Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 September 26

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[edit] September 26

[edit] foul language

I would like to use the panama canal article in my fifth grade class tomorrow but there is a foul headline on the article. How do I clear that? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.128.88.79 (talk) 00:52, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

There was some vandalism on that page, yes. Another alert editor has cleared it, so you should be ok now. Arakunem 00:59, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
In the future, hit the "history" tab at the top and you can see a list of recent edits and compare them. If the vandalism was the most recent edit, you can hit 'undo'. For more information check out the tutorial. --Masamage ♫ 01:05, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
You can also link to a particular version of the Panama Canal article. The following link will take you to the now current version, but you will not see any changes, whether improvements or vandalism, when the article is subsequently changed: [1]. This might be a safer way to go when bringing kids to the site, so you can be sure, once you find a good version, that this is the version your students will see. StuRat 01:58, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
Since all Wikipedia articles are GFDL, you may copy the clean version of the article you want onto another web site (such as your school's web site.) Just put a brief attribution on your copy. That way you need not worry about subsequent edits at Wikipedia, or about your students clicking on links that go to other vandalized pages. Of course, if the kids use the internet at all, they already know about Wikipedia and they spend a fair amount of time here satisfying their curiosity, and some of them have probably done some minor exploratory vandalism as most new young users seem to. But if you make your own copy, at least you will not get yelled at by the parents. -Arch dude 17:31, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Correct method of delivering a punch

What is the correct method of delivering a punch with one's fist? Correct in respect to maximizing punching power, speed and one that is the least harmful to one's joints and wrists. Which knuckles should be making contact with the target? Should the hand be horizontal like in boxing or vertical like in Jeet Kune Do?Thanks. Acceptable 00:57, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

Thumbs outside the fists. --Masamage ♫ 01:04, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
Roll your fingers into your palm and keep the fist tight. Put your thumb on the outside just above the first knuckle of your fingers. The part of the fist that makes contact should be between the second and third knuckles of your fingers. Aim for a spot about an inch or two behind where you will make contact. Basically don't dive into the punch too much or you may become off balance and limit the amount of time that you have to recoil your arm and be ready for either another punch or a block from an opponent. Dismas|(talk) 01:21, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
Keep your elbow bent even at full extension. If you straighten your arm out completely, then if the punch doesn't end the fight, you've left yourself wide open for a broken elbow. --Carnildo 19:27, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

I wonder if WP is going to be sued by whoever Acceptable beats up? ;) FiggyBee 05:28, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

Assuming good faith is one thing, assuming a Wikipedian will win a fist fight is another ;p Neil ム 08:19, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

Well if that is the case,then we want full details of Acceptable's adversary. Some of us might want to put a bet on and we can't do that without being able to study the form :) Lemon martini 11:32, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

It would be an entertaining way to resolve edit wars, anyway. :P FiggyBee 15:16, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

Don't forget the kiai!!!, very important. Also, see our article: punch for more info/variations. 38.112.225.84 14:42, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

The puncher has, which violates the brawlers principle of AGF (assume good fighting). One time-honored version of this is to say "I'll give you to the count of three to (give me the candy bar, get your hand off my girlfriend, hand me the videogame controller, whatever)." Then at the count of "Two," when the person is relaxed in anticipation of having another whole count, you hit him, hopefully with a punch which ends the fight. Note: This will enrage the victim. Edison 15:45, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
Of course, the least painful way, for both sides, is not to hit at all. Btw, is this a pre-medical question? We can't tell people how to treat an injury, but we can tell them how to cause one? DirkvdM 18:12, 27 September 2007 (UTC)
<ObJossWhedon> "They tell you never hit a man with a closed fist, but it is on occasion hilarious." —Tamfang 04:38, 30 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] whats the name of this flower

hello, i need to know whats the latin or popular name of this mediteranen scented flower, http://good-times.webshots.com/album/560459385CTMXiy i checked the flowers list but its too big and didnt find it....any help? thank you. hadi from lebanon [email address redacted] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.142.49.220 (talk) 08:37, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

It appears to be a cultivar of Jasminum sambac [2] --Melburnian 09:17, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
email address removed — Matt Eason (Talk • Contribs) 10:31, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Melbourne to Hawaii travel time

How many hours does it take to fly from Melbourne to Hawaii and vice-versa? --124.254.77.148 09:01, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

roughly 16-17 hours is what I got when I went to expedia.com and put in Melbourne to Hawaii, that was the big island, and I clicked direct flights. No idea if you mean as the crow flies. Dureo 09:45, 26 September 2007 (UTC)


edit conflict That will depend on your route; for example, if you can find a direct flight it will be quicker than a flight via Sydney. It will also depend on the airline. Can I suggest you check the airline's websites. For example a quick check on the Qantas site returned a relatively rare direct flight taking 10½ hours, but the far more common flights via Sydney taking anywhere from just over 12hrs to 19hrs. --jjron 09:51, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Typhoon in Hong Kong

Where can I find out about the typhoon that badly damaged Hong Kong around Christmas-time 1936? Jasper33 15:14, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

This should have the info you want, but I have trouble opening the PDF file: [3]. StuRat 15:34, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
Oh thanks for that - very useful. Jasper33 15:41, 26 September 2007 (UTC)