http://darwen.us/southcon: S.C.A.T. (Number One?)

Sunday, July 08, 2007

S.C.A.T. (Number One?)

With apologies to MCF for the blatant rip-off, this is the debut of S.C.A.T. … the Southern Conservative's Astonishing Test.

I've noted and/or thought about a few trivial matters over the last few days and this is really just an excuse to post them without the post seeming like a pile of non sequiturs. If you want, see if you can answer any of these trivial questions, I'll post the answers in a few days whenever the mood strikes me.

What was significant about November 19, 1999? (By the way, 11/19/1999 was on a Friday, not that it matters.)

Robert Heinlein was the noted science fiction author behind classics such as Stranger In A Strange Land, Starship Troopers and The Puppet Masters. What novel did Heinlein praise as "possibly the finest science fiction novel I have ever read"?

(I'm currently reading this novel, which is why Heinlein's appraisal has been on my mind.)

Buddy Ebsen was cast as the Scarecrow in The Wizard Of Oz, but surrendered the role to Ray Bolger when Bolger demanded the part. Ebsen was then recast as the Tin Man, but had to leave the production and wasn't in the film. Why wasn't Ebsen able to play the Tin Man?

Merriam Webster defines stigmata as bodily marks or pains resembling the wounds of the crucified Jesus and sometimes accompanying religious ecstasy. Stigmata is sometimes thought of as a uniquely Catholic phenomenon, although it isn't. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church only believes one reported instance of stigmata to be wholly verifiable. Upon who's body did that stigmata manifest? (Hint: It wasn't Padre Pio.)

Who sang the line "I was young and foolish then and I'm old and foolish now"? (I've made a slight change to the lyrics so that it won't work if the quote is just plugged into Google.) Bonus Question: What was the slight change I made to the lyrics?

I may do this again from time to time, I don't know. I'm sure I won't do this with anything like the reliability of MCF's M.C.F.A.T. Given my tendency to add and immediately forget about features at this blog, it's hard to guess what I'll do.)

Labels: Blogs, Trivial Matters

Permalink -- Posted by Darrell at 09:32

Comments:

3. Buddy Ebsen almost died from the silver (powder) makeup they used on him for the Tin Man costume. When it was clear how ill he really was, they put in Jack Haley (who decided to speak the Tin Man's part in the breathy voice he used to read his children bedtime stories) and changed the makeup from a powder to a paste. I've seen (or rather, heard) cuts from Ebsen's singing--I'm eternally glad they put in Haley--his voice is beautiful, especially compared to Ebsen's.

# posted by

4HisChurch : 6:22 PM

4. St Paul?

# posted by

4HisChurch : 6:23 PM

1) The date contains four 1's, and four 9's, which add up to 40. I did a cursory check of your archives to see if it had personal significance, like your birthday or anniversary, but found nothing on that date. Further online research showed that John Carpenter(not the director) won a million dollars on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, setting a game show record. I also found some article about Rosie O'Donnell getting rid of K-Mart or something, but I doubt that would interest you. I'll go with the game show theory for now.

2) The Mote in God’s Eye. (Fun fact: While I've never read the book, I did once design a jacket for a special anniversary edition of it.)

4) Jesus?

5) They Might be Giants, Lucky Ball & Chain, "But I was young and foolish then I feel old and foolish now" (You took out the But and added an And)

# posted by

MCF : 12:15 AM

Oh, and I skipped 3 because I think 2hischurch already got it.

# posted by

MCF : 12:15 AM

I only knew the Buddy Ebsen one and I came late to the party. However, here's my take on the rest:
1. My brother turned 50
2. It should have been The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
3. yeah
4. Madonna?
5. I didn't know who sang it, but I'd have it tattooed somewhere prominent

# posted by

Lorna : 5:43 AM