Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 April 6

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[edit] April 6

[edit] Portal

I need help here.Portal:Roman_Catholic_ChurchBewareofdog 00:45, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

  • From the condition of that page, I assume you need coding/formatting help?--VectorPotentialTalk 00:48, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Yes I do.Bewareofdog 04:55, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Estimate of American game show contestants

How many people have appeared on at least one episode of a game show shown on national US television? List of U.S. game shows could be used as a guide. A rough estimate is okay. Thanks! Reywas92Talk 01:49, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Wow, I'm not sure if this is a number anyone has thought to calculate before. Well, if we say, totally randomly, that there are/have been 100 notable American game shows, and that each has had 5 seasons of twelves episodes with 2 distinct (important because many people appear multiple times on the same show; see Brian Jennings) guests each episode, that comes out to 12,000 of us, which would come out to a measly .1% of the US population. Ah, the wonders of making things up! Anyway, working along these lines might get what you're after. Or counting each of those episodes, but that sounds awfully tedious. 66.195.208.91 02:49, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
You're thinking of Ken Jennings, of course. --Maxamegalon2000 03:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

By my link, there are obviously much more than that. I'd prefer an estimate with larger, less random numbers. That must be way off, because Jeopardy! alone, with over 5,000 episodes and two new players each, is over 10,000 contestants already. Wheel of Fortune (US game show) has three new players per episode. Thank you, Reywas92Talk 03:47, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

And there's The Price is Right as well, with how many episodes per year, six contestants per episode, for how long? --Charlene 04:24, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

The article says 6,684 episodes. And don't forget the three contestants who don't make it up to the stage. That comes out to 60,156 contestants. --Maxamegalon2000 05:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
I'll take miscalculated statistics for 500, Alex.. If we're going to do original research (which our evolving Ref Desk policy guidelines suggest we will not be doing, ahemhem...) please note that the question being asked here is "How many people have appeared on game shows at LEAST once." As such, your current calculations are seriously flawed, enough to create a significantly overinflated estimate, because the above suggestions assume that each incidence of "person on a game show" is unique -- that is, that evey time someone is on a game show it is their first and only time on any game show.
This is patently untrue. In some game shows, the winner comes back the next day. And surely some folks have been on more than one game show before -- we only get to count them once. For example: in Jeopardy, there are most often only TWO new contestants every day, since yesterday's winner comes back to play again (cf Ken Jennings, above). And if there's a tie, the same folks come back the next day. Given that, the "three contestants per episode" calculation will itself be too high by a factor of roughly 1/3. Jfarber 02:41, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Actually Reywas92 said two new players per show per Jeopardy. The Three contestant remark was for Wheel of fortune. --YbborTalkSurvey! 02:52, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Whoop! That gets us closer, but my greater point about the calculations being overinflated stands, as does the even greater one in subscript that we don't do original research here. Of course, as Anchoress points out below, there's also little reason to do the research if the OP has a set methodology in mind; applying it is merely math, and calculation is just not reference desk work. Jfarber 04:12, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
The fact that the respondents have had to be corrected in their methodology several times by the original poster indicates to me that perhaps s/he is better qualified to determine the answer her/himself. Anchoress 02:57, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Musical Genre

I play guitar in a band,we play stoner rock because is a mix of Grunge and Psychedelic rock but now we want to play a mix of alternative rock and pop/rock but we don't know the name of that genre,can someone tell me the name of alternative rock and pop/rock's mix?,THANK YOU!!! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Lord Lutz (talk • contribs) 02:29, 6 April 2007 (UTC).

That may more be a matter for the Entertainment desk. The best answer I can give would be alt-pop-rock, but it's possible I made the term up. Or you could try "diluted pop" or "diluted alternative" on for size. My guess is that there is no one correct answer, and that you've reached a point where the subgenres are so close together it's kind of silly to draw the lines. Maybe you should just tell people you play some enjoyable music ultimately inspired by all those crazy revolutions of 60s America, and leave it at that! 66.195.208.91 02:54, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Try consulting broadcast DJs you respect, or behind-the-scenes staff such as the music librarian or playlist coordinator of a radio station playing the kind of music you're moving toward. The station's website (you can search on Google) will probably have a "Contact us" e-mail feature, since many organizations in the entertainment industry, as well as mainstream cultural institutions, don't take phone inquiries. -- Deborahjay 07:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
College rock. Anchoress 19:37, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Gas prices

After Katrina (or whenever prices change), the gas prices at the stations went up immediately. But why don't the station owners only change their price when they actually get a new delivery of gas? Surely the price you pay should be based on whatever they paid when they got the gas, which isn't changing? 68.231.151.161 04:20, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

The Master took care of this one here. anonymous6494 04:41, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
You take out X gallons from their tank - they charge you what it costs to refill the tank afterwards. It just depends on how you look at it - and you can just guess which way they look at it. The question is - what happens when prices are dropping? Do they keep their prices high until the new delivery at the lower price comes in? SteveBaker 04:43, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
There are also expenses involved in operating a gas (petrol) station, not least the wages and taxes. You may recall that, post-Katrina, quite a few gas stations went out of business. This was because the prices they were charging were not enough to cover their internal expenses plus the next (much more expensive) tanker-load of gas (petrol). It isn't gas stations that have been making huge profits in recent years, it is oil companies and refiners. Marco polo 13:00, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

The economy does not work to plan, but supply and demand. In times of crisis, retailers turn to price gouging. This is said to be an acceptable, effective method of rationing, although it is also heartless and cruel. Other reasons for pricing of petrol is transport. In Sydney, where I live, petrol is more expensive in nice neighborhoods. This is partly because lousy neighborhoods have industry that subsidise transport costs of petrol to the outlets. Weekend filling is a silly idea, as prices jump midweek. Presumably there is a fill cycle that makes it profitable to charge more on weekends, but less early in the week. DDB 14:25, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

On the other hand, we had a sudden gas shortage in Ontario (lasted a few weeks), because of a refinery fire, and a train strike. Many gas stations just went dry instead of popping up the price like they should have. Lots of people hoarded gas. Eventually gas came back, but at a much higher price. So the moral question is: should all the gas stations just close, or should they instantly jack up the price? --Zeizmic 15:07, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Here in Massachusetts (U.S.A.), prices have been rising steadily, though there has been no shortage. I think that gas/petrol prices tend to move in the same direction worldwide, although there may be spikes in areas with shortages. The spike in the area of the shortage brings in supply from elsewhere and drives prices up slightly worldwide. I have not noticed that prices rise midweek here. Stations seem to raise prices steadily and somewhat randomly throughout the week. I don't think that Americans necessarily fill up on weekends. Many people have commutes such that they need to fill more than once a week. On the other hand, posher neighborhoods in Massachusetts do tend to have higher gas prices, as in Sydney, even though the poorer neighborhoods no longer have much industry, if any. So I don't think that industry subsidizes the gas price, at least in this region. I suspect that it is more a matter of higher land prices and retail rents (and lower price sensitivity) in the "better" neighborhoods. Marco polo 15:17, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ethanol prices

After George W. Bush's trip to Latin America and Brazil last month, the ethanol prices at the stations here in São Paulo went up. Are both events causally related? A.Z. 05:01, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Maybe, maybe not. We can't tell you for sure. But to assume so is to commit the error of Post hoc ergo propter hoc. --YbborTalkSurvey! 13:44, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cleaning scratches off my mobile phone

How do I get rid of scratches on my mobile phone screen? --Candy-Panda 05:51, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Plastic polish, maybe. In my experience there is little you can do to significantly restore the surface of a soft thermoplastic. -- mattb @ 2007-04-06T06:31Z
You get a new moblie phone! Theyre cheap enough —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.208.218 (talk) 21:09, 6 April 2007 (UTC).
How about clear nail polish ? StuRat 00:09, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Some have used ordinary toothpaste such as Crest to polish clear plastic, but obviously you would have to avoid getting the toothpaste under the keys or in connectors where it would interfere with operation. Edison 05:03, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
I've never risked toothpaste on screens - but on other plastic it works pretty good so it's worth a try. Toothpaste is a really mild abrasive so it's good for smoothing out all sorts of scratches in soft materials. SteveBaker 17:19, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] about magnetizing current and voltage relationship in Power Capacitor for Improving Power Factor

plz tell me the relationship for magnetizing current in improving the voltage/ making the flux stronger/ improving the power factor in Power capacitor??? Regards

imran jalal —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Imranjalal (talk • contribs) 08:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC).

I would expect magnetizing current to be a big factor in inductors and transformers but not in capacitors. Where is the magnetic field in a capacitor? There would be a small one around the leads when it is connected to alternating current or when charging or discharging, but not much of a magnetic field stored in the dielectric between the plates of the capacitor. In a circuit with motors (inductive and resistive load) the current lags behind the ac voltage. Adding a power factor correction capacitor (in which current leads ac voltage) of the right size and voltage rating can put the voltage and current closer to being in phase, reducing the reactive current, which serves no purpose in the electrical distribution network, but which only reduces voltage on the circuit and increases the loading on lines and transformers. Edison 18:33, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Geelong buses

I live in Geelong, Australia and would like to know if there are any buses available for any of these these locations and times.

  • Highton to Grovedale (before school)
  • Grovedale to Highton (after school)
  • Grovedale to Belmont (after school)
  • Grovedale to the city. (after school)
  • Grovedale to High St, Belmont (after school)

I would also like to know the respective bus stops. Thanks! --124.181.241.101 11:35, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Here is the website for one of Geelong's transit providers. Here is the route map. As you can see, routes 70 and 71 link Grovedale Secondary School with the rest of Geelong. Here is the outbound timetable to Grovedale. Here is the inbound timetable from Grovedale. These bus routes run to High St., where you can make connections to other lines. Line 14 serves a different part of Grovedale and links it to Belmont. Line 15 also serves Belmont from High St. Here is the timetable for routes 14, 15, and 19, which apparently also links Grovedale with Belmont. Here is a timetable for Line 16, which links Grovedale, High St., and Highton. For the bus stops, you will have to scout the streets shown on the network maps or else phone the respective bus companies (listed at the bottom of this page). Marco polo 12:54, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Thank you so much! That is very helpful to me! :) --124.181.241.101 13:07, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Certification for archivists

What percentage of archivists currently working in the U.S. are certified by ACA, the Academy of Certified Archivists? I am about to enter the field and wonder whether the certification fees are worth it. Thanks!

I cannot answer the specifics of your question, but I prefer to employ people who can convince me and/or demonstrate to me that they can do the job at hand, rather than those who have a bit of paper that claims that they can do it. In other words, there is little in favour of an employer simply picking those who look good on paper. Against other candidates, even those with some accreditation, you can still win out by presenting yourself really well. I would guess that the ACA accreditation will not necessarily mark you out in any significant way. Be proactive and offer to work on a short-term volunteer basis in order to gain experience, pointing out that you would like to stay there long-term if they want to keep you (otherwise, they won't get much out of the deal if they train you and you leave in three months). Hope that helps some. Adrian M. H. 15:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
I strongly recommend talking to others in your field. Credentials matter much more in some fields than in others. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find the percentage you ask for, but dropping by a few archives and talking to the staff should help. Marco polo 15:24, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How to organize a Wikipedia meeting

I live in Delhi/Noida. I am keen to meet other wikipedians hailing from these places. How do I get to meet them? sumal 16:01, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

You might start by getting connected with them over e-mail via the most relevant Wikipedia mailing list though I don't see one for India or the Hindi language. You might try at the Hindi Wikipedia, Wikipedia:Notice board for India-related topics, Category:Indian Wikipedians, or Wikipedia:WikiProject India? --140.247.251.165 16:30, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
You could place a notice on the talk page for the article(s) on that location saying that you would appreciate if anyone from those regions leave you a message on your talk page. Others might object to this, but it's worth a try. StuRat 00:07, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Velvet

Can a spot on velvet fabric that has been crushed be re-raised? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Bethewishes (talk • contribs) 17:21, 6 April 2007 (UTC).

Try gently brushing it against the nap. Anchoress 20:20, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Try steam

[edit] CHANEL, CHANEL, CHANEL.........

does anyone know where to buy good vintage chanel in the UK? and where's the cheapest place to buy chanel in the world (from boutiques or well known department stores) or are the prices still the same no-matter where you are?? :) XOXO —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.42.11.179 (talk) 17:48, 6 April 2007 (UTC).


What is chanel ? A perfume can't be vintage, so I am confused.90.27.43.195 14:22, 7 April 2007 (UTC)puzzler

The House of Chanel is a company based in Paris which sells hatue couture fashions as well as perfume. Thus, I think the question may be more about buying a vintage clothing item than perfume. I am sorry that I can't address the question of where to buy such items. --LarryMac 16:37, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] why do women need toilet paper when they piss?

Sorry for the bluntness, but this is a serious question and I honestly can't figure it out!

They are not able to 'shake it' like men. So to avoid dribbling into their pants, they wipe it with paper. Sorry for the bluntness!
Yeah thats right! They wipe their urethral meatus with paper —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.128.130 (talk) 23:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC).

In all seriousness, I believe our article on urination has a different answer:

In women, the urethra opens straight into the vulva. Because of this, the urine does not exit at a distance from her body and is, therefore, hard to control. (emphasis added by poster)

Harder to control = more likely to be messy, n'est pas?. The issue is not that "shaking it" is needed, in other words -- it's that men pass their urine through a tiny hole, which CAN be shaken clean; women do not, so they end up with a mess of a size requiring clean-up. Jfarber 02:24, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

Short answer, if we didn't wipe ourselves we would feel all slimey and gross, and it would probably make our underwear all slimey and gross too. --124.181.241.101 08:52, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for witholding the long answer. dr.ef.tymac 21:00, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fraud

If I have a LOT of semi-legitimate complaints for a food corporation's product, but I use a fake name, but they eventually link up all my names and track me down, can I be sued?

Wikipedia does not dispense legal advice. --YbborTalkSurvey! 19:34, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
I'm not asking Wikipedia, I'm asking the people who reply here. If your words do not add to the question or the response, keep silent. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.199.8.98 (talk) 19:48, 6 April 2007 (UTC).
The people who reply here do not dispense legal advice. Check the bulleted list at the top of the page. --LarryMac 19:56, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Neither do we respond to threats. Please do not bite the ref desk volunteers! Jfarber 02:13, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
This is not legal advise and I've never been a lawyer or studied law. However I would say if you aren't doing anything illegal or unethical then even if someone were to sue you they would lose (can't say for sure in the US though). Of course, if by semi-legitimate complains you mean you are making stuff up then you are doing something unethical so I wouldn't try it. Also, I don't see any reason why you would want to use a fake name if you have a legitimate complaint and aren't doing anything unethical. Nil Einne 20:18, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] metabolites

What enzyme would you recommend to dehydrogenate ethylbenzene into styrene?

I can't answer your question, but someone at the Science Reference Desk might be able to. Marco polo 21:54, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] paper products

I heard that Roaring Springs was involved in a class-action suit for having too much acetic acid in their paper. Will this affect their stock price?

I know nothing of the case or the company in question, but if it is true, then I suppose that it might do, but it might not. One can only speculate. Adrian M. H. 20:39, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
If you have heard this, then so have investors, and it has already affected their stock price. Marco polo 21:57, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Agreed, the company could definitely end up in a pickle and sour investors by using too much acetic acid. StuRat 00:01, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] fashion industry

Do people actually buy those weird clothes that fashion designers make? how do they make money without targeting the middle-class consumer?

I'm no fashion expert, but I think that the most outlandish stuff is probably just there to show their creativity and promote their designs, while other, more toned down designs will actually be sold. The weird stuff gets seen in the tabloids, but it's only one part of fashion design. A bit like concept cars in that sense. Adrian M. H. 20:42, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] cheat codes in software

Are there any hidden codes in commercial software?

What ever happened to the guy who made the Excel first-person game? Was he fired?

Easter egg (virtual) may answer some of this. Don't know about the second question tho. Friday (talk) 21:21, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
What Excel game? Black Carrot 03:09, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
The article says that there was a flight simulator hidden in it. [best Montgomery Burns imitation]: Excel-lent. Clarityfiend 15:58, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Lots of commercial software has hidden codes. Sometimes these are there to unlock features that allow the developers to diagnose problems - other times they turn on easter eggs that bored programmers put in to 'sign' their work. But cheat codes - not as such. I mean - cheat codes are there in games to make the game easier to play (or perhaps more difficult)...with commercial software you wouldn't want to make it any harder to use than it has to be - so any sneaky 'improvements' would be in there all the time and not be unlockable with some magic code. Easter eggs are seriously discouraged in most non-games situations because of the scope for embarrassment of the software vendor - and because they may expose security loopholes or maybe make the software less reliable. Easter eggs in games in recent years have been carefully planned - the idea of both cheat codes and easter eggs is that when your game first appears, you get reviews in magazines (free advertising!) - but after a couple of months, the magazines don't want to talk about it anymore. 'Leaking' details of cheat codes and easter eggs to particular magazines gets you an extra free mention months after the game has slipped from the headlines. This is a symbiotic relationship between game publishers and magazines because publishing cheat codes and easter eggs are a major way that games magazines get readership. The myth is that easter eggs are still slipped into games 'under the management radar' - but that's not typically been true for maybe 10 years. The original reason for 'cheat codes' was to make it easier for the game deveopers to get to places in the game quickly while debugging or demonstrating it without having to fight their way through 50 levels of mayhem each time (trust me, that gets old, fast) - the story has always been that programmers "forgot to take them out before publishing the game". The I don't know what happened to the guy who put the game into Excel all those years ago - but I guarantee if he did it today, he would get fired for sure. SteveBaker 18:17, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

I might add that some bits of software have a tradition of 'easter eggs', such as Photoshop. I seem to remember they have one or more bits, and if I'm not wrong then the article should contain information about this. 81.93.102.185 11:35, 10 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] wooden slats

why were wooden slats so popular on the walls of rooms in the 70s-80's? What's the psychological interpretation of this indoor decoration trend?

Possibly you're referring to what's termed wooden panelling, which page will also point you to one on interior decorating. Reading on those topics, there and on related Web pages is likely to provide insight on the particular style in question, regarding aesthetic, economic, and "psychological" aspects affecting its period popularity. (Also, please sign your posts with ~~~~) -- Deborahjay 22:27, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] salt domes

Why are they curved domes? Why not make them rectangular like every other building?

Wouldn't that make it a pyramid? Adrian M. H. 20:44, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
no, you are purposefully misreading the question.
AGF. I am not deliberately misreading anything. Maybe your phrasing needs revising, because it appears to me as if you are asking why a domed roof is round. If you are asking why a particular building has a domed roof, I cannot answer that, certainly not without knowing what the building is. Adrian M. H. 21:05, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
As Dome states, they "have a great deal of structural strength." Rectangular structures have corners, so they're weaker at some spots than others. Also, a minor point, but domes enclose the same volume with less material. Finally, they are more aesthetically pleasing. Clarityfiend 21:49, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

If you are actually asking about Salt domes, per the heading, they are not man-made but form naturally, and the highly varied shapes depend on the relative densities of the rocks surrounding the salt as it rises buoyantly. Cheers Geologyguy 22:34, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

I'm going to assume you mean the structures used to store salt for use on roads during winter. They are often midway between a dome and an inverted cone. They are shaped like this because this is the shape the salt naturally takes when poured from a single location at the top. Thus, the structure fills up nicely without having to shovel the salt to fill a rectangular container. StuRat 23:56, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] cork board

Is the cork in cork board real or fake?

Cork (material) mentions its use in bulletin boards. I'm sure there are many that aren't really cork. also. Friday (talk) 21:23, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
In cork boards its real. The cheaper ones are not called cock boards —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.37.37 (talk) 21:26, 6 April 2007 (UTC).
I hope the cheaper ones aren't called that, or they wouldn't sell well, except in a few specialty stores, perhaps. :-) StuRat 23:50, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
The cork industry is in trouble because their main market (Wine bottle corks) is vanishing (artificial corks are both cheaper and better at preserving the wine). Hence there is probably an excess of the stuff on the market - so it's very likely that corkboards are truly made of cork. SteveBaker 17:16, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Indian state names

How come the US never gets credit from INdian tribes that many of the state names use Indian words in them?

"Hey, thanks a lot America! You killed millions of our ancestors and stole the land, but at least you named Connecticut after our river quinnitukqut!" − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 05:09, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Many countries use native names for various geographical locations Nil Einne 20:21, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] franking priveledge

Is there a way I can pay my congressman to send mail for me so I get discounts on stamps and he gets cash for his franking privledge?

So you want to find a congressman dumb enough to risk his reputation and probably commit some kind of crime for a few hundred dollars? Clarityfiend 21:57, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, that's way too cheap! :) --Zeizmic 22:48, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] economy

Why does the stock market go up when there's a ton of mergers? Do mergers indicate the strength of an economy?

In mergers and acquisitions, one firm purchases another by buying its stock. This increases the demand for the bought company's stock, and according to the basic principles of supply and demand, this raises the price of the company's stock. If many mergers and acquisitions occur in close sequence, this activity can drive up the prices of stocks as a whole. We are currently in such a period. Market commentators differ on whether this activity indicates the strength of the economy or whether it stems from a glut of liquidity or easy credit. In the latter case, prices of assets such as stocks could be driven up faster than their ability to yield a return. Marco polo 22:06, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Also, people often are unreasonably optimistic that mergers will increase efficiency and improve both companies. A few years later, when the merger turns out to be a failure, companies often split up again. For example, the acquisition of Chrysler by Daimler-Benz in 1998 has now soured. StuRat 23:45, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] iPods and flat screens

I heard that high-tech electronics were banned from import into N. Korea. How do you get goods into N. Korea in the first place? Is there a trade route with S. Korea or one with China? I wish to sell goods, especially cheap food products with high caloric content such as Cinnabons to N. Koreans.

Who's going to pay for it? The "Dear Leader" and his cronies don't particularly care if the average North Korean is well-fed or not. Clarityfiend 22:05, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Well, the cronies can afford Cinnabons. For the rest, I'd aim lower, like a big vat of lard. It might sound disgusting here, but anything which would keep them from starving would likely sell there, if they could afford it, and lard is probably about all they can afford. StuRat 23:40, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Mmmm...lard. Clarityfiend 00:36, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
There are some Special Economic Zones on the border with SK, I heard.CCLemon-ここは寒いぜ！ 20:34, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Lard seems like something that would be a rather expensive option to feed the poor (not to mention difficult to transport and store) to me. It may be somewhat of an undesirable product but it's still something that comes from omnivores. Also, regardless of whether or not you could legally export luxury goods into North Korea, it being illegal in North Korean means you would get in deep shit even if you managed to bring them in Nil Einne 20:25, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
This is gonna be a fun discussion. So the above have talked about the political and economic aspects of this idea. Now, I'm going to talk about the cultural.
Considering, Kim Jong Il and his dictorship passion, I think he would see Western technology and imports, food and otherwise, as a threat to his power. Cinnimon buns, as your quoted example would probably never do in NK. As it is a absolutly a cultural import, it would/could be seen as a foreign parasite, if you will, like a viral meme. (Ok, I just lost what I want to get at, but I'll just include this bit more.) Civil war and unrest, and rebellion may ensue. So, yea, but yea, (sorry (really) I lost my ideas).100110100 12:52, 11 April 2007 (UTC)
I bet he is just fine with using "Western imperialist goods" when he is out of sight, just like the ruling pigs at the dinner table in Animal Farm. StuRat 19:08, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Who designed the first stop sign?

Is there a memo explaining the original rationale for the stop sign being octogonal? I heard it was an octogon so you could see it and recognize it even from the side and behind it. Is this true?

Well, any unique shape would accomplish that, wouldn't it ? StuRat 23:35, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Yes, but an octagon - being a square with the corners chopped off - is probably much easier to manufacture than a pentagon (which can also be a temptation to those with Satanic leanings), a hexagon, a star, an ellipse, or almost any other regular shape I can think of. That's a logical take, but whether that was the actual reason they chose the octagon, I am not able to say. As for who chose the octagon, and when, Stop sign#History says it was an American initiative in 1922. JackofOz 06:05, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] cheaper/expensive?

Are things getting cheaper or more expensive? For example, 10 years ago was the ratio of the price of a 20oz coke to the price of a flight from NYC to LA greater or less than it is now?

See inflation. Friday (talk) 21:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Some things are getting cheaper, some are getting more expensive. See Mars bar
Geez, you could have made it easier - it took me a while to find the Mars bar trivia. Clarityfiend 04:47, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] research

Why doesn't the gov't give money to companies specifically for research into making their products cheaper and with less waste? why do they give it to academia who pump out tons of useless, nonpractical (but nonetheless interesting) papers every year?

Are you serious?
To answer your first question: Governments don't need to give money to companies for research into making their products cheaper, capitalism's economies of scale, of research and development and of innovation take care of that. If the costs of waste were internalized in the companies' production costs, that part might be addressed by the system of capitalism as well. Governments can use various instruments, such as taxes, tariffs and quotas on pollution or other environmental regulations for balance and incentive, and some governments do. To answer the second question: Mu. ---Sluzzelin talk 22:33, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

The problem is that any subsidy given to companies could be used to favor some companies (those which give the legislators the most money) over others. Such subsidies often also come with strings that make them not so useful. For example, legislators from farm states might only agree to give auto companies subsidies if they agree to build vehicles that run on ethanol, while that may not be the best solution, since ethanol production (from corn) is currently quite limited and inefficient. StuRat 23:25, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Without basic research there would be no foundation for applied research to build upon. So while basic research does not have an immediate short-term commercial benefit, it is still essential for a strong, modern economy and thus government invests a proportion of its resources in maintaining it. Applied research does tend to realise a more immediate benefit and therefore it is more attractive to industry to fund themselves. Our article on research funding covers this in more detail. That said, governments do attempt to persuade companies to invest in research efforts that will benefit the consumer (and tax-payer) in the manner you suggest. They use subsidies, tax breaks and project-based grants (collectively called "corporate welfare" initiatives by critics) to encourage research efforts that will favour their political will. Rockpocket

[edit] Ben Folds

Why is Ben so popular in Japan where othe rAmerican musicians have not even been noticed?

This is probably a question the Japanese themselves could best answer. Maybe it's all about marketing. Maybe it's about him resonating with the Japanese culture in some ineffable way. Ian Thorpe became a cult figure in Japan, when many other famous and successful swimmers were virtually unknown there - why? better ask them. JackofOz 21:57, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
The reason some Western popular musicians are "Big in Japan" is somewhat of an a mystery (and, as such, a bit of an in-joke, see Big in Japan and the end of This Is Spinal Tap). I recall a few UK bands in the mid 1990s, specifically Silver Sun and Out of My Hair who had or or two minor hits in Europe, but managed to carve a decent career in Japan (to the extent that Silver Sun now release music in Japan first (or exclusively) and in Europe as an afterthought). It hard to know quite why these bands appealed to the Japanese market but many others did not. A certain demographic among Japanese music fans, the otaku, are described as having a "fetishistic devotion [that] marks them out as a breed apart" [1], so it may simply be that Folds' first single hooked enough fans and they stuck with them. If anyone knew the magic formula sure, they would be a very rich person. If you wish to learn more, there are some studies on the subject though:
  • Not-so-Big in Japan: Western Pop Music in the Japanese Market, Guy de Launey, Popular Music, Vol. 14, No. 2 (May, 1995), pp. 203-225
  • How Western Music Came to Japan, Takatoshi Yoshida, Tempo , No. 40 (Summer, 1956), pp. 16-17
  • The Genre Preferences of Western Popular Music by Japanese Adolescents, Alan Wells and Hiroshi Tokinoya, Popular Music and Society, Spring, 1998
Hope that helps. Rockpocket 03:35, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] marketing theory

Is there a theory that you tell the quality and need of a product by the percent spent on marketing it versus actually making and developing it? can I have a link to said theory?

It sounds like Strategic Marketing, which you may find under marketing DDB 12:13, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

This would be a really muddled theory (if it existed). Marketing at its purest is about supplying identified needs. Quality, therefore, should reflect the need. i.e. a fast used basic product (toilet roll) is functional and the quality has to do with strength sufficient to do the job. On the other hand people want to project an image and so a rangle of coloured, perfumed, etc, rolls is available. Thus marketing is responding to identified need for status as well as function. Of course marketing (wrongly used) can create want (not need) and this is where promotional spend comes in. Finally, the amount spent on promotion (ad, PR, sales, etc.) is less important than the quality of the promotion - the ability to lock into the minds and affect the actions of the targetted people. Remember good promotion is highly targetted, thus many are unaffected or wonder what the promotion is about.90.27.43.195 14:19, 7 April 2007 (UTC)petitmichel

[edit] complaining to companies

When you complain to companies and you use false names to do so, do they get angry at you if they find out? What if you make up the complaints and they're not even real?

Asking the question a second time will not get you a different answer. Adrian M. H. 20:47, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
I do not understand, I am only asking if someone will get angry at me? Does this break policy? Please, no personal attacks.
We cannot get involved in commenting on a situation or action that may have legal issues around it. You have intimated that you might want to make up complaints and use false names. Hopefully, that was just a hypothetical question, but we just should not go there. And nobody is attacking you; don't be over-sensitive. Adrian M. H. 21:02, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

When you waste police time, they charge you for service (in many nations). Banks charge for service. People who make up nuisance complaints can be charged with a range of different things, and possibly serve jail time. Posting lies on the internet can result in computer equipment being confiscated and serious fines issued. I know after one such lynching, the townspeople gathered in times square and cheered, as the poor schmuck was struck with tomatoes and rotten fruit. DDB 12:09, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

You might be interested in the Wendy's finger case. As DDB has aptly put it, and I also mentioned in response to your earlier question, making stuff up is not a good idea and can get you into some serious shit. Even making stuff up to your partner is a bad idea Nil Einne 20:30, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] baby killing cults

Are these true or just from urban legends?

See blood libel. jnestorius(talk) 20:37, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
The articles on child sacrifice and infanticide might interest you as well. Cult is hard to define, but rituals of sacrificing infants don't appear to have played a significant part in our anthropological history. ---Sluzzelin talk 20:52, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
I forgot to add, I have defined a cult as any faith or religion less than a century old. Perhaps this will help when you are trying to answer my question.
I couldn't find any sources credibly reporting this occurence in new religious movements . This doesn't mean it never happened anywhere, I only scanned a limited amount of sources. To answer your question: No, the claims are almost certainly not true, but the origins of these misconceptions date back way outside the realm of urban legends, as explained in the article jnestorius linked to. ---Sluzzelin talk 21:51, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

But check out Moloch and the history of Carthage. alteripse 22:47, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Toilet times

Why exactly are women allowed longer to go to the toilet than men in a factory situation? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.208.218 (talk) 21:11, 6 April 2007 (UTC).

There's little the reference desk can do to help explain the policies of some unnamed company. This may be a question to ask the foreman. Friday (talk) 21:17, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
No you misunderstand: this is/used to be general pracice in most factories regardlesss of the company.
Could be the 'wiping time' 8-)
Could be the de-kecking and/or 'wiping time' 8-) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.37.37 (talk) 21:22, 6 April 2007 (UTC).

Here are some reasons women take longer in the bathroom at work:

1) Women have to deal with feminine hygiene products.

2) Women need stalls for peeing, and stalls take up more room than urinals. The result is that, given two bathrooms with the same square footage, there are fewer places to urinate for women than men. This, combined with the other factors, leads to lines (queues) in women's rooms that slow things down further.

Dubious. most female toilets have more stalls that male urinals
Not if they are the same sized bathrooms. You can fit about 50% more urinals in a bathroom than stalls, so 3 urinals for every 2 stalls. StuRat 05:49, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

3) Women are more likely to go to the bathroom to pass gas, than just let fly in the office.

How do you know thay can hold gas longer than men? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.110.128.130 (talk) 23:27, 6 April 2007 (UTC).
Men could probably hold it, too, but just don't bother. StuRat 05:49, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

4) Women frequently fix their make-up in the bathroom, while most men only put lipstick on at home. :-) StuRat 23:12, 6 April 2007 (UTC)


For 1, it can be 3-7 days. And if they take longer only during those days, everyone will know when their periods are, which could be embarassing. And women can get infections there too. For 2, I really doubt there's more stalls than there are stalls plus urinals in the men's bathrooms, but I've never been in a women's restroom. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 01:36, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

Really?? You haven't lived. The stuff they talk about would curl your hair.  :) JackofOz 06:38, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

Females produce less gas than males, but more urine. I understand there is a hormonal difference. DDB 12:03, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

In the abscence of any satisfactory answers above I suggest that the reason is that it takes women longer to
  • find an empty cubical
  • enter said cubicle and disrobe sufficiently
  • sit down - pee - do the wiping
  • get dressed
  • come out of cubical
  • wash hands- fix hair make up etc
Would that be fair? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.109.190.127 (talk) 17:52, 9 April 2007 (UTC).
Well, that would explain the messes I occasionally find in my office cubicle. :-) StuRat 20:12, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Quote: Praise from Caesar

What is the origin of the phrase "Praise from Caesar is praise indeed?"Jamesbatic 21:30, 6 April 2007 (UTC)Jamesbatic

There is a biblical phrase "Praise from on high" or "high praise." Possibly this is an adaptation, and so its etymology might never be known. DDB 11:58, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for your reply; however, I'm unable to find any such passages in the Bible ... much praise of God, and some praise by God of man, but nothing seeming to fit. I'm intrigued that such an apt phrase seems to have no origin. I guess the internet is not yet the ultimate source of all knowledge!  :)Jamesbatic 05:23, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

Possibly from Horace Satires 2.1.84: iudice laudatus Caesare "praised by such a judge as Caesar"?—eric 22:45, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

The quote is a pretty close fit, but the context does not seem to agree with what I understand to be the meaning of the expression. I have seen suggestions that attribute this to Shakespeare, but a search of the complete works has not produced any result ... appreciate your efforts on my behalf!Jamesbatic 05:23, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Edit conflict

Why in Wikipedia people often write "after edit conflict" on their edits after experiencing edit conflicts? I mean, does it matter to people reading the posts whether they were posted after edit conflicts or not? A.Z. 22:16, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

It's (among other things) to indicate that the (ec) poster is acknowledging that her/his contributions may already have been made by the pre-ec editors, but s/he isn't going to bother reading the other contributions and retooling their post accordingly. BTW, 'not going to bother' isn't meant pejoratively, it's just the way I talk. I do the 'ec' thing too, and it's often because I'm afraid that the time I spend reading and re-tooling will be wasted because I'll encounter more edit conflicts with my revised message anyway. Anchoress 22:20, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Thank you! A.Z. 22:25, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
(Edit Conflict) Oh well, I lost my reply to an edit conflict (Irony no?) but I thought I'd share my template anyway--VectorPotentialTalk 22:27, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
I agree that's probably the major reason. For some people, it's also an ego thing. Some editors see the Ref Desk as a race to be the first to answer a question - not that there's anything wrong with that - and like to be able to honestly claim they were typing their answer while the first poster was beating them to the "Save page" button. That way, even if they got beaten to the button, they know they weren't far behind. Something to do with testosterone/oestrogen and competitiveness. Anyway, it's all jolly good sport. JackofOz 22:29, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
You might as well just say testosterone. Both men and women have it, and I doubt estrogen is the cause of messageboard competitiveness. ;-) Anchoress 22:31, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
That's really interesting. I didn't know I would learn that some people see the reference desk as a race when I asked here about edit conflict. Some questions lead us to some places unexpected at the time when we ask them. A.Z. 22:37, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
Word. Be grateful for that, by the way. Seeing as none of us are reimbursed for time spent, there's only intangibles available to motivate us. None of this would work if it weren't for a blend of competitiveness, gossipiness, and intellectual generosity. Black Carrot 00:10, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
And you're right, BTW, it's probably testosterone in both cases. Estrogen handles other stuff. Black Carrot 00:11, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
(edit conflict) All the above answers were exactly what I was about to say! --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 01:33, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Which perfectly illustrates my point.  :) JackofOz 03:49, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Damn! All of you got in ahead of me! :-) --Anon, April 8, 06:04 (UTC).
Not just an ego thing but a 'fick I spent 10 minutes writing a reply and I'll be damned if I'm going to abandon it' thing as well. In other words, if editors have spent an amount of time writing something they want to get it out even if it's just a repeat, not because of ego but because they don't want to feel their time was a complete waste. Even more so if this is the second reply, e.g. because you somehow lost an earlier reply. (Obviously the point anchress is important as well.) Ironically this was an edit conflict too... Nil Einne 20:37, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
aka Sunk cost. dr.ef.tymac 20:46, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
That brings me to the purpose of the RefDesk, and our target audience. Imagine you're a student or whatever, and you ask a question here. Are you more interested in a single, accurate, concise answer to the question, or are you more interested in a number of people telling you essentially the same thing? Sure, if you have additional information to provide, or some humorous aside, or an argument that the foregoing answer is incomplete or inaccurate, of course it's ok to provide your alternative view. But if there's nothing (or nothing much) different from what someone else has already said, it adds nothing (or nothing much) to the debate, so the purpose of sending it can only be: "I was going to say the same thing, and now that I've spent 10 minutes typing it up, I'm going to say it anyway". If that's not an ego thing, what is it? Not that there's anything wrong with ego. You're entitled to believe that sending your answer causes the work you've done not to be reduced to a waste of time. The questioner may well have a different viewpoint, and after all it's principally the questioners to whom we're of service here, rather than each other, or ourselves. JackofOz 00:15, 10 April 2007 (UTC)
Seeing as none of us are reimbursed for time spent ... huh??!! You mean you are not getting monetary compensation for your Wikipedia contributions? *LOL* How quaint! dr.ef.tymac 20:33, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

For the same reason people write Comment before comments in AFDs, I reckon. Recury 19:45, 10 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] General knowledge Q.

Who was first Indian Women to fly aboard? Please help me to answer this Q. --Nirajrm Δ | [sign plz] 23:44, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Aboard what?
Questioner presumably means abroad, i.e. overseas. --Richardrj talk email 00:19, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Do you mean "fly abroad"?CCLemon-ここは寒いぜ！ 00:21, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Just in case you're asking about female pilots, Sarla Thakral seems to have been the first female pilot from India (1936). Wikipedia has nothing on her, but a short section on Air India's female pilots. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Sluzzelin (talk • contribs) 00:30, 7 April 2007 (UTC).
Not sure if she was the first female pilot from India to fly abroad though Nil Einne 20:39, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
Nor am I, in fact I doubt it. Then again, we still don't know whether Nirajrm meant abroad, aboard (an aircraft), or something else altogether. Nirarjrm, what did you mean? ---Sluzzelin talk 23:55, 9 April 2007 (UTC)