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1500 questions
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4 answers
Can a single Killing Curse kill more than one soul?
If targeted at a group of individuals and with the intention to kill them, could a single invocation of Avada Kedavra eliminate an entire group? I am asking for, er, a friend who has, um, a pest problem.
For example, if I aim over an anthill and I…
iceman
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Why was the Millennium Falcon too small for a cloaking device?
In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the Millennium Falcon is reported as being too small for a cloaking device:
TRACKING OFFICER: Captain Needa, the ship no longer appears on our scopes.
NEEDA: They can't have disappeared. No ship that small has…
James Douglas
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How does the line to Hogwarts fit in to the UK national rail network?
The southern terminus of the railway line to Hogwarts is at Kings Cross station in London, a Muggle railway station, albeit using a magical platform inaccesible to Muggles (except perhaps parents of Muggleborns seeing their children off to school).…
Wallnut
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Why was Frodo "wise" and Samwise a "half-wit"?
According to the sources I’ve found (for example this one), “Frodo” comes from the Old English “fród”, meaning wise. (Apparently in “Hobbit Language” Frodo’s name is “Maura”, but I don’t know if this has significance here or not.)
And “Samwise”…
Laurel
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8 answers
How come Hermione tried spells before boarding the Hogwarts Express?
OK, so here is a sequence of facts:
It's prohibited to use magic in Muggle areas.
Before boarding Hogwarts Express, Hermione lived in a Muggle area.
(this one I'm less sure about) Hermione and her parents must have been told, upon getting a wand,…
DVK-on-Ahch-To
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Is the tartan worn by Scotty in "Savage Curtain" an actual clan tartan?
In the Star Trek TOS episode "Savage Curtain", Scotty is shown wearing a tartan and a sporran as part of his dress uniform, as seen below:
Is this an actual clan tartan, and if so, to which clan does it belong?
JohnP
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How did Kendal "as clumsy as he is stupid" Ozzel attain the rank of admiral?
Kendal Ozzel is seen in Episode V The Empire Strikes Back as the admiral in command of the Imperial fleet searching for the hidden Rebel base and Darth Vader's personal flagship, the Star Dreadnought Executor. However, he makes multiple mistakes --…
Null
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Short story with a battle fought by attempting to change genres
I came across a short story a few years back. Probably post 2010.
I suspect it may have been on a forum thought it may have been a short story site. I thought it might have been a comment on on Charles Stross's blog but can't find it googling.
It…
Murphy
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3 answers
What do Luke and Han shoot in the detention block?
In the original Star Wars, when rescuing Leia, our heroes shoot the guards, then spend a few seconds shooting some equipment. What are these objects and why are they shooting them?
This one looks like door controls, since you see them elsewhere. I…
Bindelstif
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4 answers
Lord of the Rings written to support constructed languages or the other way round?
I've heard the claim that Tolkien wrote, or at least started writing, The Lord of the Rings to support (with a history providing cultural depth) the artificial languages he was creating at the time.
Is this true, or was it the other way round?…
OpaCitiZen
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5 answers
Why did Caradhras not want the Fellowship to pass?
I haven't read the books in a long while, but when I was re-watching the movies recently, I remembered that even though it is depicted as Saruman causing the avalanche/storm on Caradhras, the book hinted that it was the mountain itself not wanting…
Dharini Chandrasekaran
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3 answers
Why does The Chamber of Secrets claim that Harry "only" inherited one thing from his father?
Chapter 14 of The Chamber of Secrets claims that
Harry had inherited just one thing from his father: a long and silvery Invisibility Cloak. It was their only chance of sneaking out of the school to visit Hagrid without anyone knowing about…
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine
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What's life like inside a Poké Ball?
Is a Pokémon aware it is in a Poké Ball?
Is it conscious?
Is it comfortable?
Do we know any canon explanation of what a Pokémon experiences when it is stuck inside one of these devices?
Daft
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9 answers
Was Thor unworthy during "The Avengers"?
In the Avengers movie:
Thor is trapped in the Hulk's cage by Loki and then sent falling to Earth from the Helicarrier. After he breaks free and lands on Earth, he tries to pick up his hammer Mjolnir.
Instead of showing him just pick Mjolnir up,…
Brett White
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5 answers
Why didn't Luke use his lightsaber during his mission on the first Death Star?
This weapon is your life
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C3PO, and R2-D2 arrive at the Death Star I. Their mission was originally to go to Alderaan - unfortunately that didn't happen. When they board the Death Star I, Han and…
The Witch King of Angmar
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