• Re: RQFTCIMM11 Game 8, Rounds 4,6: fringe hist, tough-guy lit

    From Joshua Kreitzer@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Tue Oct 19 21:46:35 2021
    On Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 11:20:14 PM UTC-5, Mark Brader wrote:

    * Game 8, Round 4 - Fringe History

    This round is about some ideas that have, shall we say, run
    contrary to accepted historical research.

    1. In the 1950s a Russian-born American psychoanalyst used
    mythological and religious texts to "prove" that Venus was
    originally a comet belched forth from Jupiter, and that
    its journey through the solar system caused many of the
    floods, plagues and cataclysms in the Bible and other texts.
    Works include "Worlds in Collision", "Ages in Chaos", and
    "Earth in Upheaval". Name the author.

    Velikovsky

    2. In 1968, Swiss author Erich Von Daniken proposed that some
    ancient structures, artwork and artifacts, for example the
    Nazca lines in Peru, were evidence of early contact with
    technologically advanced aliens. He published his ideas in a
    bestselling book. What was its title?

    "Chariots of the Gods"

    3. Apollo 15 astronaut James Irwin led two unsuccessful expeditions
    to Armenia in the 1980's to prove that Noah's Ark still rests
    in the snow and ice near the summit of what mountain on the
    border of Turkey and Armenia?

    Mt. Ararat

    4. It rests in a church in Aksum, Ethiopia, closely guarded by a
    special group of holy men. Apparently it was brought there from
    the Holy Land for its protection in the 6th century BC. In his
    1992 book "The Sign and the Seal", British journalist Graham
    Hancock relates his quest to track down that item. What is it?

    Ark of the Covenant

    5. In 2002 retired submariner Gavin Menzies asserted that in 1421,
    70 years before Columbus, a fleet of enormous ships circum-
    navigated the globe, touching all the continents, including the
    Americas. From which country were they alleged to have set sail?

    China

    7. William Shakespeare's humble origins and obscure life seem at
    odds with the genius of his works, leading some to believe that
    he didn't write them. Most Shakespearean scholars regard this
    as a fringe belief, but over 70 candidates for authorship have
    been put forward. Only four of them have signicant numbers
    of followers, though, so name *any one* of those four most
    popular candidates.

    Edward de Vere

    8. Did it really happen when the history books say it did?
    Anatoly Fomenko and other Russian mathematicians have argued
    that many events occurred much later than is commonly believed,
    for instance that the Middle Ages were very short, and that
    Jesus lived in the 12th Century. This belief, which takes its
    name from the study of the order of events, is known as the
    New -- what?

    Chronology

    9. From the 12th to the 17th century, many Europeans believed that
    in Central Asia, India, or perhaps Ethiopia, a benevolent king
    ruled a lost Christian kingdom. This belief led to many popular
    stories and even quests to find him until the age of exploration
    ruled out his existence. What was this king's name?

    Prester John

    10. In 2003 Dan Brown became wealthy suggesting that Jesus married,
    had kids, and that those kids sired the ruling families of
    Europe. The idea had been proposed seriously in a 1982 book
    21 years before "The Da Vinci Code". The authors sued Brown
    -- unsuccessfully, because his book had acknowledged theirs.
    Name their book.

    "The Bloodline of the Holy Grail"

    * Game 8, Round 6 - Literature - Tough Guys

    Every once in a while you want a hero who is as tough as nails.
    Identify these "real men" of thriller, mystery, and espionage
    novels.

    3. Robert Ludlum's most famous tough guy is the amnesiac hero
    of a """trilogy""" of novels that see the hero, a highly-trained
    assassin, struggle to make sense of his past. Name this
    tough guy. (Give his usual name used in the stories, not any
    other name.)

    Bourne

    9. An ex-boxer, a Bostonian, and a private detective with a heart of
    gold, this tough guy's sidekicks include Hawk and Chollo.
    Name him.

    Spenser

    --
    Joshua Kreitzer
    gromit82@hotmail.com

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Mark Brader@21:1/5 to All on Tue Oct 19 23:20:08 2021
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2011-07-04,
    and should be interpreted accordingly. All questions were written
    by members of the Misplaced Modifiers, but have been reformatted
    and may have been retyped and/or edited by me. I will reveal the
    correct answers in about 3 days.

    For further information, including an explanation of the """ notation
    that may appear in these rounds, see my 2021-07-20 companion posting
    on "Reposted Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".


    * Game 8, Round 4 - Fringe History

    This round is about some ideas that have, shall we say, run
    contrary to accepted historical research.

    1. In the 1950s a Russian-born American psychoanalyst used
    mythological and religious texts to "prove" that Venus was
    originally a comet belched forth from Jupiter, and that
    its journey through the solar system caused many of the
    floods, plagues and cataclysms in the Bible and other texts.
    Works include "Worlds in Collision", "Ages in Chaos", and
    "Earth in Upheaval". Name the author.

    2. In 1968, Swiss author Erich Von Daniken proposed that some
    ancient structures, artwork and artifacts, for example the
    Nazca lines in Peru, were evidence of early contact with
    technologically advanced aliens. He published his ideas in a
    bestselling book. What was its title?

    3. Apollo 15 astronaut James Irwin led two unsuccessful expeditions
    to Armenia in the 1980's to prove that Noah's Ark still rests
    in the snow and ice near the summit of what mountain on the
    border of Turkey and Armenia?

    4. It rests in a church in Aksum, Ethiopia, closely guarded by a
    special group of holy men. Apparently it was brought there from
    the Holy Land for its protection in the 6th century BC. In his
    1992 book "The Sign and the Seal", British journalist Graham
    Hancock relates his quest to track down that item. What is it?

    5. In 2002 retired submariner Gavin Menzies asserted that in 1421,
    70 years before Columbus, a fleet of enormous ships circum-
    navigated the globe, touching all the continents, including the
    Americas. From which country were they alleged to have set sail?

    6. Many people believe that the earth is hollow, with entrances
    to this subterranean world located at the poles. These groups
    claim that in February 1947, a famous American aviator and
    polar explorer flew to this world and received from its leader
    a warning to be careful with atomic energy. Who allegedly flew
    into the hollow earth?

    7. William Shakespeare's humble origins and obscure life seem at
    odds with the genius of his works, leading some to believe that
    he didn't write them. Most Shakespearean scholars regard this
    as a fringe belief, but over 70 candidates for authorship have
    been put forward. Only four of them have signicant numbers
    of followers, though, so name *any one* of those four most
    popular candidates.

    8. Did it really happen when the history books say it did?
    Anatoly Fomenko and other Russian mathematicians have argued
    that many events occurred much later than is commonly believed,
    for instance that the Middle Ages were very short, and that
    Jesus lived in the 12th Century. This belief, which takes its
    name from the study of the order of events, is known as the
    New -- what?

    9. From the 12th to the 17th century, many Europeans believed that
    in Central Asia, India, or perhaps Ethiopia, a benevolent king
    ruled a lost Christian kingdom. This belief led to many popular
    stories and even quests to find him until the age of exploration
    ruled out his existence. What was this king's name?

    10. In 2003 Dan Brown became wealthy suggesting that Jesus married,
    had kids, and that those kids sired the ruling families of
    Europe. The idea had been proposed seriously in a 1982 book
    21 years before "The Da Vinci Code". The authors sued Brown
    -- unsuccessfully, because his book had acknowledged theirs.
    Name their book.

    After completing the round, please decode the rot13: va gur avagu
    dhrfgvba, gur oraribyrag xvat'f anzr vf gjb jbeqf. Vs lbh tnir
    bayl bar jbeq, tb onpx naq nqq gur bgure bar.


    * Game 8, Round 6 - Literature - Tough Guys

    Every once in a while you want a hero who is as tough as nails.
    Identify these "real men" of thriller, mystery, and espionage
    novels.

    1. He is an ex-military police officer who travels the States with
    just a toothbrush in his pocket, righting wrongs and beating
    up bad guys, in """14""" books by Lee Child. Titles include
    "The Killing Floor", "Gone Tomorrow", and "Worth Dying For".
    Name the tough guy.

    2. The hero of """21""" action-adventure books by Clive Cussler,
    this tough guy works for the National Underwater Marine Agency,
    doing stuff like "Raising the Titanic" and finding Civil-War-era
    ships in the "Sahara". Matthew McConaughey played him in the
    movie "Sahara". Who is he?

    3. Robert Ludlum's most famous tough guy is the amnesiac hero
    of a """trilogy""" of novels that see the hero, a highly-trained
    assassin, struggle to make sense of his past. Name this
    tough guy. (Give his usual name used in the stories, not any
    other name.)

    4. This Israeli art restorer is also a former assassin responsible
    for hunting down half the Munich Olympics terrorists. He is
    the hero of """10""" bestsellers by Daniel Silva, including
    "The Rembrandt Affair" and "Moscow Rules". Name him.

    5. The hero of the NY Times #1 bestseller "The Faithful Spy" in
    2008, and """4""" other books by Edgar-winner Alex Berenson,
    this tough guy -- a CIA agent -- spent years undercover with
    Al Qaeda; and now, back in the States, has to prevent a new
    terrorist attack in each installment of the series. Name him.

    6. This American-Japanese assassin specializes in death by
    apparent natural causes and struggles with his role in life,
    in """6""" novels by Barry Eisler, """4""" of which include
    his meteorologically-inspired name in the title. Name him.

    7. The father was an Arkansas police officer in the 1940s and '50s,
    and the son is a Vietnam War vet, a sniper played by Mark
    Wahlberg in the 2007 movie "Shooter". In """two related
    series""" of books by Stephen Hunter, including "Dead Zero",
    "I, Sniper", and "Pale Horse Coming", their knowledge of gun
    culture helps them succeed. What is their family name?

    8. Robert Crais has written """14""" novels featuring two
    hard-boiled protagonists in Los Angeles: one an ex-Ranger and
    investigator with an eye for Disney memorabilia, the other a
    sunglass-wearing ex-marine and gunshop owner. The """most
    famous""" book of the series is probably "L.A. Requiem".
    Name either protagonist.

    9. An ex-boxer, a Bostonian, and a private detective with a heart of
    gold, this tough guy's sidekicks include Hawk and Chollo.
    Name him.

    10. This tough guy helps recovers lost or stolen property for 50%
    of the item's value, in """21""" novels by John D. MacDonald,
    each with the name of a color in the title. He lives on his
    houseboat in Florida. Name him.

    --
    Mark Brader, Toronto | This process can check if this value is zero, and if msb@vex.net | it is, it does something child-like. --F. Burkowski

    My text in this article is in the public domain.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Erland Sommarskog@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Wed Oct 20 20:31:57 2021
    Mark Brader (msb@vex.net) writes:
    * Game 8, Round 4 - Fringe History

    This round is about some ideas that have, shall we say, run
    contrary to accepted historical research.

    3. Apollo 15 astronaut James Irwin led two unsuccessful expeditions
    to Armenia in the 1980's to prove that Noah's Ark still rests
    in the snow and ice near the summit of what mountain on the
    border of Turkey and Armenia?

    Ararat

    4. It rests in a church in Aksum, Ethiopia, closely guarded by a
    special group of holy men. Apparently it was brought there from
    the Holy Land for its protection in the 6th century BC. In his
    1992 book "The Sign and the Seal", British journalist Graham
    Hancock relates his quest to track down that item. What is it?

    The cloth in which the dead body of Christ was wrapped.

    5. In 2002 retired submariner Gavin Menzies asserted that in 1421,
    70 years before Columbus, a fleet of enormous ships circum-
    navigated the globe, touching all the continents, including the
    Americas. From which country were they alleged to have set sail?

    China

    6. Many people believe that the earth is hollow, with entrances
    to this subterranean world located at the poles. These groups
    claim that in February 1947, a famous American aviator and
    polar explorer flew to this world and received from its leader
    a warning to be careful with atomic energy. Who allegedly flew
    into the hollow earth?

    Charles Lindbergh

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Blum@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Fri Oct 22 01:42:19 2021
    Mark Brader <msb@vex.net> wrote:

    * Game 8, Round 4 - Fringe History

    1. In the 1950s a Russian-born American psychoanalyst used
    mythological and religious texts to "prove" that Venus was
    originally a comet belched forth from Jupiter, and that
    its journey through the solar system caused many of the
    floods, plagues and cataclysms in the Bible and other texts.
    Works include "Worlds in Collision", "Ages in Chaos", and
    "Earth in Upheaval". Name the author.

    Velikovsky

    2. In 1968, Swiss author Erich Von Daniken proposed that some
    ancient structures, artwork and artifacts, for example the
    Nazca lines in Peru, were evidence of early contact with
    technologically advanced aliens. He published his ideas in a
    bestselling book. What was its title?

    Chariots of the Gods

    3. Apollo 15 astronaut James Irwin led two unsuccessful expeditions
    to Armenia in the 1980's to prove that Noah's Ark still rests
    in the snow and ice near the summit of what mountain on the
    border of Turkey and Armenia?

    Mt. Ararat

    4. It rests in a church in Aksum, Ethiopia, closely guarded by a
    special group of holy men. Apparently it was brought there from
    the Holy Land for its protection in the 6th century BC. In his
    1992 book "The Sign and the Seal", British journalist Graham
    Hancock relates his quest to track down that item. What is it?

    The Ark of the Covenant

    5. In 2002 retired submariner Gavin Menzies asserted that in 1421,
    70 years before Columbus, a fleet of enormous ships circum-
    navigated the globe, touching all the continents, including the
    Americas. From which country were they alleged to have set sail?

    China

    6. Many people believe that the earth is hollow, with entrances
    to this subterranean world located at the poles. These groups
    claim that in February 1947, a famous American aviator and
    polar explorer flew to this world and received from its leader
    a warning to be careful with atomic energy. Who allegedly flew
    into the hollow earth?

    Byrd

    7. William Shakespeare's humble origins and obscure life seem at
    odds with the genius of his works, leading some to believe that
    he didn't write them. Most Shakespearean scholars regard this
    as a fringe belief, but over 70 candidates for authorship have
    been put forward. Only four of them have signicant numbers
    of followers, though, so name *any one* of those four most
    popular candidates.

    Sir Francis Bacon

    8. Did it really happen when the history books say it did?
    Anatoly Fomenko and other Russian mathematicians have argued
    that many events occurred much later than is commonly believed,
    for instance that the Middle Ages were very short, and that
    Jesus lived in the 12th Century. This belief, which takes its
    name from the study of the order of events, is known as the
    New -- what?

    Historiography

    9. From the 12th to the 17th century, many Europeans believed that
    in Central Asia, India, or perhaps Ethiopia, a benevolent king
    ruled a lost Christian kingdom. This belief led to many popular
    stories and even quests to find him until the age of exploration
    ruled out his existence. What was this king's name?

    Prester John

    * Game 8, Round 6 - Literature - Tough Guys

    1. He is an ex-military police officer who travels the States with
    just a toothbrush in his pocket, righting wrongs and beating
    up bad guys, in """14""" books by Lee Child. Titles include
    "The Killing Floor", "Gone Tomorrow", and "Worth Dying For".
    Name the tough guy.

    Reacher

    3. Robert Ludlum's most famous tough guy is the amnesiac hero
    of a """trilogy""" of novels that see the hero, a highly-trained
    assassin, struggle to make sense of his past. Name this
    tough guy. (Give his usual name used in the stories, not any
    other name.)

    Jason Bourne

    9. An ex-boxer, a Bostonian, and a private detective with a heart of
    gold, this tough guy's sidekicks include Hawk and Chollo.
    Name him.

    Spenser

    10. This tough guy helps recovers lost or stolen property for 50%
    of the item's value, in """21""" novels by John D. MacDonald,
    each with the name of a color in the title. He lives on his
    houseboat in Florida. Name him.

    Travis McGee

    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Dan Blum tool@panix.com
    "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Tilque@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Thu Oct 21 21:30:17 2021
    On 10/19/21 9:20 PM, Mark Brader wrote:

    * Game 8, Round 4 - Fringe History

    This round is about some ideas that have, shall we say, run
    contrary to accepted historical research.

    1. In the 1950s a Russian-born American psychoanalyst used
    mythological and religious texts to "prove" that Venus was
    originally a comet belched forth from Jupiter, and that
    its journey through the solar system caused many of the
    floods, plagues and cataclysms in the Bible and other texts.
    Works include "Worlds in Collision", "Ages in Chaos", and
    "Earth in Upheaval". Name the author.

    Velikovsky


    2. In 1968, Swiss author Erich Von Daniken proposed that some
    ancient structures, artwork and artifacts, for example the
    Nazca lines in Peru, were evidence of early contact with
    technologically advanced aliens. He published his ideas in a
    bestselling book. What was its title?

    Chariots of the Gods


    3. Apollo 15 astronaut James Irwin led two unsuccessful expeditions
    to Armenia in the 1980's to prove that Noah's Ark still rests
    in the snow and ice near the summit of what mountain on the
    border of Turkey and Armenia?

    Ararat


    4. It rests in a church in Aksum, Ethiopia, closely guarded by a
    special group of holy men. Apparently it was brought there from
    the Holy Land for its protection in the 6th century BC. In his
    1992 book "The Sign and the Seal", British journalist Graham
    Hancock relates his quest to track down that item. What is it?

    Ark of the Covenant


    5. In 2002 retired submariner Gavin Menzies asserted that in 1421,
    70 years before Columbus, a fleet of enormous ships circum-
    navigated the globe, touching all the continents, including the
    Americas. From which country were they alleged to have set sail?

    China


    6. Many people believe that the earth is hollow, with entrances
    to this subterranean world located at the poles. These groups
    claim that in February 1947, a famous American aviator and
    polar explorer flew to this world and received from its leader
    a warning to be careful with atomic energy. Who allegedly flew
    into the hollow earth?

    Peary

    (I believe Peary was dead by 1947, but he's the only American
    aviator-polar explorer I can think of.)


    7. William Shakespeare's humble origins and obscure life seem at
    odds with the genius of his works, leading some to believe that
    he didn't write them. Most Shakespearean scholars regard this
    as a fringe belief, but over 70 candidates for authorship have
    been put forward. Only four of them have signicant numbers
    of followers, though, so name *any one* of those four most
    popular candidates.

    Edward de Vere


    8. Did it really happen when the history books say it did?
    Anatoly Fomenko and other Russian mathematicians have argued
    that many events occurred much later than is commonly believed,
    for instance that the Middle Ages were very short, and that
    Jesus lived in the 12th Century. This belief, which takes its
    name from the study of the order of events, is known as the
    New -- what?

    Chronology


    9. From the 12th to the 17th century, many Europeans believed that
    in Central Asia, India, or perhaps Ethiopia, a benevolent king
    ruled a lost Christian kingdom. This belief led to many popular
    stories and even quests to find him until the age of exploration
    ruled out his existence. What was this king's name?

    Prester John


    10. In 2003 Dan Brown became wealthy suggesting that Jesus married,
    had kids, and that those kids sired the ruling families of
    Europe. The idea had been proposed seriously in a 1982 book
    21 years before "The Da Vinci Code". The authors sued Brown
    -- unsuccessfully, because his book had acknowledged theirs.
    Name their book.

    Holy Blood, Holy Grail


    After completing the round, please decode the rot13: va gur avagu
    dhrfgvba, gur oraribyrag xvat'f anzr vf gjb jbeqf. Vs lbh tnir
    bayl bar jbeq, tb onpx naq nqq gur bgure bar.


    * Game 8, Round 6 - Literature - Tough Guys

    Every once in a while you want a hero who is as tough as nails.
    Identify these "real men" of thriller, mystery, and espionage
    novels.

    1. He is an ex-military police officer who travels the States with
    just a toothbrush in his pocket, righting wrongs and beating
    up bad guys, in """14""" books by Lee Child. Titles include
    "The Killing Floor", "Gone Tomorrow", and "Worth Dying For".
    Name the tough guy.

    2. The hero of """21""" action-adventure books by Clive Cussler,
    this tough guy works for the National Underwater Marine Agency,
    doing stuff like "Raising the Titanic" and finding Civil-War-era
    ships in the "Sahara". Matthew McConaughey played him in the
    movie "Sahara". Who is he?

    3. Robert Ludlum's most famous tough guy is the amnesiac hero
    of a """trilogy""" of novels that see the hero, a highly-trained
    assassin, struggle to make sense of his past. Name this
    tough guy. (Give his usual name used in the stories, not any
    other name.)

    4. This Israeli art restorer is also a former assassin responsible
    for hunting down half the Munich Olympics terrorists. He is
    the hero of """10""" bestsellers by Daniel Silva, including
    "The Rembrandt Affair" and "Moscow Rules". Name him.

    5. The hero of the NY Times #1 bestseller "The Faithful Spy" in
    2008, and """4""" other books by Edgar-winner Alex Berenson,
    this tough guy -- a CIA agent -- spent years undercover with
    Al Qaeda; and now, back in the States, has to prevent a new
    terrorist attack in each installment of the series. Name him.

    6. This American-Japanese assassin specializes in death by
    apparent natural causes and struggles with his role in life,
    in """6""" novels by Barry Eisler, """4""" of which include
    his meteorologically-inspired name in the title. Name him.

    7. The father was an Arkansas police officer in the 1940s and '50s,
    and the son is a Vietnam War vet, a sniper played by Mark
    Wahlberg in the 2007 movie "Shooter". In """two related
    series""" of books by Stephen Hunter, including "Dead Zero",
    "I, Sniper", and "Pale Horse Coming", their knowledge of gun
    culture helps them succeed. What is their family name?

    8. Robert Crais has written """14""" novels featuring two
    hard-boiled protagonists in Los Angeles: one an ex-Ranger and
    investigator with an eye for Disney memorabilia, the other a
    sunglass-wearing ex-marine and gunshop owner. The """most
    famous""" book of the series is probably "L.A. Requiem".
    Name either protagonist.

    9. An ex-boxer, a Bostonian, and a private detective with a heart of
    gold, this tough guy's sidekicks include Hawk and Chollo.
    Name him.

    10. This tough guy helps recovers lost or stolen property for 50%
    of the item's value, in """21""" novels by John D. MacDonald,
    each with the name of a color in the title. He lives on his
    houseboat in Florida. Name him.


    --
    Dan Tilque

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Pete Gayde@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Fri Oct 22 11:55:55 2021
    Mark Brader wrote:
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2011-07-04,
    and should be interpreted accordingly. All questions were written
    by members of the Misplaced Modifiers, but have been reformatted
    and may have been retyped and/or edited by me. I will reveal the
    correct answers in about 3 days.

    For further information, including an explanation of the """ notation
    that may appear in these rounds, see my 2021-07-20 companion posting
    on "Reposted Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".


    * Game 8, Round 4 - Fringe History

    This round is about some ideas that have, shall we say, run
    contrary to accepted historical research.

    1. In the 1950s a Russian-born American psychoanalyst used
    mythological and religious texts to "prove" that Venus was
    originally a comet belched forth from Jupiter, and that
    its journey through the solar system caused many of the
    floods, plagues and cataclysms in the Bible and other texts.
    Works include "Worlds in Collision", "Ages in Chaos", and
    "Earth in Upheaval". Name the author.

    2. In 1968, Swiss author Erich Von Daniken proposed that some
    ancient structures, artwork and artifacts, for example the
    Nazca lines in Peru, were evidence of early contact with
    technologically advanced aliens. He published his ideas in a
    bestselling book. What was its title?

    3. Apollo 15 astronaut James Irwin led two unsuccessful expeditions
    to Armenia in the 1980's to prove that Noah's Ark still rests
    in the snow and ice near the summit of what mountain on the
    border of Turkey and Armenia?

    Ararat


    4. It rests in a church in Aksum, Ethiopia, closely guarded by a
    special group of holy men. Apparently it was brought there from
    the Holy Land for its protection in the 6th century BC. In his
    1992 book "The Sign and the Seal", British journalist Graham
    Hancock relates his quest to track down that item. What is it?

    Ark of the Covenant


    5. In 2002 retired submariner Gavin Menzies asserted that in 1421,
    70 years before Columbus, a fleet of enormous ships circum-
    navigated the globe, touching all the continents, including the
    Americas. From which country were they alleged to have set sail?

    China


    6. Many people believe that the earth is hollow, with entrances
    to this subterranean world located at the poles. These groups
    claim that in February 1947, a famous American aviator and
    polar explorer flew to this world and received from its leader
    a warning to be careful with atomic energy. Who allegedly flew
    into the hollow earth?

    Peary; Byrd


    7. William Shakespeare's humble origins and obscure life seem at
    odds with the genius of his works, leading some to believe that
    he didn't write them. Most Shakespearean scholars regard this
    as a fringe belief, but over 70 candidates for authorship have
    been put forward. Only four of them have signicant numbers
    of followers, though, so name *any one* of those four most
    popular candidates.

    Johnson


    8. Did it really happen when the history books say it did?
    Anatoly Fomenko and other Russian mathematicians have argued
    that many events occurred much later than is commonly believed,
    for instance that the Middle Ages were very short, and that
    Jesus lived in the 12th Century. This belief, which takes its
    name from the study of the order of events, is known as the
    New -- what?

    9. From the 12th to the 17th century, many Europeans believed that
    in Central Asia, India, or perhaps Ethiopia, a benevolent king
    ruled a lost Christian kingdom. This belief led to many popular
    stories and even quests to find him until the age of exploration
    ruled out his existence. What was this king's name?

    10. In 2003 Dan Brown became wealthy suggesting that Jesus married,
    had kids, and that those kids sired the ruling families of
    Europe. The idea had been proposed seriously in a 1982 book
    21 years before "The Da Vinci Code". The authors sued Brown
    -- unsuccessfully, because his book had acknowledged theirs.
    Name their book.

    After completing the round, please decode the rot13: va gur avagu
    dhrfgvba, gur oraribyrag xvat'f anzr vf gjb jbeqf. Vs lbh tnir
    bayl bar jbeq, tb onpx naq nqq gur bgure bar.


    * Game 8, Round 6 - Literature - Tough Guys

    Every once in a while you want a hero who is as tough as nails.
    Identify these "real men" of thriller, mystery, and espionage
    novels.

    1. He is an ex-military police officer who travels the States with
    just a toothbrush in his pocket, righting wrongs and beating
    up bad guys, in """14""" books by Lee Child. Titles include
    "The Killing Floor", "Gone Tomorrow", and "Worth Dying For".
    Name the tough guy.

    2. The hero of """21""" action-adventure books by Clive Cussler,
    this tough guy works for the National Underwater Marine Agency,
    doing stuff like "Raising the Titanic" and finding Civil-War-era
    ships in the "Sahara". Matthew McConaughey played him in the
    movie "Sahara". Who is he?

    3. Robert Ludlum's most famous tough guy is the amnesiac hero
    of a """trilogy""" of novels that see the hero, a highly-trained
    assassin, struggle to make sense of his past. Name this
    tough guy. (Give his usual name used in the stories, not any
    other name.)

    Jason Bourne


    4. This Israeli art restorer is also a former assassin responsible
    for hunting down half the Munich Olympics terrorists. He is
    the hero of """10""" bestsellers by Daniel Silva, including
    "The Rembrandt Affair" and "Moscow Rules". Name him.

    5. The hero of the NY Times #1 bestseller "The Faithful Spy" in
    2008, and """4""" other books by Edgar-winner Alex Berenson,
    this tough guy -- a CIA agent -- spent years undercover with
    Al Qaeda; and now, back in the States, has to prevent a new
    terrorist attack in each installment of the series. Name him.

    6. This American-Japanese assassin specializes in death by
    apparent natural causes and struggles with his role in life,
    in """6""" novels by Barry Eisler, """4""" of which include
    his meteorologically-inspired name in the title. Name him.

    7. The father was an Arkansas police officer in the 1940s and '50s,
    and the son is a Vietnam War vet, a sniper played by Mark
    Wahlberg in the 2007 movie "Shooter". In """two related
    series""" of books by Stephen Hunter, including "Dead Zero",
    "I, Sniper", and "Pale Horse Coming", their knowledge of gun
    culture helps them succeed. What is their family name?

    8. Robert Crais has written """14""" novels featuring two
    hard-boiled protagonists in Los Angeles: one an ex-Ranger and
    investigator with an eye for Disney memorabilia, the other a
    sunglass-wearing ex-marine and gunshop owner. The """most
    famous""" book of the series is probably "L.A. Requiem".
    Name either protagonist.

    9. An ex-boxer, a Bostonian, and a private detective with a heart of
    gold, this tough guy's sidekicks include Hawk and Chollo.
    Name him.

    10. This tough guy helps recovers lost or stolen property for 50%
    of the item's value, in """21""" novels by John D. MacDonald,
    each with the name of a color in the title. He lives on his
    houseboat in Florida. Name him.


    Pete Gayde

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