Q.1066

Kaplan, Inc. is an American corporation that works primarily in education and testing services. It is perhaps best known for its collection of preparation materials for tests such as the GRE, SAT, GMAT etc.

Around the last quarter of 2013, its parent company is expected to undergo a change in name. Why?

[+ Show Answer]

Kaplan, Inc. is owned by The Washington Post Company. In August 2013, the company announced the sale of its flagship newspaper, The Washington Post to Jeff Bezos (better known for being the CEO of Amazon). As part of this sale, the company will change its name. More here.

This day last year: Q.701

Q.1065

"Machete Kills" is the third in the "Machete" series by Roberto Rodriguez, and will release in 2013. In the film, Danny Trejo, the eponymous action hero is recruited by the US President (no less) for a mission.

The US President is being played by Carlos Estevez, who is being 'introduced' in the film. However, we have already been introduced to this actor. How?

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Carlos Estevez is the real name of the actor and noted bad fellow Charlie Sheen. He's using his real name for this film probably as part of a general Hispanic milieu. More here.

This day last year: Q.700

Q.1064

This was added to the sport of amateur boxing in 1984, but has been withdrawn from 2013 by its governing body, the AIBA (only for the men's version). Each decision was accompanied by medical evidence, which can often be contradictory.

What is this about?

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Amateur boxers have used protective headgear since 1984, but this has now been banned in the men's game. Here's more.

This day last year: Q.699

Q.1063

"The Bone Season" is a 2013 book by Samantha Shannon which has come in for critical acclaim. Given its themes, there have been several comparisons with "The Hunger Games" series as well as the "Harry Potter" series.

A second reason for the Potter comparison is because this will also be a seven book series. Finally, Shannon's UK publisher also published the Harry Potter series. Who is this publisher?

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Bloomsbury Publishing. Here's NPR on the book.

This day last year: Q.698

Q.1062

In the 2013 Hollywood film "Lee Daniels' The Butler", Forest Whitaker plays the eponymous butler who is a witness to much of American history in the 20th century.

What is common to the roles played in this film by Robin Williams, John Cusack, James Marsden, Liev Schreiber, Alan Rickman, and Eric Street? (If fictional versions in 2013 can be included, add Jamie Foxx and Aaron Eckhart to this list.)

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The movie is about a man who was butler in the White House through several Presidencies. These actors play real-life US Presidents, ranging from Eisenhower to Obama. Foxx and Eckhart play US Presidents in the films "White House Down" and "Olympus Has Fallen".

This day last year: Q.697

Q.1061

On this expensive piece of advertising space, their predecessors were UNICEF and the Qatar Foundation. In 2013, commercially, they have gone where no brand has gone before, much to the disenchantment of many who feel they own a piece of that advertising space.

Who and where are they advertising?

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Qatar Airways and the FC Barcelona shirt. For years, Barca has taken a high moral stand of not signing up for a commercial shirt sponsor. They finally succumbed a couple of years ago, which has come into effect from the 2013 season. Not all the fans like this.

This day last year: Q.696

Q.1060

In August 2013, art historian and researcher Silvano Vincenti and his team opened a tomb at the Santissima Annunziata basilica which is in Florence, Italy. They plan to match DNA from skeletal remains in the tomb (said to be that of the Gherardini family), and match it with remains from another tomb in Italy.

Vincenti is doing this in a quest to find the true identity behind which famous figure in art?


[+ Show Answer]

The lady known as the "Mona Lisa". Here's more.

This day last year: Q.693