K-Circle Weekly Quiz - 15th November 2014

K-CIRCLE
WEEKLY QUIZ – 15th November
Sree Nihit

FORMAT:
o Standard Format
o Five Rounds – 55 Questions.
o 3 Infinite Pounce, 2Written.
o Hastily put together – walls of text – sorry.
o Blanks are never indicative of size.
© Sree Nihit | Don't steal; Honor the quizmaster's code.

ROUND I.
INFINITE POUNCE.
o15 Questions
o +10/-5
o Clockwise

Q1.
Ramsey Nasser is a coder/artist. He created the world’s first Arabic programming language.
He says he's interested in English alternatives for coding because “a programming language
based on any human language is alienating; code is not a conversation between you and the
machine but rather between yourself and other coders”. He thinks languages should be built
with the semantics that make the most sense to a human being.
Last year, he created another programming language, based on _________s. A complex task,
to express abstract concepts and verbs, he had to string together ________s to invent ______
“words”. Loops and variable values were hard to express.
The language is difficult to read and write because, for starters, instead of a standard 105-
key keyboard, you’re working with about 860 ______s, which you scroll through to find each
one you want.
FITB.

Q2.
“_______ local” is an informal name given to a special train run daily by the railways
daily on the Mumbai suburban section.
This train stops at each station to collect _________ from the railway offices. The
southernmost vendor compartment next to the Guard's van is used for carrying the
_________, which is in large boxes, or sometimes in leather bags that are then placed in
large round drums.
Only security and ___________ department personnel are allowed to travel in that
vendor's compartment. A similar train also runs in the Madras section.

Q3.
In the early 1900s, in New Zealand, color tinted postcards began to emerge and many
of these postcards had prints of the New Zealand Parliament buildings.
However, these prints were made in Germany, so this was done by printers who had
never seen the building.
What did this unique scenario lead to?

Postcards with the parliament in different colors

Q4.
Amongst bird watchers, the _______ bird is a phrase they use to describe birds that
elude a bird watcher despite his/her best efforts.
One blogger described them as frustrating and infuriating.
“Simply missing a bird doesn’t a _______ make. A __________ is something more than a
bird seeking trip that failed, it requires multiple opportunities and multiple misses and
the creeping realization that this bird may forever remain beyond your grasp.”
What is this phrase, which seems to indicate that the bird watcher has a specific enmity
with one bird, a bird that he will never be able to get the better of?

Q5.
The images in the next slide are of a recreation of _________ in Netherlands. It is 23-
meters-high, 30-meters-wide and 135-meters-long.
According to the creator, it is not meant to be used the way the original was designed
for.
What is this structure?

Q6.
X was an ancient Pre-Iranic civilization centered in the far west and southwest of what
is now modern-day Iran.
The language that was spoken there, ‘X’-ite, is proposed to have links with different
languages including the Indian language Y.
In fact an ‘X-Dravidian’ language family has been proposed that links the language ‘X’-
ite with Dravidian languages on the basis of some similarities in language and possible
cultural links that spread via agriculture.
Coincidentally(?), the name X and the name for the country Z in the Indian language Y
are very similar to each other. Only differing in their modern spellings by a letter.
X, Y, Z = ?

Q7. What were these GIFs inspired by?

The connoisseur by Norman Rockwell

Q8.
Amongst the many celebrities that have appeared to testify before Congress, one very
bizarre incident is when X was asked to testify before the House Appropriations’
Subcommittee to urge for more spending on music research and musical instruments
for school programs.
In between trying to eat the microphone and interrupting his fellow witness, X’s
statements included:
“X: X learned all kinds of things about music, like anyone can make music. The whole
world is full of music … music helped X learn the alphabet. If it wasn’t for the ABC
song, X would be lost, people”
“X: Please, Congress, help X's friends find the music in them. I love you, Congress.”
Chair: “And my grandchildren love you too, X. [Oh, come on - Congress can't tell X it
loves him?]”

Q9. What is unique/what are these symbols?

Q10.
A few months back, a unique program was launched in California for the ships that are
launched from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Authorities are offering to pay shippers $2,500 for each trip completed at 12 knots or
slower through a 130-mile stretch to the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex. Normal
cruising speed is between 14 and 18 knots.
Authorities believe that this will solve two environmental problems at once. One benefit
is that engines running slowly will emit less pollution.
What is the other environmental benefit?

Q11.
The design and pattern of ________ is not random and must follow a rigorous set of
standards using a specific language with its own unique syntax.
A Texas guide for designing a _______ suggests that the design should be kept simple, as
they are easier to read and are less painful. Basic designs have a few simple letters and
numbers, and may include a symbol.
These characters can include “wings” or “feet” added to a letter or number. Each character
can also be rotated or reversed, with each special character having its own name.
The letters with “wings are described as “flying” while those with “feet” are, “walking.” An
upside-down characters is “crazy” while a 90-degree rotation makes a character “lazy.
There have been several attempts to replace the use of ________ but nothing was found to be
as effective and foolproof.

Q12.
Researchers in at Tufts university have recently come up with an alternative to
traditional steel screws and alloy plates used to hold bones together to keep while
healing. Steel/alloy can place stress on tissue and bone, interfere in X Rays and need to
be removed.
This screw was made using a natural material that has been in use from ancient times,
is both strong and malleable and has low stiffness. Unlike steel screws these screws
dissolve in the body after a while.
The screws were made by using a mold. What material did they use?

Q13. What am I talking about?
There is a massive number of variations and types of these. The type chosen can depend on the
environment/location and the usage. Each ‘group’ of people who use these has its own variants. And
each country has its variants. Here are some of the more quirky names of some types:
• Oak Leaf
• Portuguese Lizard
• Scrambled Egg
• Splash or Brush
• Bleeding Vines
• Seaweed
• Snow White
• Amoeba
• Sunshine Rays

Q14.
In a stretch of road in Nevada, there is an unusual mailbox with two boxes, one for
‘Steve Madin’ and a smaller box simply labelled X.
This mailbox is a popular spot for X obsessed people ever since the infamous _______
whistleblower claimed he’d show people scheduled ________ flights.
The mailbox was constructed out bulletproof metal and shuttered with massive
padlocks after X hunting fanatics began stealing Steve Madin’s mail and even firing
guns at the box.
The smaller box was added after the rancher got tired of receiving mail directed to X.
Enthusiasts making pilgrimage to the site often put dollar bills in the box.

Q15. X=?
In Italy, there is a bank called Credito Emilanio, that has a unique system in place for
loans.
The bank accepts ________ as collateral for loans, helping finance ______ makers even
during recession, since WWII. The bank now has specialized warehouses storing €132
million worth of _______. The loans are offered for as long as 24 month, a time frame
that is of significance with regards to ________.
Each ________ is very precious, weighing 80 pounds, or 36 kilograms, and worth about
€300. Each one is branded with a serial number so it can be traced if it is stolen.
Thieves tunneled into one warehouse in February and made off with 570 pieces before
they were apprehended by the police.
_________ accounts for less than 1 percent of the bank’s revenue, the unit is important
because it helps keep ________ makers in business, bolstering the local economy.

ROUND II. WRITTEN.
HOCKEY GOALIE MASKS
o Unique hockey masks
o 5 questions
o +5 for each

Q2. Inspiration?
There is a quote on the helmet:
“And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on
the floor shall be lifted -- nevermore!”

ANSWERS.
HOCKEY GOALIE MASKS
o 5 questions
o +5 for each

ROUND III.
INFINITE POUNCE.
o Anti-Clockwise
o +10/-5

Q1.
The picture you see if of the M65 _____ Annie Cannon that was developed in the 1950s
and was showcased during Eisenhower's inaugural parade in 1953.
The cannon is a unique and is the only cannon designed for _______ weapons. The
cannon is very large and required two special tractors to move about.
The cannon was tested only once in 1953 successfully, and 20 Annie’s were
manufactured but were subsequently retired 10 years later.
What weapons were fired from Annie, weapons that we today wouldn’t associate ground
towed cannons with?

Nuclear Weapons. “Atomic” Annie.

Q2.
In the world of manufacturing and automation, this phrase refers to the manufacturing
philosophy or methodology of production or running a factory that is fully automated
with zero human presence.
This idea has been a dream for many manufacturers where factories and churn out
products without human intervention, and is only of late coming closer to reality.
The phrase comes from the fact that _______, which is normally required for humans in
factories where they work, is not needed in a place where only robots function.
What phrase is this?

‘Lights-Out’ manufacturing

Q3.
___________: ______ son is a limited series comic book. It reimagines one of the most
recognized superheroes X. One blog described X as one who stands for values which
make him seem like “an outdated character who doesn’t quite jive in these cynical
times’. The comic is perhaps a fresh take on X, with a different perspective.
The comic tells the tale of ‘what if X were born in Y’? The comic stars alternate super-
heroes and comic versions of real life characters from the 1950s. The twist in this
reinterpretation begins with a small time difference leading to X’s rocket landing in Y
instead of the where we normally associate X with.
The roles are reversed in many ways, with Y expanding peacefully while its counterpart
is on the verge of social collapse. X is eventually asked to head Y and pursues the dream
of utopia and the story continues with the theme of X being Big Brother like and so
forth.

Q4. Who, X and Y?
“________ impressions” is a Ballet that is inspired by the works of _______.
One piece is based on the work X and the other is based on the place Y.
The choreographer wondered about X: “Who were these people, about to sit down
outdoors to enjoy a meal together? What had they been doing moments before? What
were they feeling”
For the 19th century costumes and art work,” a drop of a tree trunk and leaves, created
from woven strips of fabric for additional texture, is suspended over a hazier backdrop,
evoking part of X.
For Y: “The waterlilies had always looked like upside-down tutus to me and the flowers
are like women, alluring and scented.” The artist pored over his works, immersing
himself in “the roses, the irises, the waterlilies at night, the pond reflecting the clouds”

Monet;
X = Picnic/Luncheon in the Grass (Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe);
Y= (Gardens) of Giverny

Q5.
The field of ______ design has undergone multiple shifts as it evolved over the last
century.
In the beginning ______ design was a consequence of early 20th century philosophy,
when modernist architects saw walls and rooms as ‘downright fascist’. They felt that
______ design minus the walls would be liberating.
In the 1960s, design moved away from this philosophy of no walls, in an attempt to put
‘some soul’ back in. In Europe, ________ designers promoted the idea of Bürolandschaft,
or “_______ landscape”, which ironically led to the birth of the X.
X is now often seen as a symbol of drudgery.
What is X?

Q6.
Guardian is a special detection system that was developed by a company in conjunction
with DARPA. It was described as a ‘Smoke Alarm’ for ________.
They recently began selling this system commercially, targeting schools, malls, offices
and private buildings.
Guardian is a wall mounter detector that has a two IR sensors and microphones. It
operates using regular power supply and the expectation is that it will assist in
identifying and locating ________.

Q7.
This word refers to the search for biological products useful for human use, such as
naturally occurring chemicals and cures for diseases.
But the word is often used in the context of commercialization of natural products,
which in many cases are identified from indigenous and traditional knowledge.
This rush to unlock and discover potential secrets in indigenous traditions, has been
compared to the ‘gold rush’, and has been dubbed the ‘gene rush’.
So what word, formed by prefixing the word ‘bio’ to the word for mineral exploration
and geological analysis is used for this search for biological products?

Q8.
This is from a recent Wall Street Journal Article:
In Tamil Nadu, there are is a group of special policemen, consisting of 12 officials, who
pursue a unique goal/solve unique cases. The unit was set up in 1983 after a sudden
increase – in something, that “affected the sentiment of the local people”.
Recently, one of their successes came to light during the Australian Prime Minister’s
visit to India.
Their biggest challenge, in solving these cases “is to convince authorities by presenting
impeccable evidence” that - some things - need to be returned to India.
What do these policemen do?

Q9.
Amongst coin collectors, there is such a thing as a ‘Mule’ coin. Such coins are rare and
can fetch high prices from collectors.
Some people believe these coins are accidental, perhaps due to a withdrawn die left
behind. Some believe that these are intentional, maybe made by coin workers using
stolen dies.
What are ‘Mule’ coins?

Coins with sides from different coins.
Mule = “Donkey + Horse”
“A coin or medal minted with obverse and reverse designs not normally seen on the
same piece”

Q10.
Early this year, a Stanford professor created a chemistry toolkit that was inspired by a
________.
This chemistry set, first built from ______ parts, uses a similar mechanism for the
mixing of chemical fluids. It uses a similar hand movement based mechanism.
Much like how the holes and the pattern of holes makes a ________ programmable, each
hole leads to the triggering of release of a drop of liquid. Thereby making a unique
chemical mixture possible.
He called it the digitization of fluids.
What small, mechanical, toy-like object is this?

Q11.
These stunning artworks were made by a Chinese painter. They abstract the forms of
________ and represent them in these graphical patterns.
While these works may seem chaotic and random, they are in fact not. The artist has
called this series ________ DNA, interpreting each piece as the a fundamental
representation and soul of ________ and thus the its DNA.
The DNA of any person is unique and the patterns and shapes you see are also thus
unique to each ______.

Cities. These were drawn using maps.

Q12.
The following video was made by some researchers in USA, in an attempt to chart the
history of ________. Trying to map ________ is very difficult because its very subjective
and difficult to quantify and judge. _______ is a very generic word.
However, they attempted to do so by mapping the migration and mobility patterns of
more than 150,000 notable individuals of ________ importance like artists, writers,
poets, popular figures,(movie stars) etc over a time span of two thousand years. By
connecting the birth and death locations of each individual, they mapped the movement
of centers of influence and notable people.
They found that despite the dependence of the arts on money, _______ centers and
economic centers do not always coincide.
This mapping of ______ is obviously biased as it only covers Europe and USA and
ignores places of massive _________ significance like India, China and Africa.

Q13. A humorous song –from who to who?
Dear Mr. ________, please forgive the long delay-o
You see we’ve been quite busy trying to settle an old schism
And of late we’ve had financial and other matters consequential
That demanded prompt attention though it was our best intention
To have let you know much sooner before the recent bout of rumours…
And in light of further knowledge and much discussion in the college
We’ve reassessed the situation and wish now in expiation
To revoke your former sentence and in a spirit of repentance
To extend our approbation of your cosmic explanation
And again we beg your pardon realizing its been hard on
A man of your education to have a tarnished reputation

Q14.
In the modern day interpretations of Indian and Persian (Iranian) mythologies, the Xs
and Ys are depicted as two sides that often come into conflict and war. Xs and Ys are
often symbolic.
However, roles of X and Y are opposite in Indian and Persian mythology. It is said that
that in pre-Zoroastrian times, X and Y held similar symbolism and imagery, but the
roles were reversed after Zoroaster’s rise and the ideas of Zoroastrianism spread.
But modern academicians have now rejected the idea of pre-historic opposition between
the Xs and Ys. It is now understood that the distortion or reinterpretation of Ys in India
and Xs in Iran occurred much after the texts were originally written.
X, Y = ?

Q15.
In ancient Egypt, iron was used to make swords and blades. Iron held an almost
mythical quality in Egypt.
The ancient Egyptians did not have access to smelting technology and worked only on
the native iron they found. Iron was called ‘Copper from the Heavens”.
Why was it called so?

It was obtained from meteorites.

ROUND IV. WRITTEN.
PEN TEN
o Mont Blanc Pens inspired
by personalities
o 10 questions
o +5 for each
o +10 for getting all

Q1.
This is the _________Limited Edition, in honor of a legend and pays tribute to one of his
most famous songs. In recollection of his countless singles and albums, the cap and
barrel have been finely engraved to resemble the grooves of a record.
The clip of this writing instrument pays tribute to the artist’s most important
instrument.
The blue color tanzanite of the clip is also of particular relevance.

Q2.
These are two pens, the _________ limited 91 edition and the ________ limited 39
edition. The design was mainly inspired by the writing of ________ and by one of his
drawings. The silhouette of the two fountain pens is based on the shape of a pencil to
symbolize the simplicity of _______ himself.
The 91 editions highlights ________ origins, through the composition of red lacquered
stripes between rings made of 750 solid gold.
The 91 edition is limited to 91 pieces only, for a specific reason. The 39 edition too, is
limited, for a much more specific reason.

Q3.
The design of the X pen is not only reminiscent of the simple yet artful style of X, but
also pays tribute to one his most famous works.
In the fascinating change from square to round in the writing instrument’s form, the
__________ described in the famous story by X has found its equivalent.

Q4.
The design elements of this pen showcases the highlights of _________’s career. The clip
is reminiscent of something very iconic from one of his movies.
The sophisticated surface effect of the cap is also inspired by an iconic scene from
another of his movies.

Q5.
As a writer and thinker, _______ always strove for maximum depth on detail and
precision, much like this pen. The eight side barrel with its engravings recalls the style
prevailing in his most creative period.
As a tribute to his most popular work, the 18-karat gold nib gears a delicate engraving.

Q6.
The red-gold-plated fittings in the limited edition “La Donna” recapture the
breathtaking passion embodied by ___________ in her classic films.
The cap is coated in a mother-of-pearl style lacquer while the engraved motif
underneath the lacquer is inspired by the distinctive skirts that ___________ liked to
wear.
The amethyst on the clip symbolizes calmness, clarity and tolerance, the traits with
which _________ was known and loved for all over the world.

Q7.
Dark green and marbled lacquer punctuated with metal filings are the style features of
this pen. The pen is inspired by the best known character from this person’s very well
known play.
The way the fine platinum of the pen replaces the green of the precious resin more and
more towards the cap, is representative of the life of this character.
The green marbled color is also of significance to the writer’s origins. The nib is
carefully engraved with a reference to this character.

Q8.
This pen is dedicated to a person who has made large contributions to his field. The
number of pens, 3000 is intrinsically linked to his work.
The barrel of the pen has intricate inscriptions, and the platinum body “shines with the
soft light of a distant star while the dark blue lacquer of the cap brings to mind the
velvety darkness of the endless universe”.
The cap is the biggest clue.

Q9.
This pen is a tribute to the great satirist of British-Irish humor. It is inspired by his
most well known work, with the multi layered inlay pattern (see below) reminiscent of
what happened to one of his work’s well known characters.
The shape of the cap is perhaps the biggest clue. It’s distinctive shape is that of a
particular style of Hats. The clip too, serves as a clue.

Q10.
This pen is dedicated to a person who also happened to be a patron of arts and culture.
The lacquer of the pens is inspired by the garments worn by her. One of the mottos that
she followed, ‘video et taceo’ is engraved in the pen.

ANSWERS.
o10 questions
o +5 for each
o +10 for getting all

John Lennon. Blue tinted glasses. Peace Symbol. Guitar.

Pablo Picasso. 91 is the age he lived until. Red for
Spain.

George Bernard Shaw
Eliza Doolittle from Pygmalion | From flower girl to aristocracy
The green color represents his Irish roots.

Queen Elizabeth I | ‘Video et taceo’ - "I see, and say
nothing.

ROUND V.
INFINITE POUNCE.
o10 questions
o +10/-5 for each

Q1.
Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist and activist who was arrested and held for 81 days without any official
charges, and now can’t travel outside China.
Recently, Weiwei’s new exhibition, created in an unusual location in US was unveiled. Working through
volunteers, he envisioned the site using blueprints and films. He also had to take special permission to
hold his exhibition in this place. They were told that none of the site's historic walls could be harmed.
“We cannot touch anything, add anything; it's a hanging installation," he says. "Like the __________
themselves, who are only there for a period of time.”
The first work is a Dragon made of kites . "It's suspended above the viewer — it will be flying, it will be
free — but it's also restricted within the building, so there's this really interesting conversation
between control and freedom”. Scattered around the room are other kites decorated with stylized
renderings of birds and flowers, offering a poetic response to the layered nature of the site as a former
_________ that is now an important bird habitat and a site of thriving gardens.
There is also a sound exhibition, with sound tracks like that of the Russian Punk Band Pussy Riot.

Q2.
Airports are classified as Domestic, Defense, International and Private.
In Andhra Pradesh (and Telangana included) there is only one private airport.
Where/which one?
Clue: Its IATA code is: PUT.

Sri Sathya Sai Airport - Puttaparthi

Q3.
These are some of the possible explanations for what curious detail of very old
photographs?
o In olden times, photograph exposure could last up to 15 minutes.
o When cameras became faster, despite photographs being cheaper than portraits, they
were still an expensive affair and many had only taken in their lifetime.
o Having your photo taken was seen as a formal occasion
o The photographs were taken with the intention of capturing the ideal of a person as
opposed to an instant of a person
o In the 20th century easy access to cameras made photographs more casual

No one seems to be smiling in old photographs

Q4.
TravelByX.com was launched early this year by an X enthusiast in Zurich to create a
resource for armchair travelers who want to see the world from a new perspective.
The site also lets anyone share a YouTube video and add the corresponding location,
which appears on a google map with a pin where the video footage had been recorded.
Videos include that of the Antarctic, Roman buildings, ancient Cambodian temples,
theme parks and the Las Vegas Strip.
X videos have been all the rage this year. What is X?

Q2.
In the early 19th and 20th century, much before the era of __________, X was much in demand
across USA.
In 1805, one entrepreneur unleashed the X industry by developing techniques and
equipment to harvest X and transport it across large distances. He began exporting X to
countries like West Indies, Australia and India and the 1850s, X was America’s second
biggest export by weight after cotton. But his biggest market was New York and other
American cities, where ‘X’-men would deliver X daily, much like milkmen.
This easy access to X had a profound impact, changing the diet of Americans and the drinks
they consume, it led to improved hygiene and public health and found life-saving
applications by doctors.
X factories also sprouted that produced artificial X, but during WWI, there was a real fear of
the ‘X-famine’, owing to the ammonia needed to produce X, being diverted away to produce
ammunition instead.
The X industry was quickly destroyed with the emergence of ____________.
X?

Q6.
This is a light-hearted question:
This place has multiple Sanskrit inscriptions found in many parts of the building, to
serve as inspiration in the form of truths and righteousness.
One of the many inscriptions, is this, which I found to be very ironic:
The English translation reads:
“Kindness, friendliness to all,
Charity and sweet tongue.
Such coincidence has not been found,
(in one object) in all the three worlds”

Q7.
Last month, researches in Germany attempted to identify if there was a face for a
particular emotion, X.
The basis of the study was to induce X by videos displaying unsuccessful penalty shots
of Dutch soccer players versus the emotion induced by successful penalty shots of
German soccer players, Y. They then recorded the activity of four facial muscles,
electromyographically.
They observed that facial reactions developed fast in both conditions and stronger
reactions were indicated in the X condition. But they finally concluded that there is no
difference in face movement and thus no ‘X’ face.
ID X and Y.

Q8.
Researchers in New York City are working on a unique problem involving glass.
Although this is a problem that is seen in many places, the numerous skyscrapers with
tall facades and glass windows means that the impact is severe in New York City. This
is also because the mirror like facades of buildings can look like open sky.
The solution to this problem was to add vertical or horizontal stripes to the glass.
Another solution was to add an ultraviolet coating, which has the added benefit of not
being visible to humans, helping retain the aesthetic look of buildings.
What problem are they trying to address?

Bird friendly glass |Birds don’t crash into this glass

Q9.
This is from a new article early this year:
An American Bank has recently launched an internal project titled ‘_______ banker’ to
smoke out fraudulent payments.
It created a trail of non-existent bankers, with fake e-mail addresses and biographies,
whose details appear on bogus web pages not linked to the rest of the bank’s website. If
a transfer request comes in to one of these aliases, it is likely to be from a fraudster.
The name of this project, which can be deduced from its description, comes from the
phrase for something analogously similar.

Q10
This yacht, named Maìn is owned by a famous designer.
“It is the perfect expression of the designer’s rigorous eye and highly tuned aesthetic.”
He designed the whole yacht, from the hull to the interiors.
Maìn refers to his mother’s nickname when she was little. “I always like to remind
myself that I come from a simple family, from the petite bourgeoisie, where the greatest
luxury was owning a Lambretta, and cars did not come along until much later.
Recalling my mother’s name meant maintaining my ties with the world I used to love”
The interiors of the ship are in his favorite shades of grey and beige, with light birch
wood floors and dark green lacquered walls that match the hull.

Thanks.
sreenihit@gmail.com | fb.com/sreenihit

K-Circle Weekly Quiz - 15th November 2014

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