20/20 BEHINDSIGHT
When the world ends, I want to be in Cincinnati because it’s always 20 years behind the times. –Mark Twain
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Today being the 20th day of the month, and me being a Cincinnatian of long standing (and other less upright positions), what better time than now and what better person than your humble scribe to put history in context with 20/20 hindsight, and delve into stuff you need to know. Why? You don’t want to go out as an ignoramus when the world comes to an end (20 years sooner for you than me), do you?
Starting with the basics, are you aware of the etymology of  the word TWENTY? It’s from ye olde English twënig (literally “two tens”). I hope you agree that lacking this knowledge makes it evident that your imagination was in need of intellectual stimulation. For example, now you should be able to see how much more memorable Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address could have been had it begun: Four twënigs and seven years ago….
Speaking of “two tens,” by counting the letters of the alphabet on the digits of your two meat hooks twice, you will find (unless you’re missing a finger) that the twënigth letter is T, which may come in handy in situations where you wouldn’t want to take off your stinky shoes and socks (not that counting on your toes is anything to be ashamed of).
Moving on as I sit on my behind, there was once a quiz show on radio and TV titled TWENTY QUESTIONS, based on an old-timey traditional game called TWËNIG QUESTIONS. While I am not quite ancient enough to give eyewitness to the latter, I was around in the 1950s when the former appeared weekly (or weakly, if you had bad reception) on the DuMont Television Network. If you are too dilatory to have been around at that time, here’s a DuMontstration of what you missed:
I could go on, but my vast research team and I don’t want to feed you more knowledge than you can digest at one sitting. Tune in again May 25, when (if I feel like it) I shall once again attempt to enlighten you with more of same. Remember, you heard it here last, because we are committed, and you can be too.
Don Frankel, 
The Observation Post 
calmkate 12:29 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink |
oh oh MrM now you are starting to sound like TrulyUnplugged .. not daring to refer to your committed status, I refer to another blogger who writes in a similar vein! Look her up as I feel you two have a great deal in common!
Can find an interview with her plus a link to her blog on my 2nd site Meet the Bloggers …
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mistermuse 8:29 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink |
Thanks for the reference to TrulyUnplugged. I liked her blog, but based on her three most recent posts, I’m not convinced that we “have a great deal in common.” For one thing (make that two), I see myself as more private and less loquacious (please don’t take that negatively — it’s just different strokes for different folks). But that’s based on just three posts — when I have time, I’ll read more of her work and perhaps find that “similar vein” (or at least give it a shot). 🙂
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calmkate 8:32 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink
I think you will find it .. she is dealing with some personal stuff just now, so reading some earlier posts is a good idea.
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calmkate 8:35 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink
she may be more chatty but she weaves music in and out of her posts and has some interesting twists .. each to our own
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trulyunplugged 9:32 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink |
I thought the very same thing, Kate….wordplay, “twisted sense of humour”…my “Ebony And Irony” post is likely a better example of commonalities 🙂
(and, thanks for the plug 🙂 )
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mistermuse 3:06 pm on May 20, 2017 Permalink
Enjoyed EBONY AND IRONY — especially the part about Kramer and Seinfeld. Overall, I thought the post was a bit too rambling — but when you’re “truly unplugged,” I can’t say you’re not being true to your name. In any case, my opinion is only a matter of taste — “each to our own,” as Kate put it — just as I know that the way I write isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (or cup of “T” as in “Twënig”).
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trulyunplugged 3:24 pm on May 20, 2017 Permalink
Yes, Kramer reference was my fav part, too. And, you’re right, to each their own–I appreciate your candor 🙂 As for the “rambling” that is my fav brand of creative expression…I find it freeing and fun. It’s open-minded of you to read that which goes against your grain…which I’m sure gives you a richer appreciation for “your cup of tea” tastes 🙂
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calmkate 6:12 pm on May 20, 2017 Permalink
hey now he might get it if he reads that post .. glad you could see it
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Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC 12:53 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink |
Well THAT was a highly amusing intro to a little piece of broadcast history – black and white, even. I’m not sure I ever saw this show, but it reminds me of What’s My Line, which I recall dimly and To Tell the Truth (which my father was on when I was a child — the other contestants were supposed to be him). TV has certainly changed quite a bit over the years, hasn’t it? Measured intellect has been replaced by reality brawn and fast pace car chases – in color!
Since I am currently residing in Cincinnati myself, I guess I will be the beneficiary of those twënig extra years as well – but I’m not sure that’s such a pleasant proposition, given the direction we seem to be headed of late.
Great post!
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
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Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC 1:04 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink |
PS. Early this evening I was invited by a friend and colleague to my first Meetup (Boomer edition), where I spoke to a man who may well show up on your blog ere long. It came up during the obligatory “What do you do?” conversation. He teaches music history at the college level – not the classics, btw, popular music. My next question seemed at first a non-sequitur: “Do you blog?”
I had hoped that perhaps I had run into the Muse himself. When the answer was no, I sent him your way.
xx,
mgh
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mistermuse 8:39 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink
Thanks, Madelyn. I’m glad you didn’t run into me because bones break much more easily at my age. Hopefully he’ll identify himself if he shows up on my blog, otherwise we shall be as two ships that pass in the night without giving each other the time of day.
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Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC 10:25 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink
::groan:: — his lack of punning might have been a clue. 🙂
If I go to another of their events and see him again I’ll make sure to tell him to let you know I said hello.
xx,
mgh
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Carmen 6:53 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink |
Madelyn,
I can see why you’d think the guy was Mr. Muse. Was he brilliant and funny, too? 🙂
Mr. Muse –
1953 – the year of hubby’s birth! Also the year our house was built, which we purchased in 1978. A good year, to be sure.
That film clip — wow! Have ads regressed, eh? I don’t know about you, but I often have no idea what product is being pushed with the ads on TV these days; they leave me wondering what was going on. .. I just shake my head. I mean, I still think of monkeys swinging on chandeliers when I see Red Rose tea. And remember, “Never – no never – put water in a Habitat soup!”
Here in Canada, we watched ‘Front Page Challenge’ for years, which was obviously based on ‘Twenty Questions’.
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mistermuse 9:05 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink |
Good observation about the film clip and ads, Carmen. My wife and I feel likewise (“no idea what product is being pushed”) about some of the commercials on TV….but my reaction is to grab the remote, change channels and return to the program in a minute or two, which (for some reason) she doesn’t appreciate. Apparently she’s afraid I won’t get back in time, that that only happens about 9 times out of 10. 😦
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Carmen 9:13 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink
Oh, my. Are you related to my husband? 😉
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trulyunplugged 9:32 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink |
I love this post…just delightful…thanks for sharing 🙂
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Ricardo 9:39 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink |
Your research team is far vaster than mine, Sr. Muse
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Don Frankel 5:47 am on May 21, 2017 Permalink |
20 questions is an old parlor game that people would play before video games, TV and radio. It doesn’t translate well into a TV show but it obviously morphed into What”s My Line and To Tell the Truth.
What I remember of old TV and this bears it out, is they had no idea what to put on the air most of the time.
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mistermuse 7:48 am on May 21, 2017 Permalink |
You’re right, Don — it is an old parlor game (dating back to the 1800s) and didn’t translate well into a TV show, as that clip makes evident….though the subsequent What’s My Line did a much better job along the same lines.
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