Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2013 March 29

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March 29

messages set against music

Shortly after Desert Storm erupted, Entertainment Tonight would go to commercial breaks with messages. The messages, set against music, were from artists to American troops serving in Saudi Arabia. What I'd like to find out if the music was from a particular song. If yes, what was the song and who sung it?142.255.103.121 (talk) 02:34, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

Wow, that's obscure. Have you been able to find a youtube of it or something like it? Do you have an old videotape of it? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 04:28, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

No, afraid not.142.255.103.121 (talk) 19:42, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

Help find the diametric opposite of this scene:

A lost Yankee soldier (literally) runs straight into a Kraut and is made to surrender.

Would anyone happen to know of any scene where a Kraut soldier runs into a Yankee (literally or otherwise), or even a Yankee position, and surrenders then?

Also, if you can't find film or TV-show footage of a Kraut running into a Yankee, running into a Tommy or (Free) French soldier would also suffice. --70.179.161.230 (talk) 05:42, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

Maybe you're not aware that "Kraut" is an offensive term. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 14:13, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

No, sorry, I thought it was just Allied slang / colloquialism for German forces, much like how "Tommies" are colloquial for the British forces. Wiktionary confirmed your statement. Until now, it appeared that "Kraut" was merely the American term for "Jerry," a term used by the British to describe German forces. I assume that if an American trooper tried to be polite, he'd use "Jerry" too? --70.179.161.230 (talk) 06:31, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

I don't think that term "Jerry" (or maybe "Gerry") was popular among U.S. troops. To be polite, one would say "Germans". The preferred pejorative, in both world wars, was probably "Huns". "Krauts" is offensive, but less so than "Huns", which speaks to a broader range of presumably undesirable characteristics. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:44, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

Kraut is not that offensive... and I think Gerry was a lot more common than you're giving it credit. That's enough language policing for today. Shadowjams (talk) 04:15, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Yes, Kraut is patently offensive, certainly never used neutrally, and Gerry is a Briticism not commonly heard in the US outside British films on WWI. μηδείς (talk) 17:28, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

A lost German soldier running into an American soldier and surrendering forms the framing scenes at the beginning and end of The Big Red One, though it doesn't match the exact form you present. As an aside, The Big Red One was a pretty good movie, I place it among the "lost gems" of WWII films, not as popular as many others, but still very enjoyable to watch. Plus, it's about the only non-Star Wars film Mark Hamill was ever in. --Jayron32 15:07, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

That last remark is far from the truth and Mr Hamill demands an immediate retraction. -- Jack of Oz ^[Talk] 23:49, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

...only decent non-Star Wars film Mark Hamill was ever in... --Jayron32 00:41, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

Has there ever been a full weekend of Premier League football with no goals? Or no goals before half time?

That is, at least 8 matches played but not a single goal before half time or ideally them all ending in 0-0 draws? Where would I search for this information? If it hasn't happened (as I suspect) where would I find the closest event? 81.159.249.228 (talk) 15:47, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

This refers to the English Premier League, and Association Football, just in case it wasn't clear. 81.159.249.228 (talk) 15:49, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

With regard to the English Premier League I haven't been able to find any definitive information either way, but I seriously doubt this has happened - not least because it's only been just over 20 years since Sky invented football. I don't think it happened in First Division days either. I think the closest we've come so far in top-flight European football is the weekend of 16th-17th October 2011 in Italy, when 5 matches finished goalless. If I've got my Italian right, you can read about it here ("Aiuto spariti i gol! Ben 5 zero a zero." - "Help! The goals have gone missing! 5 matches end nil nil"; or something). There's a bit more on the subject here. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 17:20, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

how to change my 20,000 ghana cedis dated september 2002?

30 March 2013

To whom it may concern,

Greetings! I just wanna know how i will change my 20,000 Ghana (Cedis Bill)dated September 2002 because i asked all banks and money changer here in the Philippines and still i cannot change my Ghana Bill and i have no plan to go to Country of Ghana. Please help me.

I hope i can receive answer from you regarding this matter.

Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.6.181.57 (talk) 17:07, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

According to this conversion site, 20,000 Ghanian cedis are worth about $10,300 USD. However, the currency was re-issued in 2007, so it may not be possible to submit pre-20007 bills for exchange, or even for new cedis. Bielle (talk) 17:22, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

The article Ghana cedi seems to be saying that this old note would have been worth only 1/100 of a new cedi, which would be not $10,300 USD, but only $103.00 USD.

"Old currency were withdrawn beginning in July 2007, and after a six month transition may only be exchanged at banks and will no longer be legal tender."

It would appear you are out of luck. Bielle (talk) 17:30, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

The article now says four zeros were knocked off, not two. —Tamfang (talk) 04:01, 28 October 2013 (UTC)

You might want to find someone who is going to Ghana, and sell him the currency, at a rate a bit off the current exchange rate, allowing him a profit margin. StuRat (talk) 04:53, 1 April 2013 (UTC)

1970s BBC documentary about the possible collapse of society?

Can anyone remember a 1970s documentary-style programme about what would happen if there was a prolonged power failure, which would supposedly cause the total breakdown of modern society? I was certain that it was fronted by James Burke, but I'm beginning to doubt that now, as I can't find any reference to it. Prompted by a question about this scenario on the Science Refdesk. Alansplodge (talk) 21:52, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

Sounds like If... The Lights Go Out, but that was in 2004. --Viennese Waltz 22:50, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

Episode 10 ("Yesterday, Tomorrow and You") of Connections, as I recall - I remember him finding an old rusty plough in a barn as part of the sequence, at least. Tevildo (talk) 22:53, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

Another possibility is The Day The Universe Changed which was another very Burke-y series from the same time period. --Jayron32 05:40, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

The synopsis of the "Connections" episode isn't ringing any bells, but it's the best fit so far. It was a long time ago though. Thanks all for your efforts. Alansplodge (talk) 09:26, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

Could it have been the first episode of Connections, about the power blackout in New York in the 70s? Adam Bishop (talk) 10:48, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

The OP's description matches the first episode exactly. I've watched it many times. If you were to search for connections james burke in Google and look at videos you might find a YouTube clip of it. I'm certainly not saying you should, though, as that would be copyright infringement. Matt Deres (talk) 15:49, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

It certainly would and I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing (yes that's the one - many thanks!) Alansplodge (talk) 22:48, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

Resolved