Q.964

In 2009, the writer Malcolm Gladwell wrote an article called "How David Beats Goliath" about how underdogs could upend existing systems and win, because of their ability and willingness to break conventional rules.

Typically, he starts this article with an anecdote: this time about a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who coached his daughter Anjali's school basketball team, and took them from no-hopers to the national championship.

Who was this man?

[+ Show Answer]

Vivek Ranadive, the CEO of Tibco, who leads a group that purchased the Sacramento Kings NBA team in May 2013. An article on the acquisition is here, and here's the Gladwell article.

This day last year: Q.599

Q.963

This week's IZzie

After the Indian National Congress's sweeping victory in Karnataka's Assembly polls in 2013, Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state. During the ceremony, he deviated from the usual script of oath-taking that accompanies such events.

How?

[+ Show Answer]

He took his oath, not in the name of "God" as is usually the case, but in the name of "Truth". The new CM is an atheist.

This day last year: Q.598

Q.962

British sportsman Andrew Simpson won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. He died in May 2013, during a practice run near San Francisco, due to drowning after being trapped under water. This has cast a pall over the annual event for which he was practicising, due to be held later in 2013. This has also led to questions about the use of high technology equipment in the event.

Which event, for one of the oldest trophies in sport, is this?

[+ Show Answer]

The Anerica's Cup, a yachting competition. More on the tragic event here.

This day last year: Q.597

Q.961

One name is missing from this list of people related to a major annual entertainment event (held in May 2013):

• Steven Spielberg
• Ang Lee
• Christoph Waltz
• Daniel Auteuil
• Naomi Kawase
• Lynne Ramsay
• Nicole Kidman
• Cristian Mungiu

[+ Show Answer]

Vidya Balan. These are the jury members for the Competition section for 2013's Cannes Film Festival.

This day last year: Q.596

Q.960

"The Orphan Master's Son" is a 2012 novel by Adam Johnson. In 2013, it picked up the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The book is set in a country, which, according to Johnson is "perhaps the most difficult place on Earth to be fully human, a place where spontaneity is almost impossible".

An unusual choice of setting, this is which country?

[+ Show Answer]

North Korea. Here's a PBS interview with the author.

This day last year: Q.595