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January 20

rat

how long does a rat live after eating poison? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Judymcm (talk • contribs) 01:41, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Depends on the poison. Do you have a particular favorite?  ^DAVID_ABLE  —Preceding undated comment added 03:14, 20 January 2011 (UTC).

The answer can be "a long time". The only legal poisons here in the UK seem to be bromadiolone and difenacoum, and they work slowly, especially if the rats have other food available. Probably some rats can live for weeks or even months ingesting small quantities of these poisons (but I haven't hard evidence of this). Quicker-acting poisons are illegal here for safety reasons. Dbfirs 07:40, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Warfarin#Use_as_a_pesticide says that rats or mice accumulate a dose gradually. 92.28.255.115 (talk) 14:35, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Of course, you might be dealing with a Rasputin rat, impervious to poison. BrainyBabe (talk) 15:58, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

What about using antifreeze as poison? Quest09 (talk) 16:43, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I'm tempted to try ethylene glycol and let you know, except that it is probably illegal to do so here. The British are averse to cruel treatment of animals, even rats! Interestingly, chocolate is poisonous to rats (and cheaper than rat poison), but it is not sufficiently fatal. Dbfirs 22:30, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Chocolate is poisonous to rats? I wish someone had told the one who ate a whole chocolate log cake in my kitchen a few years ago! (Climbed up some cardboard boxes, bit an entrance through the corner of the cardboard box containing the cake that was hanging from a tripod in a plastic bag to minimise such possibilities, ate 9/10ths of the cake, departed leaving chocolatey rat pawprints on the boxes.) Bromadiolone-laced grain eventually terminated that problem at the price of a bit of a smell from under the floorboards for a few weeks (and yes, I have since blocked the ingress route). 87.81.230.195 (talk) 00:55, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Wheren't you impressed with the intelligence of the rats and let them live? Quest09 (talk) 14:06, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes, I think chocolate is only mildly poisonous (as in advice not to give it to pet rats, but who keeps rats as pets?). Wild rats seem to be able to eat almost anything and still survive, though I agree that vast quantities of bromadiolone-laced grain eventually terminate the individual rats at considerable cost (why is it so expensive?, and why do they need to eat such a lot?), but these dead individuals are eventually replaced by their cousins from a neighbouring breeding colony. Dbfirs 09:36, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Thinking of Warfarin, could you dose some bait with aspirin and kill rats that way? As far as I know, people don't, so there must be a reason why, but I'd expect that to be a cheap way to kill them. 86.164.164.183 (talk) 12:56, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Paracetomol might be quicker, but I suspect that it is illegal (and cruel?) to use it in this way. We are getting into dangerous territory! Dbfirs 13:13, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Paracetamol and aspirin are illegal to kill rats? At first glance, I thought these were painless means to kill a rat. Is there any legal mean to kill a rat where you live? I have the impression that the rats have a pretty strong lobby defending their rights. Quest09 (talk) 14:03, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

There are always commercial poisons/traps you could get to kill a rat. Tofutwitch11 ^(TALK) 14:16, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

True, but poisons are more expensive than best steak! Dbfirs 17:04, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Traps are preferable if the rat is in a house, otherwise you end up with a house with a dead rat hidden somewhere in it. 81.131.65.219 (talk) 17:06, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes, though sometimes the poisoned rat will die when it goes outside to drink (assuming that you don't provide it with convenient indoor water). Dbfirs 18:12, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Jan Van Riebeek

I am trying to find the nameas and the wiki articles on the people that came to the cape at the same time as Jannie. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.89.16.154 (talk) 10:27, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Step 1: Jan van Riebeek. This article has some references you may find at your library. Editors from the area may know more. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 11:07, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

You are looking for Jan van Riebeeck (note the spelling). The references and categories at the bottom of his article may assist. Also check out History of Cape Town (and its references and categories) which might have more information pertinent to your question. Dutch East India Company also has a whole host of references, although they might not be directly related to your question. What is it that you want to find out exactly? Zunaid 11:21, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

(I've just created that redirect). AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 13:23, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I found one source stating that 82 men and 8 women were on the three ships (Dromedaris, Reijger and the Goede Hoop) that made the initial settlement. This number include Van Riebeeck and his wife. Rmhermen (talk) 14:55, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

nude ads on internet

is there a website where I can post this nude ad which asked about it earlier regarding on the newspaper? Oh by the way, I am talking about video ads.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.92.152.113 (talk) 16:08, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Not really sure what you mean but I think it'd have to be a forum or something like that. Make sure you read the rules first though; most sites won't allow content like what you mention to be posted. Chevymontecarlo 17:36, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I think the OP is referring to Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 January 12#video ads Nil Einne (talk) 18:14, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

The typical venue for "weird services" has been Craigslist. They have started cracking down on anything that looks like prostitution, but your original ad did not look like that to me. --Mr.98 (talk) 03:40, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Actually, only explicity prostitution that cant be justified as any other type of escort or massage is removed. the overwhelming majority of services are still advertised, vaguely (and obviously not) as massage or some other ligitimate service. 209.148.241.197 (talk) 07:13, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

You should perhaps be aware your original ad is confusing at least to me to me. The first part sounds like you are advertising for customers of such a service. But then you state "earn $25.00 per hour of the video". How much the girls earn is generally not of great interest to your customers, if you're asking your customers for payment of $25.00 per hour you should say something like 'payment', 'costs' or whatever. On the other hand if you are looking for girls for your service, you should say "wanted" instead of "want". I suggest you ask at WP:RD/L if you need more help on this. And before anyone yells at me I'm not trying to correct the OP just for the fun of it, the OP's ad is genuinely confusing to me and I would expect so to others if they ever actually advertise it. Nil Einne (talk) 13:25, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Men's dress shoe: leather vs. rubber

Rubber-soil shoes used to be considered less formal than leather-soil shoes. But how big is the difference? I mean, can you really know which shoes others are wearing (if their upper part is the same)? Do others care about it? --Quest09 (talk) 16:38, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I doubt if anyone can tell, from a distance, whether the sole of a dress shoe is leather or rubber, and I would think the rubber would provide better traction. Just my opinion. Bus stop (talk) 17:44, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

On many common surfaces (especially wood or linoleum), rubber soles can be distinguished from leather soles by sound they make as the wearer walks. No comment on whether or not this matters for anything or who might care. SemanticMantis (talk) 18:27, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Shoes with leather soles and a rubber grip glued to the bottom, will last for years and years and are thus less expensive in the long run. That is why they are favoured by those that can afford the initial outlay. --Aspro (talk) 18:29, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Do this shoe come with these rubber grips or do you glue them by yourself? Quest09 (talk) 22:40, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

In the UK, provided you can find a cobbler with the necessary skill, you could take your leather-soled shoes to them and ask for a "Commando" or similar heal-and-sole to be fixed to them. The soles would have to be leather and welted. I think sticking them on yourself is unlikely to work. They need to be sewn on - hence the need for a welt - and doubtless stuck as well. 92.24.184.8 (talk) 15:29, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Leather soles are more expensive, wear out more quickly, and are worn by up-market people in suits (and ballroom dancers). They are also lethal on icy pavements or polished floors. 92.29.123.151 (talk) 23:31, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I have only once in my life bought leather soled shoes and I was given the impression that it is actually normal to wear them a little to scuff the bottom surface and then get them fitted with a rubber sole, in other words not to wear out the leather sole. Vespine (talk) 02:28, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

When I worked in the City of London, I used to splash out on very expensive Oxfords from Jones & Co with "Daimite"[1] rubber soles which lasted years of walking and cost less than buying an annual pair of cheap ones. I still have the last ones I bought in 1999 but don't walk 2 or 3 miles in them every day as I used to. However, you're right that most dress soles do have leather soles - they have a distinctive and pleasing sound when you walk on a hard surface with them. Alansplodge (talk) 12:34, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

You mean "Dainite", not "Daimite". Googling for dainite and vibram together produces a lot of interesting hits. 92.15.25.92 (talk) 14:49, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Quite right - my apologies. Alansplodge (talk) 03:27, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Particularly if you had Blakeys fitted: http://www.blakeys-segs.co.uk/ 92.15.25.92 (talk) 13:38, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

When I worked in the City, many years ago, I used to buy leather-soled shoes at bargain prices from a fusty very old-fashioned shop nearby in a back-street of the east-end which sadly later closed down when the proprietor passed away. The advantage of leather soles is that you could have them re-soled repeatedly, although it probably would be difficult to find a traditional cobbler who could do that now. I've never heard of Daimite before. The only solid-rubber soles I'd heard of were Vibram. Solid-rubber soles make shoes last a long time. The plastic cellular soles of most High Street shoes or boots wear out quickly, and are really a fraud. I've had good experiences with Clark's shoes. Despite the internet, I still find it difficult to find shoes with the solid-rubber soles that I like. My favourite shoes used to be the rare thin-soled solid-rubber Dr Martens shoes (not to be confused with the normal thick-soled "air-wear" Dr Martens which wear out quickly), which would last for years and were very comfortable, but as far as I know they are no longer made. Unless someone knows otherwise? 92.15.25.92 (talk) 12:52, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

I agree, Clarks are excellent. I wear their shoes all the time and they have a good in house repair service too.--85.211.160.26 (talk) 07:29, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

A late addition to the question. I live in Wisconsin and can vouch for the fact leather soles on ice and snow can be downright hazardous not only to you, but your suit as well (who wants to go into a meeting with salt residue all over their back from falling on the sidewalk?). Taking sandpaper to the soles helps, but isn't a perfect solution. On the other hand on a tile or wood floor the sound is quite different so people will be able to tell. 65.29.47.55 (talk) 21:23, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Fujilift

What is “Fujilift”? --84.62.207.101 (talk) 18:38, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Looks like it's a lift manufacturer. [CharlieEchoTango] 19:14, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Vintage La-Z-Boy Identification

I recently acquired a vintage La-Z-Boy recliner. I'd guess it's from the 1970's, based on the style and color: dark mustard yellow upholstery with dark-stained wooden arms and wings (see picture here [2]) . It still has a tag on it that says it is style #842, but the company's website has no listing for that number. Can anyone help me determine when it was made? Can't find anything similar on google images or ebay. Thanks, SemanticMantis (talk) 20:54, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I'd use their contact form - you can select "product information" then "discontinued styles" - see http://www.la-z-boy.com/ContactUs/ Exxolon (talk) 01:00, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

That is a sweet chair. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 01:57, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for the suggestion and appreciation :) SemanticMantis (talk) 20:09, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

I drove past the local La-Z-Boy store the other day, and there was a teenaged boy out there with one of those twirly advertising signs, except they had him ensconced in one of their chairs. He looked pretty comfortable, spinning that sign.  :) Corvus cornix_talk 21:15, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

January 21

Wessex and related topics

One thing I have never understood, why was it after the kingdom of Wessex had assimilated Wight and the other Saxons, joined in personal union with Kent and gone to war with Mercia, the resultant country came to be called England even thoguh the Angles were always the enemies? Surely this should now be West Saxony or some such? At the same time, would the Saxons here have had any connection with or inherent loyalty to the people of the original Duchy of Saxony?

Whilst we're on the subject, a while ago I asked a few questions regarding the Battle of Hastings, but there was one I forgot and just remembered. Supposing after the battle one of the many rebellions had somehow succeeded and ousted king William, who might have succeeded him as king, would they have gone to bring Edgar back, or looked for Harold's eldest surviving son?

Another thing I have realised recently, I have been living in Wessex for more than two years and in that time only seen the one Wyvern, on the back of a van, whilst back in Kent there were pictures of Horses everywhere. Is there a particular reason for this? How is it in other parts of the country?

148.197.121.205 (talk) 10:19, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Re the naming of England, there is an interesting and authoritative article by George Beech here, which suggests that the name "Englaland" was a deliberate attempt to describe the whole of the territory occupied by the Angles and Saxons, including the Danelaw, and was popularised by the writer Ælfric of Eynsham in the 990s (though our article doesn't mention that). It was then taken up by Cnut, whose aim was to unify the area. Beech writes: "While there is no doubt about the novelty of the name in written records when Aelfric of Eynsham first brought it into his writings, nor that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicler C and Cnut’s entourage made it the standard name for the country after 1014, we can only speculate about the royal reasons for adopting the name....I believe it was the deliberate decision of Cnut and his advisers as part of their program at the beginning of the reign to unite a Danish and English population divided by war. The royal circle did not create it [Englaland] but did make it the standard country name and promoted its adoption throughout the land." Ghmyrtle (talk) 11:51, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Agree with Ghmyrtle's answer above, but I remember reading somewhere (I'm blessed if I know where) that people rather liked being compared to angels - Non Angli, sed angeli see Pope Gregory I#Famous quotes and anecdotes - and that rather influenced the choice of name. Alansplodge (talk) 12:21, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Re the question of the "ousting of William", the Normans after 1066 took over the administration of the country very quickly. Had William himself been killed, the throne would have been contested by his sons, Robert Curthose, Richard, Duke of Bernay (if the rebellion was before his death in 1081), and William Rufus (who eventually did become king). But, if a wider English revolt had overthrown the whole Norman government, in theory the Witenagemot might have been re-established, and might well have confirmed Edgar as king. It's quite plausible that Harold's sons Godwine and Edmund may have contested that, but sources suggest that after 1069 they were in Ireland (after being defeated at Exeter) and seem to have vanished from history. Ghmyrtle (talk) 13:02, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Harold's sons Harold and Ulf were also still alive; Harold was at the Danish court, and Ulf in captivity in Norway. Warofdreams talk 17:08, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Not to mention Skuli Tostisson Kongsfostre and Ketil Tostisson, the sons of Tostig Godwinson, though they were young, and probably tainted by their father's rebellion. Corvus cornix_talk 21:19, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

And re Kent and Wessex, Kent has been a coherent unit (albeit with some boundary changes) uninterruptedly since the 5th century or so. Wessex did not exist as a unit after the 10th century, when the area was divided administratively into its constituent counties (which pre-date the conquest). So, although the Wessex wyvern is used in county coats of arms and the like, and has been adopted by groups like the Wessex League, it doesn't have the same coherent uninterrupted history, except for a tiny minority. Ghmyrtle (talk) 15:13, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Country map with dots?

Is there a version of this map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BlankMap-World6.svg with small countries at dots that is also in the public domain? --CGPGrey (talk) 15:11, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

If you can't find one, it can probably be easily made. You could ask around at the talk page of Wikipedia:WikiProject Maps or find a regular there. I have a cartographer I use at Wikipedia when I need maps, but I don't know if he does maps like that exactly. There are lots of good mapmakers, and your request is simple enough I don't see why it couldn't be done. If you do get it created, it may be useful in an article like microstate. --Jayron32 17:15, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Tornadoes in Kansas

I've searched for literally hours and can't find a single reliable source saying how many tornadoes occur in Kansas per year. Infoplease.com uses http://www.spc.noaa.gov/ as a reference, but I can't find the material there either. So, how many tornadoes occur in Kansas per year, and where is the material referenced to? Albacore (talk) 23:52, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Hows this Tofutwitch11 ^(TALK) 00:09, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Looks to me as though the answer (for 1953–2004, at least) is an average of 55 per year. Deor (talk) 17:12, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

January 22

secretary of state rice

who is condolezza rice? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.15.27.89 (talk) 05:13, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

You want to read Condoleezza Rice. --Anonymous, 05:17 UTC, January 22, 2011.

Auto insurance rates

I live in Ontario and pay well over double the insurance premium my friend in British Columbia pays for the required basic third party liability coverage. We are both the exact same age, have very similar cars, and the same driving record, namely no record, just started driving. Why do we pay more than double in Ontario? How could the price difference be that big? 209.148.241.197 (talk) 07:07, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Same insurance company? Is exactly the same stuff covered? I'd call them and ask just what you have asked here. Is it possible that Ontarians (is that the right word?) are crappier drivers in general and therefore increase your risk? (Please don't take offence. I've been in the industry (not in Canada) and that's something insurers look at.) HiLo48 (talk) 07:16, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

(e/c) I don't know the answer to your specific question, but note that 'same age', 'same car', 'same record', does not mean that you'd get the same rates even if you were both in the same province. Each company calculates their rates differently and focus on different group of people, and one could charge you half of what another will charge you if you're 19, but charge you double than the other if you're 65. At least from my experience, but I'm no expert. [CharlieEchoTango] 07:19, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Things like where you park your car at night can make a big difference. (It wouldn't for a pure third-party policy, but in the UK most third-party policies are actually third-party, fire and theft. I don't know if that is true in the US as well.) --Tango (talk) 14:18, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Three main reasons why B.C. rates are lower than Ontario in general are:

• Age/Sex/Marital status cannot be taken into account by law.
• Minimum coverage is $200,000 in B.C vs $1,000,000 in Ontario.
• Auto insurance is a non-profit government service.

That pretty much sums it up. Roberto75780 (talk) 07:31, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

"Auto insurance is a non-profit government service"... [that has people administering it that have salaries and job expectations and expect to grow their careers.]" like everyone. Shadowjams (talk) 12:01, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

...but no shareholders expecting a profit. That would be the point. Governments can also decide to subsidise such systems, like public transport. (No idea if that's the case here.) HiLo48 (talk) 12:06, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Investors in public transit schemes are regularly looking for a hefty profit. In fact it's such a pain in the ass that James Madison thought about it, and we all know how much of a buzz kill he is. New Jersey, and occasionally New York, have been turned down at least 3 times (maybe more) in history regarding transit deals that appeared to have favored certain entities.

If you don't think shareholders extract a profit then I'd invite you to watch your local politics for a month. People have careers in government as they do in any other field, and government agencies, as any other agency, seek to improve their position. Where in this analysis am I mistaken? Shadowjams (talk) 12:21, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

You are conflating "managers" with "owners". You're saying that in a government, the managers seek to improve their station, just as in a corporation, its managers seek to improve their station. Corporations, though, also have owners who demand dividends. Comet Tuttle (talk) 18:31, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Not allowing certain things to be taken into account would usually increase rates, since everyone would be charged the higher rate (insurance companies aren't going to sell policies where they expect to make a loss). If it's a government run scheme, it is possible they average out the premiums and high-risk drivers are being subsidised by low-risk drivers. A commerical insurance provider wouldn't do that. --Tango (talk) 14:18, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Have you asked your friend's insurance company for a quotation? Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:42, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Some people here seem unfamiliar with the idea of government run schemes. (Poor Obama. No wonder he has so much trouble with his health legislation. It's too different a concept for some.) Government schemes don't have shareholders. Employees aren't shareholders. Such schemes tend to have no competition. Governments can charge as little or as much as they like. Their schemes are compulsory. If it operates in one state it's unlikely to be available to someone in another state. They work successfully in some form or another in most countries. The USA is the exception. HiLo48 (talk) 14:00, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

I don't know about the USA, but in the UK your PROFESSION is a factor in calculating your insurance rate. Some professions such as actors attract much higher cost as they are considered to be a bad risk. Exxolon (talk) 15:16, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

One the biggest risk factors with automotive insurance is location of vehicle overnight - it's when it's most likely to be stolen, it's where it's most likely to get damaged e.g. bumped by a hit and run driver...or at least it's an address that the actuaries/underwriters can analyse and easily factor into a price. Address is a huge factor here in the UK and I doubt that it's different in other countries. ny156uk (talk) 17:12, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

The insurance auto insurance providor in B.C. is a monopoly crown corporation called ICBC. Sure they have thousands of staff to pay, who each make a profit in that sense, but there is no ownership group at the top or shareholders who take any profit. Any suprlus in the budget is always reinvested in the service 100%. The government does not take the surplus/profit and spend it on any unrelated program. Also, the Age/Sex/Martial status thing has nothing to do with it being public/pravite. Its law. Private insurers who offer additional, non-mandatory coverage would also not be allowed to use that in B.C. The result is low-risk demographics subsidizing high-risk demographics, which is justified as anti-discrimination. Also, insurance companies in Canada generaly ask way fewer questions and take into account only very basic things compared to U.S./UK companies. For example, profession and colour of vehicle are not considered by many private companies even though there is nothing in the law preventing them from being considered. Roberto75780 (talk) 18:45, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Capitalism is this crazy idea that if something can be done for $1 somebody who can do it for $0.99 will take the business from the $1 person. There's a kind of lazy math that concludes "well there's 'profit'... which we can cut out, and thus be cheaper". A freshman level econ class will tell you that making money has a lot more to do with having some advantage, like not letting competitors into the market, or being a lot better, or bigger, than any potential competitor. There's a lot of this lazy math going on above. "for profit" versus "government" is a ridiculous comparison for that reason. Shadowjams (talk) 11:12, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

In a perfectly competitive market, profit will be reduced to the minimum that people think makes it worth running the business (rather than just putting the money in the bank and earning interest, say). That level of profit isn't zero, though, so there is still a difference between a for-profit and non-profit organisation. And that's before you take into account the fact that no market is perfectly competitive, as you mention. If you can provide a product or service others can't, or can only provide at a higher cost, then you can make more profit. That increases the difference between for-profit and non-profit, it doesn't decrease it as you seem to think. --Tango (talk) 15:18, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Drill Instructor Hitting Recruits

Are Drill Instructors/Sergeants in the US Marine Corp and Army allowed to physically strike recruits as depicted in the movie Full Metal Jacket? Acceptable (talk) 09:04, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Technically no, I've heard. But are you going to complain about that? Shadowjams (talk) 11:58, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

The US Uniform Code of Military Justice Section § 928 Article 128 details the offense of Assault. Military instructors in Hand-to-hand combat naturally come in physical contact with trainees. In the movie An Officer and a Gentleman a military instructor accepts a challenge to fight by a trainee. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:39, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

As a legal matter assault is quite different than battery, although non lawyers tend to call "battery", assault. That's exactly what you've called potential battery here. The distinction of course is that people in the military are both trained differently, and expected to act differently, than are civilians.

The UCMJ, which we have an article on, goes on to discuss discipline, and other aspects of military law, all of which are relevant here. Shadowjams (talk) 13:20, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

I expect the OP means striking recruits against their will as a form of discipline, rather than as part of their training. Obviously, you can't teach hand-to-hand combat without touching your pupils. For discipline, see Non-judicial punishment (that is, punishment not resulting from a court-martial). You'll see it does not include corporal punishment and it has to be issued by the commanding officer, not a drill sergeant. The drill sergeant can order a recruit to run laps, or something, since they have the authority to give orders, but they can't issue other kinds of punishment. --Tango (talk) 14:27, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

So far from being acceptable in drill instructors it's unacceptable even in generals during time of war, as was shown when General Patton's career was almost ended by the famous slapping incident. --Antiquary (talk) 15:26, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Patton's slap was hardly an isolated incident. He had a bit of a reputation in that regards, and it's not as if he slapped a fresh faced trainee... he slapped a (what we'd call today PTSD) shell shocked soldier who'd been through hell. Incidentally, the Germans most feared Patton because they were paranoid that he was overly aggressive. Shadowjams (talk) 11:17, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

In other words, that he was batshit insane and unpredictable; the same qualities that kept him from being promoted in the U.S. military... --Jayron32 23:41, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Not sure whether that was meant to be sarcastic, but he was promoted rather frequently, as pretty much anyone in such a high-ranking position had been. Warofdreams talk 14:04, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

It should be noted, as an aside, that "allowed" is a bit of a slippery word; the UCMJ may officially forbid such actions, but there is also a lot of "off-the-books" sort of stuff that goes on. It probably depends a LOT on the local culture of the unit or military base in question; I suspect that it happens less now than it used to, but there is still (and has been in the past) a culture of hazing in the military; lots of stuff which is officially forbidden is "condoned" in a sort of "nod-and-wink" manner. I would not be shocked if it were common (if not widespread) that some drill seargents, more likely in the past, but perhaps even today in isolated cases, behaved like Lee Ermey's character in Full Metal Jacket, without reprocussions. --Jayron32 17:03, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

When battery is sparked by high tension, soldiers should have the capacity to induce resistance even if their potential terminates in a dry cell and discharge. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 19:42, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRANDY AND WHISKY?

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRANDY AND WHISKY? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.225.96.217 (talk) 17:59, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

To quote from the top of THIS very page where you have posed the question:

Is there any way I can get a faster answer?

• Yes, you can search first. Please do this.

In your case, you might look at the articles brandy and whisky. If you still have questions, come back and ask again. --ColinFine (talk) 18:18, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

CRICKET SCORE OF LAST MATCH BETWEEN INDIA AND SOUTH AFRICA?

CRICKET SCORE OF LAST MATCH BETWEEN INDIA AND SOUTH AFRICA? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.225.96.217 (talk) 18:00, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not a news service. Please use Google or another search engine to look for this.

Also, please do not type in ALL CAPITALS: it is harder to read, and considered to be shouting. --ColinFine (talk) 18:20, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

The Beeb reports on India's recent games. I'd imagine most of India's newspapers' websites will covert it more detail. CS Miller (talk) 20:18, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Duplicate question removed. --ColinFine (talk) 18:20, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

And please do not post the same question on different ref desks - it has been answered here. Ghmyrtle (talk) 23:55, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

As well as here --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 23:59, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

[3] (cricinfo) generally has ball by ball coverage of all international matches between (men's) test sides and also often live scores and if not at least postmatch scorecards of many matches between women's and youth teams, non test sides and domestic competitions of test countries too. Nil Einne (talk) 06:33, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

mechanical pencil mystery

I receved a very nice mechanical pencil for christmas. There is a thin peice of steel, like a needle stuck on the side of the eraser that fits inside the the lead tube. What is it for? --hacky (talk) 22:32, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Soft leads (2B and higher) can get broken inside the guiding mechanism (essentially it is a clamping chuck and a chuck ring) and get stuck. The lengthy pin attached to the eraser can be used to clear any such obstruction. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 23:00, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

The things we never know --hacky (talk) 02:37, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes its for reaming out your tube.--92.28.87.165 (talk) 12:01, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

No need to get personal about it.  :) -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 22:16, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Ouch!Edison (talk) 05:48, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

January 23

Finding family in Czechoslouakia

Hello all of you Volunteers, I just read the site on Czehoslovakia and it was just full of information, plus the Bryndzove Halusky that she and my mother use to make and I do to this day YUM. My Grandmother Anna Stefkovich born in 1884 and Grandfather Anton Adreansky born in 1881 some where in Czeholovakia. Married and came to New Jerseyin 1908. I would like to know who I can contact to see if I can get anymore information on where they lived and about there families. I tried Ancestry.com but just can not afford that kind of money. I have been trying find something on them for years. I have been told that all records of the people that lived there in the 1800 have been distroy. There must be something about them somewhere or someone that can steer me in the right direction or who I can call or e-mail for help. I live in Alaska, am a old lady and not rich. I wish I was there so I could do the work. Thanking you in advance Patti Alix — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pepalaska (talk • contribs) 06:57, 23 January 2011 (UTC) Edited to improve readability. Royor (talk) 07:03, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Hi there -- Many libraries have Ancestry.com subscriptions, so you should check to see if your local library has it on its computers. If you do a Google search for Slovak genealogy, you'll find plenty of organizations that can help you with your search. The food you mentioned is Slovak, so I'm guessing your family came from Slovakia. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 07:52, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

This site has some contact information for Slovak ancestry research. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 11:33, 23 January 2011 (UTC) PS: Living half an hour away from Bratislava I could also walk across the border and ask a few people:)

Maybe not exactly what you are seeking, but is it possible they entered the USA through Ellis Island? If so, then this site might let you search for their records there. Those records might include the names of other family members and their place of origin. Astronaut (talk) 19:59, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

One other piece of information that you may find helpful is this: At the time that your ancestors came to the United States, Slovakia was considered part of Hungary, which in turn was part of Austria-Hungary. So when you look for a country of origin, you will probably need to look for Hungary or Austria-Hungary. Also, some of the records you seek might be in Hungary today (though regional records should have stayed in what became Slovakia). Marco polo (talk) 19:20, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Porn

Are porn actors considered legitimate actors and are porn films considered legitimate topics of discussion on forums dedicated to discussing "television and film"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.113.119.4 (talk) 10:49, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

That would depend entirely on which forum you're asking about. Did you have one in mind? 90.193.232.5 (talk) 11:09, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Werner Herzog often mentions porn when discussing film in general. He's about as legitimate and respectable as it gets in the film world. See here (middle page 239) for a bit of his opinions on the matter. Staecker (talk) 14:04, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Each forum is going to have its own codes of conduct and social norms. You really need to ask your question to members of the forum you're thinking of. Kingturtle = (talk) 14:58, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Note the type of discussion might make a difference. Depending on the forum, talking about the cinematography or the Foley of a porno may be one thing (except if you're complaining about poor quality - no one is is surprised by a poor quality porno), but discussions along the lines of "did you see the size of that thing!" would be another. -- 174.31.216.144 (talk) 19:03, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Wikipedia has an article about Adult Video News awards with a discussion page where it would be hard not to speak about porn films and actors. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:51, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Many consider porn actors to be "whores", because they perform sex acts for money. By contrast, if they built wagons for money, they would be considered "wainwrights." If they made wagon wheels they would be considered "wheelwrights." If the worked metal in a forge they would be considered "smiths." If they made shoes, they would be considered "cobblers." (If the shoe fits, wear it.) [User:Edison|Edison]] (talk) 05:37, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Maybe we should call them "sexwrights". -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 08:33, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

I once worked with a guy whose name was Dick Wright. HiLo48 (talk) 09:08, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Looking for a book by Beverley La Haye (article in Wikipedia but link not working)

A few years ago I read a book of Beverley La Haye which I cannot find at all. It was one of the best books and I really Want to obtain this book. It was called: “How to develop your childs temperament” by Beverley La Haye. This book features in your article on Beverley La Haye, but the link does not want to work.

Please could you assist me with contact detail since I can't find contact detail on these authors on the internet I would appreciate assistance in obtaining this book.

kind regards, Elvira —Preceding unsigned comment added by 196.2.126.173 (talk) 16:39, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Umm, try amazon and its Used & new section? --Tagishsimon (talk) 16:42, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

...or (for the UK) here. Ghmyrtle (talk) 16:48, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Here's a link to Worldcat using the OCLC number: 3312367 ; by clicking on that link you will retrieve a list of 155 libraries who have this book. If you enter your location, the list of libraries holding this book will be sorted with those closest to you at the top. For finding copies in bookstores (including Amazon), LibraryThing has some pretty neat utilities and links also. I've gone ahead and put the OCLC number link on the Beverly LaHaye page also. --Quartermaster (talk) 18:33, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Digital wall clock with analogue face?

I would like to have a wall clock that was digital, but still showed the time as an old-fashioned round analogue clock face with the hands and stuff, not with numbers. Do these things exist? JIP | Talk 17:46, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Sure. The innards of almost all new clocks are digital these days — you'll likely find mechanical escapements only in overpriced wristwatches. The one in my kitchen id from LaCrosse Technology, syncs itself to WWVB, and cost, I think, $8.95 at Fry's. PhGustaf (talk) 17:58, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

What about clocks that don't use actual hands but a LCD display forming the image of an old-fashioned analogue clock face? Do these things exist? JIP | Talk 18:23, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Oddly, this seems like not something there are a lot of, though the idea is simple enough. I've found this, though, which tells one how to make one from parts. Kind of a neat project. --Mr.98 (talk) 18:52, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

I also found this, which simulates an old-fashioned analogue clock with one of those fancy moving LED stick thingies. But it still has a moving part. I would prefer a clock that looks like an analogue clock but doesn't actually use any moving parts. JIP | Talk 18:55, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

There are a bunch of DYI projects that I've found while searching for "digital analog clock" and "analog LED clock". But I didn't see any dedicated products for sale. Also, for the reverse approach (a clock that looks digital but is really analog), this is pretty cool! --Mr.98 (talk) 18:55, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Excuse me, but I don't understand what you are talking about. The difference of digital clock and analogue clock is time display methods. See this. JIP, you mean a quartz clock with a clock face, don't you? But I recommend you a radio clock with a clock face. It's the most accurate clock. Oda Mari (talk) 19:35, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

No, that's not what I meant. My original question was poorly phrased. When I said "digital" I should have said "LCD". I want a clock that I can hang on my wall, that looks like a traditional analogue clock, but doesn't actually use any physically moving objects as hands, but instead liquid crystals or LEDs that turn on or off. The internal workings are irrelevant to this definition. JIP | Talk 19:39, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

I see. I should have read the comments above more carefully. I hope you could find what you want. Good luck! Oda Mari (talk) 19:46, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

I've seen watches and small clocks with LCD simulated pointers, but not large clocks. The only reason that they might be rare is the cost of the large LCD display, so the price will be several times that of the equivalent clock with pointers that move. I would regard all clock mechanisms as digital, since mechanical clockwork escapements and electronic tuned circuits both provide a discrete count which is then displayed in either analogue or digital format. Even the synchronous motors of older mains clocks relied on the count of cycles at the generator. This is just my viewpoint, and is not relevant to the question. Dbfirs 20:34, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

If you are looking at an LCD screen of a laptop running Windows then you already have a little analog clock display when you click on the time at bottom right. Supplementary question: is there an analog clock whose hands move at truly constant speed? Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:02, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Good point about the Windows clock! Answer to supplementary question is, I think, "no" except for old-style mains synchronous motors where the rotation is directly geared to the pointers to give a smooth movement without any jerks such as the ones that occur in clockwork and electronic movements. I suppose it is a matter of opinion (and definition) whether the fact that the timekeeping is controlled by counting mains cycles (and keeping the average to exactly 50 or 60 per second) makes the control "digital". Dbfirs 19:21, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

I rule out clocks that are driven by a synchronous motor because it would need an infinitely massive flywheel to smooth out the 50 or 60Hz jerks. I suspect that the only way to get a constant movement is by a float on a water clock that is driven by a laminar stream instead of drops of water. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 09:34, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

The synchronous motor is not driven by "jerks" in the same way that a quartz clock is, but the speed is controlled by the generators at the power stations. An infinitely massive flywheel could not be synchronous. Dbfirs 20:46, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I would imagine that the reason for this comment was to state that a big LCD screen is possible, and cost-efficient, to implement. It also gives me a solution of making a laptop computer constantly display an application that looks like an analogue clock and hanging it on the wall, but I'd rather avoid that solution. I'd much rather keep the solution to mostly just the display alone. A laptop computer has many extra parts, which consume power and make noise. The main reason why I want this LCD wall clock is that it would be almost completely silent. Also, I'd imagine a laptop computer costs much more than this LCD wall clock, and so I'd be underusing it. JIP | Talk 20:32, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Possible, yes, but cost-efficient, no, for exactly the reasons that you state. Analogue displays are a tiny fraction of the cost. Dbfirs 08:03, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

The LCD screen of a laptop computer consists of about a million teeny-tiny crystals. But this LCD clock doesn't have to have that, but instead 72 big crystals (12 for the hour hand and 60 for the minute hand). We have had LCD displays with specifically-shaped crystals instead of a universally versatile matrix of crystals for many decades now, so such a thing shouldn't be much of a problem. The only problem I can see is the large size of the clock face. JIP | Talk 18:17, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes, there's no problem in producing these displays, it's just a matter of scaling up the watch displays that used to be available, but the fact that there is little demand (you seem to be in a minority) means that the cost will be greater than most people are willing to pay. Dbfirs 20:57, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

There's the "Bulbdial" kit. — Preceding unsigned comment added by APL (talk • contribs) 15:47, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

question

What goes "hut-hut-huuussss"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Great Green Gourd (talk • contribs) 18:51, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Apparently the answer is "The Clow-Clow". I think it's safe to say that few of us are in on the joke. Still. Thanks for sharing. --Tagishsimon (talk) 18:55, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

May we have a h-h-hint? Cuddlyable3 (talk) 09:35, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

The Germans' fear of the "cold steel"

People of my parents' generation, when talking about World Wars I and II, still often refer to the Germans' fear of being bayoneted. They were said to be terrified of the "cold steel" piercing their nordic bodies. I can sort of accept that at face value. I mean, I wouldn't particularly care for a cold steel blade to be thrust into my austral body and I can't think of any human or group of humans who would be more or less OK about it.

But it's always spoken as being more particularly true of German soldiers than anyone else (I never heard it being said of the Italians or the Japanese, for example; only the Germans). By implication, they were a bunch of lily-livered cowards, while our boys were real men who welcomed being blown up, shot or stabbed to death for king and country.

I'm assuming this was just a form of wartime anti-German propaganda that took on a life of its own and continues to the present day. Is it well attested? -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 19:10, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Interesting footnote here to the first attested use of the phrase, Walter Scott's, Old Mortality. It seems plausible, devilish enemies in league with pure evil can seem to dodge bullets but the sneaky blighters can't dodge a sword. I expect it was merely that Germans were the enemy of the day, not sure why it wasn't applied to others, perhaps regarded as beneath contempt and such a noble death. "They don't like it up 'em!" was the favourite phrase of this character, referring to the germans but still fighting older enemies. meltBanana 20:36, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Oh thank you for refreshing my memory of the exact phrase. As soon as I saw the topic I remembered Corporal Jones. It was from him that I first learnt about this alleged German phobia. I knew his best words were a little more evocative than simply not liking cold steel, but couldn't recall exactly what they were. HiLo48 (talk) 23:11, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Might have to get around to reading Old Mortality. The thing that struck me is, though I haven't figured out which side I would have more sympathy with, I note that John Balfour of Burley seems a bit challenged in the department of counting:

"In one word, then," answered the spokesman, "we are here with our swords on our thighs, as men that watch in the night. We will take one part and portion together, as brethren in righteousness. Whosoever assails us in our good cause, his blood be on his own head. So return to them that sent thee, and God give them and thee a sight of the evil of your ways!"

--Trovatore (talk) 21:07, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

There is something both biblical and phallic about a man having a sword on his thigh. Sol 3:8 every man [hath] his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. Ex. 32:27 Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh... Cuddlyable3 (talk) 10:52, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

A search for fear cold steel at Google Books turns up more references to trolls, trows and suchlike than to Germans. --Antiquary (talk) 22:05, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Nobody likes the idea of being bayoneted — it's been noted (in On Killing, at least) that in general, nobody really likes to use a bayonet either. Some huge percentage of bayonet charges end with one side fleeing and nobody actually getting stabbed with the things, if I recall from the book. --Mr.98 (talk) 21:05, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Was there, perhaps, some connection with the Niebelungen myth? Not on a good computer at the moment so can't do much searching - if someone else can help me out I'd be grateful.--TammyMoet (talk) 21:29, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Can't remember or find any connection, Tammy, unless you're thinking of Tolkien's "By the forging of Gram cold iron was revealed"? (From "On Fairy-Stories"). --Antiquary (talk) 22:36, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

As for those who don't mind cold steel penetrating their bodies, there is the ancient tradition of Seppuku (hara kiri). (As opposed to English gentlemen who, having been discovered cheating at cards, were exhorted to "do the decent thing" and given a revolver by fellow officer types.)

Saki, or rather one of his debonair young characters, thought cold steel an honourable way to die. This is from "The Unrest-Cure", in which Clovis has taken it upon himself to stimulate the lives of some hapless middle-aged strangers called the Huddles. He pretends to be confidential secretary to a visiting bishop whom he invents out of whole cloth, hiding him in the library so that none of the household realise that there is no such person. He then informs his unwilling hosts that the bishop is actually in the village "to massacre every Jew in the neighbourhood." (This is in the Edwardian summer of rural England, far from Russian pogroms and entirely unaware of the Holocaust.)

Clovis hastened downstairs, and after a short visit to the library returned with another message:

"The Bishop is sorry to hear that Miss Huddle has a headache. He is issuing orders that as far as possible no firearms shall be used near the house; any killing that is necessary on the premises will be done with cold steel. The Bishop does not see why a man should not be a gentleman as well as a Christian."

I'm sure I would have found H H Munro insufferable in person, but there is no writer like Saki. He was very anti-Hun, as they phrased it, and wrote a novel of invasion literature; there is no steel in When William Came, and the only cold things are asparagus and goblets of hock. (What did we do before full-text search?) Pity Munro died by a sniper's bullet in WWI trenches.

BrainyBabe (talk) 21:40, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

This is slightly off-topic, but I remember a passage in All Quiet on the Western Front suggesting the reverse, sort of: A fear and hatred for the particularly "German" version of bayonets with a serrated edge. The passage describes how German soldiers tryi to modify that particular form of bayonet, because of the enemy's horrible punishment rumoured to befall any German soldier found with a serrated bayonet. The soldiers' corpses were found with their noses cut off and their eyes gouged by their own bayonet. Their gaping wounds had been filled with sawdust in order to asphyxiate them. ---Sluzzelin talk 21:50, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Called a Pionier-fasschinenmesser designed to cut sticks for Fascines - an element of field fortifications[4]. Originally only issued to German pioneer companies. Alansplodge (talk) 18:47, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

AQOTWF was fiction. The above was a rumour/propaganda repeated by a character in a novel - so not very reliable. 92.24.185.2 (talk) 00:41, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

One of the characters in the comedy series Dad's Army - which I never cared for - supposedly a veteran of WWI, would endlessly repeat the catch phrase "They don't like it up 'em" at the slightest provocation, while miming thrusting a bayonet. So that may have been the origin of that. In reality, I've read Good-Bye to All That and a compendium of accounts of WW1, and I do not recall anything about Germans fearing cold steel. 92.24.185.2 (talk) 00:41, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

A little reading of what others have posted may have saved you that post. Corporal Jones has already been mentioned, in the second post of the thread, right after mention of the idea first being used in Walter Scott's, Old Mortality which was published in 1816. HiLo48 (talk) 00:50, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Why bother to tell me, at length, and in deatil? 92.24.185.2 (talk) 00:53, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

It doesn't address Jack's specific question about Germans, but I found this article quite interesting (ignoring the typos), particularly the second half, which looks at the psychological effect of the bayonet. It notes the reference in On Killing that Mr.98 cites, and generally concludes that "He who has not made up his mind to come at last to the bayonet can never win, for he can have no serious intention to assault". If you wish to characterise your enemy as inferior, and you regard a willingness to engage in close-quarters fighting with the bayonet as the acid test of a soldier's courage, it makes sense to suggest that he has a constitutional unwillingness to do so. Karenjc 10:20, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Ha! Found it in the "Nibelungenlied" article: "...killing Siegfried with a spear as he is drinking from a brook in chapter 16. This perfidious murder is particularly dishonorable in medieval thought, as throwing a javelin is the manner in which one might slaughter a wild beast, not a knight. We see this in other literature of the period, such as with Parsifal's unwittingly dishonorable crime of combatting and slaying knights with a javelin (transformed into a swan in Wagner's opera)..." A bayonet is just a spear attached to a gun. I think this is what I was thinking of, and certainly sounds plausible as a source for the modern Germans and bayonets myth. --TammyMoet (talk) 15:26, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Wow! I never expected to see the Nibelungenlied and Wagner operas in the same thread as Dad's Army, Walter Scott and Saki. I wasn't remotely expecting any of those, actually. Thanks for all the great cultural refs, dearly beloved co-editors. -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 19:14, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Ack, I knew Tammy's Wagnerian spear-murder reminded me of something, and I couldn't place it. Sorry Jack, I think you were drawing a line under this one, but can I just add the Arthurian legends to the mix, in particular the First Continuation of Chrétien's Perceval? Gawain is escorting a strange knight under safe-conduct when an unseen someone (probably the recently humiliated Kay) lobs a javelin at the stranger and kills him. I recall being taught that this was disastrous not only because the stranger was under Gawain's protection, and because the killing was anonymous, but because death by javelin is inherently shameful. A knight fighting an enemy with hand-held weapons must come within reach of his opponent and risk his own life in turn, which gives honour to both parties. On the other hand, chucking a spear at him makes you into a cad, since you have denied him an honourable death (and are a rotten coward to boot). This would appear to contradict Tammy in some ways, since a distinction is made between a hand-held spear and a thrown one. But it's plausible that there's a link there somewhere. Karenjc 19:50, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for that, Karen. (Let me never be accused of drawing lines under things. If there is more to say, let it be said, is my philosophy.) -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 20:00, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Well, since you've un-drawn the line, I thought I'd say that I don't really get the argument above, about javelin cowardly vs sword brave. I understand that slaying an enemy from a distance by hurling something, or attacking him from behind, is perceived to be less manly than confronting him face to face with roughly equivalent weapons, i.e. an equal chance of getting hurt oneself. But surely bayonets are thrust from very near in? They are not thrown. If anything, it is the bullet that more closely resembles a javelin, in this regard, as being the distance projectile. Or am I missing something? BrainyBabe (talk) 11:29, 25 January 2011 (UTC) PS I've just come across, linked from Edith Cavell, British propaganda poster from 1918, depicting a German soldier bayoneting a baby. Charming. BrainyBabe (talk) 11:45, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Well, Siegfried (if true) implies that dying like a stuck pig on a spear is inherently dishonourable; Gawain (if true) that this may be so, but the shame is in the separation between killer and killee. (A) supports Tammy's suggestion of a genuine Teutonic distaste for dying a squalid, unknightly death on a spike. (B) would endorse Jack's British propaganda assumption: if hand-to-hand fighting equals heroism, courage and honour, you spread the story that you're up for it any time, but your opponent is a coward who daren't get close enough to taste your (hand-held) cold steel. The original question really intrigued me, and I'm sad we haven't found an authoritative answer and probably never will. Propaganda is slippery stuff. I see what you mean about that poster, by the way. Eugh. Karenjc 14:21, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

But bayonets are hand-held. Aren't they? (Not having been trained in hand-to-hand combat myself.) And in the old days of mythology, spears would have been tipped not with steel of any temper or temperature, but iron or bronze, surely? Puzzledly, BrainyBabe (talk) 22:58, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

In my research of 19th century surgery, I found a US Civil War surgeon (the exact book reference is not readily at hand) who said that bayonet wounds to the abdomen were rarely fatal. The bayonet was not very sharp, and penetrated the front of the abdomen, but pushed the intestines aside, rather than severing or penetrating them. Even without antibiotics or any notion of aseptic surgery, most victims of a bayonet to the abdomen survived in that war. By contrast, he said that a man cut or stabbed in the abdomen with a very sharp Bowie knife invariably died of peritonitis due to the cutting into the intestine and the release of intestinal contents into the abdomen. Edison (talk) 05:34, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Sugar "free"

Why don't you sell SUGAR FREE hot Chocolate mix...... NO sugar added has about 8 grains of sugar in it. Dibetitics can't have it.

Every hot chocolate mix has gone that way. Your hurting people., because most don't read the labels.

Thank You, <email redacted> —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.131.42.14 (talk) 23:38, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 6.8 million articles and thought we were affiliated in some way with that subject. Please note that you are at Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this page is for asking questions related to using or contributing to Wikipedia itself. Thus, we have no special knowledge about the subject of your question. You can, however, search our vast catalogue of articles by typing a subject into the search field on the upper right side of your screen. If you cannot find what you are looking for, we have a reference desk, divided into various subject areas, where asking knowledge questions is welcome. Best of luck. --Jayron32 23:40, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

This is, in fact, that reference desk. -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 00:13, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Sorry, maybe we need an RD version of {{astray}}. The person obviously doesn't know this is the Wikipedia reference desk, unless Wikipedia really does market a Wikipedia-brand Sugar Free Cocoa Mix. --Jayron32 00:17, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

This search finds plenty of sources of chocolate for diabetics. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 08:21, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Don't you order all your hot chocolate mix from the Wikipedia webstore? Edison (talk) 02:59, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I have a standing order. They all wind up in my Wikipedia all-purpose cup and get eaten using OpenSpoon. --Ouro (blah blah) 07:39, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

The latest edition of which only has four holes, but at least it's free, dammit! Matt Deres (talk) 13:51, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

January 24

Speed limit of a developing economy

I don't understand much about economics but I am very curious about the concepct described below:

"China is passing through a prolonged process of convergence with the developed economies, and inflation is triggered when the speed limits on that convergence are exceeded. These limits are set by factors like the speed at which labour can migrate from rural agriculture to urban agriculture, and the speed at which the capital stock…can be increased to absorb the available labour supply."

[5]

Can anyone explain what this speed limit is in simpler terms? Do other developing economies have different speed limits? Why?

Saberrattlingsnake (talk) 05:03, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

There's a careful balance to be made between underemployment and overemployment in any economy. Having too many people in an urban area out of work is bad; it leads to shanty towns and slums, as people rush into a city from the hinterland expecting to find better work than they did back when they were subsistance farming on some tiny patch of barely arable land somewhere. That can put the breaks on development, as such people need to be dealt with. On the other hand, overemployment can also be a problem; if there are too many openings with too few people to fill them, you end up with people filling those positions who are underqualified, they are therefore bad at their job, and can hurt the economy if there are too many people like that. They also tend to demand higher wages, which can put a crimp on things as companies have to essentially pay more money for lower quality work. Such an event is called a Labor shortage and during the Plague years in the middle ages, for example, it created huge economic problems. The trick is to maintain an economy where there is the right number of jobs for the people who need to be employed. Its bad to have either too many or too few availible job openings for people. --Jayron32 05:10, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Your quote describes the problem fairly well. If businesses in a country collectively try to grow at too fast a rate, then their demand for loans to finance that growth will exceed the supply of savings, forcing up interest rates. Their demand for labor will exceed the growth in the labor force, resulting in labor shortages, as Jayron has explained. This forces up wages, and/or the workers drawn to the areas of fastest growth will increase the demand for housing faster than housing can be built, forcing up the price of housing. The result of a labor shortage is typically inflation, or a general rise in prices and a drop in the value of savings. Too much inflation can hurt growth by discouraging (and ultimately wiping out) savings, which in turn discourages lending, which makes it more difficult for businesses to borrow and grow. Economic growth speed limits vary quite a bit from one country to another. For example, countries in which the labor force is declining, such as Russia or some developed countries (Japan, Italy), will have relatively low speed limits. If growth rises above maybe 3% per year in these countries, there may be a risk of inflation. Countries with ample land, good infrastructure, and underemployed labor, such as South Africa, will have relatively high speed limits, perhaps higher than those of China. Marco polo (talk) 19:13, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Daily Mail Talk Page

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

---

There appears to be nothing negative on the Daily Mail (newspaper) article. While suggesting additions i noted that there are just a few users who seem to watch the article, resist anything negative being added (even with links to back it up or said addition receiving international coverage) I'm fairly sure that's not allowed as it is claiming ownership over an article and deliberately keeping the article biased.

Can someone please confirm this or just take a look at the Talk page? Thanks Jenova20 (talk) 11:52, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Actually this is kinda the wrong place for this query. I would suggest,however, that neutral editors are more than welcome at that article, which does, in fact, include much criticism of the Daily Mail. Collect (talk) 12:27, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Happens all the time. The "owner" of the Guy Fawkes Night kept it as an anti-catholic festival, rather than a reson to let off fireworks and have a night-time outdoor party for children, although the article is not as bad as it was. The TalkPage criticism has also, I see, disapeared. 92.15.26.222 (talk) 12:31, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

User talk:108.72.201.109 appears to be appropriate in regard to the above comment. Collect (talk) 12:45, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for the speedy reply. I'm not sure what to do about this then as any changes i make, even with proper sources would be undone by "Christian1985 (talk)" Where do i stand here as i'd rather not get drawn into an edit war and am not as experienced at Wikipedian as him and i believe looking at his talk page that he has a personal interest in keeping this article how it is and devoid of any change. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jenova20 (talk • contribs) 12:59, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

No I would NOT 'undo any edits', I have a right to remove edits if they do not meet WP guidelines. It has nothing to do with my personal views. I am following procedure. I am getting very sick of your bullying. You seem to have a personal campaign against me when I have done nothing wrong. 90.214.245.119 (talk) 14:33, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

It is incorrect to say there is no criticism of the Daily Hate within the article. The Editorial Stance and the Famous Stories sections contain criticism. Should you have content to add which satisfies WP:RS and WP:V then you have a couple of options: add the content and see what happens, or else add a section to the talk page stating that you would like to add the following text & reference, and have the discussion in advance of adding the text. Reading through your comments on the talk page, you stated that there was nothing on Stephen Gately & Jan Moir .. but there is, in Famous Stories. Meanwhile, I suggest you get yourself to the talkpage of WP:RS to discuss whether or not the Pink Paper is an RS. I liked Christian1985's comment: "The Pink Paper is just as biased as the Mail so it is not a realiable source", at least in so far as it suggests that the Daily Hate is no more or less an RS than the Pink Paper. I suspect the bottom line, though, is that if you want to add criticism and make it stick, you should look for better sources than an obviously partisan (though quite possibly correct) source such as the PP. --Tagishsimon (talk) 14:25, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Jenova20, will you please stop saying I am claiming 'ownership' because I am NOT. Stop making these ridiculous unfounded allegations against me or I will make a report to the Adminstrators. I am following WP policy. I do not resist anything negative, I have a right to question the reliability of sources and question edits. The article is fine as it is, it does not need negative information from biased and partisan sources. Policy has been followed. Please stop making these ridiculous accusations against me and Collect. 90.214.245.119 (talk) 14:31, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Quit threatening with administrators. All i have asked for is to add some information to the article with sources and rather than ask for better sources you have said no flatly, made assumptions about me and threatened me with administrators (constantly) I have reported you to an administrator because of this as you have a conflict of interest in keeping the page how you want, this is clear from the talk page of the Daily Mail article and your own. You have made clear today that your way of getting what you want is from threatening anyone who does not agree with you with the administrators (again this is clear from the talk pages). Jenova20 (talk) 15:48, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

I haven't 'threatened' you, I have simply issued a warning because you keep going around spreading lies and abuse about me when I have done nothing wrong. I have not threatened anyone, you are being very childish and very unreasonable because you can't get your way. All I have done is follow policy. I am not claiming ownership of the article so leave me alone. Christian1985 (talk) 17:59, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Ladies, can the bigger person here please not reply before we get into virtual fisticuffs on the Reference Desk? I don't know who is right, but I know this isn't the way to solve it. Prokhorovka (talk) 18:10, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

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

How much land would be freed if people stopped eating ice cream

How much land would be freed/reallocated if people stopped eating ice cream? A very rough estimate is enough for me. --85.77.119.92 (talk) 14:07, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

I'm baffled as to what correlation you're making between ice cream consumption and land use. Are you talking about the amount of dairy farms? The size of the people in question? The fields of sugar cane? --Mr.98 (talk) 14:44, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

The fields and such. I'd assume the area consumed by factories or wider seats is negligible in comparison to the total sum. --85.77.119.92 (talk) 15:09, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

I presume this is based on the well-known argument (popuarised in the 1970s by Frances Moore Lappe's Diet for a Small Planet) that vegetarians have less impact on the biosphere, and thus, by extension, vegans have even less. Would the people stop eating ice cream and start eating sorbet? Or another processed food? Or fresh fruit? Or nothing? Each of these will have different environmental effects. One source would be that of the Baskin-Robbins heir who disowned his family's ice-cream business. BrainyBabe (talk) 15:12, 24 January 2011 (UTC) PS That would be John Robbins (author) and Diet for a New America, "an exposé on connections between diet, physical health, animal cruelty, and environmentalism". BrainyBabe (talk) 15:15, 24 January 2011 (UTC) PPS We even have an article on Environmental vegetarianism, which gives lots of sources. It's not a direct answer, but it might help. BrainyBabe (talk) 15:21, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

If a US-only answer will do, it would be straightforward to visit the National Agricultural Statistics Service website and find out the number of gallons of milk and ice cream produced and how much acreage is under dairy cultivation. (IceCreamProduced / MilkProduced) * DairyAcreage should give you a ball park figure. --Sean 15:34, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Note that this calculation (and don't forget to do a similar one for the sugar/sugarcane, as the other major ingredient) will give you an answer for 'land reallocated', but not necessarily for 'land freed'. If ice cream disappears from the diet, what foodstuff(s) will replace it? (In other words, assuming that people don't choose to simply starve themselves of those ice cream calories, where will they make up the difference?) In the extreme case, if we assume that the people who were eating ice cream switch their purchasing to frozen yogurt then the effect on land use could be negligible. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 17:34, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Ice cream, as a high fat food, is likely to reduce life expectancy, and therefore reduce the ability of people to inflict damage on the environment. It should be possible to find an actuarial estimate of how fat consumption reduces life expectancy, and factor that in. --Colapeninsula (talk) 15:39, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Ice cream cheers people up (it would be tricky to cite this, I hope it's uncontroversial), and a happy mood enhances creativity, which is necessary for the development of technology which increases agricultural productivity. So eating ice cream reduces land use, to some unknown extent. 81.131.45.235 (talk) 20:08, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Speculating either way on the effect of a single dessert foodstuff on population mortality strikes me as extremely fanciful. Ice cream is not central to the diets of most people. In most cases adding or removing it is unlikely to exhibit anything measurable in and of itself. --Mr.98 (talk) 20:27, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

And ditto on land use. If ice cream was switched off - banned by a government prohibition say - then the demand will switch in large part to the nearest legal substitute, the same fields will probably continue to produce the same sugar cane and dairy and will ship to the same factories which will be producing frozen yoghurt or cheese cake or cold sweetened milk or whatever the law still allows. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 13:58, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Belief about extra-terrestrials, particularly related to circular patterns and mushroom fairy rings

Several years ago the Skeptical Enquirer ( I think) published an article about people thinking that a "fairy ring" of mushrooms indicated a landing of extra-terrestrials. Is there any collection of such ironious beliefs? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.103.0.2 (talk) 20:35, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

You mean "erroneous". 92.15.2.19 (talk) 10:44, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

A Google search of 'fairy ring mushrooms ufo' gave a good many results. I'm not sure if any of those sites have any 'collections' of these type of beliefs, but it may be a starting point. --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 01:54, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

If reliably sourced this could be added to the article List of common misconceptions. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 09:53, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Only if it can be truly shown to be common. HiLo48 (talk) 11:01, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Travel Insurance - Not a request for medical or legal advice.

I am in the UK and recently needed to renew mine and my wife's travel insurance. Our previous insurer advised us that their medical declaration questions had been changed such that my well-managed Blood Pressure and Cholesterol would be excluded, as would any cover for my wife's well- managed arthritis and asthma - or any related claims that might arise from them. So we couldn't take the risk of a stroke or heart-attack or slip or trip occurring abroad. We are aware of the European Reciprocal Health Care system and we do carry our E111 Cards with us whenever we are abroad, but we couldn't take the risk of having to arrange our own repatriation, which isn't covered under that scheme. So I contacted several other insurance companies, some of which refused to insure us in any event or at any cost. But eventually we found one who will cover us and include all the listed medical conditions in return for a 25% surcharge on their normal premiums which we think is very fair. My question concerns why so many companies have vastly differing policy conditions when they are all competing for the same business. Also, whenever we go abroad, even to the USA or when cruising, we see loads of tourists who are clearly in much worse health than us, and we are now suspicious that many of them either do not declare their health conditions when purchasing travel insurance, or else they don't insure themselves at all. If that is so, does anyone here have any clue as to how much that bad practice goes on, or any links to sites that may be able to provide that information. Sorry about the length of this but thanks in anticipation of any responses. 78.146.34.244 (talk) 20:46, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

A quick Google search appears to confirm your suspicion that many people choose to travel uninsured, particularly older people who may find it difficult or expensive to find insurance for health reasons. This article and this one quote surveys that discuss numbers, although the scientific basis of the sampling is not certain. This article was also interesting. I'm amazed that people would risk travelling to places like the US, where healthcare is notoriously expensive, without adequate cover. Thinking of US tourists though, remember that many US residents who can afford a cruise holiday are likely already to have private health insurance either on their own account or provided by an employer - I'm not clued up about US health insurance, but I believe that some such policies do extend, or can be extended, to cover holidays too. Just as a personal observation, I think you are extremely responsible to take out such cover, even if it's loaded, and to declare your pre-existing conditions. My father was taken suddenly ill and then died following surgery while on holiday in Europe. He had valid insurance, and a traumatic situation was made much easier because someone else sorted out the cost of his emergency treatment and arranged the repatriation of his body to the UK for us. The alternative really does not bear thinking about, even seven years down the line. Karenjc 22:35, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

spencers orchard bradford on avon

Live in the Old Coach house in what was The Spencer Brothers Cider Orchard in Bradford on Avon in the 1800's, it abuts the Kennet and Avon Canal, so obviously had a purpose for the brewing company.

As it was an agricultural property we cannot find out any information at all. When we bought it was called number 18 Frome Road, Bradford on Avon.

It is next to The Maltings, which burnt down many years ago also owned by the Spencer Brothers, have searched your wonderful sites but to no avail, any suggestions or info

Kindest regards

Glo Maslen e-mail redacted—Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.195.58.37 (talk) 22:23, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

e-maill removed to prevent possible spamming.

Here [6]is the Land Registry site for Wiltshire, oddly at Weymouth in Dorset, but you should be able to get historical information about your property there, it may cost of course.

There are books published about how to research the history of your house, I suggest reading one of those. Your local archive office may be able to help. The Land Registry may have copies of old deeds that you could obtain for a fee, but they do not otherwise provide historical information. 92.28.241.187 (talk) 00:55, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Many main libraries in the UK have a local history department with access to archives and librarians who will point you in the right direction. Alansplodge (talk) 09:23, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Have you tried the local museum? They would almost certainly be happy to help, or at least point you in the right direction. Ghmyrtle (talk) 10:07, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

The Wiltshire archive office has a page here http://www.wshc.eu/about-wshc/archives.html which includes a link to a brief online guide to tracing the history of your house. If you bought your house in recent years then the Land Registry office (in Weymouth, as mentioned above) may have copies of the old deeds that they could send you copies of for a fee. Best to telephone them and ask them what they have. 92.15.2.19 (talk) 11:09, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Agree with going to the county archives and local museum. Since your house is called Old Coach House, it might be just that. Could the road have been a stagecoach route? That's something you could ask librarians and archivists about. Also whether there are any archive materials for the brewery, and what is known about trade on the canal. Itsmejudith (talk) 11:16, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

That's possible, but don't be too disappointed if it turns out to be just the building in which some gentleman's coach was stored. Dbfirs 13:13, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

True, that's quite likely as well. Since it seems to be part of a cider farm and brewery, it could be where one or more of the the company;s horsedrawn vehicles were kept. I would start by researching the general history of Bradford upon Avon, its industry, and the canal. That should give leads for more detail information about the house. Post office directories should be in the public library; all businesses should be listed. Itsmejudith (talk) 16:48, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

You will, of course, be able to search online and find out who lived there from 1841 - 1911 because the Census records are online. Some of them are pay sites - the 1911 is definitely pay per view. Also look up "historical directories" in Google and you may well find the place listed in a local directory for the 19th century. --TammyMoet (talk) 14:15, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

You should be able to find a set of old directories and old maps at the Wiltshire archive office, and many other things as well. So spend a few hours there, and take sufficient identification with you so that they will let you in. 92.29.126.211 (talk) 16:56, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

January 25

"environmental impact fee" on long distance bill

I have a cheap carrier of long distance calls. Sometime in the last few months they started adding a $10 "environmental impact fee" to the bill each month, which is more than the average cost of my long distance calls. Do all long-distance carriers do this? Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 01:52, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Could it be because they are sending you a paper bill, while an electronic version would be cheaper? HiLo48 (talk) 02:02, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I went to their website and found out that is the case. $10 is a lot per month to send a bill! Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 02:38, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Therefore, it really encourages you to go paperless. If you do so, they save money. If you don't, they get your $10. They win either way. Dismas|^(talk) 03:03, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I wonder how much of the $10 "environmental impact fee" goes towards reducing "environmental impact"? Or should I stop wondering now? HiLo48 (talk) 03:48, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Stop right now (thank you very much!); I'd be really surprised if the ten bucks went toward saving Mother Earth, it's probably in the line that cheap carriers charge a lot for even the simplest extra stuff. --Ouro (blah blah) 07:35, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

The people who run these companies and charge these outrageous fees are the ones who protest the loudest about "revenue raising" when they get caught by a speed camera while exceeding the speed limit. How do I know this? I just know, that's all. -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 09:35, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

If the OP had a contract with them which didnt involve paying $10 for a paper bill, and then they've started imposing this amount without (by mutual agreement) starting a new contract that included the extra $10 fee, then would this be unlawful? 92.29.126.211 (talk) 16:59, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

It would depend on the terms of the contract. --Mr.98 (talk) 01:20, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Hands up all those who have read and understood all the small print in their phone company contract(s). Come on now. Quickly....... HiLo48 (talk) 02:01, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Repetitive phrases

I have this problem when I'm writing of sometimes using certain (usually transitory) phrases or constructions, such as 'however', 'as I [participle], [main clause]', etc too many times, especially if I've gone back to revise. This creates a lack of variety and a sense of staleness in my writing, but they make my writing smooth. If I see one construction used too much I will try to edit it out, but sometimes I don't notice it, especially if I'm writing a longer piece. Is there a site that can detect frequently used words and phrases or count how many times I use a phrase in a document or something? THanks. 24.92.70.160 (talk) 03:00, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

You can try to achieve a rapid, concentrated vocabulary expansion by taking words you sense that you overuse and putting them into a thesaurus -- so instead of always using 'however,' you could have in mind to sprinkle in 'although,' 'moreover,' 'notwithstanding,' 'nevertheless,' 'albeit' -- I know that helped me a few years back. Don't know about a detection program, but if your brain detects it while writing, you won't need a program :) DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 07:04, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

The word "however" suggests that the foregoing statement might have been formulated better.Cuddlyable3 (talk) 10:11, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Sure, there are lots of subtle shadings of meaning, but DRonsebach's answer is apt: build an arsenal words that create smoothing subordinating structures, and get variety by picking the best one for each occasion. I happen to like using "contrariwise" when applicable. SemanticMantis (talk) 16:41, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Regular expressions will help you search for patterns in your text. Specifically you could use grep to find repeated structures and sed to manipulate the text into a more varied form. SemanticMantis (talk) 16:41, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Not an answer to your question, but such things are often called "crutch words" or "crutch phrases". There doesn't seem to be anything on WP about them, but google gives some pages on the subject. (Some info on training yourself not to do it so much.) Staecker (talk) 21:38, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Pincode in Kolkata

what are the pincode of southcity,Tower-4,29th floor,flat no-29L,kolkata —Preceding unsigned comment added by 110.172.174.52 (talk) 07:04, 25 January 2011 (UTC) Question reformatted in own section. Richard Avery (talk) 07:30, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

You may like to try this [7] site. Richard Avery (talk) 07:33, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

According to this source, the PIN is 700068. Marco polo (talk) 20:06, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Gelatin source

Hello, This is the 1st time i have tried looking for something but havn't got my answer from anywhere on net. I hope the excellent working team of wikipedia will find a satisfactory answer. I am in Pakistan & i bought a hair care product from a multinational store here. But when i tried to inquire about some products involved in its composition i didn't get my answer so i tried to find it on the company site but no answer. The product is GNC Women's Hair, Skin & Nails Formula. http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3943821 I want to know that "what is the source of gelatin in this product?" It is important to know because if its some animal bovine source or a pig source than it will not be for muslims, because of religious obligations & neither for pure vegetarians.

Hope I'll get a reply soon Regards Sohaiba HayatSohaiba hayat (talk) 09:50, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Gelatin is usually derived from pork skins, pork and cattle bones, or split cattle hides. Recently, fish by-products have also been considered because they eliminate some of the religious obstacles, see here. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 10:01, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

If it were a Halal product, then one would think that GNC would mention this as a positive selling point. As they don't one must assume that it isn't; especially since GNC declare “demanding truth in labeling. However, you can mail or phone them and ask. [8] or ring 1-877-GNC-4700 . We have an article on them so maybe the answer could go there somewhere.--Aspro (talk) 10:53, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I changed the question title for easier access in the archive. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:41, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Is not halal, being derived from kosher rules, in specific relation to gastrointestinal consumption? Unless you are drinking or otherwise introducing this hair care product into the oral cavity, why would it matter if it's derived from pigs? Are Muslims banned from making use of pigskin in coats, tamborines, American-style footballs, etc.? DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 05:19, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Topical medications don't usually come in caplets in my experience; and I don't know of any dietary supplements (by definition) that one rubs on the outside of the body or hair whilst eating food. Therefore, I can only imagine that one is supposed to swallow this supplement, so in this case I think Halal is the applicable law. However, if others think they might know better... And remember: always read the label or Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) or ask the pharmacist if your not sure--Aspro (talk) 11:12, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

From the article Halal: Muslims must ensure that all foods, particularly processed foods, pharmaceuticals, and non-food items like cosmetics, are also halal. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:51, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

What does Ebay want to choke out the smaller sellers?

Recently, I discovered that ordinary sellers are now limited to selling only $5,000/month (before sellers' fees, no less), or 100 items, whichever comes first. Why?

I also see something about requesting permission to sell more. What all would it take to be given that permission?

Anyway, since eBay only seems to prefer the big-wigs nowadays, what are some great auctioning sites for the smaller sellers now? (Please don't mention Craigslist; they don't have an auctioning sub-site, and their graphics appear to have not been updated since I was 10 years old.) --70.179.181.251 (talk) 14:24, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I've been using ioffer lately. There isn't as much passing trade as ebay but the company seems more friendly, like ebay was a few years ago. Having said that, I don't trade anywhere near as much as 100 items a month. ioffer allows items which ebay ban, such as the Baise_moi DVD. --TrogWoolley (talk) 15:10, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Why does e-bay not let shippers use FedEx?

129.130.32.204 (talk) 18:08, 25 January 2011 (UTC)
I adjusted the title and format. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:58, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Perhaps because FedEx takes too long? The Ebay Home Page has a 'Contact Us' link on the bottom right. You could ask them directly through that. --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 15:54, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

How much better is Amazon Auctions than Ebay?

Are their fees lower? By how much? Also, in what other ways are Amazon Auctions better than Ebay? In what ways are they worse? Do you think it's worth my time to set up shop over there? --70.179.181.251 (talk) 14:24, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Your question seems to be a loaded one. As far as purchasing, I have had good experiences with both and bad experiences only with eBay. The problem is used and new items, with which the latter Amazon only deals. Being a seller on eBay, it would seem, is no easy task. I feel Craig'sList would be more inviting for a seller. schyler (talk) 14:34, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

childrens book called pug

I am looking for the author and publisher of a book called PUG. It is a beginners reading book. I read this in the mid 70s and I believe it was around many years before then. It was basic with lines like, "See pug run. I see pug run." Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Sure it wans't "See Spot Run"? --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 17:54, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I think you're looking for Pug by Theodore Lester Harris (Oklahoma City : The Economy Co., 1975 - OCLC 251451705). WorldCat has it listed as part of the "Keys to Reading" series and a "Preprimer." Given that it was published in 1975, there's a good chance this is it. I can't say how easy it will be to find copies though. Here is the link that will pull up all titles in the series including things like Activity book for Pug. Annotated teacher's ed. --Quartermaster (talk) 19:25, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Since T. L. Harris's Pug was published by The Economy Co. I think this must be an illustration from it. --Antiquary (talk) 19:47, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Alcohol

Is there any shop that sells non poisonous 100% alcohol? Most pure alcohol have methanol and are used for industrial purposes. Money is tight (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 16:49, 25 January 2011 (UTC).

It is exceedingly difficult to produce 100% ethanol; such preparations are VERY expensive because of the difficulty in producing it, because water and ethanol form an azeotrope. It does exist, but almost always as denatured alcohol, that is it is laced with something to make it unfit for human consumption. The highest proof commercially availible spirits for actual drinking that I know of is the 190-proof (95%) version of Everclear. --Jayron32 16:59, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Although you might call it "non poisonous", with such concentrated alcohol it would be easy to suddenly kill yourself by alcoholic poisoning. 92.29.126.211 (talk) 17:05, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I presume you mean, Absolute Alcohol . What do you want to do with it, as it is too strong to drink undiluted? You might as well buy a bottle of 'clear' vodka ( as opposed to flavoured vodka).. for it is filtered through activated charcoal and other media to adsorb trace amounts of molecules that alters or gives off-flavors to the vodka. Otherwise, go to a Laboratory chemical supplier for the absolute stuff.--Aspro (talk) 17:12, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

If you are intending to drink it after dilution, make sure that it is the human-consumable kind of alcohol and not the kind that makes you go blind. 92.15.22.33 (talk) 18:38, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I think that's what he means by non-poisonous. A better way of saying it would be non-Denatured_alcohol. It's relatively easy to find high-concentration alcohol that has been denatured with naptha or methanol, but that would be poisonous. As an aside in some places I have heard they use dye and bitterants rather than toxic chemicals to denature alcohol, making it both more pure and less suitable for use as surrogate alcohol. The article on denaturing mentions Poland as one such location.65.29.47.55 (talk) 19:44, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

I don't think you can buy 200 proof ethanol in the US anyway. You can get 190 proof, as noted previously. I think if you want 200 proof you're going to have to do it yourself in a lab. --Mr.98 (talk) 22:50, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Actually, it seems like you can buy it, but it's sold for laboratory use. I don't know how easy it would be to get it without a lab affiliation of some kind, but it must be possible. --Mr.98 (talk) 00:39, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

[9]. Note that there's a federal tax of 27 USD/gallon on 190 and 200 proof, non-denatured alcohol. Aldrich will helpfully include the tax in the price of the solvent, and take care of any paperwork. At nearly 90 USD a liter, you'd expect them to. Compare to the denatured stuff, at "only" 47 USD a liter. Buddy431 (talk) 02:49, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Note also, that you can get reagent grade anhydrous methanol (built-in denaturing, so to speak), for 35 USD a liter [10], or 50 USD for 2 L. However, I don't think that methanol forms an azeotrope with water like ethanol does (in fact, looking at methanol, it looks like methanol is produced more or less anhydrously anyway). Reagent grade Isopropyl alcohol can be had for 42 USD per liter. Rubbing alcohol grade isopropyl alcohol (either 70 or 99%) can be had for like 5 USD a pint (or something; go to your local drugstore and buy their generic brand). Isopropyl alcohol, while not strictly edible, is pretty non-toxic (I'm not sure if it gets you drunk though. If we try to search this online, we just get a bunch of pansies screaming that it will make you go blind or kill you. They're of course confusing it with methanol, which really is as poisonous as people say). It bears noting that the principle reason methanol is so toxic is that it's oxidized to Formaldehyde and then Formic Acid. Ethanol is oxidized to the much less toxic Acetaldehyde and then acetic acid. Isopropyl alcohol is oxidized to acetone (and no furthur). This makes the breath of those who've drunk rubbing alcohol smell "fruity" (quoting our Isopropyl alcohol article). Acetone, though not strictly food, is relatively non-toxic. Buddy431 (talk) 03:23, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Edit: Once we get past all the fear mongering, it turns out that isopropyl alcohol is intoxicating, though apparently it takes a bit longer for the blood alcohol level to peak (30-120 minutes for isopropanol, vs. 20-60 minutes for ethanol): [11]. Most of the toxic effects are due to the Central nervous system depression (in other words, the same reasons why ethyl alcohol is bad), as well as the perils of intoxication: coma with an obstructed airway (i.e. choking on your own vomit), accidents, etc. It does have a Median lethal dose of about 4-8 g/kg [12], somewhat less than ethanol's 10.3 g/kg [13]. In contrast, methanol's fatal dose is about 100-125 mL, giving an LD50 closer to 1-2 g/kg. Buddy431 (talk) 03:50, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

To be able to get pure ethanol it is necessary to have a permit from the US Department of the Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Universities and other scientific research and medical institutions can get permits easily, but I doubt that a private individual would be able to. Looie496 (talk) 04:33, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

In a well-known university chemistry department a few decades ago, a popular party beverage was a punch bowl filled with "Rocket Fuel," made from Everclear, lime sherbet, pineapple juice, and ginger ale, with dry ice to make it bubble. Had quite a kick, and went down smooth. (Do not attempt this at home). Edison (talk) 05:24, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

I understand that you can increase the amount of alcohol in something by leaving it outside to freeze, and then removing the ice, which leaves the alcohol. I hope nobody will misuse that information. 92.15.10.209 (talk) 17:19, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

In pioneer America, it was popular to leave a barrel of Hard cider outside in winter, so it would would freeze into a mass of low alcohol ice and a portion of high alcohol Applejack (beverage) or "Old Stonewall," so called because the drinker might feel like he could "Walk through a stone wall." This is Fractional freezing or "poor man's distillation," since it does not require a copper boiler and copper tubing, firewood, or masses of cooling water. Edison (talk) 18:48, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Editing A Page

Hi, I was wondering if I could edit the article of "Glenn Allison" the first 300 bowler and write about how he is and what hes been through. See, I'm his grandson and I want people to know if they look him up; what hes like. Before I put my contributions into the page I want to know if I can get permission or not. Write back as soon as possible, thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by GlennRichardAllison (talk • contribs) 21:08, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Typically conflicts of interest are discouraged. In addition remember that any and all additions must be Verifiable as true by a publically-available independant source —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.29.47.55 (talk) 21:40, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

(edit conflict)Although we have rules about not writing about your self, your close relations, and your company (they're here). However, you can do so as long as your follow our neutral point of view and conflict-of-interest guidelines. Basically, cite reputable sources (see cite how to), and don't remove criticism unless it clearly unjustifiable. Add {{template:citation required}} instead of removing things, this indicates that there is no cite to back up the statement(s). You might want to put a note on his article's talk page to say that your are related; this will give you some more good-faith if others have to revert your changes. I've added a list of how-tos on your talk page, if you've never edited a MediaWiki site before. And one last thing, have fun! CS Miller (talk) 21:44, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

January 26

US presidents' approval ratings

How good an indicator of re-election chances of a sitting US president are his approval ratings? Is a net positive rating in the year running up to the vote generally good enough to assure success? Skomorokh 01:47, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

I found this Gallup page interesting and detailed. For example: the "eight-month mark" before the election. Except for Truman, every president since FDR "who won re-election had approval ratings above 50% at the eight-month mark, and every president who lost had approval ratings below 50%". ---Sluzzelin talk 01:55, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Excellent, that fits the bill. Thanks Sluzzelin, for this and that too. Regards, Skomorokh 02:22, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

I forgot to mention that this was before GWB's re-election. He was no exception though: Eight months before the 2004 election, Bush's job approval rating was 52%,[14] and, as we all know, he was re-elected. ---Sluzzelin talk 02:36, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Nate Silver however warns against interpreting approval ratings as re-election chances too early, warning that they bear little relation to each other at this stage . Prokhorovka (talk) 08:05, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes, to summarize from the Gallup link (which I do recommend looking at, if you enjoy this kind of playful demoscopy :-).: Nixon's ratings were at 49% twelve months before his re-election. Reagan's were at 45% eighteen months in advance. George Herbert Walker Bush's approval ratings were at 75% (!) eighteen months (and still at 55% twelve months) before he got beat by Clinton. Otherwise, Gallup calls the twelve and eighteen month markers "suggestive but not definitive" (Note: we are currently at over 21 months before the 2012 presidential election. ---Sluzzelin talk 11:19, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Leaf blowers

Are there any places (communities or larger political entities) outside North America where leaf blowers are legally banned? (I mean directly banned, not indirectly banned by adjusting the local noise limits, for example). ---Sluzzelin talk 08:59, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

The thought that immediately comes to mind is: it is never too soon to start introducing such laws if they don't already exist! Especially leaf blowers operated by people wearing fluorescent yellow jackets.--Aspro (talk) 11:20, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

I'm having trouble finding anything definite because so many people seem to be going on about Los Angeles outlawing them. I haven't found a definitive reference (yet), but it appears that gas-powered leaf blowers are illegal in the UK (see here - it's probably not a reliable source, but appears legit). Matt Deres (talk) 15:17, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Sadly, gas (petrol) leaf blowers are far too common in the UK. --Aspro (talk) 16:23, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Status of European Union recording copyright extension?

I have been trying to find out the current status of the European Union 95 year recording copyright extension proposal. The last I heard, it was passed by the European parliament on 23 April 2009. However, the law still seems to be 50 years (Article 3 in http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32006L0116:EN:NOT ). Does anyone know if it is still likely to become a law? Jrincayc (talk) 13:21, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

This covers it pretty well. The proposal was defeated in April 2009, but an extension to 70 years was approved. States apparently have two years to implement the law. Warofdreams talk 17:53, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

what is the right provided to waqf board

This question has been removed. Per the reference desk guidelines, the reference desk is not an appropriate place to request medical, legal or other professional advice, including any kind of medical diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment recommendations. For such advice, please see a qualified professional. If you don't believe this is such a request, please explain what you meant to ask, either here or on the Reference Desk's talk page. Wikipedia cannot give advice on how to proceed in this case, as it would require consultation with a lawyer or similar advocate. --Jayron32 16:59, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

This question has been removed. Per the reference desk guidelines, the reference desk is not an appropriate place to request medical, legal or other professional advice, including any kind of medical diagnosis or prognosis, or treatment recommendations. For such advice, please see a qualified professional. If you don't believe this is such a request, please explain what you meant to ask, either here or on the Reference Desk's talk page. Wikipedia cannot give advice on how to proceed in this case, as it would require consultation with a lawyer or similar advocate. --Jayron32 16:59, 26 January 2011 (UTC)--~~~~

Chains hanging from truck and bus axles

I've noticed that school buses (and sometimes dump trucks) have several chains hanging down from the rear axle, on either side of the differential. Ones I saw today had 2 chains hanging down the front and the rear of the axle, on both sides of the diffy, for a total of 8 chains. What would the purpose of these be? Arakunem^Talk 17:37, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Here's an answer (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_school_buses_have_chains_on_the_undercarriage) not sure how reliable it is but seems plausible. ny156uk (talk)

Wow, that's quite interesting! Arakunem^Talk 18:51, 26 January 2011 (UTC)