Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2006 October 19

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October 19

White Wednesday

I can't find anything about White Wednesday. It's an American (in the south) tradition where high school students take toilet paper and roll anothers house with it in the night... It's done during Homecoming week on Wednesdays.

I finally found it.... but it really should also be called 'rolling' (as in "I'm going to roll your house tonight' or 'we are going rolling tonight.') and be associated with White Wednesday... as that's what it is.

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

In New England (and apparently in Detroit, too, according to the article), some kids practice "Cabbage Night" on the evening before Halloween. There is egging, TP-ing, and pumpkin-smashing aplenty. Ahhh, memories...

cheapest international $$$ transfer

going travelling for 1 month. just found out my credit card charges 3% on all foreign transactions.

what credit or debit or atm cards charge a lower commission? (if a flat fee is listed, assume I always withdraw $100)

Not interested in travellers checks.

Thanks. -Bobby

Credit cards do tend to charge substantial commissions on foreign transactions. In my experience, ATMs are a better bet. Ask around at local banks in your area and find out if there is one that does not charge a fee for foreign withdrawals. Chances are that it will be a smaller, local, or regional bank, and not one of the big national corporate monsters. There is such a bank, Wainwright Bank, in Massachusetts. If you can open an account at such a bank and get an ATM card there before your trip, this would probably be your cheapest option. Marco polo 01:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

What country are you in and what country or countries are you going to? Marco polo's advice is good for a United States resident going to Western Europe, but not as useful for a Canadian or Australian, or anyone visiting a less developed country.

It'll also depend on where you're going. Some countries have very few ABMs and some have millions. In some countries ABMs charge a percentage fee per use: most Canadian ABMs have a $1.00 to $2.50 fee for each use unless you're a customer of the bank that runs them. --Charlene.fic 15:18, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, the strategy I recommended above worked fairly well for me even in Tanzania, a country with about 4 ATM machines, two of which I used repeatedly. (The other two weren't connected to my network.) I did, however, bring some traveler's checks with me and was glad that I did when I was in towns without ATMs (though I loaded up on cash before leaving towns with ATMs). The same strategy worked flawlessly for me in Mexico, where there are linked ATMs even in small towns. Based on my research, I am planning to used this strategy in India, where ATMs seem to exist even in small towns. I think that there are few countries indeed today without ATMs. Maybe this strategy would not work if you are planning a trip to North Korea. As for the $1.00 to $2.50 (CDN) fee per transaction, it is often still preferable to using credit cards because of even larger fees and less favo(u)rable exchange rates offered by credit-card companies. The key is to withdraw as much as you are comfortable withdrawing each time you withdraw. This minimizes fees on a percentage basis. Charlene is right that some foreign banks also add a charge. Normally, there will be a display in the ATM window advising you of this charge. Try to find foreign banks that do not charge for access. In my experience, most don't. HSBC is usually a good bet, and they have branches in many countries. Marco polo 15:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Sexual harassment in high school

Now, sexual harassment is a crime in all of the US. But, my question is how serious is this offense at the given age? A high school male student groping, if you will, a female peer's breasts. Just curious, no implications here. 71.250.22.208 01:31, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

This is an interesting question as it relates to the age of responsibility of the 'groper'. If t5he groper is under 16 (ie a minor), Im not sure if it could be considered a punishable offence in the UK. Other countries may have different laws--Light current 01:39, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Alright, to be more specific, I'm going to say 15. 71.250.22.208 01:40, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It's treated like any other sexual assault; in other words, as well or as poorly as is the norm for that juridsiction. In fact, regrettably, children as young as elementary school age have been indicted for sexual/indecent assault. Anchoress 01:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Sexual Offences Act may offer some insight--Light current 01:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If only I could click on it.... :) 71.250.22.208 01:47, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Try now. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 01:51, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yeah thats an illegal page header (capitalisation)--Light current 01:56, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I think the questioner was asking about the U.S. In Ohio, groping someone would probably be considered sexual imposition, a third-degree misdemeanor. A 15-year-old would probably be charged as a juvenile. However, I can tell you that when I was in school, this kind of thing went on all the time along with a lot of other stuff that is against the law, such as simple assault and menacing. -- Mwalcoff 02:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, apparently bullying is now against the law in UK, but it was rife when I went to school. How can it be stopped anyway?--Light current 02:23, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It's assault and battery. The victim should call 911. -THB

Not necessarily. Verbal abuse is not assualt & battery.--Light current 03:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

What??? They said groping....breasts. -THB 03:48, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If I were to hit my work colleagues, or make fun of their physical abnormalities, I'd be fired. But when it happens in school, it's passed of as "just kids being kids." -- Mwalcoff 03:19, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes it is. But is it? Or do they need educating that it is wrong?--Light current 03:37, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Maybe if they're 5; not if they're 15. Anyway, school administrators are always willing to punish kids for swearing or being late for class. But they often ignore harrassment, or at least they did when I was in school. -- Mwalcoff 04:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Groping is assault, not harrassment. The groper should be arrested. But instead, he was elected Governor of California. User:Zoe|(talk) 22:19, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Who, arnold? How can you criticize him, haven't you ever seen Total Recall or Terminator?! --froth^{T C} 20:03, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

U froth seem to be a big fan of arnie

blue gene

why doesn't blue gene design us some hiv inhibitors or do something useful instead of modelling how metal solidifies.

What makes you think that's not useful? ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 01:54, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If you write a program that's guaranteed to "design us some hiv inhibitors", I'm sure they'll be happy to run it. —Keenan Pepper 02:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

what guarantee? Instead of using guided (but random) assay tests like the pharmaceutical industry does, just simulate it all.

Why don't you help instead of whining about it: rosetta? -THB 02:47, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't have the technical ability, therefore I'm trying to influence people--and via representative politics--policymakers who can force, via monetary incentive, those with technical ability to help. so stfu

I don't think this is going to influence anybody. Vitriol 17:52, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Name of essay by Mark Twain criticizing humans

I once read an excerpt from a Mark Twain essay (or was it a novel?) that criticized humans for killing more animals than they needed. He also talked about how humans are the only animal to blush and how we are actually at the bottom of the animal hierarchy. Does anyone know the name of this essay?--71.154.240.95 02:23, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Try thedamnedhumanrace.com -THB 02:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Thank you very much.71.154.240.95 20:48, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Alcholics Anonymous and religion.

Judges in the United States have sentenced people to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. As several of the twelve steps involve turning your life over to God, and acknowledging the existence of God, isn't this combining Church and State?

Yes it does seem to be draconian. Might as well just brainwash people and be done!--Light current 02:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Alcoholics Anonymous isn't a church or an organized religion. Their def. of God is "as you understand him". -THB 02:52, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

What if you dont understand him?--Light current 02:54, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Being required to attend a meeting is not the same thing as being required to fully participate in the procedures or to believe in what they teach. You can lead a horse to water etc ...... JackofOz 02:59, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

NO. I believe you have to say that you believe in GOD etc. Otherwise they throw you out.

I seriously dispute that. JackofOz 03:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Find a ref. Mine is quoted below.8-)--Light current 03:40, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Daily prayer and/or meditation, as suggested by Step 11: "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out." --Light current 03:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

My understanding is they can't make you do something with a religious component, such as AA or (for juvy offenders) the Boy Scouts. But they can give you the option of doing it instead of another form of "punishment," such as a fine or jail time. -- Mwalcoff 03:17, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Even if the court could force a person to attend AA meetings, it can't force people to profess a belief in God if they don't have such a belief. AA meetings don't work by forcing anyone to do anything. JackofOz 03:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I agree that it's a violation of the separation of Church and State, as did Penn and Teller in their episode of Bullshit! that dealt with just this topic. They also indicated that AA isn't any more effective than secular sobriety orgs. StuRat 04:39, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Not only that, they showed statistics indicating that AA isn't any more effective than no treatment.

At the risk of sounding like a miscreant, I was arrested for DUI about a year ago. Part of my diversion agreement (a way to keep first timers out of jail) was to attend two AA meetings. While at those meetings I was under no obligation to participate-so I didn't. I did however learn that THB is correct, it is "as you understand him." The anon who said they throw you out if you don't specifically mention God is wrong. As long as you are not disruptive they won't throw you out for anything. The whole point of the turning your life over to a higher power is to allow the alcoholic to realize they have absolutely no control over alcohol. As far as vio of church and state, I suppose it may be, but I wouldn't rely on that argument. In Oregon if you do not meet you reqs. for diversion you go to jail. Seems to me 4 hours of AA is better than 90 days in the lockup. And yes, some studies have shown that it isn't more effective than no treatment for most people, but that does not take away from the fact that is highly effective for some people. (btw I consider that arrest to be a good thing, otherwise I doubt my behavior would of changed unless something worse happened, and AA was a small part of that) Sosobra 00:18, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

wikipedia

why is it call wikipedia why not webapedia wikipedia sounds unapealing

webapedia is unapealing too please follow the rules at the top of the page -THB 02:52, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

"Wiki" meant "quick" in a Papua New Guinean language or something, apparently... 惑乱 分からん 03:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

wiki alludes to teenage, goth "Wiccan" therefore it is unappealing.

Wiki is not an allusion to Wicca.See here: [[1]] or alternatively,read this from the same page:"Wiki Wiki" is a reduplication of "waka waka", a Hawaiian-language word for fast. The word wiki is a shorter form of wiki wiki (weekie, weekie). The word is sometimes interpreted as the backronym for "what I know is", which describes the knowledge contribution, storage and exchange function." Serenaacw 05:32, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I think that you need to read Wicca as it really has nothing to do with "teenage, goth". CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 07:00, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Reading Wicca should also make it clear that Wicca isn't all that unappealing either. You could've found out why Wikipedia is called Wikipedia by reading the article we have on the subject. - Mgm|^(talk) 08:17, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like one of the most backward, strange, and unappealing cults out there, not that any of them are appealing... --froth^{T C} 20:01, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Questioner, learn to use punctuation and write actual sentences, if you want anybody to understand you. StuRat 16:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

A 'wiki' site is a site which allows antone to edit pages. so it is a wiki-encyclopeadia Englishnerd 16:56, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, please ask Antone to desist, immediately. -THB 20:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

bad newspapering

Why does reuters allow these sloppy number reportings?

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-10-19T005604Z_01_N18292773_RTRUKOC_0_US-ECONOMY-USA-REMITTANCES.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage2

"Some 12.6 million, or 73 percent of all adult Latin Americans living in the United States, will send a total of around $45 billion to their countries of origin this year, up from some $30 billion in 2004, the report said.

The percentage of immigrants sending money on a regular basis has increased from 61 percent in 2004 to 73 percent in 2006, said the bank, and the average amount of each remittance also grew, from $240 to $300. "

45 billion / 12.6 million = 3,571 which is not 300

3,571 / 12 = 300 meaning it's a monthly rate. why is this not made crystal clear to the reader? Why is this sloppy reporting allowed?

Please explain what is confusing to you. Did you assume that each immigrant makes one remittance a year? -THB 05:11, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Not all people send money monthly; some send it more often, some less often. $300 is the average amount of each remittance. Laïka 07:16, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I think it said that was the average among those sending money "on a regular basis". I would suspect that far more people send smaller amounts, infrequently. StuRat 16:11, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

why does bbc allow false reports ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6063386.stm

Look at the table at the bottom. They interviewed 27,000 people in 25 countries, likely evenly distributed becaues you need ~1000 people for good sampling. Then, they simply averaged all the 25 countries together to get their 30% support some tortue.

Then, they put out false statements like:

"Nearly a third of people worldwide back the use of torture in prisons"

This is a false statement because their poll is not weighted by country population. Israel's 48/43 is weighted equally with a 58/36 from the US with 300 million people!!! and what about the other top 10 largest countries: Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, China, India. what a worthless polll. it should be higher if nothing else.

Not really; they simply talk about people world wide, giving everyone an equal value. Weighting by country would mean that the opinion of an American or an Indian would be worth much less than the opinion of a Vaticanite(?) or an Andorran. Incidently, the reason that they haven't asked in many of these countries (China for example) is these tend to be countries with secretive or controlling Governments, and I'm not sure these Governments would appreciate a load of Westerners flying into their country and asking difficult questions about human rights. Laïka 07:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

In general, when it comes to journalists who screw up interpreting statistical evidence, see Hanlon's razor - assume a cock-up, not a conspiracy. See this web page for some interesting discussion of the exceptionally poor understanding of statistics demonstrated by most working journalists. If you look at a lot of political blogs put together by economists and scientists, this innumeracy is one of the most consistent and strongest criticisms of the working of the news media, and to a large extent it applies across the political spectrum (though, of course, which misuse they get upset about varies greatly depending on your political outlook). --Robert Merkel 07:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

First: "When did you stop beating your wife?" - Don't ask loaded questions. Second: Yeah, it's bad statistics and the article draws unwarranted conclusions. So do you. And so does every news agency in the world on every poll-based news story I've ever seen. (When did you ever hear "As of the latest poll, the change if any in approval rating remains unknown, but within statistical error!") So get over it, already. --BluePlatypus 07:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

After edit conflict:

Laika, China is on the list. And about the question, you assume they didn't adapt the number of people to the population size of the country. This anti-terrorims bullshit is driving people nuts. This is scaring me. People don't seem to realise how easily 'some torture for some reasons' can lead to 'any torture for any reason'. And they probably also assume it will never happen to themselves. People should learn a bit more about Germany in the 1930's. DirkvdM 07:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Oh, I thought he was saying "where are Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, China, India?", not "why isn't data properly weighted from Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, China, India?". My mistake, sorry. Laïka 14:57, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

QUESTION: The business world: Ocean/container shipping

What does a ship agency do? Do they simply receive freight from shippers and then pass it on to the line that they are agents for, or do they also provide some service to the ship while it is in port? Thanks. Ketsitsos--Ketsitsos 06:18, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It's a broad term, can mean a business doing almost anything related to shipping. Things are done differently in different ports and different shipping companies. If you're talking about a major player like Maersk, they do just about everything within one company, the actual shipping, stevedoring, port ownership and management as well as port services. In other cases and places those tasks can be split over a whole bunch of different companies. --BluePlatypus 07:18, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I'll be more specific: I work for a freight forwarding company (logistics, air/land/sea transport, customs clearance, etc) and they want to become an agent for a ship line. This would give us certain cost benefits, among other things. But other ship agents that I've researched seem to offer certain services to the shipping line, such as port services. Can a ship agency simply bring in and process freight for the ship line, or do they have to be prepared to offer services to the ship in return?--Ketsitsos--Ketsitsos 08:37, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

By "ship line", do you mean a company that owns actual ships (the things that float on the ocean), or do you mean a shipping line, which is a completely different matter? A shipping line may own ships, but it also likely owns aircraft, containers, rights to ports, etc. They're different things. Charlene.fic 15:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

There is a book called 'The Box - how container shipping changed the world" by, I think, M Levinson. It is apparently a superb read and would probably answer your question. Container shipping is a very amazing industry. The plugging of some random person's book aside, a firm called 'Enrico Pernis' say on their website

"Our skilled staff are able to grant first class assistance to any kind of ship (cargo, tanker and cruise ships), and the expertise and professional commitment of the Pernis Shipping Agency is at your disposal for all technical or commercial matters, whether it is vessels, crew or cargo." Make of it what you will...ny156uk 18:09, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I think we're getting closer. My company wants to be a shipping agent--they want to forward cargo to the ship; but they're not prepared to be a ship agent, which is what Pernis is referring to when they say, "[we are] at your disposal for all technical or commercial matters, whether is is vessels, crew or cargo." I'm trying to get this distinction thru my bosses' heads, but I'm having a hard time (they're Bulgarian, I'm not; things are getting lost in translation...)

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Magazine 2006

Hey I was wondering if anybody knew when this magazine is going to be released in new zealand????

Thank you, Kieran.

I can answer your question! Not with 100% certainty, but pretty close. The answer is, yes, probably someone does know, or at least has a pretty good idea.

I get such a thrill out of helping people. --Trovatore 08:00, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

...and the only people who know for sure are the distribution dept at Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Magazine 2006. I suggest you contact them--Shantavira 08:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

You could always buy it online, if you don't want to wait. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 09:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

NY Times archived article.

I'm researching a new Wikipedia article, for which I would like to read the article described here. Is there someone out there with a NY Times subscription who can provide me with a copy? Please use the Wikipedia email system to contact me about this. - Mgm|^(talk) 08:12, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a microfilm of the original printed newspaper at a public library near you (or a central library in your city). --Anonymous, 04:37 UTC, October 20.
• I live in the Netherlands. Somehow I doubt they have microfilm for US newspapers... - 131.211.210.17 09:45, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

They offer a link to buy the article. A large public library or university library might be able to get it online, or you could request microfilm through interlibrary loan. Check with a librarian at a large library. The U.S. Library of Congress and large college libraries have foreign papers on microfilm going back a couple of hundred years, so there is likely to be a library in your country with NY Times from 1978 on microfilm. I'm not sure how to electronically send you a copyy without violating the copyright. They have to make a buck. Edison 23:56, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Another thought: Start the article on your sandbox or as an article, let me know the title and I can pull what you need from the article. A Sgt. Louis Vitullo at the Chicago PD had produced a standard rape kit, apparently that was a new concept, and it was used at Chicago hospitals to preserve evidence to help get convictions. There had been 1237 rapes and only 181 convictions before the rape kit was introduced.There were test tubes and swabs for sampling, bag for clothing, clippers for nails, comb for hair collection, slides with mailing boxes for smears. It took about 20 minutes to run the kit. The kits only cost $3. All this before DNA analysis was thought of.Edison 00:07, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Trio Mafuà

Hi,

I need your help. I have found a very great song on one of my Café del Mar Cd's. The song is named "Quente", the Band is called "Trio Mafuà". I didn't found anything useful in the net about them. If anybody knows something about this band, maybe the name of an full album, please tell me.

Jesse

I think maybe you used the wrong spelling. Try googling "trio mafua". -THB 15:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

best calzone?

? --Weaseljenkins 13:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Make your own. Rich Farmbrough, 14:11 19 October 2006 (GMT).

Oh, you didn't need that one 'ASAP?????? -THB 21:30, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

---

A little cafe in the basement of the University of British Columbia Student Union Building back in the early '90s. (Alas, it was a storeroom last time I was there.) Best calzone I've ever had in my life. Sigh. Tony Fox (arf!) 22:51, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• It entirely depends on what filling you like. The best Calzone pizza I ever ate came from the local pizza shop. - Mgm|^(talk) 09:47, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

what if you drank draino?

would you have to go to the hospital? --Weaseljenkins 14:03, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Probably the morgue, but why don't you try it? --Charlene.fic 15:06, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yeah and give us all a rest 8-(--Light current 15:16, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If requesting medical, legal or plumbing advice, please consider asking a doctor, lawyer or plumber instead. Edison 17:47, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Ask this guy. Check if he still lives, however. :) Drano does contain ammonia, does it not?--JDitto 21:27, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Since when has plumbing been a learned discipline?--Light current 10:12, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What is Draino? I'm in England - Adrian Pingstone 12:26, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

It sounds like a liquid for cleaning drains and pipes, etc. My mother had used something like that when the pipes started to get clogged up. If it is what I think it is, that's quite strong stuff... Frizzling and sizzling... 惑乱 分からん 15:45, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

It's actually spelled Drāno. It's made out of liquid lye and sodium hypochlorite. User:Zoe|(talk) 22:25, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What if you cut your head off with a machete? Would it make you ill? What if you were wearing a mask at the time? Get real please!!--Light current 22:35, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Pancakes

I realize that objectively buttermilk pancakes are only different because they contain buttermilk vs. standard milk and also they contain baking soda (according to my cook book). But subjectively, what's the difference for the consumer? I don't really notice a difference between them. Dismas|^(talk) 14:06, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

butter+milk equals buttermilk --Weaseljenkins 14:08, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

For the love of God, Butter + milk does NOT equal buttermilk. Buttermilk is cultured whey - whey is the low-fat liquid left over after they take the butter OUT of the milk. Read the label: commercial cultured buttermilk is usually 0.5 to 1% MF, like skim or 1% milk, and is far lower in fat than regular homogenized/whole milk.

People see the word "butter" and assume without doing any research that it must be high in fat. Buttermilk is actually very good for you.

The difference between milk pancakes and buttermilk pancakes is that buttermilk is slightly tart and gives a slightly sour taste to the pancakes. Buttermilk and soda will also make the pancakes rise higher than regular milk and baking powder will. --Charlene.fic 15:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

In this recipe, the acidic buttermilk is reacting with the baking soda to create bubbles which make the batter "rise". Otherwise you would have to add another acid like vinegar to the baking soda or use baking powder which doesn't require an acid. Baking powder being a later invention people got used to the tart taste imparted by the required acids and the recipe has come down to us long after the ingredients are no longer necessary. Rmhermen 16:25, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I see, thank you. And yes, I was ignoring Weaseljenkins and his vandalistic edit. I'm aware what buttermilk is. Thanks again! Dismas|^(talk) 16:53, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

homicide

who killed cockrobin

{{spoiler}}

The sparrow Laïka 15:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Was it with a "little bow and arrow"... in the Dining Room? --Dweller 15:40, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

{{endspoiler}}

Dickbatman ? :-) StuRat 00:22, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Shazra syed amir ali

Asaloelkum! Sir, Aap ki bari mehrbani hogi k muja Syed Amir Ali (Al maroof Banno kohat wale main) Khandan Kawja Ghareeb Nawaz say talq hay.Aap sab say phaly Banno kohat main tashreef lai is k bad Alighar k zila athroli tashreef lay gay is k bad hukum howa to Ajmeer ga aur wahan say Jaypur gay aur waihn per wisal farmain jaypur ky bary qabrustan may peer matka shah k baraber may mazar hay Aap ka wisal 1920~25 may howa.ziyda murdeen Alighar k zila athroli may hain Aap Banno kohat wale main k naam say mashoor hain may pakistan rehta hoo aur inki Shakseat say mtaliq mazmoon likhna chahata hoon lakin maloomat na hona ky baraber hay. Aap say darkhwasat hay inky k baray may ksi qism ki maloomat hoto azrah karm mehrbani farmain ya koyee isi jga batadain k wahn per jaker malomat hasil ki jasaky.

Faqat Derkhwasat guzar.

Does anyone know what language this is? Maybe we could give him a link to the reference desk in the appropriate Wikipedia? Seems to be referring to Syed Ameer Ali. Marco polo 16:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Having done a little snooping around, my guess is our unknown author is from Pakistan, speaks Urdu and surfs via an Eutelsat connection. But to be sure, it would take more snooping. :-) —Bromskloss 16:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Asaloelkum to you, too! -THB 16:43, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If it's Urdu, this link to the Urdu wikipedia might be helpful. Skittle 21:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

The writer uses the English words "Sir.. wale... main.. say... hay... say... main... is...bad...lay gay is..bad..to...say...gay...per...ky... may peer...may...hay...1920-25 may...may...wale.. main .. say .. may .. say .. ky .. hay .. say .. hay .. may ... per." There seems to be some concern about seeing gay lays in the hay in Kentucky in the 1920's. Or it could deal with Willie Mays, the "Say hey!" kid.Edison 17:36, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Public Assistance

What year did the phrase "public assistance" enter the English language?

This would probably be better placed if it were on the Language desk instead of here. Dismas|^(talk) 16:04, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Disagree. It's more of a sociological/historical question than a linguistic one. User:Zoe|(talk) 22:27, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, fair question. I hope we can dole out an answer. :-) StuRat 16:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

The first mention I found in the New York Daily Times (New York Times predecessor) in an index, searching back to 1851 was "America received from Europe private generosity and public assistance" Governor Kossuth to the Maryland legislature. Said on the Tuesday before January 15, 1852, per New York Times, Jan 15, 1852, pg. 1, "Kossuth in Maryland." This is not quite in the sense of dole or welfare. "The Central Bureau of Public Assistance" takes care of the poor in France, from the Paris correspondent of the paper,"Miscellaneous items of French intelligence." dispatch dated Nov 24, 1853, published Dec 15, 1853, pg2. So the modern use of the phrase is at least that old, although still it does not refer directly to welfare payments, mentioning only doctors appointed to take care of poor sick people in each ward.Edison 00:22, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Which nation would best survive a nuclear war?

A full-scale, all out exchange between Russia, China, the US etc. And by "survive" I mean the highest quality of living for its inhabitants, the most intact economy following the war, most well-placed to avoid refugees etc. Out of all the nations in the world, where would you want to be?

Argentina. -THB 15:56, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

You would want a self-sufficient, isolated island, unlikely to be targeted by nuclear weapons and far from any place that would be targeted. It should also not be at the same latitude as a potential target, as fallout generally travels East-West, not North-South. Easter Island, perhaps ? StuRat 16:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I thought about this once and considered the global circulation of air in Hadley cells and prevailing winds, and I came up with Vanuatu. However, quality of life there may not be so great, and I'm not sure how welcome an outsider would be in the societies of those islands. In terms of quality of life, a better choice might be New Zealand. The main caveat is that New Zealand is directly downwind from Australia during the southern winter, and you have to hope that neither of those two is a target. The problem with South America is that some of the fallout circling over the North Atlantic will get sucked over the Amazon Basin southward. Fallout from Asia tends to get sucked in the same way toward Australia during the southern summer, but not much farther east. Marco polo 16:23, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

On the Beach by Neville Shute is set in Australia after a nuclear war but the fallout is coming ever closer... But as that article suggests a cloud of fallout enveloping the world is unlikely and it is the nuclear winter that will get you. Maybe an inaccessible hot spring would be the best nuclear holiday destination. MeltBanana 17:39, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

There's a convincing little story, and it's a grim one indeed, by Frederik Pohl called "Fermi and Frost" (it won a Hugo award). It's about a full-scale nuclear exchange in the 1980s and the implications regarding the Fermi Paradox. He suggests that Iceland is best placed to survive: they have most of the facilities to produce their own heat (geothermal ... ), hydroponics, as well as a general self-sufficiency. The memorable first sentence (if I remember correctly, LOL) was, "On his ninth birthday, Jimmy got no cake." Antandrus (talk) 17:48, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I've always read that if there were ever to be a true full-scale nuclear war, there would be targets taken out well beyond the usual suspects (US, Russia, China, Europe, etc.). Plenty of bombs would be going off in the Southern Hemisphere as well, so that's not necessarily going to be a safe place (though it would probably be a lot better off than the North for a while).

The good thing about nuclear war is that it's a lot easier to survive than most people think, provided you're not vaporized by one of the initial blasts. If you live in a small town that wasn't deemed worth targeting, and you're prepared enough to take proper cover the immediate fallout (very roughly speaking, from the first good rain that comes along after any upwind nuking), you'll make it, and there will be plenty of habitable land left to use.

So beyond that, it becomes more a matter of understanding both natural human instinct and the remaining technological, political and industrial capabilities of any given area. Natural human instinct, of course, is to panic, go into "every man for himself" mode or, at best, to coalesce into very homogenous communities. You'd want to be in a place with few preexisting multicultural issues, as the divisions between races and religions that are currently held in check by law and basic societal structures would be highly likely to break down entirely into "us vs. them" situations. So most of Europe would be right out, and to a lesser extent Australia and New Zealand. Someplace like Japan might be excellent under such conditions, given their extremely rigid social structures and near-100% racial homogeny; other parts of Asia would be good in this area as well. But the United States would also come out pretty well in this scenario, given that our culture is more one of assimilation than multiculturalism, so racial and religious issues tend to take a back seat to "being American". Combine that with the fact that we'd still have plenty of untouched land, and it wouldn't be a bad place to start, all things considered.

After that, the main problem would be: What can we accomplish given limited resources and transporation abilities? Given that a lot of infrastructure would be destroyed, you'd need natural resources and the ability to manufacture materials. A bigger country, like the US or Russia, would have much more of both even after a nuclear war than, say, Vanuatu, which doesn't have a whole lot of either on a good day. As for an "economy", my guess is that even if you were 20 years old on the day of the nuclear war, you'd be lucky if you saw even the most basic beginnings of an economy coming back before you turned 50. For the first couple of decades, the only things that would matter would be what supplies you had on hand and what skills you had to offer. Knowing how to grow crops or repair machinery is what would count, not paper money from a barely-functioning government, or even gold. --Aaron 17:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Minnesota. Hands down. Яussiaп F 18:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Whoever happens to be in the ISS at the time probably --froth^{T C} 20:55, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• We'd better get on colonizing the Moon and Mars then(hotclaws**== 14:03, 20 October 2006 (UTC))

I would probabaly try to hide somewhere in Antartica. I assume that with a full scale nuclear war, no one would fire at Antartica because it isn't an independent country. Also I think that if all these nukes were flying around the world would get a lot hotter, so who wouldn't want to be in a naturally cool place. Just remember to bring sun screen. :) RENTASTRAWBERRY ^{FOR LET?} röck 03:43, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

You just have to help please please please!!!!

I have tried this here before but to no availe. I have tried official sites and unofficial ones, search engines ect ect ect. I am looking for the chords or tabs to any and all the songs on the 1979 Joan Baez album honest lullaby. If you cant help me i will have to go to the top of something high and start shooting people please please please help me.193.115.175.247 16:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Try this. -THB 16:35, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Why does this person need them so badly? Vitriol 17:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Or try this. -THB 20:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I am just really frustrated, as i can usaully work these things out for myself, and cant find it on the net, please, help me.

Many musicians (or just people with an ear for music) could tell you what the chords are by listening to the music. Do you know any good musicians you could ask to help ? StuRat 16:09, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

A Joan Baez fan talking about shooting people? Come on. Lrpelkey 08:18, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Praying Mantis in Greece

Hello, Could you please tell me why the Praying Mantis is called the Horse of Mary in Greece and specifically Crete. Thank you W. Lennard--82.13.45.7 16:08, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't know about the Mary part, but another English word for mantis, or possibly a type of mantis, is "rear-horse", because, like horses, mantids rear up when excited. ---Sluzzelin 21:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I guess Mary, as in the Blessed Virgin Mary, refers to the mantid's hands or tarsi folded in a prayer-like position in the same way the word "praying" does in "praying mantis". I suppose the creature could be likened to a praying Mary sitting on a (sometimes rearing) horse.---Sluzzelin 21:50, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

"Mantis" IS Greek.

... meaning prophet or seer, true. It has the same root as -mantic or -mancy, but that hardly answers the question. Just because English borrowed from Greek, doesn't mean that Cretans don't have their own unrelated way of describing the same thing. ---Sluzzelin 23:36, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

The great Gadsby

In the book the great gadsby, How did gadsby make his money?

By spelling his name, Gatsby, correctly ? StuRat 16:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Something unknown but perhaps a little shady. -THB 16:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure the book implies he was involved in organized crime to some degree. --Fastfission 18:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I thought it was smuggling, but I don't think the book ever says clearly. The issue is not really how did he make his money, but why.--Srleffler 06:12, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Why does anybody make money? JackofOz

He made his money the old-fashioned way - offset lithography. -B00P 08:01, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I seem to recall that it was smuggling alcohol in from Canada during Prohibition ? StuRat 14:04, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

HAHA trick question... well done jackofoz, it does not say exept the old fashioned way

looking to start a small business

hey guys, im planning to invest money in a business of some sort. i would like to start something that is manegable. i have the resources...i just thought idpost somehting up here for some ideaas that you guys could give some feedaback and ideas on what one should do...just to let you know im currently residing in pakistan where im planning to start something...the ppl i will be targeting have the money and like to spend...just let youknow bout the culture here...ppl like to go out for coffee alot...they love food...since there is nothing else in this town of karachi to do...teenagers usually hang out at cofes and other eating joints where they lounge...apart from that theres nothing that one does here for one...ppl are very social...they are open to new ideas and other sorts of entertainment....i guess that about sums it up...once again any ideas or business proposals would be greatly appreciated....thanks in advance to all those who will be replying with constructive ideas...thanks guys...

Azi

Business plan should help you focus on defining a market and selecting a product or service, pricing and advertising it, etc. There are a lot of good links on that page. You should also think about what you enjoy doing. -THB 17:03, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Beware that, being in Pakistan, if you do anything seen as "Western", you are likely to be targeted by terrorists. StuRat 17:05, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

its actually the total opposite in Pakistan. i must say the people here are very liberal and quite open minded. whether western or not, people here are tolerant and enjoy new things. just to give you the feel of how western Pakistan is becoming, we have various franchises her including mcdonalds and pizza hut and the like...parties and raves here are a daily affair. rest assured Pakistan is nothing like the media has potrayed it to be. you will find it to be the most liberal and open minded muslim country. anyways, once again, lets not deviate from the topic at hand...once again, constructive feedback and ideas would be appreciated...thank you once again

thanks THB...much appreciated...

So did the media just make up the part about western Pakistan being completely beyond the control of the government, but instead being under the control of local warlords, many of whom are pro-Taliban and pro-al Queda ? How about the murder of Daniel Pearl, in Karachi, 4 assassination attempts on Pervez Musharraf, and numerous bombings ? StuRat 21:51, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

He lives in Karachi. It's a huge city. Things like that happen in NYC, too, but that's no reason not to live there or do something. -THB 22:15, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes, but to continue your comparison with the US, the US doesn't have several states controlled by warlords, hasn't had 4 assassination attempts on the current President, doesn't have a terrorist organization making it their base of worldwide operations, and doesn't have many people within the government who directly support that terrorist organization. StuRat 23:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Set up an internet cafe. High speed internet connection, computers (pay by the hour), coffee and pastries for sale, newspapers and magazines to read. Couches and chairs for conversation and meeting people. There are places like that in the US. --GangofOne 00:03, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

It would probably require a reasonably democratic (or lax) government, though... 惑乱 分からん 01:31, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

sturat i just need some postivite """"constructive"""""" feedback and ideas...please dont deviate from the topic.

I believe my advice to avoid being targetted by Islamic extremists by opening a "Western" business is on topic, and may very well save your life. Don't, for example, buy a McDonalds franchise. StuRat 13:58, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Forgetting how to breathe

This isn't a "Go see a doctor"-answerable question at all. ;) I have watched a few times how people can forget how to breathe. Last time, it was a young man who had slept on a table (can't have been comfortable) woke up to start panicking, not being fully able to breathe. It looked nearly like a case of astma, except that the person didn't suffer from it. In Norwegian we sometimes refer to "swallowing one's own tongue", but I don't know the origins of that. This has never happened to me - but it must be relatively widespread? What causes it? The young man survived, just to point that out. 81.93.102.3 17:37, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It happens to me all the time. I never gave it much thought or worried about it much however. --Filll 17:39, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

This sounds like sleep apnea. It can have serious health effects, and I'd seriously recommend that you consult a doctor. --Trovatore 17:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

It happens very rarely. I just wake with a start and immediately realize there is no problem and I am fine.--Filll 18:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

If requesting medical advice, please consider asking a doctor instead. Why would you say this isn't a 'go see a doctor' question? GO TO THE DOCTOR! Tongue swallowing is not a good description, but there are appliances which move the lower jaw forward to prevent the airway being closed off. A sleep study, {Polysomnography) can monitor breathing and oxygenation and document the nature and extent of the problem, and determine if a CPAP device corrects it. See Respiratory system, and see Apnea. Some people have many periods of non-breathing due to neurological problems, i.e. central apnea or obstructions in the airway, i.e. obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP or surgery can help, and allow them to get a good night's sleep. Uncorrected sleep apnea can reportedly increase the likelihood of heart attacks. Many people, particularly if overweight, snore and then actually stop breathing for a long time, then gasp and draw a loud breath when they wake up a little due to low oxygen level. They scare their family to death with the noise, then deny they snore. Edison 18:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Thank you for the answers, but I feel like stressing that I am not experiencing these difficulties. I WOULD, if I could, go to a doc and ask "Hey, why do these things happen?" - but I think they have better things to do. Like, take care of patients. ;) 81.93.102.3 20:45, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• However, Filll should see a doctor. The thing about sleep apnea is that you don't remember most of the times you stop breathing, because you're not fully awake. If you notice this sort of thing happening at all, even "very rarely", that's still a reason to see a doctor. (All the more so if you have it happening "all the time", as Filll said first.) This is important! --Anon, 04:45 UTC, October 20.

Sewing Machine Problems

I took a Home & Careers class in junior high school and learned the basics of using a sewing machine, and I thought it would be like riding a bicycle... you can't ever forget... so, I bought a sewing machine and read the instructions, set up everything (like threading the machine and pinning the fabric) and was ready to go!

For some reason, the machine won't make an inch of chain stitch before running out of thread. It's not taking it from the bobbin on top, but the length I pull through the needle and set to one side. The machine's not in reverse, so what am I doing wrong? I just want to do some basic sewing and get my Halloween costume together in time for the big party. Any help would be appreciated!

Look at the first animation here. It's a chain stich. Either your machine is not doing a chain stich or else you did not thread from the bobbin to the needle. I think. -THB 18:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

And I forgot to tell you to notice that there is only one thread in a chain stitch. -THB 19:41, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Not necessarily, a chain stitch can also include a locking thread from a spool below the needle bed. We do not know what type of machine or stitch mechanism the questionner has purchased. Perhaps he/she will provide that info. Maker/Model etc?

It was just a simple $30 machine from Brylane Home, the Sewing Wizard. I've provided a link. Thank you all for your help so far! http://www.brylanehome.com/product.aspx?PfId=82673&producttypeid=1&DeptId=7500&PurchaseType=G

I really would appreciate any and all help I can get on the matter. Thank you for your interest so far!

I just had a look at the link you provided to the supplier of your sewing machine but didn't see any instructional guidance so unless you want to send me the airfare to your place, from mine here in Scotland, to have a look and fix it for you, I would suggest you either return it via the return instructions given in your link, or ask a local tailor/dressmaker have a look at it. Good Luck.

average rent that a high-end retailer pays for space at the Galleria Mall in Houston

What is the average cost for rent that a high-end retailer pays for space at the Galleria Mall in Houston?

Simon property group owns the mall. Their press releases and annual reports give only averages for base rents for all their malls together. It generally works like this:

Base rent = # of square feet X $ per square foot = $x.xx

Percentage rent = y% X gross sales over $z.zz.

Base rent + percentage rent = Total rent

Usually the $x.xx and $z.zz are equal and the percentage rent is calculated on the amount of gross sales over the base rent.

So total rent depends on how large the store is and total sales as well as the percent charged, base rate per square foot charged, and the amount exempt from percentage rent.

Simon's average base rent for all malls in 2005 was about $35.00.

If you assumed a store size of 20,000 sq ft, a base rent of $50.00 because it's a high end mall, 6% of sales for percentage rent, and sales of $800 per square foot, to pull figures out of the air:

total sales would be $800 X 20,000 sf = $16,000,000

base rent= $50 X 20,000 sf = $1,000,000

percentage rent = 6% X ($16,000,000-$1,000,000) = $900,000

total annual rent = $1,000,000 + $900,000 = $1,900,000

and the total annual rent per square foot = $1,900,000/20,000 sf = $95 psf

Note that I don't know what the square footage, likely sales, likely percent of sales, etc. are--I just pulled them from the air. Maybe someone who works in real estate can just give you an approximate $ amount. See sales per unit area for possible $psf numbers. -THB 19:36, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Contacting people who post

I am interested in a certain part of the entry Magnolia, Seattle, WA. I would like to contact the writer of that entry in order to ask them more questions. Is there anyway i can do that?

You can leave a message on their talk page. Click on their name, go to their page, and click on "Discuss this page." Next time they log on, they'll see something to the effect of "you've got messages". -THB 19:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

First you will need to go through the page history to find out who wrote the material. It might be multiple editors. StuRat 21:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Choking and joking

Has anybody ever died by choking because they said "I'm choking!" but people thought that they said "I'm joking!" and didn't help them? --216.164.192.242 20:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

No, because the rule in CPR is that if you can talk or make noise while choking, then you are still getting air into your lungs, so you don't die from asphyxiation. If you were going to die from choking then you couldn't say anything. -THB 20:14, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

What if they said it rght before they actually were fatally choking. --216.164.192.242 20:15, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Oh, I got you now. It's possible but there's no way to know for sure. If it has happened, it was likely a German tourist in an English-speaking country: see here. Apparently, linguists find dead German tourists amusing, but this sort of senseless death can be prevented by saying "Bhh". -THB 20:20, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

One time I saw a guy choking, and so I figured it was a free-for-all killing opportunity. So I cut open his throat and pulled out the beef.

Did you eat the beef? -THB 21:32, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

"And then he died for real..." as a doctor taught me... =S 惑乱 分からん 21:49, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

NYC law requires a "choking poster" be placed in restaurants. Although I was taught in CPR class to ask the person if they were choking before doing the maneuver, I am not sure that they would even be able to nod if in the midst of dying. Asking might be a good thing in that you might then avoid doing a Heimlich on someone having a heart attack though it also smacks a bit of some weird PC idea like "heaven forbid I should touch another person without asking first". The poster does not mention asking.--Justanother 14:35, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

As a Red Cross licensed professional rescuer I can tell you that you are not supposed to give medical treatment without consent of the patient. Asking someone who is choking is a formality of this. It protects you from bastards who will try to sue you for bruising them or something while performing first aid. If the person is conscious you must ask for permission first. If someone is unconscious they, by law in the United States, have given implied permission for you to give medical care to the extent of your training. The person will not go from actively choking to dead. They will pass out and then slowly suffocate, thus there will probably be time to remove the obstruction and perfrom resucitative CPR after the person loses consciousness. Choking has the same effect as holding your breath, so it takes much longer to actually die than if someone were strangling you, which involves cutting off the blood supply to the brain.—WAvegetarian•(talk) 20:15, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Hunger right after waking up

Why am I never hungry after waking up late on weekends? Is there some biological mechanism at work here? The reason I ask is that I just got up (5pm) and if I don't go to dinner now I won't eat probably until dinner tomorrow but I'm not the least bit hungry... even though I haven't eaten in 24 hours --froth^{T C} 20:59, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Hunger explains the biological mechanisms. Did you mean you won't eat until dinner or breakfast? -THB 21:09, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I meant dinner because I probably won't get up until 3 or 4 tomorrow too :) Fall break. By the way hunger says nothing about not being hungry right after waking up. Surely you experience this too? --froth^{T C} 21:50, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

No, I'm pretty much hungry all the time. I'm sure it has something to do with your hypothalamus, everything does. Probably boils down to being off schedule by sleeping late. The human body is very cyclical and it doesn't like to be interupted. Maybe try the same question over at the science desk. -THB 22:07, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

---

Sounds to me like your metabolism is seriously awry. I'd suggest looking over the healthy eating article to see if there's any tips there that appeal to you.

A couple years ago I was getting quite obese, unhealthy, and altogether at a loss as to how to improve my diet. When I got up in the morning, I didn't really feel hungry, but I ate regardless. I took no pleasure in food. All the traditional advice at the time proved entirely useless. Both fad diets (Atkins) and the usual nutritionist's advice (eat lots of fruits and veggies) simply did not appeal to me.

Anyway, in January 2005, I had an epiphany: I went completely off meat. Anything with legs or wings was right off the menu. Also did away with all dairy with 'uncleaved lactose' -- which basically amounts to no milk/cream/ice-cream, but sour cream/cheese was fine. Also, I minimized trans fats, and any unnatural preservatives/color additives etc.

It took about 18 months, but that major change in diet finally began to show. Now I'm way more energetic. I usually go to bed a little after sunset, and get up around sunrise. I enjoy food again, and I'm taking up ice hockey, mountain climbing, 10 mile walks, all stuff that was completely untenable only 2 years ago.

Also, after about a year, I felt like having dairy again, so I'll eat things with milk in them again. Mostly gelato instead of ice cream, however, and no milk-cereal that was the cornerstone of my diet from about age 5-25.

Hope this is of some help. I can only assume that you're not all that happy about being uninterested in food all day. -- Chris 22:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

• I think you need less energy to sleep than you need if you're awake and active. - Mgm|^(talk) 09:54, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What is the least number of edits that makes me an administrator?

Hi, I am Meno25. I want to be an administrator. I started contributing in Wikipedia in April 14, 2006. I have 501 edits. I have special interests in cleaning pages, categorizing uncategorized images and pages, and fixing dead-end pages. I sent this message from a public computer, so, I am not signed in.

--196.202.92.192 21:12, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

There is no minimum number. But on the other hand most of the time people look for 1000 - 2000. Take a look at Wikipedia:Requests for adminship and see what sort of things others looking for. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 21:19, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I would personally like to see that edit count above 5000 plus at least 12 months experience. You must ask yourself why you want to be an administrator. THen write down the answers somewhere we can all see! Remember, most of the useful tasks on WP can be done without being an admin. --Light current 22:13, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Besides what has been written about the number of edits and the length of experience, the quality of the edits counts too. Large numbers of edits where you merely add redundant spaces and blank lines in places where they will not affect the displayed article will not qualify you to be an admin faster. In fact, it may have the reverse effect. The voters are apt to be sensitive to attempts to artificially inflate your edit count.

Other things count too: some voters look for broad experience, editing not just articles but also talk pages, images, policy pages, etc. Many voters expect candidates for admin to fill in the Edit summary box on the vast majority of their edits. --Srleffler 23:02, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I would say that voters are probably also looking for someone who can find this information on their own, or at least find the correct place to ask this sort of question. --Maxamegalon2000 03:34, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

• I am Meno25. I would like to thank all the users who answered my question. The information provided here perfectly suits me. I plan to be an administrator by July 2006. By then, I will have been a user for 15 months, and will have many thousand edits.

--84.36.143.135 17:38, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

You cant really plan to be an admin, it isnt just a switch you can flip, and you have to ask yourself why you want to be so. People who want to be admins for the prestige and "Fame" (for lack of a better word) are often unsuited for the job. Best of luck to you, nonetheless, I suppose. --The Corsair. 04:22, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

But you can plan NOT to be an admin (like me) 8-)--Light current 15:05, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Geography

What is the term that is used to describe an area of high, flat or mainly flat land?

§ Navaeh Htrae §

Would mesa do it for you? You might also try at the language desk or the science desk, even. -THB 22:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

A larger area might be called a plateau, a very large area might be the Altiplano.---Sluzzelin 22:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I think plateau is the right answer. A mesa has steep sides and that was not specified. -THB 23:04, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Mercedes 1994 SL500

I am in need of some help on a 1994 mercedes SL 500 convertible. I am replacing the plastic windows on one and needs the installation instructions on the top. Is there a web site that I may get a pdf or something?

All though I have installed hundreds of tops in my life time, I have never installed one on this type of car. I was wondering if you would have someting on directions of such a top installation. Or any pointers you may have. Look forward to hearing from you.

If so please E-Mail to xxxxx

Sincerly

Darlene

Sorry, I don't have the answer, but I removed your email address. See the groundrules up top. It's for your protection. -THB 23:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Your local library should have either Chilton manuals or online automotive databases with repair info. Nowimnthing 23:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Who wrote Bible?

Who wrote the Bible? --Jamesino 23:22, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Which Bible? It's basically an anthology with multiple authors. Unless this is another trick question and you mean God. -THB 23:25, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Like I meant the entire Bible. And no, it is not a trick question.Jamesino 23:26, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

A bunch of guys, some delusional, some with good intentions, others trying to push their morals unto others, etc. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 23:29, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Then: "Many people, but no one knows who they were." -THB 23:31, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

See Books of the Bible, each of the books supposedly had a different author and there is different amounts of scholarship about the accuracy or inaccuracy of the traditional attribution of authorship. Click on each book and the first section often talks about this in great detail. Nowimnthing 23:33, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

No one knows any of the authors? Jamesino 23:33, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

See Documentary Hypothesis, Jahwist, and The Bible and History for some more information. ---Sluzzelin 23:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

You are correct in saying that no one knows as a fact any of the authors and no one has for a long time. The bible is a collection of books, some of them so old no one even knows how old they are, some of which have different versions, and to which many authors contributed. About as close as you're going to get is "Jews wrote the Old Testament and Christians wrote the New Testament." -THB 23:53, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Really the only thing known for sure about the authors is that there was more than one. THL 00:48, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I wonder whether all of the oldest writers of the New Testament were Christians rather than Jews... =S 惑乱 分からん 00:56, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

God wrote the Bible. --84.71.11.212 01:01, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

No, he already said it wasn't a trick question. Natas si dog. -THB 01:25, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Christian theology holds that God inspired the people (told people what to write) and the people wrote them down. Several of the books are self referencing- In several of the epistles Paul gives his own name. Though of course it's disputed whether there was some conspiracy or something to rewrite the bible circa 1000ad.. but to me that seems a little far-fetched. The real controversy is over the books that aren't credited, and nobody really knows the authors of those, though we can be pretty sure to varying degrees --froth^{T C} 02:22, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

This is a vast oversimplification. While virtually all Christians hold that some form of divine inspiration was at work in the authors of the various books of the Bible, there is nowhere near uniformity of theology on how that inspiration interacted with human agency. I can't quote numbers, but I'm fairly certain that the number of educated theologians who would agree with "God told them what to write" is less than the the number who would have a more nuanced understanding. –RHolton≡– 03:32, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I used a simplification because that wasnt the point of what I was trying to say and the simplicication sufficed --froth^{T C} 05:56, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Some of the books of the Bible give the name of their author. Most have an author "traditionally" associated with them; the four Gospels in the New Testament are named after their supposed authors, and many of the other New Testament books are letters from various early Christian leaders to Christians in other places. Similarly, tradition attributes an author to most of the books of the Old Testament. The issue is that, viewing the Bible as a historical document subject to usual scholarly scrutiny, there is little hard evidence that many of these traditions are correct. An additional problem is that in some cases there was more than one individual with the same name. For example, the Epistle of James gives the first name of its author, but there are three or four important early Christians named James, leading to confusion about which one of them is the author of this book. (James the Just is usually considered to be the author.)--Srleffler 06:02, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

THB, most of the books in the New Testament mentions the writer of the book. This is one. So I believe you were incorrect in saying "You are correct in saying that no one knows as a fact any of the authors and no one has for a long time.". So in a way, this answers much of the original question by saying that many New Testament writers acknowledged themselves.

And Rholton, I believe theologians/people who study the Bible are more likely to believe that the Bible was inspired by God-since Paul claims this to be so in 2 Timothy 3: 16-17.--24.76.234.98 04:19, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The problem is in interpreting "God-breathed" --froth^{T C} 05:58, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

What's the problem? This is a more descriptive/poetic way of saying that it was inspired by God because it (the idea for writing) was literally breathed by God into the writer. Thus, while the initial idea came from God, the writer's interpretation makes it different-which is why the Bible is so unique. (This also proves the point that God DOES NOT suppress free will when one tries to do according to His will.) The King James version also translates this (from the greek definition) verse into "given by inspiration of God".--24.76.234.98 18:52, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The position of 24.76.234.98 (whom I shall call 24) is the position of a person of faith, but not of all persons of faith. Persons who do not share this person's faith in the literal truth of religious texts do not accept at face value claims made by those texts. For example, in the passage cited by 24 we have a text claiming to be written by someone named James. But we do not know the circumstances under which this passage was or was not passed down by word of mouth, written down by students or followers of the named person or by those claiming, for whatever reason, to have received a letter from the named person. We do not know the circumstances under which it was embellished or revised as it was copied onto a new piece of parchment, as the old one was crumbling, perhaps by a person who considered himself or herself "inspired by god" to add language more fitting for such a holy piece of writing. On the other hand, it might be a verbatim copy of a letter actually penned by someone named James. But, unless we have faith, we do not know. Marco polo 19:55, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Simplifying enormously, traditional Jewish belief is that God is the author of what is known as the Pentateuch, although He got Moses to write it down for Him. The rest of what's known as the Old Testament is believed to be inspired by God, but authored by man. Generally speaking, we "know" who each author is, although one man's "know" is another man's "believe". Taking an interesting and slightly complex example, much of the book of Psalms was by King David, although parts are attributed (often in the text itself) to others, including Moses, King Solomon and even the sons of Korach. Hope that helps. --Dweller 08:02, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

The believed writers of the Bible are:

• various generations of the jews
• A babylonian exile
• unknown scribes
• some psalmists
• King Solomon
• Jesus Ben Sira
• Various (3) people called Isiah
• Jeremiah
• Baruch
• Ezekiel
• Hosea
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah
• Habakkuk
• Zephaniah
• Haggai
• Zechariah
• Gentile Christians
• Non-Gentile Christians
• Luke
• Paul
  • Disciples of,
• James
• Peter
• John

And of course God! The bible was written a long time ago, so, obviously, not all the names are know, and some are educated guesses. Englishnerd 14:32, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

• Note that there were some "books" that weren't included in the bible, however they were covering the same topics. This desicion not to include them was made by I believe Constantine and some Roman Council (I don't rememeber the name). So you may be looking for some other nonbiblical writers as well. They are almost more interesting to study because they aren't really mainstream. RENTASTRAWBERRY ^{FOR LET?} röck 03:53, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

help!!!

can you please tell me a food that starts with the letters "I" "x" "q"

Ice cream

X--none unless you use a brand name

Quince

-THB 23:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, there is "xo", a chinese sauce, but it's a Chinese word. -THB 00:02, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

How about Xanthan gum in lots of foods, Xianbi, Xacuti, Xerosis, Xmas pudding and Xenarthra MeltBanana 01:04, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Damnfine job. (Except for xerosis!) -THB 01:23, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Newspeak! :o --froth^{T C} 02:24, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

quiche (i think its spelt like that, i thougt you spelt it like its said, cus im stupid, (kiesh) lol)

If you're allowed to include a dish (like quiche), as opposed to a plain food, there's Imam Bayildi, a popular Turkish eggplant dish. Actually there are probably a fair number of "dishes", but singular food products are a different thing. Which are you looking for? Do they have to be in English? And if Xmas pudding is okay, there is also Xmas cake. Plus icebox cake. And idlis!!! Could you be more specific? Mothperson cocoon 15:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Quark! That German version of cottage cheese? And how could I have forgotten icing? Mothperson cocoon 20:08, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

And my niece dogs ate pan-fried ika last week (a Japanese cuttlefish-squid). Mothperson cocoon 20:13, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Quinoa. Anchoress 20:15, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Xanthosoma. Anchoress 20:19, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Quesadillas. And, oh, dear - quail. Mothperson cocoon 04:45, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Imokake-dofu,inari-zushi, iridofu, irimame, iritsuke-dofu, irore mame, iso agé, isobe-maki. Obviously the Japanese soy foods section needs some work. Mothperson cocoon 12:46, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Indian pudding and Irish stew, and I'm stopping now, because I'm getting the feeling this is one of those tests to see how inane a question can be and yet still get answered. Food geek hereby candled. I will remember your name, THB. Mothperson cocoon 15:04, 22 October 2006 (UTC)