Silliness Quiz - Page 266

Bilbo1967 · 09-18-2011, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Parkinson

Not a clue?

We have a winner!

Well done Shayne - take it away.

Stitchawl · 09-18-2011, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

We have a winner!

Well done Shayne - take it away.

I don't understand...

Stitchawl

Bilbo1967 · 09-18-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I don't understand...

Stitchawl

Well, it's a clue that isn't a clue - just a space. You might look at it and say 'That isn't a clue. The fact that there is no clue as such is a clue in itself! Hence the answer 'not a clue'.

It came from the Daily Telegraph book, 'Eighty Years of Cryptic Crosswords'.

Stitchawl · 09-18-2011, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I don't understand...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Well, it's a clue that isn't a clue - just a space. You might look at it and say 'That isn't a clue. The fact that there is no clue as such is a clue in itself! Hence the answer 'not a clue'.

Oh.... (scratching my head...) This must be like when Polyphemus was shouting that 'No man has blinded me.' Maybe...

Thanks for clearing that up... I think.

Stitchawl

Bilbo1967 · 09-18-2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Oh.... (scratching my head...) This must be like when Polyphemus was shouting that 'No man has blinded me.' Maybe...

Thanks for clearing that up... I think.

Stitchawl

Sort of, yes.

I had to look up the Polyphemus reference - it seems more like Abbot and Costello's 'Who's on first' sketch.

Shayne Parkinson · 09-18-2011, 06:24 AM

Yay! That was a clever one.

Bedtime here, and I think my brain's already gone to sleep. Feel free to pose a question, anyone in a wakeful timezone. If not, I'll come up with one tomorrow.

Shayne Parkinson · 09-18-2011, 05:36 PM

A two-part question:

1. What's the etymology of the word influenza?
2. The 1918 influenza pandemic was often referred to as "the Spanish flu". Why Spanish?

SneakySnake · 09-18-2011, 06:53 PM

I had a bird her name was Enza. I opened the window and in flew Enza!

I think it was because the illness was "influenced" by the moon or something like that.

Did Spanish folks die more often?

Shayne Parkinson · 09-18-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

I think it was because the illness was "influenced" by the moon or something like that.

Yes, that's about it. It's from the Italian influenza, "influence". From the OED's reference:

Quote:

Italian influenza has the various senses of English influence ; but has, besides, developed (apparently from the notion of ‘astral’ or ‘occult influence’) that of ‘visitation’ or ‘outbreak’ of any epidemic disease which assails many people at the same time and place

Quote:

Did Spanish folks die more often?

No, not at all.

Stitchawl · 09-18-2011, 07:22 PM

1. What's the etymology of the word influenza?

People thought it was 'influenced' by a bad confluence of astrological signs.

2. The 1918 influenza pandemic was often referred to as "the Spanish flu". Why Spanish?

Named after the King of Spain, the most famous of its sick.

When I was a kid my father was stationed at Ft. Reilly, Kansas, where the major outbreak started. Our teachers in school they acted as if they were almost proud of the fact when they taught us about it, and I can still remember sitting at the dinner table asking my parents 'why' people would be so proud of something like that!

Stitchawl

Shayne Parkinson · 09-18-2011, 07:29 PM

Very good, Stitchawl! Just an extra subtlety regarding the "Spanish flu": Spain was neutral in WWI, therefore its news reporting was not subject to the censorship prevailing in other countries that might be affected as badly or worse. That, coupled with having such a high-profile sufferer, meant far more news coverage about the 'flu in Spain than anywhere else, giving the impression that it was worst in Spain. Hence "Spanish flu".

Stitchawl · 09-18-2011, 07:36 PM

Sneaky got the first half, and got it first. Let's let her post the next question.

(Isn't this a great cop-out since I can't think of a good question! LOL!)

Stitchawl

SneakySnake · 09-18-2011, 08:52 PM

I have to bail out I afraid. I am supposed to be packing. And still sorting our crap to take. I have to sort out my camera so i can get some photos for the new website I am supposed to be making.

You can guess my flight number if you like. Googling is allowed.

Stitchawl · 09-18-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

I have to bail out I afraid. I am supposed to be packing. And still sorting our crap to take. I have to sort out my camera so i can get some photos for the new website I am supposed to be making.

You can guess my flight number if you like. Googling is allowed.

Just so long as it's not Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 from Sydney...

Question:

What is the common name for "The Decalogue?" (No Googling!)

Stitchawl

WT Sharpe · 09-18-2011, 09:08 PM

Put in spoilers in case others want to keep guessing.

Spoiler:

09-18-2011, 09:08 PM	#3990
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	Put in spoilers in case others want to keep guessing. Spoiler: The 10 Commandments.

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09-18-2011, 06:24 AM	#3981
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	Yay! That was a clever one. Bedtime here, and I think my brain's already gone to sleep. Feel free to pose a question, anyone in a wakeful timezone. If not, I'll come up with one tomorrow.

09-18-2011, 05:36 PM	#3982
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	A two-part question: 1. What's the etymology of the word influenza? 2. The 1918 influenza pandemic was often referred to as "the Spanish flu". Why Spanish?

09-18-2011, 06:53 PM	#3983
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	I had a bird her name was Enza. I opened the window and in flew Enza! I think it was because the illness was "influenced" by the moon or something like that. Did Spanish folks die more often?

09-18-2011, 07:22 PM	#3985
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	1. What's the etymology of the word influenza? People thought it was 'influenced' by a bad confluence of astrological signs. 2. The 1918 influenza pandemic was often referred to as "the Spanish flu". Why Spanish? Named after the King of Spain, the most famous of its sick. When I was a kid my father was stationed at Ft. Reilly, Kansas, where the major outbreak started. Our teachers in school they acted as if they were almost proud of the fact when they taught us about it, and I can still remember sitting at the dinner table asking my parents 'why' people would be so proud of something like that! Stitchawl

09-18-2011, 07:29 PM	#3986
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	Very good, Stitchawl! Just an extra subtlety regarding the "Spanish flu": Spain was neutral in WWI, therefore its news reporting was not subject to the censorship prevailing in other countries that might be affected as badly or worse. That, coupled with having such a high-profile sufferer, meant far more news coverage about the 'flu in Spain than anywhere else, giving the impression that it was worst in Spain. Hence "Spanish flu".

09-18-2011, 07:36 PM	#3987
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	Sneaky got the first half, and got it first. Let's let her post the next question. (Isn't this a great cop-out since I can't think of a good question! LOL!) Stitchawl

09-18-2011, 08:52 PM	#3988
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	I have to bail out I afraid. I am supposed to be packing. And still sorting our crap to take. I have to sort out my camera so i can get some photos for the new website I am supposed to be making. You can guess my flight number if you like. Googling is allowed.

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