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August 27

Secrets - OneRepublic (sample at start)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCub4Vi-1KI

From 0:09 is a beat from some opera / classical singer. I went on who sampled and couldn't find what I am looking for.

I remember a early 00s song (2000 - 2003) that started with that same sample from 0:00 to 0:09 but then it went a bit different but still similar! It was a female singing. and it was a popular song, and it was american. 212.30.205.162 (talk) 19:10, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

The instrumental part is similar to the beginning of the J. S. Bach Solo Cello Suite no. 1. Not identical though. Herbivore (talk) 20:48, 1 September 2013 (UTC)

Do Martial Arts Really Work?

Dear all.

I think martial arts are great! My only problem is: I have never seen any actual evidence, that they work in reality. I have in fact never seen, read or even heard of any reliable information that proves their alleged efficiency. A good friend of mine, who used to practice karate for years, lost a fight against a dude who never trained anything (and who also was smaller). Most armies seem to ignore traditional martial arts completely and created their own hand-to-hand combat systems (LINE, Systema, Combat 56 and Krav Maga). My grandfather, who served in the army as a fight instructor (he teached bayonet fencing, knife fighting and hand-to-hand combat) has told me, that most martial arts are hoaxes. My question is: are most martial arts really that useless? And are there effective martial arts?--92.105.189.138 (talk) 20:05, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

(absolute OR with no training in anything). Martial arts as a whole are not a hoax, but other training is clearly legitimate and some people need no training at all to know how to fight and/or defend themselves. (More OR. It's not so much the practical use, but the discipline involved that people like.) --Onorem (talk) 20:10, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Thank you for the response, Onorem. I used to go to a "open day" at the karate school of my friend, and I thought the way they worship their master was kinda scary. I really have no experiences whatsoever when it comes to martial arts, but this confused me.--92.105.189.138 (talk) 20:16, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Some marital arts work.  :) -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 20:22, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Well, this is also OR, but I'd imagine it depends on the martial art in question (they're very different). I do some kung fu (very far from an expert), and in my school, there are two pieces: "forms", which is very formal and concentrates on learning and going through the different stances, actions, etc., and "sparring", which focuses more on real-life fighting. I would imagine that the sparring part of it, which involves actually sparring with other students, would be quite useful in a real-life fight; the forms might be a little helpful in real life, but not very much. (At least, not before one starts the forms that incorporate weapons.) For what it's worth. Writ Keeper (WK to move) ⚇♔ 20:26, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

• Eastern martial arts seem to be a combination of exercise, hand-to-hand combat training, and indoctrination in Eastern Philosophy. That's quite clear in movies like Crouching Tiger, House of Flying Daggers, and Hero. μηδείς (talk) 04:13, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

• They may be less effective than other fighting techniques, since they focus on fighting "honorably". However, if in a fight for you life, I suggest you kick the enemy in the balls, pull his hair, gouge his eyes out with your car keys, hit him with whatever's handy, bite, etc., which you don't see so often in martial arts competitions. :-) StuRat (talk) 04:40, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

No, they're more your marital arts.  :) -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 05:00, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

I may be prejudiced in favor of karate, but I don't see why a mae geri kick can't be aimed at the enemy's private parts, or a nuki te (spear-hand) strike be done with car keys instead of your fingers, if need be. 24.23.196.85 (talk) 07:44, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

You may be interested in the Penn and Teller: Bullshit episode named Martial Arts (or you may have seen it and that's why you're asking). Linking to it would be a copyright violation, but it's easy to find on YouTube.

As to the question, it's nearly impossible to answer definitively. If three karate black belts (or whatever experts) are in three barfights, they can all throw the exact same punch (or whatever technique). One may land on the chin and win, one may hit the forehead and prolong, one may miss entirely and lose. Half depends on what the opponent knows and does. InedibleHulk (talk) 08:28, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

I've done martial arts which has a self defense component. The general differences between the sport/forms version and the self defense version were that kicks should be kept low (anything above the knee is slow, and leaves you off balance), stomps or knees are preferable to kicks anyway (stomping down someone's shin is a good way to cause a lot of pain, very quickly, and it's hard for them to hold you in a way that you can't do it), and any areas that are not allowed targets in sport fighting are encouraged in self defense (groin, side of the knee, under the chin, throat). With a lot of lectures about reasonable force, the most important thing about any martial art or self defense system is knowing when to use it, and how to scale your response. There's a few other tips, which are mostly about making sure that witnesses don't think you were being threatening (for the love of god, don't go into a boxer's stance with your fists up... you look a lot more defensive, but can do a lot more damage with your palms out ready to palmstrike) MChesterMC (talk) 09:14, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

This article is an interesting and referenced discussion of the topic. : The Straight Dope : Has martial arts training ever helped anybody defeat a mugger? APL (talk) 16:01, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

I cannot help myself, but I even find the term "martial art" to be pretty weird. The term is strangely used for both, military based combat systems, traditional fight sports and some esoteric concepts.--92.105.189.138 (talk) 21:20, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

Both of the first are fighting, hence the "martial" part. Only the details change. Learning Tai Chi for fighting will probably get you killed, but some people count it based on a very spotty history of effectiveness over the centuries. It's sort of like how the art of sweeping a floor could train you to throw back elbows. Not saying it's useless, in combination with a "real" disciple, but best to just count the first two kinds to avoid confusion. InedibleHulk (talk) 03:44, 29 August 2013 (UTC)

Here's a recent story about a guy who used his kung fu to fight off 50 thugs who were trying to intimidate him into leaving his home [1]. I have no idea why they call him an "amateur", and yet also state he had trained for 20 years... SemanticMantis (talk) 16:23, 29 August 2013 (UTC)

If he never got paid for it, he's an amateur. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:38, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

What about the legal consequences? Most "martial artists" seem to never think about the aftermath.--92.105.189.138 (talk) 13:13, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Legal consequences of what? Defending yourself? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:49, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

When the police get involved, both parties in a fight often claim they were defending themselves, and there is also the issue of "reasonable force". See Right of self-defense. If there are no good witnessess and the other person is hurt far worse than you then there can easily be legal consequences no matter how justified you think you were. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:08, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Except in Florida. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:34, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Depends on what kind of martial arts. Most martial arts are not for attacking, rather defending yourself. Anybody watch Ip Man 2 or Fearless? Pretty awesome movies, both showing Eastern martial artists bringing down champion Western fighters who look down on martial arts. I would think taiji to be unpractical in combat, though. ☯ Bonkers The Clown \(^_^)/ Nonsensical Babble ☯ 14:03, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

However you must be really skilled in martial arts to be able to win a bazooka. ☯ Bonkers The Clown \(^_^)/ Nonsensical Babble ☯ 14:03, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Well... I do not really think, that movies like "Fearless" or "Ip Man 2" (they are very entertaining btw) give good impressions of Western martial arts. According to an interview given by the late Bob Anderson, there never was any intention at all, to show real combat systems of Western origin in modern media. This explains, why nearly no one has ever heard of the grand masters Johannes Liechtenauer and Fiore dei Liberi.--92.105.189.138 (talk) 16:25, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

August 28

mabuela?

I heard this Spanish song and the radio, and I don’t know what exactly was being said, but there were brief moments when a female (or more?) would say this word, which is probably inaccurate. Does anybody know what I’m talking about? This is really irritating me. --66.190.69.246 (talk) 03:49, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

Very likely mi abuela--"my grandmother". μηδείς (talk) 04:08, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

I don’t know if vowels can contract like that in Spanish, and I can’t find a relevant song with that name. I can remember the words “como la luna,” “sus palabras” and “cada día” from the song, but that’s about it. --66.190.69.246 (talk) 04:13, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

Normally not, but they sometimes take some liberties to make the words fit a song: Para bailar la Bamba, se necesita una poca de gracia, par' mi, par' ti, y arriba, y arriba... That's how Richie Valens sang it anyway. And a Spanish speaking colleague that I asked about it said that's what was going on there. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→

Nevermind, found it. --66.190.69.246 (talk) 04:37, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

Apparently the word's Manuela. μηδείς (talk) 16:46, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

Here comes the bride

Is it possible that Wagner's Here Comes the Bride was a deliberate parody of Mendelssohn's Wedding March? I've noticed a certain similarity between the two -- and besides, these two composers hated each other's guts, so I could see how Wagner might have tried totally turning Mendelssohn's wedding march inside out just to insult and ridicule him. Agree/disagree? 24.23.196.85 (talk) 07:28, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

We're not here to either agree or disagree with novel theories of this kind. We're here to provide references, if they exist. I've had a good look around google but found nothing, so it looks like you're on your own here. Fwiw, I've never heard this theory.

Wagner was certainly not above parodying in music those he despised, the most famous case probably being the character Sixtus Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger, who was originally going to be called Hans Lick, a sort of operatic channelling of the Viennese music critic Eduard Hanslick, whose detestation of Wagner's music was matched only by Wagner's hatred of him. But wiser counsel prevailed. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 20:29, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

Well, thanks for the effort. I guess I should try asking someone who studies music history for a living. BTW, Wagner was not alone in trashing music critics who gave him the thumbs-down -- Puccini, too, based his Baron Scarpia (the villain in his opera Tosca) on the theatrical critic Vito Scaripa who had harshly criticized one of his earlier operas. 24.23.196.85 (talk) 05:26, 29 August 2013 (UTC)

Best of luck, but I'd be very surprised if you found anything different about this elsewhere. See, you're not going on anything you've read anywhere, or even what someone's told you. You've just created this Wagner-Mendelssohn theory from scratch and are hoping to find some confirmation of it. There is simply no reason to believe that "it sounds plausible" = "it really did happen". -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 06:18, 29 August 2013 (UTC)

TV Show

I am looking for the name of a TV show I watched when I was 7 years old (2001). I barely remember the plot but the opposing character (the bad girl) was a red-hair woman named Ashka or Sashka or something like that. She'd thrown fire-balls with some kind of device sha had in her hands... Oh, the good guy was named Paul. The shows was about portals to other dimensions or something. Miss Bono ^[zootalk] 17:28, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

So many great memories watching this series growing up. It's Spellbinder (TV series). _{Hia10 (talk) 19:34, 28 August 2013 (UTC)}

Yeah, it was a great show. Thank you so much!! Hia10 Miss Bono ^[zootalk] 19:42, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

Sounds interesting, I'll have to watch it. It was shot near my Mother's Mothers home town in Poland for the spookiness. μηδείς (talk) 18:49, 29 August 2013 (UTC)

August 30

Traditional Pop/Pop Standards/Etc. Versions of Songs

Paul Anka did a version of Wonderwall, Dean Martin did a version of I'm So Lonesome I could Cry; I liked both. Are there other songs, especially modern ones or ones from in-congruent genres, that have been redone in a Pop Standards/Swing/Big Band/etc. style? I'm a fan of most of the music that came out between the late 30's to early 60's and, personally, I think it's neat to hear other genres, especially more modern ones, done in this style- like an inverse of Pearl Jam redoing Last Kiss. The artist redoing the song does not need to be from this period, I'd be happy with anything that is a decent approximate to the style (if something kind of seems to fit, I'd rather just listen to it than not hear about it :-) ). Thank you for any suggestions:-)Phoenixia1177 (talk) 07:23, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Paul Anka did a whole album of covers of rock songs in a big band style including 'Jump' and 'Eye of the Tiger'! Most songs by Nouvelle Vague (a French band) are jolly, upbeat covers of 80s goth/punk/indie songs. They a have a 1960s French pop sound to them with bossanova beats and breathy female vocals.83.104.128.107 (talk) 13:33, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Ray Charles put his own twist on "Louise", most famously done by Maurice Chevalier. The Beatles did a cover of "Till There Was You" from The Music Man. I recall an album by 101 Strings called The Best of Simon and Garfunkel, or something like that. One of the crazier things I've ever seen was Ethel Merman doing (or trying to do) Glen Campbell's big hit "Gentle on My Mind". The list of crossover covers is endless. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:48, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Sing Something Simple used to feature easy-listening arrangements that all came out sounding exactly the same. Sometimes they would give this treatment to songs from the milder end of the pop specturm, e.g. Beatles classics. Also, though it's perhaps not the best moment to mention it, there's Rolf Harris's version of Stairway to Heaven. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 13:56, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Pat Boone did an album of Heavy Metal songs, In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy. There's also the entire catalogue of Richard Cheese. In the other directions, there are bands like Hayseed Dixie (bluegrass covers of heavy metal songs), Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (punk rock covers of 70's easy listening), and Dread Zeppelin (reggae/Elvis mashup versions of heavy metal songs). --Jayron32 14:08, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

I'll second Richard Cheese. Good stuff, and to me seems just like what OP wants, even if it is a little silly :) SemanticMantis (talk) 16:34, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Then there's Union Avenue, who specialise in rock covers done in the style of a young Johnny Cash. I heard their version of The Ace of Spades on the radio once, but missed the DJ announcing who it was, and was convinced for a while that Motorhead must have covered a Johnny Cash original. Other than that, my favourite crossover cover is Turisas' utterly demented metal version of Boney M's Rasputin.

For something a bit closer to the original question, here's the Divine Comedy's chamber pop cover of the Queens of the Stone Age's No One Knows. --Nicknack009 (talk) 20:15, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Wonderwall was also covered by the Mike Flowers Pops, whose output you will be interested in. --TammyMoet (talk) 18:48, 30 August 2013 (UTC) And how could we forget the special contribution of the James Last Orchestra? (but our article could do with some work I see) --TammyMoet (talk) 18:51, 30 August 2013 (UTC) And while I'm at it, the Tori Amos version of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit is much better than the original IMHO. <gdr> --TammyMoet (talk) 18:53, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Tori Amos' version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is not a pop/swing/big band version. It's a very stark, minimal arrangement. --Viennese Waltz 19:53, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Mentioning them mainly because I know a couple of the members, The Arrangement (band) (video) perform[ed] hip-hop songs in a pseudo-classical/operatic style. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 21:04, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Thank you all, you're all awesome:-) I picked up a copy of Paul Anka's versions today (I didn't realize he did a bunch of these, though it was just a one off type of thing). That link to Richard Cheese made me happier than when I found out James Darren was playing a recurring character on Star Trek (weird reference, but true:-) ). I'm going to try and pick up copies of the rest (all of these piqued my interest) this weekend. On a side note: I liked the Tori Amos version better too. Thank you again; if anything else comes to mind, please post more if you have the time:-)Phoenixia1177 (talk) 05:13, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

Thanks to this thread for bringing Richard Cheese to my attention. Can I also mention the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, who don't exactly come under "pop standards" but whose deadpan reworkings of classic tunes from the rock, punk, pop, classical and other genres are a joy to witness - Karenjc 08:22, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester have recorded and performed 1990s/2000s songs such as "Sex Bomb", "Oops!... I Did It Again", or "Let's Talk About Sex" in the style of 1920s/30s German cabaret music. Variation on your theme: Ensemble Ambrosius recorded an album of Zappa songs, not necessarily in baroque style, but played on baroque instruments exclusively. ---Sluzzelin talk 20:42, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

It's also worth mentioning Ted Templeman who recorded 1960s hits done in a 1920s jazz style as ""The Templeton Twins" backed by "Teddy Turner & his Bunsen Burners". Another hilarious crossover is Cathy Berberian's album Beatles Arias, where she sings Beatles songs in an operatic style ... her version of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is just delicious. There's also The Ethel Merman Disco Album. Graham87 12:22, 3 September 2013 (UTC)

August 31

slenderman

in the original slenderman game. i have heard you should be careful by having your flashlight on cause it can lead Slenderman on the track of you when he's looking for you. but I have also heard that it does not matter because he can see in the dark. which one is right? --188.176.236.246 (talk) 20:04, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

September 1

Filmographies

Please can you tell me which members of film production teams are entitled to have 'Filmographies' appended to their Wiki pages? Is it only directors and actors? Are lesser members of the film world precluded? My reason for asking is because I have been helping to create the page of the internationally-recognised set decorator Stephenie McMillan who died in August. She made 28 films, including all the Harry Potter series. In collaboration with her mentor (the production director Stuart Craig) I think I could compile a definitive list of: the dates of the 28 movies, together with key personnel (producers, directors, actors) so that the information could be shown in tabulated form (such as on the Coen Bros page). But I am loathe to commence this extensive reserarch if the Wiki 'house rule' restricts Filmographies to directors and leading actors. CorrezeCORREZE (talk) 07:36, 1 September 2013 (UTC)

Well, I wouldn't like to see one for the fourth assistant to the assistant to the assistant director, but there shouldn't be any objection to adding credits for an Oscar winner like her. Edith Head, for example, has a section titled "Actors and actresses designed for" which is essentially a filmography. It certainly doesn't hurt that she worked on high profile films. Clarityfiend (talk) 11:44, 1 September 2013 (UTC)

Sing Along with Mitch

Does anyone know if the US television show Sing Along with Mitch (a 1960s programme fronted by Mitch Miller) ever aired in the UK? Paul MacDermott (talk) 22:59, 1 September 2013 (UTC)

It did in Australia, fwiw. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 19:42, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

Here's one from that time period: Q: "If you get attacked by a mosquito and a bee on the same spot on your skin, what is that condition called?" ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:48, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

I'm guessing "Sting along with itch"? -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 23:47, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

And the boy gets a cigar! (This being an elementary school joke, it's a bubble gum cigar.) Now, about the show... wasn't it primarily American old-standard popular songs? How much appeal did that music have in Australia or would it have had in the UK? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 23:53, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

Oh, lots. Aussie people back in the '60s knew plenty of American folk-ish songs and olde-time ditties, because rock/pop had not yet become so dominant. Burl Ives was immensely popular here, and rightfully so. Not that we went around singing them on a daily basis, but they would have accounted for a substantial part of the repertoire at a sing-along around the piano, for example. Most households still had pianos back then. (All decent households still do, of course. :)) -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 00:17, 3 September 2013 (UTC)

September 2

GOCG

There's a website called Good Old Games or GOG.com, which makes older (and some newer) computer games available for current computers. Are there any similar, reputable sites for console games? If not, are any underway? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Theskinnytypist (talk • contribs) 01:47, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

Is MAME what you're looking for? RudolfRed (talk) 02:55, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

There are a decent number of fairly reputable emulators. However, unless they are able to play the game from the original media, they generally rely on ROMs, which are mostly illegal copies, in order to play copyrighted games (i.e. most non-homebrew games). Some add-ons like the Retrode will allow the original cartidges to be used, which is more likely to be legal (though there will still be some copying involved, so it may depend on jurisdiction). Generally, unless a games company chooses to rerelease a title for a later console (or for PC), then the original media is needed to play that game legitimately. MChesterMC (talk) 09:24, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

Airplane in Mr. Clean commercial

Is the airplane seen at about 0:06 in this commercial totally fictional out of an artist's mind, or is there a plane like it? The way the wing and engines are connected to the fuselage by a thin member makes be suppose it probably is fictional, but I thought I'd ask. 75.75.42.89 (talk) 13:03, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

As soon as I saw it I thought "Catalina", and found Consolidated PBY Catalina. Britmax (talk) 13:12, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

Searching some rather geeky aviation forums, it seems to be this one, which was formerly used to drop water on fires in Spain and Portugal. Alansplodge (talk) 17:15, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

September 3

songs about nursing

I'm trying to find some songs about nursing. The songs should be regardless of gender. Are there any out there?142.255.103.121 (talk) 06:03, 3 September 2013 (UTC)

Nursie! Nursie! was well known in its day. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 06:12, 3 September 2013 (UTC)

One of my favourites: http://www.metrolyrics.com/night-nurse-lyrics-gregory-isaacs.html 196.214.78.114 (talk) 06:30, 3 September 2013 (UTC)

These four look useful. Plus there's the very short but pretty song Nursie by Jethro Tull. -Karenjc 06:46, 3 September 2013 (UTC)

There's a comic song called "Nurse" on Jake Thackray's Jake's Progress (album). It's quite saucy but needn't be interpreted in a gender specific way (if it's allowed to be about a gay nurse).--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:42, 3 September 2013 (UTC)

'Nursie' by Jethro Tull. A splendid song which you can hear it on the 1972 compilation 'Living in the Past' which is itself a fairly splendid album. 78.245.228.100 (talk) 12:26, 3 September 2013 (UTC)