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Actually it doesnt change instantly, proof?, edit an article then you should see your change visbale after you save it, now lets try deleting cookies, temp internet files and cache, now open that article once more...SURPRISE ! --RedStaR 00:19, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What are you talking about? --LambiamTalk 04:27, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If anything, deleting all those files should give you the most recent version of an article. Maybe someone undid the changes you made? Try Wikipedia:Tutorial and see if they meet the basic requirements. -- Mgm|(talk) 08:02, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Rjindael specification
Can someone find the AES technical specification and link it? I've seen a few PDFs but they're too abstract to implement --frothTC 00:54, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What would a building designed by birds look like?
Any ideas? Birds have a completely different spacial awareness to us. I mean, like in every room, the walls and ceilings could be used as useful space to a sentient flying creature. If you look at parrots now, they don't mind climbing up and hanging upside down at all. Could have a skyscraper with an entrance to each floor on each floor too. Has anyone ever tried to think like a bird and drawn up any stuff?
I have no doubt that the people on Planet of the Birds are asking the very same question about us. Яussiaп F 01:23, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For some reason, the image just popped into my head of hen birds flying to work, having left their eggs at 'daycare incubator facilities'. Rows and rows of eggs stacked floor-to-ceiling in their own individual temperature-regulated compartments, being monitored by machines and turned every so often - in a huge warehouse-type building, a similar size to the one in the final scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark. --Kurt Shaped Box 01:29, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I doubt they would have external entrances to each room. Birds advanced enough to make skyscrapers would most certainly have a complex social structure equal to our own, and I imagine concepts such as "lobbies" and "reception desks" would be part of their culture as well. I can imagine a multi-tier system of building construction, one in which tall buildings are constructed in segments, each relatively independant of its neighbouring parts. One must also consider air and wind-tunnel management, which I imagine is an integral part of bird transportation planning. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 01:46, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why in god's name would birds want create skyscrapers? Birds and glass are not exactly the best of friends. Chris 03:23, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For some reason when I read that description, the image just popped into my head of a Brave New World-esque incubation line in which eggs as they slowly go down the conveyer belt are heated and cooled to get used to different environments, dropped and caught so they fly at an earlier age, and bathed in radiation to make sure that the lower birds (pigeons for example) aren't smart enough to throw off the eagle government --frothTC 03:27, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For the masters of this brave new avian world, I'd look towards the parrots or the corvids. They already have a huge head-start in terms of intelligence on other species. It's often the case that the pet/owner dynamic is completely reversed with captive birds from these two families - i.e. the bird trains the owner to behave how it wants the owner to behave. I used to have a lovebird - even a little bird like that managed to have me wrapped around her little finger (claw?). Screech? I'd pay her attention. Chew my books and magazines? I'd pay her attention. Bite me when she was on my shoulder? That was a sign she was tired and wanted me to put her back into her cage to take a nap. Rear up and hiss at me? I'd go away and leave her alone. Pull a funny face and cock her head when I was eating? She wanted to try some of whatever I was having. --Kurt Shaped Box 12:51, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I would definitely see a doctor about this bird fixation you seem to have. Youre not related to Alfred Hitchcock are you?--Light current 01:48, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Imagine bird furniture shaped like human fingers, and skyscrapers with only a handicapped elevator, and a hole in the wall on each floor for everyone else.Edison 05:17, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The question is moot. Without fingers it's nearly impossible to design a building. Birds can't physically draw it on paper or draw it on a computer. _ Mgm|(talk) 07:59, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Never seen the manual dexterity displayed by most species of parrot? Their feet can be used like hands (with two opposable 'thumbs'). A macaw could certainly hold a pen - and I don't suppose that there's any physical reason why it couldn't write/draw if it had the inclination/intellect to do so. --Kurt Shaped Box 11:41, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry to spoil the fun by stating the obvious, but see nest.--Shantavira 08:02, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If ever there were a funny vandalism for BJAODN it would be changing nest into an article about a bird city --frothTC 16:27, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That sounds like quite an uncyclopedic behaviour... 惑乱 分からん 19:23, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ironic since this is today's featured article --frothTC 19:06, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Actors and actresses 1990
How many actors and actresses who were born in 1990 are American?
(P.S.: Can give me a list of actors and actresses? Please.)
Actors and actresses 1990 2
How may actors and actresses who were born in 1990 are Canadians?
Many people believe they are actors but are not, many people work as actors but don't believe themselves to be, and there are thousands if not millions of people working as actors that have not become well-known enough to get any recognition from their work. This question is unanswerable. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 01:39, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
IMDb has all the people that have entries there listed by date of birth as well as by birth year (or at least they used to). You could go through those lists and count them, though I don't envy the task. Dismas|(talk) 02:11, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
853 American male, 788 American female; 118 Canadian male, 124 female Chris 03:25, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Chris, how can you know the exact number?
Aaren't Canadians American? Or did yo mean USian? DirkvdM 06:18, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Good point! Upon closer examination, it turns out that Canada and US&A are, in fact, different provinces of the same country. Wow! you learn something new every day! I believe US&A is colloquially referred to as 'the ghetto of Canada', the slum section. Chris 11:13, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I actually once met a Canadian who got really pissed of when I said somthing like that because he didn't get the pun and interpreted 'America' as the USA. He even thought that man people in the world regard Canada as one of the United States. Oh, and I like the term US&A. The way the US regard and treat their 'backyard' that would indeed be appropriate. DirkvdM 06:00, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Music Artist
Yesterday I heard this name on the radio, and I think I have heard it before, but I'm not sure what group he is from- the name is "Archie Rein". If anyone knows I'd appreciate it. Thanks. :)
Im going to regret asking this
Why are birds (especially seabirds) such a popular topic on WP ref desks?--Light current 02:00, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Lots of bird spotters? But then we'd have a lot of questions about trains as well...Ziggurat 03:12, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We may even get a camel spotter to stop in. Dismas|(talk) 03:22, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How about Cameleopard spotters? Can a Cameleopard change its spots?Edison 05:19, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What can I say, It's just a lot easier for editors to wing it when we're talking about birds. --AstoVidatu 03:15, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And it's all smoke and mirrors when it comes to the topic of the speed of light --frothTC 03:22, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We are training the 'Killer Attack Gulls' as we speak... --Zeizmic 19:12, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, Kurt actually has a seagull hobby/habit. Then, after he posted many questions about them, others started asking sea bird questions as a joke. StuRat 20:07, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well can anyone think if a funnier animal to talk about like a Orang Utan for instance--Light current 22:16, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Can seagulls whistle? Can one train a seagull to whistle through his pecker?
music
looking for some misogynist, objectifying music of the style of Benny Benassi (e.g. Satisfaction, Who's your daddy) any suggestions? Jasbutal 02:45, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Elvis's A Little Less Conversation maybe? "Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me" Ziggurat 03:04, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Lemon Song" by Led Zeppelin maybe? "Squeeze me baby, till the juice runs down my leg, / The way you squeeze my lemon, / I..Im gonna fall right out of bed, yeah." Dismas|(talk) 03:10, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
sorry, I should have said by style I meant that freaky electronica beat he's got. I love it, and the themes of the songs are just added bonuses. Jasbutal 03:31, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Call me a romantic, but good old objectification is good in itself. I don't need any misogynism involved... @_@ 惑乱 分からん 10:04, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
they come hand in hand according to some. but whichever, Ineed more of that good beat! Jasbutal 13:01, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
is it the deceptive, hollow big-business (ostensibly society as a whole) imposing itself on some form of innocence? (better add a disclaimer, this ain't hw) Jasbutal 04:05, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
False. These music videos are made by highly-skilled and well-paid artistic directors and have aesthetic value that is meant to be coupled with the lyrics. Jasbutal 05:22, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I thought the idea was that the video should have no connection with the lyrics, so that it looks as though the lyrics had some deeper hidden meaning when in fact they are completely vacuous.--Shantavira 08:15, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
ok fine, let's take your assumption as correct. What do you think is the meaning of the video? Or do you think it is just vice versa and the video is equally vacuous? Jasbutal 12:59, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I didn't see the video you posted (two were made for the song), but I saw the one on MTV in which the band members are playing the song while in a soap box derby. Tell me the poetic genius behind that. — X[Mac Davis] (SUPERDESK|Help me improve)01:26, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Speaking of seabirds...
There were some birds I noticed when I was in the Navy off the Pacific coast of Panama. Their basic body type was similar to a seagull but much larger - about the size of a U.S. pelican. They had a distinctive blue ring on the skin surrounding their eyes and ate a lot of flying fish. I seem to recall most of their plumage was gray. Haven't been able to identify them through Audubon guides in the States. Anyone know what these are? Durova 09:35, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No idea whether this is it, but the Anhinga looks like it has blue rings around its eyes on this picture, it belongs to the order Pelecaniformes, and it can be seen in Panama.---Sluzzelin 10:22, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This species didn't have to dry out its wings after it landed. They rode the air currents of our ship hundreds of miles out at sea. The body shape really resembled a seagull. I mentioned pelicans only to give an idea of how much larger than seagulls they are. Thanks for the guess. We'll keep trying. Durova 15:27, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Albatros? *sigh* I know the jokes are gonna storm on in(hotclaws**== 21:30, 28 September 2006 (UTC))[reply]
That seems about right. I read through all the species and can't figure out which one. Durova 22:48, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Okay, got a look at another image and I think we have a winner: the Short-tailed Albatross. And to think the things were nearly extinct 50 years ago... :) Durova 06:43, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why are you all deleting the article about Good Burger 2?
Wikipedia articles need evidence. There's no evidence for this film, so the article should be deleted. If you don't want it deleted, provide evidence. Middenface 13:37, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That could be a link to an imdb page saying it is definitely in production, or a press release from the company, or something like that. Skittle 13:39, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Found this on imdb but I'm not registered so I can't read it --frothTC 16:34, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I checked it out. The fans there were rejoicing because they saw the sequel "confirmed" by Wikipedia! IMDB does not have anything official for GB2. Clarityfiend 18:36, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Heh, sorry :) --frothTC 19:07, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In the 1980s, 1990s and the 2000s, do you remember when Manuel Mijares sang Soldado del Amor(The Love Soldier), Para Amarnos Mas(Loving Each Other More) and Con un Nudo en la Garganta(With a Frog in the Throat)? Do you also remember the telenovela titled Rebeca (telenovela)(Rebecca) when he sang the theme song to the telenovela?
No -- SGBailey 23:33, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No thanks. It's your homework, not mine. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 15:34, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why dont you look at the link and write your own lines? Anyway, who said it was inhuman? Seems very human to me--Light current 15:38, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I assume he's a student of a very orthodox institution. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 05:57, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sati refers to :
mindfulness (not inhuman)
Sati (practice), the immolation of a widow on her husband's pyre. It's human as men do it, and inhuman as other men wish they wouldn't (me too). Shall that practice disappear together with war, bullfight, rape, lies, &c. ? Circus games and slavery slowly belong to the past. Men are too human to be too wise (any smiley conveying a Buddha mind ?) -- DLL .. T 20:34, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I was trying to record the music out of Fl0w with Audacity and apparently I had it set up to mix the wav output with the mic input because halfway though the track someone knocked on my door and the audio spiked.. excited, I closed audacity and opened windows sound recorder. It turns out that somewhere on my laptop I've got a very high quality microphone that perfectly picks up my voice (audio sample) even if I'm sitting up in comforable laptop-using position. Does anyone else have a t60 thinkpad or know where the microphone is on this thing? --frothTC 17:27, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have another ThinkPad, and it's in between the speakers on the top, right below the display screen. There isn't much to see, just two small slits. StuRat 19:53, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have two slits next to the Fn key could that be it? --frothTC 01:37, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Could be. Put your thumb over it and try to record something, to see if it sounds muffled. That should tell you if it is. StuRat 16:31, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's not muffled at all. Also wherever the sound is coming from (except directly below and behind) it sounds the same --frothTC 02:48, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hmm, I'm stumped then. StuRat 18:34, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
supermans heat vision
i recently read and saw some comics and episodes of smallville where supermans heat vision can have a concussive effect and knock people backwards is this part of the cannon because i thought they acted like lasers and could just heat or cut things?
fred
If I had a cannon, it would definitely have a concussive effect. Not sure about canon though. Clarityfiend 18:40, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Pachelbel's Canon has knocked out a multitude of people.
It's fictional, they can write it into the script so that the heat vision sprouts flowers if they want. The comic book canon is very different from the television show canon. As another example, in the X-Men comic books, Storm's eyes are blue, in the movies they're brown. Anything can be changed, it all depends on how much the fans will warm up (pun intended) to the new idea. The article on canon should help. Dismas|(talk) 17:13, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Suprisingly no - I'm just remembering back to my younger years, maybe that card takes me back to the nostaligic time of getting up early to watch Ceefax before real TV started. Benbread 18:32, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
DJ, You might want to fix that link, as it doesn't quite lead to where you want it to :-). However, I do want to thank you for that connection, and also Benbread for the question - I watched LoM on BBC-America, but didn't realize that the young girl and clown were anything more than a young girl and a clown. --LarryMac 19:55, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hey, I just need to clear something up; can anyone copy an article or parts of an article from wikipedia, as long as they give wikipedia credit for the information? Musli Miester 21:24, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Only if you comply with the GFDL. It offers a number of freedoms, but it does have specific requirements. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 23:34, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Trivia Subpage
Hello, I have just added a subpage about trivia at User:Reywas92/Trivia. Please take a look at it and fix any errors I made in it or delete any non-factual info. If you have time, please link ([[ ]]) a few lines of it as it is too long to do all myself. Thank you very much, Reywas92Talk 21:46, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sheesh, make your own research. I barely skimmed through all that, so I just say that I'm skeptical about the "hula hoop illegal in Finland" claim. 惑乱 分からん 22:10, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I took a look through it. There are several that are just not true. CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 13:23, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I never said to read it all, just take a quick look. Which aren't true? Reywas92Talk 19:13, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The origin of the name Jeep is disputed. John Sedgwick could use another brack... Clarityfiend 23:59, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Amish men grow men after they get married" ? Well, if they have sons I suppose they do. :-) StuRat 06:01, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I've done a few see the differences. Most of those could be checked on Wikipedia. The bridge one may have a earlier date of 1831 in Manchester, England. CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 08:38, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Added a bracket to Sedgewick, Amish men grow men corrected to beards. What does tin-foil hat have to do with the owl on a dollar bill? Thanks CambridgeBayWeather!! Reywas92Talk 14:58, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The foil hat was in reference to all the other so called Freemasonry symbols that are on the other bill. In other words if you believe all that stuff you probably watch out for the Black helicopters and wear your foil hat. CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 08:23, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The Jeep item is most certainly wrong. The term "jeep" had been in use years before the vehicle was even conceived. Dismas|(talk) 09:08, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The term was in use before the US Army had a General Purpose vehicle ? When was this and what did it mean then ? StuRat 18:01, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I started itemising some of the errors and nonsense on this page, but I've given up. Carry on if it makes you happy, but please don't impose that worthless tripe on us. ColinFine 23:08, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
CNN
I don't have cable (or any television for that matter) so I don't know the answer to this question:
Would you say that CNN is more liberal-slanted or conservative slanted? Thanks
Duomillia 22:49, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It seems neutral to me. StuRat 23:28, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It seems horribly slanted in either direction, depending on the mood at the time and which point of view they think will get the larger reaction. It seems to side with the administration more often than not though, and generally sensationalizes everything like crazy, as with the other news channels. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 23:31, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It still seems a lot better than Fox News, though. Many major news companies are sensationalist, without necessarily showing a bias in their sensationalism... 惑乱 分からん 00:00, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's slanted toward selling viewers eyeballs to advertisers. Everything else is secondary. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 00:17, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Apply directly to the forehead! --Maxamegalon2000 01:27, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
CNN headline news is of course neutral, but the talk show hosts seem to mostly be liberal --frothTC 01:38, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Netural is a relative term. The way in which they sensationalize stories, elaborate on only specific ones, etc. is all subject to bias. Honestly, I can't stand TV news, especially that from America. Go go internet. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 05:43, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Jon Stewart has a very interesting take on CNN, and it's quite true too. He calls CNN the network of fear mongering.
Some liberals see some correspondents as very deferential toward and fawning over the Bush administration. Other correspondents freely criticize the same administration. CNN is probably less liberal than Salon or Air America Radio and more liberal than Fox. Edison 06:10, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Which CNN? CNN domestic (i.e. the original United States version]] has the same liberal bias as the rest of the MSM. But CNN International is so far off the charts they make CNN domestic look like it's run by Donald Rumsfeld. --Aaron 22:51, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
CNN, like all American media, is more conservative than almost any anywhere else in the western world, Fox being nothing but the radical right's PR organisation. As a rule they are quite sensationalist, but whilst some commentators like Anderson Cooper seem fairly moderate, others, like Nancy Grace seem to be lost looking for the Fox lobby. --Mnemeson 23:05, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This partly reflects (and to some extent causes) the terms of political debate in the United States are skewed way to the right of what they are in the rest of the western world (to generalize greatly). Bill Clinton, on many issues, would be in the mainstream of conservative opinion in much of Europe. --Robert Merkel 02:06, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
As to CNN domestic (and 24-hour cable news more generally), there are plenty of criticisms of it that don't relate to its political slant. There's Missing white woman syndrome, for instance, and its "video game" coverage of wars. I happened to be in the United States as the Israelis prepared to attack Hezbollah, and CNN's promotional spots for its coverage were more like that of an ad for Top Gun 2 than sober, sensible coverage of a war where people not unlike you and I were going to die in large numbers. --Robert Merkel
American football: no defensive forward passes?
Our articles Forward pass and Lateral pass claim that if the defense gains possession of the football, they may not make a forward pass. What's the theoretical justification for this rule? And (this borders on an editorial concern, but I'll ask it here anyway) do we have a reference? Melchoir 23:41, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well the defense would not have any eligible receivers for one. Plus where would the line of scrimmage be that the new quarterback could not cross? Nowimnthing 00:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Er... why wouldn't there be eligible receivers? As for the line of scrimmage, you could always use the old one, or even the spot of the turnover. Melchoir 00:28, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And what would happen if the defensive forward pass was incomplete? --Maxamegalon2000 01:35, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Oh! I don't know, the return team gets the ball back at the spot of the turnover? Melchoir 01:47, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
When football branched off from rugby, no forward passing was allowed. The forward pass was introduced in the first decade of the 1900s to open up the game. They didn't want to change the fundamentals of the game, so the forward pass was only allowed once per play and behind the line of scrimmage. (Originally, there were other restrictions as well.) It's not so much that defensive players were disallowed from passing but rather than only the offense was allowed to do so. -- Mwalcoff 02:52, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In the history of the sport, didn't some coaches find there was no specific rule against the forward pass, use it to win a lot of games, then see it outlawed when the conference rule makers got together after the season, then see it re-legalized later because it made the game more exciting? What other plays did this happen for?Edison 06:13, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
See, my mentality -- and this comes from a queer mix of math, physics, and game design -- is that when something isn't disallowed, that means it's allowed. A lot of fun in football comes from plays that defy common sense: fake punts and field goals, running backs throwing touchdown passes, blocked extra points being returned for two points. You could easily have rules that say that fourth down is special, that only the quarterback can throw, that only the offense can go for two after a touchdown; but those rules would make the game less rich. Melchoir 17:48, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If no passes are allowed, then why are they always slapping each other on the butt ? :-) StuRat 16:25, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No forward passes. DJ Clayworth 18:05, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, most people would consider a slap on the butt to be a rather forward pass, wouldn't they ? :-) StuRat 19:43, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, but most people would also consider it offensive. Melchoir 20:47, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, but others would admire a nice tight end. :-) StuRat 22:31, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Although some might prefer a wide receiver. :) User:Zoe|(talk) 22:47, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I guess that would only be if the tight end can rack up the yardage and score often. —Mike 22:50, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
September 29
Lewis Paine's Assassination Reward
I need to Know how much Lewis Payne was wanted for being an accomplice to John Wilkes Both in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, as in the reward money you would receive for finding. I need nothing but that fact and I'd appreciate it if someone in this big blue planet could give me finally the answer.
Did You Know ... that the accomplice of Kennedy's assassination valuated Exactly the same sum as Lincoln's's ? :( -- DLL .. T 20:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How are you reacting? According to the chewing gum article, it isn't serious. Incidentally I swallowed gum by accident when I was about 10; nothing happened (I believe ;D) Yesitsapril
How old are you now? --LambiamTalk 03:20, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It'll be sitting in your stomach for 7 years --frothTC 01:36, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ive swallowed gum regularly for the last 17 years, Im still alive so far. Joneleth 04:40, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
OMG I've swallowed so much gum; I hope and believe it hasn't affected me negatively. Anchoress 04:45, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I swallowed gum, and 50 years later got appendicitis. Not claiming a correlation.Edison 06:15, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
As a reformed gum-swallower I can guarantee it's harmless. Otherwise I would have been buried in a pink bubble when I was thirteen years old. Durova 06:25, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Anchoress, do you have a spring in your step? Seriously I seem to recall that gum is one of the things that can build up in one's appendix and arguably it's better for you than a lot of things that could lodge there instead. No cite, sorry. ++Lar: t/c 20:02, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Huh, I didn't know that. Sweet! :-) Anchoress 21:05, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's less of a problem than swallowing an entire pen cap... - Mgm|(talk) 09:40, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
When did you do that? Ilikefood 20:05, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, you're fine. You're intestines and such are so slick, there is nothing the gum can stick to. It will pass out of you in about 2 or 3 days, seriously. This whole schpeel can be backed up by doctors, and I'm pretty sure its medical adive so it shouldn't be here anyways...[[User:Weehoocandy|(talk) 12:09, 29 September, 2006
Interestingly (?) did you know that carbon (soot) builds up in the lymph nodes if inhaled? I think its taken there to be destroyed-- but it cant be so it remains--Light current 21:36, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And did you know that beef, when eaten, is mostly broken down, but not entirely, and little teeny strands of indigestible, indissolvable cow protein course through your veins, eventually settling down to live in your brain? And that mad cow beef is not fundamentally different from any other cow beef?
Well, that's probably not entirely accurate, but close as I can figure, it contains elements of truth. Ergo, I view beef as the most evil thing on earth, to eat anyway. This is why I 'vandalise' our meat page occasionally. =) Chris 22:57, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The element of truth is the "not entirely accurate" admission. People are biologically omnivores. alteripse 13:06, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Who says people are biologically omnivores - our digestive system suggests we are closer to vegetarian animals than to meat eaters due to the length of our intestinal tract.
Back to gum, I regularly swallow gum, and I can now blow bubbles out of my ass. Sturgeonman 21:26, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
and we needed to know that why!!! Ilikefood 20:06, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Poll about mice/gamepad
Of course everybody knows that the mouse is more precise and accurate for FPS and RTS than the gamepad but for some reason my roomate doesn't think so. When I tried to quote wikipedia on the theory of mouse-to-screen correspondence and time-based relative movement of control sticks he insisted that wikipedia can't be trusted or something and wants an external poll or study. Can anyone find a poll with % statistics of who favors mouse or joystick for first person shooters? --frothTC 01:43, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I can't find a poll, but I can tell you that your roommate is full of it. Mouses are much more accurate, and it is a proven fact people respond more naturally with mouses that with gamepads or controllers. Яussiaп F 02:11, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Might it not be the case that the roommate is an exception? It's a proven fact that kids prefer peas over spinach, but I know this kid who just hates peas and loves spinach. Also, I had this experience of having to work on someone else's computer that had no mouse but a joystick. The owner had made some physical modifications to the joystick and written a specialized device driver to adjust it to his personal preferences, and he warned me that it might take me some time to get used to it. To my surprise I took to it immediately, finding it not only easier to use than the joysticks I'd used before, but also easier for precision control than a mouse. --LambiamTalk 03:18, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So, pull up an FPS and ask him to point as quickly and accurately as possible at an object in the distance with a mouse, from a 180 degree spin. Then, have him do the same (same spot, etc.) with a gamepad. Do the same yourself just to see if it's a personal thing. Voilar. Not particularily scientific, but probably enough to end the crazy dispute :P -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 05:41, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Since cursor movement works the same in FPSs as it does in Windows, just install the joystick as a mouse and do some double-clicking activities on the desktop. Open a folder on the UR, UL, BL, and BR of the screen, and see who can click all of them first. I've seen people claiming that they were using a joystick or an Xbox controller when playing CS online, but then again, I've seen a lot more guys pretending to be girls, and they're much easier to believe. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 12:39, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Bird Calls
I can do the call of a Morning Dove really well by cupping my hands together to make a whistle. Is it possible to get a bird to come over to me, or are they smart enough to avoid a human with almost no bird qualities? M@$+@Ju ~ ♠ 01:59, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I used to be able to make sounds that attracted ducks. They would come really close to investigate, much closer than needed for figuring out, even for the most myopic duck, that my duck qualities might leave something to be desired. They stayed just out of reach of where I could have caught them with my hands. --LambiamTalk 03:06, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That it sounds like a good immitation to you doesn't mean it does so to them. They may focus on different aspect of the sound and their hearing might eve pick up sounds you don't, so you might be making very odd noises in that range without noticing it yourself. Also, birds generaly have good eyesight, so they might not be completely fooled even if you immitate the sound perfectly. Of course the best way to find this out is to try it out. Keep us posted. DirkvdM 06:09, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Then again, doves are birdbrains. 68.7.88.112 06:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Then again, even if he was able to make a perfect bird call, how could he know for sure that he doesn't sound like the most annoying, fat-lipped, snotty-nosed morning dove ever to try looking for booty? freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 12:25, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Right on! Even if they come over to him in flocks, he'd still not know for sure. --LambiamTalk 12:42, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
He might be attracting a less-than-respectable crowd --frothTC 19:33, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I can make pretty good lesser black-backed gull calls (the long 'war cry'). When the birds hear them, they immediately crane their necks to see where the sound is coming from - sometimes I can get them to answer too (though other times, they just cock their heads and give me a strange look). --Kurt Shaped Box 13:16, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, I get that too, birds giving me strange looks when I call out my war cry to them. DirkvdM 06:58, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm trying to do the carrot call, but only to attract bunnies. -- DLL .. T 19:34, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
My cats know the difference between a human impersonator and a recording when it comes to animal noises(hotclaws**== 20:10, 29 September 2006 (UTC))[reply]
My cat comes running when I make dog/wolf howling noises. He probably wouldn't if it was a real dog. :) User:Zoe|(talk) 22:49, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ha, thanks guys for the responses. I definately will try and call over some birds, maybe even get a picture if I'm lucky. M@$+@Ju ~ ♠ 22:43, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
in the works
Could anyone explain what does the phrase "the hub was in the works in New York" means?
"In the works" is an english idiom meaning in development --frothTC 05:07, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"the hub" is usually a metaphorical or actual centre of a network of some sort. Exactly what kind of network depends on context you haven't given us, but it could be a transportation network, a computer network, a social network, or something else. See, for instance, Airline hub or Network hub. --ByeByeBaby 23:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
ID this song
What is the song on this page? I need to know the title so I can find it in higher quality format (that page plays a midi). I recognize it from The Sting (one of my favorite movies), if that's any help. Thanks --frothTC 05:04, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The source code on that website calls the music file "solace.mid". So I think Lambian is correct. Rmhermen 16:21, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Japanese students at Cambrige
I was asked how many Japanese study at Cambridge. Do you know or can you find out?
- - - - -
Can you be a bit more specific, do you mean students of Japanese nationality, students of Japanese ethnicity (defining which is a problem all on its own), students who are normally resident in Japan but came to Cambridge to study? In any case, I think you'll have problems getting an accurate answer (because of the definition difficulties above), although you could try some of the colleges' development and access offices. Alternatively, many Japanese (of any variety) may be members of societies such as the Anglo-Japanese society, you could try asking there, even if they can't tell you exactly they might be able to point you in a good direction for more information. — QuantumEleven 08:38, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Or do you mean students of Japanese language, history, etc.? 惑乱 分からん 09:42, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Quantum brings up a good point, but the truth is that most Japanese of non-Japanese ancestory would not choose to call themselves Japanese, and the number of foreign residents of Japan who study overseas from Japan (without losing their VISAs) is not only negligible I'm not sure if it's even possible. The question probably originated from a Japanese student wanting to know the chance xe'd find a Japanese friend at the school, and the popular definition of Japanese should suffice. It is very easy to find out how many Americans (or Hong Kongers, Mongolians, British) there are at Japanese universities (it's usually displayed proudly), but that's probably because they simply lump people according to their passports here. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 12:21, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wholesale prices of mobiles
What are the wholesale prices of mobiles paid by operators?
I seriously doubt if you are actually asking about mobiles, perhaps you mean mobile phones ? Now, what wholesale price are you talking about ? The per minute rate on operator assisted calls from Luxembourg to Liechtenstein ? StuRat 16:11, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For your information: "mobile" is British slang, short for mobile phone, as cell is short for "cellular phone" in parts of the US and Handy is German slang for the same thing. - Mgm|(talk) 23:07, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm aware of that. My point was that one should not use regional slang when posting a question to an international web site. StuRat 16:47, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The price paid to purchase each phone for resale? (Several "terrorism" arrests recently in the U.S. have involved people purchasing large numbers of cheap "pay-as-you-go" phones for resale.) Rmhermen 16:18, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
back when I worked for a cellular company the price we paid was roughly 10% less than the retail cost. when phones were offered for free or for $.01 with contract the company took the initial loss but made up for it and more with the 2 year contract. the cheaper pay as you go phones work along the same lines-offer a low end phone for cheap and make up the diff with relatively high per minute cost. Sosobra 03:15, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
On what grounds do you classify 'mobile' as slang, Mgm? As far as I'm concerned it is normal English.
Not that I disagree that the original anonmyous poster could have been clearer. ColinFine 23:13, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Double negatives are not unconfusing. :--) JackofOz 02:19, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Womens ring fingers
Is there any significance attached to wearing a ring on the wedding ring finger (3rd finger, thumb isn't a finger) of the right hand rather than the left? AllanHainey 12:37, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
According to Finger (and common sense), a thumb is a finger; arguably indeed the most important finger. Just fwiw. --Tagishsimon(talk)
Just like the category animal includes the species Homo sapiens but is often used in opposition, so likewise "thumb" and "fingers" are often used in opposition. --LambiamTalk 15:52, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Of course, even in cultures were the custom is to wear a ring on the left hand, some left-handed people will wear theirs on the right because it is obstructing to wear it on the dominant hand. Rmhermen 16:16, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, I did & it didn't answer my question. Wedding ring#Post-wedding customs sort of answers it, it doesn't seem there's any info here on whether only certain significant rings can be worn on that finger of the right hand. It may be that the woman I saw is foreign or carrying on foreign traditions.
Only when they swallowed toes and haven't digested them yet. Otherwise, no, although they can measure up to 14 feet. ---Sluzzelin 14:11, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Was that a serious question, or is someone just yanking our chains?--Light current 20:21, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Some snakes do have vestigal legs under their skin even sometimes with a small claw. According to this [1] Boa constrictors are one of those that do have these. I don't know if it could be classified as a toe, more like a small remnant of a leg. Nowimnthing 21:27, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I believe that wen limbs evolve away, they don't really disappear but just get very small. All the bones are still there, but can hardly be called toes or whatever anymore. In dolphins (originally land animals) the legs have just merged to form the 'tail'. DirkvdM 07:08, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It depends on if the gene called strangely enough, Sonic hedgehog, is expressed or not. The limbs will just get smaller unless this gene is turned off and then they do not form. Dolphin tails are formed from tails not legs, the legs of ancestral dolphins and whales used to be more like hind flippers, but even flippers cause some drag, so can be traded in for more streamlining. Nowimnthing 20:57, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
National Park in Alaska
Answered
OK, problem in biology--I was given a set of coordinates to supposedly a national park in Alaska. But on the map (I'm using Google Earth) it says nothing even in the general vicinity of the coordinates anything about a national park. Nothing but a bunch of snow. >__< So what national park is it?
I'm not sure how this is a biology question. And what you saw is not a "bunch of snow," but a huge glacier. This is Glacier Bay National Park. Marco polo 17:13, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Truthfully/ I don't see how it's biology either. But the biology teacher is like 'use google earth, find these coordinates, and give me pics of the geological, biological, features, blah, blah, blah" and he's refusing to help at all. He's a jerk. Anyway, thanks. I wouldn't know a glacier from a bunch of snow.
One of the images on that page didn't load but we have an article on it at watermelon snow --Rmhermen 18:33, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sounds very tasty :3 --frothTC 19:15, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It sounds like you needed to switch from the satellite map to the political map to identify national parks. After all, you can't really identify a national park from a satellite view. StuRat 19:20, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, using Google Maps rather than Google Earth, you'll get the correct answer. Of course, there's only nine national parks in Alaska, and only one anywhere near your specified coordinates, so it's not all that hard. --ByeByeBaby 23:08, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Most forest!
Answered
Which country has the MOST forest within its border? Not per km^2, just in total. I am guessing Russia, is this correct? Thanks!! 81.93.102.3 18:23, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That would be my guess, too. Canada might be second. Then again, the US might be in the running due to Alaska. China also has a fair amount of forest. Brazil has jungles, but that's not exactly the same thing. StuRat 18:44, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
May I express a slight disagreement with you, StuRat ? A tree is a tree is a tree. Russia has plenty of tundra species, Canada too. A jungle grows trees and climbers and ferns like any european forest. Is a prairie really different from a steppe ? I won't argue more :) -- DLL .. T 19:24, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's kind of an ambiguous question... basically 81.93.102.3 asked what is the "most forested" country and sturat did a pretty good job of answering --frothTC 19:30, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Just in case anyone is interested in forested land in percentage of a country's total area, Nationmaster has a list and map. The Cook Islands, Suriname, and French Guiana top the list. ---Sluzzelin 19:45, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I used that site and multiplied by the land areas, to find the answer. Russia is, by far, the largest in forested area, at 8.5 million square km. Brazil is second (assuming you count jungle as the same as forest) with 5.4 million, then Canada with 2.4 million and the USA with 2.3 million. StuRat 20:16, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Excellent! Now all we Americans have to do is nuke Russia like we've always wanted, let Brazil go the way it's already going, and drop a few barriers to Canadian imports, and... USA! USA! USA! Melchoir 20:53, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For shame sir, for shame. Chris 23:00, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Cats and women
Why is it that women are so attracted to cats and often have them as pets?--Light current 20:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Cats have attributes normally considered to be feminine (fastidious, quiet, sneaky, careful) and dogs have masculine attributes (messy, loud, careless). StuRat 20:30, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sneaky?! That is assault! Stealthy is the non-perjorative term thank you very much. Chris 23:01, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
THats a very serious reply Stu! Perhaps youre still thinking about the funny one! 8-)--Light current 20:54, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The funny one I came up with involved a slang term for a cat or a part of a woman's anatomy, but that was too immature, even for me. :-) StuRat 14:14, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I cant believe that! 8-)--Light current 17:14, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know that women tend to like cats more than, say, dogs, but it does seem to be viewed as unmanly (by some) for a man to like cats. Probably because these people think that women are supposed to be fastidious, quiet, sneaky and careful, while men should be messy, loud and careless. And unconcerned with cuteness. I do not know what men and women they base this on. Skittle 21:51, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"They find it fascinating to watch a woman undress. " Uhm, really? How would you know :)?Evilbu 21:46, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes they want to see whether they measure up to the real thing (Miaaw) 8-)--Light current 22:06, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
hot water heating coil for heating cold water in a cup
I am looking for a store which sells those heating coils that have an electric cord which plugs into a wall socket and then the coil clips on a cup of cold water and heats it to boiling. I don't know what it's called and can't find one anywhere. Thank you.
Or this one of the company I used to work for. I actualy took that photograph. Not that it's one of my most spectacular photographs ... DirkvdM 07:16, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You can also get USB coasters that will keep your drink warm, although I don't think they'll boil a cup from cold. Rentwa 13:33, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Is there anything you cant run from a USB port these days? Anyway 500mA @ 5 v gives 2.5W: enough maybe to keep tea warm, but not enough to boil water methinks.--Light current 22:08, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You can get a nice electric shock from a USB port. Rentwa 12:11, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Composition B vs potassium and fluorine
If you were to take out all the explosives (Composition B) inside a standard-issue US M67 fragmentation handgrenade and replace it with an optimal mixture of potassium and fluorine, which version would create a more powerful explosion? Jamesino 23:18, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
One of the most important principles of selecting an explosive is that the products should be gaseous, and so push back the atmosphere at tremendous speed, thus creating a shock wave. Potassium and fluorine, although they react together very vigorously, make a solid product, potassium fluoride, and so the only effect would be a great deal of heat being generated. --G N Frykman 17:13, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What about an optimal combination of potassium and water? Jamesino 20:16, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That doesn't produce very much gas: only one unit gas per unit explosive. Something like nitroglycerine is much better, at approximately six units gas per unit explosive. --Serie 23:36, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
AoE2 Maps
Age of Empires 2 maps on the internet. Should I download them? I have heard good things about Ulio ond other maps, but I don't know if they will use up a bunch of space on my computer, or what. Is the amount of space they take up negligable? My computer is relatively new (2002). Mongol Man 23:50, 29 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ulio? Ahhh that brings back memories. Yes ulio is a great campaign i highly recommend it. aok.heavengames.com has a "blacksmith" section that has a ton of amazing maps, just sort by rating. In fact.. I have a map or two there myself :) As you can see by my water-themed net handles, back then i was slush, heh. anyway to answer your question they take up less than a few MB, you'll definately be fine. Unzip to c:\program files\microsoft games\age of empires 2\ --frothTC 02:26, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What does "Unzip to c:\program files\microsoft games\age of empires 2\" mean? Mongol Man 22:48, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The game looks for "map" files in that directory. So if you download a .zip file with a couple subfolders, just unzip it to the install directory (that path I mentioned). If all the files are mashed together put the SCN or SCX files in the "scenario" folder, all sound files in the "sound" folder, ai files in the "ai" folder, etc. Many times there will be a readme in the zip file that tells you where to put what. good luck! --frothTC 05:29, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Seconding this, I spent many hours on those back in the day. Make sure to get everything else by Ingo van Thiel as well, as well as Tamerlane: Prince of Destruction, and the Blacksun series, and of course Colonization (by yours truly ;) ). Should keep you occupied for a while. And to expand on the concept of unzipping: most scenarios are uploaded (along with any other files needed/recommended to run them) as .zip files, which you need to unzip into the right directories (usually specified in a readme file). You'll need a program such as WinZip to do this. -Elmer Clark 01:04, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I also recommend "blood bath island" if you can find it it's incredibly fun --frothTC 02:20, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Are you posilutely, absitively sure that these maps will take up a negligable amount of space? I co-own this computer, and a select few other people might be upset it there's a scenario that takes up half the space in the computer. Mongol Man 00:01, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes I'm sure.. --frothTC 02:50, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What is the total number of companies in the world?
Mr.K. 00:11, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you also want to count unincorporated entities, like mom and pop stores, then the question is whether you also count such economic units as a farming couple (husband and wife). In that case it's probably far more than 100 million. If you require the entities to be incorporated, then you may find you're comparing apples and bats, due to different definitions and requirements in different jurisdictions. The number may be closer to 50 million. This is not based on any actual available statistics. --LambiamTalk 00:52, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This question is too vague. --Proficient 01:27, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Marines
My friend was in the marines, but they sent him home early, he said the reason was "early enlistment separation" and he said "he messed up his leg" can anybody tell what this means if it is even true? 69.179.103.159 01:34, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There are plenty of reasons for administrative separations. Yes, some of those separations are honorable. From the tone of your post, though, it seems as if you suspect your friend might have gotten into disciplinary trouble and is trying to make an excuse for it. Obviously I can't tell whether your friend's story is true or not. Yes, it's possible to get a medical discharge. The people I knew in the Navy who got medically discharged had major problems such as epilepsy or kidney failure. 68.7.88.112 03:15, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
TRy looking at the links--Light current 02:29, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Volume means how many shares are sold each day. StuRat 05:40, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Shucks I was hoping he might work that out after reading our articles from end to end! --Light current 17:35, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Tie knot
how do you get a triangle shape when doing a neck tie?
I think you can use a Windsor or half-Windsor knot for that. I think my knot is similar to th half-Windsor, and it gives me a nice triangle. --Kjoonlee 03:32, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Fatty over thinny, fatty over thinny, up through the middle and down through the spinny. That gives you the conventional four-in-hand, and a nice neat triangle. A full windsor (can't remember how to do 'em these days) turns into more of a trapezium shape. Howard Train 05:02, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's way too thick. For a nice slim knot that isn't crooked look at this horrible photograph of me. Ignore me and look at the knot. Move the long end over the front, around the back, back through the middle, around the front (in the other direction now) to the back and through the middle, tuck in and straighten. The principle is simple, the straightening takes some parctise to get it right. Especially the two parts that come out the top need some attention. I have never understood the wearing of a tie without making it look nice. What's the point of wearing the bloody thing in the first place? That said, in this photo I didn't get one side entirely right, so who am I fulminating against? DirkvdM 07:41, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
LOL. Dirk, please stop with all your "high school class of '66" jazz! freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 13:42, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hey, I'm not that old! In '66 I was just a toddler. DirkvdM 19:03, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Look at the knot, not the knot-head." :-) StuRat 14:05, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah! Let's all post our high-school pictures! .. OK, let's not.. --Zeizmic 14:41, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hey, Lambian cropped me! Just as well in this case, I suppose. I must admit I was too lazy to do it myself. DirkvdM 19:02, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I've occasionally been tempted to cut your head off, myself. :-) StuRat 02:11, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm no worm, so it's a good thing this is all in the virtual realm. DirkvdM 06:19, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The idea of there being two of you...now that's frightening. :-) StuRat 11:26, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ah! thats much nicer! And you can even see the knot properly. --Light current 15:01, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Continued on talk page. Please confine discussion of articles to the relevant talk pages, or address your comments to the relevant editors, or ask a coherent question if you consult the reference desk. This makes it easier for people to follow the discussion. Thanks.--Shantavira 14:56, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
steel threaded rods for finding soil depth, name of apparatus?
steel threaded rods for finding soil depth, name of apparatus?
In other words, the same conservation measures applied to gasoline engines also largely apply to diesel engines. StuRat 10:48, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps "reserve" is a combo of "reduce" and "conserve" ? The usual use of the word "reserve" (to hold back for later use) at first seems to apply, but that word is never used for making an engine run on less fuel. The answer to "How can I reserve fuel ?" would be to keep some in a plastic fuel container for later use. StuRat 10:48, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Left/right batter/box
Hi, in baseball, on which side of the plate does a right-handed batter usually stand? Assuming you're at the catcher's position looking at the pitcher. Are there any names for the batter's boxes?
I know the Korean terms for "left hitter/right hitter" or "left batter's box/right batter's box" but I don't have any idea what the left/right terms really mean. --Kjoonlee 17:13, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A right handed batter stands to the catcher's left (from the catcher's view). - Rainwarrior 17:34, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Can England,Scotland and Wales and Norhtern Ireland be considered Independent nations?
Im in a quandry. Thanks
British Isles (terminology) says "Due to historical precedent, England, Scotland, and Wales are countries and nations in their own right (although none of these is sovereign today)". Take a look through that, rather complicated, article. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:23, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It wasn't complicated when I wrote it. The complication came when other people started budding in. Sorry, just wanted to defend my work. :) DirkvdM 19:06, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Forgot the complicated article, the simple answer is "no". They're all part of the United Kingdom. California has more independence than, say, Scotland. --Auximines 20:06, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I wouldn't say that. Scotland has it's own "devolved" parliament now. StuRat 10:39, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
California has it's own state legislature, but it's powers are limited to state (meaning provincial) matters. It can't override federal laws, for example. Although there have been some attempts to override the Bush admin's anti-environmental policy, their ban on stem cell research funding, and the ban on marijuana. The weird part is that California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a Republican, even though he appears to disagree with the Bush admin on almost everything. StuRat 10:58, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It may be useful to consider the proper name of Britain as it is today - not what the component parts were in previous ages. We are The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Note that there are several countries but only one Kingdom, and one Sovereign, Her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (but Scots will correctly argue that she is not the second Queen of that name to rule over them). At the time of Good Queen Bess, England and Scotland were entirely separate and sovereign nations.
The List of regnal numerals of future British monarchs sets out the rules for this situation (basically that the monarch takes whichever available number is highest) and shows that a future King James would be James VIII because Scotland has had seven King James before. So there would be no James III, IV etc. of England. Howard Train 16:01, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Just to confirm that the answer to this question is "no." The constituent parts of the United Kingdom have varying degrees of autonomy on internal matters (comparable to U.S. states), and they can be considered historical "countries" or even "nations," but they are not independent. They are all part of the United Kingdom, and the British government makes all decisions pertaining to foreign affairs, military action, monetary policy, and other matters affecting all parts of the United Kingdom. Marco polo 17:31, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So, in power, a little. In sovereignty, no. Britain is a unitary state. In other words, ALL sovereignty is vested in Westminster. Say the Channel Islands want to become independent. At the end of the day, only Westminster can decide that: constitutionally, at least. Contrast this with the US, a federation. If a new state were to be made along the border of two others, both of the states AND the federal Congress would need to permiss. Or even the EU, a confederation. If France wanted to become independent, it could do it (constitutionally) weather the EU liked it or not.
And then there is power. There are substantial powers devolved to Edinburgh and Cardiff, and if we keep on going at this rate, Belfast – as a result of the “St. Andrews Agreement”. So in short, they have enough independence to make some laws themselves – on, for example health. But they have no independence on matters of sovereignty, all of which remains at Westminster (the exeption is Northern Ireland: it is a special case, under the Belfast Agreement). martianlostinspace 14:51, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
EQAO (Grade 6)
Who got their EQAO (Grade 6) back?Himanyo 17:44, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
back from where? What's a EQAO? --Charlesknight 17:33, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you are from Ontario, you will understand. It's a BIG test given to Grade 3,6, and 9 around Ontario.Himanyo 17:44, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And the world is a BIG place Himanyo. Charles and I live in England. I don't think we can help with your question, but maybe someone from Ontario will be along shortly.--Shantavira 18:47, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
From personal experiences, you should be receving your results for your EQAO tests approximately 1 year after writing the test. Jamesino 20:14, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wow, they sure take their sweet old time up there. I'll assume it's not multiple choice. --Nelson Ricardo 00:03, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Some sections of it are multiple choice. Jamesino 00:50, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Playing the piano
Is it possible to teach oneself to play the piano from music, from a book? Or can one only teach ones self to play by ear?--Light current 19:38, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'd imagine instructional books are available and that it's possible to be self-taught from a book. Jamesino 20:19, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Both are possible. But if you're serious about learning to play well, consider that it is very easy to develop playing habits, such as for fingering, that eventually stand in the way. Once acquired, such wrong habits are almost impossible to get rid off. A good teacher should help you to develop the right habits from the start. --LambiamTalk 00:46, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes its fingering Im worried about, I can work out the notes myself.--Light current 11:12, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, you can get sheet music and instruction books that include exact fingering. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 18:38, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It depends what you want. I was never taught to read music: I taught myself at age four or five, just as I taught myself to read. And plenty of piansts are self-taught. If you just want to play for your own enjoyment, you may not need a teacher (and you may be unwilling to put in the effort of practicing without which lessons may be a waste of time and money). On the other hand, if you want to play beyond a certain level - want to play for others, for example, or to play particular pieces, you may find a teacher who can guide you both technically and musically would be a good idea. ColinFine 23:28, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You taught yourself to read, Colin? That's quite a feat. Who told you what each of the letters meant - or did you just work it out yourself? JackofOz 02:04, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I've no doubt I plenty of encouragement and guidance, but I could read before I went to school, and I don't think anybody sat down and taught me. I do remember once taking some music to my parents and asking them what a particular mark meant and they didn't know. --ColinFine 00:29, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Riddle
Answered
I found this floating around out on the internet, with no answer. Any suggestions?
"Brad and Alex have the following conversation:
B: I forgot how old your three children are.
A: The product of their ages is 36.
B: I still don’t know their ages.
A: The sum of their ages is the same as your house number.
B: I still don’t know their ages.
A: The oldest one has red hair.
B: Now I know their ages!
What are the ages of Alex’s three children?"
You need the house number to find the three ages. You need the names and hair color, and know that one of the children (without red hair) is younger than another child (without red hair) to attach names to the ages. There's not enough information to solve it. --AstoVidatu 23:46, 30 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm pretty that its supposed to be solved with only this information.
OK, so the product of their ages is 36, which means that one of the following must be the answer:
But still we don't know. Then Alex mentions that the sum of the ages is Brad's address. This seems to be unhelpful since we don't know Brad's address. But Brad knows his address: why can't he figure which of the 8 is correct? Add up the possibilities:
Aha! Brad still doesn't know because his address is 13, but there are two possibilites.
1, 6, and 6
2, 2, and 9
Then Alex mentions an oldest son. Since the first choice has two sixes—two oldest sons—it is wrong, so the kids must be aged 2, 2, and 9.
Of course, this might be wrong because it's possible that randy Alex and Alice may have gotten busy quick and had a new child before the first one had a birthday. Unlikely, but possible. Hyenaste(tell) 00:50, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Very clever! BenC7 02:06, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Here is a hint. (Possible spoiler.) Suppose that the house number of Brad is 11. Then you can solve this, no? But so could Brad! If his house number had been 11, he wouldn't have said in the fifth line: "I still don’t know their ages." So you can actually rule out 11. In the same way you can rule out almost all numbers as being Brad's house number. --LambiamTalk 00:36, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, Lambiam. I gave it away already. :( Hyenaste(tell) 00:50, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have two earrings that are gold dolphins. I'm trying to find out more about them. Two dolphins are swirling around each other on each earring. They have the hallmark MMA on the back they are clip ons. If anyone knows anything about the history I would appreciate it.71.33.195.160 02:20, 1 October 2006 (UTC)Wendy[reply]
I don't think the MMA is a hallmark. If they are hallmarked you (or a jeweller) will be able to determine when and where they were made. Take a look at the hallmark article and the links at the bottom of that page.--Shantavira 09:06, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Museum reproduction? MMA is a common designation for the Museum of Modern Art in NY. alteripse 17:52, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
steel threaded rods for finding soil depth, name of apparatus? (repeat,repeat question)
I had a response to this question yesterday but I think that answer was wrong. I followed
jpgordon's reference which stated a rod penetrometer was a fixed length, 4' long and 3/8" dia.
What I after is an apparatus with a 'T' handle and multiple rods with threaded ends so they
can be screwed together to determine the depth of soil down to rock foundations. Again, what is
it called.210.50.143.20 03:49, 1 October 2006 (UTC)alan.....[reply]
Wrong again for the third time. Read the question, 'threaded rods'. The three answers so far
all refer to fixed length rods, either 4' or 5' or 6'. What good is this when the rock strata is down 15' or 20' or 30'. Useless. None of these can determine the soil depth. This apparatus has been around for donkeys years. You screw the rods together like you join pipes on an oil rig and
you drive them down until you hit the rock. What on earth is it called?...alan...
I'm sure an extendible auger does NOT have a fixed length for any meaning of fixed. --LambiamTalk 19:57, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Also, this devise does not have a drill bit or auger on the end of it, it has a bulb
slightly wider than the rod and a pointed end...alan...
You'll get more flies with honey than with vinegar, alan. Having said that, are you sure you aren't looking for this: soil penetrometer? It's composed of several threaded segments, up to 15 feet long, and has a bulb at the end. But not a T-handle... it appears to be a form of slide hammer. Which makes sense... what you describe, with just a T-handle and no auger on the end, how would you drive it 15 feet deep into the soil?
There's a natural limit on how far you can go down in the soil. Using a hand tool, I'm surprised you can go down more than a few feet, at least I can't in former-glacier land. Beyond that you need a geotechnical soil auger, which is usually truck-mounted. I've spent a lot of my life staring at a soil auger... --Zeizmic 19:58, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The Penguin 'Dictonary of Civil Engineering', defines a rod penetrometer is a cone shaped instrument which is jetted into the ground to the required level and then forced in at a measured pressure. It is thus a static penetration test...ie.. It measures the bearing capacity of the soil...What I am after is a device that measues the depth of the soil.
Also, as mentioned earlier, the primary rod has a bulb at the end slightly larger than the rod dia. so there is no friction on the follow on rods. It can be twisted into the ground or hammered in.
This device has been used for over a hundred years to determine the depth of rock. What is it called???...alan
Just an observation: I have many times had to drive ground rods to obtain a ground of less than 2 ohms resistance for utility connections. These were several foot long stainless steel rods, 1/2 inch diameter as I recall. The initial one
was pointed at the bottom and the following ones were threaded to connect in sequence. A pneumatic or electric driver pounded them into the ground, slowly and noisily. If it hit concrete or rock it would generally not go any farther. We would sometimes go 30 feet in sandy soil, or a few feet if rock was hit. It would sometimes be deflected and go off at an angle. This is effectively what you were asking for. But once the rods were in, they were not pulled out. In contrast, at a construction site the civil engineers would do test borings at various sites in a grid around where the building foundation was going. A device like a well drilling rig was used which could penetrate soil or rock, and samples of the soil and rock were brought up for analysis through the bore which was a couple of inches across. Probably in the drilling process the force required for penetration was used to determine the bearing strength of the soil, sand, clay or rock. One reason was to detect buried hazardous waste, such as coal tar at former manufactured illuminating gas plants. This method could also detect if there was a natural spring which would be a problem. In poor soil, pilings might be required to support the building. I don't think just driving a steel rod down to see where the rock started would have given them the answers they needed to plan the building foundation system. Not all buildings have their foundations supported by rock. Edison 15:12, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I am well aware of the equipment used to take core samples in soil and rock, however, this isn't one of them. The steel rods are 3/8" dia. and about 4' long with threaded ends. It is a manual device driven down by twisting or hammering. What is it called???210.50.143.21 22:59, 2 October 2006 (UTC)alan[reply]
It would be identical to the ground rods I just described, so call it a ground rod. Jeez. Edison 05:00, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
stingrays
Could you please tell me if after a stingray has discharged the barb, if it grows another one in its place , thank you. R M hubbard.
In Australia, are there any laws saying that broadcasters MUST give over a certain percentage of airtime to children's programs?
Not laws, but all stations have signed up to the Australian Broadcasting Authority standards. The ABA's Children's Television Standards dictate 390 hours of children's programming (C and P classifications) must be broadcast each year, and the Code of Practice outlines the 'G classification zones' (when stations must broadcast G rated material) as 6-8.30am and 4-7pm weekdays,and 6-10am weekends. Penalties are inflicted after a complaint and subsequent investigation. Natgoo 12:50, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks, that's very helpful.
Missing posts
Has anyone else noticed posts going missing on these pages? Like you click on an item in your watch list by UserXXXX, and it aint there? Im posting this msg on all ref desks.--Light current 11:28, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm in the process of doing a formal archive of those pages now, so you can just re-add transcluded pages as you see fit, but 9 days is far too long, and 15 days worth is just insane (: VectorPotentialRD NEEDS A BOT (-: 14:27, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, so that's why I came to the end so quickly all of a sudden. Indeed, I used to skip the first half or even more, so it makes sense. DirkvdM 19:09, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I always read from the end. Doesn't everybody? --G N Frykman 20:21, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
One reason I start at the top is that scrolling down is easier (with the space bar). DirkvdM 06:22, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
UK Special Representative for Trade and Investment
Could someone please advise me how the above position is filled as I would be very interested in applying for it. I understand it involves lots of first class air travel and attending banquets hosted by overseas governments and trade associations. I also understand there are lots of golf tournaments and matches that the postholder is required to partake in. I am particularly interested to know what qualifications and experience are considered pre-requisites for intending applicants for the post; also what the job specifications are and what performance criteria might apply. And it would also be useful to know how long the postion is held for, and how and when it is advertised. Oh, of course, I would need to know what the salary, pension and other benefits might be for the successful applicant. Many thanks in anticipation.
Do you mean "UK Special Representative for Trade and Investment"? It is a voluntary and unpaid position. Maybe that makes it even more attractive to you. --LambiamTalk 12:10, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks Lambian for the correction - and yes, the investment element is much more appealing than the industry bit. Would I need to have been a helicopter pilot in order to qualify do you think? And what support services, staff, official cars and residences abroad could I look forward to. It really does look an exciting prospect.
It does, doesn't it! How about a palanquin instead of an official car? Then your flunkies could carry you straight from the trough to the golf course! And you wouldn't even have to get out once you got there - they could hand the clubs up to you! Just think about it! Rentwa 19:32, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Vegetarian sausages/burgers
Answered
I can't find the wikipedia article on these. Are these alternatives to be considered actually healthy, as opposed to their meaty cousins? What are they MADE of? Not tofu, I hope? I've never tasted one. Thanks in advance - third question in three days now. :) 81.93.102.3 12:46, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The vegetarian burgers I know of don't consist of tofu, but instead various chopped vegetables mixed together. Carrots, onions, maybe cabbage too, that sort of thing. JIP | Talk 13:04, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
See veggie burger and meat analogue – which fail to mention mycoprotein, as used in the Quorn line of products. Tofu is also used. Personally I like the taste of Quorn. I don't know if it is sold in Norway, but they have a Swedish website. I can't vouch generically for the health of any of these, but in the prevailing Western food consumption pattern it is generally healthy to eat more veggie stuff and less meat. --LambiamTalk 13:08, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Other than the "veggie medley" ones JIP describes, many (most?) vegitarian meat-replacement things are made from textured vegetable protein, which is made from soy beans (the same source as tofu, but really quite different in taste and consistency). Other meat analogs are also available; in some markets you can also buy Quorn based products. TVP and Quorn are generally low in fat and high in dietary fiber. That said, prepared products (for the mass-market) made from both tend (like other packaged foods) to be pretty high in salt and flavourings. The TVP and quorn articles discuss (or link to) some of the issues people have with claims of healthiness for these meat replacements - the Quorn article in particular gives you an insight into the complex agribusiness politics that surround this growing market (see its "controversy" section). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 13:15, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
They tend to be much healthier than fatty meats, and somewhat healthier than lean meats. StuRat 14:02, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The vegetarian burgers in my freezer list their ingredients as Textured vegetable protein, wheat protein, vegetable fat, wheat flour, spices and seasoning, vegetable oil, onion, sea salt, fermented rice. These burgers are similar in taste and looks to a beef hamburger. There are also vege-burgers that are actually made from cut up vegetables, and vege-burgers that are somewhere in between. Sanitarium produce a line of vege-burgers with the taste, texture and aesthetics of crumbed fish. Pesapluvo 16:29, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have noticed that some vegetarians seek replacement food which looks and tastes as much like meat as possible, while others want no part of simulated meat. Many of the Veggie burger type products are quite tasty, even to omnivores. Edison 20:44, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It seems more "naturalised" vegitarians who like the meat replacements. "Natives" don't seem to pine for mechanically-recovered connective tissue with synthetic smokehouse flavouring so much. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:50, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I tried the stuff while I was dating a vegetarian and couldn't stand them: either give me a genuine hot dog or forget it. Durova 16:41, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Juggling Props
I figure I'm going to buy some balls and clubs online. What are good balls and clubs to buy? --216.164.192.186 15:05, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Not an answer, but one thing I found easy to use when learning to juggle was full tubes of toothpaste. They don't hurt your feet if you drop them, and they don't bounce or roll down the street, either. And they don't make much noise, especially if they land on carpet. StuRat 16:42, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Dube is a very good and recognized brand. You may pay a bit more but they'll hold up for a newbie. Dismas|(talk) 22:01, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think someone asked this the other day. --Proficient 02:38, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There was another juggling question, probably from the same person, but that was about how to juggle. StuRat 11:23, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Where does a total noob start to learn about cars?
Answered
I know close to nothing about so-called automobiles. Is there some friendly and helpful website, FAQ, guide or tut that can tell me the basics (things like "so what's an engine?" and "ignitions vs. you: the road to victory"), so I don't feel like a fool when my car breaks down? Cheers.
If you're interested in how they work, I can recommend Hillier's Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology (ISBN 0748780998). It's very good about explaining why all the parts of the car work the way they do (something largely avoided by the more common Haynes-type repair and maintainance manuals). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 15:47, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
HowStuffWorks.com is a good starting point for just about anything technical: [4]. StuRat 16:34, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I can't remember M. Wednesday's line about Midwestern women; the one that has the bit about "veins running through like a good cheese" (or something to ht effect) on the end. Does anyone know the line? 65.103.7.70 18:14, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Pale-skinned and blue-eyed, hair so fair it's almost white, wine-colored lips, and round, full breasts with the veins running through them like a good cheese.
From amazon search inside page 72. MeltBanana 19:44, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yay! Thank you so much! 65.103.7.70 19:48, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sonic Adventure DX: Action Replay downloads
I read in the article for Sonic Adventure that the Gamecube version features the same stuff that could be downloaded from the internet to the original Dreamcast version. However, this is only available via an Action Replay. When I looked up action replay codes for Sonic Adventure DX, I only found a total of eight codes, not including the code that lets you unlock the aforementioned downloadables. If you aren't the one who included that information, then could you please tell me who posted it, along with that person's email address? If you are responsible for that tidbit, then could you please tell me where you found out about that particular AR code? Thanks.
Sincerely,
Eric Ledger
Try GameFAQs. The page on Sonic Adventure DX will be much more useful than an answer here. —Mitaphanetalk 03:12, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
weird
i just found a site called [5] that has articles 100% similar to the wikipedia ones. It even has an article there that is suggesting another article be merged with it, and the same article here suggests that that same article they referenced be merged with it, as well. What is this site? Does it have anything to do with WP or is it just ripping it off? Temp
Take a look at Wikipedia:Mirrors and forks - there are a lot. Some comply with the GFDL licence (which makes their hosting wikipedia content entirely legal and above board) and many (most, really) don't. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:31, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Indeed. It is probably a mirror. --Proficient 02:38, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Answers.com in particular really steams me. Not only do they mess up the layout of the pages, but they profit off my work! --frothTC 05:11, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't suppose that will last very long. I'm surprised how many people still don't know Wikipedia. But that is actually a good sign. It means that still more people will join in building it. Which means it will in the next decade or so grow into something so big that Wikipedia will even replace search engines (ie Google) as the primary site to start searching info on the Internet. It makes so much more sense. First get the basic story and then maybe follow some of the links at the bottom. But eventually Wikipedia will also absorb the info in those sites and completely take over the Internet. DirkvdM 06:27, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Private Equity Performance
How does private equity performance compare to public market performance ?
What the advantages of investing in private equity funds versus investing in public companies ?
I'm gonna take a guess that this is a homework question or written assignment; I'm afraid that we can't help with homework (see the disclaimer at the top of the page). Cheers, Ziggurat 01:04, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Security; private equity is almost a guaranteed return while of course public investment is not --frothTC 02:24, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No way is private equity "almost a guaranteed return" ! With any equity investment your whole investment is at risk if the company fails. On average, firms that raise capital by private equity are more risky that public quoted companies (I'll let the OP work out why). Plus you have additional liquidity risk with private equity - you may not be able to sell your shares when you want to. Gandalf61 14:34, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How to reference this cite..
I used this cite in writing a paper (APA) I am confused on how to cite this with in my paper and on my reference page. Thanks
Go to the article that you want to cite, click on the link on the left that says "Cite this article". Dismas|(talk) 21:59, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You want to reference this "site". site and cite are two different things. -Mgm|(talk) 09:27, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A very hard question to ask
Hi, I am in the 9th grade. There is a kid in my class (grade) that is extraordinarily overweight. Now, he's a nice kid, but there is that burining question everyone has: How long does he have?
Now, he's about 6' 2" and almost 400 pounds, 15 years old. The sad thing is he just keeps gaining weight. A half year ago, he was a bit over 350.
Now, I'd like an expert to just estimate if he will live long enough to see his kids go through school; to see his own graduation. Is he morbidly obese? Thank you. 71.250.12.182 22:59, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We can't answer that, at all. Just becaue he is obese doesn't mean he'll live just for a couple years more. Sure, there may be complications, but only a doctor can tell that, and only after a battery of tests. Anyway, according to your numbers, his body mass index is about , so according to our article on morbid obesity, he is indeed on a critical level. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 00:04, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I would estimate that he will likely die in his 30's, assuming he doesn't lose the weight. StuRat 00:40, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
30 is quite low. --Proficient 02:36, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's why I said 30's, not 30. StuRat 12:27, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That degree of obesity in adolescence greatly the reduces the likelihood he will have children, but it is extremely difficult to provide an precise lifespan prediction. alteripse 02:40, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know anything about this, but isn't it very relevant what causes his obesity? If he simple overeats, that can be remedied - just stop doing that (sensibly, though). If it is some hormonal disorder, the obesity will probably be just a symptom of an underlying problem. Without knowing what that is it would probably be very difficult to give a good answer. DirkvdM 06:55, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'd say it's extremely easy to provide a lifespan prediction, and to any degree of precision you like, but it's impossible to have any confidence in the accuracy of such a prediction. I tend to agree with StuRat's statement that, if the obesity continues, this guy would be lucky to survive their 30s. But who knows, he might go on to live till his 90s and outlast all of us. The point is, the prudent thing to do would be to do whatever he can do to maximise his lifespan, and not spend too much time worrying about predicting how long he's got left, as if it were a foregone conclusion and beyond his capacity to do anything about. JackofOz 08:24, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If he stays at that weight, I'd say his chances of surviving to the 90's are less than 1%. One exception might be if new medical technology allows the morbidly obese to survive longer than they do now. StuRat 11:13, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Converted to Metrics, that's about 188 cm, 180 kg. Anyway, I guess the first thing to do is to get a thorough medical and psychological check-up. 惑乱 分からん 10:30, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
{Soapbox Warning}I doubt that everyone has the burning question of how long the overweight kid will live. I hope there is no agenda of showing the kid that "Wikipedia says you are going to die!" Rather than worrying about how soon he will die, you might concern yourself with treating him like an ordinary person and inviting him to hang out at social events. Including the overweight, underweight, gay, depressed, handicapped, poor, minority, geeky, goth, dimwitted, misfit, or outcast kids in the social life of the school can enrich their life and that of those who choose not to exclude them, while decreasing the rate of suicide (by overeating, excess alcohol consumption, or Columbine type events). High school does not have to be like Lord of the Flies but often is.Edison 15:31, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
But it's always nice to have a stick sharpened at both ends, just in case. :-) StuRat 19:12, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
But he is going to die. I'll bet that by 2080, he's a corpse. JIP | Talk 15:43, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 2
Liscenses
A mentor of mine once told me that I would be worth a lot more (to job interviewers) if I had numerous liscenses. Where may i find a list of liscenses? (U.S., Minnesota) Musli Miester 00:14, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It depends on your field. Some fields (such as electrician, plumber, general contractor) require licensing. See MN department of labor and Industry[6]
In other areas (such as computers) certifications are important, such as MCSE [7].
There are a multitude of other types of training and certification.
Many people, in many industries look for a combination of three things in evaluating candidates for jobs. Those would be education, licensing or certification, and experience.
If you give more information about the area where you feel your interests and skills most fit, we can give you more information so assist you.
Atom 00:45, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe you would be worth a lot more if you spelled it correctly - licenses. --Proficient 02:36, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In some parts of Minnesota, having your driver's licence, fishing license and hunting license might impress an employer.Edison 15:36, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Einstein's Math
I've heard rumours that Einstein wasn't good at math. Someone corrected this by saying that Einstein may appear he wasn't good at math because he was doing an extremely difficult branch of mathematics. Does anyone know what difficult branch of Math that Einstein found difficult?Jamesino 00:47, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Einsteins capabilities at math were relative, you might say. Compared to you and I, I think his math skills were exceptional. Also, in his area of math, he obviously knew that very well. On the other hand, he may not have been strong in other areas of mathematics. Like most areas of science, mathematicians often specialize in one specific area.
See the article Albert Einstein for a fascinating description of his life.
Einstein's marks were poor in many of his school courses, as he very often took no interest in them. It may not reflect his actual mathematical ability, but rather how little effort he was sometimes willing to expend on his schoolwork. - Rainwarrior 01:39, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There is some question whether he needed David Hilbert's help to find the final mathematical solution for his general relativity equations, and he'll never be spoken of in the same breath as Isaac Newton as a mathematician, but compared to mere mortals, I'd say his math skills were plenty good enough. Clarityfiend 01:44, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Nitpick: he turned out to be a mere mortal too. Or does he hang with Elvis? :) DirkvdM 07:03, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Last year, I went to an exhibition about Einstein's time in the Netherlands and Belgium, and they said that the story about an underachieving Einstein is a MYTH. They explained that the maximum number of points he could get at school was 6 (not ten), so when he got a 5 or 6, it was GOOD.Evilbu 08:37, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Einstein was a theoretical physicist, not a mathematician. He was gifted at math compared to the general population, but he had help developing his theories mathematically. As a mathematician, he was a great physicist. This is not unusual.Edison 15:39, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Another thing: it's true that Einsten shouldn't be spoken of in the sentence as Newton when it comes to mathematics, but then again, Newton shouldn't be spoken of in the same sentence as Gauss, Hilbert, Euler, Riemann, or any number of other mathematicians (I'm not saying he was a bad mathematician, he did discover calculus, he just wasn't Gauss). The two disciplines are very different, remember that. Oskar 17:44, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't have reference handy at the moment, but as far as I remember, the claim that Einstein wasn't good at math is an urban legend, brought to life by a careless biographer, who studied records from Einstein's high school year. And there he found that Einstein got a 5 in math, the second-worst grade in the German grading system. However, Einstein spend his early high-school years in Switzerland, where 5 is a the best grade, and it seems that his Swiss record was wrongly transcribed when he changed to a German school. Simon A. 18:07, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The best grade in the Swiss school system is a 6 (not a 5). The worst a 1. Lukas 00:18, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maximizing expected utility
How should the associated probabilities be categorized and weighted...what considerations should be made in defining the associated probabilities...
This sounds like homework. Open the textbook and look within for your answer... Atom 00:55, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps he has no textbook!--Light current 01:28, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
nautical wood and shell charts
Dear Reference Desk,
I have been searching for hours now both on Google and through your site about information on I believe either Polynesian, Micronesian, or Oceanic Nautical charts that are made out of wood, shell, bone, etc and used for navigating ships celestially. They are adjustable, in a grid format, made mostly of bamboo or wood indigenous to the area and are mounted to the wall. 72.207.244.39 01:22, 2 October 2006 (UTC)I believe these are mid-19th century but I could be mistaken. I have seen one before but lost the contact info for that person that owns one. Thank you for your time and assitance in this matter. Take care.
Sincerley,
Ben Diller[reply]
I removed your e-mail, as posting it on a public site like this can mean it gets picked up by spambots (which you really don't want :). In answer to your question, the charts demonstrated wave patterns, so if you search for "Polynesian wave chart" or something similar you'll get quite a few hits. This seems to be a pretty informative place to start: [8]. There's also a great article in a journal called Imago Mundi ("Marshall Islands Navigational Charts", by William Davenport, Imago Mundi, Vol. 15. (1960), pp. 19-26) but you have to have university access to read it online ([9]). Hope this helps! Ziggurat 01:29, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Emotional abuse
Can you please help me find articles or books on the long-term effects of emotional abuse on the abusee? I am finding alot about what it is to be an emotional abuser or signs of emotional abuse, but not much on the kinds of reprocussions that the person who was emotionally abused over years has to deal with. Thank you for any assistance,
Jennifer L----
You could start with the Wikipedia article about emotional abuse and follow the links. Durova 14:06, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm afraid that, if I click on that link, I will get an unending string of swear words and insults. :-) StuRat 19:05, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So whats new? How long have you been exposing yourself here? 8-)--Light current 01:29, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I normally go down to the city park whenever I feel like exposing myself. :-) StuRat 12:21, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So you're that guy with the weird eyes, foul odour, and really tiny dick, who keeps on flashing unsuspecting passers-by and innocent bystanders. It's good to finally match the name to the face. :) JackofOz 05:44, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, but that flasher you intentionally go to the park to check out must be somebody else, as I live on the opposite side of the world (in more ways than one). :-) StuRat 19:23, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Jack, are you the guy who always stares at me when I go down to the park then? :} Temp
I can't tell unless I see a photo of you. :--) JackofOz 01:45, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Guy with weird eyes,foul odour,really tiny dick at a park.... it couldn't be the gentleman pictured here could it? ExhibitionismLemon martini 09:53, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
people who "aren't good at tests"
I've heard a lot of people saying that they got good grades but aren't good at standardized tests so they couldn't get into the college they wanted. Is this a valid condition or is "not good at tests" basically synonymous with "not being smart enough to do well"? --frothTC 02:35, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
They might get nervous and such, but most of the time I would say it is an excuse. --Proficient 02:37, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Their scores on standardised tests are likely to be a (relatively) better reflection of their "being smart enough to do well"; they might get very good grades on a test which consists only of the question "what is your name?". --Yesitsapril 02:45, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sometimes it is an excuse, but the tests are limited in what they measure besides the ability to do well on a test. For example, doctors in the US take a long series of those tests, from the SATs in high school, to the MCATs to get into medical school, to National Boards for licensure, to specialty and subspecialty certification exams. I have been involved in resident education for years and it is quite difficult to see a clear relationship between the quality of clinical performance and the test aptitude. Being good at tests is a skill some are blessed with and others work at, but it is only a crude indicator of how good you are at anything else besides test-taking (except maybe being suited to work at the reference desk). On the other hand, good grades can be obtained in many ways and are much harder for someone to fairly assess and compare. alteripse 02:55, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm just the reverse, a very good test taker. I've been known to ace a test when I'm completely unfamiliar with the subject matter. The problem is that the test makers leave clues to the answers in the test, which I can pick up on. StuRat 11:08, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Here's the deal dude. I'm probably in about the same place you are right now to a lesser extent. Are SATs/ACTs important? Yes. Basically, they are the only way that colleges have a standardized way to compare two students from different schools. However, they are just a piece of the puzzle in the application. They won't make or break you, but they will hurt/help your application. Grades are important, extracurriculars are important, good essays, and recommendations are also important too. Standardized Tests are just a piece of the puzzle that the colleges look at when deciding whether or not to accept you. --AstoVidatu 13:05, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I would suggest StuRat that you are now much older and wiser than those for whom the tests were designed. You can see the hints in the question, but Im not sure the normal candidates would. Heres a little test for you on 3 dimensional geometry that you should be able to slove mereley from the clues (or lack of them) in the question.
Intelligence test question
You drill a 6" (exactly) long hole through the centre of a sphere. What is the volume of the sphere remaining? --Light current 15:14, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That seems a little bit like a silly question. What diameter does the drill have? Does it taper? Through which two points on the surface of the sphere did you drill through? Also, what's a shere? --80.229.152.246 17:22, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes it seems like you dont have enough info, but you do. THe hole is parallel sided like the drill used to produce it. You drill with a diameter as your centre line. 8-)--Light current 20:37, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I can see how you could work out the original volume from that, but not the remaining volume. Skittle 22:58, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You have to think laterally: the info you are not given obviously has no bearing on the answer! 8-)--Light current 23:15, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
John W. Campbell, Jr. had an amusing solution to this: Assume that there is a unique solution and that there is sufficient information, because it would be rude to present the problem if it didn't have both. In that case, it doesn't matter what the diameter of the removed part of the sphere is, so assume that the diameter is zero, in which case the remaining volume is is a sphere of diameter 6, or 36π. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 23:42, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Congratulations. You get the prize for answering correctly (and for quting the correct logical process of thought). However, I cannot give you the prize for super intelligence, as you obviously saw the answer somewhere else.--Light current 00:33, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, uh, yeah. I didn't independently determine that Campbell had figured out such a solution. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 05:20, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If there is sufficient information, there are two possible answers: either the drill bit is of zero diameter, and the whole sphere is left, or the drill bit is larger than six inches in diameter, and there is only a hole left. --Serie 00:07, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I didnt specify the drill diameter. It must vary with the sphere size in order to get a 6" long hole.--Light current 00:40, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
All the info you need is there. Be sure not confuse volume with mass. It could be a hollow sphere and the volume would be the same. Sosobra 22:48, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You have to know either the size of the sphere or the width of the bit. The length of the hole is helpful.. but useless without knowing how wide the bit is. You could find that width by figuring the size of the sphere with the length of the hole, but you'd have to know the size of the sphere --frothTC 16:44, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
People don't get good scores on tests but get good grades may be getting the good grades by working hard. This will carry them much farther in life than someone who is lazy but intelligent enough to pick out the correct answer based on clues the teacher puts in the test unwittingly. One of these clues is that in a teacher-written question, the longest answer is often the correct one, since the teacher puts in lots of qualifying phrases to reduce arguing about any ambiguity. Professionally written exams control for this factor. I have seen people with above average but not spectacular IQs do very well in graduate school and in careers if they are hard workers. Of course, some people just go into a panic and can't think straight when they have to do a timed exam which is important to their future. One thing which can help with that is preparation: take a practice exam under timed conditions similar to the testing day. Cognitive behavioral therapy might also help if one can afford to see a professional.Edison 15:48, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If people can handle standardized test, how the hell are they going to handle real, non-standardized ones that are thrown at them in real life? PhilcTECI 20:41, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There are many differences in doing things in the real world versus on tests:
Getting the right answer all the time is far more important in the real world. (If you're an architect, and 7 out of 10 of your buildings don't fall over, that's not a passing grade in the real world.)
Getting the answer in less than an hour is far less important.
Getting the answer without using a calculator is far less important.
Getting the answer without asking for help from an expert is far less important.
Getting the answer without using any reference materials is far less important.
So, in many ways, doing well at tests shows you have just the opposite set of skills as are needed in the real world. StuRat 21:30, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Really? It isn't possible that a person could do well at a test and be successful in the 'real world?' ( btwI have never taken a test that wasn't in the real world, I like to fantasize about more risque things then the SAT)Sosobra 23:23, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I didn't say that. They are two distinct skill sets, which have some overlap (the ability to get correct answers), and many other skills which do not overlap (being able to find answers alone for tests and with others in the real world). It is quite possible to be good at both. My point was that being good at one does not guarantee being good at the other. StuRat 00:10, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In the real world I have many times had to give fast accurate answers without references, calculators, or consultants. The good part is that the questioner may not know the correct answer either! But in the worst case you might be held to the answer you are forced to give on the spot. Edison 05:05, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Road that runs both north and south
Sides of a highway are usually named with the name of the highway and the overall direction of traffic flow: the side of Interstate 90 running from Boston to Seattle is "Interstate 90 west". When two highways share the same stretch of road, the road gets both names, so one side might be both "Interstate 82 east" and "US Route 97 south". Is there anywhere where one side of a road has both a "north" name and a "south" name, or both an "east" name and a "west" name? --Carnildo 07:35, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't see much mileage in doing that. Isn't it just called, for example, Interstate 82? I think I misunderstood your question.--Shantavira 09:18, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I could see it happening like this:
HIWAY 2 WEST <<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> HIWAY 1 EAST
^
^ HIWAY 1 EAST &
^ HIWAY 2 WEST
^
HIWAY 1 EAST >>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< HIWAY 2 WEST
Yes, Interstate 81 and Interstate 77 (among many others) do this. I-81 is a SW-NE tending highway, and I-77 is a NW-SE tending highway. The two share pavement for about 10 miles, signed North and South simultaneously (as are two US highways that also share the pavement). See wrong-way concurrency. — Lomn 15:42, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I used to drive one every day -- a northbound stretch of freeway in Berkeley and Oakland that is simultaneously I-80E and I-580W. (And backwards the other way, of course.) Provided minor giggles. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 16:51, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In that case, is there any stretch of road that's got all four directions? --Serie 17:36, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know of any four-way "wrong way multiplex," but King and Weber streets in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, go north-south-west-east in the span of a couple miles. Erb Street divides Waterloo streets into "north" and "south" suffixes, while Queen Street in Kitchener divides that city into "west" and "east." Because King and Weber streets run northwest-to-southeast, they wind up in both halves of both cities. -- Mwalcoff 02:09, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Man has been around in his present form, like youand i for 100 000 years, now if one looks at the last 2000 years and sees the advances made, it begs the question what have we been doing for the other 98 000 years. why has there been such an advancement in the last 2000 years? Or
is a theory that I had previously laughed off possible, that man has achieved great advancement in various fields previosly such as the Atlanteans having great advancement in religion, then were destroyed, and we now have great advancement in technology... Any comments...193.115.175.247 08:58, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I would say most technological advancement appears to have happened in the last 20,000 years, not 2,000. Each development required earlier developments, and this leads to an increasing rate of new inventions. For example, without the prerequisite of knowing how to build a fire, most of modern technology would be impossible. So, while it may seem like little progress was being made during the first 80,000 years or so, it was all necessary to get to where we are now. StuRat 10:48, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, there was no shortage of advances in that period. Man got all the way to the Axial Age. In some fields, such as philosophy, there haven't been many advances since then. (Some would argue a decline.)--Shantavira 11:03, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Another way you could look at things is by "weight" of importance of each invention. Like StuRat said, most of our modern inventions require the initial invention of fire to exist, so the invention of fire could be considered thousands, millions of times more important than the invention of something like Wikipedia. Wikipedia took less than a decade to get where it is now, and if you multiply that by a few factors of a thousand, you can imagine a relatively accurate time frame required for the invention (and taming) of fire. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 15:08, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
People were doing amazing feats of technological innovation several thousand years BC: they established trade routes from Europe to China, they developed ceramics, copper, bronze, iron, and glass technology. They did astronomical observations and developed civil engineering. They built massive civil works. They did not just sit around for 98,000 years. Some unknown ancestors as smart as Newton figured out technological innovations in the prehistoric era which the subsequent development of our arts and sciences built upon. Edison 15:58, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Another important element, is the approximately exponential growth in population and especially the increase in population with time available to explore new ideas. 10,000 years ago the world population is estimated to have been 4 million people and nearly all of them would have spent all day looking for food on a subsistence diet. Today the world population is about 6 billion, and although there is an embarrassingly large fraction of them still living in subsistence, there are millions if not billions with enough leisure time available to think of new things. And of course advances in technology, in health and farming etc. is in part what helps to support the increase in the world's population (although also note the warnings of Thomas Malthus).
I don't have the figures, but lets estimate that there are 10 times as many theoretical physicists in the world today compared with 1900 (the world population has increased by a factor of 4 since then, but the number of physicists has probably increased more rapidly). 10 times as many people working on the same sorts of problems won't make the rate of advancement increase by a factor of 10, but it might make things move forward say two or three times more as quickly.
There are also important step changes along the way that facilitate the spread of ideas; spoken language (way back when), writing (~4000BC), printing (6th-15th century) and perhaps the Internet (1980s). More importantly throughout these last 20,000 years there has been very little change in human DNA, so things like brain size (or other factors that might affect intelligence or ingenuity) have remained the same. It is suggested that if you could raise a Paleolithic caveman in the modern world with modern teaching, he would be pretty well indistinguishable from anyone else. However we are now on the verge of being able to manipulate our DNA directly, so the pace of change in the next thousand years might be very dramatic indeed as long as we can cope with the social pressures. -- Solipsist 16:14, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We consider our technological advances greater for two reasons. One is that they are our advances and the other is that we take what was done long ago for granted. One of the greatest advances of mankind is the development of agriculture, breeding and city building. Without that, we could never have done what we did in the last 2000 years. We may think our computers and the Internet dwarf any previous achievements, but it's just an extension of communication, like bookprinting was. It all started with the invention of writing. Strike that. It started with spoken language. Conpared to that all that came after it was peanuts. Looking into the future, 10000 years from now people will be little impressed with what we are doing right now, compared to what they are doing or, if they think deeper, those things that were done before us. DirkvdM 18:27, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Let me use this oportunity to use the bit about 'taking for granted what was done before' to take a stab at selfrighteous capitalists. They complain about taxes taking away 'their hard earned money'. But put them in a third world situation with no connections and al the poverty the local population have and they will achieve as little as that local population. The wealth they have was given to them by their ancestors. They just found cleverer ways to get a larger piece of the pie. Thousands or even millions of times larger than the pieces others get. Of course they work millions of times harder. :) DirkvdM 18:27, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Taxpayers may not work a million times harder than those in the Third World, but they work more than a million times harder than you. :-) StuRat 21:04, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Of course that last sentence confused the argumentation. I should have said that even if they did work a million times harder, that would still not be an excuse to take a larger piece of the pie. DirkvdM 05:02, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
List of rich neighborhoods
I want to start that article. Help me out. I'll being:
There is at least one "upper class" neighborhood in every major city. All of these neighborhoods have robust articles because they played roles in the history of the city, and are subjects of folk fascination. This is Wikipedia. Why question why? Because "value" = this doesn't sound like it interests me? leave me a message
For this to be encyclopedic, you need to use a criterion less subjective than "rich." You could use census data to derive a list of, say, "U.S. neighborhoods containing census tracts with per-capita incomes over $200,000." To be encyclopedic, the list would have to include all such neighborhoods. This would involve some work. A list based on a random group of people's subjective judgements is not encyclopedic. Marco polo 18:01, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Whilst there's a couple of topics about cannabis in progress on the science desk and I'm currently looking at an album cover with a picture of Bob Marley smoking a huge spliff on it, my enquiring mind wishes to know - how big was the biggest spliff ever made? --Kurt Shaped Box 12:14, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
what kind of suits do they wear? i wanna replicate for my formal.220.239.228.252 13:18, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The Reservoir Dogs article suggests they were designer suits created specially for the film. I realize that doesn't help much, but it does suggest you won't get one off the peg. Maybe a fan site could help.--Shantavira 13:34, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
academy award nominee
What academy awared nominee also writes a popular newspaper column about bridges?
Can you tell me what the Nec means after some of the categories in The SIC code book? For example, the category of Medical and Hospital Equipment has a SIC code of 504700 and has a total of 7,468. The category of Medical and Hospital Equipment, Nec. has a code of 504799 nad a total of 909. I'm just wondering what the difference is. Thanks.
"Not Elsewhere Classified". --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 16:10, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It is possible to die from a hangnail, if it becomes infected and is left untreated and your immune system can't handle it. But, rather than making funeral plans, you might want to clip it off. StuRat 20:56, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sometimes I get a hangnail, and I'm dumb and try and bite it off, but I pull off more. That makes me wish I was dead. If you were contemplating suicide, that could tip you over the edge. Vitriol 23:19, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, but we don't seem to have an article on How to extinguish a burning butt just at the moment. But now there's a redlink, I'm sure someone will create one any day now. I only hope it's in time for your little .. ah, problem. Best of luck in the meantime. JackofOz 20:49, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"I fell into that burning ring of fire...and it burns, burns, burns, that ring of fire." :-) StuRat 20:51, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Is that the song that goes like, "burns burns burns! the ring of fire. the ring of fire." or something? --216.164.249.26 21:23, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Oh and by the way, you could always decide to perform an upper decker while your butt is on fire. That would be quite an accomplishment. --216.164.249.26 21:27, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
THere is another way: Fire extinguisher butt you must be careful not to insert the nozzle! 8-)--Light current 21:48, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, I saw these adult movies where ... (no, better not). JackofOz 20:36, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I saw a metal can outside a homeless shelter which had written on it "Extinguish your butts here." You might try to find such a device. Edison 05:11, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
On British buses years ago when smoking was allowed, there used to be cast metal plates with the word 'STUBBER' moulded on them attached to the rear of the seats. Interestingly (?) the word spelled backwards is REBBUTS. Conicidence or conspiracy? --Light current 05:16, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It might be conicidence if they were smoking pot from bongs. :) JackofOz 20:36, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If this is a result of a vindaloo, yoghurt is supposed to be good.--Shantavira 09:03, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sweet yoghurt... I love that snack... 惑乱 分からん 11:43, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How do you explain to your girlfried why you are sitting in 2 gallons of yoghurt? CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 05:17, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That must be where the term Girl Friday came from. Girl Frenday would have sounded silly. :--) JackofOz 05:34, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hey, 惑乱 分からん if you really like it that much I have 2 gallons I could let you have for half price. I just have to find the rest of the strawberry bits. CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 05:43, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hmmm, I actually doubt that the cost of importing 2 gallons to Sweden (before it turns bad), would be a better deal than buying 10 liters at my local convenience store, even if you would sell it at half price... 惑乱 分からん 17:03, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Apologies in advance...but this would seem to be the result of an arse-onist :) Lemon martini 09:39, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I seem more and more to be able to work out songs Ive heard and harmonise them at the piano keyboard. Its rather uncanny - its as if someone else is playing , not me! Ive found a number of rules for the chord progressions that I apply, and now the songs are coming thick and fast. I am a musician (bass player) but Ive never had any piano lessons.
Should I buy a piano to develop this skill at home for self amusement and learning of tunes?
Should I take piano lessons to try to learn to play from music.
Should I forget all about it, as it may only be a passing phase?
I'd keep it up. You can learn a lot about harmony, voicing, chord alteration, counterpoint etc etc etc. It will broaden your scope on the bass too, and you can use it for arranging and composing. A lot of great jazz horn players, though by no means all, played and play the piano reasonably well too. ---Sluzzelin 21:07, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes that makes sense. Im not learning anything new on the bass now really. Its so easy to find the jazz chords on the piano like Dm7, G7, Am7,Em7 (in the key of C) I am of course starting to work out all the tunes in the key of C (or Am) so its just the white notes at present. When I'm familiar in C, Ill try F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db--Light current 21:44, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Possible! But Im a beginner compared to those two pianists. After just a few weeks/months playing twice a week for an hour or so, Im just getting a natural feel for the harmonies of the tunes Ive heard. After all this time reading bass music and not really learning anything, I just find it strange now that it seems so easy!.--Light current 23:12, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Anyway Im not sure I want to be a 'channel' for Liberace 8-)--Light current 00:43, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, that would explain why you go a bar looking to meet a man. :-) StuRat 18:33, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, I have my piano now. Its not a grand, but its grand (and feels/sounds like one) 8-))--Light current 17:24, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Death?
I accidentally leaned too hard into my hands, and felt my hands push against my chin so that something on the inside seemed to get crushed. UI don't feel any pain there, though. Will I die??? --216.164.249.26 21:16, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well eventually, yeh. Who knows! maybe you crushed your spine... or your brain... or your throat... all are unlikely, as you are stil alive, but more to the point how would we know! If you think your going to die, why are you asking us, why aren't you in casualty, and if you dont think you are going to, why waste our time? PhilcTECI 22:14, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Fotr those not in the know "Casualty" is the same as the "emergency room" of a hospital. - Mgm|(talk) 08:26, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
U.S. and Britain: Two peoples separated by a common language. Cars with windscreen and bonnet instead of windshield and trunk, going up in the lift to the first floor to watch the telly before revising for the maths exam instead of going up in the elevator to the second floor to watch the tv before reviewing for the math exam. Having someone knock you up early in the morning instead of ordering a wakeup call. Biscuits instead of cookies. Edison 13:57, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Check out the the Deathclock. And then end up finding out you're going to die in 2 weeks and do a bunch of stuff that gets you in a lot of trouble and in jail that people with a limited time left would usually do, and then end up dying in like 40 years and regretting ever listening to me. Maybe you should think about it first. I was supposed to die 4 months ago, still waiting. ;) Temp
Wrap the body in chicken wire, weigh it down and drop it from a boat into fairly shallow water (though not shallow enough to be uncovered at low tide). Undersea critters will make short work of it. EDIT: You might also want to stab it a few times to allow the beasties to get inside. --Kurt Shaped Box 01:10, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No-one is going to notice/care about the few small bones that wash up (unless you're very unlucky) and the big, identifiable stuff (e.g. skull, pelvis, femurs) will probably stay within the wire wrapping long enough to be erroded away to sand... --Kurt Shaped Box 02:01, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I disagree! Its too risky! And DNA can be got from bones. Anyway, didnt you read the question?--Light current 03:14, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you somehow could drop the body in the middle of the Pacific over the Mariana Trench with weights attached to the body, wouldn't that make the body fairly difficult to find? --ClockFace 03:49, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We counsel strongly against any felonious acts. I assume you wish to write a mystery story. One can't argue with success, so start with people who were never found: List of people who have disappeared and Category:Disappeared people. Unfortunately there are few details. For famous unfound bodies with more conjecture about methods, see Helen Brach and Judge Crater. Methods as dissimilar as burial under the sidewalk at Coney Island and a trip to a blast furnace were pretty effective. Edison 05:21, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
THat reminds me of the Mafia favorite: Using the body in the construction of some concrete edifice. (usually a roadway). Also I believe there may be a few bodies inside the Hoover dam
I think you're referring to roofies. And I hope you like prison. Dismas|(talk) 21:37, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There is no proper way to use roofies. Check out the lyrics to Date Rape (song) for a preview of the merry social life that awaits in prison - what goes around really does come around. Durova 21:48, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Nobody is ever "rapeable". JackofOz 00:51, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I disagree. Everyone is always rapeable. And I'm proud of the twisted OP for not dropping the silent e and maintaining the /ai/ sound when making his word. Hyenaste(tell) 01:02, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That article just says it's a sedative that makes people forget what happened. But there must be loads of drugs like that. Does it also make people 'willing'? That would make it very useful to rob people, making them clean their bank accounts for the robber. Is that what happens? The robbery section does not say. DirkvdM 05:16, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ehhh, people don't have to be willing to get raped. Only too consciousless (or weak) for resistance... 惑乱 分からん 11:38, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ehhh, "willing to get raped" is a contradiction in terms. JackofOz 11:45, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Aaahh, true, it's an oxymoron... Anyway, I think I should recommend the asker to be nice, instead... If you're nice, hopefully you could find a nice, horny girl that would stay with you for some time... ;) 惑乱 分からん 13:56, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
He: "So help me, I'll rape you!" She: "So rape me, I'll help you!"Edison 13:59, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Rape me, my friend! you know... Actually, I was referring to more equal sex last time... 惑乱 分からん 09:04, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Looks British judging by the right hand drive cockpit. Jamesino 22:37, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I know nothing about cars, but might it be a Lotus of some sort? Just has that look about it. Skittle 23:03, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No registration plate - no indicator lights - no reflectors - no reversing lights - no marque? And just because of all that you attack we Brits? Shame on you.
It may be a kit car or one that was assembled with the express purpose to try and set some sort of speed record. Thus, no need for license/registration plates or lights. Dismas|(talk) 01:35, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Counter-Strike
Why is the Pc game Counterstrike so popular? Jamesino 22:36, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Because it's awxoem !! --frothTC 00:58, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Like most popular online games in the past (warcraft, starcraft, diablo) it was the high-level play that kept the game alive for so long. For some reason the CS system allowed for creation of really in-depth strategy, and even at the highest levels of competition (let's say sK vs. Team 3D) extremely trivial judgements and small advantages in skill made huge differences in tournament gameplay.
The existance of a well-formed online league CAL, and a well-funded (millions of dollars in prizes) well-hyped (large promotion budget) and well-reported (match play-by-play over shoutcast was very popular, and relatively high quality) international tournament CPL also helped loads to keep high-level players interested and motivated in the game.
The developer (which became Valve after the betas were done with) frequently updated the engine code and server code to make internet play smoother, and even listened to fan requests on a few occasions (maybe not enough).
Other than that all I can say is that the game came at the right time, when a game somewhat like it was required to inspire all those used to playing DM games like Quake III. I'd be surprised if any game will ever be so lucky again. I don't consider CS to be popular any more, because it's well past it's prime, but since there have been so many hardcore players in the past, people will probably always go back to it every once in a while to refresh their mice and catch a wiff of CS nostalgia. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 04:03, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think it was so popular not so much because of realism or anything like that, but the fact that the multiplayer game was well balanced and there was a really good strategy to it in addition to the tactile aiming skills. There were many ways you could approach the game, but you had to coordinate it with your team. Teamwork was more or less required to play the game (as a lone gunman would usually be knocked out, and have to sit out the rest of the round). Not all FPS multiplayer games are like that, and CS did it really well. - Rainwarrior 17:59, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 3
Cooking for the complete idiot?
Any suggestions for a cookbook or cooking website that covers very basic cooking, like "how to scramble an egg" or "how to grill a steak"? Even the cookbooks targeted at college students I've found don't go that simple. --67.185.172.158 00:03, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
At the suggestion of my girlfriend I bought Cooking for Blokes, it it really does go into the daft detail of how to boil an egg, make rice of grill a steak. — QuantumEleven 05:18, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Indoor Plants
Now that fall is upon us, and winter is approaching. I am thinking about growing some typically spring/summer plants inside. Ive done some research for mimicing the sun cycles and the amount of time the sun is up beginning in the spring (8-10hours) and then to summer (10-12) and then back to late summer/fall (8-10). What I am wondering is what if I just kept some artificial light on the plants 24 hours from the beginning? Would that have an adverse or positive effect?
Thanks!!!
Where do you live that has such short days? Here in Southern California, our longest daylight time is 14-1/2 hours, and the shortest is almost 10 hours. It's just over 12 hours at the equinox. Anyway, I know that many potted plants will survive just fine with 24 hours of light - they do in business establishments where the lights are never turned off. I don't know how that would affect their flowering cycles or growth rates - you may get better results with this question on the science forum.--Shuttlebug 05:34, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I noticed that this was put earlier in Science with no answer. Maybe it can't be answered! A long time ago when I was growing err.. 'herbs' in the basement, the general consensus was that light longer than 12 hours had no effect. Also, I just found out that you can't force tulips until they've had a few months in the cold. --Zeizmic 11:55, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Indoor lights may seem bright, but measured with a light meter, a bank of fluorescents is way dimmer than sunlight, and plants tend to be spindly. I have looked without success for a valid source on whether plants need dark time in each 24 hour cycle, or leaving lights on 24/7 works better than a diurnal cycle. I expect this has been studied and documented by the Department of Agriculture.Edison 14:03, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
phantasmagoria
ythere is a pc game called phantasmagoria i wanted to know how i could purchase a copy of this game i have searched quite a bit on the internet but no go created by sierra games 1995-96
I did a search for "phantasmagoria pc" on EBay and got 11 listings, try that. --Canley 02:34, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Phantasmagoria is a very old game (from 1995!), so I think you'll have trouble tracking down a copy (even the 'bargain bins' at computer stores won't have it) - as Canley said, eBay is your best bet. Note that unless you have an old Windows 3.1 or DOS PC lying around, you'll most likely need an emulator to run it (such as DosBox). Good luck! — QuantumEleven 05:24, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think it ran fine on Windows 95 and 98 too. At least it would be odd if my CD with a game collection for Windows 95 back then had a preview for an ancient game on it. By the way, 1995 isn't all that old, just a little over 10 years. I know exactly which game they're talking about and I'd love to play it myself. My computer couldn't handle it at the time it came out... - Mgm|(talk) 08:20, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Adjusted for inflation and population growth, what is the highest grossing movie in U.S. history?
Adjusted for inflation and population growth, what is the highest grossing movie in U.S. history? --71.244.110.187 01:57, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How would I find a map of census tracts for Boston in 1960? I have a census data set from then, but the tract numbers are all, like, A-0001, SC-0001B, etc., while modern tract numbers for Boston appear not to use any letters. Alternatively, how would I find race/income data on Boston neighborhoods from 1960?
Any help much appreciated! -Bess
You're very likely in the realm of paper census records, which are long and tedious, but were fortunately published. I'd suggest you look for 1960 census records in a large library.
Your best bet is a "government depository library." Typically these are the main branch of the public library of the biggest city in a state, or the library of the flagship state university campus. They will have dusty bound books containing the 1960 census reports. Inside one of those dusty bound books, you should find folded maps that show the census tracts and their boundaries. Marco polo 00:39, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
City with the greatest number of large buildings
Hi there!
i am wondering which city has the greatest number of large buildings.
i was in new york for a week and the large buildings seemed to go on forever!
i have been in other huge cities such as delhi, calcutta, bangkok but they were not so full of tall buildings.
returning to the west coast san francisco seemed rather quaint!
thank you!
kai hill
How tall is tall? I consider much of Tokyo to be very tall, but there are regulations in Japan to stop people from stacking skycrapers higher than 70 storeys up. They're afraid they'll topple over when the earthquakes hit; as if anybody would survive an earthquake strong enough to topple a high-tech 100 storey structure in the first place. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 07:03, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
According to the article Skyscraper: "despite the loss of the World Trade Center towers, and the relatively slow pace of new construction, no city in the world has more completed individual free-standing buildings over 500 ft. (152 m) than New York City, with 184. Hong Kong comes in with the most in the world (186), if one counts individually the multiple towers that rise from a common podium, as in buildings that rise several stories as one structure, before splitting into two or more columns of floors (Emporis counts this way)." --Canley 07:04, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Fire water
Hi, and no, this isn't about moonshine. :)
In the Anglosphere,
What do firemen say when they order that pressurized water be shot at a fire? Would they still say "Fire!"?
What do policemen say when they order that pressurized water be shot at a rioting crowd? Would they say the same thing as above, or would they still say "Fire!"? --Kjoonlee 06:30, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I suspect they don't wait for an order, but what's wrong with shouting "Water!"? Firemen would certainly just get on with it. The police are more likely to say "OK, Let's squirt some ass!"--Shantavira 10:02, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No corresponding command is featured in WP's Glossary of firefighting terms, it would make for a nice addition. In the 'Germanosphere' the command is sometimes 'Wasser Marsch!' (which I always found weird.)---Sluzzelin 12:30, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I could see that being a holdover from bucket brigades; the line of moving buckets could indeed be construed as water marching. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 15:50, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm no fireman, but I suspect "hose" or the designation of the specific hose. - Jmabel | Talk 22:45, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What is the poorest county/locale in the USA?
In terms of any data you could get: average earning, GDP, quality of life indices, anything really.
I cant find this info out for the life of me. Any suggestions welcome...
Username is Amists, can't log on as I'm at work so no cookies enabled.
Thanks!
I don't know about counties, but there's a fair chance it's in Mississippi, which is the poorest state in the US --Mnemeson 09:45, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There was a West Wing episode where the speechwriter had to stand in staffing the President for the day, and at one point he asked 'Is there some condensed form of the sum of all human knowledge?'. He was pointed towards the Chief of Staff's secretary. If they were making it now, they'd have to point him to WP... --Mnemeson 10:22, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, Wikipedia has become the cesspool of all human knowledge. :) StuRat 15:20, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
3-word hebrew translation
What is "what is happening?" in Hebrew (just the transliteration will do). Thanks.-anon
In Hebrew it's two words. "Mah koreh?". --Dweller 16:13, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Mah matzav" - literally "what is the situation" will work as well. Jon513 16:14, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It depends on context... are you wondering what's happening (something's going wrong) or are you asking your, erm, homey "wass 'appenin'?" --Dweller 16:30, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
fire
You're not supposed to use an elevator in a fire. How do you escape if you use a wheelchair?
Many wheelchair users have strong arms and would be able to crawl down stairs in an emergency, though the likelihood is that there'll be people around who can carry them. But if the fire is localized they'd probably be fine in the elevator.--Shantavira 18:01, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hopefully those people wont handle the situation the way they did in Episode Two of The Office's second season, which was, sadly, my first association upon reading the question. During a fire drill, heroic David Brent and Gareth Keenan first insist on carrying Brenda, a co-worker in a wheelchair, themselves, and not allowing that the elevator be used, even if it's only a drill. They barely make it down one flight of stairs, then decide it's too much of a bother and abandon her in the stairwell for the rest of the exercise.---Sluzzelin 19:22, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The rest of the episode too, if I remember correctly. --Maxamegalon2000 02:38, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It sounds likely. Btw, I haven't seen the episode, but it sounds reasonable to assume that Brent's character would probably give some self-praising lectures about the conditions for disabled people at the workplace in that episode? 惑乱 分からん 06:32, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
BBC & Daily Mail lift Amish Wiki text
The BBC and the Daily Mail have taken text directly from Wiki's Amish article, with no attribution or identification of the source - see Talk:Amish for details ("BBC gets info from Wikipedia?"). Question: what can be done about this plagiarism? Can an administrator write to the BBC and the Daily Mail, and request that they publish Errata which indicate the omission of identification of source? Failure to identify sources runs totally contrary to ethics of journalism and scholarship. I'd be happy to write to the BBC and the Daily Mail myself, but I'm not an administrator. (I should also mention that I did not write the text that was plagiarized, and thus have no goal in this other than seeing that Wiki gets its proper credits.)PaulLev 17:23, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The BBC very often uses Wikipedia content, but is generally fairly good about citing the source. Writing to the BBC really isn't an administrator's job, as an administrator is neither the aggreved party (that's the contributors to the article, who hold the copyright) nor a representative of the Foundation. The Foundation could (acting as some kind of informal agent of the community) but it doesn't seem to be doing much about the out-and-out Wikipedia rippers (the forks who ignore their GFDL obligations). Do they still broadcast Points of View with Barry Took? Middenface 17:33, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Agreed, you can go ahead and write to them directly. I'm not so concerned about Wikipedia not getting credit as I am about some BBC reporter passing off the work of others as his own. Such poor ethics could manifest themselves in totally made up stories, if not corrected now. StuRat 18:17, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I sent an e-mail about the plagiarism to the BBC, through their "complaint" system on their website. Details on Talk:Amish. I'll let you know what, if anything, I hear back from them.PaulLev 04:42, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
FYI - A similar thing happened in Australia - Aussie TV program Media Watch picked up on it. [10] -- Chuq 07:19, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Incident at Neshabur
Hello,
This has been bothering me for a long time. Carlos Santana has a great song called "Incident at Neshabur". My question is weather this is based on some sort of actual event. I've looked everywhere and have had no luck. Thank you in advance for helping me solve this mystery.F2112jdude 18:18, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's none of the incidents mentioned here anyway, considering Santana released the song in 1970. Perhaps there was no event? -- theGREATGavini 19:23, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Reference material for financial aid to North Korea
I'm looking for a breakdown of the financial aid that the United States, Japan, and South Korea have given to North Korea in 2005. I've done a bit of searching on the internets and Wikipedia and can't seem to find verifiable recent figures. Thanks in advance. Lur 18:21, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
gotta quaetion about this topic. there doesn't seem to be any searchable knowledge on it. i can't edit it myself, but i wanted to kno if it were possible to have a topic that was searchable without the information for it?
I don't understand your question at all. Could you try rephrasing? - Jmabel | Talk 22:42, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There was some link to Dark Angel (Arundel High) at the Dark Angel article before, but it was removed, allegedly a comic book series, but almost no good Google hits except for Wikipedia.. 惑乱 分からん 23:36, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Febreze
Does Febreze actually kill germs, or does it only mask it? Jamesino 20:34, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Original and scented Febreze formulations essentially do nothing to microbes; they just absorb/inactivate/mask the odour. Febreze also has an Antimicrobial formulation (labelled specifically as such) which will kill some microbes—the label says it "eliminates 99.9 percent of odor-causing bacteria on fabrics". (Though to be honest I would tend to question its efficacy unless you really spray on enough to soak your sofa.) TenOfAllTrades(talk) 21:19, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I did my own test on microfiber dish clothes which we keep rewashing. Apparently, the 'stinky' bacteria build up, and the washing doesn't kill them, unless you soak them in chlorine beach, which is bad for coloured synthetics. I found that spraying on the antibacterial Febreze delayed the stink bomb by a few days. I finally gave up and went for a thicker non-woven cloth that I can toss when it stinks, since I think nothing can kill those bacteria on worn (porous) synthetics. --Zeizmic 21:51, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Is Febreze effective in killing or masking odours and germs inside sneakers? Jamesino 22:29, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Probably. Although the amount you need to use can be a lot in certain sneakers... - Mgm|(talk) 09:12, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Saddest Moment of your Life
What is the saddest moment of your life? Hustle 20:39, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Realizing that people ask questions like this on the Wikipedia Reference Desk. Adam Bishop 20:53, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Realizing my life can never be as happy as Adam Bishop's MeltBanana 21:59, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Realising that two editors have already given attention to this pointless question (whoops now its 3).--Light current 01:29, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Oh darn :( --frothTC 03:03, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Realizing that Jimbo Wales does not even know of my existence, let alone that of my shrine that I have built where I offer daily sacrifices unto him. Lemon martini 09:59, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There seems to be a glitch in my copy of SSBM: When I try to get certain bonuses (such as "Master of Suspense" and "Life on the Edge", and get them successfully, the game doesn't give me credit for getting it. I am positive that I am getting hem successfully. Is this a glitch, or am I just doing something wrong? -- TheGreatLlama(speak to the Llama!) 23:33, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Havent played in a year or so, but lemme try: Sometimes, if you hang too much, you end up getting another bonus, like master of disaster? Idk if thats even remotely related, just popped into my head. Also, try using c.f., he has the best recovery for these type of tricks ChowderInopa 03:29, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 4
Faked X and Y Chromosomes
Has anyone heard of the Genetic Update Conference? Well anyways, the lecturer showed us pictures of X and Y chromosomes that had been edited with genes like "Selective Hearing Loss (HUH)" for the Y and several shopping genes for the X. I Googled this already to no avail. Anyone seen these out there at all? Deltacom1515 00:02, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Humorous karyotypes like that have been shown at various genetics lectures for at least 40 years. There are lots of funny medical slides that have never been published for a variety of reasons. alteripse 01:37, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
More seriously, a doctor friend said he sometimes told parents of children of ambiguous anatomical gender that their baby girl was missing one leg of one of her two X chromosomes, while drawing out a Y to demonstrate how the X was missing a leg.Edison 07:27, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We will keep such children away from him. That approach was questionable twenty years ago and is really asking for trouble today. alteripse 00:13, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
According to the very first line of the article you linked to - "The title of Grand Mufti ( Arabic: مفتي عام) refers to the highest official of religious law in a Sunni Muslim country". The only way you could be asking this question in good faith is if you think the US is a Sunni Muslim country... --Mnemeson 01:18, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
But I think it's a fair question. The United States is as much a Sunni Muslim country as Australia, which has a grand mufti, as does France. In general, the grand mufti is named or recognized by the government of the country where he presides. Because of the constitutional mandate of separation of church and state, the United States government would never officially sanction such a religious office. Australia apparently has an unofficial grand mufti. The United States does not, probably at least partly because the Muslim population of the United States is diverse and not centrally organized. There are several U.S. Muslim organizations, each of which might not recognize a figure coming from one of the other organizations as the legitimate grand mufti. Marco polo 01:27, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
When I edit at 2am, remind me to read past the first line in articles... I apologise for the disbelief in my remark. Although I do feel a better opening line might be "the highest official of Sunni Muslim religious law in their particular country", as the way it currently reads implies that only SM countries have one. I'll.. stop digging this hole now. --Mnemeson 01:42, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There is one. He shares an apartment in Georgetown with his partner, the Head Rabbi.
grudge
what is this grudge all the papers speak of with respect to the Amish-girl killer?
there is nothing about a grudge in there. Please give relevant answers. Thanks.
You have not supplied enough deatils to your question, so it is kabuki [sic]. Iolakana•T 16:58, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Rome Total War
Does anyone know how to extract video from Rome: Total War? I need to use it for a history project, and looked everywhere. Thanks! -- Sturgeonman 01:18, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you can't find a way, there's always HyperCam or Camtasia. -Elmer Clark 01:49, 4 October 2006 (UTC) edit: well, ok, no articles, but you can Google them.[reply]
It's not exactly what you want, but [Fraps http://www.fraps.com/] might help. In Medieval:Total War, the intro movies are simply .mpg files, but I presume you want the battle replays which I can't immediately locate. --Mnemeson 01:51, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The video files are saved as .rpy format (if you can't find the folder, just search your system for all .rpy files). Once you have those, this forum should help you out (sends you to instructions here). Good luck with the project :) --Mnemeson 01:58, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The female House Representative (?) who made statements against women's right to vote
I recall reading about a woman who was in the House (pretty sure it wasn't the Senate) who made some statements saying that women didn't need the right to vote or something. She also once said that if her husband asked her to leave her position in Congress that she would do so. This was within the last ten years.
I'm really paraphrasing here and may have gotten the details wrong. Anyway - what's her name? Is there a Wikipedia entry about her? I couldn't find it due to the necessary vagueness of my search terms.
Thank you.
It was a State Senator from Kansas, Kay O’Connor. She doesn't have a Wikipedia article, but see here: [11]. Ziggurat 09:12, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
payment on non traditional services
please narrate the circumstances under which insurance companies in US pays to the doctors for non traditional services like telephone calls, emails, missed appointments etc or the doctor can charge directly to the patient for these services?
Information on media and superstitions
How does the Media help in reinforcing Superstitions?
--Minni--
They portray an extremely biased view of the news, by only showing the exciting parts. For example, they only show lottery winners, not the millions of losers. Thus, people watching TV would get the impression that everyone who ever plays the lottery eventually wins millions, since that's all they ever see. There are many other examples. StuRat 18:28, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think you misunderstand what news is. News is not an assembly of all possible facts and events that occur on a given day - not even Wikipedia does that. Just showing the lottery winners does not constitute bias against the losers, rather it's what people are much more likely to be interested in. If the media showed all the millions of losing lottery ticket buyers, nobody would buy such a paper or watch such a TV program. Except you, that is. Maybe you need to get out more, Stu. :--) JackofOz 21:06, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I stated myself that they only list the interesting stories. The fact remains, however, that this presents a highly biased view of the world where everyone who plays the lottery wins. StuRat 23:58, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't regard this as bias. The fact that the only entries that get reported are the winning ones does not equate to "everyone who plays the lottery wins". The hype from the lottery operators is all about "Buy a ticket - you could win millions", but that is a far cry from suggesting all you have to do is hang in there and your turn will eventually come. Most addicted gamblers do believe it's only a matter of time, which makes it so hard for them to break the cycle. To return to the question, does the media reinforce the almost vain hopes that punters have? The only way to be absolutely certain of that not happening is to ban all media advertising of lotteries and all media reporting of results. What happens when someone wins a record-breaking amount but the media can't report it? They'd be accused of not doing their job of telling people interesting stories about what's going on in the world. Far better to allow advertising of lotteries and reporting of results, as long as it's done responsibly, without punters being misled as to their chances. JackofOz 08:48, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's the way people's minds work, unfortunately (at least those who pay the stupidity tax). If they've heard of 1000 people buying a lottery ticket, and heard of 500 winners, they conclude that 50% of the people who buy lottery tickets win. StuRat 01:11, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There are also many stories about ghosts and aliens on TV, almost all of which support their existence, because it's more interesting. StuRat 18:28, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hey Stu, let's start up our own news channel that reports sightings of no UFOs, losing bingo numbers, and people not getting killed on their way to work. It will be the biggest TV revolution since those high-definition broadcasts of WWI footage! freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 12:33, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
At the least, they could add a disclaimer to the end of each story "Meanwhile, 10 million other people who played the lottery lost". Also, I believe there is a news org that only reports good news, to counter all the bad news you get in traditional news. StuRat 23:53, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, I would totally support that. And I've heard of that "good news" thing too, maybe a web cast? freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 17:03, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry chaps, Good news is no news!--Light current 01:17, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
According to Good news, Good News is a newspaper in Scandinavia with only happy news. I hope it does better than the US paper I read about some years ago. It too only reported happy news, but it didn't sell due to lack of interest, and went out of business. The paper did not report its own forthcoming demise because that would not have satisifed the criterion of good news. JackofOz 01:56, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Before there were 'moist towelettes' -
- was there ever any such thing as a 'towelette'? Are all 'towelettes' therefore by definition moist? If so, shouldn't we be calling them just 'towelettes'?
Further, to Australian Wikipedians of a certain age - before there were 'Iced Vovos', was there ever any such thing as a 'Vovo'? Are all Vovos by definition iced? If so, shouldn't we have been calling them just 'Vovos'?
To my knowledge, there were never any Vovos before Iced Vovos. Your crusade against tautology is commendable, however proprietary names use a great deal of creative licence and the usual rules don't apply. The market place determines what sells and what doesn't, and that's the only rule that really matters. Iced Vovos has a certain rhythm to it, whereas Vovos is bit brusque. Asking for "a packet of Vovos" sounds too much like "a packet of Ovos", and nobody knows what Ovos are, because they don't exist. Iced Vovos are delicious, but if they had been called "Flattened Energy Cakes", or even just "Vovos", I doubt they would have become the iconic culinary classics they are today. JackofOz 12:33, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What are they? Volvos? And, by the way, there are "dry towelettes" I don't kjnow if that is a kind of backformation though. Rmhermen 16:14, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, that's matter of individual taste. They're not really comparable items. Iced Vovos are biscuits with pink icing and coconut, but no icecream. JackofOz 20:39, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Only graham cracker, marshmellow, chocolate, and lots of sugar in a Moon Pie. Maybe you were thinking of Eskimo Pie. Wiki needs an article on Iced Vovos as well.Edison 14:13, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I was indeed thinking of an Eskimo Pie (or is that Inuit Pie these days?). JackofOz 22:06, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I reckon the marketing team who came up with the neologism 'towelette' was brilliant - what are the alternatives? 'Damp napkin'? 'Humid serviette'? - nothing else conveys the idea of cleanliness and ultimate dryness, despite the initial moistness of the towelette experience.
And, yeah, 'dry towelette' is a kind of backformation I would say - if there is such a thing as a towelette, then in one case or the other, it need not be stated that it is moist or dry respectively. If that makes sense. Adambrowne666 08:19, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Minnesota No Waste Law: I the Consumer, being asked to remove the siding on a new construction home after it is 8 months old amd Inspector states he does not "recall that day", that he saw the siding that was going to be mounted on our home!!!
We live in Lindstrom, Minnesota, Franconia Township, Chisago County. We had a new construction home built and completed in October, 2005. During the construction, the inspector from Chisago County came out to do an inspection on the home. People present were myself, and the workers; husband was not there. Inspector came, he asked me what the additional support on the framing was for; I said, the siding; inspector asked; what kind of siding is it? I answered, come, I will show you, it's right here; he came and glanced at it, and said, well goodbye, have a nice day. Now he is stating he does not recall that day. The siding is Corrugated Steel Siding. After the home was 8 months old, a man from the Zoning Committee came to our home with a lady, co-worker; my husband and I were working on our five acres; landscaping. His name is Jim. Jim came up to me; introduced himself as Jim from the Zoning Department at Chisago County. Next statement from his, was; You people have to remove that siding; it does not fall correctly under our ordinances. My husband came from around the garage and asked what they wanted; Jim, again, stated you must take your siding off this house, it is not in compliance to our ordinances. My husband asked what ordinance is that; Jim stated, all siding has to be horizontal and wood looking. My husband stated; why didn't the inspector that has been the inspector for over 20 years for the County; why did he not tell us the day he came out and saw the extra support and siding? Jim, the inspector said, we can't answer for him. My husband said, well if he has been inspector for over 20 years and has inspected two other of my homes on the next ten acres over, you would think he would know the oridinances by now? My husband asked; I would like to meet with the Zoning Committee? Jim said; we are it, you are talking to the Zoning Committee; If you feel you have to have a meeting with us, it will cost you $285.00. My husband filed for a meeting; committee did not look at any of any data or photos of others homes; they handed him a piece of paper that said, "Denied", already typed on it; the paper was prepared before the meeting. The Zoning Committee said; you can appeal that if you wish; we are not sure what the fee is. We have contacted our County Commissioner; an attorney; and etc. There are other homes of same siding all throughout other counties that we are only 1 to 5 miles from the County Line. Not is the siding extremely efficient; environmentally friendly; recyclable; they now have a small sample scale with the same siding on in our Science Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota.
We were told by someone that has worked at the County for several years that many consumers pay several hundreds of dollars to meet with this Zoning Committee several times a year to have an ordinance looked at; changed; or whatever; and she stated the County has not changed a thing for years and they don't intend on it; whether it be for siding or whatever.
I found out 2 weeks ago; a man in Washington County, which is 1 miles from us at the line; of course Washington County is extremely large. This man lives in a development; back in 1995 he laid grass seed down; his grass seed of course turned into a beautiful lawn; weeks later the Ordinance Developer came to him, and said the ordinance of the that development says you must lay sod down, not seed. They instructed him to till it all up and lay sod. He contacted his attorney; his attorney found a law for the State of Minnesota; State Wide; that does not permit any County to force a consumer to removed something from their property if it shall be a "Waste". Like I said, the County came here when the home was 8 months old; their inspector already approved it; he doesn't recollect that day; the County will not give us our "Certificate of Occupancy"; they say we are living here illegally. I wished I could send you photos of our home and landscaping. We have a driveway that is 400 feet long and the home is tucked in so far in the pines; we have stopped passerbys and asked them what kind of siding do they think we have; all of them think it is Stucco. This particular Corrugated Siding has been proven not to warp; fade; and be 65 percent more efficient that any other siding you could placed on your home; and why is it that Chisago County would not allow this "Horizontal" siding when every other County around them allow it; and furthermore; these other Counties are very strict regarding their oridances; but they feel it is beneficial to the homeowner; the appearances are very clean lined; it is structural safe. When we had our 95 degree weather for the summer of 2006; it stayed so cool in our home that we hardly used the Air Conditioner; infact; this is our third home built in this County; and this home is to be our retirement home; wheelchair access; my husband and I are both retired for 8 years now; we live on my husband's Social Security; I have several health issues; and the County is asking us to remove our siding and take out a loan and replace it. Now I ask you; where do we get the help we need? We are desperate in need of help; we would very much like to get our Certificate of Occupancy. I forgot to mention; we had to meet with our Township first; may I mention; it cost us nothing to meet with them; our township for the life of them could not figure out why the County was doing this to us because the home has a very clean and nice looking appearance; and especially the fact that the siding will be on for 200 years. Our Township leader; John Green even went up to the County to talk to them; they resued to listen. Please help us. We two retired people who just want to live out the rest of our lives, what is left of it. We have had many, many months of sleepless nights; my doctor knows how this is affecting our health.
Thank you from the bottom and top of our Hearts!
Wikipedia cannot provide legal advice. You might wish to contact an attorney if you want to contest the decisions of the local zoning people in Chisago County. In the city of Chicago, there was once a tradition of giving small gifts to building inspectors. Their extreme gratitude for the small gift likely caused them to have such tears of joy that they could not see certain construction details. The $285 you paid for the Denial would likely have been enough to have that effect. Seriously, I have heard of homeowners and builders successfully challenging even very reasonable zoning laws, but just asking nicely usually won't cut it. If you can't afford a lawyer (and sometimes they will work on a contingency fee, where you split the proceeds with them, but more likely you would have to pay for their services) you might try newspapers, tv reporters, and your state representative, and your U.S. congressment. It might be awkward for the local officials to explain their theories of code enforcement. The manufacturer of the siding might be willing to help with documentation that the material meets all building codes for your area, since such codes usually are based on national model codes. Good luck!Edison 17:30, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I know I feel for you, inspectors can be difficult. But, without giving legal advice (which you should get) I think that you have limited options. You can't win arguing with the local zoning. If you pull something out of your hat with a lawyer, they will be angry and get you in some other way. The only way that you can deal with this is to go to the city/county (whatever is local) and ask for a variance. Perhaps if you tell them that the inspector that was there before had not mentioned it to you, and that it is very expensive, they may give you a variance. They will not if you are combatitive, for sure.
The inspector who was out there ther first time is only responsible for what he was inspecting (the framing) and you will have a paper that he gave you, or one that was posted on site that he endorsed, that states what it was he inspected. Regardless of what he may have said, you can't hold him to anything else. Even if he had given you "advice" on the siding, it isn't codumented. The general contractor should have know the local zoning laws, and you could hold him responsible. If you are doing it yourself, and have no contractor, then you are responsible for knowing the zoning laws that apply. So, as much as I would like to be helpful, I think you are in a difficult place with few options. The only legal method is to prepare with a list of good reasons, perhaps invluding the no waste law you spoke about, as well as a politely worded statement about the previous inspector "accidentally" misleading you, and ask for a zoning variance for the life of the siding (15-30 years). If you are polite, and ask the right way, and no one in your community shows up to contest it, they are likely to try and satisfy your request. Atom 17:46, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"codumented?" sounds fishy!Edison 03:51, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Another possible approach would be to sidestep the bureaucrats and contact your county commissioners, or whatever they call your elected representatives at the county level. (You could do this in combination with contacting your local newspaper. The best way might be, if the elected official is noncommital, to tell the elected official that you are thinking of contacting the local newspaper and that the local newspaper will no doubt want to know the elected official's position on the matter.) The elected official might be able to work out some kind of a deal with the bureaucrats, since he/she presumably has some say over whether they continue in their positions. Marco polo 18:33, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
emergency exit sign design
An emergency exit sign. This stick man is obviously running in blind panic...
Why, when we're told to "walk, not run" to the nearest emergency exit, do the signs (in the EU at least) feature a pictogram of someone running towards an exit?
thanks
Spiggy
Hehe, good question. I have no answer, but I'd like to show you a funny version. —Bromskloss 15:00, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The 'running man' seems to be required by EU regulations. I think it's a good question too. My guess is that emergency exit signs are supposed to guide the way out in case of a fire etc., they are not designed to guide our behavior. The behavioral aspect ("don't run", for instance) should have been taught at an earlier point, by your employer or safety inspector at work, by practising fire drills, by having instructions posted in your hotel room or stuck in your airline seat pocket and so forth. To be recognizable within a split second, a running man is probably more effective in conveying the sense of 'emergency exit' than a strolling man would be. I suppose it's also a matter of convention and we've gotten used to immediately understanding the message of the white man running in front of a green background.---Sluzzelin 16:33, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Does anyone have a link to an image? I'd like to know how it shows "running" as opposed to "walking" in a static design. Dismas|(talk) 23:35, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I've posted one, above. The angle of the trunk of the stick man suggests to me running. --Tagishsimon(talk)
It looks more natural in an urgent and dangerous situation, though... 惑乱 分からん 11:07, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I see now and concur that it would denote running, thanks. Dismas|(talk) 16:11, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe its to denote the emergencey part, possibly not the best way of doing it, but a man walking towards a door would just suggest exit, as opposed to emergency exit. PhilcTECI 20:03, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
lol, I was in europe for 2 weeks before it dawned on me what those signs meant. I kept seeing them everywhere and could not figure it out. So obvious once it dawned on me though. Just so used to the EXIT signs in the U.S.
I also like the little fly sticker on the inside of urinals (I guess to encourage guys to aim.) Nowimnthing 23:44, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Most of the time I shoot at an angle into the side of the urinal so it doesnt splash back all over my pants --frothTC 07:04, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Fedor Baikov.
Im looking for more detailed information on Fedor Baikov the russian diplomat sent to china in 1654, but I cant seem to find any wikipedia articles, is there none or is it spelled differently? Joneleth 15:05, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
My friend has hit a road block attempting to determine what ORID is. He knows that it is somehow related to essays (in his chicano studies class), and thinks that this may be an acronym for something, but what? Any help would be apreciated.
Objective Reflective Interpretive Decisional? See here. Ziggurat 00:03, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, thats it. Thanks for the help.
Airport runway staff's light wand thingies
Er... what are these things called? They look like big glowing popsicles, and guys on runways wave them. I've looked in airport and various runway lighting articles on Wikipedia, but I can't find any information on the portable lights that ground crews have. Searching with strings like "airport runway staff light" inevitably gives me results about runway lights, or airplane lights, etc. --MattShepherd 15:41, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
According to this page, they are "orange flashlight wands." --LarryMac 16:04, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, here we go ... "marshalling wands." --LarryMac 16:14, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What happens when they are pingpong bats? If it is any help the US navy seems to call the wavers "aircraft directors" MeltBanana 16:37, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Germany
Why are the colors of the German flag Black red and gold ?
The development and changes in industry in the world today.
I want a lot of information on the following( about 2-3 pages on each):
1. The needs of modern industry - land, labour, capital, energy and space.
2. The distribution of agro-based and mineral based industrial regions in the different continents.
3. Case study of any three industrial areas one in each continent.
4. The number of workers in industrial and tertiary sectors in developed and developing countries and the reasons for the differences.
5. Rights of the workers and the condition of the workers in the mining and unorganized sector especially, women.
And that's exactly what the internet is for. Good luck. (Do your own homework) -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 18:16, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Mythology
Which disciplines is the study of mythology generally considered to be a part of? 64.198.112.210 18:40, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Theology? Joneleth 19:06, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Mythology can be studied from several disciplinary perspectives. Some disciplines that might be concerned with mythology are religion (the social science, aka "religious studies"), psychology, semiotics, classics (including such subfields as Egyptology), and anthropology. Marco polo 19:14, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I would say literature, especially something like The Odyssey. StuRat 19:15, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
One's own faith in things unseen is Religion, and the study of it is Theology. The other person's similar belief and study of other gods is mythology. When Christianity became the established religion of the Roman Empire under Constantine, the priests of the Roman and Greek religions were systematically slaughtered and the worship banned. Go figure.Edison 14:18, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Cultural Anthropology. 66.146.62.39 19:41, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Can cats or another animal be allergic to humans? Is it really possible to be allergic to a person you don't like? Reywas92Talk 21:01, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I read about a woman once that was allergic to her boyfriend's sperm. It sounded very sad to me... =S 惑乱 分からん 11:05, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well not exactly his sperm, but some women can be allergic to certain proteins in sperm. She can still get artificially inseminated without the sperm proteins though.Joneleth 12:52, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Doesnt that take all the fun out of it? 8-)--Light current 17:31, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Unless they like turkey basters.--Hunter85014 04:23, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well only if you hate fucking with condom on, othervise theres not much of an issue. Joneleth 11:18, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Chocolate
Can chocolate cause constipation? Reywas92Talk 21:01, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Did anyone's computer get infected with the new MSN virus? One of your friends sends you a link and when you click that link, your computer becomes infected and the virus sends itself to everyone on your contact list. If so, can anyone tell me how to get rid of the virus on a Windows XP if system restore doesn't work? Jamesino 21:37, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
When isn't there a nasty MSN thing? ...especially when mixed with IE. I removed one a while ago, and it required an awful lot of reading and downloading. --Zeizmic 00:36, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wouldn't this be better answered over at the Computing/IT desk? Clarityfiend 00:56, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Try symantec.com or macafee.com to find instructions on how to remove the virus. Side note: a bug and a virus are different things in computer terms. While bugs may have nasty results, they're generally a result of accidental bad programming instead of purposely malicious intent. - Mgm|(talk) 10:24, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I want to know how long cows chew their cud?68.1.213.155 01:29, 5 October 2006 (UTC)christina martin[reply]
About the same as short cows. ;) Durova 03:34, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you're going to pick at ambiguity, at least answer the correct ambiguous question! You just answered "How long do long cows chew their cud?" It would have been more appropriate for you to say "The same way that the short ones do". </stupidness>
Usually I've read a lot of terms "exposures" in connection with hazards/ threat in the subject "Risk Assessment / Management" especially in environmental / occupational health and safety management.
However, I've not got the full meaning of the term.
Kindly help me clear & consise definitions in this aspect.
For your guide, I'm a Vietnamese, and trying to translate this word to Vietnamese (so as to be freindly used).
Much thanks for your attention.
PHAM NGOC TRUNG
VIETNAM TANKER COMPANY
VIETNAM
It's a way to define how much of the dangerous item you've had contact with. For many substances, exposure below a certain level is considered safe. StuRat 04:15, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Exposure in the field of risk assessment usually refers to the state of being exposed (unprotected, unguarded) to a particular threat. Thus, one might concisely define exposure, in this sense, as the degree to which somthing is missing protection. dpotter 17:52, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Another way of looking at the term "exposure" in connection to risk is that "exposure" is a measure of the amount of risk. The greater a person's (or a company's) unprotected risky activity, the greater the person's (or company's) exposure to risk. One can limit exposure to risk by buying insurance. When you buy insurance, you buy protection from exposure. Marco polo 22:32, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In certain risk models, there's a concept called "exposure factor". The exposure factor is the pecentage loss in asset value if a threat materializes. In general, the term seems to refer to the degree one is susceptible to harm from certain sources of risks. --71.244.110.187 20:24, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Frowning when Eating Delicious Food
It's common for people (including me) to frown when they take a bite of food that's unexpectedly tasty, or any food when they were ravenous. Frowning is normally associated with displeasure. Why do people use the same facial gesture to indicate the opposite feeling when it comes to food? Is this inherent or learned behaviour? Is it universal or does it happen only in some cultures? Has this gesture always been around, or is it something that's developed within people's memories? JackofOz 03:51, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps it is lika a dog growling when eating meat. The goal may be to frighten others so they do not try to take the tasty food away from you. I am not familiar with such behavior, and would not serve tasty food to such a person in the future. Edison 04:00, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think it sounds a bit like wild animals when they are tucking into a 'kill'. THey look round constantly to see if anyone is going to take their food away. I also think that there is a certain animalistic feeling of aggression that humans get when eating something good. I know I get it and I do not like to be interrupted when Im gobbling! --Light current 04:18, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The frowning I'm talking about is usually only momentary. As soon as the person tastes the food, they register the pleasure with this weird frown, then they lighten up straight away. Sometimes it looks like they're trying to suggest they're having an orgasm, but it comes across as a frown. JackofOz 08:07, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Couldn't it also just be an expression of concentrated anticipation? ---Sluzzelin 09:39, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, I vote for constipated anticipation. :-) StuRat 23:42, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's not just for food. People also frown during orgasms, when they are getting an itch scratched, when they are struck by some funny commentary, among other things. I'd say it has something to do with the emotional shock from uncomfortability to sudden pleasure and amusement. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 10:04, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's a good question. My feeling is it's the frown that is associated with concentration - finding the experience so enjoyable you concentrate on it. Adambrowne666 10:55, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
People also frown during orgasms ... I'd say it has something to do with the emotional shock from uncomfortability to sudden pleasure and amusement. - Are you saying that the moments leading up to an orgasm are that uncomfortable for you? Becuase if that's so, you're probably doing something wrong. ;-) --Maelwys 13:11, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think I agree with Adam: When concentrating on something, one does tend to frown. Maybe one tends to purse ones lips (like this: 8-o) also, as when seeing a very sexy MOOS. 8-)--Light current 13:20, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Is that supposed to mean "Member Of (the) Opposite Sex"? I think the most common abbreviation is MOTOS, actually (as well as its counterpart MOTSS). 惑乱 分からん 14:40, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. Its certainly not a Moose. I dont know any sexy mooses 8-)--Light current 17:28, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Frowning during orgasms" is outside of my modest experience. I can think of plenty of expressions and behaviours I have witnessed during orgasms, but I would think frowning was a sign of discomfort in that instance. "I was fainting not frowning."--Shantavira 14:45, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
People frown when they concentrate, sometimes. Even when extremely comfortable. Can you think of anything you'd rather concentrate on instead? I think claiming to speak from experience may be seen as bragging so... ++Lar: t/c 15:48, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What I'm hearing is this concentrated facial expression is well recognised, but it should not be called a "frown" because that usually denotes displeasure. It is certainly frown-like, though. Maybe we need a new word to describe this. Or, find a published thesis on this behaviour, so we can update the frown article to include such cases. JackofOz 23:57, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
CPH in relation to wages
What does the term cph mean in relation to wages within australia. For example it says " your wage will be 1766.14(cph) during training and 1877(cph) after training.
Cents per hour perhaps?--Shantavira 07:21, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Looks like a way of making $17.66 per hour sound more than it is. JackofOz 08:03, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That makes a lot of sense. Clarityfiend 16:14, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
People really specify a pay rate in hundredths of a cent per hour? DJ Clayworth 17:55, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
thanks people. im pretty sure that it might be cents per hour, it would make a lot of sense:) No matter how extravagent they seem to want to specify their award rates.
mlb playoff
I can not read INTERNET .pLease send me the playooff 2006 results.
Robert Carrero
If you have no access to the Internet, how could you have access to Wikipedia? 惑乱 分からん 12:49, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
He appears to have internet access, but lacks the ability to read the content available. Not sure how to approach this one. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 16:54, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
English :A few pronuncation problems
Hello,
I discovered that I am in doubt about these things :
1.words ending in -lth and -lthy. When to pronounce the t, and when is there a 'f' sound?
How do I pronounce wealth/wealthy/health/healthy
2. I never got this in school. "neither" and "either" : is the "ei" a "eye" sound or is it like "ei" in "weird"?
"Weird" actually seems to be pronounced slightly different than either, so it's not a good example. Otherwise, it's dialectal. 惑乱 分からん 14:17, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The unconfirmed report I heard on either and neither is that the British pronunciation stems from a mistake by George II of Great Britain, who spoke English with a German accent throughout his life. The letter combination ei is pronounced like eye in German but usually gets pronounced like the vowels in meet in English. Those particular two words are still pronounced differently on different sides of the Atlantic. Durova 16:25, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It sounds like a myth to me, actually, similar to the lisp in European Spanish. 惑乱 分からん 16:50, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
3.The first e in defend/defense, does it sound like "ei" in "weird" or does it sound like the u in "cuff"?
Apparently similar to the sound in big, according to my dictionary. 惑乱 分からん 14:17, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The first e in "Defense" may also be pronounced like the "ee" in "reed", especially if you're talking about a defensive player or group in sports. At least in Canadian English. Charlene.fic 16:32, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I speak Dutch so if you do so as well you can use the Dutch spelling to explain pronunciation :).
Thanks!Evilbu 13:27, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hi! Have you looked at the Wiktionary pages for health, either and defend? (Is there a better way to create links to Wiktionary?) —Bromskloss 14:21, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
By the way, it's probably better to ask at the Language desk instead of here, next time. :)
With the question about the e in defend, unstressed vowel sounds like this often have no clear pronunciation. Usually the mouth is relaxed and a fairly neutral vowel is produced, and since the sound is shorter and quieter the effect isn't that noticeable (unless you're actually listening for it). - Rainwarrior 15:43, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have been trying to find some info on an obsolete scope I have, made by Iwatsu. Model No SS-7607. All I really know about it apart from what I see on the front panel, is that it has 60MHz BW. Any further details, however small, will be gratefully recieved.
--Light current 17:29, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This page is now one of ten results for "ss-7607 oscilloscope". 68.39.174.238 21:06, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
ASVAB in HS
In this book I got in my school libary, it says something about the ASVAB being offered to High School Juniors and Seniors. Is there any website that would say which schools offer it?
Um, I'm assuming this is some type of examination/standardized test? I'm also assuming based on your use of American educational terminology -- to my knowledge the US is the only country to divide and label secondary ed. into Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior years, but I definitely could be wrong -- that you are asking about U.S. high schools. In that case, it would probably be the individual school boards, and/or state Departments of Education which would have that information. Most state agencies have websites, so I'd recommend starting there. -Fsotrain09 17:56, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The ASVAB is the United States armed services entrance exam. Contact a military recruiter for information about how to take the test. Durova 20:53, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Clearing house in New York
I Was Informed That I WON Money By The Clearing House Of 100 Broad StreetIn New York, By A Mr David Klaus. Now I Wish To Know If This Some Kind Of SCAM,Or Not? Is There Is An Office Of OFAC,And Do They Handel This Transaction, of According To The Clearing House That I WON $2.5mil In US Dollars.I Don't Know What To Believe. Can Someone At Your Office Help Me With This Problem? I Just That I Have The Correct Office That Can Reply To My Question. My Name Is personal info removed This Clearing House Said That I Will Have To $15,850.00,For Processing,Administrative,And Other Things To The OFAC.I Am Sorry But I Was Taken By Other People Before,And So I Am A Little SCARED To Be Taken Again.Again I Want Thank You For Any Help That You Can Render!!Have A Nice Day. I Am INNOCENZIO DANNA
Why do you start every word with a capital letter? It feels strange, and it gets hard to read. Otherwise, it's likely a scam... 惑乱 分からん 16:47, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Of course it's a scam, why would you think otherwise? Besides that, the odd capitalizing that you're using is ironically similiar to that in all of the 419 emails I've recieved and read. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 16:51, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I Win European National Lotteries Worth Several Hundred Thousand, If Not Several Million, Euro Every Hour. I Never Bother To Collect My Winnings Though. JIP | Talk 19:19, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There are many, many ways to tell it's a scam. Here are a couple:
No legitimate contest would ever require you to pay anything. You will owe taxes, but those go to the government, not to them. And even if they had a "processing fee", why couldn't they just write you a check for slightly less ? (The reason, of course, is that any check you get from them will bounce, after they have cashed the check from you.)
You will never win a contest unless you entered the contest. If you don't recall ever entering the contest, then you didn't.
Assuming Dido is some sort of musical artist, he/she/it/they probably have a website. Look there. PS: Duh. --Ohiosucks 17:11, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
1. Read the Dido article on this site;
2. Read Dido's website;
3. Google for "Dido fan forum" and ask there.
Prize Court Question (Old Maritime Law)
If a Ship A were to mutine against the ship's lawful owner, and then later Ship B boarded and took her would it be a lawful prize for Ship B? Would it depend on what court or power heard the case? Would it go back to the original owner? What if the original owner was killed in the mutiny? What sorts of laws would come into play? --Demonesque 17:19, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Where exactly was the ship when the crew mutinied? Where was the crew and Master? Was it tied to a dock? Was it lying at anchor within the nearest nation's internationally recognised maritime boundary, or outside it? Was it floating adrift? Had the owners declared the ship as being abandoned at sea? Etc, etc, etc,.
You didn't get a "prize" in the legal sense unless it's a spoil of war, in my understanding, so unless the mutineers did something weird like run up the flag of a hostile country, it's a non-issue. Shimgray | talk | 23:22, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There is no one law that covers all times and all places - you would have to specify which country the ships were from and when the event happened. In the meantime, we're not discussing Prizes, but Salvage. See Marine salvage. B00P 09:30, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
See a maritime law expert for maritime law advice, of course, but as to the owner being killed having any effect on ownership, his heirs should inherit his estate. It should not be up for grabs any more than if any other business owner or property owner is killed.Edison 15:23, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
what's this moviie
I remember this movie or show or something.. this guy (he looked like Andy Samberg) was a farmer's son or something. He goes to town because "he's gotten into hip-hop" to participate in a rap competition. The entirely black audience is furious that this white boy is trying to rap and they decide to kill him if he loses.. he faces the rap champion who does the typical "yo momma" and "white boy" insult rhymes, and the guy does a brillinat rap where he says stuff along the lines of "I might not be poor" "might not fail 2nd grade" "didn't grow up in the ghetto" basically making all of the black rapper's credentials into things to be ashamed of. The audience loves him and he wins the competition but he accidently says something that turns the audience riotous towards him and he has to escape for his life.
I might be mixing two different movies here but I think he then returned to his farmhouse and the rest of the movie or show or whatever was a parody of science fiction horror movies. Some girl was killed in a well under his house and she comes out to kill people but she gets knocked back in. There are some lame looking aliens that come and the government tries to kill them but the aliens overpower the agents. Then all the black people from the competition drive up in their excursions and escalades and pull out their gats and mac10s and wipe out the aliens. I think Leslie Nielsen played the head government guy. Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about? --frothTC 17:21, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Scary Movie 3. And yes, it's all the same movie, you're not mixing two. --Maelwys 17:42, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have a question. I am doing notes for my ISP novel. I couldn’t find any thing about it on this site. So I decide to do my own notes. I want to post these notes up into this site but the problem is what if my teacher found the notes i put on this site and thought I copy them?
That won't be a problem, as your notes wouldn't last very long on the site. This encyclopedia is a collection of previously published information, your notes would constitute original research, which doesn't belong here. --Maelwys 17:40, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If they are posted to your user page they should stay there. By the way, what is your Internet Service Provider novel about ? StuRat 22:53, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ginger
I would like to make some joke sweets ( with a medicianal purpose of course) using raw ginger. Any suggestions on what to cover the ginger with? Will the preparation need cooking? I would like a very simple recipe if poss as Im not a cook.--Light current 17:37, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You could just cover them in melted chocolate. That would be relatively quick and easy. Or carefully melt some boiled sweets and use those. Skittle 13:08, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Just a note - You say you're not a cook, but I assume you know not to touch the melted sweets until they have thoroughly cooled down, otherwise they could stick to you and cause some nasty burns. Skittle 13:09, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. Well what I really want is for them to taste nice initially, and then kick in with the powerful taste of raw ginger (enough to blow your head off!). Covering with chocolate seems a good idea! 8-)--Light current 00:52, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Excellent. People might even think they were crystallised ginger covered in chocolate. Have you melted chocolate before? Skittle 10:37, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No. Is there a trick and do you need special chocolate?--Light current 01:20, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The 'trick' is either to use a microwave on low power, and stir frequently, or use a bowl over/in a saucepan of water that you heat. Don't just put it in a saucepan or nuke on high power, because it burns easily. Otherwise it's very simple. You can use just about any chocolate, remembering the softer stuff tends to melt quicker. For general cooking and covering things, I'd tend to use a quite dark chocolate, but it doesn't really matter if you don't want people to enjoy the experience! Skittle 10:29, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
From how many square feet of air does normal human breathing for an hour deprive of oxygen? What about fire? Perhaps other animals? Also how much oxygen do plants return to the air/carbon dioxide remove? Thanks very much. Reywas92Talk 19:26, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
First of all understand that by breathing you don't take all of the oxygen "out" of a certain amount of air and then that air has no oxygen. You take a certain amount (not nearly 100%) out of the air, and then the air that you breathe out mixes with the air in the room to make a slightly less oxygenated mixture. Humans can survive for about an hour in a sealed coffin (shown by MythBusters). Fire consumes oxygen rapidly and more people die of smoke (there's very little oxygen in smoky air) than of flame and burns. Most animals are smaller than humans and obviously consume much less oxygen. House plants return very little oxygen to the air, trees as well. Algae and other green water plant life are the primary contributors --frothTC 19:45, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Don't rely on medical info from Wikipedia. But science programs on TV have said that in a sealed chamber, the rise of CO2 would cause unconsciousness and death before the depletion of O2. Similarly with fire, if the heat didn't kill you, the buildup of carbon monoxide might do you in before the depletion of oxygen. In movies, people die seem to die within a few minutes of being sealed in a fairly large space, for dramatic effect. And as to the original question, you might better ask in terms of cubic feet rather than square feet. One would last longer in a closet with a 10 foot ceiling than in the same size closet with a 4 foot ceiling. See the article Respiratory system.Edison 15:41, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Removing Smoke Smell
I have some foam-backed puzzles which have been smoked around and now smell terrible. Do you have any suggestions on how to remove it? Thanks. Reywas92Talk 19:26, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Febreze, it might not get rid of it completely, but combine that with a thorough airing out and it may get rid of the worst. Nowimnthing 23:31, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
History of Taboo
When did many things considered taboo begin being frowned on? Thanks for satisfying my unending curiosity! Reywas92Talk 19:26, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Taboos have been an integral part of culture for as long as human beings have had culture to speak of. Your question is rather nonspecific - "many things" most especially so. I'm sure thousands of "things" have been considered taboo at one point or another by most cultures. Are you referring to "Western Culture" specifically, or are you actually looking for the tremendously long list that you seem like you're asking for? 66.146.62.39 19:50, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The English word "bear" (for the animal) used to mean "brown" and was used because the previous name of the bear was taboo. The same is true of björn and other European words for the animal, so the taboo goes way back into prehistory. --Kjoonlee 00:53, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Source: Historical Linguistics (1996) by R. L. Trask, p. 41.[12] --Kjoonlee 01:32, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
black people & "haunted house"
I was watching this SNL opener last night and I was confused by a comment hilary clinton made. She said that she pandered to a black audience by saying the republican congress was being run like a plantation. She told anderson that she had two choices: "plantation" or "haunted house" but she suspected not many people would understand "haunted house" so she used plantation.
Growing up as a rich white kid in suburbia who went to a private school, I can't help but wonder what this means :) --frothTC 19:33, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
One highly racist term for blacks is "spooks", I suspect they were talking about that term. StuRat 22:21, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I thought the "spooks" were the white ones, because of the ghostly white faces? Maybe that's just a Japanese thing. "Plantation" sounds like a reference to a cotton plantation to me, but I don't think that would make sense. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 16:48, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, a cotton plantation is exactly what it means, where the white Republican politicians are the "masters" and the black voters are their "slaves". StuRat 03:07, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
OK, I was a little confused. Now that I think about it, I can remember hearing "spook" being used as a racial slur. I guess it can work both ways depending on the context. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 04:49, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Depends on what sort of wood you're using. For example, I'd expect that oak makes for stronger boards than balsa. Even within a type of wood, strength varies greatly with quality: a high-grade pine 2x4 with no knots will be much stronger than a low-grade board with knots every eight inches. Also, wood is not an isotropic material: the relationship between the load direction and the direction of grain is significant. --Serie 21:35, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think you will be getting into more math than you want. Wood can be rated by elasticity, density, compression, tensile strength, etc. All this can vary due to the amount of moisture in the board, what chemicals have been used to treat it and so on. I am not sure how you would even go about figuring the various types of load 1 particular board in a trebuchet would get during different parts of the loading and firing. Nowimnthing 17:53, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I always chop my Basil leaves into soups, stews, salads, sandwiches etc., but am made to feel like a fraud when I read the comments of foodie writers and celebrity chefs who proclaim that tearing the leaves releases more flavour into the end product. Can this be supported by factual evidence or may I continue to chop my leaves without also developing a guilt complex? There's money riding on this. Oh, and I am British so that gets me off to a bad culinary start eh?
Most foodies don't have much scientific knowledge. Cutting would probably be better, as it would produce a larger SA:Vol.. Chefs prefer to tear as it takes a lot less time!
I think us brits have quite good gastromony!
Off the top of my head without any practical or experimental evidence to back it up, (how's that for confidence inspiring!) I would think that the foodies are right. If you're cutting you're making fairly precise cuts and exposing only the cross section of the leaf. Tearing may damage more of the fibers of the leaf along the tear, it would be more irregular of a "cut" and thus allow more of the flavor to come out of the leaf. Dismas|(talk) 02:47, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks - but I can cut more finely than if I tear, so am I not exposing a lot more of the cut edges by doing so?
As I recall from some cooking shows, some chefs prefer to roughly tear their leafy herbs because there's some oxidation that takes place in contact with the knife blade that can change the flavour slightly. I chop mine too, so obviously I'm missing the good stuff. Tony Fox(arf!) 18:59, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The proper method I learned was to chiffonade basil and other aromatic leafy herbs.
Rawlins, Oxfordshire
I'm drawing a complete blank on this one, and I don't have access to an old gazetteer. Does anyone know where Rawlins, in Oxfordshire, is or was? All I seem to be able to find is people called Rawlins who live(d) there, but I keep running across independent sources (mainly the Dictionary of National Biography) referring to "a seat" there - it may just be a manor house, it may be a village or a hamlet, I don't know. (The main figure resident there was Sir Charles Hardy; he inherited it through his wife from a diplomat, it passed to his son, and then vanishes from history circa 1800) Shimgray | talk | 22:20, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I feel stupid now. But thankyou! So it's out by Goring, hmm. Shimgray | talk | 22:29, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Paper lampshade safe from heat of lightbulb?
I made a lampshade out of paper (regular white printer paper), which rests no less than the length of a pen (about 6 inches) away from the light bulb (a regular incandescent bulb). Does this create a fire hazard? I have a 100 watt bulb in there. What if I put a 40 watt bulb in there instead? I need proof that this would be totally safe, otherwise I'll just get a real lampshade. —EdGl 22:42, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have a store bought lamp with a paper shade that hangs about 4 inches away from a 60 watt bulb. Never had any problems with it. If you really want to be safe you could always treat the shade with a Fire retardant. Nowimnthing 00:02, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How stupid am I? (that was rhetorical) I Google searched "Paper lampshade" and the first link was pretty helpful (and is basically what you just said, Nowimnthing!) Sorry for cluttering precious Reference desk space. Carry on =) —EdGl 00:35, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I feel we should be able to answer this, based on knowledge of the energy source, distance to paper, and farenheit 451. But putting it all together eludes me. I suspect the science desk might do better with this sort of thing. --Tagishsimon(talk)
Don't worry about it; I've concluded that I should either get fire retardant spray or a new lampshade. Oh, and thanks for your help, Noimnthing. —EdGl 01:06, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Paper lampshades don't last long anyway, and they are virtually impossible to keep clean.--Shantavira 09:31, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
hacking laws
I was just reading this article and frankly I'm confused. ".." is a valid directory name. It can also be used as an extremely stupid attack (which is basically what he was doing) but so what, it's up to the admin to secure his server. If the guy uses documented functionality to view directories that the developer wanted hidden, then oh well the developer should have hidden it better. Am I right here? That's my perspective on security and it's infuriating to see politicians make rediculous laws that a 10 year old could break with zero malicious intent.
How is it done in the US? Would it be considered illegal to hack a website and change its content? If so, why?! The hacker is just manipulating the machine (which is doing exactly what it's programmed to do) and changing bits. How about stealing free email account names and passwords? Exploiting authentication bugs in a web forum? --frothTC 23:03, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Legally, you're probably wrong, although I don't have the evidence to back it up, yet. You shouldn't claim things are acceptable just because you can do them. 惑乱 分からん 23:56, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Would it be OK if I came into your house and rearranged the place and ate your food, just because you left the front door unlocked? CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 00:09, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
edit conflict
I would assume the US laws treat online content much like property. When you enter restricted areas, you are trespassing on private property even if you do not do any damage. If you change things, then you are defacing private property. It does not matter how much or how little security the property has, you are not allowed to mess with other people's stuff. Nowimnthing 00:12, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The result of this case seems a bit harsh. The law states
1.—(1) A person is guilty of an offence if—
(a) he causes a computer to perform any function with intent to secure access to any program or data held in any computer;
(b) the access he intends to secure is unauthorised; and
(c) he knows at the time when he causes the computer to perform the function that that is the case.
Cuthbert did do (a). And it is arguable, and the court believed, that his access was (b) & (c). There is clearly plenty of scope for debate on the latter point - making up URLs and seeing what they do has long been a part of the web for me. It is a little chilling to think that the absence of an explicit invitation (e.g. a link) renders the guessed URL a criminal offence :( --Tagishsimon(talk)
Well, there goes my Google Hacking! --Zeizmic 01:32, 6 October 2006 (UTC) (That was a joke Mr. Police!)[reply]
I'll bet that by 2010, it'll be illegal to type URLs directly into the browser URL line instead of clicking on links. JIP | Talk 05:33, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm really surprised. Couldn't the defense get an expert witness? According to W3C's RFC 3986, Uniform Resource Identifier (URI): Generic Syntax, the meaning of ".." in a URI is precisely defined. Quoting from Section 3.3:
The path segments "." and "..", also known as dot-segments, are defined for relative reference within the path name hierarchy.
...
However, unlike in a file system, these dot-segments are only interpreted within the URI path hierarchy and are removed as part of the resolution process (Section 5.2).
(My italics). Section 5.2 gives an algorithm in pseudocode and illustrates it on an example, showing how the URI "/a/b/c/./../../g" is normalized to "/a/g". According to the standard this must be done before you do anything else with it. Just try the URI "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Bondage/../Miscellaneous". The standard defines that it does not matter that there is no subpage Wikipedia:Reference desk/Bondage. Should it behave differently, it means that the web server is non-compliant. If the implementation of the URI resolution process is compliant, you should be unable to get any effect that you could not also have gotten without using a path segment "..". This is completely independent of whether "the site has been unprotected". You should not be able to "move up three directories" simply because that is not supposed to be the meaning; the meaning is: "eliminate the three preceding segments from the URI path". So even "404: Page Not Found" or "You have no access permission to this directory" would have been non-compliant, and certainly setting off an alarm. Something like "https://tsunamirelief.org/donation.csp/../../../" should simply be equivalent to "https://tsunamirelief.org/". --LambiamTalk 04:44, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah well there is malicious use.. certainly different than just typing it in the address bar. See ssi injection and other stuff like that. Everything up to and including code injection should be perfectly legal... after all it's just giving valid input to stupid programs. Now were I to use it to gain illegal access and read through their files or delete their website, that should definately be illegal --frothTC 14:26, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 6
I can't find something I found a year ago
Hello
Thank you for your time.
About a year ago I found an article in wikipedia about a particular person but I can't remember their name and would like to find it again.
The person was a Man of polish birth or decent. He was a representative of the Polish government to the Bank of England sometime between 1900 to 1930. When politics changed he became a representative of the Russian and or Soviet government to the Bank of England. In the article it stated that he married an English woman and afterwards retired to Turkey.
I never kept a record of his name but have tried crossreferncing by the Bank of England and government representatives of Poland or RUssia or USSR to England or the bank of england.
Can anyone give me more guidance or assistance as to searching or finding this information.
Thank you kindly.
I can't find this article using Google. Someone else might remember, but I strongly suspect this article does not exist anymore. -- Rick Block (talk) 03:27, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you for trying. Tinkaopala 02:59, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Canada, danke.100110100 00:52, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Does Wikipedia have pictures?
Hey, I'm studying about human mutagens in my biology class and I was wondering if Wikipedia had a section to search for pictures. I want to find a picture of some mutated humans.
Thanks for taking the time to help me out,
James
Try searching Google Images for human mutation (708 hits).--Shantavira 09:38, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Whicfh is indeed the better way to go, but to answer your question, the central repository for Wikipedia images is wikimedia commons. DirkvdM 18:46, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It is regrettably very difficult to find an image you want if it is not connected to an article, one Wikipedia, or the Commons.Template:Susbt:User:mac Davis/Sig09:36, 7 October 2006 (UTC)
Economics of World War II
During the last war, I understand that we leased equipment from the U.S.A. to help fight and, subsequently, win the war in Europe. I believe that the cost to Britain in financial terms was considerable.
A. What was the total cost?
B. Has it all been paid?
C. Has any contribution to these costs ever been made by the countries 'liberated?
D. Has any reparation ever been made to Great Britain for the considerable financial and military investment made after the war in helping the 'liberated' countries to start rebuilding?
In what universe was WWII the last war? The UK was the recipient of much post-war financial aid from the US, as were most of the countries in western Europe - see the article on the Marshall Plan for further information. Did you mean to ask if reparation had been made from Great Britain? Natgoo 10:52, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's an expression that's used by quite a lot of older people to describe WWII. You might note that while the USA has been off fighting land wars in Asia, Europe, well, hasn't. --Robert Merkel 01:08, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The question refers to the UK. Are you suggesting there hasn't been any UK troop deployment since WWII? Natgoo 11:48, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This question was raised by an MP a few months ago, raising a few eyebrows - in three months time, we'll have paid it off. There were to be fifty installments of £45m, but they were waived on 6 occasions due to economic difficulties. As of 1 January, 2007, the UK will no longer have WW2 debts. Interestingly, we do still have Napoleonic war debts, because the way the interest and inflation accumulates it's cheaper to just keep paying that than to pay off the debts themselves. See [13] As regards investment to rebuild.. Marshall Plan--Mnemeson 11:13, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For actual Napoleonic war debt, that would imply that somebody had a piece of paper, dated 1801, that entitled him to a payment of 3 squirrels a year from the British Gov't, but would cost a million bucks to clear out. I searched a lot for that, but couldn't find it. :) --Zeizmic 14:40, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, pre-Napoleonic. [14] --Mnemeson 16:02, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
See Lend-Lease for discussion of the program. $31.4 billion went to Britain, 1941-1945. In terms of purchasing a car, one is said to be "Upside Down" when the payment schedule is so long that the value of the car will depreciate so that more is owed on the car than it is worth. http://www.edmunds.com/advice/strategies/articles/104952/article.html The UK was upside down for a very long time with respect to the WWII tanks and planes.Edison 16:09, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For the "Napoleonic" debts (originally 1752, though a lot were issued to pay for the war), see Consols. Shimgray | talk | 17:59, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There were 3 distinct phases of US financial support for England:
During the first, Cash and Carry, the US was trying to preserve official neutrality while unofficially supporting England. Thus, it was necessary to require immediate payment for war materiel, as this made it a simple sales transaction, and not "giving" financial support to the enemy of Nazi Germany.
During the second phase, the Lend-Lease era, the US would lend or lease equipment to England on credit. This program violated US neutrality, but, as England no longer had the cash to pay for the required equipment, this was felt to be the only way for England to survive.
After the war, the US gave lots of money to England, as well as other victors and defeated countries, under the Marshall Plan.
Of the three, the first plan was paid for at the time, and the third was a gift. Only the Lend-Lease plan extended credit to England which was expected to be paid back eventually. So, I assume your question relates to that plan. StuRat 18:22, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have this Metrics Made Easy slider possibly printed in the 1970s by a "Pacific Aero Products, Inc." of Burbank, California. Is this "Pacific" company a part of Boeing? I think this was printed in the 1970 because it has a Boeing 747 printed on it. -- Toytoy 11:51, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Pretty interesting. "Pacific Aero Products" was the first name of the company that became "Boeing" two years later. No idea what this incarnation of the name was! (Currently, 2810 North Lima Street is the home of the current user of the name "imagic", which makes (among other things) those ads that wrap around busses.) --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 14:57, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This page refers to a company called "PacAero" at 2810-20 N. Lima, with phone # and email address. However, a reverse search on that number brings up something apparently unrelated. Several hits suggest a longer name like "Allied Signal PacAero Inc.". --LambiamTalk 03:40, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
OK. PacAero was a subsidiary (or a unit) of Banner Aerospace, a subsidiary of Fairchild. Fairchild sold PacAero to Allied Signal in 1998. PacAero distributes aircraft adhesives, lubricants, and other chemicals. This is nicely confusing! --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 06:48, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Queen
How do the people in the band "Queen" dress? It's for a school assignment, so yeah. Musli Miester 14:32, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why not check out the article? it's short on images, but there's a truckload of external links that should be of help. Good luck with the assignment. Howard Train 14:39, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
One leg at a time. B00P 22:45, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Not a question, but a thank you
I am a new user of Wikipedia, and decided to use this information medium when I was recently diagnosed with dysthemia. your page regarding this disorder has been a tremendous help to me in understanding why I think and feel the way that I do. So, I just wanted to say thank you for creating this information site for people to inform other people. I, for one, really appreciate it. David D.
Thanks; feedback like this is always appreciated. I just wish the article were a little longer, or had some external links. Do remember, you too can edit the article to improve it for others, as & when you get a greater understanding of the condition. --Tagishsimon(talk)
the coloured boxes
i was thinking of creating a user page 4 my self . but i was wondering if u could tell me how to make those boxes which says "this user is ___" Mi2n15 16:33, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
and i saw a pic of a couple of birds in a sea gull question , i was wondering if i could save a copy of thatMi2n15 16:33, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. Just about to say that. Iolakana•T 17:20, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Secondly, what would you use the bird picture for? Do you remember the link? 惑乱 分からん 17:22, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Planting something in winter
I got some free compost today in Starbucks ("used coffee grounds", as it says on the pouch). As I do not have a garden, and it is autumn/winter where I am, what flowers do you recommend planting (remember that it is winter here)? Thanks, Iolakana•T 16:57, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You have to be careful that the grounds aren't 'for the compost'( ie. fresh). If they are truly composted coffee grounds then they should say 'safe for direct planting' or some such thing on the label. Unless compost has been well-aged, and out in the rain for a while, full of wriggly worms, it tends to kill plants. --Zeizmic 17:20, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Uncomposted coffee grounds are, anecdotally, good for discouraging cats from poking around ones garden. Not much use in this case, I admit, but hey. Shimgray | talk | 00:18, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
One observation: I saw a Starbucks with a little front garden where they had applied coffee grounds to part of it. That part was stark barren. I don't know the direction of the causal connection, if any. I'd think coffee grounds are acidic, something not all plants appreciate. --LambiamTalk 03:17, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Did you hear about the man who tried to divorce his wife because she made a weak cup of coffee ? The judge refused to grant the divorce, "due to insufficient grounds". :-) StuRat 21:55, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It composts down pretty quickly when mixed in with ordinary kitchen waste because it has a fine texture so do use it in a composter..(hotclaws**== 19:48, 12 October 2006 (UTC))[reply]
Eye proctection
Dear wikipedian,
I would very much like to know if it is safe to use a welding mask (one which is not self adjusting) to look at the sun, say during an eclipse. Many Thanks
As this site indicates, yes, welding goggles or masks that are rated 14 or higher are okay for use in observing the sun or eclipses. Space.com also says that's good[15]. Tony Fox(arf!) 18:56, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Also, there are several tricks you can use to look at the Sun indirectly. One of my favourites consists of cutting a circle in a black thin cardboard, placing it over a mirror and letting it reflect sunlight to a dark wall. It's more comfortable and if you get it right, the effect is pretty good. More sun-viewing techniques can be found in the second half of in this link's article ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 22:38, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ok, thanks very much guys.
Names and their meaning
What is the meaning of the name NADIA?
'Hope' in Russian, or 'Moist', 'tender', 'delicate' in Arabic. [16] --Mnemeson 18:34, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So there are two different names? I heard they were the same name, and there was some socialist Arabic country that imported the Russian name (although I was a little skeptical to that explanation...) Btw, my sister's called Nadja (Swedish spelling). 惑乱 分からん 20:13, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"nadie," in Spanish, pronounced the same, means "nobody."Edison 21:39, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Aaaahh, that's true... ;) ...but the word has no feminine counterpart. 惑乱 分からん 22:11, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The word for "hope" in Russian is "nadezhda", and is a common girl's name. There are various diminutive forms of most Russian names, and this one's includes "Nadia", "Nadka", "Nadenka", "Nusya", et al. JackofOz 22:01, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I was just wondering for what reason do you wave you lighter during a slow song/ballad and how this came to be.
Good luck and thanks for searching.
If someone does find an answer could you be kind enough to email the answers to [e-mail removed] :)
THANKS!!
I think this began with people using lighted candles as some sort of tribute to someone who had just died, but I don't remember the details.--Shantavira 11:37, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It seems to have started at Woodstock, with candles (although how people at Woodstock happened to have enough candles handy I do not know). Melanie Safka is attributed as starting it, although there's little definite proof. In any case, people do it to participate in the song, and often the arena lights are dimmed at the right moment to heighten the effect. Now people hold up cell phones, replacing the lighter with something a little more high-tech. Some interesting reading regarding Coldplay and mobile phone use: Mobiles.
Gardening.
How do you go about preparing a perennial flower garden in zone3 or zone4 (USA)for the winter? We live in Maine and have inherited a beautiful perennial flower garden, but we do not know how to put it to bed for the winter. Thank you. Jim Bob.
I think you might have to get an old-fashioned gardening book. They don't really need much, perhaps some extra leaf mulch. --Zeizmic 13:21, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Music downloads
What exactly qualifies music from the interweb as illegal? I know that if you find some website that says "DOWNLOAD THE FULL ALBUM NOW! FIGHT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY!", it's obviously a bad idea to download, but if you were to go to... I dunno, Metacrawler or Dogpile or something like that, do an 'auido' search, find a home-grown site that has a song embedded, and save it to your computer, is it still illegal? --172.196.188.206 23:29, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The only reason that its illegal is because these people have copied the original song and sold it wihtout paying back the artist for each copy sold. iTunes and things like that pay back artists, and this makes it legal. I'm not sure, but I guess artists mght be able to say that they don't care if they get paid or not, making it legal, I guess. But yeah, sadly, fighting the msuic industry is illegal. Temp
See Copyright infringement. There is nothing inherantly illegal with downloading music off the internet. The illegality comes into play when someone starts distributing copywritten works they do not own the rights to. To complicate matters more, it's not illegal to download music from a unauthorized source, but it is however illegal to offer for downloading. That is how the RIAA has prosecuted people on file sharing sites; many p2p programs by default share the music that has been downloaded, thus people (many times unknowingly) are offering unauthorized copies on the network.—Mitaphanetalk 05:00, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I recommend Free Culture (book), it was pretty good, and a download. Don't fall for the "intellectual property" arguements—copyright laws in this case are encouragement by the government to create art; artists can rest at ease and know that they will become prosperous, if their work is good. — X[Mac Davis] (SUPERDESK|Help me improve)09:31, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks all. (I asked this question in the first placce, but I'm on AOL and my IP is bouncing off the walls) --172.192.182.37 16:25, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
depression
Just out of curiousity, what would a person with depression do (besides be depressed- i'm just gonna kill that one right now) if they have no way of successfully committing suicide, as well as no medication to help, and no people to go to? I'm not suggesting they should kill themselves or anything, that's just probably a common way it goes or at least a lot of them look at it as a way out. Just wondering. Thanks Temp
If no medication, the only things one can do are
to wait until the period of depression disappears.
to engage in some activity that takes the mind off the depressing thoughts
Many people have these periods. Mostly, they do pass away in time. Churchill calles his: his 'Black dog'.--Light current 23:43, 6 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Curl up in a fetal position facing the wall, and refuse to eat or go out, and wither away and die.Edison 20:14, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I tried that, it didnt work. Joneleth 17:46, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There are different things being confused here. There's the transitory feeling of being "down" that most people have occasionally, and that goes away naturally within a day. This is not depression. Then there's Churchill's Black Dog which in extreme cases can mean years of dysfunctionality, self-loathing, self-harm, and suicide. Most people with depression have neither of these, but some experience in between. There are a lot more than 2 things you can do, but the key is talking to a doctor, a counsellor, a phone help line (such as Lifeline), a friend, or anyone who's willing to listen. The professionals are the ones who are qualified to provide good advice about this - we are not. JackofOz 21:57, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah thats right. There are only 2 things you can do without seeing a doctor!
as well as no medication to help, and no people to go to?
One feature of depression is that the depressed person exaggerates the negative and ignores or dismisses the positive. This may lead the depressed person to think that there are "no people to go to," when in fact this is rarely the case. There are often professionals, such as doctors, guidance counselors, or even clergy who might be able to help. One approach to overcoming depression is cognitive therapy, which involves learning to recognize the self-defeating thought patterns that may lie at the root of depression, to recognize that these thought patterns are based on flawed thinking or cognitive distortion, and to stop engaging in these distortions, which may lead to depression. Cognitive therapy has helped many people to overcome depression, without medication, and without long rounds of paid therapy, since it is possible to learn cognitive therapy from a book. That said, I agree that it is prudent to seek professional advice. Marco polo 01:31, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 7
snl
Can anybody direct me to where I could view a clip of the time when Chris Farley hosted SNL in '97, right before he died? I seriuosly can't find it anywhere. Thank you so much. Temp
Try searching google with "October 25 1997 SNL" (the date of the show). You might find something. —Mitaphanetalk 04:48, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
'Cloning' Oil
Silly question probably, but what with the whole ability of people to Clone animals (Dolly the sheep?), I was interested to know whether there was anything about the ability to (i think this is the word) synthesise oil? This is the oil as in that which is currently the major supplier of petrol (Brent crude is it?).
I know there are synthetic oils, just wondered whether it was possible to do the same for the type of oil that primarily powers current cars.
By the by I don't really want to hear the whole "we shouldn't even if we can" stuff - I don't mean it in a financially viable/long term way just purely a "could it be done" question"
The only way I can see that being applicable to cloning would be to clone billions of animals and crush them and heat them for years until they turn into oil. Not exactly practical; besides, you have plenty of animals already >:) --frothTC 00:41, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
(Edit conflict) The cloning of animals is done due to meddling around with the natural propagation process, not creating anything from scratch. Also, it is quite an unstable process in itself, reproducing genes that have already aged and deteroriated, and the process often leads to stillborn or seriously ill offspring. 惑乱 分からん 00:43, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Off the top of my head, I can't think of any organisms that generate, directly, anything like isooctane—so no, you can't get petrol straight from a cow. On the other hand, a number of plants produce some slightly heavier oils that – after a modicum of purification – are suitable use in diesel engines. (See biodiesel for details.)
Methane (natural gas) is generated by many microorganisms as they digest organic matter; methane escaping from some landfills is used to generate heat or electricity in many places.
There have been efforts to engineer microorganisms to generate larger quantities hydrogen gas (some organisms produce a small amount naturally); so far these experiments are fairly preliminary. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 01:10, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
An easier explanation is that currently it would take much more energy to recreate the oil than the energy we would eventually get from the oil. BTW that is a major problem with many forms of alternative energy. (If it takes 2 barrels of oil to get 1 barrel of synthetic oil what have we gained?) Nowimnthing 17:19, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The two types of "cloning" you're thinking about are different in nature - animal cloning is done by taking genetic material from an existing animal, and allowing cells containing that genetic material to develop through natural processes into an animal which is merely genetically identical, but in essence a different animal altogether. As yet, we are unable to replicate objects. There have been attempts to utilize materials we don't need, or that can be easily cultivated, as energy sources - bagasse, for example, is made from sugarcane. Remember, though, that crude oil is not only valuable as an energy source, but as the raw material from which the majority of our plastics are produced. Using two barrels' worth of energy to produce one may not, indeed, be as outlandish as it may first seem... --Keira Vaughn 00:42, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't follow, how does that make it better to use 2 barrels of oil to make one ? StuRat 02:39, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for the input everybody.
just curious
I've just stumbled across this subject lately and it's got me wondering, why exactly do Satanists believe in sin and indulgence but are against any form of illegal activity, as well as drugs and things like that? (at least, LaVeyan ones, maybe not others). Also, where do they meet, and do they even meet at all? And how exactly are they evil, and also, what do they believe in for the afterlife? I'm not trying to freak people out or anything, this is just an extremely interesting topic and the articles don't really have much information on the stuff I'm asking about. Thank you :) (see, there's a smile, you can come closer) Temp
As far as I've understood satanism, it mostly originated as a reaction to a perceived moralism of Christianity, which would hinder us from reaching our potential as individual human beings... "Evil" is an extremely biased term that should be avoided. I think the satanism article would cover several of your questions. 惑乱 分からん 00:23, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Satanism is pretty much by definition evil.. --frothTC 00:35, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, it appears to be more selfish than evil. Also, personally, it seems more like a philosophy than a religion to me... 惑乱 分からん 00:37, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
...which is one of the aspects of Evil --frothTC 00:44, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ehmm, evil is quite a vague concept, but as far as it's generally interpreted in modern culture, it'd mean "doing bad unto others", selfishness is "doing good unto self", which is quite distinct... 惑乱 分からん 00:54, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
My definition is that good is selflessness while evil is selfishness --frothTC 04:21, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe, but selflessness is not necessarily good, and selfishness is not necessarily evil. JackofOz 21:28, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Evil is an extremely subjective term and you cannot call anything by definition evil, only say that you, yourself think its evil. Joneleth 08:28, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I notice that our aticle on satanism is quite good. It concentrates, however, on LeVay's satanism, who seems to have designed it as a antipole to Christianity which he conceived as destructive, imprisoning and hypocritical. I've once heard a TV interview with a satanic priest in Germany who explained that he considers his activity mainly as an offer of therapy to those who feel that hypocritical Christian values broke them and he offers them symbolic rituals to take up the fight against self-contraticing morality that has take hold of his concience. Hence, in order to understand satanism, you first need to study why many people are apalled by Christianity (and to avoid misunderstandings: this is to mean, by Christianity as they have experienced it via the conduct of their local community and personal environment -- not how a righteous Christian might like to have his religion ideally percieved.) Simon A. 10:29, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
new question
can anyone tell me about their afterlife beliefs? Temp 19:17, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'll second that. --Hunter85014 04:31, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
FAQ
Eventually, will every new question asked on RD be an FAQ?--Light current 01:05, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's the 23rd time this question has been asked. Take some number N in your mind. Assuming a sufficiently long stream of questions, a uniform method for representing questions as sequences of bits, and an upper bound on the length of such sequences, eventually all further questions asked will have been asked at least N times. But other questions may not be repeated at all. It depends a bit on whether we may model a certain fraction of the questioners as monkeys. If one in every trillion questioners just randomly bangs the keys, then every now and then (more then than now) one of them will almost surely repeat any previous question – and again, and again. Based on experimental observations, this model does not appear unrealistic. --LambiamTalk 01:51, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
missing question
I asked a qestion about the Mars opportunity and spirit rover and now it's gone! ! Has someone deleted it from me?
If you asked on September 8, it's answered right here. We have to archive pages like this to prevent the reference desks from being HUGE. Hyenaste(tell) 02:50, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
historical curiosity
why is extending your middle finger referd to as whipping the bird?
the Dictionary of Slang explains that in the 1920's US the word bird was used as a name for a loud derisive noise kind of like blowing a raspberry at someone. The hand gesture goes back much further, probably as a variation on "give the fig" to somone (one thumb between two forefingers). The two became intertwined with "giving the bird" or "flipping the bird". I have not heard of "whipping the bird", but probably just another regional variation. Nowimnthing 17:11, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Please tell me the name of the person who played the Diva in Sixth Sense, and was that her true voice?
Thanks.
Signed,
A Fan
Do you mean The Fifth Element? See the credits. If it's The Fifth Element you are referring to, her voice was obviously digitally manipulated at times, as no one can sing that range of notes.--Shantavira 15:12, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think I remember reading somewhere that it was actually a real voice, not digitally enhanced, but I don't have any source for that. --WhiteDragon 15:39, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Allegedly Inva Mula ( but the language in the article looks like it wasn't written by a native English speaker, and seriously needs cleanup). 惑乱 分からん 15:16, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Also, the actor who played the Diva (Maïwenn Le Besco) isn't the same the same who did the vocals. If you're really interested I would rent the special edition DVD. The article on the The Fifth Element is rather lacking in authority. —Mitaphanetalk 06:43, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks All.
Yes, I did mean The Fifth Element. I guess I'll take the 'rent the DVD special Ed., credits, and go from there.
12 October 2006 (A Fan)
Manga questions
1. If you want to become a manga-ka when you grow up,is it alright if you copy another artist drawing style?Thanks
(Ahhh, it's you again. Could you refrain from posting many different posts this time. Please reply to the post you have already posted as far as possible, and sign your posts with four tildes.) You probably could copy a lot of it, before you're accused of plagiarization. Also, styles and themes generally cannot be copyrighted in themselves, unlike characters and names. You probably would be accused of being a copycat, but it's up to you if you'd let that bother you. Some cartoonists, such as Joost Swarte, Yves Chaland, Wallace Wood etc. could do nice personal pastiches of their predecessors' styles, though. 惑乱 分からん 15:14, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
2. Is there a manga school in Chiyoda,Tokyo that has a specialized manga course?I heard that Takao Aoki went there and i wanna draw just like him. Please answer me thanks for your time!
You wouldn't necessarily get to draw exactly like Takao Aoki just because you attend the same school he attended. Second, personally I think you should try to find more of your own style from your sources of inspiration. Usually, a copy only turns out to be a second-rate version of the original. 惑乱 分からん 15:14, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There are an uncountable number of manga/animation/illustration schools in every ward in Tokyo. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 16:43, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Loud Harleys
Why are certain motorcycles, such as harley Davidson's Davidsons, so loud? Jamesino 15:26, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you ask the owner/rider of one, the answer usually is "Because loud pipes save lives." Meaning, motorcycles are harder to spot than automobiles as they are smaller, so by making a lot of noise, it will alert automobile drivers in the area that there's a motorcycle around, and so be on the lookout for it.
In truth, though, most people who enjoy riding their Harley probably just like making lots of noise. It's all part of the enjoyment of riding for them. 192.168.1.1 8:58, 7 Rocktober 2006 (PST)
Harley-Davidson actually tried to trademark their "trademark" sound. Rmhermen 16:15, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Most of the noise comes from aftermarket exhaust pipes. Even if someone has OEM pipes they usually punch out the baffling. It's partly that Harley mystique and partly a safety issue: as a former Harley owner I can affirm that too many automobile drivers put the brain on energy saver mode and simply don't notice motorcycles on the road. Sooner or later most motorcyclists have a collision with a car and the car invariably wins. If other drivers at least hear the motorcycle there's a better chance they won't make a left turn/change lanes/pull out of a driveway at the worst possible moment. Durova 05:15, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So the rest of us have to listen to that racket because motorcyclists like to shift the blame to car drivers? You don't hear bicyclists causing noise polution like that, do you? Motorcyclists ride like maniacs, weaving in and out of traffic. Hardly surprising if they get hit. Natutral selection and all that. --Nelson Ricardo 04:16, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's a bit of a stereotype. Actually anyone who still rides after age 30 is generally very conservative about their road skills. They've either been through a major accident or seen a friend die. I nearly got hit many times by inattentive drivers - the closest call was when an SUV left turned me in rush hour traffic. I managed to avoid major injury, but my rear view mirror got damaged, my glove brushed against the other vehicle, and four knuckles got bruised: one more inch and my hand would have been crushed. My own pipes were OEM with the baffling already knocked out before I bought the bike. Every experienced rider I knew said I should have chosen aftermarket pipes, and - having been on both sides of this debate at different times in my life - I came to value the use of both hands. I also tried to save the life a rider who died when a Cadillac performed an illegal U-turn. Durova 14:36, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Anti-Terrorist Options on Aeroplanes.
Given the current high-level of terrorist awareness on aeroplanes (and I am sure I am not the first to have had this idea) why can't the flight deck crew be kept secure in front of their bomb-proof cockpit bulkhead and door, and be supplied with a system that would enable them to see and hear on CCTV, any threatening behaviour in the main passenger cabin, and then simply remotely discharge a nerve gas via the air conditioning system that would instantly and momentarily disable the troublemakers (and passengers and crew of course), so that a flight deck member could then go to the rear cabins and identify and handcuff the perpetrators, whilst wearing breathing apparatus? And anyone who objected to that scenario is either a potential terrorist or someone who would prefer to travel by boat/train/donkey.
You are proposing gassing hundreds of innocent people to prevent a possible threat based on the appraisal of someone who had ought be to be busy flying a large complex aircraft? Also remember what happened when the Russians gassed a theatre full of hostages and hostage-takers? (Moscow theater hostage crisis) Rmhermen 16:12, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
They're not innocent, they're "unlawful combatants". JIP | Talk 16:21, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Not needed. Crew need training in matial arts, thats all! Finito!--Light current 16:36, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What an interesting plan. So you're arguing that the elderly, the young, and those with any cardio-vascular issues should sign a waiver agreeing that, in the event of terrorists trying to take over the plane, they're happy to be killed by the flight crew in order to stop them? --Mnemeson 16:40, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There is no safe nerve gas, if that's what you are thinking. Even if there were, the prospect would raise all sorts of other objections, like how 300 drugged people could safely exit an aircraft.--Shantavira 17:02, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
They could fly! (Or probably think they could) No problemo 8-)--Light current 17:05, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Would it not just be easyer to do what the Israelis have done since the St Davids field incident and have agents on the planes with :low velosity guns , tasers and battons.
Making the flight deck doors and walls bullet proof is so obvious it hurts, but I just wonder that this has not been done due to :profit worries; referance the work needed and the extra lugage weight.
The feds don't have the nerve? Clarityfiend 20:35, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Having asked the original question - which I freely admit was a troll (trawl), I now thank Most of all the above respondents and surrender to Hezbullah, Al Quaida, Islam, Allah, etc, and look forward to an ex-Christian's eternity in Paradise devoid of any camels or virgins (for me) as they will all be being ridden (sic) by those that were protected by my respondent friends (and their ilk) - above. Will the last person allowed to use Wikipedia before being shot in the back of the skull in praise of Muhammed(pbuh) please turn out the lights. p.s. Can someone tell me somewhere near Reykjavik where I can buy my wife a Burkha?
Completely isolating the cockpit crew would require that they have a bathroom and food supply.
Sleeping gas might actually work much better in such an environment, because it could be evenly distributed. The problem in the Russian theater is that there was no way to evenly distribute it, and it was necessary that all the terrorists be sedated, meaning they had to use so much that those who got the highest doses would die. StuRat 02:11, 8 October 2006
Yes, but that doesn't alter the fact that different people react differently to the same dose of drug. If they used something like aerosolized fentanyl, like in the Moscow seige, a concentration that is just enough to remind a former heroin addict a pleasant reminder of their old habit would be enough to kill an elderly nun. --Robert Merkel
Perhaps depressurize the cockpit enough that passengers use the oxygen masks which drop down, and selectively supply fentenyl to the masks used by the bad guys.Edison 19:18, 9 October 2006 (UTC)*[reply]
Let loose specially trained snakes who only bite terrorists?(hotclaws**== 19:59, 12 October 2006 (UTC))[reply]
This is as sensible as most of the suggestions that have been made here.
Seriously, the key difference between now and September 10, 2001 with regards to hijackings is that passengers are prepared to risk their own lives to take down hijackers. Every other airline security measure is either targetted at bombs (a separate issue) or is just window-dressing.
If you want good discussions on these topics, I recommend having a look around Bruce Schneier's blog. --Robert Merkel 01:16, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Adding a photo to an existing file
Hi, I am trying to add a photo to an existing file..
Emmanuel Christopher Loblack
I done quite a bit of searching and have come up empty handed.
Could you please direct me to the information that where I could follow the instructions to upload a photo.
Hi - I was wondering what products commonly in UK are similar to Cetaphil? Having just moved here I'm a bit bewildered by the variety available. Thanks. --Keira Vaughn 18:09, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Best bet is to go into "Boots" or similar shop/boutique and ask a memeber of staff.
As you said there is a wide range so its personal choice really, just depends on your alergies/skin condition/taste.
HTH
P.S.Your name sounds very English, may we be permitted to know where you have moved from?
AMX
If you click on her name you'll find out right away.--Shantavira 19:19, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why not just order some Cetaphil online? --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 22:41, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's just a little troublesome ordering online - but I'll ask around and see. Thanks for your suggestions! --Keira Vaughn 00:23, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why is volume so high?
On many stereos and televisions, the volume knob goes up so high that it would inevitably deafen a person. Why is this? Thanks! Reywas92Talk 20:23, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Users of this Disaster Area-like volume level include a) my dad and b) public places like bars. What seems loud in your small, quiet living room won't in a big, noisy space. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:30, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What? Did you say something? Clarityfiend 20:34, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's for people who are already deaf, like my parents who keep the volume on max and turn on the subtitles.--Shantavira 08:35, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I find it's easier to watch TV and listen to the radio at the same time when they are both at very high volumes, instead of having them at the same medium level. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 09:45, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Behind the scenes of Survivor
Does anyone know a good website that tells about the behind the scenes of Survivor? My family has always been wondering this. Thanks! Reywas92Talk 20:30, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Just a guess, but CBS.com might. It would probably be hard for anybody other than the creators of the show to make what you're looking for, and if they did it'd probably be on their site, maybe somewhere else. I do know there's a special on TV Guide Channel before the season starts. Temp
Is it possible to sue the makers of Survivor for racial discrimination, since they essentially automatically declined all contestant applications by any applicant who wasn't black, white, hispanic, or asian. --209.122.217.168 21:37, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Not if people agree to be racially discrimated, I guess Temp
How do you know they declined applications? --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 22:35, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm sure they have an artistic license of sorts that allows them to do so. It's along the same lines of denying someone to play the Queen in a play because the actor is a 'he'. Hyenaste(tell) 22:51, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's my understanding that the contestants for Survivor: Cook Islands were chosen before it was decided to divide the tribes by race. If this is true, then it follows that applicants who didn't fit in the four tribes weren't selected for reasons other than race. I wonder just how many applicants they actually get that aren't in those four groups; over all thirteen seasons, minorities are consistently overrepresented as a representation of the applicant pool. --Maxamegalon2000 23:41, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I find this a little difficult to believe. Previous seasons are well-noted for having small numbers of minorities; Guatemala, for instance, had (if memory serves) 17 white people and one Hispanic. I think Panama had two African-Americans, one Asian American and 13 Caucasians. To my quick and rough count, the first six seasons combined had fewer minorities than this current single season. If minorities are consistently overrepresented in the applicant pool, they sure as hell aren't making it on the actual show. Furthermore, I've read reports that many of the contestants were recruited for this season; that makes it particularly difficult to believe that they went out and found extra minorities, way more than ever before, and still picked this contestant pool without race as a factor. Personally, I would have done a Survivor with four tribes made up of people from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. --ByeByeBaby 04:27, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It would only be possible to sue if you actually tried out for the show and don't fall into any of those categories, but your chances of having your suit taken serious are minimal. User:Zoe|(talk) 02:16, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If they declined all applications by someone who wasn't 'black,white,Hispanic or Asian' there don't seem to be many people left who could appear... Lemon martini 10:09, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm trying to remember the artist in this song. It has a male singer during the chorus singing in a somewhat high-pitched voice to start something along the lines of "hold me close love, its all me, its all me... gotta ask yourself one question, where are you now?"... Croat CanuckGo Leafs Go 21:49, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Dunno about anyone else, but I've tried about every permutation of search I could track down on this, and struck out. Closest I could come was a David Essex song, lyrics here. Tony Fox(arf!) 03:23, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think that James Blunt sings it.Not sure if he wrote it,but I know that he sings it on one of his albums.There have been quite a few ads with that song on it.Serenaacw 12:24, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How do you make friends with someone if you already accidentally punched them in the jaw, broke their ribs, and put them in a coma? --209.122.217.165 22:18, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Once your relationship becomes that serious, it is difficult to change the direction. You can't love someone one day and beat them up the next, or vice versa, without some serious emotional issues occuring. Hyenaste(tell) 22:54, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
But the man still has my copy of "The Godfather".--209.122.217.165 22:55, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
See The Chosen. Not a coma, and not a punch, but a baseball to the head and a near blinding. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 22:55, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Tell her that you only hit her because you love her? --Kurt Shaped Box 23:24, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I know this place is somewhat not very serious, but that's not funny. Abuse is never something to joke about, in my view. ++Lar: t/c 06:48, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry if I offended you. I do have the tendency to find gallows humour in most situations. Except abortion - I've never been able to think of anything blackly humorous to say about abortion. --Kurt Shaped Box 22:17, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Believe it or not, there are a whole category of jokes called dead baby jokes --WhiteDragon 15:46, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have several faves, but I don't want to offend anybody. Check here.Anchoress 01:58, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I dont think the person is very receptable to socialising approaches while being in a coma. Joneleth 10:23, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Suicide seems like a good option at this point. Temp
Cleaning up apartment
I have two roommates, and nomatter how hard we barely try, we can't arrange a system that keeps the apartment clean. Please help? --216.164.197.56 22:39, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Before a solution can be found, you need to figure out why the housework isn't being done. It could be any or all of the following:
What constitutes 'clean' differs from person to person in the group;
Some members think they're doing their fair share, while others disagree;
Some members don't know how to clean;
The members being organised to clean resent the organiser(s) of cleaning duties;
Everyone is just too busy;
There's a guilt/blame or parent/child dynamic;
People are being messy out of passive-aggression (to express dissatisfaction over some other element of the relationship);
Some members are just lazy;
Some members are hoping their parents/significant others will eventually do it (at Christmas, maybe);
Or who knows what else.
If everyone truly and freely agrees that your place isn't as clean as it should be, and you've already tried dividing chores, rotating chores, 'cleanup day's etc, and those didn't work, then I suggest you pool your resources and hire a cleaner for a couple of months. Then evaluate: was it worth the money? If so, keep doing it. If not, maybe it'll make it easier to keep up. Or maybe some members will want to keep paying someone to clean, in which case they can either pay the members who don't mind cleaning, or the cleaners can keep coming and just do fewer chores.Anchoress 22:56, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Have a system whereby everyone does their bit of cleaning at the same time, and impose a charge (say $5) on anyone who forces the group to move to a different time from the scheduled one. It's much more fun to be working together, rather than one person working while everyone else watches. No-one feels put upon because they're the only one working, and malingerers can't hide. And at the end of the process you have a lovely clean apartment (rather than a dirty apartment with just one part clean). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 00:12, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I agree with Anchoress's suggestion about a cleaner, if you're willing to go that far. In some circumstances you just simply can't expect everybody to act clean enough to keep everyone happy, and it will always get on someone's nerves. It is much easier to keep a clean house clean than it is a dirty one, so starting fresh is a good idea. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 04:29, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Didn't we answer this question two weeks ago? Durova 05:40, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes (or similar) FAQ!!--Light current 09:21, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 8
dry erase
Is there such a thing as a semi-permanent marker that could be used to write on a white board with, that can be easily removed, but will not come off when kids rub the board?--67.172.248.207 02:13, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I believe you can find temporary wet-erase markers at stores where you buy dry-erase ones. Hyenaste(tell) 03:21, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A word of caution, though: Most people (and especially most kids) have some moisture on their fingers, and the wet-erase markers can smear. And it stains your skin much worse than dry-erase (although not as much as permanent). --ByeByeBaby 04:05, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Anecdotally, I'm told that marks from a Sharpie-brand permanent marker can be erased from a dry-erase board by over-writing the Sharpie marks with a dry-erase pen, and then erasing the dry-erase pen. I suppose it would work with other permanent markers than the Sharpie brand, if indeed it does work. I have never tried it, but an acquaintance swears that it works as described. 192.168.1.1 9:04PM, 7 Rocktober 2006 (PST)
We have a dry-erase calendar that we use a Sharpie permanent marker on. When we need to erase something, we use rubbing alcohol. It seems to work fine for us. Note, however, that we do not subject the same area to repeated erasures. –RHolton≡– 04:13, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What 192 said about permanent markers is true; I've had to do it many times. I've also found (on a related topic) that nail polish remover takes sharpie off of any metallic surface (like the refrigerator). Anchoress 05:47, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have found that if you have a sharpie mark you want to remove, just mark over it with the same sharpie, and wipe it off quickly while it is wet. The wet sharpie ink dissolves the dry stuff. --WhiteDragon 15:50, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's why I switched to writing on my fridge with these!--192.168.1.1 10:08, 8 Rocktober 2006 (PST)
Why not just cover the marker writing with a plastic sheet to protect it ? StuRat 01:00, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
An intriguing question
If you had to lose one of your five senses, which sense would you give up?Why?
Any good suggestions?
--DrZeus 03:04, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Suggestion 1: They're asking why you would choose to give up that particular sense. A suitable response would be Smell, because it is not as important in life as sight or hearing, and would degrade more than any other sense in the future anyway.
I could do without smell or taste easy. I get much more pleasure from music than I do from food, though I suspect there are many people who would feel otherwize. Loss of sight and hearing would be a major inconvenience for someone who has had the pleasure of having both for the entire span of his life, and losing feeling/touch sense would deprive me of the pleasure I most fundamentally desire as a creature attempting to protect my species, and that would really suck too. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 04:25, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I always suspected that you had no taste already 8-) (Or am I thinking of some other editor?)--Light current 09:19, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'd rather lose my sense of touch, that way girls can't rape you. Chris 04:29, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Since when does inability to feel rape make rape not rape? freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 04:31, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I suppose he means you wouldn't be able to get a hard on. And about the loss of smell I've heard that that is pretty bad too because it makes you 'lose contact with your surroundings' or something, making the world 'colder'. Can't remember precisely, heard something like that once. DirkvdM 06:19, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You guys have lost your sense of humor. He was only kidding. Clarityfiend 09:13, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No, no humor's not a sense :) My answer would easily be smell --frothTC 14:30, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well a quick peruse through the senses-article and I would give up nociception, though i guess it won't stop the pain of a broken-heart. Oh well. Smell seems easiest but then i'd spend all day wondering whether or not I smelt-bad and I would never know when I had stood in dog-doo and that wouldn't be good now would it!
ny156uk 16:33, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Pain actually seems to have been a crucial factor in human survival. I saw a TV program once with three children having congenital insensitivity to pain, and it actually seemed quite awful if the kid lacked the reasoning to live safely by itself. One young girl nibbled down her own fingers to the bones, and almost lost the sight of her eyes. (I don't remember the reason why, if she scratched out her own eye, or failed to notice an infection.) 惑乱 分からん 16:53, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Smell. I find it the least useful. --Proficient 05:18, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
When & Why Did Matthias Paul Change His Name To Paul Van Dyk?
When and why did Matthias Paul change his name to Paul van Dyk? Danke.198.166.59.152 04:39, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have observed a strange thing. I hear several people saying that they have no time at all in their lives to watch a movie or do something outside of their routine. However, they seem to do nothing special otherwise. The question is then why do they keep complaining of lack of time? Is it to impress others or is it just a thing they say because everybody says the same. One of my colleagues is a fellow who actually takes a nap in weekends , yet he says he has no time for anything
sumal 05:22, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Some people find alterations or additions to their routines to be too stressful. It's easier to say no than to switch stuff around or miss out on a routine event. Anchoress 05:54, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
From my experience most people need some time to "destress" before they can seriously engage in any nonroutine behavior, and since so much time is rarely avaliable outside of vacations they feel like they never have any time. Joneleth 17:31, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
They really mean that the activity you suggested is such a low priority that they wouldn't do it unless there was absolutely nothing else for them to do. But saying that would be rude. StuRat 00:50, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Indeed. It seems just to be such a common phrase to hear or say... --Proficient 06:43, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Jesus / Mohammed and the different ways to approach God
Please help. Hindu's believe that any path to God is valid and therefore use many different forms of worship to enable each person to find a way they feel confortable with in this quest. Christians and Muslims however believe that the only way to God is through Jesus or Mohammed and that if you dont follow the specific teachings and worship in the specific way you cannot know God. I cannot believe that Jesus or Mohammed, being enlightened, would make such limiting statements even though both the Muslims and the Christians say that this is supported by their scriptures. What evidence is there in the Bible and in the Koran to support that this is perhaps a misconception and that in fact the quest to understand is more important than the way in which it is undertaken. Thanks for any comments on this subject.
Personally, I've never understood this belief. How can any path to God be valid if some of them explicitly state that the others are totally wrong? It's just self-contradictory. Clarityfiend 09:08, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'd guess early Christians and Muslims were quite conceited? Personally, I think the Hindu viewpoint actually seems much nicer. 惑乱 分からん 11:47, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Clarityfiend: There's really no self-contradiction, because each believes the others to be incorrect. It may in fact be correct that all are incorrect, or that only one is correct. If you have a room full of people, each claiming to be George W. Bush, President of the United States, and also claiming that the others are imposters, that does not immediately lead to the conclusion that they are all imposters. One could actually be George W. Bush, President of the United States. However, more than one cannot be correct, even if they all sincerly believe what they are claiming. –RHolton≡– 13:19, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's the wrong analogy. The Hindu belief is like saying I'm President Bush, these other people are too and we're all telling the truth. I guess phrased it imprecisely. I should have said the Hindus believe all paths to God are valid. And that definitely is illogical. Clarityfiend 18:57, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe it's the Christians and Muslims that are illogical, they keep on fighting each other instead of allowing every people find their own path to God. (I'm suitably ignoring all militant Hindu nationalists, here...) 惑乱 分からん 19:43, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
To clarify : The Hindus feel that God is the inner part of our being and in order to know him we have to strip off all the outer layers known as sheaths. Although there are very precise methods on how to do this they do not say that other ways are not valid like the Christians who think that if you dont believe in Jesus you cant know God. Apparently it says in the Bible that Jesus claims he is the way and the only way to God. How can this be correct when people knew God before Jesus was alive and the Hindus have unbroken lines of people who claim to have known God (become self realized)? I want to know if it is stated anywhere in the Bible that in fact God is for everybody and not just the Christians. Thanks for this.
It is not stated anywhere in the Bible that God is for everybody and not just Christians. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." For the people who lived before Jesus, God had a different agreement with them -- that a person could be made right with God by obeying the laws of the Old Testament. When Jesus came, he set into effect a New Covenant (agreement) between God and man -- that a person could be made right with God through faith in Jesus.
Unlike others who have claimed to know God, (i.e., become self-realized), Jesus backed up what he was saying by performing many, many miracles, all out in the open where people could see. He then capped it off by rising from the dead. Others may claim to know God, or the path to God, but can they back their claims up as Jesus did? BenC7 06:12, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You talk of God as if he is a person with whom a contract can be agreed. This is somewhat naive dont you think? You obviously no nothing of Vendantic philosophy nor any of the many Hindus (and others) who have also affected the lives of people in similar ways to Jesus and who have done, and continue to do, what common people like you and me would call miracles (which is called the siddhi stage). This is not the highest form of realization according to Vedantic philosophy and it is even stated that one should take care when reaching this stage as it can bring the self back into the world rather than helping it to continue on its path to self realization. To have a claim on God is quite extraordinary and to negate other's claim to know God or to search for God is arrogance. Surely Godliness goes beyond caring whether people love Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Advaita Guru or any of the hundreds of options available to us but how people apply their understanding of God in their daily lives and also, as God is beyond anything the mind or the intellect can understand, to accept that it cannot possibly apply to one group at the cost of all the rest.......
Can you provide examples of these miracles? Healing or raising the dead, as Jesus did almost routinely, would be good. BenC7 08:44, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The reasoning seems biased. It's based on the premise that (according to the bible) Christiany must be right, and therefore other religions wrong. 惑乱 分からん 11:42, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sai Baba in Andhra Pradesh routinely does miracles in front of huge crowds and heals as does Amma in Kerala. A Jain monk went on a fast (no food for a year and only drops of water which was recorded and validated by a group of Israeli researchers in Bangalore about 2 years ago and which they were quite ready to admit that the monk should have been dead after 2 months but wasnt. There are many recorded incidents of realized people being seen in 2 places at the same time which are recorded in many books on the life of saints in India.
Sai Baba's teachings are internally contradictory. He says that God is in everything and everyone; pantheism. Yet he also teaches that all paths (religions) lead to God. I am a Christian. That makes me monotheistic. A contradiction! They can't both be right.
His teachings smack of relative truth, one of the most illogical concepts I know of. Truth is truth! Example: Two people jump off a building. One believes he can fly. The other believes he will fall to the ground. Does truth care what they believe? No. They will both fall to the ground. Truth exists independently of what a person believes. There cannot be multiple truths, any more than two pieces of matter can be in the same place at the same time. One displaces the other.
I also have to wonder why this person, who claims to be God, is in a wheelchair because of a hip injury!
Even so, Jesus warned us in advance: "Many will come in my name, saying 'I am he!' and 'The time is at hand!'. Do not go after them." This statement is repeated in all three synoptic gospels.
Finally, this man says that a person does not have to give up their religion to follow him. I certainly would have to! It appears that he doesn't know very much about what the Bible teaches! BenC7 10:14, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I dont understand what you mean by internally contradictory. By saying that God is in everything and everyone this does not mean at all that there is more than one God. To qualify as a truth is must be unchanging and infinite so it is perhaps fair to say that this only applies to God in which case it is the same God for everyone. It could also be true to say that if God is the only truth all else is illusion from a philosophical view point. Sai Baba was an example of many that you asked for. Whatever he says or thinks that you do or do not agree with does not alter the fact that he does perform miracles and he does heal people and there are millions of people alive today who believe in him as an avatar. I dont see the relevance between claiming to be God (which he doesnt he claims to have God within him which arguably he does - as we all do) and having a hip problem. So far as I am aware self realization does not exclude the human birth from the fate of the human body as Jesus is himself proof of. Your logic is confusing and avoids the issue that I am trying to understand and that is why Christians claim ownership of something which is beyond ownership and how any kind of logical mind could believe that something so difficult to understand (the concept of God) can only be understood by a Christian when Vedantic philosophy (for example) goes to incredible lengths and in great detail to describe it.
Christians (at least none that I know of) don't claim to "own" God. Quite the opposite. They claim that God owns them.
The point of Christianity, though, is not to understand God as as concept, but to have a personal relationship with Him. This (God's desire for a personal relationship with us) is why Jesus came to the earth: God initially created us for relationship with himself, but sin separated us from God. God, being just, needs to punish sin, but his intent to have relationship with us has not changed. So, God sent his Son, Jesus, to take on himself the sins of man; to die in our place. God is not satisfied, though, if we just know about Jesus and say, "Yeah, whatever". Jesus' sacrifice is offered to us individually as a free gift, but we must accept that gift if it is to have any effect in us. By accepting that sacrifice, a person's relationship with God can be restored.***
Hopefully I have explained it a little clearer. BenC7 08:17, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry I must be missing the point but I dont see at all how that explains why Christians think the only way to God is through Jesus. Perhaps God sent Mohammed, Buddha and all the rest for those of us who keep on missing your point!!
To answer Anon’s question above: the way the Bible came to Jesus being the only way to God works like this. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, at the beginning of time: with only one rule. Humanity was perfect, like heaven. Then they could all get into Heaven after death. They can’t eat the fruit of just one tree. Any other tree would be fine. But they both took it, and ate it. God said that was wrong, so well, they had to be punished. They were chucked out of the Garden. Since then, Humanity has been sinful, and all of us have that since birth. That would explain the Ten Commandments, and numerous other rules that Moses brought from God – it was the only way to stay right with Him. That’s were we get the Old Testament – or Agreement – God’s old deal with Humanity.
Enter Jesus. Being God, He had the right to turn it all upside down. And He did. Suddenly, there was no need for circumcision or anything – that wasn’t essential to a human’s relationship with God – or His work – so that was done with. Instead, it was a simple matter of accepting Jesus amazing love, from his death on the Cross. By accepting that, Jesus took my sin in away, and made me well… not perfect, but able to enter Heaven after death. That’s where Jews are different: by not accepting Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Old Testament laws are still valid for them – I think. That is, in a nutshell, that logic. Question answered? martianlostinspace 15:56, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Nope, but thanks for taking the time and trouble to set out what is actually quite a frightening logic...... which to my mind is not logic at all but a very simplified version of a very complicated subject. I suppose in the end its proof that you cant rationalize faith which, just for the record, is not in any way what I was wanting to do. I find it simply irritating to be a "spiritually minded" person, who spends quite a lot of time searching to understand and know God, to have a group of people invalidate my quest as fruitless. No offense intended of course!
No problem. But I should say: it might not be a good idea for me to try to rationalize God/Christianity. A lot of Christians would say He has totally different reasoning to us – and that would explain why we can’t understand how great He is, at least according to the Bible. In other words, there is no point trying to fit the Christian faith in general into logic: it ain’t gonna work, so Spock wouldn’t be pleased. For example, if humanity’s ultimate, and main purpose, was to worship God, then why save them from Hell, and go through all the pain of Crucifixtion (probably the most painful form of killing ever invented)? The short answer is love. And that simply won’t agree with logic, no matter how often you consult the teachings of Surak. martianlostinspace 20:57, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And to help answer the original question on Islam/Christianity: probably the most crucial difference between Jesus and Mohammed is that Mohammed is, to Muslims, only a prophet - ie. messenger from God (Allah), albeit a very important one. For Christians, Jesus is God, not just a prophet. He is superior to the prophets - like Moses and Isiah - who came before Him, being fully God and man. It was predicted He would come in the Old Testament. For example, see Micah 5:2: "But you, Bethlehem, David's country, the runt of the litter— from you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel." And it doesn’t take a genius to work out where He was born, whether you agree he was the Messiah or not. martianlostinspace 21:11, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I agree. To clarify my point earlier (that I have now marked with ***), the reason that Christians believe that Jesus is the only way to God is that Jesus deals with the problem of sin -- the sin that separated us from God in the first place. Mohammed, Buddha etc. did not die for man's sin. But Jesus did, and through him we have the way to approach a holy God; Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment we deserved. Perhaps an illustration will help.
A person is in court, charged with a multitude of crimes. The person is found guilty. The fine for these crimes is more than the offender can pay, but he still must be punished somehow. So he will be imprisoned. But, just as the judge is about to bang the gavel and sentence the person, someone walks up and pays the fine. The judge checks the money, sees that it is in order, and sets the person free, because justice has been served.
This is like what Jesus did for us; he satisfied the justice of God. He paid the penalty for the crimes we committed. As I said earlier though, the "payment of the fine" is offered to us as a free gift - we must accept it, otherwise we will bear the punishment for our own sins. We receive it by believing in Jesus, repenting of our sin, and committing our lives to him. BenC7 07:09, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for the added information. It is very interesting. I personally feel that the Vedantic philosophy deals with the problem of sin in a much more in depth way by explaining how the mind works and, in this way, makes us each individually responsible for our sin and, although this is more difficult, gives us the possibility to understand and overcome it. As Hindus believe that God is inside everyone of us then it is not so much a question of having a relationship with God from an exterior point of view but more to strip off our ego and self idea to know the God that is inside everyone and everything. Hence all embracing love and compassion and the sense of oneness. Furthermore from what quantum physics is discovering I feel I can relate to this more although it is obvious that we arrive at a point where logic and everything else of this world doesnt count any more. What I feel is ultimately important is that we should all appreciate each others quest to understand and not be dogmatic about the way in which we do this. We cannot and must not say that our own personal experience with God is more important than others therefore defending the way in which that experience is felt or has been reached. The fact that man has been seeking to understand his relationship with God since as long as we can remember suggests proof enough of his existance and that in itself is the great and wonderful mystery of life.
Christians also believe that God lives within them. The Bible says, "Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (Paul, who wrote this, was addressing Christians, but I won't put the whole context here.) Christians do not, however, believe that God "lives" (per se) in everything, like rocks and trees. BenC7 01:05, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Shouldn't this question be at the Humanities section??12:45, 15 October 2006 (UTC)
Are There Any Wikipedia Articles That Discuss The Mistranlastion Of Homosexuality In The Bible?
Danke schön.100110100 08:21, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Danke, any others? Danke.100110100 00:53, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There is no mistranslation of the of homosexuality in the bilbe (levitius). The original hebrew uses very simple and common words and it is impossible that it means anything else. Jon513 19:52, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The Urban article says he is the most combat-decorated soldier in American history, with 29, but Murphy's says he has 33. Do some of Murphy's medals not count as combat decorations? Clarityfiend 09:03, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
[17] gives a side-by-side comparison, with Murphy having 29, Urban 28. Clarityfiend 19:21, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
When I read about highly decorated soldiers, I always picture a Monty Python skit with drag queens.Edison 19:22, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
analyst and users problem in stationary shop
which problems a analys and user will face in a stationary shop?
Ther will be no movement of stock? (Or the shop) 8-)--Light current 09:23, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I wonder if this questioner means a stationery shop. I still wonder what the actual question is. Problems could include not being able to reach the top shelf, not having enough pocket money, all those pens falling through a hole in his pocket as he leaves.... --Shantavira 14:22, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How to not ask for...
Is there a symbol for 'everything but these'?
example;
I want a camo leppard print jacket. I don't want to sift threw every def leppard fan space to look for it.
If I am correct, one may use a'%' to say 'everything'... so, is there one for 'not these'?
thanks.
Jinkuk Anderson
I'm not sure what search tool you're using. At google, you can eliminate results using the dash character. For example, enter (don't include the angle brackets): <camo leppard print jacket -"def leppard"> and you'll get all the pages that include your search terms, except for those that include the phrase "def leppard". On the other hand, you may have more success if you search for camo leopard print jacket. –RHolton≡– 13:05, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah. I'm not clear on what you're asking... --Proficient 06:44, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
naked bbq
Is there any website with free downloading videos of naked bbq? naked bbq means people gather around in nude and have some bbq.
I'd guess so, but I don't know any links... =S 惑乱 分からん 13:23, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Do it yourself, I'd suggest. Gather some people, strip, have a barbecue and take pictures. What is the barbeque needed for, by the way? Simon A. 19:34, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Just be careful not to burn the sausages. (ahem) JackofOz 21:12, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Are you saying you don't like to eat burnt wieners ? StuRat 00:56, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No, not burnt ones. BTW, this is an occupational hazard for flashers who gatecrash BBQs, so take particular care while you're out and about, Stu. :) JackofOz 01:02, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why not just find pictures of naked people doing anything else? Temp
Such a horrible thing to tell a fetishist... @_@ 惑乱 分からん 00:33, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, i guess i didn't consider fetishes when i wrote that, i know a person who has a fetish for people singing Yankee Doodle Temp
There is a reason why people wear cloths and it has nothing to do with modesty. Ohanian 10:39, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Perception of middle level workers in any Organisation
Sir,
The topic which I've been given somewhat confused me,I mean How should I exactly describe the middle level workers in any organisation? Are middle level workers same in every organisation or they differ from Org. to Org.Or should I work on any specific 'Middle level worker ' of different organisations as unit manager,sales manager etc.
Plz respond me if possible with in a Day because I've to submit my project with in a week.I'll be highly obeliged.
Uh, do your own homework? 惑乱 分からん 16:47, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Welcome to Wikipedia. You can easily look up this topic yourself. Please see middle management. For future questions, try using the search box at the top left of the screen. It's much quicker, and you will probably find a clearer answer. If you still don't understand, add a further question below by clicking the "edit" button to the right of your question title. --Shantavira 17:36, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thin Paper
Does anyone know where you can buy "Bible thin"/"India" paper? Good old, plain, white paper, not specially made - I only want a few hundred sheets. I know paper can be made yourself, but it isn't very easy. martianlostinspace 16:49, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It would seem like something easily googled? 惑乱 分からん 16:54, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, best to Google for paper merchants as it depends where you live, and expect to have to order a minimum of 500 sheets. Otherwise try a good art and design shop. Hopefully you don't expect this type of paper to go through your printer or photocopier, cos it won't.--Shantavira 17:46, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, no. I've Googled it before, and all you can get is custom made stuff for at least 50,000 - at least the last time I checked. I try again, but can anyone do better than 50,000? martianlostinspace 18:07, 8 October 2006 (UTC)
Nope. Can't find anything, but I won't be putting it through a printer!martianlostinspace 18:16, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No, actually - even though I was actually looking. To be precise, I think Bible paper is about 40 gsm. Hang on - are these prices per sheet? 40p per sheet would be quite expensive. That said, the website shows quite alot. Anything cheaper? It doesn't need to be fancy art paper or anything. martianlostinspace 18:50, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If all else fails, contact the publishers of your Bible, and ask them where they get it. B00P 14:16, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hey, that's an idea. I'll follow all of those up. At any rate, I can't see why not.martianlostinspace 22:36, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ah-ha. Now here: [[19]] we have some stuff, and 500 pgs isn't bad, compared to some of the artistic paper. This looks like it could be promising in the long run. martianlostinspace 22:44, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What is more, 34 gsm (very thin) appears to be available.martianlostinspace 22:47, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Depending on the size restrictions, rolling papers are very thin and might meet your needs, but they aren't very big. Also check out rice paper.--WhiteDragon 15:56, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks, White Dragon, I’ll be following that one up too. martianlostinspace 19:08, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Drat. The link immediately above (paper.com) have what sounds like good stuff, but they don't ship to my area.martianlostinspace 16:25, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
artillery equipment used in iraq
what are the artillery equipment used in iraq ?
enumerate the artillery equipment countrywise. giving details about them?
what kind of engineering support like repair recovery and logistic support for maintaining such high tech equipment for such long durations in operational scenario was made available by various contries?
Depot repairs undertaken by US Army in case of all its artillery equipment?
Iraq War order of battle will give the artillery units and from there you can probably link to what types of munitions they carry. Nowimnthing 18:00, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Israel
What was Israel called before being called Israel
Palestina. Joneleth 18:01, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's a fair place to look if the questioner is interested in what Israel was called before the establishment of the first (ancient) state of Israel. If the questioner is interested in what the territory belonging to the modern state of Israel was called before the founding of the modern state of Israel, he or she could consult History of Palestine, though that article appears to have problems with POV on the period leading up to and since the foundation of the modern state of Israel. Marco polo 01:57, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This might be an off question, but in my earlier days I use to play that game and now that I found it again at underdogs I tried installing it. But it seems utterly incapable of running on Win XP Pro, Ive tried dozen of things such as dos-box. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make it run? Joneleth 18:00, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
question about saving images
I have a basic question that seems very simple but I have been unable to find a satisfactory answer online. It may be a dumb question, but I want to be sure of my boundries. Here goes...
Whenever I see a photo online, most will pop up with that graphic in the left corner showing a printer, a save function, email the photo, etc. I often see some that I would like to save to my computer just for my own personal enjoyment, a "gallery" if you will, so I can go back and see a photo I like without having to go download the page to see it. Generally the save function will default to "my pictures", right? My question is is is legally ok to do that with general photos on the net and save them on your computer (or back them up to a cd ONLY as a data backup, in the event I need to reload the windows on my computer, so I don't lose them and have to go searching for them again) simply for your own enjoyment. I do not wish to put them on any website, blog, or use them in any way. I know that if I ever needed to use them I would ask permission from the owner of the photo. Where can I find and print a document stating the allowability of saving photos to your computer. Yes, logic would suggest that if Microsoft built the save function into windows to pop up with every photo you see that it must be ok, but I wont assume. I need definite documentation to this effect (links, etc) Your word here on this help page is good to know, but I need a legal backup to what you advise. Thank you for your help and God Bless.
Perhaps read our article on fair use. It tells a bit about what is allowed, and has several links at the bottom to official pages, which you may find useful. Your usage appears appropriate and legal, provided your pictures aren't illegal for another reason. Hyenaste(tell) 18:27, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
- I am interested in pictures of the Saints, Cathedrals, etc, Religious images for my own personal spiritual growth.
I seriously doubt this is illegal, and even if it is, it is certainly not enforced. -Elmer Clark 19:41, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There's not a problem here. Most web sites say that storing that site's pictures on your own computer for personal enjoyment is OK so long as no financial or commercial gain is made from them ie don't publish them in a book, don't put them onto Wikipedia (unless permission is given or they are stated to be Public Domain), republish them as your own etc. No-one could, in any case, know that that they are on your computer.
Microsoft could not have a policy on this because Microsoft do not own the pictures, and there couldn't be a document on the subject because each picture owner has a slightly different set of rules for picture usage. So go ahead, store as many as you like but just don't republish or make financial gain. There's no danger. Hope this helps - Adrian Pingstone 14:45, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For Wikipedia administrators or people who spend much time on it
I have been blocked more then 20 times during last 2 years,but Im behaving better and I havent been blocked for couple of months now.My question is
Why do you let people make new accounts?I was never a vandal,I was mostly aruging a lot,but there are some people who are enjoying in destruction of Wikipedia(like Wikipedia is Communism vandal,or Willie vandal).
All they do is destroying other peoples usefull articles,and they never neither make or improve article...
So,why dont you make it possible for one person to have only one account,and then make in unpossible for anyone to make another account after hes been blocked.This is how many other web sites do,so that when someone is a vandal,he has no chance of making new account.Because I remember when I was being blocked,I would just make another account right away.Cant you just make it impossile for one computer to have to accounts??
Thank you very much
Hi there, not sure whether I have the capacity to say this. In Wikipedia, we highly respect Wikipedia:Assume good faith, that we will create the collection of all facts (or encyclopedia). As for vandalism, we have got some sophisticated stuff that enable us to fight them easily, so its them who are suffering, not us. Because, according to the statistics, every vandalism will be reverted before 5 minutes (see WP:VANDAL). So, why vandalising?? Cheers -- Imoeng 21:01, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
But,my point is that they just come back after you block them,and the way it goes they can be back with a new account every day...Why dont just simple unable them from making new accounts from the same computer?
By demanding email before making an account.And there are other ways,like on almost every other site.
Ahh!. THen everyone would lose anonymity. Some may not be too happy about that.--Light current 23:10, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Demanding email? What about mailinator? Fact is, there's really no unique identifier to each computer except the MAC address of the network card.. and that shouldn't be publically available for security reasons --frothTC 23:55, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
...and even then a MAC address can be spoofed. The only bulletproof way to keep a person from ever editing again would to do something crazy like biometric security, which would prevent many(if not all) from joining in.—Mitaphanetalk 05:08, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We do have a policy that involves sufficient security that it should keep people down to a single account, as long as we can validate their ID ;-) --Mnemeson 10:44, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The BlockView
The A9.com no longer provides street-level U.S. city images. Is there another similar service? -- Toytoy 22:20, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Im not sure if thats the spelling. But I am refering to the musical intrument, i mostly associate with australia. Long wooden tube. Anyways, I guess first what is the correct spelling and where can I find some information on how to play one. Ive been searching and havent found any results but i think thats due to the incorrect spelling.
Could someone help me out with the Richwoods High School article, in the "schedule" subheading. It's screwing up right and left. If you look at it, you'll probably be able to get a feel for what I'm trying to do with it. Sorry if this is the wrong desk or anything. Thanks :) Temp
Looks good, I appreciate it. And, now I know how to do tables and i don't have to go annoy the people at the Help desk. Temp
October 9
Gay People
What disturbances in childhood cause gayness? And is it due to physical abuse or emotional abuse? Finally, do men who enjoy anal sex with women go through the same kind of childhood experiences, only to show slightly different symptoms?--209.122.217.167 00:34, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
According to recent statistics, about 10% of people are 'gay'. Its probably genetic IMHO.--Light current 00:59, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Actually recent evidence is leaning towards in utero hormone exposure. A recent study showed that, for males, the more older brothers they had, the more likely they were to be gay. And for women, a larger-than-usual dose of testosterone in utero seems to be causal. So, maybe it really is Mom's fault if you're gay, lol. Anchoress 01:04, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm sure that Anchoress was joking and meant no harm, but to use the word "fault" is to assume that there is something wrong with being gay. In fact, it is just part of the range of human sexuality. The questioner asks what causes gayness. One could just as well ask what causes exclusive heterosexuality. It is nobody's fault if a person turns out to be gay, just as it is nobody's fault if the person turns out to be straight, or if the person turns out to have blue eyes. Marco polo 02:04, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
True, and I certainly meant no offense; if I offended anyone I apologise. The joke was v/v the long-held opinion that it's the mother's 'fault' that kids are gay, that it's because of inappropriate mother/child relationships (particularly mother/son), or poor parenting. Again, no offense meant. Anchoress 02:28, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What "recent statistics" are you talking about? I think many studies have shown it's more like 1-3%. BenC7 05:50, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Apparently, the comment was intended as a joke. But suppose it wasn't, isn't one allowed to think that there is something wrong about being gay, as opposed to having blue eyes, black skin or red hair? 75.126.48.146 08:59, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Nobody can stop you thinking whatever you like. It's a question of whether you believe every thought that goes through your mind, or whether you weigh things up and came to a reasonable view. If you did come to the view that there is something "wrong" with being gay, it's then a question of whether there is any real positive purpose in saying so. Do you have a suggested solution to this "wrongness"? If so, let's hear it. If not, merely stating that you believe gays have something wrong with them but offering them no help to overcome this supposed dreadful affliction is 100% certain to cause offence. We don't live as victims, but you would be treating us as victims and then blaming us for being victims. Is that an attitude that actually has any merit? JackofOz 13:00, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So you'd prefer the Ex-gay movement to slanders? 惑乱 分からん 13:23, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have no older brothers at all and I was lucky enough to turn out to be gay. --LarryMac 13:25, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Incredible! ;) (although I think finding the right partner is a better criterion for luck, than whatever orientation you might have...) 惑乱 分からん 13:49, 9 October 2006 (UTC))[reply]
Should we correct this imbalance if its possible?
If what Anchoress says is true, then, if a method of correcting the hormonal imbalance were to be found, should it be corrected to reomve the abnormality restore normal levels in the womb?--Light current 02:33, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What "abnormality"? --LarryMac 13:25, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
THe abnormal hormone concentration.--Light current 15:13, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What makes you think it is "abnormal"? --LarryMac 16:20, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Anyone who thinks this question would be better on Humanities desk, pls feel free to move it there leaving a note to that effect.--Light current 02:55, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Because it occurs much less often than the correct hormone levels. See normal --Light current 23:35, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
By the same logic, having more pheomelanin than eumelanin is "abnormal". Does that mean we should find a cure for red hair? Charlene.fic 00:02, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I dont remember using any 'logic'.I've just asked a question. 8-) --Light current 00:20, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It(gay) is both abnormal and bad for the partcipants involved for numerous reasons. For example, it prevents the bearing of children; it raises the risk of various STDs, other diseases, and health problems associated with anal sex; and it is not socially accepted in most areas of the world, and in some areas, it can get the participants killed.--216.164.251.138 00:45, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I almost forgot: due to this clear proof that homosexuality is detrimental to those involved, I would say that if it was due to an abnormal hormone concentration, that it should be corrected, for the good of both the individual and of society. --216.164.251.138 00:48, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I want to dispute each argument that 216.164.251.138 makes. Why is the inability to bear children bad? Do we not have a problem of overpopulation in many parts of the world, which is exacerbating climate change and resource shortages? Why is bad if a subset of the population does not reproduce? Incidentally, not reproducing allows that subset of the population to devote more of its time to activities that benefit society as a whole, such as the caring professions, the arts, and Wikipedia. There have even been suggestions that homosexuality appears in all human populations because the presence of nonreproducing adults offered a selective advantage to societies as a whole by providing more support to children and reproducing adults. As for STDs and other sex-related health problems, these are a function of risky health practices, not of one sexual orientation or another. In Africa and many other parts of the world, for example, AIDS is transmitted overwhelmingly by heterosexual contact. Conversely, because of AIDS, many gay men in many parts of the world practice only safe sex, which carries little or no risk of transmitting disease. As for your argument about social acceptance, you are correct that gay people face danger in many parts of the world. However, rather than eliminate gay people, who have been a part of humanity since ancient times and who provide society with a valuable source of diversity, why not work for cultural change so that gay people and others who depart from the norm can make the most of their potential. Marco polo 01:36, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
care of lace
Would any one know the best way to care for a 50 year old lace mantilla. it has been folded in a bag and i am unsure if it should be wrapped in tissue or muslin first, thank you penny-_---
For any type of fabric, I'd suggest you don't fold it, as it can weaken and break at the fold lines. Instead, roll it around a wrapping paper roll, with layers of tissue paper between the fabric, then put that in a sealed plastic bag. Add some of those little bags of silica to absorb excess moisture. Keep it somewhere dark and dry, and, obviously, pest and rodent free. StuRat 16:25, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
My dog
My dog, who is a Beagle, always trys to lick my face no matter what. Why do dogs or at least mine like to do this so much? T REXspeak 02:00, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
He's asking you for a cigarrette!--Light current 02:34, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe he is searching for food residue on your lips. I suggest opening your mouth and letting him lick all the food out. Think of him as a big fluffy toothbrush!!! Hyenaste(tell) 02:40, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Are you kidding? How do you know where hes been sticking his nose? I really do think that is very bad advice! 8-( --Light current 02:53, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yea I usually don't want him licking my face because he also likes to lick his penis. T REXspeak 03:17, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Many dogs lick the face of their human. I'm not certain why but at least this is a serious answer... :-) Dismas|(talk) 05:04, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well again thats a very unhealthy thing (for humans) isnt it?--Light current 15:18, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In Wolf#Body language muzzle licking is a form of submission to a higher ranking individual. In other words, you are the leader of your dog's pack. Nowimnthing 16:15, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So victory = you.
I think I red that dogs licking is similiar to our kissing.So,when hes liking his own penis his just giving him self a blowjob.
XXXXXXX 13:33, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If there is any more of this, I will be forced to post my doggie joke. You have been warned!--Light current 22:22, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Once, when asked why rock stars marry models, Simon Le Bon answered, "For the same reason dogs lick their balls."
Wikipedia Copyright?
Hey, i was wondering since wikipedia is an open source project dose that mean all articles it contains are not subject to copyright? Is there anything stoping me from taking an artile putting it on my website and saying it's from wikipedia? (not that i would, just asking).
Take a look at Wikipedia:Copyrights. With a few conditions, exceptions, and caveats, it's okay. Ziggurat 02:56, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You can as long as you follow the rules in the Gnu Free Document License. Give credit and provide a link to the history of the article and have a copy of the full GFDL text around. You'd still be in trouble for copyright violation if you didn't follow these rules. - 131.211.210.12 08:36, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia is a copyleft project. That generally means that it uses the legal mechanisms of copyrights in order to make the content as free (in the sense of freedom) as possible. So there are actually many restrictions upon its use, but they are all designed for allowing people to use the content, not so much to restrict its use (like normal copyrights). (In practice I don't think the GFDL is at all the most clear or free of the copyleft licenses, but that's another issue). --Fastfission 18:34, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Gala Records
Hi there, I'm trying to figure out if this Gala Records from Russia is the same as the publisher Gala that produced my Maria Callas album here. My liner info doesn't give an address of any sort, although the cover was apparently designed in Holland and the CD manufactured in Portugal. I'm having difficulty navigating the website, as my knowledge of Russian in Cyrillic is limited; I was able to find several albums of Maria Callas recordings, but can't figure out if it's truly the case. Can anybody find this out for me? -Tim Rhymeless (Er...let's shimmy) 06:06, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Magazine says PARASITES make people FAT
The magazine is the First magazine, a women's mag. I have female cousins, and seen this on the check out lane. POSSIBLE website may be www.first.com OR www.firstmagazine.com. My ISP is Screwing up real bad. Google: First Magazine/Parasites make people Fat. Martial Law 06:18, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If verifiable, is this worthy of a article ? Martial Law 06:25, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'd recommend Googling "obesity infectious" for more about this. I think it's a big enough topic that it certainly could have its own article if someone wanted to write that much about it. More likely for the short term, though, it might be a good idea to break the "causes" section of obesity out into its own article. --Allen 07:03, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Quite the reverse, PARASITES makes people thin. Saying "parasites makes people fat" is like saying "Turning on the Air-Conditioning makes your car go faster." Ohanian 10:42, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
One exception is elephantitis, which is caused by a parasite and leads to enlarged body parts. StuRat 16:02, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hmmm, elephantitis = inflammation of the elephant. JackofOz 20:02, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Article headline is/was this: Parasites make You FAT, 1 in 3 FAT people have them. Appreciate the assisstance. Martial Law 20:52, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why do you keep capitalizing fat? Charlene.fic 00:04, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The article's headline is like that, to get your attention and $s. Martial Law 03:15, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Alternate words for Communication or Dialogue
I am looking for the word communication or dialogue in other languages preferably arabic and greek.
Hish4amy 08:10, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Dialogue" is Greek already, from "double knowledge", I'd guess... 惑乱 分からん 13:47, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's not "double", it's a prefix meaning "through" or "across", as in exchanging knowledge between two people (the same prefix as diagram or diagnosis). For Arabic, "naqasha" is the verb for discuss and debate, so maybe the noun "munaqasha" can also mean dialogue. (There is probably a more specific word for it though.) Adam Bishop 20:03, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
USMC War Memorial
Is the flag on the USMC War Memorial a genuine cloth flag, or is it a solid part of the sculpture? -- SGBailey 08:44, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Judging by the two entirely different positions of the flag in the two images on that article, I would say it's cloth. That and the fact that the article states that it's one of the few gov't places where the flag is flown 24 hrs. a day, would indicate to me that it's not a solid and permanent part of the sculpture. Dismas|(talk) 09:01, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Good analysis. Original research: I've been there. I've seen it. It's cloth. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 14:19, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Interest rates
If for example you felt interest rates were going to remain the same or go up or even down with the European Central Bank, how do people make money from this and how do they go about it?
I don't know much about it but speculation may be a good place for you to start reading. Dismas|(talk) 10:06, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Also Hedge fund. They are always taking a bet on interest rates. The easiest way to bet is through bonds. If you think interest rates are going to plummet, you buy bonds set at the old interest rate. Their value goes way up. --Zeizmic 13:58, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
But don't invest in too many hedge funds, or they will call you a hedgehog. StuRat 15:42, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So? .... Do you have a problem with hedgehogs? Hedgehog rights NOW! DirkvdM 05:43, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Dont be so prickly 8-)--Light current 08:58, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The way in which hedge funds and other investors can gain from a change in interest rates is through the buying and selling of derivatives, of which there are many different types. Marco polo 15:53, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia Copyright?
Awesome! refering to my question not to long ago (with the same title) - if i copied a wikipedia article and put it on my website i would not be doing anything against the rules as long as i provide a link to the original wikipedia article (or is it to the article history?) and i write on the page that i copied the article to that it has been copied from wikipedia. Would there be anything else i would need to do? Do the same rule apply to images? Please help! Im not to good at all this law stuff! lol. Thak you!
You're almost there! :) You also need to license the text under the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) - so you can't copy an article from Wikipedia, acknowledge it came from Wikipedia, put a link to the Wikipedia article, and then write "Copyright 2006 Mike Smith" (or whatever your name/website is) below it. To be sure, the best thing you can do is put a note on your website that the text you copied from Wikipedia came from Wikipedia, link to the article and say that it's licensed under the GFDL (a link to which would be good too). In that case, you can't do anything wrong!
For images, it's more complicated - it depends on the license of the image you're using. Click on the image you're wanting to use, and scroll down to the "license" section. Read the license under which the image is released, which will tell you what you can and can't do with it. If, for a specific image, you don't understand the license or have another question, feel free to ask again!
I hope this helped. For the future, this kind of question might be better off at the Help desk. — QuantumEleven 11:33, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
First, thanks for asking! I hope your website benefits from the Wikipedia content, and it's good (and somewhat rare) that you want to do what's right. Second, though I can't speak on behalf of QuantumEleven, you should know that we don't give out official legal advice here, and I would assume that QE wasn't offering any to you either. That said, QE's advice seems sound to me, and I can almost assure you that if you do what QE suggests you'll be fine. But, I am not a lawyer, don't play one on TV or movies, and sometime can't even follow the plot on Perry Mason. –RHolton≡– 13:43, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You don't need to be a lawyer to read and understand the GFDL. It is not the clearest of the copyleft licenses but it is meant to be readable by human beings, not just lawyers. --Fastfission 18:39, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia is licensed under the GFDL. The GFDL says, in a nutshell, that you can use any content licensed under the GFDL as long as the final product for which you are using the content (i.e. the new website you are using it with) is also licensed under the GFDL. You also need to give attribution, like QuantumEleven said, but it is this aspect of the GFDL (it is "viral") that is most important — it is a copyleft license which allows content to be free so long as it perpetuates its free status. That means that someone else could come and re-use the content on your website as well in the way you are wanting to reuse the content of Wikipedia's site. So you might want to think about it first. If you are happy with the idea of someone reusing your content, then by all means, license it as GFDL. If you are not happy with that, then you can't use Wikipedia content. Wikipedia allows free use of its content as long as you allow free use of your own content. --Fastfission 18:39, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Olive Stones
Hi,
I was wondering how they remove the stones from olives? The hole are generally smaller than the stones that come out but if you buy them in a jar they are never damaged
See our article on Oliver Stone. Oops, that's a letter off, isn't it ? :-) StuRat 15:29, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In that case, you could also try Olive Oyl... 惑乱 分からん 17:38, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Constitution of India
Which Article of the Constitution of india gives precedence to consitutional provision over the laws made by the Union Parliament/State Legislatures--62.231.245.3 12:24, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In India, what fraction of the members of the State Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishads) are elected by the local bodies--62.231.245.3 12:24, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Reduced Salt Area
Sometimes while going on a highway we see a sign saying "Reduced Salt Area". What does this mean?
Namit
In which country? I would assume this is an area in which road salt is kept to a minimum in order to protect the environment.--Shantavira 15:00, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Seems so - here is a link from Massachusetts. Natgoo 17:09, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, that's right, so if the cops open your trunk and find large bags of white powder, it had better be cocaine, or you will be in big trouble ! :-) StuRat 15:23, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
re: California Proposition 13 (1978)
after long searching of google & yahoo, i can NOT find anywhere the 7 or exemptions/exclusions to reassessment, such as: divorce, death, foreclosure, etc.;
does anyone know where to find that listing???
thanks
Well, if you looked at California Proposition 13 (1978), you'd notice it has a link on the end to the full text of the amendment. The listed exemptions are there, but they are not inclusive. I do believe, however, that foreclosure is not an exemption. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 17:19, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
George Washington
If George Washington was a member of one of Todays political Parties, Which one would be be closest to?
Neither of the big parties. See here for a touch about the subject. For the most part, Washington saw political parties as divisive. —Mitaphanetalk 23:11, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wow, that must be the smartest president I heard about in a long time! 131.211.210.13 10:06, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In his farewell address he warned against the dangers of politial parties. StuRat 18:07, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Catholic Mass Question
I should really kick myself since I am a Catholic but sometimes during mass they bring out a gold lava-lamp type thing on a chain and when they swing it essence comes out. What do you call it. Also, why does the Catholic faith use smoke and essence more than others? 207.70.37.9 18:10, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
As to why, you are likely to get a more informed response from a Catholic - there are some clues in the incense article. As far as I can tell it is just typical religious mumbo jumbo like holy water and stained glass windows, designed to inspire awe and religious reverence in the unwashed masses. One might suggest that since they got an early delivery of frankincense near the origin of Christianity, the Catholics have figured there must be some reason for waving it around. In truth, many religions before and after Christianity have burnt incense as an offering to the gods. -- Solipsist 19:14, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's called a thurible, and an incense holder in general is called a censer. The censer article says that the use of incense during Catholic services "represents the prayers of the people rising towards Heaven.". Natgoo 19:05, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You might also find it used a lot in Episcopal and Lutheran churches. It is a bit "High Church." Edison 19:32, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For what it's worth I have never seen a thurible being used in a Catholic church. I guess I've never been in a sufficiently conservative church. Adam Bishop 19:54, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In my days as an altar server at my local RC church, back in the late 1980s and through the 1990s, we used the thurible at Sunday morning Mass at all the times described in the Thurible article. Our current parish priest isn't keen on the smoke, so it now only makes an appearance at the Easter Vigil service. We got a nice new one in the mid-1990s (thurible, not priest!_), but somebody (probably me) dented the lid, so it failed to close properly. Two servers always used to take the thurible back into the sacristy during the Homily, and "recharge" it with another piece of charcoal and some more incense - it really does burn down quite quickly. Is this a common experience at other churches? --Hassocks5489 12:05, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In my experience, I've seen it used at Catholic masses on Holy Thursday, Easter (both the vigil and the masses on Easter Sunday itself), occasionally at Sunday masses in the weeks after Easter, and at funerals. Chuck 00:44, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
When I was younger, some parishioner's son came back from the monastary school he attended, I can only assume bringing monastary-strength incense back with him. I don't know what it was supposed to do, but it gave everyone a light head and a hacking cough. Skittle 12:00, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Or, as Archie Bunker said, "Those priests are always sprinkling incest all over everyone." :-) StuRat 17:14, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Daily Death rates of US soldiers
What is the daily death rate of US soldiers in Iraq?Jamesino 18:27, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And what is the Iraqi death rate? Something like 100 per day? DirkvdM 05:48, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Relatively few Iraqis are killed by US soldiers, with far more killed by foreign terrorists and the bloody Shiite/Sunni civil war. StuRat 17:11, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's not what I asked. If you pin down US death rate to specific attacking groups it will also be much lower per group, but the original question was also not about the US death reate at the hands of one specific ethnic group or whatever. So I ask again, what is the Iragi death rate? And since this is supposed to be a war on terrorism, what is the worldwide death rate per day caused by terrorists? Funny one never hears such statistics. DirkvdM 06:03, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Terrorism is quite hard to define, anyway, "one man's freedom fighter is another's terrorist" as Massive Attack puts it... 惑乱 分からん 12:22, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Assuming that Bush knows what he is fighting and therefore has a definition of terrorism, what is the death toll by his definition? DirkvdM 05:10, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You seem to be framing the question in such a way as to imply that all deaths in Iraq are the responsibility of the US. The US invasion might well have been a triggering event, but the hatred Iraqis have for one another would have inevitable eventually resulted in war, and, in my opinion, will inevitably result in Iraq being split into 3 countries (Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish). If you include deaths caused worldwide by groups that don't garner international headlines, like the Colombian FARC, the Nepalese Maoist rebels, and many other such groups, the deaths by terrorists would be very high, indeed. StuRat 18:09, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Bullshit. Saddam had been there for over a decade. There had been two wars against Iran and Kuwait. Iraq was in a bad shape after the two wars. But there was no such a runaway civil war. GWB broke into a gas station and blew the whole thing up. And you say the gas station is going to explode anyway. Let me rephrase it. If the Russians entered the U.S. in the 1960s and eliminated the stablizing forces, maybe they would have triggered another civil war. Black v. White., North v. South., Rep. v. Dem., Men v. Women ... -- Toytoy 20:45, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Saddam would have died or lost power eventually, and then the civil war would have begun, much like what happened in Yugoslavia. You just can't keep people who hate each other together in a single country forever. A strong military dictatorship only delays the inevitable. StuRat 02:09, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Saddam would have died or lost power eventually" ... Say that to Kim Jong-Il or his daddy. FACT: At least ONE totalitarian oppressive regime stayed in a metastable state for decades until unauthorized U.S. invasion. After the illegal war, Iraqi people gained no extra benefits but entered a bloody and unstoppable civil war. The U.S. pays peanuts for their damages.
Decades, yes, centuries, probably not. The longest running recent murderous totalitarian regime was the Soviet Union, with about a 70 year run (although they stopped committing widespread genocide after about 40 years, when Stalin died). StuRat 17:41, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Centuries? WTF centruries are you talking about? The U.S. has only a 230-year history and the American Civil War was no more than 150 years ago. The Soviet Union lasted 69 years and its natural collapse did not result in tribal warfare. The People's Republic of China (1949-) experienced a peaceful revive since 1978. No tribal or religious warfare in China and Chinese people are becoming educated and rich. Bad human rights records in some cases, yes. No civil war. People are generally happy. Boris Yeltsin was a poster boy because he was democratic. But he screwed Russia badly because he was drunk, incompetent and corrupt. Did the U.S. invade Russia and liberalize Russian people? What if Martians invaded the North American colonies to save Native Americans from genocide in the 1700s?
The reason there isn't war in China is that the government hasn't fallen yet. When the Soviet Union fell it kicked off a number of wars and revolutions, perhaps the most notable being the war in Chechnya. I don't know WTF you are talking about when you mention how old the US is, it's not a genocidal (not since WW2, anyhow) totalitarian regime, so totally unrelated to this discussion. StuRat 00:19, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
People in China are NOT generally happy, only those you see on the Chinese news or in tourist areas are. The majority of Chinese are poor farmers or poor factory workers. And don't forget about the oppressed minorities like the Tibetans, Mongols, and Uyghurs. StuRat 00:32, 14 October 2006 (UTC) StuRat 00:30, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Go ask someone in the South Bronx if they're happy. DirkvdM 06:48, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
ALMOST FOR SURE: If Saddam really had WMD. The U.S. would not invade Iraq. Many Iraqi people would be safe and alive today. They would not love their leader. But there would not be a civil war. There would not be so many unhappy kids waiting to be the next suicide bomber. You really should be ashamed and stop arguing. -- Toytoy 18:21, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Mongolians, Aztecs, Vikings, Martians, or the Beatles would have invaded Poland anyway" ... I guess Adolf Hitler would have say something like that. "6 million Jews would have died in hospitals eventually" ... SHAME ON YOU. Who authorized GWB to invade Iraq and accelerate this fucking inevitable civil war? -- Toytoy 14:28, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I just asked about the Iraqi deathtoll. I just wanted to put things in perspective, showing that the US deathtoll is relatively uninterresting. I wasn't talking about the US, you brought that up. But if that's what you want to talk about, the latest thing I heard is that the deaath toll has risen since the US invasion and that the total death toll is now around 700,000. For a 5 year period that's about 500 dead per day. That's a 200-fold of the US death toll. It's also 10% of the holocaust, if you want another perspective (no, you don't need to tell me that's a completely different thing because of the way they died). DirkvdM 06:16, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Of course it's completely different; if you want to compare the total death toll from the Iraq War with WW2, you would, of course, compare it to the total death toll from WW2. If you want to compare those murdered while in German custody with something, that would compare with those murdered while in US custody. I make that comparison to be around 9,000,000 to 10. StuRat 17:32, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ok, let me put in a better perspective. According to World War II casualties, the death toll was 3.17% of the population of the countries involved. The population of Iraq is about 29 million. A death toll of 700,000 means about 2.3%. Not the same, but the impact on the population in terms of death toll is not too different from that of WWII. At the moment. WWII is over, the Iraq war isn't yet. So let me have a look at a war that it is often compared with, that is over, the Vietnam war. I don't know what the population was in tha late 1950's, but now it is 80 million, so let's halve that, 40 million. Death toll 2-4 million. That's 5-10% of the population. Let me compare that with the big black page in Dutch history, the Politionele acties. Indonesian death toll 150,000. Present population 222 million. Half that and we come to a death toll of 0.15% of the population. Shame-wise I'd rather be Dutch than USian. If I were a nationalist, that is. :) DirkvdM 06:48, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Death of a President
Why has the american cinemas of various social figureheads become so outraged by the film Death of a President, considering the countless war movies, and films in which various foreign leaders are assasinated, why do they think it is ok to react so differently about this one? PhilcTECI 20:41, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Real-life, sitting foreign leaders? What movies do you have in mind? All I can think of are the South Park movie (Saddam Hussein) and Team America (Kim Jong Il), and in both of these cases the target audience would share a nearly universal dislike of the character in question. (Plus, of course, they're off-the-wall comedies involving cartoon characters or puppets.) But I haven't seen a lot of war movies. --Allen 21:02, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The only reason that people universally dislike these people is because of propaganda such as guess what, war movies, among other things. This movie isnt even propoganda, it doesnt glorify or revere his death, or portray it as a good thing. It seems pretty factually accurate to what would happen to me, further US Laws would infringe on the countries citizens rights, in order to protect the state, and a bunch of innocents would get sent to guantanamo, in a desperate search for the killer. PhilcTECI 21:57, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Continuing what Allen said, what other movies depict the murder of a real-life, sitting leader of a country - particularly treating such a death seriously, not in South Park comedy? Not very many, if any. Personally, I think it's an interesting premise for a movie, but you can't exactly be surprised that people would be offended. What if someone made a movie based on the murder, say, your mother? You might be a little offended, right? (That has nothing to do with banning the movie, or any other restrictions of filmmakers' rights - and as far as I know no one, thankfully, has tried to get DoaP banned.) When the intent of the premise is to be provocative, you can't exactly be surprised when people are provoked, can you? zafiroblue05 | Talk 04:56, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why is it provocative for a film to show the president of the US dying/being killed? Dr Who could show most of Parliament killed (I think. I actually missed this one), and people just enjoyed it. Skittle 11:54, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The movie Mars Attacks featured the Martians killing off all of Congress and the President, but that was a fictional President, and Martians aren't a serious threat, and this wasn't going to give any ideas to terrorists, so there wasn't any objection to it. StuRat 16:56, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There's a big difference (even in fiction) between killing fictional leaders and actual real leaders. As for giving terrorists ideas, I don't think that's a problem: "Hey Osama, I just saw this movie in which the President of the United States was killed by terrorists". "Damn, that's a good idea. Why did we never think of that?". DJ Clayworth 17:22, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm talking about specific suggestions of ways to kill him and security holes the terrorists could use to their advantage. StuRat 17:22, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps we should tell the terrorists not to put beans up their noses, if they are that suggestible.Edison 14:53, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I dont think thats quite how terrorists operate, they're not unruly children who you avoid giving ideas, they are clever organised people. Besides anyone with the intelligence to pull off such a feat easily could have thought of it himself. Also the movies showed well how bad it would be for everyone if he was killed. PhilcTECI 17:30, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I should note that, to the best of my knowledge, the film's distributors have not made any screeners available yet in the United States, and I know for a fact it has not aired on American television, so most Americans discussing this movie, from the average man on the street all the way up to the actual theater owners and most movie critics, have little to go on besides the name of the movie and that infamous still photo of "Bush" falling over after being shot. If the distributors would actually give some of the decision-makers a DVD of the movie, it would help smooth things over at least to some extent. --Aaron 16:28, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I remember looking at the back of a magazine and seeing the advert for Death of a President, which was to be shown on Channel 4 (I don't know if it's aired yet). The picture on the back was of George Bush slumping foward, his hand to his chest, with a man stopping him from falling foward. As I am particularly emotionally fragile I was shocked and saddened, even close to tears, at this photoshopped picture of a man I do not know dying (I have no opinions on his policies). As he is your President, and some people like him, I can see why people would be offended. Vitriol 23:47, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
(Warning: Long response follows.) I'm not entirely sure I'm reading the question correctly (I don't quite understand what is meant by "american cinemas of various social figureheads"), and I absolutely find bizarre the comment that the only reason so many people hate Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong Il is because of "propaganda", but I'll give it a try anyway: I presume you're asking why so many American theater owners have said they will not allow this film to be played on their screens (which is, of course, their absolute right). There are, IMHO, three reasons:
1) It's too big of a business risk. The political divide between left and right in the United States is unusually strong right now; if consumers with right-wing views find this movie offensive (whether they know about the actual plot is irrelevant) and thus boycott a given theater for showing it, that theater could lose roughly 50% of their customers. That's enough to put many theaters out of business entirely. There is, of course, a risk that left-wingers could attempt a boycott of a theater for not showing the movie, but that's far less likely for a number of reasons I won't get into here.
2) There is a very small (but higher than zero) legal risk to any theater that runs the movie. It is, after all, about the murder of an actual, living human being, so if someone actually does try to physically attack President Bush at any point in the next couple of years, and any evidence can be found that the attempted assailant saw this movie in one of those theaters, those theaters could be sued for millions of dollars on any of a number of different charges, and the owners might even face arrest on criminal charges (again, highly unlikely, but still possible).
3) (And this is the biggest reason by far, if you ask me) This is one of those cases where, sociologically, the United States just isn't the same as the United Kingdom. Whereas in the UK, the Prime Minister is still considered, to a large extent "just another one of the blokes that happened to pluck the best job", Americans consider the Presidency a "higher office", and tend to give the person in that office a certain amount of deference and respect, even if they don't like the particular individual holding that office at the moment. (For evidence of this, pick up any autobiography of any man who has been President of the United States in the last fifty years or so. Practically all of them detail the instant distance and loneliness felt by the author the moment the TV networks announced him as the winner on Election Night. (Let's use Bill Clinton as as example.) The atmosphere in the hotel room (the candidates pretty much always wait in hotel rooms on Election Night) starts out with back-slapping, we're-all-in-this-together excitement ("Ya know what, Billy Boy, I think we're really gonna win this thing, baby!" and "Come onnnnnnnnn, Clinton! Yee Ha!"). But the moment those news anchors say "That's it; Bill Clinton has the election locked up," the mood instantly turns to semi-sober "Congratulations, Mr. President" and "The White House just called, Mr. President; they're sending over some briefing books for you to examine immediately." From that moment until the day he dies, practically the only people that will ever call him "Bill" to his face ever again are members of his immediate family, and even his best friends will treat him not as Bill Clinton, the guy they've known since they were seven years old, but as President of the United States of America (except, perhaps, in moments of total privacy, and even then they'll stiffen up if Clinton gets mad in their presence over something). It's just the way American culture is. As such, most Americans find the subject matter of this movie, regardless of how tactfully it's handled, somewhat tasteless, if not outright offensive.
(For more evidence of the sociologial differences here, compare how deferentially the US President is treated during any TV interview (whether one-on-one with a famous news anchor or via an official press conference) with how the UK Prime Minister is treated during, well, just about any interview with anyone anywhere. If Jeremy Paxman tried to interview the President as he does the PM, he'd probably be literally dragged out of the room by Secret Service agents before he could even get his second question out. And the chances of a Question Time-style debate ever taking place in the United States is zero. That sort of confrontational style just isn't done to a president.)
I must also agree with those above regarding Mars Attacks and Dr. Who episodes. There's a big, big difference between making a movie about attempts to assassinate fictional presidents and prime ministers or to blow up a generic "Parliament" filled with MPs that don't actually exist (movies with these themes come out on a nearly-continous basis, and nobody bats an eyelid; indeed, most of them are quite popular, as they're good dumb action-adventure fun) and a film that's about the assassination of the real-life, sitting President. I kind of doubt that a movie called "Killing Tony Blair" would go unnoticed even in the UK. I'm sure it would have a much easier time getting placement in theaters, but you can be sure there would be lots of very negative discussion about it in the UK news media. --Aaron 16:23, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I find the depiction of the murder of any living person quite distasteful. StuRat 17:41, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Fact: There is a great number of armed and dangerous political extremists in the U.S. Today we call them patriotic, God-fearing militia members. One day we may call them terriorists. JUST DON'T SHOW THAT MOVIE! -- Toytoy 20:52, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedians-cum-Celebrities!
I am unsure of whether this question in which I am asking right now in here has been similarly questioned/queried before by anyone else. Whatever it is, perhaps I am quite certain that this sort of question has not been given any answers by anybody yet except until now.
Just out of interest and curiosity: Are there any Wikipedians which could be found out there (either he/she has left Wikipedia or currently still active) who was once happen to be or/and is presently a Super-Star or a Celebrity (like for instance: <font=Times New Roman>movie stars, actors, actresses, artistes, divas, singers, rock stars, musicians, politicians, television show hosts, supermodels, major-league athletes, etc.) in Show Business and of any kind related from the entertainment and media industry anywhere around the world? --onWheeZierPLot 21:27, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, there are.Edison 22:02, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This is a faq. Alas the link doesn't work because it's been archived. A better method should be devised for this. DirkvdM 05:51, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
President Bush's dates in August 2001
For a research paper I need to find out, if possible, two dates: when President Bush began his August 2001 vacation in Texas and when he returned to Washington. Also what was the date of the Presidential Daily Briefing which contained the warning about bin Laden planning to attack within U.S.
These answers will help me very much. I know I could perhaps find them in the Public Library but I am trying to finish a paper while suffering from bronchitis. Thank you for any information you may provide. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Chinaaltman (talk • contribs) 18:07, October 9, 2006 (UTC)
Have you looked at the 9/11 Commission report? [20] I suspect it'll be buried in there somewhere; there may even be a helpful timeline in an appendix. Shimgray | talk | 23:24, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The date of the PDB was August 6, 2001. Bush's 2001 vacation in Texas (which, I cannot emphasize enough, is by no means an actual "vacation" as any regular person would define it; the "White House" goes wherever the president does, 24/7/365), was from August 4 to August 30. --Aaron 16:43, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Loony Laws
Just found a book that depicts laws from all over the planet that are a real laugh riot, yet are enforced. One good one is that in one jurisdiction, you may NOT take a bath naked at all, another is that you can't sleep in a refrigerator. The book is Loony Laws...THAT YOU NEVER KNEW YOU WERE BREAKING, written by a Robert Wane Pelton, ISBN 0804107440. Is that worthy of a article ? Appreciate the assisstance. Martial Law 23:19, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe. If the book doesn't include the following choice item of Australian taxation law, it should:
For the purpose of making a declaration under this Subdivision, the Commissioner may:
a) treat a particular event that actually happened as not having happened; and
b) treat a particular event that did not actually happen as having happened and, if appropriate, treat the event as:
i) having happened at a particular time; and
ii) having involved particular action by a particular entity; and
c) treat a particular event that actually happened as:
i) having happened at a time different from the time it actually happened; or
ii) having involved particular action by a particular entity (whether or not the event actually involved any action by that entity).
How does that law work? Couldn't they say, "We're treating your tax records as if you won a $100 million jackpot - but you didn't pay taxes on that money, so pay up or go to jail"? zafiroblue05 | Talk 04:49, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm naive enough to believe that if it were truly unjust in its application, it would not have survived parliamentary scrutiny (cough cough). But read in isolation, it sure as heck seems to confirm our worst fears of bureaucrats and their political masters. JackofOz 06:38, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I presume that's to cover situations as happened with Josiah Stamp, 1st Baron Stamp, then reputed to be the second-richest person in England, who was killed in an air raid together with his eldest son and heir in 1941. It's impossible to say who died first, but the law held that the father died first, so one set of death duties (taxes) was payable, then his son died and another set of death duties was payable. Nice, eh? -- Arwel (talk) 15:04, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia:Notability (books) gives chapter & verse on notability applie to books. I'd think that your example is probably not very notable. Luckily the minimum threshold test is, does the book article get nominated for and survive deletion? So feel free to add a page if you like, and see how it fares. BTW, I;ve edited your question slightly in the hope that the auto ISBN doodab will kick in & produce a link for the book. We'll see. --Tagishsimon(talk)
Many bills are voted on in the U.S. congress by people who have not read them. The Powers That Be (the leadership of the majority party) often throw in clauses to achieve little goals of their own, at the last minute, on a 500 page bill. On top of that the present President, rather than vetoing a bill which contains clauses he doesn't like, just signs it and issues a signing statement to the effect that he and the Executive Branch will not be bound by it and will ignore it. So if the U.S has Rule of Law, it is laws enacted without reading or understanding, with sections that are willfully ignored by the Executive.Edison 17:40, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 10
ツ
Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew how to make the ツ symbol. It is a chinese or japenese symbol, and, obviously looks like a smiley face. I assume its an Alt code, but can't figure out the code. Thanks! --Deon555talkReview 00:28, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It is the tsu character from the katakana syllabary. In Unicode it is U+30C4, which you can enter in html source as "ツ", giving "ツ". Japanese writing also uses a small variant, U+30C3, which gives "ッ". I don't know if you have a Unicode input facility installed. A variant spelling of "tsu" is "tu". --LambiamTalk 00:50, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Or you could save weird characters you might need in a text file, and copy and paste on occasion... Works fine if you don't care for longer texts... 惑乱 分からん 06:53, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Flavor to Coffee Beans
I roast my own coffee beans at home and I am trying to add flavors to the beans/grounds to enhace the flavor of the beans. I used chocolate pieces once and it turned out well and gave a full body taste, but when I tried it again the chocolate pieces melted and the coffee wouldn't filter. How could I add flavor to the beans and or grounds? Would it be possible to dip the beans into coffee syrup and then bake them in the oven? Any other ideas I should try?
Why not add the chocolate after you've made the coffee? Should melt easily enbough if you grate it. DirkvdM 05:56, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Either that, or use cocoa beans instead of chocolate. Of course, unsweetened cocoa is quite bitter, so you will need to add more sugar than usual. StuRat 16:36, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Cardamom is the perfect complement to coffee. JackofOz 06:20, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
you can also make vanilla sugar by burying a vanilla bean (or pieces thereof) in a sugar bowl, and leaving it for a week. This is really, really nice! :) Chris 17:24, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Do I add the vanlla sugar to the grounds of coffee to make a nice blend?
Speaking of Ccoa beans, could I do the same with cocoa beans as I could with the vanilla beans by placing them in sugar or cook them with sugar to sweeten the bean?
I would think that would work, but you will need lots of sugar, as cocoa beans are extremely bitter. StuRat 04:41, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Atheistic, skeptical organisations
Is there an organisation that exists with the aim of furthering the causes of atheism, skepticism (with regards to alien abductions, ghosts, bigfoot, etc etc) and holding things up to scientific study -- especially one with an online forum?
Technically speaking The Skeptics Society is a secular organisation not an atheistic organisation. The fact they are against charlatans utilizing religions beliefs and superstitions does not make them an atheistic organisation. 202.168.50.40 00:28, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You could try CISCOP as well. They also write The Skeptical Inquirer as well. Hope this helps. Martial Law 00:07, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Referencing a Morning Radio Show
Recently, an anomyous user put up a unreferenced tag on the Dave, Shelly, and Chainsaw article, which I removed. This leads to my question, how can one source a radio show, knowing that there is very little to none information on the internet about the different bits, famous callers/characters and subjects a radio show, or even a radio station uses.
Thanks a lot for your help! --Raderick 01:19, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Per Wikipedia:Reliable sources, Wikipedia's sources need to be secondary sources, not primary sources. You need to find a magazine article, or a book, or a website to cite. You should not cite the radio show itself, since this is a primary source. -- Rick Block (talk) 01:55, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You should at the very least have a recording of the show in question to back up the claims you make in an article were actually mentioned in the show. - 131.211.210.13 10:02, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
permission to copy images only
I am interested in using the images of Matisyahu and Samuel Barber for a fund raising book that I am doing for one of my classes. We will hopefully be selling this book but the proceeds go to an area daycare for a new playground. How do I get permission or how do I have to "tag" them to make it legal?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.Jannamcandrews 02:12, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You should really at this at the Help Desk, which is where Wikipedia-related questions are. If you click on any image in Wikipedia, it will take you to the image's page, where there will probably be a larger version of the image, as well as information about the image copyright status. In the case of the image of Samuel Barber, if you go to the image description page Image:Samuelbarber.jpg, you will note that the image is in the public domain. You don't need to do anything to use the image, but as a matter of courtesy you should acknowledge the source of the image in your text.
As for the second image, if it's this Matisyahu the image description tag for it indicates that it's a copyrighted publicity photo. You may need permission from his agents to use that photo, as your usage may not be fair use. --Robert Merkel 07:18, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Symbols for the left wing
Is there any symbol that represents people to the political far-left, such as libertarians?
Libertarianism is not "the political far-left." B00P 03:30, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
B00P is right... other than that, the most universal far-left symbol I'm aware of is the color red. --Allen 05:03, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Red represents socialism, not specifically far-left. If you mean communism (at least in the form of state socialism), a pentagram against a red background seems to be popular there, but I don't know if that stands for something in particular. DirkvdM 06:06, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A pentagram usually means communisim, espcially if gold. AMX
That's what I meant, really. That's the socialist (and communist) flag. DirkvdM 06:26, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Libertarianism is a from of liberalism, the colour for which is blue. At least in the Netherlands, for the major right wing party, VVD, but I believe that is also the international colour. DirkvdM 06:10, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In North America, Libertarianism is nothing like Liberalism, in fact it's in many ways its opposite. Liberalism is about big government, restrictions and regulations imposed for the good of the people, etc. Libertarianism is about small government, fewer restrictions, laissez faire business practices, everyone for him/herself, etc. Anchoress 08:45, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What liberals and libertarians in North America do have in common is what North Americans call social liberalism. This is the belief that the government should not interfere in people's private lives. For example, liberals and libertarians tend to support civil rights for ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. Marco polo 16:08, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The use of colors and symbols to represent political philosophies is little known in the United States and perhaps elsewhere in the English-speaking world. Only recently, people have started referring to "red states" (Republican states) and "blue states" (Democratic states) based on the colors used by the U.S. media on their maps of presidential election results. But blue is not universally understood here as a symbol of the Democratic party or of liberalism. The best-recognized symbols for the main U.S. parties are the donkey for the Democrats and the elephant for the Republicans, but these parties do not really correspond to political philosophies. For example, Democrats as a whole cannot be described as "far left," or even "left,' except relative to Republicans. Incidentally, the color for the Free Democrats in Germany, known there as "Liberalen," but better described in the United States as moderate libertarians, is yellow. Marco polo 16:08, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you want a common international symbol, you'll probably have difficulty finding one - in Britain, the last ten years have seen some changing of colours and images, the Labour Party went from a red flag to a pink rose, the Conservatives from a blue torch to another blue torch to a green tree, and the Liberal Democrats have actually stuck on a yellow bird. Libertarianism in particular you might have trouble finding a common symbol, as pretty much by definition they want to reject the enforced regulations this would require. --Mnemeson 22:21, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There is loads of confusion about the meaning of political terms and an extra complication seems to be that the same word is not used for the same thing in different countries. In the Netherlands (and I imagine in many other countries), 'liberalism' refers to the word 'libre'. It's about freedom, which is associated with low government interference. This can be economic freedom, free enterprise, free market and that sort of thing. But it can also refer to personal freedom, the freedom to lead whatever life you wish, with your own lifestyle and philosophy, a traditionally important exponent of which is freedom of religion. But recently freedom of speech has become much more important (since freedom of religion is already assumed). I believe that in the US this is usually referred to as 'democracy', althought that literally means something completely different. And the original question even associates libertarinism with the far left. How can there be one international symbol if there is not even agreement on what the terms mean? The only true international movement with a clear symbol that I can think of is socialism with its red flag. DirkvdM 06:26, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. In the United States, "liberal" almost always means "socialist" or at the least "quite far left of centre". Americans sometimes assume that their terminology is the only one that exists, and sometimes that causes misunderstandings. The same thing happens when Europeans hear Americans bleating about how horrible "liberals" are, and assume the Americans are anti-free-speech and the like. In many European countries, "liberal" isn't the opposite of "conservative" but the opposite of "authoritarian" or "totalitarian". Liberal beliefs usually include things like universal adult suffrage, freedom of expression, freedom of movement, and the like. These rights simply didn't exist under the old European authoritarian governments. Charlene.fic 12:19, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How about the hammer and sickle for communism? Lemon martini 10:15, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yhat's the logo Wikipedia uses, probably for lack of anything better. It's rather confusing, though, because that's the USSR logo, which had a form of state socialism, not communism. The best indication is what communists used during demonstrations, and that was a red flag afaik, so that should really be the logo used by Wikipedia. DirkvdM 06:24, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Copyright......again!
Okay! I think understand the wikipedia copyright. But ive got just one more question! If I were to modify a copyright document (a wikipedia article) how much do i have to chang before it becomes mine?
If i took multiple copyright documents and put them together and change the wording -- would that make it mine? Or do i have to make a whole new article? If so then how is it possible for many people to write about the same thing many times? Its only going to be matter of time before someone write the same thing as someone else. Take articles about Microsoft Windows Vista for example. Everyone has the same stuff just worded or set out differantly. Thank you for your help!
The very idea of the copyleft philosophy that underlies all the GNU licenses and hence also the GFDL that Wikipedia uses is that the derived work never becomes fully "yours". After all, GNU licensed work is a valuable asset to the public, as you now notice yourself when you find it useful. Hence, the GNU licences gently force you to contribute yourself to the effort of producing free material by demanding that you put everything that you derive by using GNU licenced material under the respective GNU licence again. So, when you create a work and wish to incoporate GNU licences material who have to start by asking yourself the question: Am I willing to release my work under copyleft again? If your answer is "No" you must do without the copylefted material. On the other hand: Everything that you add and contribute (and hence the buld of your work, if you took only minor parts from copylefted material) is "yours" in the sense that you have the copyright and may righly label it as your work -- but you need to either give the public access to it by releasing it under the GFDL or you never release it to the public at all. You find more information on this on the web site of the Free Software Foundation, [21]. Simon A. 08:22, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That is not quite true. If you read the content, understand the content, and then write what you just learned in your own words then the work you just created is yours no matter what the copyright of the sources is. If you take a work and change a few words around, even if you move around a few sentences that is a derived work of the orginal and is still own by the orginal author (or in this case, it is still under then GFDL). Jon513 09:22, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Of course. I did neglect to explain the term "derive". In the context of copyright a derived work is one which contains work of another author in the sense as Jon explained. Simon A. 09:55, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
After all, that's what we do here on Wikipedia all the time, rewrite info we found elsewhere. (Where else would we have found it, if not elsewhere? :) .) DirkvdM 06:30, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
personal property
i am interested in knowing the laws concerning property that was inherited by me in the acores/portugal.
I live in the united states and would like to sell my property in the acores.The sticky portion of this inhertitance is that I am still legally married in portugal, but seperated from my husband in the united states. Unfortunately my husband that I have been seperated from for eighteen years wants half of the monies. I would like to know if there is a way to sell the property without giving him half seeing how it was my mothers estate and I am the next of kin, as well as the inhere on her will and not my husband.
With a contested will, you may come under the Probate law of Portugal, and this will be messed up with the divorce laws as well. The husband in Portugal probably has the advantage. All of this is said, knowing that we do not know anything with regard to legal matters. You should engage a local lawyer. --Zeizmic 14:58, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, it doesn't sound as though the will is contested. What is uncertain is whether a wife has the right to hold property in her name only or whether the marriage laws of Portugal mandate community property. Probably Portugal does have community property. According to our article on community property, this is a concept derived from civil law. According to our article on civil law, Portuguese civil law is based on French civil law. According to our community property article, however, in U.S. states that mandate community property, it applies to property acquired during marriage "except for gifts or inheritances." Since the main source for community property law in the United States is the law of France or Spain, both of which influenced Portuguese law, it may be that the husband cannot claim a share of inherited property. Still, the best course would be to consult a lawyer in the Açores, since the law of the Açores may differ slightly from that of the Portuguese mainland. Incidentally, I might suggest finding a female lawyer in the Açores to avoid the risk of dealing with a patriarchal male lawyer who might not effectively represent your interests. Marco polo 19:45, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I would be surprised if it turned out to be impossible to get the Portuguese authorities to acknowledge the validity of your US divorce. A good place to ask for advice might be the US Embassy to Portugal, as embassies have to deal with this kind of stuff not too rarely. Maybe they can also help you find a good Portuguese lawyer, as it is sounds quite difficult to me to get this matter sorted out without professional legal counsel. Simon A. 21:15, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
doctors
What's that round silver disc that cartoon doctors wear on their foreheads? For example at dr worm. --frothTC 19:28, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's a light. Anchoress 19:32, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Oh you mean like miners wear? --frothTC 19:51, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Also, I don't think Dr Worm is a real doctor. Anchoress 19:38, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
But he is a real worm, an actual worm! :p --frothTC 19:52, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And to go full circle, Anchoress, it is not a light, but AFAIK a concave parabolic mirror with a hole in the centre through which the doctor can look. I guess it reflects ambient light back on the point being examined - which according to the Yahoo source cited here, might be the eye. Example at ebay and a nice image of; and at Yahoo it is described as an "Authentic Eye Doctor's Medical Instrument". --Tagishsimon(talk)
It doesn't sound like it would work very well.. a 2 inch metal mirror can't collect much light --frothTC 21:00, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
But if you put a small battery-operated light in the hole in the centre of the mirror, the parabolic mirror qould quite nicely illuminate the area the doctor is looking at, even if it is only a dim bulb. And that's probably the point of it. With modern halogen spots at the ceiling or even operation room lighting, the doctor has clear view everywhere. But 60 years ago, I imagine, even an 100 Watt bulb at the ceiling was luxury, and having a hands-free flashlight was probably quite handy. Simon A. 21:20, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Tagishsimon, yeah, I was going to go back and add that sometimes they're just concave pieces of metal, but they are sometimes lights. My doctor had one when I was little. It wasn't just a mirror, it was a mirror with a little light in it, it looked like a halogen light bulb. The pic of Dr Worm looks like it has a little bulb in the middle. Anchoress 21:20, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Harumph.
Otorhinolaryngologists spend most of their lives peering down dark and deep orifices. The reflecting head mirror with separate light source is the traditional method of illumination. In 1841 Friedrich Hoffman first described the use of a centrally perforated, handheld mirror to reflect sunlight into the ear. Anton von Tröltsch, a contemporary German otologist, popularised the concept and ultimately fastened a circular, concave mirror to his forehead, as is currently practised. Today, a standardised mirror is used for otoscopy, rhinoscopy, and laryngoscopy. Much practice is needed to use the instrument properly. An otorhinolaryngologist looks through the central aperture with one eye, the line of sight being effectively parallel to reflected light rays, and around the edge with the other. This eliminates head shadow and parallax, allowing all-important stereoscopic vision, not to mention brilliantly focused illumination. - from The instrument that determined my practice S Alam Hannan, ENT specialist registrar, in BMJ. 2003 April 5; 326(7392): 747.
And referring to the manufacturers, we find a whole heap of difference between a head torch, a head mirror, a head light and another head mirror. Think about it. The parabola of the reflector in your hand-torch and the parabola of the head mirror are completely different; the head mirror would be useless at directing a centrally mounted bulb's light onto a thing being studied. These things really really really have a hole in the middle of them for looking through, and are not a light. --Tagishsimon(talk)
My doctor certainly used one years ago. All he needed to do to examine the throat was flip the thing down and reflect the light from a lamp or window into the patient's throat or nasal passages, while he looked through the hole in the center. The illumination was coaxial with the line of sight, so better than a flashlight. Edison 14:57, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
extracurricular activities
As far as a school application is concerned would under-graduate research be considered an extracurricular activity?
I'm sure it's argumentative as far the application is concerned. The definition of "extracurricular" is outside a school's cirrculum. So, if this under-grad research wasn't specifically for your class(i.e. your cirrculum) then I'd say you definitely could call it extracurricular. To put it an easy way, if a grade depended on this research then it probably isn't extracurricular. —Mitaphanetalk 01:52, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
can't control it
hi i need help i get so fucking horny some times i can't control it i end up masturbating 5 or 6 times a day even though i have a girlfriend i can't stop it's horrible what can i do?
Maybe you could kill 2 birds with the one stone by brushing up on your punctuation. It's a guaranteed libido killer. :) JackofOz 20:51, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ok, but seriously: If you feel like masturbating, just do it. The times when this made you get blind or the like are long gone, fortunately. It even reduces your risk of prostate cancer. And once you are old, you'll think back of the time of your horniness with longing. Oh, and check whether your girl-friend has the same problem but was too embarrassed to tell you -- maybe you're lucky. ;-) Simon A. 21:24, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There's nothing wrong with masturbating, and it's very common for people involved in sexual relationships to still masturbate. Try doing it with your girlfriend, that can be fun and satisfying, and quicker than sex ;-). But if you're doing it that much (assuming you're a male), you should invest in some good lubricant, so you don't chafe. Anchoress 21:37, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wow, never knew that. You mean Potassium bromide by the way. Anyway, so would a little Hydrofluoric acid, though the tea needs to be scalding hot and you need to be holding the mug right over your lap when you add it. Also the mug should be glass. Good luck! --frothTC 22:32, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It doesnt work, but if it did, wouldnt any bromide be fine, as the ions will become seperated in solution anyway. PhilcTECI 22:36, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Whatever --frothTC 06:59, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
HF would cause far more dangerous effects than just dampening the ardour. Its a nasty travelling poison - gets everywhere! Its use is banned in almost all spheres of manufacture and research nowadays. :[22]--Light current 22:39, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's interesting since I'm surrounded by HF right now. It's running through pipes throughout the building.
For the OP though, masturbating isn't a problem as long as it doesn't interfere with other parts of your life. Like losing a relationship over it or losing your job because someone catches you in the loo having a tug. Dismas|(talk) 00:37, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Lets hope you dont have a leak !! [23]--Light current 01:58, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Naturally, if you did it while standing at the urinal, you'd be asking for trouble (well, asking for something, anyway ...). But you'd be safe as long as you were doing it in the privacy of a cubicle. Unless your country has extremely draconian laws. JackofOz 06:17, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I suppose you think the United Kingdom has extremely draconian laws, then. Sexual Offences Act 2003, sec. 71, part 1: (1) A person commits an offence if- (a) he is in a lavatory to which the public or a section of the public has or is permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise, (b) he intentionally engages in an activity, and, (c) the activity is sexual.[24] Nothing in there that says it needs to involve a partner! Marnanel 00:34, 12 October 2006 (UTC) (IANAL)[reply]
So, if you happened to espy someone in a cubicle spanking the monkey, who would be committing the offence. Or would both of you?--Light current 17:26, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If that UK law is applied so as to put a masturbator in a cubicle with the door closed at risk of committing an offence, then yes I would say it is a draconian law. JackofOz 02:11, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Buy some more kleenex and soap... 惑乱 分からん 23:33, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What exactly does blindness have to do with this anyway? I've always wondered that. Because I'm not blind yet. :) Temp
The Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) is the generally accepted way of "measuring" the safety performance of an industrial entity. It is calculated as the number of injuries resullting in one or more days lost due to injury x 1,000,000 (or 100,000 in the USofA), and divided by the number of hours actually worked. It is not a frequency rate in the statistical sense. There are meny derivatives of this statistic held to be sacrosanct in the popular world of safety. It has no academic standing.
When and where did this first appear?
french-French Dicitonary
Anyone know where I can find a good french-French dictionary online for the high school level? Thanks --Jamesino 23:34, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Not sure about the level, but Le Dictionnaire seems to have a pretty clean interface. Ziggurat 23:55, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Would a French-french dictionary suffice? 惑乱 分からん 10:36, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why would you want a dictionary that translated french into french? what use would that be?Englishnerd 16:04, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A dictionary (See Wiktionary) explains words with other words. That's not translation. I enjoyed using Oxford's when I started to read English authors. (Also, English is easy for a French reader in that sense that Anglo-Saxon words are explained by Roman ones ...)
Now for your question, Jamesino : I do not know of any free and reliable french dict online ; "Le Dictionnaire", as they state themselves, is not a dictionary. Hoping that fr.Wk should do in one or two years. -- DLL .. T 19:24, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Can anybody tell me where exactly in the Avenged Sevenfold songs Seize the Day (song) and Bat Country is the explicitness? No lyrics archives says it has any, and stupid iTunes does, so now i can't buy them because my parents will end up finding out and I'll get grounded. Thanks. Temp
WTF? The article says it's explicit and then has a link to a lyrics site that proves it's not. That's messed up. Temp
Which article? The Wikipedia article? But if the lyrics do not contain profanity, simply provide an accurate lyric sheet while allowing your parents to listen to the song so that they may see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears the (lack of) profanity. Hyenaste(tell) 01:42, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
As far as "Seize the Day" goes, you can find the video on YouTube if you search for it; and you're right, there is no profanity in the commonly accepted sense. The song is in part about the fear of death, which might upset some parents who think their kids should listen to Disney soundtracks until they're 25, and mentions the singer's doubts about whether "there is eternal life" - maybe there are some particularly anal fundie Christian parents who object to exposing their children to the idea that people sometimes doubt their faith. But beyond that, I'm really, really struggling to find anything that might offend anyone, anywhere about this song. --Robert Merkel 02:00, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Explicitly what? Suitly emphazi, as we say around here. Or at least we used to. The article seems to not even exist anymore. DirkvdM 06:38, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Explicit content, the only sense of explicit that applies to this stuff. Luigi30 (Taλk) 12:26, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Content that is explicitly what? DirkvdM 05:14, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Um, Dirk, you may just be trolling against censorship here, but if you really don't know: it's a blanket label, very common in the US at least, for profanity and verbal descriptions of anything considered "undesirable" (typically drugs, violence, and sex; perhaps also some religious ideas, racism, etc.). --Tardis 20:08, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe trolling less against censorship and more against mangling of language, though this use of "explicit" is hardly the most egregious example.
Some of our teachers at school used to read out the exam boards' reports of each A-level module. "Discrimination" being generally a dirty word in the UK, it used to amuse me to watch some of my colleagues boggle slightly to hear the boards congratulate themselves on setting such a discriminatory exam.
Discriminating (between students of different ability) being of course what exams are meant to do. 80.47.237.41 21:09, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
American English can be very confusing. If you mean 'offensive', then why not say 'offensive'? (btw, what is a bathroom called in the US?) But the widespread misuse of the word 'discriminate' is indeed also very confusing. American English isn't quite the only illogical language. :) DirkvdM 06:34, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Is it advisable to drink high-caffeine energy drinks such as Red Bull while involved in strenous physical exercise, such as basketball or cross-country running? Red Bull seems to market their drinks towards athletes but caffeine will dehydrate you and could potentially be fatal. --Jamesino 00:57, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
IANAD, and we don't give medical info on here. You should consult with a physician for confirmation. But this is what I know: a) While caffeine is a diuretic, it is NOT a very strong one, and furthermore, people who are accustomed to consuming it become inured to it, and (IIRC) only fail to absorb about 15% of their caffeinated fluid intake. b) Caffeine is a performance enhancer, and athletes frequently take it. c) A lot of caffeine can exacerbate high blood pressure and heart arrhythmia problems, IIRC. Anchoress 01:39, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Red Bull has less caffeine than a cup of coffee. And caffeine is actually considered (by some) to be beneficial to exercise: Studies suggest caffeine consumed an hour before exercise can enhance performance and make the effort seem easier. Caffeine also mobilizes fat, so more is burned for fuel. Some researchers believe coffee helps athletes burn less glycogen and enhance endurance. The recommended serving of caffeine is approximately 1.5 to 3 milligrams of caffeine per pound (e.g., 225 to 450 milligrams of caffeine for a 150-pound person--the equivalent of 10 to 20 ounces of coffee).[26] And this article debunks the "dehydration" (as well as also recommending caffeine.) Thanks for asking the question; I've taken up the red-bull-before-workout regimen recently, and I've neglected to research the wisdom of it. I just wish the damned stuff didn't taste so disgusting. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 01:41, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Of coursecaffeine will make you feel like you have more energy. You would have to drink a lot of Red Bull for it to be fatal. A lot. — X[Mac Davis] (SUPERDESK|Help me improve)02:50, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I knew of someone who died after drinking Red Bull and then went on to play basketball. He was extremely dehydrated. In my opinion when exercising you should stick to water.
You personally knew them? How unusual, because when I was researching Redbull I only found a couple of people that had happened to, and they'd drunk a lot of it. Skittle 12:38, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
He died after he drank Red Bull, and after that, he played basketball? (I knew what you meant, but it does sound like an urban legend, and I'm sure nobody actually died in this manner) --BennyD 21:57, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Speed of Human Brain
Can anyone give a very rough estimation of the average adult human brain speed in terms of FLOPS? Considering all the cells it must control and move. --Jamesino 01:15, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A billion fillion. Vitriol 01:19, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Short answer-we don't know. Any such numbers you find in books and whatnot are essentially pulled from the author's hat. --Robert Merkel 01:34, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You can't. See the articles on the Brain, Human brain and CPU. They work on two conceptually different levels; it would be near impossible of coming up with a benchmark that could compare the two. And if you did those numbers wouldn't mean much. Consider this, the world's fastest supercomputer can't be ranked such because it can't run benchmark software for the offical rankings. FLOPS might be a generalize enough benchmark between general purpose CPUs. But for specific jobs, cranking out floating point operations might not be that useful. —Mitaphanetalk 01:43, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hmmm... I was going to ask a similar question the other day, after seeing the question about the human eye's resolution. So a brain doesn't work the same way a computer microprocessor does, and so What is the clock speed of a brain can't be asked. How fast does a brain work, though. I mean, how quick is the quickest reaction, or how fast of an event can it notice? I'm thinking of the apocryphal story of an American filmmaker who could see one frame of a movie that didn't match the other frames, something along those lines. E.g. that person could notice and react to something happening at 1/24th of a second. Electric lights flickering at 60 Hz can sometimes be noticeable. So using some real-world example like that, can the speed of the brain be at least estimated? --192.168.1.1 6:52, 10 Rocktober 2006 (Boo!)
It's not very fast.. the human brain is very bad at doing repetitive actions and anything more than a few times per second is going to be repeating. The eye and ear are very different though.. I can hear up to the 18000 hz range but that doesnt mean my brain can react 18000 times per second. --frothTC 06:38, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You guys are talking about measuring the reaction speed of the eyes and ears, not the brain. DirkvdM 06:54, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
According to Human brain, it's been estimated at 100 trillion instructions per second. So I guess that means a fillion is 100,000. Clarityfiend 03:07, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Floating operations work with shifting registers and the brain doesn't have those (afaik). It's funny how when people look for a comparison between the two, they try to fit the brain in the framework of computers. Why not approach it the other way around? We can't redesign the brain. But we can program a computer. So working the other way around might make more sense. For that we'd need a basic operation the brain can perform, write a program that does that and then let the wetware and the software do their best. What such a basic operation might be, I don't know. But trying to find the answer might teach us a lot about how the brain works. DirkvdM 06:54, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The pattern recognization capabilities alone of the brain is completely beyond all programming ability right now. Speech recognition is one thing; identifying textures from sight alone is quite another. There's a fundamental difference between bitwise calculations and nerve cell interactions. Which would you rather do, Karnaugh maps or the Quine–McCluskey algorithm? --frothTC 20:41, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Could Google BUY Wikipedia?
Hi all! Sorry about the alarmist title, the real question would be more like: Could a multi-billion dollar company (like Google) be able to buy the Wikimedia Foundation or any of its sister projects (such as Wikipedia) for, say, a billion dollars? I guess the logic behind this would be that, like will happen with YouTube (more or less), the actual user-generated content (or the rights to modify that content) wouldn't be bought per se, but the rights to revenue would be acquired to, say, put advertisments into the layout of the pages and profit from those, or at least make the project self-sustainable (thus making donations unnecessary).
Of course, for this to happen, you'd need to somehow annul Wikimedia's status of 501(c)(3) (non-profit organization) (let's just assume some special breed of uber-lawyers could indeed pull this out, k?), as well as the decision of Jimmy Wales (and others?) to actually go ahead with this (I would expect he'd have to go bonkers to actually go through with this IMO:) But a 'cool bil' might sound tasty for just about anyone, right?
Do you think this is possible (within reason)? What could impede this from happening (except the collective willpower of most wikipedians, you'd hope)? Kreachure 02:06, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sounds plausible. Curse Jimmy if he doesn't take the billion. But then everything would be google-fied! Eeek! I enjoy having TWO designs on the pages I visit, not one. — X[Mac Davis] (SUPERDESK|Help me improve)02:47, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sure, given enough money anyone can buy virtually anything. However, the current content is licensed under the GFDL which means anyone else could solicit donations and set up a server farm running the Mediawiki software and put up the exact content that's currently here (at some other URL). Furthermore, whoever bought "Wikipedia" could not change the licensing for any current content (they could theoretically do whatever they'd like with future content, but doing anything based on the current content and licensing it under any license except GFDL would be mighty tricky - GFDL's intent is that this is not possible). I don't know for sure, but I suspect Jimbo has plenty of money and there is effectively 0% chance of this happening (although, Jimbo, if somebody does offer you $1B for Wikipedia, take it, put the money in a trust, and set up www.jimbosnewwikipedia.org with all the current content). -- Rick Block (talk) 03:13, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Putting aside the legal issues, I guess you could but would be the point? The Wikipedia doesn't produce revenue, it eats it. Google, presumably, bought youTube as it was the biggest competitor toward their video service. Wikipedia doesn't have any competition in that it is fighting for a very large profitable market. On top of that money changes everything; you'd see many good editors(the ones that keep wikipedia running smoothly) abandon the project if wikipedia was splashed with ads. You'd think that the Red Cross would get the same amount of donations if a big pharmaceutical company bought them and used them a outlet for their new products? —Mitaphanetalk 03:22, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's a good summary: a company cannot buy out a charity. Google already has it's 'Ask for Money' service, and there are other services for this as well. The big trouble with these services is accreditation of the experts. In a thin market, how do you know that somebody isn't 'all hat and no cattle'? --Zeizmic 12:47, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
and who here fancies working for google for free? f**k that! (but if you get the chance - take the money and run Jimbo). --Charlesknight 12:59, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Aw, c'mon. If Google bought Wikipedia and started putting ads on the pages it would make a fortune. The reason that Wikipedia "eats revenue" is that it doesn't advertise. If it did it would presumably turn a profit, given what a popular site it is. Marnanel 15:37, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In case this is a trial balloon being floated here, let's make it clear that the enclosure of Wikipedia would be its death, because none of us are going to work for some corporation for free. If Wikipedia is sold, let's agree that the Wikipedia community will migrate to a mirror site, contribute $ to keep the servers running, and continue the real Wikipedia outside of corporate clutches. Marco polo 20:18, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Few people would rather pay than just see ads and know that google is making money. Check out uncyclopedia's ads, they're unobtrusive --frothTC 20:36, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why buy Wikipedia? The GDFL means that Google (or you and I) can copy it and sell adverts anyway. Take a look at Answers.com. CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 17:29, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Someone bought Wikitravel but people are still donating their efforts there. It seems the company wanted to make money by printing and publishing it as travel guides but it was dumb because under the licensing they could have done that for free anyway right? Nowimnthing 23:18, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Loads of users would still contribute to Wikipedia for free if Google bought it up - there are a great deal of users here who edit because they have nothing better to do. Furthermore, if Google were to buy Wikipedia for a billion dollars, then presumably it would be logical to pay the editors to edit too. --Dangherous 21:50, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Kid's satellite TV channels
Why is it that there are so many adverts for loans, insurance etc. on kid's satellite TV channels in the UK? Vitriol 02:56, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Because they figure that the kids' parents will be watching? As for why loans and insurance specifically, I have no idea. --Richardrjtalk email 04:45, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's mainly because they figure that anyone who is in watching childrens TV with their kids is unemployed, self-employed or housebound, which is why they loans tend to be the "CCJs? Arrears? Bankrupt? Dead? Call Shark Loans now for a loan of up to £99,000! (Average APR 99.9%. Your life may be at risk if you do not keep up payments.)". There's also a lot of those "I tripped on a paving stone. Give me lots of cash" type lawyers who advertise on these channels, on the off-chance that someone is watching with children because they have been injured or disabled in this way. Laïka 16:53, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
East Timor National Flower
What is the National Flower of East Timor?
According to this site, East Timor does not have a national flower at the moment. Hassocks5489 12:18, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
East Timor's politicians and people probably have more important things on their minds than a national flower, given that not that long ago a standoff between the President, the Prime Minister, and much of the army meant that Australia had to send in a stabilisation force to sort things out. --Robert Merkel 01:25, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Titles Of All Articles
Aren't the first letter of every word in a title supposed to be capitalized? So why aren't the first letters of all the words in Wikipedia articles capitalized? That would mean the section headings too. And then there's the template that says, i.e.: iPod, the first letter of the article is specifically supposed to be uncapitalized. It teaches the reader how to write iPod, but then none of the articles have a lineatthetop to say [something like] how you're supposed to capitalize the word, when you should, when you shouldn't, i.e.: if it is the first word of a sentence of in a title, or if it compounded into a name, and never in all other circumstances. What's the deal?100110100 07:44, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We could capitalise every letter of every title, but that would be unbearably ugly. The Manual of Style advises to capitalise the first letter and any proper nouns in titles. Capitalisation in general is covered here. Natgoo 08:12, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It should be noted that while Wikipedia capitalizes fewer words in titles than many other references, "Titles Of All Articles" would never be found capitalized as such in a reputable work. Minor words aren't capitalized unless they begin (or sometimes end) the title; "Titles of all Articles" is as far as capitalization could reasonably extend. — Lomn 19:09, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have been a professional editor for 10 years, and a common style for titles everywhere I have worked is to upper-case the first letter of all words except for prepositions. Sometimes the exception is only for prepositions of less than 4 letters. Under this style, the title would be "Titles of All Articles". On the other hand, the style used by Wikipedia is also used by other English-language publications and is not too unorthodox. Marco polo 00:57, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Values of the paintings of recently deceased artist Charles E. Barnes
I have a painting here by artist Charles E. Barnes who ehibited work with Andrew Wyeth and at the Worlds Fair. I would like to know it's worth. It is called "A Rocky Road." I halso have two photos of the artist holding the painting and his obituary. Can you please help me.
My Name is Cindy and my phone number is <phone number removed>
Thank you for your attention.
Yours very truly,
Cynthia J. McCullough
Wikipedia isn't an appraisal site. The closest thing I can recommend is that you check eBay and other similar auction sites for prices, or go to a professional appraiser. —Mitaphanetalk 09:06, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Steroids in Bodybuilding
Is steroid required in for making a massive body like Ronnie coleman and Arrnold schwarzenegger or it can be done without use of steroids ?
It's my opinion that if you got a 'bad' hand in the genetic poker game, and are a skinny person, then you have to fry yourself with steroids. There are a few people who could build up like that naturally, but it goes with the family. --Zeizmic 13:56, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
MRI or CAT-scans knocking
Do these machines have a KNOCKING sound to them when they are working? I just saw an episode of (Dr.?) House, and I don't know if it was a special effect or accurate depiction. Thanks in advance. :) 81.93.102.3 20:01, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The article on MRI doesn't mention noise unfortunately, but yes, an MRI scan is a very noisy process. 192.168.1.1 6:20, 11 October 2006 (PST)
And yes the sound, in my experience, is a loud knocking. --Fastfission 01:35, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Okay. The next question is.... why? Thank you for showing me the answer to this one! :) 81.93.102.3 16:09, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Charge off information relating to lender
Say I have a credit card that is eventually charged off for non-payment. What can the lender/bank do after that? If they claim it on taxes can they still sue me for the money including court costs and outrageous (33-1/3%) interest? If they win the judgment towards me, do they still have the right to claim me on their taxes or does that have to be amended?
If, however, we go to court and work out a payment plan and I pay them, do they still have the right to claim me on their taxes or does that need to be amended also?
Thank you.
Judy B. in Louisiana
Our standard answer to legal questions is: 'Get yourself a lawyer'. However, people do like to embellish things a little... --Zeizmic 14:34, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I work with lawyers. Give me a break. Someone's got to know the answer to my questions!
You will get an answer if you up the rudeness a bit more. People here just love that NY taxi atmosphere! --Zeizmic 17:10, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I was not rude but I think you were just a bit. I guess I can't get my answer here.
Most tax codes say that a creditor can write off the debt against tax, but only if they can show due dilligence (nasty letters, legal action, etc.) in trying to reclaim the money. Simply winning in court isn't enough to write the debt off; they need to show they've subsequently tried and failed to regain the money (the most common reasons for this are that the debtor has gone bankrupt or cannot be located). Once they have written the debt off as bad and claimed it back from their tax bill, I doubt (again, in most jurisdictions) that that poses any impediment to their continuing to try to reclaim it (although in practice most won't, as any debt that old is unlikely to be profitably recovered - they might sell the debt on for a few cents on the dollar, generally either to disagreeable types or to suckers who think they can collect a debt that the bank couldn't). The tax code exists solely to make sure someone pays the tax they're owing - if circumstances change and the taxable amount increases, so long as the corresponding tax is paid then no crime has been committed (and the tax code isn't there to impede someone from lawfully collecting a debt they're owed). Thus, should they eventually get the money, if they declare an adjustment (and thus haven't deprived the tax man of monies he's owed) then they've probably not (again, depending on the jurisdiction) commited any crime. Regarding the matter of when they can stop charging you interest, that's a matter for your particular jurisdiction's credit laws, the credit agreement you signed, and any subsequent plan you agreed with them. If you can't afford a lawyer (something, unsurprisingly, most defaulting debtors can't) then you should talk to a non-profit consumer credit councilling service - they'll know the specific consumer credit laws for your area, and will be used to dealing with the credit company. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:29, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you so much, Mr. McWalter. Have a great day!
"or to suckers who think they can collect a debt that the bank couldn't." Banks are just the starting point for a whole hierarchy of middle men and are terrible at collections. It's a huge industry and people have it down to a science. I am on the defense side mostly but I assure you it's not the province of suckers. First, there's a hierarchy of debts and many different types of operators; from your run of the mill collection agencies, to brokers who do nothing but buy and sell debt portfolios, to investigators who take a fixed fee for organizing portfolios by skip tracing, performing property searches, and who perform other data ranking to see if a prospective judgment will be collectible. Down the road are legal collection firms who do nothing but buy these portfolios and put the debt into suit--generally the closer to the statute of limitations, the cheaper the debt, and so on. Here's a dirty little (big) secret they don't want you to know: for most of these cases, if they ultimately go to trial they cannot win. The burden in a lawsuit is on the plaintiff to prove its case. You cannot prove your case if you cannot present the court with a person with knowledge. Since these plaintiffs are assigneees of assignees and the original creditor has no stake in the outcome, they cannot get the testimony of anyone with personal knowledge and thus cannot prove their case.--Fuhghettaboutit 02:42, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Purchasing Skulls
Where should I go (on teh intarwebs) if I wished to purchase a genuine human skull? 64.198.112.210 14:41, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Just go to Germany and start digging around a little, chances are you will eventually find a mass grave where you can harvest a skull from. Joneleth 18:45, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Uh, how about somewhere where I can get one legally without leaving my lovely hometown of St. Paul, MN? 64.198.112.210 18:55, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well considering a fair amount of schools and universities got authentic skeletons for biology Im guessing its possible to buy it from somewhere, but I dont know where. You could also go to Africa and pick up a skull, nothing is illigal there but granted there are certain risks.Joneleth 19:22, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I also know that there are places that it is legal to get them from, and I also do not know where. But I'm assuming that there is an easier, horrendously more legal, cheaper, and much safer way to get one than going to Germany or Africa and looking around. But thank you. 64.198.112.210 19:29, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I've seen many real human skulls on sale on eBay. eBay strictly forbids sale of live human organs but it looks like dead ones are OK. JIP | Talk 20:19, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry to burst your buble but a skull isnt an organ. Joneleth 20:56, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Just don't tell Michael about that. JackofOz 23:03, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I know. I probably should have said "part", or some other term that covers both bones and organs. JIP | Talk 06:04, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No I dont think its legal to sell dead organs either, not that I know what use they would be. Joneleth 11:49, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well you can expect to pay $250 - $2500 and they are available here, scroll to the bottom for the skull section. It appears that it's legal in most places in the US so you will need to check that out. CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 17:24, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ebay apparently only allows sales of skeleton for medical use (but not sales of mummies as we find out today [27]). Rmhermen 17:44, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Musician
I am trying to find out about a musician who set himself on fire, he was a contemporary of the bonzo dog doo-dah band, could his name have been Vivian Stansfield? cant find anything under that name...
Not so much contemporary as chief doo-dah Vivian Stanshall. Sex is like an electric guitar: much improved by a little feedback, completely ruined with too much. MeltBanana 15:54, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
>__< Taiga officially fails. Anyway, I must be doing something wrong, or google hates me, because I can't fiond anything about Biotic and Abiotic factors of Taiga, Carnivores, Herbivores, Preditors, Omnivores, Prey, Scavengers, Consumers, Producers. It would be nice to find something with a nice neat little chart like that..Um. SO does anyone lknow where I can find that information?
Did you try typing things like "taiga" and "biotic" in the search box at the left and then click Go or Search? --LambiamTalk 18:02, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Welcome to Wikipedia. You can easily look up this topic yourself. Please see taiga. For future questions, try using the search box at the top left of the screen. It's much quicker, and you will probably find a clearer answer. If you still don't understand, add a further question below by clicking the "edit" button to the right of your question title. — X[Mac Davis] (SUPERDESK|Help me improve)
Help!!!
Your results aren't helping me in the slightest, so I am asking you and I want an answer that is actually useful: What happened to the London Docklands since 1980?
Lewis
We have a very good article on the London Docklands, with a whole section on 1981 to present: London Docklands#Redevelopment. Laïka 17:55, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you need to search on Wikipedia for something and don't know what the article would be, always use google. The Wiki search feature kind of sucks. — X[Mac Davis] (SUPERDESK|Help me improve)19:24, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
movies or dvds
I would like to find out how many DVD (ENGLISH) movies exist or how many movies are available in English.
Thanks
Robert Simpson
What do you mean? English original soundtrack? English dubs? English subtitles? Different titles? Different produced discs? Either way, the question seems impossible to answer... 惑乱 分からん 20:15, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Would you also count every single amateur porn that's released on DVD? If the answer is yes, then your guess is as good as ours. Dismas|(talk) 00:32, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
As a digression, in Germany porn movies are dubbed. Allegedly a popular way to earn extra money for university students... ;) (-"Yeah, yeah, that feels good, baby! Do it faster now!" would be -"Ja, ja, das fühlt gut, Baby. Mach's schneller, jetzt!" or something... ;) ) 惑乱 分からん 10:04, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
As a further digression, the brilliant movie Jesus de Montreal featured that very premise, except in Canada instead of Germany. Anchoress 16:44, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Go to http://imdb.com/list. Type "English" into the Language box. Type "1880-2006" into the Year box. Highlight "DVD" in the "Must have" window. Click on SEARCH. I got 12256 hits. User:Zoe|(talk) 03:05, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
typing up a resolution
We use the Robert Rules of Order for our meetings. I have a question in regards to writing up a relolution. We are terminating our administrator and in his contract it has to be done with a BCR (Band Council Resolution). I found a sample resolution below, how would we write up a BCR with regards to terminating the band administrator.
Whereas, We consider that suitable recreation is a necessary part of a rational educational system; and
Whereas, There is no public ground in this village where our school children can play; therefore
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that ample play grounds should be immediately provided for our school children.
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the chair to present these resolutions to the village authorities and to urge upon them prompt action in the matter.
Your best bet would be to get legal advice. It's quite possible that depending on what your administrator has, or has not done, they may feel that they have a position where they could sue you. Not being sure what country you are in but guessing either the US or Canada then there is probably a government department that will be able to help. They do that for hamlet councils in Nunavut. CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 16:58, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Please don't terminate your administrator. His relatives and successors might sue you.
Closed vocational/technical colleges
I need to get a copy of my transcript from a business college in Arkansas that I attended after I graduated from high school. I did not graduate from the business college and they closed their doors several years after I left. How would I go about finding out where to ask for the transcript copy?165.29.178.62 18:54, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Those big Motorola things
In football games on tv the coaches and important people are always wearing those big Motorola heasets with a microphone and speaker on the left side and nothing on the right side so that they can hear what people next to them are saying. What are those? — X[Mac Davis] (SUPERDESK|Help me improve)
Exactly what they appear to be. Headsets. They can communicate with their other coaches and not have to go find them amongst the crowd on the sideline. There is also another coach in a skybox above the field, near the reporter's booths sometimes, who is in contact with the head coach as well. Dismas|(talk) 22:14, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Historically, each team brings their own complete set, rather than plugging into stadium wiring jacks, out of suspicion that any provided wiring would be tapped so the home team could intercept communication between the spotter up in the press box and the coaches by the field. The headsets are usually sound powered for simplicity and reliability, rather than battery operated, much like the original phones of Alexander Graham Bell.Edison 05:00, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Kinf Edward boys and Family Coats of arms
Good day! I have been trying to fonmd information regarding the King ERdward's boys. My paternal grandfather and Great Uncle were sent to Canada as fatm labourers in the 1800's... I was informed that they were considered KING EDWARD'S BOYS. I can not locate any information regarding this and would like to know if you have any information regarding this.
Also... I have been looking for my family coat of Arms. I KNOW what it looks like... but van find no references to it. Could you be of help? My surname is Rolfe.
Thank you in advace.
Sincerely,
James Rolfe
If they were sent to Canada as children as farm labourers, it was much much more likely that they were sent during World War II and not in the 1800s. Can you give me any idea of how old they were and when they were born?
There were thousands of children sent to Canada in between 1939 and 1945 who worked on farms. Many were not treated well; the Canadians, especially those out West who for the most part were not of British heritage and who owned the bulk of the farms, resented the British 'taking advantage of them' in numerous ways during the war. (I could write a book on this, but I won't here.) If this sounds like what your grandfather and grand-uncle underwent, you might want to take a look at books written by Ben Wicks (No Time to Wave Goodbye) and by Geoffrey Bilson (The Guest Children). Many of the children were kept out of school, overworked, and unpaid. (To be fair, most of the farm owners didn't see the need for any child, including their own, to attend school. My mother was one of the first in her family to even attend high school, and she graduated in 1950. She certainly had no chance of attending university.)
They were absolutely never called King Edward's Children, though. The king during World War II was George VI. It wouldn't make sense for the 1800s either, since no King Edward reigned during any part of that century. The only kings who went by Edward in that century reigned between 1901 and 1910 and for nine months in 1936.
I hope this helps! --Charlene.fic 02:03, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A family does not have a coat of arms in the English or Scottish systems of heraldry. Only people have coats of arms, and their descendants use the same coat with systematic differences. Unless you can prove you are descended from a person who was granted arms, you do not have a coat of arms. Your surname is irrelevant. However, since you appear to be in Toronto, if you can't find a coat of arms you can call your own, you can always talk to the Canadian Heraldic Authority to grant you a new one. Hope this helps. Marnanel 00:07, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure what "King Edward's Boys" means. The only use I can think of is that they may have attended a school called King Edward's Boys School or King Edward's School. When one graduates from school in the UK, one can be called a "boy" or "old boy" of that school, e.g. "King Edward's Boys" or "King Edward's Old Boys". We actually have a list of the UK schools of that name: King Edward's School which may help if you know which part of England they were from originally. --Canley 01:53, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
In the AC/DC song For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) were actual cannons used during live performances?
Think of the consequences. Vitriol 22:09, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Um you can have cannon fire with out the balls thats what they do in civil war reenactments.
On stage, I'd call that a fire risk. Vitriol 01:31, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Fireworks and pyrotechnics have been a part of concerts for decades. (see The Who#Other aspects of their performances) Yes, they're fire risks but they're still used. As far as a cannon... I doubt it's a cannon like what the OP is thinking of, the huge black cast iron barrel sort due to the immense weight and logistics of carrying it on the road. We had a cannon when I worked at a Boy Scout summer camp. It was a small (maybe 12-14" long) cannon that held a 10 gauge blank shotgun shell. We used it for emergencies (three shots and everyone assembled) and you could hear that for ~1.5 miles. I'd imagine that you could put a microphone near it and it would work for a concert. Dismas|(talk) 03:28, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, I have been to an ACDC concert and I have been at reenactments that used live canons. I can tell you that if ACDC used real cannons in an indoor concert, the result would be several magnitudes louder than what they were. The real things can make your belly go all squeamish. I imagine if they were used indoors they would cause at least some hearing damage. They probably use some kind of small specially made charge for the sound, but nothing close to the charge that would be used in a real cannon. Nowimnthing 23:39, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Has anybody here seen the movie "Gay Niggers from Outer Space"?
H, I've been working on this homework for 3 hours but I don't understand it. We have to come up with examples of words from the different parts of speech. I have a noun, a verb, a preposition, an adjective, and an adverb, but I can't find any adnouns in my dictionary. Please help me!!!! Thanx!!!! :( --216.164.192.121 23:23, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Adnouns are just adjectives used as nouns. For example, in "guide-dogs for the blind", "blind" is an adnoun because it stands in for the noun phrase "blind people". You will not see them in your dictionary because they are marked as adjectives! Just about any adjective can be an adnoun, and all adnouns are identical in form to an adjective. Marnanel 00:27, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Adnoun" needs an article, if it is indeed an accepted term among linguists, of which I remain to be convinced. It currently rates no mention in Wikipedia, except for this question and Talk:Japanese grammar/adjectives. JackofOz 01:16, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A gerund is a verbal noun, not an adjectival noun. I'd never heard the term "adnoun" before either, but I looked it up in the dictionary and this is what I discovered. Marnanel 01:53, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It is described in a few online grammar resources I found on Google.
It would be fascinating to document the process whereby (a) a linguistic feature has survived for ever without a label, (b) someone suddenly decides it needs a label and comes up with one, (c) the new term becomes quickly accepted among linguists, (d) it acquires the status of essential knowledge about a language, and (e) it gets taught in schools. JackofOz 02:26, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The system works! Anchoress 04:52, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Their label is "nouns used adjectivally" or "nouns used as adjectives". Adnoun isnt a very good word- for me it brings up adverb, which is a word that modifies a verb; an adnoun would be a word that modifies a noun- an adjective! This provides no disambiguation at all and only confuses things (is it another word for adjective? what does it mean?). Anyway I guess it has usage somewhere but it's an awful word --frothTC 06:51, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
lenny kravitz video
who is the blonde actress in the american woman video by lenny kravitz?? bet with my husband hope I'm right thanks for your help
I know you all have seen the post-mortem images of blackened and charred lungs of heavy smokers. I was wondering if ALL heavy smokers' lungs looked like that by death, or if the lungs selected to photograph are the worst ones found. Since i've never seen partially-blackened lungs, just the pristine non-smokers lungs compared to the really damaged ones. UCF Cheerleader 01:38, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
First of all, the fact that someone is a non-smoker doesn't mean their lungs are pristine. There are loads of things that can affect lungs (heavy city traffic is probably the biggest cause at the moment). But given that almost everyone has an opinion on the subject and it is even governmment policy in many (western) countries to paint as negative a picture as possible of smoking, I don't think any source can be trusted on this. Most will only give the worst pictures of smokers' lungs, while others (probably sponsored by the tobacco industry) will do the opposite. It also helps that people are to gullible. I once saw on tv how someone was showing people images such as the ones that are shown on Canadian tobacco packs, including one of totally rotten teeth. Many people went like "Ooh, is smoking that bad? Better stop smoking then." But think about it. How many people do you know who smoke? How many of them have teeth like that? Right, none (most likely). Now that is something you can check, based on personal experience. If governments are willing to deceive us in a way that is so obviously wrong, then how far will they go when we can not check the truth of it? In other words, you will probably not be able to find a reliable, objective source on this. DirkvdM 05:39, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wow, there's a simple objective answer to his question no need to muck it up with policy and black motives (by black I mean evil, not blackened as in black lungs or black as in african :s). It makes sense to me that if you regularly breathe thick black smoke it wouldn't take long at all for particulates to stick and look really nasty-- not to mention hurt you too. smoking is such a disgusting habit.. by the way dirk, the dangerous and lethal effects of smoking have been demonstrated time and time again. besides why would the government want to deceive us if they get so much tax revenue off a $100 carton of cigarettes? :) --frothTC 06:31, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What are you on about? Sure, smoking is unhealthy. So are cars. And driving a car is consequently also a filthy habit (that also happens to affect innocent bystanders much more). But that is also neither here nor there. The question was about getting some reliable pictures of smoker's lungs and I merely pointed out why those would be impossible to get by. Your reaction is rather typical of the problem, though. You seem to suggest that since 'everyone knows' that smoking is unhealthy one should stop asking questions and simply accept any bullshit the government (or, by extension, the tobacco industry) throws at us. DirkvdM 06:42, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
boxing information
I have searched on the Internet and cannot find what I am looking for and it was suggested I try this. I have a ticket dated February 25, 1961 from the Las Vegas Convention Center for a boxing match between Gene Fullmer vs. Sugar Ray Robinson and have been told there was no fight on that date. The ticket was found among my in-laws things after they passed and it looks very real and I don't know why they would have a ticket that wasn't real. Can you tell me if it was scheduled and canceled after tickets were sold? Any information would be helpful. Thanks, Romney (<email removed>)
Are you sure the date is the date of the event? Checking the internet for the fight, I came across the fight dated March 4, 1961 in Las Vegas, NV. Perhaps it was scheduled then moved back. —Mitaphanetalk 03:54, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia is the "work" you're going to "cite", so the question should have been How do I cite Wikipedia?. —Keenan Pepper 05:20, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Since it would be for the "works cited" page of their report, they may have just been making it a verb. Needlessly complicating things and using bad grammar, I'll give you that, but it made sense the way I thought of it. Dismas|(talk) 06:32, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"work citing" is ambiguous in secondary education (at least in america). I remember that teachers would always say it as if it was a single word, and never did define whether it meant you were citing work that others had done, adding citations to your work, or just typing the words "works cited" at the top of the page for a good grade. My suspection is that he was just disambiguating for the poster's benefit --frothTC 06:42, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE REFERENCE DESK
If you haven't been paying attention to Wikipedia talk:Reference desk, you may not know that a few users are close to finishing a proposal (with a bot, now in testing and very close to completion) which, if approved by consensus, will be a major change for the Reference Desk.
Please read the preamble here, and I would appreciate if you signed your name after the preamble outlining how you feel about what we are thinking.
This notice has been temporarily announced on all of the current desks. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 06:59, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's a little tricky to find. There's a lot of talk about it but the link to it is obscured a bit... User:Freshgavin/Sandbox/Reference desk There is the new layout. That help? It did me. Dismas|(talk) 09:00, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, sorry that's it. I thought it would be clearer that the preamble was on the talk page of the desk. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 11:29, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Collections
1) Difference between Sales Out standing and Account receivables ?
2) Find How many Days sales Outstanding ?
How would i cite an article on types of beer on a works cited page?
The last link in the 'toolbox' on the left of the article page is 'cite this article'. Click on it, and you will have many options to cut and paste into your paper. Natgoo 17:16, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Publishing
When was the John Lloyd Wright article published and where was it published.
The last link in the 'toolbox' on the left of the article page is 'cite this article'. Click on it, and you will have many options to cut and paste into your bibliography. Natgoo 17:18, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
WP and alien contact
Sooner or later, someone will ask this question. IF there is alien contact, what will WP do ? I've been all over the 'net, heard about alien contact on the radio, TV, especially the recent History Channel broadcast about alien contact: UFOs: When UFOs Arrive, and seen this sort of thing. Some say the people will revolt, due to their own reasons, such as religious reasons and out of revenge for being made out to be a fool as persuant to certain govt. protocol, such as the Robertson Panel's recomendations. Martial Law 19:01, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ask Sting. He claims to be an alien, albeit a legal one. Then again, our article says that Sting didn't mean himself, but Quentin Crisp and, erm, it's too late to ask him anything. --Dweller 19:08, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What will Wikipedia do!!?!?
Right. Who cares how world governments respond. Does this mean that we'll need to start a Martian Wikipedia? How will factual claims based on precognition and clairvoyance affect the policy of verfiability? These are important questions!!! Martial Law has the foresight to ask the kinds of questions that would have avoided the Y2K problem, unlike some peopleAntonrojo 14:01, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Welcome
Hello, GCAboy, and welcome, to Earth! Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:
I hope you enjoy living here and being an Earthling! Please speak your name to others using vocalization (vocal cords); this will automatically produce noice and possibly the date. If you need help, check out Earth:Questions, ask me on my talk page, or place {{helpme}} on your talk page and someone will show up shortly to answer your questions. Again, welcome to Earth! Hyenaste(tell) 19:28, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, every Wikipedia article on life and similar subjects will become immediately obsolete. (Naturally, WP will fix most of them faster than other encyclopedias, though at the same time I expect there to be a large increase of vandalism.) But really, I don't see how it would change Wikipedia any more than any other big news story. zafiroblue05 | Talk 20:30, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
One other thing, I have met people all over the US who will shoot @ UFOs, aliens, Bigfoot, that sort of thing. I've seen reports on UFO and bigfoot websites and data sites concerning this as well. They're some of the people who told me flat out that the people will revolt should there be alien contact, some, for religious reasons, some, for vengeance for being made a fool of by the different govts., here in the US, the protocol contained in the Robertson Panel, related protocol. As to how alien contact may change WP, WP may become "Wikipedia, the Intragalactic Encyclopedia". Martial Law 22:09, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
WP already has two articles on it in which people have shot at strange things, one is the Kelly -Hopkinsville UFO Incident. Another is related to the Spook light phenomena in which a Australian national shot at a bizarre light. Martial Law 22:13, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Appreciate the assisstance. Martial Law 22:20, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hope the contact is not hostile. Martial Law 22:23, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The 2nd one is the Min Min Lights in which a farmer shot at one of them. Martial Law 22:31, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Again, appreciate the assisstance. Martial Law 22:34, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I, for one, welcome our new alien overlords. User:Zoe|(talk) 01:32, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Note that Hopkinsville (aka Hoptown) is home of the Western Kentucky Hospital for the Insane. Edison 04:50, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
ARRGGHGG. TRanslation: Is that a good place to land our craft?--Light current 14:04, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Masking Water Works?
Having had to endure for the past few days a rather unpleasant odour coming from the water-works near where I get my bus to work I had a thought. Is it possible for the company to mix in something more pleasant smelling into the air/wherever appropriate and thus the odour will, whilst not ideal, at least smell more acceptable.
Or Perhaps if they just go through a whole lot of Febreeze?
Personally I never buy water works I find that it's not worth the investment. And what's this with febreze appearing in every other question now? --frothTC 20:33, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I didn't notice the common-theme with febreeze until after i'd posted, guess it must be 'in the air' (terrible I know). ny156uk 20:39, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Does nobody get my joke? Or do I have a monopoly on humor around here? --frothTC 05:39, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Or a lack of humour, I understood the monoply connection, but it wasnt really a joke... Jokes are funny... PhilcTECI 17:36, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I guess it wasn't technically a joke --frothTC 21:54, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In the modern world, a lot of effort goes into dealing with this odour... you must be from the UK! :) --Zeizmic 21:03, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"odour"? Ah so the cat is out of the bag! (I really don't know where I was going with this one) --frothTC 05:43, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Neither do I. I thought my sense of humour was weird. Yeah, humour. :) DirkvdM 08:20, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Mix in what? Some perfume? And have the whole block stink of perfume because it has to compete with the other smell (and thus have to be much stronger)? One person's perfume is another person's stench. I am usually that other person. I hate perfume. DirkvdM 08:18, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
After ejaculation pain
This has happened to me 3 times. After i ejaculate, i suddenly feel like i have an immense urge to pee. So i do so.. but even AFTER i have peed i STILL feel like i need to go soo bad. I keep going to the bathroom to go pee but nothing comes out because i already went.. so WHY does this happen. The first 2 times i thought it might have been because lotion got inside of my urethra, but now i don't know because this time didn't involve lotion. The only way i have learned to make this go away ASAP is to drink a ton of water so i can pee alot.. it's really weird.. any help???
Wait a while after you ejaculate. Jamesino 23:27, 12 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It can be hard to pee after ejaculation (or even before if you have an erection). If you're attempting to pee with a 'semi' on, you're probably not emptying your bladder fully. I don't understand it fully, but there's some bodily mechanism that closes off the 'pee tube' and opens up the 'spunk tube' when you get a boner. It can take a few minutes for things to return to normal - try sitting around a bit and waiting for everything to go flacid... --Kurt Shaped Box 00:22, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thats true. There is some sort of valve system in place. However it still sound a bit odd to me! 8-?--Light current 00:28, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, it's probably worth getting checked out. Your doctor has probably seen much more embarassing problems in his time (self-inserted rectal/urethral foreign bodies for instance). --Kurt Shaped Box 00:54, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah self inserted objects could also be painful. Reminds me of a joke....(better not) 8-)--Light current 00:58, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You have to be a girl. Getting us all worked up first and then leaving us in the cold. DirkvdM 08:33, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have had the same problem as the person asking the question. In fact, you don't need to pee, your urethra just stings a little. (Although it might be a good idea to pee once after ejaculation just to clear things out!) Wait a while and the stinging will go away. I asked a nurse about this once, and she said that this is common among men, or at least younger men, that it is stress-related, and nothing to worry about. But I am not qualified to give medical advice, and if you are seeking medical advice, you might want to ask a professional yourself.
I also recognise the problem. I haven't had it for years, but it used to happen if an ejaculation didn't go well - too forced or distracted. Relax and if an ejaculation doesn't seem to happen accept that and stop. Next time will probably be better because the less you ejaculate the better are the times when you do and consequently you won't have the problem. And don't bother seeing a doctor if this solution works (sorry, I had to say that for some counterbalance, if only once. Three medical disclaimers so far - give it a rest). Of course I'm no doctor, but you'd be a blithering idiot if you assumed I were, and I don't wish to assume you are a blithering idiot. (just in case you thought there was an insult in there somwhere :) ). DirkvdM 08:33, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Im interested to know how an ejaculation does not go well. Do you mean it goes up the wall or something?--Light current 13:55, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Which part of "too forced or distracted" was unclear then? Black Carrot 16:16, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How can those 2 words apply to this act? If youre forcing it, your doing it wrong. Also being ditracted by your mother calling you for tea means you should put it away and continue later.--Light current 17:28, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's what I said. (except for the 'putting it away' bit - makes me wonder about your anatomy :) ). DirkvdM 07:24, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Never had one that just sort of 'came out' and felt 'sorta okay-ish'? --Kurt Shaped Box 00:26, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 13
TV commercial credits
Does anyone know any source for finding specific data on actors, directors, etc. for television commercials?--Fuhghettaboutit 00:45, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for the effort. I am quite the Google king myself and have found bubkis for specific actor credits for many nationally broadcast commercials. Databases such as the one you posted are not generally helpful. There must be at least a source that those in the industry use. I'm not necessarily looking for an online source. An industry book I could send away for would fit the bill.--Fuhghettaboutit 01:15, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The thing is (this was my original thought), I don't think they'd bother. Unlike movie directories, there would be no economic benefit to justify the work. I think the best approximation would be that talent agencies probably keep records of all the commercials their representees (is that a word?) participate in, and PR agencies probably do the same for their clients. Networks might also keep catalogues, but I doubt they'd publish them. But, I may be totally wrong. :-) Anchoress 01:24, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe. However, think about it from an actor's perspective. Being able to cite your previous work is everything, so they'd likely want such memorialization. Also I have noticed a number of actors who appear in multiple commercials but whom I have seen nowhere else. Plus, there's huge money in commercials and actors who specialize in it. I bet it exists (but both of us are flailing in the dark). Hopefully and insider will come along and we'll both get an answer:-).--Fuhghettaboutit 02:16, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Lactic Acid Pain
I don't really understand the article on Lactic Acid where it says where the muscle pain comes from. The article states that lactic acid is not directly responsible for the pain in your muscle and states other reasons. I didn't really follow the reasons, so could someone break it down for me in simple step-by-steps on why lactic acid is related to muslce pain in sprinting and what really causes the pain? Thanks a lot. --Jamesino 00:48, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Most embarassing way to die?
What do you reckon, guys? What would be *the* number 1 most emarassing circumstance for your loved ones to find your dead corpse in? Death by autoerotic asphyxiation? Death during a homosexual act when they thought you were straight? Death from pushing too hard on the toilet? Brain haemorrhage during masturbation? Opinions? --Kurt Shaped Box 01:01, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It would never happen to me personally, but being found dead with one's genitals attached to the hind end of a sheep would be pretty high up in my estimation. Electrocution due to trying to stimulate one's prostate with a cattle prod would also figure prominently. Anchoress 01:04, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That raises a very interesting question: How many peoples prostates have you tried to stimulate using a cattle prod? BTW I thought all corpses were dead! --Light current 01:11, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think Stephen Milligan died in one of the worst ways imaginable for a British Conservative party MP... (it's just hard to remember that he had a promising political career in a party just kicking off a 'Back to basics' drive when you know that he was found by his secretary, hanging from electrical flex, wearing only suspenders, with an orange segment in his mouth...) Although horse guy might be pushing him for a winner...--Mnemeson 01:14, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For the Americans reading this..."suspenders" in Britain means a garter belt. A frilly garter belt, in this case. (I understood he was also wearing pink satin knickers (panties for the Americans)). Charlene.fic 01:26, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I dont understand the orange segment bit! Any explanation?--Light current 01:18, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A dildo ? StuRat 01:28, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't think that anyone else did either. --Kurt Shaped Box 01:24, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I thought they found him with a whole satsuma in his mouth? --Kurt Shaped Box 01:24, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
From memory, the point of the orange segment is that it was a popular method for self administring amyl nitrite at the time. I'm not exactly sure how - I thought the idea was that you buy a small glass phial of amyl nitrite from your local sex shop, wrap the phial in some orange rind, and once all your other preparations are complete (you might not have to go as far as Stephen Milligan), bite down on the orange rind to break the phial and release the poppers. However, on checking some online sources, an alternative might be to inject a segment of orange with the amyl nitrite then chew the orange to release the vapours when ready. -- Solipsist 13:40, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What about replicating a Darwin Award winner? I could cope with my relatives thinking I was some kind of perv; but I'd really prefer not to have my heirs convinced I was dumb. --Robert Merkel 01:28, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wasn't there a woman that ended up with a womb full of mud shrimp after using a lobster to masturbate with? Then she died of an infection or something? I can't remember her name now but theres probably an article on her.
I was trying to post that when I got an edit conflict. You ever notice how 90% of urban legends about masturbation are about horrors that happen to women when they do so? Gee, I wonder why... --Charlene.fic 01:44, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Probably because most of the funny/embarassing stories about guys who have accidents whilst masturbating are true. :) --Kurt Shaped Box 01:48, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Per the article Nelson Rockefeller die in the saddle, so to speak, and it took a couple of hours to get him dressed before medical personnel were summoned? Not really that embarrasing. I expect that many em-bare-ass-ing demises are covered up.Edison 04:57, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I've heard that Stalin died because when he was in agony, no-one dared touch him for fear fo doing something wrong. This has happened to quite a few other autoritatian leaders, including some Roman emperors, I believe. DirkvdM 08:44, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Based on the above examples, I think Im going to go for Stephen Milligan. I mean thats pretty extreme in lots of directions at once. I can only think of one thing that could make it worse. And no, Im not going to say what (but it could involve a donkey or horse). 8-)--Light current 14:00, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For my grandmother, it would have been to die with a house that was less than pristine.Edison 14:29, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
or die in a car accident with dirty underwear... --Zeizmic 15:18, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ah that's the one that's most embarassing for your mother! People may think she never washed 'em! 8-)--Light current 15:23, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This one didn't make the papers, but I'd rank it up there: about ten or twelve years ago I was Rollerblading in Central Park one weekend when an ambulance and some other emergency personnel came in. This was more than the usual someone-broke-his-leg fuss so I got the skinny on the situation. Down at the southern end of the park some horse carriages offer romantic rides, usually to out-of-town tourists. Now those romantic horses produce some rather unromantic waste. This produces an organic obstacle course of sorts for everyone else who traverses the same pavement. Given that thousands of people worked out in the park, I suppose it was only a matter of time until someone slid on the stuff, hit his head against a curb, and died of the head injury. Of course you could just say this whole story is a pile of manure since I don't have a source to prove it. Durova 19:01, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Gutting, somebody who actually slipped in shit and died. PhilcTECI 19:28, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well thats not embarassing at all for his relatives etc. It wasnt his fault. Surely someone should only be critisiced for some thing they consciously intend to do or do do (no pun)--Light current 10:46, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Mining claims
What is the difference between a patented mining claim and an unpatented one?
According to this [29] you have to file a mining claim in order to eventually get a patent (applies to the US Wild wild west). I take it to mean you can pan gold on a standard claim, but if you really want to destroy all the land, you need a patent. --Zeizmic 17:00, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Miss Washington Pic
Hello, I am the current Miss Washington USA, and I was wondering how I can change my picture on this site to a more updated one?
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Tiffany Doorn
Miss Washington USA 2006
We'd all be happy to do it for you! Although Washington is a bit far for me to go with my camera ... ;) --Zeizmic 14:26, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
High quality video website?
I am looking for a website where serious people upload videos they've created. I hope to find a site much more sophisticated than YouTube. Does anyone know of such a site? Thanks for ideas. --70.231.133.238 04:53, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you're at all interested in videos created within video-game settings, check out machinima.com. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 06:56, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You're going to have to be a little more specific than "serious people" and "sophisticated". What kind of content are you looking for? Sports? Video games? Indie Films? Politics? youTube has a vast amount of content out there, some that might appeal to you, other stuff that might not(I'm guessing kids lip-syncing pop songs isn't your thing). —Mitaphanetalk 09:28, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, there are some good stuff at YouTube (as long as the movie isn't longer than a few minutes) like old music videos and cartoons. You could try a search engine for interesting topics... 惑乱 分からん 11:16, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your responses. I'll go back and explore youTube a little more, but what I'm looking for is a site where people "workshop" their videos with other people in a respectful and collegial way. The content is not so important to me, but documentaries or indie shorts ARE probably more appealing than lip-synching music videos. Thankx again.
How to post our question into mediawiki site
Hello,
Any one please tell me how to post a question in midiaweki site.
Thank You,
Your's Friend
Anyone (including non-registered users) can post questions on talk pages within the help section of the community portal. First click on the button at the top if you are a user, system administrator, or developer. freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ 06:45, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Are There Bachelor Degrees In Landscape Architecture?
You already asked this if I remember correctly. I posted images of a thermometer and said something along the lines of "there are almost 100 degrees on this landscape" edit: Ah found it. Nice reply dirk I never saw that :D --frothTC 20:28, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Distribution Centers
How would you select a location to build a distribution center?
Find out where the geographical center of your customer base is, put up a building or lease one. Not a good answer for your essay question since you'd probably want something longer but I'm sure you can find more to back it up in your text book. Dismas|(talk) 09:39, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Seems like you would want to consider the lowest overall cost. Depending on the goods, you might want to have rail access. You must distribute the goods, so factor in putting it near the location from wich distribution costs will be lowest, minimizing distance to the retail locations. But the cost of the land is a variable to consider, so maybe put it in a location which is not at a premium. You have to have workers available who will work tirelessly at low pay and not organize to demand high pay. Edison 14:35, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Somewhat depends on how your product line is distributed. If quick delivery is important, then you might want to locate near an air hub of one of the major logistics companies. As Edison said, if your product will be delivered by rail, then you would want to choose a centrally located rail hub that would minimize your transport costs. If your product will be delivered by truck, which is probably the case for most products these days, then you want a central location close to a major highway. If your product is imported from overseas or exported overseas by ship, then locating close to a major port would make sense. In any case, you want relatively cheap land, so a declining industrial district might be sensible, particularly if it is vacant or if you can reuse the existing buildings. Marco polo 17:46, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
historical item
Hello i just do not know where to start i find myself suddenly in possesion of an unusual item and do not know how or where would be best to have it identified/explained etc .
It is or appears to be a walking cane spindle like with a whole through at top presumably for a strap then various carvins such as the german nazi symboland ss also a tank skull & cross bones also the word Friesenwall 1944 .Please can anyone enlighten me or perhaps point me in the right direction i would be very grateful, Thank you for your time and trouble.
Kind Regards
Andrew
There's nothing about sticks in the panzer article. And nothing to suggest that others in WW2 Germany might not have had sticks. There seem to be abunch of people interested in nazi memorabilia, doubtless ranging from auction/clearance houses, to right wing idiots. I'd take some photos of it & start talking to them. (Actually, I'd probably toss it into my next bonfire, but there you go.) --Tagishsimon(talk)
Whats that thing on the table in front of the officer? looks like the top of a stick to me! 8-)--Light current 13:51, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You must have a better monitor than me. or something. --Tagishsimon(talk)
Yeah if you load photo into a viewing program and zoom in you can see that the white thing resembles a cylindrical ribbed object (probably carved ivory) like the handle of an umbrella or stick. THere also seems to be a strap attached to the top, but its very difficult to be sure about that.--Light current 17:21, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What does this mean? That you have a serious cold? Cursa 14:34, 13 October 2006 (UTC) asap[reply]
That you have a respiratory tract illness. Could be a cold or flu. Could be bronchitis (sp). Could be all sorts of other things. Could be air pollution or the inhalation of particulate matter. Always check with a Doctor if you have concerns, never rely on the interweb. --Tagishsimon(talk)
Willy on Wheels
Who was this guy and what did he do. I know he was notorious, but I can't find any records of things he has done. THL 14:40, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, that explains why there are no records. Obviously the community feels that it was necessary to remove almost all records, but that seems really outrageous to me, especially making the page histories available to Sysops only. Then again, I wasn't here when he was around, so who am I to express an opinion. THL 07:12, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think that is so that no one can recreate the pages, but I may be wrong.--Light current 10:32, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Credit Card Offers
I understand you can send letters to a group of organizations (US), and the credit card offers will stop. (Experian Target Marketing, Equifax Options, Trans Union Corporation, I believe.) What, exactly, are you supposed to send them? Should it just be a piece of paper saying "Stop sending stuff"? Should I include both my mailing addresses? Do I need to give them my name, social security number, some kind of proof I am who I say I am... What? Black Carrot 16:10, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What you would want first, is concrete proof that any of this actually works. --Zeizmic 17:02, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In a few months you will already know if it works? How many of those things do you get? I suppose this is a US thing. I once saw in a film that if someone gets hold of such a credit card they can start using it *there was some trick involved) and the addressee gets billed even though they never did anything. Is this true? DirkvdM 07:34, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I get several of those offers a week. No big deal, just work for the shredder. The addressee can get pretty badly messed up via identity theft somehow, is my guess. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 08:25, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Usually the method of validation is to call them from your home phone and they'll check the incoming call number against the number they have on file for your address. So I guess you could break into their home and call, then take the card, or maybe a skilled phreaker could do it --frothTC 19:18, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, yes, I think I recall now that in the film they rewired the phone lines or something. But this is ridiculous. If a company thinks up a spamming scheme that goes wrong, then how can they expect the person they spammed to pay for it? How can this be legally possible? DirkvdM 06:31, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
When you make the call you agree to their terms of service (ie you'll be charged for purchases). Yeah, they make it as easy as possible to get into crushing debt --frothTC 19:43, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Problems trying to goatse
I've been trying to goatse for about a month now and am considerably more able now than before; however, I am beginning to experience pain during defecation. Any ideas on what it is?
P.S. I will go to a doctor, but I still would like some advice.
You're probably trying to do too much too soon. Rome wasn't built in a day - the Goatse Man probably took years to work his way up to that diameter. --Kurt Shaped Box 18:51, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Btw, to prevent such accidents to happen in the future, is there a manual at Wikibooks? @_@ 惑乱 分からん 19:02, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For the love of God why? --frothTC 19:28, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Behind every legend there is a thousand followers. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 19:39, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How much money will you have if each living person in the world gives you ONE unit of his/her own currency (dollar, euro, pound, yen, RMB, ruble, won, ...) -- Toytoy 19:42, 13 October 2006 (UTC
This is actually not as hard as it looks. Take a population estimate from a country and insert it on http://www.xe.com (my favorite) and select the country and to change it into your currency. Do this with every country (which may take a while), and then add. This is your answer. Reywas92Talk 19:55, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Several hundred million from america alone. Latin america and japan would probably add up to like a thousand dollars USD. EU states' money is worth a lot but I don't think they have as much population as america. not sure about china and india's currency exchange --frothTC 20:26, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Derail - the population of the EU is half as large again as that of the US - you would get the most money from the EU as they have the 3rd largest population and the strongest currencies (Euro and GBP). Natgoo 08:14, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What do you mean with "derail", "half as large" and "3rd lardest population"? Also, you might lose some of the money trying to find a good way to get rid of your millions of North Korean Won. 惑乱 分からん 12:26, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
'Derail ' indicates a tangent - it's a sort of a shorthand for apologising for posting something somewhat off-topic (derailing the thread). 'Half as large again' means 1.5 times as large, as in the population of the EU (~450m) is 1.5 times that of the US (~300m). Taken as a whole (which is appropriate in this context), the EU is the world's third most populous geo-socio-political entity (after China and India). Natgoo 16:05, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
OK, I didn't know about derail, but still wonder whether "half as large again" really is correct English. It sounds rather weird to me... =S 惑乱 分からん 17:10, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Chess - must say check?
I can't seem to find it anywhere, is a chess player required to say check when he moves into the position? Thanks! Reywas92Talk 19:42, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No they don't. They actually say the opposite. Anchoress 20:29, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Go easy on the newbie! I was assuming that he wasn't playing professionally! AMP'd 22:00, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Are you the newbie? Because I was replying to you. The OP asked if it's required to say check, and the article you linked to says no, it isn't. Anchoress 22:05, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, I am, and that was what I got out of the article on chess. Sorry.AMP'd 22:07, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
LOL How is it being hard on you to point out that the article you linked to doesn't say what you indicated? I'm sorry if I've seemed harsh or if you took offence, but I really don't understand. Anchoress 22:13, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I quote from the linked article "In informal games, it is customary to announce check when making a move that puts the opponent's king in check. However, in formal competitions this is not only unnecessary but may be considered annoying or distracting." -- SGBailey 22:39, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Exactly. In other words, it is not required to say 'check'. Anchoress 22:49, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Glad we've established what I said two hours ago --frothTC 19:12, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Considering his asking about Chess rules on wikipedia id say its fairly certain his not in any formal competition, and therefore it would be "customary to say check". Joneleth 00:44, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, but look at his question. He actually italicised required. That's what he's asking. Is it required. Anchoress 02:44, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Sidenote: speed chess (5 minutes or so each) is often played with the rule that moving the king into an attacked position isn't illegal. Nor is it required to say 'check'. So you can actually take the opponent's king. But if you fail to do so, they can then move the king out of harm's way. All this because the warnings would take too much time for speed chess (which happens to be my favourite version of the game). DirkvdM 07:39, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In formal tournament chess, saying "check" is not required. In a friendly "skittles" game, the rule is whatever the two players say it is (the default being that there is no such requirement). Saying "check" (and "guarde" when the Queen is attacked) went out of fashion with the advent of the chess clock in the late 19th century. B00P 09:42, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Quotation mark usage
I am in an argument with my teacher about this. Does an individual letter in writing or a list need quotation mark around it?
I say: . . . . My teacher says:
Lunch B . . . .Lunch "B" . .(it is specifying one of the different lunch times at my school)
I earned an A on the test. . . . I earned an "A" on the test.
It says nothing about it on the article (Quotation mark), leading me to probably be right. Which is correct? Please be definite. Thanks! Reywas92Talk 19:42, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This is a perfect question for the language desk :) But I think you can do it either way. --frothTC 20:20, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Your teacher is wrong. You only need the quotation marks if you are discussing the letter as a letter. In the examples you gave, you are not actually discussing the letter itself. If teachers were all that intelligent, they would have better jobs. --Nelson Ricardo 01:19, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There is an implication that something unnecessarily placed in quotes is questionable. That's why it is funny to see a menu that says "Enjoy our 'fresh' salads."Edison 22:26, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Tom Monagahan
Hi,
Can you please tell me how I can reach Tom Monaghan (ie)e mail address or any other address, thank you for your help on this matter.
Kind Regards
Diarmuid Scullin
Who's Tom Monagahan? We don't seem to have an article on him and you don't give us any clues as to where he lives/works/etc. So the best I could offer is trying the phone book. Dismas|(talk) 21:59, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Didn't you ever see that episode? :) The whole arthur gang was singing about how having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card. One of the lines in the song is about the dewey decimal system. Throughout the episode D.W. demands to know who's dewey?!! A bit esoteric I guess. --frothTC 19:14, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How many countries are poor and consistently getting poorer?
The heading is my question.
Basically most countries in Africa. --69.51.87.130 20:56, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Most are getting richer. PhilcTECI 22:07, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Globalization is pretty much making all poor countries richer with the exception of various african countries because of their continious state of war between the local tribes. Joneleth 00:41, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Depends very much how you define 'poor'. Do you measure GDP or something more realistic like the Human Development Index? But those are about the averages. If you focus on just the poor people in a country, Human Poverty Index makes more sense (alas the article only shows rich countries). And at what level would you put 'poor'? I'm fairly sure I once saw a map on Wikipedia that answered your question, but I can't find it right now. But very roughly speaking 'most of Africa' just about covers it. DirkvdM 07:52, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Depends very much how you define "poor". If you compare GDP or GNP, you would not go much further than the obvious.
For example, I think people in the U.S. are getting poorer and poorer despite of the obvious. Let's see, if you see mass transportation as important as clean water supply, many U.S. towns and even cities are without a usable mass transportation service. You may drive a car. You may buy each family member a f**king huge SUV or a military surplus M-1 main tank. You may also provide old and handicapped people free buses. These things cannot replace a mass transportation system that works.
Many people in the U.S. are also unable to afford medical care, because of high wages for medical workers and lack of insurance coverage. Many could not afford a plumber. You can import cheap DVD players manufactured in China. You can import butchers from Mexico. But how do you import all your bus drivers, garbage collectors, chefs, florists, dentists ... from India, Yugoslavia, Gabon, Albania, ... ?
Many children in the U.S. are unable to receive enough parental care. Either their parents are spending countless hours driving to and from work, or their parents are watching TV, or all of them are watching TV. Families could not afford to go to a show with live performers. These kids may also receive no wholesome education other than a cheap calculator that replaced basic math training.
A great majority in the U.S. cannot afford wholesome food. Either they have too much soda or they have to eat canned and frozen food. Many do not buy beef or pork and cook at home. Most do not even go to a restaurant with a chef who really cooks. Instead, they have miserable fast food. They eat too little greens and too much fried potato and fat.
In many places, personal safety and privacy are also becoming more difficult to obtain. In many U.S. cities and towns, jobs are more difficult to find nowadays because local business owners are closing their doors. People would drive to a far away Wal*Mart rather than walk to the main street to buy their food. As a result, more people are jobless and hopeless than ever. They may not survive a winter without strong U.S. dollar, cheap oil and dirt cheap importation from the 3rd world.
Now tell me how many countries are getting poorer and poorer because they follow the footsteps of the U.S.? -- Toytoy 12:28, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you define poverty based on a fixed set of reasonable criteria, we are getting to be poorer and poorer. For example, you may afford to watch 1000 hours of programs on TV and 50 computer graphics SciFi movies in theaters a year, but how many quality live performance shows can you see?
You may have a zillion downloaded MP3 songs in your hard disk. Can you play an instrument such as a flute like a poor farm kid in India?
If you change the items in your basket of goods, you may find yourselves getting richer and richer. But otherwise, you are getting poorer and poorer. For example: in the 19th century, you could walk to the shops and talk with the person behind the counter. Today, you can drive to a Wal*Mart and ... whatever. You get machines and machines but you lose yourself and friends. -- Toytoy 12:47, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
somebody's jealous of america :) --frothTC 18:50, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And obviously it's not Toytoy. DirkvdM 06:39, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm pretty sure that I saw in the Economist and table which showed that almost everywhere in the world had increased its wealth. Disparity of wealth across a nation, however, will lead some to quesion wealth based purely on a whole naiton. If by poor you mean little possessions then there may be more poor than you think, if by poor you mean few of the vital requirements for life (food/water) then fewer than realised. Whilst it is extremely sad that some will have more than others, envy shouldn't be displayed at those more fortunate. A A Gill said when he visited Africa that the thing that scared him most was the laughing and flirting, and fun that children had. I believe that across the world almost everybody has benefited from global trade but many will disagree - unfortunately wikipedia doesn't have a 'debat forum' i know of so here's not really a place to detail why. In short depending on the timescales you compare (poorer than 50 years ago?) and the definition of poor, you will get different results ny156uk 09:34, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Colonization
What are the most likely candidates(places) for future colonization? --18.85.18.23 20:42, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
On Earth or elsewhere? As far as somewhere on the Earth, basically every landmass large enough to sustain a population of people already has a population of people there. As far as off world goes, we may see colonization of the Moon or Mars within the next ~50 years but that's about it for the near future. Dismas|(talk) 21:56, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The presence of a population has never been a disincentive for colonization. --LambiamTalk 00:10, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Due to global warming, areas now covered by glaciers, like northern Canada, Greenland, and Antarctica, may become habitable in the future. StuRat 00:02, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Iraq? (Oops, that's present, not future.) DirkvdM 07:55, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You'll not have much luck in colonising melted glaciers in Canada as only 2% or 200,000 sq km in the whole country. What might be more likly is that if global warming continues then more people might be tempted to move to areas that currently support only a marginal number of people. However, that would probably be a gradual mirgration north through the provinces rather than a sudden move to Nunavut/NWT/Yukon/Alaska. CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 16:09, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If global warming gets worse and the oceans recede, you've got a whole new waterfront to expand onto. --frothTC 19:07, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You've got that topsy turvy. Global warming will cause sealevels to rise and potentially inundate most of the Netherlands, Florida, Bangladesh and the Seychelles, to name just a few of the worst struck places. But a much bigger problem here is that all over the world most people live in narrow strips very close to the sea, preferable in the more fertile lowlying areas, exactly the places that would get flooded. So colonisation of other areas (with less sustainability) will become a necessity. DirkvdM 06:41, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Health Symbols
The symbol for low carbohydrates is a diamond with a ckeck in the middle, the symbol for low fat is a triangle with a check in the middle. What is the symbol for low calorie?
I have never seen these symbols, and Google isn't very friendly today. Perhaps this is only on the box you are looking at?AMP'd 01:53, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, that is low cholesterol. I don't think low calorie has a symbol, but a pentagon with a check in the middle would look awesome. THL 05:01, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Oh, I didn't know that lol. :-) Anchoress 05:20, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The Goatse Man
Does anyone know if the Goatse Man ever made any money from his online fame and unusual talents? I'm guessing that there'd be a niche market for 'Goatse' branded videos, for one thing - there would be a heck of a lot of people who'd buy Goatse T-shirts too (I know I would). --Kurt Shaped Box 20:49, 13 October 2006 (UTC) [reply]
What? And make a really big asshole of yourself? 8-)--Light current 21:54, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That would be the general idea. :) There has been a fair bit of unofficial Goatse merchandise over the years - but why would I want to help someone who takes credit for someone else's work get rich? --Kurt Shaped Box 22:24, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Simplified baseball rules
I put a couple of questions on Talk:Simplified baseball rules back in June. Whilst the article is good, those questions haven't had answers added either in talk or the main article. Could someone answer them (either here or on the talk page or even the article page). If they are clear enough I'll add them into the article. Cheers. -- SGBailey 22:32, 13 October 2006 (UTC) (PS, I presume "Sport" counts as micsellaneous - I was surprised that it wasn't explicitly listed on the reference desk starter page.)[reply]
Actually, sports are considered to be a subset of humanities. StuRat 23:45, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What part of "History, art, politics, literature, religion, philosophy, law, music, fashion, culture, and society" includes sport? -- SGBailey 21:24, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The article describes both of those situations. Specifically the questions were: 1. When is a "Strike-out"? Is it after 3 failed attemnpts to hit the pitched ball? 2. "Ground-out" Is this hitting the ball whilst on the ground or hitting it in the air but so that it strikes the ground after being hit?
1. A strike out occurs as the result of getting three strikes. A strike is either a complete miss of the ball or hitting the ball out-of-bounds (a foul ball). Except that a foul ball cannot be the third strike. (A foul ball ball after two strikes is simply not counted for anything) 2. The batter cannot hit the ball while it is on the ground (nor would he try as it is out of the strike zone) (also I don't think that the ball can hit the ground before reaching the batter even if it returns to the strike zone.) A ground out specifically means that the hit ball lands in fair territory, a fielder then catches it either off the ground or in the air off the bounce/s and throws it to the first baseman before the runner reaches the base. Neither of those is exactly a simple explanation, though, for the article. Rmhermen 07:04, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The are some minor exceptions to Point 1.
A foul ball does count as a third strike if the ball was bunted.
A foul ball also counts as a third strike if the pitch was merely brushed by the bat without altering the trajectory greatly (a "foul tip") and the catcher catches it as if it weren't touched at all.
It should be noted that "hitting the ball out-of-bounds (a foul ball)" if caught by a defensive player before it hits the ground, is an out. B00P 09:57, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thnaks all - that clears up the strikeout well for me. I remain confused about ground out - which doesn't seem to be mentioned in the main baseball article. It would appear that "hitting the ball whilst it is on the ground" is not what is meant by ground-out. So I assume it is the latter when the ball lands or bounces and is picked up from the ground or caught after the bounce and thrown to first base in time. If you can confirm that I'll bung something into the artcile about it. -- SGBailey 21:21, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Exactly. -- Mwalcoff 23:25, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The Green Green Grass (BBC 1)
Hi, first of all I apologise if this is the wrong place to ask this. If anybody knows who the actress was who played the French Exchange student in tonights episode then I'd be greatful. I've already google and had a look-a-round on here but to no avail. Thanks.
Actually, TV is considered to be a subset of humanities. StuRat 23:46, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Have you checked the links at the bottom of the Green Green Grass article? IMDb is also a good place to look. Anchoress 23:50, 13 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I hate to argue with Anchoress again already, but none of those external links told me anything about this exchange student, who apparently only appeared at the end of the episode...AMP'd 00:09, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I didn't say they would have the info, I just asked if s/he'd checked them. It's useful to know if s/he checked them, because undoubtedly other people will wonder. And I didn't know we were arguing before. Anchoress 02:27, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
According to this page, Beatriz Romilly is the actress who played the French exchange student.LondonSE16 09:23, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks alot :) Melmer 15:13, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 14
HOFFSTEDE STUDY
What is "Hoffstede Study"? What is its importance in International Business?
It is to do with national culture. See Geert Hofstede. BenC7 07:17, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
news headlines in present continuous
why news headlines are written in present continous form instead of past tense?
I think it's because news stories are often still happening. There are commonly headlines saying things like "Local Woman Wins First Prize in Pumpkin Growing Contest" stating things that have already happened. Ask Anchoress for her opinion.AMP'd 03:54, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
From what I've seen, Spanish language newspapers use past tense in their headlines. User:Zoe|(talk) 04:30, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This seems to be largely an English-speaking phenomena. I haven't seen any Scandinavian newspapers use such headlines. Indeed, I've come to hate short, attention-begging headlines that drag things out of context. But that's O/T. :) 81.93.102.3 11:40, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In English-language headlines I see mainly the present simple: The New York Times: "U.S. Hits Obstacle" • "Leader of a Georgia Mosque Pleads Guilty"; The Times: "Army throws weight behind chief" • "Ministers say general was out of order". Looking at today's headlines of the German newspaper Die Welt, I see likewise mainly the present indicative for things that already happened: USA messen Radioaktivität • Aachen genießt den Moment • Agenten führen Mädchen aus Schulunterricht ab. In Le Monde, on the contrary, I find mainly (but not exclusively) the perfect tense. Apparently there is no simple rule like English versus the rest or Germanic versus Latin. --LambiamTalk 12:42, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I suspect it's done intentionally to make the news seem more current. That is, people would rather know what is happening now that what has happened in the past. BTW, this question belongs on the Language Ref Desk. StuRat 16:52, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Just a nit: They don't ordinarily use the present continuous, aka present progressive, tense, but just the plain old present tense. The present continuous would be where the verbs end in "ing". --Trovatore 16:58, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What's the Average Weight?
hey I was just wondering what would be the average weight for someone in the U.S. about 5'6"-5'7"?
According to this CDC study, the average body mass index for males 20 years and older for 1999–2002 was 27.8, which for a height of 5'6" corresponds to 172 pounds. —Keenan Pepper 07:31, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I am only European, and have problems with the unit lbs, but.... isn't that very fat? 81.93.102.3 11:37, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
BMIs over 25 are considered overweight, so yes 27.8 is. At 30, they are considered 'obese'. --Mnemeson 13:08, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think thats just under 80Kg, which for someone 5'6" is rather overweight. That would be a suitable mass for someone around 6' possibly taller. Englishnerd 13:10, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What is the Meaning of Life?
What is the meaning of life? THL 07:13, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Meaning of life. I believe in the view that we're just around because we havn't figured out a way to destroy ourselves yet. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 07:17, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Some great philosopher once opined that it is: "Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations" and also, that people aren't wearing enough hats.--Fuhghettaboutit 08:29, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And who told you that it has a meaning? B00P 10:01, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I have to wonder about the seriousness of questions like this. But I will (naively?) assume that there is some degree of actual desire to know behind it. If you ask me the meaning/purpose of life is to live in relationship with God. Not God as defined by an individual ("I think God is like this"), but God as he has revealed himself through the Bible. BenC7 10:30, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
THats oK if he exists. But if not...?--Light current 10:40, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And if It exists, how do we know It revealed Itself through the Bible, and not through the works of H. P. Lovecraft? As to the original question: I'd say, the meaning of your life is what you choose it to be. So choose well. --LambiamTalk 12:15, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Is there anything to make you think that God has revealed himself through said person's books? Has he made numerous prophecies which have subsequently been fulfulled literally and accurately? Has he performed miracles? Has his work changed billions of people's lives significantly? In fact, what book has ever done this, besides the Bible? BenC7 01:17, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Obvious answer. 42! Englishnerd 13:08, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well if it takes 7.5 million years for the computer to come up with 42... and we are probably about 7.5 million years away from building a computer of that magnitude... i would say you have to come back and ask that question in 15 million years. Good Luck in your quest! Croat CanuckGo Leafs Go 17:51, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Man doesn't have much of a purpose unless you bring religion into the mix. Many many philosophers (theistic and atheistic alike) have commented that life is pretty bleak without a god, though of course it takes some wading through philosophical red tape (more like red concrete thanks to voltaire and nietzsche) to come to such a position --frothTC 18:48, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Notice how the previous post shifts the point of the question in three ways. (1) It goes from "meaning" to "purpose." The latter implies a goal, while the former does not. (2) "Man" is being substituted for "Life." Obviously written by a believer that "Man is the measure of all things." (3) Nobody asked whether things might be "bleak." Our Poster, however, constructs his reality so that he gets his desired outcome, and answers on that basis.
Notice how the parent post tries to look smart and intelligent while belittling the previous poster. His arguments have no merit. I will demonstrate why in three ways: (1) "What is the meaning of life" is often asked in the context of purpose. Also "meaning" is a concept very closely tied to "purpose". Meaning is often described in terms of purpose. For example "What is the meaning of spatula?" "Spatula is a word representing an object that flips eggs and pancakes". Asking what is literally the meaning of life (in a biological concept for example) is a more specialized meaning.. not to mention that this is historically an attractive place to post mystifying questions. The biological definition of life isn't considered nearly as mystifying as the purpose of life and reality. In other words, almost every time someone asks "what is the meaning of life" they really mean "describe the cosmology of the universe" though they might know that exact term. (2) I wasn't necessarily answering his question; rather I was providing follow up information that was related to the topic. Look around on this page; you'll see it's a common practice, especially with more general or controversial questions. (3) When Protagoras wrote that "man is a measure of all things," he was saying that man is ultimately the only thing in the world of value. How can you say that I obviously believe that when I just said that in fact man has little value or purpose without a god to serve? Our good Flamer therefore constructs his reality so that he gets his desired outcome, and replies on that basis. I wish I could end this with something funny but I can't think of anything that's not directly insulting... --frothTC 04:32, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Englishnerd has, of course, come up with the most viable answer. But for you, 41.95.
"Many many philosophers (theistic and atheistic alike) have commented that life is pretty bleak" Yeah. It has been said that life is like a restaurant where every day you have to eat a chicken sandwich for lunch. But some days it is chicken salad, and other days it is chicken shit, and you have to eat it all the same. Then you get old, then you die. Or there is a God, and he likes you, and you get pie in the sky, bye and bye, and live happily ever after. Cheers.Edison 05:57, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why does religion have to wreck everything? This was a joke, and I was hoping to get some BS answers that I could have a good laugh about, but what do I find when I return, a theological debate. The best answer I got was 41.95. Dang it religion, wasn't causing almost every war in human history enough? I'm very depressed now, I'm going to go and slit my wrists. THL 07:05, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A-ha, I was right! "not to mention that this is historically an attractive place to post mystifying questions [that they don't really want an answer to]" By the way if you're God how can you kill yourself? --frothTC 17:50, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I didn't die. I was just so depressed that I inflicted pain on myself. Also remember when I posted this comment I still had amnesia from Darwin's chair shot. That hurt, he was way stronger than he looked. THL 19:49, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
a band with no original members
I'm scearching the answer to the following question:
which band had already no original members, when releasing the first album?
that means that no original member of the band participated in the creation of the first album, they all left before the releasing, but the name of the band stayed the same.
i would appreciate any help
thank you in advance
kat
riddle
1.what has to be false to be true?
2.what is the capability of a nuke?whats all the hype bout n.korea having them.can it really destroy the world?how?
I'm not sure if you're asking a standard riddle with a set answer, but for a lie to indeed be a lie it must be false for it to be true that it's a lie. Something like that?. As for the second, I suggest reading the articles Nuclear weapon, Nuclear warfare, Nuclear winter, etc. In short though, a nuclear bomb can have a capacity of 50 megatons, meaning that the explosion is equivalent to 50 million tons of TNT exploding and yes, enough nuclear bombs exploding can destroy the world. As for North Korea, please see 2006 North Korean nuclear test.--Fuhghettaboutit 11:24, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
One nuke won't destroy the world, but it could do pretty serious damage to a city: Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only cities ever to be attacked by nuclear bomb, were almost completely flattened by the blast, although isolated buildings did survive, and those bombs (Little Boy and Fat Man) were tiny by today's standards (but not by North Korean standards; the DPRK bomb was ~ 1 kiloton, which is 1/20 of the Fat Man bomb). Laïka 13:57, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That would be a very high-yield weapon.. are you sure about that? Think of a nuke as an unusually powerful bomb- they don't have any strange power to "destroy the world" but while a normal bomb might destroy a building, a nuke could destroy much of a city. Also there's nuclear fallout, which inhibits rebuilding and may affect surrounding areas --frothTC 19:54, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The center of the Greater Los Angeles is more than 100km from any point on the border of the area. The most powerful nuke the US has ever detonated is Castle Bravo, a 15 megaton yield. This page says that for a 20mt yield the maximum range for any damage at all (first degree burns on exposed skin) is 50km. --frothTC 20:09, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, StuRat didn't say "Greater LA", but LA. Speaking as a former Angeleno, Greater LA is definitely not LA. In fact not all of LA is LA (for example, the Valley is not LA). --Trovatore 21:50, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I believe the biggest nuke ever detonated was the Tsar Bomba. As long as the LA suburb of Woodland Hills survives (where they make porno movies), then I'm OK. :-) StuRat 23:40, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Tsar Bomba doesn't count it's too big for actual warfare. --frothTC 04:16, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Car's main shaft producing power
Why should a car's battery EVER run flat? Can't one simply fit a sort of magnet onto the shaft somewhere between the gearbox and the rear wheelshaft? (Not sure about the nomenclature for these parts)
Even if that would lessen the structural integrity of such a shaft, which is quite important of course, can't one just duplicate the solution which makes the engine shaft run the shaft of the cooling prop? Surely a lot of the potential for energy from a car can be used by fitting magnets/coils of wiring onto a part of the shaft (ANY moving shaft), and harvest the energy that 3,000-5,000 RPMs can produce? 81.93.102.3 11:35, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Batteries run flat when you leave the headlights on. Newer cars all have things to prevent that, which is good for me! Also, batteries more than 6 years old lose their capacity to hold charge, and many people notice that when winter starts to bite. The final problem is that the alternator rusts out (for Detroit cars) at 7 years. --Zeizmic 11:53, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Most cars do have generators attached to the axles, and some have regenerative brakes. However, the big problem is that any dynamo will generate massive resistance when a current is flowing. This is fine for braking, where you want to slow the wheels down, but a pain when trying to drive. Laïka 14:47, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There isn't any problem generating electricity when the car is running (unless the charging system fails, that is). The problem is losing charge when the car is off. This happens slowly over time, which can be a problem for a car in storage. It can happen more quickly if there is an electrical short somewhere, which converts the charge into heat. StuRat 15:53, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Also, if trying to generate electricity from some new source, try a source of energy which is currently wasted, like braking (in most cars) or excess heat from the radiator and exhaust. StuRat 15:57, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In a dynamo like you're suggesting, energy is taken from the shaft and converted into electrical energy. You don't want energy taken from the drive shaft while you're trying to drive. --frothTC 18:41, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
scarborough
local address
I think there are several places called Scarborough across the world. I know about one in South Africa, for instance... 惑乱 分からん 13:48, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
is space really empty or is that a matter of opinion 205.188.117.68 14:41, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, Intergalactic space is really the closest we know of to a perfect free space, and even that contains a few hydrogen atoms. Even in a perfect free space, some virtual particles might pop in and out of existance and, if too close to a large source of gravitation, become real particles. Laïka 15:01, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know who the source was – if someone knows, I'd appreciate hearing about it – but it was once said that the Universe is made of five things:
nothing;
nothing;
nothing;
a bit of energy; and
a little dirty hydrogen.
Forget the hydrogen atoms; there are gobs of neutrinos everywhere. The current estimate in our article is that there should be a few more than fifty neutrinos per cubic centimetre of space left over from the Big Bang. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 15:19, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Just because there's a lower concentration of mass doesn't mean we should call it nothing. What if a hydrogen atom out in interstellar space was talking to his friend and said "I heard the earth was made of Solid matter, Solid matter, Solid matter, Solid matter, and a little bit of empty space. He would be equally wrong --frothTC 19:01, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
He might be wrong, but as a gendered hydrogen atom that could talk, he would be very, very valuable;-) --Mnemeson 00:11, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In this context the value of a hydrogen atom is assumed to be irrelevant >:| --frothTC 04:15, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I echo the neutrino thing. So, no space is not empty, just the things taking it up are not stuck together and are so small they are transparent. THL 11:29, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A man bumped into me on the street and caused my coffee to spill. So I followed him to his apartment, and beat his skull in with a baseball bat. I want to know if it is legal for me to do this, since he violated my rights first.
Yeah, turn yourself into the police; they can't touch you. --Zeizmic 15:05, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well it probably depends on where you live. The law will probably exist in almost any place, but may not be enforced in some countries. In the US it would almost definately be prosecuted and you would probably lose for the gross over-reaction. If it was, say, tthe other way around, the man came to you to bash your skull in and you threw coffee in his face and the coffee had some infectious disease in that infected an open wound and he died, you would probably get off on self-defense. schyler 15:10, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I didn't kill him though.
I sure hope this is all theoretical. If it really happened, you are seriously out of control and need some anger management training immediately, and possibly some meds, too. If you won't get those things on your own, hopefully the courts will order them as a condition of your parole, once you are released from prison. StuRat 15:26, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Did you not think that the baseball bat thing was a trifle disproportionate to the initial minor mistake? Anyway, do you always walk down the street carrying a baseball bat? You could be arrested: its probably seen as a weapon of man destruction! 8-)--Light current 18:29, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's illegal in the United States and many european countries. See you in 5 years --frothTC 18:38, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Try 15 to 25 for felony assault. Martial Law 05:34, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Rich white kid who's lived most of his life in a gated community.... what do you want? --frothTC 17:48, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It depends on the size of the baseball bat, and what brand it is. THL 11:26, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
fastest spring
what's the fastest spring ever?205.188.117.68 15:10, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No, too hot. Definitely summer. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 02:38, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Vandalism
Somebody vandalised Britney Spears article.
Did they add false info, like that she has any talent ? :-) StuRat 15:29, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Do not upset yourself too much. Our policy concerning such acts are lengthily explained here : Wikipedia:Vandalism. And I imagine that, while we answer, some reacted and reverted to the truth : The amount of her talent, according to (1), is ... -- DLL .. T 18:23, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Longest Professional Wrestling Match
What is the longest professional wrestling match ever? Also, what is the longest WWE Match ever? Thanks.
Look here for some information but be aware that they are not talking about the type of wrestling that you see at the WWE or Olympic style wrestling. CambridgeBayWeather(Talk) 16:14, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
As far as thw WWE goes, I know it was a ladder match, Shawn Michaels was in it, and it was at a Wrestlemania. See Shawn Michaels, it should be in there. THL 15:32, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
girl in whale rider.
whats she up to? --Cursa 16:41, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's the biological reason why people enter puberty, you know... It's rather young, but we shouldn't judge her beforehand, I'd guess... 惑乱 分からん 13:34, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Are you kidding, she's 16! --frothTC 19:49, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Lost
I saw the first half of season 1 and all of season 2, but I don't own a TV so could someone tell me what's going on in the 3rd season? Or at least direct me to a website with a synopsis? --frothTC 18:53, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
1. Since you get more points for a try than for a kicked goal, and there's no equivalent to "fourth down," why would a team ever kick instead of keeping the ball and going for a try?-- Mwalcoff 23:33, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Because kicking for goal is often an easier and more certain way of scoring points than always going for a try. Many games between even sides are won by goal kicks. When you are playing for a try you risk losing possession and scoring no points. BlueValour 01:16, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
OK, but how does a team decide on a given possession whether to kick it or go for a try? -- Mwalcoff 04:01, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
2. Some rugby union competitions, such as the Super 14 and Air New Zealand Cup, seem to have teams assigned to territorial areas, such as provinces or regions. Does that mean that players have to play for their home territory (like in national-team competitions)? Or can teams sign players from anywhere, as with other sports? -- Mwalcoff 23:33, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
October 15
Is it illegal?
Is it illegal to reach your hands down a woman's pants on the street if you're wearing a mask?
Maybe not illegal, but they would probably arrest and sue you for sexual harassment, regardless if you're wearing a mask or not. bibliomaniac15 00:13, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It'd be illegal in most places. --Robert Merkel 00:48, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The mask has nothing to do with it as you well know!--Light current 02:24, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Its not illegal if she wants it. Otherwise, you'll go to prison and be raped for the next 40 years. THL 11:23, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Where I live it's illegal whether she wants it or not. Something with indecency. --LambiamTalk 13:30, 15 October 2006 (UTC) disguise[reply]
Right, on the street. Yeah, that's illegal. Whether or not they charge you depends on how cool your mask is. THL 15:00, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's assault in many jurisdictions. (If unwanted.) --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 15:37, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Dress like Jushin Thunder Liger when you do it. Then you've got nothing to worry about. THL 19:12, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A letter
Dear Reader,
Let the bells of randomness ring! If ignorance is bliss, then I am certainly joyful right now. You should join in on this jubilance; seriously, it very much can change your life if you think about it. Continue to read this monologue; it is very confusing; yes, it is; yes, this is, no? It may contain a very, very mysterious subliminal message. Maybe, when you read this, you can see a visible sign. I beg you to look at the moral of this; your life may be changed as a result. If you can name any trace of mystique inside this monologue, mull it over. Under these warnings, you should consider these messages. Understandably, all of this must be done with great secrecy, so sneakily should this letter be read. After reading this, I pray, you will understand. Don’t be feeble, and refuse to acknowledge this letter’s contents. I reveal all this for your amusement, therefore you should feel obligated, this is a special privilege. I hope you will unlock this code. Ring the bells, should you feel that this is your duty.
When I read that, my ears started ringing. I have no idea what you are talking about, but I love how you try to confuse us. I can't understand those sentences most of the time, but nonetheless I'm not into books. =D HyenasteRing me! 04:27, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
By the way, I'm removing one word. The word possibly really broke up the message in the seventh sentence. Seventh? Eleventh? Ha! Hyenaste(tell) 04:27, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm scared. Even though that letter clearly had no meaning, I understood it. Am I God? THL 11:21, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This sounds like the stuff I read in my Viagra spam e-mails. The random texts they insert to fool spambots are at most times a lot more interesting than what they advertise... 惑乱 分からん 13:12, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You read those? THL 19:09, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why would I? THL 19:56, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Legal in US?
Is it legal to beat somebody to death with a cactus as long as you make it look like they were eating the cactus?
If not, then what if you wear a mask?
If it still isn't legal, what if you bring your friends?
I'd like to vote that we delete any and all future questions that ask the legality of things that are obviously illegal, especially if the question refers to wearing a mask. All in favor? Dismas|(talk) 03:56, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm just curious- how do you beat someone with a cactus? --frothTC 04:35, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wouldn't that defeat the object of beating them to death?
I agree with Dismas. There's far too much crap on the misc desk; we should rv stupid questions in future. Anything that doesn't have an answer likely to be in wikipedia should be removed from the desk. Talk page discussion. Howard Train 05:07, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Likely to be in Wikipedia" is a little harsh IMO. There are a number of questions asked that don't have to specifically do with an article but are legitimate. The "roaches in cold" question isn't dealt with here but there should be an answer somewhere. And the user has already done their homework by searching google first. In short, they've looked here, googled it, and are now hoping that one of us might have some knowledge which isn't already in an article. I've often heard it said that the only stupid question is the one that you already know the answer to. In the "Is this illegal..." questions, the poster should be intelligent enough to know the answer if they're intelligent enough to be able to get on the net and post here. Dismas|(talk) 05:15, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Alcohol is good in moderation and even a little beyond, but please refrain from posting questions when beyond moderation.Edison 06:01, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I've made a proposal on the talk page; the sort of question I'm really on about are those like this. Questions that don't have factual answers, dumb comments, patent nonsense and trolling. Howard Train 06:07, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The amopunt of detail in the question suggests that it refers to something that actually happenened. Either that or the questioneer is a total whacko. DirkvdM 06:49, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Look around, he's asked several such questions. I doubt he's still on the street if he's actually done all of this. --frothTC 17:45, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It is only illegal if they figure out he wasn't trying to eat the cactus. Whether or not they charge you depends on:
1. How cool the mask was
2. How cool you and your friends are
3. (This only matters if you, your mask, and your friends are cool.) If they are pathetic loosers who would be jealous of you, your cool mask, and your cool friends. THL 07:39, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Roaches and cold
Several sources on the web (Google) say that coldness prevents a cockroach population from increasing. Unfortunately, they never say how cold cold is. A cold day in Alabama is completely different from a cold day in Minnesota. How cold is cold when dealing with a population of cockroaches? Hyenaste(tell) 04:12, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Average temperature here is 44 degrees, and we never have roaches. Florida, which has an average temperature of 80-something, is the most roach-infested place I've ever seen. So yes, cold will keep their population down. --172.198.40.82 07:58, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Arizona has a fair roach population as well, though not as large as Florida's. THL 11:18, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Roaches like humidity and water. Durova 14:39, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
They live in our very humid sewers. I wouldn't drink that water though. THL 14:41, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
History Channel's Mega Disasters
Why has'nt the History Channel done a "Mega Disaster" about alien contact ? Should there be alien contact, the whole planet could erupt into rebellion, and/or that the aliens could blow up the planet. Imagine that you're watching the news, etc. when it is announced that aliens have found us. Would that be a disaster, especially if the aliens are hostile ? They've done speculation on all other disasters, incl. what'll happen if a asteroid were to hit the planet. Why not one about aliens ?
Those who are religious will assume it is the Devil, other evil comming to Earth, thus they'll revolt, while others will rebel because of the ridicule initiated to stop people from reporting UFOs, aliens as persuant to the CIA protocol, the Robertson Panel, related protocol I've found in, of all places, a issue of the Popular Mechanics magazine. It would be interesting to see what will really happen, should aliens find this planet. Will the discovery of aliens/alien contact be a disaster ? Just asking a question that would be asked eventually. Martial Law 05:27, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The copy of the magazine I have has a color pix of a UFO on the cover. Martial Law 05:31, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Doesn't the program cover only natural disasters? I wouldn't count hostile first contact as a natural disaster, but I admit it would be a nifty idea if done right. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 05:46, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Didn't you ask essentially the same question just three days ago? I don't know what makes you emphasize the notion of revolt so much. Few people have even heard of the Robertson Panel. The topic of alien invasion has been extensively covered from many angles in science fiction books and movies during the Cold War, rarely involving scenes of rebellion or revolt. --LambiamTalk 13:56, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why do you assume that aliens would blow up the planet? It would take far less energy just to bathe it in high-energy radiation until everything on it dies. Since we have no planetary shield, a Death Star attack is just a waste of power --frothTC 17:59, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If the planet was blocking them from something, then they would blow it up. However, I did not create life on any other planets, so no worries. THL 19:52, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
DOF Glass
What exactly is a "double old-fashioned glass", as compared to an old-fashioned glass? Is it just generally twice as large, or what? Daltonls 06:22, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Not twice as large, but larger according to these links: OF glass and DOF glass. Natgoo 11:43, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe twice as thick (see double glazing). But what's the new fashion in glass, anyway? Simon A. 09:31, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The Old fashioned glass is a glass for a single serving or shot of whatever, like an Old Fashioned or a single wodka on the rocks. Presumably the double variant is then for a double serving or shot. --LambiamTalk 14:18, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Am I God?
Am I God? If so, what should I do? THL 11:30, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Find yourself a good doctor and get yourself some good meds. Natgoo 11:44, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
To find out if you are God, try and create a rock that is so heavy that even you can't lift it.
Or a burrito so hot you can't eat it. Anchoress 12:22, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you find out that you're God, let me know. I still have some items left on my wish list. --LambiamTalk 13:58, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, I need a new car - preferably a convertible. Durova 14:27, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I found out that I was God, but then I took Natgoo's advice and found a doctor. He gave me meds, and now I'm not God anymore, sorry everybody. I did stop global warming while I was God, but now it has started again. THL 14:39, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Can we nevertheless hold him responsible for everything in the world that is messed up? Simon A. 15:44, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Isn't that largely due to free will? 惑乱 分からん 16:09, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
which was made by God unfortunately --frothTC 17:41, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not the one who created cars, or WMDs; that was you guys. My memories are starting to come back to me. Darwin hit me in the head with a chair, and then convinced everyone I never existed. Man, without me here you guys really messed things up! George Bush?! What, did 51% of America get drunk and decide to play a joke on the world?! Now I can't do anything to help you guys because the doctor took away my powers. You guys are screwed. THL 17:12, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A game I can't find
I spent hours in front of the PC when I was younger, playing this game. It was an RTS, named "Dark ---", I can't remember the last part of the name. One could be either aliens or humans. The humans were really robotic, with all kinds of weapons and vehicles, while the aliens were all-organic, with artillery units who launched big balls of death from their behinds.
The camera was situated relatively close to the ground - closer than Starcraft, anyway. There was blood in this game, with lots of fun effects when the aliens got smashed up by fire, even the humans' heads blowing straight off. There were a few really cool video snippets in between the single player game's missions - but there was also MP possibilities if I don't remember incorrectly. It might have surfaced around 1996-1999...
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Maybe this goes into Humanities, I can't tell.
The BASE structure, that is the HQ, was always a single platform. When enough resource was gathered, a dropship could come down, and plant a module on the platform, enabling the possibility to make Rambos or two-legged gunrobots and whatnot. 81.93.102.3 11:45, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Lol, I know exactly what game you mean I just cant remember the bloody name of it. Joneleth 13:53, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For a list of games whose name starts like "Dark—", see List of computer and video games: D-H. I didn't spot one that seemed to be what you described, but have a look for yourself. I see we're lacking in historical perspective, or else the arcade game Dark Invader would have been listed. --LambiamTalk 14:08, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Dark Reign perhaps? Great game, I loved it back then. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 17:32, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Aw yeah, I played the demo for that dozens of times when I was like 12, and I've been casually looking for it for a couple of years. Great game :) --frothTC 17:40, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Is it possible to link a word in a Wikipedia article to the corresponding word in Wiktionary (assuming, of course, it does exist there). (The idea is to allow the reader to make a quick check on an unusual word.) If this is possible, what is the exact syntax of the expression to be used? Honti 12:48, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
[[wikt:word|Link]] produces Link. You could do it with other language wiktionaries too, I think, but I forgot the expression, now. 惑乱 分からん 13:05, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
If you don't want to change the word, you can use the pipe thus: "[[wikt:word|]]", resulting in "word". --LambiamTalk 13:16, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Musical by Janov???
This is a serious question, believe it or not. In my copy of a book by Arthur Janov, The New Primal Scream (1991), there is on the first page inside the soft cover, the following: "He is concluding a musical for the stage called Scream! and is in the process of creating a film video series , The Universe of the Mind." I have been unable to find any reference to these in Wikipedia or through a Google search, but I ran across a mention of the musical some time back in an interview with Janov which I found on-line somewhere but have misplaced the link and it doesn't come up in any of my searches. Any clues would be most welcome. -GrahameKing 13:54, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There's a bit of weirdness. One site I found says the Celine Dion song, The Colour of My Love, comes from that musical; however, both our article and All Music Guide give the credit to Arthur Ganov, not Janov. I think those are both mistakes, though; read this interview with David Foster. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 15:30, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Anyone with the DVD of The Rules of Attraction?
At 46:00, there's a trumpet solo in the background where Mr. Lance Lawson (Eric Stoltz) and Lauren (Shannyn Sossamon) are. Can anyone identify it?
Can you buy The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask in any store in Orlando,Florida?
Is there any place near Orlando, Florida where you can buy Majora's Mask? Please it needs to be new.The game was released in 2000.The name of the store and price would be greatly apperciated. Thank You. -Millie Ramos
If you want to play it with an N64, you'll need to get an Expansion Pak too. If you merely want to play it, and don't matter what console it is on, and you have a GameCube, you could endeavor to find a The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition disc- however, it's likely not to be new. For the cartridge, try eBay or similar, but again they're likely not be new. I don't think you'll be able to get a new one at all easily. Vitriol 14:49, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What has labelling got to do with media?
On my list it says
Editing Procedures:
Labelling!
help
I bought this game in 2003 and I had a lot of trouble finding it. $60 for the game and $20 for the expansion pack. It's a very good game -on par with ocarina of time- so it's worth the price. I'd recommend searching ebay for the zelda collectors edition disc. It's pretty expensive (though not the $80 I payed for it) but it also includes every other zelda game up to wind waker, including link to the past which is the best zelda game IMO so yeah definately worth it. --frothTC 17:36, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You mean "excluding A Link to the Past" which isn't on the Collector's Edition disc, since it was released on the GBA. --jh51681 18:12, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Gasp you're right! :( --frothTC 18:53, 15 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Setting up a company in UK
Hello,
I may set up my own design company in UK. I am under 18, and wouldn't require any additional money etc.
What pages are good for reading up on setting up a (very) small business IN UK (ENGLAND)?
Pacific Coast Highway {blah • Spinach crisis '06! • WP:NYCS} 01:16, 29 September 2006 (UTC)
