Final Jeopardy: Observances (10-7-19)

Today’s Final Jeopardy question (10/7/2019) in the category “Observances” was:

Washington made the very first Presidential Proclamation in response to a request for “a day of public” this

New champ Kara Skinner, a test accommodation center coordinator from San Diego, CA, won $17,800 last Friday. In Game 2, her challengers are: Ben Hamman, a program coordinator from Missoula, MT; and Jessica Garsed, a librarian from Augusta, ME.

Round 1 Categories: I Learned It From Mental Floss – Places of Business – Around the USA – Video Game-pourri – Ranks & Titles – Anagrams of Each Other

Ben found the first Daily Double in “Places of Business” under the $800 clue, with 8 clues left after it. In second place with $800, he had $3,400 less than Jessica’s lead. He bet the $1,000 allowance and was close, but an extra letter made his response WRONG.

Despite the state found in the name of this airline, its home offices are in Seattle. show

WHAT IS ALASKA AIRLINES?
Ben said “AlaskaN”

Jessica finished in the lead with $4,800. Kara was second with $2,800 and Ben was last, at negative $200.

Round 2 Categories: Designing Women – Essays – Science Bulletin – The American Revolution – Drop Out – The National Recording Registry

Ben found the first Daily Double in “The American Revolution” under the $1,200 clue on the 3rd pick. He was in third place with $600 now, $4,600 less than Jessica’s lead. He bet the $2,000 allowance and he was RIGHT.

“Plain Truth” was James Chalmers’ loyalist response to this 1776 pamphlet written in support of the Revolution. show

WHAT IS “COMMON SENSE”?

The round ended with a $400 clue left in “National Recording Registry” and the $400 & $800 clues in “Essays”. The last Daily Double was probably under that $800 clue.

Jessica finished in the lead with $15,200. Ben was next with $8,200 and Kara was in third place with $5,200.

Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS THANKSGIVING?

According to Washington’s 10/3/1789 Day of National Thanksgiving proclamation, “both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me ‘to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer…'” and that is often cited as the first official Thanksgiving, which it really is if you add “set by a President under the U.S. Constitution.” This Forbes article, by David Raab, will acquaint you with the earlier ones.

There is also an article by John R. Vile on the First Amendment Encyclopedia that goes into why some Presidents, starting with Jefferson, got a little iffy about issuing these proclamations.

Kara got it right. She bet it all and finished with $10,400.

Ben thought it was a day of service. He lost his $7,001 bet and finished with $1,199.

Jessica went with a day of mourning. That only cost her $2,600 bet. She won the game with the $12,600 she had left. Jessica Garsed is the new Jeopardy! champ.

A triple stumper from each round:

RANKS & TITLES ($1000) John Fisher’s lofty British naval titles included First Sea Lord (1904) & Admiral of this (1905)

ESSAYS ($2000) “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself”, Emerson wrote near the end of this essay

2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “Historical Areas”

An ancient quote mentions this area & 3 population groups, the Belgae, Aquitani & Celts. show

WHAT IS GAUL?

Click here to leave well wishes and prayers for Alex Trebek for continuing success in his battle against cancer. There’s also a link to where you can make a donation to pancreatic cancer research in his honor.