Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2016 June 30

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June 30

Name for children's toy

As a child, c.1975 I'd guess, I had a toy that I don't know the name of and several Google searches haven't helped with. There were two pieces. A small spinning part that would sit inside a second part that was held in the hand. It had a wooden handle and a pair of tracks that extended upwards, with a curved overhang at the top. The wheel would spin along the track and when it reached the overhang come back down. I suppose I would start it going by turning the whole thing upside down, to use gravity, I'm not sure, but it definitely had no batteries or other power.

Can anyone find a name for it and/or somewhere online that sells it? Do we even have an article about it!??! --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 08:13, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

Is this it - on Amazon? https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Gyro-Wheel-by-Schylling/dp/B000H66204 Wymspen (talk) 08:21, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

Wow, that was quick. Yes, though the wooden handle has been lost to efficiency savings, lol. I guess it is called a "Magnetic Gyro Wheel"? Not really that catchy... --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 08:24, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

Wikipedia's article on them calls it a Magnet Space Wheel. I've never heard of that either, but I don't remember anything it might have been called, for that matter.. 150.193.50.162 (talk) 17:28, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

I had one with blue and yellow stripes, that, when spun, made green. I always thought they should have multiple pattern discs you could Velcro on, to make it more interesting. If you could get kids to play some game (see how long you can keep it spinning ?) and bet a disc on each run, that might make it more than just a passing fad. They could also sell packs of discs separately. StuRat (talk) 16:36, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

Predates widespread use of Velcro, but I remember colored cardboard disks you simply pushed on. Our article mentions it came with 6 patterns. Rmhermen (talk) 15:25, 1 July 2016 (UTC)

Thanks guys. Happy memories. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 10:48, 1 July 2016 (UTC)

It went "beep" when it moved/and "pop" when it stopped/and "whirrr" when it stood still/I never knew just what it was/and I guess I never will

Canadian Citizenship

Some time back I came across a rule that states that if a national born abroad to a full resident hasn't redeemed or claimed their citizenship by a certain age they forfeit their right to do so altogether. Any clarification on this? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.184.55.151 (talk) 10:47, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

I don't know if "full resident" is enough (or even clearly defined). But see Canadian_nationality_law#Canadian_citizenship_by_descent. Previously, you had to claim your Canadian citizenship by descent before the 28th birthday, but since 1997 the requirement has been waived. Now citizenship by descent applies automatically, but it only applies to children with at least one parent born in Canada. If in doubt, ask an expert, e.g. the local embassy. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 11:20, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

Please bear in mind that this is a legal question and we are not to give legal advice here. I would suggest starting with the Citizenship and Immigration Canada web site, but I don't know how exhaustive its coverage is of questions like this. --69.159.60.163 (talk) 23:39, 30 June 2016 (UTC)