The best answers address the question directly, and back up facts with wikilinks and links to sources. Do not edit others' comments and do not give any medical or legal advice.
Zeker: "I'm going to miss that old spittoon." Abner "You always did." Absolutely true story: Visiting my Great-Grandfather's house in the country, forty-something years after his death, I found a spot where a hole had rotted through the boards of the front porch. Down on the ground, in the center of the hole, was an old rusty spittoon. His aim apparently deteriorated in his last decades. Edison (talk) 04:58, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
This antique, sung to a possibly-recognizable tune: "Toreador-ah / Don't spit on the floor / Use the cuspidor / That's what it's for!" No clips I can find via google, but credited to the Three Stooges (it was probably already old then), also appeared in The Simpsons, and I recall seeing it in comic strips from time to time. ←Baseball BugsWhat's up, Doc?carrots→ 08:46, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Welcome to the Wikipedia Reference Desk. Your question appears to be a homework question. I apologize if this is a misinterpretation, but it is our aim here not to do people's homework for them, but to merely aid them in doing it themselves. Letting someone else do your homework does not help you learn nearly as much as doing it yourself. Please attempt to solve the problem or answer the question yourself first. If you need help with a specific part of your homework, feel free to tell us where you are stuck and ask for help. If you need help grasping the concept of a problem, by all means let us know. (Meaningful title added) AndrewWTaylor (talk) 11:35, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
On Friday 21st October I'll be landing at Fiumicino at about 16:30 with hand-luggage only. Two of us will need to get to a hotel near the Trevi Fountain and we're happy to walk from Termimi.
I'm aware of the various transport options (Leonardo Express, FR1 train plus metros, Terravision bus, hotel shuttle). My inclination is to take the bus as it's far cheaper (online tickets are €4) but I wonder what the traffic will be like and what provision there is for bus lanes, etc. The journey is scheduled to take 55 minutes (as opposed to 31 minutes on the train). Is that realistic at about 17:30 on a Friday? I don't mind spending and extra 25 minutes travelling to save €20 but I don't want to spend hours on the bus. Do you have any idea how long the bus journey will take? --Frumpo (talk) 11:38, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Friday rush hour is certainly going to add to your time. It helps that you are traveling into Rome and not out of it, but, on the other hand, there is a substantial volume of traffic from businesses near the airport and on the southwest side of Rome (such as EUR, Rome) to other parts of the Rome urban area. Also, the bus has to travel through the congested streets south of Termini to get to the station. I would be surprised if you could get to Termini by bus in under 90 minutes at that hour. For what it's worth, I've taken the Leonardo Express. In my experience, it is easy, reliable, and stress free. Just don't forget to validate your ticket before boarding the train. Marco polo (talk) 15:07, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
They are all originally independent and are now owned by other companies, but that could be said about most car brands. --Daniel20:41, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Has "normal" spam disappeared?
In the last few months, I have found that every single spam message I've received in my e-mail is a Nigerian 419 scam. Apart from the obvious ones ("I'm Such-and-such, attorney-at-law for Such-and-such, who left $10 umptillion for you in his will") I have Googled the first sentence in the mail and it invariably turns out to be a 419 scam. A few years ago I kept on getting "normal" spam advertising fake Viagra and fake Rolex watches. (At least the spam for Rolex watches admitted they were fake.) Has "normal" spam disappeared? Is no one trying to sell something by e-mail any more, whether it's legit or not? Has my current rule-of-thumb "If you receive an advertisement or request to contact e-mail from someone you don't know, it's 100% certainly a 419 scam" become a reality? JIP | Talk21:12, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps your ISP has gotten better at filtering other types of spam? I certainly still get offers for "herbal viagra substitute", and "real college diplomas". APL (talk) 21:37, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I haven't seen a Nigerian spam email for years, but I still get plenty of the others (mostly gambling and shopping sites). I guess it depends in what circles your email address is doing the rounds. It's worth Googling your email address occasionally; I was surprised to find mine out there at all as I'm very careful with it.--Shantavira|feed me07:43, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, spam does seem to come in cycles. The only spam I've had for the last two months is all dated August 3rd 2011 with multiple forwards and with a subject of Windows & Office. I haven't clicked it to see what it links to. Dbfirs08:47, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
M86 Security Labs have up-to-date data on spam numbers by type.[2] For week ending October 16, 2011, they measured 41.42% pharmaceuticals and 0.17% scams (including 419). They're a bit vague about how it's measured, saying "based on Security Labs spam research and the spam activity we track in our spam traps".[3] I suspect it's easier to filter for pharmaceutical spam, which will include common keywords, than for scams, which can have endlessly varying format. --Colapeninsula (talk) 13:06, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
It also depends on what sites you've been giving your email address to. I've had two different email accounts before. One used for normal stuff. The other was a junk email for registering in forums, websites, and the like. The two have an interesting difference in the type of spam they receive. The former received mostly the Nigerian stuff. The latter ranged from XxXViagraCialisXxX, mystery links, freebies from sites I've never been on, winning a lottery I've never bought a ticket to, questionable pharmaceuticals, "girls" claiming to be my soulmate in exchange for my bank account number, requests to "friend" me by strangers in websites I've never been on, etc. I think it's because scam emails have more of a human factor behind them than the rest which usually result from phishing. -- Obsidi♠nSoul17:42, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
This might be the same case with me. It is my "real" e-mail address which I originally said had only received 419 scams, not "normal" spam. I use an alternative e-mail address, from HotMail, to register on Internet forums whose quality I'm not sure of. That address has received its spare of spam, too, but HotMail seems to have a very effective spam filter. I don't even use the HotMail address, or those dubious-quality forums very often any more. JIP | Talk18:36, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Does your email client have a holding tank for spam that you can't see unless you go there? Mine has one, and every month-or-so, when I remember that it exists and I check it, I find that I have tons of ads for Rolex and Viagara. Nyttend (talk) 00:33, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
My fog machine is spitting out the juice instead of fog, how can i fix this?
i got out my fog machine for Halloween this year, and instead of working like it should, it started spitting out the juice i had just poured into the tank. how can this be fixed? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Keekah (talk • contribs) 21:17, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Don't many fog machines need to heat up before being able to turn to juice into fog? At least several minutes, if not longer, depending on quality. Pfly (talk) 11:23, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
It may need cleaning (be sure to follow the cleaning instructions, as detergents might mess it up). Does it force the "juice" through a series of small holes to generate the "fog" ? If so, maybe they are blocked. Also, check the dates on any fluids you add to the fog machine. They may not work if old and separated. BTW, we have both assumed that this is a hot fog machine. If it's a cold fog machine (fog pours onto the ground), then our advice will be different. StuRat (talk) 19:44, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I wouldn't recommend it, but if you do don't lay it flat on it's back. Assuming it is a conventional household model, the back will have a series of tubes through which the coolant circulates. If you damage even one of those, your fridge will die, and you will get a facefull of some rather nasty gasses. Beeblebrox (talk) 23:58, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
... and if you do transport it on it's side, the usual advice is to allow it to stand upright for four hours before switching on, to allow the coolants to drain back to their correct locations. Dbfirs07:55, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The instructions for my refrigerator say that, after transportation, you should leave it vertical for at least 2 hours before switching it on. --Frumpo (talk) 07:58, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Refrigerators have certainly been ruined by being moved on their sides, then placed in operation soon after delivery. One possible failure mode for a used refrigerator is that metal filings in the sump could get placed in circulation and ruin the compressor. Other theories involve the displacement of lubricant. Edison (talk) 01:38, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Different authorities give different advice. Perhaps the time depends on the model of refrigerator, and also on how careful one wishes to be in avoiding possible damage. Dbfirs16:56, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
American potatoes
Russet Burbank potato for baking and frying
Asked what he likes best about America, Dirac said in this interview:
"What do you like best in America?", says I.
"Potatoes," says he.
potatoes of the world, unite That's a rather broad question, there are dozens of varieties of potato. A lot of American potatoes are grown in Idaho, but as you can see from this map Europe has the most intense potato growth. Looking at the tone of that interview it seems clear to me that he was juts being flippant. Beeblebrox (talk) 23:55, 16 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I read Dirac's statement as being facetious, as in he couldn't think of anything good about America excepting the potatoes. Or perhaps being mildly silly as George Harrison, who in Hard Day's Night answered the question "How do you find America?" with "Turn left at Greenland". I'm not sure he's necessarily saying that he's all that impressed with American potatoes, per se. It's likely an attempt at humor of the sardonic type. --Jayron3202:11, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
It's possible. It's also possible he was being literal. Dirac was extremely unusual; it's been speculated that he was very high functioning autistic. He was usually extremely literal and had a reputation for giving extremely terse answers to questions. See this book review for a little discussion about this. I consider anything he utters to be something of an enigma — when he's funny, I'm never totally sure he's in on the joke. See also Paul_Dirac#Personality, which has some rather amusing stories in there, which again, I'm not sure Dirac was in on. --Mr.98 (talk) 14:51, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Potato pierogies, the likely true object of Dirac's love?
Keep in mind potatoes are a poor man's crop. Processed wheat is the more popular starch in affluent America. The Russet Burbank potato, largely from Idaho, is preferred for baking and fries and chips. White "Irish" potatoes and red potatoes are preferred for boiling, salads, and to stuff potato pierogies. Dirac, a dietarily deprived Frenchman, was most likely referring to the popularity of pierogies, with which he was most likely cuisinally ignorant in his backward homeland.μηδείς (talk) 02:33, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Wow, that map shows Europe and Asia as far surpassing the New World in terms of potato growing. It would be interesting to see a similar map that showed the number of species/cultivars grown. I suspect the Andres would stand out as a major hot spot, whereas it doesn't in this map of simple yield. Pfly (talk) 11:11, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I was really surprised how Boateng was described in wikipedia as merely "British born" when I read his article after McQueen's suicide. μηδείς (talk) 05:43, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Also, of course, Dirac's father was Swiss and his mother English, so calling Dirac "a dietarily deprived Frenchman" implies a level of ignorance that often seems to go hand in hand with the thoughtless use of potentially offensive terms like "negro". --Stephan Schulz (talk) 14:02, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Oh, please. Yes, I should have called Dirac Swiss rather than French. But Negro is the appropriate counterpart to Caucasian in this context. The silly PC euphemism African-American would not quite have worked for more reasons than one. The point is this. In America, we do call the children of foreigners, born in the US, like Barack Obama, Americans, regardless of race, while we don't call children of American mothers, born overseas, Americans, like Winston Churchill, just because their skin color matches. Wasn't there a thread discussing how many generations it takes for foreigners to be accepted as English? μηδείς (talk) 19:37, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
LOL, that was a fantastically flimsy excuse. What about "dietarily deprived" and "backward homeland"? Replacements for the silly PC euphemisms for French Cuisine and France? -- Obsidi♠nSoul20:14, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Excuse? what are you talking about. Boateng is a negro, haven't you read the article? If he'd been borrn in America and spoke Gen Am, no one would call him anything but American. But he doesn't count as English apparently, even though he was born and raised there and speaks perfect English.
As for calling the French dietarily deprived and cuisinally ignorant people from a backward homeland (in an entirely different part of the thread), well if you can't figure that out I certainly won't explain it. μηδείς (talk) 01:56, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I'd also point out that not only is "Caucasian" a fairly stupid term, given that the Caucasus has little to do with it, but also that "Caucasian" actually is the "silly PC euphemism" for "white". --Stephan Schulz (talk) 20:50, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Oh come off it. You're American, you're fully aware of the negative connotations of the word. All the more convenient because the equivalent term for the European 'race' has no such associations. Not being PC is all fine and dandy, being a jerk is another matter.-- Obsidi♠nSoul05:37, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Wow, you have some nerve Obsidian Soul. You call me a jerk? In other words a medically incorrigible masturbator? Spare me your hypocritical PC drama. The word negro is perfectly apt. "Black" can include Australians. "African" describes Qaddafi. Neither of those words specifies the relevant fact of British racism towards Boateng and others of his race. No one in my family objects to the proper use of the term, and you cannot provide a better one. In the meantime, feel free to give me your hands on demonstrations as to how to improve my technique.μηδείς (talk) 05:34, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
According to the article, Ozwald Boateng was born to 2 immigrant parents whereas according to the comments above, Paul Dirac had an English mother so they aren't really directly comparable. Incidentally in case you were confused, Paul Dirac was born in and grew up in England. As to the question of whether Ozwald Boateng is English, anyone who has ever taken part in any discussion on the issue on wikipedia of which I saw one a few minutes ago [5] knows it's a rather complicated issue for reasons way beyond ethnicity. A number of people dislike the term 'English' and prefer to identify only as 'British'. When the person has no historical connection to England in particular, this is probably more likely (although plenty of people with a historical connection prefer not to identify as British). (For various reasons this is less common but still often occurs for those in Scotland and Wales). Many sources do identify Ozwald Boateng is British and as someone said earlier that isn't really in dispute (sure some people may dispute that, but some people dispute Obama is an American). The question of whether he is English or not is ultimately something many of us prefer to leave up to him. If he wishes to identify as English, many besides the English Defence League would have no problem accepting his identity.
You are right, I was working under the false impression that Dirac had been born in Switzerland. It doesn't affect my argument that the treatment of Boateng is racist, but it does negate my argument that Dirac's lack of appreciation for spuds was based on his Frankness. μηδείς (talk) 05:34, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Similarly many people who are not born in the US and perhaps have only ever been there on holiday but are American citizens by birth because their mother is an American citizen (who fulfills the other requirements) may identify as Americans and most of us, including many Americans, have no problems accepting their identity despite your apparent disdain for such an identity. The fact that it isn't uncommon someone who is not a citizen or resident and has never lived in England and have no desire to, may identify as English is of course reflective of the fact English is both an ethnic identity and a nation. Similar to the way plenty of overseas Chinese identify as Chinese even though they may have never visited any part and are not a citizen or resident and have no desire to be, of anything that's called China (including Taiwan). Incidentally Lewis Hamilton is called English in a number of sources including our article, at a guess, his father probably is as well. Definitely his father is regularly identified as British. Of course sport is one area where national association within the UK often matters but not necessarily in a simple way (and admitedly not so much in motorsport). For example, Simon Jones (cricketer) is said to play for England, but he is actually playing for the England and Wales cricket team (normally called the England cricket team) which is governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board aka the ECB. Owais Shah and Usman Afzaal are both called English cricketers as they too played for the England and Wales cricket team, regardless of whether they were born in Pakistan.
You say "your disdain", but I am not sure whom you address. If me, I accept US constitutional citizenship law. People born US citizens who do not otherwise renounce it are Americans. Regardless of whether their parents were born in Ghana. μηδείς (talk) 05:34, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I am curious, do the Europeans distinguish between boilers and bakers like Americans do? Is the Russet Burbank popular or grown in Europe? What variety of potato could you expect in Germany, and how normally prepared? μηδείς (talk) 19:41, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know about other European countries, but Germans seldom eat baked potatoes. Potatoes in Germany are typically either boiled or pan-fried. (Beyond those two basic methods, there are variations, such as the equivalent of mashed potatoes, gratin, and so on.) Many different varieties of potato are grown in Germany, most of which are not available in North America. Instead of distinguishing between bakers and boilers, Germans tend to distinguish between firm-cooking and soft-cooking (in German, mehlig or "mealy") potatoes. Marco polo (talk) 20:13, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Are the bakers large, elongate thick-skinned potatoes with a brown skin that resembles old-fashioned paper grocery bags of this sort? If so they are Russet Burbanks.μηδείς (talk) 01:56, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Our supermarket bakers don't usually have the brown skin you describe, but Russet Burbanks might be available in some places. The section Potato#Varieties doesn't give an analysis of varieties on the "mealy" to "waxy" scale, but this websitegives information on lots of varieties. Dbfirs09:01, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
We do grow Russet Burbanks in the UK but it is only 19th most popular and I am reliably informed that they are all for processing into chips (fries). Maris Piper (we really should have an article) is our most popular spud and is a good all rounder so makes a good jacket, as well as everything else. Another variety site is here. SmartSE (talk) 17:16, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, they do make excellent fries (and bakers in my opinion). I used to boil barrels full of them daily as prep for deep frying when I worked as a cook. I am surprised it is even possible for there to be 18 varieties than them more popular. μηδείς (talk) 04:29, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Re, all the racial chat above--I hope I didn't start that with my comment about Dirac being an "Englishman". I merely used that term because I saw on our page about him that his mother was "English" and he grew up in "England". I suppose I could have said he was a "Brit", but I thought that term more slangy than "Englishman". So now I wonder, is "Brit" slangy? Generally speaking, what should an American call someone who was born in the England part of the UK and grew up there? Pfly (talk) 09:02, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, "Brit" is a bit colloquial; you could always go with "Briton" or "British (man or woman)". Some Americans say "Britisher" which sounds horribly Germanic and is best avoided. However, "English(man or woman)" would be most commonly used, provided that you knew that the person wasn't from another nation within the United Kingdom. Alansplodge (talk) 10:47, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Briton? Really? I thought the term was archaic, as in the Britons (historical), although I see our Briton page says it also means British citizens. But then there's the thing about how the term makes me think of that scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail...I suppose I'll keep stumbling along never being quite sure what demonym is appropriate. I'm still wondering if there is a term for someone from Kauai. I suppose "Hawaiian", but then what is the term for someone from Hawaii-not-Kauai? Pfly (talk) 11:12, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Environment, Natural Resources, Species of Trees & Shrubs To Remove Pollution(s)
Suggestion(s) For New Wikipedia Section And Subject Heading For Immediate Information Availability.
Environment, Natural Resources, Species of Trees & Shrubs To Remove All Forms of Pollution.
Individual Tree Species Which Specifically Benefit All Natural Resources & Wildlife Species.
What specific trees and shrubs need to be planted in forests, shorelines and communities to benefit all marine species, wildlife species and communities for wildlife and marine habitat(s) shelter, food supply, nutients, remove water pollution and improve the air quality index in each province,region of Canada and each state, region of the USA; listed in alphabetical order.
I would think it depends on the region in question. Salmonberry is native to the western United States and Canada but not the eastern parts, while Mountain laurel is native to the east not the west. Would either be beneficial outside their native areas? This is just two examples. The question is either too general or asking for too much--you don't really expect anyone to list all the beneficial trees and shrubs for every region of North America, do you? If you really want to get into it, there is regional and local info on natural vegetation regimes at sites like, and links from, [6] and [7]. It is a hugely complex topic though. Pfly (talk) 11:07, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
This is particularly important when dealing with exotic plants as a number of species imported into different countries with good intentions ended up being invasive species that do more harm than good. It's best to use local species.
Anyway, reforestation attempts near our town has been very successful using Acacia mangium, a native of Australia and the southern Malesian ecoregion. They grow very quickly, can halt soil erosion, fix nitrogen, and can establish secondary forests ideal for encouraging the regrowth of native tree species. They're widely used to 'reclaim' deforested areas and there's research on planting them in large numbers specifically for carbon sequestration as well as lumber.-- Obsidi♠nSoul16:56, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I've just watched an item on the BBC news about plans to install "green walls" at air pollution hotspots in London. Here's the link. It says of them: "It will be planted with a mixture of evergreen and perennial plants which have been carefully selected to trap PM10 and known to survive in a roadside environment." How they "carefully selected" them, I don't know. Alansplodge (talk) 13:07, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
What are the coordinates of San Antonio de Choatalun, San Martin de Jilotepeque, Chimaltenango department, Guatemala? I can find San Martin on the map but I'm having trouble finding San Antonio. It's near another larger part of the city (but well into the San Martin outskirts) that is happens to have a bright yellow church with a lot of live-in caretakers. This however is not San Antonio and I don't even know the name of it. Can anyone help? --137.110.32.134 (talk) 20:56, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
And just to clarify, I am not referring to the church in Tinamit Ajaw, which seems to come up on searches as possibly being the one I am thinking of. This one has two towers instead of one.--137.110.32.134 (talk) 21:04, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Currency conversion
I am working on a speech for a 50th school reunion - can you tell me how much 125,000 pounds Australian in 1961 woould be worth today in Australian dollars?
Using a simple retail price index calculator, about three million dollars. (The calculator is here.) However, RPI may not be a very effective calculation tool in this context - it's meaningful for calculating the price of groceries or a shirt, but breaks down for "large items" - and depending on exactly what you're talking about, a real value may be nearer five or six million. There's a good essay on interpreting different kinds of value-over-time calculators here, using British pounds as the example currency. Shimgray | talk | 23:30, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
And, of course, it may be worth less than that for other items. If you had invested that money in a warehouse of TVs, for example, they probably wouldn't be worth much today, being black-and-white, mono, low-def, small screen, analog TVs, likely without remotes. StuRat (talk) 19:24, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
In all the discussions about the Big Bang that I've heard, I've never heard anyone suggest that there may have been other Big Bangs, not that it makes any difference. If there has been other Bangs, is time relative to each Bang? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Garettwice (talk • contribs) 23:43, 17 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I've heard multiple big bangs discussed within the same time and "universe" as ours. The conclusion was that, while there may be others, even an infinite number, as long as they are far away that they they don't interact with our space, the existence of other big bangs is both unknowable and irrelevant, more a matter for philosophers than scientists. StuRat (talk) 17:15, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
That is unknown. Big bang cosmologists are careful to point out that we have no information about the matter, energy, or any information which may or may not have have preceded it. I personally think it will turn out to be something like a collision between multiple pre-primordial ultramassive black holes resulting in an ultranova. Dualus (talk) 14:12, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
October 18
Alternative to Google Fast Flip
I liked Google Fast Flip before they shut it down. Are there any other ways to browse interesting middle-brow current events items from the web? -- Mwalcoff (talk) 02:48, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
When 3 digit interstates is allow to renumber
After FHWA approves an interstate number, usually when and how many more years will a highway be allow to renumber. I know all non-chargeable interstates renumber highways immediately after FHWA approves it like I-710 and I-880, I-238. I thought non-chargeable vs. chargeable interstates doesn't determine the time frames. Can chargeable interstates renumber immediately after FHWA approves it? Because for Harbor Freeway the link to CA highways say it approves as interstate in November X-teen, 1978 it didn't label when the action actually made. The CA 11 is actually delete from Los Angeles in 1979, and one map on CA Highways show in February 1979 the harbor Freeway is the I-110, not CA 11. Does the wait matter on interstate types (C vs. NC) or it matters on metropolitan systems of great remubering or minor renumberings. Because in 1960s after government approves the interstate number it had to wait at least two years until the remubering process can start. Like the I-405, I-5, I-280, and I-780.--69.226.34.145 (talk) 03:44, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The FHWA does not have anything to do with numbering Interstates. That is handled by AASHTO, which is an association of state agencies, and not part of the Federal government. The FHWA handles the funding of roads for the purposes of construction and maintenance, but does not directly manage the planning, designing, construction, or numbering of roads. The individual states, in conjunction with and approval from AASHTO, handle all of that stuff. The article Interstate 795 (North Carolina) actually has a nice breakdown on the relationship between the FWHA, AASHTO, and the state DOT in the construction and numbering of a new Interstate. The difference between chargeable and non-chargable interstates has NO bearing on the numbering at all, that's a funding issue; indeed some parts of the same interstate route may be both chargeable and non-chargable, but you can't tell by anything having to do with the road itself. As far as numbering goes, AASHTO generally allows states to choose their own numbers for intrastate routes (those within one state), so long as the route number follows the numbering scheme (last two digits match the parent route, first digit indicates whether the road connects at one end (odd) or both ends (even)). AASHTO does not require slavish following of the rules, when there are times when exceptions are needed. For example, in some states, the entire set of availible numbers can be used up; that happened in a few cases, and led to some of the oddities of the system, such as California's I-238 and Maryland's I-97. I don't believe there has ever been a particular time frame mandated by anything except "when the state gets the cash to change all the signs." This can take several years to accomplish. Where I live in North Carolina, I-440 was removed from the southern segment of the Cliff Benson Beltline, officially in 2002, but it took up to 7 years to update the signage in many places, they basically waited until the signs aged out and needed replacing with new signs anyways. --Jayron3204:18, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
So I am doing some research into the longest urban bus route in Europe, which happens to run close to where I live. It is a circular route, and I can't come up with any logical reason why there are apparently more clockwise services than anticlockwise services. If it was just a "tidal flow" with a preference for one direction in the morning and the other in the evening, I could understand it, but the timetables clearly state that the weekday clockwise service (11C) runs every 3–9 minutes and the weekday anticlockwise service (11A) runs every 7–10 minutes. (I am going by the roadside timetables. There is an online timetable but I don't seem to be able to link to it because it has square brackets in the url.) Can anyone come up with a logical explanation? (Before any scientist sees this, I have already ruled out the Coriolis effect.)--Shantavira|feed me08:37, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Unless you literally count the buses departing from and arriving at the head of the line, I don't think you can conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that there is an unbalanced flow given those departure time ranges. If buses head CW every 8 minutes on average (within stated range) and head widdershins every 7 minutes on average (within stated range), you'd have the opposite result from your assumed situation. It would be much more valuable to just ask a driver how many loops (s)he has to make in a day. I suspect the answer will always be the same (maybe 8, or 6 for one shift?) The Masked Booby (talk) 09:08, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
And now for a silly response - in England you drive on the left, so the CCW route would be ```ever so slightly shorter``` seeing as how its the inside lane on the loop. If your route is long enough, you would have to address this discrepancy with more buses heading CW. The Masked Booby (talk) 09:09, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
("CCW" = "anti-clockwise" on this side of the pond.) The difference in length is independent of the length of the route, and is approximately pi times the "average width of the road" (more accurately 2 pi times the average distance between opposing lanes). Dbfirs07:45, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The online timetable for the 11A and the 11C will let you count the number of trips each way throughout the day. You could probably estimate the approximate fleet size for both routes. The map tab will let you see differences in the clockwise and anti-clockwise routes. Incidentally, I did ride the entire route back in the 1980s; it wasn't interesting enough that I would do it again. Astronaut (talk) 09:18, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I did try to do that but there is so much weird stuff going on in that timetable I gave up. Thanks for demonstrating how to post the link anyway.--Shantavira|feed me14:07, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Bear in mind that individual vehicles do not necessarily stay on the same route travelling in the same direction all day: some change directions or routes as necessary to match fluctuating demands caused by the rush hour, school-bus duties and so on, and run as "Not in Service" when they need to return to appropriate locations and overnight depots outside of the timetabled services. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.193.78.31 (talk) 17:32, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Could this be as simple as it being faster to go in one direction (e.g. out of town) for the bus than it is to go in the other (e.g. into town). This could either be due to traffic flows making the route faster or even just average number of stops required due to passengers (given that buses don't stop at each stop unless there's someone there or tthey are a fair bit ahead of schedule). ny156uk (talk) 00:23, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
When I lived in Birmingham, I used to see buses going to Worlds End. I know now it's a suburb, but when I was 7 I thought that was where people went to die! I'm pleased to see this bus doesn't go there. --TammyMoet (talk) 07:40, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
In many places the morning rush-hour is more intense and shorter than the evening rush hour, because schools, businesses, etc all start at the same time, but schools get out earlier than most businesses, some people work later, etc. Therefore there may be a more frequent service in the "in-to-town" direction in the morning than on the "out-of-town" direction in the evening (because in the morning there are more people to move in a shorter period of time). Just a guess. --Colapeninsula (talk) 09:54, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
That wasn't what I said. What I said was that services in the morning may be more frequent than services in the evening regardless of direction. Hence in the morning the route to work might be every 3 minutes and the route from work every 6 (from 8am till 9am), while in the evening, the route from work might be every 7 and the route to work every 9 (from 3pm till 6pm). Even if the service isn't going into town, if it goes to an industrial estate or other big employer, and housing is not uniformly distributed along the route, you will get a similar effect at rush hours to that found on a route into a city. --Colapeninsula (talk) 12:59, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
International certifications
Please name some international certification like DTTF in any field (not only in tourism). Also please tell if there is any upper age limit in IATA DTTF --DinoXYZ (talk) 08:42, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
When I walk around Town I often see menus outside Pubs and Restaurants saying "Wild Boar Sausages" or similar Dishes involving Wild Boar. My question is: As these signs are advertising Wild Boar, are these boars hunted in the wild and then made into Sausages, or are they formerly Wild and now Farmed Boar, and are they allowed to sell Wild Boar sausages if the Boar are not wild? Jeremy Wordsworth (talk) 12:46, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The answer depends on the food labelling and advertising laws and regulations applicable to the place where you see these signs, but I would expect any food that is described as "wild" to really be so. Roger (talk) 12:57, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I suspect that, in many countries, the description applies to the species, not to the method of husbandry. What size of wood determines whether the animals are farmed or wild? Even the farmed ones can be extremely "wild" if cornered! Dbfirs13:17, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
(EC) I would take Wild boar to refer more to a type of animal (being some sort of Sus scrofa other then the domestic pig) then to it being a non captive animal. Our article mentions farming in the UK and other places. It's easy to find refs too, e.g. for the UK [10][11]. As our article mentions, a wild boar isn't necessarily an adult male either. Although to be clear biologically it isn't a great term since as said it generally excludes the domestic pig, so is likely a paraphyletic grouping. Edit/EC with below: Note also per the article, a number of places including the UK only have any wild wild boar because of farming or other captive populations, and modern "wild boar" in some places are really just wild/feral domestic pigs. Nil Einne (talk)
Are you sure that they don't actually say Boar's Head, referring to the brand Boar's Head ? This is a company that sells deli meats and sausages across the United States, and I see them on almost all deli windows. This would make significantly more sense than wild boar sausages. TheGrimme (talk) 16:57, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Though hopefully he'll answer for himself, the OP's use of the word "Pub" suggests that, like me, he is a denizen of the UK (I can't be arsed with geolocation). As others have said, Wild boar (in the genetic sense) are farmed in the UK and their meat products are widely available. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.193.78.31 (talk) 17:24, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
It's just a confusing name for a species - Sus domestica is the domestic pig, and Sus scrofa is the "wild boar". In some interpretations they're subspecies - S. scrofa and S. scrofa domestica' - but the idea's the same.
"Wild" is part of the name rather than a descriptive adjective, and so you can have a (farmed (wild boar)), and a (feral (domestic pig)), and this is why scientific names are helpful :-). Shimgray | talk | 20:17, 18 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
English Wild Boar from The Real Boar Company says of its "wild boar"; "Our Boar are ethically farmed in 20 acres of mixed woodland and grasses at the edge of the Cotswolds." On the "Our Boar" page;"Our boar are of Polish and German origin, they live in two family groups (known as sounders) with one boar per sounder."
This is something I have wondered about for a long while (as opposed to short). Why is it that glass-lid cookware is so popular (in the US at least)? It seems so popular in fact that I am unable to find a proper steel-lid Farberware pot at many Bed, Bath and Beyonds.
It doesn't make sense to me that people would prefer to use something so easily broken (drop it and it may break, have too much pressure in the pot, it can shatter dangerously); yet they do anyway.
Functionally, you can see inside without lifting the lid (i.e. to see if water is boiling etc), but I suspect it is just that they look more impressive. AndyTheGrump (talk) 01:40, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I was just forced to buy one (I need to cook my pasketti goddammit!) and so I will test this hypothesis, but I suspect that the steam would make it very hard to view the inside; though looking at this one it has no hole in it, so I know it will get steamy. xD Looks rather ugly to me, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 21 Tishrei 5772 01:44, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Just a couple points about your original arguments... A) I've yet to see a pot of this type with a lid so tight that any considerable pressure builds up, much less enough to shatter the lid! B) You mention that you've looked for one manufacturer at one specific chain of stores. Have you thought of looking for other brands at other stores? It seems a bit like complaining that a Coke vending machine only sells Coke products. Dismas|(talk)02:54, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Apparently when people have locked them so that the pressure builds up. There is still the problem of falling lids as well. I mentioned that I wanted that specific manufacturer. I guess I should have said that, with the exception of so-called Steel All-Clad I could find no other steel lid pots. I checked two other BBBs, Target stores, Harris Teeter and Wal-Marts as well - same story. The only way to get something with with a good solid lid was to go for Le Creuset or Cast Iron. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 21 Tishrei 5772 03:01, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Don't know how I made that "PS" edit without an edit conflict... Anyway, I didn't take your original comment to mean that you only wanted that specific brand. The way I read it, you had only looked at that brand. Dismas|(talk)03:06, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I'd never cooked with a glass lid pot before this year. Mine (and I assume most) has a small hole which allows the steam to escape and keeps it unfogged. I have to say I like it. I was always lifting the metal lid on my old pot to see if the water was boiling. Now I can tell at a glance. Mine is also pretty thick and I assume it is tempered, I imagine I'd have to try pretty hard to break it. --Daniel03:13, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Thick also means heavier, and even if it is tempered, after a while it is possible it'll break. I will refine my question: Why does it seem that there are no longer any inexpensive steel-lid pots and many brands have switched to only glass-lids including the lids that are available for sale on their own? Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 21 Tishrei 5772 03:19, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
You need to shop in appropriately cheap stores. try KMart, Target, Walmart, etc - you'll find lots of nice cheap tin-lid pots there. But I do have to say, I have never seen one of the tempered glass lids crack, chip, break, or shatter, and that is not for lack of trying. They are tough. the thing I dislike about them is that they are harder to clean thoroughly. --Ludwigs203:49, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Well I did check at two of those. :p Hmmm, really? Alright, I have an idea, I will buy two lids and try dropping one (with some appropriate method to clean it up) and also striking one with something like a hammer (or a hammerstone for fun). I will see how much must be done to break it. If I find that it requires an unreasonable amount of effort, then maybe I will reconsider my view of these lids. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 21 Tishrei 5772 04:57, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Personally, I wouldn't put a lid on a pan I was cooking pasta in. It is easier to adjust the heat to get it boiling properly without boiling over if you can see it, and having no lid makes it easier to give a quick stir. Going by pure guesswork, I'd suspect that with no lid the convection currents will be stronger, and it will 'stir itself' more effectively. AndyTheGrump (talk) 03:12, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Agreed Andy, but I was referring to the pre heating of the water. With the lid on folk wisdom and I assume real science says that it boils faster. --Daniel03:15, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Actually my science teacher back in high school said that keeping the lid on would actually make it take longer for the water to boil. The way it works is that the steam of the warm (but not yet boiling) water condenses into water on the lid and drops back in the water, thereby cooling it. I guess the difference is minimal in practice, but after that I have never kept the lid on a pan if I wanted to bring water to boil. --Saddhiyama (talk) 15:57, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
You might find a milk saucepan sold with no lid - though perhaps that might be problematic for cooking pasta from the point of view of Kashrut - being a goy, I'm not really clued-up on these things (beyond noting that it isn't generally advisable for a good Jewish boy to fry bacon in his mother's milk saucepan, which an acquaintance of mine once claimed to have done - yes, he was something of a rebel...) AndyTheGrump (talk) 03:33, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I don't really subscribe to that level of ensuring kashrut (separate cookware and such, especially given the fact that A, I don't care about microscopic bits of either and our dishwasher uses boiling hot water anyway.) Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 21 Tishrei 5772 04:57, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
THe only glass lid I have seen break was when after use on a frypan it was turned upside down and used as a bowl for sold water. It all cracked up. So they do not stand heat shock too well. The metal edge on them protects from the normal banging and knocking that could chip or smash. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 09:49, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
This is an odd thread. I've always lived in America and have never had glass-lidded pots and pans--except my cheapo rice cooker and various CorningWare. Perhaps glass lids have become more common at Walmart, Target, and other evil megacorps (excuse my momentary soapboxing). I just got a replacement large-ish skillet pan from a local non-chain store. There were plenty of options, and most pots and pans had metal lids. I found much the same selection at Williams-Sonoma, but those stores give me the creeps--the Starbucks of kitchenware! Still, it makes me wonder if perhaps glass lids are more common in cheaper lower-quality megacorp chains. Perhaps glass lids are simply cheaper to make? Pfly (talk) 09:59, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I've used glass-lidded pans for several years without any problems - and given that in the last fortnight I have broken three wine glasses, smashed a soup bowl, and various other minor mishaps, this seems a good record! They#re a lot sturdier than they might appear; it's usually a tempered glass probably similar to pyrex. Locking them on as a pressure lid would be problematic, but the same could be said for most lids... Shimgray | talk | 18:14, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I've used glass-lidded pans for at least 30 years without ever breaking one. They are surprisingly strong, but if you regularly drop lids onto hard floors then you should buy metal lids. No pressure builds up in any normal pan; only in pressure cookers with very strong lids. Dbfirs19:21, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
So I could not help but to notice in the course of this film that the corrupt GCPD used some sort of strange bomb on this derelict building in an attempt to either flush out or kill Batman. Does this device exist in real life? If so, what is it called? Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 21 Tishrei 5772 02:56, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I've not seen the film. Could it be something like a thermobaric weapon (fuel-air bomb) designed to produce a huge blast wave which will do very bad things to anybody inside the building, or an incendiary device (such as white phosphorus) which is often used in wartime to destroy bunkers and other fortified structures (sometimes causing air to be sucked out of rooms, as when used in World War Two, and with other very bad effects)? Sadly these articles aren't up to the usual high standards of Wikipedia articles on military history and arms. --Colapeninsula (talk) 13:10, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, Ditch Jewel. Now that I know the name I can find many matching photos. Thank you Richard. (And Mikenorton, it is certainly not 'crimson'. But thank you for the asia-dragonfly link.) manya (talk) 09:43, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Only the male is crimson, the female is a lot like the one you pictured, see here, notice particularly the dark marks at the leading edges of the wings and the extent of colouring of the wings near the body. Mikenorton (talk) 17:02, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Well, they're building an I-269 in Tennessee. I suppose Indiana figured there's no sense in duplicating Tennessee's number and possibly confusing someone. I-269 is a new highway, but maybe it was planned earlier. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 01:17, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
They don't have to number the auxiliary interstates in order. The only rules are 1) last two digits match the parent route, and 2) odd first digit = connected to parent at only one end, even first digit = connected to parent at both ends. AASHTO will usually ascede to whatever the state chooses for a number, so long as it fits the rules. In the specific case of Indiana, they chose 469 instead of 269 probably because Indiana State Road 269 already exists. But even if it didn't, there's nothing compelling them to use 269 first. As far as avoiding confusing with neighboring states; that's doubtful. There are two I-291's within a few miles of each other, see Interstate 291 (Massachusetts) and Interstate 291 (Connecticut). There are many examples of states having Interstate auxiliary routes numbered out of order; in South Carolina there is a I-126 and an I-526, but no I-326. Georgia has an I-516, but no I-116 or I-316. I'm tired of looking, but you can find dozens like this. --Jayron3201:59, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Hmm, I never before noticed that the auxiliary routes would ever go out of order. I suppose I should remember 269, since (judging by its description) I drove on it last month. Nyttend (talk) 05:14, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
It depends on what the planners want to do and why. Minneapolis-St.Paul is surrounded by a continuous beltway whose southern portion is labeled I-494 and whose northern portion is labeled I-694. The dividing points are where I-94 crosses it. ←Baseball BugsWhat's up, Doc?carrots→ 10:51, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
US local government severance pay
The County Executive of Wayne County, Michigan, Robert Ficano, is under investigation by the FBI for offering absurdly high compensation to his employees. For example, he just gave a $200,000 severance payment to somebody who quit. While no severance is customary when somebody quits, I'm not sure it's illegal to give a whopping severance package (to a woman I assume to be his mistress, in this case). So, what laws govern this type of thing ? StuRat (talk) 02:25, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The problem is worse in that she wasn't really severed. She moved from one county-related job to another county-related job (Development Board to Airport Authority) with similar pay rates. It is not yet clear closely how Ficano was involved in the payment approval except for poor justifications afterwards. 75.41.110.200 (talk) 14:38, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
It's a coincidence. I googled [us flag proportions] and found this article,[12] which explains the practical reasons how the flag came to be 10 to 19. It also points out that that's merely a custom or a convention that has evolved, not prescribed by law. ←Baseball BugsWhat's up, Doc?carrots→ 04:54, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Does anyone know if months were written in numerals in the 18th century? If so, when did the British and American usage diverge? 19th October is 19/10 over here. Alansplodge (talk) 10:24, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
If the proportions were based on the calendar date, the 10/19 or 19/10 format divergence would probably make no difference, as the length of national flags is by rule greater than, or, at least, equal to, their width. The only national flag that is wider than it's long is the flag of Nepal (proportion 5:4), but it has a non-quadrilateral shape. --Theurgist (talk) 11:59, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
What address should I use if I were to mail or write to someone in the western part of the Bronx?
I have an aunt who’s planning to move to Riverdale in the Bronx. She currently lives in Mott Haven in the Bronx. I know that the western part of the Bronx was part of NYC since 1874. So, if I were to send her a card (which I will do so) or any other thing by mail when she moves to Riverdale some time in the future, would I write “Bronx, NY;” “New York, NY;” “Riverdale, Bronx;” or “Riverdale, NY” in the address to her when she moves, or would any of them be equally acceptable to write in the address?
I know that one would only write New York, NY in the address when sending a mail to someone in Manhattan. I know one would write only Brooklyn, NY in the address if one were to mail something to someone in Brooklyn. I know that one would use one of Queens’ neighborhoods, the ones that used to be towns, in an address if one were to send some mail or write to someone in Queens. Willminator (talk) 16:43, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
That smidgen includes part of the Riverdale neighborhood. Certain people in that area insist they be listed in the phone book as Manhattan, rather than the Bronx, which is part of what motivates this question, I presume. If you want to make her happy address it to Riverdale. It will eventually get there. μηδείς (talk) 23:11, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The question answers itself: "historically". Why not try sending some mail to Prussia?
The fact is, you can just put her name and zip, and, if the post office has her name uniquely listed, she will eventually get the mail. You can also put Riverdale instead of Bronx with the zip if you want and she will get it. The USPS is not so perverse as not to want to delver the mail if you provide enough information for her to get it. But Bronx, 104XX is the best way to address it unless you want to delay her mail, make others do extra work. μηδείς (talk) 21:54, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
If you look up the ZIP code on the USPS website, it will give you the "proper" city of address. According to the site, "BRONX, NY" is the "actual" city, while "RIVERDALE, NY" is "not correct." -- Mwalcoff (talk) 22:37, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Again, thanks for your answers. I will mail my aunt by using “Bronx NY” when she moves to Riverdale. That answered that part of my question, but as you might have seen, I asked being aware of the history behind the western section of the Bronx and how the history of the other boroughs have affected the way the addresses are written in those places. With all that in mind I asked about which address option should I use when I start mailing stuff to my aunt. After receiving the answer to my original question, I wondered why the western section of the Bronx gets to use the "Bronx, NY" address only. So, on my follow up question, I asked about why historically the western part of the Bronx, which includes Riverdale where my aunt is going to move, does not get the “New York, NY” address that only Manhattan gets since that part of the Bronx, as can be seen in this 1895 map, was part of the original city that existed before 1898. As it is in the histories of the other boroughs or parts of them, shouldn’t that history be reflected in the western part of the Bronx where my aunt is moving to? Willminator (talk) 01:45, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Country with greatest difference between most populous settlement and second most populous
Talking with respect to the relative difference (i.e. the ratio between them). The article List_of_largest_cities_and_second_largest_cities_by_country is the best resource I can find, but can't be used to answer the question directly. From this Barbados has the greatest ratio I can see from random checking (Bridgetown (94,197) over Speightstown (2,364) is a ratio of 39.8). Is there anywhere with higher? What about only for nations with a population of over one million (Mongolia has a ratio of 11.1 so is a possible contender for this)? --90.215.0.177 (talk) 17:26, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
This is known as a primate city but that article is rather unhelpful with regards to your question. If you want truly large cities, Mexico City's agglomeration is 20m, followed by Ecatepec de Morelos at 1.6m, or 12.5 times. Mexico City proper is only 8.8m, though. Grandiose(me, talk, contribs) 17:48, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The explanation given is that "Tokyo is not included on this list, as the city of Tokyo ceased to exist on July 1, 1943. Tokyo now exists as a special "metropolis" prefecture (都 to), with 23 "special" wards (with the same status of city) making up the former boundaries of the former city in the eastern half of the prefecture." Grandiose(me, talk, contribs) 18:11, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
To do this right, you need to compare either populations within city limits (excluding suburbs) or metropolitan area (agglomeration) populations. It doesn't work to compare the metropolitan population of Mexico City with the city-limit population of the next largest city, for example. According to our List of Japanese cities by population, Tokyo is nowhere near 10 times the size of the next largest city. If we compare Greater Tokyo with Greater Osaka, we find that the former has only about twice the population of the latter. In Mexico, Mexico City as a municipality is about 5 times larger than the next largest municipality, Ecatepec de Morelos, but Ecatepec is essentially a suburb of Mexico City. In terms of metropolitan populations, Mexico City's is about 5 times larger than Mexico's next largest metropolis, Guadalajara. Mongolia's ratio is impressive, but I think you will find the highest ratios—for countries with more than one million people that are not city-states—in Africa. In Liberia, for example, the capital, Monrovia, is nearly 18 times larger than the next-largest city, according to this source. Marco polo (talk) 20:33, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
(edit conflict) There are several large countries with figures comparable to Mongolia. Lebanon is 9.9 to 1 and Peru is 10.1-1. Suriname, with a population of half a million, is 15.7-1. Hut 8.522:35, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Malta also manages a larger (European) disparity -- about 13.2 for Valletta and Mosta. Thanks for the answers everyone. Liberia certainly seems like one of the most 'top-heavy', given its population. --90.215.0.177 (talk) 14:18, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, ignore that first bit. Valletta only works if you count the surrounding urban area, and Mosta isn't the second largest settlement anyway --90.215.0.177 (talk) 14:25, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Media markets vs. "viewing areas"
When I look at this map of Kansas media markets I see that they are quite different from television stations' viewing areas. For example, Phillips, Smith, Jewell, Republic, Cloud, Clay, Geary, Morris, and Chautauqua counties are in the viewing areas of almost all Wichita television stations, and they report on news and weather in those counties as well. Republic, Ottawa, and Dickinson I also know are covered by WIBW-TV out of Topeka, and KSNW and KWCH out of Wichita also include some border counties of southwestern Nebraska, Yuma, Cheyenne, and Kit Carson counties in Colorado, and (also KAKE in this instance) several border counties of northern and northwestern Oklahoma. I would have thought media markets determined viewing area of TV stations, but apparently this is not the case. What determines the viewing areas of TV stations in the United States? Ks0stm(T•C•G•E)22:37, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Determining what a television station's viewing area can be problematic, as there are various definitions which do not agree. Nielsen Media Research, which is the predominant ratings service in the U.S., has established 210 areas that it calls Designated Market Areas. For the most part, Nielsen assigns each county to one specific market, even if stations from two cities can be received in that county. (Some large counties in western states are split between markets, but even they have no overlap, only an artificial border.) Another ratings service, Arbitron used a similar system, but its markets were not always the same as Nielsen's, especially in overlap areas. The FCC has its own Television Market Areas which usually follow county lines but not always, and sometimes differ from the ratings services. None of these correspond to the actual coverage area of a station's transmitter, which is determined by a transmitter's electronics, location, power, surrounding terrain and other factors. The transmitter coverage area is basically the area where people can receive the station (not counting cable), while the ratings market areas are where people are counted as viewing. (There is a bit more in the article Media market.) — Michael J07:33, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
(EC) This has been asked a couple of times on the Language desk. See our article Muammar Gaddafi. It can also be written 'Kaddafi', 'Khaddafi', and 'Qaddafi'. In standard Arabic, it is written 'Qaddafi', but due to Libyan Arabic pronunciation of the letter qaf, we also have the other three variants I have just mentioned. KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK)23:34, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
(EC)Unfortunately, there is no generally agreed, standard method of transliterating Arabic letters into Roman ones, nor any generally agreed, standard method of transcribing into the Roman alphabet all the sounds involved, some of which do not exist in English and whose actual pronunciations anyway vary between the different national dialects of Arabic and the pan-national "standard Arabic". Many publications and organisations have chosen consistent "house styles" for their own use, but there is no "correct" answer. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.197.66.33 (talk) 23:44, 20 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
So, this is a question that will probably result in a lot of jibes, but I hope that there will maybe be a proper answer somewhere. I am wondering what err... social group, I guess (I don't want to say class), my family falls under in the United States (middle class, upper middle class, upper class). If my dad earns 300.000 USD with a possible bonus of up to 60.000, my mum earns 220.000 with a possible bonus of 60.000 (before taxes), we have an apartment worth 3,5 million USD and a house worth 1,2 millon plus hmmm... idr, maybe 6 million USD in stocks, what category do we fall under? What percentile as well? This is leaving out personal debt which I know nothing of I'm afraid. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 23 Tishrei 5772 01:08, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Financially, you are squarely in the upper class, probably in the top 1% or so of all incomes. Socially, it is, well, complicated. There are parallel social classes which exist in the same financial brackets; for example the Nouveau riche, the Hollywood A-list, and Old money would likely all run in different social circles... --Jayron3201:18, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Hmmm, good question. Well let's see. The original basis of the wealth comes from my great grandfather (on my mother's side) who owned a factory in first Austria, then France, and then the United States. My dad is from a decidedly poor family (happens when you've got six brothers and sisters), whereas my mother was of course a bit more priveleged and her mother (Yahweh rest her soul) was a very financially wise woman with regard to the stock market. You of course have their own income which is usually used to pay for daily expenses, maintenance, mortgages and education. Which does that make us? Old money or nouveau rich (thank God it's not Hollywood A-List :p)? Not that I would ever associate with such people (of either group), eck; I guess it would be more how we are viewed by others. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 23 Tishrei 5772 01:31, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
While your family is clearly in the top percentile in the United States, it falls well short of the top 0.1%, according to Affluence in the United States. This might put your family outside the most exclusive social circles. I don't think that "old money" or "nouveau riche" are clearly defined categories, nor do those labels encompass all affluent people. However, from what you say, your family is clearly not nouveau. On the other hand, acceptance as "old money" is all about family name and recognition by those who consider themselves "old money". That is to say, it is really about social relationships. I think, if one has to ask, one is not "old money". Marco polo (talk) 01:48, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
So we are not in that group of 500 or so that controls almost half the wealth? That is fortunate. Well our family name (which I am never sharing :p) is decidedly not very well known (though the name comes only from descendants of my grandfather (on my dad's side). We don't associate with any wealthy people (except my little sister who associates with what I guess you call a "Gossip Girl" crowd), and as you say I don't quite know myself. :p Errr... so does that make us anything? Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 23 Tishrei 5772 01:56, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
From [13] your families household income may or may not be inside the top 0.5% depending on the bonuses and how much the figures have changed since 2006. Edit: From the 2008 [14] figures it's looking even more likely your household is in the 0.5% particularly as it sounds like the figures are excluding any additional income like interest, dividends and realised capital gains. Nil Einne (talk) 13:19, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
My father (in his 70s) today said that the person that was killed today and purported to be Muammar Gaddafi may not be him, as, according to my father, lots of dictators have doubles who gladly let themselves get killed for their cause. I personally do not believe this, and the videos/pictures I have seen on TV certainly look like him. I am in no doubt that it was him. However, I would like to know 1) if there have been any instances in recorded history when a double was killed instead of the real person; and 2) if DNA evidence will be used to prove it was in fact Gaddafi. I know about the theory that the body of Adolf Hitler was someone else, and that Saddam Hussein was reported to have lots of people working for him who looked like him. Cheers KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK)01:59, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
They probably will use DNA if they get the chance to. It's not a hard test, especially not with someone like Gaddafi who must have DNA'd up his palace considerably, and had a bunch of known family members. They used DNA in confirming Bin Laden was dead[15]. --Mr.98 (talk) 11:56, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Things to do in New Orleans
I've seen this work for others before, so here's my shot at it...
I'll be traveling to New Orleans, LA, in January. I'll be staying at the Hampton Inn near the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and will not have a car available to me. So, what is there to do within walking distance or, if the public transportation is good in NOLA (is it?), a bit further? I'm not really interested in sports. I do have interests in local culture, science, nature, and a little history. Thanks, Dismas|(talk)02:26, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
A few things I like to do that are reasonably close to where you'll be swtaying:
French Quarter. Not just for drinking, lots of music, shops, etc. Café du Monde for coffee and beignets, a muffaleta from Central Grocery, dinner at Franks on Decatur, Jazz Preservation Hall, etc.
A street car ride to various parts of the city, Garden District, out Magazine, lunch at the Camelia Grill
And depending on when you get there in Jan, Mardi Gras will usually be starting about that time, so some parades may be going, but dress warm. It may only be 35 or 40, but it is a damp cold down here that is different fromn the dryer cold of the north, lol. Heiro03:00, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
There's a few videos on Youtube. This one looks like a fairly comprehensive, but looks like it was taken from a TV broadcast. There's also a better angle from another camera, which can be seen at this site. They claim the video source is from the ESA, but I can't find it there (don't want to remember their spectacular failures, I guess). The ESA website does have several still images of the launch, including one of the explosion, but I can't find any video. Where would I go about finding the original videos of the launch? Buddy431 (talk) 04:58, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Pick my next job please
Hi there,
any ideas about jobs I should look for? I've got a job in a university library, but not really enough hours and anyway I'm bored. Been doing this for a few years now. I'm studying for a part-time (distance learning) bachelors degree, but still nowhere near graduating. And I love my course, but it won't get me a job unless I become a teacher. So I'd move anywhere and try most things that don't involve a pay cut (now I make GBP £750 a month which isn't much!), but I'd like a job with prospects beyond just admin or store clerking. A busy library is a bit cleaner and quieter than a supermarket, but they actually have a lot in common (I've worked both). Justlooking24 (talk) 08:48, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Things happening in London this weekend
Hello all - me and a friend are going to London on Saturday for LITS, staying over into Sunday. Can anyone recommend anything for two slightly geeky thirty-year olds to do in the capital? The internet only wants me to go to the West End when I google activities. FreeMorpheme (talk) 09:24, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
You're going to London to solve these puzzles? Or is there some other LITS that Wikipedia doesn't have an article on? I do crossword puzzles, so I have nothing against solving puzzles. Just want to be sure we're on the same page metaphorically speaking. Dismas|(talk)09:47, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
It depends a lot on what kind of "geeky" you are. I greatly enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and would recommend it to anyone who's read and enjoyed the books. It's actually the house that Holmes and Watson rented preserved as a historical landmark. (As if that were somehow possible.) It's located more or less exactly where it should be.
Shouldn't take much more than hour to go through, but the joy is in the attention to detail, so if you're not rather familiar with the books you'll probably think it's a waste of time and money. APL (talk) 10:56, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe this isn't geeky enough, but if you're a fan of the 'chuck-everything-in-a-room-together' type of museum that we seem to be fairly good at in Britain, may I heartily recommend the Horniman Museum and Gardens? It's one of my favourite museums, with a slight 'eccentric professor' feel to it. Particularly good is their stuffed walrus; in case you do go, I won't spoil it for you, but here is the link in case anyone else is interested. It's a bit of a trek from the centre of town, but worth the time if you have a spare afternoon. Cucumber Mike (talk) 13:01, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
(Formerly) Sulfur-Rich Island in South Pacific
I once read quite a while ago in National Geographic about an island in the South Pacific that, due to its great and easily accessible reserves of sulfur combined with its low population (it's a small island), had one of the highest per-capita GDPs in the world. More recently earlier this year, I heard again about this place, but that things were now a lot more bust than boom now that humans had just about gutted all that sulfur. But I can't remember the island's name. Does anyone know the place I'm talking about? 20.137.18.53 (talk) 13:42, 21 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Please do your own homework.
Well our family name (which I am never sharing :p) is decidedly not very well known (though the name comes only from descendants of my grandfather (on my dad's side). We don't associate with any wealthy people (except my little sister who associates with what I guess you call a "Gossip Girl" crowd), and as you say I don't quite know myself. :p Errr... so does that make us anything? Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 23 Tishrei 5772 01:56, 21 October 2011 (UTC)
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