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February 4

Kennedy Center Honors

See how the ribbon of the Kennedy Center Honors is splayed out with the golden bands on each side? Are those bands pinned to the honoree's clothing? What makes the ribbons splay out like that? Dismas|^(talk) 12:48, 4 February 2015 (UTC)

I don't see them splaying out, the two vertical sides hang parallel to each other and are connected with a V-shaped piece of ribbon at the bottom. The ugly gold-coloured bars appear to be covering (and probably stabilizing) the joins in the material Richard Avery (talk) 08:14, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

What is the material anyway? Some sort of cloth? At first glance it looked like paper, making the whole awards look like cheap party decorations. No offense to Led Zeppelin or the Kennedy Center intended. JIP | Talk 12:43, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

This does say joined/clipped together by three gold coloured bars [1] [2]. If you take a look at other examples, it's clear that the bands are probably not pinned [3] [4] [5], although it seems the ribbon does have a golden clasp behind it [6]. Anyway from those sources and more like [7] [8] or our article, the ribbons including gold coloured bars, whatever people may think of them seem to be an iconic part of the award. Note that whatever support the gold bars offer, if any, they also seem to have another purpose namely for info on the award. If you look at the above picture, the left bar says "Kennedy Center Honor", the right bar has the date, and the bottom bar has the name of the person or group being honoured. BTW, this hard a close up of the ribbon [9], it's clearly a cloth ribbon and not paper. Nil Einne (talk) 15:12, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

It looks like either the gold bars are very heavy - which could maybe produce that shape - or possibly they have some kind of clip at the back to clip them to the lapels. It might also be that the cloth in the two arms of the 'V' has been stiffened in some manner. SteveBaker (talk) 15:30, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

They don't hang loosely like Olympic medals.

Maybe "splay" is the wrong word. They certainly have a bend to them at the upper two bars. They don't just dangle like Olympic medals such as those pictured on the right. Dismas|^(talk) 15:20, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

February 5

time grid

Hi there,

I was wondering what time grid Wikipedia utilizes. I noticed that pages have been updated today, but at a much later time than it is even on the east coast. I tried finding out but couldn't find a link in regards to it. 68.15.29.164 (talk) 18:27, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

East coast of where? It's perfectly correct on our east coast. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 11:25, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

Wikipedia times are listed as UTC. Dismas|^(talk) 18:31, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

How to release a character into the public domain?

acknowledged as a request for legal advice by the OP
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
I'm a published author and I'd like to release one of my characters (originally created by me back in 2008) into the public domain. I can't seem to find anything online explaining how I would go about doing that. 107.10.22.138 (talk) 23:30, 5 February 2015 (UTC) Unfortunately, this qualifies as legal advice, and that's something we can't do. It's best to ask a lawyer or the copyright office. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 16 Shevat 5775 23:35, 5 February 2015 (UTC) I didn't realize this was legal advice. Sorry :( 107.10.22.138 (talk) 23:52, 5 February 2015 (UTC) Ah no worries, mate, it happens. Sorry we can't be of more help. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 17 Shevat 5775 00:36, 6 February 2015 (UTC) Assuming you're in the USA, see Nichols v. Universal Pictures Corp., National Comics Publications, Inc. v. Fawcett Publications, Inc. and this blog posting for some reasons why professional legal advice may be appropriate in this case. I'm afraid we can't give any more help than this. Tevildo (talk) 00:12, 6 February 2015 (UTC) This question is about releasing one's own original character into the public domain. Those cases are about unauthorized use of someone else's character. So I don't really see the relevance. -- BenRG (talk) 01:46, 6 February 2015 (UTC) There are plenty of pages online about releasing copyrightable works into the public domain, such as Wikipedia:Granting work into the public domain. The idea that this is somehow dangerous, and would need to be done under a lawyer's advisement, is ludicrous. The worst thing that could possibly happen if you did it wrong is that your declaration would have no effect, you would retain copyright, and anyone else's use of the character would still infringe on the copyright. That's no problem for you, only for those other people. They might be well advised to consult a lawyer, but not you. -- BenRG (talk) 01:46, 6 February 2015 (UTC) Enough. BenRG, the page you quote is not even a reference in mainspace, it is about wikipedia policy regarding material released here. The OP can easily find someone suing him, and incurring legal costs. We can't advise him, he needs professional help more than mine or yours. μηδείς (talk) 02:23, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

February 6

Funny story on Wikipedia's birth

http://cache.epapr.in/432922/557071ac-f718-4dff-bfe6-e3c23d21212f/1400x2234-700x744/1x3.png In this local newspaper appearing in Malayalam, in the state of Kerala in India, there is a feature by one K.M. Shakkeel narrating the story of the origin of the idea that gave birth to Wikipedia. The feature says that Kira the new-born baby of Jimmy Wales had some serious congenital disorder which made breathing difficult. The docs said there was no treatment for condition. They informed him that one doc in Santiago treated such cases with success although there was no scientific basis known for that. Wales searched out and found this doc and brought him to the hospital where his daughter was born. The timely treatment saved the life of the child. The value of timely and speedily available information gave Wales the idea of Nupedia which later became Wikipedia. Real incidents or some hoax? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.253.195.32 (talk) 01:41, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

Well, it tells a true story but in a very mixed up and error filled way. When Kira was born, she had meconium aspiration syndrome. The traditional treatment at that time was basically to give the baby support and hope they pull through it. However, we were fortunate to be in San Diego where a doctor associated with a nearby university was in the midst of a controlled scientific trial of a new technique, which involved as I recall, paralyzing the baby, stopping the breathing, rerouting the blood through a machine to oxygenate it, and then use a newly invented protein-based fluid to fill the baby's lungs and "rinse out" the lungs 4 times. This was not "no scientific basis known" - it was cutting edge science. The treatment worked immediately and Kira was completely fine, and remains so to this day.

This did not give me the idea for Nupedia or Wikipedia, but it was a life-changing emotional experience as you can imagine, and it did provoke me to be decisive when I got back to work to rip up the Nupedia plan and install the wiki software, thereby launching Wikipedia.

It doesn't seem like the original poster was trolling, just asking a question based on a quite likely confused news report.--Jimbo Wales (talk) 16:47, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Addendum. This appears to be the final publication of the study in question. I say that because it matches my memory of the treatment (although it seems like I had the number of lavage's wrong (3 not 4) and the doctor's name is there (Bernstein) and the year seems right. It's interesting to note that although this study concluded that the approach was promising, Wikipedia cites more recent research suggesting otherwise. All I know is that Kira is fine. :)--Jimbo Wales (talk) 16:56, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

[10] --Francis Schonken (talk) 10:05, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Current Monarch with power over life and death?

Are there any current Monarchs who have the legal power of life and death over civilians? (I don't like the fact that you spilled your ale, Guards shoot him!), if not, who would be the most recent monarch to have that level of power? Pre-WWII Japanese Emperor?Naraht (talk) 14:34, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

In the Commonwealth of Nations, the Monarch (or more formally their representative, usually the Governor General) has the power to commute a death sentence, but not issue one. See Royal prerogative of mercy. So, they have a limited power over life and death, in the sense that they can issue orders to halt the planned execution of someone. --Jayron32 14:51, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

Although that power is activated at the request of the responsible cabinet minister. As usual with our constitution, the monarch acts on the advice of her (or his) ministers and not otherwise. Alansplodge (talk) 20:23, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

Is that just tradition, or is their power to grant pardons/clemency/commute sentences strictly limited by law ? StuRat (talk) 13:22, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

See Absolute monarchy . The countries here give absolute power to their rulers, which means in theory they can do whatever they want (unless they make people angry enough that they get overthrown I guess) 81.138.15.171 (talk) 16:52, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

All monarchs inherit with their position the means to make a murder look like an accident or suicide. Those aren't illegal. I'm not saying any reigning monarchs are into that, but it'd be easier for them than for you. Or even a minister. InedibleHulk (talk) 20:33, February 6, 2015 (UTC)

In a way Jordan fits the bill. According to this the Jordanian king is required to sign off on the death penalty but they haven't since 2006. But it doesn't look as if they could just send for the royal executioner. CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 05:43, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

You mean it says they didn't between 2006 and 2014? Nil Einne (talk) 12:58, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

MSG in cooking

Are there any good reasources on how to use MSG? When I search for it on the internet all I get is a bunch of alt med nonsense about how its bad for you or whatever. I know you can use it as part of a stir fry, and you can use it as a salt substitute. Does this mean it might be good to spread on food like you would salt on fish and chips (fries for Americans) or whatever, or does it need to be cooked? --81.138.15.171 (talk) 16:46, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

You don't need to cook it. It does seem to work as an appetite stimulant, which, of course, isn't good if you are trying to lose weight. (If you are looking for a salt substitute which is an appetite suppressant, I suggest some form of capsaicin, such as red pepper flakes.) StuRat (talk) 16:53, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

Here's a list of 61 recipes that use MSG [11]. What's not mentioned in the recipe search is that MSG naturally occurs in many foods, e.g. nori. So even if you're not adding MSG powder, you get some of that umami flavor in sushi (e.g. maki) and other Japanese, Chinese, and Korean dishes that use seaweed, like seaweed salad. MSG also occurs in mushrooms and tomatoes (more listed at our article), so any dish with those would probably not be hurt by adding a little supplemental MSG. (I would totally try a little on fish & chips, spaghetti with marinara and mushrooms, or almost any homemade soup) SemanticMantis (talk) 17:07, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

(ec)You just use it like salt, and sprinkle it on and stir it in after cooking--like sugar and salt, it doesn't need to be cooked. I suppose if you had a recipe that said to cook it in you would follow the recipe. But basically it behaves like sugar or salt sprinkled on something.

A good test would be to make some plain white rice, and have a spoonful while plain. Then sprinkle some MSG on, maybe half as much as you would if you were using salt, then fluff it in and taste the rice. (If you don't mix, it will just sit there, like a salty layer on top and a bland layer on the bottom if you don't mix the salt in.) The rice with MSG should now taste "tasier" (umami).

I find it has a synergistic effect with salt, so don't put both, or put the salt on only after tasting, and use a very little bit. Otherwise, what is a normal amount of salt may taste much saltier. Here's a commercial website that offers info and recipes. Google "recipes with msg" (in quotes) to get other results. I'd also mention that most processed foods like battered fish will already have salt or flavor enhancers. So don't add MSG unless they are bland to the taste or you may find they are too salty. I use MSG on homemade stir-fry vegetables, home-made fried rice, and on Chinese takeout when it is bland, rather than salt. μηδείς (talk) 17:10, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

Eating My Greens

OK, I think I've paid my dues, so it's time for me to ask a question of the great minds of the Reference Desk...

Like many other people, I'm aware of the need to eat a wide range of vegetables (as opposed to fruit) each day. There appear to be health benefits from doing so, and I'm quite content to take the advice of medical experts on this. My problem is that I really don't care for many vegetables. In particular, I find leafy green vegetables, particularly members of the Brassica family, either very bitter or otherwise foul tasting. I also find members of the Allium genus generally too strong-tasting and somewhat unpleasant. Finally, I dislike, and am extraordinarily sensitive to, cucumber, to the extent that I can taste cucumber on food that has simply sat next to a cut cucumber in a fridge. (I appear to have inherited this from my father, who has the same sensitivity; the sensitivity is also present in some paternal cousins.) In general I am very sensitive to and discriminating of tastes and smells; I suspect I am hyperosmic compared to the general population (though I may simply pay more attention to my environment than average, as I also seem to be more discriminating of colours than average).

I readily eat and enjoy the following vegetables: peas, beans and pulses of all kinds; the roots of most of the Apiaceae, and where appropriate their stems or leaves, though I don't care much for the texture of celery; artichokes, asparagus, beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes and sweetcorn. Further, I generally find vegetables more palatable when cooked, as this seems to make some taste less bad.

The particular problem is this: medical guidelines seem to suggest that the greatest health benefits come from eating leafy green vegetables. Annoyingly, these are the ones I most dislike. My question to the Reference Desk is thus this: can you think of ways of getting me to eat my greens? One option is to incorporate them into other foods so that the tastes and textures are diluted or concealed (for example in soups or strong-tasting dishes); if so, are there ways to do this that don't incur substantial extra calorie costs? Are there any other options?

And (just out of curiosity) what is it that makes dieticians favour leafy green vegetables over others?

I await your answers with interest. RomanSpa (talk) 21:28, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

In answer to one of your questions, my mum has just recently bought a soup maker machine. Everything is thrown in together, mashed up, and boiled (you can set 'mashing settings' to 'chunky' (if you are adding meat) and 'totally just soup' (I forget the wording)). You can add whatever spices or salts, peppers, or whatever to it, to mask the taste of any ingredient you dislike the taste of. The spices or other condiments will not add much to the calorie levels. Alternatively, you could just start smoking, because then you can hardly taste anything :) KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 21:45, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

Ever try saag paneer? spinach soufflé? What about liquid form - Wheat grass shots or Naked Juice's "green machine?" Wilted dandelion greens can be good, toss with some vinegar and bacon. Kale chips are suddenly on the shelves in many markets, but you can also make them easily at home. Mustard greens are often served with traditional Chinese food, not often seen in western restaurants though (Ok that's a brassica, probably too bitter for you). "Hunger makes the best pickle" as Ben Franklin said. I never liked asparagus until I was confronted with very limited options and an empty stomach. Ever since I've loved it ;) SemanticMantis (talk) 22:29, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

Oh, for your last question: roots and tubers tend to be Storage_organs - they are mostly relatively simple carbohydrates, and not much else. Leaves will have more dietary fiber, as well as a host of secondary metabolites, each of which usually has some study showing some health benefit. Note also that any green plant matter has chlorophyll, ensuring a decent amount of iron. There's a reason why some people recommend thinking of color for dietary concerns. Lots of white/pale things won't in general have the same vitamins, minerals, and other goodies that a colorful mix of leaves and stems will. Also note that botanical fruits are not the same as culinary fruits. Peppers, tomatoes, squashes, etc are all fruits that we don't often think of as such for eating purposes. But for nutritional purposes, you can base a meal around squash, whereas you probably wouldn't use oranges as the base for a meal. Usually when dieticians say vegetables are better than fruit, they are classing zucchini and pumpkin and peppers as "vegetables." SemanticMantis (talk) 22:41, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

But chlorophyll doesn't contain any iron! RomanSpa (talk) 18:17, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Try baby spinach, it doesn't seem to be as offensive as teenage spinach. If you cannot tolerate broccoli because you are a supertaster, that tends to lessen with age. You should ask your doctor, she may simply provide supplements, and a licensed nutritionist will be happy to tell you how to get your vitamin K. I also cannot tolerate cucumber rind, but that is not normally a major source of leafy greenness. Broccoli Piza is great, we are having it tonight. μηδείς (talk) 23:14, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

For those foods which are healthy, and you like the flavor, but not the texture, you might consider a juice extractor. That removes the fiber, which is normally good for you, but if you can't stand it, at least you can get the vitamins from those foods. Finely blending them is another option, and healthier, since it leaves the fiber in, as long as you find the result palatable. StuRat (talk) 01:37, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Drinking the juice withought the fibre is also a good way to aggravate a diabetic condition. The OP should ask his doctor and get a referral to a licensed nutritionist. μηδείς (talk) 02:58, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

A diabetic ought not to drink fruit juice "withought" fiber, but most vegetable juices are far lower in sugars. Carrot juice is about the highest. I agree that a diabetic should consult a doctor before any dietary change, but the OP didn't say they have diabetes. StuRat (talk) 13:31, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

I said "withought the fibre". Please don't mesquite me. μηδείς (talk) 21:06, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

I find the taste of raw broccoli to be horrible and boiled broccoli yucky, yet I eat broccoli most days of the week because when stored and prepared properly broccoli is tasty. By not freezing vegetables you will retain their crispness and certain vitamins. If you throw the broccoli into a pan at around 300F with just a little canola oil then add a little sauce when nearly done you will mask all the bitterness and keep all the healthiness with only adding 50cal per head/15 branches. There's little need to worry about adding even 100cal onto a plate of broccoli as an alternative meal will still be much higher in calories if it is low in low-calorie vegetables. 70.30.20.185 (talk) 04:01, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

@ 70.30.20.185 “mask all the bitterness” You are avoiding over-cooking it. That is what makes it taste dreadful. Also, next time your really, really hungry, have nibble at a bit of fresh raw broccoli (not frozen, as that has been blanched prior to freezing).--Aspro (talk) 23:38, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I always steam my broccoli. I said steam, not over-steam. Five minutes max. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a bit of butter if you wish, and you'll be begging for more. This also works great for carrots, beans and other fibrous vegetables.-- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]}

Make bubble and squeak or cabbage rolls. CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 05:32, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

February 7

Fighter jet missile detection

So how do modern era fighter jets display inbound missiles if detected. Does the internal computer draw an overlay of some sort on the MFD radar display or something. Like a white line towards the middle (plane) that subsequently gets shorter as it nears, or something.

I know older Russian fighters had a series of lights that lit up around a graphic of the plane to indicate the direction of radar threats. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.236.100.51 (talk) 00:18, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

On the Wikipedia Help Desk's there are editors that currently love to Wikilawyer to make themselves feel important. So, they ban any replies that can be remotely considered medical or legal advice (regardless of whether the Wikipedia Policies really meant to include these types of questions and replies). That leads me to think “why not defenses industries too?” Therefore, I'm not going to tell you anything about Radar Warning Receivers. Period!--Aspro (talk) 14:56, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Wikipedia have relevant - if somewhat barebone - articles on radar warning systems and Missile Warning Systems. You can also read more about more specific types of MWS here, and a fairly commom type of RWS here. The 'typical' western radar warning display in a Fourth-generation jet fighter looks similar to this image - compare to what google leads me to believe is a 'typical' Russian display here. WegianWarrior (talk) 15:36, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

When I worked in military flight simulation, I wrote and had do debug software relating that display in an F18's cockpit. (It's a separate circular display that's distinct from either of the square MFD's or the HUD in that aircraft). The actual graphics were classified beyond the grade of classification that I had - so I wasn't allowed to see the display that resulted from the software that I wrote. That was a very, very odd couple of weeks! SteveBaker (talk) 18:39, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

That’s the problem which I think will prevent the OP from getting the exact answer he wants. This post is very possible being read by people that know a lot about Radar Warning Receivers but one never leaves the armed forces completely -so they can't comment. This tech is something one does not talk about in detail. There are some cargo freighter anti-collision shipping systems that could be parallel but I decline from saying anymore about them either. Before posting the first time I did a quick google to see what was in the public domain on this subject. It was zilch.--Aspro (talk) 19:15, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Trouser or Trousers: Which is the better term?

How many people say "Trouser" for pants, instead of "Trousers." For example, one may say "I put on my black trouser" or "I am taking my trouser to the cleaners." Thank you. Zombiesturm (talk) 01:07, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Where have you ever seen it as "trouser"? In any case, it's incorrect usage unless you've only got one leg. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:22, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Or you could join the 21st century and call them "pants" (not "pant", and certainly not "pantaloon/s"). StuRat (talk) 01:29, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

So, your argument is that the answer to the OP's question is "Neither." The term "trousers" does seem to be less used, at least in the US. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:35, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Whatever the century, "pants" means underwear here in the UK, [12] so it's not used here to mean an outer garment; "trousers" is the general rule (always plural except for the trouser press). Alansplodge (talk) 01:59, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

That was my Canadian answer, too. Pants, pants, pants! And panties, not knickers or bloomers. InedibleHulk (talk) 01:38, February 7, 2015 (UTC)

"Trousers" is still good if there's a need for two syllables, as in the song, "Donald, Where's Your Trousers?" ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:40, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Trousers is less used than what? The claim is a relative one, and while trousers (113,000,000 ghits) is certainly less used than pants, it is not less used than trouser (21,800,000 ghits). μηδείς (talk) 02:55, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Right. "Trouser" would be incorrect. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 04:55, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Except in "trouser snake". I think. Maybe people actually do say "trousers snake", and we just never hear the S. Want some mice cream? Anyway, most of those "trouser" results use trouser as an adjective for things about trousers. A few on the first page aren't talking about pants at all. Context matters. Plenty of stories about dogs in the pants list, too. InedibleHulk (talk) 05:08, February 7, 2015 (UTC)

Agreed, but the correct term is attributive noun. The plural ending is usually dropped, as in 'a ten-mile walk', for example. It is obvious that 'mile[s]' in this case is plural, because of the 'ten' before it, but the plural ending is dropped. Similarly with my example below of 'trouser pocket'. We know that all trousers have two legs and should be plural, but the plural ending is dropped when used as a modifier. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 11:55, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Thanks. I was a bit uncertain about "adjective". InedibleHulk (talk) 21:02, February 7, 2015 (UTC)

Yes. Like "US Presidents have a four-year term", not a "four-years term". Or "This scissor blade is dull, but the other's ok". See also Plurale tantum#English usage. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 19:01, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

I disagree with Alan, because 'ere oop norf, 'pants' and 'trousers' are interchangeable. We use 'undies' for 'underwear', along with plenty of other slang words, which I shall not divulge. In answer to the OP's question, it is possible to say "It's in your trouser pocket" when asked about the fiver you just gave someone. I don't know why we say that, but "trouser's pocket" just sounds odd, probably because of convention. But when you are talking about a pair of trousers, then it is always plural. Same as glasses (so Google got it wrong by naming its latest product 'Google Glass' because it's not a monocle! :) ). KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 04:06, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

It's a looking glass. InedibleHulk (talk) 04:40, February 7, 2015 (UTC)

Aye, as in "Alas, where are my funds in this land?". KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 11:34, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

That, too. But the software also mirrors the world you look at. Or would, if it were on the market. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:05, February 7, 2015 (UTC)

I disagree with your disagreement KägeTorä. Last night I heard Northumbrian comedian Ross Noble use both "trousers" and "pants" in the usual British fashion on QI XL, so I suspect that your particular part of the North is using a dialectic peculiarity rather than following a generally held rule. Alansplodge (talk) 17:45, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

It's not all northern English dialects that use "pants" for trousers, but KT is correct that the usage is common in some of the older dialects (and Scouse uses "keks" as KT will know). The use of "pants" to mean undergarments dates from 1880 (or before) in British English. Dbfirs 17:58, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I stand corrected. Trousers, of course, were being worn by Nelson's Sailors when everybody else was wearing breeches. Alansplodge (talk) 22:07, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

'Kecks' is certainly a word we use, and specifically means trousers, and not undergarments. 'Pants' also means 'trousers', but when referring to a lady's undergarment, the word 'pants' is also used (as in "Get yer pants off"). Normally, however, in a non-sexual context, 'pants' would mean the same as 'trousers'. This is also interesting, because 'kecks' is always plural. Unlike the attributive noun example I have given of 'trouser pocket', we never say 'keck pocket'. We'd just say "It's in yer kecks". KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 23:44, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I have at least once had a haberdasher sing the praises of the "pant" that he was selling me. —Tamfang (talk) 06:52, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Half off? Clarityfiend (talk) 08:24, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

For some reason, Marks and Spencer's labelling pedantically uses the singular of all plural-named garments, so they will try to sell you one trouser, one pant, etc. No-one else bothers. AlexTiefling (talk) 09:05, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

You should retaliate by calling them "Mark & Spencer's" KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 11:41, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

The only time I've ever come across "trouser" is in the phrase "to trouser" which means to quickly hide your ill-gotten gains where you think they can't be seen. Oh and by the way, it was a Mr Marks who set up Marks and Spencer's. --TammyMoet (talk) 12:09, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Also trouser press. Staecker (talk) 13:47, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

I can't say if it's still current, but thirty years ago I got used to hearing staff in menswear shops refer to "a trouser" where I would have said "A pair of trousers". I suspect that this jargon is what appears in the M&S label you mention. --ColinFine (talk) 17:33, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

• My understanding was that "trouser" was okay for anything specific to one trouser leg while "trousers" referred to the whole garment. Trouser snake - one side or the other, trouser press - one leg at a time, trouser (steal) - put in one pocket. St★lwart¹¹¹ 06:20, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Without wanting to be rude, Stalwart111}, that sounds very like one of the many just-so stories that people make up to try and account for an oddity of language. Have you any evidence for it? --ColinFine (talk) 17:33, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

None, and it may well have that genesis. I just remember discussing it at University as exactly that; an oddity of the English language. In the same context as a pair of shorts. As such, that explanation became my understanding of how that oddity came about. Could well be the other way around. St★lwart¹¹¹ 21:18, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

What about trouser suit? ---Sluzzelin talk 08:29, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I suspect the extra "s" would have been redundant even if included. Trousers suit? Much like trouser snake which could just as easily be both/either I suppose. St★lwart¹¹¹ 12:45, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Actually, this is a really interesting question. When I was in Japan (which has a language with no plurals for inanimate objects), people would ask me why trousers are plural, even though the word refers to a single item of clothing. I would count to two on my fingers, and make a walking movement with them, to demonstrate why they are considered plural. But then they would ask why 'shirt' isn't plural, because you have two arms. Most interestingly, the Japanese word for 'shirt' is シャーツ (shaatsu), which is 'shirt' with the English plural 's' added. If the plural ending had not been added, it would have been シャート (shaato). KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 13:19, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

• Terms without the final ess or vowel mutation come from the Old English genitive of measure, like a ten-man team and a six-foot depth or a hundred trouser closet, for that matter:

  There is also the "genitive of measure": forms such as "a five-mile journey" and "a ten-foot pole" use what is actually a remnant of the Old English genitive plural which, ending in /a/, had neither the final /s/ nor underwent the foot/feet vowel mutation of the nominative plural. In essence, the underlying forms are "a five of miles (O.E. gen. pl. mīla) journey" and "a ten of feet (O.E. gen. pl. fōta) pole".

  μηδείς (talk) 18:17, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

You say "potah-toe". --Dweller (talk) 11:10, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Measles vaccine

call the pharmacy at (207) 797-3393, hit 3 for the pharmacy dept., and then 4 for a live person
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Does CVS Pharmacy offer the measles vaccines without a prescription. And do they offer it on a walk-in basis or do you need to make an appointment? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 169.244.148.235 (talk) 15:42, 7 February 2015 (UTC) This page [13] suggests that you should make an appointment (but you can do it online) - and no, you don't need a prescription for the vaccination. For very young children, you'll probably need proof of their age...a birth certificate, for example. I believe that the vaccine they use is called "MMR" which covers you for more than just Measles. SteveBaker (talk) 16:16, 7 February 2015 (UTC) Some of the above information was contradicted by calling the OP's local CVS at (207) 797-3393. Reading between the lines, I think that the OP wants to know about the availability of a single measles inoculation rather than the triple jab. There are things happening in Portland right now. As we do not offer medical advice nor recommendations, the OP (in the nicest possible way) will be better off googleing around elsewhere -if this is his quest. --Aspro (talk) 19:43, 7 February 2015 (UTC) This is extremely easy to address. Google your local CVS's phone number, wait for the automated system, press 3 for the pharmacy, wait for the prompt to begin and hit 4 for a live person. The person who answers will either be a pharmacist or standing next to her, and able to answer immediately and authoritatively. The other question is cost, which you may have to pay out of pocket. In the time it took me to type this you'd've had your answer, but I can't tell you what you might pay. There's also 1-888-607-4CVS, but calling the local number will be quicker and more effective. Also, don't limit yourself to CVS, I alternate between Walgreens and CVS and find costs for a prescription may vary by hundreds of dollars. Also, certain pharmacies in "underserved" (i.e., poor, urban) areas offer better rates. Shop around. μηδείς (talk) 20:45, 7 February 2015 (UTC) Do they take insurance? Do they take MaineCare? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 169.244.148.235 (talk) 20:48, 7 February 2015 (UTC) Here's the direct number for one of the Portland CVSeses: (207) 797-3393. Ask them about insurance, we can't speak on their behalf, nor tell you if they will require a scrip. My experience with other shots is that walk-in is fine, but they may not have the specific item in stock, so calling ahead is the best advice, and they can give you the numbers or transfer you to other local branches. μηδείς (talk) 20:51, 7 February 2015 (UTC) I just called the pharmacy whose number I listed above and got the answers, including whether they give stand-alone shots. I won't repeat the answers, as it's WP:OR--you should call them yourself. μηδείς (talk) 20:59, 7 February 2015 (UTC) I am closing this to save space--the OP is aware he has to contact the pharmacy, we can't do it for him. μηδείς (talk) 23:53, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Window Envelopes

In the United States, bills are often sent by mail along with an envelope with a transparent "window" that displays the mailing address when the bill is inserted into the envelope with the address showing through the window. There are four ways that the bill can be inserted into the envelope, only one of which shows the address. My question is: What is the advantage of the window to the mailer? Does it really save that much money in terms of the cost of printing the envelope, over just printing a complete paper envelope with the address shown? Doesn't making the envelope composite (partly paper and partly transparent material) add something to the cost of the envelope? What is the saving to the mailer, and why do they do this? Robert McClenon (talk) 22:17, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

My educated guess is that mass production of window envelopes is indeed much cheaper than mass printing (different) addresses that are already included in the bill/letter. Safes a lot of time. Also you don't have to match the right envelope with the right letter which simplifies the production line for the mailer.TMCk (talk) 22:28, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

I think that the question has been answered, and that it isn't to save money up front on the envelopes, but to force the customer to put the bill in the envelope, which saves money in the long run in terms of not having to figure out whose account to credit. Robert McClenon (talk) 23:39, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

It's a way to ensure that the customer remembers to insert the bill in the envelope. Otherwise they end up with lots of envelopes with just checks, and spend a lot of money trying to figure out whose account those checks are for. If the name on the check happens to correspond exactly with one, and only one, customer name, it's not so bad. But you can have a maiden name/married name situation, or somebody other than the account holder signing the check, etc. They also tell you to write your account number on your check, just in case. BTW, sometimes there is no transparent covering, just an open space in the envelope for their address to peek through.

I've also thought that an improvement could be made by having all the relevant info printed directly on the inside of the envelope, so then the customer would only need to put the check inside. I assume they don't do this because it would be more expensive. Of course, mailing in checks is now quaint, and they may soon start charging more for that to persuade people to pay online, by ACH, etc. StuRat (talk) 22:46, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Thank you. Forcing the customer to put the bill in the envelope is the reason, which avoids the work of figuring out whose check was sent to them. Robert McClenon (talk) 23:39, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

I just saw that I misread the OP tho my response is still valid in part ;) TMCk (talk) 22:57, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

• You are approaching the question in the wrong direction. We know it is the most profitable way to do it because companies are doing it that way. Businesses aren't in the habit of knowing about better, more efficient, ways to make money, and then deliberately pissing away cash just because. When millions of businesses do something a certain way, it's because it isn't terrible. If it were significantly more cost efficient to do it, they would do it the other way. If they don't, they become ex-businesses. --Jayron32 23:07, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

I doubt if they do an annual study on the relative costs and benefits of envelopes with windows each year. More likely they just keep doing things the same old way until somebody else takes a risk and tries something else and it pays off. There have been many companies that failed because they didn't adapt quickly enough, so just assuming that every company must be doing everything in the optimal way is not reasonable. Clearly, many are not. StuRat (talk) 01:04, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

It was answered, but it isn't that printing the envelope that way saves money on printing, but rather that forcing the customer to put the bill in the envelope saves the cost of trying to figure out whose account to credit. Robert McClenon (talk) 23:39, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

The only thing they're "forcing" you is mailing the payment slip with your check. You can use your own envelope if you wish (or if you lost the free one) and if you don't mind your payment to be applied late or to the wrong account you sure can just send a check with the billing account # on it.TMCk (talk) 00:38, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

• Having both hand-mailed and explained such bills sent out mechanically, the issue is that the bill statement itself has to have the same (billing) address on it as the mailing envelope. That being the case, it's a lot easier to have that address show up through a "window" (which is often just a hole--less paper and no plastic) than to print it twice, or have it written out by hand, as I was paid $3.15/hr to do in the early 80's. μηδείς (talk) 23:51, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

I would think that it also avoids the risk of the letter being inserted in the wrong envelope. Having worked in numerous offices, I can confirm that cock-ups of that nature are commonplace. Alansplodge (talk) 17:50, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I think the OP is asking why the bill is sent to the customer in a window envelope, not why the company encloses a window envelope for the customer's use. The latter isn't very common in the UK IMHO. With regard to the former, there are two distinct advantages. Laser-printing personalised details is more expensive than the additional cost of a window. And, in my experience a lesser issue, but nonetheless one that exists, ensuring that envelopes and contents are correctly matched also adds a small degree of complexity to the operation, which does sometimes go awry (took me two seconds to find this).--Dweller (talk) 11:06, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

I agree with Dweller. I could easily understand the question, as I'm quite familiar with windowed envelopes, but I couldn't understand most of the answers above. Where I live, most people pay their bills with an electronic bank transfer they order on their bank's website. Checks are something they may have come accross in 19th-century novels – or if they happened to travel to the U.S. — Kpalion^(talk) 14:19, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The question isn't entirely clear, but Robert McClenon/the OP is the one who said "and that it isn't to save money up front on the envelopes, but to force the customer to put the bill in the envelope, which saves money in the long run in terms of not having to figure out whose account to credit". So it seems clear that the OP was in fact referring to envelopes being sent for the customer's use with windows, rather than envelopes with the bill enclosed having windows. Nil Einne (talk) 14:42, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

February 8

Lack of gem quality diamonds from DRC mines

This article about the lack of gem quality diamonds from the DRC cites the lack of industrialized production as the reason. "The quality of DRC’s diamonds was very poor as mining had been dominated by small scale miners." [14]

But this article about artisanal diamond mining in CAR notes the abundant gem quality of the country's mines. [15]

So is gem quality diamond production based on geology or mining process?

Muzzleflash (talk) 00:07, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

There's no lack of shiny stuff in the ground. Geological processes assure that. There's a lack of that shiny stuff getting out of the ground and into stores. That's down to the mining process. A superhuge corporation can plow Mother Earth harder, deeper, faster and longer than guys with tiny picks can. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:21, February 8, 2015 (UTC)

There could also be something else going on, like if miners are paid by weight, say, regardless of the quality they produce, so prefer to keep the good diamonds to hopefully sell for more when conditions improve. (Or perhaps they are paid based on quality, in theory, but the diamonds are always rated at the lowest quality no matter what, so they refuse to sell the good ones under those conditions.) StuRat (talk) 00:56, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I seem to recall there being no greater sin for a diamond miner than keeping even a bit of dust, let alone the good ones. But there's an (alleged) gemologist on a Straight Dope forum who says it goes on. Of course, some bosses can be much stricter than those who have things like accountability and regulation to worry about. They don't call them blood diamonds for nothing.

If you meant the mine bosses by "miners", nevermind. InedibleHulk (talk) 01:07, February 8, 2015 (UTC)

I guess on that note, not being able to afford a proper security team would lead to a lot of theft (internal and external), and you can't export what you can't find. InedibleHulk (talk) 01:13, February 8, 2015 (UTC)

The obvious way to hide a diamond is to swallow it and "retrieve" it later. Perhaps that's why they are selling "chocolate diamonds" now. StuRat (talk) 01:50, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Mmmm...dignified. InedibleHulk (talk) 05:04, February 8, 2015 (UTC)

Is this song in this video sung by Bob Marley and what is the song about

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PjycHgHbmoVenustar84 (talk) 02:04, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I've never heard this song before (and I know like 85% of Bob Marley's songs by heart and can and will sing along to them), but SoundHound says this indeed by Bob Marley and The Wailers. A demo version of Where is My Mother. More than that, I can't say, sorry. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 19 Shevat 5775 02:09, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Human sexuality

OK, so we all know homosexuality is no longer considered an illness. Psychiatry manuals consider it normal. It can't be treated, cured fixed or whatever. Society in the West has become tolerant of gays and lesbians. But, what about other sexual conditions that people end up having. Zoophilia, (dare I say pedophilia) again like Homosexuality as I understand it the evidence points out to people just being born that way. And them then having to spend their life fighting inappropriate urges (and sometimes losing, sadly for the victims involved) In the bad old days people used to believe men or women became gay out of some sort of perverse crime of the mind and it wasn't just an innate part of their being. So what's the difference?

The only argument I can find that basically says homosexuality good zoophilia/paedophilia etc bad is the victim element. Other than that, whats not to say that those other sexualities aren't part of the normal human condition, either. Any thoughts on this?

I know this is a HIGHLY emotive subject, but as per wiki policies please respect AGF. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.180.169.233 (talk) 15:32, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I'm not aware of any evidence that people with zoophilia, pedophilia, or other paraphilias are "born that way". If you know of any, please cite it, I would be very interested. My personal view is that paraphilias probably result from a window of brain plasticity that occurs near the age of puberty, but that's purely speculative -- unlike homosexuality, there has been very little scientific study of the biology of paraphilias (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3658696/ is one of the few examples). Looie496 (talk) 16:15, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

With homosexuality, while people are "born that way", whether they express their homosexuality outwardly or keep it deeply suppressed seems to depend on how accepting the society and their family and friends are. Perhaps paraphilias follow the same pattern. StuRat (talk) 16:26, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

See also our article Lovemap; "a developmental representation or template in the mind and in the brain depicting the idealized lover and the idealized program of sexual and erotic activity". According to John Money's theory, " the formation of an individual's lovemap as similar to the acquisition of a native language, in that it bears the mark of his or her own unique individuality, similar to an accent in a spoken language". Alansplodge (talk) 17:38, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

• The ref desk policy also says we do not engage in speculation or debate. AGF does not overcome this. Do you have a specific request for references or articles, other than "[What's] not to say that those other sexualities aren't part of the normal human condition, either. Any thoughts on this?" We cannot just give random thoughts. μηδείς (talk) 18:06, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Or, at least, it would be deviant behavior if we did. --70.49.169.244 (talk) 04:53, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

There is a legitimate question here: why is homosexuality not considered a paraphilia? I'm aware that the topic makes many people uncomfortable, and also that it lends itself to trolling, but there is a very sizable literature concerning it, so in my view it is a valid topic for the Reference desks. Looie496 (talk) 14:17, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

You sort of hinted at these ideas in your post, but the idea is not so much what is "normal" but what is legal or socially acceptable. For instance murder is a "normal" human behavior, in that any society bigger than a few hundred people is sure to see it happen. But most people wouldn't use that as an argument to say that murder should be legal. Many laws about sex have to do with "consent" - see informed consent, consent, Consent_(criminal law) and Rape#Consent. SemanticMantis (talk) 14:11, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

As you say, this is a highly emotive subject. With this in mind, it's worth noting that many people's reactions are driven by what is sometimes called the "yuck" or "ick" factor. As you will see from the linked article, some people believe that behaviour that is widely regarded as disgusting may be behaviour that reduces the probability of survival. Under this interpretation, our emotions of disgust are evolved responses to enhance our probability of survival. This is consistent with the more general idea that human emotions have evolved because they are useful to our survival. Like many others, I have personal thoughts on this matter, but I agree with μηδείς that the Reference Desk is not a place for personal opinions. RomanSpa (talk) 19:28, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Topical medicine on a cat

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

I don't think this qualifies as asking for medical advice, but what would happen if a cat got Triamcinolone on its fur and started licking it? Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 19 Shevat 5775 18:54, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

It would die. 82.19.76.217 (talk) 19:13, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

It is authorised for use in cats and dogs, in pill form [16]. Standard dose is between 0.5mg and 1mg per 10lb of body weight (0.11mg - 0.22mg per 1 kg). What was the strength of the cream, and how much did your cat ingest? LongHairedFop (talk) 19:51, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

The OP asked for information about ingestion in general and did not ask for advice. You're turning this into an advice question which would get it hatted. Dismas|^(talk) 19:56, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Elizabethan collar--Aspro (talk) 20:20, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

• Let us know, Jessica, if your question was not answered. μηδείς (talk) 21:37, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

My name is Henry as it says on my userpage. I asked about how to write the name Jessica in hieroglyphs because I wanted to make a cartouche for someone by that name (remember, Valentine's Day is coming up).... I was more wanting someone to point me to a resource I may have missed through googling (though probably should have been more specific). Someone I know uses that as topical cream and I want to give them the page so they know why they shouldn't touch a cat while wearing it. This is hopefully still within the bounds of the rules. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 19 Shevat 5775 21:50, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Astrology

Hello,

Does anybody no how to find out the planetary position according to day and date, time (not required)? Graphical illustrations would be perfect! -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 19:17, 8 February 2015 (UTC))

Do you want the astronomical (and scientific) position or the astrological (and magical) position? Because they can be drastically different.

This site has the astronomical position. If you wanted the astrological position, you'll need to specify whether you mean sidereal or tropical star charts. Ian.thomson (talk) 19:27, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

@Ian.thomson: The link you provided is good. There are no fields where I can insert 'present', 'past' or 'future' 'day', 'date' and 'time' in this site... I require a website that includes the mentioned fields... I also require the astrological (and magical) position along but trustworthy information. Both sidereal and tropical would be fine as, I heard the tropical one is thought to be more effective than the sidereal one, regardless some 'joytish' tend to make the sidereal one effective... -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 19:56, 8 February 2015 (UTC))

Western astrologers favour tropical ephemerides. There are plenty of these online, such as here, here, and here.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:56, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Yes I know, what I couldn't find is the graphical illustration along with the day and date field. Time field is not required as most website make it a must to enter it... This is what I am actually looking for. -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 18:43, 9 February 2015 (UTC))

Try the downloadable program Stellarium. There is a place to set date and time in the slide-out menu on the left side.    → Michael J Ⓣ Ⓒ Ⓜ 22:14, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Dreams

Does anyone know anything about ‘dreams’? There are books which explain about the dreams you had... What I would like to know, what is the concept all about? How many people can/can’t you tell your dream to...? -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 19:28, 8 February 2015 (UTC))

I presume you've read the article linked in the post heading. Only you know what your dream mean, nobody else and certainly you won't find it in a book. The reason for this is because a dream is purely a product of your own mind. You can tell a dream to the whole world if you can remember it, and if you'd like to! --TammyMoet (talk) 19:52, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Yes I have read the article, and yes I have also read a book, when I was young, which tells about the relative things that you may see/found in dreams... I did wonder at that time 'how on Earth he compiled it all...' Curious... -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 20:01, 8 February 2015 (UTC))

See dream interpretation. People have been interpreting dreams for millennia, and most writers of dream books have copied the interpretations of those who came before them (or have just made up ones of their own, of course). Deor (talk) 21:38, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Think of dreams as a sort of disk defrag (in computer terms). It's your mind trying to organize the information that it has recently been exposed to. Therefore, all of it comes from, and is based on, your own experiences. Never throw money at so-called (and self-styled) dreamologists, because they have no more superpowers than a palmologist or astrologist. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 22:00, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

lol. okay -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 18:31, 9 February 2015 (UTC))

Like that reply. I couldn't post earlier because what was going through my mind was a lot of psychology gobbledygook that no-one would understand. Yet 'defrag' and 'never throw money at' sumed it up perfectly.--Aspro (talk) 23:54, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

The science isn't 100% solid - but we know that our brains don't have enough storage space to keep all of our memories. What we do to cope with that is to gradually reduce the fidelity of unimportant memories. We seem to do that while we sleep and the mechanism appears to be that the memory is pulled into short-term memory, simplified, then pushed back out into long-term memory. Generally, we don't notice this happening - but if we happen to wake up while the process is happening, we discover a whole bunch of random stuff in our immediate memories. This makes us believe that there has been some very weird story being told to us.

If that's true (and the 'defragging your hard drive' analogy is a great one) - then dreams are truly, utterly meaningless. Interpreting them is pointless. They have no meaning. SteveBaker (talk) 23:52, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Meaningless things still require meaningful analysis to determine whether they're pointless. The journey toward understanding is important, the promise of knowledge at the end of the rainbow is just a dangling carrot. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:02, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

If you have a sense of what the things in your dreams stand for, to you, then they're not meaningless at all. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:56, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

That, too. InedibleHulk (talk) 04:09, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

Yep, Bugsy and Hulky are right! Like KageTora said, "all of it comes from, and is based on, your own experiences", and mixed with extras. -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 18:31, 9 February 2015 (UTC))

As for who you can't tell your dream to, many people. They're hard to explain, and usually end in "You just had to be there." While a hamburger, a whale and a staircase can seem pretty damn poignant while you're in your head, you really can't put it into words, and quite a few people won't even bother trying to actually listen. It's sort of rude, but understandable, because you're only describing the manifest content, not the latent content. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:06, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

For instance, me trying to explain how absolutely beautifully this dinosaur plays the notes between the notes would probably just make me sound lame. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:13, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

"It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream — making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible which is of the very essence of dreams." --Shirt58 (talk) 02:49, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Whenever you dream, you're holding the key. It opens the door and lets you be free. To find the sacred heart. Somewhere in the night. Between the sacred silence and sleep? Disorder! InedibleHulk (talk) 03:14, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

And so he was quiet; and that very night,
As Tom was a-sleeping, he had such a sight, -
That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned, and Jack,
Were all of them locked up in coffins of black.
And by came an angel who had a bright key,
And he opened the coffins and set them all free;
Then down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run,
And wash in a river, and shine in the sun.
--Shirt58 (talk) 09:26, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

You'll probably want to look at our articles on Dream interpretation, Oneiromancy, Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams, and Jung's Analytical psychology.

Interpreting dreams tends to be a matter of perspective. Oneiromancy is the purportedly supernatural interpretation of dreams. For the most part, Freud is known for assuming that most dreams are just symbols of repressed urges (especially those relating to sex and death), while Jung saw dreams as symbols of different parts of our personality trying to lead us to a more complete life.

You mean 'emotions' in general. What drives us in total. -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 18:31, 9 February 2015 (UTC))

I've not heard anything regarding a number of how many people you can tell your dream to, but that sounds more like Oneiromancy. Ian.thomson (talk) 19:51, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I've heard 3/4, but this was when I was a child. Probably a 'crap' if you guys don't know... -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 18:31, 9 February 2015 (UTC))

How do you talk to three-quarters of a person without the other quarter finding out? -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 23:13, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

I restored the above reply which was accidently deleted here [17]. I'ved added it to the bottom due to the risk it may be missed otherwise. Nil Einne (talk) 12:44, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Thanks peeps, I'll read through the articles... -- (Angelos|Angelus (talk) 18:32, 9 February 2015 (UTC))

Stuffball

What is Stuffball?--87.7.180.204 (talk) 22:53, 8 February 2015 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.7.180.204 (talk) 22:50, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Can you provide the usage in a sentence to give context. If English is not your mother tongue then you may not know that a 'stuffball' is a ball that is made from stuff. Me thinks, you're asking about something which carries a definition for a particular use and I can't guess what it is without more information.--Aspro (talk) 23:15, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Google gives this. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 23:28, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

$9.07 ?!!! --Aspro (talk) 23:42, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

Aye, a little expensive for something you might only use once a year for two years until your kids are old enough to 'learn' to stay at home and play on the Xbox or PS3 or something. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 00:08, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Google only finds rare meanings. The most common English term which might be misheard as stuffball is Softball. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:39, 8 February 2015 (UTC)

I haven't heard the term in use, but it makes me think of the Kong (dog toy). -- Deborahjay (talk) 06:55, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Makes me think of calvinball or sportsball [18]. "Stuffball" is not a common term anywhere in the USA I've lived or visited... SemanticMantis (talk) 16:43, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

February 9

Things that never happened

This is probably an odd question and I'm not sure if there are any answers. I'm looking for notable things that were supposed to happen but did not actually end up taking place. Things for which all the effort for it was put forth and at the last minute some event happened which kept it from happening. That event could be someone changing their mind, someone dying, one nation invading another, etc. But these events (or non-events, depending on how you look at it) should be notable, so not all the weddings that are called off every day throughout the world. Thanks, Dismas|^(talk) 01:15, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

I'll start. How about the Business Plot, World War III (in Cold War context), and the election of Al Gore as POTUS? Oh, also, Operation Downfall, Operation Sea Lion, the eventual aryanisation of all Europe, and the atomic bombing of Tokyo (had the Japanese not surrendered). Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 20 Shevat 5775 01:22, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Tokyo was never a planned target for atomic bombing; the original target list was Kyoto, Hiroshima, Yokohama, Kokura Arsenal, and Niigata. (Later Nagasaki was substituted for Kyoto because of the latter's religious significance, and was actually attacked because of bad weather at Kokura.) Perhaps Tokyo might eventually have been attacked if Truman had ordered the attacks resumed (I say "resumed" because he personally canceled them the day after the second one, when there was enough plutonium for at least one more; see The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes) and Japan had not surrendered.

On the other hand, a nuclear attack against Germany would surely have happened if they hadn't already lost their part of the war. --70.49.169.244 (talk) 05:16, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

I think the idea about Tokyo originally came from this guy: [19] Must have seen it on a programme way back when. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 20 Shevat 5775 16:53, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

UFC 151 was unprecedented. UFC 176 was not. InedibleHulk (talk) 02:03, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

Category:Cancelled projects and events. PrimeHunter (talk) 02:52, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

That's the most nothing I've ever seen. InedibleHulk (talk) 05:33, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

How about the plan for the US Air Force to provide adequate air cover for the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba to succeed ? StuRat (talk) 05:29, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

There's no article on Successful Bay of Pigs Invasion or adequate air cover. Almost everything (especially war) went at least a little worse than someone hoped for. It's not like the whole thing fell through. Might have been smarter to cancel, but they didn't. Gran Gasoducto del Sur didn't have a chance to fail. InedibleHulk (talk) 05:33, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

The Pan-American Highway was never completed. StuRat (talk) 05:38, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Gunpowder Plot? --Viennese Waltz 09:17, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Comet ISON was "supposed to be" (whatever that means) brighter than the full moon. And don't even get me started on the Year 2000 problem.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 09:21, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Multiple end-of-world 'prophecies' and, in fact, the entire works of Nostradamus may come under this category. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 09:45, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

The 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds (radio drama) caused widespread panic in the US, due to millions believing Martians had landed and were taking over the world, but no such landing had occurred. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 11:25, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

In 1939 Johann Georg Elser planted a bomb in the bierkeller where Hitler used to give speeches. On the night in question, Hitler (and other high ranking Nazis (including Goebells, Himmler, Heydrich and Hess) left the building 13 minutes before the explosion. Had he stayed a bit longer the course of The Second World War would probably been different and, I suspect, also the lives of millions of people worldwide.Widneymanor (talk) 13:11, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Most of us, including me, wouldn't exist. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 20 Shevat 5775 16:53, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Weather forecasts that turn out to be significantly wrong happen from time to time. Such as the recent prediction of a blizzard in New York, which turned out not to be much. (Boston was hit pretty hard, though.) Or worse, when a big storm hits and no one predicted it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:24, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Didn't I get a lot of flak on this very ref desk for characterising it as such in a loaded question of mine until I mentioned that we might have a boy who cried wolf scenario in NY next time? We then had a much worse snow storm the next week. But yeah, Boston is getting hit pretty bad. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 20 Shevat 5775 16:53, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Please respect WP:INDENT. As of now you have an indent level of 0, making everything below look like it is a response to your comment or one of its children SemanticMantis (talk) 20:16, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

How about Unfulfilled Christian religious predictions, Criticism_of_Jehovah's_Witnesses#Failed_predictions and List of dates predicted for apocalyptic events? These lists are Christian-centric; I've no doubt that Muslims, Hindus, and adherents of many other religions have made prophesies that have been widely held by believers as "shortly to come to pass", until, of course, they haven't. My favorite, by the way, is the Great Disappointment. RomanSpa (talk) 15:38, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Spelling note: You mean prophecies. The word prophesies exists, but it's a verb — "Our great leader prophesies that such and such will happen". Likely you know that and just made a typo; in that case consider this note for the benefit of others. --Trovatore (talk) 15:52, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Nope, it was a genuine error on my part. I believe I'm generally good at spelling, but I have to check this class of verb/noun pairs every time. In this case I forgot to check, and so am shown to be fallible. Thanks for your kind correction. RomanSpa (talk) 17:32, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

This one is also pretty good: "In Leeds, England in 1806 a hen began laying eggs on which the phrase "Christ is coming" was written. Eventually it was discovered to be a hoax. The owner, Mary Bateman, had written on the eggs in a corrosive ink so as to etch the eggs, and reinserted the eggs back into the hen's oviduct." RomanSpa (talk) 15:43, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Significantly more disturbing than Christ on a piece of toast. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 20 Shevat 5775 16:53, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

• Despite the Chicago Tribune's screaming heading "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN" in November 1948, it turned out that the reverse was actually the case. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 19:23, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Researchers in Sydney have been uncovering more and more evidence that Napoleon planned to invade and seize Australia, these were ready to go ahead until the Battle of Trafalgar put a stop to them. Nanonic (talk) 19:41, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

From 1940-1942, the Nazis were planning on sending all the Jewish people to Madagascar, see Madagascar_Plan. SemanticMantis (talk) 20:13, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Lots of people failed to get to the poles, though they intended to reach them. See List_of_Arctic_expeditions, List_of_Antarctic_expeditions, and this list of specifically "doomed" expeditions [20]. SemanticMantis (talk) 20:22, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

That reminds me that the entire Earth is bipolar, so it's no wonder that various inhabitants are also this way. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 23:12, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

• Your first stop for this would be alternatehistory.com, though be aware that their main forum moderator can be.... interesting sometimes. 82.21.7.184 (talk) 22:51, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

What Is The Name Of This Type Of Interment ?

What is the English name( or equivalent if none exist ) for the burial of a corpse in a wall such as this ? Example — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2602:306:CE2E:10D0:958A:16AC:B5CE:380F (talk) 20:22, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

They are called crypts, so logically, the term should be encrypt, but I can't find that anywhere. There's also immure, but that usually means to wall up a live person. μηδείς (talk) 20:37, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Wall crypt, in particular. The Palatinal Crypt is also a crypt. So wall encrypt, I guess. Sounds stupid as a verb, though. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:00, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

Apparently, "burial vault" is the more secular term. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:04, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

I'd call that a (primitive) mausoleum, and this dictionary definition associates the word "entombment". ―Mandruss ☎ 20:58, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

This would seem to support the Hulk (dammit!) ―Mandruss ☎ 21:05, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Don't feel bad. I grew up in a funeral home, but still get mausoleums, crypts and tombs confused. My town wasn't fancy like that. People went in the dirt. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:15, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

For some odd reason, my mother keeps saying she wants to be cremated. (Wanting to be cremated is not odd; saying it repeatedly, on holidays, is.) So now I have a comeback. Next time I'll reply, "Well, I want to be encrypted." μηδείς (talk) 21:41, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

I sometimes want (and wish more wanted) to be encased in a statue of myself for a headstone. Not sure what the word for that is (encasement, I guess), but I've been outright told no by two places and gotten an implied no from a few cemetery websites. Having your remains on the stone (skull and crossbones-style) is more explicitly outlawed. No clear answers on whether I can do it on my own land, but I haven't asked the right people. Doing it in the ocean would be pretty cool. InedibleHulk (talk) 22:15, February 9, 2015 (UTC)

Why haven't wood stoves been banned?

With laws outlawing public smoking in effect, why is it ok for people to use wood stoves making entire city blocks a no go area unless you wear a gas mask? :( . Count Iblis (talk) 23:29, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

I'm fairly sure that round here, they are. Clean Air Act, I think. But in the US, I'd think it would be a matter for individual municipalities, as it is in the case of smoking. AlexTiefling (talk) 23:38, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

I found some reading (US based) for you in case you wish to educate yourself some more on the topic. This document (pdf) looks like a fairly balanced presentation of the issues involved. Here is some information from a different U.S. state. Here is one from Canada and Here is an article about a study in Denmark. --Jayron32 23:44, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

Because we have elected officials who think that requiring businesses to post signs saying "we do not require our employees to wash our hands" is somehow a sane way to decrease regulation. Ian.thomson (talk) 23:45, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

In cities it can be a problem, but in a rural area the houses are far enough apart that they don't have to smell each other's smoke. Also, smoking is typically only banned inside in the US, leading to a cloud of choking smoke and hacking people near every door. StuRat (talk) 23:46, 9 February 2015 (UTC)

See Wood-burning stove#Safety and pollution considerations.

—Wavelength (talk) 00:00, 10 February 2015 (UTC)

Trolling Jimmy

Jim'll fix it! Or won't he. Are there any instances where Jimmy has been blatantly called out for trolling or vandalising any aspect of Wikipedia. Like, caught with his pants totally down. Have any editors even locked horns with him. And does he have ultimate executive power over authority here. Piss me off and I ban you sort of thing. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 103.41.63.12 (talk) 00:20, 10 February 2015 (UTC)

Use the search function. Navigate to founder Jimmy Wale's page and you can search all his contributions to the project. --73.202.210.56 (talk) 00:23, 10 February 2015 (UTC)