JAQR - October 1, 2023
Offal dishes, space probes, Doug Jones, French literary awards, Ralph Nader, and more...
Thank you for reading another issue of the Jeopardy Answer & Question Recap, or JAQR [“jacker”] for short. This recap includes two clues from each episode of Jeopardy! between Monday 9/25 and Friday 9/29, along with some bonus clues that cover things the show really likes asking about. The recap will include Daily Doubles, Final Jeopardy clues, and Triple Stumpers. The first half of the recap will include just the clues so you can quiz yourself if you want. The second half will give you some (hopefully) interesting information about the clues and/or some related info.
DAILY DOUBLE #1
WHAT'S IN THAT CHIP
Mackie's of Scotland makes chips, err crisps, with hints of this offal dish that Robert Burns once "addressed"
DAILY DOUBLE #2
NEXT STOP, VENUS
We're not sure if it was "ancient" or not, but the first U.S. flyby of Venus was by this space probe in 1962
DAILY DOUBLE #3
BEASTLY LITERARY CHARACTERS
The title character of this 19th c. tale had "a pretty white star on my forehead. I was thought very handsome"
DAILY DOUBLE #4
FACTS ABOUT THE BEST PICTURE WINNER
Doug Jones said the latex rubber suit he wore in this film acted as a sponge
FINAL JEOPARDY #1
MYTHOLOGY
Chrysomallus was the name of the creature that was the source of this sought-after item, vellus aureum in Latin
FINAL JEOPARDY #2
SYMPHONIES
Debuting at Carnegie Hall in 1893, it was written by a European living in New York & partly inspired by "The Song of Hiawatha"
FINAL JEOPARDY #3
U.S. SENATE HISTORY
In 1805, after 4 years presiding over the Senate, he left the chamber, calling it "a sanctuary; a citadel of law, of order"
TRIPLE STUMPER #1
FRENCH LITERATURE
In 2016 "The Perfect Nanny" by the French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani won this premier French literary award
TRIPLE STUMPER #2
WHO "AR" THEY? (notice the quotation marks)
Florence Nightingale Graham was the real name of this cosmetics queen
TRIPLE STUMPER #3
LET'S PARTY! (name the presidential candidate’s political party)
2000: Ralph Nader
BONUS CLUE #1
WHITE HOUSE PETS
Here's this president's wife, Grace, with their pet raccoon Rebecca, a star attraction at the White House
BONUS CLUE #2
AMERICAN ISLANDS
In the 1870s Father Damien arrived at the leper colony on this, which has been called the most Hawaiian isle
BONUS CLUE #3
RIVERS OF AFRICA
The mighty Okavango River stretches from Angola to this desert in Botswana, where it becomes a swamp
DAILY DOUBLE #1
WHAT'S IN THAT CHIP
Mackie's of Scotland makes chips, err crisps, with hints of this offal dish that Robert Burns once "addressed"
***HAGGIS***
Haggis [HAG-iss] is the national dish of Scotland. It is a type of savory pudding composed of the heart, liver, and lungs (AKA offal or pluck) of a sheep (or calf), minced with oatmeal, beef or mutton suet (hard fatty tissue about the loins and kidneys), and seasoned with spices. That mixture is packed into the animal’s stomach and boiled for about four hours. Yum! Haggis is often accompanied by neeps and tatties, which are mashed rutabagas and potatoes. The similar dish haggamuggie is made from the liver of a fish. Haggis is often served on Hogmanay (aka New Year's Eve). Haggis is also usually served on Burns Night, which is celebrated on January 25th, the birthday of Scottish poet Robert “Rabbie” Burns. The meal’s host or a guest will sometimes recite Robert Burns’ “Address to a Haggis,” which calls the title food “great chieftain o' the puddin-race!”
DAILY DOUBLE #2
NEXT STOP, VENUS
We're not sure if it was "ancient" or not, but the first U.S. flyby of Venus was by this space probe in 1962
***MARINER 2***
Mariner was the name of a NASA program (1962-1973) that explored other planets. The “ancient” hint in the clue refers to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1798 poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” which was covered in last week's recap. The first, third, and eighth Mariner missions were launch failures. Mariner 11 and Mariner 12 were the original names of the two Voyager space probes. The successful Mariner probes include:
Mariner 2 and 5 = flyby of Venus; measured its temperature and atmosphere
Mariners 4, 6, 7, and 9 = flyby of Mars; took pictures of its surface and analyzed its atmosphere; helped disprove the existence of Martian canals
Mariner 10 = flyby of Venus (once) and Mercury (three times, the final of which got within 200 miles of the planet)
DAILY DOUBLE #3
BEASTLY LITERARY CHARACTERS
The title character of this 19th c. tale had "a pretty white star on my forehead. I was thought very handsome"
***BLACK BEAUTY***
British author Anna Sewell [SOO-ul] wrote the 1877 children’s novel Black Beauty. The book is an “autobiography” of a horse and was "translated from the original equine." Darkie was the horse’s original name. New owners (Squire Gordon et al) consider naming the horse Ebony or Blackbird before eventually choosing Black Beauty. The title horse shares a stable with others named Merrylegs and Ginger (named for her habit of snapping). After being acquired by Jerry Barker, the title animal is used as a London cab horse. He is then acquired by the ruthless cab-horse owner Nicholas Skinner, which results in the horse being overworked and collapsing. Near the end of the work, Black Beauty is able to recover after being acquired by the kind farmer Mr. Thoroughgood, who has a grandson named Willie. The book has been adapted many times, including a 1994 movie in which Black Beauty is voiced by Alan Cumming. A clip from early on in that movie can be seen below.
DAILY DOUBLE #4
FACTS ABOUT THE BEST PICTURE WINNER
Doug Jones said the latex rubber suit he wore in this film acted as a sponge
**THE SHAPE OF WATER***
The actor Doug Jones (not to be confused with the Alabama lawyer who completed Jeff Sessions' term as Senator, but lost to Tommy Tuberville in a 2020 election) played "Amphibian Man" in the 2017 movie The Shape of Water, which was directed by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. The actor has appeared in several del Toro movies, including Pan’s Labyrinth, in which Jones played both "El Fauno" and "The Pale Man.” He has also appeared in many movies directed by others, including 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. He played the Silver Surfer, who was voiced by Laurence Fishburne. Last, and probably least, he played “Pencil Man” (who erases crime) in the music video to the song “All Star” by Smash Mouth (whose leader singer Steve Harwell died last month).
FINAL JEOPARDY #1
MYTHOLOGY
Chrysomallus was the name of the creature that was the source of this sought-after item, vellus aureum in Latin
***GOLDEN FLEECE***
Chrysomallus was a winged ram from Greek myth that had golden wool. The ram rescued Phrixus [FRIK-suss] and his twin sister Helle [hel-LAY] from certain death in Boeotia [bee-OH-shuh], where a devious plot was devised by their mean stepmother Ino [EE-noh]. Unfortunately, Helle fell off the ram into a strait below and drowned. The body of water was named the Hellespont in her honor, but is now more commonly called the Dardanelles (it separates the European and Asian portions of Turkey; see picture below). Phrixus safely arrived in Colchis [KOHL-kiss] and was warmly greeted by King Aeëtes [eye-EE-teez], who allowed him to marry his daughter Chalciope [chal-KYE-oh-pee]. In return, Phrixus sacrificed the ram and gave the golden fleece to the king, who guarded it with a dragon that never slept.
The golden fleece was eventually taken by Jason, who needed it to take the throne from Pelias, the king of Iolcus. Jason was assisted by his crew known as the Argonauts (named for their ship, the Argo) and Medea (the daughter of King Aeëtes who fell in love with Jason). Medea gave Jason a potion that made the dragon go to sleep, allowing him to take the golden fleece and return to Iolcus with it. Pelias did not want to give up the throne, so Medea tricked his daughters into cutting him up and putting him in a boiling pot, since they thought their elderly father would emerge young and rejuvenated. Narrator: he did not.
FINAL JEOPARDY #2
SYMPHONIES
Debuting at Carnegie Hall in 1893, it was written by a European living in New York & partly inspired by "The Song of Hiawatha"
***NEW WORLD***
The New World Symphony is by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904). It was his ninth symphony and is in E minor. A theme in the first movement is similar to the spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." The main theme of the largo second movement is played by the English horn (AKA cor anglais) and was adapted into the spiritual-like song “Goin’ Home” by William Arms Fisher. The symphony was completed by Dvořák in Spillville, Iowa, which was home to many Bohemian immigrants. Neil Armstrong took a recording of the symphony on the Apollo 11 mission. The clip below, which is of the “fiery” allegro con fuoco fourth movement (which I highly recommend) features Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and includes the Pope in attendance. Other notable works by Dvořák include:
Slavonic Dances - a series of sixteen (two sets of eight) orchestral pieces (originally for piano four hands) inspired by Brahms's Hungarian Dances
Cello Concerto in B minor - premiered by Leo Stern in 1896
Rusalka - 1901 opera named for a water sprite from Slavic mythology
FINAL JEOPARDY #3
U.S. SENATE HISTORY
In 1805, after 4 years presiding over the Senate, he left the chamber, calling it "a sanctuary; a citadel of law, of order"
***AARON BURR***
The politician Aaron Burr (1756-1836) served as the third vice-president (1801-1805) when he wasn’t busy killing people in duels. The Election of 1800 (also a song from the musical Hamilton, which can be heard below), saw Thomas Jefferson defeat Aaron Burr (thanks to Alexander Hamilton), which resulted in Jefferson becoming president and Burr becoming vice-president (whose few jobs included presiding over the Senate). The Twelfth Amendment was ratified four years later and revised the presidential election procedures. Burr knew he wouldn’t be VP if TJ got re-elected, so he ran for governor of New York instead. Once again, Hamilton’s derogatory comments about Burr helped prevent him from getting elected. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey, where Hamilton was fatally wounded.
TRIPLE STUMPER #1
FRENCH LITERATURE
In 2016 "The Perfect Nanny" by the French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani won this premier French literary award
***PRIX GONCOURT***
The Prix Goncourt [gawn-KOOR] is a French literary prize that was founded by Edmond de Goncourt in honor of his brother Jules de Goncourt. Those brothers (pictured below) kept a journal that documented the gossip and happenings of the Parisian literary sphere in the 19th century. The Prix Goncourt is awarded to the “best and most imaginative prose work of the year.” The winning author receives a whopping 10 euros. Past winners include Marcel Proust (in 1919 for In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower, the second volume of In Search of Lost Time) and Simone de Beauvoir (in 1954 for The Mandarins). More recent winners include:
2006 - The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell - historical fiction novel centering on Dr. Maximilien Aue [OW-uh], a former Nazi officer who was present at several major events of World War II and later reinvents himself as a middle-class family man and factory owner in France
2007 - Alabama Song by Gilles Leroy - fictional autobiography of Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald
TRIPLE STUMPER #2
WHO "AR" THEY? (notice the quotation marks)
Florence Nightingale Graham was the real name of this cosmetics queen
***ELIZABETH ARDEN***
Canadian-born American businesswoman Elizabeth Arden (1884-1966) developed a successful line of ~300 cosmetics and a chain of ~100 beauty salons. Her trade name was a combination of her one-time business partner Elizabeth Hubbard and the Tennyson poem “Enoch Arden.” Her namesake company, Elizabeth Arden, Inc., was originally called Red Door, and is now a subsidiary of Revlon. Britney Spears has released her perfumes, including Curious, through the company. Arden also opened the Maine Chance beauty spas, which lent its name to her Lexington, Kentucky horse racing stable, Maine Chance Farm. It owned the horse Jet Pilot, which won the 1947 Kentucky Derby.
Arden, pictured below, commissioned Georgia O'Keeffe's 1936 painting Jimson Weed. She used Philippe Halsman’s image of Constance Ford against the American flag in an ad campaign for "Victory Red" lipstick. The 2006 musical War Paint concerns her rivalry with fellow cosmetics entrepreneur, Helena Rubinstein. Arden was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, which is also the final resting place of Andrew Carnegie, Walter Chrysler, Samuel Gompers, and of course, Washington Irving.
TRIPLE STUMPER #3
LET'S PARTY! (name the presidential candidate’s political party)
2000: Ralph Nader
***GREEN***
Ralph Nader wrote the 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed, which criticized the American auto industry, especially General Motors, whose Chevrolet division made the Corvair. The book helped lead to the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act the following year. He founded the consumer rights advocacy organization Public Citizen in 1971. Nader ran for president for times between 1996 and 2008. He beat out the lead singer of the Dead Kennedys, Jello Biafra, to be the Green Party's nominee in 2000. His running mate in both 1996 and 2000 was Winona LaDuke.
In the election of 2000, he likely aided victor George W. Bush by attracting votes that would have otherwise gone to Al Gore. That presidential election essentially came down to Florida, where Bush beat Gore by a mere 537 votes. Nearly 6 million votes were cast in The Sunshine State, where more than 97,000 Floridians voted for Nader, who campaigned for universal health care, consumer protections, campaign finance reform, and labor rights. A judge ruled against MasterCard after it sued Nader for his commercial leading up to the 2000 election that parodied the company’s "Priceless" ads (video below).
BONUS CLUE #1
WHITE HOUSE PETS
Here's this president's wife, Grace, with their pet raccoon Rebecca, a star attraction at the White House
***CALVIN COOLIDGE***
For more about Calvin Coolidge’s presidency and his pets, check out Final Jeopardy #2 from the 12/9/22 issue: https://jaqr.substack.com/p/jaqr-december-9-2022
BONUS CLUE #2
AMERICAN ISLANDS
In the 1870s Father Damien arrived at the leper colony on this, which has been called the most Hawaiian isle
***MOLOKAI***
For a recap that mentions Molokai and some of Hawaii’s lesser-known islands, check out the 11/4/22 issue: https://jaqr.substack.com/p/jaqr-november-4-2022
BONUS CLUE #3
RIVERS OF AFRICA
The mighty Okavango River stretches from Angola to this desert in Botswana, where it becomes a swamp
***KALAHARI***
Jeopardy! loves asking about the Kalahari Desert, and almost always mentions Botswana in the clue. Check out DD #3 from this recap for more about it: https://jaqr.substack.com/p/jaqr-february-24-2023