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For everyone stuck at work or hiding at a relative’s house today, a few questions to ponder as you run out the clock.
1) I recently met a guy named Frasier. He was roughly 22, so of course I had to ask. “Did your parents actually name you after Frasier Crane?” Indeed they did. They loved Cheers and loved Diane’s boyfriend Frasier, but never thought he’d still be on TV through their son’s high school graduation. So here are my questions: a) What’s your name, and who are you named after? b) For whom did you name your kids? c) Do you know any amusing naming stories like Frasier’s?
2) As I’ve mentioned before, I have no celebrity friends. Mangesh is close (he’s huge in Bangalore). And David Israel is a renowned author. But the only photographic evidence of my brushes with fame comes from a 1990 trip to Iowa City. I was 11. I found this picture of me with legendary Iowa Hawkeyes coach Hayden Fry while rummaging through my parents’ basement. (I feel this should be more prominently displayed.)
Do you have any strange pictures with famous people? What’s the story?
3) What book that hasn’t yet been turned into a movie would you like to see on the big screen?
4) Since it’s Black Friday, and people were lined up outside Kohl’s at 4am and Circuit City at 2am (I’ve heard — those are key sleep hours for me), let me ask about extreme shopping. Have you ever waited in line outside a store before it opened? I’m not just talking about Kohl’s on Black Friday. Concert tickets? New albums? Playoff tickets for the Utah Jazz? (And don’t forget our big ‘Spend $100, get 25% off’ sale!)
5) What’s your favorite wine?
6) We’re starting our search for spring semester interns very soon. If you were in charge of the hiring process, and could only ask candidates one question to determine their worthiness, what one question would you ask?
That’s all for today. If you’ve answered these and still need something to do, check out all our previous episodes of the Friday Happy Hour series.
Comments (50)
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1) a:Sean, Named after Sean Connery (dad was/is a huge 007 fan) b: Son not named after anyone, but I wanted to name him Sidney after Sid Vicious. Obviously this didn’t go over well with anyone so when they gave me the form to fill out his name, I snuck in Sidney as his middle name while my wife was asleep. Neither my wife or son have forgiven me yet. c: Nope.
2)Got my picture taken with Bob Eubanks of newlywed game fame. I was working as a valet for the opening of the Buckland hills mall in Manchester, ct. He was pretty loaded.
3) Tetherballs of Bouganville by Mark Leyner
4) Nope
5) Riunite Lambrusco. I’m a cheap date.
6) Does this look infected?
posted by Sean on 11-23-2007 at 9:54 am
1. Caroline – no not after Caroline Kennedy, either. After a picture of a bridal ring set named Caroline. Weird, even for the 70’s. Both kids named after great grandparents. The 2nd kid got a cool middle name out of it. Wallis (for a girl) is pretty cool in my estimation. I know of fraternal twins named Male and Female (pronounced Mahlay and Femahlay).
2. I have a photo of myself and my young daughter taken with Roscoe Orman -Gordon from Sesame Street. I was more thrilled than she was. This was when they had PBS kids day inthe Plaza at the World Trade Center.
3. I really want to see Beach Music made into a movie.
4. In high school we cut one day to stand on line for tix to INXS. And I did wait outside a store on Dec. 26th to get cheap christmas decorations once.
5. The $2.99 bottle at Trader Joe’s.
6. WHite or Whole Wheat?
posted by QT314159265 on 11-23-2007 at 10:42 am
1) a) Lindsay Wagner aka The Bionic Woman b)N/A C) No
2) I have a picture of me when I was in 6th grade with Bob Dole – he came to speak at the high school during his campaigning.
3) Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (actually, that’s just the 1st book, I’d like the whole Georgia Nicolson series to be made into movies)
4) Heck no
5) I hate wine, it makes me feel pukey just smelling it
6) Have them pick 3 people they would want to have dinner with (at the same time). Then have them explain why they picked those 3, then have them explain how they would go about coordinating everyone’s schedule so they could actually have this dinner…most people will pick important and dead people, so this demonstrates an interesting challenge.
P.S. Jason, you have officially become the coolest _flosser with that picture of you and Hayden Fry. True story: the golf cart he was in almost ran me over once…but that was kind of my fault.
posted by Lindsay D on 11-23-2007 at 10:43 am
1. Amber, or more specifically, Amber Dawn after the sunrise (no, my parents weren’t hippies, just waxing poetic at the birth of their first child, who was incidentally born at 8PM, Fri. the 13th).
b) We didn’t have aname for my son before he was born, and ended up naming him Dylan for Dylan Thomas and Bob Dylan – not the best role models, we know.
c) I can’t think of many funny naming stories, but my kindergarten teacher did start my first report card with “Amber is a jewel….” Still wonder if that was intentional punnage or not.
2. My senor year in high school I was an extra in the Saved By the Bell Wedding TV movie. I was in pictures in Tiger Beat with Screech (who was just like his character, and was noticably peeved when I wanted to talk more about his Beastie Boy brother). And, at a play once I had my pic taken with Jesus (actor). Also in a box somewhere I have a random photograph of Harry Truman, don’t know why or where it came from.
3. I would love to see Roald Dahl’s BFG made into a movie.
4. I hate shopping when it’s empty – no way I’m giving up mommy sleep to stand in the cold.
5. Teetotaler now, and not a wine bibber in my wild oat days.
6. Leave them in a room by themselves for a while with a pack of crayons nearby and an askew picture or two – if the crayons have been put in rainbow order and the pics straightened, you’ll know most of what you need to know.
posted by aTribe on 11-23-2007 at 10:55 am
1. Danielle Ann, after my dad and grandfather (both Daniel Andrew). Our initials are all DAN.
2. When I was a teenager, I made a very cheeky “Christmas List”, in which I asked for, among other things, Dan Marino (I wasn’t even a Dolphins fan). I woke up Christmas morning to a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Dan Marino standing next to the tree. I took him with me as my “date” to all the family functions, and have a picture of us together at my grandparents’ house.
3. The Stardance books by Spider and Jeanne Robinson
4. No, and with any luck I never will.
5. Wild Vines Blackberry Merlot
6. What are the first ten things you think of when I say “towel”?
posted by Dani on 11-23-2007 at 10:59 am
1. My parents tell me that I am named Sandy because they liked the name. I am 18, and there aren’t many Sandys out there in my age group. People constantly ask me if I’m named after the girl from Grease, the dog from Annie, or the scuba diving squirrel on Spongebob. The answer is no, which always disappoints.
2. I have not had any brushes with fame. This summer, though, my brother and I are road tripping to Montgomery, Alabama to meet Sammy Stephens of Flea Market Montgomery TV ad infamy.
3. I wish I read more. The only book I’ve read lately is my organic chem text. That would make the most boring movie ever, unless you added cool sound effects whenever a nucleophile attacked something. Actually, that would still be an awful movie.
4. No way. Much as I love a good shopping trip, I hate large crowds. I’d rather pay a few bucks extra than get trampled by a screaming mob.
5. I’m only 18, so I’ve not yet experienced wine. Sorry, can’t help.
6. Is your name Sandy? Are you a chemistry dork/aspiring euphonium virtuoso? Do you enjoy trashy reality TV and Diet Dr. Pepper? If your answer to any or all of these questions is yes, then you’re hired!
Seriously, I would kill to be your intern. mental_floss is the best magazine EVAR.
posted by Sandy on 11-23-2007 at 11:33 am
1) a) Lindsey, named after the trendy name of the late 1970s through mid 1980s. Someone once said, “Lindsey, like Lindsay Lohan.” And I said, “I was born before that loser, so no.” b) no kids, plan on naming kids with cool family names that may or may not even be family members I ever knew c) No, but my boyfriend knows a guy named after Corey Hart.
2)Do you have any strange pictures with famous people? What’s the story? Nope. Got to meet the Flaming Lips and go backstage, but didn’t have my camera. :-(
3) What book that hasn’t yet been turned into a movie would you like to see on the big screen? Any Roald Dahl book that hasn’t already been. I would like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to be remade. But not by Hollywood.
4) Camped out overnight for free tix to see the Dalai Lama. Other than that, no.
5) What’s your favorite wine? I hate wine. It makes me nauseous. Unless it’s bubbly and not sweet. So, any dry sparkling wine.
6) We’re starting our search for spring semester interns very soon. If you were in charge of the hiring process, and could only ask candidates one question to determine their worthiness, what one question would you ask?
Question #6
posted by el on 11-23-2007 at 12:02 pm
1) Omega _ My father named me after a lithograph by Edvard Munch entitled “Omega’s eyes.” It was part of a series of lithographs accompanying a creation story Munch wrote about the first man (Alpha) and the first woman (Omega). In the story Alpha ends up killing Omega because she’s promiscuous with the animals in the garden.
2) On two occasionas I’ve met famous rappers before they were famous, so no pics.
3) That’s a good way to ruin a good book.
4)I almost got up in time to buy tights and socks 25% off this morning – but even 9am is too early for me.
5)don’t know
6)Ok um, something overly complicated like: choose fivs experiences that are significant to who you currently are/your current philosophy on life. Then write two lines of dialogue for each experience (between ppl or inanimate objects from the situation etc) and perform all ten lines together cohesively.
posted by Omega on 11-23-2007 at 12:55 pm
1)
a) My mother knew girls with my name and thought that if you wanted a perfect daughter…that is what you would name her.
b) Don’t have kids yet…but I will name them after someone in the family.
c) I know a girl whose mother loved Donny Osmond…and because his favorite color was purple she named her daughter Amythest…and their last name was Stone.
2)In my line of work I meet plenty of ‘celebrities’ but never have the opportunity to take pictures with them. The best I can do, picture wise, is the picture of me and my brother posing with He-Man and Skelator at a mall
3) I would like to see the book, “I Love You Beth Cooper!” into a movie.
4)Overnight to buy tickets to The Eagles reunion concert
5)I do not like wine.
6) You should ask them, “If I only asked you one question during this interview, what should it be?”
posted by Elle on 11-23-2007 at 12:57 pm
1.)a. My name is Christian, not named after anybody, it’s only because my mom liked Christopher but thought it was too common. Coming from a largely secular family she regretted it a bit after doe-eyed people kept saying things like “oh, he’ll have a good start on life!” to which she would reply “yeah, whatever”.
b. I finally talked my girlfriend into naming our first child Jack if it’s a boy. Partially in honor of my friend who died of cancer when he was 20, but that’s a bummer so his middle name will be Deth, named after Jack Deth, lead character of wonderfully bad b-movie (and Helen Hunt’s biggest embarassment, I’d imagine), Trancers.
c. I know a kid named Calvin Cline.
2.)I have pictures of me at age 16 with various pornography starlets at an Adult Video Convention. I convinced them I was 18.
3.) If you don’t count the BBC miniseries, I’d like to see Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere or Chuck Palahniuk’s Survivor.
4.) Just the other day I waited in line for an hour and a half so I could pick up Rock Band for the xbox 360.
5.) not much of a drinker or a wine guy. Arbor Mist, probably. Just because I’m cheap.
6.)Give them a rubber band, paper clip, 6″ of twine and a juice box, leave the room, lock them inside and challenge them to get out with only the tools given them. Frame a picture of Richard Dean Anderson and put it on the wall for inspiration. If they fail, bring them to the Mental_Floss Body Disposal Room™ and move on to the next candidate.
posted by Christian on 11-23-2007 at 1:00 pm
1) There is no interesting story with my first name but my middle name is Paul, after the middle name of the pope at the time John Paul II. You see, my dad was a Catholic priest when he met my mom, so I guess the logic flows from that (and no, I’m not making this up).
2) I don’t have any pictures with celebrities, but I was a waiter in New York for five years so I’ve met plenty of them.. Kevin Kline, Howard Stern,Lenny Kravitz, Tori Spelling (who is prettier in person, she really just doesn’t photograph well), Ethan Hawke twice (the second time Uma stormed out of the resturaunt looking really pissed, found out why a couple of weeks later), Chad Lowe and his mom, and that little girl who was in those Pepsi comericials. Her eyes are really that creepy. Oh, and I ran into the guy who played Richard on “Caroline in the City” twice on the subway and we had a nice conversation both times.
3)Farenheit 451 (or at least a newer, more “updated” version)
4)The only times I’ve stayed out in line all night were for free concerts. One for the Foo Fighters at the new Virgin Megastore in Times Square and the other for the Garth Brooks concert in Central Park. Both times I got in line a good 20 hours before the concert actually began and both times it was worth it because I was in the first couple of rows. And the bonding experience with the other people in line was pretty cool too.
5) Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe’s.
6) We have daily beatings for motivational purposes, do you have a problem with this?
posted by jeffcomedy on 11-23-2007 at 1:07 pm
1. Ashley- after Ashley Wilkes in ‘ Gone with the wind’. But the kicker is my maiden name- Simpson. So, when The Simpson’s were in their golden age I got the theme song sung at me, when OJ was on trial (the first time) I was asked if we were related, and then of course the whole Ashlee Simpson explosion. The only sensible thing to do would be to get married! And I did. So now my son is named James- after James Taylor’s song “sweet baby James” because he really IS the best baby. I’ve been told that by too many random strangers (from the airplane, no less) to not believe it.
2. No pics with anyone REALLY cool, but I worked at Nordstrom and helped Kristi Yamaguchi pick out a SLAMMIN pair of heels. I also played piano at Carlos Santana’s sisters christmas party and breifly met him. But he looked like a homeless guy, and I was focused on the music so I really didn’t pay attention.
3.The Life of Pi. Great book, would be cool to watch.
4. NEVER waited in line to purchase anything on the day after thanksgiving- really, I just don’t have the “oomph” to get my turkey-tummy out of bed to do battle with people who- in other circumstances- would be nice if they weren’t so set on pounding others to a bloody pulp over a “tickle me Elmo”.
5. Wine? no thanks. I drink harder stuff- Martinelli’s baby.
6. Ask them “Does a Giraffe have vocal chords?” then ask them to draw one and insert said chords in the anatomy.
posted by Ashley on 11-23-2007 at 1:19 pm
1) A. Samantha for Samantha on Bewitched. Let it also be known I was supposed to be born on Halloween but opted for Friday the 13th instead. No, I can’t twitch my nose.
B. No kids
C. I went to high school with a Dustin Hoffman. Not originally planned to be his name but when his stepfather adopted him and changed Dustin’s last name, Dustin Hoffman was born.
2)Conan O’Brien, he was a guest a my uncle’s wedding.
3)The Babysitter’s Club: Boy Crazy Stacy.
4)Can’t say I’ve ever wanted anything that badly.
5) Two Buck Chuck (really you just can’t go wrong with it)
6)Name all 50 states in alphabetical order in under 30 seconds.
posted by Samynoodle on 11-23-2007 at 1:30 pm
1) Jennifer. I was named after Jennifer Hart from Hart to Hart, my mom was addicted to that series. I know it’s a pretty common name in the US, but here in Brazil, you rarely see someone named Jennifer :)
2) Hmmm, I do have a few pictures with various famous ppl from when I was young, but I guess the weirdest one is with that one guy from Backstreet Boys…lol…shame on me!
3) The Kite Runner
4) Yep. While I was living in the US I used to wake up at 2:00am on Black Friday so I could get the best deals on Best Buy. I actually had fun doing that and I usually got stuff at great prices!!!
5) What came first, the egg or the hen???
posted by Jennifer on 11-23-2007 at 2:15 pm
1. I am named for my father’s maternal grandmother and my mother’s entire family (Megan Nelson), but the interesting part is what I was supposed to be named. Katherine Madge after Katherine Hepburn and my maternal grandmother.
2. Nope. Although I, too, hear I’m huge in Bangalore. ;-)
3. I might also say Kite Runner but it’s coming to the screen within the next year or so. Perhaps a Drizzt film would be appreciated.
4. No way. Never. Nyet.
5. I’m not too picky. I tend to enjoy almost any label of White Zinfandel.
6. How many tchotkies do you own? Because Mangesh and Jason demand that all interns own at least 68 pieces. And if you want to make it longer than a week, you’ll need to improve upon that number.
posted by Nell on 11-23-2007 at 2:26 pm
1. Not named after anyone with my first name, but I have the same middle name as my great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother. I named my oldest daughter after me (a form of my name) and my first granddaughter is named after me–it has become a tradition that is kind of neat. Second daughter is named after two great-grandmothers.
2. The closest I’ve come to a celebrity is my mother’s cousin who once was in the Miss America contest.
3. None comes to mind–I think I would rather read the book than see the movie.
4. Been twice to Black Friday sales and, except for the fun second daughter and I had, it really wasn’t worth it. I did stay awake all night just so I could purchase tickets to an Eric Clapton concert as soon as they went on sale online, though.
5. Am not a wine fanatic.
6. Just ask ‘Why?’…and then stare at him/her.
posted by cmk on 11-23-2007 at 2:39 pm
1.) Lindsey after a soap opera character, thats fine because the alternative was Sally,
b.)if i have children i would like to name a girl Lilia, after a character from The Ten Commandments (great movie)
2.) I have no pictures with anyone famous unless you count Ded Bob from a local renessance festival
3.) The Travelers Wife
4.) oh goodness no
5.) Erinfeltser
posted by Lindsey U on 11-23-2007 at 2:55 pm
1. a) my name’s Allegra and I was not really named after anyone, but my dad’s a musician so “Allegra” was a choice because it’s a musical term. My middle name, Madalyn, was after my cousin who died a few years prior to my birth due to a car accident. b) N/A but maybe when I have them I would name them after characters in stories I wrote c) Nope
2. Yeah, when I was three I got a shot of me and David Schwimmer. Also I have Philip Pullman and me.
3. Maximum Ride and/or When the Wind Blows.
4. Yech. No.
5.*not of drinking age*
posted by Allegra on 11-23-2007 at 3:24 pm
Jason, that picture with Hayden pains me greatly.
posted by Stacy on 11-23-2007 at 3:26 pm
1. I was named after Brian Piccolo the football player whose story inspired the movie “Brian’s Song.” Now my father played football his whole life. I remember him having a football in one hand, a golf club in the other and asking me,” son which do you want to play?” Me wanting to be like my “hero” father reached for the football and nearly lost my head as he tried to hit me with the golf club. I was never allowed to play organized football due to the physical condition it left my father in. The funny thing is that I went on to play volleyball, and at the age of 31 I have had 16 surgical pins inserted, 3 knee surgeries, 1 wrist fracture, and both shoulders operated on. Sitting there in the pre-op waiting for my last shoulder surgery my father turned to me and said, “D#$@ I should have let you play a SAFE sport like football.”
2. Growing up in the south every1 was a huge NASCAR fan. Although I never really got into it I still pulled for Dale Earnhart, again a son aspiring to be like his father. Dad was a huge Earnhart fan because they both grew up in the same little town in NC. Right after Dale died my father gave me a picture of me at the age of 5 being picked up by Dale a placed in the driver seat of his #3 car.
3. Velocity by Dean Koontz is a true suspense masterpiece that will keep you head spinning.
4. Yes, I am sad to say I have waited out doors in the cold waiting for the release of the new Nintendo 64. It was a gift for my kid brother.
5.All in all I am not really a wine person. A former girlfriend and I took a wine class once. It was her idea of a romantic date. I don’t know how romantic it was with several of the elderly people in our class getting tipsy and trying to pintch my date’s and my backsides.
6. My question has always been,” where do you see yourself in the next 5yrs?” So many times you get the answer,” on a beach somewhere” or “playing golf,” I just gives me an idea of how dedicated you are to being successful in your career.
posted by B. Atwell on 11-23-2007 at 3:33 pm
1. Clair Huxtable-Cosby Show. [For the record, I'm not the same race. :)] I don’t have any children, but there aren’t really any characters after which I would name my children.
2. I met Paul Vogt [MadTV] in NY. He was Tracy’s mother in Hairspray. He was still wearing lip gloss. Very funny and likeable guy in person.
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or The F**k-Up. Bad title, good book, read it sometime.
4. I’ve never lined up before a store opened. However, I did line up *after* a store opened. :]
5. Not a big drinker. Sorry. :P
6. Seinfeld or Friends?
Happy weekend!
posted by Claire on 11-23-2007 at 3:54 pm
1) a)My dad was reading some philosophy book that mentioned some obscure Renaissance European princess named Elizabeth while I was a fetus, and that’s what my parents decided to go with. My dad ended up meeting the author years later, and almost bowled the guy over when he told him that he’d named his kid after one of his books!
b) No kids, and I’m not going to seriously think about it until I’m pregnant with one.
c) I had a student named Destiny Jones last year, and I always thought that would be the best name for a blaxploitation heroine. Too bad she didn’t have the sense of humor for me to joke about it.
2) I found out who Meat Loaf was when I was little by discovering my mom’s photos of him when they did Hair on Broadway in the 70s.
Otherwise, the only famous person photo I have is a pic with me and the guy who was playing Raoul in Phantom five years ago.
3) The Westing Game
4) No, no, a million times no.
5) Gah, I hate wine.
posted by Liz on 11-23-2007 at 4:40 pm
1a) Back in the 80’s, I picked up a book that caught my eye because it had my name in the title. After I read it, I was relieved that it was so obscure and I wouldn’t have to put up with people making references to it when they heard my name. Given my luck, I guess it was inevitable that the book would be made into an Oscar-winning movie.
1c) I had a calc professor who would choose a student at random — usually named Steve, Ahmed, Linda, etc. — and ask them if they were named after George Washington. When the student said no, the professor would sneer and tell them that George Washington was born and named in 1732, so they had to have been named after he was.
2) No photo, but my mom got me the autograph of Arthur Duncan (the black tapdancer on Lawrence Welk). When he made the obligatory Gump reference, she told him the character was named after me.
3) Under a Flaming Sky.
6) How much of the Pacific Ocean is underwater?
posted by Forrest on 11-23-2007 at 5:09 pm
1.
a. I was named after a book called “The Amazing Christian” (which I have been told was also made in to a horrible movie with Ringo Starr). While I am not overly fond of my name (having a boys name when you are a girl can be rough and the religious overtones can be downright uncomfortable) but it certainly beats the alternative which was “Christmas Snow” (yes parents were hippies).
b.n/a
c. went to school with a family named after the four season (winter, spring, summer and fall) and a family from my childhood neighborhood named there three daughters earth, wind and fire, but in spanish (I can’t recall what the translation is.)
2.
I have met a few players from the Tampa Bay Bucs and the Tampa Bay Lightening. A few people from somewhat famous bands (VNV Nation, Pigface, My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult, Marilyn Manson among other much more obscure). I have no pictures though, fame really does nothing for me.
3.
I generally hate when they make books I like into movies
4.
I hate to shop, I hate crowds and I hate waiting, so no.
5.
Cheap Merlot or Sangria
6.
“Name the last five books you’ve read” I think this says a lot about the person.
posted by Christian on 11-23-2007 at 5:25 pm
1) Elvis Aaron Presely- my mom has a thing for him, and so had i been a boy, i would have been Aaron, but, being a girl, I got Erin.
2) I have a picture with Erik Estrada, which is my most prized possession. I saw him in a Brookstone strore in Santa Barbara, nicest guy.
3) Good Omens – Neil Gaiman and Terry Patchett
4) Sadly, Episode I tickets, but I was 16 at the time, so I claim idiocy of youth
5) White Riesling
6) I agree with Christian,”Name the last five books you’ve read” say a lot
posted by Erin on 11-23-2007 at 9:16 pm
1) I was named Daniel Jonathon, not because of any biblical reference, but because my mother’s favorite soap opera star was called “DJ” – UGH!
2) People have photos of ME, I don’t have photos of others – hahahahaha!
3) Wilbur Smith’s “Monsoon” – it would be sooooo much better than “Pirates of the Caribbean” or even “Indiana Jones” – I doubt if they could get in all on the screen, though.
4) No and I am a shopping nut. The crowds make it like New Year’s Eve for drinking. Blah.
5) There’s a lot of them. One of my favorites is Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon – cheap, too.
6) Use the Google questions – that’ll baffle ‘em! :D
posted by Moon on 11-23-2007 at 9:38 pm
1.A.I’m named after both my mom and my dad. (Larry & Ann)
B. I named my kids the most normal name in generations in my family. (My mom was Arliss Ann, her mother – Arliss Eulalah)
C. The Arliss names came from a Zane Grey book (I think)
2. I lived next door to the Quaid brothers (Randy – for only a year of so; Dennis and I graduated together) during high school. I’m not real sure that we ever had a picture taken together, though.
3. Some of Ann McCaffery’s novels would be interesting. They are actually the only ones that I would like to see sort of mooshed together and synthesized.
4. I love to shop and hate to wait in line. I’ll either buy early, late, or not at all.
5. Dear heavens people – won’t ANYONE admit to enjoying a nice wine??? We kept at the buyer until we could get the venue for our daughter’s wedding to serve our favorite sparkling wine – Gruet Blanc de Noirs. Its a wonderful “champagne” from (of all places) New Mexico. Yum!!
6. How can you help make us a better ______? Sort of depends on what your office does how you fill in the blank.
posted by Larriann on 11-23-2007 at 9:46 pm
1.
a.) My first name is Janette – named after my grandmother, Janet. And I am so thankful my mother decided to be traditional. Before she decided on Janette, it was Britney or Stephanie. *barfs*
b.) No kids.
c.) At a conference down south, my mother once met a woman named Aquanetta. After the hairspray.
2. I have only had one brush with fame in my whole life, and I don’t have a picture, but that is okay. I once waited on MC Hammer, but this was after the whole “Hammer” thing. He became a minister after his rap career was over. He and his ‘entourage’ were in town for a big church thing. He had chicken-fried steak and tipped 5 bucks. He signed the bill for me on the way out, too.
3. I will have to go with the person above who said Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. That was a literary meeting of GODS.
4. Never never never. I am not really a big enough consumer to get in to that kind of thing.
5. I love a Cellarmaster’s Riesling or a Late Harvest Riesling from any of the wineries in my home state of Washington.
posted by Rose on 11-23-2007 at 10:56 pm
Here are my answers while hiding at my family’s house for the weekend in NJ…
1a) Named after my dad and my grandfather
1b) No kids to name at this point
1c) Don’t know any naming stories quite like that, but my mom (who is an elementary school teacher) once told of a story she heard about how a set of twins at her school were named. The family was originally from a Latin American country I believe. The little boy’s name was Male (pronounced ‘molly’) and the girl’s name was Female (pronounced ‘fuh-molly’). When another teached asked about the interesting names, the mother in the family explained that when they delivered the twins at a hospital in the U.S., they were surprised by the custom of allowing the nurses to name the children, but were willing to go with the local customs. After a few more questions, she realized that the family believed that the wristbands placed on the babies had the twins’ names, just like mom’s wristband had. The names stuck – Male and Female!
2) Unfortunately I don’t have photo evidence of it, but when I was very young I got to meet Frank Purdue (the chicken guy) at a restaurant in St. Martin in the Caribbean on a trip with my family.
3) Without spending loads of thought on this one, the first one that popped into my head was “Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown… But, we may have missed out chance since they already made “The DaVinci Code” movie.
4) Not that I can remember. In recent years I’ve tried to avoid that sort of thing – which is why I love the Internet shopping, and the mental_floss store, so much!!
5) The best wine I can remember drinking was a Ruffino Chianti special reserve or something like that. Yesterday I had something a bit different – Riunite Lambrusco – but it was still pretty tasty!
6) I would ask if they have watched every episode of every season of Survivor, and if they did I would hire me… um, I mean, hire them.
posted by GTV on 11-23-2007 at 11:16 pm
1. a) My name, Janel, is supposedly a combination of my two grandmothers’ names: Jean and Elinor. And I think my mom worked with someone named Janel who spelled it that way, so here I am. b) I don’t have any kids. c) I once taught piano lessons, and one of my students was named John Stockton. I’m pretty sure they were Jazz fans.
2. Sadly, no, unless you count Santa Claus.
3. The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian.
4. I stood in line for 4 hours in another country when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out. Does that count?
5. I don’t drink.
6. If every one on Earth died except you, Fancypants, and Buckethead, with whom would you repopulate the world?
posted by Janel on 11-24-2007 at 12:07 am
1. I’m named after my father and his father, so I get to add a “III” after my name.
3. I would like a remake of “Battlefield Earth”, yes, the one Travolta and company ruined. It is a fantastic book, a bit long for a movie but it would need computer generated graphics.
4. The proper way to shop for me is to enter and leave the store with the items I went in to get in the shortest time possible. Have never waited outside in line for anything.
5. My all time favorite wine is from the Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, NY. It is their “Holiday Wine” which only comes out during the months of Nov. and Dec. It has the same flavor as mince meat pie and is excellent warm.
6. “If you did not have to work to make a living, what would you rather be doing?” I myself would be a ships master of a 150 foot yacht, even if I did not own it.
posted by Owen on 11-24-2007 at 6:31 am
1. My middle name is after my grandmother, but my mother spelled it wrong on my birth certificate, so I’m a vowel short – “Magdlene”
2. I am a huge Beatle fanatic and so is my daughter. When she was eight we went to a Beatle convention and had our picture taken with Pete Best. My daughter was telling everyone afterwards that she was hugged and called cute by a Beatle (not that any of her friends had the foggiest idea who Pete Best was, let alone the Beatles).
3. I want to see any of Christopher Moore’s books made into a movie.
4. Can’t remember standing in line – not since the internet anyway.
5. Chateauneuf du pape.
6. I like Christian’s question about the last five books you’ve read. Or if you could have dinner with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be and why.
posted by sheila on 11-24-2007 at 10:14 am
1. Sara Rae, I was named “sara” becauseI was early and supposedly a boy. They didn’t know what else to name me so they named me a very popular name. Rae is for a “ray of sunshine”. b) we named our son “Landon” after a character in a book. The “Thursday Next” series, by Jasper Fforde, features a character named “Landen Park-Laine” which is a play on the British Monopoly. I’m sick of people spelling my name wrong so we asked around and most people spelled his name with an ON so we modified it.
3. I’d like to see Outlander made into a movie (by Diana Gabaldon)
4. We waited in line for hours for Star Wars RotS tickets and for HPGoF tickets.
posted by Sarakenobi on 11-24-2007 at 1:33 pm
1)
a. I’m named after the fact that my parents gave my older siblings the same initials on accident, and were kinda forced to continue on with the “SLT.” I’m named after the British Royal family, and some dude my dad knew in College.
b. I’m going to name my first son “Titus” after both the Roman Emperor, but mainly, Christopher Titus, the comedian and star of “Titus” possibly the greatest sit-com ever. I’m also considering “Stacy” if it’s a girl, after Stacy Ketch.
c. None that come to mind
2) My strangest is probably one with Britney Spears, where she’s about 8 years old. My older sister used to babysit her in the pre-Mickey Mouse Club days.
3) I would love to see “The Worthy” by Will Clarke done as a movie. Though they might have to tone down the regional humor if it was to get a wide release. It’s the perfect “Animal House” type movie with a bit of brains behind the mindless frat life.
4) I stood in line for the Star Wars prequels, Final Fantasy XII, and a cheap Plasma screen at Best Buy one awful Black Friday.
5) I don’t like wine that much. More of a Rum & Coke or Sangria man.
6) I highly recommend this one that I used to use on the pledges who needed my signature for rush: “Give me your life story…in exactly ten words.” You learn all you really need to know in that time.
posted by Stu on 11-24-2007 at 2:02 pm
The one book I still can’t believe hasn’t been shredded by Hollywood yet is Replay by Ken Grimwood. It’s tailor made for audiences who flock to see crap like Premonition or Deja Vu, but such a better storyline!
posted by Johnny Cat on 11-24-2007 at 6:17 pm
2. I was at the urinal at the Black Eyed Pea restaraunt in Atlanta when I was about 11 and Craig Ehlo came in to pee right next to me. I was afraid to ask for a picture.
3. Invisible Man. That would be an insane movie.
posted by Mike on 11-24-2007 at 9:55 pm
5. Two buck chuck
6. Back in my college days, when we were interviewing freshmen during rush, I used to ask them to pick the top two people on Earth they would like to be able to punch in the face, and then to justify their choices. You can learn a lot about someone with that question. Their sense of humor as well as their political/social/other beliefs and choices
posted by Mike on 11-24-2007 at 10:03 pm
1. I’m not named after anyone, and I don’t have any kids. But my cousin just told me about someone they know who just had a baby and named it Gates McFadden, as in the Star Trek actress.
2. I have pictures with lots of celebrities, but none of them really have funny stories, as most of them are from conventions or other fan events where it was expected. I’ve met a couple randomly, like Angelina Jolie at a store in London (while she was doing the first Tomb Raider), but I didn’t have my camera with me then.
3. No clue.
4. I’ve camped out for concert tickets before, both day-of (general admission) and on the sale date. And I’ve gone to midnight releases for *NSYNC’s last CD (in 2001) and the last HP book. But both of those were inside the store, not outside.
5. I don’t drink.
6. Mac or PC?
posted by Celeste M. on 11-24-2007 at 11:01 pm
Danielle
named for Daniel in the Bible (there’s a whole BOOK named after him!)
I don’t think I do…unless we count a native celebrity to the city of Miami, in which case I’ve got loads with one of my closest buds, who’s knocked down soccer records for UMiami all season long
I want someone to make a movie out of Freddy and Fredericka…
I am big on sleep. I think once I was standing outside Bloomingdales, but only because the door was stuck…rather than locked
oh, if i drank wine…
What’s your favorite superhero and why?
if they don’t have one, tell them to go home lol
there’s a lot of insight into one’s character that is revealed by one’s favorite superhero
posted by Dani K on 11-25-2007 at 3:34 am
first question: I knew someone who knew someone named Chris Fish, with a middle initial of P. (crispy fish).
last question: My husband was asked at a job interview, “Describe your inner squirrel.” I always thought that was pretty funny and actually can say a lot about a person (my husband said he didn’t have an inner squirrel, but rather an inner hamster and he described that–he did get the job, incidentally.
posted by manz on 11-25-2007 at 3:45 pm
I’m named after…you guessed it…Justine Bateman’s character on Family Ties. My parents swear up and down that “we didn’t name you after the show, we just really liked the name!” but whatever. I feel Fraiser’s pain.
posted by Mallory on 11-25-2007 at 5:21 pm
1) My parents were going to name me Stephanie after some famous person, but I ended up being a boy, thus the name Steven.
2) I’ve got a few pics of Elliot Smith and me. Of course, he’s not the famous one, just a friend from high school.
3) Any of the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey.
4) I’ve stood outside a bank waiting for it to open, but that’s just because I left too early.
5) Eiswein from Germany, I believe it’s made from frozen grapes, but don’t quote me on that.
6) Why?
posted by Steven on 11-25-2007 at 11:18 pm
1. My parents always rode BMW motorcycles, so when Dad found out Mom was pregnant he wanted to name me “Bethany Marie” so that my initials would be B.M.W. Mom won out with Lorin Juliet, so that technically doesn’t count as being named after someone famous but was a close call.
2. Nope, but a few in a Jaguar Martina Navratilova traded in to the car dealership where I worked one summer.
3. Hunter S. Thompson’s Rum Diaries. This one was supposedly in the works, but hasn’t materialized, and it doesn’t seem like anyone’s done any work on it since Thompson’s death.
4. Heck no.
5. Blauuklippen Pinotage
6. What superpower they would want and why.
posted by LorinJuliet on 11-26-2007 at 9:04 am
First, my father hasd a thing for Jennifer Jones.
Second, my only celebrity photo is (sort of) with Tom Brokaw. His daughter graduated with my brother from Dartmouth Medical School. I wanted a photo but at that occasion it wasn’t appropriate to ask him. So, as he was engaged in converstaion with someone, I gave a heads up to my sister to get ready for a photo op by moving opposite me in a wide circle. I walked a wide perimeter as they were speaking and inched as close as I dared between the two men……and the right moment tossed my head backward as if I had just heard something funny. It worked in the photo I appear to be standing next to Mr. Brokaw and participating in an amusing discussion. He never noticed me, I have my photo, and best of all I never disrupted his daughter’s graduation.
Third, nothing comes to mind
Fourth, last year I waited an hour (I got the time wrong) waiting for Old Navy to open on Black Friday. I got some great deals ait saved mt backside for the holiday. I was in an accident the week following wek and wouldn’t have had any presents for my nieces and nephews ahd I not done that.
Fifth, Sebastiani Cabernet
Lastly, 1)what is your quest? 2) what is your favorite color? 3) what is the airspeed velocity……
posted by jen on 11-26-2007 at 9:18 am
1a) middle name is Thomas after St. Thomas Aquinas.
1c) I know a Sandy Beach, a Thomas Thomas, and I even know of a Beninjerry Johnmary (I am afraid to ask).
2) I think I have a picture of me and Jim Varney from the early `80s when “Ernest goes to Camp” was released.
3) Ender’s Game. Great book!
4) Pink Floyd. nuff said.
5) does Boones Farm count?
6) Simply ask them, “Why?” and see what type of response you get. True story, I had a psychology test in college with only this question. Only one person, who responded “because” received an A. A few people wrote, “Why not”, but were scored lower for answering a question with a question. Everyone else got a C or D as long as they wrote something. some of the BS in these answers were astonding…
posted by It's good to be the King on 11-26-2007 at 10:32 am
1.My sisters and I all have biblical names. If only we were that holy-lol
I had two workers I supervised that were named Blaire after Facts of Life, and Mallory after Family Ties.
2. Alas, no celebrity pics
3. I would like to see the Stephanie Plum books turned into a movie. She’s a female bounty hunter.
4. No way I’d get up that early for shopping.
5. Any wine with a screw top–Lambrusco,and from all the comments, I’d like to try Two Buck Chuck!
6. If a train left the station at 9:00am traveling at 50 mph and…did you ever think algebra would count for anything? If they laugh they have a sense of humor, if they panic at the question, move on to the next candidate.
posted by BG on 11-26-2007 at 11:14 am
1. a)tamara- my dad went to college with a girl who had the name and liked it. b) my boyfriend and i have agreed to give our first son the middle name “west” which was his mother’s maiden name (they have cherokee blood, just not much anymore) c) my mother once taught brothers named “god’s son” and “god’s love”. i also heard of a girl named “shithead” (pronounced shi-thede)
2. no pictures with famous people
3. water for elephants
5. johannesburg riesling
6. “what is your favorite type of museum?”
posted by tami on 11-26-2007 at 11:16 am
sorry, left out #4, the only thing i’ve waited in line for was to get into the movie theater for a few different movies
posted by tami on 11-26-2007 at 11:20 am
1) I don’t know him personally or the story behind his name, but there’s a guy from my hometown named Twig Wood.
2) Nope.
3) Bag of Bones by Stephen King. No stupid special effects would really be required, since it’s more of a murder mystery/supernatural thriller.
4) My boyfriend and I actually spent the night in a local Best Buy parking lot for Black Friday. We wanted a laptop, and when we got there at 7:30 pm Thanksgiving evening we were already about 25th in line. We froze all night waiting for that stupid computer, and of course it was sold out by the time we got inside. People were rude and pushy, my nerves were shot, and by the time we left at 5:30 am Friday morning and I heard a woman tell her friend I looked like s**t as we passed, it was either time to cry or get arrested. So I sat in my car and squalled. I will never do it again. I don’t need anything in the free world that badly.
5) I don’t drink wine.
6) “If you have free time at work, how do you pass the time?” If they say organizing files or updating information (something work-related), you might have a good candidate. If they say they read mental_floss.com, you may have a slacker on your hands. Ooops, my boss is coming…
posted by beth on 11-26-2007 at 1:20 pm
1. a) I’m named after both my grandmothers. b) no kids. c)my mom wanted to name my brother after her father, Weldon Owen, but with out last name beginning with a W, she realized his initials would be WOW and fortunately decided against it.
2. I have a picture of Michael Landon when he used to do the Rodeo tours. Also had my picture made with some soap star (can’t remember who) who gave a talk at the local college.
3. I read books with no redeeming value at all, just fun whodunits. None would make a great movie.
4. No way. Never have and never will. There is nothing I want bad enough to deal with that many crazy people.
5. Don’t drink
posted by Fran on 11-26-2007 at 3:52 pm