Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2012 November 3

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November 3

A new twist on idling your vehicle in cold weather

I know the question about idling a vehicle in cold temperature has been asked before, Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2010 September 15#Should you let your engine warm up on cold mornings? Why? and Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2010 November 24#Car idling in cold are a couple of examples, so this is not another one. This is about when you are warming up an automatic vehicle. The common opinion is that you should put the vehicle in neutral and use the parking brake. The idea being that it allows fluids to circulate better. The downside would be the small possibility of the parking brake freezing. Any truth in this? CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 04:48, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

If you're on level ground, you don't actually need the brake while in neutral, although some chocks would make me feel a lot safer. I'd also stay inside the car during this warm up. StuRat (talk) 07:48, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

My Honda CRV manual (as I recall without going out into the cold garage to find it) says move off immediately.85.211.131.65 (talk) 15:36, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

It might depend on how cold it gets. For the kind of sub zero temperatures encountered in Cambridge Bay, Scandanavia or Siberia, all kinds of things freeze that you might not have to consider in less chilly places. For this reason, vehicle manufacturers and third-party component makers can supply a engine pre-heater to warm up the vehicle before starting. Your neighbours or your vehicle's manufacturer might know for sure what it is best to do. Astronaut (talk) 20:13, 5 November 2012 (UTC)

Thanks all. I had forgotten about this. It's a bit like the should you or should you not idle at all in that everybody has a conflicting opinion. Including the several mechanics we have here. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 16:04, 9 November 2012 (UTC)

20th birthday

In the United States your 18th birthday allows you to purchase lottery tickets, 21st to drink alcohol, etc. As today is my 20th birthday I'm wondering if there are any such rights that are gained upon someone's 20th birthday in the United States (if "up to the states" then Kansas or Oklahoma). Ks0stm ^{(T•C•G•E)} 10:15, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

Google search for: kansas "must be age 20 or older" suggests lots of TV stations want interview or reality show subjects to be at least 20 years old. Staecker (talk) 12:56, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

By the way - lottery tickets are state - it's 21 years old for the Iowa Lottery for instance. Rmhermen (talk) 13:42, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

Let me be the first on Wikipedia to wish you a Happy Birthday. Hemoroid Agastordoff (talk) 17:44, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

You might be interested in reading Coming of Age Day. It's Japan, not the US, though. (The first time I saw a Japanese-style toilet, I remember thinking to myself, "I don't think we are in Kansas any more, Toto".) --Shirt58 (talk) 04:48, 4 November 2012 (UTC)

Did it form a cyclone when you flushed ? :-) StuRat (talk) 05:48, 4 November 2012 (UTC)

I yearn to know if any manga character has ever said "I don't think we're in Kansai anymore." —Tamfang (talk) 06:52, 4 November 2012 (UTC)

The right to deny being a teenager. Mitch Ames (talk) 07:04, 4 November 2012 (UTC)

Do children in the US have a day off from school on Nov. 1st?

Are children in the US, as my mother claims, able to sleep extra hours after Halloween or do they have to go to school also on November 1st? Dear Americans, please help me! Calle Widmann (talk) 16:11, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

November 1 is All Saints' Day, but I'm not aware of any US public school which gives that day off. Perhaps some Christian schools might. StuRat (talk) 16:42, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

(Doesn't meet WP:RS, but my Mom is former school employee). That may be around the time the school gives out report cards, so they might get a half-day or a whole day. Other than that, unless Nov 1 randomly falls on to be a teacher-work day or the weekend, kids don't get it off. Ian.thomson (talk) 16:47, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

According to this site, November 1 is a public holiday in the USA. --TammyMoet (talk) 16:58, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

Sorry, but that site is total BS. Here's the days they list:

January 1 New Year Public Holiday in United States            (correct)
April 25 Liberation Day Public Holiday in United States       (wrong)
May 1 May Day Public Holiday in United States                 (wrong)
June 2 National Day Public Holiday in United States           (wrong)
August 15 Assumption Public Holiday in United States          (wrong)
November 1 All Saints’ Day Public Holiday in United States    (wrong)
December 8, 25 & 26 Public Holiday in United States           (only December 25th)
Spring: Easter; Easter Monday (day after Easter)              (only one day off)

They also seem to have missed Labor Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and, in some places, Martin Luther King Day. StuRat (talk) 17:01, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

That's a list oft the public holidays in Italy. Bgfx (talk) 17:02, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

Actually, my school district gave Christmas week off (but not Dec 8), and would usually give a couple days off around Thankgiving. Ian.thomson (talk) 17:12, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

Yes, schools are free to give off more time than the public holidays, and many do. StuRat (talk) 17:14, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

My school gave the federal holidays listed here off with the exception of the birthdays and Veterans' Day. We often got a couple of days on either side of Christmas/New Year's off, and Thanksgiving often has Friday (and sometimes Wednesday or even the whole week) off. All Saints' Day was never a day I got off in any US public school I went to. - Purplewowies (talk) 03:36, 5 November 2012 (UTC)

• Children in NJ will have off on the 6th for election day, since many schools are polling places. Christie rescheduled Halloween for Monday the 5th because of this after the hurricane. A lot of kids took advantage of this by trick-or-treating in Philly on Halloween, and will get a second go next week. μηδείς (talk) 17:17, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

Thank you very much! The conclusion is that my mother was wrong. Again, by the way. Calle Widmann (talk) 18:13, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

Catholic schools may have a holiday on November 1. 69.62.243.48 (talk) 03:05, 5 November 2012 (UTC)