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July 8

Castlevania’s name

How was Castlevania entitled? Is it a blend of castle & Transylvania? --Romanophile (talk) 03:48, 8 July 2016 (UTC)

It certainly looks that way. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 06:00, 8 July 2016 (UTC)

Indeed. It is a portmanteau, if you will. ;) Kurtis ^(talk) 21:05, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

The Sarah Jane Adventures - Ian & Barbara not aging

The IP hopper is recommended to find a chat room for this sort of thing
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
In the Sarah Jane Adventures episode Death of the Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith says that Ian and Barbara Chesterton never aged. Not since the '60s. What did she mean that they never aged, since the 1960s? 31.49.30.10 (talk) 14:55, 8 July 2016 (UTC) Once again you are trying to evade blocks - please stop. David J Johnson (talk) 17:35, 8 July 2016 (UTC) I would take that to mean that the characters appeared to be of the same age they were 50 years ago in the series. It's a typical device in fiction to have characters that don't age. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 15:27, 8 July 2016 (UTC) But it usually applies to all the characters in the fictions concerned: in this instance only Ian and Barbara have apparently not aged, while all others – including other Companions – have and do. (Timelord regenerations obviously don't count.) In the context of the Doctor Who Universe, this remains for the moment an unexplained mystery, only mentioned this once, which potentially could be explained in the future if the script writers ever choose to do so. I myself can, on the spur of the moment, think of two potential explanations plausible in the context of the series. Perhaps I'll mention them to Neil Gaiman the next time I see him! {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 5.66.223.127 (talk) 16:34, 8 July 2016 (UTC) Contacting the scriptwriter is as likely as anything to answer your question. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 16:39, 8 July 2016 (UTC) It would help if OP contacted the correct script writer. Russell T Davies wrote the episode that they mention. Not Gaiman. Dismas|(talk) 16:48, 8 July 2016 (UTC) Ironically, Davies is a gay man, and Gaiman is a straight Gaiman. -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 21:54, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

July 9

Length of time for correspondence

A couple/few weeks ago, I wrote to Today (U.S. TV program), CBS This Morning and Good Morning America. How long does it take for them to get back to me?2604:2000:7113:9D00:B81E:C008:E611:FADF (talk) 16:00, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

Possibly never. I'm sure they get lots and lots of letters. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:17, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

Knowing what you wrote to them about would help. Some situations require a response within certain guidelines - others do not, and might never actually get a response. Wymspen (talk) 20:39, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

The days when all correspondence was (1) answered, and (b) promptly, are, sadly, (4) long gone. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:22, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

That may be the case in Australia, but Britons are more conscientious. We have the Citizens' Charter and Codes of Practice which ensure that letters are acknowledged within a set timescale, and if the matter cannot be resolved immediately then a timescale for action is given. There are regular reports setting out, for each head of the code, what the timescale is and the percentage of matters resolved within the relevant time. Even the train companies give a percentage breakdown of the number of trains running to time. 86.176.127.7 (talk) 23:01, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

So the BBC is required to respond to even the most bizarre correspondence they might get? What a waste of postage. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 23:52, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

No - the requirements to respond generally relate to complaints and similar issues, not to every single letter or email. Wymspen (talk) 10:41, 10 July 2016 (UTC)

I wrote to the above American TV shows about donating items to their studios.2604:2000:7113:9D00:CDEE:E2C8:B362:33BB (talk) 01:28, 10 July 2016 (UTC)

Characters who are never seen, but are not "unseen characters"

Up above I wrote "Non-existent non-characters that do not appear in a movie or TV show have no feelings". That got me thinking. In some shows, someone who never appears is talked about in various episodes. We know their name, their relationship to the real character, and sundry other things about them. The wives and family of the MASH characters are good examples. Over time, we got to build up mental pictures of what sort of people they are.

Are these called "unseen characters"? I suspect not, because that applies to people whose very existence is a major structural part of the plot, such as in Rebecca (novel). An unseen character is one who, though not seen, "influences the action of the play". The people I'm talking about could easily be written out of the script without damage to the plot (it could be just "the folks back home" rather than "my wife Peg and my two sons Chip and Spud"). But they're in the script (in a minor way) and hence we are aware of them.

How would they be classified? -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:51, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

I would call them unseen characters. It's just F. C. Green's stipulation that they play a significant role. Columbo's wife is listed, even though she doesn't help his investigations, as I recall (were there any exceptions?). Clarityfiend (talk) 02:50, 10 July 2016 (UTC)

They're called "silent characters" in The Archers, but, as far as I can tell, that usage is unique to that show. Tevildo (talk) 20:56, 10 July 2016 (UTC)

As The Archers is a radio programme, "unseen" would describe all its characters... AndrewWTaylor (talk) 07:17, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Yes, but they all had great faces for radio, which is why they were selected. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 05:44, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

July 10

No Way Out (1987 film)

Hello everyone! Can anybody help me with this issue:

I've got some questions and comments respectively, concerning the witnesses to Farrell's affair and Farrell's secret call before that:

"Donovan brought two witnesses to the Pentagon who had seen "Yuri" with Susan during their romantic weekend. Their description was of an average man and they were led through the Pentagon to identify him."

That sentence was confusing for me since the witnesses are led to Donovon to "give a full description of" the lover; they don't know yet that this one is working in the Pentagon, right? – So why should they then be led through the Pentagon to identify "Jury"?! Also, Farrell's clandestine phone call (to whom???) before the recognition by the witnesses is not mentioned.

I'd be very glad about any comments! Best regards--Hubon (talk) 19:06, 10 July 2016 (UTC)

As I read the article, the witnesses were brought to the Pentagon to meet Donovan, and while there they see Farrell by chance. —Tamfang (talk) 00:05, 11 July 2016 (UTC)

You are making an assumption about the meaning of that phrase, which is not necessarily what it means. You have assumed that the reason for leading them through the Pentagon was in order for them to identify the person. It can equally mean that they were led through the Pentagon (for no particular reason) and that led to them identifying the person concerned, more or less by chance. Wymspen (talk) 13:27, 11 July 2016 (UTC)

Thanks for the feedback! I understood this section quite similarly, which is why I already changed the wording. Yet, it still remains unclear to me whom Farrell called before being exposed by the witnesses.--Hubon (talk) 17:26, 11 July 2016 (UTC)

Wymspen, how do you disagree with me? —Tamfang (talk) 04:05, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

July 12

Downloading recent films for free

Is or are there websites that allow you to download films for free like for example Zootopia, Pixels, Big Hero 6 and etc? Donmust90 (talk) 02:10, 12 July 2016 (UTC)Donmust90Donmust90 (talk) 02:10, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

They're illegal as heck, so we're not going to help you find them. Clarityfiend (talk) 03:18, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Every illegally downloaded film helps to fund terrorists. I'm not going to allow ISIS to gain another rocket launcher, thank you very much. Lugnuts ^{Dick Laurent is dead} 09:16, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

If you get them for free then nobody makes any money from you, terrorists included. They would have to sell the pirated moves for some small amount to fund anything. StuRat (talk) 15:59, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

They would make money through advertising on the website, and malware/ransomware bundled with the downloads. Definitely possible to make money. But the statement that terrorists are funded by illegal film downloads is of course complete codswallop. 131.251.254.154 (talk) 16:47, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

How do you know? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:49, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. I would agree with the above IP. Where is the evidence that film piracy funds terrorism? Fgf10 (talk) 17:19, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

It's funny that 131 shows up where you do - and with the same attitude. Or is that typical for all you residents of Cardiff? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:41, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

I can't speak for the ip above (or all 300,000+ residents of Cardiff), but I don't have an attitude, I just expect people to present facts. I guess people here in Wales (and the wider UK) aren't as gullible as Americans. Or maybe it's just you that has a problem presenting facts/has an attitude. And if you're accusing me of sockpuppetry, just say it. Fgf10 (talk) 17:55, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Well, you're both at Cardiff University, and seem to be tag-teaming each other. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:58, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Oh god, someone else at an institution of 50,000+ people shares my opinion. Drats, you've discovered my secret identity! To the batmobile! Fgf10 (talk) 18:30, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

And at nearly the exact same times, yet. Possibly coincidental. But you're now on the radar. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:40, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

I am quaking in my boots. You've really reached rarified heights of trolling. It's almost entertaining. Fgf10 (talk) 18:49, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

(edit conflict)The sources I'm seeing for the claim that downloading funds turr'ism! are only merely suggesting that terrorists are selling pirated DVDs (not uploading movies for download in general) or making vague insinuations regarding counterfeiting in general. It honestly sounds like "9-11 was bad" style propaganda started by the entertainment industry ("We want to shatter the illusion of DVD pirates as harmless 'Del Boy' characters," said a spokesman for the Industry Trust for Intellectual Property Awareness). The idea that every illegally downloaded film helps fund terrorists has to be a joking exaggeration. You'd have to prove that all the sites out there (some of which predate Daesh, many started in western nations, and most of which are rather proud of attitudes that terrorists hate in westerners) were started by terrorists, that all advertisements on those sites were effective (people who are tech savvy enough to pirate are generally smart enough to use adblocker or at least know to not click the ads), and that every movie out there comes with ransomware (which would be a plain lie). Ian.thomson (talk) 18:10, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Piracy is its own kind of terrorism. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:13, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Yeah, marginally reducing corporate profits by seeing if a movie is worth buying before spending money is totally comparable to murdering poor children because they didn't swear fealty loudly enough. Ian.thomson (talk) 18:16, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

I'm assuming you are aware there is actually a definition of terrorism: "the use or threatened use of violence (terror) in order to achieve a political, religious, or ideological aim". Which of cource in no way covers film/software piracy. But of course feel free to ignore reality as it pleases you. Fgf10 (talk) 18:30, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

And you likewise, Mr. "For great fusstice". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:41, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Dr actually. But I'll let that pass. Since you've given no factual reply, I'll just assume you've retracted your ridiculous statement as the nonsense that it is. Fgf10 (talk) 18:49, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

No, I stand by my suspicion that the IP is you in disguise. But he could also just be someone trying to get you into trouble. So we'll see. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:00, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

If you are in the UK, you can download the BBC iPlayer desktop application from the BBC website, and then download a small number of films and a much larger selection of other BBC TV programmes from the iPlayer section of the Website. This is free (and one is not required to have a UK TV Licence), but the downloads have to be watched within a set period (varying for each item, but typically up to a month) before they expire. The choices are mostly limited to recent new or repeated broadcast programmes. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.123.26.60 (talk) 15:14, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

You would have to ask yourself why they would offer their movies for free, since they wouldn't make any money that way. The one exception I could think of is if they might offer one of a series of movies (like Harry Potter), hoping you would be hooked and pay for the rest. StuRat (talk) 15:56, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

You wouldn't download a car, would you? ;) Kurtis ^(talk) 21:14, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

Comic book database

I'm looking for a particular science fiction comic book series from the late '60s or early '70s. I've already asked here a couple of times, but nobody could help based on my description. Is there an image database online that I can search by genre AND era? Second choice: a book covering this particular area. Clarityfiend (talk) 22:33, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

This seems to be what you need; (free) registration required to access some features: ComicBookDB.

Note: Googling your title reveals several other 'comic book databases', but not sure if there are any based on images. --2606:A000:4C0C:E200:A073:98E5:BA6B:E905 (talk) 23:46, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

P.s.: A google image search for: science fiction comic book series from the late '60s or early '70s -→ [1] --2606:A000:4C0C:E200:A073:98E5:BA6B:E905 (talk) 23:55, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

The Grand Comics Database is free and has a high percentage of covers scanned, but searching may be tricky. Use the advanced search function to fill in as much as you can. Even knowing the publisher (or even the country) could help. I'm not a expert, but I've been a comic fan for decades. Could you link to previous questions or re-ask it here? Another avenue to explore are the various Facebook groups dedicated to various genres and publishers of comics; I've sometimes had my questions answered by them. Matt Deres (talk) 01:28, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

I'd already tried the Grand Comics Database and the advanced search. The entries I was able to retrieve weren't what I was looking for. There were friendly aliens with disc-shaped heads (horizontally oriented), wearing transparent helmets(?), with ribbon-like hands and feet. Clarityfiend (talk) 01:50, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

This image sort-of fits your description (but they don't seem friendly) → File:Wonder stories 193202.jpg --2606:A000:4C0C:E200:A073:98E5:BA6B:E905 (talk) 02:42, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

Umm, no. Those are dome heads and mechanical appendages. Plus they're about 30 years older. Clarityfiend (talk) 10:15, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

July 13

Televised baseball

Regardless of the stadium, and regardless of the channel, it seems that televised Major League Baseball games always use the same default camera angle: behind the pitcher and slightly to his right. Of course it makes sense to view from behind the pitcher — you get a better view than from behind home plate, and any third angle would prevent you from seeing whether it's a ball or a strike — but why always from the right? Seemingly relevant articles, e.g. Major League Baseball on cable television, all focus on the broadcasting history and similar facts; I can't find anything about cinematography. Nyttend (talk) 01:53, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

One thing I can tell you for sure is that it's been done this way for a long time. (As with thes pictures[2][3] from 1960.) I've never seen it discussed as such. But one logical reason is that most pitchers are right-handed, so shooting over the right shoulder results in a better viewing angle of the pitcher's delivery much of the time. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 05:40, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

And it's not 100 percent. I google imaged the subject "first televised baseball game center field", and while it didn't give me precisely that answer, it gave a number of other examples of televising from center field. Here's one[4] where the camera is looking over the pitcher's left shoulder. But most of the other examples, from various times and places, are looking over the right shoulder. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 05:54, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

And here's one [5] that's looking straight over top of the pitcher, so you can see the batter well no matter the handedness of either the pitcher or the batter. These counterexamples suggest that another factor is where they can conveniently place the camera. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 05:57, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

Why not (usually) straight-on like in Bugs's example? Batter's Eye. 97.93.100.146 (talk) 11:39, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

The camera at Wrigley Field, for example, is at the left edge of the batter's background area (as seen from home plate). ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:08, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

For reference, this page shows the angle of the center field camera for all MLB stadiums as of 2015. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/ranking-baseballs-center-field-camera-shots-2015-update/ 209.149.113.4 (talk) 15:48, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

An excellent find. All of them either looking over the pitcher's right shoulder to a greater or lesser extent, or pretty much straight on - which makes it harder to see the plate. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:08, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

Paranoid/steroid rap song

Today I heard a rap song on a radio at a park. The song rhymes "paranoid" with "steroids". In the chorus, it seems to say "shxky Mona", even though it could just be "shaking him on". At the end, it repeats the word "soldier" many times. The artist is male. Google apparently has never heard of this song: [6] What song is this? Enzingiyi (talk) 22:10, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

I tried a more focused search, also allowing for "steroid" to be singular, and one of the hits was something by Eminem called "8 Mile Last Tree Battle", at a site in Brazil that I will not link in case it was a copyright violation. This contains the lines:

This guy keeps screamin hes paranoid.

Quick someone get his ass another steroid!

However, despite the title, the fact that Google found it, and the presence of lyrics that may relate to actual wars, the word "soldier" is not in it, or at least not in this version of it.

--69.159.60.163 (talk) 04:23, 14 July 2016 (UTC)

July 14

doppelgänger or lookalike?

Recently, I watched a rerun of Castle. In that particular episode, a woman was murdered before she fell down a flight of stairs. Her young daughter was accused of the crime. But it was later determined the girl's stepfather did the dastardly deed. The starlet who played the young daughter bears a striking resemblance to Troian Bellisario. Could that be her, or is it someone else? Anyone know?2604:2000:7113:9D00:81BD:5540:A903:DEEB (talk) 07:34, 14 July 2016 (UTC)