WWTBAM Bored

Minal Shah
Houston, TX
Math teacher
called the "human tip calculator"

Her mom Smita is in the audience


Topic Tree (pre-randomized):
10 Common Figures
9 Prize Television
8 Weather Reports
7 Beastie Beast
6 You Talk Too Much
5 Life Imitates Art
4 Iconic Images
3 Sweet Story
2 Salty Language
1 Nature Walk


Topic Tree: (Randomized)
8 Weather Reports
4 Iconic Images
9 Prize Television
6 You Talk Too Much
3 Sweet Story
10 Common Figures
5 Life Imitates Art
1 Nature Walk
7 Beastie Beast
2 Salty Language



Question 1 - Level 2 Salty Language
If someone tells you that a piece of information should be "taken with a grain of salt," how should you react to it?
A. Optimistically B. Angrily
C. Silently D. Skeptically

Spoiler

Minal expressed the usual fear of going out on the first question

Answer and value

D. Skeptically
Value: $15K
Bank: $15K

Question 2 - Level 7 Beastie Beast
Before it was a Beastie Boys song, what type of monkey was colloquially used to describe extreme temperatures?
A. Chunky monkey B. Spider monkey
C. Brass monkey D. Sock monkey

Spoiler

Minal answered right away, hesitated and thought out loud more, then made it final

Answer and value

C. Brass monkey
Value: $5K
Bank: $20K

Question 3 - Level 1 Nature Walk
A person strolling in an intertidal zone is most likely walking where?
A. Atop a mountain B. In a desert
C. On a beach D. Through a forest

Answer and value

C. On a beach
Value: $7K
Bank: $27K

Question 4 - Level 5 Life Imitates Art
Featured in movies such as "The Hunger Games" and "Brave," what activity has seen a surge in popularity among young girls?
A. Knitting B. Bungee jumping
C. Competitive eating D. Archery

Spoiler

"I think The Hunger Games probably would have been a very different movie if it had been competitive eating"
Her friends convinced her to finally read the book and she saw the movie.

Answer and value

D. Archery
Value: $25K!
Bank: $52K

Question 5 - Level 10 Common Figures
Because they trace their origins to the same person, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all classed as what type of religion?
A. Confucianist B. Abrahamic
C. Jesuit D. Vishnuite

Spoiler

Minal figured it out based on decendents of Abraham

Answer and value

B. Abrahamic
Value: $500
Bank: $52500

Commercial break
Minal had a banana for good luck since she did so at her audition.
Her mom told her to be "really, really" careful and use her lifelines

Question 6 - Level 3 Sweet Story
During Alexander the Great's conquest of India, one of his officers marveled at a reed which makes honey without bees, also known as what?
A. Corn B. Dates
C. Beets D. Sugar cane

JTQ 1

Minal said because of India she should know this one. She said she has it narrowed down to two and was leaning one way but will JTQ

Answer and value

D. Sugar cane
Value: $1000 jumped
Bank: $52500

Question 7 - Level 6 You Talk Too Much
With the average person speaking 16,000 words a day, how many days would it take to speak the entire 560,000 word English version of "War and Peace"?
A. 17 B. 35
C. 52 D. 75

Spoiler

Mere "You are a math whiz" ... Minal "Don't remind me" and said she would not be able to show her face anywhere if she were to get this wrong. She said she "can do this" and then worked out the math.

Answer and value

B. 35
Value: $2000
Bank: $54500

Question 8 - Level 9 Prize Television
Serving as emcee, Neil Patrick Harris welcomed viewers to what awards show, then added, "or, as we like to call it, 'Fifty Shades of Gay'"?
A. Oscars B. Emmys
C. Tonys D. Grammys

Spoiler

Minal said she absolutely loves Neil Patrick Harris (Mere also likes him).

Answer and value

C. Tonys
Value: $10K
Bank: $64500

Question 9- Level 4 Iconic Images
If you don't provide a profile picture, which of these social media websites makes your avatar a graphic of an egg?
A. Facebook B. Twitter
C. Tumblr D. Google+

Spoiler

Minal said Facebook makes you the outline of a person or something. Twitter has birds and stuff, that would make the most sense to have an egg.

Answer and value

B. Twitter
Value: $100
Bank: $64600

Commercial break

Question 10 - Level 8 Weather Reports
Amusingly, the National Meteorologist Hall of Fame is located in what famous small town?
A. Taos, NM B. Punxsutawney, PA
C. Tombstone, AZ D. Aspen, CO

Spoiler

Minal noticed it says "amusingly" so her initial thought would be where the groundhog comes out.
She could not find anything that would be amusing with the other choices.

Answer and value

B. Punxsutawney, PA
Value: known to be $3000
Bank: $67600

Question 11 - $100K
What rock star's first professional recording was as the lead singer on the holiday tune "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas"?
A. David Lee Roth B. Billy Idol
C. Jon Bon Jovi D. Axl Rose

JTQ 2

Minal had ideas but did not know. When shown the answer, she said that was not her guess.
Mere said the holiday album was "Christmas in the Stars" and he was credited with his birth name Jon Bongiovi

Answer

C. Jon Bon Jovi

Commercial break

Flashback
With over 4000 hours of sun a year, what city is thought to be the sunniest place in the U.S.?
A. Galveston, TX B. Yuma, AZ
C. Boise, ID D. Jacksonville, FL

Flashback Answer

B. Yuma, AZ

Bank remains $67600

Mere and Minal discussed being nervous. Mere said the audience is just as nervous as they are the remaining lifeline.

Question 12 - $250K
A grunt often uttered by Homer Simpson, "Doh" is also the name given to what cosmic object?
A. A comet in Andromeda B. A star in Orion
C. One of Saturn's rings D. A crater on a moon of Jupiter

ATA

Minal did not hint an answer, only saying she does not know this one
A. 14% B. 24% C. 25% D. 37%

Mere said Minal could walk with the $67K, go for $250K, or risk dropping to $25K.
Minal said although she is sure that 37% of the audience totally knew this, she thinks she is really happy with her 64,000 (she said that, it is actually $67600) and would walk.

Answer

D. A crater on a moon of Jupiter

Bank: $67600... walk

Time is up, no carryover

Question 7 - Level 6 You Talk Too Much
With the average person speaking 16,000 words a day, how many days would it take to speak the entire 560,000 word English version of "War and Peace"?
A. 17 B. 35
C. 52 D. 75

Spoiler

Mere "You are a math whiz" ... Minal "Don't remind me" and said she would not be able to show her face anywhere if she were to get this wrong. She said she "can do this" and then worked out the math.

Answer and value

B. 35
Value: $2000
Bank: $54500

Lessee -- 4 X 16 = 64, so 40's too much. 3 X 16 = 48, so 30's too little. 35, final answer.

Question 9- Level 4 Iconic Images
If you don't provide a profile picture, which of these social media websites makes your avatar a graphic of an egg?
A. Facebook B. Twitter
C. Tumblr D. Google+

Spoiler

Minal said Facebook makes you the outline of a person or something. Twitter has birds and stuff, that would make the most sense to have an egg.

Answer and value

B. Twitter
Value: $100
Bank: $64600

ATA.

Question 11 - $100K
What rock star's first professional recording was as the lead singer on the holiday tune "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas"?
A. David Lee Roth B. Billy Idol
C. Jon Bon Jovi D. Axl Rose

JTQ 2

Minal had ideas but did not know. When shown the answer, she said that was not her guess.
Mere said the holiday album was "Christmas in the Stars" and he was credited with his birth name Jon Bongiovi

Answer

C. Jon Bon Jovi

JTQ 1

Question 12 - $250K
A grunt often uttered by Homer Simpson, "Doh" is also the name given to what cosmic object?
A. A comet in Andromeda B. A star in Orion
C. One of Saturn's rings D. A crater on a moon of Jupiter

ATA

Minal did not hint an answer, only saying she does not know this one
A. 14% B. 24% C. 25% D. 37%

Mere said Minal could walk with the $67K, go for $250K, or risk dropping to $25K.
Minal said although she is sure that 37% of the audience totally knew this, she thinks she is really happy with her 64,000 (she said that, it is actually $67600) and would walk.

Answer

D. A crater on a moon of Jupiter

JTQ 2

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Minal Shah
Houston, TX
Math teacher
called the "human tip calculator"

Her mom Smita is in the audience

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Question 6 - Level 3 Sweet Story
During Alexander the Great's conquest of India, one of his officers marveled at a reed which makes honey without bees, also known as what?
A. Corn B. Dates
C. Beets D. Sugar cane

JTQ 1

Minal said because of India she should know this one. She said she has it narrowed down to two and was leaning one way but will JTQ

Answer and value

D. Sugar cane
Value: $1000 jumped
Bank: $52500

A beet isn't a reed, nor is a date. Corn is native to North America, so that only leaves D.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Question 11 - $100K
What rock star's first professional recording was as the lead singer on the holiday tune "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas"?
A. David Lee Roth B. Billy Idol
C. Jon Bon Jovi D. Axl Rose

JTQ 2

Minal had ideas but did not know. When shown the answer, she said that was not her guess.
Mere said the holiday album was "Christmas in the Stars" and he was credited with his birth name Jon Bongiovi

Answer

C. Jon Bon Jovi

No idea. I don't know if the audience does, either, so I'll JTQ.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Question 12 - $250K
A grunt often uttered by Homer Simpson, "Doh" is also the name given to what cosmic object?
A. A comet in Andromeda B. A star in Orion
C. One of Saturn's rings D. A crater on a moon of Jupiter

ATA

Minal did not hint an answer, only saying she does not know this one
A. 14% B. 24% C. 25% D. 37%

Mere said Minal could walk with the $67K, go for $250K, or risk dropping to $25K.
Minal said although she is sure that 37% of the audience totally knew this, she thinks she is really happy with her 64,000 (she said that, it is actually $67600) and would walk.

Answer

D. A crater on a moon of Jupiter

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This would have been a gimme question for me. I'd have a JTQ and ATA remaining to get me to the $1M question.

Wow! If ever there was a WWOQ-stack intended for a big, sweeps week win, this was it! Any answer I didn't know had nicely obvious answers.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote: Question 11 - $100K
What rock star's first professional recording was as the lead singer on the holiday tune "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas"?
A. David Lee Roth B. Billy Idol
C. Jon Bon Jovi D. Axl Rose

JTQ 2

Minal had ideas but did not know. When shown the answer, she said that was not her guess.
Mere said the holiday album was "Christmas in the Stars" and he was credited with his birth name Jon Bongiovi

Answer

C. Jon Bon Jovi

No clue for the defender of the LS cellar here. ATA first, then probably JTQ.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Question 12 - $250K
A grunt often uttered by Homer Simpson, "Doh" is also the name given to what cosmic object?
A. A comet in Andromeda B. A star in Orion
C. One of Saturn's rings D. A crater on a moon of Jupiter

ATA

Minal did not hint an answer, only saying she does not know this one
A. 14% B. 24% C. 25% D. 37%

Mere said Minal could walk with the $67K, go for $250K, or risk dropping to $25K.
Minal said although she is sure that 37% of the audience totally knew this, she thinks she is really happy with her 64,000 (she said that, it is actually $67600) and would walk.

Answer

D. A crater on a moon of Jupiter

Bank: $67600... walk

Time is up, no carryover

Here the question writers have gone for WWOQ obscurity, but from the comfort of my sofa, it looked solvable. Comet don't stay in one constellation (and are typically named after their discoverers) so unless the writers made a serious blunder, this one's out. Stars typically have Greek, Roman or Arabic names and "Doh" doesn't sound like one of those. Saturn's rings, IIRC, are labelled A, B, C, etc. Minor planetary features, however, which typically can only be seen by space probes, are named by scientists who have much more latitude in how they name them. One of those scientists might have given a little tribute to the Simpsons, I guessed, final answer.

Here's a NASA page showing Doh crater, although it's hard for me to pick out, inside the larger Asgard crater. The Galileo Orbiter took the photo in 1996.

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01648

Here's another link that disproves my Simpsons tribute theory.

http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1563

The crater's name Doh is really from a Siberian myth:

Ketian shaman who created the earth.

But enough about my reasoning, what about math teacher Minal's decision. She may be able to calculate tips, but what about slightly more difficult math problems like expected value?

She walked with $67,600. Expected value, even taking a completely random guess, would have been $81,250 (with a one in four chance of continuing). Better odds than that, she'll never see again.