Dear Friends of the Pub Quiz,
On July 10 I attended the commemoration and launch of a new universally accessible play area at the north end of Central Park. The event was hosted by city councilmember Rochelle Swanson, and supported by other city dignitaries such as Davis School Board member and onetime Pub Quiz champion Gina Daleiden, and former competing quizmaster Will Arnold, a field representative for Senator Lois Wolk, and longtime supporter of Summer House, the nonprofit that supports Yolo County adults with developmental disabilities. I was really touched by the words of the community activists and government officials who inspired and oversaw the construction of this new playground at our first civic park, and not only because I knew that my family would immediately benefit.
As the parent of a son with special needs, I really appreciate the convivial feeling of inclusion that I and other such parents felt when entering this welcoming gated community of exploration and fun. The “Sway Fun” seesaw, for example, features a small table, long seating areas for groups of friends, and room for a wheelchair or two. Even more fun for us, a sizeable adult such as myself can make the entire apparatus sway vigorously back and forth while those seated enjoy the ride. “This reminds me of Disneyland,” my son Truman exclaimed generously, recognizing that the city has become a lot more fun, safe, and inclusive for all the children of Davis.
While Truman most appreciates the working water pump that allows him to fill the concrete sluice and thus send water down to the sand pit, my son Jukie loves the swings and the oddly-shaped balance bar, a mostly vertical structure that invites climbing and lounging, as well as spinning. The built-in xylophone, suspended climbing islands, and edgeless “omnispinner” will all reward the curiosity of eager children. When Jukie cooled down on a hot day by lying down in the sluice that other kids had just filled with water, he reminded us that kids with special needs will often find unexpected ways to take advantage a public play-spot. One need no longer visit Napa to enjoy some water spa time!
I went on a different sort of adventure yesterday, visiting The Academy of Sciences, which evidently is the top ticketed attraction in San Francisco. I could see why, with the four-story self-contained Amazon rainforest (with butterflies and tropical birds flying about), the dynamic earthquake simulation, and the exhibition of just about every imaginable bird and animal skull available for close inspection. Traveling with a party of seven, I splurged on the family membership, which will work out financially only if we return at least once more in the next calendar year. So expect at least one Pub Quiz question about what I learned at the Academy yesterday, and a few more after my next visit with Jukie. I will give you many future reasons to yell out the de Vere’s greeting of “Science!”
I practiced several questions on 16 year-old Geneva and her cousin this morning, and they did quite well, so we may have a high-scoring quiz this evening. I hope that compels you to join us. Tonight will feature questions about actors, precious stones, the optimism that comes from change, conspicuous consumption, South Africa, people named after staves, Ireland, African countries, sustainers, luck, Ryan Seacrest, what Moses supposes, pianists, birds, first basemen, arguably our greatest Americans, risk, time travel, mammals, people who (unlike your Quizmaster) who are inaccurate from time to time, oppressors and the oppressed, forests, seahorses, heroes who are not superheroes, famous Sacramentans, hungry insects, and Shakespeare.
I hope to see you soon at the newest playground in Davis, and tonight for the de Vere’s Irish Pub Pub Quiz!
Your Quizmaster
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Here are five questions from last week’s quiz:
- Mathematics. I remember that once my daughter Geneva took an algebra test with twenty questions worth 100 points. The test consisted of True/False questions worth 3 points each and short answer questions worth 11 points each. How many short answer questions were on the test?
- Newspaper Headlines. October of this year will mark the release of Pink Floyd’s new album The Endless River. This will be the British rock group’s first album in how many years? Is it 10, 20, 30, or 40?
- Blameworthy Habits of Bill Clinton. According to Bill Clinton, all of his poor decisions can be blamed on what? Hint: the correct answer is an anagram fro the common phrase A RELIEVED TOPSPIN.
- Pop Culture – Music. Opening August 1, the film Get On Up chronicles an American musician’s rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history. What musician is the subject of this film?
- Sports. Coors Field is the home stadium of what MLB baseball team?
P.S. This coming Thursday night at 8 Eve West Bessier, our current Poet Laureate, will be unveiling a new project titled Poet Tree, featuring videos of some of the most prominent poets of Davis reading and reciting a representative poem. The selection committee even included me reading one of my poems “The Time of the Rubber Duck.” I hope you can join us Thursday night at the John Natsoulas Gallery. The Open Mic starts at 9, and the after-party at 10 at our own beloved de Vere’s Irish Pub in Davis.
The Edgeless Omnispinner