Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 October 18

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[edit] October 18

[edit] chess rice?

Hey, I'm looking for the origin of chess where it shows this guy asking the evil emperor for the same amount of rice of the chessboard he made for him-except that the rice is supposed to be multiplied by 2 for every square. I can't find it in Wikipedia's chess pages right now...does anyone know where I can find it? Thanks. --JDitto 04:55, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Don't know the origin but this is the fable. And here are the Wikipedia links Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple and Second Half of the Chessboard. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:30, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Dude!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU (Wow, I thought that this was widely accepted as fact, thank you for saving me from mass embarrassment!) --JDitto 05:35, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

I've certainly heard it ascribed to Sissa who is mentioned on the Origins of chess page but the earliest written reference to the fable I can find is this in the works of Nasir al-Din Tusi illustrating population growth. MeltBanana 14:35, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
It seems that someone deleted the whole story you mentioned from the Origins of chess page, however :( --JDitto 07:33, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Are The Songs '8th World Wonder' & 'Wrong' By Kimberley Locke Covers?

Is '8th World Wonder' Vanessa Carlton's song but covered by Kimberley Locke? Thanks.100110100 08:04, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Geese

Whenyou see several geese flying over you in the sign of a V does this have a meaning?

It probably means that they are migrating, see vee formation. If you're looking for an augural interpretation, I have no clue what the meaning would be.---Sluzzelin 08:41, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Do we have a n article on V formation?--Light current 13:42, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

When geese or any bird for that matter flies long distance in groups of more than 4 then often fly in "V" formation as it creates slip streaming for the birds behind making it much easier for them on the long haul, the air here is at the optimum turbulance for natural wings. Althought I have never observed it with my own eyes, I have seen film of the front bird slowing down so that it can take up place behind a new leader. You'd have thought that they would fly directly behind each other for this but thousands of years of eveolution, as always, have found the best method. --AMX 17:09, 18 October 2006 (UTC)AMX

[edit] qiuz using letters and numbers

hello,im doing a quiz and would like help it all relates to letters and numbers eg;88 k on a p=88keys on a piano ,101 d =101 dalmations,8d a w-t b =8days a week-the beatles.

and

thanyou to anyone who may be able to help


These quizzes are often based on cultural and social norms that vary from place to place, so it would be helpful to know which country you are in. It's also helpful if you sign your posts with four "tildes" (~~~~). --Dweller 10:29, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
This sort of puzzle is called a 1Ditloid, based on the book One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. "27 is the times of three cubed by its self" would fit, but seems so clumsy, and the maths seems iffy. Laïka 13:20, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
I googlead for : 32 (teeth ?), 235 (uranium ?), 61 (highway ?) ... no luck. -- DLL .. T 17:23, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
How can you be sure your answer is "correct"? 惑乱 分からん 18:30, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Looks like "12 m o a r c t in g" is the stumper here. Ditloid star for whoever solves it! ---Sluzzelin 09:56, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
12 months on a regular calendar (t-something) in Gregorian? Laïka 15:31, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
Better than what I came up with (12 marks on a regular clock ticking in Glasgow). By the way, I think the 'in' might actually be 'i n' (following the pattern of the other ditloids placed here), in which case the last three words could be 'is not g...'.---Sluzzelin 20:28, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
Could be something close to 12 meridian on a Reference clock ticking in Greenwich - referring to GMT - but I can't come up with a better sounding phrase/clause. Sandman30s 13:21, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Easyjet Baggage/Box

My suitcase is damaged (hole). Will easyjet be likely to allow me to check a large box made from cardboard into the hold? I rang easyjet in the Netherlands and the lady said it "should be ok" but that's not reassuring. Maybe someone here would know - does it have to be a bag? --Username132 (talk) 13:44, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Airlines normally have a supply of stout platsic bags in which they deposit dodgy looking luggage. Meanwhile there's no a priori prejudice about cardboard boxes; it does not have to be a bag. --Tagishsimon (talk)
I've often seen Pinoys checking in their cardboard balikbayan boxes at the check-in counter. I don't know your destination, but it wouldn't hurt to line the box with a sturdy large labelled garbage bag, in case your box gets stuck in the rain on the tarmac.  --LambiamTalk 15:26, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Easyjet is not your normal airline. They are cheap as &^*%^$%^ and don't have a lot of extras. You would be better off calling them to check. -THB 03:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
I did call them to check "and the lady said it "should be ok" but that's not reassuring." Anyway, I went with my box and they made me check it in through the 'odd sized baggage' route, but it was fine (no plastic bag though). However, I did get some people pointing at it on the baggage carousel and I got stopped by customs to ask my destination... --Username132 (talk) 15:26, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dung Spreader

In the UK, i was was to take a dung spreader trough a town and blast everything in sight with said dung (shops, cars, etc), what laws if any would i be breaking? Theoretical question of course, we just can't seem to determine what law this might be breaking, illegally dumping waste? Cheers :) Benbread 13:51, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/975012.stm ... answerblob

How about vandalism ? It requires clean up, just like spray painted walls with gang signs. StuRat 15:24, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Probably a prosecution under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 as amended by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. And possibly under any of the following:
  • Public Health Act 1925 and Byelaws
  • Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 S.25(5)
  • Motorway Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982 R.15(1)(b)
  • Highways Act 1980 SS.137, 138, 141, 145, 148, 150-153, 155 and 156

or

  • Public Order Act 1986 S.4A as added by Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994 Part 1 S.154
  • All sorts of other public health acts --Tagishsimon (talk)

--Tagishsimon (talk)

Thanks for the answers :) Damn that was some appauling spelling on my part in that question :| Benbread 21:09, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Appauling = Spelling so appallingly bad that even Paul would be ashamed of it ? :-) StuRat 21:40, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Interestingly (?), there was some farmer who, having been refused plannig permission on a structure he had already built, took revenge in the local council by plastering the front of the the council offices with dung from his muck speader. It caused quite a stink in the town. I can't remember what he was charged with: It may have been 'shit stirring' or possibly 'Pebble dashing a building frontage without proper consent'. 8-)--Light current 02:12, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
Oh Ive just seen the above link. Perhaps it was a Bank he was arguing with.--Light current 03:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Of course, politicians would never pass a law specifically banning the dispersal of bullshit in a public area, as they would be the first to be brought up on charges. :-) StuRat 04:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

No, no. If they're brought up on chargers, that would be horseshit! 8-)

--Light current 16:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Question on animal horns

I have cut the horn from a male goat and now I need to know how to prepare them - take away the flesh and marrow parts and how to get rid of the smell. Where can I find such information?

Let it dry? 惑乱 分からん 18:28, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
An animal horn used in judaism is called a shofar. here are some links I found after searching for "making shofar" [1] and [2]. one site suggests doing the following
  1. Buy a “nerf” ball (soft and pliable), an ear plug (the squeeze and insert type available at most drug stores), some fish tank gravel (not sand and not very big) and some alcohol.
  2. Plug the mouthpiece with the earplug. Pour in enough gravel that it can be shaken easily. Plug the bell end with the nerf ball.
  3. Shake it hard for about 15 minutes.
  4. Pull out the nerf ball and empty out the gravel. Pour about a cup of alcohol in and replace the ball. Shake for about a minute.
  5. Pull out the ball. Pour out the alcohol. Remove the earplug. Let it dry.
There is more information on those sites. good luck. Jon513 19:23, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
It took about 4 reads and 15 minutes before I understood what you meant. Hyenaste (tell) 00:00, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
First you cut off a poor animal's horn and then you wonder what to do with it? What on Earth did you have in mind? Do you have any idea yourself? Or was the goat already dead? (That would change matters a fair bit.) DirkvdM 19:40, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Unless he killed it for the horn :o --frothT C 00:29, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
Do goats shed their horns?--Light current 00:55, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Professionals use Skin beetles. -THB 03:04, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] shau en lai

Do you know what or who shau en lai can be?

Could you be referring to Zhou Enlai? Marco polo 19:55, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Do you have any other information? Language? Context? SOunds like it could be Chinese to me... 惑乱 分からん 19:56, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] In Country Music...

Has any Country Music artist ever use the word "fuck" in any song?

72.24.89.164 22:19, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Probably. Mongol Man 22:39, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Indeed. See Nigger Fucker. -Elmer Clark 00:01, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
Also "Go Fuck You" by Hank Williams III. --Aaron 16:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
Also Gaye Delorme (I think) in his classic The Rodeo Song... 惑乱 分からん 16:20, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Who are the characters in Cate Tiernan books?

who are the characters shown on the cover of the second book(the coven) of the wicca (sweep) series by cate tiernan—Preceding unsigned comment added by Skyathar (talk • contribs)

The articles Cate Tiernan and Sweep (book series) might help. —EdGl 22:35, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream- Birthdys and death dates

What are Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, creators of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, birthdays? I'm pretty sure they are still living, so I don't need death date, just their brithdays. Thanks so much.

-anon

For $10,000 in small bills in a paper bag, I can arrange for whatever death date you find most convenient. :-)
Hah. Very cute of you to state *rolls eye playfully* but seriously. Can you someone please tell me?
It seems to be pretty well known that Jerry's birthday is four days before Ben's, but I can't find any reference to what actual date that was. --Canley 02:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

facebook him

1951 is all I could find for Ben Cohen. :\ --Proficient 05:08, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
I've put a call into corporate headquarters nearby, but the guy who might help was out hosting Dutch milk farmers, and you are going to have to wait. But I will get an answer for you. Mothperson cocoon 17:39, 20 October 2006 (UTC)
Here's your answer, anon! Jerry Greenfield was born March 14, 1951, and Ben Cohen was born March 18, 1951. This comes straight from corporate headquarters. And they are both most certainly alive and well. So, like, what are you going to do with this information, I wonder? I don't think they need an ice cream cake. Although... Mothperson cocoon 17:57, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] who would win the jaguar or the corvette?

anyone? Weaseljenkins 22:37, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm not picky. I would like to win either. Hyenaste (tell) 22:39, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

how fast can a jaguar and a corvette go? --Weaseljenkins 22:50, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

The corvette, since the jaguar can't run on its top speed for more than a few seconds. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 22:55, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

thanks --Weaseljenkins 22:55, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

LOL

[edit] chandler woodcock?

do you think he will win the election? --Weaseljenkins 22:59, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Is a woodcock related to a woodpecker ? I suppose knot. :-) StuRat 23:24, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
How much wood could a wood-cock whack, if a wood-cock would whack wood? =S 惑乱 分からん 15:34, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Woodpecker = George Washington's less publicized wooden prosthesis. :-) StuRat 17:21, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] when will cars fly?

when will cars fly? -- Weaseljenkins

As soon as hover technology is feasible. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 23:03, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
See future of the car as well. Hyenaste (tell) 23:04, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
If cars flew, they would be airplanes or helicopters. -THB 02:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
They already can: Supercar (TV series)--Light current 03:00, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
When we redefine the word 'car'. DirkvdM 07:17, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

See this utterly brilliant link --Dweller 10:33, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It wasn't so brilliant, but I reformatted your syntax and now it's OK. Cheers. JackofOz 12:21, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Cars will fly when we strap flying pigs to them. :-) StuRat 05:10, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

See Flubber --frothT C 20:35, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] do you know the average land speed for a mini cooper?

My grandmother's name was Wilhelmina Cooper, and her friends called her Minnie. I would say her average land speed was around 3 mph. :-) StuRat 23:22, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Cars don't have a preset average speed. It depends on how fast you drive. Given that, it would be much more than the average water speed. -THB 02:57, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Spookily, this is also probably answered by the link I posted in the previous question. --Dweller 10:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] what is the smallest inamnate object? asap

i have no clue. --Weaseljenkins 23:10, 18 October 2006 (UTC) help asap

Are quarks or sub-protonic particles inanimate? Jamesino 23:12, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Well they certainly aren't animate. My guess is the up quark as smallest IAO. Hyenaste (tell)
From our article Classical electron radius: "In fact, modern particle physics experiments indicate that the electron is a point particle, i.e. it has no size and its radius is zero." You can't get much smaller than that. This property would be shared, according to the Standard model, with other leptons – which included neutrinos – and quarks. On the other hand, theoretical physicists think that the notion of length as having physical meaning may break down below one Planck length. A radius of zero is definitely less.  --LambiamTalk 08:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
But according to J. H. Conway they have as much free will as we do. Rich Farmbrough, 14:05 19 October 2006 (GMT).

the higgs boson which allows matter to interact with gravity.193.115.175.247 15:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Isn't the history of science a catalogue of finding ever smaller particles, smaller than was previously thought possible? Who's to say whatever's the smallest known particle now is the smallest there is or will ever be? JackofOz 02:10, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] God real or not?

Does God exist? The Ayatollah 23:11, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

That depends on your definition of God. It is also hard to answer that question from the neutral point of view. THL 23:17, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Nobody can see God. Nevertheless, see God. JackofOz 23:18, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Also see Existence of God. --Allen 23:19, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Nice --frothT C 00:25, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Does it have to? ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 00:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

How about this:
Let us have God and Devil
Since they are opposite forces:
God + Devil = 0
But they are also complementary entities. Good cannot exist without evil and vice versa. They together form everything there is, and there can only be one of that. So we have:
God \times Devil = 1
Which gives us:
\begin{cases} God + Devil = 0 \\ God \times Devil = 1 \end{cases}
Solving that, we have:
Devil = − God
(-God) \times God = 1
− God2 = 1
God = \sqrt{-1}
God = i
Therefore, God is not real, but imaginary. The same goes with the devil, Devil = − i ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 00:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
No, it says that "God is I". But of course only when I say it. Also note that God's sense of grammar isn't up to scratch. DirkvdM 07:28, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
That's an interesting way of looking at things... However, I was under the impression that Faith was a matter of faith. No one (or at least no normal human being) can tell anyone God does or does not exist. Russia Moore 01:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
Put that in the Mathematical jokes article. As for me, God's real. bibliomaniac15 01:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
He exists in your mind, if you're a believer. And in the mind of other believers, but the problem is that that is their God, so it's a bit confusing to use the same name. Every believer has their own God in their minds, but since everyone is their mind they also are their own God. As was already mathematically proven by Kieff. Now you have a philosphical proof. Everyone is their own God, so, yes, God exists. There's just loads of them. DirkvdM 07:28, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Ah... I believe that in Christian thought, the Devil is a fallen angel. As a fallen angel, he cannot be pure evil, but must be flawed with at least a semblance of good. Also, I believe that Christian thought says that God is stronger. So therefore your God/Devil equations would be imbalanced. Anyway, not everyone who believes in God believes in the Devil. --Dweller 10:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Ah yes. The Devil is always in the detail. 8-)--Light current 11:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
You sound like Kim Beazley. He's always saying that. (lol) JackofOz 12:17, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
Ah well, he a bloody clever bastard then (forgive the Australian language) 8-)--Light current 16:10, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
"He a bloody clever bastard" sounds like you're trying to emulate one of the c. 20% of Australians of non-English speaking background. We are very inclusive over here, but it's ok to speak standard English too.  :) JackofOz 02:05, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

just a note on his equation, instead of

God \times Devil = 1

it should be

\frac{God}{Devil}= 1

as the former equation would only hold true if god and devil were 1, but the latter would hold true for any values.

The end result is still the same. Zealz 23:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] whats your favorite eat out? around ny asap

--Weaseljenkins 23:17, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't know what the food is like around nyasap but I enjoy a good meal at the Olive Garden --frothT C 00:24, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I suppose I would too, if I ever got one there. --Trovatore 00:27, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
If you enjoy eating out, and are visiting NYC, I can recommend the Time Out travel guide, or the weekly Time Out magazines for NYC. They feature restaurants for every cuisine, crowd, location, opening hour, and budget.---Sluzzelin 00:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What is the fastest computer in the world?

See Supercomputer#The_fastest_supercomputers_today. --Allen 23:51, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Here's a pic of the fastest computer in the world. It's circled in red --frothT C 00:22, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
Depends on what you call a single computer. Is a multicore computer one computer? Does it have to be in a single case? If yes and no then the Internet. It's just never used to its full capacity. DirkvdM 07:34, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
check [3] Sandman30s 14:23, 19 October 2006 (UTC)