The Gary Benchley, Rock Star Give-Away Contest, Updated Weekdays

We are so excited about Gary Benchley, Rock Star—the fabulous new book that builds on (and completes!) Paul Ford’s much-loved series on TMN—that, starting today, and through October, we will be giving away one free copy of the book each weekday (thank you, Plume) to the winner of the following contest:

THE GARY BENCHLEY, ROCK STAR GIVE-AWAY CONTEST

First, the following rules must apply:

—We will post a Gary Benchley trivia question each weekday morning in this space (scroll down for today’s question). The first correct response emailed to garycontest@themorningnews.org wins that day’s book. Questions will be posted between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., so keep your eyes peeled.

—When the day’s contest has been won, we will say so below. Please do not email us with your answers once the day’s contest has closed.

—You may only win once. If you win, no more tries.

—We will not notify you that you’ve lost, nor will we tell you who’s won. But if you win, we will of course let you know via the email address you’ve supplied.

—Whether you win or not, you should buy Gary Benchley, Rock Star, because a) don’t you want to know whether Gary becomes Bono? and b) it’s really good.

And so, to the questions! Free books! Free books!

Sept. 28, 2005: What was the title of Gary’s girlfriend’s online diary? CLOSED! Correct answer: Gowanus Research Society.

Sept. 29, 2005: What school does Gary’s sister attend? CLOSED! Correct answer: CMU.

Sept. 30, 2005: What game did Schizopolis play while they were waiting in the studio? CLOSED! Correct answer: Ping-Pong.

Oct. 3, 2005: When drunk, and busy feasting on cream-filled pastries, what is Gary’s preferred reading material? CLOSED! Correct answer: This Business of Music (ninth edition)

Oct. 4, 2005: After a disastrous sexual encounter while he was in college, what movie did Gary watch to feel better about his masculinity? CLOSED! Correct answer: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Oct. 5, 2005: Where did Gary’s roommate David go to college? CLOSED! Correct answer: University of Michigan.

Oct. 6, 2005: What’s the name of the ship Gary’s brother is stationed on? CLOSED! Correct answer: U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.

Oct. 7, 2005: What’s the studio engineer’s nickname for Schizopolis’s producer? CLOSED! Correct answer: Tuxedo Pants.

Oct. 11, 2005: What were the two parts of Gary’s strategy for moving to New York City? CLOSED! Correct answer: 1) Rock Out; 2) No more data entry.

Oct. 12, 2005: No contest today.

Oct. 13, 2005: What does Gary’s roommate Charles teach? CLOSED! Correct answer: Yogic drumming.

Oct. 14, 2005: Right before Schizopolis formed, Gary wrote an anti-war song. What are the lyrics to it? CLOSED! Correct answer: “Have you heard / From Abu Ghraib to Williamsburg, / Can you see / That all of us, we must be free.”

Oct. 17, 2005: According to Gary, which deity should one give thanks to after making out? CLOSED! Correct answer: Davidbowiemarkbolaniancurtisloureediggypop.

Oct. 18, 2005: When trying to recruit him for Schizopolis, Gary tells Jacob that everybody in the band has a certain attitude that makes them special, that makes them perfect for the band—what is that specific attitude (list, please) for each member: Scott, Katherine, Jacob, and Gary? CLOSED! Correct answer: “homotude,” “chickitude,” “negritude,” and “Garytude.”

Oct. 19, 2005: While in college, which gay organizations did Gary support? CLOSED! Correct answer: HOC, Q&A, and OCLesGayTransBiActCo&Sup.

Oct. 20, 2005: What does Gary forget to bring to Schizopolis’s second show? CLOSED! Correct answer: The direct box for his guitar.

Oct. 21, 2005: No quiz today, sorry, please check back on Monday.

Oct. 24, 2005: In Albany, what bands did Gary play in? CLOSED! Correct answer: Gobbler’s Knob, The Chimps, and The School Board.

Oct. 25, 2005: No quiz today, sorry.

Oct. 26, 2005: Special announcement: Because of days we have missed, today’s contest will have three winners, one book per person for the first three people to submit the correct answer to the following question: What is the name of Schizopolis’s album? CLOSED! Correct answer: Dancing about architecture.

Oct. 27, 2005: Gary’s roommate Keith has a dog. What is the dog’s name? CLOSED! Correct answer: Harris Glenn Milstead, Jr.

Oct. 28, 2005: When Gary was in college, he had to give his father a presentation that explained his plan for life. Please provide the text from the first slide of that presentation. CLOSED! Correct answer: 1. Gary Benchley, English Major; Date of graduation: May, 2003; GPA: 3.68; Possibilities: unlimited.

Oct. 31, 2005: Final question! What sort of jewelry does Gary fear Jad will give his mother? CLOSED! Correct answer: A pearl necklace

Thank you to everyone who sent in their guesses, and thanks to Plume for donating the books for this contest. Get your own copy now!