Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 September 29

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Lewis Paine's Assassination Reward

I need to Know how much Lewis Payne was wanted for being an accomplice to John Wilkes Both in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, as in the reward money you would receive for finding. I need nothing but that fact and I'd appreciate it if someone in this big blue planet could give me finally the answer.

Did You Know ... that the accomplice of Kennedy's assassination valuated Exactly the same sum as Lincoln's's ? :( -- DLL ^{.. T} 20:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

So I swallowed gum

It happened by accident. Am I completely screwed, or am I overreacting? Pacific Coast Highway ^{{blah • Spinach crisis '06! • WP:NYCS}} 01:18, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

How are you reacting? According to the chewing gum article, it isn't serious. Incidentally I swallowed gum by accident when I was about 10; nothing happened (I believe ;D) Yesitsapril

How old are you now?  --Lambiam^Talk 03:20, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

15. Pacific Coast Highway ^{{blah • Spinach crisis '06! • WP:NYCS}} 03:28, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

It'll be sitting in your stomach for 7 years --froth^{T C} 01:36, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Ive swallowed gum regularly for the last 17 years, Im still alive so far. Joneleth 04:40, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

OMG I've swallowed so much gum; I hope and believe it hasn't affected me negatively. Anchoress 04:45, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I swallowed gum, and 50 years later got appendicitis. Not claiming a correlation.Edison 06:15, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

As a reformed gum-swallower I can guarantee it's harmless. Otherwise I would have been buried in a pink bubble when I was thirteen years old. Durova 06:25, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Anchoress, do you have a spring in your step? Seriously I seem to recall that gum is one of the things that can build up in one's appendix and arguably it's better for you than a lot of things that could lodge there instead. No cite, sorry. ++Lar: t/c 20:02, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Huh, I didn't know that. Sweet! :-) Anchoress 21:05, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

• It's less of a problem than swallowing an entire pen cap... - Mgm|^(talk) 09:40, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

When did you do that? Ilikefood 20:05, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, you're fine. You're intestines and such are so slick, there is nothing the gum can stick to. It will pass out of you in about 2 or 3 days, seriously. This whole schpeel can be backed up by doctors, and I'm pretty sure its medical adive so it shouldn't be here anyways...[[User:Weehoocandy|^(talk) 12:09, 29 September, 2006

Interestingly (?) did you know that carbon (soot) builds up in the lymph nodes if inhaled? I think its taken there to be destroyed-- but it cant be so it remains--Light current 21:36, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

And did you know that beef, when eaten, is mostly broken down, but not entirely, and little teeny strands of indigestible, indissolvable cow protein course through your veins, eventually settling down to live in your brain? And that mad cow beef is not fundamentally different from any other cow beef?

Well, that's probably not entirely accurate, but close as I can figure, it contains elements of truth. Ergo, I view beef as the most evil thing on earth, to eat anyway. This is why I 'vandalise' our meat page occasionally. =) Chris 22:57, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

The element of truth is the "not entirely accurate" admission. People are biologically omnivores. alteripse 13:06, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

Who says people are biologically omnivores - our digestive system suggests we are closer to vegetarian animals than to meat eaters due to the length of our intestinal tract.

Back to gum, I regularly swallow gum, and I can now blow bubbles out of my ass. Sturgeonman 21:26, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

and we needed to know that why!!! Ilikefood 20:06, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Poll about mice/gamepad

Of course everybody knows that the mouse is more precise and accurate for FPS and RTS than the gamepad but for some reason my roomate doesn't think so. When I tried to quote wikipedia on the theory of mouse-to-screen correspondence and time-based relative movement of control sticks he insisted that wikipedia can't be trusted or something and wants an external poll or study. Can anyone find a poll with % statistics of who favors mouse or joystick for first person shooters? --froth^{T C} 01:43, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I can't find a poll, but I can tell you that your roommate is full of it. Mouses are much more accurate, and it is a proven fact people respond more naturally with mouses that with gamepads or controllers. Яussiaп F 02:11, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Might it not be the case that the roommate is an exception? It's a proven fact that kids prefer peas over spinach, but I know this kid who just hates peas and loves spinach. Also, I had this experience of having to work on someone else's computer that had no mouse but a joystick. The owner had made some physical modifications to the joystick and written a specialized device driver to adjust it to his personal preferences, and he warned me that it might take me some time to get used to it. To my surprise I took to it immediately, finding it not only easier to use than the joysticks I'd used before, but also easier for precision control than a mouse.  --Lambiam^Talk 03:18, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

So, pull up an FPS and ask him to point as quickly and accurately as possible at an object in the distance with a mouse, from a 180 degree spin. Then, have him do the same (same spot, etc.) with a gamepad. Do the same yourself just to see if it's a personal thing. Voilar. Not particularily scientific, but probably enough to end the crazy dispute :P -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 05:41, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Since cursor movement works the same in FPSs as it does in Windows, just install the joystick as a mouse and do some double-clicking activities on the desktop. Open a folder on the UR, UL, BL, and BR of the screen, and see who can click all of them first. I've seen people claiming that they were using a joystick or an Xbox controller when playing CS online, but then again, I've seen a lot more guys pretending to be girls, and they're much easier to believe.  freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ  12:39, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Bird Calls

I can do the call of a Morning Dove really well by cupping my hands together to make a whistle. Is it possible to get a bird to come over to me, or are they smart enough to avoid a human with almost no bird qualities? M@$+@ Ju ~ ♠ 01:59, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I used to be able to make sounds that attracted ducks. They would come really close to investigate, much closer than needed for figuring out, even for the most myopic duck, that my duck qualities might leave something to be desired. They stayed just out of reach of where I could have caught them with my hands.  --Lambiam^Talk 03:06, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

That it sounds like a good immitation to you doesn't mean it does so to them. They may focus on different aspect of the sound and their hearing might eve pick up sounds you don't, so you might be making very odd noises in that range without noticing it yourself. Also, birds generaly have good eyesight, so they might not be completely fooled even if you immitate the sound perfectly. Of course the best way to find this out is to try it out. Keep us posted. DirkvdM 06:09, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Then again, doves are birdbrains. 68.7.88.112 06:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Then again, even if he was able to make a perfect bird call, how could he know for sure that he doesn't sound like the most annoying, fat-lipped, snotty-nosed morning dove ever to try looking for booty?  freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ  12:25, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Right on! Even if they come over to him in flocks, he'd still not know for sure.  --Lambiam^Talk 12:42, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

He might be attracting a less-than-respectable crowd --froth^{T C} 19:33, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I can make pretty good lesser black-backed gull calls (the long 'war cry'). When the birds hear them, they immediately crane their necks to see where the sound is coming from - sometimes I can get them to answer too (though other times, they just cock their heads and give me a strange look). --Kurt Shaped Box 13:16, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, I get that too, birds giving me strange looks when I call out my war cry to them. DirkvdM 06:58, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

I'm trying to do the carrot call, but only to attract bunnies. -- DLL ^{.. T} 19:34, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

1. • My cats know the difference between a human impersonator and a recording when it comes to animal noises(hotclaws**== 20:10, 29 September 2006 (UTC))

My cat comes running when I make dog/wolf howling noises. He probably wouldn't if it was a real dog.  :) User:Zoe|(talk) 22:49, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Ha, thanks guys for the responses. I definately will try and call over some birds, maybe even get a picture if I'm lucky. M@$+@ Ju ~ ♠ 22:43, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

in the works

Could anyone explain what does the phrase "the hub was in the works in New York" means?

"In the works" is an english idiom meaning in development --froth^{T C} 05:07, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

"the hub" is usually a metaphorical or actual centre of a network of some sort. Exactly what kind of network depends on context you haven't given us, but it could be a transportation network, a computer network, a social network, or something else. See, for instance, Airline hub or Network hub. --ByeByeBaby 23:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

ID this song

What is the song on this page? I need to know the title so I can find it in higher quality format (that page plays a midi). I recognize it from The Sting (one of my favorite movies), if that's any help. Thanks --froth^{T C} 05:04, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I think it's Solace by Scott Joplin.  --Lambiam^Talk 05:42, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

The source code on that website calls the music file "solace.mid". So I think Lambian is correct. Rmhermen 16:21, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Japanese students at Cambrige

I was asked how many Japanese study at Cambridge. Do you know or can you find out?

- - - - -

Can you be a bit more specific, do you mean students of Japanese nationality, students of Japanese ethnicity (defining which is a problem all on its own), students who are normally resident in Japan but came to Cambridge to study? In any case, I think you'll have problems getting an accurate answer (because of the definition difficulties above), although you could try some of the colleges' development and access offices. Alternatively, many Japanese (of any variety) may be members of societies such as the Anglo-Japanese society, you could try asking there, even if they can't tell you exactly they might be able to point you in a good direction for more information. — QuantumEleven 08:38, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Or do you mean students of Japanese language, history, etc.? 惑乱 分からん 09:42, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Quantum brings up a good point, but the truth is that most Japanese of non-Japanese ancestory would not choose to call themselves Japanese, and the number of foreign residents of Japan who study overseas from Japan (without losing their VISAs) is not only negligible I'm not sure if it's even possible. The question probably originated from a Japanese student wanting to know the chance xe'd find a Japanese friend at the school, and the popular definition of Japanese should suffice. It is very easy to find out how many Americans (or Hong Kongers, Mongolians, British) there are at Japanese universities (it's usually displayed proudly), but that's probably because they simply lump people according to their passports here.  freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ  12:21, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Wholesale prices of mobiles

What are the wholesale prices of mobiles paid by operators?

I seriously doubt if you are actually asking about mobiles, perhaps you mean mobile phones ? Now, what wholesale price are you talking about ? The per minute rate on operator assisted calls from Luxembourg to Liechtenstein ? StuRat 16:11, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

For your information: "mobile" is British slang, short for mobile phone, as cell is short for "cellular phone" in parts of the US and Handy is German slang for the same thing. - Mgm|^(talk) 23:07, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

I'm aware of that. My point was that one should not use regional slang when posting a question to an international web site. StuRat 16:47, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

The price paid to purchase each phone for resale? (Several "terrorism" arrests recently in the U.S. have involved people purchasing large numbers of cheap "pay-as-you-go" phones for resale.) Rmhermen 16:18, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

back when I worked for a cellular company the price we paid was roughly 10% less than the retail cost. when phones were offered for free or for $.01 with contract the company took the initial loss but made up for it and more with the 2 year contract. the cheaper pay as you go phones work along the same lines-offer a low end phone for cheap and make up the diff with relatively high per minute cost. Sosobra 03:15, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

On what grounds do you classify 'mobile' as slang, Mgm? As far as I'm concerned it is normal English.

Not that I disagree that the original anonmyous poster could have been clearer. ColinFine 23:13, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Double negatives are not unconfusing.  :--) JackofOz 02:19, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

Womens ring fingers

Is there any significance attached to wearing a ring on the wedding ring finger (3rd finger, thumb isn't a finger) of the right hand rather than the left? AllanHainey 12:37, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

See Wedding ring#Post-wedding customs third paragraph. It has to do with the old Roman meaning of left. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 13:30, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

According to Finger (and common sense), a thumb is a finger; arguably indeed the most important finger. Just fwiw. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Just like the category animal includes the species Homo sapiens but is often used in opposition, so likewise "thumb" and "fingers" are often used in opposition.  --Lambiam^Talk 15:52, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Of course, even in cultures were the custom is to wear a ring on the left hand, some left-handed people will wear theirs on the right because it is obstructing to wear it on the dominant hand. Rmhermen 16:16, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Did you search for ring finger? — Catherine\^talk 02:57, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

Yes, I did & it didn't answer my question. Wedding ring#Post-wedding customs sort of answers it, it doesn't seem there's any info here on whether only certain significant rings can be worn on that finger of the right hand. It may be that the woman I saw is foreign or carrying on foreign traditions.

Thanks. AllanHainey 11:50, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

In Estonia the weddingring is worn on the left hand as it is supposed to be closer to the heart In the 17th century the thumb was the wedding ring finger in England.

Boa constrictors

Do boa constrictors have toes?

Only when they swallowed toes and haven't digested them yet. Otherwise, no, although they can measure up to 14 feet. ---Sluzzelin 14:11, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Was that a serious question, or is someone just yanking our chains?--Light current 20:21, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Some snakes do have vestigal legs under their skin even sometimes with a small claw. According to this [1] Boa constrictors are one of those that do have these. I don't know if it could be classified as a toe, more like a small remnant of a leg. Nowimnthing 21:27, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I believe that wen limbs evolve away, they don't really disappear but just get very small. All the bones are still there, but can hardly be called toes or whatever anymore. In dolphins (originally land animals) the legs have just merged to form the 'tail'. DirkvdM 07:08, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

It depends on if the gene called strangely enough, Sonic hedgehog, is expressed or not. The limbs will just get smaller unless this gene is turned off and then they do not form. Dolphin tails are formed from tails not legs, the legs of ancestral dolphins and whales used to be more like hind flippers, but even flippers cause some drag, so can be traded in for more streamlining. Nowimnthing 20:57, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

National Park in Alaska

Answered

OK, problem in biology--I was given a set of coordinates to supposedly a national park in Alaska. But on the map (I'm using Google Earth) it says nothing even in the general vicinity of the coordinates anything about a national park. Nothing but a bunch of snow. >__< So what national park is it?

Coordinates: 58-40-51N, 136-48-52W

--208.108.216.210 16:56, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure how this is a biology question. And what you saw is not a "bunch of snow," but a huge glacier. This is Glacier Bay National Park. Marco polo 17:13, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Truthfully/ I don't see how it's biology either. But the biology teacher is like 'use google earth, find these coordinates, and give me pics of the geological, biological, features, blah, blah, blah" and he's refusing to help at all. He's a jerk. Anyway, thanks. I wouldn't know a glacier from a bunch of snow.

There's life in glaciers.---Sluzzelin 18:15, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

One of the images on that page didn't load but we have an article on it at watermelon snow --Rmhermen 18:33, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Sounds very tasty :3 --froth^{T C} 19:15, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

It sounds like you needed to switch from the satellite map to the political map to identify national parks. After all, you can't really identify a national park from a satellite view. StuRat 19:20, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, using Google Maps rather than Google Earth, you'll get the correct answer. Of course, there's only nine national parks in Alaska, and only one anywhere near your specified coordinates, so it's not all that hard. --ByeByeBaby 23:08, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Most forest!

Answered

Which country has the MOST forest within its border? Not per km^2, just in total. I am guessing Russia, is this correct? Thanks!! 81.93.102.3 18:23, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

That would be my guess, too. Canada might be second. Then again, the US might be in the running due to Alaska. China also has a fair amount of forest. Brazil has jungles, but that's not exactly the same thing. StuRat 18:44, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

May I express a slight disagreement with you, StuRat ? A tree is a tree is a tree. Russia has plenty of tundra species, Canada too. A jungle grows trees and climbers and ferns like any european forest. Is a prairie really different from a steppe ? I won't argue more :) -- DLL ^{.. T} 19:24, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

It's kind of an ambiguous question... basically 81.93.102.3 asked what is the "most forested" country and sturat did a pretty good job of answering --froth^{T C} 19:30, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Just in case anyone is interested in forested land in percentage of a country's total area, Nationmaster has a list and map. The Cook Islands, Suriname, and French Guiana top the list. ---Sluzzelin 19:45, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I used that site and multiplied by the land areas, to find the answer. Russia is, by far, the largest in forested area, at 8.5 million square km. Brazil is second (assuming you count jungle as the same as forest) with 5.4 million, then Canada with 2.4 million and the USA with 2.3 million. StuRat 20:16, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Excellent! Now all we Americans have to do is nuke Russia like we've always wanted, let Brazil go the way it's already going, and drop a few barriers to Canadian imports, and... USA! USA! USA! Melchoir 20:53, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

For shame sir, for shame. Chris 23:00, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Cats and women

Why is it that women are so attracted to cats and often have them as pets?--Light current 20:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Cats have attributes normally considered to be feminine (fastidious, quiet, sneaky, careful) and dogs have masculine attributes (messy, loud, careless). StuRat 20:30, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Sneaky?! That is assault! Stealthy is the non-perjorative term thank you very much. Chris 23:01, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

THats a very serious reply Stu! Perhaps youre still thinking about the funny one! 8-)--Light current 20:54, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

The funny one I came up with involved a slang term for a cat or a part of a woman's anatomy, but that was too immature, even for me. :-) StuRat 14:14, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

I cant believe that! 8-)--Light current 17:14, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

I don't know that women tend to like cats more than, say, dogs, but it does seem to be viewed as unmanly (by some) for a man to like cats. Probably because these people think that women are supposed to be fastidious, quiet, sneaky and careful, while men should be messy, loud and careless. And unconcerned with cuteness. I do not know what men and women they base this on. Skittle 21:51, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Based on stereotypes of course!--Light current 21:59, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

On the other hand, cats are a lot like men:

1. They don't understand vegetarians.
2. They never wash dishes.
3. They find it fascinating to watch a woman undress.
4. A woman can't get either one to talk about his feelings.
5. Whenever a woman has something really important to say, all they want to do is rub up against her. Durova 03:21, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

People don't have cats as pets. Cats have people as staff. I work for 3 of 'em, believe me! Mattopaedia 09:20, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

Just remember they' re only:

Felines, nothing more than felines, Trying to forget the felines I love....

--Light current 17:29, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

"They find it fascinating to watch a woman undress. " Uhm, really? How would you know :)?Evilbu 21:46, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

Yes they want to see whether they measure up to the real thing (Miaaw) 8-)--Light current 22:06, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

hot water heating coil for heating cold water in a cup

I am looking for a store which sells those heating coils that have an electric cord which plugs into a wall socket and then the coil clips on a cup of cold water and heats it to boiling. I don't know what it's called and can't find one anywhere. Thank you.

Ah you mean this immersion heater.[2]--Light current 23:09, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Or this one of the company I used to work for. I actualy took that photograph. Not that it's one of my most spectacular photographs ... DirkvdM 07:16, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

You can also get USB coasters that will keep your drink warm, although I don't think they'll boil a cup from cold. Rentwa 13:33, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

Is there anything you cant run from a USB port these days? Anyway 500mA @ 5 v gives 2.5W: enough maybe to keep tea warm, but not enough to boil water methinks.--Light current 22:08, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

You can get a nice electric shock from a USB port. Rentwa 12:11, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Composition B vs potassium and fluorine

If you were to take out all the explosives (Composition B) inside a standard-issue US M67 fragmentation handgrenade and replace it with an optimal mixture of potassium and fluorine, which version would create a more powerful explosion? Jamesino 23:18, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

One of the most important principles of selecting an explosive is that the products should be gaseous, and so push back the atmosphere at tremendous speed, thus creating a shock wave. Potassium and fluorine, although they react together very vigorously, make a solid product, potassium fluoride, and so the only effect would be a great deal of heat being generated. --G N Frykman 17:13, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

What about an optimal combination of potassium and water? Jamesino 20:16, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

That doesn't produce very much gas: only one unit gas per unit explosive. Something like nitroglycerine is much better, at approximately six units gas per unit explosive. --Serie 23:36, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

AoE2 Maps

Age of Empires 2 maps on the internet. Should I download them? I have heard good things about Ulio ond other maps, but I don't know if they will use up a bunch of space on my computer, or what. Is the amount of space they take up negligable? My computer is relatively new (2002). Mongol Man 23:50, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Ulio? Ahhh that brings back memories. Yes ulio is a great campaign i highly recommend it. aok.heavengames.com has a "blacksmith" section that has a ton of amazing maps, just sort by rating. In fact.. I have a map or two there myself :) As you can see by my water-themed net handles, back then i was slush, heh. anyway to answer your question they take up less than a few MB, you'll definately be fine. Unzip to c:\program files\microsoft games\age of empires 2\ --froth^{T C} 02:26, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

What does "Unzip to c:\program files\microsoft games\age of empires 2\" mean? Mongol Man 22:48, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

The game looks for "map" files in that directory. So if you download a .zip file with a couple subfolders, just unzip it to the install directory (that path I mentioned). If all the files are mashed together put the SCN or SCX files in the "scenario" folder, all sound files in the "sound" folder, ai files in the "ai" folder, etc. Many times there will be a readme in the zip file that tells you where to put what. good luck! --froth^{T C} 05:29, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Seconding this, I spent many hours on those back in the day. Make sure to get everything else by Ingo van Thiel as well, as well as Tamerlane: Prince of Destruction, and the Blacksun series, and of course Colonization (by yours truly ;) ). Should keep you occupied for a while. And to expand on the concept of unzipping: most scenarios are uploaded (along with any other files needed/recommended to run them) as .zip files, which you need to unzip into the right directories (usually specified in a readme file). You'll need a program such as WinZip to do this. -Elmer Clark 01:04, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

I also recommend "blood bath island" if you can find it it's incredibly fun --froth^{T C} 02:20, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

Are you posilutely, absitively sure that these maps will take up a negligable amount of space? I co-own this computer, and a select few other people might be upset it there's a scenario that takes up half the space in the computer. Mongol Man 00:01, 3 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes I'm sure.. --froth^{T C} 02:50, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

Okay. Thanks! Mongol Man 11:48, 4 October 2006 (UTC)