Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2015 April 21

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April 21

Anime in Japan

Is anime in Japan made for children? I was told by a friend that anime is childish and for children but when I watched some the plot was about a man who activates his magical suit of armor by groping his mentors breasts. This doesn't seem like something that would be aimed for children, at least not in the Western world. I know Japan has some weird ideas regarding children like "lolicon" and incest fetishes. AnimeQuestion (talk) 08:57, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

There is a lot of Japanese anime and manga meant for adults. Likewise, My Little Pony has a larger fanbase in the US amongst adult men than little girls. It's nothing to do with fetishes. They are simply escapist stories. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (もしもし！) 12:08, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

(EC) I'm not sure that any reference is likely to provide a straight answer to the question, so speaking strictly from Personal Observation: no, anime is made for all ages, just as live action films and printed fiction is made for all ages – that is to say, some is made for children, some for young adults, some for adults, some for all ages: I've certainly seen examples of all of these. In addition, of course, there is (*cough* so I'm reliably informed *cough*) pornographic anime (see also Hentai).

I would expect our article on Anime (there, I knew we'd have one) to provide links that will lead to examples of all of these (with the possible exception of the porn). {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 212.95.237.92 (talk) 12:18, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

I lived in Japan for ten years, and saw a lot of manga which was definitely directed at adults - mostly horror manga, and you know it is directed at adults and not children because of the kanji used, most of which is not taught at university level, never mind primary school level, and of course, the content of the story. Manga and anime is big in Japan, with both children and adults alike. It's not like Disney. It's a massive industry, but aimed at people from all walks of life. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (もしもし！) 12:54, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

A nice quote from our article on Anime -

“ the labeling [of] Gundam 0080 and its complex depiction of war as a "giant robot" anime [is] akin to simply labeling War and Peace a "war novel". ”

Analogous statements apply to Akira, Trigun, Cowboy BeBop and many other popular anime. Culturally, the otaku stereotype has made its way to the USA, in spirit if not in name - many people see interest in Anime as a childish, nerdy, socially inept signifier, but those people are just ignorant ;) SemanticMantis (talk) 13:45, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Some Japanese anime is clearly designed for children, even if some adults enjoy it - but seen through western eyes, Japanese culture is often surprisingly different in many respects and adult anime is very common there. A huge number of Japanese adults enjoy manga and some comic books/graphic novels are read as voraciously as daily newspapers. Some people who have imported japanese manga into the US have been accused of importing child pornography...so you know that at least some of them are clearly not written for children. SteveBaker (talk) 16:25, 25 April 2015 (UTC)

Whole wild boar

I'm fairly sure that for most people in northern, western and central Europe, most of the ideas of eating wild boar come from Asterix comics, where Asterix usually eats one whole wild boar, and Obelix eats several. Then when these people go to Parc Asterix in France and order wild boar at a restaurant, they are disappointed because they are only served a small part of the whole boar.

Now is eating a whole wild boar in one go even possible or feasible? How much meat would it contain? Are there any people in the world who have managed to eat that much meat in one go? And how much would such a dish cost? JIP | Talk 19:20, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Our wild boar article reveals that an adult boar carcass should yield about 50kg of meat. Our human body weight article reveals that the average human weighs 62kg. The graph in meat suggests that the average American eats 16.7kg of pork products a year. So not only can no-one eat that in one sitting, a typical American would take 3 years to do so at normal rates. AlexTiefling (talk) 19:51, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Thank you for your reply that it's physically impossible to eat a whole wild board in one sitting. However, you say that the average American eats 16.7 kg of pork products per year. Surely the average American eats other meat too. Suppose a hypothetical American or European person who only eats pork, not other meat. And that hypothetical person would eat as much meat as it's possible for a real-life person. I've heard of people who can manage eating almost 4 kg of meat in one sitting, but that's at the top level of meat eating championships. I can manage almost half a kg myself easily, provided I haven't eaten earlier during the day. So how much time would such a person require to eat a whole wild boar? And how much would a restaurant dish consisting of a whole wild boar cost? JIP | Talk 20:00, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

At 544calories per 340g, 50kg of meat would be 80,000kcal, which is a month's worth of energy for an adult. 184.145.87.79 (talk) 19:57, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Maybe they have a breed of really small wild boars. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:59, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

The boars depicted in Asterix are actually fairly small (may be the size of a large turkey or something), but not that small that many are likely to eat one let alone many in a single sitting. Nil Einne (talk) 21:47, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

It's like pizza, a man will gladly eat six, even eight, at one sitting, a woman usually one, and at most two. μηδείς (talk) 21:48, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Someone eats two pizzas at a sitting? Reference? Itsmejudith (talk) 22:23, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

That would all depend on the size of the pizza. In this example, 2 pizzas is the normal serving size: [1] (see nutrition info for serving size). StuRat (talk) 22:32, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

The correct number of those to eat in one sitting is zero. When they have to say that it is real cheese! And I thought pizza was an Italian or Italian-American dish, so what is the point of "French" bread? This [2] is a bit more like actual food. Next time I'm in Detroit I will pop over and cook one for you. Itsmejudith (talk) 13:05, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

I am sorry, I meant slices of 18" pizza, although I am quite sure my father would eat two smaller pizzas at one sitting, if they actually made such a thing near Philly. This hearkens back to a previous thread. I asserted men normally eat six slices (and later confirmed from my father he expects six) and will eat eight if given the chance. Keep in mind he's 6'2" but only 190lbs. On the occasion I eat pizza with my parents, we order two 18" pies, and there will be 4-6 of the 16 slices left, since mother and I prefer the broccoli and white cheese, but if I eat two of his slices he won't eat any of hers. So the question is, given these are small wild boars, how many pizzaweight are they each. μηδείς (talk) 17:00, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

• Didn't find any boar/whole pig eating records but just this week Molly Schuyler ate 6kg (13.5lb) of steak (plus additional sides) in 20 minutes. So she could possibly polish off a smaller whole wild boar at a sitting, since this website advertises sizes starting from 15lb, and this one starting from 30lb (I assume the meat yield will be smaller still). Abecedare (talk) 05:24, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

To us in England, we are quite familiar with the idea of eating suckling pig on high days and holidays, usually at country fairs and things like that, and I have seen newborn piglets advertised on menus as a sharing dish. But no, we don't normally eat a whole one. --TammyMoet (talk) 08:52, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

Around my part of England – Hampshire, whose emblem is the Hampshire Hog – it's not uncommon to have a hog roast at country pubs or at events such as County Fairs, Steam Fairs, Music Festivals and suchlike, where a whole adult domestic pig or 'wild' boar (*) is roasted on a spit. Meat is carved in slices from the roast carcase, but the carcase likely weighs in excess of 100bs and no-one in their right mind would expect to be able to eat a whole one by themselves. Asterix is a cartoon and exaggerates things for humorous effect.

(* Wild boars - as a species distinct from domestic pigs, became extinct in England centuries ago but are farmed here (the stock being derived from Continental animals). Some have escaped (or have been released by Animal Activists) and formed feral colonies, certainly in the Forest of Dean and probably in Hampshire's New Forest (I've seen evidence of rooting).) {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 212.95.237.92 (talk) 12:44, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

Asterix's boars don't look all that small to me, even if Obelix can carry one under each arm (I think that's an exaggeration too). Alansplodge (talk) 21:14, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

It depends on the depiction, but I wouldn't exactly say they are large [3] [4] [5]. (The cooked examples are particularly illustrative, consider that their length often appears less then the width of Obelix's chest with arms. Obelix is an obese and large man, so it's not as small as it seems, but it still doesn't seem that large.) I admit though small, is potentially misleading, when I wrote the above I was under the impression wild boars were closer to 200kg average, it seems in reality it's they're often average less than 100kg and 50kg isn't uncommon. Nil Einne (talk) 16:14, 24 April 2015 (UTC)

Bicycle

What do Africans use for bicycle innertubes instead of air since Africa has massive thorns everywhere and they would get punctures all the time with air that they couldn't afford to fix since they make like only $50 a year total? — Preceding unsigned comment added by ThickRopesOfLove (talk • contribs) 20:10, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Guess they just use their common sense and keep to paths that are not strewn with thorns (many run around in bare feet – how do you think they get along)?(see a venomous snake ahead – then don't tread on it).--Aspro (talk) 20:20, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

What makes you think that Africa has massive thorns everywhere? Africa is a very diverse continent, with many different climates and vegetation. Oh, and roads - I nearly forgot the obvious one, sorry. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (もしもし！) 20:34, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

As the previous posters point out, the premise of this question is somewhat questionable, but historically people have used wooden bicycle tires in times when rubber was scarce. Where thorns are a big problem, this would be a cheap and effective solution, though not very comfortable. Outer tires can also be made very puncture resistant by adding e.g. a kevlar layer. - Lindert (talk) 20:58, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Or you could just use solid rubber. It's a bit less effective than air-filled, but punctures wouldn't be a problem (although eventually the rubber will still wear away). StuRat (talk) 21:08, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Pneumatic tyres. (Damn US/UK variations in spelling!) --TammyMoet (talk) 08:46, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

Yes, I once got a really bad review from a proofreader once after pouring my heart over a translation, and I'd written 'tire' instead of 'tyre', and the proofreader wrote 'either the translator doesn't know or doesn't care about the correct spelling'. So my counter-comment was 'The proofreader doesn't seem to acknowledge the existence of international forms of English.' I got paid, she got fired. Job done. Being impolite in business is never a good idea, no matter how frustrated one may feel. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (もしもし！) 10:43, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

I grew up in South Australia where the Three Cornered Jack always gave me punctures. There were thorn proof inner tubes which had thicker rubber on the crown but these weren't that effective. Dad fixed the problem permanently by replacing the inner tube with some thick walled hose. It rode like a tube, never needed pumping up and was puncture proof. A friend had thorn sweepers on his bike. These were loops of curved wire which ran across the tread. The theory was a thorn was picked up but wouldn't cause a puncture until the wheen had turned a couple of times, and the wires would knock the thorns out. On the subject of Africa, I remember reading that motorbikes there were prone to punctures in the rear wheel, due to the extra weight. Some riders had a long mudflap attached to the front mudguard, which brushed the ground and swept thorns out of the way. Perhaps cyclists could try that too. TrogWoolley (talk) 14:12, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

Africa Overland by Siân Pritchard-Jones has some suggestions such as thorn-resistant tubes, airless tubes and tube protectors, but they are all a lot more expensive than a standard tube. I suspect that a puncture repair kit is the cheapest solution. London cyclists have the same issue with broken glass. Alansplodge (talk) 19:45, 23 April 2015 (UTC)

Police destruction of evidence

The latest incident of police misconduct in the US seems to be a Federal Marshall destroying the cell phone of a woman attempting to record their actions. I'm wondering if police have ever been charged with destroying evidence for such behavior, since it's quite apparent it's an attempt to ensure that there is no evidence that can be used against them. The tricky bit is that they destroy the evidence before any charges are brought against them. StuRat (talk) 21:06, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

He may have smashed it but the memory chip may well have survived. It has happen with a compact camera where the chip was still intact. Can't remember off hand were I read this. Still, as it was reported on /. recently, authorities steer clear of hiring policemen that show too much intelligence. --Aspro (talk) 21:46, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

If it's still intact, then I suppose that would be attempted destruction of evidence and malicious destruction of property. StuRat (talk) 22:48, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

• Stu, there are cases of police and forensic officials tampering with evidence, usually planting or faking it, and where scores of cases have been vacated on that ground. When I lived in a certain precinct of the Bronx, it was common knowledge that there were only two cops who weren't on the take, but this was back when people had beepers, not camera phones. Given all the lynchings throughout history we can assume plenty of evidence has been destroyed.

My father tells the story of witnessing a distant cousin who was a cop in the early fifties accosting and beating a black man for being in the wrong neighborhood (my dad put a stop to it) and I have seen the same, as well, personally, from various perspectives, dozens of times.

The day Giuliani was first inaugurated, the precinct held a parade of paddywagons at a traffic-stopping crawl during rush hour, and cops in riot gear walked down the street banging every door and storefront window (all owned by taxpayers and guilty of no crime) with their billy clubs.

But you haven't given us a link to a specific case (don't, because then we'd be giving a legal opinion), so we're just left, based on obviously true speculation, but speculation nonetheless that such things do happen. I think we can read this as read and agree more filming will mean more accountability. μηδείς (talk) 02:06, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

Yes, in this case we only know about it because there was a 2nd cell phone video of the Federal Marshall destroying the first cell phone. Eventually they won't be able to destroy all of the cameras aimed at them. StuRat (talk) 03:58, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

The question wasn't whether police ever destroy evidence, or whether they did in the case Stu has in mind, but whether police have ever been charged with destroying evidence. And here is one news media reference to such a case. --65.94.49.82 (talk) 16:25, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

I implied as much in the first sentence of my response, but didn't really think googling "police officer convicted""destroying evidence" for StuRat was necessary--it gets 16khits. μηδείς (talk) 16:59, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

Original Railroad Tracks

Someone told me that the original tracks for the first railroads were made of wood instead of iron or steel. Is this correct and if so how long would a set of tracks last before having to be replaced. Thanking you in advance for your response and information. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hogleg2 (talk • contribs) 22:38, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

They could be protected from the weather by coating them with something like creosote, which is commonly used on railroad ties. They would wear a lot faster than metal, but presumably those trains were much lighter then. I'd also suspect the ties would need to be placed closer together, to support the wooden rails better. StuRat (talk) 22:42, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

We have an article on Track (rail transport), as well as on Permanent way (history) - which details wooden tracked systems. See also Wagonway. AndyTheGrump (talk) 22:57, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Personal attack which does not even attempt to answer the Q.
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
You will find these more informative than StuRat's entirely unsourced guesswork (talk) 22:57, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

(creosote was first discovered in 1832, by which time wrought iron rails were in use). AndyTheGrump (talk) 22:57, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

Personal attack which does not even attempt to answer the Q.
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
I said "something like creosote", didn't I ? That would include whatever substance they used to protect wood from the elements, at the time. StuRat (talk) 00:35, 22 April 2015 (UTC) Ok, provide a source stating that a substance was used to protect wooden railroad tracks - or admit that you don't have a source, and are just guessing. AndyTheGrump (talk) 01:29, 22 April 2015 (UTC) I said they could have been protected, not that they were. Learn how to read. StuRat (talk) 16:41, 22 April 2015 (UTC) This is not a forum for unsourced speculation. Learn how to use it. AndyTheGrump (talk) 16:43, 22 April 2015 (UTC) You (intentionally ?) misread my comment as "they used creosote" to set up a straw man argument and attack an editor. All of which is quite unacceptable anywhere, but especially here. Take your attacks to a talk page. StuRat (talk) 17:43, 22 April 2015 (UTC) Take your unsourced and misleading guesswork to a forum. AndyTheGrump (talk) 17:45, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

In 'Stephenson's Britain' by Derrick Becket (ISBN 0 7153 8269 1), he states 'Initially, coal was carried to the river in panniers on horses' backs and subsequently in horse-drawn carts. It has been recorded that in about 1630, wagons with wooden flanged wheels running along wooden tracks were in use. Subsequently, strips of iron were attached to the top of the wooden rails to prevent wear, and later various shapes of iron rail were designed to replace wooden rails. The Wylam wagonway which passed the cottage in which George Stephenson was born, used wooden rails until 1807'. Widneymanor (talk) 11:06, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

Note that those "first railroads" did not carry locomotive-hauled trains, because steam locomotives did not exist until the early 1800s. They carried wagons that were typically pulled by horses, or (as in this old picture) they rolled downhill with loads, to be brought back uphill by horse. Metal rails were in use by the time locomotives appeared, so it does appear that even with with relatively lightweight early traffic, wood was found not durable enough; but I don't have information about his long the wooden rails lasted. Incidentally, in the US, early passenger railroads often used those wooden rails with metal strips on top what Widneymanor mentioned; it was called strap rail. But this proved dangerous because when it could fail in such a way that the metal strap pierced the train cars with fatal results. --65.94.49.82 (talk) 16:44, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

As our article on the Johore Wooden Railway demonstrates, steam engines could run on wooden rails without 'straps'. The Johore tracks were apparently made of teak, which is naturally rot-resistant as well as being wear-resistant and relatively easy to work with. AndyTheGrump (talk) 17:29, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

A slight digression, but note that Richard Trevithick had the misfortune to invent the first railway locomotives before anybody had invented rolled-steel rails. Trevithick used the cast iron ones employed on mine tramways at the time and they continually broke under the weight of his engines. By the time that steel rails had been introduced, Trevithick had given up on the idea and eventually died in poverty. Alansplodge (talk) 21:06, 22 April 2015 (UTC)