Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2008 August 12

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August 12

Death during Olympic competition?

I know that there have been tragedies during the course of the Olympic games in years past (and during this present Olympics), but my wife just asked me if an Olympic athlete has ever died while competing in their event, and I both had no idea and was sure someone here would remember instantly if there was an example. Thanks for any recollections or tips-- User:Jwrosenzweig editing as 71.112.42.49 (talk) 04:44, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

At least a couple. See Francisco Lázaro and Knud Enemark Jensen. Zagalejo^^^ 04:48, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Here's a non-Wikipedia source for both. It seems like they were the only ones. Zagalejo^^^ 04:50, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Thanks much--very speedily done, especially considering the time of night (depending on where you are, I suppose). We are in your debt. 71.112.42.49 (talk) 05:18, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

BBC radio

I understand the BBC want to protect their copyrights and so I can not view TV shows on their iplayer (because I'm in Australia). So what's different about radio? The BBC site not only lets me listen to recent/current shows but has an archive of shows, some going back 20 or 30 years. The content on the radio pages changes pretty regularly so I'd say there have been hundreds (or maybe thousands) of shows on there.

Why aren't they concerned about the copyright of these? I can buy a CD of old BBC radios show like 'dads army' or 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue' but why would I bother when its free for all on the website? Why are they happy to undermine their own audio sales? 144.137.206.217 (talk) 11:17, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Well listening on-line streaming is different to owning it on cd so they'll probably happily let people get access to them online. Additionally radio shows are often broadcast on BBC World Service which means the shows are already potentially broadcast in your country so access to it online is fine. Finally radio - whilst paid for through the tv license, is fully-free - you don't need a tv-license to tune in, and so unlike BBC tv which is funded and exclusively for license-fee payers (with the exclusion of their selling of channels abroad such as BBC America) the radio is available to anyone with the equipment to tune in. 13:34, 12 August 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.221.133.226 (talk)

I would also guess that the revenue-earning potential of a TV show is much higher than that of a radio show. DJ Clayworth (talk) 20:44, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

Growth and Exanpasion of the FIFA WORLD CUP between the period 1950-1966

193.220.26.95 (talk) 11:26, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Have you looked at our article History of the FIFA World Cup? the wub "?!" 14:02, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings

It's evident that the Harry Potter series is bigger than the LotR, but is the Harry Potter world more developed and elaborated than that of the LotR? --81.17.94.192 (talk) 11:29, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

I would say not. J.R.R. Tolkein wrote a lot more than just The Lord of the Rings; there is a wide range of books and other documents detailing the history of his world from, quite literally, its creation forward. And, to the best of my knowledge, J.K. Rowling hasn't yet created a language. - Eron^Talk 11:49, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

It's hard to say, of course, but given the information supplied in the HP books at present, it seems as if Rowling's history of magical realms beyond Great Britain is limited to a few plot-crucial ideas. As noted above, in comparison to Middle Earth, this leaves HP well behind LOTR. A key example for me is the wizard Gellert Grindelwald--the villain, largely offstage in the HP books, who anticipates HP's nemesis, Voldemort. If Rowling has a history of Grindelwald's rise and defeat that is anything approaching that of Morgoth, the Grindelwald equivalent in Tolkien's ME, I have never heard any indication of it. 71.112.40.194 (talk) 08:08, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Uhm, J.K. Rowling invented Mermish, Gobbledegook, Parseltongue and several others, many of which Dumbledore was fluent in. Kay, thanks.

the name of Laozhabor

What is the real name of "Laozhabor", a Singaporean actress and blogger? luuva (talk) 12:46, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Tv show Big Bang Theory

there is a poster hanging by the front door - Can anyone tell what it is? It looks to be of a Science Fiction movie circa 1950's —Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.193.220.144 (talk) 13:04, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Are you talking about this one? It appears to me to be a poster for the movie Forbidden Planet. -- kainaw™ 13:11, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

No, not that one - there is one on the left side of the guys front door - as if you would be walking out the door - hanging on the wall —Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.193.221.141 (talk) 17:42, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Do you mean the one that barely gets a corner into this photo? If so, it is hard to identify from just the letter E and a red circle. Is it a Mighty Mouse poster? -- kainaw™ 02:14, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

it is a poster of cover art from Captain Future wizard of science.the specific cover can be seen here [1]--Hulinsky (talk) 07:02, 30 December 2008 (UTC)

football, stats for northern ireland verses scotland, all games

would like to know stats for northern ireland verses scotland over past 20 years —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.168.59.47 (talk) 15:05, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

The Scottish FA have a neat little archive here. Just select Northern Ireland as the opponents and click "search archive". Fribbler (talk) 15:47, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Elementary School Jumping Game

In elementary school in San Francisco, CA in the early 80's, we used to play a game during recess which required a large enclosed rubber band chain (small rubber bands looped together). Two people then stood inside the rubber band chain and held it taut with their ankles. Then a third person was to perform a"task" without mistakes. One of them was to step inside the loop with both feet, step outside the loop, then hop with one foot in and one foot out, then repeated on the other side and then it ended with both feet landing on the actual chain itself. we would chant "In, Out, Side, Side, One" And say that this person had to repeat this 5 times with out stopping. Then if this person completed this set without mistakes, they would move on to the second level of the game in which the rubber band chain was lifted to the knees and the whole process started again.

Does anyone know or remember this game? --Anilmanohar (talk) 15:46, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

We used to do this as children. A search seems to lead me to Chinese jump rope. Fribbler (talk) 15:53, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

We played this as well. I recall one move we did where the player in the middle stood outside of the loop and then brought their feet together (so they were holding the middle of the loop between their feet), turned 180 degrees (so it was twisted around their feet) and then jumped (releasing the loop) and landed inside the loop. This move got much harder as the loop moved upward. -- KathrynLybarger (talk) 17:27, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

We played it in our school playground in eastern England in the 1970s, but we called it "French skipping". There's a website here that lists it under both names, and seems willing to sell you a shiny, purpose-made elastic rope for the purpose if you wish (although we just bought lengths of knicker elastic from the market, which worked fine). Karenjc 18:43, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

A classmate of mine had a store-bought one -- it ripped the hair off of your legs a lot less than the ones we made from knotting rubber bands together. -- KathrynLybarger (talk) 19:08, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

We called it "elastics". If your mum refused to supply elastic, then old pantyhose knotted together worked well. Gwinva (talk) 23:28, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

"Super Steve" by Machinae Supremacy

What is the most common or most complete interpretation of the lyrics to Machinae Supremacy's song "Super Steve?" NeonMerlin 19:34, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

I consider it an outcast's / freak's anthem, and haven't interpreted it more than that. You might try asking other Machinae Supremacy fans on the official forum for their opinions.

Machinae Supremacy has released three tracks with Steve in the title: "Steve's Quest" (an instrumental), "Super Steve", and "Need for Steve". The track titles are supposedly derived from video game titles with Steve replacing a word in the game title (King's Quest or Flimbo's Quest, Super Mario Brothers or Super something else?, and Need for Speed). I'm not sure how related the lyrics are to the games the titles are based on. The titles may be more of a running gag with more or less independent themes in the lyrics. But it might be a helpful nugget of info to mull over while you're interpreting the song. --Bavi H (talk) 01:48, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Another wrestling question

First off, thank you for answering my previous question about the sudden popularity of wrestling. I found your article on the 80s wrestling boom satisfying, kinda like eating a bag of potato chips. Filling, but not necessarily nutritious. After all, unless you believe thier propoganda that wrestling is about truth and justice and will one day save the world (and something inside me does), it's not necessarily important.

Still, I find myself delightfully stumped about the origin and definition of the phrases "Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?" and "People's Elbow"?. By "delightful" I mean that the answer in my head probably in no way reflects reality. Probably a little sugar on it, if you know what I mean. Especially "People's Elbow". I imagine "People(with a capitol P)" bringing down hard, but comical justice against hapless victim with said capitol E "Elbow". "Elbow" is strong, just, and stands alone, while an "elbow" simply gives your arm a place to bend. Victim finds himself smiling at conclusion.

So, am I delightfully deluded? Is my distorted, most likely flowery mental version of a "People" giving an "Elbow", uh....wrong? And yes, I want to know what the Rock is cooking! Hey, I'm Just Curious (talk) 20:27, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

I have no idea what your question is. Its pro wrestling. Not meant to be taken seriously and not meant to make viewers think so hard. Just turn off your brain and enjoy.--Endless Dan 14:14, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

The People's Elbow is, I beleive, one of The Rock's finishing moves. I like your interpretation if its meaning, but I would replace "comical justice against hapless victim" with "righteous justice against The Man." As far as what the rock is cooking, it depends. Do you like pie or strudel? 161.222.160.8 (talk) 23:53, 13 August 2008 (UTC)