Winter 2012 Tournament
It's the ultimate battle for supremacy! Or, it's just a silly online game. Take your pick. Players will face off in one-on-one competitions until all but one is eliminated, producing a season champion. Have fun!
George Takei
publication date: Friday, March 2, 2012
category: 
Television
clue: Because of advocates like him, gay marriage has come to represent the final frontier of equality in California.
explanation: George Takei starred in Star Trek and advocated for gay marriage. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Joanna Woods, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, and Aaron Shurtleff
Emilio Palma
publication date: Thursday, March 1, 2012
category: 
Records
clue: When people say they're "from the South," they don't mean it like this Argentinian.
explanation: Palma was the first person born in Antarctica. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, and Aaron Shurtleff
Michelle Duggar
publication date: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
category: 
Controversy
clue: Overpopulation may be the biggest threat to mother nature.
explanation: Duggar and her husband were raising 19 children as of the time of this goo, earning them notoriety and a reality TV series. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, Justin Woods, Joanna Woods, Steve Dunn, and Aaron Shurtleff
Dmitry Medvedev
publication date: Tuesday, February 28, 2012
category: 
Government
clue: This politician is a placeholder from St. Petersburg.
explanation: Medvedev, originally from Leningrad (later renamed Saint Petersburg), was widely considered to hold the Russian presidency for one term only because Vladimir Putin had reached a limit on consecutive terms. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Joanna Woods, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, and Jon Berry
trivia: Several players guessed George LeMieux.
Jake LaMotta
publication date: Monday, February 27, 2012
category: 
Sports
clue: This New York athlete has broken records like a bull in a china shop.
explanation: LaMotta was a heavyweight champion boxer who was the first to defeat Sugar Ray Robinson. His autobiography Raging Bull was later adapted to a film. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Justin Woods, Joanna Woods, and Steve Dunn
trivia: Several players guessed Yogi Berra.
Wallis Simpson
publication date: Friday, February 24, 2012
category: Controversy
clue: This domineering American became half of the royal we.
explanation: Simpson was an American woman who King Edward abdicated the British throne to marry, forming their insignia "W.E." She was said to be the dominant one in their relationship. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Justin Woods, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, and Aaron Shurtleff
Elon Musk
publication date: Thursday, February 23, 2012
category: 
Inventions
clue: This real-life Iron Man made his vast fortune by co-founding an alliterative Internet company.
explanation: Musk was a developer of electric cars and space vehicles, partially inspiring Robert Downey Jr.'s characterization of Iron Man in movies. He initially made his fortune by co-founding Paypal. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Justin Woods, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Steve Dunn, and Aaron Shurtleff
Geraldo Rivera
publication date: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
category: 
Journalism
clue: Failing to find buried treasure on live television gave this reporter a black eye. (Or was a broken nose?)
explanation: Rivera was known for two controversial incidents in the 1980s: Opening Al Capone's vault on live television only to find nothing inside, and getting his nose broken in a brawl with racist hate groups. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, and Aaron Shurtleff
Rube Goldberg
publication date: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
category: 
Comics
clue: Technological inefficiency is the legacy of this rodent collector.
explanation: Goldberg was a comic illustrator known for devising elaborate machines that performed simple tasks. The game Mousetrap ("rodent collector") was based on his work. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Justin Woods, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, and Steve Dunn
trivia: This goo was originally created for the "Born on the Fourth of July" theme.
Dolly Parton
publication date: Monday, February 20, 2012
category: 
Music
clue: Noisy roller-coaster passengers are full of joy.
explanation: Parton's 2012 film Joyful Noise was playing in theaters when this goo was published. Among her business ventures was the theme park Dollywood. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, and Aaron Shurtleff
Lana Del Rey
publication date: Friday, February 17, 2012
category: Music
clue: This singer, songwriter and fashion model could also be listed in the Video Games category.
explanation: Del Rey's first hit song was "Video Games." more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Justin Woods, Denise Sawicki, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, and Steve Dunn
Edward Stratemeyer
publication date: Thursday, February 16, 2012
category: 
Literature
clue: The Bobbsey twins and the taser have this man in common. Can you solve the mystery?
explanation: Stratemeyer was a publisher of children's mystery books featuring the Bobbsey twins, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and others. The taser was named for a similar (fictional) device in his Tom Swift books. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, and Ryan Dunn
Nancy Brinker
publication date: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
category: 
Humanitarianism
clue: What does cutting funding to a reproductive health organization have to do with helping your sisters avoid cancer?
explanation: Brinker founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure after her sister died from breast cancer. The organization made news the week before this goo was published by cutting funds to Planned Parenthood because of a new rule, which it reversed after public outcry. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, Mike Eberhart, Aaron Shurtleff, and Ryan Dunn
trivia: Scott had originally set out to create a goo of Susan G. Komen herself, but couldn't find an appropriate photograph. Several players guessed Komen.
Dean Ornish
publication date: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
category: 
Medicine
clue: How many other cardiologists and dietitians acknowledge a debt to a swami in their work?
explanation: Ornish was an expert in coronary artery disease who developed a popular diet and exercise plan that included yoga and meditation, on the advice of Swami Satchidananda. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Matthew Preston, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, and Aaron Shurtleff
trivia: Several players guessed Arthur Agatston, founder of the South Beach Diet.
Jeremy Lin
publication date: Monday, February 13, 2012
category: Sports
clue: Can you turn into an overnight success story like this Ivy Leaguer?
explanation: Lin was a Harvard-educated NBA player who suddenly began scoring like the best players in the league in February 2012. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, Mike Eberhart, Aaron Shurtleff, and Ryan Dunn
Other Themes in Winter 2012
Humble Folks Without Temptation
These celebrities went on down to South Park and had themselves a time, being mercilessly spoofed by the foul-mouthed cartoon series. Can you recognize them in animated form? Go »
Mothers of Invention
These pioneering women in technology have saved the world from war, climate change, and boredom online with their contributions to modern inventions. Go »
Crossover Celebrities
For some artists, it's about following their creative muse. For others, it's all about the money. These entertainers were strongly associated with one genre, but now only seem interested in another. Go »
Repúbluca Federativa do Brasil
By far the largest nation in South America, the cultural and economic powerhouse of Brazil has produced celebrities in every field. Can you name these five? Go »
A Pirate's Life for Me
Yo ho ho ho, and a bottle of rum... This week features some of the deadliest and most notorious dread pirates ever to sail the high seas, to celebrate the launch of Pirate Paradise on Funeratic. Go »
Do Overs
Ask George Lucas: No matter how final it was the first time, anything can be made better if you get to take a second (or third, or fourth) crack at it. These five celebrities were incorrect guesses made for previous goos. Here's your chance to get them right this time. Go »
Mighty Heroes!
Superhero stories are the epic myths of our age, especially after their recent wave of renewed popularity in movies and television. These five actors played colorful heroes on-screen. Go »
Dastardly Villains!
The bad guys get to have all the fun! These five actors have played the villains to costumed superheroes on television and in movies. Their biggest crime is stealing the show. Go »
Super Bowl Shuffle
This weekend, the New York Giants and New England Patriots will face off at the Super Bowl for the second time in four years. This theme features some of the biggest names at the biggest game in sports. Go »
