# People ANYONE could use to fill in gaps in their PAO **URL:** \ **Category:** General Memory Chat\ **Created:** [January 14, 2013, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061 "2013-01-14T13:10:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NeilG](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/neilg/32/216_2.png) [@NeilG](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/NeilG)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/1 "2013-01-14T13:10:19Z")
I had the thought a while ago of creating a generic PAO list with items that would be familiar for anyone (I’m guessing that a lot of the personalities on my actual PAO list would not be familiar to a good proportion of people). I’m far off a hundred Ps but hopefully by posting here these may be useful for gaps in other people’s PAO’s, or perhaps people can add to this list with their own similar suggestions to make it more useful. So, we have “generic” Ps that nonetheless should already be associated with a memorable image in anyone’s mind: Angel Astronaut Ballerina Bishop Chef Cowboy Demon Diver (Scuba) Dwarf Eskimo Fairy Fireman Giant Indian (Apache) Judge Knight Miner Mummy (Egyptian) Ninja Nurse Pirate Policeman Samurai Werewolf Witch (Fairytale) Wizard And we have some fictional characters that are so famous, I believe anyone should be familiar with and have an image of them already: Batman Count Dracula King Arthur Mickey Mouse Rapunzel Red Riding Hood Robin Hood Ronald McDonald Santa Claus Sherlock Holmes Spiderman Superman Tarzan (I’m confident that all of those are near-universally known, but couldn’t think of others I was sure were so ubiquitous. I’m sure a majority of people would know, say, Darth Vader - but I’m not sure he’s as universal as these are. On the other hand, I’m biased by my western-european background so maybe friends in the Far East wouldn’t immediately recognise characters from fairy tales like Rapunzel). Any thoughts? Additions? People on the list that you don’t get an immediate mental image for? ---
**Author:** ![kbjeff](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/kbjeff/32/98_2.png) [@kbjeff](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/kbjeff)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/2 "2013-01-14T19:01:00Z")
Neil, I really like your idea here. In making my PAO system, I used quite a few such images. I think I have a touch of face blindness. While I have Tom Cruise for one of my Ps, for example, I really just see a fairly faceless black haired guy jumping on a couch. Things like Batman, knight, Chef, etc are much more visible in my memory. I think another good reason to create a list like this is to create a template for children who maybe don’t have all the cultural references you do for people. Take a look through my PAO and please post your progress in filling it out: `https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuvTZ6T5HwZUdFRBa0R5Zm10LThrZjYzRFNFeGQ0Mnc` Jeff ---
**Author:** ![WJW](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/a9a28c/32.png) [@WJW](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/WJW)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/3 "2013-01-15T00:42:53Z")
Neil Reading your list finally got me off my ass to finish my “generic” PAOs. By that I mean I wanted to make a list of “alphabetized” PAOs for remembering names. [Original post](https://artofmemory.com/forums/questions-on-making-my-pao-alpha-numerical-2448.html) Mine are (so far) Albert (Einstein) Baker Count (Sesame Street) Dragon Elvis Fireman Garfield (cat) Hulk Indiana Jones Johnny Cash Kitten Librarian Magician Nun \* \* Vampire Wall-E Xavier (X-Men) Yoda Zombie Although after looking at the above lists, I think I’m going to modify my iAnki… Jim ---
**Author:** ![castleman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@castleman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/castleman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 1:37pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/4 "2013-01-18T13:37:25Z")
Good post, Neil. I think it is often useful to have persons in your cast of actors who are identifiable, not as individuals, but as members of certain widely known classes, generally according to how they are dressed. I have been collecting a list of these generic characters for awhile and can add the following to yours. Perhaps they will be of use to someone. arab, amish, bandit, batter, beefeater, beekeeper, bellhop, bobby, bride, cavalier, centaur, centurion, cheesehead, clown, construction worker, cyclops, deerhunter, deep sea diver, farmer, fencer, football player, frogman, gangster, griffin, grim reaper, harpy, hula dancer, karateka, king, matador, medusa, mermaid, mime, minotaur, monk, nun, pilgrim, pope, prisoner, quaker, queen’s guard, redcoat, referee, scholar, shepherd, snowman, soldier, sumo, surgeon, swiss guard, uncle sam, viking, welder, yeti ---
**Author:** ![danlucraft](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/danlucraft/32/301_2.png) [@danlucraft](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/danlucraft)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/5 "2013-01-18T15:40:53Z")
Great thread. Some more: - alien - bard - butler - cheerleader - geisha - ghost - harlequin - maid - robot - scarecrow - schoolboy/girl - skeleton - statue - stormtrooper - SWAT police - troll ---
**Author:** ![danlucraft](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/danlucraft/32/301_2.png) [@danlucraft](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/danlucraft)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/6 "2013-01-18T15:44:51Z")
@castleman I see your Uncle Sam and raise you a Lord Kitchener 🙂 > **[tollbit-host.com](https://tollbit-host.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![castleman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@castleman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/castleman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/7 "2013-01-18T16:09:51Z")
Super! I also thought of these: buddha, conductor (and various musicians), klansman, lady justice, lumberjack, photographer ---
**Author:** ![danlucraft](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/danlucraft/32/301_2.png) [@danlucraft](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/danlucraft)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/8 "2013-01-18T16:19:09Z")
OK you got me thinking now… - tennis player - skier - priest - frankenstein’s monster - baby - roman (in toga) ---
**Author:** ![castleman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@castleman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/castleman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/9 "2013-01-18T16:37:55Z")
OK. Suddenly I’m thinking of more: boxer, catcher, goth, jester, juggler, klingon, lilliputian, maitre d, ood, ringleader, santa ---
**Author:** ![danlucraft](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/danlucraft/32/301_2.png) [@danlucraft](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/danlucraft)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/10 "2013-01-18T16:46:28Z")
Ood! Good one. Also Dalek, Cyberman, Borg, Starfleet officer, Ferengi. ---
**Author:** ![castleman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@castleman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/castleman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/11 "2013-01-18T16:59:24Z")
How about AFLAC duck, Chuck E Cheese, Colonel Sanders, crash test dummies, Energizer bunny, Geico Gecko, Maytag repairman, M&M characters, Mr Peanut, Pillsbury doughboy, Progressive Flo? ---
**Author:** ![NeilG](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/neilg/32/216_2.png) [@NeilG](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/NeilG)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/12 "2013-01-18T17:40:31Z")
I’m guessing those are USA things… I know who Colonel Sanders is! Crash test dummies are a nice universal! ---
**Author:** ![LociInTheSky](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/lociinthesky/32/2857_2.png) [@LociInTheSky](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/LociInTheSky)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/13 "2013-01-19T15:11:15Z")
Erin E-surance…oooh, so sexy… Minotaur Sagittarius Medusa ---
**Author:** ![Senin](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@Senin](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Senin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 9:00am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/14 "2013-04-13T09:00:04Z")
I notice that things have evolved from a person’s full name (first name for first letter, last name for second letter) to a kind of hybrid of a name. Doesn’t this get confusing because sometimes you are using a full name (first initials) and sometimes you are using different letter with a name? ---
**Author:** ![NeilG](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/neilg/32/216_2.png) [@NeilG](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/NeilG)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/people-anyone-could-use-to-fill-in-gaps-in-their-pao/28061/15 "2021-02-23T00:07:32Z")
I’ll just perform a bit of necromancy on this thread to share that I have a deck of 110 Persons, with accompanying images, in a PDF. They don’t very consistently match to the numbers; generally their name maps to the second letter using a variant major system, and their colour to the first number using the resistor value colour codes - but it wasn’t possible to get a 100% match and 100% recognisable figures. Why 110 and not 100? As well as for 00 to 99, I also have ‘0.’ to '9.", to use when the last section of a long number has less than 6 digits, as well as for when the number breaks to a decimal fraction. I’m have a list of actions using a variant major system, but I’m still working on their accompanying objects. The AO’s don’t naturally relate to the P’s with the same number, though. Still, the PDF, for those interested: > **[PAO.pdf](https://drive.google.com/file/d/16o57YSRbhSLCvlrwDkLeJQ7y0cTsTOpP/view?usp=sharing)** > > Google Drive file.