# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/81 "2004-08-07T03:38:25Z")
Ah, **Miller**. You evil, clever bastard. Well played. You got me to click the “Cinnamon” link. (insert smack-head smilie) So that’s “Montalban” and “Cimmerian” I’ve misspelled today. Okay. That’s what the SD if for, dispelling my ignorance. **Hale**. Me. **hale.** Healthy **Hell.** A place for me that’s not so healthy. Also, cussin’. **hail.** Damaging frozen atmospheric precipitation. Also, a greeting. **Hail.** Where N’er do well Southerners go when they die. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/82 "2004-08-07T03:57:25Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > A **bra** is for a woman. > A **bro** is for a man. > A **bray** is what jackasses (and sometimes board members) do. > A **brew** is a beer. **Briee** is cheese. **Bree** is a location in _Lord of the Rings_. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/83 "2004-08-07T03:58:38Z")
Make that cheese **Brie**. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/84 "2004-08-07T03:58:53Z")
Polonium Polo Pony Masonite Carbonite Manchester United Arsenal ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/85 "2004-08-07T05:01:03Z")
**Captain Marvel (I)** [The Big Red Cheese.](http://shazam.imginc.com/WhosWho/captainmarvel.asp) **Captain Marvel, Jr.** [His protege.](http://www.samuelsdesign.com/comics/big/cap_jr.jpg) **Captain Mar-Vell (II)** [Marvel Comics first version.](http://www.toonopedia.com/capmarv2.jpg) **Captain Marvel (III)** [Marvel Comics’ second permutation.](http://www.super-herois.com.br/cap_marvel2.gif) **Captain Marvel (IV)** [Marvel Comics latest permutation.](http://image2.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/14789955855.1.GIF) **Marvelman** [The British invasion.](http://www.comune.modena.it/glamazonia/articoli/marvelman/marvelman1.jpg) Later called _Miracleman._ **Young Marvelman.** [His first protege.](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/6569/marvelman/marvel56.jpg) Later called _Young Miracleman_. **Kid Marvelman** [His other protege](http://marvelman.freeservers.com/img66.gif), and later, [greatest enemy.](http://photobank.ngccoin.com/cgcgallery/miracleman%2315-9.8.jpg) Later called _Kid Miracleman._ I was going to do \*\*Mary Marvel, The Lieutenants Marvel, Uncle Marvel, Hoppy the Marvel Bunny, Miraclewoman, Winter \*\* and **Miracledog** , but frankly, the coding has just gotten ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/86 "2004-08-07T05:30:31Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > **Cimmaron** - A member of a fictional nomadic band of barbarians > **Cinnamon** - A stripper I knew at Magic City in Atlanta. Also, a reddish brown spice that tingles the tongue, which, again, describes this stripper. **Cinnabar** : Mercuric sulfide, characterized by its dark red color, often used as a pigment. Also a color of FiestaWare. > [@Chefguy](#): > > **Dutch** : Language spoken by the Dutch, who are residents of Holland, a.k.a. The Netherlands. > **Dutch** : the people of The Netherlands, a.k.a. Holland, also known as “Nederlanders” **Duetschland** : Germany, to a German. **Duetsch** : The German language, to a German. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/87 "2004-08-07T05:32:22Z")
Sorry, that should be **Deutschland** and **Deutsch** , respectively. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/88 "2004-08-07T05:56:12Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Sweden: Big country in Scandinavia. … Flag is a yellow cross on blue. Finland: Flag is blue cross on white background Denmark: Flag is white cross on red background (but less square than Swiss flag, whose color scheme is similar) Norway: Blue cross outlined in white, on red background Iceland: Red cross outlined in white, on blue background Guinea: African country, former French colony Equatorial Guinea: African country, former Spanish colony Guinea-Bissau: African country, former Portuguese colony New Guinea: South Pacific island divided between former British colony/current nation of Papua New Guinea (eastern half) and former Dutch colony/current nation of Indonesia’s province of Irian Jaya (western half) Guyana: South American country, formerly British Guiana Suriname: South American country, formerly Dutch Guiana French Guiana: South American oveseas department of France flak (from German _ **Fl** ieger __a__ bwehr__k_\*anone\*, “antiaircraft gun”): strong criticism or opposition flack: a press agent who may have to deal with flak directed toward his/her client ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/89 "2004-08-07T06:51:20Z")
**Mighty Mouse** : Cartoon character, a superhero rodent. Sang “Here I come to save the day!!!” **Modest Mouse** : Modern rock band. Sings “And we’ll all float on ok!” **Randy Quaid** : The less handsome brother, in the “Vacation” movies and on SNL **Dennis Quaid** : The more attractive brother who was once married to Meg Ryan **Penelope Cruz** : From Spain, dated Tom Cruise, co-starred in “Vanilla Sky” **Salma Hayek** : From Mexico, dated Ed Norton, starred in (and was Oscar nominated for) “Frida” **[Ed Norton](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001570/)**: contemporary actor, co-star of “Fight Club” “Primal Fear” and “The People vs. Larry Flynt” **Ed Norton** : fictional character from the 1950’s television series “The Honeymooners” portrayed by the late [Art Carney](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0138770/) **wonk** - a studied expert on a topic, i.e. “policy wonk” **[url=http://www.wonkette.com/]Wonkette** - Ana Marie Cox, a blogger who recently got her 15 minutes (and then some) covering the DNC convention for MTV and CNN **wank** - British slang for masturbation **wanker** - one who wanks **Walker** - Texas Ranger > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > **ABBA** how to tell them apart: > > The women were the A’s–Anni-Frid and Agnetha. Okay, off the wall question, but did Anni-Frid record a solo album under the name Frieda (with the single “I Know There’s Something Going On” with drums by Phil Collins) or is Frieda just some other random Scandinavian singer? That always confused me. And who was married to who? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/90 "2004-08-07T06:55:43Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > flak (from German _ **Fl** ieger __a__ bwehr__k_\*anone\*, “antiaircraft gun”): strong criticism or opposition > flack: a press agent who may have to deal with flak directed toward his/her client **Flik-Flak** : Swiss watch for children. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/91 "2004-08-07T07:21:11Z")
Isn’t this MPSIMS? Manhattan - an Island in New York Manhattan Beach - a small suburb of LA (if you don’t live here, you proably don’t care) [The Baltic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Sea) - the sea up by Sweden (not Switzerland) [The Balkans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkans) - the land down on the Eastern side of the Mediterranean flack (or is it flak?) - is when someone “gives you flack” for something - scolds you. slack - is the opposite, when someone “cuts you some slack” it means they’re forgiving. In the “ci…” category… Cinnabon is a place where you can buy cinnamony, sugary things [epitome](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=epitome) [epiphany](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=epiphany) I think there’s a difference between lawyer, attorney, and counsel, but I have no idea what it is. Look it up if you care. Star Trek - TV show, also some movies. Star Wars - movies If you happen to be learning Spanish, remember: derecho - straight ahead derecha - to the right la papa - the potato el papá - the father el papa - the pope ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/92 "2004-08-07T07:49:54Z")
Oh, and for the love of Og: loose - the opposite of tight, pronounced with an S sound lose - the opposite of find, pronounced with a Z sound ---
**Author:** ![ebs2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ebs2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebs2002)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/93 "2004-08-07T10:10:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh … and an obligatory Public Service message, courtesy of Ogden Nash: > > The one-L lama, he’s a priest. > The two-L llama, he’s a beast. > And I will bet a silk pajama > There isn’t any three-L lllama.\* > \*) The author’s attention has been drawn to the kind of conflagration known as a “three-alarmer.” Pooh. Jesus, I didnt think anyone else knew that song. I sang that in High School…damn 7/8 time. The rest of the songs were just as big of a pain to sing…but wow, it was fun! Oh, and: **Daabu** – What the Orcs in Warcraft said (along with Zugzug, Loktar, et al) **Naboo** – A planet in StarWars ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/94 "2004-08-07T11:46:41Z")
Two of my pet peeves: **Effect** is a noun. **Affect** is a verb. **It’s** is a contraction for _it is_. **Its** is a possessive noun. “The dog’s bone? It’s over there on its bed.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/95 "2004-08-07T12:05:20Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > **James Dean.** Dead actor. Jimmy Dean - Living country singer and sausage man. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/96 "2004-08-07T12:43:27Z")
[QUOTE=TeaElle Okay, off the wall question, but did Anni-Frid record a solo album under the name Frieda (with the single “I Know There’s Something Going On” with drums by Phil Collins) or is Frieda just some other random Scandinavian singer? That always confused me. And who was married to who?[/QUOTE] Same Frida. Not to be confused with the Mexican painter. Frida lived with Benny for 12 years and married him for 2. She has had the most believable life–The result of a liason between a German solider and Norwegian woman during World War II. Her father disappeared, her mother died young, and her grandmother moved to Sweden and raised her there. She had a sond at 16, married at 17, and had a daughter at 18. She had a solo career, met Benny, was in the group ABBA, married Benny, divorced ABBA, had another solo career including the song with Phil Collins, married an Italian prince, her daughter moved to the USA, had a son and died in a car crash, her husband died of cancer and left her a lot of money. Thomas A. Harris–wrote pop psychology books, including “I’m Okay–You’re Okay.” Thomas Harris–wrote fictional books, including the Hannibal Lechter trilogy. The juxaposition of those two always makes me laugh. Francis Bacon–Sharkespeare contemporary, who may or may not have written Shakespeare’s plays. Francis Bacon–20th century artist who had a very long relationship with Sigmund’s grandson Lucien Freud. James Bond–real British bird studier. James Bond–fictional British spy. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/97 "2004-08-07T13:45:11Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Francis Bacon–Sharkespeare contemporary, who may or may not have written Shakespeare’s plays. > Francis Bacon–20th century artist who had a very long relationship with Sigmund’s grandson Lucien Freud. Streaky bacon: breakfast food > [@](#): > > James Bond–real British bird studier. > James Bond–fictional British spy. Post Bond: What you do to get out of jail ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/98 "2004-08-07T13:46:50Z")
**John Belushi** : On Saturday Night Live/Blues Brothers/Animal House, died in 1982. **Jim Belushi** : His younger brother. Also on SNL, but is still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/99 "2004-08-07T13:50:10Z")
**Scotch** : Whiskey **Scot** : Citizen of Scotland **Whiskey** : Scotch **American Whiskey:** blended whiskeys **Bourbon** : Sour mash whiskey ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497/100 "2004-08-07T14:32:06Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > **Bourbon** : Sour mash whiskey Specifically, sour mash whiskey made in the United States (not just Kentucky, however), from at least 51% corn, less than 160 proof at distilling, and aged for a minimum of 2 years in charred oak barrels made new for each distilling. There are _laws_ about bourbon! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-them-apart-a-public-service/258497.md?page=6)