What makes a "MacGuffin" different from a "red herring"?
One of the most famous MacGuffins in film history is the briefcase in "Pulp Fiction". It drives the entire plot forward, even though what is actually inside doesn't matter at all. Its only purpose is to give the characters something to fight over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYpk-TSlpnc
Other examples of famous MacGuffins include the Maltese Falcon or the Ark of the Covenant. (wellenbrecher)
4 answers
Oct 12 26 by odo5435
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Nov 14 26 by serpa
What is the convention for the order of naming chemical compounds such as sodium chloride or copper nitrate? What decides which element comes first when compounded with two or more?
As a basic rule, the more electropositive element or group comes first.
In salts, you always list the cation before the anion, so you, for example, get sodium chloride or ammonium nitrate (NH4)(NO3) - the nitrogens can't be lumped together here because they are part of different ions! If you have multiple ions on one side such as in an alum, the more electropositive ion goes first: KAl(SO4)2 or CaClF.
In molecules, the order attempts to describe the structure, so you write HOCl for hypochlorous acid (to emplasize that the hydrogen is bonded to the oxygen) but the electronegativity-expected HClO3 for chloric acid.
Hydrogen is an exception from the electronegativity rule: It is sorted between group 15 and group 16 elements so you do get NH3 (not H3N) and H2Te even though the respective electronegativity would say otherwise. That's done so that equivalent structures - NH3, PH3, AsH3 - use the same order.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_nomenclature (WesleyCrusher)
1 answer
Nov 14 26 by satguru
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Nov 14 26 by Upstart3
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Nov 14 26 by Upstart3
An NFL play starts on the 50-yard line. A running back runs twenty-five yards with the ball then laterals the ball to another player who runs in for a touchdown. Does the second player get credit for a 25 yard or 50 yard touchdown run?
According to the NFL's guide for statisticians your scenario is most like this:
Example V: First-and-10 on opponent's 20-yard line. Player runs to the 3, then laterals to a
teammate on the 5; teammate runs for a touchdown. Scoring: First player gets one rush, 15
yards; second player gets 5 yards
So in your specific scenario, Back A gets credit for a 25 yard rush, 1 attempt (no TD) Back B gets credit for a 25 yard rush, no attempt (with TD).
The guide is pretty clear that the only time you'd give all of those yards to one single player is if all of the laterals were behind the LOS.
When dealing with laterals it has this to say:
Laterals subsequent to the originating play are considered as part of the play from which they
originate. The receiver of a lateral is given credit for the yardage he gains from the point he receives
the lateral, BUT he is not given an attempt, return, or reception on the play
You can dig in here:
https://www.nflgsis.com/gsis/documentation/stadiumguides/guide_for_statisticians.pdf
(maripp2002)
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Nov 14 26 by serpa
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Nov 02 26 by serpa
What is the shortest Shakespeare play?
That would be a 'Comedy of Errors' it weighs in at just around 14,500 words, or about 1,800 lines, and runs anywhere from 75 to 90 minutes.
https://www.stagemilk.com/length-of-shakespeare-plays/
(maripp2002)
1 answer
Nov 13 26 by chabenao1
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Oct 24 26 by misdiaslocos
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Nov 02 26 by serpa
Which member of The Ikettes is said to be the inspiration for The Rolling Stones' song "Brown Sugar" and David Bowie's song "Lady Grinning Soul"?
Claudia Lennear is thought to be the former Ikette who inspired both songs. In 1969, her soul group toured with The Rolling Stones, leading to a romance with lead singer Mick Jagger that sparked the hit song "Brown Sugar." A few years later, she met David Bowie at a dinner party, and their brief relationship inspired him to write the dramatic ballad "Lady Grinning Soul" for his Aladdin Sane album. While she was a muse to these rock stars, Lennear was also an incredible vocalist in her own right, performing with everyone from George Harrison to Joe Cocker during the height of the 1970s.
Refs
https://americansongwriter.com/the-former-ikette-who-inspired-the-rolling-stones-brown-sugar-and-the-end-of-david-bowies-aladdin-sane/
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/claudia-lennear-inspiration-behind-brown-193030351.html
(misdiaslocos)
3 answers
Nov 02 26 by serpa
If you dominate a tennis set and win 6-0, it's called a bagel. Why is this a bagel and what is the history of the term?
In tennis, winning a set 6-0 is called a "bagel" because the number zero physically resembles the round shape of a bagel. When a player sweeps a set without letting their opponent win a single game, they are said to have "served a bagel". The term was coined in the 1970s by American tennis players Harold Solomon and Eddie Dibbs. Solomon and Dibbs were two highly competitive, shorter, grueling baseline players who were close friends and doubles partners on the ATP tour. Because they ground down opponents from the back of the court with relentless patience, they frequently found themselves blanking opponents. Solomon casually used the culinary comparison in a conversation to describe a 6-0 blowout. The phrase was instantly picked up and popularized by legendary tennis commentator and journalist Bud Collins. Collins found the slang so colorful that he began using it on television broadcasts and in his columns, even affectionately nicknaming Solomon and Dibbs the "Bagel Twins". From there, it grew from tour locker-room slang into universal tennis shorthand. (javelpaul143)
6 answers
Oct 24 26 by misdiaslocos
If a Major League Baseball player hits a ball over the fence and becomes injured and is unable to touch home plate is it still a home run?
Yes, it is still a home run. Under Major League Baseball Rule 5.12(b)(3)(A), if a player hits a ball over the fence but suffers an incapacitating injury while running the bases, the home run is not negated. Instead, the umpires will call "Time," creating a dead-ball scenario, and the team's manager is legally permitted to insert a substitute runner to finish rounding the bases on the injured player's behalf. This exact rule famously came into play on September 14, 2005, during a game between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. Boston's Tony Graffanino hit a home run, but as baserunner Gabe Kapler was rounding second base, he completely ruptured his Achilles tendon and collapsed. Because the ball went over the wall, Kapler was "entitled" to advance to home plate. The umpires called time, Kapler was carted off the field, and a pinch runner (Jonny Gomes) was subbed in to legally finish the home run trot from second base so the runs would count. (javelpaul143)
2 answers
Oct 25 26 by serpa
What is the great whale conveyor belt?
The Great Whale Conveyor Belt is Earth's largest long-distance biological nutrient transport system, driven by the seasonal migrations of baleen whales (such as humpback, gray, and right whales). During the summer, these massive mammals feed heavily in cold, nutrient-rich polar waters, storing immense energy reserves as blubber. In the winter, they travel thousands of miles to warm, nutrient-depleted tropical and subtropical waters to breed and give birth. Because they fast during this breeding period, they burn their polar fat reserves and excrete them into the local tropical environment. According to studies quantified in early 2025 by researchers from the University of Vermont and published in Nature Communications, just four baleen whale species collectively transport 46,500 tons of biomass, 4,900 tons of carbon, and 3,800 tons of nitrogen annually. This massive delivery acts as a fertilizer for oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) tropical ecosystems. In areas like Hawaii, the nitrogen released by humpback whales actually exceeds the nutrient input provided by physical deep-ocean upwelling. This spike fertilizes marine phytoplankton, which forms the baseline of the ocean food web and helps absorb millions of tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide, making whales vital natural allies against climate change. However, centuries of commercial whaling eliminated an estimated 81% of global whale biomass, creating a massive 17-million-ton carbon deficit and shrinking the volume of this conveyor belt by two-thirds. Marine biologists emphasize that protecting migratory corridors from modern threats like ship strikes and fishing gear entanglements is critical to restoring these disrupted ocean cycles. (javelpaul143)
2 answers
Oct 29 26 by serpa
3 answers
Oct 20 26 by GBfan
What is the great whale conveyor belt?
The Great Whale Conveyor Belt is the Earth's largest long-distance nutrient transport system. During summer, migratory whales feed in cold, food-rich waters near the poles, storing up large reserves of blubber. In preparation for winter, they migrate towards warm water near the equators, using their fat stores for energy rather than relying on food intake lone. This means that blubber created from nutrients in the polar regions is excreted as nitrogenous and carbon-based waste products, thus shifting the nutrients from the poles towards the equator. Scientists attempted to quantify this effect in a 2025 paper, showing that even a single whale transports a significant amount of nutrients. Taken en mass, it is enough to drastically shape the ocean ecosystems.
https://whalescientists.com/the-great-whale-conveyor-belt/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56123-2 (patrickk)
2 answers
Oct 29 26 by serpa
If a Major League Baseball player hits a ball over the fence and becomes injured and is unable to touch home plate is it still a home run?
Yes, it is still a home run. Under Major League Baseball Rule 5.10(c), if a player hits a ball over the fence but is physically incapacitated and cannot complete the trip around the bases, a substitute runner is legally allowed to enter the game to finish rounding the diamond and touch home plate on the batter's behalf.
References:
This is particularly on point
https://umpire-empire.com/topic/75073-mlb-baseball-rule/
It actually has happened
https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1ffw62/weird_question_what_happens_if_a_player_is/
VIDEO
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=726908836840
(misdiaslocos)
2 answers
Oct 25 26 by serpa
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Oct 24 26 by misdiaslocos
If you dominate a tennis set and win 6-0, it's called a bagel. Why is this a bagel and what is the history of the term?
The term was coined by Harold Solomon, a member of the Jewish sports hall of fame, and that he was most familiar with that particular bread stuff, and that when he looked at a 0, the first thing that came to mind was a food that he grew up around.
I don't have a really good answer, other than "that's what he thought of when he saw the 0, and it stuck".
https://forward.com/culture/559006/bagel-tennis-harold-solomon-us-open
https://www.mainejewish.org/the-history-of-bagels-from-tradition-to-trend
(maripp2002)
6 answers
Oct 24 26 by misdiaslocos
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Oct 24 26 by misdiaslocos
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Oct 24 26 by misdiaslocos
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Oct 20 26 by odo5435
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Oct 20 26 by GBfan
What four songs were recorded with Johnny Cash and his daughter Rosanne Cash?
Johnny Cash and his daughter Rosanne Cash shared a deeply rooted musical bond that naturally transitioned into several historic studio collaborations across nearly three decades. While Rosanne initially got her start working behind the scenes on her father's tours, they eventually recorded several official studio tracks and ensemble performances together that beautifully showcased their blended vocals. Their recorded legacy spans from Rosanne's 1974 debut appearance to their poignant final duet in 2003.
The complete list of songs recorded together by Johnny Cash and Rosanne Cash, THAT I COULD FIND!!
* "Broken Freedom Song" (1974): This Kris Kristofferson cover marked Rosanne's official studio recording debut. Her father brought her into the studio booth to sing the lead vocals with him for his album The Junkie and the Juicehead Minus Me.
* "When He Comes" (1979): A powerful father-daughter gospel duet written by Johnny Cash. The track was recorded for his religious album A Believer Sings the Truth and featured additional backing support from the Carter Family.
* "That's How I Got to Memphis" (1982): Johnny Cash stepped into the studio to record prominent, soulful backing vocals for his daughter. The Tom T. Hall cover was officially released on Rosanne's breakthrough third studio album, Somewhere in the Stars.
* "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" (1988): Johnny re-recorded his 1958 solo chart-topper as a dynamic duet with Rosanne for his album Water from the Wells of Home. The track also featured backing vocals by the Everly Brothers and won a Country Music Association (CMA) Award.
* "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" (1989): Both artists joined an all-star ensemble for the grand finale track of the landmark album Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two. They stood side-by-side in the studio booth singing the chorus with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, June Carter Cash, and Emmylou Harris.
* "September When It Comes" (2003): An emotionally poignant ballad co-written by Rosanne for her album Rules of Travel. It serves as the final, hauntingly beautiful studio duet the pair ever captured together before Johnny passed away later that year.
So that's six, anyone want to try for seven? BTW if you have never heard "Will the Circle"...go listen. (misdiaslocos)
4 answers
Oct 12 26 by GBfan
What is the actual island that Tom Hanks was "Cast Away" (2000) on?
The actual island featured in the movie Cast Away is Monuriki (also commonly spelled Modriki), a small, uninhabited volcanic islet located in the Mamanuca Islands archipelago of Fiji. While the film depicts the location as completely isolated, in reality, neighboring islands are close enough to be visible; the production team used digital editing to remove nearby landmasses and passing ships to create the illusion of total remoteness. Tourists often casually refer to it as "Tom Hanks Island" or "Cast Away Island," but it should not be confused with the nearby Castaway Island Resort (Qalito Island), which is a fully inhabited commercial resort. Today, Monuriki is preserved as a managed wildlife sanctuary-notably home to the rare Fijian crested iguana-and is a highly popular day-trip destination for travelers seeking out the beach where Chuck Noland and his volleyball companion, Wilson, "lived".
References
https://www.goliveyoung.com/stunning-modriki-island-filming-location-movie-castaway-tom-hanks/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/historicfilmlocations/posts/1822649974865055/
(misdiaslocos)
2 answers
Oct 13 26 by Walneto
Is it true that boxers (not MMA) are not allowed to grow a beard?
It is mostly a myth today, though historically it was a strict reality. While boxers were once universally required to be clean-shaven, modern rules allow facial hair as long as it adheres to strict length and safety regulations. In professional boxing, major athletic commissions permit neatly trimmed beards, provided they do not obscure the fighter's jawline or act as a cushion against punches. Meanwhile, amateur and Olympic boxing maintained a strict global ban on beards for decades, forcing fighters to shave so medical staff could clearly see cuts and ensure headgear fit properly. However, following rigorous inclusion campaigns by Muslim and Sikh athletic groups, the International Boxing Association (IBA) officially lifted the international amateur ban in January 2023, permitting boxers to sport beards and moustaches up to 10 centimeters (under 4 inches) in length.
References:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/43390908
https://musliminstitute.org/idea/the-sikh-boxers-fighting-to-keep-their-beards-in-the-ring-and-making-history-in-the-process/ (misdiaslocos)
2 answers
Oct 16 26 by chabenao1
What is the fastest speed ever for throwing a bowling ball at ten pins and getting a strike?
The fastest speed ever recorded for throwing a bowling ball and getting a strike is 140 mph (225.3 km/h). This extraordinary feat was achieved in September 2019 by world number one professional bowler Jason Belmonte and NASCAR driver Aric Almirola at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Instead of a traditional bowling lane approach, Belmonte leaned out of the passenger window of Almirola's moving Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 Ford Mustang race car to launch a specially rubberized bowling ball down the track straightaway. The high-velocity ball accurately careened into a standard set of ten pins positioned at the start/finish line, completely obliterating them for a historic, record-breaking strike.
References:
https://www.thedrive.com/news/29969/watch-a-pro-bowler-throw-the-worlds-fastest-strike-in-a-ford-mustang-nascar-racer
https://tenpin.org.au/extreme-bowling/ (misdiaslocos)
3 answers
Oct 20 26 by GBfan
Which motor car company has the oldest unchanged logo? And who designed it?
The automotive emblem recognized as the oldest unchanged logo belongs to Mitsubishi, whose three-diamond mark has been dynamically used since it was established in 1873. Designed by the company's visionary founder, Yataro Iwasaki, the logo represents a creative synthesis of historical Japanese heritage. Iwasaki conceptualized the icon by merging his own family's three-layered water chestnut crest (Sangai-bishi) with the three-oak-leaf crest (Mitsu-Gashiwa) of the Yamauchi family, the Lords of the Tosa Clan who served as his initial employers. This harmonious configuration directly spawned the brand's name, as "Mitsu" translates to three, and "hishi"-pronounced "bishi" in the middle of a word-translates to water chestnut or diamond. The resulting emblem was trademarked for their automotive group in 1914 and has stood firm as a global symbol of integrity, reliability, and success for over a century.
References:
https://www.logodesignlove.com/mitsubishi-logo
https://www.gunthermitsubishi.com/mitsubishi-motors-logo-meaning.htm (misdiaslocos)
1 answer
Oct 19 26 by i-a-n
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Oct 20 26 by odo5435
What is the main difference between the arm actions when a bowler 'bowls' a ball in cricket and when a pitcher 'pitches' a ball in baseball?
The primary difference between bowling and pitching comes from the shape of the elbow during the action - the basic principle of bowling in cricket is that the bowler's arm should be straight as it comes over the head, negating the possibility of being able to extend the elbow joint. Any extension of the elbow would be deemed to be a throw, and thus invalidate the delivery. Bowlers therefore are unable to use the length of their arm to vary the type of delivery, and instead have to use other means, such as the position of the ball in their hand, the grip they have on it, and the position of their hand upon release. Pitchers have no such restriction on their elbow position, and so are able to use the angle of their arm alongside various other means to get variation in each pitch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_(cricket)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_(baseball) (Red_John)
3 answers
Oct 20 26 by odo5435
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Oct 16 26 by GBfan
Who holds the NBA record for most consecutive missed three point shots over multiple games?
According to statmuse.com -- Otis Thorpe missed 35 consecutive three pointers, across 10 seasons, from 1990-91 to 1999-00:
1 1990-91
7 1991-92
2 1992-93
2 1993-94
7 1994-95
4 1995-96
2 1996-97
5 1997-98
2 1998-99
3 1999-00
---
35
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/otis-thorpe-career-3-pointers-made-and-attempted
https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/los-angeles-lakers/debunking-theory-lebron-james-6-3-pointers-away-from-setting-negative-nba-record
(gtho4)
2 answers
Oct 16 26 by GBfan
Is it true that boxers (not MMA) are not allowed to grow a beard?
No that is false, beards are very common... Here are a few samples, Roberto Duran, Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito
https://ecsmsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/duran_roberto-card_sqb.jpg
https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-1163293092.jpg?resize=1200:*
https://cdn-img.secondsout.com/uploads/content/1764789640798704306/Antonio-Margarito.jpg (elburcher)
2 answers
Oct 16 26 by chabenao1
1 answer
Oct 15 26 by GBfan
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Oct 12 26 by GBfan
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Oct 13 26 by Walneto
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Oct 12 26 by GBfan
What is the most number of organ transplants one person has ever received in total?
According to Guinness World Records, the highest total number of organ transplants received by a single person was 12 organs. Daniel Canal of Miami, Florida received three separate sets of four organs each (stomach, liver, pancreas, and small intestine) in 1998 when he was 13 years old. The first two multi-organ transplants failed due to rejection or organ failure, requiring additional transplant procedures.
So the record is:
Total organs transplanted: 12
Recipient: Daniel Canal
Type: Three multivisceral (multi-organ) transplants, each involving 4 organs
An interesting related record mentioned on the same page is that Bjorn van Empel of the Netherlands received 7 kidney transplants, which is the record for the most kidney transplants received by one person.
For trivia purposes, the answer you're looking for is 12 organ transplants received by Daniel Canal. (javelpaul143)
3 answers
Oct 09 26 by GBfan
What makes a "MacGuffin" different from a "red herring"?
The fundamental difference is that a MacGuffin drives the plot forward by motivating the characters, while a red herring intentionally misleads the audience. A great way to separate them is to look at who is being affected: a MacGuffin is what the characters chase, whereas a red herring is a false trail that the reader or viewer chases. Popularized by legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, a MacGuffin is ultimately a hollow tool. It doesn't matter what the object actually is-it could be a diamond, a top-secret microfilm, or a magical artifact-as long as the characters desire it enough to fight over it. As the film goes on and the real emotional or physical stakes heighten, the MacGuffin itself is often completely forgotten by the audience. Originating from the practice of using pungent, smoked kippers to train scent hounds, a red herring drags the audience's attention away from the actual truth. Writers-especially in the thriller and mystery genres-drop these plausible clues so that the eventual conclusion catches you off guard. Once a red herring is exposed, it loses all relevance to the forward momentum of the story. (javelpaul143)
4 answers
Oct 12 26 by odo5435
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What was the first song that Phil Collins sang lead vocals for Genesis?
