# 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:** 279
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5567 "2023-09-19T10:33:45Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > That’s why Indy arrives in Timbuktu (it is Nepal, right?) just in the nick of time. Katmandu. Timbuktu is in Mali. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5568 "2023-09-19T12:11:19Z")
Because i like the actors in THE PRESTIGE and the photography, i decided to see it a 2nd and a 3rd time to untangle the messy ambiguities in the plot. Now you explain that the murkiness was intentional and i believe you. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5569 "2023-09-19T17:14:34Z")
_MASH_ reprise … Season 4 Episode 2 starts with, “September, 1952, Korea …” It’s the episode that sees BJ enter the scene with Col, Potter soon behind. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5570 "2023-09-19T18:57:02Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Well I only realised last week that Tennyson’s “Light Brigade” is a descriptor of the capabilities and not the name of a fighting force I was in my twenties before I figured out that the Light Brigade was called that because it contained fewer men than a **heavy** brigade, and that ELO was a Light Orchestra that used Electric instruments. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5571 "2023-09-19T19:41:20Z")
Thank you. I was remembering the date cropping up at the end of season 3 when Henry died. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5572 "2023-09-19T19:49:08Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Well I only realised last week that Tennyson’s “Light Brigade” is a descriptor of the capabilities and not the name of a fighting force It was actually. The British Light cavalry, assembled, were call the Light Brigade. _The charge was made by the Light Brigade of the British cavalry, which consisted of the [4th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Queen%27s_Own_Hussars) and [13th Light Dragoons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Light_Dragoons), the [17th Lancers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Lancers), and the [8th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Hussars) and [11th Hussars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Hussars),_ > [@Rilchiam](#): > > was in my twenties before I figured out that the Light Brigade was called that because it contained fewer men than a **heavy** brigade, Nope. _The Light Brigade was the British [light cavalry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_cavalry) force. It rode unarmoured light fast horses. The men were armed with [lances](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance) and [sabres](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabre). Optimized for maximum mobility and speed, they were intended for [reconnaissance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconnaissance) and [skirmishing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skirmishing). They were also ideal for cutting down infantry and artillery units as they tried to retreat._ _The Heavy Brigade under James Scarlett was the British [heavy cavalry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_cavalry) force. It rode large, heavy [chargers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_horse). The men were equipped with metal helmets and armed with cavalry swords for [close combat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_combat). They were intended as the primary British [shock force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_tactics), leading [frontal charges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontal_attack) to break enemy lines._ ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5573 "2023-09-19T20:46:10Z")
Duly noted! Thank you. The point is, it’s “light” as opposed to “heavy”, not as opposed to “dark”. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2023, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5574 "2023-09-19T23:28:34Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > > [@bengangmo](#): > > > > Well I only realised last week that Tennyson’s “Light Brigade” is a descriptor of the capabilities and not the name of a fighting force > > I was in my twenties before I figured out that the Light Brigade was called that because it contained fewer men than a **heavy** brigade, and that ELO was a Light Orchestra that used Electric instruments. Note that the Electric Light Orchestra’s first two albums had electric light bulbs on the cover. I’m sure they understood the double meaning: a light orchestra using electric instruments, and an orchestra named for an electric light. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5575 "2023-09-21T18:08:30Z")
It just occurred to me that in the movie **Goldfinger** James Bond, upon leaving Goldfinger’s private jet in Kentucky with Pussy Galore, comments to Oddjob that “I always thought you took your hat off to a lady,” (referring, of course, to the way he’d thrown his steel-brimmed derby and broken Tilly Masterson’s neck). Later, when they’re boarding the truck for the assault on Fort Knox, Oddjob removes his hat to usher Bond into the back of the truck. He’s implying that bond is “a lady”. Pretty elegant insult from a mute. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5576 "2023-09-22T01:34:44Z")
🎶"Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, that started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship…"🎶 The theme song to Gilligan’s Island is a sea shanty. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5577 "2023-09-22T01:48:38Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Nickelback is also a football position Vaguely related to this, it wasn’t until my daughter was old enough to go swimming in a public pool (in the US) that I released “Adult Swim” was not just a name Cartoon Network came up with for their adult animation. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5578 "2023-09-22T12:57:38Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > 🎶"Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, that started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship…"🎶 > > The theme song to Gilligan’s Island is a sea shanty. The Castaways’ Ballad is a shanty-type melody, but the song itself is (like it says on the tin) a ballad. It scans perfectly well with My Darling Clementine and my High School’s alma mater. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5579 "2023-09-22T13:47:38Z")
Kind of a minor thing really, but after listening to Little Feat’s live “Waiting for Columbus” album for about the millionth time, it occurred to me that the song “Spanish Moon” just sort of fades out at the end. I wonder if there was extended instrumental outro that they cut short to fit on the album? ---
**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:** [September 22, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5580 "2023-09-22T17:49:52Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Yeah, the _MASH_ timeline is muddy, to put it mildly. If I recall correctly, the producers basically said, “we don’t really care about that.” The Christmas episodes alone throw off any possible realistic timeline. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5581 "2023-09-28T17:54:50Z")
Does a TV commercial count as a “creative work?” I think it can, especially when it’s the iconic “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop” one. This commercial has been around since 1969, and gets revived every few years, so saying I’ve seen it a million times would only be a slight exaggeration. But just the other day, I noticed for the first time that as Mr. Owl is counting off the number of licks, he pronounces the second one as “T-_whooo_.” You know, like an owl. 🤦🏼‍♂️ (Just for fun, here’s the original full version, which you never get to see anymore:) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/O6rHeD5x2tI/hqdefault.jpg "Classic Tootsie Roll Commercial - "How Many Licks"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6rHeD5x2tI) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5582 "2023-10-10T14:21:43Z")
I’m not sure if this is obvious or not. I heard the Boz Scaggs hit _Lido Shuffle_ last night and happened to take a look at the lyrics, perhaps for the first time. It turns out that Lido is not, in fact, waiting for the boat. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5583 "2023-10-10T16:21:31Z")
Lots of times I’m not sure about lyrics deeper meanings. ‘Missed the boat’ might mean that Lido had failed to see that his lover had been cheating on him, though that’s not certain to me. Anyhow, there’s nothing for him here, and it’s time to move on. In fact, his whole life is a process of moving on. If I understand the lyrics. That’s true for a lot of people, probably. Anyhow, very catchy tune. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5584 "2023-10-10T16:34:49Z")
My interpretation was that Lido had a good life in the shack. He presumably had a wife or girlfriend, some kind of income, and a place to live. But he didn’t appreciate it. He wanted to live large. So he went off on a crime spree, robbing places and running away from the consequences. But it was not a long term lifestyle. He was never going to be able to get out now that he was in it. He would just keep stealing and running until he was killed or imprisoned - and neither outcome was very far off. So the boat that Lido missed was not realizing he had a better life living in his shack than he would have when he went on the run. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2023, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5585 "2023-10-10T17:07:44Z")
Yeah, I can see that. Now. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5586 "2023-10-10T17:08:43Z")
I’ve never heard the song, but I read the lyrics just now, and that’s a good take. [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=278) [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=280)