Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2009 December 29

= December 29 =

Rugby going metric
Rugby is played in many countries around the world, but there is an obvious tilt towards commonwealth countries. Traditionally, these countries used (and still use, to some extent) non-metric measurements. However, rugby is all metric, and seems to have been for quite some time. However, you sometimes hear commentators slip, and refer to the 22 (metre line) as the 25 (yard line), which indicates that imperial measurements were used before. I am interested in information about when the change happened, and about the decisions made. If distances were just converted and then rounded, it would have become the 23 metre line. Also, no other distances seem to have changed numbers, despite going from yards to metres. The 15 metre line for the back end of the lineout, for example, seems to give more space than a 15 yard one, and that would affect the tactics a bit. You would think that they would try to avoid affecting the game play when just changing the definitions. Or was it e.g. a 50 ft line before? Some pointers to articles about this would be appreciated. /Coffeeshivers (talk) 13:01, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * This doesn't exactly answer the question, but it turns out there are two different versions of the game, as discussed in Comparison of rugby league and rugby union. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 13:16, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * FWIW< If the sport is simply called "rugby" it almost always means union. Grutness...wha?  22:57, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Yes, I am quite aware of that. I meant union, which I guess I should have mentioned. Sorry about that. (Those in the know could have concluded I couldn't have meant league, since it neither has line outs nor a 22 metre line.)/Coffeeshivers (talk) 13:49, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * My guess is that it occurred in different countries at different times, rather than at any one time, depending on when the country went metric. The 22-metre line has been called "The 22" in New Zealand ever since I've been watching the sport (starting in the late '80s). I would have expected something at History of rugby union if the conversion had been universal at one particular time. For some bizarre reason our article on the rules of the game are part of Playing rugby union rather than a stand-alone article at Rules of rugby union - and they don't have anything on the history of rule changes, sadly. Grutness...wha?  22:57, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * My first thoughts were mistaken. I've found one letter to the Times, which starts "If the groundsmen find metric pitch measurements...". It refers to an article or letter of August 9, 1974. - Jarry1250 [Humorous? Discuss.] 12:50, 30 December 2009 (UTC):
 * Another, of july 16, says that the 25-yard line will become the 22-metre line in "1975-6". - Jarry1250 [Humorous? Discuss.] 12:53, 30 December 2009 (UTC)
 * GOT IT!. Article title "Business Diary: TUC's glasshouse · Psychological approach" August 1974. It describes some heated discussions withink British Rugby, confirms the 1975-6 season change; 5 yard is to become 5 metre; Overseas sides at the start of their next season; 25 yard becomes 22 metre; that it hadn't yet worked out post dimensions and some other things yet, they were still in consultation; the pitch will be 100 metres, 110 yards no longer. It also rules out "finnickty calculations" - round numbers instead. - Jarry1250 [Humorous? Discuss.] 13:00, 30 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Wow, thanks, well done! That's longer ago than I would have thought. I guess the commentator I heard calling it the 25 (might have been Grant Nisbet) has played and talked about rugby for a long time. /Coffeeshivers (talk) 13:25, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Did going metric have any observable effect on the game itself? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 13:43, 30 December 2009 (UTC)


 * No. It's still played only by brutes, and enjoyed only by the lower classes. :)  --   Jack of Oz    ... speak! ...   22:14, 30 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Jack, you know not of what you speak. As the quote says, "Rugby is a game for thugs played by gentlemen, whereas football is a game for gentlemen played by thugs". DJ Clayworth (talk) 02:09, 31 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Maybe you've heard these slogans: "Give Blood - Play Rugby" and "To Play Rugby You Need Leather Balls". I think even the women's teams used those. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:47, 31 December 2009 (UTC)


 * Whereas gaa was designated "a game for thugs played by thugs"". Stanstaple (talk) 19:16, 31 December 2009 (UTC)


 * There's also "rugby is a game played by rucking flankers", while we're onto rugby insults (although why we are is a little bit mysterious). Grutness...wha?  23:28, 31 December 2009 (UTC)


 * Us Americanos like to say that they took soccer and improved it and got Rugby; then they took Rugby and improved it and got American football. 0:) ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 23:35, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Speak
Why was Kristen Stewart made to wear glasses in Speak? What did this contribute to the plot or character? And what was she anyway? --Tim —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.230.231.84 (talk) 17:31, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * For those wondering, the OP seems to be referring to Speak. Dismas |(talk) 18:48, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * I've not seen the movie, but none of the posters or pictures at IMDB show the character with glasses. The second part of your question sounds like it might be homework. As for "what was she" you might want to explain the question a little more, as the literal answer "an actor appearing in a movie" won't be very helpful. DJ Clayworth (talk) 19:08, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Not homework; I doubt this movie is of any value to any educator. I am the kind of person who likes to anyalze these little details in movies. And I meant what was she, like nearsighted, farsighted, etc. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.230.231.84 (talk) 19:30, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Under what circumstances did she wear glasses - to read with? Or to see at a distance? Or both? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:10, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Typical reasons for giving a character glasses are to make them appear intellectual (or at least academic or studious), or to make them appear less attractive, or to make them appear unathletic. However in this case I suspect it may have been to emphasise the barrier between the character and the rest of the world. Only the director (or the book author) is going to know for sure. DJ Clayworth (talk) 20:02, 30 December 2009 (UTC)