# 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:** 98
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1941 "2014-09-02T16:56:32Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Saul and the briefcase were needed anyway for the timing of the heist to work. With Mr. Zerga (Saul) watching on the monitors, Benedict’s men take the cart down right away instead of waiting around. The guard with the briefcase and the guards with the cart are different, start from different places, and only meet in the elevator right before the vault. If the plan was to have the briefcase ensure delivery of the cart, I don’t see how it does that. > [@](#): > > Besides that, there’s not much room in the cart with Yen. He’s got an oxygen bottle that’s only good for 30 minutes. I suppose they could have just left a hole in the cart somewhere so it wouldn’t be airtight, then carry the explosives instead of the oxygen. Do you remember how big the explosives were? They were three really small(quite a bit smaller than Yen’s hands) gem shaped things. There is no way there wasn’t enough room in the cart for them. > [@](#): > > You mean the one Danny takes to meet Linus in the elevator shaft? They probably needed the security codes anyway. There’s the big vault door that they blow up, but there’s also an outer rotating door. They needed to open that somehow, too. No, there’s no outer rotating door. Not in the movie at least. In fact, you’ve reminded me of another huge hole. Why did they need to get someone _inside_ the vault with explosives anyway? Why not blow up the door from the outside? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1942 "2014-09-02T17:23:37Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > No, there’s no outer rotating door. Not in the movie at least. Yes, there is. Watch it [here](http://www.anyclip.com/movies/oceans-eleven/into-the-vault/); after they secure the guards with zip ties Linus enters the code and it opens. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1943 "2014-09-05T13:38:58Z")
I just realized “Shawshank” has “shank” in it. I think that word and the article itself is only used in prisons. Score one for Stephen King. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1944 "2014-09-05T14:04:26Z")
Re: how the escort flyers got in the van after it pulled of, IIRC it’s listed in goofs on [IMDB.com](http://IMDB.com) and maybe in the commentary track that they acknowledge afterwards there’s really no way to figure out how that actually makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1945 "2014-09-05T15:31:44Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I just realized “Shawshank” has “shank” in it. I think that word and the article itself is only used in prisons. > > Score one for Stephen King. It’s also a term for a cut of beef, as well as the rod part of a tool like a screwdriver, which is the source of it’s use as a stabbing weapon in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1946 "2014-09-05T16:24:59Z")
There is also the “shank of the evening”. ---
**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 5, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1947 "2014-09-05T16:37:27Z")
and the _sheepshank_ knot, about which I’ve ranted. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1948 "2014-09-05T17:25:41Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > It’s also a term for a cut of beef It’s a generic, albeit somewhat archaic word for the shin - see Edward Longshanks - which is what part of the animal (not just cows) is used for the shank. Quite a few things (including, but not limited to, shoes, nails, anchors, and buttons) have shanks…some can be used to make shanks in the shiv sense, others…would not be so practical. ---
**Author:** ![Tess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@Tess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1949 "2014-09-05T18:52:05Z")
The Prodigal Son demands his inheritance early, burns through it and has to take a job as a swine herder to survive. After years of hearing the story it hit me that he isn’t just trapped in a crappy job no one else wants- he’s Jewish and pigs aren’t kosher . I’ve seen references to some people not even saying the word ‘pig,’ it’s considered so disgusting. So for this guy to resort to living among a herd of pigs shows that he’s hit absolute rock bottom financially and spiritually. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1950 "2014-09-09T13:53:17Z")
In the episode of _ **ST: Voyager** _ where Janeway plays Queen Arachnia, she seductively strokes the tip of Chaotica’s phallus-shaped Death Ray projector: **JANEWAY:** (_Sensually_) A formidable weapon. **CHAOTICA:** The most powerful in the Cosmos! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1951 "2014-09-09T15:04:55Z")
> [@Tess](#): > > The Prodigal Son demands his inheritance early, burns through it and has to take a job as a swine herder to survive. > > After years of hearing the story it hit me that he isn’t just trapped in a crappy job no one else wants- he’s Jewish and pigs aren’t kosher . I’ve seen references to some people not even saying the word ‘pig,’ it’s considered so disgusting. So for this guy to resort to living among a herd of pigs shows that he’s hit absolute rock bottom financially and spiritually. So, if Jews consider pigs unclean, what were they doing keeping herds of them? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1952 "2014-09-09T15:17:29Z")
Presumably he was working for Gentiles. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1953 "2014-09-09T16:57:26Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > So, if Jews consider pigs unclean, what were they doing keeping herds of them? Presumably they were owned by non-Jews. According to my Bible, the son “took his journey into a far country”, and “squandered his property in loose living” and then took the swineherd job, working for “one of the citizens of that country”. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1954 "2014-09-09T18:04:10Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Presumably they were owned by non-Jews. According to my Bible, the son “took his journey into a far country”, and “squandered his property in loose living” and then took the swineherd job, working for “one of the citizens of that country”. Another version would be a vegan die-hard Red Sox fan moving to NYC to live the wild life. When they spend all their cash the only job they can get is working the grill at a Yankee’s bar. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1955 "2014-09-09T18:26:33Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > Another version would be a vegan die-hard Red Sox fan moving to NYC to live the wild life. When they spend all their cash the only job they can get is working the grill at a Yankee’s bar. Yes, but in that case, would the parents take him/her back? ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1956 "2014-09-09T18:38:18Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Presumably he was working for Gentiles. Beats working for peanuts… ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1957 "2014-09-09T19:24:01Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > So, if Jews consider pigs unclean, what were they doing keeping herds of them? Well, in the story, the Prodigal Son was probably in Gentile territory. But let’s stretch the question to the Demoniac in Gadara & the herd of swine- not only Jews lived in those areas. Remember, Roman soldiers were all over & they needed to eat. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1958 "2014-09-13T15:21:59Z")
OK, this is not “the millionth time” but a couple of weeks ago I was watching an episode of a Brit TV series called “Hinterland” about a big-city detective (a police detective, not a private detective) who does something so awful that the only fitting punishment they can mete out to him is send him to a remote (for Great Britain) part of Wales to do his detecting. In one scene he’s detecting at a farmhouse, and while he’s asking question, the housewife is dressing (i.e., gutting and skinning, though only the gutting is shown) a bunch of rabbits. I watched the scene, thought nothing of it, then this morning woke up and realized “Welsh rabbit!” They were making a pun on Welsh rarebit! Or not, but I bet they were. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1959 "2014-09-13T15:24:53Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Well, in the story, the Prodigal Son was probably in Gentile territory. > > But let’s stretch the question to the Demoniac in Gadara & the herd of swine- not only Jews lived in those areas. Remember, Roman soldiers were all over & they needed to eat. I thought the Romans lived mainly on hummingbird tongues, olives, wine and leftover pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1960 "2014-09-14T16:18:56Z")
> [@Flywheel](#): > > Beats working for peanuts… Oh, I dunno. Charles Schulz didn’t do so bad. [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=97) [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=99)