# How to tell them apart (a public service) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497 "2004-08-05T19:16:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/281 "2004-08-13T00:48:06Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Vancouver: is a city on the mainland > Vancouver Island: is an island with a city (Victoria) on it > Victoria Island: is an island in the high Arctic, no cities Vancouver is a city near the Washington state border - in Southern British Columbia Vancouver is a city near the Washington state border - in Southern Washington Both are on I-5 (or the Canadian equivalent - Rte 99) BC - 140 miles from Seattle WA - 164 miles from Seattle ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/282 "2004-08-13T05:18:59Z")
**Cypress** – A kind of tree. Not usually capitalized. **Cyprus** – An island/nation in the Mediterranean. Should always be capitalized. **Forward** – The opposite of backward. Also a position in basketball, Association football, and other sports. **Foreword** – An essay which precedes the main text in a book, and is usually written by someone other than said book’s author. [Edsel Citation](http://www.edsel.com/pages/e58cit2c.gif) [Chevrolet Citation](http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/show_image.pl?fg=000000&bg=FFCC00&migration=1&image=http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/8/web/212000-212999/212310_2_full.jpg) [Edsel Pacer](http://www.edsel.com/pages/e58pac2h.gif) [AMC Pacer](http://amcpacer.panhorst.net/images/archives/jeni.jpg) [Edsel Ranger](http://www.edsel.com/pages/e58ran4h.gif) [Ford Ranger](http://www.fordvehicles.com/util/popup/?page=/Trucks/ranger/gallery/pop/index.asp?image=9&display=exterior) [Edsel Villager](http://www.edsel.com/pages/e58vil49.gif) [Mercury Villager](http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/show_image.pl?fg=999999&bg=000000&migration=1&image=http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/520000-520999/520744_1_full.jpg) [Edsel Corsair](http://www.edsel.com/pages/e59cor2h.gif) [Chevrolet Corvair](http://www.corvaircorsa.com/early/spyder64.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/283 "2004-08-13T14:12:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Dan O’Brian - American athlete (pentathlon) Just read the thread so I’m going back deep for the nitpick. It was the decathlon. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/284 "2004-08-13T14:33:02Z")
**decathlon** : 10 events 100m run, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m dash, 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1500m **pentathlon** : 5 events (ancient) jumping, running, javelin, discus, wrestling **modern pentathlon** : 5 events shooting, fencing, swimming, riding, running **Triathalon:** 3 events swimming, bicycle, running ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/285 "2004-08-13T14:49:02Z")
**biathlon** – 2 events (winter Olympics): Cross country skiing and rifle marksmanship. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/286 "2004-08-13T15:34:23Z")
Let’s sort out the Vans… Ronnie VanZant – guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Died in a plane crash (1977) Steven Van Zandt – guitarist for the Boss; cast of Sopranos. Alive. Townes Van Zandt – guitarist, singer, songwriter. D. 1997. Gus Van Sant – indie filmmaker. Don’t know if he plays the guitar. Alive. Ludwig Van Beethoven – don’t think he played the guitar. Been dead for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/287 "2004-08-13T18:23:15Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > \ ***meatloaf** – a recipe made of baked ground meat and other ingredients. > **Meat Loaf** – rock singer, **Bat Out Of Hell**. **Meatloaf** – my ex-wife’s cat. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/288 "2004-08-13T18:39:04Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Steven Van Zandt – guitarist for the Boss; cast of Sopranos. Alive. Also known as “Little Steve Van Zandt” and “Miami Steve Van Zandt”. not to be confused with: Miami Steve Van Gundy, of the NBA’s Miami Heat. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/289 "2004-08-13T19:43:27Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > Thanks, **Zebra**! Now if only someone could explain how to tell the various TV serieseses apart. Star Trek (sometimes refered to as ST TOS or The Original Series) Set on the USS Enterprise Has Captian Kirk (William Shatner) and the Vulcan 1st officer. The Doctor is a somewhat cranky souther gentleman. Uniforms are bright basic colors to take advantage of the new color tv sets just becoming popular. The ship interior is done in stark white and black. Star Trek The Next Generation (AKA ST:TNG) Set on the USS Entrerprise Has Captina Picard the bald english guy. Has the robot officer named Data. The Doctor is a woman. The Ship is mostly beige on the interior. Star Trek Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9) Set on a space station, not on a ship, however later episodes have much time spent on a ship called Defiant. This one has the black captain name Ben Sisco. (played by Avery Brooks) The Doctor is an Englishman. This one abandoned the stand alone episodic method favored by the first two and had long story arcs that would cover the entire season. Star Trek Voyager Set on the USS Voyager and this one has the woman captain named Janeway. This one is different as the ship was ‘lost in space’ and had no starfleet to call on for backup. During the run of the series they added the de-borged’ Seven of Nine played by Jeri Ryan. The Doctor is a Hologram/computer program. Enterprise (now Star Trek Enterprise) This one is set on the first starship Enterprise. It has Captian Archer and a female Vulcan first officer. The Doctor is an Alien. (someone should do this for the James Bond movies) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/290 "2004-08-13T19:50:13Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Let’s sort out the Vans… > > Ronnie VanZant – guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Died in a plane crash (1977) > Steven Van Zandt – guitarist for the Boss; cast of Sopranos. Alive. > Townes Van Zandt – guitarist, singer, songwriter. D. 1997. > Gus Van Sant – indie filmmaker. Don’t know if he plays the guitar. Alive. > > Ludwig Van Beethoven – don’t think he played the guitar. Been dead for a while. You’re just getting started: **Camper Van Beethoven** – Rock band **Gordon Van Gelder** – Editor of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction \*\*Bobby Van \*\* – Actor/Dancer – “Kiss Me Kate,” and several Broadway shows **Chevy Van** – Hit single by Sammy Johns, and that’s all right with me. **Dick Van Dyke** – Rob Petrie **Jerry Van Dyke** – Star of “My Mother the Car,” Rob’s brother (Dick’s, too). **Jack Van Impe** – evangelist **Van Morrison** – Irish rock singer and songwriter – “Moondance,” “Astral Weeks,” “Brown-Eyed Girl” ( **Jim Morrison** – American lead singer for the Doors. Dead.) \*\*Van Cliburn \*\* – Classical pianist, famous for winning the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition during the height of the Cold War. **Van Johnson** – Lead Actor, “In the Good Old Summertime,” “Brigadoon.” Alive **Van Hefflin** – Character Actor: “Shane,” “3:10 to Yuma.” Dead **Van Dyke Parks** – singer/songwriter, collaborated with Brian Wilson for the legendary “Smile” LP. **Van Halen** – Hard rock band. **Vangelis** – Rides in a Chariot of Fire ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/291 "2004-08-13T20:18:01Z")
**Ray Charles** Blind African-American musician. Recently deceased. **Stevie Wonder** Blind African-American musician. Still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/292 "2004-08-13T21:05:23Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Star Trek The Next Generation (AKA ST:TNG) > Set on the USS Entrerprise > Has Captina Picard the bald english guy. Has the robot officer named Data. The Doctor is a woman. Shouldn’t this be: the doctor is two women? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![freakstasy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@freakstasy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freakstasy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/293 "2004-08-13T21:14:59Z")
**Sandy Dennis** - American theater and film actress: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf, A Thousand Clowns. Had ovarian cancer. Dead. **Sandy Duncan** - American theater and television actress: “Funny Face,” “Roots” miniseries, played Peter Pan. Lost eye during tumor removal. Alive. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/294 "2004-08-13T21:35:02Z")
> [@The Gaspode](#): > > Dusty Springfield - Was interested in the Son of a Preacherman **Dusty Springfield** was born Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien, in London, England. She took the name Dusty Springfield when she and her brother Dion formed the group “The Springfields,” known mainly (at least in the US) for “Silver Thread and Golden Needles.” The third person in the group was Tim Feild (not a misspelling), FWIW. Dion changed his name to **Tom Springfield**. After “The Springfields” split up, he became producer for “The Seekers,” and wrote both “I’ll Never Find Another You” and “Georgy Girl.” There is no relationship between the names “The Springfields” (something about singing in fields in the spring), “Buffalo Springfield” (steamroller manufactured in Springfield, OH), and the Springfield rifle (made in Springfield, MA). **Dion DiMucci** was a member of “Dion and the Belmonts,” then a solo act (“Runaround Sue,” “The Wanderer,” “Abraham, Martin and John”). **Celine Dion** was, unfortunately, not aboard an ocean liner that sank in the north Atlantic in 1912. **Dion Archibald** is an Australian painter that I don’t like very much. And that’s all I have to say about that. In a totally unrelated development, **Lie** , v.i.: **Lie** down on the bed. I **lay** in bed. I have **lain** in bed for weeks. **Lay** , v.t. (usually): **Lay** this book on the table. I **laid** the book on the table. The have **laid** the book on the table. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/295 "2004-08-13T21:38:03Z")
It was a really big book 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/296 "2004-08-13T21:40:55Z")
…that **they** laid on the table :smack: ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/297 "2004-08-13T22:19:04Z")
Quote: Originally Posted by Chefguy Scotch: Whiskey Scot: Citizen of Scotland Whiskey: Scotch American Whiskey: blended whiskeys Bourbon: Sour mash whiskey Scott, Montgomery: Chief engineer on Captain Kirk’s starship “Enterprise.” Scott was a Scot who liked to drink Scotch. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/298 "2004-08-13T23:06:28Z")
Bart Simpson - the “I didn’t do it” boy. OJ Simpson - the “I didn’t do it” adult. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/299 "2004-08-14T00:24:24Z")
> [@freakstasy](#): > > **Sandy Dennis** - American theater and film actress: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf, A Thousand Clowns. Had ovarian cancer. Dead. > **Sandy Duncan** - American theater and television actress: “Funny Face,” “Roots” miniseries, played Peter Pan. Lost eye during tumor removal. Alive. **Sandy Denny** - English singer, with Fairport Convention 1968-69 and 1974-76, died 1978. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/300 "2004-08-14T01:16:43Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > (someone should do this for the James Bond movies) Anybody seen **Johnny LA**? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497.md?page=16)