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Posts tagged with "Switzerland"

Wikipedia Wanderings

I've had a bit of a creative dry spell recently. That changed this evening when I saw WTF1's entry about the Formula 1 Wikipedia game. This is a game where you have to try to get from a random Wikipedia page to the "Formula 1" page in 6 clicks or fewer using only links in the pages themselves. It's based upon the "six degrees of separation" concept and it helps if you can make broad associational links... ...while allowing for certain weaknesses in Wikipedia's articles.

 

Take my first successful attempt, for example. The "Random Article" button placed me at Omak Airport (an airport in Washington used in World War II). You might initially think such an article was about as helpful as Lake Tanganyika Stadium (where I started the previous - and first - time). However, the article mentions certain trivia about the airport, including the airstrip construction material... ...Asphalt.

 

Now asphalt is used in all sorts of roads. Sadly, there was no mention of motor racing of any kind in Wikipedia's asphalt article despite 85% of the USA's asphalt being used in road construction. That said, in 1835 - the early days of European asphalt usage - the largest project involving the new material had 24,000 square yards of ground was covered for easy access around the... ...Place de la Concorde.

 

When I saw that I thought, "Wow! This will be easy - the FIA lives at the Place de la Concorde and the FIA article surely mentions Formula 1 among its activities!" Not so fast! Pretty much every other significant feature of the Place de la Concorde is mentioned (it features, among other things, 8 statues representing major French cities, the French National Assembly and the American embassy), but no mention of the FIA offices that are also there. Oh well, at least France does have a long and storied history in Formula 1...

 

which isn't mentioned in the France article. There is a lengthy sports section which describes a great variety of sporting activities in France. There's even a motor racing bit. Which talks about the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

 

The article on the 24 Hours of Le Mans is lengthy. It turns out that in that length, there's a part about Peugeot introducing KERS for the 2009 event which mentions its similarity to the Formula 1 version, but I missed it because I thought I'd seen the perfect link in the "Purpose" section. The first line read, "At a time when Grand Prix racing was the dominant form of motorsport throughout Europe"

 

I thought "2 clicks and home in the 6 required!" and for once I was right. Grands Prix were the original form of motor racing and many of the series that followed adopted the terminology for their individual events. Formula 1 is the most famous of these. In the article, it mentions that motor racing was started in France, but France's accomplishments with regards to sports are so extensive that this didn't even warrant a mention in the France entry.

 

Some of my Wikipedia wanderings were a bit shorter. One of them started me at Way Out West (jazz group), which includes West African drums, a dan tranh (a Vietnamese zither) and dan bau (a Vietnamese one-stringed sound box). It has performed in several notable Canadian festivals but is based in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.

 

Melbourne is the second-biggest city in Australia, originally founded by settlers from Van Diemen's Land. Whether this has any non-coincidental connection to the Van Diemen single-seater car manufacturer is unknown. What is known is that it hosts the Australian Grand Prix (Formula One). So that particular wiki walk was completed in a mere two clicks. Maybe Way Out West should be invited to the 2012 F1 Rocks, seeing as the next F1 Rocks concert has such noted non-rock musicians as David Guetta, Taio Cruz and the Sugababes...

Amusingly, the next and final F1 Wikipedia attempt I did started in a motor sport article: the 2009 Formula Lista Junior season. It is a Formula BMW series running from April to September that started in 2000 and is still happening. Most of the drivers and all but one of the teams are Swiss, but the law in Switzerland means they cannot race in their home country. Instead, they race in France (including two visits to Dijon), Germany and Italy, benefiting from a rule allowing national-level racers from anywhere in the EU or a limited number of other countries reciprocal access to appropriate series in any country involved in that agreement.

 

That said, the 2009 title was not won by a Swiss driver, but an Italian one - Kevin Giovesi. He won 5 races out of the 12 and scored nearly 50% more points than the second-placed Sven Ackermann (who was the first in a cluster of six Swiss drivers). Some progression is clearly possible because even fifth-placed Sandro Zeller competed in three different F3 championships during 2010. Kevin Giovesi went into Italian F3 but came only 15th while Sven appears to have fallen off the radar completely.

 

Returning to the wiki walk, the final round happened at Monza.  Needless to say, the Monza article casually mentions the fact that it hosts Formula 1 once... ...or twice... ...or 27 times (admittedly including reference lists). So that wiki walk got me to the destination in 2 clicks, but in a very interesting way for a motor sports fan. It's always nice to discover a previously-unknown racing series :)

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Say hello to my little friend... ...Meme

Date: November 19 2009

Currently: Reading F1 Racing (October 2009 edition)

Mood: Contemplative !:l

 

Warning! Long entry alert!

 

Nothing I saw in F1 today particularly inspired me, so I'm doing this 100-item meme I spotted in Laraine Creech's Facebook notes.

 

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET It?

I don't think I have got any scars.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?

One wall of wallpaper and three of bright yellow paint*. On the paint, there are nine bookshelves piled high with books, a big poster featuring a map of the Silverstone circuit dating from 2002 and a framed photograph of me and my two best friends from secondary school/sixth form.

3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOU SLEEP?

I don't snore or grind my teeth, but apparently I'm nearly as talkative during some parts of my sleep cycle as I am when I'm awake. Fortunately few people are in a position to find out first-hand.

4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?

Pop, rock, metal and selected tunes in other genres.

5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?

6:30pm. Apparently I took most of the day to turn up - I wasn't exactly in a rush to make an appearance in the world.

6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?

To finish this blog entry in an interesting way!

7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?

I don't really understand this question...

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION(S)?

Difficult one. Among actual possessions, probably my PDA. But I try not to get too attached to particular items because everything is transient.

9. HOW TALL ARE YOU?

1 metre, 72 centimetres.

10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?

Not unless the space is stuffed full of people. If it's stuffed full of inanimate or slow-moving objects (or the space just wasn't very big in the first place), I'm fine because I know where the remaining space will be.

11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?

No.

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?

My ex-supervisor, who thought that persistently shouting bad names at someone with sensitive ears was a good idea. Eventually, my ears (and brain) protested too loudly for resisting to work.

13. WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR?

I'm not sure.

14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?

I have absolutely no preference.

15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING AT?

I have enough trouble seeing myself proposing in the first place...

16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK?

If I must have one, energy drink - I dislike the taste of the former and find the latter too sugary-tasting for anything except swimming galas (and even then I usually dilute it).

17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?

Hawaiian (pineapple and ham).

18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Ice cream.

19. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME?

Blue. It is such an expressive colour...

20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH?

I've had goldfish in the pond before, but I left the job of eating them to the local heron.

21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?

When I was very small (I think I was four, but I might have been three), my great-grandparents gave me a knitted grey rabbit. It meant a lot to me because it was a tangible symbol of their love for me.

22. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?

No. Never had one.

23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED?

If I am, I don't know about it.

24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?

Bon Marché. They seem to be one of the few brands that do clothing that feel practical and fit without looking ugly.

30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED:

26

31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES

Either.

32. FAVORITE QUOTE?

"Million-to-one chances occur nine times out of ten" - Terry Pratchett, "Guards! Guards!"

33. FAVORITE PLACE(s)?

My local library (and every other library I've ever visited), Sheffield College, Silverstone

34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE USA?

I've never been in the USA in the first place, but I've been to Switzerland, Belgium and France as well as the UK (where I live). The first two for swimming galas and the latter on a school trip.

35. YOUR WEAKNESSES?


I am a creature of habit who can be somewhat inflexible, struggle with interpreting the world at times... ...and also is rather messy!

36. MET ANYONE FAMOUS?

Quite a few people. I've had autographs from Eddie Jordan, Matt Neal, David Coulthard, Allan McNish, Martin and Alex Brundle.

37. FIRST JOB?

Assistant librarian in a local-ish library.

38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?

Only on Sims 2!

39. DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOULMATE?

No, but I think a significant minority have got a soulmate. The concept exists but some people are equally (or nearly-equally) compatible with multiple people and others aren't really compatible with anyone.

40. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT?

Looking through the F1 news on the internet, re-reading F1 Racing October 2009 in the process.

41. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY?

No. Nearest I've had is having my head glued back together five weeks ago (what a way to fill a Sunday morning...)

42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?

My writing.

43. HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES?

No.

44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?

A book (I'm not picky...)

45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT AND THEIR NAMES?

I don't know if I want kids at the moment, largely because I wouldn't have a clue how to bring them up if I had any. I have lots of potential names, but as yet no faces to attach them to...

46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

My real middle names were also my mum's and grandma's middle names, but my first name wasn't named for anyone (apart from a religious figure - ironic since my parents aren't religious). My psuedonym's first name is from a book called "Dragonsbane" by Patricia C. Wrede - the character originally bearing that first name was a princess.

47. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TURN OFF OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?

I have no idea.

48. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU LIKE(D) ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL**?

Learning stuff.

49. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE?

Cheap supermarket shampoo, in the "anti-grease" category. "Anti-chlorine" and/or "anti-dandruff" are bonus features. I use a separate conditioner, which is typically the fanciest one in the local pound shop.

50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

I do - it's legible and fairly stylish in cursive format and cute in separated-letter format. Block capitals come out slightly strange, but never mind...

51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Gammon.

52. ANY BAD HABITS?

Lots - disorganisation being perhaps my worst.

53. JEALOUS PERSON?

No.

54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

If I was someone else, being friends with myself would still be an automatic impulse, wouldn't it? Would make for an interesting philosophical question.

56. DO LOOKS MATTER?

No. I have the aesthetic sense of a house brick.

57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?

Depends a lot on the circumstances...

58.WOULD YOU RATHER GAIN 58 POUNDS OR LOSE 58 Pounds?

Lose 58 pounds (but I wouldn't want to lose more than that).

60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?

A red stuffed stegasaurus with a yellow tongue slightly sticking out and no eyes called Grinny. It's still my favourite toy.

61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE?

34.

62. WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID?

Barney was after my time. I watched lots of Sesame Street as a little kid though.

63. Do you use sarcasm?

Not very often, which catches people out a lot when I do deploy it.

64. MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE?

Macaroni and cheese, though mashed potatoes are also nice.

65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY?

I don't.

66. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?

My psuedonym's nicknames are "Alia" and "Ali". The former is my formal nickname while the latter is preferred by internetters with tired fingers.

67. FAVORITE SUPER POWER?

Telempathy.

68. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?

Formula 1 :)

69.WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH YOUR ENEMIES?

Explain to them the error of their ways, roll the eyes if they don't get it, then vacate the area (unless they're doing something that needs stopping, in which case you stop it).

70. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?

Strawberry.

71. DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES?

I have all the ones I was born with connected to my body at this moment and do not anticipate repositioning any of them in the near future.

72. DO YOU HAVE A COMPUTER IN YOUR ROOM?

The one I'm typing on, and at the moment my PDA (a mobile phone that pretends to be a computer) is in here being charged as well.

73. PLANS FOR TONIGHT?

Blogging (wikiing?) and catching up with my internet friends.

74. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE WHEN YOU ARE OLDER?

In a cheap house somewhere quiet but well-connected.

75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

Only the people who want to.

76. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?

At this exact moment? Kelly Clarkson - a live version of "Beautiful Disaster".

77. LAST THING YOU DRANK?

Orange-and-lemon squash.

78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

Someone from a local JobCentre referring a client to the organisation I'm placed at (which provides assistance to unemployed people),

79. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX?

That they're there (usually).

80. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

Reading, swimming, various forms of computing and listening to music.

81. FAVORITE THING TO HATE?

Prejudice.

82. FAVORITE SEASON OF THE YEAR?

Autumn. Somehow it seems to be the gentlest season, F1 increases in tempo and lots of new stuff starts in my personal life (for example, it's the start of academic years).

83. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF CANDY?

Fairtrade orange-flavoured, spice-infused dark chocolate.

84. HAVE YOU EVER REALLY AND TRULY HAD A BEST FRIEND?

Yes. Twice. The first one between nursery and sixth form and the second one during my university years.

85. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR?

Dark brown.

86. EYE COLOR?

The same shade of brown.

87. SHOE SIZE?

Size 7-9, depending on the make.

88. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE?

Subway.

89. FAVORITE RESTAURANT?

BB's in Sheffield (the Italian restaurant, not the coffee shop)

90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?

I do, and I've eaten it a few times.

91. WATCH TV TODAY?

15 minutes of news, about an hour of music channels, plus most of Golden Balls (it happened to be on when I was visiting Grandma). Unusually high amount for me.

92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?

This changes every year. This year it was September 3 (with June 21 and January 10 being a close second and third), last year it was 21 June, the year before it was 12 June...

93. PLAY ANY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS?

I play the guitar, keyboard and recorder - none of them particularly well, but I can get a tune out of each of them. I prefer singing though.

94. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT?

If I were American, I'd vote Democrat. As it is, I vote Labour in general elections because my constituency happens to have a brilliant MP right now who deserves support (among other things for not agreeing with his party on certain key topics) and Liberal Democrat otherwise.

95. KISSES OR HUGS?

Neither, unless it's a really unexpected special occasion or you've warned me first. In which case either is fine.

96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?

Relationships. I don't see the point of one night stands.

97. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT?

A packet of fruit Polos on Tuesday from the train station.

98. WOULD YOU EVER BE A HOUSE WIFE?

No. I have absolutely no talent in that direction.

99. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?

That should be a plural. I am reading "Making Time" by Steve Taylor downstairs, F1 Racing (October 2009 edition) and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J. K. Rowling upstairs and "Nightwings" by Robert Silverberg when I'm out. I usually have at least three books on the go simultaneously, due to my bookworm-like nature.

100. DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE?

Easy. I don't have one and don't want one right now.

 

* - Believe it or not, this paint scheme was decided the year before I became a supporter of the extremely yellow-coloured Jordan team.

 

** - Sixth form is the nearest British equivalent to high school.

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