Wikipedia:Reference desk archive/Miscellaneous/2006 July 14

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.

< July 13 Miscellaneous desk archive July 15 >


Contents

[edit] Necro Porn

What do necrophiliacs use as porn? Would it be people having sex with dead people, or dead people themselves? My friend suggested snuff films...

Seriously, I actually want to know. I'm not a necrophiliac, the question is just kind of burrowing into my brain, and giving me a headache.

172.128.104.172 01:47, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

There are websites dedicated to images of scantily clad women pretending to be dead (ISTR that one of the best-known has a name like "Necrobabes"). Grutness...wha? 03:36, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Some use their imagination. --Proficient 03:55, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Most likely the pictures of people having sex with corpses. Since necrophiliacs are turned on by sexual acts conducted with dead people, they wouldn't get as much of a thrill out of just a picture of a corpse. Liken it to (for a heterosexual man) seeing a picture of an attractive woman as opposed to a porno video, if that helps at all. Interesting question. --Evan Carlstrom 06:41, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

  • Autopsy photos;crime scene photos;seriously ,that's what they use and of course specialist porn sites. hotclaws(82.138.214.1 08:59, 14 July 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Handkerchief on head

What is the purpose of wearing a knotted handkerchief on one's head, as in this photo? I've seen this practice before. For example, the Gumbies. Is the handkerchief moistened? Bhumiya (said/done) 03:06, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

It was largely done as protection while sunbathing. Often moistened, but mainly as a shade to keep the sun off the top of the head (yes, it's possible to get sunstroke even in the UK). It's rarely done these days and seen more as a stereotypical cliche than something you're likely to see. Grutness...wha? 03:42, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
It's used to screen the sun. --Proficient 04:02, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Oh, would it have been used by bald men? Bhumiya (said/done) 06:08, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
  • It comes from the industrial age when workers first started having holidays but couldn't afford special clothing.Look at the photos,they wore ordinary clothes.A cloth cap would be too hot so a knotted hankie was a good idea.Later it became a comic cliche. hotclaws**== ,a Lancashire lass.(82.138.214.1 09:03, 14 July 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Military service/boot camp question

Hello –

I have a question regarding Marine military service. I’m a soon-to-be graduate of a 4-year college (majoring in accounting/finance), and I’m strongly considering joining the Marine Corp. I have heard that college graduates entering military service cannot go through boot camp; instead college grads must go through Officer Candidate School (OCS). I’d seek the council of a Marine recruiter; however I’m not ready to make any decisions yet and I do not want to face a barrage of questions. I’ve Googled this topic, but have not found any good answers. My question: I want to go through a traditional boot camp, then on to OCS, is this possible?

Thanks in advance! --Rangermike 04:16, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Talk to your recuriter, he will point you out everything. Good carrer choice. :) User:Zscout370 (Return Fire) 04:27, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
According to my dad, who was in the USAF and later the army, you would likely be cycled through boot camp, but the exercises you get put through would differ from the grunts since your collage graduation paperwork is considered an automatic officership invite. Bear in mind that just because you get put through officer school does not mean that you will end up with a desk job, you may get thrown out into combat. I think the only exception to boot camp is if you are a certified non combatant, like a preacher or a con-she-entious objector. TomStar81 05:23, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
"Con-she-entious objector"? Oh, how enlightened. Bhumiya (said/done) 07:25, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
A conciencious objector wouldn't join the army, do you mean a woman? I thought that they could serve as combattants in the U.S.A. military. AllanHainey 11:20, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Women are not allowed in front line ground combat by the U.S. However in a war with no front lines... Rmhermen 13:50, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
I meant conciencious objector, but I could not spell it right. Yes, these people do not go to war, but they do on occassion fill other positions in the the armed services. My relatives know of a handful of people who were classified as consciencious objectors during WWII and Korea who served as medics on hospital ships and did army archieving and typed government reports and just generally helped out without going into combat. Admitedly, that was then and this is now, but the principle I am sure remains the same. TomStar81 19:17, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Only if you have conscription, which we don't. Rmhermen 01:03, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Free-for-all

A while back, someone created a space here for anybody to say whatever they like, a free-for-all where there was no topic and no rules except a limit of 200 words per person. It's Friday, and I'm in an exceptionally good mood, so I'm going to suggest we have another one. Any takers? JackofOz 05:51, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

  • I'd start, but right now I can't think of anything much to say. (Damn, there go my first 13 words. Make that 20. Make that ......) JackofOz 05:51, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Is 13 a word? DirkvdM 07:46, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
I'm pretty sure that is the intended purpose of neither Wikipedia in general nor the Reference Desk in particular. Take it to your blog or your myspace or whatever the hell else. Adam Bishop 07:17, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Your myspace? Is that a space that can't decide on it's owner? Or is it owned by everyone? Communist space? Or like the Moon? That was declared non-divisible between countries and it's in space. DirkvdM 07:46, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
I think it's a typo that was supposed to be a threat. He meant "take it to your blog or you're my space." That seems like a rather strange threat, though. What does it mean to make someone your space? Crazywolf 08:00, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Well, you could space someone. Weregerbil 09:16, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Yeah, sorry, I assumed everyone would be familiar with MySpace...surely I would not make such a grievous typo :) Adam Bishop 11:50, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
Can I use this space to advertise my band? :p...Alright, is it ok if i cleverly disguise it? Oh, well...*walks away whistling* Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 08:09, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
I think "your myspace" refers to Myspace. AllanHainey 11:22, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Preposterous, bunkum, fiddle-faddle. --Sam Blanning(talk) 11:30, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
The important thing to note is that no matter how good a mood Jack might be in, Tagishsimon is currently holding the title of Official Spokesperson for the Reference Desk. --LarryMac 13:42, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Indeed, and in that red-linked capacity I'd like to harumph somewhat about all this frivolity. If this was a library I would for sure be saying shhhhh. --Tagishsimon (talk)
Free-for-alls seem interesting. And the concept would seem to fit in it being miscellaneous. What I would like to say is this: You should read the Intel Core 2 article. :D --Proficient 17:07, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Where has all the love gone? (I must have it all myself.) Apart from that commentary, the above are really outstanding, excellent, superb contributions to this free-for-all. Keep up the standard, folks. JackofOz 03:18, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Women on Wikipedia - or lack of them

Inspired by a question above about a typical female subject that was only answered by guys (after asking their girlfriends), I wonder why Wikipedia is an almost all-male affair. Of course it could be that it coincidentally started off as such and thus 'scared off' women somehow (that's putting it a bit too strong). Another possibility is that writing an encyclopedia is a systematic thing and women aren't really into that. Any better ideas? DirkvdM 07:20, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

It plays into many guy's ideals of leaving a lasting impact on the intellectual or physical state of the world. I see fewer women with that ideal. Probably something to do with the differences between male and female role models. Crazywolf 07:28, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Actually, there are a huge number of women on WP, plus quite a number of people who prefer to hide their identity - but it is true that there seem to be fewer women on the reference desks. As to "differences between the male and female role models", I'm afraid I'd regard that as hooey - even if there is something about the "role model" theory, it assumes that people only edit here to make a lasting impression. it would be equally plausible that people come here because they love teaching and passing information on to others, something which might be considered a far more gender-neutral activity. Grutness...wha? 08:56, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Yeah, that does seem like a more plausible explanation for why people respond at the reference desk, though I was thinking of other parts of wikipedia, that don't have the same direct teaching aspect. It does seem strange that there aren't more women who answer questions here, though. --Crazywolf 09:41, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
  • May I bitchslap Crazywolf and leave a permanent impact on the world? hotclaws**==(82.138.214.1 09:08, 14 July 2006 (UTC))
Women have better social skills, and so tend to spend their free time in contact with real people. (Either that or they're in the kitchen where they belong). HenryFlower 10:24, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
How would they use those social skills in the kitchen then? The world isn't fair. DirkvdM 07:30, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
See also Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias. --Shantavira 13:07, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
I've seen an approximately reasonable amount of each. --Proficient 17:11, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
What on Earth is "approximately reasonable"? DirkvdM 07:30, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
One wonders on what evidence the conclusion was reached about the male/female ratio on Wikipedia. I know of a couple where the wife contributes regularly and the husband does not contribute at all. Further, I question the evidence of the "typical female subject" above, which was demonstrably not answered only by men. The question was initially answered properly by Crazywolf whose gender is unknown. It is possible that Crazywolf is a man, it is possible that Crazywolf is a woman who does not use tampons but who asked another woman about it, and it is also possible that Crazywolf is a woman who is taking some pains to conceal her gender. ColourBurst's gender is also unknown. But more to the point, a good bit of information was added by Anchoress, who states on her user page that she is a woman. Crypticfirefly 04:27, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
Oops, didn't check her. My mistake.
"Knowing a couple" is a rather small statistical basis. DirkvdM 07:30, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
So is looking at the gender of the people who answer one particular question. What other evidence is there that Wikipedia is "an almost all-male affair"? I'm just interested to know, because rightly or wrongly that's not the impression I've had. Crypticfirefly 13:33, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
I was really thinking of the ref desk. My mistake. But I do get the impression that overall on Wikipedia, most editors are male. At least the ones I have checked. But then I haven\t done that systematically. I checked them for some reason and that might have had some link with them being male. DirkvdM 07:26, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
The observation, if true, would fit in with John Gray's idea (Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus) that men are action figures, looking for solutions and answers, while women are more prepared to listen and accept (or something like that). But then, I do not agree with most of Gray's writings. --Seejyb 20:42, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Ahem. User:Zoe|(talk) 02:29, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
I think it's also that there are some editors who feel the need to contribute to most questions on the RD regardless of whether they a) have something worthwhile to say or b) understand the question. This turns some questions into pissing matches, and it puts people off - even if you have something worthwhile to contribute no-one is going to look at it bcause there's a full screen of tangential rot to get through before they'll even see your response. From my observation, male editors are far more likely to engage in this sort of territorial pissing, which means they take up more space on the RD. Natgoo 11:48, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
I'd say the questioner, and some others, has just been confused because the women editing here do not use fuzzy pink fonts and write "I am a woman" on their user pages, or indeed choose names which are not obviously feminine. Add to this the tendency I have noticed of men on the internet to assume they are speaking to men, especially if science or engineering is involved, and you have a skewed perception. Skittle 12:41, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
Its not the amount of edits, but the amount of editors. And in that respect there are still many more men. DirkvdM 07:26, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
I'm quite certain that of those editors I've encountered who profess a particular sex, the vast majority have been men. Now 'editors I've encountered' may not be a scientific sample, and it could be that women have a particular tendency to keep quiet about their sex, but that doesn't seem very likely (and this is the Reference desk, not a scientific paper, so there's nothing wrong with anecdotal evidence).
Another possible reason, by the way, is that the Wikipedia way of resolving disputes rewards persistent aggression, a quality which is disproportionately found in people with testicles. HenryFlower 12:59, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
I wouldn't be so sure that it is unlikely that women have a greater tendency to avoid mentioning their sex. Another piece of anecdotal evidence: a guy I know plays a lot of Everquest (a MMPORPG) and plays both "male" and "female" characters. He reports that he is treated very differently when he is perceived as a woman. His suggestions are not taken as seriously, information he has is less likely to be believed, and he is generally treated as if he is less competent and less experienced than he really is. Now, it may be that he isn't as convincing playing a female character and the different treatment is due to other folks picking up on some subtle "wrongness" about his characters. But if this is an indication that when presenting information men are treated more favorably than women, than it would not be at all surprising to find out that women have a reason to hide or even out-and-out misrepresent their gender, while men do not. Crypticfirefly 13:49, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
As a further point, I don't doubt that originally most participants were men because at one time, more men than women used the Internet. But my understanding is that is becoming less and less true. See this demographic report. Crypticfirefly 13:59, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
Unscientific sample: I looked through the edit history of a random article, and found seven professed males to one agnostic. HenryFlower 17:52, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
I tried the same, with a random article (about a city, good neutral choice) and found that few state their sex. The only clue I found was "This user wishes he or she had a girlfriend". Suggestive, but as the sentence itself points out, not conclusive. :) DirkvdM 07:26, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

Category:Female Wikipedians

[Unindenting] If someone states their sex I relate to them as such, but I never, ever, ever assume anyone's sex, even if they state it. In most online situations I either outright lie about my sex or provide only ambiguous gender information.--Anchoress 04:42, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Automatic Downloads

Thanks,Serie, but even if it's real, which it seems to be, WHAT DOES IT DO?... ANYONE?...

Windows Genuine Advantage It checks to see if you stole Windows or not. That's it. --mboverload@ 10:53, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
There's a lot of talk at the moment about it failing to do this. It thinks some people's copies of Windows are stolen, and freezes them out, when in fact they were bought perfectly legally. --Richardrj 13:36, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

..and you can can't get any more updates until you finally accept the stupid thing. --Zeizmic 15:10, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

There is a lot of controversy about it right now. --Proficient 17:08, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Ah, malware detection programs sometimes cause more worries than peace of mind! (Similar to the confusion caused by topics not being continued at the original question?) But referring to the original question 3/4 of the way up this desk page: AFAIK, MRTSTUB.EXE is downloaded and run by Windows Update, and updates the MRT.EXE (the Malicious software Removal Tool) file which is normally in /windows/system, by means of patch (bits of update) code, as opposed to downloading the whole new version. This saves download time. When done, it should remove itself. If it is still on your machine (in one of those "$55672ugsrgffg7t$" kind of folders in the /windows directory) you can delete it safely - show system and hidden files has to be on for you to see this. Microsoft warns that the MRT is not designed to be a replacement for a normal antivirus program. It does not prevent infection nor does it stop malware from being installed on an ongoing basis. It simply checks the present status of your machine for specific viruses/trojans. If it finds them, it removes them, saving you a lot of hassle trying to fix a problem by yourself. After running, it removes itself from active duty, until next month's update. The Microsoft equivalent of Adaware is Windows Defender, quite different from MRT, and in my personal opinion there is no better anti-spyware for windows. The only possible "malware-related" function is that anonymous feedback is sent to Microsoft servers if an infection is found, and Microsoft guarantees that it contains no personally identifiable information. Nowhere have I seen that MRTSTUB.EXE interacts with, relies on, or in any other way have anything to do with Genuine Advantage. --Seejyb 18:51, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Thanks everyone. I'm still new at this stuff, so I'll probably be back with more ?'s. (At least I figured out how to continue at the original Question!)66.167.117.99 19:47, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] where?

In the first half of the 16th century, records indicate that countless ships laden with gold, silver and other treasures washed ashore here.


Legendary tales of coins still buried in the sand bring treasure hunters to the site, and dreamers still search the offshore waters for hidden riches.

Another one, how many of these questions do you have?
I'd suggest Florida or one of the Carribean islands as they were on the route from Spanish America & there have been a lot of shipwrecks in that area over the centuries. AllanHainey 14:13, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Not forgetting that in the Old World, there are countless shipwrecks dotted around the British, French and Spanish coastlines, and their respective waters. Andrew (My talk) 21:53, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Chewetel Ejiofor

I want to add the pronunciation of Chewetel Ejiofor's name to his article. He is a good actor and I want to talk about him to friends but I didn't know how to pronounce his name until I Googled some other articles. I think Wikipedia should include this. Could someone help me with how to do this minor edit? I've looked at the edit discussion and the sandbox, but I still don't understand how to do this.

Take a look at International Phonetic Alphabet. This is how pronunciations should be written in Wikipedia. --Schzmo 15:00, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Why are Wasps?

Why are Wasps?

Do you mean 'why are there wasps'? If so, good question. Maybe the little bastards are proof of the existence of God. Nothing so useless could have evolved. Whoever created them must have been having a laugh. --Richardrj 13:33, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

I'm what you might describe as a WASP.....inasmuch as I'm white, I'm of Anglo-Saxon origin, and I'm Protestant....I find your remarks pretty offensive, to be honest. ....bordering on the racist...I only hope that in time, youl'll learn to be as tolerent as the rest of the human race....you stupid spick cunt. Malt liquor...??? Vote BNP!

WASP stands for White Anglo Saxon Protestant. It usual refers to the very wealthy in New England or New York that have old money. The fathers are usually bankers or businesspeople, the wives stay at home, caring for the million dollar house, and the children to boarding school or at Ivies.

Note, the question originally read 'why are wasps'. The poster above changed 'why' to 'what'. --Richardrj 15:30, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
I've restored the original question. --LarryMac 15:40, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Elaborate on your question. --Proficient 17:12, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
If you want the insect, take a look at the wasp article. Andrew (My talk) 23:00, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Why shoot wasps?; Why eat wasps?; Why kill wasps?; Why breed wasps?; Why discuss wasps????? So please explain what is so grammatically wrong with, Why are Wasps? Is ARE not a verb?

If you don't know English that well tell us and we will help you out. Your question makes 0 sense. --mboverload@ 00:23, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
I disagree. The 'why x wasps does make the point well. Why are wasps works in much the same way as I think therefore I am, from which we could get why am I which is not 1,000,000 miles from why are wasps. And the answer, presumably, is because they evolved that way. --Tagishsimon (talk)
Dear Richardr j, please read the foregoing comment by Tagishsimon, who has kindly and correctly explained that "Why are Wasps" as originally posted is good English usage. Had I wished to ask "What are Wasps" I should have done so. But my question is valid and needs no amendment, not even with your help Mboverload. My question makes perfect sense and in future, if you want to make a critical comment about someone's use of their mother tongue (I am English), please do so - but only as a rider to offering a definitive reason as to why your opinion might be correct, which in this case, it isn't.

If Wasps stands for White Anglo Saxon Protestants, then the sentence "Why are White Anglo-Saxons Protestants?" does make sense. The reason would be because of the secession of the Church of England from catholicism due to the notorious Henry VIII, who was tired of seeking the Pope's approval for each of his numerous divorces. T

[edit] oilblock

HI.PLEASE WHAT IS AN OILBLOCK.WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IT AND OILFIELD AND OR OILWELL.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.199.52.58 (talk • contribs)

Please don't shout, and please give some context. If you are referring to this article, it appears to be shorthand for an oil blockade, but it isn't very good English IMHO.--Shantavira 14:39, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Caps key get stuck? --martianlostinspace 10:04, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Married... with Children 80s or 90s

Is Married... with Children an 80s show or a 90s show?

Both. It stated in 1987 and ran for 10 years. (Married... with Children).  SLUMGUM  yap  stalk   14:55, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
If one was forced to classify it as either an "80s or 90s" show, I would choose 90s since it predominantly ran during that period. --Proficient 17:13, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] hispanic names

Is there a list of all hispanic-named elected officials in all states?

Probably not. You mean all the way down to the local level? --Banana04131 18:40, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
For South American states that would be a huge list. And it would be pretty pointless too. DirkvdM 07:33, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Question

Yes or No? ADAM THE ATOM T E C 16:14, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Maybe. --Howard Train 16:36, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

I don't know/Can you repeat the question.--inksT 21:08, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, Definately Maybe. -Benbread 16:38, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Answer unclear; ask again later. Tony Fox (speak) 16:44, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Perhaps. --Proficient 17:14, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Mu. —Keenan Pepper 18:44, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
No, it's a question. I'd say yes. MeltBanana 22:03, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
No, unless you were talking about 42. - Mgm|(talk) 22:41, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Dunno. Andrew (My talk) 22:57, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
No and yes respectively. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 23:02, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Yes. Unless you really mean "Yes XOR No." --George 02:19, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
In which case it could still be 'yes'. DirkvdM 07:37, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
As the wind blowing over fields of wheat. Grutness...wha? 03:02, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
Please search first. Did you read yes and no? ;-) --Shantavira 07:56, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

That is the question-hotclaws**==(81.134.77.56 09:23, 15 July 2006 (UTC))

Strong oppose. Do not compromise the integrity of pages. --Optichan 14:43, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

Is this BJAODN worthy? 69.40.246.45 01:30, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

Is it worthy or is it not? --Captain ginyu 13:05, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
That is the question....Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 15:31, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
So is it, Yes or no? Philc TECI 23:53, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
I am Error. --Optichan 17:57, 18 July 2006 (UTC)


I prefer no or yes, personally, than yes or no. --martianlostinspace 10:00, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Baseball Trivia

We are in a trivia game. What player hit 19 Home Runs from the same pitcher?; and who was the pitcher? Thanks Joe

If one was a property developer and they are redesigning an old house, would it be a good idea to invest in a alarm system or would one not increase the value of the property significantly? - thanks Joel

Alarm systems are pretty much positive all the time. People will buy security. --Proficient 18:52, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
I wonder. "Look, the house has an expensive alarm system. This must be a pretty bad neighbourhood." DJ Clayworth 18:56, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Yellow flags in American Football

I am interested in finding the date and circumstance as to when the "yellow" color flag replaced the red flag in American Football. Can you help me?.............Respectfully submitted...............Victor Gonzalez........San Antonio,Texas 78259

Commies? Seriously, perhaps because yellow contrasts with the field better than red? Brian Schlosser42 17:33, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Childless marriages, Speyed bitches and Geldings

The childless marriage, when not so by choice, is frequently described as "sad", or something similar, and the problem has lead to the recent development of a highly specialised field of study and therapy. But I recently overheard at the vet, of an animal being fetched by the owner after surgery: "Shame, now she can never have puppies of her own." I can understand saying "shame it's probably sore", but "not having puppies of your own"? Is that a reason to feel sympathy? Has anyone ever observed or written about animals experiencing something similar, "a loss in their life", from the removal of their ability to bear young? Can one say that a speyed bitch somehow has a "less full" life than a breeding one, and that this may have an emotional or behavioural impact? Is there any reason to believe that the neutering of an animal can be "cruel" - that is, apart from the temporary anxiety and pain associated with separation and the operation? --Seejyb 20:20, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

It's really subjective and all about opinion. One could feel sorry for another being because they are not of the same religion or irreligious. It depends on their values and what they deem as a proper course of life. I don't really think it's "sad" that said dog could not have puppies of its own. If somehow the dog expressed that it would indeed like puppies, then I suppose it would be sad because it is not able to. --Proficient 20:32, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

I had a cat which carried rolled up socks around and treated them as kittens after being spayed. I'd have to say, that was pretty sad. StuRat 23:47, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

It's common for people to attribute feelings to things that cannot have feelings, such as events, abstract concepts and inanimate objects. People have feelings, and probably animals do too. But marriages don't. Even saying "it is sad that their marriage is childless" is projecting an individual's personal experience of sadness onto a nameless "it". Maybe it's not even that. Maybe the speaker does not feel sad personally, but assumes the childless couple must be sad because they have no kids. Why don't we ask them how they feel? JackofOz 00:46, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Halo: Custom Edition

2 questions:

1) Where can I get Halo CE? IS it downloadable, or do I have to go out and buy it?

2) WIll Halo CE work without Halo PC, or is it just an "expansion pack" of sorts?

I tried the article on it, but it wasn't very clear. Wizrdwarts (T|C|E) 22:10, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

You can download a demo version then pay for it, I believe. --Proficient 01:28, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
2) It's not an expansion pack.  Killfest2  14:00, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] News

Are there any websites where I can find old TV news footage, specifically from the 70's and 80's? 69.40.243.220 22:37, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

http://www.archive.org/ might be a good place to start, especially if you're looking for old newsreels from the 30's-60's, I'm not sure about the 70's-80's. --Schzmo 23:30, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
It would be a lot more difficult for Archive.org to have newsreels from the 1970s onwards due to copyright. I would imagine most newsreels made in the 1930s and 40s will be in the public domain, however, as the copyright for these films would most probably have expired. BBC News Online (http://news.bbc.co.uk/) may have some footage for the period you're looking for, though obviously it will only be from BBC news bulletins. Andrew (My talk) 22:08, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cheat code files for Gameshark 2 (Build 1437)

Howdy all,

We're trying to get the pen drive cheat files from gameshark.com to work, and the directions on the site are vauge, at best. Does anyone know how to get the cheat disc to recognize the downloaded file? - ScottM 23:26, 14 July 2006 (UTC)