# Obsure printing term in Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 7, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989 "2020-11-07T17:07:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/42 "2020-11-08T10:19:44Z")
The Count of Monte Cristo is a French novel, and a “croque monsieur” is a French sandwich (and a delicious one at that). So they just made the “French Connection.” ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/43 "2020-11-09T04:53:13Z")
What really got me about the show was the Roger Ramjet cartoons, where the title sequence always seemed to be about half of the entire cartoon… Plus, we had a guy in the office where I used to work called Roger who was a know-it-all, The nickname was apt. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/44 "2020-11-09T06:52:24Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > where the title sequence always seemed to be about half of the entire cartoon Roger Ramjet he’s our man, hero of the nation. For his adventures just be sure and stay tuned to this station… Now that I’m older, I wonder if ‘proton pills’ were just a joke, or more adult humor for those who had served. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/45 "2020-11-09T07:05:35Z")
Everyone knows Rocky and Bullwinkle are from Frostbite Falls, MN. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/46 "2020-11-09T16:22:10Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > The Count of Monte Cristo is a French novel, and a “croque monsieur” is a French sandwich (and a delicious one at that). So they just made the “French Connection.” It’s not really a croque monsieur unless it’s finished with French Connection powder! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/47 "2020-11-09T16:48:26Z")
It sounded to me on first hearing, more like ‘black placker’. I feel sure I can hear an L in there. Could it be black Placard? Placard is a bold newspaper-headline typeface that has been around since the late 1930s > **[Placard in use](https://fontsinuse.com/typefaces/4979/placard)** > > Originally issued in 5 styles; Condensed 568 (1937), Condensed 522 Titling, Light Extra Condensed 505, Bold Condensed 506, and Bold Condensed 515 (all in 1939). \[Reichardt\] > > Two weights, Condensed and Bold Condensed, were available in digital form... ---
**Author:** ![Hakushon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hakushon/32/5503_2.png) [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/48 "2020-11-09T17:23:33Z")
This is the audio version of looking at clouds or ink blots: ambiguous enough that with each review, it can be perceived differently. When I first listened to it, it sounded like “pakka.” When I Iisten to it while thinking the word “Pica,” I hear “Pica.” When I listen to it while thinking the word “Placard,” it sounds like it could possibly be “plakker”–but there’s no “d” sound on the end of it. That much, I’m sure of. So I don’t think it’s Placard. Good thinking, though! ---
**Author:** ![Hakushon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hakushon/32/5503_2.png) [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/49 "2020-11-09T17:25:58Z")
Here is yet another example of ambiguous perception: when I first saw your username, I read it as “Man get out.” Now I realize that it’s “Mange tout”! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/50 "2020-11-09T17:27:18Z")
If Placard is the name of a newspaper font, that sounds like the most likely word. Makes more sense than anything else that was suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Hakushon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hakushon/32/5503_2.png) [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/51 "2020-11-09T17:33:00Z")
Please listen to the clip a few times…first, listen while thinking “Pica”…then listen while thinking “Placard.” I’d like to know your opinion on which one you think it is! ---
**Author:** ![Hakushon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hakushon/32/5503_2.png) [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/52 "2020-11-09T17:34:06Z")
…and while you listen, please remember that Pica is pronounced PIE-kuh. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/53 "2020-11-09T21:11:33Z")
> [@Hakushon](#): > > but there’s no “d” sound on the end of it. It’s not entirely unheard of for this to happen with the final consonant in a word. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/54 "2020-11-09T21:15:47Z")
It could be an overly-formal pronunciation of ‘pica’. It’s weird that it would not be an appropriate term any more than would ‘inch’ in this context. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/55 "2020-11-09T21:31:44Z")
> [@gnarator](#): > > Everyone knows Rocky and Bullwinkle are from Frostbite Falls, MN When I was a kid growing up in Ohio I thought Minnesota was in Canada. Now as an adult living in Michigan I think even more so eh. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/56 "2020-11-09T21:59:53Z")
> [@Hakushon](#): > > Please listen to the clip a few times…first, listen while thinking “Pica”…then listen while thinking “Placard.” > > I’d like to know your opinion on which one you think it is! I admit that I’m not hearing the L but, as I said, a font name makes the most sense. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/57 "2020-11-09T22:14:50Z")
Is this episode available with captioning? Real captioning, not computer captioning. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/58 "2020-11-09T23:54:08Z")
We don’t say eh. 😉 Last time I visited California I met someone who was offended I didn’t know where San Rafael was but thought Minnesota was a Canadian province. ---
**Author:** ![Hakushon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hakushon/32/5503_2.png) [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/59 "2020-11-10T01:10:28Z")
The problem with that is, the person doing the captioning might be wrong. What we need, is a copy of the original transcript (but good luck with _that_). ---
**Author:** ![Hakushon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hakushon/32/5503_2.png) [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/60 "2020-11-10T01:11:05Z")
Pica _is_ a font name. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989/61 "2020-11-10T01:24:24Z")
> [@Hakushon](#): > > The problem with that is, the person doing the captioning might be wrong. > > What we need, is a copy of the original transcript (but good luck with _that_ ). Some of the episodes have been made available for sale. I’d assume that any captioning on an official version had a better chance of being correctly captioned. But I don’t think that every episode series has been packaged for sale. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989.md?page=4)