tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41030075095015706402024-03-19T08:18:35.994+05:30Infinite ZoundsThe affairs of the world, one quiz question a day. By J. Ramanand.J Ramanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700969855424872769noreply@blogger.comBlogger2112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-34575415920780687242018-02-11T16:21:00.004+05:302022-01-30T12:29:16.149+05:30Infinite Zounds has a new home<h1 style="text-align: left;">A note from Ramanand</h1><br />I started Infinite Zounds in 2010 as "a question a day" blog based on current affairs. The aim? ask questions about recent events in an almost timeless fashion. This version of the blog saw over 2500 questions posted and became one of the best known quiz blogs on the internet. Over time, due to changing interests and priorities, I stopped publishing questions here.<br /><br />Now, Infinite Zounds is <a href="https://infinitezounds.substack.com/" target="_blank"><b style="background-color: #fff2cc;">back at a new location.</b></a> I invite you to subscribe and resume your IZ connection.<br /> <br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">J. Ramanand</h2><p></p><p></p>J Ramanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700969855424872769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-67380512790417098982017-10-24T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-24T06:00:02.209+05:30Q.2581"But Seriously:An Autobiography" is this sportsman's second autobiography, which was published in 2017. What was his first autobiography, published in 2002, called, after a trademark catchphrase?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2581" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2581', 'displayText_q2581');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2581" style="display:none;" class="answer">"You Cannot Be Serious"; the author is tennis player John McEnroe</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-52606678722190118242017-10-23T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-23T06:00:13.271+05:30Q.2580In 2017, Amazon was granted a patent for a drone that could delivery a battery charge for electric cars on the move which are running out of charge. This is one of the many solutions that emerging for the feeling of being worried that you will be stranded by an empty battery while on the road in an electric car. What two word phrase is used for this?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2580" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2580', 'displayText_q2580');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2580" style="display:none;" class="answer">"Range Anxiety"</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-80902082763669519772017-10-22T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-22T06:00:15.473+05:30Q.2579In 2017, Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was revealed as having harassing and abusing several women over the years. In an attempt at a measure of his power in the film industry, Quartz magazine wrote that he was #3 on the list of most entities thanked by Oscar winners in the last 50 years.<p> If God was 2nd, who was 1st on this list?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2579" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2579', 'displayText_q2579');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2579" style="display:none;" class="answer">Steven Spielberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-85395609611075915162017-10-21T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-21T06:00:09.398+05:30Q.2578Scientist J. Craig Wheeler of UT Austin first let the cat out of the bag in Aug 2017 via a tweet, later apologizing for not waiting for the official process. In Oct 2017, the official announcement about GW170817 was made. What was this all about?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2578" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2578', 'displayText_q2578');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2578" style="display:none;" class="answer">The first time gravitational waves ('GW') from a neutron star merger was observed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GW170817">More here</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-48446392411540034512017-10-20T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-20T06:00:24.084+05:30Q.2577In 2017, the cricket boards of which two countries were given Test status?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2577" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2577', 'displayText_q2577');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2577" style="display:none;" class="answer">Ireland and Afghanistan.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-1008943189372363382017-10-19T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-19T06:00:11.779+05:30Q.2576If Hindi : Salman Khan :: Kannada: Sudeep :: Telugu : NTR Jr. :: Tamil : ?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2576" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2576', 'displayText_q2576');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2576" style="display:none;" class="answer">Kamalhaasan - the hosts of the different versions of the TV show Bigg Boss. The Tamil and Telugu versions debuted in 2017.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-48045708984129558842017-10-18T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-18T08:13:04.949+05:30Q.2575This 2017 book's title is about a boy named William Wallace, his father, and a Buddhist concept of a state between death and before being born again. Which award-winning book?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2575" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2575', 'displayText_q2575');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2575" style="display:none;" class="answer">Lincoln in the Bardo', the 2017 Booker Prize Winner.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-37131384612919477042017-10-17T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-17T06:00:12.320+05:30Q.25742017 sees the 19th edition of this political event. The first was held in 1921, but since 1977, it has been held every five years. Only once was it held in Moscow. <p> What are we talking about?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2574" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2574', 'displayText_q2574');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2574" style="display:none;" class="answer">The National Congress of the Communist Party of China.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-25692534282308878482017-10-16T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-16T19:54:19.730+05:30Q.2573"The Golden House" is Salman Rushdie's 2017 novel about the Goldens, a family that relocates from Mumbai to the USA. In doing so, they change their names to famous ancient Romans. If the sons are Petronius, Dionysius, and Lucius Apuleis, which infamous emperor's name does their father take?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2573" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2573', 'displayText_q2573');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2573" style="display:none;" class="answer">Nero.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-85850557463639670632017-10-15T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-15T06:00:01.915+05:30Q.2572In Oct 2017, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature in India announced that it had photographed this 'vulnerable' animal for the first time in Arunachal Pradesh. Which animal, whose scientific name is 'Panthera Uncia'?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2572" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2572', 'displayText_q2572');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2572" style="display:none;" class="answer">The Snow Leopard</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-49892770143088396862017-10-14T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-14T08:44:15.789+05:30Q.2571In 2017, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella released his autiobiography 'Hit Refresh'. In the US, the book was released at the company's Ignite conference. However, in the UK, the book was released at a venue associated more with tradition than with technology. Which venue?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2571" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2571', 'displayText_q2571');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2571" style="display:none;" class="answer">Lord's Cricket Ground - Nadella is a big cricket fan, and describes the role of cricket on his life in the book</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-68350318784853559562017-10-13T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-13T09:23:41.749+05:30Q.2570The rapper Eminem spoke the following words in a protest performance during a 2017 event:<blockquote>“Racism’s the only ___ he’s Fantastic Four / Cause that’s how he gets his f***ing rocks off and he’s orange.”</blockquote>Who is the 'he' being referred to, and what's the word in the blank which is the analogy Eminem is making from the Fantastic Four?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2570" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2570', 'displayText_q2570');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2570" style="display:none;" class="answer">US President Donald Trump and 'The Thing' from the Fantastic Four (which is 'orange'!)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-7419935073711635822017-10-12T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-12T06:00:04.308+05:30Q.2569Unverified reports of these began in Sept 2017 in Kashmir, with hysteria resembling those of the 'monkey man' scare in Delhi years ago. Several men, including foreigners, have been accused of this. In these cases, alleged victims said that they had been assaulted in what peculiar manner?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2569" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2569', 'displayText_q2569');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2569" style="display:none;" class="answer">That their braided hair was chopped off mysteriously. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/11/braid-chopping-claims-in-kashmir-spark-mass-panic-and-mob-violence">More on this</a>.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-15812836115745649282017-10-11T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-11T17:58:52.860+05:30Q.2568"The ____" is a TV series co-created by David Simon (best known for 'The Wire') that premiered in 2017. Set in the '70s, the backdrop for the show is in the adult industry, with the show's title coming from the 42nd Street area of New York. What is this nickname, also a word in tennis.<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2568" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2568', 'displayText_q2568');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2568" style="display:none;" class="answer">Deuce'. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deuce_(TV_series)">More on the show here</a>.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-15194285668532840422017-10-10T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-10T06:00:00.561+05:30Q.2567In 2017, Spanish footballer and F.C. Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta signed an unusual contract with his club, that is possibly the first of its kind at that level. What's unusual about it?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2567" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2567', 'displayText_q2567');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2567" style="display:none;" class="answer">His contract is for 'life', meaning he will be with F.C.Barcelona till the end of his playing career.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-22618320872486603722017-10-09T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-09T06:00:14.171+05:30Q.2566In the 2017 film, 'Blade Runner 2049', Harrison Ford's character tells Ryan Gosling's characters when he first meets him: "You mightn't happen to have a piece of cheese about you?". This is actually a line from which famous work of literature spoken by a character called Ben Gunn?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2566" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2566', 'displayText_q2566');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2566" style="display:none;" class="answer">Treasure Island</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-73158518839709703602017-10-08T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-08T11:46:13.420+05:30Q.2565In 2017, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize . The campaign coalition was only a decade old, having been set up in 2007. Its origins lie in the meetings of another non-state federation, the International _______ for the Prevention of Nuclear War, which itself won the Peace Nobel in 1985.
<p>
Which word fills the blank?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2565" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2565', 'displayText_q2565');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2565" style="display:none;" class="answer">Physicians' - this was an association of medical personnel from around the world</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-33758898323273930152017-10-07T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-07T10:55:58.281+05:30Q.2564In Oct 2017, India hosted its first ever FIFA tournament, the U-17 World Cup. As hosts, India made its debut in a FIFA tournament. Also making their debuts were two other countries, one of which was Niger. The third is from Oceania and is actually a French territory. <p> Which FIFA member, whose three letter code is NCL?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2564" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2564', 'displayText_q2564');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2564" style="display:none;" class="answer">New Caledonia</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-12572029911600077542017-10-06T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-06T06:00:04.230+05:30Q.2563The 2017 Nobel for Physiology or Medicine went to 3 researchers of the circadian rhythm. In an interview, winner Jeffrey Hall said: "The key fourth awardee here is, as some of us call them, the ___ ___. So the __ ___ deserve another tip of the hat, I think, in terms of what has happened today."<p>
Who according to Hall was the 'fourth awardee'?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2563" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2563', 'displayText_q2563');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2563" style="display:none;" class="answer">The fruit fly, Drosophilia melanogaster, which has been a key part of genetics research. <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/drosophila-melanogaster-the-story-of-the-little-pest-and-the-famed-nobel-prize-in-physiology-or-medicine-4873184/">More</a>.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-66329221048989319822017-10-05T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-05T06:00:07.491+05:30Q.2562In golf, the men's version is named after a British businessman who donated money for the tournament, while the women's version is named for a Norwegian-American businessman who did the same. In the corresponding equivalent in tennis, there is no such version for women yet, but what is the men's version named after?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2562" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2562', 'displayText_q2562');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2562" style="display:none;" class="answer">Rod Laver, the legendary tennis champion. This is a reference to the Laver Cup, whose first edition was played in 2017, and features teams from Europe vs the Rest of the World. This is modeled on golf's Ryder and Solheim cups (for men and women respectively) where a European team plays an American side.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-77215978362759245112017-10-04T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-04T06:00:07.609+05:30Q.2561In July 2017, this transport location's code became PBHD from EPR. The new code refers to a local deity, while the old one represents a Scottish MP from the 19th century. In the news for other reasons in Sept 2017, what do these codes stand for?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2561" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2561', 'displayText_q2561');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2561" style="display:none;" class="answer">Prabhadevi and Elphinstone Road Stations, respectively. This is a station on the Western Railway local system in Mumbai, and saw an unfortunate and unprecedented stampede in Sept 2017.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-71832916484387804902017-10-03T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-03T06:00:11.786+05:30Q.2560The Indian actor and writer Tom Alter passed away in Sept 2017. Known for his command over Urdu, in which film did Alter play Captain Weston and recite Urdu poetry on screen?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2560" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2560', 'displayText_q2560');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2560" style="display:none;" class="answer">"Shatranj Ke Khilari"</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-35961862522895843142017-10-02T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-02T06:00:15.077+05:30Q.2559In April 2017, this partially self-governing disputed territory which has declared independence held a referendum to ask if it should add the words 'the State of Alania' to its official name. The referendum passed. Which European state?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2559" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2559', 'displayText_q2559');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2559" style="display:none;" class="answer">South Ossetia, which had declared independence from Georgia and is propped up by Russia. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetian_name_change_referendum,_2017">More here</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103007509501570640.post-58464534895631792662017-10-01T06:00:00.000+05:302017-10-01T09:57:24.300+05:30Q.2558The first time India was represented here was in the 30th edition by a mother - the result was an agonizing loss by one vote. Since then other representatives include a a tourism professional, an underworld don, a female gangster, a couple of amateur board game players, an Indian, a son of Adam, an ex-magician's production place, and a Mumbai judicial hearing.
What is this list, and who/what is the entry for 2017 in this list?<p><span class="answerdiv"><a id="displayText_q2558" href="javascript:toggle('toggleText_q2558', 'displayText_q2558');"> [+ Show Answer]</a></span> <div id="toggleText_q2558" style="display:none;" class="answer">India's official representatives to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; "Newton" is India's entry to the 2017 Oscars. <p> The films indicated by hints in the questions are, respectively: Mother India, Guide, Nayakan, Bandit Queen, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Indian, Adaminte Magan Abu, Harischandrachi Factory, and Court.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172274534726616396noreply@blogger.com