Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 December 24

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[edit] December 24

[edit] More Mysterious Movie Mechanics

K, follow up question. I watched "Cinta Pertama" with a couple friends, and there were no letters on the screen, as such, they can't be cigarette burns or tracking devices. As such, they must be a part of the subtitling process. As i said earlier: "I am currently in Indonesia on an exchange program, and Western would mean American, French, English, and Australian. The letters are in the middle vertically, and placed parallel. I'd say about 1/8 of the way out from the left and right edges, similar to the spacing of the red bars on the Canadian flag. They are always the same colour as the subtitles. Oh, and does this happen in many countries where films are subtitled? I never watched a subtitled film in theatres in Canada, (although I meant to see Hero)." Any new ideas why that would be part of the subtitling process? Crisco 1492 00:59, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Try that question on the new Entertainment reference desk. NeonMerlin 04:12, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
I figured this one is better because this doesn't refer specifically to content, but the way in which movies and whatnot are made and shown. Crisco 1492 04:51, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
Yes, I think this desk is fine. StuRat 14:27, 25 December 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Arizona

What is the 4 corners?

See Four Corners (United States). It's the point on the map where the four corners of the states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico come together. User:Zoe|(talk) 03:46, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
But if, as a foreign tourist, I stood in one of the States and aimed and scored a Pee at all the other three in full sight of 4 police patrolman each in his/ her own State, which State policeman/men could arrest me? Or if I was nailed down by a rapist/murderer equidistantly across the intersection and raped and murdered, which State would pursue and prosecute the crimes?
You might get away with the peeing, but as for rape and murder, it would probably be considered that you were transported across state lines, making it a Federal crime and would so be taken care of by the Feds.
Since three of the four states are within the Navajo Reservation, and the fourth is within the Ute Reservation, you would probably be arrested by tribal police. User:Zoe|(talk) 21:15, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Kee-ristmas!

What is the significance of the interjection "Kee-ristmas!", when used in months other than December (e.g. [1])? NeonMerlin 04:10, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

That'd be a minced oath, like saying "darn" instead of "damn". I don't imagine there's any significance to the specific choice of word substituted for "Christ". --Anonymous, Kee-ristmas Eve, 2006, 09:30 (UTC).

[edit] Playstation 3 Console

How do I change the screen background? Яussiaп F 04:33, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Refer to computer ref desk.martianlostinspace 12:50, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Escalator

Where is the world's largest escalator located, and how large is it? Crisco 1492 05:01, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

See Escalator#Longest escalators and systems --Justanother 05:03, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
Thanks. Crisco 1492 22:08, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Article and Edit are different?

In the Article "Gun Safety" theres a link to a close combat forum but when I go into edit its gone, at first I thought I was viewing an older edit but after going around it I didnt seem like it, why is it different? Joneleth 05:11, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Nevermind I fixed it by simply saving the edit without editing anything and it went away, was wierd though. Joneleth 05:29, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

I get that all the time, I think it means the article has changed and you need to refresh your browser. StuRat 14:22, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

No I refreshed my browser countless of times, even started a new browser and then restarted my computer. Joneleth 07:09, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

In that case, it sounds like your computer is using a version from it's cache, which is different from the current version, causing this problem. You need to clear your cache and/or change the settings so it doesn't insist on using the cache version at inappropriate times. StuRat 15:58, 27 December 2006 (UTC)

I had never been on the page before and the last edit to it was a week before I arrived, so it couldnt possibly have been a cache. Joneleth 09:15, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] countries having port

I need the list of countries which contain port and have ship building technology.

See world's busiest port, List of seaports, ports, ship building and shipyard. These should be a good start. There are thousands of ports and places that build ships but these links should show you the major ports across the globe. As an aside there is a book The box (book) which is about the development of the shipping container and how it changed the world. Worthy of a read. ny156uk 12:04, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Driving through Colorado...

...I saw these 1ft squared yellowish balls hanging on the electric wires in some places. Does anybody know what these are for? Thanks, Sashafklein 11:35, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

To prevent birds flying into the wires. The places where you saw them were probably near wetlands or water. Skarioffszky 12:46, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

They're aircraft warning spheres. You can order one for yourself here: [2] --Zeizmic 13:45, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

They seem to be known more generically as "aircraft warning markers". Some can be quite sophisticated: the ones installed on some HT lines over the Hudson River (a very common aircraft route) actually were illuminated at night. I was told at the time that they operated via electromagnetic induction from the HT lines themselves. That is, they acted as current transformers and energized lights using the induced power.
Atlant 16:25, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] beyblade manga wiki

on wikipedia when i typed in Beyblade,it said something about the manga and what happens in the chapters.Is that stuff even true because nothing it says happened in the anime.thankz

There are often major differences between the manga and anime of a series, just as there often are between a book and the movie based on it. Both are "true" and equally valid.

[edit] conversion

Is there a website where you can change your Gregorian calender birthday into other calender like the islamic calender or Persian calender?

Some examples: islamicfinder (Islamic/Gregorian), Iranian Calendar Converter (Persian/Gregorian/Islamic), The Shepherd's Page (Jewish/Gregorian/Julian), thelalis (various Zoroastrian/Gregorian). I found these by clicking on the calendars featured on Wikipedia's List of calendars, and looking for converters in the external links sections of the corresponding articles. ---Sluzzelin 15:17, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] mixed martial arts event SUPERBRAWL in Hawaii

doubt very much whether anyone will be able to answer this one but its worth a go. there is a popular mixed martial arts (also referred to as cage fighting, ultimate fighting, vale tudo amongst other terms), event held in hawaii called Icon Sports. originally these evnts were called Superbrawl. if you you use the events archive available on Sherdog.com the results are available under Icon Sports. i want to know why there is no result for Superbrawl 6. i would like to know if perhaps it was a cancelled event, if so what was the original fightcard.

note. enter Superbrawl in the Wikipedia search and it comes up with the wrestling event also called Superbrawl. (far more popular for sure). the Hawaiin event was created after the success of a small local fighting tournament called Futurebrawl.

i wish all this was available when i was at school! cheers and happy christmas.

johnson8882.21.82.184 16:00, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Magazine circulation figure needed

I'm starting up an article on COINage magazine, and can't find their circulation figure. The only sites I've seen have lists for the Top 100 magazines, but COINage isn't in the Top 100. Any help would be appreciated. --cholmes75 (chit chat) 16:05, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Since it is a private company millermags.com, my guess is that you will have to ask them but then that becomes WP:NOR. Good luck. --Justanother 16:16, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Watermelon reaction

Everytime I eat fresh watermelons, the edges of my mouth and my lips gets all tingly and itchy. It turns red. Does anyone know why this is? Jamesino 17:17, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Fresh, you say? This may be a small allergic reaction to the pollen from the watermelon or something. This sometimes happens to me when I eat apples, so I'm guessing its pretty common... Ilikefood 17:50, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
The article on oral allergy syndrome mentions cross reactions between watermelon and allergy to ragweed pollen. I'm pointing you to a page with further links, and obviously this is neither a diagnosis nor medical advice. ---Sluzzelin 17:53, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Yes thank you, I think that's it. I sometimes feel it in my ear canals too. Jamesino 18:04, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

If not for the ear canal symptoms, I would have said it could also be just the stinging of mild acid on cracked or chapped lips. StuRat 14:19, 25 December 2006 (UTC)
I suggest you discuss this with a doctor or else avoid watermelons. "Small" allergic reactions like this sometimes turn into anaphylaxis.  --LambiamTalk 21:16, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Xmas holidays in US

How many days do people in the US get as holidays at Xmas? --Light current 17:48, 24 December 2006 (UTC)t

It depends on the industry they are in and the individual company they work for. For example, some people only get Christmas itself off, but get holiday pay for the surrounding days and some manufacturing plants shut down for the week between Christmas and New Years. The day of the week that Christmas falls on also affects the number of days off given. If Christmas was on a Thursday, Friday will likely be a day off as well. This year Christmas is on a Monday though, so many blue-collar workers are receiving only Christmas day off.
And then some manufacturing companies agree to give their employees two days off for Christmas Eve and Christmas. In the event of one of them falling on a weekend, they normally still give the second day off. Like with this year, some companies may give both Monday and Tuesday off to make up for C.E. being on a Sunday. Dismas|(talk) 20:58, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
I just ate lunch at TGI Friday's and our waiter said that he had to work all day Christmas day or he's fired --frothT C 21:36, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
Employees in the service and entertainment industries that operate outside of conventional "office hours" are probably well aware of the occasional or regular need to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Sometimes this shift work entitles the worker to some form of premium pay.
When I was a ward clerk in a large hospital, the employees were asked well in advance to state a preference of taking off Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's -- and could expect to be asked to work one or both of the others. (I volunteered to work back-to-back double shifts on Christmas, a holiday I don't celebrate). -- Deborahjay 22:42, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

I have to work on Christmas but I get like double-time-and-a-half or something, so I can't really complain... Adam Bishop 04:30, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

US auto companies traditionally have a long Christmas vacation, perhaps two weeks. They use this time to retool, do model changeover, etc. StuRat 14:15, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

In UK we always have Xmas day and Boxing day ( the day following). Of course some forms shut down for the week. Then we also have New Years day. Is that a holiday in US?--Light current 16:19, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

Yep, New Year's Day is a holiday in the U.S., with the same provisions as X-mas noted above. Many people in the service and health care industries likely will not have it off. 192.168.1.1 11:50am, X-mas 2006 (PST)
I think that the standard in the United States is that only Christmas Day itself is a regular paid holiday. This is how my company handles it. Only Christmas Day itself is a public holiday observed by the government and government services (post office, trash collection, etc.). In practice, people may get more days as paid holiday depending on their employer. Many private-sector companies in the United States have a set number of paid holidays per year. For example, my company has ten paid holidays per year. Eight of these are assigned to specific days (Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Friday after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day). That leaves two additional paid holidays. Most of the fixed holidays are observed on a Monday, which creates a three-day weekend. However, 4th of July and Christmas Day (December 25) can fall on any day of the week. If either of these holidays happens to fall on Tuesday or Thursday, the company will use one of the remaining two paid holidays to create a 4-day weekend. Since Christmas Day this year was on a Monday, that did not apply. The remaining one or two paid holidays are offered by my company as "floating holidays", which employees can take for a holiday of their choice, such as a religious holiday not observed by the company. That said, educational institutions tend to be closed for the entire week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Some are closed for the week before Christmas as well. Permanent employees of those educational institutions receive pay for the weeks of "Christmas recess". And, as some have noted, some companies close for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day in lieu of offering employees an additional week of vacation (or employee-chosen "holiday leave" in British English). In practice, even though today is not a paid holiday at my company, very few people are working. Most people have chosen to take a paid vacation day (which they could have scheduled for any day of the year). Marco polo 15:28, 26 December 2006 (UTC)
You only get ten days paid holiday? Is that normal? How many days a week do you work? Skittle 18:23, 27 December 2006 (UTC)
Americans work 5 days a week for the most part. Two weeks (10 work days off) of paid vacation is normal in the US. Note that it's called "vacation" in the US, with "holiday" meaning closer to it's original meaning of "holy day" in the US. That is, "holiday" generally refers to religious days given off to everyone, like Christmas and Easter, with a few secular "holidays" thrown in, like Thanksgiving, Independence Day (when we kicked out those nasty Brits !), Labor Day, and Memorial Day. StuRat 23:38, 27 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] wikipedia's reach

Once Wikipedia's reach was 60,000 and now it is in the low 40,000 reach (see alexa.com and Wikipedia:Awareness statistics). Reach means how many users per million in the Internet go to a certain website. How come the reach was lowered in Wiikipedia then it use to be?--PrestonH | talk | contribs | editor review | 18:50, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Maybe Wikipedia users just eventually get smarter enough to avoid using Alexa Toolbar? — Kieff 03:11, 25 December 2006 (UTC)
Yea, I purged that malware off my system long ago. StuRat 14:12, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] free stuff.

I was at a friends yesterday. He was looking through your site, but it was a local site for free stuff. Things people had posted and were giving away, or trading. I live in arcata, ca. Can you help me get to the right place? please? Thank you very much. Jerri marsh.

A local version of Craigslist perhaps? Dismas|(talk) 20:55, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
I've seen that too; you post freebies or take free stuff in your area. I will see if I can find it. --Justanother 23:37, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
Freecycle ? 68.39.174.238 20:41, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Aids from monkeys

Hi my buddy and I were arguing about getting aids from monkeys. He says you can only get it from the males and you should be ok if you choose a female. Is that right? Thanks

"Choose a female" to do what? User:Zoe|(talk) 21:27, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
In the opening paragraphs of the page on AIDS, you'll find valuable information about the transmission of HIV, the virus causing the disease, through contact with bodily fluids. The sex of the infected individual is apparently irrelevant. As for cross-species transmission, perhaps you're thinking of HIV having originated with chimpanzees? -- Deborahjay 22:21, 24 December 2006 (UTC)]]
I think one can assume what he means to choose a female monkey for. --Proficient 22:59, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
I was hoping for a clarification. Primates are hunted for food among some cultures. User:Zoe|(talk) 23:08, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
Note: I think this is an example of a topic that can be salvaged if it's just answered as well as possible without speculation, but where speculation and side-conversations [cf. previous versions, subsequently deleted by Deborahjay per discussion on project talk page] can rapidly degenerate it into a goofball pileon. Anchoress 23:14, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
Agreed -- please note that comments on this query are being edited for good faith, as of now. -- Deborahjay 05:19, 25 December 2006 (UTC)
Please not that the improperly deleted comments have been restored as deletion of other people's comments is vandalism and a complete departure from "assume good faith" User:Zoe|(talk) 19:14, 25 December 2006 (UTC)
Surely you cant cathc human immunodeficiency viruses from anything except humans? 172.159.187.49 18:15, 25 December 2006 (UTC)
See AIDS_origin#Spread_from_animal_to_human_populations and also Bush meat Bwithh 19:19, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] weird

what is it when your sleeping, and as you are halfway out, just as you begin to lose consciousness (not literally, just as you begin to become unaware of your surroundings) you suddenly jolt forward, feeling very warm and having no control over it, you just feel like youve been shocked or something and, probably via reflexes, you jolt forward, and this happens every other time you try to go back to sleep. it only happens some nights but not others. stroke or something? and, p.s, you're not old and you don;t have any heart failure you know of

This seems to be normal amongst some people. See Hypnic_jerk--Light current 21:19, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
I get them pretty often. And I also get them after particularly good sex, which I've never read anything about in the literature. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 21:30, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

so you mean that it isnt a disorder or somewthing or heat stroke or something like that? you wont get brain damage or paralyzed or anything like that? it literally basically prevents you from going to sleep. i had to sit up until i was tired enough to where i actually went to sleep in that position. it happened 10 plus times in 2 hours

Sounds like an extreme case, if it's seriously interfering with sleep you might want to see a doctor and maybe he can prescribe some medication --frothT C 21:38, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

For the couple of weeks it might take to see a doctor, keep a log of when it happens, etc. This gives you something to talk about. --Zeizmic 22:19, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

You might want to read up on restless leg syndrome, although I am not trying to diagnose anything over the internet. Anchoress 22:21, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
No its doesnt sound like RLS. I have RLS. RLS is present for long periods even before you enter the hypnotic stage between wakefulness and sleep. I know about it. It sounds more like hypnic jerk--Light current 22:54, 24 December 2006 (UTC)


Sometimes this happens to me to. I'm lying in my bed some nights, and I randomly jolt for no reason. and I thouhgt I was the only one....--Ac1983fan 00:13, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

There are lots of things that interfere with sleep. You should keep track of how you feel in the morning, and how alert you are. When you go to the doctor, you should explore the idea of a sleep test (in a polite manner). It's quite interesting. You go to this sleazy place in the basement of some run-down mall, and they hook you up with tons of wires, on a crummy bed, with the traffic noise, and blinking lights outside. Then when you come back to discuss the results, they always start with: "Gee, it took you a long time to fall asleep... " --Zeizmic 03:10, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

There are a lot of causes for general tics, take your "pic" --frothT C 03:57, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

The article on hypnic jerk seems to be quite informative about this common occurrence. V-Man737 23:01, 26 December 2006 (UTC)