LL Study Guide – LL108 Match Day 7

Today’s Study Guide ties together NFL jersey rules and modern tight ends, Scottish Gaelic mountain names, the invention of QR codes at Toyota supplier Denso Wave, a cross‑media phrase linking Wicked: For Good and Take That’s “Back for Good,” Mexico’s two short‑lived empires, and the protein‑eating enzyme in fresh pineapple. Travis Kelce, for example, wears #87 as a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, one of the positions now allowed to use numbers in the 80s under relaxed NFL numbering rules, making him a perfect clue handle for Question 1. (en.wikipedia.org)

Several questions hinge on language and history: the Gaelic generic beinn (“mountain”) that appears in Ben Nevis and Ben Lomond, the 1994 creation of the QR (Quick Response) code by engineer and Go player Masahiro Hara at Denso Wave to track car parts, and Mexico’s First and Second Empires under Agustín de Iturbide and Maximilian I. (translate.com) We finish in the kitchen (and lab) with bromelain from pineapple, a protease that can literally start digesting your mouth—until heat from cooking or canning shuts it down. (sciencedirect.com)

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Study Notes

Question 1: NFL Tight Ends & Jersey Numbers

GAMES/SPORT - Since the relaxation of numbering rules in the National Football League in recent years, nowadays the majority of players who have 2-digit jersey numbers beginning in 8 (such as Travis Kelce, #87 for the Kansas City Chiefs) play what position?

Core fact: The clue is pointing you to the tight end position, a hybrid offensive role that lines up next to the tackle and alternates between blocking and catching passes; Travis Kelce’s #87 for the Chiefs is a classic modern pass‑catching tight end example. (en.wikipedia.org)

After a 2021 rule change, tight ends are formally allowed to wear numbers 0–49 and 80–89, so many TEs still live in the 80s range that older fans associate with receivers, which is exactly what this question is exploiting. (operations.nfl.com)

Connections

• Pop‑culture star power: Travis Kelce’s success as a tight end and his relationship (now engagement) with Taylor Swift have made the #87 tight end jersey one of the most visible pieces of NFL merch, with their relationship and careers dissected weekly on the New Heights podcast. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Podcast crossover: New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce began as a football show but has become a top global sports podcast with major pop‑culture moments, including record‑breaking episodes featuring Swift—an unusual amount of mainstream attention for an offensive lineman and a tight end. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Modern offenses: Articles on contemporary offenses describe the tight end as a mismatch creator who can block like a lineman and run routes like a receiver, a trend you see emphasized in scouting pieces on prospects and scheme breakdowns. (en.wikipedia.org)

Sources

• NFL Jersey Numbers – NFL Football Operations – Details the expanded numbering ranges (0–49, 80–89) now allowed for tight ends and other positions.
• NFL owners pass rule expanding eligible jersey numbers for certain positions – NFL.com – News piece on the 2021 vote to relax jersey number rules and which positions can wear which ranges.
• NFL jersey number rules, explained – Sporting News – Background on how the 2021 changes affected tight ends, receivers, and running backs.
• Tight end – Wikipedia – Explains the hybrid blocking/receiving nature of the tight end position.
• Tight End – NFL Glossary – Short official definition of the tight end’s alignment and responsibilities.
• Travis Kelce – Wikipedia – Confirms that Kelce wears #87 for the Kansas City Chiefs and plays tight end.
• Travis Kelce Player Bio – Kansas City Chiefs – Team bio with jersey number, position, and career highlights.
• ‘New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce’ now available on Prime Video – Amazon – Describes the podcast’s sports/pop‑culture blend and streaming expansion.
• New Heights – Wikipedia – Background on the Kelce brothers’ podcast, its audience, and popularity.
• Selena Gomez Says It’s the ‘Coolest’ That She and Taylor Swift Both Found ‘Good Dudes’ – People – Confirms Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce and how their relationship is discussed publicly.

Question 2: Gaelic Beinn = Mountain

GEOGRAPHY - What is the English meaning of the Gaelic word beinn, which appears in the Anglicized names Ben Nevis, Ben Lomond, Ben Hope, and Ben Macdui?

Core fact: In Scottish Gaelic, beinn (anglicized as ben) is the standard generic word for a mountain or hill/peak, which is why it appears in names like Beinn Nibheis (Ben Nevis) and Beinn Laomainn (Ben Lomond). (translate.com)

Gaelic‑place‑name resources note that beinn is by far the most common “mountain word” in the Munros list, accounting for about a quarter of all 3,000‑foot peaks. (scotlandsnature.wordpress.com)

Connections

• Ben Nevis & whisky labels: Ben Nevis (Beinn Nibheis), the highest mountain in the British Isles at 1,345 m, lends its name and silhouette to Ben Nevis Distillery and numerous beers and outdoor brands—any “Ben Nevis” product is literally branded with “Mount Nevis.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Folk song geography: Ben Lomond (Beinn Laomainn, “beacon mountain”) towers above Loch Lomond and is directly mentioned in the traditional song The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond, so anyone who’s dug into that song’s background has brushed up against Gaelic summit names. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Gaelic landscape vocabulary: Museum and hill‑walking guides explain that beinn is just one of many Gaelic landform generics—others include meall (rounded hill), sgùrr (sharp peak), and stob (rocky top)—so knowing a bit of Gaelic can actually help you visualize a Scottish route just from the map. (glencoemuseum.com)

Sources

• Beinn – Scots Gaelic → English – Simple bilingual dictionary entry giving beinn = “mountain.”
• Scottish Gaelic–English Dictionary: beinn – Confirms beinn translates as “mountain.”
• English–Scottish Gaelic Dictionary: mountain – Shows the reverse mapping: “mountain” → beinn.
• Beinn – Rabbitique etymology – Gives the meaning “mountain, hill, pinnacle,” and traces beinn back to Old Irish and Proto‑Celtic roots.
• How well do you know the Munros? – Scotland’s Nature – Notes that beinn names make up a large share of Munros and discusses its grammatical history.
• What’s in a Name? The Mountains of Glencoe – Glencoe Museum – Glossary listing beinn (anglicised Ben) as “the most common, simply meaning ‘hill’.”
• Ben Nevis – Wikipedia – Confirms the Gaelic name Beinn Nibheis and that Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles.
• Ben Nevis / Beinn Nibheis – Boys’ Brigade Mountaineering Club – Explicitly explains that Ben is the Lowland Scots form of Gaelic beinn meaning “mountain.”
• Ben Lomond – Wikipedia – Gives the translation “beacon mountain” and notes the hill’s role in Scottish culture and in the song “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond.”
• Ben More (Crianlarich) – Wikipedia – Another example where the Gaelic name Beinn Mhòr means “big mountain,” reinforcing the generic beinn.

Question 3: QR Codes & Masahiro Hara

BUS/ECON - What was invented in 1994 by avid Go player Masahiro Hara, while working at Toyota affiliate Denso Wave, for the purpose of tracking car parts in Toyota factories?

Core fact: In 1994, engineer Masahiro Hara at Toyota affiliate Denso Wave created the QR (Quick Response) code, a two‑dimensional barcode that could store far more data than a conventional barcode and be scanned rapidly from any angle to track auto parts on Toyota production lines. (en.wikipedia.org)

Hara has described how his lunchtime games of the board game Go inspired the square position markers and black‑and‑white grid, and Denso later released the QR standard openly, helping it spread into everything from mobile payments to ticketing. (en.wikipedia.org)

Connections

• From factory floor to phone screen: QR codes now underpin mobile payments in China—Alipay introduced QR payments in 2011, WeChat Pay followed in 2014, and by 2018 QR payments accounted for the vast majority of in‑person retail transactions. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Pandemic check‑ins: During COVID‑19, governments in places like Australia and China used venue check‑in QR codes so visitors could scan a code at the door, log their presence, and enable rapid contact tracing if a case appeared there. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Everyday travel & dining: Travel guides and how‑to resources for China describe QR‑based restaurant menus and metro turnstiles where you scan a code in Alipay or WeChat instead of buying paper tickets—exactly the sort of high‑speed interaction Hara had in mind, just far beyond car factories. (hellochina.chat)

Sources

• QR code – Wikipedia – Overview of QR codes, their 1994 invention at Denso Wave, basic structure, and error‑correction features.
• Masahiro Hara – Wikipedia – Biographical article confirming Hara’s role, Go inspiration, and his work at Denso/Denso Wave.
• QRcode® invented by DENSO – Corporate history of the QR code, emphasizing its origin as a solution for tracking automotive parts more efficiently.
• QR Code development story – Denso Wave – Interview‑style piece about the development process and the manufacturing challenges QR codes were designed to solve.
• QR Code 30th anniversary – Denso Wave – Timeline of QR code history, including their first automotive use, later consumer adoption, and international standardization.
• Believing in a Faint Light: Obstacles QR Code developer overcame – Denso – Anniversary interview with Hara, including his memories of using Go patterns to design the code.
• The Complete History of QR Codes – QR Brand Studio – Narrative history of QR codes from Toyota’s factories to global use; helpful for timeline and context.
• Mobile payments in China – Wikipedia – Explains how QR‑based mobile payments became the dominant way to pay in China.
• QR code payment – Wikipedia – Details the growth of QR‑code payments and the role of Alipay and WeChat Pay.
• In China, coins and banknotes have all but disappeared – Le Monde – Journalistic look at how QR‑code mobile payments have displaced cash in everyday Chinese life.
• The Ultimate Guide to Paying in China (2025/2026) – HelloChina – Practical examples of QR ordering in restaurants and metro ticketing via QR codes.
• Check‑in QR code – Wikipedia – Describes how venue QR codes were used for COVID‑19 contact tracing.

Question 4: “For Good” in Film, Pop, and Philanthropy

FILM - What two-word phrase ends the names of a hit 2025 film sequel and a 1995 UK #1 and US top-ten hit by Take That, as well as the names of numerous companies’ philanthropic and social responsibility initiatives?

Core fact: The shared two‑word phrase is “for good”—it appears in the title of the 2025 film sequel Wicked: For Good and in Take That’s 1995 ballad “Back for Good,” which topped the UK Singles Chart and reached #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. (en.wikipedia.org)

“For good” is also widely used in branding for corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, in names like Business for Good, Brands for Good, and B1G1’s Business For Good membership, all explicitly playing on the double meaning of doing “good” and doing it “for good” (permanently). (en.wikipedia.org)

Connections

• Wicked’s emotional anthem: The song “For Good” from the original Wicked stage musical—now reprised by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked: For Good—has become a staple at graduations, farewells, and memorials because its lyrics capture how friendships change us “for good” in both senses of the phrase. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Pop ballad ubiquity: Take That’s “Back for Good” was a massive mid‑’90s hit, topping charts in 31 countries and becoming the group’s signature ballad; it still shows up in film soundtracks, karaoke playlists, and “best boy‑band song” rankings. (en.wikipedia.org)
• CSR language: CSR and social‑impact communities deliberately frame companies as a “force for good” or “business for good,” as seen in the Business for Good Foundation, B1G1’s Business For Good movement for SMEs, and sustainability coalitions like Brands for Good that recruit companies to embed environmental and social purpose into their core brands. (en.wikipedia.org)

Sources

• Wicked: For Good – Wikipedia – Article on the 2025 film sequel, including title history, cast, box office, and awards.
• ‘Wicked: For Good’ trailer released – The Guardian – Coverage of the film’s trailer and its continuation of Wicked’s story.
• “Wicked Part Two” has a new title – Entertainment Weekly – Explains the re‑titling of the sequel to Wicked: For Good and its thematic focus.
• ‘Wicked: For Good’ streaming release – New York Post – Practical details on the film’s digital and home‑media release.
• For Good – Wikipedia – Background on the song “For Good” from Wicked, including its role in the musical and its cultural afterlife.
• Wicked’s Stephen Schwartz Knows You Sing “For Good” at Your Major Life Milestones – ELLE – Interview with the composer on why the song resonates at graduations, funerals, and other milestones.
• Back for Good (song) – Wikipedia – Confirms chart performance (UK #1, US top ten) and international success.
• Number 1 today in 1995: Take That – Back For Good – Official Charts – UK chart commentary on the single’s first‑week sales and impact.
• Take That: their defining moments – Official Charts – Places “Back for Good” in the band’s career and notes its global reach.
• Business for Good Foundation – Wikipedia – Example of a philanthropy‑focused organization explicitly branded “Business for Good.”
• Home – B1G1: Business For Good – Shows B1G1’s tagline and branding around “Business For Good.”
• Small Membership – B1G1 – Explains the licensed use of the “B1G1 Business For Good” logo by member companies.
• Brands for Good – Sustainable Brands – Describes the Brands for Good movement and its mission to make sustainable living aspirational.
• Sustainable Brands Convenes Global Brand Leaders to Launch “Brands for Good” Movement – Launch article for the Brands for Good coalition, illustrating the “for good” naming pattern.

Question 5: Mexico’s First & Second Empires

WORLD HIST - Independence leader Agustín de Iturbide served from 1822 to 1823 as the first emperor of what country? He was the sole ruler of its First Empire, while Maximilian I was the only emperor of its short-lived Second Empire (1863–1867).

Core fact: Agustín de Iturbide (Agustín I) was the first emperor of Mexico, ruling the First Mexican Empire from 1822 until his abdication in 1823; decades later, Archduke Maximilian of Austria became Emperor of the Second Mexican Empire from 1864 to 1867. (britannica.com)

Both empires were short‑lived experiments with monarchy in a newly independent state: the First Empire collapsed amid conflicts between Iturbide and Congress, while the French‑backed Second Empire fell when French troops withdrew and Republican forces under Benito Juárez captured and executed Maximilian. (en.wikipedia.org)

Connections

• Classic Hollywood epics: The 1939 film Juarez, starring Paul Muni and Bette Davis, dramatizes the clash between Emperor Maximilian and President Benito Juárez, while The Mad Empress and the earlier Mexican film Juarez y Maximiliano also depict the rise and fall of the Second Mexican Empire. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Chapultepec Castle: Maximilian turned Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City into his imperial residence—today it’s the National Museum of History and is often cited as the only castle in North America that has served as a royal palace, making it a tangible remnant of Mexico’s imperial experiments. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Recent biography: Edward Shawcross’s book The Last Emperor of Mexico brings Maximilian’s story to a modern audience, tracing how French ambitions and Mexican conservative monarchists recruited a Habsburg archduke to rule a fragile new empire in the Americas. (en.wikipedia.org)

Sources

• Agustín de Iturbide – Britannica – Short biography of Iturbide, confirming his role in independence and his reign as emperor of Mexico (1822–23).
• Agustín de Iturbide – Wikipedia – More detailed account of his career, proclamation as Agustín I, abdication, and execution.
• First Mexican Empire – Wikipedia – Explains the creation and collapse of the First Empire and identifies it explicitly as the Mexican Empire.
• Maximilian I of Mexico – Wikipedia – Biography of Maximilian, including his reign as emperor (1864–67) and execution.
• Second Mexican Empire – Wikipedia – Describes the French‑backed monarchy in Mexico and its end.
• House of Iturbide – Wikipedia – Background on the imperial family established under the First Empire.
• Juarez (1939 film) – Wikipedia – Overview of the Warner Bros. film about Juárez and Maximilian.
• Juarez and Maximilian – Wikipedia – Entry on the 1934 Mexican film dramatizing the same era.
• The Mad Empress – Wikipedia – Article on another 1939 film about Maximilian and Empress Carlota.
• Edward Shawcross – Wikipedia – Confirms authorship and subject of The Last Emperor of Mexico.

Question 6: Pineapple & Bromelain

FOOD/DRINK - What fruit is the primary commercial source of bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins and can begin breaking down the soft tissues of the mouth, tongue, and lips when eaten raw? This enzyme is deactivated by cooking or canning, which is common with the fruit but not required.

Core fact: Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is the main commercial source of bromelain, a mixture of proteolytic (protein‑digesting) enzymes concentrated in the stem and fruit; when you eat fresh pineapple, bromelain can start breaking down proteins in your mouth’s soft tissues, causing a tingling or sore sensation. (sciencedirect.com)

Because bromelain is a protein, heat denatures it, so cooking or canning pineapple (and the associated high‑temperature processing) largely destroys the enzyme, which is why canned pineapple doesn’t sting your mouth or prevent gelatin desserts from setting. (mcgill.ca)

Connections

• Meat tenderizer in your fridge: Food‑science pieces point out that bromelain is so effective at breaking down muscle proteins that fresh pineapple juice is used in meat marinades; leave it too long and the meat turns mushy. (sciencedirect.com)
• Piña colada: Pineapple juice is a core ingredient of the piña colada—Puerto Rico’s official national cocktail since 1978—usually blended with rum and coconut cream. Because the juice is often canned or pasteurized, the bromelain is inactivated, so you get tropical flavor without the mouth burn. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Pizza wars: Pineapple’s starring role on Hawaiian pizza (ham + pineapple) makes it one of the most polarizing toppings in pop food culture, inspiring debates from magazine think‑pieces to presidents joking about banning pineapple on pizza. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Medical uses of bromelain: A concentrated bromelain preparation from pineapple is approved in the EU under the brand Nexobrid for enzymatic debridement of severe burns—essentially the same protein‑dissolving power that tingles your tongue being harnessed in a clinical setting. (en.wikipedia.org)

Sources

• Bromelain – ScienceDirect Topic Overview – Explains that bromelain is a crude extract from pineapple containing several proteases, especially from stem and fruit.
• Bromelain (pharmacology) – Wikipedia – Notes that bromelain is a concentrate of proteolytic enzymes from the pineapple plant and describes its medical uses (e.g., Nexobrid).
• Why does eating pineapple make your mouth tingle? – Live Science – Popular‑science explanation of bromelain’s action on mouth tissues.
• Why Does Pineapple Make Your Mouth Tickle? – McGill OSS – Discusses bromelain, acidity, and why fresh pineapple can irritate the mouth, and why canned pineapple doesn’t.
• Why your mouth burns when you eat pineapple – SBS Food – Another explanation of bromelain as a proteolytic enzyme in fresh pineapple.
• Why pineapple makes your mouth tingle – Telangana Today – Emphasizes bromelain plus pineapple’s natural acidity as causes of the tingling/burning sensation.
• Why Does Pineapple Make My Mouth Hurt? – Alibaba Product Insights – Describes bromelain’s effects on oral tissues and notes that canned pineapple is heat‑treated so the enzyme is inactive.
• Does Cooking Pineapple Destroy Bromelain? – EatingChoice – Summarizes how various cooking methods denature bromelain.
• Is pineapple good for meat? – Institute for Environmental Research and Education – Practical discussion of using fresh pineapple juice as a meat tenderizer.
• Piña colada – Wikipedia – Details the classic cocktail recipe and notes its Puerto Rican origin.
• Classic Cocktails: Piña Colada – Spirited South Florida – Gives the Caribe Hilton recipe and notes that the drink is Puerto Rico’s national cocktail.
• Puerto Rico is the birthplace of Piña Colada – Euronews – Confirms the piña colada’s Puerto Rican origins and its designation as the national drink.
• Classic Cocktails in History: Piña Colada – Alcohol Professor – Discusses competing origin stories and Puerto Rico’s adoption of the drink as its national cocktail.
• Hawaiian pizza – Wikipedia – Notes the ham‑and‑pineapple topping combination and its polarizing reputation.
• So What’s the Deal with Hawaiian Pizza? – HAWAIʻI Magazine – Explores local attitudes toward pineapple on pizza and the mislabeling of the topping as “Hawaiian.”