Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2008 April 26

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April 26

Does This Count

Does making contributions to a political party require that i report these contributions on my income tax the next year???--logger (talk) 03:16, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

It depends on which country you live and pay taxes in. Here in the United Kingdom, after a brief search of the HMRC website, I couldn't find anything about tax allowances for political donations. Astronaut (talk) 10:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

I think this falls under legal advice, which we are not allowed to give. Regardless, a Certified Public Accountant would know much more than we do. Paragon12321 (talk) 15:58, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

If this is for the U.S., there is no place on tax forms to report political contributions, nor can they be deducted. This is not legal or financial advice, just fact. The party receiving your contribution is required to report the amount, your name, and your employer. --Nricardo (talk) 22:44, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

See Federal Election Campaign Act and Campaign finance in the United States. --Nricardo (talk) 22:52, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

This is not legal advice, just a general comment. A donation that you make is not a form of income - it's the reverse - so I can't see how you'd be required to report it. You may in some places be entitled to claim a deduction, but it's surely not mandatory to claim deductions. The only thing I can think of is if the government is keeping tabs on political parties by matching up what they report as donations received, with what individuals and companies report as donations made to them; but that would be an inefficient system because they'd get many thousands of taxpayers claiming bogus donations just so they can get an illicit deduction. -- JackofOz (talk) 23:36, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Donations to registered charities, which can be offset against tax payable in Canada in some arcane formula I am always happy that the computer does for me, require official receipts to be included with a tax return. I would assume that, if political contributions were permitted deductions or offsets, then a similar rule would apply. As far as I can tell from the Canadian (Ontario) tax form, gifts to the government are deductible, but I can see nothing that would apply to donations to political parties. ៛ Bielle (talk) 03:39, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

The same rule applies in Australia, but taxpayers are not generally required to submit their receipts anymore. They have to be able to produce them if they're audited by the Tax Office, but I'm sure a lot of bogus deductions are claimed that are never audited. -- JackofOz (talk) 17:00, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

Flashbacks

Can someone have another's flashbacks? Like flashbacks that don't belong to their life, but another persons life.

Thank You

Always

Cardinal Raven

Cardinal Raven (talk) 04:29, 26 April 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

To have flashbacks of someone else's life, there would have to be some understanding of reincarnation, cause i would think that the only way it would be feasible is that the flashbacks you would be seeing would be of a past reincarnation of yourself. If that makes any Sense. --Nick910 (talk) 04:48, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

That makes total sense. I guess what got me interested was that I had a bit of a flashback of a first birthday party. They were a lot of smiling people and I remember a camera flashing. But when I found pictures of my first (thank my mum) there was only my mum, my pa, and myself. There weren't flashy cameras or many people at my first.71.142.208.226 (talk) 06:28, 26 April 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

See also: confabulation, or it might be your second or third birthday that you remembered. --antilived^{T | C | G} 12:20, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Or a dream. Zain Ebrahim (talk) 13:18, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Well I was awake when it happened. All my young birthdays when I was little were just with my mum, my pa, and myself. When I turned ten I had no more parties. There were never ever big parties. 71.142.208.226 (talk) 20:03, 26 April 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

You might have also had more than one birthday party that year. I recall having a home birthday party and then one at school, for example. StuRat (talk) 04:14, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Studies show peoples' memories can be heavily influenced by others. It's highly unlikely you have any memory of your first birthday, or your second or third. But you may have been told about them later in exaggerated terms ("Everyone was there!") which your mind incorporates into memories indistinguishable from memories of first-hand experience. Most people believe their own memories to be much more reliable than they really are. --D. Monack | talk 17:02, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

Do Macca’s quarter pounders really contain a quarter pound patty of beef?

I’m in Sydney, Australia, so I would love to hear from Yanks and others, including elsewhere in Australia, to get an idea of what variations exist around the world when it comes to MacDonald burger dimensions. I remember these QP patties years ago and they seemed a LOT bigger back then. Today, the QP patty looks a hell of a lot like the ones in the other burgers like the Big Mac and so on. Are we being dudded here? I have a pair of scales at home and I won’t hesitate to deconstruct one of these QP burgers and weigh the patty. Maybe this is a job for the Mythbusters? Myles325a (talk) 06:33, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Apparently there is a quarter-pound (113.5 g) beef patty, before cooking, in a quarter pounder according to our article. jeepers I'm a bit concerned about the preponderance of New Zealand info in this article although...umm...I for one welcome our new alien overlords Mhicaoidh (talk) 06:44, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

McDonalds's's own web site also says it's an actual quarter pound, so I think we can consider that settled. --Anon, 00:18 UTC, April 27, 2008.

And the Big Mac is a hamburger consisting of two 1.6 oz (45.4 g) beef patties. Funny it doesnt look anything like the ads in our image...kind of dry, dessicated, shrunken... Mhicaoidh (talk) 06:47, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

I imagine Macca's quarter pounders contain no beef at all. He's a vegetarian. Malcolm XIV (talk) 08:22, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

I definitely remember Quarterpounders being way bigger than what's shown in the image of the article, way more salad as well. But then, it's been years since I've been to McDonalds.. --antilived^{T | C | G} 12:18, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

That's because our image is honest: food from fast food restaurants never looks like the advert. In fact, our image looks more like the advert image than I've ever seen a real Big Mac look. And if Antilived is thinking a Quarterpounder contains more salad, perhaps a Whopper is being remembered instead. Skittle (talk) 14:52, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Hmmm maybe... --antilived^{T | C | G} 03:21, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

All I know about Mcdonald's food is that it is nasty. There burgers are gross and so is everything else. The only exception is the chicken pieces. Not only that, but they take make those burgers with love. I got a hamburger, because I was really really really really hungry, the bun was slanted, there was barely any mustard or ketchup, and it had one pickle. 71.142.208.226 (talk) 20:28, 26 April 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

Please note, Myles325a, as Malcolm XIV pointed out, Macca is a nickname for Paul McCartney. When I saw that someone had edited a question about Macca's beef burgers, I didn't think "McDonalds", I thought "McCartney" and decided immediately that I had to see this question. Here in the States, McDonalds is never called Maccas (original research, I know). Mickey Ds is the most common slang for McDonalds. Not saying you did anything wrong but some confusion could have occured if you hadn't pointed out in your question that you were referring to McDonalds. Dismas|^(talk) 03:45, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

how can creditors frezze your bank account

(Removed legal question by 75.75.140.217 (talk) 13:39, 26 April 2008 (UTC))

Do not request medical or legal advice. Any such questions may be removed. If you need medical or legal advice, do not ask it here. Ask a doctor, dentist, veterinarian, or lawyer instead. See also Wikipedia:Medical disclaimer and Wikipedia:Legal disclaimer. -mattbuck (Talk) 13:47, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Legal facts differ from legal advice. --Nricardo (talk) 22:35, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Curtains?

When was the curtain invented and when did it's use become common place? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Quidom (talk • contribs) 14:06, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

There's some stuff about lace curatins here from a quick google search. -mattbuck (Talk) 14:43, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

When cave dwellers found that it was a good idea to block the entrance of their cave in cold weather and/or for privacy.86.200.2.102 (talk) 09:58, 27 April 2008 (UTC)Dt

Art websites

What other websites are there like DeviantArt than are art websites? xxx User:Hyper Girl 15:20, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

CGsociety. Its computer graphics. Just go on google and search CG you should fined it like that. That is all I do.71.142.208.226 (talk) 20:06, 26 April 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

Elfwood is a fantasy art site. SaundersW (talk) 21:07, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

yellowjackets (wasp/bee)

I have a question about bees or yellowjackets. After trying to idenify a very large bee in my house, I looked up on wikipedia the types of bees and it seems that my new friend is a yellowjacket. However, the facts on yellowjackets are that they are only .75" in length (typically) for the queen. I don't know if my bee is a queen but it is definitely larger than .75". It is at least twice the size (1.5 inches). Is it possible for yellowjackets to get that large?

Sincerely, Rockie —Preceding unsigned comment added by Rockieb57 (talk • contribs) 15:48, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

It may be a European hornet, or some other hornet ("the largest eusocial wasps"). For the European hornet, "the queen measures 25 to 35 mm (1–1.4 in) long" -- 128.104.112.85 (talk) 16:06, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes, many bees, hornets, and wasps look similar, so check again if the size doesn't match. Better to bee safe than sorry. StuRat (talk) 03:58, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

A good way to identify a yellowjacket is that it has already stung you out of sheer meanness. --Sean 16:39, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

Need Help in Determining a Phone Number

Hi, I keep getting phone calls from 2,500 miles away. Every time I answer the phone the other end won't talk or sprouts gibberish. I realize it might be a stalker, but I do have a really old friend from that area and think it might be them. So, in essence I'm looking for a website, or a company like *69 that can help me figure out who keeps ringing me, specifically their name. Thanks for your help. :) Zidel333 (talk) 16:57, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Could it be a fax machine or dialup modem calling? -mattbuck (Talk) 18:53, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Nope, when I do answer in time its not those electronic/technological sounds. Zidel333 (talk) 19:21, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Does your phone bill show the incoming caller's number? Or if you called your phone company and asked for a list of numbers that called you, would they give it to you? Because once you have the phone number, it's a simple matter of searching for it in Whitepages.com or some similar website. --71.98.13.82 (talk) 20:09, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Your phone company should (for a small fee) be able to provide you with telephone numbers for incoming calls. Calling Directory assistance(aka Information or 411) or consulting a Reverse telephone directory for the originating number's area code will likely be able to get you a reverse directory lookup. (Note that even unlisted numbers usually are still listed with directory assistance.) Also, if this is a repeat problem, your phone company may also be able to help you report it as a nuisance call or harassment. -- 128.104.112.85 (talk) 20:45, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

There are probably many tens of thousands of people who live in the same area as your old friend. To be honest, if it was your old friend would they really be bugging you with silent calls or shouting gibberish? Both are forms of phone harassment for which you should call the telephone company and make a complaint. Astronaut (talk) 02:07, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Also note that cell phone numbers usually can not be found on whitepages.com or any other reverse look-up service. Dismas|^(talk) 06:41, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Not much help I know but here in the UK all we have to do is dial 1471 and the automated answer service gives you the last number dialled - unless the caller has withheld it by preceding your number with 141 in which case you get the message that the caller has withheld their number. Don't you have a service like that? 92.9.229.60 (talk) 12:13, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Knot question

What is the name of this knot that my father taught me to tie my shoelaces when I was a small child?

1. Form a loop in the string.
2. Tie the string once around the base of the loop.
3. Form a bight in the remainder of the string and push it through between the original loop and the string going around it.
4. Tighten by pulling from both looping ends.

I only know this by memory, I actually had to try it out to be able to write how it is done. JIP | Talk 19:14, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Wow, reading this just makes tyeing your shoelaces sound so much harder! Edit: did some research and found that the technical knot name is Reef (Square) Knot [1] --Nick910 (talk) 20:09, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Shoelaces#Shoelace tying says it's a common bow. 84.68.75.56 (talk) 20:19, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, I think they're a few different ways of tying shoelaces, but they all produce the same knot in the end. It's a "common bow" or "slipped square/reef knot"; they're the same thing. Ian's Shoelace Site is an amazingly detailed reference for this. —Keenan Pepper 21:57, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

A Song

Moved my own question to entertainment desk :-) sorry --Nick910 (talk) 21:19, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Wives

How many wives can I have?

How many wives is the world record, present and historical?--Iboneknawibo (talk) 21:50, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Well generally law says one. But I say as many wives as you want. More wives probably would allow you to be able to get away from another if they bother you. Can't help you on the second one cause I don't know how to do most of those specialty links.71.142.208.226 (talk) 21:59, 26 April 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

Well if you live in a polygamist compound in Texas, you can have lots of wives! --Nick910 (talk) 23:18, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

This is not legal advice, but I think you'll find that the law generally allows for one wife at a time. There's theoretically no limit to how many different wives you can have as long as you divorce them serially, or they die serially. Glynn Wolfe holds the record for the greatest number of serial marriages - 29. -- JackofOz (talk) 23:26, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Or you can live in a polygamist compound in British Columbia. I don't know what the record is but King Solomon had a thousand wives. Adam Bishop (talk) 01:21, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Note that it depends on what country you live in. Our article on polygamy (the term for having multiple wives) has a section of the status of polygamy throughout the world, as well as details about the historical context. In the United States and Europe, the law usually restricts you to one wife at a time (see divorce). Other countries, especially some Muslim countries (see Polygamy in Islam), do not have the same (Christian derived) "One Man-One Woman" definition of marriage. For example, according to Islamic law, a man may have up to four wives, as long as he is able to treat them all equally. -- 128.104.112.85 (talk) 17:38, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Oh, I should probably clarify for the people that won't read the linked articles: Even in countries where polygamy is allowed, the rate of polygamy is usually very low. The article Polygamy in Islam quotes a rate of 1-3% of all marriages in the Islamic world.-- 128.104.112.85 (talk) 17:50, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Polygamy is not precisely as defined above; it is the umbrella term for having more than one spouse. Polygyny means having more than one wife, and polyandry, a much rarer set up, means having more than one husband. Note that both anthropological papers and popular articles almost inevitably describe these in non-equivalent ways, i.e. that in the former arrangement, a man "gets" several wives, whereas in the latter, a group of brothers has to "share" one wife. There are sexist assumptions enmeshed in these framings of the situations, so if you really want to study the subject, keep your critical awareness on high alert! BrainyBabe (talk) 16:22, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

Stag badge

The other day I was looking round a car lot and found a small boxish car that I couldn't identify, the only thing I have to go on is the badge on the bonnet which looked like a leaping stag. I live in the UK, so I hope that helps. Thanks DTWATKINS (talk) 22:57, 26 April 2008 (UTC).

Hello DTWATKINS, You looked at a Triumph Stag. Adam (Manors) 00:18, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

...and here is the jumping stag logo: [2]. StuRat (talk) 03:52, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

No that's not the car I looked at, the car I looked at was a hatchback, also the badge is different,the antlers on this badge were more upright. ThanksDTWATKINS (talk) 12:41, 27 April 2008 (UTC).

The best I can think of is GAZ whose badge has a walking stag on it. But I don't think they made a hatchback, and the chances of finding one in the UK are minimal anyway! I have a vague memory of some Asian car maker using a stag badge... but I can't think which. AJHW (talk) 11:35, 1 May 2008 (UTC)