Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2008 June 4

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June 4

Selling bought/downloaded music

As far as I know, it is illegal to burn a CD with iTunes-bought music and sell it for money. But, I see regular, purchased CD's for sale all the time by people who bought them. The only difference is they were CD's when purchased as opposed to sound files. So, why is one illegal and the other (seemingly) not? 70.105.164.43 (talk) 00:49, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Much of the answer to the question probably lies in the First-sale doctrine article. --Tagishsimon (talk) 00:54, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Yes....it does. Thanks. 70.105.164.43 (talk) 01:02, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Kodansha Afternoon

Is it possible to subscribe to Kodansha Afternoon magazine in the US? If yes then how? Thank you, --E2718281828459045 (talk) 01:16, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Where do you live? If you live near Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Houston, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, London, Toronto, Honolulu, or anywhere else with a Japanese market or bookstore (not just a generic Asian market), you may be able to subscribe by going there (and some of them may even just carry the magazine regularly). There are also subscription services available via mail from stores such as Kinokuniya, Sasuga Japanese Bookstore, J-List, and so on. I order through my local market. (support the local economy!) ···日本穣^{? · Talk to Nihonjoe} 19:22, 4 June 2008

Japanese magazines like dealing through bookstores. I am unfamiliar with the one you name, but I subscribe to three others, and the only way to get them here in Honolulu is through the bookstore. My favorite Japanese bookstore offers twenty percent discounts if you settle for by-boat shipping and agree to pick the mags up at the store (rather than have the store mail them to you). In fact, since the store does mail titles, if you're in the United States and will use a credit card as security, I'll bet my local store will mail to you wherever you are. Leave me a message on my talk page if you have no luck otherwise, and I'll put you in touch. Mitchell k dwyer (talk) 21:03, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Sasuga has it; and Kinokuniya may have it, too. Thank you very much for your help! --E2718281828459045 (talk) 23:11, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

About Journalism

I want to know about the scope of Journalism and Mass Communication in Future. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Keerat4u (talk • contribs) 05:20, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Just a guess, but is this for an essay entitled "The scope of journalism and mass communication in the future?" ~ mazca ^talk 08:25, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Banks in Cagayan De Oro City

how can i get a list of all banks and contact info for Cagayan De Oro City,Philippine--119.11.96.182 (talk) 08:18, 4 June 2008 (UTC)john de oros

Looks like a homework question. Anyway, try here [1] manya (talk) 09:35, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Orientation

Is "girl falling for girl" more common in girls' school than coeds?? This seems to happen a lot at mine (which is a girls' school) 117.194.224.17 (talk) 08:23, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Infatuation? Crush? Hero-worship? It's not sexual as such, and I don't know why, but yep seems common in all-girls schools. An example in a period film The Getting of Wisdom from the novel by Henry Handel Richardson. I'd guess (very OR-ly) that the same thing happens in all-boys schools too. It's usually about the younger person attaching to an older person and wanting their attention though it varies. The articles Puppy love (temporary) and the longer-lasting idea of Limerence (closer to it in some ways) cover it though more generally. Julia Rossi (talk) 10:13, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Puppy love is not to be confused with Pup-play. Edison (talk) 14:30, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Robert Graves wrote about the same thing in boys' schools, and I'm sure there are dozens of other examples. Adam Bishop (talk) 11:49, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

You might want to consult our article entitled lesbian until graduation ("LUG"). (WHAAOE!)

Atlant (talk) 19:51, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

The articles on Class S (the Japanese word for this sort of relationship) and Romantic friendship may also be helpful. Laïka 22:08, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Ah, my first crush was on a girl at my school. Yes, I'm gay and happy with the fact now, but if you're in this situation it doesn't necessarily mean you're gay. It might just be a crush, hero-worship, anything. Chill. And neither does it mean all you're friends are gay either! -- _{Escape Artist Swyer} ^{Talk to me} _{Articles touched by my noodly appendage} 23:13, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Book

I have a Japanese-learning book called Kimono. I can find about 150 mentions of this book on the Internet, but I can't find any mention of any content of the book. Anyone have a link? Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 11:01, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

If you have the book, why are you asking for the contents? That aside, if you are trying to learn Japanese, throw that book away and pick up Yookoso! as it's a much better book and will teach you a lot more than Kimono. Kimono isn't worth the paper on which it's printed. ···日本穣^{? · Talk to Nihonjoe} 01:21, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

We used Kimono in early high school. It wasn't too bad, but it was a very slow pace, unless you want to go through the whole book quickly. If you want something slow paced, it could be OK, but if I remember it correctly (it was almost 15 years ago) it is best used with a teacher, as I don't remember much explanation of grammar. Steewi (talk) 04:41, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

My wife had to use it when she was teaching high school Japanese, and she hated it. Most of the time, she just made up her own lessons instead of using the book. ···日本穣^{? · Talk to Nihonjoe} 06:05, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

I am planning to be a Japanese teacher at my primary school. My plan is to use Kimono the whole time. Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 10:00, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Interior Decoration

I have been tasked to re-design an anteroom and also suggest suitable interior decoration ideas. Can anyone suggest me an idea/ I am clueless as to how to go about it sumal (talk) 11:32, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Sumal, how did you get yourself into this one? You'll need to have some mockups. Think compatibility with the other rooms or the building (e.g. minimalist style or post-modern utilitarian). There's a simplified process here[2] at Interior Design and what kind of anteroom – a vestibule, foyer, client waiting room, reception area? For style I guess you will find a similar premises and spy on their results with pics or for examples drag some images off the net. If no-one has relieved you with their designer friend/contact by then, you can source these things or maybe pick some brains at your local interiors store. Best of, Julia Rossi (talk) 12:08, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

interior design —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.18.33.2 (talk) 21:42, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

One of the important parts you need are the requirements. You need to ask yourself (and your client) at each stage "what is it going to be used for?", "Can that be done here?" and "is this what the client wants?". Other important questions might be "what is the over all look I want (i.e. theme, concept, style - business chic? welcoming family environment? jungle tribal?)?", "Can it physically be done?" and very importantly "How much will this cost?" Steewi (talk) 04:47, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

about countries

I want to know the population,capital,no of literates,illiterates,no of men women economy of the countries of asia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Prajwal palasamudram (talk • contribs) 14:13, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Try the CIA World Factbook which has extensive demographic information. Fribbler (talk) 14:17, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Performance vs. Behavioral Based Interview Questions

Is there a difference between these two or are they two words for the same subject? I understand Behavioral Based Interviewing as a way to predict future behavior by understanding past behavior, but lately I am hearing the words Performance Based in relation to interview questionsFarmer13 (talk) 16:27, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Until someone more experienced comes along, they both sound like "track record" to me. Julia Rossi (talk) 23:52, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

If you Google 'Performance Based Interviews' you will be offered a vast choice of articles and refs on both performance and behaviour based interviwing. Why didn't you do this before asking here?86.209.156.25 (talk) 14:33, 5 June 2008 (UTC)DT

Geography question

Are there any instances on our Earth where the geographical shape of something smaller looks like the shape of something larger, scaled down? For example, a district looking like a city, a city looking like a country, or a country looking like a continent? JIP | Talk 18:27, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

I know one. See County Monaghan. (Better map here.) Then take a look at Iraq. :-) Fribbler (talk) 18:31, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

There are a few states in the Western United States that all look similar because they're all roughly rectangular... But I doubt that is what you were looking for.... Dismas|^(talk) 19:31, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

No, it isn't. I am specifically looking for similar shapes in different sizes - in this case, city or county vs. state, or state vs country or continent. And a rectangle is too simple a shape to be of interest. JIP | Talk 20:02, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Tuscany versus Bosnia and Herzegovina? Fribbler (talk) 20:20, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

How about the Polynesian Triangle and the Bermuda Triangle? Mitchell k dwyer (talk) 20:51, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

No, this won't do at all. They are too loosely defined, and the triangle is too simple a shape to be interesting. The County Monaghan and Tuscany exaxmples mentioned above are much better. JIP | Talk 20:57, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

I am a math teacher and consider the triangle to be the second-most interesting shape in the universe, after the circle. But okay, I see what you mean. Mitchell k dwyer (talk) 21:07, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Sorry; I just read what I wrote and can't let it go, lest people think I meant that. The triangle is the THIRD-most interesting shape in the universe, after Catherine Zeta Jones. Mitchell k dwyer (talk) 21:18, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

But even she´s got two circles and one triangle. What pity my math teacher never commented on his subtle libidinous geometrical fixations as honestly as Mitchell... --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 22:03, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

we have anarticle some where that tells of a rock at machu picchu that has the same profile as the mountains behind it so when you look at it from the correct angle, you will see...er... some thing —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.18.33.2 (talk) 21:45, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

For everyones perusal, an article on the Monaghan-Iraq debacle. Fribbler (talk) 23:07, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

It's artificial, but there is always The World.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 06:21, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

If you are happy with artifial examples, see our article on miniature parks a.k.a. model villages. Gandalf61 (talk) 11:47, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Many counties in Nevada look like U.S. states, for example Lincoln=UT, Humboldt=NM, White Pine=AZ, Lander/Eureka=VT/NH, etc. Dave6 ^talk 20:33, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

It's always struck me as more than just coincidental that, if reversed laterally, the Australian coat of arms, particularly the original 1908 version, would make a very nice approximation of the shape of the mainland. They even had the kangaroo's tail hanging downwards so that Tasmania wasn't forgotten. -- JackofOz (talk) 21:06, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

And here I'm thinking Australia looks like it's been drawn by Leunig with a big nose on the left and a smile at Port Augusta. Julia Rossi (talk) 05:51, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Nah - it's an old man lying on his back - with his nose pointing up at PNG and a big underbite. BTW, I note with some surprise that no-one has mentioned the World islands in Dubai that have been deliberately shaped to look like maps of countries. Grutness...wha? 06:29, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Spammers

I am getting more and more curious about why spammers bother with their increasingly more clever filter-evading ploys. I, at least, have an instinct that the more someone tries to trick me into reading an advertisement, the less honest he is, and the less legal the product he is selling is. Surely everyone else thinks this way too? Surely they cannot be anyone who sees an advertisement for penis enlargement pills disguised as an account suspension notice from a bank, containing several kilobytes of random word salad solely to fool Bayesian filters, with a hyperlink to a random throwaway URL at the end, and thinks "Oh! This is just what I need! I'll better check this out than consult a reputable doctor and pharmacist!"? JIP | Talk 20:20, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Email is, for now, free, so all they need to make it worth their while is one sale. Just one. From the millions/billions of spam mails sent, for it to be economically viable. And as they say "there's always one". Fribbler (talk) 20:23, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

In that case, that one must be either really stupid, or really sad, or both. What sort of person would do that? JIP | Talk 20:34, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Would spam, or be taken in by it? Fribbler (talk) 20:36, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Taken in by it, of course. JIP | Talk 20:44, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Lots of reasons. Naievity, desperation, those unfamiliar with the internet etc. Fribbler (talk) 20:55, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

You gave one option yourself: they could be really stupid. You can buy a million addresses for $40, so you should be able to turn a profit with a one in 100,000 success rate. 1 in 100,000 people have an IQ of less than 40. Algebraist 22:01, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

That would just be abusing the mentally handicapped (the limit is around 40 right?). I would assume the target is the elderly, who have stereotypically have little knowledge about how the internet works. Some would assume that it is genuinely someone trying to help out their love life. That would get you at least the 1 in 100,000. Paragon12321 (talk) 23:02, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Maybe anyone who's vulnerable – someone who's desire is stronger than their reason, or who lack critical awareness. Especially people who at heart seem to believe there's such a thing as easy money, miracle hair results, and other solutions to feeling needy. I don't think iq comes into that somehow. And then there's the meeting point and the bait: Hello, pigeon, meet Shark. Julia Rossi (talk) 23:48, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Also, there are two additional factors at play here: first of all, someone is always getting their very first piece of spam. I (and, I suspect, most others here) get hundreds of them every day, so they mean nothing to me. There's really no way I could ever get taken in by a generic spam message that is obviously designed to bypass filtering. And I'm not expected to, because like most recipients, I'm not in the target audience; I'm too educated, too familiar with the internet and generally too experienced with this stuff to fall for it. But that doesn't apply to a lot of users -- there are plenty of people out there who never really follow the news, who don't understand how the internet works, who are kind of naive, etc. They just aren't suspicious or careful enough. Of course, most of them still have the sense to avoid spammed products or services, but as a group, these are the kind of people who fall for obvious phishing attempts, Nigerian scams or virus e-mails.

Secondly, especially when it comes to attempts to cell Viagra or Cialis or "herbal supplements" that supposedly give you larger penis or bigger breasts or allow you to lose massive amounts of weight in just weeks, there's a simple rule of thumb: we should never underestimate the insecurities of people, especially when sexuality is involved. I would be shocked to hear that at least a few people reading this, for example, don't have pretty serious self-esteem issues and really, really wish they looked different or were thinner or had a larger penis or whatever. A lot of the spam is expressly designed with that in mind; the attempts to manipulate the reader tend to be really cheap ("Try it today - you have nothing to lose, just a lot to gain! Impress the ladies with the new tool in your pants," says one fresh piece of spam in my mailbox.), but if you're lonely and especially if your sexual experiences haven't been that great, the idea that with a bigger penis you'll be more self-confident and have more success in relationships is obviously attractive. It's stupid and completely false, of course -- but if you're in a certain mental space, it's attractive. The same goes for, oh, the spam that sells Rolex replicas or "university degrees"; they're not so much selling a product as the idea that you, too, can look like a wealthy or educated man, and all you need to do is pay a little bit of money for it.

Now, I'd like to think that most people reading this are smart enough to face facts and recognize that just because they're insecure, that doesn't mean a spammed product is going to solve their problem, but a lot of people are really willing to do pretty stupid things in order to make themselves feel better about themselves. I mean, how many people are paying for "miracle products" sold on TV shopping channels? Or how many people are willing to give their money to "psychics"? It's essentially the same principle: the exploitation of people who're vulnerable. Taking advantage of the weaknesses of the people who have needs and insecurities. No sensible person is going to fall for spam, but sensible people just aren't the target audience. -- Captain Disdain (talk) 00:03, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

I find it hard to believe that "Impress the ladies with the new tool in your pants" is not a veiled insult against the kind of people who click on spam emails... Laïka 12:53, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

(outdent) I have two examples of people who would fall for spam. One was a girl who I saw on an episode of Judge Judy. Although the eBay auction that she won specified that she was bidding on just a photo of a cell phone, she thought she was bidding on the actual phone. Second, a guy I worked with thought that he had just won another eBay auction for a $5 laptop. He had actually won an auction for a list of places that sold discounted laptops or something like that. Dismas|^(talk) 02:31, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Ah, yes. That's not spam exactly, but it's certainly scam. I saw one like that on eBay: it looked like an auction for a house in Romania. Actually, it was an auction for a copy of an ad for a house, but it only said so in English, with the glowing description of the house all being in Romanian. - Jmabel | Talk 18:04, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

I have seen some experienced email users believing in some SPAM mails and discussing the topic like 'You know, tonight Mars will look be as big as moon!' manya (talk) 04:19, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

This applies to the above topic, so...has anyone here ever gotten a spam text message on their cell phone? I have gotten two, and the cell phone company actually charges me because I do not have a texting plan. They consist of URLs to dating websites or a company website. No one I know has ever gotten one but me, and it is freaking me out. Thanks, The Reader who Writes (talk) 17:20, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

I have gotten a few spam text messages on my work cell phone. Also, regarding who would ever respond to spam - I work in a public library, where we offer free internet access to anyone who comes in, regardless of their ability to understand what they're doing. I've actually had people ask me for help responding to spam and those annoying pop-up ads, believing they had actually won something. Shuttlebug (talk) 20:03, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

I got a spam/scam voicemail message on mine. Not since *crosses self hastily like the mafia do* Julia Rossi (talk) 05:56, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Ray Island

In the days leading up to WW II, the US Army transported a crew of soldiers, redesignated as something else (civilian) to an island within about 2,000 miles of western Panama. It was called Ray Island, but I think that was code. Nothing comes up using the name. They built an air field for five P-40's. It was serviced by small ships and C-47's with additional tanks of fuel inside. Your article on the C-47 shows such tanks. They were waist-high and about five feet long. I think they held about 250 gallons each, which ought to have taken the safe range out to about 2,000 miles. An elderly friend of mine was stationed there, and apparently went in the second group of converted soldiers. There had been a small Japanese base on the island, but it was disposed of. They built a large radio tower that was hinged and could be lowered. The island was in radio contact with a base in Central or South America. The P-40's carried drop tanks and always returned to the island after long solo aircraft patrols. They probably were there to protect the canal as early warning of the rumored Japanese attack on the canal.

I have tried several military sites, but only found two references to Ray Island. They came from a graves registration list at a hospital near the west (or south) end of the canal. The bodies were brought to the hospital and their dates of death were the day before the record was created at the hospital. One was listed as a supervisor. I cannot find my notes, but the deaths seemed to be accidental. My friend left after about a year, and no one died while he was there. He joined the service after Pearl Harbor, was trained as an aircraft mechanic and was stationed in Panama for about six months before he was asked to volunteer to convert to the apparent civilian status. I'd like to find his island for him. Thanks for your help. Joseph Jordan (email address deleted) 72.17.181.190 (talk) 22:31, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Have you or your friend tried asking the Army about this? (Or possibly the Air Force, in case this was considered an Army Air Force operation and the USAF inherited the records.) --Anonymous, 23:29 UTC, June 4.

Mayonnaise

Every once in a while I'll here in one place or another that mayonnaise spoils quickly; that it shouldn't be left out for more than a moment or it'll go bad; that hollandaise sauce must be used quickly because the mayonnaise will spoil quickly, etc. In my house (all my life) we don't even bother refrigerating mayonnaise. We keep it in the cupboard. Not only doesn't it go bad quickly, it's quite shelf stable. Oh, I don't mean it'll last forever, But a good month or two without refrigeration is not a problem. So why is it falsely thought—even singled out—that Mayo is especially delicate and prone to spoilage?--70.107.9.159 (talk) 23:17, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

I suspect it is the difference between mass produced and home produced Mayonnaise; the understanding grew with home made stuff, and is incorrectly applied to the manufactured stuff. There's some minimal comments at Mayonnaise which support this thought. --Tagishsimon (talk) 23:21, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

(after edit conflict)I find the same thing with butter and cheap bread. These thing used to spoil easily. Hence the keeping-in-the-fridge carry on. But science has given us preservatives (for good or ill), meaning these products now have much, much longer shelf lives. Fribbler (talk) 23:23, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

That must be it, or at least it fits very well. Thanks to you both.--70.107.9.159 (talk) 00:18, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

IMHO, preservatives are part but not all of the story; the bigger factor was raw eggs. Anything, anything made with raw eggs was and is potentially infected at the source. [Homemade mayo is just oil and eggs, right?] Refrigeration remains the only good way to keep that kind of "situation" under control.

-- Danh, 63.231.153.176 (talk) 01:06, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Thing is, though, that mayonnaise can now be kept out of the fridge and still not turn rancid. Fribbler (talk) 01:12, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Commercial mayo hasn't been made with raw eggs for a couple of decades now. (Hmmph -- I'm sure I meant to post that as part of the previous comment!) Ergo, store-bought mayo doesn't carry that risk any more.

-- Danh, 63.231.153.176 (talk) 13:35, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

I heard that the myth about mayonnaise going rancid quickly started because it is often added to things which can go bad quickly if unrefrigerated such as deli meats or fish. The irony is that mayonnaise, because of its acidity, actually helps preserve foods. --D. Monack | talk 23:30, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for all the answers and discussion. By the way, I do know the difference bwteen here and hear; I just looked at my opening post and was embarrassed.--70.107.9.159 (talk) 03:12, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Weird fish or "Weird ?!"

Someone sent a pix of a weird looking fish to the Rense homepage, and a link just below the pix claims it is a BATFISH. The pix of this thing is HERE. It was caught off of Cuba and the link that is below the pix can be accessed, so that the claim of this being a "Batfish" can be checked out. I was going to send it to the Paranormal Project guys and the Project Cryptozoology guys as well. Really, WHAT is this thing?! 65.173.105.197 (talk) 23:49, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

The link doesn't work. Fribbler (talk) 23:50, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Fixed rotten link. 65.173.105.197 (talk) 23:53, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Looks to be the cubifrons species alright. Hardly paronormal or cryptozooilogical. Many marine creatures appear to be weird. It's an unusual environment to us. And the term Batfish, is often used to describe fish that we think odd looking. Then again imagine a fish seeing a platypus or an elephant. They would think they were absolute abominations. Fribbler (talk) 00:03, 5 June 2008 (UTC)