Monday, June 27, 2005
Daily Trivia # 19
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Daily Trivia # 18
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Friday, June 24, 2005
Daily Trivia # 16
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Daily Trivia # 15
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Daily Trivia # 14
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Daily Trivia # 13
Monday, June 20, 2005
Daily Trivia # 12
The G in Kenny G & All That
JC Penney = James Cash Penney
HG Wells = Herbert George Wells
LL Cool J = Ladies Love Cool James
MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar = Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
AA Milne = Alan Alexander Milne
BB King = Blues Boy King
ML Jaisimha = Motganhalli Laxmanarsu Jaisimha
J Jonah Jameson = John Jonah Jameson
JK Rowling = Joanne Kathleen Rowling
JWHT Douglas = John William Henry Tyler Douglas
OJ Simpson = Orenthal James Simpson
EE Cummings = Edward Estlin Cummings
PG Wodehouse = Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
JRR Tolkien = John Ronald Ruel Tolkien
CK Nayudu = Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu
RJ Reynolds = Richard Joshua Reynolds
CB Fry = Charles Burgess Fry
AC Nielsen = Arthur Charles Nielsen
AO Hume =Alan Octavian Hume
DW Griffith = David Wark Griffith
DK Pattammal = Dammal Krishnaswamy Pattammal
WC Fields = William Claude Dukenfield
WB Yeats = William Butler Yeats
GN Balasubramanium = Gudalur Narayanaswamy Balasubramanium
ML Vasanthakumari = Madras Lalithangi Vasanthakumari
SP Balasubramanyam = Sripati Panditaradhyula Balasubramnyam
RK Narayan = Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Naryanan
MS Subalakshmi = Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subalakshmi
James T Kirk = James Tiberius Kirk
PB Srinivas = Prativadha Bhayankara Srinivas
MG Ramachandran = Marudur Gopalamenon Ramachandran
WG Grace = William Gilbert Grace
MC Escher = Maurits Cornelis Escher
JJ Cale = Jean Jacques Cale
I still haven't figured out the TM in TM Soundarrajan, the P in P Susheela, YG in YG Mahendran and SVe in Sve Shekar. It would be great if someone tells me the same.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
100 Great Palindromes
2. Xerxes was stunned! Eden nuts saw sex, rex!
3. Won't lovers revolt now?
4. What! So he is hanged, is he? So what?
5. Was it a cat I saw?
6. Warsaw was raw.
7. Too bad, I hid a boot.
8. Tuna nut.
9. Ten animals I slam in a net.
10. Tarzan raised a Desi Arnaz rat.
11. Swap for a pair of paws?
12. Step on no pets.
13. Stella won no wallets.
14. Star sees rats.
15. Star comedy by Democrats.
16. Solo gigolos.
17. Slap my gym pals.
18. Seen knees.
19. See referees.
20. Sex-aware era waxes.
21. Rot can rob a born actor.
22. Rise to vote, sir.
23. Retard rater.
24. Redraw a warder.
25. Red rum, sir, is murder.
26. Red Nevada vendor.
27. Rats drown in WordStar.
28. Racecar.
29. Pets never even step.
30. Poor Dan is in a droop.
31. Play Latin on Italy Alp.
32. Party-trap.
33. Panic in a Titanic, I nap.
34. Pals slap.
35. Otto made Ned a motto.
36. Oozy rat in a sanitary zoo.
37. On a clover, if alive, erupts a vast, pure evil; a fire volcano.
38. OJ nabs Bob's banjo.
39. Oh, cameras are macho.
40. Nurses run.
41. Norma, I am Ron.
42. Now I see, referees, I won.
43. No yarn in rayon?
44. No, tie it on.
45. No, slang is a signal, son.
46. No pet so tragic as a cigar to step on.
47. Not a ton.
48. Noon.
49. No, Mel Gibson is a casino's big lemon.
50. Noel, let's egg Estelle on.
51. No Garden, One Dragon
52. No lemons. No Melon.
53. Never odd or even.
54. Nip a pin.
55. Nina Ricci I ran in.
56. Name no one man.
57. Nail Lillian!
58. My gym taxes sex at my gym.
59. Must sell at tallest sum.
60. Mix a maxim.
61. Mirror rim.
62. Madam I'm Adam.
63. Ma is a nun, as I am.
64. Lonely Tylenol.
65. Live not on evil.
66. Lived on Decaf, faced no devil.
67. Laptops spot pal.
68. Late Bill is ill, I bet, Al.
69. Laminate pet animal.
70. "Kodak ad O.K.!"
71. Knits stink!
72. I did, did I?
73. If I had a hi-fi.
74. I prefer pi.
75. Hug a bared nun under a bag, uh?
76. Harass Sarah!
77. God damn! Mad dog.
78. Go hang a salami, I'm a lasagna hog.
79. Gigawatt Ottawa gig.
80. Gateman's nametag.
81. Feeble Tom's motel beef.
82. Evil olive.
83. Eve damned Eden.
84. E.T. is opposite.
85. Eros saw I was sore.
86. Erin is in ire.
87. Emil saw a slime.
88. Egad! No bondage!
89. Eh, Canada had an ache?
90. Dumb mobs bomb mud.
91. Dr. Awkward.
92. Draw nine men inward.
93. Don't nod.
94. Dennis sinned.
95. Dammit, I'm mad!
96. DNA-land.
97. Ah, Satan sees Natasha.
98. Aid nine men, India.
99. A Santa at NASA.
100. Able was I ere I saw elba.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Mad Magazine Quiz
Alfred Newman, after whom the MAD mascot was named, composed the music for these movies. I guess you are aware that before Alfred E. Newman, the character was called Melvin Coznowski and Mel Hanney.
2. He used the Morse code to sign his popular strip in the MAD magazine. Who?
Antonio Prohias for his Spy vs. Spy. He signs with dots and dashes to convey ‘by Prohias’.
3. Only once has MAD spoofed the TIME magazine. Tell me when. And what were they spoofing?
In 1982, Time Magazine announced the PC as the Man of the Year. MAD spoofed this and put a Pacman character “Irving Pac’ on its cover as the star of the year.
4. This one’s for the INSANELY MAD fans. What was odd about the MAD magazine cover that featured ET alongside Alfred E. Newman?
This is the only issue in which Alfred E. Newman appears with his teeth intact. By the way, ET’s touch magically fills the gaps...
5. In 1965, MAD created a Sport for Amateurs across the world. What did the Usual Gang of Idiots call it?
They called it the 43-Man Squamish.
6. Which movie did MAD spoof as Errant Bra-on Bitch?
Erin Brokovich, of course!
7. He did album covers for Miles Davis before the world recognized him as “MAD’s Maddest Cartoonist”. Who is this wacko?
Don Martin.
6. For 27 issues, MAD carried a tagline. Can you press recall memory and spit it out?
Humour in a jugular vein.
9.In 1980, the MAD folks produced an eminently forgettable comedy. Just gimme the name of the flick.
Up the Academy.
10. MAD and PLAYBOY have only one man in common. Namethe legend.
Harvey Kurtzman. He founded the MAD Magazine. And after quitting it, worked for Hugh Hefner at Playboy. He created a popular series there called Little Annie Fannie.
11. Which music artist has been featured the most number of times on the cover of the MAD magazine? Hint – Get ready for a nasty surprise.
Believe it or not - Eminem! He was featured four times. Michael Jackson and Madonna have been featured twice. Elvis was the first.
12. From April 2001, MAD started carrying ads. But that didn’t deter these intrepid souls from parodying brands. As if to prove a point they fucked the trip of ADIDAS. What according to MAD is ADIDAS? (Not, All Day I Dream About Sex)
Apparel Developed in Deplorable Asian Sweatshops.
13. An ad released for Atmore’s Mince Meat Plum Pudding in the Illustrated London News in 1895 saved the MAD magazine in 1965. How?
In 1965, Helen Pratt Stuff slapped a case against MAD magazine. The charge was the character Alfred E. Newman was created by her husband in 1914 and MAD had just lifted it. MAD was about to lose the case...MAD did a lot of research. And found that in 1895 Atmore’s Mince Meat Plum Pudding had released an ad using a similar looking character. This clinched the case for them. The court ruled that while MAD may not have created the character but they could use it as the character had been in public domain since 1895.
14. “You could do worse and you always have.” When does MAD use this slogan?
Alfred E. Newman uses this slogan whenever he runs for presidency.
15. If Capt. Kirk was Capt. Quirk, and Luke Skywalker was Lube Skystalker who was MAD’s version of Sherlock Holmes?
Shermlock Shomes. He made his debut in ‘The hound of the basketballs’!
16. In 1954, Dr. Fredrick Wertham wrote a book called Seduction of the Innocent. How did this change the face of MAD?
Basically Wertham came up with this hypothesis that comic books featuring spooky horror stories caused juvenile delinquency. Strangely, the senate bought his theory. They clamped down on all comics that featured anything that may corrupt kids, through something called the Comics Code Authority. MAD was born in these turbulent times as a comic book. The moment they sensed trouble they quickly converted themselves into a magazine. Stopped horror spoofs. And evolved into its present avtaar.
17. MAD had a delicious way of presenting its price. When it costed 25 cents they called it ‘cheap’, at 40 cents they said ‘ouch’, what did they say when the price was 30 cents?
Highway robbery!
18. How many spies have been featured in Spy vs. Spy?
Three. Black, white and grey. The grey spy is a lady.
19. Known for subtler humour, this illustrator cum writer often featured himself in his “Lighter Side of ________” strips under the pseudonym Richard Kaputnik. He died in 2002. Currently, MAD is running a nationwide cartoonist contest to choose his replacement. Who is this Madman?
Dave Berg
20. He came up with two brilliant features - Fold-ins and Snappy Answers for Stupid Questions in the MAD magazine. Who?
Al Jafee
Friday, June 17, 2005
All is Vanity
That's the title of this fantastic piece by Charles Allen Gilbert. He made this now famous illustration in 1892. He was 18 years old at that time! The painting remained unsold for many years until a decade later, when Gilbert finally sold the original to the Life Publishing Co, a tiny cartoon tabloid sold in railroad stations for a nickel. When it appeared in 1902, the optical illusion created a sensation. Ever since, so many people have copied it. Rock groups Def Leppard and Damned used it as their album covers. Christian Dior appropriated this imagery for advertising their Poison perfume.The ad went on to win many awards. Awards that legitimately belong to Charles Allen Gilbert!
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Daily Trivia # 8
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Daily Trivia # 7
Blockbuster Taglines # 1
The true story of a real fake - Catch Me If You Can
Collide with destiny - Titanic
Born into wealth. Groomed by the elite. Trained for combat. - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
He saw the world in a way no one could have imagined - A Beautiful Mind
The greatest trick that the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn’t exist - The Usual Suspects
There are 3.7 trillion fish in the ocean*, they're looking for one - Finding Nemo
The greatest fairy tale never told - Shrek
America was born in the streets - Gangs of New York
Brace yourself for Melvin - As Good As It Gets
Run. The truce is ending. - The Village
He's the best there is! (Actually, he's the only one there is.) - Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Here comes the bride - Kill Bill: Volume 1
She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees - Erin Brokovich
Your life is on the line - Phone Booth
Reality is a thing of the past - The Matrix
Finally...a man is listening - What Women Want
A tale of murder, lust, greed, revenge, and seafood. - A Fish Called Wanda
The Fastest Hands In The East Meet The Biggest Mouth In The West - Rush Hour
The Rain is coming... and so is the Family - Monsoon Wedding
Time To Kick Some Asteroid - Armageddon
The guy next door just became the man upstairs - Bruce Almighty
Get ready for rush hour - Speed
Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire. - Schindler's List
A Hero Will Rise - Gladiator
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
"I didn't know it was called this phobia"
Antlophobia: Fear of floods
Anuptaphobia: Fear of staying single
Atychiphobia: Fear of failure
Aviophobia: Fear of flying
Bathmophobia: Fear of stairs or steep slopes
Carcinophobia: Fear of cancer
Catagelophobia: Fear of being ridiculed
Chorophobia: Fear of dancing
Coprastasophobia: Fear of constipation
Didaskaleinophobia: Fear of going to school
Dromophobia: Fear of crossing the street
Dystychiphobia: Fear of accidents
Gamophobia: Fear of marriage
Gerascophobia: Fear of growing old
Harpaxophobia: Fear of being robbed
Hypegiaphobia: Fear of responsibility
Iatrophobia: Fear of going to the doctor
Liticaphobia: Fear of lawsuits
Mastigophobia: Fear of punishments
Necrophobia: Fear of death
Nosocomephobia: Fear of hospitals
Obesophobia: Fear of gaining weight
Pentheraphobia: Fear of mother-in-law
Psellismophobia: Fear of stuttering
Rhyme Time # 1
Churchill wrote his dad’s obit
Books he wrote in his life
Were termed pornography by his wife.
Who?
Ian Fleming
Monday, June 13, 2005
Daily Trivia # 5
Daily Trivia # 4
Who's this?
That's Harpo Marx, as sketched by his good friend, Salvador Dali. The portrait is very apt because it captures a trademark Harpo trait. Another noticeable trait in his flicks was, Adolph Arthur Marx rarely spoke. Harpo encashed this trait by naming his autobiography, Harpo Speaks.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Daily Trivia # 3
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Brilliant Quotes From Bette Midler
"After thirty, a body has a mind of its own."
"I married a German. Every night I dress up as Poland and he invades me."
"I wouldn't say I invented tacky, but I definitely brought it to its present high popularity."
"If sex is such a natural phenomenon, how come there are so many books on how to do it?"
"Rap is poetry set to music. But to me it's like a jackhammer."
(courtesy brainyquote.com)
Rare Limerick by Arthur C. Clarke
For MGM did Kubrick, Stan
A stately astrodome decree
While Art, the science writer, ran
Through plots incredible to man,
In search of solvency.
The Little Boy
The man in the picture is Col. Paul Warfield Tibbets, the pilot of Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the 'little boy' bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, killing almost 80,000 people. He named the plane after his mom.