What caused this bizarre condition?

Elephantiasis, gross swelling of the legs and other parts of the body, also causing the thickening of the skin due to blockage of the vessels of the lymph system by parasitic roundworms belonging to the genus Filaria. The adult worms live in the lymphatic channels of the abdomen, and their tiny larvae circulate in the blood of their vertebrate host at night, when they may be taken up by mosquitoes. After further development inside the mosquito, they are transferred to other hosts. The most common type, caused by the Asian Wuchereria bancrofti, affects the legs, breasts, or scrotum.

Elephantiasis. The pachyderm-titled ailment can swell scrotums to stupendous, ungainly dimensions. The heftiest case of swollen nuts on record, according to Sexualrecords.com, is a 154-pound African specimen that measures almost 2 feet in diameter, but archived photos of other afflicted crotches suggest that a number of other ball sacs have bloated to this size. Male sex glands stricken with elephantiasis may look like they're pumped up with gallons of proliferating semen but the truth is far less glamorous. Parasitic filiarial worms infest the lymph system, which fills the afflicted cavities with watery fluid. Mosquito bites transmit the disease; legs, arms and non-testicular organs can also be enlarged by the monstrous malady.

Image shown available at : heavyweight.jpg Says Neil

Swollen scrotums can grow even larger than those sorry examples. Is this where the idea for the spacehopper came from?

What classic movie moment came to pass because the leading actor was feeling unwell?

From Indiana Jones & The Raiders of the Lost Ark The scene where the master swordsman impressively wields a sword, swashing his buckle in Indy's direction. Written to be a bit more prolonged than what was screened, Harrison Ford cut the scene short by pulling his gun and simply shooting the guy. He had the shits and needed to get off set as quickly as he could. The studio and directors liked this version so much they kept it in the movie. Says Neil

Who astounded the world in 1954 by achieving the speed of 15 MPH?

15 MPH is not a particularly fast speed for running, but being the first man to sustain that speed over a full mile was an achievement that has ensured sporting immortality for Roger Bannister, who ran the world's first sub four minute mile (only just!) on the 6th of May, 1954.

Roger Bannister running the four minute mile at the Iffley road athletics Track in Oxford ( where I will be going tomorrow) Says Charlie.

Who is this?

Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa, in front of the flag of Scotland on his visit to the Scottish Parliament, although the flag does look too pale.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

"Practice, practice, practice," and then go to 57th St. and 7th Ave. in Manhattan Says Joshua

Who is this?

(The one with the puppet)

The clue was there to see. Pink, and “subtle clue in a relative hue” in the alt text (ALWAYS check for clues with your mouse!). Relatively pink? Pinker.

Professor Steven Pinker, best selling author of How the Mind Works and The Language Instinct.

What did this little boy grow up to be?

Husband of the junior U.S. Senator from New York (he's ex-President Bill Clinton) Says Joshua

Monica's boy toy - ER, UH, Governor of Arkansas, President of the USA, and someone who took so long to give a speech at a Democratic National Convention (1988, I think) that the loudest cheer was for when he said "In Conclusion". He didn't "grow up to be" William Jefferson Clinton because that was already his name... Says Don

Quo usque tandem abutere Catalina patientia nostra?

Duo menses; two months.

How far, O Catiline, wilt thou abuse our patience? Cicero asked this of Lucius Sergius Catilina on November 8, 63 BC and Catiline died in January 62 BC. So Catiline abused Rome's patience for a further 2 months. Quamdiu etiam furor iste tuus nos eludet? (How long shall thy frantic rage baffle the efforts of justice?) - The same 2 months. Says Venky.

Cicero, orations against Cataline. Marcus Tullius Cicero, is remembered in modern times as the greatest Roman orator and innovator of what became known as Ciceronian rhetoric. He was the son of a wealthy family of Arpinium. He made his first appearance in the courts in 81. His brilliant defense, in 80 or early 79, of Sextus Roscius against a fabricated charge of parricide established his reputation at the bar. After his election as consul for 63 (BC) his chief concern was to discover and make public the seditious intentions of his rival Catiline, who, defeated in 64, appeared again at the consular elections in 63 (over which Cicero presided, wearing armour beneath his toga). Catiline lost and planned to carry out armed uprisings in Italy and arson in Rome. Evidence incriminating the conspirators was secured and they were executed on Cicero's responsibility. Cicero, announcing their death to the crowd with the single word vixerunt ("they are dead"), received a tremendous ovation from all classes. He was hailed by Catulus as pater patriae, "father of his country". This was the climax of his career. Pastes Neil.

Hoyland 54

What's the connection?

The man on the left is Casey Kasem, the voice of Shaggy in Scooby Doo cartoons. The man on the right is Orville Richard Burrell a.k.a. Shaggy, the reggae singer. Shaggy, the singer, got his nickname from the Scooby Doo character.

Says Venky.

Shaggy. Casey Kasem, on the left, was the voice of Norville "Shaggy" Rogers in the Hanna Barbera cartoon. The one on the right is Orville Richard Burrell, a.k.a. pop star Shaggy Says Neil

The one on the left is Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem who provides the voice of Shaggy in Sccoby-doo cartoons. The one on the right is Orville Richard Burrell, an artiste who performs under the adopted name Shaggy. Says Peter

Smartarse bonuses for all.

While Ian Fleming has told the world that the head of the British Secret Intelligence Service is known by the letter M, what letter is actually used? (Come on, 1 in 25 shot!)

The answer is 'C' but I shouldn't tell you...that's classified information. Says 3iff.

C, after the original director general of MI6, Sir Mansfield Cumming. Says Neil

The head of the British Secret Intelligence Service is known by the designation C after the original director general of MI6, Sir Mansfield Cumming. In the Bond novels, Sir Miles Messervy is the head, which may explain the use of the letter M. There is a theory that Fleming chose M since this is what he called his mother. Says Venky

The first head of the secret service was Captain Sir George Mansfield Smith-Cumming, known as C, and this title was adopted by his successors. Says Peter

What rumour lubricated a bloody mutiny?

The rumor started in 1857 in India that the new paper rifle cartridges were lubricated with a combination of cow and pig fat, which offended both the Muslims and Hindus. (To insert the cartridge in the gun, it was necessary to bite the end off, and were lubricated to ease insertion into the gun.) Apparently, the cartridges were instead lubed with beeswax or vegetable oil (or maybe after realizing their mistake, the Brits then tried those instead, too late). The Indians refused to use the cartridges, some Indians were thrown in jail, and this started the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857-58. Says David

The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 (or the First War of Indian Independence). The new Enfield rifle was introduced in 1857 (to the Sepoys of the British Indian Armies) with its distinct ammunition, which required the bullet to be 'bitten before loading'. Rumours that the grease used on the bullets was either from the fat of cattle or pigs, which either proved 'sacred to Hindus' or 'pollution to Muslims', was interpreted as attacking at the core of the Hindu and Muslim religious beliefs. These rumours did prove to have a factual basis, as the British government 'withdrew the objectionable grease'. This belated action proved futile, as the damage had already been done.

Says Venky of Mumbai, India.

Who is this?

Sophia Loren.

If you had a body and face that looked like that you would take good care of it too wouldn't you?

The vocal style seem inappropriate to the lyrics, which read like third rate journalism. The hook line and title nearly got the whole song shelved because it might have been taken, erroneously, to be about drugs. If it didn't have the finest opening riff since Beethoven nobody would ever have heard of it at all.

What is the song?

We all came out to Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline

to make records with a mobile - we didn't have much time

Frank Zappa & the Mothers were at the best place around

but some stupid with a flare gun burned the place to the ground

smoke on the water - a fire in the sky - smoke on the water

They burned down the gambling house - it died with an awful sound

Funky & Claude was running in and out, pulling kids out of the ground

when it all was over, we had to find another place.

Swiss time was running out - it seemed that we would lose the race

smoke on the water - a fire in the sky - smoke on the water

We ended up at the Grand Hotel - it was empty, cold and bare

but with the rolling truck stones thing just outside making our music there

with a few red lights an' a few old beds, we made a place to sweat

no matter what we get out of this, I know... I know we'll never forget

smoke on the water - a fire in the sky - smoke on the water.

Deep Purple's "Smoke on Water", although the underground rock movement in the US dubbed the opening riff as "Neanderthal". Personally, "Lazy" in the Machine Head album is much better, musically. Says Venky.

Shakespeare it ain't, but it rocks.

I found a coin which said “George I Rex, 1722”, how do I know it's a forgery?

Should say 'GEORGIVS REX" the V representing a U. George I would not appear on a coin anyway. George would not be called George I, just George, as he was the only George to have been king at that time. The next George would be specifically called George II and his coins would indicate that. Says 3iff

The first monarch with a given name isn't numbered until the second takes the throne. The coin therefore should just say "George Rex" (or more likely GEORGIVS D G M BR FR ET HIB REX F D, "George, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith"). Says Alan.

Which of the architectural wonders of Egypt are described in the Bible?

Despite all the action that goes on in Egypt and all the descriptions of temples and gardens, cubits and spans, none of the men who wrote any part of the Bible thought anything in Egypt required a description. That is quite strange considering the pyramids and sphinx had been there and have captured the imagination of travellers of all ages and nations. Perhaps it is just another manifestation of the jealousy of the Hebrew God? Although that begs the question who has he got to be jealous of?

There are no mentions in the Bible of any of the Egyptian architectural wonders. Paraphrased from one site: "God didn't think them important enough to inspire the writers to include them." :) Says David

Storehouses Offers Joshua, and I can't say it's wrong, they get a mention in the Joseph story.

There have been several people who have claimed that certain passages do describe the pyramids but this is stretching credulity to beyond the reasonable doubt. You would expect even a bunch of geometrically and architecturally illiterate goat herders to come up with better descriptions if that was what they had intended.

What occupational hazard exists for the faggots who play the guitar on MTV?

Now look at them yo-yos, that's the way you do it

You play the guitar on the MTV

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Money for nothin' and your chicks for free

Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb

Maybe get a blister on your little finger

Maybe get a blister on your thumb

---

See the little faggot with the earring and the make-up

Yeah buddy that's his own hair

That little faggot got his own jet airplane

That little faggot he's millionaire

Dire Straits, Money for Nothing.

What was originally regarded as Seward's Folly?

The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in the month of October 1867 for 7.2 million dollars, or two cents per acre. Most Americans thought this was a waste of money and called Alaska "Sewards Folly," after Secretary of State, William H. Seward who championed the purchase. Says Neil

Seward's folly was also called Seward's Icebox, a polar bear garden, and a bunch of other things, including Alaska. Purchased from Russia for a bit over 7 million dollars. Says David.

In March 1867 The US purchased this territory from the Russians. Chief negotiator William Seward, the American Secretary of State, arranged a price of 2 cents per acre, $7.2M total. The Russians needed money because of the Crimean War. Says Peter

Who is this?

From the Nickelodeon cartoon series, "Arthur". It's his sister Dora Winifred ( DW) Read. Says Neil.

Smartarse bonus.

Who painted this?

Marc Chagal.

Which country has only a single colour on its flag?

Libya, pure green, nothing else.

Currently, Libya's flag is all green (considered to be the colour of Allah*). Muscat and Oman used a plain red flag in 1958 and 1970. Says Alan.

*Who asked him? Would you have the nerve? Err.. O Great One, if I may trouble you, what's your favourite colour, and do you think the Spice Girls will make another record?

3iff

© 1999 - 2008 by Martin Willett.

mwillett.org: Debate Unlimited