How to Beat a Speeding Ticket for Motorists

[flatmaster]

I learned this term just a month or two ago when it started to warm up here in Pennsylvania. The next word is...

"pole syrup"

Hint: Mind out of the gutter. It's not dirty.

 

[Danger]

It's not dirty.

Well, that pretty much rules out anything that I'd ever think of.

I have an idea, but I'll hold off. (Actually, stand by for a PM.)

edit: Since I was wrong, as ascertained by our PM's, I'll just lie back in the weeds and wait for a bit. This might turn out to be another instance of a regional term, since I've never heard of it in relation to what we discussed.

 

[Argentum Vulpes]

Would the people in Quebec be laughing at you for eating this on your breakfast? As far as I know it is a slang term for imitation maple syrup, as it most likely came from a telephone pole, as the joke goes.

 

[flatmaster]

Yep. It's fake maple syrup. I tapped my maple trees this year and came across this term in the process. Next word

 

[Argentum Vulpes]

I'm giving a series of words, if you know one you should know all, and be able to figure out context from each one.

Monitor World
Video Village
Dimmer Beach
The Pit

 

[flatmaster]

Any store that sells gizmos that are old enough to be obselete, but not old enough to be retro.

 

[Argentum Vulpes]

Nope.

Hint:

They are all locations that are in the same building.

Bonus:

If you can name the joke related to how one of these locations got its nickname.

 

[collinsmark]

Here's my guess: They are all areas within a theater. And if I'm not mistaken, some or all can apply both to live performance type of theater as well as film/production.

• Monitor World: Also called "Monitor Land." Involves a big audio mixer/sound board thingamajig.
• Video Village: Production area. That where the action is. "Sometimes it takes a village."
• Dimmer Beach: Area where the stage lighting is controlled. Dimmers for the stage lights can be anywhere, generally speaking, but "dimmer beach" is typically the term if the dimmers are stored onstage.
• The Pit: Orchestra pit?

Sorry, but I wasn't able to come across the joke.

[Edit: And they also might apply to a television studio, such as ones that record/produce sitcoms, talk-shows, and maybe even live news.]

 

[Argentum Vulpes]

Yup you got it Collinsmark.

Close enough for Monitor world. In most cases it is where the amps, wireless receivers, onstage/ in ear mixer, and senders live. FOH (front of house) mixing is done FOH.

Video Village is also where any video production for the show happens.

The pit is the orchestra pit, a good place to put the muscians and there stuff.

I'm not sure on using these terms for TV/movie production. I've only here them in theater/concert settings

As for the joke for the name Dimmer beach, it's because it's where the breakers are.

 

[collinsmark]

Okay, here is my jargon move:

What is the "well"?

Of course the word "well," on its own, has many definitions. I'm looking for something very specific. In this context:

• It is a noun.
• It is [usually]* tangible: something that can be touched with one's hand for example.
• It has a corresponding adjective, also "well" in this particular context. The adjective "well" can be used in the form "well BLANKSs," where "BLANK" represents a different, specific word that I have not mentioned in this post. I'm not asking for what BLANK is (although that will almost certainly lead you to the answer), rather I'm asking for the noun to which adjective refers (in this context): the "well".
• It is not particularly related to science or technology. It is not a scientific term. It is not a technological term.

It is not described by any of the references on these pages:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WELL_%28disambiguation%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells_%28disambiguation%29

Nor is it specifically described by any of these definitions:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/well

except for maybe, "8. An enclosed space for receiving and holding something ...". The well I'm looking for is used for receiving and/or holding something. But I'm looking for something more specific than that. (Oh, and this "well" has nothing to do with airplanes.)

I venture to guess that perhaps the majority of people** have heard or read the term "well BLANKs" (where "BLANK" is a specific word I'm not mentioning in this post) at one time or another, but most people don't know why they're called that.

As a reminder, you can guess at what the BLANK in "well BLANKs" is, but I'm looking for the noun: the thing that "well" in "well BLANKs" refers to. And that noun -- that thing -- is called the "well".

*[Edit: Okay, in some scenarios the "well" might be nothing more than a symbolic location if there is no real "well" within proximity. But the name the "well" comes from something specific that can receive and/or hold things.]

**[In places where English is the commonly spoken language.]

 

[Danger]

(Oh, and this "well" has nothing to do with airplanes.)

Hmmmpppphhhh...
Then I have no further interest. Come along, then, Andre... let's go snag a beer and let these groundhogs have their fun...

 

[collinsmark]

Hmmmpppphhhh...
Then I have no further interest. Come along, then, Andre...

Oh, my goodness no!

The part of the link I quoted in more detail is "8. An enclosed space for receiving and holding something, such as the wheels of an airplane when retracted."

What I meant to say is the "well" which I was hinting about does involve the idea of receiving/holding/containing stuff. My other comment was just to say that it just doesn't involve airplanes in this case, even though landing gear was used as an example in the quoted link (my "well" has nothing to do with landing gear).

let's go snag a beer and let these groundhogs have their fun...

If the beer selection is bad, you could always consider a couple of well BLANKs instead.

 

[Danger]

If the beer selection is bad, you could always consider a couple of well BLANKs instead.

Hmmm... I thought that this was simply a term that we used in my town, not a common one, so I never thought of it in relation to this. When I was tending bar, we had an array of plastic buckets surrounding the ice well, which held the most popular liquors in their own spots. They were referred to as "speed wells" because we didn't have to turn around to the main bar to grab a bottle.

 

[collinsmark]

Danger wins the round!

The "well", in its most general sense, refers to the location immediately behind and under the bar. That's where the ice is stored among other things such as a speed rail for the cheapy liquor.

Here is a picture of my lovely bartender showing off the well. Circled in red is the speed rail thing where "well drinks" come from.

"BLANK," the mystery word in my previous post is "drink." Well drinks are called "well drinks" because they are made with cheap liquor: the liquor typically stored in the speed rail in the well. If you order a "gin and tonic" you will get whatever cheap gin is in "the well." If you order a "Tanqueray and tonic," you'll get the name brand stuff, but it'll cost more.

"Well drinks" are often on sale, or on "special," meaning they are extra cheap.



---------------------

On a different note, the bar that I frequent has an additional use of the term. If you have a "backup," but are too tipsy to drink it, you can tell the bartender to "put it in the well," meaning you will drink it next time. This is recorded in some way or another such as a in a notebook or something. This practice is comparatively rare though.

Okay, Danger. You're up.

 

[Danger]

I didn't actually get that. My answer, while dealing with the same basic subject as yours, was about something totally different.
The term "well drinks" doesn't exist here; they're referred to as "bar brand". For instance, when I walk into a place not in the mood for beer, I'll say "What's your bar Scotch?" If it's something that I don't like, I'll order Ballentine's or Famous Grouse, which are "call brands".
While we have "speed rails" at knee level, I've known only one bartender in my life who actually used it. Nowadays, though, all bar brands are delivered through the gun, not a bottle, in most places. The ice well and speed wells are the only components known by that name, not the whole area.
I'll sketch up what I'm referring to and post it in a while.
Meantime, I think it's only fair that you pick a new term and continue.

 

[collinsmark]

Meantime, I think it's only fair that you pick a new term and continue.

Oh, no. Your guess was most certainly close enough. I would have accepted pretty much anything dealing with a bar. Your guess was more or less right on the mark.

Your move.

Edit:

 

[Danger]

Okay. It's probably best to keep thing reasonably simple from now on.
In reference to a sport (not horse racing): rail.
There are two completely different answers, involving different sports, that I'll accept.

 

[Danger]

It's too late to edit my last post. I just now saw the photos in yours. Too cool! You have some fine looking friends.
Okay, hints about my subject matter: one is an indoor sport that I play and love, and the other is an outdoor one that I love but don't play. The definition for the latter actually has a (sub-definition?) of the term incorporated into itself.

 

[flatmaster]

The "rail" is a bumper on a pool table.

 

[Danger]

Correct, Flatmaster.
The other use that I would have accepted is that it's a type of dragster. (The "sub-definition" is the fuel rail via which the engine thereof is injected.)
Take it away, Squire.

 

[flatmaster]

ALmost forgot about the Turbo Entabulator.



<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2kwl1YRYy_g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[flatmaster]

Ok. The new word is...

Circle Swim

 

[Danger]

ALmost forgot about the Turbo Entabulator.

It's amazing that the dude could pull that off with a straight face; he must be related to Pat Paulson.
I'll think on your new one a bit later.
Hey! Hang on a sec... is that the tactic wherein dolphins round up herrings into a kind of tornado-shaped cluster to eat them easier?

 

[flatmaster]

Hey! Hang on a sec... is that the tactic wherein dolphins round up herrings into a kind of tornado-shaped cluster to eat them easier?

Nope. I'm going to hold off on any other clues for now, but I'll answer questions. No google please

 

[Danger]

No google please

Of course not! I consider that cheating.

 

[Danger]

My boys trying to dodge molecules of spermicide?

 

[flatmaster]

Nope

 

[Danger]

Maybe we could move that one to the "new words" thread...?

 

[flatmaster]

The direction of swimming varies depending on what country you happen to be in.

 

[Danger]

Intriguing...
That implies to me that it's based upon either traffic patterns or the Coriolis effect. Even if one of those is correct, though, it doesn't help me one little bit.

Oh, hey! A traffic circle (in some places called a "roundabout")?

 

[flatmaster]

Intriguing...
That implies to me that it's based upon either traffic patterns ...")?

Yep

Now put in the swimming part.

 

[flatmaster]

It's worth noting that the shape isn't really a circle, but there is a repeating cycle that traces out a stretched circle.

 

[Danger]

Yep

Now put in the swimming part.

Hemi 'Cudas on parade...?

 

[Argentum Vulpes]

From the clues it sounds like a way to do lap swimming.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

or water ballet...

 

[Danger]

I haven't given up on this; it's just that nothing has yet rapped me on the noggin. Still on it, though.

 

[collinsmark]

What happened to flatmaster?

Personally, I think Argentum Vulpes likely got the right answer from post #134:

From the clues it sounds like a way to do lap swimming

But it would be nice if flatmaster confirmed that.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

What happened to flatmaster?

Personally, I think Argentum Vulpes likely got the right answer from post #134:

I would say so too. Why don't we call it good?
http://web.jhu.edu/recreation/aquatics/Lap Swimming and Circle Swim Etiquette

 

[Danger]

Going by the link, it looks good.
Maybe there should be a rule about how long a question poser can wait before giving a new clue or a solution (in the absence of responses). I know that I felt a bit guilty about waiting as long as I did to abandon the "gate" puzzle.

 

[Argentum Vulpes]

Ok so looks like it is my turn.

The word is: Alligator

And here it is in a sentence for contextual reference: I'm hunting the woodpecker tonight, when I find it that big alligator will be messed with.

Bonus points: Woodpecker

Happy hunting

 

[collinsmark]

Ok so looks like it is my turn.

The word is: Alligator

And here it is in a sentence for contextual reference: I'm hunting the woodpecker tonight, when I find it that big alligator will be messed with.

Bonus points: Woodpecker

Happy hunting

I think I got it! Well, maybe. I'm not 100% sure. This is my guess though.

The subject involves amateur radio (a.k.a. HAM radio).

Alligator: A repeater that transmits further than it can receive, big mouth, small ears!

I imagine that an "alligator" would be an annoyance since (in some situations) one can't communicate with it in both directions. It's like trying to talk with someone who never listens and won't shut up.

"Hunting" is finding the source of transmission using triangulation. [Edit: see below for an alternate definition of "hunting".]

Woodpecker: A signal that sporadically transmits for seemingly unknown reasons, in effect acting as interference and annoyance for everybody else. It gets its name from the Russian Woodpecker described here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Woodpecker

Again though, these are just guesses.

[Edit: There was also a group of amateur radio operators called the "Woodpecker Hunting Club." Apparently the Russian Woodpecker (see link above) could be "screwed with" by jamming it with its own type of signal. So, a ham operator wanting to "mess with" this annoying Russian Woodpecker would attempt to find the channel the woodpecker was transmitting on (hunting for the frequency so to speak), and transmit previously recorded signal on that same frequency*. It would cause the woodpecker to change frequency. So the goal was to temporarily disrupt the annoying woodpecker. Anyway, I'll still stick to my original guess about the Alligator: a transceiver that transmits further than it can receive.

*Apparently it was tricky for a HAM radio operator to get the prerecorded signal to transmit at just the right frequency, and with the right timing. One had to know what one was doing. But like a determined hunter it was possible with perseverance. And you'd know if you "got" it because the woodpecker would immediately change frequencies, analogous to a wounded target.]

 

[Argentum Vulpes]

Yup you got it Collinsmark, and hit the bonus question.

Just a fun fact the opposite of an Alligator is an Elephant (big ears, small mouth)

 

[collinsmark]

I'll move back to sports.

New term: Anti-freeze.

Context: it is a term in a particular sport.

The sport itself does not involve planes, trains or automobiles. If you are thinking about engine coolant, you are on the wrong track.

Hint: "Anti-freeze" is a real term, but its use doesn't happen so often. The word "Freeze" is another term in the same sport with a more common occurrence.

Requirement: at the very least it is required to name the sport in question.

Googling is acceptable (as a matter of fact, I encourage it. It might help, maybe).

 

[collinsmark]

Hmm. No takers yet? Perhaps it's time for a hint.

Hint of the day:

Let's talk about shoes. The sport is played while wearing shoes. Novice to expert players (and sometimes beginners) will almost assuredly acquire special shoes crafted specifically for this particular sport. That said, it's not absolutely necessary to get these special shoes to play. I'm guessing many/most beginners and purely leisurely players play with whatever shoes they happen to have on at the time. But if you're planning on competing at a higher level you'll probably pick up a pair of these special shoes made for the sport.

Here's the thing about these special shoes that differentiates them from shoes of other sports: One of the shoes -- be it the left shoe or the right shoe -- has substantially different characteristics than the other (in addition to the obvious, mirror symmetry). In other words, a player's left shoe has very different characteristics than the player's right shoe. That's today's hint.

Clarification of the day:

I've mentioned that the term "Anti-freeze" isn't commonly used. That's probably because an anti-freeze doesn't happen very often. And that's probably due to the difficulty involved in an anti-freeze (it's very difficult, and rare). As a result, you might not see the term "anti-freeze" referenced as much as other terms in the sport. A "Freeze" on the other hand isn't as difficult and the term is more common.

 

[Argentum Vulpes]

Would you be referring to a defensive type of shot/position in Curling?

 

[Danger]

By Jove, I think he's got it! I'm a Canuck of Scots lineage, and have been casually watching curling for my entire life; I've never heard that term before. And now that I've looked it up, I can honestly say that I've never seen it done.

 

[collinsmark]

Would you be referring to a defensive type of shot/position in Curling?

Correct! Argentum Vulpes wins again.

The term Anti-freeze is a move in curling that's very rare. It's where the stone is curled to rest behind, and touching, an existing stone.

By Jove, I think he's got it! I'm a Canuck of Scots lineage, and have been casually watching curling for my entire life; I've never heard that term before. And now that I've looked it up, I can honestly say that I've never seen it done.

I'm guessing a) that's because it is rare, and b) it might not even be a practical move on a well maintained, modern curling sheet. But if you're playing on a makeshift sheet on a frozen lake, and if your stones aren't top quality, then I suppose something like an anti-freeze could happen from time to time.

A "freeze" on the other hand, is where the stone stops just touching a stone in front of it. Not at all "easy" either, but skilled Olympians are able to pull it off on occasion.

If anyone's not familiar with the sport, here's an introduction. I wish the video discussed the changing of direction strategies a little more, but oh well. If a slight spin is placed on the stone when released, or if a spin is induced by tactical sweeping (intentionally sweeping only on the left or only the right side of the stone), the stone can "curl" either to the right or the left accordingly. This allows the stone to take a curved path on the ice. [Edit: this sort of tactical sweeping can also be used to reduce spinning, straightening its path on the ice, if so desired. Mostly, sweeping is centered in front of the stone to control the stone's speed, but it can also, to a lesser extent, influence the stone's spin, thus direction.]

[Edit: I replaced the video with a different one. This video, although biased to the USA, does a much better job explaining the game than did the first video.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxCH8CGqx88

Argentum Vulpes, you're up.

 

[Danger]

Keep in mind that although he works for the Yanks, Ed Lukowich from the video is a fellow Canuck.
Anyhow, if you want to really learn the game, rent a copy of "Men With Brooms".

 

[collinsmark]

really[/i] learn the game, rent a copy of "Men With Brooms".

I just now put it in the Netflix queue.

 

[flatmaster]

From the clues it sounds like a way to do lap swimming.

Sorry I was away so long. This is indeed correct. In circle swimming, you swim down the right side of the lane like driving on a two lane road. You can get upwards of 15 people all using the same lane if everyone is about the same pace. In countries where they drive on the left, they usually swim on the left too. This can be contrasted with "splitting" the lane side by side. It only allows 3 people max but better accommodates swimmers of different paces.