Wikipedia:Reference desk archive/Miscellaneous/November 2005

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[edit] November 1

[edit] Does anyone here make games with the RPG toolkit?

[edit] Is that Tony Hale?

You know that one commercial for Citibank where the guy's rummaging through the garbage looking for his credit card bill so he doesn't have to pay late fees? Is the guy Tony Hale from the TV show Arrested Development? I think that's a mechanical hand he fishes out of the garbage at one point, which would be a reference to the series, but I'm not sure. I don't know. Maxamegalon2000 02:44, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

  • According to this biography of Hale, he has done an advertisement for Citibank so he could be the guy see [1]. Capitalistroadster 04:57, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Elevation

What is the highest elevation a person can live without having breathing problems?

If you mean living in the town for your whole life, the highest cities are: Potosí of Bolivia (4,000 m) and Wenzhuan of Tibet, China (5,100 m) (see List of highest towns by country). At least one Tibetan elementary school with 250 students is 4,700 m high in altitude (tuition, food, clothing and boarding are provided by the government for free; students are from remote areas)! Chinese page + picture.
Many small communities in Tibet are about 5,000 m in altitute. As an educational policy, Chinese government regularly send Tibetan students to other Chinese cities for advanced education. Many "low-lander" Chinese students noticed in disbelief that the Tibetan students, adapted to high altitute, are always sleepy in class because of increased pressure. It can take them about a month to be fully acclimatize. In the mean time, the school just let them have a good time. Chinese page + picture.
The Rongbu Temple
Enlarge
The Rongbu Temple
Rongbuk Monastery (絨布寺), located by the foot of the Rongbuk Glacier at about 5,100 m, is the highest temple in the world. It is only 100 m lower than the north side Base Camp of Mount Everest. You are not allowed to go there by yourself or you can die helplessly. However, about 50 monks live there and you can buy nice foods there thanks to modern transportation and pollution. I don't know how many monks stay there for life. The highest highway in Tibet is said to be 6,700 m high at some points (needs to be verified). I guess they will not let you drive unless you have the oxygen supply and a modified vehicle. No one can stay there for too long unless you want to kill yourself.
The FAA requires civilian airliner's cabin pressure be no less than 0.75 ATM (pressure at about 8,000 ft; 2,400 m). So if you mean ordinary people, the legal ceiling for hours-long exposure without much physical exercise may be 2,400 m. However, many untrained people can easily climb a mountain of 3,000-4,000 m without harm. Some trained experts can climb Mount Everest without oxygen supply. They are supposed to be Martians. -- Toytoy 07:40, 1 November 2005 (UTC)


A mountaineer can acclimatize and stay at around 7000 metres/22967 feet for weeks. Beyond that height the Death Zone (where the body is wasting away) begins. The HIGHEST CONTINUOUSLY INHABITED SPOT ON PLANET EARTH is BANA POST,the top of a 22000 feet peak in the Siachen Glacier. Soldiers posted there are rotated out after a month or so.They are not on oxygen.

59.93.247.81 14:47, 4 November 2005 (UTC)Oropolitics

[edit] Oval Office

Why didn't Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford use the Resolute Desk?

Because they were quite short, and it's a big desk. I don't know. Why don't you write to whichever ones are still alive, and ask them (politely)? I wouldn't be that surprised if you actually got a response. Proto t c 14:12, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

"And why did President Clinton wear wool boxers in the Oval Office ?"
"It was quite drafty in there, and they helped to keep his ankles warm." StuRat 18:12, 1 November 2005 (UTC)
HAR HAR! I love it. Dominick (ŤαĿĶ) 00:04, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
More pragmatically, I have a vague recollection Johnson brought in a lot of television equipment, tape recorders, and so on into the Oval Office; Nixon liked this, and hung onto it. After Nixon, when having lots of electronics kicking around began to seem like a less funky idea, it fell out of favour. This could have been the reason that the older desk wasn't used; it would have involved gouging big holes in it for new electronic kit. Shimgray | talk | 00:33, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
From [2] it sounds like it was moved to the Smithsonian as Kennedy memorabilia, and restored to the Oval Office by Carter to re-establish tradition. — mendel ☎ 00:43, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] EMP

Would an EMP detonated over Wall Street bring the US economy crashing down?

It certainly wouldn't do it any good. See Electromagnetic Pulse. But I sincerely hope you're not thinking of doing this. You would get in trouble, for sure. Proto t c 14:09, 1 November 2005 (UTC)
Of course not! I'm just curious. Now, where could I obtain such a device? (Just kidding, you guys are all right).
It would be a major, major nuisance, but probably not the depression-inducing disaster it might once have been. The Millennium Bug contingency planning saw most large firms review their IT security and backup systems, so that data would be preserved and critical operations could resume quickly if the need arose. September 11 demonstrated the effectiveness of these measures.
Furthermore, as I understand it the only EMP weapon powerful enough to do the kind of broad-range damage you are examining is a nuclear weapon; if one of them goes off near Wall Street the US economy's going to have pretty serious isses :/--Robert Merkel 03:21, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] I have problems saving my Ninja Gaiden Black Game

Hello,I just cannot find the option of saving.Does anybody know how to do it?--Father Tan 10:16, 1 November 2005 (UTC)


I believe there are save spots in places all over. My boyfriend played it and I watched. I believe they are these glowing balls or something you have to walk through.

[edit] scabies and a pregant woman

can the scabie mite affect the fetus in a pregant woman and wht is the proper treatment if contacted by the pregant woman?

Scabies stay in the skin. No risk to fetus, but minimize the chemical exposure to treat them. alteripse 11:57, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Are there any tigers in Africa?

  • Tigers are native to various parts of Asia, there are not wild tigers in Africa. However, there are tigers in captivity at Johannesburg Zoo[3] and Pretoria Zoo[4]. So depending on what you mean by this question, the answer is either yes or no. -- AJR | Talk 13:44, 1 November 2005 (UTC)
Yes, Hollywood has a lot to answer for in regard to this. Millions of people, myself included until not all that long ago, went through life believing that tigers were native to Africa, because they were routinely shown in Hollywood African-based movies and serials like Jungle Jim in order to, I don't know, add an extra bit of drama or something. As if Africa wasn't exciting enough already! JackofOz 08:43, 2 November 2005

(UTC)

"A tiger? In africa?" "Perhaps it escaped from a zoo..." Brian Schlosser42 18:15, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Guano properties

I would like to know if Guano, specifically seagull droppings, are corrosive in the sense that they could generate holes in the normal kind of roof shingles?

Yes. Bird feces are acidic and can, in time, eat away softer stones—which is why marble buildings and sculptures are often covered with fencing or porcupine wire, which resembles miniature Rommelspargel in both form and function. Many people will be familiar with the damage they can cause to a car's paint job. —Charles P. (Mirv) 20:43, 1 November 2005 (UTC)
It is dependant on the food of the guano creator. Fruit Bats eat acidic food, thus have acidic guano (bad for you). --Ballchef 05:15, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Liquid Oxygen

Could you survive in Liquid Oxygen?

Not without wearing something similar to a space suit. StuRat 23:23, 1 November 2005 (UTC)
Cold cold cold! Liquid oxygen boils at −183 °C at one atmosphere. Liquid oxygen is also very reactive with organic matter, like your organic body! Dominick (ŤαĿĶ) 00:02, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
depends on who you are. +sj + 03:58, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
Not necessarily cold. But if you increase the temperature you'd be torn apart by low pressure before the temperature gets comfy. Apart from that, make sure you don't start to hyperventilate. :) DirkvdM 05:52, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
It's not the same thing, but you may be interested in our article on Liquid breathing. - RedWordSmith 17:27, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] john f kennedy

on the article on john f kennedy, when was that published?

WikiPedia's John F Kennedy article has ben edited many times over the last few years, with the first edit on December 10, 2001. So, I suppose you could say it has been "published" hundreds of times, with the first edition published then. StuRat 23:30, 1 November 2005 (UTC)
For info on citing Wikipedia as a source, see the first line of instructions at the top of this page. Dismas|(talk) 23:33, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 2

[edit] Football

who was the world chinese football/ soccer manager after bobby houghton? I have searched for this is so many places and cannot find the answer anywhere! My friend is told he looks like this guy but we dont know his name! ---68.166.84.125

[edit] Ferdosi

Who is Rostam in Shahnameh

[edit] The Ear

What causes ringing in the ears?

See tinnitus for a list of possible causes. --Robert Merkel 05:28, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Analyzing spiderwebs

I am constantly walking through spiderwebs. Even in large groups of people, I am always the unfortunate victim. I was wondering if it were possible to get an explanation or analyzation as to what this means, if it means anything at all. Is there any meaning behind being the one who always walks through the spiderweb? Thanks a lot. -Victoria

Some hypotheses:

  • You are unusually tall.
  • You have a preference for taking different travel routes to others.
  • You prefer to walk at the front of groups.
  • More likely, you are experiencing a variant of confirmation bias. --Robert Merkel 05:26, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Your beanie fan was not operating. --Artoftransformation 11:25, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

I can't resist. Here are a few more possibilities:

  • You haven't been paying your arachnid tribute lately. They don't like it when people disrespect them.
  • You have a rare gain-of-function mutation in your 20th sense [5], your web sensor, and you are constantly getting false signals that you have just encountered a web.
  • You have a severe case of what the French call folie arachnee, characterized in its early stages by a constant sense of spider webs, but progressing to an irresistible urge to extrude silk from your nether regions.
  • Finally, maybe the webs were there just for you, just as the world really is all about you.

Any of these feel applicable? alteripse 11:43, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

I suspect that you are just more sensitive than others to them. That is, others walk into them as often as you, but just don't notice. Another possibility is that you are imagining it. I know after I see a bug I feel like things are crawling on me for a few minutes. StuRat 17:42, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
Are you quite sure you're not suffering from delirium tremens? :) DirkvdM 11:02, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] USA entry procedures for VIPS

Hi, Yesterday Prince Charles & his wife Camilla went to the USA on a state visit, I'm wondering if they'll have needed to be fingerprinted/iris scanned/take their shoes off like all the tourists who go into America. Basically do normal entry requirements/procedures apply for diplomats, politicians, heads of state & other VIPs & their entourages? AllanHainey 08:23, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

There was a brief spat a few weeks ago when Prince Andrew refused to go through a security search at Sydney(?) airport, for what that's worth... Shimgray | talk | 12:09, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
He initially balked, but then submitted (when it was pointed out to him how special treatment would look in the press). - Nunh-huh 23:03, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
There was quite a major spat a few weeks ago when a French government minister of Arab descent experienced some problems with US Immigration at Atlanta airport - the agent apparently didn't like the look of various Arabic stamps in the diplomatic passport. The US State Department had to grovel appropriately in apology and ensure the agent got retrained in how to recognise a diplomatic passport and how to handle them! -- Arwel (talk) 02:28, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Who would win?

If a lion and a bear were to fight, who would win? — JIP | Talk 09:03, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

Lion: ROAR!!!!
Bear: ROAR!!!!
Then they walk away into the sunset. END. (Play the music.) -- Toytoy 10:42, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
I think you would have a job getting them to fight in the first place as they are not natural enemies. In any event the question is hypothetical & therefore unanswerable as it would depend on which bear & which lion you got, the species of lion or bear, their relative ages/weights/sex/aggressiveness, etc.
If you really want to know though I suggest you buy a lion & a bear, starve them for a few days & lock them in a room with a steak. You'll want a good view of the fight so be sure to set up your chair right next to the steak. AllanHainey 11:48, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

Large predators rarely fight each other in nature (too expensive). The only exception that comes to mind immediately is sperm whales and giant squid but we don't know much about how common that is. I have heard that the Romans used to make all kinds of animals fight each other or people for entertainment. alteripse 12:31, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

I would vote for the bear, as bears are typically larger and more built for battle. Lions, on the other hand, are more built for speed, as they bring down their prey that way. StuRat 17:45, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Argos

Does Argos have any stores in other countries and if so what is its competition there?

Assuming you are asking about the UK-based retail company, it has stores in the Republic of Ireland. Its owners, GUS plc, also have some international operations. Some of Argos's competition in RoI will have articles listed in Category:Retail companies of Ireland, but there may well be others (any Irish wikipedians reading who can answer that part?) -- AJR | Talk 12:21, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
Other than what country? It's somewhat refreshing to see someone apparently not from the US make this mistake. :) DirkvdM 11:06, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

FINE, does Argos have any stores in other countries than the UK and if so what is its competition there?

[edit] Is there a word for a million years?

Is there a word which specifically describes a million years?

Yes: "Megayear", usually abbreviated Myr or My. Fredrik | talk 12:18, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
The most logical name would be Megannium, in keeping with millennium (from mille and annum) and biennium (and the Dutch word 'decennium'). Alas, logic does not always rule natural languages. DirkvdM 11:16, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Customer Article

When are you going to update the customer article?

If you have some ideas on how to improve it, you can always click on the Edit this page button at the top of the offending page. That's what Wikipedia is all about! QuantumEleven | (talk) 14:06, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

Well I don't!

[edit] ice hockey

I am looking for the number of amateur ice hockey players In North america please.

Well, the IIHF has links to all the national associations. I expect the number of players in Mexico is probably neglible, so the important ones to check are the USA and Canada. USA Hockey has numbers here. I'm sure you can find links from the IIHF to the Canadian site to find the equivalent figures. Even if the figure includes pros, they make up a negligible part of the total players of the big participant sports. --Robert Merkel 12:36, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Dilecta cycles

I am searching for any information relating to the French manufacturers of Dilecta bicycles. Any assistance that you or any of your contributers can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Del @ [email removed]


[edit] phil simms

phil simms was retired during half time agaist which team? thanks michele schusky [email removed] thanks


who was the first giant to return a kick off for a touchdown in a playoff game? thanks [email removed]

[edit] n y giants

before the giants beat buffulo in superbowl xxv what nfc rival did they beat in the nfc championship game? thanks [email removed]

RTFA Super Bowl XXV Kainaw 20:52, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Newspaper copyrights

I was intrigued by the copyrights that are on a newspaper's features. The photos, cartoons, the crossword puzzles, even the stock prices for a certain day must all have permission from the publisher to reproduce. If I were to write a small free newspaper, would it require me to recognize every single photo? What if I wrote the original photo credits? What if the stock page is outdated terribly? What if the newspaper was commercially sold? I was just wondering.--Screwball23 talk 19:48, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

Pretty much yes. See Copyright, but in essence copying anything under copyright without permission is illegal. If you were thinking of starting a 'free' newspaper made up by copying cartoons, photos, articles etc. then you will be breaking the law. You might get away with it if you stay too small for them to care, but I wouldn't recommend it.
With stock prices you have a little more leeway because the prices themselves are not copyright, only the particular way they are displayed. So you could copy the numbers down and publish them. That's not true of photos, cartoons or articles. DJ Clayworth 21:48, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
As for the stock prices, you'd better make sure you don't copy any errors, because that would make obvious where you got the info from. It would probably be simpler to just take them for the horses nouths. I once heard that map makers deliberately introduce minor errors into their maps (such as in the exact curvature of a street) to catch copycats. The streetplan is of course not copyrighteable (is that English?) but a specific representation is. DirkvdM 11:22, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
That's not something new, actually. In older times, mapmakers would track if someone was copying their works by creating minor fictitious islands or streams in their maps. If the phony features appeared on someone else's map, they would know that someone had copied their work. Similarly, to this day, dictionary makers still sometimes put phony words in their dictionaries to track knock-offs who are using their word base. Wikipedia actually has an article on this, but I can't find it at present… Garrett Albright 18:13, 3 November 2005 (UTC) Found it! These phony words are called nihilartikels. Garrett Albright
The modern equivalent on maps are trap streets; the term honeypot is also sometimes used. Shimgray | talk | 19:09, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Roman Empire

Instead of building Hadrian's Wall, why didn't the empire just try to conquer the area of scotland?

The answer to that has much to do with Rome's decay. The Picts, who were the Scottish barbarians warring with the Romans near the wall did live on both sides of the wall. In fact, Hadrian's wall originally had most fortifications to the South, meaning that the Picts weren't really the greatest threat. Even more interesting is the multi-national defense that the wall had. Most of the guards [6]were not of Italian ancestry. Mostly, the guards were friendly Scots and tribal barbarians who the Romans were at peace with. These guards probably maintained little interest in attacking their neighbors and it was seen that the Scots rarely did attack and raid the area south of Hadrian's wall after a long time. Another theory on that is that the wall was a frightening display of strength and so the Scottish tirbes avoided them after that wall. In addition, the armies most likely had many more mercenaries at the time, so in order to appease the new soldiers, the empire probably hesitated to move onward. This also involves a more dangerous issue--the tribes to the south. Rome had never subjugated all of southern Britain and still had political alliances and coalitions to be maintained. The Romans weren't the war-mongers we make them out to be. They had a great deal of diplomacy to work out. See [7], [8]--Screwball23 talk 20:03, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
I wouldn't take the signing of treaties as a sign that an empire is peaceful. In many cases they were just overextended and were concerned that they would lose another war. StuRat 22:39, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
Also, there was little economic incentive to do so. The great majority of products which were of high value at the time came from the Mediterranean provinces rather than northern Europe. CalJW 14:42, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
The Romans called the island we now know as Ireland, Hibernia. Probably because it reminded them of Winter. It may have been too cold for them there and in Scotland. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 194.46.60.222 (talk • contribs) 16:39, 10 November 2005.
The wall was more to do with controlling the territory on either side of it than being a border: it controlled through traffic rather than preventing it. Therefore, it would have been ineffective to build more fortifications north of the wall. This actually did happen: the Antonine Wall was support by numberous forts throughout the Scottish Lowlands. However, that situation became unmaintainable due to the lack of economic productivity in the region north of the Antonine Wall. --Gareth Hughes 17:24, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Buffalo Pens

I wonder if you could include an entry for Buffalo pens. I am trying to find out how they are made. Thanks for any information you could provide.

Well, first they make the buffalo drink a huge bottle of ink; then they… Okay, really, in my home town, there was someone who inexplicably had a couple of buffaloes (not native to northern California, as far as I know), and they were kept in a pen with wooden slat fencing not much different than the nearby farmers used (or used to use) to keep in cattle. As with cattle, I never saw the buffalo actually testing the strength of the fence, so I don't think you actually need anything seriously strong. However, IANA buffalo rancher, so your best bet for a good answer would probably be to get in touch with some folks that are, like these guys or these guys or these guys. Garrett Albright 18:05, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

I think the original writer meant writing implements made from buffalo horn. Are the buffaloes harmed? Killed, already dead, or simply "de-horned"? Is it painful to the buffalo?

Buffalo fencing is usually constructed stronger than that for cattle as buffalo retain "wild" habits. I would expect pens made from buffalo to be made from deceased ones. We know they are just so easy to kill. Of course, the question could be about water buffalo or cape buffalo? Rmhermen 14:25, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] floating poo

why does my 11 yr old child's poo often float? the stool appears normal in form and size but is virtually impossible to flush away as it floats. Is this indicative of a dietary deficiency or excess of some sort?

According to the nutritionists that I work with, the less fiber in your diet, the more buoyant your stools will be. Kainaw 20:55, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
It's the fat content that determines buoyancy, just like with people. Occasionally greasy, fatty, floating poo indicates malabsorption due to some gastrointestinal disease. alteripse 21:16, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Is there enough pressure on the water when they try to flush? - Mgm|(talk) 21:32, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
    • Which pressure are you talking about Mgm?--Commander Keane 07:36, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
      • The water they use to flush the toilet. I'm assuming that's how they know the poo floats and not because they took it out and tested its buoyancy. - 131.211.51.34 08:33, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
        • I was just making sure there was no confusion between a home's water pressure and the pressure generated when you flush the toilet - which are independent.--Commander Keane 09:59, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
Depends on the kind of toilet. In some you dump your poo in a pool of water, in which it can then float (and water might spurt up in reaction, right up your arse - I hate that! :) ). DirkvdM 10:26, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
Solution to implied supplementary question: lay a single sheet of toilet paper on the water before you begin. This prevents the splash. My dad taught me that trick fifty years ago. Shantavira 10:52, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] What is the name of this movie?

About a married guy who drinks and then is kicked out by his family and keeps drinking and his life falls apart and then he dies from drinking. Stars a guy with a real gravelly voice who was a star in the 40's and 50's. Not the one with martin sheen.

  • IMDB is probably the best place to ask this. DJ Clayworth 18:23, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] How is Robert Merkel so smart?

Will he consider applying to knowledge skills game shows? lots of issues | leave me a message 22:09, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 3

[edit] Y2K

Did anyone anywhere in the world die as a direct result of technology failure caused by the millennium bug?

No direct deaths were attributed to it. alteripse 02:18, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
Among lots of other interesting trivia, our Year 2000 problem article reports that two people committed suicide because they were frightened of the (so-called) millennium bug! Shantavira 13:36, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
Hmmm, is this evolution at work? :) DirkvdM 10:30, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Proto

Proto Where are you

Have you tried User:Proto? -- Canley 02:27, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

You are not Proto Where iS He?


Proto answer pleas proto (where?)

You not answered (have not answered) please help me (answer please)

I'm a bit scared, but ask me any questions you might have on my talk page. Proto t c 14:05, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the largest graveyard

what is the largest graveyard in the united states of america.

Rose Hills Memorial Park --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 05:31, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Girlfriend of Tony Kanal

The girlfriend of Tony Kanal (from the band No Doubt)has a girlfriend named Erin (Michelle) Lokitz. The only information I know about her is that she starred in a movie called 'The Graveyard', was a ballerina for several years, and was featured in the British comedy 'Coupling'. Apparently she was raised in California (around Agoura Hills and Calabasas) with Hoobastank and Incubus (both have thanked her in album booklets). What is some generic biographical about her (age, date of birth, how she and Tony got together, what is she currently working on, etc).

From a bit of googling, it appears that you know just about everything there is in the public domain about Ms. Lokitz. If I may be so bold, if I had to guess her current activities probably involve some or all of:
  • auditioning for acting jobs
  • working a day job to pay the bills while she waits for a big break.
  • going out to see bands, given she seems to be a bit of a music fan...
  • assisting Mr. Kanal in his musical career; No Doubt will reform late this year or early next year to record a new album, and most musicians keep themselves busy with other gigs if their main project is on hold.

As for an appearance in "Coupling", I was a fan of that show and if she appeared I certainly can't recall her face (which you can see if you search the IMDB for her name). --Robert Merkel 06:44, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

Yes, I agree... but it's hard to find any solid information about her background. The only sites she seems to be featured on are WireImage photographs.

Unless Ms. Lokitz chooses to make such information available, for whatever reason, I guess that's none of our business. If you have a good reason for asking, you might be able to contact the band through their management and ask, but, frankly, the satisfaction of your idle curiosity probably won't count as a good reason as far as they're concerned. --Robert Merkel 13:37, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Alright then, thank you for your input.

[edit] The Body

Is there a name for the "dimple" at the base of the neck and chest?

Did you mean Adam's apple? I'd prefer Steve Jobs' Apple. -- Toytoy 05:38, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

No, I didn't mean the Adam's Apple...

You probably meant the fossa above the jugular notch of the manubrium of the sternum in-between the sternal heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscles. I don't know if it has a name in surface anatomy. It's called the suprasternal fossa on x-rays. - Nunh-huh 06:11, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

I've heard it called the sternal notch. --hydnjo talk 23:58, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
In an online medical refrence is called only 'The Bottom of the larynx"

Its the place where Tracheostomy (sometimes called tracheotomy) are made.

[[9]]

Artoftransformation 11:38, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

In the movie The English Patient the husband of the female protagonist called it the suprasternal notch (before he attempts to mow down the Hungarian noble, Count Laszlo de Almásy, with his aeroplane). -- Ancheta Wis 03:40, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] India military service/Naxalite threat

Hi there,

I'm writing a novel about the Naxalite threat in India. In the beginning, a father with two teenagers abandons his miltary post in the United States and takes up volunteer work as a travelling officer with a group of Kalbeliya (low caste) people so as to protect them from the Naxalites while on the search for a mysterious relic. How realistic is this? Is there anything about this scenario that I should change for accuracy's sake?

~Stephanie Sleuth

HIGHLY UNREALISTIC.What is the nationality of the do-gooder? If he's not an Indian from that area (undefined?) he will land in the local chokey (which is the brit version of the Hindi 'chowki', meaning police outpost). The hypothetical Kalbeliyas are unlikely to be under Naxal threat because they are, presumably, neither wealthy not police informers. Having your protagonist tag along with them would be a surefire formula for attracting Naxal attention. And I do not understand this idea of one man 'protecting' the Kalbeliyas (do they exist?): Naxal territory is not exactly celluloid Rambo/Arnie terrain.The likeliest outcome for the protector would be to be bumped off with the willing assistance of the protectees ; I think choky and deportation would be preferable for him.

````Oropolitics

[edit] Ford Focus Questions

Can I replace parts from a North American Ford Focus with parts from a European Ford Focus? I like the look of the newer European model Focus and am wondering if it is possible to swap parts out on the North American model for the European parts? Also I hear you can stick a V-8 engine in the Focus, is that true?

Dunno about swapping components, but yes, if you really want to you can put a V8 in a Ford Focus; this company sells a conversion kit. Without trying to start a flamewar, if you just want to go very fast in a small car I might suggest an easier, cheaper and safer (because the car has handling, suspension, and brakes to match already) way of doing so might be one of these, and if it's still not fast enough go check out these recommendations. --Robert Merkel 06:59, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
But then again, maybe he wants a "sleeper". That is, a car that doesn't look fast, but is. The look from someone in a Mustang when you beat them in a race with such a car would be priceless. StuRat 13:59, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
Maybe. I hope whoever builds these things also upgrades the brakes, tyres and suspension - and I'd still be worried about the rigidity of the chassis with the extra weight and performance. Without those mods, the V8 Focus would be a flashback to the muscle car - enormously powerful but dangerously undertyred and underbraked. --Robert Merkel 14:25, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

Can someone answer the question about parts swapping European Ford Focus parts onto a North American Ford Focus?

[edit] Peculiar color specifications found in FOTW

The flag of the Malaysian state Sabah (Image:Flag of Sabah.svg) has its colors defined in some peculiar manner in FOTW (http://www.fotw.net/flags/my-sabah.html):

The canton (...) is in Icicle Blue (CIT9) as the background to a graphic silhouette of Mount Kinabala which is in Royal Blue (B10) (...) The top band is in Zircon Blue (C5T5) (...) and the third band is in Chilli Red (S6R4).

What could these color codes mean? I couldn't find any relevant color space or palette, neither in Wikipedia nor Google. –Mysid (talk) 07:51, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

Interesting question. It doesn't appear to be a Pantone colour. It doesn't really resemble the Munsell color system or the Natural color system either, by the looks. You've got me. Maybe you should ask the Malaysian embassy? --Robert Merkel 11:58, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Handheld Consoles

Which is better a Nintendo DS or a PlayStationPortable? (which are totally contradictory)

This is a very flame-war-starting topic. Basicly, it depends what you like. Good points of a DS: Dual Screen, Microphone, uses cartridges (rather than memory sticks), GBA connectivity, long battery life and has surround sound. Bad points: Poor graphics, no analogue stick/nub. Good points of a PSP: MP3 player, photo viewer, UMD movies, better graphics, analogue nub and widescreen. Bad points: Shorter battery than DS, the 'dead-pixel' problem, less 'innovative' and uses expensive memory sticks.
You choose. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 17:36, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
The touch screen on the DS can work as an analog stick. Anyway, if you're stacking things up just by the strength of the hardware, the PSP mops the floor with the DS, so it could be said that the PSP is "better." However, in this and all cases of choosing which video game system to buy, you should remember that you're not buying the system so much as you're buying the games that you can play on it. That's why I suggest you not worry so much about which system is better, and instead take a look at their respective game libraries and decide whose games you'd like to play more. You can factor other factors in (such as cost; the DS is cheaper, and I think its games are less expensive too), but the games you can play on the system should be your primary concern. Garrett Albright 17:56, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
  • That's some sound advice from both Garrett and Smurray. - Mgm|(talk) 09:14, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Itchiness of eye

For over a year now, at times my eye (usually my right, but sometimes both), itches immensely. At first I thought it was allergies (although I've never had allergies) cos I had just moved to California. But it has continued no matter what state/country I am in. It is not constant. But maybe once in a few weeks, I'll scratch my eye briefly because I felt an itch (yes, that fueled it even more), but it would sometimes go on for over 24 hrs... after sleep and a shower... still there. Usually after 48hrs, it's gone.

What could be causing this?

You didn't say if you wear contacts. If so, I would replace the one in that eye. In any case, if it's gone this long, you should probably see an eye doctor, this could be a symptom of a problem with that eye. Also, if you have long hair, parted on one side, if could be getting in one eye only. You might subconciously brush it aside when this happens, but the hair may have left some chemicals from hair products in the eye, thus causing itching. StuRat 17:45, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

No, I don't wear contacts. It usually occurs if I'm trying to wipe something out of my eye. In the past, when I've had to brush soap or whatever it may be (if I'm showering), away... the itch has never stayed. But now, if I even touch my eye briefly, an itch lingers.

Maybe your eyes are dry - it could cause pain or itch or maybe you don`t sleep enough, howerver you should see doctor. -- Xil - talk 15:18, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The Pilgrams

Are there visable grave sites of the Original Pilgrams?

Yes, in the Pilgrim colony in Plymouth. The most visited from what I've been told is the children's graveyard. Many children died on the trip over and during the first winter. Kainaw 00:45, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Affluent U.S. Counties

What are the 20 most affluent counties in the United States? --208.50.245.103 18:41, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

Check out Highest-income counties in the United States, I think that is a good measure of affluence.--Commander Keane 18:48, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Downloadable detective games

I can remember two old DOS mystery games one set on a zeppelin and one set in a big mansion. In both games you are joined by several characters among who is a murderer who is killing of the characters. The player's goal is to collect clues and question suspects to find the murderer. Can someone tell me what these games were called and if it's possible to get a free download of either and whether there's similar games I might be interested in? I prefer games that can be played by Pentium 166 MHz machines. -Mgm|(talk) 21:19, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

The first one is probably Murder on the Zinderneuf. You can download it (if you already own a copy—don't pirate software! ;-) from Home of the Underdogs [10], which also cross-references similar games that might interest you. I don't know about the second, but you might be able to find it in their list of mystery games. —Charles P. (Mirv) 21:34, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Thank you very much! The first one is indeed Murder on the Zinderneuf. Any other tips are also welcome. If anyone knows a site with a working download of "Murder Mansions" or "Mansion Murders" I'd really like to know. - Mgm|(talk) 21:41, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

The second one seems to be Deadline, which was made by the defunct company Infocom in 1982. The palyer is placed in the role of a police detective who must solve the murder of Mr. Robner, a wealthy businessman. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadline_%28computer_game%29

[edit] the largest and smallest cities in the middleast

what is the largest city in the middleast and what is the smallest city in the middleast. (added by 68.161.51.19 (talk • contribs • logs • block user • block log))

The largest would be Cairo I believe. As to which is the smallest, from what I gather, there is no worldwide standard for what classifies as a city, so it really depends on definition. Akamad 23:14, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] What is computer speed?

Hi I hope that someone could help me clarify what factors affects computer speed.

Thank You Lily

  • The main factor is how many operations the central processing unit (CPU) can carry out in a period of time (modern CPUs do several billion simple calculations per second). Speed is also affected by the amount of memory available, and how quickly the CPU can read and write the memory. There are other factors as well, though their effect on speed is usually not as general. For example, speed in a computer game significantly depends on the graphics card, but the graphics card barely affects the speed of regular applications. Fredrik | talk 23:31, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
Try the benchmark article. It's a very complicated question - or, more precisely, it's a simple question with a very complex answer. --Robert Merkel 03:03, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
Compter speed has two common connotations: Mhz ( MegaHertz ) or Throughput. Although Mhz used to be a good indicator of the relative performance of comparable systems, many other factors affect it, Bus speed, disk speed, and memory speed are all some of these factors. Altough a CDC 6600 ( Seymore Crays early design ), has a slower clock speed than the box sitting in front of you, it was classified as a super computer, due to its throughput. It could load and empty its entire 16Mb memory, in about 0.25 seconds. While your computer may be able to do that for a few minutes, The CDC 6600 could do it for weeks.
The comparison of compter speed has been the subject of incredible schenaneagans. A company sold compters with slower real time clocks, to improve their benchmark scores. Apple Computer claimed that they created a personal supercomputer. ( It did not posess any of the characterists that the newsgroup comp.sys.parelell agreed upon as a defintion of supercomputer. )
The website [| Top500 ] lists and ranks the fastest comptuers in the world. They use a benchmark called the LinPack. This is a discussion of the algorithm [|HPL algorithm ]
Briefly: these factors affect computer speed:
  1. CPU speed and wordwidth ( Megahertz and bits )(Nothing short of Cronalogical Age has been subject to more controversy than the "Megahertz Myth.")
  2. Amount of Cache Memory, and the orginization thereof( See Cpu Cache )
  3. Bus speed to main memory
  4. Speed of secondary memory interface(See SCSI, HPPI, IDE, EIDE)
  5. Speed of the Hard disk ( or secondary memory )
With Multiple CPUs these factors also apply
  1. Coupling of CPUs, Shared Bus, Coherent Cache.
  2. Memory Architecture)(See ccNUMA )
  3. Node communication speed and width
Also software has these factors
  1. Efficency of Algorithm
  2. Ability to dominate processes
  3. Amdahl's law, or the amount of parallellism a problem can be optimized
  4. Ability of the compiler ( A complex program to complile source code (Words) into programs (executables ) to optimize for a pecticualr architecture or configuration
And lastly for graphics intensive applications ( 3d Games)
  1. Number of GPUs
  2. Number of pipelines in the GPU
  3. Efficency of driver for video card
  4. Options for rendering
Artoftransformation 10:46, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 4

[edit] the trial of the man who killed william mckinley

how long did leon cszgolz`s trial last (added by 68.161.51.19 (talk • contribs • logs • block user • block log))

This site states the trial lasted "little more than eight hours." Akamad 00:10, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Our Leon Czolgosz article claims it was a short trial and the American Heritage article confirms it.

[edit] collective nouns

Do you have a collective noun for a group of porcupines, please. The question was asked recently, and I have been unable to find an answer. Would appreciate your assistance. Please reply to:

Sue McGrath [address removed] email: [email removed]

Unforunately, replies are not sent to emails, but to answer your question, it's a "prickle of porcupines". Akamad 02:03, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
See List of collective nouns for more. Dismas|(talk) 13:05, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Nunhhuh

Nunhhuh where is please?

I need to (talk) with nunhhuh

where is?

The link gives its own answer. DJ Clayworth 17:46, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Altitude/Elevation

What is the altitude or elevation at sea-level? and I am in Sunland California, What's the elevation here? Thank you!

Elevation at sea level is supposedly 0 ft, since elevation is always measured in relation to the mean sea level. According to Hometown USA, the average country elevation in Sunland, Los Angeles, California is 267 ft or 81,4 m (above mean sea level). –Mysid (talk) 08:33, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
The datums article has brief description on why elevation at sea level is zero. But note, this is the average sea level probably taken for the entire country so just because you are swimming at the beach doesn't mean you are at 0 ft elevation, you could be in excess of 30 ft above or below mean sea level.--Commander Keane 12:10, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
And, of course, it depends on whether or not the tide is in. Shimgray | talk | 22:35, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] British ensigns

The article talks about entitlements and special dispensations to use the ensigns. Who grants these?--Anonymous

[edit] Usage of reference materials

What are reference materials in library terms? How to read using reference materials?

[edit] Why Kuldeep?

I am puzzled as to why Wiki has a requirement for an article on 'Kuldeep', which happens to be an extremely common first name in North-Western India. I think there is a SNAFU here. 59.93.247.81 14:11, 4 November 2005 (UTC)Oropolitics

I'm not sure what you mean by "has a requirement" but someone may have requested an article about that word/name. We have many articles on common first names. Some Western names that I can think of that have articles are Mary and John. Also, please don't confuse the terms 'wiki' and 'Wikipedia'. Wikipedia is a wiki but not all wikis are Wikipedia. Dismas|(talk) 14:38, 4 November 2005 (UTC)


[edit] 777

A FRIEND RECENTLY SENT ME A MESSAGE THAT WAS SIMPLY 777. WHAT IS THE WICCAN SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS? (email removed)

Perhaps it's a reference to Liber 777 by Aleister Crowley? While he was a mystic, I don't see anywhere that he was wiccan. --Quasipalm 19:16, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
Crowley predates Wicca, having died in 1947. He was inspirational to Gerald Gardner, however; it's possible some of Wicca was adapted from Liber 777. ‣ᓛᖁ♀ᑐ 21:04, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
It might mean that the mobile telephone was in their pocket and 777 is typed accidentally -- does your name start with an A that might make you the default recipient? Ojw 22:13, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
We've got to act quick. They're on to us. They've already found the Wiccan article. Pretty soon they'll catch on that the site name comes from Wicca. We have to end this now. You know what you have to do</sarcastic> Superm401 | Talk 07:23, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Galactic Unions in Doctor Who

In Star Trek, there is the Union of Planets or something similar. Is there an equivalent in Doctor Who?--84.51.149.80 18:36, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

There's the Earth Federation that appears in The Curse of Peladon and The Monster of Peladon which is a basic rip-off of the Star Trek United Federation of Planets. There are also various references to various Earth Empires in Frontier in Space, The Sontaran Experiment, The Long Game, Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways.
There has also been a Dalek Empire, a Cyberman Empire, a Morok Empire (The Space Museum), The Union of Traken (The Keeper of Traken), and The Solonian Empire (The Mutants). I'm sure a post to the forums on Outpost Gallifrey will yield further results... Joe King 19:50, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Monorails in London ?!

The article monorail claims, at the bottom, that company called Monometro is planning systems for New Delhi and London. They have a website, but it contains no mention of New Delhi, and I find it hard to believe that London, with the Tube, buses, DLR, Tramlink, Crossrail and surface rail systems, would need a monorail at all. Is this true, some sort of elaborate hoax, or a not-going-to-happen pipe dream? smurrayinchester(Penny for the Guy?), (The Guy) 18:55, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

It's a real proposal. I remember reading about it on another website a few months ago. London has plenty of need for more transport capacity, but as with any other proposal, the cost of buidling in London may prevent it happening. CalJW 14:48, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
I remember seeing something about a proposed monorail when I was at London's Transport Musuem earlier this year. IIRC it is propsed to run along the south bank of the River Thames from somewhere near the Thames Barrier to some suburb of West London. Personally I doubt it will happen, but you never know. Thryduulf 15:05, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
A websearch has found this Evening Standard article about the proposal (sorry about all the adverts, I couldn't find a cleaner copy). Thryduulf 15:22, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the smallest force ever to win a battle

what is the smallest force of men,women or children ever to win a battle.

Francisco Pizarro defeated the Incas in the 1532 Battle of Cajamarca with only 106 infantry, 62 cavalry, and 3 cannons. His forces took no casualties, while 4,000 out of 6,000 Incas were killed. ‣ᓛᖁ♀ᑐ 22:13, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
Being picking, there probably was a battle won by a numerically smaller force, but his is probably the smallest winning force proportional to the losing side (which is what counts). Shimgray | talk | 22:33, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
King Arthur is meant to have killed several thousand enemy troops single-handedly. Then again, he is also meant to have been given a magic sword by a woman in a lake, so I doubt this is true... smurrayinchester(Penny for the Guy?), (The Guy) 09:50, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
At Rorke's Drift 139 British soldiers successfully defended their garrison against an intense assault by 4,000–5,000 Zulu warriors, as seen in the 1964 classic, Zulu. Grumpy Troll (talk) 11:34, 5 November 2005 (UTC).
How about the 12 guys on Enola Gay vs 70,000 people in the city they were attacking -- would that count as a battle by itself? Ojw 13:41, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
That wouldn't count as a battle by itself, for a battle "is an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others", whereas the 70,000 people in the city the 12 men on the Enola Gay were attacking did not seek to defeat the latter, only the contrary, the attack being unilateral. Grumpy Troll (talk) 14:53, 5 November 2005 (UTC).
That's a perfect instance of a massacre, whether you think the attack was justified or not. Superm401 | Talk 03:20, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 5

[edit] a little rascal died.

i just got off the phone with my friend who said a little rascal had died she also said that it was not robert blake could you tell me which one p-l-e-a-s-e.

This has probably come up in reference to Gordon Lee, aka Eugene Lee, who played Porky, in the Our Gang series, died 16 October 2005 of cancer. He was replaced in the series by Robert Blake. - Nunh-huh 00:21, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
Have a look at Wikipedia's Little Rascals Page. Artoftransformation 09:09, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] could you name at least a few

i hear that major historical mistakes were made in the videogame battlefield vietnam could you name some.

From what I read here: [Official sffworld Game Review ], BattleField Vietnam(BFV) does not have a plot line to screw up the historical perspective. No ridiculus Anacronism, and a Artifical Intelligence (AI) that rates "Dumber than dirt." I have house plants that are smarter. Artoftransformation 08:37, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
Is there a video somewhere of your house plants fighting? Ojw 13:23, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
Right now, its a toss up between the Christmass cactus, and some unnamed purple plant, that seems to want to rule the bathroom window arborium, but the Christmass cactus seems to be holding its own... but wait.... Artoftransformation 06:37, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Congressional Committee Membership Limits

Is there a limit to the number of committees a member of Congress may be a member of?

There is. I just cannot find what they are. You may contact your party to find them out.

"There are limits on the number and type of committees and subcommittees on which each Member may serve." [[11]] Artoftransformation 08:41, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

  • Yes, the limits are set under the respective rules of the House and Senate. The limit appears to be two committees for representatives and three committees for senators, but there are exceptions and other restrictions to be taken into account. See Rules of the House and Standing Rules of the Senate for details. The political party groupings within the House and Senate have their own rules to determine who gets assigned to which committee. --Metropolitan90 08:45, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
Found it [[12]]
The Key is to use very specific search terms. I used 'congressional committee membership limits' and it was on the first page. If you look in the cache, you will see your key terms highlighted. If You were a Senator, Which comittee would you build your carrer on? Artoftransformation 08:47, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Being Born on January 1st

Is it true that if you are born on the 1st second of january the 1st you get free money from the government or something around those lines? -Ice Jedi5

No. I suspect this stems from the longstanding superstition that January 1 is an auspicious birthdate. —Charles P. (Mirv) 06:16, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
What do you mean by "the 1st second of january the 1st"? JackofOz 06:52, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
As in at the time 00:00:01, on 01/01/2005. I can't really see the government of any country giving you money for something so pointless, though. Also, I don't think it is possible to time someone's birth to the second. smurrayinchester(Penny for the Guy?), (The Guy) 08:57, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
Some hospitals award a prize to the first baby born in the hospital each year. JamesMLane 18:17, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
Usually you get money for triplets in my country, but it`s not a law just financial support and municipality which governs teritory that you live in decides if you get money and there where some price for first child born in year 2000 from Pampers although I don`t remember what it was -- Xil - talk 16:26, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] German speaking countries

Can you please tell me the 32 countrys that speak German as the official language?

I didn't count them, but quite a few countries where German is spoken are mentioned here. See also: German as a Minority Language. David Sneek 08:48, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

Might it be that you speak about federal countries like states in USA ? As far I know Germany is federation -- Xil - talk 16:33, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] boylo

I was in a VFW and a man brought a small jar of a liquid ( red amber) and gave it to a women who's husband was Lithuanian. He said it was called "Boylo" and was meant to be siped warm on special occasions. He was'nt sure of the spelling. Could you suggest where I might find out more about this drink?

Many thanks,

Robert Swist Newark, Delaware

Perhaps it is boilo. See this recipe. -Rholton 04:37, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] labia

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagina The first picture on the left looks deformed. Is it diseased by any chance? The edges of the inner labia looks more like brain matter than labia. I don't think many women have such a gross set of labias so why use an extra disgusting one for the picture? It has got to be diseased. Also the vagina looks gross and stretched out beyond help.


84.194.223.117 12:33, 5 November 2005 (UTC)Yikes

No, it is not diseased. Whether it is gross or not is your opinion, but that's perfectly normal. Sometimes the labia minora (IIRC) overlaps the majora. -- Natalinasmpf 12:38, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

Which is a great reason to use that picture, IMO. The variety of human form extends beyond what gets illustrated in Hustler! There used to be a website called The Vulva Project which contained dozens of clinical pictures of female genitalia presented as a lesson in comparative anatomy and as a resource to promote a positive body image, but I can't find it now. The spongy tissue reminds me of unstretched foreskin, for what it's worth. I think that's just a result of skin and fat flopping around like that. — mendel ☎    #    01:09, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Where can I watch the Jonathan Glazer-directed Wrangler advertisement for free?

I want to know where I can watch the Jonathan Glazer-directed Wrangler ad. That's the Wrangler ad from about four years ago. It had the song "Follow the yellow brick road" from the Wizard of Oz. I would appreciate any help as I can't find it myself

It's on The Work of Director Jonathan Glazer, in the Directors Label series. Don't be cheap - pay for the pleasure.

[edit] number of books published each year?

HOW MANY BOOKS (NOT INCLUDING PATENTS0 ARE PUBLISHED EACH YEAR? HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO THE NUMBER OF PATENTS PUBLISHED (ISSUED) EVERY YEAR? THE LATTER SHOULD BE AN EASY NUMBER TO FIND BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY ONE PUBLISHER IN EACH COUNTRY, E.G., THE U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE IN THE US. THIS IS OF INTEREST TO A CASE CURRENTLY IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE U.S., WHERE IT IS RELEVANT TO SHOW THAT THE U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE IS BY FAR THE LARGEST AND MOST PROLIPHIC PUBLISHER OF "BOOKS" IN THE WORLD, PATENTS BEING USED PRIMARILY TO TRANSMIT INFORMATION AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON EVERY LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND INCOME.

  • 1) Please don't use capitals. It's hard to read.
  • 2) This study cites a UNESCO figure of around one million books per year (that's obviously "unique books", not total number of volumes). Of those, around one hundred and fifty thousand unique books are published in the US each year, according to the ISBN registry (I've upped the number slightly to take into account self-publishing and other non-ISBN material). (Total numbers of volumes are estimated at four billion worldwide, 1.6bn in the US) However, this only counts "real books"; it doesn't cover newspapers - there's almost as many newspapers as books! - journals, magazines, or any of the innumerable forms of grey literature, of which patents are only one form. You'd do best to investigate that further before assuming you can divide everything into "books" and "patents". Shimgray | talk | 15:31, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the largest force ever to lose a battle

what is the largest force ever to lose a battle.

Considered proportionally, this would possibly be the 80,000 Inca in and around Cajamarca. Unfortunately we don't seem to have much information about events subsequent to Atahualpa's capture. Going by absolute size, the Axis Powers lost the Battle of Stalingrad with a force of 500,000. ‣ᓛᖁ♀ᑐ 16:51, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

I'm thinking of the Battle of Plataea. -- Natalinasmpf 18:39, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Meteor Hits

Does the U.S. Government keep track of recent meteors making it through our atmosphere and hitting Earth? If so, Is there a website or something with that listing?

I haven't found exactly what you're looking for, but you may find that The Meteoritical Society, an international organization, has information that will be helpful. According to their website: "The Meteoritical Society is the organization that records all known meteorites in its Meteoritical Bulletin." You can search their database here [13] for information about 31210 meteorites. If you check the box labeled "Falls" and type an asterisk in the "Search text" box, you will get a list of meteorites in their database that were observed to fall (not all recently by any means though). Also, there is a "Chronological Listing of Meteorites That Have Struck Humans, Animals and Man-Made Objects" (it doesn't claim to be complete) here [14]. Finally, a chronological list of fireball sighting reports received by the American Meteor Society in 2005 can be seen here [15]. Few, if any, of those will have actually hit the Earth though. --DannyZ 04:18, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Southern border of the state of Virginia

Why is the southern border of Virginia with Tennessee not perfectly straight?

The primary reason is that it has been that way. As to why it is that way, the following quote comes from [16], which is quoting A Brief History of Washington County, Virginia:
"The southern boundary line of Virginia was assigned to parallel 36°30'. In 1749 when Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas Jefferson, surveyed from about where Patrick County is today, he kept moving farther north away from the assigned parallel till he discontinued his survey east of Damascus. In 1800, the northeast tip of the new state of Tennessee joined Virginia and North Carolina on Pond Mountain. Tennessee continues on that northern parallel in Washington County, until it jogs south but not to 36°30'. Three stories are told about the Notch: (1) the surveyor was inebriated (2) iron deposits in the Iron Mountains interfered with readings of the compass and (3) the strong will of Tennesseans prevailed."
I don't know of any better answer. Kainaw 17:54, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the smallest force ever to lose a battle

what was the smallest force ever to lose a battle.

First, why would anyone record such a statistic? Second, wouldn't the smallest force be no force at all? So, you are asking if there has ever been a battle in which there was no opposing force. Is it possible to have a battle without opposition? If not, then you are asking if there has ever been a battle against one person - like Rambo: First Blood. Once again, is it a battle if there's only one guy in opposition? Does boxing count? There are too many open questions to give a real answer to your question. Kainaw 17:45, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
I think this question is still going by the above definition of battle — "an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others". So, there couldn't be a battle with no opposing force, and boxing events are not really battles.
My suspicion is that the actual smallest force is unrecorded, and could possibly be as small as one person. The smallest recorded losing side could probably be found in a recent war, such as the Vietnam War. ‣ᓛᖁ♀ᑐ 18:39, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

Human being seeking total destruction of an ant colony. Human being purchases advanced war equipment (bait, poison, etc.) Human being loses. -- Natalinasmpf 19:50, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

Leiningen, I presume? -- Jmabel | Talk 02:31, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Pennsylvania Hockey League

There is an article on the Pennsylvania Hockey League created by an anonymous user last year. It states that this league is planned to begin in September 2005 and gives an external link to the official site.

The link is dead and when trying to fix it I searched on the web and found no mention of this league at all. Does it actually exist or did the plans come to nothing? --Spondoolicks 17:16, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] my atlantis sodom and gemorrah theroy

i have a theroy that atlantis and sodom and gemorrah could be one in the same a war with greece could coinside with sodom and gemorrahs loss of morals what i want to know is does my theroy make any sense or am i just talking nonsense.

The latter, I'm afraid. While the existence of these places is not at all confirmed, the earliest descriptions of Atlantis place it on an island somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, while Sodom and Gomorrah are placed in the Levant. Atlantis was supposedly sunk beneath the waves, while Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by good old-fashioned divine smiting with a rain of fire and brimstone. (If it's any comfort, you're not the first to connect the two, though I don't know if anyone has speculated that they were one and the same.) —Charles P. (Mirv) 18:49, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

I thought Sodam and Gomorrah was destroyed by a rain of fire, water and cesium. Brimstone would be okay, if it was brimstone oxide, which would combine with the water to produce brimstone acid. -- Natalinasmpf 18:55, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

Where do you get this theory? Cesium is too reactive to occur in its pure form anywhere in nature and wasn't isolated until the 19th century—though of course that doesn't matter if one is supposing divine intervention. —Charles P. (Mirv) 20:32, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
You do realise I was jesting, right? :D -- Natalinasmpf 22:53, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
Not until now. —Charles P. (Mirv) 23:01, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
Well I tried to make it kind of obvious. -- Natalinasmpf 23:14, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
Yes, but how was the Food? Like did they have Pizzas and all that? Cokes? Artoftransformation 06:47, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the largest and smallest city in the united states of america.

what is the largest and smallest city in the united states of america.

The largest is New York City. The smallest, well that depends on how you judge between a city and a town, a village, etc. Dismas|(talk) 19:15, 5 November 2005 (UTC)
The largest by area in the US is Jacksonville, as I recently noted in the New York article and as my grandfather reminds me every time I visit him there. Superm401 | Talk 03:27, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
Jacksonville is the largest city in the Lower 48. But Juneau, Alaska is larger. User:Zoe|(talk) 05:00, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't there multiple towns in the USA with a population of 1? Eg Lost Springs, WO.

There are many small U.S. towns listed here: List of places in the United States with an official population less than 10 Dismas|(talk) 07:27, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] How tall is a mark?

In the article about Julie-Su, it is stated that her height is "84 marks tall". Checking the places I could think of, I couldn't figure out how tall a mark is. Wikipedia's article about marks only speaks of weight and currency... I have never before in my life encountered this measurement of height, so I wonder if anyone here perhaps knows how tall a mark is. I mainly need this information to convert it into meters, just like I did with stone into kilograms for her weight. DarkPhoenix 20:37, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

It's probably a fictional measurement. Kid Apathy 00:42, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
I've never heard of it either. [17] says she's 42 inches tall and weighs 64.24 lbs. That's 4.5 stone but the article says 7.3, so the numbers don't seem to be talking about the same monotreme, but I find it interesting that her height in inches there is exactly half of her height in "marks" here. Oh, but wait! Scrolling down in that page gets you a reproduction of what must be the original source of the "marks" measurement. Looking around that site I see a strict 2:1 ratio between marks and inches, regardless of their crazy 8.8-lb stones. Sounds like a starting point, at least. — mendel ☎    #    00:49, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
Now that I think about it, it's odd that they'd decide a stone was 4 kg. Perhaps the author of that page didn't know that a stone was a real measurement, and treated it like "marks"? — mendel ☎    #    01:00, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 6

[edit] Shrink?

Why are psychiatrists and people like that commonly known as shrinks? What is the origin of that term? Kid Apathy 00:45, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

It's short for "headshrinker", a metaphor for what they do to their patients. — mendel ☎    #    00:49, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
Certain "head hunters" would create shrunken heads. This was a humorous term applied to psychiatrists due to their concern with people's heads. The term "head hunter" is also applied to employee recruiters. StuRat 01:27, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
World Wide Words has an entry on this topic at http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-shr1.htm -Rholton 04:19, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Gaslone

Where does gaslone come from, from a geographically perspective? --anon

My googling seems to find that "gaslone" is almost exclusively a misspelling of "gasoline"; gasoline is almost exclusively made from the distillation of petroleum; both extraction and refinement are conducted around the world, but the world's biggest petroleum extraction operations are located in the Middle East and especially Saudi Arabia. --Robert Merkel 13:23, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Weight Loss

Is there any health risks associated with rapid Weight loss? Is there a lbs/week recommendation? I have lost 75lbs in 3 months and my weight loss caused Acid reflux.

Well, you can lose weight by increasing your activity or decreasing your nutritional intake. Either of these can have various consequences in excess. I can't give you a recommended lbs/week number. You should speak to a physician. Superm401 | Talk 04:55, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
Heart Attack and Death. Nothing Major. You should speak to a physician immeaditly.
See Terri_Schiavo for the heath risks of rapid Weight Loss. Funny, how the Wikipedia article leaves out the reason for her heart attack:
[[18]]
"Terri was awarded a substantial malpractice settlement for the improperly diagnosed potassium deficiency that led to the heart attack and collapse which damaged her brain."
[[19]]
"a malpractice case brought against a doctor on her behalf would reveal she had been trying to survive on liquids and was making herself throw up after meals."
If you would like more information on the health risks associated with rapid weight loss... Artoftransformation 07:04, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
I'm addressing Terri Schiavo article on that page's talk. Superm401 | Talk 19:46, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Yes! I don't know exact details, but like anything else, too quickly is a bad thing. A doctor or dietician knows what's feasible for any particular person. - Mgm|(talk) 20:54, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Most read genres

Dear Wikipedia,

I have tried to find out what the most read genres of books are? I went to Barnes & Noble, to Borders and to the Dallas Library and couldn't get a concise answer. "We really don't know," was the answer.

I have been on the internet browsing on tons of sites. The result: One Canadian site gave me good information about the situation in Canada (32Million) with differences between the English and French speaking (Quebec) audiences. Unfortunately that does not help me any because it isn't necessarly relevant to the American (297 Million) audiences.

Why I ask? I am in the process of writing a memoir (almost done) about real life business ocurrences in Latin America, pioneering the early cellular systems in the 1980s to telecommunications agencies and other. There are a lot of intricate (but understandable) business situations that vary completely from country to country.

The memoir has a fairly large content of religion (working with God to get guidance - by any religious denomination) and show how I used the powers of the mind to overcome obstacles and attain my goals.

It is a series of narratives in dialog form of many peculiar (interesting) incidents, where I often had to make on-the spot decisions and take action.

I provide a lot of my experience know-how to inspire people in how to go after business and/or anything we want.

So having explained this, my question is, how shall I market my book? What genre? What would be the most popular genre in which to market my book?

The reason for all of this is that the person in charge of the writers critique group i belong to, told me I need to make a market analysis to find out what genre to select.

It is definitely a memoir, but what kind?

Memoir on business development? Religious memoir? Inspirational memoir? Personal self-development? Know-How? Other? Non-fiction novel?

The memoir really covers all of this. But which is the most popular one here in the USA?

(And which one in countries in Latin America? I'm fully fluent in Spanish and plan to translate to that language.)

I realize I'm asking for a lot and can only hope you can give me some guidance.

Thanks and Best regards,

Lennart Wingardh

  • Lennart,

It sounds like you could market it in all of those genres. The United States is such a market that you might want to adapt the marketing strategy to meet the demographic profiles of particular areas. A religious memoir might do well in areas where belief in traditional religion is strong for example the Bible Belt. However, in areas such as San Francisco and Manhattan it might work better as an inspirational memoir. You might also want to put this question on Google Answers and to ask an expert on literary marketing. Capitalistroadster 06:12, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Dear Mr Wingardh: The most popular genre, would have to include the most popular sellers. The Bible outsells, outdirstubules and outreads ever other known book, that its only included as an afterthought in the Guiness Book of World Records. Obivously the most popular genre of the printed word is Religion. How popular was 'The Celestine prophecy?' Artoftransformation 23:49, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Actually I would like to see figures on that. The Bible as bestseller is well known and most people would consider it a special case. However I would like to suggest that Romance Novels are probably the bestselling genre. Mills and Boon (UK) and Harlequin (US, a publisher for which we unbelievably seem to have no article) turn out enormous numbers of books. Some people buy several of these a month; not many people will buy a Bible a month (though they might be better off if they did). I can't back that guess with figures though. Anyone? DJ Clayworth 19:46, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

  • I've heard (from people in the know) that the romance genre accounts for over half of the paperback books sold in the US. So if you can turn your memoir into a bodice-ripping, inspirational novel of cell phone company development, you should be golden. --Bob Mellish 20:13, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] true or false

i taped an episode of the new fox show prison-break i heard about some mental abilty which allows people to analyze every part of an object i want to know if it is a real condition or a hollywood invention.

What do you mean "analyze every part"? Superm401 | Talk 19:46, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
You mean being able to "see" an object in their mind from all angles, even if they can't physically do so? Apparently this is common in dyslexic people, and associated with picture thinking. Ojw 21:56, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
Its the limit of spacial reasoning, combined with editeic imagery. It gives you the ability to see through objects. Try this: Look at a wall in your house. One that you know well aready. See if you can find a few things that you didnt see before. Now, look at the same wall from the outside. Can you visualize the inside of the wall from the outside? That is spacial reasoning. If you have editic imagery (the ability to form exact pictures in your mind), then you have extrondinary spacial reasoning. I guess the hollywood version would combine that with a triple PhD in BioChemistry/Particle Physics/Forensic Science.

It is possible for someone to posess this mental accuity, but there are probibly only a handfull of people worldwide who do, and they all are probibly bored with CSI Artoftransformation 23:32, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Who is Rodney Needham, British Anthropologist?

I am having a hard time finding biographical information on Rodney Needham. He is a British Anthropologist who taught at the University of Oxford (chaired the Dept from 1976 to 1990). Beyond that I am stumped. I am writing a review for a book "Structure and Sentiment, A Test Case of Social Anthropology", University of Chicago Press, 1962; Midway Reprint 1983, by Needham and would like to get more on him (birth, death?, career path, etc ...). Thanks!

Reference: http://www.isca.ox.ac.uk/about/anthropology_at_oxford.shtml

Well, one easy thing to do is check his publication record; for instance, I'm in Victoria, Australia, so I searched for "Rodney Needham" on Coolcat, the Victorian university library collections metasearch. Pick a university with a good research library near you (or an metasearch of research libraries) and do the same thing. Needham published a considerable number of books over his career, by the looks of things. You should probably also do an articles search, but how to do an author search on anthropology journals is beyond my field of expertise.
As far as tracking down biographical information down, you could also contact the Oxford anthropology department and ask them; one key piece of information to track down is what Oxford college he was a Fellow (I think that's what they call them). If he's no longer with us, the college will no doubt have an orbituary in their newsletter for the man which will regale you with tales of him holding court in the senior common room, waving his snifter of port, and telling fascinating stories of his time in the Zambezi... --Robert Merkel 13:15, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] "Hardball Scenario"

I'm talking about a military scenario in wich the US (Or any other nuclear capable NATO member) makes use of tactical nuclear weapons . I've found a reference to it on a website and that roused my curiosity . I've googled it but got no usefull info out of it . Is it still classified ? What would happen in a hardball scenario ? There's absolutely nothing else I could find on this subject(Aside from the fact that it involves tac-nukes , NATO and the Warsaw Pact) so any information is greatly appreciated !(Pav)

  • I'm pretty sure NATO, like the UN, doesn't have much weaponry or personnel of its own. They can only ask/require their members to take military action. Therefore, it's misleading to say NATO would use a nuclear strike, when it would really be a member(likely the US). As for what would happen, I think it's impossible to predict. Superm401 | Talk 19:46, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Ok... But what parameters would trigger a Hardball Scenario ? Is it some sort of preemtive strike ? (BTW rephrased the US\NATO bit)(Pav)
On Greenpeace's page on "ending the nuclear threat", they have a couple of PDF's on the US's doctrine for nuclear operations, which the US military subsequently decided they wanted to reclassify. The US remains delibrately ambiguous on precisely when they would use nukes on the basis that by being ambiguous nobody will be silly enough to find out.
In practice, it is impossible to imagine a scenario where the US would use nuclear weapons unless faced with a direct, imminent, and dire threat to its citizens or the citizens of its closest allies that could only be prevented by the use of nukes. The international opprobrium that would descend upon a nation that used nuclear weapons in any other circumstances would not be worth the pain (for instance, any use of nuclear weapons in the Middle East would likely result in Saudi Arabia and Iran turning off the oil taps, sending the US economy to a grinding halt) - not to mention the risk of retaliation from other nuclear weapons states. Despite the occasional fantasies of a few hotheads from Curtis LeMay onwards, there's been enough people in various US (and Soviet/Russian) administrations who have grasped these simple facts and avoided starting Doomsday.
That said, there were plenty of plans for using tactical nukes to stop a Soviet advance into Western Europe during the Cold War because NATO defence planners believed that they would be unable to stop such an advance otherwise; Russian land forces were considerably greater in number than the West could muster. --Robert Merkel 13:35, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
  • So , that would mean using tac nukes to stop russian infantry-tidal-wave-tactics on the plains of central europe . Either that or using tac nukes to stop russian armor-tidal-wave-tactics on the plains of central europe . Ok , I got the picture thanks guys ! (Pav)--82.208.140.52 16:47, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
I'm not convinced of your claim that it is practically impossible to imagine a first use scenario. The US is currently developing what are commonly called battlefield nukes which have explosive power lower than some conventional weapons, the point of these would be to blur the line between conventional and nuclear weapons[20]. Trollderella 22:49, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Elektrical eals.

Hello.

My name is Laerke and I hope you are able to give me an answer for my question.

I have been wondering if anyone knows what the name of the elektrical eal was, before the elektricity was invented.

The eal got it's name Electrophorus electricus by Linné in 1766, but has probably had another name before that.

This is not a joke, it is serious. I've spoken to Danish (where I am from) marine biologists, who unfortunnetly were not able to give me an answer.

Hope to hear your answers.

Sincerely, Laerke from Denmark

First of all, electricity wasn't invented; it was discovered. I'm not sure if there ever was another name(at least one using "binomial nomenclature") one, for the electric eel. According to Electricity#Modern, the word electricus was coined in 1600. That's over 100 years before Linnaeus's birth, and he's the one that popularized binomial nomenclature. As for a common name, I don't know how/if it was referred to before electricity was known. Superm401 | Talk 19:46, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
They were called torpedoes, from the Latin torpere, to be numb. Other synonyms were cramp-fish, cramp-ray and numb-fish. (Look in OED under torpedo.) --Heron 20:23, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
Are you sure? Our article seems to indicate torpedos are actually electric rays. Superm401 | Talk 20:43, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
  • While static electricity was known in ancient Greece, electricity wasn't really discovered and named until 1600-1660. I think the electric eel simply wasn't discovered until around 1766, so there was no real problem with naming it. - Mgm|(talk) 21:01, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
I skeptical it was first discovered in 1600. It must have been known to someone, if only the locals. Superm401 | Talk 21:19, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
According to this site, the it was first "discovered" in 1743. I assume they mean discovered first by westerners. Akamad 00:06, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
If you ask for a name here, it will be assumed you mean an English name. Of course locals must have had a name, or rather several names, because it lives in a large area (Amazon and Orinoco basins) and many languages must be spoken there. DirkvdM 07:16, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Pegasus Email problem

I am having a problem using Pegasus Email version 4.12a. Should I be asking the questions here, or back at the village pump? I have two problems. First, every time that I exit, and then go back into Pegasus, it tells me that someone may be using my account, and asks if I want to proceed. Second, most of my existing mail folders have been lost (although the data is still intact). Can someone help me? Robert McClenon 22:44, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

It sounds like a lockfile problem, but I don't know enough about the program to tell you how to fix it (beyond rebooting your computer). You might be better off asking on the comp.mail.pegasus-mail.misc newsgroup. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:05, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
As a note, you've posted to the right Wikipedia location, though Usenet could be better. Village Pump is exclusively for discussion about Wikipedia itself. Superm401 | Talk 23:57, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] I see you do not have this bio (could it be post)

Edward Robert Hughes Born Nov 5 1849,London,England. Died Apr 23 1914.

Biography Hughes was a nephew of Arthur Hughes and a studio assistant to William Holman Hunt. He helped Hunt with some of his later work, including the St Paul's version of The Light of the World. Hughes began his career among the Pre-Raphaelites, and like Edward Burne-Jones with whom he was acquainted, he inclined towards Symbolism. However, the majority of Hughes' work, carried out mainly in watercolour/gouache, displays the meticulous observation of nature and minute technique associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

He was engaged to George Macdonald's daughter before she died.

In the future, ask such questions at Wikipedia:Help desk. As for your question, can I first ask where you got this information? Superm401 | Talk 00:11, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
You can always create and add information to articles too. Check out Wikipedia and Introduction. However, we can't add this bio in it's current form because that would be a copyright violation, see this site. Akamad 00:10, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
That's what I guessed when I asked my question. :) Superm401 | Talk 00:32, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 7

[edit] Royal persons in Kenya, Africa

Is there a king and queen in Kenya? If so, can you list their names and ages. Also, any children - there names and ages. Thank you. --67.150.88.8 00:03, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

No. There is only a president. Superm401 | Talk 00:11, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
Check out Heads of State of Kenya for a list of current and former heads of state. Akamad 00:16, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] University of Miami Baseball roster 1976

I was hoping to find out if a player, Anthony (Tony) Alaburda played baseball for the Miami Hurricanes in 1976. Also if possible whether he was enrolled in school that year.--63.21.30.163 01:56, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

There's a list of Hurricanes baseball alumni on their site here. At least one player on that list played in 1976, and might be able to confirm it. If you feel like putting in some serious effort, the college's newspaper would surely have reports on the baseball team and would certainly be available in the University of Miami's library. If you don't have any luck otherwise, why don't you try contacting the university and asking if they can help you?--Robert Merkel 12:52, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] nat king cole

7th november 2005

gentlemen/madams;

greetings!

my brother-in-law is gravely sticken with parkinson's plus disease and one of his very few wishes is that i be able to furnish him with the lyrics of the song "dreams don't tell lies" (or titles to that effect) by the great nat king cole.

kindly assist me in fulfilling his request as this will surely go a long way in alleviating his present predicament.

thank you so much for your kind assistance and help.

roberto s. macrohon email: [removed]

Please do not prepend lines with blank spaces, and don't post your email address unless you fancy getting a lot of spam. Anyway, I can find no information on a song with that name or something like that name, by Nat King Cole or anyone else. Are you sure that title is correct? Garrett Albright 03:04, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
There is a list of Nat King Cole songs(with lyrics) (link removed). I'm making an exception and sending this to the guy's email. Superm401 | Talk 03:16, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] forensic glass analysis

what does SEMEDX stand for and how is it used to analize glass samples?

When the sample is excited by the electron beam, it emits X-rays. The wavelength (and thus energy) of the x-rays varies depending upon the composition of the sample at the location of the electron beam. For each chemical element there is a characteristic combination of energies produced. As the electron beam is scanned over the sample, variations in the composition of the sample can be mapped. I don't know enough about glass to say exactly how this is applied to glass samples. -Rholton 13:39, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] trivia ?

when does blood spill the thickest?

Blood gets pretty thick as it coagulates - it even turns into a solid, although one may wonder if it can still be called blood then. But you ask "when does blood spill the thickest". In line with the previous, when you cut someone who suffers from hypercoagulation? Also, blood is thinner when it is oxygen-rich, so blood should be thicker in the pulmonary artery (the one that goes to the lungs to pic up oxygen). And when at high altitude your body will start to produce extra red blood cells, causing the blood to get thicker. A remedy against this is to drink a lot of water, so drinking no water should also thicken your blood. So take someone with hypercoagulation, starve them of oxygen and water for a while and then cut their pulmonary artery? Don't try this at home though. DirkvdM 07:48, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
I'm guessing that at the point at which it stops flowing it becomes a blood clot. Trollderella 18:41, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] country where individuals vote for every single law

I am trying to locate a country where the individual citizens vote on every single law. Thank you.

As far as I know there hasn't been one since the Athenian Republic, in most countries nowadays it would be impractical without using the internet, which throws up issues of security & verifiability. Also I expect it would be frowned upon by those in charge. AllanHainey 13:23, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

Thank you for the quick response. My daughter's teacher, (9th grade in the USA) asked them to locate a country where every law is voted on by each and every citizen. Possibly by referendum? I wa sthinking maybe Luxemberg/Monte Carlo. Any modern day possible suggestions?

Nauru is smaller than either of the two you mentioned, and it doesn't vote on every law; neither does Tuvalu (15-member parliament) or the Vatican (ruled by papal decree). Going up the scale we have Palau (parliamentary again) and then San Marino (parliamentary and confusingly so). Monaco parliamentary, then Liechtenstein ditto, then... you get the idea. I'm not aware of any individual country that does this, though it's quite possible there's a non-sovereign territory somewhere that does this. (In the Pitcairn Islands you could fit the entire population into a reasonably sized classroom and ask for a show of hands...) Shimgray | talk | 15:04, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

I can't think of any country (or part of a country which passes it's own laws - Pitcairn Island doesn't) which does this. Switzerland is probably the closest as they can have a referendum on any law if 50,000 people or 8 cantons say they want it within 100 days of it being passed (see Referendum), but this isn't quite all laws being voted on by all citizens. You could also check Direct democracy. If your daughters teacher is a really strong supporter of states rights & hasn't gotten over the Union victory of the civil war she might mean one of the states that has referrendums on state laws, but I doubt it. Let us know the answer once your daughter finds out. AllanHainey 15:55, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

My guess is her teacher expects no one to come back with an answer. Then he or she is going to say, "That's because there is no country where the public votes on every law." That's a segue into a lesson on representative democracy, I guess. -- Mwalcoff 23:58, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Alternators

(no question)

  • Yes, alternators are quite interesting. You can read about them here. - 131.211.210.13 13:58, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] middle name of special prosecutor fitzgerald

What does J in Patrick J Fitzgerald stand for?

Good question. Our article does not say... Trollderella 19:06, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
His father's name is also Patrick Fitzgerald - could it be 'Junior'? Trollderella 19:09, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
(moved from lower on the page Superm401 | Talk 05:22, 9 November 2005 (UTC)))
Am sorry to disagree that it could be 'Junior' as nobody uses J as middle initial if one is a Junior, isn't? Anyway, thank you very much for your time and effort to search for an answer.
Priscilla V. Dizon
Being an Irish Catholic, it is more liked John, Joshua, James (or some other Biblical name). Kainaw 21:48, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] WPS file extension

I've received some important committee minutes in WPS format (.wps). I believe that they're Microsoft Works files. I use Open Office Writer on Linux and cannot get anything useful from them. I booted up an obslete Windows 98 computer with MSWord on it, but still no joy. Does anyone have any suggestions? --Gareth Hughes 17:04, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

"Some versions of Word will open some versions of these Works files; for others a converter may be needed. One is available as the file WP6RTF.EXE from Microsoft." [21] - there's a link to the converter there. Any help? Shimgray | talk | 17:10, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
I suggest you inform the committee of your problem, and politely but strongly suggest that they use an open format instead. Perhaps point them to this page: http://www.goldmark.org/netrants/no-word/attach.html —Keenan Pepper 23:59, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
Excellent Link. Thanks Keenan Artoftransformation 15:28, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

I've managed to pull what I believe to be most of the meaningful content out of the files as plain text, and I've informed the sender to use a more acceptable standard (even MSWord for all its faults would be easier to handle). Keenan's link is very handy: I've just put it in an e-mail template ready to go. --Gareth Hughes 12:51, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Labour costing

I would like to know more about costing in general, a list of formulas and the type of situations in which to use them would be helpful. A specific example is idle time, how can you calculate idle time?

Idle time = Billable Hours - Total Hours. Total time = Gross Avaible time - Holidays - Sick Days - Vacation.

Job costing is the accounting practice you are looking for, and there are good books on it, both on tracking, and estimating. I would recommend that you start with Havard Business Review. As you can see, it affects a lot of businesses, so there is also software, and standdard job times for almost every industy, especially Automobile Repair. Artoftransformation 15:24, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Distance

What is the distance by sea from Somolia to to the Seychelles?

Mogadishu to Victoria is about 800-850 miles; from "somewhere along the Somalian coast" could be anything from 800 to 1200 miles, even more if it was the north coast of Somalia (I only checked for the Indian Ocean coastline). Shimgray | talk | 22:17, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Population of the Town of Southampton, NY by decade since earliest census

First off thank you for your assistance. I have searched the census bureau's webpage and cannot find the answer to this question. What I need is the population by decade of the Town of Southampton, NY since the earliest US Census count by decade up to the year 2000. The current 2000 census indicates a population of around 50,000. Thank you. Carleton Ryffel

While that site seems to provide current information in unlimited detail, the historical data seems limited. In most cases, there was no city/town data so I'm providing data for Suffolk County(county containing Southamton); I'm not sure how helpful that is, but it's a start. So far, I was able to find

[edit] Southamptom

  • 1820: 4,229
  • 1990: 44,976
  • 2000: 58,498

[edit] Suffolk County

  • 1830: 26,780

I'll work a little longer on trying to find the historical data. If someone else gets it, feel free to add to my list. Superm401 | Talk 04:19, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

I'm not going to be able finish this for you, unfortunately. However, all the information is available at http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm . Good luck. Superm401 | Talk 06:35, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] U.S. produced goods

What percentage of goods made in the U.S. are also sold in the U.S?

Example: Country of product origin Percent of U.S. Sales U.S.  ??? Cananda  ??? China  ??? Mexico  ??? Etc.

[edit] November 8

[edit] New York

Why are there so many Mcdonalds in Manhattan within a just a few blocks from each other?

So people don't have to expend many calories walking between them. alteripse 02:49, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

I think MacDonalds has a stated goal of having a store within 2 minutes of everyone, wherever they are. I can only assume that the propensity of stores in New York is an attempt to achieve this. AllanHainey 08:23, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
Lunch and Skyscrapers. Artoftransformation 15:13, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] DJ Tiesto

Hi There,

I have a bet running at the moment in regards as to who is worth more, earnt more in there caree out of Mariah Carey and DJ Tiesto. The answer is quite an obvious one but if you have any information or can answer this question it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

"Mariah Carey, who received $US30 million ($A50.48 million) last year to end her contract with the EMI group, ranked number eight on the list."

"DJ Tiesto" was not mentioned on the list of top entertaiment earners. Artoftransformation 15:10, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Dj Tiesto to many is a musical god, but he is only known to only certain crowds. On the other hand, Mariah Carey is world-wide known. And technically DJ Tiesto only makes money through club performances and CDs. Mariah Carey does large concerts, CDs, and advertisings. Club performances do not usually generate as much money as concerts. --69.199.106.244 02:18, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] TV timing in the US

Looking at both Television in the United States, and the "television schedule" pages, something is still confusing me. An example from the former is:

prime time begins at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CST and MST)

If a programme is being aired nationally at 8pm ET, wouldn't that be 6pm MT and 5pm PT? Particularly for the pages on the schedules listing the times as Eastern and Pacific but listing only one time. Chris talk back 03:01, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Programs don't start at the same time nationally. East coast primetime broadcasts start at 8 p.m. Eastern, and West coast primetime broadcasts start at 8 p.m. Pacific. Central primetime broadcasts start at 7 p.m. Central (which is 8 p.m. Eastern). —Wayward Talk 03:50, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
In the U.S., broadcast networks have affiliates in every major city. Therefore, a CBS program can air at 8 EST (7 CST) on WOIO in Cleveland and WBBM in Chicago, 9 EST (7 MST) on KCNC in Denver and 11 EST (8 PST) on KCBS in Los Angeles. A live program would run at 8 Eastern, 7 Central, 6 Mountain and 5 Pacific.
I have no idea why programs would air at 7 in the Central and Mountain time zones and 8 on the coasts. -- Mwalcoff 23:53, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
7C would make sense with 8E, as the program(me) could be broadcast at the same time over these zones. Similarly, 8M/7P would also make sense, as they too are equivalent. Oh well, the quirks of trying to broadcast across a continent ... Chris talk back 17:29, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
For prime time network programming there are two feeds, an "East Coast" feed and a "West Coast" feed. Monday-Saturday the prime time feed starts at 8PM Eastern for the East Coast feed and 8PM Pacific for the West coast feed. Stations in the Mountain time zone can either take the Eastern Feed and delay it or take the Western Feed. The major choice in the Mountian time zone is to start prime time at 7PM. Hopefully I have dumbed this down enough to make sense to people who know nothing about the industry. NYTVGuy 20:38, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] AIM Saved Passwords

If I have a password saved on computer A and someone on computer B changes the password, will I still be able to sign on to the password on computer A?

Noter For AIM

NO. The password you use, although stored on the computer A, is actually verified by computer C, that maintains AIM Security as a Username, Password Pair, thus if someone on computer B changed the password, the Computer C, will recieve the new password information, and when the signon attempt is made from computer A, it will not match the Username, Passowrd Pair stored on Compter C, the Password Authority, for AIM.
If you are using Active Directory, and the Username, Password Pair is stored on the Server, then, the Active Directory Server is Compter C, and is the Password Autority, and like the AIM password, It changes on computer B, and on the Server, Computer C, so that a local setting of a password on compter A will not work.
You are confusing Local Settings, ( the AIM password stored on Computer A amd B), with the Authoritive Setting: The Username, password Pair stored on the Authoritative computer. I do not know what the Authoratitave compter for AIM is. --Artoftransformation 09:47, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Elections

Why can't more than on person from the same political party run for the same office in an election?

This would depend on where you live, in Australia for example, from what I remember, the last time I voted there was sometimes more than one member from a single party running for the same electorate. However, this was about a year ago so I can't recall exactly. Akamad 07:28, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
See McGillicuddy_Serious_Party#Candidate_selection for a non-serious party which did try running multiple candidates per seat.-gadfium 07:57, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Generally, a country's electoral commission will identify a candidate with a party label only if he or she is officially nominated by that party. A political party will usually want to increase the chance of its candidate being elected by nominating only one candidate for each electoral district. In a "first past the post" system, the candidate who wins the most votes wins. Let's say there are ten voters: four are Conservatives, and six are Liberals. If the Liberal Party nominates two candidates, and each wins votes from three of the six Liberals in the electorate, the Conservative Party candidate would win with four votes. If the Liberal Party nominates only one candidate, he or she would win with six votes.

(Inserted comment) In other words, the scenario of multiple candidates from one party would go against the basic purpose of having political parties, which is to accumulate the voting power of as many like-minded people as possible, rather than "splitting the vote". We do sometimes see elections where candidates with similar positions run against each other, either in elections without political parties or if one party splits into factions. If both candidates have significant support, they very often lose -- see U.S. presidential election, 1912, for a famous example. --Anonymous, 00:25 UTC, November 9, 2005

In some voting systems, more than one member of parliament/congress/legislature may represent an electoral district. In these cases, parties will nominate a candidate for each of the positions available. Ground Zero | t 14:41, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Where you have only one seat available, the rules might actuallly prevent a party rfom sponsoring more than one candidate. In cases where a senior member disagrees with the selection and decides to run themselves, they run as independent candidates, though they will have to leave the party if party rules prohibit running against a party-nominated candidate (see Peter Law, who was expelled for running against his party's candidate, and Ken Livingstone, who ran as an independent before his party could deselect him). Chris talk back 17:35, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

As mentioned above, it depends on the election. In most major U.S. elections, there is a primary election before the general election to decide which Democrat or Republic will be on the final ballot. This system allows the party to prevent vote-splitting. However, some races use an "open primary" system in which all candidates run together in the primary, and the top two go on to the final round, regardless of party. Under that system, it's possible to have two Democrats or two Republicans on the final ballot. -- Mwalcoff 05:36, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the other thing on the Patriots field

On the pats field the is the dude, above and below it are "things" what are they? They look like leaking wrenches...thanks Kirk.

Are we to assume you mean the American style football team New England Patriots? And their stadium, Gillette Stadium? If so, I was unable to quickly find a picture of the field but you might want to try e-mailing the people at the web site for the stadium. The web site is http://www.gillettestadium.com/ Dismas|(talk) 06:29, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
It would help if you could specify what you're looking at. Judging from this, there's nothing above or below the main logo; the corner artwork in the endzone is the logo for Gillette Stadium itself[22].

What he's talking about is a gray and yellow shape a bit like a large building or a hammer, I can't figure out what its supposed to be or why its there either. -Drdisque 20:55, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

It is the logo of Gillete Staium (which is visible on their homepage [23]). I think it is supposed to be a profile of the stadium with fireworks coming out the top. --Kainaw (talk) 17:59, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Calories

How are calories removed from food, and what does a calorie look like?


Calories are removed from food either by removing much of a caloric constituent like starch, sugar, or fat. Food can be made with less calories by using substitutes for starch, sugar, or fat ingredients. A calorie is no more visible than a degree of temperature. alteripse 04:55, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Calories are removed from Milk by a Cream seperator. It Looks like milk, but a bit more Yellow.

Food becomes reduced calories in diffrent ways, each way involves the removal of part of the food, so it looks similar to the food from which it was removed. Artoftransformation 14:46, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

'Calorie' is a unit of energy. It's obsolete now - Joule should be used in stead, becuase it makes more sense (being part of the ISO system). The Joule is in a sense not a unit of itself but derived from the basic ISO units for mass, length and time, thus: 1 J = 1 kg·m2·s−2. But the calorie is probably still in use because many people are used to it when referring to the nutritional value of food (no article on that?). Unless they're forced by law, companies are probably not going to change that and people are going to keep on being confused, like you. I wonder where you get the wording 'removing calories from food'. From some commercial perhaps? That's like saying you 'add Celsius to a room' when you heat it up. One does not remove calories but energy and that is measured in Joules (or Calorie, if you prefer). The one is a quantity (energy, heat or length) that is measured in units (Joule, Celsius, metre).
By the way, what nutritional value means is not how much energy it contains, but how much a human body would extract from it and I now wonder if that does not differ from one person to the next. DirkvdM 08:58, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
Calorie is, of course, not obsolete, though some would prefer it so. It is the most common unit used in measuring the quantities you are asking about. - Nunh-huh 01:07, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] medallion of Deianeira

I am searching to find if Deianeira of mythology wore any type of medallion or symbol. I have named my daughter Deianeira and am looking of a design specific to her name. thanks for the help06:04, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

You're a cruel parent. Proto t c 12:20, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

I would start by looking at Google -> Images, and also Yahoo -> Images. ( I didnt find anything, but I didnt look to closely at the Urns Artoftransformation 14:37, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Definition of mother tongue

Can mother tongue also mean the langue your mother speaks? Because I read many articles about that and saw both: 1. the language your mother speaks 2. the language a baby learns first

pls n help

T0T0 06:52, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Mother tongue is an 19th century misnomer at least to me. All over the world, people learn to speak their family's language (usually the local language unless they are immigrants). In a typical paternal society, a family's language means the father's language because most of the times, a man stays on his land although he may marry a non-local wife. An extreme example is mail-order bride.
Let's say an Egyptian male lives in Germany. Possibly, he has to learn German to get a decent job. He marries a woman from Sri Lanka and has a baby. So which language does the baby learn first? I guess it must be German if the man has been in Germany for several years. See first language. -- Toytoy 07:13, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

You guys are all kidding, right? This is a specious distinction for nearly alll of us: 98% of the time the two meanings coincide. The first language a child learns is the one his principal caretaker teaches him in the first 2 years of life. For most human beings in most cultures, the principal caretaker is his mother and she talks to him in infancy in the language with which she is most comfortable. alteripse 10:46, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Interesting takes. I live in the U.S. My parents speak Portuguese. I learned Portuguese before I learned English. I was educated in English (no biligual education for me, thank goodness). I speak English much better than Portuguese. I would consider English my "mother tongue", though I would not use this terminology. Nelson Ricardo 12:01, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
Usually when we use the term "mother tongue" we use it to describe someone's most preferred language rather than his/her mother's language. I would not want to know your mother's language preference if I am a beaucrat and you're coming to me for business.
In a typical paternal society, a man usually lives with his own people but his wife may be from elsewhere and speaks another language or dialect. A man usually marries (or buys) a woman from a less powerful culture. Generally, the wife has to speak the local language or his husband's language. And her child usually learns that language too. That first language will usually become the child's most preferred language later.
However, in some cases, a child may learn to speak another language much better later. For example, a German-speaking boy who migrated to Japan at 5 may learn to speak Japanese when he grows up. In this case, even the term first language can be a huge misnomer.
  • Father: Chinese
  • Mother: Italian
  • Used to live in Germany
  • Moved to Japan when the child was 5
  • Sent their child to a local Japanese school
I think that child must be speaking Japanese when he grows up. -- Toytoy 01:02, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Scanning the comments here, it appears that everyone assumed mother in mother tongue refers to a parent. It is more likely to be an abbreviated way of saying language of your mother country. It is not common to hear people refer to mother country anymore, but it was very popular during colonial times when people were commonly citizens of one country but living in another. --Kainaw (talk) 18:02, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Pyinmana?

From Pyinmana:

Pyinmana officially became the capital of Myanmar on November 7, 2005.

Where is this city? Can't find it with the Google Earth. -- Toytoy 07:22, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

According to the Myanmar article, it is located at 19°74′N 96°20′E. –Mysid (talk) 07:43, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
No, 19°74′ N is out of range. It's on 19.74° N 96.20° E. -- Toytoy 13:34, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Human external genitals

Recently there has been a discussion about human pubic hair. Some seemed to believe the remaining hair covering the genitals was caused by sexual selection. I beg to differ.

A man may want a woman with big boobs and fat buttocks (see Venus figurines). But are men also picky about women's labia sizes or pubic hair shapes? As a man, I think the answer is usually no. I mean if this woman comes to me and asks me "Your place or mine?", it would be insane for me to examine the length, size and color of her pubic hair before I make the decision. I just want to f*** her. I don't care if she has a big clit or a small one. Are you going say "Angelina, I can't have sex with you because I hate Brazilian waxing? Come to me with nice looking hair next time."

I think the shapes of human genitals are the least sexually selected anatomical part. A vagina that works is all I need. No, I really don't care if she has puffy lips or not. -- Toytoy 07:49, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

I have no idea if the original proposition was correct, but you're reasoning from a modern perspective. Human evolution has taken place over millions of years. Well, that depends on what aspect you're looking at, in casu when humans lost their hair, except for in some places. Also, modern humans wear clothes, but maybe when the hair-evolution thing happened they didn't and pubic hair was for some reason one of the criteria. Though I can't think how and indeed I find it rather unlikely.
There is a tendency in the last few decennia or so in the West for women to shave off at least part of their pubic hair. I wonder what one might conclude from that. That might give fair-haired people (who have less pubic hair - at least less visible) an edge. We don't have to be still running around naked for that because the other hair is a good indication. Has there been any research into that? Whether people prefer fair-haired mates more than, say, a century ago?
By the way, you want to f*** her? Ah, you mean 'fuck'! If you want to use the word, use it. If you don't, don't. But don't be halfhearted about it because that just looks very silly. Alternatively use 'make love' or 'copulate', although I don't see anything wrong with the word 'fuck', which is perfectly good English. But then that might be my Dutch upbringing, calling things by their name (the Dutch are indeed often considered rude because of their directness). DirkvdM 09:16, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
I had the impression that the hair, at least (probably not the lips), had more to do with warmth and protection than appeal. Protection of progenation is generally important when it comes to evolution. Then again, the testes are kept a little cooler than body temperature rather than warmer. Not much of an answer, eh? jnothman talk 10:25, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
Children don't have pubic hair, so it has to be something sexual (why would they need less protection?). OTOH, both men and women have it, so it is unlikely that it's around because of sexual selection. Like the article says, it probably either serves to store pheromones, or as a way to visually distinguish adults from children (together with the rest of the body hair that appears in puberty). --Chl 02:43, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
Children don't have wrinkles. That doesn't make wrinkles sexual. If the question is "why do humans have pubic hair" the answer is "we don't know, but have many guesses." - Nunh-huh 03:13, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Yeah, but wrinkles don't start exactly at puberty, so that still seems a good point. But the counterargument that both men and women have pubic hair isn't. I assume you mean that it's the men who do the selecting, but women do so too, just usually in a more subtle manner (foxes indeed :) ). Another angle I think of now is that maybe all hair is evolving away and pubic hair is just the last remnant. The reason for this might be something totally irrelevant to the process, like it being a different kind of hair (which it is) that happens to be more persistant. DirkvdM 09:21, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Right, both men and women do selecting, but how likely is it that they both selected for the same feature? -- If pubic hair is still around because it's more persistant than other hair, then why have children lost it? --Chl 02:48, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
My theory: John doeesn't want a woman with beards. Jane doesn't want a man with hair on his back. Joe doeesn't want a woman with a hairy torso. Judy doeesn't want a man who looks just like Chewbacca. ...
No one cares if his/her sexual partner has pubic hair. When it comes to the time to have sex, everyone is too crazy to be any critical.
Pubic hair is here to stay. And human external genitals come in a variety of sizes and looks. -- Toytoy 09:54, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Photograph of Callender's Minstral

Hello, I am new to this so here goes. I have a photograph of my granduncle Phillip White as a member of Callender's Minstral-Mngt. Black ????. I am trying to find some of the places that they may have played at. I also have a list of names that goes along with the photo. I'm trying to get an idea of where my ancestor's might be from.

I didn't know how to insert the photograph so that you could see it. I apologize for this.

Thank you for your help. Cynthia F.

You upload a photo by clicking 'upload file' in the left sidebar. But you'll have to be very sure the photo is free of copyright, which can be difficult. If it's on some webpage you could add the link in square brackets, thus: [put_the_url_here]. And you could of course give us the names, but all we can do with that is Google them and you could do that yourself too (this is meant in a helpful way, not to put yo off :) ). DirkvdM 09:22, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] European Union

Dear Sir/Madam,

I can not find the answers to the following questions on wikipedia:

  1. Where can I find what year of proposed by Commison ( 2004 year of education trouh sport)?
  2. whats the time set for an instittutition to answer to obusman regarding an eqiury?( ,2,3,4,months)
  3. in what proportion commission act?( simply or qualifiyd majority)
  4. how can be- on what base an officails of Commossion can be removed from his job place?
  5. Does the codecision procedure give the European Parliament a right to veto?
  6. what does a bureau of the european parliament consist of?
  7. By whom was the European Charter of Fundamental Rights drafted?
  8. What does "mixed agreement" mean?
  9. what procedures are used by commissions rules of procedure?

I'm afraid there are many questions but I would really appreciate to have answers as soon as possible, since I'm going to attend a test on the EU on 11 November.

Yours sincerely, Anna Zelnikova

Dearest Ms Zelinkova: I regret to inform you that it would behove you to do a bit of homework in the ensuing days before your test. I would recommend the article European_Union as a start, then read Maastricht_Treaty, and follow the links there.

There is also: [[24]]

So to answer question #2, The Answer is No time limit is set by statue for responding to an Ombudsman Inquiry. and the Answer to #4 I am sure is in the link. Artoftransformation 14:30, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Civilization IV Theme

Hello,

I am interested in finding out more about the Civilization IV Theme, which plays in the Opening Menu and is, in fact, titled "OpeningMenu" in the sounds folder for the game. Was this song produced specifically for the game? If not, where can I find more? One of the things the series has consistently done well with is the music. I want to find more music like this. Can anyone help me out?

Sorry for the esoteric question. :) --Demonesque talk 10:51, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

  • Demonesque, I've altered the html codes in your sig, they were affecting the rest of the page. Sharkford 22:41, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
The song is called "Baba Yetu", Swahili for "Lord's Prayer", the lyrics are here. The version heard on the game is performed by a group called Talisman A Cappella and composed by Christopher Tin. PS: I agree, it is fantastic music :-) Akamad 12:07, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
And as it turns out Talisman A Capella have an album out. And reading the news section on Christopher Tin's site, the song was specifically made for the game. Akamad 12:12, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 1960 olympic gold medal team

I have an autographed hockey stick that has the autographs of all the team members on it. 1960 Gold medal team Can I get a list of the team members as I can not recognize some of the names? Also..was John Riley from Wisconsin their coach then.? Also what is the value of this item...it is a 24 inch stick...that was signed in tampa. florida. Thanks Marv Elliott Cape Coral florida..(Wisconsin)

This site has a list of the players from the 1960 team that are in the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame. Since I don't play hockey and I live in Australia (ice hockey is not very big over here), I am not aware if this is the whole team or not, but the players that they have listed are:
  • Coach: Jack Riley
  • Ben Bertini
  • William Cleary
  • Robert Cleary
  • Eugene Grazia
  • John Kirrane
  • Larry Palmer
  • Richard Rodenhiser
Hope that helps. Akamad 12:29, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Can I play songs on a podcast?

And btw,I've recorded and encoded it into MP3.What's next?Tan Ding Xiang 陈鼎翔 11:59, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Podcasting is a verb. Do you mean an iPod? Take a look at those articles. Shantavira 13:49, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
Maybe they were attempting to ask if there was any legal reason barring them from playing a copyrighted song as part of their podcast?  :shrug: Dismas|(talk) 14:12, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
Maybe they mean "Can I play songs on a podcast", ie, how do you incorporate an MP3 file (a song) into a larger MP3 file - the podcast (with a person talking, introducting the song etc). I imagine some software can do this for you, but don't know which.--Commander Keane 00:07, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
Audacity is a free program that will (amongst other things) join two or more mp3 files. Trollderella 16:56, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Dr.Roberto Coronel Agriculture plant breeding Dept.

To whom it may concern,

Hello, Mabuhay ,

I am trying to contact the above person, Dr. Roberto Coronel .At The University of The Philippines at Los Banos - College if Agricukture ( Institute of Plant Breeding.

I was in touch with him before But have loss contact with Him .

Please give Him the following information so He can contact Me regarding Rare Fruits in the Philippines.

Mr. Bill Wandt - Email address: [removed] , mailing address [removed] Phone: [removed]

Thank You Very Much for any assistance that You can give Me in contacting Dr. Coronel.

Sincerly, Bill Wandt

Formatting fixed, contact info removed. Please do not post your contact information on this board unless you want to get junk mail or random phone calls. Anyway, why don't you try contacting the University and tracing Mr Coronel's trail that way? Wikipedia is not a telephone directory… Garrett Albright 15:29, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Help!

Good morning -

I have been searching for ages and am hoping you can help me with some information. I am looking for an old company- "Havey E. Dodds Limited" - they made ski's in Sudbury. I would like to know the years that this company operated. I thank you in advance for any help you can give me. With regards, Jan 216.209.108.135 16:28, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
fixed formatting. Please don't use spaces to begin lines. -Rholton 18:32, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] kariba dam is not in zambia

in your site you state that kariba dam is in zambia but in actual fact it is in zimbabwe.

Thank you for your suggestion! When you feel an article needs changing, please feel free to make whatever changes you feel are needed. Wikipedia is a wiki, so anyone can edit any article by simply following the Edit this page link. You don't even need to log in! (Although there are some reasons why you might like to...) The Wikipedia community encourages you to be bold. Don't worry too much about making honest mistakes—they're likely to be found and corrected quickly. If you're not sure how editing works, check out how to edit a page, or use out the sandbox to try out your editing skills. New contributors are always welcome. Thryduulf 19:00, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
Kariba Dam spans the Zambesi between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Or at least it did the last time I was there. --Tagishsimon (talk)
Unless I read the article wrong, I can't find where it says the dam is in Zambia. Akamad 22:27, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Arsenic & your complexion

I think I read somewhere that in the victorian times women took a small dose to arsenic & that infact gave then a better complexion.Is this true?

Yes, though the fashion started a bit earlier, in the 18th century, and lasted into the early 20th. Anemia is one of the symptoms of arsenic poisoning, and anemia causes pallor—just the thing when a pale complexion is the height of fashion. It may seem idiotic nowadays, but people have always been willing to harm themselves for the sake of fashion; then they ate arsenic, now they get skin cancer, damage their feet, and inject themselves with one of the deadliest poisons on earth. —Charles P. (Mirv) 19:33, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Question

When writing, should you put 1 or two spaces between sentences?

According to the Wikipedia Manual of Style, "There are no guidelines on whether to use one or two spaces after the end of a sentence [for Wikipedia articles]". In your own writing you can use whichever you prefer, but if you are producing text for an organisation or publication, check to see whether it is specified in the house style. Thryduulf 19:12, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
Whichever you please. Typing two spaces after the end of a sentence is a holdover from the days of typewriters with monospace fonts, which were easier to read when sentences were double-spaced. With proportional fonts, which are overwhelmingly common nowadays, it's not so important. In an HTML document, it's entirely irrelevant; most web browsers collapse any number of spaces into one, as you can see by examining the text of this post. —Charles P. (Mirv) 19:10, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
  • To avoid unneccesary spaces, I'd go with one if you're writing a Wikipedia article. - Mgm|(talk) 21:07, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] McDonald's

How does McDonald's prices compare to other fast food resteraunts?

How does McDonald's differentiate its products from other fast food resteraunts?

Please e-mail response to <email address removed> Thanj you for your time

I have removed your email address, as posting it here is an invitation for spambots to target you.
For the questions, the second one particularly looks like a homework question. If you read the very top of the page, then you will see that we will not do someone's homework for them. Thryduulf 18:51, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
After you have read the McDonald's article read the Burger King and Wendy's articles to gain some insight into their product differences. Also, their websites may be helpful. As for pricing, try calling or visiting some of the stores. --hydnjo talk 22:11, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
The answer to both your questions would change from region to region, best thing to do would be do investigate it yourself, for example see how much a burger costs at your McDonalds, and compare it to another fast food joint. Akamad 22:17, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
There was a rumor several years back that McD's put worms in their hamburgers to increase protein content. Their response was classic:
"We would never use worm meat...because it costs more per pound than the meat we buy now." StuRat 23:01, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
A first consideration is what you compare. The chips in one joint are not the same as those in other joints. If at one place the chips are more expensive that could be because they're made from actual real potatoe chips (not a compressed half-product like at McDonalds), which is becoming more and more a rarity. And that's a simple product. With other products, a comparison could be impossible. Also, if it is littel more than an outlet , like FEBO that will reduce the cost condiderably, but one may wonder if that still counts as a restaurant (and what you had in mind). DirkvdM 12:41, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

To answer your question, let's look at the offerings of the various fast-food chains (along with their prices):

  • McDonalds offers the Big Mac. They also have a dollar menu.
  • Burger Dictator featurs the GruntaBurger. This is actually a very long extended burger, so long that (as their slogan says) It doesn't just fill your stomach -- it fills your entire alimentary canal!. In effect, you are already excreting the first part of the burger before you have finished eating the last part. Price is $3/foot.
  • Hamburger Hell is the low-price alternative. Their burgers cost three cents. And that's the high end of the menu. The low-end burgers, they'll actually pay you to haul them away.
  • Meat On A Stick appeals to customers tired of plain old hamburgers. They put their meat on a stick. Their slogan is So fresh it wiggles!, but the wiggling is actually from maggots. Price is whatever you have in your pockets, plus whatever you can find under the car seats.
  • Mrs. Tinkle's offers a wider menu. They offer chicken, jellyfish, and dog tongues in addition to burgers. They also achieve atmosphere by using paper menus, and also by pumping in oxygen. A typical entry on a Mrs. Tinkle's menu is: Chicken A La Tinkle: A dead bird, cut up and heated in a stove. Served with fries. Price varies depending on how many dogs they catch that day.

Well there you have it. Good luck with your report! Herostratus 08:33, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

I think American fast food must have declined slightly in quality since I was last in the United States.-gadfium 19:31, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
Worse still? Is that possible? :) DirkvdM 07:15, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Polo Shirts

Why do some Polo shirts have a little triangular cut outs on the bottom sides?

As an expedient against them being ripped from the bottom up when stretched, as one plays an enthusiastic game of polo. And hence to give the impression that the said shirt is made for action, and to differentiate said shirt from its sans-cutout cousin. --Tagishsimon (talk)

[edit] volcanoes

I can't find the latitude and longitude for Mauna Loa

Please see Mauna Loa, it gives coordinates there. Akamad 22:30, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
Also, if you want to see some real volcanoes, please see Io, one of jupiter's moons, the gravitational tides are so strong the entire moon is geologically active--Hello'from'SPACE 23:43, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
(Note: I edited the above sig because it was making all following text small and green.) --Kainaw (talk) 00:42, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] how do i find the shape pattern eyesight of an bald eagle

how do i find the shape pattern eyesight of an bald eagle?

[edit] Crips

What's involved in the Crip iniation?

According to this site one of three things must be done:
  • "Committing an armed robbery with other gang members as witnesses."
  • "performing a drive-by shooting."
  • "letting members of the gang physically beat up the prospective member, which is referred to as the “kangaroo walk” or “bullpen”."
I certainly hope you don't plan on doing any of these. Why not join Wikipedia instead ;-) Akamad 02:32, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
Yes, our initiation isn't any worse than the Crips. Still you have to admire a gang that welcomes the physically handicapped. StuRat 02:49, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
I no longer have questions about StuRat Sanity. He is just as crazy as I am. --Artoftransformation 11:30, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] SupermanComic's

--24.92.55.225 23:27, 8 November 2005 (UTC)I've searched everywhere on some info for any info on a Superman comic book I have. (SuperMan Meets The Motor Sports Champions). Any info would br great!

What would you like to know? -- Ec5618 01:14, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 9

[edit] Translation of TXF title

The "easy" Latin to English translation website is not working for me. Can anyone give me a good translation for the X-Files title Amor Fati? Mothperson cocoon 02:20, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

"Love of Fate", usually translated as an admonition to "Love your fate". Probably an allusion to Nietzsche, but with X-Files, who knows? - Nunh-huh 02:47, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Ah HA! Thanks, Nunh-huh. Mothperson cocoon 02:58, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] You have your facts wrong.

You have the wrong information in one of your definitions. The naming rights for Rich stadium in Buffalo, New York, were purchased by Rich Products in Buffalo, New York not the Louise Rich food company. These are two different companies. You will find the misinformation under the information for Ralph Wilson stadium.

Ok, if you are sure, go ahead and update the article yourself. StuRat 02:47, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
That's the great things about a wiki like Wikipedia, anyone (yes, that includes you!) can change any article! All you need to do is click the Edit this page link. Don't worry about making honest mistakes (in fact, be bold!). If you're a bit unsure about how editing works, you can always check out how to edit a page, or use the sandbox to experiment a bit. Welcome to Wikipedia!. — QuantumEleven | (talk) 08:43, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The frigate ORYOL

To whom it may concern:

I am interested in the whereabouts of the replica ship ORYOL. I understand the hull is made of steel and was not completed.

Is the hull for sale? Could someone direct me to a contact person for more information?

Thank you very much.

Regards,

Allen Rawl

There is no web refrence for this. I suggest you contact something like Lattitude-38. Artoftransformation 09:48, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

And if you find out, could you add the ship to the ship replica article and maybe even write an article about it? Or else let us know where to find the information so we can do that ourselves? DirkvdM 14:50, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Russia launched it's first warship in 1669. The frigate's name was "Орёл", sometimes spelled "Орел", which means "Eagle". The name is almost always incorrectly transliterated to English as "Orel". Maybe you'll have better luck with these alternative names. Unfortunately, every search I could think of kept bringing up scale models or more recent ships with the same name, rather than full-sized replicas of the sailing frigate. --24.20.130.253 23:31, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Self Expression

Would it be possible for someone to "Declare" thier independence from a Municipalty or something?

You can declare it but unless you happen to have your own army (& are prepared to use it), or are recognised by a number of important foreign countries as a sovereign state, your independence won't be recognised & you'll still have to pay taxes, etc. AllanHainey 08:25, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
See microstate, the most famous of which is arguably the Hutt River Province. I say this through gritted teeth, because some of the microstate proponents are amongst the most persistent and annoying cranks we've had on Wikipedia... --Robert Merkel 13:21, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
Also of interest might be Freetown Christiania in Denmark, although there's been a heavy crack-down in September and the future is therefore uncertain. DirkvdM 14:53, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] What is the meaning of the Sardinian flag with 4 heads????

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/66669/150px-Sardinia_flag.png" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

I would love to know! Thanks in advance.

According to [25], the four moor's heads represent Moorish kings defeated or captured in combat. - Nunh-huh 11:18, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Though note the Saint Maurice interpretation, as well... Shimgray | talk | 11:51, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Energy from Medical Waste

Hi, I want to know is there any concept in Bengal HOW TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY FROM MEDICAL WASTE? I have a solution how can I proceed? I want to speak to local Government regarding this plan and machine.

Thanks Tanmoy Bhattacharya New Delhi -49

Tanmoy, as far as I know none of the regulars who answer questions on the reference desk live in India, let alone Bengal specifically, so we likely have less insight, and less opportunity to find out, about the waste disposal practices of the hospitals there than you do. I did a search for "electricity medical waste" on Google, and it didn't come up with any specific proposal to do so; but some of the links I found may be of interest to you, for instance, this company's medical waste sanitizing machine.
Might I suggest the easiest way to proceed is to contact some hospitals and ask them about their current waste disposal methods; if you know some doctors they might be able to help direct you to the correct people within the hospital. From there, I guess you'll need to build a prototype plant somewhere to demonstrate your solution (which will probably require venture capital to form a startup company to do so, and possibly the seeking of patents to protect your invention), at which point you can then start selling your process to local governments.
One small problem I can forsee with this scheme is that some of the medical waste will contain bits of human tissue (dressings and so on). Some people may have moral objections to the generation of electricity from waste that contains human tissue, even if that tissue is incidental. Just something to think about when you're trying to to market your product.
Congratulations on your enterprise, and I wish you luck perfecting and selling your idea which will help reduce a real environmental problem. --Robert Merkel 13:18, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Psychogeriatrics

What is the prevelence of physical restraints on psychogeriatric wards in either the UK or Ireland?


Nursing Student

[edit] Verifying Serial Numbers on 2 Colt Single Action Army Pistols

I have two nickle plated SAA with matching stag horn grips in a custom made two gun holster that does not have bullet holder straps (cartridge inserts). I wanted to know where I can look for information based on the serial numbers. The first one is 171371 with a loading gate number of 003. The second one is 125752 with a loading gate number of 168. thank you for your time.

[edit] chemicals

what chemicals do you find in shampoo that is harmful to your person, or the one using the shampoo, any shampoo? thank you kindly for your answer.

I've heard that methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone aren't too good for you. —Keenan Pepper 01:34, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Anything can be bad for you given the right amount. There's also water in shampoo. Only 1 cm of water is enough for a person to drown in if they are head down and unconcious. Peanuts and thus peanut butter can be bad for you if you've got an allergy. My point is, don't be too scared just because they are "chemicals". It's quite unlikely any shampoo would be allowed on the market if it had any ill effects on its users. - Mgm|(talk) 10:18, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Actually, everything is made of chemicals. Chemistry is just a way of describing stuff around us. But it has also incorrectly come to mean synthetic (non-'natural') materials, which doesn't necessarily mean they are bad in any way (although the chances are greater). Having said that, 15 years ago I was losing hair rapidly. When I stopped using shampoo the 'fallout' stopped after about a month and I now still have most of the hair I had then. DirkvdM 15:01, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Serialized RPG story

Approximately 8 or 9 years ago, I read a serialized story that someone wrote based on their experiences with a role playing campaign they ran. As I recollect, there were hundreds of episodes, and I believe it had quite a following. Is this ringing a bell for someone? Hipocrite - «Talk» 17:57, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Answering my own question [26] The Adventurers - I got the timeframe right on the nose. Hipocrite - «Talk» 18:01, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 10

[edit] Mymonides

Who is Mymonides? I get nothing when I search Wikipedia and only a couple hits from Google which don't tell me much. Is it misspelled?

Try Maimonides. alteripse 00:45, 10 November 2005 (UTC)


[edit] Tin or aluminium cans Corned beef without plastic inner lining

How long is a Tin or aluminium can of beef eatable after production ? What are the storage Limits in Celcius, both Minimum and Maximum temp-C and if so ehat is the danger temp - C for storage that produces fast rotting or decay ? Is canned beef 100 % free from irregulair parts (non animal)

As long as the tine remains unopened, a long time. I have a tin here I bought a few weeks ago with a 'use by' date of February 2009. Tinned food is hermetically sealed. No air = no rotting. I would imagine that the long-term storage lower limit would be 0°C, as a frozen can would split (due to corned beef containing water). Cooked meat should not be re-frozen, so I would advise against eating the corned beaf once it had defrosted. Proto t c 15:34, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Also note that lack of free oxygen prevents oxidation, including that of tin or aluminum. However, once the can is opened, the food should be removed from the can and stored in another container, otherwise it may take on a metallic taste as the oxygen in the air begins to oxidize the metal and this oxide "rubs off" on the food. If a plastic liner is used in the can, this problem won't happen. StuRat 18:23, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
On television a few years ago, Ray Mears and his guest (someone who was in the jungle during the Vietnam war) shared a tin of Pemmican, unopened since it was issued for rations in 1960-something... Ojw 21:45, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] surrogae mothering

hi. I'm a student at saydel high school and i'm trying to find opinions on whether surrogate mothering should be allowed in the united states or anywhere else in the world?

thank you for helpig me with my poject.

ericka holst

We have articles at surrogate mother and surrogacy. I'm not sure how helpful they'll be: a good deal of space is devoted to politically "correct" terminology. I'm assuming you already know that surrogate mothering is allowed in the United States and other places. - Nunh-huh 22:32, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

That is indeed a confusing term. I thought a surrogate mother was a 'post with a nipple' that one could use to feed a chimpansee (or whatever) for lack of a mother (or as an experiment - it turns out that when that baby grows up and gets a baby of its own, it lacks all maternal instincts). What would that be called then? For example when an article is going to be written about it.
The Dutch word for what is meant here is, literally translated, 'carrymother'. 'Surrogate womb' would also be a good term, although that doesn't refer to the woman as a whole and can thus come across as rather rude. DirkvdM 13:02, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] a specific information about physiotherapist's job

See Physical_therapy --Artoftransformation 08:42, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] searching for where to go to pitch a timely talk show idea

Hello! Is there anyone available to indicate where one might go to pitch a very timely talk show idea? It is educationally oriented but can be made very exciting and alluring to get the viewership...I could "guarantee" success, given what I know about what people are interested in and what they want and need to know! Please lead me in a direction to speak, discuss, network, etc., with those who can guide me in the proper way! Thank you so much! Sincerely, Dolah --71.243.165.242 19:32, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Try So you wanna pitch a TV show? --Quasipalm 22:31, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] self-harm

Can undersleeping or not sleeping be copnsidered a kind of self harm or self injury? 216.43.124.150 19:51, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Sure. Not getting enough sleep is harmful. As such, self harm is an apt way of putting it. --Quasipalm 21:32, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Different people need different amounts of sleep, which can be hard to accept for people with regular sleeping patterns. If a person is getting less sleep and this goes on for a long time, then this could cause minor harm. However, the real danger is if the person engages in hazardous activities like driving while unable to concentrate. This behavior can also seriously harm the person's career, studies and relationships. Although a person could choose to torment themselves by avoiding sleep, it's far more likely that they're having trouble sleeping because they're worried or excited about things going on in their lives. I believe it's more important to focus on the reasons this person might act or feel this way rather than being concerned just about the sleep. --00:31, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
Not sleeping at all can be very harmful. I believe that's mainly to do with lack of dreaming. If you don't sleep at all for a week or so that will likely result in permanent mental damage (you go nuts). Just a little bit of sleep will make a great difference, I believe. Of course it's only self injury if you do it to yourself. Sleep deprivation is a well known torturing method. In Guantanamo Bay, it seems the lights are on continuously and I'm sure that will have a debilitating effect on the prisoners. Whether this results in permanent damage, I don't know. DirkvdM 13:18, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Thank you 216.43.124.150 16:51, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Johnny Haynes

Try Johnny Haynes --Quasipalm 22:34, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Political questions

  • Can anarchism exist in today's economic globalisation without a return to precarity?
  • Why do free market advocates (neo-liberals) believe a truly free market can improve the state of poor countries when liberalism intrisically impoverish some at the benefit of others?

Thank you, --anon 20:48, 10 November 2005 (UTC).

Have you read Anarchism and Free market? --Quasipalm 22:37, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
The reason most likely given will be that, although a totally free market (well, totally free would be unhealthy) may cause an increased difference in income, the economy as a whole will profit and, in the end, the poor as well. So one reason might be that, although people now will suffer, their offspring will benefit. The West, for example, largely has the misery of the poor workers of the 19th century to thank for its present wealth. And since the people living today are just a small fraction of the people that will live in the future (centuries, milennia, millions of years...?) and 'the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few' we should really all be slaving away for the future generations. But then, that same thing applies to those next generations as well, until infinity, which defeats the argument. Try reasoning yourself out of this logic, Spock. :)
Having said that, almost all present day countries are capitalist. And that doesn't seem to help because the vast majority are poor. So that's one down for capitalism. But you're referring to globalisation. And breaking down international trade barriers like protectionism should help poor countries. If they produce more cheaply then they will attract more industry, which should boost their economy. How that wealth gets divided internally is a different matter. As you may have guessed, I'm in favour of global capitalism and local (mild) socialism.
Anarchism? Well, what about the Internet in general and Wikipedia in particular? It's totally global and non-commercial. Of course, the non-commercial bit means that poor countries can't make money out of it. But if everyone would have unlimited instant access to this modern day Alexandria then that would constitute the greatest spread in knowledge in the history of mankind. And knowledge is at the very basis of industrialisation and wealth. So anarchism actually does exist in modern globalisation (though not economic globalisation) (and you're taking part in it right now) and in the long run it may help create more richess where it is most needed. We're living Utopia! :) DirkvdM 13:46, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Jew Tassels

I work with an orthodox Jew. He wears these white tassels on both sides of his pants. What are they called? (My guess is not Jew Tassels.) Why do orthodox Jews all dress the same? --Quasipalm 21:33, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Those are called tzitzit, I believe. [27] has some more about Orthodox (specifically Hasidic) Jewish clothing. —Charles P. (Mirv) 21:42, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Many orthodox Jews wear the tallit katan all day - please see the article for more information. Rhobite 21:53, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Thanks for the tips! It can be hard to find something when you have no idea what it's called... --Quasipalm 22:27, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
I don't mean to be rude/blunt/etc. but why not ask him? He may appreciate someone asking for information about his culture/heritage. Dismas|(talk) 22:40, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Incidentally, you might want to note that the use of the word Jew as an adjective is generally considered offensive. You should say Jewish.
Not all Orthodox Jews dress the same. "Modern Orthodox" Jews dress like everyone else, except that men will generally keep their head covered (with a hat or yarmulke), and women will generally wear long dresses and often wigs. -- Mwalcoff 00:12, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
Great questions. In very general terms, the reasons for "why" some Jews wear those similar-looking outfits are much the same as those for why a police officer dons a uniform before going out on patrol. The "uniform" announces the wearer's personal allegiance to world, yet also makes them mindful of their idealogical duties and treatment of other people. The outfit is deliberately plain, modest and undifferentiated to emphasize the person's commitment to religious responsibility rather than fleeting worldly concerns such as fashions, passions and social status. Not all Jews wear an outfit as specific as that of the Hasidim, but the themes I described are often translated into modern equivalents. --24.20.130.253 01:19, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 11

[edit] Ivy League

Ivy League article states the following:

"All of the Ivy League institutions share some general characteristics: They are among the most prestigious and selective schools in the U.S. They represent seven of the nine colonial colleges founded before the American revolution (the two remaining being the public universities Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and The College of William and Mary);..."

Shouldn't this state the "three remaining being...", since three are listed?

That's two, not three. Rutgers is The State University of New Jersey. So either [1] "The College of William and Mary, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey" or [2] Rutgers University, and The College of William and Mary would be clearer. An unexpected complication of universities adding advertising slogans to their names and monarchs ruling jointly. Since we have wikimarkup, we can form the links in such a way as to make the sentence clearer than mere punctuation would. ("All of the Ivy League institutions share some general characteristics: They are among the most prestigious and selective schools in the U.S. They represent seven of the nine colonial colleges founded before the American revolution (the two remaining being the public universities The College of William and Mary and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)." - Nunh-huh 02:04, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Who was Stuart of Stuart's Law of Retroaction?

On the help desk mailing list, Fritz Gheen asked Who is the referenced "Stuart" in "Stuart's Law of Retroaction" (easier to ask permission than forgiveness)?

Thank you, Fritz

I checked and we do not have an article. A Google search was indefinitive but appeared to suggest that it originally came from a Slashdot post see [28]. As I advised Fritz, I am posting it here.

Thanks for any advice that you provide. Capitalistroadster 02:21, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

The phrase certainly predates Slashdot. When I first encountered it it was called the 'Jesuit Principle of Management'. It may have been a Slashdot post that first applied the name 'Stuart's Law' to it. DJ Clayworth 17:31, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] International business environment

What is meant by international economic groupings? Elaborate it.

What is meant by do your own homework? Elaborate it. —Charles P. (Mirv) 06:21, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Searching for a name of a Japanese themed video game of the late 80's

Hello I am searching for the name of a videogame which has as a protagonist a Japanese character, using playing cards as weapons. The game was presented in a top-to-bottom scrolling playfield. Any help with this question will be greatly appreciated. 66.50.62.96 03:16, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Except for the character being Japanese, the protagonist sounds like Gambit from the X-men. Are you sure you remember this correctly? Dismas|(talk) 14:31, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Thank you for your response. The videogame was released on the arcades around 1986-87 and it had completely Japanese characters(demons, oni etc.). I've ruled out Gambit as the main character in this game. Again many thanks for your suggestion 65.23.251.165 01:14, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Why not try asking at a more specific game-related site? Questions like this often come up on the Home of the Underdogs forum, here; post in "The Gamer's Corner." You'll probably find more people knowledgeable about obscure old games there. --Aquillion 02:10, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
That sounds an awful lot to me like Pocky & Rocky (as it was called in the US/UK) or Kiki Kaikai (to give it's Japanese name) --Noodhoog 02:59, 15 November 2005 (UTC) (edited to remove "IP" login, and replace with my proper one after realising I hadn't logged in. oops!)

[edit] Foreign add-ons on the end of names of cities/countries

Why do so many central Asian countries have the word "stan" on the end of their names? (Pakistan, Kazhakstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) and what does it mean? Also, why do many Northern European cities have the phrases "stadt" or "holm" on the end of their names, and what to they mean?

-stan, in country names, is simply Persian for land: Afghan Land, Kazakh Land, etc. Stadt is German for city; holm I'm not sure about, but I think it's Swedish for small island. —Charles P. (Mirv) 06:24, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
Thanks.
Do note, however, that Pakistan does not mean "Land of the Paks" — this name is actually an acronym, if I recall correctly. ナイトスタリオン ✉ 09:12, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
According to our List of country name etymologies:
PAKISTAN. The Cambridge student and Muslim nationalist Choudhary Rahmat Ali coined this name. He devised the word and first published it on 28 January 1933 in the pamphlet "Now or Never". He made the name an acronym of the different states/homelands/regions, which broke down into: P=Punjab, A=Afghania (Ali's preferred name for the North West Frontier Province), K=Kashmir, S=Sindh and the suffix -stan from BalochiSTAN, thus forming "Pakstan". An "i"-sound later intruded to ease pronunciation, producing "Pakistan". Rahmat Ali later expanded upon this in his 1947 book Pakistan: the Fatherland of the Pak Nation. In that book he explains the acronym as follows: P=Punjab, A=Afghania, K=Kashmir, I=Iran, S=Sindh, T=Turkharistan (roughly the modern central Asian states), A=Afghanistan and N=BalochistaN. Another shade of meaning is added with the Persian word پاک Pāk, which means "pure"; the full name therefore meaning "land of the pure". Use of the name gradually became widespread during the campaign for the setting up of a Muslim state in what was then British India. Note too the Persian suffix -stan meaning "land".
The land-of-the-pure double meaning is rather clever. On the original question, "holm" may mean island, but in the sense of "small hill in marsh or valley" as well as "place at sea", so you get a few "-holm"s scattered in swampy areas. If you can find a dictionary of place-names, these often have a few pages at the back listing the meanings of the most common prefixes and suffixes. Shimgray | talk | 12:21, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
This would be an idea for an article; etymology of placenames maybe? That could include suffixes, but also the origin of much used specific names, such as 'Woodstock' (finding the place where the festival was held drove me nuts - the US is full of Woodstocks). I suppose that means a place where chopped down trees were stored. And then there are placenames that have changed, such as New York (New Amsterdam) and St Petersbug (St Petersburg - Petrograd - Leningrad - St Petersburg again). So here we have three more suffixes: -dam, -burg and -grad. Some others are -gorod, -ia, -nesia, -polis, -dal, -sund, -ford, -tricht/trecht. -ton, -mouth, -shire. And that's just from a quick glance through my atlas. Do any such articles already exist? (Before I continue a pointless research) DirkvdM 15:20, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
Woodstock was named for Woodstock in Oxfordshire, which was originally Old English wudu (wood, forest) + stoc (place, outlying farmstead or hamlet, secondary settlement) - so "settlement in woodland". New York, incidentally, wasn't named for York the city but for York the person - the Duke of York, later James VII/II. (York dates back two millenia as a name - it's pre-Roman, latinised as Eboraceum, and originally meant "yew-tree estate" in Celtic)
For a collection of articles, see Placename etymology, though be wary that anything involving etymology tends to breed slightly flaky original research. Shimgray | talk | 19:14, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Shimgray seems to have found the right article for this content. Unfortunately the article distributes entomology based on modern-day countries and I don't see where supranational suffixes would fit into the current structure. For what it's worth, here are some more suffixes:

  • Based on native words indicating a settlement or territory. -bad: Islambad. -grad: Novi Grad. -grade: Belgrade. -grod: Grodzisk. -gorod: Novgorod. -pol: Stavropol. -krai-: Kraina. -kray: Krasnodar Kray.
  • Based on native adjectives. -ski(y(e)): Chernyayevskiy. -skaya: Kargalinskaya. -skoy(e): Nagutskoye. -naya: Gornaya.
  • Based on native words for hills. -gor: Krasnogor. -gorsk: Magnitogorsk. Gór-: Górna.
  • Based on common last-name suffixes. -ov: Saratov. -ów: Leśników.
  • Other commonly used place name suffixes. -o: Stalino. -an: Yerevan. -ka, e.g. Głowacka. -sk: Chelyabinsk, Minsk.

--24.20.130.253 19:32, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Hmmm, I don't see much on the study of insects in that article. :) But jokes aside, this might become a separate section there. And I suspect it might even grow big enough to become a separate article. But let's start here. I'll move these suggestions to the talk page there, see if any more people pick it up. DirkvdM 09:57, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
DirkvdM -- Good call, that Talk page seems to be the right place for further discussion. Thanks for moving the text over. Sorry about the insects. :) --24.20.130.253 18:10, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] rights issue

What is rights issue

  • It's not a very extensive article, but Rights issue should be of help to you. Please read the instructions at the top of the page the next time you ask a question. - 131.211.210.11 08:56, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] construction

hi, i am having difficulty locating information on construction techniques from 1850 to present day. specifically related to floor construction and materials. could you please help. thankyou. jo-ann harrison, architectural student.

You can look in McMansion as a starter. Try floor, Craftsman, tile, plywood, linoleum, brick, concrete, I-beam, vinyl etc. You get the idea. --Ancheta Wis 10:04, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

"House Contruction Details". Burbank, N. and Romney A., 7th Ed. --69.181.232.116 11:20, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] UK TV Listings for August 1989

I'm trying to find tv listings for August 1989, in particular I believe that "The Godfather" was aired on UK TV that month, and am trying to find out which date and which channel. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your help Michael

[edit] 1901 Battersea Park Road

I'm trying to find out if Battersea Park Road was originally named just Park Road. Tracing some family history I have ancestors living in Park Road in the Municipal Borough of Battersea and the Ecclestical Parish of St Mary. St Mary's Church still stands and is in Battersea and near the Park, no other Park Road seems to exist in 1901 or now so I'm wondering if the Road name changed to Battersea Park Road in later years. If anyone can shed any light on this I would be most grateful.

  • Looking at area using http://www.old-maps.co.uk , an 1880s map shows what is now called Battersea Park Road was then called "Lower Wandsworth Road" at that time. Of course it's possible its name changed several times. However, there's a road near the north-west corner of the park marked as "Park Road" between Battersea Bridge Road and the (now) Albert Bridge Road. It's called "Parkgate Road" on modern maps. Hope that helps. --Bob Mellish 15:43, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
  • [29] is a good source for old maps of London. CalJW 09:23, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] WWI Veterans

11/11/05 Is there any specific information on veterans KIA or MIA from WWI? and if so where would I began to look? Thanks

It really depends. What specific information are you after, and for what country and service? For basic information about Commonwealth troops, try the CWGC Shimgray | talk | 14:15, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the national guard of italy

what is the equalvilent of the national guard in italy.

See Military of Italy --Artoftransformation 08:19, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] athletics

I would like to know male & female current record holders of running in their category( From 100m - marathon).

  • Googleing "athletics world records" (no quotes) gives you this site. DJ Clayworth 17:36, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] e-mail address

hi An important person gave me his yahoo email address when he left for his country & i lost it. I can't reach her with any means except by this yahoo email address. How can i get this address? My friend's name is Fiory negash & his residence is in Eritrea, East Africa.

I did a search on people.yahoo.com for just the last name, and it came up with these results. But when I put either the first name in, or just the initial, there were no results. Are you sure you have the spelling correct? Akamad 19:38, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
That's a neat utility. I might try to use it to find people named 'Schunck' who might contribute to the Schunck article. But isn't there a similar utility that isn't limited to Yahoo? Also, would this be ethical, sending a bunch of emails to people just because of their last name? DirkvdM 10:05, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
That could possibly classify as spam. I certainly would get annoyed. It's an interesting idea though. Akamad 03:19, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
Well I wouldn't call it spam, because it's not commercial. But, come to think of it, couldn't spammers easily use such a facility to find valid email addresses? I thought that people could in principle only get my email address through me (or other people who have (indirectly) obtained my email address through me). This worries me a bit. If only Yahoo does this then there should be a warning outm although on the other hand it is a useful service.
Anyway, when I search for 'Schunck' at Yahoo, the Wikipedia article is the first hit. And when I Google 'Schunck' it's the 6th main hit after the commercial ones at the top (a nuisance that has grown in the last few weeks and even days - is Google going down the drain?). So when those people are interrested they'll probably find it anyway. So I won't send the emails. DirkvdM 09:02, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
You probably have to give permission for your email to be listed on that site. Akamad 23:12, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Need help finding a quote

I have been searching for a quote and can't find it. I thought it was by Thomas Jefferson, but don't see it listed anywhere under his quotes.

The quote was basically in my words that - "the greatest threat to our American liberty is if we become willing to give up freedom for security."

Does anyone know the correct quote and by whom.

Thank you, Dawn Marie Caruthers email removed

  • "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin Bovlb 18:02, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Amniotic Fluid

I would like to know if possible, from you, what happens when a baby swallows amniotic fluid at birth...can it cause a child to have difficulties with normal growth patterns,such as delayed speech, delayed walking,and learning disabilities ? Thank you for any info you can give me. Pat Tillman

Babies swallow amniotic fluid during intrauterine life before birth. The only problem at delivery comes if during the labor the baby has pooped meconium into the amniotic fluid and then inhales ("aspirates") some of it into the lungs with the first breaths after delivery. Swallowing more of it would cause no trouble. alteripse 21:17, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] How can I contact the Blackfoot tribe/cheif for advocate work?

Hi Iam new here, my name is irisdancinghorse aka iris5441. Iam doing studies on tribes and want to contact a tribunal leader, or a affliate of the Blackfoot tribe? I've tried doing searches and have had no luck. anyone know if theres a way to contact them personally via email, and write them? I would greatly appreciate any input on this:) ty iris

Hi, I suggest to look in article about this tribe and related articles for external links. -- Xil - talk 23:47, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
If you are referring to the Blackfeet nation of the northwest plains, see Blackfeet Nation. That page contains contact information for the tribe. Note that there are other tribes referring to themselves as Blackfeet. Do you know which Blackfeet you are referring to? --Kainaw (talk) 02:07, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
Here is another one http://www.blackfoot.org/ I think it wasn`t in any external link, however I still suggest to look in articles - there was some message board in one of those links that also could help -- Xil - talk 23:33, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] sulfaric acid in jfk`s casket

according to a website i logged onto sulfaric acid was poured into jfk`s casket is there any truth to this.

And which website would that be? --hydnjo talk 04:52, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

There might be seawater in JFKs casket: [30]

"Two weeks after that conversation, documents show that the coffin, loaded with sandbags and riddled with holes, was taken from the basement of the National Archives building in downtown Washington and dumped from an Air Force C-130 into the Atlantic Ocean at 10 a.m. on February 18, 1966."

[31]

"On June 1, 1999, the National Archives released this fascinating set of documents relating to the "sea burial" of the ceremonial casket used to transport President Kennedy's body from Dallas to Washington on the afternoon of November 22, 1963. The casket was dropped into 9000 feet of water off the coast of Maryland from a military helicopter in early 1966."

Id start here. [32]

Your still going to have to wait 35 years to see the national archives opened.

--Artoftransformation 08:36, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] comperative anatomy of birds

what is the diference between chicken and pigeon urogenital anatomy?

Pigeon: Large, paired, irregularly lobed kidneys. Ureter opens into cloaca. Male-- Paired testes in upper abdomen. Ductus deferens empty into cloaca. Female-- Right ovary and oviduct become vestigial. Oviduct secretes hormones over eggs. [33] Chicken: The kidney in the chicken is multilobulated with no separation into cortex and medulla. The collecting tubules empty into the ureters which empty directly into the cloaca, a common vestibule into which the digestive and reproductive tracts also empty. No bladder is present. The kidney has a renal portal circulation as described previously. Uric acid is the main nitrogenous waste product excreted in birds. Urine of birds is usually cream coloured and viscous but under certain conditions it may be thin and watery. It is voided at the same time as the faeces and diuresis may give so-called wet droppings. [34]

They seem quite similar (it would be nice to know if the right ovary in chickens becomes vestigial like that of the pigeon, though). To find out, and find differences, you may need to consult a textbook. - Nunh-huh 23:15, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 12

[edit] hping2 and the ymas flag

I was using hping2 and found in it's help a listing for the ymas flag. I know what the xmas flag is (urg+fin+push), but none of my friends (or even google) know what the ymas (apparently "bogus flag 0x80") really is.

-Y  --ymas       set Y unused flag (0x80)

Thanks -- KneeLess 05:50, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] allen iverson and his so-called injuries

I saw a commercial which shows allen iverson sitting on a metal counter(i think). then it highlighted allen's bodyparts in a robot-lookin analyzing way. And when it highlighted all of his parts some commentater said "he's a warrior". Then allen was walking straight to the camera saying(without moving his mouth) "time to go to work"? i'm just wonderin if thats even true about those injuries he had. if thats true, how did he get them?

  • Iverson has had quite a few injuries according to this page on the NBA web site. A USA Today article cited Iverson as No. 2 among the "10 toughest athletes" for playing through many of his injuries. Iverson is relatively small for an NBA player (6'0", 165 pounds), and the USA Today article says "his hellbent style often leaves him battered and bruised." --Metropolitan90 05:36, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
  • DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON T.V. Professional sports are filled with few whiners.

[edit] Florida statistic

List Florida cities/towns established by date chronologically65.32.234.82 06:30, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

I know the first three are St. Augustine (1565), Pensacola (1698), and New Smyrna Beach. Yeltensic42.618 08:42, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wiki on CD

Dear Sir

Is it possible to get a CD copy of your Wikipedia? If so, what is the procedure to completet?

Best regards

Engr. Abdul Momen Khan

Not yet, but there are ways to download the database (which you could then render in HTML and burn, or use it in conjunction with Mediawiki on your computer - at least I think so). Some places to look are Wikipedia:Forking FAQ. You will find people who can tell you more at Wikipedia:Village pump (technical). - Nunh-huh 08:48, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

How big would that be? I believe there are a few hundred thousand pictures on Wikipedia and if they are 100 kB on average that would mean tens of GB for the pics alone. Or would such a cd/dvd only have the images in the size used in the article? DirkvdM 10:15, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
All the information you need is under Wikipedia:Database download - yes, you can download the database, but it won't be in a very "presentable" form. The June 2005 dump (as to give you an idea) was apparently 17GB. There is also a group of users working on Wikipedia 1.0, a version of Wikipedia suitable for release on eg CD or DVD. — QuantumEleven | (talk) 10:41, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
Or twenty-five CDs, as the case may be. It'd probably be a bit smaller if they compressed it somehow and removed all the fairuse images, though. --Aquillion 01:49, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
if im not mistaken this was already done once for the german wikipedia, it was just one dvd i think, but not totally sure. Boneyard 15:21, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
Yes, you are indeed right, the German Wikipedia is available in CD form. Yeltensic42.618 08:49, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Who was modelled on the Michelin Man?

Brian Wightman of London has asked the following question on our Help Desk mailing list:

Hi! I wonder if you can help us answer a quiz question. "who was modelled on the Michelin Man?" It seems unclear whether Bertie basset was or not and then there's the Kandy Man,the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and the Pillsbury dough boy. The answer needs to be or represent something well known in British homes,maybe not now but was common in many homes way back in the twentieth century. Hope you can help us, Kind Regards Brian Wightman London N3

Thanks for any help you can give. Capitalistroadster 10:36, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

Isn't the question the wong way around? In which the answer would be the Michelin Man was modelled after a stack of tyres. But that's too easy an answer so I suppose you got the question the right way around. DirkvdM 09:13, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Elected Officials 1954

I need a list of elected officials who served in House & Senate during the year 1954. I am using this for a research project. Thanks!

I assume you mean the US House and Senate, if so, the US Senate website has this search feature. Just search for 1954 in the "Year OR Congress" field. It shows the results for both Senate and House. Akamad 03:30, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] cannibalism

Do donner kebabs get their name in any way from the Donner Party? Yeah, the article says its from Turkish, but I know reckon that donner kebabs are actually made up of human meat. --Dangherous 13:55, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

No, but if you knew what they are made of, you'd wish it was human meat. To quote Mayor Quimby "I'm outraged! You promised me dog or higher." -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:15, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
If that was true, there would have to be slaughter on a truely ghastly scale to fill all the kebab takeaways in most cities. To quote Krusty the Clown "The animal we made the Ribwich from is extinct." "What! The cow?!" "Think smaller, and with more legs..." smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 22:48, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Chester, I removed the underlining from your sig 'cause it was affecting the rest of the page. Two in one day! Am I making this up? Sharkford 22:47, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
Alright, I'll be the one to point this out then (just in case some readers start to wonder). It's döner kebab. And it's from Turkey or thereabouts and predates the Donner party. Sorry about being such a spoilsports. :) DirkvdM 09:20, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
I had to actually read that question twice. You admit to having read the article Döner kebab (which Donner kebab redirects to), so you must have seen its correct spelling. Yet you ask if the food gets its name from a political party with the same name as an incorrect spelling? Is this supposed to be a joke? — JIP | Talk 19:21, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Blank maps

Random question: Where can I get or generate a blank world map, preferably as a single high-resolution image file? I'm wanting something that can be printed at about 16" by 20" and still look reasonably good - for preference, a simple outline or block-colour map, rather than a full colour "atlas" style one. (It's for the background of a smallish wall poster) Shimgray | talk | 15:43, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

Look at commons:category:World maps, and Wikipedia:WikiProject Maps/World.-gadfium 18:10, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
Try the National Geographic Atlas and select the PDF. The nice thing about these vector maps is that you can enlarge them much as you want without them getting blurry/pixelated. --24.20.130.253 18:35, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
I eventually dredged up one from Commons - Image:World map blank black lines 4500px monochrome.png - and resized the image to a much higher-resolution but physically smaller map. Lines are pretty heavy, which isn't the best option, but it'll do... I'll try printing out a draft soon and see what it looks like. Thanks all. Shimgray | talk | 21:48, 12 November 2005 (UTC)


[edit] who desinged it

who desinged radio city music hall.

Radio City Music Hall says Donald Deskey.--Commander Keane 17:36, 12 November 2005 (UTC)


[edit] Wikipedia

I am currently making a website for my school that lets students upload files. however i want them to be able to edit the files, like on wikipedia. Is there any way someone can tell me the program that wikipedia uses to let anyone edit everypage? can you please email it to [email removed].

Rex

There is a list of wiki software packages at List of wiki software. Wikipedia uses MediaWiki, which has a number of features related to performance and scale you might not need. In particular, it uses an actual database to store the articles rather than a simple file system based approach. Most wikis are open source and can be freely downloaded. -- Rick Block (talk) 18:40, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
Now that you've got a good answer to that, may I suggest you (also) let your pupils work on Wikipedia as an assignment, starting, contributing to and possibly even correcting articles? That way they'll get much more satisfaction from their 'homework' because they're doming something useful. And another advantage of course is that they'll indeed be doing something useful for humanity. And since many kids seem to have a tendency to vandalise Wikipedia, this could be a way to divert that energy in a positive direction. Which would make us happier - and thus the world as a whole because that's what we are. It might just mean more work for you, but, hey, it's for a good cause. :) DirkvdM 09:35, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
If they are not contributing to existing articles, please be sure they don't create duplicate topics that will have to be merged. That seems to be the most serious issue with influxes of organized editing(as an assignment or as a group). Superm401 | Talk 09:40, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
There is some relevant information at Wikipedia:Schools' FAQ. --hydnjo talk 14:40, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] i forgot my credit card number

i just went on amazon.com to order something but i forgot my credit card and i can`t find my credit card can i go to the company website if not can i go to another website to see what it is.

Luckily no. Fraud. Don't you have your actual credit card? The number is on there. -- Ec5618 21:52, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
If you've lost your credit card, you should call your credit card company to issue a replacement. In the meantime, you could try phishing. ‣ᓛᖁ♀ᑐ 21:58, 12 November 2005 (UTC) ( OMG!, Good Answer! )
It will be on your credit card statements, however you will still need your expiry date and security number. If you have lost your card you should cancel it immediately and get another in case it has been stolen. If you use the Google toolbar you can store your credit card information for the purpose of automatically filling out online forms. You will still need a password to access this information. Shantavira 14:33, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Why don't I lend you my credit card number? It's 6022 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0.

[edit] Halo 2

Question, at the begining of Halo 2, they show an explosion (with fire) of Halo in outer space. How is there fire in a place with no oxygen?

there could be liquid oxygen stored inside of the ship and there is obviously some oxygen because the people in the ship could breathe. But setting aside those things, there couldn't actually be a fire. Broken S 23:53, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
The answer I always use is... You are absolutely correct. There is absolutely no way that there can be a fire in space. All that garbage about stars burning is space must be some sort of space alien propoganda. Thanks for pointing out this obvious error in (fill in the fire in space example here).
Then, I wait for someone to tell me to stop being a smartass. --Kainaw (talk) 18:43, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
That answer suggests that you believe that stars produce energy by combustion - that is, by oxidation of fuel rather than by thermonuclear fusion. Which is probably not something you want to advertise<g>. - Nunh-huh 08:17, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

sorry..i don't really know much about this stuff, but are you guys talking about the game Halo 2? if you are, then dude, there's no point in asking the question about explosions in space is impossible because there's no oxygen, tell me...do you see any ugly ass aliens running around with guns, saying "they're here!"...if your not talking about this, then forget what i just said...entirely...and just call me an IDIOT! ♥Hot F.L.I.P.

Of course, even if it may not be probable, or if it isn't really happening, at least it is hypothetically possible for ugly ass aliens to run around with guns saying "they're here!" Yeltensic42.618 18:16, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 13

[edit] What is a Certificate of Equity?

My grandmother was recently placed in a home and while going through her stuff we found a box with dozens of Certificates of Equity from the 1970's. What are they and could they be worth anything?

It's some sort of investment. We would need to know details. Could you post the full text of one of the certificates with your grandmother's name removed? Superm401 | Talk 09:41, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Does air pollution affect the soil; it's acidity?

while i was doing my science homework...i know it sounds stupid...but i came up with this question..and i don't know...i guess i'm just curious...♥Hot F.L.I.P.

Yes, it does. Think about the rain - it dissolves whatever is in the air and brings it straight to the ground... --HappyCamper 00:35, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
See Acid rain: "The resulting increased acidity in soil and waterways has proven to be harmful to fish and vegetation." Also check out this photo of an old statue from David's Roman Holiday photos. All the brown, nasty stuff is air pollution that's been deposited onto the white marble and etched away some of it's surface.

well, i guess i'll have to research more about this study...i actually bought some pH soil testers... i tested 3 types of soil...i from a major highway (I 94), one in front of my house, and one from the suburbs...i tested each soil 6 times...3 times with an pH soil tester (do it manually) and 3 times with a pH soil meter (electronic)...and in the end, my results concluded that air pollution doesn't affect the soil's pH...but i guess i was wrong... ♥Hot F.L.I.P.

[edit] Does anyone read Amaraic script ?

I have a friend who has a scroll which seems to be written in Amaraic which I believe is a descendant of Phoenician language which disappeared about 1000 BC.. It was used later by Hebrew scribes to document ancient Jewish canons and common laws I think.

I have a picture of the scroll.. and will forward it to anyone who emails me at [email address deleted; see page history] ... subj REQUEST SCROLL JPG its really interesting.. I have never seen anything like it anywhere.. It could be several thousand years old. No one seems to have any idea of what language it was written in, nor what it might say, or where it came from, nor who used it or for what reason ?

regards. Bill Griffin Cumming, GA

According to our article on the Aramaic language, it is spoken by around half a million people today, scattered all over the place. It's certainly not dead - indeed, it only really dates from about 1000 BC! I doubt the scroll is several thousand years old for pragmatic reasons - original documents dating back more than a thousand years are exceptionally rare - and if I was able to hold it I'd be able to give you a first guess as to age... but obviously that's not a useful option here.
What does the alphabet look like? Does it look like Hebrew, like Syriac, or Mandaic? This may give us a first guess as to what it contains... Shimgray | talk | 02:12, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
As shimgray is implying, there are a number of things which have been called Aramaic. If you take it to some bible scholars (academic or clergy) who are particularly learned in Semitic languages, they should be able to have a go. If it is close to Hebrew script, though, any rabbi should be able to get by on reading it, although some of the vocabulary and syntactic forms may be unfamiliar. jnothman talk 09:31, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
Actually you could compare it to the dead sea scrolls, which have been scanned and displayed in a library in San Diego, CA. and at the library of congress. The number of different compositions represented is almost one thousand, and they are written in three different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. --Artoftransformation 17:48, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

[35]

Yes, but there are also multiple scripts used in the Dead Sea Scrolls, just for Hebrew, so I assume also multiple scripts for other languages. jnothman talk 10:41, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] About Hurricanes & Hurricane Katrina

I want to know about -

  1. )A Hurricane
  2. )How does it form
  3. )Why is the same called a Typhoon,Cyclone
  4. )Course of Hurricane Katrina.
  5. )Economic loses caused by Hurricane Katrina in the US.
  6. )The damage cost.
  7. )Coastal Damage. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 61.2.68.41 (talk • contribs).
See Hurricane. -- Ec5618 11:34, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Jesucristo Lizard

Is there such a thing as a Jesucristo lizard, I thought I read about one once and can't seem to find anything on it.

Possibly the Common Basilisk, also known as the "Jesus Christ" lizard.--Commander Keane 17:35, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
I thought that it might be kind of large (JESUCHRISTO!) but alas. Its pretty:

[36] "Bazilisk (Jesus Christ Lizard, Basiliscus, basiliscus, Lagartija Jesucristo), Costa Rica, Central America " --Artoftransformation 17:39, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

I have seen a small 'Gecko' type lizard with wide webbed feet that let it run across water, and that was refered to a Jesus Christ lizard. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 22:30, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
Did you get his picture? --Artoftransformation 09:01, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
There's an article at Brown basilisk. DJ Clayworth 19:28, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Lost E-mail Address

hi An important person gave me his yahoo email address when he left for his country & i lost it. I can't reach her with any means except by this yahoo email address. How can i get this address? My friend's name is Fiori( I just corrected the spelling) negash & her residence is in Eritrea, East Africa. I also need the email Address of Senait Zereay or Sesen Zereay also from Eritrea. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 196.200.102.38 (talk • contribs).

You aksed this earlier this week. It's up above on this page: here. I'll give you a few hours to read this, and then will delete this repeated question.--Commander Keane 17:46, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

When you do that, Commander, perhaps you could get this one as well. TheMadBaron 22:02, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Well, there is the difference that the name was misspelled the first time. But I don't see how that makes a real difference. DirkvdM 08:05, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
I just spoke with my friend from Erithrea, East Africa. He said for things things:
  1. A majority of internet access there is throuh internet cafes. You might email some of those, and post a reward.
  2. Almost everyone there is in the Capitol, if they are not, it is very unlikely that you will be able to reach them. Do you know anyone else there?
  3. Altough there is a couple of million people, it should not be hard to find someone.
  4. If this person has been conscripted into national service, then you will NOT be able to reach them.

[edit] GTA Vice City

Where is the streatch limo in vice city? I have been looking for it forever. Someone help me. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ztocchi (talk • contribs).

Apparently, you get it as part of a quest as given to you by 'love fist, see Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
There is also a 'Love Fist Limo.' Take it to a garage during one of the Love Fist missions. There arelinks at the end of the GTA:VC article that have game hints in them. --Artoftransformation 09:10, 14 November 2005 (UTC) 20:45, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Info on Vanna White circa 1987

I've been having a bit of a hard time finding some info about Vanna White. Specifically about the media reports and possible lawsuit (from what I recall) that surrounded her appearance in Playboy magazine. I had thought that she sued the magazine at the time the pictures came out but I can't find anything with various Google searches. Since it was 1987 I thought that maybe there is a bunch of stuff that's not online as newspapers and such may not have had their articles on the web then so I might have to go to one of those library things. :-) So, any ideas where to look on the net or searches to use that would help me out? Dismas|(talk) 21:41, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

I know she sued (and won) Samsung for using a robot Vanna White in their ads. --Kainaw (talk) 23:15, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the ten greatest films about wars and empires

what are the ten greatest movies about a war or an empire what country are the directors of those films from and what country does that particular film take place and just in case your wondering iam not doing my homework. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.161.135.80 (talk • contribs).

Well: Star Wars Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back is about wars and empires! Seriously though, I don't think there's a set list of '10 Greatest'. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 22:27, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
  • They don't exist. Thriller films are much better. - Mgm|(talk) 23:25, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Ben-Hur and Spartacus immediately come to mind. Probably two of the greatest epics ever made. The latter is by the fabulous Stanley Kubrick, who was an American, but made most of his films in the UK. William Wyler was the director of Ben-Hur (1959).

[edit] Any famous people borned from a raped mother?

I think I remember knowing a foums person who's mother was raped and born from that incident. Not sure if thats just my imagination, so has there been anyone famous person born in this manner? --Ice_Jedi5 —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ice Jedi5 (talk • contribs).

Sandra Reaves-Phillips, a famous blues singer, claims to have been born out of rape. --Kainaw (talk) 23:26, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
In most societies this is something that would never be mentioned, including by the mother to the child, but there must have been some. CalJW 09:25, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Abstinance educator Pam Stenzel says that she was conceived when her mother was raped. Gospel/jazz singer Ethel Waters. Also Leonard Reed, creator of the Shim Sham Shimmy tap dance routine, who was also credited with breaking the color barrier in the Professional Golfers' Association in 1951. Crypticfirefly 05:45, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
King Arthur's mother Igraine of Cornwall is sometimes raped by Uther. 216.43.124.150
Sometimes ? As in Tuesdays and Fridays, when she "accidentally" leaves the back door unlocked ? StuRat 21:42, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
I've seen this. Sometimes the story has her raped, and sometimes it doesn't. DuctapeDaredevil 01:43, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
The past tense word is "born", not "borned". The present and future tense is "bear", just ask "the once and future king". StuRat 21:49, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 14

[edit] What is the vegetation of Winnipeg

See Winnipeg --Artoftransformation 09:13, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] WWII Flying Tigers

In Oceanside California there's a man named Frank Bravo who says he's, at 90 years old, a former member of the WWII Flying Tigers. Does anyone have any information on him? --209.247.222.89 04:11, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

The Flying Tigers were part of the American Volunteer Group. You'll find a roster of the American Volunteer Group here, but he's not on it. Someone might conceivably say they were in the Flying Tigers when they served in the 14th Air Force, also called Flying Tigers. Their website is here. You could possibly inquire further at one of these websites or the Flying TIgers forum. - Nunh-huh 02:04, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Spitfire MKV

How many connon rounds did the SpitfireMKV carry?

It depends which version you are referring to; the following table is from Supermarine Spitfire:

Supermarine Spitfire
Mk.Ia Mk.Vb Mk.IXe Mk.XIVe
Armament
  • 8x .303 inch (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns, 300 rounds/gun
  • 2x 20 mm Hispano HS.404 cannons, 60 rounds/gun
  • 4x .303 inch (7.7 mm) Browning M1919 machine guns, 350 rounds/gun
  • 2x 250 lb (113 kg) or 1x 500 lb (230 kg) bombs
  • 2x 20 mm Hispano HS.404 cannons, 280 rounds/gun
  • 2x .50 inch (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns, 500 rounds/gun
  • 2x 250 lb (113 kg) or 1x 500 lb (230 kg) bombs

Hope this helps. Brisvegas 11:02, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] how to select a real system of chair

information about chairs

  1. .How to select a real system of chairs?

Play a song, with one less chair... Actually, I have no idea what your question means: See Chair ( Excellent article )

  1. .what are the forces acting on chairs?
Gravity holds them down.
They form a support for weight, similar to that of Arches, Bridges and tables. They spread the force of the weight on their feet, while supporting the weight from lateral (Horizontal movement). --Artoftransformation 10:15, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
I suspect you are asking about creating a computer model of the forces acting on a chair, say an FEM model. That certainly is possible, but different chair designs will distribte the forces in different ways. A bean bag chair, for example, will be very different from a traditional chair. StuRat 21:08, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] World soccer question

Can anyone tell me when the quickest own goal was scored by a debutant in a soccer match?

I am following Wycombe Wanderers who are in League Two of the English Football League. On Saturday, Richard Keogh made his debut and scored in his own net after 36 minutes.

I am told this is by no means the quickest and that Steve Bruce of Norwich City achieved the feat much quicker.

Can anyone help?

Steve from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England.


[edit] sheffield united

by ratio wins to losers I'd like to know who is Sheffield United most successfull managers a list in order would be nice

[edit] Jimmy Aubrey

Hi,

Would it be possible to tell me who is the estate for Jimmy Aubrey?

Would it be possible for you to be a little clearer about what your question is? Cheers 01:29, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
Do you mean "who is managing the estate" ? StuRat 19:55, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Tree Felling politicians

Hello, William Ewart Gladstone was well known for felling oak trees as a hobby. I heard a while ago that Donald Rumsfeld also enjoys this hobby (although using a chainsaw) as does another neo-con politician. I can't remember who the other politician is, does anyone know? or does anyone know of any other politicians or famous people who enjoyed felling trees as a pastime, rather than as an occupation? Thanks. AllanHainey 12:43, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

George Washington? :-) DJ Clayworth 19:25, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
"If a tree fell in a forest on a politician, would anybody lift it ?" StuRat 19:52, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] headlights on automobiles

Will you please tell me - when the light switch was moved from the floor of an automobile to the steering column. Thank you.

It would depend on the car. Many cars still do not have the light switch on the column stalk but on a dashboard switch panel. -Drdisque 17:49, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

In my experience the headlamp on/off switch was always dash mounted; the floor switch was the dimmer switch, used to change the headlights from high beams to low beams. It carried the full headlamp current, and gave way to switches integrated with the signal light stalk when relays came into play, allowing thinner wires and smaller switches. When? Hmmm. My dad's '72 Chev pickup still had a floor-mounted dimmer, but trucks were not in those days the first to get new convenience features. Sharkford 22:27, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
My '73 Mercury Marquis also had the high-beam switch on the floor. StuRat 19:49, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] expiration date.

I'm trying to get a phone number for the Kirkland Signature company; as I would like to determine the expiration date for some Kirkland Signature "Balsmic Vinger" of Modena.

I don't know if this is the right place to ask; but the internet doesn't see to give their information.

If you can help me, I would appreciate it very much.


Larry Bauer 407-862-0416

Kirkland signature is a simple badge that generic products sold at Costco are placed under. I am not aware that Vinegar expires since microbes can't grow in it. -Drdisque 17:47, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[Food Shelf Life Recommendations] states than an unopened bottle of vinegar lasts 24+ months, while an opened one lasts 12.

[edit] Funeral Photos

In the the movie "The Others" Nicole Kidman finds an album of pictures of people after death that are posed for pictures. This is a book of the dead and my understanding is the photos in the book in the movie are real. I find these photos very interesting. Is there a book or website out there that displays these?

Several books of formal funeral pictures have been published. At different times and places, it was the custom to take a formal photo after death. One of the stranger and more poignant was entitled if I remember correctly, Wisconsin Death Trip or something like that: all the photos were from old 19th century glass plates. In a bookstore I have also seen a book of death photos by a big city police and news photographer: many were crime scene or autopsy. The books are usually categorized as photography books in book stores and you could try searching the usual online used book sources. However, if you are more of a movie person and want a specific book from a specific movie, I can't help you. alteripse 18:43, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Jean Claude Van Dam

I am trying deperately to locate the origin of a movie quote. I do believe it is from a Jean Claude movie.

The scene goes something like this:

Two guys are in a bar, the villian throws a punch, the punch is 'caught' mid blow, one handed by the hero and says something to the effect of "not today."

Any help would be greatly appreciate as there is a lot riding on a wager.

I posted this on the Jean Claude Van Damme talk page, you might get some luck there. Akamad 10:21, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Judo footage/photographs

Please could you help me find footage/photographs/information/write-ups (basically anything really) on Judo championships from around the years 1964-1991? The reason i ask is that i'm trying to trace any of the above which contain information/photographs of my very good friend, Mr Alan Konderla, as a surprise. He was born in South Wales, Great Britain, in February 1951 and he stopped competing in 1991. I know he has taken part in competitions in Denmark, Sweden, North Wales, South Africa, and many other countries although when and where exactly these contests were, i have no idea. I know that SOMETHING exists with him in because both he and his mother have spoken of watching his matches on televisions in their hotels. I've trawled many internet search engines and exhausted searches on loads of television channel websites from these countries but to no avail so maybe i'm going about this the wrong way (or possibly looking in completely the wrong place!!) Therefore, if anyone can help me, or simply point me towards a more hopeful destination, i would be extremely grateful !! Many thanks, 86.135.117.146 19:54, 14 November 2005 (UTC)karen

[edit] Olivetti

Where is the United States Headquarters for Olivetti Corporation?

According to their website, they don't have a US headquarters. They have:
  • Italy: 800-369120
  • France: 01-49077272
  • Austria: 0810-002002
  • Germany: 01805-257574
  • Switzerland: 022-5675210
Perhaps they are in the US under a name other than just Olivetti. --Kainaw (talk) 00:47, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Generics

Why are generic brands cheaper than name brands? Why does one can of corn cost forty cents but the other sixty, I mean they're both cans of corn. This can apply to all generics materials including drugs, why does one bottle of pain reliever cost six dollars and the other just three when they both contain the same ingredients and dosage?

Often the named and generic products are made at the same factory, so you're getting exactly the same content. Why would anyone pay more? In very general terms, companies try to convince people that there's something special about their name brand product so they'll buy it even if they have to pay more. Read about branding and marketing to learn more about these tactics. --Avijja 23:29, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Pharmaceuticals often have enormous research and certification costs as well. The original (branded) manufacturer needs to recoup these but the generic producers just copy the (already certified and researched) branded formula. Lisiate 23:32, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

Read Oligopoly and Monopolistic competition and you might get an idea why. -Drdisque 03:32, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] evaluation of marxism, functionalism, interactionsim

i need to evaluate the follwoing subjects. marxism, functionalism and interactionism and i do not know the strenghts and weaknesses of these can you help

You're in luck! Just enter those terms into the Wikipedia search and you'll soon learn more about those subjects. You can also get some great results by entering these words into Google. Although we're glad to help, we can't do your homework assignments for you. --Avijja 23:42, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
International style (architecture) and Bauhaus were popular in the USSR, which is one reason the nazis didn't like it, so the architects (Bauhaus was German) fled to the USSR, which only strengthened the effect. Now that's the USSR, which is not the same as Marxism, but there's obviously a link. I suppose it has in part to do with both socialism/communism and modernism being about a 'brave new world'. Out with the old, in with the new. An example of the architectural international style is the Glaspaleis ('Glass palace' in the Netherlands), which was also nicknamed a 'palace for the people'. Another 'palace for the people' is the Moscow Metro, and a metro is good example of modernist efficiency (and thus functionalism). Then again, the ornamentations are very baroque and thus non-modernist and non-functional.
Don't know from interactionism. DirkvdM 09:06, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
I applaud DirkvdM's thoughtful analysis of a fairly complex problem from an architectural viewpoint. I would add that proto-Marxist states favored functional, modernist architecture because their simplicity and low cost enabled the government to house many people efficiently; the identical buildings enforced a sense of classless social uniformity; and the very lack of frills was a deliberate break with the Tsarist-era bourgeois decadence styles. However ... "functionalism" is a term with different meanings in architecture and sociology. The reason I said "do your homework" was because these three terms are some of the first things covered in Sociology 101 and offer theories on the reasons why people interact, establish social institutions and why these institutions take a certain form -- see Interactionism and Functionalism (sociology). I find it amusing that the very lack of context in the question made it possible to interpret it a way that simply didn't occur to me, yet made a great deal of sense. Cheers! --Avijja 04:32, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
I end with 'Don't know from interactionism' and I get applauded! Should do that more often maybe. :) DirkvdM 07:21, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] a mordern day version of the story of dr.faust

are there any mordern versions of the story of dr.faust and by mordern day i mean based on christopher marlowes play about faust

Thomas Mann wrote Doctor Faustus in the first half of the 20th century. I am sure there are others. alteripse 23:13, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

There's a wide variety of versions both modern and not, listed at Faust. - Nunh-huh 01:33, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Cecil 'Tiny' Thompson

Can you tell me who I can contact about an error on your page relating to Tiny Thompson's birthdate? Also, where did he die?

Thank you. MEB 207.194.162.119 23:01, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

The fantastic thing about Wikipedia is that if you find an error on a page, you can fix it yourself because anyone can edit! So best thing to do would be to go to the Tiny Thompson article and click the "edit this page" link at the top of the page and change the date. But according to this site, the correct birthdate is on the article now. But either way, happy editing! Akamad 23:26, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Am I Too Late?

Hello: Sir/Maa'm On October 18th I signed some documents with the Army National Guards stating that I will contract with them for 2 years reserve and 6 years active duty. My question is that since I was not told of all the facts before hand and was rushed into this whole process of signing. After becoming aware of some facts I do not agree on doing am I still liable for complying with this contract or am too late to back out?

I've talked to a friend of mine who said that he signed also the same documents with the marines, but before his time for basic training was up; he told them he did not want to do it afterwards and he never showed up to boot-camp. He said he did again one more time and end up not going to basic training and he never had any problems with his criminal record as being "Other than Honorable Discharge". He said they (the military, whatever branch is) is not suppossed to assume that you are part of their branch until you signed a second set of papers just before getting to basic training.

Is this correct? If not, could you tell me what exactly are the consequences for signing these papers the very first time and end up not going thru the whole process. See my case is the one like I believe very many have taken place before, I was attracted to the Army national guards because the recruiter told me I only was required to show up a weekend every month for drilling and that I was going to get paid about $190.00 every month for doing that and on top of that my tuition and fees were going to be paid in full for 36 months. However, I was not told that after going thru basic training you become immediately activated and can go to war(Irak) any time after. My basic training is scheduled for May the 29th. Am I still on time to back out and let them know I am not interested anymore without taking any chances of comprimising my criminal record?

I talked to the recruiter about this and he said; "if anybody is to backed out after signing those papers things like this could happen 1) that person can get arrested and put in prison 2) he/she can get a felony on his/her criminal record for failing to comply with contract 3) he/she can get a dishonorable discharge.

I did some research on the internet and found out that when someone signs the very first set of papers before basic training that person is under what they call DEP Delayed Enlistment Program and that yes anybody can back out of their agreement but the writer explains that a "Other than Honorable Discharge" could be placed in that person's record.

Who is right? that writer from the Internet or my friend? I sure do not feel obligated to comply with something I was not told with all the facts, pro's and con's.

I would appreciate if someone has an answer for this and let me know of all the things that could or could not happen in case I do not want to proceed with this.

For your help and time to in keeping people like me informed, I truly appreciate you guys!

Please review the documents that you signed. It doesn't matter how many times you sign the papers, but what's important are the words in the contracts you signed. Please speak with your recruiters, tell them you don't want to join, and that you didn't understand that you could be called up for active duty. If your recruiters aren't helpful, find out who their bosses are and talk to them. Ask your councilor at school, they may know where you can go for help. If all this fails, you might be able to find a lawyer that will help you for free. Do NOT delay, ignore this or decide not to show up for basic -- it will be too late and you might go to jail. If your recruiters didn't tell you that you might end up on active duty, then they did something very bad, and you should be able to get out of this. Good luck. --Avijja 00:01, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
This is how my DI introduced himself on my very first day of boot camp: "I am your Drill Instructor. I am your mother and father for the next three months. I don't care what your mother or father says and I especially don't care what your recruiter says. The first person who begins any sentence with 'My recruiter said...' will be spending a whole day in the pit until his mind is so numb that he doesn't remember having a recruiter. Let me make this brutally clear so that even the dumbest pile of rocks can understand. Your recruiter lied to you. It is his job to lie to you. It is my job to be honest and, honestly, I can't see more than half of you lasting more than a week." Ahh, sweet memories of Hotel California. --Kainaw (talk) 00:41, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
But they said that it was a coalition of the willing... ;) Ojw 20:42, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

It might help if you started by saying what country this is all about. DirkvdM 09:08, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Do any countries other than the US have a National Guard that is not the same as the Army? DJ Clayworth 20:35, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
I don't know. If you mean to suggest that that makes that clear, the problem is I'd have to read a substantial bit of the question to figure that out. If I would have known in the first place. It would be a lot handier if people were more specific about what exactly the topic is, preferably at the beginning of the question. See point two above about 'how to ask a question'. DirkvdM 12:07, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 15

[edit] Are Mount Saint Helens, Mount Hood and Mount Adams close to each other?

Have a read of the opening paragraph in a section of the Mount St. Helens article here, which plainly says how far apart they are. This paragraph can be found here. Harro5 04:45, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] names of sudama

pl inform me what are the other names of sudama friend of lord krishna

please inform me other names of sudama childhood friend of lord krisna

    • Kuchela is one --Tachs 07:32, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Typography - section break images

Is there a proper typographical term for the small images that some books use between sections of text or at the end of a chapter? -- Tarquin 08:46, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

I'm not an expert, but I think that the term dingbat is sometimes used. --DannyZ 03:20, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Code

Has anyone got an idea how to solve this code? I think it is supposed to be a calculation and that it is some sort of substitution based on a certain keyboard. Any tips?

^4$$_ !'#&8~~
=`^^74( 5!)
3!=8~82 =!~`67`~
9!$64 6`$28`
=`6684 6$`24
8`~ %!=4$7`-34$
9!%7 7!--!(`_
3`~84- 08=
4*`~64-8~4 -8--_
If it is a substitution cypher, it is not difficult to figure out. You just look for an obvious clue. For example, the last "word" is -8--_. How many words have the same letter three times like that? LOLLY, BOBBY, DODDY... Once you figure that out, you can replace the other letters and pick it apart. Of course, this is all based on the assumption that this is a substitution cypher. --Kainaw (talk) 15:22, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Actually, the result may need to be an equation of some sort, so frequency analysis won't help a bloody bit.
Checking "lilly" for the last word, it turns out to be a list of names as follows:
 Terry 0'Quinn
 Matthew Fox
 Dominic Monaghan
 Jorge Garcia
 Maggie Grace
 Ian Somerhaler
 Josh Holloway
 Daniel Kim
 Evangeline Lilly
I have no idea what this list of names is for though. --Kainaw (talk) 18:21, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Apparently that makes it the cast of the tv series "Lost" which makes a lot more sense than the jumbled stuff I had. How did you think of checking for lilly? - Mgm|(talk) 18:34, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
As I said, the last word was very limited. I already thought of LOLLY, which made a lot of sense, but the O didn't look right. So, I used LILLY. That led to guessing LINE at the end of Evangeline. That pretty much solved the rest of it. --Kainaw (talk) 18:42, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Thanks. I solved the puzzle this code was part of after another Wiki search on Lost. :) - Mgm|(talk) 22:25, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Arabic books mentioned on the site

Hi, Where and how can I obtain the following books? Also, are they in Arabic script or transliterated English?

Thanks!

  • A

▪ Palestinian Rural Arabic (Abu Shusha dialect), 2nd ed.. Kimary N. Shahin, University of British Columbia. LINCOM Europa, 2000.

▪ A Practical Dictionary of the Standard Dialect Spoken in Palestine, Moin Halloun. Bethlehem University, 2000.

These books are mentioned in the article about Palestinian Arabic. The first, Palestinian Rural Arabic (ISBN 3-89586-960-0), is available via the publisher's website or try our book sources pages for other possible sources. The second, A Practical Dictionary..., seems quite hard to find, there's a German website which seems to be selling it: http://www.deuxmondes.de/vertrieb.html (Google's translation into English) and the Jerusalem Media & Communication Centre may know of a source. For the dictionary, those are the only pages that I can find that mention it that aren't wikipedia mirrors, except for a german library catalogue. Hope this helps, AJR | Talk 20:39, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Eddie Guerrero

When Ken Kennedy hit Eddie in the head with a chair on Friday Night Smackdown! did this cause the death? I know he died of a heart attack but when Kennedy hit him it might have caused something to go wrong. Has Kennedy said anything about Eddie's death? Please write as soon as possible. 216.220.231.226 16:16, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

A urgent matter of information

It wasn't a heart attack. It was heart failure. His heart was enlarged and worn thin by heart disease brought on by "past drug alcohol and drug abuse." There was no trauma.
How can you rationalize this as urgent? --Kainaw (talk) 20:29, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

What else on Eddie? Maoririder 20:05, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Date systems

moved to Talk:Calendar_date

[edit] world cup goals

When, where & between whom was the more goals scored in one game in a match of world cup?

According to this site the highest scoring match was 7-Austria to 5-Switzerland. Which, as shown on this site was during the Quarter finals of the '54 World Cup in Switzerland, on June 26, played at La Pontaise. Though I imagine there were higher scoring matches during the qualifying stages, for example, I'm pretty sure Australia regularly scores higher than that during their qualifying games, I'll try to look into that. Akamad 23:47, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
The record in a world cup match would be the game between Iran Vs. Maldives. This was a qualifing match for the 1998 world cup. The score was Iran 19 - Maldives 0.--Aytakin 22:24, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
That's not true. In 2 world cup qualifiers in 2001, Australia scored 22 goals against Tonga, and beat American Samoa 31-0. [37] Please do your research before posting an answer. Proto t c 13:21, 18 November 2005 (UTC)[38]

[edit] world war 2

when did Germany attack France in world war 2?

See Battle of France. Shimgray | talk | 19:52, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] leading goal scorer in world cup

Who is the all time leading goal scorer in fifa's world cup& How many goals scored. Who scored the most goals in one game in world cup match & how many goals? I would like also to know who scored the most goals in one tournment of world cup & how many goals?

Please see [39]. -- Rick Block (talk) 05:25, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Hardware secondary storage.....

Okay this is probably a really stupid question but is hardware part of secondary storage?...See I have a project to do one hardware secondary storage but I can't find it. When I look it up it only gives me storage. Is there a link that explains hardware secondary storage in detail????

If you are talking about computer data storage, then see secondary storage. Yes, it's all hardware, but primary storage in this context is (volatile) main memory, which is also hardware.-gadfium 18:48, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
Hardware is the part of the computer that you can physically touch. Secondary storage is a kind of hardware, such as a hard disk or CD-ROM. To store information, you must use some kind of hardware. See Computer hardware for more details. --Avijja 18:58, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
So you've got it the wrong way around. Secondary storage is part of computer hardware (as is primary storage). DirkvdM 13:18, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] taking care of mums

I was given two bushels of mums in dirt, not in pots. It is too late to plant them now. I am in Northeast Pa. Can I keep plants in basement until spring. Will they go dormant or do I need to water them once in a while? Thank you. Florence Chew

I'd say treat them like houseplants - replant them in appropriate sized pots, put them in some sun, and water them every day or so. 216.43.124.150 21:19, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Clarification - If you put them in your basement and do not water them, you will have dead mums. 216.43.124.150

[edit] Analysis of Alicia Keys

I am a 19-year old musician myself; and Alicia is one role models. I am seeking information on the analysis of Alicia Keys song "Unbreakable" in terms of the musical elements (such as texture, tempo, dynamic, instruments, tone color, etc). Please assist me!

[edit] putting information on a computer chip

How do they enter information on a computer chip. I have studided how the chip is made but I can't find out how the numbers and letters are put on and how they are returned to me when I press certain keys on the keyboard. I know the numbers are put somewhere but where and how are they assembled into the information I'm asking for?

Roy Downing

You are looking at it the wrong way. It is a lot more complicated than "press a key and a letter appears". You need to look into ASCII codes commonly used by keyboards, input buffers which hold typed codes, and video display registers, which allow you turn pixels on and off.
Very briefly, you press a key and a code is stored in the input buffer. A program pulls the code from the input buffer and decides what to do with it. If it wants to display it on the screen, it looks up an image map for the code (usually in a font library). It then tells the display controller to draw that image map in a specific spot on the screen. The display controller converts that command to setting the pixel color of each pixel on your screen. --Kainaw (talk) 20:20, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
You may also be interested in Programmable read-only memory, which discusses one method of programming data into a chip, though data does not directly translate to functionality. — Lomn | Talk / RfC 22:04, 15 November 2005 (UTC)
And keep in mind that what is stored in a computer is just binary code (zeros and ones if that's what you want to call it) that can be interpreted in any way one sees fit. It could represent a letter (as with the ascii code) or a number - either as ascii or as a binary number. Thus, you could do arithmetic with letters, which is not as stupid as it sounds. For example, the ascii codes for small and capital letters are 32 'positions' apart; 65 (decimal) is 'A' and 97 is 'a'. So by substracting 32 from a small letter you can capitalise it. DirkvdM 13:30, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
It's a very complex process. You could start with the article on computers to get a basic idea of how a computer works and go from there. --Robert Merkel 01:49, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Hurricane Katrina

Do you know what cities the victims of Hurricane Katrina evacuated to? And do you know approximately how many went to each city?

There's some info on this in the Hurricane Katrina article... least there was the last time I looked... Dismas|[[User talk:Dismas|<sup>(talk)</sup>]] 06:34, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Unicorns and Scotland

Traditionally, the unicorn was used as a symbol for Scotland, as a corrolary to the English lion (which still crops up occasionally). This was derived from the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland - the "supporters", animals on each side of the shield, were unicorns. It's not clear when this came into use - our page suggests the twelfth century. Does anyone have any idea why unicorns, specifically? Brewer's doesn't have anything, and it's normally a good source on this sort of thing, nor do any of our various heraldic/mythology pages. Shimgray | talk | 22:03, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Paris Street Directions Paris to Cimitiere des Chiens

A user on the Wikipedia helpdesk has posted this question.

I am looking for directions on how to get from Paris city center to the Cimitiere des Chiens . Somewhere I read to take Metro line 13, Gabriel Peri-Anieres/Genevilliers, however I can find no further directions .

Thank you very much for any help. Capitalistroadster 22:46, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the youngest person ever to be tried for crimes aganist humanity

who was the youngest person ever to be tried for crimes aganist humanity. Their were some concentration Guards, during WWII who were in their early 20's.

[edit] Stop signs

Were ordinary stop signs originally yellow? When did they change to red?

See Stop sign. --Kainaw (talk) 00:37, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 16

[edit] refinancing

what is prepaying the interest on your existing mortgage when refinancing?

  • Let's say in 2002 you got a 5-year mortgage for $100,000 from your bank at 8% interest. Now in 2005, your outstanding principal is $95,000, and you want to build an addition on your house and pay for it by borrowing $30,000, i.e., increasing the outstanding principal of your mortage to $125,000. Let's say that the bank's interest rate on a 5-year mortgage has dropped to 6%. Of course, you want to pay 6% on the new money that you are borrowing. If the bank gives you a 6% mortgage on the full $125,000, it loses out 2% interest on $95,000 for the next two years. So you have to compensate the bank for that loss by pre-paying the interest that it will lose. By doing so, you get the bank to let you out of the old 8% mortgage, and give you a new mortgage at the lower 6% rate. (This is somewhat simplified, but I hope that it answers your question.) Ground Zero | [[User talk:Ground Zero|t]] 15:38, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
  • WTF? If you have to pay the bank a fee on your old loan when you refinance, that is known as a prepayment penalty, and is a feature of the contract you signed when you closed the loan. It doesn't have anything to do with the difference in interest rates offered at the time, again it is just a feature of the contract you signed. Prepayment penalties may be structured something like 2% for 3 years, 1% for 3 years, 3% for one year, etc, but there are regulations on how long they can go and how much they can be, varying by state in the US at least. They are assessed based on the amount of the principal paid early, before the term of the loan is up. Ex. if your balance is $100k and you refi while you have a 2% prepayment penalty, you'll pay a 2k penalty. That's not prepaying interest but may be what the asker was confused with. That is one possible meaning for prepayment in relation to loans. Possibly what the asker was referring to is you can prepay interest on a loan you are going to get by paying a fee to the lender upfront. For example a lender may offer a 6% interest rate with no fee, or a 5.5% interest rate with a fee. The fee is called points, or prepaid interest, and is usually a percentage point of the loan balance you're taking out, thus the name. Because it is counted as prepaid interest you get to deduct it as interest paid on your income taxes. That's all for the US at least, maybe commonwealth or other countries use similar terms differently. In any case, our mortgage and refinancing articles are pretty terrible. - Taxman Talk 16:11, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
  • My answer was based on my recollection of getting out of a 5-year mortgage in the early 1990s in Canada. I paid a penalty based on the difference between the posted rate and my mortgage rate. My mortgage rate was 9.5%, and the short-term rates had dropped significantly. I waited to switch to a short-term mortgage until there was a brief rise in rates in order to minimize the penalty that I had to pay. It was not a fixed amount. And we don't get to deduct mortgage interest either :-(. Ground Zero 16:20, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Hence my wtf. That's wacky, and exemplifies things can work very differently in diff countries. People on the RD rarely tell us where they are from. I suspect that's because you refinanced with the same bank you held the old loan with. If you financed the new loan with someone else you would have just gotten whatever rate they offered. Your fee was still likely set out in the old loan contract though, so it may have specified an even larger fee if you refinanced with someone else. Anyway, mortgages are large and complicated and it pays to read the fine print or have someone you trust explain it to you. - Taxman Talk 16:35, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Water

If a cup of water has been sitting for a while, Why do little bubbles form on the sides in the water?

I suppose imperfections in the surface of the glass function as seeds (analogous to crystals) for the aggregation of gases in the water. Why the gasses want to group together I don't know. Nor why they need seeds for it. DirkvdM 13:40, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Water is viscous. The surface tension traps bubbles if there is something next to the surface to trap the bubbles against (like the side of a glass). Keep in mind that even if there is no gas in water when you put it in a glass (which there always is because you can't be perfect), water still breaks itself down into oxygen and hydrogen. --Kainaw (talk) 19:15, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Probably more significant than the breakdown of water is the fact that really pure (deionized) water will disolve atmospheric gases such as CO2 very easily, so if there's no gas to start with, their soon will be. --Bob Mellish 19:19, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Ford Motor Company

Was the Ford Motor Company ever involved in the cement business? If so, when and where?

Yes, Ford made cement, almost certainly in Michigan, possibly elsewhere. Henry Ford was involved in production of things in large amounts and small. To make more cars more efficiently required larger open factories which could be constructed from concrete (See Albert Kahn). Detroit also invented concrete roads which promoted the use of autombiles and brought more business. Ford also created the first concrete-paved runways in the world at his company airport for Ford-brand airplanes. Other products included Ford refrigerators, Ford Tomato Juice, Ford fertilizer, Highland Rose Cold Cream, named after the Model T plant, Ford Maple Syrup. Ford charcoal, once made from Ford Model T scraps is now called Kingsford Matchlight. Rmhermen 04:53, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Killers' full names

Why do we tend to refer to killers by their full names? Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wayne Gacy come to mind. If they'd won Nobel Peace Prizes, they'd be plain old Lee Oswald and John Gacy. Why is this? JackofOz 06:20, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

One explanation - who knows if it's right or not - is that it's a way of preventing libel suits. If you report two names rather than three, there's a greater likelihood that someone has the same name, and will sue you for implying they are are a murderer. There are lots more Lee Oswalds than there are Lee Harvey Oswalds. - Nunh-huh 07:06, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Hmmm ... Thanks for the suggestion, but it doesn't exactly ring my chimes. The media do certainly have a vested interest in ensuring they don't inadvertently get into trouble with the libel laws. However mentioning eg. Michael Brown (and not his full name Michael James Brown) in the specific context of a story about a murderer, where it's clear that you're talking about Michael Brown the murderer and not any of the thousands of other Michael Browns, surely could not be an invitation to sue. I know the libel laws do differ from country to country, but have we really gone that far down the path of litigiousness? Could a private citizen who just happened to be named Saddam Hussein sue a paper for not disambiguating him from the former Iraqi leader? I don't think so. JackofOz 10:08, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Yeah, I'm with Jack on that one. The world knew of Lee Harvey Oswald (all three names) before the States really started getting excessively litigious. I just don't buy it. The movie Conspiracy Theory, with Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts, mentions this a bit. In it Gibson's character mentions the fact that killers who actually succeed are known by all three names whereas people like John Hinckley, who failed to kill his target is only known by his first and last names. Dismas|(talk) 10:26, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Maybe it's just a convenience to help distinguish successful killers from failed ones? — JIP | Talk 10:39, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Yeahbut: Lynette Squeaky Fromme. "Oh Shit, I shot it!" (3 name failure) Mary Seurrat (2 name "success") William Henry Harrison (not a killer)... Of course the fictional "Ralph Hinkley" (alter-ego of "The Great American Hero") had to become "Ralph Hanley" in the aftermath..... Most likely a way of making people who have done what we consider "important" deeds have "important sounding" names. Nunh-huh 10:53, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
"Squeaky" was just a nick name though... Dismas|(talk) 11:03, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Thanks folks. The more I think about it, the more I think it has to do with what happens when a well-known person is murdered and they catch the killer. The media naturally want to report the full story as early as possible, so all details of the killer are fair game (full name, race, sex, marital status, unusual things about height or weight, etc). So the first name presented to the world is a triple barrelled one, and first impressions count. Other journos parrot the story, and the name quickly becomes firmly embedded in both the national consciousness and the brains of journalists. Then we have the trial, where the defendant is asked to confirm that he is "Michael James Brown", and so on it goes. But interestingly, murderers who only kill their family members or some other unknown person, rather than some VIP, don't get the same treatment. Melbourne seems to be the murder capital of Australia, and there are always people knocking off their wives and kids (I exaggerate, of course), and they get a lot of media coverage, but we only ever hear their first name and surname. This 3-name phenomenon seems restricted to murderers of VIPS. JackofOz 10:50, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
It's not uniform though Leon Czolgosz (Killed McKinley) isn't known as Leon Frank Czolgosz for one example. Neither is Ramón Mercader (Killed Trotsky) known by his full name. Similarly the assassins of some famous people only have 2 names (eg John Bellingham(Killed Spencer Percival))AllanHainey 11:57, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Two names is a lone gunman, three names and you have a conspiracy. MeltBanana 00:05, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] cricket

Would you know the name of the Captain of the English cricket team who toured Australia in 1873 please.

[edit] world cup goals

When, where & between whom was the more goals scored in one game in a match of world cup?

Please see [40]. -- Rick Block (talk) 15:26, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
According to this site the highest scoring match was 7-Austria to 5-Switzerland. Which, as shown on this site was during the Quarter finals of the '54 World Cup in Switzerland, on June 26, played at La Pontaise. Though I imagine there were higher scoring matches during the qualifying stages, for example, I'm pretty sure Australia regularly scores higher than that during their qualifying games, I'll try to look into that. Speaking of which Australia is going to the World Cup! Huzzah!!! Akamad 23:51, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Here it is, Australia scored 31 against American Samoa on April 11, 2001, at Coffs Harbour in Australia during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. Akamad 23:57, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Which comic strip was this?

I remember a comic strip I read many years ago. I remember the dialogue word for word but not which strip it was. It went like this:

  • Girl: I'm going to be a marine biologist when I grow up.
  • Boy: You can't.
  • Girl: Why?
  • Boy: Marines don't take girls.
  • Girl: You might want a brain when you grow up.
  • Boy: I'm going to be in the Salvation Army and shoot guns.

Can anyone help? — JIP | Talk 10:24, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Which country has the most atheists? Vegetarians?

Which country has the highest rate of atheism? Ditto for vegetarianism.

Our atheism article says that the Czech Republic is probably the most atheistic country, but that is hard to exactly pin down. Yeltensic42.618 15:41, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

The most vegetarian country is probably India. Most of the country is Hindu, which forbids meat-eating. Not to mention it has over a billion residents... Articuno1

I haven't read the atheism article and it probably states this, but not being religious is not the same as being an atheist, so the conclusion about the Czech republic is too strong. It's merely an indication. The Czech republic article is more accurate by saying that 59% are agnostics or atheists. The Netherlands scores fairly high too, by the way, with 42% non-religious and 70% never going to church, according to the article. DirkvdM 09:00, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
Isn't that pretty much what I said? I said that the Czech Republic was the most atheistic, not the least religious. After all, there are a number of atheistic religions, such as Buddhism and Confucianism (although it's possible to combine either of them with a theistic religion, and therefore still be a theist)...not to mention the Invisible Pink Unicorn, but that's a different matter. Yeltensic42.618 16:47, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
  • If we're making a distinction between irreligiousness and atheism, I would say that most Czechs are not "atheists." I lived in Prague for two years and didn't really see much active hostility toward religion. Most Czechs I met are like many Americans in that they might get married in a church and keep a Bible in the house but don't go to church regularly. -- Mwalcoff 01:30, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
"Atheism" or "irrelgiousness" doesn't mean "active hostility" toward religion. Yeltensic42.618 16:53, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Careful, I've noticed that some people can react rather aggressively (ironically) when Buddhism is called an atheist religion. And anyway, I'd sooner call it agnostic, because that doesn't make a religious statement. For clarification, as I see it, agnosticism means "I don't know if there's a God", atheism "There is no God", belief "There is a God" and religion "This is the one true God" (as put down in the Holy Book - and let's massacre those who think otherwise). Where 'God' can mean any supernatural being (including oneself? - Another interpretation of Buddhism). One could say that atheism is inherently a belief (and if put down as a dogma a religion) because it makes a statement about the existence of God. About the Czech republic, in the atheism article it says that 59% have no religion and the conclusion is that it could therefore be the most atheist country in the world. Which is nonsense because there are no statistics (mentioned) on how many atheists there are. They could all be agnostics. DirkvdM 07:40, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
Yeah, that is pretty ironic...but I have to wonder why they react that way, it's not like it should be a big deal (by the way, if you haven't seen my userpage, I'm an atheist myself, I didn't say that to attack Buddhism). I will point out that atheism doesn't have to mean "belief that there is no god(s)" in the same sense that theism is "belief there is a god(s)"; it can mean "believe" in the same sense as "I believe that you are telling me the truth", as atheist Douglas Adams has said; in other words, it's still possible to be convinced otherwise (i.e. if God suddenly poked his head out of the sky and announced his existence. I also have noticed that we've hardly addressed the question of vegetarianism. I couldn't find any stats on that. Yeltensic42.618 01:54, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
Some Buddhists believe in deities, some don't, and some believe that wanting a specific stance on this is silly and inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Atheism is generally understood as an absolute belief in the nonexistence of god(s), which is how DirkvdM seems to be using it. Some lesser-known forms of Atheism, which Yeltensic may have referred to, do not proclaim absolute knowledge, but only a belief or opinion. Most people would lump this latter form with Agnosticism. I recommend you read the articles on Atheism and Agnosticism to learn about their various forms. In closing, please state data labels as they were recorded, rather than translating them using your possibly valid but unconventional definitions. :) At least that's how it was explained to me by the Pink Unicorn, Blessed Be Her Holy Hooves. --Avijja 06:24, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
Back to the original questions.... According to Adherents.com research, East Germany is 88.2% atheist. I imagined the number would be high because of the terrible abuse these poor people suffered through during the last century, but the number seems too high. The Vegetarianism article claims that 20-30% of Indians are vegetarians, which is a very high percentage. --Avijja 06:24, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
Interesting...but the last I checked, East Germany is no longer a country. It is good, though, that someone finally answered the vegetarianism question after all the discussion of the godless hellbound. ;) But here's something to illustrate how the form of atheism I mentioned (and happen to be a member of) differs from agnosticism: Jeff says,"You guys, I just saw the sasquatch!" Gus says,"I believe your every word." Aloysius says,"I disbelieve your every word." Declan says,"I don't know..." Yeltensic says,"I don't think you saw the sasquatch...well, I suppose it's hypothetically possible. Show me some good, solid evidence. Or maybe you saw a gorilla. We'll examine the possibilities." In case anyone reading this couldn't tell, Jeff is a religious text, the sasquatch is God, Gus is theism, Aloysius is atheism according to the most common definition, Declan is agnosticism, Yeltensic is my brand of atheism. You could also imagine this as a spectrum with theism as 1, agnosticism as 5, and Aloysius atheism as 10; yeltensicism is in the high single digits. Or you could categorize yeltensicism as akin to political affiliation rather than religious belief. By the by, on the subject of Buddhism, all I meant about it being an atheistic religion is that it lacks a diety; that isn't to say you can't combine it with another religion like Shinto, as I gather many people in Japan do (though I think I read somewhere that most Japanese people don't believe in the Shinto gods, even if they are Shintoists). For example, my mother is a Buddhist who believes in the Abrahamic God. Anyway, I've rambled on long enough. Yeltensic42.618 07:42, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
Avijja, that's a rather odd reasoning. You expected a high 'atheism-score' because of the history of suffering? I thought that when people suffer they actually tend to become more religious. And where religion has been suppressed (or disapproved/discouraged) for some time, such as in Cuba and the former east bloc, it resurfaces instantly when allowed again. But the table is from 1991 and the stats probably older, so they're most likely a fabrication. DirkvdM 08:04, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

(Since no one mentioned it before) China, with over a billion people, is officially atheist. Raul654 08:09, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

I wouldn't expect much of a link either way between suffering and atheism, but I could imagine something like the concept Avijja is talking about, in which people lose faith because their suffering indicates that God has turned his back on them. But DirkvdM is right in that many people become more religious due to suffering. However, about the resurfacing of religion when allowed again, it seems that most of the former communist bloc in eastern Europe is still largely irreligious; maybe it doesn't resurface. Then again, western Europe is quite secular too, maybe in the Czech Republic etc. it has more to do with being in Europe than having been communist. Yeltensic42.618 19:43, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
The East German stats are of questionable value given their age. I felt there would be many atheists because the governments in that region worked hard to suppress, undermine or destroy religion. The Fascists and Communists killed, imprisoned and frightened many religious people into silence. The regimes installed puppets as religious leaders, which alienated many more. The Communists were hostile towards religion and people might have been afraid to speak out at the time those statistics were collected, which might be what DirkvdM referred to.
Suffering has profound effects on beliefs. When an ideologically-opposed foe defeats or occupies a land, it's people often feel abandoned and cheated by their god(s), and are further encouraged or compelled by their new authorities to abandon their old faith. However, some people become hyper-religious and willing to fight against impossible odds, a good example of which are the ancient Zealots fighting against the Roman Empire.
The "sasquatch is God" example illustrates the problem with the terminology. When someone says "Atheist", most people think of "10" exclusively, and not an inclusive range between, say, "5" and "10". --Avijja 05:36, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
Any stats mentioning East Germany as a nation are questionable given their age, considering that it hasn't existed since 1990, but they may be useful to keep in mind if anyone wants to know what the most atheistic and/or least religious state in Germany is (by the way, Washington is the least relgious U.S. state, which doesn't surprise me given that the Western states are largely secular). I can see how suffering would affect belief as Avijja says, but it seems to me a flaw in reasoning for people to act that way; lands have been conquered by ideological opponents all the time, it seems to me that should make them think that all of the gods are indifferent to them. But I guess religion has little to do with reasoning. It's good that we have the Invisible Pink Unicorn to turn to in troubled times. By the way, I think this might be the longest reference desk thread I've ever seen. Yeltensic42.618 08:26, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
You haven't seen many threads in which I participated then, I suppose. :) To add to it. First, I didn't mean that people in the east bloc suffered, I was just referring to Avijja mentioning 'the terrible abuse these poor people suffered'. I don't know if they did and I suppose that would only be true for those who openly opposed the regimes. The vast majority will probably not have suffered a 'vast abuse'. That's most likely western propaganda, largely referring to the lack of freedom of speech, which western people have suffered for centuries, especially when it comes to religion (so, historically, we're the odd ones out, not them). So that would make this all rather academic.
Anyway, the resurfacing of religion once it is allowed again is probably largely among those who grew up with religion. But in the east bloc that generation had already mostly died by the 1990's. It's probably not so much that new generation were indoctrinated by atheism but rather that they weren't (openly) indoctrinated by some religion. DirkvdM 11:42, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
I have seen some, but not enough I suppose. As for freedom of speech, even today here in the United States we have the USA Patriot Act. That makes sense about the eastern bloc, perhaps I'm unusual in that I have grown up surrounded by religion (I used to go to a Baptist preschool/kindergarten, to others that weren't inherently religious but still forced us to pray at meals, my family regularly attended church until 1996 or so, my great-great grandparents in Alabama are/were creationists, and of course I live on the edge of the Bible Belt) yet have turned out an atheist. Or maybe I turned out an atheist because of all of that, it was a spiritual overload. Yeltensic42.618 18:40, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
Quite likely. I also know someone who was was educated with such strict religious beliefs that he now abhors them. Being brought up in a surrounding where one specific religion is ubiquitous, but in a non-strict manner is probably the best incentive to become 'religious'. If you can call it that, because the point is that you don't bother to think about it and therefore don't question it. This is often the case with catholicism (as opposed to protestantism). So I suppose I'm a bit of an odd one out. Only in my middle teens did I learn about atheism, which was quite a relief. It turned out I wasn't the only one. Agnosticism was the next step. DirkvdM 11:51, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
I should say that it wasn't exactly strict; even though my father is Catholic and we used to attend church regularly, he isn't very religious at all (the odd thing is that churchgoing was really my mom's idea, even though she isn't a Christian, and it was a Protestant church even though my dad is a Catholic, like most of his side of the family); also, I hardly see my creationist great-grandfather in Alabama; and the area I live in in Florida isn't all that religious I guess, even though it is geographically on the edge of the Bible Belt (it's sort of a blurry edge I guess, maybe my area is somewhere in the blur). I suppose it mainly had to do with the Baptist preschool, which my parents only sent me to because it was pretty much all there was; it was pretty strict. For most of my life I was a largely secular Christian, because I hadn't bothered to think much about it, and the Baptists were enough to keep me from being any more religious. But then at thirteen I realized that there were other systems, such as agnosticism and later atheism. They failed, in other words (also, later on in the afterschool program at that Baptist place, at about nine or ten, I got in trouble for saying heck. If I had said hell they would have dangled me over lava, and if I had said shit or fuck they would have dropped me in). Yeltensic42.618 15:04, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
You've had rather an interresting mix in your religious background, which might be one cause for you 'seeing the light of agnosticism'. :) And thirteen is just about the right age for that (early teenhood is when you start to think for yourself). But this thread is not only getting rather long (which is ok) and off-topic (which isn't necesarilly bad). but also turning into a personal chat (for which this is not the place). So I'll sign off now. DirkvdM 08:59, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Authors

Who are the authors of this site, and do they do extensive reasearch?

  1. Questions about Wikipedia belong at the Help Desk, not the Reference Desk.
  2. Thousands (millions?) of people all over the world are the authors.
  3. Some of us are quacks or pranksters, but others do amazing research.
—Keenan Pepper 16:55, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
See also Wikipedia, Wikipedia:About, and Wikipedia:FAQ — Lomn | Talk / RfC 19:16, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
I think I read that there are approximately 13,000 users with accounts, and it is estimated that there are approx. 500,000 anonymous users.Yeltensic42.618 07:53, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] What's up with my signature?

My signature, which previously worked perfectly, now looks like this: Mark[[User talk:Markalexander100|<sup>1</sup>]] 17:22, 16 November 2005 (UTC) Why? It's been like this for a few days now, working from different computers. Mark[[User talk:Markalexander100|<sup>1</sup>]] 17:22, 16 November 2005 (UTC) (I've just realised we have a help desk, but since we're already here...)

Thank you kindly! Mark1 19:48, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
It's not just you. Mine changed all of a sudden as well. I hadn't changed my preferences in months and then earlier today it was all weird like yours. I played around with my preferences a bit and it fixed it. Don't know why it went wrong in the first place though. Dismas|(talk) 20:55, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] signs of the cross

what is the meaning of the cross on the forhead, then on the mouth, then on the heart the last is the full cross. Is there any special meanings and what is the prayer that is recited.

  • Sign of the cross has what you're looking for. I've removed your email, as I'm sure you don't want more spam in your Hotmail account. android79 19:52, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Post-Roman Britain Fashion

Can someone point me to some good information on the fashions of post-Roman Britain? I can only find Roman Britain, and my Google skillz are not what they used to be. 216.43.124.150 21:12, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks. 216.43.124.150 16:56, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Also, 'The Quest for Arthur's Britain' by Geoffrey Ashe has a pretty good description of historical Arthurian-age dress, both male and female. It's in one of the last few chapters. DuctapeDaredevil 01:47, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Rules of conduct for Congressmen, benefits

can you please tell me what the rules of conduct, the special privliages and benefits congressmen are? i have searched all over the place and cannot find the answer to the above.

[edit] Wikipedia heals?

Has anyone ever had a life saved directly from being on Wikipedia? --Wonderfool t(c) 23:41, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

If I understand your question correctly, not that I've heard about. On the flip side, there have been a number of rather disturbing questions on the reference desk from troubled souls. Not to put too fine a point on it, nothing that indicates that they are in immediate danger (and certainly everybody who answered did their very best to help), but people who clearly need professional help of one kind or another. There was one question posed by somebody who was very likely suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness; due to his circumstances I fear this person will not get the help they need. Of course, in that situation there was nothing the Wikipedia or individual Wikipedians can do; it's just disturbing to be confronted with such a situation.
I was also contacted (privately, but because of contributions I had made to the Wikipedia), by an individual seeking information about euthanasia drugs. They claimed to have a legitimate purpose for such knowledge (I can't recall what it was, now, but it was plausibly medicine-related). I didn't have the knowledge to answer in detail; even if I did, I wasn't prepared to pass such information on to somebody who may not have been what they claim to have been. I suspect some of our medically-knowledgeable Wikipedians have had similar questions; they may or may not wish to comment on this.
More broadly, information is good, and I'm sure on balance we do a lot more good than harm. But to your specific question, I don't know.--Robert Merkel 13:31, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
We've had at least one on-line suicide note, which was reported to the appropriate places. This may or may not have made any difference. - Nunh-huh 01:51, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia in C.Vs

Do you 'pedians put in time spent on Wikipedia in your CVs? Does this help to get a job, do job-givers actually care, would being an admin look good on a CV? Personally, I've never told any "real life" people about my being an editor of Wikipedia, and I've been here over a year. Is this normal behaviour or does it have connotations that Wikipedia is like a vice? I'll read any replies soon. Thanks --Wonderfool t(c) 23:41, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

I briefly mention it on mine, in the "other interests" bit (where I pretend I'm a well-rounded human being) - but it's only one short line. I certainly don't belabour the point. For techie folks who're impressed, it gives us something to talk about. For others who aren't, the brief mention doesn't make it look like it's an unhealthy obsession. This (assuming you're able to continually keep up a respectable wiki-presence, and don't have anything embarrassing contributions you wouldn't want someone to find if they googled for you) is one reason to use your meatspace name here. -- Finlay Mcwalter | Talk 23:55, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
I mentioned it in my personal statement when applying for a place at UCL. They asked me about it in the interview and we talked for a bit - about whether one can use it as a reliable source, etc. I got the place. --Oldak Quill 17:35, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
Mmm, but a personal statement isn't quite a job application... I've made passing references in interviews to close familiarity with it - I'm a librarian, so random online reference sources is actually a Relevant Thing for other than Finlay's techies ;-) - but never anything specific. Partly there's the name issue - whilst I don't actively hide anything I do on the internet, my username here helps you find a mostly dormant journal of mine; whilst there's nothing embarrassing there, there are tangential references to past employers, which is something I try to avoid doing now and I'd prefer people didn't get the wrong idea. But also there's the fact that, without knowing what works here, what can someone see by looking? Some articles I wrote, many of which are of highly limited interest (some are wonderful, but if you only click on two...). A few notes I left myself. A sparse handful of one-sided conversations. Not much there; making something of it may cause someone to look, and what they see may be highly unrepresentative. Shimgray | talk | 02:19, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
I'm thinking it'll go in my Other Interests when I rewrite my CV. What's trickier is that one of the Wikibooks I work on is apparently going to get published before I write any journal articles. I'm not really sure if I should list it under my published works.
I wonder if any unpublished people applying for writing-intensive jobs find citing particularly good articles they've written here helpful. — Laura Scudder ☎ 18:15, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
I don't list Wiki-editing in any professional sense. I do have a link to it from my homepage. I also use it daily. I'm always having odd questions asked at work. I used to go to Google first, but now I go to Wikipedia first and then Google. I tell everyone that they could just go to Wikipedia, but they prefer to ask me a question and have me do it. --Kainaw (talk) 01:52, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
I can't remember whether it was in my CV but I mentioned it in the last interview I had. I got the job. David | Talk 20:06, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 17

[edit] Tax cuts stimulating the economy

Tax cuts are supposed to stimulate the economy. What I don't understand is "what is the difference if the money is spent by the consumers on televisions, home improvements and such or retained by the government and spend on roads, military equipment, FAA traffic control towers?" In either case, the money is spent and according to the commonplace explanations, spending the money will create jobs and the money from those jobs will produce more spending and so on. So why are tax cuts reported by the government and the media considered economic stimulus? Its all the same. I do not understand this.

Aime Casavant

Because they want to make them. Which government are you talking about? If a government wants to increase taxes they're likely to state the opposite. I believe the two sides are best exemplified by Keynesian economics (government spending can be used to boost the economy) and Monetarism. There should really be a discussion of this in Fiscal policy, but alas there isn't yet. And I'm no expert, so I'm not going to do it. Anyone? DirkvdM 09:18, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
For starters, standard microeconomic theory is that tax causes direct market inneficiencies through dead weight loss. See that article and the section in tax on that. When average tax rates are over 30% of GDP, the dead weight loss is not insignificant. For another, it is believed that the government does not make efficient use of the money they do take in. Distributing money to the poor does not increase GDP because they simply spend it instead of creating more economic growth through starting a business, etc. Many people believe of course that we should give money to the poor because it is the right thing to do, but that is separate from the efficiency and growth issues. The fiscal conservative belief is that people can make more efficient use of their own money, by spending or investing it for future growth. Here's a paper that explains some of the theories behind how marginal tax rates effect output. It's from a foundation that is clearly fiscally conservative, but they do good research and put out a lot of papers that may help answer what you're looking for. I don't think anyone really argues the opposite, that higher taxes can stimulate economic growth, but simply that the government can make better use of the money that individuals will by providing for the poor, roads, etc. I could be wrong, maybe some people do argue that. - Taxman Talk 15:58, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

I agree with Taxman's answer, but there is a simpler, alternative answer. Aime assumes that the level of government spending is linked directly to the level of tax revenues. In the short run, it is not. A government can borrow to finance tax cuts while maintaining its level of spending. In the short run, then, tax cuts alone are stimulative because people have more money to spend. There is no offsetting reduction in total spending if the government does not cut its spending to finance the tax cuts. Over the longer term, however, a government's ability to borrow may be impaired if its debt levels rise too high, and it may have to cut its spending to reflect reduced tax revenues. And here's where we get into Taxman's answer. Ground Zero | t 16:06, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

This could turn into an endless discussion (one that has probably plagued humans as long as private property exists). There is no answer here, just opinions and different aspects that could be pointed out. The matter is way too complicated. Still, som input from me. Of course, the tax by itself takes money out of the economy, but that money is also spent. And when the government spends it on the sort of stuff that companies do (but maybe don't have the funds for by themselves) then the circle is full and there's just the question who is best fit for a certain job. Roads are an obvious thing to leave to a government, because else, how would you distribute the financing (let's not get into the horror of toll roads .... :) ). But if the money is used for redistribution of wealth then that may still even be a better stimulus to the economy. The rich are more likely to spend a large share of their money on (absurdly) luxury goods that have little or no relevance to economic growth (an extreme example being a sheik putting an observatory in a desert when it would have been much more useful on a mountain - that's pure waste). If the (sub)average people get more money, they'll be more likely spend it on things that make sense for most other people as well, which makes dollar voting work and will thus lead to a boost for the economy (well, I really mean welfare in the sense more useful goods being produced). Of course, there are many more considerations and someone is bound to point that out next ..... DirkvdM 08:03, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] have there been any film adaptations of the giver

have there been any film adaptations of the giver and if not why haven`t there been.

Have you read the article on The Giver? It answers the first part of your question quite well. And as far as why Hollywood or anyone else hasn't made "Movie X", that's hard to say. The answer could be as simple as "Nobody has thought to make a movie about [insert name of novel]". Dismas|(talk) 13:52, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Thinking Machine

Has any company used the Thinking Machine which was once produced by The Thinking Machine, Inc.?

Have you looked at the Thinking Machines article? --Avijja 06:32, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] kiss beetle

i need some info on the kissing beetle. do you have any info on it or would you where i could get it from. please e-mail me back [email removed] thank you.

I removed the email address, if someone wants the email it's available on this edit. - Akamad 08:39, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
Are you talking about the Kissing Bug which spreads Chagas' disease? --David Iberri 12:41, 17 November 2005 (UTC) (Also e-mailed OP, but e-mail bounced back.)

[edit] Royal Navy

Why is the Britain navy called the Royal Navy?

It's not just the navy, there's also the Royal Air Force and Royal Marines amongst others. I imagine it's called that simply because the United Kingdom is a monarchy, therefore, when we refer to the Royal Navy, it means the Queen's Navy. Then again, I'm just guessing. Akamad 12:21, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
I believe that the English navy has always been referred to as the Royal Navy & when Scotland & Ireland joined with England officially to form the United Kingdom of Great Britian and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland it was just easier to keep calling it the Royal navy than tho tack navy onto the end of the official name of the country. AllanHainey 12:36, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
Have a look at History of the Royal Navy. Basically, the RN as we know it today dates back to after the English Civil War - during the War, the Navy mostly rebelled against the Crown. When reforming the Navy after Charles II returned to the throne, it was felt to be wise to make it Pretty Damn Clear whose ships they actually were, so it became the Royal Navy rather than the English Navy - in other words, they were the King's ships, not the country's. This still stands today, incidentally - the military is nominally loyal to the Crown, and maintained by the Crown with money provided by Parliament, but only by permission of Parliament.
The same renaming wasn't done for the Army as a whole, as regiments tended to still be raised by individuals not the King directly and the "army" as a single force wasn't a very well-established idea, but the individual regiments were often named in accordance with the same theme - if you have a look at one of the old regimental lists, there's a lot of Royal X Regiment of Foot, or King's Own Something, or Prince Whoever's Light Infantry, or the Loyal Regiment of X, or... you get the idea. The Royal Marines were originally just a regiment of infantry as above, but then became His Majesty's Marine Forces, and then the Corps of Royal Marines; you can see the evolution of the name.
If what was originally meant is "why are they called the Royal Navy without a national qualifier", it's probably the usual reason for something like this - they were the first nation to form an organised Royal Navy as a single force, so got to use the name without having to use a qualifier (like the Royal Netherlands Navy, or the Royal Canadian Navy, &c) Shimgray | talk | 12:41, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] school site near active private airport

Are there restrictions as to how close a school may be built to a private active airport? --anon

Undoubtedly; but the specifics are going to vary by jurisdiction. You'll have to be more precise in your question if we are to have any chance of helping you. --Robert Merkel 13:36, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
I once attended an elementary school near an airport, in fact the school was on a road called Airport Road, but I still don't know about what restrictions there are (telling us where you live might be helpful for research). Yeltensic42.618 17:10, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Serious Sam

Are there any secret levels in the Serious Sam: Next Encounter singleplayer mode?

The only secret levels are the ones you earn by getting Golds. Here is a GameFAQs page which links to a Secrets FAQ (due to GameFAQ's policy I cannot link directly to it). Taiq 13:38, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Aidan

Is Aidan a male name, a female name, or both? — JIP | Talk 15:05, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

Both. Just looking at hollywood you have Aidan Quinn (male) and Aidan Pendleton (female). --Kainaw (talk) 16:11, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
In this part of the world (UK), it's almost exclusively a male name. I get the impression that there's a trend in the US towards using traditional male names for girls, but it doesn't seem to have caught on here. Then again, I don't know very many people with small children, so I might be a bit out of date... Nicola79 16:57, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
See this for info about the name. See this Java site for its use through history. Dismas|(talk) 18:12, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
This is a name from the Turkish communities in Iran. The name is for males and the correct spelling is Aydin, but someohow over time it changed to Aidin. But to answer your question, It is a male name. --Aytakin 22:19, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
It's a common (well, not very common, but I know two or three personally so it's not obscure) English-language name, which came into general use from Scots or Irish (probably the latter); it happens to have become quite popular in recent years. It is, however, an old name - Aidan of Lindisfarne immediately springs to mind, and he was seventh-century. I doubt recent Western usage, given the popularity of other "Irish" names, comes from Turkish. Shimgray | talk | 00:52, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Splog

Just wanted to let you know that the term splog was actually created in January 2005 with the creation of thesplog.com. My blog site was named thesplog, which is shorthand for Spaulding Sports Blog. But, I guess I will be changing it!

Thanks...

Thanks, but we're not really interested in newly created words until they achieve general usage. Let us know when you get an entry in the OED. DJ Clayworth 21:21, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
I might be reading your reply to our anonymous poster incorrectly but there already is an entry for Splog. The way I understood his comment was that the article on Splog is what he was referring to. Dismas|(talk) 23:58, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Strange noise from computer fans

I use a ThermalTake Tsunami Dream case for my computer. The fans in the case keep making some strange sort of noise. I can't explain it very well, but it sounds like some object is hitting against the blades, or the blades are briefly stopping during rotation. I don't understand at all where this is coming from. Opening up the case stops the noise, and when I inspect the innards, there seems to be nothing whatsoever that could move anywhere near the fan blades. As long as the case is open, the noise is gone. Putting the side panel back and screwing it in place causes the noise to reappear. And there's more: tilting the case to its side, either left-right or front-back, stops the noise. The noise reappears when the case is put back horizontally. Lifting the case in the air doesn't help, so it can't be resonation from my table or anything. I know this a very vague description, but it's the best I can give. Does anyone have any idea? — JIP | Talk 20:02, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

Maybe a cable resting against the fan when the case is closed is rattling? Dismas|(talk) 20:12, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
This was my first guess, too, but opening up the case, I see that the power cables to the fans are tied so tightly against the fan casings that they can't come into contact with the blades. Thermaltake appears to have had the foresight to put a plastic bar across the fan from its center to its edge, and tie the power cable to the bar, so it connects with the fan in the centre, and goes to the motherboard from the side. The motherboard's own power cable and the IDE device cables have some freedom of movement inside the case, but by gently testing them, they seem to be tight enough not to move anywhere near the fan blades on their own. And if it were a rattling cable, why would the noise stop when I tilt the case in any direction whatsoever, and then almost immediately reappear when I put the case back horizontally? — JIP | Talk 20:27, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Could it be due to some item loose in the case (a cable or whatever) that is rattling against something due to the airstream coming from the fan? Opening the case would alter the direction of air movement, and so stop the rattling. --Bob Mellish 21:44, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
Your fan proably just ran out of oil on it's bearings and is now banging around. Drip some 3 in 1 oil on it. Make sure none flies loose and wipe your hands. --Ewok Slayer 02:38, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] mice

do field mouse and comman mouse hibernate in the winter?

After having looked over the articles for mouse, meadow vole, and wood mouse it seems that none of them hibernate. The wood mouse article specifically says that they don't and the other two don't mention it, thus I would think that they don't. Dismas|(talk) 20:33, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Trying to find a lifetime Movie

Does anyone out there know the name of a Lifetime tv movie that deals with rape. The story goes like this as much as I can remember. This lady is a business executive and starts to have mental problems and starts to get in trouble with the law. She starts to remember her past. She remembers as a little girl her Mother taking her to the babysitter's house while she went to work. They were a man and woman farmers. He would raped her and then the wife would give her a bath to clean her up before the Mother picked her up after work. While being raped and molested in her brain to combat the ordeal she would make up poetry.

That is about all the I remember about the movie on tv. It has been some time since I saw it so it is most vague in my mind at the moment.

Marg

[edit] November 18

[edit] Twin Towers of New York City

I would like to know when the Twin Towers in New York City were built. I think they started building them in the late 60's, but didn't finish them until later. I need to know the dates they were being built. Thank you very much for helping me with this dilema.

4.239.231.121 01:44, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

According to this page], construction for the World Trade Center began in 1966. The north tower was opened in December 1970 and the south tower in January 1972; they were dedicated in April 1973. Our article just states they were constructed from 1966-1972. - Nunh-huh 01:48, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Fair Use of Trademarks

On this site I see a picture of a bottle that says Bayer Heroin on it. The picture is new but the bottle is very old. The author of the picture says that the picture was taken by him/her and is being released into the public domain. (There is also an advertisement of Bayer on the same page with no mention of its lawful use.)

Does the author have the right to release a picture with a trademark into the public domain? Do I have a right to use the picture with a trademark on it? In other words would it be fair use to use use the picture in my website in an article about heroin's history?

Sigal USA

There's no problem with reproducing a trademark in an educational context. If you were using it to sell heroin, you'd have a problem. - Nunh-huh 03:50, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Does the author have the right to release a picture with a trademark into the public domain? Yes. Herostratus 03:50, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

11.18.05 THANK YOU very much for your answers; so fast and so helpful. Do you know where I can find it simply written on a govenment site? Thanks again.

Sigal USA

[edit] The Walking Drum (Film)

About 13 years ago I saw an idependent film called The Walking Drum. The film was about gypsies from all over the world. Since then I have not been able to locate a copy.

Where can I get a copy?

Sigal USA

  • There was a movie called Latcho Drom (1993) which otherwise meets your description. If that's what you're thinking of, it's still available on VHS. --Metropolitan90 04:41, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

11.18.05 You are amazing. I cannot believe you knew what I was talking about. I was starting to think I imagined seeing this movie. Thank you.

[edit] t-bone

what does t-bone mean as in "t-boned by a vehicle" or something like that involving motor vehicle accident?

A t-bone occurs when one vehicle (going, say, north-south) runs straight into a vehicle on an approximately 90 degree angle (going, say, east-west). The informal term comes from a T-bone steak, which got its name from its resemblence to the letter T. --Maxamegalon2000 05:35, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Phone numbers

If one number was added to phone numbers to make it a 11 digit phone number, How many more phone numbers would potentialy be available?

There are 10,000,000,000 (10 billion) possible numbers that can be created with ten digits. There are 100,000,000,000 (100 billion) possible numbers that can be created with eleven digits. Eleven digits allows for 90,000,000,000 (90 billion) more combinations. --Maxamegalon2000 05:31, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

I meant, lets say i have the phone number: 212-555-0112. Phone numbers could potentially runout then you could add one digit, then a new phone number would be: 212-555-01120. Wouldn't this only add 10 extra numbers per 10 digit number. Also, 100 billion phone number are not available right now, because there are no Area codes and prefixes that begin with 1 or 911.

I don't get your reasoning. Adding one digit will add 10 extra numbers per 10 digit number. But there are 1010 of those. Also, I suppose you're talking about US numbers (given the fact that you don't specify that). I don't know how that works, but in the Netherlands we also have 10 digit numbers (for less than one tenth of the population!). Cities get a three-digit code with 7 digits remaining for the population of the city. Which corresponds to 10 million. In the case of Amsterdam that's already an overkill (less than a million inhabitants), but for other cities its even worse (Heerlen also has a three-digit code but less than 100.000 inhabitants. With 9 digits it would still be way sufficient for Heerlen, but Amsterdam might run into a problem if its' population grows. So you lose a lot of numbers to this 'overhead'. Unless you distribute the numbers at random, not using city codes. DirkvdM 08:23, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Spoof in a Simpsons episode

In the Simpsons episode Boy-Scoutz N the Hood, there's a few scenes where a bunch of campers head into the woods and are trailed by two shadowy figures. Towards the end, they're attacked while sitting around the campfire. I was wondering if anyone could tell me whether the writers made this up, or if it's a spoof of something? Deliverance came to mind, but only the vibe of it (none of the specific incidents).

SNPP.com also claims the rafting scene is from Deliverance. - Akamad 06:39, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
I always assumed that it was a spoof of the Slasher Horror genre in general:
    • Group gets lost in spooky woods.
    • Finds abandoned hut/town/summer camp.
    • Sits around happy, despite the fact that the viewer knows something awful will happen
    • Someone (Ernest Borgnine in this case) gets attacked by strange monster when he least suspects.

smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 15:59, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Type of Music in Fashion stores such as Zara, armani exchange

What is the type of music called that retail fashion stores such as Zara, armani exchange, aldo, etc. play during hours of operation and where do they find this kind of music?

Thanks

You may mean Muzak or Elevator music AllanHainey 09:01, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

When was the last time you were in an elevator that played Muzak? They seemed to disappear about 40 years ago. alteripse 10:22, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Strictly speaking, muzak refers to the music published by one company, but more in general it has come to mean music that is designed not to be specific so it doesn't irritate specific shoppers. Which of course in itself irritates music lovers. DirkvdM 11:51, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Eddie Cooper

I'm planning an article on young actor Eddie Cooper. I think his filmography speaks for itself when it comes to notability, but I would still like to boost it by properly including his voice acting on the game of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by Electronic Arts. Unfortunately, Google is being a pain. Loads of sites are copying eachother and none state the character he voices. Could someone with the game in their posession help out and tell me which character he voice and possibly source it with the game manual or something? - Mgm|(talk) 11:46, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] El Nino research vesseal

Looking for the name or a picture of a research vessel ship that studies the El Nino by completely turning vertical and i mean with one end out of the water. cant find any website with a picture or info so any help is much appreciated

It took a bit of searching on google but I found the ship that you're probably thinking of. It's been some time since I heard about this in the news... The ship is called FLIP and is apparently made by a company called Scripps. We also have an article about it here, R/P FLIP. --Dismas|(talk) 17:43, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography is the operator of the vessel, not the maker. Rmhermen 03:32, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Why is Wikipedia so slow?

Just wondering. Wikipedia is a great resource, but at times it is just so slow that googling for information is much quicker. Is the bottleneck in the server, the bandwidth, the database...? --Kainaw (talk) 15:30, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Might this be of use to you? --Optichan 20:54, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Computers with modem's or cable servers are usually slow if you have dsl wow in another world. I think? --Maoririder 20:57, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Person

Hi I need information on Jean Anne Kennedy Smith. 8th child of Joseph Patrick Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennnedy. Sister of the 35th President of the USA.

I need a boigraphy on her, she was born 20 February 1928, married Stephen Edward Smith 19 May 1956. I need to know her schooling achievemnts and general information, children etc.,

The article here doesn't have her middle name in it: Jean Kennedy Smith. --Kainaw (talk) 17:18, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] SAARE- Commercial Scheme

SAARE is an abreviation of a US calculation scheme. It covers certain cost e.g. a for administration and helps to come from a purchase price e.g purchase price X plus 15 % saare plus 5 % margin. Any ideas



[edit] fenway park

Hi i would like to know the area coverd by grass in fenway park and the type of grass in the park .It does not have to be the actual values i just need an estimate .I have to approximate the blades of grass in the park and i am hopping this will help me get an estimate

                             thank you
The article on Fenway Park provides the dimensions of the park. You would however have to subtract the area of the dirt infield. Dismas|(talk) 17:45, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Mack Daddy?

What you got? --Maoririder 17:54, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

I'm sorry. The server could not complete your request. Optichan 20:56, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
  • He'll make you Jump? (And so will Daddy Mack.) --Bob Mellish 21:25, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Mack Daddy not Daddy Mack but thanks

"Mack Daddy" is a character in the animated TV show Daria. The article explains who he is.--Commander Keane 08:53, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Is Elvis Presley alive?

Is it possible that Elvis hoaxed his death?

Everything is possible. Elvis hoaxing his death is improbable. --Kainaw (talk) 20:02, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
Actually, not everything is possible. JackofOz 00:02, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
For example, it's impossible for me to crawl through my monitor screen as if it were air, crawl through a tunnel to the other end, and come out of your monitor screen. Well, maybe. Yeltensic42.618 05:23, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
That sounds like a challenge. --Optichan 20:35, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Zeppelins

As a child in the mid 1930s, I recall seeing a German Zeppelin fly over my home town of Johnstown Pa. This caused much excitement and the newspapers speculated that the Germans were photographing our steel mills.my question is: Was this the Graf Zeppelin or the Hindenburg?

Kenneth S. Tomb

Almost certainly the Graf - the Hindenburg was not completed until 1936, and was only used for the Atlantic passenger run. The Graf was the 'show' airship which did world tours and the like. David | Talk 21:33, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] hastings a coup

does the battle of hastings count as a coup d`etat.

  • Not by conventional definitions. Shimgray | talk | 22:45, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
  • It was an invasion

[edit] Table football

Do we have an article like de:Menschenkicker, table football but with real-sized people? I'll write it if we don't, just gimme a reminder. --Wonderfool t(c) 23:24, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Europe

My daughter is doing a project on Europe and needs information on the following:

Bodies of Water: Oceans (bordering), Seas, Rivers, Lakes, Gulfs and Bays

Landforms: Mountain Ranges (highest mountain, lowest point), prairies/grasslands, Deserts and Islands

Borders-Gen. Info.: Bordering Continents, Number of Countries and their names (lines of Latitude/Longitude from ____ degrees (N,S) to _____ degrees (E,W), hemispheres it is in

Can you PLEASE help us and provide any information? Thank you for any help you can provide. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.63.31.250 (talk • contribs).

With all due respect, if someone just gives her all these answers, then she won't learn the most important lesson: how to find information by herself. If she doesn't know where to start, have her look at maps of Europe and search Wikipedia for articles of the individual countries. --Avijja 23:54, 18 November 2005 (UTC)
I'm feeling sympathetic to anyone wanting out of schoolwork, so I'll answer (sorry, Avijja).

Oceans: The Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean

Seas: some are the Mediterranean, the North Sea, the Irish Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Adriatic Sea (sort of an arm of the Mediterrranean), the Tyrhennian Sea (Mediterranean arm, I think that's the right spelling, but maybe not), the Aegean Sea (another arm), the Black Sea, the English Channel doesn't have "sea" in the name but I think it counts.

Rivers: some are the Volga, the Danube, the Rhine, the Ruhr, the Rhone, the Loire, the Don, the Thames, the Shannon, the Severn, the Humber, the Ouse, the Mersey, the Tyne, the Neva, the Po.

Lakes: The Caspian Sea is despite its name the largest lake in the world, Lake Geneva, Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, Lough Neagh.

Gulfs: The Gulf of Bothnia, the Gulf of Finland

Bays: The Bay of Biscay, the Bay of Naples, the Wash, Tor Bay, Morecambe Bay.

Mountain Ranges: The Alps, the Caucasus Mountains, the Ural Mountains, the Jura Mountains, the Kjolen Mountains, the Apennines, the Grampians, the Cumbrians, the Cambrians, the Pennines, the Pyrenees, the Sierra Nevada, the Carpathians.

Europe's highest point is Mount Elbrus in Russia, in the Caucasus Mountains. The highest point in Europe other than Russia (which is mostly in Asia) is Mont Blanc on the border of France and Italy, in the Alps.

Deserts: To the best of my knowledge, Europe's only desert is Almeria in Spain. Greece might have desert too, though.

Islands: Some are the British Isles (including Great Britain and Ireland, and the Channel Islands, including Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark), Iceland, Crete, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, the Balearic Islands (including Majorca), Corsica, Zealand, Svalbard, and Thera.

Borders on Asia (unless they form Eurasia)

Hemishperes: Nothern, Easter, and (a smaller part) Western

I know there are grasslands (steppes) in eastern Europe, but I'm not sure what they are called.

If you need more help, feel free to reply here and/or on my user talkpage, which is here. Yeltensic42.618 04:40, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

Or search some of the pages at:

Ojw 11:46, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 19

[edit] plimouth rock in rhode island

is plymouth rock in massachusetts or rhode island.

The answer is in the Plymouth Rock article. --hydnjo talk 00:33, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] auto production stateside

Can anyone please tell me how many autos were produced in the US last year or the most recent year for whichj statistics are available? I am not simply thinking of the Big Three (GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler) but also the fairly recent newcomers such as auto producers from Japan, Germany and South Korea such as Toyota, BMW and Hyundai.

Can anyone help, please? I really would be grateful.

Best wishes Hopeful Anne - (delete email - check history if needed)

See Car production in the United State. --Avijja 02:41, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Maintenance of Way Cyclopedia

A Wikipedia user has posted this on the Help desk mailing list and I am posting it here to see if anyone can help this gentleman.

I linked to your site from the Conrail Cyclopedia site. I don't know if you can help me but I'll try any way.

First off: My quest has nothing whatever to do with model railroading! I'm looking into the way the railroads ordered stuff back at the turn of the century(1900s).

As an example, If it was decided by the "powers that be" to run a telegraph/signal line from one town (station) to another I've been told by an old time railroader that the "STORES DEPARTMENTS" were the ones that supplied the required materials (i.e.. poles, wire, insulators, signaling devices, telegraph stuff, etc.). He further told me that they would consult a source known as the "Maintenance of Way Cyclopedia" that told them what was available and where to order it. He further told me that the cyclopedia was used by different rail lines and was not unique to any one line.

Now, I'm trying to find a copy of this "Maintenance of Way Cyclopedia" to look at. I want to see who they would order the supplies from. I know that this is a crazy request to a fellow such as yourself who seems to be more involved with rolling stock. Would you have any suggestions as to where I might locate this resource? I've tried the Smithsonian, various libraries and many rail fan sites with no success.

I'd appreciate any info you can provide. By the way, I'm not a school kid doing a term paper. I'm a 76 year old retired telephone engineer who's father put 40 years into the Santa Fe as fireman, brakeman, electrician, and a few more jobs. He brought power into the Dallas/Ft Worth yards when they opened up. I'm just doing a little personal research.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks for any help you can give him.

Capitalistroadster 01:29, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

"More concerned with rolling stock"? It's always nice to be mistaken for a specialist...
The Library of Congress has a copy of:
The maintenance of way hand book, containing tables, rules, etc. for use in the construction departments of standard railways, with tables of wages / Klumpp, Charles M.. Union City, Ind., M. of W. hand book pub. co., 1895.
My understanding is that these were general reference books. Your engineer would know he needed to buy a pile of 4.54" flanged triple whatevers, so he'd pull the handbook off the shelf, find a triple-flanged-whatever manufacturer in there - if they were in the book, they were probably reliable - and wire them an order. A sort of cross between a catalogue and a directory. Equivalent things exist in some fields today - I think I've stumbled across building ones, and some IT fields still have them - but mostly I believe they're gone. (On the other hand, a lot of individual large companies now have something like this - a big internal list of pre-selected suppliers for things, so if you need to buy something standard you can check the book and phone them up rather than having to go and figure out where to get it)
The thing is, though, there wasn't one book - there were plenty, probably dozens at different times. I assume the Cyclopedia was one particular version; there's one or two in the Library of Congress, under various names, and I suspect I could find more if I tried hard (These things tended not to get to libraries, though; they go out of date fast, so tend to be replaced by new ones if a library carries them at all). There's a company selling a scanned copy of the 1922 version here, which isn't quite the same, or someone selling an actual 1921 copy [41], but...
The other solution, of course, is to go to someone who knows about these and get them to tell you. I suspect there's a group of rail nuts who collect them - bound to be - but finding them might be tricky; leaf through a few magazines and see if there's anything like this mentioned? Shimgray | talk | 02:46, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
Nice writeup, Shimgray. I had a hard time understanding how this book was used based on what little information I found, but your answers made a lot of sense. A modern day equivalent of the Cyclopedia is the Electronics Source Book, which helps electronic engineers find manufacturers for, say, 4.54 jiggawatt triple-channel gizmos. --Avijja 03:31, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Lat Long Coordinates for Jimbocho?

Hey, I was wondering if y'all knew what the Lat Long co-ords were for Jimbocho, in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. It's the huge book-selling district. I don't really need anything too precise, just gonna mark it on Google Earth as a place I want to go ^_^ Thanks ^_^

68.217.63.60 01:45, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

According to this Fujitsu document, Chiyoda, Tokyo is at N35.40.39.0/E139.46.18.1. I searched Google for "Jimbocho OR Chiyoda latitude longitude". --Avijja 02:46, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
35.695783, 139.757359. Go to Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/) and paste "神保町" (Jimbocho) into the search box, you'll get a highly detailed street map of that area. Trust me, it's book lovers' heaven. It's Mecca if you're interested in any aspect of Japanese culture. There are many antique/2nd hand book stores.
Some search terms: "東京" (Tokyo), "千代田区" (Chiyoda Ward) and "神保町" (Jimbocho). If you visit there, don't forget to ask for a free map of the bookstores. -- Toytoy 12:33, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Scrabble Resources

In Scrabble, is there a website or a book somewhere that has words listed with common word parts, like all the words that end in -tion or all the words that end in -ing for example?

Ojw 11:38, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

What exactly is this: grep tion$ /usr/share/dict/words? Do i search for that?

The grep part of the previous answer is assuming that you have a Unix-based computer. If you do (and that includes Mac OS-X), then the above command or some minor variant of it should work. On my current Linux system I need to specify grep tion$ /usr/share/dict/british-english or grep tion$ /usr/share/dict/american-english as words is a link to a non-existing file. Some variant may also work if you have cygwin installed on a Microsoft Windows system.-
grep is a standard unix program which searches for words or parts of words within files. It's more powerful than that, but that's the basic function. The dollar sign tells it to only match text at the end of a line. The /usr/share/dict/words is a list of words, one per line, which can be used by spelling checkers or for exactly this sort of purpose.-gadfium 20:35, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
On the offchance that the questioner is still looking at his GUI and wondering where to type, we should mention that old-fashioned computers use Command line interfaces... Ojw 21:01, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Aeroplanes

Hello, Please can you tell me which parts of London did the Lancaster bomber fly over?

Could have been almost any part during its operational service but normally they would fly directly from their bases (overwhelmingly in East Anglia) to their targets in Germany. On the off-chance that you mean the only currently airworthy Lancaster which is part of the Battle of Britain flight, its London flights are only over the Thames and then up the Mall and over Buckingham Palace before going back to its base at RAF Scampton. David | Talk 20:42, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Set top box screen flickering

I have just acquired a standard definition digital set top box, and occasionally (couple of times an hour) the TV screen (rear projection) flickers. The flickering always occurs when there is a change in scene (eg changing from an ad break to a TV show, or changing scenes in a movie). The reception (from an external aerial) is excellent and the flickering occurs on all channels, so I'm not convinced that is the problem. Could the problem be the set top box or the TV? I am located in Australia. --Commander Keane 11:52, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Geography Scotland

Can anyone tell me about the black rock faultline that runs through the stone quarry at Crarae in Argyll It seems not to be part of the Highland Boundary Fault Many thanks Alan G Jones

[edit] Number of government employees

What is the number of government employess january 1, 2000? What is the number of government emplouyees January 1,2005?

  • Which government? Dmn 16:14, 19 November 2005 (UTC)


[edit] Query about old treasure

I have a small, beautiful, old what appears to be prayer book written in some kind of Czech (I'm told it looks like 19th century, German-influenced) which language faculty at Dartmouth College have told me is "Heavenly Path" A calendar of holy days and saints for the whole church year; fervent prayers (for both sexes); Budapest & New York; Catholic Publishing Co. J. Steinbrener, royal bookprinter.

Does anything in this description strike a cord with you?

All the best, Judith Rocchio

[edit] Stock Market

Whats the difference between earnings per share and dividends?

There's no strong relationship between the two. Earnings per share simply means the total revenue the company brought in minus expenses (more or less, see EBITDA) divided by the number of shares in existance. Earnings can either be retained by the company, or passed along to shareholders through a dividend. Some companies never pay dividends no matter what their earnings are, like Berkshire Hathaway. Other companies have a specific dividend that they pay each quarter (Radica Games is like this, they pay 4.5 cents per share each quarter as of this writing). Some companies declare their dividends based on their performance. On an extremely rare basis, a company will actually borrow money to pay a dividend (I recall the Motley Fool critising someone for doing that last year). - RedWordSmith 00:24, 20 November 2005 (UTC)


[edit] Seeing faces?

There was a wikipedia article about why humans see faces in seeming random collections of lines and dots. It featured a picture of an alarm clock which appeared to have a frowning face. Unfortunately, I can no longer remember what it was called. What is it called? smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 21:55, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

Pareidolia (google search for "human see faces site:en.wikipedia.org alarm"). -- Rick Block (talk) 01:53, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Historical Depilatories

Hello, As an author, I need to know what women used as depilatories in the 19th century, - particularly pastes and their constituents. Were they dangerous (poisonous)? I understand that thioglycolic acid is used today, but believe it was only developed about sixty years ago. Were any arsenic based products used? Were they highly poisonous? I shall be most grateful for information. Thank you. --- David

Tweezers and razors. Pastes and such tended to be "home-spun" rather than actually dangerous. [42] mentions (18th century) cat dung, egg shells, vinegar and quick-lime. Nothing specifically 19th century but their 20th century page points out that Nair (the thioglycolic vanguard) was developed when stockings became scarce during WWII, a connection I hadn't thought of... - Nunh-huh 01:14, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
Hey there, David. I can't vouch for the accuracy of this page, but it does make mention of depilatories used by women in the early 1800s. I quote the site — "A typical formula now is one that contains chopped oak and white French wine; it is to be digested in a hot water or vapor bath for 24 hours. Another recipe calls for distilled water and celandine roots, and walnut oil is a popular hair-removing ingredient." Deltabeignet 01:23, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 20

[edit] Freaky banned author

So I read this story in this anthology of banned writers. It was about this girl who kills this girl's pets because girl 2 flirted with a boy girl 1 liked. Then centipedes killed girl 1. I can't remember the name of the story or the book or the author, but the story might have been somethig like 'love centipedes'. 64.12.116.73 01:52, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

well, you can type in that title at google or ask.com and see what info. they have...or you can check at your nearest library...who knows, you might get lucky and ask the reference desk (at the library) person about the story, and she/he might actually know what your talking about... ♥Hot F.l.i.p.

Or not...I asked a librarian and she had no idea. Sorry that I can't be more helpful. Yeltensic42.618 00:30, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Dragons vs Tigers in Chinese Astrology

A user e-mailed the following question to the Wikipedia help desk.

I am a Dragon on the Chinese calendar. I always find pictures of the Dragon and Tiger in battle with each other. I would really appreciate it if you could explain why it is this way. Thank You.

Any advice you could give this gentleman would be greatly appreciated.

Capitalistroadster 02:48, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

There was a Bruce Lee movie Enter the Dragon (龍爭虎鬥; long zheng hu dou; literally: dragon (龍) fights tiger (虎); a frequently used Chinese four-character idiom). When two good players are fighting a good fight, a Chinese would say it's "dragon fights tiger". It can be used to describe a great boxing match, Coca Cola v. Pepsi, NATO v. Warsaw, or any other heated fight. Maybe you can say "lollapalooza".
It's unthinkable for a big cat to purr and a large snake to drop dead and become a stick. There really was a Cantonese dish called "龍虎鬥" (dragon fights tiger) which is a soup made by a cat and a snake. But anyway, dragons and tigers are not always fighting each other in Chinese mythology. They do have their own shows. They do not need to meet and fight each other all the time. -- Toytoy 03:11, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

According to this Chinese page, the Cat + Snake dish was invented during 1850s to 1870s by a government official.

  • Three snakes: 200 g (three kinds of snakes frequently eaten by Cantonese people)
  • Cat or civet cat: 150 g
  • Chicken: 200 g
  • Fish bladder: 50 g
  • Cloud ear fungus: 75 g
  • Blah ... blah ... blah ...

Anyway, this is a difficult dish. Too complex and time consuming for any home chef even if you have all the ingredients and cooking wares. You really don't want to do this at home. -- Toytoy 03:31, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] who are you?

hey its ♥Hot F.L.I.P. again...i was just curious, the poeple who answers my questions here in wikipedia, are they often correct?, i mean like do they base it on facts that they actually learned about, or are they just saying what they think? , also, since anyone can answer my question on this site (young or old), does that mean that the dumbest person on the planet can just comment on my question and say something like, "trust me, i know lots about this subject, my dad was a doctor"... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 65.42.91.228 (talk • contribs).

Hopefully when people answer questions, they provide a reference, which would hopefully provide credibility. But the fact that anyone can answer any question means you should always be careful with interpreting the results. But you can always believe my answers because I know lots about this subject, my dad was a doctor. Akamad 03:05, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
But did he play one on TV? - Nunh-huh 03:13, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
I can't speak for anyone else, but I slept at a Holiday Inn last night, so I *know* my answers are always right. Raul654 03:26, 20 November 2005 (UTC)


Haha, we're all liars and make things up, but also none of us knows what we're talking about, so more often than not it cancels out and you get the right answer anyway. =P
But seriously, what reason do you have to trust the authors of a paper encyclopedia, or any other source? —Keenan Pepper 03:19, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
That's a good point, one of my lecturers at uni said he trusts Wikipedia over most other internet sources because at least on wikipedia there is a level of independent fact-checking and editing. Akamad 03:30, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
Hey, we're us, ya get what ya paid for. My dad wasn't a doctor so I know nothin' bout docterin'. But, if you're lookin' for common sense you're at the right place. -- ♥hydnjo talk 03:39, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
And what exactly does "♥Hot F.L.I.P." supposed to mean? --hydnjo talk 03:56, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
I generally do use my common sense, combined with Google and journal articles. So I can be incorrect, or my answers can be less than full (like with my limited response to your car pollution question, journal articles indicated testing for heavy metals was the way to go, put as was indicated by someone else, testing for acidity might be a good idea). I have found that if a question is too technical, an answer may simply be wrong - the answerer doesn't understand the level of the question and just writes what they think. You can't be assured of the quality of an answer here, but they are free and generally good quality. --Commander Keane 07:22, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

Well i guess you can't blame other people for putting down what sometimes seems to be a dumb ass answer, i mean c'mon...it is kinda fun just playing around and typing down what you think and putting down not so smart answers just for the fun of arguing with other people...anywayz..." ♥Hot F.L.I.P." means, which some of you might know (or not), but it means F(ine) L(ittle) I(sland) P(erson)...the original version was Fucking Little Island People, used by white peope in world war 2 (i think), insulting the filipinos...but of course we have revised this through time...I know my history because my dad is a professor at Harvard University!...Well anyways, i guess i'll just have to hope that people who answer my questions will actually have many rescources to back it up...hope you guys will answer any of MY questions intelligently in the near future...Also thanks "commander keane" for so far answering each of my questions that i have posted ♥Hot F.L.I.P.

So where do you live along I-94? Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota or Montana? Well anyway, thanks for telling us what your name means...I came up with "Yeltensic" by messing up the letters in "cosmically insignificant adolescent" (someone called me that after I wrote an article about myself) until unrecognizable; the 42 is from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the other digits are from 1.618, the Divine Proportion. By the way, you may want to consider getting a user account, you could use Hot F.L.I.P. as your username, it would also be quicker to sign your name here, as you could sign with four tildes. Yeltensic42.618 22:36, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

i live along 1-94 illinois, chicago...why?...and yeah your username is niiice..so sophisticated...i like that...One thing that caught my attention is "Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy"...how old are you really?... you don't really have to answer, but i'm just curious, because i imagine the people who answer my questions are old..probably in their 30's, no offense to the young ones (because you guys answer so wisely...using very smart and difficult words), and when i read that you based your "42" on hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy is kinda...i don't know "youngish"...but i don't know maybe older people saw that movie too... ♥Hot F.L.I.P.

Why? I am extremely nosy, I always have to know where other Wikipedia users live (I live at almost the opposite end of the interstate numbering system from you, near I-4 in DeLand, FL..as I type I am in my other house in nearby Ormond Beach, closer to I-95). I am fifteen, as you can see on my userpage by following the link in my signature (or you can find it here, or here, or even there). It seems like most of the Wikipedians are in their 20s, with a fairly large minority in their teens, and fewer over 30. My username is less sophisticated than it may sound, given that it means "cosmically insignificant adolescent", which can be seen first used (though worded slightly differently) here. As for hitchhikers, your post implies that you think the movie is all there is...it was actually based on a book by Douglas Adams, published in 1979, which in turn was based on a 1978 radio series written by him. The book (which I read before seeing the movie) may be considered less youngish. It also lead to four sequels (The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe and Everything; So Long and Thanks for All the Fish; and Mostly Harmless), and to some extent some or all of the sequels were less youngish (Book 3 mentions an award for the most gratuitous use of the word fuck in a film, Book 4 has a sex scene preceded by a chapter on how most readers find it difficult to picture Arthur Dent fucking). By the way, I haven't seen any ugly-ass aliens around...yet. Anyway, I've rambled on long enough. Yeltensic42.618 08:25, 21 November 2005 (UTC)


Back to the question, which is a very valid one. The main thing, I suppose, is 'who would be bothered to give answers'? Not someone who hasn't a clue. That sort of vandalism is much more 'thrilling' in Wikipedia proper (the encyclopedia). Except of course when that person is curious too and manages to find the answer (or thinks he did). I do that sometimes. Most of the time, though, I tell what I know from the top of my head (and sometimes I don't answer but ask more questions). And sometimes someone (sometimes even me) is a genuine expert on the subject. And in my experience that shows. As with every information you get in life, you'll have to be able to sniff out the bullshit. Where else can you get reliable tailor made information? And for free? (this is not strictly meant as rhetorical question).

Finally, I'd like to apologise for having such an incredibly boring User Name (it's just my ordinary name with the las name initialised). :) DirkvdM 12:14, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Oh, I forgot one. Especially on the science reference desk it's just simply fun. Some people waste their time doing crossword puzzles or sudoku's. I exercise my mind here. Many questions are not about plain knowledge, because one can look that up oneself (in Wikipedia or elsewhere), but rather about combining bits of info to get to understand something. And that's where we come in. And you, of course, if you like. I don't just answer questions, but, like I said, ask at least as many. DirkvdM 12:56, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

I suppose we can let you get away with your boring username...this thread is giving the atheism thread a run for its money in length, but also has gone way off topic, thanks to me. I am the king of non sequiturs (actually my maternal grandmother is worse, she's been known to suddenly say,"You know, I would like to go to Alaska"....of course, quoting her was in itself a non sequitur). Speaking of which, has anyone here ever seen the Loch Ness monster? Yeltensic42.618 19:18, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
By the way, my dad is a lawyer and my mom is a quality control consultant, so you can trust me with any questions about Florida law or quality control. Plus, I was a marine biologist in a play once (the play sucked, by the way), so you can also trust me with any questions about marine biology. Or Pacific entymology, or Central American botany, or criminology, or theater itself, or aristocracy, or bipolar disorder, for similar and equally bogus reasons. Yeltensic42.618 19:27, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Well "DirkvdM"...don't worry about it, your name doesn't sound that lame...anyhow...like you yeltensic, i am also very nooosy! so i was just wondering, not to offend you or anything, but are you a guy or a girl?, because if you are a guy, then i just wanted to say that you talk pretty much for a guy! also...you know soooo much for a 15 year old!!! and yeah we are kinda getting off topic, and since were already off topic, you know what commenting here on wikipedia is like? its, to me at least, is just like chatting online with my friends...well sort off, only you guys don't know me (and i surely donno you!), and were discussing a certain subject, and...thats about it...well before i go out, i just wanted to say...that if you guys need any help in the fields: medicine, nursing, dental stuff...feel free to ask, because my mom is a dentist turned nurse, and my dad is a doctor...and i'm serious this time! ♥Hot F.L.I.P.

Going off-topic one last time, it says on my userpage that my name is Christopher Michael Bensko, an indication that I'm a guy. Any further discussion of whether I talk a lot for a guy can be carried over to my talkpage (which is here to avoid violating Wikipedia policies about the reference desk not being a discussion forum. Yeltensic42.618 17:04, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

Getting Back To The "TOPIC"- so Wikipedia, is just as reliable as written encyclopedias?...(probably not)...but it is much easier Hot f.l.i.p.

[edit] Using Wikipedia as a source

"The Age" newspaper (Melbourne) features a daily section about a famous person born that day. The other day, they chose to feature Jeff Buckley. They said that he "disappeared", and "is believed to have drowned". Any reader who knew nothing about him would reasonably infer his body was never found. They ended with "Source: Wikipedia". I checked our article and those words do not appear, either currently or apparently in any earlier version. His body was found some days later, and there was never any doubt that he drowned. Is it OK for a paper to make up words, then misattribute them to Wikipedia? JackofOz 03:40, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

I'm thinking there's something about the proximity of the words and the footnote that's bothering you. I can't say if it bother me without seeing it, but think about this: lots of people get things wrong in papers with citations, and lots of times citations are wrong. It doesn't reflect badly on the source, it reflects badly on the author. As long as our article is right, I don't think we should worry about it. I doubt that it was an intentional mis-citation. - Nunh-huh 04:03, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] A question on Haiti

Hello, I am doing a project in school on Haiti and I was wondering if I could ask you a question. It is: How long is Haiti's shoreline? Can you please give me the answer or a web site to find it on? Thank you, Bye!

That depends on the precision, so any answer will be pretty arbitrary. Which will probably not deter people from actually construeing an answer. You could have a look at How Long Is the Coast of Britain? Statistical Self-Similarity and Fractional Dimension (by far the longest Wikipedia title I've ever seen). It's rather technical, but the relevant phrase is "the measured lengths of coastlines and other natural geographic borders are dependent on the scale of measurement". If there's a big rock on a beach, would you ignore it or trace around it? And would you trace every indentation? And down to the smallest scale? To stretch the point, would you trace around molecules? So if you state the length of the coastline you should also state the scale, which might make it too mathematical if it's a geography project.
Having said that, you're supposed to "do your own homework" (see rules above). DirkvdM 12:12, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Using Different Scripts on the Computer

I am hoping to make a tshirt with our name in different scripts. I have these drawn on paper but I would like to be able to type them. I can download the scripts (I suppose) but how do I then find the letters on my Roman script keyboard. Could I get different people to email them to me? Would I be able to read them or would it just come up as gobbledy gook? Anybody who has any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Thanks Aviija - great work.

If you post the band's name here, I think some nice people would post translations and transliterations. Do not post your email address. // If you want to do this yourself, the easiest way is to look up alphabets for foreign scripts, such as this, and then copy-and-paste the letters you want. Another great source for writing systems is Omniglot. // Actually typing these requires more work. You'd need to go into your operating system's regional settings control panel, add a new language and keyboard. This usually adds a control to your system tray that lets you switch between these. Note that pressing "d" does NOT necessarily give you this foreign script's equivalent of "d". You'll need to find the layout or use an "on-screen keyboard" that shows what button is what symbol, but you'll need to read that alphabet to make sense of that. // If you want the name written out in a non-alphabetic language, such as Chinese or Japanese, things get much more complicated and you need to look up dictionaries, tables and use a composition input system. // If your band's name has a meaning, rather than just a sound, then it can be translated as a concept, as well as transliterated as a sound. // Be aware that sounding out English words in a foreign script can produce offensive or bizarre messages in those languages. :) --Avijja 06:22, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
Actually its not a band its a school.... The acronym is K.I.S. and I would also like "Welcome to Kodai" translating in the script of Bengali, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Russian and Hindi. Tall order eh?
Just wondering, is this Kodaikanal International School? I can't help you too much with the languages you are looking for, but you will get a more meaningful translation working with the full name than just the initials. --Metropolitan90 08:55, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 1 000 000th article

At what date is Wikipedia expected to hit its one millionth article? Battle Ape 11:17, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

Opinions differ. Somewhere near the end of February seems most likely now. David Sneek 14:33, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Electricity voltage

Hi, I have found that almost all electric voltages are multiples of 11 e.g. 110V,220V,440V,11000V,33000V,132000V etc.Why?

My guess is that someone picked 110 V by chance, and then, in order to make transformation easier, decided to make the other voltages easy multiples. For example, if you had a 110V, you could simply half the current and double the voltage to produce a 220V. Of course, the numbers given as a voltage are often out by up to +/- 10%, so the number will never be perfect. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 15:49, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Transformers can have any ratio of input/output voltages, as it's simply a ratio of the number of windings on each side.
  • UK voltages were 240V until recently, and now is 230V to standardise with Europe?
  • The supply to houses is typically one phase of a 3-phase supply which have their own equations (often involving root-3)
  • Voltages for long-distance transmission tend to be designed to minimise resistive losses (I²R), so use as high a voltage as their insulators (including the air around conductors) can handle
  • Electric power transmission has loads more info on these subjects
The Netherlands also changed from 240V to 230V, I believe because you can run both 220V and 240V machines on that. Another question. There used to be switches on machines to choose between voltages, but I haven't seen those for a while. What's the reason for that? DirkvdM 12:23, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
Supply voltages throughout Europe were standardised at 230V +- 10% fairly recently (some point in the 1990s I think.) The 10% tolerance allowed countries using 220V and 240V to stay at those voltages, despite having adopted a common "standard" voltage. Personally, I think we need more of the kind of standardisation which doesn't require anything to be changed, it's celarly the key to a harmonious Europe. :-) (Seriously, though, the effect it does have is to ensure that the same devices will work everywhere in Europe.)
As for the disapearing voltage selection switches, that is due to the use of Switched-mode power supplys, which can cope with wide-raning input voltages (the laptop I'm typing this on has a power supply brick which can take anything from 100V to 240V AC input to produce its 19V DC output.) -- AJR | Talk 13:08, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
Actaully, they were standardized to +6%/-10%. Overvoltage is more dangerous than under voltage. -Splashtalk 23:05, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
I was taking the tolerances from mains electricity, which says "...supply within the EU is now nominally 230 V +/− 10% (though some countries have stricter specifications: for example, the UK specifies 230 V +10% -6%)." -- AJR | Talk 02:55, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Gladiator

Is the story of Gladiator(directed by Ridley Scott, and starring Russell Crowe) a real story.

No, but it is clearly inspired by some well-known events from the history of Rome. See our article on the film. --Robert Merkel 13:24, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 1786 to 1789

was new york city the capital of the united states from 1786 to 1789.

[edit] Top tourist attraction in England

Hi, I've searched the site from end to end and used various wording for searching but can't see any reference to Englands most visited tourist site. I found France's easily enough so perhaps I'm missing something obvious. It used to be Stonehenge or the Tower of London but I'm not sure. Can you help? Thanks for reading this.

Ges

The most recent official statistics are at Star UK, from 2002. According to them, the leading paid-for attraction in England is the London Eye followed by the Tower of London and the Eden Project. However if you include free attractions, then Blackpool Pleasure Beach is top, followed by Tate Modern, the British Museum and the National Gallery all more popular than the Eye. David | Talk 19:03, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
The published figures for the Tate combine Tate Modern and Tate Britain. Tate Modern on its own is behind the British Museum and the National Gallery (see List of museums in London). CalJW 20:03, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] for 50 years

i watched a repeat of an episode of judging amy. amy was talking to an ins agent about a case during the conversion he said sweden was at war on and off for 50 years is that true.

No, it's not true. Sweden was neutral during World Wars I and II and non-aligned during the Cold War. See Sweden#Recent_history. Theshibboleth 02:14, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
Well, wait. Sweden was at war a lot in earlier times... Gustavus Adolphus in the 100 years war, and Charles XII in 18th C. for instance. They were in one of the coalitions against Napolean too. Maybe the guy was referring to those times. Herostratus 06:46, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Unidentified brazilian spider

Unidentified Brazilian spider - click to enlarge

I just found this spider in my backyard, in the middle of some old wooden boards we were moving around. It's about 5 cm long, and the body (cephalothorax + opisthosoma) are about .8 cm together, and almost indistinguishable from eachother. The color is a deep brown, and it has no spots or hair. The back legs are a lot thicker than the rest, and have spikes. I live in Minas Gerais, Brazil, so it should probably be something from this region.

Sorry for the bad pictures, but all I can afford to use is a crappy webcam. But, can anyone identify this for me? ☢ Ҡieff⌇↯ 20:58, 20 November 2005 (UTC)


[edit] Mountain Ranges near Los Angeles, CA

I live in Torrance, CA, which is a suburb of Los Angeles. I need to know what is the closest mountain range to my city, and the highest mountain closest to my city.

The closest mountain range is probably the Santa Monica Mountains. Its highest peak is Sandstone Peak at 3,111 feet. Theshibboleth 02:10, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
Mount San Antonio is the highest point in Los Angeles County. Yeltensic42.618 17:06, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Empire State

Why is New York known as the Empire State?

According to [43] it is called the Empire State because of its "wealth and variety of resources." According to [44] it is because of its size and resources. Theshibboleth 01:57, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
I think I remember reading that it's also because most New Yorkers supported the British Empire during the American Revolution, but I'm not sure where it was that I read that. Yeltensic42.618 17:09, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 21

[edit] red hat society club

ihave read that this club has chapters everywhere,but i cannot find any listings anywhere,where there are local chapters to belong to. can you please tell me where and how i find a listing of the chapters and states they are in? thank you,diane loverde

You can look up chapters here Theshibboleth 01:49, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
There is an article here about them as well, Red Hat Society. Dismas|(talk) 04:54, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Old FDNY trucks?

In my travels I have seen a few towns and citys that have fire trucks painted like FDNY trucks. Are they old FDNY trucks?

Do these trucks actually say "FDNY" on them? The color of fire trucks in the U.S. doesn't vary too much from city to city so I'm wondering how you know that they're from New York. That said, smaller towns and volunteer fire departments often get their trucks when larger cities upgrade their own trucks. The smaller towns can't afford the new ones so they'll often get the old ones that larger cities aren't using anymore. Dismas|(talk) 04:52, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
Camden, New Jersey has trucks that look very much like FDNY trucks, its almost as if they stuck Camden Fire Department stickers over the FDNY ones. Also, I have seen fire trucks in many different colours, ranging from white, to various shades yellow, and of course the traditional red.

[edit] iraq casualties

by month from may 2003 to nov 2005 jwk kcity

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/world/0401/chart.iraq.fatalities/frameset.exclude.html Nelson Ricardo 03:07, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Flight, invisibility, reading people's minds...

A long time ago when I was in grade school, a teacher once asked our class a question with a meaning similar to the following:

If you were given the choice of a superpower, among these three, which would you choose?
  1. The ability to fly at will
  2. The ability to be invisible at will
  3. The ability to read people's minds at will

The question is, where did this set of questions originate from? --HappyCamper 03:06, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

This probably doesn't help you much but I don't think you'll be able to find a "first" instance of these questions with a verifiable source. When I was a kid we'd play that "game" all the time. We'd ask each other "If you could have any superpower...?" or "If you had to choose between having X's powers or Y's powers, which would you choose?" etc. Dismas|(talk) 04:44, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] October Sky

What is the importance of the mural Homer's mother (Elsie) is painting in the kitchen?

I haven't seen the film, but from http://www.teachwithmovies.org/samples/october-sky.html I would guess that even though she stayed at the home, she still wanted to travel somewhere else. Theshibboleth 06:28, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

She had a thing for Murtle Beach, as I recall, and wanted to go there eventually. TomStar81 21:06, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] LPG(Liquefied Petroleum Gas) UN Number

What is the "LPG(Liquefied Petroleum Gas) UN Number"?

    • UN 1075 --Tachs 08:30, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Natasa Kiparizoska

Who is Natasa Kiparizoska

[edit] How many men in a tank during battle?

Daniel of Liverpool England asked the following question in an e-mail.

Hi My name is Daniel I am 9. I hope you can help me I am trying to find out how many men are in a tank during battle. My xbox game has two in a Rushian tank, is this right ? I know the Cheftan Tank has 4 I hope you can help me Thank you Daniel (Liverpool England)

Thank you for any help you can give him. Capitalistroadster 10:44, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Daniel - the number of people in a tank (called the crew compliment) depends on the type of tank. Almost all tanks ever made have had between 3 and 6 crewmen; 4 or 5 are probably the most common. Typically, you have a driver, loader, gunner, tank captian, and maybe a backup driver/backup loader/radio man. Raul654 10:47, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
Most recent Russian (or Soviet) tanks have a crew of 3 (commander, driver and gunner). Most other recent tanks have have a crew of 4 (commander, driver, gunner and loader). Russian tanks are equipped with an auto loader so the loader is eliminated. However, the U.S. does not believe in the reliability of such complex machinery, so U.S. tanks (and tanks made by most other countries as well) are still crewed by 4.
(Actually, the US doesn't use autoloaders because nobody has ever manufactured one that could keep pace with a human. Raul654 13:42, 21 November 2005 (UTC))
Many World War II tanks have a crew of 5 (e.g. M4 Sherman (U.S.), Tiger I (Germany; with 1 extra radio operator), T-34-85 (USSR)).
You can start your study from tank, tank classification and Category:Main battle tanks. -- Toytoy 12:47, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] massmedia

Yes – you can read about it in mass media. –Mysid 12:50, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Famous Tatars

Hi -

Your page on Tatars contains an image depicting the faces of many "famous tatars" but no reference to their names or who they were or are. I searched, but could not find any identifying information, which was frustrating. If such information exists somewhere in the vicinity of that page, perhaps it could be made easier to find. If such information does not exist, I am sure the problem can easily be remedied by one of your extremely knowledgeable writers.

A wonderful source of information otherwise. -- L. LaFay ---141.152.11.56 14:21, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

I posted this question on the Tatar's discussion page, you might get some help from there. - Akamad 19:44, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Don't forget to list the names of famous Tatar children, AKA, "Tatar tots". StuRat 22:45, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] i

Perhaps you're referring to the album by The Magnetic Fields? Or the imaginary number? George 21:08, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] VISCOSITY VALUES FOR HYDRAULIC COMPONENTS AND....

Can any body please assist me with the following infomation Am a design engineer based in Nigeria,and am designing an application that works with hydraulic fluids.


  1)A hand book of  the types of hydraulic fluids  available,
with their viscosity/temperature curves;including their properties

(more emphasis on the multigrades)

  2)Any manufacturer's published  operating and optimum viscosity values  of hydraulic components
     

 Thanks a lot

 Teddy Iyke
 +23856103624
Email:teddy_iyk@yahoo.com

[edit] Please help me identify this Spider???

http://www.smallestphoto.com/images/7spider.jpg

Strange looking spider...

Does Wikipedia have a article on it?? if not should have Small Unknown Spider. Thanks Mao

A urgent matter of information

  • If you search on Google for spider and picture, there will be several picture galleries of spiders listed. Go through those to see if you can identify this spider. - Dalbury(Talk) 19:47, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

I need Wikipedia Reference Desk help PLEASE

You might want to try posting under science. Noting how messy the web is, I'm wondering if this is one of the spiders they gave LSD to observe the effect on web design. StuRat 22:13, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Help! - ipod vs. washing machine

My 4th Generation 40 mb ipod accidently made a trip through the washing machine. Am I screwed?

More than likely, yes. Dismas|(talk) 19:53, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Well, if it was 40mg you're not missing much... heh. At any rate, to fix your 40GB ipod I'd ask www.ipodloungue.com, they'd probably have more useful information.

  • I dunno about washing machines, but I've witnessed a couple of ipods get swirlies; seemed like panic at first, but after a couple of days just sitting in a dry room (ok, I'm in Vegas, every room is a dry room) they woke up again and worked fine. I suppose a less than honest person would just get Apple to fix it and not mention the provenance of the soap suds; all they'll do is send you a new one anyway (at least, I've never experienced Apple actually repairing, as opposed to replacing, an iPod.) --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 20:51, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Starboard and Port sides of a ship

Maybe you can clear up a heated disscusion. I realize the starboard side of a ship is the right side facing the bow, in the movie titanic when they spotted the iceberg the wheelsman was ordered hard a starboard, but turned the ships wheel to turn the boat to the left. Was this wrong in the movie or am i missing something. Thanks much. Ed

It's a bit confusing, but this explains it pretty well. (Complex Nautical Reasons, apparently) Shimgray | talk | 19:39, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
That must have been really confusing for the helmsman. In the case of a simple tiller it makes some sense, but when you use a wheel it must be really confusing. DirkvdM 12:05, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Not actually that bad, when you think about it. On a ship large enough for Board of Trade regulations to be used (where you had a crew assumed to be unfamiliar with each other, and it wasn't a matter of "Bring her to port a touch, Mike, will you?"), the helmsman would have had almost no contact with the actual navigation or direction of the ship. He wouldn't have to worry about whether they were turning this way or that, or why; he'd just do as instructed by the navigator, and "hard to starboard" automatically meant "wheel to port". He was a seaman; it wasn't much difference to him which way the ship went, it was the officer's job to worry about all that rubbish. (The Merchant Navy of the period wasn't as feudal as the Royal Navy, but it was still pretty bad). Plus, of course, sailing ships were still being operated, some of them pretty old - an able seaman, or an officer, could plausibly have worked on wheel ships and the odd, archaic hangovers with tillers interchangeably. In those circumstances, you'd want to make sure neither party had to stop and think what ship they were on before giving an order - and everyone was used to giving tiller commands for pretty much this reason, so it was codified as using tiller commands.
Mind you, the 1933 changeover must have been fun :-) Shimgray | talk | 16:55, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Come to think of it, there also were no reason you couldn't have a ship with an oddly aligned wheel - facing to port or starboard, or even aft - or one where the helm was inside, and there was no visual cues as to direction. In that case, you'd want an obvious system, so that you always knew turning the wheel left brought the vessel to starboard - and if there's one thing you want at sea, it's something that's exactly what it seems to be, no confusion or exemptions.
The soul that cannot tell a lie—except upon the land! [45] Shimgray | talk | 16:59, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Yeah, but then it would have to be the other way around - imagine a car that would steer that way - that changeover should be fun too. :) Only when a tiller is used might there be confusion, but such boats are so much smaller that you always see what's where. And actually the direct contact makes you 'feel' how a tiller works, so pushing it to the left when you want o go starboard is entirely intuitive. I've never had any problems with it. Actually, on one sailing week there was this girl who wa so thick she couldn't figure out where the wind came from. But I can't recall her being confused at the tiller. DirkvdM 07:48, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Week

Why are there seven days in a week? Seven is a prime number, so it cannot be divided into more useful chunks of time, say blocks of two or three days. It seems rather inconvienient compared to six or eight days a week. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 19:31, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Blame God :) DirkvdM 12:08, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Average age of a Thallasemia major

One of my friends is a Thallasemia Major. I wanted to know what is the average age of a thalassemia patient who is tranfused regularly.And the maximum age any thallasemia patient has ever survived. And what are the latest developments in curing Thalassemia Major.

  • You can read up on this condition at [46]. The site at [47] gives some figures on life expectancy, but treat them with care. The figures are averages from past experience. Individuals vary, and new treatments have extended life expectancy from what was seen in the past. - Dalbury(Talk) 01:34, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] North Korea Concentration Camps

they are real right?? how awfully cruel! --Maoririder 20:15, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] I want to eat a deer

What do I need to know in order to shoot, prepare, slow roast and prepare an entire deer? It is in order for a deer and beer party that I am throwing shortly. Thanks!

Ah, for my old hunting days... The short answer is rather a lot, since you're wanting to shoot and clean your own. You'll need a fair amount of practice at shooting - deer don't usually stand still nearby to let you shoot them - and so you should certainly take a gun safety course (which may or may not be required in your jurisdiction to get a hunting license). Then you'll need some warm camo (ideally) and of course a gun.
Actually, I should stop there. The sensible thing to do would be to look up a shooting club in your area and talk to a member. They can certainly fill you in on all the local details. Alternatively, you could just buy deer meat, which would inevitably be cheaper than doing the hunting yourself. George 21:04, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
There's a short Wikibook about cooking deer. See: Venison. It seems to be missing recipes, but it recommends heating smaller cuts fast, while cooking larger pieces slowly and basting. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 22:05, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Err... sorry, I should add that I have a variety of weapons and am quite familiar with shooting. I am more concerned with the dressing/roasting part of things. Thanks!

Well any bookstore will have books on wild game recipes which will probably include guides to field dressing and even butchering. Any hunting/fishing type sporting goods stores will also have wild game recipe guides. The field dressing and aging will have a huge impact on the quality of the meat, as will the care taken in butchering. Carefully removing all of the sinew can greatly improve the flavor. But if by whole, you meant you wanted to roast it whole, you can rent one of those large roasters people roast pigs in, and once the deer is properly dressed, you could probably roast it much the same way. But keep in mind venison is very lean, so your recipes have to take that into account to keep it from being tough and dry. If you've hunted deer before you're likely aware that there are places all over in hunting areas where you can take a dear and have them butcher it for you, and you can choose how much steak, roasts, sausage, etc are made from it. You get less back than if you did it yourself, but that's the price of convenience. Of course a google search for "deer processing" and "venison recipes" could find all this for you too. Heh, typing this out was pretty entertaining since I've done most of the above, but I eat more vegetarian than not these days :). - Taxman Talk 19:46, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 22

[edit] world war II or "Hotel Rwanda"?

well, history fairs coming up! i was wondering, which topic would seem more interesting, world war II, or, i don't really know what this incident was called, but they made a movie out of it and called it "Hotel Rwanda"- it's where these 2 African tribes battle it out...then a genocide occured, i think the less powerful tribe was called the Tootsies, and in the end many people were killed and most Tootsie survivors hid in a hotel ownd by an African who is not a Tootsie (dont' know the name of the other, stronger tribe), but married one, he is made powerful because the business of his hotel was going very good, that it became an attraction for americans to see...The only reason why i want to do world war II, is because, i think, it envolves a bit of history about the Filipinos (which is pretty interesting) Hot F.l.i.p.

  • It depends. If including Filipino history is high on your todo list, pick the Second World War. Personally, I think it's been discussed a lot - perhaps too much (at least at my school), so showing some initiative and taking on a more original subject is probably going to get you higher marks if done correctly. - 131.211.210.16 09:40, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Let me get this clear. You're wondering whether World War II or the Rwandan genocide would be the more interesting topic? Surely only you can answer that. We can't tell you what to be interested in, which is why we have about 875,000 articles, which cater for all interests. JackofOz 02:06, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Actually, I just checked the main page and we have about 832,000 articles, just to be obsessive-compulsive about it...but anyway, I would recommend Hotel Rwanda for the reasons above. Yeltensic42.618 19:04, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

well, it's not really a "to do" thing it's more like representing my culture...know what i'm saying?...and i like both topics...is there any interesting facts about either one of the topics that you guys know about?...i'll probably pick the one that has more "unknown" facts about the event...♥Hot F.L.I.P.

that remains a personal discission. i can imagine ww2 had some effects on the filipines, where the rwandan genocide prolly hadn't. but then again, the ww2 topic has prolly been covered a lot more times before. Boneyard 11:13, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
The origins of the Hutu/Tutsi ethnic conflict & resulting genocide is quite interesting - both ethnicities were arbitrarilly chosen by the old colonial power (think it was the Dutch) and people were assigned an 'ethnicity' based on the number of cattle they owned at the time. One group was favoured over the other, as a divide & rule policy, (though the favoured group changed around a few times I think) & over the years there developed major conflict, then genocide, between the 2 groups. I don't know if this is noted in the relevant articles or not. If I've time I'll check & try to add details if not. AllanHainey 09:29, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
the article mentions the belgiums as the colonial power, not the dutch, the dutch didn't have much colonies in africa anyway. Boneyard 11:13, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] What is a round?

A lot of different things depending on the context. Shimgray | talk | 01:17, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

(after edit conflict) Once will do! See round. -- Chuq 01:22, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Eponym of Rue St Jacques, Paris

I'm interested in eponymous place names, particularly indirect ones. I've had the following question on Talk:Jacobin Club since September, but no responses, so I thought I'd put it out there to all my learned colleagues.

The term "Jacobins" was given to the French Dominicans because their first house in Paris was in the Rue St Jacques. It was later applied to a different organization, the Jacobin Club. My question is, who was the St Jacques after whom Rue St Jacques was named? Was this the apostle St James, or some other saint? JackofOz 01:49, 22 November 2005 (UTC)


The mairie de Paris's page at http://www.v1.paris.fr/CARTO/Nomenclature/8648.nom.html says it was named for a 13th century chapelle Saint-Jacques. So it's at least one remove from an actual person. (Person -> Church -> Street, rather than Person -> Street). This would be the church of St. Jacques in which Saint Dominic prayed in 1213 for intercession for victory in the Albigensian Crusade at the Battle of Muret. His prayers were so apparently efficacious that Simon de Montfort erected a chapel in the church of Saint-Jacques in thanks for his victory over Peter II of Aragon. I suspect the church was probably named for St. James the Greater = St. James of Compostella. (But, as they say, this proof is left as an exercise for the reader... sorry about that!) - Nunh-huh 02:33, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

If this can help, on the Rue St Jacques is a church dedicated to the pilgrims of St James of Compostella (at the crossroads with the Rue de l'Abbé de l'Épée). David.Monniaux 08:40, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

Thank you very much - et merci beaucoup - to you both. JackofOz 10:26, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Manufacture of Stainless Steel Kettles

A Wikipedia user has asked the Wikipedia Help mailing list.

I need to find out how to make a stainless Steel Kettle, I have done some reseach and, I think it could be Die Casting, Gravity casting or even Pressure Die Casting, but I really dont know, could you help me please?

Thanks for any help you might be able to give her. Capitalistroadster 02:10, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

I assume you mean the common house-hold apparatus used to heat up water? To make one of these you'd essentially want casing, a handle that doesn't conduct heat too well and (unless it's a stovetop) a heating element. I am also going to assume that you want to use stainless steel for the main casing of the thing. The easiest way to do this would be to get a sheet of stainless steel and bend it so that it forms a cylindrical shape - you could make the base and lid out of sheets (bending and fixing using screws - trusses presumably). Casting is a very tricky process requiring LOTS of energy (for heat) and lots of specialist equipment.--Oldak Quill 22:48, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 200 euro means

hi what does 200 euro means in us

  • Roughly $235.49, acoording to this page. In the future, you may want to try an Internet search (Google or Yahoo, for example.) Deltabeignet 05:17, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
You can, for example, search for 200 euros in US dollars [48] and Google knows the answer. –Mysid 07:56, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Oyster Crackers

How did oyster crackers get their name?

They were meant to provide a crunchy contrast in texture when eaten with oyster stew. - Nunh-huh 06:29, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wheeled luggage?

It seems like wheeled luggage has been around, or at least common, for a relatively short time. In fact, one article [49] suggests that it wasn't patented until 1972, and I don't think it became really popular until the 1990s. Why would it take so long for such a seemingly obvious invention to be invented and then catch on? --Metropolitan90 06:16, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

Many inventions are slow to catch on because people are conservative. One might as well ask why suitcases (including the wheeled ones) haven't disappeared yet, considering that backpacks have, in the West, been around for a few decades now. (Actually, why did suitcases come about in the first place, considering that the rest of the world have always used their shoulders (and sometimes heads) as the most logical support points.) At first, people weren't used to them and they were even linked with hippies, because those were the earliest users. But now they've been around long enough. Those hippies are in their fifties now and only the very old have grown up without backpacks. Still, many use suitcases. Why? I've heard some stupid excuses. A while ago someone said "Yeah, but old people don't have strong enough shoulders to carry a backpack". Well, if you're not fit enough to carry a certain weight in a backpack then you certainly won't be able to carry it in a suitcase. And why are there still so many of those wheeled suitcases with the wheels on the narrow side, so they keep on toppling over, even though the obvious improvement of putting them further apart on the broad side has been around for some time now? I've though of a considerable improvement of the backpack, but one reason I haven't pursued (marketed) it yet is precisely because I'm afraid it will take longer than my lifetime to convince people of the usefulness.
Another example. I'm currently writing an article on the glass palace, which was built in 1935 and captured so much heat that it heating wasn't necessary. Considering the cost of heating (both economically and ecologically) why aren't all buildings built this way? Last night I saw something on tv about a building in Delft (I believe) that is built on the same principle. That was presented as something new, but it's 70 years old and must be obvious enough for architects.
And another example. Why do we drive around cities in private cars when public transportation would save loads of money, space and lives? Well ok, that's because governments would have to implement it and if they can't convince the people whose votes they need then it won't happen, so that may be not such a good example. But there are plenty other examples. Such as the fifth door in a car. Why did that take so long and why are there still cars with oldfashioned trunks? It's plain conservatism. Which isn't all that stupid in general because it's often better to stick with what works. Communism seemed like a good idea, but it was a massive experiment that turned out not to work quite that well in practise. But sometimes, in retrospect, it looks really idiotic how slow people accept an obvious change. Obvious in retrospect, that is. DirkvdM 12:04, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Many people dislike glass houses because they offer less privacy, but they have no reason for public buildings. I'm sure the situation is probably different in the Netherlands, but here in the United States where mass transit even exists it is generally poorly operated (some exceptions:New York, Chicago and Boston)and most of our cities (especially in the sunbelt states like Florida and California) are so idiotically sprawling that it is virtually impossible to get around other than by car. So the real question is, why do our governments let this happen? Oh yes, of course...to help the oil companies. Yeltensic42.618 19:20, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
It's liberalism. Governments, especially the one in the US, in principle do nothing unless needed. So the streets got filled with private cars and what little public transportation there is is now quite horrible. So people think it's inherently bad, so they won't vote for parties that are in favour of expanding it. In this case a totalitarian regime could have its advantages. Such as in Singapore. DirkvdM 09:51, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Also, much wheeled luggage is actually quite useless — the wheels are too small and are more liable to make you drop the thing than get it from one place to another. It seems that it was only relatively recently that people started making luggage with a very strong, stabilizing handle, and two large wheels placed right on the corner of the luggage (which keeps it at a straight angle). Also, just as an aside, if it was patented in the early/mid 1970s, the patents would have just been expiring in the late 1980s/early 1990s, allowing for free use among different manufacturers. So that might be one part of the answer, though I don't know for sure. --Fastfission 14:48, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Until 30 or 40 years ago porters carried most of the luggage at train stations and airports. They took the luggage out of the car or cab, and wheeled it on their carts to the train car or the luggage check-in. People who couldn't afford to pay a porter for handling their luggage couldn't afford fancy new luggage, either. Remember, travel used to be much more formal; men wore suits and ties while traveling on trains and airplanes; women, dresses and high heels. It was only after people actually started lugging their baggage around, especially because they wanted to carry it all on-board to avoid the long wait at the luggage carousel, that having wheels on a suitcase made any sense. - Dalbury(Talk) 23:34, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Or backpacks. You're talking about the West. Like I said, where people had to carry their luggage themselves, they used backpacks. Or they carried it on their heads, which was often done with those cumbersome suitcases that the colonists brought with them, when they then had to carry them. That places the weight right above the feet, which is ideal for carrying. But it requires a balancing act, which the backpack doesn't. So the backpack is a bit of a compromise. It still has the weight off-centre, but you have to bend forward in stead of sideways, as with a suitcase, which makes a huge difference for the wellbeing of your back. Of course not having to carry the weight at all and only having to pull, as with a wheeled suitcase would be even more ideal. But then it would have to be a proper design, not only with a wide wheelbasis, but also with bigger wheels, depending on the terrain. And if the terrain gets a bit too rough the advantage is gone again. Especially in mud, where you might get bogged down. The wheeled suitcase is for people who don't go beyond airports and hotels and the backpack is the best allrounder. DirkvdM 10:16, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Who is this?

Hi folks, I have an vague query which I hope someone can help out with. It is really bugging me at the moment and I won't be able to sleep tonight unless I work it out ...

I remember on wikipedia, on the 'current events' page, there was once a notice about a famous person (logician? or philosophier?) who recently died. In that person's article, it had a bit about that particular person being born from outside US and when in the US, not being able to speak English perfectly, found himself in some trouble with the police. Apparently (as the story goes) he was something like "You can't ..." and given his accent the police heard a profanity instead.

Is anyone able to help out with this piece of trivia? Who is this person?

Sorry for the vagueness of the request! novacatz 08:02, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

Remember how long this was ago? Banana04131 17:15, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
about 2-3 months novacatz 05:37, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
Jacques Derrida (Algerian/French/Jewish and philosopher of language) died a year ago. Probably a red herring, but worth a stab. --24.17.30.163 05:22, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Brothers

Are Roy Keane the one who left manchester united recently & Robbie Kean who is the striker of Totenham Hostpurs brothers or not? Apart from these are there or were there any brothers who play or played soccer at the high club or national team level?

Yes they are. Other brothers include Jack Charlton & Bobby Charlton.
The third sentence of our article on Roy Keane says this:"Roy Keane is not related to fellow Irish footballer Robbie Keane.". The question gets asked in many places on the internet, but 'no' is always the answer. DJ Clayworth 15:18, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Gary Neville and Phil Neville are footballing brothers and at one point played on the the same team for both club and country--Goshawk 15:33, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Brothers Brian Laudrup and Michael Laudrup played for Brondby, Lyngby, and Denmark. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 15:43, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

The Dutchs Frank Debour & Ronald Debour can also be mentioned as brothers who played at the high level for Barcelona & the Netherlands national team.

Frank de Boer and Ronald de Boer. David Sneek 18:45, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The day the dollar falls

I just saw a dramatised 'what-if' documentary on tv under above title about what would happen if the US $ would collapse. Apparently the national debt of the US has increased dramatically under Bush (after a short good spell under Clinton) and the US now live way above their standard of living, for which they borrow 3 billion US$ per day (per day!?). This creates an artificial paper wealth. Of course this is quite similar to the 1920/30's and a similar crash could happen again (apparently it's not a matter of if but of when). One possible result of this would be that especially Asian countries, like China, would benefit. Also, China is the largest invester in the US$. This made me think. Could China be doing this on purpose? What if they would start selling their dollars really quick (so they still get a good bargain before the dollar goes into freefall)? That would cause a collapse - others will naturally follow to still get what they can get for their dollars, which would cause a further fall, etc. Might China, with its loans to the US, really be after the collapse of the US economy? Then again, someone else said that China would suffer (losing a major market). So what's the deal here? And what would happen to Europe? (This last question because that's where I live). A possible scenario that was mentioned is that Europe creates an artificially high exchange rate (not linked to the free money market), to which the US react furiously because Europe tries to gain a benefit at their expense. How's that? DirkvdM 14:41, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

There are a couple of reasons why this is probably not China's goal. China has not only bought US dollars, they have lent the US money and also invested in the Western economies, and so would suffer if they crashed. Similarly a lot of broke companies wouldn't be paying back China they money they owed them. Thirdly China makes most of its money by exporting manufactured goods. Who would they export them to if the US economy collapsed? DJ Clayworth 14:52, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
  • I would also note that twenty years ago the worry was that the oil Arabs were buying up so much property in the US, and that they could cause a collapse by suddenly pulling out. If it's not one threat, it has to be another. - Dalbury(Talk) 23:24, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
When it comes to investments and markets, the US may represent a major share, but they're not the only ones. But a more important reason would be political, a reason that doesn't apply to the Arabs (if you ignore the terrorism bullshit for a second) because they just want to get rich. China may seem to have 'turned', but remember the regime hasn't changed. What they are doing now has two effects. It lulls the US into a sense of safety (ah, they've seen the light of capitalism at last). And it gives them the power to crush the US financially. That may cost them a lot, but so does the army (which always takes a big chunk aout of a nations economy). They may simply regard this as a military expense. Oh dear, I'm giving away their little plan for world domination. I expect to see the Chinese secret service on my doorstep any moment now.
Then again, the Chinese have always been a nation of traders, so becoming capitalist 'again' should come natural to them. And they've got a millennia (?) old tradition of merging ideologies, so who knows what interresting mix they may come up with this time. DirkvdM 10:42, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

A distinction should be made here on what "the dollar falling" means. If it merely means the US dollar will by 10 or 20% less on the international market than before, that would actually be good for the US, as it would make imports more expensive and exports cheaper, thus vastly improving the balance of trade. China has been working very hard to keep their yuan low in comparison with the US dollar and other currencies so they can have just such a benefit.

However, if you mean that the US dollar would go to zero value, that would certainly trigger a global depression, including in China. I don't see that happening, though, as China doesn't have control of that large a share of US wealth to effect such a total collapse. Once a substantial drop in the US dollar occured, you would see hordes of foreign investors pouring money into the US economy to pick up assets at bargain prices, and hordes of Americans selling off foreign assets which would appear to have increased dramatically in value. Both activities would result in massive foreign cash infusions in the US, which would raise the value of the US dollar. Furthermore, the US could move to stop a slide by reinstating a gold/silver standard, whereby the precious metals in Fort Knox could be exchanged at a fix rate with currency. If that ran out, they could then auction off vast tracts of federal land and other assets for more. StuRat 20:50, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

Also note that borrowing $3 billion a day ($1.1 trillion a year) is less than 10% of the annual US Gross Domestic Product of $11.75 trillion. StuRat 21:08, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

Here are countries with their percentages of foreign debt to GDP listed, to give you an idea how bad the foreign debt problem is in the US compared with other countries:

Iraq        =229.8%
Portugal    =145.6%
Spain       = 82.2%
Israel      = 57.7%
Italy       = 56.8%
Canada      = 55.7%
Australia   = 50.5%
Argentina   = 32.6%
Greece      = 29.7%
Poland      = 21.4%
South Korea = 17.3%
Indonesia   = 17.1%
Mexico      = 14.9%
Brazil      = 14.7%
Russia      = 12.0%
US          = 11.9% <-
India       =  3.5%
China       =  3.2%

StuRat 21:58, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

Well, I don't know enough about economy to really judge this (despite years of classes in it, which I hated, so that may be the reason I suppose). But it was a study by NRC Handelsblad, a financial newspaper, so they should know what they are talking about. They talked about a paper wealth, saying that the US consume way more than what they have. So it's about the very lack of a physical basis, so I don't suppose reinstituting the gold standard would help any. And you say that China alone does not have a big enough share in the US economy, but if they would start to sell their US dollars that could cause a panic in the stock markets in the world, with everyone trying to still get what they can, a snowball effect. DirkvdM 08:08, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Human Causes For Extensive Damage Caused By A Hurricane

i want to know about the human causes which leads a very destructive nature of a hurricane

Um, hurricanes are caused (ultimately) by sunlight and the Earth's rotation. Not humans. —Keenan Pepper 18:43, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
It has been suggested that Global warming strengthens hurricanes. Have a read of this and [this. From what I gather, warmer sea temperatures means more energetic storms. - Akamad 19:39, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
You might also want to consider that more unstable buildings will more easily fall down in hurricanes - thus a whole city of such buildings will experience more destruction and death than a city lacking such buildings. A reason for the number of deaths in New Orleans is that a dam failed, this is ultimately a human error - they could have been made hurricane-proof, leading to less destruction. --Oldak Quill 22:20, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Hurricane-proof is a very tricky, and very expensive goal. By bitter experience we have found that 'hurricane-proof' designs turned out not to be, and the building codes are periodically made stricter, but will never be perfect. By the way, it was levees, several of them, that failed in New Orleans, usually because the storm surge went over the top. A hurricane-proof levee system in New Orleans would be very expensive, I'm sure more expensive than anyone will agree to pay for. - Dalbury(Talk) 23:20, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Of course, I wasn't considering the practicality, I was making the point that the destructiveness of hurricanes is also down human beings. Another way in which humans influence destructiveness is how the authorities handle the situation - whether they evacuate effectively, &c. --Oldak Quill 05:44, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Hurricanes are indeed fed by warm water and the effects of global warming are uncertain, especially locally, but it will lead to warmer seas and that will lead to more hurricanes. I believe this is one of the few things that are certain and there are already reports that hurricanes appear where and/or when they're not supposed to.
About the cost of a defence system, that's pretty high indeed, but the Netherlands have done it. New Orleans, which is in a very comparable situation (one big sub-sea level estuary) hasn't. The US have called in Dutch expertise, but whether the rich USA are willing to put the required amount of money into this poor region is another matter entirely. The US isn't a socialist country like the Netherlands. And Bush might think that Katrina was quite litterally an act of God unleashed against this Voodoo region. And do you see Bush going against something that might be the will of God? DirkvdM 10:53, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Not to mention God wanting to punish New Orleans for its debauchery and sin :)...I suppose a sandstorm will bury Las Vegas next, an earthquake will destroy San Francisco to punish those sinful gays, Massachussetts will fall into the sea for allowing gay marriage, locusts will descend upon France for disagreeing with Bush over the Iraq war, and last but not least the North Sea will burst the levees and crash upon the Netherlands for legalizing marijuana and prostitution. Yeltensic42.618 19:33, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
And then there's that supervolcano under Yellowstone and if the La Palma volcano collapses, a megatsunami could wash out the East coast. The Netherlands are safe, though. As we say "God created Earth and the Dutch created the Netherlands. So he doesn't rule here. :) DirkvdM 08:17, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
One problem New Orleans has is precisely that it is in hurricane territory, making levees less helpful (correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Netherlands is often hit by hurricanes). The comment about God not ruling over the Netherlands reminded me of a sign that used to stand along the I-4 highway going through Orlando, Florida (home to Disney World etc.), 40 miles from the computer I am sitting at; it said "Jesus Christ Is Lord Over Greater Orlando", which to me sounds like it means that is all...as soon as you venture beyond Deltona (a bedroom town several miles to my southeast that is usually considered the outer periphery of the Orlando metro area), Satan is in charge. Yeltensic42.618 21:45, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
Also, Bush probably wants God to wipe out the East Coast because of all the states in the Northeast that voted for that satanist John Kerry...and everyone obviously wants to bury Florida after what happened in the 2000 presidential election...Yeltensic42.618 21:20, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
To be on the safe side, tornadoes should rip apart Ohio, the coal mines should burst seams and swallow up Pennsylvania, the Great Lakes should crash down upon Michigan, a milk flood should wash away Wisconsin, New Mexico should be annihilated by a nuclear weapons test, and West Virginia and New Hampshire should be buried in Appalachian rubble :). Yeltensic42.618 21:20, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
Oh, and I almost forgot...locusts should descend upon the cornfields of Missouri and Iowa :). Yeltensic42.618 21:24, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

One way is by allowing, and even encouraging, construction of low quality housing in areas prone to disaster, such as below sea level in an area regularly hit by hurricanes. When homes are destroyed in such areas, the government should not pay to rebuild them, or should pay to rebuild them in a way that will allow them to survive a hurricane, such as on concrete stilts above sea level. Banning construction of dangerous homes in dangerous areas should also be done. To fail to do so is a death sentence for some future generation, or perhps the current one, depending on when the next big hurricane hits. StuRat 20:27, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

Another thought is that draining coastal swamps, which have a great capacity for absorbing excess water without severe damage, leaves the coast more vulnerable to this type of damage. StuRat 20:31, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Spider

http://crossroads.net/a/images/spider_top.jpg 130.111.98.131 18:30, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

You are correct, the creature in the photo is, in fact, a spider. You just qualified for the bonus round! ByeByeBaby 05:48, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Chemical Ali

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/images/ali_chemical.jpg does he look like Saddam? 130.111.98.131 18:38, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

The picture is of Chemical Ali, who is Saddam's cousin, which would explain the similarity. - Akamad 19:33, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] United States Navy

http://www.markchurms.com/Merchant2/graphics/reign-l.jpg what is he trying to show? 130.111.98.131 18:45, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

I suppose the artist is trying to show the attack on Pearl Harbor. Grumpy Troll Talk 19:47, 22 November 2005 (UTC).
I disagree. The ship does appear to be near land, due to the mountains in the back, but it is not docked, as was the case for most ships attacked at Pearl Harbor. Also, the presence of anti-aircraft flak suggests those on the ship were prepared for the attack, unlike at Pearl Harbor. Furthermore, the planes depicted near the ship could be taken to be kamikaze planes, shince duirng a typical bombing run they would not go so low. This last point could be a matter of interpretation, however, as the planes might have been flying at altitude and have been shot down and decided to take a suicide run at the ship as their last act of vengeance. Kamikazes (pre-meditated suicide attacks) were only used near the end of WW2, near Japan. StuRat 20:11, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Perhaps the artist is not trying to show anything other than a ship getting attacked, in other words, in might not represent any historical event(s). - Akamad 11:11, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

The ship is a Missouri- class battleship. None were in Pearl Harbor, but were active in the last years of the war in the northwest Pacific. It looks to me pretty likely intended to represent any of the late WWII actions in support of the island invasions such as Okinawa. The heavy flak indicates air attack, which could well be kamikaze attacks by that stage.

Its not a Missouri-class; Missouri was an Iowa class battleship that had three turrets; two in the front and one in the back; However the battleship depicted in your painting has four turrets, two in the front and two in the back. My educated guess, based on the design of the ship and its features, is that this is one of the Montana class battleships that were cancelled before construction. Since they were concived of during WWII it is entirely possible that the artist is showing what they would have been like in actual combat. TomStar81 08:19, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
I agree with Tom. Those planes are (IMO) clearly intended to be kamikazes, and this depiction matches almost-to-a-tee the kind of battles that occured over the landing zones at Iwo Jima and Okinawa late in the war. (Notice there's another ship under attack in the background on hte left) Raul654 08:23, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
  • On closer inspection and a little digging, I think that your painting is of the battleship USS Pennsylvania. The turret count is right, both bridges seem to be in the right place, and if you notice in the painting the hull has an abrupt right slant around the middle of the boat, a feature found on the Pennsylvania-class, but the largest supporting point for here is the hull number found on the front and back of the ship, which look to be roughly in the shape of a "3" and an "8". The battleship with a corresponding hull number of 38 is Pennsylvania. After the attack on Pearl Habor Pennsylvania was repaired and sent into the Pacific Theatre as a screen for the aircraft carriers and to provide offshore artillery support for US Army and Marine Corps landings. Your painting probably depicts Pennsylvania during the Lingayen Gulf campaign, but don’t hold me that :) TomStar81 09:47, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] atlantis in the lower 48

are there any places that are believed to be atlantis that are in the lower 48 states.

Lower 48 states of what? David | Talk 21:03, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Assuming you mean the lower 48 states of the United States of America, then no, since Atlantis is under water. Unless you are refering to a certain episode of Futurama, in which case you may find this more useful. If Atlantis was anywhere, chances are it would be in the Mediterrainian Sea. You may find this article, Location hypotheses of Atlantis, useful. It doesn't mention the USA, but says it may be off the coast of Cuba. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 21:39, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Atlantis is fictional. Stop looking for it in the real world. - Nunh-huh 22:17, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Some fiction is based on a grain of truth, like the Trojan War as the basis for The Iliad. The best explanation I've seen for the Atlantis myth is that a Greek volcanic island (possibly Santorini) exploded after rumbling and erupting for some time, enabling many of the inhabitants to flee. This would have occured before the Greeks (pre-Greek Minoans, technically) had developed a written language, so accounts would be quite sketchy. The theory goes on to say those who escaped moved to what is modern Israel/Palestine and became the Phillistines. Examinations of Phillistine sites seem to show pre-Greek designs but no written language. The parts about Atlantis being a continent, which required it to be relocated out of the Mediterranean into the ocean named after it, and continuing to support a human population under water, were all be made up later. Volcanic islands do occasionally explode, leaving little or nothing above the water. StuRat 23:55, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Some fiction is based on a grain of truth, but there is precious little reason to place the story of Atlantis in that class of fiction. - Nunh-huh 00:25, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
You might want to check out Location hypotheses of Atlantis. Banana04131 17:09, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 75th wedding anniversary

Does anyone know what the symbol is for the 75th wedding anniversary?

Let's say "opinions differ", probably because that's a long time to be married. I think it's about an even split: the diamond importers/sellers would like it to be a diamond. About an equal number of people would say "Platinum" (figuring that 25th is silver, 50th is gold, so 75th should be a more valuable precious metal.) - Nunh-huh 22:24, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
According to Wedding anniversary the 75th is the diamond or double diamond anniversary. Queen Victoria, however, decided to celebrate her 60th year of reign as diamond and, since, the 60th is called Diamond. This has led to the 75th being known as the "Double Diamond anniversary". According to the same page the Platinum anniversary is the 70th year of marriage. --Oldak Quill 22:28, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
The point being that there's no right answer. A 75th Wedding Anniversary is sufficiently rare that there can be no authentic "tradition" built up, so any answer is arbitrary. I'd suggest Dentucreme. - Nunh-huh 22:56, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
I think you're being ageist. JackofOz 08:38, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Maybe you could ask about how Noah and family celebrated their 750th anniversaries... Ojw 21:02, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
jewel-encrusted oxygen tanks Nelson Ricardo 21:41, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] babylon 5 an allegory

hello iam a pop artist who is not as famous as andy worhol is anyway there is a rumor going around my place of work that babylon 5 is an allegory of world-war-two with the minrbi representing THE U.S.S.R.,the earth allience being the allies,president clark being the axis powers [after all he wants to turn earth into a neo-facist state.] the babylon project representing an atomic bomb. and the minrbi civil war and the shadow war being the cold war which was after world-war-two.what i want is if there is any truth to this rumor.

Well, all stories are alike, and all stories that owe a larged debt to Lord of the Rings will be thought of as possibly analogous to WWII. One problem with the analogy in this case is that all the wars in B5 were anticlimaxes. -Nunh-huh 22:56, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 23

[edit] The restaurant Strawberry Patch-Help Me!

When I lived in Houston in the eighties-nineties there was a restaurant called the Strawberry Patch on Westheimer Street across from a public Library. They had the BEST cheeseburgers on this earth and they tasted like NO OTHER burger I have EVER tried. Does anyone remember this place? Is there ANY OTHER Strawberry Patch in the US? Or at least the recipe for the burger?

I believe they changed the name to "Pappas Bros. Steakhouse". Since it's under the same owners, hopefuly it will be as good as ever, although it is rather pricey ($50-$100): Restaurant review StuRat 19:24, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Correction, I believe the place you want is next door:

http://www.pappasburger.com

Pappas Burger

5815 Westheimer, 713-975-6082

A clean, well-lit place for quality burgers in the Galleria area, Pappas Burger is a modern burger joint that also serves beer. The meat is first-rate; they start with never-been-frozen beef, ground fresh daily next door at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse. Then they make a half-pound patty and griddle-cook it. You choose from a wide variety of configurations and order at the counter. The blue cheese burger is the local favorite.

If it's the blue (bleu in French) cheese burger you like, there are many recipes for those. They have a unique taste. StuRat 19:42, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
OF course, the "Best Cheeseburgers on Earh" claim has to be contested....Once you've found this jrnt, truck on up to New Haven, Connecticut and try out the burgers at Louis Lunch. All other burgers are toboueffy... - Nunh-huh 07:04, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

OK...neither is correct. That resteraunt does not serve burgers. I think it may have been with the same company who owned Pappadeux Or Bennigans. More help please?

[edit] Santa Mail

What does the USPS do with all that Santa mail they get? Do they even get any? --Shanedidona 05:26, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

  • They get lots. [50]. Since 1912, they have been shared with those designated by the post office as Santa's helpers - "charitable organizations, employees of local post offices, and volunteers." - Nunh-huh 05:30, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] my grandfather

dear sirs, my grandfather might have went to this scool in 1900's i'm not sure would like to know. his name was richmond lyke, ssn: 121-12- 3800, went to culver military academy , in culver IN, he was born august 24 1888., in millerton, pennsylvania. if u could find out for me , u can write me at <e-mail address removed>, thankyou very much for this sight. dean lyke. 5055n 1145 w delphi, IN. 46923

Dean, I have removed your e-mail address so that you won't get put onto various spam lists. If you look at our article on Culver Military Academy, you will find a link to the school's website. that should give you contact information so you can enquire to the school directly. Ground Zero | t 14:22, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 1970s MUSIC

There was a song from the 70s called i believe "think of me' also ia song i believe named second avenue /on second avenue I would like to know the artists of these two songs

You might be able to find what you're looking for at http://www.allmusic.com. -- Rick Block (talk) 15:56, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Todd Rundgren, and Hello it's me, I would guess? "Think of me/You know that I'd be with you if I could/I'll come around to see you once in a while" and so on. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 23:10, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 1967 camaro rs/ss production

Dear sir/ma'am

I understand that there were 34,000 plus 1967 camaro ss's. Of that number how many of them were equiped with the ralley sport package? :Thank you

Mark T. Hoven

this document at camaros.org might help to answer your question. If not, they seem to have a lot of information on the Camaro, so they might be able to point you in the right direction. --Robert Merkel 05:50, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] programming language

Hi. I will like to start programming, but what is the best "programming language"???

For a first language, I suggest BASIC or even FORTRAN, which is also simple to learn. C and especially C++ are far more difficult, so I don't suggest them until you are able to do the basics. StuRat 19:08, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
I disagree. Nearly my first programming language (after logo) was learning C purely from K&R The C Programming Language. An extraordinarily well written book; accurate, clear, and concise all at the same time, which is quite an accomplishment. That said, it's still not easy and takes a lot of time. Also cynical programmers will tell you that BASIC rots your brain and will forever ruin your ability to program correctly. I never bothered to keep up my programming skills as other interests took me away, but C can be done. It then makes a good base for learning other languages. - Taxman Talk 19:26, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Everyone has their favorite, of course, and asking which is "the best" is likely to lead to a lot of useless bickering, but I suggest Python. It's easy to learn, but it's still a "real" language used for big projects; it's open source and available for many platforms; and the documentation at http://docs.python.org/ is well-written and helpful. —Keenan Pepper 22:09, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Depends on what your goals are. Do you want to become a professional programmer? Do you have some specific things you want to write programs for - for instance, do you want to do web programming, or perhaps develop embedded systems for electronics hobby projects? Do you want to program games?
One suggestion I'd make is that if you really want to learn to program properly, you might consider taking a course in it rather than trying to learn purely by yourself. That may of course be because I'm employed by a university, so I have a vested interest in encouraging people to take courses... ;)--Robert Merkel 03:09, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

I agree strongly that it depends what your goals are. If you just want to throw together little programs, and don't expect ever to do anything large, then depending on the environment you are in you might try PERL, Javascript, or one of Microsoft's .NET languages, mainly because you will easily find a lot of reusable fragments that you can string together to do things. If you plan eventually to be a "real" programmer, though, PERL and Javascript are not places to start: PERL positively discourages discipline (as does most BASIC) and Javascript is kind of limited. Pascal and Modula-2, both invented by Niklaus Wirth were both specifically designed as disciplined languages for beginners, and remain good places to start. I think Java also is something one can learn from the bottom up (with a good book, or a course), and it encourages a disciplined approach, and you can stay in Java from the very simple to the very complex as you learn more and more of what it can do. I'm old enough that I started in Assembler myself: IBM 1401 Assembler. Do not do that. Personally I like—well, love—C/C++, but I think that its ability to use manipulate addresses directly with "pointers" (and the concommitant requirement to understand memory management) is probably unnecessarily daunting/dangerous for any but the very technically inclined beginner. Then again, once you grasp both pointer arithmetic and object orientation, you have quite a vocabulary of concepts to take to anything else. Hope that's at least slightly helpful, if you make your goals clearer probably several of us can give more appropriate advice. -- Jmabel | Talk 06:42, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

In line with the remark about BASIC being a bad first language because it will leave you with a wrong idea of how porgramming should be done. The opposite goes for object oriented programming languages, like Java. Proper programming is done in a modular way - first writing a very rough sequence of what needs to be done, refine that until you have a list of interdependent building blocks that can be translated into programming language instructions, where possible reusing stuff already written (by yourself or others). Object-oriented programming is designed specifically for this (the last bit, at least). This modular approach also makes it easier to understand the structure of a program and, conversely, to write it. DirkvdM 08:30, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
Pascal and Modula-2, both invented by Niklaus Wirth
I thought Pascal was Edsger Dijkstra's work? Chris talk back 03:18, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] TV Commercials

Is there a website like IMDB that lists Celebrities TV commercial credits?

imdb does show celebrities' commercials, though you have to search for it by each celebrity, they don't list them by product. Go to the celebrity's page and click on the "Other works" link on the left. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger's commercials are listed at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000216/otherworks -- note that "other works" include videos, theater, etc. User:Zoe|(talk) 01:14, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] should a long term lease be considered debt or equity financing? why?

Should a long term lease be considered debt or equity financing? why?

  • Wouldn't it depend on whether or not the lease is in the name of the owner or of the company? User:Zoe|(talk) 01:15, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Sounds like a homework question to me. If so, please do your own homework. You can start be reviewing our article on leasing, or doing a Google search. Ground Zero | t 14:32, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] copyrights in dante`s time

i just finished reading the talk page on paradise lost and the primitive form of copyrights in john milton`s time what i want to know is was there any form of copyright in the time of the poet dante,did it exist in a primitive form and was there any form of copyright in roman times. and in case you are wondering iam not doing my homework.

There were no copyrights for Dante. (Which would in any case not have meant much outside of Florence, as there were also no agreements between states to protect copyrights, or inside Florence once he was exiled.) Books, at the time, were also rather expensive affairs! How then, did Dante manage to live? By patronage - the support of princes for writers and artists. Dante's final patron, Guido da Polenta, of Ravenna, is alluded to in the Inferno in Canto 27 ("Polenta’s eagle") - Nunh-huh 04:48, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 24

[edit] The Highest point above sea level in Birmingham, U.K.

Does anyone know the highest point above sea level within the City limits of Birmingham U.K?

I have lived here all my life and nobody is sure. Please state location and mean height above sea level at the highest point for future reference.

[email removed]

Get some topographic maps of Birmingham; you should be able to borrow some ordnance survey maps at the library. --Robert Merkel 03:35, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
A quick internet search doesn't turn up anything conclusive, but suggests that it may be the slope of Barr Beacon (the top of which is in Walsall). Warofdreams talk 02:47, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] www.jkrowling.com

I have been on JK Rowlings website for over an hour trying to get into the "Do not disturb" door. Can anyone help me get in?? Thanks —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ztocchi (talk • contribs).

You're not supposed to be able to open it when it's marked "Do not disturb". How rude! :) The door has been opened four times: see this link for details and archived images. - Nunh-huh 02:47, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wake Induced Lucid Dreaming Technique

I've read the article on Lucid Dreaming. I've tried the techniques, but it does not seem to work. I either fall asleep, and can't control my dreams, or, I cannot sleep.

I've been near to success before, I'll explain what I felt: I had closed my eyes for about 160 counts, when I felt my body go numb (is that sleep paralysis?). Then after that, I felt a little falling sensation mixed with sensations of being on a boat while the water was choppy. But I could not progress further much. I gave up and slept. Of course I dreamt, but it was not the slightest lucid.

Could any experts at lucid dreaming give me more tips? Thank you (in advance)--Levin

I've only had them spontaneously, actually only once, despite of trying a lot. But I suggest you spend some time reading or searching alt.dreams.lucid – I recall they have posted some good FAQ's and howtos there. For example, Lars' Lucid Dreaming FAQ there has something about WILD, too. –Mysid 08:24, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Omni Magazine ran a few how-to articles on lucid dreaming. Grab the back issues at your local library. Be careful, though, they also have a lot of ads for quackery.Mareino 20:39, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Croydon Water Mills

I have read in an article that archeologigists have discoverd Saxon Water Mills on the Ebbsfleet river. Does anyone know any further information about this. I'm doing a project about that time period. Connie Wilson email: (email removed)

The British Archaeology magazine states that:
"The remains of an Anglo-Saxon water mill have been excavated at Ebbsfleet, near Gravesend in Kent, during work on a station for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Archaeologists from Oxford Archaeology found two large timber chutes, which directed water onto the wheel. The mill is thought to date from about 700 AD, making it the earliest horizontal watermill yet found in England. The timbers were lifted out of the ground intact and taken to conservation facilities at Chatham Historic Dockyard."
I hope that is what you are looking for. - Akamad 19:25, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Ball possetion

Hi

When TV footages show the ball possetion of a 2 teams in one match. I always see contradictory to the game, they gave the more percent to the team who is outplayed by its opponent.What is the criteria for this mechanism & how it works?

  • I'm afraid you haven't specified a sport. Deltabeignet 17:43, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
  • If you are talking about football rather than football then maybe the team with least posession made the most of its scoring changes and the finishing of the team with the most posession was lousy. DJ Clayworth 22:45, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
    • Exactly right. Posession ratio is literally the proportion of time that a team has had posession of the ball, which might include a smart move down the field culminating in three shots on goal, but might also include time that a team spends running the clock down to prevent a bad situation from becoming worse (if you're 4-0 down with 5 minutes left on the clock, and 2 of those goals were scored from your failed attacks, the last thing you want to do is try and attack again). It's a measure of time, not what the team did with it, which is probably better measured with a combination of territory stats (how much time the ball was at either team's end or the midfield) and posession in opponent's half. Chris talk back 03:12, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Snow

I have a question. Is there a website that tells me how much snow so far this year? Just curious --Zach 12:23, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

  • Depends on where you are. Proto t c 15:12, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Most ski resorts report total snowfall on their websites, so if you are lucky enough to live near one then that might give you an idea. DJ Clayworth 22:42, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] GTA San Andreas

Where do I find the remote control tank?

Gamefaqs Proto t c 15:10, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

How about I can't access any and YOU give me the answer?

If there is one (don't remember there being one), it's probably one of the missions that nerdy guy who runs the RC shop gives you. It's in the second city (San Fernando). But Gamefaqs really is a far better place for this kind of query. Proto t c 10:58, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Can chickens fly?

Maybe an embarassing question... but I've never seen one fly. I tried to check the Wiki and it never mentioned flight, and the article Flightless birds didn't mention chickens either.

So I wonder... Can chickens fly? -- Jason 12:56, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

  • Yes, but not very well, and only over a small distance. It's more contorlled falling than anything. Proto t c 15:11, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
  • For more information read the Chicken article. There is an entire paragraph which addresses your question. --hydnjo talk 15:27, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Movies on the internet

Where is a good resource for downloading movies and watching them? --216.191.200.1 13:48, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

  • Downloading most films is illegal (see above). Archive.org is your best resouce for legal, public domain movies - it has many old cartoons, newsreels, propaganda films and some films that through age or charity are in the public domain - like Nosferatu. Taiq 2:24 PM, November 28 2005 (Aus EST)
Or, through sheer bad luck. See Night of the Living Dead and Charade. Brian Schlosser42 13:40, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the day the euro fails

if the euro fails and europe is stricken with the same amount of poverty we were stricken with during the great drpression how will that effect our ecnomy and will we get out of our current ecnomic crisis.

It depends on the referent of "we". Seeing the US budget and trade deficits it seems more likely the dollar will fail first, btw. David Sneek 17:32, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
I suppose you mean if the Euro falls (I can't imagine what 'fails' would mean). Considering your referrence to the great depression, you're probably referring to the US. But the rest of the world suffered from that too, just as it will if (when) the US dollar falls again. See the above thread that this question was probably base upon. And of course the reverse will also be true. An interresting question is which would have the biggest effect 0 the falling of the Euro or the US dollar. This depens largely on how much (misplaced) trust is put in the currency. And the US dollar has been the international currency for at least the last century or so. So if that falls it will probably have a bigger effect because people around the world have more US dollars than Euros (or is this an oversimplification?). But that may change and a falling of the US dollar would expediate that. Which could place the Euro in a similar position and I'm not sure if that would be such a good thing. For the EU (which is only part of Europe, by the way) or the rest of the world. DirkvdM 11:16, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
Well, "fails" could mean hyperinflation, for example. ;) I think you are oversimplifying - the US dollar is most certainly not in the monopolic position it had maintained until five years ago. Granted, it'll take some time, but in the end, I'm fairly sure the US dollar, the euro, and between two and five other regional currencies (Eco and SADC currency in Africa, GCC currency and something East Asian in Asia, CSN currency in South America) will split up the market of international currencies between them in the next two decades. ナイトスタリオン ✉ 11:33, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
I didn't know Crosby Stills and Nash had their own currency in South America. :) The Yen would be a logical choice for Eastern Asia. But ultimately wouldn't it be a good idea if there were one currency for the whole world? At leat at first it wouldn't have to be a paper currency people would use in everyday life, but something like the Euro (or should I say ECU?) before 2001, when it was just a central reference currency to make international transactions easier. Many still think we should have kept it that way. DirkvdM 09:59, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia Toolbar

How come there isn't a wikipedia toolbar. I find wikipedia incredibly useful but whenever I want to make a new search I have to go to the actual physical website. A toolbar would be much more convenient.

You could search wikipedia using the google toolbar (like this). David Sneek 17:35, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
And there's a Wikipedia Widget for Mac OS X. - Nunh-huh 18:47, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
Opera lets you set preferences for searching shortcuts. You set them through preferences/advanced/search, then access them either by highlighting the word on the screen and right-clicking to choose what you want to search with, or pressing F2 and then a shortcut key and typing in the word (F2 w teapot brings me to this page). Opera is great. Natgoo 20:30, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
You can use shortcuts in Firefox as well. Right click on the search box and choose "Add a keyword for this search". Choose a name for it (e.g. "Wikipedia search"), and then choose the shortcut you want (I use "wp" for the English Wikipedia and "cywp" for the Welsh Wikipedia), then click OK. You can then search Wikipedia from the url bar just type "<shortcut> <search term>" (e.g. "wp France" or "wp Wikipedia:Reference desk". Thryduulf 13:29, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
Or, in Firefox you can use a search plugin. Superm401 | Talk 20:45, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
There's a Wikipedia toolbar for Firefox. User:Zoe|(talk) 21:20, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Need help from a musician with a good ear ((Or maybe a drummer))

Hey, can anybody provide me with an accutate drum tab of the Amen break? It would be the best, honest to God..

Here's a link to the beat, by the way: http://www.lysator.liu.se/~janne/audio/wav/amencompo/Amen_break.wav

Thanks, you crazy Wikipedians!

67.160.39.151 17:48, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

You mean like this?:
       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
cymbal x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x X x x
snare      x  x x  x  x    x  x x  x  x    x  x x    x  x  x  x x    x
bass   x x       xx    x x       xx    x x       x       xx      x
—Keenan Pepper 01:59, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
Oh, and if you find something off about that, just edit it — it's a wiki after all! —Keenan Pepper 02:02, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
Hey!! You're that good IP from this question [51] which I answered a while ago!!! :-) --HappyCamper 02:47, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

-Hey Happycamper, fancy seeing you again, you're a great guy. and to Keenan, thank you so much, that series of Xs made my thanksgiving. Honest to God. This page never ceases to amaze me, whew. Have a nice day! 67.160.39.151 00:10, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the internet commercial database

hi i just finished reading your article on the internet movie database and i want to know if there is a database just like it only for commercials.

Second similar anon question in two days. Is this viral marketing? No, currently, to the best of my knowledge there is not, but IMDB does usually list sigificant actors' appearances in commercials; no one, to the best of my knowledge, tries to keep track of other people's appearances in commercials. -- Jmabel | Talk 21:23, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Why is the rate of Gold rising?

Why is the rate of gold rising so fast and in such an unprecedented fashion?

The price of gold is driven by Supply and demand, and the population of the world is increasing - more people want more gold. A quick look at the Gold prices article (particularly this section) tells us that "demand from the electronics industry is rising by 11% a year, jewellery by 19%, and industrial and dental by 21%". India is the world's largest consumer of gold for personal use, and its population is large and growing. You could also check out this google search
Having said that, though, this price rise is far from unprecedented - take a look at this chart (bottom right of the page, click the box to get the Multi-Year Gold 1975-2005 chart, graphing the Gold Fix from 1975-2005). It's just a blip, and nowhere near as high as it was in the late 70s. Natgoo 19:58, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Francis Ford Coppola

I am doing a project on Dracula for a University course and would like some more information on Francis Ford Coppola's particular interpretation. Is there any way of contacting the director or anyone who would have been involved in this picture?

Thanks --anon(signature added by User:Robert Merkel)

IMDB's page on Coppola has a link to contact details but you have to subscribe to get them (or at least sign up for the free trial). Mr Coppola is likely a very busy man; he's unlikely to be motivated to answer an ill-researched question for an undergraduate essay. Therefore, I'd make sure I'd done my background reading *thoroughly* (and that includes searching the cinema studies journals and books as well as the popular press for interviews) before contacting him. Even assuming you do have a well-researched question that can't be answered from the above, he may also feel that answering even good and thoughtful questions for not-for-publication undergraduate essays isn't a good use of his time. If you're conducting a research project that will ultimately result in publication in a journal, or in the general press, you might have more chance. --Robert Merkel 03:39, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] RV Engine Comparison

Please advise on any information regarding the best RV Engine. The Ford V-10 or the Chevy 8.liter? We want to know for a 33' Motorhome which is best. Thank you.

If I understand your question correctly, you're asking about a truck to tow a trailer. You could try edmunds.com for car reviews. They have a full-size truck comparison. You might also want to see if you can find out on rv.net, which seems to have quite an active forum on RV's. Have you considered a diesel engine, which will merely use outrageous amounts of fuel towing such a large trailer rather than truly stupendous amounts? --Robert Merkel 08:12, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 25

[edit] Exchange rate of the Indian rupee at independence

A user sent the following message to the help desk.

Please inform me the parity of Indian rupee at the time of independence i.e on 15th August 1947 against major world currencies such as Stg Pound, US Dollar, German Mark etc.,

I would be grateful for any assistance you can give this gentleman.

Capitalistroadster 06:33, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] DVD recording

We have recorded a movie on a DVD-RW thru DVD camcorder but now we are unable to create a CD from that DVD-RW - Please explain in details. We would like to copy the movie on CD and re use that DVD-RW.

For a start, you almost certainly want to record to DVD-R or DVD+R (both of which are one-time recordable DVD's which are much cheaper than DVD-RW's), not CD; DVD's have much more room and thus the video is stored at a much better quality. The minimal amount you save burning to CD instead of DVD is simply not worth the loss in quality.
As to the detailed instructions, that depends on whether you have a computer with a DVD burner, and, if so, what sort, and what software you have with it. --Robert Merkel 09:26, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Harry Potter

Hi! I have three questions about Harry Potter, the first one is Harry ugly? It says in the 1st book he isn't happy with his looks and in the 5th book Pansy says Cedric was handsome but not Harry. Also my other question is about Horcruxes. Voldemort, he was using his diary horcrux in the second one, but what about in the 1st book and just after he tried to kill Harry, what exactly was he? What horcrux was he using? And my final question is Pansy ugly? The person that plays her is really pretty, but is she supposed to be pretty in the books?

P.S. Sorry one more question: In Harry Potter movies 1 and 2, Adrian Pucey....which one is he? It says in the cast list that there are two playing him.....if so, which ones are they? I know there is the one with kind of long hair...but who is the other one?

Uncertainty about Harry's looks could be either because: JK Rowling made a mistake between books, his looks changed as he grew, ugly actor are not allowed or it may be a case of an unreliable narrator. When a character describes things or events within a story you have to be wary of them simply lying or not being a good judge of the situation. Many people are unhappy with their looks and over-critical of them. As to the two Puceys IMDB seems to suggest that one is a stunt double, so you probably should not be able to tell them apart. MeltBanana 14:54, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
The book says that Harry, and not everyone, was unhappy with his looks, and Pansy is a prejudice third person in the story; her thoughts on Harry are less than non-objective.
And Voldemort was alive only because the horcruxes kept him alive. He had no physical form, so he used Quirell as a host for his spirit. We can suppose that Quirrel drank the unicorn blood to keep himself alive, as having an extra spirit attached to you must be a huge drain on you life force.

[edit] A Stalker

Hey There was this person on AIM, she said all these things she did, like kill a dog and all this stuff right? so I said wot the fuck is your problem and all that, and she said she was going to take my isp, It sounds like me just being gullable but I'm not giving you the full story, anyway...is it possible for someone to get your isp? which is where all your information like your address is shown...

You probably mean the IP address, not the ISP which is your internet service provider (the company you bought your internet connection from, e.g. AOL). I doubt anyone can discover your IP address through AIM. (All the messages go through a central server, not directly from client to client.) And even if they did, only the internet service provider and the police are able track down your name and address using only the IP address. –Mysid 10:26, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
I'm pretty sure you can figure out an IP through AIM, but it's pretty useless on the whole and you'd have to be fairly savvy to do it anyway. --Fastfission 22:01, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
It's actually pretty easy, I've done it before. You make a connection, like through AIM, and then type a (long forgotten by me) command into your command prompt, and it tells you all the IPs you're connecting with, and puts yours at the top of the list. hackthissite.org might have information, if it's working. 216.43.124.150 17:50, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
Forgot to say that you can even find IP traces through google, but usually they cost $$$. 216.43.124.150

[edit] Famous people with the first name "Evan"

Please could you tell me how I can go about finding a list of famous people (either alive or dead) with the first name "Evan".

Many thanks,

Tim Drean

While Wikipedia is not the ultimate celebrity index, we have a fair number of articles on famous people from all walks of life - entering "evan" in the search bar and clicking on "search" will show you all articles that have "evan" in the title (some of which wil be irrelevant to your query, but you will also get all articles on people with the first name Evan). By the way, I've removed your email address - we generally answer requests on this page, not per mail, and publishing your email address here will most probably result in large amounts of spam sent to your mailbox -- Ferkelparade π 13:41, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

There's an easier way. Look here: Special:Allpages/Ev. There's every Evan, from Evan Alexander to Evan Ziporyn, and even an Evan's syndrome. Proto t c 13:45, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

Equally easy is to use Wikiwax, which has dynamic searching. Just type in "Evan" and away you go.--Commander Keane 10:40, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] A Question about Gabon

Hello, I am a 7th grader doing an African project on Gabon. I would like the types of foods eaten there and a place to find recipes to fix them if possible as we have to take a sample of a food to class as part of our grade. Thanks and I love this site it helped me a lot on my board. If you need to send a website to where I can find it that would be apprectiated too.

We have an article on Cuisine of Africa. You could try making some fufu or egusi... —Keenan Pepper 14:40, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] CIA Factbook on Gabon

The CIA has data on every nation imaginable, including Gabon. AlMac|[[User talk:AlMac|<sup>(talk)</sup>]] 05:08, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Archie Coates Pigeon Shooting World Record

The help desk has received the following question from a reader.

I am trying to find out what year Archie Coates set the world record for wood pigeon shooting. Can someone help me please?

Thank you for any help you can give her.

Capitalistroadster 16:35, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Spraying Jute

A reader has contacted the Help desk with the following inquiry.

good morning - is there anything u can spray jute with to keep it from shedding? I am going to be using it as a backdrop on a wall.

thank you! Eileen

Thank you for any help you can give her. Capitalistroadster 17:58, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Handgun

What is the biggest and most powerful handgun ever made???

  • There's no one answer. It's likely that the biggest is not the most powerful, assuming you have a definition of "powerful". Assuming you're talking about pistol caliber, try List of handgun cartridges and 12 mm caliber for some sizeable ones. (I'm not an expert, being a pacifist and all.) Deltabeignet 02:29, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Sounds like a quote from Dirty Harry (...this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world...). The article on .44 Magnum says this quote was not true when the movie was released (or now), but doesn't specifically identify what is. -- Rick Block (talk) 03:06, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
    • At a guess, one of the .50 caliber handguns fits the bill, though there are other definitions. Hunting pistols are much physically bigger, and are accurate over a far longer range than any short-barreled jobby, though to me their description as pistols is a bit dubious. In terms of "what's the most lethal close-quarters battle weapon you can conveniently carry", perhaps something like the HK MP7 might do the trick, but they're not available to civilians. --Robert Merkel 05:20, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The simpsons

Is it possible to buy the very first "The simpsons" season (1989) on dvd???

Of course, it is sold in North America, Europe and Australia in a pinkish-silver boxset. We even have an article about Simpsons DVDs: The Simpsons DVDs. Anywhere that sells DVDs should have it. Try somewhere like Amazon. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 21:38, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the NATO civil war

hi just read your article on NATO and i want to know what will happen if one member state attacks another member state will there be some kind of civil war or something.

  • I believe the rest of NATO would probably come to the defense of the attacked nation, unless it was clear that the attacked nation was the aggressor. "will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary" leaves plenty of room for improvisation. Say Belgium sends its troops against Luxembourg, but only after tensions between the two that both countries were at fault for . At that point, the rest of NATO is committed to do something, but that something doesn't necessarily have to be an attack; if the U.K. and France send in mediators and use economic sanctions, they haven't failed in their responsibilities. Deltabeignet 02:20, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
Belgium invading Luxembourg is perhaps not so likely; the only vaguely plausible scenario one could imagine NATO militaries facing off against each other is Turkey and Greece over Cyprus. Let's just say that the rest of Europe and the US would work very hard diplomatically to ensure such a confrontation never took place, and in the unlikely situation that it did would act very quickly to stop it. --Robert Merkel 10:32, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Music in People's Diamond commericlas!

In the "People's Diamond" commericial, a famous classical song plays in the background. Can you tell me the name and who it is by? Thanx

According to this, it's from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, specifically "Concerto No.2 In G Minor, Rv.315 'Summer': Lll: L'orage (Presto)" and "Concerto No.4 In F Minor, Rv.297 'Winter': L: Allegro Non Molto". Shantavira 19:56, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
Thanks alot!!!
If this is the same diamond commercials I remember (the silhouette ones), the music is a piece called Palladio, by Karl Jenkins, on his Diamond Music CD, available on Amazon. The piece is very similar to Vivaldi's. ByeByeBaby 05:30, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 26

[edit] POCKET KNIFE HISTORY

I have a pocket knife with the tang stamp James Lincard & Son, I would like to know the history of it.

The company, or what? You'll need to give a bit more information for any data about the knife itself to have a good shot at knowing anything about that specific knife. karmafist 00:15, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] old navy ships

instead of scraping old navy ships while doesn`t the government donate them to the navys of devloping countries has any president thought about doing that and if not why.

Partly because they are made of toxic chemicals such as asbestos, partly because they are obsolete, but mainly for fear that they may be used against the government or their allies. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 17:49, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
Here's a somewhat more idealistic interpretation: because the developing countries of the world, as a rule, have more pressing needs than navies. In fact, one could make a case that the US gives far too much military aid to developing countries. Does Pakistan really need more F-16 Fighting Falcons (which they are currently negotiating to receive as part of an aid package, see Pakistan Air Force), or more American-trained doctors, teachers, scientists, economists, and the like? --Robert Merkel 10:26, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
You might also say that first-world countries have more pressing needs than Missile defence. Or that without their military, some countries might not survive to enjoy their other benefits. It's a common trade-off to negotiate in many RTS games whether you persue economic advantages or military ones, and neither seem to work on their own. Ojw 19:24, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
Along with USS Boise (CL-47), the American USS Phoenix (CL-46) became the Argentine ARA General Belgrano and so saw conflict it two widely spaced wars. An article of these renamings would be good but I don't know any more. MeltBanana 00:07, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
Warships surplus to requirements are frequently sold to developing countries. They are usually only scrapped when no country wants to buy them. As for whey they are sold and not give, probably for the same reason that you trade in your old car instead of giving it to a dealer. If a developing country can't afford to buy a ship, they probably can't afford to run one either. DJ Clayworth 17:30, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the smallest empire in history

what was the smallest empire in history what country ruled and who ruled it.

That depends entirely on how you define "empire". Raul654 18:42, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
Norton I, Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico. -- Миборовский U|T|C|E|Chugoku Banzai! 03:35, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
Norton I is a pretty good answer, but if by "empire" you mean a group of people, ruled by one person and under no other nation's authority, then basically every ethnic group in history can trace its roots to a pre-historic time when they were probably a semi-nomadic band, about 100 strong, ruled by a despot or by consenus. Lots of these barbarian tribes stumbled across civilized man.Mareino 19:42, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] airplanes

What does the J stand for in the airplane Piper J-3 Cub?

According to this site, possibly the name of the chief engineer at the time, Walter Jamouneau. Shantavira 20:02, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] the worlds first ecological fantasy novel

is the worlds first ecological fantasy novel th lord of the rings if not what is it.

That question sounds far too subjective to be able to give a definitive answer. Does Genesis count? --Robert Merkel 01:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
It would never occur to me that LOTR is an "ecological novel". In what sense do you think it is? alteripse 02:32, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Perhaps the forced industrialization of the Shire? --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 16:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
    • Sorry, but using landscape pollution as a heavyhanded representation of moral bankruptcy, and the rural Shire as a nostalgic representation of imagined pre-industrial European society does not make JRRT any more an ecologically conscious novelist than Dickens. The ecological perspective is of a different and more modern generation and is based on an entirely different view of man's place in the world. alteripse 12:27, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] N64-Super Smash Bros.

How do you unlock the extra players in Super Smash Bros.?

Our article Super Smash Bros. Melee has a very good list. If you mean the original Super Smash Bros, there is a short wikibook with a page on this here. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 21:40, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 27

[edit] Main bodies of water in British Columbia

Please let me know where can find information on the water systems in the province of Britis Columbia,Canada

Here's a list of lakes. Neutralitytalk 04:07, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
Because BC is pretty mountainous, there aren't that many large lakes, so you may also be interested in the rivers, which we have some information on. There's also a good article on the Geography of British Columbia.ByeByeBaby 05:23, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Jose luis felix Chilavert

Hi

The former goalkeeper of Paraguay, who is the all time leading goal scorer keeper, Jose Luis Felix Chilavert at one time was quoted,his plan will be to enter in to politics when whe quits football. At this time by keeping his word is he entered into politics? If not on what activity is he participating or what is he works?

[edit] Training horses

[edit] allegories to the american civil war

are there any allegories to the american civil war if so how is that particular book,film,art,etc compared to the civil war.

[edit] Pittsburg Steelers Salaries

Q: Does anyone know the players salary for the 78-79 Steeler?

  • A: I don't know, but I can tell you that they were rather low, because the National Football League Players' Association only won the right for players to move to another team when their contracts expired in 1977, and didn't have a serious strike until 1987. Mareino 19:35, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 28

[edit] Information about an actress

Hello, I'm not sure if you can help me. I am living in Canada and was looking up one of my favourite movies "The Railway Children" from 1970 and discovered that Ann Lancaster, who played Ruth, died at the age of 50 in the year the movie was made. I never knew this and have been trying to find out what happened but can find no further information despite various google searches. Would you know the answer, or do you know where I can look? I would be very grateful for any information. Thank you. Daphne Saint --70.26.177.79 00:03, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

Daphne, if you're really interested, IMDB says that she died in London, England on October 31, 1970. Therefore, given that she appeared in a fair number of prominent acting roles, there was more than likely orbituaries in the major London newspapers - The Times or The Guardian, for instance. If you were prepared to spend some time going through microfiche at your local research library, you could check those newspapers in the days immediately after her death to find reports about it. --Robert Merkel 13:21, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks, I hadn't thought of that, will do.

Daphne

[edit] About Viggo Mortensen's address in Venice, California

Hello my name is Nicki Bennett, I need to have Viggo Mortensen's address at Venice, California, so I can write to him? write me back, yours truly, Nicki Bennett

If you do a google search for "Viggo Mortensen address" several sites claiming to have his fanmail address pop up, but have obnoxious registration requirements. Note that Mr. Mortensen probably receives quite a lot of fanmail, and may not have time to reply to yours in detail. Have a look at our article on Viggo Mortensen and explore the links from it. If you have a professional reason for contacting him, you might be able to through his publishing company (see our article).

[edit] Singers

Trying to find the name of a popular black country western singer. I know this is very general,but it is all I can remember.

Roland Hunnicutt
  • If it's someone you just heard of this year, probably Cowboy Troy. If you heard about the person in the past, probably Charley Pride. --71.100.168.202 02:04, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] annual tv ratings

i am trying to find the highest rated tv programs by year. i have been successful up to 1999; after this i can only find weekly ratings. any ideas or links to help? Richardparker 00:15, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] name in Tibetan

I have a very small Tibettan dog and I would like to call it a Tibetan name meaning small, can you help me please. Thankyou regards Kimberley

I don't know the answer to your question, but I have taken out your email address from your question. Please refer to the top of the page, where it tells you: "Do not list your e-mail address - questions aren't normally answered by e-mail. Be aware that the content on Wikipedia is extensively copied to many websites; making your e-mail address public here may make it very public throughout the Internet." -Parallel or Together ? 04:36, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
According to [52], small = chung chung. It would make a very cute dog's name, by the way! –Mysid 09:07, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
I recommend checking out The Rosetta Project for any single-word translations into uncommon languages. Mareino 19:49, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Austin Powers reference

Although I have never seen any of the movies, I hear my friends reference them. When I was told about Dr. Evil's clone being called Mini-Me, I cracked up, because I drew a parallel between minime (no in Latin) and Dr. No. My friends now think I'm reading way too much into this. I think the pun must be intentional, but I can't find any references to this online. Am I brilliant or am I nuts? --24.17.30.163 05:02, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

Somehow, I doubt the Austin Powers films are really intellegent enough to include puns in other languages, let alone Latin. Although, it is possible, and its a good guess. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 07:45, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
Writers do that, not audiences, producers, or actors. If you want to give the writer credit for being even more recondite, maybe it also contains an allusion to Lord Minimus. alteripse 12:20, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
But what does Lord Minimus have to do with James Bond? (edit: Ah! I see you're a large contributor to Jeffrey Hudson :) Thank you!) --24.17.30.163 23:11, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Aviation

When Flying, they say you are flying level when you are pointed at the Horizon. Wouldn't theoretically flying towards the horizon actually mean that you are losing altitude, and if you continued non-stop that you would eventually hit the ground?

The world is curved, so as you fly towards the horizon, the ground 'drops away' below you. Plus as you approach where the horizon was, you are now flying towards a new bit of horizon; the combination of these keeps the plane level. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 07:41, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

It's actually more complex than that. The 'pointing towards the horizon' is just an approximation, and not really true. The angle the plane's longitudinal axis makes with the ground when in level flight (i.e. not gaining or losing altitude) actually varies with many things, such as weight of the plane, speed and air pressure. You can find out more at Flight controls and angle of attack. DJ Clayworth 17:24, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Gamy

A lesbian in a relationship said the relationship became unstable when it became gamy. What does that mean? I asked am she said her partner masturbating. I looked up gamy in a dictionary and it said anything sexually illicit. I have ask friends but I always get different answers from gamy meaning playing games to acting like an animal during sex. I am very confused. Thankyou for your help.

Gamy as in Gamey or Gamy in polygamy? -- Миборовский U|T|C|E|Chugoku Banzai! 05:23, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
I would guess the former, most likely. Yeltensic42.618 03:10, 3 December 2005 (UTC)
It basically means what the dictionary said; your friends just gave examples of it. In short, it means "kinky". Yeltensic42.618 17:12, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] SSH

What's an "SSH" in the context of this column? Neutralitytalk 06:24, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

It's clearly not SSH, the secure remote computer access program, and urbandictionary.com doesn't have another definition. Why don't you email the author and ask? --Robert Merkel 06:31, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
Now, this is mostly a guess, but I think it's a fun stab. He's a jerk, and he's in the sophomore year of college, and it's abbreviated, perhaps because it's vulgar? Considering this combination, I'm going to hazard the guess of sophomore s**t head.--ParkerHiggins 07:49, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
Hmm, maybe, but probably the first word is not sophomore (maybe Swarthmore? or the name of some dorm?). After all, if it was "sophomore", and he's a sophomore now, he couldn't be one of these things last year. --Fastfission 03:14, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Notebook/notebook PC

Hi!!Friends Can someone tell me the difference of notebook and notebook PC? Thanks!!!--133.97.16.31 08:59, 28 November 2005 (UTC)jay (17:55)

I am not sure if I understand correctly, but: A notebook is simply a small book which one may carry around to make or review various notes. A notebook PC then is named after the paper notebook because of its convenience to carry around. jnothman talk 11:50, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
This is my guess. In terms of computers, a "notebook PC" is a more powerful "notebook". It's characteristics (weight, performance, screen size) are closer to a PC more than a traditional notebook.--Commander Keane 17:44, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
Assuming that you are talking about a computer, then I would say a "Notebook" is simply a shorter way of saying "Notebook PC". I think they're one in the same. --Danner578 20:16, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Carpet cleaning before vacuum cleaners

How were carpets, as opposed to rugs, cleaned before vacuum cleaners were invented? The article doesn't say. AllanHainey 09:05, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

  • The Dutch Wikipedia has an article on the "Mattenklopper" (aka "Rug beater"). One would throw a rug over a clothesline and whip out the dust. - Mgm|(talk) 10:23, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
Wow, could someone who speaks Dutch please translate that? —Keenan Pepper 16:10, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Carpet sweepers were used. We don't yet have an article, but modern ones are still available (e.g. [53]). Fitted carpets are a relatively modern invention and may well postdate the invention of the vacuum cleaner, anyway. Warofdreams talk 12:40, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
    • Just added a stub. DJ Clayworth 17:13, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
  • The Mattenklopper sounds like what we used to call a carpet beater, though the Dutch word is much more fun. DJ Clayworth 17:05, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
  • I ran The Mattenklopper article through a translation engine. Part of it reads....

"Until far in the years seventy of the previous century was in the most keep house well a mattenklopper to find, that except of on the cloths sometimes also on the buttocks of naughty children became uses, on which they a fine formed only painful print left behind."

I just had to share that.... TheMadBaron 00:44, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
That's Google-translator-speak for: "Until 1870 a carpet-beater could be found in most well-kempt houses, which was used not only for cleaning rugs, but also for beating naughty children on the buttocks, leaving behind a distinctive pattern." I believe a carpet-beater was also used in the process of torturing James Bond in Casino Royale, though it was used on a portion of his anatomy close to, but not, the area specified above. - Nunh-huh 05:15, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
  • A carpet sweeper appears to be different. Has the Dutch "mattenklopper" ever been used abroad? - 131.211.210.16 11:16, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
It indeed has. It looks exactly like what is known in Swedish as "mattpiska", or in the Scanian dialect as "mattebankare". We still use such a thing at home, although not for buttocks. That makes me wonder if the :nl article wasn't referring to the 1970's instead of the 1870's. After all, my family isn't so old-fashioned... 130.243.135.145 17:08, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
  • In Italy was used too: I have one at home... it has not been used very often. I think a simple vacuum cleaner cannot clean the carpet if particles of dust are not only in the surface of the carpet but entangled in its fibers. So it was particularly used in the Spring Cleaning
    I remember my mom sayng "if you childs don't behave well I will use a battitappeti " she was only joking referring to times when mothers would use that sistem, spanking a children with bare hands could be painful (!) --Melaen 23:34, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Building with the highest number of storeys

Our article on the world's tallest structures, and the articles on the tallest sky scrapers themselves, don't acutally make this clear. The Sears Tower apparently has 108 storeys, and that looks to be the most, but is the correct? Thryduulf 13:25, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

According to the Emporis Data Committee, Sears Tower has more storeys than any other building at 108, the next are Ryugyong Hotel with 105, and Empire State Building with 102. - Akamad 06:31, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
If we consider most stories, ever, the World Trade Center towers had 110 floors, each. Brian Schlosser42 15:07, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
Burj Dubai [54], under construction in United Arab Emirates, is expected to have the highest number of storeys (160, if we can believe some of the press reports) once it is completed. --Tachs 08:16, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
this article says the Sears building has 110 storeys, so it depends on what youi count, I supose. The term 'first floor' is in the US used for ground floor, but elsewhere for the first floor up, so that will influence how many floors are counted. And then there may be mezzanine floors. Do they count? And a penthouse? And the roof if it is accessible? I was struggling with these things while writing the Glaspaleis article. DirkvdM 17:16, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
I would think that the ground floor could be counted with the numbered floors (ie, if there are 9 numbered floors, then there are 10 floors), and that the penthouse would count, but not the roof. As for mezzanines, perhaps they could be counted as half a floor (see the 7th and a half floor, Being John Malkovich. Yeltensic42.618 17:17, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

By the way, for what it's worth, the tallest building in the world is the Taipei Financial Center, which in 2003 surpassed the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, which in 1996 surpassed the Sears Tower, which in 1978 surpassed the World Trade Center, which in 1972 surpassed the Empire State Building, which in 1931 surpassed the Chrysler Building, which in 1927 surpassed the Woolworth Building. Yeltensic42.618 17:21, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] flags

what do the colours in the France natinol flag stand for?

See French flag. alteripse 14:10, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Jose Felix Luis Chilavert

Hi

The former goalkeeper of Paraguay, who is the all time leading goal scorer keeper, Jose Luis Felix Chilavert at one time was quoted,his plan will be to enter in to politics when whe quits football. At this time by keeping his word is he entered into politics? If not on what activity is he participating or what is he works?

It seems he has not. Interestingly, I found an article just a couple of days old detailing what he is doing. This apparently includes running a restaurant, hosting a reality show, and real estate investments. The article says he is interested in coaching the Paraguay team in the future. If you know anything about him, you can help start an article at Jose Chilavert. Superm401 | Talk 17:15, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
Scratch that. I found an article at José Luis Chilavert. You can help edit it if you want; I've created appropriate redirects. Superm401 | Talk 17:31, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] French equivalent of "Queens English"

Hi, Do you happen to know what the French refer to as correctly spoken French, as in the way we refer to RP English as the Queens or Oxford English ? and the Germans refer to Frankfurt German apparently. Thanks Ges.

See Académie française and its links. I am not sure what the phrase that describes it, but the Academie certainly defines correct French. alteripse 21:26, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
In Quebec the French of l'Académie is often called International French, as opposed to the local Québécois variety. - SimonP 01:27, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Are you Sleeping (Frere Jaques)

What is the history behind the song Frere Jaques, or Are you Sleeping, the traditional nursery song?

We have an article on Frère Jacques, but it only gives the lyrics, no history. And I was surprised to find no interwiki link to an article in the French Wikipedia. In any case, the song's title probably doesn't refer to the French lithotomist. :-) --David Iberri (talk) 04:10, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
I think it's from Quebec, which may explain why it's not on fr, which surely has more French than Canadian editors.--Pharos 09:48, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
It's also a 'traditional' Dutch song, which makes it somewhat unlikely that it is orginally Quebequan (Quebequian? Quebequese? - help me out here....). About the meaning of the song, I always thought the Dutch translation was wrong, saying the bells are already ringing. But now it turns out the English, German and Danish version say that too. Doesn't 'Sonnez les matines' mean 'Go ring the bells'? 'The bells are ringing' would be 'Les matines sonnent', right? (Excuse my rusty French).
My Danish is even worse, but that article seems to say that the oldest written version was in a French magazine from 1811 and that it stems from the middle ages. So if it were Quebequan there should also be an indian version I suppose. :) DirkvdM 17:36, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
According to our artical, the language is called either Quebec French or Québécois French. Thryduulf 09:19, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

It's definitely a traditional children's song in France. In Italy,i t's "Fra Martino"... David.Monniaux 07:19, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

I think I heard about the Quebec origin on the radio show of Oscar Brand, a Canadian-American folk singer and an authority on these sorts of things. Perhaps it is a variant that is from Quebec, or that Quebec is the origin of the English or hybrid French-English version common in North America.--Pharos 10:10, 2 December 2005 (UTC)
Québec as the origin of this children's song strikes me as highly unlikely. A Canadian songbook states it was French; and see also [55]. Also check "The Book of World Famous Music: Classical, Popular, and Folk", 5th ed., by James J. Fuld, Dover Publications 2000; ISBN 0486414752. Lupo 12:11, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Arturo Peniche

I am picturing in my mind Nicholas Cage and Arturo Peniche working on an English-speaking soap opera. Can that dream be a reality for me in the future?

  • Probably not. Nicolas Cage doesn't appear to be the soap opera type. If you want any chance at it becoming a reality, you should spend some time to learning about the soap business and how to get a new one made. - 131.211.210.16 11:19, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] buck and the preacher [a true story]

is the movie buck and the preacher with sidney poitier and harry belafonte a true story.

The movie's IMDB entry contains nothing to suggest that it is. Typically that would mean that it's fiction, although it's always possible that they just don't know. --Anonymous, 00:10 UTC, December 1, 2005

[edit] Anahi

I am imagining Anahi doing a song with Mariah Carey and being on either "One Life To Live", "Guiding Light" or any American soap opera. Is that possible? And could you tell her that I said "Hello" in Spanish for me?

[edit] November 29

[edit] I need help in completing this Vt. couplet

The couplet is about maple sugaring and goes like this:

"When the wind's in the west, the sap.....?......." --65.151.165.63 04:04, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

runs best. - Nunh-huh 04:07, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
transcends. --HappyCamper 04:09, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
still contains surprisingly little sugar. George 05:52, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
wears its vest? DJ Clayworth 22:28, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
runs through its chest. Neutralitytalk 22:25, 3 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] USA Universities

Can someone tell me the top 5 USA Universities for sport? Thank-you for your assistance, it is appreciated greatly

That would depend greatly on which sport you're thinking of. Dismas|(talk) 12:32, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
The NACDA Director's Cup assigns points for 1st place 2nd place NCAA finishes, etc. across all sports and rank the teams that way. You'll still have to pick a metric though, since whether you take the most recent year's results or an average over 5 or 10 years for example, the results would each be different. Division 1 is generally considered much more competitive than the others. In any case, Stanford is far and away #1 using NACDA's method considering all sports evenly, and I'm a UM fan. If you prioritized sports by public popularity, then the results would again be different. - 15:59, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
The NACDA Director's Cup is definitely the way to go for an overall ranking that treats all sports equally. For individual sports, go to the [www2.ncaa.org/sports NCAA sports website]. They're the organizing body, and the sports page has statistics and rankings. Mareino 19:56, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] kazaa keywords to be filterd

dose anyone know the 3000 words that kazaa will be filtering from its searches thanks

Maybe you should wait until the filter has been implemented. –Mysid 10:14, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] height related

is it possible to increase height after 25 yrs. of age without consuming any kind of medicine.

Dwarfism can be treated surgically using an Ilizarov apparatus. The dwarfism article says: It can add over 6 inches (15 cm) per bone (there are two in the leg), but is expensive, painful, and time-consuming. –Mysid 09:49, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
Wearing taller shoes and learning to stand straighter and piling your hair a little higher. I have just saved you lots of money if you were tempted by any of the "programs" or "systems" advertised on the internet. They are scams and when you send money, will either send you some vitamins that do not change your height or will send you advice like I listed. There are worse things in life than being short, and being short does not preclude success, happiness, or health. alteripse 12:23, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Indian President

Can somebody explain total salary, perks etc of President of India.

  • Start with our President of India article. You may have to go to the website of the Government of India to find this information. Ground Zero | t 18:54, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Mainland China Film or Mini-series

Ok, here goes. This one is a stretch. My chinese uncle is being hard up on information, treating it like it is a secret. We have been watching a Mandarin speaking DVD collection of his, with subtitles in Cantonese, although I am an English speaker only. Every averaged 1.5 mins., my aunt asks, "Daddy! What did He Say?!!" "Daddy!! What did She say?". So, this translation may be fouled by the many transactions it made to enter the sphere of my conscienceness:

Swordsman, wandering around. Sees two old elders, they come from two worlds on one mountain. Note: On this mountain there are like 7 clans or tribes. (Swordsman/KungFu Hun Dynasty like/WomanMonks/ShaolinMonks/a leader with a changing face when in battle people/...) These two elders are writing a music book together. Ok, he helps them in trouble or something? Meets this witch swordstress that rocks pretty hard, but thinks she's a popo or lulu (grandma styles). He goes back to his master, but master mad that he hung out with the evil ones, per their POV. So then they banish him into solitude for a year in this cave. In the cave the Masters daughter comes to be cute with him all the time, bringing lunch and laughter. She goes back down to spar with a guy that lost his dad, but his dad gave him a book or some knowledge that all the mountain is in a brouhaha about. Back to the main dude...he's up there all bored. Stumbles across secret room with writings on the wall. Old man Elder that looks like Saruman from LOTR busts some crazy Martial moves on him. He learns from this wisecat. Now he gots crazy powers. Comes out of seclusion only to be the outcast of his own master by the masters jealous teenage-like fit. So all these side wars are going on during the story, and after many hours. This must have been a TV show or something in China. Titled 'Something?? Beautiful Song? or something?' I remember asking Uncle Joe about it, and he murmured it, but he's being sly now when I told him I want it in English Subtitles. So the question being. Where can I find this DVD Collection in English Subtitles? Basic concept of the story is that, and I haven't finished watching this warped translated version at my Uncles yet, Swordsman is the Key to this Mountain world/nation. All these feuds are to be quelled by his mastery of martial arts. I'm guessing, they will always be at war, but with him as the heart of the mountain they will live harmoniously? Maybe? Like, he's the only one in the story that isn't in search of mad power and glory, he's just a plain ole' servant. But of course, life is so-called unfair, and the ones that want don't get, and the ones that do not care do get. This is just speculation on the ending..still trying to decipher. Thank you for your time in this. --the void

Sounds like the plot of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer to me. i don't know where you can find a version with English subtitles though. --Plastictv 00:38, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Widescreen TV's

With a Widescreen TV, how will my Full Screen DVD's VHS, and other tapes work? Will there be black bars on the sides and or top and bottom, or will the image be stretched to fit the widescreen? Or some other way?

When viewing an ordinary 4:3 ratio picture on a widescreen TV, most TVs provide several modes. One is to leave the picture unaltered, which will place black bars at the side. Another is to chop off the top and bottom and zoom up so that the whole screen is filled, but with (rather a lot of) the top and bottom of the old picture removed. Another mode is to stretch the 4:3 picture horizontally - this works okay, but makes everyone on screen look chunky and compressed. And lastly, and most common, there is a compromise mode, which stretches the picture horizontally a bit, and chops off a smaller portion of the top and bottom. Most people leave their TVs in this mode most of the time, and generally you don't notice unless you're watching a sports program which displays scores in the very top or bottom of the screen. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 22:38, 29 November 2005 (UTC)
I should mention that more modern widescreen TVs have an automatic setting too. In this mode the TV looks for black borders and stuff, and picks a mode to accomodate. So if you play a DVD or tape which would be "letterbox" on a 4:3 TV, the fancy widescreen will notice the black borders and will just use the chop-top-and-bottom approach (there's nothing in the black bits you'll miss anyway). And given other pictures of varying proportion the TV will try to accomodate those in a "smart" way too. Mine does that, but it gets confused by the on-screen graphics of "who wants to be a millionaire" sometimes. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 22:43, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

So you are saying full screen DVD's etc will work? It sounds like the Preferred way would be to have Black Bars on the sides?

They'll work, but the letterbox format ones will work better. The only widescreen content most people have available to them (bar a very few widescreen cable or satellite channels) is letterbox format DVDs. If it wasn't for them there would currently be little point in having a widescreen TV. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 14:12, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
Here in Britain, widescreen is certainly not confined to DVDs, as the majority of digital broadcasting is in 16:9 widescreen, including most BBC programmes [56]. My remote has a button to choose between wide and 4:3 views to allow me to watch 4:3 programmes without the black bars; most modern remotes I've seen have something similar. Loganberry (Talk) 13:25, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] November 30

[edit] Twilight Sentinel Sensor on 1988 Oldsmobile

Neil has sent the following question to the Wikipedia Help Desk.

I have a question regarding the Twilight Sentinel Sensor in my 1998 Oldsmobile 88 LSS. How do you disconnect the sentinel sensor at the wiring harness? Thank you for the information. Neil

I would be grateful for any assistance that you can give him. Capitalistroadster 00:15, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] nittany lion

i was wondering if anyone knows the exact color of the penn state nittany lion statue.

thanks, andy

There are multiple statues. A picture of one of them is here. Superm401 | Talk 01:12, 30 November 2005 (UTC)


[edit] Elvis 1969 Concert Tour

Elvis did a tour in the united states in 1969, Can you please tell me the date of the concert he performed in Macon Georgia. Thank you, (Email removed)

I'm afraid Elvis Presley didn't play Macon (or anywhere in Georgia) on his 1969 tour. 1969 was his year of residency at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. [57] He played 2 shows in Macon on April 15, 1972 [58], a show on April 24, 1975 [59], and an April 2, 1977 date, which was cancelled, and rescheduled for June 1, 1977. [60]
Hope this is useful. Proto t c 16:13, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Restricted Airspace

Why is much of the airspace over Lake Michigan Restricted? Is there a website that shows areas of restricted airspace?

Although I haven't seen the charts for that area in years, I do happen to know that Great Lakes Naval Base is just north of Chicago. Certain altitude ranges are probably restricted for use as training areas. Dismas|(talk) 04:42, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
P.S. There are some charts here: SkyVector Dismas|(talk) 04:48, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Door Window

What is a little window in a solid door called?

After googling for a while, it appears to be a doorlight. The little window on top of the door is a transom. –Mysid 07:26, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
Having worked in the door industry a bit I can confirm the above although the term "doorlight" is usually just shortened to "light" or even "lite". Dismas|(talk) 07:48, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] NFL

Do NFL players get Benefits like Health Insurance or 401K etc?

Yes, they have a very nice benefits package including full medical, dental and life insurance. They are reimbursed 70% of the cost of out-of-network services after a $400 deductible. Their families also recieve these benefits. They also have special disability insurance and career savings plans (with nine investment fund options). They may also get severance pay and may be eligible for worker's comp in some states. Check out the NFLPA (NFL Player's Association) Benefits page here for more information. -Parallel or Together ? 07:36, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Staten Island Ferry

Reader Kevin Tuggs sent an e-mail to the Help Desk. I was wondering if you knew of a site where I can find the names of the buildings that are seen as you come into Whitehall Terminal from aboard the Staten Island ferry.

I have referred him to the links at the bottom of the Staten Island Ferry article but would be grateful if you could help him. Capitalistroadster 05:28, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

  • I believe Whitehall Terminal is the Manhattan terminus of the SI Ferry. That the easy end. Lower Manhattan Public Information Campaign has some lovely 3D maps. If you take some photos while you're on the ferry, you can match them up quite easily with the names on the maps. Mareino 20:07, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Reductio ad absurdum

How do I argue, every rule has an exception, using the argument form Rductio ad absurdum?

Well, reductio ad absurdum always begins by assuming the contrary, so you would start by assuming that some rule has no exception, and try to derive an impossible conclusion from that.
To clarify, the contrary of "every rule has an exception" is "there exists a rule that has no exceptions", and it is this second statement that a contradiction would have to be derived from. If you assume a specific rule has no exceptions and generate a contradiction, you have only proven that that specific rule has at least one exception. -- AJR | Talk 17:15, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
Note, however, that the proposition "every rule has an exception" is logically inconsistent, because it is itself a rule and therefore must have an exception by application of itself. Therefore some rule has no exception. —Keenan Pepper 13:58, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
This statmenet is false Jooler 07:45, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] UCC

Question: Does any part of the UCC cover credit card debt or the collection of credit card debt by collection companies?

Thomas Lohman e-mail removed

  • If you're a lawyer representing a debtor, or are yourself a debtor, and it's a major credit card, you'll want to look into Delaware usury law (or use the Delaware Lawyer Referral Service)

If you're just researching the Uniform Commercial Code, it's been a while since I studied it, but I think article 5 should cover it. Mareino 20:15, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] phylum of rice

(no question)

See rice. Dismas|(talk) 10:08, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Tic, tac and toe tap dancers?

Darryl Hewitt sent the following inquiry to the help desk.

When i was a kid i saw old black and white movies such as Laurel and Hardie, Harold Loys etc, in some movies i saw some fantastic tap dancers called Tic Tac and Toe, 3 young Coloured men who were fantastic at tap dancing on tables etc. Is there any footage or info on them or have you heard of them. If not do know where i can look. Thanks Darryl.

I suggested the names Tip, Tap and Toe see [61].

I would be grateful if you could help him. Capitalistroadster 09:57, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

  • They are credited with one film in IMDB [62], and there are a few other mentions in a Google search, but the information is very sparse. -- Dalbury(Talk) 12:42, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Also, per IMDB their names were Ted Fraser, Samuel Green, and Ray Winfield. -- Dalbury(Talk) 13:02, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 357 ammunition

is there a bullet for a 357 that shoots shotgun type pellets instead of a regular slug? do you have any information on the design and use?

Given the short muzzle of a handgun, wouldn't that be like having a small sawed off shotgun? Doesn't sound very safe (or legal) to me.Brian Schlosser42 15:36, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Ache and Pain

Can some one tell me whats the difference between an ache and a pain?? (Like in headache and headpain).. Can we use the two words interchanginly??

Jayant, 17 Years, India.

They are synonyms, but as with any synonyms there are subtle differences in meaning. I use ache to mean a dull, diffuse pain as opposed to a sharp pain. Webster 1913 defines ache as "continued pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain". So, a headache might result from high blood pressure or muscle tension, but a head pain would result from banging your head on something. —Keenan Pepper 14:06, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
And the difference being that in common usage no one would use head pain as one word, they would say it as you did "a head pain". But I've rarely hear anyone use the term that way either, perhaps because its simply not as common as a headache. Though I do agree with your distinction on the use of the words ache and pain in general. - Taxman Talk 16:21, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Artificial snow..

Can someone explain how artificial snow is created and why doesn't the artificial snow melt??

Jayant,17 years, India

See snow cannon. –Mysid 13:13, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
I live in Florida, where it almost never snows (I remember one snow in my lifetime, and that was just a few flakes), so for the holiday season it's common to see "artificial snow" made of cotton and glitter, which obviously doesn't melt. It's far from realistic though... —Keenan Pepper 14:13, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Yesterday, I saw an episode of Blue Peter in which they prepared the garden for the cast of The Chronicles of Narnia film by covering the garden in artificial snow. In this case, they watered the plants and covered them in some sort of pulverized paper as they did in the film as well (the water makes it stick). - 131.211.210.14 14:06, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

It is also possible to simply powder ice from a freezer and scatter it outside (this only works when it is cold enough for snow, but isn't snowing...a situation that not uncommonly is seen in Florida winters. Yeltensic42.618 20:17, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] IPv6 ranges

2001:DB8::/32

what would be covered by the above range?

That's not a range, it's an address, and expands to 2001:0DB8:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/32. See IPv6#Notation. Proto t c 15:54, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
But wouldn't the /32 prefix mean that it includes all addresses from 2001:0DB8:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000 to 2001:0DB8:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF? —David Wahler (talk) 14:36, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
I don't think so, but I might be reading the notation guide wrongly. Proto t c 17:00, 1 December 2005 (UTC)


There is some confusion between a network address and a host address. A network address is the base address of a range, and is technically not distinct from a host address, which specifies one single device on the network. Just as in IPv4, IPv6 allows you to specify networks using CIDR notation, which is the number after the slash. Therefore 2001:DB8::/32 as a network is valid, the remaining 96 bits would all be used to specify hosts on that network. To clarify, this notation is the same in IPv4, where something like 192.168.1.0/24 specifies a 24 bit network address leaving 8 bits to specify hosts. --Jmeden2000 22:04, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] A specific name for this?

Is there a specific name for a person who takes care of, and repairs clocks? I'm curious.

Clockmaker or clocksmith. —Charles P. (Mirv) 17:12, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
Horologist is another. MeltBanana 00:32, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Hair Cutting

Does anyone have any good links or information on the significance of hair cutting in celtic/romano-british cultures after the fall of rome/at the beginning of the dark ages? 216.43.124.150 17:27, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

Not much information, but some to get you started; Celtic-Brit men would let their hair grow long until they first killed a man in battle, and from then on would style their hair (and moustache!), using natural resins as gels and animal bone combs. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 20:19, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
I'm looking for information about, like, the hair-cutting bit in Culhwch and Olwen. 216.43.124.150

[edit] I need help finding scooby-doo characters.

I have a problem my son wants "scobby-dum" "scobby dee" and "scrappy" characters for Christmas.This is his second year to ask for them but i cant find them anywhere.the characters are from scooby doo cartoons that he has seen but im not sure if they are available for retail.Your help would be appreciated even a web site!Thanks for your help. Helen.---159.134.137.233 19:39, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

There is plenty of merchandise available: Warner Bros sell Scooby Doo toys directly on the Warner Bros Shop website. The Scooby Doo plush toys are made by Gund, and while they are not mentioned on the website, they do list retail outlets where their products are available. --Canley 06:24, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
Well, yes, that's a good source for Scooby Doo, but there doesn't seem to be any Scrappy or other subordinate doggie character merchanise there. Of course, if she wants to get her son a Velma dress-up costume, she could get it there, but I fear there would be psychiatric bills to pay later... - Nunh-huh 06:28, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
There was previously a Scrappy Doo character available on the Warner Bros store, there is one for sale on eBay at the moment. The other characters might be a bit obscure, but eBay is probably the best bet for finding such toys. --Canley 06:35, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
Ah, excellent idea. (And that's a nice Scrappy doll.) It inspired me to look at "Froogle", and I did find some Srappy Doo Burger King figures! here. (I used "figure" to screen out all the videos, which is what most of the products seem to be. I'm glad they never got around to making a film with their ne'er-do-well cousin, Doggie Doo!) - Nunh-huh 07:46, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Commitee on Legal Affairs

(no question)

  • Please read the instructions at the top of this page. You need to ask a question to get an answer. - 131.211.210.14 14:08, 1 December 2005 (UTC)


[edit] The existence of snuff, and Goldstein's millions.

Does this Observer article mean that someone is getting a million bucks from Al Goldstein? I see that snuff film has an oblique reference to the Russian ring run by Dmitri Kusnetsov, but is there any documentation on the "no such films have been found to date"? Anything? (Well, it's because Goldstein's broke and homeless, but why haven't The Straight Dope and Snopes issued retractions?) grendel|khan 22:04, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

Maybe they just haven't heard about it. The article is from October 2000, but the last update of the Snopes page on snuff films was February 1999. Why don't you contact Snopes and ask them about it? Chuck 23:26, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
They've been contacted, but since they don't say anything about returning mail, it's sort of like pissing into the Grand Canyon. Oh well. Maybe I'll drop a line to The Straight Dope as well. alt.folklore.urban has some discussion as well. grendel|khan 14:05, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

Snopes has message boards at http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi where you can post a question. User:Zoe|(talk) 04:03, 3 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] government

What are the responsibilities of the department of agriculture?

If you mean the federal department in the United States, see United States Department of Agriculture. Chuck 23:54, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
  • If you are not referring to the US, please be more specific and name the country. - 131.211.210.14 14:09, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
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