Summer Hiatus Challenge 2017--Round 2 Instant Replay thread (SPOILERS)

[hbomb1947]

On another front, though I am typically loath to criticize point valuation, it certainly seems to me that El Escorial is a much more difficult get than the Alaric-Visigoth Pavlovian response.

As is the former Prime Minister of Spain, based on how difficult it's playing here. Former World Leaders can be tricky, especially when they didn't get a lot of press in the U.S. and have a name as easy to mangle as "Zapatero." I remembered how he got elected in the wake of the Madrid train bombings, and had a pretty good recollection that his name began with "Zap," but I couldn't remember the rest of it. I've made a point of memorizing Rajoy as the current PM of Spain, but this seems to have been at the expense of his predecessor fading from my memory banks.

On another note, on the 15-pointer, I saw that someone answered "Goths." I would think that should be negged as not specific enough, as there were also the Ostrogoths who ruled over separate territories from the Visigoths (never Spain), and were led by different rulers than the Visigoths (and never by Alaric).

[KellyLasiter]

On another front, though I am typically loath to criticize point valuation, it certainly seems to me that El Escorial is a much more difficult get than the Alaric-Visigoth Pavlovian response.

As is the former Prime Minister of Spain, based on how difficult it's playing here. Former World Leaders can be tricky, especially when they didn't get a lot of press in the U.S. and have a name as easy to mangle as "Zapatero." I remembered how he got elected in the wake of the Madrid train bombing, and had a pretty good recollection that his name began with "Zap," but I couldn't remember the rest of it. I've made a point of memorizing Rajoy as the current PM of Spain, but this seems to have been at the expense of his predecessor fading from my memory banks.

On another note, on the 15-pointer, I saw that someone answered "Goths." I would think that should be negged as not specific enough, as there were also the Ostrogoths who were led by different rulers than the Visigoths (and never by Alaric).

I knew Zapatero once, and I think my brain was on the right track because I kept snagging on "Zapata" but knew that was a different guy in a different country. COME ON, BRAIN, I KNOW IT'S ONE OF THE SHOE GUYS!

Randomness: I'm now remembering that I once wrote "711-1492" in my class notes, during a lecture that touched briefly on the period of Moorish control, but didn't write down any context for the numbers. A few months later I was trying to figure out whose phone number that was.

[hbomb1947]

Randomness: I'm now remembering that I once wrote "711-1492" in my class notes, during a lecture that touched briefly on the period of Moorish control, but didn't write down any context for the numbers. A few months later I was trying to figure out whose phone number that was.

You should have dialed that number, and then when whoever picked up, you could have said, "Moops! I think I have the wrong number."

[KellyLasiter]

Randomness: I'm now remembering that I once wrote "711-1492" in my class notes, during a lecture that touched briefly on the period of Moorish control, but didn't write down any context for the numbers. A few months later I was trying to figure out whose phone number that was.

You should have dialed that number, and then when whoever picked up, you could have said, "Moops! I think I have the wrong number."

[This Is Kirk!]

The word "senescence" doesn't ring a bell to me. I'm hoping "senility" gets some love. Here's one of the definitions of senile per M-W:

being a cell that cannot undergo mitosis and is in the stage of declining functional capacities prior to the time of death senile red blood cells

Seem awfully close and certainly within the realm of "I want to give you points."

That definition seems a bit non-standard to me. Whereas I am very familiar with the use of senescence in this context, I can't say that I've ever used senility used in any sense but the one of cognitive decline. It may just mean that I've led a sheltered existence, but there you go...

I wasn't familiar with that definition either, but the only word I knew that started with "sen-" and had something to do with being old was "senile" so figured it was worth a chance. Biology is probably my weakest science category.

[hbomb1947]

The word "senescence" doesn't ring a bell to me. I'm hoping "senility" gets some love. Here's one of the definitions of senile per M-W:

being a cell that cannot undergo mitosis and is in the stage of declining functional capacities prior to the time of death senile red blood cells

Seem awfully close and certainly within the realm of "I want to give you points."

I think senility doesn't fit the clue. It doesn't constitute "the gradual decay of cells" of an organism, and doesn't specifically lead to death. It simply refers to a decline in cognitive capabilities, as well as some associated physical symptoms, and is caused by Alzheimer's, an illness, or a brain disorder.

https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/senile-dementia/

[This Is Kirk!]

The word "senescence" doesn't ring a bell to me. I'm hoping "senility" gets some love. Here's one of the definitions of senile per M-W:

being a cell that cannot undergo mitosis and is in the stage of declining functional capacities prior to the time of death senile red blood cells

Seem awfully close and certainly within the realm of "I want to give you points."

I think senility doesn't fit the clue. It doesn't constitute "the gradual decay of cells" of an organism, and doesn't specifically lead to death. It simply refers to a decline in cognitive capabilities, as well as some associated physical symptoms, and is caused by Alzheimer's, an illness, or a brain disorder.

https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/senile-dementia/

See the definition I cited. It's almost exactly that.

[alietr]

On another front, though I am typically loath to criticize point valuation, it certainly seems to me that El Escorial is a much more difficult get than the Alaric-Visigoth Pavlovian response.

Yes, looking through the responses, there are numerous clams on both the 9 and 12 point questions but plenty of people got the 3, 6, and 15 questions. I was wracking my brain to see if I could come up with the monastery, but am glad I didn't stress about it all day like I did with those evil, evil heteronyms since I don't think I've even heard of El Escorial.

[hbomb1947]

The word "senescence" doesn't ring a bell to me. I'm hoping "senility" gets some love. Here's one of the definitions of senile per M-W:

being a cell that cannot undergo mitosis and is in the stage of declining functional capacities prior to the time of death senile red blood cells

Seem awfully close and certainly within the realm of "I want to give you points."

I think senility doesn't fit the clue. It doesn't constitute "the gradual decay of cells" of an organism, and doesn't specifically lead to death. It simply refers to a decline in cognitive capabilities, as well as some associated physical symptoms, and is caused by Alzheimer's, an illness, or a brain disorder.

https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/senile-dementia/

See the definition I cited. It's almost exactly that.

While I understand your point, senility of a cell doesn't necessarily lead to its death:

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2 ... ls/page-01

Indeed, according to this link, senile cells don't die when they're supposed to.

Much less does it necessarily lead to the death of the organism containing it, which is what the clue pretty strongly appeared to be asking about (the death of the organism brought upon by decay of its cells); the same link I've cited to here says a healthy immune system removes senile (or senescent) cells. I guess it's up to the scorers whether there was enough ambiguity in the clue to encompass cellular senility.

[This Is Kirk!]

It seems like you are subjecting this to a level of scrutiny that isn't really justified. The definition is well within the bounds of being "close enough" in my book.

[Woof]

On another front, though I am typically loath to criticize point valuation, it certainly seems to me that El Escorial is a much more difficult get than the Alaric-Visigoth Pavlovian response.

Yes, looking through the responses, there are numerous clams on both the 9 and 12 point questions but plenty of people got the 3, 6, and 15 questions. I was wracking my brain to see if I could come up with the monastery, but am glad I didn't stress about it all day like I did with those evil, evil heteronyms since I don't think I've even heard of El Escorial.

[alietr]

On another front, though I am typically loath to criticize point valuation, it certainly seems to me that El Escorial is a much more difficult get than the Alaric-Visigoth Pavlovian response.

Yes, looking through the responses, there are numerous clams on both the 9 and 12 point questions but plenty of people got the 3, 6, and 15 questions. I was wracking my brain to see if I could come up with the monastery, but am glad I didn't stress about it all day like I did with those evil, evil heteronyms since I don't think I've even heard of El Escorial.

Woof logs on to JBoard ... Account banned?!?! Wha ... ?

[CoachP]

The second category on D4 was ironic-watched a Rick Steves show on Madrid/Spain last night-and it featured Guernica but I couldn't pull the town name out (or it wasn't mentioned). I do have that show to thank for El Escorial, however.

[CoachP]

Oh geez,
the name of the town was Guernica?
Don't know why I thought it was something else.....

[cheezguyty]

Are there statistics available anywhere on the percent correct for the field on specific questions?

Click on "Calendar" at the bottom of the SHC Standings and then click on any category name to see the number of right and wrong responses and clams for each question in that category.

[Magna]

As is the former Prime Minister of Spain, based on how difficult it's playing here. Former World Leaders can be tricky, especially when they didn't get a lot of press in the U.S. and have a name as easy to mangle as "Zapatero." I remembered how he got elected in the wake of the Madrid train bombings, and had a pretty good recollection that his name began with "Zap," but I couldn't remember the rest of it. I've made a point of memorizing Rajoy as the current PM of Spain, but this seems to have been at the expense of his predecessor fading from my memory banks.

I'm reading a book in which he's mentioned a couple of times, but his name wasn't coming to me.

[Woof]

On another front, though I am typically loath to criticize point valuation, it certainly seems to me that El Escorial is a much more difficult get than the Alaric-Visigoth Pavlovian response.

Yes, looking through the responses, there are numerous clams on both the 9 and 12 point questions but plenty of people got the 3, 6, and 15 questions. I was wracking my brain to see if I could come up with the monastery, but am glad I didn't stress about it all day like I did with those evil, evil heteronyms since I don't think I've even heard of El Escorial.

Woof logs on to JBoard ... Account banned?!?! Wha ... ?

And you're calling ME evil??? PKB, Andy, PKB.

[Magna]

For the R2D4 8-pointer, I'm hoping that it won't matter what form the answer is in. Looking at the clue again, I think it's asking for a noun,

SpoilerShow

sentience,

but I gave the adjective form,

SpoilerShow

sentient.

I think I picked up on the second half of the clue ("it's debatable whether this applies to animals or Westworld hosts"), which seems to ask for an adjective. Anyway, I'm hoping the "we want to give you points" principle will mean it's good enough.

[Foretopman]

Are there statistics available anywhere on the percent correct for the field on specific questions?

Click on "Calendar" at the bottom of the SHC Standings and then click on any category name to see the number of right and wrong responses and clams for each question in that category.

Cool. Thanks.

[Foretopman]

For the Sen-sational 6 pointer, I said simply Seneca rather than Seneca Falls. Close enough?