Jeopardy 09/23

I had a good laugh during "Jeopardy!" tonight. One of the clues (in a category related to grammar) contained the phrase, "It was as if an occult hand had. . ." I'm afraid I didn't catch anything else for the next minute or two, as I was busy laughing, and then I had to explain WHY I was laughing.

The Order of the Occult Hand, is a "secret" society (of sorts) formed by journalists, and the requirements for being a member was working the phrase "It was as if an occult hand had" (or something very similar, it seems the standards are loose) into print. Apparently, they thought it was an odd enough phrase that it would be fun to see how often they could sneak it into the media.

Seeing it on the Jeopardy! board shocked a laugh out of me. . .then I realized that the clue was not related to the Order of the Occult Hand directly, it was just a phrase they used, and the contestants were supposed to supply a question related to the grammar of the phrase. That meant that the writers on the show had just made their bones and were now members of the Order. Then I laughed harder.

I'm so easily amused.

Being a mapmaker, whenever I make a map I need to write disclaimers in small print about where the data came from and under what circumstances the maps are applicable. At one point a person who I worked with produced a map, we were at the town meeting to explain the map and get it approved as official. I looked at the small print and read through it. In the small print was "All your base are belong to us"... I thought he had put it there as a joke so I grabbed him abuptly and pulled him from the meeting. I dragged him out into the hall way and told him he had left that in by accident, he pointed out it was on purpose to see if anyone ever read the disclaimer. Needless to say, no-one has ever questioned it to my knowledge.

I sneak stuff into the disclaimer on maps I make for Sarge, he never notices. 🙂

you make maps for me?

I wonder what would've happened if I had been ON the show and that popped up. I might've been able to containg most of the laughter, but I would not be answering any questions for a minute or 2.

Bubba, if it wasn't your work, and you weren't directly responsible for it, I'd be asking for a scan of that fine print. Wow, years go by without thinking of this, and now twice in one day!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qItugh-fFgg

Sarge wrote:you make maps for me?

You know those "beautiful pieces of artwork" I give you every so often. I know you hang them in your "Bubba shrine" at home, especially for times like this where I am away from the office for the better part of a week

+5 Great Thread!

I have nothing to add, but it was still awesome to read!