Who is Anon E. Mouse anyway?

Not to totally derail this thread, but...

Michael Shackleford, a.k.a. Wizard of Vegas, a.k.a. Wizard of Odds, a.k.a. Wizard of Macau, has picked up another alias. Or I never knew this other alias.

It seems that this question has earned insertion in the latest Ask The Wizard - 276.

Quote:

Simple question. What is a Jack anyway, as in the playing card? Anon E. Mouse

"Anon E. Mouse"? Really? I mean, like, really?



For the Record, this Ask The Wizard also included the Tower of Hanoi question, and a lottery question, both posed by Anon E. Mouse, but the Tower was more of a rant, where here, the Wiz was really asking a question, so I made mention of it here.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

"Anon E. Mouse"? Really? I mean, like, really?

Is it that bad? I've discussed this before, but I am having the hardest time getting good questions for the column. So, every question asked by Anon I actually made up myself. Now, please do not start flooding this thread with bad questions. Make new threads for them.

Quote: Wizard

Quote: DJTeddyBear

"Anon E. Mouse"? Really? I mean, like, really?

Is it that bad? I've discussed this before, but I am having the hardest time getting good questions for the column. So, every question asked by Anon I actually made up myself. Now, please do not start flooding this thread with bad questions. Make new threads for them.

Yeah. It's a major groaner.

I see no reason that such questions can't indicate that you initiated it without the alias. If it makes you feel better, include a disclaimer such as "Asked to get alternate viewpoints" etc. But Anon E. Mouse?

Quote: DJTeddyBear

But Anon E. Mouse?

For what it's worth, Anon has been asking questions for about a year now, and you're the first to complain about the name.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I see no reason that such questions can't indicate that you initiated it without the alias. If it makes you feel better, include a disclaimer such as "Asked to get alternate viewpoints" etc. But Anon E. Mouse?

Why not? It's a fine tradition in literary circles to use pseudonyms. In Hollywood there was, until 2000, an official pseudonym for directors who wished to disown a film: Alan Smithee. I woudln't be surprised if "advice" columnists also do something similar, albeit with different pseudonyms. In the "Ask the Wizard" case, though, as he does use interesting questions psoted here by other members, and soes answer interesting questions posed to him elsewhere, the pseudonym for his own questions is fine; it's also an in-joke for this site.

But if the Wizard ever tires of that pseudonym, or it gets to be too much of a joke, I freely submit one I'm not using any more: Marina Brooke (you're free to guess which two TV actresses that name references). I'm working on a new one, should I need it.

Complain? Nah. I was mostly making an observation (apparently, a late one). I thought you're doing it because you feel weird answering your own questions. If so, there's no reason to feel that way. If you PREFER the pseudonym, that's different. No reason you can't have fun if you want.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

If you PREFER the pseudonym, that's different. No reason you can't have fun if you want.

Fields used several when he was a writer on his films. I always liked his alias: Mahatma Kane Jeeves.

I like the Mouse. Keep the Mouse. But should it be Moose?

The next one can be from, "Ted E. Bear"

Quote: Ayecarumba

The next one can be from, "Ted E. Bear"

LOL
When I used to work bars, if a drunk girl asked my real name, my initial answer was often, "Theodore Edward Baer; B-A-E-R".

Any more suggestions? I'll use all good ones at least once. Just nobody suggest Ben Dover.

Quote: Wizard

Any more suggestions? I'll use all good ones at least once. Just nobody suggest Ben Dover.

I think questions from "Sal Sagev" would be appropriate, (but not as funny).

Quote: Wizard

Any more suggestions? I'll use all good ones at least once. Just nobody suggest Ben Dover.

How about this one:

Wise Art, of Odds, KY (According to Google Maps, this "town" is located just off route 3 at 37.755N, 82.690W.)

Man, I didn't think I was stirring up so much controversy that it should get spun off to a new thread!

A. Trebek

Quote: dm

A. Trebek

That wasn't posted in the form of a question.

Casey Nowhiner

Questions on Asian games can come from "G. June"

Justin Case

You can steal the names used by famous Golden Age science fiction authors. Offhand I can think of two:

Don A. Stewart
Paul French
Anson McDonald

Now, one of them was Isaac Asimov, another was John W. Campbell Jr and another was Robert A. Heinlein. Which is which?

Not that I expect anyone to know, of course. :)

Say Google Doodle 5 times fast, I dare you.

Anagrams:

Decimal S. Halfchoker
S. Hall from Chickadee
Charisma Fleckholed
Liefcharm S. Headlock
E.L. Checks from Dahlia
Ed Clack from Shale, HI
Alice from Chalkshed
Dirk Macho, El Flesh, CA
Coach Flash Milkered

Just because nobody else has tossed Jack Potter or Jaques Pozzi in there, I'll suggest those. They aren't worse than the Mouse.

Have William Gordon-Cumming ask a question about Baccarat and/or cheating.

Marcus Wendell was the evil casino owner on the UK TV show "Hustle" (well, one of the evil casino owners on that show, now that I think about it ...). You could have him ask an operations/management question.

Make Joseph H. Jagger pose a query regarding Roulette bias play.

Quote: heather

Make Joseph H. Jagger pose a query regarding Roulette bias play.

Or statman.

Quote: Wizard

Any more suggestions? I'll use all good ones at least once. Just nobody suggest Ben Dover.

I'm guessing you wouldn't be interested in using Mike Hunt? At least you'd be retaining your first name. :)

Of all the things in the world to complain about, someone chooses the Wizard's pseudonym? Really? I mean, like, really?

Anyway, I used to submit Ask the Wizard questions using the name "Spanky McBluejay". There are a few of them in the archives.

Quote: mickpk

I'm guessing you wouldn't be interested in using Mike Hunt?

The little doll on Imus in the Morning who does the email
questions, had one a couple weeks ago that was signed
Mike Hunt.

Mike Hunt

Quote: EvenBob

The little doll on Imus in the Morning who does the email
questions, had one a couple weeks ago that was signed
Mike Hunt. She said 'this one is from Mike Hunt.' One
of the guys said 'What did you say?' And she repeated
that it was from Mike Cunt. The all male crew erupted
in laughter and she didn't get it. After she did get it,
she turned the deepest shade of red I've ever seen. It
was by far the most hilarious thing I ever saw on live TV. It
went on and on, and I was laughing so hard my side hurt.

You mean this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvXdw3tQBso

Notice how Mike Hunt becomes Anon E. Mouse on the second attempt? They are one and the same after all. Lol.

Quote: mickpk

You mean this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvXdw3tQBso

Notice how Mike Hunt becomes Anon E. Mouse on the second attempt? They are one and the same after all. Lol.

I laughed hard again after seeing it. Her face turned
a brighter red than the video shows. You're right,
Mike Hunt morphed into Anon E. Mouse, right on cue.

Quote: Wizard

Any more suggestions? I'll use all good ones at least once. Just nobody suggest Ben Dover.

Charles Wells when appropriate. In July 1891 Wells went to Monte Carlo with £4,000 that he had defrauded from investors in a bogus invention, a "musical jump rope." In an eleven-hour session Wells 'broke the bank' twelve times, winning a million francs. He later admitted that his system was just a lucky streak.

The famous gambler inspired the song "The Man who Broke the Bank in Monte Carlo" written in 1892 .

François Blanc, the owner of Monte Carlo's casino, wanted the publicity from stories of big winnings. In the French language, if a gambler wins more than the chips on the table, they are said to have "faire sauter la banque", which was translated as "breaking the bank" (lit. to blow up the bank or the safe). A black shroud was placed over the table until replacement chips were brought in.

I've just got here, through Paris, from the sunny southern shore;
I to Monte Carlo went, just to raise my winter's rent.
Dame Fortune smiled upon me as she'd never done before,
And I've now such lots of money, I'm a gent.
Yes, I've now such lots of money, I'm a gent.

As I walk along the Bois Boolong
With an independent air
You can hear the girls declare
"He must be a Millionaire."
You can hear them sigh and wish to die,
You can see them wink the other eye
At the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo.

I stay indoors till after lunch, and then my daily walk
To the great Triumphal Arch is one grand triumphal march,
Observed by each observer with the keenness of a hawk,
I'm a mass of money, linen, silk and starch -
I'm a mass of money, linen, silk and starch.

Chorus

I patronised the tables at the Monte Carlo hell
Till they hadn't got a sou for a Christian or a Jew;
So I quickly went to Paris for the charms of mad'moiselle,
Who's the loadstone of my heart - what can I do,
When with twenty tongues she swears that she'll be true?

Chorus

Quote: MichaelBluejay

Of all the things in the world to complain about, someone chooses the Wizard's pseudonym? Really? I mean, like, really?

I'd like to remind everyone that I wasn't "complaining" per se.

I was merely pointing out that if the Wiz felt funny answering his own questions, he needn't feel that way.

Of course, the fact that Anon E. Mouse is such a groaner is what prompted me to even realize that it was a pseudonym...

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Of course, the fact that Anon E. Mouse is such a groaner is what prompted me to even realize that it was a pseudonym...

One good thing about using an obvious pseudonym, or pen name if you prefer, is that the reader knows at once. Whether she appreciates the joke or not will vary. I tend to agree puns more often ellicit groans.

Hey, here's a good one:

George McFlea

Its not only a take off on Back to the Future, a George
is a good tipper, and a flea is a player who wants comps
for little play.