PoK: Demonymns

For each of the following places, what would you call a group of people from that place?

1) Omaha
2) Utah
3) UAE
4) Azerbijan
5) Burkina Faso
6) Gibraltar
7) Glasgow
8) Phoenix

Answers to 'Poorly Drawn Map of Australia'
A) Northern Territory
B) Alice Springs
C) Ayers Rock or Uluru
D) Western Australia
E) Perth!
F) South Australia
G) Adelaide
H) Victoria
I) Tasmania
J) Melbourne
K) Canberra
L) Sydney
M) New South Wales
N) Queensland
O) Great Barrier Reef
P) Cairn

PoK: Poorly drawn map of Australia

Label parts A-P.

Answers to 'Motorcycle Culture':

1) What is the origin of the word 'Hog'? What does it refer to now?

From Wikipedia: "Beginning in 1920 a team of farm boys down South that would become known as the 'hog boys' consistently won races. The group had a hog, or pig as their mascot. Following a win, they would put the pig (a real one) on the back of their Harley and take a victory lap. In 1983, an organization was formed, taking advantage of the long-standing nickname by turning "hog" into the acronym H.O.G., for Harley Owners Group. Many Harley-Davidson enthusiasts capitalize the word to make "Hog" and consider this term the sole property of H-D."

2) What does each of the following terms refer to:
*Squid - "Squirrely Kid"
*RUB - "Rich Urban Biker"
*Cager - Person in a car
*Bluehair - old person
*Road Gator - shredded truck tire on the roadway
*Backwarmer - (typically female) passenger

3)In the original Honda ad: "You could find ____ _________ _________ on a Honda"
The Nicest People

Props to Mark, who was the only one brave enough to try.

Guest PoK: Motorcycle Culture

Today's is by Dan Lackas.

1) What is the origin of the word 'Hog'? What does it refer to now?

2) What does each of the following terms refer to:
*Squid
*RUB
*Cager
*Bluehair
*Road Gator
*Backwarmer

3)In the original Honda ad: "You could find ____ _________ _________ on a Honda"

As for answers for yesterday's PoK, I got sucked into the amazing The Vinkhuijzen collection of military uniforms on the NY Public Library's site last night. I found amazing examples of each, but they're downloaded at home, so I'll compose the answer post sometime this weekend with them. But Davey was pretty close, except on Sapper, which is my favorite.

PoK: Going all Napoleonic on you

For each of the following types of 18th/19th century soldiers, tell their role in combat, any distinct weaponry or distinct dress, and the origin of the word:

1)Hussars
2)Sappers
3)Dragoons
4)Cuirassier
5)Grenadier
6)Carabinier
7)Lancer

Answers to Fabrics of the World

Tona did best, although she cheated on the origin question:
Tweed: wool
Taffeta: Silk
Linen: flax
Cords have wale
Seersucker is woven with a pucker in one direction so it looks pre-wrinkled.
I googled it, so I didn't know before, but it's fascinating that it comes from a Persian phrase "milk and sugar" (sheer o shakar). I thought it came from India, because it's cooler & usually thinner than regular cotton so it's a good tropical fabric.
How about houndstooth? Where does that come from?

I'm pretty sure that just refers to the pattern itself, but it's usually wool, often worsted wool. Right?

PoK: Fabrics of the World

I'm looking for original fibers here, not synthetics:
1) What is tweed made from?
2) What is taffeta made from?
3) What is linen made from?
4) What is the term for the width of the 'cord' in corduroy?
5) How might one distinguish a seersucker shirt from a merely cotton shirt?

Bonus: What language does the name 'Seersucker' come from and what does the original term mean?

Answers for PoK:Turkey

Between Davey and Maren, all the answers were right. Here's Maren's comment with parenthetical annotations by me:

1. (Istanbul, Constantinople, Byzantium)
2. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul
3. Byzantium: main city of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople: Greek for "The City of Constantine", Istanbul: a degradation of Constantinople (also, Ataturk asked in 1930 that other countries not call it anything but Istanbul anymore)
4. Country of the Turks (I was hoping somebody would say what 'Turk' means in old Turkic, which turns out to be 'Strong')
5. Mustafa Kemal Attatürk, 1880's-1930's or 40's (yeah, died '38 i think)
6. Ottoman Empire
7. Anatolia, Galacia (also, Davey was correct with Asia Minor)

PoK: Turkey

The Plane of Knowledge is back from hiatus, but reserves the right to go back on hiatus whenever I please. Hue and Cry do affect me, however.

1) Name 3 names for Turkey's largest city

2) In chronological order of common usage

3) Tell about the associations of each name

4) What does the name 'Turkey' mean

5) Who is the father of the modern Turkish state and when did he live?

6) How was the area politically organized prior to the modern republic?

7) Give 2 alternate names for the landmass comprising most of modern Turkey?



Mechams, we're counting on you to hold back until others have had a chance.




Answers from 'Plural Nouns, Pt. I'

1)Rhinoceros: Crash/Calf

2)Goose: Gaggle/Gosling

3)Ant: Colony or Army/Larva

4)Lion: Pride/Cub

5)Whale: Pod/Calf

6)Crow: Murder/Chick

7)Rook: Parlaiment/Chick

8)Raven: Unkindness/Chick

9)Badger: Cete/Kit or Cub

10)Hyena: Pack or Cackle/Pup

PoK: Plural Nouns, Part I

Plural Nouns Part I

Parts 2-20 may or may not ever happen. For each of the following animals, list the proper name for a group of animals. Example: cow=>herd. Some have more than one right answer. Got it? Bonus: name the name for a young animal of each type.

1)Rhinoceros

2)Goose

3)Ant

4)Lion

5)Whale

6)Crow

7)Rook (the bird, not the chess piece)

8)Raven

9)Badger

10)Hyena

Answers from PoK:Pomegranates

1) What does the word 'pomegranate' mean and in what language?
Kari did best here, with 'Apple of Grains' - pomme is Latin/French for apple, and granate is grains or seeds. Seedy apple. I actually almost asked for the bonus question to name states or people with the pomegranate as their symbol, but I thought nobody would get it - so good on you, Kari! the rest of you were pretty close, too.

2) What gem derives its name from the similarity in color to the fruit?
Nice job, it was garnet.

3) What modern weapon derives its name from the similarity in shape to the fruit? This one was maybe a little obvious, but it's pretty cool, no? First attested usage comes from 1523

4) Under what conditions will pomegranate juice turn blue?
Those of you who guessed acid were on the right track, but headed the wrong direction. Alkaline conditions will turn it blue. Which provides for some amusing imaginary MacGuyver moments where you need to know whether you can drink from a lake but all you have to test it with is a pomegranate.

5) In Greek Mythology, who is famous for eating a pomegranate and what were the consequences of that action?
Yup, Persephone, and it's why we have winter

Bonus: Name two health benefits of pomegranate juice.
Obviously, some of these are more provable than others, so everybody gets credit, even (perhaps especially) Michelle.

For Kari's bonus question, I agree with Maren - do it in a bowl of water & strain them out. Are we right?

Plane of Knowledge: Pomegranates

1) What does the word 'pomegranate' mean and in what language?

2) What gem derives its name from the similarity in color to the fruit?

3) What modern weapon derives its name from the similarity in shape to the fruit?

4) Under what conditions will pomegranate juice turn blue?

5) In Greek Mythology, who is famous for eating a pomegranate and what were the consequences of that action?

Bonus: Name two health benefits of pomegranate juice.


Answers to All Things Piratical:
1) What is the difference between a pirate and a privateer? As Maren implied, the difference is state sponsorship, usually in the form of Letters of Marque and Reprisal.

2) What language does the word buccaneer come from and what does it mean?
It comes from French boucan, a name for racks used to dry & smoke meat in the Carribean - thus, it basically means Barbecuer. Apparently some barbecuers took to piracy.

3) What was Blackbeard's given name? Edward Teach.

4) What group of pirates was the target of the US' first overseas military action and where were they based?

The Barbary Pirates were disrupting American shipping in the Mediterranean, which resulted in the First Barbary War, in which the port of Tripoli played a major role. This is the origin of the phrase "the shores of Tripoli" in the Marine Hymn.

5) The Island of Tortuga from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies is a real place. What modern country is it part of? The island is across a channel from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and is part of that country today.

6) What became of the famous pirate town Port Royal? Port Royal was a popular pirate town until, in 1692, an earthquake resulted in 2/3 of the city being sunk into the sea.

Bonus: In Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, what is Frederick the 'slave of'? What is the paradox that thus enslaves him?

As Tona correctly stated, the full title of the play is "The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty". Maren correctly articulated the paradox, that Frederick was apprenticed to serve the pirates until his 21st Birthday, not merely his 21st year. As somebody born on Leap Day, his 21st year meant he had as yet had only 5 birthdays.

Edit: While I was posting this, Davey posted in the comments of All Things Piratical and did very well, getting at least partial credit on all but #6. YAAR, Matey!

Pasta of the Ladies of the Night

My sister thinks anchovies are not very useful. Here's why I keep a couple of tins of anchovies and a jar of capers in the pantry at all times:

Pasta Puttanesca, from Best Recipes Italian Classics, p. 153

4 medium cloves garlic, minced to paste or passed through garlic press
1 pound spaghetti
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon hot pepper flakes, more if you need it spicier
4 teaspoons minced anchovies (about 8-9 fillets)
1 28oz can diced tomatoes, drained (reserve 1/2 cup juice)
3 tablespoons capers, rinsed
1/2 cup black olives, coarsely chopped - I actually use a whole can b/c we like olives
1/4 cup minced parsley leaves if you have it handy

1) Bring water to rolling boil in a large pot. Meanwhile, mix the garlic with a tablespoon of water in a small bowl and set aside. When the water is boiling, add a little salt and the spaghetti. In another pan, heat the oil, garlic mixture, red pepper flakes, and anchovies over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant but not yet browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and simmer until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes (to coincide with the pasta being done).

2) Drain the pasta & return it to the pot. Add 1/4 cup reserved tomato juice and toss to combine.

3) Stir the capers, olives, and parsley into the sauce. Pour the sauce over the pasta and combine, adding more tomato juice to moisten if necessary. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Edit: Here's the almost as good even easier version:

boil water. run a couple of cloves of garlic through a press and mince up about half a tin of anchovies. Add some olive oil to your 12" skillet and when it starts to shimmer, add the garlic, anchovies, and some hot pepper flakes to it. Then add the pasta to your pasta pot.

After a couple of minutes, add a big can or 2 little cans of diced tomatoes (no juice, save it) to the garlicky mix and simmer. while it does that, chop up some olives, most or all of a can. get a big handful of capers and rinse them under the faucet in your hand. When the pasta's done, drain it and put it back in the pot with the tomato sauce, olives, and capers, plus some of the canned tomato juice. toss it up and serve.

You can totally do that.

The Plane of Knowledge: All things Piratical

PIRATES!
1) What is the difference between a pirate and a privateer?
2) What language does the word buccaneer come from and what does it mean?
3) What was Blackbeard's given name?
4) What group of pirates was the target of the US' first overseas military action and where were they based?
5) The Island of Tortuga from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies is a real place. What modern country is it part of?
6) What became of the famous pirate town Port Royal?

Bonus: In Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, what is Frederick the 'slave of'? What is the paradox that thus enslaves him?


Answers to the Plane of Knowledge you've been dreading:
- Gymnophobia is actually fear of nudity. Gives you a whole new perspective on gymnastics and gymnasiums, doesn't it?

- Acrophobia is, as everyone surmised, fear of heights.

- Triskaidekaphobia is not, sadly, fear of dancing triscuits, but fear of the number 13.

- Apiphobia: Maren, I was impressed by fear of application program interfaces, that's certainly what the programmers around here first thought. But Quinn had it right, fear of bees (apiculture, apiary)

- Ophidiophobia is, as Brian correctly surmised, fear of snakes.

- Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia: Quinn had it right; fear of the number 666.

- Epistemophobia, Quinn again with Fear of Knowledge.

Bonus: Nyctohylohippophobia. Maren was actually closest, with "Fear of meeting up with wooden hippos at night??" - it would actually be fear of meeting horses in a forest at night. But you weren't around for the earlier hippo=horse PoK, so we'll forgive you.

Plane of Knowledge: The PoK You've Been Dreading

For each of the following phobias, tell what is feared:
- Gymnophobia
- Acrophobia
- Triskaidekaphobia
- Apiphobia
- Ophidiophobia
- Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia (look carefully, you'll figure it out)
- Epistemophobia

Bonus: Nyctohylohippophobia

seriously, we could go on all day. It'd be fun, too. But that'll do for now - gotta save some for the future.


Answers to "Know your Conifers"

1) Spruces, such as the blue spruce Tona mentioned, have short needles attached singly along the twig, and hanging cones
2) Firs also have flat, short needles, but have noticeably pyramidal shape and erect (growing up) cones. That's why Fraser Fir is such a popular Christmas tree - the pyramidal shape.
3) Pines have longer needles bundled in clusters of 2-5.

The two things I was looking for for edible parts were pine nuts and the soft white underbark. But Brian gets credit too.

Hemlocks, cedars, junipers, yews, and redwoods are also conifers.

Plane of Knowledge: The Weekend Conundrum

Remember how I said I'd be posting the answers to every PoK the day after? Yeah, I should clarify - that's Business Day. That way you'll get a new one every time you get one answered. I simply can't be counted on to blog on the weekends. Of course, this post proves that it is possible; I'm just reluctant to set up the precedent. So, if you haven't already looked to find out the conifer answers, you'll see'm Monday.

The Geographer's Library

Reading The Geographer's Library makes me wish I had a big old alchemist's laboratory all to my self to play with.

The Plane of Knowledge: Know Your Conifers

Know your Conifers:
For each of the following types of conifers, tell how they are distinguished from other types of conifers. In general, this will involve talking about needle shape and grouping, cone disposition, and tree shape. List an example of each.
1) Spruces
2) Firs
3) Pines

Bonus: List 2 edible parts of conifers. They don't have to be edible on every conifer, just 2 things that come from conifers you can eat.

Bonus: List 2 types of conifers not mentioned here.




Answer's to yesterday's PoK: THE WAR OF 1812:
1) Who declared war on whom, and what were the reasons?

Well, Brian's right, we declared war on them, and there was a trade issue, specifically that the British were interfering with our trade with France (who they were at war with on the European continent). Davey was also right about them stealing people for their armed forces, although it was the impressment of American sailors rather than soldiers that was the main problem there. Additionally, the British were funding & supplying Native American tribes (such as the Shawnee under Tecumseh) in what was then the northwest frontier, and those tribes were preventing settlement in lands the US had obtained by treaty after the Revolutionary War.

2) How long did the war last?

Until 1815. The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814. After the treaty was signed, the Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 (Jackson & his troops were unaware of the peace). The treaty was ratified by the US in February.

3) Who was President at the time?

James Madison is correct.

4) What is that President's wife famous for during the war?

Brian's right again - she's famous for staying behind after basically everybody else, including her bodyguards, had left. She saved, among other things, a famous portrait of George Washington.

5) What American commander later became President?

Davey's right - it was Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans.

Bonus: What battle or battles is the 1812 Overture written to comemmorate?

Davey is right - this is a trick question. It was written about the French invasion of Russia in 1812. Specifically, the Battle of Borodino, if you must know.

The Plane of Knowledge: War of 1812

So, at work for the last several months we've had a feature on my friend Rob's whiteboard called the Plane of Knowledge. It's a box drawn on the board wherein every day (usually but not always before Rob arrives) it's my responsibility to fill the box with a few related questions about some topic. Sometimes we have guests do the PoK, but it usually falls to me. It's Rob's job to figure out the answers or his best guesses and we talk about the subject for a few minutes. He's not supposed to use the internet to look up answers, and neither are you. I'm supposed to stay at or near things I already knew - its not cool for me to go research some esoteric thing just to put it on the PoK. I can stretch that rule a little.

In the past, we've covered everything from alcohol to cryptolects to mythology to word definitions to geography to soup to nuts. I kinda wish I'd been putting them here all along.

So, I thought I might start putting them here, because I don't blog much (oh, you hadn't noticed?) and it'll give the rest of you a chance to play along at home. You can post guesses in the comments, or email them to me at my usual address. Ready?

THE WAR OF 1812:
1) Who declared war on whom, and what were the reasons?
2) How long did the war last?
3) Who was President at the time?
4) What is that President's wife famous for during the war?
5) What American commander later became President?
Bonus: What battle or battles is the 1812 Overture written to comemmorate?

Answers will be posted tomorrow. No cheating.

Calling all Gaiman Fans

So, Neil wrote a book called Stardust, which I have a signed copy of. At its release party at the local Borders, they were giving away or selling signed copies, and I found one that Neil had drawn a face in, so I snatched it up. Never got more than 50 pages in.

Then, They came out with an illustrated version. Great! I thought. Now it'll be like a graphic novel & I'll totally read it. It sits up on the comic shelf, unloved.

But today I saw the trailer for Stardust, and I'm ready to go see it. Now.