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March 6

Just an FYI

You all are amazing. Keep up the good work. :) Nightofshiningdeath (talk) 03:17, 6 March 2008 (UTC)nightofshiningdeath

They really are. This place is brilliant. Not just brilliant, it's perfect. :D I wish I could do more to help out here. HS7 (talk) 12:58, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Tournament bracket simulator

Anyone know of a "tournament simulator" that can be ran online? A forum I'm on wants to do a "Comedy Movie Tournament" where 64 movies are nominated and then ran down to 1, like a typical March Madness bracket. It will be done manually, I just need the "display", so to speak. Tanthalas39 (talk) 04:01, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Would the 64-team bracket available here fit your purposes? -Elmer Clark (talk) 13:00, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Is drinking P♥M healthier than other sugary waters?

Or should I feel like an idiot for paying $3 for this bottle?

66.91.224.203 (talk) 05:17, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, POM is a juice, not just a "sugary water" of the sort that, say, sodas are. And pomegrenates have antioxidant properties, which is more than you can say about a lot of sugar water products. In the end though such small and occasional supplements to a diet are unlikely to have any real health effects other than those brought on psychosomatically. If you're drinking it regularly, then maybe it would have some effect, but one bottle isn't going to help or hurt you. It's juice, not medicine. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 05:31, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Our article on pomegranate juice says that one glass contains 50% of the US recommended daily allowance of vitamins A, C, and E and 100% of the RDA of folic acid, as well as niacin and potassium. It's a lot better for you than "sugary water", which contains no vitamins, minerals, or anything but calories. It may also have some long-term health benefits if drunk regularly. --NellieBly (talk) 05:37, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Right, but if you're talking about one dose of it, it's not going to have therapeutic properties, no more than taking a multi-vitamin once and only once will. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 13:40, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

And the benefits that antioxidants bring is scientifically questioned - though the benefit that fruit brings is less so... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.221.133.226 (talk) 11:30, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Hot water heat

After spending the last 40 years living in houses and apartments with forced air heating, I'm buying a house that has hot water heat complete with beautiful copper radiators. Does anyone know of a book or website that describes what I as a homeowner need to know about this type of heating system? Thanks! --NellieBly (talk) 05:40, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't think there's much you need to know really, other than where the stopcock is, and how to bleed a radiator when air gets into the system. There's usually a little key to do this. -mattbuck (Talk) 09:53, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Here is a good basic page. --Milkbreath (talk) 11:36, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

In the UK, most homes have radiator-based heating. I've no idea what it's like in "forced air heating", but with rads, the heat can make the house's air quite dry. Some people find it useful to use humidifiers of varying levels of complexity/expense, the simplest amounting to little more than little reservoirs of water slung on the front of the rad. --Dweller (talk) 11:44, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I've always found forced air heating (I'm assuming the OP means the heaters where air is heated by an element and blown into the room by a fan), drier than radiator heating. I've always thought this was because of forced-air heats a greater volume of air more quickly than a radiator. However, I failed A-level Physics... Radiators are really very easy to look after; the only thing I've had to learn, as Mattbuck mentioned, was how to bleed them. (It's the boiler that gives me ulcers).--Kateshortforbob 20:43, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks, everyone. And you're right, Kateshort; that's what forced air is. According to the provincial government, about 95% of homes in Alberta are forced air heated. The fan is attached to the furnace itself, and blows the hot air through vents into the rest of the house. There are also cold air vents in every room that feed back to the furnace. The vents have to be professionally cleaned out every year or two (forced air heat is very, very dusty, perhaps more so in a place with lots of dust and low humidity) and the furnace air filter has to be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis. Mine needs to be washed every month. --NellieBly (talk) 04:38, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, here in extreme southern Canada (New Hampshire), one of the things you have to know is that you can't add air conditioning to a forced-hot-water (hydronics) heating system ;-). Other than that, the key questions have more to do with the fuel used than with the hot-water part of the system. Oil burners require routine maintenance by qualified service technicians to remove soot, adjust the fuel-air mixture, and so on. You also need to always have a good idea how much more fuel oil remains in your tank; if you run out, you get very cold very fast, all those water pipes supplying the radiators at the perimeter of the house freeze and burst, and so on. By comparison, a gas burning system can go a lot longer between service appointments; system that burn natural gas essentially never run out of fuel although propane-burning systems can run out.

Atlant (talk) 13:24, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. I'm just psyching myself up to move to a city where you need both. Winnipeg can be much hotter than southern Alberta in the summer, but it's also much, much colder in the winter - it's +56F here right now, but in Winnipeg it's -4F - so a properly running heating system is important. (Edit to sign correctly) --NellieBly (talk) 17:37, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Visa confusion

In the United States, how often are customs officers who ask to see entrance visas presented with credit cards? NeonMerlin 06:36, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I'd suspect not too often (though I'm sure there've been some cases) as you need to have the visa to get on a flight to the U.S.A. so folk going there will know what they mean & have it. I'm not sure but I think Canadians don't need a visa, so that reduces the possible number of people who could make the mistake to those going through the Mexican border. AllanHainey (talk) 18:41, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

DieselSecret.com

Is that another scam ? They claim to get this fuel to people for $0.46 a gallon (US). Sounds like the old Gas Advance.Com scam. 65.173.104.52 (talk) 06:47, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

If it sounds too good to be true, and involves money exchanged on the internet, then yeah, it's probably a scam. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 14:31, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Short of actually paying for their 'secret', I couldn't say for sure what they're selling. What it appears to be is instructions for how to filter and modify used cooking oils for use as biodiesel. Looking at some of the materials on their website, the 0.46 per gallon breaks down as:

• 0.15 per gallon "DSE Recommended Additive"
• 0.31 per gallon "Other ingredients" (with a note that this price "varies with region", whatever that means....)

They explicitly assume that you'll be able to get the used cooking oil (of the right type, and in sufficient quantity) for free from restaurants. This may not be a valid assumption. The estimate does not include the amortized cost of materials and equipment to build their filtration system, or the price of the starter kit from the web site. The price does not include the value of your time spent gathering oil from restaurants or filtering it for use. Finally, your state may require you to report on fuel production and pay fuel taxes on any biodiesel that you produce; this is not accounted for in the price stated.

Note also that use of this fuel will almost certainly void your warranty, particularly if you have fuel system trouble. I also don't know if there are states that forbid or restrict the use of homebrewed motor fuels – or that require extensive (and expensive) testing of said fuels before use – for environmental protection reasons. Per the comment above, be very wary of things that sound too good to be true. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 14:38, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

See also Vegetable oil used as fuel. Dforest (talk) 04:09, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Tim Cahill (5)

What values does Tim Cahill have? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.233.83.26 (talk) 06:58, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

You'd really have to ask him about this. How many questions are there about Tim Cahill in your school assignment? -- JackofOz (talk) 07:24, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Could you maybe send a link to where I can ask him stuff and contact him? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.233.83.26 (talk) 08:03, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

([1]) --Dweller (talk) 08:14, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

If you're referring to his contract, he got signed to a 5-year deal at Everton in 2005. ([2]) The official release doesn't mention how much he makes, but this site says "reported £27k a week." -Elmer Clark (talk) 13:05, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Whoops, misread values as value. I'm afraid I can't help you there, other than by saying that "clean play" doesn't appear to be among them. From that second link: "In any case, he was suspended in the UK due to his less-than-stellar disciplinary record at the New Den — he topped their disciplinary table with seventeen yellow cards and two reds the season before making the move to Merseyside!" -Elmer Clark (talk) 13:08, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

A Cure?

How do you cure Wikinitis? Just a question. I continuously come on here when I have work to do. But its fun to look stuff up and read it. Then criticize it or edit it. And then think to myself who wrote this. Is there a cure?71.142.210.56 (talk) 08:26, 6 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

See Wikipedia:Wikipediholic for symptoms and cures. Adam Bishop (talk) 09:34, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Adam Bishop, stop giving out medical advice! -mattbuck (Talk) 09:48, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

World of warcraft?--Jabberwalkee (talk) 16:03, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

That reminds me of how they used to use cocaine to "cure" morphine addiction. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 17:58, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Uncyclopedia ? 65.173.104.52 (talk) 18:45, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

trade finance

may i request to give information on the subject trade finance

Ajaytayshete (talk) 08:59, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Go ahead. Click here. Remember to ensure that anything you add is notable and can be backed up by reliable sources --Dweller (talk) 10:44, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

If you are asking us to give you information, here is a booklet published by the US government on the subject. It is easier to answer questions that are a bit more specific, so I apologise for the vague quality of this response. SaundersW (talk) 10:46, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Where does the Phrase "runs like a dog come from?

Where does the Phrase "runs like a dog come from? 62.172.209.197 (talk) 10:47, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I can't say I'm familiar with "runs like a dog" as a set phrase. "Running dog" (see), meaning "lackey", first appeared in English in 1937. Other expressions involving coursing canines probably have their roots in antiquity and are as old as the dog itself. There is a decorative pattern called "running dog" that appears on ancient pottery. --Milkbreath (talk) 11:52, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I've heard this phrase used in reference to a slow car. It's maybe a little funny because dogs don't tend to be particularly slow runners. Friday (talk) 16:06, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

It wasn't until I started trying to research this question that I was reminded of the phrase being used for something slow (most of the links I found were computer related; "I installed X and now my computer is running like a dog."). I didn't find any good descriptions of the origin of the phrase, so I passed this up. Before my search, I was thinking of the song "Everglades" by Treat Her Right, which tells the story of a man who is "runnin' like a dog" with the implication that the running is rather swift. --LarryMac | Talk 16:38, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

"Runs like a three-legged dog" seems to exist too, and it makes more sense. Maybe the lost leg bit got lost as well. ---Sluzzelin talk 17:20, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

To describe a car as "runnning like a dog" is to say it runs badly (is slow, inefficient, noisy, always breaking down...) since "dog" is slang for a bad car (see The Dog & Lemon Guide, for example). I've always known this slang, but can't find it in an online dictionary, but the OED does define dog as: Something poor or mediocre; a failure. (U.S. slang).; and A horse that is slow, difficult to handle, etc. slang.; and of a person: in reproach, abuse, or contempt: A worthless, despicable, surly, or cowardly fellow and there's also to the dogs: to destruction or ruin;, which all kind of give the idea. nb. I am not American, so the "dog" = "bad car" is not just used in the OED US slang context. - Gwinva (talk) 20:55, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

It's bit like describing the car as a "a bomb"; but not quite, because that suggests there are many things wrong, whereas it only needs a dirty thingamywhatzit or a loose connection to make it run like a dog today. (Interesting that it's only cars NOT considered to be "bombs" that are said to "go like a bomb"). -- JackofOz (talk) 21:19, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I find it odd and humourous that the phrases "that car is a bomb" and "that car is the bomb" have nearly opposite meanings. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 21:23, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

What's more, if you say that a theatre(theater)play is "a bomb" in America, you're calling it a flop; in England, you'd be calling it a hit! Rhinoracer (talk) 13:46, 7 March 2008 (UTC) I've always understood it to mean running from a fight as a defeated, or cowardly, dog might.86.197.20.123 (talk) 15:56, 8 March 2008 (UTC)DT

Online relationships

Supposing there was this girl I knew on the internet, right, and we talked to each other through the internet but live a long way apart. we've never met and can only contact each other through the internet. Now suppose it's been exactly a month since we decided we were more than just friends, and since therefore I want to do something special for her to mark this event, is there anything I can do, other than just talking to her like i do every other day? I'm assuming there are lots of other people in this situation, so there might be some people around here with more experience at this sort of thing. And secondly, what could I do for the same girl for her birthday, since I can't actually go any buy something and sent it to her. HS7 (talk) 12:32, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Well if she'd give you her address you could 'go and buy her something'.. How about saying 'I'd like to send you a present..." Otherwise consider and electronic birthday card87.102.74.217 (talk) 12:53, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

A web search suggests a thing known as an 'eCard' - take a look87.102.74.217 (talk) 12:55, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Online gift certificates (to amazon.com or somewhere similar) are an option as well. -Elmer Clark (talk) 13:11, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

How can you have a relationship with some one you only talk to on the internet?? dont you even talk 2 her on the phone?? u seriously need to meet up and get down to it..... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 14:50, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

LOL at above. You need to read some Jane Austen or get your Heathcliff on! To the OP, you could try writing her something romantic! Poetry even just a haiku would be nice! --Jabberwalkee (talk) 16:01, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

The nicest thing you could do for her is to go and buy some flowers and chocolates and pitch up at her door and say Hi, im the guy that has been chatting to you for the past year. this will make her day, alternativly, flowers can be bought online and delivered to her. Good luck dude, we all need love. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 16:33, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Yes...we all need it. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 16:59, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I hate to inject a note of caution here, but before you go any further with this, you should establish beyond all reasonable doubt that this girl is who she says she is. If you've never met her, seen her on a webcam or spoken to her on the phone, there is a chance "she" is a man stringing you along. Why anyone would do this is beyond me, but there are certainly enough idiots out there to make it a possibility. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 17:07, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I was going to say something similar, but didn't have the guts to say it. These things happen more often than you think. But, usually people who do that say they want to meet you and ask that you wire money for a plane ticket - and then you never hear from them again. By all accounts this case seems genuine. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 17:24, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Not always. People do weird things just to get attention. I know a guy who pretended to be his son in order to "catch" a hot 19-year-old girl on the Net; he was enraged when the woman he'd been cybering with turned out to be the girl's mother! (It was perfectly all right for him to lie, but when she did it she was evil and manipulating. I'm wondering if she felt the same way.) --68.144.73.245 (talk) 17:23, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

We're too far apart for me just to pop over there with flowers and I can't write poetry at all, ever. And we've exchnaged recordings of ourselves talking, and I've seen a photo of her, and finally found a reasonable one of me to show her, so we're quite sure we are who we say we are. i'll look into the birthday present idea, it sounds like it might work. However any more ideas would also be welcome. HS7 (talk) 18:31, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, just remember that the best gifts come from your heart, not your wallet. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 19:37, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

That's good, my wallet's empty. I keep all my money in my pocket or my drawer. HS7 (talk) 20:07, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

You know what I meant! And Kate's suggestion down below is brilliant, I highly recommend you do that. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 21:08, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I would be careful if sending an e-card. These are often spam and virus vectors. (Also, all the ones I've seen are very tacky!). If you're creative, perhaps you could make your own electronic card using GIMP or similar, or even a flash animation.--Kateshortforbob 20:34, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Send her a link to this page. Polypipe Wrangler (talk) 21:49, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

"I can't write poetry at all, ever". Aww... this is where some of the romantic poets at this desk might be able to help. Just ask them (not me). A haiku perhaps? Along the lines of ... Time, distance/No thing – but you, me worldwide,/Everything. (Pardon the cheese factor going through the roof.) Julia Rossi (talk) 23:33, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

You're missing four syllables :) Adam Bishop (talk) 18:03, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Also, the cheese factor didn't just go through the roof, it reached escape velocity. That is why no one should write poetry unless they make it their day job. (Also, according to my high school English classes - a great poem must contain 3 allusions to another work in each word) 206.252.74.48 (talk) 20:49, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Haha. I see I proved my point . ("Escape velocity" – I like it!) Come on Adam Bishop, come on 206.252, don't let your high school teacher's sad restraints keep you from your personal greatness. Every word you use would have appeared in another poem somewhere (a, an, the, heart, eyes, hand, feet, love, flower, light, look, etc etc) Even day job poets have to start somewhere. Illuminating, heart-squishing lines please! Julia Rossi (talk) 22:00, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

ssbb tournament

I went to the gamestop website and read everything about the super smash brothers brawl tournament, and it doesn't say anything about me having to preorder the game in gamestop to participate, but when i went to the gamestop and asked an employee, he said that i needed to preorder it first. I'm not sure if this guy just has his information wrong, or if there was something that i missed, but do i really need to buy the game there to play?--Dlo2012 (talk) 14:56, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I would imagine that individual stores have considerable latitude regarding the precise rules of entry. I suggest calling the store and asking the manager. — Lomn 15:29, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Wrasslin'

How many professional wrestling moves are actually impossible without the co-operation of the being-moved-upon? Vitriol (talk) 15:04, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Impossible to calculate! Want a good example of a move that requires everyone involved's participation? YouTube Petey Williams Canadian Destroyer. --Endless Dan 15:45, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Herbalism

I searched for medicinal plants and was redirected to herbalism What I would like to know is how one would go about nominating the writer of this article for a Wiki star award, as seen on Cliothemuse's page (well done Clio) This is one of the best, most informative, complete and interesting articles I have ever read in my 2-3 years of wiki time wasting. Give it a read. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 16:12, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

The article's history page lists contributors & from it you can work out exactly what they contributed. Clearly this page is not the work of one author, but you might be able to work out which author(s) are deserving cases. Anyone can award an author a wikistar - known as a Barnstar - see Wikipedia:Barnstars --Tagishsimon (talk) 16:33, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

crayola crayons

Were crayola crayons ever numbered as an ID marker???? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.225.157.248 (talk) 16:14, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

If you mean washable, looks like they are[3]. Julia Rossi (talk) 23:22, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I think the original poster means: Did the paper labels on Crayola crayons ever have numbers as well as (or instead of) color names? Here's a page that shows the evolution of Crayola labels: Crayon Collecting: Binney & Smith crayons. None of the labels appear to use numbers to identify the color. However, that page links to the lost color lists, where the following is mentioned:

before the idea that little hands needed bigger crayons, crayons made for younger children were SMALLER...the Young Artists Crayolas were mini-crayons, with a wrapper style similar to type 0, in the lists "type Y"...

color names do not appear on the Young Artists (type Y) wrapper...in its place is a number, such as "no. 22"...the color name is then indicated by number on the front of the box...

--Bavi H (talk) 03:57, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

The Inside Story of the Torch Red Crayon shows a Crayola crayon labeled as "CRAYON COLOR #7". Since it's on a site about crayon collecting, that page is focused finding a crayon with an elusive "torch red" label. Other websites explain the True Blue Heroes contest better.

Apparently, eight new colors were introduced with numbers only:

The "True Blue" program asked kids to locate eight new crayon colors inside specially-marked boxes, and invited them to nominate their favorite hero by drawing a picture, writing an essay and dedicating one of the new colors to their hero. Eight winning "heroes" were chosen and were offered free trips to the Crayola factory in Easton, Penn. --Crayola: B&S asks, "what color are kids' heroes?" - Binney and Smith

And then it appears the winning heroes got to name the new colors. Emphasis mine:

In October, 1997, eight new crayon colors were issued commemorating people, identified through the Crayola Search for True Blue Heroes. In addition to being the first people in Crayola history to ever have crayons issued bearing their names, the eight heroes, selected from more than 10,000 submissions, were also inducted into the Crayola Hall of Fame. The new colors named by the True Blue Heroes included: outer space, mountain meadow, fuzzy wuzzy brown, brink pink, shadow, banana mania, torch red and purple heart. --Crayola Trivia

(And since I was curious, I found out the ninth color in the limited edition tin is just Crayola's regular blue -- a true blue Crayola crayon. See True Blue Heroes tin) --Bavi H (talk) 04:05, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Surfin'

I was surfing recently and came across a site (I have forgotten the address) Felony Fights. Basically two average Joes have a fight. Is this legal? it seemed to be in the US mostly. I heard recently about tramps being coerced into a similar thing, which is definatly wrong. However, as a pacifist, I am curious, if both people seem willing, much like a boxing match, but without the pomp. is it legal, PS this is not a legal question. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 16:15, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

"Is this legal?... PS this is not a legal question." What a wonderful disclaimer! Presumably, there is some sort of disclaimer that the organizer requires the participants to sign, much as with any sort of hazardous activity. Legality from the organizer's standpoint would vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. — Lomn 18:10, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

See Bumfights. Seraphim♥ ^Whipp 18:18, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

It's not legal in the UK. and I'd imagine it's very similar in the US - if police officers see you fighting they will stop it? and arrest you? maybe?77.86.98.70 (talk) 18:38, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

See also bare-knuckle boxing where comes this link [4] for the mindset and street fighting mentions the illegality status not mentioned in USA Today. Julia Rossi (talk) 00:30, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

FOX News: Star may have gone Supernova, may be Betelgeuse

Seen this on the news this morning:"Will this star destroy all life on Earth ?". Well, if that star detonated, nearby star detonated, will it destroy all life here ? Pix shown was a blue mass with a spinning red mass in it. 65.173.104.52 (talk) 18:39, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

See the discussion here. --LarryMac | Talk 18:41, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

That discussion doesn't actually talk about the possible death of Betelgeuese, at least not believably. It mostly talks about Wikipedia policy. --Masamage ♫ 18:48, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Oh, I think this part -- "Slightly longer answer - information in Wikipedia has to be verifiable with citations to reliable sources." -- applies quite well. --LarryMac | Talk 18:52, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

...You mean the part about Wikipedia policy? --Masamage ♫ 18:55, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Not Betelgeuse. -- Coneslayer (talk) 18:57, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

God, I hate Fox News. How can a star light years away possibly destroy life on Earth? 206.252.74.48 (talk) 19:22, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

See Supernova#Impact on Earth. -- Coneslayer (talk) 19:24, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

What I meant was by the time anything happens to Earth via a supernova, life would already be gone due to something else. Why doesn't Fox News do a report on the Sun's death? Because I know that is relevent to our generation. They twist nearly anything into a "you're going to die!" story, no matter what it is. I'm surprised people who watch this crap aren't completely paranoid. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 19:30, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

It looks like your premise is flawed. While the odds of a supernova (or in this case, a gamma-ray burst) impacting Earth are quite small, they are under no particular time constraint. Physically, it could happen at any point. The sun is far more constrained and poses no such risk. Anyway, here's a more sensible approach to the topic (it also admirably answers the OP's questions). — Lomn 19:52, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Oh, no one understands me. Probably because I don't understand anything. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 21:05, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

WP:RS AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 09:01, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Is it just me?????

or are there loads of wikipedia users sat at home feeling a strange hatred towards tim cahill all of a sudden —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.150.220.227 (talk) 19:09, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

yup, just to many questions about some boring footballer who obviously cant be that good or we would all know him, and would have a wiki page in his honour. lol —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.18.34.51 (talk) 19:18, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Oh but we DO!! And that article's talk page is where these multiple questions from the same user should be directed, because there's no prohibition on answering homework questions there, as there is here at the Ref Desk. -- JackofOz (talk) 21:27, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I feel a disturbance in the Wiki, as if millions of edits cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 19:20, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Glad you said that 78.150.220, even stranger, I am now breathing normally again. Is someone trying to bring Tim C to our attention? Are we supposed to polish that article by calling his parents and getting his birth time? Now I legitimately feel... whatever. Julia Rossi (talk) 23:19, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

I dont even know who he is and i want to kill him, but knowing my luck we will see a "why was tim cahill murderd" БοņёŠɓɤĭĠ₳₯є 14:57, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

And when we do see "Why was Tim Cahill murdered?" the answer will inevitably be, "He was attacked by a rampaging horde of Wikipedia-ers." :) I actually feel bad for poor Tim; it's not his fault we all hate him, he can thank the kid with the homework assignment! 131.162.146.86 (talk) 05:04, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

We don't all hate him. I certainly don't. Those who do, merely because some loony keeps on asking questions about him, betray a character trait with which I do not want to be associated, so I won't sully my sentences by even naming it.  :) -- JackofOz (talk) 03:46, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

Hedge Funds

Why are Hedge Funds called hedge funds? isn't hedgeing bets exactly what hedge fund managers don't do?86.132.53.149 (talk) 20:42, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

From our article: "As their name implies, hedge funds often seek to offset potential losses in the principal markets they invest in by hedging their investments using a variety of methods, most notably short selling". See Hedge fund. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tagishsimon (talk • contribs) 21:05, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

A hedge fund manager seeks to cover or hedge the systemic risk or beta of the assets in their fund, leaving themselves with the risk that is specific to these assets, which is called alpha. The hedge fund manager them aims to benefit from their high-alpha portfolio by selecting assets which will have a better performance than the rest of the market. Paradoxically, as you say, this actually creates a portfolio that has a higher volatility than an equivalent un-hedged portfolio. Think about the following analogy. Convinced that you are the best driver in the world, you find a cheap motor insurance policy that only covers you for accidents that are another driver's fault; Spending your original insurance budget on this new policy now allows you to insure a supercar instead of your old family saloon. Gandalf61 (talk) 15:37, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Measuring Age

Are there any scientific methods available to accurately measure the age of a person (obviously aside from birth certificates, etc...). If not, how can scientists estimate the age of a person and what is the degree of error by today's best techniques? Acceptable (talk) 21:55, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Forensic age estimation is generally done by skeletal or dental measurements, and is not especially accurate (errors of 2 years are not uncommon when assessing teenagers, and it gets less accurate as people get older). FiggyBee (talk) 22:48, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

The main issue of difficulty is that different people age differently. So if you are going by probabilistic methods (how much their teeth are worn down, how calcified their bones are), it'll give you a nice average, but in the case of any given individual it can be thrown off a lot depending on a lot of factors (e.g. diet can greatly affect how teeth age). (I was just wondering if telomere length could be used to determine age fairly accurately but according to the article the rates vary a lot from individual to individual in bird species, and I don't imagine humans are probably that different in that respect. Anyway it's certainly not one of the common forensic ways.) Actually, according to another section of the "telomere" article, it can be used to judge age in humans, maybe (the study on this seems earlier than the one which indicated that the length varies in birds). Hmm. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 00:00, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Practically, most individuals whose age is in question aren't alive and haven't been for some time, so telomere length is a moot point: forensic scientists are lucky to get enough nuclear DNA to make identification possible. Quite often they have to settle for mitochondrial DNA. --NellieBly (talk) 04:46, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

March 7

Difference?

Is there a difference between a Nintendo DS and a Nintendo DS Lite? If so, what is it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.239.33.66 (talk) 00:26, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

DS Lites are slimmer, lighter, brighter, louder, longer-lasting (in terms of battery power), and features a longer and thicker stylus than the original. It also has a nice glossy casing. If you can, get a lite instead. bibliomaniac15 I see no changes 00:53, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

There's a big difference, the Lite is superior. Ask anybody that knows Nintendo or portable systems. Mac Davis (talk) 02:41, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Southwest Airlines Refund

if i were to purchase a itenerary from southwest and decided to cancel it while the money was being taken out would i be able to go on the website and ask for a refund within 24 hours even if the fare is restricted.--logger (talk) 01:27, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Some tickets are nonrefundable, period. Others aren't. You should check the terms of your ticket or contact Southwest Airlines. Marco polo (talk) 02:28, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Roman Fish Mosaic

I need help finding more information on a roman mosaic depicting various species of fish and aquatic invertebrates. The depictions are accurate enough to allow for species information and it has provided useful knoledge about the fish species known to the ancient Romans. I have been unable to find any information. Please help.

-Ben —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.146.239.179 (talk) 03:04, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Does this help?[5] Although the species are partly mythic as well. Julia Rossi (talk) 07:02, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

If you can post an image here (if you can get a free one), or post a link to the image you are referring to, we may be better able to help. This desk is a good place to start, but if we can't help, you can try the science refdesk -- later, not simultaneously, is considered good manners. BrainyBabe (talk) 15:23, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Dear Brainybabe, the above link includes an image. : ) Julia Rossi (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 21:45, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Dear Julia, yes, I looked at the link. I interpreted the OP to mean a particular Roman mosaic about which information was sought, as of course there are hundreds (thousands?) depicting marine life in some guise. BrainyBabe (talk) 10:19, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Ah. Julia Rossi (talk) 08:39, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Vera Wang

Why is the date of death for Vera Wang as January 1, 2008. I thought she was still alive? Or am I ready the information incorrectly? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.179.27.48 (talk) 04:48, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

It's vandalism on her article. bibliomaniac15 I see no changes 04:57, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Copyright-free materials

Where and How to find copyright-free materials? I have blog and I find a lot interesting items on the Net and elsewhere. The postings are mainly articles/materials I have read and enjoyed and which I would like to post on my blog for the benefit of friends and others.

When I tried browsing the web using the topic, I was flooded with a lot of materials from which I could make neither head nor tail. Something brief and to the point would be of great help. Could you kindly help me in this regard?

Of copyright-protected materials, how far can I make use in my postings, i.e. by condensing and by excerpting.

How to make sure that I have not broken any copyright rules?

I shall be grateful for a reply.

Surinew (talk) 05:01, 7 March 2008 (UTC)surinew

Sorry, we can’t give you legal advice here. Please consult a lawyer. --S.dedalus (talk) 07:35, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Oh, that doesn't at all have to go into the realm of legal advice. Wikipedia is all about copyright-free materials.

To the original poster: all the text on Wikipedia, although not all of the images, are free. We prefer being linked to and not sold, but technically you don't have to follow thos. Everything at Wikisource, Wikinews, and the Commons, among others, is also free. You can get to links to all of our sister projects from the Main Page. --Masamage ♫ 07:48, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

"How to make sure that I have not broken any copyright rules?" is a specific request for legal advice. --S.dedalus (talk) 08:14, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

(Then just answer other parts of the question?) To follow on from what Masamage said, clicking on any image in Wikipedia will take you to a page which tells you whether or not it's free. Also, on Flickr, you can search for images by Creative Commons license, some types of which allow you to freely re-use the images. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 08:58, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

(Indeed, that’s why I didn’t remove this question to the talk page.) --S.dedalus (talk) 21:59, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Ironically, of course, you can find endless discussion on what is and what is not the public domain, fair use, etc. all over Wikipedia, because it is part of how Wikipedia itself functions. "Consult a lawyer" on a basic question of "what is in the public domain, how can I tell?" is really quite overkill. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 01:34, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

To the original poster: all the text on Wikipedia, although not all of the images, are free. Wrong, the text is copyright, and released via GFDL. (I'll forgo making a similar comment about Commons, etc.) We prefer being linked to and not sold We do? Where's the suggestion or request not to sell bits of Wikipedia? ¶ Back to the first question: The postings are mainly articles/materials I have read and enjoyed and which I would like to post on my blog for the benefit of friends and others. If the author has explicitly released something to the public domain it's free. If it's very old (and not recently edited, etc.), it's free. If it is copyrighted according to any of a number of systems (e.g. GFDL) that are collectively referred to as copyleft, it's not free but you are free to reproduce it if you follow certain conditions. -- Hoary (talk) 09:32, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Commons is quite different, actually. Images in general can have a wide variety of licensing, ranging from the un-free (on Wikipedia, not Commons, under fair-use) to the totally free (public domain). You have to check on an image-by-image basis, unlike the text, which is GFDL licensed.

All that being said: how do you know if something is in the public domain? There are generally three approaches:

1. You know it is in the public domain because you know its copyright has expired due to age/lack of renewal/etc. See this page for an easy-to-use table on determining copyright terms in the USA.
2. You know it is in the public domain because it is created by an organization that cannot hold copyright. This primarily applies in the case of works of the US federal government. Note that not all works by government-sponsored employees or institutions are "works of the federal government". And note that this is the federal government specifically; state governments can be different in their policies.
3. You know it is in the public domain because the copyright holder has said so, or put certain "free" restrictions on its use. This is what Wikipedia and Commons and etc. does — they explicitly make their copyright assignment try to promote re-use of material. There are stipulations, but they are much freer than other copyrighted material, and they don't require you to check with the authors to get permission to use them.

Does that help? The problem is that copyright law can be both difficult to understand and the "ultimate" test of it is a lawsuit, which everyone wants to avoid. My recommendation would be to read a helpful little book like Lawrence Lessig's Free Culture (free online at link), which will give you a good sense of how these things work very quickly. It's a good book, anyway. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 23:52, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Australia and the World Cup?

When was the last time Australia made the world cup besides 2006? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 07:26, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Prior to 2006, Australia only qualified for one other World Cup - the 1974 FIFA World Cup. They did not make it past the group stage. Nanonic (talk) 08:14, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

I bet if they had had Tim Cahill they would have. Recury (talk) 15:13, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

They seek him here, they seek him there, they seek Tim Cahill everywhere. --68.144.73.245 (talk) 17:16, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Tim Cahill (6)

What age was Tim Cahill when he first participated in the 2004 Olympics for the Australian team? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 08:32, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

In order to know how old somebody was at a particular time, you need to know two things, namely (1) when that time was, and (2) when the person was born. Then you sort of subtract the one from the other. Now, you'll find one needed datum in one WP article, and the other datum in another WP article. One of these articles is coincidentally titled Tim Cahill, and the other is conspicuously linked from within it. Incidentally, how about this? -- Hoary (talk) 09:03, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Please see above to explain: AAAAHHHHHHGGGGG!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 12:28, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Tim Cahill (7)

What are some of Tim Cahill's personal acheivements? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 09:36, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Those that are ably described in the article about him. How many more questions on Cahill do you have in store for us? -- Hoary (talk) 10:27, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

What five letter word shares the last two letters of Tim Cahill's name, perhaps? Julia Rossi (talk) 22:03, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

i have lost the will to live...Perry-mankster (talk) 23:19, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Who is Tim Cahill anyway ?86.197.20.123 (talk) 15:53, 8 March 2008 (UTC)DT

See Tim Cahill. :) -Elmer Clark (talk) 08:09, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

That's just it, Elmer, we and they ha-ave! have have ha... Julia Rossi (talk) 09:53, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Goebells

Goebells created a flamboyant blue suit as a uniform for himself, unlike that of any of the other Nazi's. Today, this would be seen a being rather camp Further more, Hiter apparently enjoyed being deficated on. I do not mean to imply that homosexuals enjoy defication, please dont take this the wrong way, but in the light of these to aspects of thier personalities relate to the Nazi persecution of homosexual persons. Thanks people. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 17:09, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

You have to separate fact from rumour and propaganda, and realize that the propagandists didn't want Allied peoples just to hate the Nazis. They wanted them to also look down on the Nazis as contemptible and weird - "not like us". This is why Nazi leaders were often portrayed as being what the average person would have thought back then as "weird" or "abnormal", as this learned tome did. The Nazis tried the same kind of thing with Roosevelt and Churchill, giving them sexual proclivities they didn't have in real life.

As for flamboyant uniforms; many leaders (Eisenhower for one) had unique uniforms designed for themselves at the time. Goebbels's uniform is no more flamboyant than Ike's. It was more colourful, since Goebbels's uniform was meant to make him more obvious in a crowd while Ike's uniform was not. Goebbels wasn't a general at the front. --NellieBly (talk) 18:01, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

whare is thi question????????????Perry-mankster (talk) 23:20, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

click the edit button on the right hand side adjacent to the header of the question you wish to reply to. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.18.34.51 (talk) 01:10, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

There is a good response to this 'question' over on the Humanities desk by Clio the Muse. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Yes, I believe it (talk • contribs) 07:05, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

It's gone here [6] Julia Rossi (talk) 07:08, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Do you all not mean Goering ? He was the flamboyant, extrovert Field Marshall. Goebbels was the propaganda minister. And it is fact that many of the early Nazi leaders were homosexual. Especially those in the SD. In any case senior figures have for ever had tailored uniforms, or "brand marking" - Montgomery's multi-badged beret, Patton's pistol, Admiral Beatie's three button uniform.86.197.20.123 (talk) 15:51, 8 March 2008 (UTC)DT

Race wars

this question has been moved to the humanities desk

Qualifications of volunteers working the Wikipedia Reference desk

Hello,

I am curious about the minimum qualifications of volunteers who work on the Wikipedia Reference desk. In the Wikipedia entry on Reference desks, it states specifically that a Master's degree in Library Science is commonly held by those who work at traditional library reference desks. Is that true of the Wikipedia Reference desk as well? Thank you. 208.110.235.137 (talk) 17:25, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

No. Any random person with internet access can wander by and answer questions. We sometimes get unreasonable answers. Like the rest of Wikipedia, we depend on most editors being reasonable, it usually works surprisingly well. Friday (talk) 17:27, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Reasonable?, bugger! i better sober up. P.S. you have to have an encyclopedic knowledge of Tim Cahill:P Perry-mankster (talk) 23:24, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

And you have to be able to suitly emphazi things when called upon to do so. Otherwise, if you breathe air, you're qualified. -- JackofOz (talk) 23:49, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

I tend to stick to areas of my own expertise, so in my case, I mostly answer computer-related questions. On the other hand, I also enjoy taking a look at this miscellaneous desk because the questions are usually pretty fun. Useight (talk) 23:50, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

It helps to have patience to some degree, among others such as the third and the nth. Julia Rossi (talk) 02:30, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

I find a knowledge of activities which may be illegal when performed in a mask may help ;) Lemon martini (talk) 13:27, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

I've got lots of free time on my hands being housebound.hotclaws 21:12, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

All of our RD volunteers have a sense of humour. Except for those who don't. --Dweller (talk) 15:31, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

A knowledge of gulls can be helpful. Edison (talk) 14:55, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

糖醋肉??

Does anyone know what this chinese cuisine (糖醋肉) is called in US? I've googled for an hour and I couldn't find it. It looks like this. Janviermichelle (talk) 18:24, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Maybe sweet and sour pork? [7] 207.148.157.228 (talk) 18:34, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

It means Sweet and Sour meat in Chinese, but the dish you linked to does not look like sweet and sour pork. bibliomaniac15 I see no changes 02:50, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

It looks very regular. chicken's not usually battered, and while fish can be, it's more organic in shape, and tofu wouldn't be "meat" though it comes in little squares, is it usually battered? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Julia Rossi (talk • contribs) 09:39, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

To be fair, battering of chicken (and other meats) is quite common in 'North American'-style Chinese cooking. See the canonical General Tso's chicken, for example. To my eye, the linked picture looks like battered chicken, but I'd have to bite it to be sure. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 13:56, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

It's Sweet and sour pork. ja:酢豚 shows that hanzi too. According to the article, 咕老肉 is a dish using loin with pineapple and ketchap and 糖醋肉 is a dish using tenderloin and with just sugar and vinegar. Oda Mari (talk) 19:12, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

肉/meat in a Chinese dish name means always pork. Oda Mari (talk) 05:19, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Tornadoes hit Florida , sucked up Wikipedia ?!

Is Wikipedia still functioning ? Just seen on the news that tornadoes have hit your area. 65.173.104.12 (talk) 21:05, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

One other thing, who's Admins are more helpful, sexy, nicer, cuter, kinder ? Wikipedia's Admins or Uncyclopedia's Admins ? 65.173.104.12 (talk) 21:07, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Uncyclopedia has admins?! 206.252.74.48 (talk) 21:25, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

All of Wikipedia is down, having been blown to Oz by the tornadoes. Anything you see now is likely just a dream. Try not to walk through the poppies. --LarryMac | Talk 21:33, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Ah, so that's where all the recent heavy rains came from. -- JackofOz (talk) 21:42, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia has Admins?!. Oz has rain?! the endth of the world cometh! run to the hills! etc etc...Perry-mankster (talk) 23:26, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

The above may also explain the emergence of millions of clones of Agent Cahill taking over the WP:Reference Matrix to annihilate the nonconformists. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 23:31, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

March 8

Funny photos

Can someone give me a website that shows some funny things like the picture in the this website? Btw its the spetsnaz one БοņёŠɓɤĭĠ₳₯є 00:03, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

you might want to check out [8] Furmanj (talk) 01:18, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks but i wanted more military ones then just general stuff like that. Thanks though. БοņёŠɓɤĭĠ₳₯є 03:34, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

You might like StumbleUpon - it learns your preferences pretty quickly. I've found countless funny image sites on this. The Evil Spartan (talk) 18:42, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Abaya and Jilbab

What is the difference between the terms Jilbab and Abaya? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs) 04:45, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Have you seen the articles Jilbāb, Abaya and Hijab? They describe the difference as clothing and as meaning and function which you might like to compare as you go. Julia Rossi (talk) 07:04, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

There's a helpful comparison chart at List of types of sartorial hijab. In short, jilbab sometimes is a general term that can refer to any outer garment, so there's no easy way to compare. Mangostar (talk) 20:28, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Over the rainbow

For some reason I used to be really into the American Hip-Hop and now I have started getting back into the Japanese music scene. According to my finances it costs a lot less money as well. I was wondering if it was more expensive to be into foreign music then music from your own country. What do you guys think?--SlaveofBetrayal (Talk) —Preceding comment was added at 05:06, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

C'mon it's the 21st century here! Just download them both for free! --124.254.77.148 (talk) 07:47, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Are you asking whether it is more expensive for you to (legally) buy foreign or domestic music, or whether it is more expensive for foreigners than locals to produce music? I think there will be national variations in both, but it will vary from country to country. I don't know the situation in Japan, but logic would suggest that local music would be cheaper to buy. Rockpocket 07:53, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

The situation in Japan is that domestic CDs are a lot more expensive than US CDs of American pops (even including the shipping cost the latter). What's particularly irritating is that [legal] CDs of good oldies (e.g. the best stuff by Eri Chiemi) are just as expensive as new CDs by this or that interchangeable brand new teen "sensation"; cf other markets (even before the arrival of boxes from Proper Records). -- Hoary (talk) 10:20, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Workplace rights

At the KFC I work at (in Australia) they don't pay us extra on Sundays. This is illegal right? Who do I complain about this to? --124.254.77.148 (talk) 13:26, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Talk to your union rep if you think you're not getting paid what you should. FiggyBee (talk) 14:23, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Whilst we cannot offer 'legal' advice there are plenty of places where Sunday working is not legally requiring 'extra' (or 'overtime') pay. Look over the contract you signed when you started - try to find the rules you agreed to it, it should state your 'normal' working hours. Lots of people with Saturday-jobs get paid no more on Sundays, but then some people work full-time and will get 'double time' on Sundays because it is not their normal-working-hours. I have no idea of the legal situation but it doesn't sound like something that would be legally required (what makes Sunday so special that it is deserving of increase wages one could ask) ny156uk (talk) 17:02, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

I doubt that someone working in the fast-food industry is unionised. A government website such as workplace.gov.au or The Citizens Advice Bureau (possibly here [9] or here [10]) might be a better bet. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 18:17, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Wow. Work must be very different in Australia. In the US, fast food people sure aren't unionized, the blue laws are all but dead, and everyone has to work Sunday like it or not (overtime is usually only paid on special occasions like holidays). The Evil Spartan (talk) 18:30, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Australian Workplace Agreement. Before this you always got extra on holidays and sundays, if you didnt a union would help you. I've just been paid for work I did in December. Note that striking is actually illegal. I have a strongly negative opinion of AWA's.Polypipe Wrangler (talk) 21:06, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

The Workplace Infoline is set up to deal with these sorts of queries and complaints. -- JackofOz (talk) 22:00, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Actually, retail and fast food workers in Australia are usually members of or at least covered by agreements negotiated by the SDA. I don't know how far AWAs penetrated into fast food. FiggyBee (talk) 03:05, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I used to work for Pizza Hut, who are owned by the same corporation (Yum! Restaurants), and we had a constant rate, which had been negotiated by the union in exchange for having a rate that was higher than minimum wage, and IIRC time-and-a-half on public holidays. Rates of pay should all be detailed in your contract, AWA or collective agreement that you signed when you started work, and will dictate whether you get different rates on different days or not. Confusing Manifestation(Say hi!) 05:59, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

Dolphin or Parrot?

Just curious Is a dolphin smarter then a parrot (and I'm talking about African Grey)? Or is the parrot smarter then the dolphin?71.142.240.203 (talk) 18:29, 8 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

According to google answers the dolphin is "smarter". It has always been the case that the dolphin was way up there just behind the ape or chimp. Some argue that if the dolphin were land-based and had limbs, it would be the dominant species. Sandman30s (talk) 18:36, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't think the dolphin would dominate humans in that scenario, it'd have a lot harder time finding fish to eat. Useight (talk) 21:42, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

I think you missed the point. Their cortexes are 10% larger than humans so that would make them more intelligent in terms of reasoning and logic. If evolution had been kinder to them and given them hands to manipulate their environment, legs to move around on land, and more advanced vocal chords, they would have been the dominant species on the planet instead of us. It has nothing to do with eating fish or their diet; they would have been a different lifeform with terrestrial rather than aquatic dietary requirements. It must be incredibly frustrating for them having such intelligence and knowing such volumes about the oceans, but not having the physical attributes to advance. Every time you look at your fingers, thank evolution that they were given to you. Sandman30s (talk) 22:53, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

The fact that they have larger cortexes and may be better at reasoning and logic hardly makes them more intelligent. it's entirely possible that depite this they lack consciousness comparable with that of a human. Without the ability to reflect on their own thoughts and actions or form abstract concepts they would still probably be some way behind humans. Nothing has ever proven that dolphins are even approaching humans on any of the varying scales of intelligence. Surely if they were as intellectually capable as humans then they would demonstrate use of tools, or at least some form of meaningful interaction wih their envrionment, even despite their bodyshape. And then evolution would favour the development of superior means to use said tools, ensuring better ability to manipulate their environment. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 02:42, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I think you missed my mark on the question. I wasn't comparing dolphins and humans. I was comparing super logical and abstract thinking with knowing how to say at least 300 to 400 human words. Being able to communicate and make sentences. A parrot or a dolphin. For me both have amazing talents. But which one? The one that can talk and understand. Or the one known to be able to learn faster.71.142.240.203 (talk) 04:11, 9 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

Oh, sorry, I just disagreed with what Sandman was saying. I'd have to say a dolphin is much more intelligent than even the smartest African Grey (was his name Alex? The one that died?). Parrots can memorise words and even phrases, but there's no meaning for them, which is what language really is, a tool to express meaning. Dolphins are able to hunt in packs, solve problems and form social relationships, and have an apparently complex system of communication, while parrots will have a few calls for various purposes but are able to imitate human voices. The brain of a dolphin is just much larger than a parrots, so it is able to perform significantly more difficult intellectual tasks. But pound for pound, I reckon the parrot holds its own. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 04:48, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Yup, that was Alex (parrot). RIP. Clarityfiend (talk) 04:53, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I can see were you are going with dolphin. They do have larger brains then a parrot. And I do agree a dolphin is smarter then a parrot. But lets explore this for a moment. We have a dolphin who can do numerous things. But the parrot can communicate to human language. Or at least when it is taught this behavior they can communicate. Dolphins can only talk through whistles and clicks, but they are still taught to communicate. We have already decided a dolphin is smarter then a parrot. The next question is which one is smarter in communication?71.142.240.203 (talk) 07:00, 9 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

The thing is that for a parrot, speaking English or any form of human language isn't communication in the same way as speaking is for humans. We have words which are specifically attached to meanings and concepts, whereas for the parrot the human words are essentially a performance. Have a look at Chinese room for some interesting stuff that sort of applies. When the parrot speaks our language, it is because it has been trained to do so, and no matter how big its vocabulary you could never hold a conversation with it, it can just tell you if it wants a cracker or if something is a square or a circle. It communicates through song/chirping, where different tones may mean "Hey, this is my tree, go away" or "Hey, how you doin'" or whatever. Parrot to parrot communication is very limited compared to human-human communciation, or even dolphin-dolphin. A dolphin may be able to convey the fact that there is a large shoal of fish a certain distance away in a certain direction to another dolphin, but a parrot couldn't get that specific.

The parrot is able to imitate the human voice and can be trained to 'parrot' words (sorry for the awful joke), but has nothing even close to the human capacity for learning language. The dolphin is unable to imitate our vocal chords but would probably come a lot closer if it could. I can be taught sentences is Swahili, and then repeat them, without knowing what they mean. The parrot gets slightly further than that by being able to name colours or shapes, but most two-year-olds can do that. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 08:04, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

My aunt's parrot can certainly associate certain sounds with actions - those who own parrots can attest to their intelligence. For example if the phone rings, it answers the phone in the same way she does; or if the room is too silent it immitates the phone ringing! However, studies into dolphins and cetaceans have found that their squeaks and whistles is an advanced form of communication and contain volumes of information across kilometres of ocean. I really haven't missed the mark, I was merely comparing dolphins to humans to show how far ahead of parrots they are. Also, just to stir a little, who knows what would have happened if the comet hadn't killed off the dinosaurs? They would have evolved to the dominant species - 65 million years is a long time. And those going *sigh* - yes these topics have been discussed extensively before. The original poster can certainly get a whole lot more authoritative commentary on the net or in books. Sandman30s (talk) 10:34, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, I see what you're saying about the whole dolphin/parot thing, I was just trying to make the point that there's a massive difference between demonstrable intelligence and consciousness. Dolphins are doubtless a highly intelligent species, much more so than parrots, but there is little evidence that they exibhit anywhere near human levels of self-awareness and meta-reflection. About the dinosaurs, we really know to little about them to speculate but I will anyway. I reckon that if it wasn't for the comet or whatever combination of things killed them off, they would have developed something close to the human mind. Intelligence provides an obvious evolutionary advantage, so I think that would have eventually evolved into consciousness and human thought. In a way, I think consciousness is an evolutionary given, really. It confers so many advantages with none of the stages of its evolution providing setbacks as far as I know, and I can't imagine a species able to manipulate its environment as capably as us being considered anything other than the dominant species. But I would truly fear a raptor with human intelligence levels. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 03:08, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

• Clearly the dolphin. --M@rēino 15:05, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, but the mice are even more intelligent than either of them 81.96.160.6 (talk) 11:51, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

AOL Instant Messager (AIM) won't let me sign in

This question has been removed; it's already posted on the Computing Reference Desk. Useight (talk) 21:43, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Spanish language telenovelas with English language dialouges

Sometines I watch Spanish language telenovelas and I hear some English language spoken in them. Is the English language coming from Mexican telenovela actors or their characters? Ericthebrainiac (talk) 20:16, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, Eric, characters are fictional people and can't actually speak, in any language. It is the actors that are speaking their words. Does this help? --ColinFine (talk) 22:16, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Power Glove Codes

Ok, I'm really desperate now. I looked all over the internet and can't find the codes you need to enter into the Power Glove for certain games. Can someone please direct me to a site that lists all of them? Thanks in advance. 98.206.10.80 (talk) 20:52, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Google that info. 65.173.104.12 (talk) 21:38, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

What part of "all over the internet" don't you understand. I've browsed through 15 pages of google results and none of them have it! 98.206.10.80 (talk) 21:47, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Have you tried www.gamefaqs.com? Maybe they have something. Useight (talk) 01:58, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

• It's usually much easier to look up the cheats for the game you have in mind, rather than for the peripheral. --M@rēino 15:07, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Are these legal?

1. Is it legal to shit outside in your own backyard?

2. Is it legal to wear a sheath over your cock as your only clothing in public?

3. Is it legal to fuck the line in a crowded bathroom and just barge into a stall?

--Singsafobri (talk) 21:14, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Legal where? 81.187.153.190 (talk) 21:29, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

America.--Singsafobri (talk) 21:31, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

NO to all, unless you want to go to prison or to a loony bin. 65.173.104.12 (talk) 21:36, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

1. Yes, as long as nobody can see you. 2. No, you have to cover your back side as well. 3. Yes, there's no law against cutting in line, but the others will probably get angry. Useight (talk) 21:40, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Re: #2, I'm pretty sure that public nudity/obscenity laws vary from state to state. I wouldn't do it outside of, say, the Gay Pride parade in San Francisco (where such displays of nudity are common). --98.217.18.109 (talk) 22:10, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Assuming that you are a pet canine or tomcat:

1 Depends on the tolerance and footwear of your owner.

2 Dogs and felines are legally entitled to public nudity. Indeed, they may indulge in procreative activities outside the confines of a private enclosure.

4 But then again, I know nothing about gay cats and dogs in California.

--Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 00:35, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

(2.) Yes, somtimes it's legal (or at least excepted.). See World Naked Bike Ride. --S.dedalus (talk) 02:28, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

If all you're wearing is a sheath, I don't think anyone will confront you for cutting in line. They'd probably be a little scared and confused. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 08:10, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Strange isn't it when someone clearly, obviously and unequivocally asks for legal advice about an offensive style of behaviour other people who have previously and piously claimed that "we are unable to give legal advice" get distracted by the crass idiocy of the question and gush with legal knowledge. Richard Avery (talk) 14:51, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Hey, there were swear words! That meant this was one of the cool kids. This could be our chance to hang out wearing cock-sheaths and crapping in gardens! 81.96.160.6 (talk) 19:51, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

 With or without a mask? hotclaws 21:15, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

It's known as anti-social behaviour even if it's not covered by penalties, if someone sees you and complains to the authorities, steps will be taken! And yeah Richard Avery, quite a hook, isn't it? Julia Rossi (talk) 07:04, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

little question

Hi all,

I'm not trying to seek any type of medical advice with the following question, I'm just curious:

How much of a person's intelligence quotient or mental capacity (or brain/brainpower) is lost when a person drinks alcohol?

I'm curious about this for various levels or intensities of drinking, like one glass a month, one glass a week, every other day, rabid alcoholic, etc.

Thanks mucho hombres —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.23.82.79 (talk) 21:39, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Wow. I've been searching for ages for the answer to this one, and I can't find anything. I'd assume that alcohol intake lowers your ability to do certain things like maths or problem solving, as well as hand-eye coordination, but no-one seems to have done a study or written anything guessing or anything. I don't think that pemanent abuse of alcohol would severely impair any of these functions, though, but while drunk there must be a measureable difference. I hope someone finds something. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 08:19, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Hmm, it's extreme, but have you looked at the article Korsakoff's Syndrome as a result of chronic alcoholism? It's more to do with alcoholism preventing absorption of Vitamin B in the stomach for various reasons. You could click here[11] and work your way up through the behaviours. oops forgot to sign Julia Rossi (talk) 10:54, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Also see fetal alcohol syndrome for the effects of maternal alcohol consumption on fetal development, especially of the brain. For adults, one of the ways that alcohol can lead to loss of brain function is to do something stupid while drunk, or even tipsy, such as driving under the influence, that leads to a nasty accident. BrainyBabe (talk) 11:30, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Note, though, that under normal circumstances you don't "lose" intelligence via alcohol consumption. It's not as if each drink kills off x number of brain cells or anything. I have never heard of any permanent mental effects whatsoever (unless you count alcoholism as a mental effect) except in very extreme cases of massive/long-term alcohol abuse. -Elmer Clark (talk) 08:21, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

See Long-term_effects_of_alcohol#Nervous_system for an overview. Mangostar (talk) 20:33, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

local control state

I need a definition to this, i cannot find it anywhere, and wonder if it is broad ranged, or limited to schools and the smoking ban......... —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hargis4president (talk • contribs) 21:55, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

I have no idea what you're talking about. What part of the world are you in? What do you mean by "local control state"? --NellieBly (talk) 00:35, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Do you mean local authority as in local civic or town authority? In Australia it's the local council which makes ordinances (rules) about things like how rules such as not smoking in public places are applied. For schools eg, it's the State school authority, whatever that might be. Julia Rossi (talk) 07:01, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

change my clock

When do I change my clock this year for daylight saving time? I am in eastern time zone (New York). Do I move it up one hour or back one hour? Thanks !!!! Niyant (talk) 22:59, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

"Spring forward, fall back". So you go forward one hour. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 23:28, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

And you're supposed to change it at 2AM, I believe. Useight (talk) 01:56, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Yes, the time officially changes at 2 a.m. Although, you can change your clock before you go to bed Saturday night, assuming you aren't out partying and such past 2.... Dismas|^(talk) 02:39, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Or not bother to change it at all and just remember to add on the hour whenever you look at it. Or go out and buy a clock that changes itself automatically. HS7 (talk) 11:02, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

March 9

Arab/Muslim names

In western countries there are certain forenames that are more popular than others (for example John), however despite this there is a vast number of different names available for one to pick and it never really seems like your meeting too many of one name.. But why is it when I see a news report from any Arab/Muslim country (sadly normally regarding terrorists or the like)the person is almost ineveitably called one of three names - Muhammed, Ahmed or Abdullah, and sometime even a combination of two or three of them. Of course there are more popular names in any society, but it just seems to me to be unusually high even for religious names like muhammed. What is the cause of this phenomenon, is there just less foremanes to choose from in these cultures or some other factor at work? Does it cause problems for the governments to keep track of people, imagine the censuses? What about if say you spotted a friend across a busy street and shout 'Hey muhammed' surely like 20 or 30 people would turn round? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.64.111.96 (talk) 02:46, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

It is true that certain communities choose personal names for their children from bigger or smaller pools of culturally appropriate names. It is also true that some communities are much more likely to choose a few names with greater frequency. Black Americans choose from a wider range of names than white Americans, for example. There is a grouping of data sets called the Given Name Frequency Project looking at British census and other listings of names, going back hundreds of years, with discussion of the last millenium. As for the use of "Mohammed" (which can be transliterated in various ways, making tracking it in non-Arabic languages more tricky), I found this BBC article entitled "What can't be named Muhammad?", linked from our Sudanese teddy bear blasphemy case article. The BBC article says that "Mohammed" is now the second most popular name for baby boys in the UK, conflating 14 spellings. BrainyBabe (talk) 09:49, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

We have articles at Arabic name and Muhammad (name) that may aid your understanding. BrainyBabe (talk) 10:20, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I have always understood it to be considered very lucky/blessed to use Mohammed's name within the islamic community, and once shared a flat with a Mohammed Mohammed. Perry-mankster (talk) 14:23, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

According to something in the news a few years ago, the most popular name in the world was Mohammed; the most frequent last name was Wong. As some comedian said right afterwards, how come you never meet anyone named Mohammed Wong? Gzuckier (talk) 17:01, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Arabic names are often of multiple parts, and their 'first name' might only be used by their close friends and family. Other people would call them by another name, such as Abu X (father of X) or Ibn X (son of X) or by a name that describes a feature of their body or personality, or where they came from. The concept of a Firstname Lastname idea is relatively new in the Middle East. See Roman naming conventions for a similar system. Steewi (talk) 02:03, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Or indeed bint, "daughter of", or ama, "mother of". BrainyBabe (talk) 08:41, 11 March 2008 (UTC) Self-correction: "mother of" is more usually umm. BrainyBabe (talk) 22:52, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

What happened to my Siamese fighting fish?

She (I dunno its gender, my family just calls it a female) has been alive for 1 or 2 years (I've had some live up to 5), and she was always swimming around in her vase and looked bright and shiny (she had bright blue and red colours). However, one day (about two weeks ago), her colours began to fade and she really slowed down at swimming. Right now, she looks dead, is nearly upside down, and she's practically a gray colour. I have no idea what happened to her; my parents always changed the water and made sure it was never too cold/hot, and its by itself in its vase, which has roots in it she sucks on occasionally (we also occasionally gave her some fish food, though barely enough to bloat her). Anyone know what happened?? Why did her colours go out, her breathing really become laboured, and barely moved? Did some sort of fungi or bacteria infect her? I feel really bad for my fishy :( :( :(--Existthestage (talk) 03:51, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

The article Siamese fighting fish linke to breathing[12] is interesting, and Betta diseases are on google because there are more symptoms such as small white spots etc that come into working out what's happening. The article also mentions a 2-year lifespan for females. Julia Rossi (talk) 08:46, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

There are many many things that could cause that. Can you give us any more details? Losing color is just a symptom of stress or sickness of some kind. It could for instance be Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), or poisoning of some kind (did you test the ammonia and nitrite levels?), or any number of internal or external infections. --S.dedalus (talk) 02:07, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Slitting throat

In movies, when an attacker slits the throat of his/her victim with a knife, the victim if often portrayed as instantly dying. In such a case, death, of course, would certainly not be instant. But how would the victim die? If one's throat becomes slit, is that not similar to a Tracheotomy? Or would one choke on their own blood? Thanks. Acceptable (talk) 03:59, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

In all honesty, I have absolutely no idea. I just wanted to point out what a great phrase "If one's throat becomes slit" is. I assume the death would be painful and you'd die of blood loss pretty fast, though 81.96.160.6 (talk) 06:07, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Forgive me if this is distasteful, but the most obvious comparison is to animal slaughter. It is a lot easier to get data about the killing of large mammals other than humans. To what extent this can be extrapolated to people is, of course, debatable, but it seems reasonable to assume that pain mechanisms and speed of bleeding would be similar; consciousness is another matter. The article on ritual slaughter gives examples of throat-slitting such as Jewish (kosher) shechita and Islamic (halal) Ḏabīḥah. BrainyBabe (talk) 09:57, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Also have a look at http://www.moviedeaths.com/ it's quite interesting - it does a 'count' of deaths by different types. Also http://www.moviebodycounts.com/ does on-screen death body counts which is quite interesting to scan through too. Not quite in answer to the question but sort of related ny156uk (talk) 14:31, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

The speed of death will depend largely on how 'one's throat becomes slit'. A deepish cut across the front would probably result in cutting of the trachea and minor blood vessel which may lead to bleeding into the trachea with obvious painful, distressing consequences. However if the cut were deep and more to the side (laterally - as the experts say)it would hopefully sever one of the carotid arteries which would lead to rapid bleeding and almost immediate loss of blood pressure to the brain. Apart from the initial pricking or stinging of the blade the effect on the victim would almost certainly be a sensation of fainting. A 'grey-out' with rapid loss of conciousness. The body will twitch and convulse but it is not possible that the individual would be aware of anything within a few seconds. Having seen clips of goats being slaughtered in this way I was surprised at the speed of death and the apparent lack of distress in the animal. The extrapolation from animals to humans has some validity given that most of the larger 'food' animals have a neck anatomy not dissimilar to humans. Richard Avery (talk) 14:52, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

But generally, death is due to blood loss and not oxygen deprivation? Acceptable (talk) 16:44, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I'd assume so, being as you can hold your breath for a while but going without blood seems a bit more urgent. Just guesswork, though. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 20:50, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Death would take probably no more than a minute or two, probably through bleeding out through the jugular or carotid arteries rather than asphyxiation or drowning. However, the target would be in shock, usually as soon as the bleeding starts. People generally don't act effectively for long after they realize they're dying quickly. Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 23:15, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Death from blood loss is caused by the blood no longer being able to take oxygen from the lungs to the brain, so whether you can still breathe or not wouldn't matter much in this case. HS7 (talk) 10:58, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

You might want to look at our Exsanguination article. --Mdwyer (talk) 20:10, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Richard Zednik, a forward for the Florida Panthers, recently had his carotid artery almost completely severed by the skate blade of a teammate. Zednik skated to the bench under his own power, clutching his neck with a gloved hand. Zednik is now doing fine. So no, death is not neccessarily instanteous or even inevitable. Though, if you cut deep enough, of course death become more and more probable, culminating at 100% or thereabouts at a full decapitation. Vranak (talk) 16:01, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Hockey is such a fun wholesome sport! Zednik cut his external carotid artery; he lost five units of blood but the artery was not severed. In 1989 Clint Malarchuk sliced his internal carotid artery in a manner so gruesome that three teammates vomited and two spectators had heart attacks; in defiance of expectations, he was back skating a few days later (according to our article -- no word on the health of the spectators). So slicing one's throat is not an absolute path to death. But, kiddies, don't try this at home. BrainyBabe (talk) 23:06, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

UPenn Campus

How does the campus of University of Pennsylvania compare with the campus of Harvard in terms of scenery, geographic location and "tranquility"? Acceptable (talk) 04:10, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't know about UPenn but Harvard is pretty bad in terms of scenery and tranquility. The campus greenery is only really groomed up once a year, for graduation, other than that it is usually pretty sparse, even when the whether isn't miserable. The buildings are pretty if you like that 19th-century red brick look. Harvard yard isn't very tranquil—lots of people milling about at all times, lots of tourists, lots of traffic in Harvard Square. However Harvard has a great geographic location, except for the weather: close enough to a major city (Boston) to get all of the amenities if you want them (just a few quick stops on the T), far enough away that you aren't actually living in an "urban" environment. But the New England weather is pretty miserable unless you are a glutton for cold punishment. You don't go to Harvard for the weather. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 04:53, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

US military buying

In the US Armed Forces, what shopping if any are officers expected to do for their own units, rather than using supplies and equipment ordered and sent by the Pentagon? NeonMerlin 04:48, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

None. Corvus cornix_talk 20:42, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

In the US army, as in most professional armies, the military HQ has under it a major logistical network, tasked with supplying units with what they need - within the constraints of a budget. Do you actually mean to ask about arms, ammunition, etc, being bought off of the private market? Or some other way? In terms of pure equipment (see night vision goggles, boots, etc), the military will provide these for you in all western, industrial countries. It's not a bad idea to have a watch, or say a headband-flashlight of your own. If we have misinterpreted your question, do elaborate on it. 81.93.102.185 (talk) 00:01, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

The name Buraidoty Maltba

What origin is the given name Buraidoty? I did a search on http://www.familysearch.org on the surname Maltba and found the ancestral Maltba to be one Buraidoty Maltba. Given that these Maltba people are Appalachian, they could be Melungeon, which would mean the ancestor could be something really exotic. 67.188.22.239 (talk) 06:05, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Daylight Saving Time

Hi fellas! I have some trouble understanding the rationale behind daylight saving time. Why do people actually change their clocks to a different time rather than just having different office/school timings for the winters? That would seem much more logical and correct compared to changing the time itself. Thanks! ReluctantPhilosopher (talk) 08:17, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Have a look at the article, there are a number of reasons there. Apparently it's controversial and bad for farmers. But apparently the original reason was to increase leisure time and save on incandescent lighting. Learn something new every day. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 08:25, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

ReluctantPhilosopher asked why clock times are changed rather than just changing office and school hours. Think how many other things would have to be rescheduled as well. You are going to work an hour earlier, say, so your bus or train needs to run an hour earlier. Or if you travel by car you want your garage to be open an hour earlier. You have to go to bed an hour earlier but you don't want to miss your favourite TV programme. You are buying your newspaper or doing your shopping an hour earlier. It is more convenient to move everyone's clocks by an hour than to keep the clocks unchanged but have to change transport timetables; opening times for shops and garages; television and radio schedules and so on. Gandalf61 (talk) 09:26, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Ah OK I guess that answers it. Here in India the difference in daylight isn't that much so we just change the school timings for kids, everything else pretty much remains the same. Thanks for answering! :) ReluctantPhilosopher (talk) 15:53, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Go to Arizona. That US state does'nt mess with Daylight Savings Time. 65.173.104.12 (talk) 09:27, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Also to keep your feet warm at night, you can cut 6 inches from the top of your blanket and sew it onto the bottom. As you may guess, I find DST to be an irritant without value. Gzuckier (talk) 17:04, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I agree with you. Now it is dark again when I wake up, after just one week of finally not having to scrape frost off my windshield because the sun melted it instead. I want to wake up to the sun, not have the sun set "later". (Also, I love your blanket analogy.) 206.252.74.48 (talk) 18:48, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Tim Cahill family photo

Could you guys please find me a picture of Tim Cahill with his family? 220.233.83.26 (talk) 09:01, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Until one is found, you might enjoy this[13]. There must a person of 1.78m (5'10") among them. : ) Julia Rossi (talk) 10:27, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Great picture, love it!--Artjo (talk) 11:23, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

This was taken when the family got together. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Richard Avery (talk • contribs) 14:24, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

behind abusive paparazzi

Are there any studies which might reveal that the particular paparazzi who abuse their right of free press are actually doing so on behalf of government, organizations or individuals who are against free press so as to justify and bring about legal restrictions against free press as it exists today? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.100.0.36 (talk) 15:12, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

That would be a worthless complex conspiracy, taking far too much organisation of too many people to be realistic. I'm sure the paparazzi who ignore the rules are doing so for 'a shot' or to 'get' something that will make them money. Government would have countless more simple ways of justifying restriction of the press with the general public. ny156uk (talk) 15:36, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

...but are there any studies...? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.100.1.30 (talk) 23:14, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Last VHS made

What was the last VHS tape made. БοņёŠɓɤĭĠ₳₯є 15:16, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

According to the VHS article it was 'A History of Violence' by David Cronenberg - though that's just the last hollywood feature, there will doubtless be more recent ones that were none-hollywood. ny156uk (talk) 15:33, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I made one just yesterday86.219.163.48 (talk) 11:26, 10 March 2008 (UTC)ST

You made a VHS!?! What, do you own the Sony factory or something? Think outside the box 12:08, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Wool

Where would I sell wool to in Michigan? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.119.61.7 (talk) 17:27, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

• You might want to get in touch with User:SallyZ from Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Mathematics/2008 January 7#Detroit / Homeslessness. --brewcrewer (yada, yada) 03:02, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

House in Boston

I cannot, for the life of me, find any spots that advertise playing house (or progressive house, techno, whatever the kids are calling it these days). Ive found places such as Axis, Avalon, Utopia which didnt have anything. And then I've found high end places in the theatre district which dont interest me. I guess im wondering if there are any places, that I cant seem to google, that play House or something of that ilk in the boston area.

Thanks!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.184.131.123 (talk) 18:24, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Did you try googling "house music" venues Boston (with quotes to avoid Boston Opera House)? Stuff turned up but can't tell if it's what you already found. Julia Rossi (talk) 06:54, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I'm in love with an anachronism

That is, with a woman who no longer exists. I'm completely addicted to watching reruns of I've Got a Secret that they're rebroadcasting on the Game Show Network from the late 1950s and early 60s. I'm infatuated with Betsy Palmer, a long time cast member: here's a bad picture that does her little justice. But then, here she is today. It's so hard to reconcile this vibrant beauty that I'm just being introduced to through these reruns, to what time did to her [and does to us all]. There's nothing deep about this I know. But never before have this been thrust upon me. I didn't know she was the mother from Friday the 13th when I started watching this show. So there I am watching the show (fascinating because of all the celebrities from the 50 on it and cultural aspects) and slowly became more and more enamored. Then one day I looked her up on Google Images. I knew of course that she would be 50+ years older today if she was alive, but somehow seeing her like that was shocking. Not sure what I'm asking; anyone ever had something like this come home to them in a similar fashion, any word for this; maybe some commisseration about this type of alienation? All comments welcome.--68.237.225.148 (talk) 18:27, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Sure, of course. I had a big crush on Sandy Duncan after watching her bit on a 1970s episode of the Muppets. But she's much older now. I don't think there's anything pathological about it. I felt the same way about Myrna Loy in the old Thin Man movies after I first saw those a few years ago. Guess I got a thing for old-timey brassy women. Alas. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 19:55, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I had a minor edit war a while back with an anonymous editor who kept removing this image from the Ursula Andress article because they felt she should only be shown as she looked when she was young. I see there's a different modern image there now. Corvus cornix_talk 20:46, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

That is one really unflattering picture. If someone's notability is to some degree due to her beauty, then certainly I'd like to see that person in her prime, although it wouldn't have to be the only image. Clarityfiend (talk) 22:56, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

She certainly seems to be free of plastic surgery and comfortable with her age, but that flowing brown hair makes an odd contrast. Julia Rossi (talk) 06:42, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Btw it seems a strange article that it doesn't show an image of what made her a James Bond beauty in the first place. Julia Rossi (talk) 06:49, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

We have a big problem with getting pics that aren't copyrighted, so often a bad photo is better than no photo at all. But sometimes, the reverse is true, and I think this is one of those cases. -- JackofOz (talk) 06:57, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

This budgie just fell off her perch laughing at that. Email to: Ms Andress, We have a big problem... >–))Julia Rossi (talk) 09:46, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Could it Help With Memory

Because your short term memory is close to the part making you feel emotions is it true that if you truly hate or dislike something you'll forget it? And if that is the case then if you did something you liked at the same time as something you dislike will you remember the thing you disliked?71.142.240.203 (talk) 20:50, 9 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

Hi CR. Short-term memory is shorter than I thought, then there's working memory, long-term memory – maybe starting with memory is the go. I guess you've already looked at emotion and memory, method acting (ye-es) and affective memory where in psychology, emotion is the affect. It gives the impression that emotion intensifies an event making it recall-able so that it can be relived and refelt. Negative emotion can be more intense (as in why negative news sells and good news doesn't); but that doesn't explain (straight away anyway) why people reminisce about "the good old days" and selectively forget the downside of their experiences. Julia Rossi (talk) 09:37, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Emotion and memory has a cool introduction par. I meant to add it earlier but I forgot. Julia Rossi (talk) 09:42, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Cost of Heroin and Cocaine

Hey Wikipedia Contributors,

I know you guys don't do homework, but I have a project concerning the cost of drug addictions for gym class. I have been searching on the internet, but have been unable to find a reliable source for the cost of a)street cocaine, b)pure powdered cocaine, c)street heroin and d)pure powdered heroin in North America. Could someone point me in the right direction? Thanks. 99.240.177.206 (talk) 22:11, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, it'll vary by city, and by amount (large amounts are less per gram, for example, like most bulk commodities but especially those where increased bulk means increased danger). What you're looking for is the "street value" of any given amount of drug; google "Street value cocaine" and you'll find some information, but keep in mind the methodological issues I mentioned above. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 02:06, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

It really depends where you live and who your friends are. I'm in Brighton in the UK and street cocaine is between 40 and 50 quid a gram, and pure cocaine you just can't get unless you know a serious dealer. You might get something like 80-90% being sold to you as pure, though. Heroin is a lot more variable. If you're buying it pure, you're buying loads normally, so it'll be really expensive but not that much per gram due to bulk discounts. Street heroin varies drastically with supply and demand, as junkies are customers with no money but an insane willingness to buy. It has to be said that in the UK at least, the street prices the government and papers quote are horribly off. It's normally about 1/2 or 2/3 of the quotes you'll get. Oh, and don't do drugs. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 03:17, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Is the homework asking for the personal, health and community cost of drug addictions, or the price of addictive drugs? Julia Rossi (talk) 08:36, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Performance of a US Military Humvee

Looking at the [14]specs of a US Humvee, the torque and horsepower does not stand out. Maximum engine torque is rated at 290 lb-ft, combined with a 2.48:1 1st gear ratio and a 2.1:1 transaxle ratio, makes roughly 1510 lb-ft of output torque. This is meager compared to a Ford Superduty. What is going on here? Is the Humvee really that "underpowered"? Acceptable (talk) 23:57, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

It was never meant to be a high-speed vehicle. It's got decent torque, and like you said, ridiculously low gearing available for offroad use. It's funny that people buy these ridiculous cars because they're "powerful"- they're not powerful in any way that provides useful benefit. I guess it's all down to the "it's big so it must be good" marketing hype. Incidentally, that's about the same amount of torque my little compact car has. In that vehicle, it's enough to make it nice and fast, but it's fairly inadequate for the much larger Hummer. Friday (talk) 15:46, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

The Humvee can tow approximately 6,000 lbs. A 2008 Ford Super Duty can tow roughly 24,000 lbs. That's quite a big difference there. Acceptable (talk) 16:38, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, the Humvee wasn't made for towing. It was made to drive over rough, incredibly rocky terrain as well as ford shallow rivers. It also doesn't have cup holders, which is something it has in common with my car. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 20:37, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

The Humvee was designed as a modernized Jeep. When the Army wants to move heavy equipment, they don't fool around. See, for example, Logistics Vehicle System: the LVS MK48/14 could carry your Ford Super Duty and its 24000-pound trailer without trouble. If you're willing to consider tracked vehicles, the M88A2 tank recovery vehicle has a 140,000-pound tow capacity. --Carnildo (talk) 22:28, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

March 10

High octane demands of supercars

The Ferrari F430 requires a recommended gasoline octane rating of 95. Here in Ottawa, Canada, the highest octane rating of most gas stations is only 91 or 93. Suppose if one was to own such a car, or a car with an even more stringent octane demand, what does one do in such a case? Surely putting 93 octane fuel into an F430 will most likely not damage it, as the on-board computer will reduce performance, but does that mean the car will never reach its full performance potential in this city? Acceptable (talk) 00:53, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Octane ratings are one of those wonderful things where the Americas and Europe use the same word to mean different things. Specifically, Europeans use the RON, while Americans use the average of the RON and MON. So 91 octane in Canada is the same stuff as 95 octane in Europe. FiggyBee (talk) 03:17, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Accuracy or Firepower

In a firefight, which is arguably better to have? БοņёŠɓɤĭĠ₳₯є 01:54, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Depends what kind of firefight you are talking about. There's a rather humorous bit in Unforgiven when one of the cowboys explains to another character that being able to draw fast isn't worth a damn if you can't aim. Seems likely to me, though I've never been in a firefight (and don't plan to be in one). My brief experience with Unreal Tournament suggests that in most cases accuracy is more important (you can often pick opponents off with just a pistol if you aim well) except when you have firepower so large that accuracy doesn't matter (five rockets flying at someone at once don't need to be very accurate). --98.217.18.109 (talk) 02:08, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

This would depend entirely on the nature of the fight and how accurate and powerful the, presumably, guns in question are. Suppose if the comparison was to be made between different sniper rifles. Sniper A is shooting the relatively powerful .300 Winchester Magnum, but is very inexperienced and not very accurate with the rifle. On the other hand, Sniper B is firing measly .22's (almost never found in military sniper rifles), but is an Olympic biathlete and is highly trained. Despite the advantage in firing power, Sniper A would not be able to hit Sniper B; while Sniper B may not be able to incapacitate Sniper A in one hit, but can continue to deliver rounds until fatality occurs.

Increasing polarity, suppose if that same Sniper B, with his .22, is fighting alongside a M1A2 Abrams Tank-which has a 120mm gun. Assuming that the tank is gunned by a drunk crew whom are also high on LSD, so that one can predict that the accuracy of their aim may decrease. This difference in accuracy, depending on exactly how much, may be negligible. As mentioned by the above poster, the increase splash-damage of the 120mm will compensate for its decrease in accuracy. Acceptable (talk) 02:24, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Well for the weapons i mean normal assault rifles (FN FAL M16's AK74) and lets say that each side is equaly a match for eachother. БοņёŠɓɤĭĠ₳₯є 04:04, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I just want to point out that your question specifies that they aren't equal. They can't have the same guns or then they'd have the same firepower, so it would all come down to accuracy. I think it would really just depend what weapons each one had and how proficient they were with them. If I've got Dirty Harry's hand-cannon and you've got Bond's PPK but my shots are about 4-5m off from my aim and you're spot on, then you'll probably win, barring luck. They are both important, but being as you can never have too much accuracy but you can have too much firepower, I'd have to opt for aim over destructive power. I think experience might prove to be a more vital factor, though. 81.96.160.6 (talk) 04:43, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I would say firepower. You want to be able to interdict as large a space as possible. Rhinoracer (talk) 14:39, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

The reference given by 98 above to Unforgiven is apposite, as a (the?) major theme of the film is that when it comes to the fight a true killer behaves rather differently changing the odds significantly. However, context would have to be considered. I doubt that Clint's character would have stood that much more of a chance at the Somme. So, IMHO, the question is meaningless without the increased contextualising which would ruin the simplicity of the question. --Dweller (talk) 15:27, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't have a good source, but my understanding is that in real-world gunfights, accuracy typically sucks. So- it depends how you want to look at it. Do you need dozens of shots because you're not hitting anything useful? You can solve that problem by aiming instead of spray-and-pray, or you can solve it by having more rounds available. I suspect the human factor is by far the more significant- even that "not very accurate" rifle can still shoot accurately enough- if you aim it properly. Friday (talk) 15:36, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

The question is not answerable because of a basic flaw. As a "firefight" progresses, casualties will decrease firepower without affecting accuracy. Bring your 100 men with smooth-bore muskets shooting round ball to within 50 yards of my 50 men with rifled muzzle-loaders shooting minnie balls. We'll wipe you out to a man in three or four volleys. --Milkbreath (talk) 16:01, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Right now, firepower. Beginning in World War I or possibly slightly before, almost every advance in infantry weapons has been intended to increase the number of bullets an infantryman can put in the air in a given period of time. --Carnildo (talk) 22:32, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I disagree. There's an awful lot of air and not enough metal to fill it with. If you can hit the target you don't have to spend 15 seconds pumping bullets into the ground around him. Support weapons have their tactical uses, to pin down enemies and restrict their movement, but for the average rifleman, I'd think he's likely to get more kills firing carefully than bulking up his pockets with magazines and going rambo :D\=< (talk) 15:53, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Differentials in winter

When driving a car in winter on slippery road surfaces, would an open differential or a limited slip differential be better when trying to maximize safety? Acceptable (talk) 02:14, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

For a bad driver, undoubtedly the open differential. A couple of years back I was in a line of cars slowly going up a snow-covered hill. We had to go slow because any attempt to accelerate resulted in wheelspin. A 4-wheel drive vehicle came rushing past us all, able to accelerate up the hill. At the top of a hill was a bend. A 4-wheel drive vehicle has no real advantage over a 2-wheel drive vehicle when it comes to taking a bend, and the car went straight on, through a wall and into somebody's garden. Now a good driver may in some conditions be able to accelerate out of danger. Imagine an out of control car approaching on a side-road, obviously unable to stop. Its conceivable that a good driver could use the extra traction to pull out of the way, whereas an open differential car would just spin the wheels. I think that these are exceptional circumstances, and in most cases to a good driver there is little difference in town driving. Now, if you live in a remote farm, and need to get to a nearby town for fuel or food, things could be very different. In cases where you are unlikely to be found if you are stuck, and hypothermia is a real risk if you get stuck then a limited slip diff will certainly be the safer option. -- Q Chris (talk) 12:13, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

makes a difference, rwd vs fwd. rwd lsd tends to fishtail a lot in the slipperies. now, on the other hand, i have a honda civic (fwd for those who don't know) and it wasn't particuarly talented in the snow, despite being fwd; but, after a few years ended up putting in a lsd (they're available aftermarket, or you can get a genuine honda one from japanese junkyards) and the difference is such that i would never consider a fwd car without one again. since the driving wheels are being steered, instead of fishtailing, the car just tends to go where the front wheels are pointed, slipping or not. this is true in the dry as well as the slippery. my front bumper right now will testify that in some cases, the car will still just skid straight, but in most cases the fwd lsd will pull you out of a skid. there have been occasions when i've had to maneuver around big suvs, 4wd i assume, stuck in the snow in the parking lot, amost literally driving circles around them, which i can only attribute to maybe they don't use snow tires in winter, while i do, from which i calculate that

fwd lsd + snow tire > 4wd - snow tire.

Gzuckier (talk) 17:11, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Who Should Take More Responsibility for The Global Warming?

Should poor countries or rich countries take more responsibility for the global warming? Which kind of countries make more contributions to the global warming? and which kind of countries gain more profit from making global warming? Some evidence or data support the opinion? - Justin545 (talk) 04:59, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I assume this is an essay homework question. See global warming and the pages it links to for an overview, but the Reference Desk isn't going to do your paper for you. If you have specific questions of fact or need some help getting pointed in the right direction after doing your research, though, feel free to ask. -Elmer Clark (talk) 08:35, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

This quesion is unrelated to my paper or homework although I can not prove that. I am just curious about how people think of the global warming, especially for a controversial quesion like this. - Justin545 (talk) 09:31, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

There's an interesting map at carbon footprint showing per capita greenhouse gas emissions world wide. Julia Rossi (talk) 10:40, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

The carbon footprint is just for year 2000, it would be different if the interval was between year 1900 and year 2007. - Justin545 (talk) 01:21, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

well, the obvious thing to do is make the question per capita, in which case you probably already know the answer. Sadly, somebody who drives a 6,000 pound vehicle which will accelerate to 60 mph in 8 seconds feels it would be unfair to ask him to get something that burns less fuel as long as those sheep herdsmen in Mongolia don't have to cut down on the amount of sheep dung they burn to keep warm in the winter. Gzuckier (talk) 17:15, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

How much will it cost to ask those sheep herdsmen in Mongolia don't burn the dung and discover new kind of fuel to keep them warm in winter? Can they afford the cost? And how much will it cost to ask the guy to drive a more green car? Can he afford the cost? - Justin545 (talk) 01:21, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Not quite: The best technique would be to look at where can make the biggest impact at the 'least' cost or at the best efficiency. The 'wealth' of the people making the change is basically irrelevant. A look at things like Comparative advantage and Economic efficiency would be a start, then consider how it could be related to climate change. Through intelligent incentivisation we can persuade people to change, we can regulate people towards change and we can even (though ideally not) outright ban things. All will be served by the right people making the changes, rather than everybody being asked to make arbitrary changes because of some moralistic/ethical reasoning - it is best to focus the efforts where most impact can be made for the least cost - all of which has little to do with wealth. 18:45, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Car buffs please help!

Hi, I have a 1994 Lexus ES300 and the check engine light came on. The code is "EGR Valve Insufficient flow". I am trying to save money by avoiding the mechanic. I've been doing some research on the internet and have found that replacing the EGR valve doesn't always fix the problem. I would be really dissappointed if i spent the $200 and the time installing the EGR valve only to see that the code doesn't go away. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what I could do to fix this problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.. thank you! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.7.130.43 (talk) 05:58, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't know whether a categoric answer would fall under the "professional advice" category that the refdesk header warns us of, but I will give you this piece of non-professional advice; in a situation like this where you don't really understand what you're doing, it's almost always best to pay to get it done properly. A mechanic would have your car back in shape in a few hours, or at least be able to tell you exactly what's wrong with it. Doing it yourself, you could waste a week on it, spend almost as much money, and still not fix the problem. FiggyBee (talk) 06:14, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Sometimes, if you take it to a mechanic for a diagnosis, get a price quote, then you can decide if and when you can afford to have something done. Julia Rossi (talk) 06:24, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

If you want to save money, you can ignore it. Of course, then if some new problem comes along that warrants a check engine light, you won't know the difference. It costs money to keep a car in decent shape. There's no substitute for having a mechanic you trust. Friday (talk) 15:42, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

You've got a Lexus and you're sweating $200? My advice is to make a big decision: become a seat-of-the-pants Lexus mechanic or not. I think it's fun to fix your own car; I had a Camaro that I kept on the road for years beyond its "best if used by" date. Get the Chiltons, buy whatever tools you need for each repair as it comes up (that's the money you would have given a mechanic), and go nuts. You'll learn as you go, and you can always bail out and take it to the shop if it eats your lunch. In the case of your EGR code, the first thing I would do would be to make sure that there is no vacuum leak under the hood. Listen for hissing, and visually and tactilely inspect all hoses, checking for rot at the ends and rubbing elsewhere. Give the valve itself a good looking-over, too. Don't get hit by the fan, and don't burn yourself. If you get zapped by the ignition system, you might jerk back and get into the fan or something hot or sharp, so be careful. Take your necktie off first if you're a guy and get a short haircut if you're a gal. That handsoap with orange in it works great. --Milkbreath (talk) 16:38, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

That second-to-last sentence was a nice touch. Useight (talk) 21:38, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Computer hijacked by Spammer

How can you tell IF your computer has been hijacked by a spammer, someone looking to place shit on your comnputer that can get your ass in trouble ? 65.173.104.12 (talk) 06:15, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I do NOT want to find out "the hard way" that some ass placed kiddie porn, other verboten matter on my computer to AVOID a police raid or some such shit. 65.173.104.12 (talk) 06:28, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

IF that happened, do I have to get a new computer ? I was also told that wikipedia was also a source of bugs as well. That shit really true ? 65.173.104.12 (talk) 06:30, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Understandably you're anxious, so there are free anti-virus software thingys available on the internet, or you can buy one (ask at the computing desk for recommends) that can be upgraded to keep up with the latest bugs. Our article antivirus software can give you background, but don't let it give you the heebies. Also ask at the computer desk about the indications that point to your computer being a victim. Knowing more helps and afaik, wikipedia isn't the source of bugs. If you like, click on the edit button above right, copy this section and take it across to the comp desk making sure it isn't in both places at the same time. Cheers, Julia Rossi (talk) 08:33, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Running an anti-virus scan (AVG is free) and a spyware scan (Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware are both free) are a good first start. If you are extremely paranoid then you can always spend some time checking for odd connections with TCP View.--droptone (talk) 15:42, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

If you're really, really paranoid, disconnect the ethernet cable from the back of your computer and leave it disconnected. If you think something has already been placed there, format the C drive and reinstall Windows. That, however, is a very extreme prevention method. I don't recommend it. Useight (talk) 21:33, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Why "Pompey"?

Hi all,

Most football team nicknames make some sort of sense - the colours of the strip (the Red Devils, the Blues), predominant local occupations (the Mariners, the Hatters), abbreviations of the team names (Spurs, Wolves), club history or origins (the Gunners, the Saints)... but there's one that always puzzles me. I've checked the articles on Portsmouth and its football club (great win over the scum at the weekend, guys :), and even the article on a famous Roman, but I can't find any explanation for why Portsmouth are called "Pompey". There must be a reason.... but what is it?

Thanks in advance,

Grutness...wha? 09:10, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

From the references in the Portsmouth F.C. article, there are a number of possible reasons listed on the Royal Naval Museum website here. In addition, the Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea gives "the British sailors' slang for Portsmouth, the English naval base. It is not known how or when the name came into being, though one theory is that it owes its origin to the fact that the local fire brigade, known by their French name pompiers, used to exercise on Southsea Common, adjacent to Portsmouth". Nanonic (talk) 09:29, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Some fellow at the Portsmouth city museum collected a lot of competing explanations - I think there were 20 to 30 different ones and nobody really has the foggiest idea which (if any) is correct. -88.109.222.194 (talk) 16:40, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Big Blue Moon

There's an improv game out there called "Big Blue Moon", in which one person will say "Big blue moon" then name three objects, which at first seem to be related. But I don't think they are. What is the secret to this game? I don't get it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.16.89.112 (talk) 17:57, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I haven't heard of "Big Blue Moon", but it sounds like it could be one of those trick games where what you appear to be saying or doing is just a cover for a hard-to-notice thing you're doing in addition.

For example, there's a game where you trace with your hand the action of painting a picture, and describing it as well: "The sun goes at the top, the clouds are over there", and so on, but the trick is you have to fold your arms at the end. If you don't fold your arms, you've done it wrong. However, it takes a long time for everyone to realise that the key action is the folding of the arms because it looks so natural.

Another game is where each person says a word that appears to be related in some way to the previous person's word, but the trick is each person's word simply starts with the same letter as their name (so if someone gives a word that doesn't begin with the same letter as their name, they're told they're wrong).--217.44.125.38 (talk) 22:01, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

elec + chem

i have a riddle; i put together electricity and chemistry.who am i i though it was elechtrochem making the answer to be michael faraday..but shock on me it isnt.so help —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.220.113.117 (talk) 20:01, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Sounds like it wasn't supposed to be a riddle if Michael Faraday was the answer.

87.102.94.48 (talk) 21:10, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

How about Humphrey Davy,or Alessandro Volta ?87.102.94.48 (talk) 21:13, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

If it is a riddle pure and simple, the answer could be Battery (electricity) - but that surely would be "what am I?". Grutness...wha? 22:00, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

A few questions about murder laws

(if any of these are crimes, it would be appreciated if the specific crime is identified, eg. first degree murder vs. manslaughter).

1. Is it a crime to kill an escaped, convicted murder?
2. Is it a crime to kill someone who attempted to kill you after you have incapacitated them?
3. If a person admits to commiting a murder after being acquitted, what is likely to happen to them (I know they cannot be tried again, but I'd assume there are some loopholes law enforcement can use to their advantage)
4. If a person is murdered, but the family explcitly (sorry about spelling) states they do not want the murderer to be tried, is it legal for the murderer to be tried?
5. This is definetely an "out-there" kind of question, but if Osama Bin Laden was murdered within New York City, would the perpetrator likely be tried? Would the crime fall under local, state, or federal jurisdiction (again, sorry about the spelling)?

These are just some questions I thought of that I became curious about. Thanks. 70.105.164.43 (talk) 21:56, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

To the best of my knowlege, the answers are "Yes", "Yes", "I suspect there are exceptions to 'Can't be tried twice'", "Yes", and "state jurisdiction, but probably wouldn't be tried". --Carnildo (talk) 22:41, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I disagree with the last answer. Of course, Bin Laden's killer would be tried - the law doesn't make exceptions for unpopular victims. (If it did, we'd have no umpires.) However, it might be a little difficult finding a jury to convict the perpetrator. As for a family excusing the killing of one of its members, see Honor killing - not something to be encouraged. Also, you might be tempted to have your rich relatives bumped off to get your inheritance early. Clarityfiend (talk) 23:21, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Murder is usually a state offense, but can be federal if it involves a federal official, takes place on federal property, etc. If someone killed bin Laden in New York City, they would probably get a pardon from both the governor of New York and the president of the US, so I doubt they would ever be tried. Dave6 ^talk 00:50, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

I wouldn't count on it. Jack Ruby got a death sentence. No way to know if he would have gotten a commutation at the last minute, because he died of natural causes before his appeals were exhausted. --Trovatore (talk) 00:55, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Apparently I had that a little wrong -- he won his appeal, meaning he was entitled to a new trial, and died before he could be retried. --Trovatore (talk) 02:12, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Exceptions to the double jeopardy rule are pretty limited in the United States. If a person who had been acquitted for a murder at the state level then confessed to it, while I'm not a lawyer, I think it would be pretty categorically impossible to try him again at the state level. Under certain circumstances he could be tried at the federal level -- there's a laundry list of circumstances that make murder into a federal crime (one that sticks in my head, because it's so random, is that a murder committed at an international airport is a federal crime). If the crime could be proved to be racially motivated, even if it's not a federal murder, it still might be prosecuted at the federal level as a violation of the victim's civil rights.

If the perp had any money, he could be sued civilly for wrongful death; double jeopardy does not prevent such lawsuits. --Trovatore (talk) 23:24, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Oh, also: what I said about "at the state level" assumed that the murder was in the jurisdiction of only one US state. Once in a while two states may claim jurisdiction (for example, if the vic was kidnapped from one state and killed in a different one) and then an acquittal in one state might not protect the perpetrator in the other state (and in the example given I suspect the feds could claim their bite at the apple as well). --Trovatore (talk) 23:56, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Mmm. Fifth Amendment: nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb. Unlike some amendments, this is a right and protection of individuals, not a restriction upon the creation of laws. Of course, they could be convicted of kidnapping in Ohio after being acquitted of murder in Illinois. But they could not be convicted for the same murder anywhere, after having been acquitted of it anywhere. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 00:06, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

That's what the fifth amendment says, to you and me. Surely you understand that everything is different to a lawyer. There's a large body of case law on this issue, and it doesn't always work the way the simple text suggests. (As a practical matter, if the double jeopardy rule were enforced that strictly, it would have been effectively legal for a white person to kill a black person in the South for significant parts of our history. And I suppose it was, but not quite as blatantly as it could have been.) --Trovatore (talk) 00:50, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Oh, and also I don't know that it changes that much to say that one trial is for murder and the other for kidnapping. Again, I'm not a lawyer, but I think that double jeopardy ordinarily protects you from two trials on the same facts, even if the prosecution construes it as a different offense. Otherwise the protection would be pretty meaningless. Terry Nichols could be tried in Oklahoma because it was separately sovereign over the case, not so much because the state case alleged different victims. Otherwise they could have tried him 168 times until they found a jury to sentence him to death. And if the man who allegedly left his car in the way of a train in Glendale manages to get off on murder charges (not sure if he's been tried yet) I don't think California would be able to try him again for train wrecking causing death (which is also a capital offense in California).

But I admit I'm not that sure. The double jeopardy article has a reference to a 1995 case where an offense, and conspiracy to commit that offense, were adjudged separate for double jeopardy purposes. Seems like a reach to me. --Trovatore (talk) 03:54, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

So, wait. The trial ends. The murderer has successfully lied their way through it and secures an acquital. After the gavel strikes, they jump up and dance around, shouting, "Ha ha, you idiots! I totally did it,and here's how!" Is there seriously nothing to be done about that?? Or do you just have to arrest them for perjury and tack on a really intense prison sentence? Or what? --Masamage ♫ 04:22, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

• Nope, nothing. Not in the US, anyway. And remember, the murderer doesn't have to lie; the murderer doesn't have to testify -- so not even a perjury charge, perhaps. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 05:14, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

An important distinction is that each murder that you are accused of can be considered a separate act. If you remember the (godawful) movie Double Jeopardy, the woman was convicted of murdering her husband, and then assumed she could not be again convicted of murdering her husband -- that was wrong. Even if she was convicted (though wrongly) of murdering her husband on Tuesday in Toledo; she can legally be convicted again of murdering her husband on Friday in Frankfurt. Even though it's the same victim, it is a very different crime. Assuming you were acquitted of murdering Fred, if evidence (like your confession) came to light that you did it later, unless the way you did it was -exactly- the way you were acquitted of, you could be tried again without double jeopardy implications. Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 13:15, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I really don't think that's accurate. There has to be a distinction between a separate crime (as in the case of the film) and a separate theory of the crime (different time, location). Otherwise the protection would be completely meaningless; the people could keep trying different theories, with some basis in evidence, until they found a jury to convict. Exactly what the distinction is is no doubt complicated. --Trovatore (talk) 07:20, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

This Straight Dope article is the one from which I derived my thesis; I would have been wiser probably just to link it and not interpret it on my own, but I was too lazy to dig up the link before. As far as how accurate it is, elephino, but it sounded convincing when I first read it. Faithfully, Deltopia (talk) 09:17, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

It is not common for a defense lawyer to put his guilty client on the stand in a murder case, so the murderer mught well have been acquitted without testifying. If he testified he did not do it, then after the acquittal admitted he did, he could be tried for perjury. If he didn't testify, then no perjury, but possibly the prosecutors could dream up some other charge such as obstruction of justice if he disposed of evidence. One murderer was acquitted of murder but convicted of disposing of the body of an animal (the victim) in a river. Edison (talk) 14:47, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

The shape of old wooden puzzle pieces

I've seen old wooden jigsaw puzzles with oddly shaped pieces. Irregular, serpentine and sometimes bifurcated, but no interlocking knobby tabs, the way modern cardboard puzzles do. The closest analogy I can up with, is the map of Lake Lugano. A couple of pieces were even shaped like snaky caricatures of actual objects or animals; I remember a rabbit and a rider on his horse. Question: Does anyone know when or where this type of jigsaw puzzle was made, and whether there is a "name" out there for this kind of tiling? ---Sluzzelin talk 22:01, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Found on google contemporary versions, [15] as an example. I've seen one with all kinds of animals in shapes that fit together, in a toy store. Can't fiind a name but these come up: free-standing (or flat) wooden jigsaw animals, wooden animal jigsaw puzzle, interlocking wooden puzzle. Julia Rossi (talk) 22:36, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Mmmh I remember a jigsaw puzzle of canada - where the pieces were the states - not easy for a 9 year old obviously..

Older jigsaw puzzles had more interesting shapes - with more erratics - must be getting old..

Did you read the article 'jigsaw puzzle' - the odd pieces can be called 'whimsy's

The snake like pieces seem to gone out of fashion - probably something to do with making jigsaws out of carboard rather than wood - carboard is too easily bent?87.102.94.48 (talk) 22:49, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

http://imagestore.justtemplateit.co.uk/jigthings/jigsaw-information.htm answers here it seems also for snake pieces see http://imagestore.justtemplateit.co.uk/jigthings/jigsaw-puzzle-manufacturers.htm -maufac. 'chad valley'87.102.94.48 (talk) 22:56, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

(was after e.c.) Thank you Julia Rossi. I like the dog with puppies. Just to clarify, the ones I'm talking about form a rectangular picture when completed, like those modern jigsaw puzzles you find in every store. The themes were usually rural scenes in the style of 19th century realism. And only perhaps 3 of the maybe 100 puzzle pieces were shaped like animals or objects. Escher's Animal Kingdom would make for a lovely puzzle though. And thanks, 87.102, for the whimsy and the examples. Those come pretty close, though they look far more similar to modern puzzle pieces (knobby and not as serpentine) than the ones I'm thinking of. ? ---Sluzzelin talk 22:59, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I have played with old puzzles which were made from hand-coloured prints stuck onto thin plywood and cut by hand with a jigsaw. The piece boundaries often followed outlines of items in the print, for instance the legs of horses harnessed to a coach, and the skirt of one of the passengers. As far as I know this was the original form of jigsaw puzzle. The interlocking and fully interlocking types of pieces were a later innovation, made easier by the introduction of automatic machinery. SaundersW (talk) 07:33, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

And here is a nice site from a collector of old puzzles. He concentrates on the US history. SaundersW (talk) 07:41, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I like the whimsy in the wallpaper on the site. And Escher's interlocking motif tic. This is a strangely enchanting thread. Julia Rossi (talk) 09:44, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Enchanted here as well, thank you for that great link, Saunders! I haven't had time to examine all of them yet, but "Gidi-yap, you horsies!" and "The Indians at Work" featured under 1900 to 1930 Hand Cut Puzzles come closest to what I have in mind. Bob Armstrong calls them "semi-interlocking" which is perhaps a good description, as they aren't "push-fit" like "A Family of Yawns" (a wonderful motif!), but not completely interlocking like the modern puzzles either. Thanks again, everyone! ---Sluzzelin talk 10:34, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Military headwear (U.S.)

Thomas Shaw (Medal of Honor recipient)

Anyone knows why this American soldier has a German military helmet (at least of German origin) as part of his uniform? What's it called? --22:52, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

The answer to the first part seems to be that it was part of the dress uniform of the 9th Cavalry (and possibly other units), as you can see in this picture. I can't really comment on how this type of helmet came to be adopted, except to say that it's a fairly common component of cavalry uniforms in this period. Carom (talk) 22:58, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

The second part of your question - it appears similar to a Pickelhaube, although I'm not sure. Carom (talk) 23:04, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

http://www.spurlock.uiuc.edu/collections/new/pickelhaube.html various other places confirm the US army used pickelhaube type helmets at one time...87.102.94.48 (talk) 23:32, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

also here http://www.buffalola.com/Re-enactment.htm (bottom picture)- why they sometimes wear soft hats, and other times the hard one is another question..87.102.94.48 (talk) 23:02, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

I'm not sure of the exact date, but I know that some point in the mid 1800's to the early 1900's the Marine Corps used the pickelhaube as it's dress cover. --AtTheAbyss (talk) 12:27, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Xena Wikipedia

I was wondering, if been doing a lot of editing for other wikipedia and was looking for a source for this RPG I'm working on. Since, no definate source for the show "Xena, warrior princess." Not one that I could find in wikipedia anyways. I was wondering if there was one or not?66.122.165.197 (talk) 22:56, 10 March 2008 (UTC) QueenPrudence @ Charmed Wikipedia.

? Xena , Xena: Warrior Princess RPG's Xena:_Warrior_Princess#Video_games http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Xena+Warrior+Princess+game&meta=

What were you looking for - citations maybe?? 87.102.94.48 (talk) 23:11, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

weird behavior of my Alaskan Malamute

I own a purebred Alaskan Malamute. When I take him for a walk on the road, whenever he sees or hears water gurgling in the ditch, he jumps for the moving water and bites around in the water. Why on earth would he do that? J.delanoy^gabs_adds 23:05, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Because it's fun? Corvus cornix_talk 02:14, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Seems like it - dogs I've had preferred to drink in that way from the garden hose than their own dish prob as you say, because it's fun. Julia Rossi (talk) 09:47, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Bliss for my Shepherd was to sit in a shallow fast moving stream and tear a log to pieces.86.219.36.125 (talk) 14:53, 11 March 2008 (UTC)DT

Name of song

I came across this song the other day on the radio. It was sung by a female and has a relatively uplifting tune. The only lrical excerpts I remember from it is something that goes like "...here she goes (again)..." In the chorus and towards the ending, I seem to recall her repeating that phrase. The song is at least several years old; I think it's between 1990-2000. Acceptable (talk) 23:22, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Maybe There She Goes Again, in one of its various covers?--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 23:35, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Regrettably, I think the user is far more likely to be referring There She Goes by the La's and by the band with the worst name of all time. A sample of the La's version can be found here; click at your own risk.--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back (talk) 01:43, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

The Sixpence None the Richer version of There She Goes is from the time period Acceptable is asking about, and it's pleasant enough (and repetitive enough) that it sounds like it's probably right. (There She Goes Again, despite having a similar name, is a very very very very very different song, as the one line about its meaning in that article suggests.) --Masamage ♫ 01:53, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Ah yes, thank you guys. The version I heard on the radio was indeed "There She Goes" by Sixpence None the Richer. Acceptable (talk) 02:35, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Does the Fat Man knows his bland pop music or what? :-)--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back (talk) 02:39, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

You bet, but there is a worse band name. --Milkbreath (talk) 03:09, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

The Bobs have a whole song about Naming the Band. Personally I decided a long time ago that if I ever started a band it would be called Spock and the Space Hippies. It's on record now, so don't any of you try stealing it. --Trovatore (talk) 03:15, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I like all of these band names, actually; this one is infinitely more disturbing. --Masamage ♫ 04:24, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Here is my take on the subject. Phileas (talk) 13:00, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I had a friend in high school who loved a band with a particularly foul-mouthed name. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 15:14, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

As far as I can tell, band names are formed by combining a random noun with a random adjective or verb. --Carnildo (talk) 21:25, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

March 11

Can you tell me if this picture has a name?

I recently came across a picture that I remembered seeing before. It is graphic depicting a young woman with green eyes, looking upwards. She has long black hair and is wearing a black shirt. She is on the left side of the picture, the rest being just a gray background. I have seen this picture many times before and I was just wondering where it is from originally and if it has a name.

link. [[16]]

Thanks 129.100.207.140 (talk) 01:35, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

It looks like it's a photoshopped variation on an image submitted by DeviantArt member "vaoni-stock". I found some variations on a similar one in her gallery, such as "Dreaming girl" or "beautiful creature 2" but didn't have the nerve to search the entire gallery for the one you supplied. I did find the original photo of the similar one, which is titled vaoni stock. Hope that helps you find it. ---Sluzzelin talk 12:04, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Torque: speed vs towing

I may have asked this before, but a consensual answer was not reached. Suppose if one takes two cars: a pick-up truck, who is trying to tow a trailer, and a sports car, who is doing laps around a track. It is in both their interests to maximize the output torque in order to optimally achieve their goals. The pick-up truck is able to tow a heavy weight, but is unable to accelerate very quickly and the sports car is vice-versa. How does the torque determine this? Is it just because the truck has most of its torque available to it in the low-RPM ranges while the sports car has the torque available in the high-RPM ranges? Thanks Acceptable (talk) 02:33, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

The correct reasoning would be

"The pick-up truck is able to tow a heavy weight but because of the increased load/inertia is unable to accelerate very quickly"

"The sports car is able to accelerate quickly because of its high torque to load/inertia ratio"

87.102.14.194 (talk) 09:01, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Or to put another way "a sports car towing a caravan accelerates like a truck" isn't this obvious?87.102.14.194 (talk) 09:43, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Doesn't it have more to do with the gear ratio? AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 10:42, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Not really -obviously you can change the torque with gears , and the highest possible speed can be limited if you don't have a sufficiently high ratio available .. But the max acceleration is limited by power/weight ratio or similar quantity.87.102.14.194 (talk) 10:51, 11 March 2008 (UTC) (Unless you have a special low speed gear that gives splendid acceleration at very low speeds) - think about it - you won't make a sports car just by adding a special gearbox - you need high power ie a big engine. In what way is that not obvious?87.102.14.194 (talk) 10:53, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

In the way that you're not necessarily comparing a big engine with a small engine, but two big engines built for different purposes. Also, please stop making comments to the effect of "Well, duh". AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 13:54, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Ok, well what would I have to do to convert a 500hp 500lbft super fast engine into a 500hp 500lbft super-towing tow-truck engine? Acceptable (talk) 17:07, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

get a new gearbox? designed for lower speed, higer torque output?87.102.74.53 (talk) 19:14, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

If I increase the output torque on, say a sports car, its acceleration should also go up. What governs whether its the towing capacity or the acceleration that increases given an increase in output torque? Acceptable (talk) 19:37, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Both increase together.87.102.74.53 (talk) 19:51, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

This might help

F (force due to output torque) = (m_{mass car}+m_{mass towed object})a

(a is the acceleration.)

Provided there is no wheel spin the force is linearly proportional to output torque. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.102.74.53 (talk) 20:12, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

To be more correct you should reduce Force by the frictional and wind resistance.

The relationship between torque and force is given at Torque esp. Torque#Moment_arm_formula the case when the force is perpendicular. You might get better and more varied answers on the science or even maths desk.87.102.74.53 (talk) 20:17, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

In such a case, why cant a Ferrari F430, or other high-performance sport cars, be used to tow a heavy trailer-that can be towed by a similarly spec'd tow truck or pickup truck? Acceptable (talk) 03:24, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Because it doesn't have a strong enough frame? Or perhaps because it lacks adhesive weight - the wheels will spin but it won't go anywhere. Tow trucks tend to be a lot heavier and have more powered wheels than sports cars. FiggyBee (talk) 04:32, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Four Wheel Drive

I am her today to try to gain some knowledge on the four wheel drive systems used on today’s modern atvs. I personally own a 2005 Cam-Am Outlander 400 4x4 and recently have gotten the message that it's getting close to needing to be replaced after I had to weld the frame back together. But long story made short I want to try to understand exactly how the four wheel drive know as all wheel drive by Polaris works on all of their atvs and cuvs. I have done much research on narrowing down two atvs that would fit my needs, and have come up with these two choices, Polaris Sportsman 500 4x4 and the new Yamaha Grizzly 700 4x4. Myself being a Can-Am guy, I don’t know too much about the four wheel drive of either one, experience wise, I have read absolutely everything I could find on both of these atvs, but haven’t been able to acutely ride them and put them to the test. I completely understand how the Visco-Lok four wheel drive system works on my Can-Am but not so much on the other two. I know that Yamaha has a 2 wheel drive position, four wheel, and then theirs its differential lock position that boast "it is impossible to spin one wheel without all the others turing", which I have my doubts about but then again thats why I’m here. The most experience I have ever had with Yamaha was been with there slightly older model, the Grizzly 660 which even being slightly older still has the same four wheel drive, but with this said all I did was drive it around on flat land while the differential lock was engaged, right off the bat I noticed that it was very hard to steer while in differential lock, even though the four wheel drive itself felt like it would be very hard to bet in the most changeling terrain, and for that, I considered it. On the other hand with Polaris, I have had about the same experience, and it to performed extremely well, but without the difficult steering, which really caught my eye, and because of this, I am discussing it at this moment. But more so back to the main question, if anyone knows more about the four wheel drive system on a Polaris than stated please enlighten me I would greatly appreciate it. Besides what I said earlier about the Polaris, all I know is that from what I understand even while engaged in awd the front tires will not spin until the back tires lose traction and start to spin while in challenging terrain, thats about all I know. My goal by asking this question is to not end up with a atv that will spin only 3 tires when I need all four to spin kind of like the those damn Hondas lol, if there was ever acutely an atv that was supposed to be 3 wheel drive, Honda would have already beat um to it! And I don’t mean to put Honda down or anything but over the years Honda has really grown apart from what they used to be, definitely not "best on earth" anymore, sorry to say but it’s true, I have a friend who drives a Honda Rincon 650 and my 400 dose a better job on everything we throw at um, by a long shot. If Honda would only add a few more gears the Rincon would be a fairly descent machine but until then... I don’t know. Once again thank you, if you know anything else about Polaris's "true" all wheel drive and why it is commonly referred to as the only "real" four wheel drive out there today, which would help me with my desion, please let me know, thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.150.14.3 (talk) 04:18, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Re Polaris as only "true" 4WD, there's a discussion thread on that very thing here[17]. Julia Rossi (talk) 23:04, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Library fine

This is a bit embarrassing but. . . a few months ago I misplaced several library DVDs and ran up a $12 fine. I found and returned the materials but neglected to pay the fine in full so the library sent me a letter asking me to please pay the fine. Unfortunately this letter got caught up with a bunch of low priority mail on my desk and I didn’t see it. Per library policy they eventually forwarded the fine to a collection agency, a fact I became aware of when I got a letter from them today. Naturally I’m going to go settle the bill with the library first thing tomorrow and apologies for the hassle I caused them. The letter the agency sent me informed me of course that if I ignore them they will report me to the Credit bureau, but will just the fact that a debt was forwarded to a collection agency reflect on my credit score? Thanks, I know this is a bit trifling, but as a person who has never received any collection letter before it distressed me quite a bit. B.Boylan (talk) 06:04, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

What country are you in? If in Canada, which province? --NellieBly (talk) 07:33, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

It happens. Ring the agency as well, and tell them what's going on. They're usually understanding and sort it for you. But don't put it off till later, ok? Communication is everything with these people. Julia Rossi (talk) 09:50, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

what is the difference between common stock and preferred stock

separated question into new section AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 09:32, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

what is the difference between common stock and preffered stock? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.247.146.76 (talk) 09:20, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

If profit is going to stocks, its goes to preferred stock first, then common stock (if any is left).--58.111.132.29 (talk) 10:03, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Not profit per se but dividends. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 22:54, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

It depends on your jurisdiction and on the specific preferred share. Have you looked at our article on preferred shares? TenOfAllTrades(talk) 12:24, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

what comes first?

When I workout, what should I do first: weightlifting or running? Or is there no right answer?--AtTheAbyss (talk) 12:09, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Are you separating your upper-body and lower-body weightlifting? If so then running for a significant amount of time (so not just a warm-up) would not be a good idea. If you're running before you do upper-body lifting then you should be fine, but maybe a little tired.--droptone (talk) 14:44, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I only run 1.5 miles, and I do upperbody and lowerbody in the same workout routine. I don't seperate them. --66.213.36.2 (talk) 15:23, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

The person you need to be asking your question is yourself. Ask your subconscious, your intuition. If it doesn't give an answer, then do neither. Vranak (talk) 15:56, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I always run first (5 to 10kms) and then do an hour of weights. If I do weights and then run I find it a struggle to stay the distance, and generally quit. However, what works for me may not work for you.--TrogWoolley (talk) 20:38, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I'd recommend separating your upper and lower body workouts. Really concentrate on your arms and chest one day, then take a day off. The day after that concentrate on your back, abs, etc., then take a day off. The day after that concentrate on your legs. --71.117.42.119 (talk) 17:59, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Pronounce name

How do you pronounce "Glau" from Summer Glau's name? xxx User:Hyper Girl 13:41, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

It looks like a German spelling to me (and she's of German descent, the article indicates), which would mean, to an American, "GLA-OW" where the OW is pronounced like the sound you make to indicate pain ("Ow!") and not the sound you make to indicate surprise ("Oh!"). --98.217.18.109 (talk) 15:11, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't know (as, to be honest, I hadn't heard of her). However, I would guess it rhymes with "vow" - ie like the German word "Blau" if you know how that's pronounced (I notice she has some German ancestry). You could trawl through some YouTube interviews here. The Fox interview pronounces Glau to rhyme with "vow".--217.44.171.224 (talk) 15:14, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Or "wow", as in SUMMER WOW! --98.217.18.109 (talk) 17:02, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Uraguay moment

Please tell me where this new expression originated. I do know what it means.Thanks.86.219.36.125 (talk) 14:55, 11 March 2008 (UTC)DT

Er, could you provide some context? A Google search on the exact phrase doesn't turn up anything likely. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 16:06, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Like having a blond moment (as in briefly stupid), it could be from when Homer Simpson misread Uruguay as "you are gay" -- getting it wrong unintentionally -- or a Homer moment? oops, Julia Rossi (talk) 07:08, 12 March 2008 (UTC) (a bot-free moment)

Very subtle, Julia, I only just now noticed the blond. Q: Why are blonde jokes so simple? A: So men can get them. I once asked one of my wife's Girl Scouts, a natural cornsilk blonde, why she didn't act like one, and she let me know that it only applies to bleached blondes. --Milkbreath (talk) 18:12, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Body Odor

I have noticed that several individuals, with whom I work, have a strong body odor. All these individuals are female and all over the age of 50. The odor in all of them is similial. This is not an odor one would associate with physical exercise. Wonder why this isn't present on males of the same age and what causes it.129.112.109.251 (talk) 16:48, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Well presumably it's either stale perfume or the smell of bacteria growing on the body. See body odour. Both men and women have this, but a lot of people reduce it by washing themselves and their clothes regularly. Unfortunately, some people don't bother quite so much. Bodily smells are also influenced by diet and smoking.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 17:04, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

There was a thread before on the helpdesk about the smell of old people. Lots of interesting comments. Perhaps you can search for it? Sandman30s (talk) 19:03, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Palmitoleic acid seems to be the culprit for ageing bodies. A scientist in Japan, Shoji Nakamura is onto it – devising products for a cosmetic line to meet the market.[18] "Over time, this fatty acid is broken down by bacteria inhabiting the skin or by lipid peroxides (which are present in larger quantities in older people), producing a substance called nonenal that 'has an unpleasant... smell... closely approximating... that of old books'." On top of that, old people's sense of smell mightn't be what it used to be. Julia Rossi (talk) 23:15, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

See 2-Nonenal. Oda Mari (talk) 09:40, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

E Honda Man Copy Writing Question

I have read the copy writing rules and cannot seem to figure out whether or not E Honda man can be copied and used on merchandise we are making. Could you let me know. It says there is supposed to be a tag from the provider that states the rules and I cannot see it. Want to be safe.

Thanks,

Four Tildes —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.19.232.107 (talk) 16:57, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

The text on E. Honda can be copied under the terms of the GFDL, the requirements associated with which seem to be summarized here --Tagishsimon (talk) 17:32, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Good Day, Four Tildes. You wouldn´t be related to Waltzing Ma Tilde and her sisters, one, two, three (aka Benedicta, Perpetua and Vaticana) who perform as the Four Tildes in the Down Under Choir of the Leaping Nuns ? --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 23:56, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I saw that. How irreverent! -- JackofOz (talk) 05:42, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

I commented on that, but somebody removed it because he considered it "mocking", and yet this comment stays just because the poster uses an account. I see a double standard here. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 12:44, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

If you're talking about putting images of E. Honda onto merchandise you're creating and selling then no, it would not be legal without the permission of the copyright holder (presumably Capcom). -Elmer Clark (talk) 00:34, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Natamycin

Does the use of natamycin as a food additive (natural mold inhibitor) cause an increase in the "superbug" phenomenom? it is mostly passed through the system in your bodily waste, so does it contribute to the ever increasing resistance to antibiotics that is happening with some bacteria? I have researched it and while it seems to have no side effects for humans, I still think it seems odd to treat our food with antibiotic. can this effect us in the peripheral? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.3.13.131 (talk) 17:24, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

There is concern about the general area of adaptive resistance to preservatives and sanitizers. Natamycin appears to be in the clear, for the most part - "Natamycin, usually referred to a pimaricin in this country, is effective against yeasts and moulds but has little or no effect on bacteria and is used primarily as an antifungal agent on cheese. Studies to investigate the potential for development of resistance to natamycin amongst fungi have concluded that such development is both rare and of a minor nature only. This is attributed to the lethal, as opposed to static, activity of the compound together with its instability over time." From Resistance and Adaptation to Preservatives and Sanitizers. Google searches for +Natamycin +resistance or +Natamycin +superbug provide more detail. --Tagishsimon (talk) 17:37, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

cosmetology license

what are th requirements for getting a cosmetology license in Finland/ I've looked all over the web and cant find anything. Maybe you guys can.Hairgrrrl (talk) 17:50, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

"Flesh" removal

I have a totally serious, not tongue-in-cheek question. I once heard about a guy who had his wife remove his penis because he had apparently raped her (I believe it happened about a decade ago in Erie). When police found it several hours later (on the side of the road), it was reattached, and he actually went on to do a few pornos.

My question: which part of his penis was removed, and how many hours can one's "issue" be removed before doctors cannot reattach it? And is it different for different parts (e.g., the testicles)? And who paid to put it back on, and how much did it cost?

PS. Please don't remove this thread as "medical advice" - I don't think that will be necessary here. Please forgive the morbid fascination as well. The Evil Spartan (talk) 18:52, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

You might be thinking of John and Lorena Bobbitt. Someoneinmyheadbutit'snotme (talk) 19:10, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I certainly might. Could anyone answer the other questions posed here? The Evil Spartan (talk) 20:21, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Many of the questions are answered in the article, others may be answers in the numerous links provided. Once you've done that are there any remaining questions? Some may be unanswerable.87.102.74.53 (talk) 21:04, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

A fascinating use of the causative have. "He had his wife remove his penis." Is that like having her scratch that place between his shoulderblades he can't quite reach? I had my hair cut, you had it coming, he had her bobbit him. BrainyBabe (talk) 23:15, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Loss of steering

What are some things one can do to attempt to partially regain steering abilities should the steering column of one's car be damaged? Acceptable (talk) 19:34, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

is the steering column partially or fully broken? I can't see much hope in the fully broken case. If it's partially broken - do you mean that only one wheel steers or something else.

In either case the answer would be to slow down totally - to a dead stop.87.102.74.53 (talk) 19:53, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

It depends on the nature of the damage, but in general, the best way to regain steering is to call a tow truck. --Carnildo (talk) 21:30, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

If you're driving along and lose the ability to steer, I recommend using your ability to stop (vice versa is also true). If the car is parked in your driveway and you know it won't be able to steer, I think a call to a mechanic is in order. Useight (talk) 23:23, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Did we get you the answer in time? Did you regain control? :D\=< (talk) 15:49, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Editing Wikipedia while driving should be added to the Wikipediholism Test. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 17:21, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

medley

What does this word meanJwking (talk) 19:36, 11 March 2008 (UTC)?

In musical terms, "a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources ". You can find this and other definitions here. SaundersW (talk) 19:39, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

In Track & Field, a medley relay is a relay where each leg or runner of the team runs a different distance than each other. For example, a 1600m medley may consist of 200m, 200m, 400m, 800m legs. Acceptable (talk) 22:52, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/medley

1. a mixture, esp. of heterogeneous elements; hodgepodge; jumble. 2. a piece of music combining tunes or passages from various sources: a medley of hit songs from Broadway shows. –adjective 3. Archaic. mixed; mingled. An often jumbled assortment; a mixture: "That night he dreamed he was traveling in a foreign country, only it seemed to be a medley of all the countries he'd ever been to and even some he hadn't" (Anne Tyler). Music An arrangement made from a series of melodies, often from various sources. Sports An event in competitive swimming in which backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle are swum in equal distances by an individual or as divisions of a relay race. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 14:19, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

647 Area Code

Hello. Is the 647 area code mostly used for cell phones? I have seen fax and home phone numbers starting with 647. Thanks in advance. --Mayfare (talk) 20:13, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Oddly enough, we have an article on this. Basically, most new numbers will probably get 647, and most new numbers also happen to be assigned to cell phones. The same thing happens in the Chicagoland area - all my friend's cell phone numbers have the new overlay code (the 4th one), while their home phones have numbers from assigned a long time ago to the 3rd area code (they've added 3 of them that I can remember, probably more created before I was born). So 647 can belong to fax machines and home phone numbers if they have been registered recently. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 20:34, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Funny cycling race picture

Some years ago I saw a picture, possibly from the Tour de France, with rider standing up with his shorts pulled down and his coach leaning out of a car window apply cream to the riders presumably sore bottom. Can somebody please provide a web link for this as I've been unable to find it. Thankyou! TrogWoolley (talk) 20:46, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Blu-Ray home theater

Hi i saw this product under audio-hometheaters-speakers section on panasonic.ca. how would i find out how many watts this is if they dont say it on there?Jwking (talk) 20:56, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

was it here http://panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/hometheatre/index.asp can you provide a link, or the product name, or search for that product on the internet. 87.102.74.53 (talk) 21:07, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

No. You go under audio, home theatre, third category: speakers, and then go to blu-ray surround sound. it doesnt say how many watts it is in total.Jwking (talk) 15:05, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Press "specifications" http://panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/audio/receivers/sbtp1000_specs.asp ? 87.102.17.32 (talk) 15:45, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

In the future could you give more details at the beginning eg "Panasonic SB TP1000" In fact if you type that into a search engine you get the answer easily. I'm not pyschic. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.102.17.32 (talk) 15:47, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Police web sites

Sometimes news web sites that post photos of criminal suspects require the viewer to register and login before the pictures can be viewed (Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA in the case of Eve Carson). People are reluctant to register with websites they may only visit once in their life, especially those that require acceptance of their spam as part of their registration agreement. However, if one visits the police department web site (in this case Chapel Hill Police) the site appears to be only for promotion of the police department rather than to display photos and other information regarding suspects. Is this a common trend among American taxpayer supported police and government web sites, to use the web sites for self-promotion rather than to use the web sites to serve the public by providing suspect information to the public? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.100.1.30 (talk) 23:29, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

You are mistaken in presuming (by your use of the phrase "rather than") that providing information on the police department and its activities does not serve the public. In general, I would assert that it is useful for a public body to explain itself, and to the extent that it does so, make itself open to scrutiny. My long experience of watching public sector website develop suggests that the approach taken by Chapel Hill Police is commonplace and does not represent a new trend. --Tagishsimon (talk) 23:35, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

As far as I can tell, the Chapel Hill Police Department does have current news and press releases on their web site. Look on the right side, below the Calendar and above the FAQs; you should see a News box. At the moment, the Eve Carson case is the top story there. Clicking on the Additional info... link there shows all the press releases from the case, photos of the suspect, and mp3s of 911 and radio calls: link. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 02:02, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Of course, Tagashsimon is also correct in his observations. Many government organizations lack the time, money, or techincal skills to maintain and update a website full of constantly-updated current events. A department budget may allow a public relations staffer to spend one day a week updating contact info and posting information about new police programs on the website, but not cover a full-time individual to post hourly updates on active cases. Given limited resources and many priorities, police departments are forced to choose the most cost-effective methods to disseminate case information. Sometimes that method is to give press releases to the media, and let their distribution machinery do the heavy lifting. (Until not so many years ago, this was pretty much the only choice that police departments had.) TenOfAllTrades(talk) 02:11, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

March 12

IUPUI

Has Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis ever considered changing its name? It's quite a mouthful. I know in Indiana, you can say, "I'm calling from yoo-ee pyoo-ee" or "eye-yoo-pee-yoo-eye" and people know what you're talking about. But when dealing with people from out of town, you've got to go through the whole 22-syllable name. Doesn't seem to do much for branding. Why don't they just call it "Indianapolis State" or something? -- Mwalcoff (talk) 01:58, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Maybe Purdue was a big benefactor. Have you asked at the Uni, perhaps the PR department? Julia Rossi (talk) 09:07, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Here "Founded in 1869 and named after benefactor John Purdue, Purdue University began its journey with six instructors, 39 students and a mission to provide agriculture and mechanic arts education." I believe that he provided the land on which one campus is built. Moreover I seem to remember that it is the only state university which is not called " ... State University", or "University of ... (state)". They are quite fond of that uniqueness. As for marketing, they just call it "Purdue". SaundersW (talk) 17:14, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Purdue University and IUPUI are not the same thing. IUPUI is a "joint effort" between Purdue and Indiana University, hence the name. -Elmer Clark (talk) 17:41, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

As for the uniqueness bit for Purdue, far from it. Virginia Tech doesn't even have "University" in the title. It's debatable whether they even qualify within Indiana. Ball State University seems outside the spirit of the distinction (which suggests "<state> State University"). — Lomn 20:02, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Virginia Tech is but a nickname. --LarryMac | Talk 20:14, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

No ending

Why is it that many popular songs on the radio don't have a specific 'ending' but just finish with a repeating motif that is faded out as the song ends? 70.162.25.53 (talk) 05:34, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Because fading out is easier than writing a proper ending, I reckon. See the article Fade (audio engineering) for some history... FiggyBee (talk) 05:39, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

...for some history... Clarityfiend (talk) 07:47, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

...for some history... :D\=< (talk) 15:47, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

A long time ago, radio stations used to play more than one song in a set. That is, they wouldn't stick in a house ad (see remnant advertising) or three between every song in their "commercial-free rock block". Songs that contain built-in fade-outs are convenient for this sort of programming as you can simply start the next song playing while the previous song is automatically fading out. This makes the engineer's life a lot simpler as the cues are easier.

Atlant (talk) 12:57, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

It's still fairly common in the United Kingdom for more than one song to be played consecutively, and for them to segue neatly into each other — with either no or minimal overlaying of "clutter" such as radio station idents and DJ jabber. Even if station idents are being used, a skilfully assembled combination of fading-out song and ident can sound pretty effective. (Admittedly I have always been a fan of idents, jingles and ads, almost as much as the music!) Hassocks5489 (talk) 13:37, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

There is, however, the fact that some commercial CDs also have this fading. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 14:24, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

I doubt the radio is really the big reason, personally. It became an audio convention relatively early on and has been re-used since then without much intellectual thought behind it. I think trying to find some excessively rational reason is unlikely to be fruitful here, as both fading and non-fading songs have been popular for ages. Hey Jude doesn't fade out the way it does because it is trying to be radio-friendly, it does it because it probably sounded better to them in the studio doing that than it did abruptly ending at some point. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 14:41, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

A non-fading ending can be jarring to the listener. If the song is intended to create a certain "mood" then ending abruptly would "kill the mood". Dismas|^(talk) 18:29, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Police in New York

I was reading the Sean Bell article, and it says that "[Police] department guidelines prohibit shooting at a moving vehicle, even if the vehicle is being used as a weapon". Why is this? Is there a famous case that caused this regulation? Surely that law could potentially cost lives? Any insight would be appreciated, especially from New Yorkers. Thanks a lot 81.96.160.6 (talk) 06:41, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

I think you will find that shooting the vechicle is illegal, shooting the person in it is not. ie. they are not allowed to try to shoot out the tyres or blow up the gas tank etc. etc.--155.144.251.120 (talk) 22:45, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

The Stock Market Doesn't Make Sense III

Thanks all for explaining the stock market. A new question if you can tolerate one.

From the Chrysler article:

On May 14, 2007 DaimlerChrysler AG announced the sale of 80.1% of Chrysler Group to American private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., although Daimler continues to hold a 19.9% stake. Chrysler LLC is the new name.[1] The deal was finalized on August 3, 2007.[2]

How does a public company just sell itself like that to a private equity firm? What happens to the stock? The stockholders?

66.91.224.203 (talk) 10:11, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

The following is speculation, since I have not researched the subject, but I think it likely that:

DaimlerChrysler AG owned 100% of the stock of Chrysler Group (and, for all I know, purchased that group by swapping its stock for the Chrysler Group stock previously owned by Chrysler Group stockholders)

DaimlerChrysler AG sold 80.1% of the stock that it owned, receiving money as a consideration.

Stockholders in DaimlerChrysler AG will get some share of the money received, either in dividends or via a share buy-back (which has the effect or compensating those who sell their shares, and increases the value of the remaining stock).

There being no other Chrysler Group stockholders than DaimlerChrysler AG, there would be no Chrysler Group stockholders affected by the sale.

The Chrysler Group shares that were sold are now owned by the private equity company.

On this basis, I suspect the reason it does not make sense is that you start from the assumption that there were other shareholders of Chrysler Group, thus raising the question of their consent to the sale of the company, &c. I do not think that ssumption is sound.

I think you also assume that DaimlerChrysler AG is the same as Chrysler Group, and that DaimlerChrysler AG has sold itself. It has not; it has sold a company that it owned. --Tagishsimon (talk) 10:37, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

wireless

I live in the uk and i have virgin media tv phone and internet, i have my pc in one room with my modem and my ps3 in the other room the ethernet cable wont reach the other room, is their an easy solution to this? (not just a longer cable) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 10:50, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Do you have wireless? According to the Wi-Fi article, "A typical Wi-Fi home router using 802.11b or 802.11g with a stock antenna might have a range of 32 m (120 ft) indoors and 95 m (300 ft) outdoors."

no, do i simply buy a wireless router?? if so is it easy to connect>? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 13:34, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

not at the moment, how do i get it? do i simply buy a router?? if so how do i connect it?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 13:33, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

OK, if you have any model of the PS3 other than the 20GB version you should be fine. All you need to do is buy a router and connect your modem to the port labeled "internet" and your PC to any other port. Then find the wireless access point with the PS3 and voila, you're online. However, I highly recommend setting up some wireless security. I think cnet.com has nice, detailed instuctions. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 14:21, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

So if i pop into pc world they should know what im talking about and i'l b able to go home and set it up easily enough?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 15:51, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Probably. Things can get a little more complicated if you set up a secure network but it's not rocket science. However, this solution is certainly going to be more expensive than just buying a longer cable. -Elmer Clark (talk) 17:46, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Do make sure that you buy only a router, and not one with an ADSL modem built in. The latter are very common because so many people have ADSL. Common terms you want to look for in consumer kit are "broadband router" or "cable router". If you see any mention of ADSL it's not what you want. 81.187.153.189 (talk) 21:08, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

what does "uhc" stand for (this thing mcdonalds use to keep food heated)?

maybe other companies too. TIA ,Etaicq (talk) 12:45, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Is it an Upright Holding Cabinet? TenOfAllTrades(talk) 13:13, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Sharp

Does Sharp sell any of its Laptop/Notebook PCs in Europe, or only in the US and Japan? Thanks. 125.21.165.158 (talk) 12:48, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

In the UK they don't.87.102.17.32 (talk) 14:02, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

To the edge of your chair and beyond

There used to be a space race between Russia (ussr) and USA. However, there seem to be many countries taking part in and helping with the International space station (ISS) How did this come about? were there talks? who was invited? who was not invited? what were the reactions? Who does what, and who governs who does what? is there a commitee that says eg canada will do the arm and Europe will do the other thing. and any other info relating to this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, see yall in space in a few years. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 14:15, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

International Space Station has most if not all of your answers in it. If you have more questions after reading it, please feel free to ask back here. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 14:30, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, sorry about that, so, why are EVA's shuttles space suits ect always white? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 15:20, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

So as to reflect heat, I'd speculate. --Tagishsimon (talk) 15:26, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Bad Somalis

So far, I have heard that all Somali girls are good because they follow that much, but I heard there are some bad Somali girls because they don't follow Islam and they disgrace their culture by dressing up bad in their traditional clothing. Do bad Somali boys upload videos of bad Somali girls doing something bad on the Internet? Sorry if I have heard the Somali community. Don Mustafa Toronto Ontario Canada 10:33 UTC —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs) 14:34, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Rule 34 suggests the answer would be yes. Somalia's telecommunications infrastructure is not good, with no access being the norm, dial-up access the exception, and broadband access rare indeed ... I suspect the answer is no. --Tagishsimon (talk) 14:57, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

You obviously haven't seen enough to be properly convinced of Rule 34. :D\=< (talk) 15:45, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Rule 34 in action 81.187.153.189 (talk) 21:17, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Flip-flop and slide-in sandals

Where can I get plain old flip-flops and plain old slide-ins sandals with the straps having the same colours? and these colours are: red, blue, purple, grey, orange, black, white, teal, green, yellow, brown and pink. I am buying them for my Somali friend's sister. Don Mustafa Toronto 10:43 UTC —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs) 14:43, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Canada - Class B Security Clearance

What steps must be taken to obtai? Level of access if obtained? General definition? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.38.59.162 (talk) 14:48, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Could you provide a bit more information about the context or the job where a "Class B" security clearance might be required? I couldn't find any info that obviously pertained to such a clearance. A bit of Googling suggests that the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service recognizes three levels of security clearance:

• Level I (Confidential)
• Level II (Secret)
• Level III (Top Secret)

The blurb on their site says [19],

"Level I and II security clearances involve checking CSIS databanks. Level III security clearances require a full field investigation, which involves checking CSIS records; interviewing friends, neighbours and employers; consulting with local police; and, possibly interviewing the applicant."

Is Class B a government designation, or something provided by a private company? Is it an extra endorsement on top of one of the other clearance levels? TenOfAllTrades(talk) 15:44, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Mastodon

I wish to please know more about this as Metal Heads should all be brothers(and sisters)

After the televised performance, member Brent Hinds was reported of having a severe head injury. Blabbermouth.net initially reported that it was a result of a brutal assault [13] but a police report later suggested that an inebriated Hinds initiated a conflict with System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian and musician William Hudson.[14] Hinds suffered brain hemorrhaging, a broken nose and two black eyes but made a full recovery.

Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 16:32, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

See Sibling rivalry. --Tagishsimon (talk) 16:44, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Very amusing. see sarcasm —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 17:12, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Did you check out this reference from the article? Just seems like your everyday drunkenness-induced scuffle. -Elmer Clark (talk) 17:52, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

What is a Yaris?

Not the model of Toyota, but where does this word originate? Does it translate from Japanese as something? Beekone (talk) 17:38, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Certainly not from Japanese, nor from Chinese or any syllabic language to be exact, but it has to mean something. Admiral Norton ^(talk) 17:48, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

It doesn't have to mean anything. They could very well have just made it up. Dismas|^(talk) 18:35, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Agreed, I should have mentioned that in my first post. I don't claim to know what it means or that it means anything, that's why I'm asking. You seem uncertain or speculative in your answer, so I think I'll hold out for someone who may know for sure. Beekone (talk) 18:38, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

'According to Toyota, Yaris is a combination of the name of a goddess in Greek mythology, Charis, and the German expression of agreement, "ya," because "we think this new name best symbolizes the car's broad appeal in styling and is representative of Toyota's next generation of global cars."' from here. Be sure to follow the link and read the sentence after the above. --LarryMac | Talk 18:51, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Ha ha, thanks! Beekone (talk) 18:59, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

OCZ Neural Impulse Actuator

Hello,

Does anyone know how this Neural Impulse Actuator thing actually works? Also I've read around and can't seem to find any information on how many inputs this thing can cover. I mean will it be simple keyboard buttons, mouse control, or many many inputs?

Feel free to move this to the computer desk if you feel it is more necessary.

Thanks

89.241.203.130 (talk) 20:12, 12 March 2008 (UTC)