Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2008 April 5

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April 5

Malaria risk in Africa

I was never able to put up a malaria net. I figure in some rooms I stay in, it might be very difficult to put one up. Anyways, I was bitten quite often (literally hundreds of bites) in Haiti. But Haiti was the bush leagues. Kenya and other places must have much more scary mosquitos. Coils are expensive so that's out of the question. 2 coils per night will come out to $8. Multiply that by 100x+!! What's another good solution?

While on the subject, would the kind and knowledgable folk here help me assemble a list?

1. Big backpacker's bag 2. GPS 3. Lots of Energizer Lithium AAs 4. 4 shirts/2pants (packing way too light?) 5. Hand sanitizer (life saver!) 6. A lot of sunscreen 7. Conical hat popular w/ farmers in SE Asia 8. Lots of doxy in 2 bottles just in case 9. Cipro and some over the counter stuff 10. One of those uv water bottles or just a 30 of those purification tablets? 11. Double AA powered digital camera 12. Necklace passport pouch 13. 10 packs of Marlboros

I know I'm still missing something. I know there are a lot of experienced travellers here. Thanks.

lotsofissues 01:59, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

An infectious diseases doctor or someone specializing in travel medicine will be happy to discuss the idea of malaria prophylaxis with you, and can prescribe the needed medication, as well as other health issues arising from travel in Africa. You may want to talk a look at mefloquine- Nunh-huh 02:53, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The travel clinic prescribed doxy. Lotsofissues 03:40, 5 April 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.130.192.59 (talk)

I don't know if this has anything to add for you, but it looks interesting for travelling light, [1] Julia Rossi (talk) 00:50, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Here are two Africa-specific packing lists. WikiJedits (talk) 18:34, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Are the Marlboros supposed to be for trading, or are you a chain smoker? If it's trading I would have thought good old fashioned US$ would be much better. 199.71.183.2 (talk) 17:19, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for the lists--very helpful. Reminded me to get syringes. Marlboros are for trading. Plenty of people will offer me tea and food. I'll share w/ them some smokes. Plus, I will encounter peacekeepers in places like southern Sudan so it will be useful for bribery.

Lotsofissues 00:47, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

recently used timbers..

what are the types of timber,which are using now a days in the construction od ledge bettend doors??? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 221.134.236.118 (talk) 13:13, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The oldest door in the UK, the door to the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey, is such a door and dates back to Edward the Confessor. It is made out of five oak planks, three battens and iron straps. The battens are fully recessed, unusual for this type of door. The age, by the way, was determined using the method of dendrochronology.

Today, ledged and battened doors (optionally braced) are mainly used in rural areas for stables and utility buildings. Clearly, shrinkage and warping of the timber is a problem to be avoided, but otherwise any local wood may be used. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 16:36, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Is that in the article? I can't seem to find it there and it looks like it would be important (editing hint hint Herr Zoom). Is it the same as a ledge and brace[2] door? Julia Rossi (talk) 00:42, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

It depends what country you are in, and even then local timber may not be suitable. And most timbers these days need to be treated and painted. Pinus radiata is widely used in many countries because it's cheap and readily available, but its not that good... Mhicaoidh (talk) 06:25, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

importance of carpentry in architecture??

. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 221.134.236.118 (talk) 13:18, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Some relevant articles are:

• Woodhenge, well, not a lot of carpentry there...
• Stave churches
• Japanese architecture
• Chinese architecture
• Log cabin / log home —Preceding unsigned comment added by Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk • contribs) 18:44, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
• Timber framing (Fachwerk) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk • contribs) 18:23, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
• Roof truss --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 16:51, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Well, yes. It's very important in a building containing timbers, and many buildings do. Warofdreams talk 21:06, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

And even important to insitu concrete buildings that need good, accurate formwork in which concrete is poured. Mhicaoidh (talk) 06:20, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Have you seen the articles carpenter, joiner and cabinet maker? I couldn't find one on pole houses, but you see some on the Australian east coast (except they're quite like woodhenge above). Julia Rossi (talk) 05:05, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Ship names

What do the initials "S.S." stand for in a ship's name?

Leemurray —Preceding unsigned comment added by Leemurray (talk • contribs) 14:27, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Steamship. Oda Mari (talk) 14:30, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

See the article Ship prefix. APL (talk) 17:47, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

'MV' is motor vessel ( just to throw in my half-penny worth).--Artjo (talk) 05:45, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Not merchant vessel? —Tamfang (talk) 23:26, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

HMS is Her Majesty's Ship86.202.27.130 (talk) 14:46, 6 April 2008 (UTC)DT

...or His Majesty's Ship, depending on the gender of the Majesty on that day. StuRat (talk) 05:00, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

You might enjoy our Ship prefix article. Or, if you're less literally minded, this one.

Atlant (talk) 16:02, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

It's an ill wind that doesn't blow someone in Zimbabwe some good............

So who is it that benefits from Robert Mugabe's continuing and persistent presence as President of Zimbabwe? How can his bankrupt regime continue in power after having ruined the "bread-basket" of Africa during his 28 year "reign", without the support of vested interests. So without naming names, what institutions are these supporters? 81.145.241.245 (talk) 18:22, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The article on Robert Mugabe is a good place to start. It has quotes from supporters such as Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, and covers Mugabe's past record, including successes. In addition, support comes from Army veterans who are often favoured by government policy. They also feature heavily among the beneficiaries of land reform in Zimbabwe, who have reason to support Mugabe. Warofdreams talk 21:22, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

And some old-timers may remember Mugabe fondly as a hero who worked to end colonial rule. StuRat (talk) 03:33, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Not joking here, but is that true? Are there many still alive? He has a ba-ad rep, so I'm wondering who's around beyond the military and government circles. Julia Rossi (talk) 05:39, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Please Julia, you make me feel ancient. The events, such as the Lancaster House Agreement of 1979 and the Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 1980, that led to the end of white minority rule in Rhodesia, happened less than 30 years ago. For more details, see History of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, and Ian Smith. Many of us who were around in 1979 have no intention of kicking the bucket for quite a while yet. The same is true in Zimbabwe, their current tragic life expectancy notwithstanding. I's not like the US is about to forget anytime soon about the Vietnam War, which was long over when these events took place. --mglg_(talk) 21:30, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Maybe what Stu meant was that there are people who remember his early days, when he was indeed considered a hero by many. Those early actions can't be erased, just as Hitler's good deeds are acknowledged alongside all the bad stuff he did - but whether people remember Hitler or Mugabe "fondly" is a moot point. -- JackofOz (talk) 23:21, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Sometimes it's much simpler than that. In a radio interview on the CBC a few days ago a Zimbabwean voter said simply "I'm voting for Mugabe because he gave me this land.". Plenty of people can benefit when a government hands out favours. I'm also pretty sure Mugabe is attempting to pass the blame for Zimbabwe's failures onto someone else, and somebody almost certainly believes him. 199.71.183.2 (talk) 17:16, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Sorry mglg, I was just dazzled by Mugabe's birth-date and the media image of his death-rate government and needed that context. Thanks, Julia Rossi (talk) 23:55, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

I wonder if there's a general trend of leaders, who once were "hereos", becomming evil in their old age. Romania's former leader Nicolae Ceauşescu also comes to mind. With Castro, on the other hand, he seemed to be at his most evil right after the revolution, when he ordered mass executions. He had actually become less evil in later years. StuRat (talk) 11:34, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Fake or not?

Could someone who is experienced at photoshopping please tell me if this picture of Avril Lavigne is a fake. I hope to god it is, because if thats her nipple, I am going to have some seriously bad dreams tonight. 79.75.223.210 (talk) 18:51, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Looks too far up the breast to be real. Looks fake to me. --Captain Ref Desk (talk) 19:14, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The comments on the site you've linked to appear to agree [3] D0762 (talk) 19:27, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Looks like poor Photoshopping, unless she has Supernumerary nipple like this female [4] (not sure the term applies to the latter). Edison (talk) 19:41, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Or wishful thinking. Julia Rossi (talk) 00:46, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Legality

I understand possession of a nunchuku is illegal in California. I train with nunchukus in my karate arts classes. I do posses wood and metal ones. Is it possible to get arrested for transporting my nunchukus back and forth from training ground to home? And what would happen if I were to leave state would I be able to take my nunchukus with me? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.143.3.182 (talk) 18:56, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Can we give legal advice? D0762 (talk) 19:04, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The type of legal advice a lawyer gives (like whether to plead out a case), no. But asking what the laws are in California is a legit question, as you don't need to be a lawyer to answer that. StuRat (talk) 03:26, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

You know, it clearly states all that in the California penal code. I don't have that with me though.. Neal (talk) 20:20, 5 April 2008 (UTC).

Thanks, I'll just look up the California penal code and read it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.143.3.182 (talk) 20:59, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

On http://www.uplandmacenter.com/nunchakulaw.html it says:

12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison.

(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses ... any nunchaku ...

(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any of the following:

(3) The possession of a nunchaku on the premises of a school which holds a regulatory or business license and teaches the arts of self-defense.

It would seem that both transporting the device(s) and keeping it (them) at home may be an offence in some jurisdictions.

This is not to be interpreted as legal advice. It is a response to the hypothetical question "Is it possible...", as posed by the querent.

I suggest that the school where you are training in martial arts should (possible must) give you appropriate advice on the options available.--Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 22:48, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Ask your school about the necessary licences to cover you. Julia Rossi (talk) 00:44, 6 April 2008 (UTC)