The Friday Quiz: Sluggers
Another late hit:
At what was nearly the height of the British Admiral Horatio Nelson's fame, in 1800, the story spread of a very unusual single combat the British admiral Horatio Nelson took part in quite early in his career, while he was a midshipman on the HMS Carcass in the early 1770s.
The tale bore an important similarity to a famous fight that the American explorer Jedediah Smith found himself in nearly 50 years later. Both have been represented by painters.
In what way were the two combats similar?
First correct answer posted to comments wins a Ssmoothiemoothie, which is a sampling of many smoothies, made into a meta-smoothie. The only flavor available is grey. No Googling or reading the protein-powder grounds of a smoothie in tea-leaf fashion to predict the answer. One guess per comment but comment as often as you like.
Comments
HMS Carcass? Seems an ill-advised name...
Answer: They both fought giant-sized creatures, hand to, uh, hand. Nelson fought a giant squid and Smith, a bear ('natch).
Posted by: art![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 2, 2008 05:36 AM
Did they fight on tall platforms with those giant q-tip sticks until one fell down?
Posted by: james![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 2, 2008 02:15 PM
Both combats took place on land, mano a mano, for the hand of Beatrix the Barmaid and giant size can of protein powder. Ah, that Beatrix coul mix a mean meta-smoothie.
Posted by: Jonathan![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 3, 2008 11:50 PM
They both escaped death when a gun misfired at point-blank range.
Posted by: boxjam![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 4, 2008 12:35 PM
Art is half-right.
Posted by: BT![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 4, 2008 01:53 PM
The story of my life. Fortunately, we're glass half-full around these parts. I'm guessing the bear is right -- have I seen this painting? Presuming then that Nelson fought while on shore leave, perhaps he too fought a bear?
Posted by: art![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 5, 2008 06:49 AM
That's pretty much right -- it was a polar bear during a stop on the Carcass's exploration of Arctic latitudes...
Posted by: BT![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 5, 2008 02:12 PM
Wow, a goddamned polar bear? They are seriously badass.
Posted by: Scraps![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 6, 2008 02:59 AM
I hope in the painting, the polar bear was dressed in pirate stuff.
Posted by: boxjam![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 6, 2008 12:27 PM
He was dressed the way anyone on the receiving end of an imminent Horatio Nelson-delivered arse-whuppin' would have been dressed: in cold sweat.
And don't tell me polar bears don't sweat. Look at this painting:
http://www.britsattheirbest.com/heroes_adventurers/h_nelson.htm
That bear's a-sweating!
Posted by: BT![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 6, 2008 11:22 PM
By the way, I suspect that a little clicking around "britsattheirbest.com" may offend your pansy liberal sensitivities. Be advised.
Posted by: BT![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wombatfile.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 6, 2008 11:24 PM