The Wednesday Quiz

The Wednesday Quiz

Rules and Such

Timing

Q: When does the Wednesday Quiz happen?

A: Almost every Wednesday, with occasional weeks off between Seasons (see below).

The Quiz will generally be posted sometime between 11 p.m. Tuesday night and 1:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, Pacific Time. The answers will be posted in the comments sometime after noon on Thursday. The Quiz is “live” from when it is posted until the answers come out, regardless of whether it is technically “Wednesday” when and where you answer.

Q: What is a Quiz Season?

A: Twelve Quizzes given over a three-month period.

Rules

Q: Can I look answers up?
A: Hell no.

It is strictly forbidden to check any online or offline reference, to consult a spouse, child, coworker, or any other human being, or in any other way to educate yourself on the subject at hand. To avoid accidentally seeing other people’s answers, I suggest writing your answers on scratch paper before opening the comments window.

Q: How does the scoring work?

Individual Quizzes: The person with the largest number of correct answers wins the Quiz for that week. If there is tie, then there are co-winners.

Seasons: Each Quiz is worth 100 points toward seasonal scoring. In ten-question Quizzes, each question is worth 10 points; in eight-question Quizzes, each question is worth 12.5 points, etc. Each contestant’s best eight (out of the possible twelve) scores will count toward their score for the season.

If there is a tie, the best nine scores will count; if there is a further tie, the best ten scores will count, etc. If there’s still a tie considering all twelve scores, then it’s just a tie.

Q: Why only the best eight scores?
You go on vacation, you are busy that Wednesday, you forgot until after the answers were posted, your kid got sick, etc. Most people will miss a few days. The best-of-eight rule keeps the contest from just being a roll call.

Q: Why does even scoring matter?
The top three winners for each season will win fabulous prizes.

Fabulous Prizes!!!

Q: Prizes? Really?
A: The first place winner will get the first pick of the following selection of fabulous items, the second place winner will get second pick, and the third place winner third pick.

1: Half-credit toward a custom-made crib, child's, or lap quilt by michael5000. This quilt will be handmade from scrap, salvage, and recycled materials; you will select from a broad menu of sizes, color, and pattern choices. HOWEVER: This prize is only HALF credit -- and you will have to win another half-credit in a future season of the Wednesday Quiz in order to claim your prize!

2: A set of four (4) Fabric Blocks, lovingly handmade by michael5000. Or, a set of two (2) such blocks custom made to your personal color, size, and/or thematic specifications!

3: A $20 Gift Certificate to the City of Roses’ own Powell’s Books, usable either at actual Powell’s locations or online at Powells.com!

4: Either a $20 Gift Card to corporate coffee juggernaut Starbucks, or a $30 Gift Card to the Sound Grounds coffeeshop in Portland, Oregon, where much of the content for the Life and Times of Michael5000 is written!

5: Sponsorship of a year's membership at chess.com, where you can play against Michael5000 on a regular basis! Or not!

6: A batch of Michael5000’s signature oatmeal-almond-chocolate chip cookies, mailed straight to your home!

7: A boring postcard every week, for six weeks, mailed to your home from Michael5000!

Details

Q: But my second guess was right!
A: If a contestant provides more than one answer, or more than one answer-like statement, and does not clearly indicate which one is their REAL answer, the first one is the one that counts.

Examples: “That could be either Mozart or Haydn” = Mozart.

“Cincinnati? Cleveland?” = Cincinnati.

But: “Photosynthesis. NO! Parthenogenesis!” = Parthenogenesis; the punctuation makes the intended answer clear.

Q: There is a problem with a quiz question!
A: Oops. If it’s caught right away, I’ll fix it. If other people have already stumbled over it, I’ll throw out the question and possibly a few others as needed to make the scoring system work.

Q: You made an error in scoring, such that I did not receive the award I deserved!
A: You have until the next Wednesday Quiz is posted to state your grievance. This should be done in a flamboyant and witty fashion. The review committee must see decisive evidence in order to overturn the original judgment.

Personal Baggage

Q: Why are you doing this?
A: It’s required by the mission statement.

Q: I don’t like quizzes.
A: O.K.

Q: I like quizzes, but I don’t like to submit my answers.
A: O.K.

Q: I think this week’s quiz was too hard/easy!
A: Yeah, that can be tough to get right. If you think it’s too easy, rejoice in your win and be cool about it. Not everyone shares your body of knowledge, and if they’re struggling they don’t want to hear that every ten-year-old knows this stuff.

Q: This quiz makes me feel stupid.
A: It shouldn’t. You didn’t know in advance what the Quiz would be on. I’ve deliberately tried to make it tough enough so that even someone fairly knowledgeable about the subject will be challenged. The topics are fairly old-school. Nobody else thinks you’re stupid. Speaking just for myself, I think you’re pretty brilliant.

Hall of Fame

The Season One Top Five

1. DrSchnell -- 763.33

2. la gringissima -- 759.16

3. Mrs.5000 -- 710.84

4. Cartophiliac -- 628.33

5. Elaine -- 615