Weekend Open Thread

… gladiator contests had referees? Even in the days of the Roman Empire, games involving gladiators had officials who could stop fights, or just pause them to let the fighters rest and freshen up. (You could always tell the referee at a gladiator contest. They were wearing the black-and-white striped toga.)

… no one can adequately explain the scoring system used in tennis? Why the point system used in tennis goes 15-30-40, or even why 0 is called “love,” is not known. (Nor does it make sense.)

… residents of a part of India at one time had to have passports to leave their neighborhood? The enclave of Dahala Khagrabari, India, was surrounded by the enclave of Upanchowki Bhanji, which is in Bangladesh. But that ain’t all, folks … that enclave was surrounded by an Indian enclave called Balapara Khagrabari, which itself was inside the border of Bangladesh. The entire confusing thing was solved in 2011 when the governments of both nations agreed to iron out the problem by ceding the Indian parts to Bangladesh. (Diplomacy be hanged!)

… the most toxic substance known is routinely used in cosmetic injections? Botulinum toxin is so poisonous, two pounds of it in pure form would be enough to wipe out the entire human race. The poison is secreted by a bacterium, and causes muscle paralysis by cutting off proteins which normally enable function at neuromuscular junctions. But under the trade name Botox™, people willingly have that stuff injected into their faces each year. The injection is a very, very diluted form, of course, but still – it’s poison. (In its favor, I should point out, it is completely natural, organic, and gluten free to boot.)

… one of the most iconic characters in science fiction was initially conceived very differently from how he was portrayed? When Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991) wrote the original treatments and character sketches for Star Trek in 1964, he included a character called Mister Spock, who became a cultural icon of the late 20th Century. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015), is known to the world as a half-human, half-Vulcan hybrid with pointed ears and green blood. But in the first treatments, Spock was described as a red-skinned being with a plate in the middle of his stomach. The original Spock would not eat or drink, but would be sustained with any form of energy that hit the plate. When it became obvious that the effect would be almost impossible to believably show with 1960s television technology (and Roddenberry would never get a serious actor to take on a role like that), changes were made to make Spock more presentable to television audiences. (Live long and don’t crowd the energy plate.)

Now … you know!

The Heroes that EARNED The MoH didn’t set out to do that. They were only doing their job…which was to look after their Buddy…and their Buddy’s Buddy. We are all winners when you present us with your trivia.

In Theory I wouldn’t mind a Big Bang with Penny. She causes a vast expansion to a certain extremity. I can’t bearly seal a deal, no surprise. In that fight I’d probably be Commodus since my chances for winning her would be in the toilet. Sadly, that love score is a 0 also.

Talk about toxic…Living in India and then living in Bangladesh? It don’t come easy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tby39qh9Lts

Remember when a shave and a hair cut was 2 bits? Talk about inflation.

So now we have a vast space conspiracy? Boy, that came on fast. Warp speed or another type of drive? Captain Lee was unavailable for comment.

Wasserman used to noodle and got the gig.

Spock had his mind more on Pon Farr. Fascinating! The Tarkans were unavailable for comment. (iykyk)

Another fine presentation, CW. Thank you muchly, Good Sir! And “Lois sends her best”? Lois needs to make a personal delivery.

^^^