Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2009 January 12

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January 12

Pregnant Cows

We are new in farming. Our cows are pregnant. Is there one specific way to tell when a cow is very close to giving birth. We put her in a separate pen because we were able to get milk from her udder. Are there any other ways please? Also, how quickly can a cow get pregnant after giving birth? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.107.177.55 (talk) 00:39, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Hi, we have an introductory article on Dairy farming. For specifics about your cow/s health, please talk to your local vet. So you will know what s/he is saying, there's this search[1] Julia Rossi (talk) 01:58, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

If you are in the United States, you can get help from your county Agricultural extension agent, a government employee. -Arch dude (talk) 02:54, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

You really ought to see a large-animal vet about this, not just try to do it off of the internet. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 16:41, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Technically - we do have a rule against offering veterinary advice here on the RD. So please - don't leave this to chance. If you're that inexperienced you're going to need one - either way! Better soon than at 4am when you have an entire herd of cows dying with breech-births and such. SteveBaker (talk) 23:33, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

I knew a man who had a cow named Pandora who was close to giving birth. He said he could tell when it was time for the calf's birth by looking at Pandora's box. What did he mean? Edison (talk) 04:16, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Looking for a WP article on the "digital aging of faces technique"

Does Wikipedia have an article about the image manipulation technique where a face is digitally aged to project what the subject will look like in X number of years? You often see it applied to pictures of children who have been missing for several years. I don't know what the proper term for this is. Thanks in advance. 152.16.15.23 (talk) 01:56, 12 January 2009 (UTC) (Edit: strangely enough I am being asked to fill out a captcha for external links despite not including any...)

Don't know much but found this article C.O.R.E. that mentions a Smoking Simulation Software. This search could help[2], specifically, http://age-me.com/ and this answer[3] at askville. (Did you edit the whole page or click on new section tab?) Julia Rossi (talk) 02:04, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Thanks a bunch for the search suggestion. I previously got bogged down by advertisements for anti-aging products. It seems like age progression and age regression (hurrah for blue links!) are the terms used when talking about simulating someone's appearance in the future or in the past respectively. I hit the new section tab by the way and then previewed my post before submitting it. I frequently ask and answer questions while not logged in, and I haven't ever been asked to fill out a captcha for non-existant external links, or even links that someone else added in the section that I am editing. It's not bothersome, I was just wondering if it was the computer I was on or a bug in WP. (Edit: It didn't happen this time around)152.16.15.23 (talk) 02:30, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Good to know. :) Julia Rossi (talk) 09:26, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Maybe this site will help you [4]. Richard Avery (talk) 11:18, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Numbers of Mystery

On the shirt I'm wearing at the moment, down on the bottom edge, next to where the extra buttons are sewn on (it's a nice cotton shirt from Nordies), is a tag with the following on it:

   77+
MV93703MN++
 207161483+
  F/H2006
 12042563++

What do these indicate? --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 03:16, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Seems like a lot of info if it's just to identify the fabric, style, place and date of manufacture. The 2006 is plausibly a year. The most interesting thing I found Googling "207161483" was that it represents the DNA sequence "aatagcttct aggtaatccc ttgcttccac ttcctccccc ttccatttat" in the genome of the rat. Edison (talk) 16:35, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Hi JP, I know that the 77 tells us what Nordstrom department the shirt is from (Men’s Sportswear) and that the next number down is a Vendor Product Number, which tells me it's a Nordstrom brand Oxford Shirt. I think the +s somehow indicate the size, but I’m not sure about that or the rest of the numbers. I assume they contain some other info like color, but I’m on the IT side and only have passing familiarity with Merch related stuff. Anyway, hope that satisfies your curiosity. - Azi Like a Fox (talk) 20:01, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Yay! Yeah, I guessed it was something like that, and I'm pleased that someone connected with my favorite department store was here to answer. Thanks! --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 22:42, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Modifying WP's Page history

Who can modify a page's edit history and could someone make a request, with reasons, for this? Acceptable (talk) 04:01, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Admins can. And this question is better suited to WP:HD than here. Dismas|^(talk) 04:09, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Admins can delete revisions, but it's a rather crude way of removing them. Oversight is the tool that is actually intended for such things. All it allows is the removal of edits, though, any other kind of modifications would need to be made by a developer with direct access to the database. Such modifications are almost never made. Requests for oversight can be made by email, there are instructions here, including details of what kinds of edits will be oversighted (basically, edits that contain private information or libel). --Tango (talk) 04:25, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Currently, only 34 people have the 'oversight' privilage needed to do this properly - and for a community the size of ours, that's a very tiny number (compared to over 1600 administrators!). It would have to be an extremely compelling need - something with life-threatening or legal consequences. SteveBaker (talk) 23:28, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Needle looking things on trucks, Interstate 10

When I went to Arizona from Dallas, TX on Interstate 10, around Sweetgum, TX, I started noticing 18 wheelers carrying "needle" looking things. They had a circular base and were very long and had a thin tip to them.

At first I thought they might be the stem/base to the wind turbines, which Sweetgum being the capital of wind energy, would make sense. But as I saw more and more of them go by, I noticed they had really, really thin tips compared to the wind turbines.

Are they the base to wind turbines? Or something else? It's just something that's been irking me for a while

96.226.220.7 (talk) 05:49, 12 January 2009 (UTC) Dave

So these were rather large then? When I read the word "needle" in the title, I was thinking that you were talking about something small but then you started mentioning turbines, so how big are these "needle looking things"? Dismas|^(talk) 06:03, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Couldn't really guess without a picture, but the "thin tips" wouldn't rule out wind-turbine columns. Perhaps the thin part goes inside the box that the rotors are attached to, and so wouldn't be visible on a completed turbine? PeteVerdon (talk) 08:13, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Wind turbine towers don't come pre-assembled, they're built up from short sections. The blades do come in one piece, though. Viewed from a certain angle, a blade would look needle-like. Do a Google image search on "wind turbine tower" and "wind turbine blade", and let us know what you think. (A better description would be good. How long in feet or meters? How big around? What color? Which direction are they headed?) --Milkbreath (talk) 11:39, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Turbine blade delivery convoy?

I see an immense number of windmill blades on trucks heading up i35 between Austin and Dallas - every time I take the 3 hr road trip (which is still alarmingly often) - I typically see at least one or two on the road (just stop and figure out how many that means they must be shipping every day!!) - but I don't really see how you'd mistake one for a 'needle'-like object - although they do have a precisely circular 'base'...so I suppose it's possible. SteveBaker (talk) 23:18, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Added pic. Nanonic (talk) 23:38, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Someone, please help!

Alright, here's the situation. Every 5 minutes, i get a phone call on my Net10 phone(i know, im cheap) from 'restricted' and when i pick up, it does a 'whooshing' sound, and hangs up. this has happened about 20 times now, does anyone know what is going on? 71.223.235.24 (talk) 07:10, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Does your phone have the ability to block calls ? If not, try calling Net10, tell them the problem, and ask them to block "restricted" calls. You can also try adding your phone number to the Do Not Call registry, but that could take a long time to do any good, if ever. If you can't solve this problem any other way, I suggest you get a new phone for incoming calls, and turn the ringer off the old phone, so you can still use the phone for outgoing calls, until you use up your minutes. StuRat (talk) 07:34, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

i cant block calls, this phone is so cheap. looks like its from the 90's or something :P but i shut it off for a while, and then turned it back on, and it only happened one more time after that. it quit for about 20 minutes now. if it persists, i'll call Net10. thanks for the help.71.223.235.24 (talk) 07:42, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

I once had a fax machine that called my phone several times a day. You can't call up a fax and tell it to stop doing that, so I just had to wait until the people at the other end apparently figured out that pardons they were faxing to the execution chamber at the federal penitentiary weren't getting through. Too bad, they could have saved quite a bit of electricity had they figured it out sooner. :-) StuRat (talk) 19:21, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

If you are having a temporary problem like that and aren't expecting an important call on that number I would just leave the phone off hook for a while. If you get something like the OP, try calling up your telco and complaining about a nuisance caller. BTW, at least you goes don't happen to have a phone number that is one digit, a 0 instead of an 8 different from a supermarket... Nil Einne (talk) 12:00, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Flying saucer object on caravan

What are those Flying saucer like objects about 10in dia with a spike on top you see mounted on the top of caravans?--GreenSpigot (talk) 08:52, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

I suspect they are a satellite dish or a tv receiver or some form of communicative-device, these are often found on caravans and match the size/shape requirements you mention. 194.221.133.226 (talk) 09:54, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

They are often UHF tv ariels, a dipole which can be rotated from within the caravan. The cheaper models have a rotatable ariel inside the disk that can be turned by hand using a knob on the caravan roof. See [5] -- Q Chris (talk) 10:01, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

I think they are just regular TV antennae - but enclosed in that plastic shell so they are a bit streamlined when you're towing the caravan at high speeds. I haven't seen rotatable ones - but it makes sense since (unlike in a house) you can't just set them up to point in the right direction just once - you'd have to re-do it every time you moved the caravan. SteveBaker (talk) 23:11, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

new thought

I have some new ideas about business, science, and literature. How can I publicize it.?91.140.217.144 (talk) 09:33, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

see Self-publishing and Publishing and the links from there. (clicking on the blue text will get you to related pages.)--76.97.245.5 (talk) 09:58, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

vietnam jacket?

I got a beautiful green/khaki jacket for christmas that appears to be a military a jacket, but ive noticed that there are missing patches and velcro strips on it, does anyone know what might have been on it (patches, rank, division etc..)? because i would like to make it look authentic, i dont know what era it was from but im guessing it was vietnam it definately has that jungle look.

Ask the person who gave it to you where they got it. If it was an "army surplus store", then it's likely far more recent. Jungle camo is still used in the military, after all, although desert camo is more needed now (and hence the need to sell the excess jungle camo). If they bought it from a general used clothes store, then it could be that old. It's also possible it's a new jacket made to look like a Vietnam era one, with locations for attachment of various accessories. If so, the store that sold it may also sell the matching accessories. Also look for tags in the jacket, they may give us a clue as to whether it's authentic or a replica. StuRat (talk) 17:40, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Just going into a army surplus store and asking the guy behind the counter to help outfit the jacket with the appropriate patches would probably help. They're likely to be pretty good with their military history or would know someone who is. Dismas|^(talk) 03:36, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

(And just a note: the US has been involved in jungle wars far more recently than Vietnam. Think about all the stuff we did in Central America from the 1980s-1990s.) --98.217.8.46 (talk) 21:03, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

M-1965 field jacket? 87.207.56.12 (talk) 05:37, 15 January 2009 (UTC)

I think the original collar on the M-1965 was pointed until it changed to a rounded style by 1978 at the latest. --—— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk - 18:34, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

English Pemier League Football

Which team have played most games in a season [including all cup games] in the Premier league since it began? Mrblueskymufc (talk) 13:20, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Liverpool played every league game and every cup-game possible in their 'treble' winning season in 2000-01. I can't remember how many games they played every game possible to them. It is potentially possible to have played more - say by competing in the Champions League (well, some seasons) or world-club-cup in the same season that would add a few games, but I suspect Liverpool hold the honour for most games in a season. 194.221.133.226 (talk) 14:27, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

There is also Manchester United F.C. season 1993–94 and Chelsea F.C. season 2006-07 when they reached the finals of the FA Cup and the Football League Cup (Coca-Cola Cup/Carling Cup), but didn't complete the treble. However, given that in the Manchester season the league was run with 42 games and not 38 (Liverpool and Chelsea) then they probably played the most. That's assuming that you are talking about domestic compatioions only. CambridgeBayWeather Have a gorilla 14:33, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

I don't know but you'd need to include the 'Community shield' game, or not include it becuase since the league games are all the same, it's about the competition etc. so it'll make a difference. - Jarry1250 ^{(t, c)} 22:09, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

pigeon wearing a slice of bread as a collar

the other day I saw a pigeon with a large slice of bread through which there was a hole and the pigeon was standing there surrounded by a group of other pigeons who were pecking at the bread and slowly rescuing him from the collar he was wearing. can you tell me has this ever happened before and if so how frequently does it happen and why do the pigoens do it

note::: the pigeon was not eating the bread himself. do they take turns as well

Sounds like the pigeon pecked too hard at a slice of bread and stuck his head right through it. This would have made a great pic. StuRat (talk) 17:31, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

This is quite common, and I've often seen it myself. Pigeons eat bread (and practically anthing else), and if they see a whole slice they will go for the soft part in the middle, thus making a hole. They get the piece of bread round their neck by accident. The other pigeons are concerned only with eating the remaining bread.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 17:35, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Many times, model here[6] at[7]. Cheers, Julia Rossi (talk) 10:47, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Here's another amusing example: [8]. --Sean 13:18, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

This all reminds me of the predicament of people in a lifeboat on the ocean, they can be surrounded by water and not have any they can actually drink. StuRat (talk) 14:49, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

I know you meant to say lifebuoy. Julia Rossi (talk) 00:12, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

Not Lifebuoy? AnyPerson (talk) 00:50, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

I meant a life boat, in the sense of "being surrounded by something you want and yet can't consume". A lifebuoy also mimics the ring shape, as well, so maybe that is even a better example. StuRat (talk) 20:09, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

This reminds me of the time I saw a squirrel eating a hot dog. Adam Bishop (talk) 08:37, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

this thread reminds me of the Far Side. Julia Rossi (talk) 10:24, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

If you watch pigeons pecking at food, they toss it about.It would be quite easy for it to land on it's neck.,hotclaws 11:48, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

Help me to foil high prices

I like to put one of those little discs or squares of special foil under food when I microwave it, so it will heat from the bottom, too. I'm also incredibly cheap, so I don't buy them separately, but rather save them from other frozen foods I buy that come with one. They only last a few uses, though, then they get melted cheese, fish juice, etc., on them and must be discarded. So, can I get a list of brands and products that contain said discs, so I can replenish my supply and yet remain true to my frugal Scottish heritage ? I live in Michigan and buy my groceries at Aldi, and, when I feel like splurging, at Meijer. StuRat (talk) 19:17, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Wouldn't a reusable, washable microwave crisper pan be cheaper than buying a lot of over-priced instant foods just so you can reuse the cardboard disposable crispers? Probably more effective and more sanitary too. Here's one for $42. I can't vouch for it's quality though. There seem to be a bunch of different models. There's also something called the "Microgrill" that seems to serve a similar purpose.

As to the question that you actually asked, Sorry, but I don't have an answer. Sorry. APL (talk) 19:47, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

$42 ? Ouch. I'd have to buy, say, 21 frozen food items at $2 each to add up to that. And I wouldn't have the 21 meals to eat. And I'd have to wash this thing many times. Sounds like a bad deal to me. StuRat (talk) 20:04, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Hang on a moment. Every microwave I've ever seen says very clearly that metal objects must not be used with microwave ovens - you all kinds of sparks and it's a significant fire hazard. Astronaut (talk) 20:10, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

I don't think we're talking about actual metal here, just that stuff that looks shiny. You'd certainly find out quickly if you'd done the wrong thing! - Jarry1250 ^{(t, c)} 20:34, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Some of them are surely actual metal. The only metal you should put in a microwave is the metal that is made to be put into a microwave—they have to be engineered to use the microwave energy in a good way and not to spark and short circuit. --140.247.236.243 (talk) 20:46, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

I guess we still don't have an article on crisping sleeves, but we touched on them briefly before. --LarryMac | Talk 21:29, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

It looks like User:Smurdah went ahead and added the article, so it appears we both improved Wikipedia by instigating this. StuRat (talk) 20:00, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

I was going to suggest something along the same line of what APL did. I used to do the same as you and saved and reused those crisper sleeves. Then they discontinued the "hot pockets" I used to get them with. For a while our dollar store carried the foil on a roll till that, too, got discontinued. Meanwhile I bought a ceramic browning plate sort of like this one. [9] Mine says to preheat it for 15 min. but I've never done that and am still happy with the results. There used to be a big note on those crisper sleeves "Do not reuse!" Apart from sparking/fire hazard if the metal got exposed due to wear, another factor might be that the plastic film/polymer those metal bits are embedded in/covered with could start oozing/gassing out unhealthy chemicals in increased amounts with repeated use. If you don't want to go to the expense (and dishwashing hassle) of a browning dish [10], [11], [12] - then these might work for you [13]. They are a bit on the expensive side by comparison, though. Among the things we buy only the microwave popcorn bags still have those crisper things embedded. --76.97.245.5 (talk) 23:10, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

Bit of a spendthrift, eh StuRat? You should ask your family, friends and neighbours to save their crisping sleeves for you. Then you wouldn't need to pay extra to buy the special, and therefore more expensive, microwaveable foods. CambridgeBayWeather Have a gorilla 23:52, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

That's an idea, but I'd rather not let them all know how cheap I am, if there's a way I can find crisping sleeves in frozen foods on my own. How about frozen pizzas ? Don't any of them still come with those ? StuRat (talk) 01:34, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

In my experience, single service frozen pizzas often do. I usually see them in packages of Hot Pockets and Bagel Bites as well. I know this may require some footwork on your part, but usually frozen foods with crisping sleeves or trays will indicate as much in the cooking instructions on the package. Tomdobb (talk) 13:21, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

It would be tricky to microwave a pizza without getting grease or cheese on the crisping thing. APL (talk) 13:58, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

It is. I can sometimes wipe them off after, but other times they are ruined. StuRat (talk) 14:44, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Well if you don't want to let people know how cheap you are why not rummage through your neighbours trash cans after dark? CambridgeBayWeather Have a gorilla 17:05, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

I would, but after rummaging through my neighbor's garbage, my hands are usually too full of used panty-hose to have any room left for crisper sleeves. :-) StuRat (talk) 21:02, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Since stu is heart-set on them, I wonder if the low-cost cardboard crispers could be purchased in bulk. The food manufacturers must get them from somewhere, and they can't possibly cost much if they come with $2.50 worth of hot pockets. APL (talk) 19:07, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

No, I think those would be quite pricey. I've noticed that if someone sells something that costs them a dime to make, they charge you a dollar for it. On the other hand, if someone is already selling you something for a dollar, they will throw in the extra item that costs them a dime for only a dime more, or maybe two. I'm not sure why, but it always seems to work out this way. StuRat (talk) 20:59, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Hi, I believe these are called susceptors. Also, someone appears to be selling a product on Ebay called "Micro Magic Wrap" that might be what you're looking for (apparently can't link to ebay...but it's there). There also appears to be a product called "Waveware Microwave Crisping Dish" (google it) that might meet your needs. In the 'don't try this at home' category: You know how the insides of those Goldfish cracker bags is that silvery material? Wonder if that would work? Anyway, good luck and consider saving up for a toaster oven ;) - Azi Like a Fox (talk) 21:51, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

I have a toaster over, but it's too small for pizzas and always seems to burn the crap out of things whenever I use it, unless I stand there and watch it the whole time. StuRat (talk) 19:55, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for all the info so far, but I've only seen two products listed, Hot Pockets and Bagel Bites, which answer the actual Q. Don't you guys know of any additional frozen food products with included susceptors ? StuRat (talk) 19:55, 14 January 2009 (UTC)