Let's Fire Up Those Neurons!

Discussion in 'Education & Personal Growth' started by Gauri03, Jul 23, 2014.

  1. sokanasanah

    sokanasanah IL Hall of Fame

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    Answer follows, although this puzzle may be less than ideal as a model! It's kinda hard to solve by ingenious research if you have never heard of the person in question, which is the sort of thing I usually avoid. I was hoping to progressively add more clues, but either people gave up too easily or they are shy about probing for more clues.
    Or, the neurites are addled with intoxicants.
     
  2. sokanasanah

    sokanasanah IL Hall of Fame

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    The answer of course is: P.G. Wodehouse. I took liberties with the construction of the puzzle since it was his birthday yesterday. If you have never heard of or read Wodehouse, then it's difficult to solve, I know! But then again, I did provide additional clues ...

    So here goes:
    All images are related to Wodehouse stories:

    (1) Mastodons: They came first because this is probably one of the most famous quotes from the oeuvre.

    “As a rule, you see, I'm not lugged into Family Rows. On the occasions when Aunt is calling Aunt like mastodons bellowing across primeval swamps and Uncle James's letter about Cousin Mabel's peculiar behaviour is being shot round the family circle ('Please read this carefully and send it on Jane') the clan has a tendency to ignore me. It's one of the advantages I get from being a bachelor - and, according to my nearest and dearest, practically a half-witted bachelor at that.”
    P.G. Wodehouse, The Inimitable Jeeves

    (2) Moose: See Jeeves & Wooster.

    (3) Newt: This of course refers to the famous Gussie Fink-Nottle.
    SELF: Good. Well, Jeeves, what news on the Rialto? Anybody been phoning or calling or anything during my abs.?
    JEEVES: Mr. Fink-Nottle, sir, has been a frequent caller.
    I stared. Indeed, it would not be too much to say that I gaped.
    "Mr. Fink-Nottle?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "You don't mean Mr. Fink-Nottle?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "But Mr. Fink-Nottle's not in London?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "Well, I'm blowed."
    And I'll tell you why I was blowed. I found it scarcely possible to give credence to his statement. This Fink-Nottle, you see,
    was one of those freaks you come across from time to time during life's journey who can't stand London. He lived year in and
    year out, covered with moss, in a remote village down in Lincolnshire, never coming up even for the Eton and Harrow match.
    And when I asked him once if he didn't find the time hang a bit heavy on his hands, he said, no, because he had a pond in his garden and studied the habits of newts.
    I couldn't imagine what could have brought the chap up to the great city. I would have been prepared to bet that as long as the
    supply of newts didn't give out, nothing could have shifted him from that village of his.
    "Are you sure?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "You got the name correctly? Fink-Nottle?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "Well, it's the most extraordinary thing. It must be five years since he was in London. He makes no secret of the fact that the place gives him the pip. Until now, he has always stayed glued to the country, completely surrounded by newts."
    "Sir?"
    "Newts, Jeeves. Mr. Fink-Nottle has a strong newt complex. You must have heard of newts. Those little sort of lizard things
    that charge about in ponds."
    P.G. Wodehouse, Right Ho, Jeeves

    The rest in posts that follow.
     
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  3. sokanasanah

    sokanasanah IL Hall of Fame

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    (4) Handsome dude in black: This of course is Sir Oswald Renald Mosley, 6th Baronet, MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster la di dah and a Nazi. He was the model for Roderick Spode, one of my favorite characters - Nazi and crypto-proprietor of Eulalie Soeurs, an Edwardian precursor of Victoria's Secret. Mosley founded the Blackshirts wing in the UK. His son, Max Mosley is yet another interesting character, with a colorful history of his own that made the news in 2008.

    (5) The Swans are from another Jeeves story:
    " Jeeves!" I shouted.
    "Sir?" came a faint respectful voice from the great open spaces.
    "My man," I explained to the Right Hon. "A fellow of infinite resource and sagacity. He'll have us out of this in a minute. Jeeves!"
    "Sir?"
    "I'm sitting on the roof."
    "Very good, sir."
    "Don't say 'Very good.' Come and help us. Mr. Filmer and I are treed, Jeeves."
    "Very good, sir."
    "Don't keep saying 'Very good.' It's nothing of the kind. The place is alive with swans."
    " I will attend to the matter immediately, sir."
    I turned to the Right Hon. I even went so far as to pat him on the back. It was like slapping a wet sponge.
    P.G. Wodehouse, Jeeves and the Impending Doom

    (6) The Pig is of course The Empress of Blandings, most famous pig in all literature, the pride & joy of Lord Emsworth. You can meet the good Lord E in a new TV series.
     
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  4. sokanasanah

    sokanasanah IL Hall of Fame

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    Additional clues:

    Here JAG is referring to the book "Right Ho, Jeeves", consistent with the tradition in this thread of not posting the answer right away, but adding an oblique come or two for others still working on the puzzle.


    I stole this passage from the first page of "Right Ho, Jeeves". A sharp eye and ear could have caught the change in style and recognized the inimitable Wodehouse voice!
     
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  5. Gauri03

    Gauri03 Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    I am not liking the proliferation of yellow on this thread. :bangcomp:
     
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  6. sokanasanah

    sokanasanah IL Hall of Fame

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    'Self-indulgent' eh? I'll remember that. thinkingsmiley

    As for addled / intoxicated etc., I was till in Wodehouse mode - what I had in mind was in fact an inebriated Bertie just prior to Jeeves taking charge.
     
  7. justanothergirl

    justanothergirl IL Hall of Fame

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    @Gauri03 :hiya Excuse me teacher...I have one kochen ...How many puzzles do we have to solve before we can bug other posters with our own ? :biggrin2:
     
  8. Gauri03

    Gauri03 Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    No puzzle solving experience needed to post puzzles. Go right ahead!
     
  9. justanothergirl

    justanothergirl IL Hall of Fame

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    so here goes...:D

    Capture.JPG
     
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  10. justanothergirl

    justanothergirl IL Hall of Fame

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    Sorry couldnt get to this before the edit window passed..
    What am I talking about? ..its something we use almost every day.
     

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