Dear Friends of the Pub Quiz,
I really admire Rachel Maddow. Along with a few folks on National Public Radio, I find her to be among the brightest, most ethical, and most responsible news anchor working today. I like that she comes from our home state of California, that she was the first openly LGBT Rhodes Scholar and news anchor, and that she monologues for as long as 20 minutes in the beginning of her show. I always learn something from Ms. Maddow (or, should I say, Dr. Maddow, as she earned her PhD in politics from Oxford University, from which some of the world’s best scholars have emerged, or are emerging). Of all the news folks on TV, I have the most respect and affection for Rachel Maddow.
All that said, I have stopped watching her show. In fact, I have stopped watching MSNBC altogether. The network does a better job than most in keeping its viewers informed about current events and politics (PBS takes the top spot for me), but its success also depends to a certain extent on stoked partisan outrage. Such outrage is helpful and maybe even necessary to mobilize people to confront a corrupt and immoral political status quo, with the Fourth Estate a necessary check on the other three estates, but after a while such outrage becomes heavy and disquieting baggage, a source of agitation rather than prompted action. In the end, I prefer to support thinkers and leaders who voice inspiring ideals rather than only indignation.
These days, I find myself reading more books than newspapers, and watching more films than cable news TV shows. I still keep up with the world – for the sake of my participation in dinnertime conversations, and for the sake of current events pub quiz questions – but increasingly I am doing so as a reader, rather than as a viewer, or even as a listener (sorry, NPR). A few minutes spent reviewing the website Political Wire or the trending stories at Muckrack can be fruitfully substituted for hours spent with once-favorite TV shows or news podcasts. Not wanting to separate myself from causes that inspire me, I still plan to support certain candidates for office (Lucas Frerichs comes to mind), and to march to the state capital with friends and family when warranted, but I also know that I’d rather spend quality time with my wife Kate, with my kids, or with a good book (I read three just last week), rather than to take time to pay homage to the outrage machine.
I will still mock villains on Twitter and eagerly anticipate the revelations in Robert Mueller’s eventual report, but I needn’t give up my headspace or my evenings to do so. As Gandhi said, “Action expresses priorities.” I suppose that inaction, or how we spend our earned summer leisure hours, should also express our priorities.
Tonight’s Pub Quiz will feature questions on concerns raised above, and on the following: women who hold their own doors, drafting citizens, back-up plans, sexual misconduct, inventions, the National Book Award, French hunting, nursing, megabands, flown kites (such as those we saw at the windy beach this past weekend), successful musicians, product placements, offices, nearby rivers, sentiments, gathered players, big birthdays, many parts, mothers in law, Chicago art, official languages, prime numbers, visitors in 2018, everyday supplies, swapping with guitars, Mrs. Jan Dewy, Black Liberation and what follows, people named Elizabeth, American governors, fans of Fernando and money, smooth unbreakable dorks, now and later, frequent breaks, lovely cheeses, a flight attendant who can also fly the plane, baseball, rich alphabets, current events, and Shakespeare.
I look forward to seeing you this evening. I’ve heard from at least two past Hall of Fame teams who will be joining us in a competitive mood this evening, so I anticipate some high scores. I hope that yours will be one of them.
Your Quizmaster
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Here are three questions from last week’s quiz, along with some commentary about the answers:
- Unusual Words: Fletcher’s Edition. What do fletchers straighten? You might remember this coming up in last week’s newsletter.
- Fabrics. With a glossy surface and a dull back, what comes in 4-harness, 5-harness, and 8-harness weaves? Because I feared the quiz was too easy, I took out a crucial hint at the last minute last week – the first letter of this word.
- Pop Culture – Television. What TV comedy follows the adventures of slacker Philip J. Fry, who is accidentally transported to the 31st century? My daughter Geneva knew this one immediately (while I have never watched the show).
P.S. Poetry Night on August 2nd celebrates the Blue Moon Literary and Art Review, the local journal that features some of our best local writers. Join us Thursday at 8 for the fun.