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May 12

Graphic Claculators

Hey, I've never used a graphic calculator before but I really need one because I'm not understanding maths and need to learn a lot really quickly and so hopefully it'll be able to help learn, and in the exams soon. Any calculator is allowed. Hopefully some of you are students, or use calculators, and can help. I need a calcualtor that I can put equasions in, in forms y=mx+c, y=ax^2+bc+c and that kind of stuff, and use to solve equasions, and normal calculatory stuff. Which is best? There are so many! So which is best TI-84 Plus series, TI-89 series, TI-Nspire, HP-50G, Sharp EL9900, or any other? Also on Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Mathematics. Thanks for any help you can provide. 86.178.214.25 (talk) 00:17, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The best calculator wont help you if you don't know the material. Study the material (I hope you mean y=ax²+bx+c) and just buy the cheapest graphing calculator (they're all pretty much the same). 68.248.230.97 (talk) 00:21, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Okay, thanks. Yea, I'm tying to study the material but i've left it a bit late - 17 exams (7 maths) starting in 17 days and I only started revising today (and still got distracted after 3 hours! Oh well. Thanks. 86.178.214.25 (talk) 00:25, 12 May 2010 (UTC) Oh, and yeah, that's what I meant. Getting tired now. Goodnight. 86.178.214.25 (talk) 00:27, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The "best" is whatever will do what you want it to in a way that you understand. If all of your instructors use TIs and you have an HP, then it adds that much more frustration. Also, it's a minor thing but they are graphing calculators because they draw graphs. Not graphic calculators. Dismas|^(talk) 00:29, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

From now I've just taken early study leave so I have no teachers effectivly, I think maybe a EL9900 or FX-9860GII SD (the SD one is the only one of that type in stock), but I'll sgo in tomorrow and see what they say. What's the difference between graphing and graphic - i thought it was synonymous because the article appears to use it that way, but manufacturers call them grapic calculators - confusing! Ugh, it's late, must sleep. 86.178.214.25 (talk) 00:52, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The graphing calculator article (which graphic calculator redirects to) does seem to switch between the two rather chaotically. Although, HP, TI, and Sharp all refer to them as "graphing". Maybe it's a regional thing? Either way, this isn't helping you get to an answer to your original question. I had a TI-84 in high school and college. My wife had a TI-89. Both, IMO, were very easy to use and understand. The HP that you have as an option uses reverse polish notation which takes some getting used to. So, unless you're already comfortable with it, I wouldn't start learning it now. Dismas|^(talk) 01:13, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

One key point is checking which calculators are allowed for your exam, since at least some of the ones you mentioned may well be considered too powerful. 131.111.248.99 (talk) 02:10, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The TI-89 and HP-50G, among others, have a built in computer algebra system, while the TI-84 (and others) do not. I have an TI-89, and I think that this is very useful. However, you must be careful, in that some tests don't allow calculators with this functionality. For me, as an American student, this was sort of a big deal on the ACT: I couldn't use the calculator that I was most familiar with [1] (although oddly I could use it on my SAT). I see that your IP address is in London, so I'm not sure what tests that you might take will or won't allow calculators with different features. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Buddy431 (talk • contribs) 05:34, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The difference between graphic and graphing calculators is just the name, it's British English vs. American English; Sharp here call it a graphic calculator. No, I don't know reverse polish notation so I won't get an HP. Any calculators are allowed in the exams, they don't check and there's no guidance rules. Okay, hanks, I'll look at the TI-89 too. 86.178.214.25 (talk) 06:25, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

had withdrawal method on 5th & 6th May at 6 pm no previous nor ejaculation at that time took I PILL 7th May at 4 pm Am I Pregnant?

I have period on 25 of every month which lasts 7-8 days .this time too i Had period 25th April-2nd May had withdrawal method on 5th & 6th May at 6 pm no previous nor ejaculation at that time took I PILL 7th May at 4 pm Am I Pregnant? If all well when should i get my period for month of May i.e this month. Else what. When must i take blood test (I have found my bf jeculating only once a year ago that too outside in my four year relation) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ppktension (talk • contribs) 04:31, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia Reference Desk never provides medical advice. Your doctor would be a better adviser than random anonymous people of uncertain qualifications and uncertain motivations on the internet. Edison (talk) 04:34, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

A period on the 25th of each month? sounds trollish to me. 86.4.186.107 (talk) 06:47, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

If not a doctor, then a nurse at a local family planning clinic should be able to advise. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 11:12, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

If you want to know if you are pregnant, take a pregnancy test. A pharmacist will be able to advise you on when to do that and whether you should get the result confirmed with a blood test. There is no way we can tell you if you are pregnant - there is a large random element involved. --Tango (talk) 14:28, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Tango is right. Pregnancy tests are only useful at certain times of your month (read packet). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 114.74.169.238 (talk) 12:32, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Learning and intelligence preservation

Learning here refers to largely theoretical knowledge obtained by reading books or from the internet. Iam using the term intelligence as a layman would use it.Is there a maximum hours or amount of information one can learn in a given day?. Because, as per the law of diminishing returns, beyond certain threshold results / effort ratio is not favourable. Also, does overlearning has any negative influence on intelligence?. Practical aspect of learning here is preparing documents in order to horne the writing skills.

Another aim of learning is to delay intellectual deterioration. Iam already 30 and read somewhere that intellectual functions begin their decay somewhere in the mid 30s. Please give me any tips so that i can learn effectively, preserve (or perhaps increase!) my intelligence.

No expert, but have been learning for over 20 years now. For the first: depends largely a) on the speed at which you can read/take notes/understand spoken information and b) the amount of time you can effectively concentrate. That being said, think about extramural students who have to sit in lecture halls from 8 am to 9 pm (sic!) and pay for this torture. To me, this is a prime example of time being wasted.

As for the second: I believe that if you continue using Your brain (reading, writing, talking, exploring) then you should slow down the process of deterioration. Come on, I'm sure You know someone in their 60s or 70s who's as bright as they ever were! --Ouro (blah blah) 11:58, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

There's no hard-wired limit to these things of course -- it depends on your receptivity to learning. Vranak (talk) 13:59, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

What's blue and yellow?

In Germany, coalitions often have catchy names for the colours of the parties, such as Traffic light coalition and Jamaica coalition. Given the new situation in Westminster, what's blue and yellow and could have a British coalition named after it? A "Blue-and-yellow Macaw coalition" isn't really very catchy. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 11:10, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The Ikea coalition? Mikenorton (talk) 11:12, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Seems very appropriate. Hard to put together, and soon falls apart? Ghmyrtle (talk) 12:24, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The Wolverine coalition? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 12:12, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Or the Wolverine coalition? --Sean 13:32, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Maybe they're supporting the Ukraine? --Ouro (blah blah) 12:09, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

I thought the Lib Dem colour was orange rather than yellow. According to our article, the Blorenge "is composed in layer-cake fashion of a number of different rock types," which is apt. It also has lofty aspirations, looks down on Wales, and is infertile and not very pretty. Ghmyrtle (talk) 12:31, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

It's yellow according to our article. Doesn't Chelsea have blue and yellow uniforms? Adam Bishop (talk) 12:34, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Orange was the Liberal colour, LibDems adopted yellow (but it's usually an orangey-yellow on constituency flyers). DuncanHill (talk) 13:00, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Pantone 1235c to be precise, apparently. Ghmyrtle (talk) 13:08, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Ooh, ooh, I have a good protest sign: "Blue + Yellow Doesn't Equal Green!" ;-) --Mr.98 (talk) 14:40, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Hahahaha! So you're saying that this is an additive mixing rather than subtractive ? That would make them the "White party"...well, I guess there could be some truth to that!  :-) SteveBaker (talk) 15:11, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Is it a little obvious to point out that there's already a White party? FiggyBee (talk) 11:59, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Not everyone agrees [2] [3] [4] Nil Einne (talk) 15:14, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

British Rail. Mainly blue with a bit of yellow stuck on the end. Formed as an unwieldy coalition; soon involved in massive cuts; never profitable; eventually broken up and its component parts sold off to the highest bidder. Karenjc 18:21, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The logo for the Human Rights Campaign is a blue square with a yellow equal sign. Dismas|^(talk) 17:59, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Thanks folks, those are some good suggestions (and some apt comments). AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 07:40, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

what is the present status of vinayak mission's research foundation, salem

what is the present status of vinayaka mission's research foundation, salem —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.204.91.217 (talk) 13:00, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

It has apparently been renamed Vinayaka Missions University. Marco polo (talk) 14:29, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Microlight aircraft insurance.

I live in Scotland UK near to a farm where a field has recently been getting used as the base for several microlight aircraft to be stored, used for take-off and landing and to fly regular jaunts over my house which is in a semi built-up area with several hundreds of homes hereabouts - no problems with any of that. But I am curious on several fronts - firstly, does anyone here know how frequently these single-engined, solo-crew aircraft fail due to mechanical and/or pilot error, and if so what happens to the aircraft? Does it glide to ground and land intact? Or if it lands on a house, how much damage is likely to be caused (to the house and its occupants), remembering that there will likely be a significant amount of combustible fuel on board. And secondly, are the owners of such aircraft required to carry sufficient insurance so as to be able to financially compensate any victims of said failure, without needing to be sued through the courts? Just curious. Thanks. 92.30.48.193 (talk) 16:15, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The Civil Aviation (Insurance) Regulations 2005 requires that the operator of a regulated aircraft be able to show "an insurance certificate or any other evidence of insurance relating to the aircraft for aviation-specific liability in respect of passengers, baggage, cargo or third parties". I'm not sure how much insurance is mandatory - this page says £250,000, whereas this BMAA thing says £750,000. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 16:39, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

As to the damage level, ultralight aviation and specs like this suggest a microlight has roughly the same mass, speed, and fuel capacity as a Mazda MX5, so you can infer maximum damage level from that. Predicting the mode of an incident is difficult: if the engine conks out you'd glide, under some control, for a bit; a structural failure or serious loss of control would result in an uncontrolled plummet. It's often said (but I can't immediately find a reliable source to support it) that the great majority of aviation accidents happen at takeoff or landing - this summary of civil aviation crashes would mostly support that. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 16:52, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Correction: for weight, up to about half that of a Mazda MX5. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 16:56, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

And microlights have a lot more drag than an MX5. Ultralights glide very well, and there aren't many mechanical failures that will cause one to crash dangerously (as opposed to landing safely but badly). Without malice it would be very hard for an ultralight to cause significant damage. --203.202.43.53 (talk) 06:24, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

New UK coalition government and the Democratic Unionist Party

Nate Silver suggests that the DUP will be supporting the new Conservative-LibDem government. This is the first I've heard of it. Have the parties been negotiating? Are the DUP getting something in return? 86.41.61.203 (talk) 19:12, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Well, he doesn't source his statement, and he does only claim that the DUP will back the coalition "on matters of government confidence and budget". Meanwhile the DUP make it abundantly clear they won't jump into bed with anyone without an incentive [5], and that they are fighting the possibility of "£200million worth of cuts to our block grant allocation". No doubt they will be seeking to persuade the new government to keep its trimming knife away from the finances of Northern Ireland, but I can't find any indication that a deal has been made yet. Karenjc 20:00, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Thanks Karen, very helpful. Yeah that's what puzzles me; the govt doesn't need the DUP for numbers, so there is no reason to give concessions to the DUP, so what incentive would the DUP have to support the coalition on confidence and budgets? Does it make them look responsible to the NI public or something, or do they want to be seen as part of the team? 86.41.61.203 (talk) 20:14, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

The Conservatives need to work with those tiny parties because there may come a day when some or all of the Liberal Democrats decide they don't want to play ball anymore - and at that point, every vote you can get becomes important. This paper describes the various combinations that would work. For example, the Conservatives could retain a majority without the LibDems if they could get support from the Democratic Unionists (8 votes), the Scottish Nationalists (6 votes), Plaid Cymri (3 votes), the Greens (1), the Alliance Party (1) and one independent MP who won in Northern Ireland. There are more than 20 different combinations of minor parties that would keep the Conservatives in power without the LibDems. This is all greatly complicated by the fact that Sinn Fein took five districts but are unable to vote using them because their members refuse to take the oath of loyalty to the Queen that is required before they can take their seats in the House of Commons...so an actual majority isn't required to form an effective government. SteveBaker (talk) 20:42, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Aha, I see, very good. Although if the Lib Dem leadership couldn't guarantee a majority for budgets and confidence, I imagine Cameron would have to call an election even if he could mop up enough smaller parties. 86.41.61.203 (talk) 21:37, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Not if he gets approval for a 5-year standard term. Everard Proudfoot (talk) 22:55, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Ooh, I see. But surely the govt still has to fall if it can't muster majorities for its bills on a reliable basis? 86.41.61.203 (talk) 00:24, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

That never happens in the US when Congress votes down the Government's programs. Everard Proudfoot (talk) 04:49, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

In practice it would be the case in the UK though, the obvious example being the United Kingdom general election, October 1974. The Conservative/LibDem coalition now has a sufficient majority to get government policy through provided each MP votes with his/her party, but if the coalition frayed or folded, Mr Cameron would require the support of other blocs, which might be possible (see SteveBaker's handy link above). He'd be vulnerable on the confidence issue, which is why it's interesting to read Nate Silver's speculation that the DUP might offer that at least. A minority government that lost a vote of confidence would be unsustainable, like the situation that led to the 1979 general election; one that can't get its bills through Parliament without horse-trading with small parties on a case-by-case basis is unlikely to survive unless the end of its term is in sight and it can just limp along ineffectually for a few weeks or months, like John Major's government in 1997. Karenjc 12:20, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

If Cameron gets his way with changing the rules so that a PM serves for a standard 5 years, does the no confidence vote even matter any more? Everard Proudfoot (talk) 19:33, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Seems like there's something missing here, isn't there: who puts a govt out of it's misery if the PM can't – the Queen? 86.41.61.203 (talk) 19:43, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

The proposal is to allow dissolution before the five year limit if a vote of no confidence passes with a 55% supermajority. AlexTiefling (talk) 20:21, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Cameron supports a fixed-term parliament of 5 years, rather than the current system where it can be dissolved at any point within 5 years at the whim of the Prime Minister. This is not the same as limiting the term of a Prime Minister to 5 years (in the sense of the US President being limited to 2 full terms). Within a single parliament there could be multiple PMs (this could include a change of government without an election, if the government lost a vote of confidence in the Commons). Or, a single PM could serve during an unlimited number of different parliaments. -- Jack of Oz ... speak! ... 21:25, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

The way a failing minority government is removed in the UK is either by them voluntarily calling an election (which they can do at any time) - or if they get stubborn about it, via a "vote of no confidence". If a majority of the House of Commons support such a vote then the government is required to either resign or call an election. This happened in the UK in 1979 and that resulted in Maggie Thatcher coming to power. There is no such thing as a "fixed" 5 year term in the UK. 5 years is the maximum amount of time a party can govern before another election must be called - but the government can (and frequently does) call them at much shorter intervals. This system is a mixed blessing, it means that you don't have to struggle on with a lame-duck government who can't get anything done (as you so often do with the US system) - but it also means that the party in power has a somewhat unfair advantage in being able to call an election when public opinion happens to be swinging their way. SteveBaker (talk) 04:20, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

There is no such thing as a fixed term now, but Cameron wants to change that: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8683149.stm Everard Proudfoot (talk) 20:51, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Thanks all, I understand the situation much better now. 86.41.61.203 (talk) 21:37, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Present for 20 year old girl

My sister's birthday is coming up soon and I have no idea what to get. Books are out, she buys all she wants as soon as they go on sale, I wouldn't want to get her any sort of cosmetics stuff, and wouldn't have the slightest clue what she would want, only other things I can think of she likes doing is writing books and doing quizzes on the internet, neither of which i can buy her.

148.197.114.158 (talk) 21:22, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

bookshelf, fancy pen, chocolates, a car service, (being close to her you should be in a position to see something she is missing). Graeme Bartlett (talk) 21:44, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Vouchers usually go down well - favourite clothes shop, iTunes, etc. Or cash. Ghmyrtle (talk) 21:47, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Does she write books on a word processor or does she do any stage of her writing by hand (planning, outlining, keeping a journal etc.)? If she does some of it by hand how about a nice pen (possibly a fountain pen) or a notebook such as a moleskine. Talking of moleskines, and noticing that your sister sounds like a bit of a bibliophile how about this http://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Passions-Book-Journal/dp/8862933193 . I have also found these: http://lifehacker.com/225288/stuff-we-like--book-darts really good if you do a lot of reading. It would be quite good as well if you gave us some idea of what you are planning to spend. I presume you have also asked around other family members and friends to see if they have any ideas. 131.111.185.68 (talk) 21:54, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

When I'm not sure about what to give someone and they don't live in the same house as me, I sometimes opt for a fire extinguisher. It's something people don't often think to buy for themselves, isn't "cheap", and underlines your concern for their welfare. And it might save their life. Matt Deres (talk) 23:04, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

I can hear in the back of my head a Stephen Fry routine about giving someone a fire extinguisher as a gift... "Oh, here's a fire extinguisher, because I was just thinking about how you might die in a fire in the next two years. Oh, I want you to be able to put it out! But like I said, make sure it's in the next two years because after that it's no good anymore. Anyway, good luck with the fire!" Sorry, I just had to. --Jmeden2000 (talk) 17:42, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Oh, and if you're short of cash, I'll bet she'd appreciate a certificate signed by you saying that you won't refer to her as a "girl" anymore now that she's no longer a teenager. Just a thought! Matt Deres (talk) 23:05, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

I too am difficult to buy presents for - and make sure that anyone who might want to buy me a gift knows it, so telling them not to bother. So far, I have had helicopter rides; a jet-ski ride; a trip to Las Vegas (from UK); a towed paraglide in Spain; best seats at the theatre, a very very expensive collector's bottle of old Scotch Malt Whisky; but best of all, a simple card that said I was loved. Simply the best! 92.30.2.148 (talk) 00:06, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

As she is of a literary bent, bookplates may be appropriate. Reading lights are also appreciated by us bookish types. Book tokens allow her to choose her own reading matter. Casting further afield, alcohol is always a popular present, a bottle of a decent wine, perhaps one with some literary connexion - for example, the blessed Oscar enjoyed Perrier-Jouët champagne (but don't we all), or absinthe to give her inspiration for her writing. DuncanHill (talk) 00:47, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Gift certificate for a spa? Dismas|^(talk) 03:14, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

For a twenty-year-old, cash is always going to be a safe bet. Vranak (talk) 04:56, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Or any age. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 09:05, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

For a 1 year old? The parents may appreciate it, the infant probably won't (directly) particularly if it's the boring old green US stuff. Nil Einne (talk) 17:17, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

I'm surprised no one has mentioned making a donation to charity in her name. Might get her thinking about what she's got, what others don't have and how she feels about it. DOR (HK) (talk) 09:25, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

No offence intended as I'm sure to some people this is probably a nice gesture - but I would get VERY angry if someone did this for my birthday... Birthdays IMO are an excuse to be pampered by your mates and family and treated... Donations to charities can be made any time of the year - I can't get given cash or vouchers or presents whenever I want to... PLUS what if I dissagree with the charity or given the choice would not be interested in them? Just my opinion... Gazhiley (talk) 10:49, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Agreed. To me, this amounts to an insult, not a gift. Vranak (talk) 16:07, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Phew - thank god for that... Thought I was a miserable bastard! And even if I am, at least I'm not alone! ;-) Gazhiley (talk) 16:45, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

You can get given gifts at any time of the year if the giver so desires. There's no legal requirement that gifts may only be given on birthdays. And it seems unlikely anyone is going to give a gift to charity in the name of someone else except at some time when they would normally give a gift to the person. In other words giving a donation to charity in the name of someone else can ultimately be just a gift even if you don't not receive anything directly personally if the receiver appreciates it. (There are some similarities for example, if you give a gift of a spa to say a man who you know won't use it but has wanted to treat his partner for a while but can't afford it, in such cases cash may be better and some may not appreciate it, e.g. preferring to save the money themselves but other may be happy even though they won't actually be using the gift themselves.) Yes the receiver could just give money to charity themselves if they could afford it, but they could buy whatever gift themselves too if it's a bought gift. This doesn't mean it's a good gift that will depend on a lot of factors. Clearly if the person thinks they must receive something personally for a gift then they won't appreciate it. The only real issue is it's true that there's little that can be done if the person doesn't like the charity (if the person doesn't like a normal gift, there may be the option for an exchange). However if it's someone you know well like a sibling, you'll hopefully only have limited chance of this. Nil Einne (talk) 17:08, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

I agree that the charity thing, while it sounds nice, is really not all that altruistic. The giver feels good but the "receiver" gets nothing from it. So it's in their name, so what? "Giving" a charity "gift" is just a way for the giver to justify spending the money. If they wanted to give to a charity, they would have done it already without the pretense of a birthday. Dismas|^(talk) 17:55, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

But the same could be said about any other gift they could afford (if they had wanted that gift, they could just have bought it themselves, in fact depending on how much you give you may give more then they would feel they could afford to give to charity anyway)... Note that as in all gift giving, the givers feelings or desires shouldn't really come in to it much or at all. You don't give a gift to charity on behalf of another person because it makes you feel good. While you are the one actually paying the money, it's effectively money you're gifted to someone else who you're paying to charity on their behalf. In other words the giver didn't give money to charity, the receiver did. (If the giver is simply giving money to charity they would have always given then they're not really giving a gift, but I don't think most givers do this.) The only thing the giver should feel good about is that they've given a gift to a friend/family member not that they gave to charity (as they didn't). From the receivers POV, they should feel the same as if they've given to charity (as they did). If they don't think giving to charity is a good idea or they don't feel like they wanted to give to charity then clearly the giver should have chosen a different gift. Note however that even if they may not have given to charity if they you had given them money, this doesn't definitely mean it's a bad idea. Again, it really depends on the receiver. Again it's not that dissimilar from the way a receiver may not have bought whatever you gave them had you given the cash, but they may still deeply appreciate whatever you did give them. Nil Einne (talk) 18:23, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

I'm afraid this is a reference desk, where we help by providing information. As you should have seen from the notice at the top of the page, "if you need advice or opinions, it's better to ask elsewhere." ╟─TreasuryTag►Not-content─╢ 17:17, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

This is however a good place for people to get ideas for this sort of thing. The OP may have nobody else better to ask and, if I get the gist of it, knows very little about wants of a 20 y.o. girl. Dismas|^(talk) 17:55, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

It is not a good place for people to come and get ideas, hence the clear instruction, "if you need advice or opinions, it's better to ask elsewhere." ╟─TreasuryTag►co-prince─╢ 19:06, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Buy her a new laptop. That's what I want 82.44.55.254 (talk) 17:54, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

You're a 20 year old girl? Never knew that... Nil Einne (talk) 18:39, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Yes, because we all know that there are no girls on the internet. Pacific Coast Highway ^{{talk • contribs}} 19:52, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

There's only one person who knows the answer to this question, and it's hard to guarantee that your sister will check the reference desk. I suggest you buy her a dozen boxes of tampons- most girls use tampons, so she will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Don't forget to wrap each of them in its own pretty wrapping paper, with a little bow! -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 21:49, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Since she likes doing quizzes on the internet, she might like a nice new Mousepad. 195.35.160.133 (talk) 12:45, 14 May 2010 (UTC) Martin.

May 13

Toilet Tissue.

It occurred to me today whilst sitting on the throne, and contemplating that the job wasn't done until the paperwork was completed, that, in 60+ years of carrying out this regular and very necessary winding-up procedure, NEVER, and I truly do mean NEVER, have I come across a toilet roll, whether old-fashioned hard and shiny paper, or smooth and soft, and sometimes even dermatogically treated paper, that showed evidence of having broken during manufacture, and been repaired, part way through the roll. Amazing. Wings fall off aeroplanes; propellors fall of ships; computer systems crash dramatically; wheels come adrift from cars; governments collapse. But seemingly, toilet rolls do not separate mid way through the roll during manufacture. Oh yes, I can easily tear across a single sheet without the tear being across the perforations, which proves their vulnerability. But why doesn't this appear to happen in fact, during manufacture. Surely, this can not be down to brilliant and infallible production processes? So that leaves only the possibility that any "broken rolls" are discarded. So come on Wikipedians - what is the answer to this most "pressing" question? 92.30.2.148 (talk) 00:26, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

As manufacturers of tons of tinted toilet tissue we suggest you contact our sole distributors. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 00:36, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

The Toilet paper article does not seem to discuss manufacturing details, but my guess would be that it's produced in long rolls that are then sliced. Kinda like sushi. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 00:38, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

I imagine the simple answer is that any "broken" rolls are discarded, rather then "repaired".. Vespine (talk) 01:02, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

That's a feature in the manufacturing industry called "Quality Control". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:08, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

This page says that, as Bugs guessed, it is produced as a "paper log" and then cut. Buddy431 (talk) 01:24, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

In addition to which, I'm guessing they know precisely how much to produce for a given roll or set of rolls and/or if any set of rolls comes up "short", they would likely recycle it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:42, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Masking tape, by the way, is also produced in I think 48 inch length, and then sliced to desired widths. Bus stop (talk) 01:55, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

That stands to reason. Just don't get them mixed up. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:14, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Well, you could do worse. --Anonymous, 04:06 UTC, May 13, 2010.

Where in the manufacture of toilet paper do you imagine, 92, that the paper would be subjected to strong shearing forces? Because I just don't see it. Paper is dried, paper is rolled, paper is distributed. No tears because it is rolled in a normal, predictable, sensible manner. If ever there was a problem, the machinery would be re-built until the rolls were all coming out perfectly. Vranak (talk) 04:53, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

The pulp is used to make paper stock. The paper stock is sprayed between moving mesh screens, producing the rudimentary sheet of matted fiber. I am getting that from the link above (provided by Buddy431), on the paper making process. I would guess that the process uses Machine vision to detect gaps in the newly formed paper. Also the processes of turning wood pulp into the raw material for the toilet paper are probably highly controlled by the machinery involved to produce a very consistent and uniform raw material in the form of paper pulp. The article mentions for instance that the "cooking" of the paper stock can take 3 hours. Bus stop (talk) 14:47, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Church roof green

Why are the decorative trimmings and edges and crosses on some churches green in stark contrast to the black/brown/gray roofing? Is it the same green effect that has occurred with the Statue of Liberty? DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 05:40, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Verdigris. Ghmyrtle (talk) 06:46, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

I'm not totally sure this is what the OP is asking about, but note the green roof on the Chartres Cathedral:

←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 06:59, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

The question is very clear. The green colouration of many roofs of cathedrals and other old buildings is caused by the action of the air on the metal used in the construction. The resulting patina is usually (but not exclusively) copper carbonate and is called verdigris, indeed it is exactly what has happened to the Statue of Liberty. Caesar's Daddy (talk) 07:24, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Sometimes they clean that stuff off. The Centre Block of the Canadian Parliament buildings always had green roofs, that was just how they looked, it seemed natural and proper...but they recently cleaned it up and now it's copper again. It just looks wrong! Adam Bishop (talk) 07:28, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps they replaced the roof with new copper plates? There seems to be no point in cleaning it off, as it will reappear within a very short time anyway. --Saddhiyama (talk) 09:38, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

wikipedia on disc

hi i was wondering if there was a way to get wikipedia on disc. for example one day every year all of the information in the site is put onto a series of discs and between these discs is all the information up to that day.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.238.84.204 (talk) 06:41, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

No e-mail addresses, please. There was a similar question awhile back on one of these ref desks, about downloading wikipedia. It's huge, to put it mildly. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 06:56, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

You might be interested to read Wikipedia:Database download.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 07:26, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

There have also been portions of Wikipedia released on CD: see Wikipedia:Version 1.0 Editorial Team. It appears that the current release version is Wikipedia:Version 0.7. which contains about 30,000 articles. That page is shockingly unclear on how to actually obtain your version 0.7 CD, though... Buddy431 (talk) 15:33, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Version 0.7 is 2.38GB and is available here. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 15:57, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

No intention on being nosy (okay, not true), but I am very curious. Why would anyone want a fixed copy of wikipedia? Aside from being an insanely large file (I just found that it might be well over 5 TB), the whole point is the constant updating. Aaronite (talk) 16:51, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

You could probably cut that down to 1TB if you don't mind cutting the Japanese train stations, the Pokemon characters, and the large selection of articles about individual elementary schools. Googlemeister (talk) 20:15, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Offline access, read Wikipedia when you're in the middle of the Canadian arctic wilderness, or, of course, if you're a backward-moving time traveler. Comet Tuttle (talk) 16:56, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Or if you're blind--an edition of Wikipedia in Braille has been discussed. Keepscases (talk) 18:41, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Offline access is a big deal. Not everyone has always-on internet connections. A surprising number of people are still using dial-up on a line also used for voice. APL (talk) 20:50, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

If you strip out all of the images, sounds and video, all of the talk pages, user pages, guidelines, jokes, keep only the English language pages - and dispose of all of the editing history...then (with some agressive text-compression) the result would just about fit onto a single DVD-ROM...although that probably won't be true in a year or two, but a Blu-Ray disk could probably still handle it. There is actually a hardware gadget you can buy for about $100 that has a little screen and the whole of English Wikipedia (minus pictures, etc, etc) can be called up from it's internal flash memory. You can even have it upgraded once a year with a new SD-card for some small amount of money. However, putting the WHOLE of Wikipedia onto optical disks would require something in the region of 1,000 DVD-ROMs...which pretty much makes the whole thing impractical. You could probably just about fit it all onto one of the larger hard drives. Downloading it would take a VERY long time on most network connections - and it would keep changing while you were downloading it, so you might well end up with something broken at the end of all that work! SteveBaker (talk) 21:23, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

I'm reminded of that woman I referred to recently. The one who said "Oh yes, the internet, I've heard of that. I must download it and print it out one weekend". Duh! -- 202.142.129.66 (talk) 00:54, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

You know, that's the third time I've seen that joke on the Ref Desk. Vimescarrot (talk) 06:00, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

OK, I've updated the Version 0.7 site. The Version 0.7 collection can be downloaded (free) as a Kiwix version, with a "howto" available. It is also available as a Okawix version.

Regarding the remarks about offline releases - take a look at things like this picture (Zambia) and this blog post (South Africa) (both using 0.7). Wikipedia is about helping knowledge with the whole world, and that's what these offline releases are for. Walkerma (talk) 03:03, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Fire engine red leather

I'm curious if anyone knows the story or history of fire engine red leather. You don't really see it around much anymore, but I remember seeing it all over the place on the west coast of the U.S. in the 1970s. Was it an even older style hankering back to an even earlier fashion? (Victorian era fashion was popular in the 1960s.) For an example of what I'm talking about, there's a famous scene from the film The Matrix that can be viewed here. Please note the two red chairs. Does this style have a name or come from a certain period? Bonus points for anyone who can also identify the television in this scene, which appears to come from the 1950s. Viriditas (talk) 08:53, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

I don't know about "fire engine red leather", but I would call those Chesterfield chairs - typified by a style of upholstery using buttoned leather (see List of chairs#C, the last red link in "C", and these images). The TV is a Radiola Deep Image (which can clearly be seen in the older version of the image). Astronaut (talk) 10:07, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Thank you! Viriditas (talk) 11:49, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Reglazing glasses

Can any frame be reglazed? Even an acetate frame?--Quest09 (talk) 12:53, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Metal ones certainly can. This very afternoon we took my partner's specs to the optician where the technician fitted the pre-ordered lenses while we waited, took about 20 minutes. I guess the problem (if there is a problem) with acetate frames is loosening and tightening them. Caesar's Daddy (talk) 14:52, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Acetate frames have to be heated, usually with a warm air blower, to expand and loosen them so that old lenses can be removed and new ones fitted. With age the acetate apparently becomes less plastic (in the physical sense), so opticians are reluctant to try with old frames in case they break, or so they've said when I've asked for new lenses to be fitted to my existing frames. I've just has a lens refitted in an older backup pair of glasses (having broken a hinge on my latest pair) after it popped out while being washed (in warm water and with liquid soap), and it's still sufficiently loose in the frame that I'm thinking of applying some superglue.

Another problem is that fashions change so fast that it may become difficult to source new lenses of the right size and shape for older frames - I can no longer get new frames and lenses as large as I would prefer, (the 'Harry Potter factor' seems to have shifted the whole size range downwards) and presumably the lens manufacturers have constraints on what they're prepared to supply other than when money is no object at all. 87.81.230.195 (talk) 15:18, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Someone somewhere makes flat spectacle lenses with no optical function for this fictional character. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 15:35, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

If you can find a source for the frames, any optician should be able to provide flat ('nonprescription', or 'plano') lenses. People purchase glasses with nonprescription lenses all the time — sometimes for fashion, sometimes as protective eyewear, sometimes just because they only need correction in one eye. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 16:31, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Indeed a number of people who get LASIK or other forms of refractive surgery choose to wear glasses for at least part of their everyday life afterwards perhaps because people don't recognise them without them or they feel like they don't look themselves without them. Probably particularly common among TV/movie stars and stage performers who get the surgery after they've established recognition. E.g. [6]. I believe Raybon Kan is another example although couldn't find a ref. Nil Einne (talk) 16:53, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

According to our article, "evidence is weaker for its effectiveness in severe short-sightedness and long-sightedness." And from what I've heard (don't know, I have perfect vision much to the annoyance of my spectacled wife), LASIK does not correct both near and far sightedness in the same patient. Something about the patient having to choose which they'd like to correct. Dismas|^(talk) 19:26, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Yes there are undoutedly still people who require correction of some sort after surgery*, however there are also a number of people who do choose non presciption glasses. *although personally having far sightness I don't know if I'd bother if there wasn't a resonable chance I wouldn't need glasses again when I didn't want them or at least I would expect my vision improved enough to make a difference in how I live, e.g. if my vision is good enough that I can do without in some circumstances or like in the case you mentioned if I were to have both near and far sightness Nil Einne (talk) 11:09, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

In the early years of The Adventures of Superman TV series, "Clark Kent" (George Reeves) wore horn-rimmed glasses with no lenses at all, and hence no problem of studio lights reflecting off them. By the latter part of the series, the glasses had lenses (and occasional studio lights glare) and George could sometimes be seen squinting while in his Superman costume, and not just when he was using X-ray vision. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:57, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Dr. Gordon Brown MP PC - remuneration

It seems from local news reports that Dr./Mr. Brown, the recently resigned UK Prime Minister intends holding on to his Parliamentary Seat at Westminster and continue to represent his constituency of Kirkaldy et al in Scotland where he has an incredibly large majority, and good for him I say. But what will be his remuneration package - in total? He will obviously be paid the going rate for a constituency MP, plus any legitimate expenses he is entitled to claim that allow him to perform his duties effectively. But will he also receive a pension or other compensation package following his resignation as Prime Minister? Or does that latter element have to wait until his ultimate departure from Westminster, either as a result of resignation as an MP, defeat in a future election, or deselection by his local Labour Party Committee? 92.30.86.60 (talk) 19:44, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

This article seems to cover the pension issue. He is apparently entitled to half his £194,250 salary, index-linked against inflation for the rest of his life. Ghmyrtle (talk) 22:08, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

And good for him I say! Caesar's Daddy (talk) 05:53, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

I feel sorry for Gordon - perhaps the only Chancellor who had a PhD in economics so actually knew what he was doing, and he did appear to actively manage to avoid the banking crisis melt-down. He was sober in character and not a salesman, market trader, crowd-pleaser, or spiv like other more recent PM. It a pity Labour favoured ID cards as it stopped me and others voting for them. 78.149.199.79 (talk) 09:44, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Brown's PhD is in history, not economics. You may be thinking of Vince Cable. Hut 8.5 18:36, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Ooh, I was conned! 78.147.140.229 (talk) 12:45, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

He also gets £90k per year, unconditionally, for life, as a former Prime Minister (the "Public Duty Costs Allowance") ╟─TreasuryTag►directorate─╢ 10:44, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

What does the "PC" stand for? 78.147.140.229 (talk) 12:45, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Privy Councillor. He would have been appointed to Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council on becoming the leader of his Party and/or Prime Minister, and will retain the appointment for life. 87.81.230.195 (talk) 20:21, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

Billie Anthony was my mother my fathers id is unknown

Is it possible that I may find the identity of my father. My mother was Billie Anthony/ singer she is listed in Wikipedia. I was never told the identity of my father, only a name that doesnt match any searches- Barry Dealthweight, unsure of spelling. Is there anyway anyone could help. I have no family known to me. Jessica68lvy (talk) 21:48, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

The Wikipedia article about Billie Anthony mentions her daughter Jessica born in 1968. This seems to be after Billie's divorce and career in theater but she may have kept contact with friends from that business. Her biographer Gordon Turner hints vaguely about "attempts to lure her up the aisle" around that time so have you asked him? On a hunch I looked in Google for names that sound like Barry Dealthweight such as "Barry Braithwaite" of whom there are a lot. You need to add more information to focus your search, such as likely age, location(s), your mother's habits and features you have inherited. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 23:27, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

The name 'Delthwaite' seems to exist - could that be it? --ColinFine (talk) 23:30, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Your birth certificate might have your father's name, but it might not. It is definitely worth checking though. Astronaut (talk) 13:40, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

A 'Google Earth' Globe

How feasible would it be to create a traditional Globe that is based on touch-screen LCDs and uses google-earth? That is - you get to do 'gestures' like the pinching/expanding that you get on say iPhone. My expectation is that there are a number of things to overcome...1) Getting a touch-screen LCD that is relatively 'round', particularly trying to minimize/remove seams that you'd get from joining multiple small flat screens to make a curve. 2) Producing some sort of software that could handle 'zooming' in in a way that worked well - i'd want the globe to be 'like a globe' (that is zoomed out to see the whole countries) everywhere but where I was zooming, and then some sort of 'fading' or something clever so that it kind 'worked' for being zoomed in. Anyhoo the nub of my question is...is it even do-able? (And if it's already been done a link to where one could get one would be heroic!). ny156uk (talk) 21:51, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

No idea but it would be on my amazon wish list instantly!Gazhiley (talk) 22:08, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

For the display, it seems organic LEDs can me made flexible, so that's a possibility for your display; failing that several projectors inside the globe projecting onto the screen (with appropriate software to deform the picture accordingly) might work. The super-fisheye effect you talk about sounds like hyperbolic geometry, something like this. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 22:17, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

The Museum of Flight has a globe with interior projectors, and a console surrounding it; you can press the Jupiter button and Jupiter appears, rotating; press Neptune and Neptune appears; etc. You don't get to touch the globe itself. Comet Tuttle (talk) 23:24, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

• If you had a globe then you would want its size to vary as you zoom in and out. You could obviously chnage what the data shown was - add / remove features, show map/satellite etc. But it would be very low resolution unless you had an enormous globe. -- SGBailey (talk) 22:28, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

A 3D display of the present Google Earth views is probably the next step. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 22:57, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

It would look really weird if the globe was zoomed in very close. The curvature would distort the image and make it next to useless. Aaronite (talk) 23:39, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Right, there would have to be a way to scale the curvature of your globe as you changed zoom levels, or a small town might appear to circle the globe. Googlemeister (talk) 18:26, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

As the OP i'd expect that the software would find a 'good' way of making the 'zooming' work - my expectation would be that as you zoom a 'section' of the globe zooms, but that say 90% of the space is left at 'standard' zoom. There'd need to be a 'fade' type thing (as per the 'super fish eye' mentioned above) but not sure why it wouldn't be do-able perspective-wise (it'd just be a case of figuring out what 'worked' as an experience), sounds like maybe longer-term there'll be the relavent materials to make one (i'm not discounting the huge software obstacles just think they're less of an issue). ny156uk (talk) 23:22, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

theocracy

i notice under countries listed as theocracies which is define as: a form of government in which god or diety is recognized as the states supreme or civil ruler

why is isreal not included as a theocracy —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.2.222.76 (talk) 23:37, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Because it's not. It's a democracy. The government is elected. Check out State religion. Aaronite (talk) 23:42, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Technically, you can have a democratic theocracy. The Vatican City elects their pope. Googlemeister (talk) 16:14, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

The College of Cardinals elects the Pope. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:08, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

... which makes the Vatican City an undemocratic theocracy. -- Jack of Oz ... speak! ... 21:32, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Precisely. Although one could argue that it's the Pope, not God, who rules Vatican City. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:40, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Even more importantly, see Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty, which is the "bill of rights" for the nation of Israel. It guarantees freedom of worship and of conscience for all Israeli citizens and residents. --Jayron32 01:38, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Which is all very well, just so long as you're not a Muslim wanting to use the mosque in Beersheba. DuncanHill (talk) 10:39, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

What's the deal with Baroness Warsi?

I have been reading the Baroness Warsi article, but I can't figure out how she has managed to become a powerful Tory figure – co-chair of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio.

A brief summary of the background, from our article: Born to non-connected parents who dragged themselves up by bootstraps, law degree from second tier university, work as political flunky for parliamentarian and with NGOs/foreign govts, failed candidate for the House of Commons.

Then it gets interesting – she is made special advisor to Howard, then appointed by Cameron as Vice-Chair of the party, a shadow minister and a life peer, before this week's appointments.

I can't account for her high standing, but here are some possibilities:
1)She is a very capable political operator (or has good insight into policy), and so despite electoral failure/stature gets appointed to high-profile positions, à la Peter Mandelson.
2)As a British Muslim woman and self-described "northern, working-class-roots mum" who can hold her own in debates, she is an appealing figure for a party with an image problem as dominated by southern establishment white males.
3)She has some connections/achievements our article does not get into.
4)These positions don't actually mean very much, and are sinecures/status symbols.
5)????
Can anyone point me to a good explanation of the rise of Warsi or account for it themselves? Thanks, 86.41.61.203 (talk) 23:53, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Mainly 2 with a little bit of 1 from what I've seen of her over the years. Her unfortunate attitude to gay people makes her appeal to the nasty wing of the party, but being Asian appeals to the not-rabid wing & being the daughter of a multi-millionaire appeals to the greedy wing. DuncanHill (talk) 00:02, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Lawyer. Leeds uni is Russell Group so 1st rather than 2nd tier by one definition. Muslim woman. Keen Tory since leaving uni. Itsmejudith (talk) 08:36, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

But as a Cabinet Member, she can also expect to be appointed as a Privy Counsellor (PC), which would require her to "Kiss Hands" (acknowledge the supremacy of the Queen as Monarch - who is also the Supreme Governor of The Church of England), and swear the Privy Council Oath of Allegiance. As a Muslim, can she, and will she be prepared, to do that? 92.30.74.161 (talk) 10:29, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Have you any reason, other than racism, xenophobia and fear of the other to think that Muslims refuse to swear oaths of loyalty to the Queen? (Apart from anything, all members of either house of Parliament have to confirm their loyalty to Her, which means that Sayeeda Warsi has already done so, as did Shahid Malik, Sadiq Khan and countless others.) ╟─TreasuryTag►quaestor─╢ 16:20, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Note to above comment - I see that she has already appended the letters PC after her name on her Wiki article so I must presume that she has kissed hands and also taken the oath. Good for her. 92.30.74.161 (talk) 12:03, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

An off-topic diversion redacted. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:25, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Thanks Duncan and Judith. Duncan, how long has she been on your radar (I'm assuming you're a civilian not a politico)? Judith, aren't there a lot of people who would fit that description but have not approached Warsi's success? 86.41.61.203 (talk) 17:36, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Been aware of her since the 2005 election. She does appear to have "risen without trace". DuncanHill (talk) 17:40, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Much like Catherine Ashton. Kittybrewster ☎ 18:36, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

May 14

Why do girls do this?

Is there a reason all chicks at school bend each others' pinkies back? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.21.235.222 (talk) 02:31, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Because the girls at your school are weird? Seriously, did you ask one of them why? One of the people actually bending their fingers would perhaps have a better answer than anyone here. --Jayron32 02:40, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Sounds like a Walkersville bonding routine, like they're members of a little club/group thing. Are you certain it's all of them? Caesar's Daddy (talk) 05:44, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

idler arm - consequences?

A mechanic said that the idler arm on my car is worn out (the rubber, I think he said). It isn't too expensive to replace, but (1) what will happen if I don't replace it, or (2) what are the benefits of replacing it? Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 02:48, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

The steering idler? Um - well, lets see - if it breaks and you're really lucky, you'll suddenly have no steering whatever as you're driving along at 70mph...if you're not so lucky, then one of the front wheels falls off - and THEN you have no steering at 70mph. The benefits are: Not dying in a fiery car wreck, your loved ones not having to leave flowers on your grave for a few year yet, other motorists not dying in a fiery wreck that you cause...that kind of thing!

Really, a good general rule is to take anything to do with suspension or steering very seriously! SteveBaker (talk) 04:01, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

maurice strong

after glenn becks show on 5/12 asking for info on the man above, maurice strong, i searched and of course wikipedia came up (which might i add has a sorry way for people to ask questions! just let people ask a damn question without having to go through 20,000 pages!) but at the bottom it said the info on maurice was last edited today. why is that??? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.205.245.114 (talk) 03:51, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia is the encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Information is constantly being added to articles all the time. --Jayron32 03:55, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

That article in particular has actually been edited over 40 times during the last 24 hours. Some of those edits were vandalism and subsequent reversion of that (someone decided it would be amusing to call Maurice Strong "the anti-christ" instead of "a Canadian businessman" - nobody else agreed that this was likely to be true - so it was removed again soon afterwards). Someone else added the section "Views and Beliefs" - with about three paragraphs of new text...someone else removed that because (he claims) it was not adequately referenced...the section was replaced with better references. For some reason, this article became hotly contentious over the last few days. However, that is the price you pay for an encyclopedia that anyone can edit. If it were not like that, it wouldn't have three million mostly-reliable articles - almost all of which change rarely because they say all that needs to be said. SteveBaker (talk) 04:35, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

If you have suggestions for better ways to find information in Wikipedia, you are very welcome to offer them: WP:Village Pump is probably the best place. --ColinFine (talk) 07:54, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

I'll take a stab in the dark and say the reason this article got a flurry of edits is the same reason the OP came here, i.e. people hearing about it on the Glenn Beck show and the associated publicity. Or perhaps Glenn Beck was repeating a name that was already much in the news. (But a read of the talk page and quick look at a general internet search suggest this isn't the case.) Whatever the case, it's probably resonable to expect many edits to an article if you hear about it on the news or something similar in the US. Particularly if you hear about it when someone is calling for information on the person to be sanitised or whatever. BTW if you have any suggestions for improvement to the Maurice Strong article, click on the discussion tab when on the article or follow this link Talk:Maurice Strong Nil Einne (talk) 18:59, 19 May 2010 (UTC)

Tobacco

What does a Tobacco seed look like? Can I grow, cure and smoke my own tobacco? Is it legal? Is it possible? Where can one buy Tobacco seeds? Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 09:23, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Have you checked the main article on tobacco and the related one on cultivation of tobacco? --- OtherDave (talk) 12:31, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

look here:[7] and [8]. 10draftsdeep (talk) 15:02, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Yes I have read both and none of my questions have been answered. Please help further. Is it leggal in the UK for me to grow my own tobacco? Where can I get seeds? Is it possible for me to cure it myself —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 15:09, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Typing "grow tobacco uk" into Google (without the quotation marks) gives this ([9]) as its first hit. Did you try using Google? --Phil Holmes (talk) 15:47, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

That link doesn't work. In the USA, I'm thinking that the growing of tobacco, while legal, is government-regulated - at least the commercial growing of it. I dunno about private growing. But if growing tobacco in the UK is legal in general, then the question of growing it for personal use should be answerable by some government agency, right? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:04, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Pretty much did work - the only problem was a mis-placed parenthesis, which I've now corrected. From the UK it takes you to a site which discusses all the issues asked above. --Phil Holmes (talk) 09:44, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Helping someone feed an addiction which has a high risk of giving them cancer, heart or ciculatory diseases is unethical. 89.243.177.111 (talk) 18:58, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

If I made that argument, I would be rung up for it on the talk page. "It's not up to us to question the OP!" Yeh, right. However, there is such a thing as freedom of choice. And anyone who doesn't know the risks of tobacco by now, has not been paying attention. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:01, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

The freedom to be sane and healthy requires that people are not encouraged to do stupid things, like smoking. 78.149.199.79 (talk) 14:20, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Don't be a nanny. If he wants to shorten his life, that's his business, not ours. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 14:42, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

You're a bit too vigilant of nannies bugs. He said "enouraged", not banned. That's what all those warnings on packets and advertisements are doing, encouraging.--92.251.177.200 (talk) 20:57, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

It is legal to grow tobacco for your own consumption in the UK, there are limits on how much you can grow, I will have a look and see if I can find them. DuncanHill (talk) 20:51, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

From a quick search of the HMRC website, they appear to say that you must register your premises with them and pay duty on the tobacco produced. Now, I am sure that you could produce some without paying duty, but it is possible that this has changed in the last few years. DuncanHill (talk) 21:03, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

It sounds as if they are making the assumption that you're going to sell it, whether you do or not, hence the tax. Anyone growing tobacco would essentially be a "commercial grower" in the eyes of the government. That assumption probably saves a lot of time and effort on the government's part. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:07, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

This page [10] has some more information. It was an EU decision in 1992 which our government, with their usual efficiency, got around to implementing in 2001. DuncanHill (talk) 21:12, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Hey, that's less than 10 years. I used to hear that the British government had created a job position to put a guy in a shelter on the coast and watch for Napoleon... and that the job was finally abolished in 1945. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:38, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

My ancestors grew tobacco, and from their statements, it is incredibly hard work, and the type you can successfully grow depends on the climate and the type of soil. Some tobacco growing regions only grew the wrapper leaf for cigars, for instance, and could not profitably grow the tobacco smoked in pipes or in cigarettes. Edison (talk) 22:22, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

As someone who grew up on a tobacco farm, I'm not sure why anyone would do this. Anyway, tobacco seeds are really, really tiny; a handful is enough for an acre of tobacco. It is possible for you to grow, cure, and smoke your own tobacco. It's a lot of trouble, though, far in excess of any financial savings you may have in mind. Also, I should give the caveat that I'm not sure how well tobacco would grow in the UK; in the U.S. the main tobacco-growing states are North Carolina and Kentucky, both of which are more southerly than the UK. A further caveat is that your resulting product will not be blended, as store-bought tobacco products are, nor will it have the licorice flavoring that gives American cigarettes their distinctive taste, so there's a good chance you won't like it. You can buy tobacco seeds in agricultural supply stores in tobacco-growing regions; I don't know about in the UK. John M Baker (talk) 06:29, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Guitar tabs and bends

Hi. I am a little confused regarding the direction to bend a guitar string when playing from a guitar tab (which I am viewing using Power Tab). I have been using a tab that uses arrows to indicate bends. The bend in question is a full bend of the B string on the 14th fret. The direction of the arrow is up the tab, towards the neighboring E string, which is obviously downwards on the guitar (i.e. bending down towards the floor). I have looked at the same bend on another tab and it is notated as 14b16, and I understand b to mean bend up. I am not sure that it sounds right when I bend it down towards the ground, but that it what the direction of the arrows seems to indicate. Could somebody please confirm whether I should be bending it upwards towards the ceiling or downwards towards the floor? Many Thanks SilverTrack (talk) 10:34, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

It does not matter, which ever is most comfortabvle for you, both will produce the right sound, but bending up, towards you is more common, but it does not matter as either will stretch the string to the correct notes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 11:58, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Think of the "up" as being about the pitch being raised, not the direction of the pressure on the string (either way you go, the tension is increased, and the pitch is raised). In my experience it makes the most sense to bend pushing up. 198.161.238.18 (talk) 14:55, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Thanks to both of you, makes perfect sense now. It also explains why I couldn't tell the difference regardless of which way I did it! :) Thanks again SilverTrack (talk) 18:56, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

I've heard that bending the string toward the center of the fretboard is the best way because if you bend the outside strings away from the center, you can accidentally pull it right off the end of the fret and get a 'bum note' or at least a nasty click. I agree though that if you can avoid doing that, the direction won't alter the sound noticably. SteveBaker (talk) 23:00, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

JUst as an aside, a bend with a down arrow is what is known as a "prebend". Bend the string before you strike the note, then release the pressure. The effect is to lower the tone as you release tension. --Jayron32 00:27, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Smoking

Which is worse for you, Tobacco or Cannibis, when 1, all effects are measured, and 2, when only the effects that they have in common are taken into acc. Thank you, please note, I do not need to know that they are both bad. I would like to know which creates more tar in the lungs, which is more likely to give you mouth cancer etc, thank you —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 11:03, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

That's like asking which method of suicide is better, while asking not to be told that they are all bad. 89.243.177.111 (talk) 19:00, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Err, it's not at all like that, actually. --Mr.98 (talk) 19:30, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

That's addict talk. 89.243.177.111 (talk) 20:02, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

It's worth noting that the two things you've described have very different habits associated with them. Tobacco is usually smoked with a filter and people with heavy habits smoke very large amounts of it per day. Marijuana is generally smoked filterless, with more smoke per puff, but in more irregular intervals. Additionally the rates of usage vary quite a lot—we have a huge body of research known about the connection between cigarette smoking and death, but far less epidemiological research relating to marijuana. Additionally, there are other effects just besides tar rates—tobacco, because of the way it is grown, contains polonium, a carcinogenic element that derives from standard industry fertilizers. Marijuana may or may not contain such things—I don't know how it is grown or if that is even standardized. Tobacco is also addictive, which would factor into a qualitative assessment of health risks, but not a quantitative one. Anyway, Googling "marijuana v. tobacco" comes up with a lot of articles, though making the comparison is difficult because they are not apples-to-apples. --Mr.98 (talk) 19:30, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Most cannabis smokers mix it with tobacco. Cannabis smoke tends to be inhaled more deeply, and held in the lungs for longer. I recall some research a few years ago suggesting that a joint was about 3 times as carcinogenic as a fag, if I can find it I'll post it here. DuncanHill (talk) 20:50, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

How's that again??? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:05, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Bugs, if I remember right, you're an American. So, you may not be familiar with the meaning of 'fag' on the other side of the pond which is 'a cigarette'. Dismas|^(talk) 01:38, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

OK, you had me puzzled there. Kind of like the Brits were probably puzzled in the early 1970s when there were constant references to "Watergate buggers". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:43, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Be careful there, Bugs. We can't call them "Brits". The thin-skinned ones hate that and they'll go crying on the talk page. I did it once and there was a bit of a bru-ha-ha. I've just started referring to them as the people across the pond, people who live in (insert name of area that you're referring to), etc. We can apparently be referred to as yanks or yankees but Brit is right out! Dismas|^(talk) 06:36, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

This comes up quite often. We Brits do not mind being called Brits, because WE ARE Brits. What do you propose we rename the Brit Awards to? 'The People Across The Pond Awards'? --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 20:23, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

I seem also to recall from a previous Ref Desk question that holding in the lungs is actually not necessary (it doesn't transfer the THC at any greater rate) and is a behavior that should be discouraged amongst pot smokers (because it is fairly bad on the lungs). In any case, note again that the patterns here are quite different. Even if every marijuana cigarette is 3X more carcinogenic than every tobacco cigarette, it doesn't actually mean the net carcinogenic load is different. The addictive properties of tobacco seem to lead, on the whole, to people smoking more than three cigarettes a day, whereas I'm not sure the average person, even if they had legal access to marijuana, would smoke more than three joints a day. (I offer this up as someone who doesn't smoke anything.) --Mr.98 (talk) 14:08, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

I have no idea why not, I'm a Brit and refer to myself as a Brit, what's the problem? Mikenorton (talk) 11:32, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Here we go Cannabis smoke 'worse' than tobacco DuncanHill (talk) 21:18, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

One could say pot is the worse of the two, since it could land you in prison, where you might get hooked on smoking conventional cigarettes. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:04, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Whether it lands you in prison depends on where you are (even in the US). --Mr.98 (talk) 14:08, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Hence "could" rather than "will". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:46, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

An assessment by dozens of drug experts published in The Lancet, a leading medical journal, in 2007 found that tobacco was slightly worse than cannabis[11]. This took into account both effects on the individual and on society. This reflects the way cannabis and tobacco are typically used, so if you eat cannabis or chew/sniff tobacco, the results may be different. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.41.14.1 (talk) 20:05, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Speakers in Shower

I just purchased a house where the previous owner had speakers installed in the shower and I'd like to know how to setup the system. There is one red and one black wire running through the ceiling to the adjacent room and I would like to hook up my ipod to the speakers. I know I can get a headphone jack to l/r splitter wire and hook them up but I don't think the ipod will have enough power for these big speakers...

Is there likely a third power cable connected to the speakers somewhere (they're big 6" JBLs)? Or do I need an actual stereo to power the speakers via the L/R wires? TheFutureAwaits (talk) 11:45, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Unless the speakers have their own built in amplifier (with power supply cable), I doubt an iPod would have the power to drive such large speakers. The previous owner probably had an actual stereo amplifier with two sets of speaker outputs - one for the normal speakers and one for the bathroom speakers. The amplifier is the kind of thing you might be able to get these days with an input for an iPod. Astronaut (talk) 13:50, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

(ec)I'm no expert but I was a DJ for many years in pubs and clubs and any speakers and any speakers I saw with those wires out the back would not work without an amplifier or stereo (with internal amplifier) attached... But you can buy stereos cheap enough nowadays that will have ports on the back for those wires and will also have a jack socket to connect ur ipod to, so it should be easy enough to get set up... Gazhiley (talk) 13:52, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Yep - you need an amplifier. The headphone outputs only put out a pathetic amount of power - not enough to drive anything but the smallest speakers (and then too quietly to hear in the shower, I suspect). Get a cheap 'boom box' or something. Many of them have iPod connectors on them. Either that - or you can buy amplifiers specifically made for the iPod. Just Google for "iPod amplifier" and you'll get references to a gazillion of them! SteveBaker (talk) 22:56, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Rhubarb - the plant - information please?

A friend had her cholesterol checked yesterday and it was high. She was then asked if she had been eating anything different. She could only answer that she had eaten Rhubarb Crisp in the very recent past. She was told that Rhubarb is VERY high in cholesterol, can anyone shed light on this?? I've always believed that cholesterol comes from animals and not from fruits or vegetables. My thoughts are that it's the other things added to make the crisp, your thoughts please. Thank you, WiggleWormWaggle63 (talk) 16:29, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Our cholesterol article has a "Clinical significance" section that discusses this a little, but it is surprisingly bad about explaining simple questions like yours. However, you are essentially asking a sort of medical advice question, and we can't answer those. Please do not ask random people on the Internet what to do to improve your friend's health. We are anonymous weirdos. If your friend is seeking dietary advice with the objective of improving her health, then she needs to ask a proper doctor, not anonymous people on the Web. Comet Tuttle (talk) 17:22, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

On the other hand, the simple question "Does rhubarb contain a lot of cholesterol" is not asking for medical advice, and has a simple answer: no. Perhaps whoever told her that it does was making a joke (expecting her to know that it doesn't). Or perhaps there's some other explanation. If she's worried, she should seek clarification. FiggyBee (talk) 18:21, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Rhubarb pie might. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:04, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

I assume it was in a crumble which is very high in cholesterol usually. meltBanana 21:24, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

"Rhubarb crisp", which was what the original poster asked about, has a bunch of other stuff in it than rhubarb, according to a quick google. Another reason I was uneasy about answering this question with a 'yes' or 'no' was a premise that the original poster seemed to posit, which was that an abnormal lab result might simply have been caused by eating something high in cholesterol at some point (when?) before the test. "Oh, there's nothing wrong with me; the Reference Desk said that rhubarb crisp has a lot of cholesterol in it, so that explains my abnormal lab result." Comet Tuttle (talk) 21:27, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

The unknown is how much was consumed, and at what point prior to the test. Without that information, even a doctor wouldn't have much to go on. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:36, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

It'll be the custard and clotted cream used to make the rhubarb edible that'll have the cholesterol. DuncanHill (talk) 21:40, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Rhubarb is edible without custard or cream. Some brown sugar and low-fat yoghurt would cheer it up without adding cholesterol. Itsmejudith (talk) 21:33, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Interestingly (to me, anyway), there have been a number of studies done which suggest that consuming ground rhubarb fibre can lower total serum cholesterol and LDLs as it is a source of dietary fibre. See here, for an example. I would imagine your friend would need to ask for clarification from the medical professional who gave them this information. --Kateshortforbob _talk 18:56, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Okay, archived while I was replying, again.Or not?Kateshortforbob _talk 18:59, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Labrador puppy behavior.

We have a labrador puppy (black, male, 6 months old) who has developed a habit of picking up things on our walks and carrying them home - old balls, empty coke cans, sticks...well, branches really...four foot long branches...with leaves on them!

Someone at our local dog park said that this is a common thing with labs - and she gave a name to the behavior - which I've forgotten. Our previous lab (yellow, female, 12 years old) never did this...and there is no mention of the behavior on our Labrador Retriever article. Does anyone know what the behavior is called - and whether it really IS common in labs?

SteveBaker (talk) 19:02, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Surely it's part of being a Retriever to carry things around in the mouth? -- Coneslayer (talk) 19:13, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

(ec) Seems like it could be related to the job they were bred for? According to the Retriever article, ideally these breeds have a "desire to retrieve almost to the point of manic behavior". FiggyBee (talk) 19:18, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

On a slightly different note, are Labs and Golden Retrievers closely related? Rimush (talk) 19:48, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

In that they are both retrievers with similar personality traits, there is a very good chance that they have only relatively recently been separated, though their snouts and face shows significant differences so it could be superficial. You can't really know for sure (unless someone was there and wrote it down!) without closer inspection of their individual genomes. 210.165.30.169 (talk) 03:09, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

I have a neighbor with a golden lab puppy who does exactly the same thing. They (the humans) enjoy it because the dog seems to enjoy having a purpose. I used to have a lab who did not do this. Comet Tuttle (talk) 20:34, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Though you didn't ask for solutions, consider choosing a "permanent stick" for your boy and keeping it in the house - thereby giving him something to carry for the duration of the walk. He'll be happy, and he won't be bringing home new presents... 61.161.170.254 (talk) 22:20, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

The term I'm looking for isn't "Retrieving" - that would be kinda obvious - and it implies that the dog goes off, fetches something and then gives it to you. This isn't that. The lady at the dog park had a more specific term...and it's killing me that I can't remember what it was! SteveBaker (talk) 22:50, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Well the dog does go off -- with you, to the park or what have you. Fetching, well that's clear. Perhaps he deems his fetches as something that ought to be taken back home, for inscrutable Labrador puppy reasons. What happens when you get to the car or whatever -- do you have to pull the branch from his jaws and scold him for his reticence? Vranak (talk) 01:25, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Well, it hasn't come up yet. Twice-daily walks are in a local park which is very close to our house. Car rides are to the dog park at the weekend - where the only things he can pick up are muddy tennis balls, old chewed up frisbees and the occasional Chihuahua. He's learned that a stern "LEAVE IT!" means to drop whatever he's got - and that works well...but since this habit is mostly harmless, I don't want to stress him out by stopping him from doing something he has a genetic predisposition for doing. SteveBaker (talk) 04:00, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

It is a lab trait but neither my wife or I can think of this word that you've been told. Labs can be rather mouthy in general. We have a German Shepherd who keeps a stick in her mouth most of the time she's in the yard. We've taught her that sticks belong outside though, so she rarely brings them in. I know you didn't ask this but my vet told me an interesting thing about dogs a couple months ago. Some scientist had a dog retrieve a ball over and over again waiting for the dog to give up. He wanted to see how high the dogs body temp would get before it stopped. The dog's temp was able to get up around the 110^oF mark without any issues for the dog. Normal temp for them is somewhere in the high nineties from what I recall him saying. Apparently, since they don't sweat (as much as humans), the dog's body is able to handle larger swings in body temp than humans. Dismas|^(talk) 01:31, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Wow! WOW!!! (I don't mean about the temperature - the possibility that the dog might eventually give up fetching the ball is mind-blowing! :-) SteveBaker (talk) 04:00, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Steve is right in his earlier post. The dog is doing this mostly because you allow him to. Dogs are leaders or followers, your dog is obviously a leader and being allowed to do whatever it wants. Dogs with no discipline are unhappy dogs, unless they can take over everything. You need to let your dog know with firm and consistent commands that carrying home miscellaneous debris is not permissible - however amusing you may find it. The longer you leave it the harder it will be to correct it. I've known a few labs (UK) and they have never done that, I am not sure it is in the genes, except perhaps the predisposition to develop the "retrieving mode" which is not the same as "pick up any garbage and carry it home mode".Caesar's Daddy (talk) 08:01, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

May 15

family tree

A co-worker and I found out today that her grandfather and my father are cousins , we are curious to see if this means we are cousins of any sort. I tried looking at several family trees, but could not figure it out. Please help us with our curiosity!Tedwaa (talk) 00:44, 15 May 2010 (UTC) Thank you wf and tm

See cousin. If her grandfather and your father are first cousins, that means that the common ancestor is 4 generations back for her and 3 generations back for you. That makes you second cousins, once removed. Second cousins because the closest ancestor to either of you is a great-grandparent, and once removed because there is a one-generation difference between you. --Jayron32 00:58, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

So I guess it would be alright for them to have sex then. 210.165.30.169 (talk) 03:04, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

Jung-su Lee sentence

i know that jung-su lee the (skater of south korea) has been told three years but he had/has a chance to appeal. so my question is it offically that if he is off for 3 years or what? also does he get to keep his althete pitch'in from goverment? (i know you guys summarize all the files but there was lil more to the story)i dont think the two teamates and epsically jung-su lee was innocent. PLEASE and THANK YOU!!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.118.92.6 (talk) 04:10, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Ouur article on Lee Jung-Su says that he was handed a 3-year ban, but does not mention that Lee and his teammate had one week to appeal the ban. According to the Korea Times, they did appeal the ban, on May 10th. This will force the Korean Skating Union to meet again and investigate further. Also, according to Sports Illustrated, the government has no plans to take away his pension. Cheers, --Cerebellum (talk) 14:58, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

How do you keep birds out of a tree

I live in south florida and have a 20 foot tree in the yard. Many many birds have deceided they like the tree and the result is a lot of unhealthy poo. Our tempature has reached 90 so my children need the shade. Please tell me how to discourage these birds from this tree. Victoria1974 (talk) 06:14, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

First, make sure you turn off "Caps Lock". Also more information may be needed to best answer your question. Do you have any bird feeders near the tree? As that would attract them to live in the tree. wiooiw ^(talk) 06:23, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

If you keep YELLING under the tree, maybe the birds will dislike the noise. My only other suggestions are getting a cat or a deer cannon. Your neighbors might not like the deer cannon though. Dismas|^(talk) 06:24, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Those fake owls they sell are supposed to scare off smaller birds. You could hang a few of those up in the branches. Even if it didn't work it would be kind of cool to have a tree full of fake owls. AlexiusHoratius 06:33, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

In general, remove any attractions that birds might want. The Owl is a good idea. You can also buy a cat and let it roam the tree. Or get a gun and....wiooiw ^(talk) 06:38, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Do not get a gun!!! except for the purposes of frightening the birds. Caesar's Daddy (talk) 07:51, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

You could also provide other places for the birds to go instead - maybe a bird feeder or box placed in another part of the garden away from the tree. Chevymontecarlo. 11:19, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Caps lock is off. Neighbors have bird feeders in small trees, so they dine there and hang out in our large tree, which by the way has somtimes loud children underneith. I have used a marine blowhorn which works for about half an hour. please keep up with the suggestions and thanksVictoria1974 (talk) 21:37, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

If it is a single, isolated tree of moderate size, some type of bird netting draped over it may be effective in limiting perching. (You may be able to find some intended to protect fruit trees.) -- 174.24.200.38 (talk) 03:01, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

There is also supposed to be a thin plastic tape that flutters in the wind and makes a noise that frightens birds. Also shiny mirror bits hung in the tree, perhaps old CDs will make it unpleasant for birds. I have seen a life size black cut out of a bird of prey stuck up high on a big pole used to frighten birds too. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 03:07, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Yes, CDs are a good idea. Many people here in the UK use them on allotments to frighten off the birds. Maybe you should try that. Chevymontecarlo. 15:10, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Creating a new Wiki page on a specific Vbulletin forum. Allowed?

Can i create an article about a particular VBulletin forum? Would it be within the rules considering Wikipedia's stringent guidelines on advertising? If the answer to both my questions is "yes" , can you suggest me some example pages based on which i could model it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by V.siddhesh (talk • contribs) 12:59, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Notability. The key test is is the forum discussed extensively in reliable, independent sources. Every point of that is important. reliable, independent sources are required to ensure that anything in the article is verifiable. And since we need every part of the article to be verifiable, then every part of the article should be referenced to an independent, reliable source. If no one outside of Wikipedia has disussed the forum extensively, it is probably not an appropriate topic for a Wikipedia article.--Jayron32 13:13, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Just as an example, there are pages on Something Awful and 4chan, which are both indisputably "notable" forums. Note that each contain copious third-party references. Gaia Online has fewer references, although the fact that it is perhaps the "largest" on the whole internet probably gets it into the "notable" category without a fight. --Mr.98 (talk) 14:47, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

car insurance

it has been about 18 months since i last insured my car and have thrown away all my previous policy details. as i am an airhead i cannot remember the name of my previous broker. is there a way of finding out who this is as i have roughly 7 years no claims on this policy which would be useful to get new insurance. i would be extremely greatful to anyone who can help. dave —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.100.167.83 (talk) 13:19, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Do you have any receipts for checks or whatever method of payment that you were making? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:26, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

If you paid by check or credit card, you should be able to talk to your bank and get statements back from 2 years ago - that would lead you to the name of the insurance company. SteveBaker (talk) 16:53, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

And of course, you will be identified as one of the many thousands (in the UK) who add about £50 per policy to those of us who DO keep their motor insurance up to date. Who do you think compensates the victims of un-insured drivers? Answer - those of us who do insure uninterruptedly. However, if you didn't insure because you were legitimately off the road - I apologise, but still make the above point nonetheless for the benefit of other readers to whom those comments might apply. 92.30.12.193 (talk) 17:20, 15 May 2010 (UTC).

That's awfully rude and presumptive of you! Perhaps the OP has had the car locked away in a garage for a year or more. I own two cars that have not been insured (or driven more than the length of my driveway) for over two years - both are classic cars that are in the process of being restored and do not need to be insured until I'm ready to take them out onto the road. Wikipedia requires us to Assume Good Faith - it's one of our founding principles. Which means that you are not allowed to go around accusing people of things...even if you offer a caveated apology in the next sentence. Please don't make unwarranted accusations in the first place - OK? SteveBaker (talk) 03:50, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

first i would like to thank you for all your suggestions. I am pretty much certain i would have paid this by cash but i will follow this up further. the policy i am unable to locate used to be my policy for my works van as i was self employed. i am now a house husband which is the reason i no longer have this policy but we have recently purchased a second car because my partner works and we also have 3 children so do need this second car. so i would like to apologise to the uniterupted payers (including myself) who have £50 added on to there policy

(As Steve said, the suggestion that you have been an uninsured driver was unfair. If you are a named driver for your partner's car, then any no-claims on that policy might be taken into account, especially if your partner is to be a named driver on your vehicle. Ask your partner's insurer.) Dbfirs 08:40, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Well if you have a vague idea you could ring around a few brokers and ask them. No doubt they will want your business. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 23:35, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

The name of your former insurer will be held on the DVLA database. Unfortunately, there is probably no way that you can access this information, but it is possible that your new insurer might have access to this or a similar insurers' database. Dbfirs 07:10, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

In the UK, your local police station has easy access to the DVLA database where they can check your insurance. Just take your driving/ownership documents in with you.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 15:01, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Futures contracts on Sydney Futures Exchange

For AUD Futures, when are the contracts settled? and can they be settled in US dollars? Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ozpurple (talk • contribs) 15:06, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

And what does it cost to enter a futures contract? Ozpurple (talk) 15:18, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

A salesman from any company that is a member of the exchange will be glad to answer any questions. S/he is betting you will be grateful and use his/her establishment. Rebele | Talk ^{The only way to win the game is to not play the game.} 07:46, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

SFE contract specifications will be available on-line at the Australian Securities Exchange site. Any broker will almost certainly provide FX facilities allowing you to make and receive payments in any major currency (although not neceesarily at the most competitive rates). Cost of futures contract is an initial margin payment that you have to make when you start the contract, plus daily variation margin payments that you will be asked to make if the underlying asset moves against you or its volatility changes significantly. The ASX has its own minimum margin requirements (based on a complicated calculation called Span margining) but a broker may have additional margin requirements on top of this. As Rebele suggests, best thing is to ask one or two brokers about their terms and conditions. Gandalf61 (talk) 09:37, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

scam or no scam

I need to find the names of the president and/or chairman of America on Line. I have received an e-mail from said persons regarding a sum of money. This is probably a scam, but I need to confirm what it is. Snopes cannot help me. gammielou —Preceding unsigned comment added by Gammielou (talk • contribs) 15:53, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

It's definitely a scam, as is every other "we owe you money you didn't know we owed you" email. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 16:17, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

I need to Identify the president and/or chairman of America on Line to confirm a recently received communication from aol. Gammielou (talk) 16:14, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

It is a scam. Delete it, and do not respond in any way. Comet Tuttle (talk) 16:29, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Yes - definitely. It'll be a scam for 100% certain. I wouldn't even bother to check it out, delete it and move on. SteveBaker (talk) 16:50, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

With emails, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't. Chevymontecarlo. 17:01, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Maybe the OP could arrange to bombard the sender's e-mail with ads for prescription drug knockoffs and the like? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:52, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

To answer your specific question, see our article Tim Armstrong (executive). But in the unlikely event that you are able to make personal contact with him, he'll undoubtedly tell you the same as everyone else has done so far. Please don't give these people any money or any personal information. Good luck. Karenjc 19:30, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

There is no such thing as "American Online", so it must be a scam - they changed their name to just "AOL" years ago. If it was really from them, they would have got their own name right. --Tango (talk) 13:29, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Well, AOL's Founder and CEO was famously Steve Case, but now AOL is just part of Time Warner and doesn't have it's own CEO. (The Time Warner CEO is Jeffrey Bewkes.)

But that's all irrelevant. If you've got an unexpected business letter involving a large sum of money that doesn't come with a way to verify the information, it's absolutely a scam.

If Steve Case really decided that he wanted to give you some amount of money, he'd have given you a phone number and a postal address that you could call AOL's main switchboard to verify. If it was a large amount of money he'd have had his lawyer contact you by some equally verifiable way. (Registered mail, perhaps?) Business just isn't done by emailing strangers about money. APL (talk) 19:42, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

George Bernard Shaw quote

I'm looking for a quote from George Bernard Shaw which I cannot find using Google. It was something about men and women facing each other at the breakfast table after what they've been doing all night or something. Not being familiar with Shaw, was this an actual quote from Shaw? --Blue387 (talk) 18:45, 15 May 2010UT

Is this what you meant: "The problem with marriage is that it ends every night after making love, and it must be rebuilt every morning before breakfast"? It is credited here to Gabriel García Márquez. Bielle (talk) 16:32, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Why didn't he just make love in the morning instead?--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:34, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps because the need for rebuilding would then consume the rest of the day. When the shops are open, it can get expensive. Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:45, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Source of landscapes and urban panoramic photos (for desktop background)

Resolved

Is there anywhere on the Internet where I can find examples of the above? I have tried the WP featured images but I have used them all as a background already. Does anyone know where I could find some? Chevymontecarlo. 20:12, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

There are plenty of panoramics at Commons. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 21:04, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

You might also want to check out National Geographic's wallpaper collection here http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/download . The quality of the photography is really excellent and although the images aren't categorised landscapes feature fairly prominently so you should be able to find lots by just clicking through. Click on the small link at the bottom which says "download wallpaper" to get the full size version. 131.111.185.68 (talk) 22:47, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

In the end I went some photos from the National Geographic collection but I think I will continue to look through the Commons photos because I'm sure there's some good ones somewhere. Thanks for that. Chevymontecarlo. 15:08, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

May 16

How does I publish me books?

How do amateur/first-time manga illustrators usually publish their work? I happen to be one of people working on my story but I have no idea how to properly publish it into book form. I already have drawings for the title covers and drew out all the chapters and stuff, but what is the recommended method of publishing your first work into a manga comic? 64.75.158.195 (talk) 04:51, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Send some samples to publishers? I think this is the way to go - send some samples of your best work to publishers and include an outline of the whole story. Or, seek out a manga fanzine, maybe they're taking newcomers? If a portion of your manga may be cropped to serve as a standalone short story, maybe try that? --Ouro (blah blah) 07:42, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Whenever this question is asked here concerning regular books, the answer that is normally supplied is "Find an agent". Publishers don't generally accept unsolicited manuscripts. I don't know if this is different for manga publishers. Dismas|^(talk) 07:58, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

A second alternative would be publish some material online and offer it for free. This will get you some feedback from readers and possibly attention from real publishers.--Quest09 (talk) 19:46, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Here is what I know (bear in mind that I am not a manga/comics artist, so take all I say here with a BIG grain of salt). As far as I know, there are three "conventional" ways to become a mangaka. The first one is to create and sell your doujinshi, to earn yourself some fame this way, and then to try submitting stuff to the magazines. The second one is to become an apprentice to an established mangaka, and then to "graduate" to publishing your own stuff this way. (Keep in mind that the assistant/apprentice names do not usually appear on the manga, the work is crazy hard, and the pay sucks). The third one is to draw one-shots, or self-contained first chapters of the mangas you have in mind, and to try submitting those to the magazines directly (with very slim but still nonzero chances of success). The biggest caveat in all this is that you need to be a native Nihongo speaker. Korean or Chinese manga (manhwa) still qualifies as a manga, but original English-language manga is technically a comics and not a manga at all. That doesn't mean you'd be worse off if it is in English; you may actually be better off. There are English-language webcomic artsts (Ursula Vernon, Jeph Jacques, Fred Gallagher, Mark Crilley, Bill Holbrook, ...) who largely or fully support themselves by drawing comics and publishing some or all of it on the web. None of it is really manga though, not even any of Mark Crilley's stuff. Still, this venue is definitely worth considering, unless you would want to move to Japan and starve yourself for many years for a very long shot at getting published in any of the Kodansha / Shueisha / Hakusensha / Shogakukan journals. --Dr Dima (talk) 23:30, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

If your (the OP's) main interest is to get a properly bound book, check out some print-on-demand shops or (more pejoratively, "vanity publishers"). I've had a comparatively good impression of Lulu (company). Chances that you will earn money are slim, but you can get books produced to a wide range of physical requirements, and you can potentially reach a large audience for very little initial outlay. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 09:34, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

"Get books produced . . ." I agree with, but "potentially reach a large audience for very little initial outlay" I don't, unless you mean that, having the books, the OP can then advertise, distribute and get paid for them entirely through his/her own efforts. Some of the various print on demand or other print-shop services (like, I too have heard, Lulu) will indeed produce bound copies for reasonable mark-ups over real costs. Many others, who describe themselves variously as agents, editorial services, independent publishers etc, etc but are in reality vanity presses, will typically charge for inferior or illusory editorial and other work, and overcharge for what they actually do (which often means secretly farming out the work to the same print services their customer could access directly for a large mark-up). Such operators, unlike real agents or publishers, have no more abilities than J. Q. Public to get adverts and reviews published, and no means of getting stores to stock their titles because no-one in the professional book industry will deal with them under any circumstances. Many such operators have to change their company names frequently to avoid dunning creditors and disappointed, sueing clients.

As an ex-bookseller and ex-editor, I broadly concur with the advice of the first three replies above. Try also visiting a Public Library and studying publications like The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook to find out about publishers and agents, looking at existing Manga publishers' websites for advice on submissions, and finding, studying and participating in the various on-line forum sites for aspiring writers and artists (random example, Absolute Write). Also, go to Manga or other Comics Conventions and ask successful writers how they did it. It's obviously possible to become a successful publisher of your own work, whether printed or online, as people like Dave Sim (not Manga, but certainly comics) and Jeph Jacques (Manga references) have demonstrated, but it takes years of very hard and poorly renumerated work. Finally, remember the rule of thumb that all money should flow towards the writer/artist, and be very wary if asked for up-front fees for services or production costs; in most (I agree not all) professional publishing circumstances such charges, where legitimate, are taken out of what a publication earns through sales. 87.81.230.195 (talk) 23:14, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Lulu, unlike traditional vanity presses, will have your book in their catalogue more or less forever, and have the infrastructure to accept orders and ship it all over the world. That's what I meant by "potentially large audience". With a traditional vanity press, you order X00 copies, the publisher may even promise to produce Y00 (Y>X), but he will nearly always make a fat profit off your initial investment and quietly burn what's left of the print run after a few months to save on storage. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 23:31, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Ratio analysis Non–Performing Credit to Total Credit

please tell me about ratio analysis Non–Performing Credit to Total Credit... —Preceding unsigned comment added by Surakshya (talk • contribs) 12:37, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

How small are the smallest clients of big law firms?

Law firms like those belonging to the Magic Circle (law) or the White shoe firm. Mr.K. (talk) 13:14, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Fixed redlink 131.111.248.99 (talk) 16:57, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

The very largest and most well known law firm would cheerfully take on the very smallest client, if that client were willing to pay the going hourly rate for the work to be done. They might refuse the work if they already had the adversary as a client. They might charge far more per hour than a local storefront law firm for contracts, rental agreements, deeds, wills, or prenups. Large firms have associates, junior partners and new hires whose work gets billed out and which pays revenue to the partnership as well as the lawyer or paralegal actually talking to the client and preparing the documents. The senior partners would be aghast at the notion of turning away billings. Come one, come all! Edison (talk) 22:15, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Law firms are also ethically required to perform at least some pro bono work every once in a while. Everard Proudfoot (talk) 05:39, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

212.219.39.146 (talk) 09:09, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/legal_services_pai.html Everard Proudfoot (talk) 18:24, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

"Ethically required"? And what if they don't do it, will law firms burn in hell? Mr.K. (talk) 15:40, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

See the pro bono article, which was already linked above. In the US, the ABA "recommends" a certain amount of pro bono work, under its ethics rules. There is this idea that since lawyers and doctors have their privileged positions by means, partly, of community support, that they are supposed to give back to the community with pro bono work. As far as law firms burning in hell, well, yes, we all know that's a given. Comet Tuttle (talk) 16:58, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

May 17

Canadian pedia?

Is this the Canadian Wikipedia? http://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portada It is in French? There's no Canadian pedia in English? Is this French much different from the native French? --117.204.84.55 (talk) 07:48, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

It's not like any French I've ever read! You might like to read our article on Catalan language. Our friends in Canada read either the standard English or the standard French Wikipedias. Dbfirs 08:27, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

That's Catalan Wikipedia, not Canadian. The various Wikipedias are distinguished by language, not nationality. Thus, this Wikipedia, the English-language one, is for anyone who speaks English anywhere in the world. There is no Canadian language, hence no Canadian Wikipedia. (French-language Wikipedia is found here: http://fr.wikipedia.org )—D. Monack ^talk 09:24, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

There is a Kannada language edition of Wikipedia. Warofdreams talk 14:03, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

LOL. That's a good one. Anyway, if the OP is looking for a Canadian encyclopedia, maybe they can try The Canadian Encyclopedia which is also a free online encyclopedia available both in English and French. --99.244.91.182 (talk) 03:08, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

360 => laptop

Disclaimer: I know computers, I don't know AV. Wasn't sure whether this was appropriate for the computing desk, which is why I'm posting here. Is there any way to get my Xbox 360 to display in HD on my laptop screen? The laptop doesn't have any video inputs, although it's got the usual USB/Firewire/eSATA complement. I'm in the UK, if that's relevant for video formats or anything. Thanks 131.111.248.99 (talk) 09:41, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

If it has no inputs, then it's not possible without some major hacking of the hardware. You COULD probably pick up an HDMI to Firewire converter and use the 360 as a video capture input, but it's not likely to be even halfway decent quality. Buffered Input Output 15:35, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

I agree with Buffered Input Output. Comet Tuttle (talk) 16:54, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

qualifications

hi, i'm currently in 12th grade, so i'm gonna finish high school next year. i just wanted to know what are the qualifications and areas of expertise and subjects required for an architect. also the same question goes for a game designer

thanx —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.197.248.168 (talk) 13:21, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Take a look at both the admission and courses of the degree you want to study.--Mr.K. (talk) 15:22, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

For architecture, you could also look through the American Institute of Architects (AIA) site here. Ghmyrtle (talk) 15:27, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Many schools have architecture programs, you may also want to major in a related discipline like design or civil engineering; architecture is basically a cross between those two. As far as game design goes, you'd need to decide which part of game design you want to go into. The person that writes code has a very different job than the one that makes the artwork. SteveBaker works in the field, I am sure he will be able to help you in that realm. --Jayron32 15:35, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

For game designer, gamecareerguide may help, but be warned that it's owned by CMP, so I assume a major point of gamecareerguide is to try to convince you to pay for Game Developers Conference passes. As Mr.K. says, you should hit up the few schools that have a game design track for information. However, know that 99% or more of game designers don't have a degree in game design. As for the areas of expertise: Math helps a lot in order to be able to design systems that make sense. It's an entertainment field, so courses in writing, plot structure, etc., help. Some designers lean heavily toward the "writing" side of the job, creating the plot and dialogue. Other designers are "level designers", where they use 3D software like 3D Studio Max or Autodesk Maya to actually create the game's levels, and then set up all the trigger points for things like elevators, puzzles, and traps; and, usually, utilize some scripting system or a language like Lua to actually write code to tell the elevators, puzzles, and traps exactly what to do. (I think that if you were to count all game designers in the industry, most would call themselves level designers; though the job is varied; at some companies it's a 3D modeling artist who creates the world in Max or Maya, working with the designer to find out how to model the level; whereas at other companies the level designer does everything.) Usually it's a more experienced designer who does the "system" work, where the designer writes (and then tweaks endlessly after playing the first few drafts) the systems of hit points, weapon damage, how often the player should find a new item in general, how many milliseconds should elapse before a powerup times out, and the entire feel of the core gameplay (movement and combat, usually). A lot of video game playing is useful. I recommend googling "game design podcasts" and find some designers you like to listen to. Many, many video game designers started out with QA jobs, playing the same few levels endlessly to find all the bugs, and eventually they get a chance to be a junior level designer; I think this is a pretty tedious way to enter the industry as a designer, but it's how many designers do get their positions. In the first-person shooter area, it's more typical, I think, for the video game developer companies like Gearbox Software and id Software to find the very best of the popular mods for the popular games and hire those guys as level designers. Comet Tuttle (talk) 16:52, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

While I agree that a lot of Game Designers don't have a degree (I think it's a lot less than 99%...maybe 60% at most) - those are the ones that have been in the business for a while and who have shifted over from another discipline. But the games business is changing and professionalizing at a steep rate. NEW game designers, being recruited into the business as their first jobs in the industry will find it next to impossible to break into the field without a degree. Don't take my word for it - look at any game company web site, almost all of them have a "JOBS" section - and I don't see any that don't require a degree for every job track except QA. SteveBaker (talk) 02:38, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

Oh, and I wanted to emphasize: The job "game designer" differs a lot at every company. If you were to get a degree in this unusual field and walk into a video game developer with it, they won't necessarily be impressed, because the work varies so much, and the work you completed for your degree may not apply to the particular role they need to fill. As I mentioned above, some designers are closer to programmers, others are closer to 3D modelers, others are closer to writers, and others sit and tweak game systems all day; it is rare to find a versatile designer who is comfortable doing all these disparate things, so large developers have a mix. Comet Tuttle (talk) 17:02, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

An acquaintance of mine who is a self-employed game designer studied math and computer science at MIT. Game theory might be worth studying, for example. My acquaintance is really strong on algorithms, though he has enough of a command of web design to develop relatively user friendly prototypes making use of his algorithms. I think that companies that buy his concepts or his services use teams of web designers to further polish the user interface for his games. Marco polo (talk) 20:00, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

For questions like this the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good start, although they don't have a separate listing for game designers, only computer programmers. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:02, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

I work in the games industry. There is a very specific job title called "Game Designer" - which is someone who figures out things like what levels there should be - or what puzzles there are - how the 'story arc' plays out - and lays out the design of the system in rather broad-brush terms. Other people who "design video games" are not "Game Designers" - but Artists, programmers, sound designers, musicians, voice actors, motion capture actors, etc. If you specifically want to be a "Game Designer" then there are a few colleges who specialize in game design and who offer degrees in the subject. "Full Sail University" in Florida is one particularly renowned one. Another route is to start off as a game Artist or perhaps even (if you're desperate) a Play Tester/Quality-assurance guy. It's generally possible to progress from one of those jobs into game design after a few years. A few programmers also decide to become designers - but that might entail a pay cut! If you can possibly manage to get an internship at a game company over your summer vacation - that would be a huge benefit - both for your resume - and because it would help you to understand whether this is really what you want to do.

If you had in mind a more general career in the game business - then there are a wide range of entry routes. One is to take a specialized degree in games - or possibly "Arts and Technology" or something. That would get you into the Art track, the Design track or any of the others for that matter. Programmers might be better off taking a hard computer-science degree - but a specialised degree of the sort that Full Sail offer would be OK too. A very few artists who are able to demonstrate amazing work in their portfolio's can get jobs without a degree - but it's tough to get that level of capability (and demonstrate that you understand things like 'work flow') without somehow getting to work in the games business first.

The easiest track to get into is Play Tester/Quality Assurance. In many cases, you can walk into a job like that straight out of high school...however, it's by far the lowest paid job in the games business (often at minimum wage) and people tend not to last long in it because "playing video games all day" turns out to be spectacularly less fun than it sounds when you're playing the exact same game 8 hours a day for 3 years...with it crashing and failing for a good portion of that time! Although a very few QA folks manage to break out into Art, Design or Programming and some of them end up running the QA department from which they can progress to becoming managers - most of them simply go off and do something else.

A very few people (these days) make it into the business by making their own game in the privacy of their own homes and breaking into the business that way. At one time, that was perhaps the commonest route - but these days, making a credible game without the support of a big publisher is virtually impossible. You'll need a day job first!

In general, the highest paid workers are the programmers, followed by art and design, then play-testing. A good programmer can earn $120k to $150k at the peak of his/her career and if you get lucky and work on a game that turns out to be a RockBand, GTA-IV or HALO-3 quality blockbuster, you can pick up royalty checks that could keep you in luxury for life! (Sadly, you don't usually get that lucky because only about one in 35 games ever turns a profit!) SteveBaker (talk) 02:32, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

Lost recorded delivery letter UK - how to complain/enquire by email?

Early last week I went to the post office and sent a first class recorded delivery letter. The destination address was less than a mile away - I expected it to arrive the next morning. Now six days later, it has still not arrived, according to the Royal Mail's online tracking service, which keeps saying "We have your item...blah blah blah...is being progressed through our networks for delivery".

I've looked through the Royal Mails website and I cannot find how to complain/enquire by email. Does anyone know how to do this please? I've found a telephone number, but I do not want to pay what is probably a premium rate and/or be stuck in a queue for an hour. By coincidence, someone else claims to have repeatedly posted letters to me which I've never got. Thanks 78.147.140.229 (talk) 15:17, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

This page has a link saying "Send Royal Mail Customer Services an email" - linking to this page. Have you tried that? Otherwise, perhaps you should go back to the post office and start raising a complaint there. Ghmyrtle (talk) 15:45, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, I followed your link and it says I have to wait three weeks! before I can complain (or even enquire?) and did not give any means of sending an email. Bad service. 78.147.140.229 (talk) 16:07, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Did you get a receipt when you sent the letter? If so, does it contain instructions on how to complain? You probably want to try and find a way to complain directly to the Recorded Delivery people rather than a general customer service e-mail address that could take a while to get to the right place (ironic, huh?). --Tango (talk) 15:56, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Yes. No. Its a flimsy bit of paper like a supermarket till reciept. It only tells you how to look online to check if its been delivered, as described above. 78.147.140.229 (talk) 16:07, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

They lost it. Royal Mail lose hundreds of items of post every day. You can guess what happens to them. It's not a big deal for them. When you complain they will just tell you to fill out a compensation claim. You should always make a claim because if they get a disproportionate number of complaints about a particular postal round they will keep an eye on that particular postman.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 16:00, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Its disgraceful that you cannot even trust recorded delivery to get a letter there, and that to be certain of delivery you have to go to the address in person, as I did, which defeats the whole purpose of having a postal system. And then you are prevented from complaining about it, which seems to be a common trick of shadey organisations in my experience. It was lucky I was paranoid enough to check that it had actually been delivered rather than just assuming it would be. 78.147.140.229 (talk) 16:17, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

It doesn't defeat the whole purpose, just a small portion of it. The purpose is to make it cheaper and more convenient to get things from one place to another. That purpose still works at a success rate of a little bit under 100%. We take risks every day and sending something by post is a risk as well. If the risk of it not getting there is high enough then it might be worth you delivering it yourself (roughly speaking, you need to multiply the chance of it not getting there by the cost of it not getting there and see if that number is smaller than the cost of you delivering it by hand), but in most cases it isn't. Royal Mail is very good at getting letters to the right place, you have just been unlucky. --Tango (talk) 16:29, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the sermon. 78.147.140.229 (talk) 17:04, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

It was leftover change from your soapbox. Vimescarrot (talk) 19:58, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

I recall reading once upon a time how London Diamond Merchants preferred sending uninsured precious gems through the ordinary post on the grounds that it was inconspicuous, reliable, and cheaper than sending them insured by courier service. But the law of averages must dictate that some letters and parcels just don't reach their destination, however frustrating that is. But I do agree that not being able to timeously complain is a disgrace. 92.30.74.111 (talk) 22:10, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Your letter will probably be delivered tomorrow. Are you sure that the recipient was at home to sign for the letter? Unfortunately, you can't track or trace the letter online because only the delivery is recorded. If it is really lost, then there is compensation of up to £41 available. For urgent items, "Guaranteed next-day delivery" is more appropriate. Sorry, this doesn't help for your lost or delayed letter. I can sympathise with your frustration, especially when the distance was so short! Dbfirs 00:44, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

Recorded delivery isn't about having any better or worse chance of the letter being delivered. It's about the recipient being unable to claim that it wasn't delivered when in fact it was. If (for example) you sold someone something on eBay - if you just post the item to them, they can simply take delivery of the item - then claim that you didn't send it and probably get a refund from PayPal or whatever. On the other hand, if you send it recorded delivery - then you'll have proof that they did in fact sign for it - and you'll be safe from their fraud. However, if it really doesn't get there, you can at least prove that you sent it - and make the claim through the post office. SteveBaker (talk) 02:04, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

Grand Rapids from 5/4-5/5-5/6-1931 in my posession

I have the above three papers.What do I do with them and how do I store them for preservtion? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.227.170.48 (talk) 17:59, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

One option may be to store them in plastic bags, like those used for preserving comic books; a local comic-book shop may be able to help locate a vendor, or even order some for you that are designed to hold newspapers. Also, I found this website talking about how to preserve old newspapers. Hope this gets you started! --McDoobAU93 (talk) 18:43, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

orkut

how can I used orkut as my busyness site.Supriyochowdhury (talk) 18:59, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Do you mean business site? That will depend on what your business is... --Tango (talk) 23:23, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

May 18

1902 edwardvs quarter

I recently found an edwardvs vii dei gratta rex imperator 1902 quarter... does anyone know how much it is worth? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Rileymygolden (talk • contribs) 00:16, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

Have a look here. Marco polo (talk) 01:22, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

It's very hard to judge the value of coins without inspecting them up-close. The problem is that the condition of the coin is critical to the value - it can sometimes make a difference of a factor of 100 in the price! Coin collectors grade coins very carefully - and it's virtually impossible to do that accurately with a photo. SteveBaker (talk) 01:36, 18 May 2010 (UTC)