Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2020 June 2

= June 2 =

8-ball variation
I've met some people who play pool. They play 8-ball, but with a strange variation. The solids player has to sink the 1 ball in the '1-ball pocket' (the middle pocket) and the stripes player sinks the 15 ball in the '15-pocket' which is the opposite middle pocket. If they sink those balls anywhere else, it's a legal shot and they don't give up their turn. But they return the 1 or 15 ball to the spot where the triangle is placed for break. It's interesting and it makes the simple strategy of the game a lot more complex. It makes the game longer, too. Is there a name for this variation of the game? Was this ever a common way to play? Temerarius (talk) 03:36, 2 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Sorry, I think they actually place the ball on the spot opposite to the one I said--at the end of the kitchen. Temerarius (talk) 03:38, 2 June 2020 (UTC)
 * I have no idea about the questions asked, but I'm curious about the rules: are the 1-ball and the 15-ball the only ones with specific pockets assigned? --76.71.5.208 (talk) 08:39, 2 June 2020 (UTC)
 * This site lists several 8-ball variants, and just calls it "1 & 15 Side". It appears the rule only applies to the 1 and 15.  This page pretty much agrees, and states that it was formerly a much more common version of the game, claiming even that it was at one point the most common version.  -- Jayron 32 13:51, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

famous people collages
I distinctly remember that our articles for nations (e.g "Russians", "Germans", "French people" etc) used to have collages of photos of the most notable "exponents" of said nation somewhere near the top of the article. Not so now. When did the practice stop, is it policy or it just happened and if the former, what was the rationale (I can imagine, but, if someone knows off-hand without much research, it would be welcome) Aecho6Ee (talk) 19:11, 2 June 2020 (UTC)


 * See: MOS:NOETHNICGALLERIES and discussions here & here. (Although I only scanned those discussions, WP:GALLERY & WP:COLLAGE are seemingly conflated at times). 107.15.157.44 (talk) 05:35, 3 June 2020 (UTC)
 * wow, thanks! Aecho6Ee (talk) 16:34, 6 June 2020 (UTC)