Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 August 17

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August 17

Supernatural

I've been watching Supernatural (TV series). It's actually a pretty good show but I'm baffled by the music on the show. You almost never hear really famous contemporary music on television because it's far too expensive. This is almost always reserved for big budget movies. Yet, this show has incredibly famous classic rock songs in almost every episode. I am not complaining but I don't understand it.--108.46.97.251 (talk) 04:59, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Really? Because there is gobs of famous contemporary music on many modern shows. Though it is a few years old, Scrubs made extensive use of music from well-known artists, as does Grey's Anatomy, and most obviously Glee (TV series). You actually here very little original music written specifically for TV shows anymore, even theme songs (the CSI franchise has extensively mined the music of The Who for example). It seems that it may actually be cheaper and/or better for the shows to license well-known, or at least existing, music than to hire or commission someone to write it for them. --Jayron32 05:04, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

I watched every episode of Scrubs ever. Yes, they has some contemporary music but not the type of rarefied music I'm talking about. Jimi Hendrix for example. This stuff is vastly expensive. Glew is of course a special example. And CSI; not the same. It's their theme song, and while I'm sure it was expensive, it is not comparable to a different famous song (sometimes even more than one) in each episode. I've read that top flight songs can cost $500,000 per use.--108.46.97.251 (talk) 06:21, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

You're overestimating the cost to license songs for TV shows. Here's a website that helps you estimate the costs for this. It's a few thousand dollars US per song, because of supply and demand. Incidentally, this page is where you can license Foxy Lady for your own TV show. Comet Tuttle (talk) 07:37, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

It's been claimed that one of the reasons Cold Case (TV series) wasn't released on DVD is because the relatively high cost of licencing the music for DVD has made it not worthwhile. As our article mentions, each episode tends to make use of a fair amount of music appropriate to the episode. Our Music licensing article mentions that most licencing nowadays includes the rights for releasing the episode on DVD. Cold Case is of course relatively recent, if the licences didn't include the rights to release it on DVD I guess the decision was made to do so to save cost concious of the fact it would likely mean it wasn't going to be release on DVD. Incidentally the article also gives other cases where the cost of licencing allegedly prevented a DVD release (well one of them is sourced). In some cases the music is replaced in a DVD release, this is mentioned in the earlier article and [1]. That article also mentions Ally McBeal as a show which encountered licencing issues. All these examples would seem to illustrate the point that many TV shows do use plenty of famous contempory music. Nil Einne (talk) 08:45, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Following up on the point about songs being replaced on DVD releases... This happened with an episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. In fact, the article goes over a number of such instances in some detail at WKRP in Cincinnati#Music changes for late 1990s syndicated airings and DVD releases. This has always stuck with me as I'm an avid Pink Floyd fan and one such instance involves their Animals album. Dismas|^(talk) 10:15, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

EastEnders, a British soap opera, routinely features contemporary chart hits including number one records - La Roux, Miley Cyrus, Dido, Slade, ... - playing on the radios in cafes and market stalls. It's become something of a badge of real fame for an artist: "I want to hear my song played in the caff on EastEnders", but I doubt it can cost very much. --Colapeninsula (talk) 11:57, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

PRS seem to do a lot of music licensing in the UK. They have a handy list of prices here [2]. Incidentally, the BBC is always able to have such good music because as the national broadcaster, it has a blanket license for all music in the UK, with prior approval from the bands generally only being required in these circumstances here [3]. Causes havoc with licensing programmes such as QI abroad and doing DVDs --iamajpeg (talk) 21:58, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

For the particular show Supernatural, the use of classic rock is something of a selling point and defining charateristic of the show. When the budget shrunk in Season 3, you'll notice the use of 'big-name' classic rock was reduced compared the the first two seasons, with more use of in-house background music which gave a very different feel to the show (along with the mandated 'brighter' look). This caused enough complaints that they do seem to have tried to set aside more budget for the music after that, although it still doesn't use it quite as much as the first two seasons did. *insert 'first two seasons are only true seasons' soapboxing here* 86.163.214.39 (talk) 16:28, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

manish sisodia

Hi there is no information on Manish Sisodia RTI Activist. Can you please add information about him? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.205.16.54 (talk) 06:23, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

You may add a request to Wikipedia:Requested Articles, but do know that we have a notability guideline that requires that a person be "sufficiently notable" before they merit a whole article on Wikipedia. Comet Tuttle (talk) 07:38, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Wikipedia is entirely written by volunteers - like you and me - who write what they are interested in writing. If you want to see a particular article, how about beginning it yourself? But read WP:Your first article first, because it is not easy. --ColinFine (talk) 20:55, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Details of Rape

Am a movie writer,Director and Producer from India. In my forthcoming movie story about rape and revenge.I need details of Rape...How many Rapes doing per day,per minute...per hour around the globe ? Kindly give the details in the earliest Thanking you, Best, CSRaju. My email id (email address redacted) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 14.96.70.53 (talk) 09:13, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Unfortunately, rape is poorly recorded, as out article Rape statistics explains. It says that "A United Nations statistical report compiled from government sources showed that more than 250,000 cases of male-female rape or attempted rape were recorded by police annually. The reported data covered 65 countries" which are probably those with a better grip on the number and thus probably where there are fewest. But perhaps it's a start. That's about 650 rapes per day, 30 per hour. Grandiose (me, talk, contribs) 09:55, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Which?

Which looks better (nicer)? Moon or lunar eclipse? 125.235.107.41 (talk) 10:08, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Well, depends on what you're looking for in an eclipse. The solar eclipse is definitely more spectacular. --Ouro (blah blah) 12:07, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Yes, but the lunar eclipse has the advantage of not burning out your retinas when you look at it... --Jayron32 12:35, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Define your terms: "better", "nicer". On second thought, don't. We can't possibly answer this type of question because it's asking for personal opinions, and we don't do that here. -- Jack of Oz ^{[your turn]} 13:53, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

I agree with that. What I don't understand is why Ouro and Jayron introduced the solar aspect to this; the OP asked about the moon versus a lunar eclipse. Not that it's any more answerable that way. Matt Deres (talk) 14:46, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Oh, I know why I did that, it just occurred to me! I misread the question, I don't know why, but I got the idea that the poster was comparing a solar and a lunar eclipse. Strike that. Now, to answer really: the Moon itself is incredible as it is even without an eclipse. But true, this is asking for personal opinions. Again, sorry for my error. --Ouro (blah blah) 18:14, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

Is the question which article is prettier? μηδείς (talk) 02:47, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

Trying to make sense of this image

This image is related to the Republican party's nominees and their issues. I can't make out some of the words in this image ([4]). Can you help? --Melab±1 ☎ 14:27, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Akrabbim's table
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Candidate Plans 15 August 2011 marriage civil unions domestic partnerships foreign spouse citizenship Repeal of Defense-of-Marriage Act adoption by LGBT couples federal civilian workers private civilian workers open service equal pay & benefits on-base chapel weddings appoint LGBT-aware judges Fred Karger (R) Barack Obama (D) Gary Johnson (R) Ron Paul (R) Buddy Roemer (R) Jon Huntsman (R) Herman Cain (R) Mitt Romney (R) Michele Bachmann (R) Rick Santorum (R) Rick Perry (R) Newt Gingrich (R) Thaddeus McCotter (R)

How is this? —Akrabbim^talk 14:43, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

http://www.lgbtpov.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Candidates-Positions-15-Aug-2011.jpg -- Finlay McWalter ☻ Talk 14:44, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Thanks. --Melab±1 ☎ 12:23, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

Listing

How do I go about listing the item for sale? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.40.32.214 (talk) 17:23, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Not on Wikipedia. There are other places on the Internet for advertising. -- Scray (talk) 17:46, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Perhaps the OP has mistaken Wikipedia for some online auction site that is mentioned in a Wikipedia article? JIP | Talk 18:53, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

GAFFA TAPE

WHY WILL GAFFA TAPE NOT STICK TO CAR INTERIOR PLASTIC IT SIMPLY ROLLS OFF AGAIN ? WHAT TAPE CAN I USE — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.97.254.139 (talk) 20:40, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

According to our article, gaffa tape uses a special kind of adhesive. Looie496 (talk) 01:51, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

The deal with Gaffer's tape is that it is really designed to be removable; it is designed to be used by stagehands in theatre, film, and television. It's main use is to tape down electrical cable (hence "Gaffer's tape", named after the Gaffer, who is basically the person on a production who is in charge of running wires everywhere). Because such wires have to be moved constantly, they need a special tape which will hold, but not so well that it doesn't remove cleanly. You'll want to get a different kind of tape which has more adhesive power; like duct tape, however be aware that what you trade for in adhesion you tend to lose in removability; you may have to take some effort to clean any residual glue after you remove the tape. Unless this is intended to be a semi-permanent fix, in which case duct tape would be fine. --Jayron32 03:04, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

Please don't post every letter in CAPITALS because its (not "it's") effect on readers is like SHOUTING. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 07:16, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

Also, make sure you are apply the tape to a clean surface. Dust and grime, if present, stick to the tape instead of something solid. Googlemeister (talk) 13:23, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

Also, I have found that if you have used Armor All or a similar product recently tape will not stick to the treated surface. Beeblebrox (talk) 22:40, 19 August 2011 (UTC)