Adobe Community: Films That Spawned Metaphors

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Films That Spawned Metaphors

May 21, 2012 5:10 PM

Recently, I used a term, "your Year of the Comet," as a metaphorical reference to something with greater intrinsic value, than the base value of the object. Judging by the looks, and then my wife's question at breakfast the next morning, it was not as universal a metaphor, as I had imagined.

Background: in 1992 there was a minor movie (even within the genre of "wine movies"), Year of the Comet. For years, I, and many others used that term, to designate wines (and other things), that had greater intrinsic value, beyond the value of the wine in the bottle. In the film, there was a search for a very rare bottle of Bdx (IIRC), from the great 1811 vintage. That year, however, was extremely notable, in that it was also the "year of the Great Comet," which was seen over Europe (and Bordeaux), and caused quite a stir. While the wine was great, being from "the Year of the Comet" made it much more valuable.

Extrapolating things a bit, the 1948 Taylor-Fladgate Vintage Port was my wife's "Year of the Comet," as it was also her birth year. Mine was the 1947 Ch. Petrus - my birth year. The intrinsic value was greater, than just the wines in the bottle.

Somewhat similar was Parallax View, where the movie's title was used to indicate someone being heavily manipulated from outside, and while they were working from their own beliefs, those were being orchestrated by others. Anyone ever used that one?

I could well see It's a Wonderful Life being used metaphorically, for many things. I often hear veiled references to "when a bell rings... " I also hear many references to "Mr. Potter," and also to "Potterville."

What are some other movies, that have spawned metaphors, that transcend the actual movie?

Hunt

2614 Views 35 Replies Latest reply: able123, Jun 5, 2012 9:34 AM

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1. Bill Hunt,

May 21, 2012 5:33 PM in reply to Bill Hunt

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One could also argue that Sideways, created at least one metaphor, "the Sideways Effect," where almost instantly, Pinor Noir took about a 300% jump in popularity. It also spawned many "cottage industry" tours, along the "Sideways Trail," featuring stops in the film's tasting rooms, restaurants, and wineries.

Let's just say that at any level, Year of the Comet was no Sideways.

Hunt

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2. John T Smith,

May 21, 2012 7:20 PM in reply to Bill Hunt

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May the Force be with you... or, beware the dark side of the Force
and
Live Long and Prosper (and no, I can NOT hold my fingers like Spock!)
and
Do you feel lucky? (while holding a .44 Magnum)

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3. Bill Hunt,

May 22, 2012 8:54 AM in reply to John T Smith

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John T.,

Good ones!

Thanks,

Hunt

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4. able123,

May 24, 2012 11:23 AM in reply to Bill Hunt

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I'm going to put on my " harvard " hat here....

the definition of metaphor, according to Barzun, requires 4 elements. His example, in his book ' From Dawn to Decadence ' is something like this ( IIRC )
" the ships prow plows the waves "

the elements are the ship and it's prow, and the 'plow' and the definite implication of ' land ' or what the plow is being used on ( dirt ).
Basically you have 4 elements, even though in this example it requires some 'thought' re: what the plow is related to.

The example does NOT say, ' The ships prow plows the waves like a plow does to dirt "... simply because a human brain should make the connection.

Anyway, THAT is a metaphor.

The rest below is for your enjoyment re: other forms of fun language tricks....

barzun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Barzun

A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that describes a subject by asserting that it is, on some point of comparison, the same as another otherwise unrelated object. Metaphor is a type of analogy and is closely related to other rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via association, comparison or resemblance including allegory, hyperbole, and simile.

analogy
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&pq=metaphor%20definition&cp=5&gs_ id=2t&xhr=t&q=analogy+definition&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=analo+definiti on&aq=0c&aqi=g-c4&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb& fp=3e726db061c6c699&biw=1321&bih=523

allegory

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

here's a metaphor that is applicable right now....

' its beer thirty as robodog eats grass on the clock '

oh , wait....that's just NONSENSE !

PS.. Bill.. the wonderful life bell ringing I think might be a ' simile '

geez... back to my coors lite ....

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5. able123,

May 24, 2012 11:32 AM in reply to able123

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now I'm putting on my " make a documentary and edit " hat...

MOTHRA !!!!!

This is FASCINATING !

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/153672475.html

moving from nyc to MN has its advantages.... like getting down to earth and getting dirt on your hands hanging out with farmers and gardeners ! And with some radiation, these bugs can get HUGE !

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6. Bill Hunt,

May 24, 2012 2:25 PM in reply to able123

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Bill.. the wonderful life bell ringing I think might be a ' simile '
Isn't that like a smilie...

Hunt

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7. Bill Hunt,

May 24, 2012 2:27 PM in reply to able123

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You would have enjoyed Blackberry Farm, as a very large Luna Moth came and hung out around one of the cottage's light. Will share an image over the weekend. Speaking of "Mothra!"

Hunt

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8. Bill Hunt,

May 24, 2012 2:28 PM in reply to able123

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Well, my use of "metaphor," was sort of metaphorically speaking...

Hunt

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9. able123,

May 24, 2012 6:06 PM in reply to Bill Hunt

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hehe.. luna moth ! those things are big enough to have their own solar eclipses !

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10. Bill Hunt,

May 24, 2012 6:07 PM in reply to able123

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This one had his own ZIP Code!

Hunt

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11. able123,

May 24, 2012 7:33 PM in reply to Bill Hunt

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LOL... thanks for that laugh ! ( more like a guffaw ) good thing nothing was in my mouth.

it's own AREA CODE !

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12. able123,

May 25, 2012 11:02 AM in reply to able123

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here's a potential metaphor spawned by MAD MAGAZINE... probably circa 1960

" if your feet smell and your nose runs, you are built upside down ! "

??? does that qualify ?? feet and running...and nose and smelling....and reversing them.... hmmmm...more nonsense !

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13. Todd_Kopriva,

May 27, 2012 1:17 AM in reply to able123

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Since _Gas Light_, people refer to a certain kind of psychological manipulation as "gaslighting".

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

I have always found this figure of speech to be very evocative.

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14. John T Smith,

May 27, 2012 7:47 AM in reply to Todd_Kopriva

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Just learned a new term!

And here my wife would accuse me of being wrong, and I thought it was just my aging memory... now I know one of us is "gaslighting" the other... I can't remember which one!

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15. able123,

May 27, 2012 10:41 AM in reply to John T Smith

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that's a new one for me too... never heard of it...
interesting...I think I used to try and do that to one of my ex wives.
Like she would find something in a drawer that wasnt supposed to be there, and I would start telling her she was wrong to go looking in my drawer and try to make her believe she was at fault or some nutty thing like that...
poor girl, what a jerk I was !

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16. Bill Hunt,

May 27, 2012 10:46 AM in reply to Todd_Kopriva

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Todd,

You just got "the big 10," as you shared a term, that was totally new to me also.

I recall the film Gaslight, but had never heard that term applied to such an activity. I like it!!!!

Thank you,

Hunt

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17. Bill Hunt,

May 27, 2012 10:47 AM in reply to John T Smith

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John T.,

Now I see why you are an award winning author! That was LOL funny.

Hunt

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18. able123,

May 29, 2012 10:50 AM in reply to Bill Hunt

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now that its springtime... I kinda feel like doing some spawning of my OWN....

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19. able123,

May 31, 2012 8:04 PM in reply to able123

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movie not made yet....title of this movie is " moving with your computer and plug everything back in - the movie "

metaphor is:

" the electrons of my computer orbited the known galaxy "

yes, we are talking about 'space, the final frontier ! "

and what happened to my graid drive ??? does it think its on mars even though its really in MN ??

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20. Bill Hunt,

May 31, 2012 8:49 PM in reply to able123

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Springtime? Heck, full-fledged Summer is upon us here, in the High Sonoran Desert. We had some mild weather, but I believe that we are now about to pay for it. Well into the 100's for a few days, and by afternoon, even the misting system is not really keeping up. Maybe I need to move on to tall, iced rum drinks, in frozen glasses?

Enjoy MN, until the black flies attack you...

Hunt

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21. able123,

Jun 1, 2012 12:30 PM in reply to Bill Hunt

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yes, you could move to iced rum drinks and instead of little umbrellas in your drink you would use comanche arrow shaped things to stir the drink ??

sheesh..its still going down to around 45 at night around here...and only up to about 70 today... I'm ready for some heat....

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22. able123,

Jun 2, 2012 4:04 PM in reply to able123

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whats with these freaking BIRDS !!!!

EVER since I moved to MN from NYC there's these freaking birds chirping non stop outside my window....like these little stupid birds that are HUNGRY and just got born or something....and they just NEVER STOP CHIRPING !

AND NOT ONLY THAT... how come there's no police sirens and bus noises and FIRE ENGINES SIRENS throughout the NIGHT ??? !!!

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP OUT HERE ?? !!!!

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23. Bill Hunt,

Jun 3, 2012 10:10 AM in reply to able123

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Rod,

It's called "nature... "

I have just the opposite problem. When we are staying in London, San Francisco, Washington DC, etc., all night long, there are shoot outs, sirens, that horrible "chirping" as delivery vehicles back up (they always seem to be doing that, right below MY window, regardless of how many floors up, or on which side, we are located.

When in Rome last year, we had military convoys right below our window, from about 4:00AM, until after Midnight, as there was a big NATO meeting down the street, and every time one of the delegates arrived, or departed, here came the armor, and several attack helicopters, flying at about 50' up and down the Via di Ventura. Then, when the NATO meeting ended, they hosted the IMF meeting, so it all started up again. About the time that the IMF meeting ended, a group from the Congo arrived in town, and also had the full military escort. That group loved to spend much of the night at clubs, arriving back at their hotel (just down the street) at between 2:00 - 4:00AM. You would have slept like a "baby," but it was too much for me. I would spend most of the night on our balcony, drinking. I would tie a sheet around my waist, and anchor that to the bed inside, so I did not topple over the railing. At some point, my wife would just drag me back in, and I would sleep on the floor in a drunken stupor, until the helicopters would start up.

Hunt

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24. able123,

Jun 3, 2012 12:00 PM in reply to Bill Hunt

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LOL....
yep, that sorta stuff puts me right to sleep... If the cops surround my neighbor and shine batman sized search lights in the windows while blaring away on a real loud bull-horn, THIS IS THE POLICE, YOU ARE SURROUNDED !... I wouldn't even wake up.

But these BIRDS ! AAAAAAAAAAAA

I'm gonna go buy a pound of worms at the local bait shop and see if they will eat them and shut up for a change...

Then there's the HEAT issue... this was a new one for me, as I never heard of this before....

This building shuts down it's furnace in the beginning of May ( I moved here on the 15th about ). Sooooo, after 2 days of 90 degree weather the temp plummeted to about 40 ....and I tried to turn on the heat. No heat. I caught a chill and got a cold which went from head to chest and is now walking pneumonia (sp ? ).
Soooo, I was talking to the manager and happened to mention the 'no heat' thing and it was explained to me how there is in fact NO HEAT. So I mentioned, "Well, that's strange.... usually when a building says there's heat in the building, it means there is ACTUALLY HEAT...." And she was wearing a thin blouse while I was wearing two shirts and a wool sweater.... so I didn't exactly get anywhere with changing this strange policy of turning off the entire building's heat supply in May... Live and learn....

Anyway, I bought flannel pajamas so the problem, once I get rid of the pneumonia (sp? ) is solved.

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25. able123,

Jun 3, 2012 7:48 PM in reply to able123

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a bit off topic as usual...but Bill...if you read this....NOW I KNOW why you often recommend 'brightness contrast ' as opposed to levels...

after much trial and error just now... I took a red clip and put it through redcineX and then into cs3 ( go ahead ...laugh...but it was only 4 seconds of HD so my mouse computer dealt OK with it ).

BUT...and this was using mov wrapper and windows media with various codecs in both...exporting with levels adjustment kept washing out ( using windows media player and quicktime players )... like I was losing at least 25% of what I did in levels on the export...

But then I cleared the levels altogether, and used brightness contrast instead..and the export actually came out the way it should have...

for some reason, what I see for levels in cs3 aint what I get when I export ...but using brightness contrast it does export what I see in cs3....

so live and learn... weird but true...

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26. Bill Hunt,

Jun 4, 2012 8:01 AM in reply to able123

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Ah, the "heat thing."

We experienced just the opposite, when we got married. We had just moved into our new apartment, and it was cool that February. The complex shut down the AC units, to do some maintenance. Well, a New Orleans heat wave struck. My poor wife had a lovely wool "travel suit," that she put on, at the end of the reception. We then headed to the new apartment for a post-reception gathering with about 20 family members. It had to be 110F in the apartment, and because of the location in the complex, there was not a breath of air flowing, even with all of the windows open. My wife nearly passed out, but we managed to get into tank-tops and cut-offs, but the poor family members were all in their Winter suits, and had no Summer clothes with them. OK, I can see working on the AC in the Winter, but why did they have to schedule it, for the weekend that we got married - and then there was the uncharacteristic heat-wave!

At least with cold, one can add layers, and layers, until they look like Charlie Chaplin in The Gold Rush.

Just wait until "black fly season" gets underway...

Hunt

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27. able123,

Jun 4, 2012 9:32 AM in reply to Bill Hunt

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Bill,
hmmm, black flies...sheesh....

I ammend above post re: youre suggesting brightness contrast....its shadows highlights you often suggest...

with auto turned off...

sooooo, I just tweaked my brightness contrast effect ( as I have quit using levels due to export screwup ) with shadows highlights..and I like it !!!!

export came out nice, yipee !

now I can probably go into secondary color from here and fine tune some more...but will save that test for later as I have to go back to redcineX and test something else first... ( go to SD from HD and see how THAT works out...)

what fun... at least I'm doing SOMETHING to remind me how to use this stuff...etc.

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28. able123,

Jun 4, 2012 1:24 PM in reply to able123

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did psd numbered export from redcine of 4480x1920 video clip (23.97) ( at 1120x480) and then opened new project in cs3, same dimensions, etc...then applied brightness contrast and shadow highlight to get in general area re: look...then exported mpeg 2 dvd, with widescreen...ntsc, lower first, etc...2997, and made dvd with that stuff...and it looks OK... not great...but OK... got black bars top and bottom, which is OK...as this is wide stuff....

wouldnt play the dvd rw in my built in dvd player of new polaroid tv, but plays OK on computer without really really horrible stuff going on...

so I can live with this for red stuff...

will burn a dvd later ( not rw ) and waste one to see how it looks on tv...

Bill,
got xmas present today..just now...large box....its sitting in hallway as I'm watching it to see if it
a) hisses
b) moves by itself as if a live animal was inside

one should never be too careful when getting packages from strangers is my motto....since the snake made me do the sitting high jump olympic record a couple years ago ....

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29. Bill Hunt,

Jun 4, 2012 2:47 PM in reply to able123

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Other than the bag, some balls, tees, ball markers and some divot repair tools, there should not be anything else in there, unless... hey wait, where's my alligator?

Hunt

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30. able123,

Jun 4, 2012 3:55 PM in reply to Bill Hunt

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Is that what the forked things are ?? divot repair ?? How do you use THOSE things ?? I could see attaching them to end of long stick to pin snake heads...but repair grass ???

What a cool XMAS present !!! Golf Bag in a Box !....
It was like giving birth to a golf bag getting it out... you packed it so well and tight and everything... I could hear a sucking noise as I pulled it out of box and all those noodle things sprang out onto my living room rug ! Was like a little explosion !

Then it took about an hour to get all the noodles into the garbage cause they were static charged and clinged to everything, including my fingers, etc.

Sooo, then I got into exploring the BAG, which ( I am not kidding ) has more zippers than I ever saw on anything before !!!!

Wow, what a cool present !!! THANK YOU BILL !!!!

In one zippered compartment I found
a) a used band aid wrapper
b) a new band aid still in the wrapper ( for fingers etc )
c) 35 cents ( one quarter and one dime U.S. )
d) wood Tee's
e) markers
f) BALLS !!!!! AND GOOD ONES !!!!! ( 9 TOTAL ...plenty for my first round on the short course ! )
g) one ham sandwich

just kidding about the ham sandwich !

wow... this is sooooo cool.. Thanks Bill....I am wondering what the one thing is on the side ( for a club ?? I think I see something for an umbrella ...but then there's the plastic thing for a club or something on the side ?? Is that for the putter ?? )

This is very cool... thanks !!!!! I am going to now put my clubs in the various cubby holes and admire it for the rest of the night !!!!

And then go out and shoot the best game I ever shot out there with those damn birds !!!!

Rodney

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31. able123,

Jun 4, 2012 4:29 PM in reply to able123

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man, I wish I had a camera to shoot golf stuff...something small ...and just play with shooting stuff on the course ...do some pg wodehouse type funny stuff...

anyway, I'll keep dreaming about that sorta thing along with Jim etc...
meantime, I put my clubs in bag and find I have room for a 2 iron....how come I dont have one of those ?? I go from 1,3,5 drivers to 3 iron...sheesh...

no matter, I will make it work out there...I am excited ! Yipee ! golf ho !

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32. Bill Hunt,

Jun 4, 2012 6:37 PM in reply to able123

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Yes, those "snakes' tongues" are divot repair tools, to be used on greens.

When a green is soft, and your approach shot lands, it will tear up a bit of the green, and that is commonly referred to as a "pitch mark." Hold the tool, about half-way down the tines, and insert it (only about half of the tines!), around the divot in the green, and gently push inward. Go all around the divot/pitch mark. Work gently, so that you do not tear the roots of the grass on the green. Work in a circle. When done, tamp the repair down with your putter. The foursome behind you will greatly appreciate it. Some courses will provide special divot repair tools, that have very short tines. Players MUST use those. Course marshalls can be very particular, if they observe a player improperly using a divot repair tool, and will usually stop, and offer instructions.

I always keep one long tee (when hitting driver), and one shorter tee (for other shots from a teeing ground), a divot repair tool, and ball markers, for use on greens. As my eyesight is not getting any better, I use a British £2 coin, as it is larger, and bi-metalic, so that I can find it. Some use a Mexican 1 Peso coin, for similar reasons. Most courses will have a box of tees, diviot tools (if you see some with very short tines, pick up one of those), and then ball markers of different sizes and shapes. I used to use some from a course south of me, as they were larger, but the £2 coin works best for me.

Enjoy,

Hunt

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33. Bill Hunt,

Jun 4, 2012 6:41 PM in reply to able123

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Sorry about the Band-aid - though that I had removed those, but missed one, plus a wrapper. I usually carry a few, but mostly for my wife. Why she does not carry her own Band-aids is a mystery, but I will not go there.

As for the $ 0.35, just tip the bag-boy... OK, but add $2.00, at least.

I think that I used that bag maybe 3x, from when it was given to me, at an earlier Lou Grubb tournament. I liked it, but needed a walking bag, as my CC allows one to walk (they JUST added trollies, but only their own "approved" ones).

Play well, and enjoy.

Hunt

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34. Bill Hunt,

Jun 4, 2012 6:56 PM in reply to able123

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The contemporary selection of clubs has been in flux for sometime. The long-irons 1, 2, 3 and 4 are commonly replaced by either fairway woods (metal now), or by hybrids.

Wife's new set has driver, 3, 5, 7 & 9 fairway woods, then two hybrids, and jumps to 8 and 9, then her wedges, and putter. Were I her, I would probably drop one of the fairway woods, and add a lob-wedge, but she has never warmed to that club. For me, it is used as much as any other club in my bag - except, of course, my sand-wedge last week, but that is a different story.

Last week, I missed that larger bag, as I could have had an inflatable Shamu in one of the pockets, to break out "on the beach."

Enjoy,

Hunt

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35. able123,

Jun 5, 2012 9:34 AM in reply to Bill Hunt

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hehe... could probably fit shamu into the side pocket while still inflated !

will be a good place for my shoes, rain jacket, sweater, hat, sunglasses, etc...

am chomping at bit now to get out there and play...thanks a ton Bill !

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