Transcript 05/01/09 - Amy Miller

[BBTranscriptTeam]

Amy Miller
Philadelphia, PA
Environmental planner

Amy was in the audience three weeks ago, taking the audition test, and here she is in the Hot Seat.

Question Topics:
* Head Count
* Raccoons
* Fictional Families
* New Journalism
* Vintage Books
* Concrete Evidence
* Currency Exchange
* Dexter
* Airplane Music
* By the Numbers
* Sesame Street
* Basic Training
* Prickly Plants
* Job Titles
* Dumb Sayings

$100 * Dumb Sayings
Popularized by a ubiquitous series of Budweiser ads, the phrase "Whasssuuuuup!" is a playful way of saying what?

A: Thank you B: Hello
C: I'm sorry D: I watch too much TV

Answer

B: Hello ( 4 )

$200 * Job Titles
Which of these facilities would likely have an employee known as a "skycap"?

A: Airport B: Bus depot
C: Train station D: Parking garage

Answer

A: Airport ( 8 )

$300 * Prickly Plants
Many species of desert-dwelling cactus plants are xerophilous, meaning that they thrive in what type of environment?

A: Snowy and dark B: Hot and dry
C: Cold and windy D: Wet and stormy

Answer

B: Hot and dry ( 4 )

$500 * Basic Training
Basic Enlisted Submarine School is a training course offered by what branch of the U.S. armed forces?

A: Army B: Air Force
C: Navy D: Marines

Answer

C: Navy ( 8 )

$1,000 * Sesame Street
"The Adventures of Trash Gordon" is a favorite bedtime story of what popular "Sesame Street" character?

A: Grover B: Snuffleupagus
C: Big Bird D: Oscar

Answer

D: Oscar ( 8 )

-- Commercial Break --

Amy's car was stolen a week ago, but she just got the call on the trip up to NYC that they've found it. She still doesn't know its condition.

Amy has now earned the Ask The Expert lifeline with today's expert, $500,000 winner Ogi Ogas.

$2,000 * By the Numbers
Used by computers to process information, binary code is a numbering system that uses what two digits?

A: Ones and twos B: Zeroes and ones
C: Zeroes and twos D: Ones and negative-ones

Answer

B: Zeroes and ones ( 19 )

$4,000 * Airplane Music
Which of these Jefferson Airplane songs was inspired by the book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"?

A: Long John Silver B: Somebody to Love
C: Good Shepherd D: White Rabbit

Answer

D: White Rabbit ( 14 )

$8,000 * Dexter
In the critically acclaimed drama series "Dexter," Dexter is both a forensics expert and a what?

A: Serial killer B: Loan shark
C: Professional boxer D: Male escort

Answer

A: Serial killer ( 19 )

$16,000 * Currency Exchange
The dinar is the official currency of several countries in what region of the world?

A: South Pacific B: East Asia
C: Central America D: Middle East

Amy thinks it's D, but with 10 seconds left, she decides to Ask The Expert.

Ogi: Yeah, I'm--it's definitely Central America. It's definitely not South Pacific. It's definitely not East Asia. Yeah, I'm 100% it's Middle East, too.

Answer

D: Middle East ( 7 )

-- Commercial Break --

Amy has an older brother who is coming back in a couple weeks from a year in Afghanistan. She'd like to use some of this money to help him out--at least throw him a great homecoming party.

$25,000 * Concrete Evidence
According to a common theory, which of these phrases may originally have been a reference to ready-mix concrete trucks?

A: Down to the wire B: Rule of thumb
C: The whole nine yards D: Three sheets to the wind

With 8 seconds left, Amy decides to Double Dip.

Amy's first answer is

Spoiler

B

.
For her second answer, Amy begins to say

Spoiler

A

, then changes to

Spoiler

D

, final answer.

Answer

C: The whole nine yards ( 0)

Amy drops to $1,000.

[MarleysGh0st]

$25,000 * Concrete Evidence
According to a common theory, which of these phrases may originally have been a reference to ready-mix concrete trucks?

A: Down to the wire B: Rule of thumb
C: The whole nine yards D: Three sheets to the wind

With 8 seconds left, Amy decides to Double Dip.

Amy's first answer is

Spoiler

B

.
For her second answer, Amy begins to say

Spoiler

A

, then changes to

Spoiler

D

, final answer.

Answer

C: The whole nine yards ( 0)

Amy drops to $1,000.

Ouch.

Is this theory well-known enough to make this a reasonable $25K question? Or was it another WWOQ?

By coincidence, I've just recently read this trivia in 1635: The Dreeson Incident. (Rebecca, one of the downtimer characters, asks why it isn't "the whole ten yards," and Miss Mailey, the former English teacher, explains.) But I wasn't familiar with this back when the show taped and I would have been quite puzzled by four choices, none of which would have seemed to fit.

[silvercamaro]

$25,000 * Concrete Evidence
According to a common theory, which of these phrases may originally have been a reference to ready-mix concrete trucks?

A: Down to the wire B: Rule of thumb
C: The whole nine yards D: Three sheets to the wind

With 8 seconds left, Amy decides to Double Dip.

Amy's first answer is

Spoiler

B

.
For her second answer, Amy begins to say

Spoiler

A

, then changes to

Spoiler

D

, final answer.

Answer

C: The whole nine yards ( 0)

Amy drops to $1,000.

Ouch.

Is this theory well-known enough to make this a reasonable $25K question? Or was it another WWOQ?

By coincidence, I've just recently read this trivia in 1635: The Dreeson Incident. (Rebecca, one of the downtimer characters, asks why it isn't "the whole ten yards," and Miss Mailey, the former English teacher, explains.) But I wasn't familiar with this back when the show taped and I would have been quite puzzled by four choices, none of which would have seemed to fit.

The question doesn't seem unreasonable to me -- and I've never been in the construction business or otherwise ordered concrete. In other words, I would have liked this question at an equivalent level or less.

[MarleysGh0st]

The question doesn't seem unreasonable to me -- and I've never been in the construction business or otherwise ordered concrete. In other words, I would have liked this question at an equivalent level or less.

So, without knowing the answer a priori, you think you'd have figured out that this was a reference to concrete instead of to football?

[MarleysGh0st]

Oops, I try using a Latin phrase and don't use it properly. I guess what I was asking would really be more of a posteriori knowledge.

[silvercamaro]

The question doesn't seem unreasonable to me -- and I've never been in the construction business or otherwise ordered concrete. In other words, I would have liked this question at an equivalent level or less.

So, without knowing the answer a priori, you think you'd have figured out that this was a reference to concrete instead of to football?

Yes, sir. It seems to me like one of those more or less common-knowledge Qs like identifying that fireplace logs are sold by the cord (or, okay, half-cord.) As I understand it, nine cubic yards is the capacity of those big concrete mixer trucks. The thought of football -- or any use of linear distance -- did not enter my mind before I saw your use of the word.

[ulysses5019]

I'm not a construction worker nor have I played one on tv but I have heard that concrete has been measured in yards. Not sure why and I have no idea how deep this nine yards would be.

[MarleysGh0st]

The question doesn't seem unreasonable to me -- and I've never been in the construction business or otherwise ordered concrete. In other words, I would have liked this question at an equivalent level or less.

So, without knowing the answer a priori, you think you'd have figured out that this was a reference to concrete instead of to football?

Yes, sir. It seems to me like one of those more or less common-knowledge Qs like identifying that fireplace logs are sold by the cord (or, okay, half-cord.) As I understand it, nine cubic yards is the capacity of those big concrete mixer trucks. The thought of football -- or any use of linear distance -- did not enter my mind before I saw your use of the word.

Okay, you've never been in the construction business or otherwise ordered concrete, but you knew that the term referred to concrete. The disclaimer made me think you didn't know that and had figured it out after seeing the question.

[Sisyphean Fan]

The question doesn't seem unreasonable to me -- and I've never been in the construction business or otherwise ordered concrete. In other words, I would have liked this question at an equivalent level or less.

So, without knowing the answer a priori, you think you'd have figured out that this was a reference to concrete instead of to football?

Yes, sir. It seems to me like one of those more or less common-knowledge Qs like identifying that fireplace logs are sold by the cord (or, okay, half-cord.) As I understand it, nine cubic yards is the capacity of those big concrete mixer trucks. The thought of football -- or any use of linear distance -- did not enter my mind before I saw your use of the word.

To me, this is made easier by the other choices. I think a lot of people would know that the rule of thumb is for beating your wife and down to the wire refers to the finish line in a race.

I guess there could be a case made for feeling like you've been spinning in a concrete mixer when you're drunk rather than listing like a ship.....ha!

[silvercamaro]

Okay, you've never been in the construction business or otherwise ordered concrete, but you knew that the term referred to concrete. The disclaimer made me think you didn't know that and had figured it out after seeing the question.

I didn't say it very well, then. My "disclaimer" was intended only to mean that I didn't think this question required any specialized knowledge.

I am merely a sabremetridiot.

[TheConfessor]

I'm not a construction worker nor have I played one on tv but I have heard that concrete has been measured in yards. Not sure why and I have no idea how deep this nine yards would be.

It's measured in cubic yards, since it involves volume. Nine cubic yards can be as deep or as shallow as you need it to be, depending on the other two dimensions. It's like saying, "How deep is a gallon of water?"

I thought the question was pretty easy for the dollar value, but the concrete truck theory is just one of many that have been proposed. Wikipedia lists several other theories, some more plausible than others. What surprised me is that there is no documented use of the expression prior to the 1960s. I would have guessed that it was much older than that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Whole_Nine_Yards

[ulysses5019]

I'm not a construction worker nor have I played one on tv but I have heard that concrete has been measured in yards. Not sure why and I have no idea how deep this nine yards would be.

It's measured in cubic yards, since it involves volume. Nine cubic yards can be as deep or as shallow as you need it to be, depending on the other two dimensions. It's like saying, "How deep is a gallon of water?"

I thought the question was pretty easy for the dollar value, but the concrete truck theory is just one of many that have been proposed. Wikipedia lists several other theories, some more plausible than others. What surprised me is that there is no documented use of the expression prior to the 1960s. I would have guessed that it was much older than that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Whole_Nine_Yards

D'uh. That makes sense. Thanks.

[lv42day]

I seem to recall reading a resource that so favored the "machine gun ammunition belt" explanation of "the whole nine yards," that I don't think it mentioned any of the other theories. So I'm not sure if I would have guessed "the whole nine yards" or not if I had this question.

[Beebs52]

Surprisingly I, hopefully, would have gotten his as well, since the other three don't apply at all. And, like mulch and other items plopped onto surfaces or driveways, the usual amount is in yards.

[doitneatly]

I did happen to know that final question, but only thanks to a straight dope article on the topic:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/rea ... nine-yards

And yes, perhaps one might be expected to realize that concrete and other construction materials are measured in yards...
But I fall on the side of "wicked" for this particular question at this particular level.

[ontellen]

I also know nothing about construction but the answer just plain made sense. What a total mismanagement of lifelines!

[earendel]

Amy Miller
Philadelphia, PA
Environmental planner

Amy was in the audience three weeks ago, taking the audition test, and here she is in the Hot Seat.

That's a rather fast turnaround time, isn't it?

$16,000 * Currency Exchange
The dinar is the official currency of several countries in what region of the world?

A: South Pacific B: East Asia
C: Central America D: Middle East

Amy thinks it's D, but with 10 seconds left, she decides to Ask The Expert.

Ogi: Yeah, I'm--it's definitely Central America. It's definitely not South Pacific. It's definitely not East Asia. Yeah, I'm 100% it's Middle East, too.

Answer

D: Middle East ( 7 )

A shame she chose to waste a lifeline on this question.

Amy has an older brother who is coming back in a couple weeks from a year in Afghanistan. She'd like to use some of this money to help him out--at least throw him a great homecoming party.

Maybe she could give him some dinars.

$25,000 * Concrete Evidence
According to a common theory, which of these phrases may originally have been a reference to ready-mix concrete trucks?

A: Down to the wire B: Rule of thumb
C: The whole nine yards D: Three sheets to the wind

With 8 seconds left, Amy decides to Double Dip.

Amy's first answer is

Spoiler

B

.
For her second answer, Amy begins to say

Spoiler

A

, then changes to

Spoiler

D

, final answer.

Answer

C: The whole nine yards ( 0)

What a shame. I wonder why she didn't use her ATA on this one?

[MarleysGh0st]

Amy Miller
Philadelphia, PA
Environmental planner

Amy was in the audience three weeks ago, taking the audition test, and here she is in the Hot Seat.

That's a rather fast turnaround time, isn't it?

It's fast, but I don't think it's a record. Although Philly isn't Where Else, the APs knew Amy could drive or take the train, so getting airline reservations wouldn't be an issue for her.

[MarleysGh0st]

$2,000 * By the Numbers
Used by computers to process information, binary code is a numbering system that uses what two digits?

A: Ones and twos B: Zeroes and ones
C: Zeroes and twos D: Ones and negative-ones

Answer

B: Zeroes and ones ( 19 )

With slightly trickier phrasing, this was the question that made Taurus a llama in SyndieBAM's first season.

[NellyLunatic1980]

Amy was in the audience three weeks ago, taking the audition test, and here she is in the Hot Seat.

I hate you, Amy Miller.

$500: From the comfort of my bed, I said Navy. But in the HS, I probably would've been distracted by the Marines and asked the audience.

$2,000 * By the Numbers
Used by computers to process information, binary code is a numbering system that uses what two digits?

A: Ones and twos B: Zeroes and ones
C: Zeroes and twos D: Ones and negative-ones

Probably not a good idea to call Taurus.

$4,000 * Airplane Music
Which of these Jefferson Airplane songs was inspired by the book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"?

A: Long John Silver B: Somebody to Love
C: Good Shepherd D: White Rabbit

A shout-out to Jefferson Starplane!

Answer

D: White Rabbit ( 14 )

$8K: I don't watch this show. My instinct is serial killer, but I'm going to ask Ogi.

$25K: I can eliminate A and D, for sure. Double Dip on B and C.

[earendel]

$2,000 * By the Numbers
Used by computers to process information, binary code is a numbering system that uses what two digits?

A: Ones and twos B: Zeroes and ones
C: Zeroes and twos D: Ones and negative-ones

Answer

B: Zeroes and ones ( 19 )

With slightly trickier phrasing, this was the question that made Taurus a llama in SyndieBAM's first season.

I thought that sounded familiar.

[kusch]

$25,000 * Concrete Evidence
According to a common theory, which of these phrases may originally have been a reference to ready-mix concrete trucks?

A: Down to the wire B: Rule of thumb
C: The whole nine yards D: Three sheets to the wind

With 8 seconds left, Amy decides to Double Dip.

Amy's first answer is

Spoiler

B

.
For her second answer, Amy begins to say

Spoiler

A

, then changes to

Spoiler

D

, final answer.

Answer

C: The whole nine yards ( 0)

Amy drops to $1,000.

Ouch.

Is this theory well-known enough to make this a reasonable $25K question? Or was it another WWOQ?

By coincidence, I've just recently read this trivia in 1635: The Dreeson Incident. (Rebecca, one of the downtimer characters, asks why it isn't "the whole ten yards," and Miss Mailey, the former English teacher, explains.) But I wasn't familiar with this back when the show taped and I would have been quite puzzled by four choices, none of which would have seemed to fit.

To me, this was an overvalued question, the "yards" was the only resonable choice. If you have ever done any concrete work related to your home you would at least have heard of "yards of concrete". In my opinion anyway.

[lilclyde54]

Two comments.

The White Rabbit question would have been easy for me. I can't hear that song without a mental image of the Blue Man Group stage popping into my head.

The concrete question answer just jumps out at me after paying for 6 yards of concrete last summer to do a new parking pad.

[Estonut]

The concrete question answer just jumps out at me after paying for 6 yards of concrete last summer to do a new parking pad.

You didn't spring for the whole 9 yards?