Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2012 February 12

Welcome to the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

February 12

Finding an alternative way to contact someone

How would I go about finding other site that this person might be on? --Imaskinaquestion127 (talk) 02:16, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Have you tried searching "Darius Almighty" on Google? You may be able to find good results. Narutolovehinata5 ^tccsdnew 02:28, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Results of said Google search notwithstanding, you (Imaskin) might struggle if the name is a pseudonym that the person uses only on Fanfiction.net. If this is the case, obviously the best way to get in contact with his real-life persona would be to message him directly on that website.--WaltCip (talk) 03:29, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

It is a little more complicated than that. He hasn't updated his story in a while so I don't think he has logged in for about the same amount of time. His profile that I linked has a link to his DeviantArt account here. --Imaskinaquestion127 (talk) 05:03, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

See if his DeviantArt is active. If not, tough luck. Besides, why do you want to find him anyway? Narutolovehinata5 ^tccsdnew 05:34, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

His DeviantArt account is no longer active. The point of the question was to figure out a way to assemble all available information into something I can use to contact the person (i.e., another artist site, Facebook, etc.). --Imaskinaquestion127 (talk) 06:33, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

The question now is how can I assemble all available information into something useful? --Imaskinaquestion127 (talk) 15:03, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Does anyone else want to answer? --Imaskinaquestion127 (talk) 20:43, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Unfortunately, with the information given, it doesn't seem to be possible to get anything useful. I did a number of Google searches with various combinations of the information given on the Deviantart profile and came up with nothing, except for a couple of what turned out to be red herrings. Sorry, I don't think we're going to be able to help this time. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 21:02, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Even the birthday doesn't help? --Imaskinaquestion127 (talk) 21:33, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

There was a question asked here not that long ago, Finding a person with a first name, birthday, and [most_recent] city, which is basically the same situation we have here. The answer was quite long and rambling, but the short version is 'not possible'. As I mentioned, I tried everything I could think of, and found someone with the same first name and date of birth, but the photo was of an obviously different person. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 22:13, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Well that's a shame. --Imaskinaquestion127 (talk) 22:17, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

I was the person who asked the question Cucumber Mike referred to. The idea was that a first name, date of birth, and location would narrow down the results, and it should. The problem is that for all the information that getting access to sites that probably have someone matching the profile given is hard. Facebook, the largest social networking site in the world, requires members to opt-in in order to be displayed in web searches, something most people probably don't know about. They do this to maintain a walled garden for which they are the gate keepers. I once read this article about how hard getting CSI-like profiles and searches is due to fragmented databases. --Melab±1 ☎ 23:23, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Harassing emails

Hi

I hope I am at the right place. To ask a simple question is made very complicated by you.

I have someone from IMEI - +27730235682 harassing me with blank emails: All it says is "Keep this message From: IMEI:352146748412546" When you open the message it is blank. This comes through in the middle of the night and anytime during the day. At the moment I am sitting with 139 messages for the past 3 months.

Please advise why I am receiving these emails and also please if you are able DISCONTINUE sending these notifications. It is harassment and I am now forced to report this to the Consumer Council if this harassment does not stop.

I trust you will be of assistance or redirect me to the correct department to assist me with this dilemma.

Regards

Ronelle Van Rooyen — Preceding unsigned comment added by Luluthia (talk • contribs) 07:24, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

1) I added a title to your question.

2) Why do you think emails from "IMEI:352146748412546" are coming from anyone at Wikipedia ?

3) I suggest you block e-mails from that address. If you will tell us which e-mail system you use, we might be able to tell you what steps to take to block it. StuRat (talk) 08:01, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Googling Keep this message From IMEI yields a number of results, so it seems that other people have had the same problem. I can't vouch for any of the answers given on the different forums, though.Sjö (talk) 08:50, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

This is nothing to do with Wikipedia. From a search with Google, it appears that Keep this message From: IMEI is part of a message that some Android phones with anti-theft software send out when a new SIM is inserted. Since +27730235682 appears to be a South African mobile phone number, it might be worthwhile trying to phone them to find out what's going on. -- Arwel Parry (talk) 12:42, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

No you are definitely not at the right place. I assure you we are not making anything more complicated that it needs to be. --Lgriot (talk) 08:39, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

Yes this is the right place - Reference Desks answer all sorts of questions that have nothing to do with WP itself. Luluthia never claimed that the messages come from WP at all. Questions about Wikipedia go to the WP:Help Desk. Roger (talk) 09:41, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

The question says ".. Please advise why I am receiving these emails and also please if you are able DISCONTINUE sending these notifications", and "redirect me to the correct department to assist me", both of which seem to imply that she thinks that Wikipedia is sending the emails. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 10:39, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

Facebook

Is there any tool by which I can track the people (other Facebook users) who visit my profile in Facebook? --SupernovaExplosion (talk) 08:15, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

No. As Sophos says, "Remember, functionality does not exist in Facebook to allow you to find out who has viewed your profile. So many people are being tricked into believing that it might be possible, that Facebook has had to include a firm denial in its FAQ." Any post on Facebook which claims to offer this functionality is at best wrong, and at worst malicious. Sophos regularly posts on this subject; like here and here and here. I recommend subscribing to their blog if you or any of your Facebook friends feel tempted to sign up for any of these Facebook 'tools'. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 13:33, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Thanks Mike! I asked the question because some days ago I saw some wall post in a Facebook page claiming such functionality. --SupernovaExplosion (talk) 13:51, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Take care with such claims! They could be a way to trick you to install some malware. 212.170.181.95 (talk) 13:58, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Normally the idea is not to get you to install malware as such, but to entice you to take a survey or sign up for a premium-rate text service. At the same time you often hand over some 'rights' to your Facebook account, allowing the scammers to post things without your permission, and make it look as if you wrote it. Malware is a little different, being software that is installed on your own machine, with or without your knowledge, for the purpose of finding out your password or gain access to your data. What SupernovaExplosion has come across is more like phishing, in that the aim is to get you to willingly hand over sensitive information by making you believe you will get something in return, e.g. 'OMG!!1!!!1 lolz i haz seen hoo luk at my facebook klik here 2 see who lukin at ur profil!!11!!1!!'. Or something... - Cucumber Mike (talk) 14:32, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Do you need to have a valid passport to leave a country?

Imagine you lost yours, but are flying back with your ID to your country. Would the authorities normally let you out? 212.170.181.95 (talk) 13:55, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Some countries will, some won't. Those countries that practice exit control (which means they keep tabs on everyone leaving) are much more likely to. Some countries require an exit visa (which is usually attached to a passport); Pakistan, for example, has an Exit Control List which prevents a few of its nationals a few named people from leaving the country. In practice this may be harder, as some countries hold carriers like airlines responsible if they deliver someone to the airport who doesn't have a passport - so airlines will insist on a passport (or an equivalent document, such as a temporary travel document) before they let someone board. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 14:13, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

The airline wants to know that you are admissible at the end point of the journey. If you present documentation that assures them of that, you will be allowed to board. Because they may be required to get you out of the country where you have been refused admission. In addition, if your journey passes through the US, you will need to show admissibility there, as you can't "transit" through the US.--Wehwalt (talk) 14:25, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

If you are an EU National travelling between two countries within the Schengen Area then you can travel with a national ID card, and should not be required to have a passport. NB - Some airlines (e.g. Ryanair) will require a passport anyway. And ALWAYS check with your airline, or your national embassy or consulate if you are unsure - we can't offer legal advice here, and anything we do say may be wrong. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 14:36, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Not quite right. To travel between any EU countries you only need a national ID card (if your home country happens to issue them), Schengen or not. To travel between two Schengen countries you need no documentation whatsoever. Ryanair is also perfectly happy to let you on board with a national ID card.109.154.208.214 (talk) 22:30, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

Expanding on Wehwalt's point, in many jurisdictions airlines are held responsible for checking the identification of their passengers at check-in and boarding, and can be fined quite heavily by the authorities in the destination country for allowing passengers without proper documentation to fly. Just because you're standing there with (say) a California driver's license, the airline can't be sure that you're actually eligible to enter the United States (you could be a foreign national who acquired the license while visiting on a now-expired visa, for example) and they will be reluctant to allow you to check in and board.

Different rules may apply depending on the countries involved. If you do lose your passport while abroad, your best course is almost always going to be to contact your own country's consulate to seek advice and acquire appropriate temporary passports/visas/paperwork. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 17:01, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

I actually had this happen to me. I'm a US citizen, and a permanent resident of Hong Kong. I lost my passport in the US, but was able to convince the airline to accept me on the strength of my HK ID card (HK permanent residents don’t need a passport to enter / exit Hong Kong). Since the US does not require passports to exit the country, I was able to fly from the US to HK without a passport, enter HK and then apply for a new passport at the US consulate here. DOR (HK) (talk) 08:22, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

Urine sample

This is a question about doctors and medicine, but is not asking for medical advice so please don't delete. I went to the doctor a while ago over something, for this question it doesn't matter what. I was asked to provide a urine sample, which I did. The problem I had is now resolved and I never heard anything more from the doctor. But I assume they scanned the urine sample, and my question is; if there was something else wrong with me which showed up in the urine would they contact me over it? Is that standard procedure? 94.223.131.217 (talk) 15:21, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

No one here can answer for your doctor. So call him. I trust my doctor to do that sort of thing (I go to him because he is very conscientious) but I don't know your doctor.--Wehwalt (talk) 15:35, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

I make the same deduction when my GP does not report a result, since I know that if there is anything wrong he will recall me fast. It's in his interest as well as mine.--85.211.170.102 (talk) 18:49, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Yes, they would notify you if any problem was apparent. However, they don't test the urine for every possible condition, as this would be expensive and insurance wouldn't cover it. They only test for conditions you are likely to have. StuRat (talk) 18:52, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

While I agree that they don't test for all conditions every time, usually a urinalysis will test for a number of diseases. This is a standardized set of tests always run the same way, part of it is just dipping a test strip in. 75.41.110.200 (talk) 19:15, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Maybe they tried to contact you through post, but the letter got lost, you know, with all those cuts due to the crisis, nothing works as it should. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.36.33.29 (talk) 19:59, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

Maybe it depends where you are, but wherever I've been, I always get a mailing with results of lab work, be it positive or negative. The OP should call and find out what happened to it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:13, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

When I have had tests at the doctor's, I have had to go back to get the results. I like to imagine that if something was seriously wrong, they would call you back, but I wouldn't assume that would actually happen. Astronaut (talk) 12:25, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

Random Light Fixture parts -- help?!

I have a set of halogen light fixtures hovering above my kitchen. When I went to change the lightbulb, I realized that two of them were missing a circular glass cover and a retaining ring sample image. Where the heck can someone suggest I find a replacement for these, online or here in Toronto? I don't know the wholesaler, and my landlord is non-contributory.

Thanks!! --Cacofonie (talk) 22:36, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

I have some under cabinet lights that I installed that look similar to that. I don't know what company made them and I can't look as I'm at work now. If I get you the name, you may be able to write the company with a copy of the image and get the parts that you need. The ring is called a snap ring or retaining ring. Or slangily a "Jesus clip" because when you have it under tension while trying to install it and it slips out of your grip, it flies off into a corner of the room and you say "Jesus! Where did it go?". Dismas|^(talk) 00:36, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

Thanks, much appreciated! The wholesaler wants me to buy a whole new lamp. Blegh. I might hunt down a lighting store and see if I can find something.--Cacofonie (talk) 15:24, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

I suggest you take this opportunity to upgrade to lights which use less electricity and produce less heat, such as CFLs. It should save you money overall, in short order. StuRat (talk) 03:48, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

The landlord may not like the OP making "permanent" changes like that. Dismas|^(talk) 06:05, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

I agree, these are brutal. I *did* buy the fancy, low-energy use bulbs, but I cant replace them because I'm missing the Jesus ring. What can you do? --Cacofonie (talk) 15:24, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

If the ring is only there to retain the clear cover, couldn't you just leave the cover off ? You might want to remove all the covers, so they match. The need for a cover is likely reduced with CFLs. The reason is that the halogen gets so hot that a stray drop of water that splashes up there might make it shatter, but CFLs don't get that hot. StuRat (talk) 22:25, 13 February 2012 (UTC)