# Don't look it up, but give it your best shot...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [July 27, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158 "2014-07-27T13:58:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/21 "2014-07-27T16:44:16Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#):
>
> SHAZAM: Wisdom of Solomon, Strength of Hercules, Stamina of Atlas, Power of Zeus, Courage of Achilles, Speed of Mercury.
Yes, but do you know what the Mad Magazine parody of Captain Marbles meant when he said “SHAZOOM?”
---
### Author:  [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/22 "2014-07-27T17:08:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> SHAZAM: Wisdom of Solomon, Strength of Hercules, Stamina of Atlas, Power of Zeus, Courage of Achilles, Speed of Mercury.
> Yes, but do you know what the Mad Magazine parody of Captain Marbles meant when he said “SHAZOOM?”
I remember the parody, but, y’got me. What did SHAZOOM mean?
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/23 "2014-07-27T17:21:11Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#):
>
> I remember the parody, but, y’got me. What did SHAZOOM mean?
Amazing! This came up in an old thread I started but had forgotten about – as is so often the case: [check it out!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16992144&postcount=32)
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/24 "2014-07-27T17:22:40Z")
Who drove the Thunderbolt Grease-slapper?
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### Author:  [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/25 "2014-07-27T17:29:30Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#):
>
> Who drove the Thunderbolt Grease-slapper?
With his Thunderbolt Grease-slapper he is on your tail,
He won’t quit because there ain’t no such word as fail
To Tom Slick! Tom Slick!
---
### Author:  [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/26 "2014-07-27T17:30:13Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#):
>
> And…
>
> On which superheroes did Alan Moore base _The Watchmen_?
Huh, I actually never thought about this, but guessing: Dr. Manhattan is Captain Atom (is that the right name? The Mighty Atom? Something with atom…), Rohrschach is The Question, Night Owl is Batman, and I’m blanking on both Sally Jupiter and Adrian Veidt, though the emphasis on ‘peak human’ regarding the latter makes me think of Captain America… Now off to google to see whether I at least got the names right.
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/27 "2014-07-27T17:38:14Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#):
>
> With his Thunderbolt Grease-slapper he is on your tail,
> He won’t quit because there ain’t no such word as fail
> To Tom Slick! Tom Slick!
Correctamundo!
Under-dog’s girlfriend (full name).
---
### Author:  [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/28 "2014-07-27T17:41:24Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#):
>
> Under-dog’s girlfriend (full name).
Sweet Polly Purebred.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/29 "2014-07-27T17:41:43Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#):
>
> Under-dog’s girlfriend (full name).
Sweet Polly Purebred. (Except I don’t remember Underdog’s name being hyphenated.)
Wow, it’s amazing the stuff I have stored in the nooks and crannies of my brain for decades without knowing it’s there.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/30 "2014-07-27T17:43:04Z")
> [@Zeldar](#):
>
> 1. Where would you have run across Osgood Z’Beard?
Mad Magazine.
Added:
What is a Brannock Device? (Hint: you have used one)
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### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/31 "2014-07-27T17:45:25Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#):
>
> \<\< snip\>\>… Now off to google to see whether I at least got the names right.
Ain’t it amazing what Google and the internet have put into our hands to battle ignorance and misconstruction! You would think that with such power we could avoid seeing things like [THIS!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBv2CFTSWU)
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### Author:  [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/32 "2014-07-27T17:46:14Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> Added:
>
> What is a Brannock Device? (Hint: you have used one)
Hah! I happen to know this! it’s the thing for measuring your shoe size. I was friends with a guy who managed a shoe store.
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/33 "2014-07-27T17:59:56Z")
**RivkahChaya** , **Thudlow Boink** , both correct. (You both had “Sweet,” too, which would have been the tie breaker. Sorry, pistols at dawn.)
Thudlow’s probably right about no hyphen in the name, too. (Ever have one of those days where neither version looks right and the keyboard’s not cooperating, either?)
Tony Curtis’s name in “The Great Race.”
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### Author:  [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/34 "2014-07-27T18:08:56Z")
Not reading anybody else’s
1. Couldn’t begin to guess
2. Some ancient king of Scandinavia/Britain?
3. Aniseed
4. 1/6 mile, 14 days.
5. Shoot A Zap Approaching Magic
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### Author:  [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/35 "2014-07-27T18:09:56Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#):
>
> That leaves the question of Who was the first mutant superhero who was actually called a mutant superhero when first released?
I believe Captain Comet in Strange Adventures in the very early 1950s.
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### Author:  [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/36 "2014-07-27T18:11:54Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Yes, but do you know what the Mad Magazine parody of Captain Marbles meant when he said “SHAZOOM?”
I don’t recall except that O was Ox power of an ox. O was Ox power of another.
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### Author:  [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/37 "2014-07-27T18:15:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> That leaves the question of Who was the first mutant superhero who was actually called a mutant superhero when first released?
> I believe Captain Comet in Strange Adventures in the very early 1950s.
Verily, verily, you are correct, and your knowledge of old comics is outstanding.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/38 "2014-07-27T19:04:47Z")
> [@Zeldar](#):
>
> 1. What is Phineas Newborn known for?
>
> 2. Where would you have run across Osgood Z’Beard?
>
> 3. If you ordered Ouzo, what would you expect it to taste like?
>
> 4. How long is a furlong? A fortnight?
>
> 5. Give it your best shot on the words behind SHAZAM
Without looking anything up or reading other responses.
[spoiler]1. Don’t know
1. Don’t know
2. Black licorice. It’s a Greek liquor.
3. I don’t know exactly on a furlong but I think it’s about forty feet. A fortnight is fourteen days.
4. SHAZAM was the magic word spoken by Billy Batson to turn him into Captain Marvel. It was based on the names of past heroes, including Solomon, Hercules, Achilles (?), Zeus, maybe Alexander or Arthur (???), and Merlin.[/spoiler]
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/39 "2014-07-27T19:15:34Z")
Tony Curtis in _The Great Race_ was The Great Leslie.
Osgood Z’Beard was in a MAD sketch, IIRC something to do with bowling.
ETA: Ouzo tastes like licorice, and it turns white when you put water in it.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-it-up-but-give-it-your-best-shot/694158/40 "2014-07-27T19:22:49Z")
What are the following people known for:
1. Norman Borlaug
2. Phileas Fogg
3. Jane Grey
4. Charles Guiteau
5. Jomo Kenyatta
6. Felix Leiter
7. Andre Norton
8. Alexander Patch
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