**Manhattan ** - A Martini, only made with whiskey, not gin.
**Martini ** - A Manhattan, only made with gin, not whiskey.
I, my father, and my grandfather all have the middle name Wayne, and so far none of us has become a serial killer.
I suppose we all still have time though. 
I deliberately left off Marvel Girl and Marvel Boy because, with the exception of Captain Marvel III, all of my choices were derived from the same male superhero archetype – a human exchanging bodies with a superhuman – that’s actually possible to get them confused. Besides “Marvel Girl” and “Marvel Boy” were so short lived…
But, for the sake of completeness of various Marvels…
Marvel Douche Company. 19th century ad resurrected in vol. 1, issue #5 of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen… pulped by lawsuit-fearing DC comics executive prone to hysteronics rather than history.
Marvel Comics. Pre-eminient comic book upstart rival to DC comics.
Marvel Zombies. Derisive term to those fans of Marvel Comics who buy every single issue.
Marvel Maniacs. Less fanatical than Zombies but still worthy of your pity.
"Make Mine Marvel!" Rallying cry of Marvel Maniacs and Marvel Zombies in 1970s letter columns.
"Marvellous" Marvin Haigler. Heavyweight boxer.
"You look marvellous!" Catchphrase of Billy Crystal’s fey SNL Fernando character, along with, “Remember my darlings, it’s better to look good than to feel good.”
Marbleman. MAD magazine character lampoon in classic “Sooperdooperman” parody.
Since this thread is all about nitpicks and subtle differences…
Redd Foxx: comedian, star of Sanford and Son
red fox: animal, hunted by hounds and British types shouting “Tallyho!”
Andrew Marvell: 17th century English poet.
Oops! Already mentioned. Sorry!
A common nickname for mixed race black men with reddish skin tones and/or red conked hair in the 1950s was “Red.” Two men that fit the bill…
Chicago Red = John Elroy Sanford, aka Redd Foxx, TV and night club comedian
Detroit Red = Malcolm Little, aka Malcolm X, hellraiser and demagogue
others (not mixed race black men) include
Red Buttons = aka Aaron Chwatt, burlesque and variety show comedian, singer
Red Skelton = aka Richard Bernerd Skleton, stand-up comedian
Thomas Marvel - Tramp who stole The Invisible Man’s journals.
Long John Silver A fictional pirate in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island.
Long John Silver’s A restaurant chain featuring seafood.
Long Dong Silver An African-American porn star reputed to have an eighteen-inch long penis.
Jean Grey is the civilian name of the previously mentioned Marvel Girl, Marvel Comics’ telepathic telekinetic multiply-resurrected mutant.
Lady Jane Grey was queen of England for 9 days in 1553.
Earl Grey is a variety of tea.
Tom Marvolo Riddle - Lord Voldemort.
Eh? A Martini is gin with a slight waft of vermouth (between 1/4 and /10). A Manhattan is 1/2 Canadian whiskey, 1/4 sweet vermouth, 1/4 dry vermouth, and a dash of bitters.
**Novel ** - a work of fiction of 40,000 words or more
**Novella ** - a work of fiction of at least 17,500 words but under 40,000 words
**Novelette ** - a work of fiction of at least 7,500 words but under 17,500 words
**Novell **- networking software company; American
**Novatel **- Hotel chain; French
Alec Baldwin – actor, formerly married to Kim Basinger &
William Baldwin – actor, currently married to singer Chyna Phillips.
Which leads us to the fabuous Phillips Family:
[ul][li]John – singer/co-founder of 60’s group “The Mamas and the Papas”, died in 2001[/li][li]MacKenzie (nee Laura) – actress, best known for her role in the sitcom One Day at a Time, daughter of John and first wife Susan[/li][li]Michelle – singer and actress, second wife of John Phillips (1962-1970), member of “The Mamas and the Papas” during their heyday[/li][li]Chyna – singer and actress, member of group “Wilson Phillips” and daughter of John and Michelle[/li][li]Bijou – alleged singer (and perhaps actress) and general celebrity hanger-on, daughter of John and third wife Genevieve.[/ul][/li]
Actually:
[ul][li]ER – Television drama (1993-present) which formerly co-starred George Clooney as a doctor named Doug.[/li][li]E/R – Television comedy (1984) which co-starred George Clooney as an orderly named “Ace.”[/ul][/li]
And now, another exciting episode of Know Your Bens!
[ul][li]Ben Stiller - comedic actor of films and television (Reality Bites, The Ben Stiller Show), comedic screenwriter (Dodgeball). Husband of actress Christine Taylor, son of comedians/actors Jerry Stiller (Seinfeld) and Anne Meara (Archie Bunker’s Place)[/li][li]Ben Affleck - actor of marginal talents, Oscar winner as co-screenwriter of Good Will Hunting. Once engaged to Jennifer Lopez.[/li][li]Ben Bratt - actor, former co-star of Law & Order. Also appeared in Miss Congeniality. Currently married to actress Talisa Soto, one-time paramour of Julia Roberts.[/li][li]Ben Kingsley - British actor, easily recognizable by shaved head. Oscar award winner for his portrayal of Ghandi in film of the same name. Not Indian. Properly referred to as “Sir Ben Kingsley.”[/li][li]Ben Stein - droll, monotoned actor/game show host (Win Ben Stein’s Money) who once served as an advisor to President Richard Nixon. Came to popular notice as the teacher who said “Bueller… Bueller…” in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.[/li][li]Ben Chaplin - actor, British. Best known for appearances in The Birthday Girl (with Nicole Kidman) and The Thin Red Line. Not related to any other famous Chaplins.[/li][li]Ben Jones - former actor whose most famous role was “Cooter” on The Dukes of Hazzard, also a two-term congressman from Georgia.[/li][li]Ben Vereen - Tony Award winning actor, singer and dancer best known for his stage and film portrayals of the “Lead Player” in Pippin.[/li][li]Ben Gazzarra - actor, best known to mature fans from the TV show Run for Your Life (1965-68) and to younger audiences as the crazy bad dude who tried to kill Patrick Swayze in Road House.[/li][*]Ben Gay - stinky analgesic rub.[/ul]
Ben Grimm - member of The Fantastic Four.
**Brothers Grimm ** - catalogued folk tales, and discovered the law of consonental drift.
Ben Gunn - Castaway who longed for toasted cheese.
TeaElle writes:
> Ben Kingsley - . . . Oscar award winner for his portrayal of Ghandi in film of the
> same name. Not Indian. . .
O.K., another distinction to be learned.
Gandhi - correct spelling
Ghandi - incorrect spelling
Ben Kingsley was born in England. His name at birth was Krishna Bhanji. Her father was of Indian descent and was born in Kenya. His mother was of European Jewish descent and was born in England.
> Ben Chaplin - actor, British. Best known for appearances in The Birthday Girl
> (with Nicole Kidman) and The Thin Red Line. Not related to any other famous
> Chaplins.
And not even born a Chaplin. His name at birth was Benedict Greenwood.
Y’know, I had it spelled with that extra “x”, but I took it off because I couldn’t remember if Redd Foxx had two "d"s or two "x"s…looks like he used two of each. Oh well.
And one more distinction to be learned:
> . . . Her father was of Indian descent and . . .
Stupid, careless error on my part.
> . . . His father was of Indian descent and . . .
What I should have written.
Annie X-mas enumerated NYC Bridges and Tunnels for us. I kept looking for the 59th Street Bridge in the title of Paul Simon’s song (many folks think it’s called Feelin’ Groovy.) Did Simon make it up, or is the 59th Street Bridge called something else in Annie’s List?
That’s Paul Simon the singer, not Paul Simon the US Senator, of course.
“There once was a man from Nantucket” (Or was it Rangoon?) Who…
