# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 143
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2841 "2017-11-30T17:17:19Z")
I just realized, _today_ that “Will and Grace” are both common nouns as well as proper nouns, and that this is probably ironically intentional. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2842 "2017-12-06T14:46:29Z")
I just rewatched the Alastair Sim _A Christmas Carol (Scrooge)_. In the scene where Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning, he says, “I’ll stand on my head” and proceeds to do so. His housekeeper runs screaming from the room. I alway thought it was because he was acting so bizarrely. This time, I realized he was wearing a nightshirt – with fell down, revealing his underwear – or more if he didn’t wear any. No wonder she left screaming. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2843 "2017-12-06T15:26:50Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > I just realized, _today_ that “Will and Grace” are both common nouns as well as proper nouns, and that this is probably ironically intentional. I think I posted something about this in this very thread about four years ago (?). But more than just that, their names are particularly ironic choices. Will is typically a pushover to Grace, Jack, his parents, etc. He is (sometimes) the voice of reason, but has difficulty asserting himself or putting his foot down and often ends up going along with whatever crazy shenanigans Jack or Grace concoct…because he has no _ **Will** _ power. Grace is scattered, neurotic, always at loose ends, and has a habit of flailing around awkwardly in the worst possible situations. She lacks social _ **Grace** _. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2844 "2017-12-07T12:31:56Z")
For a long time, our local ABC affiliate’s tagline was “The One and Only Channel 10.” One and only. 1 & 0. 1. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**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:** [December 7, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2845 "2017-12-07T13:44:43Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > On a regular sub the noise from the propeller(s) would overwhelm the sonar (or so I assume). For a super-quiet sub like the Red October, your idea is a great one! I suppose the author did not think of it, or focused on standard sub tactics for the book. It’s been a long time. Is this an experimental drive that was installed on an existing sub? Even if not, I could see funding considerations determining that the drive gets proved in the first, pilot sub and then an optimal design using the proven technology gets made later, with data from the pilot test. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2846 "2017-12-07T13:55:47Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > It’s been a long time. Is this an experimental drive that was installed on an existing sub? Even if not, I could see funding considerations determining that the drive gets proved in the first, pilot sub and then an optimal design using the proven technology gets made later, with data from the pilot test. Hunt for Red October: The sub was built around the drive. It was (kind of) a prototype, I suppose, at least the first of its class. It had both a stealth drive and regular propellers. I guess they weren’t quite confident in the new drive, or maybe it’s better for cruising than for driving around the parking lot, so to speak. My college roommate went into mechanical engineering, specialized in vibration, and did some work on quieting subs. He pointed out to me an error in the scenes where they showed the sub moving on the new caterpillar magneto-hydraulic drive would show the propellers (screws?) motionless (to emphasize that it was the new stealth drive pushing the sub and NOT the screws. He pointed out to me that if the screws were “locked” like that, the water rushing past the screws would make horrible cavitation and noise. It would run quieter if they let the screws “freewheel” like a windmill. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2847 "2017-12-08T14:22:59Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Not very obvious, but my brain connected the two last night: > > Charles Schulz’s Peanuts had Snoopy reading a series of books by Miss Helen Sweetstory about the six bunny wunnies. The last title in the series as “The Six Bunny Wunnies visit Plains, Georgia”. The place of President Jimmy Carter’s famous [killer rabbit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter_rabbit_incident) incident. > > God thing he didn’t see six killer bunny wunnies. However—the killer rabbit incident took place in 1979 and the bunny wunnies’ visit to Plains appeared in 1977–so no connection unless Schulz was psychic. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2848 "2017-12-09T14:44:15Z")
I did not know that. It’s one helluva coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2849 "2017-12-11T06:09:06Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > Whilst sitting in traffic, contemplating my steering wheel, it occurred to me that the BMW logo looks kind of like stylized propellers. > > Google confirmed that the logo is, indeed, a stylized propeller because BMW started out as an aviations mechanics company :smack: duhhhhhhhh! It’s also based on the flag of Bavaria, which is where the company is headquartered. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2850 "2017-12-11T06:37:14Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > Whilst sitting in traffic, contemplating my steering wheel, it occurred to me that the BMW logo looks kind of like stylized propellers. > > Google confirmed that the logo is, indeed, a stylized propeller because BMW started out as an aviations mechanics company :smack: duhhhhhhhh! Huh. I always thought of it as similar to a draughtman’s symbol for center of mass/ gravity… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2851 "2017-12-11T06:51:03Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books and one of my favorite movies. > > It took the made-up trivia thread to realize that attorney Atticus Finch is a bird who gets mocked for defending Tom Robinson. FINCH being his last name is obviously not a coincidence, but it never occurred to me. > > I do like to think that Dennis Finch of Just Shoot Me is his grandson. So Jem is his father? ---
**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:** [December 11, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2852 "2017-12-11T14:15:21Z")
Yes. Makes sense, doesn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2853 "2017-12-11T14:35:45Z")
One that had to be pointed out to me by Word of Author a few days ago: I read a webcomic called Erfworld, about a gamer named Parson Gotti who gets magically transported to a gamelike fantasy world. In an author’s note recently, the author said something like “This comic has a protagonist. You can tell because his name is an anagram of ‘protagonist’.” …Yes. Of course it is. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2854 "2017-12-11T18:36:58Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books and one of my favorite movies. > > It took the made-up trivia thread to realize that attorney Atticus Finch is a bird who gets mocked for defending Tom Robinson. FINCH being his last name is obviously not a coincidence, but it never occurred to me. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the movie, but has anyone noted the use of “ROBINson” as well? Is there any other character who corresponds to this birding theme? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2855 "2017-12-14T04:00:27Z")
Similar to my previous belated realization on Margot Robbie’s nationality. I’ve seen Benedict Wong in a few movies. And I never realized he was English until I saw him doing an [interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KmVHsDCe0Y) today. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2856 "2017-12-14T05:31:28Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I thought the official answer was, first she’s singing about one guy – the dude who wore an apricot-colored scarf and knew how to gavotte, a man who may or may not be Mick Jagger – and then she’s singing about another, who (a) talked a good game about them being a pretty pair, and who (b) we’ll just assume is Warren Beatty; and then she’s singing about some _third_ guy. Which means that, no matter who you are, most of the time she’s singing about someone else. [This is what she said two years ago, yes](http://people.com/books/carly-simon-says-youre-so-vain-second-verse-is-about-warren-beatty/). I still wonder, though: could the song be about a woman? Perhaps someone she met at Sarah Lawrence? The lyrics certainly fit in places. Would a man or a woman be more likely to wear a hat obscuring one eye? Would a man or a woman be more likely to wear an apricot scarf? Does the phrase “pretty pair” evoke a man and a woman or two women? The subject of the song “had [her] several years ago,” but the song was written only a few months after her tryst with Beatty - but seven years after her time at Sarah Lawrence. The third verse doesn’t fit so well with a woman. If it’s meant to be taken literally, it’s about someone wealthy, powerful, and libertine. The interview above says that Beatty is definitely not the man in verse three, and the whole international intrigue angle wouldn’t fit his persona. [Willie Donaldson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Donaldson) is probably the best fit. He was wealthy, a conspicuous spender, ran with crowds that dealt in political power, and slept with many women–perhaps not in Beatty’s league, but up there. Sorry–digression. ---
**Author:** ![AI\_Proofreader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@AI\_Proofreader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AI_Proofreader)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2857 "2017-12-14T06:32:50Z")
[Jack isn’t just Tyler Durden. He’s Marla Singer, too.](http://www.jackdurden.com/) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2858 "2017-12-14T12:10:39Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Would a man or a woman be more likely to wear a hat obscuring one eye? Would a man or a woman be more likely to wear an apricot scarf? Once again, for '70s-era Mick Jagger, that was Tuesday, right? > [@](#): > > Does the phrase “pretty pair” evoke a man and a woman or two women? Well, if we take as a starting point that she’s said the “pretty pair” verse was about Warren Beatty, then I guess the question becomes: what would Warren Beatty have said to a woman he wanted to bed? And I figure the answer is: whatever he thought would have the right effect. And I figure the follow-up question is _did it work,_ and the answer to that is _he probably thought this song was about him._ ---
**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:** [December 16, 2017, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2859 "2017-12-16T12:02:06Z")
Reading Dumbing of Age, I’ve occasionally wondered why IU’s logo is a psi. Then, it suddenly occurred to me today - it’s an I overlaid with a U. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2860 "2017-12-17T03:02:02Z")
In Demolition Man, the futuristic cop computer is L7. It’d s future where everyone is pretty square. L7 used to be slang for square. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=142) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=144)