Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 March 7

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Miscellaneous desk
< March 6 << Feb | March | Apr >> March 8 >
Welcome to the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.


Contents


[edit] March 7

[edit] artificial hair colour

What are the artificial hair colour that rock chicks wear? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.64.131.156 (talk) 03:03, 7 March 2007 (UTC).

Hair colouring? 惑乱 分からん * \)/ * (\ * (< * \) * (2 * /) * /)/ * 03:28, 7 March 2007 (UTC)


Black No.1

[edit] Geek code variant

What does the following mean? DC2.D~ Gm L120f60t180w W T Phawlt Sks Cbk,ere' Bfl A+++! Fr++ Nm M+ O H+ $ Fc~ R+++! Ac+++ J+ S++ U! I# V+++! Q Tc++ E++ (It's on an otherkin newsgroup if that helps at all.) NeonMerlin 04:20, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

Some of it ("L120f60t180w W T Phawlt") looks like a twisted, obscure version of ROFLMAO WTF, and the "I# V+++!" could probably be read "I pound virgins!" But that could just be my sick mind... V-Man737 04:42, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

It's a signature code. There's a lot of them out there (all different of course), but this one seems to be the Dragon code, that means:
SPECIES: Dragon: varies (may be a shapeshifter)
GENDER: Male
LENGTH: 120 feet long: 60 ft long tail(s): 180 ft wingspan
WIDTH: Normal
WEIGHT: Normal
APPENDAGES: head; pair of arms; wings; two legs; tail
SKIN TYPE: scales
COLOUR: black; eyes: red: fiery/luminescent
BREATH WEAPON: flame/fire
AGE: Ancient
FRUITINESS: Been here for about 2 years -OR- Accidentally used in food fights
NATIVE LAND: Mountains
MATING STATUS: Ask my mate-to-be!
OFFSPRING: There's just me (and my mate, if applicable)
HOARD: Not down to the last copper, but...
DIET: carnivorous: varies: Appetite - Normal for species
REALITY INDEX: I AM as I describe myself. What you see is what your mind wants you to see!
ACTIVITY INDEX: Spends as many waking moments as possible online!
HUMOUR INDEX: Appreciates humour, but knows when to be serious
SOCIAL LIFE: All my friends know and so do my parents
UBIQUITY: This is my first life!
IRRITABILITY: I will defend my honour, but only attack within reason: but when I do get angry, I hope you like barbeque!
MAGICAL ABILITY: I have reached the pinnacle of my profession
PSIONICS: I'm like a book, but haven't learn how to read myself yet!
TECHNOLOGY: I can program computers using high-level languages :--Maelwys 15:26, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
I'm afraid I mistook Geek code for Leet. ;_; I humbly bow to your superior pwnage. V-Man - T/C 02:16, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Robert Hetrick (1769-1849)

Did he die in Scotland or did he make it to America and if so when. Did he have a family? My great great grandfather was Robert Hetrick of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 1791-1869 —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 216.76.214.79 (talk) 05:25, 7 March 2007 (UTC).

The Robert Hetrick article certainly is a letdown... (One Google search later) It seems there was a Robert Hetrick in Pennsylvania as early as 1840, acording to this link, but it appears the man in question was born right about at 1800. Unless it can be shown that that is the same man as the one born in Scotland, I am unable to find any indication that the poet ever lived in America. V-Man - T/C 05:54, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
The blacksmith/poet was in Scotland for the 1841 census. You can research Scottish Hetricks here: http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ --HJMG 16:07, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] dividend payments

Hello, how can I find out when DVY will post its next dividend? DIdn't see it on finance.google.com or finance.yahoo.com

Thanks. 64.198.239.34 06:02, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

Here is a PDF dividend schedule for iShares ETFs, including DVY. In case you have problems reading it, it says DVY goes ex-div on 23rd March 2007, with record date on 27th March 2007 and pay date on 29th March 2007. Gandalf61 15:34, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] In-line references in a Wikipedia article

Which Wikipedia article has the most in-line references? Adam Gilchrist has in excess of 120 (and growing) but I'm sure there are Featured Articles or ones on contentious topics with more. --Dweller 10:55, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

I'd wondered in evolution would be high, but it only has 56 references: it just uses them several times. However, George W. Bush has 198. Skittle 11:17, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Race and intelligence (explanations) has 215 references. 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict has 219. I have no clue what the record is (or how to find out) - but for sure Adam Gilchrist isn't even in the running! Christianity has a mere 93 references - but over 150 other books listed under 'bibliography'. SteveBaker 13:51, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Lol. Well, it has 135 now, when three weeks ago ([1]) it had... one. --Dweller 14:46, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Definitely in the running - 192 now. Anyone know of an article with >219? --Dweller 23:04, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Safest part of airplane

Is there, statistically speaking, a generally safer part of an airplane to be seated at in case of an emergency/crash? --AlexSuricata 14:25, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

Right by an exit, I would say, especially the wing exits, as they can be used for water landings, too, and are far from the ends of the plane, which are most often destroyed in impacts. They are near the wing fuel tanks, but if those explode, everyone on the plane is likely to die, anyway. StuRat 14:33, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
I vaguely remember an old publication on air travel stating that the tail section was the safest part, as it was the most structurally sound part of the plane. YMMV. --Tagishsimon (talk)
WikiHow says:
Because the initial impact is most often survivable, the key to living to tell about a crash is frequently how quickly you can get out. To this end, it’s best to get seats as close as possible to an exit, and aisle seats are generally preferable. Contrary to popular belief, there’s no “best” row to sit on an airplane. Your likelihood of survival while seated in any given place depends on how the plane makes impact. That said, you may have marginally better chances, statistically speaking, if you’re seated near the back of the plane or over the wing.
But general advice seems to be that following safety instructions and keeping calm are more important survival factors than where you sit. Gandalf61 16:48, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

I think siting somewhere not actually in or anywhere near the aeroplane would be safest :] HS7 17:13, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

Well, except in a car, a bus, etc. Passenger flights are much safer than driving; it's only because you control your own automobile (which gives you an unwarranted sense of security) that you think you're safer driving. More than 116 people die every day in the US alone in car accidents (42,636 in 2005 according to this source [2]), but 116 people dying in a plane crash once every few years gets far more publicity.
As to the actual question: in accidents that occur just before landing, being in the back may be preferable since the front of the aircraft decelerates faster - as the fuselage shortens, it acts as a crumple zone, and the passengers and crew in the rear decelerate at a slower rate than those in the front. However, the best place to be is near an exit. But none of this is as much help as a) always flying on the airline with the best safety record possible, b) being stone-cold sober at all times, c) knowing where the exits are (and counting the rows between your seat and the exits in front of and behind you, because sure as hell if there's smoke you won't be able to see them), d) wearing natural fibers that don't melt, and e) most importantly, paying attention to the safety lecture and reading the card in the seat back. --Charlene 18:08, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

Even if the plane does not catch fire and you are left hanging upside down in your seat belt, you could break your neck when you release the catch. I believe that happened sometimes to fighter pilots during WW2. It nearly happened to me when I landed upside down in a single engine plane 30 years ago. That being said HS7 above has the best answer!--88.110.207.121 01:17, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Most searched articles

Which are the top 10 searches on Wikipedia? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Airknight (talkcontribs) 14:33, 7 March 2007 (UTC).

the most viewed articles can be found here [3] (not searched, this also counts views that were following a link). The main page is, of course, always the most popular. After that articles relating to sex are always popular. Followed by anything that happened recently in the news. Jon513
TV series tend to come high on the list too. Whichever article is "Today's featured article" (WP:TFA) also gets an enormous number of hits on the day it's up there - as do pages linked from the first page of that article. They don't show up in that survey page because it averages over an entire month - but on the other hand, TFA isn't likely to be searched for very much. SteveBaker 15:09, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
'Battle of Thermopylae' is sixth? Why? Vitriol 17:43, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
300 (movie). People are saying that it's an indictment of the Bush administration, an indictment of the opposition to the Bush administration, etc. The director was surprised to hear these opinions, since he thought he was directing an action flick. --Charlene 18:10, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
The location of List of Pokemon between vagina and sex is just too good to be true. Carom 21:58, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
lol List of Pokemon is more popular than sex! --Candy-Panda 06:00, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
For the people who are looking those things up, the former is more likely to contain relevent information than the latter! SteveBaker 17:22, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Malawi

I've been asked to search for culture on Malawi but couldn't understand it because i'm 10. Please tell me about Malawi culture!62.252.159.6 15:59, 7 March 2007 (UTC)JILL

While we don't have a specific article on the culture of Malawi, our article on Malawi itself is a good place to start. You may also be interested in the Malawi Nation, a national newspaper with a good online presence. — Lomn 16:07, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Ehh, if you really have any trouble understanding what you've found, show what you got to someone older, and hopefully they'll explain it and clarify it for you, so you could rewrite it in your own words. 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 16:09, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Google points to some good sites. I think the answer you want will include things like what religion is common amongst malawi people; what food do they eat, what sort of entertainment (dance, music, theatre), what sorts of arts and crafts. The google link I gave you should give you easy access to that sort of stuff. I visited Malawi when I was about your age (many years ago). I thought the people I met were much happier than those in the neighboring country, Zambia. Good luck with your work. --Tagishsimon (talk)
You might also like to try http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malawi . Good luck! Neil (not Proto ►) 11:34, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] PIC of the Day, 03/07/2007

Today's Picture of the Day is a famous photo of General Eisenhauer talking with men of the 101st airborne division prior to their D Day jump.

I notice that none of the men have any weapons. No one has a knife, bayonet, handgun, or rifle.

Is it possible that this is a staged picture? <e-mail removed> —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 159.87.152.133 (talk) 16:04, 7 March 2007 (UTC).

It's possible (a great many things are), but I find it more likely to assume that the lack of virtually any equipment (they don't have their parachutes, and many don't have their helmets) suggests that they simply weren't lugging around all that weight if they didn't have to. Additionally, leaving aside the physical bulk of parachutes, rifles, and so forth allows more soldiers to be in proximity to Eisenhower. — Lomn 16:11, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Edit conflict They haven't boarded their planes, yet. They could have picked up their weapons later. Also, I guess that the photo was somehow "staged" in its composition and such, for the media, but it could yet be authentic. 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 16:15, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
(Also edit conflict) It is possible. It is equally possible that it is not. I notice a couple of bits of kit on the ground, one of which looking like it might include a rifle; but the image is indistinct. And I wonder how much stuff a parachutist would carry on their body (e.g. on webbing and belts), versus how much would be slung beneath the body to decrease the load on landing. That might form an explanation of the lack of accouterments seen on the soldiers. --Tagishsimon (talk)

I wonder if they asked soldiers near important generals not to carry weapons, since there could be an assassin among them. That way, they wouldn't need to spend as much time and effort clearing everyone who came in contact with Eisenhower. Or did they just not worry about such security concerns ? StuRat 18:18, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

No need to speculate about any of this! If you click through to the Image:Eisenhower d-day.jpg page, there's a link there to a page with a first-person account by the guy Ike's talking to. —Steve Summit (talk) 02:10, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] important ?

What the hell is wrong with people?Ipmin 16:20, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

Opinions vary. --Tagishsimon (talk)


It would seem to me that most of them live thier lives with blinkers on and dont care, and even if they didnt have blinkers on most of them wouldnt know as most of them are complete idiots hellbent on self destruction and the destruction of everything around them. But thats just my opinion.

What sort of people were you wondering about, or just people in general :) HS7 17:29, 22 February 2759 (UTC)

so, is this it, or do you want to specify your question more specifically :] HS7 17:32, 22 February 2759 (UTC) Do you want the whole list, or just the Top 100? 216.209.110.32 10:38, 9 March 2007 (UTC) Canis sylvaticus

I was thinking along the lines of a cause.Ipmin 17:46, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Here in Texas, the problem is that they DON'T put their blinkers on - they just pull out right in front of you!  :-) SteveBaker 01:55, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
Ah, the Etiology of ID10Ts...Tagishsimon's got the subjective covered, but objectively speaking, I would say causes vary, as well. Jfarber 17:39, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
They don't ask more specific questions? Clarityfiend 19:55, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Dude, if you think something is wrong with PEOPLE in general, you should see a psychiatrist.
Yeah. Psychiatrists make the rest of us look pretty decent. 88.111.18.91 23:09, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Bjaodn'd. V-Man - T/C 02:39, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
  • They ask rude,abrupt questions containing swear wordshotclaws**== 10:41, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

Try visiting wrongplanet.net for outside views on what is wrong with human society :] HS7 19:31, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

Retrocranial inversion is a common problem. Edison 23:16, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] drywall installation price guide

How much do drywall hangers charge to install drywall? 74.133.205.134 16:21, 7 March 2007 (UTC) Rod Wilson Peoria,IL U.S.A.

It's difficult to say, not just because most of us aren't in Peoria (and many aren't even in the US), but because the cost of the job is going to be significantly different based on the specifics of the job. Is it new construction, an addition, or repair? How high and how wide is the wall? What will be the ambient temperature? Are you in the city or out in the country? How busy are they otherwise (a major factor)? Is the wall perfectly rectangular or are there other factors to take into consideration (bay windows and the like)?
I strongly suggest you call a few local contractors and get estimates. Any contractor that won't give you an estimate isn't someone you want to deal with. --Charlene 17:58, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Query regarding two contemporary British artists

i am looking for information about two artists, including other works by them. in particular a piece by each artist. robert mason - working in the isle of dogs (oil on canvas 1993) and james doolin - bridges (1989). both are in a book called 'arttoday' by edward lucie-smith. thank you. 86.138.217.83 16:36, 7 March 2007 (UTC)Rachel R

Try the Humanities reference desk pal. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 209.53.181.32 (talk) 22:07, 7 March 2007 (UTC).
A painter who might be your Robert Mason is described on this page (scroll down to his name). --Cam 19:04, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Here is a big essay on James Doolin. --Cam 19:10, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Retrieving Saved Messages from Outlook

I saved an e-mail on Outlook and I haven't really used it before. How can I locate that message and bring it up again? Also it is on the new Microsoft Office 2007 version. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.121.104.229 (talk) 23:05, 7 March 2007 (UTC).

Probably better fit at the "Computing desk". Anyway, it'd be nice if you give additional info, such as the version no. of the former Outlook, saved files etc. 惑乱 分からん * \)/ (\ (< \) (2 /) /)/ * 23:47, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
If you were writing a new email and then closed and saved it, it would be saved in a folder called "Drafts", you should see it if you go that folder. Vespine 02:01, 8 March 2007 (UTC)