What is propinquity?

Search: propinquity

Why: My Uncle Hal got a nameart order for a thing that said "PROPINQUITY." The final product looked exactly like this:

Answer: Let's just let Wikipedia handle this one.

In social psychology, propinquity (from Latin propinquitas, nearness) is one of the main factors leading to interpersonal attraction. It refers to the physical or psychological proximity between people. Propinquity can mean physical proximity, a kinship between people, or a similarity in nature between things. Two people living on the same floor of a building, for example, have a higher propinquity than those living on different floors, just as two people with similar political beliefs possess a higher propinquity than those whose beliefs strongly differ.

And I love a good diagram, so here:

U = universe, A = set A, B = set B, and S = similarity:

Source: Wikiwiki

The More You Know: It also says:

Propinquity is also one of the factors, set out by Jeremy Bentham, used to measure the amount of (utilitarian) pleasure in a method known as felicific calculus.

Yes.

Is there really a CDC in Hotlanta?

Search: cdc atlanta walking dead

Why: According to Kylie, who says "walking dead, I think you might've lost me" - or, more accurately, "I think you might've 'LOST' (2004) me":

Answer: Yes! It is actually the base for the whole country, if you can believe it, at 1600 Clifton Road. There is also a Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Sounds like a nice place to host an event.

BUT! The building on "The Walking Dead" was actually the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, located at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway in northwest Atlanta. It had its grand opening in September 2007.

Watch scenes from the Hatch, interviews, and the 'splosion here:

So long, CDC. What a poorly underused plot device. I really would have liked to have seen more sad shower scenes up in that piece.

Source: Google Maps, Atlanta Magazine

The More You Know: Ian wrote this article about 6 Types of Zombies on "The Walking Dead" (So Far). Maybe you should read it.

Captain of Industry – A rare breed in the zombie genre, this diligent fellow draws attention to himself because simply moaning and shuffling isn’t good enough for him, oh no. He has to pick up a rock and try to smash a window with it. Every time a zombie uses a tool, a nerd gets a free Mountain Dew out of a pop machine.

What's the origin of the term "peanut gallery"?

Search: peanut gallery

Why: Katrina and Ariana want to play drinking games during the "LOST" finale. I think that is too risky - maybe if anyone opens his trap at all while the show is on, he should have to take a shot. His punishment will be that he blacks out before it's over and he misses the whole thing.

Shh.

Answer: It was the cheap seats!

The peanut gallery was the topmost tier of seats, the cheapest in the house, a long way from the stage. The same seats in British theatres were (and still are) often called the gods because you were so high you seemed to be halfway to heaven, up there with the allegorical figures that were often painted on the ceiling.

These seats attracted a certain class of people who thought they and each other were just hilarious. They ran their mouths during performances - and probably all day during their work, too, which is why they didn't have enough money to afford better seats. In America, these folks ate peanuts and threw them at the stage when displeased.

Source: World Wide Words

The More You Know: On "The Howdy Doody Show," the peanut gallery sat up front on the ground. The kids were the peanuts.

Also, when my brother and I got last-minute tickets to Phantom of the Opera on B-way a long time ago, we could see over the top of the chandelier. It looked not unlike this:

Where are the Canary Islands?

Search: canary islands tenerific

Why: Just watching "LOST." Don't mind me.

Answer: Near Morocco:

Also, in 1977, Tenerife was the site of the deadliest plane crash in history, with 583 killed.

Source: Google Maps

The More You Know: They're owned by Spain. A relevant history:

The sugar-based economy of the islands faced stiff competition from Spain's American colonies. Crises in the sugar market in the 19th century caused severe recessions on the islands. A new cash crop, cochineal (cochinilla), came into cultivation during this time, saving the islands' economy.

By the end of the 18th century, Canary Islanders had already emigrated to Spanish American territories, such as Havana, Veracruz, Santo Domingo,Texas, and Louisiana. These economic difficulties spurred mass emigration, primarily to the Americas, during the 19th and first half of the 20th century. From 1840 to 1890, as many as 40,000 Canary Islanders emigrated to Venezuela. Also, thousands of Canarians moved to Puerto Rico; the Spanish monarchy felt that Canarians would adapt to island life better than other immigrants from the mainland of Spain. Deeply entrenched traditions, such as the Mascaras Festival in the town of Hatillo, Puerto Rico, are an example of Canarian culture still preserved in Puerto Rico. Similarly, many thousands of Canarians emigrated to the shores of Cuba as well.

During the Spanish-American War of 1898, the Spanish fortified the islands against possible American attack, but an attack never came.

Who played Zoe on "LOST"?

Search: lostpedia zoe; lost zoe recon

Why: I have seen that face before.

Answer: Sheila Kelley, aka Debbie in Singles!! Check out her rad 1992 hair at 0:36, 0:48, 1:18... oh, just watch the whole thing. Come to Debbie Country!

Source: New York Times, IMDb

The More You Know: Also, in case you were wondering where you had seen that dumb skank Ava at the beginning of the episode, it was in She's All That.

Jump up my ass, Zach.

UPDATE 4/18/2011!!! She also played Lily's sister Carol tonight on "Gossip Girl."

What is Hasenpfeffer Incorporated?

Search: laverne shirley incorporated

Why: Terry O'Quinn wants to work with Ben Emerson after "LOST," maybe in a show about suburban hit men, or make my dreams come true with a "Laverne & Shirley"-type deal.

Answer: Ehh wtf, it's nothing. Hasenpfeffer is German rabbit stew:

Hase is German for "rabbit," Pfeffer is German for "pepper," though in this case, it refers to the small pieces of meat. The dish is prepared from smaller parts of a rabbit which are not suitable for roasting. These are braised with onions and wine, and the marinade is thickened with the animal's blood.

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: And the Yiddish:

• Schlemiel: an inept clumsy person; a bungler; a dolt (Yiddish shlemil)
• Schlimazel: a chronically unlucky person (שלימזל shlimazl, from slim, "crooked" + Hebrew מזל mazel, "luck")

I want to watch the video for "Cryin'" by Aerosmith

Search: aerosmith cryin

Why: I am giving last night's premiere of "LOST" the old Lost Rewatch. I read recently in some magazine - maybe as part of those Lost Supper pictures - that it took years for Josh Holloway to get a decent acting job. What about this?

Answer: Oh boy oh boy:

Source: YouTube

The More You Know: Everyone knows I am a Jack girl and I can't stand Sawyer, but I do think Holloway is an attractive fellow and a pretty good actor, especially in this Old Navy commercial. That look is off the hook:

Who plays Lennon on "LOST"?

Search: lost

Why: I have seen that guy before, and I think I hate him.

Answer: John Hawkes! He was in Me and You and Everyone We Know, which I just hated. Hated.

Source: Lostpedia

The More You Know: He was also Sol Star in "Deadwood," which was pretty good, and he was in Congo, which I hated more than any other movie I've ever seen.

I want to see the Lost "Last Supper" picture

Search: lost last supper; darkufo last supper

Why: It's Mischa's wallpaper.

Answer: There are 2. They were just released in Us Magazine. (Click to go a place where you can see them bigger.)

Source: Lost Media Mentions, i09

The More You Know: Uch, I accidentally just read some spoilers. But hey, it's Claire!

When do all the TV shows start up again?

Search: [I searched for them individually. Thank me later!]

Why: Just in case my DVR is all booked up and I forget I have to actually watch some stuff when it airs.

Answer: I am using mostly the same list as last time, even though I don't watch a lot of these abominations. Here you goesies:

• 24 - Jan. 17, 2010 (Sun.)
• 30 Rock - Jan. 14 (Thurs.)
• 90210 - March 9 (Tues.)
  
• American Idol - Jan. 12 (Tues.)
  
• America's Next Top Model - TBA
• Archer - Jan. 14 (Thurs.)
• The Big Bang Theory - Jan. 11 (Mon.)
• Big Love - Jan. 18 (Mon.)
  
• The Biggest Loser - Jan. 5 (Tues. / tomorrow!!)
• Bones - Jan. 14 (Thurs.)
• Breaking Bad - March 2010
• Burn Notice - Jan. 21 (Sun.)
• Californication - TBA
  
• Dancing with the Stars - Spring 2010
• Desperate Housewives - Jan. 3 (yesterday)
  
• Dexter - Sept. 26 (Sun.)
• Entourage - TBA
  
• Family Guy - Jan. 3 (Sun. / yesterday)
• Friday Night Lights - Jan. 6 (Wed.)
• Fringe - Jan. 11 (Mon.)
  
• Glee - April 13 (Tues.)
  
• Gossip Girl - March 8 (Mon.)
• Grey's Anatomy - Jan. 14 (Thurs.)
• Heroes - Jan. 4 (tonight!)
• House - Jan. 11 (Mon.)
• How I Met Your Mother - Jan. 11 (Mon.)
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - TBA
  
• LOST - Feb. 2 (Tues.) !!!!!
• Mad Men - Summer 2010
• Modern Family - Jan. 6 (Wed.)
  
• My Boys - unannounced
  
• The Office - Jan. 21 (Thurs.)
• Nip/Tuck - Jan. 6 (Wed.)
  
• Private Practice - Jan. 14 (Thurs.)
• Project Runway - Jan. 14 (Thurs.)
  
• Saturday Night Live - Jan. 9 (Sat!)
  
• The Simpsons - Jan. 3 (Sun. / last night!)
• Smallville - Jan. 22 (Fri.)
  
• Supernatural - Jan. 21 (Thurs.)
  
• SVU - Jan. 6 (Wed.)
• Top Chef - TBA
• True Blood - TBA
  
• Two and a Half Men - Jan. 11 (Mon.)
  
• Ugly Betty - Jan. (Wed.)
• V - March 30 (Tues.)
• Weeds - TBA
  

Source: mostly Wikipedia

The More You Know: The Bachelor also started tonight, in case you are my mom, who is the only person on earth who actually watches that show.

Also, this was recently on Photoshop Disasters:

Who is Roxana Castillo?

Search: roxana castillo lost; roxana castillo ajira; roxana castillo "ajira airways;" lostpedia castillo; lostpedia roxana

Why: Kat took this picture yesterday at the LOST exhibit of the Disney D23 Expo:


Answer: UNSOLVED MYSTERY. Except there are a couple of real-life ladies with that name on Facebook. Sorry in advance.

You can read about Ajira Airways here.

Source: Nothing!

The More You Know: It was with all this stuff. Maybe Nadia used that name...?

How tall is Rodrigo Santoro?

Search: paulo lost

Why: I am watching 300 on TNT HD. Xerxes is made to look like a giant (like in this HD screenshot captured by my cellular telephone):

Answer: 6' 3¼"! That is pretty tall!

Source: IMDb

The More You Know: Gerard Butler is a puny 6'2. Here are some other sweet pix brah, in case you are interested:

When do the new seasons of all my shows start?

Search: [i searched for each show separately]

Why: I like summer and everything, but man, do I miss TV.

Answer: Whew, I am just in time:

• 30 Rock - Oct. 15 (Thurs.)
• American Idol - January 2010
  
• America's Next Top Model - Sept. 9 (Wed.)
  
• The Biggest Loser - Sept. 15 (Tues.)
• Burn Notice - TBA (on hiatus)
  
• Dexter - Sept. 27 (Sun.)
• Family Guy - Sept. 27 (Sun.)
  
• Frisky Dingo - never,
• Glee - Sept. 9 (Wed.)
• Gossip Girl - Sept. 14 (Mon.)
• LOST - Jan. or Feb. 2010
• My Boys - unannounced
  
• The Office - Sept. 17 (Thurs.)
  
• Saturday Night Live - Sept. 26 (Sat!)
• The Simpsons - Sept. 27 (Sun.)
• SVU - Sept. 23 (Wed.)
• Ugly Betty - Oct. 9 (Fri.)
  

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: I am watching the new "Melrose Place" right now, and I guess - at the very least - it's not as stupid as "90210."

But anyway, here are some other shows people watch, though I am not one of those people:

• 24 - Jan. 17, 2010 (Sun.)
• 90210 - Sept. 8 (tonight!)
  
• The Big Bang Theory - Sept. 21 (Mon.)
• Bones - Sept. 17 (Thurs.)
  
• Californication - Sept. 27 (Mon.)
  
• Dancing with the Stars - Sept. 21 (Mon.)
• Entourage - July 12 (Hope you watched!)
• Friday Night Lights - Oct. 28 (Wed.) on DirecTV, then on NBC in summer 2010
  
• Fringe - Sept. 17 (Thurs.)
• Grey's Anatomy - Sept 24. (Thurs.)
  
• Heroes - Sept. 21 (Mon.)
• House - Sept. 21 (Mon.)
  
• How I Met Your Mother - Sept. 21 (Mon.)
  
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Sept. 17 (Thurs.)
• Mad Men - Aug. 16 (Catch up quick!)
• Monk - Aug. 7 (This one too!)
  
• Private Practice - Oct. 1 (Thurs.)
• Project Runway - Aug. 20 (Thurs.)
  
• Supernatural - Sept. 10 (Thurs.)
• Top Chef - Aug. 19 (Wed.)
  
• Two and a Half Men - Sept. 21 (Mon.)
  

Seems like every show I don't care about comes on Mondays. Set your DVR!

What happened to the cast of "Too Something"?

Search: Too Something

Why: On the 11 Points list of "11 Awful Shows FOX Has Aired Right After The Simpsons":

"Too Something" (1995-96) - "Too Something" was one of the many, many "Seinfeld"/"Friends"-influenced sitcoms during the "TV shows about friends hanging out in a New York apartment" era. In this iteration, two twentysomething guys lived together in an NYC apartment, worked at their boring jobs but had big career dreams, hung out with their female friends, and dated. (Also, if the picture below is any indication, they may or may not have been one-time members of Color Me Badd.)

Answer: Eric Schaeffer ("Eric") went on to:

• Star in the short-lived "Everything's Relative" (from Mitchell Hurwitz, co-starring Jeffrey Tambor)
• Star in the futuristic law drama "Century City" (co-starring Nestor Carbonell)
• Write and star in the Showtime reality show "I Can't Believe I'm Still Single"
  

Donal Lardner Ward ("Donny"):

• Played the hotel clerk in The Royal Tenenbaums (I think the one who had to kick Royal out of his room)
  

Source: IMDb

The More You Know: Guess who else was in "Too Something"? Portia de Rossi!


PS - This is my 700th post omg!

Who is Eugene Tooms?

Search: eugene tooms

Why: I suspect that this is some sort of joke (possibly at my expense):

Answer: On "The X-Files," Eugene Tooms was a mutant cannibal. He sustained himself by eating 5 human livers every 30 years and then went into hibernation. He could elongate his body and squeeze into tight places like air vents, chimneys, and toilets.

He was voted #5 on TV Squad's list of All-Time Scariest TV Characters.

He was played by Doug Hutchison, aka Horace Goodspeed (on "LOST") and the douchebag Percy Wetmore in The Green Mile.

Here he is peeping into your window:

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: Yesterday was Bloomsday. How did you celebrate? I wandered around... like a rock.

What is menthol?

Search: menthol

Why: It's in cigarettes, cough drops, and Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion with Cooling Menthol.

Answer: An organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. It is used:

• In non-prescription products (like lip balm and cough medicine) for short-term relief of minor sore throat and minor mouth or throat irritation
• As an antipruritic to reduce itching
• As a topical analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains such as muscle cramps, sprains, headaches and similar conditions, alone or combined with chemicals like camphor, eucalyptus oil or capsaicin (in products like Tiger Balm or IcyHot patches)
• In decongestants (like Vicks Vaporub) for chest and sinuses, in creams, patches, or nose inhalers
• As an additive in certain cigarette brands, for flavor, to reduce the throat and sinus irritation caused by smoking, and arguably to reduce stinky smokers' breath and possibly improve the smell of second-hand smoke
• Commonly used in oral hygiene products and bad-breath remedies like mouthwash, toothpaste, and more generally as a food flavor agent, like in candy and chewing gum

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: There is evidence that menthol has been known in Japan for more than 2000 years, but in the West it was not isolated until 1771, by Hieronymous David Gaubius. Charlie Pace's middle name was Hieronymous (not to be confused with Geronimo).

When were pop-top cans invented?

Search: poptop cans

Why: Kate and Uncle Rico had pop-top DHARMA beer in 1977.


Answer: 1959 by Ermal Cleon Fraze, an Ohio manufacturer of tools and war materials (like gun barrels). He got the idea when he forgot to bring a can opener to a picnic and had to use a car bumper to pry his cans open.

His first version used a lever that pierced a hole in the can, but left sharp edges. Later he created the familiar pull-tab version, which had a ring attached to a rivet for pulling. He patented the pull-top in 1963. The Pittsburgh Brewing Company was the first customer to adopt the design, and soon saw huge sales increases. By 1965, nearly 75% of US breweries were using them.

Source: Inventor of the Week

The More You Know: Ermal Cleon Fraze is one of the best names I have heard in a long time.

What is an outrigger?

Search: outrigger

Why: In Pacific Coast Shark News:

On April 7, 2009 Scott Murdock and a companion were paddling their 21-foot outriggers 2 miles off the entrance to Newport Harbor in Newport Beach.

Answer: Oh! It's that kind of canoe on "Lost" with an extra hull to stabilize the main vessel! We were just wondering what these were called the other day:


Source: Google Images

The More You Know: Here are Ben and Locke paddling around in one. Desmond and Charlie take another to the Looking Glass. Man, I can't believe how long Charlie's been gone.

What is Rufio up to?

Search: rufio

Why: Well, not the real Rufio (he's dead) so much as the actor who plays him. Because last night on "LOST," Miles's hair looked like this:


Answer: Dante Basco did lead voice work for the cartoons "American Dragon: Jake Long" and "Avatar: The Last Airbender," neither of which I have ever seen/heard of. He's recently been in a few obscure movies, including "This Life" (2008) and "Blood and Bone" (2009). Coming up:

• "First Glance" (2009)
• "The Outside" (2009)
• "Subject: I Love You" (2009)
• "Blood River" (2008)

Source: IMDb

The More You Know: Basco was in a few episodes of "The Wonder Years," playing such characters as Eddie, Gym Class Kid, and Kid #3.

What determines a person's blood type?

Search: blood type

Why: On "Lost" this week, Kate said she is a "universal blood donor."

Answer: A blood type is a classification based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, or glycolipids, depending on the blood group system.

In the common ABO System, there are 3 variations of the blood type gene: A, B, and O. Since we all have 2 copies of these genes (1 from each parent), there are 6 possible combinations: AA, BB, OO, AB, AO, BO.

Maybe you can decipher this paragraph about the genes themselves:

The theory that explains how these antibodies are developed states that antigens similar to the A and B antigens occur in nature, including in food, plants and bacteria. After birth an infant gut becomes colonized with normal flora which express these A-like and B-like antigens, causing the immune system to make antibodies to those antigens that the red cells do not possess. So, people who are blood type A will have Anti-B, blood type B will have Anti-A, blood type O will have both Anti-A and Anti-B, and blood type AB will have neither.

Source: Bloodbook.com

The More You Know: Here is how common each blood type is: