02-20-2012, 02:03 PM | #5701 |
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Yeah, that's how I felt about Mother of Rivers. I also, frankly, don't get the Rip Van Winkle association. Ol' Rip was from the Catskills.
That's what I liked about the nicknames. So many seemed so, inappropriate? |
02-20-2012, 02:17 PM | #5702 |
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02-20-2012, 02:41 PM | #5703 | |
Now what?
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"During the early 1800s, North Carolina acquired a nickname: “the Rip Van Winkle State.” It was named so because more than few considered the state’s economy to be asleep while neighboring states were bustling with production and trade. In modern politics, the term is used when policy makers oppose or promote certain plans: they want to improve the state’s economy, not take it backward, the argument goes, into its former Rip Van Winkle state." and "There have been conflicting interpretations regarding this nickname. Historian William Powell claims that not much “was going on anywhere” in North Carolina during the early to mid-1800s and that people were satisfied with their backward state of affairs. He also writes that it never occurred to them that the “government might take steps to improve their lot in life.”" Ahhhh, North Carolina, government asleep at the wheel. |
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02-20-2012, 02:54 PM | #5704 |
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02-20-2012, 03:28 PM | #5705 | |||
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Yes, I know that Kansas City is in Missouri. Last edited by Hamlet53; 02-20-2012 at 03:41 PM. |
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02-20-2012, 03:33 PM | #5706 |
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Good Lord, the power of the wild guess is demonstrated! "Mitten State" was the only one I was reasonably sure of, as I'd heard something similar from a Michiganite.
Following a multi-part US question with a relatively straightforward New Zealand one: Some years ago, New Zealand's bank notes were redesigned, and eminent New Zealanders replaced the Queen on all but the $20 note. The People Who Decide Such Things (TPWDST) called for public input on who should grace the notes. The overwhelming favourite was Sir Edmund Hillary. But TPWDST were very reluctant to put Sir Ed on a bank note. Only overwhelming public pressure saw them yield, and Sir Ed duly appears on the $5 note. Why were TPWDST not keen on the idea? |
02-20-2012, 03:40 PM | #5707 | |
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02-20-2012, 03:54 PM | #5708 |
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Yes, exactly, Bilbo. And yes, I believe it's a convention rather than a rule, but generally it's not considered acceptable to have a living person other than a head of state on currency. Fortunately an exception was made for the much-loved Sir Ed.
He was an obliging man, and was often asked to sign $5 notes that had his likeness. Many of those are still around, though not generally in circulation. For those interested, on the notes we have: $5 - Sir Edmund Hillary $10 - Kate Sheppard (suffragist) $20 - Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand $50 - Sir Apirana Ngata (Maori leader) $100- Lord Rutherford of Nelson |
02-20-2012, 05:01 PM | #5709 | |
Publishers are evil!
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In the U.S. our paper currency is often referred to as "Dead Presidents" because dead presidents appear on them. However, two of those "presidents" actually weren't presidents. I think you could probably stop 100 Americans on the street and ask them to name the two individuals who are on our currency that were not presidents and maybe 25% could correctly answer Benjamin Franklin ($100) and Alexander Hamilton ($10). |
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02-20-2012, 05:11 PM | #5710 |
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Woo-hoo! One of my guesses came off
A 'quotes' round now then: 1) Who are the 'him' and 'her' in the famous exchange below? Her: "Sir, if you were my husband, I would give you poison.” Him: “If I were your husband I would take it.” 2. Who said the below, about what? 'God does not play dice" 3. Who allegedly wrote the below in a letter to a newspaper in the late 19th Century? "Don't mind me giving the trade name. Wasnt good enough to post this before I got the red ink off my hands curse it. No luck yet. They say I am a doctor now ha ha"; 4. Who said the below, about whom? "He is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life." 5. Who said the below to a driving instructor, and what country was he in? "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?" 6. Which company said the below, about which band? "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." 7. Who said the below, and where was he? "I am just going outside and may be some time" 8. Who made the candid admission below? "I spent a lot of money on birds, booze and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." 9. Which commentator famously said the below, about which sporting event, in which year? "Some people are on the pitch! They think it's all over!" 10. Who, almost certainly apocryphally, said, "Good luck Mr. Gorsky"? Last edited by Bilbo1967; 02-20-2012 at 05:16 PM. |
02-20-2012, 05:29 PM | #5711 |
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1. Nancy Astor, Winston Churchill
7. Oates, with the Scott expedition in Antarctica |
02-20-2012, 05:31 PM | #5712 | |
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Four points to you. The Nancy Astor/Winston Chuchill one always makes me smile. The Captain Oates one always makes me appreciate the bravery of people that did that kind of thing. Last edited by Bilbo1967; 02-20-2012 at 05:33 PM. |
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02-20-2012, 05:33 PM | #5713 |
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1) Who are the 'him' and 'her' in the famous exchange below?
Her: "Sir, if you were my husband, I would give you poison.” Him: “If I were your husband I would take it.” Her: Margaret Dumont Him: Groucho Marx Wrong I already see now. 2. Who said the below, about what? 'God does not play dice" Albert Einstein about the universe (referring to quantum mechanics) 3. Who allegedly wrote the below in a letter to a newspaper in the late 19th Century? "Don't mind me giving the trade name. Wasnt good enough to post this before I got the red ink off my hands curse it. No luck yet. They say I am a doctor now ha ha"; 4. Who said the below, about whom? "He is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life." Muhammad Ali about Joe Frazier 5. Who said the below to a driving instructor, and what country was he in? "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?" 6. Which company said the below, about which band? "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." ? about the Beatles 7. Who said the below, and where was he? "I am just going outside and may be some time" 8. Who made the candid admission below? "I spent a lot of money on birds, booze and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." 9. Which commentator famously said the below, about which sporting event, in which year? "Some people are on the pitch! They think it's all over!" 10. Who, almost certainly apocryphally, said, "Good luck Mr. Gorsky"? Last edited by Hamlet53; 02-20-2012 at 05:42 PM. |
02-20-2012, 05:39 PM | #5714 |
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Number 1 Issybird already has correct. Although I could definitely hear Groucho saying that!
Number 2, yes, correct on both parts. Number 4, yes, spot on. Number 6, it was The Beatles, yes. Five points to you. |
02-20-2012, 05:41 PM | #5715 |
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Picking some not yet answered:
5. Who said the below to a driving instructor, and what country was he in? "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?" Sounds like Prince Philip. 6. Which company said the below, about which band? "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." EMI (Yes, Beatles) 10. Who, almost certainly apocryphally, said, "Good luck Mr. Gorsky"? Neil Armstrong on the Moon. |
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