Dear Friends,
It feels strange to write about anything other than the terrible windstorms and the five wildfires that are ravaging parts of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County at this hour. I wish for the first responders and firefighters to have the strength to continue their work on behalf of those who have been affected by the conflagrations.
The California Fire Foundation and other organizations are collecting donations for California wildfire and disaster relief.
Amid the challenges of this week, and speaking of donations, I’m grateful to friends on Facebook and Instagram who have donated over $2,000 this week to the Jackson “Jukie” Jones Duren Endowment for the Smith-Lemli-Opitz Foundation. We are making steady progress towards fully funding this endowment at $50,000.
Jukie turned 24 on Saturday, and every year we use the occasion to raise funds for an important cause. Most of you know that my son Jukie was born with the rare genetic syndrome called Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. His entire family has devoted our lives to supporting Jukie, and my wife Kate has worked to raise awareness about the syndrome and Foundation, and to support families who have just discovered that their newborn was born with this syndrome.
Because of donations to the Foundation from friends such as yourself, the (mostly volunteer) Foundation board and staff have been busy with the following activities:
• Funding SLO research “seed” grants,
• Raising awareness of SLO to increase the rate of diagnosis,
• Welcoming new parents with an online parent support group and family mentor program,
• Supporting grieving parents with a parent loss support group,
• Distributing welcome packets for newly-diagnosed families,
• Subsidizing the biennial SLO family medical and scientific conferences,
• Connecting families to researchers and SLO specialists.
Such gifts have also helped to fund the creation of the SLO Foundation website, which we invite you to check out.
All donations are tax-deductible (Fed ID# 23-2635206).
If Jukie cared about recognition, he would love that this endowment bears his name. I think he would mostly care that so many other affected children and their families will benefit from your donation and the amazing work of this non-profit organization.
One can donate via Facebook or via the website giving page that highlights this special endowment. Thank you!
We hope in 2025 to raise $5,000 for the Foundation, and we are already almost halfway there. On behalf of all the families who will benefit from the Foundation’s support, I thank you and hope you can help us reach our goal.
With appreciation,
Dr. Andy
There are so many disasters and other regrettable truths in our country and in the world, but I try to keep them out of our pub quiz on Wednesday nights. Expect no questions on fires, plane crashes, terrorist attacks, or attempts to limit Americans from accessing life-saving vaccines.
In addition to topics raised above, tonight’s pub quiz will feature questions on moderators, average wages, superheroes, funeral scenes, nurserymen, diamonds, sidekicks, upright animals, parsnips, mothers of celebrities, Tarzanian aspirants, springs, Presidential names, successors, bird songs, extinct plants and animals, hero jerseys, big numbersBritish troops, The European Union, rapids, the Smithsonian, watches, ghosts, researching hobos, islands, satirical cartoons, the remoteness of Alaska and other states, unusual coats, pioneers, monkeys, Paul McCartney songs, limbs, the names of fondly remembered Senators, current events, books and authors, and Shakespeare.
If you want to see my Christmas quiz for free, please subscribe via Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/yourquizmaster.
Congratulations to Still Here for the Shakesbeer, winners of last week’s pub quiz!
Thanks to all the new players joining us at the live quizzes and to all the patrons who have been enjoying fresh Pub Quiz content. We have over 60 members on Patreon now! Thanks especially to new subscribers Megan, Michael, Janet, Jasmine, Joey, Carly, and The Nevergiveruppers! Every week I check the Patreon to see if there is someone new to thank. I also thank The Original Vincibles, Summer Brains, Still Here for the Shakesbeer, The Outside Agitators, John Poirier’s team Quizimodo, Gena Harper, the conversationally entertaining dinner companions and bakers of marvelous and healthy treats, The Mavens, who keep attending, despite their ambitious travel schedules and the dropping temperatures and the cost of avocado. Thanks to everyone who supports the Pub Quiz on Patreon. I would love to add your name or that of your team to the list of pub quiz boosters. I appreciate your backing this pub quiz project of mine!
Best,
Dr. Andy
P.S. Three questions from last week:
1. Science. What three-syllable C word do we use for a large cauldron-like hollow that forms shortly after the emptying of a magma chamber in a volcanic eruption?
2. Books and Authors. Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan once told an interviewer that his lyrics were heavily influenced by the long poem Mexico City Blues that was first published in 1959 by what Beat poet and novelist?
3. Sports. What is the only California-based NHL team to have won multiple Stanley Cups, securing titles in 2012 and 2014?
P.P.S. Don’t forget the Jukie-themed SLOSF fundraiser!