Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2015 January 28

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January 28

Nosebleeds

Is it only children that get nosebleeds 'apparently' for no reason? I haven't had a spontaneous nosebleed since I was a child, and I've never seen an adult have one [EDIT: except for my father]. Is there a reason for this? KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 10:05, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

I can't recall ever having one except after getting socked in the nose. Awhile back I took my 85-yr-old mom to the ER with a bad one, resulting from high BP and low humidity. Beyond that, I have nothing to contribute except this: Nosebleed. ―Mandruss ☎ 10:12, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Thanks. That link almost answers my question. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 10:21, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) According to this source they are "Common in kids ages 3 to 10 years" and this one says the ages are 2 to 10 which suggests that the occurrences drop off after 10 years of age. But then the second source says that they're also common in adults from 50 to 80. The second source goes on to say that they're more common amongst those on blood thinners or those with high blood pressure which many people in that 50 to 80 range deal with. Dismas|^(talk) 10:23, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

That's actually what I was thinking. Thanks! My father is on blood thinners and has high BP, causing him to be anaemic, essentially, and occasionally he breaks out in subcutaneous heamorrhages, as well as the occasional nosebleed. Thanks! KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 10:37, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Resolved

OR, perhaps, but I get two or three "spontaneous" nosebleeds a year and am neither a child, nor 50+ nor on any blood thinning medication and my BP is usually noticeably low. Lol. My take is that the human body is wonderfully complex and inconsistent and we'll only ever get generalisations about this kind of thing at best. Now, I'm off to find some lunch. --Dweller (talk) 10:44, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

You should stop banging your face against trees, mate :) KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 11:00, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

I think young children get nosebleeds for several reasons. They have thinner blood vessels, are more likely to "rough house" and they pick their noses often. StuRat (talk) 19:22, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Cocaine users often get nosebleeds, and are rarely children. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:59, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

But on the other hand some people say that nose picking causes nosebleeds and did you ever see a young kid that didn't pick their nose. Richard Avery (talk) 08:25, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

Classic British joke. Q. What's the difference between bogeys and Brussells sprouts? A. Kids won't eat Brussells sprouts. Like all great jokes, it's the truth behind it that makes it funny. And I think I just found my all-time favourite Wikipedia article title. --Dweller (talk) 09:29, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

You may think that's the funniest article title, but it snot. StuRat (talk) 13:12, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

I haven't read that article, so I don't know if what I am going to say is in it, but I did once read that eating snot was a natural way for children to boost their immune system, as they are taking in the unwanted germs and bacteria in small quantities, and the immune system can learn how to deal with them. This is off-topic a little, but still interesting. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 19:06, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

Why doesn't Ukraine default on its Russian debt?

Article on the issue of Russian debt default: [1]

Ukraine wants to avoid a default because it would have consequences. But why is that the case? If Ukraine defaulted on Russian debt citing the invasion by Russia and continued to pay other creditors, would the international debt market view Ukraine as more risky? If the default was viewed as just retaliation against the Russian invasion, why would it raise interest rates or have some other adverse consequence for Ukraine?

Muzzleflash (talk) 19:13, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Russia might use that as an excuse to invade all of Ukraine and "take what is theirs". StuRat (talk) 19:19, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Indeed, if Ukraine does have to lose any more territory, the leaders apparently just want to shave off some of the more Russian areas, not lose the whole country (though those same areas have a good deal of Ukraine's industry). That's what I got from discussions with Kievan friends anyway. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 8 Shevat 5775 21:26, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Ukraine may default on its debt anyway[2], precipitating a bailout. And as the EU has underwritten about $2B of that debt, that's going to add come from the European government debt market. Business Insider tends to being rather excitable (one might say linkbaitey), and in this case they're saying what Russia could do, not what anyone thinks they're likely to do (despite what they may say). With a pro-western government in place, that bailout would surely come from the IMF and the EU (per the Bloomberg article). And Russian's #1 geopolitical concern about Ukraine is whether the country is aligned to them or to the EU (e.g. Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement#Russia). Economically, it's in the interest of neither country to escalate a trade war between them. Ukraine is heavily dependent on Russian gas [3], but Russia is dependent on Ukraine both as a major customer of that gas, and for transit to western European countries (as most of its pipeline network, and 80% of its capacity, runs through Ukraine [4]). Russia–Ukraine gas disputes notes the recent unhappy history between the two countries; a great chunk of that debt is for gas[5]. In the longer term, unease about Russia's using gas supply for political leverage is driving expansion of alternate supplies to Western and Central Europe, especially the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline - which erodes Russia's strength in the European market (diminishing both its economic and political bargaining power). Russia's in serious economic trouble, and really would like that debt paid down; Ukraine is too (worse), and is heavily dependent on a country it's almost at war with. -- Finlay McWalterᚠTalk 23:05, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Almost? — Kpalion^(talk) 10:45, 2 February 2015 (UTC)

Cleggmania

In UK politics, What is 'Cleggmania' and does it still exist? --Coístingad (talk) 19:46, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Very first hit on Google: Cleggmania spreads across Britain . And no, it most definitely doesn't exist any more, the opposite in fact. 82.21.7.184 (talk) 22:39, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Agreed, see Popularity of Miliband and Clegg falls to lowest levels recorded... from July 2014. See also our Nick Clegg article. Alansplodge (talk) 23:03, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

I have added a brief note to our article, so it should appear on any future searches. Alansplodge (talk) 01:40, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

In case you're wondering why, it's a combination of the formation of a coalition government with the Tories and the fact that student tuition was hiked as a result of the coalition government. (Ask any UK student especially international ones like I was...) Students made up a large portion of the LibDem's voter base, you see. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 9 Shevat 5775 03:08, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

Added to the fact that the LibDems had promised in their manifesto NOT to raise tuition fees (of course, the LibDems didn't actually win the election, so those promises aren't binding). Also, the LibDems have by necessity been associated with other aspects of the Conservatives' austerity programme, which is never popular. Alansplodge (talk) 10:35, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

It wasn't a manifesto promise conditional on winning the election. Nick Clegg signed the Vote for Students pledge, the text of which is “I pledge to vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament and to pressure the government to introduce a fairer alternative.". He then voted for the government's plans to increase fees. I think it's worth noting that, as a member of the cabinet, Nick Clegg has to vote with the government or resign; he can't be in the government and oppose it, because of Cabinet collective responsibility. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 11:16, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

I stand corrected. Alansplodge (talk) 17:59, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

Why does....

Semen smell like fish. There's definitely a fishy odor about it. Seems odd that there should be any smell at all as the prostate gland and gonads are a sterile area? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 126.62.121.217 (talk) 20:01, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Mine doesn't, but Google suggests it's common. Answers range from fishy diets to pH changes to not washing properly to trichomoniasis. InedibleHulk (talk) 22:06, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

I don't know about you two, but I have never actually taken the liberty of smelling my own (or anyone else's) semen (I'm not really into that kind of thing), so I wouldn't know. Girls have never remarked on the smell, either. As for taste, apparently, what you eat can affect it, so this may be relevant. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (Chin Wag) 08:29, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

I've tried my own. If that makes me gayer than giving myself a handjob, so be it. And if trying it a few times to know if it gets better and worse (it does) makes me a scientist, I guess I'm a scientist. Like Stephen Baldwin. InedibleHulk (talk) 08:50, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

Not to be confused with Stephen Baldwin. InedibleHulk (talk) 08:52, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

A scientist would keep detailed records. Have you? ―Mandruss ☎ 08:54, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

I'm not Hans Christian Andersen or anything. InedibleHulk (talk) 08:56, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

Speaking of science, here are some psychological nutrition facts. InedibleHulk (talk) 08:55, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

unrelated to answering the question--Jayron32 03:50, 31 January 2015 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Hahaha. You guys got trolled. And inedible fessed up to being a cum sniffer. Signed - The individual you keep trying to block. All good. Now someone who's truly concerned may find this in the archives and consult their doctor. Or eat a pineapple. Or masturbate thinking about mermaids. You've contributed to the sum of human knowledge. That's why I've never tried to block you. It's only a confession if you're ashamed of it. InedibleHulk (talk) 12:29, 29 January 2015 (UTC) Right on. I say I'm untrollable here. If my good faith answer to an odd question makes someone snicker, why should I care? If I'm not interested in a question, I don't post replies. It's pretty simple, actually. BTW, if our OP is still reading, it's very wrong to think that something sterile should have no smell. Sulphur, alcohol, even urine - all have scents when sterile. Also, a tip on trolling - if you have to say "haha you got trolled", then it didn't work - it's like saying "now laugh" at the end of a joke ;) SemanticMantis (talk) 16:13, 29 January 2015 (UTC) A clean fish also smells fishy. But Googling "fish smell" gets me nothing about why. Only dirty vaginas. Trying Verbatim finds that diet is also important for some fish's stank. InedibleHulk (talk) 10:34, 30 January 2015 (UTC) InedibleHulk (talk) 10:31, 30 January 2015 (UTC) And the best thing we have learned (besides the fact that diet can cause changes in taste - but not smell - of semen, is that the OP is a w@nker and produces semen that stinks of fish. I hope someday he will find a lady that can accept that, because I know it will be difficult. Despite my handsome looks and my bank account (and semen that doesn't stink of fish), it can sometimes be even difficult for me..... Good luck, and get a life. KägeTorä - (影虎) (Chin Wag) 04:22, 30 January 2015 (UTC) You've also indirectly contributed the most important fact in orange spotted filefish history. Your helpfulness has been permanently noted. InedibleHulk (talk) 10:52, 30 January 2015 (UTC)