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December 30

Star Wars vs. Star Trek... why?

Dear Gentlemen

I often see comparisons between the popular science-fiction works Star Wars and Star Trek. My question is, why do people like to compare two totally different works that barely have anything in common? Why does nobody compare Space Patrol and Star Trek, despite that these works are by far more similar (for example: nobody makes a comparison between the Narnia and the Harry Potter books)?--92.105.189.138 (talk) 14:41, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

A few seconds over at Google found Harry Potter and the C.S. Lewis's Narnia stories - a brief comparison.. I don't know the answer, but suspect that the reason is that both Star Trek and Star Wars have their devoted (if not obsessive) followers, and they like to try to prove that they're better than the other lot. Alansplodge (talk) 14:55, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

If you think they "barely have anything in common" then I guess you see a lot of different science fiction. To most people they have many things in common, and they are both popular – that's one of the common things. People generally write far more about popular works. Oh, and WP:WHAAOE: Comparison of Star Trek and Star Wars. PrimeHunter (talk) 15:37, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

There's a decidedly different "tone" to those respective universes. Star Trek is generally serious and realistic (in a certain way) while Star Wars is strictly action-adventure and almost satirical, or at least an homage. It's like trying to compare The Magnificent Seven with Blazing Saddles. But for each respective pair, there is some commonality, at least at a high level. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:06, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

Because they're two immensely popular franchises in roughly the same genre.(Especially in USA.) And not just popular, but enduring.

That's similarity enough, really. By now, Trek-vs-Wars has become a cultural meme in and of itself, which is why "Star Wars Verses Doctor Who" doesn't have the same cultural power, even though that's an equally valid discussion.

APL (talk) 19:05, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

Good point. Star Wars is a lot more like Dr. Who than it is like Star Trek. But they're still within the realm of sci-fi / fantasy. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:22, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

See Star Wars and Doctor Who fans clash at Norwich convention - "Police were called to a science fiction convention after an argument between two rival groups of fans. Trouble flared at the fourth Norwich Sci-Fi and Film Convention at the University of East Anglia..." Très drôle. Alansplodge (talk) 23:30, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

Is that for real? It sounds like a good plotline for Big Bang Theory. "The Nerd Wars!" ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:56, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

I am a very big fan of both sci-fi literature and movies (since I am spending time in europe, I have the chance to read and watch European sci-fi, which is quite interesting). Star Trek is set a few hundred years in the future while Star Wars is set in a fantasy galaxy, like the old Grimm fairy tales. Star Trek is about the exploration of our milky way galaxy, while Star Wars is about the downfall of the old republic and the rise and fall of a galactic empire. @Baseball_Bugs: I do not think that Star Wars was intended as a realistic depiction of space faring, since it is strictly a fantasy movie (much like "Lord of the Rings" does not represent our medieval history).--92.105.189.138 (talk) 20:58, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

Yes. Star Wars (the original, at least) is like King Arthur set in outer space. And the Lord of the Rings series as well as the Harry Potter series likewise center on magic and witchcraft (except in Star Wars it's called "The Force"). ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:55, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

I think that most of the respondents above are looking at this too closely (and our article, if you can even call it that, is terrible). A distressing amount of speculative fiction is very narrowly focused or incompletely thought out; the writer wants to look at this particular thing or that particular technology. Gene Roddenberry and George Lucas - and their respective creative teams - deliberately tried to make their fictional universes as rich as possible. There are a multitude of species and cultures and languages, with myriad details and idiosyncrasies for fans to pick up on and enjoy. That expansiveness invites people to consider that they could perhaps be joined somehow. ST and SW are not the only fictional universes with detailed histories (LOTR takes that cake, and easily), but they are both futuristic (ignore the "long, long, ago" part), space-faring fictions, with broadly similar technologies. In terms of characterization, it's perhaps true that Star Wars would be easier to compare with, say, The Lord of the Rings than Star Trek, but the conceits are so different that it would be pointless to get into a discussion. It would be like trying to compare the Montreal Canadiens with the New York Yankees; sure, they're the most decorated sports teams in their leagues, but you can't compare catchers to goalies or something. Likewise Strider to Han Solo. Ah, but comparing Solo to Kirk, that's close enough to let you get started... Matt Deres (talk) 03:19, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

@Matt Deres: Your argument is very interesting. It seems that both franchises are (or were) the most successful commercial products in their categories. Star Wars is the best known sci-fi movie of all time, and Star Trek is pretty much the only sci-fi show, that is even famous among most people.--92.105.189.138 (talk) 15:27, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

Desert war reference needed

I've been working on an article about the Benghazi burner, an improvised cooking stove used by Allied troops in the North African Campaign in WWII. There is a scene in the 1958 British war film Ice Cold in Alex, in which a German spy, played by Anthony Quayle, gives himself away by not being able to make tea with the aforementioned burner. It would be great to include this in the article - all I need now is a reference.... Alansplodge (talk) 14:41, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

This book (British Film Character Actors: Great Names and Memorable Moments by Terence Pettigrew) mentions the scene on pg 7, although it doesn't use the specific term "Benghazi burner".--William Thweatt ^TalkContribs 16:21, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

Well done - I might be able to get away with it! Alansplodge (talk) 16:52, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

December 31

Two Indian Actresses having same name i.e Sara Khan confusion

Whenever I searched for Sara Khan I got the page about TV actress Sara Khan who worked in Indian television channels. Her famous drama was "Bidai..Sapna Babul Ka"

While the other Sara Khan who also worked in Indian TV darma i.e "Dhong lege Manzil Hume" has also worked in Indian Films. Her upcoming Indian movie is "Total Siappa".

There is no page about TV and Film Actress Sara Khan on Wikipedia.

Please upload an article about her so that people may note the difference. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tahir4awan (talk • contribs) 10:27, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

Our article on the TV series is at Dhoondh Legi Manzil Humein. The relevant guideline is WP:ENT - in particular, "has had significant roles in multiple notable films, television shows, stage performances, or other productions" (emphasis added). The TV series is of marginal notability, and Ms Khan doesn't appear to have any other acting credits (she doesn't have an IMDb entry). If her upcoming movie turns out to be notable, then she'll probably be entitled to an article. Until then, however, she doesn't appear to meet our guidelines. Tevildo (talk) 13:33, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

based on a true story

why is it that some films which are based on a true story (eg the shining, jaws, mary poppins) you get people who are saying that they are not based on a true story and a work of fiction when what has happened is athat a few facts are changed in order to make the script but that does not affect on the core ideas? Humansizedbeetle (talk) 12:27, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

Er, who claims Mary Poppins is based on a true story? AlexTiefling (talk) 12:51, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

And who claims that Jaws or The Shining were based on a true story? They may have been "inspired by several real-life incidents" but that is not at all the same thing; the same could be said of any work of fiction. That word "based" is too vague to mean very much in this context.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 13:22, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

Saving Mr. Banks, which is about the making of Mary Poppins, is based on or inspired by facts. Mary Poppins herself was a product of Ms. Travers' imagination. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:30, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

Science Fiction Story: Babies born "without soul"

I try to identify a SF short story (probably from the 1960ies, when I read it): An Indian (?) Gynocologist notices that all babies born after a a defined day show blandness in their eyes. He learns that this has been observed all over the world and comes to the conclusion that the "reservoir" of souls - which get reincarnated over and over - has reached an end. It was just a couple of pages... Any bells ringing ? GEEZER^{nil nisi bene} 14:56, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

It's not it, but there are some similarities with The Midwich Cuckoos, made into the movie Village of the Damned. StuRat (talk) 15:49, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

I recall reading this story, or something extremely like it, but not its title or author (I'm thinking it might have been by Arthur C. Clarke, but none of the story titles in my collection's index [I list the stories in collections/anthologies] seem to fit). I'm attending a New Year's party with a number of (other) SF fans in a few hours, so I'll see if any of them remember and get back to you tomorrow when I've regained consciousness/sobered up/got back home :-) . {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.204.16.14 (talk) 17:23, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

Intriguing story idea. I hope you find it out. It sounds like kind of a dark satire on the notion of reincarnation. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:55, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

It's The Vitanuls by the excellent John Brunner. Publication history here. Anthologies containing it are still available second-hand. - Karenjc (talk) 17:14, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Thank you, this seems to be it. I'll put it on my Get-it-and-read-it-again-list. Case closed. GEEZER^{nil nisi bene} 23:05, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Candy Crush

Why do I have different special candies available on Candy Crush for my Facebook then on my phone? Is there a way to get all the Facebook candies (which I have more built up), so I can use them on my phone? CTF83! 20:57, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

Victor Cruz's last name explanation

Why does Victor Cruz, well-known football player for the New York Giants, have a Spanish last name if his father is considered to be African American? Is it that his father has Latino blood as well like his mother and if so from where? Or is it because of another reason? Victor's mother is not a Cruz. Willminator (talk) 23:10, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

What kind of a surname do you expect his African American father to have? Most African Americans have surnames that are clearly British in origin, so they prove nothing about them being African American (nor what other kind of "blood" they may have). There's really no obvious connection between surname and ancestry. HiLo48 (talk) 23:33, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

I don't know. He can have any last name he wants to. Just wondering where the last name came from. Willminator (talk) 00:03, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

The article Victor Cruz (American football) says his parents never married, and that his mother is Puerto Rican, so it would be a reasonable guess that he took his mother's name. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 00:37, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Except that "Victor's mother is not a Cruz". -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 03:23, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Where does it say that? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 04:08, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

This item[1] says that his father was Michael Walker and his mother was Blanca Cruz. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 04:10, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Last sentence of the question. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 04:57, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Oh, I see. Well, either that link is wrong or the OP is wrong. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 05:07, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

These probable RS reports the same names [2] [3] [4] [5] so I suspect the OP is wrong. At least if his mother is Blanca Cruz, may be he should reconsider dancing with her [6] and buying her a house [7]. Nil Einne (talk) 12:37, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Segregation of fans at sporting events

I've lived my life in a country (Australia) where fans of different sporting teams are randomly mixed up in the spectator areas, at least for most sports. Attendees sit where they like It's apparent to me that for some big sports, Association football being the obvious one, fans are generally segregated on the basis of which team they support. Which is the more common approach globally. What's the history? HiLo48 (talk) 23:57, 31 December 2013 (UTC)

It's not a thing in North American pro sports either. I can't speak to lower levels. Mingmingla (talk) 00:26, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

We have an article; Football hooliganism, but it doesn't seem to address your question directly. In England, (Association) football matches at the top level began to be officially segregated in the 1970s if I recall correctly, although I believe fans used to segregate themselves to an extent before that. Rugby Union matches are not segregated. Alansplodge (talk) 11:01, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Having just mass-watched several US college football bowl games today, I can report that it is very much tradition that teams' fans most definitely segregate themselves, although that's mainly because the bowl organizers give out blocs of tickets to the individual schools for sale to their fans. But college football in general, and college basketball as well, really does segregate fans, because of traditional seating locations for the school's students. RNealK (talk) 04:08, 2 January 2014 (UTC)

There is some segregation in Australia sport. In the A-League, there are nominated away bays where home fans in colours are not allowed. In the AFL, "Cheer Squad" bays are strictly for "active" club members who must agree not to swear or drink alcohol in the bay. Hack (talk) 04:29, 2 January 2014 (UTC)

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about the AFL cheer squads. No swearing or alcohol, eh? Can they still call the umpires rude things, so long as they don't swear? (Is "white maggot" swearing?) HiLo48 (talk) 05:12, 2 January 2014 (UTC)

Apparently throwing a ball at a goal umpire ($1000 fine) is twice as bad as abusive, insulting or threatening language ($500).source (page 10). I imagine calling someone a maggot would come under insulting language. Hack (talk) 05:37, 2 January 2014 (UTC)

January 1

BBC New Year coverage

I'm sure I should know this, but who is the presenter covering the BBC's New Year coverage? 86.162.52.208 (talk) 18:19, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Susanna Reid methinks. The Rambling Man (talk) 18:36, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

Thanks, :) 86.162.52.208 (talk) 18:44, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

No problem. The Rambling Man (talk) 18:56, 1 January 2014 (UTC)

January 3

Help me find this popular song on iTunes

Maybe I'm an idiot, or maybe it's not for sale on iTunes but I can't find the English version for Major Tom (Coming Home) when I search for it. I am looking for the popular 1983 version. I found many copies of the original German version, and some English remixes/remakes from the 90s and plenty of covers, but I am looking for the Peter Schilling 1983 English version that I used to hear on the radio growing up? Is it on iTunes and if so can you tell me exactly what to search for?--Jerk of Thrones (talk) 05:48, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

A number of comments suggest it's not available there. ----jpgordon^{::==( o )} 04:33, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

forgotten old world war 2 based movie

i watched this movie some 18 years ago when was a kid.cant remember its name. but dying to have a copy of it. it was based upon world war 2, describing life and fight of a young group( may be acting as resistance group). what i remembered just some scenes of the movie.shot in one then but prominent European city under siege of axis power. random scene 1- some guys stole rations and siphoning through rain pipe from roof of maybe forbidden store house. scene 2-a group of resistance fighters took shelter from assault in one of the prominent building which destroyed after a fight by a tank.( seemed to some ww2 panzer version) ,resulting some casualities and finally capture of group taken to some camp. scene 3-after the camp( may be pow or concentration camp) liberated by (seemed to be)allied troops , a seemingly angry former member tied feet of an camp officer (nazi seemed to be)to a horse and dragged him .

please if anyone have any idea , would be great. -the movie was in color -language was english , may be duubed after. -i am sure it was movie before 1990 . — Preceding unsigned comment added by 27.97.19.66 (talk) 11:02, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

Could it have been about the Siege of Leningrad ? I recall seeing a movie about that. StuRat (talk) 11:39, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

could you name that movie, though i am not sure occupied country in thr movie is russia — Preceding unsigned comment added by D1987k (talk • contribs) 12:27, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

I don't recall the name, but it featured a woman and at least one man living in, and fighting from, the rubble under a bombed out building. I recall that crossing the river to bring in supplies was a big risk, only attempted at night when there was no Moon. StuRat (talk) 12:46, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

Why do movies still use Roman Numerals in the copyright section?

DanielDemaret (talk) 12:24, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

Generally considered deception theory, such that it makes it more difficult for a viewer to determine the age of a movie. This BBC article talks about it a little. The Rambling Man (talk) 12:26, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation decided in 1986 it was time to enter the 20th century and use only Arabic numerals in its own programs, although it can do nothing about the Roman numerals in the imported programs it broadcasts. [8]. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 19:06, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

January 4

Contemporary classical/electronic music question

Probably relates to noise music in particular. I recall a story, possibly apocryphal, of a contemporary musician who shocked his audience by presenting as "music" the sound produced by some food preparation machine or another - I can't recall exactly, but possibly a food processor/mixer or orange juicer. I thought it might be Stockhausen but I can't find any reference to that story on his article or on google. Any clues on the "composer", the kitchen implement involved, and the year? ManyQuestionsFewAnswers (talk) 01:21, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Apologies for not knowing the answer. Your question does remind me of the brilliant use of several household implements in the film The Triplets of Belleville MarnetteD | Talk 01:50, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Not quite the right room, but Living Room Music comes to mind, as well as lots of other John Cage percussion pieces which don't specify the instruments. Staecker (talk) 02:37, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

And here's a Washington Post article about Cage with this tidbit: "Another time, he fed vegetables into an amplified food processor and put a microphone on his stomach to catch the sound of his own gastric juices." No specifics about the piece's title or year. Staecker (talk) 02:40, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

OK here it is: this google book page says it was in 1962, in a performance of 0'00". Staecker (talk) 02:43, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Excellent! Any idea about what the audience or critical reaction was? Is there a possibility the story or perhaps some aspects of it (I didn't recall the stomach sound part) are apocryphal? ManyQuestionsFewAnswers (talk) 03:01, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

muppets four green guys singing

What are the names of the four green guys who are always singing? I believe they have Italian names. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.54.67.160 (talk) 02:20, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

We have a list at The Muppet Show#Characters and a more detailed one at List of Muppets. After a quick look, the only ones with Italian names seemed to be "The Flying Zucchini Brothers" who are acrobats and not green. Alansplodge (talk) 11:57, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

It might be The Barbershop Cactus Quartet (see List of Muppets#Muppets that debuted in Muppets Tonight and their entry on Muppet Wiki), but they don't appear to have names (as far as I can tell). Tevildo (talk) 12:20, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Football

Is the center required to snap the ball away from the line of scrimmage at a right angle? Or can he snap it at a different angle? 71.146.3.27 (talk) 05:00, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

No idea. (But I'm curious. The Wikilinks are great for clarification of your post, and show great skill at editing Wikipedia, but why did you hide the whole meaning behind them, forcing the reader to click on the links to find out what on earth you were talking about?) HiLo48 (talk) 05:05, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

This NFL rules reference[9] goes into detail about it. Executive summary: The snap is a special case of a backwards pass. Anyone on the line can snap the ball to anyone not on the line. That is, it can be snapped to any of the four backs, not to any of the seven linemen. However, if it hits the ground in the process, it's a fumble, and anyone can go after it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:51, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Summary of Bugs's executive summary: The center can snap the ball to anyone of the four players who is lined up behind the line of scrimmage, and can do so at any angle, whether straight behind himself, or at an extreme oblique angle.--Jayron32 00:08, 5 January 2014 (UTC)

Don't listen to them. The center has to be straight. Clarityfiend (talk) 03:05, 5 January 2014 (UTC)

Troy on Channel 4 (UK)

In their current "Coming Shortly" ads between programs, Channel 4 are making brief mentions of a new series called "Troy". I don't know if it's a local production or an American import, and I can't find any reference to it on their website (or anywhere else online). Does anyone know what they're referring to? Rojomoke (talk) 07:15, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

It refers to one Troy von Scheibner (on whom we have no article as yet), a Jamaican/German magician. This is the relevant page from their website. Tevildo (talk) 11:00, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Musical transposition; Bb clarinet

I have purchased a Bb clarinet which I hope to learn to play. I intend to play with a friend (on accordion), both reading piano music. I know the clarinet is a transposing instrument so that when you read and finger a C what actually emerges is a Bb. Can I not simply avoid a lifetime of transposition by learning each fingering under the name of the sound I make? Are there disadvantages to this I have not considered? Thank you for your help. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.12.64.149 (talk) 15:33, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Yes, you can do this, however there are a number of disadvantages that may outweigh the present advantage when playing with your friend. Primarily, if you learn the fingerings of the notes that are off by one whole step, you will be stuck in two ways - one, you will have to always be playing along with C instruments, and two, you will always have to play from music written in C. In addition to this, the music written for clarinet is written for a B flat instrument. That means that the arranger has a already taken into account the fact that the clarinet plays one whole step lower than written. Every single piece of music that you pick up that says for B Flat instruments, or for B Flat Clarinet on the top will require you to transpose back into the natural key for the clarinet. All your efforts learning the wrong keys and fingerings will be for nothing.

If you read music now, it would be a good exercise to simply transpose your part from the piano music into B flat and write it out. If you don't read music, do the same thing as a tool for learning musical notation, which you will need if you plan to continue learning on your clarinet. Romantic Mollusk (talk) 16:28, 5 January 2014 (UTC)

Old hoverbike soccer game

I'm looking for the title of an old game I had years and years ago. It was one of the first polygonal 3D games I remember playing. Basically, it involved playing a sort of soccer-like game played on hoverbikes. I can't remember many more details about story or gameplay, sadly. For timeframe, I believe I got it the same Christmas I got The 7th Guest, so it probably came out around 1994. It was probably for Mac. Horselover Frost (talk · edits) 16:13, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Perhaps Ballblazer, or (given your timeline and machine) one of the remakes or clones of it mentioned in that article. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 00:01, 5 January 2014 (UTC)

Jesse Michaels' birth date

When was Jesse Michaels' birth date? The article currently has two, they're unsourced, and I can't find a reliable source for either. benzband (talk) 20:09, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

January 5

Bill Evans recordings

Sunday at the Village Vanguard. Was it recorded in stereo or mono. Cant find this info anywhere.--86.181.160.84 (talk) 15:08, 5 January 2014 (UTC)

It's not a question of how it was recorded, but of how it was released. Both mono and stereo versions have been released. --Viennese Waltz 15:23, 5 January 2014 (UTC)

But if it was only recorded in mono, on a single track, it would be difficult to release a very good stereo version. StuRat (talk) 16:16, 5 January 2014 (UTC)