The "Repping" Room

[Oldschool]

Along the same lines as the old forum's "Millionaire" thread.

What does Neil Young's "My My, Hey Hey" (not to be confused with "Hey Hey, My My) and Def Leppard's "Rock of Ages" have in common.

[psychoadept]

"It's better to burn out than fade away"

But I had to look it up, so I don't really want credit...

[Oldschool]

"It's better to burn out than fade away"

But I had to look it up, so I don't really want credit...

OK - folks the rep is still up since the one I just gave psychoadept was for his honesty and overall forum/Sryth presence.

[Oldschool]

Times up and Psychoadept was correct. Both songs had the line "it's better to burn out than to fade away" in them.

[Oldschool]

Hopefully this one will produce more interest than the last since we seem to have our own fan base on here.

What did TSR stand for and what was their first published game?

HINT: Think out of the traditional box.

[Badstench]

I bought the box set of Dungeons & Dragons, though I'm not sure what edition it was.

I vaguely remember the name of the module was something like, "Expedition to the Barrier Peaks"... but I might be confusing it with another module.

I think I knew what TSR stood for way back then, but danged if I can think of it now

[Maskull]

Are you talking about Gygax's TSR, Tactical something or other. (Brain cells on overload, zzztttt.) I think their first published game was Dragons and Roundheads, or something close.

[thingirl]

Umm, Tactical Srtatigic Reaoning. And my game answer is the same as Maskull's: Dragons and Roundheads.

[Oldschool]

Close but no cigars but reps to all the participants nonetheless.

TSR stood for Tactical Studies Rules and their first published game was Cavaliers and Roundheads - based upon Chainmail Rules which was created by Gary Gygax and others in a wargaming club (Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association (had to google that one myself)). Chainmail of course was published prior to this (yes a trick question) and a bit before my gaming time although I remember it either being a supplement or used when playing the original D&D (white box). :p Incidentally, Cavaliers and Roundheads was based upon the English Civil War.

Expedition to Barrier Peaks (a module set on a crashed starship) was one of the S series modules along with White Plume Mountain, The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth and Tomb of Horrors a definite superfecta of modules. Sometime later they were compiled like the Giant series and others into one module.

[thingirl]

Umm, just asking, are you going to make up any more questions?

[Oldschool]

Yes. However, any and everyone feel free to post your own - much like the Millionaire thread on the old forum.

In the meantime.

This "standard" by Judas Priest is actually a cover song.

The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Prong Crown) (http://vodpod.com/watch/1182746-judas-priest-the-green-manalishi-live-1986)

Name the original artist/band. And "if it's too loud you're too old." ;)

Had to steer away from YouTube for spoiler reasons.

[smv1973]

Peter Green

[Oldschool]

Peter Green

Correct and repped.

For you folks that don't recognize the name (shame on you) he was a member of (Peter Green's) Fleetwood Mac which also had another song that became a famous cover - Black Magic Woman later covered by Santana.

Here's the original version of The Green Manalishi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59GGJShZQWM

[Oldschool]

Alright since that was so quick here's another....

All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix was actually a cover.

Name the original artist/band.

[Dinkem]

Bob Dylan?

[smv1973]

Bob Dylan from the album John Wesley Harding released in 12/'67

[Oldschool]

Correct both of you.

[Badstench]

July 30 was the birthday of Kate Bush. Her greatest musical hit was the song, Wuthering Heights, which she wrote herself.

What is coincidental about this?

[Doolipalally]

Had a hunch, which I had to go and confirm - July 30 is also the birthday of the author of the novel Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë.


Nice question!

[Badstench]

Well done, Dooli... and I bet I know where you found that little bit of info.

You be repped!

[Maskull]

What was Pinwren's job and skill?

(Sorry if this is about the game, but I want to see how good your memory is.)

[psychoadept]

Totally random: does anybody know what the songs Chinese Burn by Curve and Living Dead Girl [Subliminal Seduction Mix] by Rob Zombie have in common?

[Oldschool]

Drawing a blank on both Maskull's and Psychoadept's questions.

Checked the wiki on Maskull's and google'd Psychoadept's (I think I've got it) so I won't post answers.

If it's what I "found" Psychoadept it is indeed very random - good one.

[Maskull]

Hint: Pinwren's job and skill specialty is only mentioned briefly once in one very short paragraph when you do something to her. (I doubt it's in the wiki either - since I wrote that page, haha. Answer will be in my next post tomorrow, but let me rep you before then...)

[Oldschool]

Hint: Pinwren's job and skill specialty is only mentioned briefly once in one very short paragraph when you do something to her. (I doubt it's in the wiki either - since I wrote that page, haha. Answer will be in my next post tomorrow, but let me rep you before then...)

Actually I couldn't find any reference there so I looked on the old wiki which helped me - partly.

[psychoadept]

If it's what I "found" Psychoadept it is indeed very random - good one.

Huh, googling gets me a different answer than the one I had in mind, but it's very similar. Credit should certainly go to either answer...

[Maskull]

When you subdue Pinwren - a sad affair altogether since it would have been better to let her go - it mentions on the screen just before battle that she is a master of unarmed combat and is a Captain of the local militia in Greenmarsh (but by then she's no match for your steel and grit).

[thingirl]

OK, I have 1. What in the world is a pudding string and how would I know about it (I'm only less than 18:D)? And yes, I do have the answer. Contest closes in a week or when the correct answer is given.

[psychoadept]

Totally random: does anybody know what the songs Chinese Burn by Curve and Living Dead Girl [Subliminal Seduction Mix] by Rob Zombie have in common?

In case anyone was dying to know: my association for these is that they're both songs Faith dances to in Buffy/Angel. The both seem to have been used in La Femme Nikita, too, though.

[Doolipalally]

I did wonder! Repped for a good question.

[thingirl]

We, jokeingly, call one of our teachers at church Buffy, because she watches/ watched that show.

[Oldschool]

In case anyone was dying to know: my association for these is that they're both songs Faith dances to in Buffy/Angel. The both seem to have been used in La Femme Nikita, too, though.


My googling turned up the Buffy/Angel connection. Didn't find the Nikita connection however.

[thingirl]

OK, I have 1. What in the world is a pudding string and how would I know about it (I'm only less than 18:D)? And yes, I do have the answer. Contest closes in a week or when the correct answer is given.

Is "what is a pudding string" too hard? You don't have to answer how I learnned about it. You can use Google, just please say so.

[Doolipalally]

Is "what is a pudding string" too hard? You don't have to answer how I learnned about it. You can use Google, just please say so.

I was wondering if it was a trick question. I mean, I was assuming a pudding string might be a string you tie up a pudding with, but that seemed too obvious.

Having googled, it seems that a pudding string's something cats run away with :)

[thingirl]

Close enough. It's from a rime.

"Sing, sing, what shall I sing?
The cat's und away with the pudding string.
Do, do, what shall I do?
The cat has bittten it qiute in two!"

In the days bfore instint pudding, you had boiled pudding. It was a solid lump that dissolven in water. The pudding was put in the middle of a square of cloth and the cloth was gathered up around the ball and tied with a string (aka, the pudding string). This trailing string was irrestiable to house cats, so they often ran away with the string, only to find the pudding still attached.

[zmflavius]

Thread's a bit dead, so I thought I'd revive it:

What is the pattern here (don't say fibonacci, it's not fibonacci, I modified it a bit, though it's not that hard)?

11235813471123

[Young Ned]

It's like Fibonacci in that you're adding two consecutive digits to get the next one each time. The difference is that when they add up to a 2-digit number, you're treating each digit as a separate number to be added up.

So: 1 + 1 = 2, 1 + 2 = 3, 2 + 3 = 5, 3 + 5 = 8, 5 + 8 = 13, 1 + 3 = 4, and so on.

[zmflavius]

Correct!

(And repped)

[thingirl]

It would have been a lot easier if you had put spaces in between. And of course you post it right after dad kicks me off the comp.

[Havoc]

Ok, here's a series to try out. No googling.

1
11
21
1211
111211
311221

EDIT: No searching of any kind. Wikipedia, yahoo, bing. Just use the stuff between your ears.

[thingirl]

Stop vexing my brain :p

This will be interesting to find. Hey, you didn't say no wikipedia. I'm loging off now.

EDIT: It's imposable to find anyway. Although I only spent a few minutes looking...

[Doolipalally]

Ok, here's a series to try out. No googling.

1
11
21
1211
111211
311221

EDIT: No searching of any kind. Wikipedia, yahoo, bing. Just use the stuff between your ears.

I thought I had it, but then I realised that if I was right it ought to go:

1
11
21
1211
111221
312211

and then

13112221
1113213211

Havoc, am I barking up completely the wrong tree?

[Havoc]

Have a superpowered +10 rep for a very quick correct answer.

[Doolipalally]

Thank you! It's good to know my brain has finally woken up today, even if it has taken about 13 hours...

[Young Ned]

So how does it work?

[Havoc]

I'll give you the same clue the GM gave us in Stonesong Part deux. Use your ears.

[thingirl]

I still have no idea. Oh, and thank you mr. admin, although, that was kind of funny.

[Badstench]

Which band woke up with a monster?

[smv1973]

Which band woke up with a monster?

Is it Monster Magnet.

[zmflavius]

A cheap lame riddle I didn't even invent.

What do you call a fish with no eyes? (Please don't answer KOL people)

[thingirl]

Umm, a blind fish?

[Oldschool]

Which band woke up with a monster?

Cheap Trick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSFMfnysr9A)

[smv1973]

Cheap Trick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSFMfnysr9A)

I was not even thinking of it being a song title.

[Badstench]

Clue: It's another band.

In which Pink Floyd album would you hear a voice saying, "I'm absolutlely fucking mad"? (The use of profanity was a quote... it was part of the question... sorry).

1) Meddle
2) Dark Side of the Moon
3) The Wall
4) The Final Cut

[psychoadept]

Clue: It's another band.

In which Pink Floyd album would you hear a voice saying, "I'm absolutlely fucking mad"? (The use of profanity was a quote... it was part of the question... sorry).

1) Meddle
2) Dark Side of the Moon
3) The Wall
4) The Final Cut

Dark Side of the Moon, of course. Though it's actually "I've been mad for f---ing years, absolutely years." (I had to look it up to get the exact quote; I don't know the album THAT well...)

[Badstench]

One of my favourite quiz questions is:

How do you pronounce the capital of New Zealand?

a) Orkland
b) Oakland
c) Arkland

The answer is, of course, Wellington.

The Pink Floyd Question stands

[psychoadept]

Does anybody know without googling what Anthony Stewart Head and Tim Curry have in common?

[Doolipalally]

The Rocky Horrow Show. Both have played Frank N. Furter. (And I wish I'd seen Anthony Head in that role!)

EDIT: Sorry Badstench, but I have zero Pink Floyd knowledge...

[Oldschool]

No searching please.

Where does the following Sryth item come from - it's still currently available by the way.

Item 448: Ring of Healing (Magical) Armour, Finger

Encumbrance: 1
Power: Minor Healing
This piece of magical armour will protect your finger.

[scout1idf]

I won't answer since I had to search, but it sure would have came in handy for Ulric. I didn't start him with restoration. **bangs head on a brick wall**
I almost restarted him soon after his creation......

[thingirl]

That item is in the invintory of one of the pre-gens, I forget which one. Or is it from one of the startups? I know it's one or the other.

[Oldschool]

One of the pre-gens - repped.

Here's another nice item from one of them.

Item 447: Redwyn's Mage Gloves (Magical) Armour, Hands

Encumbrance: 4
Stamina Points: 3
Nevernal Reserve: 4
Aura: 1
Mind: 1
Spirit: 1
This piece of magical armour will protect your hands.

For anyone interested the wiki has a page on the pre-generated characters and start up items.

http://sryth.wikia.com/wiki/Pre-Generated

http://sryth.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Startup_Items

[zmflavius]

One of the pre-gens - repped.

Here's another nice item from one of them.

Item 447: Redwyn's Mage Gloves (Magical) Armour, Hands

Encumbrance: 4
Stamina Points: 3
Nevernal Reserve: 4
Aura: 1
Mind: 1
Spirit: 1
This piece of magical armour will protect your hands.

For anyone interested the wiki has a page on the pre-generated characters and start up items.

http://sryth.wikia.com/wiki/Pre-Generated

http://sryth.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Startup_Items

interesting...a pair of gloves with a NV boost. Never seen something like that before, though their SP bonus is too small to merit regular use in the late game.

[psychoadept]

(And I wish I'd seen Anthony Head in that role!)


Should have guessed you'd know this one. :) I wish I'd seen him, too. I got to see him do Sweet Transvestite live at a con once, which was fun.

[Oldschool]

No googling please.

Who/what is/was Vermithrax Pejorative ?

Hint: Fantasy-themed

[Oldschool]

No googling please.

Who/what is/was Vermithrax Pejorative ?

Hint: Fantasy-themed

Where's a Dragonslayer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonslayer) when you need one? Vermithrax Pejorative (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmdeh5_boCE) was the dragon in the film Dragonslayer.

[texlaw1992]

Isn't it funny to think that Dragonslayer was THE fantasy movie at the time? I saw it in the theatre with different friends about four times, then Time Bandits came out and I never watched Dragonslayer again.

[scout1idf]

Where's a Dragonslayer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonslayer) when you need one? Vermithrax Pejorative (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmdeh5_boCE) was the dragon in the film Dragonslayer.

I had to Google it so I didn't answer.....

I liked the movie though...

[Badstench]

In each of the LOTR movies, Peter Jackson (the director) played a cameo appearance.

In The Fellowship: name the town in which he appeared.

In The Two Towers: Name the weapon he weilded.

In The Return of The King: say his last spoken line.

Google if you like.

[Doolipalally]

Bother it, I can do the first two without Googling, but I didn't know he said anything in The Return of the King.

[Badstench]

Hint: This only appeared in the Director's cut. Peter jackson was one of the Pirates.

[Doolipalally]

Hint: This only appeared in the Director's cut. Peter jackson was one of the Pirates.

I knew that, but I still didn't know he said anything!

[Badstench]

Yep... he said... "Aarrgh"

[Badstench]

Okay... and just because I like the LOTR movies, he's another slightly askew interpretation of film vs book...

In the movie, Dol Guldur was mentioned briefly.... by who?

[Elrond]

Does anyone remember/know who Hokmunwa is?

[Doolipalally]

Dammit, now I have two questions niggling at my brain. I refuse to Google.

[scout1idf]

Does anyone remember/know who Hokmunwa is?

Dammit, now I have two questions niggling at my brain. I refuse to Google.

Tried Google, didn't have a clue. At least spelled "Hokmunwa"

[thingirl]

Knowing him, it's probably some back character in one of Tolkien's works, except spelled wrong. BUT, that's probably just what he WANTS us to think, so probably not.

[wetheril]

Does anyone remember/know who Hokmunwa is?

Nope, and googling doesn't turn up any results either. So I'm in agreement with Scout there.

[thingirl]

He probably switched the order of two of the letters.

[wetheril]

He probably switched the order of two of the letters.

It's amusing how you two pick on each other's spellings. :p

[Elrond]

Lol .... I did not misspell the name since I copied it from the source, which is a fantasy work. So it isn't a real life name.

[thingirl]

Still, google not showing up ANYTHING!!! Coppy as in coppy/paste from an internet page, or coppy as in type it while looking at the word?

[Doolipalally]

Well, once I'd worked out that what I was thinking of was a Feist magician and therefore completely irrelevant I had to admit defeat.

For what it's worth, I will eat one of Oldschool's crows if that's a Tolkien name. It looks like it derives from either an Asian or Native American language, and as far as I know those are two places Tolkien didn't go for inspiration.

[Elrond]

Well, once I'd worked out that what I was thinking of was a Feist magician and therefore completely irrelevant I had to admit defeat.

For what it's worth, I will eat one of Oldschool's crows if that's a Tolkien name. It looks like it derives from either an Asian or Native American language, and as far as I know those are two places Tolkien didn't go for inspiration.

No worries, Dooli! You won't have to eat a crow! It isn't Tolkien. It is by an American writer with links to Britain. The writer is a "he," not a "she!" And his first initial is M. :)

Ok, here is a spoiler if you cannot resist:

Hokmunwa: a good-hearted Ogre!

[zmflavius]

No worries, Dooli! You won't have to eat a crow! It isn't Tolkien. It is by an American writer with links to Britain. The writer is a "he," not a "she!" And his first initial is M. :)

Ok, here is a spoiler if you cannot resist:

Hokmunwa: a good-hearted Ogre!

From Saarngard right?

[thingirl]

Of course. His other obsession. I'm so dumb.

[Doolipalally]

Doh!!

(considers eating said crow anyway)

Very very nice question. Rep on its way when I can!


EDIT: Badstench, I think we've all given up on who mentions Dol Guldur. Can you put us out of our misery?

[Badstench]

You know Dooli... when I asked that question, I had recently watched the LOTR movie, director's cut... and thought, "That's interesting. I don't remember any mention of Dol Guldur previously"

And now I can't remember who mentioned it, but the fact that it was the director's cut makes me think it was either Celeborn or Galadriel during the sojourn of the Fellowship in Lothlorien... or... it was Gandalf during his discussion with Saruman regarding the finding of the ring and the concurrent emergence of a "nameless terror" in the depths of Mirkwood at Dol Guldur (after which, Saruman tried to convince Gandalf to join him in the coming war against Men).

The latter seems most likely, now I come to think of it.

[spencer]

Easy peasy...who or what is the following haiku about?

On that verdant green
beneath the infinite blue
Say Hey bests the wind

[Young Ned]

I'm guessing "Say Hey" Willie Mays?

[Lightwielder]

Here's a rep' opportunity. In Sryth, most players have heard of Megnun's Warblade. Most powerful sword on Tally's shelves. Where does Megnun come from?

[Elrond]

Here's a rep' opportunity. In Sryth, most players have heard of Megnun's Warblade. Most powerful sword on Tally's shelves. Where does Megnun come from?

Naidor (I hope that's right! I didn't check the game before posting; but I owned the blade for a month or two).

[Lightwielder]

Excellent. You are correct. Here's another one.

What is the name of the fortress that Megnun resides in?
(Elrond, you can't answer this because I just repped you.)

[Elrond]

Excellent. You are correct. Here's another one.

What is the name of the fortress that Megnun resides in?
(Elrond, you can't answer this because I just repped you.)

Dang! I cannot answer because ..... I don't know the answer :p . I'll have to go to the Wiki to learn the answer!

[Lightwielder]

Any other takers? Any, at all?

[Oldschool]

Yeah but I had to take a look at the blade to get my answer so I'll spoiler it.

Tharandral Keep

[Lightwielder]

Again, correct.

[spencer]

I'm guessing "Say Hey" Willie Mays?

That is correct of course, Young Ned, sorry for the delay in getting back here.

[Oldschool]

Led Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore is the band's only studio version song to feature a guest vocalist - who is it.

There are two other personnel "irregularities" about this piece (think who plays what) - what are they.

[Badstench]

Part 2 answered first - John Paul Jones plays rythm guitar instead of bass. Jimmy Page plays mandolin instead of lead guitar.

I can't think of the guest artist lest I Google, so I'll leave that one to somebody else.

[Oldschool]

Part two correct and repped. And I didn't think about this til just now - John Bonham traded his drums in for a tambourine.

This is also one of a few songs by Led Zeppelin that is or contains a J.R.R. Tolkien reference. Appropriate since I'm watching Fellowship on TNT as I type.

EDIT: On most of the concert versions John Paul Jones sang with Plant - occasionally Bonham would.

[Oldschool]

Hint for the previous question: The guest vocalist is female and appears in my current tag.

Just noticed in Badstench's latest Birthday post that today is JRR Tolkens birthday. So......

As I mentioned previously Led Zeppelin has other songs that have Tolkien references. Also another of my favorite bands, Rush, have some as well. Name songs by either band that have Tolkien references.

Edit: Also anyone feel free to chime in with other musical or other Tolkien references. There are several heavy metal, emphasis on heavy, bands that have Tolkien references.

[Badstench]

I've never listened to Rush, so can't do that part of the question

Led Zep songs include:
The Battle of Evermore
Ramble On
Stairway To Heaven (a very obscure reference)

And in humming a few other tunes in my head, I suddenly developed a desire to listen to all things Led Zeppelin, so if I come across any more, I'll let you know...

I think there's at least one reference on Physical Grafitti.

[Oldschool]

Nicely done and repped Badstench.

There's a couple more that I'm thinking about although none of them appear on Physical Graffiti - that's not to say that there isn't one.

One song each appears on Led Zeppelin III, Houses of the Holy and another appears on Led Zeppelin IV. Although the reference on their third album isn't on the original studio version. Like the Joni Mitchell reference in Going to California it's "threw in" in live versions.

About the reference in Stairway to Heaven. It's often disputed and I've read that Page and/or Plant have stated that it is not a Tolkien reference. However I've only read sources claiming that they said such. I've not read any direct quote from either stating that.

Folks you be the judge.

"There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold."

"There's a feeling I get when I look to the west."
"And my spirit is crying for leaving."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDm3TxjW_gw

[Oldschool]

Stairway to Heaven's intro is similar to a song by a band they toured with in '68 or '69.

Name the song and/or the band.

[Badstench]

eek... is there a reference to this in the "Birthdates"... Events?

By the way... did you notice that John Paul Jones has his birthday on the same day as J R R Tolkien?

[Oldschool]

eek... is there a reference to this in the "Birthdates"... Events?

By the way... did you notice that John Paul Jones has his birthday on the same day as J R R Tolkien?

If there's a reference I've overlooked it - I was referring to the fact the your post mentioned Tolkien's birthday. Also the LOTR trilogy is on TNT this weekend. The combo got me thinking Tolkien...

Never realized JRR Tolkien and John Paul Jones shared birthdays until I read your post. Thanks for pointing that out.

I've never listened to Rush, so can't do that part of the question



You should give 'em a try. YouTube is full of their stuff.

EDIT: And in case Badstench isn't pulling my leg....

I figure you've heard a few of their songs on radio - Tom Sawyer, Spirit of Radio, New World Man to name a few.

One of my faves is 2112. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEW2-k0EoyE) Here's part two. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SozTRnBbTsU&feature=related)

[Badstench]

Listening to your necro-thread as I type this...

The Led Zep question... was it Vanilla Fudge?

[Oldschool]

The Led Zep question... was it Vanilla Fudge?

The band is Spirit and the song is Taurus. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogTFdlbup24)

Actually I stumbled across that after you mentioned Stairway to Heaven having a Tolkien reference when I was trying to confirm if Page or Plant actually said it did or didn't.

[Badstench]

Supposition to this comment from Oldschool:
About the reference in Stairway to Heaven. It's often disputed and I've read that Page and/or Plant have stated that it is not a Tolkien reference. However I've only read sources claiming that they said such. I've not read any direct quote from either stating that.

Folks you be the judge.

"There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold."

The passage from The Lord of the Rings had the wording differently: "All that is gold does not glitter".

Now, I will accept that Jimmy Page didn't consciously transpose this line to "Stairway to Heaven", but he was influenced by J R R Tolkien's book in many of his early lyrics.

I'm betting the line in the song was influenced by the written comment, even if Jimmy says otherwise.

Robert Plant wrote lyrics that were grounded in reality, so he wouldn't have penned those lines. Why? Because gold doesn't glitter - it shines, and only if it's refined and polished and a light is thrown onto it. Gold, in it's natural state, is dull.

But let's go back to Tolien's phrase, "All that is gold does not glitter".

The thing to take note of is that J R R Tolkien was a philologist and a very brilliant linguist. He was conversant with English in modern and ancient forms, and he also spoke French and German. He 'invented' languages... elvish and khazad (dwarven), not to mention The Black Tongue.

Tolkien was a clever man, and he wouldn't write something without giving it some thought first, especially if it was central to a story as indepth as "The Book of Redmarch!" (Sideways comment... this title actually makes more sense if given the German spelling, "Roten März". It literally translates as "red march", but if the term is used to describe a place, the German "mach", which means 'make', comes into effect).

Where were we? Oh yes... "All that is gold does not glitter".

There is a misconception that this phrase refers to the One Ring... it doesn't! It actually refers to heir of the throne of Gondor. The complete phrase is as follows:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

Tolkien wrote his story on many levels, and to understand what he was truly driving at would take the reader beyond mere story-telling.

The reason why people like Jimmy Page grasped Tolkien's words to the extent that he would include them in his own writings was that.... Tolkien touched people on a subliminal level; he touched our souls within a story that encompassed good and evil, right and wrong.

And he did it such a way that didn't sound like we were being preached to.

And that's where I should end this thesis, but for one telling point that might get me in a whole heap of trouble....

J R R Tolkien was a master of the written word. He knew how to phrase a sentence, how to place a punctuation mark, how to tweak an emotion. The world he created became a fantasy realm that hundred of thousands of people wanted to believe in. It was a world of black and white... good and evil.

And guess what? When he wrote the phrase, "All that is gold does not glitter", he was referring to something deeper thasn the story itself.

[Oldschool]

Nicely stated Badstench. I agree and believe there are Tolkien inspired lyrics there whether penned intentionally or subconsciously.

[Oldschool]

Since I seem to keep getting sidetracked I'll try to get it outta my system.

The guest vocalist on Battle of Evermore is Sandy Denny the premier British folk rock singer. She had a distinguished solo career and was also part of Fairport Convention (see my current tag) as well as the Strawbs and Fotheringay.

The other songs by Led Zeppelin with Tolkien references are Misty Mountain Hop (IV), Over the Hills and Far Away (Houses of the Holy) and Bron Y Aur Stomp (III).

Bron Y Aur Stomp is a song about Plant's dog Strider. The last line in the song is, "Hear me call your name". In live versions he'd often yell Strider after that line. The title comes from the name of a cottage where much of their third album was wrote.

I'm not sure there are any Tolkien references in Over the Hills and Far Away as that's open to interpretation. It's listed on several sites but I can't find a Tolkien influence and probably shouldn't have listed it.

The two Rush songs are Rivendell (not their typical fare) and The Necromancer. Necromancer is a name given to Sauron in The Hobbit.

Also metal band Flotsam and Jetsam's (current tag) was inspired by the chapter of the same name in The Two Towers.

Here's an interesting site I just came across, http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Main_Page

As I mentioned before several metal bands have Tolkien inspired works or names. I've got a wide range of musical interests and am fairly knowledgeable on both subjects but I had no idea there were this many Tolkien inspired bands/artists.

http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Music

Here's another I just found as well. It also has a nice links section/page.

http://www.tolkien-music.com/

Also I found this interesting. According to one site the Beatles wanted to adapt the LOTR for film. Well I did some checking, apparently it's true. http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/28/rings.beatles/

[Doolipalally]

Have to chuck my two cents in here, as I'm twitching slightly about this 'All that is gold does not glitter' business.

It's a proverb. It goes way back. You can find it in Shakespeare's 'Merchant of Venice' (OK, so he says 'glisters' rather than 'glitters', but he's allowed to.)
Usual form is 'All that glitters is not gold'. Tolkien transposed the wording to make it scan, and then expanded the theme to tell us something important about Aragorn, but he did not invent the phrase.

So if Led Zep say it isn't a Tolkien reference I'm more than happy to believe them. Hey, maybe they felt like referencing Shakespeare. Or, according to this guy (http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/18/messages/56.html) they could have been referencing Chaucer, Bacon, Dryden, Spenser or Cervantes.

Sorry for the rant, but as a Tolkien fan I get twitchy when other Tolkien fans want to see the whole world in terms of Tolkien (not that I'm saying that's what either of you are doing!). One of the things I like about him is that he was quite happy to 'stand on the shoulders of giants'.

[Oldschool]

Nice post Dooli. In light of it and the following links I'll have to revise my opinion about the inspiration behind those lines in Stairway to Heaven.

It would also appear others share your feelings re: Stairway to Heaven's lyrics.

From, http://www.tolkien-music.com/exclusions.html

No song has been the object of more attempts by Tolkien fans to wrench Middle-earth allusions than "Stairway to Heaven"—after all, "Stairway" is arguably Zeppelin's greatest song, and Tolkien is the greatest fantasy author of all time, so there must be a connection between them! Or must there? The usual tactic is to read "the lady we all know" as a thinly disguised Galadriel. There are, however, no elements in the song that necessitate this reading. In his biography of the band, Stephen Davis writes that the lady "is a paradigm of Spencer's Faerie Queen, Robert Graves' White Goddess, and every other Celtic heroine—the Lady of the Lake, Morgana La Fay, Diana of the Fields Greene, Rhiannon the Nightmare. Robert [Plant] had been poring through the works of the British antiquitarian Lewis Spence. He later cited Spence's "Magic Arts in Celtic Britain" as one of the sources for the lyrics to "Stairway."" (Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga New York: Ballantine Books, 1985 p. 132) Plant may well have imagined Tolkien's heroine as fitting within this larger mythological tradition, but there is nothing about the story he tells that is unique to Galadriel. If "Stairway" is Tolkien-inspired, it can only be thought of as such in the broadest of terms. Robert Plant obviously had no qualms about alluding to The Lord of the Rings when he wanted to, as is seen from the famous reference to Ringwraiths in "The Battle of Evermore." The fact that he didn't make any clear Tolkien reference in "Stairway" suggests rather strongly that he never intended to do so. I rest my case.

As well as this, http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Stairway_to_Heaven

Nice to note both these links are off the two sites I listed previously. Seems both sites are interested in getting to the bottom of things and finding genuine Tolkien references.

[Oldschool]

OK next question and it does NOT involve music or Tolkien. :D

No googling please.

What did Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis have in common?

[zmflavius]

OK next question and it does NOT involve music or Tolkien. :D

No googling please.

What did Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis have in common?

They wrote fiction?


Like, Dystopian fiction?

[thingirl]

I think you mean allorgiories (or however you spell it...) like how Aslan = Jesus.

[zmflavius]

I think you mean allorgiories (or however you spell it...) like how Aslan = Jesus.

I don't mean Allegories.



I REALLY would not want to know what sort of allegory Aldous Huxley had in mind while he was writing Brave New World if that's the case.

[thingirl]

Ehh, I haven't actually read any of his works. I just wanted to know how to spell the word :p

[Oldschool]

Nice try but not what I was looking for.

Here's a hint. No googling of the hint either please as it'll be easily revealed I'm guessing.

Hint: The novel Heaven and Hell by Peter Kreeft

[Doolipalally]

I didn't Google the hint, but I did read through the Wikipedia articles on both Huxley and Lewis and found that

they both died on the same day that JFK was assassinated

Also,

they both wrote works which referred to 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' by William Blake: Lewis' 'The Great Divorce' and Huxley's 'The Doors of Perception'. I like the fact that the former was inspired by Lewis' Christian beliefs and the latter by Huxley's experiments with psychedelic drugs - two different people arriving at related points from completely different directions.

Nice question! That's a good addition to my interesting trivia list :)

[Oldschool]

Nice Dooli as I wasn't aware of the second at all - repped. And I only found out the first the day I posted it. I try to hit a couple trivia sites every now and then to add to my own list as well. Thought some folks would find that interesting as I did.

[Young Ned]

Edit: Also anyone feel free to chime in with other musical or other Tolkien references.

I hate to do this to you, but you literally asked for it, so: in what is probably the lowest point of his career -- nay, of anyone's career, anywhere -- Leonard Nimoy sings "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPh12Q7cpeE)

Isn't YouTube amazing? Or perhaps "disgusting" is a better word? ;)

[Oldschool]

Young Ned - that needed a warning - lol. At least there was no mind meld involved or I'd have given myself a Vulcan nerve pinch. :cool:

He's no Joni Mitchell but actually Nimoy doesn't have that bad of a singing voice, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W69_mV57-_0

Also Nichelle Nichols has a nice voice, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coc4uWi8R9U&feature=related

William Shatner - you decide, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN3MGN899yE

[Young Ned]

I thought I did give a warning: "in what is probably the lowest point of his career -- nay, of anyone's career, anywhere --". Does that not indicate sufficiently clearly that it's going to be bad? Not to mention "I hate to do this to you, but..." :p

And yes, his singing voice is pleasant enough. It's just a godawful song...

To make it up to you, take a gander at Kirk & Spock ride the bus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X9OdvjVfD8).* It does contain an excerpt from that song, but it's mercifully short, and the video is quite amusing.

Nichelle Nichols does have a very nice voice. IIRC she released at least one album, maybe two, which were mostly popular with Star Trek fans, unfortunately for her.

______
* When I first saw the title "Kirk and Spock ride the bus", I thought for sure it was going to be to the tune of "Another one bites the dust." Couldn't have been more wrong. :D

[Oldschool]

ROTFLMAO..... and repped when allowed. I love those type of "inside jokes" in movies and television.

A big banner warning might have been in order - lol. Actually it's not that bad I've heard far worse - take in the shower for example. :rolleyes:;)

[Oldschool]

A Lord of the Rings multi-parter about Aragorn's lineage.

Before his true ancestors were revealed to him Aragorn was known as _________.

What was the name of the ring Aragorn wore.

Aragorn was given the shards of the sword ____________ which were later reforged.

[zmflavius]

A Lord of the Rings multi-parter about Aragorn's lineage.

Before his true ancestors were revealed to him Aragorn was known as _________.

What was the name of the ring Aragorn wore.

Aragorn was given the shards of the sword ____________ which were later reforged.

I can tell you that the last answer is Narsil.

Apart from that, I don't know.

[Oldschool]

Correct and repped. Narsil's shards were later reforged and renamed Anduril.

Two more to go folks.

[texlaw1992]

I think the answer to the first part is Strider.

As to part 2, did he wear the Ring of Gondor?

I did not remember Narsil for no. 3.

[Doolipalally]

I think the answer to 1 is 'Estel', which is what his mother called him. It means 'hope' - there's a line somewhere in his back story where his mother says 'I gave 'hope' to the Dunedain. I kept none for myself'. I have a vague feeling that quote was referenced in the extended version of one of the films, where there's a shot of Aragorn at his mother's grave, but I can't remember how exactly.

About the ring, is it the Ring of Barahir?


EDIT: Just thought of another question - name both of Aragorn's parents.

[Oldschool]

Correct on both counts Dooli and repped.

Aragorn's parents - Arathorn II and Gilraen.

Hope is what Estel means.

Also folks may appreciate this gem I stumbled upon. I actually haven't watched the whole film myself - just a couple trailers which I stumbled across on the IMBd site.

Here's the film - Born of Hope. It seems to be a free film from a production company. First the main site itself and the YouTube link for the movie, apparently the site hasn't got it up and running on their site and put it on YouTube for now.

http://www.bornofhope.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qINwCRM8acM

And here's the YouTube channel for the production team which has some more videos.

Sometimes you just gotta love the internet. Know what I'm going to be doing later today. :)

http://www.youtube.com/user/ActorsatWork

EDIT: Just came across this one as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H09xnhlCQU

[Doolipalally]

Thanks, Oldschool - have a rep both for the question and remembering the name of Aragorn's mother - I confess I had to go and look that one up :)

[Oldschool]

Thanks, had it not been for the movie info from above I stumbled across I would've had to have done the same. Timing's everything. :)

[Oldschool]

Another two part LOTR question.

As with Tom Bombadil other characters were cut from Jackson's film version.

One such character was _____________________ who was replaced by a moth when Gandalf was imprisoned by Saruman on top of ______________ in Isengard.

[texlaw1992]

I just looked it up to confirm. Aragorn was known as Strider.

Since he was called Strider, I think my answer was correct along with Dooli's. The question asked what he was called, not what name he had (versus nicknames).

Not a big deal, however.

[Oldschool]

Trick questions. ;)



Before his true ancestors were revealed to him Aragorn was known as _________.



As was



Aragorn was given the shards of the sword ____________ which were later reforged.

Reforged into Anduril.

Still I liked your reasoning - repped. Like they say never "argue" with a lawyer - lol.

[texlaw1992]

It's been at least 25 years since I read the books, but I did not recall Strider being aware of his origins at the beginning of Fellowship.

[Oldschool]

He was. Actually when he came of age Elrond gave him the shards of Narsil and the Ring of Barahir and revealed to him his true name and ancestry. He then took up his true name and place as sixteenth Chieftain of the Dunedain and went into the wild.

It wasn't until a few years later that he met Gandalf. It was Gandalf who interested him in the Shire after which he and the Dunedain began watching over the area. It was at this time and by the inhabitants of the area that he started being referred to as Strider.

[Doolipalally]

It's been at least 25 years since I read the books, but I did not recall Strider being aware of his origins at the beginning of Fellowship.

It's one of those things where you have to delve into the appendices at the back. Elrond told Aragorn who he was and gave him the shards of Narsil fifty years before the opening of 'Fellowship'. Aragorn was twenty at the time.

We do know that Aragorn knows his ancestry from the beginning of the book, though. There's the verse 'All that is gold does not glitter', which Gandalf uses and Aragorn also quotes, and he shows the hobbits the broken Narsil in the inn at Bree.

[Oldschool]

Thanks Dooli.

Besides Estel and Strider Aragorn was also known as Longhanks, Elessar and the common tongue translation of Elfstone, The Dunadan (Man of the West), Ilsidur's Heir and Wingfoot (by Eomer after the pursuit of Merry and Pippin).

And in checking the above it seems a host of other names as well.

http://www.tuckborough.net/aragorn.html#Names%20and%20Titles

http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Aragorn#Names_and_titles

[thingirl]

Another two part LOTR question.

As with Tom Bombadil other characters were cut from Jackson's film version.

One such character was _____________________ who was replaced by a moth when Gandalf was imprisoned by Saruman on top of ______________ in Isengard.


Umm, I forget his name, but wasn't he the King of the Eagles? As for the second one, I have no clue.

[Badstench]

I always wondered if anyone else worried about the personal hygeine practices of Aragorn. I never once saw him take a bath, brush his teeth, or do his laundry... and he did an awful lot of walking, running, sword-swinging, and cosying up to horses. He must have stunk to high heaven!

As for Oldschool's question... I believe it was an eagle... and the letter "G" springs to mind. Without googling, I'll take a stab at "Gwaithlair" and expect to be horribly wrong.

The second part of the question is:
... Gandalf was imprisoned by Saruman on top of Orthanc in Isengard.

[zmflavius]

I always wondered if anyone else worried about the personal hygeine practices of Aragorn. I never once saw him take a bath, brush his teeth, or do his laundry... and he did an awful lot of walking, running, sword-swinging, and cosying up to horses. He must have stunk to high heaven!

As for Oldschool's question... I believe it was an eagle... and the letter "G" springs to mind. Without googling, I'll take a stab at "Gwaithlair" and expect to be horribly wrong.

The second part of the question is:
... Gandalf was imprisoned by Saruman on top of Orthanc in Isengard.

On that note, has anyone ever seen any of our characters take a bath, brush their teeth, or do their laundry because we do a lot of walking, running, weapon-swinging, and horse-back riding as well.

Last time I heard mention of taking a bath was in The Secret of Stoneback Hill, where:

"After a brief visit to a local bath house (ew, once was enough for me) where you wash away the grime of the city, you make your way through the eastern part of Trithik (javascript:OpenInfoWindow('trithik');) to Trynd Keep -- the stronghold headquarters of Tysa's (javascript:OpenInfoWindow('tysa');) most powerful and influencial Thane (javascript:OpenInfoWindow('tysasthanes');)."

[Oldschool]

Badstench was right on the second part. It was Orthanc - repped.

The first was another trick question of sorts, so lemme throw a visual and a hint in the mix.

The Eagle Gwaihir was the one that rescued Gandalf from Mount Fang aka Orthanc. He was featured in the film, however briefly.

Last 30 seconds or so of this clip, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFHFNfn0aL0

And a hint within a hint - c'mon folks. ;)

In the movie the moth represents the character who sent Gwaihir to Isengard/Orthanc.

EDIT: Probably could've made this into another question but what the heck. This talk of Aragorn's hygiene made me think of the bathing song (one of Bilbo's favorites iirc) that the Hobbits (mainly or maybe entirely? Pippin) sing shortly after arriving at Frodo's new digs in Crickhollow.

Edit2: Just stumbled across this from a fine channel, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLQgVs0k7Uc

[Badstench]

Ah.... Radagast the Brown!

[Oldschool]

Give that man a rep (when allowed).

Although he was a unwitting pawn of Saruman's when he unknowingly helped lay the trap for Gandalf. He was just as oblivious when he sent the Eagle to Isengard to report on the movement of Sauron's forces.

Also iirc there was no more mention to him except for a brief mention of him around the time of the Council of Elrond. It was reported that he wasn't at his home (whose name I cant recall atm) nor could he be located. I don't think there is any other mention of him after that. Although he does appear in some of Tolkien's other works.

I thought of another question but d*mned if I can think of the answer. :rolleyes:

The talk of Aragorn's bathing habits (or lack thereof) got me thinking of the fall off the cliff he took courtesy of the Warg. Actually not the fall as much as the "long soak" he took. Drawing a complete blank on the name of the river he fell into though.

[Oldschool]

Well maybe I didn't leave the above up long enough or maybe folks are being polite.

Actually Aragorn's tumble off the cliff and into the river isn't in the book - that's why the river isn't named. ;)

Which brings me to another type of question. Instead of omissions from the movie what about additions. Besides Aragorn's Warg ride off the cliff another was already provided in the previous clip - Arwen's scene with Frodo at the Ford of Bruinen. In fact in the book proper Arwen is barely mentioned.

A lot of the stuff surrounding Helm's Deep or the Battle of the Hornburg comes to mind besides Aragorn's bath.

Haldir's death at Helm's Deep is one. Especially since he nor none of the Elves of Lorien were at Helm's Deep being busy defending their own lands. Also in the book initially Theoden goes to help or marshal at the Isen. When they realize the forces there have been driven from the field it is then that they decide to go to the Hornburg (by Gandalf's counsel iirc). Also Eomer's arrival with Gandalf and the Rhorrim calvary is another as Eomer was present at the beginning of the battle. And if I'm not mistaken in the book Gandalf arrives with dismounted forces.

Whoops got on a roll and forgot my "poser". :rolleyes:

Now I should say I greatly enjoyed the movies and completely understand why some things were omitted and "artistic license" was used on others.

[Oldschool]

OK enough LOTR - for now (from moi at least).

Another unrelated multi-parter.

What document begins with: "When, in the course of human events, ......"

What is the southernmost point of Africa?

What did writer Edgar Allan Poe and rock n' roller Jerry Lee Lewis have in common?

[zmflavius]

OK enough LOTR - for now.

Another unrelated multi-parter.

What document begins with: "When, in the course of human events, ......"

What is the southernmost point of Africa?

What did writer Edgar Allan Poe and rock n' roller Jerry Lee Lewis have in common in their choice of wives?

Declaration of Independence.

Cape Town.

They...were family members (i'm really guessing on this one).

[Oldschool]

Right
Nice guess but wrong Cape.
Nice guess and family members is/are in the ballpark so to speak as (answer follows) they both married 13 year old cousins.

Questions two and three still standing folks.

[zmflavius]

they both married 13 year old cousins.

:eek:

Did I really want to know that...

[Badstench]

Cape of Good Hope

[Oldschool]

Cape of Good Hope

Nope - another Cape a little farther south. :p Actually I learned the answer the hard way as well. It seems the Cape of Good Hope is often mistaken as the southernmost point of the continent as well as the dividing line between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Well at least I was in good company in my misconception.

The answer that I'm looking for is also the actual dividing line between the two oceans.

[Young Ned]

Besides Estel and Strider Aragorn was also known as Longhanks, Elessar and the common tongue translation of Elfstone, The Dunadan (Man of the West), Ilsidur's Heir and Wingfoot (by Eomer after the pursuit of Merry and Pippin).

And in checking the above it seems a host of other names as well.

One of the my favorite running gags in Harvard Lampoon's parody Bored of the Rings was about all his names. "I am Arrowroot son of Arrowshirt, and I have many names!" Other characters, backing away cautiously: "Uh, yeah, I bet you do..."

(Since it was a parody, all the characters had names other than what Tolkien originally gave them. Besides Aragorn -> Arrowroot, Frodo became Frito, Merry and Pippin became Moxie and Pepsi, Legolas was Legolam, etc.)

[scout1idf]

Nope - another Cape a little farther south. :p Actually I learned the answer the hard way as well. It seems the Cape of Good Hope is often mistaken as the southernmost point of the continent as well as the dividing line between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Well at least I was in good company in my misconception.

The answer that I'm looking for is also the actual dividing line between the two oceans.

Would that be Cape Point?

[Doolipalally]

Nope - another Cape a little farther south. :p Actually I learned the answer the hard way as well. It seems the Cape of Good Hope is often mistaken as the southernmost point of the continent as well as the dividing line between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Well at least I was in good company in my misconception.

The answer that I'm looking for is also the actual dividing line between the two oceans.

I've been to the Cape of Good Hope, and I have a feeling these days they do mention in small print somewhere there that technically speaking there's another southernmost point. ***ed if I can remember what it's called, though.

The first time I went someone was saying that you could make out a sort of line in the water where the Indian Ocean met the Atlantic, because the two were slightly different colours. It sounded loony, but on that particular day you could sort of convince yourself he was right.

[Badstench]

Dooli observed:
The first time I went someone was saying that you could make out a sort of line in the water where the Indian Ocean met the Atlantic, because the two were slightly different colours. It sounded loony, but on that particular day you could sort of convince yourself he was right.
It's not loony at all. The northern-most point of New Zealand is Cape Rienga and, looking north over the ocean, you can see a distinct line where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. The waters are notoriously unpredictable here.

[Doolipalally]

Dooli observed:

It's not loony at all. The northern-most point of New Zealand is Cape Rienga and, looking north over the ocean, you can see a distinct line where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. The waters are notoriously unpredictable here.

Interesting. Good to know I might not have been imagining it, because when I went back to the Cape of Good Hope several years later I couldn't see anything of the sort. But it might depend on the time of year, or prevailing winds, or something.

[Oldschool]

Southernmost point of Africa is Cape Agulhas, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Africa#Extreme_points

And I checked a couple other sources because I got "tricked" on that one as well.

Also Poe and Lewis share the fact that they both married 13 year old cousins - learned that from my regular trivia surfing.

Also I thought this interesting Poe and Dr. Timothy Leary both attended West Point (not graduating). The poser was something along the lines of what do Leary, Poe and two US Presidents have in common. They attended West Point as well as Eishenhower and Grant (who both graduated). One could also throw in Jefferson Davis President of the C.S.A. during the U.S. Civil War.

[spencer]

Please, no googling...

Who said "Hit 'em where they ain't?"

And in homage to the iirc thread below, I will give a hint.

WWK :)

[texlaw1992]

Oops, no, he said "He tells it like it ain't" in the movie "Back to School."

No idea then.

[Doolipalally]

Without Googling I'm clueless as well, though I've been having fun trying to come up with what 'WWK' might stand for...

[spencer]

OK, you can google now...The first "W" is a nickname before his first name.

[Doolipalally]

Googled now and found it. Have to say I'd never heard of him!

[Young Ned]

Neither have I, Dooli, but I don't follow sports.

[spencer]

Yes, I am sorry, but I love my baseball. Reps for trying :)

Wee Willie Keeler, is the answer for those of you who are interested.

[Oldschool]

Mythology two-parter.....

No googling please.

1. Who is the Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Hecate?

2. Which Greek god took revenge on Hera by invisibly binding her?

HINT: This trivia was partly inspired by recent posts in the birthday thread.

[zmflavius]

Mythology two-parter.....

No googling please.

1. Who is the Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Hecate?

2. Which Greek god took revenge on Hera by invisibly binding her?

HINT: This trivia was partly inspired by recent posts in the birthday thread.

Err...Vesta? (I know that's wrong)

Hephaestus? (Vulcan is his roman counterpart)

[Oldschool]

Hephaestus? (Vulcan is his roman counterpart)

Correct on number two and repped. Badstench's Happy Birthday to Hephaestus16 inspired that one.

The first question is still open.

Note: Also the previous hint about this trivia also applies to this question. Well answer would be more appropriate.

[Young Ned]

I didn't even know what Hecate was the goddess OF until I looked her up in Edith Hamilton's Greek Mythology. Even now that I know who she is, I still have no idea what her Roman name is. So I'm interested to see what the answer turns out to be...

[spencer]

I looked it up, OS, that is a great question!! Repped for posting it...I never would have guessed the answer.

[Doolipalally]

I know what Hecate's the goddess of, but I cannot for the life of me think of her Roman counterpart, so I'm waiting with interest to find out too! (Probably so I can then kick myself :))

[zmflavius]

I looked Hecate up, and that's just amazing.

[texlaw1992]

I was pretty good with Greek mythology - I think she was also Hecate to the Romans.

[Oldschool]

That isn't it Texlaw but it'd be great if it was. Not that I'd have a trick trivia question or trivia answer like that. :rolleyes::cool:

Also a little reminder can't hurt. Plus maybe like the saying - the third times a charm.

This was after Zmflavius answered the second question correctly.

Note: Also the previous hint about this trivia also applies to this question. Well answer would be more appropriate. This is the original hint.

HINT: This trivia was partly inspired by recent posts in the birthday thread.Although it may be considered trivial I just love this type of trivia.

[Badstench]

Ah, Oldschool! I actually did pick up on the hint, recognising the reference immediately.

There's actually nothing trivial about the hint, by the way.

[Oldschool]

Hint or no hint - give that man a rep.

Hecate's Roman counterpart is of course Trivia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trivia_%28mythology%29) :cool:

My "third times a charm" was also a hint ;) since among other things she was the goddess of the three way crossroads. As trivia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trivia#Etymology) is the plural of trivium - a place where three roads/ways meet.

[texlaw1992]

Interesting - I did not know that.

I was going to take issue with your answer until I read the question again. I read it to mean the Roman name for Hecate, which I'm pretty sure was also Hecate. However, your question did say counterpart rather than name, so objection withdrawn (lol).

[Oldschool]

Actually I'd like to say I knew that bit of trivia :cool: all along but I'd be lying. I came across that awhile back and thought that would make an interesting trivia question - lol. Then when Badstench mentioned Hephaestus's birthday I thought about the Greek god and came up with a question about him using the birthday mention as a hint. That's when I came up with the question and hint about Trivia.

Well here's two more that ought to tax most folks brainpower - they did mine for sure. I'll admit in advance that I went one for two and the one I got was a semi-educated lucky guess.

Who was the grandfather of Emperor Claudius, the great-grandfather of Caligula and Agrippina, and the great-great-grandfather of Nero?

Which country's capital is the oldest European settlement in the "New World" which was officially founded by Christopher Columbus's brother - Bartholmew?

[zmflavius]

Actually I'd like to say I knew that bit of trivia :cool: all along but I'd be lying. I came across that awhile back and thought that would make an interesting trivia question - lol. Then when Badstench mentioned Hephaestus's birthday I thought about the Greek god and came up with a question about him using the birthday mention as a hint. That's when I came up with the question and hint about Trivia.

Well here's two more that ought to tax most folks brainpower - they did mine for sure. I'll admit in advance that I went one for two and the one I got was a semi-educated lucky guess.

Who was the grandfather of Emperor Claudius, the great-grandfather of Caligula and Agrippina, and the great-great-grandfather of Nero?

Which country's capital is the oldest European settlement in the "New World" which was officially founded by Christopher Columbus's brother - Bartholmew?

Julius Caesar?

Havana?

[Oldschool]

Good guesses Zm but no cigar. Seems my luck when posed with these was a bit better - on one count at least.

EDIT: Should've worded number two better as the answer I'm looking for is the country not the capital but I'll settle for either or both. And just for the record it's neither Havana nor Cuba.

[Badstench]

I used to have an interest in the Roman emperors, and was a keen fan of the TV series called "I, Claudius". I disqualify myself from answering Q1 for this reason.

I also disqualify myself from Q2, because I came across the answer during my research for the birthdates. However, I did not include that fact in the events section of the birthdates, so the question is open without recourse to that thread.

[Oldschool]

Well as long as you're not googling the questions after the fact and to "paraquote" a great mind. How you came about the knowledge isn't important..... Kudos and repped (when allowed) for knowing them and leaving 'em open.

Now folks the pressure's really on. :)

[Doolipalally]

I've no idea about Q2, but I'll have a stab at Q1.

Mark Antony?

[Young Ned]

Q1 - Augustus Caesar?

Q2 - I think the first place Columbus discovered in the New World was Hispaniola.

[Badstench]

For your general interest, the Roman emperors who ruled Rome in the early days are named thus:

Julius Caesar
Augustus Caesar (31BC - 14AD)
Tiberius (14AD - 37AD)
Gaius Caligula (37AD - 41AD)
Claudius (41AD - 54 AD)

and he was followed by Nero, then Iuliias Vindex and a whole bunch of forgettable people until Vesapasian claimed the throne.


And just so we keep things in perspective, Octavian was also known as Octavius, and he became the greatest emperor of Rome when he claimed the title and was called "Augustus". This was the period of time known as the "Pax Romana".

[Oldschool]

I've no idea about Q2, but I'll have a stab at Q1.

Mark Antony?

Well done and repped.

[Doolipalally]

Thanks, Oldschool!

I was just going from Claudius's grandfathers, since that way there were only two people to worry about! :)

[Oldschool]

Q2 - I think the first place Columbus discovered in the New World was Hispaniola.

First off I'm giving you a rep because the answer I'm looking for (capital or country) is on the island of Hispaniola. I knew it was on the island that was the estimated guess part of my answer - narrowing it down to the country was where the luck came in.

However I'll still give a rep(s) for those naming the current name of the country and/or capital.

As I partly guessed the answer to this question I'm not positive about the other details but I think that Columbus first landed on an island in the Bahamas - maybe San Salvador. But iirc the specific island is disputed. Later on this voyage he also explored the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola (and maybe others I just don't remember) before returning home.

EDIT: You're welcome Dooli. I failed that one and really didn't have much of a guess to start with. Plus I did get threw off by the rest of the family tree. Seems you avoided that - good onya. I might really get onery and get the full names as in Badstench's post and recycle that question out to other folks. :cool:

[spencer]

Well, with that hint, I have to guess Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

[Badstench]

And here's where Badstench throws another cog in the historical wheel,

I love history and the facts that surround things like... who was first!

Written history has Christopher Columbus discovering the New World, and I'm open to letting have that accolade with two provisos...

The Norwegians got to Canada long before the Spanish found America, and.... here's a biggie... The Portuguese landed on American soil a century befoire Christopher Columbus did.

At the same time Vascoe De Gama was searching for a way around Africa, Torrence De Bogunsomething was landing on the coast of Brazil... but he hadn't meant to be there, so he promptly re-supplied his ship and sailed away without claiming sovereignty.

To this day, Brazillians speak Portuguese, and that's why soccer is contested so hotly in South America.

"Dande esta la phantasmagoria?"

"Where is the ghost?"

[Oldschool]

Well, with that hint, I have to guess Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Correct and repped.


The Norwegians got to Canada long before the Spanish found America, and.... here's a biggie... The Portuguese landed on American soil a century befoire Christopher Columbus did.

At the same time Vascoe De Gama was searching for a way around Africa, Torrence De Bogunsomething discovered the coast of Brazil....



Repped for the history lesson. When allowed as I hit my limit - sounds like you may have exceeded yours the other night. ;)

I knew that North America was fisrt "discovered" by the Norsemen - they called it Vinland. There was also archaeological evidence found of a settlement in or around Newfoundland. This was what the movie Pathfinder was loosely based on.

Didn't know about the other though.

[spencer]

Probably pretty easy, but please no googling.

Who penned the following:

Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul...

[texlaw1992]

Emily Dickinson.

[Doolipalally]

Which of the following UK monarchs is the odd one out?

(I've got one correct answer in mind, but points will be awarded for any answer that I like!)

Charles II
Richard I
Edward II
George IV
William II

[spencer]

Emily Dickinson.


That is correct, of course, repped

It is one of my favorite lines in any poem

[spencer]

Which of the following UK monarchs is the odd one out?

(I've got one correct answer in mind, but points will be awarded for any answer that I like!)

Charles II
Richard I
Edward II
George IV
William II


Richard, because he was the "first" and the rest were not :)

[Doolipalally]

Hmm, not sure I'm going to go for that - after all, you could have picked George IV for more or less the same reason... :)

[Badstench]

My wild stab in the dark... William II

He was the third-born son of his father, William the Conqueror, whereas the others were all first-born (I'm only guessing at that last bit). Apparently, he was a bit of a ruthless bastard and not well liked by his subjects.

[Elrond]

Hmm, not sure I'm going to go for that - after all, you could have picked George IV for more or less the same reason... :)

Edward since his name starts with a vowel! Yup, my English monarchy knowledge is almost nil!

[texlaw1992]

Only because 1 is an "odd" number.

Although I'm not sure if there was a George IV. I think England was already sick of George III (who was German by the way, not British).

[zmflavius]

Only because 1 is an "odd" number.

Although I'm not sure if there was a George IV. I think England was already sick of George III (who was German by the way, not British).

George IV was George III's successor, I think.

And even if he wasn't, there was a George V in the 20th century.

Oh, my guess?

There wasn't an Edward II?

(Probably not right, but I've never heard of one)

[Oldschool]

Going to have to say Richard I - here's why.

All the others reigns ended prematurely.

Here's the shortened versions.

Charles II - was never recognized by England but Scotland crowned him. He later went into exile after Cromwell defeated him.

Edward II - was forced to abdicate his throne and imprisoned.

George IV - a regent was appointed by others not him in his stead because he suffered from apparent mental problems.

William II - was hunting with fellow nobles and was later found dead by an arrow under mysterious and unknown circumstances.

EDIT: Just thought of this as well. Out of the group Richard the Lionheart was the only one liked by his subjects and is the only one known (commonly at least and I hope) by a nickname.

EDIT 2: Now off to google to see if I can find an answer and to check my facts.

[zmflavius]

Going to have to say Richard I - here's why.

All the others reigns ended prematurely.

Here's the shortened versions.

Charles II - was never recognized by England but Scotland crowned him. He later went into exile after Cromwell defeated him.

Edward II - was forced to abdicate his throne and imprisoned.

George IV - a regent was appointed in his stead because he suffered from apparent mental problems.

William II - was hunting with fellow nobles and was later found dead. Killed by an arrow under mysterious and unknown circumstances.

EDIT: Just thought of this as well. Out of the group Richard the Lionheart was the only one liked by his subjects and is the only one known (commonly at least and I hope) by a nickname.

Didn't Charles II actually reign after the English Restoration in 1660 for 25 years?

[Oldschool]

Didn't Charles II actually reign after the English Restoration in 1660 for 25 years?

D@mn and d'oh that would be a yes - after Cromwell died he returned to the throne.

Too pleased with myself :o and in too big a hurry to post my answers seemed I may have been a bit premature myself.

Dooli in light of this "reminder" :rolleyes::o I'd like to say Charles the II because out of the group he was the only one to return to the throne after an absence.

If that's it or a good enough answer Zm should get the rep, I'll have the crow - lol.

EDIT: Well let's add another helping of crow to the menu as I just did some quick fact checking.

Seems I got my George's confused - again I was premature. Seems I got George III confused with his regent and son - George IV. Well it has been awhile since college.

Nice question Dooli - I'm interested in seeing yours and any other answers.

[Doolipalally]

Thanks all for having a go at this - some interesting theories so far!

Couple of points:

Zm, yes, there was an Edward II. There was also an Edward III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII - you can't have the later ones without the earlier! :) And texlaw, yes, there was a George IV, and V and VI (George VI being the present Queen's father).

Charles II didn't return to the throne after an absence, so that idea doesn't work, I'm afraid. His father Charles I was defeated by Cromwell and beheaded in 1649. Charles II only came to the throne in 1660 at the Restoration.

Oldschool, have a rep for the nickname idea! Technically speaking William II had the nickname 'Rufus' (being a redhead) and Charles II was also known as the Merry Monarch, but you're right that Richard the Lionheart is the only one commonly referred to by his nickname these days. You're spot on about the untimely fates of Edward II and William II, too, though Richard I himself only reigned 10 years before dying from an arrow wound (and for most of that time he was out of the country, which could explain why his subjects liked him...)

No-one's come up with the 'correct' answer yet, though, and I think I'll let it run for another 24 hours. The person who's come closest, to give you a hint, is Badstench (though Richard I wasn't the first-born son either).

[spencer]

Were any of them actually a lady in drag:D

[Doolipalally]

Were any of them actually a lady in drag:D

lol - actually, given this picture of George IV (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_IV_van_het_Verenigd_Koninkrijk.jpg), you may have a point... :)

[Badstench]

2nd wild stab in the dark...

Staying with William II, because he was the only king on the list not born in England? Again I'm guessing that William II was born in Normandy (France), but I have no idea if my theory is correct for the rest of them.

[Doolipalally]

2nd wild stab in the dark...

Staying with William II, because he was the only king on the list not born in England? Again I'm guessing that William II was born in Normandy (France), but I have no idea if my theory is correct for the rest of them.

I was interested in that theory, so I went and looked up birthplaces:

William II was born in Normandy.

Edward II was born in Wales, at Caernarfon Castle (and in looking that up, I discovered he was also not the first-born son).

Richard I was born in England, probably at Beaumont Palace in Oxford.

Charles II was born in England, at St James's Palace in London.

George IV was also born at St James's Palace.

So have a rep - William II was the only one not born in what is now the UK.

Still not the answer I had in mind, though... :)

[Young Ned]

lol - actually, given this picture of George IV (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_IV_van_het_Verenigd_Koninkrijk.jpg), you may have a point... :)
His right knee looks deformed, not to mention scarred -- did he have a bad wound there at some point?

[Doolipalally]

His right knee looks deformed, not to mention scarred -- did he have a bad wound there at some point?

Not that I know of, and he never got involved in any fighting. Probably just the artist trying to make it look like he had some muscles. Alternatively, it could be the result of his thigh corsets.

[Young Ned]

"Thigh corsets"??

Man, what people will do in the name of fashion! :rolleyes:

[spencer]

OK, my final guess has to do with legitimacy...

were any of the kings rumored or known not to have been birthed by the queen; rather, they were birthed by some other woman?

[Elrond]

I found this on wikipedia:

1 Feb 1327 – Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer.

Now that got me wondering if Edward II was "exceptional" for something related to the above piece of information. :rolleyes:

[Oldschool]

I found this on wikipedia:

1 Feb 1327 – Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer.

Now that got me wondering if Edward II was "exceptional" for something related to the above piece of information. :rolleyes:

Well and considering my previous performance a big IF I recall correctly Edward II was rumored to have been a homosexual which was one of the reasons that helped led to his being dethroned (public opinion and willing participants in the Queens plan). Also it didn't help that his Queen returned from a trip abroad with her lover Mortimer and successfully invaded England taking the throne.

[Elrond]

Well and considering my previous performance a big IF I recall correctly Edward II was rumored to have been a homosexual which was one of the reasons that helped led to his being dethroned (public opinion and willing participants in the Queens plan). Also it didn't help that his Queen returned from a trip abroad with her lover Mortimer and successfully invaded England taking the throne.

Does that make "Edward III" "Mortimor II?"

[Oldschool]

I dunno and although I highly doubt it I wonder if that would have prevented the Hundred Years War which started after Edward III took back the throne and then made a claim for the throne of France. Edward II's mother Isabella was the daughter of the King of France (not sure which one or what order). Also Edward III was considered by his subjects to be a good ruler unlike Edward II.

Hollywood couldn't fabricate better stuff than some of this real life intrigue.

[Elrond]

Which of the following UK monarchs is the odd one out?

(I've got one correct answer in mind, but points will be awarded for any answer that I like!)

Charles II
Richard I
Edward II
George IV
William II

After some research, a viable answer could be that Richard I is the odd one out since he's the only one of the group to go on a crusade. All of them succeeded their fathers and were not succeeded by sons.

Another answer could be William II for being killed (accidentally or not) while hunting. And he was left to rot in the forest for a day or few ....

William was found the next day by a group of local peasants, lying dead in the woods with an arrow wound to his chest. William's body was abandoned by the nobles at the place where he fell, because the law and order of the kingdom died with the king, and they had to flee to their English or Norman estates to secure their interests. William's younger brother, Henry, hastened to Winchester to secure the royal treasury, then to London, where he was crowned within days, before either archbishop could arrive. Legend has it that it was left to a local charcoal-burner named Purkis to take the king's body to Winchester Cathedral on his cart.


Another answer could be George IV, for being the only one of the group to live past 60 (died at age 67); with Charles II dying at 54 and the rest in their 40's. And it seems that George the IV was fat too :) .

[Doolipalally]

Kudos to everyone for having a go at this one, but it's Elrond who's hit the nail on the head. All of them, except one, failed to provide a son to succeed them.

William II never married. Richard I spent very little time with his wife Berengaria (the only Queen of England never to set foot in the country) and never managed an heir. Charles II produced innumerable illegitimate offspring by his colourful collection of mistresses but his queen miscarried twice and never produced a living heir. George IV had a disastrously stormy marriage with Caroline of Brunswick: they separated after the birth of their only child, Princess Charlotte, who then died in childbirth three years before her father succeeded to the throne. All these four were therefore succeeded by their brothers: William II by Henry I, Richard I by John, Charles II by James II and George IV by William IV.

So the odd one out is Edward II, who despite being reputedly homosexual, or at least bisexual did manage to father several children, including two sons and two daughters by his queen, Isabella of France. He was succeeded by his son, Edward III, who despite the mess his father had made of everything, as Oldschool said, managed to restore royal authority and have a remarkably successful reign.

It's probably worth saying that Edward III was born in 1312, and Isabella and Mortimer only became lovers when they met at the French court in 1323 or so, so there were no doubts cast on Edward III's legitimacy at the time. Oldschool's right that it's Edward III's claim to the French crown that sparked the Hundred Years' War, so that point was important.

(Elrond's other answers are right, too - Richard I was the only one of that lot to go on crusade, William II was the only one killed while hunting, George IV was the only one to live past 60, and I could add that Charles II was the only one who commonly wore a really silly wig (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_II_of_England.jpeg)).

Thanks all for having a go! :)

[Young Ned]

So the odd one out is Edward II, who despite being reputedly homosexual, or at least bisexual did manage to father several children, including two sons and two daughters by his queen, Isabella of France.

Oscar Wilde fathered children, too... :cool:

[Oldschool]

While it is urban legend that 160 cars can travel side by side on it. What road does have the widest median of a divided highway in the world?

What did US President Harry S. Truman's middle initial stand for (please explain)?

What is the Earth's longest mountain range?

[zmflavius]

While it is urban legend that 160 cars can travel side by side on it. What road does have the widest median of a divided highway in the world?

What did US President Harry S. Truman's middle initial stand for (please explain)?

What is the Earth's longest mountain range?

Dunno on 1.

Just an S. As in the, letter that goes before T and after R

The Himalayas

[Oldschool]

2. Correct buy why? There is a reason - well maybe two? I'll accept either.

3. Nope. Although they're the highest they're not the longest.

Repped when allowed - for getting the correct answer on #2 and for educating me on the proper plural of Himalaya. I also thought it was Himalayans but Himalayan is the adjective form.

[Doolipalally]

On the reason for Harry S.,

is it that someone thought a middle initial made him sound more electable? Or did his parents have a weird moment? :)

One the mountains,

can't remember the name, but I've a feeling it's a range under the Pacific ocean


I've no idea on 1, either.

[Oldschool]

On number two you're more or less correct.

They chose S to try to please both grandfathers. Had to google their names - Anderson Shippe Truman and Solomon Young. Also and I'm not sure of this but it's also was or is a common practice with Scots-Irish. Don't know if that's true or much of his ancestry although I know his family hailed primarily from the UK/Ireland.

On number three....

Correct again although it goes under more than onc ocean. Also I've also seen it referred to as The Ocean Ridge and Mid Ocean Ridge as well as seperate sections of the chain having their own names.

EDIT: The Andes are the longest mountain range above water.

Repped when allowed.

[Oldschool]

Although numbers two and three have been answered since they're spoiled I'll leave them open till number one's answered. I'll trust everyone to the honor system but I'll be looking for specifics.

My follow up to number three since Dooli got the gist of it.

And no I didn't know any of the following until before I posted the earlier question when I double checked myself. Actually a friend of mine sent me the urban myth part of number one in a question form and I immediately thought a 160 car-wide road - NOT. So I came up with the alternative question based upon my googling.

Here goes.....

Most folks probably know Mt. Everest in the Himalayas (thanks Zm :)) is the highest mountain on earth.

But what about the following.

1. What is the highest point that is farthest from the center of the earth?

2. What is the highest mountain on earth measured from base to summit? There's only one correct answer as the one most commonly mistakenly given is question number 3.

3. What is the greatest change in elevation on earth?

[zmflavius]

Although numbers two and three have been answered since they're spoiled I'll leave them open till number one's answered. I'll trust everyone to the honor system but I'll be looking for specifics.

My follow up to number three since Dooli got the gist of it.

And no I didn't know any of the following until before I posted the earlier question when I double checked myself. Actually a friend of mine sent me the urban myth part of number one in a question form and I immediately thought a 160 car-wide road - NOT. So I came up with the alternative question based upon my googling.

Here goes.....

Most folks probably know Mt. Everest in the Himalayas (thanks Zm :)) is the highest mountain on earth.

But what about the following.

1. What is the highest point that is farthest from the center of the earth?

2. What is the highest mountain on earth measured from base to summit? There's only one correct answer as the one most commonly mistakenly given is question number 3.

3. What is the greatest change in elevation on earth?

1) Mount Krakatoa

2) Mount Krakatoa

3) A flat wall.

[Oldschool]

Nice guesses but no. Although my math skills (or lack thereof) limit my ability to fathom (hmmm... fathom - there's a hint folks) your answer to number three I'm guessing there's an explanation there that might be debatable.

[zmflavius]

Are second guesses allowed?

[Oldschool]

Yeah go ahead. And all the answers are legitimate natural landmarks.

[zmflavius]

Although numbers two and three have been answered since they're spoiled I'll leave them open till number one's answered. I'll trust everyone to the honor system but I'll be looking for specifics.

My follow up to number three since Dooli got the gist of it.

And no I didn't know any of the following until before I posted the earlier question when I double checked myself. Actually a friend of mine sent me the urban myth part of number one in a question form and I immediately thought a 160 car-wide road - NOT. So I came up with the alternative question based upon my googling.

Here goes.....

Most folks probably know Mt. Everest in the Himalayas (thanks Zm :)) is the highest mountain on earth.

But what about the following.

1. What is the highest point that is farthest from the center of the earth?

2. What is the highest mountain on earth measured from base to summit? There's only one correct answer as the one most commonly mistakenly given is question number 3.

3. What is the greatest change in elevation on earth?

1)peak of Mt. Everest

2)some hawaiian volcano

3)Mt. Everest

[Oldschool]

1. Nope

2. Be more specific but you're getting warm - lol.

3. Nope

My earlier hint covers numbers two and three. So here's one for the first question. Although the earth isn't square it isn't perfectly round either.

[zmflavius]

Yes...I'd forgotten the name for number 2 and would have to google it.

[scout1idf]

#3.Mariana Trench

[Oldschool]

Scout's on the right track - one end of it at least.

[spencer]

Three lines from a favorite poem of mine, no googling, please

You can name either the poet or the poem :)


The same that ofttimes hath
Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam
Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.

[Doolipalally]

Darn it, can't do any better than 'sounds a bit Shakespearean'...

[Badstench]

I should disqualify myself, but I know this poem... the author bore me along the winds of thought and carried me to a land beyond all dreaming.

John Keats!

He didn't write this, but he influenced the words...

If I could play the Lord of Skies,
An eagle soaring on the wind.
If you could see through my disguise,
And bring me laughter once again.
If you could read this in my eyes,
And I could make you understand...

I'd fly to you through rain and hail,
If I was an eagle on the wind,
And you were the Nightingale.

*****

one of my first efforts.... and Spencer will know where I come from.

The lines of that poem that rang most loud for me were,

"Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget
What thou among the leaves hast never known,
The weariness, the fever, and the fret
Here, where men sit and hear each other groan"

*****

In answer to your question, the poem is called "Ode To a Nightingale"

Beethoven had his Fer Elise; John Keats had Nightingale.

[spencer]

I should disqualify myself, but I know this poem... the author bore me along the winds of thought and carried me to a land beyond all dreaming.

John Keats!

He didn't write this, but he influenced the words...

If I could play the Lord of Skies,
An eagle soaring on the wind.
If you could see through my disguise,
And bring me laughter once again.
If you could read this in my eyes,
And I could make you understand...

I'd fly to you through rain and hail,
If I was an eagle on the wind,
And you were the Nightingale.

*****

one of my first efforts.... and Spencer will know where I come from.

I do exactly know where you come from....

Excellent words, Badstench and repped for the correct answer.

Keats is amazing...

I actually had not read this poem until I read a series of fantasy books with titles taken from these three lines of poetry. The author was Dave Duncan and the series is entitled "A Man of His Word" The books are titled...Magic Casement, Emperor and Clown, Perilous Seas and Faery Lands Forlorn...

great series, IMHO, by the way and Keats is Keats

[Badstench]

I wrote two further verses... none were as good as Keats, so I consigned the poem to my metaphorical basement.

"if I could play the King of flowers,
A monarch dressed in robes of gold
If you could reach beneath the fires,
Burning in this icy soul
Where once upon a time much higher,
I was destined warmth from cold...

On golden wings to you, Id fly
If I was a monarch robed in gold,
And you were the butterfly.

And if I could play the King of beasts,
Roaming free across the plains.
If you could share in my belief,
That sunshine follows after rain,
And loving you is sweet relief...

To you, I'd run with heart filled hope
If I was a lion running free,
And you were the antelope.

[Young Ned]

I recognized the phrases that Dave Duncan had used for his book titles, but I couldn't remember what poem they were from. Great question!

Geez, I haven't read any of my Dave Duncan books in eons. What ever happened to him? Is he still writing?

[Oldschool]

While it is urban legend that 160 cars can travel side by side on it. What road does have the widest median of a divided highway in the world?



Most folks probably know Mt. Everest in the Himalayas (thanks Zm :)) is the highest mountain on earth.

But what about the following.

1. What is the highest point that is farthest from the center of the earth?

2. What is the highest mountain on earth measured from base to summit? There's only one correct answer as the one most commonly mistakenly given is question number 3.

3. What is the greatest change in elevation on earth?

Here's the answers.

The first question - The Monumental Axis in Brasilia, Brazil.

The next set.

From hypertextbook.com (http://hypertextbook.com/).

1. The point FARTHEST FROM THE center OF THE EARTH is the summit of Chimborazo volcano in the Andes of Ecuador. Its elevation is only 6,310 m (20,703 ft) but because of its location near the equator it gets a boost from the equatorial bulge caused by the spin of the earth. This bulge makes the earth's radius about 21,000 m (68,900 ft) greater at the equator than at the poles. In fact, the beaches of Ecuador are farther from the center of the earth than is the summit of Mt. Everest.

2. The TALLEST mountain on earth, measured from base to summit is the volcanic peak of Mauna Kea, one of five volcanic masses making up the "Big Island"of Hawaii. It is about 9,000 m (30,000 ft) tall, however only 4,245 m (13,796 ft) of that is above sea level.

3. The highest point is Mount Lamlam with an elevation of 1,334 feet. The Peak of a submerged mountain, Guam, rises 37,820 feet above the floor of the Marianas Trench, the greatest ocean depth in the world.

That's the short version for number 3. There's a whole spiel which was pretty much lost on yours truly about surrounding geography, tectonic plates and subduction zones which is why Mount Lamlam on Guam isn't considered the highest mountain.

[Oldschool]

This thread has been inactive for a while so a rep to the first person to recognize my "current" avatar.

Here it is for archival purposes, http://www.srythforum.com/image.php?u=24&dateline=1267941539

[thingirl]

It's some sort of trading card. I'm guessing from Magic, The Gathering. What it is, I have no clue.

[Oldschool]

Nice guess Thingirl but that's not it.

Feel free to take another shot as I just enlarged it a bit.

I'm sure some of the forum members know this one.

[zmflavius]

Nice guess Thingirl but that's not it.

Feel free to take another shot as I just enlarged it a bit.

I'm sure some of the forum members know this one.

It's a DnD campaign module.

I guessed from its layout and the picture that it's some sort of game. Computer game, I ruled out because there was no visible ESRB rating. Given the picture, I suspected that it was a fantasy game. A board game was unlikely, due to the lack of a preview of a game in process. And I'm pretty sure that it was a DnD campaign module, based on your background.

[Oldschool]

Correct ZM and close enough for a rep.

Another rep for the first person to give the specific answer.