Yes, I know, we're all distracted by the World Cup. But we must forge ahead with business, even though Germany is up by one as I write.
A recent theme returns for a sub-rosa encore in this week's quiz.
In 1963, physicist Murray Gell-Man assigned the term "quark" to his newly discovered fundamental particle. According to the scientist, he already had the sound of the word in mind, but later got the spelling from a literary work.
What was the book that gave him the word?
As usual, no Googling or looking into the soul of the student sitting next to you. An assortment of rare used quarks to the contestant with the first correct answer posted to comments.
Posted by BT at June 21, 2002 08:10 AMAlice's Adventures in Wonderland? Through the Looking Glass? The Hunting of the Snark? The Complete Works of Lewis Carroll?
Bzztbzztbzztbzztpickmepickmepickmepickme!
Posted by: Rory on June 21, 2002 08:54 AMSorry, Rory. Quark, not snark.
Posted by: BT on June 21, 2002 09:17 AMQuite a lark, Rory, but it's justgotta be The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Or something by a Greek, like QuArchimedes.
Posted by: bootsy on June 21, 2002 09:22 AMBeware of Quantum Ducks -- Quark Quark Quark!
A Donald Duck comic book?
Posted by: scott on June 21, 2002 11:07 AMBoxJam nails it -- it's from Joyce's own version of A Hitchiker's Guide. The text in question:
Three quarks for Muster Mark!
Sure he hasn't got much of a bark
And sure any he has it's all beside the mark.
But O, Wreneagle Almighty, wouldn't un be a sky of a lark
To see that old buzzard whooping about for uns shirt in the dark
And he hunting round for uns speckled trousers around by Palmer- stown Park?
Hohohoho, moulty Mark!
You're the rummest old rooster ever flopped out of a Noah's ark
And you think you're cock of the wark.
Fowls, up! Tristy's the spry young spark
That'll tread her and wed her and bed her and red her
Without ever winking the tail of a feather
And that's how that chap's going to make his money and mark!
Overhoved, shrillgleescreaming. That song sang seaswans.
Congratulations. I promise, next week NO MORE JOYCE QUESTIONS. We'll move on to Flann O'Brien...
Posted by: BT on June 21, 2002 12:14 PMOh, man. See what happens when you're six hours behind the east coast? Noon-fifteen there and I'm still choking down the first cup of coffee.
Posted by: KF on June 21, 2002 12:28 PMThe beauty at the bottom doth truly charm, but down the hall, on a cubular ball, a strange one points to the top of truth, unsure which way is up.
Posted by: opus dark on June 23, 2002 02:34 AM"no Googling or looking into the soul of the student sitting next to you"... oh i love how you write.
Posted by: shauny on June 23, 2002 08:56 PMThat bit about looking into the other student's soul is stolen from a very old Woody Allen joke which you can find, if I'm not mistaken on this great sampler of his early standup: http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?WRK=411584.
Posted by: BT on June 23, 2002 10:49 PMoh.
Posted by: shauny on June 24, 2002 06:51 PMOr watch "Annie Hall" again.
Posted by: rob on June 24, 2002 11:05 PM