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September 20

What is it called, and where did it originate ?

Greetings from the Zone of the Canterbury Earthquake. We have all survived - as my grandparents did in Napier in 1931 - before packing up and coming back to Canterbury, where after all, there should not be such a thing happen. My question concerns the pratice - and I know not what it is, and I believe I first saw it performed at the LA ( or even Seoul ) Olympics, where certain members of the audience are given a huge card, on one or both sides of which are parts of a larger pattern, and at certain moments they hold them up to create a huge image - what is this called, and from where is it ? This relates also to what seems to me the more recent custom of huges flags and or soccer jerseys passed through the crowd, making it appear as if it is moving - when and where did this also originate ? My curiosity stems from checking out the origins of the Mexican Wave, and I was surprised at how long that has been around. I heard somewhere - on television some time in the nineties, and I cannot recall who said so, that this originated from Australian fans at the 1986 Soccer World Cup in Mexico - this I long accepted, except that I was aware, that since Australia did not qualify for that cup - having done so instead in 1974, 2006 and 2010, then what would they be doing there ? So where there soccer fans from the Lucky Country there anyway ? Thanks. The Russian. The Russian Christopher Lilly 01:59, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

We have an article on card stunt saying that it originated in California one century ago. ---Sluzzelin talk 02:07, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

You want to know if there were any Australian spectators at the 1986 World Soccer Cup in Mexico? Seriously, how would anyone be able to demonstrate that as a fact, unless their cousin sent them some holiday pictures or something? I mean, we are a well-travelled lot, and a sport-loving nation, so I'd personally need some convincing to believe there were no Aussies there at all, but what I personally believe is neither here nor there. On the card stunt thing, I'm pretty sure the first time these made an appearance at an Olympics was at Moscow 1980, where they were a major part of the opening ceremony. I don't remember them at Montreal, Munich or earlier Olympics. -- 202.142.129.66 (talk) 03:35, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

And, because Wikipedia has an article on everything, see 2004 Harvard–Yale prank for how this sort of thing can be abused for awesome humour. Adam Bishop (talk) 04:27, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Bah! A mere pale copy of the Great Rose Bowl Hoax of 1961, that was. --Anonymous, 04:50 UTC, September 20/10.

Thank You for your reply. I apologise for suggesting that there would be no Australians there, all I meant was, would anyone know whether there were some in a more officially documented capactiy, and yes, the Aussies ( and we Kiwis ) do get around, which is good. This thing I would like to do in some years to come, as well. To be honest we did not see much of the Moscow Games as we ( New Zealand ) sent only four athletes, and I cannot even remember whether they televised it here. I think not. All I recall is one girl talking about ( according to her ) the Russians opening up the main doors of the gymnastics arena to give wind assitance to some of their athletes in certain events. Which ones would need that I cannot tell - all it indicated was to us then the cheating nature of those commmie - but I digress. Thank You so much for that information, and I am indeed surprised that the stunt has been around this long. This also reminds one of those incredible basketball stunts done by those college students in Texas I believe. Excellent. The Russian Christopher Lilly 04:47, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Blowing it up and walking away

Has there ever been a term for the extremely overused and now clichéd type of scene in movies, television and music videos where a character, usually in the act of some type of revenge, causes something to explode...and instead of running away or even watching the event, instead turns and walks straight towards the camera? The character always has a solemn look of determination while a massive explosion or fire ball erupts behind them. Forgive me for the lack of an example, but the effect was used heavily in the last 15 years in various situations. Any ideas? thanks. 66.109.247.195 (talk) 20:01, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

There's the unflinching walk. ---Sluzzelin talk 20:04, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

That's it. Thanks. And I know there are even more examples in existence that listed on that page. Thanks again!66.109.247.195 (talk) 20:10, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Cool guys don't look at explosions -- Finlay McWalter ☻ Talk 20:11, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]