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February 23
From 1898 to 2002
In a story where a 24 year old writer from 1898 ends up (for whatever fictional reason) in 2002. What would be his most likely behaviour and what would be the main aspects to take into account to show that he is indeed confused. I understand that TV, cars, and mobile phones are three of those things. This is set in London, btw. And how is he most likely to behave. (Maybe this is not the right way to ask the question, but...well...the only way I could come up with. If you need more info, just let me know). Miss Bono [hello, hello!] 14:52, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- Did you mean 1898 (as per your question) or 1989 (as per your title)?--Phil Holmes (talk) 15:21, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- I have corrected the header to the intended 1898 for archival purposes. μηδείς (talk) 05:59, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
- (edit conflict) Frederick Bremer was already driving his home-made car around Walthamstow in 1894, [1] so your hero would be aware of petrol motored cars, even if he hadn't seen one. Expected behaviour might well depend on social class. Alansplodge (talk) 15:28, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- If it's 1898, one thing that would be striking is the change in the ethnic make-up of London, which was quite multi-ethnic in 2002, but not much so 100 years earlier. The city was also known for its air pollution in those days, but the air and the Thames River are much cleaner now. There have been a lot of new very modern buildings constructed downtown as well (although many of the more striking ones are more recent than 2002), which is in contrast to some other major cities (think Rome or Paris for example). --Xuxl (talk) 16:15, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- This is a request for speculation, which we are supposed to avoid. Given that time-travel is a frequent trope in sci-fi and fantasy, maybe you could satisfy your curiousity that way? List of time travel works of fiction is a good start and there are links to external sources you might have access to. Matt Deres (talk) 16:18, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- Oops, I meant 1898, Phil Holmes Miss Bono [hello, hello!] 17:05, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- Thanks, guys. I think that might do. Sorry, Matt Deres, I wasn't aware of that rule. Miss Bono [hello, hello!] 17:07, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- Miss Bono, see Adam Adamant Lives! which had a similar premise. Alansplodge (talk) 17:10, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- Thanks, guys. I think that might do. Sorry, Matt Deres, I wasn't aware of that rule. Miss Bono [hello, hello!] 17:07, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- As your hero is male, I suspect the first thing he would be shocked by would be the grossly indecent way most women were dressed (by his standards). Then the speed everything moves at, the absence of horses - and once it gets dark the astonishing level of artificial lighting. Wymspen (talk) 19:07, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- Is the character scientifically literate? If not, many things might just be sorcery to him like mobile phones. If he is, they can be explained and he could adapt after the initial shock.
- In both cases, a trip to Old Compton Street where 2 guys might French kiss on a restaurant terrace could give him a heart attack, though. --Lgriot (talk) 20:17, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- Oh, and the nonexistence of the British Empire would be another shock. --Lgriot (talk) 20:22, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
- Since the question might have been phrased to ask how fiction writers have described the reactions of educated Brits from the 1890's somehow jerked into "modern times," you should watch Time After Time (1979 film) in which HG Wells pursues Jack the Ripper from the 1890s to 1979. He catches on pretty quickly. I liked the part where he told a cop his name was "Sherlock Holmes" and it led to trouble. He just used the name of a fictional detective he had read a story about, never imagining that people in the distant future would remember the character. Did your character remember to bring a supply of coins he could sell to coin dealers?How well can an "undocumented" person get along in the UK? He would have trouble getting a job or welfare or medical care with no papers. He would effectively be part of the 300,000 to 500,000 illegal migrants. See Illegal immigration to the United Kingdom. With good English skills he might compete effectively for the jobs the illegal migrants work at with false or no papers. If he was fluent in some foreign language he might impersonate a refugee and try to get legal status that way. Could someone who looks Brit and talks Brit (though old-timey) give himself a knock on the head and say he had been robbed and beaten, and get papers as a John Doe with his fake amnesia? The nasty looking but not that bad lump on the head and laceration with a big dressing could be used to explain away his confusion about using mass transit, computers, phones, and credit cards. I don't know how well down and outers fare in London, but in San Francisco an undocumented person could live in a blanket under a bridge and get meals and medical care donated, as well as access to a library to catch up on things so he could pass. Edison (talk) 22:29, 23 February 2018 (UTC)
"If it's 1898, one thing that would be striking is the change in the ethnic make-up of London, which was quite multi-ethnic in 2002, but not much so 100 years earlier. "
While the ethnic make-up has changed, London did not lack diversity in the 1890s. Per our (underdeveloped) article on 19th-century London: "As the capital of a massive empire, London became a magnet for immigrants from the colonies and poorer parts of Europe. A large Irish population settled in the city during the Victorian era, with many of the newcomers refugees from the Great Famine (1845-1849). At one point, Irish immigrants made up about 20% of London's population. London also became home to a sizable Jewish community, and small communities of Chinese and South Asians settled in the city."
Several years ago I took an interest in the ethnic backgrounds of the various victims and suspects involved in the Jack the Ripper case, something that is often overlooked. Everyone knows that Mary Jane Kelly was Irish, but few note that Elizabeth Stride was a Swedish immigrant. And the main witness in her case was Israel Schwartz, a Hungarian. The suspect George Chapman was a Polish immigrant using an alias. The suspect Aaron Kosminski was also a Polish immigrant. The suspect Michael Ostrog (for whom we do not have an article) was a Russian immigrant. The suspect John Pizer (for whom we do not have an article) was another Polish immigrant. The suspect Francis Tumblety was Irish-American and was in London for business (and since he was arrested for gross indecency, probably looking for male lovers). The suspect Carl Ferdinand Feigenbaum was a German merchant seaman, and his job required him to visit several port cities. The suspect David Cohen was another Polish immigrant. The suspect Alexander Pedachenko (whose existence is disputed) was supposedly an agent of the Okhrana in London (and an ethnic Russian). The suspect Walter Sickert was a German immigrant, though he had both Danish and British ancestry. The suspect Joseph Silver was another Polish immigrant. All of them ended up in London. Dimadick (talk) 00:16, 24 February 2018 (UTC)
- The specific breakdown of ethnicities would be much different today, though. Many more Londoners today are from South Asia, Subsaharan Africa or Arab countries, the diversity of skin tone in modern London would be quite shocking to someone 100 years ago. --Jayron32 03:53, 24 February 2018 (UTC)
- Of course it's not just numbers that may shock people depending on the specifics [2] Nil Einne (talk) 04:26, 24 February 2018 (UTC)
- In 1898, many buildings were completely black, including the houses of parliment, due to the coal soot, The air was foul with soot and the smell of horse manure and urine, and the streets were grimy with the same. In 1898, there were a number of black africans and east asians who had arrived as merchant or naval sailors, so the their presence today might not shock. It would take our newcomer awhile to decode our clothing well enough to realize that today's today's racial mix is not as restricted to the lower classes. -Arch dude (talk) 23:17, 24 February 2018 (UTC)
- Although if they happen to be literate, it may not take them long to realise the heir apparent's son is engaged to a "half black" divorcee who used to be an actress. If they're not, well now that Page 3 has ended I guess they'll just have to realise that all those photos are of the Queen and other members of the royal family and not they aren't always flattering intentional so. Nil Einne (talk) 06:33, 25 February 2018 (UTC)
- Actually, it probably would take our hypothetical Time Traveller a long time to realise these things, because in the UK none of them are of much concern to anyone – I myself (a 61-y-o resident Brit) hadn't even registered the divorcee thing (we're all over Wallis Simpson by now, thanks), and the other two aren't mentioned on a daily basis. Also, Ms Markle isn't "half-black" in British terms; we don't have the US-style "one drop" attitude, and her mother isn't 'fully black' (as if would matter anyway). {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.220.212.253 (talk) 02:30, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
- Although if they happen to be literate, it may not take them long to realise the heir apparent's son is engaged to a "half black" divorcee who used to be an actress. If they're not, well now that Page 3 has ended I guess they'll just have to realise that all those photos are of the Queen and other members of the royal family and not they aren't always flattering intentional so. Nil Einne (talk) 06:33, 25 February 2018 (UTC)
Extraordinary off-topic wall of text rant
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- The "time traveler" or so to speak ends up in 2002. I don't think the Harry story would do. Miss Bono [hello, hello!] 13:30, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- In 1898, London was still one of the busiest seaports in the world, so the The working parts of the Thames would be packed with ships, and many of them would have still been sailing ships with 150' masts. If our time-traveller had a view of the river, would this be instantly noticeable? I'm not a Londoner. -Arch dude (talk) 03:53, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
- Not so much, if he was in central London, because the ships came into the London Docks to be unloaded; they were hidden behind the high brick walls. The river would have been much busier, but mainly with barges. Itsmejudith (talk) 14:48, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- He's in Candem Town, Itsmejudith. Miss Bono [hello, hello!] 14:53, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- That gives you lots of possibilities. The Regent's Canal would have been very busy with brightly coloured narrowboats carrying cargo. Camden Lock was a major interchange, and now is a popular street market. Itsmejudith (talk) 15:10, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- He's in Candem Town, Itsmejudith. Miss Bono [hello, hello!] 14:53, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- Not so much, if he was in central London, because the ships came into the London Docks to be unloaded; they were hidden behind the high brick walls. The river would have been much busier, but mainly with barges. Itsmejudith (talk) 14:48, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- Assuming the preent day hero here was in coma for a long time (not that long as for 104 years of course!), and suffers from amnesia. He meets the owner of a bookshop, even if hidden, he might work there? I was thinking of that idea you pointed out about him being an illegal migrant. Miss Bono [hello, hello!] 19:54, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
- Thanks, Medeis, btw. Miss Bono [hello, hello!] 19:54, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
February 24
Hand gesture
What's the name of this hand gesture, palm clapping the fist? It's an invitation for sex, like shocker, but can't google it out. Is it on the list of gestures? 212.180.235.46 (talk) 16:19, 24 February 2018 (UTC)
- It's also missing from obscene gesture. I don't know if there's a name, but I suppose it's closest to Bras d'honneur, in the sense that the fist is meant to mimic an erect penis. The same gesture (well, similar) has a non-obscene version meaning, roughly, "let's get to work" or "let's get started". Matt Deres (talk) 20:44, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
Pin curls
Watching a noir movie, The Third Man, I asked my wife how a female character got her hair looking that way in 1949. She said “pin curls.” I did not find mention of pin curls in Wikipedia. Is it covered under some other name? I found some results br Googling but they were random pictures or how-tos and nothing on the history of the style, famous actresses known for them and other encyclopedic coverage. Edison (talk) 21:25, 24 February 2018 (UTC)
- Hair rollers?
Sleigh (talk) 22:29, 24 February 2018 (UTC) - (e/c) I believe it's just another term for hair roller, specifically the type that has bristles, such as the two examples on the left here, rather than some other mechanism. Or, even more specifically, like the ones here, where the bristles are very pin like. Matt Deres (talk) 22:31, 24 February 2018 (UTC)
- It's always refreshing to realise the limitations of WHAAOE. I found Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History to be a starting point. [21] Carbon Caryatid (talk) 23:44, 24 February 2018 (UTC)
The Third Man Best movie ever. μηδείς (talk) 02:37, 25 February 2018 (UTC)
- Pin curls pre-date hair rollers! The basic idea is to roll the hair round a finger, then use a clip of some sort to keep the coil together until the hair dries. The "pin" was probably named from the bobby pin (hair grip in the UK) - though there are other types of clip which can be used (look for the duck-billed clip, if you can get past the platypus and the various ducks which Google will offer you first). Wymspen (talk) 14:38, 25 February 2018 (UTC)
- Here is a video on how pin curls are done. Please note these are NOT done with hair rollers, it's a different technique using clips the video calls "sectioning clips", like these, though I believe that bobby pins (as noted above) could be used as well. Wymspen is basically correct here, these are not hair rollers. --Jayron32 17:37, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
- What they are calling sectioning clips are elsewhere called duck-billed clips. Wymspen (talk) 14:46, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- Thanks for the clarification! --Jayron32 15:13, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- What they are calling sectioning clips are elsewhere called duck-billed clips. Wymspen (talk) 14:46, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- So much for the how-tos. Anything on "the history of the style, famous actresses known for them and other encyclopedic coverage"? Carbon Caryatid (talk) 15:57, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
February 25
Olympic Bobsleding
why do 4 man bobsleds tilt the sled on its side before the start — Preceding unsigned comment added by Browndawg28 (talk • contribs) 08:06, 25 February 2018 (UTC)
- Can you find an example? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 08:51, 25 February 2018 (UTC)
- I noticed the same thing while watching the Olympics. Just before the start, the sled rests on its starboard side. Then the competitors tilt it upright, and begin pushing it down the run until they jump in. Every team did the same thing, so it wasn't just the idiosyncrasy of one team or one sled. <edit> (I can't find a video from this year's competition, but look here for an example at 4:01.) → Michael J Ⓣ Ⓒ Ⓜ 14:38, 25 February 2018 (UTC)
- If you leave the sled sitting with the runners pressed to the ice they will tend to freeze to the surface. You will also notice that once the sled is the right way up they keep it moving back and forth to prevent that happening. So the idea is not to put the runners to the ice until you are ready, and then make sure they can't freeze in place, because even if it only took a little extra power to break them away again, that could make a difference in a race determined by tiny fractions of a second. Wymspen (talk) 15:04, 25 February 2018 (UTC)
- I have been working my way through this wonderful set of films from the Criterion Collection. Early bobsleds as seen in the top row here were incredibly rickety and dangerous. It is also interesting to note, in the early winter games, all of the events were held outdoors. Seeing Sonja Henie skate with the Alps in the background is quite extraordinary. MarnetteD|Talk 16:14, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- As I recall, figure skating was outdoors until at least the early 60s (1960 Olympics indoors but 1961 US championships outdoors), and speed skating was outdoors until at least 1980. The great Eric Heiden won gold outside in the 1980 Olympics. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 17:59, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- 1992 Olympic speedskating was outside. 1984 was outside but Sarajevo so if that was boycotted like Moscow no wonder you don't remember. Otherwise it's been inside ever since. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 22:10, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- Neither the 1980 nor 1984 winter games were boycotted. It was only the summer games. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 00:48, 28 February 2018 (UTC)
- 1992 Olympic speedskating was outside. 1984 was outside but Sarajevo so if that was boycotted like Moscow no wonder you don't remember. Otherwise it's been inside ever since. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 22:10, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- As I recall, figure skating was outdoors until at least the early 60s (1960 Olympics indoors but 1961 US championships outdoors), and speed skating was outdoors until at least 1980. The great Eric Heiden won gold outside in the 1980 Olympics. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 17:59, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- I have been working my way through this wonderful set of films from the Criterion Collection. Early bobsleds as seen in the top row here were incredibly rickety and dangerous. It is also interesting to note, in the early winter games, all of the events were held outdoors. Seeing Sonja Henie skate with the Alps in the background is quite extraordinary. MarnetteD|Talk 16:14, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- If you leave the sled sitting with the runners pressed to the ice they will tend to freeze to the surface. You will also notice that once the sled is the right way up they keep it moving back and forth to prevent that happening. So the idea is not to put the runners to the ice until you are ready, and then make sure they can't freeze in place, because even if it only took a little extra power to break them away again, that could make a difference in a race determined by tiny fractions of a second. Wymspen (talk) 15:04, 25 February 2018 (UTC)
- Its simply to keep the skates in perfect condition. Since they have a hollow shape with very sharp edges and a very high surface finish, which is of course essential especially in competitions where a 1/100 second may decide if its going to be the gold or "just" the silver medal, that will wear off surprisingly fast, no matter they are made of high alloy steel. You probably have seen the same from ice skaters, who put on plastic protection rails on their skates immediately when they leave the ice. --Kharon (talk) 21:23, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
- All ice skates seem to have this shape, why? Is it just the best shape to make a modern steel skate that's thick enough to be strong and not chip? Is it to make being cut by the skate less severe without increasing friction? Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 22:34, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
February 26
Police dogs in South Australia
Who was the first person (or persons) to acquire/import dogs for police work in South Australia?
I realise this is a very specific question, but I'm hoping someone can at least point me in the right direction for an answer. Thanks! LeoP09 (talk) 20:00, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
- Read through first australian canine unit and see what you get. I'd think they may have been first used militarily. I'd also look for the person credited for creating the first such unit, since the dog breeder/importer may be entirely unknown. μηδείς (talk) 03:26, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
February 27
1920's question
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1. What developments in the 1920's reflected the clash between traditional and newly emerging social values? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Higginsal (talk • contribs) 23:55, 27 February 2018 (UTC)
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