Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2009 May 27

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May 27

pieces of American culture

Henry Rush's "Cosmic Cow" puppet from Too Close For Comfort should be on display inside the National Museum of American History. When the National Museum of African American History and Culture is officially opened, these pieces should be on display. They're Rerun's red beret and matching suspenders from What's Happening!!, J.J.'s fisherman hat from Good Times, and Dorothy's silver shoes from The Wiz. Is there anything else that should be on display inside the two museums I've mentioned?69.203.157.50 (talk) 04:40, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

Thank you for sharing your opinions on these matters, but the Reference Desk is for asking questions of the type which can be answered by refering to actual information. Open ended questions which merely seek the opinion of others regarding what "should" or "should not" be on display in a museum aren't really appropriate. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 04:55, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

I was wondering if anyone else might have any suggestions on artifacts from The Cosby Show, Family Matters, The Parkers, Girlfriends, and any other TV shows depicting African American culture, that's all. I also feel the Port Chicago disaster should be depicted, as well.69.203.157.50 (talk) 11:22, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

Soliciting opinions is still not the purpose of this desk, though. There are tons of forums out there where this would be a good discussion topic, but this board is not for open-ended discussions of that kind. Please take this topic elsewhere. Matt Deres (talk) 13:38, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

NASCAR Racing vs. IndyCar Racing

What are the main differences, other than the obvious fact that NASCAR vehicles appear street legal, while Indy cars do not? Is there a reason drivers prefer one type over the other? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.241.16.82 (talk) 08:41, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

To some, NASCAR may seem tougher since the cars are allowed to physically touch each other, often without penalty. "Rubbin's racin'!" - Days of Thunder Dismas|^(talk) 10:39, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

Indy cars are faster, and don't race with restrictor plates, but NASCAR is more popular and several drivers have switched from IndyCar to NASCAR for the challenge (and, I would think, the money). FWIW, more have gone from IndyCar to NASCAR than vice versa (Tony Stewart, Sam Hornish, Jr., Casey Mears, Max Papis, Robby Gordon) although a few NASCAR drivers like Gordon and John Andretti have raced in the still-very-prestigious Indianapolis 500. Recury (talk) 17:46, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

NASCAR tracks have only left turns. Grand Prix racing has both left and right turns. 65.121.141.34 (talk) 13:45, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Actually, that is incorrect, as NASCAR also runs road course races once or twice a year which involve many left and right turns. [1] As for the difference in the cars, see the articles car of tomorrow and open wheel car. 10draftsdeep (talk) 14:19, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Also, the OP asked about IndyCar, which races about half of its races on ovals. Recury (talk) 16:50, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Categorizing music by topic

Hi, does anyone know of a database/website that categorizes music according to topic (such as love, politics, partying, social injustice, etc) rather than genre? In the sense that you could look up some famous hit and it would return either a category or a set of "tags". Thanks, Jørgen (talk) 14:57, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

You could try http://www.allmusic.com They do have a pretty extensive database there. If not there, I am not sure of any other website that is likely to have it. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 16:30, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Thanks! I don't think it has excactly what I'm looking for but I'll try to see what I find. Jørgen (talk) 19:29, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Help finding a song?

I have this song, I think I heard it on an old film or something, but I can't find what it is, even with some googling, maybe you people can help?

In my head it's sung with a German accent, like Marlene Dietrich or something similar. The only words I can remember are something like "I couldn't help it" sung as a kind of one line chorus. It reminds me a bit of She's funny that way although the actual "I couldn't help it" line has a similar tune to "I did it my way".

Any ideas, from my garbled recollections? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.108.135.247 (talk) 15:30, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

Dietrich sings Falling in Love Again in The Blue Angel (1930). The last refrain is "Falling in love again/Never wanted to/What am I to do?/Can't help it." Catrionak (talk) 15:37, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

Thanks! That's right, I was searching for "couldn't help it", not "can't help it"! 81.108.135.247 (talk) 16:34, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

Babylon 5 question

Which episode of Babylon 5 was it where Michael Garibaldi is left alone in his ex-girlfriend's and her new husband's apartment, and told not to touch anything, and then thinks "'Don't touch anything.' There, I touched that. And that. Touch, touch, touch."? JIP | Talk 21:49, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

I'm sure that is a season 4 episode, probably Conflicts of Interest or The Exercise of Vital Powers. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 00:06, 28 May 2009 (UTC)