# The describe y in x number of words challenge. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 16, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189 "2003-06-16T11:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/281 "2004-01-18T08:44:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Explain the concept of “jumping the shark” in 26 words, two of which are the first and last names of an actor or character. Jumping the shark is when a television show starts going downhill. So named for when Arthur Fonzarelli jumped a shark with a motorcycle on “Happy Days”. What are area codes, in 13 words or less ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2004, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/282 "2004-01-19T09:09:29Z")
Area codes tell, in three digits, more or less where someone’s phone is. Define the US Electoral College in 17 words. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/283 "2004-01-20T02:35:22Z")
> [@E. Thorp](#): > > Define the US Electoral College in 17 words. The _real_ votes that get a presidential candidate elected, Floridian hanging chad notwithstanding. That’s seventeen words, right? Explain why M&Ms are so addictive in 23 words. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/284 "2004-01-20T11:45:24Z")
They are CHOCOLATE! So small, and so colourful. So few calories in each. Just one more won’t hurt. Oops! The bag is empty. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/285 "2004-01-20T11:46:51Z")
Gah! Forgot the next challenge. Tell me why bats don’t fall down when they go to sleep hanging upside down, in 47 words. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/286 "2004-01-20T14:51:22Z")
> [@Hokkaido Brit](#): > > Gah! Forgot the next challenge. > > Tell me why bats don’t fall down when they go to sleep hanging upside down, in 47 words. Interestingly, bats employ the use of little sticky adhesive strips on their feet, much like the type you’d see on Post-Its. Using this method, they are not only able to perch on stalagmites without a hitch, but also jot down important messages to other bats. No, really. Describe the feeling of waking up on Christmas morning to the feeling of someone pouring chocolate pudding in your underpants in 14 words. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/287 "2004-01-21T02:39:37Z")
Chocolate…oooh, cold, sticky, sweet chocolate. What a perfect gift to start out Christmas. Explain why the sky should be yellow and green striped instead of blue in 42 words. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/288 "2004-01-21T07:06:14Z")
> [@monica](#): > > Explain why the sky should be yellow and green striped instead of blue in 42 words. Blue sky has become such a cliché. Instead of kids asking “Why is the sky blue?”, they could wonder why it has stripes of citron and emerald. Crayola would retire the Sky Blue crayon, replacing it with Celestial Green and Heavenly Yellow. In 30 words, share your opinion of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. ---
**Author:** ![Ex\_Machina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/289 "2004-01-21T22:03:46Z")
The porn seems out of place at first. Then you remember that it is a vicarious magazine for voyeurs who are no longer able to engage in the activities depicted. Explain low-carb diets in 15 words. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/290 "2004-01-22T00:56:32Z")
Low carb diets, like Atkins, are the meal choices of the anti-vegitarian carnivores out there. Describe the strangest person you’ve ever seen in 32 words. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Llama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@The\_Llama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Llama)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/291 "2004-04-02T20:42:36Z")
On a beautiful sunny day, some men were searching. It was then that I saw what was to be the strangest person i’ve ever seen. He came out of a spider hole. Describe why this thread has seemed to die in 7 words. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/292 "2004-04-02T22:28:05Z")
We ran out of categories, I guess. Describe why this thread needs to be revived in 18 words. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/293 "2004-04-02T22:30:57Z")
The real reason it shut down was ‘Nasty mods did not like game threads’ Now we start again. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/294 "2004-04-02T22:35:25Z")
– ooops – Please describe what you will be doing this weekend in 12 words. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/295 "2004-04-02T22:53:13Z")
Yardwork; dog grooming; taking care of baby so my wife can sleep. Explain how submarine warfare has changed since the end of the cold war in exactly 31 words. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/296 "2004-04-02T23:03:50Z")
Submarine warfare has moved from the military to the economic. The modern method is to sell dodgy broke down old subs to countries like Canada in order to pauperize their nation. How do you ensure that your spouse remains faithful, in 7 words. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/297 "2004-04-03T01:48:33Z")
Cameras, bugs, and other nifty surveillance equipment. Give a synopsis of World War II in…13 words. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/298 "2004-04-03T02:05:05Z")
> [@Nightwatch Trailer](#): > > Give a synopsis of World War II in…13 words. The Allies defeated the Axis powers. For further information, watch The History Channel. In 26 words, tell me why I should (or should not) pay to subscibe to the **SDMB**. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/299 "2004-04-03T02:34:39Z")
Are you joking, or stupid? It’s only the best message board around, at a low low price! Just kidding, I don’t know if I’m subscribing either. Using at least two Star Wars references, tell me who I should vote for in November, in 30 words. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189/300 "2004-04-03T15:52:12Z")
George Bush’s foreign policy reminds us of the Empire, and in intelligence and elocution he more resembles Jar Jar Binks than a proper world leader. You must vote for Kerry. Explain why some people refuse to see that _The Simpsons_ has been going downhill since season 11 in 15 words. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-describe-y-in-x-number-of-words-challenge/182189.md?page=16)