Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 December 20

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December 20

Paul Martin buys CSL Group Inc.? HOW

One month later, in July, 1981 Power Corporation announced it was selling its subsidiary Canada_Steamship_Lines_Inc. for $195 million (CAD). CSL Group at this time included the shipping company, shipyards, engineering firms, and a bus service (Voyageur, previously known as Provincial Transport). The following month in August, 1981, Paul Martin and his friend Lawrence Pathy secured financing and announced their intention to purchase CSL Group Incorporated for the price advertised by Power Corporation.

How did they secure the financing for 195 Million Dollars? --Jones2 15:50, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

I can't answer the specific, but in general it sounds like a Management buyout, and that article has some brief discussion of the finance problem given that management will not normally have sufficient access to funds. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Your question is still extant on the Humanities desk; please don't cross-post. Anchoress 18:49, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Thank You Tagishsimon, you are the first one to give a response to my question, and I must say I never knew that article Management buyout existed and its quite interesting. To Anchoress, I had to post here no responded there for days. Take a look now its about to be archived with out any response there. --Jones2 22:25, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Removed from Humanities Desk. --Jones2 02:13, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

Help with the TI 83+ SE wanted

My TI 83+ SE seems to be running out of juice, though I haven't gotten the "Your batteries are low..." message yet. I was wondering... will archived programs and pictures survive a battery change where the backup battery (the CR 1620 lithium cell right above the AAA batteries) is out of juice? 72.197.202.36 16:28, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Of course not, if the small lithium ion battery is dead then there's no way to store programs without the AAA cells being in, of course if the li ion battery is almost dead, as opposed to totally dead, then you're probably ok, hard to say--74.66.242.190 18:50, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Programs on the calc will survive a battery swap if its only the AAA ones, if the internal Battery is dead, then your calc is wiped out. →Gunthar 04:46, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

FIFA World Player of the Year award.

I heard that in the 90's(if i am not wrong in 1994) one coach had given his vote for "FIFA's World Player or Coach of the Year award" to the player/coach who was not active in football at that time.If this is true who was the coach who did this and to whom was his vote given?

Paypal money gifting program

To whom it may concern:

I've been looking at quite a few forums and message boards online touting how you can make money with a Paypal account and $5.00. Is there any truth or legitimacy to this program? Has anyone out there actually tried it and made any money with this program?—Preceding unsigned comment added by 141.154.54.8 (talk • contribs)

Sounds like a scam to me. Durova^Charge! 18:02, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

More specifically, it sounds like it's probably a Pyramid scheme, where you send $5 to somebody over Paypal, on the promise that a bunch of other people will each send you $5 when you do, netting you hundreds of dollars. Of course, they obviously don't work, see the article for more details why not. --Maelwys 18:44, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Marriage: Do we marry the person we really wanted to be with? Or not?

I was wondering if anyone can comment on whether it is true or not that in some cases a person seeking a marriage partner does not end up marrying the husband or wife they originally wanted or intended to be with? Do we sometimes marry our 2nd or 3rd choice candidates? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 141.154.54.8 (talk • contribs)

This isn't really the place for opinions or general chit-chat, but we do have an encylopedia article on marriage that you may find useful. Friday (talk) 18:00, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

But the short answer, clearly, is yes. In all things, some people settle for the good because they cannot get the best. The follow-up question is "what is the incidence", and the answer to that will be variable as our spouses and our desirable others bob up & down the desirability scale. --Tagishsimon (talk)

There's a mathematical problem named after this (although it's applicable to other situations): Stable marriage problem. —Keenan Pepper 18:10, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

What percentage of married people ended up marrying their 'true love'

is a better way to ask this Q.--Light current 18:20, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

I read something addressing this issue in the Weekly Telegraph some years ago. Some researcher looked into it, and found that husbands and wives who had admiration for one another were still 'in love' into their elder years. Vranak 18:30, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

I suspect that a philosopher or some other such academically motivated respondent will answer this query in a well-intentioned but totally impracticable way; whilst someone like myself who has been married twice (once disastrously and the second time delightfully), will answer along the lines that it all depends where your hormonal, educational, geographic, financial, social and personal/family aspirational instincts lie at the time you make your decision. Remember, marry in haste - repent at leisure - how true that statement is. The presiding marriage official should be obliged to shout out before the ceremony commences that getting out of a bad marriage painlessly is as easy as getting out of a cauldron of boiling tar unaided.

"If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with." Crosby, Stills, and Nash - StuRat 01:47, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

How to survive a lion attack?

Does anybody know what would be the best way to survive an attack my a single lion? I am planning on going on a walking safari in Africa and would like to minimize risk of being eaten. I know that it is wise not to run since a lion's instinct is to chase but if a lion charges a human are there any techniques that one can implement to survive? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.69.137.21 (talk • contribs) 18:49, 20 December 2006

I suggest sticking with your guide, and doing whatever he says. A professional African safari guide is likely to be more experienced in this area than the general public. Friday (talk) 18:59, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Just one suggestion: wild animals will, I think, understand a gleaming blade better than a loaded gun. I'd feel a lot safer walking around the veldt with a very sharp machete or a wakizashi. But, like Friday says, stick with (and obey) your guide. Those guys have been living with the lions forever. Vranak

Also remember... you don't have to outrun the lion, just the slowest member of your group. ;-) --Maelwys 19:04, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

I did a walking safari in Tanzania. They generally will not take you near where lions are active. If lions do approach, the guides have ways of frightening them away with loud noises and such. Also, African countries require guides who take tourists on foot through lion habitat to carry loaded guns and to do target practice, so as a last resort, the guide can shoot. Lions are also much less likely to attack a group than an individual. In sum, there is very little chance that you will see a lion, much less face an attack from one. That said, these guidelines on how to face a mountain lion are probably not too far off for African lions. Before traveling to Africa, I found a source (which I cannot remember) that offered similar advice in the event of an encounter with an African lion. Marco polo 19:06, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Wear a liberal dose of David Beckham's newly launched aftershave lotion. Any living thing stupid enough to come within niffing range of that is hell bent on suicide.

I once read you should fight back, make loud noises, and not look afraid, but I'm not sure if this is true. Also, big cats (tigers at least) would rather attack prey that isn't looking at them, so perhaps wear a backwards facing mask (read that somewhere too). | AndonicO ^{Talk | Sign Here} 21:59, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

They use that in India against tigers, who won't attack until your back is turned. StuRat 01:42, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Try playing dead. If you can mess your pants, even better, that makes you pretty unappetizing (you may not need much encouragement). StuRat 01:42, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

It's an ambiguous expression, but if you mean what I think you mean, "mess your pants" is a lousy idea. Most dangerous predators are excited by the odour of live prey defecating. --Dweller 10:13, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

For predators that only eat live prey (those who don't have livers capable of handling decayed meat), a foul odor is a real turn-off, as they associate that smell with decay. This method doesn't work on pedator/scavengers, however, like hyenas. StuRat 23:52, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

This page says to play dead if a bear attacks you, but fight back agressively against a mountain lion. I guess the difference is you are not prey for the bear, so it will only attack if it thinks you are a threat, whereas you are potential prey for the lion, if you don't put up a fight. Gandalf61 09:16, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Mountain lions aren't nearly as big as real lions, so, in the case of a mountain lion, you have some hope of defending yourself with your bare hands, and even a better chance with a makeshift weapon, like car keys, a flashlight, or bicycle pump. Thus, a mountain lion would be reluctant to attack an adult human who acts aggressively, for fear of being injured. With a real lion, on the other hand, you have no chance of defeating it bare-handed, and they know it, so acting aggressively wouldn't work. StuRat 11:48, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

Why endanger the lion? Don't give your guide any reason to shoot the lion. Don't be a stupid foreigner, just stay in your environment (your 4x4 or truck) and the lion will stay in his. Sandman30s 12:46, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

How do I get to Albany?

I got an invitation to Eliot Spitzer's inaguration in Albany on January 1. How can I get to Albany under $50 from NYC? I did some research and Greyhound and Amtrak are too expensive and the Chinatown bus won't leave until after 2PM when the ceremony is at noon. --Blue387 19:11, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

I used to hitchhike from Long Island to Lake Placid, past Albany. Don't know if that is still legal. --Justanother 19:23, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Do you really want to be hitchhiking in New York state at the end of December/beginning of January? User:Zoe|(talk) 16:59, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Sure. Dress warm. I used to hitch up there to go skiing. --Justanother 17:02, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

If you do hitchhike, take MetroNorth to a stop near I-87 before hitting the road. Based on experience, I can attest that you are more likely to get a ride once you are past the sketchy parts of the Bronx. Also try to avoid wealthy suburbs. People there tend to avoid riffraff on the road. Your best bet is to look at a map, and aim for a working class suburb where a busy road converges with I-87 and stand at the foot of the entrance ramp. If this doesn't work, you might head up the entrance ramp to the thruway, although this is illegal and state cops will hassle you if they see you there. Marco polo 19:55, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

If you do hitchhike, I'd wear a toe tag with your name and address, as that will be a much quicker way to identify your body than resorting to dental records. :-) StuRat 01:39, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Jeez, StuRat, again with the pessimistic discouragement? Battle Ape 04:39, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Is there such a thing as optimistic discouragement ? "I'm absolutely positive you will succeed in getting yourself killed !". StuRat 11:28, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

I thought the preferred method was your SSN in indelible ink... 68.39.174.238 20:17, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

Find somebody else that's going, and Carpool? --Maelwys 19:25, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

You might try Rideboard.com. Marco polo 19:35, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

What does a car rental cost? Are there any Holiday specials that apply?

Atlant 20:21, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

A gotobus.com search (compare ebusticket.com) says you can do the round trip by bus (Dragon Coach) for $50. Wareh 22:39, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Not likely helpful, but Metro-North will get you halfway there (as far as Poughkeepsie) for $25.50 round trip (a bit less if you buy the ticket through their web site). It's conceivable that there might be a way to complete the trip at a reasonable price. --Anonymous, December 21, 08:38 (UTC)

Miniature wargames

Are there any stand-alone rule sets for fantasy miniature wargames that use store-bought figures but don't depend on a specific brand or series? NeonMerlin 21:22, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Yes, at least there used to be. I'm a old-time gamer, and once upon a time there weren't official lines of miniatures to go with thr rules people had. Chainmail (game) has an article on a very early ruleset, even earlier is Little Wars. I'm ceratin there are more recent examples that more current gamers can provide. Robovski 00:15, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Theres always planet wars or something, there used to be a site on it. it required random miniatures and some mutual agreenment on how strong each one could be, like adding total points up to 200, dispursed however you choose→Gunthar 04:50, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

genesis the pop group

hi can antone tell me the first genesis top ten uk single please

According to Genesis discography, a song called "Follow You Follow Me/Ballad Of Big" hit #7 in the UK in 1978. Friday (talk) 22:12, 20 December 2006 (UTC)