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January 26

name of science fiction novel/story

Hi,

I am looking for the name of a science fiction story or novel that I read 30 years ago.

It is a "space opera" about a lone human that travels some distance through a galaxy populated by various aliens. I thought it was by Harry Harrison, but I can't find anything in his work that fits.

I remember specifically that the main character is put to work as a slave separating functional equipment (light bulbs?) from faulty. He is supposed to use an intuitive process, and indeed he learns how to do this (encouraged by electric shocks). In the rest of the novel he consistently uses this trick to learn new skills intuitively, most notably machete-fighting.

The novel is typical for the there-is-something-special-about-humans approach to SF. I also remember him walking a tightrope, and an avian alien wondering aloud how he managed to do that "with those feet".

I would be grateful for any help, or a pointer to a more suitable forum for this question.

Thanks,

GilHamiltonTheArm (talk) 12:09, 26 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds more like something Robert Sheckley would do. Clarityfiend (talk) 19:26, 26 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Also sounds like a very typical Piers Anthony plot, but I haven't read all his works and don't recognize the plot. μηδείς (talk) 20:58, 28 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know, but as far as other resources go, ask.metafilter.com is great at these kinds of questions. You have to pay a $5 fee for a lifetime membership to post questions or answers, but you can read for free. Here's some of their successful book ID questions/answers, to give you a feel for what they can do: [1] (there are many more questions about "what's that book", but they aren't always well tagged). SemanticMantis (talk) 21:27, 28 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Why are hockey players wearing eye black?

I'm watching the NY Rangers play the NJ Devils in Yankee Stadium at the moment and seeing a number of players wearing eye black. That stuff is for glare as far as I understand, but it is not sunny at all. Why are the ones that are, wearing eye black? 75.75.42.89 (talk) 19:06, 26 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I'm thinking it's the same reason Ancient Egyptians put kohl under their eyes (other than aesthetics). The black absorbed the light reflected from the sand in the same way that (for the hockey players) it absorbs light reflected from the ice.Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 25 Shevat 5774 19:22, 26 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

We have an article, Eye black, which presents some (flawed) results that tend to support the notion. However, I have to wonder about its effectiveness when (the other) football and tennis players don't use it. (Apparently helmets are de rigueur.) Clarityfiend (talk) 01:39, 27 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, they are wearing it because professional sports people are desperate to do anything that might help their performance, and they believe that stuff will. It probably doesn't. HiLo48 (talk) 04:43, 27 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

There would be just as much glare from the ice inside, wouldn't there? Relatively more, surely, since there are lights inside and there was no sun during this game. They don't wear eye black inside during normal games. Maybe it's just because they're playing in baseball/football stadiums, and eye black is something baseball and football players typically wear. Adam Bishop (talk) 11:36, 27 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

There was a recent discussion about this at Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Entertainment/2013_December_14#Marks_under_the_eyes. It seems to be a purely North American thing, although it had a brief popularity in Australia. In the opinion of most of the editors, it was more about intimidating the opposition than anything else, but since nobody was able to quote any learned articles or research, who knows for sure? Alansplodge (talk) 11:41, 27 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Right, there is plenty of glare on an ice rink! Also, whether or not eyeblack can be scientifically shown to improve vision, it is clear that many athletes believe that it does. SemanticMantis (talk) 21:19, 28 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Also, even if it was absolutely proven to be completely ineffective, it's use might continue, due to tradition. After all, men's ties don't do squat, yet are still kept alive as a tradition. StuRat (talk) 23:26, 28 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Most fashionistas would take issue with "men's ties don't do squat". Clothing is not all about utility. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 04:31, 29 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

In any case, ties (which I frequently wear and am so now) do have significant utility.

By tightening and loosening my tie, I micro-regulate my temperature (when, for example, passing between a warm office and the chillier outdoors).
I habitually use my ties to polish dust etc from my spectacles.
Wearing a tie that co-ordinates with my other clothing boosts my feelings of self esteem.
Choice of design and pattern can signal my mood and intended attitude on given occasions.
From decades-long experience, a tie wearer experiences a little more deference, politeness and helpfulness from public officials such as train staff, shop assistents and so on. [UK-specific - may not apply in other cultures.] {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 212.95.237.92 (talk) 13:45, 29 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

January 27

Primeval - Saving the Australopithecus

Request for Speculation

The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.

In the end of series 3 of Primeval, Helen Cutter travelled back in time & killed a small group of Australopithecus.
I was wondering, if Danny Quinn had managed to stop her & save the group of Australopithecus, how would the timeline have changed ? 194.74.238.6 (talk) 16:11, 27 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I'm sorry, but this Reference Desk aims to supply factual answers that can be backed by references to sources. We don't do the kind of speculation that answering your question would require. Rojomoke (talk) 19:03, 27 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Hymn

Where did the hymm Morning has broken originate Alex — Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.251.39.107 (talk) 23:02, 27 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Our article on the hymn is at Morning Has Broken. It was written by Eleanor Farjeon in 1931, and is set to the traditional tune Bunessan. Tevildo (talk) 23:39, 27 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

January 28

How do I teach my grandmother to suck eggs?

Please see title — Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.152.2.38 (talk) 15:31, 28 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia has an article about everything - see Teaching grandmother to suck eggs. Alansplodge (talk) 16:08, 28 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

And here I always thought what was meant was as rude as enseñarle a mamar huevos! μηδείς (talk) 20:56, 28 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

You learn something new every day. I thought the OP was being funny. Little did I know that this gross-sounding expression actually has an established sort-of-literary history. Not that I expect to use it in conversation anytime soon. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:50, 28 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, according to The Hobbit, Gollum taught his grandmother to suck eggses. Jonathunder (talk) 03:25, 30 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

You'll need to ask your old pal, Stinky Wizzleteats. He'll also teach you to be happy. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:29, January 29, 2014 (UTC)

Happy Happy, Joy Joy...--Jayron32 05:52, 1 February 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Pete Seeger, traitor

... he's also a plagiarist of perhaps the biggest musical hit of the 20th century, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and its various incarnations.

I can't claim any unusual expertise on this bit of trivia, BUT this assertion is contradicted by the Wikipedia article on The Lion Sleeps Tonight, which asserts that even the rapacious American record company obtained the rights from the out and out thieving South African swine record company that paid the original composer/performer a microscopic amount to record it and then never gave the song's originators another nickel.

In theory the record company told Seeger the song was public domain. When he found out the true history, Seeger insisted that money be sent to the original author but was never able to force them to treat Solomon Linda properly. Seeger later publically expressed a great deal of regret about the whole ugly mess. A few years back, Solomon's impoverished heirs finally received a noticeable amount of money, which of course represented a tiny fraction of the huge post Lion King profits from the song.

This is just another music-publishers-are-thieves nightmare. Third World composers were particularly vulnerable to this back in the days when their peoples were ruled by brutal colonial regimes.

^{[citation needed]} for all of your accusations, especially the "traitor" tripe. RNealK (talk) 00:07, 2 February 2014 (UTC)[reply]

January 29

Period pornography

Is there a specific name for pornography set during specific time periods (such as during the Warring States Period, or the Middle Ages, or the Old West)? Also, is this kind of pornography considered a subcategory of costume fetish pornography, or differently owing to the different sets used. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 09:03, 29 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Our list of pornographic sub-genres doesn't mention it, but what's wrong with "period pornography"? The term seems to be widely used. If it is set during a specific time period then presumably it would simply be Victorian pornography, Edwardian pornography, Stone Age pornography etc.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 14:36, 29 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I've seen pornography from the 1970s referred to as "vintage pornography" but can't say that I've seen a more umbrella-like term for anything that dates further back. Although, now that I re-read your question, it doesn't seem like you're talking about porn from that actual time period. Just current porn with clothing and such from a particular time period. Dismas|^(talk) 20:14, 29 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

...or porn without clothing from a particular time period, perhaps? Jonathunder (talk) 03:22, 30 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Lol, well, that said, the OP seems to be asking about a costume drama or period piece (so many entendres!). Retro would simply refer to old media, wouldn't it? Like (the original) Ultraman? μηδείς (talk) 23:00, 30 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

If you want to get real specific, you could call it The Exotic Time Machine Maybe not hard enough to call porn, but a cinematic masterpiece nonetheless. InedibleHulk (talk) 10:30, February 1, 2014 (UTC)

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Hi!

http://i59.tinypic.com/20gcqch.jpg

I've seen this in China, it appears to be a building high pile of air conditioners. Is it a reference to something in the real world or I've missed some in game story behind it or it isn't explained at all?

46.239.240.219 (talk) 14:57, 29 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

After doing some web searching, I can't find much about the air conditioners except this and this. But they don't clear it up any. Being large and bulky, they're rather hard to throw away. As one of the links says, they've stopped working in the Deus Ex universe. That might be all there is to it. That said, the image reminded me of Spindle and of the tower of filing cabinets that are here in Burlington, Vermont. Dismas|^(talk) 20:27, 29 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I beleive the second link is referring the the air conditioning no longer working in that particular run down apartment building, rather than some kind of air conditioning apocalypse. I'm not sure how close the two locations (Alice Garden and the pile of air conditioners) are, but it could well be waste from AG and similar buildings. MChesterMC (talk) 09:54, 30 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

FA Cup question

What is the highest number of goals ever scored in an FA cup match by one team? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.145.16.29 (talk) 22:42, 29 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

26 by Preston North End F.C., 15 October 1887. See Football records in England#FA Cup and Football records in England#All rounds in particular. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 08:11, 30 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

January 30

Dr: Who: What does the initial tiny per-episode budget translate to in current purchasing power?

Dr. Who: The Vault gave the per-episode budget the show started with (2340 pounds? Can't spot it flipping back through the pages, and I don't see a proper index) but didn't mention what that would be in 2014 equivalent US dollars or Euros. Can you supply that tidbit? /Gary Dennis — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gsd172 (talk • contribs) 22:28, 30 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Just keep in mind that a huge problem with a simple monetary conversion with inflation will be that they had the use of the BBC's studios and resources. Any amount like £2340 will be for expenditures above that baseline support. You wouldn't be able to do the same independently with the same amount. μηδείς (talk) 22:57, 30 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Adjusted for inflation only, ₤2,340 in 1963 would be about ₤41,523 today (USD$68,450 or €50,516). --Canley (talk) 05:58, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

January 31

Has a Movie's Credits Ever Wrongly Given Credit to an Altogether Different Actor?

Not just a misspelling typo, but wrongly said the name of a person other than he/she who really played the role. As an example of what I'm asking about, imagine if in the original credits of The Godfather, the credits said "Michael Corleone - Joe Pesci" Where we all know it was of course Al Pacino. 75.75.42.89 (talk) 01:15, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

This doesn't quite fit your criteria but the credits for the 1972 film Sleuth lists the character of Inspector Doppler as being played by "Alec Cawthorne." He was played by a Michael Caine in heavy makeup. I am sure that other editors will have better answers for you. MarnetteD | Talk 01:31, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Seems pretty unlikely that it would slip through, unless it was a really low-budget production where they couldn't afford to correct it. Heck, I doubt if even Ed Wood made such a mistake. A title designer could get fired for such a blunder. Clarityfiend (talk) 04:18, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

The only case fitting your query exactly that I've been able to find was in Gone with the Wind (film), where, according to our footnote: "The credits at the start of the film contain an error: George Reeves is listed as Brent Tarleton, but plays Stuart, while Fred Crane (actor) is listed as Stuart Tarleton, but plays Brent".

Spelling errors in movie credits are legion: Here are some, including showing Christopher Walken's surname as Wlaken in Annie Hall. Here are some Western credit goofs. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 19:41, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Speaking of George Reeves, several first-season episodes (1951) of The Adventures of Superman fell victim to sloppy work on the credits: leaving some guest players off the list vs. listing actors who weren't actually in the guest cast, and so on. Possibly a common problem on early TV, I just know that series pretty well. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:22, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Forgot about GWTW. Actually there was no "Fred Crane". Reeves played both parts simultaneously using his super speed. Clarityfiend (talk) 22:33, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

What's always intrigued me is, if he was "faster than a speeding bullet etc", how come he supposedly died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. I thought that only kryptonite could kill him, anyway. I have grave misgivings and am profoundly disturbed. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:40, 1 February 2014 (UTC) [reply]

I can't find any examples other than the one Jack has given above. For deliberate pseudonyms, where an actor or director does not want to be credited for some reason, see George Spelvin, Walter Plinge, Alan Smithee and David Agnew. - Karenjc (talk) 19:54, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

If "different" includes "fictional" and writing counts, then I think Donald Kaufman fits the bill, in his credits for writing Adaptation_(film) (a movie which I highly recommend) See e.g. here [2], [3], [4]. Apparently it's rather uncommon for a fictional character to be given writing credits, let alone be nominated for awards. SemanticMantis (talk) 23:43, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Categories about amputations and souls

Would category fictional heartless, headless and soulless be appropriate to add for fictional characters? I also added the category fictional characters who absorb souls which is a relatively common super power; and distinct from being un dead. I would appreciate some opinions; let me know if there is a better place to propose categories than here. CensoredScribe (talk) 05:39, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Please see WP:ANI#CensoredScribe's categories.—Ryūlóng (琉竜) 06:40, 31 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

February 1

Minecraft

Will there ever be minecraft on the wii?72.219.241.27 (talk) 01:53, 1 February 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Not likely. See This article. --Jayron32 02:27, 1 February 2014 (UTC)[reply]

US Marshals film

Was Sheridan really selling secrets to Chinese Man or Did Frank Barrows use a payphone to make Sheridan think it was just a Kite's Job to make Routine Exchange Suitcases with Chinese Man? If Sheridan didn't know that the suitcase had Government Secrets, then how come Sheridan didn't open the suitcase before-hand? Is it because Sheridan's not supposed to open Suitcases? When 1st agent's behind Sheridan in Garage, did that Agent even Identify himself or was that Agent actually associated with Chinese? How's that Self-Defense for Sheridan to kill 1st agent? How did Sheridan kill the 1st agent? (76.20.90.53 (talk) 08:21, 1 February 2014 (UTC)).[reply]

@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 This is just another music-publishers-are-thieves nightmare. Third World composers were particularly vulnerable to this back in the
 days when their peoples were ruled by brutal colonial regimes.
+:{{citation needed}} for all of your accusations, especially the "traitor" tripe. [[User:RNealK|RNealK]] ([[User talk:RNealK|talk]]) 00:07, 2 February 2014 (UTC)
 = January 29 =