# Unanswerable questions and eternal mysteries of pop culture (SPOILERS). **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453 "2005-12-13T19:04:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/121 "2005-12-15T03:05:52Z")
> [@Dark Side of the Floyd](#): > > …Ignatowski? That was cleaver… very cleaver 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/122 "2005-12-15T03:15:31Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > What was Ozzie Nelson’s occupation? And why wasn’t he ever at work? According to OTR historian John Dunning: 1. Bandleader 2. The action, for the most part, took place during the weekend ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/123 "2005-12-15T04:17:17Z")
Why did the castaways bring so much shit for a _three-hour tour_? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/124 "2005-12-15T04:23:58Z")
> [@gatopescado](#): > > Why did the castaways bring so much shit for a _three-hour tour_? [Here’s your answer.](http://www.skypoint.com/~camilian/humor/Gilligan.shtml) > [@](#): > > The inevitable conclusion: Howell chartered the Minnow to make a multi-million-dollar drug buy. He’d paid off Gilligan, and the Skipper too. He’d brought along the necessary cash. He even brought along an extensive wardrobe, just in case the coast guard show up and he had to leave U.S. territory in a hurry. And just to make sure he wasn’t ripped off, he brought along a expert to evaluate the merchandise he was getting. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/125 "2005-12-15T04:47:45Z")
> [@gatopescado](#): > > Why did the castaways bring so much shit for a _three-hour tour_? The Howells at least were adressed in the series. Thurston never went anywhere without several million in cash. Lovey never went anywhere without her wardrobe. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/126 "2005-12-15T05:22:15Z")
> [@gatopescado](#): > > Why did the castaways bring so much shit for a _three-hour tour_? Did Gilligan, the Skipper or the Professor ever change clothes? ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/127 "2005-12-15T06:47:27Z")
[QUOTE=Nature’s Call] How much wood _would_ a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? [QUOTE] How many pickled peppers _did_ Peter Piper pick, if he picked a peck of 'em? ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/128 "2005-12-15T06:59:35Z")
> [@Big\_Norse](#): > > She didn’t die, “the Angels took her away.” She went to play baseball in California. (At least that’s what my mother told me the song meant.) Dave Barry speculates it the Hells Angels. ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/129 "2005-12-15T15:59:10Z")
Who ate Bree’s cereal bar? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/130 "2005-12-15T18:28:15Z")
Why does the Hulk lose everything but the upper part of his pants? And for that matter, where is all his extra mass coming from? ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/131 "2005-12-15T18:40:37Z")
Neon Genesis Evangelion. The whole damned series. What the hell is it about? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/132 "2005-12-15T19:01:28Z")
Where have all the cowboys gone? Who does number two work for? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/133 "2005-12-15T19:27:49Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > …and what was “Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooey” about? > > (I love that title) And the sequel, “Commander Coriander Salamander And 'er Single-Hander Belly-Lander”. The author, Mabel Syrup, is a bit of a mystery, too. ---
**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 15, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/134 "2005-12-15T19:43:56Z")
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? (I’m disappointed that nobody thought of that one yet…) * * * What was name of the Doctor (of “Doctor Who”), and the Master for that matter? And who, if anybody, was the Doctor married to (and if nobody, then what really was the relationship between himself & Susan “Foreman”?) * * * On Diana Rigg’s final episode of “the Avengers”, the plot involved tiny darts that caused people to have amnesia when they’re struck by them. Both Steed & Emma get hit, and have a scene in which they try to figure out who each other is: Emma: Are you the man who (whispers inaudibly into his ear)? Steed: Yes…I rather think that I am. What did she say? * * * The mysterious object in Marcellus’ suitcase was actually an homage to a scene Bunuels’ **Belle du Jour** , in which Catherine Deneauve’s housewife-hooker character has sex with a trick who wants to use a particular fetish object. We don’t see what the object is, but when the trick first propositions one of Deneuve’s cohorts, the hooker in question opens the box containing the object - it emits a high-pitched whine. She then slams the box shut and walks away, flatly refusing to use it. * * * Who do you love? ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/135 "2005-12-15T19:48:14Z")
From _Godfather II_: 1. What exactly did Fredo do to facilitate the attempted hit on Michael? Even if you believe he was duped, he had to have been duped into _something._ Did he open the drapes in the bedroom? Did he allow the hitmen access to the compound? And who killed the hitmen who were found in the creek, and why? Were they the real triggermen or decoys? Unless I’m missing something, none of this is explained. 2. How on earth do they convince Rocco Lampone to do the hit on Roth at the airport? One scene, Michael and Tom Hagan are sitting around talking about how Roth will probably be retuning to the U.S., and how he’ll be taken right into custody, and how impossible it will be to get to him, and then all of the sudden there he is getting blasted right there on the concourse of the airport as he arrives, by Rocco of all people, a man with a permanant limp, who can’t even run at full speed. They couldn’t possibly think he could have gotten out of the airport without getting arrested or killed. Why would Rocco do something so suicidal? From _Star Wars_: 1. How was Anakin/Vader conceived? Was it the midichlorians courtesy of Darth Plagus? 2. Who is the “other” that Yoda refers to as Luke leaves Dagobah in _Empire Strikes Back_? Leia? Vader? 3. How much does Jango Fett know of what is really going on in _Attack Of The Clones_? Does he know the real purpose of the clone army? From _Fargo_: What does Jerry need the money for? We know he needs to pay back GMAC Financing, but that only accounts for about $300,000. Why does he need a million? If all he wanted was to invest in the parking lots why didn’t he use the money he stole from GM? His lifestyle doesn’t look any more extravagant than would be expected, so the money from GM had to go somewhere, plus he seems to need at least a half million more on top of that. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/136 "2005-12-15T19:56:16Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? … African or European? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/137 "2005-12-15T19:56:27Z")
> [@Vagus](#): > > Most of the shtick at the start of Ep3. was based around Obi-wan giving him a (rather loud) comm-link. > > All the communications to the droids in Ep4 while on the Death Star was using C3PO as an in-between using the same kind of device. In _Jedi_, when they’r eon Endor, Leia calls R2 down- “R2, where are you? We need you at the bunker right away!” R2 starts to head down, and 3PO is following, “ **Where are you going?** This is no time for heroics! Come ba-a-ack!” “Where are you going” implies that R2 could communicate directly with Leia, without 3PO’s help. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/138 "2005-12-15T20:17:45Z")
> [@Harvey The Heavy](#): > > 1. Who is the “other” that Yoda refers to as Luke leaves Dagobah in _Empire Strikes Back_? Leia? Vader? I always assumed this was Leia, when taken with what we learn in Jedi. Maybe Lucas had something else in mind when he wrote Empire, but it turned out to be Leia. Actually, one doesn’t have to go as far as Jedi. The fact Luke is able to telepathically contact leia when they’re fleeing Bespin and arrange for the pickup on the underside suggests Leia may have been in mind the entire time. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/139 "2005-12-15T20:31:53Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > How many pickled peppers _did_ Peter Piper pick, if he picked a peck of 'em? A quarter of a bushels worth. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453/140 "2005-12-15T20:32:56Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > What was name of the Doctor (of “Doctor Who”), and the Master for that matter? And who, if anybody, was the Doctor married to (and if nobody, then what really was the relationship between himself & Susan “Foreman”?) What do we know about him? He’s a TimeLord, he claims to be Susan’s Grandfather, he doesn’t hit on any of his companions, (Save for Romana, and she’s of the same species as him.) He doesn’t like his family. What explanation sound plausible for this? [del]He was designed as a Grandfather first, then the script-writers shied away from that concept. [/del] He is a sexual being, but is not in the least bit attracted to species besides his own. He got married to another Time-person, who is now either dead, or maybe divorced. Then, the loom-products of that marriage got together and loomed together Susan. (Or maybe he is so old he predates the Looms. After all, his first incarnation is pretty damned old looking. So simple it need not be brought up in the series. Now, that neatly explains his not flirting with humans, and his flirting with Romana. Oh, and I’ll bet you’ve seen his signature, but [here it is](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3c/Doctorcallingcard.jpg/200px-Doctorcallingcard.jpg) anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unanswerable-questions-and-eternal-mysteries-of-pop-culture-spoilers/335453.md?page=8)