publishing houses merged in 2013 to achieve 25% global book market share?
8) The original and eponymous service of a barber was concerned with what?
9) Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley), was sentenced on Wednesday to 35 years for her part in the Wikileaks release of highly sensitive and classified documents. She shed light on war crimes committed in Iraq and probably had a hand in sparking the Arab Spring. She also severely strained diplomatic ties across the board. Under what act was she charged and found guilty?
10) What is the national animal of scotland (i.e. bald eagle, US)?
ROUND 2: The Dog Days of Summer
1) While Many presidents have had a first dog, there is only one whose loyal companion sits beside him at his presidential memorial in DC. You can visit the loyal pair at the Tidal Basin. For one point each: Name the president and his faithful dog.
2) What vessel did Charles Darwin take for his first 5-year voyage? Hint: He later published his journal from his time on the ship, making him a popular author.
3) This Broadway musical, which was recently revived, always uses a shelter dog to play the title character's loyal sidekick. Name the musical.
4) Canis Major, or the Great dog, is the constellation that follows its master Orion. The brightest star in this constellation appears in the dawn sky every August, arking the "dog" days of summer. Name the star.
5) Traditionally, Animal Planet features this sporting event while the NFL has its biggest day of the year. In addition to dogs, the event has also featured bunnies, chickens, cats, and pigs as cheerleaders.
6) What president is widely quoted as saying 'if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog' - but in reality, the quote is most likely from a fictional play about his life. Name the president.
7) This Shakespeare comedy is the only one to include a dog on stage. The play is commonly regarded as Shakespeare's weakest work, but the dog is noted as "the most scene-stealing non-speaking role int eh canon." Name the play.
8) The second day of what culture's New Year is considered to be the birthday of all dogs?
9) What English poet has a famous work titled Epitaph to a Dog? He always was a bit of a romantic.
10) True of False: All dogs are allowed inside Politics & Prose.
ROUND 3: VISUAL (Gunslingers of Past and Fiction)
ROUND 4: MUSIC (Blockbuster Hits)
1) As Time Goes By - Casablanca
2) Somewhere - West Side Story
3) Mrs. Robinson - The Graduate
4) Born to Be Wild - Easy Rider
5) Stayin' Alive - Saturday Night Fever
6) Rainbow Connection - The Muppet Movie
7) Up Where We Belong - An Officer and a Gentleman
8) Magic Dance - Labyrinth
9) My Heart Will Go On - Titanic
10) Lose Yourself - 8 Mile
ANSWERS
ROUND 1
1) Vladimir Putin (on July 24, 2010, Putin appeared at a bikers festival in Sevastopol riding a Harley-Davidson tricycle. The nickname, Abbadon, is influenced by Abadonna, the angel of death and destruction in Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita.)
2) A pair of aces and a Pair of 8s, all black (On August 2, 1876, famed law man, Wild Bill Hickok was assassinated while playing poker in Nuttal and Manns Saloon, in Deadwood, in the Black Hills, Dakota Territory. According to legend, Wild Bill was holding 'Aces over Eights' when he was shot. In 1979, he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.)
3) The Ring Cycle (A Full performance of The Rhein Gold, The Valkyrie, Seigfried, and the Twilight of the Gods takes 4 nights at the opera and a total playing time of around 15 hours, depending on pacing and excluding intermission. J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings shares elements with the Cycle - i.e. rings of power - but Tolkien himself denied being influenced by Wagner saying "both rings were round, and there the resemblance ceases.")
4) Hungary (Situated in the Carpathian Basin, Hungary is home to the largest thermal water cave system and second largest thermal lake in the world, the largest lake in Central Eruope, and the largest natural grasslands in Europe.)
5) A Preacher's Son (And when his daddy would visit he'd come along/When they gathered 'round and started talkin'/That's when Billy would take me walkin'...)
6) National Debt (Due in part to the efforts of President Jackson, the government paid off a debt that had been accruing since the Revolutionary War. It was a Thursday. The current debt is now more than $16 Trillion.)
7) Random House and Penguin (The combined companies, now called Penguin Random House, will control more than 25 percent of the book business, with more than 10,000 employees, 250 independent publishing imprints and about $3.9 Billion in annual revenues.)
8) Beards (From the Latin for beard.)
9) The Espionage Act (Enacted June 15, 1917, the Espionage Act originally prohibited any attempt to interfere with military operations, to support U.S. enemies during wartime, to promote insubordination in the military, or to interfere with military recruitment. Along with Manning, other offenders charged under the Espionage Act were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Pentagon Papers whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg, and Edward Snowden.)
10) The Unicorn (The Unicorn has been used as a Scottish heraldic symbol since the 12th Century, when it was first used on an early form of the Scottish coat of arms by William I. In Celtic mythology, the unicorn of Scotland symbolized innocence, purity, and healing powers; it was a sign of masculinity and power. The heraldic unicorn is pictured as chained because, according to legend, a free unicorn was a dangerous beast.)
ROUND 2:
1) FDR & Fala
2) The Beagle
3) Annie
4) Sirius
5) Puppy Bowl
6) Harry Truman (Give 'em Hell, Harry)
7) Two Gentlemen of Verona
8) Chinese
9) Lord Byron
10) True
ROUND 3:
1) The Man with No Name
2) Devil Anse Hatfield
3) Yosemite Sam
4) Annie Oakley
5) The Lone Ranger
6) Wild Bill Hickok
7) Pancho Villa
8) Zoe Washburne
9) Calamity Jane
10) Wyatt Earp
8.18.2013
August NERDS!
Join us Saturday, August 24 for our latest edition of NERDS! trivia.
~ Sign up begins at 7pm in the Cafe
~ Grilled Cheese Special 7-8pm
~ Trivia begins at 8pm upstairs
~ All Ages:: PRIZES:: nerdly fun for all.
(As always, the poster's theme is based on something for which this month might be known... it may or may not hold a clue)
~ Grilled Cheese Special 7-8pm
~ Trivia begins at 8pm upstairs
~ All Ages:: PRIZES:: nerdly fun for all.
(As always, the poster's theme is based on something for which this month might be known... it may or may not hold a clue)
7.29.2013
July NERDS - Scorecard
The answers are in! With a spectacular turn out of 30 teams, Trivia was a great success (mini power outage and all)
Congrats to They May Already be Wieners for taking home first!
Join us for the next NERDS! night, August 24, 2013.
ROUND 1: POTPOURRI
1. The Badge of the Prince of Wales (Known as The Prince of Wales' Feathers) consists of three white feathers emerging from a gold coronet with the words "Ich Dien" on a blue ribbon. How does "Ich Dien" translate to English?
2. There are only 5* full-length, cartoon Disney movies in which both parents are present as characters, and don't die during the course of the film. For a single point each, name these films.
(*It turns out there are 8)
3. In 1983, the office of the Promoter of the Faith was eliminated from the canonization process, ushering in a period of unprecedented elevations to sainthood under Pope John Paul II. What was this role more popularly known as?
4. What word used in the world of espionage originates from John Le Carre's 1974 novel 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'?
5. What was unusual about the Roman Senator Incitatus?
6. Which ancestor of Noah is also the name of an oversized champagne bottle that holds six liters?
7. The name of which American rock band was also the term used by Allied pilots in WWII to describe UFO's?
8. In Greek Mythology, after being spurned by Narcissus, which heart-broken nymph pined away until only her voice remained?
9. President George H.W. Bush caused a bit of a kerfuffle on March 18, 1990 when he banned what from Air Force One?
10. What is a little-known Latin word for "crossroads"?
ROUND 2: MYTHOLOGY
1. These Irish mythological stories occur around the reign of King Conchobar mac Nessa and his nephew, the great hero, Cu Chulain, who single-handedly defeated the armies of Queen Medb. Irish mythology is sorted into four cycles. King Conchobar, Cu Chulainn, and Queen Medb are all part of stories in which cycle?
2. What planet in our solar system is the only one not named after a Roman god or goddess?
3. Name the painter who graphically and darkly brought to life the image of Saturn Devouring His Son. Hint: You can see the painting in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
4. Rebecca Solnit, the author of our Cover to Cover pick this month, recently wrote an open letter to NSA leaker Edward Snowden. In it, she compared Snowden to this to this mythological figure who stole fire from the gods. HINT: Last we heard Snowden still has his liver.
5. Television producer David Simon said he created this highly acclaimed show as a modern day Greek tragedy. Only instead of Olympian forces you have institutions like the police department - and instead of Greece you have Baltimore. Name the show.
6. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series by author Rick Riordan stars Percy Jackson, a troubled 12-year-old boy with dyslexia and ADHD. He eventually discovers he is the son of this Greek deity, whose domain is the ocean/seas. Name Percy's Greek deity father. For an extra point, name the location where demigods go to train.
7. This monument in Washington, DC is in the shape of a Greek Doric temple. Only instead of a god or goddess seated in the throne, you have the sculpture of our 16th President. Name the memorial.
8. In the Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts, Jason is sent to get hold of the Golden Fleece. Many experts believe this fleece was inspired by the coat of a real animal. In addition to its mythical fleece, this animal has the snout of a moose, horns of a cow, tail of a bear, body of a buffalo, and the feet and agility of a mountain goat. Name the animal.
9. The title of this song by Fleetwood Mac takes its name from a prominent figure in Welsh mythology who appears as a beautiful woman dressed in gold silk brocade and riding a shining white horse. The song was voted #488 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Name the song.
10. Australian writer David Malouf's most recent novel, Ransom, is a retelling of several books in the Iliad. The novel opens when Achilles is mourning the death of his lover Patroclus, and has Killed Patroclus' murderer, Hector. All of this death occurs during what epic Greek war that lasted for a decade?
ROUND 3: VISUAL ROUND
ROUND 4: MUSIC "ROYAL BABY"
1. Ice, Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
2. Just Can't Wait to be King - Lion King
3. Purple Rain - Prince
4. All That She Wants - Ace of Base
5. Praise You - Fatboy Slim
6. Baby Boy - Beyonce Feat. Sean Paul
7. Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin
8. Fergalicious - Fergie Feat. Will.i.am (from the album The Dutchess)
9. Kooks - David Bowie
10. Stay Up Late - Talking Heads
::ANSWERS::
Round 1
1. "I Serve"
2. Sleeping Beauty (King Stefan and "his fair queen"- never named), 101 Dalmations (Pongo and Perdita), Mulan (Fa-Zhou, Fa-Li), Peter Pan (George and Mary Darling), The Incredibles (Robert and Helen Par), Hercules (Zues and Hera/Alcmene and Amphitryon), Brave (Queen Elinor and King Fergus), and Tangled (Queen Primrose and King Thomas of Corona).
3. The Devils Advocate (was a canon lawyer appointed by the Vatican to challenges saintly nominations. The Devils Advocate opposed God's Advocate - the Promoter of the Cause - who argued in favor. This task is now performed by the Promoter of Justice, in charge of examining the accuracy of the inquiry on the saintliness of the candidate.
4. Mole (Its origin is unclear, as well as to what extent it was used by intelligence services before it became popularized. Le Carre has said that the term mole was actually used by the KGB, and that Western intelligence services used 'sleeper agent'.)
5. He was a horse (Incitatus was the favored horse of Caligula - reigned 37-41AD) According to a Roman historian writing in 121AD, Incitatus had a stable of marble, with an ivory manger, purple blankets, and a collar of precious stones. Another contemporary historian indicated that servants attended the horse, feeding him oats mixed with gold flake.)
6. Methuselah (Most large bottles are named for ancient kings of Israel. The Methuselah, holding the equivalent of about 8 bottles, is named after a patriarch who was said to have lied nearly 1000 years, which might be a playful statement on the aging potential for a wine in a bottle that big.)
7. Foo Fighters
8. Echo (Cursed by Hera for assisting in Zeus' seduction of the other wood nymphs, Echo was only able to repeat words already spoken to her. A chance encounter, and brief flirtation with the beautiful Narcissus drew her out of the woods. But Narcissus ran screaming: "may I die before what's mine is yours". Echo repeats only "what's mine is yours". Heartbroken, Echo spent the rest of her life in lonely glens pining away until all that was left was her voice.)
9. Broccoli ( At a Press Conference in front of the White House on March 22, 1990, Bush clarified saying "I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since i was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli.")
10. Trivia ("Trivia" derives from "trivium," from Latin, meaning "three roads". The derivative "Trivialis" carries the sense of "common, ordinary, of the crossroads," from which comes the modern "trivial" as "of no importance." But "trivium" was the basis of Midieval education leading directly to our modern sense of "Trivia." The "three ways" or "three roads" was the first stage of a classical, university level education: rhetoric, grammar and logic. Since the "trivium" was considered "the basics," the derivative "trivia" eventually came to mean "less important matters."
Round 2
1. The Ulster Cycle
2. Earth
3. Francisco Goya
4. Prometheus
5. The Wire
6. Poseidon, Camp Half Blood
7. The Lincoln Memorial
8. The Takin
9. Rhiannon
10. Trojan War
Round 3: Visual
1. Princess Grace of Monaco (2pts)
2. The Royal Tannenbaums (1pt)
3. William & Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (1pt)
4. Mary, Queen of Scots (2pts)
5. Princess Zelda (1pt)
6. Franz Josef, of Austria (2pts)
6*. Franzl (bonus)
7. Royal Flush (2pts)
8. Czar Nicholas, of Romanov (2pts)
9. Louis XIV, the Sun King (3pts)
10. Queen Isabella I of Castile (2pts)
Congrats to They May Already be Wieners for taking home first!
Join us for the next NERDS! night, August 24, 2013.
ROUND 1: POTPOURRI
1. The Badge of the Prince of Wales (Known as The Prince of Wales' Feathers) consists of three white feathers emerging from a gold coronet with the words "Ich Dien" on a blue ribbon. How does "Ich Dien" translate to English?
2. There are only 5* full-length, cartoon Disney movies in which both parents are present as characters, and don't die during the course of the film. For a single point each, name these films.
(*It turns out there are 8)
3. In 1983, the office of the Promoter of the Faith was eliminated from the canonization process, ushering in a period of unprecedented elevations to sainthood under Pope John Paul II. What was this role more popularly known as?
4. What word used in the world of espionage originates from John Le Carre's 1974 novel 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'?
5. What was unusual about the Roman Senator Incitatus?
6. Which ancestor of Noah is also the name of an oversized champagne bottle that holds six liters?
7. The name of which American rock band was also the term used by Allied pilots in WWII to describe UFO's?
8. In Greek Mythology, after being spurned by Narcissus, which heart-broken nymph pined away until only her voice remained?
9. President George H.W. Bush caused a bit of a kerfuffle on March 18, 1990 when he banned what from Air Force One?
10. What is a little-known Latin word for "crossroads"?
ROUND 2: MYTHOLOGY
1. These Irish mythological stories occur around the reign of King Conchobar mac Nessa and his nephew, the great hero, Cu Chulain, who single-handedly defeated the armies of Queen Medb. Irish mythology is sorted into four cycles. King Conchobar, Cu Chulainn, and Queen Medb are all part of stories in which cycle?
2. What planet in our solar system is the only one not named after a Roman god or goddess?
3. Name the painter who graphically and darkly brought to life the image of Saturn Devouring His Son. Hint: You can see the painting in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
4. Rebecca Solnit, the author of our Cover to Cover pick this month, recently wrote an open letter to NSA leaker Edward Snowden. In it, she compared Snowden to this to this mythological figure who stole fire from the gods. HINT: Last we heard Snowden still has his liver.
5. Television producer David Simon said he created this highly acclaimed show as a modern day Greek tragedy. Only instead of Olympian forces you have institutions like the police department - and instead of Greece you have Baltimore. Name the show.
6. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series by author Rick Riordan stars Percy Jackson, a troubled 12-year-old boy with dyslexia and ADHD. He eventually discovers he is the son of this Greek deity, whose domain is the ocean/seas. Name Percy's Greek deity father. For an extra point, name the location where demigods go to train.
7. This monument in Washington, DC is in the shape of a Greek Doric temple. Only instead of a god or goddess seated in the throne, you have the sculpture of our 16th President. Name the memorial.
8. In the Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts, Jason is sent to get hold of the Golden Fleece. Many experts believe this fleece was inspired by the coat of a real animal. In addition to its mythical fleece, this animal has the snout of a moose, horns of a cow, tail of a bear, body of a buffalo, and the feet and agility of a mountain goat. Name the animal.
9. The title of this song by Fleetwood Mac takes its name from a prominent figure in Welsh mythology who appears as a beautiful woman dressed in gold silk brocade and riding a shining white horse. The song was voted #488 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Name the song.
10. Australian writer David Malouf's most recent novel, Ransom, is a retelling of several books in the Iliad. The novel opens when Achilles is mourning the death of his lover Patroclus, and has Killed Patroclus' murderer, Hector. All of this death occurs during what epic Greek war that lasted for a decade?
ROUND 3: VISUAL ROUND
ROUND 4: MUSIC "ROYAL BABY"
1. Ice, Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
2. Just Can't Wait to be King - Lion King
3. Purple Rain - Prince
4. All That She Wants - Ace of Base
5. Praise You - Fatboy Slim
6. Baby Boy - Beyonce Feat. Sean Paul
7. Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin
8. Fergalicious - Fergie Feat. Will.i.am (from the album The Dutchess)
9. Kooks - David Bowie
10. Stay Up Late - Talking Heads
::ANSWERS::
Round 1
1. "I Serve"
2. Sleeping Beauty (King Stefan and "his fair queen"- never named), 101 Dalmations (Pongo and Perdita), Mulan (Fa-Zhou, Fa-Li), Peter Pan (George and Mary Darling), The Incredibles (Robert and Helen Par), Hercules (Zues and Hera/Alcmene and Amphitryon), Brave (Queen Elinor and King Fergus), and Tangled (Queen Primrose and King Thomas of Corona).
3. The Devils Advocate (was a canon lawyer appointed by the Vatican to challenges saintly nominations. The Devils Advocate opposed God's Advocate - the Promoter of the Cause - who argued in favor. This task is now performed by the Promoter of Justice, in charge of examining the accuracy of the inquiry on the saintliness of the candidate.
4. Mole (Its origin is unclear, as well as to what extent it was used by intelligence services before it became popularized. Le Carre has said that the term mole was actually used by the KGB, and that Western intelligence services used 'sleeper agent'.)
5. He was a horse (Incitatus was the favored horse of Caligula - reigned 37-41AD) According to a Roman historian writing in 121AD, Incitatus had a stable of marble, with an ivory manger, purple blankets, and a collar of precious stones. Another contemporary historian indicated that servants attended the horse, feeding him oats mixed with gold flake.)
6. Methuselah (Most large bottles are named for ancient kings of Israel. The Methuselah, holding the equivalent of about 8 bottles, is named after a patriarch who was said to have lied nearly 1000 years, which might be a playful statement on the aging potential for a wine in a bottle that big.)
7. Foo Fighters
8. Echo (Cursed by Hera for assisting in Zeus' seduction of the other wood nymphs, Echo was only able to repeat words already spoken to her. A chance encounter, and brief flirtation with the beautiful Narcissus drew her out of the woods. But Narcissus ran screaming: "may I die before what's mine is yours". Echo repeats only "what's mine is yours". Heartbroken, Echo spent the rest of her life in lonely glens pining away until all that was left was her voice.)
9. Broccoli ( At a Press Conference in front of the White House on March 22, 1990, Bush clarified saying "I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since i was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli.")
10. Trivia ("Trivia" derives from "trivium," from Latin, meaning "three roads". The derivative "Trivialis" carries the sense of "common, ordinary, of the crossroads," from which comes the modern "trivial" as "of no importance." But "trivium" was the basis of Midieval education leading directly to our modern sense of "Trivia." The "three ways" or "three roads" was the first stage of a classical, university level education: rhetoric, grammar and logic. Since the "trivium" was considered "the basics," the derivative "trivia" eventually came to mean "less important matters."
Round 2
1. The Ulster Cycle
2. Earth
3. Francisco Goya
4. Prometheus
5. The Wire
6. Poseidon, Camp Half Blood
7. The Lincoln Memorial
8. The Takin
9. Rhiannon
10. Trojan War
Round 3: Visual
1. Princess Grace of Monaco (2pts)
2. The Royal Tannenbaums (1pt)
3. William & Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (1pt)
4. Mary, Queen of Scots (2pts)
5. Princess Zelda (1pt)
6. Franz Josef, of Austria (2pts)
6*. Franzl (bonus)
7. Royal Flush (2pts)
8. Czar Nicholas, of Romanov (2pts)
9. Louis XIV, the Sun King (3pts)
10. Queen Isabella I of Castile (2pts)
7.24.2013
Goodbye Letter
As many of you have heard by now, I’m leaving DC after almost exactly four years for Hartford, CT at the end of this month.
It feels silly to write something like this, in no small part for fear of being this guy, which, jeez, The Onion never misses. But the fact is, so many of you have expressed genuine shock/dismay/excitement/dismay again, in that order, that I feel like I shouldn’t just sneak away. A (downright shocking) number of you have given me your business cards and asked for my email in return, so that we can keep up. I’ve been asked where I can be found on facebook for the same reason. I’ve even been offered a letter of recommendation, should I ever need it. Each of these conversations has come with a hug or a handshake, and some truly sincere best-wishes.
This job is what it is, but Modern Times itself is a special place. I suppose we all know the names of our long-time mechanics, bartenders, doormen, etc., but in so many cases, you’ve also told me your childrens’ names, where you work, what your musical tastes are, what you like to read, where you’ve been on vacation and so on and so on. I see many of you five or six times a week. I consider many of you an extension of my co-worker family, and I’ll miss you. Thank you for being so outgoing, helpful, patient, and generous in my time here.
So, in parting, my hope is that you’ll continue to frequent our little cafe. If you’re the type to read all the way through something like this, do me one last favor: write to the ownership of Politics and Prose and tell them how much Modern Times means to you; write Javier and tell him that you appreciate his vision and effort and dedication to this place; go to our Yelp page (currently the stomping grounds primarily of trolls and grumps) and give us a review. Javier has been an incredible owner to work for, and he and Anna are building something really special out in Takoma Park. I know that many of you have donated money to them already, even though, as a regular of MTC, you probably won’t be out there much. I hope that you’ll continue to support them.
If you’re really so inclined, I can be found on facebook or you can send an email to james@moderntimescoffeehouse.com and I’ll get back to you with my personal address.
Thanks for everything, good luck with all the rest.
James Bress
7.22.2013
NERDS 6!
Make your way down this coming Saturday, for our next NERDS! TRIVIA NIGHT
Sign up in the Coffeehouse beginning at 7PM and enjoy our Grilled Cheese Special. The festivities begin upstairs at 8.
Show us what you've got!
Show us what you've got!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
