Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 January 20

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January 20

rat

how long does a rat live after eating poison? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Judymcm (talk • contribs) 01:41, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Depends on the poison. Do you have a particular favorite?  ^DAVID_ABLE  —Preceding undated comment added 03:14, 20 January 2011 (UTC).

The answer can be "a long time". The only legal poisons here in the UK seem to be bromadiolone and difenacoum, and they work slowly, especially if the rats have other food available. Probably some rats can live for weeks or even months ingesting small quantities of these poisons (but I haven't hard evidence of this). Quicker-acting poisons are illegal here for safety reasons. Dbfirs 07:40, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Warfarin#Use_as_a_pesticide says that rats or mice accumulate a dose gradually. 92.28.255.115 (talk) 14:35, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Of course, you might be dealing with a Rasputin rat, impervious to poison. BrainyBabe (talk) 15:58, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

What about using antifreeze as poison? Quest09 (talk) 16:43, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I'm tempted to try ethylene glycol and let you know, except that it is probably illegal to do so here. The British are averse to cruel treatment of animals, even rats! Interestingly, chocolate is poisonous to rats (and cheaper than rat poison), but it is not sufficiently fatal. Dbfirs 22:30, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Chocolate is poisonous to rats? I wish someone had told the one who ate a whole chocolate log cake in my kitchen a few years ago! (Climbed up some cardboard boxes, bit an entrance through the corner of the cardboard box containing the cake that was hanging from a tripod in a plastic bag to minimise such possibilities, ate 9/10ths of the cake, departed leaving chocolatey rat pawprints on the boxes.) Bromadiolone-laced grain eventually terminated that problem at the price of a bit of a smell from under the floorboards for a few weeks (and yes, I have since blocked the ingress route). 87.81.230.195 (talk) 00:55, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Wheren't you impressed with the intelligence of the rats and let them live? Quest09 (talk) 14:06, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes, I think chocolate is only mildly poisonous (as in advice not to give it to pet rats, but who keeps rats as pets?). Wild rats seem to be able to eat almost anything and still survive, though I agree that vast quantities of bromadiolone-laced grain eventually terminate the individual rats at considerable cost (why is it so expensive?, and why do they need to eat such a lot?), but these dead individuals are eventually replaced by their cousins from a neighbouring breeding colony. Dbfirs 09:36, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Thinking of Warfarin, could you dose some bait with aspirin and kill rats that way? As far as I know, people don't, so there must be a reason why, but I'd expect that to be a cheap way to kill them. 86.164.164.183 (talk) 12:56, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Paracetomol might be quicker, but I suspect that it is illegal (and cruel?) to use it in this way. We are getting into dangerous territory! Dbfirs 13:13, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Paracetamol and aspirin are illegal to kill rats? At first glance, I thought these were painless means to kill a rat. Is there any legal mean to kill a rat where you live? I have the impression that the rats have a pretty strong lobby defending their rights. Quest09 (talk) 14:03, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

There are always commercial poisons/traps you could get to kill a rat. Tofutwitch11 ^(TALK) 14:16, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

True, but poisons are more expensive than best steak! Dbfirs 17:04, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Traps are preferable if the rat is in a house, otherwise you end up with a house with a dead rat hidden somewhere in it. 81.131.65.219 (talk) 17:06, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes, though sometimes the poisoned rat will die when it goes outside to drink (assuming that you don't provide it with convenient indoor water). Dbfirs 18:12, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Jan Van Riebeek

I am trying to find the nameas and the wiki articles on the people that came to the cape at the same time as Jannie. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.89.16.154 (talk) 10:27, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Step 1: Jan van Riebeek. This article has some references you may find at your library. Editors from the area may know more. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 11:07, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

You are looking for Jan van Riebeeck (note the spelling). The references and categories at the bottom of his article may assist. Also check out History of Cape Town (and its references and categories) which might have more information pertinent to your question. Dutch East India Company also has a whole host of references, although they might not be directly related to your question. What is it that you want to find out exactly? Zunaid 11:21, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

(I've just created that redirect). AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 13:23, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I found one source stating that 82 men and 8 women were on the three ships (Dromedaris, Reijger and the Goede Hoop) that made the initial settlement. This number include Van Riebeeck and his wife. Rmhermen (talk) 14:55, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

nude ads on internet

is there a website where I can post this nude ad which asked about it earlier regarding on the newspaper? Oh by the way, I am talking about video ads.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.92.152.113 (talk) 16:08, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Not really sure what you mean but I think it'd have to be a forum or something like that. Make sure you read the rules first though; most sites won't allow content like what you mention to be posted. Chevymontecarlo 17:36, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I think the OP is referring to Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 January 12#video ads Nil Einne (talk) 18:14, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

The typical venue for "weird services" has been Craigslist. They have started cracking down on anything that looks like prostitution, but your original ad did not look like that to me. --Mr.98 (talk) 03:40, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Actually, only explicity prostitution that cant be justified as any other type of escort or massage is removed. the overwhelming majority of services are still advertised, vaguely (and obviously not) as massage or some other ligitimate service. 209.148.241.197 (talk) 07:13, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

You should perhaps be aware your original ad is confusing at least to me to me. The first part sounds like you are advertising for customers of such a service. But then you state "earn $25.00 per hour of the video". How much the girls earn is generally not of great interest to your customers, if you're asking your customers for payment of $25.00 per hour you should say something like 'payment', 'costs' or whatever. On the other hand if you are looking for girls for your service, you should say "wanted" instead of "want". I suggest you ask at WP:RD/L if you need more help on this. And before anyone yells at me I'm not trying to correct the OP just for the fun of it, the OP's ad is genuinely confusing to me and I would expect so to others if they ever actually advertise it. Nil Einne (talk) 13:25, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Men's dress shoe: leather vs. rubber

Rubber-soil shoes used to be considered less formal than leather-soil shoes. But how big is the difference? I mean, can you really know which shoes others are wearing (if their upper part is the same)? Do others care about it? --Quest09 (talk) 16:38, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I doubt if anyone can tell, from a distance, whether the sole of a dress shoe is leather or rubber, and I would think the rubber would provide better traction. Just my opinion. Bus stop (talk) 17:44, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

On many common surfaces (especially wood or linoleum), rubber soles can be distinguished from leather soles by sound they make as the wearer walks. No comment on whether or not this matters for anything or who might care. SemanticMantis (talk) 18:27, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Shoes with leather soles and a rubber grip glued to the bottom, will last for years and years and are thus less expensive in the long run. That is why they are favoured by those that can afford the initial outlay. --Aspro (talk) 18:29, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Do this shoe come with these rubber grips or do you glue them by yourself? Quest09 (talk) 22:40, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

In the UK, provided you can find a cobbler with the necessary skill, you could take your leather-soled shoes to them and ask for a "Commando" or similar heal-and-sole to be fixed to them. The soles would have to be leather and welted. I think sticking them on yourself is unlikely to work. They need to be sewn on - hence the need for a welt - and doubtless stuck as well. 92.24.184.8 (talk) 15:29, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Leather soles are more expensive, wear out more quickly, and are worn by up-market people in suits (and ballroom dancers). They are also lethal on icy pavements or polished floors. 92.29.123.151 (talk) 23:31, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I have only once in my life bought leather soled shoes and I was given the impression that it is actually normal to wear them a little to scuff the bottom surface and then get them fitted with a rubber sole, in other words not to wear out the leather sole. Vespine (talk) 02:28, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

When I worked in the City of London, I used to splash out on very expensive Oxfords from Jones & Co with "Daimite"[1] rubber soles which lasted years of walking and cost less than buying an annual pair of cheap ones. I still have the last ones I bought in 1999 but don't walk 2 or 3 miles in them every day as I used to. However, you're right that most dress soles do have leather soles - they have a distinctive and pleasing sound when you walk on a hard surface with them. Alansplodge (talk) 12:34, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

You mean "Dainite", not "Daimite". Googling for dainite and vibram together produces a lot of interesting hits. 92.15.25.92 (talk) 14:49, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Quite right - my apologies. Alansplodge (talk) 03:27, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Particularly if you had Blakeys fitted: http://www.blakeys-segs.co.uk/ 92.15.25.92 (talk) 13:38, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

When I worked in the City, many years ago, I used to buy leather-soled shoes at bargain prices from a fusty very old-fashioned shop nearby in a back-street of the east-end which sadly later closed down when the proprietor passed away. The advantage of leather soles is that you could have them re-soled repeatedly, although it probably would be difficult to find a traditional cobbler who could do that now. I've never heard of Daimite before. The only solid-rubber soles I'd heard of were Vibram. Solid-rubber soles make shoes last a long time. The plastic cellular soles of most High Street shoes or boots wear out quickly, and are really a fraud. I've had good experiences with Clark's shoes. Despite the internet, I still find it difficult to find shoes with the solid-rubber soles that I like. My favourite shoes used to be the rare thin-soled solid-rubber Dr Martens shoes (not to be confused with the normal thick-soled "air-wear" Dr Martens which wear out quickly), which would last for years and were very comfortable, but as far as I know they are no longer made. Unless someone knows otherwise? 92.15.25.92 (talk) 12:52, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

I agree, Clarks are excellent. I wear their shoes all the time and they have a good in house repair service too.--85.211.160.26 (talk) 07:29, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

A late addition to the question. I live in Wisconsin and can vouch for the fact leather soles on ice and snow can be downright hazardous not only to you, but your suit as well (who wants to go into a meeting with salt residue all over their back from falling on the sidewalk?). Taking sandpaper to the soles helps, but isn't a perfect solution. On the other hand on a tile or wood floor the sound is quite different so people will be able to tell. 65.29.47.55 (talk) 21:23, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Fujilift

What is “Fujilift”? --84.62.207.101 (talk) 18:38, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Looks like it's a lift manufacturer. [CharlieEchoTango] 19:14, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Vintage La-Z-Boy Identification

I recently acquired a vintage La-Z-Boy recliner. I'd guess it's from the 1970's, based on the style and color: dark mustard yellow upholstery with dark-stained wooden arms and wings (see picture here [2]) . It still has a tag on it that says it is style #842, but the company's website has no listing for that number. Can anyone help me determine when it was made? Can't find anything similar on google images or ebay. Thanks, SemanticMantis (talk) 20:54, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I'd use their contact form - you can select "product information" then "discontinued styles" - see http://www.la-z-boy.com/ContactUs/ Exxolon (talk) 01:00, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

That is a sweet chair. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 01:57, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for the suggestion and appreciation :) SemanticMantis (talk) 20:09, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

I drove past the local La-Z-Boy store the other day, and there was a teenaged boy out there with one of those twirly advertising signs, except they had him ensconced in one of their chairs. He looked pretty comfortable, spinning that sign.  :) Corvus cornix_talk 21:15, 21 January 2011 (UTC)