We were just talking at work about things you can't get away with today because of the Internet.
I brought up the annual Kaleidoquiz trivia contest we used to have at Iowa State hosted by the campus radio station, which in those days was KISU. Does anyone remember this? It used to be one of the highlights of the year for us and houses from all over campus would compete in the 24-hour marathon. We used to smuggle encyclopedias out of libraries in preparation for this thing.
I can't imagine that they could still hold something like that with the internet, but I would be wrong. I guess they are still doing it, but it involves more scavenger hunts and photo taking at spots across Ames and such than trivia questions and they use social media more. They celebrated the 50th anniversary of Kaleidoquiz this year, but only 15 teams entered. It's not nearly what it was. The first year of the quiz, the radio station received so many phone calls that no one could complete a call outside the campus during the contest and the organizers got in trouble with the phone company and campus authorities. They eventually got those bugs worked out. We only had one scavenger hunt type question during each Kaleidoquiz, as I remember, and it was worth bonus points.
We always made it a house event, where we'd set up a table in the den with a radio and reference books that was to be manned at all times. And one of the house tech geeks would set up a telephone at the table to call in the answers. Other tables would be set up in the den, where the guys would play cards all night long or just sit and drink beer while we all played the game.
I remember one question in particular because we got it wrong. I didn't happen to be in the den at that time, but someone came looking for me to ask me the latest question because nobody knew the answer. The question was, what two car companies joined forces to form Rambler. I told him Hudson and Nash and he ran off to the den to relay the information. Only problem is, he heard me wrong and told them Upson and Nash.
When I saw him later, I asked if we got it right, because I wasn't real sure, and he said no, it was Hudson and Nash. I said that's what I told you to say and only then did he tell me what he had actually told them. It would be a better story if I could say we lost that year by one question, but that would be a lie. I don't remember where we finished, but it wasn't very high.
I brought up the annual Kaleidoquiz trivia contest we used to have at Iowa State hosted by the campus radio station, which in those days was KISU. Does anyone remember this? It used to be one of the highlights of the year for us and houses from all over campus would compete in the 24-hour marathon. We used to smuggle encyclopedias out of libraries in preparation for this thing.
I can't imagine that they could still hold something like that with the internet, but I would be wrong. I guess they are still doing it, but it involves more scavenger hunts and photo taking at spots across Ames and such than trivia questions and they use social media more. They celebrated the 50th anniversary of Kaleidoquiz this year, but only 15 teams entered. It's not nearly what it was. The first year of the quiz, the radio station received so many phone calls that no one could complete a call outside the campus during the contest and the organizers got in trouble with the phone company and campus authorities. They eventually got those bugs worked out. We only had one scavenger hunt type question during each Kaleidoquiz, as I remember, and it was worth bonus points.
We always made it a house event, where we'd set up a table in the den with a radio and reference books that was to be manned at all times. And one of the house tech geeks would set up a telephone at the table to call in the answers. Other tables would be set up in the den, where the guys would play cards all night long or just sit and drink beer while we all played the game.
I remember one question in particular because we got it wrong. I didn't happen to be in the den at that time, but someone came looking for me to ask me the latest question because nobody knew the answer. The question was, what two car companies joined forces to form Rambler. I told him Hudson and Nash and he ran off to the den to relay the information. Only problem is, he heard me wrong and told them Upson and Nash.
When I saw him later, I asked if we got it right, because I wasn't real sure, and he said no, it was Hudson and Nash. I said that's what I told you to say and only then did he tell me what he had actually told them. It would be a better story if I could say we lost that year by one question, but that would be a lie. I don't remember where we finished, but it wasn't very high.
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