[Intellectual] Trivia quiz!

[Pulsifer]

(OP note; I'd prefer if this was kept at a relatively high level of challenge. To some the answers might be obvious, for some they'll be matters of thought and guesses.)


We are from childhood taught that the quickest way to get from point A to point B is a straight line. In which classic mode of transportation is this not true? Why?

 - - - -

First to post the correct answer gets the grabs for the next question. I'd prefer it if we can keep to one question at a time. I'll post the correct answer in a week or so if nobody picks it up.

[Andúnië]

What fun, this is a great idea!
_______________

Flying... because of Earth's curvature?

[Pulsifer]

What fun, this is a great idea!
_______________

Flying... because of Earth's curvature?

Close, but not quite - a good answer, though.

[Insane_Monky]

Is it a Subway or a submarine (depending on the terrain)? Does being submerged then re-amerging reduce the time? (Not sure why it would, it was just a guess...)

[HeruMorna]

Sailing?

I know straight-line distances are only shortest on paper or 2D surfaces and that on Spheres and Cubes and such it isn't but this answer eludes me.

[chaz]

hang gliding?

[Lexicalized]

...Trains?  Because...going around the curves makes them...go faster?  *laughs*  Random guess.

[Pulsifer]

Actually, Heru Morna nailed it. Sailing it is; in real life, you cannot set a course on a sailing vessel in a straight line because of expected course deviations and because the wind will nearly always come at an angle that makes curves with a buffer against bad wind the practical course.

So, Heru - next question? (I'll ask one on Monday evening (GMT) if Heru hasn't returned)

(Arguably, one could take the same answer for flying as well, but modern aircraft have such a combination of mass and speed that the momentum enables one to plot very nearly straight courses. Storms and strong winds are usually compensated for underways, not directly in the planning stage of the trip.)

[HeruMorna]

 

I've just got up so this might be an easy one.


'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' holds the record for maximum Oscars won along with two other movies. One is 'Titanic'. Which is the other?

[Beren One-Hand]

Ben Hur.

[HeruMorna]

Zing.


Go for it Beren One-Hand.

[Beren One-Hand]

Provide the name of the great 20th century British philosopher who was barred from teaching at the College of the City of New York (now City College of the City University of New York) by the state supreme court because of his attacks on religion.

(A personal favorite of mine, and have read and own some of the individual's books - classics and treasures in my collection, even though I disagree with this person in many regards.  Despite that, I have a high amount of respect for this individual and hold them as one of the great intellectual minds of the 20th century)

(I will follow Pursifier.  And if by a week's time, no one guesses it, then I will post the right answer and provid a new challenging question)

Good luck and happy trivia to you all!

[LOTRfan1414]

Hmmmm i don't no many 20th century British philosphers (maybe this shows my ignorance) but i will guess

is it G.E. Moore?

(Probably wrong, just one i have heard of, probably has nothing to do with the subject =X)

[Beren One-Hand]

Wrong answer LOTRfan1414.  Try again.   

[Pulsifer]

Hmm, I'm thinking of Gilbert Ryle but that probably isn't correct.

So I'm going to go with Bertrand Russel, who's pacifism in the first World War probably pissed off a lot of people. Further, as he was IIRC (it's been years since I did my esc. phil.) of the Analytical movement, he might have well attacked religion, though I can't distinctly remember it being mentioned.