Q.1406

Despite being only two films old, the Tamil film director Kartik Subbaraj has already obtained a cult following among several Indian film watchers. A Hindi remake of his first film was released in July 2014, while his second Tamil film was released a couple of weeks later.

The titles of both films have something to do with food and beverages. What are these two films?

[+ Show Answer]

"Pizza" and Jigarthanda". More here.

This day last year: Q.1041

Q.1405

"The Little Box Challenge" is a competition launched by Google & IEEE in 2014. This offers a million dollars to anyone who invents the smallest 'little box', which, if it comes through will significantly affect the economics of such things as electric cars and household equipment.

'Little box' refers to miniaturizing what kind of electrical equipment?

[+ Show Answer]

An inverter (to convert DC to AC). More here.

This day last year: Q.1040

Q.1404

The Eisner Awards are considered the highest prize in the field of American comic books, and are given away at the annual 'Comic-Con' in San Diego.

2014's award for Best Digital Comic went to a website (known for its comics) run by Matthew Inman, who named it after something he didn't particularly like eating. Which website?

[+ Show Answer]

The Oatmeal. More on this year's awards.

This day last year: Q.1039

Indian Elections Special

In May 2014, we had invited guest questions for a special on India's General Elections - but thanks to a combination of work and laziness, we never finished putting that together, until today - apologies to all those who sent questions in and thought they had made a donation to a black hole.

Questions by Vaibhav Bajpai (who sent in several excellent questions - here are a selection)

1. In 1982, mid-term Assembly elections were held in Kerela due to the fall of the LDF (Left Democratic Front) led state government. Among the 140 seats, CPI’s Sivan Pillai won the seat from Parur assembly constituency defeating A.C Jose, a Congress(A) candidate by a slender margin of 123 votes only. The legitimacy of Sivan Pillai’s win was challenged in the Supreme Court citing violation of an electoral process across 50 polling booths.

What was alleged as a violation of electoral process in 1982 Kerela Assembly Elections?
2. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made a characteristic debut during the 2014 General Elections by offering a political alternative to the traditional parties within Indian Politics. Another such alternative also made a silent debut that gave a reasonable fight to the candidates, garnering 1.1% of the total votes polled (~60 Lakh votes) and achieving an impactful 3rd place across multiple seats ahead of many established parties like the JD(U), CPI, JD(S), SAD etc.

Which other political alternative made an impactful debut along side AAP during the 2014 General Elections?

What product has a sole proprietary of manufacturing by this company?

3. Phulpur in UP’s Allahabad district was brought out of anonymity once again during the 2014 elections when celebrity and Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif contested for the Congress party. The constituency carries a special place election history for its association with two Prime Ministers of India. For one, thrice electing India’s first Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Who was the second Prime Minister of India other than Pt. Nehru that once got elected from Phulpur?

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Question by Anshul Q Inc.

4. Free India had its first election for Lok Sabha in 1951, which the grand old party Congress, won with a thumping majority.In these elections the total no. of elected MPs were 489, while the no. of constituencies was only 400.The story was similar in the second General Elections of 1957.But this changed in the third election onwards.

What reason can you think of for such inequality of seats and constituencies?

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Question by Atharva Kelkar

5. Some of the countries that this firm exports to are Cambodia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Togo, Sierra Leone among many others.

Established in 1937 and renamed in 1989, this came in the news during the 2014 Genera Elections due to something controversial said by Shri Sharad Pawar. Which firm are we talking about? What was said?

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Question by Srikant Nair

6. This north-eastern state had 2 Lok Sabha constituencies in the 2014 General Elections, which could be said to be "inception constituencies". Which constituencies and in which state?

[+ Show Answers]

1. The use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). They were used for the very first time during Kerala Assembly elections in 1982 on a trial basis and there was no provision in the electoral law for use of them. More here.

2. NOTA Option or None Of The Above was introduced by the Election Commission during the 2014 General Elections. More here.

3. Vishwanath Pratap Singh (V.P Singh) was the other Prime Minister of India who once got elected from Phulpur constituency in 1971. More here.

4. For the first two General elections there were constituencies which had two or three MPs representing them.The provision was one General and one SC/ST MP for a 2 MP seat and one General and one ST and SC each for a 3 MP seat. This provision was abolished when in the third general election reservation of seats for SC and ST began.

5. Mysore Paints and Varnishes Limited, who make the indelible ink. Pawar said (supposedly a joke): "Do erase the ink mark which will be put when you vote first" telling voters to erase the ink before voting twice (in Satara and Mumbai).

6. The state is Manipur. The constituencies are Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur.

Q.1403

Based on a guest question by Prasanna Narayanan | contribute questions

This 2014 mobile game app is built by Glu Mobile and became instantly popular. Set in Hollywood, the game's 'currency' is various forms of 'energy' such as K-stars and energy bolts. Using that, players can try to become 'famous' and try to become A-listers in Hollywood.

Which socialite-star lends her name and much of her life & personality to this game?

[+ Show Answer]

Kim Kardashian. The gory details are here.

This day last year: Q.1038

Q.1402

Based on a guest question by Vaibhav Bajpai | contribute questions

The FIFA World 2014 could be said to be a jungle out there. Kangaroos learnt to play soccer for the "Socceroos" from Australia, "Super Eagles" flew all the way from Nigeria, a skulk of foxes would be more trickier than "Les Fennecs" from Algeria, "The Indomitable Lions" from Cameroon were easily tamed, "The Three Lions" stopped roaring for England, the "Zmajevi" or the "Dragons" from Bosnia & Herzegovina were too young to create a scare...

Where did the herd of "Les Elephants" come from during 2014 FIFA World Cup?

[+ Show Answer]

Ivory Coast, whose team was nicknamed thus. More on the other nicknames for football teams in the World Cup.

This day last year: Q.1037

Q.1401

A guest question by Shivam Kumar | contribute questions

Air India's then commercial director Bobby Kooka and Umesh Rao, an artist with J. Walter Thompson Ltd created 'it' which was adopted in its present form in 1946. In 2014, the new Indian PM Narendra Modi reportedly asked the minister concerned to replace 'it' with something. What change did he suggest which reminds us of a political party among others?

[+ Show Answer]

Replacing the Air India Mascot 'The Maharajah' with something that represents the 'Aam Aadmi' i.e. the common man. More here.

This day last year: Q.1036