Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 October 21

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[edit] October 21

[edit] Games on the TI-84?

Are there any other games for it, besides the one with the shapes? Pacific Coast Highway {blah • Happy Halloween! • WP:NYCS} 00:30, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

You can download games, or you can make your own, just using the calculator(it's not complicated), or get ones that your friends have made. I've made minesweeper, connect four, hangman, and some other stuff.

If you have the cable (they're like $15) you can put assembly games on your calculator. Go to the archives at [1] --frothT C 05:34, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
I have a TI-84 Plus Silver Edition. It will happily run almost all of the large number of games written for the Ti-83 Plus. Loganberry (Talk) 16:24, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Military Corpmen

I am not using the following information for experiments of any form of surgery. How do US military corpsmen treat fellow soldiers if the following occurs: a bullet to the arm, a bullet to the torso, a shot-off finger? Do they, for example, inject the fallen soldiers with drugs such as morphines and surgically remove the bullets? Also, what anesthetics do US corpmen carry? Thanks --Jamesino 00:51, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

The corpsman will render first aid to make the casualty stable enough to go to a Aid Station and/or MASH unit. They do use drugs to alleviate the pain as they stabilize the casualty for transport, be it by a land conveyance, a helicopter, boat, etc. Martial Law 03:09, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
US MASH units have now been replaced with Combat Support Hospitals. StuRat 11:18, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Usually it may be morphine, but that has been replaced, to avoid creating junkies on the battlefield. Martial Law 03:11, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

What kind of drugs do they use now? What if a US Navy SEAL platoon is out on a mission and one of its members got a finger shot off and took a bullet to the arm, what does the corpsmen do in that case when they are nowhere near a hospital? Jamesino 23:42, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Possibly Novacaine. First aid is rendered, if not, the guy may be "terminated" to keep the enemy fom getting to him/her. Most of those missions are classified, even classed as "black ops", such as assassinating a enemy general or even a enemy head of state, rescue of hostages, demonstrated by Israel in the Entebbe Raid. Martial Law 20:53, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] manual information on Technics Compact Disc Changer SL-MC 50

Hi! I'm looking for the manual for the Technics Disc Changer SL-MC 50. They don't make this product anymore. We have one and need a manual for it.

Thanks. Bob

Google is your friend Bob. —Mitaphane talk 03:43, 21 October 2006 (UTC)


[edit] soviet union breakdown

I was alive in 1991 but I have no idea what happened with the USSR in that year. can someone give me a very brief summary of what happened? Or link. Thanks.

Try History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991) and please sign your posts with four tildes! Thanks. -THB 06:29, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] WP and War

Since WP has servers in South Korea, what would WP do if war breaks out. The expectation of war is real, since N. Korea may go to war real shortly. Will WP relocate these servers in the event of war ? I've been watching the situation on FOX News, CNN, other media for quite some time since the nuke test crisis started. Martial Law 03:19, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm not completely sure of the details of wikipedia's servers setup, but I'm guessing the servers in Korea are caches of the servers located in Florida, done so to minimize access time for people in the Eastern Hemisphere. If this is the case, it wouldn't take much to make another backup and place it on a server located in another stable region. —Mitaphane talk 03:52, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
I'd suggest Japan to be WP's alternate location, yet still serve the Eastern Hemisphere's clientele, unless Japan goes to war to protect itself. Martial Law 04:28, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
A alternate suggestion would be Guam. No wars, no earthquakes either. Martial Law 04:42, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
WP should make a back-up and be ready to move it should war indeed comes to the Korean Peninsula. One other question, is WP monitoring the situation ? Martial Law 04:50, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
If war does break out in that area, it's going to be so nasty that I doubt there's going to be anyplace in S. Korea to put any servers for quite some time. In any case, it's all backed up constantly; Wikipedia would simply switch the relevant domain names to another IP address somewhere else in Asia. Beyond that, it would be up to the various Internet backbone sites in that region to make sure anyone could actually reach S. Korean sites. --Aaron 04:57, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
North Korea may go to war real shortly? What on Earth makes you think that? And with South Korea, with whom they are developing ever more amicable relationships? You admit you watch Fox and CNN. But you also claim to use other sources. Any reliable ones among those? Maybe I should start making bets about what will happen in world politics with people who watch Fox and CNN. I'd be a millionaire in no time. DirkvdM 06:14, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
According to the WPSP (I think), WMF is looking to shift everything back to pmtmpa (The Floridian svrs) and depreciate the Korean ones. 68.39.174.238 03:59, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] My Own Page?

When editing my own page, is it still necassary to leave an Edit summary?. —BeefJeaunt talk

Yes, it is. Martial Law 04:20, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
No it isnt Martial law. We are still under civil law. 8-)--Light current 06:19, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Necessary in what sense, ML? It's certainly not required. Anchoress 04:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
~after edit conflict, a completely different answer to the above one! It's never necessary to leave an edit summary, but there are counters that measure summary compliance, and undiscerning people might look at poor edit summary compliance and deem it to be an editorial fault (in the case of adminship application, for instance). Anchoress 04:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I always try to leave an edit summary on actual articles, but not on talk pages, my own user page, and the Ref Desk, as those comments are typically self-explanatory. This edit, for example, would just say something like "Answer", if I bothered. At some point, "talking about talking about talking" becomes silly. StuRat 10:57, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

You could be creative and say you were "meta-talking".  :) JackofOz 12:41, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Replacement cap for flash drive

I lost the cap to my 512MB flash drive. Where do I go to get a replacement? Will a replacement cap from, say, Lexar, work on a SanDisk drive? --Blue387 05:20, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Ask on the IT/Computing desk--they should know. -THB 06:25, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
But really, would you need a cap, can't you put it in plastic foil or something, if you worry about dust? I doubt a cap would be worth its prize... 惑乱 分からん 14:20, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
The simple intuitative answer that comes to me is contact the company that makes the product. See if you can buy a replacement from them. As far as caps that will work across difference flash drives. That depends on how the plastic is molded and shaped to fit together. —Mitaphane talk 17:18, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] more french riots

what's wrong with these people? ?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/world/europe/21france.html?hp&ex=1161489600&en=64d3fb6fee7840ce&ei=5094&partner=homepage

why don't they just go to school and get an education and get a decent job . why are they ambushing police? If they don't like the french system then they're free to leave. wtf is wrong with these people!?!!?

Theyre French 8-(--Light current 06:17, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
It ain't just in France--see Race riot. -THB 06:43, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
The article explains why they can't get a job. It is called "racial discrimination". What is the point of getting an education if you know you won't be able to get a job? Also, what notion is this that "they're free to leave"? To where? Danmark? The United States? Will you sponsor their visa applications?  --LambiamTalk 09:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Well 2005 civil unrest in France covers the event of about a year ago (maybe you have already seen this article but you never know).
Are they French? I mean : do they have the French nationality and the right to vote? I guess not, because if that were the case France could lose its identity pretty soon.
Lambiam, last year they killed an old retired man who tried to put out a fire and set an old lady on a bus on fire. I find it hard to sympathize.Evilbu 09:56, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Did I say anything to condone their behaviour? As always with riots, there are some people who riot just for their idea of fun, not much different from soccer hooligans, and many who are swept up by the mob psychology. It's always been like that except that now we have missiles and generals, which is so much more civilized. And as always, the people who suffer most from such riots are the people who live right there, in the banlieux, the vast majority of whom do not participate in or even approve of the rioting. Then the hardliners come and want "hard measures" that are completely ineffectual except that they punish the people who live there a third time, making it harder and harder for those who are working hard there to build a sense of community. The riots wouldn't be so fierce if not so many of these youngsters were bored and without purpose, and they would also not be so fierce if there wasn't a lot of justified bitterness and anger. Most of these young people were born in France. They have nowhere to go.  --LambiamTalk 12:52, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

For those who aren't French citizens, I would deport them back to their country of origin, after they serve any prison sentence. They have claimed asylum because they didn't feel safe at home ? Well, they should have thought about that when they decided to go rioting, shouldn't they ? StuRat 10:37, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

If they're citizens of France then they can move anywhere they wish in the European Community without asking or telling anyone. -THB

This shows the character of rioters:

"On Saturday, 26 May, the Live and Let Live pub, which was occupied at the time, was pelted with bricks, stones and petrol bombs."

Exactly...exactly

It is important to understand that most of the young men responsible for the violence were born and raised in France, yet because their ancestors were not European, they are not accepted as French by French people of European origin. Unemployment is very high for French young people, in the neighborhood of 25% I think. It is much higher for young men from visible minorities because of racism. So suggesting that they just get a job ignores the fact that many of them would like to do just that but can't. Getting an education does not offer much hope of improvement. The job market is very tight for French graduates of European origin, and much tighter, again due to racism, for young men with darker skin. Leaving France for some other EU country is also not much of an option because similar forms of racism exist in most other parts of Europe. These young men are harassed from the time they reach puberty by the local police, so it is not surprising (if also not really excusable) that the police are targets for their anger. The behavior of these young men is certainly problematic, but so is the intolerant and racist French culture that produces them. Marco polo 19:16, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
If they don't have a job but they don't starve either that means they do get some sort of minimum amount of money to survive without working. The lady whose retired husband was killed while trying to put out a fire referred to them as "those lazy bums". I can imagine that if my wife,after years of hard working (partially for people like those) and finally retiring, were killed for fun by the same people, I'd say about the same thing.Evilbu 19:22, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
guess that's why people move to the US. you can do whatever th e fuck you want with a decent education. opportunity abounds.

I never understood the mentality that you had to find a peaceful solution to the rioting.. if someone's coming at you -a police officer- with a metal bat, shoot him in the face or at least the leg. Get a helicopter with a mounted chain gun and spray down the riot. That would dissolve it awful fast and they would get what they deserve, and it would keep innocent people from getting hurt. --frothT C 22:38, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

um.....16th century despotism called and they want their draconian laws back...
I'll assume that was irony, but I'm not entirely sure. Irony doesn't travel well over the Internet. Use emoticons to show how you mean something. (And maybe I should start prcatising what I preach. :) ) DirkvdM 06:28, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
You aren't David Blunkett [2] in disguise are you, Froth? Laïka 13:37, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mask

Is it illegal to wear a mask? If not, then what if you're wearing a mask? And is it illegal to wear a mask if you're NOT wearing a mask? -THB 06:50, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Depends. Do you own a cactus and\or a baseball bat? ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 06:59, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Yes and if you do, you know what you can do with them 8-)--Light current 07:53, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Generally you are fine with wearing a mask. Jacko does it all the time. But they may be restrictions. In Germany and parts of Switzerland for instance you are not allowed to participate in a demonstrations and hide your faces, so the security forces can film the demonstration. (in German). Besides that, i know of no restrictions.-- ExpImptalkcon 11:36, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Nation of Islam dress

Why do members wear red bow ties as part of a uniform?

lots of issues | leave me a message 10:21, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't know about the color (revolution ?), but I once heard Louis Farrakhan say they wore bowties because they could be lynched with regular neckties. StuRat 10:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] WATS THIS SONG???

Whats the first song on the video and who was it by? Video: http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=2697258554453923478&q=liverpool+fc --84.69.123.27 10:28, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

It's "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 10:35, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] GOOGLE EARTH

look on google earth at these coordinates: 53°50'39-North, 1°20'34-West

what happened here...builders having a bad day???

--84.69.123.27 11:40, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

If you mean the thing that looks like an incomplete bridge - it's a tunnel. If you mean why does the road appear weirdly bendy - that's just an artifact of Google Earth's montaging different satellite photos together, the road really isn't bendy. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 11:51, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

i would disagree with you....it cant be where the ariel imageing has been put together because if it was there would be a clear line across the surrounding land with the same 'bendyness'; and there isnt, also if there were 2 images being put together there then you would be able to see a difference between the two, and there isnt.--84.69.123.27 12:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Ariel image ? Perhaps like this: [3] :-) StuRat 12:35, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Finlay is correct, you are seeing an artifact where two images have been stitched together. You can't see the line very well in the rest of the image because so much of the image is fairly plain: the mottled green fields don't have many recognizable repeating features, unlike the white dashed lines on the highway. If you zoom in and pan around, you can see other evidence of the image stitching, especially to the south and west. Note on the freeway, just to the north of the 'bend' the pavement changes color along a very well-defined line. That's the line along which the images were stitched. 192.168.1.1 10:30, 21 Rocktober 2006 (PST)
There's something more going on here than mere image stitching. Image stitching never makes sharp geometric lines like that (at least, not in my experience); it's usually a fuzzy/blurry effect. There's a pronounced one in Corinth at 37°33'42.45"N, 21°34'50.89"E which you can compare.
I really don't think the line where the pavement changes color is an image-stitch line. The pavement markings on either side of it line up too perfectly, and you would also expect to see some vehicles cut off. Look at the big white caravan towed behind the yellow minivan: I think it's right on top of where the pavement-change color would be in the northbound lanes. The pavement-change color is either real (perhaps due to the construction of that underpass), or it's a line along which the brightness of one image was abruptly adjusted.
Similarly, if the bendiness isn't the result of "builders having a bad day" (which I agree seems unlikely), I think it must be the result of some kind of skewing or stretching of one image (perhaps to make it better line up with other images elsewhere), not directly a stitch line between two images. —Steve Summit (talk) 13:40, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] JESUS

what was his last name??? did he have one???--84.69.123.27 12:34, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

At that time, in that culture, last names were rare. It was more common to identify yourself by your father's name or your home city or profession. In modern times, we might call him Jesus Josephson, Jesus Bettlehem, or Jesus Carpenter, I suppose. StuRat 12:40, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
In the Bible he is often referred to as Jesus of Nazareth. (For his possible middle name, see Jesus H. Christ.) --Shantavira 14:28, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
But Jesus H. Christ is just an Anglo-Saxon thing, anyway... =S 惑乱 分からん 23:56, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
He'd be Jesus ben Joseph, but that would be a pretty common name. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 15:40, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Or Jesus ben God, since he identified himself as the son of God not Joseph --frothT C 22:32, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Wouldn't that actually be Iesus Ben Iawheh, or something? 惑乱 分からん 23:56, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
More likely Jeshua Bar Joseph, since he spoke Aramaic. Joshua ben Joseph in Hebrew. "Jesus" is a Greek translation of his real first name. Although most people in the Middle East spoke some Greek back then (it was the lingua franca and more commonly used by the average person than Latin), I don't know if he would have even recognized the word "Jesus". The translation was probably devised after his death. --Charlene.fic 03:37, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] AV club

What is the "AV Club" (and not the supplement of the Onion)? It seems to be a common way of indicating that someone is a nerd on American TV (it's also mentioned in White & Nerdy). I'm guessing that it has something to do with Audio Visual, but can't see what kind of school club could be based around this. Laïka 13:13, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

My guess would be audiovisual club, a group of students who work with audiovisual equipment (speakers, projectors, microphones, lights, etc.) Sorry if this answer isn't definite enough --WikiSlasher 13:46, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Adult Video? =S 惑乱 分からん 14:17, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
No. WikiSlasher is correct. The kids in the 'audio visual club' are the stereotypical geeks -- but what those perpetuating the stereotype don't realize is that the AV club kids get out of class a lot to help other classes with the projectors (or, I guess, TVs nowadays), so they might be geeks, but they're having fun doing it. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 15:39, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Geeks could make a 16mm movie projector, a Public address system, or a reel-to-reel tape recorder work, and many teachers couldn't. Edison 22:06, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
I was a proud member of the Audio Visual club whilst in high school. (Incidentally, the name of the Onion supplement is probably at least a nod in the direction of us proud proto-geeks). In my school, this allowed me to spend my study hall periods in the AV office, full access to the copy machines, dry-presses, and even the photographic darkroom; there was a broad overlap between the AV and photo clubs. We also could earn some extra cash by working after school or on weekends when outside groups had rented the school facilities; we'd be responsible for supplying microphones and running the PA system, and possibly the stage lights as appropriate. There was also a small subset of us who had managed to get master keys to school. But of course we only used our powers for good. --LarryMac 14:20, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Freedom Passes in London

On the Freedom Pass cards in London, there is a sillohett of a London Skyline. It goes something like - from left to right - The Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the BT Tower, a building which I can't place and then London Eye. I'm wonder what it actually is between the BT Tower and the London Eye! Any ideas? Thanks in advance Loserdog3000 14:08, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

St Paul's Cathedral.--Shantavira 14:31, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Doesn't look right to me Loserdog3000 10:40, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Nor me. Not sure what it is, though. Interesting. --Richardrj talk email 13:29, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Maybe HMS Belfast? Warofdreams talk 04:43, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Through rain, through sleet...through employees' apartments?

After reading about postal workers who stash mail in their apartments or just toss it out, does the post office do any sort of checking to see if the mail gets delivered? Clarityfiend 17:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes they do. My pal in Edinburgh is a sorting - office manager and he tells me that every delivery route is periodically loaded with dummy letters that are physically tracked and timed to check up on the postie (postman). And severe retribution follows where evidence is discovered that mail is being withheld/disposed of/ opened/interfered with. It is after all, Her Majesty's Mail whilst it is in transit between the sender and the recipient. So yes, your concerns are taken extremely seriously in the UK.
I know of no such actions taken in the U.S. In the latest incident of a postman not delivering mail, from what I've read in the news, it consisted mostly of junk mail. So if someone were to not recieve something that they didn't know they were getting in the first place, they'd never know it. Dismas|(talk) 18:59, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Interesting, but apparently, so-called junkmail is also monitored by The Royal Mail for 2 main reasons; 1) The customer i.e. the advertiser, has paid The Royal Mail to deliver the junkmail; and 2), The postie gets paid a per-letter/packet premium based on the number of letters/packets on his route. So it's not just a question of dumping the mail; it's also a question of fraudulently accepting money for services NOT rendered. Sure, it happens from time to time, but the questionner can still be satisfied with the answer given above.
Im sure some customers would gladly pay not to recieve some mail like bills and junk mail.--Light current 20:07, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
I actually enjoy getting bills, since I need something to stoke in the fireplace for warmth. :-) StuRat 21:13, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
There is a mail verification system in the U.S. Volunteers get advance mailings that a piece of test mail will be delivered in a given time frame. They then notify the verification service what day the mail was received and in what condition, as a check against nondelivery or "curtailment" in which the carrier holds it for a time before delivering it. The volunteers are added to the junk maiil address list only for the test mailing. Edison 22:10, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Who is this guy from - Sky News - British TV - 11pm Friday 20th October - Last Night

Last night on Sky News they did their usual look at the Saturday (today) morning newspaper headlines, and as usual, invited 2 "celebrity" personalities to discuss their views. One guy was Mike Reid, an "ageing" British Radio and TV Disc Jockey; the other was a much younger Asian looking guy who was introduced as a "Conservative Party Activist", whose views and political astuteness were quite refreshing and well-informed. His English language diction was southern England and very well spoken. His name was something like, and I apologise for my ignorance and bad spelling, Rishi Asah. But that is my quest for help. Does anyone know his real name? Thanks. And as a rider, what on earth is a Conservative Party Activist?
Don't have Sky, but a Conservative Party Activist is a poor foolsorry, NPOV usually young and energetic, although demographically the Conservatives have tended to be older, this might be changing with David Cameron as leader, who go on the media/walk door to door/deliver leaflets, etc, etc, working to try to get the Tories elected. All parties have activists, the general rule of thumb is that out of the people who can be bothered to join, perhaps 10% of them will be motiviated enough to be an activist. A subset of those are the ones who go on to Party Conferences, and the like. Basically, the guy you saw is either working of volunteering for the Conservatives, trying to raise their profile on issues and persuade people to vote for them - an activist. --Mnemeson 19:41, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Rishi Saha? if so activist means someone who keeps losing elections in Brent South MeltBanana 22:34, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
You call them 'activists'? In Canada we call people who keep losing elections "pundits". There always seems to be one yapping on CBC Radio One no matter when you tune in. --Charlene.fic 03:42, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Thanks meltbanana. I had the right letters in the wrong order. But I'm not dyslexic, just pre-senile dementia. Thanks again.
In Australia, a pundit is a person who tries to predict the outcome of an election. Well, to be precise, they always predict the outcomes, but not always successfully. Our best known pundit is the psephologist Malcolm Mackerras. He's best known for consistently getting it wrong. But he doesn't put his own hat into the ring as a candidate himself. A person who keeps on losing elections is called a "failed candidate", a "tryer", or a "loser". JackofOz 12:39, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] european borders

is there a border checkpoint anymore between the nation-states of the EU?

As you fly into Barcelona Airport approaching from the North-East over France, you can see the main road betweeen France and Spain quite clearly. And the traffic tailbacks of Spanish-bound cars heading towarsd Barcelona go back literally for miles as their occupants check in their documents at the numerous checkpoint cabins.
so....the EU is far from the tight confederation model of the USA where the individual states actually trust each other?
You got it> But whereas the US has only 2 bordering states and are friendly with both, we in wider and ever-widening Europe have many more whose citizens all speak different languages, have different passport styles and visa documents; have different work and residence permits; use different currencies (the Euro and Sterling for instance); some of which countries themselves border with newly integrated -into-Europe states (Rumania, Bulgaria, Poland etc) and others that want to but can't just yet, that have created a disproportionate number of emigrants/immigrants between the wealthier western states and the poorer and post-communist emerging economies. And sadly (for me) a decent 70cl bottle of Whisky here in the UK costs me about £15 whereas I can buy the same brand in Spain for about £11 a Litre, and cigarettes in Spain are about 20% of the price in the UK. So the individual Governments are seriously concerned about the inbalance in reciprocal trading values caused by immigrants/travellers shifting large amounts of contraband between the member states. I believe that's the main reason why the developing United States decided to have a Federal Government in the first place? To create a "Free-State" within their own collective boundaries. Well, just wait and see. Europe will one day move to that happy position. Imagine being able to buy a litre of whisky where it is made (here in Scotland)for £11. Happy days.
Depends on the border - I'm surprised at the report of tailbacks on France/Spain, because both of them are Schengen treaty signatories - are you sure it wasn't the Andorra border? All Schengen states (in theory at least) have passportless internal travel, so you can drive from Granada to Berlin to Bergen and then fly to Reykjavik without ever needing a passport (although you will need valid photo ID like a driving license to get on the plane at the end). Ireland and the UK have a Schengen-like agreement between themselves, but neither state is part of Schengen (neither one trusts Italy or Spain to manage their coastlines). You cross the border between France and Germany at 100kph without ever needing to slow down as the Autoroute turns into the Autobahn. --Mnemeson 19:35, 21 October
Thanks Mnemeson. You are probably correct but we were so close to the sea I was pretty sure it was the France-Spain border. I'll keep a special look-out next time I am flying into Barcelona for a stock of cheap whisky to bring home. Is that what the Andorran's are queing for too perhaps? It's also galling to have to fly into Edinburgh Airport and show my UK Passport after having returned from Spain where I have had to show it before I got on the 'plane.

I have once crossed the border between Finland and Norway without even noticing it. And it's the border of two unions too. Finland is in the EU but Norway isn't, and Norway is in NATO but Finland isn't. JIP | Talk 07:21, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

But Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland are in Schengen even though they're not in the EU. It's all a little complicated... - Arwel (talk) 16:50, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
California has checkpoints along its land borders with the rest of the country, although they are not right on the border, but several miles inland. They are run by the state agriculture department to make sure that people don't bring nasty beasties (like bugs and, believe it or not, ferrets) into the state that might damage crops. There is also a checkpoint on Interstate 5 several miles north of the US-Mexico border, verifying immigration status. User:Zoe|(talk) 20:34, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Gibraltar-Spain is a funny border since Gibraltar isn't in the EU. It was shut for about 15 years from 1969-1985.Nowadays it's a doddle.You literary just wave an ID card or any passport(if it's busy,you could probably get through with a cornflake box top).Quicker than a toll bridge. Lemon martini 13:24, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rucum or Rucuum Hill

I am looking for the origin of the name. It is located near Woodbury Connecticut and is noted on the U. S. Geographical Names government website. However, that website gives no information about the derivation of the name.

Thank you,

Sorry, but even the United States Board on Geographic Names could not discover the origin of the name. See p. 13 of this pdf document. Please sign your posts using four tildes. -THB 21:32, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I found this:

UNITED STATES BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES, Docket 381, September 26, 2002:[4]

Rucuum Hill: summit; elevation 265 m (871 ft); located in the Town of Roxbury, 0.8 km (0.5 mi) NE of Bronson Mountain; Litchfield County, Connecticut; 41º32’00”N, 73º16’05”W; USGS map Roxbury 1:24,000; Not: Rucum Hill.

1. Proposal: name change to recognize the name reported to be in local usage
2. Map: USGS Woodbury 1:24,000
3. Proposer: Town of Woodbury Selectmen
4. Administrative area: None
5. Previous BGN Action: None
6. Names associated with feature:
GNIS: Rucum Hill (ID 09005849/FID 210342)
Local Usage: None found
Published: Rucum Hill (USGS 1904/23, 1949, 1955/84)
7. Case Summary: This proposal would change the name of Rucum Hill, a summit in the Town of Roxbury, to Rucuum Hill. Although the summit lies just outside the boundaries of the Town of Woodbury, the Selectmen of that town submitted the change, because a recently-published map of Woodbury includes a reference to Rucuum Hill Road, which runs from Woodbury westward into Roxbury. The name Rucum Hill has appeared on U.S. Geological Survey maps since 1904, and was listed as such in Connecticut Place Names (Hughes and Allen, 1976). The latter volume indicated the origin of the name was unknown, but cited an 1859 description of “a large tract of land called Rucum”. The summit does not appear on the 1967 Litchfield County map, although Ruccum Road is shown and named.

Presumably this is what the questioner referred to. I suggest contacting the Selectmen of the Town of Woodbury, who may know more, or may be able to refer you to a local historian.  --LambiamTalk 06:50, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Post-suicide-attempt care?

This is by far the strangest question I've posted here, but I'm working on a novel, and that tends to raise some peculiar questions. I need to know what kind of care would be mandated--both medically and psychiatrically--after a sucide attempt by overdose of antidepressants. I've done some research on Google and within Wiki, but most of it seems to focus more on medium-long term care, and not what would happen immediately after the attempt. Any further (or shorter!) information would be appreciated. Thanks! -Moriane 19:16, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

It depends on (1) the specific antidepressant used, (2) the mental state of the person after the immediate danger is past, and (3) the availability of a psychiatrist in the immediate aftermath. Check a poison center site for the risks and likelihood of unconsciousness for any specific antidepressant. After that, it will depend on the treating physician's assessment of the mental and mood state of the patient. In many cases, no psychotropic agent would be immediately restarted until a psychiatrist had seen the patient. Psychiatrists do not treat serious overdoses, and doctors who treat serious overdoses are rarely comfortable prescribing psychotropics. Commonly, the patient's original psychiatrist may not even have privileges at the hospital where the overdose is being cared for, so another might be used temporarily to determine whether the patient can be discharged or transfered to a psych ward. alteripse 19:30, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
While the patient is in the hospital (assuming that's required), they would likly have an attendant with them at all times, just to make sure the person doesn't attempt suicide again.–RHolton≡– 10:44, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] skin cancer

do aussies and kiwis and south-south Americans have higher skin cancer rates because of their ozone hole?

Do they have a higher rate of skin cancer? Please sign your posts with four tildes. Thanks. -THB 21:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
I understand that there is quite a high rate of skin cancer in Tierra del Fuego, and among Australian opal miners. User:Zoe|(talk) 20:36, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Why is British?

Why is British the dominant language on Wikipedia, even though Mr. Jim "The Man" Wales is American? Is it a rule, or is it just because there are more British here than Americans? --216.164.249.137 19:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Wouldn't you think someone named Wales would speak British English (along with Welsh) ? :-) StuRat 11:14, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
British-English isn't necessarily the dominant language. Our manual of style says that British v. American spelling is determined either by the first editor to the article to use a word that differs between the two or by the subject of the article, i.e. Tony Blair uses British spelling while George W. Bush uses American.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 19:30, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Hehe, it would have been funny if the other party was there first! :-) There will of course be more chances to try that, as their respective countries get a new leader. —Bromskloss 21:31, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
More likely it is because many of the brits are more obsessed with which set of spellings are used than the americans. I think the ratio of "guerilla spelling changes" is about 3:1 for A to B over B to A. Most Americans are bilingual enough to at least read British English and don't think it worth arguing about; apparently that may not be true of most Brits. alteripse 19:36, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
That's not entirely fair Alteripse. I am a frequent and enthusiastic Brit. traveller to the US and despite the gargantuan size of some of your diners (people), I can always be sure to differentiate between them and a place to eat (diner).
Well, it's good to know that some Brits have been culturally broadened. Most of us Americans are just gastronomically broadened. Next time you are in Philadelphia, give me a call and I will take you out for dinner. alteripse 20:04, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
How many dinars to dine or eat dinner at Dinah's diner ? StuRat 21:01, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Perhaps the rest of the world is inclined toward British. Here in Sweden, for example, British English is taught in school. Personally, when trying to determine what flavor to adhere to, I at first said British, to myself, because I saw it as the origin of other variants (that's true, right?). I have realised, though, that that's not really a valid argument by itself, since truly sticking with the original would make me speak languages that no longer exist! Anyway, I settled (a bit vaguely) for British, just for the sake of tradition. (Wouldn't it be all to appropriate if I, through my unspeakable ignorance, was shown having used non-British language in this very comment?) —Bromskloss 21:31, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Yup, you used the word flavor. :D Hyenaste (tell) 22:40, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
What? I… um… It was a typo, really! Eh? —Bromskloss 20:29, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
And I think you meant "all too appropriate". Although that's not a British vs American thing, just more evidence of a world-wide merging of to, too and two. Damn shame, really. JackofOz 23:44, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Actually, I don't think so. India and perhaps Hong Kong might be inclined toward British English, but I think in Japan and South Korea etc. people generally try to learn American English. Also, in Sweden, British English is taught in school, but most popular media contains American English, so I think that dialect is more common among the younger population in Sweden. (Personally, I probably know more slang, for instance, from American than British, which often baffles me.) 惑乱 分からん 23:44, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Can we compromise and say Wikipedia is written in Canadian English? --The Dark Side 03:01, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Why not, eh? --Charlene.fic 03:32, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure that US English deviates any more from, say, Old English or Middle English than modern British English. I also strongly object to those who call British English "International English", since US English is spoken in many places around the world, as well. StuRat 11:12, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

To WAvegetarian, the Wikipedia:Manual of Style#National varieties of English indicates that it is not always the first person there that dictates the spelling. Even if I was to be the first person to create a United States based article I should use American English. To Alteripse, I have seen it written that it is more likly for US based publishing companies to change the spelling of British authors to reflect American usage than the other way round. In fact I have seen the British "Labour Party" spelt as "Labor Party" in US newspapers. I suspect that if you are seeing a 3:1 ratio you are probably looking at more US based articles than British based ones. I think the spelling changes is about 1:1 CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 13:46, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
A Scottish guy and his wife drive into a petrol station in US and ask for their tank to be filled with petrol. Old attendant says You mean Gas. Wife asks hubby what attendant said. Hubby explains. Hubby asks attendant to check oil. Attendant asks where the filler is. Hubby tells him it is under the Bonnet. Attendant says You mean hood. Wife asks what attendant has said. Hubby explains. Hubby asks attendant to check tyre pressures including spare in the Boot. Attendant says You mean trunk. Wife asks Hubby what attendant said. Hubby explains. Attendant asks Hubby where he is from and Hubby explains Edinburgh near Redford Road Barracks. Attendant says he was stationed there during WW2, and tells tale of how he spent a cold wintry night with a young woman of the Redford Road Barracks area trying to talk his way into her knickers (panties) after having taken her to the local pub and plied her with drink but she still wasn't having any. In fact, said the attendant, she was the coldest and most frigid sad ass I ever had the misfortune to meet in my life. Wife asks Hubby what attendant is talking about and Hubby says, "He says he thinks he knows you dear."

[edit] Origin of a name

Hello,

I've been trying to resolve this query that I've had for a long time. The meaning of my middle name. It's Evadney and I've never heard any-one else called this name. I've searched through so many different websites, asked my family members read books, searched my family tree to see if any-one else had been called this name. My mother has passed away and so I can't ask her and I would really appreciate it if some could help me. I'd like to know where it originated from, what does it mean. It would be greatly appreciated if some-one could help or give me a few pointers as far as where I should look for some answers. Thanking you in advanceAuroradd^^

There used to be a character on the UK TV by that name. Perhaps it was spelt 'Evadne'. I think her last name was either Hinge or Bracket, not sure which.--Light current 19:36, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
See Hinge and Bracket. --Auximines 10:13, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Well the Readers Digest Encyclopaedic Dictionary says it perhaps means "well-tamed". Possibly not what you wanted to hear but i'm sure you would not kick up a fuss. MeltBanana 22:45, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Did you try google? It's a misspelling of Evadne, which is a Greek name meaning 'good fortune' (as indicated by the first Evadne referred to in Lightcurrent's link above). There are a few Evadneys around; I've known three personally, who have all been from the Caribbean (two Jamaicans, one Grenadine) - is your family from the Caribbean? Natgoo 09:20, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Schengen_treaty

what's the little yellow dot to the east of switzerland

All the little dots are micro countries. The one east of Switz is Liechtenstein. alteripse 19:51, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

oh
Could be someone skiing in the French Alps, wearing a yellow hat. DirkvdM 06:36, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
That's the yellow snow. Don't eat it. - AMP'd 18:52, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] swiss banks

what're some real life anecdotes that havel ed to the swiss bank Hollywood cliche? (this is not homework)

Which cliché is that? It would help if you could be more specific, and please sign your posts with four tildes! -THB 21:21, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
He's referring to the image of "bad guys" always having a secure offshore account in switzerland. See Banking in Switzerland or Offshore bank for real-life examples --frothT C 22:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Froth, how do you do that? Telepathy? -THB 09:54, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
How does he do what? I understood what the questioner was looking for as well. I guess froth and I have seen enough Hollywood movies to just know. Dismas|(talk) 11:22, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Yep --frothT C 20:52, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Here is the Straight Dope on Swiss bank accounts, written by the master. —Steve Summit (talk) 14:28, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Diversity

How can I measure diversity in an education institution.

What kind of diversity? If you mean ethnic diversity, one way would be to compare the ethnic composition of the institution to the ethnic composition of the population from which the students, faculty, and staff are drawn. Please sign your posts by inserting four tildes after them. Thanks. -THB 21:44, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Diversity of topics studied? Diversity of languages spoken? Ethnic diversity? Be more specific.--The Corsair. 06:46, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

At least 5-10 years ago, diversity was an American academic codeword with a very specific meaning. It denoted having (1) a more noticeable fraction of non-white ethnic population than would have been seen at that same institution a generation earlier, (2) a much larger and more visible gay population than in the general population, and (3) a pervasive institutional intolerance for Christianity and traditional American social values. Those attributes could not be plainly stated in plain words to prospective students and families. Diversity did not refer to diversity of allowed public political or social values expression, or to a greater range of other student characteristics, such as age or family socioeconomic status or intellectual interests. Many less prestigious schools (i.e., the second-tier state universities) have higher proportions of non-white students and non-traditional students, and more actual diversity of social origin, intellectual talent, age, life experience, political attitudes, and tolerance for Christianity, but in the 1990s were less likely to tout "diversity" as one of their main defining attributes to prospective students. In recent years, as more and more US schools are claiming "diversity", the word may be losing that specific meaning.

Why do you keep mentioning Christianity? Totally loaded language, amirite? Vitriol 20:56, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

It was the one religion conspicuously not respected on the campuses that made the most of diversity claims. For example, on one campus (TU, about 2000) students had just held a march demanding that the student Christian group be expelled from campus because they had not elected as president of their own group a publicly gay candidate. At OU in 2001, a student bragged to us on a tour of the campus that many students refused to participate in the traditional graduation procession that went through an arch erected in the 19th century in honor of martyred missionaries. Can you imagine students at these schools demanding a Muslim group be expelled for not choosing a gay president, or students refusing to attend graduation held in a garden with a Buddhist shrine? That type of public display of contempt for any other religion or culture would not have been tolerated, let alone admired. And I do not understand the point of your comment about "loaded language"-- I spelled it out as personal experience and opinion, and didn't put it in an article. The ref desk answers are riddled with differing personal opinions and perspectives. Note that my comment is the only one of the answers that probably responds directly to the question.

[edit] List of PS3 Games

Is there, on this site on any other websites, a list of PS3 games, with their release dates, sorted by their release dates? On WP I can only find a regular list of games, no release dates. I want to know so I can find out what games are coming out close to the system's launch, short of the launch ttles(Because all the launch titles suck). Яussiaп F 21:21, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Go to their offical website. http://www.us.playstation.com/ Taida 22:26, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Game-show buzzers

What is the best way to buzz a game show (e.g. Jeopardy!) buzzer? Is it faster to use the thumb or the index finger? --22:13, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Use your whole hand.Taida 22:23, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
probably the palm --frothT C 22:23, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
When I have watched Jeopardy )Swedish edition) on Swedish television, it seemed as the contestants used their whole palms. 惑乱 分からん 23:39, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
What is "I held it like a pen you're about to click to extend the point and used my thumb." Didn't help. It's more the timing, waiting for the moment when the trigger goes "live". On Jeopardy, the contestants can see a series of lights that go on or off in sequence (can't remember which) which signals when you can buzz in. Clarityfiend 01:05, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
It would depend on what kind of buzzer. "Jeopardy!" has a hand-held buzzer that you have to click with your thumb, but there are some attached right to the desk and you could hit those with your palm. Oops forgot sig. --Charlene.fic 03:29, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
I've seen Jeopardy contestants use that same buzzer by hitting it with their palm. It was an odd two handed way of doing it and thus stuck in my memory. Dismas|(talk) 11:20, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Loop-hole to Schrodinger's Cat Box

Hi, I'm using the following information for a casual arguement, nothing serious. Is there a loop-hole to Schrodinger's Theory of the cat in the box with poison and you couldn't really know if the cat was dead unless you open the box and observse it? For example, can you listen instead of looking or zap it with x-ray? Jamesino 23:38, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

you're using a dictionary definition of "looking" where in this case listening and x-raying would also qualify as "looking".
So is there a loop-hole? Could you close your eyes and ears and throw it into a volcano to guarantee its death? Jamesino 23:44, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
well yes, you could. The paradox is the interface between discrete events (e.g. "death", or any other macroscopic events) and a probability continuum (represented by how radioactive particles decay).
chucking the box into the volcano would be using a discrete event to ensure another physically discrete event. If you want a loophole, you'll have to read up on criticims of treating particles as probability waves.
To be really really sure the cat is dead I recommend opening the box to check after you chucked it into the volcano. For the rest, zapping the cat with an x-ray gun sounds like a cool way to kill it.  --LambiamTalk 07:10, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Any way of actually seeing or feeling or hearing etc etc the contents of the box is defined as "looking". And throwing the poor thing in a volcano will just get you sued by PETA.--The Corsair. 10:08, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Yes, I'm sure PETA would like to put Schrodinger in a box with prussic acid. StuRat 11:04, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Of course there is a loop-hole. It is quite obvious that you know the state of the cat. The cat is "pissed off". It is well known that after a certain period of time all cats reach the state of being pissed off. Now, if the cat is alive it has been shut up in a box for an hour and is now pissed off. If on the other hand the cat is dead it will be really pissed off. Either way it is best not to open the box as the cat will shit in your shoes. And you will not discover this state until you put your shoes on. All in all Schrodinger should have used a dog as it would just sniff your crotch and lick your face. Or vice-versa if you are lucky. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 13:28, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
Harrumph! Why did they need to redefine what "looking" means? We already had the perfectly fine word "observing", which includes all types of sensory perception. JackofOz 19:41, 23 October 2006 (UTC)
Or a practicioner of bestiality o_o --frothT C 19:42, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Surely the obvious loophole to find out exactly what happens to the cat is to climb into the box with it... :) Lemon martini 13:30, 25 October 2006 (UTC)