Comments on: The Quintessential Quiz Book. What is a merkin? WTF?

by: Sunny Southeast

Sat, 16 Oct 2004 09:44:37 +0000

Boot Sale Books

CALLAN — One of the best things you can do with weekends is visit car boot sales in search of quiz books like The Quintessential Quiz Book: Little-known Oddities of Fact and Fiction by Norman G. Hickman (copyright 1979).

by: Bernard (the Beat is back)

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 15:39:49 +0000

Becky,
Feel free to keep MC Hammer’s “To Legit to Quit” out of the next mix of the week. PLEASE!!!

by: Becky

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 13:01:15 +0000

Ok, ok! Badpenny is correct. The merkin is a pubic hairpiece. More at the Straight DopeThis wasn't a question from the book, of course--I was just curious.Yoko got this one. Xanthippe was the wife of Socrates. According to Wikipedia, "After one particular quarrel, she was supposed to have emptied a chamber pot on Socrates's head, causing him to remark, 'After thunder there generally falls rain.'"Bernard (the Beat is back) gets this one.Badpenny and Bernie have the same answer as the book--port goes to the left (sorry Dave; having a trick question is a great idea, though). The book didn't elaborate further, so thanks, Bernie for the details. This ritual is pretty interesting, but frankly, I'm glad the ladies leave the room for it.I hope that Bernie can now be well-rested for the weekend. I will announce the winner and the prize on Monday.

by: Bernie

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 08:03:10 +0000

Butlers and batmen are too low order to handle the port for the mess. The vice president of the mess or the mess steward presents the port to the table. A drinks steward hovers behind the chairs where the port is passed. I’ll challenge the quiz book’s authenticity if the port is said to pass any other direction from one’s right hand to the left hand of the recipient.

This is an important mark of high culture and should not be diluted by pulp fiction quiz books so let us know the “answers” to the questions. I am losing sleep because of it.

by: Becky

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 05:41:15 +0000

Badpenny, you have a very, uh, impressive vocabulary.

by: badpenny

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 00:37:38 +0000

I actually learnt the merkin word when I was in high school from a book of fairly obscure terms. I think Pearl Jam also released an album called merkin ball some time later, which made me feel special because I was in on the joke, even if I wasn’t.

It was also from this book that I learned the meaning of callipygian. There was also a disturbing illustration of a “metal rod with balls or brushes attached that is inserted through a perforation in the penis.” Unfortunately, I do not remember the word for that definition.

The passing of the port was just a guess, based on the assumption that it was too obvious to pass the port any direction but starboard.

I did look up Xanthippe at m-w.com, but I couldn’t find it in my heart to… you know, whatever.

by: SHelly

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 23:28:12 +0000

found your blog. I love your photos of Glacier park. I grew up very close to there. I love the rainbows. I am homesick!

Thanks
Shelly

by: Becky

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 20:29:06 +0000

Ooh, some great and correct answers! Over the weekend, I’ll put everyone’s name into my Powerpuff Girls hat and pick a lucky winner!

Maybe for the next mix of the week, I can compile the Max Raabe cover suggestions.

Also, I wonder if badpenny actually knew what a merkin is without using Google.

by: Dave

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 20:15:00 +0000

2. Nine Inch Nail’s “Closer”

5. Trick Question! Obviously, the port is passed by your butler OR your butler’s valet.

by: yoko

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 16:21:03 +0000

2. I want them to do a cover of “Hey Ya.”
3. Xanthippe was Socrates, uh, shrewish wife.