# Common denominators **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 17, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486 "2008-12-17T00:33:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/61 "2008-12-18T21:48:15Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Queen Elizabeth I > Sir Isaac Newton > Pope John Paul I Virgins? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/62 "2008-12-18T21:50:24Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > The father was originally Michael King, and the son thus Michael King Jr. “Senior” changed the names to honor Martin Luther after the family toured Gerrmany in 1934. I did not know that! (Obviously.) Damn, I hope y’all are enjoying this thread as much as I am. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/63 "2008-12-18T21:59:41Z")
Bifocals Ice cream Computers ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/64 "2008-12-18T22:16:50Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > All named for noblemen. Salisbury steak was named for a physician. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/65 "2008-12-18T22:39:07Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > All named for noblemen. Might as well give it to you. Looks like you over analyzed it. They’re all named after men (not necessarily noblemen). ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/66 "2008-12-18T22:47:47Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Salisbury steak was named for a physician. Well how 'bout that. I knew the other two and just figured Salisbury (with a name like that) must also be some obscure nobleman. Still waiting on this one: > [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Julius Caesar > Fyodor Dostoyevsky > Hugo Weaving ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/67 "2008-12-18T22:56:57Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Still waiting on this one: > Julius Caesar > Fyodor Dostoyevsky > Hugo Weaving Epileptics ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/68 "2008-12-18T22:59:17Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Epileptics I was going to say authors. At least Caesar and Dostoevsky have written things. Not sure about Weaving. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/69 "2008-12-18T23:08:15Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Virgins? Well, that’s certainly a better answer. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/70 "2008-12-18T23:13:52Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Epileptics Yep. > [@twickster](#): > > Bifocals > Ice cream > Computers Um… all invented by people living on the east coast of the US? All helpful for when you’ve got tonsillitis? All contain the letter ‘C’? All are delicious when covered with hot fudge\*? \*(Except for computers and bifocals.) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/71 "2008-12-18T23:17:29Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Um… all invented by people living on the east coast of the US? All helpful for when you’ve got tonsillitis? All contain the letter ‘C’? All are delicious when covered with hot fudge\*? > > \*(Except for computers and bifocals.) You’re on the right track with one of these, but it’s more specific. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/72 "2008-12-18T23:33:58Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > You’re on the right track with one of these, but it’s more specific. Well the first two are pretty much invented by quakers. I don’t know what computers have to do with it, though. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/73 "2008-12-18T23:36:06Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Bifocals > Ice cream > Computers Kinda sorta all from Philadelphia. Sorta. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/74 "2008-12-18T23:36:51Z")
Well, if you’re trying to get that they were all invented in Philadelphia, I’m pretty sure you’re going to run into trouble with “computers.” IIRC, the first “modern” computer was built in the '40s at either MIT or Harvard. Of course, there are varying degrees of modernity, so by some definitions the “computer” was invented in ancient Egypt and by other definitions it was invented in 2007 when Apple came out with Leopard. 🙂 I’ll totally give you ice cream and bifocals though. Both are definitely Philadelphia creations. Here’s another: Patrick Stewart Laurence Fishburne Orson Welles (HINT: It’s not just that they’re actors.) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/75 "2008-12-18T23:39:06Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Well the first two are pretty much invented by quakers. I don’t know what computers have to do with it, though. Franklin wasn’t a Quaker, he was a Congregationalist. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > Kinda sorta all from Philadelphia. Sorta. Whaddya mean, “kinda”!?!?!? You dissing the ENIAC? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/76 "2008-12-18T23:39:15Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > I’ll totally give you ice cream and bifocals though. Both are definitely Philadelphia creations. I don’t agree about ice cream. I think it was brought to the US from England. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/77 "2008-12-18T23:40:19Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Virgins? Yes, maybe. At least, all were unmarried and had no longterm sweetie pookumses. How about: Henry Ford Warren G. Harding Thomas Edison ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/78 "2008-12-18T23:40:26Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Patrick Stewart > Laurence Fishburne > Orson Welles > > (HINT: It’s not just that they’re actors.) Played Othello? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/79 "2008-12-18T23:42:38Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I don’t agree about ice cream. I think it was brought to the US from England. Not according to Philadelphians! Okay, okay, uncle. I withdraw the troika. ☹ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486/80 "2008-12-18T23:45:16Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Sigmund Freud > Edgar Allan Poe > Sonny Liston I don’t know about Freud, but I think there was something hinky about Poe and Liston’s deaths. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-denominators/477486.md?page=5)