Laura Occasionally Blogs

Guess what I misspelled in the Wikipedia search bar to get this page?

Squelaiche is a prankster and a pest, always seeking an opportunity to play a more hilarious joke on his hapless victims, but he is not always merely looking for fun. He genuinely loves tiny fey and will not permit them to be harmed or picked on by larger creatures. He is not stupid—"he is a Fool, not a fool," as Monster Mythology phrases it. He does have weak spots, however, in his overfondness for shiny gold and fine wine. He enjoys tweaking the sensibilities of lawful or evil people; he is very, very chaotic and playful, a creature of mercurial whims.

I'll freely admit that I'm too stupid to understand or remember the plot of most texts. (Yet I still like fiction!) Anna has informed me that this is cramping her style as she is bored with analyzing characters and wants to analyze some plots. But she says she can't play "find the plot hole" because she would have to explain the whole plot first, even if it's something we've just watched, and it's not worth it.

So, in an effort to become better at understanding plots, I challenge you to challenge me to:

1. Remember the main plot events--not the character arc--of any TV show, movie, book, etc. (I don't need to remember every event; in fact it is more impressive if I am able to identify which events are actually important)
2. Point out one (1) interesting event, clever bit strategy, or cool sequence of cause-and-effect
3. Point out one (1) legitimate plot hole (by which I mean a question or unresolved issue which (a) is not adequately explained by the text, and (a) is not character based.)

Name any text I know (anything you know or suspect I've read/seen in the last ten years or so) and I will endeavor to do all three! I will not use any reference sources.

ETA The actual synopses (spoiler warning) are under the cut and in comments, but here are my grades so far as determined by a panel of experts (largely me checking on my own work. Dispute as necessary.)

Princess Bride: A
Babylon 5: D
Star Trek: DS9: D-
Serenity: E
Tenth Kingdom: C+
Twilight: A-
True Blood: A+ (what??? why??)
Aubrey/Maturin: F
Ender's Game: A-

( My first few (more in comments) )

Nick made up this game/quiz on Facebook Notes, and I decided to post it here, because it was fun and I don't think anybody reads Facebook Notes. The idea is you have to name bands that fit different criteria (see below). Unsurprisingly, considering all my musical knowledge comes from Rock Band, and I'm too proud to use references or think very hard (I think that violates the spirit of the game), I did a pretty crappy job (see further below).

1. Think of a band name that has a verb.
2. Think of a band name that has an adjective.
3. Think of a band name that has an adverb.
4. Think of a band name that has a preposition.
5. Think of a band named after a book or part of a book (character, etc.).
6. Think of a band named after a movie or part of a movie.
7. Think of a band named after a work of visual art.
8. Think of a band named after a person.
9. Think of a band named after a place.
10. Think of a band named after an object.
11. Think of a band named after a body part.
12. Think of a band named after a bug.
13. Think of a band name for each of the four elements.
14. Think of a band that has a name 5 words long or longer
15. Think of a band that has a name 4 letters or shorter.
16. Think of a band name that rhymes.
17. Think of a band name that’s alliterative.
18. Think of a band name that’s Onomatopoeic.
19. Think of a band name that’s an oxymoron.
20. Think of a band name that’s an acronym.


( My answers )

Also I thought of some more questions for your enjoyment!

21. Think of a band named after a figure in mythology.
22. Think of a band named after a method of transit.
23. Think of three different color band names.
24. Think of a band named after a textile.
25. Think of a band named after a leader of men.

Game time! Identify what the things in each list have in common, and comment with the point of commonality or another suitable item.

ROUND ONE (ANSWERED IN COMMENTS)
My Fair Lady
Dirty Dancing
Karate Kid

ROUND TWO (ANSWERED IN COMMENTS)
"Early One Morning" (Traditional)
Boston - "More Than A Feeling"
Tenacious D - "Tribute"

ROUND THREE (ANSWERED IN COMMENTS)
Jack
David
Hercules

I just wrote a quick version of the MBTI personality test to explain it to someone. The only problem is that it will be impossible to score because nobody will ever not choose the joke answers!

1. I see the...
(a) Forest
(b) Trees
(c) Future

2. It's best to be ruled by your...
(a) Heart
(b) Head
(c) Benign overlord

3. I "charge my batteries"...
(a) By being with people (yay! people!) - I need all the energy I can get if I have to spend a lot of time alone (ugh! alone!)
(b) By being alone (yay! alone!) - I need all the energy I can get if I have to spend a lot of time with people (ugh! people!)
(c) In my regeneration alcove like Seven of Nine

4. I feel most uncomfortable...
(a) With a too-rigid plan - it makes me feel trapped.
(b) With no plan - it makes me feel lost.
(c) Hogtied naked - it makes me feel chafed.

Inspired by the Sporcle Sitcom Cities quiz, can you name the city and state/province where these TV shows are based?

1. The X Files Washington, DC id'd by anthemyst
2. How I Met Your Mother New York, NY id'd by akira1423
3. Due South (bonus points: what province is Fraser from) Chicago, IL (and the Northwest Territories) id'd by mamaredcloud
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Bonus points: Angel) Sunnydale, CA (and Los Angeles, CA) id'd by akira1423
5. Boy Meets World (Bonus points: name the high school) (John Adams High id'd by akira1423)
6. Gilmore Girls Stars Hollow, CT id'd by forelyse
7. Corner Gas Dog River, SK id'd by akira1423
8. Slings & Arrows New Burbage, ON(?), id'd by mamaredcloud
9. Criminal Minds Quantico, VA id'd by Anna
10. Twitch City Toronto, ON id'd by mamaredcloud
11. The L Word Los Angeles, id'd by Caolan
12. The Sentinel Cascade, WA id'd by Anna

I still haven't given up on the holiday movie quotes, but here's a new challenge. This is based on book details which made a bigger impression on me than they should have in my formative years.

Name that American Girl!

1. Who lived in an attic? Kit, id'd by Caolan
2. Who caught a cold from sleeping with her hair wet in an attempt to make pin curls? Molly, id'd by anthemyst
3. Who thought she was getting a doll wrapped in a blanket for Christmas, but it turned out to be a bottle of bath salts wrapped in socks? I am beginning to think I made this up
4. Who stitched a sampler which said "Actions speak louder than words"?   Samantha, id'd by forelyse
5. Who ate a caterpillar? Addy, id'd by anthemyst
6. Who sat enclosed in a giant coil of rope? Kirsten, id'd by anthemyst

Name the holiday movie from which the quote is extracted.

1. What's the use of having all this jack around if it can't get us a superior kind of man?

2. The de rigeurest. Junior Miss, id'd by mamaredcloud

3. I speak French, but that doesn't make me Joan of Arc.  Miracle on 34th Street, id'd by Caolan

4. It appears to be an acute epileptoid manifestation and a pan phobic melancholiac with indication of a neurasthenia cordus.

5. Three days is quite long enough for both of us. A Christmas Carol, id'd by mamaredcloud

6. In some ways, you're far superior to my cocker spaniel. White Christmas, id'd by Jen

7. There are more important things than comfort: self respect! Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, id'd by mamaredcloud

8. I was always kinda partial to Roy Rogers, actually. I really like those sequined shirts.

9. I tried to find out who it was, but I couldn't find out. Nobody would ever tell you because they'd be scared!

10. If this is music, what's that stuff Cole Porter writes? The World of Henry Orient, id'd by mamaredcloud