Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 August 22

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[edit] August 22

[edit] Saddam Hussein

How many people did Saddam Hussein have killed during his time as leader of Iraq? 71.31.153.206 01:04, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

The Wikipedia article Human rights in Saddam Hussein's Iraq states "The total number of deaths related to torture and murder during this period are unknown." So... we don't really know. Like many of his ilk, Hussein wasn't all that big on keeping records of everyone he had killed. But that article should give you a good handle on the scope of what went on. - Eron Talk 01:15, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
It also depends whether you mean folks he actually ordered killed, or folks who were killed just generally in support of his policies. Gzuckier 14:46, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
If you use that latter definition then the UN sanctions were more murderous than Saddam. Plasticup T/C 16:24, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Or the US invasion of course. In the case of the UN sanctions, however, one can still blame Hussein for them because he ruled the country and could/should thus have done something about it. DirkvdM 18:27, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Yes, like stop producing WMDs... oh wait. Plasticup T/C 05:05, 27 August 2007 (UTC)
The greatest number of deaths occurred during wars that he started, like the Iran-Iraq War (875,000 dead) and the first Gulf War (22,000 dead). So, that's about 900,000 there, and another 100,000 probably from his gassing of Kurds, attacks on the Shia, and various other massacres, to bring us to over a million. StuRat 05:15, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] International Dateline

If you were to live on the International Dateline what would be the time zone ???? Does it even have a time zone ????

Hope you find the answer !!!!

e-mail me as soon as possible !!

-Thank You —Preceding unsigned comment added by Leabard (talk • contribs)

The International Date Line roughly follows the 180 meridian of longitude and falls - more or less - in the middle of a time zone that is 12 hours different from Greenwich Mean Time. The half of the zone to the west of the line is 12 hours ahead of GMT, the half to the east is 12 hours behind. For most of its length the IDL runs through the Pacific Ocean - as far as I know, the only places where 180° crosses a continental land mass are in the far east of Russia and in Antarctica. I don't believe that it crosses any islands.
In places where 180° divides a country - Kiribati, for example - the IDL is bumped east or west so that the entire country falls to one side or the other. If you lived exactly on the IDL, you would have the choice of being either GMT+12 or GMT-12. - Eron Talk 02:52, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Technically, it's not possible to live exactly on the IDL, just as it's not possible to live exactly on the Equator. These lines have no width, but I suppose they have height, so you'd have to be a two-dimensional person to live there. One-dimensional would be even better. Maybe GWB should move there.  :) -- JackofOz 03:04, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Planes can bisect three dimensional objects (like people) so you could indeed straddle the IDL. Of course, that would involve living in the middle of the ocean or (even worse) Siberia. Plasticup T/C 03:12, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
A person can certainly straddle the IDL (just as they can straddle a state or country border). But then their left leg would be in one time zone (on Saturday), and their right leg in another time zone (on Sunday). -- JackofOz 03:32, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Exactly. Now as to the other part of the question, "does the IDL have a time zone", the answer is simply that the IDL is a time zone boundary, just like any other time zone boundary except that the time offset between the two zones is different. Because it has no width, it doesn't need to have its own time zone any more than any other boundary has its own time zone. --Anonymous, August 21, 2007, 03:33 (UTC).
Just to correct an earlier point, it is impossible to stand on the IDL in Siberia. While the 180° meridian does cross eastern Siberia, the IDL is diverted farther to the east to run through the Bering Strait and then diverted to the west around the Aleutian Islands to follow, more or less, the border between Russia and the United States. South of this, the IDL runs through the Pacific Ocean until it reaches Antarctica. Antarctica is therefore the only place where it would be possible to stand on the IDL other than aboard a ship or airplane. Marco polo 18:51, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Composition of whiskey

I heard that whiskey is composed of about 50% water. Can anyone confirm/deny this? Some data on the exact composition would be appreciated. Thanks in advance -OOPSIE- 04:29, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

More than 50% usually. Whisky proof varies by style and brand but can be anywhere from 40 -65% alcohol (80-130 proof). And the rest is almost all water. So a whisky more than 50% water would not be unusual. This page list a number of whiskys and there proof. Anything under 100 proof is more than half water - and that is almost every one listed. Rmhermen 06:08, 22 August 2007 (UTC)


Hmm, eerie coincidence... Anybody know just how big the ones used in making it are? Trekphiler 04:44, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

I think one can safely say that most drinks are mostly water. Otherwise you get smoothies and liqueurs.--Shantavira|feed me 14:12, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
No, liqueurs generally have even more water than spirits. Smoothies probably do as well. Rmhermen 16:41, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
If you're a fan of whiskey try going to the distilleries and asking for a taste of the pure spirit. Technically they shouldn't let you try it but it helps you appreciate the importance of maturation! --Cosmic joker 21:41, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
As fruit hasan extremly high water content, smoothies do too--Pheonix15 18:21, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Manchester City soccer club and Confederate flag

Today I was watching a soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United. I noticed something interesting in that one of the fans was displaying a large Confederate battle flag while the song "Blue Moon" was playing and most of the other fans were displaying white and blue striped scarves. I was curious about the Confederate flag, and if this was just a random occurance or this has some significance for the Manchester City club. Thanks. Danthemankhan 05:06, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

I think saw that too during the Manchester derby and I must say I've never heard anything about the subculture that would explain it. I think it's just a random occurrence. Now, had it been the Thai flag....Hornplease 07:02, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Ah, you're USian. That explains the use of the word 'soccer' but raises another question - do people in the US watch association football a lot? Or, in reverse, do the English watch American football (merrer?) a lot? DirkvdM 18:31, 22 August 2007 (UTC)*
  • NFL on Five gets very respectable audiences and has for many years (Thanks Mike Carlson).Also it was big in the 80's on Channel 4.Sky shows extra games each week in the season and there is a large following for internet broadcasts,signed a long time UK Vikings fanhotclaws 13:27, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
I can answer the first question. Very few people in the United States watch "association football". Few US Americans even know that soccer is known as football in other countries. Most US Americans know that soccer exists and may have even played it during physical education class in school, but very few follow professional soccer once they finish school. Marco polo 18:40, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Actually, I would say that virtually every American knows that "soccer" is called "football" elsewhere in the world. The fact is just unimportant to them.
Not many USians watch soccer, the buzz surrounding Mr. Beckham's arrival on our shores lately did increase that number somewhat, but it is likely just a temporary spike. I prefer the Premier League to MLS anyway. As for UKers watching American football, I gather there is a fair-sized group of fans over there, seeing the (announced) great demand for tickets for the NFL game played at Wembley Stadium in October. They're both great games, in their own ways, and I encourage fans of either to give the other a shot. Danthemankhan 02:56, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
As a Manchester City season ticket holder, I can confirm that the Confederate flag has no significance for the club at all, and it is just random. Blue Moon, however, is commonly sung by the club's supporters, and is the song most closely associated with the club. Oldelpaso 18:59, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Barry Bond's 756th Home Run Ball

In the paper today is a blurb about the guy that caught Bond's record breaking 756th home run ball.
It states that he has to sell the ball because several friends told him, "that he would be taxed for holding on to it"

Can this possibly be right ?
Can you be taxed for something of this nature ... something that has no established value ?

Thanks,
Killa Klown 11:30, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

The "several friends" could present an argument along these lines: catching a baseball is a "realized accretion to net income wealth" and is therefore taxable under Federal Income Tax laws in the United States. Also, all that matters is that the item has a "fair market value" and that the value is not "de minimis".
   fair market value is the price at which the property would change hands between 
   a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy 
   or to sell
[See United States v. Cartwright, 411 U. S. 546, 93 S. Ct. 1713, 1716-17, 36 L. Ed. 2d 528, 73-1 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) ¶ 12,926 (1973) (quoting from U.S. Treasury regulations relating to Federal estate taxes, at 26 C.F.R. sec. 20.2031-1(b))].
If you need further information to verify whether these "several friends" make a good argument, consult your authorized licensed financial planner. :). dr.ef.tymac 14:54, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

How is it a "realized accretion to net income" when he actually hasn't made anything on it ?

Also, how would a value be determined for it, if it has never been bought or sold ?
i.e. if the value is placed at $500,000(USD) and taxes are paid at that value, what would happen if he later put it up for auction and it brought significantly less ??
Would the erroneous taxes paid be returned to him ?

Thanks,
Killa Klown 16:04, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Sorry, Killa, that was a think-o that I should have caught before posting, the text should have read "realized accretion to wealth" (not realized accretion to "net income") thank you for helping me catch my boo-boo.
As far as your other questions, my best suggestion for you is to just search Google with the following exact query:
   "realization event" "baseball"
That should give you some more analysis and arguments to ponder. HTH. dr.ef.tymac 17:18, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
I'll pick this from the links suggested by Dr. T's google search, for the epic quote 'Herman asked IRS chief counsel and baseball fanatic Don Korb, who responded, “Please, whatever you do, don’t ask me that question.”'.
Now consider that the IRS decide that tax is due now, but poor old Mr. Bonds loses the ball. What position is he in then w.r.t. tax? (Rhetorical question). --Tagishsimon (talk)

Thank you both for your help.

I cannot believe you would have to pay tax if you chose to just sit on the ball and display it at your house.
Or even to give it to your kid as souvenir.
There are just too many mind boggling questions that go along with this ... I don't remember any discussion like this when McQuire or Sosa broke records or even the last time Bonds broke a record.

Freaky.

Thanks again,
Killa Klown 18:00, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

It really is a bizarre proposition (what if he just wanted to play ball with it‽). Perhaps a similar analogy would be if he were to find a suitcase full of cash (or rare coin, or lump of gold) buried on his property, he would obviously have to pay taxes on it, and it was similarly just a lucky fluke for him to come into possession of the ball. --Sean 19:15, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
That's just weird? Why wouldn't the IRS simply require you to pay capital gains tax when you finally sold the darned thing? Until then, it's just potential income. When my house gains value or if I find a valuable antique for sale for $5, I don't pay them anything...only when I finally sell up and rake in the cash do I pay them a dime. SteveBaker 20:35, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
But you could, in theory, say that about any income, including wages. If you are taxed when you get wages in exchange for working, then certainly it follows that you should be taxed when you get something for nothing, like when you win a car on The Price Is Right or catch a milestone home-run ball at the ballpark. Capital gains is assessed when you obtain something and then sell it later for a higher price. In this case, if the guy were to hold on the ball and pay taxes on an estimated value of $500K this year, and then sell it for $600K next year, he'd pay taxes on a $100K capital gain. It wouldn't make sense for him to pay zero now and then capital-gains taxes on $600K next year -- that's not how capital gains works. I wouldn't feel too sorry for the guy... he'll still wind up on top by about $300K just for being in the right place at the right time. -- Mwalcoff 23:05, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] pilates

i've been using an aero pilates machine for a while now, but does it help you become much more leaner and what exercises on it helps you to become overall thinner and toned (arms, legs, stomach etc) ? (BTW: im following a strict calorie controlled diet) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.42.52.48 (talk)

It should help you become more muscular. For thinner, that's what the diet is for. StuRat 04:54, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Mixing Alcoholic Beverages

When mixing alcoholic beverages how is the actual alcohol content derived ?
Say if you mix 48 proof and 22 proof, do you have 70 proof or do you have 35 proof or something altogether different ?

Thanks,
Killa Klown 12:30, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Firstly, we need to know if you mean the American or the British definitions of Proof (alcohol). DuncanHill 12:35, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Sorry, American version. Killa Klown 12:39, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

American proof is just a percentage of ethanol times two. So imagine we have a liquid that is 50% ethanol (100 proof) and another that is 20% ethanol (40 proof). What happens when we mix them together? Well, it depends on the relative volumes of each, obviously. Mixed in equal amounts, the final outcome will be a substance of 5 parts ethanol to 5 parts non-ethanol plus 2 parts ethanol to 8 parts non-ethanol = 7 parts ethanol to 13 parts non-ethanol = 7/20 = 35% ethanol (70 proof). If you change the volumes, though, then that would change the overall outcome. --24.147.86.187 12:50, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

(after edit conflict)

In American proof, 1 proof = 0.5 percent alcohol.
OK, so, we have 100 units of 48/2 = 24 percent alcohol (or 24 units of alcohol, and 76 units of water).
And 100 units of 22/2 = 11 percent alcohol (or 11 units of alcohol and 89 units of water).
Adding these gives 200 units made up of (24 + 11) = 35 units of alcohol, and (76 + 89) = 165 units water.
So, we have 200 units of which 35 units are alcohol, which gives us 17.5 percent alcohol, which in American proof is 35 proof.
More simply put, 48 + 22 = 70, divide by 2 = 35 proof.
I hope this makes sense, it's a long time since I had to work this sort of thing out! DuncanHill 12:55, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
I would add that the above results will be slightly out in reality, as there is a small volume change when alcohol and water are mixed (simply put, mix 1 volume of alcohol with 1 volume of water, you don't quite get 2 volumes of dilute alcohol. DuncanHill 12:57, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

So it is basically, in simple terms, an average of the alcohol contents ?

Ok, how would it work if i mixed 1 oz. 100 proof and 2 oz. Coca-Cola ?
I would have a drink that is 33.33~ proof (16.5% alcohol) ?

Killa Klown 13:15, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

In this example, you have ½ oz. alcohol and ½ oz water (mainly), and 2 oz. Coca-Cola, making 3 ozs of the mixed drink. Of these 3 oz. , ½ an ounce is alcohol, which is 1 part in 6, or 16.66 percent. DuncanHill 13:23, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Thank You,
Killa Klown 13:30, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Heard of any good fundraising ideas using social networking?

This isn't strictly a factual question, so I'll understand if you feel it's not appropriate for Wikipedia. I'm looking for good, unusual ideas for raising money for charity through social networking: Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc. Anything that's already been done - preferably in aid of a major charity - or good ideas you've got that nobody's tried yet. --OpenToppedBus - Talk to the driver 14:07, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

I saw a group once where the founder gave 1 cent to a disaster relief fund for every 100 people who joined. A couple other people matched his donations. I think there were probably 100,000 members at its peak. Of course, that meant that he had to contribute something himself. Plasticup T/C 16:27, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Which area is the charity working in ? That may well suggest some ideas and veto others.86.216.249.93 17:06, 22 August 2007 (UTC)DT And in which country ?86.216.249.93 17:06, 22 August 2007 (UTC)DT

[edit] Clickers

Hello. How do clickers in universities work? I have read the clicker article twice; I do not understand. Thanks in advance. --Mayfare 18:07, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Um, do you mean clickers? If so, they work by making a "click" noise. I'm not sure how they relate to higher education, though. --Sean 19:17, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Electronic clickers, or "personal response systems" function like television remote controls. They are used in classrooms to record student responses to instructors' questions. I have revised the Clicker article to cover this type of clicker. Here is an article documenting this practice. Marco polo 20:27, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
I vaguely recall seeing a movie about a US college law campus - and I think students clicked their clickers to indicate to the lecturer that they wanted to ask a question. I never saw that when I was in college - but that was on the other side of the planet and 35 years ago! Those things make enough of a sound to allow you to hear them when you're writing on the board with your back to the audience - but not so serious a noise as to significantly interrupt the lecture in progress. If that's what's being asked here: The clicker contains a piece of thin metal bent into a shallow dome shape - when you press on the top of the dome with your thumb, you can push it inside-out - then release it again to have it snap back to the original shape. The initial push and the 'rebound' each make a short, sharp 'click' noise that can be heard over quite long distances in a quiet environment. Does that help? SteveBaker 20:31, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
I think that the clickers currently in vogue do not involve metal plates but rather circuit boards. I do not think that they make much noise. The student merely "clicks" a button, which transmits an electronic signal to the classroom receiver. Marco polo 21:17, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Perhaps you are thinking of an Audience response system? --Mdwyer 02:13, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
Yes, that looks right, but they are commonly known as clickers in education circles. Marco polo 18:51, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Computer Databases

Please explain the telephone and computer technology and process involved when I call my bank and enter my account number on the telephone keypad and my balance information is retrieved and relayed to me with the sythisized voice.

Vernon —Preceding unsigned comment added by 167.206.248.11 (talk)

Is this a homework assignment? --Tagishsimon (talk) 20:00, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Oh, what do I care? A Point-to-point telephone connection is made between your phone and a phone at the bank. Dual-tone multi-frequency tones, representing your account number are passed from your phone, as the buttons are pressed, to the bank's phone. Their phone is connected to a computer having some sort of tone to number converter, and which accepts the account number as a parameter in a database query. The query is executed, and returns the value of your account in a format which can be interpreted by a Speech synthesis module. There are other elements in the system, notably an overall software application which orchestrates the whole service. Something like that. --Tagishsimon (talk)
(Good answer)87.102.42.81 20:32, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Take a look at our article Interactive voice response. I program such systems when I'm not loitering around the Reference Desk, although I currently do it for a health insurance corporation, not a bank. --LarryMac | Talk 20:23, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Your..Claim..Has..Been.....Rejected.
"There is no fifth destination."
Atlant 12:52, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] East Indian Population by American State

Hello! I am looking for a map of some sort which shows the East Indian (India) population in each of the 50 states of America. If no such thing can be found, data would also be helpful. Thanks! --Vikramkr 20:52, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

I found this. These numbers are from 2000. Zagalejo 21:06, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Thanks! This was exactly what I was looking for! --Vikramkr 22:15, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Swelling of Skin

Why does the skin swell up when it's scratched by, for example, a cat? Acceptable 21:36, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

This is inflammation, a part of the body's immune reaction: "Acute inflammation is a short-term process which is characterised by the classic signs of inflammation - swelling, redness, pain, heat, and loss of function - due to the infiltration of the tissues by plasma and leukocytes." - Eron Talk 22:53, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Cat scratch fever sounds fun. --Tagishsimon (talk)
It sure does! - Eron Talk 23:38, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

It isn't!!!90.9.215.252 14:33, 23 August 2007 (UTC)PW

chemicals released by damaged tissue are detected by the body and in a complex chain of events, cause the local blood capillaries to enlarge and become more porous, so that fluid flows out, along with white blood cells. The extra fluid causes the tissue to become swelled up, like a water balloon kind of. Gzuckier 17:21, 23 August 2007 (UTC)