Possibly Unaswerable Questions

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

1. Why is it called "Good Friday"?

It should be called Black Friday or Friday: Revenge of the State.

2. Why is it called "Best of Both Worlds"?

Clearly there is no "best" in Borg life. It's not like Picard is living in Japan enjoying the occidental and the oriental while sipping Earl Grey.

 

[Amaris]

1. Why is it called "Good Friday"?

It should be called Black Friday or Friday: Revenge of the State.

It is called "Good Friday" because it is the advent of Christ's resurrection, that though Jesus was crucified, he would rise again. The act of his judgment itself is brutal and seems hopeless, but the message of the Gospel is to bring hope to the hopeless, and to emphasize the triumph over death that Jesus was to have accomplished.

2. Why is it called "Best of Both Worlds"?

Clearly there is no "best" in Borg life. It's not like Picard is living in Japan enjoying the occidental and the oriental while sipping Earl Grey.

Because from the perspective of the Borg, it is the best of both worlds. The intellect, diplomacy, and personal experience of Jean-Luc Picard, with the power and evolution of the Borg. In their eyes, it is only natural that to have such a combination would equal greater success on the part of the Borg.

Just my opinions on those.

 

[1001001]

If the plural of tooth is teeth, then why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"Joey, did you ever wonder why dogs always sniff each other in the..." (Captain Clarence Oveur)

"I think it's odd that we have an animal called the Fly, but not one called the Walk. Seems to me that would have come first." (George Carlin)

"Do ants have uncles and...aunts? Or do they call them 'persons'? Uncles and persons?" (Garrison Keillor)

It is called "Good Friday" because it is the advent of Christ's resurrection, that though Jesus was crucified, he would rise again. The act of his judgment itself is brutal and seems hopeless, but the message of the Gospel is to bring hope to the hopeless, and to emphasize the triumph over death that Jesus was to have accomplished.

Spot on!

And in a very real and literal sense: "Word Up."

 

[Trekker4747]

1. Why is it called "Good Friday"?

It's most likely called that from the mashing and changes of languages over the centuries and centuries of its recognition. "Good" in this case may refer (and probably can be traced back to) "Holy."

2. Why is it called "Best of Both Worlds"?

It was a battle between the "best" the Borg has to offer and the 'best" the Federation had to offer in terms of battle. Also it could be argued that when the Borg captured and assimilated Picard they "had the best of both worlds" in him as he represented the "best" of the Federation and the assimilation gave him the "best" of the Borg.

 

[Christopher]

1. Why is it called "Good Friday"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday

Good Friday (from the senses pious, holy of the word "good"), is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.

2. Why is it called "Best of Both Worlds"?

Clearly there is no "best" in Borg life. It's not like Picard is living in Japan enjoying the occidental and the oriental while sipping Earl Grey.

I've always taken the title to be a sardonic reference to the Borg's view of themselves -- they believe they represent the best of both worlds, the ideal fusion of organic and cybernetic, but of course they're nothing of the kind.

It could also be a reference to Riker's dilemma in the episode. One way the phrase "(having) the best of both worlds" is used is to refer to reconciling two seemingly incompatible goals or ideals. Riker is trying to choose between his desire to advance his career and his desire to stay aboard the Enterprise, and so the title becomes a question: is it possible for him to have the best of both worlds, or does he have to settle for one?

Now, I'm curious about the phrase as a common expression, aside from its use in that specific TV episode. Why do we say "the best of both worlds"? Why "worlds" specifically? This site suggests that it came about as a variation of Pangloss's "this is the best of all possible worlds" from Candide, and I suppose that's plausible.


Now then: What is the difference between a duck?

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

1. Why is it called "Good Friday"?

It should be called Black Friday or Friday: Revenge of the State.

It is called "Good Friday" because it is the advent of Christ's resurrection, that though Jesus was crucified, he would rise again. The act of his judgment itself is brutal and seems hopeless, but the message of the Gospel is to bring hope to the hopeless, and to emphasize the triumph over death that Jesus was to have accomplished.

Well yes but if you go to a service on that day all the celebration stuff is most notably absent, reserved for Sunday. I think it would have a better emphasis to make the name all about the death. I need to write to someone with this suggestion. As Trekker pointed out could be a mushing of the word "Holy" into "Good" but that's no reason to leave it mushed like that.

2. Why is it called "Best of Both Worlds"?

Clearly there is no "best" in Borg life. It's not like Picard is living in Japan enjoying the occidental and the oriental while sipping Earl Grey.

Because from the perspective of the Borg, it is the best of both worlds. The intellect, diplomacy, and personal experience of Jean-Luc Picard, with the power and evolution of the Borg. In their eyes, it is only natural that to have such a combination would equal greater success on the part of the Borg.

And that's why Locutus was given a name. The being who would bridge the gap between individual existence and collective existence. Yes this works from the Borg perspective.

 

[Christopher]

As Trekker pointed out could be a mushing of the word "Holy" into "Good" but that's no reason to leave it mushed like that.

Words don't always mean the same thing to everyone in every era. Meanings evolve and branch out over time. "Good" in the sense of "holy" is seen in other usages such as "the Good Book" for the Bible and "good tide" as a reference to Christmas or Shrove Tuesday.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Words don't always mean the same thing to everyone in every era. Meanings evolve and branch out over time. "Good" in the sense of "holy" is seen in other usages such as "the Good Book" for the Bible and "good tide" as a reference to Christmas or Shrove Tuesday.

Yes that is why in the future "The Eternal Tide" will be understood to refer to the perfect and ceaseless message that Kathryn Janeway brings to the world, forever and ever amen.

 

[Data Holmes]

1. Why is it called "Good Friday"?

It should be called Black Friday or Friday: Revenge of the State.

Good marketing. The Church™ has always been great at marketing.

2. Why is it called "Best of Both Worlds"?

Clearly there is no "best" in Borg life. It's not like Picard is living in Japan enjoying the occidental and the oriental while sipping Earl Grey.

I always thought it was a bit of an inside comment, since this was the first two part season cliffhanger/season opener in trek. Thus you had the "best of both worlds" in a hell of a season end and a built in season opener.

 

[Trekker4747]

On the radio this morning they mentioned that there were "Good Friday Celebrations" underway in Jerusalem this made me raise an eyebrow as it didn't make much sense. It seems today is also Passover which may have been what they were celebrating and whomever wrote the news report was confused.

 

[scotpens]

Why do we say “head-over-heels in love” when having one’s head over one’s heels is the normal position? Shouldn’t it be “heels-over-head”?

And why is it that alcoholics suffering from delirium tremens are always supposed to see pink elephants? Why not purple horses or green bears or turquoise pussycats?

(Okay, just funnin’ with ya. I know the answer to that one.)

 

[Trekker4747]

Why do we say “head-over-heels in love” when having one’s head over one’s heels is the normal position? Shouldn’t it be “heels-over-head”?

One answer: 69.

 

[Data Holmes]

Why do we drive our cars on a parkway,
And park our cars on a Driveway?

-Seinfeld

 

[Christopher]

Why do we say “head-over-heels in love” when having one’s head over one’s heels is the normal position? Shouldn’t it be “heels-over-head”?

It was, originally. It was used that way as far back as the 1300s to mean doing a somersault or a handstand, or being bowled over literally or figuratively. But somehow, in the late 1700s, people started getting it backward, and it stuck that way. Perhaps because "head over heels" is simply easier to say or fits the rhythms and patterns of the language better than "heels over head."

http://word-ancestry.livejournal.com/31324.html
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/head-over-heels.html

Apparently Davy Crockett is the first one recorded using it as a metaphor for being overwhelmed by love.

Why do we drive our cars on a parkway,
And park our cars on a Driveway?

I often wonder why we say we drive cars and ride bicycles. It should really be the other way around, because "drive" means to propel forward, and a bicycle is propelled by the person upon it while a car is propelled by its engine and the person is simply an occupant. I think the usages are leftovers from horse-based transportation. Biking is called "riding" by analogy with riding a horse, while being in a car is called "driving" by analogy with using the reins and whip to drive your cart's horses forward.

 

[Amaris]

Why do we say “head-over-heels in love” when having one’s head over one’s heels is the normal position? Shouldn’t it be “heels-over-head”?

It was, originally. It was used that way as far back as the 1300s to mean doing a somersault or a handstand, or being bowled over literally or figuratively. But somehow, in the late 1700s, people started getting it backward, and it stuck that way. Perhaps because "head over heels" is simply easier to say or fits the rhythms and patterns of the language better than "heels over head."

http://word-ancestry.livejournal.com/31324.html
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/head-over-heels.html

Apparently Davy Crockett is the first one recorded using it as a metaphor for being overwhelmed by love.

Interestingly enough (or not), I still perceive it, in my mind, as one who does a somersault/flip/is bowled over out of sheer elation. I figure my brain corrects for the incorrect usage.

 

[scotpens]

Apparently Davy Crockett is the first one recorded using it [“head-over heels”] as a metaphor for being overwhelmed by love.

Really? And all this time I thought it was the Go-Gos.

I often wonder why we say we drive cars and ride bicycles. . . . I think the usages are leftovers from horse-based transportation. Biking is called "riding" by analogy with riding a horse, while being in a car is called "driving" by analogy with using the reins and whip to drive your cart's horses forward.

I never thought about it, but that etymology makes sense. We even speak of “riding” a motorcycle as opposed to “driving” a car — probably, as you suggest, by analogy to the straddling position one takes when riding a horse.

 

[Data Holmes]

I often wonder why we say we drive cars and ride bicycles. . . . I think the usages are leftovers from horse-based transportation. Biking is called "riding" by analogy with riding a horse, while being in a car is called "driving" by analogy with using the reins and whip to drive your cart's horses forward.

I never thought about it, but that etymology makes sense. We even speak of “riding” a motorcycle as opposed to “driving” a car — probably, as you suggest, by analogy to the straddling position one takes when riding a horse.

So much relating to cars is derived from the old horse days. THe width of cars, and roads, was all determined by the width of horses. A single lane road is two horses wide, which is the same measurement as the standard wagon, and thus that of the car.

THe side of the car we sit on was the side of the "driver" in wagons, with the right side reserved for the "shotgun" position, the guard who actually carried the shotgun used to defend from raiders and robbers.

The reason we drive on the right side of the road was because when two people on horseback passed each other, they would do so with the weapons side, or right side, away from the passer.

 

[Balrog]

BOBW -

I always thought it wasn't a reference to Picard or the Borg, but Riker. He was playing it safe, staying on the Enterprise as XO, and never having to make the tough decisions.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I always think of BOBW as Picard's story.