How do geek parents show their geek daughter love? They buy a PlayStation so they can play her games.

I’ve always loved the fact that Mom finished Diablo, but I can’t wait to rave over God of War with her!

Exactly ten years ago, I spent three months backpacking in Indonesia. Back then, communications weren’t as easy as they are now. The Internet was in its beginnings, and certainly wasn’t readily available over there. It was my first trip ever and I was as disconnected and isolated, alone with my thoughts, as I would ever be in my life.

I have to admit I was horribly homesick in the first few weeks. I wondered how I’d make it through months of this. I was surprised and disappointed with myself that that was my reaction; I would have been proud to feel a sense of excited discovery, but homesickness, that seemed unexpected and weak to me. But there it was.

During that period, I was happy if I dreamed I was home; it felt like I got a vacation from my vacation, like I got to enjoy familiarity and my loved ones’ company, just for the span of a dream.

Little did I know there would be times, ten years later, when I would enjoy a short return to Bali or Java, just for the span of a dream.

As promised, here are the questions from the pub quiz I hosted last night. The category titles were meant to be a bit of a riddle.

Tell me about your mother
(Psychology 101)
1. What is the female version of the Oedipus complex known as?
2. According to Sigmund Freud, what are the three main parts of the human psyche?
3. Who was the main proponent of the theory of the collective unconscious?
4. What sits at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
5. What is fluoxetine better known as?
6. What psychological school of thought is named after the German word for shape?
7. According to Hippocrates, four humours permeated the body and affected its health and mood. They were Black Bile, Yellow Bile, Blood and what?
8. Who discovered conditioned reflexes?

By Any Other Name
(figure out the real name or alter ego)
1. Mark Twain
2. Darth Sidious
3. Diana Prince
4. Art Vandalay
5. Siam
6. Charles Édouard Jeanneret
7. Spaceman Spiff
8. Bono

Speed Round
(Questions about things that go fast)
1. Within 10 minutes, what is the world record for running a marathon?
2. What speedy vessel was said to have made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs?
3. In physics, the speed of light is symbolized by what letter?
4. Within 2 years, in what year did Chuck Yeager break the sound barrier (i.e. achieve the speed of Mach 1) in level flight?
5. Amphetamines are most commonly used to treat what psychological disorder?
6. The fastest known land animal is the cheetah. What is the length of its stride in feet?
7. Staying in the animal kingdom, what is the fastest marine animal in the world, according to SeaWorld?
8. In what country could you board the world’s fastest train?

You Go Girl
(Great women. According to me anyway)
1. Who was the first woman ever to be awarded a Nobel Prize?
2. What controversial issue is the subject of Sheryl Crow’s song “Hard to Make a Stand”?
3. Who married Fitzwilliam Darcy?
4. Who was named FIFA World Female Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002?
5. Her disappearance in the Pacific in 1937 sparked rumors that she had been abducted by aliens, had faked her own death and that she was taken by the Japanese.
6. She killed the Lord of the Nazgûl.
7. Her work raised the world’s awareness to the dangers faced by the mountain gorilla, which are now protected by the government of Rwanda.
8. The first American woman in space.

Mystery round
(Figure out the category to answer question 1. What was the full name of Fox Mulder’s partner?
2. Who was Helen of Troy’s rightful husband before she ran off with Paris?
3. What is the full name of Spider-Man’s most famous girlfriend?
4. Who was the most famous son of Igraine?
5. Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?
6. Who is generally credited with having discovered Greenland?
7. Who was the state of Virginia named after?
8. What do all the answers in this category have in common?

Says who?
(In what movie was this line first delivered? By whom? (character OR actor))
1. You’re gonna need a bigger boat.
2. People say crazy shit during sex. One time I called this girl “Mom.”
3. It absolutely will not stop – ever – until you are dead.
4. Shaken, not stirred.
5. I have a theory that hieroglyphics are just an ancient comic strip about a character named Sphinxy.
6. Go ahead, make my day.
7. Fly, you fools!
8. I’d be the worst possible Godfather. I’d probably drop her on her head at her christening. I’d forget all her birthdays until she was 18. Then I’d take her out and get her drunk. And, let’s face it, quite possibly try and shag her.

Neither Lipton nor Suzuki
(Famous sidekicks)
1. This popular sidekick almost left the CBC network in 2002 during a contract dispute that made headlines across Canada. Following the huge public outcry, the CBC quickly gave in to his demands.
2. This literary sidekick was written as a batman, which in the British army was an orderly who acted as the personal servant of an officer. He runs errands for him, cooks, transports him and his luggage.
3. When Krusty the Klown’s sidekick became a villainous murderer, who succeeded him on the show?
4. Tintin’s canine sidekick Milou is referred to in English as Snowy. What is the English name usually given to Idéfix, Obélix’s canine sidekick?
5. The Lone Ranger’s sidekick’s name was Tonto. What was the name of the Lone Ranger’s horse?
6. Who is Super Mario’s brother?
7. What famous sidekick’s role has been alternatively filled by Jason Todd, Dick Grayson and Carrie Kelly?
8. What 19th century sidekick’s name may be better known by recent generations as a Microsoft application?

Party Mix
(questions I wanted to ask but didn’t have a category for… which may have conferred an unfair advantage to those who know me)
1. According to the ESA, what is the average age of the North American video game player in 2005?
2. How many calories are there in a gram of fat?
3. Who was considered the King of Swing?
4. What architectural style are Victor Horta and Antoni Gaudi known for?
5. 73 years ago today, the first sighting of this was recorded.
6. What movie won the Oscar for best documentary this year?
7. In what country’s capital can you visit the Vasa museum, dedicated to an ostentatious ship that sank on her maiden voyage?
8. What Austrian monk discovered the principles of heredity?

Answers coming soon!

After my team lost its title in a crushing defeat last month (there was a videogames category! The horror…), I was hosting the Hurley’s pub quiz tonight. It was pretty intimate with only three teams competing, and I blame Game 6 and the bad weather for the small turnout.

It was still a lot of fun, and our team got its championship title back. I’ll post the questions tomorrow…

This is just a little plug for a nice discovery I made about a month ago: café Le Réveil du Maître. It’s a lovely café that admits dogs. You can enjoy a relaxed, sunny atmosphere and have coffee and muffins, while your pet runs around freely playing with friends.

I like the fact that it feels like a real café, instead of just a pet store with tables and chairs. Located in the Mile-End, it’s a nice 45-minute walk up St-Denis and St-Laurent from our place, but Comet and I made the journey twice this weekend. According to their site, their only publicity is word-of-mouth, so I’m adding this little blurb to it.