Wikipedia:Reference desk archive/Miscellaneous/2006 August 18

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Humanities Science Mathematics Computing/IT Language Miscellaneous 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 at one of the pages linked to above.

< August 17 Miscellaneous desk archive August 19 >


Contents

[edit] Gallery

Why do most photo galleries only show a few of the pictures? Examples: banana slug - Only the left one is visible. Qara-Kelissa - Third is invisible. Cathedral architecture of Western Europe. Gallery of cathedrals in the Mediterranean. Thanks! Reywas92 00:02, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

They tend to show as few or as many images as the person putting it together wanted to put on the page; por as many as they have found. They're a relatively recent addition to Wikipedia - at least in terms of their adoption. I tend to think folkds are still learning how to use them effectively in articles - Cathedral architecture of Western Europe, for instance, seems quite advanced in its use, where banana slug looks a little more as if someone had a bunch of photos and fancied putting them on the article. Ditto Lossiemouth: have pictures, will put them on site. In fact, there's not always a great virtue in sticking every image you have on an article; though equally we're not quite organised enough yet, I think, to make better use of the categorisation of images to links to obviate the need for galleries. btw, I can see all three of the banana slug images - problem is probably at your end, not in page. --Tagishsimon (talk)
What browswer are you using, Tagishsimon? I can only see the slug on the left in my broswer (Internet Explorer). If Reywas92 is using IE, too, it looks like we have found the culprit. --71.117.36.250 03:51, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Mozilla Firefox. But I can see the three in IE, if I stoop to use it. --Tagishsimon (talk)

I use Internet Explorer. Is there any way to fix it? Reywas92 19:22, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

I'm using IE, and I can see all three. User:Zoe|(talk) 23:37, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
I use IE and can only see the left one. I tried long and hard to fix this, even going as far as to report it to bugzilla, but was never able to. --Joelmills 02:23, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wars between democracies

Electoral Democracies
Electoral Democracies

In an article about Pakistan and terrorism [1], Benazir Bhutto writes that democracies do not go to war with other democracies. How many wars in the twentieth century have been fought between democratic countries ? Tintin (talk) 05:56, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Check out democratic peace theory and list of possible exceptions to democratic peace theory. Weregerbil 06:25, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Depends on how you wish to define democracy and thus which types of democracy you wish to include (the figure, for example, shows Electoral Democracies). Then you have to ask, how do you define war... does it have to be declared as such, or does military action suffice? Rockpocket 06:27, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
For the sake of argument, we can use a loose description for "war". The link of 'exceptions' above answers my question anyway. Thanks, Weregerbil. (I was under the impression that Russia is a democracy now). Tintin (talk) 06:39, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
And Iran, too. And one could argue that Iraq is also a democracy. User:Zoe|(talk) 23:12, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
Lebanon and Israel are both democracies. And Hezbollah is an elected faction of the Lebanese government, as well. User:Zoe|(talk) 23:38, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

How about the Falklands War between Argentina and the UK? — Michael J 17:32, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

Afraid not, Argentina wasn't a democracy then it was run by a military junta. AllanHainey 12:59, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Is it OK to

Copy the Wikipedia's How To:Start A New page for an article I'm doing on Uncyclopedia?I will give wikipedia the credet for that.

You may copy that material, but please follow the conditions outlined at: Wikipedia:Text of the GNU Free Documentation License Rockpocket 06:14, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Where's Neil When You Need Him?

Does anyone know where I can get the lyrics for this CD? I bought a copy that turned out to be a promo, with no booklet...

Um, what? It may be cliche, but please suitly emphazi your question. Who is Neil? Which CD? What? Natgoo 22:21, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Sorry. The CD "Where's Neil When You Need Him?", by various artists. Songs based off the works of Neil Gaiman. (I'd been on fansites all day when I asked, so didn't think it would be unobvious.)

[edit] The funny Swedish Guy

Who's that guy with the funny Swedish accent that does the radio commercials for IKEA?--Codell [ Talk ▪ Contrib. ] 09:09, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

My Google-fu is failing me badly on this one. Oh, the shame... Tony Fox (arf!) 16:02, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Assuming it is the same guy from the television commercials, then I can't find his name either, but the advertising campaign is called "Unboring" and there are at least two commercials, "Moo Cow" and "Lamp", the latter of which was directed by Spike Jonze. I have found various pages of production credits but they don't say who provides the voice; it could be some guy on the production staff, since I don't think the voice is actually Swedish. Adam Bishop 17:05, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
That'd explain why those commercials were so cool. There's definitely a specific voice actor who handles the Swedish guy, though - it's been consistent for quite some time. I seem to recall seeing something suggesting they didn't want his name out, though, sometime quite a while ago. Tony Fox (arf!) 20:37, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the attemp anyways.--Codell [ Talk ▪ Contrib. ] 04:49, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Tom Cruise

Insert non-formatted text here There is a discussion with my friend about the height of Tom Cruise. Can you let me know at my address <--email removed-->? Thank you Gustavo Orsini

You will probably have more luck if you ask somewhere like here.--Shantavira 09:35, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

IMDb says that he's 5' 7" (1.70 m) --Codell [ Talk ▪ Contrib. ] 09:36, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sony Vegas - Transition from black & white to color

I have a short film in Vegas. I have decided that I want the video to slowly shift from black & white at the beginning of the video, to full color by the end of it.

How would I go about doing this?

Thanks in advance!!!

gelo 11:54, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

If the movie can be put onto a computer, you could use movie effects/editing software to do this.--Codell [ Talk ▪ Contrib. ] 12:32, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Sony Vegas is video editing software. --LarryMac 13:27, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

I don't know the specific abilities of Vegas, but what you want to do is affect the saturation of the clip; 0% is black and white. I assume there's some sort of a way to specify a saturation value at the start and the end of the clip, and have the software do a smooth transition. If you can't figure that out, a possible (but labour-intensive) way would be to divide the clip into a number of short sections, and adjust the saturation for each of them for a slow transition. (For example, if you have a 3-minute clip, with 4320 frames, you could make the first 43 frames at 0% saturation, the next 43 at 1% and so on.) --ByeByeBaby 16:46, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Oh, sorry. I though that she filmed a movie in Las Vegas!--Codell [ Talk ▪ Contrib. ] 04:52, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Money - age = Hot

User:Courtney Akins asked if she is hot. Yes, you are, although I'd do something to make your hair more interesting and look less like it was hairsprayed or dyed. Plus I'd dress more fashionably, although this seems to matter less to people in the US than in the UK.

Courtney's question made me wonder if I would be hot to Courtney. I'm older, but I've got more money. So in hotness rating, how much money would a 35 year old, or a 45 or 55 year old for that matter, need to have to be equally attractive to the average 22 year old woman compared to a 25 year old man with no money?—Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.253.52.95 (talk • contribs)

Money isn't everything, you know. A good personality is more important. Physical 'beauty' is too superficial.--User:Codell [ Talk ▪ Contrib. ] 12:27, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Plus, some women prefer older men. Especially men in their late 30s who hang around on Wikipedia reference desks. --Richardrj 12:56, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
*straightens tie* Well, hello! Rockpocket 00:09, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
When women marry as a result of money, I dont think it because it increases their desire for you, just they have an increased desire for your money. Its not because it makes you more physically attractive, but because they like money. Philc TECI 14:04, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Agreed. Reminds me of the famous question Mrs Merton put to Debbie McGee: "So, what first attracted you to millionaire Paul Daniels?" --Richardrj 14:07, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Whoever those people are in the picture (assuming it is not really Courtney Atkins, not that it matters if it is), they are not attractive at all. Adam Bishop 15:32, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

I was thinking of the 84 year old multi-billionaire who married the twenty-something stripper shortly before passing away. He must have been red-hot to her. I think she's been in court ever since. I had hoped someone would come up with a real formula - for example a 35 year old is equal to a 25 year old plus $X. Or maybe it should be money/age or hot= x.age + y.money

Our article on Age disparity in sexual relationships might be of interest. The so called Trophy Rule of male/female relationships (divide the male's age by two then add seven to get the female's) could be used as a starting point. Then, empirically, you might wish to compare deviations from this rule and see if those correlate with trends in income. This trend (if one exists) would be the basis of the "money" variable in your equation. However, the major problem with this is working in the "X-factor" of attractiveness - a poor Brad Pitt is always going to be hotter than a rich, um, me. Perhaps another variable, relating to Facial symmetry could be encorporated. So here is my equation (note i am not a mathematician and this was thrown together in about 2 mins, so its probably total crap):
F = [(M/2)+7] - [N x d$] - [A x F]
Where:
F = females age
M = males age
N = slope of income trend discussed above
d$ = difference in salary from national average
A = variable reflecting how much a woman values "physical attractiveness" (0 = average)
F = value for facial symmetry (greater symmtery = higher value)
Hope that helps ;) Rockpocket 00:46, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] ANSI-Text

The German user http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Nightflyer searches for the German article on ANSI/EIA/TIA-232-F-1997 the text of the standard (free of cost). I know that ANSI is selling the text but there are hundreads or thousands people and institutions in the world which have the text and can give them away free of cost (although copyrighted). --Historiograf 14:42, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

I don't understand "there are hundreads or thousands people and institutions in the world which have the text and can give them away free of cost". How could they do that legally if it is copyrighted? Do you mean, they might have a spare printed version they purchased and don't need? Notinasnaid 15:35, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
This is at least the third time this request has been posted. It doesn't appear that any positive result will be forthcoming from posting this to the Reference Desk. --LarryMac 15:39, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Hmm. If I understand the user's talk page correctly, they have chosen to use the word "copyright paranoia". Well, calling "copyright law" instead "copyright paranoia" might make one feel better about asking for an illegal copy, but it doesn't change the law. In my view. How about doing that most old fashioned of things: visit a specialist library to read the text? Notinasnaid 06:48, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
It appears that ANSI standards may not be redistributed. Here's the ANIS End User License Agreement: http://webstore.ansi.org/ansidocstore/license/ANSI_EULA.pdf? The relevant sections are at the top, e.g.:
(b) You may install one copy of the Product on, and permit access to it by, a single computer owned, leased or otherwise controlled by you. In the event that computer becomes dysfunctional, such that you are unable to access the Product, you may transfer the Product to another computer, provided that the Product is removed from the computer from which it is transferred and the use of the Product on the replacement computer otherwise complies with the terms of this Agreement. Neither concurrent use on two or more computers nor use in a local area network or other network is permitted. You shall not merge, adapt, translate, modify, rent, lease, sell, sublicense, assign or otherwise transfer any of the Product, or remove any proprietary notice or label appearing on any of the Product. You may copy the Product only for backup purposes.
Pburka 14:27, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Glanford Power Station

In the above mentioned article, it states that the ashes left over used to be used as fertalizer, which seems like a good green thing to do, but now they go into a land fill, why is this?

It says that when they burned chicken litter, the ashes were used as fertilizer but now that they burn meat and bone, the ashes are landfilled. I don't know - but fear of mad cow disease comes to mind. Rmhermen 16:11, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Well, I know that at Didcot the ashes can be used for cement production, but they're not, because its cheaper to dump it. Maybe its the same case. Philc TECI 16:23, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Tapeworm

After listening to to much Sytem Of a Down, i was wondering, is it possable and/or advisable to pull a tapeworm out of your ass?

If you don't have a tapeworm there in the first place, then no — if you do, please go see a doctor about it. There are very effective medications these days for that sort of thing, but, as a matter of policy, we don't offer medical advice here on Wikipedia. —Ilmari Karonen (talk) 21:18, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

This is not a medical question as i dont have worms. I was just wondering if it would be possable and/or advisable if, lets say you woke up and felt something laying its eggs around you anus.

[edit] Nationality

And one last question: If you are, lets say Canadian and so is your wife, and you are on an Air germany flight from england to Usa, and your wife gives birth, right over the ocean, eg international waters, what is the nationality of the baby?

Canadian. The nationality of the plane doens't matter. Now if you gave birth over U.S. territory, the baby would probably be a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen. Rmhermen 16:06, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Now why would it have dual nationality? Because it was born over somewhere does not make it a citizen of the place unless either of the parents were naturalised there. Snodawg 21:35, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
That's definitely wrong. If being in a country's airspace matters, then it matters regardless of naturalisation. I suspect that in jus soli countries it's treated as being in the country, so someone born on a flight from Dallas to New York is as American as someone born on the ground in Dallas. HenryFlower 21:42, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Well it would appear that according to Canadian nationality law the child would be Canadian. And according to the way I read #1 here would also, as Rmhermen pointed out, also be a US citizen. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 00:40, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
Remember though that this doesn't apply to every country, because there are lots of countries (most, probably) where being born on the country's 'soil' doesn't guarantee citizenship. Japan is one example, I think Saudi Arabia is another. Anchoress 05:04, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] COURSE ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

I want information regarding a short course on public diplomacy in new york during the months of Nov,2006 to Feb 2007. please giude me203.101.182.71 16:49, 18 August 2006 (UTC)IRFAN

[edit] Bush show

I remember there was a show about a guy who look like George W. Bush. What was the name of that show?

That's My Bush!, perhaps? --LarryMac 20:15, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] six degrees of separation

I saw a thread above with another link to another thread about seagulls and masturbation ( i'm getting hot already). so, to entertain the preson who referred to that article I ask what are the six degrees of seperation between seagulls masturbating and the George Bush administration (this should be easy, not much difference)~—Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.29.78.229 (talk • contribs)

using science concepts, of course~—Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.29.78.229 (talk • contribs)


Simple:
  1. A seagull masturbating is useless as they do not have the same levels of food/sex drive as humans.
  2. Asking questions about seagulls masturbating is equally useless.
  3. Posting such questions on Wikipedia is normally done by useless idiots.
  4. Such people tend to waste their life uselessly blaming everyone around them for their own problems.
  5. A common target for such useless blaming is the government.
  6. The administration of George Bush is currently part of the government.
How's that? --Kainaw (talk) 13:55, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
  • How altrusistic of you to defend all members of the government equally, despite their apparent unrelatedness to the question being asked, while we're on the topic, I'm sure you have many nice things to say about Bill Clinton as surely, members of the government are all targets of useless blaming--71.247.125.144 15:07, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
I can do it shorter:
  1. Some people have called George Bush a "seagull president" (google for it).
  2. Other people, in turn, think the aforementioned people are wankers.
How's that? Weregerbil 14:37, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

thank you~—Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.29.78.229 (talk • contribs)

yes I do have a life of somewhat use to society, although I do sometimes blame my friend's uncle getting killed in Iraq for G. dub

like to poke fun every once and a while


oh, and ALL animals have been know to masturbate—Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.29.78.229 (talk • contribs)

I would like to point out this isn't quite right. Check masturbation. Also, animals that do not reproduce sexually do not masturbate. Many animals cannot. Can you imagine a whale trying to masturbate itself? A fish? A mosquito? — [Mac Davis] (talk)
I see - your friend's uncle was killed by George Bush in Iraq, so the Bush Administration is equivalent to a seagull masturbating. However, I, being a disabled war veteran, have no right to call "opinion" questions in a "reference desk" useless? I've said it before and I'll say it again... if I were ever told that I had to choose between saving Wikipedia from being permanently deleted or the life of some random stanger who gets his kicks off asking stupid opinion questions in the reference desk, I'll choose Wikipedia. --Kainaw (talk) 16:45, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Just a point of reference, since this is a reference desk, and we may as well get something out of this question, typing only one ~ does not produce a signature, you need four of them, like this ~~~~ otherwise all you're doing is putting a tilde at the end of all your posts--71.247.125.144 15:58, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

It's not like seagull masturbation is a new concept to the reference desk, or even stupid crap in general, I thought it would be intresting to see how people would respond, though69.29.78.229 18:17, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

You thought wrong. --Howard Train 03:53, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, the Six Degrees of Wikipedia gives the following (useless) answers:

– ClockworkSoul 17:54, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

Our original article begins with acquaintances between people. The problem is that you may imagine that the chain exists, but it stays difficult (NP ?) to find it. It is easier with WP pages, as Clockwork demonstrated (using seagulls, as we lack a section about their sexual uses.) -- DLL .. T 18:54, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Building in Baghdad

This may be vague but I've been wondering for a while and hoped someone here could answer. I've seen a building in Baghdad and was wondering if someone could tell me what it was so I could search for more images. It seems to be shown a lot on the news in stock footage of the bombing of Iraq in 2003. From what I can see from the images it seems close to the Tigris. I've only seen the building from one angle and it appears to only have four sides, with each other Trapezoid shaped. This may be a really tough question but I'd appreciate if anyone could name it. --Kiltman67 21:51, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

The Council of Ministers Hall. For trapezoid read ziggurat MeltBanana 01:39, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
Thanks, that's exactly the one I was thinking of. --Kiltman67 02:12, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sales and any laws that apply to them

Are there any legal requirements (specifically in the uk) that surround any company that declares items 'on sale'. Do they have to have first had the items at full price? Must these items have been at full price for a minumum duration? Or can any company proclaim a 'half price' sale without ever having had the items at full price.

I'm not 100% but I think the item must have been at full price for a minimum time, but I can't remember what it is. --Kiltman67 22:48, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Yes there is a law, but I cant remember the details either. Contact the Trading Standards department of your local council. Jameswilson 23:46, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Regarding Canada, that type of information is right on the govt of Canada website, so it might also be on the UK equivalent. Anchoress 05:00, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] BB Song

What was the song playing during the higlights at the end of Big Brother 7. When it ended and they were interviewing pete, and they showed highlights of the whole show, thank you. Philc TECI 22:39, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

I was only paying a little attention but it seemed like a song from the new Snow Patrol album. Probably best to start with the singles and work through. --Kiltman67 22:45, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Yeh it was your right, but I'm not sure if I can remeber the tune, but I remember it if you know what I mean, its horrible when you get a song stuck in your head and you cant remember how it goes. Argh. Philc TECI 22:54, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Why not try Musipedia where there is the facility to sing,whistle or bong a tune and it will try and identify it for you? Lemon martini 10:54, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

Or try song tapper, but I personally don't think it's good. Iolakana•T 19:06, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Chicken-B-Gone

What is the best way to keep my neighbor’s chickens out of my yard? As much as I would like to turn them into Sunday dinner, I would like to do it without making my neighbor mad for killing his hens.--67.172.248.207 23:10, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Put up chicken wire? --Think Fast 23:20, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
Or better yet, get a cat, and watch how quickly your neighbor puts up chicken wire. :-) StuRat 23:37, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the ideas. I've tried chicken wire, but holes always appear. The chickens also jump over the wire by climbing the trees. Yes, I have chickens in my trees, just like the song. A cat would increase the ammount of fecal matter in my yard.--67.172.248.207 23:44, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

  • I'm confused, why does your neighbor have chickens in their lawn in the first place?--71.247.125.144 23:57, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Funny you should ask that, but two of my neighbors have chickens. I have no idea why anyone would want a chicken, but I assume that it is for the eggs, which the hens leave conveniently stash in the garden; after they rip up the plants. That or they want the blasted rooster to go off every 4:30 a.m.--67.172.248.207 00:08, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

But cats can be trained to poop in a specific place, like a sandbox. You can probably get a cat from the Humane Society which is already sandbox-trained. StuRat 00:23, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

There are cats, also not mine, in my yard. They don't seem too interested in chicken chasing. Would shock-collars fry a chicken? Is it even legal to put shock-collars on animals that aren't yours?--67.172.248.207 00:33, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

What I do is just keep a tesla coil running in my backyard. chhhhhhh.... ZAPP!! — [Mac Davis] (talk)