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September 7

Can cereal be patented ?

I saw an ad for new Fruity Cheerios today, which looks to be a rip-off of Froot Loops. Can they be sued ? StuRat 00:22, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

In the case of serial infringements, I think they could be 8-)--Light current 00:26, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Cereal can only be patent the exact recipe that is used. If it was found that General Mills happened to steal Kellogg's recipe then they could be sued. However, if General Mills was able to just experiment around a little and make something similar, then they're home free. This is why knock-off brands (like Wal-Mart's Great Value series) are able to have their own versions of every popular food product out there. It's always why they never taste quite the same. Of course, I don't really know law, but that's how I guess it works.--SeizureDog 00:48, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

That's not totally true; patent claims can be of many different sizes and scopes (it is not limited to the "exact recipe"). The variations possible would depend on the exact patent claims that were upheld. --Fastfission 14:51, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

For those unfamiliar with Fruity Cheerios, Fruity Cheerios are quite distinct from Froot Loops. They are about half the size, do not have that sugary-coating, and are more fruity flavored than sugary sweet. While Froot Loops are puffed, Fruity Cheerios have a harder, more cheerio-like texture. So the recipe seems to be completely different rather than only slightly changed. Hyenaste ^(tell) 02:33, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

In the United States, patents used to last seventeen years from the date they were granted, but now they last twenty years from the application date. Of course, the recipes for cereal probably change from time to time, but if Fruit Loops were patented when they first came out (I'd guess that was forty years ago) anyone is free to make cerial according to the old recipe.

If a cereal company does not have a patent, anyone is free to experiment until they copy the taste and appearance. --Gerry Ashton 03:55, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

They could declare the recipe a trade secret. DMacks 04:40, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

But that doesn't prevent anyone else from reverse engineering the product. Rmhermen 14:16, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You only want to use trade secrets with recipes that can't be easaily reverse engineered, i.e. soft drink formulas. --Fastfission 14:51, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Froot Loops were introduced in the 1960s; if there ever was a patent on them it has long expired. I don't know of any good reason that cereal wouldn't be patentable. The exact claims of the patent would determine what was infringement or not—if you patented a specific recipe, then a similar-but-different knockoff would be ok. If you patented, "cereal with freeze-dried marshmellows in it" then the patent would apply just to that characteristic (if it was granted) and the specifics of the recipe wouldn't matter. If you managed to slip a patent for "food to which milk would be added before eating" past the Patent Office (stranger things have happened) then you'd have the possibility of a monopoly on the whole industry. --Fastfission 14:51, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If there were legal repercussions for making look-alike or "taste-alike" cereal, I believe the Malt-O-Meal company would have been in trouble long ago. --LarryMac 15:26, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Cure for acid burns on the tongue

Of course, it's really not as serious of a question as it can sound. What I'm referring to is when one eats too many sour foods (like Sour Skittles) and it burns your tastes buds to where it really hurts to eat anything. Does anyone know of any way to counter-act this?--SeizureDog 00:51, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Milk is good for this type of thing, since it contains both water and fat, so is able to dissolve both water-soluble and fat-soluble chemicals, and thus dilute them. Of course, if the damage to the tongue is already done, then you will just have to wait for the tongue to heal. StuRat 00:55, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Neutralize it with a base. --Proficient 03:40, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I hope you just intended this as a joke. – b_jonas 08:01, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Base (chemistry), not the drug-variant of freebase, if that's what you were thinking of. DirkvdM 08:07, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yea, you could chew up a Tums, Rolaids or other antacid and roll it around on your tongue, that might work, too. StuRat 08:12, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, I considered the whole base thing, but is there any food that is naturally a base? I don't really want to eat medicine. --SeizureDog 21:53, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I think chocolate is somewhat alkaline, as are dark green, leafy veggies, like spinach (that choice is a no-brainer, isn't it ?). The chocolate also contains fat to help dissolve fat-soluble molecules, and you could add some butter to your spinach for the same effect. However, antacids made with calcium carbonate are quite healthy, although they do, predictably, taste like chalk. StuRat 02:41, 9 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You mean like when you eat a whole box of lemon heads? Russian F 11:58, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I use the stuff for teething or mouth ulcers as I'm always doing that-hotclaws**==(82.138.214.1 21:53, 7 September 2006 (UTC))[reply]

I generally find that I can't do anything about the damage that's already been done, though of course you can stop it from getting any worse. If I could somehow eat a Tums while I'm sucking on a lemon (which I love doing) without ruining the taste, I probably would, but by the time your tongue actually starts to hurt, wouldn't most of the acid already have been cleaned from your mouth? freshofftheufo ΓΛĿЌ 04:15, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Lemonheads don't have lemon juice. bibliomaniac15 04:23, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Number of College Student in the US?

Facebook is supposed to have 7.7 million members and be at 80% saturation of the college market. Is that correct? How many college students are in the US? How Many High School Students are in the US? 10 million college students seems low to me. STHayden ^{[ Talk ]} 02:55, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Looks like 14.5 million undergrads in 2003 [1]. Rmhermen 03:30, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Poet G Venora LaMarche

Please add this author to the list of Poets. G. Venora LaMarche has published two Poetry Chapbooks. The first titled "Crazee Lady, Too" and the second is "This Life: Orison of Life" both published by Publish America. The first was released in 2005 and "This Life" is released in July 2006. G. Venora was born 1941 and presently resides in Wichita Kansas.

Hello. Since this is a wiki, you could always create an article - G. Venora LaMarche - on the poet in question yourself. However, i'm not sure she or he meets the notability guidelines for inclusion in wikipedia. PublishAmerica is essentially an author mill and thus the poety may be considered a vanity publication. However, if you can justify his or her inclusion in policy, then please be bold. Rockpocket 07:01, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Song-bird

What is the name of the song-bird used as a symbol for the Kursk Region in Russia? thanks, KN

I don't know but I find this strange. So do we get to shar in the prize? CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 12:15, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Well I wouldn't have said it was a songbird, but if you go to Kursk, click on the coat of arms, then click on the link, then translate the relevant section using Babelfish, you get ... partridge. --Shantavira 11:12, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

In the link above to the original question there is a wma file that you can download. From what I saw the answer is in there, you just need to listen to it. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 13:13, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Identification of a song...

This is a song that I heard on the radio, but unfortunately, muffled. It's a rather heavy song; I would say, it's rock, or even alternative. One lead male singer. These are the notes:

                ||          |           ||
vocals: * * a c ||. d e a c | d * a c  .||
bass:           ||. f------ | d------- .||
                ||          |           ||

The notes just increase from a to e, and then from the same a to d. This repeats a few times. I'm fairly certain the key is A minor. Slight possibility it is in D minor, but I did not hear any b-flats. I've identified the chors which I believe start right at the bar line. There is also some drums...Any ideas?? --HappyCamper 12:38, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Do you know any lines from the lyric? If so you could try searching for them on Google. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 12:49, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

No, I don't unfortunately. I think there is the word "my" or "me" somewhere, but that would not help. The song must be something fairly recent, written after 2000 at minimum if I had to bet. --HappyCamper 13:04, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It would help if we knew the rythm and where the barlines are. (Can Wikipedia render musical notation by now?) Anyway, let me try guessing: It's my life —Bromskloss 13:24, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, I added 4/4 bar lines - and also indicated where the two bars of music seem to repeat a few times. All of them are just quarter notes. The stars are what sounded like rests. It's not It's my life though. I have that song :-) --HappyCamper 16:31, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Keyboard, countour, sing, whistle, rhythm : try [Musipedia] searches. -- DLL ^{.. T} 20:17, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

By any chance could the song be Four Kicks by Kings of Leon? T REX_speak 01:56, 13 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

law 502

Hi. am having trouble finding info on a 1960's-1970's law known among rock'en rollers and bikers. 502 is common number in rock-cafes/bars, and its supposed to mean something about a restricting law having to do with bikers n rock en roll. As my final option i chose to ask you about that 502 "symbol". thank you in advance for your efforts. 193.92.44.132 13:06, 7 September 2006 (UTC)Dimitris[reply]

"502" is (or was, supposedly, in some jurisdiction, at some time) police code for driving under the influence, as in "502 blues (drinkin' and drivin')" by Wayne Shorter. --Rallette 15:53, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Grizzly vs. croc

Which would win in a fight to the death between a grizzly bear versus a saltwater crocodile? Battle Ape 13:13, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I think the stingray would win. --Zeizmic 13:38, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Considering that grizzly bears and saltwater crocodiles occupy very different ecosystems, they would probably never meet. Durova 18:11, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Where's the fight? If it's in the water, I reckon that bear's pwned. TheMadBaron 21:00, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, the arena will have a land area and a water area, but the fight starts on land. So the croc would have to drag the grizzly over there. Durova, I know it would never happen, it's just hypothetical. Battle Ape 01:39, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Because both of them would probably run away, I think you have to tweak the setting a little more. A small, closed (like a valley) area with scattered areas of dry land and murkey water, which is coincidentally home to both a nest of baby croc eggs (and their big assed-mother) and a snatch of bear cubs (and their angry frothy mother). Now, I think you've got a fight. freshofftheufo ΓΛĿЌ 04:08, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Hmmmm...I think the bear would win. First, because it starts out on land. Second, the croc would have trouble getting a good grip on the bear through all the fur. Finally, the croc's standard tactic is to drag its victim into the water and drown it. The beasties are about the same maximum weight, so that would be tough. 06:31, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

Who, me freshgavin? :) --Froth 22:28, 12 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

No.

It has to be a closed arena with no other food resources, or they're never going to fight.

The crocodile, generally very lethargic, and capable of surviving for months without food, takes one look at the bear and heads straight for the water. The bear stays close to her cubs. She avoids the water, perhaps for several days. One night, she heads quietly, cautiously, closer to the water in the hope of taking a fish. She stops. She waits. There is neither smell nor sound of the crocodile, so she approaches the waters edge. Splash - snap - drag - roll.... pwned. TheMadBaron 11:12, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Remember though that bears have a sense of smell ten times better than a dog's. A bear can smell a fish underwater a mile away. So the bear certainly knows that the only food around is that big strange thing at the bottom of the pond. The croc has relatively poor senses. So I'd say the bear gets the first swipe and lays the croc's innards open, then the fatally injured croc uses its tail to sweep the bear toward its jaws. The bear takes a nasty injury, but the croc doesn't have the strength to drag it underwater. Croc dies, bear eats dinner, then bear expires from an abscessed wound. Final score 0-0. Durova 13:54, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Now, remember that the bear is in a weakened state, not having eaten for a few days. And the crocodile's skin is made of the same stuff they make shoes out of. And if you want me to accept that a bear can smell a fish underwater from a mile away, I'm afraid you'll have to cite your sources.... besides, a crocodile is not a fish, it's an insect. No, I tell you, the crocodile has the elephant of surprise on her side, and that bear is crocodile poo. TheMadBaron 21:15, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I think the crocodile would win. --Proficient 03:41, 11 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

My source was a U.S. park ranger at a bear safety awareness lecture in Sequoia National Park - not exactly the sort of thing that can be cited, but it's pretty easy to verify online that a bear's sense of smell is far better than a dog's. It would be rather difficult to suppose a bear wouldn't smell another animal that weighed hundreds of pounds. Now the croc can't stray far from the pond so it's really up to the bear to make the first move. I don't suppose it would wait until it's seriously weakened. Also, croc skin counts nil toward deflecting a bear's claws. I have seen a bear turn a fallen log into toothpicks with three swipes. Durova 14:20, 12 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

UFO

What is the latest story for UFOs? Thanks196.200.100.232 13:48, 7 September 2006 (UTC)poppy[reply]

Do you mean the latest news story? Try list of major UFO sightings and the many and various links from there. Otherwise UFO will fill you in.--Shantavira 15:26, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Fifteen Aliens Arrested in Roswell, New Mexico --Shantavira 17:29, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

LOL. StuRat 17:34, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Funniest thing I've ever seen on Wikipedia. Jamesino 01:46, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You not been here very long then?--Light current 01:58, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Incorrect Jamesino 00:38, 9 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Did you not witness the tapeworm incident? THat was the funniest by far IMO--Light current 03:50, 10 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

See that one here: [2]. StuRat 06:47, 10 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Amaniyat

I was looking at Canadian soldiers kill Afghan police officer over on Wikinews, wanted to wikilink Amaniyat, and was surprised there was no article.

Google turns up a mention here, apparently this is the Afghan Secret Police, or National Directorate of Security (NDS). Only mention of the NDS I've found in Wikipedia is at Human rights in Afghanistan.

And to turn this into a question... Who would be a good person to ask about making a stub on this? I was looking for a "request an article" page and wouldn't mind if this was moved to one. --Brianmc 15:43, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Requested articles would be what you're looking for there. Tony Fox (arf!) 16:02, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! --Brianmc 16:04, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Desert

I am looking for a world map, but on it should be marked where the deserts in the world is. It is for a project for school. I can`t find it on Wikipedia. Can you please help? Do you know where I can find something like that on the internet?

Our desert article really should have a map showing the location of deserts around the world (but doesn't right now). --Tagishsimon (talk)

Hopefully this answer will be of more use to you.[3]--Light current 16:08, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

This query points towards some maps - the first link might indeed be all you need. IINAL, but there may be an educational fair use justification for appropriating images; and if not, well, in your place I'd borrow the map anyway. --Tagishsimon (talk)

This might also help: List of deserts. Durova 17:56, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If it is for school, you could trace your own map, and mark significant deserts of the world. — [Mac Davis] (talk) (Desk|Help me improve)

Don't forget the cold deserts, unless your project is specifically about hot deserts. freshofftheufo ΓΛĿЌ 04:00, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I can't help but think of ice cream vs hot apple pie. :--) JackofOz 23:33, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Indeed. Do you need both hot/cold deserts? --Proficient 03:42, 11 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Musical form and harmony

THis in not homework! Im doing a study of the musical form of popular jazz songs (standards). I find that the harmony starts usually either with I maj, or IIm7 in most cases. So if the song is in Cmaj, the first chord tends to be Cmaj or Dm7.

What I want to know is: are there tunes which start on chords built on other steps of the scale, like Em, Fmaj etc (in the key of Cmaj agian). If so, what percentage (if any) of songs start on these other steps of the scale?--Light current 16:22, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Well, let's see. I'll omit the rarely sung verses for the purpose of this question, and transpose to C. "What Is This Thing Called Love" starts on Gm7b5. "Nice Work if You Can Get It" starts on E7#5. "Love for Sale", FMaj7. "I Thought About You", F#m7b5. That's all I could find skimming quickly through two fake books; so yes, they exist, and they are pretty rare. Cole Porter is a good place to look, since he quite often didn't stick to more common formats. Can't give a percentage, though I'd guess less than 5%. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 17:41, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

OK Well thats very useful. THanks JP. 8-)). As you may have guessed, Im trying to work out an easy way of remembering the harmonies of the common jazz standards. THe M8s are of course another task!

"What Is This Thing Called Love" has a fairly inharmonious beginning- I suppose its the b5.
"Nice Work if You Can Get It" yes I can hear it now!
"I Thought About You" I m not familiar with this one.
"Love for Sale" I should have guessed this one as Ive played it. Altho' couldnt that be a Dm7 insted of Fmaj7?

Any more additions will be most welcome. THese of course will be the exceptions to my new 'rule'--Light current 17:53, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Well, my fakebook has Love for sale in Bb, and it starts on EbMaj7. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 18:45, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I take your word for it: thers not much diff between Fmaj7 and Dm9 except the bass note really.--Light current 23:47, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Finding Ulf and Siw Rosen

I am trying to find a swedish couple Mr and Mrs Rosen, They use to live in: Monrov. 7b 75244 upsala Sweden.

They were my sponsors in education 26yrs ago in a village in the gambia. I want to thank them. My life is very successful because of them.

Regards

Do you speak Swedish? I wasn't able to find Monrov. at all, and casually matching Siw Rosen with Ulf Rosen didn't yield any results either. Sorry. Were they missionaries? —Bromskloss 21:09, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It could have been a typo for "Morgonv(ägen)", an actual street name in Uppsala, (though it currently has another Postal code). 惑乱分からん 22:00, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Hmmm, the postal code fits with "Marmorv(ägen)", though. Don't know how much that helps. 惑乱分からん 22:21, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Changing the user profile name

How do I change the profile name to read David E. Mumford instead of David mumford? It's showing up now with a lower case m on mumford. Thanks.

Create a new user name, and copy the text over from the old user name. You will lose the history, but since you only have 3 edits, that's no big deal. StuRat 17:53, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

However, when so copying, please don't commit copyright infringement as with User:David mumford. Thanks! — Lomn | Talk 17:55, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Your user page was flagged as a copyright violation, since you copied your own biography directly from a web site. This is an interesting case, I wonder if there's any "fair use" argument saying you can copy your own biography from a web site without the express written permission of the site. StuRat 18:01, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I really can't see how there would be, since this sort of copyright is more concerned with the presentation of the facts therein rather than what the facts themselves are. Composing a quick autobiographical statement shouldn't be any real effort, though. — Lomn | Talk 18:32, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Wouldn't that be original research? :p --70.61.33.138 13:24, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

What happens if you create an account "David E. Mumford" and then move page "User:David Mumford" to "User:David E. Mumford"? In any case, this seems more a question for the Help desk than for the refefrence desks. --Lambiam ^Talk 15:17, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

This is definitely and interesting situation. --Proficient 03:43, 11 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Value of chemical elements

I noticed that the value of germanium in 1997 and 2000 was provided in that article. That sparked the question: what is the best source for determining the current value of such commodities? Is there a reliable web source for finding this information. I'd like to find a consistent source for updating this aspect of the chemical articles. Much thanks in advance. LeyteWolfer 17:58, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Wasn't this already asked and answered elsewhere ? StuRat 18:03, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Asked, yes; answered, no. Thought it wiser to try and reach potential financial people. LeyteWolfer 22:21, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Tried Johnson Matthey metals

chemical market reporter

Thanks, I'll give those a go. LeyteWolfer 22:21, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yet another obscure song info request

I head this many years ago on the radio, but don't know the group. It goes something like this: A la puerta del sol, ay contigi del mar, wantavorta compensiero y fortadia siem momen (excuse the spelling). After a while, it switches to the English translation. Clarityfiend 20:34, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Try copy-pasting the lyrics into Google. It usually works when I need lyrics. Luigi30 (Taλk) 12:15, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

But after "A la puerta del sol", the Spanish gets messed up, so you better ask for a rewrite on the Language section, first. 惑乱分からん 12:45, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Trying to find back a funny (chibi) image of the Vegeta character from Dragonball

File:WeirdVEGETA.JPG

Hello, as an avatar on my MSN I have a picture of Vegeta from Dragonball. I lost the original though. It is kind of chibi-style. It could be fanart but it is drawn quite well. His outfit is much like on planet Namek when he was fighting Freeza (he is wearing black with a white armor over it). He is walking to the left and clapping his hands in order to remove the dust and makes a funny face like : "Finally got that solved". I'll try to upload a low quality version of it.(EDIT:got one)

I am trying to find the original. Can anyone help? Thanks! (Please tell me if I violated a rule by uploading that screenshot) Evilbu 22:45, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If you have the original file name, throwing that into Google might net you something. Other than that, you're probably out of luck. There is Google Images, but I imagine with a character like him you could be on there a long time searching for a particular image. Mitaphane _talk 00:01, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It looks like fanart, as opposed to an official "chibi print". freshofftheufo ΓΛĿЌ 03:47, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I know about some technology that allows you to search for similar images according to appearance (color, shape, shades etc) but I don't know how and where to use it. 惑乱分からん 12:47, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

"gay"

why is "gay" almost always in the top 10 "most searched" on nytimes.com?

Might it have something to do with this phenomenon? freshofftheufo ΓΛĿЌ 03:46, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Because being gay can be considered trendy. Look at Google's Zeitgeist sometime. Luigi30 (Taλk) 12:14, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Neither of those answers are very good. I don't think anyone has the slightest idea why "gay" is a top searched item on nytimes.com. I suppose the more natural assumption would be that people are interested in articles from the New York Times related to homosexuality, but who knows what motivates people. I tried searching for "gay" on it and didn't come up with anything obvious. It also might be something related to the fact that it is high on the rankings—people like you (and me) tried to search for it too, wondering why it is such a high search term. But I doubt that this sort of curiosity can keep a search term very high on its own, since relatively few people are likely to care what are high search terms at nytimes.com. --Fastfission 14:55, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, I was attempting to answer the question. You could ask a similar question, "Why do people often add the word gay when they vandalize Wikipedia?" The answer is simply that "gay" is often used out of context, and wrongly, as some sort of explicit word, and many of the more immature internet users would probably think it just hilarious to have "gay" as one of the most searched words in a list, in the same way they'd probably like to have "penis" or "poopsex" in the list. What Marco Polo says below certainly also contributes to the effect. freshofftheufo ΓΛĿЌ 19:21, 9 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Homosexuality is a phenomenon affecting close to 10% of the population directly (that is, at least this percentage has homosexual desires or feelings at some point) and indirectly affecting their parents and friends, a much larger number. Yet few educational systems offer people any information or guidance on this topic, which is taboo in many countries, at least as a topic for school instruction. So, when this topic confronts people (e.g. they notice feelings of attraction to others of the same sex, or they discover that their child, pupil, uncle, aunt, neighbor, or whoever, has such feelings), they rush to the internet for enlightenment. Marco polo 15:29, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Indeed. People want to find out more about it, use it to insult others, use it for acceptance, etc. It's like a crown phenomena. --Proficient 03:45, 11 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Septmber is what designated what month?

I have a health homework that asks what is designated for the month of september. An example given to the class was that october is breast cancer awarness month. I would be thankful if you could help me out with this topic.

It seems a little silly to me to designate an entire month to a given the amount of diseases that exist out there. But anyway, BCAM seems to be given its designation by the president of the US. See List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation for other months, weeks, days that have special designations. --Mitaphane _talk 23:57, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

i think its drug and alcohol awareness month Modesty84 03:00, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Let me guess. Is this a US thing? DirkvdM 06:23, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Could be a Netherlands thing, too, as in "be aware of the nearest locations to buy and consume exotic drugs and alcohol". :-) StuRat 06:49, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Well, I know that a) April is the cruellest month, and b) the American Library Associations 'read a banned book' week is always in September. Oh man, I've redeemed myself. You wanna know what September is? Check out THIS site. Pace yourself my friend. Anchoress 11:30, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

BTW I hope I don't have to tell you to independently confirm anything you use from that list. I checked the first one (ADHD month), one that would be useful to you, and it actually is. Anchoress 11:35, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

No, seriously, is this a US thing? I know of mother's day and all that, but I've only occasionally heard of months or years dedicated to one thing as a one-off occasion. I thought that was a UN thing, but I understand from this dicsussion that every month is dedicated to something in the US. DirkvdM 07:46, 9 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Note that most of those silly things are never mentioned anywhere. I suppose if you are with the National Artichoke Board (if there is such a thing) you might put out an ad that says "try an artichoke during national artichoke week !". StuRat 06:35, 10 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It might depend on where you live. --Proficient 03:46, 11 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

CS vs CS2

What are the major pros and cons when comparing Adobe Photoshop versions CS and CS2? Overall, which of the two is better (speed, functionality, loading times, etc...)? Thanks Jamesino 23:30, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Check out Photoshop's release history. --Mitaphane _talk 00:08, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yes but that only lists the new functions. Is there a site with opinions and a direct comparison? Jamesino 01:33, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

CS2 I believe since it's the latest. --Proficient 03:46, 11 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

blushing

I have a problem. I blush at just about anything. I mean, if someone talks to me, no matter what kind of relatiosnship I have with them, I usually get embarassed somehow. Usually the only time it doesn;t happen is when I'm talking to family or guy friends that I'm close to. If I don't know them, it usually hapens. I have already had it happen with 3 girls in the first 2 weeks of school and it was not pretty. I mean, when one sat down next to me in class I did it. I don't try to blush, and it's like uncontrollable. Can somebody help me. What is going on? By the way, I am a freshman. In high school. Thanks.

Have you looked at our page on blushing? It tells you why, but may not tell you how to cure it.--Light current 23:40, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Hey, look at this LC- Idiopathic craniofacial erythema it looks kinda like it- Blusher

Yes. It does. Im glad you found that!--Light current 23:56, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Looks like I'm kinda outta luck treatmentwise- Blusher

Dont worry - youll grow out of it!--Light current 00:31, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Hope so, thanks for your help LC, its kinda nice on Wikipedia because I can be myself, and I've got a more specific question about this but i gotta go for now, so I'll be back later, and I think you'd be able to answer it. Thanks a bunch, man. :)

"Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to." Mark Twain. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 00:50, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Man (or woman) is the only animal that has a bare face. Is that why?--Light current 02:03, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Arthropods? Good question though. — [Mac Davis] (talk) (Desk|Help me improve)

I have two suggestions:

1) Makeup, specifically a base, would cover up the blush. However, I get the impression you're male, so this might seem "effeminate".

2) ~~Aversion~~ Desensitization therapy. After you talk to lots of strange girls about risque topics the blush reaction will lessen with time. You might just set a goal of talking with a certain number each day, not particularly worrying if you make a good impression. A night club might be a good place to practice. And, a bonus is that a dark room will hide the blush well.

Blushing makes you look shy and inexperienced. This may be a turn-off for some women, but may actually be a turn-on for a few.

StuRat 06:41, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure I'd go as far as sturat and tell you to talk dirty to the girls, but you should realize that it's really not that big of a deal, and that you'll probably grow out of it soon. And like he said, some girls might find it cute or something. If it's really bothering you, you might (not) want to consider Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. --Froth (public computer) 13:30, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I think guys blushing is attractive myself-hotclaws**==(82.138.214.1 19:55, 8 September 2006 (UTC))[reply]

Seriously, it is?- Blusher

Note that I used the wrong term, it' actually called desensitization therapy, not aversion therapy, that's something else. StuRat 01:55, 10 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You're male, correct? --Proficient 03:47, 11 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah- 15 years old-Blusher

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