Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2008 March 25

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March 25

Children's Book

Greets, i'm after the name of a children's(?) book from my youth - read it (well, looked at the pictures) about 25 years ago? its about a guy chasing mice in roller-skates, the pictures were cartoony, sorta 70s kinda styles i guess from memory... . . . cheers :1 Boomshanka (talk) 04:14, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

For reading by little kids, there's Mouse Tales (1972, pb 1978) by Arnold Lobel with his illustrations. It has a story about a mouse who buys a pair of roller skates. Anyway, it's here[1]. He seemed to like small creatures. His work is kind of cartoony but not action-looking. Cheers, Julia Rossi (talk) 05:44, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Hmmm, unfortunately thats not the one... it was a landscape book that was a lot more fantastical . Thanks for your help tho' Boomshanka (talk) 21:36, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

I've had a memory jolt with "The Runaway Roller Skate" by John Vernon Lord - can't find any pix unfortunately Boomshanka (talk) 21:57, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Bookshanka, are you sitting down? No pics, but that book lists for sale in Australia for from 85 to 138 AUD, "The Runaway Roller Skate" by John Vernon Lord, publisher: Houghton Mifflin ISBN-13: 9780395185148 ISBN: 0395185149 – "Mr. Ellwood braves one unlikely adventure after another in his pursuit of the mischievous mouse who hijacks his favorite roller skate". The pic for The Giant Jam Sandwich is here[2] and seems to be read-along (recorded maybe?). Julia Rossi (talk) 03:48, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

Need help

an eleven year old child recently passed away when he was hit by a van in my neighborhood. How should I explain this to my 7 year old daughter, who was a friend of the child? Thank you.--Goon Noot (talk) 04:17, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Hi, Goon Noot, there's an article here[3] and Dr Earl Grollman wrote a book called Explaining Death to Children. That and others are listed here[4]. Hope this helps, Julia Rossi (talk) 05:34, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

There is also 'The Sad Book' by Michael Rosen which was written after he lost his son and is intended to facilitate expression of feelings. Richard Avery (talk) 07:58, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Contact your local hospice; they have lots of resources (print, maybe video, and counsellors). BrainyBabe (talk) 08:22, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks.--Goon Noot (talk) 09:16, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

I'd like to thank both those that replied and the questioner for asking and responding such an interesting question (though I feel very sorry for the child and their family). --Taraborn (talk) 17:05, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Just tell them. I find no sense it sugar coating that a kid died. Even if they are friends. Even if it is sad. It is sadness to grow upon. Its sadness that will make you a better person in the end. Just tell her that a truck hit her friend and that he is in a better place.71.143.3.182 (talk) 05:59, 26 March 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven

But that might imply he's in hospital only. Human death's a bit new for little kids, I'd think. Julia Rossi (talk) 09:52, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

My four-year-old son's grandfather died recently. We took him to the funeral and everything. He understood completely, and he just thinks his grandad's gone to heaven. We never contemplated being anything other than upfront with him about it. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 10:42, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

If you think a four-year-old understood completely, you might want to read some of the links above :( Skittle (talk) 10:18, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

Mutual Fund

Hi

I want to know about ULIP in mutual fund. Please advice which company mutual fund is good? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.145.125.100 (talk • contribs)

We have an article on ULIP. For advice on choice of mutual funds you need to consult a qualified financial advisor. Gandalf61 (talk) 11:16, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

east/west hemispheres

Handyman389 (talk) 13:37, 25 March 2008 (UTC)handyman389Handyman389 (talk) 13:37, 25 March 2008 (UTC)If on the Greenwich mean line facing north,the E is to the right & W to the left. i.e. to go east you travel to the right.Does this continue to be the case having passed the point 180 deg. around the globe or do you then start to travel west? If 180deg around the globe [still facing north ]presumably the western hemisphere is then to the right & eastern hem.to the left?

That would be true, but if you went right you would still be travelling east, even if you were entering the western hemisphere. -mattbuck (Talk) 13:42, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

NO. You would be travelling towards the East but you would be going westwards to get there. When facing north, East is 90 degrees to the right of London, and West is 90 degrees to the left. This does not change simply because you decide to face north, south, east or west. Nor if you stand on your head. It is you moving, not the globe and not the coordinates.86.202.158.47 (talk) 16:39, 25 March 2008 (UTC)DT

Mattbuck's answer was correct. If you are facing north and turn 90° to the right anywhere on the globe, you will then be traveling east. You can't travel east and "westwards" at the same time. At the 180° longitude line, the Western Hemisphere lies to the east of the Eastern Hemisphere. (Yes, at that point, you travel east to enter the Western Hemisphere.) The labels "eastern" and "western" for the hemispheres reflect their position relative to Greenwich, where the 0° longitude line is located. At Greenwich, the Eastern Hemisphere lies to the east and the Western Hemisphere lies to the west. If you continue traveling east across the Eastern Hemisphere and past 180° longitude, you will travel east into the Western Hemisphere. Marco polo (talk) 18:06, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Just in case there might be confusision, the more political definitions of "East" and "West" do not correspond to the geographical definitions. --LarryMac | Talk 20:37, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Steamboats / [steam]ships with sails

What's the correct term for "steamboats / ships with sails"? (If there should be a again the distinction of boats and sails, I'd like to know both terms.) Does the English Wikipedia happen to have an article about the topic? --Ibn Battuta (talk) 15:59, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Are you looking for one term that covers both ships with sails and steamboats? Or a term for a ship that has both sails and an engine? The normal term for a ship with sails is sailboat, or sailing ship if you want to exclude smaller vessels. DJ Clayworth (talk) 17:33, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

We have a category for ship types, and also a category for sailboats. There are many, many pages under those categories. --LarryMac | Talk 17:38, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Organizations like the International Maritime Organization and the United States Coast Guard use the term "sailing vessel" to refer to any vessel that has a sail, regardless of whether it has a motor. When the motor is turned on, it has to follow the traffic rules of a motor vessel, but it's still a sailing vessel. The definition is made at least once in 46 CFR. I can't think of a flashier word that is used in the same way. Hope that helps. Cheers. Haus^Talk 20:05, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

One possible term for a steamship with auxiliary sails is steam yacht, but that also seems to be sometimes applied to steamships without sails. Gandalf61 (talk) 20:13, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for all the explanations about sailing ships and sailboats (I have to smile a bit because yes, I'm quite familiar with the terms). Yes, as some of you rightly assumed, I'm looking for a term for boats that can go under steam and under sail (probably not at the same time, whatever), hence my explanation "steamboats / [steam]ships with sails" (I've added the second "steam" to avoid further misunderstandings). Examples can be found here (under sails) and here (in port). And there are many others, in fact, the development from sailship to steamer produced these hybrids for some decades. Nonetheless, most pictures display them going under steam, so I assume that at least some of them were not often used as "sailing ships". I've seen the term "sail-steamer", but it produces so few google hits that I highly suspect there is a more common (or even correct) term. --Ibn Battuta (talk) 16:27, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Outfielder Glove

I'm looking for a new, high-quality baseball outfielder's glove and I'm wondering if anyone has had a good experience with a particular glove or if they know of one which they recommend. I'm not attached to any particular brand, and I'm looking for something less than $200. If anyone could link to the glove's product page which they recommend I'd be really grateful. Size wise, probably something in the ballpark of 12 to 13 inches. Thanks for the help and suggestions! 71.171.166.102 (talk) 16:23, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Googling "outfielder glove under $200" gets you lots of hits. This[5] looks helpful. Julia Rossi (talk) 02:28, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

signed arod book

Over the summer i got a book that AROD made called out of the ballpark. He even signed it for me. My question is, will it be worth anything in the future?--Dlo2012 (talk) 16:51, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

For those who don't follow baseball, AROD is Alex Rodriguez. And the value that your book has in the future depends on if the person you're selling it to believes that he actually signed it instead of you just forging his signature. Dismas|^(talk) 17:07, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

It's already worth "something" now. I'm not sure how much you're hoping for, but I don't think the value will increase much unless you wait a very long time, if ever. -Elmer Clark (talk) 21:33, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

US Ordance Museum

I was there recently (got a shitload of pics for wikipedia =]) and wondered how often do they get a new tank. Also do they personaly restore tanks. БοņёŠɓɤĭĠ₳₯є 17:25, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

You really should have asked them! =) Sorry, I don't think there's a good chance the ref desk will be able to answer your question, and so I can only advice you to contact them directly; maybe through the web? 81.93.102.185 (talk) 17:53, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Spelling of "keel hall"

In the Firefly episode Ariel, when Captain Mal and Jayne are talking at the end, Mal says "I hear tell they used to keel hall traitors back in the day". How exactly is "keel hall" spelt? - I'm sure I've got it wrong. I've looked online for the scripts but they are "shooting scrips" and are different from in the episode. I'm presuming keel hall has something to do with ships if that helps anyone. Thanks 79.76.180.25 (talk) 19:10, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

From memory, "keel haul", to haul a person beneath the keel of a ship, attached to a rope, generally to injure & frighten the life out of them, as a punishment. --Tagishsimon (talk) 19:13, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

There's an article: keelhauling. Verrrry painful; it scraped the heck out of people because of all the barnacles and things. Pretty easy to make an execution of it. --Masamage ♫ 19:14, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Perfect - thank you very much! 79.76.180.25 (talk) 19:35, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

PS. That is such a good episode. --Masamage ♫ 20:04, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

That's a relief – all this time I thought keelhauling was carried out from the back to the front end of the ship. Julia Rossi (talk) 23:58, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

I may be misremembering, but I think the way you describe (or perhaps front to back) is the way it's depicted in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935 film) (after Laughton sneeringly orders "Keelhaul that man," with a sinister stress on the second syllable of keelhaul). Deor (talk) 02:02, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Nice find – could that option go in the article? Looking at keel as a lengthwise boat spine, suggests length idea. Julia Rossi (talk) 02:59, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't think it would be possible, at least with a single line, to keelhaul someone along the length of the ship. They'd keep popping up one side or the other. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.187.153.189 (talk • contribs)

In the film (or in my memory of it, at least), two lines were used, held by men walking alongside opposite gunwales of the ship, to pull the unfortunate wretch along the keel. Deor (talk) 11:29, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

It made a lasting impression on you Deor. I wonder how the stuntperson handled it. My question is, if it's around the keel, how do they get the rope under the boat and up the other side? Julia Rossi (talk) 00:12, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

Attach man to middle of rope & drop same over the bow, I'd guess. --Tagishsimon (talk) 00:14, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

Even the straight dope[6] assumes it's been looped already though the cartoon offers more. And only by the Dutch? Does that leave Captain Bligh off the hook? Julia Rossi (talk) 01:06, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

Guys, why do we write an encyclopedia if registered users at its very own reference desk don't read the conveniently linked articles before asking further questions? As it says in the article, keelhauling was not only used by the Dutch. (I won't repeat what's written there.) BTW, the German article adds 1.) that keelhauling could be performed both from one side of the ship to the other or from bow to stern, and 2.) that the corpus iuris militaris (1723) of the Holy Roman Empire includes a passage saying that a watchkeeper found sleeping should be keelhauled three times, and 3.) that the scraping due to keelhauling was at times prevented by either pulling more slowly (meaning that the weight of the person would pull him down, but at the risk of drowning him) or using weights on the person (again pulling him down and away from the hull). This latter information is also included in this marine dictionary entry from 1793-98, to which the German article links, and which further claims that the person being keelhauled may break limbs in the process, and that the rope went from yardarm to yardarm and the person was in fact thrown from one yardarm. I'm not sure why anyone would go through the trouble of making a--maybe resisting--man climb onto a yardarm if the goal of the exercise is to throw him into the water... but who knows. Finally, regarding the question of how to get the rope underneath the ship, yes, you pass it from the bow. --Ibn Battuta (talk) 07:56, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

Hey, Ibn Battuta. That article needs YOU! Julia Rossi (talk) 09:17, 31 March 2008 (UTC)

Writing about a story I wrote

What would happen if I wrote articles on Wikipedia about a story that I'm currently writing? Ericthebrainiac (talk) 20:15, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

They would get summarily deleted. Wikipedia has rules on notability and such. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 20:26, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

I have a question, Is anyone every going to block/ban Ericthebrainiac for his non stop trolling and vandalism?

Yo, dude, remember "No personal attacks, whoever wrote this question. Ericthebrainiac (talk) 21:26, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

His questions here are usually very bizarre, but I don't see anything wrong with them really, and I think it's perfectly possible they're asked in good faith. -Elmer Clark (talk) 21:35, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

He's consist/persistent, I'll grant him that – get the thing written Eric, get it published/performed/sold to TV, reviewed in print, gather publicity if any, and that's way before wikipedia will look at you. If not, try again – writing for success is such a greasy pole. Julia Rossi (talk) 00:48, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

If your story was published and made into the best seller charts you would be perfectly entitled to have an article,although I'm not sure if WP:NPOV means you'd be allowed to edit it yourself.

Whilst the question is fine,I would like to know why you have to link every other word.Are you being sponsored so much per word or something? Lemon martini (talk) 12:05, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Maybe he likes blue. − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 17:04, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Is there a word for the sort of contributor who actually causes more amusement/bemusement than a troll, who just causes irritation and worse? I suppose this is the electronic equivalent of the green ink brigade, handily colour-coded. I used to work for an organisation that kept weird missives in a file; we office workers pulled them out on rainy afternoons to divert ourselves. Happy days! BrainyBabe (talk) 22:14, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

shooting craps. the game

i was looking up the rules and play on this site, but it dosn't mention anything on scoring! could some one tell me how the scores are made,added up and how to win?

As craps says, it's a gambling game. There isn't a score per se- you bet money. I guess you "win" if you end up with more money than you started with. Friday (talk) 20:37, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

THanks but how do u win?

There are a huge number of ways to win (and lose). Some are one-roll bets (AVOID THEM), others win when you make the point, or when you roll a 7. The best way to minimize the house edge is to play the pass line and take full odds, or the opposite (the no-pass). Stay away from the bets shown on the middle of the craps table. The best way to "win" (and I speak from experience) is DON'T PLAY! Clarityfiend (talk) 04:13, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

A strange game! The only winning move is not to play.

Atlant (talk) 18:22, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

A quick google turned up this [[7]] hotclaws 08:18, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Rio Ferdinand

Will Rio Ferdinand be England's first black captain when he leads the English national football team out in Paris tomorrow? Thanks 90.192.223.225 (talk) 20:56, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Never mind, just been told Paul Ince captained England. So, a new question. Was Ince playing for Man Utd when he captained England? 90.192.223.225 (talk) 21:00, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

This story says Ince captained England in 1993. He played for Manchester United from 1989-1995.[8] So, yes. -Elmer Clark (talk) 21:44, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Collagen

I have looked up Collagen on your database. I'm trying to figure out where the ingredients for collagen come from. For exaple: The collagen cassings they use for Chicken or Turkey Hot Dogs, or ingredients used for gellotin etc...

Are all the protiens used derrived from anamals or, the protiens used, are they from other protien sorces,like Soy?

The gelatin article suggests animal products are the main source. Vegetarian alternatives exist but are more expensive. --Tagishsimon (talk) 21:34, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

(ec) You have read the article on collagen, so you know that it is an animal protein that is a part of many tissues. It has no "ingredients", unless you count the amino acids it is made from by the body. According to this web page, scientists have only recently synthesized it in the laboratory, and its uses are expected to remain medical. I wouldn't look for anything other than natural animal collagen in my hot dog in the near future. --Milkbreath (talk) 21:41, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Quotation

I'm half-remembering a quotation, something like, "The most sublime happiness is the submission to authority," or similar. I was sure that Goethe had said it, but after skimming some lists of his quoatations (he said a lot of stuff), I can't find the one I'm thinking of. Does this ring any bells?

I don't know; it could be practically any dictator. God was quite fond of expressing such a sentiment, e.g. the first verse of Psalm 111 (or 112 in the Authorized Version) "Happy is the man who fears the Lord, who is only too willing to follow his orders."--Shantavira|^{feed me} 11:30, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

That sort of thing is usually said by a man acting under color of authority from God. It's a very handy thing to convince people of if you want them to obey you without questioning your authority.

Atlant (talk) 18:16, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

No, it was definitely a philosopher, and it wasn't biblical. It was rather longer than what I said, but that's the only bit of it I can remember. It's quite a famous quote, not obscure at all. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.78.29.109 (talk) 21:35, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

How about a philologist? It puts me in mind of the theme of C. S. Lewis's "Space Trilogy", especially That Hideous Strength. I don't own them anymore, so I can't look to see if a similar sentence is in there. --Milkbreath (talk) 23:01, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

HOW DO I REMOVE THE LINKS FROM MY WATCHBAND?

HOW DO I REMOVE THE LINKS FROM MY WATCHBAND?

This might not be a very helpful response, but that would be done for free (or a very small nominal fee) by a jeweller around here (presumably in the hope of other business from the same 'customer'). Angus Lepper^{(T, C, D)} 23:01, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

That's a very helpful response, I'd have thought. That's how I've always done it. -- JackofOz (talk) 23:31, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Remove the url tags? 200.127.59.151 (talk) 14:49, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

It depends on the watchband, of course. Some watchbands are easily adjustable by the end-user (by opening and closing clips that allow you to add or remove some links). Some watchbands add or remove a few extra links by the use of tiny screws used as the hinges. Some have pins that must be driven out and in under force. Some watchbands can't be practically adjusted at all.

Atlant (talk) 18:13, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

And that is why I use a pocket watch instead. 206.252.74.48 (talk) 19:08, 27 March 2008 (UTC)