Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2010 February 10

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February 10

Serving suggestion

I've noticed the images used on food packaging are often accompanied by the words "serving suggestion". Some of the suggestions look quite nice, but more often it is a pretty mundane and obvious suggestion. For example, ice cream with the "suggestion" you serve it in a dessert bowl; savoury crackers with the "suggestion" you can put some cheese on a cracker [1]; or salt with images of things on which you might sprinkle salt (sweetcorn, potato wedges, etc. [2]) I can see why a manufacturer might want to show an idealised image of the product on its packaging, but is it really necessary to say "serving suggestion"? Are those particular words mandated by law somewhere, or do manufacturers think consumers are idiots who cannot work out that putting ice cream in a bowl is a reasonable way to serve it? Astronaut (talk) 02:34, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

I rather think that it's to avoid claims of misrepresentation. If you bought a tin with a picture of some corned beef, lettuce, and buttered boiled new potatoes on it, and it turns out only to contain corned beef, you could claim that the label was deceptive and not a true description of the contents. DuncanHill (talk) 02:50, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Indeed, it's a disclaimer so they don't get sued because what's in the box doesn't look like what's on the outside. We have an (unreferenced) serving suggestion article, btw. FiggyBee (talk) 02:54, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

I'm surprised anyone would imagine a claim of misrepresentation would stand any chance of success in a court of law. Astronaut (talk) 04:11, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Two words of type and they just don't have to worry about it. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 04:22, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Astronaut, in these days when a house burglar can successfully sue the owner of the house he has just burgled, for negligence in not protecting him from sustaining bodily harm while in the act of robbery, then truly anything is possible under the law. -- Jack of Oz ... speak! ... 07:06, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

I did a quick google search and couldn't find anything on that case. Do you have a link?

This is relevant. -- Jack of Oz ... speak! ... 21:14, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

The earliest example I can find on Google Books (other than things like "his self-serving suggestion") for information about "serving suggestion" and the law was to this cookbook from 1983 which claimed, during a discussion of US federal law on package labelling: If a [package] illustration shows a completed recipe or serving suggestion, it must be clearly stated. Marnanel (talk) 04:46, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

You see a lot of them labelled "Not Actual Size" too. It's a magic "Get Out Of Jail Free" thing that lawyers make them do whether it makes sense or not. The one notable exception to that which I have seen is that some MINI Cooper dealerships put "Actual Size" and "Battery Included" stickers on their cars. :-) SteveBaker (talk) 20:36, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Actually I don't think this is "overcautious, listening-to-the-lawyers-too-much syndrome". The FTC in the US fines companies for packaging violations, and I think it's pretty routine. I typed in an anecdote but realized it's hearsay, so I am redacting myself pre-emptively. Comet Tuttle (talk) 00:00, 11 February 2010 (UTC)

Chief Rock the Relentless warrior ?????

I made the page chief rock the relentless warrior and i also own the myspace.com/chiefrock2k7 and i posted up my bio on http://www.megacityhiphop.com/artists/chiefrock/

These are posted up to promote my music and my career. as well as being posted on here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_hip_hop

i would like to post my page back up but my bio and some links to my videos and the music award shows that i was a nominee for. how would i go about doing that without being deleted once again ??

Thanks Chief Rock I also wrote the bio —Preceding unsigned comment added by Chief2k9 (talk • contribs) 12:01, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Unfortunately you can't work on an article about yourself here as it would be deemed a conflict of interest. In order for there to be a page about you on Wikipedia, someone else (not you) would need to find some references to yourself in a reliable source such as a book, magazine, newspaper or professional music website. The content of those references can then be used to start the article. Without these things, I'm afraid an article about you will continue to be deleted because you are deemed to be non-notable. Sorry, --Richardrj ^{talk email} 12:19, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

See also WP:COI, WP:BAND and WP:RS. In short, wikipedia is not a promotional site. --Tagishsimon (talk) 12:26, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

We should take this discussion to your own talk page, but I did do a little research. Chief Rock's only claim to fame is to be nominated for a Native American Music Award and a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award. Both of those awards accept nominations from anyone, so they don't really mean anything. DJ Clayworth (talk) 14:36, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Exactly - we are an encyclopedia - not a promotional site. We do have articles about bands but there are some very clear "Notability" guidelines that must be met before we will host an article. Merely being nominated for some award is nowhere near sufficiently notable to meet our guidelines - and that's why your efforts to post here in the past were (quite correctly) deleted. There is absolutely nothing you can do about this - except perhaps to win some awards, cut some actual disks and get them reviewed in major (and I mean MAJOR) music magazines and newspapers. Worse still, we get REALLY nervous when people post articles about themselves - the probability of the article being fair and unbiassed is practically zero when people do that - which really means that you have to patiently sit back and (when you've met the notability criteria) wait for a fan or someone not directly connected with your group to create an article. If/when that happens, you should not contribute directly to it - although it might be OK to post corrections and pointers to more information on the corresponding Talk: page. But you are currently a million miles away from that. Sorry. SteveBaker (talk) 20:43, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Laptop companies

good dayy

i want to know which laptop company is the best in the world thanxxxx —Preceding unsigned comment added by Zubeerlala (talk • contribs) 12:54, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Sadly this is what we call an ill-posed question, in that until you can provide a definition of the characteristics which make up "best", we cannot even begin to provide an answer. Best value for money? Best design? Best longevity? Best after-sales service? Best battery life? Best treatment of its third-world subcontracter's employees? --Tagishsimon (talk) 13:06, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

I'm going to assume that the OP is thinking of buying a laptop and wants to know which one to go for. This is a valid question (although it would probably be better on the computing desk), but the OP should state their budget and what they want to use it for. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 13:09, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

See the Wikipedia article List of laptop brands and manufacturers. It notes that The vast majority of laptops on the market are manufactured by a small handful of Original Design Manufacturers but it won't tell you that any one is best. You may get some guidance from the many computer magazines that print reviews and advertisements for laptops, or from the experiences of other users. (OR:) I use laptops from HP and Acer and am reasonably satisfied by both. But note that laptops emblazoned with luxury car names such as Ferrari or Lamborghini are actually common models where the manufacturer pays a royalty to add the status trademark. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 14:57, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

I agree with Cuddlyable. If you are looking to buy, spend a while studying a magazine such as PC Magazine or PC World.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 17:02, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Very interesting that I am the first Mac user to suggest looking at Macs. Their laptops are super. Bit pricy, but I wouldn't be without mine.86.219.33.213 (talk) 17:09, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

That's not interesting. Only 4 people replied before you and Macs have about 5% market share (ie. 1 in 20). --Tango (talk) 17:44, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Though I imagine that that they might be over represented here. Googlemeister (talk) 17:46, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Possibly. Not by enough for none of the first 4 responders being Mac users to be surprising, though. --Tango (talk) 17:58, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

 quantity != quality 

Cuddlyable3 (talk) 19:42, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Who said it did? --Tango (talk) 20:38, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Frenchmen. (Video) Cuddlyable3 (talk) 13:41, 11 February 2010 (UTC)

If only 5% of people here use Macs, then there was an 81.5% that none of the first four would use a Mac, and a 77.4% chance that the first five would not. 89.243.177.67 (talk) 01:04, 11 February 2010 (UTC)

Well, according to Consumer Reports' 2010 Electronics Buying Guide, the number 1 ranked laptop in the 12-13" models, 14-16" models, and 17-18" models was made by Apple, Apple, and Apple (respectively). Of course, the downside to that is that you'd be owning an Apple which is a much less popular format than the PC. What I recommend is to do some research and figure out what you want in a laptop. There is no right answer for everyone. Aside from Consumer Reports, I'd recommend checking out CNET, PC Magazine and PC World and see what they recommend. Depending on what you're needs are, you might consider a Netbook or even an iPad. A Quest For Knowledge (talk) 02:02, 11 February 2010 (UTC)

Well THIS devoted Mac user will add his pennyworth too. Brilliant, idiot proof machines, pricey yes, but you get what you pay for and a fantastic service. Visit any Apple Store to be instantly converted.--88.110.56.96 (talk) 07:43, 11 February 2010 (UTC)

"Best" is a highly subjective thing. The OP's needs might only necessitate a netbook, or a maxed out MBP, or a corporate Dell Latitude, or a souped up Alienware. Without any information on the OP's needs any suggestion is only reflective on the poster's feelings and opinions. --antilived^{T | C | G} 01:23, 12 February 2010 (UTC)