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

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[edit] March 11

[edit] Job Statistics

I am looking for a website(s) that offers current and projected statistics (like job saturation) on jobs/occupations in the United States. Thanks. --Proficient 00:15, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, produced by the US Department of Labor, has comprehensive information on hundreds of occupations, including both "expected job prospects" for each, and links to information about the job market in each state. Jfarber 03:40, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Question

Why my son twitches? How I stop it? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 209.53.181.73 (talk) 01:41, 11 March 2007 (UTC).

You should see a physician. Nobody here is qualified to answer your question. -- mattb @ 2007-03-11T01:45Z

(I have removed some answers, as explained on the talk page. Sorry folks. :-( Skittle 13:06, 11 March 2007 (UTC))

To clarify a little, for good reason refdesk volunteers aren't allowed to give medical advice. All we can tell you is to see a doctor- "twitching" could be a serious medical problem and we dare not attempt to advise you. --frotht 01:45, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

And it depends on how much he twitches :) HS7 12:22, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

You don't say how old your son is. IIRC, very (and I mean, very) young babies often twitch, particularly in response to noise. --Dweller 14:29, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Anyway, nobody in Wikipedia must answer medical questions, in order to avoid health risks. Read the disclaimers.--Orthologist 16:55, 14 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Salt" swimming pools - better for eyes?

According to Swimming_pool#Pool_water_disinfection, it says:

Chlorine may be generated on site, such as in saltwater pools. This type of system generates chlorine by electrolysis of dissolved salt (NaCl) using an electrical cell in the pool plumbing, instead of manually dosing the pool with chlorinating chemicals. Chlorine generators avoid the need for constant handling of sanitizing chemicals, and can generate sanitizing power at a lower cost than the equivalent chemicals, but they have a large up-front cost for the apparatus and for the initial loading of the pool with salt. The salt content gives the pool water a brackish taste, but not as salty as seawater. pool water that splashes and evaporates, such as on a pool deck, leaves a salt residue. Being closer to isotonic salinity than fresh water, saltwater pools have an easier feel on the eyes, and a touch typically characterized as "silky", not unlike bath salts.

I always thought that chlorine wasn't involved in 'salt' swimming pools - and I have very sensetive, dry eyes.
Can anybody comment on how good or bad this water is on the eyes? How does it compare to normal chlorinated water and how does it compare to seawater?
Rfwoolf 04:27, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

Chlorine is chlorine is chlorine, and I suspect it's no different here. -Wooty Woot? contribs 07:21, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
It probably depends a lot on the amount of chlorine. I and several family members developed sore eyes once from a pool, it was a kid's pool. Those who were only in the adult pool didn't have any problems. Of course, googles should help greatly Nil Einne 21:17, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
I think there might be another reason for the sore eyes in the kiddie pool. This should explain my theory:
"We must be near the secret underwater cave entrance, the water just got warmer."
"Oh, sorry, that was me." - Spy Kids
StuRat 22:24, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Axes in a dark cellar

I remember hearing about a duel in which the challenged selected, as weapon and location, "axes in a dark cellar". I haven't been able to find any more about it. Does anyone know anything about who, where, when, why, and outcome? --Carnildo 06:17, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

Basically, what I found through google says that in about the 1660's, Sir William Petty was challenged by Sir Hierome Sankey. As the challengee, Sir Petty had to choose the dueling place and the weapons used, so he chose the axes in a dark cellar, thus making the duel impossible, and it didn't happen. This is what I found through google- Try these pages for the slightly longer answer: http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/petty/pettyl, and http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/anecdtes/c17/petty.htm. That should explain everything but the why and where, I think. Seiran 07:13, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

Why would that make it impossible :] HS7 10:05, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Duelling is related to honor, and usually involves "elegant" weapons such as swords or pistols. Do you think someone touchy enough about his honor that he's willing to kill or die over it will participate in a "duel" that consists of blundering around in the dark, whacking away at someone with an axe? --Carnildo 23:41, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] WHAT THE HELL IS IT WITH THESE DAMN IDIOTIC COMMERCIALS ?

These commercials are really getting really stupid. Have you seen them lately ? Makes you want to vomit. Do their creators smoke weed and dope when they create them ? 65.163.112.107 07:01, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

Can this be placed in Wikipedia ? 65.163.112.107 07:03, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
I agree with you 100%, in general commercials have really gone down hill, maybe it's because they are trying to appeal to the Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and Pokemon generation.--ChesterMarcol 07:09, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

They always sucked. But yeah. They've gotten worse. All those damn medicine confessional commercials ("So I talked to my doctor, and he told me about a little pill called...") make me want to puke. If you live in America, you should get excited for the ever-earlier elections season. Those top every other commercial out there. Sashafklein

To the list of stupidities I would add everpresent politics, telenovelas and pointless shows for the IQ-under-50 demographic. They're one of the reasons I have ceased watching TV. --Ouro (blah blah) 09:10, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

I would imagine that with the advent of Tivo, people are able to fast-forward through commercials. At the same time however, we are fast approaching the "Television Age" - where TV will be come more and more interactive and instead of making movies, all the focus will be on making TV shows to cater to different audiences. If you asked me, all this should be making commercials better not worse - companies don't want people to fast-forward through their ads, they want them to want to watch the commercials because they're funny/witty/cool/etc. Well, possibly the ads are no longer catering for the same markets. The rich people have Tivo and can fast-forward through the ads, so commercials are now targetted toward less rich people -- and perhaps they have mistaken this with stupid people, or cultural idiots who will watch anything.
These are just random thoughts by-the-way, because you have not asked a proper question, you have not mentioned which ads in particular, or even which country you're from. Rest assured there remain plenty of good ads around the world, as evidenced by the advertising awards in each country and ad Cannes. Rfwoolf 09:26, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

There are lots of good ad's in england :) Maybe we care more than other people :) HS7 10:37, 11 March 2007 (UTC) Just to rant a bit, the ones that get me are the cereal & shampoo commercials. Brother if I could get off on either half as much as the people in these commercials I'd quit smoking, pour my beer down the drain, buy all bran & finnesse in bulk & live blissfully ever after!

Just to remind people, the reference desk is not for soapboxing or general chat. That is all. Thank you. Skittle 13:01, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

I've seen some pretty bad commercials in my time... like the one for beer where the guy is sleeping and his tongue crawls out of his mouth, down the street, crashes a party, takes a beer out of the cooler, and goes back with the beer to the guys mouth. And last year there was this ad for mints where this guy eats an icey mint and his nipples grow like 2 and half inches long and become prehensile and the guy starts pointing at people, catching frisbees and spinning turntables at a party - with his nipples!!! Lots of people complained about those ads but apparently "bad taste" alone isn't a reason to take an ad off the air. ;) --Candy-Panda 03:15, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
I think I saw one like that: this guy is sitting on the sofa when a wet, smelly dog comes out of his mouth. He pops a mint and its gone just as his girlfriend comes in the room. I didn't find that offensive but it got like a tonne of complaints. Think outside the box 12:06, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
Nothing compares to the annoyance level of HeadOn commercials. Corvus cornix 17:52, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

None of the commercials listed here (except Head-On) seem particularly annoying, to me. I generally appreciate any attempt at humor, even if it fails. The ones that annoy me seem to just have something weird and random happen, then they show the product. There isn't even any attempt to argue why you should buy the product, they somehow think showing something weird is enough. The med ads are funny, even though not meant to be (paraphrased slightly): "This med might very well kill you, but it's worth it to get rid of restless leg syndrome and yellow toenails, don't you think ?" or "Why take an inexpensive over-the-counter antacid tablet which works immediately and provides you with extra calcium when you can instead buy an expensive, potentially dangerous prescription drug that takes hours to work, but will at least allow you to continue to eat food so unhealthy it makes you sick ?". StuRat 22:18, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

I used to like the Vonage commercials, but I haven't seen one of the "People do stupid things" ones lately. Then there's also Geiko, Nationwide, and Royal Bank of Scotland Group; those are the best commercials on the History Channel. ;-) · AO Talk 22:26, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Tesco and Honda ad's are great, but all the others are rubbish, mostly as they are trying to trick you into watching subliminal messages :( My teacher suggested that we should watch what the people making them are trying to do, instead of just seeing what they want us to see :) HS7 10:04, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Well, every time I see a dumbass commercial, I start making fun of them because they are stupid and dumb. You should do the same thing.--12.18.90.97 15:23, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Indentation on the side of a milk jug

In the United States, some milk cartons have a round indentation on their left side, opposite the handle. Does this indentation serve any practical purpose, or it is just to create the illusion of there being more milk? —Scott5114↗ 07:15, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure if this is the reason, but if you freeze it, that part expands out instead of breaking the seal. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 07:27, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Large flat surfaces are not very stiff. Adding an indentation makes that surface much more rigid, making handling easier. --Carnildo 09:13, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Specific term for "national profession"

Is there any specific term for the professions that define a natonal identity/culture? For example, the cowboy is fundamentally American, the samurai is fundamentally Japanese, and so on... is there a term for it? Even better would be a list of each one and their respective nations. 58.7.210.22 10:48, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

The word cowboy is specific to the US (and possibly Canada), but the concept exists elsewhere under such names as vaquero, charro, paniolo, gaucho, gaúcho, llanero, huaso, and stockman. And samurai is not a profession but a class; for example, the daughters of a samurai were samurai themselves but were not the warriors we (in the west) normally think of when we hear the term. Algebraist 15:47, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Cowboy is definitely a Canadian term as well as an American one. (There's a reason they call it Cowtown.) But a job that defines a national identity -- I don't think most countries have one, and if they did those outside the country would see the "national job" as completely different than those inside the country. It might even vary from region to region. I suspect (but have no evidence on this) that a Western Canadian would see a farmer as the country's "national job", while an Atlantic Canadian would see fishing as the national job. A Central Canadian might see a banker or a civil servant in that position. (The most common job in Canada is truck driver.) Someone from outside Canada might see a seal hunter as our national job even though there might on a good day be 100 people who do that for a living, and most Canadians don't like the idea. Extrapolating that to other countries: what's the national job of an Italian? A Frenchman? An Argentinian? An Indian? A Bangladeshi? The opinion, if there is one, probably varies depending on who you ask. I would never in a million years have thought a cowboy to be *the* national job of the US - to me, it would be a Wal-mart clerk. --Charlene 22:40, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
But is Calgary really part of Canada? I remember this coming up in a discussion where the opinion was that Minnesota is really part of Canada, and Alberta is really part of Texas. --Trovatore 22:43, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
That's often the belief of people who think "Western Canada" begins in Mississauga, Ontario. Trust me, Albertans and especially Calgarians are far more Canadian than they are American. --Charlene 22:58, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Some people are so ignorant, eh? Everyone knows it starts in Etobicoke. --Trovatore 23:10, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
(Sinister chuckle) Etobicoke? Etobicoke?? Ve haff gotten rid of Etobicoke in 1998. --Anon, March 12, 00:57 (UTC).

To answer Charlene's questions:

  • Italian = Fashion designer
  • Frenchman = Mime
  • Argentinian = Gaucho
  • Indian = Computer programmer/call-center person
  • Bangladeshi = Flood-rescue boat operator
  • Canadian = Fur trapper -- Mwalcoff 23:21, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

The best I could find is "livelihood stereotype"; see this article discussing livelihood stereotypes in Laos (PDF). By the way, it seems you've forgotten the most written-about example, the nation of shopkeepers.--Pharos 02:49, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

I don't know if it counts, but for the Saami in Sweden, it's very common to be a reindeer herder. 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 14:59, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
And here I thought they were famous as Lapp dancers. StuRat 22:02, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] maglev

can a maglev train be manufactured in a experimental base —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.196.206.243 (talk • contribs)

Do you mean "on an experimental basis"? Yes. See maglev train for more. — Lomn 14:47, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Mute, partnerless riddle

1.whats the exact answer to this riddle coz on doin research its a guitar,but am told thats not the answer -Without a partner, I sit here mutely, My grace and beauty for you to reckon. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.49.89.97 (talk • contribs)

  • Cymbals,'cos you usually don't play only one?Piano,often considered as an item of furniture?hotclaws**== 09:37, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Quote "outta mind outta sight"

okay this needs some thorough searching i was given a famous quote and am to find the personality who said it,i got scarface on searching but it aint him, said "its like i try keepin it outta mind outta sight" only clue its that this person has a tattoo on his face,and talks like mike tyson with a lisp —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.49.89.97 (talk • contribs) It is actually out of sight out of mind. see http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/274400.html90.4.245.245 14:59, 12 March 2007 (UTC)petitmichel

[edit] Flyball Data in Baseball

Where can I find a baseball database that includes how many flyballs a player hit in a certain year? For example, Sean Lahman's archive has a ton of different categories, but not flyballs. - PoliticalJunkie 15:58, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Violin string = $?

How much money in Toronto,Canada does it usuelly take to put on and repair the E string of a violin on back. Is it even possible? I need answers fast!! please and thank you for your patience.

Of course it's possible, and it's not that expensive. My friends used to buy the strings and repair it themselves, but that's because they do break from wear and tear, and it's nothing to panic over. Just find a instrument shop and they'er bound to have it for most likely under $5 Canadian dollars. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 18:53, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
The price will depend on the brand and quality of the string you buy. I think the E string is usually the cheapest of the strings to buy, so you should be able to get a cheap one for less than $5, if you just need a string. As Wirbelwind said, the person who sells you the string in an instrument shop should be able to string the violin for you at little or no extra cost (it's really very easy). Skittle 19:48, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
I'm always willing to pitch in $5 for a nice G-string, myself. StuRat 21:54, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
Incidentally, Paganini was able to improvise in the middle of concertos when strings on his violin broke (perhaps intentionally). V-Man - T/C 00:35, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
That would work for just about anything except the G string. If that broke, he'd just have to sing the part.... (I imagine) Skittle 17:42, 14 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] World map of Coca-Cola locations

I would like to know the names of all the countries that coca-cola is locate. If possible I would like a world map to show the locations.

Their website lists the countries they've infiltrated and subverted. Clarityfiend 05:47, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Infiltrated and Subverted? You make it sound like they're like Mcdonalds

You could also find Coca Cola locations indirectly by looking at a chart of cavities per person. StuRat 21:01, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia logo font

In what font it Wikipedia's Logo in the top left corner? Something tells me I've seen this before, but I can't quite remember what it is? Could someone tell me? Thanks. └Jared┘┌talk┐  18:47, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

Hoefler Text. I think it looks a little bland up there in the logo, but it's a beautiful font for longer text (eg, essays) - it looks very professional, elegant, and book-like. Unfortunately, it's only available for Macs, unless you pay an exorbitant fee... zafiroblue05 | Talk 19:27, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] cat training

How do they train cats IE house cat sized cats to do tricks on command? I cant get my cat to do anything he dosn't want do in the first place. Thanks

Reinforcement, generally by providing treats or affection for doing the trick. I trained my cat to put his nose against my finger just by giving him affection and petting him after he did it, but it wasn't an intentional "training", it was just something I did, that he responded with, and now it's something he does whenever I put my finger in front of his nose. Corvus cornix 19:42, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
  • Pff my cats do that all the time! I think it's just something cats do, rather than an actual trick. --Candy-Panda 03:21, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
There's also an article on cat intelligence. ---Sluzzelin talk 19:57, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
I read an interview with a cat trainer a few years ago. They said you could only really get cats to do what they want, you just have to get them to want to do the trick, or pick something they like doing. Otherwise, reinforcement with rewards for doing the right thing. Skittle 20:03, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
  • Don't forget there are the 100 wasted shots where the cat did not performhotclaws**== 09:39, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
Don't try to make your cat do anything he dosn't want do in the first place and distress him out 'cause thers probably a good reason for it, unless of course he's just lazy. Think outside the box 12:08, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
Isn't laziness a perfectly good reason, in a cat's mind? (Aaahh, why bother...? They'll stop soon, anyway...) 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 15:01, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Don't expect your cat to jump through a flaming hoop, they've not stupid enough to do that. StuRat 20:59, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

There was a question like this several weeks ago, and somebody posted a link to H2G2 with a pretty good how-to guide. I am using it to teach my cat to fetch. Of course, they'll only fetch something they like to chase, and when they develop the understanding that they can only chase it once you throw it, they bring it back again and again. ^_^ V-Man - T/C 00:45, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

tHe cat we used to have would fetch things that cats aren't supposed to like chaceing, and we didn't have to train it, so maybe you could look for a cat like that and cut out all the hard work :) HS7 09:57, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Firewall in china

I know this isn't the place, but most people see it here. I am doing a project and for it I would like to see the error message or text that is displayed when the great firewall of china blocks a page. Does anybody know ehere i can find this? Thanks

moved from Talk:Main Page by ffm yes?
this blog and Human Rights Watch have screenshots. ---Sluzzelin talk 20:02, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Yep, nothing special. Not the right way to do it- I'm sure I remember an HTTP error code for "document unavailable" or something instead of just dropping the connection --frotht 01:42, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
Dropping the connection is easy: the firewall just sends a RST packet to the computer trying to make the connection. Sending an HTTP error message is a good deal harder: the firewall needs to step between the computer and the desired server, impersonate the server so the client makes a TCP connection to the firewall, and then send the error message. --Carnildo 00:14, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Manufacturing Help Needed

I am looking for sites or links that have professional opinions/proof of different manufacturing methods that work. Mainly geared to the bicycle industry as I work for the sole mass producer left in North America. I am looking for ideas to cut costs, increase productivity, any methods that are proven that could help the company compete against the imports that have taken over the industry. The company is 200 shop employees with 25 staff. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Regards 69.156.217.142 21:20, 11 March 2007 (UTC) I am glad to see somebody builds something in the USA still. Try bluebird+china, those guys built a junk but indestructble bike that can double as a human propelled carry all. Bluebird is its name, just keep looking, as a last resort you can contact the R.O.C. consulate in the US for info on their domestic company. Best of luck, oh yeah, they sell them like crazy in Cuba too. Cuban consulate in Canada can give you info maybe.

  • Thanks for help, but I am really [[searching for a professional forum]] where I can bounce production, purchasing, shipping, all mass production ideas off someone to possibly assist in keeping a 100 year old company in business. I have recently read Wikinomics, and I am searching for the global ideas that the company I work for needs to accept.
    • Hi. Just an idea but you may be going in the wrong direction . There may be absolutely nothing that you can do to compete with the $39.99 or $49.99 bike that I can walk out of Wal-Mart with for my child or $30 more for myself (for me actually; child yes, self no). It is far better, IMO, that you develop an identity and a caché that will enable you to price your bicycles in a range that enabls you to make a profit. So, while, yes, you should be efficient, I would spend money developing a killer brand identity, advertising it, and sponsoring events and riders that will forward that identity. --Justanother 22:01, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

__Excellent idea, we do own 2 other brandnames that we use that stratedgy. The problem I am faced with is that the volume is not high enough in those markets to keep the factory fixed costs down. We do make 100,000 bikes at a higher profit, however, it is the 200,000 low end mass market Walmart bikes that keep the fixed costs down. With out the 200,000 , the profit margin on the 100,000 takes a serious hit. I am looking for any servivors of the Chinese product invasion to the mass market. What have they done to survive???

Sorry, but you won't find any brilliant ideas here. People with brilliant ideas use them to become rich. You also won't find successful local companies sharing a lot, either. These are companies that use the Internet, the latest automation and design, and stay close to their customers. If you are making things the same way as 20 years ago, you don't stand a chance against low-wage countries. --Zeizmic 12:00, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
I agree that you can't compete on price with China. Your only realistic option is to grow the high end of the business. You need to take market share from the high-end Italian or Japanese brands, or you need to appeal to a previously untapped demographic for high-end bikes. Maybe high-end bikes with comfort features for aging baby boomers? Marco polo 15:22, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

I agree with the previous advice to focus on the premium market. If your current premium volume is too low, take actions to increase it. For example, how about tie-ins with other American brands, like Harley-Davidson, Jeep, etc ? To be specific, you could offer a Harley Edition with a leather seat, Harley badging, etc. In other words, you should put most of your efforts into marketing and licensing, as only minor cost savings are possible while remaining in the US. You should also use "Made proudly in the USA" in your ads, as that's a big selling point for many (but not all). You could also offer (and advertise) warrantees that will convince the potential customers you really are offering a superior quality product. Another possibility is offering customizable bikes. Do they want an MP3 player included ? Do they want racing wheels or all-purpose wheels ? Let them pick their own colors. Make a bike which fits their measurements, etc. Maybe you could sell safety; how about an onboard GPS unit so parents know where the bike (and presumably, their kid) is at all times ? How about mounting an emergency-only cell phone on the bike ? How about an anti-theft (motion detector) alarm with a "secret code" the kid can type in ? StuRat 20:48, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

      • I appreciate all of your opinions and advice, but I can not use it. Every step toward specialization means less units, which means less jobs available in a small community. I really want to beat China (or any other countries) and stop this trend of losing all of our factory jobs to cheap labour. Technology has advanced so far in the factory, that if we have more automation, it will lessen the jobs, but much slower. As far as beating China, it will only be a number of years before they become consumers and turn to the rest of the world to purchase items. I want to be the one left when merchants realize that we have the best quality and the best price to supply all of North America, then some day.... sell to CHina!

67.71.108.207 22:58, 13 March 2007 (UTC) ***

[edit] NEVILLE RAINSLEY, ARTIST.

I have a miniature landscape painting by an artist called Neville Rainsley. It is an Italian scene and is quite detailed when viewed through a magnifying glass. The label on the back has "Royal Society of Artists" written on it, then the artist's name and address (Neville H. Rainsley, 134 Kingston Road, Oxford), also a price of £10 dated 24th July, 1911. There is another label showing it was framed by Ryman & Co Printsellers, Publishers, Picture Frame Makers, 23 High Street, Oxford. I have only found one obscure reference to this artist online: http://www.oxford.gov.uk/files/seealsodocs/24899/StoryofOxford.pdf

I wonder if anybody has any information on this artist as I would love to know more about him. This picture has been in my family home for the past 30 years.

[edit] So there I was, minding my own business...

...walking out of my apartment, and then, BLAM!, I was assaulted with the sight of this... this thing. What the hell is it? I haven't been able to find any info, and the memory is haunting me...

I cannot be absolved of this horror until I can know what it was. For the record, I was going to be a monk, but after seeing this retched abomination, I have renounced all my faith, for what kind of god would allow this to exist? I weep... --Jeffrey O. Gustafson - Shazaam! - <*> 22:13, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

Your world view must indeed be shaky if it is discomposed by a simple yellow volkswagon http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981-Volkswagon-Rabbit-pickup-Diesel-Biodiesel-NICE_W0QQitemZ180093589826QQcategoryZ15294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem meltBanana 22:20, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Aha! It's specifically a version of the Volkswagen Caddy. Thank you! --Jeffrey O. Gustafson - Shazaam! - <*> 22:34, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
...and was the pickup bed filled with fart-fig-newtons ? The "Caddy" is actually a good name for it, as I'm tempted to throw golf clubs at it myself. Fortunately, I don't think there's any danger of this being mistaken for a Cadillac. :-) StuRat 20:26, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] duck sauce

What is duck sauce? How is it made?Coffsneeze 23:28, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

It's made from fruit. It's actually called plum sauce. See duck sauce. I've never made it before but this recipe looks close to what it'd be. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 23:36, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
Yes and no. Plum sauce contains sugar, plum pulp, vinegar, salt, ginger, chili & garlic while hoisin sauce (referenced in your linked article) contains sugar, vinegar, soybean, water, salt, wheat fllour, garlic, sesame see, chili, and other spices. (Source: jar of plum sauce and jar of hoisin sauce in my refrigerator, both Koon Chun brand from Hong Kong.) I'm assuming the original questioner is asking about the sauce traditionally served with Peking duck. Refreshing my memory by consulting several of the Chinese cookbooks I own, the sauce is normally hoisin sauce or made with hoisin sauce, it is not plum sauce. Plum sauce, on the other hand, is a common ingredient in various "stir fry" dishes as well as being used as a condiment for various fried foods. Crypticfirefly 03:58, 13 March 2007 (UTC)