# a Random Challenge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052 "2007-03-08T03:29:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/41 "2007-03-08T23:31:07Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. This pioneering 1977 MUD was the first of its kind to feature graphics beyond simple line drawings, with multiuser parties who could interact with each other and monsters that appeared onscreen in real time. Color? Of course. Any color you want, at longs as it’s \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. PLATO’s display was orange ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/42 "2007-03-09T00:59:44Z")
Coupla things: Don’t forget that I added a few questions – replies 19 & 20. Total of 26 questions. Also, I mentioned earlier that some of the questions might be worth something other than the default 3 points, but I didn’t say which ones. Those are 2,3,13,14,18,21,22,25 & 26, each worth a possible 4 points, not counting possible bonuses. (Mainly that’s because these questions have 4 elements, and I want to avoid fractional scores.) Use the scoring as a hint. It means your answer has to hit 4 references for full credit, although if it’s clear that you know the easy part (because you have an obscure reference to one of the hard elements), I’ll give you points for the omitted element. Again, I encourage obscure answers. In a similar vein, a couple questions have more than one correct answer. You need all of the answers for full credit. There’s a hint or two that signals this. Also, if it’s a 4-pointer, and you think you’ve fully answered it with 2 references, you might want to look again. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/43 "2007-03-09T01:14:34Z")
At present, top 5 scorers are: **Revenant Threshold** with 17 points (at least part credit on 6 questions) **Shodan** with 12 points (at least part credit on 8 questions) **Peter Morris** 11 points (4 questions, includes a bonus point) **Robot Arm** 9 points (4 questions, considering a bonus point) **Paintcharge** 7 points (4 questions) There is more than one person with 5 points. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/44 "2007-03-09T01:24:15Z")
Missed one. **Tapioca** also has 7 points. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/45 "2007-03-09T02:37:37Z")
[QUOTE=Random] 24. She’s a goddess, not a witch! I turn into an animal whenever I’m with her. I don’t care what people say. I know she might drug me, or otherwise abuse me. I’m still going to the island. It’ll all work out fine if she loves me. [/QUOTE] The Changelings are gods to the Vorta. The Female Changeling helped Odo to improve his shapeshifting abilities, teaching him to take the form of various animals. They met on the island in the middle of the great link. Although she displays a motherly love for Odo, she had to punish him by locking him in solid form for a time. It all worked out in the end when Odo saved the great link from the disease introduced by Section 31. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/46 "2007-03-09T03:36:52Z")
In case it isn’t clear to all, you don’t have to be first with the correct answer to get points. BTW, so far, 7 questions have been fully answered by at least one person. Those include a couple that I thought were among the toughest, and some that I thought were among the easiest seem to be stumping people. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/47 "2007-03-09T04:46:15Z")
1. Dick, Anne, Dick’s older brother (what’s his name?), and George are all famous names. But that’s only four people, not five. (and seven is something entirely different) What’s going on here? And what’s George’s real, full name? Julian is Dick’s older brother. George’s real name is Georgina Kirrin. If by here you mean Love Island, you’d better ask Uncle Quentin. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/48 "2007-03-09T05:20:28Z")
1. This U.S. state had a capital that can’t be found anywhere in the state, no matter how hard you look these days. Well now. The first capital of Texas was Los Adeas (now in Louisiana) and the first two capitals of Louisiana were Mobile Bay and Biloxi (now Alabama and Mississippi respectively). Those three answers might be disqualified because they were colonial capitals, not state ones. During the Civil War, the Missouri’s exiled confederate government set up its capital in Marshall, Texas. I think that might be the answer you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/49 "2007-03-09T05:44:42Z")
[QUOTE=Robot Arm] Major Boothroyd was the armorer in Ian Fleming’s James Bond books and films, although he is usually called ‘Q’ (as the head of Q Branch within the Secret Service). 1964 saw the first publication of _Chitty chitty Bang Bang_, also by Ian Fleming, which featured a flying car. Two possibilities. _Good Times_, _St. Elsewhere_ and _Newhart_ all had notice of their impending cancellation while they were still in production, and created final episodes that completed long-standing character arcs or pay-offs to long-running jokes. _Married with Children_ filmed its final episode while the renewal status was unknown, and with no attempt at such resolutions. I haven’t been able to determine the status of the final episode of _E/R_. _Good Times_, _E/R_ and _Married with Children_ were all set in Chicago. _St. Elsewhere_ was set in Boston. _Newhart_ was set in Vermont. The guy who acted in _Deadwood_ and the movie referenced in question 7 is William Sanderson, who also played Larry on _Newhart_. “One of these things is not like the others” was (and perhaps still is) a recurring game on _Sesame Street_. [/QUOTE] I’m not really playing, because the questions have left me in the dust, but (and I haven’t read all the posts so this may have been covered) **St Elsewhere** and **Newhart** were revealed to have been fantasy (the little boy’s snowglobe and Bob Hartley’s dream); I think, IIRC, **Good Times** was JJ’s imagination as revealed in one of his paintings? No idea about the other one (or two) shows ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/50 "2007-03-09T07:59:13Z")
11 New Madrid Earthquake Solved 19 balloon 20 solar radiation (sunlight) Solved 26 Rome Whoops, misread that one ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/51 "2007-03-09T23:39:13Z")
At present, top scorers are: **Revenant Threshold** with 17 points (at least part credit on 6 questions) **Shodan** with 12 points (at least part credit on 8 questions) **Peter Morris** 11 points (4 questions, includes a bonus point) **Tapioca** 9 points (5 questions) **Robot Arm** 9 points (4 questions, considering a bonus point) **Paintcharge** 7 points (4 questions) **Daryl Lict** 7 points (3 questions) There remain several people with 5 points. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/52 "2007-03-10T00:45:07Z")
Based on an e-mailed answer, which I have told the sender to post in this thread, and a decision on a bonus point, top scorers are now: **Revenant Threshold** with 17 points (at least part credit on 6 questions) **Shodan** with 12 points (at least part credit on 8 questions) **Peter Morris** 11 points (4 questions, includes a bonus point) **Robot Arm** 10 points (4 questions, includes a bonus point) **Tapioca** 9 points (5 questions) **sahra-t** 8 points (2 questions, includes a bonus point) **Paintcharge** 7 points (4 questions) **Daryl Lict** 7 points (3 questions) Shodan might see his score greatly improve with a bit more specificity. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/53 "2007-03-10T02:39:20Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. In an homage to all those who fought the good fight on legal questions in GQ, a T/F three parter > > (a) They can’t stop me as I’m leaving my local big box store, even if the alarm sounds. FALSE, at least in Virginia where Code § 8.01-226.9 provides, inter alia that: The activation of an electronic article surveillance device as a result of a person exiting the premises or an area within the premises of a merchant where an electronic article surveillance device is located shall constitute probable cause for the detention of such person … > [@](#): > > (b) I’m in a right to work state, so I can’t be fired without cause. FALSE, this is a common misconception, “right to work” has nothing to do with the ability of an employer to fire you at will. It only means that the Union cannot compell you to join them, or participate in their strike. > [@](#): > > (c) That waiver of liability on the form I just signed? Those things never hold up in court. FALSE : Exculpatory clauses are often enforceable. (State laws do vary, and such clauses may not be valid in your state in specific circumstances, but I have never heard of a state where they are never upheld.) In Illinois, they tend to be enforceable if they are well-drafted, although there are some situations where they are not allowed. > [@](#): > > (d) My state has a Good Samaritan law, so I’m required to stop and save this person in peril. Since you are in a state rather than a province, FALSE. Good Samaritan laws do not require a stranger to give aid, they protect a person giving aid from lawsuits. There are some duties upon you. You may be required to report a crime in progress, but not to intervene to save a victim. In some parts of Canada the statement would be true under some circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/54 "2007-03-10T03:07:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Boothroyd was a resourceful guy, but did he ever create a flying car? Before 1964, I mean. Things got screwed up after that. In the film version of The Man With The Golden Gun, Scaramanga has a car which converts quickly to an airplane with the addition of some easily detachable wings. Major Giles Boothroyd, the Quartermaster or Q is “working on one now” but the state of development is uncertain. Nothing like this happened in the original novel, written 1964 published 1965. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/55 "2007-03-10T03:32:15Z")
Peter is definitely in the hunt for another bonus point. No score update for now. I\*m busy in another window playing a game. (What do you mean, **was**?) ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/56 "2007-03-11T00:14:43Z")
Top scorers are now: **Peter Morris** 18 points (6 questions, includes two bonus points) **Revenant Threshold** with 17 points (at least part credit on 6 questions) **Shodan** with 12 points (at least part credit on 8 questions) **Robot Arm** 10 points (4 questions, includes a bonus point) **Tapioca** 9 points (5 questions) **sahra-t** 8 points (2 questions, includes a bonus point) **Paintcharge** 7 points (4 questions) **Daryl Lict** 7 points (3 questions) Peter takes over the lead! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/57 "2007-03-13T14:01:14Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. This SF author has probably has had more movies based on his writing than any in the genre, counting remakes and series (like Tarzan) as one credit. But I don’t get the unicorn thing. Deckard dreams of of a unicorn rather than an electric sheep. Later, Gaff gives him an origami unicorn. This implies that his dreams are artificially implanted, thus Deckard is himself a replicant. > [@](#): > > 1. Dick, Anne, Dick’s older brother (what’s his name?), and George are all famous names. But that’s only four people, not five. (and seven is something entirely different) What’s going on here? And what’s George’s real, full name? The famous five were four children and a dog. So, the dog is included in the count. The Secret Seven, however, were seven children and a dog. Shouldn’t they count themselves as eight? By the way, the Famous Five should not be confused with The Five Find-Outers, nor should the Secret Seven be confused with The Secret Series. Nor her other stories. More information than you could possibly want to know here: [http://www.enidblyton.net/](http://www.enidblyton.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/58 "2007-03-13T16:11:06Z")
[QUOTE=garygnu] OK, fine. How old will Frederick be when he is out of his indentures? [/QUOTE] I can’t get any of **Random** ’s questions, but I think the answer this is 84 :). ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/59 "2007-03-13T21:06:07Z")
Because of my long delay in posting the questions (after posting the rules as my OP) and some demands on my time early this week, I’m going to extend the deadline by 48 hours. Also, events have proved me wrong in one thing I said in Q26 – the other grandmother did appear in the current series. I may post a list of unanswered questions later tonight – still a lot of these. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052/60 "2007-03-14T20:22:41Z")
Peter up to 24 points (includes 2 bonus points). Final decisions on any more bonus points will be made at end of quiz. At present, questions 10,19 and 24 are completely unanswered, and half or fewer of the references in questions 1-3,5,9,12,15,21,22 & 26 have been picked up. Note: 21 and 22 each call for two separate events fitting the description. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-random-challenge/395052.md?page=4)