Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 November 10

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[edit] November 10

[edit] Dog problems

I have had for some years a 25-lb beagle-chihuahua who is a little hyperactive and a little dog aggressive, but not egregiously so and generally well-behaved and a calm dog. My buddy just left for one to three months (deployment, we're US military), and left his two papillons, each about 8 lbs, one of each gender (all dogs concerned are neutered). His two dogs are about five years old, not housebroken, hyperactive, wet the floor at the slightest stress, and keep trying to pick a fight with the resident dog, who outweighs them both combined and is not at all reluctant to snap at them.

They have just been picking fights with each other for about three days. They are kept in separate crates -- our dog is comfy and happy in hers; the papillons are used to being crated and have no reluctance to fouling their crates and sleeping in their own excretions. The only good courses of action I have come up with at this point are either to murder the papillons or to place an emergency call to Cesar Millan. We're trying to be calm assertive, and I have been reading and researching, but if anyone has a good how-to resource for rehabilitating spastic, middle-aged, unhousebroken rat-sized dog, I promise to be your best friend. Faithfully, Deltopia 02:07, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

That's great, but will you lick between my toes? The article Housebreaking seems to be on target, but it's for puppies, as are the external links there. My suggestion is to try housebreaking them as if they were puppies. Clean everything with ammonia, and clean them. No, not with ammonia. Or sulphuric acid, either, as much as you might want to. Start with everything super clean so they won't smell it. They tend to go where they can smell it. Take them outside to the same spot every time so they see that spot as their toilet. Only crate them when you have to. When they mess up, take them to the door, make them scratch at it, then take them outside to their spot. They'll already have done their business inside, but you're trying to create an association in their demented, overheated, walnut-meat-sized brains. When you go back in, take the mess outside to their spot. Clean where they went inside with ammonia. Take them out first thing in the morning, the instant you uncrate them, a little while after they eat or drink, when they get excited or have been playing, and whenever they seem inappropriately pensive. Never punish them for mistakes, but show disapproval if you catch them in the act. Good luck. They'll probably never get to 100% at their age, but they might surprise you. --Milkbreath 03:09, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
Dogs are very simple animals - you just need to get inside their heads.
It's very unusual for dogs to foul the area they sleep in - that's why "crating" works. These dogs are either sick - or are not being given the alternative to go outside often enough to poop when they need to. As for the reaction between your dog and the newcomers, the problem is one of pack heirarchy. They need to figure out who is the alpha dog, who beta, who gamma. Keeping them separately isn't letting them work that out - and as pack animals, that is very, very important to them. Pretty much you need to let them get on with it. It's unlikely they'll seriously hurt each other seriously and once pecking order is established, they'll all be much happier. If they are happy - so are you.
Crating does work on adult dogs as well as puppies - but it's not intended to be a long-term solution! The idea is that you crate the dog so that it'll resist pooping indoors because it doesn't want to foul the place where it sleeps. Hence, when you let it out of the crate (directly into the back yard, hopefully), it's forced to poop outside and soon knows that this is the appropriate place to go. Once it has learned the correct place to pooh - you can let it loose from the crate and it'll continue to go in the same place - outside - and not in your house. Keeping the dog crated without giving it that chance to establish the correct place to go means that when you DO let it out of the crate, it doesn't know that you hope is inappropriate - and all of the usual hilarity ensues.
So: Clean the crate carefully - you need to remove all sources of smell with strong bleach. Assuming the dogs are not sick - you need to put them outside soon after feeding and immediately after they've been sleeping in the crate. Then, you need to let all three dogs loose with each other - and let them get on with the brutal business of establishing heirarchy. These are wolf-descendents - that's what they do and you can't be timid about it - pretty soon (a few days - maybe a week), they'll have figured out who is top dog - and all will be tolerable from that point onwards. Having two male dogs (even if 'neutered') is always a problem - but none the less, they can sort it out without your help if you'll just let them. By intervening every time there is a ruckus - you are preventing them from figuring out what they need to know - this is a cause of stress for them - and may also be adding to your toilet training issues.
SteveBaker 04:10, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
Steve is right about heirarchy. Trying to introduce dogs to one another indoors or in what your dog believes is his territory can be difficult if not near impossible. I suggest you stick them all in the back garden together and put your ear plugs in. It looks and sounds a lot worse than it actually is. At the worst they will get a few scratches. Lanfear's Bane | t 14:57, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Winston Churchill anecdote

There is an anecdote on Winston Churchill I am trying to find but I cannot using Google. He was in Halifax, I believe, sitting next to a reverend or priest and a young woman offers the both of them a drink. The priest declines but Churchill makes some sort of witty remark I can't remember. What did he say? --Blue387 05:43, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

There are many quotes about drinking associated with Churchill that have been repeated and restaged to have happened in different places, you may be thinking of the following -
During the Prime Ministers' Conference in London in 1957, Lady Churchill invited Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and his wife to luncheon. When Churchill offered a brandy to Diefenbaker, it was declined with the comment: "I'm a teetotaller." Churchill did not seem to understand. Diefenbaker explained that he did not drink liquor. Sir Winston asked: "Are you a prohibitionist?" When Diefenbaker replied "no " his host commented, "Ah, I see, you hurt only yourself." (from [1]). 86.21.74.40 06:22, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
No, I don't believe that was it. I do recall it was during wartime. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Blue387 (talk • contribs) 06:25, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
How about this?--86.145.248.160 14:08, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
No, it does not appear to be it. --Blue387 22:06, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
Wikiquote turns up some alcohol-related possibilities:
  • I have taken more good from alcohol than alcohol has taken from me.
  • I neither want it [brandy] nor need it, but I should think it pretty hazardous to interfere with the ineradicable habit of a lifetime.
  • The water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whisky. By diligent effort, I learnt to like it.
  • Perhaps one of the most quoted, Bessie Braddock says: Sir, you are drunk. Churchill replies And you, madam, are ugly. But in the morning, I shall be sober.
SteveBaker 03:54, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Troy University Alumni

Question: Please provide a list of notable alums that graduated from Troy University, Alabama. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.168.23.100 (talk) 12:27, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

We have Category:Troy University alumni, but it only has one person in it at present. DuncanHill 12:29, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
Presumably someone at Troy can help you: the alum assn if there is one, the publicity office. —Tamfang 04:52, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Paper seemingly only used for bibles

Bit of an odd question, but does anybody know if there is a reason why so many bibles appear to be in almost tracing-paper thin paper? Is it just to reduce costs to make them cheap for hotels/hospitals to have in the drawers or is there some significance? It seems to be pretty much only bibles that have this paper. It's much thinner than normally book paper. ny156uk 14:19, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Looks like (last paragraph) it's mostly to keep weight down and still preserve strength so it'll last awhile --ffroth 14:49, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
It's mostly to reduce the size of the final volume. Bible paper is not particularly cheap compared to other grades of papers used for printing books, but the finest grades will give you 1100 pages per inch of thickness [2]. In France, it is also used for printing collections of laws, which also often have 2000–2500 pages per volume. Physchim62 (talk) 16:45, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
I've seen dictionaries (another book that tends toward extreme bulkiness) made out of the same thin paper, as well. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 16:48, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
Yes, my old Webster Second New International is an example. —Tamfang 00:17, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
Thanks for the info everyone - evidently I only read small books, seems other people I asked also have seen this paper in more volumesome books. ny156uk 00:19, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Unidentified roman obelisk

My unidentified obelisk
My unidentified obelisk

I took this photograph in Rome two summers ago, but I can't remember exactly where. I perused the article "Obelisks in Rome", but nothing jumped out at me. Are any of you able to identify it? Plasticup T/C 17:45, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

I think this is it. DuncanHill 17:53, 10 November 2007 (UTC)


Ah, you are right. The article on the Pantheon has a picture of the obelisk in Piazza Minerva, but apparently mine is also near the pantheon at "Piazza del Pantheon". Thank you much. Plasticup T/C 18:14, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
I was lucky really - I saw the inscription to Pope Clement XI and fortunatley the article mentions the obelix! DuncanHill 18:18, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
Obelix? :P FiggyBee 04:52, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Vegetarian frozen food and shelf life

What commercial vegetarian frozen foods will last at least four months in the consumer's freezer? NeonMerlin 18:30, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Amy's Kitchen frozen foods are guaranteed (if kept frozen) for 2 years past the manufacture date.[3] MrRedact 19:38, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Some foodstuffs that Captain Scott took to the South Pole (in 1905?) were recovered in 1950 and found to be edible. The bacon was rancid, but rancid bacon is edible (at a pinch). Of course it is a lot colder down south than in a domestic freezer.86.200.129.78 15:25, 11 November 2007 (UTC)DT

[edit] Type of jacket used on cover of Low by David Bowie

Does anyone know the type of jacket used on the cover of Low, or was it custom designed? Or were multiple jackets used? Killridemedly 19:06, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

It looks like a casual jacket over a hooded top over a turtleneck, which are, as it happens, mentioned just below here. Lanfear's Bane | t 14:53, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Military muesums?

What are some good muesums on the east coast that offer a collections of firearms of tanks besides Aberdean proving ground Ordance muesum? Also if possible could you list any that dont take more then like 3 4 hours to get to. Eskater11 19:16, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

It probably will take two or three hours to get there but the Royal armoury in leeds is quite good. I've been there. I don't know if there are any other war museums in britain apart from the imperial war museum--Phoenix-wiki (talk · contribs) 21:38, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
lol im actualy from and live in baltimore :o Eskater11 23:36, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
Well, what do you expect!? How did you expect us to know where in the world you live? You said "the east coast" but you didn't even indicate which continent you live on! I'm guessing Phoenix-wiki confused the Aberdeen proving grounds with Aberdeen in Scotland. SteveBaker 03:37, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
Its entirly my own fault but i figured that since i mentioned the name of the muesuem people would know that its located there. Well no at least i know where to go if i ever go to britan Eskater11 03:42, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
You can try the Canadian War Museum, in Ottawa, Canada, which is located in the east end of the city. I don't know if they still have it, but the car Hitler was riding in when someone tried to assassinate him in early 1945 was a major exhibit there.
And since you live in Baltimore, I'm pretty sure you can find something good in Washington DC, maybe as a part of the Smithsonian. --Blanchardb 14:50, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Loose turtleneck

Does anyone have a good way to SHRINK the collar of a LOOSE cotton or synthetic TURTLENECK shirt? —Preceding unsigned comment added by GHLewis (talk • contribs) 20:16, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Well, usually washing is a good way to shrink something, but it depends on exactly what part you want to shrink. If you just wanted to shrink the neck part, them I'm not sure how you would do that exactly. --θnce θn this island Speak! 22:47, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] From concentrate

"From concentrate" is often printed on fruit juice cartons, notably orange juice ones. What does it mean? thanks--Phoenix-wiki (talk · contribs) 21:28, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

For purposes of storage and transportation fresh orange juice is dehydrated so that it takes up less room and weighs less. It is then frozen. When it arrives at the plant for bottling it's thawed and water is re-added. The dehydrated product is the "concentrate". ---- WebHamster 22:05, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
Also see concentrate — Matt Eason (Talk • Contribs) 12:35, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Helpme

This question has been removed. Per the reference desk guidelines, the reference desk is not an appropriate place to request medical, legal or other professional advice, including any kind of medical diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment recommendations. For such advice, please see a qualified professional. no medical advice, sorry
This question has been removed. Per the reference desk guidelines, the reference desk is not an appropriate place to request medical, legal or other professional advice, including any kind of medical diagnosis or prognosis, or treatment recommendations. For such advice, please see a qualified professional. no medical advice, sorry--~~~~

[edit] Anyone good at putting names to Hollywood faces?

I'm aware that this'd probably be more at home over in the Entertainment section, but quite frankly, that desk doesnt seem to be quite so well-manned. Anyway: browsing through Flickr, I came across this excellent series of images of the 2007 Scream Awards uploaded by "pinguino". Unfortunately, most are missing tags identifying the subjects, and I'm pretty awful at putting names to familiar faces (embarrassingly few from this series) Anyone with a few minutes fancy going through and identifying all or some of the pics? I've uploaded those that Pinguino positively identified, but virtually all of the others are awaiting a more experienced eye. If you don't really want to go through the rigmarole of uploading the images at Commons, just post the identifications here and I'll do the dogsbody work myself :) GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 23:52, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Of those not named, so far I have Tobin Bell, Alice Cooper, and Lou Ferrigno (though I can't put a name to the gal standing next to him). GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 00:05, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
That's Slash in 8671 and Danny Trejo in 8637 and 8644. --Joelmills 00:11, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
And I've just been scolded for not recognising Jamie Bamber in 8657, Morena Baccarin in 8667 and Zachary Quinto in 8814. Apparently I should be watching more Sci-Fi. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 00:13, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
Danny Trejo = IMG_8644, Tobin Bell = IMG_8705, Bruce Campbell = IMG_8705,IMG_9238 ---- WebHamster 00:18, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
And I think IMG_9385 is Robert Rodriguez, Alice Cooper = IMG_8812 ---- WebHamster 00:23, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
Quentin Tarantino = IMG_8976 (and IMG_9074). Jessica Alba = IMG_8993 (and IMG_9016). Kristen Bell = IMG_8929. Tricia Helfer & Jamie Bamber = IMG_9110 (it took me sooo long to recognize them, for some reason). (Helfer is also IMG_9131, IMG_9153, IMG_9159, IMG_8949). Criss Angel = IMG_8801. --24.147.86.187 00:31, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

Usable photographs still in need of identification:

Just three to go, it seems. A good two to three dozen articles with either their first photo, a replacement for a low quality one, or an extra choice in their Commons gallery. Not bad! GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 11:04, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

Correct, that is indeed Thomas Dekker (actor). Rockpocket 20:30, 13 November 2007 (UTC)


I think some of the guys are tech staff getting awards. I recognise some of the faces from behind the scenes features but I'm buggered if I can recall their names :( ---- WebHamster 01:40, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

Quentin Tarantino was the only one I could recognise - do I get a prize? DuncanHill 01:45, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
IMG_8582 is Daeg Faerch. IMG_8665 is a guy who goes by the name Zacky Vengeance, I think. Some band member. IMG_9097 is a guy named Jesse G. James. In case you can't tell, I'm just enjoying this for the fun of figuring it out—I like the challenge! --24.147.86.187 02:54, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
OH! And IMG_9562 and IMG_9572 are Lena Headey, the woman from the film 300. I knew I recognized her from somewhere. --24.147.86.187 03:12, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
Well, your work is much appreciated, 24.147. I've added images to a fair number of articles from this batch so far. Always nice to see some decent-quality free images for celebrity articles. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 04:11, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
Someone should leave a comment at each image's page with the name of the artist being pictured, either now or after uploading the image to Wikimedia Commons. -- ReyBrujo 20:43, 13 November 2007 (UTC)