Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 January 30

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[edit] January 30

[edit] Questions

These are going to seem ridiculous, but I'm in the middle of an argument and need a good source.

  • True or false: it is illegal in the US to refer to the language we speak as "English"; it must be called "American".
  • True or false: the US's military, as it is now, is the most powerful military, ever
  • True or false: oral sex is illegal in some parts of the US

It's a long and complex story. My belief is that it goes false-true-false, but there's a few disagreeing. Your thoughts? --Thatswhatisaid 00:08, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

The answer to the first is definitely false. The answer to the second is absolutely impossible to give; what are you comparing it to? "Most powerful" is purely subjective and entirely depends on historical context. According to our article on oral sex, the answer to your third question is false. -- Necrothesp 00:30, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
In absolute terms, the answer to your second question is almost certainly "true." In relative terms, however, I think there are probably a few other claimants... Carom 00:34, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Thanks very much. --Thatswhatisaid 00:42, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
The first is definitely false.
The second, is probably true, if you just measure how much money they have spent and the fact they spend more then the rest of the entire world combined, I'd say it's true.
The third, is probably true as well, if the oral sex is performed on a goat for example it would be illegal in some parts of the US, and if you include "PUBLIC PLACES" like, say, the library, or the mall, in your definition of "some parts of the US", then yes, oral sex IS illegal in "some parts of the US". :) But generally, two consenting adults can enjoy oral sex in the privacy of their own homes without fear of arrest. Vespine 00:44, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Yeah, somebody was trying to convince me that there's a law that says all oral sex is illegal and some woman lost her job for not complying. ;) --Thatswhatisaid 00:46, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
There are laws in some areas that ban sex between unmarried partners, and a woman (Debora Hobbs, of Burgaw, NC) was recently let go from her job with the local sheriff's office for living with her boyfriend. Perhaps this is where your story started. --Charlene 04:18, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
A related subject is sodomy which was illegal in a number of states until 2003, when such laws were declared unconstitutional. It should be noted that, although the term "sodomy" is most often used to refer to anal sex, it has also historically been used to to refer to any number of sexual acts, including oral sex.Carom 00:49, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Not complying? Sounds like she was having sex in her work place. It's no wonder she lost her job. This has nothing to do with whether or not oral sex is generally legal. JackofOz 00:57, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
There was a president who nearly lost their job becuase of an incident involving oral sex;) but that doesn't mean the act it self is illegal. Vespine 01:27, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
All three of those questions could have the principle of the freedom of speech applied to them: First, you can call your language whatever the heck you want. According to the First Amendment, it would be impossible to be legally punished on account of what you call your language (and suddenly all sorts of hilarious proper nouns flood my mind). Second, the main emphasis that the US military has always had is that of upholding basic freedoms, such as the freedom of speech; as opposition to this ideal strengthens, so should the armies that uphold that cause. Third, oral sex can be seen as a freedom of expression (no puns here, please;-) that the government has no business in outlawing. Of course, as mentioned above, there are decency laws that protect people's rights of exposure, especially children. I may have the right to say whatever I want, but that does not mean that you do not have the right to avoid exposure to my words. V-Man737 01:39, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

As for the "strongest military ever", I think the relative scale should be used. Under such a scale, the US military in the late 1940's would have been the strongest, as they were the only military with nuclear weapons at the time and had a large, mostly intact military left over from WW2. Had the US chosen to do so, they could have taken over the world at that time with the threat and occasional use of nuclear weapons. If the Soviet Union, or any number of other countries, had been in the same position, that's probably exactly what they would have done. StuRat 11:10, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Hamstar

Why does my hamster mostly blink with only one eye at a time? Vitriol 01:05, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Does it continue to blink with the same one eye over and over again? It might have an eye problem that needs the attention of a vet. I've never noticed a hamster's blinking habits before, so if it is just natural blinking (and not a problem), I don't know. TheSPY 01:54, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Nah, it seems perfectly OK. The blinked eye seems to change and I think she'd be in more distress than she is if it were an eye problem. Vitriol
I'd say that's probably just how hamsters happen to blink. V-Man737 02:15, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
From a defensive point of view, it makes sense to blink one eye at a time, though I'm not sure why this should apply particularly to tortoises (as noted in the blink article).--Shantavira 10:54, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

He apparently thinks you're up to no good, and has decided he needs to keep one eye on you at all times. :-) StuRat 10:34, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

So, does anyone else have a hamster, and can they verify that they actually do this? Unless it's a unique characteristic, doesn't necessarly have to be an eye problem, if you haven't seen any other indications.. --Xertz 18:28, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

Most hamsters blink one eye at a time --> http://www.geocities.com/transactoid/nature.htm

[edit] Coaches in the pros

Are there coaches in pro sports who never played their sport in high school, college or the pros? i say there are. Almost everyone i work with say no. Who is right?


losxray

Eric Mangini, head coach of the New York Jets did not, according to our article, play football professionally or in college, but he did play in high school. This is the best example that I know of in the United States, although it's certainly possible that a coach in another country meets your criteria more exactly. Carom 01:15, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
I've read Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, who's bound to get an NFL job sooner or later, never played football, although I don't know if they're counting high school. -- Mwalcoff 01:34, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Your terminology suggests you're only interested in American sports, but the career of Jose Mourinho is quite interesting. Although not as interesting as his press conferences. --Dweller 12:14, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] It's What's For Dinner

Why does beef sometimes emit a smell disturbingly similar to flatulence? V-Man737 01:12, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

So is it your beef that smells like farts, or your farts that smell like beef? Vitriol 01:15, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Eh, I guess that depends on which came first out of the chicken or the egg. :-P At any rate, the smells are similar and I want an explanation right now so I can go back to happily eating beef. V-Man737 01:21, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
I suspect you're doing something wrong somewhere. Does it taste different? *Please note, even if you answer this question I cannot actually help you in any way.* Vitriol 01:24, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
I'm talking about roast beef that you get, sliced, at a grocery store. I suspect it may have something to do with storage and/or preparation techniques... It just has a sort of "aura," if you will, of "fartiness." V-Man737 01:29, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Ground beef has a relatively high fecal coliform count. Maybe that's why? Anchoress 01:30, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Thank you, Anchoress, for ruining my day. -- Mwalcoff 01:36, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Seconded. --Xertz 18:31, 7 February 2007 (UTC)
And to make this even more interesting, ground beef does not emit this smell, in my experience. Am I the only one? Is there just something wrong with me? V-Man737 01:42, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Not all people are equally sensitive to odors - there's nothing particularly strange about not being able to detect a particular odor (although, if this is a recurring problem, you might want to seek medical advice...). Carom 02:33, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
How utterly bizarre... I was sure others have experienced my plight. I even recall hearing some jokes that mention beef smelling like fart. As for medical counseling, I suppose if I'm alone on this, it may be worth a brief mention to my doctor at my next visit (We're good friends like that). V-Man737 02:45, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
The bad smell in farts is the hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This is produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria under anaerobic conditions. Although fecal coliform can exist in both aerobic and anaerobic environments, I don't think they create H2S. Cows are prodigious methane (CH4) generators though I am not sure of their H2S output. --Justanother 04:05, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Perhaps there is some kind of reaction that produces H2S after storage? V-Man737 04:08, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
If there is fecal in beef then I would expect some sulfate-reducing bacteria also and as some decomposition takes place during storage then I guess some H2S might be generated. All supposition, would take a better environmental scientist than I to say. --Justanother 04:15, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Two possibilities:
  • Your roast beef may be seasoned with onion powder, which can have a sulphuric odor when made from poor quality onions (as it quite often is).
  • If the roast beef is actually sliced pressed beef, it may even contain ground onions (or even soy, which can also smell like farts). --Charlene 04:14, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Now we're getting to the bottom of things... I'm not just blowin' smoke out my butt, either. As fart as I could tell, that 'einous smell was all in my head. V-Man737 04:26, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Here is a nice piece on stinky green slime exuding from commercially-packaged beef.

Meat stored at 1 to 2 C under low oxygen tensions, either in gas-impermeable packs or in controlled atmospheres, occasionally exhibited an undesirable green exudate. The green pigment was identified spectrophotometrically as sulfmyoglobin. The conversion of myoglobin to sulfmyoglobin resulted from the production of H2S by bacteria tentatively identified as Pseudomonas mephitica. This organism produced H2S only when the oxygen tension was about 1 %O and the pH of the meat was 6.0 and above.

Mmmmm mmmmm good! --Justanother 04:28, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Yay! We solved the mystery of the mystery meat! (P. Mephitica: "And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling Wikipedians!") Five points for Gryffindor! V-Man737 04:50, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
So then what's yer beef: (Note the colon at the end). Edison 06:05, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Undyed methyl alcohol in NZ and sensor cleaning?

I am trying to use methyl alcohol to clean my lens but the one I bought is dyed purple and the dye leaves as a residue and rendering it useless. Are the undyed versions available or was it made illegal or something like that? Also, what is a quick and cheap way to clean a DX format sensor? The swabs are quite expensive and I need the camera before the week ends and I don't quite trust that they will be delivered in time... --antilivedT | C | G 02:26, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

The dye is in there to stop people from drinking the stuff. I doubt you'll find it on sale without the dye. I would find a camera shop and ask them what to use. Modern lenses have all sorts of amazing coatings on them and washing them with the wrong stuff could do irreperable damage to the surface. SteveBaker 06:33, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Yu Yu Hakusho Splinter "Resshuyaken"

Why is it in Yu Yu Hakusho episode 86 Minoru(one of Sensui's personalities)says "Splinter Resshuuyaken" when the original name was Resshuushiendan (裂蹴紫炎弾 Resshuu Purple Flame Shots).And why was the title "splinter" added but "Resshuuyaken" was left untranslated?Thanks —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 72.89.222.120 (talk) 03:10, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Back to the Future on AMC

Everytime I turn on AMC (TV network) Back to the Future is on. Why is that? Besides that it is the greatest movie ever.--ChesterMarcol 03:45, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Aside from it being the greatest movie ever, there would be no reason for playing it so often. ;-) Their ratings probably go up because people get so enthralled with the movie; thus they play the movie often to keep ratings up. V-Man737 03:49, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Since yesterday It's been like that for me I think! [Mαc Δαvιs] X (How's my driving?) ❖ 04:19, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Maybe AMC is caught in some kind of temporal anomaly do to tachyon radiation produced by the flux capacitor! --Cody.Pope 09:42, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Speaking anecdoteally, AMC (and many other movie channels) tend to show a given movie several times over a short span. Presumably, this gives more viewers a chance to see the film when it's convenient. — Lomn 15:48, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Trace A Ghanian Football Player

I am trying to find out information about a 22 year old Ghanian footballer. The only details I have are as follows : His name is Godwin and he is a striker who has lived in Caneroon for the last 4 years. He last played for Racing in Camaroon but might have played for other clubs. Sorry there is not much to go on but any information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks JJ Jim9011 06:19, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

The only Godwin I know of playing for Ghana is Godwin Antwi who is currently playing for Liverpool FC in the youth/reserve team. Perhaps you mean him? Historically I think he played in Spain for Zaragoza. ny156uk 17:30, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Reality" page - edit

Hello,

I can't edit the "reality" page. I am trying to add something to it, however the talk page, and the "reality" page itself are both protected from editing. Is there anyway to get this unprotected, I couldn't find out how to ask for it to be unprotected so I am asking here? Can you unprotect it so that it can be edited? I have some actul productive information to add to the page.

PolarPenguin 06:58, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

It seems that that article was mentioned by a certain Kolbert (sp?) who is on TV sometimes. It also seems that whenever this gentleman(lady?) mentions any article on Wikipedia, people rush to vandalize it.V-Man737 07:03, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
The same vandals are hitting other pages like Vermont as well. The "Kolbert" is Steven Colbert as far as I know. The children who are causing the vandalism should be going to bed in a few hours so you can make your changes then. The article will most likely only be protected for a short time. Dismas|(talk) 07:12, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Shhhh! I was feigning ignorance for the sake of satire. ;-) V-Man737 07:36, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Come back in 2 days; the article will be unprotected by then. Carson 07:39, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Why doesn't the UN invade Sudan?

The UN asks the leader of Sudan if they can send in peacekeeping forces and he says no. Why do all of the Western nations, NATO, and the UN just sit around watching and asking politely? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.225.185.24 (talk) 07:44, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

If nothing else, simply so that when it is time to invade, they can say "We tried asking nicely!" V-Man737 07:48, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

The UN has no troops of its own, if it wishes to send in troops, it has to ask various countries. Some are overstreched as it is and others simply dont want to get involved, because if the cercumstances change, they could get bogged down in a quaqumire that they do notwant. This is one of the biggest shortcomings of the UN.81.144.161.223 09:43, 30 January 2007 (UTC)Xnton

If the UN had categorized the Darfur conflict as a genocide, its member nations would be obligated by the UN charter to invade. However, has not done so, perhaps because those countries didn't want to for some of the reasons above. Interestingly, the U.S. government has declared it a genocide, but this doesn't obligate the U.S. to invade. See also International_response_to_the_Darfur_conflict#Declarations_of_Genocide. -- SCZenz 09:57, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

A UN invasion against the will of the country involved would require a decision by the Security Council. However, one of the five permanent veto-wielding members of the Security Council is China. China has cultivated ties with the government of Sudan, probably to secure access to its oil reserves. China has indicated that it does not support forcible action against Sudan, so the Security Council would be unable to approve it. Marco polo 16:51, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Why mince words? None of the major powers has any national interest in what is happening there. Clarityfiend 19:08, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
people are dicks. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 75.8.72.171 (talk) 03:22, 2 February 2007 (UTC).
Correction: People have dicks, but in reality that only applies to about half of them. V-Man737 03:47, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Do these two cars exist?

I remember seeing a wall poster in walmart or kmart or some store along those lines that featured a pair of Lamborghinis owned(?) by the state of california. One had police decals and the other had FD decals. I thought they were part of the LAPD, but for some reason I can not find any info on the vehicals. Does anyone have any information about these cars? 70.135.170.58 08:08, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

I know that the Italians have a Lamborghini as a police vehicle though I've never heard of any U.S. police departments using them. Although it's possible since the police will often take flashy impounded vehicles such as Camaros, Corvettes, or Mustangs and use them to show kids that even guys that have flashy cars that were bought with drug money get busted. I don't know why a fire department would have a need for one though. Dismas|(talk) 08:44, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
I can't access it but this page might have something for you... http://forums.forzamotorsport.net/forums/thread/36459.aspx Dismas|(talk) 08:49, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] A page about me

Can i create a page about me and my life for interest of the general public to experience the emotional journey i have travelled? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Damien 27619 (talk • contribs) 08:39, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

Not here unless you put it on your user page. See WP:AUTO about writing autobiographies, see WP:N to see if you're notable enough, and see WP:USERPAGE to see what's allowed on a person's user page. Also, at WP:NOT you'll see that Wikipedia is not meant to be a free web host. So unless you plan on editing articles, just having a user page is frowned upon. Dismas|(talk) 08:49, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
What you want is a blog. --Shantavira 10:58, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Certainly, if you're that Damien. You'll still need sources though. Clarityfiend 19:05, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] riddle

what is it the most americans prefer but not for its use —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 212.49.81.139 (talk) 10:17, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

Uh... voting? The velociraptor 14:22, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Would that be intended use? Vaseline? I don't understand the question... 惑乱 分からん 16:26, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
The correct answer would be Mickey Mouse. Thank you, thank you. V-Man737 21:29, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Are you referring to his electoral career? The ole chap seems to have gotten fewer votes than Ralph Nader. 惑乱 分からん 23:52, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] golf course rating system

what is the meaning of "slope" and "rating" with regards to the difficulty of a golf course? how is this determined?

bill —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 63.3.17.129 (talk) 12:58, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

"Rating" is the expected score of a "scratch" golfer (one with a handicap near 0). "Slope" is a value representing the difference between that rating and the expected score of a "bogey" golfer (handicap near 20). "Average" slope is 113 - that is, a course that is equally difficult for both good and average golfers. The ratings are determined by a complicated formula that uses terrain, length of holes, and length of forced carries to figure out how many shots are needed for each hole for the bogey and scratch golfer.
Both values are used in the calculation of a handicap. Your handicap differential for a round is (your score - rating) * 113/slope. 96% of the average of your best 10 differentials of your last 20 rounds gives your handicap index. Your course hadicap for a particular course is index * slope / 113, then rounded to the nearest whole number. 25% of the time, you can expect to shoot better than your handicap in relation to the course rating.
Much more information at http://www.usga.org/playing/handicaps/handicaps.html Mishatx 16:35, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Furniture retailing for the world-trendsetting by IKEA before and now a new phenomenon.

The world today is rendered small what with the advent of the world wide web and telecommunication. If in years past air flight from Kuala Lumpur to London would have taken 13 hours or longer, could you not imagine be teletransported to London in a matter of minutes! Today's world have become "an instant replay of events" everywhere, every time. Sometimes it is amazing and stressful at the same time to become witness to horrific events and situations. You wonder where will all this end? Because of the environment we live in is such, and we can't begin to fathom how deep the abyss is, our fears and anxieties have turned us into zombies and we are driven at that-to achieve our goals , meeting the demands of time and other peoples' expectations. We are slowly losing our privacy and worse, our souls. But there is a positive streak to all this. We adapt our "life model" to suit the circumstances. We even have to re-adapt or re-create new "business models." More to the point on the nature of the query: as the caption states we need a new phenomenon in furniture retailing. China will become and will remain for several years into the future the production house for the world. Some countries will turn themselves into "suppliers" for China global producers. Others will choose to become consumers. How we harness these thought strands and create a hybrid a life model? Next a business model?—abdul khalid aziz —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 60.52.75.182 (talk) 14:04, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

If I understand it, you are suggesting that some countries will become suppliers and some consumers, and you are asking how a middle ground can be found? Surely everyone in every country is a consumer, and all countries will have to supply something or they won't be able to afford to consume! Could you clarify what you are specifically asking? Skittle 15:37, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
If you mean who will become a new global furniture brand, somewhat like Ikea is becoming a huge international name, then I can't be sure - predicting the success/failure of businesses is quite hard. Skittle is right that all nations have consumers and producers. Indeed the countries with the strongest exports tend to be some of the strongest countries in the world - remember that exportation is about more than just physical-goods - China is still extremely poor compared to Western Europe (84th GDP per capita compared to USA being third) in many factors. ny156uk 20:51, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Adagio for strings by Tiesto

Hi. Which kind of software do I need to create something like that song? If that software would be able to make heavy metal, rock, jazz or classical, much better :) --Taraborn 14:37, 30 January 2007 (UTC) PS:To hear the song I mean, search for it in Youtube... and you get... [1]

My understanding is that these songs are producing using Synthesizer's or electronic instruments. Software such as garageband on the Mac allow for this sort of thing and can let you plug your instrument in and have it record into the system for editing later (cleaning up mistakes/playing with your input information). I'm not sure but try searching google for "remixing software" (http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=remixing+software&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8) some of the links might help. Good luck ny156uk 20:39, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
Oddly enough, I was hearing this exact song as I stumbled onto your question. You could use Madtracker, and extract various instruments from other songs. Xhin Give Back Our Membership! 22:02, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

Thanks.--Taraborn 11:42, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] fall of saigon,, ???

hello,, i have been searching for information about the fall of saigon, and i am seeking to find out if any us navy planes were used to bomb during the fall of saigon,, i am most interested in what the submarine search planes (p3? py3?) were doing and if they were used to drop bombs during the fall or at any time at all during the vietnam war,, your help is very much appreciated,, thank you,, former cpl gagnon usmc —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 216.49.220.139 (talk) 14:53, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

A cursory search shows that the US disengaged from military participation in the Vietnam War well before the fall of Saigon occurred. There is no mention of any offensive activity by the US during the evacuation, and given the informal cease-fire given to the evacuating helicopters, it seems unlikely that the US would have jeopardized that with bombing missions. I can't find any references (or come up with any reasons) for P-3 Orions to be operating in any capacity beyond precautionary reconnaissance during this period. Even then, the carrier-based S-3 Viking seems a more likely candidate. For the war as a whole, the P-3 has not been adapted into gunship or ground attack precision attack platform. — Lomn 15:41, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Illegal drinking Establishment

In South Africa there were/are places where one can go after hours, or on a sunday night ect to get alchahol, when there is no other alternative. In England, the pubs until recently closed at 11. So, lets say it is 1950, and you are out with the lads and 11 o'clock comes round and you have to leave, what would one do for alchahol other than a lock in? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.144.161.223 (talk) 16:14, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

Speakeasy? 惑乱 分からん 16:21, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
You don't have to go as far back as 1950 for this scenario. As you correctly point out, the licensing laws have only recently changed in England, and the problem still exists because, while pubs are now allowed to stay open past 11, many of them choose not to, and still close at 11. As for what you do - you can either go on to a club - these are allowed to serve alcohol as long as they like as long as they charge an entrance fee (I think) - or you can go home and watch crappy post-pub television while drinking booze you have bought from the offy. --Richardrj talk email 16:48, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
  • The other alternative was the "lock-in" where the landlord would allow a few select friends to stay behind after closing.The doors would be locked and various fictions such as the till being shut and people paying by putting a "contribution" in a bowl were used to pretend it was a private party and therefore not illegal.This is still a flourishing idea where I live anyway.hotclaws**== 04:56, 31 January 2007 (UTC)
Interesting, but note that the OP asked for information on things other than the lock-in. --Richardrj talk email 06:11, 31 January 2007 (UTC)
In England, the licensing laws that forced pubs to close at 11pm allowed restaurants to stay open - and to sell alcohol. For various reasons, Indian restaurants became popular for this - so crowds of people would emerge from the pub at 11pm and "Go for a Curry" afterwards. The Curry houses - anxious to pick up this trade would stay open until maybe 1 or 2am and would serve cold beer in pint mugs just like the pubs. This probably accounts for the disporportionate number of Indian restaurants in even the smallest English villages. There were also 'loopholes' for private clubs and similar such places. The 'shut-in' was certainly not unknown - and providing the pub owner could reasonably claim that these people were friends that he'd invited around for a private function and that they were getting their drinks "on the house", it might not even be illegal. SteveBaker 06:29, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Agent Orange

My uncle died a few years ago due to various lung problems and he blamed it on Agent orange. Now after a bit of reasearch it turns out that it was used to feel forest/jungle in 'Nam, so that commbatants could not hide there. So if my uncle died from dropping it from his plane, what effect did it have on the people below, and are there any lasting effects in vietnam from these substances, whether they be Orange, brown, red or green. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.144.161.223 (talk) 16:20, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

You could start looking at the articles Agent Orange, Agent Purple, Agent Pink, Agent Green and Dioxin. 惑乱 分からん 16:24, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
The attribution of health problems to soldiers exposed to agent orange was and continues to be a politically contentious topic. Here is how many people think about connecting an exposure and a disease: There are only a couple of ways to demonstrate that agent X can cause human disease A. First, if we expose laboratory animals to agent X in amounts at least remotely proportional to human exposure, and the animals develop disease A or something very close to it. That has never been shown for most (maybe not any) of the disease conditions often blamed on Agent Orange. Second, if we can show that disease A happens a lot more to people exposed to agent X than to similar people not exposed. Again, the difficulty is finding "similar people" who were not exposed to Agent X and accurately measuring rates of disease A in both groups. Most of the attempts to demonstrate higher rates in exposed people showed no difference. The problem of causal attribution is compounded by many factors, such as:
  1. The accuracy or inaccuracy of army records showing exposure or the acceptance of the accuracy;
  2. The tendency of people who have been through a powerfully stressful, negative experience to blame nearly every bad thing that subsequently happens on that experience;
  3. Financial incentives for claiming that a disease arose from a service or work exposure;
  4. Financial incentives for the government and chemical manufacturers to deny a causal relationship;
  5. The large number of lies by high government officials about the Vietnam war made many people so distrustful that they would not believe any negative results of studies;
  6. The many different conditions attributed to Agent Orange exposure increased the likelihood that statistical coincidences will occur for at least a couple of the conditions, and of course that is what was eventually seen: a few studies showed weak relationships that other studies did not.

Interestingly a similar poison exposure controversy (Gulf War syndrome)erupted after the Gulf War in 1991. Even though that war was different in nearly every important respect from the vietnam war (and no defoliants were used in the desert), the medical problems attributed to this similarly controversial condition were strikingly similar. It is pretty easy to predict that we will see a similar "disease" arise among Iraq veterans. About the only similar thing I cannot imagine is Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld writing a book in 20 years like Robert Macnamara did, admitting that high government officials lied throughout the war to the American public about many important aspect of it. Your uncle had a right to feel betrayed and misused, regardless of whether his later health problems were caused by defoliant exposure or not. alteripse 02:13, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Dornoch, Scotland

Does anyone know please the reason that Royal Dornoch, in Sutherland, Scotland, has 'lost' the title "Royal" this year. I live there, but none of the locals, who normally in this small town know everything, have any idea. Facts will be valuable please.

John Luckie —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.109.254.244 (talk) 17:04, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

Might be something to do with devolution.81.144.161.223 17:24, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
If it happened this year, it seems unlikely to be related to devolution, since Queen Elizabeth remains the queen of Scotland and Scotland's status has not changed in the past few years. According to our article on royal burghs, the decision whether to use the label "royal" is taken by the local community council. Here is the web page of Dornoch's community council. You might try contacting them with your question. Marco polo 18:15, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
...although royal burghs were actually abolished in 1975. I've looked at maps going back several years, and none of them use the "Royal".--Shantavira 18:28, 30 January 2007 (UTC)