A Year to Forget
At the risk of missing so much that may occur in the next three weeks, it is time to test how well you stayed up on the major events of the last year of the decade (depending how you feel about whether the number “0” starts or ends an era). Yes, I know, we still can await the impending impeachment vote, the results of today’s election in Britain and whether or not the Duchess of Sussex (formerly known as Megan Markle) is pregnant again. But, so much has happened already that you can take this quiz knowing that you can spend the rest of the year in a glutinous stupor and, in the Foxian vision of the universe, wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas.”
So, sharpen your pencils (since I lack the technical skills to provide an electronic version of the quiz) and show your stuff.
- Which of these sobriquets did President Trump not use in describing House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff?
a. A “deranged human being”
b. “Shifty”
c. “Schitt”
d. A “defender of democracy”
2. Which of these sayings did Prime Minister Boris Johnson employ in his election campaign in Britain?
a. “Brexit today, Brexit tomorrow, Brexit forever”
b. “This is my real hair”
c. “Donald Trump? I barely know the guy”
d. “My kingdom for a horse”
3. In Martin Scorcese’s epic movie The Irishman, Al Pacino played:
a. Michael Corleone
b. Scarface
c. Jimmy Hoffa
d. Himself
4. Time Magazine’s Person of the Year is:
a. Kanye West
b. Mike Pence
c. Mark Zuckerberg
d. Greta Thunberg
5. In a reprise of their “Death Star” phase, the Yankees inked a nine-year deal with their most recent nemesis in their quest for a 28th World Series title. He is:
a. Cy Young
b. Nat King Cole
c. Cole Porter
d. Gerrit Cole
6. As a result of an interview in which he showed little remorse over his relationship with serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew was:
a. Banned from all public royal duties
b. Made to watch all three seasons of “The Crown”
c. Suspended without pay
d. Beheaded
7. In reaction to accusations that he abused the power of his Office for personal political gain by holding up military aid to Ukraine in return for a public statement that President Zelensky would investigate the Bidens and the cracked-pot theory that the Ukrainians, not the Russians, interfered with the 2016 election, President Trump said:
a. “What, me worry?”
b. “I am not a crook”
c. “I did not have sex with that woman”
d. “I am a Ford, not a Lincoln”
8. After the tragic fire that nearly destroyed the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron told a grieving nation:
a. “L’état, c’est moi”
b. “We will rebuild it regardless of cost and on the backs of the working people”
c. “No one in France goes to church anyway”
d. “Why was I not made of stone like thee?”
9. At a social gathering following the conclusion of the recent NATO meeting in London, several foreign leaders were overheard ridiculing President Trump. Among the comments were:
a. “I heard his hair is radioactive”
b. “He could barely get it out to pee at the urinal, his penis is so small”
c. “He told Angela that she is hotter than Melania”
d. “He admitted that he cheats at golf”
10. After James Holzhauer’s reign on the game show Jeopardy came to an end with winnings of close to $2.5 million, he announced he would:
a. Run for the Democratic nomination for President
b. Donate his entire winnings to Greenpeace
c. Denounce his American citizenship and move to Monaco
d. Retire to a Buddhist monastery in Tibet
Well, that’s it for this year. Winners will be announced at the next Congressional hearing on breaking up the biggest social media platforms. And then we can think about all the exciting events of next year: a non-partisan impeachment trial, a Presidential election free of foreign interference, peace in the Middle East, a nuclear-free North Korea and, not least, an NBA championship for the Knicks. Come to think of it, that would be the most likely.
Happy Holidays to all!
