Miscellaneous desk
< August 24	<< Jul \| August \| Sep >>	August 26 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

August 25[edit]

scouts jamboree Australia 2011[edit]

I would like to know whether there is a jamboree going on in this month, August , to September,2011. Thank you — Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.139.165.38 (talk) 07:38, 25 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

No. Australian Jamborees are held every three years in January. The next one will be in Maryborough, Queensland in January 2013. Details here. HiLo48 (talk) 18:06, 25 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

For future reference, you can download a list of international Scouting events at the World Scout Bureau website. Alansplodge (talk) 15:23, 26 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

India's image[edit]

commonwealth game 2010 will it change the image of brand India? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 42.108.29.44 (talk) 09:27, 25 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

We can't predict the future. However, I'm not sure that "Brand India" really has a clear image for the rest of the world. Anyone who knows anything about India knows that it is a complex place with a lot of sharp contrasts. While the preparation for the Commonwealth Games did not reflect well on India, its achievements in other areas, such as technology, are nonetheless impressive for a country at India's level of development. Also, unlike its rival, China, or its neighbor, Pakistan, India has a positive reputation as a relatively stable democracy. Marco polo (talk) 17:43, 25 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The problems with getting the facilities ready in time reinforced my impression that India has a quite byzantine burocracy run by officious wannabe dictators who are incapable of making immediate decisions or implimenting action quickly. They don't seem to really grok the term "deadline". Roger (talk) 10:47, 29 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Which sea borders the most countries?[edit]

Thanks Aaadddaaammm (talk) 11:14, 25 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I think it's close between the Caribbean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea – the latter with a given 21 countries. Since both appear to be in the 21–25 region, it would depend whether you count overseas possessions of countries and the statuses of the Palestinian territories and Northern Cyprus. Grandiose (me, talk, contribs) 11:18, 25 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Although if you're using 'sea' as a generic term, the Pacific Ocean borders 42. Dalliance (talk) 12:00, 25 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The relevant Atlantic Ocean article section states that over 50 sovereign states have an Atlantic coastline. Deserter1 15:25, 25 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Flipping the OP's question around, I wonder whch country borders the most seas? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 08:52, 28 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I think that one's India? ╟─Treasury Tag►senator─╢ 09:04, 28 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Russia maybe (guessing)? --Ouro (blah blah) 11:38, 28 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Prison and earthquakes[edit]

What does happen to prisoners in the case of earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, and similar calamities? Are they allowed extra freedom (humane option) or even less (pragmatic option)? Quest09 (talk) 21:42, 25 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Your mileage may vary. As of February 2005, selected nonviolent inmates of Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties, Florida can be released.[1] In New York, however, they're just put in a "substitute jail".[2] Inmates of Orleans Parish Prison had their constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment violated when Hurricane Katrina paid a visit. Clarityfiend (talk) 01:59, 26 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Acts of God such as hurricanes are not bound by the United States Constitution because God is not a signatory. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 07:04, 26 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe we should try a state constitution for that matter, which tend to include references to God. 88.9.108.128 (talk) 10:38, 26 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Of course God isn't a signatory, but the people in charge of the prisons can choose to respond to such disasters in many ways; and how they respond IS bound by the laws of the land... --Jayron32 13:06, 26 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I think it really depends on what jurisdiction we are talking about. In some place they might just be abandoned and left to die, or forced into dangerous labor combatting the storm or cleaning up rubble. In others they might wind up in a hotel eating room service. Most places are somewhere in between those extremes. Beeblebrox (talk) 18:42, 26 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]