The Games that Were, the Games that Will Be, Again

I: The Games That Were: the Quiz

Oh, my gentle readers. They skip quizzes on obscure presidents and Shakespeare plays because they are "too easy," they pile up perfect scores on never-discussed African countries, and they wouldn't know a Stephen King bestseller if it tore into their entrails like a huge, primordial, unaccountably savage dog-beast.

I don't think any of the week's winners expected victory. But despite herself, last week's winner Karin successfully defended her title for the gold. Quiz perennial Rex Parker took the silver, his second, and newcomer Mark Witteman matched his score early Friday morning for the blue. Kudos to them, and to everyone who gave it the ol' college try.


II: The Games That Were: (Not Such a) Tough Week for Michael5000

I didn't get that job I was all excited about it. Didn't even make the second interview cut, in fact. But in the meantime, things are looking up at the existing job, so it's all good.

Plus I nailed Mr. Shain's impromptu quiz, and he actually had a real prize on offer, unlike some cheap-ass quizzes I could name.

III: The Games that Will Be: The Monday Quiz?

I've got it! I've got it! And I owe it all to the [Cherry] Ride!

[Cherry] had this to say about the Thursday Quiz:

This game would be much more fun if it wasn't 12 questions. Can't we narrow it
down to, say, five?

The answer of course is no, no we can't. The Thursday Quiz is timeless and eternal. However, there is no reason that the Monday quiz couldn't be narrowed down to, say, five. So, [Cherry], here's your long-distance dedication: The Monday Quiz starts October 1, a relaxed earlier-in-the-week and shorter version of the Thursday Quiz.

Meanwhile, if you're got some spare creative energy on tap, I've got a practical "Name That Quilt" contest going over at State of the Craft.

IV: The Games That Will Be: And may I just point out that I have not been wrong yet this year?

1. #11 Oregon is favored by the betting community by five points over the visiting #6 Cal Bears, due to that team's inconsistency on the road and to the cheerfully hostile environment of Autzen Stadium. And friends, I can not tell you how much I will be hoping to see our beloved Ducks prevail. L&TM5K readers, however, have come to expect the unvarnished analysis of my head, not the yearnings of my heart, and so I am obligated to forecast: #6 California 45, #11 Oregon 42. Oregon will dominate three of the quarters, but give the game away in one of them.

2. However, chronically inconsistant Oregon State will make me feel better by bringing home their first major victory at their newly tarted-up home stadium: Oregon State 33, UCLA 27.

3. #4 Oklahoma takes on my in-laws' team on the road. I frankly expect the Sooners to pound them into the dirt. Oklahoma 53, Colorado 17.


Coming soon: Another Concert Rundown, some lists, another goofy photo thing, the world debut Monday Quiz... Exciting times here at L&TM5K. And stay tuned this weekend for a VERY EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT. Really.