Please Be Kind

Please be kind to my substitute hosts, while I'm on vacation this week. Here are the details:

Tonight at Bube's: Justin Shiffer - Justin has hosted at Shank's Tavern in Marietta and at Brendee's. The theme is Power Rangers. I'll be back July 1st.

Wednesday at the VFW: Mike Gallion - Mike has hosted at the Elstonville Sportsman's Club. There is no theme. And there will be no trivia the following week, July 2nd, since the kitchen will be closed that week. I'll be back July 9th.

Sunday, June 29th at Chuckles: Justin again. Theme: Broadway musicals. I'll be back July 6th.

Now, it's time to go back to bed! :-)

Chuckles: Oh, Whoa, Whoa, It's Magic!

I've misplaced my notes for tonight's competition, but I remember that the big story was the victory of Sue's Crew. They changed their name to Making Magic and added a new member (not pictured) and it was magic, indeed, as they claimed the gold. Closely behind were the Fire Monsters (featuring Ben and his bag of sugar). A little farther back were Ubersmack and the Columbian Connection, so we had to have a Captain Jack-off™ between Deric and Becky, with deric suffering a rare loss. Skirtland once again placed seventh and chose "Broadway musicals" as their theme for next week, when we debut new substitute host Justin. Please come next week to support the new guy and I'll see you in two weeks!

The Columbian Connection: Supporting Mike's Habit was a family team consisting of my sister, Cleta, b.i.l. Bob, my mom and my niece Becky. It's up to you to guess which one is which.

The Crazy Mamas crazily fill in their final answers.

Tuna Bob and Non-Tuna Bob of Bob Squared show off their winnings: some generic chocolate chip cookies and some useful visor-binoculars.

Joanne based her team's name on Kevin's fashion sense and they became The Plaids.

Welcome Back, Curt(ter)!

This weekend was a blast, since trivia founding father Curtis Earth was in town. Friday night we checked out one of my favorite local bands The Tamboureens at McCleary's Pub before heading to Bube's to listen to a new favorite, Ripe, featuring guitarist Sam Kornhauser. Then Saturday it was beer festival time at Bube's, topped off by a fun night of trivia upstairs at Alois for Curt's annual reunion show. It was time for old friends to reacquaint and for new friends to experience his special brand of trivia. Sheila and Mark of Shitz and Giggles (above) popped in to say a quick hello to their favorite client.

Congrats to Keith, Marge, Barb (AKA Mrs. Hunsberger) and Bob (AKA Mr. Coley) of Out of the Vortex who, free of the burden that is Billy Warmth, rose to the top! Barb and Bob (and Marge) were all permanent staff at the library when I was a student worker at Millersville back in the forties, so it's hard for me to call them by their first names.

Bubes' owner Sam Allen is a good sport and also our longest-running supporter of Earth Trivia, since we've been there since I believe 1997. Thanks, Sam!

Congradulations!

Congratulations to all our recent graduates, including Alex, who plans on becoming a superhero intern at a prestigious metropolis.

VFW: That Crazy Music Those Kids Listen To

Can you find Matt in this picture? Perhaps he's hiding in Tim Russert's Neck Fat (the new name for the Drunken Stepfathers.) The Russerts had come in seventh last week and chose music after 1990 as their theme. They dominated the night, despite the way I managed to make the picture round "old." Chix and Dix were nipping on their heels, then there were 11 points before we got to Mixed Company. BBCJ was fourth, followed by the B52s and Dumb and Dumber. There was a tie for seventh between D&M and Room Two. Since there was a tie and we have a guest host, there will be no theme next week.

That reminds me to remind you that next week, June 25th, Mike Gallion of the Elstonville Athletic Club, will be subbing for me. Then, the following Wednesday, July 2nd, the VFW kitchen is closed (in fact they're closed for the week, due to the Fourth of July holiday), so there is no trivia. You won't see me again until July 9th (what will become of us?) Please plan to attend next week and give Mike a hearty substitute teacher-like welcome and see you in July!

Missy and Tanya, doing their best Sisqo impresonation.

Dumb and Dumber stayed for the entire game and had a stellar last round, getting seven right!

Bube's: Garden-State Variety Trivia

New Jersey: The Nutsack State. Oh, Wait, That's Disrespectful . . . to the Nutsacks welcomed back Marie, visiting from Vermont. She must be their secret weapon, since they romped to a fifteen point lead over the next team, Corndoggin' It Celtic Style. Then only 10 points separated the next eight teams, with a Captain jack tie-breaker for third between Ubersmack and W.'s Naptime Binky. Deric of Ubersmack and Sam of the Binkies argued over who was better at Jacking-off©. Apparently Deric has had more practice, since his team won. The Slap and TDC were tied for fifth, with Undecided, For sale: Slightly Used Sandals Once Owned by Josh Longo, Siggly Diggly and the Toxic Olives close behind.

One of the more disturbing gifts from the Trashbag of Deelite was this pink Booba, which croons a hypnotic chant when stimulated.

I think that's supposed to be sign language for New Jersey Devils.

Siggly Diggly was doing well until the last round, when their hatred of New Jersey did them in.

Undecided got the coveted seventh place slot and are going with "Power Rangers" as their theme for next week.

The Tony Danza Slap only missed second place by one question and third place by one point.

Chris and Brian brought along some extra firepower and supersized Eat It Raw.

Mike and Dani made a return appearance.

Puff 'n Suds added some estrogen power.

Let Them Eat Cake!

Superniece Mya attended Supernephew Noah's first birthday party on Sunday and was hoping for some cake . . .

...but he went all Ed Norton on it and smashed it to a pulp. (Not pictured: Supergrandma Horn covered in cake shrapnel).

Chuckles: Father's Day Special

If you look closely and scrunch your eyes, you can see Scott of the Talent Scouts in this crappy photo. He's not too happy, since the Scouts led at the end of the second and dropped off the charts in the fourth. Team Disassociative Identity Disorder, who were consistently third the last few weeks, finally got first, narrowly passing Ubersmack. The Lethal Amoebas came in third, also squeaking by the fourth-place Laffy Taffy by two points. The Snapple-swigging Dinosaur was in fifth, followed by the Tidy Bowlers. The Bowlers had a fantastic fourth, but it was too late. Skirtland took the coveted theme-picking spot and are going with "anatomy" as their choice.

Sasha is taking her sour cream tubs to Johnstown for a well-deserved two-week vacation.

Tim and Kelly share a victory kiss after the show.

A Call for Volunteers

I normally try to avoid using this blog as a soapbox, but I'll make an exception from time to time. I'd like to make a big shout out to all the fine folks who use some of their very limited spare time to volunteer. For example, last week I saw Brian and Scott of the Talent Scouts volunteering at the Lancaster Relay for Life. And this week I learned that Don and Sheila (pictured in the inset) of We're Here for the Beer are using their vacation to distribute eyeglasses at the Pine Ridge Reservation in Rapid City, South Dakota. I'm sure there are very many other trivia players who are working for fine causes. Every little bit helps, so please consider giving some time to your favorite charities.

VFW: Going to the Dogs

Amy, Marie and Matt of the Drunken Stepfathers are happy as clams that they get to pick next week's theme. They were eager to pick something "younger," so they're going with Music After 1990. Don and Sheila of We're Here For the Beer were in sixth, followed by a tie for fourth between D&M and Sober and the Drunks (formerly known as BB&C). Room Two took the bronze, Chicks and Dicks the silver and the Chinese Nationalist team of Mixed Company the gold.

Bube's: Reaching for the Gold

Homebrewing was tonight's theme, which pleased Corndoggin' It Celtic Style to no end. They landed in seventh place and are going with New Jersey as next week's theme. Team Discovery Channel was next, followed by a super-sized Slap (Tony Danza style) and Sad Is the Overwhelming Knowledge That Is Wobbly-Headed Bob. Quietly Making Noise continued their winning ways, placing third, one question behind Siggly Diggly. And the grand prize went to It's What Beer Drinkers Drink When They're Not Drinking: Nutsack!

Steve and Nathan welcomed back Josiah from Los Angeles, but he was strangely indifferent.

Siggly Diggly came so close to the gold, but fell two points short.

There was some debate between the members of the Dumpster Babies as to who was the smart one.

Puff N Suds were in the back room this week (or is it the front room?)

You talking to me?

Brian and Chris of Eat It Raw fled the air conditioning of the front room (or is it the back room?)

Special Curtis Trivia Show June 21st!

The founder of live trivia shows in Lancaster County, Curtis Earth*, will be hosting a special one-night-only Trivia Extravaganza at Bube's Brewery in Mount Joy on Saturday night, June 21st.

The event will be held upstairs in the Alois Ballroom. Here's the schedule:

7 P.M. Doors open. Social hour/general merriment.
8 P.M. The show begins
8:15 P.M. or so - Italian buffet opens

Cash prizes for winning teams!

Cost: ten dollars per person.

Please note: this year there will be no reservations, so please arrive early to claim a table. (If you think you're coming, however, please drop me a line so we have a rough idea of a head count)

For those who know and love Curtis, now's the time to relive his show. For those of you who haven't experienced his unique brand of entertainment, now's the chance to see it first-hand!

Hoping to see you Saturday, June 21st!
-Mike


* - (For those of you who don't know, Curtis began hosting trivia at a Holiday Inn in Lancaster County in the early nineties. It became so popular that he eventually became a full-time host with shows five nights a week, including Bube's Brewery. He moved to Orlando, Florida in 2002, where he continues to be a success, hosting over ten shows weekly. He can also be heard on the Shannon Burke Radio Show on Friday afternoons and on his very own weekday radio show on WAMT's Game Show Radio.)

here are some links that include live feeds:

http://www.wtks.com/pages/shannonburke.html
http://www.1190wamt.com/ M-F 9-10 A.M.
http://www.gameshowradio.net/

And Now, This Week's Spelling Question

Chuckles: We Can Win!

Powernick and Superjason of We Can Win . . . With Super Tickets!, in their civilian identities, vanquished teams five times their size tonight (despite missing two of the three superhero questions). Evildoers tremble at the sight of the duo. Fear them!

Ubersmack was one point behind and placed second. It's a rare photo of Deric without flipping the bird at the cameraman (he's probably doing it under the table).

Smackdown was out in full force to celebrate Patrick and Jean's birthdays. Patrick turned 21, while Jean was older than 21. Here's a pic of half of their bronze-winning team, taken by tonight's guest photographer, Fritz. Thanks, Fritz!

Johnny Appleseed fans Skirtland placed fourth.

The Drakes had a strong last round and were only one question away from the money slots.

Out of the Vortex was hoping for a three-peat, but it was not to be, as they landed in sixth.

The seventh-place Intoxicated Intellectuals won't be able to make it to Chuckles next week, but they chose an appropriate theme: TV dads.

I was surprised the George of the Talent Scouts missed the Fudd beer question, since he has a Duff t-shirt. Scott and Brian were both at the Relay for Life yesterday, so I think they were feeling the heat.

Two more correct answers and the Acosta team would have been picking the theme.

The Tidy Bowlers enjoyed Amos' not-so-famous Lemon cookies.

Leslie and Mary Jo are good at drawing creative maps of the U.S. Thankfully, they're not geography teachers.

Sedrox did some crossing out of the right answers, but did really well for a solo team.