Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 January 11

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[edit] January 11

[edit] MBA

I have just completed my High School from Ontario and now its time to move to college. I am intended to choose Business program. but before that I want some knowledge about this course and professional scope for this program. what are the courses included in this program.

Well, looking at our MBA and its sources is a good start. If you're curious about what classes you would be taking I would take a look at colleges you are interested in attending and inquiring them about their MBA programs. A look at different programs should give you an idea what the average MBA classes are like. —Mitaphane talk 06:08, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
An MBA is a master's degree, and are only available to those who have already completed an undergraduate degree. Much of the time, they are taken by people who already have substantial work experience and are looking to move up into a management role.
If business is your bag, maybe consider an undergraduate degree in economics or accounting. Frankly, I'd rather remove my own teeth with a grinder, but I'm not you...--Robert Merkel 06:13, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
Edentulism is for you! V-Man737 06:20, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
That depends on what area of "business" you want to get into and whether you're planning to study at a university or at a community college. (Note: Canadian university interviewers and future employers, who will be older than you, will likely prefer that you call university "university", not the American "college". Americanizing your vocabulary will work very much against you if you plan to remain in Canada.)
"College" is a small school. "University" is a collection of colleges. That holds in BE as well as AE. "going to college" is a common phrase used in many countries, and not limited to the U.S. Some people prefer a small college over a University. For instance U.S. news ranks the top liberal arts colleges[1]. A university, on the other hand, has many colleges, such as at the University of Toronto[2], and sometimes there are smaller subdivisions calles "Schools" that may be part of a particular college or just affiliated with the University, but not yet a "college".
In Canada, only universities grant degrees. Colleges just grant diplomas and certificates, which take up to three years. To go into graduate or professional school (both of which are mainly done through universities), you generally need an honours (four-year) bachelor degree. Note that there are some "applied bachelor degree" programs split between college and university, which claim to offer the best of both worlds. NeonMerlin 20:00, 15 January 2007 (UTC)
Regarding your display of anti-U.S. Bias. Tolerance gives you more options and opprtunity, and bias gives you less. Especially bias based on politics, rather than reality. Atom 19:39, 15 January 2007 (UTC)


It's much easier to market a specialized B.Comm (in accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, or public relations) than a general degree in business. If you take a general B.Comm you'll be expected to study the above topics as well as English, law, political science, sociology, and most likely mathematics. If you're planning to go to university in Eastern Ontario you'll likely also need French. If you plan to work in a head office setting you'll need excellent written and spoken English and, in Eastern Ontario, excellent written and spoken French.
If you're planning to take a community college course in business administration, you'll probably study office procedures, human resources, bookkeeping, and basic corporate law. --Charlene 10:02, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

Business is an area that is highly regarded. Primarily an undergraduate degree in business is pragmatic and gives you a broad range of opportunities for jobs. A graduate degree, such as an MBA underlines your skills and can give upper level management opportunities when you have more job experience. Business is probably the most general, and most useful degree of any you can pursue. Pretty much all business degree candidates get jobs out of school. This is in contrast to say psychology, sociology, anthropology, language, woman's studies, journalism or english degree cadidates who usually can't get a job with their degree, and go on to graduate studies, or get a job in a different field, often business. With a business degree you can work for a large corporation, or for the government, or for a small company, or be an entrepeur and start your own business, or anything in between. You can work in areas such management, marketing, sales, production, accounting, MIS (business computer systems), human resources, or operations. This wealth of opportunities pretty much guarantees you career opportunities. In addition to this, most business jobs, depending on area, have moderate to above average salaries right out of school, and through your career. The highest paying jobs available of all jobs are often CEO positions for a business. The only jobs paying more than CEO's are people who start and operate their own businesses. An job candidate with an MBA from a top school, with no experience can often start in the $60K range. Less well known schools may be in the $45K range. People with graduate degrees in some of the other areas mentioned above may still have problems finding jobs, and when they do, would be lucky to get close to $45K. Usually going on to a PhD, and a research and teaching can get them in the $60K range.

Careers that can pay better than business usually are other professional areas (M.B.A. is a professional degree) such as Law(J.D.), Medicine (M.D.,. D.D.S), Engineering (P.E.). Even so, some professinals in these areas are lucky to start in the $50-$60K range. Surgeons, and other areas of medicine can earn well above $100K, depending on the country. It is not uncommon for someone in Surgery or Radiology to make $500K or more per year, and up after starting work. But consider that those people have to have considerable expertise and talent, and have to go to school and train often for 6 to 12 years after their undergraduate 4-year degree. (often resulting in having school loans in the 100's of thousands of $.)

In summary, many people feel that business has more job opportunities in more diverse areas with solid career income, than any other area. Atom 14:22, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] U.S.. Constitutional issue

Would you please define The meaning in today's terms the meaning of this phrase taken from The U.S. Constitution, Artical III, Sec. 3 regards Congressional Power to declare the Punishment of Treason:

"... but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood ..."

What did this mean to the Founding Fathers stated in today's terms?Fjheart 04:17, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

From Article_Three_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Section_3:_Treason, "Punishment for treason may not "work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person" so convicted. The descendants of someone convicted for treason could not, as they were under English law, be considered "tainted" by the treason of their ancestor. Furthermore, Congress may confiscate the property of traitors, but that property must be inheritable at the death of the person convicted." Friday (talk) 04:26, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
How utterly sensible. Thank providence for the US Founding Fathers' sense. This from a Subject (not yet a citizen despite my forebears having lived here for 1000+ years) of Her Britannic Majesty - desperately awaiting a UK Constitution, and Citizenship.
FWIW, the UK has considered you a "British Citizen" (under the current definition) since 1983, prior to which you would have been a "Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies" since 1948. Oh, and see Constitution of the United Kingdom. Shimgray | talk | 00:40, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] A trivia question..

Some people said it resembled a bird house. It was a 20-inch square box, and when erected in Salt Lake City in 1920, it was the first of its kind in the world. What was it? Arun 59.95.40.118 05:01, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

A Google search turns up a number of results for stoplights. Dismas|(talk) 06:02, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
Just curious... Does it have anything to do with Philo Farnsworth? V-Man737 06:12, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

the problem with traffic lights is that - though introduced for the first time in Salt Lake City - that was as early as 1912 - with the interconnected versions out by 1917. S0 1920 would not be the right year. Thanks a lot for the help: Dismas And V-man, No. I don't think it has anything to do with Phio.. too early a date for his time. Thanks for the help though Arun 59.95.40.118 10:47, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

I'm guessing whoever asked Arun the question got it wrong. <snide>Probably got the info from Encyclopedia Brittanica.</snide>
>.<

[edit] Three-part hyphenated names

Okay, couldn't think of a better title. There are so many of these, "Suc-u-Bus" (from Starship Titanic) and... I can't remember more, but examples: Explode-o-Matic, Zap-o-Matic, etc etc. Do you get my drift? I am just wondering where do these names come from? WHo on earth came up with'em? Linguistically they seem extremely out of place! 213.161.190.228 10:38, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

Good question. I'd like to know more. They are a /little/ like another form of words common to english, of triplets such as "let and hindrance", "will and testament" (and I can't remember more as I write), which I vaguely remember refer back to a time when french & english was spoken in england ... the phrases were made up of the english and the french word. "Belt and braces" would be another example, albeit not with the same derivation. Only reason I mention these is that they may have habituated us to talk in triplets. --Tagishsimon (talk)
I don't know who invented them, but the structure is quite-tmesis-tastic. meltBanana 13:26, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
Seems to me to be a 1950s version of our modern buzzwords. V-Man737 01:19, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Not quite the same thing but similar is of course the prevalance of the TLA, or three letter acronym. Vespine 03:47, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Alumni yearbooks...

Would like to know how I can access yearbooks from Oxford University UK, for years 1965-1970? Thank you 11:24, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure if these even exist in the same way that they do in the USA. If they do, they certainly won't be available online - you'd have to enquire at the university library. --Richardrj talk email 11:30, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
Most likely, if there are yearbooks, there'll be a seperate one for each Oxford College, so you may have to enquire at the specific college(s). Laïka 12:12, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] strength of A-level exams candidates?

does anyone know the number of A-level exams candidates? kindly give reference Is it the world's largest education board?

Related question: What is an "education board" in this context? Searching Wikipedia gave no obvious candidates. Rmhermen 16:50, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
OP Original poster possibly means examination board. A-level exams in England (for example) are set by several different boards, and a candidate can easily be sitting exams from two or more boards (in different subjects) at the same time. Gandalf61 17:45, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] a logo

i was trying to make a logo of a hostel. but i cannot think of any symbolic representation to signify that the logo alone can, to some extent, imply that its the logo of some hostel. what do you people say?

The international symbol for a hostel is a simple equilateral upright triangle, usually with some extra decoration added; in England and Wales for example, the triangle is green, with the letters "yha" underneath, so the "h" forms a tree trunk and the whole thing resembles a pine tree. I'd recommend having some variation on a triangle, such as a bed inside a triangle, or a knife and fork either side of a triangular plate. Laïka 12:29, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
On Ordnance Survey maps, the triangle is red for a YHA hostel. With the decline in the YHA network and the rise in the number of independent hostels, some maps show independent hostels in another colour. (I'm not sure how or whether the OS indicates independent hostels.) Either way, the triangle symbol seems to be universally understood.--Shantavira 15:03, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
The OS shows non-YHA hostels as pinky-red squares, actually, although the symbol represents any "bunk house, camping barn or other hostel". Laïka 15:11, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
The logo of the International Youth Hostel Federation, which has many Youth Hostel associations all over the world as members, can be seen here, under the name "Hostelling International". It is protected IP, so you cannot imitate it in a way that can lead to confusion, but the basic idea of an upside-down triangle by itself cannot be protected. Most national YHAs use this shared logo, while some have their own logo, like England & Wales (as mentioned above), Germany, and Pakistan, often used in conjunction with the international one.  --LambiamTalk 23:15, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia Editing, my IP Address Username

Whenever I make a change on Wikipedia, or answer a question here, it markes my IP address. What I have noticed, however, is that if I click on that IP address, it brings me to a page of topics I have supposible edited. I do not edit WikiPedia often at all, and I would like to know how I have so many edits. Is it possible that someone has the same IP as I do? Or should I assume that my ISP is cheap, and has a single IP address for all users? Thanks for your answers --- (No Username) January 11, at 8:39AM

You can assume that you have a shared IP but your ISP may have many such numbers. Some users get a random-ish IP each time they log in, making it hard for them to track their own contributions. Another good reason to get an account on Wikipedia. On a related note, we did, recently, block most access from a certain country when trying to block a single vandal so in some cases an ISP may have only one IP. (I forget which country it was.) Rmhermen 16:47, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
Did you read the blue box at the top of User talk:207.69.138.12? EarthLink reassigns the IP address each time a User logs off. User:Zoe|(talk) 16:48, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
(The country was Qatar.)
Meanwhile, ask your computer what it thinks your IP address is. If it's different from the address being recorded on Wiki, then somewhere along the way, your messages are passing through a proxy server or at least NAT (Network address translation) and that's transforming your IP address, quite possibly into a shared IP address.
Atlant 17:52, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
The simple solution to this is to get a username and to log on before editing - something done automatically if you're using the same computer each time you do it. --Tagishsimon (talk)

[edit] Question/Rant

Why do some people reply to complaints or even criticism of someone's work with "Well, can you do any better?" Does being better than me at something automatically make someone good enough at it? For example, I can't drive a car, or any motor vehicle more powerful than a go-kart, to save my life. But if some bus driver at the bus I take to work every weekday botched up and I ended up lying in the ditch I'd sure as heck complain to the bus company. JIP | Talk 18:35, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

It's just a rhetorical device, a technique used to evoke an emotional response. Looks like it still works very well :) --Tagishsimon (talk)
I actually asked what sort of fallacy this was in the RDs before, it's somewhat of a reverse appeal to authority. Search around, you might find the thread. --Wooty Woot? contribs 03:30, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Yes, specifically it's an ad hominem attack, which means attacking the person instead of their argument. In this case, the person is attacked based on their own inexperience in the field. StuRat 21:48, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

Its like this thing with animals where they always compare animals to us, to show how much better they are, but they aren't, it's just the way they are and the way we are :(

[edit] .50 BMG to the head

What would happen to the victim's head if they are shot from point blank range by an M82 Barret with a .50 caliber BMG round? Also, what would happen to the victim if they are shot at the waist/torso by the same round from about 200-400 yards away? Thanks. The Ayatollah 23:06, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

Gunshot wounds are quite harmful, and .50 BMG is a rather huge cartridge. However if you're looking for gory descriptions of injuries, I'm afraid you're in the wrong place- this is an encyclopedia. Friday (talk) 23:11, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
Oh no, I was just wondering because I heard that .50 BMG could leave an exit wound the size of a basketball. Is this true? If so, would this be caused by a hollow-point or a Full-Metal jacket? The Ayatollah 01:09, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Jeez, that's a frickin' huge stick of metal to have going through your head at supersonic speeds. And if anyone has a head bigger than a basketball, I'm sure they'd still be scared of getting hit by one. I understand the .50 BMG is mainly used in armor-piercing or materiel sniping. However, I heard that the terrorist in Washington, D.C. was using or at least owned a .50 rifle? V-Man737 01:35, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Our article says that no crimes have been committed with one and that the gun used to fire them "[w]ith lengths usually between four and five feet and weighing 20-35 pounds, they are unwieldy and virtually impossible to conceal on one's person." Rmhermen 03:09, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
For the record, where is the article on that (DC Terrist) guy? I completely forgot his name (quite appropriately, I suppose). V-Man737 03:38, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
You're talking about the Beltway sniper attacks, right? Dave6 07:50, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
That's the one! Props. I feel silly for not finding it myself... V-Man737 01:36, 13 January 2007 (UTC)
At point-blank but not necessarily right-against the victim's head it could quite possibly take much of the head off, I would imagine (having taken a single course in forensic anthropology, I should note). With something that large and with that much force it would have a very, very large effect. Even smaller bore ammo used in large pistols can have limb-detaching effects. ---24.147.86.187 03:21, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
You may find this site of interest (americansniper.org). I seem to think that has some data of interest but my Mommy won't let me see the site here at the office. I can see (americansnipers.org) but that is probably not what you want. --Justanother 20:18, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Neither of those sites have anything of interest. Are you serious that your mother won't let you see some enthusiast group's website? .. --frothT 07:46, 14 January 2007 (UTC)
He probably means his office has some sort of filtering software. 206.176.119.180 16:56, 16 January 2007 (UTC)
Right. One of those sites had a VERY graphic shot of what a M82 Barret would do to a head at long range. Think watermelon and machete. --Justanother 16:31, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

The weapon isnt necesarily a rifle. There are 50 cal pistols. Rya Min 20:02, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

.50 BMG and .50 AE are totally different. 206.176.119.180 16:56, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Operational Substance

What is that yellow paint-like substance that doctors often put on people during an operation/surgery? Is it for sterility? --Proficient 23:06, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

My guess: povidone-iodine disinfectant; the best we have on this would be at Iodophor. --Tagishsimon (talk)
Also see Betadine. Atlant 01:26, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Yes it's an antiseptic --frothT C 03:35, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
If you are thinking of an emulsion with a paint-like consistency and a bright yellow colour, that would be acriflavine emulsion (as opposed to dirty brown, watery, povidine-iodine). It is moderately antiseptic, and a common use is for packing wounds or tissue spaces which the surgeon wishes to keep open, using gauze steeped in acriflavine. It is not used for skin preparation at the site of surgery. I do not know what the emulsifying agent is, but it makes a wonderful finger paint :-)--Seejyb 14:00, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Thanks. --Proficient 22:08, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Wish to verify existance of purported historical monument

While her son was serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam (1968), my wife's aunt received a post card from him. The face of the card shows a picture of a monument with one American soldier helping another soldier who is apparently wounded. The statue of the two soldiers rests atop what appears to be a granite block. There is a separate plaque in front with an inscription which appears to be Vietnamese language. The reverse side of this post card reads; "GIA DINH: Monument of army physicians". I have searched the web as well as the Wikipedia site and have not found any information or reference to any such monument.....nor could I find anything about a Vietnamese town named "GIA DINH". I served in Vietnam in 1964-1965 as a combat medic. In neither my time there nor at any time afterward, had or have I ever heard of any such monument.

My question is; Do any of you good folks at Wikipedia have knowledge of any such monument or would you have any means at your disposal to research this matter to either confirm or deny the existant of any such monument? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

G5guy 23:25, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

So far I've found that Gia Định is difficult to type on American keyboards (XD!), but it seems to be an ancient name for Ho Chi Minh City. That's pretty much as far as I've gotten... V-Man737 01:51, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Not so ancient, Gia Dinh was a town on the outskirts of Saigon, and capital of Gia Dinh province.—eric 03:34, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
See map here (about 3/4 of the way down) Shimgray | talk | 00:44, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Anti-heroes

I am looking for any sort of "worksheet" on how to write anti-heroes- sort of guidelines for formatting them. All I need is the list of "rules"; however, I have had trouble finding these online. I have only found essays that are lengthy and don't actually tell you how to write an anti-hero. In short, I'm looking for a "How-To..." guide.

If you know of any websites that have these "worksheets", please let me know.


Thanks!!! 70.238.177.209 23:37, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure I understand your question correctly. Let me try to paraphrase what I'm getting: You are looking for a worksheet (or some kind of guideline) about how to write about or develop the character of an anti-hero? The article is very relevant and useful, in my opinion. "and then breaking the rules" is where I really stumble in my understanding. Do you want a list of rules, and then our opinions of the way to properly break them? (I am an expert on the proper method of rule-breaking, BTW.) ;-) V-Man737 10:04, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Oh yeah, the other question! If I met someone (first time) who was trying to commit suicide, my first reaction would be curiosity. I'd ask them why they're doing it. After that, depending on their answer, I'd either try to convince them not to do it, or I'd help them out.;_; (what a horrible thing to say) or I'd force them to stop. V-Man737 10:09, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] School Buses

Whats the purpose of the white flashing light on the top of the school bus? Is it a safety feature for us to be able to seem them?

Flashing lights are there to draw attention and warn others, especially in traffic circumstances. Generally the idea is to warn of school children (in this case) when the lights are flashing.Robovski 00:32, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
In the case of the white light on top, it's to make an already-incredibly-visible object even more visible. It only does so at night. --Carnildo 22:22, 12 January 2007 (UTC)
Not in my jurisdiction! They let those things off whenever they're moving. 68.39.174.238 17:10, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

Yes, it is for visibility. As a side note, most school buses use amber-yellow turn lights in the rear also for greater visibility. Most studies have shown that amber-yellow rear turn signals are more easily seen than red ones. Many states in the US require amber-yellow rear turn signals in their laws for school busses. The rational is that a precious cargo is riding the school bus, hence making the bus as safe and visible as possible. Zeno333 08:36, 20 January 2007 (UTC)