December arrives, and brings with it the realization of a year of overwhelming procrastination. But worry not, folks, for I am here each and every week to provide you with puzzles.** Here are your puzzles for the week.
Happy Scheming.
**except, of course, when I’m not.
Puzzle One: CAMEOS
I spent a good chunk of the last two weekends participating in a random Lord of the Rings (extended version) viewing marathon. That’s 682 minutes of footage, or 11.5 hours. I had once heard through the grapevine that Bret McKenzie, of Flight of the Conchords fame, made his acting debut in the Lord of the Rings movies: appearing in the first movie at the council of Elrond and the third movie as Arwen’s escort. Well, the rumors were true. I hastily searched for the “pause” button in the following scene in the third Lord of the Rings, then promptly took a screenshot.
Alright, it’s also an excuse to post a picture of Liv Tyler, so sue me. But now for the segue. See if you can figure out the movies that these famous people had a cameo in:
Puzzle Two: SPOILED BREAD
On Saturday morning, Brooke was going to make some fried egg sandwiches for lunch. I noticed that the bread’s “Best Before” date was Friday, and I threw, as Brooke would describe, somewhat of a tantrum. My refusal to eat the bread resulted in Brooke throwing some pretty nasty effeminate adjectives my way. But whatever. I’m comfortable with who I am. Would you eat food beyond it’s “Best Before” date? Have a shot at identifying these famous brands and the foods for which they are known.
Puzzle Three: CHAIN RESTAURANTS
Remind me why I bother going to the Keg on a weekend? Their “no reservations” policy on busy days means that your plans for a tasty steak are foiled by the hundreds of other people who also don’t mind waiting for a table. At least other places have the decency to turn you away!
See if you can identify the following five chain restaurants from cryptic pictorial clues.
R-Shizzle
I’ve used toothpaste that expired 4 years before… does that count?
my theory on best before dates is that they choose the date with a 10-20% not-to-get-us-sued buffer
December 1, 2008 at 8:37 am
Tien
“Best before” does not equal “fatal after”.
2: Tropicana Orange Juice, General Mills Cereals, Billy Bee Honey, Neilsen Dairy products, Pilsbury easy bake stuff, Kraft dinner (singles, Cheez Whiz), Bick’s pickles, Hellman’s Real Mayonnaise, Maxwell’s House coffee, Parmalat dairy products, Planter’s Peanuts…..yeah, I eat a lot of processed foods.
3: The pickle Barrel, tgi Friday’s, Kelsey’s, East Side Mario’s
December 1, 2008 at 10:50 am
Tien
3: Jack Astor’s
December 1, 2008 at 11:04 am
Brookie
Thanks R-Shizzle and Tien for backing me on the “best before” date issue that Hamid and I have feuded over for years!
In your face, Hammy! I consider this feud over, with a clear victory for me!
December 1, 2008 at 1:57 pm
hroman
@Shizzle: I’m still just too scared to take that kind of risk. I mean, if a corporation says “before this date, I’m almost sure that no one will sue my ass, but after that, fuck it… let’s not take a risk”… then I’m shaking in my tube socks when I reach for the milk.
@Tien: your answers to question 2 and 3 are correct. And mother of pearl… I just noticed your avatar picture. Nice. Eye of the tiger.
@Brookie: I wouldn’t trust Shizzle or Tien with their judgments. I know for a fact that Tien will eat anything so long as it’s put on a plate before him. Also, Shizzle… well, dude left the safe haven of North America for the craziness of Japan. He also consumes Yogurt for men. Clearly, he does not value his emotional and physical well-being.
December 1, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Chris
Tom Cruise – Austin Powers Goldmember
Alfred Hitchcock – All his movies (The Birds, North by Northwest, Vertigo…do I have to name them all?)
Marshall McLuhan – Annie Hall
Pamela Anderson Lee Anderson Rock Anderson Salomon Anderson – Borat
So you re-use Pizza Pizza dipping sauces, but if the bread is 12 hours past the best before date you freak out? I’m with R-Shizzle…the Best Before date is the earliest it could possibly go bad. Chances are it was fine, effeminate adjective.
December 1, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Chris
Oh and that party of five all appeared in Zoolander.
December 1, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Tien
I take offense! I also eat things in bowls as well as things that come in wrappers.
December 1, 2008 at 6:39 pm
R-Shizzle
I only eat Men’s Custard because I’m curious like a cat… that’s why my friends call me whiskers
)
December 2, 2008 at 10:30 am
hroman
@Chris: your answers are correct, and complete this week’s puzzle.
On a side note, have you ever had Creamy Garlic dipping sauce from Pizza Pizza? I guarantee you would re-use that sweet, sweet nectar if you could. (Plus, it has a best-before date on it).
@Tien: my bad. I’ll add the disclaimer that you prefer things in “wing” form.
@Shizzle: just for old time’s sake:
Will Ferrell as Harry Caray
If you had the choice of being the top scientist in your field, or having mad cow disease, which would you choose?
December 2, 2008 at 10:45 am
Carl
The Pizza Pizza dipping sauce is a bit of a different animal. The oily layer provides a protective coating that germs can’t penetrate, keeping it good for an indefinite period of time. They actually found creamy garlic dipping sauce in the Pyramid tombs that you could still eat.
December 2, 2008 at 3:31 pm
hroman
::Slow Clap::
December 3, 2008 at 1:59 pm