Congrats to Honeymooners Barb and Cal!

As The Trivia Turns

Annie was so happy that she got to choose One Life to Live as a theme that she actually stayed the entire game. But it was Room 2's night, as they racked up an impressive 80 points. The Posse (with special guest Colette) once again took second, despite the presence of Ted :-) Mark and Sheila brought along some extra family power and took third. We're Here for the Beer took over the B52s' favaorite spot, and chose Denzel Washington movies as their theme, followed by Chicks and Dicks with Eagles songs (and I don't mean E!A!G!L!E!S!)

It's Pressure-treated Lumber, And It's OK

Well. it certainly was one of the strangest themes ever, but everyone did surprisingly well with the pressure-treated questions. Doing best was We're Sure Glad that Crash Won for Best Picture Instead of Nutsack Mountain. The Flaming Moe-rons made a rare Bube's visit and took second, with TDC third. The Stonecutters took fourth and chose the assassination of Abraham Lincoln as their theme. The I (Heart) Lumber team chose the XFL as their theme. They also had a smack-talking team name-calling with the Brent Hughes Wishes He Was Richard Gere's Hamster team that got worse as the night progressed.

Thanks again to Ellen's taxi service. I finally got my car back from the shop, so I should be able to make it to the Salvation Army for some more traditional Trashbag of Deelite gifts.

Lititz VFW

The big news this week was the earlier start time of 7 P.M., which proved to be a boon to the Chicks and Dicks team, who had their first victory in a while. It must have confused the Posse, since only Frank and Regina showed up. But there was a silver lining since they placed second! Room 2 claimed third and the B52s were in their comfort zone of fourth place (they chose cars as their theme). Boot, Scoot and Annie took fifth and chose "One Life to Live" as their theme (Guess which member of their team picked it). We welcomed Sarah's replacement Shannon and we all wondered exactly what Tom gave up for Lent. Also: thanks to Steve for his taxi service.

Pressure treated what?

The Bubes' show was unusual since, due to a tie the previous week, we had three themes: the Dukes of Hazzard, fish and banned substances. The Toxic Olives had experts on all three subjects and took first place with 71 points. The brother and sister team of James and Becky were joined by Alex and Randy and Mike and took second, their highest showing ever. The Stone Cutters had another great week, placing third. Patty and the Prophets (AKA The Wise Men) stumbled in the last round, but are planning a victory next week, since they chose the most unusual theme ever: pressure-treated lumber. What Happens in Bube's Stays in Bube's took fifth and chose Babylon 5 as their pick.

On the music front, we had to play it old school when my iPod chose the worst time to die. (Replacement batteries are winging their way to me even as we speak) My car also died (temporarily), so special thanks to Mike and Ellen for providing taxi service.

Don't Forget the VFW Time Change This Week

Don't forget that this week, and from here on out at the Lititz VFW on Wednesdays, we start the show at 7 P.M.

(The Bubes show is unaffected and will remain Tuesdays at 8 P.M.)

A Pic That'll Make You Curl

Surprisingly, our players have lives outside of the trivia arena. One of our Bubes players, Charles of the Fool Monkey, was recently featured in the morninig newspaper. To find out what Charles is looking at, look here. In honor of Charles, we'll have one curling question this week.

And here's the accompanying article from the Intelligencer Journal, written by Madelyn Pennino:

Throwing Stones

There's something about the way a stone sounds as it slides across the ice that's soothing to Charles Scharnberger. It's one of the things that drew the Millersville resident to the sport of curling.

"There's something aesthetically pleasing about it," Scharnberger, 62, said.

"The way the rock looks as it slides down. Hearing it ... it's kind of like a hum. It's the experience of reading the ice and judgment."

As usual, the sport of curling has received a massive wave of interest since its return to the world stage in the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

A relatively little-noticed sport in the United States in off-Olympic years, curling has a long history.

Though this year marks the game's fourth appearance in the winter games, it was invented 500 years ago in Scotland by farmers who wanted something to do during the winter months.

That's just a smidge of curling history courtesy of die-hard curling fans Lenius and Mary Gottliebsen, both 80, of West Lampeter Township, who introduced Scharnberger to curling 10 years ago.

"We call it a closet sport that's now coming out of the closet," Gottliebsen said.

The Gottliebsens, to say the least, are crazy about curling and haven't missed an Olympic curling match since the Turin games began.

Mr. Gottliebsen said he was thrilled when the U.S. men's team won the bronze medal for curling Friday morning by defeating Great Britain.

"That was really something to watch," Mr. Gottliebsen said.

During the last two weeks Mr. Gottliebsen has seen all the drama unfold.

"We haven't missed any of the (curling) matches."

The couple discovered their love of curling in 1979, when their son invited them to the Philadelphia Curling Club.

Mr. Gottliebsen said he was instantly interested in the sport.

"As soon as I walked in and saw the ice," he said, "I said, 'This would really be a neat thing to do.'" Mrs.

Gottliebsen, who stopped playing the sport four years ago, said she likes the chilvalrous part of the sport.

"It always begins with a handshake and ends with a handshake," she said.

Mr. Gottliebsen founded Keystone Curling Club in Lancaster several years ago.

But the club disbanded after two years due to a lack of members.

As millions of Americans tune into the Olympics, some are asking what the "rock throwing" sport is all about, how it is played and how score is kept.

The Gottliebsens and Scharnberger shared some insights into how curling is played and why it often becomes a lifelong passion for those who take it up.

Here's how the game works: Curlers compete in two teams of four, each curler getting two turns per game at sliding, or "throwing," a 42-pound granite stone at a bull's-eye-type target at the opposite end of the ice.

As each curler prepares to throw the stone, he or she places one foot in a "hack," a sort of starting block.

Then curler pushes the rock across the ice.

The object of the game is to get more stones into the center of the bull's eye, called the "house," than the opposing team.

Other members of the team, called "sweepers," brush the ice in front of the stone so it glides more easily.

In Olympic curling, the game is broken down into 10 rounds, or "ends."

In club curling, there are eight ends that usually last about 15 minutes each.

Scharnberger said one of the appeals of curling is that it's always exciting.

"It's never boring," he said.

"No two ends are ever the same. There are a variety of situations that can arise."

It's also a game of strategy that weighs heavily on the shoulders of the team "skip," whose job it is to decide where the throwers should slide their stones.

Mr. Gottliebsen, who stopped curling last year due to health problems, played several roles on the team, including that of a skip.

He said he liked sweeping better than being a skip.

"I preferred sweeping," Mr. Gottliebsen said.

"It was great exercise, very aerobic. By the time you get done, you really feel great."

Scharnberger agreed curling is tiring, but it's got wide appeal.

"It's a game you can play at any age," Scharnberger, who is a member of the Philadelphia Curling Club, said.

Mr. Gottliebsen said he has participated in a number of curling championships.

His wife led the Philadelphia club's women's curling team, called the Philadelphia Bells.

Mrs. Gottliebsen said she loves the sport because it's easy.

"It's not hard to learn, and it's nice to see yourself improve," she said.

Neither of the Gottliebsens have curled since retiring from the sport.

Mr. Gottliebsen said he misses it, however.

"Every time I shave I look in the mirror and think about it," he said.

He said he keeps a curling stone in his home office to remind him of his love for the sport.

"We use it as a paperweight," he laughed.

Time Change for the VFW Show!

To allow everyone an extra hour of beauty sleep, don't forget that starting next week (March 1st), we will begin the VFW show at 7 P.M. Themes for that night will be Seinfeld (as chosen by Nix Lix) and show tunes (as chosen by D&M + 2).

Last night it looked like Stu and Nadine were going to be the sole players for Room 2, but reinforcements arrived and catapulted them to the winning spot. Ze Posse took second and Greg the amazing one-man El Dorado team took third.

On the prize front there was a brief scuffle for a box of Dots, Sticky Fingers Darla tried to double-dip and Dave was upset that some of his toilet seat covers were missing.

Bube's Brewery

It was a dramatic finish to a night of keen competition and chlamydia-infested penguins when the two leading teams, the Denogginators and the Stonecutters, made some crucial crossings-out in the fourth round. That allowed the Tesla Death Rays and TDC to surge ahead and tie for first. Then Beth went down in flames and last week's birthday girl Karen led her team to victory. For the first time we have three teams choosing themes for next week, so the Stonecutters chose fish (of the aquatic variety), the Toxic Olives chose the Dukes of Hazzard (TV show, not the movie) and Cheney's Chapped Chode chose banned substances (they also taught me a new anatomical term, since I had no idea what a "chode" was). Depeche Commode did very well for a two-person team, as did the Chicken Pluckers and the Two Dude Brew Crew. And Joanne "I Love the 80s" Park does not want me to discuss She's My Cherry Pie, Put a Smile on Your Nutsack 10 Miles Wide.

VFW Mystery Solved!

All that asbestos must have gone directly to my brain, since I forgot the answer to one of the pictures in the 60s music picture round. But my brain cleared this morning and I found out that the mystery band was the Hollies! Now we can all sleep better.

It was a night of see-sawing competition, but in the end the newly-renamed Tess Tickles (AKA Room Two) took the prize, followed by Chicks and Dicks and the slimmed down quartet version of We're Here for the Beer. The B52s tied for their traditional 4th place with the Possee. They chose "anatomy" and the Posse chose "80s music" for next week's themes.

We also welcomed some new teams (or at least new names): Naked Flamingos, Little Red Riding Hood, 3 Shots and a Snot and Don't Know Crap to the competition. Team Lame did well until the picture round, which didn't match their age demographic.

The Trashbag featured lots of fudge-covered gifts, and a mouse puppet which caused hours of amusement. No one chose the chocolate chip muffin or the strawberry cheese danish, so I had a great breakfast today.

Also, please note: Starting March 1st, the show at the VFW moves to 7 P.M., so next week will be our last 8 P.M. show. I'll be sending out more reminders when we get closer to the date.

Something was In The Air

It was a night of romance, hearts and flowers. Meanwhile, at Bube's, it was a night of walking toasters and cans of beets as we celebrated Valentine's Day Earth-Trivia-style. All the prizes featured red dye #5, like strawberry moon-pies and ketchup chips. Lisa won the world's biggest Valentine's Day card - of course it didn't have an envelope. Rick lusted after Laura's Bob Hope autobiography. TDC enjoyed their alien cling-ons. Holiday team names included "Hot Lovin'," "Lovers Forever," "Sex Swing," "Cupid Says Rick's Getting Laid," and "The Wise Men, and Yes, Ladies, Two of Them Are Single." The Stone Cutters came in 5th, followed by a tie between the Tesla Death Rays and last week's winners, "Penny Silan and the Claps." (The Rays won the tie-breaker). Topless Monkey Curling in 2010 settled for their third week in second place, and the Lovesick Toxic Olives had their first victory of 2006. Themes for next week are an appropriate pair: '80s music and sexually transmitted diseases.

The Beast Is Gone!

Blogging has been light here of late due to a crisis on the homefront at Hornswylde mansion. It involved the huge asbestos-laden monster in my basement, which is thankfully gone after much effort. Special thanks to Chris Ivey for filling in at the Lititz VFW last week. We're back to what passes for normal this week.


First up, an Extra Special Episode of the Bube's Brewery show, where we will be celebrating Valentine's Day. And what says romance more than this week's themes: Battlestar Galactica and the Koran? (And there will be lots of love, too). There's only one way to find out!

And, this just in: Wednesday night, it's geology and college football.

Riddle Me This

Inquiring minds want to know what the themes for Bube's this week will be. Unfortunately, the fourth place team took off before I could get it from them, so you are at my mercy. And I haven't written the questions yet, so it'll be a complete surprise once you arrive. Bwahahahahahahaha!

Lititz VFW

It was a fun night of nostalgia as we took a trip down memory lane with vintage TV commercials and Heidi Doody's brother Howdy. On the competition front, it's a rare night when the top spot goes to ones of the non-regulars, but that's what happened this week when Team Lame took the crown. They were third in the second, second in the third and first in the fourth (try saying that ten times fast). They beat the Posse, which have slowly been building up steam and the Cunning Linguist, who were going for their third in a row. The B52s wound up in their favorite spot, fourth, along with Room 2. They chose cars and tools as next week's themes.

Is Your Cat Prepared?

You can find out how to make one of these helmets here. (Link courtesy of boingboing.net)

Bube's Brewery

It was a trivia rumble as the rival gangs tested their knowledge of West Side Story and nuts (of the tree kind). It was also the closest finish ever, as seven teams were all within one 5-point question for the lead! In the end, TDC bested The Fool Monkey in a Captain Jack-off for the win, The Bears came from out of nowhere to take third, and the Olives settled once again for fourth. They chose as next week's themes Canada and Wendy's fast food.

Final results:

• 77 points - Team Discovery Channel


• 77 points - The Fool Monkey


• 76 points - Dead Bear Baby In A Jar


• 75 points - The Toxic Olives


• 74 points - The Nutsacks


• 73 points - The Tesla Death Rays


• 72 points - Ubersmack

We also celebrated Bartendin' Bruce's birthday (even though he had to work) and dyed-in-blue-wool-Mets-fan Deric was appalled to pick a "Mets Suck" t-shirt from the Trashbag (coincidence? I think not). Laura, meanwhile, will hoard her Siegfried and Roy t-shirt until the value goes up on eBay.

What If D'Artagnan and Daniel Boone Had Mated?

Here's a pic of me in what is supposed to be a colonial frontier costume. Fifty three naugas had to die to make that coat. It was all part of F&M's celebration of Ben Franklin's 300th birthday, which was a day-long event on campus. I volunteered to marshall (hah!) 50 third and fourth graders around to six different sites around a miniature version of colonial Williamsburg. There were 2,300 kids on campus that day, so there were many logjams. But the kids had a great time (and nothing impresses an 8 year old more than gunpowder explosions).

Litiz VFW

Anybody remember Gail Storm? If you did, you would have done well Wednesday night as we travelled back to the fifties. The We're Here for the Beer farm team, the Cunning Linguist, had a disastrous picture round, but pulled it together on a brutal fourth round to beat Chicks and Dicks by two questions. Room 2 took third and the Posse took fourth, choosing classic TV commercials and Howdy Dowdy as next week's themes. The B52s were leading until the last round, but I'm not allowed to mention that. Instead, John wants me to point out that Sheila can now spanky the monkey at home. (Hey, I just write what I'm told to write). Meanwhile, Dennis and Melanie want more maps in the picture round and Nick wants to, once again, put a curse on me after that last round.

Bube's Brewery

Team ID-IO-TS went back to Callyfornia, so they weren't around to hear their Star Wars questions. Ubersmack's car was broken into at their home, so they couldn't make it. And the Nutsacks were only represented by their right half, so they had an off night. But we all had fun nonetheless. Special thanks to Tim for his gift of a Captain Jack keychain/laser pointer. Visiting author DDD didn't do well, despite the fact that one of the questions was taken directly from his book "50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet" (nice website, btw). But Team Discovery Channel did very well, followed by What Happens In Bubes Stays In Bubes and the Tesla Death Rays. The Toxic Olives took fourth and chose West Side Story and nuts as next week's themes.

Lititz VFW

The high point (low point?) of tonight's action was the tie for third between the B52s and Room Two. It was Sheila and Cindy vs. Clyde and Kim answering questions from a Trivial Pursuit card (and you thought my questions were tough!). It looked like Kim's Australianess would prove key when there was a Down Under question, but the ladies' love of Andy Roddick proved key. Therefore, Room Two got to choose "50s music" and "spelling" as next week's themes. Chicks and Dicks' knowledge of Harry Potter gave them second place. And a newly formed team of seasoned players known as "The Cunning Linguist" took first.

Bube's Brewery

It was the Nutsacks all the way (or technically, it was "And You Will Know That I Am the Lord When I Lay My Nutsack Upon Thee) as they led all four rounds. The Toxic Olives, still on a roll, took second. A new team helped by some visiting Californians known as Team ID-IO-TS tied with the Death Rays for third, but were felled by Captain Jack (who's getting alittle long in the tooth...). So they chose Star Wars and college football for next week's themes, (bolded for Alex's failing eyesight) even though they cannot attend. The Mighty Unicorns Featuring The Ageless Emily left before we could sing to her. Trashbag items included some spoon-straws, seahorse bath buddies and a zebra hat for your computer monitor (at least that's what I think it was.)

Lordy, Lordy, Haggit's 40!

Happy 40th birthday to Craig Haggit, founding member of the Holy Hand Grenades and key player in the Moon Pies and Juggle This! He once laughed while teammate Mat-t was in the middle of a stare-off, causing Mat-t to "falter spectacularly," thus earning him the nickname "Damnthat Haggit." And now, he's halfway to 80!

Lititz VFW

People should have worn their legwarmers and Members Only Jackets, because it was 80s night at the trivia show (much to the chagrin of the visiting Foreplayers). It was also a sports-free night, since I figured most of the sports nuts would be home watching the Texas-USC game. But there was a crowd nonetheless. Room 2 made it two in a row, The Posse made second and the B52s finally arose from their perennial fourth place to take third. In their place was the Chicks and Dicks, who chose Harry Potter and the King of Queens as next weeks themes.

The Gift That Keeps Giving

This was one of the prizes from the Trashbag of Deelite last night, won by the non-Republican Lisa. Imagine my horror this morning when I found him attached to my antenna. That means that poor Dumbo flew down 283 from Mount Joy to my home in Lancaster. (It also means that I'm not very observant)

Next Week's Themes for Bubes

As chosen by Team Discovery Channel: Zodiac signs and Pulp Fiction.

Bube's Brewery

The Penn State bowl game may have kept people away, but it didn't prevent Missy from watching J's tiny TV at the end of the bar (not sure if she stayed for all the overtimes, though). We celebrated the other Missy's birthday (or is the first Missy the other Missy?), along with Lori from a team whose name is unsuitable for publication (let's just say it rhymes with Bus Inspected Bum Troubles). Bill and Marge of the legendary Out of the Vortex team made good on their smack talking, beating TDC and Dead Bear Baby, and placed third. Charles of the Fool Monkey had his boy scout badge removed and placed second. And for the first time in a loooong while, the Toxic Olives took first.

Trashbag prizes included a bag of spinach, the world's worst Swiss Army knife, a punk snowman kit and a stuffed elephant (see above).

Also, I literally ate my words as I consumed that awful question from last week about the first city of the first state. Thanks to everyone who sent me info on that unfortunate question. Let us never speak of that again.

Themes for this week

For Bubes: duets and mollusks.
For the VFW: '80s music and automobiles.

(how's that for no-frills blogging?)

Was Santa good to you?

Lititz VFW Dec. 21st

Special thanks to Tzed (the Z is silent) for taking all of tonight's pix!

Nick and Tom took third place, but gladly traded places with the Posse so that they could pick next week's themes: the Three Stooges and the Simpsons.

Chicks and Dicks celebrated the season by capturing first place.

Tina, Tom, Sheila and Mark say Cheez for the camera before they dig into the night's raffle grand prize.

We're Here for the Beer had a rare off night.

What's that on his head?

Room 2 attempted a three-fer, but had to settle for second.

Janie celebrates the Posse's adoption of Kirk by sporting a new chapeau.

A nice pic of Kathy and Janie.

The two-person D&M team came in fifth and won some sponge creatures.

Bill's team this week went under the name Tirty-Tree and a Turd.

Struggling over the dreaded picture round.

Carmen consults with Cindy and Sheila.

Merry Christmas to all...

and to all a good night!

Bubes Brewery, Dec. 20th

Sometimes I'm at a loss for an appropriate caption.

Ben and Autumn were joined by their secret weapons Jason and the amazing see-through human body and tied for fourth. Next week's themes: Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes.

Nutsacks roasting on an open fire. (ouch!)

Karen thanks Jason for the night's grand prize: a Vermont Teddy Bear (courtesy of one of Jason's exes).

Two of the lesser-known reindeer: Monkey and John-John.

John helped his teammates capture second place before he heads back to Florida.

Don't mess with Dead Bear Baby.

Why Is This Man Smiling?

Meowy Christmas!

Take a break from shopping (assuming you've started, although I know I haven't) and join us this week for our extra-special holiday shows.

Lititz VFW

I don't have my notes with me, so this is from memory: Chix and Dix led the way until a disastrous fourth round. We're Here for the Beer split into two camps, the Dave and Frank group took second and the Steve and Bob camp took fourth (choosing board games and Everybody Loves Raymond as next week's themes). It looked like it Gene was going to be the one-man Posse until Kirk joined him -- and they came in third! And it was Room 2, with former Richmond native Gerry that took the gold.

Bube's Brewery

It was an evening of new friends and returning old ones as we welcomed back Stephen Hawking's Institute of Pop-Locking and Crip Walking and Dead Bear Baby in A Jar and Mike's Grandma's Coat (Jen was sporting the fur coat that they had won at trivia a while back). We also introduced a new mascot, tentatively named Delores Vandersnatch (pic to come). The Nutsacks were so huge that they broke into the left and the right and they won first and second place. Josiah's wife saved the day, giving their side of the sack victory. Tesla came in third and Team Discovery Channel's three week winning streak came to an end as they claimed fourth (Besting a new team, the Peronies by a mere one point). Their picks for next week's themes: Bob Dylan and muscular-skeletal anatomy. And the high (or to some, low) point of the evening was my rousing rendition of C310inch's immortal classic "If I Only Had a Dick."

Ow! My Head!

If holiday stress is getting you down, please feel free to use the above. Better yet, come out to a trivia show. This week's themes: Saved by the Bell and the Book of Genesis (Bubes) and cars and Christmas Carols (VFW).

If I Only Had A...

If the idea of hearing me as a certain golden android singing "If I Only Had a Dick" appeals to you, then come on out tonight (Monday, Dec. 5th) to Harrisburg's Appalachian Brewing Company at 7 P.M. My friend Randy Gross wrote two adult comedies which a group of radio personalities will be performing. It's an old-fashioned staged radio play/reading held upstairs in ABC's Abbey bar. It's a fundraiser for local food banks, which have been depleted by all the disasters this year. Please bring a canned good, too.

Bubes Themes for Next Week...

...are the Austin Powers movies and Christmas Carols, as chosen by the Tesla Death Rays.

Lititz VFW November 30th

Another rollercoaster night, with Chicks and Dicks squeaking by Stevie Nick's biggest fans, We're Here for the Beer. The Posse also squeaked by the terrific twosome of Nix Lix, who chose microbrews and imported beer and the TV show "Cheers" as their themes for next week.

I'll Take Manhattan, Richmond and Staten Island, Too

Gerry was right! The borough of Staten Island was known as the borough of Richmond, up until 1975. (And Iraq was once known as Babylon).