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August 4

Why are roman numerals used?

Why is it, that the year a movie or TV-show is made, is often written with roman numerals? -Ulla — 10:19, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

I used to hear that the reason was to make it difficult to instantly tell how old the film was. For example, you'd have to quickly recognize that "MCMLVIII" means "1958". It's a little easier once we reached year 2000 (or MM). Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 10:45, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

That makes sense; I'd wondered about that myself. Another thought is, if it was done from the very early days, they wanted to demonstrate they were not just for the uneducated masses. As if to say, "Hey, movies can be classy and sophisticated, why we even use *Roman*numberals* to signal the years.!" Of course, Latin was still taught in high school in some areas then (My grandmother took it), but not everyone even went that far in school in the early 1900s. (Hmmm, the oldest movie I have is a laurel and Hardy or Three Stooges from the early 1940s, I'll have to see if they used them then.)Somebody or his brother (talk) 11:20, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

This seems like a great question for Cecil Adams but I can't find anything like it at his site... Dismas|^(talk) 14:17, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

The date is required by copyright law. Printing the year in Roman numerals just looks classy to some people - and film producers tend to be the kind of people who are impressed by Roman numerals. The theory that they are trying to hide the year of production has no basis in fact. It is an assumption made by people who never learned to read Roman numerals. -- kainaw™ 15:21, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

I'm not convinced. Typically on TV shows the date would flash by in a split-second, too little time for the average viewer to take it in. The trick, of course, is to look at just the right hand portion of the number - and then try to remember it. But if it says "1958", it will register instantly. Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 15:40, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

You appear to be under the assumption that the copyright date is there for the average television/movie viewer. It is not. It is for copyright infringement cases. As such, it only needs to appear on a single frame of the movie - just a fraction of a second. Often, it is added to the end of the closing credits and lasts longer than a single frame. There is no need (or intention) for the average viewer to see the date, comprehend the date, or discuss the date with friends and family after the show is over. -- kainaw™ 15:43, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

It is rather condescending to tell the average viewer what there is "no need" for them to do. It's also worth pointing out that some films and TV shows have used standard numerals. Superman used both. It varied depending on the year. You might be right about your facts. If you can find a citation for it, that would be very useful. Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 15:57, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

It is usually impossible to find a citation that something does not exist. I stated that the need for the average viewer to know the copyright date of a film does not exist. I have no intention of wasting my life trying to find a citation that it does not exist. It would be easier if you were to find a citation that there is a need for the average viewer to know the copyright date of a film. As for using regular numbers, it does happen. I stated earlier that some people think Roman numerals are classy. They are not required. The people that put them on the film simply prefer them. It is a matter of opinion. -- kainaw™ 16:28, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

I agree with Kainaw: the date is there mainly for copyright reasons, so no one's sitting around thinking "lets make this really hard/easy for Joe Bloggs to figure out". Roman numerals are merely conventional. They are not required, this is not a conspiracy, or because people want to look flash and clever, just a few people following tradition. It used to be common/normal for books to display copyright dates in such a manner, also, just as people would talk about the XVI Olympiad. Roman numerals are perhaps less commonly used nowadays, but are not archaic. Rugby union teams use them (eg. "First XV"; "Pesident's XV"), and we still talk about Henry VIII and Pope John Paul II. See also Roman_numerals#Modern_usage Gwinva (talk) 22:35, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Obviously the roman numerals have become a tradition, but the more interesting question is why they were used originally. I would love Baseball Bugs's rationale, because who wants to watch a movie that is not brand new? Except that in the early days I suspect people wouldn't have cared like they do today. (I have assumed comic books don't print the date on the cover for the same reason.) I also dispute kainaw's assertion that the copyright date only had to be on the film for technical reasons and for 1 frame, and must also challenge him to cite a source that this ever worked. In front of any judge, a violator back in the day (when copyright notices were required) could construct a great argument that since there was no visible copyright mark, there was hence no copyright mark in the legal sense. Tempshill (talk) 22:46, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Whether I'm right or Kainaw is right or we're both partly right or both fully wrong, I would just like to see a citation somewhere. Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 23:22, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Isn't that the whole point of this page? I though it was a reference desk, rather than an opinion desk, but it seems I'm in the minority these days. Malcolm XIV (talk) 23:29, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Baseball Bugs, if you're so keen on a citation to prove your opinion, perhaps you could look for one? A scholarly one, not an "it's believed that" or "I've heard", which do abound on the internet. You might, however, enjoy Marjorie Garber's analysis of Roman numerals in her book Symptoms of Culture, which roots the tradition of displaying publication dates in Roman numerals back to 18th century volumes of Shakespeare (along with chapter, act scene numbering) a practice which continued until driven out by computers. (Tempshill: this ties in with what I said earlier: the practice began with books (became a tradition) then was translated into film.) Of course, buildings, architecture and monuments had displayed dates this way earlier. Garber also notes that Hollywood likes the monumental nature: the "architectural cornerstone, another sign of grandeur...Roman numeral means greatness, historicity, cultural endurance, authority...] See google books. The idea that Roman numerals "hid" the true date is silly: when the practice started, it would have expected/assumed that anyone literate could read Roman numerals. They still should be able to. Gwinva (talk) 23:47, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

You're claiming it has something to do with copyright protection. You might be right. But you haven't proven it yet. Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 05:25, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Proof? Have you actually looked at the year at the end of shows and movies? It isn't just a string of Roman numerals. It is a copyright statement. It says something like "Copyright XXVI Warner Brothers Television. All Rights Reserved." How can you claim it has nothing to do with copyright when the year is always preceded with either the word "copyright" or the © symbol? -- kainaw™ 13:37, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

ok kings that's enough. Yes copyright requires a date, and the date and circle c are usually next to each other. But it's not a necessity, and I think I've seen title end frames where the copyright message and date are on the same screen but not the place. The date happily serves two purposes.83.100.250.79 (talk) 16:25, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

The date used to be required in the US, or the matter was not copyrighted under the law. It's not a necessity anymore. Tempshill (talk) 04:16, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

The ABC traditionally tagged their programs with Roman numerals, for no better reason than that's what the BBC always did. But why the BBC did it to begin with, is anyone's guess. In 1983, the Minister for Communications, Michael Duffy, advised parliament that the ABC would join the 20th century and start using Arabic numerals from then on. They did so for a while, then I noticed they started to slip back. I haven't been closely monitoring programs in recent years to say what they usually do these days. -- JackofOz (talk) 21:50, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

When someone said there is "no need" for the viewer to know the date of a production, it meant the producer has no such need. Where's the condescension in that? —Tamfang (talk) 16:01, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

Re: the first answer by Baseball Bugs: I thought it was the opposite reason. For example on a grainy film or TV, it might be harder to distinguish between, say "1950" and "1956", than "MCMLXX" and "MCMLXXVI"68.179.108.25 (talk) 16:14, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

According to this book, they're used in place of modern numerals because they "look classy".
Roman numerals used to be used in books, and long before that, they were used on the cornerstones of 'better' buildings. (I think they're still used for the Superbowl?)
Twang (talk) 08:36, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

what does it mean?

i want to know what the term "A new beat needs a new rest" mean!! it's a profession term in music so see if anyone can help me!! thax —Preceding unsigned comment added by Vincecarter159753 (talk • contribs) 16:42, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

It means you shouldn't notate rests as tied or continued over beats. So, for example, in 4/4, if your bar starts with a dotted quarter note, then a full beat of rest, then another dotted quarter note, you're expected to notate the rest as two eighth rests, rather than a single quarter rest. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 20:54, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Music Samples

I am sure that this has been asked millions of times and it is staring me straight in the face but:

I wish to add short samples to the Mozart Piano Concerto pages - 1, 2, 3 and 4 especially. Could someone please tell me the longest sample leght that can be added without infringing copyright and where I might upload it? A simple link answering the quastion - I am sure there is something in wiki somewhere - would be great please :) Lotus Blossom (ak the 7th) (talk) 18:51, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Music samples and the general page dealing with non-free content, Wikipedia:Non-free content. Deor (talk) 20:50, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lotus Blossom (ak the 7th) (talk • contribs) 20:51, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Foreign Language Cover Versions

I love foreign language cover versions. That is, cover versions of a popular song originally in English, but translated and sung in a different language. However, I find them very hard to find. Can anyone recommend any foreign language cover versions, or direct me to some kind of foreign language cover version resource? Thank you very much Score Deal Gun (talk) 19:45, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Abba released a whole album in Spanish! Its always fun to sing along to those songs. You should be able to get the album easily —Preceding unsigned comment added by Payneham (talk • contribs) 05:26, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Marie LaForet did a great French cover of 'Paint it Black' by The Rolling Stones.Popcorn II (talk) 08:12, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

This is likely pointless to point out as you're probably already aware of them but there is The Beatles German version of their own "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and Nena's "99 Luftballons". Dismas|^(talk) 08:25, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

I've got a 7inch of a 1979 version of YMCA (by Village People )covered by a band from Hong Kong called Lam, which is all sung in Chinese(?).But I can't find anything about it online. Popcorn II (talk) 15:26, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Here are a few more examples, in French. Joe Dassin was well-known for making French versions of US hits, some of which translated the lyrics, and others used entirely different French lyrics (for example, "City of New Orleans" became the completely unrelated "Salut les amoureux!"). In the same vein, Johnny Halliday had a big hit turning "The House of the Rising Sun" into the equally-unrelated "Les portes du pénitencier". There was actually a whole industry of re-recording 1960s pop hits by local bands in French shortly after they came out, but the practice died down in the early 1970s. Among many such bands were "Les Sultans", "Les Classels" and "César et ses Romains" in Quebec, and "Les Chaussettes Noires" and "Les Chats sauvages" in France. A few English-speaking singers of the period re-recorded their hits in French, notably Petula Clark and Roger Whitaker. More recently, the Canadian band Big Sugar put out a French-language version of their 2001 cd "Brothers and Sisters, Are You Ready?", called (amusingly) "Brothers and Sisters, Êtes Vous Ready?" --Xuxl (talk) 18:33, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

For reasons obscure to me, Fairport Convention translated a Dylan song into French as Si tu dois partir. Algebraist 18:36, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

One of my favorite funny people is April Winchell who has this collection (scroll down a bit) of foreign-language covers on her site. Enjoy! ReverendWayne (talk) 19:39, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

There's Brazil's Ultraje a Rigor's nice (in my view) cover of I Can't Explain--they call it "Eu Não Sei" (I Don't Know)--here, Carole Laure's "Danse Avant de Tomber" ("Save the Last Dance for Me") here, and IPPU-DO's "Cosmic Cycle" which I think includes Time of the Season here. I believe David Lee Roth did a Spanish version of Going Crazy from the Heat. While it's not mentioned in the article about the ep Crazy from the Heat, I'm sure I heard it on Q107 +20 years ago.

Oops! Sorry about not signing the above edit. I'm listening to Ippu-do's video as I do THIS edit, and it's in English, but it's sufficiently weird enough to possibly constitute foreign. :-D

Also searching the article on Ippu-do lead to a weird re-direct.68.179.108.25 (talk) 16:56, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

Here's another I heard last Saturday Gilles Brown "C'est toi que j'aime" or "Only the lonely"--though I understand that the translation of the title is much different from the original.68.179.108.25 (talk) 22:36, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

Yes, the French title means It's you that I love. —Tamfang (talk) 03:50, 13 August 2009 (UTC)

August 5

Number one in UK most times by different artists

What song has been the number one single the most times in the UK by different artists (I know "Spirit in the Sky" has been number one three times by different artists)? I can't seem to find this on UK Singles Chart records. --AdamSommerton (talk) 11:57, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

• I don't know if this sets the record, but Unchained Melody beats that by one - Jimmy Young (1955), Righteous Brothers (1990), Robson & Jerome (1995) and Gareth Gates (2002). Bettia (bring on the trumpets!) 14:34, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

I've just been traipsing through List of number one singles (UK) and, apart from Unchained Melody, I've come up with this list. Basically, it seems Unchained Melody is the song which has got to number one the most times by different artists. The list, in no particular order and by no means complete, is:

• Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks (1974), Westlife (2000)
• Uptown Girl - Billy Joel (1983), Westlife (2001)
• Eternal Flame - The Bangles (1989), Atomic Kitten (2001)
• Mambo No.5 - Lou Bega (1999), Bob the Builder (2001)
• Something Stupid - Nancy and Frank Sinatra (1967), Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman (2001-2002)
• The Tide Is High - Blondie (1980), Atomic Kitten (2002)
• Spirit in the Sky - Greenbaum (1970), Doctor & the Medics (1986), Gareth Gates & The Kumars (2003)
• Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid (1984-1985), Band Aid II (1989-1990), Band Aid 20 (2004) <- same band but with different members each time
• Against All Odds - Westlife & Mariah Carey (2000), Steve Brookstein (2004)
• What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong (1968), Katie Melua & Eva Cassidy (2007)
• Dizzy - Tommy Roe (1969), Vic Reeves & The Wonderstuff (1991)
• Take A Chance On Me (ABBA (1977), Erasure (1992, as part of their Abba-esque EP)
• Twist & Shout - The Beatles (1964), Chaka Demus 7& Pliers (1994)
• Without You - Harry Nilsson (1972), Mariah Carey (1994)
• Baby Come Back - The Equals (1968), UB40 & Pato Banton (1994)
• I Believe - Frankie Laine (1953), Robson & Jerome (1995)
• You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry & The Pacemakers (1963), The Crowd (1985), Robson & Jerome (1996)
• Lady Marmalade - All Saints (1998), Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink (2001)
• Tragedy - Bee Gees (1979), Steps (1998)
• When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going - Billy Ocean (1985), Boyzone (1999)
• I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher (1965), UB40 & Chrissie Hynde (1985)
• With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker (1968), Wet Wet Wet (1988), Sam & Mark (2004)

Hope this helps. If anyone else knows of a song I missed, please feel free to add it! Bettia (bring on the trumpets!) 14:49, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

There is a cover of Mambo No. 5 by Bob the Builder, and it was number 1? Adam Bishop (talk) 16:02, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

• Yes, it was a true facepalm moment for music lovers everywhere. Bettia (bring on the trumpets!) 18:35, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Notice how many times artists managed by Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh or Pete Waterman are listed above. It's almost as if they were cynically encouraging their charges to cover songs that had already been Number One as a surefire method of getting a hit... Malcolm XIV (talk) 18:28, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

OK, thanks a lot for going to all that trouble Bettia! --AdamSommerton (talk) 21:36, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Not Safe For Work

Resolved

 – this question was asked/answered already

Is the left most model Mike Power?174.3.103.39 (talk) 13:05, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

• You already asked this question on the 18th of July (archived at Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Entertainment/2009_July_18#Left_Most_Model) and we answered to the best of our ability then. Please don't repost questions. Exxolon (talk) 21:31, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

The question is different. The post that was related to this one was removed.174.3.103.39 (talk) 06:47, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Unresolved

 – OP apparently not satisfied with completeness of answer and asked again. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 07:51, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

I don't think anyone has actually answered the question yet - ie Yes or No.83.100.250.79 (talk) 13:24, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Mike Power

Is the person in the left most picture Mike Power in the blog post at Thursday, August 06, 2009? The reason I had to post again is because I could not find wikiproject pornography. But also because I want audiences of opinion.174.3.103.39 (talk) 07:07, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

I've merged this repeat question. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 07:51, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

The OP is correct. This has been asked three times. It has not been answered with a "yes", "no", or "maybe". That does not mean that people are withholding an answer. It may simply mean that nobody here knows what Mike Power looks like. -- kainaw™ 14:33, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

I've compared the picture with a google image search for Mr. Power (I'm not easily shocked :-) ) and they do seem very similar. So while I can't be sure (the Banner ad is too small and appears to be more interested in genitalia than faces), it does seem likely. Fribbler (talk) 16:21, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

What is "wikiproject pornography"?Popcorn II (talk) 17:38, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Wikipedia:WikiProject Pornography 83.100.250.79 (talk) 17:54, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Another no doubt irritating music theory question

Sorry to keep asking these kinds of questions here, just really trying to get to grips with this sort of thing. I noticed the follow chords in the pre-chorus of a song, with the last chord being the first of the chorus:

A, D/G, D/F#, E7sus, E, Esus4, D7sus, Dm9, C5, D5, G5

Now, I know when you're in a key you can work out what chords work through intervals etc. but how do you know which types of chords fit into your key? For example if I was writing a song and I thought A, D/G, D/F# sounded good, I wouldn't immediately think that E7sus is a good choice of chord. Are there any formulas which state when suspended, augmented chords etc. fit in with the given key? Sorry if this doesn't make much sense, I'm just typing thoughts out. Regards, --—Cyclonenim | Chat  14:35, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

As I'm sure you know, the D/G notation etc. tells you which note to play in the bass. Note that there's a bass line in the first three chords: A -> G -> F# which is heading for E. The oddest chord among the first four isn't the E7sus, but the D/G (which is almost the same as G maj 9 - i.e. a G maj 7 with a ninth, the third missing). An unexpected chord can make a chord progression more interesting, but there needs to be some logic in the choice of chord, it can't be totally erratic. D/F# and E7sus have two tones in common - D and A - this makes the transition feel natural. Augmented chords are often used when the melody (or one of the instruments) moves chromatically, such as

C C+ C6 C7

There's a voice in there going G -> G# -> A -> Bb. John Lennon used this chord progression in "Isolation". Also, the C5 etc. notation is slightly unusual, is it supposed to mean C without the third - a power chord? edit: I suppose it is - the notation is used in the article I linked to. --NorwegianBlue ^talk 19:30, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Thanks, that's pretty helpful :) However my main query comes with your comment that it can't be totally erratic. If that's the case, how do you know what is logical? Is it simply when they share the majority of their tones, such as the example of D/F# to E7sus, or is there another thing to keep in mind? Thanks again. Btw the C5 chord was definitely a power chord like this: x355xx Regards, --—Cyclonenim | Chat  22:00, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

There generally needs to be something to tie the chords together, or it sounds odd. As noted, the "Walking bassline" in your first few chords makes it work, even with the extra G note, which is not often played in D chords. Plus, the chords themselves are the I-IV-V progression (ADE) of a standard A major key, which is pretty friendly on the ears. Since you're first chord in the chorus is the G power chord, it looks like the C-D-G progression at the end of your prechorus is an attempt to modulate the song from the key of A to the key of G; if so why not do it D-C-G instead, since the D is a more natural "pivot" chord to perform the modulation around, being in both keys. IIRC, a similar A-G modulation was done in Metallica's One. I remember reading something about it in some guitar mag or something. --Jayron32 03:48, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

How do you know what is logical? Well, if you're writing a song, you're the one who decides. Trust your ear. If you like what you've created, that's because it somehow makes sense to you. If others like what you've created, then it's because it makes sense to them too. What will make sense to people is of course highly genre-dependent. With traditional western harmony, it is helpful to think of the tones that make up a chord as if they were voices. If all the voices have to do awkward intervals in order to move from one chord to the next, the chord progression is unlikely to make sense to people. If some voices stay put, and others move to tones nearby, yet create an unusual chord, it is more likely to work.

If you want to approach this from a theoretical point of view, here are some of the articles you might want to read: circle of fifths, cadence (music) (note especially the part about the deceptive cadence), modulation (music).

Some additional points, with examples from Beatles songs:

• Unusual chords create tension, tension wants to be resolved.

Example: If you're in the key of F major, then going straight from F to e minor is rather unusual, and creates tension. But then if you follow the circle of fifths to A7, and then to d minor, the tension is released ("Yesterday").

• Internal consistency is important, i.e. if you do something unusual, repeat it, perhaps slightly altered, to convince the listener that you really mean it.

Example - opening riff of "Something"

beat:          /    /     /   /     /
lead guitar:     A  c  A  Bb  B     c  
chords:        F          Eb  G7/D  C

In the repetion, before the bridge, it goes

beat:          /    /     /   /     /
lead guitar:     A  c  A  Bb  B     c#  
chords:        F          Eb  G7/D  A

Thereby modulating to A.

• Consistency between the chords and the lyrics is of course also a good thing. Take the most famous chord ever - the opening chord of "A hard day's night". Would it have worked as the opening chord of "Martha My Dear" or "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"? --NorwegianBlue ^talk 18:05, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Thanks guys, that really clears things up :) I tend to write songs by ear anyway, but I was just curious to see how others come up with such random (or at least as it appears to me) combinations of chords. Thanks again. Regards, --—Cyclonenim | Chat  19:05, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Identifying a comic book from the 1970s

Resolved

 – Thanks so much for your help!

Hi, I'm trying to identify a children's comic book annual that I fondly remember from the 1970's. I live in the UK and do not know if it was published more widely. It contained mainly (if not entirely) stories and comic strips relating to magic and the mysterious. The cover was predominantly black and purple. The only character that I can remember was a magician/wizard who I believe was called "Sylvester". He had a pronounced widow's peak hairstyle or a black pointed skull-cap. The book was approximately A4 in size (12 inches by 8 inches approx). It may have been published by "Fleetway" or I could just be assuning this because so many annuals at that time were. Any help you can give would be appreciated. Thanks.194.176.201.29 (talk) 15:24, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

• According to this, there was a comic called Lion which featured a strip called Sylvester and the Touchstone. Is that it? Bettia (bring on the trumpets!) 15:45, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

• • Bettia, you are a genius! That's the character I remember. It helped me find some more info at this website so it seems that the book in question was called "The Valiant Book of Mystery and Magic". Now I just need to find a copy! Thanks very much for your super-speedy help. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.176.201.27 (talk) 16:31, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

There's a couple on eBay.Popcorn II (talk) 21:18, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

• • Thanks. I found one on Amazon and it's winging its way to me now!

Thrash metal

Hi! I'm looking for the name of an old thrash band. English, I think, and one of their album covers featured a green goblin or orc. Difficult question, but thanks in advance. 80.203.69.221 (talk) 22:41, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Erasing the Goblin has a green goblin on the cover, though it's from Australia and is from 2006. Do you remember whether it's a full-body goblin, or more of a headshot? Tempshill (talk) 04:07, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Green Jelly maybe? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 07:41, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Greenslade..hotclaws 06:51, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

The Greenslade I remember were jazz/folk rock not thrash... just a tad different!--TammyMoet (talk) 16:37, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

Golden Globe Award for Best Director

Hello. I have a question about the number of women who won or nominated for the award. It's not written in the article, and the same question about the BAFTA Award for Best Direction. thanks. Shirooosh (talk) 23:37, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Have you considered reading that article, which is in list format, and adding up the names that sound female? Tempshill (talk) 04:08, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Yeah I tried, but I gave up cus of a few reasons. first of all, I think there are a few mistakes in the artical, for exampel: Barbra Streisand won the golden globe award in 1991, but in the artical it's written that, Oliver Stone did. Second of all I'm not an English speaker, and I'm afraid that, if I'll check the list, I may not notice if the name is belong to a woman. --Shirooosh (talk) 06:37, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association disagrees with you, and thinks it gave the 1991 Directing Golden Globe to Oliver Stone. [1]. DJ Clayworth (talk) 13:35, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Ok. that's weird. maybe I didn't read right. --Shirooosh (talk) 17:26, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

A quick look through the list finds only Barbra Streisand, Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola; none were winners Only Streisand won. But I may have missed some. DJ Clayworth (talk) 13:40, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for the check, but don't you think there is a place, maybe at the home site of the award? That's written there? you know, something like: no woman won the award, and only 3 were nominated. whould you mind to check for me? I would do it by myself, but I find it difficult, to search in English.. (I hope that you understood what I wrote) thanks a lot. --Shirooosh (talk) 17:26, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Google is your friend. Click on the first link. DJ Clayworth (talk) 17:46, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Interestingly there do turn out to be errors in our article. Streisand didn't win in 1991, but she did win for Yentl in 1983. We had Terms of Endearment. I've fixed it. DJ Clayworth (talk) 18:09, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

..and a glance at the BAFTAs reveals an even shorter list - Sofia Coppola. DJ Clayworth (talk) 18:13, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

WOW!!! thanks a lot. You really helped me. thanks again --Shirooosh (talk) 19:14, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

I think you should write about this in the artical. you know, as a superlativ. --Shirooosh (talk) 19:47, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

August 6

Ooi Teik Hock

Is Ooi Teik Hock, a Malayan badminton player, living or dead? I added a bio template to his article, but I have been unable to find information on his date of death, if any, but he would be quite elderly in 2009, having played in 1939. --DThomsen8 (talk) 00:59, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

This article (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/8/sports/2493011&sec=sports) from Nov. 2008 mentions that he's passed away. No date though. Dalliance (talk) 12:52, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Same here [2]. The site gives his age at the time of his death as 80, so some time span could be calculated if his date of birth (which I can´t find via Google) were known. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 18:36, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

Mike Power

Merged into section above. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 07:53, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

The most knighted film

A question out of sheer curiosity. What film has had the most knighted people involved in it? I don't think Ian Holm, Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen, Alec Guinness and Richard Attenborough ever collaborated, but it must be something like that. SGGH ^ping! 15:53, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Do they have to have been knighted at the time, or is it OK if they were knighted later? DJ Clayworth (talk) 16:09, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Not promising it's the most, but I'm going to bet with A Bridge Too Far (film). Sir Richard Attenborough, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Sean Connery, Sir Anthony Hopkins for five. (Olivier was later made a Lord, but he was still a knight). DJ Clayworth (talk) 16:16, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

(And technically Sir Winston Churchill and various others in archive footage) DJ Clayworth (talk) 16:20, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Yes I forgot to mention, they do not have to be knights at the time, just at some point. SGGH ^ping! 16:40, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Found another with the same count - Battle of Britain (film). Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir Michael Redgrave, Sir William Walton (composer). DJ Clayworth (talk) 18:21, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

...and a six! Richard III (1955 film). Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir John Geilgud, Sir William Walton (composer), Sir Alexander Korda (producer, uncredited - may have to confirm that). DJ Clayworth (talk) 18:26, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

...and another six. Gandhi (film) - Sir Richard Attenborough (director), Sir Ben Kingsley, Sir John Geilgud, Sir John Mills, Sir Nigel Hawthorne, Sir Michael Hordern. DJ Clayworth (talk) 21:21, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

...and another six, if you allow Dames. Gosford Park. Sir Alan Bates, Sir Michael Gambon, Sir Derek Jacobi, Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Eileen Atkins. DJ Clayworth (talk) 21:27, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Only six? Pshaw! Oh! What a Lovely War had nine: Attenborough, Dirk Bogarde, Gielgud, Holm, Mills, Olivier, Redgrave, Richardson and Smith. Btw, A Bridge Too Far had six, as Bogarde was in that one, too. -- JackofOz (talk) 13:15, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

I'm very impressed, jack. That one would never have occurred to me. And none of the nine behind the cameras, either. DJ Clayworth (talk) 15:40, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

Thanks. I've been hunting around to find one that beats nine, but no luck so far. I get the feeling that's the one, for now at least; but who knows who's going to become a knight/dame in years to come, and all their movies will then have to be ratcheted up, knight-count-wise. -- JackofOz (talk) 21:43, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

Trivia buffs may be interested to know that, while Gielgud, Olivier and Richardson all appeared in Richard III (1955) and Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), there were never more than two of them in the same scenes. The first and only time all three appeared in the same scenes was in Wagner (1983 mini-series) - and even then they played fictional characters while the rest of the cast played people who had actually existed. Wagner had 5 knights: those three, plus Dame Joan Plowright, and Sir William Walton in his only acting role – as King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony (bet you didn’t know that!). It also starred Richard Burton as Wagner; Burton was never knighted, but many thought he should have been. -- JackofOz (talk) 05:12, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

The wise-guy answer would be, "Easy - just name any picture that's about King Arthur!" But that leads to another question: What movie about knights has the most knighted actors? An obvious example of this idea: Star Wars, with Sir Alec Guinness playing a Jedi Knight. Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 18:41, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

OK, how's this for starters. Young Winston (1972) was about Sir Winston Churchill. It was directed by Richard Attenborough and roles were played by John Mills, Anthony Hopkins, Ian Holm and Nigel Hawthorne – none of these 5 were knights at the time. The original music was by Alfred Ralston (not knighted), but they also included some sizeable chunks of Sir Edward Elgar's music (arranged by Ralston). King Hassan II of Morocco was an uncredited "special assistant" - he was awarded an honorary Royal Victorian Chain, but that's not a knighthood; I don't know whether his kingship counts. There was some brief archival footage of Churchill at the end, if I remember correctly, showing him waving to crowds from a balcony at the end of WW2, and it may have also shown his wife Clementine, who was a dame, and later a baroness - but I personally wouldn't include archival footage in such tallies. Simon Ward (as Churchill), Edward Woodward and Robert Hardy also appeared – they're not knights yet, but I'd never be surprised if they were knighted at some stage. -- JackofOz (talk) 20:17, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

I wonder whether IMDb lists any obscure Baronets. —Tamfang (talk) 04:42, 17 August 2009 (UTC)

August 7

The Wire

I have just finished watching season 4 and am about to start on season 5 however I have a few questions: Omar Liddle and Marlow Stansfield are enemies, but can some one please elaborate on what card game they had? And what happened during this. Ques 2. Marlow has some soldiers, the youngest one who is still in school, has a ring around his neck that he got from the dirty police patrol guy. The policeman stole this from some one, who? and why was Marlow interested in this? Any help on these two would be greatly appreciated. Thank you ~~Zionist —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 06:50, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

Well, you might want to go back and watch season 4 again, because all of this is explained there! Anyway, here's how it goes: Omar hit a card game Marlo was playing at, stealing not only all of the money, but also Marlo's ring (whom he'd taken from another guy earlier, but let's not get into that...). Because Omar robbed him, Marlo wants revenge, so he framed Omar for murder. So when Omar gets arrested, the cop steals the ring from him. Of course, he loses is later on, as you mention. So when Marlo finally sees the ring again, he of course recognizes it, since it used to belong to him. -- Captain Disdain (talk) 09:58, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

Brilliant! Thank you very much. Cant wait to start season 5. Think I missed an episode in seas 4. Is it just me or ir Omar that hardest, coolest character ever. Any man that makes a living from robbing drug dealers is alright in my book. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 10:14, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

Captain Disdain says that "all of this is explained there", but it would be more accurate to say that "all of this is shown there". The Wire has, for television, an unusually large amount of subtext. That is, the dialogue does not always point out everything of significance. In television, the characters usually explain the story to the audience, but on The Wire, no one is going to say "Hey, isn't that Marlo's ring—the one he took from that guy?" So if you miss an episode, you'll miss more later, to be sure! —Kevin Myers 10:03, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

The Wire is an average procedural, nothing more or less, stuffed with an array of interchangeable and forgettable characters (I couldn't for the life of me remember who was who, and soon began not to care) and clichés galore. You want the the maverick cop who plays by his own rules, speaks his mind, pisses of his stuffed-shirt, officious superiors but gets results? Whose dedication to his job has cost him his marriage and left him with a drink habit (signalled by occasional swigs at a bottle)? Well, one can never get enough of THIS sort of character, obviously, so bring him on, have him played woodenly and be done with it. You get the usual weary battery of petty, lazy, fat and/or balding officials who get in the way, just for contrast, and they all but ask for his badge and his gun and/or give him 48 hours. Pretentious Child 2 (talk) 11:08, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

name of a type of genre of music

Hi, I'm looking for the name of a type of music or any artists associated with it. It's from Africa, I think East Africa, and it involves the artists listening to music on radios and re-mixing the music but using a lot of static and clicks etc. They may also be building their radios out of discarded electronics and this is how it got started. Any ideas? Thanks!

I should clarify that what distinguishes this genre is the fact it's really electronic based and I think the only instrument is the built or modified electronic device and the user's voice. I think it first gained attention a few years ago. I first heard about it in 2006. --Rajah (talk) 14:58, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

Baseball in Japan

[3] - what is the Industrial League? Who then was a gentleman? (talk) 23:35, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

http://kasdanfamily.blogspot.com/2008/06/industrial-league-baseball-matsushita.html should help. 83.100.250.79 (talk) 23:54, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

(ec) Basically what it sounds like, the major Japanese corporations all have their own baseball teams that compete against teams from other companies. Play is at an amateur level and is seen as a good stepping stone into professional Baseball (see for example Toshiya Sugiuchi#Industrial league career. Interestingly enough the US used to run Industrial leagues too up until the early 1900s. Nanonic (talk) 00:04, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

August 8

Matt Uelmen's Cave

Is there any song like Matt Uelmen's Cave (on the Diablo 2 Soundtrack (track 13)) that does not use 80's percussion? (This song is the song that plays when a player enters Den (relevanting to the Quest 1) in Act 1.174.3.103.39 (talk) 05:14, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

Beach Boys.

Did the Beach Boys ever record an instumental tune called Baja. If they did is there any way one could get a copy of it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.74.170.186 (talk) 11:58, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

The Astronauts recorded a surf instrumental titled "Baja" in 1963. It's mentioned in the article on Surf music and Surf rock. I don't know whether the Beach Boys ever recorded it — superficial googling revealed nothing. You can listen to the Astronauts' version by searching "Baja" + "Astronauts" on youtube. ---Sluzzelin talk 12:36, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

George Plimpton article on Ivy League bands?

I seem to remember an article by George Plimpton in Sports Illustrated about those wacky Ivy League marching bands. It's old, perhaps from the 70s. Searched the SI archives online but no luck. Can anyone help find it? 24.158.150.197 (talk) 15:51, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

I went to Google and put in "George Plimpton" "Ivy League Bands" and came up with this one entry from September 8, 1975: [4] Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 16:04, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

Anyone know the name of this old cartoon series?

Here's what I remember about it: - The series were made prior to 1997 (they may date back as far as the 60's for all I know) - They are about the life of a little boy who tries to find his family again. He was stolen as a baby from a rich family and then gets adopted by an old man who does circus-type shoes and owns a monkey and some other animals. After all of the animals die of some sort of disease (don't remember) and the old man passes away from freezing to death, the child finds himself with another family for a while. They are poor and survive by selling flowers. The kid finds himself homeless multiple times afterward. -I don't know the country or language of origin... It is likely to not be from the US. I saw it in Quebec (French Canada). So it may have been in french although I highly doubt it. Really, the cartoon could be a anime for all I know. The whole cartoon has a bitter-sweet/drama theme to it. It may even be a tragedy though since I don't remember the end. Another scene I remember: The boy is on some sort of ferry/boat (don't remember why) and he sees a woman with a child (who is in a wheelchair) on a ferry nearby (they "cross" each other at sea). Although neither realize it, the woman is the mother of the boy. Also, he finds his family crest in order to find his family... I really, really, want to know how the series end.. Also, I either saw it either in late 1996 or early 1997. Though, once again, that doesn't guarantee the cartoon series was released then. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Veronika Stolbikova (talk • contribs) 23:59, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

August 9

Films written by F. Scott Fitzgerald

During the time when F. Scott Fitzgerald was a Hollywood screenwriter, were any scripts he wrote developed into films? If so, have any of those films been released on DVD?--99.251.239.89 (talk) 02:14, 9 August 2009 (UTC)

According to IMDb, he shares screenwriting credit for Three Comrades. TCM has it available on DVD (and on sale too). Some uncredited films, such as Red-Headed Woman, Marie Antoinette, and The Women, are also out on DVD. Clarityfiend (talk) 02:33, 9 August 2009 (UTC)

Explanations in sci fi

Hi,

I've noticed that in most scifi/post-apocolyptic movies, there's a scene where the "science" behind it all is nicely summarised in a few sentences. I'm wondering if there's a collection of these all together somewhere? Videos would be great, but transcripts would also be awesome. And preferably with forums for scientists (like me) to make snide remarks. Does such a thing exist, or only in my dreams?

Aaadddaaammm (talk) 19:23, 9 August 2009 (UTC)

For stuff like this, TV Tropes is a much better fit than Wikipedia (because they're wilfully lax about such analyses, whereas we'd demand some dry academic study of the plot elements of bad SF movies). In particular, they have an "Apocalypse How" page which covers these many modes of doom. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 19:28, 9 August 2009 (UTC)

Phil Plait's book Death from the Skies is a recitation of various credible(ish) ways of the apocalypses written by an astronomer (I haven't read it, so I can't say whether it's a good recitation thereof or not). -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 19:35, 9 August 2009 (UTC)

August 10

Title/Artist Finder Application

Does anyone know of an application (preferably free!) that can be used to determine the name and artist of a song when a portion of the song is played into a microphone? Thanks. --Think Fast (talk) 03:58, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

Please tell me there is. It will make answering questions at this ref desk MUCH easier... --Jayron32 05:27, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

There is an application called TrackID that is pre-installed on some Sony Ericsson mobile phones. If you hear a song being played, you can simply record it and the TrackID application will recover the song/artist from Gracenote's database using an advanced search algorithm. This works quite well, even if there is a considerable level of ambient noise. I am sure similar free solutions exist. Regards, decltype (talk) 06:16, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

"the birds" by hitchcock.

I believe another film paid homage to a scene in 'the birds' or vice versa but I cant remember what it is. does anyone know? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.202.43.53 (talk) 07:11, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

There are many. High Anxiety springs to mind. Try trawling through the links to our article.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 07:45, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

Song Tite

Do you know the title of a 80's song sung by a woman with long dark curly hair? It's "slow rock" and the lyrics (chorus) includes smth like blackbird or black thunder (I didn't understand it clearly). —Preceding unsigned comment added by Atacamadesert12 (talk • contribs) 07:42, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

Perhaps "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles? AlexiusHoratius 07:56, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

Thank you, that's it! :-)