Reading in 2011 was something that should have been reflected upon at the end of December (ahem...thanks, Bethany, for the lack of public flogging. :) )
Instead, I'll do a bit of it now instead because it was a fun conversation starter for my HRM class last Monday.
Just like Bethany's co-workers reaction to her reading habits, I tend to use the number of books I've read or pages or something like that for my ice breaker in groups. Only those that have been through that activity aren't surprised.
In the HRM class, we had to share one characteristic about ourselves and write in on our name plate. I drew a book and wrote "87; 35,294". Note the proper semicolon usage. We are, after all, Word Nerds with a passion for grammar.
(Any rules not followed were broken with cause. That should be a standard disclaimer here.)
Where was I? Oh, yes, numbers and books.
So one of my group members is suitable impressed while another says, "Oh, no, it gets crazier. Go on, show her."
What he meant was show her the Excel tracking spreadsheet that I use. It has loads of fun facts to those of us who like books. I track pages, titles, author, series name, and category. I've thought about tracking book format too, but haven't quite committed to it yet. What I'd really like to do is create an Access database so I can really get creative with my metrics.
And somewhere in the middle of that paragraph, non-readers stared to have glazed over eyes.
Same with my audience.
In truth, I'm passionate about reading. I like to collect things like number of pages, book titles, authors and series. I like to make up measurements so I can boast that I've read 1,139 titles in the last 11 years, and one month. I love finding people who feel the same way about books.
Or, at minimum, those that will tolerate my passion for it during ice breakers.
2011: 87 books; 35,294 titles, 61 books inside a series; 48 different authors; 409 pages per book (slightly longer than the average mass market paper back, the short one, not the one with the trade paper back height).
In all, a good reading year.
Showing posts with label Trivia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trivia. Show all posts
10 February 2012
19 September 2011
The (Netflix) Apology that Wasn't
If I'm not reading as a way to decompress after work, I'm watching a DVD, most often from Netflix. (Sorry, library, yours are often too scratched up!)
A few months back, you may recall that Netflix hiked their prices for their combination DVDs-in-the-mail and unlimited streaming plan. This was exactly what I used, liking that I could get a DVD in the mail and then stream something else on my iPad while I was waiting for the next disc in the mail. So, grumbling, I accepted the price hike.
Then, this morning, while listening to NPR over breakfast, I heard them reference a story about how the Netflix CEO sent an apology email to subscribers. I checked my email and yep, there it was. If you missed the story or the email, here's a good recap.
Except, I don't really feel any regret. I'm more frustrated now as a customer than I was. Why?
Because now, not only is what I use costing more money, it's going to be less convenient as Netflix is moving its by-mail DVDs to a new company called Qwikster. So, now, instead of being able to manage my streaming queue and my DVD queue in the same place, I'll have to go to two sites. My time is limited. Maybe it'll only take an extra minute to handle the other site, but it's the principal -- they've just made it take an extra step for me as a customer.
Did Netflix need to do something to handle the bad PR and loss of customers the price hike generated? Yes, absolutely.
But this apology wasn't it. I'm not feeling forgiving, just more frustrated
A few months back, you may recall that Netflix hiked their prices for their combination DVDs-in-the-mail and unlimited streaming plan. This was exactly what I used, liking that I could get a DVD in the mail and then stream something else on my iPad while I was waiting for the next disc in the mail. So, grumbling, I accepted the price hike.
Then, this morning, while listening to NPR over breakfast, I heard them reference a story about how the Netflix CEO sent an apology email to subscribers. I checked my email and yep, there it was. If you missed the story or the email, here's a good recap.
Except, I don't really feel any regret. I'm more frustrated now as a customer than I was. Why?
Because now, not only is what I use costing more money, it's going to be less convenient as Netflix is moving its by-mail DVDs to a new company called Qwikster. So, now, instead of being able to manage my streaming queue and my DVD queue in the same place, I'll have to go to two sites. My time is limited. Maybe it'll only take an extra minute to handle the other site, but it's the principal -- they've just made it take an extra step for me as a customer.
Did Netflix need to do something to handle the bad PR and loss of customers the price hike generated? Yes, absolutely.
But this apology wasn't it. I'm not feeling forgiving, just more frustrated
01 April 2011
What does your TBR look like?
What does your To Be Read list look like? Is it a stack of books? A electronic list in Excel, Word or on Amazon's Wish List? Is it three or four titles deep? 50? 100?
My TBR is self maintaining. Three or four titles come off, four or five go back on. Occasionally, I even tackle a big enough chunk that I make a dent.
Some of my TBR is in an Excel list; same place I keep my reading list. Some of it is on my bookshelf (shh, don't tell my husband. He thinks I've read all of those.) The rest of it is in pictures on my phone. I find it much easier to snap a picture of the cover for future reference. It usually hovers between 50 and 100 titles.
I've tried just tackling the TBR and wrestling it down to zero, but it is impossible to get there. Too many good books are published each year, to say nothing about those published last year or earlier.
So dish. What does your TBR look like?
(No, this isn't an April fool's post. Everything above is true.)
My TBR is self maintaining. Three or four titles come off, four or five go back on. Occasionally, I even tackle a big enough chunk that I make a dent.
Some of my TBR is in an Excel list; same place I keep my reading list. Some of it is on my bookshelf (shh, don't tell my husband. He thinks I've read all of those.) The rest of it is in pictures on my phone. I find it much easier to snap a picture of the cover for future reference. It usually hovers between 50 and 100 titles.
I've tried just tackling the TBR and wrestling it down to zero, but it is impossible to get there. Too many good books are published each year, to say nothing about those published last year or earlier.
So dish. What does your TBR look like?
(No, this isn't an April fool's post. Everything above is true.)
16 September 2009
Characters I Wish I Could Meet
Word Nerd is borrowing this post idea from her writing buddy, Stacie, over at Stacie's Lists.
1. Gandalf, from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
2. Joanne Baldwin, from Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series
3. Halloween, from Nick Sagan's Idlewild trilogy
4. Bren Cameron, from C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series
5. Vlad Taltos, Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series
Who would you want to meet?
1. Gandalf, from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
2. Joanne Baldwin, from Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series
3. Halloween, from Nick Sagan's Idlewild trilogy
4. Bren Cameron, from C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series
5. Vlad Taltos, Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series
Who would you want to meet?
25 June 2007
Book Banter Trivia -- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
All right, find those Remembralls and take a shot at this quiz on events in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Drop a comment in the post if you want answers.
Who is Sirius Black not related to, either by blood or by marriage?
a. Bellatrix Lestrange
b. Narcissa Malfoy
c. Molly Weasley
d. Mundungus Fletcher
What do Harry, Ron and the others have to get rid of in the curtains of House Black?
a. pixies
b. doxies
c. gnomes
d. flobberworms
When Filch catches Harry and Cho in the Owlery what does he accuse Harry of ordering?
a. dungbombs
b. canary creams
c. skiving snackboxes
d. extendable ears
What does O.W.L stand for?
a. Outstanding Wizard Luck
b. Ordinary Wizarding Levels
c. Ornery Witching Level
d. Odious Wizarding Learning
Who is the new captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team?
a. Katie Bell
b. George Weasley
c. Fred Weasley
d. Angelina Johnson
What allows a person to see thestrals?
a. turning 15
b. the ability to produce a Patronus
c. having an invisibility cloak
d. having seen death
When Harry goes into Snape’s memory, what exam had the students in the memory just finished?
a. Potions
b. Transfiguration
c. Defense Against the Dark Arts
d. Divination
What was the password into the Gryffindor Tower this year?
a. scurvy cur
b. mimbulus mimbletonia
c. fizzing whizbee
d. mischief managed
Who do Ron, Harry and Hermoine not run into at St. Mungo’s Hospital?
a. Broderick Bode
b. Gilderoy Lockhart
c. Alice Longbottom
d. Professor McGonagall
Which death eater refused to believe that Harry had broken the prophecy?
a. Antonin Dolohov
b. Walden MacNair
c. Rabastan Lestrange
d. Bellatrix Lestrange
Drop a comment in the post if you want answers.
Who is Sirius Black not related to, either by blood or by marriage?
a. Bellatrix Lestrange
b. Narcissa Malfoy
c. Molly Weasley
d. Mundungus Fletcher
What do Harry, Ron and the others have to get rid of in the curtains of House Black?
a. pixies
b. doxies
c. gnomes
d. flobberworms
When Filch catches Harry and Cho in the Owlery what does he accuse Harry of ordering?
a. dungbombs
b. canary creams
c. skiving snackboxes
d. extendable ears
What does O.W.L stand for?
a. Outstanding Wizard Luck
b. Ordinary Wizarding Levels
c. Ornery Witching Level
d. Odious Wizarding Learning
Who is the new captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team?
a. Katie Bell
b. George Weasley
c. Fred Weasley
d. Angelina Johnson
What allows a person to see thestrals?
a. turning 15
b. the ability to produce a Patronus
c. having an invisibility cloak
d. having seen death
When Harry goes into Snape’s memory, what exam had the students in the memory just finished?
a. Potions
b. Transfiguration
c. Defense Against the Dark Arts
d. Divination
What was the password into the Gryffindor Tower this year?
a. scurvy cur
b. mimbulus mimbletonia
c. fizzing whizbee
d. mischief managed
Who do Ron, Harry and Hermoine not run into at St. Mungo’s Hospital?
a. Broderick Bode
b. Gilderoy Lockhart
c. Alice Longbottom
d. Professor McGonagall
Which death eater refused to believe that Harry had broken the prophecy?
a. Antonin Dolohov
b. Walden MacNair
c. Rabastan Lestrange
d. Bellatrix Lestrange
14 June 2007
Book Banter Trivia -- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
As with the other HarryPotter books, Word Nerd is providing a little quiz of your knowledge of the books instead of writing a regular Book Banter review. If you would like to check your answers, post a comment to that effect and Word Nerd will get let you know.
What does Ron cut off from his dress robes?
a. buttons
b. lace
c. ribbons
d. medals
Where does Rita Skeeter conduct her first interview with Harry?
a. in the Great Hall
b. in the Trophy Room
c. in a broom closet
d. in the Three Broomsticks
Which champion picked first when deciding what they would face in the first task?
a. Cedric
b. Harry
c. Viktor
d. Fleur
What beverage does Madame Maxine say the Beauxbatons horses drink?
a. Water
b. Single-malt whiskey
c. Pumpkin juice
d. Red current rum
In a painting, what fruit must be tickled in order to reveal the door to the Hogwarts’ kitchens?
a. a pear
b. a banana
c. an orange
d. a peach
Who scares Mrs. Weasley in the hospital ward?
a. Severus Snape
b. Cornelius Fudge
c. Sirius Black
d. Barty Crouch
Dumbledore mentions he stumbles on a room that he’s never seen before. What’s in the room?
a. chamber pots
b. house elves
c. the Pensieve
d. thick woolen socks
Who stuffs the real Alastor Moody into his trunk?
a. Barty Crouch
b. Barty Crouch Jr.
c. Ludo Bagman
d. Igor Karkaroff
Which one of these is not one of the Unforgivable Curses?
a. Avada Kedavra
b. Crucio
c. Imperio
d. Accio
Which of these creatures does Harry help Cedric fight off right before reaching the Tri-Wizard Cup?
a. A giant spider
b. A sphinx
c. A blast-ended skrewt
d. A grindylow
What does Ron cut off from his dress robes?
a. buttons
b. lace
c. ribbons
d. medals
Where does Rita Skeeter conduct her first interview with Harry?
a. in the Great Hall
b. in the Trophy Room
c. in a broom closet
d. in the Three Broomsticks
Which champion picked first when deciding what they would face in the first task?
a. Cedric
b. Harry
c. Viktor
d. Fleur
What beverage does Madame Maxine say the Beauxbatons horses drink?
a. Water
b. Single-malt whiskey
c. Pumpkin juice
d. Red current rum
In a painting, what fruit must be tickled in order to reveal the door to the Hogwarts’ kitchens?
a. a pear
b. a banana
c. an orange
d. a peach
Who scares Mrs. Weasley in the hospital ward?
a. Severus Snape
b. Cornelius Fudge
c. Sirius Black
d. Barty Crouch
Dumbledore mentions he stumbles on a room that he’s never seen before. What’s in the room?
a. chamber pots
b. house elves
c. the Pensieve
d. thick woolen socks
Who stuffs the real Alastor Moody into his trunk?
a. Barty Crouch
b. Barty Crouch Jr.
c. Ludo Bagman
d. Igor Karkaroff
Which one of these is not one of the Unforgivable Curses?
a. Avada Kedavra
b. Crucio
c. Imperio
d. Accio
Which of these creatures does Harry help Cedric fight off right before reaching the Tri-Wizard Cup?
a. A giant spider
b. A sphinx
c. A blast-ended skrewt
d. A grindylow
07 June 2007
Book Banter/Trivia -- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
1. Who helps Harry write his summer homework essays?
a. Mr. Ollivander
b. Cornelius Fudge
c. Florian Fortescue
d. Madame Malkin
2. What name does Harry give when he’s picked up by the Knight Bus?
a. Ron Weasley
b. Dudley Dursley
c. Dean Thomas
d. Neville Longbottom
3. Harry didn’t get to face the boggart in Professor Lupin’s class. Which other student didn’t get to try?
a. Ron Weasley
b. Parvati Patil
c. Neville Longbottom
d. Hermione Granger
4. Who helps Harry, Ron and Hermione find their way to their first Divination class?
a. The Bloody Baron
b. The Fat Lady
c. Sir Cadogan
d. Mr. Filch
5. How were the students able to open their books for Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures class?
a. Riffling the pages
b. Stroking the spine
c. Singing to it
d. Bowing to it
6. What two creatures do the students work with in Hagrid’s class?
a. Hippogriffs and flobberworms
b. Griffins and grindylows
c. Hinkypucks and hippogriffs
d. Red caps and flobberworms
7. What lesson did Hermione accidentally miss?
a. Transforming turtles to teapots
b. Making shrinking solutions
c. Cheering charms
d. History of witch burning
8. In Gryffindor’s Quidditch match against Slytherin, how many points does Oliver Wood tell Harry they must be up before Harry should catch the Golden Snitch?
a. 50 points
b. 100 points
c. 150 points
d. 200 points
9. Who was Padfoot?
a. Peter Pettigrew
b. Remus Lupin
c. Severus Snape
d. Sirius Black
10. What does Ron get at the end of the book to replace Scabbers?
a. a new rat
b. a cat
c. an small owl
d. a toad
*If you want answers, drop a comment to this post including your email and Word Nerd will send them along. Blogger's currently making doing a separate post of answers complicated....
a. Mr. Ollivander
b. Cornelius Fudge
c. Florian Fortescue
d. Madame Malkin
2. What name does Harry give when he’s picked up by the Knight Bus?
a. Ron Weasley
b. Dudley Dursley
c. Dean Thomas
d. Neville Longbottom
3. Harry didn’t get to face the boggart in Professor Lupin’s class. Which other student didn’t get to try?
a. Ron Weasley
b. Parvati Patil
c. Neville Longbottom
d. Hermione Granger
4. Who helps Harry, Ron and Hermione find their way to their first Divination class?
a. The Bloody Baron
b. The Fat Lady
c. Sir Cadogan
d. Mr. Filch
5. How were the students able to open their books for Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures class?
a. Riffling the pages
b. Stroking the spine
c. Singing to it
d. Bowing to it
6. What two creatures do the students work with in Hagrid’s class?
a. Hippogriffs and flobberworms
b. Griffins and grindylows
c. Hinkypucks and hippogriffs
d. Red caps and flobberworms
7. What lesson did Hermione accidentally miss?
a. Transforming turtles to teapots
b. Making shrinking solutions
c. Cheering charms
d. History of witch burning
8. In Gryffindor’s Quidditch match against Slytherin, how many points does Oliver Wood tell Harry they must be up before Harry should catch the Golden Snitch?
a. 50 points
b. 100 points
c. 150 points
d. 200 points
9. Who was Padfoot?
a. Peter Pettigrew
b. Remus Lupin
c. Severus Snape
d. Sirius Black
10. What does Ron get at the end of the book to replace Scabbers?
a. a new rat
b. a cat
c. an small owl
d. a toad
*If you want answers, drop a comment to this post including your email and Word Nerd will send them along. Blogger's currently making doing a separate post of answers complicated....
08 May 2007
Book Banter Quiz -- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Again, Word Nerd's doing a quiz about the Harry Potter book she just read instead of writing a review.
Answers are available here.
Harry, Ron and Hermoine attend the death day party of which Hogwarts’ ghost?
a. Peeves
b. The Bloody Baron
c. Professor Binns
d. Nearly Headless Nick
When Ron and Harry arrive at the Hogwarts, the flying car crashes into…?
a. the Whomping Willow
b. the lake
c. the forbidden forest
d. Hagrid’s cabin
What do the students wear in Herbology class while repotting mandrakes?
a. thick socks
b. earmuffs
c. hats
d. sunglasses
What is the title of Gilderoy Lockhart’s autobiography?
a. Wonderful Wizard
b. Magical Me
c. Travels with Trolls
d. Gadding with Ghouls
Where did Harry, Ron and Hermoine first meet Lockhart?
a. Quality Quidditch Supplies
b. Flourish and Blotts
c. The Leaky Cauldron
d. Ollivander’s
What part of Fawkes the Phoenix has healing properties?
a. his beak
b. his feathers
c. his tears
d. his ashes
Who gives Harry and Ron the clue to “follow the spiders?”
a. Hagrid
b. Dumbledore
c. Cornelius Fudge
d. Moaning Myrtle
When Harry and Ron get ready to us the Polyjuice Potion, in addition to hairs, what else do they take from the unconscious Crabbe and Goyle?
a. Their shoes
b. Their robes
c. Their shirts
d. Their wands
How many victims are petrified by the basilisk?
a. 4
b. 5
c. 6
d. 7
How does the basilisk travel through the castle?
a. Through the walls
b. Through the chimneys
c. Through the floors
d. Through the pipes
Answers are available here.
Harry, Ron and Hermoine attend the death day party of which Hogwarts’ ghost?
a. Peeves
b. The Bloody Baron
c. Professor Binns
d. Nearly Headless Nick
When Ron and Harry arrive at the Hogwarts, the flying car crashes into…?
a. the Whomping Willow
b. the lake
c. the forbidden forest
d. Hagrid’s cabin
What do the students wear in Herbology class while repotting mandrakes?
a. thick socks
b. earmuffs
c. hats
d. sunglasses
What is the title of Gilderoy Lockhart’s autobiography?
a. Wonderful Wizard
b. Magical Me
c. Travels with Trolls
d. Gadding with Ghouls
Where did Harry, Ron and Hermoine first meet Lockhart?
a. Quality Quidditch Supplies
b. Flourish and Blotts
c. The Leaky Cauldron
d. Ollivander’s
What part of Fawkes the Phoenix has healing properties?
a. his beak
b. his feathers
c. his tears
d. his ashes
Who gives Harry and Ron the clue to “follow the spiders?”
a. Hagrid
b. Dumbledore
c. Cornelius Fudge
d. Moaning Myrtle
When Harry and Ron get ready to us the Polyjuice Potion, in addition to hairs, what else do they take from the unconscious Crabbe and Goyle?
a. Their shoes
b. Their robes
c. Their shirts
d. Their wands
How many victims are petrified by the basilisk?
a. 4
b. 5
c. 6
d. 7
How does the basilisk travel through the castle?
a. Through the walls
b. Through the chimneys
c. Through the floors
d. Through the pipes
26 April 2007
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -- Book Banter with Trivia
Since Word Nerd knows that millions of people have read the Harry Potter books, she decided it wasn't worth doing the regular Book Banter for because the books are so well known.
As Word Nerd rereads the series, she's going to post trivia questions about the book she just finished... either questions relating to the plot, or the books themselves, or things learned about the wizarding world in that book.
Answers are here.
Questions:
What is special about the Hogwarts school song?
a. Everyone hums it
b. The lyrics change every year
c. Everyone sings it to their own tune
d. Only prefects know it
What is the name of the wizarding world’s newspaper?
a. The Magic Daily
b. The Daily Prophet
c. The Wizard Times
a. The Owl and Guardian
What kind of animal does Harry “free” when he visits the zoo on Dudley’s birthday?
a. Boa Constrictor
b. Tiger
c. Polar Bear
d. Alligator
How many balls are used in the sport of Quidditch?
a. Eight
b. Eleven
c. Two
d. Four
Which of the other Hogwarts ghosts can keep Peeves in line?
a. The Bloody Baron
b. Nearly Headless Nick
c. The Fat Friar
d. Prof. Binns
Who tells the staff about the troll loose in the dungeon?
a. Prof. Quirrell
b. Prof. Snape
c. Prof. McGonagall
d. Prof. Flitwick
If you bought the first Harry Potter book in England, the title of the book would be which of the following?
a. Harry Potter and the Wizard’s Rock
b. Harry Potter and the Elixir of Life
c. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
d. Harry Potter and the Three-Headed Dog
Who is on the Famous Wizards card that Harry gets with his first Chocolate Frog?
a. Merlin
b. Albus Dumbledore
c. Nicholas Flamel
d. Morgana
What does Dumbledore tell Harry he sees when he looks in the Mirror of Erised?
a. A large pile of books
b. New spectacles
c. A broomstick
d. Thick wool socks
What does Hagrid give Harry while Harry’s recovering after his fight with Quirrell?
a. A wizard’s chess set
b. A bucket of Bertie Bott’s Beans
c. A photo album of pictures of his parents
d. An owl
As Word Nerd rereads the series, she's going to post trivia questions about the book she just finished... either questions relating to the plot, or the books themselves, or things learned about the wizarding world in that book.
Answers are here.
Questions:
What is special about the Hogwarts school song?
a. Everyone hums it
b. The lyrics change every year
c. Everyone sings it to their own tune
d. Only prefects know it
What is the name of the wizarding world’s newspaper?
a. The Magic Daily
b. The Daily Prophet
c. The Wizard Times
a. The Owl and Guardian
What kind of animal does Harry “free” when he visits the zoo on Dudley’s birthday?
a. Boa Constrictor
b. Tiger
c. Polar Bear
d. Alligator
How many balls are used in the sport of Quidditch?
a. Eight
b. Eleven
c. Two
d. Four
Which of the other Hogwarts ghosts can keep Peeves in line?
a. The Bloody Baron
b. Nearly Headless Nick
c. The Fat Friar
d. Prof. Binns
Who tells the staff about the troll loose in the dungeon?
a. Prof. Quirrell
b. Prof. Snape
c. Prof. McGonagall
d. Prof. Flitwick
If you bought the first Harry Potter book in England, the title of the book would be which of the following?
a. Harry Potter and the Wizard’s Rock
b. Harry Potter and the Elixir of Life
c. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
d. Harry Potter and the Three-Headed Dog
Who is on the Famous Wizards card that Harry gets with his first Chocolate Frog?
a. Merlin
b. Albus Dumbledore
c. Nicholas Flamel
d. Morgana
What does Dumbledore tell Harry he sees when he looks in the Mirror of Erised?
a. A large pile of books
b. New spectacles
c. A broomstick
d. Thick wool socks
What does Hagrid give Harry while Harry’s recovering after his fight with Quirrell?
a. A wizard’s chess set
b. A bucket of Bertie Bott’s Beans
c. A photo album of pictures of his parents
d. An owl
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