Wikipedia:Reference desk archive/Miscellaneous/April 2006

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[edit] April 1

[edit] I'm probably going to hell for this, but...

Spoiler warning: A possibly racially offensive question follows this message.

There's this muslim Middle Eastern kid at my school and saying it kindly, he has a strong prescence. Can someone explain the whole aroma thing? I'm sorry if this is offending to anyone, but I'm really serious about this. Pacific Coast Highway • blah 01:08, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

  • Are you postulating some sort of relationship between religion and aroma? --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 01:11, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Possibly something to do with what he eats. Some types of food (most famously garlic) cause changes in the odour of persiration. A lot of food from points east is prepared with large numbers of spices. Grutness...wha? 01:41, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
It's not an unreasonable question. Race (or rather, genetic heritage) is a determinant of Body_odor. People of Korean descent tend to have the least. Search Pubmed for more information.--inksT 03:06, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

The Japenese often find American and European body oders offensive bacause of the amout of meat and milk they consume.hotclaws**==

I'm willing to bet it's just a coincidence. There was once this white American kid at my school who smelled horrible. That doesn't mean that all white Americans smell horrible, or that there's something about white American-ness that makes you smelly. He might have been the smelliest dude at his Middle Eastern school, too. But there may be a cultural difference about covering any odors. Many cultures don't bother with deodorant, because they don't consider B.O. to be offensive. TheSPY 21:59, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
I was with you up until the last sentence, TheSPY. The reverse side of that claim is there must be cultures that do consider BO to be offensive. Doesn't that mean it's possible for a person to be trained into being offended by a smell that is not naturally offensive to them? I can see how that might work in the reverse direction (eg. doctors and nurses have to learn to disregard the smell of faeces, vomit, etc). But if your brain doesn't register "offence" from the smell alone, what process has to be there to create the offence? And why? No culture could sustain that level of artificiality.
We're talking about BO as if it were a defined thing. There is no one body odour. Each person's odour varies (subtly, or not so subtly) from day to day, depending on various factors. If you're from ethnic group A and you walk into a room full of people from ethnic group B, you would like some individuals' odours and dislike others. But exactly the same thing would happen if the room was full of people from your own group. The numbers might be different, but you still can't generalise from individual cases. So in summary I disagree that acceptance of BO is a culturally determined thing. It's very much an individual thing. JackofOz 22:56, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
Agreed. One person is hardly a sample on which one can base any conclusions on anything. I have a Russian at work who only showers once a week and does not use deodorant. I find that he smells quite a bit (although others do not - smell sensitivity is highly personal too). However, I know plenty of Russians, and I wouldn't draw the conclusion it's a Russian thing. Someone who only met him might though, prone as people are to ethnic generalizations. Similarily, I know a few Arabs, and haven't ever noticed any of them smelling anything. The only relevant impression I've gotten is that some Syrian youths tend to use more cologne than most. --BluePlatypus 23:18, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

Thinking that one particular Middle Eastern child smells horrible is not racism. It becomes racism if you conclude "oh, he smells that way because he's Middle Eastern". Having a non-WASP background does not automagically make one extempt from all possible criticism. JIP | Talk 12:59, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

And that's exactly the assumption implicit in the way the quesion was framed. (Well, actually, the assumption in the original question was that he smelled that way because he was "muslim".) Otherwise, the question would simply be, "there's this kid at school who smells; why?" --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 15:37, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
I thought it was more like "There's this kid at school who smells, and I'd like to know why, but he's Middle Eastern, and I'm afraid I'll have every Political Correctness Awareness Group condemning me to Hell if I dare to even suggest that a non-WASP person might have even the slighest fault." JIP | Talk 15:57, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Grutness mentioned garlic as a common culprit of body odor-- there's actually an interesting thing about it: I've heard that if you rub a clove on the bottom of your feet, the smell will actually show up in your breath (no, I haven't tried it myself!). Anyways, I think curry is a fairly strong culprit in producing body odor, probably because it's usually heavily seasoned with many different spices. Also, some dietary supplements such as choline can generate a fishy body odor. Ketosis, a metabolic state that can occur in people on the Atkins diet or those with Diabetes mellitus, can generate a sweet-smelling alcoholic breath caused by exhaled acetone. Check out more causes of body odor here. --Uthbrian (talk) 06:00, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Grad school.

On average, how much does it cost to go to graduate school in the United States? Also, how many credits must be taken? Javguerre 01:30, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

The cost will vary widely by both program and school and so will the number of credits - some programs may in fact have no required credits at all. Rmhermen 02:45, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
You generally pay with your life for the rest of your life a lot. -LambaJan 16:28, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
You might want to tell us which degree and which subject you are interested in. --Chl 16:48, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
"The cost" depends on:
  • Whether you are studying something in "the humanities" or "the sciences"
  • Whether the subject matter will be potentially profitable in the future
  • How much money and/or prestige your school has
  • Whether you are going for an MA or a PhD
If, for example, you are doing a field in the humanities, for a PhD, which will not be potentially profitable, at a school with money and prestige, you can get the entire thing paid by fellowships (tuition, plus a personal stipend). If you are in a field which can give you some profit in the end they often just make you take out loans (like law school or business school), since you'll be able to pay it back anyway. Schools without money or prestige cannot often do this though. PhD programs are more likely to have money attached to them than MA programs.
As for credits, no answer would be very meaningful since each school does credits differently and each program has different requirements. Most MA programs are 1-2 year programs, most PhD programs are a minimum of 5. Knowing more about what you were thinking about studying would help a lot in answering you, though. --Fastfission 17:16, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
I would have said most PhD are four years, not five. Maybe that's just sciences though. Rmhermen 17:53, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
Could be, could be! I know the humanities end of it much better than the sciences. --Fastfission 18:39, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
You might also get funding from the university or the department, which might pay part or even all of your tuition costs. Adam Bishop 00:19, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
What Adam says is true. In my department, a graduate student who is 'funded' (and except for the continuing education students, I cannot think of one who isn't) has his tuition payed out of his professor's grant money. Raul654 00:21, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Question regarding the clause grandfathered.

If something is grandfathered in, can that be changed?? Meaning if something was grandfathered in can it be changed a couple of years later? Any information that you can provide on this subject will be greated appreciated. Thank you.

Kathy

"Grandfathered" does not mean "immutable". Grandfathering can be a temporary concession. --Nelson Ricardo 01:48, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
see Grandfather clause. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 08:20, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
And in some cases, the clause expires as the people do. For example, if new hires get a lower retirement package than the current employees, the better package will cease to exist once the last current employee dies of old age. If the company starts encouraging the older employees to smoke and eat unhealthy foods, you might get a little suspicious, LOL. StuRat 03:13, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dave olson

Who is He? --{{subst:user|4836.03}} 09:36, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

An actor or one of these. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 09:52, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] anatomically impossible

How do Easter bunnies lay chocoolate eggs?hotclaws**==

the same way that Santa delivers presents to the entire world in one night. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 11:42, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
And storks deliver babies. -LambaJan 16:29, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
And Willy on Wheels vandalizes thousands of pages at once. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.185.135.237 (talk • contribs) 17:57, 2 April 2006

Template:Spoiler

He doesn't. His elves lay them. --Optichan 14:18, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

That's an other issue there, each year hundreds of elves are sold as sexual slaves to horny bunny rabbits!!

[edit] skews

My roofing builder came around to do annual check, and has said that whilst his men were up there, they noticed the 'cement skews' need addressing. We are in Scotland so it may be localised terminology, but I cannot find an explanation on the net or your good organ.What are 'skews' in this sense on a building?--

I had no idea. But googling for it, it seems "skew" is a Scottish term for a gable coping, that is, the top bit of the gable wall that sticks up to stop water from running down the wall. --BluePlatypus 14:33, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
And, of course, "skew" is a general geometric term for two lines which are neither parallel nor intersecting. In other words, two non-coplanar lines. That might be the root of the Scottish term. StuRat 03:06, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Old Book

I have an old book titled "The Works of William Shakespeare, Complete. Accurately printed from the text of the corrected copy left by the late George Stevens, Esq. With a memoir by Alexnder Chalmers, A.M. Published in New York by Mason, Baker & Pratt in 1873. This book has 4 engravings in it. I have tried searching the internet for information on the book and the engravers, but could not find anything. Do you know where I might be able to find some info on this book? It is not in good shape and I would like to remove and frame the engravings. However, I would not want to do this if the book had some sort of historical significance. Can you help? Thank you. Rhonda Harrington

Well, looking at book auction sites, it appears the same book was printed in 1864, 1854, 1811 and 1805. George Stevens' edition dates all the way back to 1773. There's a 1876 Mason printing on Abebooks for $175 (which is quite expensive). I wouldn't say the book is terribly significant (not being anywhere near a first-edition). An average non-first-edition of an average book from that time, in OK shape would perhaps cost $20-30. But as you see, there's always a good market for Shakespeare. There isn't much about the engravings, true, but it seems likely they were reprinted from an earlier edition. Perhaps if you found one they might be credited there. Or you could try and find which illustrators usually worked for the publishers of the first edition that had them. --BluePlatypus 15:46, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
You'll probably have a very hard time finding the engravers' names if they are not clearly listed, though a close look at the engravings might turn up a signature, which could lead you somewhere. It does not sound like that particular edition of the book is likely worth much by itself, especially because of it being in bad shape, so you probably shouldn't feel too bad about removing the engravings. --Fastfission 18:38, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
Yeah. It was probably printed in a fairly large edition. I wouldn't be too sensitive about it, either. If it was something like a Blaeu atlas I'd be upset though. (Unfortunately, the maps from such atlases are often worth more when sold individually.) --BluePlatypus 21:00, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
Very true. My family has a prized heirloom, a John Cary world atlas (I should add something to the article on him...) sadly it's in fairly poor condition 9again, something I need to do something about...). It would be worth far more for the individual maps than for the book itself, but it would break my heart to see it split up. Grutness...wha? 02:52, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
Have you seen the recent Blaeu reprint someone (Taschen?) did? It's beautiful; we got a copy at work. Not quite the same as the original, but substantially more usable, and not horrendously expensive considering. Shimgray | talk | 14:46, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Jehovah's witness

Hi, recently watching an episode of Law & Order, I came across an episode where a convict was asked to supply a swab of DNA by saliva. He said he was a Jehovah's witness and "Can't do it." The pathologist then said: "He's right. I can't take his DNA." This then made we wonder: Why can't he give his DNA? I, of course, checked our article on Jehovah's witness, but it is way too long, and still didn't find anything. Any ideas? Thanks! Kilo-Lima|(talk) 21:40, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

I think that is falls under the aegis of "artistic license"... I haven't seen the episode in question but it sounds like the typical L&O plot contrivance...um, I mean "ripped from the headlines" story element... My guess is, in real life, if a Jehovah's Witness was served a warrant to provide the samples, they would have to do so or face jail time. Brian Schlosser42 17:24, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 2

[edit] softening a fur pelt

I found a freshly-killed mink on the road several weeks ago. A friend who is a Native American and an experienced hunter helped me skin and process the pelt. It's small but the fur is very thick and beautiful, and I would like to make two cuffs out of it for a pair of handknitted black alpaca wool gloves.

The problem is that I was told to 'fratter' it -- pull it back and forth over an edge to soften the skin -- and I did this for more than two hours. It did get softer, but it still does not have that 'drape' quality that I'm looking for. I have seen, and felt, fur pelts that were completely soft and pliable. As it is it is still very 'crinckly', like thin paper. I am also afraid that if I 'fratter' it any more, that the skin will tear. As one friend suggested, I wrapped the pelt around a bundled up towel, and sewed it in place, then tossed it in the clothes dryer with a couple of tennis shoes. It kept knocking against the door of the dryer and automatically shutting the machine off. Also, we have a very high tech, expensive dryer . . . . I sure don't want to ruin it for the sake of this little project!

I am looking preferably for a home remedy for this -- what can I do to acheive that drape?

If this is not possible, is there somewhere where I could send it to have it commercially processed? It would have to be a company that will do just one small pelt, rather than a whole pile. I imagine it's some sort of chemical process. . . .

Would appreciate any suggestions, links, comments, thanks.


m.i.e. Orcas Island, WA



It sounds like it needs more oil to make it soft and pliable. How about applying lanolin to the skin side ? I would think someone who stuffs animals would be the one to contact for a definitive response. I can't think of the name of that profession, though, but I think it starts with a V ? Maybe I'm thinking of a vivisectionist, but that's not it.StuRat 02:53, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
Are you perhaps thinking of a taxidermist? (we don't have an article for stuffing animals?) I obviously can't spell tonight. Dismas|(talk) 03:36, 2 April 2006 (UTC)


Response from m.i.e. - I am not familiar with how to respond, so please bear with me .. .. ..

a) I already used ALOT of lanolin when I frattered the pelt; as I said, it helped but it's still crispy!

b) a taxidermist doesn't make soft pelts, as far as I know. If you ever feel a stuffed animal the skins are usually crinkly like this pelt. I need to know what substance to put on it, or what company or individual to send it to for this process.

64.119.9.67 05:02, 2 April 2006 (UTC) m.i.e.

You need a fleshing tool, Fuller's earth, Sawdust and a drummer. More info here and here. Of course you could go the traditional way and chew the hide. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 14:51, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

Dear CBW, thanks. That's the kind of info I was looking for. Yeah, I know, the oldtimers around here always come around to teasing my about why I don't get to work chewing it . . . thanks again; I'll see how it goes.

64.119.9.67 21:57, 2 April 2006 (UTC)m.i.e.

[edit] Oliver North

Who was Oliver North's attorney during the Senate Contra hearings in the '70's?

I don't know the answer, but don't you mean the 1980's ? StuRat 02:45, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] ARGH! Anyone know ho to get stains out?

Ugh, I got cat crap on my T-Shirt and coat, don't ask me why. Should I just put it in the washing machine, or what? Someone help me here...it smells...no, dead serious. Argh. This is my favorite T-Shirt, I just got it today...crap, if I get a crap stain on the front...urg!

Flameviper12 03:00, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

If you have liquid detergent, pour it directly on the stain and wash. Should take it out of most fabrics. And next time you're at a pet supply store, pick up some Nature's Miracle. It comes in a white bottle with red lettering. It'll get the scent and stain out of carpets and clothes. Dismas|(talk) 03:33, 2 April 2006 (UTC)


to answer your Q? if you do not have a stain treater and scrubber you can use laundry detergent and hands place detergent on the shirt fold in your hands use nuckels to scrub the matereal togather. it will come right out. I prommis

                          savnnah lynn

OK, cool. It's fixed now. Anyway...only thing wrong is that 'new shirt smell' is gone. Hehe. 65.185.135.237 17:37, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

Go to your local hardware store (Supermarkets wouldn't lower themselves these days) and ask for a packet of Soda Crystals. You will never use washing powders or detergents again.

[edit] How do i find out who made the article?

How do I find out who made the article? I need to find it for a school report

You can cite the article in many styles by using Special:Cite --Brohan 04:54, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
When viewing an article, click the "history" button at the top of the page to see a list of all the edits. You will probably see hundreds of edits - no one person made the article, but rather, many contributed little bits of it.  -- Run!  13:36, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] iraqi weather

does it get cold in iraq at night or do the temperatures remain hot to warm all summer?

This should make things clearer. --Ouro 06:39, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] failing a lie detecter test

Is it possiable to fail the test when being 100% honest. If so what factors can make it apear as if you are lieing?

               thank you 
             Savannah Lynn
Start off here. Check out the available links, like antipolygraph.org. --Ouro 06:42, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, it is possible to fail a polygraph when being perfectly honest. From the article,

The test is passed if the physiological responses during the probable-lie control questions are larger than those during the relevant questions.

It appears that if you simply get progressively more and more nervous you can fail the test. You should probably read the article for more information. You don't happen to go to EMU, do you? I know "Savannah Lynn" is a common name but I have a friend who goes there :) Isopropyl 06:44, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
Polygraph tests are notoriously unreliable. Anyone who is at all nervous while being questioned by authority figures (an unsurprisingly large number of people) have heightened responses to all questions, whether truthfully or falsely answered. It is also easy for some people to trick them simply by thinking of unsettling things while answering questions truthfully. Grutness...wha? 08:23, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Can I mail tips to someone working with Wikipedia?

I find it pretty difficult to update information as I'm not at all used to this interface tool to edit new information in an article.

Is it not possible to mail the small additional info I have to someone who is used to work with wikipedia? (so it all becomes nice and correct)

well, you managed to post this -- it's not more difficult to post comments to article talkpages... dab (ᛏ) 11:00, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, just go to the article's talk page and click the + sign to add a new comment. Chances are someone will notice the new message and reply to it, or add the information to the article. If you want to learn how to contribute yourself, check out Wikipedia:Tutorial. —Keenan Pepper 14:36, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
Please also see Help:Editing; I think you'll get used to it after a while. Superm401 - Talk

[edit] proxy

can u give me a list of proxies sites that are safe???

Safe for what? —Keenan Pepper 14:12, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

try: http://www.sneak2.com http://www.misterprivacy.com http://www.userbeam.de their the ones i use. --slew any others proxy sites pls

[edit] Re-christening a ship

I've been told that it was considered bad luck to change the name of an existing ship. How true is this? I've heard of numerous cases where modern, civilian ships were renamed after they changed hands, and their owners didn't seem particularly concerned. Please clarify, 219.93.29.135 12:43, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

It's really just errant superstition. Traditionally sailors were amongst the most superstitious people in the world, probably because they worked in such a dangerous environment, and they considered almost anything bad luck - including changing the name of a ship. Rest assured that nothing bad will happen if you change the vessel's name. If you're particularly concerned, I've heard there's a way to avoid the bad luck by keeping the original name written down somewhere onboard the ship. Battle Ape 15:07, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
In my understanding, there seemed to be a common acceptance that changing the name when the ship changed hands was sort of permissible, but you'd better avoid it at other times. Shimgray | talk | 17:01, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
If you're curious, this is an interesting read. Isopropyl 17:05, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
It's considered bad luck to break a mirror, walk under a ladder and so on as well. People still do it sometimes, and always have. Why would this superstition be any different? --BluePlatypus 20:13, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
But it's good luck to write "suitly emphazi" on the reference desk. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:19, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
The answer to your question is yes and no, depending if you;'re asking whether it is considered unlucky or is really unlucky. Mariners are traditionally - along with actors - one of the world's most superstitious professions, and there are numerous ship-related supertitions - no women on the deco of a vessel; ship names shouldn't start with a T; ships shouldn't be renamed; etc etc etc. Grutness...wha? 07:05, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
So I can't paint pictures depicting women on the sides of a ship? Are pictures of men OK? JIP | Talk 12:54, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
deck! - I typed deck! - it's all a conspiracy, I tell you! Grutness...wha? 01:52, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Depicting All-rounder

Hi,

In want to visually depict All rounder this is the quality of my crop. It can withstand drought, windy atmosphere, good yield under difficult conditions. I want to show something which is synonyms of All rounder.


Thanks Abhay

Use a picture of Andrew Flintoff :) --Robert Merkel 00:48, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Deserts thrive in those conditions! You can use desert pictures.  :-) -LambaJan 02:53, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

How about a good animal symbol, like a rat or a cockroach? alteripse 11:41, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

A picture of Bo Jackson? -- Mwalcoff 23:05, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Sorry, but I can't think of any terms to describe such a hardy, rugged, stout, strong, sturdy, tough, toughened, vigorous, resilient, stalwart, durable, enduring, everlasting, imperishable, stable, tenacious, flourishing, prospering, thriving, brawny, fit, healthy, husky, robust crop. StuRat 09:37, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

But at least you were able to come up with some good visual representations. ;-) -LambaJan 00:44, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Which country receives the most tourists from other countries per year?

The tourism article doesn't seem to say.


[edit] Silver Coins

In what year did the US Mint stop using silver in nickels, dime and quarters?

Thank you.

MLM

Please do not type in all capital letters. From United States dollar,

In 1900, the silver standard was abandoned and the dollar was defined as 23.22 grains of gold. Silver coins continued to be issued for circulation until 1968.

So it looks like 1968. Isopropyl 16:50, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
Also, didn't they already use nickel for nickels ? Else they'd been called silvers. --DLL 17:15, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
Nickel (U.S. coin)s have been made of nickel since 1866 according to our article - before that when they had silver they were called half-dimes. Rmhermen 18:07, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

Ninety percent silver coins for general circulation were last issued by the U.S. mint in 1964. In 1965, dimes and quarters were made of copper and nickel, and half dollars were made of 40% silver and 60% copper. 1970 was the last year the 40% silver half dollars were minted. Brian G. Crawford 23:54, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Station Stats

Does anyone know where to get entry/exit stats (without asking station staff) for non-London but UK train stations, i'm in the process of adding my infobox to some stations, any help would be appreciated. A Weblink would be a good start. Google doesn't seem to help. Thanks for your help!! Djm1279 17:00, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

Figures from the Strategic Rail Authority, published march last year and covering 2002-3 are at http://www.sra.gov.uk/pubs2/performance_statistics/stat_usage/stat_usage.exc (Excel spreadsheet.) -- AJR | Talk 00:33, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Editing the Cornell University template box

Hi, folks....What I'd kindly like to do is edit the Cornell University template box, which is coded as two left "{" brackets, the word "cornell" (in all lowercase), followed by two right "}" brackets. (I had to write it this way, you understand, to keep the actual template box from displaying :-) ) Could someone kindly tell me how to get to "editing mode" for that template box so that I can edit it? Thanks!! Catdude 20:06, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

What you should do is go to Template:Cornell and edit that page to produce the desired results in all pages that display that template. And by the way, to prevent the template from displaying, use <nowiki>, like this: <nowiki> {{Template:Cornell}} </nowiki>. Hope this helps! СПУТНИКССС Р 20:27, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks much, Sputnikcccp; also thanks for letting me know how to suppress the template from displaying :-) —All the best, Catdude 03:48, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
  • ^Which is coded {{tl|cornell}}. hydnjo talk 19:02, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
  • or you could have coded it as {{cornell}} (using the <nowiki> tag --WhiteDragon 20:11, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
Incidentally, I think the template is huge (too big) and will overwhelm any article you use it on. At typical window sizes, it's practically a screenful. It needs to be reformatted and shrunk. Night Gyr 06:35, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] other wikis

How do I find a list of the specific-subject Wikipedias? I've seen several, everything from medieval times to Homestar Runner.

Start looking at list of wikis, it's a pretty big list, though. -Benbread 21:47, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Just so you know. Wikipedia is this specific wiki. Wikipedia is not the all-encompasing name for sites using this model. Your question should've been: "How do I find a list of the specific-subject wikis?" - Mgm|(talk) 08:38, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 3

[edit] This article reads like an advertisement

H2N-Gen is about an unproven device, unavailable for commercial use. To me, it reads like a promotional advertisement. Is there some tag available (to place at the top of the article) asking to have the article verified as an authentic contribution? - mbeychok 02:52, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Try one of the ones at Wikipedia:Template messages/Sources of articles. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:14, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mystery song

Hey! I heard a song on the radio the other day, and I need some help figuring out what it was called. It was oldies (60's-70's). It started out with an awesome guitar solo and then it sang a lot about "Valerie". Lol, I know that's not a lot to go on, but I would appreciate any input! Thanks in advance! --Dimblethum 03:39, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

http://www.google.ca/search?q=%22valerie%22%20lyrics&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images&sa=N&tab=iw Take a look through those. Flea110 06:49, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Believe it or not, the song being referred to is almost certainly "Valleri" by The Monkees. It does indeed start with a very impressive guitar solo (by far the best part of the song). Written by Boyce and Hart, it was released as a single in December 1967 and the guitar work was by session musicians Louie Shelton and Gerry McGee.Lyrics can be found here. Grutness...wha? 07:08, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

That's it, thx!!--Dimblethum 01:49, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] what's wrong with my keyboard?

What's wrong with my computer/keyboard? When I press either the (") (') or (~) key, it doesnt do anything until i press another key. If i press any certain letter, it'll add that diacritical mark to that letter. For example, it I press (~) and then (n) it'll give me (ñ). Or if I press (") and then (e), I get (ë). How do I turn this off? I realize it's not a problem with my keyboard, but that some setting is changed. (I have Windows XP) --anon

Nevermind---I fixt it. "a"e~n. --anon

Had you inadvertently switched on "sticky keys" and got the Ctrl key latched on? --Bth 07:24, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
I thought that's how it was supposed to work. How else would you get all the accented letters? JIP | Talk 12:52, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
That wasn't the anon's problem, it was that he was getting that effect without pressing control first and couldn't use the "' etc keys for their normal purpose because they were always trying to make accent marks (because he had control latched on by Windows' "helpful" accessibility-ware, if my guess is right). --Bth 07:52, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
On Finnish keyboards, that's really how they are supposed to work, i.e. without pressing control first. To get the "plain" accent mark without a letter, you press the accent mark key first, and then the spacebar. I guess it was my unfamiliarity with foreign keyboards that got me confused. JIP | Talk 08:20, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
*slaps self for insufficient internationalism* I never knew that, but in reflection it's probably fairly common outside English-as-a-first-language countries, since English is fairly unusual in not having accent marks. --Bth 09:44, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

I got really thrown for a loop the other day with KDE. If you are using a drawing program you sometimes have to hold 'shift' while dragging. Well, pay extreme attention to a little pop-up that appears: "I see that you have suddenly become demented. May I help you by turning on 'slow keys'?" If you acknowledge it, you won't notice anything in your drawing application, but the next time you try to type, nothing appears. I only got it fixed by heavy Google-searching, and going down several menu levels in the 'Accessibility' area. --Zeizmic 16:42, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] water surrounded countries

are there countries in Africa which are entirely or fully surrounded by water? Which countries are they?

Madagascar is an island, which makes it totally surrounded by water. I think that that's the only African island, except perhaps Réunion.--Keycard (talk) 07:44, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
No continental (i.e., mainland) countries in Africa are, but there are several island nations usually regarded as being in Africa. Madagascar is the biggest and best known, but there's also the Comoro Islands, Cape Verde Islands, and Sao Tome and Principe. Some definitions of Africa also include Mauritius. There are also a handful of overseas territories and semi-autonomous places like Mayotte, Canary islands, Réunion, and the Azores, which are sometimes regarded as being in Africa. Until it became part of Tanzania in the early 1960s, Zanzibar was also an African island nation - and it also now has a certain amount of self-government, though it couldn't really be called a country. Grutness...wha? 07:52, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
There's also Equatorial Guinea, which consists of two islands (the capital is on one) but also a small piece of the mainland. --BluePlatypus 16:08, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Free programming languages

I'd be interested in learning a programming language, but it has to be free and easy to learn. Any advice?--82.198.250.67 07:43, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

There are several I can suggest, but it really depends what you want to use it for, and how much previous experience you have with programming. Could you enlighten us on these points? — QuantumEleven | (talk) 08:56, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Quantum is right, but I'm going to plug my favourite ever language at you anyway. Perl is completely free, powerful (particularly for applications like churning over data and files, and server-side web stuff -- if you want to do heavy numerical work you need C or even Fortran, but Fortran-is-evil and increasingly old fashioned) and best of all, incredibly simple to pick up -- a Hello world program is just one line, not a whole bunch of class declarations, and it's (IMO) much more human-readable than some languages. You can do useful things with beginner knowledge and gradually extend your skills as you go along. Schwartz et al's Learning Perl from O'Reilly is the canonical beginner's book (with Programming Perl -- the camel book -- the canonical reference; both are worth investing in if you ask me), but there's a lot of free tutorials available online. --Bth 09:03, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

I don't know anything at all about programming.--82.198.250.67 09:59, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Python is free and often described as easy to learn. See Python for Non-Programmers. Fredrik Johansson 10:03, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
(Edit conflict) If you want free and easy to learn, you absolutely cannot go wrong with Python. It's very powerful (I use it quite a bit in the course of my PhD research) and INCREDIBLY easy to learn. I taught myself in an hour using this online tutorial - http://www.byteofpython.info/read/ . (And with respect to Bth, his suggestion that you learn Perl was *really* bad advice. Perl's incomprehensibility is the stuff of legends). Nuts-and-bolts languages like C/C++, Fortran, and Java are good to know, but a fair bit harder to learn. Raul654 10:07, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Just to put the above statement into context -- of all the computer languages I know [C, C++, Perl, Pascal, Ti-Basic, Verilog, VHDL, Scheme, Fortran, Python, Mips assembly, and X10 (an experimental Java-like language not yet released to the public)] I am firm in my belief that Python is the easiest to learn. Raul654 10:14, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
On reflection, I'll second that recommendation as I do keep hearing very good things about Python, though I've not bothered to learn it myself as I've yet to be convinced that there are things I want to do that I could do with it and not Perl (writing which honest-to-goodness doesn't even feel like programming to me, it's so intuitive, but I accept that I may be an outlier). OTOH, I do think Perl's incomprehensibility is sometimes overstated. It's easier to get away with obfuscated/hard-to-maintain/just-plain-bad code in Perl than most other languages because of TMTOWTDI, but it's not compulsory. --Bth 11:14, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
If you take math or are in a high school, you probably have access to a TI-83 Plus, a calculator. You can program that in TI-Basic, really easy and fun. Look in the manual, Chapter 16. 216.11.222.21 12:48, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Ooo, don't get me started on TI-Basic. 26 global variables... —Keenan Pepper 17:15, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Having gone through a calculator war in my high school years, I can say that TI-Basic allows multi-letter variable names, which means tens of thousands of global variables. CASIO Basic, OTOH, only allows 26. Of course, this caused me constant envy, because I was a die-hard CASIO fanatic. It was the four-colour display that finally sold me. JIP | Talk 18:38, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Call me crazy (go ahead, many do), but I would recommend learning many languages at once. Programming languages are not like spoken languages and once you learn one you will find that many are the same. It is important to understand the abstract idea of programming and not focus on the syntax, one way to do that is by learning several languages at once. I would recommend C++ and BASIC (and if you want, a TI calculator languages). You will find that once you do something it in one language it become easier with the others. Jon513 15:37, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Famous or popular street children

Can someone help by informing me, if there are famous or popular individuals in music, film, sport,leadership and so on, who were steet children at their young age.

ISTR several of Brazil's top footballers (soccer) were street children when young. Even the great Pelé was, IIRC! Grutness...wha? 07:55, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
I have always thought of Edith Piaf as a street child, but that's probably not literally true. Can't think of any others. Our article does not have a list of famous names, so thanks for the brilliant idea. JackofOz 08:46, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
I'm not sure, but Sophia Loren might be another possibility... Grutness...wha? 09:03, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Music

I was wondering if there was a list of: hits of the 50s, 60s, and 70s in rock and country. I am supposed to play that kind of music for a 50th anniversary. If anyone could help that would be great!! Thanks Zach 10:27, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

See List of number-one hits (United States). -- Mwalcoff 23:03, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Baseball

A runner is at 3rd base, 1st base is open, no one out. A pitch is thrown to the batter and called a strike which the batter thinks is the 3rd strike, but in fact is only the 2nd strike. The catcher drops the ball and the batter runs to 1st base. Meanwhile, the runner from 3rd runs home and scores. Is this correct or should the runner be sent back to 3rd and is the batter called out or made to return to the batter's box?

Thank you. Richard

The runner scores. Stealing home is legal at any not-a-foul-ball time. I am less certain of the batter, but I expect he's simply called back to the plate (since he can leave the batter's box between pitches), though perhaps he is called out for not asking "time" first. Alternately, the pitcher might be allowed to throw an easy strike since "time" wasn't called. This is almost as much fun as the infield fly rule! — Lomn Talk 13:30, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Major League Baseball's offical rules are available here. I'll see what I can dredge up on the batter. — Lomn Talk 13:32, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Here you go: rule 6.02(b): the penalty for the batter leaving the batter's box without calling "time" is that the next pitch may be delievered and called "ball" or "strike" as appropriate. If the batter does not promptly return, all pitches will be called "strike" until the batter is out on strikes. So in your case, if the batter doesn't quickly get back to the box, a simple catcher->pitcher->catcher toss sequence will result in strike 3. — Lomn Talk 13:35, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Help with computer Virus...

My Computer has recently been attacked by a virus. It makes pop ups come up like crazy. I don't know what else it has done. I have ran Mcafee, Trend Micro as well as Xsoft Spy Software. It seems to find the virus, but it can never totally eliminate it. Some of the pop ups I get tell me my computer is infected with the Black worm. But I dont know if its true... How come I pay all this money for this software and it cant solve the problem??? How can I fix this situation. My computer runs on Microsoft XP if that helps at all. Is there any way to fix it!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!

There are 2 basic scenarios. One is that you are overrun with adware, but not virii/worms. If that is the case, AdAware, SpySweeper and several other tools might get rid of it. Check Category:Spyware removal for details. If it is that infected you may need to format/reinstall, a virus can take over your system so completely that it getting rid of the virus is more work then simply starting over. I recommend the following procedure: First back up all your documents to CD/DVD etcet. Download a virusscanner, firewall of choice, and back those up too. Then format the HD, reinstall windows while not connected to the net, install the firewall/virusscanner, uses the highest security settings , and go online and update your windows to the newest version.
Note that it is vital that you always update and install the newest MS updates to keep a somewhat safe system, Windows XP of the install disc has many known security issues. This means that you need a certified copy of XP though. Maintaining PC security requires a bit of discipline. The rules i try to keep my family too (since i'm the one who gets to fix it when they mess up ;) are 1) Never download / run any program of the internet unless it's a trusted source. 2) Never allow internet access to any program you do not recognize, and google the name if you are uncertain. 3) Never disable a virusscanner or firewall for any reason while online. Also, running Firefox instead of Internet explorer as your main browser cuts down some security risks because it has a smaller market share and thus isn't targetted that often. If you switch the links on people, chances are they won't even notice. SanderJK 14:41, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Something slightly less radical than a full reinstall that you can try is to run the antivirus and antispyware programs in Windows safe mode - some viruses / adware have nasty tricks up their sleeves whereby they can resurrect themselves after they've been deleted, and most of these you can get around in safe mode. What you do is press either F8 or F5 when your computer boots up, and you'll get a boot menu. Choose "Safe Mode". The computer will start with the minimum it needs to run, you can now try running your antivirus / antispyware programs. Good luck, viruses and adware are nasty blighters! For the future, SanderJK's security tips are a very good idea. — QuantumEleven | (talk) 17:01, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
  • If your computer finds a virus, but doesn't do anything about it, you may need to change the program's settings to quarantine or delete such files. Once you've found the virus's indentity, try going online to symantec.com or a similar site and download a removal tool specifically designed for your virus if available. - Mgm|(talk) 08:50, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
SanderJK's last tip about browsers is good, but I suggest going a step further. (begin proselytizing Mac user comments here) I find that Mac OS X runs virus and adware free. For something like US$100.00 you can get a patch that lets you run the Windows operating system and programs off the Unix shell. Macs are now almost completely cross-platform compatible. Since the file structure and data storage is still Mac even when running windows software, they stay immune from virus threats with only the worry of being a carrier. Last time I checked, the iMac G5 was the most powerful desktop computer on the consumer market. And for people who think that Macs aren't capable of handling graphics and games as well as Windows based PCs, guess what the professional wrestling industry uses to put together their performances? Yeah, that's right. Wrestlemania is done on G5s. [1]—WAvegetarian•CONTRIBUTIONSTALK• EMAIL• 15:38, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Lemons

Has anyone ever tried fermenting them? Vitriol 14:31, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Without any actual empirical evidence, I would imagine the citric acid in lemons probably isn't very good for yeast, which could very well be the reason we don't see orange wine, or lime cider. Proto||type 15:18, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
See Limoncello. But that doesn't sound fermented to me (even though some sites refer to it as being from fermented lemons; and besides, it's just the rinds. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 15:25, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
You've got me very intrigued here, maybe i'll have to give it a go, i'll tell you the results if i ever get round to it -Benbread 18:52, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

MD 20/20, commonly known as "Mad Dog" is a citrus wine. What kind of citrus? I don't know, but I've always suspected it was made out of discarded orange rinds. Brian G. Crawford 22:57, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Google finds large numbers of recipes for lemon and orange wines for the home winemaker. One site notes the difficulty of making lemon wine[2]. Rmhermen 23:59, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
I don't know the proccess, but I have seen wine made from etrogim before. I would imagine it would be similar to other citrus wines. СПУТНИКССС Р 02:43, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Black and white boxes/TV screens

(Note: wrt the UK but possibly other countries as well). I seem to recall that in years gone by, whenever a programme on a commercial channel in the UK (i.e. everything but the BBC) was about to go to a commercial break or the end of the programme itself, a small black and white box with moving lines would appear at the top right hand corner of the screen, about 30 seconds to a minute before that part of the programme ended. This doesnt appear to occur anymore - or at least I havent noticed it for some time. So, my questions are: what was the purpose of this box (other than telling the viewer it's time to put the kettle on) and why is it no longer in use. Thanks-david.

Actually, David, I think you are wrong. I recently saw this box in an ITV digital channel; most possibly ITV 3. Computerjoe's talk 15:06, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Interesting, I wonder if it has anything to do with me not having a widescreen tv and my tv in effect missing off the edges off the screen. Are all programmes broadcast widescreen these days? David
I'm not sure, to be frank. I'm not an expert on such matters, just passing on my experience. Computerjoe's talk 15:52, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
They were to tell the engineers that the adverts were coming up, because they had to manually cue the adverts. With everything being broadcast in digital (even if you still recieve it in analogue), and automated now, they're no longer visible, and often not necessary. Proto||type 15:16, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Haven't seen them in a while but they were also visible on Canadian and US shows as well. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:00, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
I've noticed they usually appear when programmes (usually live) over-run into the advertisement breaks, assumably for engineers or to tell the audiance not to worry, and their beloved ads will be on shortly ;) -Benbread 18:50, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
It's called a cue-dot. See Cue-Dot (should be lowercas I think) Jooler 00:22, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Location of Cowe

Hi there! I recently discovered that my descendants, by the name of Stadelmyer emigrated to the United States from a place called Cowe. We could not locate the country this is in. We're thinking Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. Does anyone out there know where this place is or was? Please contact me at (e-mail removed) if you know! Thank you! Susan Ward

Theres a town called Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UK. Could this be it? David
A quick check of the German Wikipedia doesn't find anything either. Are you sure about the spelling? Proto||type 15:22, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Nothing relevant on Google either. Computerjoe's talk 15:53, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Could it be a farm name? --BluePlatypus 16:03, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
I am surprised no one removed the e-mail address....i went ahead and removed it.... and can i ask how did you find the information that he was from a place called Cowe? Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:31, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Answer: We had a local historian who researched our family tree and that is as far back as she could go - that the first Stadelmyer to come over came from Cowe. As a point of interest, the name actually was changed to Stottlemyer, which has evolved into many different spellings.

When an English speaker hears a German speaker say "Cowe", what the German speaker has said is "Kau". It's German for "to chew", but I don't know any place in Germany, Austria or Switzerland with that name. JIP | Talk 17:54, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Maybe it's a former family name? Isopropyl 18:14, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Note that Gau is the German equivalent of a county. Lots of place names end in -gau, most famously Oberammergau. The Dutch use the similar Gouw. Grutness...wha? 01:58, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

In the 18th century it was common for ships from the continent, e.g. Rotterdam, bound for America to stop at Cowes as the last place to take on provisions before starting the Atlantic crossing. When passenger lists were taken down in America, it would often note the ship had left Cowes, although typically would also list the earlier port as well. -R. S. Shaw 07:38, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks everyone for the wonderful information!! Susan

[edit] asteroid names

asteroids are identified by discovery year and two letters.the first letter gives the half-month it was found in, the second gives its order in that half-month.I believe I and Z are not used since there are only 12 months and 26 letters, so two had to be dropped, last,Z, is logical and I since it can be confused with L. But the 1st letter indicates a number, so are I and Z used? Is asteroid 2006AI or 2006AJ the 9th asteroid discovered in the 1st half of January 2006?

See Provisional designation in astronomy. And it would be J. Rmhermen 19:49, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Concorde fares between Heathrow and New York

Can anyone help my granddaughter find out what the typical pre-grounding fares might have been (in £ Sterling) between Heathrow in London and New York - both one way and also return. We visited one of the Concordes now in a museum in Scotland recently and we can't find the answer anywhere we have tried. Thanks in anticipation.

  • It varied from year to year, of course. A Google search for "concorde fares" shows:
    • Discount fares at the end of 2002 of $6999 round trip
    • The CAB rejecting a fare decrease from $1722 to $1651 on the Paris-Washington run in 1981
    • The last fare-paying flight in October 2003, $6000 one way.
  • --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 19:31, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

[edit] re Saint Finnian

last night I searched Wkipedia for any words on Saint Finnian, there4 were none--at least that was what the system observed--so I posted a small excerpt from another source--yes it was copyriighted--long ago--but this is not why I am speaking now. How is it that when I searched for Saint Finnian and nothing came up--no postings of any kind--- that today when I search Saint Finnian an article posted some time ago appears-- it clearly had been in the data base all along appeared?? curious novice Wkipedian,Onolan

You probably used a different spelling - we have articles on Finnian of Moville and Finnian of Clonard but nothing for Saint Finnian, Saint Finian, St Finnian, St. Finnian, St Finian or St. Finian. Some of those should be redirects and disambiguations. Rmhermen 23:53, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Phrase

Why are the "Higher Ups" in an organization called the "Brass"?

  • If I remember correctly, it's a back-formation from "brass hats", from the gold braid on hats of military officers. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 21:53, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
also "the top brass" Jameswilson 22:58, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pacifier inventor

Who invented the pacifier? The article mentioned a name that couldn't be found via Google. -- Zanimum 22:50, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

  • The contribution in question was from an anonymous AOL editor. My guess: hooey. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 23:43, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
  • The first "baby comforter" design looking like a pacifier and patented in the US seems to be one by C. W. Meinecke in 1900. (Patent number 33,212) I find the database quite slow going - someone else might find out more. (I was searching with CLC/D24/194) Daniel Bernstein filed an "ornamental design for a pacifier" in 1977. (Patent number D255,268)--HJMG 08:26, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
    • Thanks for the info. I've added it to the article. -- Zanimum 12:58, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Repairing a Possible leak in a farm pond

Is it possible to seal a leak in a farm pond by using Bentonite?, and if it is would it harm Wildlife such as Birds, Wild Turkey, Deer Fish and other Species? Thank you very much. RAY...........

Yes you can. As for harming wildlife, you may be interested to know that people pay to eat bentonite. [3] -LambaJan 02:33, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

You can't just pour some sacks on the water. Proper, pilled-bentonite is expensive. You really have to drain the pond, scrap out the muck, and lay down a bentonite cover. --Zeizmic 12:08, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 4

[edit] Search results for OpenTibia or OpenTibia Server pointing to Otserv.

Please forgive me, I've never tried to edit anything with wiki, cause I'll admit I have no idea what I'm doing. I did a search for "OpenTibia", and got no actual page, but a search result "Otserv". The relevancy between OpenTibia as I had searched for it, and Otserv, the result, was at like 9%.

Project "OpenTibia Server" was renamed to "Otserv" later for legal reasons, it's the same software, so the relevancy should be at near...very near 100%. Are the relevancy statistics calculated or can someone change that manually? Sorry I'm not really willing to do it myself, I feel that making an account would probably be hurting wiki more than helping it. Thanks.

AIUI, the relevancy is a guess by the software as to how much an article is "about" your search phrase. As such it tends to be low if an article mentions an alternative name only once or twice. The way to make sure someone goes to the right place from an alternative phrase is to create a redirect, which since you're unwilling to create an account I will now do for you from OpenTibia, Open Tibia, OpenTibia Server and Open Tibia Server. --Bth 07:38, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Job

What is the name of the career or profession that involves in finding answers of misteries and enigmas that are found on short stories and legends?

Researcher. However, that's not a directly paying field unless you find a wealthy benefactor who likes paying for odd relics and/or information a la Indiana Jones. However, a university professor (English / Humanities / Anthropology / other?) could probably make this an area of interest provided he publishes respectable stuff for the university. — Lomn Talk 13:16, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
Historian, perhaps? Well, we try.... --Fastfission 01:06, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Immaculata Academy for girls

Immaculata Academy for girls was established in 1958 in Miami, Florida. It was founded by Father Anglim under Bishop Coleman F. Carroll. During the late 1960's or early 1970's, the name of the school was changed to LaSalle and we are attempting to gather information on the original school, such as when it was founded and why the name was changed.

I would suggest you to the school's official website and click on contact us. The school people will be able to tell you what you want to know. utcursch | talk 05:30, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How high is the Quetzalcoatl on top of the Kukulkan Pyramid Mexico???

Anybody know please help me. Thanks in advance!

According to different sources, the stairs are approximately 24 meter (78 feet) high. I confirmed this by comparing the pixel height of people to the stairs in a photo ([4]). Then I compared the pixel height of the stairs with the temple (I suppose by Quetzalcoatl you mean the temple), and got approximately 6 meters (20 feet). –Mysid 06:53, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
Another possibility for this not-quite-suitly-emphazi'd question is that the questioner wants to know about the "implied serpent" caused by the cast shadow on the pyramid, which Mexican researcher Luis El Arochi calls it "the symbolic descent of Kukulkan" according to this site. That serpent is apparently 37 yards (33.5 m) long.

[edit] successful street children

Someone asked that if there are famous street children yesterday.Now i need to know if there are successful(not only famous) individuals who were street children.

Yes, there are successful-but-not-famous street children. Since they're not famous, there are no specific examples. — Lomn Talk 13:18, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Impossible Trivia

I would like to know the length of the longest uninterrupted white line painted on a road in England, and also the location. Does anyone know, or can anyone tell me where to get this information? Thank you in anticipation. MaxBear

I would suggest that the simplest answer to this question could be found by simply driving back and forth accross England while slowly pouring white paint out the back of your vehicle. Is it illegal and expensive? Yes, but it would provide an answer. Of course, another answer is 0 (unit of your choice), since a "line" extends infinitely in two dimensions and couldn't be contained by England, as opposed to a "line segment" which could be. Except that a line segment is also a two dimensional construction and couldn't be painted on a curved surface like a road or the Earth. So your choices are a prohibitively expensive and illegal workaround, or an argument in semantics. Sorry I couldn't give you a more satisfying answer, but based on your heading it seems that you weren't expecting one. —WAvegetarian•CONTRIBUTIONSTALK• EMAIL• 16:09, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
I don't know the answer either, but there are probably some people at SABRE who will try to find it, or die in the attempt. --Heron 12:33, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] El Nino

what is the role of el nino and what is its affect on climate? explain and reference

Do your homework yourself *grunt* --Ouro 10:39, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] California "Royalty"?

Here's a pretty obscure question for you, mainly due to my lack of details... but I'm hoping that this will trigger somebody else's memory. I seem to recall reading about a year ago about a fairly well known mentally unstable vagrent who arbitrarily declared himself royalty. Later on he became so famous that when he died the major of the city officially recognized his claim. From what I remember he was either King or Earl of San Francisco, but those details are a bit fuzzy. Anybody recognize this at all? Maelwys 15:33, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Immigration to the United States

Why does the United States still help people to immigrate (to US, as green card holders, resident visa etc) from Countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan....etc, in spite of these people who still hate the U.S. and would love to see the destruction of the Anglo-Saxon Race. Most of the people from these 'countries' were involved in the Sept 11 attacks. and why does not the U.S. Govt do something about it, before something worse happens. —This unsigned comment was added by Disaiah (talk • contribs) 16:01, 4 April 2006 UTC.

There's an important difference between most of the people involved were from those countries and most of the people from these countries were involved! Shimgray | talk | 16:04, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
Indeed. I would not be surprised if the majority of common peasants in rural areas of these countries had never even heard of the September 11 attacks, or even of the USA. The original poster's comment seems racist. JIP | Talk 16:23, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
And for many Americans the thought that Muslim students we welcomed to our country and schools with an openness to their differentness punishable by death in their own countries could betray our hospitality and murder thousands of us going about our own business was a shock that will make many of us look at Muslim immigrants differently forever. Above commenter accusing the questioner of racism seems like the comment of an ignorant asshole. alteripse 22:28, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
"...the destruction of the Anglo-Saxon Race", never heard that before. Thuresson 20:46, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
I believe the poster is confusing the "Anglo-Saxon race" with the United States. I do, however, think that a better cost-benefit analysis should be applied to would-be immigrants. The risk that they might be terrorists should be considered, especially if they are from an area where the Taliban or Wahhabism holds sway over much of the population. A willingness to integrate into their new society should also be considered. If they don't speak English, and the women are unwilling to remove their facial coverings even for ID pics, this is a good indication such people will not integrate well into any Western society and should be denied entry. Their wealth and/or job skills should be considered on the plus side. That is, what exactly are they likely to contribute if allowed in ? StuRat 21:24, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are both currently political and military allies of the United States, just as an aside. Barring admittance of people on the basis of vague generalizations doesn't work well, especially since much of the country does rely on foreign talent for its workforce and educational establishment. In fact, immigration from these countries has been tightened down since 9/11, which is judged by a number of National Science Foundation reports to likely be leading towards decreased American scientific dominance and achievement. Immigration's a tricky issue, best not to let one's emotions get too tied up in it, especially if one is not well acquainted with the complexities of it. --Fastfission 01:05, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
Those governments are allies, at least publicly. However large portions of their populations are violently anti-Western and the governments of each may continue to covertly support terrorists. For example, factions within the Pakistan government continue to support Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan. StuRat 09:20, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
I saw a great quotation just recently, and I've already forgotten who said it, but the idea was: "Admitting people from different cultures isn't a threat to our national identity; it is our national identity." JamesMLane t c 08:58, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, but that doesn't mean we should let everybody in. Only those who can contribute should be let it. StuRat 09:20, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
That would depend on what they're contributing to, StuRat. How does one measure the contribution of a person to society? James, that quote rang very recent bells with me too, but I couldn't track it down either. JackofOz 09:26, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

Don't feed the trolls --Hughcharlesparker 09:50, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Continental Coastline Lengths with a Tolerance of +/- 2000 km

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm currently engaged in a Job- Re- Training Program in which I and 3 others have been assigned the Project of improving a "Longitiude-Gitter Globe." The Project is to "add" the non-exitstent Continents to the Globe. What my Team Members and I are missing is the Circumference or Coastline lengths of Europe+Asia+Africa (In Sum, SIGMA)I've been able to find in Wikipedia Europe and Africa without Asia, ?Japan?)), ?Americas (North and South)?, Greenland, Australia, and ?New Zealand? Here, Anartica, I'm hoping the Coastline value I found here in Wikipedia is Coastline +/- 2000km and not "Ice-Coastline." We are only Students-in-Learning of the Metal-working Trade with the hopes of; to include the selfish Wish of, impressing upon the following Generations to "That Young/Old Dogs can learn new Tricks." I Thank the One or Them that respond foremost with a very large "Thank You." Our Team still must, after the reciept of our required Information, carry out the various calculations of Costs and What-Not.

Again to those Who respond, "Thank You,"

Richard Grund

E-Mail: [ removed to prevent spam ]

You might consider also taking a piecewise approach when you can't find continents at a whole. For instance, you mention that you're not certain of the length of Japan's coastline, which we have available at the sub-article covering the geography of Japan. Most other countries and continents should follow this outline. On the other hand, if you just want the sum total, check out the geography section of Earth. — Lomn Talk 18:06, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
You might want to check List of countries by length of coastline. Grutness...wha? 03:22, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

Coastlines do not have well-defined lengths. See How Long Is the Coast of Britain?. Gdr 18:30, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] french foreign legion.

after looking on your site for very many weeks now i had found an interesting site on the french foreign legion of which i found to of been of great help which was full of usefull info and also contained a forum i am no longer able to find this site and was wondering if the site had been removed or located somewere else?any help or answer to this question would be very much appreciated.thank you very much.

There is still an article on French Foreign Legion on this site. Notinasnaid 18:14, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Old Questions

How am I able to find an answer to a question that I asked last month sometime. The questions only go back to the 28th. I think I asked it on the 21st.

Have a look under ARCHIVES at the top of the page.

Here's the link for you: Reference desk archive. Enough material to last you a good few hours of solid reading... — QuantumEleven | (talk) 14:15, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Naked sleep

Why some couple go to sleep naked?

  • Beats me. I've tried sleeping naked once. Failed miserably. But when I get even the bare modicum of underwear on, I'll sleep like a baby. JIP | Talk 21:53, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Because in cold places, you'll warm up quicker. Brian G. Crawford 21:59, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Alternatively: why would anyone wear clothes in bed?  -- Run!  22:17, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
Same as last time. So they are ready to answer the door. On the other hand, maybe so the naughty bits can rub together? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 23:26, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Maybe they are trying to cool of, like if they lived in a desert. Thats my reason for sleeping naked between about April and August. TomStar81 05:02, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
  • I've tried sleeping with clothing on, and it's very uncomfortable and very difficult to get to sleep - ridges in the fabric and feeling too restrained by the pull of the seams... bleagh. I suppose it all depends what you're used to. Also, wearing clothes in bed is far less intimate if you're with someone you're, um, intimate with. Grutness...wha? 07:59, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
  • That's right. We're getting into personal territory here, but the idea of having clothed sex in bed leaves me cold. After I've had naked sex with my partner, I can't imagine putting clothes on to go to sleep. The delicious cuddling intimacy as we're drifting off to sleep is the best bit, and anything other than nakedness just won't do. Sleeping together but not being able to feel the skin on their torso would be almost like sleeping in separate beds. So, that's just me, but I'm sure a lot of other people feel as I do. JackofOz 09:17, 5 April 2006 (UTC)


[edit] External links


Thanks, and again, sorry for not using the right channels.

The DCR has JUST now scheduled another meeting this week with the City Council of Cambridge Massachusetts. THIS Thur. APRIL 6 - 11:30AM in the Cambridge City Council chambers (meeting w/DCR on Storrow Tunnel.) That puts urgency to make Hositt easily accessible (and WikiHositt understood, even if Wikihositt engineers need anonymity to work). Www.HOSITT.us only went on-line Monday March 27,'06.

Of the two articles you're proposing, I think the first is probably a better option to make. The other one doesn't seem exceptionally notable. Read up on how to create your first article.
While you obviously have a wealth of information, please remember that it must be presented with a neutral point of view. I'm an urban planning (formerly civil engineering) student at MIT, and I'm quite familiar with the situation. There are many points in your post that are debatable; for example, a lot of people would consider Boston Common the "Central Park of Boston" and not the Esplanade. When your write the article, please remember that Wikipedia is not a soapbox from which to spread your opinion of an issue. Good luck! Isopropyl 22:40, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
Such questions should be asked at the Wikipedia:Help desk in the future. Wikipedia does not seem like the right place for these topics, at least for now. Reading Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not will help you understand why. As an encyclopedia, Wikipedia describes notable existing topics; it does not serve as a soapbox so it should not introduce or publicize new ideas. All information should be verifiable thorugh external sources; ideas that have not appeared elsewhere are unacceptable original research. Because the HOSITT is only in very early stages (you said it is only has a preschematic), it is probabably not notable enough for a Wikipedia article; it would be difficult to find external sources. The WikiHositt is definitely not notable because the website is so new. Superm401 - Talk 22:47, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
"Chris Bjelleklang"? Is that his real name? (Bjelleklang is Norwegian for "Jingle Bells") --BluePlatypus 23:23, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

Isopropyl: Thank you for the comments & advice. Still teriffically new in this fantastic world. About the "Central Park of Boston" - attributed now as a quote from Dr.Haglund's book. I don't know why the moniker attached itself to the Basin. Googling the phrase does yield more associations with the Commons, and even one ot two with Franklin Park.I'll explore facts some more & revise. hossit_dot_us

[edit] Banking

I want to know where there is a very low-bullshit bank that will not lie to me about how much money is in my account.

When I make an ATM withdrawal or an online transaction, I do not want to see any bullshit holds on my account. The amount of the transaction should immediately be subtracted from my balance, just as in a game of pinball, the points immediately appear on the scoreboard.

Is there no good bank out there?!


Nothing personal, but it says at the top of the article:

Be polite. to users, especially ones new to Wikipedia. A little fun is fine, but don't be rude.

Jonathan W 17:28, 10 April 2006 (UTC)


Is this a question or a rant? To get a useful answer, you should tell everyone what country you'll be banking in.Slumgum | yap | stalk | 23:19, 4 April 2006 (UTC)
The USA (specifically, the northeast).

\\\You should use The Royal Bank of Scotland. Been with them over 35 years man and boy, single and married (twice), but the RBS have always given excellent over the counter and electronic service.

Just dont use Bank of America, they won't help you with anything, and it took me 4 months to get them to close my account --T-rex 15:47, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How to link from one article to another

I've tried to add the name of the English actor Richard Armitage into a list of "well-known alumni" in the LAMDA article at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Academy_of_Music_and_Dramatic_Art

but I can't see how to add a specific link - when I viewed the updated LAMDA page I found a link had automatically been added to the new name, but it goes to the article on the US ex Deputy Secretary of State Richard Lee Armitage! At the top of his article there's a link to the article for the actor Richard Armitage, at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Armitage_%28actor%29

How can I get the LAMDA link amended so it goes to the "correct" Richard Armitage?

I'd be grateful for any help you can give me - I'm a complete newbie here!

Many thanks,

R Salbashian

I've made the change for you. Basically you just need to change it so that instead of [[Richard Armitage]], you have [[Richard Armitage (actor)]]. But this looks funny in a list to have that qualifier in there so you can "pipe" the link by doing something like this, [[Richard Armitage (actor)|This link is for Richard Armitage, the actor]] which looks like this, This link is for Richard Armitage, the actor. The pipe character makes it so that anything before the pipe is the link for the article, and anything after the pipe is what text will be displayed.
Also, questions about how to do things on the Wikipedia are generally asked at the Wikipedia:Help desk. This page is for questions about life outside of Wikipedia.
And by the way, Welcome! Dismas|(talk) 00:00, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

Dismas, many thanks for that info, and apologies for using this page for a techie-type question, but I'm sure I noticed other similar questions on this page so it seemed a reasonable place to put it. Next time (if there is a next time...) I'll go to the Helpdesk. (I couldn't figure out at all how to amend a link to go somewhere different, as they're obviously "wiki" links rather than standard html links...) --R Salbashian 23:47, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How to deal with vandalism from anonymous users?

I keep having to remove erroneous information, clearly vandalism, from the Ray Gun (film) page. I would report the user if he was registered and had a talk page, but it's just random IPs. It's either 152.163.100.73 or 64.12.116.137 - or maybe they're the same person. Should I try and get the page locked? Can someone point me in the right direction? Thank you. --Marcg106 00:06, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Vandalism for info on what to do. Even though they're posting from IPs you can still post warnings on their talk pages such at {{test}}, {{test2}}, and so on. Dismas|(talk) 01:22, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
From a limited persusal of the history, describing this as "vandalism" seems a bit strong. Perhaps this is good faith transcription of information from a source they consider reliable. Notinasnaid 11:28, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How to use video from a non-dv camcorder on a pc

I have a scw87 samsung camcorder. It's "hi 8" and "8mm".

How can I get video shot on it on a pc? Flea110 00:09, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

In my day, we used to use a product from a company called Dazzle that had some fancy schmancy RCA and S-video input on one side and the other was a USB connection. Came with some software, then you just sort of played it and recorded it VCR-style. Isopropyl 00:12, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

You can get something from Costco that is quite cheap. These boxes take the standard video and audio input and produce MPEG-2 files down USB. The cheap boxes never work on Linux. --Zeizmic 12:23, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Patent Research

Hello: I'm researching a patent that appears on a brass belt buckle. The buckle says "CALIFORNIA" which was for the University of California in Berkely. On the inside of the buckle it says "PAT.APRIL9,1912" and thats all it says. Is there a way I can find out more about this patent as I would like to start manufacturing this style of belt buckle. Thank you. Jerry Schumacher (email removed) 1-800-362-9269 or 310-659-0235

I would try the [United States Patent and Trademark Office, I'm not sure on the specific search terms but that seems a great place to start. Just FYI, posting email addresses and or phone numbers isn't a common pratice here, your email address will be cloned on hundreds of mirrors and it tends to have some spam issues. Cheers -- Tawker 06:49, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] publishing

when was the web material on Wikipedia published? who are the editors of the informaiton on the wikipedia website? where does it should page numbers and volume number on a section i'm look at?

There are no page numbers or volumes. It looks like you're wondering about citing Wikipedia as a source for a paper of yours? Please see Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia for more info. Dismas|(talk) 05:06, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Survey information

Can information presented in surveys or gathered in surveys be used here. For example, if I went out and randomly interviewed 100 people could I place those results in an article to as a citation or as proof of a point?

In short, no. See Wikipedia:Original research. If you have this information published in some sort of magazine, book, or medical journal, then you may cite that source but not just your own "man-on-the-street" sort of findings. Dismas|(talk) 05:07, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
The answer from Dismas is correct, but you should also note that mere publication doesn't make something a valid source. An extreme example: A newspaper sends one of its reporters to walk up and down Main Street and ask 100 people what they think of George W. Bush. The paper publishes the results. Citation of this article in Wikipdia wouldn't be original research, but it still wouldn't be proper. Careful scientific polling shows Bush's current approval rating to be in the mid-30s. A slapdash survey that finds 10% or 60% approval isn't worth citing. On the other hand, we do sometimes cite reputable surveys or polls, if the context is such that the state of public opinion is a fact worth reporting. JamesMLane t c 09:40, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] rubber price

Dear All,

While the price of Natural Rubber at Tokyo, Japan is USD 2.097/kg, an exporter in India will get only USD 1.950/kg from a buyer at Japan. Can you explain why?

Markup (business) --Zeizmic 12:32, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
overhead costs for the buyer? transport costs? lost goods (stolen or damaged in transit)? 62.119.184.141 12:32, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

You can generally count on a 100% markup for any goods, between major points on the supply chain. eg. factory to distributor to retail. This was a 'golden rule' for many a decade. High-volume stores have reduced this somewhat. Just ask what a coca farmer gets in Peru, as opposed to New York street price. --Zeizmic 15:33, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Long Stay Car Parking

Hi Guy's

I am hoping you can answer a question for me, I travel by train from Stevenage on a regular basis.

I usually get dropped off and picked up, however I now need to travel and park up myself.

What is the duration of parking in the Car Parks ajacent to the Railway station, ie arrive on Saturday and return on Monday 48 hrs is the accommodated if so what are the costs involved.

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated

Many Thanks

Well you didn't say if it was the railway north or railway south but I'm just winding you up as the price is the same at both. As long as you are talking about the council operated car park. The cost Mon-Fri is £4.00 a day, Sat all day is £2.20, Sat evening after 10:00 pm is 60p and Sun all day is 60p. So it would look as if you would pay £6.80 (Sat, Sun & Mon) unless you loose your ticket then its £20.00 extra. The information is at Stevenage Car Parks with season ticket information. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:12, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
How do you give a star? You totally deserve a star for this one. You don't even live in the same hemisphere and you gave that perfect answer. -LambaJan 00:50, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Which countries...

...have the highest percentage of people who declare themselves either atheist or agnostic? Also, how many Australians are non-religious (is there any way to access the Australian census, because as I recall that involved a question about religion)?

There sure is such a question on the Australian census; do a search at The Australian Bureau of Statistics website. As to the most atheist countries, you might try our article on atheism for information. --Robert Merkel 11:48, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
I'd say, probably the Czech Republic or Sweden. Depends on how you define "atheist" and "agnostic". If you do a poll, it's very dependent on how you ask the question. Numbers for church membership puts the Czechs at about 1/3 of the population, with 11% attending at least once a month. OTOH Sweden has about 90% membership since, prior to 1990(?) people born there were automatically enrolled in the Church of Sweden, but only about 5% attendance. On the other hand, there are countries like Albania which are officially "Atheist", although with a de facto rather religious population. --BluePlatypus 19:57, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
It's pretty much the same situation in Denmark - 87% membership but almost no attendance. If people are openly religious i.e. going to church a couple of times a month they'll be viewed with suspicion. Gardar Rurak 17:55, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cool Original Doritos

They're so, so good. But what are they supposed to taste like? (I'm UK-ese, by the way.) Vitriol 12:25, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

...........Like the box they come in.

I'm guessing some kind of mild cheese, and you're right they're really tasty :) -Benbread 16:57, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
I think torula yeast is a big part of the flavor. —Keenan Pepper 17:31, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
Standard answer when asked how any food tastes is that it tastes like chicken. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 22:17, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

In the US, anyway, "cool" anything is supposedly linked to "cool ranch", meaning a particular variety of Ranch dressing. User:Zoe|(talk) 23:40, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

And what, exactly, is "ranch dressing"? It's a buttermilk-herb salad dressing but the majority of Americans get squeamish at the thought of buttermilk so advertisers hit upon "ranch" for marketing purposes. Hey, don't laugh. It sells! Ande B 05:07, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Footnotes in Wordpad

How do you do it? is it even possible? I don't have MS Word and I'm about to finish my first university assignment (where citing sources is required, or they kick my rag-tag arse out).

While I'm here, how should I put a sentence gained from here into a bibliography: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1227915.htm

There are proper word processors out there which are free (e.g. Open Office). Get one if you want to do this sort of thing without buying Word. If you must do it in WordPad, you'll have to manually arrange that some text falls at the bottom of a page, by repeatedly using print preview, and you won't be able to use a superscript number. This isn't perhaps such a big deal: for maybe 100 years people have been doing that using a typewriter. But bear in mind adding even one letter could change the pagination. Of course, people with a typewriter had no such luxury. Notinasnaid 14:35, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
Um, just a minute, aren't sources more often cited using an end-note than a footnote? Notinasnaid 14:35, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
An endnote in Wordpad, then. I don't mind. This is my first assignment and I'm not really sur eif it's compulsary to cite sources; i'll really only be quoting one interview.
Cite them inline then. It's ugly, but it's still better than not citing them. See – b_jonas 18:21, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
You don't need anything fancy to do an endnote. It's just a reference in the text, and a numbered list at the end. All a word processor does for you is automatically number and collect the endnotes. Notinasnaid 07:14, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

A bibliography can be written in APA style or MLA style. Both have rules for citing a website. See the articles for details. And while I am here I should say get open office. 85.65.242.239 16:43, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Reinsurance

Reinsurance Companies & Markets Swiss Reinsurance Munich Reinsurance General Re Lloyd's of London QBE Reinsurance Corporation Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinsurance" The above companies are listed as Reinsurance companies. You can click on each of them, and the history of the specific company is revealed. QBE Reinsurance company has no information. What does QBE stand for and who are they.

The search I did, had no results.

Regards

Carene Werner Removed email.

Well googling "QBE Reinsurance Corporation" gets lots of hits. Queensland Insurance from 1973, Bankers' and Traders' Insurance Company Limited from 1921 and The Equitable Probate and General Insurance Co Limited from 1959. They are from Australia. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 14:53, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
Forgot to stick in the history of the company. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 14:55, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Best time to buy airline tickets?

I've been told that if you purchase airline tickets more than 60 days before your flight, you'll be paying rack rate. Any travel professionals care to chime in on when it's best to purchase to say... Edinburgh?

In my experiance the best time is the earliest possible time after they go on sale. For example i ordered a return flight to Spain online the day the tickets became available, about 3-4 months in advance, on checking the flight costs a week before the flight, they cost more than double what I paid. I encourage you to, when possible, order airline tickets as early as possible. -Benbread 16:55, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
Depends on the airline, if you're flying a cheap budget airline like Easyjet or Ryanair the quicker you book the cheaper but with other higher cost airlines you can frequently get a very good deal if you turn up at the airport a few hours before the flight flies to buy a ticket, but only if they have spare unbooked seats left. The airlines don't like flying partially empty so they'll always offer you a cut price deal so they can make at least something on the seat. Of course you run the risk of not getting a seat at all if they're fully booked. AllanHainey 12:32, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Catholic School Attrition Rates in US

I am looking for some information on Catholic School Attrition rates in the United States at the elementary/middle school level. Data exists for other types of private schools but I have been unable to locate any for Catholic schools.

Do you mean "drop-out rates" or attrition of entire schools - both are happening. Rmhermen 17:21, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] feasibility report

  What is a fisibility report?
Presumably, a report on how feasible something is. See Feasibility study. —Keenan Pepper 17:20, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Entirely new entries...

I want to create a new entry for UIN. There are two things I could think of:

Union Inspection Notice

and

Union Ideas Network

However I do my search and find a UIN relating to ICQ. It isn't relevant to edit that page, and so I try to create a new entry altogether and there's no obvious button. I don't want to affect that page but I can't see a way round it.

Kind regards, Jonathan

Go to UIN, then when you get to ICQ, you should have a line at the top of the article that says: (Redirected from UIN). Click on UIN, and you should get to the redirect page, then select edit this page. Eivindt@c 17:47, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Beatles Revolver Album

Did The Beatles Revolver picture disk record (with the album cover printed directly onto the vinyl) originally come with a printed cover, or just a plastic sleeve?

Many thanks for any help 82.2.53.138 18:00, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

FWIW, if you don't get an answer here, you could try askjing at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject The Beatles - someone over there might know. Grutness...wha? 02:53, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Disclaimer - how to write

Good day, Shall be grateful if someone can send me an example of a disclaimer suitable for the use of administrators of a small group of people engaged in maintaining their roadways (work that the Local Authority refuse to do).

      David Porter
You need to check with a lawyer. Are you actually entitled to disclaim responsibilty in your specific circumstances? Jameswilson 23:29, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Iraq War

Does anyone know how much money the U.S. has spent on the Iraq war so far?

Thanks in advance! Marak24 22:00, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

http://www.ips-dc.org/iraq/quagmire/ reports $5.6 (billion) per month, estimating over $700 billion for the total cost. http://www.publicintegrity.org/wow/report.aspx?aid=65 and http://www.warresisters.org/piechart.htm seem to report some figures, both are anti war sites so watch the POV on them. I hope those help -- Tawker 23:50, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks man! Marak24 00:45, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
No worries, you're welcome :) -- Tawker 01:43, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
One potential problem to watch for is whether that cost is "total spent" or "over and above normal peacetime spending" -- for example, a whole lot of fuel gets used by the naval units in that area whether or not they're engaged in hostile operations. Is that part of the estimated "cost of the war", and should it be? — Lomn Talk 17:09, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
  • All reputable reports are quoting marginal (extra) costs. Why else would the US deficit agree with those stats? hydnjo talk 22:22, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

According to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz the cost of the Iraq adventure could be $2trn (see Socialist Standard article "Real men" want to go to Iran March 2006 David Porter

  • A BARGAIN - one life here saved is worth far more than that. Maybe we should just invite Osma and friends in through mexico to explain to you in person? FrankB 23:29, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Another thing to consider is how much of that money is "spent" back into the US economy. By that I mean that much of the "cost" of the war is "spent" on US made equipment and labour. This actually has a positive effect on the US economy. Just as an example, WWII "cost" the US a fortune, but it was great for the economy, in the sense that it provided jobs to millions of Americans, and was a boon to the US manufacturing industry. In a sense, despite its "cost" it finally brought the US out of the great depression. Loomis51 22:12, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
  • The increasing US national debt speaks to that. hydnjo talk 23:00, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Napoleon Dynamite

Talking about careers and professions,What career or profession Napoleon Dynamite Could be good at?[ex.He likes to draw creatures and telling stories}

Campaigner. -LambaJan 00:57, 6 April 2006 (UTC) Vote for Pedro!
He might make a reasonable musician :) Grutness...wha? 07:50, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
Don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter. Kilo-Lima|(talk) 17:32, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 6

[edit] Francophile

OK, why the hell is there a 7 page long article on francophobia, but an 11 word article on francophile? Richardkselby 23:55, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Upper South

What states are included in the Upper South? Heegoop

According to Britannica, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Jude (talk,contribs,email) 01:52, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] BEEF VERSUS CHICKEN

Looking for articles about advertisiments on beef versus chicken / pork, market sales, and reports?

Oops, sorry. Must have to clean my screen. I thought you said BEER vs Chicken. And beer beats a drunken chicken anytime. But seriously, try the trade association web sites for beef, pork and chicken producers. Ande B 05:11, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
I prefer chicken --T-rex 15:39, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
Checkoff, Industry trade group — MSchmahl… 17:18, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Getting rid of flea infestation

Dear Sir. or Madame;

I recently had a relative stay at my home and she brought her pet cat. My home quickly became infested. I have done research on getting rid of the problem, but none say what to do if it persists. While they were here I bathed the cat, gave her frontline, and I bombed my home. And yet they still persist. For the most part I have been the only one that has been getting bitten, and it is HORRIBLE. I can't even sleep. And now they are starting to chew up my one of my children. Now that the visitors(relatives) are gone I plan to bomb my home again. Why have none of these things seemed to work. Is there something I can do to make it more effective? Or anything more I can do to get rid of the pests once and for all?

Thank you very much for your help. I understand, according to the article, that the information given was due to experience and I hope to learn from what ever more you may have to offer on this solution.

Thank you so much for your help.

Sincerely, Michelle Roseland

This veterinarians son/brother notes you need to break the Cycle life cycle of the fleas and kill off the breeding age critters which produce a new generation within about 10-18 days, so repeat this about every two weeks at least three times.

[edit] Area or Room Treatment

The goal here is to create a vapor cloud of a common inexpensive household pest-control (poison) that the breeding population cannot avoid by jumping above it. This method uses the ubiquitous anti-moth products available at many retail stores, especially hardware stores (certain) and perhaps grocery stores.

  1. The best area method would be to place moth crystals (flakes) and moth balls in the infested areas periodically for several hours at a time; this needs to be done in a thorough no-nonsense manner, such as moth balls about the floor and couches, beds, wherever there are fabrics above a foot or so from the floor.
  2. Block off the areas' egress with towels under the door, sheets (bedding or plastic types) taped across the doorways, shut off all ventilation (forced hot air furnaces and air conditioners)
  3. Go to work, shopping, or another activity (sleeping) and let it 'soak' the room for at least two hours.
  4. Clean out your vacuum cleaner.
  5. Vacuum up the flakes or balls and transfer them into a plastic bag or container for use again in two weeks. Leaving moth balls under beds in closets, behind dressers, etc. would be a good idea. Anything that's likely to inhibit growing hatchlings will aid the effort.
  6. Repeat again two weeks apart several times. If your home is in a sub-tropical clime subject to a higher humidity like the American south (say below the Mason-Dixon line, then increase the treatments up to five or six times.

[edit] Whole Home Treatment

Follow the above strategy with your insecticide bombs. Home Depot sells a four pack at a cheap price compared to singletons from hardware stores. The key is killing the immature hatchlings before they mature and lay more eggs. The downside to this method is protecting foodstuffs, as you well know having read the fine print.

If your home is carpeted throughout, this would generally be the better method, as there is no way of knowing where they are at any moment. If you have a lot of hard flooring, the flakes/balls would be the better method, as you can target the spaces you absolutely need to treat, though this will entail some degree of gambling you're right about where they are likely to be staying.

With the first method, you can of course leave the barriers in place for a few weeks if necessary, and naturally, you can combine the two. I hope this helps! FrankB 00:21, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Drinking Age

How do the views on the minimum legal drinking age differ between the US and Europe?

Well, Europe tends to be slightly more liberal on minimum ages whereas the US is much more conservative. Though this is OR I have found that many college and university deans do not agree with the high legal drinking age as they believe students binge drink in dorm rooms etc (it was a Time magazine article that came up with it) - a rebuttal in Readers Digest basically called for higher drinking ages and was faced with very strong opposition in the letters to the editor (conflict of interest note: I wrote one of those letters). Again, these are (mostly) uncited (until I find cites) but hopefully it will give you a basic overview. Cheers -- Tawker 02:30, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
See our articles on Legal drinking age and Underage drinking in America for a place to start. Generally, in the United States, the high drinking age is motivated by the fact that people can start driving at a younger age, and since younger people are considered less responsible, they are more likely to engage in irresponsible activities like drunk driving. Also, there may be some leftover Prohibition-era mentality around. Also note that in the US, the drinking age is much more strictly enforced than in Europe, especially in areas like New England (stemming from the Puritan Blue laws). In Massachusetts, for example, an out-of-state driver's license or even a passport is not considered an acceptable proof-of-age document in many establishments. Things are much more relaxed in, say New York State, where alcohol can be sold in supermarkets. Also note that in Europe, many countries give a lot of cultural significance to certain forms of alcohol, and drinking them is an ingrained aspect of the culture, for example wine in France, beer in the Czech Republic, etc. --Aramգուտանգ 03:21, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
I don't think you can say the drinking age is more strongly enforced in the USA than in Europe. It varies quite a lot between European countries, as does the legal drinking age/purchase age and the legislation in general. I don't think it's a drinking-tradition issue either (even though it's a popular explaination). For instance, Finland. Finland now has some of the stricter alcohol legislation in Europe, and for a reason: They have a history of very heavy drinking. Alcoholism was a huge social problem there up until the 20th century. (When coffee replaced vodka as the main social drink - now they're the global #1 in coffee consumption per capita) The more relevant cultural issue is probably how they drink. The French tend to drink wine with meals to be social, not to get hammered, wheras Finns tend to binge-drink 'viina'. --BluePlatypus 04:22, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
There is pretty much as much diversity in how strongly the drinking age is enforced among US states as among European countries. In the US, the South and New England are strict, while elsewhere it's more relaxed. In Europe, Scandinavia and Germany are strict, while Central and Eastern Europe are very relaxed. However, in the strict regions of the US, the drinking age is enforced much more strongly than in the strict regions of Europe. For example, I doubt you could find a place in Europe where a passport is not an acceptable proof of age (of course, you could argue that passports are less common in the US, but you'd be forgetting the amount of tourists visiting the US, and you should also take into account that out-of-state IDs are unacceptable in many places too). As to the drinking-tradition issue, I agree that it's not very significant, which is why I listed it last in my answer. The issue of drunk driving is the crucial one here, especially considering how much driving is favoured over public transportation in most of the US. --Aramգուտանգ 05:20, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] American troops in Europe

Could anyone tell me approximately how many American troops are stationed in Europe (not including the Balkans if any are stationed there)? I would imagine most if not all would be stationed in Germany. Loomis51 02:24, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

Looks like I found the answer to my own question. There are approximately 100,000 American troops stationed in Europe, 75,000 in Germany and the rest on Italy and the UK. But as a follow-up question, with the cold war over, why is such a strong presence necessary? It certainly puts into perspective all those who say that the US miltary is being spread too thin in the Middle East. Also, it's worthy to mention that the total US miltary consists of nearly 1.5 million troops. That means that less than 10% of US troops are on active duty in the Middle East. Loomis51 03:07, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

This link has some good information including graphs showing the drawdown in European deployments after the end of the Cold War. Your current "strong presence" is a fraction of the early deployment level. As to why we still have so many there it is a combination of using pre-existing facilities, local political acceptance of U.S. deployments and convenience of access to places we may deploy troops. I thought that the current U.S. Middle East deployment was more than the 150,000 that your figures would make it. Rmhermen 17:30, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
We have an article on the subject Deployments of the United States Military although the number are a year old or so. It gives about 175,000 deployed to the Middle East. Rmhermen 17:33, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
There's no real incentive for European governments to reduce the presence of American troops - they bring business and local communities rely on the bases - and what's the harm? Some years ago there was talk about moving some of the bases to more eastern locations as the areas where they are needed has moved since the cold war. This coincided with French/German opposition to the Iraq war and at least some German commentators believed it was a way to "punish" Germany. Gardar Rurak 17:47, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Last time I checked, it was the American Government, not the European governments, that ultimately decide how many US troops will be deployed. I don't understand the logic of that last point. Loomis51 01:59, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm certain the US government can not double, triple or in other ways expand their presence in EU without permission or agreements from the governments on which lands the bases are placed. When Bush first decided to build the Missile shield it became apparent that a base on Greenland was needed which the Greenlandic home rule at first opposed strongly although the Danish government has been more receptive. The point is, without consent from Denmark their will be no missile shield in Greenland even if there is already a significant US military base there. In any event, the bases in Europe are most likely under some form of international agreement subject to dissolution should one party wish to do so - albeit presumably with a fair amount of warning of some years. Gardar Rurak 03:13, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

I should rephrase my last statement as I see how it can lead to confusion. Of course it is up to the European governments to allow or dissallow American troops on their territory. What I meant is that, should the US decide to remove troops from Europe, the "incentive" of European governments to keep them there hardly seems relevant. The US can pull out as many troops as it sees fit. Loomis51 22:33, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Info on birthday

I was reading an article on test patterns: Birthday by the numbers & was told that i can go to this website & enter my birthday in the search box & it would bring up a whole bunch of info about the day, month and year I was born in. I can not find any info by following those directions. It takes me to a screen that says that there is no article titled that. Please help!!-----ANDREA

You'll need to enter the day and month together like 6 February and then search for the year, like 1973. AllanHainey 12:39, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Blocking Internet Site

My son is using an internet downloading site that I would like to block. Is there a way to do it? Be specific as I am not a tech?

  • See internet filtering. But I would recommend talking to your son first, unless it's a site that offers porn or gambling. Blocking sites will only result in a bigger desire to visit them. - Mgm|(talk) 12:44, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
  • It is very unlikely that, if your son knows computers better than you do, then you will win this sort of battle on the computer. You need to deal with it as a real-world problem, by talking, rules, and boundaries. Notinasnaid 12:52, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
From a technical point of view, once a person has physical assess to a machine and the password for the internet provider it is very very hard to filter what he can assess. I doubt very much that you can completely block something on the internet with any software. I am not saying that you shouldn't use, but you should be very aware that there are many ways around it [5]. Even the strictest software won't stop access to the machine with boot-up from disk. You can (and should) look at the history and speak to you son if you find something objectionable. However be aware that he can delete the history. You can undelete the history, but he can also wipe the history making that impossible. I would suggest talking to you son about what you feel is appropriate and inappropriate use of the internet. I think it would be a good idea to only let him use it when you are supervising. If you internet service provider requires a password change it and don't tell him what it is, so he can only go online with you supervising. When he is older you can give him more and more independence as you see fit. The internet is like many things that you teach responsible use of it and hope that he message get through to you kids. At the end of the day trust is the key. Jon513 14:02, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Help needed identifying junction types... and another question

  1. I need help identifying the type of freeway (or expressway as we call it) interchange shown in these diagrams: Image:PIE Changi Flyover.svg, Image:PIE Tampines South Flyover.svg, Image:PIE Bedok North flyover.svg, and Image:PIE Whampoa flyover.svg. These are SVGs with the transparency turned on.
    For the answer to this part of your question, see Interchange (road). --Heron 12:13, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

Which brings me to the next question, which I shouldn't really be asking here, but in case anyone knows...

  1. How do I turn off transparency by default for new images in Inkscape? Today is my first day using it and I tried fiddling with the image background colour, setting alpha to 00, but still the opened image and new images are transparent. Help. :-( — Kimchi.sg | Talk 06:10, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
    sample diagram
    sample diagram
    Those diagrams (well, the Whampoa one that I checked) don't have backgrounds, so changing the background colour won't do anything. If you want them to have a background, you'll need to a) create a big solid rectangle b) set it to the background colour you want c) object -> lower to bottom and d) resize it to the size you want. But I suspect what you want to do is pick out the roadways from the normal land, and adding a background isn't going to help much fo those diagrams - they're just a bunch of lines, not a bunch of polygons. To there's nothing solid to give a background colour to. There may be a way (I don't know it) to turn a bunch of lines into a shape - but when I want complex shapes in Inkscape I generally start with a simple shape and mess around with it (adding points and turning points from corners into bezier nodes) as I go. It's a fairly labour-intensive process, particularly for shapes as complex as you want. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 16:51, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
    I made a simpler example of a freeway interchange in Inkscape, showing how to do such solid-object diagrams. The diagam (Image:Wfm sample interchange.svg) is made from six objects. If you're going to be doing stuff like this, you'll spend a lot of time using the Inkscape point editor - it does take a bit of practice, but it's very worthwhile. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:12, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
    Wow... thanks for the diagram! Guess I've a lot of learning to do. :-) — Kimchi.sg | Talk 17:06, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Musicals. Performers salaries.

Just curious to know what kind of salaries are paid to actors/singers in Musical Productions (in UK). I enjoy going to the Musicals but rarely recognise any of the performers, who generally give an excellent performance (last night we saw Mamma Mia in Edinburgh)but we have no clue whether they make a normal salary or more or less than that. Obviously it differs from show to show and role by role but it would be interesting to have a general idea of pay rates and conditions.

You can get some idea from Equity, the actor's trade union, of minimum rates. As it says, the rates given are minimums; the principals, and particularly any star performers, will obviously get more. --Robert Merkel 14:12, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

.....Thanks Robert, I did as you suggested and got the fright of my life, especially in respect of the minimum rates for the non-principal hoofers and warblers. I had imagined their rates might be low - but not that low - and who pays their accommodation, travel, and food costs I wonder?

I'd imagine that a travelling production allows for payment of accomodation and travel, but your overall insight is correct. Being a non-famous performer is generally a very financially difficult life, particularly for the 90% that are unemployed at any given time. --Robert Merkel 00:46, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

It would help people if we could make an article for all the 'high risk' professions. Something like the 90 percentile salary for: singers, hockey players, actors, circus performers, etc. --Zeizmic 16:01, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Name of an actor?

Who played Kate's mother in the episode of Lost called "What Kate Did?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episodes_of_Lost_%28season_2%29#What_Kate_Did

I'm sure I've seen her somewhere before, and it's killing me, but imdb doesn't list the minor actors on Lost.

[edit] The Surname Steen

I just wanted to know does my surname Steen have any links with the Scandanavian area going back as far as the Vikings? I know it is a Scottish surname and that would have been the closest place to stop for them please if you can answer this question with some form of evidence i would be extremeley greatful. My email address is --email removed-- thank you

It may be Danish name meaning stone here also see this, Anitra Steen and Alexander Steen. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 00:39, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
"Steen" is also Dutch for "stone" and it is not an unusual name in the Netherlands, e.g. Jan Steen. David Sneek 08:36, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
It's very unlikely that it dates back to vikings, since viking didn't have surnames, but patronyms. Eivindt@c 09:35, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
You mean, like Erik the Red? User:Zoe|(talk) 21:51, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
No like Erik Torvaldsson and his son Leif Eriksson. "The Red" is a cognomen. You didn't read the article, did you :) --Eivindt@c 10:18, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] advertising slogans

Can I get a complete list of Dell's advertising slogans in a timeline? I have been researching and can't seem to find a complete list all in one place.

[edit] state income tax

There is alot of jobs being filled by out of state workers. We should implament a state income tax for all the workers to give tiddings to our state. The state income tax is based on the same tax as federal income tax, except the dollar amount is very small, only a few dollars on the hundred. Please look into how the other states work their systems, they are all about everyone paying in to run the state without getting their money through business investers, business or land owners. We could stop the rise in our land taxes every year becuase the state can now get their money through the people. The gas companies can't afford to pay higher taxes, yet we need their investment, so we all help them and our stae by paying a little dues we won't even notice out of our checks, this is our only way to make life fair and not baise to only one class of society, we are all doing our part. Thank-You for your time, I hope you can help spread the words for change in our economic struggle. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.237.251.198 (talk • contribs) 16:56, 6 April 2006

What state? Also, please believe that I do notice the 6% that Alabama takes out of my paycheck. Anyway, on a more relevant note, this is a more complex issue than you're making it out to be. For instance, the question of whether a tax is progressive may be considered more relevant than the means of taxation. Ultimately, the state will also look to get x amount of money regardless of source. A switch from (to use your example) property tax to income tax will likely mean that, instead of property taxes rising, income taxes (or sales taxes, or capital gains taxes, or whatever taxes) will rise. — Lomn Talk 17:18, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
Hard to spread the word, or even know whether we agree or disagree, without knowing what country you are in. Notinasnaid 17:15, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
Please make your statements in the form of a question. DJ Clayworth 19:12, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

If you've got an idea you think is great, write your local representative, and/or write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. This area of wiki is for general reference questions, not to "spread the word" on anything. (I doubt they'd pay much attention though, unless you take the time to clarify what exactly your point is, as it's difficult to follow your argument the way it's presented). Loomis51 22:46, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Tracking down the IP, it looks like the original poster uses gci.net, and therefore probably comes from Alaska. --Trovatore 17:44, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Identify name on a watch

Hi,

I received a gold pocket watch from a friend. On the back is inscribed.
     
       A.A.STORRS
       --95 3/4--
       Montpelier
     Jany. 8 - 1902
Alderney Butter Color

I am assuming This may have come from Vermont. But I really dont know how to
research, the past history of company's that may have been in business back in
the early 1900's. 
I'm assuming this was a presentation watch.
Any help would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks  JACK
Searching for "storrs vermont 1902 pocket watch" (without the ") gives about 400 hits, "storrs vermont 1902" about 29,000 and "storrs vermont" about 400,000. So you might want to try looking at some of those. One thing I noticed is that there is a "Daryl Storrs" in Montpelier, Vermont so it may be that Storrs is an old family name in that part of your country. According to the only hit (other than Wikipedia) I got for "Alderney Butter Color" was this which indicates that it was a butter colouring made by The "Heller & Merz Co", so you might try searching for them (37,000 hits). Good luck. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 22:06, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Derailed Trains

In the days before cranes bacame widely available, how were derailed trains set back on the tracks, especially in isolated regions such as mountains?

Which days were those? cranes have been used for at least 2,000 years. Gdr 18:24, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
  • In isolated regions, that would be the reason why it takes/took so long to get trains back on the tracks. - Mgm|(talk) 09:52, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
  • I'd imagine in the early days of rail much of this would be done by muscle power. A whole bunch of labourers, a few horse/bullock teams and some fairly simple levers and pulleys would probably do the trick. For a more detailed answer ask over at the Rail portal. Lisiate 04:21, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wiki Search Feature

On March 9th I wrote regarding an article I posted - Linda Marie Fedigan. The internal search feature was not picking up on this article when just "Fedigan" was supplied in the search box. I was advised that the search feature only periodically collects data and that this problem will correct itself.

One month later and the problem still persists. Is this unusual? I can even do a Google search for just "Fedigan" and it actually directs me to "Linda Marie Fedigan" at wikipedia.

Do I just need to be more patient or has something been missed?

Thanks Kelly Anne Seguin

  • Kelly. The reason you are having trouble with the search engin is most likely because of one of two small flaws that I have fount in it. The search engine does not—for some reason—search through titles of articles. It is also case sensitive. The best thing to do is to creat a Fedigan and put a redirect in it. To place a redirect, you use the wikimarkup: #redirect [[name of article to redirect to]]--The Editor1 20:12, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
It is case-sensitive on purpose and does search article titles - but the search database is not updated instantly. You simply need to wait for the update and it will be there. Rmhermen 23:40, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
The search engine 5UXORZ the worst. Never use it - use google with site:en.wikipedia.org. For great justice. 15:12, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Carnival is Over

This song was recorded by the Seekers in the 60's but it was originally an old Polish folk song. Does anyone know the original words (pref translated in to English)

Are you sure it's Polish? The Seekers lyrics are the same as the Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds version and that indicates it was written by Frank Farian of Boney M (who also recorded it) and Tom Springfield who it appears wrote the song in 1965 so Frank Farian would be the arranger for Boney M. By the way he and his more famous sister, Mary O'Brien, both changed their last names. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 00:27, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
  • I think this is it: Stenka Rasin (a Russian folk song). Here's a midi of the melody; seems to me to match, and certainly the meter does. I'm not sure I'd trust the translation -- it's singable rather than literal, which is always dangerous. But -- thanks for sticking "another you" in my head; that can take DAYS to erase. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 00:40, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
    • It was Russian, not Polish - the first lyrics were (in English) "Round the bend beyond the island, on the Volga's broad expanse"... but that's all I can recall of it. It was originally in fast triplets over 2/4 (polka time) rather than the slow 4/4 of the Seekers' version, which explains the odd meter. Looks like the same one listed above, but I learnt a different translation. I;m afraid I can't hear "The Carnival is Over" these days without thinking of the final episode of The Games - hilarous! Grutness...wha? 00:43, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
  • The whole story is right here, in good old Wikipedia. Gotta love it. JackofOz 09:30, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Marlene Favela

What are Marlene Favela's favorite things to do before and after Contra Viento Y Marea?

[edit] Literary character

Hi,I tried to find a good literary character but i couldn't find one,i haved read Sherlock Holmes and James Bond stories,Can someone could give me the name of a character that is a mix[combination] of Sherlock Holmes and James Bond,please,thank you?

Well 206.170.104.24 I'm not sure but I suspect he would have been created by theRay Bradbury of Mexico. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 00:03, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Though not really a mix of those two, I'd recommend the Flashman books by George MacDonald Fraser to anyone - ictorian era rogue/spy/ambassador/military hero. If you want something closer to Sherlock Holmes, but with an odd twist, there's always the Lord Darcy books of Randall Garrett. They're fantasy, and both a gentle spoof of Sherlock Holmes and good detective stores in their own right. The fantasy element is that it's an alternative history - science was never really codified, but magic was, and an Anglo-French empire controls much of the world. Tongue-inpcheek fun, but very readable. Grutness...wha? 00:48, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
If you're looking for a spin on the detective novel, try The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and if you like it read the rest of the series. I love them personally, but I understand some find them a little too lighthearted, and dangerously close to "chick-lit", but I think they're great. Another great series of novels involving some mystery are the Jeeves novels by P. G. Wodehouse. Hilarious, witty, and just amazing. Getting a little off-track, I would also recommend King Solomon's Mines and Allan Quatermain, the sequel, by H. Rider Haggard. Not really like Sherlock Holmes, but still good. Of course, you could always try the Da Vinci code, but... well.. you didn't hear the recommendation from me. СПУТНИКССС Р 03:06, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Penguins

What species of penguins are found at the north pole?

None they are not native to the Arctic. See penguin. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 23:57, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
Very lost ones. -- Arwel (talk) 23:59, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
I think the polar bears ate them all in a fit of genocide. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 00:06, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

And, boy, were those French actresses mad when the Great Canadian Penguin Hunt finished off the survivors... --Zeizmic 01:23, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Just out of curiosity, what would happen if we transported a few hundred (or thousand) penguins to the arctic? Would they survive? Would they do well? Flea110 04:20, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
It would depend where you tried to transport them. In terms of climate the few species that live in Antarctica would be able to survive anywhere here but would the ones that live in the tropics? They also require water to get their food so they would have to be dropped off near the ice edge. Now, Antarctica is ice that is on land while in the Arctic the ice floats on water. Thus when the ice melted in the summer there would be nowhere for them to land. So I guess they would all die off pretty quick.CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:43, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
The arctic ice cap never melts. It's permanent all year round.Loomis51 22:49, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
  • And I'm sure those polar bears you mentioned are in for a tasty new snack if it ever arrived. - Mgm|(talk) 09:48, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

More interesting is what would happen if we took some Canadian polar bears down to the south pole to star in the next movie: The Mess of the Penguins. I've wondered why bears are confined to the northern hemisphere. I guess they could never penetrate the equatorial regions. --Zeizmic 12:02, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

None of the polar bears I know have ever expressed a desire to eat penguin meat. Maybe they just don't know what they've been missing out on. JackofOz 12:52, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
The polar bear societies in Antarctica were annihilated during the Penguin Polar wars a millenia ago. Gardar Rurak 16:05, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
The reason that a polar bear wouldn't eat a penguin is because they can't get the wrapper off ;-) -- AJR | Talk 00:19, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] rules and Regulations of the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Board of Options Exchange re obligation of broker to pay proceeds in a deceased customer's account.

For three months I have been trying to extablish an account with several commodity and options brokerage houses (man Financial, Lind Waldock, Alaron) so that I may engage in the business of trading commodities and options. In each case, because of my age, I have asked the brokerage hose to sign a simple statement acknowledging their obligation to pay the blance of my acount in the event of my untimely demise to the trustee of my inter vivos trust. In every case they have refused to sign such a statement, saying such payment would contravene the rules opf the Board of trade or the Board of options Exchange. They have never cited a rule and although they have said their attorneys would call me re the question, their attorneys have failed or refused to do so. It thus appears to me that they are practicing a veiled and vague type of discrimination on the basis of age. It also is to my knowledge from many long years in the practice of law, that property rights and law are matdters of state law ansd can not be contravened by either of the boerds in question. Any light that be shown on this question will be appreciated. RED

As an aside - why can't you run the account through the trust from the outset? Lisiate 04:32, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 7

[edit] "Nothing is impossible"

Is the phrase "nothing is impossible" true? Flea110 00:13, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Not on its own, but "Nothing (barring the mathematically impossible) is impossible, only improbable" is suitably qualified for use as a General Use Proverb, as certified by the Proverb Approval And Accuracy Comittee. Bear in mind, however, that this is the same comittee that required Helen of Troy to produce the maritime records to prove that her face really launched 1,000 ships. --Sam Pointon United FC 00:17, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
The mathematically impossible is something, isn't it? Doesn't that make the statement false? Flea110 04:19, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
If quantum foam exists, it would literally make nothing impossible. Particles would keep appearing spontaneously and spoiling your nothing. --GraemeL (talk) 00:25, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Well, a student teacher said it to me, and we had a friendly discussion about it. I maintained that certainly some things are impossible. For example, it's impossible for me to make the keyboard I'm typing on now non-exist in reality right now. She agreed with me on that, but said something along the lines of "nothing is impossible" and "something is impossible" can co-exist depending on whether or not you interpret "nothing is impossible" as literal or figurative. I'm thinking that so long as it can be interpreted in a way that contradicts the original statement, the original statement is false. Am I right? Flea110 04:19, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Logically, it's a self-contradiction. If nothing is impossible, then it must be possible that that statement is false and thus that something actually is impossible. --BluePlatypus 07:10, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Gōdel also proved that some things are impossible. See Gödel's incompleteness theorems --GraemeL (talk) 10:42, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
It depends what you mean by nothing... there are a lot of things which are possible..and lot more things which are impossible right now... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 18:09, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
I'd like to state that I loathe this phrase with every particle of my beign being... Lots of things are impossible, deal with it. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 23:21, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
I don't know what a beign is, but it sounds angry! Slumgum | yap | stalk | 23:34, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Ugh, fine. Fixed. :( ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 07:14, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Maybe a cross between Menachem Begin, Ronald Reagan, Alexander Haig-en and Carl Sagan - all latter-day pagans. (Lol etc) JackofOz 00:03, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
There are at least 2 types of impossibility. There's mathematical/physical impossibility (eg. drawing a square circle, or breeding a species of piano-playing octahedral psychic platypuses). Then there are things that are theoretically imaginable but practically impossible (eg. predicting local weather to 100% accuracy, years beforehand). Most imagineable concepts are impossible, but humans have hardly even scratched the surface of the possible. :--) JackofOz 00:03, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Not that I don't enjoy this discussion, but can you guys just give me a clear "yes, it's true", or "no, it's not true" answer as well? Flea110 02:52, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
That appears to be impossible. hydnjo talk 02:59, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Hmm. Okay, it appears that, try though they might, the best scientists using the very best equipment have not yet been able to find "nothing." Even the most extreme vacuums seem to have weird sub-particles popping into existence out of "nowhere." Another way to look at it is that, in this universe, there is always something because, even in a vacuum there is "space" and space is "something." Perhaps you must look beyond the universe or perhaps you could rephrase this as "Is anything possible?" To which I would answer "Yes, anything is possible but nothing will work." Ande B 09:45, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, I think you're taking you teachers comment out of context. While you're right, technically, I suspect what she meant was that it was possible to achieve surprisingly great things. For great justice. 15:14, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Much of this statement is a creation of personal perceptions. Usually, on approaching something like this, I would bar the mathematically impossible, since even though 1+1 can equal three apples if you like in philosophy or politics, if you use any value other than two for that question to build your rocket you will end with a complete disaster. No- one is sure what the true relationship between mathematics and nature is, but the thing is that, under all the circumstances which I know to have been verified, mathematics works. Therefore, at least it is a successful tool in modelling the branches of nature, and may even bear more esoteric or subtle relationships with nature than we yet realize. Thus, at least concerning the universe I know since the Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics specifically forbids me to have any distinct and indesputable knowledge of any other universes should they exist, I would conclude that the mathematically impossible is probably the only true impossibilities of our human conceptions.

But barring all that, if we do not admit ourselves Laplacian Devils, how could we know all the endless marvels of Mother Nature? Charles Kingsley did well when he says that :"The wiser a man is, the less he will say of cannot.", because the wise man, like described by Socrates, 'knows that he knows nothing'. We before nature stands like children upon an endless sea of wonder, whose marvels we only dimly suspects. Far better it is to accept the infinite number of the creations of nature, that even within a small flower there may contain enough knowledge and mysteries to last every man a life time. Recalling now William Blake- "What is now proven was once only imagin'd."

Though one may certainly be sceptical of something, yet the word cannot, just as the word hate, carries serious responsibilites for which he shall have to consider very gravely before he would dare to pronounce them, the former denying a, for all we know, seemingly omnipotent nature and the latter the lovely mercies of man. I myself would not say, save for the mathematically impossible, of anything as yet unproven to be impossible to be indeed so. I am, for instance, sceptical about the workings of astrology, but I do admit it has as much chance of being true as the existence of mermaids. Luthinya 19:06, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

I think that the original question, "Is the phrase nothing is impossible true?", is either true or false, or neither, or both but, not usually all at the same time or at once in particular. hydnjo talk 19:38, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
How about a qualified no or a qualified yes? In other words, a quantum superposition? Most of the processes in our universe are more usually superpositioned between two extremes than actually one of them. Luthinya 20:10, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What knavery is this?

Question in title.  -- Run!  10:39, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

No. Question NOT in title. Loomis51 02:08, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
OK, may be I'm just stupid, but personally I don't know what anyone's on about her except wasting space. Luthinya 19:11, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] It's me again

oh yeh 1 more thinge what is a dick and pussy. Kids at school no and keep it a secret from me

Just in case you're not a troll but actually are a picked-on primary schooler, they're slang terms for the male and female genitalia. Your parents may not like it if you click on those links, though. --Bth 16:39, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Most likely a troll from Columbia High School (Maplewood, New Jersey). --GraemeL (talk) 16:46, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
A dick is a detective, and a pussy is a cat. Now stay in milk, drink your drugs, and don't do school. Brian G. Crawford 23:10, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

If this is just an unfortunate kid on the slightly innocent side, I don't think he/she would much apprciate those comments. And if it's a troll, you'll do better to deprive him/her of the oxygen of publicity. Luthinya 19:10, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Copyright question:

Is Bittorrenting Red Hat Enterprise Linux considered piracy?Hkl8324 18:49, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

No, Linux distributions can be freely distributed any way you want to. When you buy a Linux distro in a shop, you're essentially paying for the physical CDs and the manual -- Ferkelparade π 18:57, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Whoops, I missed the "Enterprise" in your question on the first go...but that does not change the situation by much: when you buy Red Hat Enterprise, you're not paying for the software but for the support contract. Since the support contract cannot be shared via Bittorrent and the distribution itself is not fundamentally different from a standard distro, there should be no problem with torrenting it -- Ferkelparade π 19:06, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
It's not a copyright problem (all the software is under the GPL), but it is a trademark problem. See White Box Enterprise Linux. —Keenan Pepper 21:46, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks, but I have read somewhere on the Redhat website that they provide a 30-days trial version of their RHEL.If it is OK to download RHEL without paying money (and thus without their technical support), why there is such a thing as trial version? Trial for what?(Redhat hat has stated that they will not provide technical support for trial version produces...) Hkl8324 22:03, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
The trial version is free of charge but limited to 30 days. I suppose the OS implodes afterwards. Under the terms of the GPL, the source code has to be available, but they probably charge for it. They don't want you compiling an unlimited trial free of charge. :) You should read up on the GNU General Public License; it's quite interesting. You could try to sell Red Hat Enterprise for more than you bought it for if you wanted to. But few people would probably buy. --Optichan 19:23, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cricket

What is the highest score scored by a batsman in Test Cricket, ODI without scoring a boundary or a sixer?

sumal 08:56, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Height of the Eiffel Tower

In searching numerous site looking for the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, I have found no less than 4 answers. (The'official site' quotes a height of 324 meters.) They range from 932 ft. to 1,080 ft. sans antennae and extraneous appendages. Do you know the accurate height of the Tower. Thanks in advance. FSM

Do you want to know the height before or after the disaffected Muslim youth blow it up ? StuRat 04:00, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
The Wikipedia Eiffel Tower article states that "The tower stands 300 m (986 ft) high, which is about 75 stories. Including the 24 m (72 ft) antenna, the structure is 324 m (1058 ft) high." hydnjo talk 03:22, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] More Station Stat requests

Hey all, thanks for your help in my last query, do you know any general station stats sites, with info such as History, no. of platforms (number in use), thanks in advance Djm1279 19:41, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Music Artist, Public Affection

I would like to puchase the tape released in the 1989 by a group called Public Affection. The name of the tape is Death of a Dictionary. Would anyone know were I can purchase this? I have looked in many places with no sucess. 65.198.21.8 20:10, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Looks like they were a previous incarnation of Live. artistdirect.com says that The Death of a Dictionary is for Live completists only. [Originally released on cassette; available on bootleg.] User:Zoe|(talk) 21:58, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bloodclan from the original warriors series by Erin Hunter

I need information about Bloodclan from the sixth book of the original Warriors series written by Erin Hunter.

[edit] whales?

if only fish have gills than how do whales breath underwater?

They don't, whales are mammals and breath air with their lungs. They can stay underwater for hours but eventually they need to get back to the surface. Thuresson 21:32, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
If humans go underwater for hours, they die. What makes whales able to stay under for so long? Flea110 21:55, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Check out Whale#Behaviour. User:Zoe|(talk) 22:00, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Why don't you ask him how he does it? :) Oh, whales? Um, they need to go to the surface for air. Probably the same thing for Mr. Wales. --Optichan 19:37, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Levitation

Could you please get some info on the gamolo or icarus levitation? thanks!

-luke thinnes

[email in title removed to prevent spam]

  • Most magic effects are not freely available. Unless you can find it explained somewhere online (like the Balducci levitation) it's unlikely someone can help you. The magicians who know how it works are sworn to secrecy by the magician's oath. Your best bet at finding out anything about a magic effect if it isn't googleble is simply buying it. - Mgm|(talk) 19:27, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 8

[edit] richard farley

could you provide a link to a website where i can an information about the trial of richard farley specifilly the opening closes statements of the defense the effects it has all had on laura black.

I don't know of any website that could provide all that you ask but the Richard Farley article is an interesting read. hydnjo talk 03:12, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] need contact no of any professional hypnosist

can plz help me by giving out the contact nos of hypnotist in your knowledge

i 'm in deep troubles ur help can be a boon in my life

plz its no joke

i'm serois in every word i mean

peri

contct at [email removed to prevent spam]

Could you sort of narrow down the part of the world you live in. I could give you one in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories but if you are in Australia it really wouldn't help. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 07:49, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

If you are having mental distress (causing you not to spell out things), then don't just latch on to a particular specialist. Although it sounds rather lame, it is really best to go through a family doctor, and then to a specialist. People who are in major depression, need to go through a dose of sedatives first, before they are in a state to be fixed up. I have lots of experience with my own depressions, but 90% of the time I am completely cured, thanks to pills. --Zeizmic 14:13, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

Oh dear, no patronisation but this seems way too serious to be merely asked for upon a reference desk in Wikipedia, in any case I don't think any of us would think this is the safe place to resolve these queries, let alone answer them- this is a public site and there may be unfriendly eyes peering about. All of this matter seems to be extremely confidential and, no offence, slightly reckless for an open- source software. I don't think hypnotism would be a best option but you must be desperate to even think of trying. If you are a teenager- like me- you should probably try childline or your parents rather than trust your fates to a slightly too open internet software. If you don't know childline's number you can ask your teacher or nurse- they are bound to be competent enough to know. But if doing these things make you afraid, even talking to your parents, then something is seriously wrong here and you will need to consult higher authorities. Again, no need to patronise, but try to keep calm. Sometimes a little thing you'll laugh at later on may produce such effectson your psyche right now that you would wish to try hypnotis. Luthinya 19:19, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cricket

What is the highest score scored by a batsman in Test Cricket, ODI without scoring a boundary or a sixer?

sumal 08:56, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

    • FWIW, the first batsman to complete a boudaryless innings of over 100 in first-class cricket was Alan hill in 1976-77 (see here). Grutness...wha? 11:07, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
      • There is another problem here. According to the Frindall Column No.2 Link here and IIRC, Wisden book of cricket records (which is also compiled by Frindall), Bill Lawry's 84 at Brisbane 1970-71 did not contain any fours. According to the Cricketarchive scorecard he hit 9. I know somebody who can give a definitive answer. I'll get this clarified in a day or so. Tintin (talk) 12:40, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
        • Got this reply which I think can be considered authentic. He is a major statistician but am leaving out the name as I am not sure whether he would want it : Lawry hit nine boundaries, confirmed by the scorebook. The newspaper reports of the next day also say nine, but Australian Cricket magazine gave it as 0, probably a typing mistake. Whitington, in his tour book, repeats this error, and makes a big deal out of it, which suggests that he wasn't actually there at the time, and wasn't using many sources for his commentary. The error made it into the Wisden Book of Cricket Records and other record books. Ask Steven on CricInfo recently repeated the error. He has since changed it (without mentioning that he has done so) So Boycott does hold the record. Tintin (talk) 15:47, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What is pitch made of?

What is pitch made of, and is there a variant of it that uses either sulphuric acid, or sulphuric hydroxide (?!?). I can't imagine there would be, but a colleague of mine, who is an interpreter for the police is on a case at the moment, and we can't get the right words in English (or Portuguese), and we don't even understand what the suspect is supposed to have done.

I'd appreciate your help CCLemon 09:06, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

See Pitch (resin). CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 09:35, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Surprisingly, none of our articles on pitch, tar and bitumen mentions what the stuff actually consists of. I think it's safe to say that it's a hydrocarbon with a very high molecular weight. --Heron 12:01, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
I think pitch is mostly aromatic hydrocarbons. Chapuisat (not signed in) 12.106.14.201 14:02, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Design

I have a rather unusual request, I would like to enter a design competition with the theme "the seasons". What would people think is the best (or least worst) out of the following versions:

Full text - Season names plus some descriptive text
Full text - Season names plus some descriptive text
With doubled season name - Season name with the blurred background name
With doubled season name - Season name with the blurred background name
Season name - Just with season name
Season name - Just with season name
Just pic
Just pic
Something like this?
Something like this?

Thank you very much for any comments! --Fir0002 www 11:04, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

I don't think this is the place to put up such a request. Or, this is an unusual request to put up on the Refdesk. Why not try asking your friends or relatives for an opinion? I usually do that. Personally, 3rd or 4th. --Ouro 11:37, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Strange request, but personally the 4th image without any of the (pointless) text seems more poinient with me
I'd agree with that. The image speaks for itself. --BluePlatypus 15:07, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Tough choice... i'd say....all are pretty good... but i think it'd be better if you had the pic... and reduced the size of the WINTER SPRING text....its very distracting.... and i also personally dont like empty pics....especially good pics like these... or you could change the text....put something else... winter spring is just a little too obvious... if you want, i'll give you some suggestions in a day or 2... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 18:10, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Thank you all for your suggestiongs --Fir0002 www 23:59, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Dude - no text - just the pic and then call it "Seasons" or something. If people don't get it they should be hospitalized. Gardar Rurak 01:56, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
Good point, Gardar, but there is an international aspect to this. People in tropical countries don't know what Spring is... unless they read Wikipedia, of course. --Heron 11:57, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
Ha ha,, :)..... i think a good caption would be The hues of life or the wonder of nature or something more poetic... try to search for a short line from a poem or something... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:26, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] WHat can you be alergic too?

Now i wasn't sure of what subject to put this under?

My sister and i were discussing how we can be alergic to different foods, animals and plants but is it possible for one to be alergic to objects like different glass? different metals? different rubbers? or different plastics etc etc. can some one be alergic to these type of manmades items (not stuff like medicine)?

This question is purely out of my own interest as i thourghly enjoy coming with interesting theories.

Thank you for your time.

At the Wikipedia article Allergy it states that the allergic reaction is a hypersensitivity to proteins, thus suggesting that it is natural proteins that the body is allergic to. However if these proteins were present in a man made object then yes it is possible for you to become allergic to them. -- Francs2000 12:34, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Latex allergy is an allergy to a natural rubber but see also multiple chemical sensitivity. Rmhermen 13:17, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
You can also be allergic to a substance, such as a hapten, if it reacts with your body's protein. A common example of a hapten is urushiol, which is the toxin found in poison ivy. Also, some chemicals such as medications will only cause allergic reactions when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation-- this phenomenon is called a photo allergy. --Uthbrian (talk) 08:11, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Meaning of life

What are we here for? What is the meaning of life? Why were our parents on this Earth, and why will our Childeren be here? I'm just getting to the point in my life (late Teens, early 20's) where this question is really starting to play havok wth my mind. Please explain this important, but taxing question in 200 words or less!

As a teenager myself, I believe the meaning of life is for one to do his own homework. - Ridge Racer 13:02, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
I don't think you're going to find the answer to this question on this page, it's out of the scope of what us mere mortals are able to provide. -- Francs2000 13:12, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Just write "42" and hand it in. Though Meaning of life would be a good place to start more detailed research for your paper. --GraemeL (talk) 13:15, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Well, you're here because your parents were here and reproduced, and they're here because their parents ... all the way back to the first living thing on Earth. (Waving our hands past the fact that the idea of "parentage" makes less sense in the case of single-celled organisms which can easily exchange genetic information.) Your hypothetical children will be here because you reproduced. How the first living thing arose is something of an open question, but the universe is sufficiently large that even if it's staggeringly unlikely it would have happened somewhere eventually (by the law of large numbers). We are vessels, carrying our genes down the river of time.
These simple facts do not tell us how we ought to live. There is no externally-provided meaning of life, we can choose whatever meaning we like (or then again maybe free will is an illusion). You may like to read some of Wikipedia's many articles on philosophy to see what conclusions others have reached in the past.
But maybe this is a simulated reality, in which case you may want to avoid summary deletion -- here's one group's advice on how.
(Word count: two hundred including this line, but not the sig.) --Bth 13:44, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Why are we here, what's life all about? / is God really real, or is there some doubt? / Well tonight, we're going to sort it all out / For tonight it's the Meaning of Life. (Watch the movie, no answers but a lot of fun) SanderJK 15:06, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Really good question... i guess we are here to make sure that the human race continues to survive... and for the human race to survive we need development... which means we destroy our planet, boss over every living thing on earth, and try to create more humans along the way... oh...and it also means that we do our homework, which is really essential for progress of mankind... ha ha... hope that answered some part of your question... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 18:23, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
That is the one question that everyone argues about; there are tons of different religions and theories and philosophies. (See the religion portal for ideas.) You have to decide for yourself what to go with. Jonathan W 18:30, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
You tell us. What have you done lately to make your life meaningful? Peter Grey 05:39, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
If there is no God there is no "meaning" in the sense that you mean it, and the tone of your question assumes that there is a meaning - that is higher purpose, so you are assume that there is a God. It is very likely that is higher propose is the same for your parents and will be the same for you children. Now if there is a God and there is a higher propose and there is something that he wants you do, He either did or did not tell mankind about this. If He didn't you will have to develop a moral system based on you best judgment which is probably what God would want in that case. Now, if He did tell mankind what to do you have to find out what he said and to whom. This should be easy since there have been many prophets in history. Unfortunately, there have been many false prophets as well since many of them contradict each other and call the other false prophets. Hell, I could claim to be a prophet and I could probably get a decent following. So how do we know who are the real prophet and who are the false ones. You can take a leap of faith and choose one that you like (start at Category:Prophets), try to become a prophet yourself and hope that God tells you what He wants you do, or examine each claim and see if any one of the prophets makes more sense the rest. Personally I choose Judaism because Moses’ claim of being a prophet was substainsiated by a mass revelation at Mount Sinai, and then I base who is and not a prophet on (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 18:18-22). Jon513 14:38, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

BRILLIANT QUESTION! I've had a similar period when I was nearly 12- now 13- during which time I was also constipated with an extreme fear of death. However, both problems have now been resolved continuously. In my opinion, life does not have a meaning. When the sun swells eventually into a red giant the earth shall certainly be destroyed, along with all her inhabitants. Our petty doings in all fields, including what I'm typing now into my computer, will be of little significance in this vast universe while our atoms drift far into space, unremembered and certainly not pampered the way we are here. However, I decided that life DOES have a value, even if there is no god in the fashion of a Laplacian Devil. This value comes from doing something worthwhile within our little sphere of true effectuality, to one life, a nation, the whole of humanity or even mother earth herself. The value may also be negative, such as comitting genocide, but in this you allow future generations to learn of mercy and also what must never happen again. You may, perhaps, make life seem good and worthwhile to a person by showing love or affection for him/her; you may free the chains of slavery from the sires of your race and be deemed a savior. Or you may campaign against pollution and protect the trees. Ultimately in Death there is nothing you can take with you- the things that matter are what you left behind- silent reflections, a newly- found element, or the freedom of a nation. The lovely thing about this worth- the- while requirement is that it does not have to be a hugely significant event that will change the whole universe to vast degrees immediately (though from the Bell's Theorem it might), it only has to be worth the while for our feeble human race and the little earth we dwell on. So long as we fulfil this, the gift of life and sensibilities given to us that shall forever remain a mystery shall be fulfilled, and in death we shall be happy, having done all that we could to make the ride worthwhile for everyone. The worth which you have brought into our little world, small and insignificant it may seem to the vast universe, is important enough, for we ourselves are small and insignificant. And this worth, which happily does not perish with its maker, is what shall attach value to your life and make future generations bear rememberance upon you through it. It may take many forms as such is appropriate of your actions. Since the world has given us life, we must give it life's worth to make the ride worthwhile. In that also we shall cease to fear death, for no loss is ever taken in such a process- it is only a natural chemical degradation. Thus the value of our lives ar attested, bearing worth for as long as this race still dwells. Meaningless though was this pursuit, yet that does not ever bear away its beauty or value, for which only can be said of life.

And indeed life is beautiful, as long as the mind has not been filled with the words of a sceptic. Grief, instead of pining away, once we accept them as necessary helps our psyche to grow. Since all existences to me are meaningless, I may only say that most lives had its value, although some may seem greater than others. A truly valueless life for me is one in which it existed only as if never to exist. Do not despise the humble values either- as the Torah spoke: whoever saves one life, saves the world entire. (Sorry for length can't help it love philosophy so much thanks). Luthinya 19:41, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Actually having a little discussion is good for the mind, but ultimately you'll have to make up your own mind from ten zillion answers. Luthinya 19:45, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] geography

what is the role and the effect of climate on the ocean?

  • You could start by figuring out why the level of the water in the oceans is rising. Here's a tip. Polar ice caps have something to do with it. I'm sure there's more ways in which the climate can affect the ocean. Oceans also have cold and warm streams. - Mgm|(talk) 19:33, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cicely Mary Barker

I just read the book Fairyopolis, I know it was organsied by other people as Cicely had died long before it was published, but I was wondering if it was true how she stayed in that place and stuff. thanks :D

You don't think she would have written it if it weren't true, do you? alteripse 15:02, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

Yeah I know, but I meant it was organised by others not Cicely, she didn't actually write it..

[edit] Btitish forces Troopships, particularly HMT Empire Trooper.

Until the mid 1950s most British forces were moved around the world by ships which were hired from existing shipping lines, hence the title Hired Military Transport,not you will note, Her Majesty's troopship. Having returned to this country on this ship on what was her last voyage can anyone provide her history? she started life with the Hamburg America line ,was captured and turned into a trooper.Please can anyone provide any details. She was owned by B&I (British and India) and scrapped in 1955.

You might want to look at these results. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:35, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] navy first person

who is was the first person to join the navy?

Well seeing as there have been navies for hundreds of years (Greece and Rome) it's not likly that sign up papers still remain or were you talking about a specific country? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:42, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
i mean the united states navy i need the answer
The president is the head of all the armed forces right?? so i'd guess he was the fist one to join the navy or any other force... so...now the question is: who was the president during the time when the Navy was founded? well...its just a thought.... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 18:17, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
See my answer below. The US Navy was created before there was a President of the United States. There was no chief executive at the time, when the Navy was formed by the Continental Congress. User:Zoe|(talk) 21:51, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] FAMOUS INTERNATIONAL STREETS?

HI HOW ARE U?

PLZ TELL ME WHICH STREETS ARE INTERNATIONAL STREETS i WILL WAIT FOR YOUR ANSWER THANKYOU

Have a look through Category:International road networks to start. Most countries that border another will have roads that go from one to the other but may have different names. Could you please turn your caps lock off. Thanks. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:46, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
the united states thanx bud

[edit] who was the first person in the navy

who was the first person in the U.S Navy? When was the United States navy founded?

Start with United States Navy and it says 13th October 1775. But not the name of the first person. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 17:04, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
It could be argued that it was John Barry (1745-1803), who was master of the USS Alfred (1774). User:Zoe|(talk) 21:50, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] i need help

i need help

Hmmmm...could you be more specific about the subject in which you want help...? we are humans here and we haven't mastered the art of telepathy yet.... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:52, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Try speaking with a psychiatrist. 64.198.112.210 18:48, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Wha's goin' on, yeh know wha' I'm sayin'! Yo man what's up? Why are we wastin' space? Yay!!! --CrazyGuy

[edit] the founder

who was the founder of the U.S Navy on October 13,1775

Asking the same question over and over makes us less likely to answer it. You can click the "edit" link at the top of a section to edit it. —Keenan Pepper 17:56, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
I wanna ask a question related to this.... Why do most of the people never read the instructions!?? dont they realize that things would be much easier if they just read them... or are people becoming too over confident.. ha ha...this questions been bugging me for a while.... any help appreciated... ;-).. Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 18:13, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Jayant, probably because they don't know what's important and what's not, the instructions are blatantly obvious to you because you've seen them in action and used them many times, but to a complete newcomer, all these strange terms (section edit, for instance... what is that?) seems strange and alien, so when starting out, they just do as they feel most comfortable. — QuantumEleven | (talk) 12:15, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] CTBT

CTBL what's this? plz tell me about that

Do you mean CTBT ?

[edit] HP

i dont get the plot of the movies of harry potter but the books are so good? Why do the keep take out some of the captions of the books from the movie

Thats because they make the movie out of the screenplay... and if tried to replicate the entire book....the movie'd become too long.... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:56, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
I read in a British newspaper when the first Harry Potter film came out that had they made the film out of the entire book, the film would have been nine hours long - totally unmarketable and probably tiresome. -- Francs2000 20:06, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
When you take a look at most "movies from books" you will notice a pretty big change, often in plot. Basically every book inspired movie I have seen is fairly different from the book itself, I think time and possibly budget constraints stop it. As for a 9 hour long Harry Potter film, it would have been kind of neat but it would be a "watch in multiple sessions" movie and not really possible to distribute it in theaters :) -- Tawker 20:11, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
With the extreme examples being James Bond films such as Moonraker or Octopussy. Save for one character's name, the books and the films are completely different. JIP | Talk 08:56, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
Just to balance out the ledger, everyone interested in this should read To Kill a Mockingbird, then go buy a DVD of the 1962 movie. According to our article, Harper Lee favorably reviewed the Academy Award-winning screenplay adaptation by Horton Foote, saying that, "If the integrity of a film adaptation can be measured by the degree to which the novelist's intent is preserved, Mr. Foote's screenplay should be studied as a classic." JackofOz 09:41, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
Also don't forget that books and movies are completely different mediums, they tell stories in different ways and are intended for different kinds of consumption (a book is rarely designed to be read in one sitting, for instance). A straight book-to-film conversion would be incredibly long and very full of detail, while reading a word-by-word screenplay is also somewhat dull as you're missing out on all the visuals, expressions, tone and so forth. — QuantumEleven | (talk) 12:12, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Unix Word Frequency

Hello,

I want to know if there is a unix command I can use to output the sorted word frequency of a .tex file to another file.

Thanks,

-Grey

Try here. (First result on Google for "word frequency counting unix". --Bth 18:45, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

I would try

cat texfile.tex | tr ' ' '\n'  | sort | uniq -ic > listfile.txt

dab (ᛏ) 19:38, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] how to get rid of poison ivy

can you tell me how to get rid of poison ivy and i used all this kind of ointment and it still wont go away please tell me how

this is why I love RD/M :)
did you try reading Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis? dab (ᛏ) 19:31, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

Very interesting article. It mentions that if things persist, then you should contact a doctor. If you don't want to follow this good advice, then the quack in me wants to come out: I have found that a skin irritation can create a home for little bugs of some sort (fungus or bacteria). This usually comes out as an irritation at the same spot year after year. It can also slowly expand. My wife always has this, and sometimes it tries to hit me. I found that when this happens, a constant application of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Oil), will quickly kill it. It really works and I've gotten rid of many 'permanent' dry spots on myself and my daughter. My wife, who never listens to me as a matter of principle, is another matter... --Zeizmic 13:49, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

You could try cutting it down & burning it. AllanHainey 12:15, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
OMG, DO NOT BURN IT!. If you think having contact dermatitis on your skin is bad, imagine the effects of urushiol to your nasal passages and lungs. --LarryMac 14:50, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] PBS Timer

I was watching some PBS documentaries and I noticed that they all had a timer in the corner of the screen that showed how long I'd been watching. Specifically, they were documentaires about American history. Why do they put these timers here?

Since it was PBS, I would guess that the timer had nothing to do with you, it was probably how much time they had left in their current fund raising drive or something relating specifically to that. For instance, the time that was left for you to pledge money before they stopped giving away a special gift with each pledge or some such thing. Dismas|(talk) 19:45, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Well, unless the timer was put in by a set top box, chances are it isn't unique to you. PBS doesn't do unique streams to subscribers, the only way it is done IFIAK is in video on demand systems. Cheers -- Tawker 20:09, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Some PBS stations feed instructional programs to schools for in-classroom use. The timer is there to inform the person at the school district who is recording the program how much time has elapsed, so they'll know how long until the program ends. -- Gridlock Joe 21:14, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 80's song

there's this 80's song that I like but I don't know the name and I can't find it's lyrics on google. the lyrics go something like this:

she wants to keep another secret, it's only rock and roll, you know my baby's just too cool, my little lady hated high school ... it's all I could pick up from the song. it's sung by a guy...and the style is kind of like the clash or maybe david bowie a little... but it's none of them.--Cosmic girl 20:28, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

Nevermind, I got it...I think it's 'baby talks dirty' by the knack, but correct me if I'm wrong.--Cosmic girl 20:51, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Portal

I am a rank novice having discovered WIKIPEDIA only a few days ago. But while browsing the various portals yesterday I discovered one that had a huge list of pictures/photos covering an enormous amount of subjects. I started to scroll down but discovered that I'd need hours to view even a portion of what was shown. I tried to find that portal(?) again today but couldn't locate it. Can someone tell me where it is, please. Thank you. --20:40, 8 April 2006 (UTC) (email excluded)

Sorry dude, but we need some more information to go off of. A "huge list of pictures/photos" is pretty general. If you can give us some more clues we'll be happy to help. Isopropyl 20:42, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Maybe it was Commons? A lot of pictures there. -83.129.14.135
Maybe it wasn't a portal but an image category? If all you saw were photos, start at Category:Wikipedia images by type and browse away. Thuresson 21:47, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
if it was a portal you could try looking at Wikipedia:Portal/Directory, which lists all the portals. Grutness...wha? 08:06, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
If it was a few days ago it's probably still in your browser's history. Take a look at the pages you visited on that day. You might find it. Optichan 19:51, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Commander in Chief

George Washington was the first president who crossed the Delaware in a dingy boat when the British were coming. Does that mean he was the first naval officer. The president of the united states is called the commander in chief of all armed forces.

Dinghy, not dingy. No, as I explained above, it does not mean he was the first naval officer. He was the commander in chief of the colonial army, however. But when he crossed the Delaware, he was not the President. User:Zoe|(talk) 23:27, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure there have been naval officers for centuries before George Washington was born. JIP | Talk 07:40, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

I think he means "first naval officer of the United States". Since the U.S. technically didn't exist as a political entity of that time, I would say that the answer is "no". I don't think just going on a boat makes you a naval officer. If it does, though, then I'd like to be addressed as an admiral! --Fastfission 16:20, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] wondering

i was wondering why people pay so much on on some kind of meats when they dont even taste good
—Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.125.151.219 (talk • contribs)

There's no accounting for taste.
Slumgum | yap | stalk | 22:25, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Perhaps they're an acquired taste. I think this is just a euphemism for deceiving oneself into liking something disgusting in order to seem sophisticated, but perhaps I'm being too cynical. --Heron 11:49, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
You should see cheese fly. Isopropyl 15:32, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
Unpopular product can often cost more if there is Economies of scale in their production and the Marginal cost can be greater. Jon513 14:51, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
I have never seen cheese fly before. I suppose this must be a relatively new phonomenon. --Optichan 19:53, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] file formats

We have an embroidery sewing machine that has floppy disks to access various > designs. > The formats are: CND - DST - EXP - HUS - PCS - PES - & SEW. > I would like to transfer JPEG & GIF formats to the above formats. > Do I need special software to be able to do this? if so; could you tell me > some names of the software.

What is the brand of the machine, you will need specalized software to do it (if its possible to do), the titles of which would probally depend on the maker of the machine -- Tawker 23:44, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
Never heard of any of those formats before, so I doubt it T-rex 03:12, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
There is a wikipedia article on machine embroidery, which links to [this sourceforge page], at the bottom of which there are links to various conversion and design software. My first impression is that converting a photograph to an embroidery design is difficult to do well automatically, and there's space in the market for people doing photograph-based designs manually (google for "embroidery photograph"). Some commercial software offerings can do the conversion automatically, but you have to judge the results by yourself (see the photo-stitch example at [[7]]). But this is just my ignorant speculation, maybe there is someone more knowledgeable on wikipedia? If not, you can find hobbyist forums by googling for "embroidery forum". 84.239.128.9 09:45, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] George Michaels

who is George Michaels everybody always talked about him but i still dont know i would really appreciate it if you told me

You probably mean George Michael. --GraemeL (talk) 23:07, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] difference

whats the difference between the navy and the coast guard

I'll assume you're talking about the US Military, it varies from country to country. In essence the Coast Guard normally handles events within the countries territorial waters only whereas the Navy can operate overseas. Normally Coast Guard vessels are more designed for search and rescue and Navy vessels more for combat. Both do share some roles, but that is the main difference. If you were looking for information about another country please let me know -- Tawker 23:39, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

A lot like the difference between the army and the police in terms of function. alteripse 23:41, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 9

[edit] UK TV Programme using "Och Zoe" between characters

I am trying to identify the name of a UK TV sit-com thought to be from the mid-1980's that featured an older gentleman (possibly Jim Broadbent?) with a young girlfriend. The girl was always doing stupid things and the older man would say "Och Zoe". I think the girl was a PE instructor or was into keep fit in the programme.

Thank you.

Is it May to December as it's the only British comedy I recall with a Zoe in it. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:25, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
I would concur, especially as I can see how one might confuse Anton Rodgers and Jim Broadbent. --Bth 09:08, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Can we write an article on a specific book?

Can we write an article on a specific book, even if it has no cultural significance? To make my question more specific, would it be appropriate to write articles on Star Trek books (of which there are hundreds)? If it is appropriate, I would definately be interested in writing some. Chuck 02:37, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

You do have to take into account notability issues. — TheKMantalk 03:03, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
Star Trek (and pop culture in general) seems somewhat exempt from those requirements, seeing as how every single episode of every single Star Trek series has its own page. (Personally, I wouldn't mind all that stuff being split off into a fictionopedia or something) --BluePlatypus 03:35, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks folks. I guess that leaves it up to me, and then we'll see what people think about it afterwards. Thanks again. Chuck 03:43, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

FWIW, there are plenty of pages on the various Star Wars and Doctor Who spin off novels. --Bth 09:06, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

You may also be interested in Wikia:Memory Alpha. — MSchmahl… 15:57, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] ESPN

How much was ESPN bought for by Walt Disney?

It's not that easy. The majority of ESPN was acquired by ABC years earlier in 1984. According to this this, Disney payed $19 billion for Capital Cities/ABC in 1996. It's hard to say what ESPN's value was in that deal, but it was certainly a small fraction of the total. ×Meegs 09:53, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] historical costume

Hi - can anyone tell me what a Parisian tailor might have typically worn in the 17th century? Adambrowne666 07:14, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

no - and we couldn't tell you over at the Humanities desk either (I take it you read the rule on double-posting at the top of the page?) Grutness...wha? 08:08, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Oops - apologies - didn't read the rules properly. Adambrowne666 23:58, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Java Access connection

I really would like to know how to set up a connection to a Microsoft Access file, from a Java application. This is really bugging me; everything I try to find online doesn't seem to work. Many thanks for any help - Dan

  • I don't know Java at all, but I'm betting you will probably want to do it through an ODBC bridge of some sort. A google search for "Java ODBC" turned up this page which seems to go over it in some detail, though again, not programming in Java it is hard for me to tell. --Fastfission 16:19, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Anarchist Activity in India

Is there any record of an anarchist party activity in India? Does India have any adherents to anarchist political philosophy? sumal 08:43, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Guideline on capitalisation of first words of certain newspapers' articles?

Greetings,

I would like to know whether or not a guideline exists on the capitalisation of the first words of certain newspapers' articles. Take the following excerpt from yeserday's Times's article And the best solution for protecting pedestrians? Remove safety barriers:

THEY clutter the streets, get in the way when you want to cross the road and, according to a study, increase your chances of being run over.

In today's Sunday Times's article Town hall vote disaster looms for Blair:

TONY BLAIR risks a humiliating third place in next month’s local elections, which could put further pressure on him to stand down following the revival of tension with Gordon Brown.

I am pretty sure that the first words of articles are also capitalised in other newspapers.

Many thanks to those who will produce answers,

Grumpy Troll (talk) 09:11, 9 April 2006 (UTC).

I'm pretty sure there is no rule 'set in stone' for this, but rather the capitlisation of a starter word is done for emphasis. Dan
This isn't usually done in North American newspapers, although you sometimes see it in magazines. -- Mwalcoff 13:48, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] So-called "traditional" joke

I read the following under anti-humor:

Q. What's the difference between a chicken and the Kyoto Protocol?
A: One is a domestic fowl; the other is an international convention on climate change. (usually a Spoonerism is expected)

This is supposed to be an unfunny, or comically literal, answer to the riddle. However, in the context of the article, this is supposed to be a "traditional" joke, like "What is this fly doing in my soup?" But I cannot figure out what the original punchline is supposed to be. Please help! — MSchmahl… 12:51, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

  • I believe that for that particular example there is no such spoonerism. What they're trying to say is that usually when you hear a "What's the difference..." joke you expect the answer to be a spoonerism, and as a listener might try to figure it out yourself before the comedian can say the punchline, but in this case you'll be completely confounded... because there is no such spoonerism response. So once you're confused at not being able to provide your own answer, the comedian provides it for you... and of course it's something completely different from what you were looking for, in that it's not a spoonerism at all. --Maelwys 13:32, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
    • You may be right. No amount of Google-searching was able to help me. But I was able to come up with one semi-satisfactory traditional-style answer: "One is a meaty fowl, the other is a foul treaty." Blech. — MSchmahl… 15:24, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] inhabited islands

What is the total number of inhabited islands in the world? I 'd just like to know. I can't find an answer anywhere.

There isn't any simple answer. An approximate answer would likely be in the tens of thousands. But what do consider inhabited - a village, a person, a seasonal home, a transient campsite? What do you consider an island - something surrounded by water but how much - a foot wide, a boat canal, are bridges allowed? Rmhermen 19:17, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] ESPN

Take a guess of how much ESPN was bought for by Disney.

I am quite amazed at how many times this question can appear, and how many IP addresses you have Mr. Wolf. --Zeizmic 15:21, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
sixpence CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:20, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
a paperclip.  -- Run!  16:33, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
three peanut M&M's (yellow ones). Slumgum | yap | stalk | 18:09, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
60 guilders of glass beads and mirrors. СПУТНИКССС Р 01:56, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
74 giraffes, 17 copies of Catcher in the Rye, a large vat of luke-warm custard, three CDs by Blink 182, a colander, and a small tin of ordinary household disinfectant. Grutness...wha? 08:12, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

asked before. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Miscellaneous#ESPN User:Kahang 02:18, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Music God?

I enjoy mithology a lot, specially Greek and Roman, but i do not recall if there was ever a Music God? If there is a Music God...what is his/her name?

Raul Dominican Republic

Several are associated with music: Apollo, Pan, the muse Euterpe Rmhermen 19:06, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
Dionysus was also associated with the music, as well as wine. Jude (talk,contribs,email) 07:16, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Horse longevity

What is the average longevity of the domesticated horse? The horse article doesn't seem to say. Bhumiya (said/done) 18:27, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

from Talk:Horse:

I came to this wikipedia page looking for what I thought would be basic information, and with such length I thought i'd find it but however the answer to the question I have is absent from the article. What is the average lifetime of a horse? Could this be added to the article? It seems rather basic, but is missing. Chopper Dave 01:31, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

  • Good point. The average is between 20 and 30 years, for well-cared for horses. In the wild, 6 to 10 years. The claimed record is 62, but that's from 1760 and may not be solid. --John Nagle 21:57, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

The entire horse article needs a thorough going over and rewrite. half of it is "how to raise horses," the other half is a history in relation to humans, and there's no good section on their biology. Night Gyr 02:22, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

I would suspect that the age would also have a lot to do with what the horse was being made to do. I could see that racehorses would possibly have a shorter lifespan. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 02:29, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Not necessarily, the actual racing of a horse is only a small segment of its life, and then it's retired. Many races are only for horses of a specific age. Night Gyr 04:09, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ricardo Montaner

Where does Ricardo Montaner live?

According to Allmusic he was born in "Argentina but raised in Venezuela" but not where he lives now. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 18:32, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 10

[edit] Willy on Wheels

How much is known about Willy on Wheels? Is he one person? Does anyone know what area of the world he lives in? How long has he been vandalizing Wikipedia?

Lol! There's an interesting little chapter on my talkpage. -LambaJan 02:08, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
The majority of what we know about him is here. Jude (talk,contribs,email) 12:02, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Two songs

Does anyone know of these two songs?

  1. "Sweet Charlotte" "Sweet Charlotte lived on the mountain side..."
  2. "A Fair Haired Boy" "A fair haired boy in a prison camp at sun rise was to die..."

Right now all I have is the title and the snippet of the first line. I think they are from the US and the first appears to be a variation on "Barbara Allen" Thanks. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 18:00, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

Using google, I found The Pardon Came Too Late, (in PDF format), which isn't exactly the same lyrics as your second song, but is quite similar. Jude (talk,contribs,email) 07:19, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks. That may be it in a different version. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 08:59, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Fat

Why some boys who are not fat like 200-209lbs girls while some girls whoe arenot fat also like 200-209lbs boys? They do it for sex things?

Weight alone doesn't define fat. I'm a boy in that range and I'm downright bony. however, you can read more than you'd ever want to know about Fat fetishism right here on wikipedia. Night Gyr 18:18, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 1990

How many actors and actresses were born in 1990?

  • http://imdb.com/BornInYear?year=1990 Night Gyr 02:25, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
  • You'd have to be more specific. Do you mean in a specific country, or worldwide and what do you consider to be actor/actress? Do they need to have at least one role, do extras count? Do you include stage theather actors? - Mgm|(talk) 08:07, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Try 1990#Births Jonathan W 16:30, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bookstore

What you call a person who sells books, dvd, and cds? Rich?(82.138.214.1)

A bookseller? Isopropyl 02:43, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
A sales[wo]man? Kilo-Lima|(talk) 10:03, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Salesperson? Clerk? Which language? --Ouro 11:14, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rocks in the alley

Image:Rocksinalley.jpg
Rocks in the alley Jonathan W 16:26, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

In the alley behind my house there are all these rocks. You also find them on the side of roads. Where did they all come from?? Jonathan W 03:04, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

They were probably there since time immemorial, and nobody bothered to clean them up when they built the alley or the road. JackofOz 05:21, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
In a number of places, roads (or in this case, alleys) are surfaced with gravel. Unpaved roads of gravel are cheaper to build than paved roads, and still have a somewhat durable surface, resistant to erosion and tire wear. So if your alley is all rocks, they were put there by the builders of your neighbourhood to function as a cheap, low-use road. On the other hand, you may be thinking of deicing rock chips. If you live somewhere that gets ice in the winter, a common strategy is for the local road maintenance authority (the city council or such) to send out trucks that spread gravel and sand on the ice. This helps cars with their traction. Generally, they pile up in the gutter all winter, and are cleaned up in the spring. These will usually be much smaller -- more like sand than like rocks. Or, you could just be referring to the rocks that are normally under the soil, and are exposed by construction of any kind, in which case JackofOz is correct. --ByeByeBaby 05:53, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Well here's what they look like. They all seem to be about the same size. Were they custom-made for the city or something? (Thanks for all the great answers!) Jonathan W 16:26, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
A gravel crusher will tend to make them all the same size. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:31, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
It doesn't appear to be uniform size to me. It looks like a river rock gravel. Rmhermen 16:41, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Ya, I think they look like they came from a river too. But how did they get into our alley then? Jonathan W 17:19, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

This is just good old pea gravel. Where I am in Toronto, they ship it in giant ships from the north. They use it generally for aggregate. Many quarries produce it naturally. Pea gravel is neat because if you have a thick layer of it, it is nearly impossible to walk on. --Zeizmic 20:55, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mayo

What happens to mayo if you freeze it? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.114.224.62 (talk • contribs) .

Why don't you try it and see for yourself? —Keenan Pepper 04:48, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
I just put some in my freezer because I was curious, so you'll soon find out even if you don't have mayonnaise or a freezer handy. —Keenan Pepper 04:51, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
So far it's just grown cold and hard, but still fairly flexible. It's basically gross ice cream. I suspect nothing more exciting will happen, but I'll let you know. —Keenan Pepper 05:17, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
With bated breath we sit and wait,
The mayo and it's awful fate,
Will it freeze or will it not?
Does anybody care a lot?
"Gross ice cream" says Keenan Pepper,
"Your POV" says CBWeather
Get some ham, a loaf of bread
and see which one is easier spread".
CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 06:21, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
oh, very good! Grutness...wha? 08:18, 10 April 2006 (UTC) (while we're waiting for it to freeze, here's some we prepared earlier)
You people are sad, sad, sad. Cheer up with a movie all about mayo on hamburgers (The whole 9 yards). For the answer, go to the food giant itself: [8] It basically says that mayo will separate into yuck when it is thawed again. --Zeizmic 11:43, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
That don't count as it's only for mayo that is in something else. We are talking about plain mayo. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 12:07, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Nope, they talk about mayo sandwiches and how it separates into oil and eggie bits. Of course, you could just keep it frozen and eat mayo-cicles. --Zeizmic 12:22, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

That mayo you are playing with was once an egg that should become a living being. Now, if we are courteus enough to kill unborn animals to make mayonnaise, we could at least eat it and show some respect, not play with it as if it was a thing. I see that people don't think about this, but they should.--Captain ginyu 21:47, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Lost question - how to search archives?

I think this might technically be a Help Desk question, but I guess the people manning the Reference Desk might also know the answer...

I found this fragment on a Google search of Wikipedia: "Mandaeans acknowledge John the Baptist, but not Jesus or Moses. ... Maybe Tolomei is the correct rendering/borrowing of Ptolemaios into Italian?"

The link was to "Reference Desk/All", but searching the page found nothing. I suspect the question has been archived, but can't find any clue as to the date to begin searching the archives. Can anyone find this question for me?

Should I presume, because it still appears on the Google index, that it was a recent question? And in future, what is the best way to search the Reference Dsk archives? Can Google be directed to search a particular subset of Wikipedia pages? Carcharoth 07:06, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Having a look at the google cache, it appears to have been a question raised on the 27th of March, on Rerefence Desk/Humanities, by User:Ohanian. The full thread can be found here, in the Reference Desk/Humanities archive of March 27. :-) Jude (talk,contribs,email) 07:23, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
There are two separate questions: the second is from the Language desk on March 28. (Like Bookofjude, I found them by checking Google's cached versions of the pages in question and then going to the relevant part of the Archives.) More generally, what you want is Google's "site:" search parameter. "site:en.wikipedia.org" would search only wikipedia (it essentially gets silently added on when you search Wikipedia using Google), "site:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/" searches only the Reference Desks (I wasn't sure being that specific would work but I just tried it and it did), etc. --Bth 07:37, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks to both of you! Rather embarassingly, the bit I wanted to find was something I wrote and forgot that I had written... <cringe> Carcharoth 07:38, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
I made the quip about Mandeans, but not about Ptolemy. Both are on the March Humanities archive, right here. --BluePlatypus 11:19, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Chinese family names (PRC)

Hi,

I've got a question about Chinese names. In China, it's important to have a Chinese surname, as this is used on all sorts of official documents. Because western surnames don't have hanzi associated with them, most foreigners adopt characters that they chose themselves, which might not have anything to do with their "real" surname.

My question refers to the case when a western man marries a Chinese woman and has a child in China. If the parents are both Chinese, it's normal for the child to take the father's surname. But from what I can tell, a Chinese citizen's Western name only exists as a romanisation of their Chinese name. So what happens for a child brought up in China with a western father? Does he/she take both the father's western name and his chosen Chinese character, take only his character along with the romanisation of that character, or take something completely different such as the mother's name?

I'm talking about mainland China here, which might be different from Hong Kong or Taiwan. But if anyone knows about the situation in HK/TW, that would be good to hear as well.

61.49.159.163 12:56, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

It's their own choice. I don't know mainland China, but in Hong Kong, we use both Chinese and English name, very often in your case, English could be the main one, then Chinese surname would just transliterated it and use as reference.--Kahang 15:24, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, it is mainly the parents'/children's own choice. I have also known a rather impressive Chinese lady who managed to pursuade her Finnish husband to let the child have a Chinese surname after her, and adopts his surname as the child's middle name instead! Luthinya 20:00, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Yung Joc

Could you please make a article about Yung Joc?

Young Joc? David Sneek 13:31, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cluster's of Disappearances

I'm having a lot of difficulty locating a certain, specific body of data. It must exist but I haven't been able to find it.

I'm looking for a catalogue, chronology, list, compilation, or whatever you would like to call it, of clusters of disappearances that would be consistent with serial killings. Of course, we might not know if a missing person was actually killed. That's why I'm refering to them as clusters of disappearances, rather than serial killings. Ideally, such a catalogue would allow me to locate such clusters by date and geographical region. Specifically, I want to know if there was a cluster of disappearances in northern California, specifically in Calaveras County and adjacent counties, during 1984 and 1985. However, it would be useful to me to find a catalogue of such data that included all such clusters but was searchable by date and region.

Please be aware that I'm not interested in information about serial killers but in clusters of disappearances that are consistent with a serial killer scenario.

I've located a body of data that might be used to extract the information that I seek but it goes back to only 1995. That data is published on a website by the California Office of the Attorney General. I've asked a friend in California to search his local library for me but I certainly would appreciate it if you could locate a source of the data that I need.

Thank you very much for making this encyclopedia, and this service, available. It is extremely useful.

Sam

If you care enough to spend some money you can try google answers. Jon513 15:00, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

In general, we won't spend more than a minute or two spouting out our brilliance, or doing a quick search. That's why we hate doing tedious homework, or writing out people's books for them. --Zeizmic 17:27, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Viruses From Limewire

Can you get viruses from downloading music from Limewire?

Only if you don't wipe your keyboard after someone else has used it. (No, but downloading music can be illegal depending on how you are obtaining it and the legal situation in your country) Proto||type 14:16, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Not unless the RIAA starts using biological weapons.
But seriously, a computer virus can't to anything if you don't execute it. —Keenan Pepper 14:17, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Actually, there was a Windows Media Player vunlnerability a while back that would cause WMP to execute metadata from a malformed MP3 file (IIRC, the MP3 did not even have to be opened in WMP because the preview mode in Windows Explorer would also load the metadata and suffer the same buffer overrun). That vulnerability was patched about two years ago, so if your system is up to date, there's no real reason to worry about viruses -- Ferkelparade π 14:23, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
If, however, you download an executable then that certainly could contain a virus, trojan, spyware, or other malware. And sometimes files have very misleading names, like "Naked_Britney_Spears.avi.exe" or have a very long title, with an interesting opening but an exe at the end (e.g "James_Blunt____Back_To_Bedlam_______Youre_Beautiful______mp3_240KHz_______________________________________________________________________________________.mp3.exe"), and they're hoping your Limewire window isn't wide enough to see the .exe at the end (or .com, .scr, .pif, which are also common executable formats on windows machines), and they hope you don't bother scrolling right to see if it really is an mp3. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 14:26, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
While it is correct that by far the greatest threat is executables (including .doc), files such as .mp3 can also cause a buffer overflow. However that is only a problem if there is a vunlnerability in the media player you are using. I would recommend and open source player such as VLC media player or mplayer. Jon513 15:10, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Drawing by Feynman

In one of Richard Feynman's books he mentions a drawing he made called "The Magnetic Field of the Sun". Does anyone know where I can see an image of this drawing or buy a copy of it? It sounds really interesting but I've never seen it. —Keenan Pepper 14:35, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

it might be in The Art of Richard P. Feynman: Images by a Curious Character ISBN: 2884490477.

[edit] deterring ducks from swimming pools

how do you deter ducks from a swimming pool

you can put a crocodile in the pool. Jon513 15:26, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

If you can't find a crazy, bird-chasing dog like mine, then I would go for one of those 'pool alarms' that sense the water surface being broken. Except I would attach one huge mother horn! --Zeizmic 15:30, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Maybe you could sit outside with a .22 rifle and pick them off, or use a crossbow if the neighbors don't like gunfire. Some people use poisoned grain, but that may attract and kill animals you don't want to kill, so you have to clean it up when you're done. I wouldn't want to leave out poisoned grain and wake up to find a dead family of possums in my yard. Most places allow homeowners to kill varmints on their property, but you should check with your local government or animal control officer to make sure. Brian G. Crawford 17:12, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Remove the water. Ducks don't like dry pools.  -- Run!  20:37, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Richest Rapper

Who is the richest rapper ever?

Steve Ballmer [9]. It's at least as musical as "My Humps". Night Gyr 16:40, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Eminem would be a reasonable guess through sheer weight of albums, though his producer Dr Dre might well be even richer. It depends on who you count as a rapper? Does Billy Joel count for We Didn't Start The Fire? --Robert Merkel 15:32, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Three Mile Island's length

How long is it? A foreign newspaper editor contacted us to ask, and I can't find it anywhere in the article. -- Zanimum 15:46, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

I'd guess three miles, but if you want to check for yourself, there are map links at the end of the article. Using the Gmaps pedometer, I measured 2.2 miles as the crow flies, but there are several separate islands that are very close together, and the island itself is bent, so you can make your own measurement along whatever dimension you prefer. Night Gyr 16:34, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Actually, places named for a distance are notoriously innacurate. For great justice. 08:34, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Printer Problem

Hello, I have a hp LaserJet 5100dtn and I just installed a new toner cartage. However, the printer still says "Low Toner". I was wondering if someone could help me fix the problem.

Thanks Zach 16:20, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Never mind, forgot to pull out the strip. There were two instead of one. Go figure... Zach 16:49, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
For future reference, hp.com has an excellent support section. Night Gyr 16:51, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Actually I was on the phone with them and they couldnt help me... I had to figure it out my self after an hour and a half of searching. It was annoying. But at least it is fixed. Zach 10:43, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] I.T.

What is ERP architecture, and solution architecture? What is the difference between them?

[edit] Is someone moving the goalposts?

I am a relatively new user of Wikipedia and before asking my question, would just say how impressed I am at this seemingly limitless resource of information, apparently provided free of charge to others like myself by a dedicated and committed group of volunteer contributors of varying degrees of expertise, but all of them well intentioned nonetheless. So please accept my compliments and thanks for questions already asked and answered, and many more yet to come. My question is, why does the layout of the Main Page change every time I log on? Am I doing something to make that happen; is it a dynamic feature of Wikipedia, or is it an annoying optical illusion?

The main page is constantly changing as the news area, On This Day, Today's Featured Article and Picture, Did You Know are updated. Also, the Main Page recently had a makeover; but you'd only notice that once. --Optichan 20:10, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Banishing

How ong have people been doing this? What traditions are especially known for their banishings? What should you not attemp to banish?

I assume you're talking about banishing criminals or diseased people. I would think that's been going on since people collected in groups. Really, the idea of locking people in a prison building instead of sending them away is a relatively new idea. Socrates was given the choice of being exiled from Athens or drinking poison, and he chose suicide over exile. Ovid was exiled to an area on the coast of the Black Sea and complained bitterly about it in writing. Today, the U.S. State of Virginia exiles people from the state for five years for possession of a concealed handgun without a permit. Brian G. Crawford 18:39, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

In the Bible manslaughter (that is unintentional murder) was punishable by exile to a "city of refuge". Jon513 22:19, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How can I publish my discoveries?

Hi! My name is Abel Cavasi, I live in Romania and I discovered a new conservation law in Physics. Since some months ago I tried unsuccesfully to draw up the attention of the world on this result. I sent the material (which can be found on the Internet address: www.geocities.com/abelcavasi) to few Physics Universities in Romania, to Physical Review, to Scientific American, to Newscientist, to American Journal of Physics, to European Journal of Physics, etc. While some of them advise me to search other magazines, others maintain that the shape of the article is unacceptable and others have not replied at all. Could you help me? abel 18:28, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

You'd probably be best off working with a professor in this country directly who's an expert in your field. They'll be well suited to telling you if you've got something genuinely new, errant somehow, or have simply rediscovered an old law in a new form. Try checking out the websites of research universities with prominent physics departments and asking their professors via email. While Wikipedia is a good resource for current knowledge, it is not the place for original research. see WP:NOR. Night Gyr 19:59, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Mr. Cavasi, you might also have a look at the philosophy of science, especially the bit about empiricism. Newtonian physics can be used to make very precise numerical predictions, which agree very well with experimental measured data. To be accepted, you need to show your theory can do the same. Your current material does not do so. --Robert Merkel 00:48, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
You need to present your theory more boldly, and in such a way to catch the reader's eye. Add some colors and pictures. Take the work of Professor Gene Ray, for example. Also, Dr. Alex Chiu. KWH 05:57, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Your best bet is to find a physicist who is willing to take some time to look at it. The odds are that they will find something wrong with it, simply because "the odds are" that most new theories derived by non-scientists are incorrect (there are a few notable examples of this generalization being wrong historically, but they are exceptions). Most university physics departments have very large files of such theories sent to them by amateurs (they call them "crank files"), though some physicists are patient and kind enough to write back to such people and give them their suggestions about their work, but I imagine that this is currently a rare thing. Anyway -- the fact is, like it or not, that the scientific community is unlikely to respond well to people outside of its boundaries, rituals, rites-of-passage, etc. This neither means you are correct nor that it is a conspiracy, but it is a difficulty you should understand and anticipate before trying to do anything to the contrary. There are good reasons for scientists to be "conservative" in this respect (it is a purposeful attempt to direct their resources towards things which are likely to pay off), so be aware of this when you contact them. If you have been instructed that the shape of the article is unacceptable you may try to model it on articles which have been published previously. At this point, my suggestion to you is to try and find a good newsgroup online where someone will be willing to go over it in detail and give you suggestions about it. --Fastfission 16:15, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Soddy Daisy WV

Is there such a town as Soddy Daisy, West Virginia? I have been told there is. Please help.

Two Google hits and nothing here on Wikipedia. Sorry, but I doubt it. Unless, of course, you mean Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, http://soddydaisy.org/? Kilo-Lima|(talk) 19:39, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Album

How long does it typically take to make a music album? Could Somebody Please Tell Me, I would really appreciate it.

There is no "typical length of time" for this. Some albums are cut over a large number of sessions over a period of months or even over a year. Others take one or two sessions and can be finished in weeks or even days. Generally they'd be towards the longer end of that continuum, but that would give you only an average, not a "typical" length. Grutness...wha? 04:01, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
And if you take add all time required to write all the lyrics and dress the sounds...it'll take about 3-4 months, i guess...it also depends on the type of music you wanna make...for example a rock band might take a lot more time than a rap artist since the band has to make all the music and write the songs, and for the rap artist, most of the music is already ready in the form of samples and stuff...but the actually recording of all the songs in the studio depends on the length of the album.... if say, there are 10 songs in an album of 30 minutes... and if the band has practised pretty well so that they dont make any mistakes while recording, it might take a couple of days to a week... i, myself am in a band and it takes us about 10 hours straight to write one whole song along with the lyrics and the music and to finish recording it ...so i guess that should give you a pretty good idea..... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 12:08, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Quill

Does anyone know what shops in the UK that sell writing quills? I've tried eBay, and they are about £5 ($8.75); is this good? Thanks! Kilo-Lima|(talk) 19:34, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

I suspect that either Pensplus, High St., Oxford website or Scriptum, Covered Market, Oxford website may be able to find you a quill. None available directly for sale on their website, it seems. But it should be worth contacting them. --81.178.66.137 17:23, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] massachusetts state sales tax

when was this put in to effect in massachusetts month day year please

Massachusett Sales Tax law is in GENERAL LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER 64H. Seems like it should be easy to know when a law was made once you know where it is in the records. Nevertheless I could not find it. Jon513 22:39, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] naked

Who invented this nudism? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs)

What do you mean by "this" nudism? —Keenan Pepper 21:50, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Nudism wasn't invented, it's naturally occuring.  -- Run!  22:03, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
See nudism. --Robert Merkel
Yes, but who first invented the idea of not wearning clothes? Oh, wait... For great justice. 08:32, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

Nudity is lovely and fine. Clothes, on the other hand, are a sin and abomination before God. See Genesis 3:9 and following, and strip off that evil cloth! Grutness...wha? 12:15, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia really has ths top well-covered. Now I'm off to go to a naked party. --Optichan 15:20, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
It might have the top covered, but what about the bottom? :) Grutness...wha? 07:10, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Photo

Why some like to take pictures of ladies? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Don Mustafa (talk • contribs)

I would image that the vast majority of picture of both men and women are personal photographs of close family members. Many people like to take picture to show to relatives, look at latter, or just for fun. I have notice that parents love to take picture of their children and show them to others and exclaim “look how cute they are”. Jon513 22:25, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
See also pornography. For great justice. 08:31, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] what happened to her face

what happened to the old face of the french women who was given a face transplant. also lets say my leg is amputated what happens to the leg after it has been cut off.

I think she is recovering, trying to avoid publicity (see Face transplant. Your leg most likely gets incinerated. For great justice. 08:30, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
The old face, IIRC, was nibbled off by her dog. HenryFlower 14:55, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 11

[edit] Irish Lottery Syndicate

The An Post National Lottery Company page says "A Dublin-based syndicate bought all combinations in one week and made a £500,000 profit. After this incident the numbers were increased to 39 (1 in 3,262,623 chance) and later on to 42." - I was hoping to learn more about this on that page as I vaguely remember the furore surrounding it. I thought they only bought a a substantial fraction of the ticket combinations, rather than all. What's the full story? Jooler 00:13, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

As I recall from a news feature on the subject around the time that the English National Lottery started, they planned for a long time, but in the end didn't have enough time to get every single combination of numbers. They didn't get the jackpot, but did get several of the other prizes (the equivalent of five numbers and the bonus ball in the UK Lottery, for example). Combined with the smaller prizes, they made a profit, but not as much as they intended.Phileas 04:25, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Name of garden designer

Hi I am trying to locate a garden designer/landscape architect by the name of carroucho (or something similar as I cant find nothing under that name). If anybody could point me in the right direction, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Could you at least narrow down which country you're in? Breaking it down even farther like a specific state or province that you think they may be in would help too. Dismas|(talk) 03:54, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

I believe that he is spanish and could be a "celebrity" type garden designer. That is all I know at this stage. Thanks.

[edit] general hospital

whos the actor for the character named manny? hes the one who kidnaped elizabeth or emily(i forgot the name)and manny jus broke out of jail. this is in the '06 season. can u help me?

Robert LaSardo plays Manny Ruiz. Grutness...wha? 04:06, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Copyright Question

I've been thinking of starting a webcomic, and one of things that been holding me back is my grasp of US Copyright laws. Can someone clear this up for me. From what I understand things are copyrighted from the moment they are created and published, but how is this inforced? How can I stop people from using my ideas as their own, my characters, my comics. Thanks in advance Evil Vin 06:00, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

You can't copyright ideas (like a plot, or the concept of a robot monkey character), but you can copyright their exercise (such as the appearance of your robot monkey, with orange fur and metal tentacles and a distinctive nose and the name Muzu). If someone copies your character, they may only do so under the terms of fair use or permission from you. If they violate these terms, your main recourse is legal action, such as a DMCA takedown notice to their web host, or a lawsuit in court. Keep in mind that you're probably just being paranoid. If they rip off your jokes, consider it an honor. Just make sure you tag your strips with your name and your web address and every time people pass it around you'll get some free advertising. Night Gyr 06:53, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Actually characters are trademarked instead of copyrighted, but it amounts to the same for this question. Particular images within a comic are protected by copyright just as the specific text of a book. - 131.211.210.17 09:09, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Basically, copyright is enforced in the courts or, more usually, by threat of the courts. That is, you'd have to sue somebody. Usually the threat of suing somebody is enough in and of itself if the infringment is blatant. If you want an easy-to-read primer on how copyrights work, I recommend Lawrence Lessig's Free Culture, which is available online. His argument about the danger of copyrights might not appeal to you but regardless he has a great discussion about the ins and outs of copyright issues which is easy to understand and make sense of. --Fastfission 16:15, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Ok thanks. But are trademarks for my characters auto-trademarked or will I have to register with the goverment? If I do not have to register with the goverment for the trademark, should I anyway? Heh just a little paranoid. Evil Vin 23:09, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
You don't need to register a mark for it to exist (see [10]), though registration does provide some benefits. If you are really paranoid, just make sure you maintain evidence of what you have created, how you created it, and, importantly, when you created it. One easy way to do this is to go to a notary public and get it certified that you created X document by at least the point in time when you went to the notary (you can do the old "mail yourself something in an envelope and not open it", but a notary public would be more legally meaningful). --Fastfission 16:39, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How to increase my membership of my society?

I am a member of *The Sherlock Holmes Society of India.I have been a part of this Society ever since its existence. However, the increase in its membership has been at a snail's pace despite the high quality of the discussions which are held in the Society. I have tried posting my links with other Sherlockian societies but with limited success.Can you help me out with suggestions to achieve increase in membership? sumal 11:08, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

  • Try see if bookstores and libraries in your area want to help promote it. People in other Sherlockian groups are unlikely to switch or join another (especially the foreign ones). I think you'd do better if you focussed on getting people from India to join. - 131.211.210.17 11:48, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
    • You may try the yahoogroup quiznet. Don't post it as an advertisement, or the moderator will not approve it. Post a 10-12 question Sherlock Holmes quiz and add a few words about your group or link to the mailing list at the end. Tintin (talk) 12:18, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
    • If Indian publishers sell advertising space in the back of their books (I have no idea whether they do or not, it's become much less common here in the UK), you might approach them to see if they'll carry a one-pager in the back of relevant books. Might be fairly pricey, though. --Bth 12:41, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Membership is usually a function of visibility. Try to find ways in which you can, in a non-obtrusive way, increase attention and awareness of your society's existance. One way to do this in your case might be to try and pool your member's resources in the attempt to create a good web resource relating to Sherlock Holmes, on the assumption that people interested in Holmes will be interested in the society. --Fastfission 16:42, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Tactical shooter SWAT games

I've recently tried the demos for SWAT 3 and I've found I really like this type of shooters. Not mindlessly blowing the baddies away, but using actual tactics is great. Until I get the cash to buy this game, has anyone got ideas for free alternatives? My computer is an oldie, so my CPU will probably not do anything too far over 266MHz. Any ideas are welcome. - 131.211.210.17 11:46, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

Well then you are in luck. SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle requires only 233 MHz. Or did you mean SWAT 4? Jedi6-(need help?) 21:51, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Yes, I know, but I was wondering if there were any similar games than just SWAT 3 I could run. - Mgm|(talk) 04:49, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six - One of the pioneers of the genre, gives you an opportunity to trace out each stage of assault (reqs:System: Pentium-166 or equivalent RAM: 16 MB Video Memory: 1 MB); Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear (reqs: System: PII 266 or equivalent RAM: 32 MB Video Memory: 4 MB); Delta Force & Delta Force 2 (reqs:System: Pentium-166MMX or equivalent RAM: 32 MB). If you have access to a faster computer, try America's Army - it's accurate, fun, and free. ˉˉanetode╞┬╡ 06:48, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Userbox

Why is Rudy Giuliani on the face of a vandalism userbox? Thanks, Kilo-Lima|(talk) 12:12, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

I would guess it's a reference to zero-tolerance. HenryFlower 14:57, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Eating endangered animals

i one day would like to eat lots of endangered animals :). such as panda, elephant, Humpback Whale, Leopard, Loggerhead Sea Turtle and komodo dragons. i was just wondering where these animals are eaten and how much they cost. i know that it is illegal to eat these kinds of animals but people still do in asian countries. just wanted to know where and how much it would cost to eat these animals.

any help would be greatly appreciated!

From mr P

Well, if you want to eat endangered animals, a trip to the local fishmongers may be the easiest way to start, since all fish are endangered. Mind you, if enough people eat the species you mentioned, you might also wish to consider cannibalism, since the reduction in numbers of rare species indirectly endangers the human race as well. Grutness...wha? 13:29, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Any species becomes endangered if you eat enough of it. So all you need is a large appetite, a large wallet, and a mind firmly set on your job. JIP | Talk 14:45, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
I suggest you start with homo-sapiens. They're cheap, abundant, not difficult to find, and rather tasty. Raul654 14:49, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Not all endangered animals would be good to eat. You can pretty much rule out predators like big cats. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:08, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
There used to be a restaurant in Washington, DC (might still be there for all I know) which bragged that they served lion. User:Zoe|(talk) 18:17, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Too bad Brando's dead, he could've hooked you up. Although if you're willing to lower your standards a bit, certain African and Asian safaris have restaurants that feature wild animals on the menu. For instance, at Mamba Village, you could check out the crazy antics of a group of crocodiles, and then eat one of them! Or, if you're really famished, go to the Chiang Mai Safari Park and feast on a buffet that includes lion, tiger, elephant and giraffe meat. ˉˉanetode╞┬╡ 07:03, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

i was wondering more about the black market prices for animals such as these, e.g. the price of panda meat. and in what country this happens. Mr P

See bushmeat. Bhumiya (said/done) 06:29, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Size of the internet/Porno

Im sure this question has been asked many many times, but is there ANY approximation how large the internet is? Probably a dumb question/ but yeh, any answer welcome

Additionally, Ive always wondered what percentage of the interenet is porno. Is there any answer to these questions? ~ Anklepants

Have a look at How Much Informations? Shimgray | talk | 14:53, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
But that doesn't answer the question about the pr0n. The made up statistic tends to be around 90%. Here's the Straight Dope having a go at figuring it out properly. (While we're at it, where did "give me the informations" get started? I used to know but have forgotten and Google is just coming up with people using it, not discussing its etymology.) --Bth 17:43, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
"Informations" there was a typo, incidentally!
The study does mention what fraction it thinks is pr0n:
2,743 sites (or 28%) appeared to contain pornographic content. To generate this statistic, we matched a list of 94 pornographic stopwords to terms in the associated URL and the index page.
and to me "about a quarter of sites" sounds a pretty plausible estimate, though bear in mind this doesn't equate to about a quarter of the content, especially given the number of SEO domain-redirects and so on porn spammers will have. Shimgray | talk | 17:55, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
So it does; I didn't manage to find that bit. Your typo has been made before -- "give me the informations" is a wider Internet version of "suitly emphazi", but I forget where it came from. --Bth 07:37, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

for an authoritative answer, you'd need to run an operation the size of ECHELON. to answer the question of what percentage of data transferred (not, hosted) is porn, counting google hits is worthless (hence, the fraction of 28% estimated to contain pornographic content above tells us nothing at all about the fraction of internet traffic due to these sites). Counting search terms frequency is worthless too, because the people who transfer the lion's share do not idly look for "porn" on google. Anything related to counting websites is worthless, since the data transferred by viewing some web page pales in comparison with a gigabyte's video download. To really get an idea, you'd need to stat the bittorrent networks. To get a first idea, you'd probably want to look at a site that indexes both porn and non-porn content such as torrentspy.com; compare the number of le(e)chers connected to each torrent, multiplied with the torrent size, and you'll have an idea. I wouldn't be surprised if it was significantly more than 50% (but you'd expect the ratio to drop significantly at times when a newly pirated Harry Potter movie is being distributed), while about a quarter sounds reasonable for the fraction of data hosted. At the moment, the largest share of data transferred via the pirate bay tracker is Basic Instinct 2, a 4.36 G file, downloaded 1500 times with another 1800 downloads in progress, amounting to 8T worth of this file distributed over this tracker alone in about two days (you can view many image-laden websites to get to such a number). I leave it to you to decide if this particular file qualifies as porn or not :) dab (ᛏ) 18:28, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

The large amount of torrent and P2P software is making this even harder to research. Note that the pirate scene via the internet is huge, and that there is a very large porn pirating scene with it. If you know where to look, you can find thousands of files being offered/torrented easily. As such, it will be impossible for any private person to even approximate the percentages involved in the amount of data being up and downloaded.
I have heard that 90% of internet traffic is porn, but I do not know how accurate that is. Nevertheless you have to realize that porn by its very nature is more media intensive then other uses of the internet (that is porn will be pictures and movies, other parts of the internet will be text and maybe pictures). If person reads news online night and day every day and once a month download one pornographic movie, most of his internet traffic is porn. That does not mean that he mostly uses the internet for porn. Furthermore it is quite possible that there are a small percentage of addicts that contribute significantly to the numbers. Be careful how much you read into the statistics, even if they are accurate. Jon513 07:29, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
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[edit] volunteering

Hello. I am interested in becoming an editor on Wikipedia. Is there a specific process by which I could be alerted of the need for editing of an article, etc. I also like to do reserach and would be pleased to do some of that as well. I'm not even sure if this is possible. Do I just have to choose random articles and select edits as I see fit? Thanks for any guidance you can provide.

Editour 18:57, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

Check this out. Follow any of those links in the box to the right to find articles that need your help. --Optichan 19:24, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Create an account (edit: oh you've got one) and just go around editing whatever to your heart's content. If you're stuck for ideas, start with your interests, your home town, etc.  -- Run!  20:32, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] looking for satoo

i'm looking for any information about chief satoo. i work at satoo school in millwoods and i already know that satoo means jumping in cree and there was a chief named satoo. i'm looking for additional information in regards to tribe names, location, lifestyle, and any other history of satoo. thanks to anyone who can help. lynda

I didn't see anything about a chief named Satoo, but [11] looks like it might provide some answers. Chapuisat 20:15, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Also see [12] and of course Cree on wikipedia.Chapuisat 20:16, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Is it possibly an alternate spelling of Sahtu which is pronounced the same. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 22:20, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Holidays

Does Sikhs have their own holidays like the other religions?

  • Yup. [13]. It's a major omission from our Sikhism article, though. Night Gyr 20:49, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
Vaisakhi was celebrated just last Sunday. Happy New Year!! Natgoo 23:33, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Copyright in Bolivia

Are sources from the Bolivian government in the public domain? I'm specifically thinking about pictures from the Galeria de Presidentes de la República de Bolivia (Gallery of Presidents of Bolivia). I don't spot any copyright notes on the site; maybe a Spanish-speaking user could help me out here. Punkmorten 21:13, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

Have you tried at Wikipedia talk:Copyrights? They can be very helpful. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 22:24, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
I'll try. Punkmorten 08:31, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
Are you asking if they are public domain in the United States or in Bolivia? Most of those paintings are almost certainly public domain under U.S. law on account of their age. I don't know Bolivian copyright law at all, though, so I have no idea what their legal status within Bolivia is. --Fastfission 16:23, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Edit link

How come the edit link on the right hand side is not working? I just clicked on the last one expecting to edit the copyright in Bolivia section and got this blank section. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 22:26, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

Oh that worked well. The comment ended up in the Bolivia section anyway. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 22:28, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
For some reason the edit links are working on the section above the one I click on. Very odd. Natgoo 23:38, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
I suspect that someone has added a section other than at the bottom, and this throws off the editor. StuRat 00:11, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
I deleted the "naked portal" to re-sync this page. If someone knows how to put it back properly, please do. hydnjo talk 02:17, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
This is the stuff I deleted: at ==naked==; {{Clothes free/box-header|Clothes free-related topics|Portal:Clothes free/Clothes free-related topics|}} {{Portal:Clothes free/Clothes free-related topics}} {{Portal:Clothes free/box-footer|}} hydnjo talk 02:23, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 12

[edit] Boxed messages

What is it called when you maked boxed messages like this? 
 (I feel dumb\ for asking this.) The Republican 00:45, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

our stylesheet's impression of a teletype (<tt>) tag? dab (ᛏ) 13:58, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

I missed this. It's called a "leading space". See Help:Editing#Just show what I typed. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 04:38, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Eating yourself

If you eat your own body parts, does that make you a cannibal? A Clown in the Dark 02:48, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

If you mean nail biting or gnawing pieces of skin from one's fingers then no according to our Cannibalism article, "... because it is not the intentional harvest of a food item." hydnjo talk 03:25, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
Why yes, yes it does. Except that it is termed Self-cannibalism. Good luck on your endeavor! ˉˉanetode╞┬╡ 07:10, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
Is that spelled yummy or ouch!  ;-) hydnjo talk 18:24, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mermaid

Are mermaids imaginary creatures or they exist?

They were imaginary last time you asked, a few days back. As far as I know they still are. (Gryphons, on the other hand...) Grutness...wha? 07:11, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
I think sailors used to mistake manatees, dugongs and other members of order Sirenia for mermaids. (Perhaps the result of long periods at sea without any women available?) --Bth 08:54, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
Mermaids (film) exists though... Thuresson 12:29, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
I think the truth is more like, they've been using these mammals for sex since time immemorial. And enjoying it - some of them probably preferred manatees to their wives. So they gradually attributed human female characteristics to them to subconsciously assuage the collective guilt of their cultural bestiality and in so doing created a haunting maritime archetype that is deeply rooted to our innate sense of dominance over the animal world. JackofOz 13:34, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
I think the answer is that that it is improbable for them to exist, but not impossible. Well, I must admit that so far I have never received an accurate and reliable witness account. Luthinya 20:07, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
If they don't exist, then what are we talking about? How can we be talking about something that doesn't exist? That doesn't make sense.Phileas 04:26, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
We can speak of the essence of mermaids without addressing the existence of mermaids. Just ask Thomas Aquinas. Bhumiya (said/done) 06:40, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Since the question concerns itself with another possiblility to the mermaids' existence- namely, that they are imaginary to the human mind. Just because something is imagined does not say anything about whether it exists or not, therefore you can very well talk about it without addressing their existence- in essence, that is. LCS 08:51, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
It's very easy to talk about something that doesn't exist. Haven't you ever discussed the characters in a film? They don't exist. Notinasnaid 09:16, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

I heard manatees made a motion like rocking a baby so sailors thought they looked like women. But I think they look like ugly hippos. Jonathan W 15:22, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

So do some women. For great justice. 23:44, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
  • /Cough, Cough/* So do some men, who suffer from delirium so much that they believe hippopotami are sirens and sirens... are police motorbike cars. Oh dear, I wonder which those could be? A Radical Feminist

[edit] Cecil Taylor solo Piano

I'm looking for solo piano recordings of Cecil Taylor. I already have "Air above mountains" what solo piano recordings did he make beside this one. Are there any other interresting solo piano artists~(-recordings) with a similar musical style like taylor?

Thanks -- helohe (talk) 09:11, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

There are several solo recordings by Cecil Taylor, and usually they are brilliant. I would recommend Silent Tongues, For Olim and The Willisau Concert. There is of course no other pianist who plays quite like Taylor, but you may find Matthew Shipp interesting. David Sneek 10:40, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How many animals in a herd

The collective noun of bison is a herd, is there any standard practice or rules as to how many animals you have to have before it can be called a herd. The reason I ask is that a farmer in Wales has bought 6 bison to start a 'herd'. I wouldn't consider 6 to constitute a herd but is there any accepted number which constitutes a herd? AllanHainey 09:55, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

I guess the number doesn't matter... if you are referring to a group of bison as a whole then you could call it as a "herd".... and anyone number more than 1 is a group... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 10:10, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
"Starter herds" commonly have some small number of animals (generally greater than four AFAICS, presumably for prevention-of-inbreeding reasons). --Bth 10:17, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
...or when exactly does a pond become a lake? hydnjo talk 19:42, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
When you leave New England. 69.86.17.202
Look, you're on a safari vacation and your guide points to a group of three or four elephants and exclaims "Look, a herd of elephants" but don't go to the town pub that night and describe it as such. It's oftentimes subjective, one person's herd is another's group. hydnjo talk 20:05, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
I've heard of groups. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 20:33, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
See Paradox of the heap. —Keenan Pepper 08:07, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pink Rice

Does anyone know the existence, or heard of the existence of pink coloured rice?

I've eaten it. Commonly sold in UK supermarkets mixed together with white and yellow rice in an entirely artifical "look, it's exotic and exciting so it's five times the price" marketing ploy.
Here is a recipe for something that definitely isn't what I had. This article claims the pink comes from tomato. --Bth 12:07, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
I've added cochineal to rice, and it turned pink. I don't believe that's what you're asking, though. I'm not sure if there's any natural pink rice, it's probably just coloured. Jude (talk,contribs,email) 13:17, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
I've read that on Girls Day in Japan, a common gift is pink rice cakes. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 19:46, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

I have a bag of rice flour by Lotus Foods that is Bhutanese Red Rice Flour. It says Finely milled red rice. The web site is WWW.world of rice.com info@worldofrice.com Hope this helps.

Forbidden rice is purple... —Keenan Pepper 07:54, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Camargue rice is a sort of red. --Blowdart 08:55, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Section 114, Canada Tax Act

IF I've understood correctly (which no one else should rely on!), Section 114 is supposed to say that if you become a resident of Canada during the year, you're not supposed to be taxed on income earned prior to becoming a resident (and vice-versa if you start out a resident and become a non-resident). However I simply can't find in the forms or instructions where it allows you to make this claim. Do you just silently omit the income earned as a non-resident, or what?

By the way, as I read the material on the foreign tax credit, you *cannot* claim a foreign tax credit for taxes paid on income earned when you were a nonresident (oversimplified but I think that's what it comes down to). It seems to me that wouldn't make any sense if you were taxed in Canada on that income; while it might not result in double taxation strictly speaking (because you might be able to claim a credit against the Canadian taxes in the other country), it would be saying that Canada would have *extra* claim on that income, that it wouldn't have had if you'd been a Canadian resident at the time. That seems to fail the minimum rationality test. --69.158.24.50 15:58, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm Canadian, but it turns out that this is a world forum, where a lot of people don't care about our little country. The CRCA web site might have something on this. --Zeizmic 17:03, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

So I understand that Canada is not the whole world (if it were, the question would hardly come up, eh?) but I humbly suggest that the question might be of interest to as many people as are fascinated by who was the first member of the US Navy or the history of the Massachusetts sales tax. Canada Revenue's site turns up little; I was able to find the act itself on another gov site, but it's not so easy to read. --69.158.4.46 18:03, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Found it. See Publication T4055, "Newcomers to Canada", pages 11 and 12. Available here. Boy, they sure don't make it easy to find; you'd think this would come up often enough that they'd put something on the tax form itself. --69.158.4.46 18:38, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
Sure, it comes up often enough. On the other hand, every time it comes up, they lose out on potential tax revenue. Draw what conclusions you will from why such information isn't obviously apparent. The same holds for many other locations, too. I went through similar hoops for my mid-year move between states for my income taxes. — Lomn Talk 19:12, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Patouli Oil

What is patouli oil? What's its cultural significance - i.e. what images might come to mind about its use? Thee's nothing in Wikipedia as far as I can tell. Some references I've found are in [14] and [15]. Thanks, --81.19.57.138 16:55, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Thee might want to watch thy tone, friend. --Trovatore 02:59, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Wasn't it just a typo for "there's nothing"? JackofOz 03:09, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
It was, of course (but I suspect Trovatore realised that anyway!). --81.19.57.138 07:42, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Of course. I must have been distracted by the sounds of all those anvils. Squilli eccheghi to you, Trovatore. JackofOz 14:42, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Patchouli oil? --LarryMac 17:01, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
That looks like it might be it - thanks Larry. --81.19.57.138 07:42, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Historical list of Congressman & Senators of the US 18th & 19th century

Hello. I am looking for a web page or possibly a book that would list & picture all the Congressman & Senators of the 18th & 19th century.Thanks, Mark

Big job. Lists exist, pictures may be harder. See our Template:USCongresses for member of each sitting of Congress. List of former U.S. Senators and List of former U.S. Representatives. Congressional Biography Guide can also help. Rmhermen 15:36, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Justice vs. Mercy

Which is more effective in an imperfect secular society: Justice or Mercy? Luthinya 20:42, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Yeah! A philosophy homework question! Those guys usually don't hang out here, because their responses don't fit on a page. --Zeizmic 21:33, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
Actually, the answer's very easy. Neither of them. A combination of the two is the only one which really works. The trick, of course, is to know how much mercy to leaven your justice with and vice versa. And anyway, why assume those two things are mutually exclusive? Some justice is very merciful, some mercy is very just. Grutness...wha? 03:45, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Excuse me, if you accuse me of writing my homework here I shall be very cross, since I am too young yet to study ethics properly in school. It is only a continuation of curiosity after a discussion on the topic with my friends. During this discussion we agreed that in a perfect world where everyone had equal beginnings, there is no real need of mercy, since mercy is used mainly to function as extra opportunities given to those unable to receive them earlier on in an imperfect society. Concluding from that, in a perfect world, justice and mercy are mutually exclusive, since one is giving people exactly what they deserved while the other is more than what they seem to deserve, which is no longer necessary since what people deserved had then been given a rigorous definition in a perfect world, instead of in an imperfect world where every man is different from his brothers and what each deserved appears very ambiguous and cannot be globalizd. Also the seed of mercy is pity- pity for some misfortune uncommon to most men. Yet since everyone had an equal replica for opportunities, what room is there to pity? In a perfect world it also seems to be free of crime, free of even the need to pity.
But for the imperfect world we live in, of course, I agree with you- The boundary between what man deserved and what he ought to be given is no longer so distinct or clear. In these cases it is very well seen that justice and mercy must co- function, and could become each other in very humane yet reasonable ways forbidden had the two sceptres been separate. For Justice is like a clear eye that sees all yet never forgets- too hard often upon mutable man. One must learn to see and judge with great Justice, yet know that it is not the task of Themis to heal, only to find. That latter task must then be left to Clementia, and it shall be just indeed.
But here's another problem: who define the laws of absolute justice, if this is so? Luthinya 09:08, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
And here's a real life case of "Justice or Mercy" Robert Latimer. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 18:28, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Yet another one? I thought Tookie Williams was the worst case already. Luthinya 10:16, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 13

[edit] Editing and Duplicating Movies

Is it legal for local classification authorities (say in Nepal) to edit copyrighted Hollywood movies and then issue duplicates themselves, especially if the submitter of that particular movie is not its licensed distributor? --202.21.189.119 02:55, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

AFIAK international copyright treaties prohibit this, however not all countries are signatories to the treaties and therefore it may be legal somewhere. I think anti piracy laws kick in if the original creator isn't kicked in so unless they're paying it's illegal. -- Tawker 03:51, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
I not sure what you are saying in the second sentence. Do you mean that the creator of the original work has not been paid? I get this vision of God being kicked about. Please "suitly emphazi". Thanks. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 04:23, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
A licensed distributor would (ideally) have the right to modify its product to confirm to the targeted market, right? And oh, the movie is being handed over (after editing and duplicating) by this classification body for the submitter's personal use.--202.21.189.119 06:00, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Advanced Placement Exams

Just out curiosity, does anyone know the highest number of AP exams that a single student has taken in one year? (Anywhere, and how they faired). I'm finishing up my S3 (junior) year and plan on taking quite a lot. (Won't mention the exact number as not to embarass myself.)Thanks. C-c-c-c 04:05, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

If you take 8 and score an average of 4 on all exams you'll be an AP National Scholar so people must take at least that many. Chapuisat 14:02, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
That doesn't have to be all in one year though. —Keenan Pepper 14:18, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Iranian nuclear & solar

The Iranians have enriched their own uranium (& congratulations on this), they say they want this for civil nuclear power because eventually their oil will run out & it isn't good to be too dependent on one source of power. I don't want to get into whether or not they should do this & whether or not they should, or aim to, produce a nuclear bomb but I'd like to know how widely used solar power (photovoltaic, solar hot water heating, etc) is in Iran and whether the government is taking steps to advance the use of solar & other non-nuclear/non-hydrocarbon sources of energy & to what extent. It seems like Iran would be ideal for the use of solar energy but we never hear about whether they are using any energy sources other than nuclear & oil. AllanHainey 09:37, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

They do have some: see A list of solar installation businesses in Iran and a in-progress commercial scale installation. Rmhermen 19:36, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Congratulations that a misfit nation led by a genocidal madman has enriched uranium? What are you smoking? Eventually their oil will run out? That's like a Canadian worried that one day we'll face a shortage of snow. Loomis51 03:49, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
The congratulation is for the technical achievement, it isn't easy to do, whatever the political views of a country & its leaders it is a significant technical achievement & one the Iranians must be proud of. Also snow is a renewable 'resource', oil isn't - it is finite and as it is extracted & used up there will be less of it. Eventually there won't be enough to meet energy needs & in time it will run out. AllanHainey 07:14, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
Solar, nuclear, and other non-petroleum based energy sources only become feasible when the price of petroleum is high. In countries which are swimming in oil, like Iran, petroleum prices are quite low, making nuclear and solar power generally seem quite expensive (which makes us suspect why they are really enriching uranium). An exception for solar power would be for places which are off the electrical grid and applications not large enough to make it practical to bring in petroleum and run a generator. Perhaps a customs booth in the middle of nowhere on one of Iran's borders might be a good example. StuRat 07:32, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] viewing and watching sexy images and films

Is surfing in porn sites, viewing and watching sexy images and films the reason that a person has abnormal personality considering that most of the people have such interests?

Opinions on the effects of watching porn vary. Consuming porn is unlikely to be "the reason" for an abnormal personality. And I doubt your assumption that "most of the people have such interests". You might want to read the articles on people like Catharine MacKinnon and Andrea Dworkin ... probably better brain food than pron. See also Are women human?. --Tagishsimon (talk)
Enjoying looking at naked people is perfectly normal. For great justice. 23:37, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
I would say that its normal to want to do it, but I wouldn't say that it does any good to you or anybody else. Its a selfish thing, and with more people looking out just for themselves, the worse living on this world will be. Croat Canuck Go Leafs Go 03:28, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] WaterAid logo

Hi,

I would like to update our logo on this page to our new logo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WaterAid

Do you know how I would upload a new .jpg?

My contact details are <email removed>

Many thanks for your help.

Vincent Casey.

  • Yes, see Special:Upload and specify Image:Wateraid.jpg as the target destination to overwrite the old file. If it doesn't show in the article immediately, try purging your browser cache or do a trivial edit on the article to have it updated. - Mgm|(talk) 09:46, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] skill development

what is skill development

Devloping the skills of a person?? And more specifically skills that'd help them to get a job.... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 18:09, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Human Rights

Can I please get a list of HUMAN RIGHTS?

Try our article human rights. Notinasnaid 10:30, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
In which age are you posing this question? Human rights have certainly evolved since the prehistoric age and the list is changing every minute.Luthinya 11:43, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Not really every minute, although they do change. The concept of human rights is relatively recent, and not universally accepted. For great justice. 23:36, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

There is no consensus on what "human rights" are. Some philosophers argue that there is no such thing as "human rights" and that concept is meaningless (see nihilism). However on the 10th of December 1948, 48 Member States of United Nations General Assembly at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (see the text here and the signatories here). This document is often cited when discussing human rights and is in a list-like form. It is, for example, directly cited in Afghanistan's constitution. The United States Constitution specifically its Bill of Rights is also often cited. However the topic of human rights is a complex one and for a just treatment of the subject one should consult some of the many books on the subject. You can also consult the Wikipedia article on human rights. Cedars 10:10, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] film magazines in australia

anyone located here in australia know of any magazines that are available at most newsagents which are concerned with film and cinema; not just reviews and ratings; but scholarly discussion on certain films and other issues to do with the cinema.

i have tried ASKING newsagents and they say they are "not sure what i am looking for".

anyone have any suggestions/ideas?gelo 13:21, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

I used to subscribe to an Australian magazine called Cinema Papers but I am unsure whether it remains in circulation. When I was reading it, Cinema Papers specialised in discussing Australian films with the odd reference to arthouse type foreign films. If Cinema Papers is no longer being published then perhaps Inside Film [www.if.com.au] could be your cup of tea. Hope this helps. --Roisterer 13:45, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] aquarium filter emergency

my neighbour went away for Easter and I'm supposed to watch out for her new aquarium; with her barely out the door, the pumps/filters ("Eheim professional" [16]) started to make whining noises, and one of the pumps is leaking water. Is anybody here versed with the art of aquarium maintenance? Will it kill the pumps if we just leave them running? How long until the fish die if we switch off the pump? dab (ᛏ) 13:56, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Difficult to say. Best thing to do is kill the pumps, and try to leave an air bubbler on if she has one. Best to kill the lights as well to stop overheating and stagnifying. With just a bubbler, the fish should be ok. --Zeizmic 22:20, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Set up a live webcam and we can comment and email you if your fish start to look unhealthy! For great justice. 23:35, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

I left them running as I went out yesterday, just to see what would happen, and when I came back, they had stopped their loud whining, they just make moderately loud churning noises now; so I suppose they are back to normal (although it's still disconcerting that the user manual does not seem to mention sudden siren-like excapades of the filters as part of their normal behaviour) dab (ᛏ) 09:41, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Did you by any chance pull them out and put them back in before the whining noise started ? If so, perhaps air was trapped inside triggering cavitation in the impeller. StuRat 07:14, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] law suits

what is class action law suits?

There's a good description at class action. Isopropyl 14:42, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Trampoline/Earthquake

I heard that the scariest thing about earthquakes is the fact that the ground is moving. Well what if you were jumping on a trampoline when an earthquake happened? When you're on a trampoline the ground is moving all the time. Jonathan W 15:16, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

I take it you've only heard about earthquakes, rather than experienced them. In my experience (and I've got a bit; three significant earthquakes followed me in my peregrinations between Northern and Southern California), the scariest thing is thinking the roof is going to fall on your head. --Trovatore 18:23, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Ya I've never been in an earthquake before. But what about my idea? Jonathan W 21:56, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
If you are simply standing on a trampoline then the "ground" (assuming you mean the surface of the trampoline) isn't moving. If you are jumping on a trampoline, then the surface does move, so to speak, but in a highly predictable manner (and nothing at all like how the earth moves during a quake). If you were jumping on a trampoline at the same time as an earthquake, the trampoline might shift in position as the earth moved, and then you'd likely land somewhere other than where you'd expected. --LarryMac 22:06, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, the fact that the ground moves is not really scary in and of itself, it's the consequences of that, such as buidlings falling down, bridges collapsing, gas lines bursting etc. A trampoline will provide relatively little protection. I was once in a swimming pool during an earthquake, which meant I was isolated from the sensation of movement, your trampoline would give you that, it was wierd to see water sloshing over the sides of the pool! For great justice. 23:34, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
OK, thanks for the answers. Jonathan 01:27, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] adding information

Hello,

I would like to add biographical information to Wikipedia. What is the procedure?

Thank you.

Sandford Tuey --24.82.89.30 16:01, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

  • If there's already an article on the person in question, just use the "edit this page" link at the top. See Wikipedia:How to edit a page.
  • If there isn't an article, you'll need to register an account to be able to create a new one (or go to Wikipedia:Articles for creation if you'd rather not create an account for some reason). Do make sure the person you're adding information about meets our notability guidelines.
  • You should probably avoid writing about yourself, if that's what you're intending, even if you're notable (see WP:VAIN). However, if you sign in you can create a user page about yourself to tell your fellow editors who you are.
  • One last thing: in general, you're better off asking questions like this at the Help desk. --Bth 16:11, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] bio of Joel Norris,Phd

I would like to know if Dr. Norris is still publishing or even if he is still alive. He is one of the earliest published authors of true crime books on serial killers. His latest published work, that I can find, are paperback reprints dated 2002. His last known address was in Columbus, GA.

Thank you for any and all information.

-- """

I suggest that you contact one of the publishers of his books such as Random House or Pinnacle Books. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 17:44, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Google Maps question

Google Maps has pretty good satellite imagery from all over the world, but its actual map is hopelessly USA/UK-centric. For the USA and UK, we get every street in every city, no matter how major or minor, accurately drawn out and named. For the rest of the world, pretty much nothing. I looked at Europe and Asia and saw that according to Google, the only city - in fact the only populated place at all - on the whole Eurasian continent is Torino (Turin) in Northern Italy. Even France or Germany don't have any data whatsoever. Why is this? Is Google purposely taking a side and ignoring the non-English-speaking world, or is it a technical matter because they just haven't had the time to enter all the cities in the world to their database yet? JIP | Talk 17:41, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Try Google Earth -- http://earth.google.com/. User:Zoe|(talk) 17:54, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
not sure what you mean I get good shots of both Paris and Berlin using the coordinates in their articles. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 17:59, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
Do you mean satellite photography or drawn maps? I get good satellite photographs from everywhere in the world, but drawn maps only from the USA, the UK, and curiously, Torino. Try clicking the "map" or "hybrid" buttons on the toolbar instead of "satellite". JIP | Talk 18:05, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
I see what you mean having now tried London as well. I had to zoom out on the map button (Paris & Berlin) and then all I get is rivers and lakes. The hybrid gives me the satellite but no street names. Also your comment about "good satellite photographs from everywhere in the world" should be "good satellite photographs from some areas of the world" There's a lot of places where the coverage is poor and can't be focused and thet includes the UK, the US and southern Canada. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 01:11, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
Yeah...i thought Paris and the Vatican were in the list of sighseeing places....and Asia has been covered pretty well.... maybe you didnt activate some of the layers on the thing..... and obviously it'll take some time before they can put up every town in the world to be viewed from above...Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 18:04, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
It's not every street in the US, just the 100 or so major population centres. The reason is that Google is hosting public domain USGS orthographically-projected aerial photography (which the USGS collected from aircraft during the 1990s and 2000s). This same data is available using NASA World Wind. It is public domain (but if you're intending using it in wikipedia, please use the stuff from Worldwind, as google appear to have done some processing and montaging which is (arguably) copyrightable). For other countries (pretty much every one else) they have to use commercial satellite photography, and that costs a significant sum of money. So most countries are titled largely with PD NASA Landsat imagery (that's the blocky and rather hyperverdant imagery) with commercial imagery for cities. It's not true that we get every street in the UK - Edinburgh is only half covered by the commercial imagery, for example, and we're left with useless Landsat imagery for the rest (the nice bit). The same is true for most other places. So really the reason isn't a US-centricism, it's that the US consititution makes all this nice imagery for free, but other countries constitutions don't, and their national mapping agencies are collectively a gang of cheap bastards (cough OS cough) who want us to pay for photos and data for roads we already own, collected by civil servants we already paid. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 18:07, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
In Edinburgh, the dividing line is - bizzarely - Murrayfield! It seems to be a set area around each airport, which makes a degree of sense but does lead to some very odd coverage. Shimgray | talk | 18:10, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
I looked all over the world in the "Map" mode (as opposed to "Satellite" mode) and saw that the only places marked as being inhabited by people were the USA, the UK, Japan, and Torino. According to the "Map" mode, no one lives anywhere else. Is this because only those places have been kind enough to allow Google free or cheap access to their cartography databases? Please keep in mind that for the entirety of this section, I have been talking about the "Map" mode, you know, the one which draws those black lines on that light grey surface and writes text like "Potzrebie Lane" over them. Not all the pretty satellite photography which makes you feel like you're flying. JIP | Talk 18:12, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
I noticed that there were barely any street maps for places in Australia.
Also, the road maps for Calgary are out of sync with the images, which is annoying. Jonathan W 21:54, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
My guess is that it's simply a case of what map data they've bought access to and inputted into their system. As for why it's only those areas, your best bet is probably to contact Google and ask them. -- AJR | Talk 23:58, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] creating a desk

I've joined the Cleanup Taskforce and am trying to create a desk. I've tried several times, following the directions given, but it doesn't seem to be working. Can you please give me additional guidance? Thanks.

Writeright Writeright 18:15, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Just click on the red link in the box on your userpage, add this code {{cleanup user|q= X (amount of jobs you're willing to take at one time) |d=*Your Interest 1 *Your Interest 2 *etc.}}. Then save. Voilà! --Eivindt@c 20:48, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] famous people born on 24th of november

what famous people were born on november 24th?

Have you checked November 24? JIP | Talk 18:43, 13 April 2006 (UTC)
here's a pretty long list http://imdb.com/OnThisDay?day=24&month=November&x=11&y=12. This list is good as far as famous because of movie or television; famous politicians or people otherwise famous are not listed. Also it list some people who aren't really that famous having just appear in one or two movies. enjoy! Jon513 15:19, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Functions of Chief Coordinator of Disaster Control

Hi,

I would be glad if I can get some information about the functions of Chief Coordinator of Disaster Control - in general and also within an organization (keeping India in mind).

Thanks and regards,

Bulbuli

Some possible duties include:
  • Disaster risk analysis, such as determining the likelihood of various natural and man-made disasters, so resources may be allocated accordingly.
  • Disaster prevention and mitigation, such as by preventing people from building homes in areas which regularly flood.
  • Disaster preparation, such as stockpiling antibiotics for a disease outbreak.
  • Disaster recovery, such as getting food and water to disaster victims.
  • Disaster aid coordination, such as getting the police, fire departments, army, and hospitals to work together.
  • Disaster reporting, such as telling the government how many people have been made homeless, so the government can take action accordingly.
StuRat 06:57, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 14

[edit] Advanced Placement Exams in States and Canada

How can you become a National AP Scholar (Canada) with 5 AP exams with 4 or more as a grade, and then 8 exams to be a National AP Scholar in the States? Anyone know logic behind this?

00:39, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

I have no idea. Are you considering becoming a National AP Scholar? -Snpoj 01:56, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
The Canandian AP program [[17]] is much younger than the US program (1970 in Canada as opposed to 1955 in US) so I assume that it is less developed than the US program. It may have fewer examinations (for one I know it doens't have U.S. history), though I can find nothing more about Canadian AP than the link I provided. I understand your confusion as I was an U.S. AP student and only 2 exams away from Scholar status.--Lwieise -=- Talk to Me 10:37, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Largemouth bass

Are largemouth bass native to Virginia waters? It seems to me that I have read somewhere that they were introuduced.

See Largemouth bass which would infer that they were introuduced to Virginia. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 02:03, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Environmental problems - the CLP Power Hong Kong

The CLP Power in Hong Kong - the distributor of electricity - is producing large amounts of greeenhouse gases every year. What should it do to decrease the amount of air pollutants released from their power stations (apart from using liquefied natural gas)? Many Thanks.--Eying2003 03:35, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Unfortunately for you, we don't answer homework questions here. You may find our article on air pollution helpful, and particularly the section on Control devices.-gadfium 04:33, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Answers.com and Wikipedia

How often does Answers.com refreshes its Wikipedia reference pages?

  • An interesting question, which I have been curious about too. Answers.com itself doesn't answer that question directly.
How often do you update your content?
Our Content Integration team works hard to keep Answers.com dynamic and relevant at all times. We receive regular updates from all of our content source partners. The frequency of these updates varies with the type of source, with Wikipedia and Who2 updating more frequently than Geography and Dialing Codes.
From Answers.com FAQ

It is entirely possible that the process is not automatic. It is also probably that they do not update their articles "all at once", but do so on a rolling basis. I performed the following experiment: Select the five most recent featured articles. Look up the same articles at Answers.com. Find the revision of the Wikipedia article that matches the one at Answers.com.

Article name Matches Next revision
Eldfell 2006-01-15 [18] 2006-03-23
Samuel Beckett 2006-02-19 [19] 2006-02-20
Canadian federal election, 1993 2006-02-18 [20] 2006-02-21
Fanny Blankers-Koen 2006-02-17 [21] 2006-04-10 There were other changes between these revisions, but none that would
be visible to Answers.com (reverted vandalism, category changes, etc.).
OpenBSD 2006-02-12 [22] 2006-03-10

So what does this tell us? Answers.com probably does not do rolling updates — if they did, there would be some discrepancy in the matching-dates. Answers.com has done its last Wikipedia-content update on 2006-02-19. It does not tell us when they will do the next one, nor do we know when the previous update was. — MSchmahl… 07:55, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

This Wikimedia board letter from November 2005 states that an agreement was reached whereby Wikimedia would provide a "live feed" of the Wikipedia content to Answers.com. But I'm not sure if it has been implemented yet. - Akamad 10:49, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Chopp versus draught beer?

What is the difference between the beer served in Brazil called chopp and draught beers served in the US? Which one is better?

It's a matter of opinion as to which is better, but personally, given the American beers I've tried, I'd say Chopp despite the fact that I've never tried it. Phileas 08:22, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
That's a little unfair on American beers. Sure there are tons of awful ones, but there are some fantastic breweries here too (mostly smaller craft brewers). Capital Brewery to pick one. --Chapuisat 13:57, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
Taste test time. Send samples (min of 6-pack) of all beers. I will report sometime. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:40, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
Before I ever visited the states, I, too, thought that they made no good beers. However, there are isolated outposts of the NW that make great microbrews. For great justice. 20:50, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Matthew werkmeister

Hi i have a question on the birth date of matthew werkmeister i know he was born in january 1992 i just don't know what day. you see i have him as a topic for a biograghy over the holidays. thankyou for your time taylor

The indexed parts of the Internet do not seem to know. You could try asking in the forums of perfectblend.net, which looks to be a fairly active Neighbours fansite, but your best bet might be firing off a quick email to comments at neighbours.com (neighbours.com is the official site run by the production company). Bear in mind though that they may be guarded about giving out his personal info as he is a minor. If you do find out, please consider adding it to his Wikipedia article. Thanks. --Bth 10:08, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Emily Herst

Smallville Fragil the young girl on the last episode looked very familure does anyone know where else we might have seen Emily Herst. Thank you

You can find her filmography at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1626052/. User:Zoe|(talk) 16:24, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] copyediting

If I've edited an article that was in the "To Do" section and I've saved the changes, is there some way to remove the banner from the top of the article that states that it needs copyediting? Writeright 16:55, 14 April 2006 (UTC)WriterightWriteright 16:55, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

You have to delete the {{copyedit}} tag that is at the top of the article, and the banner will go away. Eivindt@c 17:31, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Permanent "Shrinkage"

Every men knows about "shrinkage" I hope. Otherwise I would suggest "checking down there" once in a while. My question is being exposed to cold temparatures for a prolong periods of time, would the shrinked size become permanent after periods of months/years in cold temperatures? Example would be living in antartica. –Tutmøsis · (Msg Me) 18:33, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

I've lived in the Arctic for over 30 years and I've never heard that one before. Seeing as most men up don't wander around naked it's hard to notice. From personal experience I would have to say no it's not going to happen. As people dress the with the genitals coverered they are thus not exposed to the cold. On the coldest days we tend to wear protective pants over our regular pants the genital area is kept at a normal temperature. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 20:43, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
People living in Antarctica are not exposed to the cold much, they live indoors, and, when they are outdoors, are almost completely covered in warm clothing. No effects like the ones you mention are reported. For great justice. 20:52, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
"Shrinkage" is merely caused by tightening of skin and so on... It seems that what you're worried about (that is, permanent, uh, size loss) is more concerned with erect rather than flaccid size... in which case "shrinkage" has nothing to do with it - only blood flow matters, and that won't be changed by shrinkage. At any rate, as others note, people in Antarctica don't stay out doors all the time. Seems to me that if they did, frostbite would be a more pressing concern than shrinkage... Heh - though I'm guessing frostbite might lead to a type of permanent shrinkage, if by shrinkage you mean loss... ;) zafiroblue05 | Talk 02:41, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] A weird question

Hello!I know this is a weird question as i only have little information about it, but it's in my mind for a long time, and i thought that you might know the answer.Here it goes:i heard a song about a year or two ago, and i really like it.It is on a language pretty much not understandable to me.The begining goes similar to uuuuuuuu or something like that,which is singed by a female voice or perhaps a small choire,and it is very gentle.First uuuuuuuu is kind of upwards,and the second is a litle downwards,same as the third and fourth,and then the song begins.It is like a howling of some sort,and it is a bit long as if that are words. Here comes the tricky part:i don't know pretty much a single word from the lyrics,because it is on perhaps Italian or French, but the the song is something like a chanson, although it seems a bit faster than a chanson.Most of the song is singed by a gentle female voice,and it is not loud, almost like half-voice. In the end a choire comes up, but it doesn' t seem to have much people, only a few. I heard it on tv, an Italian channel also. I know how this question probably sounds but i don' t know where else to ask so if anyone knows i would appreciate an answer.--Captain ginyu 21:46, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like Miriam Stockley's performances in Adiemus (specifically the title song of the same name) to me. GeeJo (t) (c) • 22:25, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] A funny question

I have another question to keep you busy.It is kind of weird to ask this and i thought if i should ask it or not, but in the end i decided,why not. There is this comercial for Tuborg Green(for those who don't know, a kind of beer),and in it there is a young girl approximately 19 years old.She seems a bit short and has bright red hair, and she throws her stuff from the window, so the apartment is pretty much empty, so she could have more room for the party.If anyone knows something about her(is she a model, where is she from, how old is she, what is her name), i would appreciate an answer very much. Also i would like for you not to put offensive posts or something like that.--Captain ginyu 22:01, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Well acording to Carlsberg the advert was made by "Croatian advertising agency Imago". However, as most of it appears not to be in English it's a little difficult but you could try and contact them. Look at the little blurb in English near the bottom right. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 00:38, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] blackbird (turdus merula) folklore

I am looking for traditional sayings/folklore about blackbirds. For example - dreaming of a flying blackbird is said to bring good fortune; a blackbird nesting near your house is a sign of good fortune; the sight of 2 blackbirds sitting together is a sign of peace and good fortune.

I would like to know if there are any other traditional sayings about blackbirds.--62.137.150.105 22:13, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Hmm, I'm not too sure about two blackbirds being a sign of peace and good fortune. In Welsh folklore, two blackbirds is an omen of death, thanks to Rhiannon's birds. GeeJo (t) (c) • 22:21, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
I personally saw two blackbirds engaged in a pretty nasty fight just last week. User:Zoe|(talk) 22:39, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
The White Blackbird a Basque legend and How The Coyote Danced With The Blackbirds a Native American Legend. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 23:28, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
I've heard it says that if it's raining and you see blackbirds outside feeding then it will continue to rain for considerable time to come. If it's only going to be a short shower they'll wait until it's over. Grutness...wha? 07:38, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
This is awkward to answer as the question refers to a particular species of bird. However, most sayings and folklore tend to not differentiate between blackbids, ravens and crows. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:03, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
"The river is moving. The blackbird must be flying." (Wallace Stevens) :-) Jwrosenzweig 07:26, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

I recall a poem about blackbirds from my youth although it may have been about magpies. 1 for a girl 2 for a boy (births) 3 for sorrow 4 for joy It goes on but that is all I can remember.

5 for silver, 6 for gold, 7 for a secret never to be told. Yes, it is magpies. DPM.

JJ

That's a magpie. It was also used (in a rather nice rendition by Stever Winwood and Traffic) as the theme for a british 1970s children';s TV series called "Magpie". FWIW, one of New Zealand's best known pieces of poetry is also called "Magpies" (by Denis Glover, IIRC) - but I digress. Grutness...wha? 06:04, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
The Beatles had a song called Blackbird, but it probably wasn't based in any kind of folklore. In Ohio the return of the red-winged blackbird (from it's winter vacation) is commonly associated with the begining of spring. -LambaJan 17:25, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
The Beatles song was (reputedly) McCartney's veiled support for Martin Luther King and the US civil rights movement. Grutness...wha? 06:04, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

And don't forget Sing a Song of Sixpence ("Four and twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie..."). StuRat 06:42, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] cs source respawn

using the console, how do you set up respawn in counterstrike source?--154.20.89.16 22:19, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Comander in Chief

Where does the title "Comander in Chief" come from? Looks like it should be Comander and Chief.

An army has several commanders, all commanding different different bits or size units. 'Commander in Chief' means the chief commander over all the others. DJ Clayworth 03:18, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

I agree that it should be "and". I suspect that somebody influential incorrectly said or wrote it as "in", and from there it caught on. StuRat 06:36, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

One meaning of chief is 'the person of highest rank in an organization'. The Commander in Chief, as DJ says, means the highest-ranking commander. ericg ✈ 04:49, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Clothing

What is the name of a Chinese clothing that is worn by men and a clothing worn by women? Japan have kimonos for women, but is the clothing for men in Japan?

Historically, kimonos were worn by both sexes. See the section on Men's kimono for more details. However, western-style clothing is pretty commonly worn nowadays. GeeJo (t) (c) • 01:20, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
For the Chinese clothing do you mean the Mao suit or the Han Chinese clothing type? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 04:08, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 15

[edit] New Stores

Are there any new or planned ROSS stores for this upcoming year. I work for the company and they have not told us much.

[edit] Grand Hustle Records

Could u guys please get me a logo of Grand Hustle Records? I would appreciate it, thanks Wikipedia!!!

It's on their website. Grutness...wha? 07:57, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Human Rights

I need to have a symple list of'''''' HUMAN RIGHTS''''''. Which are genarel all around the world (In most of the Countries). E.G: 1.Fredom of speach. 2.the right to food... and so on..

Can you help me pls???

thnx

When you asked this question two days ago, you were provided with a link to our Human rights article (and some interesting discussion on the universality (in space and time) or otherwise of the concept). A few simple clicks away you could have found The UN Declaration of Universal Human Rights, which is not international law per se, but is widely recognised as the basis for the modern conception of human rights. It even comes split up into numbered articles for you. --Bth 07:22, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] US embassy, Baghdad

Is there an article on the US embassy that is under construction in Baghdad? It's apparently "by far the largest in the world", according to Yahoo news. --A bit iffy 07:32, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

For some reason they are probably keeping the construction details as secret as possible. Under the circumstances, who can blame them for that? Grutness...wha? 07:47, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
Not really, there was a pretty clear photo of the enormous complex in this morning's newspapers. User:Zoe|(talk) 19:58, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
Here's an article with a small image -- http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Iraq_New_Embassy.html User:Zoe|(talk) 20:34, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks all. I had searched for a (Wikipedia) article but couldn't find one much to my surprise. It's lucky I didn't start one as it seems there is an article after all (in fact created just a few hours before I posted my question). Cheers, --A bit iffy 00:47, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Be my research team! :)

What is the environmental impact of the process of maufacturing silicon chips and solar panels?

This is not for an assignment. I actively read various articles etc on ecological sustainability etc, and the topic of the environmental unfriendliness of the silicon chip/solar cell fabrication process has come up more than once.

Give a man an answer, and he comes back tomorrow for more. Teach the man to get his own answer, and he won't bug you anymore. Go to Google, enter 'silicon chip environment' and some good stuff pops up. --Zeizmic 13:20, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] security alert, page cannot be displayed

hi, i have version 6.0 internet explorer and every time i try to login on siets such as hotmail where i pass into secure areas i get a "page cannot be displayed" screen. With every security alert it says that i am going to access a secure page so i click ok and it just jumps to this page, this has been a recent thing and i think it was since i removed some spyware on my computer not sure if it has anything to do with it. I was wondering if somehow i could fix the problem, any suggestions will be vastly appreciated thank!!! 86.129.71.11 12:59, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Download and instal Mozilla Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ or at pack.google.com and get some other goodies as well.). Firefox is free Web browser that is far better than internet explorer. That should take care of all your problems. Jon513 17:55, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
I helped a neighbor with a persistent problem like this. It was a combination of some very stubborn spyware and, ironically, Norton Internet Security. If you are running NIS, there is a setting that needs to be adjusted to allow connection the secure sites - I'm sorry I don't recall what it is, I won't put Norton products on my computer, and my neighbor isn't my neighbor any more. As for the spyware, it took a combination of AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy, and CWShredder. I also had to run Hijack This and review the logs.
Incidentally, my first instinct with my neighbor was to install Firefox, but the NIS setting still blocked the https port. --LarryMac 15:15, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wink Martindale

Did TV host Wink Martindale serve in the Korean War and later recorded the song "A Deck of Cards?

That answers the second question, but not the first. GeeJo (t) (c) • 20:58, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 1981 Datsun 200SX convertible (Maybe a Viva/Datsun)

Please Help! I am trying to find the origin or any information that you can offer about my 1981 Datsun 200SX convertible (Not a hatchback). I searched the Nissan S platform page on the Wikipedia encyclopedia, but my car is not listed.

I found the information below on the Internet and believe it to be the closest likeness to my car, but would like to talk with someone to be sure.

               Intermeccanica Viva 200sx convertible

In 1982, Nissan released the 200sx. Intermeccanica struck a deal to make a factory authorized convertible. Soon thereafter, Nissan killed the project and handed it to ASC (American Sunroof) because Nissan didn’t want to deal with a smaller company such as Intermeccanica. Intermeccanica brought two cars to the 1981-82 New York autoshow (one convertible and one with a removable hardtop) but never had a chance to show them. After the deal with Nissan fell through (20 cars into project), Intermeccanica made a deal to sell the tooling to a limousine manufacturer in Mexico. Intermeccanica produced approximately 50 Nissan 200sx convertibles and sold them mostly in Mexico. "The product was beautiful!"

I have emailed Intermeccanica and ASC, but have never received a response. I have taken her to a Nissan dealership, and they don't have a clue. I would appreciate any information that anyone has in regards to my 1981 200SX Datsun convertible. Thank you!

[edit] Clothing 2

What are the names of each Arabian clothing?

Hmm, that's pretty vague. the Arab world is pretty varied, and has changed over time. Headscarfs (keffiyeh), Fezzes and robes spring to mind as largely secular pieces of clothing. If you include specifically Islamic religious clothing often worn outside of the Arab states you also get turbans (imamah), abayas, jilbabs, dishdashes, hijabs, dupattas, niqabs, purdahs, burqas, and probably a few more I've forgotten. Also, Western-style clothing is worn very commonly in the area. GeeJo (t) (c) • 20:56, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
Turbans aren't specifically Islamic at all. If they're specific to any religion, it'd have to be Sikhism. The turban article points all this out though. --BluePlatypus 21:11, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
I'd originally put it up with the secular clothing, before remembering it was religious. I just forgot to change "Islamic" when pasting below. In any case, it's a fairly good list for coming off the top of my head :P GeeJo (t) (c) • 21:53, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
Turbans are worn by non-Arabs as well, such as in Iran, Afghanistan, and India. This article has a nice summary with pics: [23] StuRat 06:04, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bank Mergers

Need reference for chain of bank mergers starting From Landmark Banking Corporation (Ft. Lauderdale) into Citizens & Southern and/or NCNB into NationsBank and now Bank of America N.A. or BankAmerica Corporation. If possible please give dates or approximate year of merger or consolidation for Lankmark Banking Corporation a.k.a. Landmark First National Bank of Fort Lauderdale. to xxxxxxxx Thank you. Hank B.

This sounds like an MBA assignment. Don't they teach you about 'freeloading'? --Zeizmic 23:28, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] netflix

i saw a $5 subscription per month, for 2 movies max, but I don't see it easily on Netflix home page.Any ideas? Pete

USA Today (19the May 2005) says that Blockbuster had a $5 offer. This site is a bit more up-to-date and talks about the Netflix $5 offer. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 07:47, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Career/Profession

hi,this is my question What is the name of the career/profession that consist on the study of humanity and human cultures through the recovery,documentation and analysis of human remains?[perhaps,maybe,possible material remains as well]I need this answer for my project if i want to pass the class and also this is my friend's question:What is the career/profession that consist on the study of U.F.O reports,physical evidence and other related phenomena like the evidence of mental awareness of influence of external objects without interaction from known physical means?thank you very much.

Forensic anthropology for the first (or more generally Physical anthropology/archaeology if you're including non-human remains.) Parapsychology for the second. GeeJo (t) (c) • 00:18, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
And for real fun, how about a career in fecal anthropology ?

[edit] April 16

[edit] Stanley Meyer

How did Stanley Meyer die? there is quite a buzz that he was murdered by the government. is there any truth to this?

Stanley Meyer the perpetuum-mobile hoaxter? No, I think it's safe to say no government wanted him dead. Unlike, perhaps some of the 'investors' he conned money out of. --BluePlatypus 05:43, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Commanders in the Royal Australian Navy

Would the commander of a ship in the RAN be a captain, or something of a higher rank such as admiral? Because in the rest of the armed forces a captain is a pretty junior officer, and it seems strange for one to be in charge of a whole ship.

  • A naval captain is a considerably higher rank than an army captain. It's one rank below commodore (in the RAN and the RN) (that's "rear admiral lower half" in the USN, an incredibly dumb name for a general's rank), while an army captain in all of these is one rank above (first) lieutenant. Or, the other way around, a Navy Captain is an Army Colonel, while an Army Captain is a Navy Lieutenant. (Perhaps more clearly, an Army Captain is the third officer rank, while a Navy Captain is three ranks higher.) --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 05:13, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Bear in mind that "captain" is both a rank and a title, and a warship's captain - the individual commanding it - may be of a number of different ranks depending on the ship. Shimgray | talk | 16:15, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Kentucky Blue Grass

Does anybody know the origins of the name Kentucky Blue Grass? Poa is not native to Kentucky?

All about lawns] suggests that it came from Europe, while this suggests Europe or Africa, and it's found in Europe and Asia. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 07:39, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Defintion

What is the "You Are Here" location indcator on a map called?--24.207.22.46 08:17, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Damn, my old school Contact Book had the answer to that question in it's "facts" section. Shame I don't have it anymore. -Benbread 10:58, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

It wouldn't be an arricator would it? I've usually seen the word used to indicate little sticky-backed labels in the form of arrows indicating items, e.g. on a photograph (hence the word, which comes from "arrow-indicator"), but it wouldn't surprise me if the same word is used in this situation. Grutness...wha? 06:09, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

"In (insert your favorite ethnic "stupid" stereotype here) mall maps, they don't have a 'YOU ARE HERE' sticker, but have 999 'YOU ARE NOT HERE' stickers, with one empty spot." StuRat 05:34, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

According to The Book of Useless Information and our article, it's called the IDEO locator. Kilo-Lima|(talk) 18:34, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Armies of the world

Which is considered to be the best Army in the World?Indian, Israeli, British or the American Army? sumal 09:52, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Considered by whom and under what terms? The Swiss could probably defeat most armies on its own soil given its natural defenses and civilian forces. The Chinese have the largest army, the Americans the most expensive, and every single army claims to be the most disciplined and highly trained. Heck, the Pope probably thinks his army could take on the world. GeeJo (t) (c) • 10:11, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

If you look at history, the germans have the best army - Joneleth

Looking far enough back in history, the Spartans had the best army. Erik the Rude 15:36, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

It was my understanding he talked about an army that existed today which leaves the spartans out. - Joneleth

...I think it must be The Salvation Army. They must be the best because they don't set out to kill people or destroy cities or occupy foreign countries etc. And they must be the only army ever to actually save lives that others might consider worthless. No contest.

How good anything is, is determined by how well it performed its goal, since its the goal of an army to defeat the enemy army it is a really crappy army regardless of ur moral values. - Joneleth

If those are the only choices, I'd venture to say the IDF. It is the only one of the four listed that has consistently won battles against technologically equal and numerically superior forces in modern times.--inksT 21:14, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
Define "best". War is not a sport, where two teams face off with agreed rules and symmetric goals. This is perhaps a point lost on certain large western armies, who seem to regard opponents who don't conveniently line themselves up as mass armies, to be subsequently slaughtered through technological superiority, as cheating. --Robert Merkel 05:48, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
The Vietnamese Army has shown that it can punch above its weight; they fought the Japanese, the French, the Americans (with help from a few other nations) and the Cambodians (and probably others as well). I once read an article by a military historian that was answering the question "If Earth was being invaded, and you could choose any historical figure to defend us, who would it be?" He answered General Vo_Nguyen_Giap of Vietnam. --Roisterer 13:40, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Body Of Water

In which country would I find this body of water?

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/2782/tb29uh.jpg

--82.15.230.55 13:06, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

It looks vaguely like The Netherlands to me. -- Chuq 13:27, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
That's the Zuider Zee -- see map. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 16:10, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
For the last 60 years or so, it's been known as the IJsselmeer (it was dammed in, land was won, and it's now freshwater). Read on in link. SanderJK 17:01, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks guys/girls

I've also found the exact image you linked to is in our article on Zuiderzee Works -- Chuq 05:00, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How do I slow down?

I just got this old game the other day that i wanted to play, its not a dos game but when i play it, its running way to fast and theres no option to slow it down in the game itself, does anyone know an application that can help? - Joneleth

there are few programs that do just that. You can try cpu killer or mo slo. I am sure that there are more, but this is what I have found. (I have not tried these programs myself, and as with all programs from the internet: beware) Jon513 14:16, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
It could be because of a conflict with the operating system...it happened to me when i tried to run an old windows 95 game on my windows Xp OS...i didnt expect the game to work....but it worked anyways and everything was going at warp speed in the game.... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 14:38, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, you need a slow-down program, the ones listed above should work. Basically the program was written with its time constraints as factors of processing (i.e., to slow something down it does some sort of little process 500 times). With faster processors this no longer works to slow things down, so what you need is a program (such as those listed above) which allows you to emulate having a slower processor (usually they work by simply tying up your processor resources). --Fastfission 21:35, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What was Chero Crush?

I have a vintage ceramic syrup dispenser, round like a cherry, labeled 'Chero Crush'. I'm guessing my late mother-in-law might have purchased it in canada. I thought Chero might be French for Cherry but apparently not. Did find out that RC Cola was originally Chero Cola - but that doesn't tell me what Chero Crush was. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

  • I'd venture it's the same Chero-Nehi-RC connection from the Georgia operation. After Coca Cola managed to stop all other colas for a decade or so, Nehi specialized in fruit sodas. Some of the Chero Cola collectibles I've seen seem to have a similar logo to the Chero Crush pictured here -- is that the one you're refering to?. On the other hand, some other company might have pilfered the Chero name -- there was a lot of that going around in the soft drink industry. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 16:07, 16 April 2006 (UTC)


That's IT! Except mine has the metal dispenser also. Thanks so much!!!!!!!!

You might want to contact this guy. who's offering big bucks for ceramic dispensers like that. User:Zoe|(talk) 21:28, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks so much for this additional info - have emailed him. You guys are great! Zoe, he has already contacted me. How can I ever thank you guys?

Glad to be of help. If you find out more information, maybe you could write a Wikipedia article on Chero Crush? User:Zoe|(talk) 15:39, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
Just stumbled across this question...I wanted to say that this should be made into some sort of WP success story. Like reuniting 2 long lost siblings and similar things.  :) --Lwieise -=- Talk to Me 10:45, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How to find the Author of a PICTURE found on the web ?

I have found a PIC on the net and I would like to thank the original author.

A similar problem exist in music and sounds found on the net.

My guess is the original person has similar items that would be of interest to at lot of us.

The problem may have started by a person SENDING another person a PIC or Sound and then it gets passed along until someone has REAL INTEREST in the PIC or Sound and now no one remembers who started or has the originals. -- WPee --208.33.229.27 15:48, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Well, yes, sometimes it can be hard to find original authors of misc. images and multimedia circulated around the web. There's no easy way to do it -- you can try Googling for the filename, which sometimes turns up information. Without any other information it's hard to recommend anything else, though. --Fastfission 16:48, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia on CD/DVD in India

Where do I get wikipedia on CD or DVD in India (preferably Delhi) and at what price?

I dont think you can get it on a CD or a DVD anywhere in the world because it is constantly changing and its not like other encyclopedia's... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:53, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

P.S. and i dont think the entire Wikipedia would fit in a DVD.... :-D...

See meta:Wikipedia on CD/DVD. —Keenan Pepper 18:12, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
Wikipedia can fit on a DVD. The total size of all of the article, just text not pictures, with no history just the last revision is 2.5 gigibits. With compression it might even be able to fit on a CD. Jon513 07:53, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Universal Language of Aircraft Communications i.e. English?

Is English the universally used language between aeroplane pilots and ground controllers? Thanks in anticipation.

Yes, it is. Erik the Rude 21:24, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks Erik. Do you (or anyone else) know whether that protocol really is universal in the literal sense, whereby say 2 indigenous pilot and ground controller speakers of say Russian or Chinese Mandarin would default to speaking English when communicating with each other within their respective territorial airspace? Thanks again in anticipation.

I have flown in Guatemala and Egypt and in both places native pilots spoke in native languages to some extent while they spole in very broken english to me. Unfortunately I know neither of the native languages of those locations. Mattamsn

Both the IATA and ICAO establish English as the language to be used by aircraft in international airspace, and have English proficiency requirements for pilots. Unfortunately, I had a hard time finding the exact portions of their site detailing those requirements. Go search their sites. My understanding is that English is to be used in cases of international communication, so a domestic flight speaking to ground control may use the local language. But those organizations' sites are the places to look. kmccoy (talk) 11:17, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
In commercial air travel, English (using standard phrases to avoid disasters like Tenerife disaster) is used even between two native speakers of a different language (an Italian pilot landing in Rome will still speak to the tower in English, no matter how badly accented :)) - . For light aircraft, English fluency is a theoretical requirement (especially for ground personnel, as a foreigner entering their airspace must be able to communicate), however, in practice, communication is mostly done in the local language. So, when I fly in France, I will speak French to the tower, even though the tower must be able to understand me and respond in (badly accented) English if I don't speak French. How far the English-fluency requirement is true in less developed parts of the world, I'm afraid I don't know. — QuantumEleven | (talk) 15:29, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] RED TEXT

What are the articles in red text there for, and why are there no articles for them?

Thanx for your time

The articles are red because they have not been created yet. ILovEPlankton 21:02, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

And they are there so that someone can create an article on them..Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 08:53, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
The main purpose is that, if someone does create the article, the appropriate links will already be in place. Furthermore, the red link alerts editors that we don't have an article on that subject; someone may thus be motivated to create one. The links can also be useful in writing the new article. For example, if you decide to start an article on Graham Maby, the list of links will give you some existing articles that have information you may find helpful. JamesMLane t c 12:15, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] OpenOffice

Does OpenOffice 2.0 have a Access equivalent built-in? How can I access (pun intended) .mdb or Microsoft Access files?

Thanks! 24.169.151.177 21:55, 16 April 2006 (UTC)Aaron G

Yes, it has a module called Base which is its equivalent of Access. Base can open files using JDBC or ODBC, so it can open Access files. I doubt it can run programs written in Visual Basic for Applications though.-gadfium 23:11, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sentence in Derren Brown

I came across the following sentence in the article Derren Brown:

Under the guise of a motivational seminar (where they will allegedly learn Derren Brown's skills) in an attempt to get them in the final phase of the 3 weeks seminar to rob a security van in a pseudo random coincidence made from an elaborate set up.

I've been trying to riddle the sentence out for a little while, with limited success. Does anyone (perhaps someone who has seen the show and has a little backgroud) know what in the world that means? zafiroblue05 | Talk 22:56, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

He arranged for a number of people to come to a hotel as part of a three week course. He told the participants that they were going to learn some of his skills as a mentalist. In fact he was using neuro-linguistic programming techniques on them throughout the course in order to implant suggestions. Three weeks after the seminar (after a few other events), he arranged to meet them at a place in London. It was arranged that they were to be dropped off on a particular street which, unknown to them, had been closed off from the public and filled with stimuli that would hopefully cause them to spontaneously hold up a security guard loading money into an armoured van. To them the prescence of the guard would seem a random coincidence, but it was actually a set-up. Whether or not what happened was genuine, or just a hoax similar to his Russian Roulette stunt is debatable. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 23:06, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Brown's Russian Roulette a hoax? Where did you get that from? I'm pretty sure it was a magic trick rather than a mentalist effect, but quite real nonetheless. - 131.211.210.12 10:54, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
Possibly referring to the fact that it later transpired that he used blanks in the revolver: though as he showed in the programme itself, blanks will still blow your brains out at point-blank range. Sum0 21:42, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 17

[edit] Morning, noon and night

Where does this phrase come from ? Tintin (talk) 05:18, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

At a wild guess, from the words "morning", "noon" and "night". I suspect you're after something other than that though, so maybe if you explained just a little more clearly what you mean. JackofOz 06:41, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
The phrase has been used in various places, like the title of a Sidney Sheldon novel and a 1933 movie. I was wondering they took it from Bible, Shakespeare or some such source. After looking around a bit, this link talks about it in Dickens' works, but doesn't hint at any literary origins. Tintin (talk) 06:54, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
It also appears in the name of the "Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna" overture by Franz von Suppé. These words are all common words, and I don't think you need to look for any literary authority to source the phrase. Obviously someone was the very first to put them together like this, but it's not a recognised phrase in the same sense as "tall, dark and handsome". JackofOz 07:29, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sun Tans

Ok, so I was looking up the word "tan" in the dictionary, as in the sense of tanning leather hides, and I noticed the sense for a sun tan. It says, "a brown color imparted to the skin by exposure to the sun or wind." Since when does wind make you tan? The definition is also in a few other online dictionaries, but I can't find any information about it anywhere else. Does anyone know anything about that? Thanks for your time.

I think it's more a case that the wind can harden and weather the skin of the face, and this weathering is often described as a "tan" because it has a slightly similar appearance. Grutness...wha? 06:14, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
Its a case when cold and dry wind can acutally darken your skin...it happened to me lots of times...since i live near the sea in a humid climate...whenever i visit a drier and a little colder place, my skin actually darkens quite a bit...especially when i forget to apply any moisturizing lotion...Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 08:46, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Self Reliance

Apart from Eritrea is there any other country in Africa which follows by the principle of "Self Reliance" and does not depend more on foreign Aid?

Other than those which never relied on foreign aid (like Egypt and South Africa), none that I know of, although I believe Mozambique is trying to head towards this situation (its foreign aid decreased by nearly 50% between 1995 and 2001). Grutness...wha? 10:55, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
Botswana has a most impressive record as well, with the highest economic growth rate in the world since independence in 1966. They're a net producer of economic aid, and run surplus budgets. Their economy has been very well managed, with most government revenue coming from diamond mining. They've also taken the same clever high-cost/low-volume approach to tourism that Bhutan has. --ByeByeBaby 22:38, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] I want to be a professional wrestler like mr. Hitman

Apart from the physical requirements, attitude and eccentricity... what do I need to be a professional wrestler? Who do I have to ask? This may seem hilarious, but I was wondering about the possibility while playing Acclaim's WWF game. Bye ;)

You could just find a good wrestler and have him train you and then tour in independent promotions. You could go to Ohio Valley Wrestling, which probably gives you the highest chance of getting in to WWE.

[edit] Prayer

Does the Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists have their own congregational prayers and on what day do they perform like Christians on Sunday, Muslims on Friday and Jews on Saturday?

Try Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism for information. Questions here should be made after a Google and Wikipedia search. Daniel (☎) 19:54, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Understanding Symbols

I am looking for advice into how to enter into the art of deciphering sybols(Ancient & Modern), with a view to researching the symbols in greater details and assimilating information by crossreference, to ideas,concepts and visions, which the original symbols were meant to exhibit.

This is a vast field, but I have great interest in this and am determined to research in depth on this topic.

Someone out there, pls assist me. I can mee-mailed thorugh my User name:- user:Monami.

Thks all.

-)A2

The fancy name for the field of symbol studying is semiotics. If your interest arises because of Dan Brown's best seller, you may be in for a disapointment when you discover it is largely a rather tedious aspect of art history. There are numerous dictionaries of symbols in print, available in used bookstores (look in reference book section or art history section), and you can probably find directories of symbols on-line if you look for them. alteripse 19:35, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

You might also want to read Man and His Symbols, by Carl Jung, for a psychological interpretation of symbols. StuRat 05:03, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] artefact in monastery, yet again

Not Sure where this goes but where would you find the artefact in this monastery?

http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=54fg.jpg

I seem to believe it`s near a mountain but....

Stuppa ? -fiojh

[edit] Tim Conway

Hi,

Where did you get your information that he lives in Gallatin,TN? How long has he lived there and why Gallatin?

Thanks,

This site also says that Tim Conway resides in Gallatin, TN....and as for the original source, you might wanna ask the person who started the article or added the information to the article... and as for why he chose to live in Gallatin...maybe he liked the weather over there.... ;-D .....Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:49, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Music

Please tell me the name of this song it`s for my school. Some classical project needs me to recognise this famous Classical Piece associated with an Opera.

http://www.sortitoutsi.net/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=29229

Should I Move This Question?

No, you should do your own homework. We can probably give you tips on how to identify a piece, but if your homework is to identify it, then asking us to do it is called cheating. Sorry if I have misunderstood your question, but you do seem to say that the homework is to identify the piece. If I am being unfair I apologise: please post a description of the project. (Note to other responders: the link above is to a WAV audio file of 2MB size). Notinasnaid 08:41, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
you can do a google search for "midi". Midi is a file type that plays songs, but unlike other formats is very small as it is little more then instructions to your computer on how to play the music. Once you find a site that has midi such as [24], you can download many of these songs and listen to them. When you hear the song that you are looking for you can then look at the file name to see what the music was. Jon513 15:57, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Is there someone agreeable to show me where I make mistakes?

At the adress www.geocities.com/abelcavasi I have showed that, if the Earth's precession would be due to the Sun's atracttion forces, the way it is believed today, then the precession would take place around the line that joins the Sun and the Earth but not around the line perpendicular on the ecliptic. Can anyone show me where I made a mistake, if I made a mistake? Thank you. abel 15:29, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

This should really be posted under Science. StuRat 04:57, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] About Shikarpur

Hi How are u? i want to known about Shikarpur History please? thankyou

Try one of the links from Shikarpur, they may have the information. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:33, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Flaming cats

Does anyone know where the line "nothing lights up the evening sky like a cat on fire" comes from? The quote may not be quite right so that might explain why I can't find it. Thanks. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 16:36, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

I seem to recall a Vincent Price movie, most likely of an Edgar Allen Poe story, where the villain tells another character how he enjoyed setting a live cat on fire, after covering it with coal tar. Your quote seems like it might be from that movie. Hopefully another answerer can be more specific. StuRat 04:46, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks. I'm pretty sure that it's from a book but I don't think it's Poe as I haven't read any of his for a while now. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 14:54, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] lYRICS

THERE IS A SONG WITH THE LYRICS....."I'M SERVING TIME IN TAOS NEW MEXICO, AND I JUST WANNA GO HOME". WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF THE ARTIST AND TITLE OF THIS SONG. SORRY, BUT THIS IS ALL WE HAVE TO GO BY.


PLEASE HELP.THANKS

First of all.. please do not type in all capital letters as it gives the impression of shouting..which none of us like over here... and second of all this site suggests that the song might be Chris Van Cleave's Taos.... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:42, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Religious Artifact

I need information on a religious artefact/icon that resides in a monastery. The Monastery is apparently located at the base of a Mountain. Thats all I have. This artefact is famous.

I`ll try and find a picture however if you can help I`d appreciate it.

http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=54fg.jpg Pretty Cool Actually. Think It could be Buddha or Tibetan...

(Please don't re-post the same question. Please do sign your comments with four tildes.) That looks more like a statue than an icon. More precisely, a statue of the virgin Mary with the infant king on her lap. (See the two pictures of Jesus on the wall on the right? The Latin text on the left?) To be very specific, it looks a lot like the 'black Virgin' of Montserrat. --BluePlatypus 18:44, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The series finale of Will & Grace

What is going to happen in the series finale of Will & Grace?

  • Try TV.com. They usually have summaries of high profile shows like this one. - 131.211.210.12 10:56, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] House Spotting

I heard from my friend that I'm able to see a picture of his house on wikipedia (he lives out of town and I've never been to his house). How can I do that?

Find out from your friend. Only he knows.  -- Run!  19:32, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
Does your friend live in the United States? If so, go to http://maps.google.com/, type in his address, then click Search. On the next screen, click on "Satellite" and you'll get a satellite image of his neighborhood. Keep zooming in until you see his roof. User:Zoe|(talk) 02:10, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] how to upload a photo

Can you please tell me why I have failed to upload a photo of Paul Steinitz on the article Paul Steinitz. I thought I had done everything correctly, including detail in box as follows:

www.bach-cantatas.com|Bio|Steinitz-Paul.htm

Copyright undetermined Note: Please do not use this tag. Instead, use either one of the more specific tags listed at Wikipedia:Image copyright tags#Fair_use or {{fair use in|article name}}.

This work is copyrighted and unlicensed. It does not fall into one of the blanket fair use categories listed at Wikipedia:Fair use#Images or Wikipedia:Fair use#Audio_clips. However, the individual who uploaded this work and first used it in an article, as well as subsequent persons who place it into articles, asserts that this use qualifies as fair use of the material under United States copyright law. For each use of this image, please provide a detailed rationale as to why this image qualifies as fair use.

If you can find a suitable alternative image that adequately transports the same information as this image and is under a free licence, please swap this image with the free version. Then, request deletion of this image by adding the following to the image description: {{ subst:or-fu-re|Image:New image file name }}

private photographer;permission to reproduce on Wikipedia from Mrs Margaret Steinitz 17.4.06

but a message asks me to use another tag. Can you please tell me precisely what to do? (Paul's widow has given me permission to use the photo from the website, which is not copyrighted by any photographer). Maybe I've misunderstood what fairuse means. The pages of instructions seem to bewildering. Thanks Hikitsurisan 20:49, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

Fair use is a way of saying "I don't have permission to use this picture, and it is copyright, but I'm going to use it anyway because copyright law allows fair use: here's why (selection from short, specific, list)". That doesn't seem to apply in this case. The photo must be copyright by its photographer unless it is decades old, or unless the copyright was given up; copyright is completely automatic. So there are two choices: the picture can be released into the public domain, giving up all current and future copyright claims on it, and allowing any use (including mischief); or, releasing it under a license, which will still allow the picture to be reproduced anywhere, including for money. This needs a specific release. Notinasnaid 08:37, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Misys Loan IQ Manual

Does anyone know where I can find a user manual on Misys Loan IQ? I am trying to get into banking and I have found that a lot of banks now use Loan IQ. So I want to read up and see what is involved.

With thanks, Mark

[edit] insurance for non-car owner

Is it possible in the U.S. to get "driver's insurance" without owning a car? essentially liability insurance of your own but without having your own car.

Note that insurance is both a financial and legal area, and Wikipedia is not a reliable source of either financial or legal advice. That being said, many home insurance or property insurance policies include some sort of general purpose liability insurance coverage, although you should check your policy to determine what restrictions exist. Additional straight-up liability insurance is also presumably available. If you're renting the car, of course, there's always insurance available from the rental agency. --ByeByeBaby 22:19, 17 April 2006 (UTC)
It's called "non-owner's insurance". The availability and details vary from company to company and state to state, so for specific information, you'll have to contact your insurance agent. --Serie 00:14, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 18

[edit] Adding Links

I'm new to editing this site. I keep adding a link. The link is there and works. Next day, the link is gone. Am I doing something wrong, or is someone coming behind me and removing my link?

  • If you click on the "history" tab at the top of the article, it will show you what has been going on. In your case, it seems that a number of editors consider the link to be spam and are removing it after you add it. You should discuss it on the article's talk page with them if you are intent on adding it, see if you can come to a resolution. --Fastfission 02:20, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stat Counter?

Hi, I have a question about user pages. How does the system know how many edits the user has or how many times they've been vandalized? Is there a stat counter of sorts that does this work?

There are several stat-counters which have been started by the more tech-savvy editors to count number of edits. One of the more popular ones is Interiot's editcounting tool. As for counting vandalism, though, that's done manually. Grutness...wha? 01:19, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

~Thanks, that's a useful site. But it doesn't seem to update edit counts?

Unfortunately it's not updating at the moment due to a problem with the Toolserver. There's no ETA on when the problem will be resolved. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 07:37, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Native americans

Hello!I have two questions for you: 1. Was there ever a Native American or someone similar, who was called The walking cloud or The cloud that walks, or a similar variation. I supposed Native American because they would often have nicknames like that, but as i said it could be someone else. 2. What was the name of that Native American i think, that was famous for hating for someone to photograph him and no one had any pictures of him but the one in which he poses, and no one knows how someone could make that picture of him. I guess these questions sound unusual but they interest me a lot.--Captain ginyu 01:29, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

Some Native Americans thought taking their picture would "steal their spirit", so that may be why he refused to be photographed. StuRat 04:34, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks very much StuRat, but if anyone knows the answer to my first question then please write.--Captain ginyu 15:20, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Knife

I am currently in the market for a good survival/combat knife, i have been look at the tom brown tracker but i dont know whats it advantages are and if there is a better knife suited for my purposes.

      -Hi. This looks like a good site to find some information about purchasing knives.
How about a Swiss Army knife? A good one can serve almost all kinds of purposes and can be handled very roughly as well....Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:56, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] help i cant find it

i am lookingt for information on the history of music. but the twist is i am only interested in when and how music started to go global. for example when did countrys start listening to music from other countrys. ie the beatles-u2-pink floyd ect. any help would be great i need it for a paper. pleas contact me at (e-mail removed for your personal safety). thanks -Dave

Dave, it was probably long before Beatlemania that music started traveling. Troubadours played across Europe back in 11th century. --dcabrilo 06:25, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
The phrases started to go global and when did countrys start listening to music from other countrys is vague, but I suppose it's been that way since ancient times. One could speculate that it was definitely possible that the Romans or whoever might have taken a liking to greek music, or that they have heard celtic music when on their invasions or what not. The middle ages are a good bet anyway because of travelling musicians. And if that does not convince you, anything from the 17th or 18th century classical music was definitely to be heard all over Europe.
You'd need to be a bit more specific on what you need, though... --Ouro 06:28, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
And Jenny Lind came over from Europe to make a hugely successful tour of the USA over a century before the Beatles did the same. --BluePlatypus 13:28, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] VOIP Thesis E-Mail Interview

Hello My name is Greg Lewis, I am a Sr. Technical Analyst with Verizon Wireless. As part of my graduate pursuit I would like to have a member of your staff respond briefly to the attached interview questions.

Respondent:

Include the following with your response. Name: Company: Title: Email Address: Work Telephone:

Thanks for your time and support.


VOIP

Interview Questions:

1. How long have you been working with VOIP equipment?

2. What voice networking security experience do you have?

3. How are IP secured networks configured in your current environments?

4. What VOIP protocol offers the most security options?

5. Are government regulations restricting the creativity of VOIP network design?

6. Which of the three layers of VOIP communication is the most crucial to voice quality?

7. What are the most critical security issues to be considered when designing a VOIP network?

8. Are the benefits of migrating from Legacy to VOIP telephone equipment worth the associated costs?

9. How has IT staffing been affected by the use of VOIP systems?

10. What affect has VOIP networks had on the design of network security? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.125.185.179 (talk • contribs) .

I'm confused. Are you interviewing everyone at the reference desk for a job? Or do you want us to answer your own interview questions for you? —Keenan Pepper 04:29, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

Looks like a rather pathetic attempt at social engineering, "3. How are IP secured networks configured in your current environments?" seems particular suspecious to me as it asks for personal information about ur configuration of the security. - Also his IP address is from Mechanicsville, Virginia which doesnt have a Verizon Wireless Branch. Joneleth 06:33, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

Mechanicsville is just a suburb of Richmond, so his IP location doesn't really mean much. --LarryMac 15:36, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
Oh neato! We're considered important enough to be scammed! Of course, I will blurt out, in public, all my security information for home and work! After all, I'm crazy enough to hang around here... --Zeizmic 15:03, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
COOL!!! I am a staff member of wikipedia!!?? When do i get paid!!?? Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:47, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
Not all officially recognised organisations pay their staff members, you know. JIP | Talk 09:27, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Request for help remembering a film title

I've been trying to recall the title of a movie I saw on late-night TV back in the mid-60's. It was set in Austrian-occupied northern Italy, in the years before War World I, and involved two brothers, one of who was active in irradentist movement to unite the region with Italy, the other was apparently a collaborator with the Austrians. I think it was an Italian film, but I'm not sure. I saw it in English. I should be most grateful to anyone who remembers this film.

Ken Hill --68.170.149.239 04:26, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

I've had a look through imdb and the most likely possibility is Senso, though there are several possibilities with no information about them, like "The Fire-Devil", "Wien 1910", and "Zehn Jahre später". Grutness...wha? 07:06, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sopranos Episode

In the fourth installment of The sopranos, Dr Melfi, the psychoanalyst, is brutally raped by a character named Jesus Rossi. Rather than telling Tony Soprano about it, she decides to keep the whole thing quiet. I wonder if there is any fol-low up on this to tie up this loose thread in the story by way of: (a) revenge; (b) justice, or just to bring things to an appropriate conclusion, at least as far as this gruesome episode. Is it picked up and dealt with later in the series? Or what.

Thank you

David Weinberg

No, there has been no follow up in the later seasons. Melfi was stronger than I would be in that situation. --Joelmills 00:54, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 14 september

Whats the importance of this day?

Did you try 14 September? As we're an encyclopedia, we do tend to have a couple of articles on some topics... -- Ferkelparade π 10:05, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Convention hotels/resorts in Arkansas

Hi i need some information about Convention hotels in Arkansas. I would like to know how many convention centers there are in Arkansas, please tell me the number of centers and the names of the convention centers. And the location of those centers. I would also like to know how many hotels are near each convention center and their names and their location as well. I would really appreciate it. I have been trying to find this information all day.

This gives list of some of the convention centres....Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:44, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
Here's another page that might help. --LarryMac 17:47, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Notorious Bail Jumper

Who was the young man that fled the country after he committed either murder, rape or both? I thought he came from a wealthy family in the North East and his parents sent him out of the country to avoid prosecution. I believe a movie was made of his story, maybe a TV movie, and while he was living out of the country photos of him had surfaced of him at a Swiss ski lodge or something. He was eventually found and sent back to the U.S. but for the life of me I can not remember his name. Can you help?

[edit] WikiHow

I recently got the wonderful opportunity to see and listen to the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, speak about the Wikipedia project. He listed the other Wiki projects that are currently active such as Wiktionary and Wikibooks, but there was nothing mentioned about a website called WikiHow. I was just wondering if WikiHow was associated with Wikipedia in any way.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question!!

Wikipedia has an article about it, WikiHow, that will probably answer your question. Lapinmies 20:42, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Redirecting

Hi I have just writen an article about the town of Killucan-Rathwire in Ireland. After writing the article I re directed all previos links to killucan from the old article "Killucan" to my new more detailed article. However I canot redirect the old article to my new article. When I enter Killucan in the serch box it goes to the old article even though i have redirected it. I would apriciate help, Also how do I put pictures in an Article? Thanks, Kenneth

It looks like you figured out how to use redirects because typing in "Killucan" in the search box takes you to Killucan And Rathwire now. I also believe you have asked your question in the wrong place. This page is part of the reference desk, which is a resource for information. The Wikipedia:Help desk is where yoou can ask questions such as these. Wikipedia:Images tells you how you can upload images, and how to include them in an article. Hope this helps. --Andrew c 21:42, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
It's worth noting that Killucan is also an occasional spelling of the Irish village of Killukin in Roscommon (where my g-g-grandfather was born, FWIW), so a disambiguation page may be in order. Grutness...wha? 07:08, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

Killucan cant be an Irish name for anywhere as th letter "K" does not apper in the Irish Language. Most Irish Kill...s are tanslated as Cill ..... ( Church of ....)

It would be more accurate (or less ambiguous) to say that the original Celtic spellings, which were with a C, became anglicised to names beginning with a K. Many of these place names either kept or restored their Gaeilge names as alternative or additional names, which is why for example Killarney is often found written as Killarney/Cill Airne. Grutness...wha? 10:53, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Editting the Upton Sinclair Page

While researching the Wikipedia pages on Upton Sinclair (http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Upton_Sinclair, I noticed that his book "What Didymus Did" (UK published, '54), aka "It Happened to Didymus" (US published, '58) was not listed. I attempted to perform an edit regarding this inclusion and believe that I followed the Editting Procedures correctly. A check of the page doesn't show any updated edit. How can this information be added. As a book collector and owner of both the UK (signed) and US First Editions, I would like to see them added as appropriate.

Thank you

Kenneth W. Bishop

I added it. Most likely, you just hit the "Preview" button at the bottom instead of the "Save" button. That's a common error. StuRat 04:26, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] I need the Bibliography

I am doing a school project, and i can not find a specific Bibliography to use. please contact me tonight :(

Can you post here who you are looking for, we can't help unless we know what you're looking for -- Tawker 02:20, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
Unless you tell us what the bibliography needs to be about, it's impossible to help. We also don't contact people, they need to check back here for the answer, but since you didn't give contact information, we can't contact you regardless. - Mgm|(talk) 08:45, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 19

[edit] Who can help me find a movie title?

A couple years ago, I saw a movie, that was based on a true story. It had 2 young girls in juvenile hall, that break out, and go on the run, killing people, on the way. The one girl, keeps having visions of a "mother teresa" type, and they go down to Mexico to find her. Only, to realize that she is a transvestite, that feeds the girls young children from the basement. Creepy, yes. Does anyone have any advice on where to go to find a title?

Do you have any idea when it was made? Can you name any actors who were in it? Bhumiya (said/done) 00:34, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
Doesn't seem to be at http://www.imdb.com/keyword/mexico/based-on-true-story/. Perhaps not Mexico, or not true? -- Rick Block (talk) 03:45, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] English Short Story Help

I've been working on a short story for my english class and I was wondering if this made sense. It's somewhat political and I'm not really into that, but it's the backstory for my project. Could anyone please correct me if I'm mistaken in some areas? This is only an excerpt of the beginning:


"There was a war. In the early 2040’s. A small trade dispute between North America and Europe erupted quite suddenly. I was fairly short, only three years long. But even within the small time span, 1.3 million were dead. Almost 4,420,000 of those were civilian casualties. Nobody truly won and the citizens of both countries regarded their governments with hatred and disbelief. Other countries pledged allegiance with one side. Tension rose up in the air like a flash flood. The world seemed at the brink of World War III. Approximately 850 billion dollars were spent on war efforts and the U.N. finally intervened with a new and radical idea: united world government.

At first, most scoffed at the mere suggestion. But slowly, it was gaining popularity. I’m not a politician and never really understood government, but from what I understand, serious talks took place and many warmed to the idea. Citizens all over the world approved of the concept. Time Magazine’s polls showed an 87% majority in favor. The U.N. finally held the vote. United world government won by a landslide and the United Countries of Earth (UCOE) was born.

UCOE, the united world government. UCOE, the united democratic world government.

Yeah. Right.

As soon as the UCOE was established, chaos enveloped the world. Even the most extreme pessimists could not have predicted what would happen. Authoritarianism and fascism took over from the shadows and the democratic facade was dropped. Revolt exploded all around the world. A deep crevice was cut between the tyrannical UCOE and the free people. It turned out that the corrupted and power hungry representatives of the U.N. were apart of the government takeover. Even many government officials from every country supported the change. Gabriel Poltina, the ‘President of Mankind’, was also in alliance. In fact, he wasn’t even fairly elected; every voting booth was rigged.

After the establishment of the UCOE, there were a couple months of pure chaos. The governments all around the world slowly changed into the fascist model as each country’s citizens rebelled.

June 6th, 2050, a week after the take over, protesters marched toward the U.N. headquarters in New York. They were immediately gunned down by law enforcement. As soon as the first wave of bullets hit, people bolted. The bloody aftermath tallied up to 589 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. Another week later, even though security was heightened, trucks carrying armed explosives sped down the streets leading to the U.N. Armed law enforcement tried everything they could to stop them with the little warning they had.

All seventeen trucks went right through 760 U.N. Plaza, New York, New York, and blew the entire U.N. headquarters straight to hell.

Unfortunately, none of the key members of the new government were even in the building at the time. Decoys were used and the real people were in London, further advancing the foundation of the UCOE. Two days later, the free press released the name of the man behind the attack, as well as behind the wheel of one of the bomb trucks: Roy Schneider. He was just an average citizen who paid his bills, went to work, and was astoundingly furious with this ‘new world order’.

Ironically, Mr. Schneider was a high school government teacher.

Not everyone disagreed with the UCOE, however. I remember my neighbors worshiped Poltina like a god. We moved out of Minneapolis soon after the shadow fell. Most, if not every city, rapidly embraced the strict rules of the grand American fascists. Curfew at 9:00 pm. Christianity a strict must. No controversial works of literature. Art banned.

All this for the great journey to become a better society."


Thanks in advance!

  • "I was fairly short, only three years long." is rather humorous. Did you mean to say "It" instead of "I" ? StuRat 04:08, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
  • You seem to have listed 3 times as many civilian casualties as total casualties. StuRat 04:08, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
  • You seem to regard North America and Europe as nations, while each is a continent containing multiple countries. StuRat 04:08, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
  • How a small trade conflict could ever erupt into warfare is unclear. StuRat 04:08, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
  • 850 billion is pretty light spending, especially if inflation is factored in. StuRat 04:08, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Don't you think some description of how a democracy becomes totalitarianism would be warranted ? StuRat 04:13, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
  • You'd better be careful. Threatening to blow up buildings, even in a story, can get you into real trouble. I would leave that part out. StuRat 04:13, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
  • If this last part is true, then we're already in deep trouble, because we've mentioned the words "blow up buildings" in a publically accessible forum. JIP | Talk 09:25, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

The Turner Diaries comes to mind...a few parallels. Keep in mind as you write that story is more important than the setup. What themes are you trying to express? You say 'a better society': be clear about what that means, unless it is empty rhetoric used by thugs to get their own way. Anyway I don't think worrying about every last detail (exact spending figures etc.) is as important as getting across to the reader the sense of what the new world is like. Most readers are not critical enough to know or care about setup details (though those who comment on these pages, of course, are not included in that group ;-) ). Regular people in your story would not know these things. They would just know the general effect. Only if a character was, say, an ex-government stats woman would she have the desire and opportunity to know those figures. I encourage you not to resort to exposition to set the story up. Drop right into the 'now' with your characters and bring the reader along through flashbacks or bits of conversation. This is a story, not a movie with voiceover. The Terminator did that acceptably well; though it is hardly 'literature', it might be considered good apocalyptic storytelling. --Shandon 17:50, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

  • As the above commenter says - I think you're making some odd choices about what to tell and what not to tell. Why say how many people died in a war but not explain how it got started? I can tell you how WWI and WWII or most other wars I know of got started, but I can't say offhand exactly how many people died in any of them. So you're basically omitting the more interesting "why?" details but giving much less interesting "how?" ones. Another problem is that the style is inconsistent; statements like "yeah, right" and "he wasn't even fairly elected" are argumentative, not narrative. Also, the use of "Ironically" makes no sense. (See: Irony) --BluePlatypus 18:47, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

Yes (thanks BP), and I was trying not to criticize about points but rather to give direction. The author's description started out as exposition, then moved into a personal itinerary of events. This is something to be avoided in writing as stated above. I suspect the author has bounced the idea off of friends who have given some of the 'facts' (having done this myself in my early writing years). What I was hoping to express to the author is that the backround is not a bad set of ideas in general, and that it is useful for writing the story, but worrying about the correctness of every last detail is not important. Just answer the questions: what world do you want & why--what themes will it help you explore? The setting ought to apply pressure to the characters to take action. Most readers/viewers will go along with the storytelling if it is interesting, no matter how wierd the setting may become. You are writing a short story. You do not have the liberty of wasting time. Drop immediately into a scene of conflict (who are your main characters? what do they want to accomplish? --->their conflict is the nature of the plot) and establish the setting that way. Believe me, advertise anything & it will be criticized. It's good that you are writing & keep at it. --Shandon 19:40, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

I am confused by this section. "Almost 4,420,000 of those were civilian casualties. Nobody truly won and the citizens of both countries regarded their governments with hatred and disbelief. Other countries pledged allegiance with one side. Tension rose up in the air like a flash flood. The world seemed at the brink of World War III."

So, we've just had a three year war between continents with millions dead, and now we're on the brink of world war 3? So what was that we just had? Skittle 21:41, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

In my opinion, you have just way too much plot. If your story is going to be about this guy blowing up the UN, then start with him in the truck. We don't need the facts and figures; just refer to the oppressive atmosphere tangentially as the story goes on. And please don't make your hero an over-heroic good citizen-type– as someone who blows up a building full of innocent people, he should have a bit of a dark side.--Pharos 06:57, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Software Implementation

Hi. I would like to know about software implementation. What is implementation? Will the functional skill of a particular software/platform is good enough to be a part of an implementation team?

Regards Surya

Hello,

[edit] Looking for a game called "Dung Beetles"

Looking via Googl for an old game like "Dung Beetles" I found your page. Do you know where the program is found for emulators like "Virtual ][" or ather apple II- emulators? At your page there are only images of games.ö

Kind Regards Pree Franz

Please see Wikipedia for an explanation of what this site is (and is not). You might have some luck posting this query at the relevant page's talk page. -- Rick Block (talk) 05:14, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Establishing a Safety Boot company in Kazakhstan

Sir / Madam

Our company is planning seriously to invest in Kaza to establish a Safety Boot company including manufacturing activities. I have to make a feasibility / appraisal project report for the company to consider. At present I am talking from our India office which takes all decisions. The business website of our company is www.superhousegroup.com. Would you please suggest me the agencies / offices / organizations etc. with website links in Kaza where I may get all related details in respect of:

I. To establish a company right from beginning including registration,incentives, taxes, labor laws etc.

II. Export from Kaza and import into Kaza for Safety Boots.

III.

1. (a) What is the total production and consumption of Safety Boots in Kaza during last three years? (b) What would be the total import of Safety Boots in Kaza during last three years?

2. What is the import duty and unit for calculation of duty on (a) Uppers only for Footwear (b) Safety Boots and (c) Is this import duty has trend of reducing or increasing during last three years?

3. What are the incentives for investors and export from Kaza?

4. How many manufacturers are in Kaza for Safety Boots at present?

5. What are the industrial areas / estates in Kaza?

6. What would be the general cost of land and / or building in the industrial areas or estates?

7. What is / are the labor rates i.e. starting from minimum and on wards in Kaza?

Thanks so much for your assissatnce. Hope to hear soon. Regards

Ved P Gupta

I can't answer any of your questions but I would suggest that the Khazakstan Embassy or Consulate in India would be able to help you with some of them, if they don't have a consulate you could contact their government department that deals with the economy & internal investment. AllanHainey 15:57, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Murray Stratoflite

Dear readers,

Can you provide me with information on a special series of bikes?

I am looking for Complete list of Bikes that were produced By the Murray and Ohio Corporation around the

1950's to the early 1960's.

The Series is called Stratoflite.

They are hard to find and even harder to research on the internet.

I have a Stratoflite that I am trying to restore. It belonged to my father when he was a boy and I want to

restore it to it's original condition for him as a special Fathers day gift.

If anyone could provide any information about these bicycles, i would be most deeply grateful.

Thank you for your time and help.

I found this forum for vintage bikes... I think it might be a good idea to ask your question over there... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:26, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] please answer quick because i'm doing a paper report

is there any one author for any one article??????? Such as the article on "Black" (the color black) ok thanx

If you look at the "history" tab on top of the page, you can see who has contributed to the article. It's very rare for an article to have only one author, you can see the history of Black here. --Eivindt@c 17:23, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
To read up on how to cite the article for your report, see Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia. You don't credit individual authors. Optichan 17:29, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Policy regarding article type

I was wondering what are the policy of wikipedia regarding what type of articles are acceptable. I mean this is supposed to be an encyclopedia for knowledge. Does a compagny that makes a article about itself to promote its sales and product, how to know more about how good it does in the financial world is acceptable?

I personally think that it is not acceptable but this is my own opinion, what is the position of the foundation regarding this issue?

Thank you for your time. Keep up this great work! Humanity will prevail.


  • For information on how to Cite a Wikipedia article in a report see Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia. Wikipedia has many authors, who are usually credited as 'Wikipedia Contributors' see the link for more information. --Darkfred Talk to me 17:04, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
    • Funny mismatches.
    • For this specific question, the policy is not obvious. An article about a company and its products : yes. Just saying that they are good and so on, no. Try Microsoft. --DLL 19:25, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
  • We have a guideline/policy about this. See WP:CORP - 131.211.210.15 07:49, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Thank you very much for the information. It seems the article that was bothering me is following the wikipedia guideline.

[edit] ELAINE MILES

In one of the northern exposure eposodes MARILYN WHIRLWIND visits her people and they have a sing. I havce been interested in the rythem and vocals of their music ever since. Can you tell me were I can get a copy of the music and vocals used in that episode. I would me eternally greatful.

<email removed to prevent spam>

I would imagine that what they sing is traditional native music, and that the exact song may or may not be recorded. However you could almost certainly find some similar rhythms and vocals by looking for native american music in general. You might also like to check this site which lists the music played in each NE episode in great detail. DJ Clayworth 15:27, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] what happens to the heart

when a person has a heart transplant what happens to the old heart.

Since no one has bothered to answer this one all day...I would love to tell you that it is fed to a ravenous supernatural lieutenant of Satan http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105459/ yum yum, but the truth is governments have their own rules about the disposal of organs. States, provinces, countries all have examples (do a search for organ disposal). Likely it is a) sent to the hospital crematorium, or b) pawned off to medical & nursing student classes for training. Of course this could always happen...hence the commissions to find out what is really going on --Shandon 23:44, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

As a side note, in some transplants, including most kidney transplants as well as the recently newsmaking heterotropic heart transplant, the old organ(s) are just left in the body. --ByeByeBaby 00:41, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
Lisa: Dr. Hibbert, I thought you'd located another kidney for Grampa!
Hibbert: Larry Hagman took it. He's got five of them now. And three hearts. We didn't want to give them to him, but he overpowered us. Sum0 16:08, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

This is similar to the question on what happens to an amputated limb asked not too long ago. This is not a complete answer, but I do know that in the Jewish tradition, any removed body part must be ceremonially buried. But that's just for Jews. I can't speak for other religious traditions, or for that matter, those who are not observant of any religious tradition. Loomis51 01:57, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Key Bank

How can I find the lineage of Key Bank? I need to find out who owns it.

To find the lineage of Key Bank, I recommend... typing "Key Bank" into the search box on left side of this page near the top, and then reading the second paragraph of the article. --ByeByeBaby 19:50, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] umbrella

What is another name for an umbrella in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania?

Don't know about Pittsburg, but they're still occasionally called gamps in some places. Grutness...wha? 01:33, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
And they are called "bumpershoots" in some places. StuRat 05:52, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
Bumbershoot. --LarryMac 14:37, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
An abbreviation in the UK is Brolly. AllanHainey 14:51, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
Wiktionary can help. – b_jonas 22:17, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Background Check

In The U.S., Is a Job History usually obtained when conducting a background check for a new job?

When you apply for most jobs in the US, you will be asked to list your own work history, which is a list of jobs you held and the dates. The degree to which the employer scrutinizes your job history, and checks to confirm it would depend on many factors. If there is a gap in the history, they might ask you about it. If you lie on the application and they ever find out, it would be a "free termination ticket" for them-- if they were unhappy with your performance for other reasons, they could use falsification of the application as grounds for firing you "for cause". On the other hand, most employers do not bother to confirm job histories. Obviously the salary, responsibilities, and sensitiveness of the job would affect how likely they are to check a job history carefully, as well as how much they like you on other grounds and how many applicants they have. Short answer: you will usually be asked to supply a work history for most US jobs, but the degree to which it is scrutinized, pursued, and confirmed varies from not-at-all to intensively and thoroughly. alteripse 00:25, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Why Pay More Advert

Hi,

Sorry to bother you, I know you're all busy people but me and a few friends were discussing old adverts the other day and we remembered a slogan that said..."Why Pay More?"

None of us know what the advert was that it was on, we have been looking online for the answer but cannot find it!

Please can you find out and email me back as soon as possible please?

My email is...[email removed for protection] We think it could be a supermarket television advert but we're not sure!

Many thanks

I have seen literally thousands of ads in my lifetime that asked "Why pay more?" It's very common. Brian G. Crawford 22:46, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

I remember it as Tele2, in the UK. http://www.tele2.co.uk
Slumgum | yap | stalk | 22:52, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
Bi-Lo (an Australian supermarket) currently have TV adverts with the slogan "Why pay more!", but their use of this slogan is relatively new.

[edit] Hookah

Hi, I read the wikipedia entry on "hookahs", but I was really curious as to if they are honestly better or worse for you than cigarettes? I mean, is it really that bad to split a hookah with a friend or two once a weekend if you dont smoke otherwise? I would really appreciate an answer, because ive heard such conflicting things. Thanks

I guess it depends on what's in the hookah. Seriously, though, tobacco contains a number of known carcinogens and isn't good for you in any amount. You probably won't die from an illness related to only sporadic smoking, but no one here can give you a permission slip to engage in unhealthy behavior. Brian G. Crawford 22:50, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

The section Hookah#Style and health seems pretty comprehensive to me. You might think the water would filter out some of the bad stuff, but most of the carcinogens like nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are not water-soluble, so it doesn't do much good. Smoking a hookah every now and then can't be as bad as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, but don't think it's healthy either. —Keenan Pepper 00:34, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ontario Driving Permits

When were driving permits first issued in Ontario and to whom were they first issued?

My grandfather was a chauffeur between 1908 and 1915 in Peterborough area. Would he have possessed some type of Ontario licence?

.......end

According to CAASCO, driver's licences weren't required in Ontario until July 1, 1927, the same year that speed limits were increased up to 20 mph in the city and a breathtaking 35 mph in the country. His vehicle would have been registered, though -- vehicle registration started in 1906 or 1907. --ByeByeBaby 00:31, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Emilio Estevez

I believe Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheens son used a different name and changed it to Emilio Estevez, so do many of my friends, I am in my 50's and seem to remember this. Can you find out what it was and post it somewhere on your site? Thatnk You , Marie, from FL

According to his biography on the Internet Movie Database, which is linked at the bottom of his article, his real name is Emilio Estevez. It was his father, Martin Sheen, who took a different name because he thought Estevez is too ethnic. Dismas|(talk) 00:28, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
True. I'm sure I'm not the only person to spot the irony of the last series of The West Wing, featuring an attempt by Senator Santos to become the first Hispanic US president - while the encumbent was played by Sheen. Grutness...wha? 01:37, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
Emilio's brother Carlos uses the name Charlie Sheen --LarryMac 14:22, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Why do the COPPA laws apparently not apply on Wikipedia?

COPPA stipulates that a website must receive a fax form (or any "official" printed media) from a legal parent or guardian to allow a child to interact with other users on a site. (I haven't read the article itself, so this is from prior knowledge from elsewhere online.)

However, some children have got on here, and COPPA would cover no less than all of Wikipedia, I presume.

Therefore, I'm curious- how is Wikipedia exempt? I don't quite understand... --Shultz IV 23:44, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

COPPA deals with the collection of personal information on commercial websites. Wikipedia is not a commercial website and does not collect personal information, so fortunately the law does not apply to it. Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer. -- Mwalcoff 00:02, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
Thing is, a child could divulge his/her personal information at will here. --Shultz IV 00:07, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
COPPA only refers to purposeful collection and storing of personal information. If the law applied to information given without request it would force email monitoring even worst privacy violations than it protects against. The information it does pertain too, is that collected in web-forms for sign in at some less than anonymous web forums. Since wikipedia is anonymous and collects no information (other than what users volunterily write about themselves) COPPA simply does not apply.
However you might be mistaking COPPA for COPA a much stricter law requiring websites to censor content for minors, it's implementation is currently blocked and the law is locked in court battles. --Darkfred Talk to me 00:13, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
Not a lawyer or expert, but as I read the act, it:
  1. Pertains only to personal information collected by the site, and Wikipedia requires and collects no personal information.
  2. Only applies to sites directed at children, where Wikipedia is aimed at everyone.
  3. Seems to only apply to commercial operators, which none of the Wikimedia Foundation sites are.
The first one is the biggie. COPPA seems to be directed at registration information and the like.
Yes, some users have said that they're under 13 (and could, if they wanted, provide any personal information they want), but the same is true of virtually any web page. You could post your name, age and address on MySpace, or on a Geocities page, or as a comment on Slashdot, or in any one of a zillion message boards, or on a blog, or in a picture hosted on Flickr, or a video on YouTube, or whatever.
I'm not sure that you're understanding of COPPA (as far as "official" printed media for any interaction with other users) is correct; you may want to read the act itself. I think the point of the law is to make sure that web site operators don't abuse the data they collect, not so that parents never have to teach their kids to not post personal information on the internet. --ByeByeBaby 00:22, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Just a note; On Wikipedia if someone posts personal information it is usually immediately replaced with a note that it was removed. On this page in particular it is done to protect (naive) new users from having their email addresses harvested by advertising companies. --Darkfred Talk to me 00:37, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What's the internet for?

[edit] April 20

[edit] School Report

I am working on a report about what the bible means to me and my evaluation of the instructor and the courses old and new testament Iam really trying to find a starting point to begin my paper can you help? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.19.142.114 (talk • contribs)

Well, since the report is on what the Bible means to you, you may want to do your own homework. But I'm sure our Bible, Old Testament and New Testament articles would be good starting points.
Should we really be painting those who say it's homework up front and those who make feeble attempts to disguise it with the same DYOH brush? I propose Do Read Interesting Biblical Books; Learning Excels! for this particular case, or DRIBBLE. --Sam Pointon United FC 01:15, 20 April 2006 (UTC) PS: Genesis is a very good starting point for the scriptures!

To get such an assignment, I am guessing you attend a religious school, in which case you had better say it means a great deal to you, or the Bible thumpers will be angry at you. StuRat 03:35, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

Hello, StuRat. I have checked out your user page, and would like to thank you for the huge amount of good stuff that you do. This is not so good, though. I appreciate that it must be irritating when people ask you to do their homework for them, but, POV issues aside, civility is Wikipedia policy. Sincere regards, John Moore 309 11:39, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
By no means was that reply uncivil. Unhelpful, yes, but not uncivil. It was a humourous comment and I for one enjoyed it.  -- Run!  13:35, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for your support. While the use of the term "bible thumpers" might be a bit POV, I believe the logic is valid. At least in the US, you wouldn't get an assignment like this from a public school, due to the separation of church and state. Thus, if given this assignment from a Christian school, I suspect an answer like "it means nothing to me" would not be viewed nicely by the teacher. StuRat 12:59, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Did something ever happen in your life in which you think the bible played a big role? It might be a good idea to start there and see where you end up. - 131.211.210.15 07:54, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
In the section where you are evaluating your instructor it might be a good idea to ask him to narrow the scope of his assignments or to more clearly explain what he's looking for and hoping to accomplish by assigning this. That way you'll have a better idea of what to give him. You could even just ask him before writing anything. -LambaJan 17:01, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Help me with a Strategy game.

There is a game one of my freinds is teaching me that i can not figure out how to beat. I do not know the name of it but I can tell u exactly how it is played. All i am looking for is the answer of how to beat it. The game is played with a chess board. U have only one piece. The knight.The rules, are simple, you place a knight wherever you want, and then by using the allowed chess movement of the knight, you need to go over all the cells, without using the same cell twice. I have been working on figureing it out for 4 months and still haven't got it. Can you guys help me please!!!!!

It's called a Knight's Tour. --BluePlatypus 03:09, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 1838 music book

I have a very old music book.It was owned by william mills in 1838, Some of the music is hand written by hand and the other is printed. It is suppose to be a Mason or Methodist music book. I would like to sell it but don't know who to comtact or even begin to ask.

 Thank You 
 Barbara Moose
Have you considered trying Ebay ? StuRat 05:46, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
I'd recommend checking with an antiquarian bookseller, either online or in real life (if you have a good one near you). There are ones that specialize in music books. --BluePlatypus 11:01, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] creating a portal for closed community

Hi,

1. I wanted to create a portal for closed group of users and upload the contents, Is it possible. If yes, how

2. How to create a own portal.

Regards Vineet

You'll need to run your own version of MediaWiki. Here is a good place to start reading.-gadfium 05:59, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

I had lots of fun doing that myself. You need a good hosting service that offers Linux accounts, and has instructions for loading Mediawiki. --Zeizmic 12:35, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

See also Wikia. – b_jonas 22:02, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] combining edits made by IP address with a user name

Hello --

I was editing pages without a user name, so they showed up on as made by my IP address (82.98.9.227). Now I have a user name (Hibou8., nickname hibou) and I'm wondering if there's anyway that the changes I made can now be attributed to me instead of the IP address?

Thanks -- hibou 17:20, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

You were previously allowed to do (I can't find the link), but it is now defunct. So when you created your account, you started from scratch on your edit count. Kilo-Lima|(talk) 18:47, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
The link is Wikipedia:Changing attribution for an edit. However, as K-L said, it's defunct. Sorry! — QuantumEleven | (talk) 14:51, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Age

Does anybody know who is Wikipedia's youngest admin (in terms of age)? Just out of general interest, relly... Thanks, Kilo-Lima|(talk) 19:43, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

I saw a user sometime back who claimed to be the youngest admin...it was on his user page... he was around 14 years i think...i dont remember his user name... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 04:06, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Just out of curiosity KL why don't you appear on Wikipedia:List of administrators? I see though you are here. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 04:46, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
That's because the first page is updated by hand, but the second page is updated automatically. JIP | Talk 07:32, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
  • I think User:Ludraman comes close, but I think there might've been a 12-year-old admin around too. Can't remember their name though. - 131.211.210.10 07:32, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
User:Princess Homestar claims to be ten (a question above this one concerns it).  -- Run!  17:48, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
I don't think she's an admin...Brian Schlosser42 19:48, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 21

[edit] Good Friday

It says on Wikipedia today's main page that the 21st of April 2006 is 'Good Friday' - that's not right is it?

  • It is in Eastern Christianity, but not in Western Christianity. --Maelwys 00:59, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Perhaps that mention should be made a bit more specific then. - 131.211.210.10 07:33, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Finding flights on really short notice

My friend, who was accepted to Harvardl, had her flight to the preview weekend cancelled. What is a good place to find flights on short notice - as in tomorrow morning (Friday, around noon UTC)? I've checked LastMinuteTravel.com but they don't have anything reasonably priced...and they're not Continental, and Continental's refund voucher only works with their own flights (not all of SkyTeam, for some reason). --Geoffrey 01:18, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] how many questions does a four year old ask in one day?

how many questions does a four year old ask in one day?

Seven.

I was a camp councelor for 5 and 6 year olds. My friend who worked next door worked with 4 year olds. I can say with much confidence that a four year old will ask many more than seven questions in one day. M@$+@ Ju ~ ♠ 22:19, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
42. – b_jonas 21:53, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Iron Boot

Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked in the head with an iron boot? Brian G. Crawford 02:54, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Please don't ask us to do your homework for you. Thanks. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 03:05, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
I guess it'll be pretty painful.....Please try it out and check back with us if you have any more doubts..Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 04:04, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Have you read our article on Rugby league in England? Grutness...wha? 08:58, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
It is a lot less fun than not falling in the mud and getting kicked in the head with an iron boot. M@$+@ Ju ~ ♠ 22:19, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
No. Slumgum | yap | stalk | 20:28, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Japanese puzzle

Right, this is a long shot. I live in Japan, and I recently bought a Japanese sudoku magazine. As well as the sudokus, the magazine contains a page of different puzzles, similar to, but quite different from, everyone's favourite 9x9 grid-filling game. I've checked the List of Nikoli puzzle types and several pages dedicated to puzzle types, but I can't find it. Can anyone tell me the name of this puzzle? Basically it's played on a grid of boxes, sized (for example) 6x6. The aim of the game is to put the numbers 1 to 6 in the boxes, so that every row and column contains all the numbers 1 to 6. The boxes are linked by the mathematical symbols for 'greater than' and 'less than' (< and >), both vertically and horizontally. Thus, it is possible to enter the numbers logically, with very few initial numbers needed.

From this (admittedly awful) description, can anyone tell me the name of the puzzle? It doesn't seem to be given in the magazine. Phileas 03:15, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Does the magazine have a website? It might have the solutions on it and therefore the name of the puzzles.  -- Run!  17:46, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stu Wilson

When Stu Wilson was captain 76 to 83 who were his centres?

The captain of what, a ship ? StuRat 08:02, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
The ABs, man! Stu Wilson was only captain twice, in 1983 against England and Scotland, and Steve Pokere was at centre each time. Grutness...wha? 08:43, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Oh, a New Zealand rugby team. And here I thought it might be something obscure. :-) StuRat 23:07, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Heh. Not a New Zealand rugby team, the' New Zealand rugby team, and in the world of rugby about as well known as the "dream team" is in basketball. So not that obscure :). Grutness...wha? 10:47, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Is it true they've got a new haka since a year or two back? I'd heard something about it, but it doesn't seem to be mentioned in the article here. --BluePlatypus 18:59, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, it's true, though it's a bit controversial so they quite often still use the traditional Te Rauparaha haka I think. There should be mention of it on the ABs page. Grutness...wha? 23:16, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Illegal downloads of music

i was wondering if anyone could estimate how many music tracks are illegaly downloaded in a year or month or week and if they could provide a source. i need these figures for a report but i cannot find them anywhere. any help would be great. thanks Mr P

  • I think the RIAA would gather this kind of data. What geographical area do you want the data for? - Mgm|(talk) 11:57, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
  • I wouldn't necessarily trust the RIAA's data. They have a stake in estimating high. --Fastfission 14:03, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

i looked on the riaa sight but no luck, i want figures for either USA, Uk or globally. any help would be great thanks, Mr P. 17:19, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Try this Google search. --LarryMac 17:50, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Tatoos and Copyright

Are there any legal ramifications to having copyrighted material tattooed on a person? The only discussion I've seen so far through Google is copyright of tattoos as original work. I'm referring to taking non-tattoo artwork and making it into a tattoo, specifically artwork which requires a subscription to obtain. Thanks! --Lwieise -=- Talk to Me 10:48, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

It would be the same as with registered trademarks. If somebody brings in a Harley-Davidson logo to the tattoo shop, then there is nothing to stop a hand-drawn facsimilie being tatooed. If, however, you are operating a tattoo shop, and you are selling copyright and trademarked material on your web site, you are in big doo-doo. --Zeizmic 13:13, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Hmm. My guess is also that the tatoo operator would be the one liable, as they are the content creator in this instance. So if I get a tatoo of Mickey Mouse, Disney could probably sue the tatoo operator for infringement, at the very least. (Just because something is re-drawn does not get around copyrights). --Fastfission 14:02, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

On the other hand, perhaps a woman with a Harley tattoo on her breast should get a royalty each time it's displayed. Perhaps this explains why such women display their breasts so often. :-) StuRat 23:04, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] what is the point

what is the point of this website if i cant use it for school since there are no sources listed. how can i believe an article that i have no idea who wrote it, an elementary school kid could have written it! someone please tell me how i find the author

Please see Wikipedia:Introduction, Wikipedia:Verifiability, and Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia. Many articles in, say, Encyclopedia Brittanica aren't written by a single person either. You shouldn't take anything you read for granted, and Wikipedia is no exception. —Keenan Pepper 17:39, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

You should never use a single source, espiculy for things like Projects and reports. Wikipedia is probably a good start but you should verify evrything you find with at least one other source.

Also note that even an elementary school kid might have specialized knowledge in some areas, like say Pokemon characters, which would make a valuable contribution to Wikipedia. StuRat 23:00, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Also again, note that many of the articles on Wikipedia are basic groundings in topics and have links at the bottom for further in-depth reading of the sort that you would need to write a decent report. So to summarise,
  1. Wikipedia can be cited, even though it has multiple authors;
  2. given the large number of editors, we have information on a very wide range of subjects - more than you would find in any other single source;
  3. it is a basis for research, not the only source you need;
  4. it will help you to find those other sources.
Grutness...wha? 23:36, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
You're right, though, that Wikipedia would be more useful if contributors were more diligent about citing their sources. JamesMLane t c 15:09, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
You may also be interested in reading Wikipedia:Replies to common objections. — QuantumEleven 12:04, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] List of user infoboxes?

Where can I find a list of infoboxes/infobox templates for user pages? Thank you very much Bwithh 18:06, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

At Wikipedia:Userboxes ({{WP:UB]]). Couldn't you find that with the handy search box to the left? Daniel (☎) 19:42, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks... I usually find that search box quite ineffective and frustrating when searching for wikipedia help or wikipedia policy topics. I wouldn't have known to search for "userboxes" anyway. Bwithh 20:08, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Did you enable searching the Wikipedia: namespace in your preferences? —Keenan Pepper 20:18, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Okay thanks I didnt know about that way. Also, is there way of forcing Wikipedia search to display search results even if there is an article matching the search term (which at the moment it automatically goes to)? For instance, searching for userbox or userboxes sends me to a deleted page at the moment. and generally it'd be useful to always go direct to a search results screen rather than "I feel lucky" style immediate redirect. thanks. Bwithh 20:39, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
yes, just click search instead of hitting enter. Night Gyr 21:09, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Diplomatic Relations

Why doesn't the U.S. have Diplomatic relations with Andorra?

It does, though only since 1995 (Andorra established its sovereignty in 1993). The US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra, but the US Consulate General in Barcelona, Spain represents US interests in Andorra directly. http://barcelona.usconsulate.gov/emba/usandorraen.html
Bwithh 20:13, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] A linux question...

Hello gang,

I've recently obtained an older laptop, and in the process of fooling around with it lost the operating system that it came with (win 98). Now, i'm not too eager to plunk down +100 bucks on a new copy of XP to use on a $150 machine, so I'm thinking I'll install Linux on it. I'm no Linux expert myself. I've used the Knoppix live CD on my desktop system, and like it enough, but the laptop is too decrepit to handle it. So, does anyone have any suggestions for what distro I should use? I'd like a free, downloadable one, preferably. I browsed the "Comparison of Linux Distributions" article, but I'd like some first hand advice. The laptop in question is a Compaq with a 266 MHz AMD-K6 processor, 96 MB of SyncDRAM and a 4 gig HD. Any advice will be be greatly appreciated.Brian Schlosser42 19:59, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Ubuntu. You can wait until Dapper Drake is released in a few weeks, or just use the beta. I'm using it now and it's quite stable. —Keenan Pepper 20:17, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Knoppix will work well on that system in non-graphics mode. It likes 128 MB for graphics, which is less than XP with service paks. Knoppix can be customized to reduce memory use. Note that Knoppix and Ubuntu are both based on Debian Linux. --Blainster 23:09, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Just get a Debian install disk. I have it on a machine like that, and it works great for presentations and such. You can cut down on the 'eye candy', and big applications will be slow, but OpenOffice works quite well. --Zeizmic 23:45, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the suggestions. I got Ubuntu to run on it, but it is deathly slow. I was planning to use the machine for transfering pictures from my camera to my external HD/MP3 player while away from my PC, but it takes 10 minutes to mount the drive... oh well, it is a cool OS, and I intend to install it on my PC as a secondary OS tonight. Again, thanks for the help folks.Brian Schlosser42 13:53, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] unusual Japanese vehicle

Years ago I had a toy from Japan, which was a motorcycle front wheel/fork/engine/seat, with a small pickup style box in the back, over a two-wheel rear end. There was a small cab around the driver, and a tarp-like cover over the bed.

I can't remember the name or the manufacturer, maybe it is one of the present manufacturers of cars. Would anyone remember what this thing was? It dates from about 1955 to maybe 1960 or so.

Gary, St. Joseph, MO

Probably a Keicar. Our pictures in that article are of modern ones, but in the 1950s they may well have been more of a cross between a motorcycle and a car. The microcar article also discusses such vehicles, which were quite common after World War II.-gadfium 01:44, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
He's describing a toy, though, so I think that its configuration may not necessarily have any connection to reality. I'm having visions of the configuration he describes in my head, and it's really nothing like most microcars which tend to go for the maximization of car volume within the dimensions, something incompatible with a motorcycle fork sticking out in front. Night Gyr 01:50, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Government Suppression

Is there any eveidence besides reviewing endless lists of patents, to understand, or gain information about, how the government exercises an ability to suppress technological innovations, certain inventions, or scientific data to control the public more than it should. I'm not trying to be some conspiracy theorist, but I have already found astonishing evidence about things I can barely believe in relation to the vagueness listed above. Anyone can go and read some writing about or by tom bearden to see a little bit of what i mean. I can understand the implications of monopolies blah blah and all that. but when something has the potential to beifit all of mankind in profound ways then why else does this seeming oppression prevail?

One problem with representative democracy is that, unlike direct democracy, there are representatives who can be bribed. So, while discouraging alternative energy technology is not in the interest of a country, it may be in the interest of the reps, if they are bribed (AKA receive "campaign donations") sufficiently by the oil industry to do so. To me, this amounts to treason, but it's so widespread that everyone accepts it now. StuRat 22:46, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
Conspiracy theories about suppressed inventions, such as the 100 mpg carburetor, are typically urban legends. Having said that, innovation is in fact sometimes hindered by large business interests buying out their competitors, which indirectly suppresses innovation. In these instances the large companies inncorporate the competitor's product or idea into their own bureaucracy, reducing the efficiency of its use. Non-competitive oligarchies are what Congress needs to be encouraged to prevent. --Blainster 23:19, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
One way is classify stuff, make is so a security clearance is needed to look at it. Another is "need to know", even with a clearance you , as a person in the government, wouldn't be allowed to see things that weren't part of your job description. If you're interested in Tom Bearden, then you probably read Motionless Electrical Generator and his website http://cheniere.org. He makes a lot of claims, but has not been able to get anything to work convincingly. He may be wrong, in short. You have been vague about what you have found, why not be specific and tell us? --GangofOne 02:22, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

dear, gangofone and anyone else be specific and tell "us" what i have found? that sounds funny don't you think? did it sound funny when you said it to yourself? would you let someone know how to become god if you knew exactly how? maybe i cant answer for you im just making this up but you get the point right? heres a better example: if you knew of a bank that gave you money for nothing in exchange would you tell the world the directions to the bank? maybe you would im just being childish i guess excuse me oh yeah and who is "us"? nah im being silly again seriously though about bearden "he may be wrong, in short"  ? wrong about what? trying to extract energy from nothing? yeah it sounds "wrong" as in it appears ridiculously impossible or what?

but why live in a world of appearances?

surely you know nothing is what it seems? anyway bye bye im off to class... or somehting right?

[edit] Physics equation

and does anyone know what this means: e=±((square root symbol) since i couldn't find it)α(multiplied by something that looks like an h with the stem(top part)crossed through with a small line)finally multiplied next by c (the speed of light of course)

You want to look at Help:Formula to figure out how to properly typeset this. It looks like you want e=\pm\sqrt{\alpha \hbar c}; \hbar is Planck's constant divided by 2π. α is often the fine structure constant... but I'm not sure, even as a physicist, what the overall equation is supposed to be. The most similar common formula that comes to mind is E=\hbar \omega=h\nu=hc/\lambda for photon energy. Can you provide a bit more context? (Also, why is this on the Miscellaneous desk?) --Tardis 22:13, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
\alpha = e^2 / \hbar c is definition of fine structure contstant, in cgs units. GangofOne 02:05, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Non-Linear Optics

lastly maybe someone can give me a vague explanation of non-linear optic effect

If the electric field becomes strong enough, it will noticably affect the material in which it's found. In the most extreme cases, it will cause ionization. Alternatively, the material may react in an anharmonic fashion to the fields. In either case, the normal linear Maxwell's equations will no longer apply in the usual sense, because the material parameters (ε,μ,ω) become strongly dependent on the fields and on position and time. Hope that helps -- but why didn't you post on the Science desk? --Tardis 22:13, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pogo.com

A friend told me that there was a website that told you how to win Pogo.com's game Pop-it every time. I havent been able to find it but I was wondering if anyone else knew about it. Thanks!! Zach 22:19, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] PDF files

Can someone tell me how to modify a .pdf file? Thanks in advance. --ShiningEyes 23:23, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

You have to download Adobe's software (http://www.adobe.com). I use InDesign for when I want to create a PDF. Some PDFs (assuming they can be modified) have the option of being opened Microsoft Word. -Mysekurity [m!] 03:07, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
I feel I should add to this, and disagree a little. You can download Adobe's free Adobe Reader, but this cannot modify PDF files. You can purchase the Adobe Acrobat product, but editing options are very limited and may disappoint. There is no option for opening PDF files in Word on Windows, except that you can open it and view the internal file format. Generally, a PDF is best thought of as "electronic paper" and if you want to modify it you get the original instead. Notinasnaid 10:34, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

I agree, in that pdf is almost 'uneditable'. Many things are fragmented by single letters, like old typesetting, and there is no more relation to words or sentences. If it is a 'nice' pdf, you can extract the text and then edit it. --Zeizmic 13:00, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

If you just want to read the pdf then Foxit is better than Adobe. Also there are several free pdf creators available.

[edit] Info. Request: Gustavus Hindman Miller

Who was Gustavus Hindman Miller ? he wrote this book that I shared in the dream thread here: http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext97/drmnt10.txt

I googled as well as searched Wikipedia. Just books he wrote comesup. No bibliography or none of his education or history etc.,

Please Assist.

Thanks in advance.

Vijay

[edit] April 22

[edit] Canadian Tire ad in a flyer

This is an ad in a Canadian Tire flyer I got: Image:HPIM2800.JPG

Read it. Now look at the stuff that I highlighted in pink. It says that you could win WHEN YOU SPEND $40. But below it says NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

How is it possible for it to be no purchase necessary when you have to spend $40? --Valuefreeperson1 01:36, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

There's probably a separate entry method described on their website, such as mailing an SASE to a specified address to request a game piece. Night Gyr 01:47, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

Your right. I looked on their website and it says: "For no purchase necessary and Promotion Rules requests please send a unique hand-written 100 word essay entitled “Why I shop at Canadian Tire” along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Spring Thrill at the Till, P.O. Box 9998, Saint John, NB, E2L 4N4. Each no purchase necessary request must be mailed separately." --Valuefreeperson1 02:00, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

In the US, companies regularly offer "free" items which cost money. This apparent oxymoron is accomplished by shipping and handling fees which seemingly don't count as money, and the ubiquitous buy-one-get-one-free offers. The meaning of free has apparently changed from "at no cost" to "at no additional cost". StuRat 03:57, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

The 'no purchase necessary' is a legal thing in Canada. However, they can make you jump through a number of hoops. --Zeizmic 12:56, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

I read it. It says that, amongst things that you can win, are redeemable cash cards. They are redeemed (used) when you spend double (40$). Any problem ? --DLL 21:35, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Cmon DLL. Read it again. If it said that the cash cards are redeemable on spending $40, then how do you get the 1 of 3 GiftCards? OBVIOUSLY, it says that on spending $40, you go in the draw to win 1 of 3 GiftCards, or otherwise an instantly redeemable cashcard. Eh, doi? gelo 00:28, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] bibleography

how do I list Wikipedia and a bib IE( copyright date, volume and so on)

thanks mike

Try clicking the "Cite this article" link under your Toolbox (to the left of the article). The software automatically creates a cite that you can use. Good luck! -Mysekurity [m!] 03:05, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Purpose of wikipedia

This may sound naive but I am a little confused about the true purpose of Wikipedia. I can see that you do not want to include collections of external links or Internet directories, collections of internal links, collections of public domain or other source material or collections of photographs or media files. I can also see that you discourage inclusion of or links to primary resources. Isn't the ability to link to other sites and to primary resources what makes the internet such a valuable tool? Are you trying to create some kind of secular knowledge network, with minimal reference to outside resources? As far as I can see this means: a) While you may cover a broad range of topics, it is difficult to reach depth with any one topic and; b) The material is completely fallible- it seems to be publishing simply "what readers think they know about a subject"- a little concerning. I am not meaning to criticise the site, merely wanting to understand it a little more. If anyone can help me, please do.

Thanks.

Mostly we love cites, if you get information from a source, we really do want a link to it so we can show that its coming from another source. Mostly the links, we don't like people linkspamming taking advantage of Wikipedia's very high PageRank rating to obtain an advantage -- Tawker 02:59, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Please see WP:FA for Wikipedia's Featured Articles. these articles are considered to be the best examples of Wikipedia content - click on any of them and you will see extensive referencing and citation of external sources Bwithh 03:27, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

I think we have far more depth in the average article than any written encyclopedia, if in fact, a written version has any article on the given subject at all. Of course, there will be articles which are exceptions, but that seems to be the overwhelming pattern to me. I suggest you randomly look up a few articles and see if that's not the case. StuRat 03:44, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia serves no real purpose, except that it allows mugs like myself to pretend that they're doing something useful rather than wasting their life on the interweb. --Bonalaw 14:46, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Posh Nosh" theme song lyrics

Does anyone know the lyrics of the theme song to the 2003 British satire cooking show, "Posh Nosh" ? The one part I think I can make out is:

"I'm off with a raggle-taggle gypsy boy"

StuRat 03:35, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

Sure. It's all over the web -- here's one source: [link to copyvio website removed]. It's called (unsurprisingly) "The raggle taggle gypsy". --jpgordon∇∆∇∆
Thanks. It seems to be about a woman who gives up money, title, a manor and land for true love, which is in sharp contrast with the woman in the show, who apparently is in a loveless marriage specifically for money, land, a manor and a title. StuRat 04:16, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The O.C. season 3 release date

Does anyone know when season 3 of the o.c. will be released on dvd? If no date has been set, what is a good estimate of the date, based on the release patterns of the previous two seasons?

  • In what country? - Mgm|(talk) 11:15, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Canada

[edit] Gas Prices

Why does California not put a cap on gas prices? I heard of other states doing it, I think Hawaii was one of them. Its about $3.30 for Super Unleaded (91 octane) and I saw diesel for $3.99 at this one gas station in Los Angeles. Prices are going out of control.

The risk of that is that gas may become unavailable. That is, if it costs more than that to produce it, the producers would be stupid to sell it at a loss. Another disadvantage is that high prices are actually needed to get people to conserve gas usage, by driving less, carpooling, getting more fuel efficient cars, moving to alternative energy sources, etc. StuRat 07:54, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

You ration a scarce good by either a natural price increase, or long line-ups. Think of Soviet toilet paper. --Zeizmic 12:53, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

From the look of the prices quoted and the information from here it would seem that Hawaii has capped the prices high. I see we are not listed there but I pay $5.00 a gallon. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:35, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes. It's worth pointing out the US has rather low gas prices. - Most of western Europe is paying over $6 a gallon. Of course, they don't drive as many SUVs over there. --BluePlatypus 18:54, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
That's not a coincidence. The high gas prices make it too expensive to drive an SUV, which is why they added taxes to make the prices so high. They don't want a lot of gas guzzling vehicles wasting precious resources. StuRat 19:42, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
That's where Canada gets a raw deal. Prices are higher but we are stuck with the same gas guzzling vehicles that the US has. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 19:47, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Stuck with gas guzzlers ? A US auto exec put a gun to your head, then made you sell your subcompact and buy a huge SUV ? LOL StuRat 21:35, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Here in the UK it is $6.50 a gallon, or 97p a litre, and the general press attitude over here, is that americans don't know how lucky they are. Its silly really, how people always complain, the grass is always greener on the other side... Philc T+C 22:13, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
The difference is that most Americans have to drive far more than Europeans do. The idea of a family having only one car and using it only on the weekends and for trips to the grocery store, common in Europe, is a fantasy in the U.S. A resident of a European suburb can take public transit or an intercity train if gas prices get too high, but most Americans don't have that option. American communities are often built at such low densities that an automobile is required for nearly 100% of trips. So gas might be 2 or 3 times as expensive in Europe as in the U.S., but Americans may still need to spend more on gas because of their greater need for vehicle fuel. -- Mwalcoff 01:17, 23 April 2006 (UTC)


Mwalcoff, That's a good point, but it's still not an excuse the the massive 4-litre engines on many many cars i've seen in USA - I've read in many places (and i'm not saying the sources are perfect), but there's a lot of people with the attitude that it's perfectly acceptable to drive to their next door neighbours house, next door, or take the car to the local shop which is a three minute walk away. I know i'm going to get flamed to hell for saying this, but it's just my opinion. Don't complain about high petrol prices - there's a lot of people who pay double what you do, Slashdot already argued this a few months back -Benbread 10:50, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
No, you're right -- a lot of Americans will drive very short distances and do buy SUVs. But I used to live in Prague, and believe it or not there are people who drive Hummers on the narrow cobblestone streets there. And it's not very fuel-efficient to drive at 90 miles an hour the way a lot of Europeans do. -- Mwalcoff 20:19, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

This wins the 'Maximum Indentation' prize of the week. You are allowed to drink one beer, while backing up out the door. --Zeizmic 22:04, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

hehe, just a few points, after reading extracts from a book on american culture, called notes from a big country, by bill bryson, which gave several insights into american car culture, that seem strange, and even humerous to the outside world, for example, driving to your next door neighbours, driving from one shop, to the next on your street, leaving your engine running while you go inside, driving a few miles to the gym to jog on a treadmill!?!?! and also, about your ideas of public transport, if you came to the british west country, you'd think twice, we are told to use more public transport, and one bus leaves our village a week, and even then you have to wait 2 days for the return. And we have to commute a good 30 miles to work everyday. I don't know what this is on american scales, but I shouldn't of thought that on average you drive to much over that, and we now pay £1 a litre ($6.84 a gallon)(yes its risen again), and we do complain just like you, but seeinge someone who pays half the price getting in a huff about it just seems silly. Philc T+C 20:08, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
You seem to have hit it exactly - according to this site, the average American commutes 29 miles and spends 55 minutes a day driving. But note that this is a national average, not only the distance commuted by those few living in more isolated communities. Rmhermen 15:11, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Marine biology

Do fish do poos?

If anyone can clear this up, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

The-New-Kid 10:09, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

  • Yes, they do. At least my telescope fish did. - Mgm|(talk) 11:22, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
  • My family had aquarium fish when I was a child. Therefore I can say that aquarium fish excrement is a long, thin, continuous line. Once the fish stops excrementing, this line of fish shit drops down onto the bottom of the aquarium, gets tangled around itself, and slowly decomposes. JIP | Talk 13:20, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
  • I see the answer is definitely yes. However, I don't imagine anyone will be volunteering to clear it up. Notinasnaid 16:46, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
  • They also regularly taste it, them spit it back out, then taste it again, ad infinitum. Nobody ever accused fish of being too smart for their own good. StuRat
Is this a case of ichthycoprophagia? JackofOz 03:11, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Yes fish poo - if someone else could clear it up, I'd appreciate it. Grutness...wha? 23:46, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] U.S. and Oil

Does the U.S. Export any Oil?

Yes it does, 1,048,000 barrels a day (2004). See Image:Oil exports.PNG. –Mysid 15:09, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

Ok, why don't we stop exporting and keep it for ourselves? Would that help gas prices at all?

I can think of two possible reasons. One, the type of oil tends to dictate what it can be refined in to, as not all oil is suitable for gasoline production. Second, where are they sending it to? How much oil do you think somewhere like Saudi Arabia is sending to Israel? Have a look at Oil refinery. Also another interesting question would appear to be why is the US both an exporter and importer of electricity CIA world factbook?

In the case of a commodity, the price should remain the same whether a country chooses to export it or not, provided that there is sufficient global supply to cover the demand. In the case of a severe shortage, each country would be likely to keep their own production, at least until their demand was met. Unfortunately, the US produces far less than it uses, so there would still be a severe shortage in the US, even if this action was taken, but they could at least provide fuel for emergency vehicles. StuRat 19:31, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

According to this page, almost all of the crude oil exported by the US goes to Canada. None has gone to Israel for several years. -- Mwalcoff 01:23, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
It's about maximizing profit. Why would they want to reduce prices? Those who have the oil can provide more value to their shareholders (profits) at high prices. That's the important thing. GangofOne 03:36, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
That map seems to show total US exports, not just Oil. The oil the US produces is mainly from Alaska, whereas our refineries are on the Gulf coast. It's cheaper to ship the Alaskan crude overseas to Asia to sell, and import middle eastern/south american oil to refine into gas. As far as the electricity issue, the US and Canadian grids are interconnected, so I'm sure power flows both directions at times, so we both import and export electricity.Brian Schlosser42 14:19, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
Sorry. Must be one of those CGI things. If you play with the settings, you can get it to show only oil exports. -- Mwalcoff 23:10, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Request for Information/Resources.

Good day,

Based on personal experience (and the experiences of a handful of others) that there are users with administrator/sysop rights who use the speedy delete process with wanton abandon. This is very distressing to contributors such as myself who have had their contributions discarded without discussion.

When I first arrived, I was intimidated by such actions, fearing that if I spoke up, I could invite the wrath of certain 'undesirable unmentionables' which happen to have system privileges. I have seen such behaviour on certain IRC channels, and was concerned that it could be the case here as well.

Here are my questions:

  1. Could you please tell me where I can find more information (assuming it exists) about processes in place for keeping users with privileges in check? Deleting contributions without allowing for a defense of the content seems like a miscarriage of justice. Especially when it took hours of work to create the product. This concerns me because I perused the list of "missing wikipedians" and noticed a handful of users who departed the project out of frustration. I would like to know if there is anything done to keep such users in check.
  2. Also, I recently stumbled upon a page which included a "statement of principles" for the project. It was rather encouraging to read, but I am unable to ascertain whether it is accepted as standard operating procedure for the Wikipedia Project. Is this the case, if so, is the content mirrored elsewhere on the Wiki to make it official?
  3. Finally, it appears certain users within the community have formed cabals -- which the aforementioned statement of principles abhors. The consequences of the actions of such cabals (perhaps unintended) impedes the progress of the project. One way this manifests is the bias exhibited via the arbitrary defense of poor conduct exhibited by their "associates." What is being done to stem the tide of such insidiousness?

Thank you for taking the time to read this message; I shall look forward to constructive feedback to address these concerns.

Regards, Folajimi 14:35, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

You should have a read through Wikipedia:Speedy deletions, Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion, Wikipedia:Deletion review and Wikipedia:Articles for deletion. Concerns can go to Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents or Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard but again please read through the requirements. What did you write that was deleted? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:20, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for the feedback. I was well aware about the criteria for deleting articles prior to posting this missive. More importantly (to me at least), is ensuring that contributions satisfy the requirements outlined by Wikipedia:Notability; if it satisfies those requirements, then I do believe the article should be accepted.
However, this is not about addressing grievances. As such, I fail to see how posting to the noticeboard will address the problem at hand (i.e. the "mistake(s)" that can deep-six hours of work with a few mouse clicks.) As for deleted contributions, it is unclear what constructive purpose it would serve to raise it here. FWIW, several admins have seen the content of one such deleted article (which I secretly had another user resubmit) and have deemed the deletion to be unfair.
As I mentioned in my initial post, I would like to know if there are any procedures/safeguards in place to keep such deletions from happening in the first place. Fewer unfair deletions would mean fewer "incidents", which in turn allows for more time to be devoted to the creation and maintenance of acceptable, worthwhile contributions. I hope that makes sense. Folajimi 22:19, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Is this the wrong place for this matter? If so, where should such concerns be directed? Folajimi 20:53, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
I agree that admins run roughshod over editors at times. What is even more distressing is when they appear to seek revenge against anyone who questions their actions. I found myself the victim of unfounded sockpuppet accusations when trying to defend my now deleted (and replaced with a link) article on linen closets. To me, an article would have to be really horrid before deletion is appropriate, but many admins seem to delete them simple because they are not notable to them. StuRat 19:17, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
For your review my deletion log. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 19:35, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
You might also like to check out There is no Cabal for information about real or percieved cabals. As for you, StuRat, we had this discussion before. It's not just the sockpuppetry or the AfD (not speedy) that was not in your favor, but also the fact that there is no need for an article on linen closets, as we already have closet, which, I dare say, is not of featured quality. Loading Wikipedia with trivial information (also called "dicdefs") is both unhelpful and a waste of your time as well as mine. I don't want to waste my time deleting articles, but if thats what it takes to keep this place clear, so be it. -Mysekurity [m!] 19:49, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
It really all comes down to what the Admin sees. If you post an article that is fairly long I will check it out and if in any doubt leave it be. If it's short but looks like it might be valid I would again leave it and see if it got any longer. I have on more than one occasion removed a speedy delete tag because of possible notability reasons but at the same time I would put it at AfD to get consensus. I think your best bet is to go to Wikipedia:List of administrators and ask another admin to review the deleted article and see if they agree with its deletion. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 01:39, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Where might I be able to obtain more coloured illustrations by Gustave Dore for 'Paradise Lost'?

I have been particularly intrigued by the main image in the article entitled 'Satan', which features an illustration by the artist Gustave Dore for Milton's classic 'Paradise Lost'. The interesting thing about this particular image, is that it is in full colour, unlike the original. I would like to know where it is possible to obtain more of these coloured versions of Dore's 'Paradise Lost' illustrations, as I am unsure whether or not they are available in one of the many different publications of Milton's book. Any help on the matter would be great.

cheers again

  • Removed email address to prevent any future spamming. Please watch this space for responses. Tintin (talk) 16:25, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
The image in question was supplied by the user Scottykav. I would suggest asking him the source of the image on his talk page. Actually, it looks like someone has already asked him there. It looks like a scan to me - hence probably from a book. Hope that helps. --Estarriol talk 19:05, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Actually, I thought it looked more like a Photoshop job done after scanning. Hand-colored 19th century prints tend to look better than (or at least different from) that. --BluePlatypus 23:15, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] email pictures in text,

i am using windows xp,yahoo.com as isp,having trouble with foward or putting in pictures in the e mail i send,after highlighting ,copy, paste send there is no picture there sent. (e-mail-removed)

0. Make sure the recipient wants to receive your pictures; unsolicited pictures may be very unwelcome. 1. Save your pictures as JPEG files. 2. Check the file size. There is no need to send a photo that is larger than, perhaps, 250K. Never send more than 2 MB by e-mail except by special arrangement. 3. Attach the JPEG files to the mail message (as files, not pictures). 4. Write the e-mail as normal, explaining what each attached file is for. Notinasnaid 18:03, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] iTunes and DVDs

Is there a way to rip movies from DVDs so I can put them on iTunes and iPod? A program I can download perhaps?

--> [25] - open this page & download "DVD Decrypter" to decrypt dvds to your hard drive in it's entirity (vob format)

--> [26] - Download Dr. Divx to convert the raw dvd file (vob) to another smaller format of your choice (eg. mpeg, avi etc)

The DVD Decrypter isn't availabe anymore...
Try http://www.doom9.net for a nice list of DVD decoders and decryptors. -Mysekurity [m!] 19:51, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Also try videohelp.com, especially in the "tools" section. --Estarriol talk 18:52, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Medical condition

What is the medical or scientific term for the crusty things on your eyes when you wake up?

I can't find a direct name for it, but according to a local newspaper article [27], it's dried lacrimal liquid, i.e. tears, secreted by the lacrimal gland. Normally, during daytime, the fluid goes to the nasolacrimal duct and finally into the nasal cavity. But at nighttime a large proportion of the lacrimal fluid evaporates and all the dirt, dead cells and minerals it contains concentrate into the crusty thing. –Mysid 18:36, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

What, eye boogers isn't scientific enough for you ? :-) StuRat 19:10, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

Eye Boogers don't sound good, I always called them Sleepy Seeds.

In my family we simply called it "sleep", as in "I have sleep in my eyes". Adam Bishop 17:13, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
(totally unscientific irrelevant piece of trivia) In Germany, they are known as "Augensand" (sand in the eye), and small children are taught that, when they sleep, a fairy (the Sandmännchen, or sandman... oh my gosh, I can't believe we have an article on this!) comes and sprinkles their eyes with sand to help them sleep. There is even a very short TV show on every night on the public TV channels just before a child's common bedtime.
Not that anyone wanted to know this. ;-) — QuantumEleven 11:56, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
Don't sell yourself short, Quantum Eleven. There is always a market for apparently useless trivia, especially round these parts. There's a lovely German folksong about the Sandman, of which Brahms made a famous arrangement. JackofOz 14:09, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
The sandman theme also exists in the US. In an episode of Mad About You, Paul made a children's movie where he snuck in at night and sprinkled sand in the children's eyes. This terrified the kids, who were then afraid t go to sleep, LOL. StuRat 13:14, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Arrows

*How can I insert (if possible) up, down and left arrows??

[Currently in the edit box you can only insert an arrow pointing right, how does one insert other arrows?

You can insert arrows by using their HTML entities: &rarr; for a right arrow (→), &larr; for a left arrow (←), &uarr; for an up arrow (↑), and &darr; for a down arrow (↓). –Mysid 18:41, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
You can also create them with ASCII characters (sort of):
   ^
   |
<--+-->
   |
   v
StuRat 19:07, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What Colour Are My Eyes?

What colour are my eyes? One person tells me that they are blue, but I think that they are grey. You may want to read the article Eye color. I included five pictures (to avoid any mistakes); three have no flash, and the other two are with flash. If it helps, my mother's eye color is brown and my father's is blue.

PHOTOS WITHOUT FLASH

Image:withoutflash.JPG Image:withoutflash3.JPG Image:withoutflash2.JPG

PHOTOS WITH FLASH

Image:withflash.JPG Image:withflash2.JPG

Thank you for helping me. --Valuefreeperson2 21:38, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

Sorry, look blue to me. But perhaps they change color slightly. Some people's eyes do that. So sometimes they might look blue, but other times they might look grey. Also, I'm not exactly sure this is the right forum to be using to ask this question. --LV (Dark Mark) 22:29, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
Looks "steel blue" to me - see the article - i.e. a "washed out" blue, almost grey. --Estarriol talk 18:49, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
If you see the article on Eye color, grey eyes are just a variant of blue eyes. (i.e. there's no 'grey' pigment.) So there's no sharp line between grey and blue to be had. Anyway, those look more blue than grey to me, but that can change with lighting conditions. (My own go from bright green to grey depending on the light). --BluePlatypus 20:05, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
This is easier for me. I just take my old passport from 1988 and it has a field for eye color saying blue. Nowdays no ID have such a field, even if they have a black-and-white photograph. – b_jonas 21:26, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Okay, thanks for your help.--Valuefreeperson2 20:36, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] windmills that produce electricity for homes

thanks for info that electricity produced for homes by windmills

They can only be used in a few areas which have a steady wind. Places with lots of hills, buildings, trees, or other obstacles are not suitable for windmills. StuRat 22:16, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
No, a steady wind is not necessary (see Wind power#Coping with intermittency. Beyond correcting that point, though, I don't understand the original question. Devices that use wind to generate electricity are described in our article about Wind turbines, which links to additional helpful information in Wind power. Do you have a more specific question that isn't answered in one of those articles? JamesMLane t c 15:22, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Well, using windmills exclusively as the only energy source would be a poor choice in a place without a steady wind, as that would require additional equipment, such as batteries, to store the energy, and there would also be significant energy loses, due to this storage. However, if this is just to supplement energy provided by the electrical grid, then it's not so bad, especially if you can sell the excess power generated during high winds back to the utility. StuRat 22:00, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Yakuza

Hello!You probably see what's coming(an idiotic question), but i can't help it. Let's say, purely out of example, that i am a person living in Romania, with no social status, very short with money, don't have any underground connections, don't understand Japanese, etc. I would like to know if there is any way for such or similar person to become a Yakuza gang member, even if he is not Japanese etc. I have put this example to see what is the criteria to enter, and can a below-average person even if he is living far from Japan and perhaps New York become a member of the Yakuza gang. I did my Google search but it doesn't actually answer my question. Is there any way for such a person to enter, and if it is, i would like you to say exactly how can someone enter. I would like not to have offensive or insulting answers to my questions, because even if it sounds ridiculous, i would like someone who knows exactly what he or she is writing, to give instructions on how to do it because it interests me. I understand that this question seems awkward but i would appreciate a helpful answer very much.--Captain ginyu 23:25, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

According to our Yakuza article they do accept non-Japanese members, and appear to quite a few of them. --Eivindt@c 01:16, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, but it interested me how to become a member of them without having any connections in the underground, e.g. can you just find a member of them and say:Hi, i would like to be a yakuza! or is it more complicated.If someone knows I would appreciate an answer very much.--Captain ginyu 12:23, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

You could try to first join the Hells Angels on your 10-speed. --Zeizmic 22:01, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Oh yes, thank you very much Zeizmic. I haven't written in any part of this question that I myself want to join the Yakuza, I just said that the process interests me. But, really, if you know something about this(and you obviously do) it would be nice to share it with us. And i get the part with the 10-speed, probably meaning that I am a kid that saw a Yakuza film and now I am eager to become a mobster, 'cus they have nice tatoos!--Captain ginyu 22:58, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
I am a kid that saw a Yakuza film and now I am eager to become a mobster, 'cus they have nice tatoos!
Well, are you...? ;-) I think that, on this one, the Wiki Ref Desk has to pass - it's unlikely that one of us has ever joined the Yakuza (ruling out first-hand knowledge), and criminal organisations don't exactly publish their joining procedure. Purely speculating, I'd imagine that you would first need to establish a name for yourself in the underworld (through committing crime and not getting caught, that sort of thing), eventually find out who runs the local Yakuza, and try to endear yourself to them. But, as I said, this is all just speculation. — QuantumEleven 11:52, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks! This a very nice answer QuantumEleven, and no, I am not a kid that saw a Yakuza film and now wants to be a mobster.--Captain ginyu 18:53, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 23

[edit] World Baseball Classic Video

what happened to the mini-video that appeared on the world baseball classic page showing the controversial call of the japan v. usa game?

We have an extensive summary of the event at Controversies at the 2006 World Baseball Classic#Sacrifice fly appeal, JPN vs. USA. Basically, the umpire called a Japanese baserunner out, believing that he had left third base before a fly ball was caught. On television, however, they showed a synchronized composite video in which it was clear that the Japanese runner's foot was still on the base when the ball was caught. ×Meegs 00:51, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What is the name & lyrics of Irish folk song

My Irish born mother used to sing a song about a young man who went hunting in a marsh and accidentaly shot his lover with an arrow and she turned into a swan. Can amyone help me track down the name and lyrics of the piece and ideally a recording. -- TedO

Are you perhaps thinking of the story of "Molly Bawn" by Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, which has been featured in British folk songs, as well in more contemporary songs, such as Peter, Paul and Mary's "Polly Von" (or "Polly Vaughn"). The repeated line in the songs is "she'd her apron wrapped about her, and he took her for a swan". The version by Peter, Paul and Mary appears on their album "In The Wind", and is available on iTunes. --Aramգուտանգ 03:31, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Oysterband also does a great version called "Molly Bond". It originally appeared on an older album called Step Outside, but is also often included in their live sets (see Alive And Acoustic for one live version). - FlyingOrca 12:12, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Featured articles

How many votes does a nominated subject need to become an officially featured article? Thanks. PatrickJ83 01:19, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

It's not a matter of counting votes. Voting is evil. It just has to satisfy the featured article criteria. —Keenan Pepper 02:54, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
"Voting is evil"? WOW...!!! You just undermined all of Western Civilization...But I digress. Who decides to turn something into a featured article? PatrickJ83 04:10, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
  • User:Raul654 is the featured article director and in charge of promoting articles who get enough community support. - Mgm|(talk) 08:50, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] comparing africa to australia

i am planning on doing a lesson with a small group of 6/7y.o. i am teaching them about africa. before i teach them about africa i want them to develop a better understanding of where africa is,how big it is, and how far it is- compared to australia. i was thinking of showing them a map of africa and map of australia, and seeing how many maps of austalia fit inside africa, but when i use the maps i have, it doesnt seem to reflect the actual difference (am i right that there are about 4 australias in africa?-but i can only seem to fit two-ish)i guess i would like to know how long it would take to get to africa if you walked(maybe), from adelaide, australia. and some way of displaying how big africa is. thanks.------

I get an area-ratio of 3.54 from the Africa and Australia (continent) articles. Make sure your maps are to the same scale, and realize that you could never actually fit that many rigid Australias because they're not the same shape. I get (from Adelaide, Kinshasa, and [28]) 12700 km as a rough "to Africa" distance. Taking a normal walking speed of about 5 kph, that's over 200 days of walking 12 hours a day. Hope that helps (in particular, helps you see how to find answers to these kinds of questions). --Tardis 06:00, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
If you want to relate the dimension in a "tangible" way, then I can suggest cutting up a few maps of Australia into small blocks (a class activity?), which would give a better cover of the map of Africa (and having the kids do the overaying, one Australia at a time). I imagine one may get 3 to 4 sets of blocks to fit, depending on the size of the pieces (early calculus?), and the rules for overlapping - which you make up, of course. Similarly, linear dimensions can be represented by strips of map cut say from Sidney to Perth or where ever, and letting the kids find out how many of these fit into the distance they are learning about. I imagine that photocopied/computer printed maps would be the only practical way of doing this. I have always believed that teachers have much more homework than pupils... --Seejyb 14:36, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Part of the problem with the apparent difference in the maps you are using may be if you're using world maps. The particular map projection will make a difference to the appearance of the two landmasses - all projections produce some form of distortion because you're trying to represent the surface of a sphere (roughly) on flat paper. Most readily available projections make areas close to the equator appear relatively small compared to those further away. Since much of Africa is at more equatorial latitudes than Australia it will appear relatively smaller than it actually is. Grutness...wha? 10:15, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
For this purpose an equal area map, such as the Gall-Peters projection would be well suited. It's not very well suited for anything else, so you might as well use it in these instances where it does. -LambaJan 05:14, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Martini/Cocktail Glass

I am looking for the specific name for this type of stemware. If it sits one way, it can be used as a martini glass but if you flip it over, it can be used as a wine glass. I want to buy some, but don't know how to find them if I don't know the name!

Can't find them anywhere! I wanted to write an article that competes with spork. --Zeizmic 17:31, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Ha! I found the stupid thing. [29] MoMastore is down right now, so I include a Google cache link. This is an 'original' piece of 'art', so expect it to be pricey. The plastic versions should be out soon. --Zeizmic 17:48, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Curious

What do a human woman's breasts feel like? I hope this question isn't agaisnt any rules. 71.250.6.144 03:04, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

It's not against any rules; you're welcome to ask questions like this. The skin feels more or less like skin from any other part of the body, maybe a little smoother and softer. The breasts themselves can vary from firm to squishy, it varies from woman to woman (and it also depends on the time of the month, as I understand). The most interesting part is the nipples, which feel weird and rubbery when erect. —Keenan Pepper 04:00, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
I have it on good authority that they feel like bags of sand. --ByeByeBaby 06:49, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

I would expect them to feel just like a man's breast, only bigger. StuRat 17:38, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

It also depends on the woman and the relative size of the breats. Younger women tend to have firmer breasts (not always, but as a general rule). With very young women, the nipples will often stand out as small cones above the curve of breast rather than as, erm, more nipple-like tips. Child-bearing can cause changes in the shapes of breasts too. And that's excluding the difference in firmness caused by the difference in size. A general alswer to your question, though, would be "very nice". Grutness...wha? 10:19, 24 April 2006 (UTC) (I can't believe I wrote all that)

I want to know if anyone knows what a non-human womans's breasts feel like...Brian Schlosser42 14:39, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

(lol) I think you'll find there are no non-human women (although some of the women I've known are marginal). JackofOz 14:43, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
Try milking a cow. Its udder is basically its equivalent to a human woman's breasts. Not that they feel nearly as good. (I can't believe I wrote just said that either) Loomis51 00:53, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
That suggestion is udderly absurd. :-) StuRat 15:23, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Trainspotting Subtitles

A guy I knew - that was in Wales a few years back - told me that the movie Trainspotting had had subtitles put in for the non-Scottish English speaking audience. I suppose that was a joke, but I liked the idea so much I actually refrained from asking anyone for all the years. I think the time has come I'm more interested in the truth than in a good yarn. So - anyone from England who can comment on that? How about the US? --82.207.248.218 04:07, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

I rented a DVD of it in the US and it didn't have subtitles, at least not by default. I could understand most of it, but sometimes I had to run it back and think hard to figure out what they were saying. —Keenan Pepper 04:41, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
If I remember correctly, there is a point in the movie in which subtitles are used, but for comedic effect and only for a single scene. (I could be remembering another movie, not sure.) But for the length of the movie, the DVD does not include subtitles. In addition, I am nearly sure that the theatrical release in the US didn't include subtitles either. That being said, while the idea of subtitles is a joke to you, to many US viewers it isn't — call us whatever you want but that dialect is hard to understand. And there are things far worse than subtitles - one of the (few) good things about the presentation of foreign films in America is that they never are dubbed, but always are subtitled (in theaters, that is - not necessarily on TV). zafiroblue05 | Talk 05:38, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

I've seen many cases of people allegedly speaking English with subtitles used to make it clear. 911 calls and airplane "black box" audio always seem to have them, too. StuRat 06:04, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

There is one scene in the movie, where Spud and Tommy are talking about their sex lives, where there are subtitles. The rest of the movie doesn't have subtitles. -lethe talk + 06:43, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

The DVD sold in the US does have subtitles. In fact, most movie DVDs come with subtitles -- for the hearing impaired, if nothing else. But of course one can switch them off. Chl 11:37, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

That's correct, actually - but not subtitles by default. zafiroblue05 | Talk 17:12, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

I see that newfangled DVD business complicates matters. But thanks for the effort. --82.207.222.172 23:44, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

There are two kinds of subtitles - 'forced subtitles' which are always visible (such as the English translations of Elvish spoken in the Lord of the Rings films), and then, on DVDs, the viewer can choose to show (in addition) subtitles for the entire film. Almost all DVDs include subtitles in the same language as the film (for the hearing impaired, or if your laptop speakers are lousy), any many will include a few other languages, so non-native speakers can get the translated dialogue while still hearing the original voices. — QuantumEleven 11:47, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
I once saw a movie on the CBC about Norman Bethune that was made in China. The movie was of course in Chinese with English subtitles added, except when Bethune spoke. He talked in English with the original Chinese subtitles, looked a bit odd. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 12:11, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

To get back to the original question, I'm from Canada and I saw the movie "Trainspotting" with no subtitles whatsoever and it was completely comprehensible. (Great movie, by the way, except I don't understand the meaning of its title...does "Trainspotting" mean something particular in Scottish English?) On the other hand, I saw the movie "Snatch" with Brad Pitt where he played some sort of English brand of trailer trash. His speech was completely incomprehensible, even to the regular English characters who couldn't understand a word he said. Do these people exist in England? If so who are they? Loomis51 00:48, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Regarding the title, check out train spotting. The article on the movie mentions that the first 20 minutes of the film were re-edited with alternate dialogue, for us hapless Americans who wouldn't have been able to understand the accents. --LarryMac 13:38, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
FWLIW, Brad Pitt's character in Snatch is an Irish Traveller. This is not really the same as trailer trash; the closest thing we have over here to that is the chav. --Bth 09:31, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Eye lash

You know when your eyelash gets caught under the eyelid of the eye above it/below it and scratches against the eyeball? Is there a name for this? And any suggestions for getting it out? zafiroblue05 | Talk 05:39, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

First I'd try just blinking a lot. If that doesn't work, try an eyewash preparation. You might want to do this all in a dark room, since light may aggravate the irritation. StuRat 05:56, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
This is purely anecdotal but it works for me: grab your lid between thumb and index finger (thumb under lashes, index over lashes), pull you whole upper lid out and over your bottom lid and release--usually, after a few tries, the errant lash ends up sitting or half sitting on your lower lid. --Fuhghettaboutit 16:32, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
This is actually taught in any good First Aid course for removing small particles stuck under the upper lid. You simply wipe its inner side using the lashes of the lower lid. --Dr. Zarkov 16:54, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
The simpler but more common case is when the eyelash is still connected to yor upper eyelid. In that case, you can gently pull the eyelid away from the eyeball with one hand and drag the eyelash with the other hand without touching the eyeball at all. You can't hold the single eyelash between your finger and your thumb, you can only grub it outwards. You may have to retry this as it doesn't always work the first time. (Do this with a mirror.) If the eyelash is already detached, it's a more difficult to get out. – b_jonas 21:15, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] please show the picture of african witch doctor

i need african witch doctor resarch.and photo also

You're going to have to be more specific as to what information you want on the topic for your research if you want a good answer. For the second request, there's a photo of a number of witchdoctors at a gathering here. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 13:33, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

try going to www.google.com , going to "Image Search" and type in this following line:

"africa" OR "african", "witch doctor" OR "voodoo doctor" OR "shaman"

or use: [30] --Valuefreeperson2!

[edit] Teeline shorthand

I wish to learn Teeline, could anybody reccomend a good free online tutorial?--Keycard (talk) 08:34, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Is there an application that can limit my download speed?

I just need to limit my general download speed to 8 or 9 kb/s, down from 140-150. I use Windows XP.

You could get dialup internet; it does the job of being slow marvellously. ...Scott5114 11:00, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Why do you need to do this? Daniel (☎) 13:20, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
I *think* getright is capable of doing a throttled download Raul654 13:21, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Oh, and so is wget. Raul654 13:21, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
I meant my total download speed, for all programs, not just transfers.
That would, by defintion, have to be done by the operating system. All modern operating systems enforce application seperation, meaning that an application is incapable of knowing how many other transfers are going on or how fast they are going. Raul654 14:44, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] gears of war

quick question:

was just looking at some trailers for the xbox 360's gear of war game. it lists the release date as "emergence day 2006," when the hell is that? is it an actual day, like 'independence day' or are they saying the 'emergence day [is sometime in] 2006'? any ideas? thanks. 67.141.142.9 09:20, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Emergence day is part of the backstory for the game [31]. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 13:27, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 911? How do i attain a map of Lampton county 911 emerg house #?

Recently i have been inquiring about 911 emergency location house identifaction maps. These numbers are used by emergency services( police, ambulance...)to locate your place of residence in case of an emergency. Any information on how to learn more about or get a 911 map will be appreciated.

[edit] vandalism? ip address?

Why does it say I have messages in an orange box at the top of the screen. I have clicked it and it mentiones something about vandalism... This is the best resource online. I use it all the time. But did I do anything wrong here? ... Could it be a virus or some other bug that isnt me causing the trouble (if there is any)? It also mentioned something about my ip address being on 2 computers. I have a wireless network and I'm not sure but I think I may have split the ip address on both.


Thanks for your help, Josh

(my email address is REDACTED)

The problem lies with the fact that you're using AOL. As a result, your IP address shows up on Wikipedia as that of the proxy server, which you share with a large number of other users. If you want to avoid getting messages not addressed to you, you may want to consider registering an account, or switching to another ISP. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 14:27, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Articles offensive or sensative to users

Is there a general policy to verify articles before they are posted? For example what happens if a person posts an article that although fact is offensive to other users? These could range from sexually offensive items, to racial or even religious content that affects other users. How do you deal with that?

Farid Ghalili

Verification (checking whether something is true) is not the same thing as censoring (checking whether something is offensive). Wikipedia is not censored. Verification is done after articles are begun, but not well. HenryFlower 15:19, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
I disagree (with Henry). Verification (in theory) is done while the article is written; every new piece of information should be verified and, if applicable, a link or source provided. In practice this does not work so well, but is still carried out. With regard to offensive content, Wikipedia does not censor anything that is verifiable encyclopedic comment. For example, Wikipedia has information about the Mohammed (pbuh) cartoons controversy (despite that being offensive to many muslims) but would not tolerate an article that simply said "Gays are going to hell". If something like that is posted, it is usually deleted very quickly. Daniel (☎) 15:26, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

In fact, during the great media 'smash the wiki' party, journalists reported on offensive statements, that were later have shown to have lasted only a minute or two. Makes you wonder about the ethics of some of these gossip columnists.. --Zeizmic 15:44, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Ethics? Gossip Columnists? Oxymoron of the day. Behold, yet another example of Wikipedia's tireless work to remove offensive comments. Daniel (☎) 16:43, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

I've found that articles are quite often kept because they are offensive. See cleveland steamer, donkey punch, and Dirty Sanchez (sex), none of which are verified. A lot of Wikipedia editors are young, and they not only want to thumb their noses at what they see as established authority, they want to give it the double-barreled bird flip.

[edit] Good furniture store in Seattle area near Redmond

I'm looking to buy a nice couch in the Redmond area of Seattle/WA. Any suggestions? Pete

I can't suggest any specific stores as I don't know what you're looking for exactly. If you were more specifici, we might be able to betterhelp you. In general, if you don't care too much about factory shrinkwrapping :), I would suggest checking out Craigslist. You can find great stuff there. —WAvegetarian•CONTRIBUTIONSTALK• EMAIL• 17:58, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wikinet

If Wikipedia were to gather enough information, sometime in the future could most of the rest of the internet become obsolete?

Wikipedia is for NPOV information, the rest of the internet is mainly for POV stuff. David Sneek 20:19, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
Also, many pages on the internet are only notable to those who created them. StuRat 21:08, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
No, Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, the scope of the web goes well beyond that of an encyclopedia. Due to the No Original Research policy alone, Wikipedia could never obsolete the internet - certainly no more than the Encyclopedia Brittanica obsoleted the rest of the contents of libraries. It is likely, if average article quality can be maintained or improved over time that Wikipedia will be the first-stop reference site for most web denizens (the way that Google.com is the first-stop search engine), but that is all an encyclopedia is ever really meant to be - an overview of a subject, and a launchpad for further research. --Estarriol talk 22:21, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] new product

spam deleted. --Zeizmic 21:56, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Walter Starkie

I have just written an article about translator Walter Starkie, but it doesn't seem to want to appear in the same format as all other Wikipedia articles. As it stands now, it is very difficult to read. I don't have this problem at all when I submit or edit other articles.

At the beginning of all this stuff, is a list of where to go for wiki technical problems. I found it very useful when my browser started to do wacky things. --Zeizmic 21:58, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Fixed it. I think it had to do with the use of indents at the start of paragraphs. --Joelmills 22:10, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks.

[edit] synesthesia

Hi, I found some really great visuals on synesthesia on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BoobaKiki.png

The problem is that I need a lot more of these types of illustrations (for my research paper) but can't find any. Would anyone at Wikipedia know where I could find more like these, online or anywhere?

Thanks!! Kim Scioloro

By pure chance, I vaguely know someone who is a researcher in this very field. Do a googlesearch on "Randolph Blake" + synaesthesia and you may turn up some interesting stuff. There are also some interesting links on this page. Grutness...wha? 10:31, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Footnotes

Is there a simple way to convert all footnotes into endnotes, or vice versa, in Microsoft Word? zafiroblue05 | Talk 21:56, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Move your cursor into the footnote, right-click, and select "change to endnote". — QuantumEleven 11:40, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Girl Jumps through a basketball hoop

Is the Video of a girl going through a basketball hoop at: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5804139819441997248 real? Did she really go through. Who did this and where was it done?

Well, it certainly looks real - it would take very serious resources to fake something like that, and I don't see any of the obvious artefacts that effects would leave. However, since videos like this tend to spread very quickly, with little care as to the verifiability of their origin (see Urban Legend), it's almost impossible to find out where they come from with any degree of confidence. Snopes.com is all about deciphering the veracity of these things, maybe it's worth looking or asking there? --Estarriol talk 22:17, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
It looks like a good illusion. My guess is that she does a flip in front of the hoop, and someone else causes the hoop's net to move at the appropriate time. — Matt Crypto 14:59, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
It's computer graphics. There's actually an article I read about this at Snopes.com, but I can't recall the URL right now.--Pharos 07:03, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stupidest question of the year

I would like to ask the stupidest question of the year.

If it is not illegal to be naked in public, what percentage of the the public would walk around and do their daily business naked? You may assume that the weather is too cold to go around naked. Ohanian 23:32, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Where would I put my wallet and keys? --ByeByeBaby 00:59, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Zero percent. You'd be the only one walking around naked and everyone would be laughing at you. Brian G. Crawford

If I wore nothing but shoes and a backpack or something to hold my stuff, would that count? —Keenan Pepper 02:11, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Depends where you were wearing your shoes and backpack. I think if people did walk around naked here we would see some of that permanent shrinkage that was asked about. I think that a lot of people would not walk around naked and not just because of the weather. Because of cultural taboo and modern day bias against "non-optimized" body shape most people would probably choose to wear clothes. Take a look at Nudity. And this is not the stupidest question of the year. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 06:04, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
Maybe we should have a space on the Main Page giving away the Stupidest Question Of the Day Title.. ;-D .....Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 06:26, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
Wait - you mean it's illegal? whoadarn. Seriously, see if you can track down membership (no pun intended) numbers for naturist clubs anywhere online. That might give you a rough idea. And CambridgeBayWeather, if you went naked in your everyday life you'd probably need hospitalisation for hypothermia, so I wouldn't recommend it! Grutness...wha? 10:24, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
If I wented naked I think a lot of people would get very ill. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 11:39, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
The Naked Rambler tried to walk round the U.K. in the nude, he got arrested (a few times I think) for indecent exposure. AllanHainey 12:32, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

In Western societies, very few. Wearing clothes in public is a social norm and norms in a society exist independent of the law. Many would avoid not wearing clothes for fear of being socially isolated. Andrew Martinez is a famous public nudist, he spent much time at UC Berkeley without clothes but inspired few others to do the same (interview). Many sources, including our own Wikipedia article, state that this nudity was not outlawed in the Berkeley until recently. However just as it is the norm in Western societies to wear clothes, there are (and were) nudist tribes where it is (or was) the norm to not wear clothes. For more on such tribes and other nudity related topics, consult the article on nudity. Even in societies where nudity is outlawed some nudists report that, provided their behaviour is not overtly sexual, they are usually only told to move on by law enforcement and not arrested (UWA Pelican Student Newspaper, 2005). Cedars 15:41, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Interestingly you can get some insight into this, because it was decided in 1996 that in Ontario it was legal for women to bare their breasts in public, and that prosecuting them consitituted discrimination (it being allowed for men to go topless in public). However this ruling has had virtually no effect on the number of women going topless in public, even on beaches and in swimming pools. I would expect much the same response if full nudity were allowed. DJ Clayworth 20:51, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Memory

Why can't most people remember being born or remember being a baby?

because their minds are so young they have not cognitively disassociated themselves as separate entities from the rest of the world. Rlevse 00:04, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

So how far back should a normal person be able to remember?

IANAP (I am not a psychologist), but I can distinctly remember things from when I was 5 years older and younger, but I'd imagine it has something to do with the development of memory and such, at the younger stages of life. Check out memory and childhood amnesia/human development (psychology). Happy editing, Mysekurity [m!] 03:41, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
To remember events one has to understand them. Babies don't understand much so they don't remember much. Compare it to being read a book in a language that you don't know: you won't understand a word, and you certainly won't remember any of it. Chl 13:04, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
It probably also depends on the significance of the memory. I strongly remember stepping on a hot heating register in the floor of our house when I was three. User:Zoe|(talk) 01:38, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

April 24

[edit] citations

How do I reference/cite wikipedia in a paper I am writing in MLA style?

See Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia, or go to the article you want to cite and click "Cite this article" in the toolbox, which is at the left side of the page under the search box. --Cadaeib 01:29, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Family Guy - Gumbel 2 Gumbel

In the Family Guy episdoe If I'm Dyin', I'm Lyin', one of the Gumbels is interrogating a suspect by saying "uh-huh. mmhmm uhuh.." etc for about 10 seconds. Does anyone know if this is this a parody of a specific show (such as Miami Vice, Hart to Hart or Pacific_Blue_(TV_series))? or just a general gag? Thanks. -Bill

I always thought the point of the "uh-huh. mmhmm uhuh.." was a joke about Gumbel himself since he uses these grunts in interviews instead of saying things like, "I see" or "Yes". Dismas|(talk) 06:41, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
I thought Gumbel 2 Gumbel was hilarious, and I (living in GB) never knew the Gumbels were real people. I've just found the articles Greg Gumbel and Bryant Gumbel. -- Slumgum | yap | stalk | 10:54, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
I'm pretty sure the name has to do with Jungle 2 Jungle, a Tim Allen movie, but the "plot" (if you want to call it that) didn't make any allusions to the movie. -Mysekurity [m!] 14:52, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] someone from there who i would like to know something about

has anyone know mr.Asif Ahmed the only son of Dr.Amani Ahmed who was a chief protocol officer to late Robert guei.

i took an email resently from the person who named Mr.Asif Ahmed with a strange and as well as acceptable.

i would be appriciated if anyone let me know that in fact there is a person with the above name and who lives there in Abidjan.

ogun from turkey

Let me guess: the e-mail suggests that you can help with getting a large sum of money which is otherwise locked up, with no risk to you, but a good profit? If so, I have lots of e-mails like this. I get about ten each week, with different names. This is a scam: do not reply, not even to complain. These people are ruthless criminals. See Advance fee fraud. Notinasnaid 08:10, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
And this is a copy of the letter that you received. I used to have a lot of fun responding to these mails but after a while it became boring. Tintin (talk) 08:21, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Please repost Military Tactical Gear

Feel free to examine current thread. WE submitted, we email as per instructions, we authorized release of all materials. Please repost article Military Tactical Gear, or instruct.

For clarification, the user seems to be referring to the article Military Tactical Gear, which was deleted earlier today as a copyvio (see deletion log). –Mysid 11:01, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
It's been resolved in User talk:Military Tactical Gear Tintin (talk) 12:08, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Axe

Hello!Another question by me. I saw an Axe(deodorant) comercial about two or three years ago. It had a few sweaty men in tuxedos jumping one next to another, and in the background was this song(or something like that): Girls girls 1 2 3 say my name, girls...Girls...(2x i think), and I am very curious what the song name is and who performs it. I tried searching but nothing like that came up.--Captain ginyu 11:29, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] credit risk

WAYS FOR A BUSINESS TO counter credit risk?

  • Avoid lending. Notinasnaid 11:57, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Have employees who did their own homework in school. — QuantumEleven 14:31, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
If you guys can't come up with a serious answer, please don't reply, you may think you're funny, but you're just annoying. As for avoiding credit risk, one solution is to sell your receivables to a factor who will charge you a percentage of the receivables for their services, but will assume the credit risk. There are several other ways of countering credit risk, but I'd have to know more about the business to answer. Loomis51 03:04, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Projective Tests

Hi,

I read a couple of days ago about a new trend of projective tests, and I would really like to know what it is called. The test explains aspects of ones personality through a series of metaphoric questions that represent something in real life. for ex. one of the questions i remembre reading was you are walking on a hill, what does the hill look like? in this case the hill represents ones father, and so on. I remember this type of personality test starting with a k or something.

Thank you very much for your time and cooperation.

Best Regards

[edit] Les Moonves

How is his surname pronounced? Is it MOON-vezz, MOWN-vezz, MOONVZ, or what? I'm not even sure whether it's one syllable or two. We ought to put the pronunciation on his page. Bhumiya (said/done) 12:37, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

I've heard it said MOON-vezz in an interview with him. Don't have a source thoguh. --Chapuisat 18:11, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Identifying a comic strip

I'm trying to find the title of a comic strip, perhaps defunct by now, where every strip is a photocopy of the same crudely-drawn scene, involving a small barking dog chained to a tree or something. The only variation is in the text bubble in the final panel. It was of course regarded as cutting-edge and postmodern, though your average comics reader probably found it pretentious. I think it was drawn (or written, rather) by a prominent film director. Does this ring a bell with anyone? Bhumiya (said/done) 12:47, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

The Angriest Dog in the World by David Lynch would be what you're after. --Roisterer 13:29, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
That's it! Thanks. Bhumiya (said/done) 00:27, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] True story?

Hii...

I remember reading a short story in my English literature when i was in 4th or 5th grade... it was about a gunner on a fighter pilot and he sits in a small bubble on the tail of the plane.. and when he goes somewhere to bomb a city or something.. his plane gets shot... although he has the time to get his parachute, he discovers that its on fire... and he jumps from the plane... when he wakes up he finds that the branches of a fig tree and soft snow on the ground had broken his fall...he doesn't even get a scratch...i think he falls from 10,00 ft or something.... after he gets captured by the enemies and they find his parachute or a piece of the plane or something and let him go... this was supposedly a true story... can anyone verify this? and if its just a story can anyone give me the title of the story and where i might find it on the net... Thanks a lot.. Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 14:41, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Yep, his name was Nick Alkemade. There was also Alan Magee, who survived a longer fall, but given the "small bubble at the tail", the plane was more likely to be Alkemade's Avro Lancaster than Magee's B-17. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 16:27, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
See The Free Fall Research Page for more stories. —Keenan Pepper 20:12, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks a lot! Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 04:45, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Windows Media Player question

Hi !

I am listening to a radio channel using Windows Media Player. I would like to know how i can add a track right in my library. Actualy, all i can do is add URL's . Is there some way of copying tracks directly on the hard disk like with those good old radio cassettes ???

Thanks for the help... --62.128.184.76 14:51, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Hey, not that I know of. Oftentimes, if the URL supports it, you can save the file to your harddrive (using File|Save as), and then add it to your library, but you may be able to drag-and-drop the URL into your library as-is. You can also try Save any File, which a nice little tool for downloading things off the web. Good luck! -Mysekurity [m!] 15:03, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
You can record any sound your PC makes. If you download Audacity (which is free), you simply select Wave in the drop-down box at top-right and press the record button to start recording whatever your speakers are playing. Note that this also means you'll record Windows error sounds, other program sounds, etc. as well as the radio channel.
If you don't want to use Audacity for any reason, open up Windows' Volume Control (under Start Menu -> Accessories - > Entertainment) and click Options -> Properties. Select "Recording" and click OK, then tick the "Select" box under Wave. Then you can use Windows Sound Recorder, or any other recording software, to record as above.
Hope this helps! Sum0 16:13, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Bold text

Bold text

Thanks guy... Just gonn have a try. Very kind of you taking the time to help. Thanks again, SUMO....

[edit] World Record for Hand Clapping

I want to find the word record holder for hand clapping named Vanna White71.142.248.251 15:58, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Go to the search box at the top of the page on the left and type in Vanna White, press Go, and it will lead you to our article on her. DJ Clayworth 20:42, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] american airports

what was the first airport built in new york and when was it built?

First airport in New York City? New York State? First public airport, or are you counting private ones as well? --Chapuisat 18:19, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
If you mean the first major airport to serve New York City, that would be Newark airport according to its article. --Chapuisat 18:24, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Converting .png drawings to .svg drawings

...Is any software available to perform this conversion? Subhash 19:55, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Converting raster to vector is much more difficult than the reverse, and better results can always be obtained by doing the original drawing in vector format, but there is software that can do it, for example autotrace. —Keenan Pepper 20:05, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Author of An Article

I can't find who wrote the information I collected. This is for a school project and I need a bibliography. I can't find any site titles, or the authors of the article i found. Thanks for your help.

See Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia, you will find that articles don't have a single author. Dismas|(talk) 21:27, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] norton Internet Security

Hi ihave interent security with Norton and recently its been playing up, not letting access any security pages e.g. hotmail and sometimes cuts my interent connection. So i tried to unninstal it, but i have to not been able to it says every time that i must be supervisor to do so buti am i have full access rights on this computer. i have tried all accounts on this PC to unninstal it on but it says the same thing please help how can i unninstal Norton? Any suggestions will be much appreciated. By the way when i open my security it appears that it is off but i know that it is working because there is nothing else to be doing this. 86.143.84.23 21:22, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Without knowing your operating system, I'm going to assume you're using Windows XP, as you referenced the Security Alerts panel. Because of the way Windows interacts with Norton, it may not show up in the alerts panel, although it is still active. To make Norton allow your connections, you have to right-click the taskbar icon (or launch it from Start|All Programs|Norton|Norton Internet Security), and go to the Firewall tab. You can then enter in the sites you want allowed or blocked, and it will often work like that. As for administrator privilages, you have to make sure you have the ability to install or uninstall programs, and are not on a Limited Account (check Start|Control Panel|User accounts if you're not sure). Other than that, I'd try Symantec (the creators of Norton) and ask them. Good luck! -Mysekurity [m!] 22:02, 24 April 2006 (UTC)
Try Symantec's Norton uninstall tool. If that doesn't work, the page also provides a "manual file download" solution. Both have detailed instructions you can print out. --jh51681 01:06, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Geography

Regarding the geography of England, Is Leytonstone in Essex County? Can you tell me the where can i find a detailed map of essex?

Leytonstone was in Essex, it's now in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, postal district London E11. Leytonstone is here - zoom out to see where it is in relation to nearby towns and districts. -- Arwel (talk) 00:43, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Not Vandalism, but not good either...

I have no idea where to ask this, hopefully this will garner some help (which makes my time here seem all the more shorter)

Hello all, I have noticed an anon user using User:206.173.159.62 (contributions) to change a bunch of articles regarding a series of for-profit career colleges into clear POV adverts. As the original creator of this series of articles, I know that all the colleges the user is editting are owned by the same company --thus this seems to be an anonymous user from said company, Corinthian Colleges International, Inc. The person is also removing any critical commentary (which was one college out of more than a dozen articles). I don't think this falls into "vandalism", because the person is adding some useful info. I have left a warning on the talk page, but the reverts keep happening and as I leave work tonight I realize that this person will keep going on like this and tomorrow (or whenever) there may be a hell of a task reverting some of the changes. There is obviously something wrong occuring, but it seems to be a different kind of wrong (like a cigarette company coming in and removing all negative info about itself). Would you call this vandalism/corporate whitewashing? Any advise/help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ahead. --Bobak 23:56, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

You should contact an admin, Wikipedia:Requests for administrator attention. --Eivindt@c 00:45, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
He seems to have stopped for now. If he continues to mess around, report him at Vandalism in Progress, the Administrator's Noticeboard, or my user talk page, and we'll block him. Good luck, Mysekurity [m!] 04:20, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 25

[edit] Insurance against nuclear war

My renters' insurance policy has a clause about what isn't covered by the policy (emphasis mine):

We do not cover any loss caused directly or indirectly by any of the following:

...
  • War
  • Undeclared war
  • Civil war
  • Insurrection
  • Rebellion
  • Revolution
  • Warlike act by a military force or military personnel
  • Destruction, seizure, or use for a military purpose
Discharge of a nuclear weapon will be deemed a warlike act, even if accidental.

Now, this clearly means that loss caused by the accidental discharge of a nuclear weapon by anyone other than a military force is covered, but aside from that, what is the history of this sort of clause? When did insurance companies start announcing that nuclear weapons discharges are not covered, and is there a US state or federal law covering this? Is this related in any way to accidents during nuclear testing? --Carnildo 01:12, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

A history of nuclear liability insurance is [here, although it is admittedly from a "nuclear responsibility" organization, so it's not bias-free. Essentially, it seems that as early as the 1950s the insurance industry realized the hazards of even nuclear accidents. For damn sure, every policy that was issued or renewed September 12, 2001 or later contains a nuclear weapon clause. --ByeByeBaby 01:44, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
My dad went over with me his in surance policy and pretty much the same thing shows up. It says that it does cover against fires caused by a nuclear explosion though. schyler 02:06, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

If you look further, you will see that it doesn't cover damage by earthquake. However, it covers a fire caused by an earthquake. So if the building is a big wreck after an earthquake, throw some gas on it... --Zeizmic 02:18, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Hahaha. Does burning a pile of rubble count as arson...?  -- Run!  13:39, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
These are pretty much industry standard exclusions, though the wordings & way of expressing the exclusions will vary. I doubt that if a nuke was accidentally detonated by civillians you would be covered as for them to get one in the first place would probably require rebellion or insurrection. There's also the fact that once its been detonated it would be hard to say who detonated it & why & some politicians would automatically consider it an act of war (after all 9/11 was carried out by civillians too).
These types of exclusion are quite common in the U.K. we have exclusions against sonic booms (from a hold-over from when Concord was being tested) & some still have Y2K exclusions on their policies. AllanHainey 14:18, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

My understanding of the reasoning of this (and similar non-coverages, such as "war declared and undeclared") is to avoid the insurance company being accused of fraudulently charging you for insurance against events which, if they did occur, the insurer wouldn't be able to pay. Say, for example, if I sold you "global atomic holocaust survival" insurance, which said that if you were the survivor of a large-scale nuclear exchange (which killed say 95% of the population of your country) then you'd receive a cheque for a million dollars. Clearly my offering that insurance would be fraudulent, as I'd be unable to pay you in the event that you became elligible (I'd be dead, my company destroyed, my underwriters evaporated, my reinsurers vapourised, and all my records burned to ash). Now, if I wrote you a policy that simply said that in case of something bad happening I'd pay you the cost of damage to your car, but I didn't disclaim the nuclear-megadeath scenario, then you could sue me saying I was fraudulently charging you a portion of the premium for those scenarios were I wouldn't actually be in a position to pay. Indeed, as every clause in a contract has its origin in an earlier lawsuit, it's likely someone has sued an insurer with such a claim. So, as a consequence, they disclaim every liability where they'd clearly be unable to pay. The Canadian law mentioned in ByeByeBaby's link merely institutionalises this understanding, for one particular uncoverably-huge risk. The author of that page is, really, living in a dream world: no private insurer will ever cover such massive liabilities (and as noted above, it would be fraud if they were to collect insurance on the pretense that the did). So the nuclear industry just wouldn't have any insurance anyway (you can't mandate an insurer takes business he doesn't want to). So the Canadian government would be left with a choice - have no nuclear industry, or act as an insurer-of-last-resort itself. And that, really, is what national governments do; although they don't call it insurance, a national government will always end up holding the bill for a nuclear cleanup, and will be left with the electorally touchy issue of whether to pay the medical bills and resettlement costs of its newly irradiated citizenry. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 14:13, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Oh, and another reason: what differentiates being an insurance underwriter from a gambler is that the underwriter tries to change the odds. So if you get fire and theft insurances the underwriter will mandate a certain level of fire alarm and security system. To facilitate that, they sponsor research and standardisation (that's what Underwriters Laboratories and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are for). They can control some big stuff (they can specify designs for houses in earthquake and tornado areas, and ask for much higher premiums for non-compliant homes) but stuff like revolution, war, major civil unrest aren't something that a normal insurer can influence, so it's a game they don't want to play. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 14:37, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm inclined to believe that if one detonated a nuclear weapon accidentally, one would not be able to claim it anyway. Nor would just about anyone within the blast radius. Of course, how a civillian might get their hands on a nuke in the first place to accidentally detonate it is beyond me, but I might imagine an accidental bomb detonation might go down like this:

  • Husband: "Honey, look what I found at work today!"
  • Wife: "Oh, wow, Bob, it's a high-yield nuclear device!"
  • Husband: "Yeah, isn't it great? Come on, let's go take it outside and play with it!"
  • Kids: "-in unison- Can we play with it, too, dad?"
  • Husband: "Have you finished your homework, kids?"
  • Kids: "Yes, dad!"
  • Husband: "Okay, you can come al--oops, I dr--"
  • Later that evening:
  • Local News Media: "A suburban neighborhood and most of the surrounding area was destroyed today by an accidental nuclear explosion; we would have film at eleven, but our traffic helicopter got blown up filming the explosion."

Hope that answers your question, somewhat. And if not, it makes you laugh like hell. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:43, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Fat or lean?

I'm a junior on my high school wrestling team. My questions deal with weight gain. My coach advised me to gain some weight at the end of last season but now he thinks I've added to much (I'm six three and went from a rail-thin 163 to a bulky 220, which means I jumped three weight classes). I've actually improved a lot over last year, but my body fat is way higher, and I'd ideally like to have it be lower. But if I burn it off, I don't think I'll be able to stay in the weight class, since I've never been able to build pure lean muscle. See the problem?

For those of us who don't live in Bisonland, it might be easier to visualise the problem by saying that he is 1.90 m tall, and went from a "rail-thin" 73.9 kg to a "bulky" 99.8 kg. Isn't it time the USA stopped stubbornly being different from the rest of the world? JIP | Talk 09:12, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Ignoring health issues (which I already dealt with) and looking at it only from a strategic position as a wrestler, what would be better for my performance? Should I risk losing mass/power or risk losing speed/agility? My coach says fat gets in the way and throw off your balance, but many of my teammates are huge and have no problem. Does anyone here have any experience with this kind of thing? Also, sorry this is a strange question, but can an athlete add fat to one part of the body while keeping another part lean? For example, harden the chest and legs but not the stomach? That one isn't practical, I was just curious because I've seen some wrestlers with strange body types and I thought maybe they were ignoring some exercises and overdoing others. Thanks in advance. 65.97.28.200 01:54, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

I don't think that you'll get any better expertise here, than your wrestling coach. He presumably has seen a few things... --Zeizmic 02:20, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Probably, but I thought someone might have a different perspective on it. 65.97.28.200 02:47, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
As a football player (lineman) and person-who-attended-one-wrestling-practice-before-deciding-he-didnt-like-cauliflower-ear, I can tell you that aside from the health issues and the stupidity of losing and gaining weight quickly; yes, it is possible to tone just one part of your body by lifting, but not by eating. You can't really control where the food is going on your body, so you're best left just running and lifting in certain areas. But I'll warn you, not only is it bad for you, a good deal of my teammates do extreme stuff, and they look deformed. If you want to keep looking handsome, I'd recommend you work out, build your base, agility things and the like. Do squats, dead lifts, power/hang clean, and leg press, and you'll be a) stronger, and b) steadier on your feet, not to mention have a better advantage. Just so you know, muscle weighs more than fat (yeah, I forgot I was supposed to be wikilinking things), so that's something you might want to take in mind. If you would have to choose between one or the other, I'd say go with what you're best at, and failing that, go for agility. As my obese pop warner coach told me, "eat lots of cantaloupe." Y'cant go wrong. -Mysekurity [m!] 04:35, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Short answer: lean. Long answer: it depends on your technique and body type. I have some vague experience with this from playing intermural football, but it probably works a little differently in wrestling. Nevertheless, it seems like most of the wrestlers at my school (especially the underclassmen) are rather small and lean, and restrict their conditioning to weightlifting, running, sparring, etc. They might be asked to lose weight, but I've never heard of them putting on weight on purpose. That strikes me as a bit intensive for high school. Our wrestlers tend on average to be shorter and lighter than the football players. They have a reputation for being wiry.

I can tell you from personal experience that raw body mass isn't always an advantage. In sumo, it's a different story, but I think the standard procedure is to work off as much dead weight as possible before gaining back weight as muscle (I had to do that every spring). Of course, several of our wrestlers are enormous and heavy-set, and they seem to do just fine. I think it has more to do with your personal style and how you handle yourself. I'm sure if you tell your coach you have a problem, he'll be able to work something out. Or simply indulge his request -- if it turns out you don't perform as well after you've lost the weight, no one can say it's your fault. Bhumiya (said/done) 05:12, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Windows XP Home Edition, whatever that is

So, my computer (running XP) was fine until my cousin screwed around with it a few days ago and now the STart menu is much smaller and says "Windows XP Home Edition" on the left hand side. I can't figure out how to change it back to whatever it was before. Help?

Try Start | Settings | Taskbar and Start Menu, then click on the Start Menu tab and change Classic Start Menu back to Start menu. --jh51681 02:58, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
And you are aware there are two versions of Windows XP: Home and Professional, right? Even though SP2 seems to disguise that. -Benbread 17:22, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Help with Game Informers Subscription!

Hi, I know this might sound dumb but, how do I subscribe to Game Informers VIA Mail? I am just 14 years old but I have the money, my problem is where do I get a money order, and what do I do next, because I just came here in the United States 4 months ago, so I'm not yet used to all this stuff. I would appreciate it if someone would help me step by step, starting from the money order, to where to place the subscription card, and sending the mail with stamp! And if you are wondering what if I just ask someone older than me, well they are also unfamiliar with this. Again I will thank everyone who will help me.

Most magazines have a subscription card in them, it's usually made of a thicker paper than all the other pages of the magazine. There is also generally an address on the card saying where to send it to and how much money to send for the subscription. You can normally mail all this in to the magazine and they will then start your subscription. As far as the money order goes, you can get these at any bank or major grocery store although they generally charge a couple dollars for them to print up the money order. There is no minimum age limit to get a money order. Dismas|(talk) 04:51, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Moon Illuminating the sky

For a Science Badge, I have to find out why the moon does not illuminate the sky. I have not been able to find this information anywhere on the internet and would be grateful if someone could tell me this. --Caleb 03:43, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

The Moon does not create any light like the Sun. It only reflects the light from the sun. See also Phases of the moon. Dismas|(talk) 04:47, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Next time maybe ask in the Wikipedia:Reference desk/Science. The moon doesn't illuminate the sky because it is not bright enough. The air is illuminated somewhat, but not enough light scatters to make it a bright blue. Unless you ask why you can see the stars when the moon is there. Then that would be because, again, the moon is not bright enough. -- Mac Davis] ⌇☢ ญƛ. 10:47, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
AH, but when the moon is full, you can see signifigantly fewer stars than when the moon is new! It is not bright enough to make the sky blue, or banish all the stars, but it's certainly the brightest thing in the nighttime sky.Brian Schlosser42 15:10, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
A full moon directly overhead is also bright enough to lighten the sky at the horizon (this is much easier to see over the sea or open countryside). Grutness...wha? 02:53, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Dismas had it right, and I'm surprised s/he's been virtually ignored. The moon has no brightness of its own. It just reflects the light of the sun. Otherwise it's basically a sphere shaped rock that orbits the earth. So to answer the original question, the moon does not illuminate the sky for the same reason that a rock doesn't produce light: it's just a rock, not a light source. (Or you can think of it like a giant mirror orbitting the earth. When the sun shines on it and the light of the sun gets reflected on the earth, it would appear that the "giant mirror" was actually producing light. But in reality it's just a mirror, and has no brightness of it's own.) Loomis51 02:56, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

AFAICS no one ignored him, they just added to his answer. And I think possibly we're overdefining "illuminate" here. Yes, the Sun is ultimately the source of all the light that we're talking about (except the starlight that's being drowned out), but if I use a mirror to shine light into a dark corner it seems silly to say that I'm not illuminating the corner. If the Sun were much brighter than it is, the amount of light reflected from it by the Moon would be enough to overwhelm all the stars and illuminate the sky, just as the amount of light we get from the Sun does now. It's the reflection that reduces the intensity (partly because the Moon's albedo is <1, but mainly because the light incident on the Moon is then scattered rather than pointing coherently at Earth). --Bth 08:33, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
That's exactly the reason I ignored it extended the answer into other areas. Intriguingly, the Moon has an extremely low albedo (only about 0.09, IIRC) so in planetary terms it's very dark indeed. The Sun's apparent magnitude is something like 2.5^14 times that of the full Moon - about 400,000 times as bright. The Moon, though still a very bright object as seen from earth, simply doesn't reflect enough of the Sun's light for the sky to be illuminated by it (by comparison, BTW, the full Moon's AM is about 2000 times that of Venus at maximum, and that's about 16 times as bright from Earth as is Sirius, the star (other than the Sun) with the highest AM. Grutness...wha? 08:28, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Thank you, you've all been a great help.

--Caleb 04:18, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

As I am a complete lamer and have not visited these hallowed grounds in such a long time, I can say this like an idiot: The moon does not light up the sky, but one could walk without lighted aid at night on a full moon. >_> Cernen Xanthine Katrena 07:50, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mail Recovery Center at St. Paul, Minn.

How do I contact the Mail Recovery Center in St. Paul, Minn.? I'm desperate to have a certified letter to my son returned to me & apparently it is in the Mail Recovery Center in St. Paul (according to my tracking by computer). Thank you.

I would try going to USPS and click on the "Contact us" link. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 07:02, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Credit cookie

Roger Ebert's review of American Wedding says that "Note: In a stunning breakthrough in the raunchy comedy genre, "American Wedding" doesn't have a single credit cookie." My question - what's a credit cookie? 130.91.117.181 06:40, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

It's an extra scene or a blooper they put in during the credits. See [32].-gadfium 06:54, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Need for Organization Chart of an Investment Bank

Dear Sirs/Madam,

I am currently employed in a leading asset management company in Turkey, called Finans Asset Management. For a project that I am dealing with, I need:

The main activities and units in an investment bank, preferably the organization chart of such a company.

During my search in internet, I have ran across this association and decided to contact you for this matter.

I would appreciate if you could assist me in this.

Sincerely yours.

Fırat Selli

Excuse me, when you write "this association", what do you mean? Notinasnaid 09:40, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
searched googlimages for "bank organization chart". 235 hits first time : try one of those. --DLL 20:19, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Length of time between crime and punishment...

Does anyone know what the longest time has been between the time a crime was committed and the perpetrator put on trial? Murder has no statute of limitations, and I have heard of people being tried decades after their crimes. What is the record? 30 years? 40? More? Brian Schlosser42 15:19, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Well, taking into consideration some of the massacres committed during the second World War, and the fact that some of those held responsible have been charged this year, the record would at the very least have to be 61 years. --212.202.184.238 17:14, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Pardon my ignorance of current events, but I'm curious, who would that be? They would have to have been very young during WW2 if they're still alive today... — QuantumEleven 21:48, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Most concentration camp guards and members of the SS would have been in their early 20s during the war, so they'd be in their early to mid 80s now, and it's quite reasonable that a bunch of them would still be alive. --Serie 00:18, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Indeed. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which has offices in 5 countries, continues to seek them out and bring them to justice. JackofOz 08:52, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
And, more often than not, sees them being released because by now they're no longer fit for trial. --Dr. Zarkov 13:13, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Audacity file format...

Hii..

After downloading Audacity and using it....i found that i couldn't save the files as .mp3..when i tried to export as .mp3 i could only save them as some audacity project files... the programme itself told me that i would need to download some special mp3(lame) converter that can convert the audacity project files into .mp3.. I cant seem to find this software.. can anyone tell me where i can find that software? Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 18:23, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

For Windows or MacOS, see the Audacity website FAQs[33], where they answer this very question. If you're using Linux, the best way to get lame depends on your distro and how you installed Audacity (you can either build it from source or install via the distro's packaging system.) -- AJR | Talk 18:50, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
I have to ask, where did you look? I Googled "lame mp3" and got the information immediately. Alternately, typing "lame" into the search box here brought up a nice disambig page which clearly offered the LAME page. --LarryMac 19:20, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks a lot for that.. I was actually trying to search for .mp3 converter and stuff like that... i always got programs which couldn't convert audacity file formats.... Thanks a lot again! Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 20:00, 25 April 2006 (UTC)


This might be a little late, however, you can use the lame dll file in the Winamp directory. Apostate 02:39, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

oh..Cool..! Thanks! Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 09:47, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Outrages! After going to Poland and seeing Auchwitz, These people should be hunted to the ends of the earth with no remorse! No matter thier ages or whether or not they are fit to stand trial, starving slaves were not fit for work but they did it.

Anyone know what the above stuff means!? Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:58, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Zipper came apart

I have a zipper on my backback. The teeth of the zipper have seperated, and the metal piece which connects them has disconnected, leaving it attatched to only once strip/side of the zipper material. I have tried in vain to jam the teeth back into the metal piece that zips the zipper, so that I can zip it back up again.

How do I repair this? Thanks, Mike 161.45.160.127 18:47, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

You have a 90% chance of being unsuccessful. I've tried many times to bend the main zipper closer open, jam in the teeth, and pinch it back with pliers. Do you know that the ductility of zipper metal is zero? Best thing to do is take it to a nice person who sews in a new zipper. --Zeizmic 19:10, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
You might also like to try calling up the company that makes your backpack to see if they can either do anything about it or send you a new zipper. This might be a perfect time to hone your sewing skills! -Mysekurity [m!] 21:39, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes, I have now discovered that the metal used in zippers is about as malleable as a diamond. Perhaps they should use this metal for constructing cars and airplanes? Thanks for your responses, Mike. 68.52.56.111 02:03, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
It's probably grey iron. It's a cheap, easy-to-work metal with low tensile strength and low ductility that's pretty much useless for structural applications. --Serie 23:04, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
I agree, you probably have to buy a new zipper and sew it on, or better, take it to a zip specialist who'll do the same. – b_jonas 22:18, 27 April 2006 (UTC)


Or for a simpler solution (albiet temporary) cut the zipper just where it starts on one side and then zip it as you would a jacket

---|--------- -A----------- A is the little thing that pushes the zippoer together., where the | is cut it so you can zip it together again, though over time your backpack will rip more and more. I just did it once because my bagpack rippper came off in school. You can sew the rippped part back together though

[edit] Sore Throat

I've got a sore throat but the weird thing is, it only hurts if I swallow, is this something common or is it something bad and if you know what it is, could you please help me to make it feel better, THANKS!!!

I had the same thing about a week ago. It seems to be gone now, so I'm assuming that it's nothing serious. Flea110 20:58, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Take some cough syrup, drink plenty of liquids, and also try not to swallow too 'hard' - instead of a violent gulp, do it more gently. These tend so sort themselves out after 3-5 days. --Sam Pointon United FC 21:16, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
You are better off going to a doctor than asking around on the internet... But, personally, if you want to take my advice... i'd advice you to take some warm water, add some table salt to it, and gargle in your mouth, and spit it out.. repeat till you are satisfied....It sure tastes like hell...but it should provide you with temporary relief atleast.. I'd suggest you to do it before having a meal or doing something that requires a lot of swallowing.. ;-D ..Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs
Oh yes, that was the other thing - some dilute TCP (antiseptic) (not UDP - that's too unreliable) gargling can work wonders on a sore throat. --Sam Pointon United FC 21:53, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
To quote the intro above: If requesting medical, dental, or legal advice, please consider asking a doctor, dentist, or lawyer instead. However, there are many good community health websites, such as this one from BC. Specifically, Sore Throat. Andrewjuren(talk) 00:34, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Most sore throats only hurt when you swallow. In fact it would be more uncommon if your throat was just as sore even when you didn't swallow. In any case, an important factor is how long this has been going on. I occasionally get a sore throat, and give it a few days to go away, which it usually does. But if this has been going on for more than, say, three days, I'd strongly recommend you see a doctor to check it out. This also happened to me several times, and the doctor took a swab of my throat, and it turned out to be strep throat which requires anti-biotics to be cured. But I feel compelled to point out that I'm not a doctor and so my comments are only from a layman's perspective. Loomis51 02:39, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
I think I might know the sort of sore throat you mean, as though it is a bit swollen? I get these "throat cramps" every few weeks, and cure them by letting my head fall right back and relaxing my neck for a few minutes. This usually cures the problem right away. It's not the same as a regular sore throat. Shantavira 13:11, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] a famous person from philadelphia

could you name one famous person from philadelphia for me please.

Um, the only one I can think after 5 minutes of really hard thinking is "The Chicken Man" as immortalized in the Bruce Springsteen song. is that helpful? Bwithh 22:16, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Rocky Balboa! -- Slumgum | yap | stalk | 22:28, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Err, Benjamin Franklin, Kim Delaney, Edgar Allan Poe, Betsy Ross, Will Smith, Bill Cosby, Grace Kelly, David Brenner, Walt Whitman, Kevin Bacon, Richard Gere, Patti LaBelle, Wilt Chamberlain, Mario Lanza, Gallaudet, W.C. Fields, James A. Michener, Walter Annenberg, W.E.B. DuBois, Marian Anderson, John Coltrane, "Dr. J." Julius Irving, M. Night Shyamalan, Allen Iverson...--Fuhghettaboutit 22:30, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
isn't Ben Franklin from Boston? Bwithh 22:53, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Did you look at List of people from Philadelphia. Anyway which Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Philadelphia (village), New York, Philadelphia (town), New York, Philadelphia, Mississippi or perhaps Philadelphia (disambiguation)? And Franklin did live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but was born in Boston. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 23:03, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Yeah, I don't think y'all can claim W.E.B. DuBois, but I agree with CBW that those lists are a nice place to start. Good luck! -Mysekurity [m!] 03:31, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] personal money management advice for my spendthrift Korean galpal, preferably answered in Korean

She thinks "money grows on trees" (so do her 2 teen daughters). Is there a reference titled "personal money management for dummies", written in Korean, which is available? Thanks for your help....—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.180.156.8 (talk • contribs) .

You may have a better response if you ask this question at the Korean Wikipedia. However, I'm not sure if they have a reference desk, so I can't direct you to the appropriate place to ask.-gadfium 08:50, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
One piece of advice i can give you is that you can forget your wallet whenever you go out.. ;-) Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 09:52, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Find Korean copies of the Archie comics. She can use Veronica as a role model... Seriously, North American experience indicates that she is not going to read anything, and become suddenly converted to frugality. --Zeizmic 12:22, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

If you want to be very cruel, stop supporting her financially for awhile (I presume she knows about your concerns?), and see how she manages. Lack of money will make most people spend less :) — QuantumEleven 14:50, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Unfortunately, that's not always true. Some people believe that credit cards were created for people that don't have money, so that they can still go buy whatever they want. So instead of teaching her a lesson, this might just result in her quickly accumulating a LOT of credit card bills. --Maelwys 20:17, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] European economy

How did communisim shape the European Economy of the late 19th Century? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.239.72.175 (talk • contribs) .

I'm sorry but we don't normally answer homework questions, which is what your question sounds very much like.--Fuhghettaboutit 00:16, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

In any case, the first communist state, the Soviet Union, was only established in 1917. Late 19th century Europe was charactized by quite the opposite, laissez faire capitalism. Marxism was obviously an interesting topic among intellectuals in the late 19th century, but as for its role in the "shaping" of the European Economy in the late 19th century, I'd describe its impact in one word: Zero. If this is indeed a homework question, it appears to be an essay question, and one that would require more than a one word answer. Good luck! Loomis51 02:30, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

That would seem to ignore the impact of mass labour movements (and indeed full-on attempted revolutions) on the economy. Which is definitely non-zero, and a decent fraction of those were explicitly Communist with a larger fraction at least partly inspired by the ideas floating around. The working classes didn't just sit around putting up with their condition while they waited for their betters to debate the pros and cons of different economic systems, y'know, and nor did the more committed intellectual supporters restrict themselves to firing off scholarly articles at their opponents. (Right, that's enough hinting at a productive line of enquiry.) --Bth 08:04, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 26

[edit] Flamingos

Hello, everyone. I heard once that flamingos are the only animals that can form lesbian groups. Is this true? Are they at least the only birds that can form lesbian groups? Thank you in advance.--64.12.116.199 00:48, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

I'll go ahead and mention the bonobo before anyone else does. The bonobo is often cited as an animal that engages in rather free expressions of sexuality. Brian G. Crawford 00:55, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Some species of dolphin are also, um, liberally-minded in that regard. There are two famous swans or geese in a zoo in Canada (IIRC) that were named Gertrude and Alice (after Stein and Toklas) because of their preferences. Penguins have also been known to exhibit lesbian behaviour. A pair of female swans in Boston are also lesbian, apparently (see [34]). And it is occasionally found that if a rooster is removed from a flock of chickens, one hen will "assume the role of the rooster" both in its general behaviour and also - very occasionally - in its sexual behaviour. Grutness...wha? 03:04, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
I was reading about gay sheep in the paper a while back, but I do remember the beloved Boston swans' getting it on stirring controversy :). -Mysekurity [m!] 03:33, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Don't forget humans. Bhumiya (said/done) 04:43, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
I've been trying to find an online reference to a claim I once read that every seventh female seagull is a lesbian. No luck but maybe others have heard of this scientific claim. --Roisterer 13:07, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
      • I've never heard of that scientific claim, but in Beavis and Butthead, Mr. Van Driesen sang a folk song called "Lesbian Seagull." Brian G. Crawford 22:54, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
And cows often mount each other. In fact many animals don't really care who they do it with if it feels good, especially with the many species in which the sexes look and smell pretty much alike. But to call this lesbianism seems to me to be anthropomorphism. Shantavira 13:17, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Hey, wasn't there a list of animals that engage in homosexual behavior somewhere on Wikipedia? Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:44, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Upload a picture

How do you stick a picture onto lets say this, on this question, how would you do it?

thanks.


01:26, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

See WP:IMAGE: you upload the image, then place it in the text of the article (or in this case, the question). --Canley 01:41, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

What do you put in the "destination filename" thing? 02:13, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

whatever you want the file to be called - quite often that will be the same as the name of the file being uploaded, but it may be you want a slightly more descriptive name (especially if the file is straight of a digital camera and currently has a name like DSCF00257.jpg!). if you don't put anything in there it will default to the name of the uploaded file IIRC. Grutness...wha? 03:14, 26 April 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Gold

(1) Why did the price of gold spike in 1980? I've read it was because of the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan [35] , the Japanese trade deficit, OPEC's oil pricing, Nelson Bunker Hunt?? ? No piles of cash [36]? Perhaps a combination?

(2) from E-gold: "Proponents of the e-gold system contend that e-gold deposits are protected against inflation, devaluation and other possible economic risks inherent in fiat currencies."

How do these supposed proponents defend this statement when so little it traded within Digital gold currency that you're bound to have to convert to a fiat currency through a Digital gold currency exchanger to buy or invest in anything useful. And gold fluctuates with the fiat currency, not vice-versa. I mean sure if everyone did it then it would be great... -Snpoj 03:36, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Liberty Dollar is an article about a multi-level marketing scam aimed at people who fear the government's control over money. Of course, such people don't seem to understand that if gold were the principal medium of exchange it too would be controlled and manipulated by governments, banks, and wealthy citizens. Brian G. Crawford 22:58, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] User Page

I want my user page to look cool, but I don't know of any wikipedia resource to find out about doing that. Can someone help, either by directing me to the appropriate resource or giving me a crash course in this? --Matthew 06:57, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

View the source (via edit this page) of those user pages that (in your opinion) "look cool" to figure out how they do it. Copy any good tricks. --Bth 07:19, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
PS Bear in mind that some of the more complicated things may be templates substituted in using {{subst}}.
Yes, I can recommend that. I did the same. - Mgm|(talk) 08:10, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
And if you do choose to include Userboxes, try not to go overboard with them. User Pages look very weird when you have two screenfuls of coloured boxes and more text in your category list than the entirety of most articles. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 07:47, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
I'd have to say that there's nothing cool about pages full of little boxes with odd pictures, and even less cool about pages full of colored text. Notinasnaid 07:52, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Hahaha, I did that. Flameviper12 (not logged in) 216.11.222.21
And you could also make your userpage look a little better if you can arrange the stuff on the page so that it all looks neat and symmetric.. Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 09:50, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
On the other hand you could forget about a cool user page which you cna't be sure anyone except vandals look at and go with a cool signature that everyone will see. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 10:16, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Maybe we should have a Vote for the best Signature thingy ... ;-D Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 10:35, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Wikipedia:Voting is evil. I demand you rename it "Signatures for Appreciation". --Bth 11:08, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Alrighty... Signatures for Appreciation it is then... i nominate myself because this is my idea...;-) Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 12:09, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] creating a page

how do you create a page on this website?

You need to get an account and sign in to be able to create new articles. See Help:Starting a new page. If you're unwilling to create an account, you can go to Wikipedia:Articles for creation and use the more cumbersome process there. Please bear in mind the notability guidelines as to whether your subject is a suitable one for the encyclopedia, and the usefulness of building the web. --Bth 10:28, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

i still can't find where on the help menu where it says starting a new page

I know. I thought that when I joined. Its bizarrely difficult to find.
  1. Type the name of your article, exactly as you want it appear (spelling, any capital letters), in the search box and click on "Go".
  2. You will get a page saying "No page with that title exists". Below that, click on the red link "Create this article".
  3. You should now have a page called "Editing (name of article)". And away you go. Jameswilson 02:51, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

thanks for that james

Am I the only one who can see the little box right there at the top of Help:Starting a new page? But to be honest the best practice is to create a wikilink to your intended new article in an existing article, and then follow that to get to the "we don't have this article yet, do you want to create it" screen? That way you've automatically got at least one link into the wider web of articles. --Bth 07:37, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 4th member?

Hii...

I just watched the video of Green Day's Wake Me Up When September Ends....When the band is playing on some raised white pillar kinda things...there are 4 people playing... Billie, Mike, Tre' Cool, and who's the 4th one? He plays the guitar i think and they never show a close up of his face... Can anyone identify him? Thanks a lot.!! Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 12:13, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Hmmmm.......anyone?? Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 18:03, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Many questions...

I have many questions for you.

One, most important: How the #*%) do you use Photoshop? I have to figure out how to use it for an assignment...or at least point me to something nice.

Two: I want to use my old Game Boy Advance. I dropped my backpack one time and the LCD broke. It's black in some places, has cracks in it, and won't work. However, the game will still play just without the visual. My question is, how can I fix it? Can I go to anyone for help? If so, how much would it cost, and would it be worth it? Thanks.

  • It would most likley less expensive to buy another GBA from ebay

Three: Who's a Peach?

Four: What is the keyboard shortcut for MouseKeys in Windows? Anyone with Windows can find that out, just go to Control Panel, then Accessability Options, then go to the MouseKeys tab. I know how to get to it, I just can't get to it because teh draconian admins at my school won't let you change *anything* to save your life, i.e. when the computer freezes you can't Ctrl+Alt+Del, you have to shut it off. But don't get me even STARTED on my diatribe. Did I use that word right?

Five: Who would win in a fight: George from Of Mice and Men or Winston from Nineteen Eighty-Four?

Thank you very much for wasting your time on me. My eternal gratitude and good karma for j00. 216.11.222.21 12:21, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

1. I believe Photoshop still comes with a nice manual. Have a read. There are also many other books, and a "Classroom in a Book" course from Adobe. It is a professional tool, don't expect to just be able to dive in like one designed for consumers. Notinasnaid 12:57, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Never mind about that. I left the special assignment for the normal one because Photoshop was the work of the devil, and it kept *(#@ing me up. Thanks anyway. Flameviper12 14:44, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
5. :I'll just pick up your last question (and probably cause the others to be buried under a long series of nonsensical posts) and point out that, althogh George could probably whup Winston's scrawny butt (after all, he's used to hard work and a tough life, and Winston is a pathetically unfit button-pusher weakened by malnutrition) or could simply have him beaten up by Lennie, Winston would only have to grab his speakwrite and feed some wrong information into the system in order to completely vanish George, Lennie, all the farms they have ever worked on, the American midwest, and any mice accidently contained therein, along with John Steinbeck and all his ancestors, yeah, back to seven generations. Of course Winston himself would be vanished as soon as someone discovered what he was doing, but by then the damage would be done. --Dr. Zarkov 13:03, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Dr. Zarkov, I want to thank you. That was the funniest thing I have read in over a week. I'm going to put on my talk page when I log in...Flameviper12 14:44, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
2. Maybe you should take it to the guy from whom you bought it... Trying to repair it on your own isn't such a good idea...
It came from Toys R Us...I really dislike going to a non-game store for games. I'm always afraid this will happen...I need some support or to fix something, or something like that, and I just bought it from the worker drone at Toys R Us or Target, instead of the human at EB Games or GameStop, who actually knows a lot about his specialty. I was wondering if there was perchance a kind of shop who could fix this kind of crap, or if I only need to unscrew it, etc.
4. Keyboard Shortcut is left ALT + left SHIFT + NUM LOCK keys .... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 13:09, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
YES! It works! Now I can use the mouseless computers! (Although I'll have to write that down and stick it in my pocket to remember) Thank you! Flameviper12 14:44, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
3. I presume you don't mean the fruit? Take a look at peach (disambiguation), do any of these match who you were thinking of? Also, "peach" is an American term of endearment, usually used to describe someone sweet and lovely and kind. Hope that helps. — QuantumEleven 14:46, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
As you've mentioned Game Boys, I think it might be Princess Peach. – b_jonas 22:12, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
4b -- that's not the most accurate use of vendetta, no. Diatribe might be better in this context. --LarryMac 15:29, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
3. Regarding the peach question, I must sadly report that no-one is a peach. --212.202.184.238 17:49, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Ty Cobb was known as the Georgia peach. Loomis51 21:43, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Hahaha! Nobody got it right! My dog is a peach! Flameviper12 17:26, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
Questions 3 and 5 are hilarious and has earned a Flameviper12's Plusbox for they caused Flameviper12 to shoot chocolate milk out his nose

[edit] Soccer players who where street children

Are there famous(known) soccer(football) players who where street children.? If there are can you inform me about 6 or more of them.

Some were also boulevard or avenue children. Does that count ? --DLL 20:01, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
I can't think of any that were street children, strictly speaking, but Diego Maradonna, Rivaldo and Ronaldo all come close, according to this page: [37] Phileas 01:40, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Never mind those piddling small-fry. Start with Pele. Grutness...wha? 08:09, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Francis Scott Key

My daughter is writing a report on Francis Scott Key and is using an article from Wikipedia. How do we find the Publisher, where it was published and the copyright for the article? Please help!

See Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:54, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pronunciation

How is Stieljes pronounced? I appears in mathematics as Riemann-Stieltjes.

Thomas Jean Stieltjes, a Dutch mathematician. I'd pronounce it something like "steel-tyes", with stress on the first sillable. There's a slight possibility that an actual Dutchman might tell you something different, though.--212.202.184.238 17:41, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
Is this here because the poster couldn't decide between the Maths and Language reference desks? Anyway, here's a link to the article: Stieltjes. – b_jonas 22:02, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] American law

In San Fransisco, it is illeagal to wipe your car with what?

Another person? User:Zoe|(talk) 20:35, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
According to this site, it's illegal to wipe your car with used underwear, though I would have to ask for a cite. User:Zoe|(talk) 20:36, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Well, NOW I HAVE TO CANCEL MY WEEKEND PLANS. :( 12.183.203.184 04:16, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

coffee...out...nostrils... Grutness...wha? 03:26, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
This question has been BJAODNed and has earned a Cernen's Plusbox for for being completely awesome (and causing Grutness to blow coffee out his nostrils).

That would be STYLE-KEYS from the dutch and similar to the Afrikaans meaning a small steil

[edit] Looking for name of a spy movie

This picture was made about thirty years ago, or more. The story takes place in Berlin, of course. It is about a spy ring whose members make all their reports verbally to one man, whose identy they do not know. His face is always coveren. (The audience knows, of course)This man has a photographic memory and never takes notes. I remember one man is always knitting when he makes his reports. This is one of the best spy movies ever made and is a bit complicated, also.Any help I can get will be appreciated.

The Kremlin Letter ? MeltBanana 23:42, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] health

I am writing a book and need a little background on TB and Jamaica I would like to know if there were any cases of TB, prior to the aids epidemic, if so how widespread was it?

How many cases were there?

Thank you

Sylvie

Tuberculosis was a more deadly and feared disease in a time without antibiotics than AIDS ever will be. "Consumption" was a common cause of death, and still is in many parts of the world. Many people don't realize that diseases come into and go out of existence all the time. For example, venereal disease in ancient Greece and Rome was nonexistent. "The grippe" was a mysterious disease that killed many people in Europe in the 19th century. No one is sure what it was. Brian G. Crawford 23:04, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Do you want to know about TB in Jamaica or both of them separately.. In case you want them separately just check the articles on Tuberculosis and Jamaica.. Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 08:37, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

TB kills more people in africa today than aids.

[edit] Relativily new to investing

Which stock would be the better buy today?

Budwieser Vodafone Cendant Dell Computer Bank of America XM Satellite Radio Wal-Mart


199.201.168.100 21:16, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

If anyone knew the answer to that simple question they'd be a zillionaire. My suggestion: Put your money into a mutual fund and let the experts decide. Sure, they skim a bit off the top but it's worth it. Loomis51 21:39, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Firstly, I would suggest Sun Microsystems. Nobody could be such a loser forever, and I hear they are coming up with a Sun-pod. Secondly, I would invest in something that made people actually refer to the question, and thirdly I would just read the letters (forget the warnings) in Advance fee fraud, and send me the money. --Zeizmic 22:54, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
First, with regard to Sun Microsystems, the argument that "nobody could be such a loser forever" is a classic example of what is called the Gambler's Fallacy. Second, do you think that the fact that you "hear that they are coming out with a sun-pod" has somehow not been priced into the stock price already? Are you aware of something that hasn't hit Wall Street yet? Do you actually think you can outsmart the street? Third, if you're implying that by suggesting mutual funds that I'm suggesting in any sort of fraudulent scheme you're sadly mistaken. Loomis51 01:52, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Hey, chill. I wrote that before your response (edit conflict). The concept of 'sun-pod' is a joke (apple rose from a sinking morasse with the i-pod). Finally, anybody asking for advice for investing on the Internet brings to mind Nigeria. Finally, finally, will the original questioner ever return? And ultra-finally, I own mutual funds, too. --Zeizmic 11:33, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
My bad, Zeismic. It just seemed like your answers (in particular the reference to Advance fee fraud) was a response to my statement that mutual fund managers "skim a bit off the top." Thanks for clearing it up. Take care. Loomis51 15:02, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cash from a credit card

I wish to use the 0-interest loan on credit cards to invest in securities. Any ideas how I could do this? Or does anyone know other very low interest loans I could get? -Snpoj 21:45, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

What credit card are you refering to that offers you 0% interest? I'd really be interested in knowing because I can think of a tonne of ways you can profit by it, which unfortunately means it probably doesn't exist. Nonetheless, I'm curious about your question. Loomis51 22:34, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
That sounds like an introductory rate, which is just an incentive for you to get into debt to the credit card company. Using credit cards for anything but true emergencies is almost always bad for you in the end. Credit card companies are very good at getting people into debt, and as with a casino, the house always wins. Brian G. Crawford 23:10, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
I think you would be better off trying to get a line of credit or a loan from your bank. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:37, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Ok here's what I was thinking. When I borrow with a credit card I don't have to pay for ~1 month (as Brian said, this could be higher with an introductory rate). It's a 0-interest short-term loan. So I'll in turn loan that money to the Feds...I'll buy a 28-day T-bill with my credit card. Come the end of the month, the feds will pay me back 4.5%, which I'll pocket, and I'll send back the rest on to Visa. Make sense?

So what I was saying is that if I can get a loan for 0-percent interest (in truth if I can get a loan for anything below the yield on a T-bill or bond) I can make money on it by just loaning it right back to the Feds. So the problem with the credit card scenario is, how the hell do I buy treasuries with a credit card!?? Cash advances charge up-front interest so they're no good and I don't think treasurydirect.gov accepts Visa...

Now this is playing on the safe side. If I wanted some real excitement I'd get a big loan from the bank for probably more than 8% and put it into stocks or other investments, expecting 10% or more on it. But that's risky, especially when you're inexperienced with that kind of thing.

-Snpoj 21:25, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Buying stocks with a loan is called buying on margin, and it's a very risky way to invest -- if the stock goes down in value, you can lose far more than you invested in the first place. Margin buying was one of the factors that made the Wall Street Crash of 1929 more severe. --Serie 22:27, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
well no kidding, that's why I want to buy treasuries......sorry, guess I'm still not making myself clear here. oh well. -Snpoj 23:05, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
You've answered your own question. Cash advances charge up-front interest, and it's impossible to buy t-bills with a Visa card because Visa charges the vendor a small ≈ 2% fee for the service. Most vendors are willing to pay the fee because it has a relatively insignificant effect on their profit margin, and is good for business because it's a convenience for customers. That explains why Visa charges up-front interest for cash advances (for which it receives no 2% fee), but gives you about a month of interest free credit for purchases (where it does collect the fee from the vendor). However anyone looking to sell a t-bill would certainly not be willing to take Visa as the fee would be far too high to make the exchange profitable. In other words, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Loomis51 02:02, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
aha! You're right. I was making an assumption that vendors using Visa were not charged which is incorrect. I figured Visa made all their money off of the folks who didn't pay them back after the first, zero-interest month. I refine my criteria:
1. credit card with "x" dollars credit limit
2. credit card with 0-interest or payments for 12 months
3. Assumption that Paypal takes off 3.5% for any cash transfer with a credit card (2% fee going to Visa, 1.5% for their business)
4. A close relative or closer friend that will quickly process "x" dollars after I Paypal it to him, and then (more importantly!) write me a check for it.
5. Assumption that I can make a guaranteed 4.5% on T-bills or other treasures for a 12 month period
With this criteria, I will be able to make a clean 1%. Half of that would go to my Paypal friend. For that to be worth my while to establish the accounts and move the money, additional stress, etc. "x" would probably have to be at least $10,000...but hey that's about 8 free-lunches for each of us to go out on ;).
Morale of the story, if all those criteria are possible and everything works as planned: you can beat the system but only for relatively miniscule amounts.
But now, you say that the 2% is relatively insignificant on their profit margin? So when a grocery store prices its items it probably takes into account the percentage-by-price paid for with credit card and then weights that to increase their products proportionally? e.g. if Walmart finds out that credit card purchases make 75%-by-price of their sales, and the credit cards charge a total of 2%, then they would increase the price of all of their goods by 1.5%. Visa shoppers get a "discount" of 0.5% (that is, they use a service costing 2% and only pay 1.5% for it) and cash-customers "get hit" for 1.5% (they pay for other customers using Visa)! Thus, the hegemony of credit cards is perpetuated... -Snpoj 22:04, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Oh, one more thing. According to Google Finance:Walmart:
Net Profit Margin: 3.66%
Operating Margin: 5.87%
I don't know what those terms mean precisely, but does that mean they charge a 5.87% more on all products compared to their purchasing price on those products? Would I be able to see the effects of a credit card's 2% charge with these numbers? I'm guessing not and I'm sure that the 5.87 - 3.66 = ~2 is coincidental. Maybe this is another question for another question for another topic... -Snpoj 22:11, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Your scheme is rather confusing, but if it were plausible and it meant that it could work I wouldn't mind giving myself a mild headache trying to figure out what you're getting at, as I'd use it as well to make a free buck! Unfortunately (but fortunately for my headache!) all I had to do is stop at criterium #2 to realize that it wouldn't work. Credit cards with 0% interest for 12 months on cash transfers simply don't exist. If you can find one, please tell me!

I think your assessment of the Wal-Mart scenario is more or less accurate. Here are a couple things you may want to ponder: 1) Haven't you ever wondered why some gas stations charge you less if you pay cash rather than use a credit card? 2) Haven't you ever wondered why so many department stores, take Sears for example, try so hard by offering you free gifts etc...to push you to get a Sears card? It's both for the same reason...to save on the 2% Visa charge. One more thing: Haven't you ever wondered why so many vendors take Visa and Mastercard, but not American Express? It's because American Express has the nerve to charge the vendors more than the going rate that Visa and Mastercard charge for their services.

As for the difference between Wal-Mart's net profit margin and its operating margin, I'd have to take a real hard look at their financial statements to figure out where the Visa charges come into play, but I'm almost certain that the 2% difference is purely coincidental. One other thing to mention: As a HUGE customer of Visa, and being known for its strong arm tactics, I'm willing to bet that Wal-Mart has the bargaining power to negotiate a better rate with Visa than that which Visa's other customers pay. But that's just speculation on my part. Loomis51 22:11, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

One Capital in the Uk gives you 0% interest for 6months i think, but after that introductory offer you REALLY gotta pay

My father did this very "scam" and made a little money. He said that is wasn't worth it, because he was so worried all month that he would forget about it and be stuck with a hude credit card fee. Jon513 20:47, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

While this may work in theory, fees&taxes will almost always eat your profit. The most important reason, however is that RISK is not factored in. Remember, credit-card companies aren't there for your benifit, they are there to make a profit off of consumers. Going into debt to make an investment is dumb, the margin is small and you're risking what you already have on speculation. Remember, you're screwed if the card issuer decides to hit you with interest.

BigFatDave 12:21, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Donny Hathaway

Anyone know what was the name of Donny Hathaway's high school? (Google and Wikipedia have failed me.) 21:55, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia

Is it possible to get a downloaded version of Wikipedia? (I know it wouldnt be updated but it would allow me to search through it while offline.) - Joneleth 23:32, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Database download. —Keenan Pepper 00:27, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
It's about a 3 gig download if I remember correctly? As my old supervisor would say: "Heh, heh, yeeeeeah, good luck with that." Cernen Xanthine Katrena 07:43, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
The Irony of a wikipedia download is that the people who have fast enough connections to download it, probably don't mind just logging onto the net. Philc T+C 16:55, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Breathing underwater through a tube

I'm sure most of you have heard the 5-minute mystery or smoething like that where a guy dies from breathing in and out underwater through a long tube/blowgun/bamboo stick because he is breathing the same air he is breathing back out. My question is that if you inhaled from the mouth where the tube was and exhaled through your nose, would that make you survive since the air in the tube only travels in one direction? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Wizrdwarts (talk • contribs) .

That seems like it would work to me. —Keenan Pepper 00:26, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

The issue here is that generally whenever some guy has tried the whole breathe through a tube underwater trick, he is doing it to hide...at least thats how it is in cartoons. Anyway, if he is doing this to hide, then by being in this murky water with nothing but a small reed that looks as though it is floating in the water or growing from it sticking out, he has hidden successfully....however, if he were to breathe out through his nose, that would cause bubbles to float to the surface, which gives away his hiding spot. But, for any purpose other than hiding, yes, exhaling through the nose and using the reed only for inhaling will keep the reed/tube filled with fresh air, oxygen rich and capable of sustaining life.

Also, very deep inhales and exhales might get some fresh air in without the bubbles that give away your position, as long as the tube isn't too long. StuRat 03:02, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
If you're deeper than a few feet (does anyone know just how deep?), the water pressure on your chest will prevent you from breathing in. --Shantavira 15:18, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
According to the snorkel article, the limit is twenty inches. --Serie 22:33, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 27

[edit] rubber tree plant

is the rubber tree plant poisonus to small children.

Call your state poison control center. The number is in the phone book under emergency numbers. They have a database available to them that will answer your question. Brian G. Crawford 00:31, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

I do not believe that it is poisonous, but the sap has the potential to irritate the skin and mucous membranes. — TheKMantalk 00:45, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

According to [38], the latex may cause a rash in sensitive individuals. SCHZMO ✍ 23:25, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Staples

Anyone know off the top of their head where I can bring a CD and print a long document (300 pages) for cheap? Does Staples do that sort of thing?

--Shadarian 00:30, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Kinkos is what I use and sometimes Office Depot. I don't know about Staples, but I'd betcha they do. schyler 00:48, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Hmm, says on your userpage you're from New York. I'm sure Google Local would have something to say about that (search for "Copy shops in New York" or "Print Centers in New York") and you're bound to find something. Good luck! -Mysekurity [m!] 03:49, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Call around. You might be able to find a local digital print shop that can do it substantially cheaper and they can tell you what file formats they can handle. Also ask about the ink and paper types as those can vary in how long they will last, depending on your intended use. Last time I checked it's still pretty expensive to print that much. Let us know if you don't mind what prices you get. - Taxman Talk 22:44, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Staples does print large documents - I got $18 for just over 300 pages. They printed using some weird method, so now I have little boxes on the side of all the paper saying what the formatting is like. As in "Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.25" " Good thing this copy is only for my own reference. --Shadarian 03:53, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

My experience with local shops is far better than the bigbox ones, both in terms of service and price. A document that large will probably be a bit pricey nomatter what, which is all the more reason to go to a local place. Better to keep the money in the local ecomony and develop a helpful business relationship. -LambaJan 17:35, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] barnstar

This'll probably sound really dumb: Who can award barnstars? Only admins? Can I just go on a big barnstaring streak and give people barnstars for miniscule achievements, or is that considered vandalism? NIRVANA2764 00:49, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Anyone can give out a barnstar if they feel a user deserves one. — TheKMantalk 00:55, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
TheKMan's right. Anyone can award as many barnstars as they like, but consider not going too overboard. Like a lot of other things, awarding too many would sort of reduce the effect. Saving them for really worthwhile stuff is probably the way to go. Grutness...wha? 08:14, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
I used to give out Cernen's Plusboxes, and look where it got me. A 3 month editing hiatus and a lot of very happy people with ugly userboxes on their talk pages. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 07:42, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] .s3m files

Is there any way that I can convert my random .S3M files into a more friendly format (preferably MP3)? Google provides pages and pages of entirely useless stuff.

Yes - get XMPlay from http://www.un4seen.com/ (it's free & no spyware). It's interface is a little fiddly, but it's a great little player and does by far the most accurate MOD/S3M/XM playback I've heard anywhere.
Fire up XMPlay, right click to get into the options, and set the output device to be wav writer. Then play your S3M in it, and it'll write out a wav. Then just use any software of your choice to convert the wav to MP3/OGG/Whatever. if you need software for that, I'd recommend CDEX, which is open source, from http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/
I assume here you're using Windows, but similar solutions are avaliable for Linux and Mac. You just need a player that'll write to WAV (or even direct to MP3 - XMPlay can do that, but I've found it fiddly) and an MP3 encoder --Noodhoog 01:47, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Thank you. 22:08, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Identify a movie

Can anyone identify this movie for me.. here's what I know. I remember it's name is a single word, beginning, I think, with O. It's Asian, probably Japanese. It came out within the last 5 years, I think. I've only ever seen the trailer for it, but it's live action with lots of special effects, futuristic - seems to have almost a steam-punk look in places. It appears to be an action film about some kind of ninja type main character with a sword, and the trailer shows large robots, lots of them, and I think the hero is shown leaping from one to another, fighting them. I think there's a bit with an airship too. It has a very manga type feel to it - giant robots, ninjas, all that kind of stuff. Looks like it must've been a pretty big budget production, as the I recall the effects looked really slick I've tried IMDB's power search, putting in various combinations of what I know, but can't turn anything up.

Thanks in advance! --Noodhoog 01:42, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Ah, found it! just a bit extra persistance with google got me there. it was Casshern, if anyone's interested. --Noodhoog 01:56, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Good for you!! Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 08:22, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
It has that look because it's a live-action remake of an earlier anime. See our article Casshern. Night Gyr 04:10, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] i want light catchers on wikipedia

It has come to my attention that while there is a lot on stained glass and that craft, light catchers are not mentioned anywhere in wikipeida.... I however do not know a lot about them so I don't feel as though I am an intelligent enough source to edit or add this. What can be done to fix this issue. I initially searched light catchers because my friend refused to believe that they exist, and when I couldn't find it, my argument was shot down.

I've created the page Light catcher for you, but I dont know anything about it, so up to you LOL Jameswilson 03:02, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Um, what is a "light catcher"? I googled it and it seems like it's just a little doodad made of glass and paper that you hang in your window. Why would your friend believe they don't exist? More to the point, what would you expect to find in an encyclopedia article about them? —Keenan Pepper 03:31, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Ah, so they're called "light catchers"! I must have seen a million of those things hanging on people's windows. Well, now that I know its name, I can conquer it. Now just what can be said encyclopedically on those little stained-glass kitsch pieces?--Pharos 03:43, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

I always called them 'sun catchers', and they're a little bit interesting. Artists will often make them along with some other cheap trinkets so that they can keep some cash flow going. The big pieces don't often sell so quickly. I once knew a stained glass artist who found a nitch making kalidascopes. -LambaJan 17:46, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Winged Liberty Head ("Mercury") dimes (1916–1945)

I found one of these coins that was dated 1944...I read all the information on the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dime_%28United_States_coin%29 and I couldn't find any information about 1944 coins or the market value of these coins. If anyone has any information please let me know through my personal email: <removed> Your information and time are greatly appreciated.

I removed your email address in order to spare you of all the spam its posting was going to bring you. You should return here and check for responses. ×Meegs 06:42, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Depending on the condition of the coin, the value of a 1944 Mercury dime is around $2. It's a bit more if it's in mint condition. — TheKMantalk 11:44, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Why do people forward those stupid superstitious chain letters

Forward this to 20 people in 15 minutes or you'll be raped by a mad goat or whatever other unfortunate thing is in the chain lettter....How can people be that dumb?

Many people do not have a very strong grounding in objective reality (see flat earth, holocaust denial, apollo hoax). To such people, there seems to be no cost to doing the forward (as they obviously do not find it so annoying as you do), and there might be a cost to not doing it (the goat rape). Now, the "might" actually has probability 0, but given that many of the same people likely do not know what probability actually is or how to properly gauge it, it's not too surprising that this little "detail" is ignored, and the forwards go on. It's also quite possible that the forwarding merely includes the threat and was not inspired by it; if (for whatever reason) someone finds the chain letter amusing, they should be expected to believe that you will as well. --Tardis 06:50, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
They exploit people's superstitions. Also, note that many of the most successful instances promise rewards for compliance instead of punishment for noncompliance. As suggested above, besides superstition, many people surely participate simply for fun, without belief in the promised result. Take a look at our articles chain letter, chain e-mail and pyramid scheme. ×Meegs 06:59, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
They do it for fun mostly.. Its your choice whether you wanna ignore it or send it... And people can be quite dumb sometimes.... That explains the chain letters in the first place... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 08:30, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Oh, you my scoff, but my friend's brother's uncle's sister's neighbour failed to send one of those on, and what that mad goat did to him ain't pretty. --Noodhoog 14:22, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Hahaha! I'm all right with the harmless ones, but I really really hate the ones that tell you that everything causes cancer, and the ones that warn you against everything...People are afraid to do anything, because they actually trust these anonymous pieces of crap. Flameviper12 17:31, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] XviD machine?

I'd like to have a machine with a large hard drive and a DVD-reader that plugs into my TV, that would let me copy XviD-encoded .AVI files off DVD-Rs and watch them on my tele. The closest thing I can think of is Xbox Media Center. Is there something that would accomplish the same functions, only cheaper?

Wouldn't a DVD player with XviD support work just as well? Maybe I misunderstand. You have DVD-Rs with XviDs on them, and you want to play them on your TV? Do a froogle search for "DVD player Xvid" to find a number of models of dvd player that support XviD files. --Andrew c 21:10, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
I tried this and had three horrible experiences. None of the machines would play even 50% of my files.

[edit] Roofing:best material

I am considering of putting a metal roof for my house.The climate here is hot and humid with seasonal rain.I have cut my options down to three materials-aluminium,G.I powdercoat&galvalume(galvanized steel).I would like to know which of these is the most suitable material.I amnot sure whether galvalume,galvanium and G.I powdercoat refers to the same material or not.Heat reduction is definitely a high priority.Also,can aluminium roof be painted?Please advise.--202.191.64.82 07:10, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

You will need to take into account the weight of each option, and ensure the roof can be properly jointed and supported. Also local planning regulations might restrict the type of roof you can use. Your neighbours are probably the best people to advise you. What sort of roofs do they have? An aluminium roof can certainly be painted, as long as you use a suitable primer. However, for heat reduction, a non-metallic roof would be better as metals conduct heat quite well. --Shantavira 15:24, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Agreed. Also, the steel might eventually rust. I would go with a slate roof, if you can afford it. StuRat 15:34, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Premier league referees

hi I heard that premier league referees have an obligation to tell the club who they support or to which club they are fancy for. Is this true? If this is true can you tell me the club which they support.

I can't see this as making much sense; if someone admits to fancying a club, they'll only get more criticism for themselves and their decisions. For instance, our article about international and Serie A referee Pierluigi Collina notes that he is a Lazio fan, but didn't admit this until after he retired. Even if it were true, we couldn't tell you which club "they support"; presumably Premier League referees support a wide variety of clubs, since they're recruited nationally. Our article about Mike Dean (referee) notes that he's been moved from the FA cup because of suspicion he might not be impartial to Liverpool. Were he to have an obligation to tell who they support, there'd be no suspicion involved. Personally, I'd claim I supported my team's rivals; then I could give more calls to my favourite team, and people would just think I was being impartial. --ByeByeBaby 18:36, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
It's not a suspicion that he wouldn't be impartial, just that he lives fairly near to Liverpool so to play safe they've chosen another ref for the FA Cup Final. For all we know, Dean could be a Tranmere or Everton or Chester City supporter... -- Arwel (talk) 17:49, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Gabriel Alomar facts

Thanks for the help with finding the facts. I've been looking for about 6 hours and cannot find any. They are all due by Monday.

Does any one have any facts about Gabriel Alomar facts?

Facts about Gabriel Alomar facts? Well, one can say with certainty that Gabrile Alomar facts are facts about Gabriel Alomar and that a number of them can be probably found in the Gabriel Alomar article. -- Ferkelparade π 14:12, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

I have looked at those facts. But, they do not have much information about why he was exiled and the years of his life in detail. do you know any site i could find more information about him that is in english?

Well, he was a leftist Spaniard who lived and worked during the Franco regime - I think he had a pretty good reason for going into exile. I agree, though, that our article leaves much to be desired - I don't know much about Alomar, else I'd try and expand the article a bit (if nobody else does so before me, I'll see what i can do over the weekend). By the way, when replying to a specific question on this page, it's better to place your answer (or follow-up questions) under the already existing header instead of creating a new header each time you write something, otherwise the page will quickly become cluttered up and unusable -- Ferkelparade π 14:34, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Franco was a Fascist. Extreme Right winger. Gabriel Alomar was a Leftist. The two do not mix. All Leftists were considered Communists and therefore Godless. It is interesting to note here that Franco and his regime considered Hitler and the Nazis as acceptable allies and therefore requested their aid. The Nazis responded by bombing Madrid. What is even more intriguing is the fact that very recently, the Vatican cannonized six Rightwingers. It seems these Magnificent Six fought bravely against those Godless devils. This means, that the Catholic Church raised to Sainthood, six Fascists.

[edit] Expats in Europe

Hello, My name is Isaac Dwek and I am writing to you from the North American Sports Network (NASN). I am doing some research on Expats throughout Europe and I am finding it very hyard to obtain any useful information. I am hoping you can help me with this. Do you have any statistics or tables of info with the population of of expats in European Countries (e.g. How many Spanish live in France, and how many Germans live in France etc.) Any information which might help would be much appreciated. I hope you can aid my enquiry.

Kind Regards Isaac Dwek

Such statistics may be hard to come by, because the EU guarantees freedom of movement to the citizens of its member states; there is no need to register and nobody is officially keeping score. This could be as hard as finding out how many expatiates of Michigan live in Montana. However, some have tried to accumulate such statistics, and a recent UK radio program claimed that half a million properties in France are British owned. Not that not all of these are expatriates; many, perhaps most, are holiday homes, and others are buy-to-let. Notinasnaid 14:20, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
All countries take censuses, which typically ask for birthplaces and other such information. Contact the statistical agencies of each of the European countries. NASN is a godsend for Americans in Europe. -- Mwalcoff 23:20, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for that information. If you are able to find any more could you please help me? I am having a very hard time writing about him.

  • Eurostat to the rescue!! Actually the European Union does collect estimates of the number of expats (not quite like Michigans living in Montanta, as the EU expats will be a different national citizenship) living in its member states (the statistics themselves are gathered by the national governments but the methodology is harmonized by the EU. "Eurostat" is the name of the central statistical bureau of the EU, and they make many of their data series on a wide variety of areas available online. Follow these steps:
    • Please find the main Eurostat portal at this link.
    • Next select the blue "Data" tab in the middle of the screen. Now select the "Population" link. (incidentally I believe the methodlogical info underlying the data series you will be retrieving can be obtained through the blue "Methodology" link here) You will be taken to a new page. The page says you have to register, but I was unable to use this without registering at all (well, not that I can remember anyway), and I'm based in the US. So never mind that.
    • Open the folder tree (the "+" sign) by the red "International Migration and Asylum" label. **Open the "+" sign by the green "Population and citizenship" label
    • Open the "+" sign by the black "Population by sex and citizenship" label
    • Now click on the blue/white icon which looks like a cartoon computer window that appears
    • A new window will open, which will allow you to customize the data series you want for download.
    • You start off with the data selection menu for geopolicital entity ("GEO"). In the Blue tickbox menu on the right hand side, scroll down and tick all the countries you want information on. There are also regional groupings such as the EU15 (all 15 EU members) and the EUROZONE (countries which use the Euro). There are some non-EU members such as Turkey and Croatia on the list too
    • Next click on the "CITIZEN" button. Select all the kinds of citizenship (the list seems to list every kind in the world) you are interested in. For your purposes, just press "Select All" at the bottom.
    • If you are not interested in the gender breakdown, ignore the "SEX" button.
    • Click on the "TIME" button". This shows that the there are data series reported annually for the years 1985 to 2004 (2004 is the most recent data they have). Unless you are interested in changes over time, just leave it at 2004 being selected for now.
    • Now press "Next" at the bottom
    • The next screen lets you tweak the way the rows and columns of the data output is laid out. I would just leave this as is for now. Press "Next"
    • The next screen asks you for the data format you would like - if the data is to be viewed in a browser, or if you want it downloaded in a spreadsheet or database format.
    • Finally... press "Download"!! (note that not all the data will be complete for all nationalities, but all the member EU countries should have data for expats from other EU countries at least)
  • This EUSTAT how-to as been brought to you by an EU citizen expat, of Asian birth, living in the United States Bwithh 23:53, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
And very impressine it was too. I'll chip in a few bits and pieces. As of 2006 140,000 Polish citizens are registered as living in the Republic of Ireland (3,5% of the population). as of Jan 2004 Spain had 175,000 registered British, 117,000 Germans, 77,000 Italians, 67,000 French and 56,000 Portuguese. There were also 208,000 Romanians and 70,000 Bulgarians (they are so-called "accession countries" which are to join the EU in the next few years). Jameswilson 01:04, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] animal conception

I would like to know what mammel is capable of choosing the sex of their off-spring. I remember seeing a wildlife program, but cant remember the animal.

Thank You

A simple google search comes up with this [39] article, as well as one about certain lizards.--Shandon 17:29, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
This question reminded me of a New Scientist article, so I've gone and digged it up.  -- Run!  19:39, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] newyork city and niagara falls

can you please tell me the distance between newyork city and niagara falls by road and by air? thank you!

Wouldn't it be the same distance either way? 199.201.168.100 18:42, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Well due to the curvature of the Earth it would be slightly longer by air. -- Run!  19:34, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Well, it would be if the road was dead straight. Presumably it goes round hills, connects towns not quite in straight line between the two, etc etc etc. Grutness...wha? 03:27, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Google Maps [40] says 408 miles by car. --Chapuisat 19:53, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
This page says 310 miles as the crow flies. -- Mwalcoff 23:18, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

What if the crow meanders around dragging his ass the whole way by straying from the straight-line path to stop at a starbucks or something? 199.201.168.100 16:35, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

"As a group, the crows show remarkable examples of intelligence." See further details in Crow#Intelligence. They are evidently smart enough to realize that Starbucks is overpriced and they never stop there. JamesMLane t c 09:53, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Seeking Tai Chi class

I am looking for a Tai Chi class - preferably one in the park (Ft. Green). There used to be one in the park that started when the weather turned nice. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

What country and city? Do you mean Fort Greene in NYC? --Chapuisat 19:49, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Question (how to rob a bank)

How would one go about robbing a bank. I don't want to rob one, but I was wondering why everyone who tries always gets caught. It seems like it would be relativily easy with a little planning. AGAIN, not wanting to actually rob a bank, just wondering how one would go about it, and why so many percentage-wise are unsucessful?

Banks get robbed a lot, and so they have a lot more security devices and precautions than you might imagine. Experienced criminals know this, so only desperate losers rob banks, as opposed to other places with more money but worse security. This in turn means even more of them get caught. Notinasnaid 19:18, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Let me tell you why I think it's difficult not to get caught. If you enter the bank with a mask on yor face, everyone would immediately see that you're a robber, and they'd probably sound the alarm. If you enter without the mask, the security cameras and people in the bank will see your face, so the police can find you easily. An other problem is the time-limited safes, which open only some time after the code is entered. (Btw, next time you ask a question here, please give it a more descriptive title.) – b_jonas 21:53, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
The best that you can hope to do it is to have lots of inside help...and if possible from the president of the bank.... ;-) ... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 11:04, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Only stupid criminals rob banks. The smart ones know that other crimes are much more profitable, such as robbing an energy trading company. See Enron. Technically, that was fraud, not robbery, but in the end it's the same difference. Chl 12:47, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
The safest way to rob a bank would appear to be to co-opt a large paramilitary organisation such as the Provisional IRA, who got a nice haul from the Northern Bank robbery. The mere criminals who did the Securitas depot robbery got away with twice as much, but seem to have had a problem simply disposing of the volume of paper involved - nearly half the proceeds have been recovered already and a lot of people are awaiting trial. The best way might be to persuade a legitimate bank note printer to make extra notes especially for you (see Portuguese Bank Note Crisis, but even then the perpetrator got caught and spent 20 years in the slammer.) -- Arwel (talk) 18:01, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
I hope you're using a dynamic or anon IP address, and your boss doesn't read this, because people have a tendency to think you're pretty strange if you ask suck a uestion...Flameviper12 17:32, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
I believe I've read that banks lose more money to embezzlement than to armed robbery. Forget the shtick with the ski mask and the gun; get a job in a bank, get them to trust you, learn the system of internal controls and figure out how to circumvent it, and there you are. Ten percent of the net goes here. JamesMLane t c 10:00, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

Relativly easily, but the previous guy was right, why bother, rob the mint where the money is printed and steal one of the machines so you can print your own. WHEN you get caught, i did not help. hahaha

[edit] Question (CEOs faking resumes)

Would it be possible to deceptivly apply for and get an executive level position like CEO or COO of a medium-large company? The CEO of Radio shack misrepresented himself and got his job, could one do that today? How would one go about doing so? To what extent can they verify one's employement history & accedemic career? I realize they can verify degree/school, but what about GPA? As to employment history how would a prespective employeer know the accuracy of previous positions as they relate to title & salery given? 199.201.168.100 18:37, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

In this age of extensive background checks, referencing and networking, it's very, very unlikely that an unexperienced person would be able to land such a high level job through deception. For an executive position, especially at the levels you're asking about, an employer will likely have some familiarity with the companies a prospective employee have worked at due to things like collaboration/competition in similar fields (i.e. John Doe once worked as Marketing Director at Anytown Bank and is now looking at a CFO position at Bank of Anytown) or through professional organizations that would legitimize a company in the eyes of others, such as Rotary or the BBB. Finally, many upper-level jobs of the sort you mentioned don't have the typical application process you find at lower levels; openings are filled by invitation to individuals the company is interested in. "Don't call us, we'll call you." Ah, and GPA's are rarely investigated by employers after a prospective employee has held a job since college. Tijuana Brass¡Épa!-E@ 19:55, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

So what level position would one be able to obtain though misrepresentaiton? Would one be able to atain a position that has a nice golden-parachutte like severence package? Also, if one were to represent a GPA of 3.9 - 4.0 in the application//interview process, this would not discovered? My understanding is that GPA is private and cannot be disclosed by my university without my premision via transcript. is this correct? Do many people do this? What are the likely consequences if any?? 199.201.168.100 21:03, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

You're right in saying that GPA's from universities are typically not allowed to be disclosed without your consent. As "what level position" one could obtain via misrepresentation, that would depend largely on the company and their competence in the hiring process. It would likely not be too high up the totem pole at all. If you're asking for personal reasons, I wouldn't suggest doing it, as it could easily result in job termination or legal consequences. Tijuana Brass¡Épa!-E@ 04:15, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
If you're applying for an executive level position, the people recruiting aren't likely to look very hard at the academic record. The track record of experience in executive level jobs will count for much more: indeed, overcoming a limited education to succeed would count for something. (Everyone likes to see an MBA, though, it seems; but at the very high levels you'd be looking for someone who taught MBA, rather than learned it.). If you have lied completely, you won't get far as CEO if you haven't learned the basic parts of the job, regulatory responsibilities, and you especially won't get far if you think the CEO doesn't have a boss. Notinasnaid 11:03, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

As to legal consequenses, what would they be? I don't think there would be any. Of course, I risk getting fired, but I would be getting fired from a job I wouldn't have otherwise gotten. If I were able to sucessfully misrepresent myself until hired as a CEO, I would recieve a large signing bonus, at least a full quarter's pay before the board of directors discovers their error, and a nice severence package for stepping down quietly. That would be enough. If CEO canidates are screened so thoughally I would be unable to get that level of position, what about others lower on the totem pole, such as middle management, senior engineer, senior buyer/planner, etc, etc 199.201.168.100 16:34, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Daniel Jonah Goldhagen

Please help me contact Mr. Daniel Jonah Goldhagen. I am writing a book. He will be pleased to learn what I am writing about. Thanks. Leslie.

He is a writer, so you could probably send him a letter c/o his publisher (Random House, I believe). --Chapuisat 19:43, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
He is at the Center for European Studies at Harvard. They don't list his contact info but I'm sure if you sent a letter for him at their address it would get to him. --Fastfission 03:33, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] KKK

does any one know what the ku klux klan stands for? i know it has something to do with greek

Check out Klu Klux Klan for the answer. --Chapuisat 19:43, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

who cares/ they are Nazi's and should be in prison

that's the problem with anonymous posting, you might be the same person that asked the question. And also, a crucial part of free speech is the freedom to say things that are distasteful, or against public opinion.--Frenchman113 on wheels! 20:35, 4 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Two Doors

A friend asked me a logic question, and I have not been able to figure it out. It is a classic question, and he insists there is an answer. Any insight?

Question:

There are two doors, one leads to pain, suffering, and death, one to eternal life, wealth, and happiness. You don't know which door is which. There are two guards to help you, one who always lies, one who always tells the truth, but once again, you do not know which is which. They will allow you one question, then you must choose a door. What is your Question?

Thanks -Chris

Open one of the doors. If you see pain, suffering, and death on the other side, close it and go though the other door. Ztsmart 19:07, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Ask one of the guards: "if I asked the other guard, which door would he say leads to pain and suffering?". Whichever door you get in your answer is the door to wealth and happiness. This, of course, assumes that the guards know about how honest each of them are. --Aramգուտանգ 19:19, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ku Klux Klan

thanks anyways...

i did find the answer

While the above theories deserve merit for their creativity, the true origin of the name Ku Klux Klan is Greek. Richard Reed proposed the name Kuklos meaning circle and with an ear for alliteration, Captain Kennedy added the word Klan. With a little more tweaking the organization knew itself solely as the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan also chose intriguing names for other facets of the organization. Instead of clinging to traditional names for organizational posts, it chose to call the president Grand Cyclops, vice president Grand Magi, and secretary Grand Scribe. Two Nighthawks served as messengers, two Lictors as guards, and all other members would be known as ghouls. The meaning behind these names had no special significance; the Klan chose names based on the peculiar and impressive sound.


No, it does stand for something...it has greek roots

What does Ku Klux Klan stand for?

Nothing, it was originally chosen to sound ridiculous (as were most ranks in the KKK). Try going to the article on the Klu Klux Klan before asking here. Daniel (☎) 20:22, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Well, the Klan part, is, of course, just a variation on clan. StuRat 00:18, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
They got their name from the Greek word for "circle," which is κυκλος, transliterated as "kyklos." Brian G. Crawford 00:50, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Evidence

What's the best way to get rid of a body so there is no evidence? 199.201.168.100 21:05, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Do you want to be a magician? Read Magic (illusion), I bet it has some info for you. Lapinmies 21:38, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
There's no way to know. The films and books only tell the wrong ways, when the detective always manages to find it by the end. There might be good methods, but they are of course kept secret. – b_jonas 21:44, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
"Ebay, the World's Online Marketplace" --Canley 02:04, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

"And I imagine...we get fed to the pigs." [41]--Shandon 22:24, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

(After edit conflict) That may not be true of all films. Snatch offers a method that seems pretty valid:
I hear the best thing to do is feed them to pigs. You got to starve the pigs for a few days, then the sight of a chopped-up body will look like curry to a pisshead. You gotta shave the heads of your victims, and pull the teeth out for the sake of the piggies' digestion. You could do this afterwards, of course, but you don't want to go sievin' through pig shit, now do you? They will go through bone like butter. You need at least sixteen pigs to finish the job in one sitting, so be wary of any man who keeps a pig farm. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single pig can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute. Hence the expression, "as greedy as a pig". -- Brick Top
Though I'm not sure about pigs, but feeding a body (with hair and teeth removed) to animals that can chew through bone, then disposing of their excrement through the sewer system, along with the ground-up teeth, and burning the hair, seems like a pretty valid method. A possible caveat is that forensic examination of the animals may show that they have recently consumed human flesh, but that's nothing a nice big barbecue won't fix. --Aramգուտանգ 22:34, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
You could strip the corpse, wrap it corpse in chicken wire, tie a few cinder blocks (also known as foundation blocks) to the chicken wire, and drop whole thing into the deepest part of a lake or in the ocean. The wee beasties in the water will help break down the flesh and such, some fish may dine on it as well since they'll be able to fit their mouths through the chicken wire. All that will remain is the bones. I don't recommend killing anyone or hiding any bodies. Dismas|(talk) 00:27, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Put body in metal coffin. Drop coffin in deep ocean. Ohanian 09:25, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Put body inside a boat. Sink boat in deep ocean. Ohanian 09:27, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

The best way to get rid of a body without leaving evidence is to suitly emphazi it. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 07:39, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Add it to another body already in a coffin ... hope nobody notices the extra weight. Someone else can bury it for you.
On second thought, just bury in a grave that's ready and waiting for tomorrow's burial.
killing people is generally frowned on though, if you have a corpse sitting about that is starting to make you nervous, you may want to seek legal advice, or culinary advice, mattering on how advanced the decay is.
BigFatDave 12:31, 3 May 2006 (UTC)
Adding a second body to a coffin doesn't work. It's been tried, but Holmes has found it out. See Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax", or read the novel in English online – b_jonas 21:12, 4 May 2006 (UTC)
Drat! Curses! Foiled again! ... I was trying to remember where I had come across that one. Been a while since I read my ACD collection.
What about burying under an already dug grave? Is that at least a new one?
BigFatDave 21:53, 4 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ron Smoorenburg

Hello! I was planning to edit an article on Ron Smoorenburg(martial artists, one of the two assasins in the movie Who am I starring Jackie Chan, seen in the fight near the end), but i don't know if wikipedia has a similar article or something like that. Also, i would like to know if this article would be speedy deleted, so I can start editing it.--Captain ginyu 21:31, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia does not have an article about Ron Smoorenburg, you have to start from scratch. Searching for Ron Smoorenburg in google gives thousands of relevant sites and he seems to be on the top of his field of expertise, so I am sure it will not be deleted. Lapinmies 21:43, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
However, if you start the article without providing sufficient detail it might meet the criteria for speedy deletion. Many stubs are posted saying almost nothing ("_____" is a martial artist"), and only after being speedily deleted under, for instance, {{db-empty}}, does it come out that the poster was writing the rest of the text at the time of deletion. So either write enough before posting, or place this tag at the top of the article to show others that you are currently writing the text: {{inuse}} (just click on it to see how it would format in your article)--Fuhghettaboutit 22:24, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

I checked everything but i cand find an appropriate infobox, so could someone please name it.(infobox that i should use for a martial artist)(--Captain ginyu 12:40, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cost of transporting gas

How much will it cost to transport one gallon of gasoline from Venezuela to somewhere in the US, let's say San Fransico. Because I heard on the news that a gallon of gas is only 12 cents there. So let's assume I will buy gas there for $0.12/gallon, and sell them for $3.50/gallon. Will the transportation costs cancel out my profit? Will it make me lose money? Will it make me become rich? Wizrdwarts 22:24, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

In order to make enough from the resale of the gas to pay the shipping company, you'd probably have to import a whole lot of gas. You can't do that because Venezuela is a member of OPEC and is supposed to adhere to the cartel's rules on production and pricing. The 12-cent price is presumably meant only for domestic consumption and may not reflect the actual cost of producing the gas. -- Mwalcoff 23:14, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Well let's assume they let us resell the gas in the US. And what about a pipeline? Would that cost more or less on both long and short term costs? Wizrdwarts 00:14, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Governments and oil companies put enough regulations in place to prevent people from doing what you are thinking about. BTW, the 12 cents a gallon price in Venezuela is subsidized (partially paid for) by the government of Venezuela. Brian G. Crawford 00:38, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Mind you, fuel smuggling to get around such government restrictions is hardly unknown. --Robert Merkel 01:07, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Interesting that, if such a large scale move takes place, the taxpayers of Venezuela would be paying for low gas prices in California. I can't see that being accepted for very long by the voters of Venezuela. Notinasnaid 09:56, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Hmm, since I wrote this, I found that the kind people of Venezuela already are supplying discounted oil to poor Americans, something that all US oil companies declined to do... [42] and [43] give rather different views on this. Notinasnaid 10:29, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

The last time I traveled out of the country, customs regulations stated that a person could bring $400 worth of goods purchased abroad into the U.S. duty free. That's 3200 gallons of gasoline from Venezuela. Transportation or shipping may be a problem, though. Venezuela isn't exactly next door. Brian G. Crawford 15:42, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 28

[edit] light pollution

Dear Sir, I read some time ago that there is a city in USA that have, at night, a fantastic view of the sky due to a special public ilumination to avoid "artificial light pollution". Would you know name of it? I am working on a project to build several houses on a large piece of land (1,500,000 square meters) at the mountains close to Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, because is very dry and it is 1,200 meters high, the view of the sky at night is beautiful. I would not like to spoil it. I would like to get in touch to get some information about this matter. Thank you, Luiz Lopes

You could read our article on Light pollution, which has a section on reduction of the effects. However, you have to realise that light pollution is caused by a very large number of buildings and light sources (such as those in a large city). "Several houses" over a large area are unlikely to have a light pollution effect on the night sky unless they are densely placed and heavily illuminated. --Canley 02:00, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Luiz, you may enjoy Stellarium, a free program which shows what the sky looks like at any time and place, without light pollution. Take a look. Tijuana Brass¡Épa!-E@ 04:11, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

I belive Arizona and New Mexico have laws against light pollution. -- Mwalcoff 22:39, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Riding ostriches/emus/rheas

Does anyone know of a place in the UK I can go to experience riding an ostrich, emu or rhea (bird), or even get a chance to ride one in a race? --81.77.159.59 00:35, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

I severely doubt that emus, ostriches and rheas would be able to bear the weight of anything more than a small child. --Roisterer 03:04, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
(after edit conflict)You underestimate ostriches. See this picture. it's a moderately common event in southern Africa, though presumably not that good for the birds. Grutness...wha? 03:37, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

You could always play the video game Joust, which allows you to ride one. StuRat 03:32, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Search Google images for ostrich riding as evidence that this is not uncommon. Because of the lack of ostriches and laws about animal welfare, I doubt there's anywhere you can actually do this in the UK. But you can rent a costume that makes it look as though you are riding an ostrich, and these are much funnier and safer than the real thing. --Shantavira 08:39, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Oh dear... images of David Brent have been conjured up for many WP editors now, no doubt... Grutness...wha? 10:47, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] .mov editing program!!!

Does anyone know of any program similar to Windows Movie Maker, is FREE, and has .mov capabilities? The reason is that I wanted to do some editing of some .mov files I took with my digital camera, but Movie Maker cannot work with .movs. gelo 23:48, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

That the filename ends in .mov doesn't mean much. The QuickTime file format is a container format that can contain audio and video tracks in many different codecs. You have to know what kind of data is inside the file if you want to do anything with it. - Keenan Pepper 03:05, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Ok... Can you HELP me with that? gelo 03:11, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Sorry for being unhelpful, but you'd be better prepared to look for an editor if you knew what video codec your camera uses. Does your camera's manual say? —Keenan Pepper 03:40, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Anyway, check out List of video editing software and Category:Video editing software. —Keenan Pepper 13:42, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

This is what I know from the specs which I just found over Ebay for my Kodak V550. Video mode continuous MPEG-4 video with audio capture and playback Video resolution 30 fps @ VGA (640 × 480), 30 fps @ QVGA (320 × 240) Video format QUICKTIME, MPEG-4 gelo 01:36, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

If I can't find a program to edit such .mov files, does anyone know of a free program to CONVERT these files to something editable in, say, Movie Maker? gelo 01:40, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Gelo, check out http://www.opensourcewindows.org/. It lists a number of excellent open source programs which can download for free; Media Coder, which is listed there, is an excellent converter program. There's also an open source website linked to there with Mac software. Tijuana Brass¡Épa!-E@ 04:08, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Checkpoint Charlie poster

Does anyone know what the purpose/origin of the big poster of some Soviet/GDR-looking military officer right behind the current Checkpoint Charlie replica is? I've always thought it to be a replica of a former propaganda poster, but I've never found any information about it, and the article makes no mention of it. (here's a clear view of the poster) Thanks --Colonel Cow 01:51, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

No, it's not a propaganda poster (it'd be a quite odd one if it were - just a guy in uniform?). It's symbolic. The other side has an American soldier on it. --BluePlatypus 07:56, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Alright, thanks --Colonel Cow 19:40, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Screen Plays / Transcripts for Films

Dear All

I'm doing a research paper on a few films and was wondering where I would be able to find printed versions of various movie transcripts and/or screen plays. The movies I'm particularly interested in are:

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington A Raisin in the Sun Midnight Cowboy Wall Street

Thank you!

http://home.online.no/~bhundlan/scripts/MrSmithGoesToWashington.txt; http://sfy.ru/sfy.html?script=midnight_cowboy; http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/wall_street.html; http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/r/raisin-in-the-sun-script.html.

Just google it next time, ok? gelo 03:46, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dating

What you call this dating tht deals with older women dating younger men, while other is older men dating younger women?

We have a whole article on this subject (the things you find while browsing around Wikipedia...): Age disparity in sexual relationships. The section on slang terms should provide some of the answers you seek. — QuantumEleven 07:37, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ferrero Rocher jingle

Can someone help me out with the following song lyrics:

This song is played on the ferrero rocher ad ( and raffellos chocolates commercial) and has the words, "Bring on the night, bring on the night" (dance song very repetitious) can someone please tell me what the song is please?

Kind Regards,

Ellie.

PS. My e-mail is: <email address removed to avoid spamming> so you can contact me.

According to [link to copyvio website removed] it might be an Alan Jackson song... or according to [link to copyvio website removed] theres also a song by Sting with the same name... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 10:45, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pastatutes

I suspect that many girls would be willing to have sex in exchange for money. What would be the best way to go about finding one that is willing & setting up an arragement without offending her or exposing oneself to more than minimal legal risks, if one were wanting to do so? 12.183.203.184 04:04, 28 April 2006 (UTC) Note: This is not a request for prostitution (Who would want to sleep with someone who uses Wikipedia? :) ) 12.183.203.184 04:13, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Legality of prostitution varies by area. For example, in the United States, the only place where prostitution is legalized (to my knowledge) is in some counties in the state of Nevada. Soliciting prostitution in a place where it is legal would be the minimum amount of risk. Tijuana Brass¡Épa!-E@ 04:21, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
I suspect that many girls would be willing to have sex in exchange for money.
Views of that nature will get you into very hot water in many places, how did you jump to that conclusion? As to 'solving' your problem, go with what Tijuana Brass said, find a local brothel (if necessary in a different state/country, depending on where you live) and purchase their services. — QuantumEleven 07:02, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
I'd just as soon that he or she not pursue an experiental knowledge of the issue, really. Tijuana Brass¡Épa!-E@ 07:17, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Pastatutes - is that sex workers who do kinky things with linguini? JackofOz 08:38, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Tee hee...! I hadn't even noticed that! :) — QuantumEleven 12:15, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
You can usually find them at church, and just feel free to ask - no worries about offending them

So, if I were to go up to a girl and ask "how much do you charge for sex?" that would be legal right? I am not scoliciting prostituion, as I am only asking a hooker how much she charges. I don't think prostitution should be illegal. I can pay Olive Garden $20 for a meal so I dont have to do any hands-on cooking, why can't I pay a girl for the convience of not having to do everything myself?? 199.201.168.100 16:27, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Let me spell it out for you as simply and clearly as possible. YOU give her MONEY - SHE gives you SEX - this is called prostitution. Your proposal, in contrast: YOU give her MONEY - SHE gives you SEX. Quite obviously, this is not in any... no, wait! It's still prostituion! D'uh! If it's legal depends on local laws. --Dr. Zarkov 19:21, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
If you go up to a girl and ask how much she charges for sex, that's called "soliciting prostitution" in most places, and legally, it's considered the same as actually paying for the transaction. It's also called "extremely stupid", as most girls will respond by slapping you upside the head. I know I would. --Serie 21:05, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Well, this word is certainly entering my Wiki-wokabulary. --Zeizmic 19:41, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

What if I give her a Wal-Mart gift card instead? 199.201.168.100 20:50, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

  • Q. What's the difference between soliciting a prostitute, and prostituting a solicitor?
  • A. No difference. They're both c---s for hire. (sorry) :--) JackofOz 22:48, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

While I can't understand why anyone would ask sex advice on the Wikipedia reference desk, I will answer the question. Prostitutes aren't that hard to find. Often, they can be found advertising in underground or entertainment newspapers like the Washington, D.C. CityPaper under "Sexual Services." In larger cities, arresting prostitutes who advertise in personal ads isn't top priority, what with all the murders and robberies going on. You will need to familiarize yourself with the lingo to avoid surprises, i.e. "full service" means "vaginal intercourse." I would discourage you from trying to find a prostitute, unless exploiting desperate women with drug addictions appeals to you. It's not that hard to find willing women. Lies and flattery have always worked for me!  ;-) Brian G. Crawford 00:13, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Oooo! Don't forget the people-trafficking. Woo for supporting slavery and abuse of vulnerable women? Just go to a slutty enough bar and you'll find someone who wants to, for free! (Or the price of a couple of drinks) Skittle 19:43, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

I too am absolutely baffled as to why people writing an encyclopaedia on the Internet would be asking about how to get sex for money. --Sam Blanning(talk) 11:20, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

I'd call Loveline at 1-800-LOVE-191. And, I would love to sleep with a Wikipedian, myself. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 07:35, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

You go, girl...--Captain ginyu 11:37, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Who would want to sleep with someone who uses Wikipedia?
Uh, technically, you are a Wikipedia user. Sum0 11:44, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
Irony humour self-deprecation. Skittle 19:43, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps a Pastatute is a Pastafarian who offers sex for money? Alternatively, this could be Pastafarians' form of flirty fishing. JamesMLane t c 10:42, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Train derailment

Dear Sir or madam:

Kindly tell me the details regarding the technical reasons for train derailment.. I am doind a project work on train derailment so that it wil be much helpful to me in my project work...

With regards, R S Ranganathan Government college of engineering salem 636011 INDIA

There are several causes. An obstruction on the line is a common one, but sometimes the rails are broken or a joint comes apart. Did you see our article on derailment? --Shantavira 08:45, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Prominent soap opera fans

I'm trying to compile information to be used on Wikipedia in some fashion, whether it be on the soap opera article, or in individual articles. I'm trying to figure out who prominent, usually in American politics or another non-acting profession, confesses to be a fan of soaps. I've done research and I know John Connally, the former Governor of Texas, would not be interrupted for anything short of a catastrophe while Love of Life was on. First Lady Pat Nixon's favorite soap actor was Larry Haines from Search for Tomorrow. Former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall would actually recuse himself from hearings just to watch Days of our Lives. I just want to know if there's anyone that you may know of, despite my searchings, that I may have left out. It may borderline on crufty but I am a bit intrigued about it. I know people on this page can be horribly sarcastic so I'm asking this in all seriousness. Thank you for your time! Mike H. That's hot 09:48, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

ISTR Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was a huge fan of Coronation Street (no pun in the title intended!) as is her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II (who is believed to be a big Doctor Who fan, not that that would count as a soap). Grutness...wha? 10:51, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
That's already noted in the article. You wouldn't happen to know anything about American fans of American shows, would you? Mike H. That's hot 01:33, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Account/Balance sheet

Why in some businesses do they not inlcude personal assets and liabilities on their accounts? is there a reason?--193.63.158.179 13:15, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] historical Links

Can I use some historical Links in my commercial work

Please be more specific. -LambaJan 18:12, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bladder Infection

How long after getting a bladder infection will the pain persist in my side? It has been 5 days that I have been medication but the pain is still there. My fever is gone though. Should I go back to the doctor? Thanks!

Going to your doctor would be the best thing to do. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 13:47, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rating

Do you know what this site is rated? I couldn't find any rating. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.213.67.178 (talk • contribs) .

Do you mean "rated" as in overall quality or as in appropriateness for children? For the latter, see Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not#Wikipedia is not censored. —Keenan Pepper 13:57, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
If you mean the Alexa Internet web traffic rank, it is 17 [44]. SCHZMO ✍ 16:30, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Probally R because wikipedia is not censored. ILovEPlankton 17:22, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
If we're using the U.S. film rating system, I'd say it's X, not R. For the fact that graphic depictions of sexual acts are shown as well as cuss words. We also have numerous drug and alcohol references. Dismas|(talk) 01:36, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Alcohol our permanent accessory, our party-time necessity. Perhaps the personage requesting this information is looking for the rating because they found that stupid function in IE that lets you specify content blocking and all that...whassit called again...eh, anyway. Wikipedia is an information site with lots of dirty words and naughty things that you should be sheltering your children from; if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 07:34, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Crediting images in the article namespace?

Hi there, I deleted someone's name from an article photo, as I understood it was common practice to credit pictures only in the Image description:

Photos should be credited to the photographer who shot them. This is a universal rule. And there are no Wiki rules that suggest the opposite. In the case with the Lipovans, just like with my other photos donated to Wiki, I ask to leave the byline. This is a common rule for any encyclopidia.

Any advice?

Thanks, --Asterion talk to me 17:46, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

I don't quite understand what your question is, but in general things related to Wikipedia editing should be directed to the Wikipedia:Village pump, not here. --Fastfission 00:16, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
What he's taking about is the caption in a picture. Such as
Image:Big Elephant
. I've seen a few like that and removed them because unless you are a notable photographer with an article then why spam? You might want ot look at Wikipedia:WikiProject Writing Captions and also Wikipedia:Captions#Tips for describing pictures (which indicate that it might be OK to have the photographers name). I just looked at a paper encyclopidia and it appears that all the photos are credited. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:38, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How to install a new processor into a desktop..

Hi there,

I have a reasonable knowlege of computers, yet not to the extent to know how to install a new processor in my desktop computer.

I just wanted to know the steps to installing a new processor [Pentium 4 (3GHZ)] into a Desktop Computer.

I would also like to ask; if in order to carry out installing a new processor whether I would need to save all my important files, as the computer would be wiped, therefore resulting in re-installing my Windows XP, Windows Office and other programs. etc. I also have Wireless internet card in my desktop along with graphics card, would these both need to be re-installed, set-up?

Finally i would just like to thank you for your time, and effort in looking at this question.

Thanks,

Burnham Associates

Whether you need to save your important files should be a non-question. You should be doing backups regularly anyway: I start to worry if I haven't backed up every one of my computers, every day. It might be possible to complete this task without needing to restore anything, if all goes according to plan, but don't take a chance.

Your processor is plugged into a motherboard. While motherboards do take a range of processors, any serious upgrade probably needs you to buy a new motherboard, which would contain a new processor. This would include the BIOS and plug-and-play settings so all of that would need to be done again. You may not be able to reuse all of your memory either: a new motherboard might require a new set of RAM.

A crucial point is space. Not all motherboards are designed to fit the same space. Obviously, one that is too big won't fit in your existing case, but one that is not exactly the same size, but smaller, may be difficult to mount securely (it has to be secure because so many things are connected to it).

If you aren't daunted, open up your computer, and measure up the motherboard. Examine all of the connections to it, to see what the new board must support. Also, evaluate whether a new computer would be more cost effective. Look into how much of your existing software could be just copied to a new computer (Windows and Office, if bundled with the original computer, cannot). Notinasnaid 19:29, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

From my experience, and from most people here, we agree with the above, in that it is rarely worth it to replace the main CPU, unless the machine is less than 2 years old, and you really overbought on the main computer. For example, I have a Shuttle server, where I could slip in a new AMD dual processor chip, but the original processor (still really good) goes in the garbage! (boo hoo) --Zeizmic 23:33, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
I replaced the processor several times and no you should not have to do a full install of windows, etc as you are not wiping your hard drive. There is of course the possiblity that you may have to re-certify windows depending on how much of your computer you change but I have not had that happen with a processor swap. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 05:22, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Look out for other bottle necks, It is important to realise that upgrading your processor doesnt neccesarily make your computer faster. For example, poor FSB speed, ram, ram speed, hard disk speed etc. If you are doing it to improve performance, if you have little knowledge of computers, it may be best to start anew. Philc T+C 16:25, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Often you want to replace processor and motherboard at the same time.

Of course ... if you're replacing the motherboard, you might as well get a new computer case for it to fit into anyway, as it's not much more expensive. And you may need a better power supply to support all the new do-dads on the motherboard and extra cards you might want to plug into it....

Oh heck, end of story, buy a new computer with minimal specs, insert your old cards and hd in there, and use the remainder of the old system to build that cool linux server you've always wanted. < innocent look> Kim Bruning 14:09, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Carpathian Mountains - Slovakia

Kozie Mountain in the Carpathian Mountain chain was formerly known as Vikartovsky Mountain. This info taken from a minerals website online: http://www.fns.uniba.sk/prifuk/casopisy/geol/1997mon/cwsu2.htm

That's nice. So ... what's your question? JackofOz 23:19, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Be bold is a motto here meaning that you can update the Kozie article. If you wish, just post your remark on that article's talk page. P.S. I'll see that the article exists! And PPS : it's just listed as Kozie Ridge (to be created) in the Divisions_of_the_Carpathians. --DLL 20:00, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Boardom

I'm board. What is something entertaining that I can do at work? 199.201.168.100 18:53, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

You can learn to spell 'bored' (and 'boredom') correctly. This isn't really the place for these kind of questions, but go to I-am-bored.com for ideas. Daniel (☎) 18:55, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Why not play a "bored game"? (Sorry, couldn't resist.) —Keenan Pepper 22:34, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
I always like to hang out on the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk, answering stupid questions. --ByeByeBaby 23:16, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
You mean, like this one? Cernen Xanthine Katrena 07:30, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Bored Games were a pretty decent NZ band, BTW (oh, and welcome back CXK - long time no see!) Grutness...wha? 08:45, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanksmuch. I'm once again able to contribute my half answers to the reference desk, sooo...yes. Also, if you want to do something that is both entertaining at work, as well as something that won't get you fired, try doing your job? Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:51, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
I am bored all the time. Try writing something good for Uncyclopedia (a joke encyclopedia) or actually the best thing evar, screw around with PowerPoint and see what you can do. Actually, it's really good at animations and I can do better movies in PowerPoint than Flash ;) Flameviper12 14:41, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
BEST THING EVAR! just thought of it. Read BJAODN. 43 oversized pages of nonsense. It will take you, seriously, not even kidding, at least several weeks to read it all given you put at least 2 hours to it every weekday. Flameviper12 14:43, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

Those are some good suggestions. I like the Bad Jokes & Uncylcopedia. Thanks guys! 199.201.168.100 20:37, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Persuasive Paper

I am writing a paper in English. It must be a topic to persuade the audience on, but at the same time it must offer solutions and opposite points of view. I had a couple of ideas. One was the subject of whaling. I have heard about the controversy of commercial whaling in Norway and Japan. They keep killing whales and want to increse the amount for "scientific" research. I think this is an okay topic. Another idea was very broad...the subject of juding people based on their appearance. (Age, Gender, Race, Wealth, Religion, Physical Appearance) I am just not sure what is a good persuasive topic. Any examples?

Well, it's pretty easy to be persuasive on things you and all your audience will agree with (I assume you live in a country where whaling is popularly abhored). Can you offer the opposite points of view? There are opposite points of view on whaling which you can find and present, but is there an opposite point of view for the other one (that is, can you find anyone who says it's a good thing to judge people based on their appearance). Think closely about what you have been asked to do. For instance, would you get more marks if you picked a difficult point of view and argued persuasively (e.g. could you argue persuasively from the point of view of a Norwegian whaler)? At a guess, the teacher is looking for you to be able to present both sides of an argument fairly: this sounds easy, but most people need practice at this, for a subject they care about. Perhaps you could practice by picking a controversial subject on which you have no opinion of your own. Anyway, if you want more tips, you probably need to give more detail on the assignment (the exact phrasing is important). Notinasnaid 20:55, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Here and here are some suggestions. -LambaJan 05:23, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sham 69, The Angelic Upstarts or The Anti-Nowhere League

Which is the best band out of Sham 69, Angelic Upstarts and The Anti-Nowhere League? --84.64.0.71 20:57, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

This isn't the sort of question we can answer here, as we provide facts, not opinions. For the record, I've never heard of any of them.-gadfium 23:06, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
As stated above its a matter of opinion but I'd guess that if you did a poll Sham 69 would come out on top. They certainly had more chart and critical success than the others but in comparison to other punk bands were somewhat second rate as punk was a fading force at this time. -- DPM.

[edit] my article sited as "advertisement" and needs cleanup

hi, the article i submitted "Agape World Fellowship" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape_World_Fellowship was sited as an "advertisement" and needs "cleanup" but im new to wikipedia and i couldn't figure out how to "cleanup" my article so it would be accepted. can someone help me to do that? though Agape World Fellowship aka AWF is Christian based it is totally free and we accept anyone for citizenship regardless of their religion. most of the people in AWF also have citizenships in several other 3D VR worlds or universes such as Active Worlds, Active Worlds Europe and others. I saw that Active Worlds and a bunch of other VR sites (who do make u pay to join) are listed on wikipedia so i wrote an article about us here too. can you help please? ~Bob Shoemaker ((e-mail address redacted to prevent spam)) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by EarthTrex (talk • contribs) 01:06, April 29, 2006 (UTC).

For one thing, it is written in the wrong grammatical person. Articles should generally not use words such as "we". For another, emphasizing things like "FREE" and "NO cost" using capital letters is not only bad style, its tone is more appropriate for an advertisement than an encyclopedia article. Those are just some of the issues that popped out to me. —Keenan Pepper 00:38, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
I just googled your organization and got 186 hits. That, combined with many Wikipedians' hostility towards religion, especially Christianity, would probably get it deleted. I participate in far too many deletion discussions, so I have a pretty good idea what stays and what goes. Right now, it could possibly be deleted speedily (without discussion, that is) because you don't assert notability. You're not telling us why your organization is notable to those who wouldn't ordinarily be interested in such a group. In my opinion, Wikipedia unfortunately isn't the place to spread your message. Brian G. Crawford 04:04, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
I'm afraid I disagree with you there, Brian: I don't think Wikipedia has a hostile reaction towards Christianity or any religion - the Wikipedia policies apply to everything and everyone. Unfortunately, articles on religious topics tend to be either trying to spread their religion (which is not what Wikipedia is about, I'm sure you'll agree) or very strongly biased and uncompromising, necessitating a difficult cleanup process. By the same token, you could argue that Wikipedia is hostile to pseudoscientific beliefs such as UFOlogy - but it's just a question of holding everyone to the same standard.
I would agree with you that this article is borderline as far as notability goes (Bob: you can read up on our guidelines on Notability Wikipedia:Notability), but may have promise. I am somewhat more skeptical towards it because it was written by the head pastor of the organisation, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and try to clean it up a bit. We'll see what the result is... — QuantumEleven 09:13, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 29

[edit] laws about salaies in small copanes

is there a set of rules and regulation on how salary pay is done in texas?

Not everyone knows that, in Texas, you have the right to be paid in gallons of good oil. --DLL 19:49, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Can you also clarify, are you referring to the Texas-based Native American tribe (Kopanes) or have you just mis-spelt "companies"? Grutness...wha? 02:55, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Blue vs. Red Links

Hello, What is the difference between the links in blue and the links in red? I attempted to find the answer on my own but failed. Direction to a help page with this information would be great. Thank You --24.20.136.251 00:55, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Red links are don't have articles written for them yet. Blue links go to an article that has been written. For example, Earth is blue while Blunderworth the magnificent is red. Dismas|(talk) 01:29, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
See Wikipedia:How to edit a page#Links and URLs. -- Rick Block (talk) 01:58, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
And just why the heck doesn't Blunderworth the magnificent have an article yet?! Cernen Xanthine Katrena 07:29, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Because they need to be suitly emphazi first. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 07:33, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

I want to see an article on pastatutes! --Zeizmic 11:32, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Pastatutes is a corruption of "Pasta Satutes" from 12th century Milan. The statues were formed to help regulate the growing prostitution that was rampant at the time. The city was less concerned with the local prostitutes than the influx of foreign prostitutes. These foreigners were making use of the large pasta production, that was on the upsurge at the time, in their bizzare sex trade. It caused a great scandal and brought down the Milan government in 1345. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 22:31, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

I'll take CambridgeBayWeather for the win, Tom. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:53, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
Wow...Whatever CambridgeBayWeather said makes a lot of sense.. maybe there should be an article for them after all..... ;-D .. Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 17:11, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Positve

Which artists give positive messages to the world?

The artists that do their own homework. Dismas|(talk) 01:28, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Artists are celebrated for their originality, individualism, and self-effort rather than having to ask other people to do their thinking and research for them and copying. Bwithh 02:28, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Which artists give negative messages ? None. They do their best to give sense to the world through beauty. They sometimes make money. --DLL 19:47, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
I'd disagree that no artists give negative messages. The person who created this poster, for example, made a work giving a negative message, as do many other artists working on propaganda or negative caricatures. Of course its kind of a subjective decision whether a message is negative or not. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 20:43, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Small Broken Toe Concern

I broke and dislocated my small toe two weeks ago. I went to the emergeny room. A doctor injected local anesthesia in my toe and placed my toe in the right position. My toe was then "buddy-taped" and I was told to go. I later went to my regular family doctor later, but he really didn't tell me anything. Now that it has been two weeks, I'm worried that my small toe is paralyzed. I still have a numbed sensation in my toe and the toe is still a bit swollen. I tried putting ice and something hot on my toe, but I could feel the temperature changes with a slow reaction compared to my other toe. Will I ever be able to move my small toe again? Will I recover my toe's sensation? If so, how approximatley long will it take? And, when should I stop "buddy-taping"? Please post advice, I am really concered about my toe. Thanks. --Proficient 06:06, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

The smart thing to do is togo back to your doctor with your concerns, and state them plainly and see what he tells you, just keep repeating your cocnern, until the point of annoyance, if he doesn't tell you, try a walk-in clinc or such Treleth 06:23, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
It's only been two weeks, give it time to heal. Broken toes take around six weeks to heal - keep taping it, take some painkillers and be nice to your feet. Natgoo 11:19, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
On average, people break their toes 10 times in the course of their life without noticing. It hurts, but unless its one of your big toes, which are the only toes which are essential (for balance), it doesn't really matter. Philc T+C 16:18, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How do I check if a company name is available for registration?

For example purposes, let's say I want to register a company named Henna Inc. Is there a website where I can check if any company named Henna Inc. has already been registered? --J.L.W.S. The Special One 12:46, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Well assuming that you wish to register in Singapore I would try reading through the Government's Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Singapore site. If not then try google "company registration name of country". I got some good looking hits using Canada, the US and the UK. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:12, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Characteristics of a colt

Our school mascot is a "colt" so I would like to know how to find out the characteristics/qualities of a "colt" to use those ideas in sort of a metaphor type lesson with my students. A colt is a young male horse though I have occasionally heard it used for either sex in America.They are playful and skittish and cute.The adjective "coltish" is sometimes used for young girls,a good example is Audrey Hepburn was often described as "coltish"I think it's to do with elegance and long legs.A colt also represents youth and high spirits also energy and speed,thus is often used for sports teams. hotclaws**==(hotclaws**== 13:54, 29 April 2006 (UTC))

Try Colt or [45]. Daniel (☎) 19:10, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Excorsisms

Hi i was on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Association_of_Exorcists

and i would like to find out how to find an exorsist in philadelphia. how do i do that?

thanks

dave

I think your first step would be to go to your local church and explain to the priest what you want and go from there. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 15:00, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

And when you find someone willing to solve that kind of problem, call PhACT and ask them to send someone along to observe and document the procedure please. alteripse 16:34, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Steve Mizerak, pool player

What has happened to Steve Mizerak, several-times pool champion? I saw a photo of him on the Web where he was at an awards ceremony. He was in a wheelchair, his face looked distorted, and he appeared to have lost about 200 pounds. He was born in 1944, and so is now age 62, and he was greatly overweight for years. Did he have a stroke or something? How is he doing now? I saw him play straight pool at the world championship in 1972 and his skill was amazing.

Apparently he had a stroke in 2001, see http://poolroom.com/news.asp. -- Rick Block (talk) 16:01, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
I met up with him at the Roseland Ballroom in 2000? (around then) when they revived the U.S. Open straight pool championship (for one year, grrrr). He looked very sickly, having ballooned up to such a massive weight that he could barely play. Steve utterly dominated straight pool during his heyday (won the U.S. Open from 70-75 (even though many of his later triumphs went unrecorded as the game was becoming 9-ball and there were not many straight pool tournaments for him to show his prowess to a wider audience). I have heard many times that he had the highest per inning average of any straight pool player in history--somewhere between 30 and 35. What a talent. Last I heard, after his stroke he was wheelchair bound, had slurred speech, and had lost control over some of his facial muscles, but his mind was still sharp. That article posted by Rick Block doesn't make his future prospects look promising. --Fuhghettaboutit 18:41, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Jack Russell Terriers

I have just adopted via rescue, a 2 year old female dog. She looks to me to be a Jack Russell Terrier. However, I can't find a definitive source to tell me whether or not their ears should flop over or stand up, or either or. Also, she has not barked since I got her, although she notices everything going on, is alert to people outside the window or entering the next apartment door. Everything I find says that they are noisy, bark loudly, but she hasn't barked once. Could someone let me know about the ears and the non-barking. I can't find anything to answer my questions at the normal sites regarding Jack Russell's.

Thanks, Diane (Melbourne, FL)

The dog won't bark if it has been told not to during two years. Do you think it is possible ? --DLL 19:42, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
I would go somewhere like here or here and ask there. They both seem to have contact email. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 19:49, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Did you see our article on Jack Russell Terriers? Their ears usually fold forward, but this varies, as you can see. If she doesn't bark, count yourself very lucky, unless you were looking for a guard dog. Believe me, when you are trying to drive a car, there is nothing worse than an excited Jack Russell yapping in the back seat. --Shantavira 09:10, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Family Guy

Anyone know a release date (or even just a rough estimate) for Family Guy season 5 in the UK?

April, 2010. Just a rough estimate.  -- Run!  12:05, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
Image:RefDeskMay2006.GIF
600px


[edit] Mexico

Does someone know what is the name of the coldest place on Mexico?

Given that countries own the air space above their territory, I'd say about ten miles above the Pico de Orizaba. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 20:26, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
According to this website, the coldest place in Mexico (assuming you mean on the land) is the peak of the Pico de Orizaba. SCHZMO ✍ 20:59, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] American Telephone Directory Services

I'm doing a scavenger hunt and I need to know what happens when an American phones Directory Services. I'm talking about what the operator says and such. Computerjoe's talk 20:40, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Either a computerized or real voice says "City and listing, please." Brian G. Crawford 21:38, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

When I call 411, I get a recorded voice saying, "<Local phone company name> directory assistance." Then a few notes of music, and "For what city?" You say a city, and then it says, "Thank you. What listing?" (It might first ask whether you want a business or residence.) Then it says, "Thank you. Please wait a moment," and after a couple of rings, a live voice comes on and either gives you the number right away or asks for additional information ("I have a John Smith on Elm Street and one on Third Street. Which would you like?") The operator then says something like, "Thank you, please hold for the number," and the recorded voice comes back on to say something like, "The number you have requested <pause> five-one-nine five-five-five one-seven-seven-six <pause> can be automatically dialed for an additional <pause> thirty <pause> cents by pressing one now."
Until recently, dialing 411 would connect you directly to a human operator, who would say, "Directory assistance. For what city and state?" The "and state" part came in several years back when they hooked all the national directory assistance together. It used to be that 411 was only for local numbers, and if you wanted a number in New York City, you'd have to dial 1-212-555-1212 (unless, of course, you lived in NYC). I remember when I was in Manhattan about nine years ago and tried to get a number in Paterson, N.J., or somewhere by dialing 411. The operator yelled something like, "Whadda you mean? That's a Juhzee numbuh! I don't have Juhzee numbuhs!" -- Mwalcoff 06:41, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Characters of Will & Grace

Are all of the characters on Will & Grace good or bad?

Yes. Slumgum | yap | stalk | 22:33, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
As with almost all characters on sitcoms, the characters on Will and Grace are supposed to be people the audience (ie Americans) can sympathise with, but with some character flaws to make their lives interesting. In short, they're all good, but imperfect.-gadfium 00:58, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Breasts

Why are men so attracted to breats? Also, why is it sexual harrassment to touch a women's breats? Why isn't it just like touching her arm? 71.250.48.233 22:35, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

I think it's human nature for people to be attracted to traits in their prospective partner that suggest advantages in parenting. Women look for men who can provide (nowadays it's more likely to be a high earner than a strong hunter) and from a man's POV, breasts are useful in a maternal aspect. The instincts to look for these probably stem from their own childhood. I reckon. -- Slumgum | yap | stalk | 22:57, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Breasts are simply secondary sexual characteristics. Men are attracted to them because they evolved to be attracted to them, and they evolved to be attracted to them because breasts are a characteristic of adult females. Chl 14:21, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
it is sexual assault to touch a woman's breasts, not harrassment, assuming the contact wasn't sought. It is based on why people do it, and how they feel when it is done. The rest I couldn't explain perfectly for you, but I assume you were asking out of general curiosity, rather than indignation at society's attitudes. The Mad Echidna 22:05, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes. You can touch your friend's Dagmar bumpers, but if you touch Dagmar's bumpers, you'd probably either be a necropheliac (assuming she's dead), or sexually harassing her. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:55, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Form and format

First off I love this web site and thank you. However, sometimes it can be a nightmare. E.g., "Contact Wikipedia"? Famous last words. Just try it. Do you have clue what a frustrating labyrinth one most go through to find a place to actually "contact" anyone? Do words have meaning? What part of the word 'contact' are we not aligned on? In any event I find two constant problems:

First the site is great because all links are in blue; however when you print the article there is no distinction so you can't tell what is a link and what is not. When I view an article with blue links and want to print it I would expect to get what I see but this is not so for everything appears boldface in print. This makes no sense. Why do you not just have the links in bold type and the rest in regular type? After all if one wants a print out in all regular type (with no distinction for links) you already have a print version that does just that.

Second there is a problem with elementary punctuation here that is so common it is amazing – indeed rather shocking. For instance consider the following: "A story is told that at a large psychology conference, a "lecturer", actually an actor schooled in mellifluous delivery, uttered a "lecture" that was carefully designed nonsense." This quote is (from all places!) an article on stupidity. (See http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~sousa/STUPIDITY.html)

The rule (according to every reputable style manual) is that the comma always goes inside the quote. E.g., "lecturer," not "lecturer",.... Moreover a quote inside a quote should be in semi quotes so it should actually be " ... 'lecturer,' ..." I won't bother going into the remaining problems with that article on stupidity. Suffice it to say it is, itself, syntactical nonsense. And competent writer would ask, "Who wrote this?!" E.g., the sentence should read "A story is told that at a large psychology conference, a "lecturer" (actually an actor schooled in mellifluous delivery) uttered a 'lecture' that was carefully designed nonsense." If one is going to present hearsay ("a story is told") as authority then he should at least rise to the level of a high school freshman. So so much for this author's credibility on the subject of 'stupidity' -- res ipsa loquiter (it speaks for itself.)

Now I do understand that this article is posted as a link provided by the original Wikipedia article and I do not mean to pick on this writer but I find this particular error (misuse of quotation marks) so common at this web site that I am amazed. It only damages credibility of both the writer and the publisher for if one does not know basic rules of punctuation and grammar readers tend to discount their authority as to subject matter. That is, if the syntax can't get past a high school English teacher can we give much credibility to the substance the author presents? The answer is usually "no." This web site is supposed to have "pier review" but what does that mean -- that one dunderhead passes on and approves the work of another dunderhead? Who writes this stuff? Scholars? Students? Mere children tinkering with words? Are the articles credible? Are they authoritative? Can any dunderhead with a 'credential' (so called) publish his or her work here with so little scrutiny? If so how can it be relied on for truth and veracity any more than graffiti on a public wall?

Please don't be offended. I do love this web site. Unfortunately when, on a daily basis, find so much error in simple elementary grammar then that damages your credibility and tells me I must distrust the materials. A research source that can not be trusted is not of much use. Fun perhaps, interesting perhaps, but certainly not worthy of much credibility.

I urge you to show more scrutiny and make editing more easy. At the very least have a high school English teacher edit them.

And now that I have wirtten all this WHERE is the send button?!!! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 4.243.176.127 (talk • contribs) .

The Guardian's style manual is clearly disreputable: "Place full points and commas inside the quotes for a complete quoted sentence; otherwise the point comes outside". HenryFlower 23:03, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Where the punctuation goes with regard to quotes differs between American and British usage, for local style guidelines please see Wikipedia:Manual of Style#Quotation marks. Most of your other questions are answered at Wikipedia:Replies to common objections. You might also find Wikipedia:About useful. Note that all contributors are unpaid volunteers. -- Rick Block (talk) 23:07, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Interesting that "res ipsa loquiter" is apparently not an example of itself (I refer to the fact that its meaning needed to be translated). It's in the same class as "monosyllabic". I wonder if there's a term for this. And we don't have "pier review" here", except for this page. Cheers JackofOz 01:29, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
there is, but sadly I can't recall it. I thought the two terms were autonym and autoantonym, but it seems not. Grutness...wha? 03:06, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Am I missing something here? That article on stupidity was on another website, not Wikipedia, was it not? Why is Wikipedia to blame for that poor grammar? Besides, Wikipedia is plagued with grammar far worse than what is described. If the most grave mistake you can find it a point placed outside of a quotation mark instead of inside, then I'm truly amazed.  -- Run!  11:46, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Info on Wikipedia category percentages?

Hi all! I've always wanted to know how very general encyclopedic categories stack up in English Wikipedia, i.e., what percentage of Wikipedia is Geography, what percentage is History, what percentage is Math, etc. (at least like the categories being used for dividing the Reference Desk!), so like any good asker around here, I first started searching for statistics that would refer to this before asking. While I found a lot on overall size growth for the whole Wikipedia, including users, stubs etc., there isn't much on encyclopedic categories. The closest page I could find was this Juggernaut of subcategories (WARNING: 1.1 Mb!!) which is longer than anyone (including me) could care, and basically says nothing about the BROAD CATEGORY RELATIVE SIZES I'm asking about. It's also as confusing as it has been humanly possible to do, so I believe it's as useless for me as it is for anyone else. (And this is the "Concise" version, nevermind the ultra-juggernaut which is the "Complete" version of the list, 18 MB long!!! >.< )

SO, my questions are:

  • Isn't there an elaborate and serious page which can tell me precisely how the english Wikipedia is subdivided into, say, Humanities, Science, Math, etc. and how they compare in size between each other? (things like pie charts would be lovely!)
  • If there isn't, shouldn't there be one?

I believe info like this is important for the Wikipedia project and should be readily accessible, at least if we wanted more people to get the seriousness of this global project, which I consider of great value to humanity (unless the results come out as "54.6% Pokémon pages, 34.2% Star Trek episode info..."; I hope not!!) Sorry about the lenghtiness, and thanks in advance! Kreachure 23:22, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Didn't you know that Wikipedia was created so that poor African kids living in tent villages could learn about toys they could never buy and TV shows they'll never see? Brian G. Crawford 00:05, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Statistics precisely like what you're asking for are very difficult to obtain, because articles can be in many categories and categories do not form a tree (or even a directed acyclic graph). You might be interested in the statistics related to Wikipedia:WikiProject Missing encyclopedic articles. According to User:Dantheox/Stub percentages more than a third of Wikipedia articles are stubs. -- Rick Block (talk) 01:19, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Counts on the population of all the stub categories are kept at WP:WSS/ST - that may give you a rough idea. There are huge numbers of biographies and geographical articles, if that's anything to go by. Grutness...wha? 03:09, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks everyone, but it still seems to me that there HAS to be info on the amount of articles each category has. I'm no statistician, but as for the problem of articles being in many categories, it shouldn't be that big an obstacle:
  • To get a category's minimum amount of articles, you could count each article only once within that category, even if it's in several subcategories; and if it belongs in other categories, you don't count it at all.
  • And to get the maximum amount of articles of a category, you count the same article as many times as it appears anywhere!
This way you can get a (VERY rough) estimate of a category's number of articles, but it'd be something to start with! And if I just made up this process in the last five minutes, imagine what the real statistics guys could do! (And bots for much more complex things have been created, so the process could be painlessly automatic!) And remember, it's much more logical to count only the "official" articles, so why worry about stubs at all! I'm still insisting this is important information Wikipedia should already know, and I think it'd help tremendously in demonstrating the seriousness the Wikipedia Project has and deserves of everyone. P.S. I'll see how I can talk to the Statistics Awareness guys anyway, but any other opinions or support about this idea are gladly welcome. Kreachure 16:07, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

You might also find Special:Mostlinkedcategories useful. Grutness...wha? 04:14, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] April 30

[edit] A list of roughage foods

I have recently suffered two attacks of ischemic colitis, and I've been advised not to eat roughage foods. Unfortunately, I don't know all foods that are considered roughage, and I haven't been able to find this information anywhere on the internet. Can you help me?

Whole grains, vegetables, fruits, foods with lots of insoluble dietary fiber. Brian G. Crawford 01:20, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Our article on Roughage redirects to Dietary fiber, which has a list of Sources of fibre, which has a sub-list of insoluble fibres including "Whole grain foods", "bran", "nuts and seeds", "vegetables such as green beans, cauliflower, zucchini and celery", and "the skin of some fruits including tomatoes". This website, found while googling for "insoluble fibre", adds "brown rice", "fruits with edible seeds", "lentils", "maize", "oats", "pulses", wholegrain and wholemeal breads and cereals, along with wholemeal pasta. Hope that helps. Jude (talk,contribs,email) 03:15, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Old people

Why do they drive nothing but Buicks and Oldsmobiles? Are they not aware other brands exist? And why do they drive so slow? A Clown in the Dark 01:14, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

  • Actually, it's a good thing that older people tend to drive slower– it's just a sensible adjustment to their slowing reaction time. I would be rather more concerned of older drivers not compensating for their aging reflexes.--Pharos 02:37, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Subjectively speaking, the elderly also tend to favor larger cars as they are often easier to get in and out of, and are typically more comfortable and spacious. Tijuana Brass¡Épa!-E@ 06:06, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Is it actually true that old people in the US do drive those makes of cars exclusively? I would suspect that a number of old people drive other makes. Are Buicks and Oldsmobiles not higher priced cars? In which case it could be a status symbol in their minds. If you had the choice would you pick a Zastava vehicles or a Ferrari?
No, it's not true that old people drive these makes exclusively. It's a stereotype. However it's probably true that a greater proprition of older people drive those makes than the rest of the population. DJ Clayworth 15:36, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
Re the speed part of the question, one could turn it around and wonder why many younger people drive so fast when they know that inappropriate speed (not necessarily even exceeding the maximum) is a major factor in so many road deaths. (Oh, that's right, I forgot - "it'll never happen to me"). Maximum speeds are just that. Many drivers seem to regard them as minimum speeds. JackofOz 02:10, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
I don't know about other young drivers, but I simply drive the speed that feels right for the road. On the open highway between Spokane and Seattle, if the weather's good, that means I'm doing 100+ mph, and a four-hours-by-the-speed-limit drive is reduced to two and a half hours. On the other hand, if traffic's heavy, or the weather's bad, I'll find a semi in the slow lane to follow, because I know he won't be doing anything unexpected, and nobody'll try to merge in front of me. --Serie 22:52, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
When the old people of today were young, most high-status cars were those big American cars. So it might be partly nostalgia.TheSPY 16:25, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Recommendation for a CMS?

I'm looking for recommendations for web authoring/management software to use for a church website. I'd like to be able to set up the site once, and not have to worry too much about site management after that. Then there'll be a handful or two people who add/modify content, which will be things like articles, announcements, and photos. Down the road, we'd like to be able to have streaming audio/video. This would not be a high-volume site, and cost is a real issue. My preference would be something open source. Any suggestions or recommendations? -Rholton 03:41, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Try a wiki. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:56, 1 May 2006 (UTC)


[edit] TSR Forums!

TSR (The Sims Resource) Forums is down! It wont work for me, I was just wondering if anyone else has the same problem? its the first site on google when you type in tsr forums, does anyone know what happened?

They are currently down, however, I don't know the reason (it's probably something trivial like a database rebuild). Wait a few days, and check the main TSR page for any announcements of longer-term problems. — QuantumEleven 08:12, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks! Would anyone perhaps know some other good sims 2 forums, because Im a bit stuck lol

[edit] who is the chatrman of microsoft

brief information about microsoft software company

Go to the article: Microsoft. Daniel (☎) 08:05, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Chatrman - A person who does too much texting. --Zeizmic 19:18, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Or: Chatrman - A person still learning the fine details of how to suitly emphazi something. СПУТНИКССС Р 22:16, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
I thought a Chatrman was another name for a pastatute Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 15:30, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Shiawassee River - Michigan

Thought I added some content a week or two ago, haven't seen it pop up yet. Can someone check what happened ? It had quite a few references to back everything up.

Well, you did add something, but it was to Wikipedia:Articles for creation, which is a page for anonymous users to submit ideas for articles. That means that in order for the article to be created, someone else has to actually use the information submitted (or find more), and then do the article themselves. However, given the amount of nonsense that goes through there (people asking for articles on their dog, that kind of thing), the process can be quite slow.
Looking over what you've added, that's enough information there to start an article. I nearly did it for you, but I would rather invite you to do the article yourself as someone who will have more expertise. It's easy to do so, and I (along with a number of other editors) would be glad to assist you with any questions you have. All you'll need to do is create an account, which is fast and free, type in "Shiawassee River" to the search box, click on the option to create a new article, and go from there. I'd suggest looking over Wikipedia:Introduction before beginning to get an idea of some writing basics. Good luck, and if you have a question, leave me an article on my talk page or at the Help Desk. Tijuana Brass¡Épa!-E@ 09:00, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] bachelors of mass media

i m a student of standard 12th arts in mumbai, india. i wish to pursue a degree of bmm ie bachelors of mass media after 12th. could u plz help me with the subect,the best colleges in mumbai providing this course, courses after graduation in the same field in india or abroad? i want to pursue advertising in my last year of graduation so plz answer my queries accordingly. also i would like to know the importance of this course and the salaries available in both india and abroad?is there an mba related to advertising and mass media? if yes plz send all the possible information about it?

Slow down there, my friend! I can't tell you which is the "best" "Bachelor's of Mass Media" offered in Mumbai, or indeed anywhere in the world. What I can tell you is that the "best" course according to published rankings are not always the best course for you. In my country (Australia), universities have "open days" where you can visit the university, chat to staff and students, see what the facilities are like, and so on. In any case, at university, you are responsible for your own learning, far more than you were at high school. An uncommitted student at the best university in the world will learn far less than a diligent student at a less well-known university. For your salary question, in many countries job search websites also have information about salary ranges for various professions. In general, though, people working in advertising are reasonably well paid throughout the world (in relative terms, probably better paid in India than in other places; you certainly won't be able to afford servants if you worked in Europe; you probably could in India because unskilled labor is so cheap); top creative talent is extremely well-paid but are small in number. Finally, for what it's worth in my view MBAs are best taken by people who already have some work experience. --Robert Merkel 22:25, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Savage Garden music video I WANT YOU

Hi, Am looking for the name of the red haired women from the I WANT YOU MUSIC VIDEO, any help appreciated. Cheers.

You might be better off asking this one on a Savage Garden fan forum. If you do a Google search for "Savage Garden fan forum" a number of useful sites turn up. --Robert Merkel 22:12, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Counting visitors

  • Does anyone have any ideas about how we can identfy how many visitors a certain page has received? I can't really think of a better way to determine how effective my off-site promotion schemes are unless I can ascertain how many people are actually popping in for a look!
Hope you're all well, wherever you are in the world today!

D2 09:57, April 30, 2006 (UTC)

Any good web host (but not necessarily a free host) will offer statistics, which is some information that should include a count of visitors. (The nature of the web is that the counts are rather approximate.) Otherwise, some people use hit counters, though these look very amateurish. Notinasnaid 15:22, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Google Analytics is great- you even get a map of where your visitors are from. HenryFlower 15:37, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
I was really after some cunning way of ascertaining how many 'views' a Wiki page has received. Are there any incredibly cunning ways of doing this?

D2 17:16, April 30, 2006 (UTC)

Nope. Computerjoe's talk 19:31, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Thank you Joe - simple and to the point.

D2 21:27, April 30, 2006 (UTC)

Please see Wikipedia:Technical FAQ#Can I add a page hit counter to a Wikipedia page?. -- Rick Block (talk) 23:46, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Thanks Rick!

D2 09:22, May 1, 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mulholland drive

Hello! This is a question regarding the Mulholland drive(film). In the film, there is a singing audition, and two songs are played: one is something like 16 reasons why i love you, and it is played by a female vocal and a choire, and the second song is played by a female vocal only(in the film she is named Camilla Rhodes), but i haven't caught any of the text, and the song rythm is much like that of the first, but a bit faster. If someone knows how are those songs called and do they exist outside of the film, i would like you to write it because i like those songs very much.--Captain ginyu 12:48, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

I've Told Every Little Star by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern? (On the IMDb most films have soundtrack pages that are useful in cases like this.) David Sneek 16:03, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Thanks, you've helped me a lot.--Captain ginyu 21:07, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Am I in trouble?

I think I posted copyrighted content in an article without realizing. I am a new user, and am unfamiliar with copyright laws. Now the article that I edited is on the possible copyright violations page. I did not realize what I was doing was possibly illegal. I am really worried. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Morganismysheltie (talk • contribs) 16:20, April 30, 2006 (UTC).

Don't worry about it (too much)! Looking at your edit history, I'm afraid I can't find the article you're referring to - did you write it under a different username? In any case, there is no lasting harm done - best if you delete (or, better, rewrite :)) the bits of the article which violate copyright, and maybe leave a message on the article's talk page saying you rewrote / deleted the copyrighted material in question. Voilà - all sorted. On Wikipedia, we assume good faith, and in your case, if it was unintentional, all you need to do is remedy the error (as described above) and all will be cherry. If you've got any questions or are unsure about something, feel free to leave a message on my talk page, and I'll do my best to help you out. — QuantumEleven 16:08, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
It's good to see someone caring so much about these things. Daniel (☎) 17:42, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] time zones

hi, can you please tell me the time difference between Yoshkar-ola, Russia and Adelaide, Australia (South Australi). this would be very much appreciated, thank you.

See Time in Russia, Time in Australia and List of time zones. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 17:37, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
I think the time difference is 5.5 hours, since Yoshkar-Ola is on Moscow Summer Time (UTC +4) and Adelaide is on Australian Central Standard Time (UTC +9.5). SCHZMO ✍ 19:42, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] History of a Subdivision in Montgomery, Alabama

I noticed that of the (17) Neighborhoods listed for Montgomery, Alabama, only the history of two (2)-- (Woodmere Evirons & Cloverdale)) of them were given. As a relatively new comer to the City of Montgomery, and, a resident in one the remaining (15) fifteen neighborhoods, it would be most appreciated if you could provide a brief history of my neighborhood so that I could become better informed.

My question is: Would it be possible to have the history of

                Brighton Estates listed as well?


Thank you, -- " " " "

Sure. You can create it yourself or list it at Wikipedia:Articles for creation if you want registered users to help you create the page. SCHZMO ✍ 22:52, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] College inrollment in Austin, Texas

How many college students inroll in Austin's colleges each year?

Enroll as freshman or are enrolled in college? Undergraduates or graduates students also? Our Austin article list four colleges there, although only two have mentions of their students populations. Over 10,000 new freshman each year though. Rmhermen 17:35, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
The saddest part is that many college-level students actually would inroll is a kollage all acros amirika ... I think at least three of the four horsemen are saddled up and ready to go at this point BigFatDave 12:44, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 9/11

Is their any connections between the date of the 9/11 attacks, and that the US emergency number is 911? Philc T+C 17:24, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Probably not. Maybe one of the terrorists got a laugh in his/her twisted mind out of it. But it's unlikely. Daniel (☎) 17:41, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Most likely...the terrorists tried to give it some symbolic meaning. As in 911 calls usually mean someone's in danger or terror, as was the case in 9/11. Flameviper12 14:35, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
But in the east most of us write the date as dd/mm/yyyy...so the date would have been 11/9 for the terrorists ...so, i guess its just a coincidence..... Jayant,17 Years, India • contribs 15:26, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
Not really, in the US it is convention to use mm/dd/yyyy, as far as i am aware, hence it is reffered to as 9/11 and not 11/9, if the terrorists did try to give it some meaning, I doubt wether the cared if the rest of the world got it. Philc T+C 19:02, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
...in the east most of us... not in the US. However, I believe the hijackers were living in the US. However however, I believe the attacks were organised by someone living in 'the east'. Skittle 20:07, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
By in the east do you mean in the east of the US? Philc T+C 20:45, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
No, I think he means in the eastern world (such as the Middle East). --Maelwys 21:35, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
For what it's worth we use the 'east' dating system here in the UK. -- DPM
Yeh I'm in the UK, english born n bred. But although they were from the middle east, the hijackers attended several months flight training in the US didnt they? also, just for the sake of it dd/mm/yyyy, makes sense, i fail to see the lgic in mm/dd/yyyy, it seems so silly. theres no logical order in it. Philc T+C 17:40, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

I've heard that several convicted terrorists, possibly linked with al-Quaeda, were set to be sentenced on September 12th, but the sentencing was delayed because of the attacks. Also, that bin Ladin had planned to attack later, but something happened, and he was forced to reschedule. All of this is hear-say, but still

[edit] Dams and silt

Do dams create more silt in the rivers? Does this have a negative effect by polluting water or making it murky?

Large dams hold back the natural silt in rivers. They actually make the river clearer downstream. But all that silt in the headpond causes problems for the dam. Some dams actually have silt discharges at the bottom of the dam, but then the river has to cope with a big slug of silt. --Zeizmic 19:16, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

In my day, we filled in our geography problem sheets without any use of computers or internet thingys at all... Bwithh 19:55, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Dams only work because the engineers did their own homework. Imagine, if Wikipedia were available when the built the hoover dam, what would happen if someone asked, "Hey, how do I build the Hoover Dam" at the reference desk! For SHAME. Cernen Xanthine Katrena 00:58, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

Oh dear, was I a pastatute for answering that? Perhaps, they aren't diligent enough to look back. --Zeizmic 01:17, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
Herm, what's a pastatute? Bwithh 01:28, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
Someone you have to pay to suitly emphazi! As to the original question, I was reading an artiicle today which has some bearing on the question: see [46]. Grutness...wha? 06:31, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
See Wikipedia:Reference desk/Miscellaneous#Pastatutes and Wikipedia:Reference desk/Miscellaneous#Blue vs. Red Links. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 14:10, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
It also crops up in Google a couple of hundred times. JackofOz 02:10, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

Actually I asked the question not for homework or buissness...but because i am curious.

[edit] Indian Rice Pudding

I absolutely love the rice pudding at Indian buffets. Its thin, creamy and oh so lovely. Does anyone have a good recipe? Is there a way to make it healthier ( without cream ).

Google it. Daniel (☎) 19:52, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
The rice pudding's name is Kheer. It is based on milk, not cream, but does contain a bunch of sugar. I suppose you could use low-fat milk and artificial sweetner. There's a recipe for it at WikiCookbooks: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Kheer

- :Bwithh 19:53, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Text Size

How do I make the text size of the text in Wikipedia bigger or smaller? (I have Internet Explorer and Windows XP, I that helps) --Porsche997SBS 20:41, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Open up Internet Explorer, go into View, text size, and pick whichever size is comfortable for you. Alternatively, hold down the Control key and roll your scroll wheel forward. GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 21:26, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
I thought you ment when editing so after the edit conflict:
Thanks a lot!--Porsche997SBS 01:49, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

You could use <<font size=large></font> or <small></small> type tags. Also take a look through Wikipedia:How to edit a page and the others. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 21:34, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

  • You don't want to use that last one in articles. - 131.211.210.16 10:10, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
You could also edit your monobook.css to increase the font sizes of various classes. Jude (talk,contribs,email) 06:46, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Multiple Image Copyright violations on Hwang Woo-Suk article

Bwithh 21:07, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
I would try either Wikipedia:Copyrights or the talk page for the article. This is a much more general page. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 21:21, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Already tried the article talk page. It's been something like 2 weeks or more and no replies. I'll see if there's a copyright problem discussion page. Bwithh 21:24, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
There is and I've found them helpful. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 21:34, 30 April 2006 (UTC)